Ten
Whit
M y phone is blaring from somewhere, echoing through my skull and jolting me awake. I peel my eyes open and squint at the bright light streaming through the window. My head is pounding and my mouth feels like it’s full of cotton.
“Fuck,” I mutter, rolling over and burying my face in a pillow. The sound of my phone ringing is incessant, like a jackhammer drilling into my brain.
Groaning, I reach out and fumble for it on the bedside table, knocking over a half-empty bottle of water in the process. Cursing under my breath, I finally manage to grab my phone and answer it, not bothering to check who’s calling.
“What?” I croak, my voice hoarse and raspy.
“Get your ass downtown to Echo Heights ASAP, fucker!” Lennox yells, forcing me to pull the sharp sound away from my ear. I can hear the chaos in the background of wherever he is, the distant chatter and honking of horns.
“We got texts that they want us to come in and do the paperwork. They need us in the booth right away. Get your shit together!” His excitement bleeds through the speakers, making my heart race despite my lack of sleep. I sit up, rubbing my eyes and trying to clear the fog from my brain.
I check my messages and sure as fuck I have several missed texts and an email from Mike telling me to get to the studio as soon as possible. I look at the time and see that it’s already eleven AM.
“Shit, okay,” I reply, running a hand through my hair, feeling the tangles. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Hurry the fuck up, man. This is our big break. We can’t fuck this up.” I hear a door close and the sound of a car starting.
“Relax, fucker. I’ll be there,” I hang up the phone and toss it onto the bed. I sit there for a moment, trying to wrap my head around everything. It’s hard to believe that this is actually happening, that we’ve actually made it—a record deal with one of the biggest labels in the country.
I look around the room and realize that I’m not in my own bed. The memories of last night come flooding back to me, and I’m forced to grin. I fucked Scarlett in every way possible. The thought of her tight little cunt wrapped around my cock, taking all of me makes me hard all over again.
Scarlett is still softly snoring, unaffected by my phone and me clumsily knocking over shit.
What has this vixen done to me? I’ve always been the “love them and leave them” type of guy, never letting a girl get too close. But Scarlett is different. She’s not just a fuck and chuck. She’s special.
I can’t explain it, but there’s something about her that draws me in, something that makes me want to keep her around. Not just around, but bound to me forever. If I didn’t think she would freak the fuck out, I would marry her today. I feel like I’ve lost my damned mind, but also I’ve never seen things so clearly.
Right now, I have to get my shit together and head to the studio. This is a huge opportunity for us, and I can’t afford to screw it up. I get up and take a quick shower, trying to shake off the lingering effects of last night. As the water washes over me, I think of Scarlett and her soft, warm body pressed against mine. The way she moaned and writhed as I thrust into her, filling her up—each memory a push towards the edge of desire.
I turn off the water and step out of the shower, drying off quickly. I get dressed and take one last look at the bed where Scarlett is curled up, her fiery red hair spread out on the pillow. She looks so peaceful, so beautiful. I can’t resist leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before I leave. Her bare leg is curled around the sheet, revealing the phoenix tattoo rising from the ashes. It’s the most beautiful piece of art I’ve seen in my life. It’s fitting for her, being reborn from the ashes of her past, from the pain that the world tried to bring down upon her.
“I’ll see you later, little flame,” I whisper, kissing her soft lips.
“Mmm, are you leaving?” she mumbles with her eyes still closed, making me laugh softly.
“I’ve got to meet the guys downtown. I’ll text you in a little bit,” I say, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Make sure you answer your phone so I don’t lose my mind today,” I add, my voice soft but serious.
She sighs, her eyes fluttering open just a crack. “Okay, be safe.”
I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Always.”
After checking my pocket for my wallet, I grab my phone and head to the front door. Before I step outside, I see her keys hanging by the door and a twisted idea begins forming in my head.
When I was pacing around Scarlett’s living room writing lyrics early this morning, her large bookshelf caught my attention. She has quite the collection of dark and dirty romance books that seemed to be very well read. They were worn and many had tabs sticking out, indicating various scenes that must have sparked her interest. One that stuck out to me the most had a masked man on the front cover, which took me back to our earlier string of text messages.
I picked it up and read the synopsis. The idea of a masked man stalking his obsession then breaking into her house, taking the woman and making her submit to his darkest desires was intriguing.
A small sheet of paper fell from the book before I added it back to the shelf. Curiosity got the better of me and I’m glad it did. I found gold.
My Kinky To Do List
Primal kink
Breath play
Breeding Kink
Bondage
Clit Torture
Double Penetration
Biting
Edging
Nipple clamps
Orgasm Denial
Forced Orgasm
Belt collar
Ice Play
Rope Play
Butt Plug/Vibrator
Spankings
Exhibitionism
Permanent Marking
The visualization made my cock harden instantly. My little flame doesn’t know what she’s getting into . I quickly placed the paper back inside the book and put it down, grabbed my small notebook from my pocket and began to write. The song flowed out of me like a river after a storm. The words poured onto the page, a mix of anger and desire, of love and hate.
Without a second thought, I grab her keys, twisting her apartment one off before hanging them back up. I don’t want to wake her, she’s sleeping so peacefully. She’s a fucking angel. After I’m done at the studio, I’m going to make a surprise visit that she won’t soon forget.
It’s time to play cat and mouse, my little flame.
Time to show her just how obsessed I can be, to make her mine, completely and irrevocably. With a wicked grin on my face, I head out the door, my heart racing with anticipation.
I jog to my bike then make my way across town, the traffic surprisingly light for a Saturday morning. As I park in front of the massive skyscraper, I feel a sense of excitement.
I rush inside, dodging various crew members hustling about. Lennox stands by the entrance, practically vibrating with anticipation. “There you are!” he shouts, clapping me on the back. “You made it just in time!”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s get this shit done, yeah?” I respond, trying to mask my racing heart with my usual calm bravado.
We walk through the vast expanse of the recording studio, our new home for the foreseeable future. The booth glints like a siren beckoning us in, a portal to launch our dreams.
“Mr. Lockwood, glad you could grace us with your presence,” Mike drawls, shaking my hand,
“Sorry, sir. It won’t happen again,” I assure him even though it most definitely will happen again. I was late to my own birth, and it set the precedent for the rest of my life.
Mike nods, as if satisfied. “Now that we’re all here, let’s talk about the details of the deal,” he says, motioning for us to follow him. We trail after him to a large conference room, the walls covered with platinum records, and the floors lined with plush red carpet. There’s a long white table in the center of the room with high-backed red leather chairs around it. The ceiling opens up into sky lights and you can see the cityscape of downtown. This is a far cry from our dive bar gigs, that’s for sure.
We all take a seat, me between Nox and Blaine, as the weight of the moment settles over us. This is it, the moment we’ve been working towards for years.
“First things first, congratulations on signing the deal,” Mike starts, a smile on his face. “I have no doubt that you’ll make a killing in the industry. You’ve got talent, drive, and a unique sound. But with success comes certain... expectations.” He gives us a pointed look, his gaze lingering on me. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, wondering where he’s going with this.
“Your lives are about to change in ways you can’t even imagine,” he continues. “You’ll be in the public eye, and everything you do will be scrutinized. We need to make sure that you’re all on your best behavior.” He clears his throat.
“What the fuck are you insinuating?” I ask, feeling defensive. “I know how to keep my shit in check.”
“Really?” Mike raises an eyebrow. “Because according to our sources, you have a bit of a... history .”
My heart drops and I feel a surge of panic. What the fuck does he know? And how the fuck does he know it? This has my father written all over it. I don’t know how, but I know it was him. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
“We did a background check on you, boys. We know about your past...indiscretions,” he says, his tone sharply directed at me.
“Fuck you,” I spit out, standing up and knocking my chair back. “You don’t know shit about me or my past. You have no fucking right to dig into my personal life.” The room erupts into chaos as my band mates try to calm me down, and Mike tries to regain control of the situation.
“I did the time, and I’m done being punished for something I didn’t do. I was seventeen, and I’m almost twenty five. I want to live my life the way I want to live it. If you can’t accept that, then maybe this isn’t the right label for us.” I storm out of the room, my blood boiling.
“Get your ass back in here, boy,” Mike shouts from the conference room door. I hesitate for a moment, considering my options. “If you don’t get in here and sign this contract, then your career and the band’s career is over,” Mike threatens, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You still want us after you threw my past at me? Even if you are the most powerful label in the country, you’re not going to treat me like a child who doesn’t have a say in his career. I’m a grown ass man, and I’m going to make my own choices and mistakes. So, are you going to stand in the way of my dreams or are you going to work with me?” I ask, meeting Mike’s gaze with my own. “I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am, and I’m not going to let anyone hold me back.”
Mike studies me for a moment before nodding. “You’re right, kid. You’ve earned your place in this industry, and that’s the exact answer I wanted. I needed to make sure you’re serious about this. All of you.” He looks at my bandmates, who are watching the exchange with wide eyes. “I want you all to know that we’re not here to control you. We’re here to support you. But that means being open and honest with us. No secrets. Understood?” We nod in agreement, relieved that the confrontation is over.
“Now, let’s get back to business. We need a fresh new song to introduce you to the country. Got something I haven’t heard yet?”
“Actually, yes. I wrote some lyrics this morning. We haven’t rehearsed it yet, though,” I say, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper from my back pocket. Mike takes it and reads it over, his brow furrowing. “It’s raw and rough, but I think it could be a hit.”
Mike nods, a grin spreading across his face. “This is exactly what we’re looking for. Intense, emotional, and with a touch of darkness. Let’s get to work.” After we sign our lives away, he leads us to a studio. “Here’s your studio. You’ll be in here for the next few weeks. I want thirteen songs on that album. Get to it,” Mike instructs before walking out of the studio, leaving me alone with my bandmates.
“Holy fuck, you need to get writing Whit. We have some work to do,” Blaine says, a wide grin on his face. “This is it, the chance we’ve been waiting for.”
“Yeah, no pressure, right?” I laugh, feeling the weight of expectation settling on my shoulders.
“Nox, set up a rhythm for me. I need to get this shit out before I lose it,” I say, standing at the mic with my guitar.
“You got it, man,” he says, grabbing his sticks and tossing them in the air before he sits behind his drums.
“I’ll add to the bass later,” Blaine says, standing behind the control panel.
As I start to sing the words to the song I wrote this morning, I’m lost in the music, the emotions, the longing. I pour everything into the performance, giving it my all. When I finish, my bandmates are staring at me, their faces a mix of awe and shock.
“That was fucking amazing, Whit,” Nox says, his eyes wide. “Where the hell did that come from?”
I shrug, feeling exposed and vulnerable. “Scarlett,” I admit. “I’m fucking obsessed with her.” Nox looks at me with incredulity and I nod.
“Well, you better make sure she sticks around,” Blaine chimes in, a grin on his face. “Because if that’s the kind of music you’re gonna write when you’re thinking about her, we’re gonna need a lot more of it.”
I agree and we spend the rest of the day laying down the tracks for the song.
"I can’t believe how far we’ve come in one day," I said, sinking back against the wall, utterly spent but exhilarated. "This is going to take us places, I just know it." And it’s all thanks to Scarlett.
As the sun begins to sink low in the sky, I can feel the familiar itch under my skin. The need to be near her, to feel her presence. It’s like a drug, and I’m hopelessly addicted. My life has been turned upside down by a chance encounter at my father’s university. But instead of fighting it, I’ve embraced it.
"I’m getting out of here," I announce, a sudden surge of excitement running through me. Instead of heading straight to Scarlett’s place, though, an impulse takes over. My bike roars to life beneath me as I turn towards the tattoo parlor, the night air whipping around me, cool and electric.
Once inside the shop, the familiar scent of ink and antiseptic envelops me, but I feel different. My heart pounds as I sit in the tattoo chair, the buzzing of the machines turning into a symphony of possibility. This tattoo will symbolize my journey with Scarlett, something to signify just how profoundly she has impacted me in such a short time.
"What will it be?" asks Brit, the tattoo artist, a knowing smile on her face.
I take a deep breath, visualizing my design. "I want a trail of flames leading down from my chest with a red bird flying through them. Something that symbolizes my fire. The fire she ignited in me."
Brit nods, then takes a few minutes to sketch the stencil over my skin.
“I’m surprised you aren’t doing this one yourself, but there, check that out.” I hop up from the chair and gaze into the mirror at the flames licking my skin.
“Dude, it’s fucking perfect! Since it’s on my chest, I didn’t want to risk it not coming out right.” The exact vision in my head is about to come to life across my chest.
“Awesome. Get over here and let’s get it done.” I move excitedly to lie down on the chair, and her hands move methodically as she creates the art on my skin. I close my eyes, letting the needle's buzz resonate with every heartbeat. The sensation is a mix of pain and pleasure, much like my feelings for Scarlett, raw and thrilling.
When Brit finishes, I stand up, inspecting the intricate flames and the fiery phoenix. "It’s perfect—just like her." I can’t help but feel a surge of pride running through me.
"You’ll definitely have to come back for more. Although with your new studio I’m sure you’re doing most of them yourself," Brit says, smirking as I admire her work.
Leaving the shop, the weight of the ink on my skin feels like a promise I’ve made to myself—a physical manifestation of the obsession that consumes me. I know that I’ll do anything to keep her in my life, to keep her safe and by my side.
I detour home to grab my purge mask and a few accessories that will be used to mark some items from her list, then head across town to surprise Scarlett. This is going to be intense, and I can’t fucking wait. As the city lights blur past me, I wonder what she’ll think of my surprise.
Will she be scared?
Intrigued?
Turned on?
I can’t wait to find out. If her reading habits are anything to go by, then getting taken by a masked man is one of her fantasies. I smirk at the thought of my girl being kinky as fuck. She’s perfect.
"Oh, Scarlett, you’re in for a ride tonight," I mutter to myself as I hit the road, the pulse of the city doubling with each minute.
My body is buzzing with excitement, and my cock is hardening just thinking about her. I need to have her again, to feel her writhing beneath me as I fuck her senseless.
I pull up to her building and park in the visitor’s parking lot. I take a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
This is it.
Time to play with my pet.
I put on my mask, making sure it’s securely fastened over my face. Then, I make my way up to her floor, taking the stairs two at a time. As I approach her door, the loud music from the apartment next door envelops me like a cloak, muffling any sound that can escape from me. I pull out the spare key I pilfered and unlock her door, slipping inside her sanctuary.
The dim light from the lamp in her bedroom casts shadows across the living room, and I let out a slow breath, moving quietly through the space, drinking in the details of her life. The faint streetlights filter in through the windows, illuminating various bits of her world—the books scattered across the coffee table, each object whispering remnants of her time spent here.
I slide into her bedroom, my heart pounding as I arrive at the threshold. She lies on her bed, absorbed in seemingly mundane tasks, blissfully unaware of my arrival. I stand there for a moment just watching her, my chest tightening against the swell of emotion surging through me at the sight of her. A warmth unfurls within me that feels bold and entirely consuming.
Scarlett’s ankles are twisted in the air with headphones on while reading. She’s so engrossed in her book that she doesn’t notice me creeping up behind her. Naughty little flame should be more vigilant, but she’s mine now. I sneak up beside her and salivate at her juicy, pale thighs on display. I quickly grab her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides and pulling her against my chest, making her headphones drop to the floor.
“Did you miss me?” I purr in her ear, my voice somewhat muffled by the mask. She freezes, her body stiffening in shock. I can feel her heartbeat racing as she tries to wriggle free, but I’m too strong for her.
“What do you want?” she demands, her voice shaking with fear.
“I want you,” I grit, pressing my hips against hers. I can feel the heat of her body, smell her sweet scent. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m not letting her go.
“You can’t have me,” she says defiantly, squirming in my grasp. But I’m not giving up that easily. I want her, and I’m going to have her.
I tighten my grip on her wrists, pinning her arms behind her back. She gasps as I lean in close, my breath hot on her neck. “You’re wrong about that, little flame,” I murmur. “I already have you.”
She relaxes a fraction when she hears her nickname. I spin her around to see the fear in her eyes turn to lust when she sees my mask.
“How the hell did you get in here?” Without answering, I hold up her key, then place it back in my pocket. “What the hell?!” I tilt my head, looking directly at her.
"Well, don’t just stand there—what’s your plan, masked man?" she quips, raising an eyebrow, both challenging and inviting me in equal measure.
“Run,” I whisper in her ear, letting go of her wrists. She takes off into her apartment, slamming the door shut behind her. But there’s no escape for her, not anymore. I kick the door open, watching her sprint to the kitchen, her wild hair flying behind her before she ducks behind a counter.
“I’m coming for you, little flame,” I growl, stalking toward her. I can hear her breathing, rapid and shallow. I can smell the scent of her fear, mingled with something else. Something darker, more primal.
As I get closer, I see her crouched down, her back pressed against the cabinets. Her eyes are wide and wild, her hair tangled around her face. She’s trembling, but not with fear. No, with excitement, with anticipation. She knows what’s coming, and she wants it just as much as I do.
“Found you,” I murmur, kneeling down in front of her. Her cheeks flush with the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Her eyes are locked on mine, and I can see the hunger in them. The need.
I reach out and grab her, pulling her against me. She struggles, but it’s half-hearted, her body already yielding to mine. Her soft curves press against my hard muscles, and it drives me wild.
“You’re mine,” I promise, my voice low and possessive. The heat of her skin, the rapid beat of her heart and mine mingle together. “And I’m never letting you go.” I can see the desire in her eyes, the way she bites her lip as I run my hands over her body.
She wants this just as much as I do, and I’m not stopping until she’s screaming my name.