How I Became Lotus Raine...the Porn Star (27 page)

Brent frowned as he rubbed the back of his neck. I’d never seen him look so out of sorts. It couldn’t have been what I said. What I said was the truth. One that we were more than familiar with when this all started.

The frown quickly dissipated, being replaced with his ever so confident smile I’ve become accustomed to. He grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers the way couples do, and led us towards the sound of the pounding beat that I was desperate to get lost in—with Brent right behind me.

“Did you feel that?” Brent asked, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. I nodded, and leaned my head back against his chest, welcoming the wetness.

A slow drizzle began to trickle over us concert goers, cooling us down a few degrees. The truth was, no matter what the temperature was, my temperature would always rise with Brent around.

The singer yelled through the microphone at the crowd, amp-ing us up even further.

“Fuck yeah for the rain,” she laughed, flinging a hand through her short, black hair. “In case you didn’t know, we’re Jaded Lotus. Rain or shine, baby. Thanks for rocking out with us.”

The rain dissipated as the music increased and Brent’s hold on me tightened.

“It all fucking makes sense now,” he laughed. “Lotus Raine.”

“HOW’D YOUR DAY out go? Was that the first time you’d ever seen your favorite band live?”

“It was amazing being out with him. Everything was amazing with him. Well,” I shift from side to side, trying to make myself comfortable in this damn skirt and chair I’m stuck in for the next God knows how long.

“Well, what?” Shepard asks, leaning forward as he rubs his hands together.

“Oh,” I look up. “Running. Brent can’t even make that enjoyable,” I yawn. Sitting in this crass chair is making me sleepy. I told Brent my story would be boring. I’m even putting myself to sleep. I quickly stand and stretch, lifting my arms into the air. I know Shepard watches my shirt ride up, but I pay him no attention. “I need to use the bathroom. Can you grab me a Coke or something with caffeine to drink?”

I don’t call or text Brent as this time. I know he’s going to be painting the majority of the day, and I’m not willing to tamper with his flow of creativity. The bathroom door slams open the moment I flush. The angrily clicking heels only points to one person.

“Stalk much?” I ask, walking to the sink.

“I don’t know what you think you’re trying to pull by coming back here and doing this interview,” Rachel seethes through gritted teeth.

“What’s wrong, Rach? Did your cousin, I mean Mr. Callahan, quit putting out?”

She gasps, pulling away from me some. “That’s by marriage.”

“Keeping it in the family,” I laugh, grabbing a paper towel.

“I swear to God, if you try to sway Shepard in any way…” She stops and I know her threat is void.

“You’ll what?” I take a step closer to her, cupping my hand around my ear for a better chance to hear what she mumbles. Who am I kidding? I did it strictly to be cocky.

“You think coming in today dressed like a slut might help you out, but I’m sorry to say Shepard’s not into whores.”

“That’s funny,” I snicker because if Jesus were present, she’d be casting stones at herself. And because if I wanted Shepard, I could have him. “Shepard’s being staring at my body all day. Apparently he likes what he sees,” I whisper as I walk past her and grip the door handle.

“If you mess with my brother…you’ll regret it.”

“Honey, first off, enough with the empty threats. Second, you should’ve never let that one slip.” I let the door slam behind me hoping that’s the last I see of that hood rat.

I make my way back into the office and smile when I see a can of Coke and a coffee sitting for me.

“I-I-I I didn’t know which would be better,” Shepard stutters.

“It’s sweet of you. Thanks for being so considerate,” I smile, reassuring him. I’m not overly nice to him for the reason’s Rachel is jumping to. I’m nice to the guy because he’s a nice guy. I used to be him. Hello, this was my office. I sympathize with him. He deserves success and to be able to grab at dream goals instead of just dreaming of them.

“I just had a lovely chat with your sister.” He froze. “She just keeps cornering me in the ladies bathroom like some crazed stalker. Is she always so protective over you?”

“What do you mean?” He finally makes eye contact.

“She seems to think I have some sort of ill motive for being here.”

“I’m sorry about her,” Is all he says and I feel like he does a lot of apologizing in her behalf.

“You have nothing to apologize for. But you could have at least told me I was bashing your sister.”

“I couldn’t. I have to be neutral with this interview. If I would have told you once I found out, then it would have altered the way you laid it all out. I’m hoping you knowing now, doesn’t affect it.”

Shepard rubs his forehead as he frowns. “That was probably the motive behind her telling you.”

“Yeah, probably,” I admit, shrugging. “But who cares. I’m done letting her get to me. I’ve been done.”

I don’t get why he bothers staying here. It could be the family aspect involved. Maybe he believes it’ll pan out for him eventually. Little does he know that family is sometimes worse and can hold us back instead of propelling us forward.

I know he doesn’t want to be like the authors here who have minions who go out and get the actually stories for them. I can tell just by him interviewing me today that he craves the whole process that goes with the madness. And I’m going to give it to him.

“I TOOK A quick glance back over my notes while you were in the bathroom because something you had said struck me. You said in the beginning that Jaded Lotus was your favorite band.” I nod, agreeing. “And a little bit ago you mentioned that wherever you and Brent were that your favorite band was playing.”

“Right,” I nod again.

“The same band Rachel was on tour with?” His question is rhetorical. He knows the answer.

“Exactly,” I laugh hoping he sees where this is heading.

“I take it you guys ran into her.”

“That’s one way you could say it.” I smirk.

“I LOVE THE way you sway your hips to the tempo,” Brent whispered in my ear from behind.

“I love the way your hands dig into my hips.” He dug the fingertips a little deeper into my skin, causing me to gasp. “I also love the way you press into me from behind, allowing me to feel you as you grow hard against me.” He pushes himself even more into me and I drop my head back against his chest, moaning.

“You can’t be doing that shit in public,” he said in a husky tone that told me I was equally doing to him what he was doing to me.

“It’s dark.” I raised my arm up and draped it around his head. I tilted my head to the side, and pulled his closer to my face. “Just like it was dark in the club
.”
I licked my lips as I moved in to kiss him.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I heard. It was so loud I had thought someone yelled it in my ear. I slowly pulled away, apprehensive of what I was going to see. Even though I already knew.

Why did I have to run into her? Out of all people and places, it had to be her. I honestly would’ve rather ran into Mr. Callahan. If it would have been him instead of Rachel, I wouldn’t have had to worry about him being pussy bribed into doing something about the situation.

“Wait until Carl hears all about this.” She stood in front of us, crossed arms, tapping her foot.

I was at a loss for words. I debated dropping to the dirty street below and shamelessly begging her not to tell. I was that desperate to save the last days we had together, that I would have sold my soul to the devil.

The whole time, Brent never wavered, or loosened his arms around me. In fact, he only tightened them as he silently told me he had my back. It felt good to know what that felt like.

“Carl?” Brent said in question.

“Yes. Mr. Callahan. Our boss.”

“Oh, right. Your cousin.”

My eyes bugged out hearing there was actual relation between the two. Rachel looked at me with a fa
ce full of horror.

“Holy shit!” I couldn’t restrain the mixture of shock and humor in my voice. “You’re fucking your cousin?”

“It’s only by marriage,” she yelled as she flipped around, taking off. I let out a huge breathe as she did. I wasn’t sure if Rachel was going to run to work throwing out rumors that I was working my interviewee around the clock. I had just hoped Brent saying what he did put a sock in her big mouth. But I was determined that she’d already mastered the skill of talking while taking on a mouth full.

“Hey,” Brent said, breaking through my thoughts.

“Yeah?” I replied, looking toward the stage, feeling numb to my surroundings.

Some people are just soul suckers. All they want to do is inflict misery on others and I had allowed Rachel to do so once again.

“Look at me.” I slightly tilted my head and glance up. “No. Turn around and really look at me.” I let out a sigh, and turn around in his arms. “Talk to me, Lucy. What’s wrong
?”

“I just hate her,” I whispered, unsure what I really should say.

“She seems like a very sucky person.” His words held truth. He wasn’t just saying it for the fact that it might make me feel better. Which it did.

“I don’t know why I let her bother me. She just always has a way of getting under my skin,” I huffed, throwing my hands in the air.

“She’s just jealous.”

“Jealous of what?” I crossed my arms.

“Jealous that you don’t have to stoop to get what you want.” He caressed my cheek as he spoke.

“She needs to get over it already.”

“There will always be people like that in life. But once they see they can’t bring you down, they move on to the next victim. Sadly.”

“Well, how do we bring them down so there are no victims?”

“We just have to trust that karma is real.”

“You know what freaked me out most about her seeing us?” I looked up at Brent, pushing my reluctance to the side. He held my gaze, not needing to reply. “I was worried she’d run to our boss and have me pulled. The only thing that worried me about her seeing us was the possibility that she could sabotage the last day we have together. Silly, huh?”

“Not at all.” He gripped my face with both hands and leaned down, planting one of the softest kisses on my lips. He inched back and smiled down at me while he kept his hands on against my cheeks. “So, are we going to let her ruin our night or are we going to give her the biggest ‘FUCK YOU’ ever by staying her and enjoying ourselves?” He drifted his hands down my body, placing them on my hips as he started swaying us together. “Choice is yours.”