Release (10 page)

After a few minutes, Adam
walks into the room. “‘Sup, man?” he says.

“Thought I’d come see little
man and Saff. Where’s Joe?” 

“Taking Jack to Emily’s.”

“Right.” I get up before I
get carried away and spend the entire afternoon with Nathaniel and his cool
collection of toys. That’ll be fine once I talk to my sister.

I sit in the armchair next
to the light green suede sofa Saffron’s sitting on, with her legs curled under
her and elbow propped on the arm. She looks at me. “It’s only twelve, Dane. You
not busy this morning?” She’s being selective with her choice of words, but her
disapproval is clear, as always.

“No. I do do other things
with my time, you know. I wanted to hang with my sister and nephew for a little
while.”

I don’t know why people
think I do nothing other than fuck. It isn’t my sole purpose in life. I
actually like time to myself, and there are many other things I enjoy doing. I
have two heads on my body, one of them has a brain in it and that requires its
own form of – non-sexual – stimulation.

Right now I feel like Saff’s
the big sister, and I’m about to get my ass kicked. I pretend to focus on the
show Adam is watching, but really I’m thinking about what to say. She takes
these things seriously, so there’s a possibility she’ll freak when I tell her
about Brooklyn. We’re always careful with words and actions around Nathaniel,
so that just might save my butt.

I glance over at Adam, in
the other chair, his eyes framed by the glasses he wears for watching
television, tattooing and writing. Not a lot of people know this, but when he’s
not working in his tattoo studio, he writes story books for kids. He created a
series about dragons and a boy, inspired by his son. To say it’s done well is
an understatement. Nathaniel’s caught up in whatever it is that’s on, too.

I turn to Saffron – who’s
looking me straight in the eyes. Now I know she knows. Her neutral expression
doesn’t let me in on what she thinks, or how she’ll react. “Let’s go make
coffee,” I say, standing up to head out to the kitchen.

Her husband snickers, so
it’s obvious he knows why we’re leaving the room. “Good luck,” he mutters.

I toss him a glance, he’s
still humored. I’m glad he finds it so damn funny.

Saff and I stop by the
island. “You upset with me?”

“Should I be, Dane?” Her
gaze is pulling on mine as though there’s some kind of magnetic connection
between us, hers being the major force right now. She’s working to keep her
tone low and calm, but I can see by her hard expression that she’s not happy
with me.

“Honestly, no.”

She raises a brow in an
‘oh-really?’ manner.

I lean back against the sink
and fold my arms across my chest. Saffron’s a few feet in front of me with her
hands propped on her hips. She’s only five-two, but with the ability to take up
a stance like that and enforce her authority on my six-one, she’s going to
scare the shit out of Nathaniel when he’s older. She’s scaring the shit out of
me right now.

“What do you know?”

“I know you’ve been meeting
Brooklyn in the mornings. Some breakfast arrangement
thing
.” She said
thing
like it’s a dirty word.

Walking over to the cupboard
to the left of me, she takes out three mugs.

So Brooklyn didn’t tell her
friends about Tuesday, or coming to the shop, or that I went to her class – I
still can’t believe I fucking did that. I didn’t ask her on the phone because
it might’ve sounded self-centered. That’s one good thing; I just have to deal
with Saff’s overall disapproval about me approaching her.

“Did Kayla tell you that?”

“No, Ella thought I knew.
Turns out I’m the last to know.”

Shit, I can see that bothers
her. That’s something I do have a problem with. “I’m sorry you had to hear it
from Ella. I just wanted to see what happened first. I wasn’t even sure
Brooklyn would show on Monday.”

“What are you doing, Dane?”
She’s working harder to keep her voice steady. She starts filling the mugs with
steaming coffee from the coffeemaker.

I can’t answer a question I
don’t even know the answer to myself.

“Brooklyn’s not my friend,
but she’s Kayla’s. Kayla’s close to Ella, which means she’s relevant to me –
and she already had that stuff with Gerard. That was bad enough.”

“It’s not the same thing,
Saff. We’re just getting to know each other. Kayla warned her off me, she’s
being careful.”

“Ella’s told me all about
Brooklyn. She sounds like she’s got her head screwed on, but I know
you
,
Dane.” She hands me my coffee and takes Adam his.

Anybody would think I’m some
kind of sex villain.

When Saff returns, we sit at
the breakfast bar. “What’s with the breakfast date
thing
?” she asks,
frowning.

Is it really so strange that
two people meet up for breakfast? Or coffee, as it turned out? Yeah, it’s far
from what I usually do, but I don’t think it’s altogether weird.

“I knew she’d probably say
no to anything else, and I wanted the chance to at least see her once and talk
to her. And just so you know, I didn’t approach her the night of the show. It
was tempting, I came this close,” I say, gesturing with an inch between my
thumb and forefinger, “to going after her when she left the bar that night
before her friends, but I held back. You played a large part in that. I kept to
your terms, like I always do. Then I saw her the next evening out there on the
beach. If she was someone you were personally close to I’d still have stayed
away.”

The thing is I’d have seen
Brooklyn again eventually. I’d have approached her eventually. The only
difference is that, if she personally knew my sister, this conversation with
Saff would’ve taken place before I spoke to Brooklyn.

Sooner or later, we would’ve
talked. Period.

“Ella asked me what you’re
doing. She’s fond of Brooklyn, and Kayla’s real tight with her.”

“No one needs to be
concerned. I’m not out to hurt anybody, and Brooklyn’s more than capable of
taking care of herself.”

“You never intend to hurt
anybody, Dane, but it still happens sometimes. What exactly is going on with
you two?” She rests both elbows on the breakfast bar, with her mug cupped
between her palms, and sips her coffee.

“We’re just two adults
getting to know each other.”

“Think you might be able to
have more than adult fun with her?”

“I don’t think anything
right now. You know how “more than adult fun” and me works, Saff.”

“It doesn’t always have to
be that way, Dane. It could be different.”

“We spoke for hours on the
phone last night. I haven’t done stuff like that with a girl since high school.
There’s something different for you.”

Brooklyn was completely at
ease when we spoke, not a hint of caution. Five fucking hours we spent on the
phone.

Saff’s lips curve wide and
it’s almost funny that she looks impressed. “I like that different.” Her
expression goes hard. “Don’t make me the last to know what happens with you
both, even if it comes to nothing.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

Her smile right now is the
fullest I’ve seen from her since I arrived here today, even more so than when
she opened the door to me. Mine isn’t far off hers – if she’s happy, I’m happy.

“My brother and the girl I
watched on TV for all those weeks. I’m excited. So tell me about Brooklyn in
your words.” She beams, all eager now.

This wasn’t supposed to be
part of our conversation.

I’ve been trying not to look forward to tonight all
week, but I’ve failed miserably. I’ve been so excited – just as I am right now,
though there’s also an infusion of nerves suddenly.

That’s probably because
Dane’s sitting in a cab outside the theater, waiting for me.   

The only people left in the
dressing room are Leona and me. She and Kayla have waited to see me off. As I
check myself over in the full-length mirror, one final time, Leona comes into
view beside me, a huge smile on her face. I pat down the pleats of my red mini
skirt and observe my boobs. “Can you see my nipples?” I ask.

I’m wearing a thin black
strappy top and, as all girls know, sometimes the lights make the material
appear sheer. I hadn’t considered that when I tried it on at home.

Leona chuckles as she folds
her arms below her breasts. “Nope. So what if they did show, you’ve got great
nipples.”

“That’s hardly the point. I
don’t want to look like a tart.”

“As if – you are pure class,
even though I can see your arse.”

I laugh at her as I turn my
back to the mirror and tilt my upper body forward. Granted, this thing is
short, but my arse is definitely covered.

The door to the toilets
swings open, and Kayla struts out. “Suck a dick! Girl, you are smokin’,” she
says, coming to a stop beside Leona.

“Thanks. This isn’t too full
on, is it?”

“Hell no. Just don’t get
drunk, keep your head clear,” Kayla orders.

“I have no intention of
consuming too much alcohol. Two drinks max.”

Sitting on a chair, I slip
on my stiletto sandals and fasten the ankle straps. After a group hug, if three
people qualify for that, I put on my knee length coat and button up. I make my
way down to the street, my anticipation and anxiety increasing with every step.

As I get into the cab beside
him, I can see Dane looking at my hair. The raise to the corners of his lips
makes me smile as well. “I’ve only seen your hair down when you performed. I
like it like that.”

“Thank you.”

Though we’ve spoken on the
phone a couple of times since last Saturday’s call, and for hours each time, I
haven’t seen him in over a week, since he came to the studio.

I was far from prepared for
the impact of the man that is Dane.

I feel consumed by his
presence and I could literally get drunk off of his personal scent. It’s intoxicating,
even with the gentle overtone of spicy-sweet cologne. Everything about him is
intoxicating.

And, of course, he looks
incredible. I don’t think he could fail at that if he tried. His sapphire
colored shirt looks plush. I want to touch it. Touch him. The fit is perfect
for enhancing his physique and the top button is undone, showing the hollow of
his collarbones. I want to put the tip of my tongue there. Taste him. Oh, I so
desperately want to touch him, taste him. His black trousers look as good as
his denims. As always, his well cared for locks are bound in a low ponytail. My
fingers are itching to clasp one and play with it for the duration of our
journey. With his arm outstretched along the back of the seat, I actually have
to hold back from shifting over some more and nestling into the little alcove
his position provides. I can’t wait to dance with him and get close in an
innocent situation.

With all the subtlety I can
manage, I will be taking advantage.

Bring it on!

In the club, we head straight for the coat check. I
can already feel the body heat radiating from the dance floor, it’s sizzling
out there. When Brooklyn takes her coat off, my own body temperature rockets –
I cannot believe my eyes.

She’s unaware of all the
attention she’s
demanding
right now, including mine.

Her long, toned legs are on
full display thanks to the little red skirt ending bare inches below her butt.
Damn, those legs really are fine. The black shirt molds so nicely to her upper
body and it’s tucked into the waistband of her skirt and, holy shit, with the
low cut of the back it’s clear to me there’s no bra underneath. The entire
outfit embraces her sensual, toned curves, all wrapped in silky-soft olive
skin.

Brooklyn Scott is pure,
potent seduction, and I can’t even make my lips move to compliment her.

Tonight is going to take a
lot of restraint on my part.

As I pass the guy in the
booth Brooklyn’s coat, I watch her take the ticket in exchange. Her crimson
colored finger nails look erotic. All I can think of is feeling them press into
the flesh of my back while I’m between her thighs with my cock buried deep
inside her. Hell, there isn’t a single part of her that doesn’t scream sex.
Even her straight, glossy hair ending below her ribs screams sex. I’d like to
gather it in my fist and– damn, I have to stop the visions that are forming in
my head.

Being polite, I let her lead
the way to the bar. Fuck, she has the hottest walk and the skirt bounces
slightly as she strides. There’s no way we’ll dance together without me getting
hard, I hope she’s prepared for that. I do not possess the level of control
needed to stop it, I’m a full-blooded male and my body will respond to physical
contact with her. I’ll make no apologies for that, either.

When we stand at the bar,
waiting for our drinks, I finally get my mouth to work and move closer, to
speak in her ear. As I do, I take in the sweet scent of her perfume. She smells
edible. “Brooklyn, you look amazing.” Up this close, every single inch of me is
screaming to take her right now.

I’ve never wanted a woman as
much as this in my entire fucking life.

Her gaze locks with mine, a
smile gracing her lightly glossed lips. “Thank you.”

I lean closer again, this
time I place my hand against her lower back. She feels slighter than I
expected. “Quite a contrast to that first day at the Purple Cafe.”

She puts her mouth to my
ear. “Absolutely,” is all she says, but I feel her warm breath against my lobe
like an inviting sexual stroke.

Fucking hell. I grit my
teeth. Hard.

Distracting myself, I drink
some of my pineapple and white rum, but the sight of Brooklyn sipping her red
wine steals my attention again.

“Dance with me,” I request.
I have to feel her near me.

She smiles, totally game,
and lowers her glass down onto the bar.

I take her by the hand and
head toward the music.