“I’m out of shape for this. How’d I do?” I ask. It’s the first question I always ask coming offstage.
Jakes eyes burn with desire, but he grabs a bottle of water, handing it and a towel to me. “You were absolutely incredible.”
“Karaoke night was a hit!” Nathan crows. He looks at me. I’ve recovered enough that I’ve rejoined everyone upstairs in the VIP lounge as the club closes. “Jesus, Roxy . . . if you can sing like that, what are you doing working in the same shithole as Jake? You should be on a stage selling out stadiums!”
“Trust me, I tried,” I say, feeling the pang of regret that comes with his words. “But when it’s not paying the bills . . .”
“Fuck that noise,” Nathan says as I shrug. “If I had a voice like yours, I’d crash a record exec’s office and say you only need ten seconds before you’ll wanna sign me.”
If only it were that easy, I think inwardly. “What can I say? A&Rs are assholes.”
Hannah, who’s had a few too many Little Mermaids, giggles. “Hey, can I get another? I’m not ready to give up!”
I shake my head, knowing I’m going to have to take Hannah home. Besides, her last comment sort of stings, even though I know she wasn’t talking about me. I didn’t want to give up either. But in an industry where if you haven’t made it by twenty as a woman, you’re almost never going to make it, I just couldn’t face it anymore. Hell, some of the songs I sang tonight are damn near golden oldies, and the girl at the top of the charts this week wasn’t even born when Toxic came out.
“Yeah, well . . . listen, can we leave Hannah’s car here overnight? I don’t think she’s good to drive.”
Jake, who’s been smiling with Nathan, looks over. “Sure, but what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie, feeling a wave of depression start to creep in. “I’m just exhausted. I haven’t done that in a long time.”
Jake seems to understand. “Would you like to go home, then?
“I’d appreciate it,” I say honestly. “But Hannah . . .”
“Babe, I’m fine,” Hannah says, and I can see she’s ‘happy drunk’ but not ‘stupid drunk’. “You sure you’re okay, though?”
I make sure my voice is convincing. “I’m okay, just tired.”
“Okay then, go on, get out of here and get some rest. I’ll be along in a little bit.”
“But I can’t just leave you here. How are you getting home?” I ask, but Hannah waves it off.
“Honey, don’t worry about me!” Hannah assures me. “I’ll get a cab if I need to. But what I do need right now is another Mermaid!”
Nathan laughs. “One more and then I’m cutting you off. After that, black coffee. Owner’s orders,” he teases. “Don’t worry, Roxy. I’ll call her a cab or take her home myself if she wants.”
“Thank you, Nathan,” Jake says. He stands up and takes me by the hand. “Come on, Angel. I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
Jake
“You were amazing on stage,” I tell Roxy, turning left. I’m driving her back to her place, glad that I only had a few drinks. Roxy did too, but she’s exhausted. The set on stage gave her a huge high that’s now crashing on her. She’s been quiet since leaving the club.
Thinking about Roxy, I’m still blown away. Her voice was pure heaven. She worked the stage like a pro. Every time I thought she couldn’t do more, she did. Watching her sway her hips to the beat heated my blood. Three times, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when she dropped it down on some of the songs, never missing a note as she did moves I don’t think are legal in some states.
Even more than how hot she was, watching her on stage ignited a crazy desire inside me. I want to help her. I mean, it wasn’t like I thought she was lying about the other club. I was sure she could hold a tune. But watching her tonight . . . she really has talent.
“Roxy?”
“Thank you,” she says quietly. Something is on her mind. I saw it in her eyes, the disappointment when Nathan was complimenting her. It was like it only made her more depressed.
“What’s wrong? The crowd loved you.”
I loved you, I think inwardly, remembering how she looked so in her element. But those three words are too close to something else, and I don’t want to have any confusion.
Roxy sighs, leaning her head against the window, looking out at the lights. “It just brought up memories, that’s all. Reminded me of everything I went through.”
My heart breaks for her. Her desire is one of those that sits right next to her soul, maybe even in her soul. Not having it is making her sick. I wish I could do something. I don’t know anything about the world of music, but I’d learn just for her. “You did so well out there.”
“I’ll admit it was fun and all. And the crowd gave me life. But after the adrenaline wore off, it kind of hit home. I’m not angry at you, Jake, but maybe I should’ve never done it.”
I’m speechless. It hurts to hear her say these words. I thought the exact opposite would happen. I was hoping that by showing her how good she is, she’d feel a jolt of energy again.
Roxy turns to look at me. “I’m not like you, knocking everything I try out of the park. I tried my hardest. Oh, my God, the number of hours I worked on my voice, doing lessons and sticking to diets to make sure I wasn’t just overlooked because of that alone. And you know what I’ve got for it?”
“No,” I reply, stopping at a red light.
“I’ve got a stack of demo CDs fifteen inches high. They’ll never be heard.”
I cringe inside, hating the defeat in her voice. “Did something happen to make you question your confidence in yourself?”
Roxy nods, looking in her lap. “Well, I’ve never told anyone this. But I did get an interview with this record exec while I was finishing my degree. He said he worked for a subsidiary of one of the major labels. He wanted to hear my voice, said he listened to my demo CD. I borrowed my stepfather’s car and drove five hundred miles to this guy’s office. I thought maybe he’d want to listen to me sing with a band, or maybe in person, so I took the time to work up my best piece in three different genres. I could do fast pop, a ballad, or one of those tearjerker songs.”
“Sounds like you took it seriously,” I admit. “What happened?”
“I didn’t even get to sit down before the guy said he’d get me a deal . . . if I gave him head. He said I’d get a Grammy inside of two years if I fucked him.”
“Son of a bitch!” I half growl, clenching the steering wheel angrily. “I’ve always heard the rumors of shit like that.”
“So yeah. I told him the only way his dick was getting off was by being jammed in his own ass. I’m pretty sure he spread rumors about my being difficult to work with after that, but I don’t know that for sure. I just know all interest whatsoever dried up after that. I ended up going back to college, then applying for Franklin Consolidated. The rest is history.”
Roxy falls silent as I drive the rest of the way to her apartment. I know this building. It’s a great place. Not quite as good as my penthouse, but it’s a good building.
“I guess this is it,” Roxy says, reaching for her purse. “Can you make sure Hannah gets here safely?”
“I will,” I say. I was gonna go back to the club, but now . . .
“Goodnight,” she says, getting out. Earlier, she was ready to take me right there in the club. I could see it, but now she’s down and I can’t help but feel responsible.
“Wait,” I say, getting out of my car. “Roxy, wait!”
Roxy turns, looking at me suspiciously as I approach, and I know she’s distrustful of me right now. After that story about the record exec, I’m sure she sees me like I’m a snake.
“Let me walk you up at least?” I ask. I can’t let her leave like this. She needs something to unleash all that emotion on.
“I don’t know,” she says, but I ignore her, taking her hand.
I hit my remote on my car, glad I parked in a visitor's slot. Then again, Roxy’s wort
h a ticket and a tow.
She grips my hand back, and I tug her gently to come on. “I mean, the place is a mess,” she finally says.
“I’m not worried about your dirty socks,” I reassure her.
“And then there’s Mr. Felix . . .” she says, giving me a half smile and a sigh. “My cat.”
We get to the elevator, and I’m reassured when Roxy hits the button for her floor. She doesn’t let go of my hand when the door opens, and instead, we walk down the short hallway, Roxy fishing her keys out and unlocking the door.
“Welcome,” she says, and I’m immediately greeted by the yowling of a big orange cat that goes streaking away from me at first sight. “That’s Mr. Felix.”
“I see he doesn’t like me,” I joke, closing the door behind me.
“Don’t worry, he doesn't bite. He does scratch, though, so make sure you’re on your best behavior.”
I laugh, and Roxy smiles. She lets go of my hand to hang her purse on the coat hook near the door, giving me a look before walking over near the couch, which has a great view of the floor-to-ceiling window and the skyline around us. I walk over, admiring the view. “This is a nice place.”
“Hannah and I make ends meet, but not much more.”
“You said your stepfather’s got money,” I note, turning around. “He doesn’t help out?”
“He would in a heartbeat, but I don’t need it,” she declares. “It’s nice to know I have a backup if something ever happened, but I’d rather handle things myself.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I lean in, kissing her on impulse. It’s deep and soft, not the hot passion of that first night or the seductive intensity of the elevator moment we dangerously shared at work. I’m kissing her because it feels so right, and Roxy kisses me back, her tongue touching mine, feather light.
“Jake . . .” she whispers, putting her hands on my chest. “You’re my boss. You need to leave. We can’t keep this up.”
I look into her eyes again, my hands tightening on her waist as I pull her closer. “I know I should . . . but I don’t want to. You’re driving me crazy. You’re all I think about. I don’t know if I care about shoulds and should-nots.”
Roxy looks like she’s about to protest when suddenly, she melts into my arms, her arms coming up around my neck to kiss me hard. This time, the passion, the need is immediate, and I push her against the window, my hand running under the hem of her dress to cup and squeeze her ass as I trail kisses over her lips and down her neck.
“Oh, God, this is . . .” Roxy moans as she runs her fingers through my hair.
“This is right,” I whisper as I tug at her ear with my teeth, pulling her closer. “I need you.”
“What if Hannah comes back?” Roxy moans, running her fingernails over my neck, pushing my shirt back a little as I squeeze her ass and move back to kissing her lips. “What if she walks in?”
“We just got here. She’s not going to be home anytime soon,” I growl, pulling her away from the window. “But we can still go to your bedroom . . . or the sofa, if that’s too damn far.”
I pick Roxy up. She feels like she weighs nothing in my arms as I carry her across to the couch. I set her down, and she lifts her dress for me. I’m stunned to my knees as her beautiful body is exposed to me.
I lean forward, pulling her into me as I kiss down her neck to her breasts, finding her right nipple and nibbling on it, the light bites making her gasp and moan. “Jake . . . oh, fuck.”
I let my tongue tease the stiff nub of her nipple. It’s perfect, tender and responsive. My cock throbs and my heart pounds as Roxy moans to every touch of my tongue, and when I start sucking on her nipple, she’s shuddering, her hips bucking in the nearly see-through white panties she’s still wearing.
“Oh, fuck, Jake . . . don’t stop.”
I reach down, sliding my hand inside her panties while I suck harder. Roxy throws her head back, gasping as I trace the wet outline of her pussy until I find her clit, lightly rubbing my thumb over it until she cries out. I look up at Roxy as her breasts quiver at the power of her orgasm. “Holy shit.”
“Just getting started. I need to see you, taste you,” I growl, tugging her panties down. She’s glistening, soaked in the light of the overhead lamp, and before she can even take another breath, I devour her, sucking and licking her pussy. I run my tongue deep inside her, savoring her wetness until I’m moaning even more, ravenous for her.
“Jake . . . fuckfuckfuck,” Roxy moans incoherently, tugging on my hair as she grinds her pussy into my hungry lips. “That’s it, baby, that’s how I like it.”
“Mmm, your milkshake is bringing me to the yard,” I half tease as I pull my tongue out to lick her clit. It’s perfect, and at the first flicker of my tongue over the tip, she lifts her hips, letting me slide my hands underneath her ass cheeks and not allowing her any respite.
There’s something about Roxy that drives me to new levels of passion and hunger. Growling, I suck and nibble at the tender button, my ears ringing with her cries as I push her, squeezing her ass even as my tongue flutters over her clit, circling it and driving her higher and higher.
My cock throbs in my pants, and I’m glad that I’ve already given her one orgasm, because the way I feel, I don’t know how long I’m going to last once I get inside her. Suddenly, Roxy pulls my head back, almost as if she senses my worry. “Fuck me! Pull your cock out and fuck me!”
I grin as I hurriedly undo my belt and yank my pants down, my cock standing thick and proud. I pull again, buttons flying as I tear my shirt off.
I don’t care. All I see is Roxy as she holds her long, perfect legs open for me, her pussy calling to me as I line myself up. I stop, just before taking her, realizing I don’t have a condom. I hadn’t thought of it. “Roxy . . .”
“In my bedroom nightstand,” she says, knowing what I’m thinking. “It’s the room on the right. And hurry. If you don’t fuck me now, you’re never getting another chance,” Roxy growls.
I practically run, grabbing a condom and getting back to her as fast as I can. Who am I to deny a lady what she needs? She’s writhing on the couch, moaning for me to hurry. With a deep growl, I slide it on in one smooth motion. I take a deep breath, then thrust forward, filling her in one long stroke that leaves us both wide-eyed. Her pussy is perfect, gripping me and massaging my shaft as I stay deep inside her, grinding my hips against her as I claim her. Never have I felt anything like it, and I pull back, pausing for a moment before I sink into her again, relishing the sensation. I moan deeply as Roxy wraps her legs around me, both of us lost in a haze as our bodies fall into rhythm.
I thrust hard and deep, each stroke of my cock making Roxy’s body shake as I pound her into the couch. Reaching up, I grip the back of her head as my lips find hers and we kiss hungrily. My hips stroke over and over into her, slapping against her legs and ass as I abandon myself. She’s perfect, squeezing and clenching around my cock so tightly that it feels like my balls are going to explode.
With each hard, driving stroke, Roxy’s eyes darken and her mouth drops open, her body overwhelmed by the feeling of what I’m doing to her. There’s no breath for words, just the harsh pants and grunts of two people meeting in deep, intense, passionate sex. My fingers clutch the back of her couch as I give her everything I have, my muscles rippling and the sweat running down our bodies as we hurtle together toward what I know is going to be an earthshaking orgasm.
“Almost there,” I grunt harshly with the last of my control, my cock throbbing and steely hard within her.
“Come for me, Jake!” Roxy moans, and I’m pushed over. I thrust deep into her, crying out as I come. She’s right with me, and her body shakes as she comes around my cock. I kiss her, holding her close as I tremble, staying deep within her as I catch my breath.
I pull back and rip off the condom when we can finally breathe again, looking at her, and she realizes I’m looking for a trash can. “Over there.” She points. As soon as I toss it in, I realize this may h
ave been a mistake. We’re not going to be the same at work after this.
Who gives a shit? The little voice inside me whispers as I pick up her exhausted body and carry her toward her bedroom. I didn’t even notice before, but looking around, I can see the music posters adorning the walls. And next to her bed sits the pile of demo CDs she told me about earlier. You want her. She’s worth breaking the rules for.
“I’m going to have to go,” I whisper quietly as I stroke her angelic face. Roxy nods and gives me a hopeful smile. “I don’t think Mr. Felix is happy with me as it is.”
She smiles, looking at me with those same deep eyes. “Jake . . .”
“I know,” I whisper, kissing her softly. I’m so tempted to stay, but I have to go. It just isn’t the right time yet, and Sophie will probably wonder what the hell happened if I’m not there in the morning. “I’ll see you Monday?”
“Monday,” she murmurs, dozing off. I watch her fall asleep, and I slowly make my way out to the living room, where I grab my shirt off the floor and shrug it back on. I let myself out quietly, a new thought coming to my mind.
Fuck any rules. I don’t care about any of that. All I’m thinking is that she’s got the talent, and she needs to rediscover her heart for it.
Roxy
I come awake with a gasp, my heart hammering in my chest. For an instant, I don’t know where I am. I reach for Jake, but I moan in disappointment when I realize he’s not here.
“It was just a dream,” I mutter. A dream in which Jake stayed the night, then served me breakfast in bed. Followed by the hottest morning cuddlefuck a girl could dream of.
“What’s the saying?” I yawn, stretching out my arms above my head and hearing my bones pop. “If it’s too good to be true then . . .” An ache runs down my side, bringing my mind back to last night.
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