Captured Secret (The Captured Series) (20 page)

T
HE
DOOR
TO
THE
STUDIO
is locked, yet Ty’s truck and bike are here. I shoot him a text to ask if he’s home and tell him I’m waiting outside the door. It takes a couple minutes for him to reply to use my key and come in. I enter into a very quiet atmosphere. The lights are all off, curtains pulled in some areas and no music. There is no way in hell I’m going to go seek him out. I do not want to see him with one of those lovely ladies in his bed, or worse, under him.

Shopping was smooth this Friday morning. The first thing I do is unpack the bags. I’m thanking God that the Advil took my wine headache away, pronto. I did a lot on Wednesday night, so there’s not too much to do in the studio. I clean the bathroom that only I use, tidy up the kitchen, and ease into the living room to fold a throw blanket. I find Ty asleep in his bed. His clothes are all over the floor, like he took them off as he was walking into his bedroom. My heart kicks up a notch and my tummy feels a little queasy as I walk into his room. Cautiously, I search the spot next to him.
If there is a girl in here, I’m out.
The other side of the bed is a mess, but the covers are too flat for anyone to be lying next to him. It’s instant relief.

We have plenty of time before his first session, which is at eleven, so I head into his bathroom and give it a good scrub. My scent today is going to be bleach and cleaning products. I add wet towels to my list of unpleasant orders as I gather them in a pile on the floor. I open the door, and pad quietly out of the bathroom. Ty’s eyes open, and his voice is all grumbly. “You don’t have to text me to come in here. I know when to expect you.”
Oh, good. Another day of him being a dick.

“I wasn’t sure if you were alone in here. I don’t want to crash anything you have going on,” I speak quietly because he just woke up. He just stares at me with his arms tucked up under his pillow. My anger and pettiness are gone today, yet I’m having a small pity party.

He releases the pillow and stretches, which reveals this amazing upper body. “Just so you know, I don’t let women stay the night here, Stella. You won’t walk in on anything, ever. I know when you are coming, so just use your key and come in from now on.”

“Okay. That makes me feel more comfortable. But now, you have me curious, why? Why don’t they stay the night?” He just looks up at me. His eyes look tired and he looks defeated.

“It’s non-negotiable.”

I can’t help but think I’ve stayed the night.

Uncomfortable silence kills me. “Um, when we are all done for the day, I would like to leave as soon as possible. I have an appointment for a mani/pedi.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. I can imagine you want to scoot and get prettied up for tonight.”

I feel like that’s a dig at me getting pretty for Jason, but I just let it go. I said that I was going to be mature and not play games. “Ty, are you okay? Did I do something to piss you off? We had a great lunch Wednesday, and by the afternoon, I felt…I don’t know, like I’m a nuisance.”

He swings his legs over the side. His erection is straining against his boxer briefs and I find myself holding my breath. It’s feels like forever since he’s touched me, and I crave him. Moisture pools instantly just looking at what I want. “No, I’m fine, you’re fine.” He stands and goes into the bathroom and starts the shower. It’s crazy that he doesn’t close the door to the bathroom, yet his answer closes me out, and truthfully, it hurts. He has a huge erection, and I’m standing here ready and willing, yet he chooses a shower. I catch my reflection in the mirror and reality sets in, it has become very obvious why.

“Hello!” I hear someone call out in the studio. I push these emotions into my unwanted emotions box deep inside my body. I swear sometimes it feels like I’m shoving ten pounds of shit into a five pound bag, but I keep filling it, even though it’s spilling over. I round the corner and continuously swallow at the lump in my throat. Ty has me in a bag of emotions and I hate it. I search for that switch to flick them off. Thank God, it’s in plain sight with a neon sign pointing to it. The lettering is flashing and it reads; EMOTIONS OFF. It sounds so simple.

Jason stands in the sitting area with two big coffees. “Hello, gorgeous. I texted you this morning and you never got back to me, so I thought I would stop by with coffee to say hello and see if you are coming tonight.”

I smile, even though it doesn’t reach my eyes. He doesn’t know me, so he wouldn’t know the difference. I feel frustrated that this man thought about me and I am in no mood to appreciate it. The coffee smells delicious and a flash of Ty lying in bed looking delicious enters and exits my mind. “Thank you, Jason. Sorry about the text. On Friday mornings, I clean. I haven’t taken my phone out of my purse since I got here, hence the cleaning smell I’m rocking,” I smile shyly, because I know my chemical scent is pungent.

Jason leans in and breathes me in. “Well, I smell it, but it works for you.” We sit down and he hands me my coffee. He’s playing in one of the smaller venues tonight. It’s in a small town called St. Cloud. The bar patrons really get into the show, they pay him well, and he believes it will be steady. After he tells me that the drive is thirty five minutes away, I realize why we are all riding together. Ty has the big vehicle, so it will accommodate all of us.

Ty rounds the corner, stops dead in his tracks and stares at Jason and me sitting together. He has on jeans, and that’s it. My cheeks flare red, and again, my body instantly reacts to the sight of all those muscles and tattoos as he extends his hand to Jason. He thanks Jason for the coffee, walks through the sitting area, and I hear him turn on the dryer. I assume he’s de-wrinkling whatever’s in there. When he returns, he sits opposite of me. They make small talk for a bit and Jason stands. “I didn’t want to interrupt your flow. I’ll see you guys tonight.”

Just like that, we are alone. He looks a bit hung over and the silence is uncomfortable. “Ty…”

“Stella,” he whispers in a hushed breath and interrupts my sentence. His eyes looks pained. I wish he would just say what’s going on. “Just don’t ask, okay? I really can’t explain anything to you. It’s not you, it’s me and my own personal shit. You haven’t pissed me off and you haven’t done anything. I’m an asshole to make you feel like that. Please accept my apology.”

The lump is building, yet I talk around it. I don’t care if he hears my internal fight. “Accepted, just know that I’m here for you if you need to talk. I’m your friend, Ty, and I want you to lean on me if I can help.” The shit that comes out of my mouth with this man is mind-boggling. I’m a freaking idiot. “My body is here for you, too.” Thank God, that comes out as a whisper, maybe he didn’t hear it. The groan I hear, tells me that he did.

“I know you are, but with this, I just have to get through it on my own,” He looks me over, his eyes rake up and down my body, and I can tell that there is more to this. He’s fighting some crazy emotions. He doesn’t try to hide the stiff shaft he’s rocking in his pants when he stands up. As much as that eases me, in some way, to know he looks at me like that and wants me, it also irritates the hell out of me that he won’t sate us both. The towels are calling my name, so I occupy myself with throwing them in the wash.

The only shoot that is booked is a United States Marine, his wife, and two older sons. He just returned to the U.S. and they explain that they are taking advantage of every second they have. Their first son was born when they were seventeen, so they look way too young to have these older children. It’s moving having him here with us in the studio. My emotional state today is making it that much harder to keep in check. I take notice of all the hugs, all the looks of adoration, and love that is shared amongst them all. Ty is putting on a great front. They are very happy with the session, but I know this is not the usual Ty, they don’t. We both thank him for his service as we walk them out.

The silence is deafening as Ty sits and edits. I have nothing to do, so I make his bed and switch the towels over to dry. The next client is due in thirty minutes. “Hey, is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, everything is set for the next one. I have to get some of this editing out of the way.” I watch as he loses himself in deep thought.

I escape and relax back on a towel near the lake. The sun on my face feels so good as I flick on my Kindle. I’m going to escape in a good book. I really need a night out with Mandy so we can talk fiction and not real life.

The sun is high and hot, so I rolled over on my tummy a little bit ago. It hits me how long I’ve been out here and I dart my eyes up to the balcony. Ty stands there leaning over with his Costas on and I instantly blush.
How long has he been staring at me?
He’s probably pissed. I jump up and shoot up the stairs.

I have got to get out of here today. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells. I walk out onto the balcony and want to apologize. He speaks first. “What are you reading?” He stays in the same position, looking at the fountain.

“Oh, um, it’s…” I stutter because I thought he was going to bitch me out for lounging around for over an hour outside. “My new weakness…Rock band guys.”

“Which band are you reading about?”

I try not laugh but I can’t help it. “No Ty, I read, fiction romances. When I said rock bands, I meant like a totally made up hottie guy in a band. This one happens to have touch of paranormal in it. My friend Mandy recommended it.” I realize after it came out that Jason is a rock band boy.
Dude, you are on a roll today with this mouth of yours.

“
I read at night, but I read non-fiction. It relaxes my mind after a rough day, you know?” He still isn’t looking at me.

“I didn’t know you read. For me, it’s an escape from the day in and day out grind.” I love readers. They just get the excitement that comes with a new book.

“Hey, the last one no-showed, so you can go if you want. You said you had an appointment.”

“I do. Let me fold the towels in the dryer and I’ll get out of your hair.” He whips around and looks me dead in the face, although I can’t see his eyes with his sunglasses on.

Ty follows me inside and I hear his sunglasses being set down on the desk. Leaning on the doorjamb, he watches while I fold and place the towels on the counter top. “You know, you’re not in my hair, Stella. I just wanted you to be able to get out of here and enjoy some time off.”

“I won’t lie. A little pampering is much needed after the week I’ve had.” I realize I ultimately just told him he made my week shitty. I keep my eyes on the towels and ask, “Hey, do you know this bar? Should I dress like I’m going to Skinny’s or The Wall Street?” I finish the last towel, and stand in front of him and look up. His eyes have changed as they look down at me. They are laced with desire. I do my best to hide the lust that’s ripping through my body.

“You should dress just like the night we went to Skinny’s. You looked amazing.” He pushes off the jam to stand straight up. Those large hands pull me into his chest and he wraps his arms around my waist and shoulders. “I’m not trying to be a dick, okay?”

I breathe him in as my arms wrap around him to let him feel my concern. I want him to know I’m here for whatever and whenever. “I know,” I reply. But I really don’t. I’ve been racking my brain to figure out what’s wrong and if I can fix it for him. The girl in me wants to fix him, and make him happy.

Ty’s hands slide down my rear end and he pulls me closer. His cheek rest on my head and I enjoy the hard muscles of his chest against my face. It tickles as he trails his fingers along the waistband of my shorts only to end up at my zipper seam. My body comes alive as his fingers massage into my sensitive parts.

My legs spread, even though he is on the outside of my khaki shorts. Every nerve ending is stimulated and ready for more. “I want to lose myself in you, Stella. Do you want me?” The other hand slides up into the back of my shirt and I moan at the skin on skin contact.

“Of course, Ty, always.” Someone needs to muzzle me. I should not be allowed to speak around him.

“Thank God, I don’t want to fuck this up.” Ty stops all of his motions to pull my shirt over my head. It drops to my feet. His hands snake around my body, unhooks my bra, and I watch it fall to the floor. “You are so beautiful. I know I don’t say that enough, I’m such a dick.” His hands cup both breasts and we rest our foreheads together. My nipples roll through his fingers, and I take in his breath as it kicks up a notch. He slides down my body to kneel in front of me, latches on to my right nipple, and pulls me fully into his mouth. I gasp, and run my fingers through his hair over and over. My head falls back and I enjoy the soft sucking. All of my anger, confusion and hurt just flew out of the window.

“God, Ty, I’ve missed you touching me.” He releases my nipple only to skim his tongue between my breasts to flick it over to the left. The sensation is amazing and I feel achy with need.

“Stella, it’s only been days, but that’s just too long. I’ve been trying to hold out and not touch you, but I just can’t.” My nipple and some of my breast are sucked into his warm, wet mouth. I’m burning with desire for this man.

“Why are you trying to hold out? I want you, haven’t I made that clear?” He doesn’t answer. I look down as the sensation of his mouth has become almost unbearable. Wetness floods in between my legs. I become instantly jealous as he looks like he’s making out with my breast. I thrust myself in his mouth at all the right times. It feels like we are kissing but only with his mouth. His tongue is aggressive with need and want. I hear myself moaning as he pulls and sucks at my breast. I shiver as Ty runs his hands up my calves to my thighs and ends at the snap of my shorts. The snap pops open, my zipper is unzipped, and he loops his fingers in my panties, slowly lowering them both.
Oh, my God, fully naked sex, finally!

“Ty? Are you here, dear?” A voice is heard outside of the bathroom and the front door shut clicks shut.

Ty releases my breast and lets out, “UGH!” Quickly, he grabs all my clothes and throws them on the counter top. “Fuck!” His hands cups my face and he says softly, “Sorry, dammit, I need you.” The door semi-closes after he walks out with three towels stacked in front of his extremely hard erection. “Nan, I didn’t know you were coming.”