“And if I’m not interested?”
Well, fuck. I’ve never had that problem.
I give her a cocky grin. “Then I’ll keep trying.”
“Unbelievable.” But she’s smiling too.
She pops open the lid to the cupcake box, and takes a plastic knife to cut a lavender frosted cupcake in half.
“I’ve just gotten out of a serious relationship. I hate Walker, but I’m not over him. I’m still trying to digest what happened. I’m angry and hurt and bitter. I’m like this new person now and I’m trying to figure out who I am and what I want.”
“I can help you with that. You should want me.”
She shoots me a warning look and I shrug.
“So, if we’re being honest, I’m definitely attracted to you, Leo. But truly, I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t know if I’m ready for something like this. With someone like you.”
“Like me?”
“You’ve admitted you have a dicey past. Women throw themselves at you. I don’t know if that’s something I can handle.”
“Try,” I urge, surprised to hear myself say it.
Carly munches on her half of cupcake and stares out the window.
“We have how much time left in New York before the tour? A week?”
“A little more than a week.”
“Okay. Take me out on two dates before we start the tour. Then we’ll go from there.”
“Only two?”
She laughs and I love the sound. “Fine, three. And by date, I do not mean at your apartment.”
“You seemed to like my apartment just fine,” I say slyly.
She swats at me. “I liked it too much,” she says honestly, “and I’m not that person, so I don’t want to be put in that situation.”
The conversation shifts from there, and I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. Do I really want to take Carly out on three dates?
Of course I do.
Does this mean I can’t call up any of my booty girls? I try to imagine Carly’s reaction if she found out I was calling meaningless girls to come over and screw after our dates.
Yeah, I’m pretty certain that would put an end to things.
We exchange cell phone numbers and talk about the tour, and I share some stories about major screw-ups while the band has been on stage, but no one in the audience seemed to catch. I look at my watch and see that more than an hour has passed.
“I’m going to need to leave soon,” I say. I notice the quick flash of disappointment in Carly’s eyes but she quickly covers it up.
“That’s fine. As you can see, I was obviously busy too,” she laughs. She stands up and starts to clean up some of our trash, but somehow trips as she scoots around the coffee table.
She lets out a little shriek and falls toward me. I reach out, instinctively, and she tumbles into my lap.
Time seems to slow down, and everything between us seems to hang in the balance of one split second. I feel Carly’s warm body in my lap and she looks up at me with her innocent eyes. I know she feels it too, and then I make the move because I can’t think of anything else.
I press my lips softly against her, not wanting to scare her. She doesn’t resist, but doesn’t move either. I slowly move my lips, parting her own lips and sliding my tongue into her mouth. She responds then, moaning softly as she gently kisses me back. She adjusts her body so that she’s straddling me, and she wraps her hands around the back of my neck.
Our kiss deepens, and I can’t help but slide my hands down her back, and squeeze her ass in those tiny shorts. I hear her breath catch, and she rocks on my lap as I grab at her ass, and I know she has to feel my erection. How could I not be hard around Carly? It’s impossible.
I can only think about one thing, but I force myself to behave, and I keep kissing Carly, desperate for more of her. I run my hands up and down her bare legs, feeling the silky smoothness of her thighs. God, she feels so fucking good!
Her fingernails are in my hair, running along my scalp, which only drives me crazier. I can hear her little pants of breath, and I can’t take it any longer. Holding on to her back, I spring up, and gently lay her down on the length of the couch as I stretch my body out on top of her. Carly lets out a small sigh of pleasure, and we don’t miss a beat as we continue to kiss. I let her feel the full weight of my body, and push my straining erection against the flimsy material of her shorts. I can feel her hard nipples through the thin material of her shirt; it’s like a piece of heaven.
“Oh!” she cries out, running her nails along the back of my t-shirt, making me shiver.
I kiss a hot trail from her mouth over to her ear and take her earlobe into my mouth, sucking it softly. She cries out with pleasure and I smile to myself. Hearing her cry out like that is such a boost to my ego. I run my mouth down her neck, and to her collarbone, and Carly arches beneath me.
I’m so hungry for more of her, and I slowly slide my hands up to her shorts and try to tug them down.
“No!” she gasps, stopping.
“Please,” I beg. I need to touch her.
“No. It’s too fast!”
“Carly, let me touch you. Let me please you, baby,” I whisper into her mouth. She kisses me back, moaning in protest, and then pushes me off her.
She sits up abruptly, fixing her shirt, which is now bunched up around her middle. Her lips are pink from kissing me. It’s hot.
“I can’t,” she says more firmly. “I’m not ready for that.”
I back up onto the couch, pissed off, trying to regain composure.
“I’m sorry for leading you on,” she says softly, “I couldn’t help kissing you.”
She’s apologizing to me now. I feel like such an ass.
“Don’t be sorry,” I say hoarsely, my voice still gruff from arousal. “You made it perfectly clear to me how things would be.”
Which was true. Carly told me who she was. She said she wasn’t going to sleep with me right away. Did I really think I was going to show up here and get her into bed?
Still, it was a crush to my ego regardless.
“I thought you had to go, anyway,” she says, running her hands over her hair to try to tame the wild pieces.
“Shit! I did! I have a session with my trainer!”
I’m already ten minutes late. I’m literally going to have to run to the gym.
I hurry up and head for the door. I stop to give Carly one last, quick kiss.
“I’m just sorry I didn’t get to see your beautiful tits,” I murmur, and then I freeze, thinking that was too vulgar.
But Carly only shakes her head and smiles.
I open the door to leave and start to walk down the hallway.
“Oh, Leo!”
I turn back around and my jaw hits the floor.
Carly is standing in her doorway, holding her camisole around her neck, her two gorgeous, creamy-white tits on full display for me.
She yanks her shirt down and giggles before disappearing behind the door.
Carly
Oh my god.
Did I really just do that? Did I actually just flash Leo in broad daylight in the hallway of Quinn’s apartment building?
I let out a delirious giggle as I fall against the door. I am losing my mind. I am literally cracking up, because never would I ever in a million years just pull up my shirt to show a guy my boobs.
I’m insane.
I walk back to the living room in a daze, grinning like a prize idiot.
I’ve got it bad. I’m in serious trouble.
I take a sip of my Jamba Juice, and gather up the taco trash. There are still a few cupcakes and I put the box in the kitchen for Quinn and I to eat later.
I go back and stare at Quinn’s couches.
I just kissed Leo there.
I straddled him on her love seat, before he lifted me to the couch and laid on top of me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to sleep with Leo. Of course, I wanted to sleep with him. He was gorgeous, and he was Leo Nash a
fter all. There was a small part of me that swooned over him because of who he was, but I would never let him know that. I was too embarrassed.
But I think somewhere inside him there is a good person. Maybe he’s spent so much time being an asshole, that he forgot where to find his goodness. I really couldn’t explain why I was letting myself get involved with him. All the warning signs were there, and I was certainly damaged goods.
Yet, I couldn’t stay away. And it had been thoughtful that he took the time and effort to find out all my favorite food and then go buy it before coming over. But I definitely was not going to fall into bed with him over one romantic act.
I think about calling Quinn, but I wanted to keep my afternoon with Leo to myself for a little bit longer. I sink onto the couch and close my eyes, remembering the heat from Leo’s skin and the way his rough hands moved over my body. Everywhere he touch ignited a fire within me, and by the time we stopped, I wasn’t sure of anything except our intense physical chemistry.
My phone vibrates and I smile thinking its Leo.
The smile fades instantly.
It’s Walker.
I shouldn’t pick up. We haven’t spoken since I left him half naked at his house.
But I can’t resist.
“Hello?” My voice is guarded.
“Carly, I need to speak with you.”
“Oh, now you do?” I can’t help it. The bitterness oozes from me. Gone are all my happy, romantic feelings that Leo left behind.
“This tour is all wrong without you. It feels silly with Willow. She’s just a girl; she can’t sing these songs like you do.”
“Well, it’s a little late for that now, isn’t Walker? Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you fucked her!”
“I screwed up! I’m sorry! I never thought you would have left like that. I never though you would have quit Sideroad! How could you have walked away from our tour?”
“Are you kidding me? I was able to walk away because I caught you screwing Willow while I was supposed to be out of town! It’s not rocket science, Walker! I’d rather be nothing, than be successful while tolerating your disgusting behavior!” I seethe.
“Don’t be stupid, Carly! You can still come back. We can change everything and put you back on tour!”
“Oh, and what? We can try again? You spend your life making it up to me?” I ask sarcastically.
Walker doesn’t hear my sarcasm or chooses to ignore it.
“Yes. Something like that.”
Unbelievable.
“Well, forget it. That will happen when hell freezes over. I’ve moved on! I’m already starting a new career in New York. I don’t need Sideroad or you anymore!”
My heart hurts to say the words. I have to believe at some point I will believe those words.
“Really? You found work? You’re in New York?”
Walker sounds so surprised that I want to scream.
“Yes, I found work, Walker. I’m not sitting around crying over you?”
At least, not all day.
“Wow. What are you doing?”
I shouldn’t answer, I should just let it go, but I’m so wound up.
“I’m singing with Cobalt!” I snap.
“Co-balt?” He pronounces the name slowly as if it’s two words. “The rock group?”
“Yes!”
Now he laughs. “You’re singing rock music?”
“Yes. So what?” I’m defensive.
“Carly-bear,” he says, and I wince at his nickname for me. “I love you. Please come back to me. I’ll do whatever it takes to win you back, sweetie. Please. I’m begging you. I need you with me.”
The tears pour silently down my cheeks, but I shake my head. I have to be strong; I have too much pride.
“Goodbye Walker,” I choke, and I cut the call.
~~~
It takes me a good four hours to get myself together after Walker’s phone call. I knew that I shouldn’t have picked up. His call shredded me and I was an idiot to answer. Luckily, I left the house for rehearsal before Quinn came home. I knew if I saw her, I would break down again and have to tell her the whole story. And I was angry at Walker for ruining my good afternoon with Leo.
Leo.
I still don’t know if I knew what I was doing with him. The man was danger with a capital D for sure. But I figured as long as I knew to be cautious of Leo, I could prevent any hurt on my end.
At least, I hoped so.
As if a moth drawn to a flame, I search for Leo the second I set foot in the studio. I see him chatting with Kyle and Maddox and I give him a shy wave. Leo grins and waves me over.
“Carly, I don’t know if you’ve officially met Kyle and Maddox.”
“No, I haven’t. Nice to meet you,” I say shaking both of their hands.
Maddox is tall with dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes. He has an exotic look and I imagine he’s a mixture of a few ethnicities. From his striking looks, I’m pretty certain that he does well with the ladies.
Kyle isn’t as tall as Maddox, and he’s more muscular. He has cropped dirty blonde hair and dark green eyes. He has the effortless, laid-back vibe about him and I imagine him as a surfer in California.
“So I guess Leo has you fooled, huh?” Kyle teases.
Leo shoots him a warning look.
“Doubtful,” I say smiling. “I told Leo that I don’t take any crap.”
Maddox and Kyle crack up laughing. A moment later, Jacie comes over to join us.
“Hi, I’m Jacie,” she says in soft, deep voice.
“Carly,” I smile, shaking her hand.
Jacie takes my hand, holding it a little bit longer than necessary.
“Pleasure,” she purrs.
“Jacie,” Leo warns.
I look up confused.
“Sweetie, if you ever get sick of my egomaniac cousin here, feel free to call me.”
Oh.
I think Jacie is hitting on me.
I blush with embarrassment; I had no idea that Jacie was gay.
I guess it was small-minded of me, but I always picture lesbians as women with short, cropped hair who prefer menswear to ladies’ clothes. But Jacie is stunning with her long, hot-pink streaked hair, tight black pants and cleavage-baring silver top.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” she says, her voice kinder now. “Figures Leo gets you.” She winks.
I laugh, slightly more relaxed.
“C’mon,” Leo says, placing his hand at the small of my back and leading me away.
“Sorry about the band.”
“It’s fine, really. They seem nice.”
Leo grimaces. “They are most of the time. But all three of them want in your pants.”
I gasp at his words.
“It’s true,” he insists.
“That’s not really appropriate,” I stutter, looking down.
“Speaking of appropriate,” Leo says slyly, “What was with that little stunt in your hallway this afternoon?”
I blush bright red again. Oh my god. I can’t believe that I actually flashed Leo.
“I don’t know what came over me,” I moan, burying my head in my hands.
“Don’t be sorry!” Leo exclaims, pulling at my hands. “I’m not complaining.”
He pauses. “You sure know how to tease a guy.”
I look up in surprise.
“Don’t tell me,” he jokes, “You don’t know what a tease you are?”
“I don’t mean to,” I whisper. I really don’t. In fact, I’ve never really mastered the art of flirtation, let alone teasing.
Leo chuckles darkly. “You’re going to destroy me, woman.”
I give him a weak grin. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that Mark is getting ready to call everyone together.
“So, about our three dates,” Leo says quickly, noticing Mark. “How about we have one tomorrow?”
I smile, and for the first time in hours, I don’t think about Walker’s earlier phone call.
; “Sounds great.”
“I’ll pick you up at noon tomorrow. Dress comfortable!”
And then we’re ushered away to start rehearsal.
~~~
I toss and turn most of the night, thinking about my date with Leo, and telling myself that I am losing my mind because I have absolutely no business going out with Leo Nash in the first place.
I finally fall asleep at one point and next thing I know it’s past nine in the morning. Leo has told me to dress comfortably and I have no idea what that means. I also don’t need to be getting dressed three hours before my date.
I busy myself with eating breakfast, and cleaning up the kitchen. I take an extra long shower, and spend more time than necessary on my hair and makeup. I work extra hard to make my makeup look minimal. Foolish.
I finally decide I can get dressed. I choose teal shorts and a boat neck white shirt. I slip on my sneakers and hope that I’m dressed appropriately for whatever Leo has in mind.
At noon sharp, there’s a knock on the door and I pull the door open to reveal the most handsome man I have ever seen.
Leo, of course.
I really wish I was not this attracted to him. It makes it difficult to think straight.
He’s dressed in dark jeans with black sneakers and a grey t-shirt. His muscular chest is clearly visible.
I swallow hard.
“You look great,” he says, pulling me into a hug. He doesn’t kiss me, but my heart is hammering out of my chest, and I inhale deeply, smelling his now-familiar musky and warm scent. My hormones rage out of control.
“Thanks,” I manage to say, “I hope I’m dressed okay.”
“Perfect. Let’s get out of here. You don’t mind a little bit of walking do you? It’s beautiful outside.”
“No, not a bit.”
We make our way out of the building and set off down the block. Leo pulls a baseball cap out of his back pocket and pulls it low over his head. We get some stares, as if people are unsure if it’s Leo or not, but no one actually stops us. Leo puts his hand on the small of my back to guide me as we cross a street, and suddenly there is a man jumping in front of us with a camera.
Forbidden Ballad - Rock My World Page 6