“Mm hmm,” I intoned, feeling my breasts heave, my hands slithering up into the pillows to grip tightly as I felt myself absorb the piece inside of me. “That feels so good,” I said. “Don’t stop.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Maybe that crystal of hers was magical, as I could feel the aroused pressure well up within me, my hands beginning to shake as I held onto the cottony pillows, my fingers trembling and that tremble working its way to my wrists, then my arms. Daisy gave my rear a hard, firm press, and she steadily worked the rock into my pussy, back and forth, in and out. Each time it entered me I clenched, trying to keep it inside, but the wetness inside me and the toy’s polished finish allowed it to easily slip out. I wanted it to fill me up forever.
I was sweating, my breathing labored, my thoughts murky from the intensity of sexual delight. But I did know I felt love. That was in the forefront of my mind. I loved Daisy. I loved her sweetness, I loved her attitude, I loved her beauty. She made me feel so good, so wanted, so complete. I was groaning, almost whining, feeling so spectacular from her adoring attentions, when suddenly my knees began to wobble and a reflexive low moan came from my lips.
“Shit,” I said. “Oh shit!”
A wave of delighted energy washed over me as my thighs quivered. I could feel it all throughout my body. My back arched, I gripped as tightly as I could against anything I could hold — pillows, sheets, whatever — each breath that escaped me was a moan. Daisy didn’t stop at all. In fact, she quickened her thrusting pace. I was absolutely shaking, my rump swaying from side to side, squirming, feeling the brute force of one of the most intense orgasms I’d ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
My fingers and toes went numb, my inner thighs dripped with humidity, and I buried my face into a pillow. Then my hips started to buck. It was just too much. I needed to get off the ride or I felt like I could explode. I lowered my backside away from Daisy, causing the crystal to exit me, and I plopped down onto the bed and writhed uncontrollably. I heard Daisy give a tender laugh, while she gently rubbed my thigh to console me.
Once I was able to open my eyes again, the twinkling energy starting to dissipate, I looked down the length of the bed at Daisy and gave her an exhausted smile. She grinned, she winked, and then she raised that rose quartz piece to her lips and wrapped her mouth around it, sucking my juices off it, and sounding off with an exaggerated popping reverberation as she removed it. Then she wagged it at me and laughed again.
“You taste great,” she said, licking the toy once more.
“Please come cuddle with me,” I said, opening my arms for her. Daisy wasted no time in slipping down next to me, dropping the crystal between us. I could feel the firmness of the piece between our bodies as we intertwined our arms and hugged close. I squeezed tightly to her and I kissed her all over. Her lips, her face, her neck, her shoulders. I buried my face into her neck and embraced her with a wanting, needing snugness.
“Mmm,” I heard her sigh as our bodies felt like they became one.
“Daisy,” I said quietly to her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she replied. Even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew she was smiling. I could hear it in her voice.
I felt then that I could finally relax. And that’s an amazing feeling.
A few weeks later, weeks of bliss in New York with my love, I sat in Daisy’s office in a comfortable leather chair around a small glass table with Arnie, Micah, and Daisy herself. Just the four of us. Daisy had asked me to come in for an informal band meeting, and although I was confused as to why they didn’t want to set up something with the rest of Cast Party, I happily obliged. Things were just going so well for me, it was easy to say “yes” to anything.
I sat cross-legged on my chair, a paper cup of hot tea between my legs with my hands wrapped around it, feeling like my life was this runaway train of awesomeness. I had more money than I’d ever thought I’d see in my lifetime — which, admittedly, was still a low number in the grand scheme of things — and I knew it was only going to continue going up. That is, it would go up if I followed along with the Municipal Records gang. I knew I had to play the game if I wanted to keep it all rolling, so I always resolved to listen to them with an open mind. This path I was on, it was leading me to a happiness I never thought possible. Money, fame, people loving my music… and Daisy. She was the best part. I looked across the table at her and smiled.
“Layla, we’re so glad you came in today,” said Arnie, a pleased look on his face. He had on dark jeans, and a black suit jacket with a tight white t-shirt underneath. “We’ve got some big things we want to talk to you about. Tremendous things!”
“I’m all ears,” I said with a grin, looking to each of them.
“As you know,” said Micah, looking over a packet of paper he had in his hands. “Audition is selling like crazy. You’re all over the radio. Customers are clamoring for another tour.”
“Everyone is pissed that they missed you kids with Air Patrol,” said Arnie with a laugh.
“That’s so amazing to hear,” I said, my face feeling tight because I was smiling so wide. “I wish the band was here to hear that. I can’t believe it’s doing so well.”
“Oh, they’ll be hearing it soon,” said Arnie. “Because we’re planning a crazy tour for you very soon.”
“Really?” I said. “We’re headlining?”
“You’re headlining, babe,” said Arnie. “Get used to it!”
“But this meeting isn’t totally about that,” said Micah. When he said that, I felt something in the room shift. I couldn’t place it, but something changed. “We’re definitely getting Cast Party out there to capitalize on this success, but we want to talk about you. We want to talk about Layla Bean.”
“Me?” I said with some confusion. “Okay, let’s talk.” I looked to Daisy and she gave me a reassuring smile.
“You’re killing it in women 18-24,” said Micah. “Cast Party has a universal appeal, of course, but women 18-24 are really gravitating toward you.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, still feeling uncertain. “I guess I don’t understand.”
“The young women love you,” said Arnie. “They love your style, your attitude, your voice, your enthusiasm. You’re like this beacon to them. They’re buying Audition because of you.”
“I know you probably don’t know too much about marketing,” said Daisy sweetly. “But 18-24 is a hard market to capture. They’re impressionable, they’ve got disposable income, they often look for a mouthpiece for their feelings. They fall in love, and as long as you keep giving them what they want, they stay in love.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry,” I said. “I mean, I understand but I don’t know what it all means.”
“We need to capture this market,” said Micah. “And we think if we can give them something special with you, we can really build some lifelong fans of your music.”
“Wow, really?” I said. “Okay, sure… that sounds great. What do I have to do?”
“We’re going to continue on with Cast Party,” said Micah. “You guys are going to be huge, surely. Do the tour, do another album. But we also want to put together a solo album for you. Something your fans can latch on to. Something intimate, something personal.”
“But definitely rockin’,” said Arnie with a fist raised.
“Yes, rockin’,” said Micah. “But with some pop in there for broader accessibility.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. “So… a solo record? Without Cast Party?”
“You understand fine,” said Micah. “That’s exactly what we’re proposing.”
“I don’t know,” I said with a sigh. “I write the lyrics, sure, but most of the music is from James. He’s the primary songwriter.”
“Don’t you worry about that at all,” said Arnie. “We’ve got an in-house team you can work with that will write you some mind blowing tunes to go along with your lyrics. Hit after hit, these cats will be dying your hair platinum ra
ther than blue!” With that, Arnie released a belly laugh.
“I mean…” I said, trailing off. My stomach felt like it was knotting itself up. I looked to Daisy, and she maintained her encouraging expression. “Daisy?” I asked. “What do you think?”
“Layla, this is a huge opportunity for you,” she said. “You can have your cake and eat it, too. Still work with Cast Party, still make music with your friends, but you also get your own solo thing. And we think we can really blow you up huge. This is a chance for fame and fortune on an even grander scale than you’d ever thought about. Think, like… giant pop star.”
“That’s really scary,” I said, taking a deep breath. “You really think I can become that?”
“Of course!” Arnie butted in. “But listen, we’re not gonna make you some teeny bopper. No way. You’re gonna keep your edge, you’re gonna be a rocker girl. A punk. But we’re going to take that attitude, take that look — that panache — and we’re gonna sell it to the mainstream.”
“I’ve got to think about it,” I said. I was feeling queasy. “It makes me feel sort of… like I’m going behind the band’s back.”
“Oh no!” said Micah, putting his hands up. “No way. We’re committed to Cast Party as well.”
“It feels a little phony,” I continued on. “It feels like it would be forced, in a way.”
“It’s a lot to think about,” said Arnie. “I’ll grant you that. But you could be an icon, Layla. Think of some of your musical heroes. You could be like them. We’re not trying to make you dull, water you down, nothing like that. You keep your little dingle,” he said, pointing to his lip to indicate my labret piercing. “You keep your hair, your look, your attitude. We just turn it up even louder. We take the punk rock sensibility and we just polish it a bit for a pop audience.”
I sat and thought about it. I couldn’t make up my mind. Looking to each of them, all sitting across from me with expectant smiles on their faces. Arnie and Micah, I liked them but I could never be quite sure of their motivations. Daisy, though, I loved her. And I knew she would always want what she thought was best for me. The idea of being a giant star was enticing to me, albeit scary, but the possibility of getting my thoughts and feelings out to millions upon millions of people, it was a very alluring bargain.
“I can tell you’re trepidatious,” said Arnie. “Sleep on it. You don’t have to sign on to anything today, we’re just trying to pitch it to you.”
“It’ll be separate from Cast Party,” said Micah. “An entirely new recording deal for you on your own.”
“You’re still committed to three albums for Cast Party?” I asked.
“Still committed,” said Arnie. “But we want to lock you in, Layla, and put out some big, big albums. You’re gonna be a giant, girl. A true powerhouse in American music.”
“Oh God,” I sighed under my breath and looked down. I lifted my cup of tea and took a sip. I was nervous, but it felt like the good kind of nervous. It was almost like I felt when I was about to go on stage. I knew the anxiety would drain out just as quickly as it came, and waiting for me on the other side would be love, acceptance, and joy. But I wasn’t quite there yet.
“Sleep on it,” said Arnie again, grinning at me and standing up. He straightened his jacket. “You just let us know when you’re ready and we’ll make this happen.”
“It’ll be huge, Layla,” said Micah. He followed Arnie’s lead and stood up.
“Thank you,” I said meekly. “I’ll sleep on it.”
“Let’s make magic,” said Arnie excitedly. After some enthusiastic goodbyes, Arnie and Micah left Daisy’s office. Although I had felt high at the start of the meeting, I was beginning to feel lower than I could have anticipated. I knew they were offering me something big — really big — but at what cost?
“Let’s take a walk to the coffee shop,” said Daisy with a tender smile. “Okay?”
“Okay,” I said.
I sat at a wooden table off to the side in the busy coffee shop, people chatting, bean grinders sounding off, as Daisy ambled up toward me with a white cup of coffee in each hand. She handed one of them off to me, and then lowered herself down into the seat across from me. She had a smile on her face.
“Dirty chai latte, just as you ordered,” said Daisy happily. “I got one, too. I’ve never had it before!”
“It’s good,” I said, picking up my drink and taking a sip. Daisy followed my lead.
“Mmm!” she hummed. “This could be my new favorite.”
“Sometimes I do a double dirty chai latte,” I said. “Two shots of espresso.”
“That would wire me up, guaranteed!” said Daisy, laughing.
I sighed, I smiled, I gazed across the table at her. We had a comfortable moment of silence between us. I just wanted to feel calm.
“So tell me,” she said, setting her cup down and locking her eyes to mine. “How are you feeling about this?”
“About… this?” I asked, gingerly pointing my finger back and forth between us.
“Oh… no, I mean, the conversation back at the office,” she said. “But, you know, if you want to talk about us, too, that’s fine with me.” She smiled sweetly.
“I think they’re related in a way,” I said. I took a deep breath. “Daisy, I’m so in love with you. It’s just hit me so hard and it makes it difficult to think straight. I haven’t been the luckiest in relationships in the past, but this… it just makes me really happy.”
“Even if I’m kind of a square?” she asked teasingly, giving her blonde locks a bounce with her palm.
“C’mon, you’re not a square,” I said. “You’re pretty cool, actually. You’ve got a real rebellious streak in you. I can see it.”
“That’s sweet of you to say,” Daisy said. “Even if it’s totally off base.” She sighed and then she smiled adoringly at me. “I love you, too, Layla,” she went on. “I really care about you, and I care about your career.”
“I’m worried what the guys will think,” I said. “I have a feeling they’re going to be pissed. If I take this deal with the label, I bet they’ll think I’m selling them out.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because it would be selling them out,” I said. “Wouldn’t it?”
“Well…” said Daisy, pausing as she considered the question. “No, I don’t think so. Because, like we said in the meeting, we’re going to put out another Cast Party record. Municipal loves the reception to the band and we think we can push that even further. We just want to take you on a parallel line, you know?”
“Can I trust you, Daisy?” I asked solemnly.
“What do you mean?”
“I just… are you on my side or the label’s?”
“I think both you and the label are on the same side,” Daisy said affirmatively. “I truly believe that.”
“Really?”
“Yes, absolutely,” she said. “Look… the label wants to make money, I don’t think that’s a secret. And they think that’s a real possibility with you. With Cast Party, too… it’s just that they see a clearer path with you by yourself.”
“That’s really troubling,” I said. “The band means so much to me. I don’t want to leave them behind.”
“And you don’t have to,” she said. “You really don’t, Layla.”
“You think that’s the case?” I said. “What if, a few years from now, my solo work far exceeds the popularity of the band?”
“Well, if that were to happen…” Daisy said with a sigh. “I think the label would prefer to throw more support behind your solo pursuits.”
“Yeah,” I mourned.
“I think you’ve got to realize, Layla,” she began, twisting her coffee cup around in her hands on the table. “You have an immense opportunity in front of you. What’s happening for you, it doesn’t happen very often. This is, like, Madonna level opportunity. I think Municipal wants to make you into some kind of masthead for their brand.”
“That’s frightening
,” I said. “That’s very frightening for me, for my anxiety, for the way I feel about my band, my music, and for myself. You can understand that, right?”
“Definitely,” said Daisy. “Just know that I care for you immensely, Layla. I’m so… happy… I’m so happy that I found you. I’m happy that you accept me.”
“That I accept you?”
“Well, yeah,” she said, smiling shyly. “I’m kind of… traditional. I think you know that. And I’m a Type A workaholic, business woman by day, then I tend to drink a little too much and get nutty at night. I don’t know. I’ve just dated a lot of women who that hasn’t worked for. I’ve got my own issues I deal with.”
“What kind of issues?” I murmured.
“I’m still dealing with stuff from my own childhood,” she said. “Like you. Like you noticed about me. People treat you differently when you’re a pretty blonde. And although my family knows that I’m a lesbian, I still get remarks about marrying a man and starting a family… you know, for the good of our Catholic name.”
“I understand,” I said.
“So I’m just trying to figure it out like you,” Daisy continued. “And I’m thankful that you’re patient with me and that we get along so well, despite that we’re from different worlds. It just works for us, right?”
“Right,” I said, feeling a smile grow across my lips.
“I think you should do this, Layla,” she said seriously. “Not just because we all stand to make a lot of money, but because with our platform and your… just… you, your authenticity… you will be able to have a positive effect on millions of people. One of the biggest music labels on the planet believes in you and is ready to bet it all on you. I just don’t think it’s something you can say no to.”
“Will you be there with me?” I said gently, reaching my hand across the table. Daisy took it and we held tightly to one another.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, of course. I’ll look out for you and I’ll always be there for you. We’re going to do this together.”
I smiled and nodded slowly, looking down to my coffee cup for a moment as I took it all in, yet I remained holding on to Daisy’s hand. I never wanted to let it go. It was difficult to reconcile everything she was saying, everything about how big I could be. It didn’t make any sense. She had mentioned Madonna and that level of stardom, I just couldn’t fathom it. I was more of a Lucky Star fan when it came to Madonna, rather than anything she’d done more recently. But it was undeniable that she was an icon worth revering. To be anything close to her would be insanity.
Rise From Rock City: A Lesbian Rock Star Romance (Revolving Record Book 1) Page 14