Breaking All the Rules (21 page)

              “Mia Barnes speaking.”

              “Why did you hang up?” Benson questioned sharply.

              “I can’t sit around and wait on hold all day. I’ve got other things to do. Did you see the news?”

              “Don’t hang up anymore. I’ve informed Thomas that your calls are a priority now. And yes. Forty years?”

              “Mmhm,” Mia buzzed. “This is a cluster-fuck. Anne took me off the PR for the incident, too. She said I’m too close to the band, and I’m not experienced enough to deal with a murder charge.”

              “I’m sorry, precious. I know they’re… important to you.”

              “I can cry on your shoulder about it tonight. This is a business call. I’ve got Grant gnawing my leg off wanting to know about the show Saturday. I don’t know anything about Burnside’s contract with Monarch yet. Anne said something about possibly getting out on bail and recording and playing, but I don’t see that happening. Is Charlotte’s Drive good to go even without Burnside?”

              “I’m not stupid enough to pass a popular headliner up because the opening act is in trouble. We had only planned on having one act in the first place.”

              “Don’t count Burnside out, yet, Benson,” Mia pleaded. “Despite Max’s fuck up, they’re a good band.”

              “They are a good band, but how are they going to play without a drummer?”

              “I’ll figure it out, okay? Trust me.”

              “I do trust you.”

              There was a brief silence before Mia switched gears, “So I get to cry on your shoulder tonight, then?”

              She could feel Benson’s smile through the phone, “I’d prefer to have you crying out my name while you’re beneath me.”

              There was a flare of heat between her legs and she swallowed hard, “I’d prefer that, too, but I’m going to need a few drinks after the day I’m having. Will you meet me at a place called Feathers on West 44
th
Street? It’s a few blocks from my apartment. Lora will probably be there, too.”

              She expected him to decline, but Benson quickly confirmed he’d be there around six. When they ended the call, Mia texted Lora telling her to call her when she had a chance. Her phone immediately rang, and Mia filled Lora in on the hell that was happening at her office and about meeting at Feathers that night. Lora was excited to meet Benson and asked to bring Zach along. She admitted that they, too, had an adventurous weekend.

              Without having to deal with Burnside’s mess, Mia found work rather boring. She tried to contact Tyler multiple times before giving up. She had even invited him to lunch to talk about everything. Instead, she ate lunch alone, scarfing down her cheesesteak wedged between two families of tourists.

              Though Mia loved having Victor drive her around, she also enjoyed his absence during work hours. She enjoyed the active lifestyle that came with being a New Yorker. Instead of heading straight back to the office, she stopped at a Starbucks and grabbed a drink before taking a leisurely stroll. The fall afternoon was breezy, but she felt fine without a jacket.

              She ducked in a few tiny shops along the strip. She casually skimmed vinyl at a record shop, silently moved through antique teacups at a vintage furniture store, and flipped through clothes and trinkets at specialty shops. She fell in love with a hip vintage store, making a mental note to go back when she had more time. When her eyes fell upon a pair of silver cufflinks that were worn lion heads, she knew she had to get it for Benson. They reminded her of him. She wasn’t sure if they were at a gift-giving point in their relationship, but she bought them anyway. She also splurged on a handful of organic bath bombs to use in his luxurious tub.

              Mia had extended her lunch by nearly an hour by the time she arrived back at the office, but nobody seemed to notice. She tucked the tiny grey box that held Benson’s cufflinks in her purse alongside the paper bag that held her new toiletries.

              There was an email from Grant waiting for her when she returned expressing his concern for Saturday yet again. She responded, letting him know Benson wanted Charlotte’s Drive with or without an opener. She tried calling Tyler again. Then again. By the end of the day she had called him nearly ten times, each going straight to voicemail. She sent him a text and checked in with Anne.

              Her boss let her know the charges against Max were upheld and he had a court hearing the next morning. Monarch had been in a non-stop rotation of meetings and Tyler had been busy with the executive most of the morning, then left to meet Max’s parents.
That explains his absence.
Anne didn’t let Mia know any more than that, keeping tight lipped until everything was finalized, so Mia called it a day and headed out to meet Victor by the curb.

              It had gotten colder, so Mia had Victor pick Lora and Zach up on campus. With their hands linked together and flush faces, it was obvious the two were already head over heels for one another. Lora bubbled about being in such a nice car, and she and Zach settled into a small conversation. Mia tuned most of it out and wondered what it would be like to have something so simple and pure. Mia and Benson had a spark so large it could be seen from space, but their relationship hadn’t exactly been smooth. Zach and Lora- they were like teenagers, giggling and stealing glances from behind their glasses.

              At Feathers, the three settled into their normal booth. They waited to order food until Benson arrived, but Mia was desperate for a buzz. Pete swung by with a Long Island Ice Tea for her, a bottle of a hard apple cider for Lora, and tap beer for Zach.

              “I can’t believe Tyler has been ignoring you today,” Lora said as she raised the bottle to her lips. “Any other day he’s tripping over his feet to be around you.”

              “Any other day, but today one of his best friends was charged with second degree murder and a felony drug charge, so he’s probably a little busy. Not to mention his job is dangling by a thread. If Monarch breaks contract those guys are going to be screwed.”

              “There have been plenty of musicians who have had drug charges, though. You can’t tell me all of them get their contracts shredded,” Zach said.

              “It depends. I’ve seen it happen before. Burnside is new and in the middle of recording their debut album. That makes the possibility of them getting cut from the label a lot bigger.”

              Lora went to say something, but her eyes widened and they drifted over Mia’s shoulder. She closed her mouth and opened it again before whispering, “Benson’s here.”

              Mia turned with a smile. He was still in the expensive suit she had picked out earlier that day. Running a hand through his hair as he approached their table, he exuded pure sex and power. Not like he didn’t any other time. He captivated any room he entered, drawing stares from every direction.

              He paused in front of their table for a brief moment, his eyes on Lora and Zach, before glancing at her and sitting down. Mia introduced everyone quickly, and Benson’s hand found her thigh under the table. He leaned into her and stole a hard kiss that teetered on being inappropriate for the public eye.

              When he pulled away, Pete was standing there waiting. He grinned at the two before taking Benson’s drink order of whiskey and soda. They all ordered a variation of a burger and settled into conversation. Mia had been worried about how Benson would act around Lora, let alone Zach. His hand stayed possessively on her thigh, occasionally inching upward under the dress. However, he held cool in conversation and flowed along with the banter.

              Mia was on her second mixed drink by the time the food came by. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until the smell of the bacon burger wafted to her nose. Benson’s hand left her thigh and she cast him an angry glare. He shrugged his shoulders with a devilish grin before taking a bite of his sandwich. After a few silent bites as they savored the food, the group picked up on their conversation.

              “We were probably twenty two at the time,” Lora giggled. “We were at my parents for Thanksgiving. My family shows up early for everything, so even though dinner wasn’t until three, everyone was there by noon. Mia and I were in the living room watching the parade on TV with my dad and uncles and cousins while my aunts were in the kitchen with my mom. All of a sudden there was a loud crash upstairs and my brother comes running down with something dangling off his finger. It was one of Mia’s thongs. He was shrieking, waving it around on his finger like it was a dead rat.”

              Mia’s cheeks wore a slight blush, though she chirped in with a laugh, “He was only sixteen and had the hots for me. He kept looking at the underwear and then back at me, yelling the entire time about how it was in his laundry.”

              “The best part is that in all his commotion the thong flew out of his hand and into my dad’s lap.”

              “Of course, out of all people,” Mia sighed. She looked over at Benson who wore an amused smile.

              “Dad had a similar reaction. He picked it up like it was an alien and tossed it. The whole family played hot potato with Mia’s thong.”

              The table erupted in laughter and Mia crossed her arms, “How is it that 75% of the embarrassing family stories are about me when I’ve been part of the family for less than a decade?”

              “Because you’re special, Mia,” Lora chuckled.

              “Very special,” Benson agreed, looking at her with a twinkling eye. “I don’t have any hot potato thong stories about you, though. Maybe we should change that.”

              “Is that our cue to go?” Lora teased.

              “No, it’s
our
cue to go,” Mia winked at her friend and nudged Benson out of the booth. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”

              Benson pulled out his wallet and threw down a couple bills, more than enough to pay for everyone’s drinks and food, “It was great meeting you two.”

              They exchanged brief goodbyes before Benson tugged her out of the pub with urgency. She shivered when the cold air hit her. The temperature had dropped even more. In just her short dress, Mia was practically begging to get sick. Thankfully, Victor was waiting for them. Benson didn’t even let her sit in the car. Instead, he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her passionately.

              Victor wasn’t hidden behind a blinder. In the Bentley he was exposed, just a few feet away. His eyes never wavered from the street, but it was always unsettling for Mia to be so intimate with Benson while the older gentleman was so close and visible.

              Benson didn’t seem to mind his driver’s presence. One hand held her body close; the other snaked up her dress and searched for the hem of her underwear. She bit her bottom lip to suppress a moan. When he touched her clit, she shivered.

              “We’ll be at my apartment in two minutes,” She murmured breathlessly against his neck.

              “I don’t care. I missed you today,” His voice was rough and delightfully sexy. “You can come once before we get there.”

              His fingers moved expertly against her and she quivered. He was on a mission to make her orgasm, and she wasn’t going to deny either of them that pleasure. He held onto him tight, her nails digging into his neck so deeply she was sure she’d break skin. If she did, he didn’t seem to mind. The combination of his hot breath near her ear, his rigid erection beneath her and his fingers rubbing her with precision was enough to make Mia cry out as she shook through an orgasm.

              Seconds later they came to a stop in front of her apartment. They eagerly climbed out, holding hands as the elevator rose to her floor. Once inside her apartment, Benson pinned her against the door and pressed his hard body into hers.

              “There are too many buttons on this damn thing,” Benson grumbled as his hands moved to her chest.

              She giggled, “Here. I’ve got it.”

              Mia took over and quickly undid the top portion of her dress and then wiggled the garment over her head. Benson aided her with that part, eagerly unwrapping her as if she were a gift. He stepped back and looked at her with desire. His hooded gaze made Mia shake with anticipation. She reached back and unhooked her bra and then stepped out of her panties. She stood in front of him wearing nothing but her designer pumps.

              Benson’s nostrils flared as he drank her in. Unable to wait any longer, he swept her up and carried her to the bed while she let out an excited giggle. He set her down with a plop. While he stripped, she leaned on her side and propped herself up with one arm. She used the other to sensually draw a line up and down her side.

              “You’re going to get yourself in trouble,” Benson’s voice warned hoarsely as he removed the last piece of clothing.

              “I want trouble tonight,” She purred.

              Benson’s cock twitched. It took him but a few seconds to open her drawer and have her tied to the bed. He did her hands and her feet so she was laying spread eagle in the middle of the mattress. When he didn’t close the drawer, Mia’s heart raced with possibilities.