by Yessi Smith
There’s nothing that could make me look away from her, even knowing I have an entire crowd of fans that I’m supposed to be singing to, engaging with.
The way her body moves, like it was made for me, makes me want to see what it would be like for me to play her. As I strum my fingers and thumb on the strings of my guitar, I imagine what it would be like to have her under me, on top of me, pressed against a wall.
I know why Mia brought her friend here.
I wonder if she also knows what bringing her here is building inside me. What my intentions are with her friend, before even being properly introduced.
Chapter Two
Savannah
When Mia told me she had a twin brother who played in a band and asked if I wanted to come with them to watch his show, I had a feeling he would at the very least be good looking. First of all, Mia is gorgeous. And if she wasn’t one of the nicest people in our nursing program, I’d hate her on principal alone. Second of all, he’s in a band. That in and of itself is enough. But I couldn’t be prepared for what I saw when I first looked at the stage. Or what my body’s reaction would be to him.
Brandon’s dark eyes haven’t left mine since our gazes first locked shortly after I greeted his sister and Cole. His dirty blond, slightly curly hair looks like he’s run his hands through it a few dozen times already, but I wouldn’t mind having a turn. He wraps a tattooed hand around the mic and winks at me causing an involuntary shudder to run through my core. Lips grazing the microphone while he belts out lyrics in one of the sexiest voices I’ve ever heard.
His hips move back and forth, the tight jeans he’s wearing not hiding a thing, only making my need heighten.
I smirk in his direction as he sings about wanting my scent on his bedsheets, about being in love with my body.
Well, at least I’m telling myself it’s to me.
The intensity of him is coming off in waves.
Before I can stop myself, I’m practically doing a seductive dance just for him. The only thing missing is me stripping off my clothes and wrapping my leg around a pole.
I imagine what it would be like to have him playing me like he’s playing his guitar. I lower my arms, then rub them over my stomach, my shirt riding up just slightly, exposing the bare skin under my thin tank. Up and over my breasts then lift my hair off my neck. I feel a sheen of sweat beading over every inch of my overheated skin as my imagination runs wildly.
“What do you think?” Mia shouts, causing me to jolt out of my imagination. She turns to me so I can hear her.
“He’s…” I choke on my words as he licks his lower lip then bites the corner at a break in the lyrics.
He winks at me again and my cheeks flame and I almost topple over from the direct hit to my core. How he has this effect on me, and I haven’t even spoken to him once, I have no clue. This has never happened to me before and it’s a bit unnerving.
“He’s…?”
“Good?”
Mia laughs but doesn’t call me out on my blatant downplay of how he is actually incredible, amazing… sexy.
While his band continues to sing three more songs, my body is under the impression that it’s heavily involved in foreplay.
“Do you want to come back stage with us?”
“Ummm.” I hesitate, not knowing if I can handle being much closer to Brandon. I may spontaneously combust.
“Come on, Sava. You have to!” Mia tugs on my hand, pulling me along with her.
“I don’t…”
“Nope. Not going to listen to it. Come on.”
I look to Cole for help but his eyes are focused on Mia. “Cole?”
“Don’t look at me. I have no ability to tell her no either.” His hands are raised in surrender.
“Fine,” I grumble even though I don’t really mean it. I might be fighting it but I really do want to meet him. I feel like my body would rebel against me if I walked away from here without meeting him face to face.
“Oh stop. I know you want to come back there with us. And trust me, Brandon will never forgive me if I don’t introduce you two. I saw how he was looking at you.”
I’ve known Mia for a few years now but still haven’t met any of her family. From what she’s told me, though, she and Brandon have that freaky twin thing going on, always being able to know what the other thinks.
A year ago Brandon got sick with food poisoning and Mia was sick to her stomach before she even knew what happened to him.
Like I said.
Freaky twin thing.
“You don’t know what you saw,” I mumble and roll my eyes.
She bursts out laughing as she pushes through the door behind the stage, giving the security guard a soft pat on the chest and letting him know I’m with them.
Clearly she’s done this a time or two.
Mia bursts through the door first, loudly announcing our presence. She’s always so full of confidence whereas I’m a work in progress. I used to be a complete wallflower. I’m learning, though, how to let myself go, allow people in.
“You guys were incredible!” she squeals, releasing my hand and bouncing over to Brandon to give him a hug. He lifts her up and she looks down at him adoringly. “Seriously. Best show ever. Wonder why that was?” He ignores her obvious comment when she looks right at me and sets her down before reaching over to grab Cole’s hand, doing the one-armed hug slap on the back thing that men do so well.
“Thanks, sis. Glad you could make it,” Brandon says, his eyes focused on me rather than his sister.
Cole chuckles beside us, and I glance at him and elbow his side as he scrubs a hand down his face to hide his smile.
“Hey,” he says to me. “I’m Brandon, this one’s brother.”
“Younger brother.”
He shakes his head as he pushes away from the couple, sauntering toward me. My heart rate picks up several beats with each step. I swallow hard and try to discreetly wipe my sweaty hands down my jeans.
When he steps into my space he leans down, considering he’s at least a foot taller than my 5’2” stature, and takes my hand in his, our thumbs hook over one another’s and his long fingers graze the inside of my wrist before wrapping tightly around my hand and pulling me a little closer to him.
“Savannah.”
“Savannah.” He repeats, his eyes dark, eyelashes so thick it looks like he could be wearing eyeliner.
I nod my head, my tongue darting out and tasting the fruity flavor of my lip balm before I roll my lips together. His eyes follow the movement and my pulse races, which he can apparently feel in my wrist because he smirks as his index finger grazes the spot.
“Thanks for coming, Savannah.”
I nod again, my mouth so dry I can’t even croak out words.
Five minutes ago I was a temptress. Now I’m a bumbling geek.
Suddenly we’re interrupted by a flood of screaming. Brandon winces but rather than push me away at the onslaught of adoring fans, most of which are women, he tugs me closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
He looks behind him to the rest of his band and gestures with a nod of his head to the crowd that’s beginning to swarm, high pitched screams and all.
The one who I remember standing at the keyboards walks by us, clapping Brandon on the shoulder and winks at me.
“I’m Jude, by the way. Just think of me as Brandon’s savior.”
Brandon chortles. “Thanks, man. ‘Preciate it.”
“The things I do for you.” He grins, clapping and rubbing his hands together as he steps into the center of several girls, wrapping his arms around two of them.
“You enjoy the show, ladies?” he asks them to which they all continue to gush. He twists his head to look at us once more and winks again.
“C’mere,” Brandon murmurs to me and for some completely confusing reason I allow him to lead me to a small couch against the back wall. I glance backward to see Cole holding onto Mia around the waist as they talk to one of the other band members, I think the drummer, who al
so has a handful of girls surrounding him.
In the other corner, the guy who played the violin and sang back up is sitting on another couch, a very scantily clad woman straddling his lap, her short skirt riding so far up her hips that you can see she’s wearing either nothing underneath or a g-string.
Brandon grabs two bottles of water off a table then guides us to the couch, placing me next to him when he sits down.
I’m a little surprised he didn’t grab one of the numerous selections of alcohol that’s sitting on the table but not disappointed. I think I need a clear head tonight.
He twists the cap off one of the waters before handing it to me. I take a drink, if for no other reason than to just have something to do with my hands. As soon as I’m done he takes the bottle from my trembling hand and lifts it to his lips. Without taking his eyes from me, he tips the bottle back, touching his tongue to the exact spot my lips had just touched.
I take a deep breath but it shudders in my chest. He smirks and takes another drink, his eyes never leaving mine, before he hands it back to me.
I know he’s challenging me and even though I’m nervous as a whore in church, I never back down from a challenge.
I reach out, allowing my fingers to graze his.
I take a drink, letting my tongue sneak out, touching the ring of the bottle he had just had his lips around. I watch as his eyes become impossibly darker and feel his hand slide over my thigh, squeezing lightly.
Brandon leans over, his lips so close to my ear I can feel his hot breath.
“You sure you wanna play this way, baby? You have no idea where my imagination is going and what I intend to do with you.”
Annnddd I just came precariously close to orgasming.
Between the wet heat of his breath, the feel of his hand gripping my thigh and the aforementioned several songs’ worth of fore play, I’m like a lit fuse.
I look at him from under my lashes while crossing my legs, needing to curb the need building between them.
“That’s not gonna cut it, sweetheart.”
“What?”
He nods to my legs, or rather between my legs. “That’s not gonna take care of what you need.”
I gasp and he chuckles, leaning back against the couch but again pulling me with him, playing with a few strands of my hair.
“Tell me, Savannah, why haven’t I met you yet?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. It’s not that Mia never asked me to come watch one of his shows, but our schedules never meshed well enough.
“I want to know you.”
“What?”
“I want to know you.” He repeats and it hits me just as hard the second time.
“I’m confused.”
“What are you confused about, sweetheart?”
He takes my hand in his, threading our fingers together.
“Do you know who I am?” he asks me, turning his head slightly to the side.
“Umm, Brandon?”
“And?”
“Okay, yeah. I’m really confused.”
He smiles, showing off his white teeth before his tongue sneaks out, licking his bottom lip before his teeth graze over it. “You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. Yet. We’re going to fix that. Because Savannah, I need to know you.”
“Why?”
“Why?” he repeats. I feel like we’re talking in circles.
“Yeah, why do you want to know me?”
“Need. I need to know you.”
I gulp, press my lips together and roll them together. “Okay then, why do you need to know me?”
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles widely. He lifts our joined hands, placing them against his heart.
“Because my heart told me so.”
Well in that case, I’ll just be fetching my ovaries from London.
Chapter Three
Brandon
When I was standing on stage, I could see this girl was beautiful. It was nothing compared to being up close and personal with her. And personal I intend to be.
I don’t sleep around often. Well. At least not like the rest of my bandmates. They take full advantage of the power of the band. It’s a thing. Trust me. It’s kind of like the power of Harper for Grady and Cole. When girls see how they are with their little sister, they basically melt, even though they’re both spoken for.
I may not have sex with as many women as I’m approached to, but I also don’t do relationships. I get bored easily. Which could be a problem. Savannah doesn’t seem like the type of girl who doesn’t do relationships, though the way she was dancing for me earlier, maybe I’m wrong. But if Mia brought her to the show, I have a feeling she’s pushing for more than a one night thing.
That’s why I told her I wanted to know her. I’m not lying. I really do want to know her. But I also want more.
“Let’s get out of here,” I tell her, threading my fingers through hers.
Her eyes widen and I can see the hesitation written across her face.
“Coffee?”
“Now?”
I chuckle. I saw the confusion on her face when I chose water over alcohol earlier. She’s probably wondering what kind of band member asks to go for coffee at two in the morning rather than stay and party. “Why not? I’m too jazzed up to sleep anyway.”
“So you want to get coffee.” Her voice is full of skepticism.
“Yes, Savannah. I want to get coffee. With you. So we can talk.” I smile, then smile wider when I see her eyes drift down to my lips.
She feels it too.
“Look. I know you’re confused. I know you probably have all these misconceptions about what guys in bands are all about.” She raises her eyebrows at me after she looks around, seeing every other member with one (or several) girls draping over them, alcohol flowing between them nicely. “Okay, so maybe I’m the exception to the rule.” I admit.
“Are you, though?”
“Am I the exception?”
She nods her head.
“Honesty time?”
She swallows and rolls her lips together, something that is quickly turning me on. “That’d be good.”
“I like sex. I like not being in a relationship. But when I told you my heart was telling me to get to know you? That was the complete truth. When I was on stage and you came in, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from you. You’re beautiful. It physically pained me to look away, stay engaged with the rest of the crowd. And Mia doesn’t bring her friends around me. Not because she doesn’t trust me. But because she knows I’m not all about what she and Cole have. But there’s a reason she wanted you to come, and I want to take my time finding out why my twin sister thought I needed to meet you.”
“Okay.”
Holy shit.
“Seriously?!”
She giggles. A light and tinkling sound that hits my ears. Something I want to immediately hear again. Along with about a million other sounds from her.
She shrugs one delicate shoulder, her eyes twinkling. “Why the hell not?”
“Damn right,” I growl, pulling her closer to me. I dip my head until my nose is settled in the crook of her neck and inhale deeply, all the while praying that she’s okay with the bold move. She twists her head to the side and I feel rather than hear a moan bubble up out of her throat.
“You smell fucking amazing, Savannah.”
“Do I?”
“Mmm. Like you just came from the beach.”
“It’s…” she swallows hard and shivers when my nose makes a trail up to below her ear and I allow my tongue to sneak out, getting a small taste of her.
“It’s?” I tease.
“I don’t remember.” She admits, blowing out a shaky breath and leaning into me, her breasts rubbing against me causing friction that causes a twitch behind the zipper of my jeans.
“I think we need to get the fuck out of here,” I growl.
“Agree.” She nods her head vigorously and leans back to look at me. Her hazel eyes sparkle
with what I hope is lust because I know what’s going on in my body right now.
I take her hand in mine and look over at Jude, give him the peace sign and a chin up to let him know that I’m getting out of here then catch Mia’s eye. She winks and wiggles her fingers at me. I roll my eyes, shake my head but don’t slow in my mission.
“In a hurry?” Savannah giggles behind me, her small hand wrapped around my bicep as I drag us out of the back room.
“Hell yes.” I smile, looking over my shoulder at her.
“So, I take it we’re not stopping for coffee?” she teases.
“I have coffee at my place,” I inform her.
Less than a minute later I’m opening up the passenger door to my pickup, picking her up by the waist and placing her on the seat. She’s so tiny. At least a foot shorter than me.
“You have this chance to tell me if this isn’t what you want, Savannah. We’ll go to the diner down the road and eat pancakes and drink coffee and I promise I’ll still call you tomorrow. Or we’re going to my place, and you’ll be eating pancakes in the morning at my house. That I’ll make you. Your choice.”
She hesitates for a moment, looking back and forth between my eyes. For what, I don’t know. Honesty, probably. Thing is, I’m being one hundred percent truthful right now. Do I want in her pants? Absolutely. But for some reason I know this is bigger than both of us. Bigger than anything I’ve ever been involved in. I need her in my life for more than a quick fuck or one night stand. Why I know that, I’m not sure.
“Show me your home, Brandon,” Savannah tells me, her voice quiet, husky and so sexy I almost fall over.
“You got it. But first…” I lean in and slide my palm over her cheek, my fingers threading through her hair. It’s silky and smooth. I inch closer, her breath hitches. I can smell the peppermint gum I saw her “covertly” put into her mouth.
Our noses brush against each other.
Her eyes flutter closed.
I keep mine open.
She licks her lips.
I lick mine.
I kiss the side of her mouth.
Then the other side.
I tip her head back slightly.
Kiss her eyelids.
She takes a deep breath.