Whiskey and Honey: Can a forbidden fling be real love? (The Empire Records Series Book 1)

by Heather Lauren

  She gasps in fake horror. “I do not!”

  All I can do is laugh. “So, are you nervous about dinner? Do you know Grace very well?”

  “No, Grace is the best. I hate that her and Marcus couldn’t make it work between them, but I’m also very grateful that they still manage to co-parent so damn well. I love Harmony and have missed her like crazy. We FaceTime at least once a week, but I can’t wait to get my hands around her.”

  Her beaming smile tells me exactly how much she loves that little girl. I can’t blame her. I’ve only known her a year, and she won me over in the first two minutes. Me, a dude who didn’t think he liked kids at all. “She is definitely a badass three-year-old.”

  “You have a sister that lives here?”

  “Yep, Willow. Little sister that constantly worries me. She’s a free spirit.” I air quote and turn to grab my own coffee.

  I hear her slide down off the stool, and her shoulder grazes my arm as she comes around to set her empty mug in the sink. The touch is electric and sends want through my entire body. I step up behind her before I even know what I’m doing, pressing myself as close as I can and pushing her against the sink. She leans back into me, and I wrap my arms around her small waist and bend down just enough for my lips to graze her ear.

  “I can’t help myself anymore, Lyla. Do you want to finish what you started last night?”

  Grinding her ass back against my cock, she whispers breathlessly, “I thought you’d never ask.”

  She turns around in my arms, and I lift my hands to the side of the sink, caging her in and locking my gaze with hers. My mouth descends slowly and when my lips taste hers, I feel it throughout my entire body. I deepen the kiss and breathe her in, enjoying the sound she makes. Her hands trace my chest and slowly down my abs, then suddenly she breaks the kiss and looks up at me.

  “I’m really hungry this morning; do you mind if I eat first?” she says as she sinks down to her knees. Her dark and stormy green eyes staring up at me full of greed, her tongue darts out and drags across her top lip slowly, and the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen shines from her face. Suddenly I feel like my feet are made of concrete and I’m frozen in front of her, watching her delicate hands come up to my waistband and pull my sweatpants down. I watch her eyes go wide and mouth open and shut instantly. She drags her gaze up to my face, and I give her my proudest smirk.

  “Wow. Impressive,” she tells me nonchalantly, but I can see the fear in her eyes. As I bend down to pull her up, she stops me by grabbing my cock with both hands, which causes me to catch the counter as my knees go weak. She begins to stroke me up and down, and I lose all train of thought. I watch her as she licks me base to tip, widening her tongue and taking me in just enough to pop off like I’m a damn lollipop. She continues the torture, taking more and more of me until she’s got me all the way down her throat. I growl at the insane pleasure; I can’t believe how close I am, and before I embarrass myself, I have to do something.

  I notice the honey sitting on the counter and think it would taste great all over her body, so I grab it. Her eyes snap straight to mine when she hears the pop of the plastic bear. She pulls off me just in time for the honey to drip on her lips, down her neck, and finally more drops onto her cleavage that’s peeking through her robe. She licks up pre-cum and honey, and I growl again. Lyla moans. She pulls me out then in again, moaning and pushing me straight to the edge.

  “Fuck baby I’m coming!” I clamp my jaw as she takes me deeper. I reach the cliff and fly off like a cannon, coming so hard I almost lose my balance. Her movements become slower as I come down, but she works me until I’m completely spent.

  Once I catch my breath, she pulls herself back up my body and kisses my chin. The gesture is sweet and contradicts her rough actions. My fingers find the string to her robe, and I pull slowly, savoring the way her body reveals itself to me like curtains parting for the eighth wonder of the world, and I’m the lucky bastard who gets to witness it.

  My hands run over her silk shoulders and the robe falls to the floor. She looks up at me with so much desire I feel it deep in my chest. A spark of something I’ve never felt before. No one has ever looked at me like that. My mouth instantly crashes to hers, and our kiss is pure need, rough and uncalculating. Her hands run up my bare chest, over my shoulders, the back of my neck and into my hair. I break the kiss only to taste my way down her chin and neck, licking up honey and what can only be Lyla, and it’s delicious. I lick her earlobe and bite lightly, loving the sounds she makes for me, then press one last kiss behind her ear before moving lower, nipping a hot trail down her body. My hands roam to cup her gorgeous tits and lick off the rest of the honey. Lyla moans my name when I suck her right nipple into my mouth and roll her left between my fingers and then switch, sucking in her left.

  “Cole! Fuck, please!” she cries desperately.

  Quickly, I pull up my sweatpants and lower to my knees, place a kiss to her stomach, and then gently bite her hip. A shiver runs through her whole body, and she steadies herself with locks of my hair, and I lick a hot trail down and reach up between her legs. She widens her stance for me with a wicked grin, and my mouth waters in anticipation.

  When my tongue makes contact, and I can taste her wetness and it’s everything I’ve been dreaming about. She does taste like fucking honey, and it makes me delirious. My thumb runs along her slit, and I flick her clit with my tongue over and over. I watch her; she looks like a goddess above me, and her sounds are a song pumping straight to my throbbing cock that is already hard again. I work my tongue against her and push a finger across her entrance. Her back arches welcoming my finger, I slide in and out in a steady rhythm until I hear the magic words.

  “Fuck yes, Cole!”

  I push another finder inside her warmth and start a faster pace, all while tasting her sweetness. She pulls my hair and takes exactly what she wants, and I love it. Her orgasm rips through her as she screams my name. The site before me something I’ll never forget, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen come apart before my eyes.

  “You taste so fucking good. I can’t help but devour you.” I say looking up at her and rubbing up her thighs as they slowly stop shaking.

  “Holy wow Cole.” She looks tired and speechless and I revel in the fact that I did that to this bad ass woman. From what I’ve learned about Lyla, she’s tough as nails and never makes herself vulnerable, but for me, at least for this moment she’s putty in my hands. I don’t take the responsibility lightly and while she seems like she might faint I swoop her up into my arms and carry her to her shower. I don’t usually stick around after orgasm, but I remember at least one thing Marcus said, she’s Lyla, she’s special. With that in mind I get under the hot steam with her and slowly we clean off all the dirty things we just did in the kitchen. We don’t talk about it which I’m grateful for because I honestly don’t know what I would say. When we’re done, she lays down in her bed and I go back to my room. It feels weird but it’s not like I could stay.

  I can’t get into a complicated relationship like this; she lives in the same house. I just put myself into my own worst-case scenario, and now I have no idea how to navigate. All these thoughts clash with the image of her naked body above me. I dress quickly and get the fuck out of the apartment to clear my head. It’s going to be a long day at work but I need some air that doesn’t smell like her.

  8

  Lyla

  I nervously run my sweaty palms down the skirt of my black dress and open the door to Hamilton's. When I woke up I was surprised to be the only person in the apartment. When Cole came onto me in the kitchen, I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. From the way he flirts with me and sets my nervous on fire to the way he listens to me and distracts me with things like MMA fights, Cole seems to be the complete package. Which is why I’m nervous right now. I know he doesn’t do relationships and I don’t either, not to mention Marcus wouldn’t be furious if he found out. So now I have to socialize with all our friends and pret
end he didn’t give me the greatest orgasm of my life then bail.

  This doesn’t have to be a big deal. I remind myself as I walk up to the hostess stand. Just play it cool like nothing happened. Cole’s hot as hell, and the things he did to me will go down in spank bank history, but nothing is between us so I just need to be cool.

  All of that is true and I could probably be really good at casual sex, but I just don’t usually get past the date with a guy. Or past the being asked out on a date part, but I could really see myself liking Cole.

  This is uncomfortable new territory and I say a small prayer for courage as the hostess leads me to a back of the restaurant. The doors open into a small room with just a long dining table. The back wall is floor-to-ceiling windows and overlooks the beautiful ocean sunset. I’m almost pushed over as a tiny Harmony runs straight into me and wraps her arms around my legs in a death grip.

  “Harmony!” I laugh and look up to see Grace and Marcus. By the looks on both their faces, I assume I interrupted something. Grace quickly smooths her features and scoots her chair back, coming around the table with a smile and her arms open. “Hey, Lyla, it’s so good to have you back home. You look great!”

  “Thank you, Grace!” I say with a huge smile because I feel good about being home, considering what a mess my life is at the moment. “It’s good to be back, and it is so good to see you.”

  “And me, right, Aunt Lyla,” Harmony says still attached.

  “Especially you my love,” I tell her, bending down to take her in a big hug.

  “Okay, you gotta let me go now; I have more friends coming,” Harmony says matter-of-factly and pushes me away.

  “Well, excuse me, but I’m way overdue on my Harmony hugs quota; you get right back here.”

  She squeals and runs around behind Marcus’ chair.

  “She’s only three and doesn’t want to hang all over me anymore. What happened, Grace?”

  “She’s growing up fast and full of sass,” she says softly and shrugs.

  “She’s even more beautiful than she was the last time I saw her. You must be so proud. She’s in preschool now, too, right?”

  “Thank you, yes and yes. She’s doing great. Excelling in everything put in front of her like a tiny little genius. We are all really proud of her. This is her village, and I’m not going to take all the credit for her awesomeness. Marcus is the best dad ever. Charlie comes to the house for dinner sometimes and hangs out or babysits if Marcus can’t watch her some nights. Willow does too. Cole’s sister, have you met yet?”

  “Have I met Willow yet? No, but I’m so glad everything is going well for you.”

  We take our seats with Marcus and Harmony at the table, and the doors fly open. Charlie enters along with Mason and a girl who must be Willow. I look at my watch and notice it’s six exactly and wonder if Cole is going to show up. If he doesn’t, I know it’ll hurt Harmony and it’ll be all my fault and Marcus will kill me, not that I’ll ever forgive myself. I was so stupid; of course it was a bad idea to sleep with him. He’s more involved in my family’s life than I am. What have I done?

  “Heyyy. Earth to Lyla.” Charlie bops me on my nose, interrupting my inner downward spiral.

  “Hey, how are you? Sorry, got lost in thoughts for a second.” I try sounding casual but don’t pull it off.

  “You okay?” she whispers in my ear as she hugs me to her skinny little body.

  “Of course, why in the world wouldn’t I be? Look at all I’ve got,” I say with a genuine smile as I pull Harmony off Charlie's legs and lift her up.

  “Hey, no fair.” Charlie whines.

  The entire room is laughing at me tickling Harmony when Cole pushes into the room. I instantly know things are going to be awkward by the look on his face when he sees me holding her. He runs a hand over his beard and puts on a fake smile. I hate that he looks so handsome in a dark ivy-green polo and dark jeans, his hair up in another messy bun as he walks around the room saying hi to everyone. Everyone joins us around the table, and Grace introduces me to Willow.

  Cole ends up in the seat directly across from me, making my body instantly too hot, my dress too tight, and I forget how to breathe. When our eyes meet, we stare at each other for a long minute, until he tears his eyes away and looks down at his water like it’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen.

  This is my hell. My greatest nightmare comes true. I am a cliché, a whore just like my mother. Fuck Howard ruining my life, this hurts way more. Looking down at my lap, I swallow hard; my mouth is so dry. I reach for my water, trying to calm the fuck down. Fuck Cole. Fuck this awful feeling. Fuck my life. I gulp down half my water.

  “Lyla? You there?” I hear through the fog of my panic attack. Everyone is staring at me.

  “What? I’m sorry?”

  “What is with you today?” Charlie asks, tilting her head with a look of worry.

  “Nothing,” I say and down the rest of my water. The waitress interrupts and saves me from further embarrassment and takes all our orders. My sweet Harmony comes and sits on my lap and lays out a coloring page and hands me a red crayon. If I didn’t already love her with my entire heart, it would all be hers after that.

  “I love you, kid,” I say as she looks up at me.

  “Love you too, lady.”

  “Lady?” I say, tilting my face back in mock horror, looking at her like she’s crazy. “Who is lady? I am not lady; I am your proud Aunt Lyla.”

  Tickling her sides, Harmony wiggles on my lap and laughs. “You win! You win, Aunt Lyla.”

  “Thank you.” My smile is smug, and I hear Cole laugh but don’t look at him. Harmony sits back over by her parents, and I remember I need to ignore Cole, at least until I figure out how to deal without losing my shit. The doors open, and the room fills with the most delicious smells. I can smell each individual dish, and as my eyes drift closed, I can practically taste every spice used, and I know I could recreate every plate identically. In a past life I did. As my steak is placed in front of me, I stare down and mentally calculate the average gross and net cost of the meat and slowly make a mental recipe for later.

  “Would you like any steak sauce?”

  “What?” I can feel Cole staring at the side of my face as I look up at the waitress. “I’m sorry, no I don’t need any sauce. Thank you.”

  Somehow, I manage to keep my eyes down and not look at him. Everyone around the table is in a conversation but me. I’m finally here, and I’m still letting a man run my life. Fuck that.

  “Excuse me,” I say to the waitress right before she hits the door. “Could I please have some honey?”

  As soon as the last word is out of my mouth I hear and feel Cole spit out his water. He coughs and hits the table with his hand. His face is beet red. And I smile triumphantly. If he wants to be weird, I’ll make it as awkward as possible for him. Cole continues to beat his chest and cough while the entire room stares at him. It takes a massive amount of willpower not to laugh my ass off at the look he’s shooting me. I cover my mouth with the napkin as though I’m just wiping my mouth, right before Marcus follows his gaze to me. As he stares at me I right myself, and no one is the wiser. Feeling like I have the upper hand back, I dig into my dinner.

  “I really think she’s going to bring a lot of personality to the label.” I hear Marcus say a short time later.

  “She has over two million followers on her YouTube channel,” Charlie adds.

  “I got to hear this,” Grace says as she pulls out her phone. “What’s her name?”

  “Keke Simone.”

  “Wow, she’s pretty,” Grace says, looking at Marcus who doesn’t look at her. She pushes play on one of the videos and the hip-hop music fills the small dining room. I sneak a glance to Cole, but he’s looking down at his plate. The music continues and a woman starts rapping so fast I can’t help but lean over to Grace to see her for myself. She is pretty and dominates the screen in a video she clearly made, but it’s badass. She’s flawless in speech, and the
lyrics give me goosebumps, and I have to rub my hands up and down my arms for friction. When the song ends, I dramatically look at Marcus with my jaw on the floor.

  “Dude. Girl’s got talent. She’s really signing. When? Can I meet her?” I laugh.

  “Yes, she’s really signing. She flies in next week, and she will be moving here from Colorado next month,” Marcus says proudly.

  “We’re stoked,” Mason says from the other end of the table.

  I notice Charlie staring at me and give her a shrug, hoping she’ll drop any suspicion she might have. The last thing I want is to pull her into any Marcus/Cole drama that I might have created.

  “She’ll be a game changer. I’ll definitely be telling everyone I know about her. Maybe help her get more followers,” Grace says.

  “Who is everyone? I thought everyone you knew is right here,” Marcus teases Grace.

  “Very funny but I do actually have other friends, Marcus.”

  “No one believes you, Grace.” He stares at her with a big grin until she playfully rubs her hand over his face, pushing him back a just a little. We all laugh. More at the way they joke with each other than the crack on Grace.

  “The food in this place was delicious, Marcus. Thank you,” I tell him honestly.

  “You bet. Although I know for a fact yours would have been better,” he says and winks.

  I know I should feel good about what he said, but I just feel the opposite. Dread fills me as I wait for all the questions from the new people in the group that don’t know I was a chef. Everyone who does know, also knows I’m not anymore and really don’t have any hope to be again. I take in a deep breath.

  “Are you a good cook?” It’s Cole’s sister Willow who starts.

  “I like to think so,” I say, hoping to deflect.

  “That’s cool. Maybe you wouldn’t mind hosting a family dinner one week. We could have it on your roof if my brother would ever finish fixing it up.” Willow glares at Cole until he starts nodding in agreement. He hasn’t said much to anyone tonight, and I hope that’s normal, but by the look on his sister’s face, I’m going to guess it’s not.