The Music in Me

Chapter 3

Iwalked into the spare bedroom and sighed when I saw the lyric sheets on the floor. Somehow, the thought of filling them up and coming up with a new song felt daunting. Pushing away all negative thoughts, I closed the door behind me and got to work. I picked up my guitar and began to strum a few notes, playing familiar chords as I tried to get myself into the zone.

Two hours later, I had managed to couple together a few verses, but nothing that jumped out to me. It was like I felt no connection to the words I was writing. That was not like me. Music was more than just a job to me. It was my passion and a way of sharing parts of myself with the people who resonated with the message. I sang about joy, pain, loneliness, and every emotion in the spectrum. I sang heart-wrenching songs about love and silly songs about partying with friends and drinking wine on the beach.

Every song was a snapshot of who I was when they were written, a genuine expression of my hopes, dreams, and reality. I had never had a problem with that, and even though not every song I’d written had gone on to find its audience, I could boldly say each one was an authentic representation of myself.

For once, I found myself unable to do that, and that frustrated me. Not just because I had a contractual deadline to meet but also because I didn’t want to give my fans something that wasn’t me. I would feel like a fraud climbing on a stage and performing words I knew were not true to me.

A few minutes after midday, Leon knocked on the door and pushed it open. I sat cross-legged in the middle of the room with my guitar in my lap, surrounded by empty and half-filled lyric sheets. He was carrying a tray with a glass of lemonade and a plate of cookies.

“Cookies!” I exclaimed, pumping my fist in the air like a cheerleader.

“Thought you could use a snack,” he said, grinning as he set the tray in front of me.

“Thanks, Leon. You’re the best.” I reached for the tray, but he pulled it out of my reach. “What…?”

“Leon?” he asked, raising a brow.

“Thanks, Daddy,” I said, rolling my eyes and stretching my hand out.

“Try that again, and without the attitude this time,” he said, and I complied, even adding a big, fake grin. He didn’t seem to mind because he pushed the tray toward me. “Good girl. Any progress?” he asked, looking at the sheets around us.

I ignored the stab of excitement I felt when he called me a good girl. “Got a couple of verses I think could work if the production is great,” I said as I reached for the glass of lemonade and picked a cookie. I bit into the cookie and sighed deeply. “I don’t think the cabin thing is working. I mean it’s a bit better than back in the city, but it’s not enough.”

“That’s because we just got started. Don’t worry, I’ll have those creative juices flowing before we leave.”

“I’m the one who has to come up with the songs, and I think this will take more than a few days. How can you be so confident?” I asked, scowling at him.

“Because I know you, baby girl. More than you know yourself, it seems.” He got to his feet and stood in front of me, forcing me to tip my head back to look at him. “I think it’s time for a break. How about you finish your cookie and lemonade, then come meet me in the backyard when you’re done?”

“To do what?”

“Stop asking questions and just do as you’re told,” he replied as he walked away. I wanted to yell at him to come back but remembered being spanked a few hours ago for being stubborn and, even worse, having to beg him for an orgasm I still hadn’t gotten. I decided wisely to keep my mouth shut. Besides, he brought me cookies and lemonade.

A few minutes later, I stepped out of the house through the side door and followed the sound of Leon moving around to where he was in the backyard. I gasped when I saw the large canvas hanging from the side of the house with paint-filled balloons tacked onto it. My heart skipped a beat at the sight, and I ran the rest of the way to meet him.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, grinning wildly as I stared at the display. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“Can’t take the credit for coming up with the idea,” he said as he pinned a balloon to the top of the canvas. “I know how much you love this scene in that movie.”

The movie about Chips’s diaries was my favorite. I watched it several times a year. I watched it when I was happy, sad, or just wanted to laugh. Leon knew that because I’d roped him into watching it with me a dozen times. Even though I could recite the movie line for line, it had never occurred to me to try something like this.

“When did you do this?” I asked, reaching out to gently touch a balloon, afraid I’d pop it.

“This morning,” he replied. “Overalls are over there,” he said, pointing at a box a few feet away. “You should put on the safety goggles too.”

I hurried to do as he asked, giddy with excitement and giggling the whole way. He had finished setting up the canvas when I returned, and he checked to make sure I had the goggles safely on and the overalls were zipped all the way up.

“I know how to put on overalls,” I hissed at him and rolled my eyes.

“I know,” he said, sliding his hand up my body until he cupped my face. “Just wanted to make sure. I have something else planned for us this afternoon, and I don’t want you to get too much paint on your body, or I would have to give you a bath before we do that.”

My throat went dry. “Give me a bath?” I squeaked.

“Of course,” he said. “Can’t have my baby girl walking around covered in paint, now can I?”

“No, Daddy,” I croaked and saw his eyes lit up.

“Good answer. You get an extra point for that.”

Another flash of excitement that I covered with a roll of my eyes. “Can we start popping balloons now?” I asked, bouncing on my feet.

“Easy,” he said, pulling his goggles over his eyes. “Okay, do you need any tips on how to throw a dart?”

“No,” I smirked. Picking up a dart from the box in his hand, I sent it sailing through the air and gasped when it popped the balloon and sent yellow paint splashing everywhere. “Did you see that?!” I exclaimed to Leon, bouncing from foot to foot excitedly.

“Nice shot,” he said, “but minus five points for not waiting for my permission to throw.”

“What?”

“That’s right,” he said. “Now, are you going to listen to me or do what you want to?”

“You’re sucking all the fun out of this,” I grumbled.

“Not if you do what I want.” He took my hand and pulled me back from the canvas a few feet. “Now, let’s try that again.” He handed me a dart. “How about we aim for the yellow balloon in the corner.”

“Piece of cake,” I replied, collecting the dart and lining up my shot. I threw the dart at the canvas and watched it sail through the air and miss the balloon by a few inches. We both groaned in disappointment.

“Well, you get points for hitting the board at least,” he said, and I scowled at him. “Want to try again?” he asked, offering me a dart.

“Of course I want to try again,” I said, taking the dart from him and throwing it at the yellow balloon. It hit the target this time, but my celebration ended very quickly when the balloon bounced around and didn’t pop. “What happened? I got that balloon. You saw it, right? My dart touched the balloon.”

“Need a little more force than that, baby,” he said as he handed me another dart. “How about this time you imagine the face of someone you hate when you throw the dart at the balloons?”

I raised a brow. “You know exactly who I’m going to imagine.”

“Maybe,” he replied with a shrug. “Just a suggestion. Don’t forget. You don’t do well on this test, and Daddy will have to punish you tonight when we review your performance for the day. We don’t want that, do we?”

“No.”

“Come on,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder and turning me around to face the board. “Whose face are we sending this sharp pointy dart into?”

As I faced the balloon, there was only one face in mind, and I pulled my hand back and flung the dart with all the force I could. It sailed through the air, and I felt a deep sense of satisfaction as I watched yellow paint splash all over Anthony’s face. But it was not enough. I wanted more darts, wanted more balloons exploding all over his face.

“Next target,” I said, holding my hand out.

“How about you pick the next target,” Leon said as he handed me the next dart.

I picked the biggest balloon on the board and sent a dart, tapping into a rage I didn’t even know I was carrying around. Watching balloon after balloon explode was therapeutic, sending paint splashing across the canvas and dripping down to the floor. I used up all the darts, and Leon walked to the board and pulled out the ones I’d thrown.

He returned to me, and I continued until just one balloon remained. I stopped and turned to Leon. “I think you should do this one,” I said, returning the dart to him. “You know, that way we can see we made it together.”

“Not my art to make, baby,” he said, pushing my hand away. “This is all you, Kira. I’m just here to make sure you get the tools you need to stay true to yourself.”

I turned to the board, and as I prepared to throw the last dart, I realized I had no more rage left. At least, not the red-hot kind I’d started out with. I threw the last dart and felt my lips curl triumphantly as it went splat and splashed pink paint all across the board. I stood looking at the board, stunned by the chaotic masterpiece we had created.

Colors danced in abstract patterns, each splatter telling a different story, and as I stared at it, I felt a sense of wisdom and freedom.

“What do you think?” I asked as Leon slid his arms around my waist and pulled me close to his body. “Did I get it right?”

“Can’t answer that,” he replied. “Only you can decide if you did. One thing I will say is that it looks beautiful. Like you…”

“Like me?”

He nodded, sliding one hand up my body until it was wrapped around my throat. “Look at all those colors, baby girl. See how beautiful you are when you break free of the things holding you back. You don’t fit into one box, baby. I hate that you let him make you think you did.”

“I think I wanted to,” I replied softly, not bothering to pretend I didn’t know who it was he spoke of. “It was easier in some ways to let him decide that for me.”

He turned me around to look up at him. “That’s his loss. Not that I mind because it meant he never got to experience the full length of the beauty of who you are, baby girl. That belongs to me.”

I wondered if this was still part of the game. The look in his eyes told me otherwise, but I didn’t get any time to ponder that because he was kissing me, which took my breath away. The goggles got in the way, and he pushed mine out of the way before ripping his off and resumed kissing me. He thrust his tongue into my mouth, and arousal pooled between my legs.

My eyes rolled into the back of my head as he ravished my mouth and stroked his tongue against mine. He grabbed my ass and pulled me closer until our bodies were melded together, and I could feel his erection against my thigh. I was wet and ready, open to being undressed and taken right there in the open.

Leon suddenly pushed me away and took a step back, both of us panting for breath as we stared at each other.

“Was that my reward?” I asked him, and he looked confused for a few seconds before slowly shaking his head.

“No, Kira. That was me kissing you because I wanted to. Depending on your performance for the rest of the day, your reward or punishment comes later tonight.”

He cleared his throat, and I watched him shift slightly, trying to find a comfortable position for the erection in his pants. It felt somewhat good to know I was not the only one affected by this. Only slightly, though. I was still horny as hell and in desperate need of a release.

“What now?” I asked. “I should probably go back and try to write again?”

“Do you want to?”

“Not really.”

“Good. I have something else planned.”

“Okay,” I said immediately, not caring what it was as long as it meant spending time with him. “Um, exactly what did you plan for us?” I asked a few minutes later as he led me back into the house.

“You’ll see,” he said, chuckling and pointing me in the direction of my bedroom. “I left an outfit on your bed for you. How about you put that on and meet me…” His phone vibrated, and he glanced at it. “Perfect timing! Go ahead and change your outfit, then meet me in front of the house.”

“Can I get a hint at least?”

“No hints. Run along now and do what Daddy asked you to.”

I grinned and nodded my head as I walked into my room. A pair of riding boots sat on the floor, and a complete outfit was laid out on the bed. I wondered what Leon was up to now. I didn’t remember seeing a horse anywhere around the cabin when we arrived, and I was sure he would have mentioned it if there had been one.

I put on the outfit and paused to admire myself in the mirror, loving the way the outfit looked on me. It was a little snug, stretching around my curves and clinging to my body like a second skin, but the material was soft and stretchy enough to fit comfortably. I was about to put on the riding shoes when Leon walked back into the room.

His eyes lit up when he saw me and he nodded in approval. “Looks like they got the size right,” he said as he walked around me. “I was worried about that.” He stopped when he was standing behind me, and I heard a faint huff of disapproval. “Are you wearing anything under your clothes?”

“No. I mean, I have underwear on, but…”

“I told you to change into the outfit on the bed. I would have included a pair of underwear if I wanted you to wear any. Take off your clothes.”

“Are you serious?” I asked, eyes wide with shock. “You really expect me to walk around without underwear.”

“You’ll walk around naked if I asked you to,” he retorted. “Now take off the clothes, or I’ll take them off for you.”

I considered calling his bluff but knew that would just make things worse. After what happened at breakfast and the kiss in the backyard a few minutes earlier, the last thing I needed was Leon taking off my clothes when the possibility of relief was not promised. I took my shirt off first, watching him as I pulled the clothes over my head and dropped it on the bed.

My bra went next, and he licked his lips as my breasts swung free. He was not hiding the hunger in his eyes, and I decided to tease him a bit by cupping them and thumbing my nipples with my thumb. The bulge in his pants grew bigger, and his chest rose and fell as his breathing became faster.

“Stop,” he commanded softly.

“Stop what?” I asked, keeping my gaze on his as I grabbed the edge of my riding breeches and pulled them down my hips. “You’re the one who told me to take my clothes off, and that’s what I’m doing.” My panties went next, and I slowly walked across the room until I was in front of him. I tucked them in his front pocket and slid my hand across his chest, down his taut abdomen until I was only a few inches from cupping his manhood. Pulling back, I heard him draw a breath and smiled smugly as I stepped back a few steps and cocked my hand on my hips. “Like what you see?”

“Keep this up, and you’ll be begging for a long time tonight.”

“Bullshit,” I said immediately. “We both know you want this almost as much as I do.”

“Language, naughty girl.” He smiled and began to walk toward me. “You underestimate how much I like hearing you beg me to make you come.” He was standing right in front of me, and for an instant, it felt like he was going to push me down on the bed and give us both what he wanted. Taking a deep breath to bring himself under control, he picked up my top from the bed instead. “Raise your hands. Daddy’s going to dress you now.”

I did, and he helped me put on my top. Same with the breeches, and I could feel his breath sweep across the curls above my sex as I raised one leg after the other. All I needed to do was tip my hips up and his face would be buried between my legs. It took every ounce of self-control not to give in to the voice in my head telling me to do it. It should have felt ridiculous, having my clothes worn for me by him, but somehow it felt right. It made me feel safe and taken care of. The resulting arousal from having Leon’s hands all over me was something I didn’t want to think about.

He helped me with the riding shoes, and when I was fully dressed, we stood and stared at ourselves in the mirror. Without a bra, my hard nipples poked through my shirt, and the clingy fabric of the breeches pressed against my pussy.

“Beautiful,” Leon whispered as he stared at me, and I felt a flutter in my chest. “Come on,” he said, taking my hand and leading me out of the room. “Your surprise is waiting for you in front of the house. Although I’m not sure it’s much of a surprise anymore.”

“It will be to me,” I said, following him out of the house. “Why am I wearing a riding outfit when you don’t have a horse?”

“Because you’re going to be riding one,” he replied as he pushed the door open. I did a double take when I saw the horse standing in the yard, tied to a post.

I raced toward the horse and stopped a few feet away. “It’s real,” I exclaimed, scarcely believing my eyes. “It’s a real horse, Leon. You got me a real horse.”

“Rented,” he explained as he moved closer, glad to see my reaction to his surprise. “There’s a horse farm not too far from here.”

“First the balloon, and now these? Looks like you have a theme going on.”

“I guess I do. You’re my princess after all,” he said, patting my cheeks tenderly. “Come, let me introduce you to the horse. His name is Chip and he used to be a racehorse. Now, he takes pretty women on scenic rides around the horse farm.”

“Hi, Chip,” I said as we moved closer. I held my hand out, waiting until the horse sniffed my nose before petting it by the neck.

I had gone horse riding a couple of times and really enjoyed it. I even considered owning a horse once, but living in the city and having a crazy traveling schedule made it hard to realize that dream. Still, I loved spending time with them. They were beautiful, magnificent creatures, and Chip was no different. He stood tall and proud, coat shimmering in the afternoon sunlight as I stroked its mane. It was hard to miss the similarities between the beast in front of me and the man who stood behind me, especially with that regal tilt of his head that bordered on arrogance.

“Here, give him this.” Leon handed me an apple, and I fed it to the horse, giggling when he took it from my palm and whinnied in appreciation.

“You should have gotten two horses,” I said to Leon as we took the horse for a walk around the cabin. “That way, we can ride at the same time instead of waiting turns.”

“We’ll be riding at the same time, Kira,” he said.

“Or, you could call the farm back and ask for a second horse,” I suggested.

“And who’s going to make sure you are safe and don’t fall off this one?”

“I can ride a horse without falling,” I huffed.

“I’m sure you think you can. But Daddy’s got to make sure his little girl doesn’t get injured on this ride.” He grinned when I stopped mid stride in shock. “Don’t worry. Chip has no problem carrying both our weights. I already checked with the manager.”

I wasn’t worried about Chip. I was worried about me. It was hard enough walking right next to me and trying to ignore the low heat of arousal that struck me with every step and every sound of his voice. I was sure riding on the same horse with him would kill me.

“Scared?” he teased, and I smirked at him.

“Of what?”

“That’s my girl,” he said.

He held my hand and helped me mount the horse, making sure I was comfortable before jumping behind me. His thighs bracketed my legs, and I felt his chest press against my back. He nudged the horse forward and kept an easy grip on the reins as Chip trotted around the yard.

“Relax,” Leon whispered in my ears after a few minutes. “You’ll sprain your neck if you keep holding yourself stiff like that.”

I took a deep breath and allowed myself to relax a little. It meant leaning back until I was resting against his body.

“All the way back, Kira,” he said, and I gave in, leaning back until the top half of my body was cocooned between his arms. “Now, tell me that doesn’t feel much better.”

It did, and I grinned as he nudged the horse faster. A wave of exhilaration washed over me as we raced around the yard, lifting my spirits higher with each stride. The wind whipped through my hair, carrying with it the scent of the forest and grass around us. It was like my soul was being unburdened, and I stretched my hands out and threw back my head, laughing freely as I let go of every worry and care I’d brought with me.

But amid the thrill of the ride, it was the sense of safety I felt in Leon’s arms that gave me the reassurance to let go and kept me grounded, even as he took me for the ride of my life. The power of the animal between my legs was no match for the raw masculinity I felt in the arms around me.

He pushed the horse faster and faster, slowing down around the corners and kicking the pace up a notch on the straight stretch. Chip seemed exhilarated by the challenge, and his hooves pounded against the ground as he sent Leon and me flying across the yard. I loved every moment of it and I was grinning maniacally when Leon finally brought the horse back to a trot.

“That was the best ride of my life,” I exclaimed, clapping excitedly and pressing my cheeks against his arms. “Thank you, Daddy.”

I felt his chest vibrate and turned around, not surprised to see him looking pleased. One thing was clear to me now. Leon liked it when I called him Daddy, and I liked it when he treated me like his little princess.

“Keep doing that, and I’ll give you the best ride of your life tonight,” he drawled in a voice that immediately made my core quiver with arousal.

“Keep talking like that, and we’ll have to give this horse a bath before we return it. Or do I need to remind you that I haven’t got a stitch of underwear on?”

“I have your panties in my pocket, Kira. Trust me, I haven’t forgotten,” he replied, reaching around to cup my breast with one hand. I moaned as he began to knead my breast, tweaking my nipples through my clothes.

“No noise,” he warned in a quiet voice.

“What do you mean…?”

He pinched my nipple hard enough to hurt, and I winced in pain. “Stop asking questions and do as you’re told, Kira. You want to make Daddy proud, don’t you?”

I clamped my lips together and nodded my head. This time, when he went back to rolling my nipples between his thumb and forefinger, I did my best not to make any sound. It was hard, and it became harder when he handed the reins to me so he could fondle my breasts with both hands.

“Keep the horse walking straight, baby,” he said to me as he continued his torture. “Any sudden movement and I stop. Do you understand?”

I nodded again, closing my eyes and pushing my head back against his chest when one hand slid down my body and disappeared into the waistband of my breeches. I understood now why he’d taken off my underwear. I felt two fingers slide across my flesh, gliding down until they came in contact with the swollen bud of my clit.

I bit my inner cheek to stifle my gasp of pleasure, and when he began to stroke the sensitive nub, I fought to keep my eyes open and my hands still. I didn’t want him to stop, yet if he continued, I knew there was no way I could remain mute. The urge to scream out loud scrambled my senses, and the torture was compounded by the fact that I had to keep myself still for fear of spooking the horse.

His fingers pushed deeper, moving over the narrow slit and parting my swollen flesh, drenched with my desire. I fought to get my bearings, to drag air into my lungs, and to remember the instructions he’d given me. I just needed to breathe. If I could get some air into my lungs, maybe I could maintain control long enough to finally get the climax I desperately yearned.

“You have no idea how much I’ve dreamed about this,” he whispered in my ear. I felt goosebumps appear at the nape of my neck, and my grip on the right tightened a little. “To have you in my arms like this, to feel the wetness of your pussy around my fingers…”

Oh God!

“To fuck you with my tongue and suck that pretty clit into my mouth…”

Fuck me! My entire body was strung so tightly that even the caress of the breeze across my skin was one sensation too many. I could feel my juices coating his fingers, my pussy pulsing with need and desire as he stroked and teased me with both action and words. How could he ask me not to make a sound when he was evoking these feelings inside me? I could feel the pressure building, pulling at me, ripping me apart at the seams until I was close to bursting.

Just a few more seconds… Just a few more strokes… One instant before I exploded, the pressure became too much for me to handle, and I threw my head back against him, yelling, “Please, Daddy!” My legs dug into the side of the horse, sending him into a gallop.

Just like that, Leon pulled away. I went from tethering on the brink of what I knew would have been a massive orgasm to feeling the ground fall out from underneath me.

“No!” I screamed, my gasping moans turning into a screech of frustration. “Why did you stop?” I cried, feeling tears roll down my eyes.

“You know why,” he said, taking control of the horse and slowing it down. “I told you, Kira. You don’t get a reward for disobeying me.”

“But I tried,” I cried. “I really did. You know I did.”

“I know.”

“It’s not fair,” I continued wailing, not over the injustice. “I was so close too. I should get a reward for trying.”

“Not how it works, baby.”

“That is so unfair.”

“I know,” he said, and this time, I heard the hint of frustration in his voice. At the same time, I felt his erection pressing against my back. I immediately wiggled my ass against it and felt his cock jump in response. “Stop it,” he hissed at me.

“Why should I?” I asked, wiggling my ass some more. “Turnabout is fair play, don’t you think?”

“Not in this case. I’m your daddy, remember. That means I get to control you, not the other way around.”

“No fair,” I grumbled and folded my hand across my chest. “You get to torture me anytime you want and I have no choice but to take it.”

“I’ve had your panties in my pocket before we started this ride, Kira. That’s the scent of your cunt right under my nose this whole time. Do you have any fucking idea what pants this tight does to an erection?” he groaned. “I’m suffering here too, baby.”

“Why are you hell-bent on making us both suffer, then?” I asked.

“Because I don’t have a choice,” he growled. “You need discipline, baby, and it is my job to make sure you get it. Believe me when I say this hurts me way more than it hurts you.”

“Ugh. That is such a sad thing to say.” I sighed and leaned back against him. “Please, tell me you plan on relieving all this pressure at some point, Daddy. It’s starting to hurt, getting teased like this over and over again.”

“Tonight,” he promised, ruffling my hair. “You’ll get your reward and punishment tonight.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” I said, giddy with excitement and not worried about being punished. I’d take a hundred spankings if it ended with Leon’s cock buried deep inside me, giving me the orgasm I was starting to look forward to more than anything else in the world.

After horse riding,Leon took me back to the house and fed me lunch, then sent me to my room to take a nap even though I wasn’t sleepy. I thought about arguing with him, then remembered anything I said or did would be held against me later that night. So I clamped my mouth shut, went to my room, and somehow actually ended up sleeping for a few hours.

When I woke up, the sun was just starting to set and I went to the kitchen to get a drink. Hearing the sound of splashing water, I looked through the window and saw Leon swimming in the lake. The setting sun had thrown a golden glow over the water’s surface, and the silhouette of his ripped body was framed against the backdrop of the lake. He moved with effortless grace, long arms slicing the water as the ripples of the lake caressed his form like a lover’s embrace. I wanted to caress his form like a lover’s embrace.

I still had no idea what was going on. All I knew was that ever since Leon and I arrived at this cabin, a lot of things had changed. And even though he said it was just for the weekend, it was hard not to imagine our life once we left the safety and secrecy of this beautiful cabin and the surrounding mountains.

The thought of returning to what we used to be felt… strangely unappealing. Leon had awoken a beast inside me, and I didn’t think three days was enough to tame it and cage it back. I didn’t know that I wanted it caged again.

Before bed, I had showered and shaved like Leon wanted me to. And as the water ran down my body and between my legs, the temptation to follow the flow of the water with my hand and stroke my clit to the memory of the way he’d touched me on that horse made my knees buckle. I was so close to bursting with need that I knew I wouldn’t need more than a few touches, and Leon never had to find out.

Yet alone in the bathroom, desperately craving some relief from being brought to the brink of orgasm again and again with no respite, I still couldn’t do it because Leon was right. He was the only person I wanted to make me come. I craved his touch like an addict, looking forward to showing him that I’d done what he’d wanted. I’d been his good little girl.

I was only a few years out of high school when he found me, and I was still not convinced I wanted to attend college. He was ten years older, and his guidance and leadership had been crucial to a young, naive woman trying to navigate a cutthroat industry that had chewed and spat out a thousand others just like me.

In the beginning, he really was like a father figure to me, and I learned to trust his advice, even as he taught me to be the independent and freethinking woman I became. In that way, he was my guardian in those early years. Then we became friends. And now, I was his baby girl again. Only it was different this time.

Because this time, I was not just some amateur singer strumming guitars and singing my heart out on the stage of some seedy club. Neither was I the multi-award-winning rock star who had gone on to churn out dozens of hit records under his management. I was also a woman. A woman who seemed to have lost her mind because I knew more than anyone that Leon didn’t do relationships.

I had known him for over a decade and watched the endless parade of women who walked in and out of his life like a revolving door. I envied those women and the attention they got from him at times. I was human, after all, and I’d heard the rumors about his sexual proclivities. Now, I was the subject of those proclivities, and it felt better than I could have ever imagined.

Outside the window, Leon braced himself on the dock and climbed out of the water, and I couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly sexy he looked. Sexual appeal radiated from him like a beacon amid the tranquil beauty of the lake. The setting sun lent his skin a mesmerizing glow, accentuating the curves of his rippling body.

As he emerged from the water and stood on the dock, droplets cascaded down his skin, and I felt a flutter of excitement stir within me. He wore swimming trunks that were so tight and bunched at the crotch that I wished I could wrap my hands around the treasure they hid. He had a raw magnetism, a primal allure that set my feminine senses on fire, and I knew three days wouldn’t be enough to quench those flames. But it would have to be because I knew this fantasy had an expiration date, and when we left the cabin, we would have to go back to our old life where he was my manager and I was not his baby girl.