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

by Heather Lauren

  “Great. I look forward to it. Have you come up with any designs yet?”

  “I have but I don’t like any of them. I’ll show them to you, but I’d really love your help coming up with a few different concepts.”

  “Yes, of course, I can do that. I don’t know if you’ll like any, but I can come up with a few different looks.”

  “Great. I’ll email you the original blueprints and the pictures I’ve taken.” We step out of the warehouse and wave to the crew. Jack nods goodbye with his cell phone against his ear.

  I open the passenger door for Lyla and help her into my truck. It’s a bit of a jump for her and difficult in her tight skirt and heels, but it’s been my absolute pleasure helping her in and out all day. I try to be a gentleman about it when she falls back into my arms. I grab her waist with both hands and easily place her on the truck seat. With a cocky grin I reach across her and buckle her seat belt too. Clicking it forces me so close to her I hear her breath catch. I drag my eyes from the belt up to her chest and neck and chin and lips, and landlock on her gaze. Her face is so close it wouldn’t take much to lean in and touch those amazing lips with mine. After a long moment I remember we are still on a job site, and the last thing she needs is attention from these assholes.

  I want to get her out of here. Spend time just the two of us. Talk about that fucking ridiculous idea of being just friends. I slowly pull away, dragging my hand across her thigh on my way, then I walk slowly around the back, trying to get ahold of myself to drive us home.

  The ride back is comfortable and filled with her telling me all her ideas for the different sites and I find myself in awe. She’s brilliant and I agree with everything, I hadn’t thought about a couple of her ideas that I think will be real game changers for my company brand. She goes on and on with so much excitement I can’t help but hang on her every word. We talk shop all the way home and well into night.

  For dinner she made steak with roasted carrots in some kind of fancy sauce that was mind-blowing. Marcus just walked in and sat down with a plate, looking exhausted.

  “Long day, buddy?” she asks him sympathetically.

  “Sure feels like it, but I’m actually home for dinner so I guess it was an early day per norm,” he tells her, rubbing his hands down his face then taking a bite. He starts making moaning noises and nodding his head energetically. “Lyla, this is amazing. Thank you for dinner. You’re a way better roommate than Cole.”

  I spit out a loud laugh. Shaking my head, I stand and gather my plate and grab hers and take them to the dishwasher. I clean up the kitchen while they talk, and when I’ve put the last of the leftover containers away, Lyla comes up behind me.

  “Oh my gosh, thank you so much. You didn’t have to do this; I would have.”

  “I don’t mind. You didn’t have to make all that amazing food or let me eat any of it, but you did so this is the least I can do.”

  “Hey, anytime. I think I’m starting to like cooking again. It used to rule my life, and I wasn’t so sure for a while there if I would ever enjoy it again, but lately it’s been fun,” she says with a pointed smile. I see something in her eyes, but it’s gone too fast to figure it out. She turns and grabs the whiskey, looking back over her shoulder at me. “Care to join us for a drink?”

  Her smile is revealing. She’s thinking about the last time we drank whiskey together and now so am I. I can see the fire burning, her eyes darkening, and all I can do is nod and follow her. I adjust myself before Marcus can notice, and Lyla pours us all a drink and we celebrate our new “friendships”—her words not mine—for hours. Half the bottle of whiskey later, the three of us have overshared drunken college stories, and I was blessed with embarrassing moments of teenage Marcus and Lyla and even learned a little more about Charlie since they all grew up together. All in all it’s been a great night. We finally waddle up to our bedrooms and collapse into bed. I know that’s exactly what I did, my California king never feeling so inviting. Feeling drunk, I thought sleep would come easy, but I toss and turn.

  12

  Lyla

  My head and body are fuzzy as I toss and turn in bed. My senses feel more dulled and the walls of my room are spinning. My comforter is super soft, like I’m engulfed in a fluffy cloud. I can smell the old paper from my book that’s on my side table, which is because it’s really old and smells bad and not because I’m drunk.

  My clothes feel too tight and my skin buzzes with electricity. I take off my pink t-shirt and black yoga pants, feeling gloriously naked and light. I laugh quietly, not wanting to wake anyone else up, but I can’t help all the giggles from coming out. I’m getting louder and grab the pillow from behind me and scoot further under the blankets.

  Finally, I get ahold of myself and catch my breath. I’m still really wired from the day and late night with Cole. He constantly surprises me with his easygoing personality. In my line of work, the men I’ve met are all really uptight and bossy. They don’t ask, they tell. It’s so nice to feel like someone actually cares what I have to say and respects when I don’t want to talk about other things.

  Not to mention the fact that Cole might be a living, breathing sex god. The man drips charm, and the way he proudly adjusted his dick in front of me had me about to lose my shit. If Marcus wouldn’t have been there, I would have climbed the man like a tree and begged him to get inside me. Damn, Lyla, get your head right. Without another thought I throw back the comforter, pull open the small drawer, and pull out my battery-operated boyfriend, better known as BOB. The only other man I’ve had in the last four years, which is sad.

  For now, I’m going to ride Cole in my wildest dreams. Clicking it on, I move the vibrator down between my breasts and over my navel. It quickly finds my clit, and I throw the blankets back over my head, wanting to block out everything except Cole's handsome face and strong body. His broad shoulders would be perfect to hold on to. His chest, I know for a fact, is just as impressive, but it’s the very large bulge in his pants and the way he was looking at me that has me so hot and bothered.

  I’m panting at the thought of him between my legs, and I’m so close to the edge I don’t notice someone opened the door until the light in the room changes. My eyes snap open. The big white comforter is being pulled down to the tops of my breasts, and I gasp and fumble to stop the vibrator. My eyes meet Cole’s; holy shit, he’s sitting on the bed beside me, smiling, and I continue blindly looking for the off switch to my very loud BOB, failing and turning beet red. It shoots out my hand, and I’m about to start yelling at him to get the hell out when he says, “I heard my name.”

  Bending over to grab the vibrator, Cole hands it back to me, completely calm like this is somehow normal. Both my hands cover my face in embarrassment. I’m breathing so hard, my heartbeat going a million miles a minute, and I don’t even take the toy from him. I’m so mortified I don’t know what to say. Before I can even start to make excuses, I hear a loud buzzing and risk a peek through open fingers. Cole turned it back on and is looking at me like he’s waiting on an invitation to pussy town. Nothing but an eager smile on his face. I search his eyes, hoping to find the answer to this crazy visit but not for too long because I want this more than I want to breathe right now.

  Without giving him any words in response to his comment, I slowly move all my blankets from his side to the other side of the bed and let them fall off. His dark-brown eyes drink me in, and he inhales a big gust of air and lets it out slowly. He doesn’t say anything although I can tell he wants to. Instead, he moves the vibrator that’s in his hand to my inner thigh. He drags it between my closed legs slowly. My eyes are glued to his face, watching his dark expression as it moves over my most intimate places.

  I want to see him, watch him touch me. My back starts to arch as he nears my core. He bends down closer and whispers in a deep husky voice, “Open your legs for me.”

  I don’t say anything, just open for him slowly, goosebumps erupting all over the surface of my skin, my body feeling high
er, lighter, when suddenly he slides it across my slit, the vibrations meeting my clit, and my mouth drops open with a moan, and my heavy eyes flutter closed. It feels so good. So much better than pretending it’s him, to really have him here making me feel like this has me bucking into his hand. I grind against the vibrator shamelessly and bring my hands around my breasts, squeezing them together, hoping to give him a show. When I pry my eyes open, I’m in luck. He moved between my legs and is watching me and working the toy better than I ever did. A second later he turns it and pushes the long pulsing toy inside me, and I gasp, my back leaving the bed and my eyes slamming shut in pleasure.

  “I’m. So. Close,” I beg.

  He pushes harder and faster, pumping in and out until I’m coming apart. Twinkling stars blur my vision as the orgasm rips through me like a hurricane. My body jerks, and my legs shake in uncontrollable spasms. I’m in total bliss and breathing hard.

  My heartbeat is the only thing I can hear, and then suddenly I feel the bottom of the bed move. I watch Cole back up off the bed slowly, smiling like he’s become shy all the sudden. He stands and stares down at me in all my naked, sheet-soaked glory and licks his lips. He’s only in his black sweatpants, baring his chiseled abs and broad chest. I lick my lips, nowhere near ready to be done with him. I swallow hard and sit up, then crawl over to the edge of the bed closest to him, but he backs up a few steps. I slant my head to the side and look at him with the question in my eyes, afraid real words will break this spell that were in.

  “I better go before your dad kills me,” he whispers and jams a thumb toward my bedroom door and takes slow, deliberate steps backwards, still staring at me with a huge grin on his face. I watch his eyes bob from my chest to my face several times before he opens the door and slips out.

  13

  Lyla

  My first week of working with Cole went by fast. It’s been fun and challenging, and he makes it exciting. We made an agreement to just be friends, but it doesn’t feel like we’re just friends. Friends don’t steal touches when no one is looking. Friends don’t hold hands. Friends don’t kiss, and friends don’t sneak into each other’s room and help them masturbate.

  We are both fighting it but still can’t help but touch each other. Every day is becoming harder and harder. The lightest touch from the man can light my entire body on fire and soak my panties. I’ve started keeping an extra pair in my purse because I’ve been spending almost every minute with him and by lunchtime, I’m soaked to the point I’m afraid I’ll leave a spot on a chair. I’m so twisted up about him I find myself trying to stay busy and active, anything to sweat and release all this pent-up aggression and frustration out. It’s Saturday morning and I’m running along the beach. It’s early, the sun still coming up over the horizon so no one else is around right now. The small beach is clean and near our house. It feels good to say that. Our house. I made my first paycheck and gave it directly to Marcus, which made me feel great until I found it in my purse on my way here. Sneaky man.

  Our rag tag team of misfits are all going out to a big-ass MMA fight tonight, all thanks to Cole. He got tickets for everyone and secured a VIP section which for this fight that is going to be televised, could not have been cheap. I’m hella nervous and excited. Nervous because I need to control my crazy attraction to my roommate who is also my boss and the only source of income I can get right now. Not to mention our mutual bestie Marcus who wouldn’t be happy to see us sneaking around. Why can’t I help it? After this week, I’ll be honest, I don’t want to. I want Cole. I want him so bad I can barely sleep at night knowing he’s in the room next door to mine. Once I thought I heard him moan through the wall. Even if he didn’t, I imagined he did and even put my water glass up against it, trying to hear him better. Wishing it was me making him sound like that.

  Fully aroused again just at the thought, I step harder and run faster. The sand is slightly wet and packed and makes this run easier; sweat trickles down my back and my cleavage. I should have worn a big t-shirt instead of just this sports bra that is feeling way too tight right now.

  Seagulls fly above and scatter around, pecking at the sand and rushing in toward incoming waves until I run up on them and they take flight again. I finally made it out here to my favorite little beach at sunrise. I came here for my runs every morning before I moved. I love it here. Looking back on the last six years, I feel like I wasted it all. I worked every day and would have worked myself to death if it wasn’t for the disaster Howard caused. Before I have a chance to let my mind spiral down that rabbit hole, my phone rings in my small pants pocket. Lululemon makes awesome leggings.

  I slow down to a fast walk, pulling it out but don’t recognize the Chicago number, so I send it to voicemail. Taking deep breaths to calm down, I slow my pace even more and enjoy the rising sunshine that warms my face and walk the rest of the way back to Cole’s truck he let me borrow since he’s sleeping in. What I wouldn’t give to be in that bed with him right now. My phone rings again before I have the key in the ignition. Same number. Strange. They didn’t leave a message. Well, they can because I don’t even want to think about Chicago right now.

  Truck started, I hit the red reject button, sending the caller to voicemail, and head toward home. Eggs Benedict, bacon, and fruit salad are waiting when Cole comes downstairs, along with a pot of coffee. I sit at the island, sketching a few ideas for the warehouse and when I look up, I’m rewarded with his bare backside in all its muscular glory. Gray sweatpants sit low on his waist, and his ass looks so fucking good I have to catch my moan before it makes a sound.

  His long dusty-brown hair is down around his shoulders, and I just want to grab a handful and direct his face between my legs. Fuck. This is getting harder. Much like my lady boner. He turns around slowly, or maybe I’m just seeing him in sexy slow-mo. Like Baywatch but with Cole and coffee and his sexy hair down and messy and that beard that still reaches my dreams with how good it feels on my body.

  “Ready for tonight?”

  “Hmm, what?” I say, blinking several times. Keep your fucking cool, Lyla.

  “Were you just checking me out, Lyla?”

  “What? Of course not.” I blush. Damn it. His smile is beaming, and I can feel myself blushing harder.

  “Really? ’Cause it looked like your eyes were taking in a show.”

  “Oh my gosh, please don’t say gun show. Really, Cole.”

  I bust out laughing, forgetting all about the earlier embarrassment which is not a new thing around this man. His laughter mingles with mine and soon Marcus and Harmony come bounding down the stairs and join us.

  We all eat and talk about the week we had, and Harmony is bouncing with excitement. “Hey, kiddo, what’s got you so excited this morning?” Cole asks.

  “I’m just so happy to see Grandma and Grandpa!” she exclaims in an almost scream.

  “Wow, really, your mom and dad are coming back to town, Marcus?” I ask, meeting her excitement. He laughs at us girls being so extra.

  “Yeah, they’ll be here tonight. They plan to set up at the RV park just down the beach. I offered to put them up at the Hilton or Marriott, but of course Mom said she enjoyed her little home.” He air quotes the last part.

  “That’s awesome. I can’t wait to see her. They always came by to see me when driving through Chicago, but I was always working and could only say hi and feed them. It still feels like years since I’ve actually been able to sit down and talk to Ms. Nora.”

  “Well, you’ll get to. Harmony is having a sleepover with her tonight, but I was thinking a brunch with everyone at Hamilton’s tomorrow, maybe around eleven.”

  “Awesome, I’m in. And I can pay for myself for a change ’cause boss man here paid me, and you won’t take my hard-earned money.”

  I jab a thumb at Cole, but I’m facing Marcus at the kitchen island. He gives me a guilty smile and picks Harmony up off the stool and sets her down. “Let’s go upstairs and brush teeth, then we’ll grab your backpack and the dolls you
want to take, and we’ll go to the beach for a while. How’s that sound?”

  “Um, great.” I say, looking down at her. She laughs and runs upstairs, and Marcus follows behind but turns around at the bottom of the steps.

  “What time are we going to the fight?”

  “If you want to meet here, I scheduled a car to pick us up at seven. I can make it earlier if we want to grab a bite to eat or meet us there before nine. You’ve got a ticket under your name and someone will show you to our section I’m sure.”

  “Okay, man. I’ll let you know for sure after I hear from my mom. Thanks again,” he says over his shoulder as he walks upstairs.

  “I’m fucking stoked for the fight tonight. Plus, the fancy car so I can get shit-faced like a baller in VIP.”

  I hold my arms out like a field goal and pump it up to the ceiling, making Cole roll in laughter. It’s by far my favorite thing to do these days.

  “Holy shit. Should I also hire security to babysit you? Make sure you don’t get too crazy?”

  “Crazy is fun, Cole; don’t spoil my fun, join me,” I say, wagging my brows.

  “Aaand what type of fun are we talking about here, Lyla?” he says in a whisper while leaning in close to my face, and instantly it raises my temperature.

  “The good kind of course. The only kind I know,” I whisper back, and my eyes drop to his lips when he pulls in his bottom lip between his teeth.

  “Alright, we are out of here,” Marcus announces, sending my back rail-straight and causing my eyes to bug out. Cole, of course, laughs. The two make their way down and Harmony gives her backpack to her dad who helps her put it on. It’s so cute to watch them together. He did her hair today in tight pigtail buns, but her hair is so much softer than his, so she already has a few flyaway strands that slipped out. She looks adorable as always, bouncing on her toes in her Moana bathing suit. They both hug me goodbye, and Cole picks her up in a bear hug and swings her around.