Chapter Twenty-Three
janae
I held on to one of the eight showerheads as I was getting head. Landon confessed he’d always been picky about what he put in his mouth and had barely tolerated oral sex until me. Now, his desire to give and receive seemed insatiable. We’d already had sex in his bed twice, and now we were supposed to be washing each other’s bodies. The next thing I knew, he was telling me to hold on while he kneeled, with my leg over his shoulder, ravishing the most intimate part of me with pure delight.
After I came loudly in his mouth, he rose to kiss my lips with a huge grin and a resounding smack. “I can so get used to you here with me.”
I hugged his waist as my legs became strong again. “Are you sure now? I can always stay in the hotel and let you have all this space to yourself.”
He started lathering my breasts. “Ha… ha.”
I snatched the loofah from him. “Nope, we’ll never get out of the shower if you start this up again. You wash yourself, and I’ll wash me. I want to see the rest of this gorgeous house.”
Landon chuckled and grabbed another loofah off the copper caddy for himself.
After we showered, I toured his renovated four-story brownstone wearing one of his hoodies that barely covered my ass. He refused to allow me to walk around nude until he’d recovered from the three back-to-back sessions we’d had today on very little rest.
“I don’t have visitors,” Landon explained when I noted the two lonely, crushed-velvet armchairs in his living area.
“I don’t need a disclaimer. Your house is your house. If you want to be the grumpy old man who lived in a shoe, I wouldn’t stop you.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” he mocked, spreading the Chinese takeout we’d ordered on his kitchen table. He heaped shrimp lo mein and fried rice on one plate for me. For himself, he had ordered plain lo mein and a separate side of shrimp.
“Surprised you have a table when you can just eat on the floor,” I teased as he pulled out the chair so I could sit. “Your house is beautiful. But why spend all that money on an interior decorator and not include a budget for a sofa?”
He swallowed noodles before saying, “Why waste money when I know I won’t have company?”
“Yet you have beds in the bedrooms.” I regarded him for a second and started laughing.
“Are you making fun of me?” His eyes were lit with humor, though his forehead was wrinkled.
“A little bit.” I slipped onto his lap and straightened the lines on his forehead. “You’re still like every man. You don’t want women walking through those doors feeling this is home. ‘Warm and cozy’ gives women ideas of marriage. You have the extra beds in case you don’t want to fall asleep with her after having sex, and you’re too much of a gentleman to kick her out. You ain’t slick, Landon.”
He smiled. “I plead the fifth.”
“You better call all your lady friends and tell them you’re taken now. And I know just the sofa I want to buy as a housewarming gift.”
“Santiago was right. You are bossy.” He kissed my neck. “I’ve seen all of you, and this is still my favorite part.”
I slid my hand down into his pants to touch his limp manhood and began urging it to come back to life. “I don’t know. It’s a tie between this and your heart.”
He groaned. “You’re trying to kill me.” I shifted to ride him. He quickly picked me up and headed out of the kitchen. “Need a condom.”
“You’re not about to carry me up the stairs. We’re exhausted.”
“No.” He brought me to the guest bedroom on the first floor and pulled a gold wrapper from underneath the pillows.
“Men are horrible.” I chuckled.
“But at least I’m prepared.” Landon smirked as he sheathed himself before thrusting deep inside.
April 30
The following morning, I woke early in a slight fog. The fog didn’t compare to the darkness, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I rested in bed beside him.
Take it day by day. Don’t overthink it or stay stuck in negativity. I picked up the water bottle from the side table and sipped. Maintain hydration. Breathe in and out. Sleep isn’t the enemy. You can beat this .
My cell alerted me that I had to be in the studio with The Hollow Bones in less than two hours. And I was ready to sing.
Landon slept nude, curled up on his side. Admiring his body, my kitty purred. Focus. Focus . We had way too much to do today to stay in bed. I kissed the back of his neck. “Good morning.”
He mumbled.
I shook his shoulder. “Wake up. Wake up.”
“I need another hour.” Landon pulled the covers over his head, and I promptly removed the quilt.
“We already missed one practice. We can’t be late for this one.”
He placed the pillow over his head. “They don’t want me there.”
“One fight, Landon,” I reminded him.
“We don’t fight,” he grumbled.
I pulled on his arm, trying to lift him. “You’re heavy.”
He rolled on his back and quietly admitted, “I can’t keep fighting Cedrick over you.”
Sensing he was finally ready to talk, I propped my head up on my hand. “What actually happened yesterday?”
“When I told him I wanted to push back the schedule, he told me I could have sex with you later and that he wasn’t changing anything for bullshit. And I pushed him against the bus, and we were about to fight. Brian intervened.”
I was silent. Yesterday didn’t have to happen like that. Cedrick hated me, and now the rest of the band probably hated me, too.
Landon opened his eyes slowly. “You’re never silent. Say whatever you want to say.”
I tugged on the sheet in between us. “Technically, he was right. We could’ve waited.”
“You didn’t hear how he sounded,” he explained.
“I can picture his tone. I’ve dealt with Cedrick enough.”
His brows dipped. “You don’t seem bothered.”
“I can’t let Cedrick get to me whenever he makes one of his comments. I accept that he’s jealous of our relationship, which may or may not change, because he’s used to being number one in your life. But everything someone says or does that’s disrespectful to me doesn’t warrant violence.”
“I was defending you,” Landon protested.
“And before me, you didn’t fight. Just because I love that you want to be my knight doesn’t mean I need you to be my knight every time.”
He sat up. “I can’t sit back and allow people to disrespect you just because you’re good with it.”
“I’m never good with people disrespecting me.” I shot up. “Including you.”
“I didn’t disrespect you. I would never do that to you,” he retorted.
I hit his arm. “You just did when you said I was good with people disrespecting me.”
“And you just punched the shit out of my arm!” he howled.
We glared at each other, neither of us wanting to back down. I was so mad at him. How dare he insult me? Didn’t he get…
Get what? I knew I had a point. What were we arguing about?
He rubbed his arm, and as we stared at each other, the scowl on his face slowly transitioned into an impish smile. I tried needlessly to hold on to my anger out of stubbornness.
“Stop being so damn cute so I can stay mad.” I reluctantly returned his grin.
“You know you want to laugh.” Landon chuckled, pointing to my mouth.
“Did we have our first fight as a couple?” I asked through the giggles that bubbled up from within.
He nodded and touched my cheek. “Yep, and we’ll probably have many more, since both of us have trouble putting filters on our mouths.”
I grinned so hard my jaw ached. “I am so happy.”
“Me too.” He started pushing me back down on the mattress, and I shook my head.
“We have to make up with Cedrick.” I jumped out of bed. “Then, after rehearsal, we can have sex all night long.”
He groaned again and covered his head with his pillow. “You really mean all night, don’t you?”
I smiled as I headed to the shower. If I were to take a snapshot of this moment, I would swear my life couldn’t be more perfect. Landon Hayes was my new man.
When we walked into The Hollow Bones’ studio ten minutes before rehearsal began off 125th in Harlem, Cedrick and Charles were beside each other in the control room. Brian wore headphones and waved from the booth. Santiago hadn’t arrived yet.
Landon’s body emanated tension from every pore. Beads of perspiration popped on his forehead. He hated confrontation, and from what I’d gathered, he and Cedrick had never had any conflict until me. A fact that bothered me, because I’d gained respect for all the men of The Hollow Bones, even Cedrick. They worked hard and didn’t have the egotism I’d often seen in the industry. This group of men just wanted to make “damn good music,” which was their mantra. I refused to allow Landon to make me the reason this band, who’d been together forever, fell apart.
Pulling my wide-brim hat, used to disguise my identity, lower, I marched into the studio. Landon dragged his feet behind me.
Charles rose and hugged me warmly. “Morning.”
I smiled back. “Good morning.”
Cedrick kept his head down, focusing on his cell like he didn’t see me, and I punched his shoulder. “Can you stop? Just stop.”
He rubbed his shoulder and barked, “Landon, get your woman.”
An amused Landon folded his arms, allowing me the floor to speak my mind.
“Exactly. That’s what I am to him. I want you to be friends again. I don’t have any, and that’s the loneliest thing in the world. And I’m not the type of woman who wants to ruin friendships… at least not anymore. I already know what your smart ass was about to say.” I held my hand up when Cedrick started to protest. “We’re together, and things will change for him and for me. Just like whenever you get a woman or children, things will change. You all can’t be these boys forever.” I quirked a brow and glared at the four men, who all seemed to be listening. “The film crew will be here later today because I didn’t want them to disturb our initial flow. That was a feat in itself, because I really don’t have the power to tell them what to record or not record without an argument.”
I took a deep breath. “Right now, I’ll get myself something to eat and enjoy the city while you work out whatever you need to work out. Text me when you need me back here.”
Landon’s eyes were appreciative, and I squeezed his hand as I moved past him to the door.
“Janae?” Charles called. I looked over my shoulder, and his shy grin erased time from his thirty-three years. “You have friends now.”
My heart fluttered as I gave him a little wave and exited the studio. I’d done my part to restore goodwill. The rest was up to Landon.
I’d never been invited to eat by another woman unless it was for business, and I couldn’t help the smile that crept across my face when I spotted Frankie at the back of the restaurant. I bent to hug her before I settled across from her.
She gestured to the carafe. “I ordered already. You want a mimosa?”
I shook my head. “I don’t drink anymore.”
Frankie snapped her fingers. “That’s right. You and Landon are the clean ones. Is he against you drinking?”
“I don’t like how I am when I drink. He loves that I don’t anymore, but he isn’t the reason,” I explained. “I’ve never been that chick, to do what a man told me to do, unless it was some sort of sexual game.”
She sipped on her drink. “I hear that.”
“What’s going on? Where’s Jeri?”
“Who knows? She’s a party girl, living it up. I’ve never been one, and I’m past that stage now anyway. I’m chill in my room, reading or watching TV. Trying to keep up with Cedrick has been tiring. He still loves the club.”
“Probably always will. Music and loud energy are in his blood. Just like the rest. Landon is the only one who prefers quiet.”
“You lucked out with him. A handsome and rich musician who doesn’t have a roaming eye is a blessing. The way that man defends you and is all about you is so sexy. Had Cedrick and the guys all quiet and numb after you left, trying to figure out what just happened.”
“I hope they’re working it out. I don’t want to be the cause of any rift in the band. I told Cedrick and the guys to grow up because they’re not used to Landon doing something just for himself. He’s always been about the band, and they could do whatever they wanted, and now he has me. And I want him to have me and Hollow Bones. Cedrick has to accept I’m not going anywhere, like I accept he isn’t either.”
“I like you more and more each day,” Frankie said.
“I feel the same about you. When we get back to Los Angeles, we have to do brunch and get manis and pedis and all that girl stuff,” I said, hopeful that my lonely days were over even if, by chance, Landon and I didn’t make it.
“Always down for brunch and a good spa day.” Frankie held her glass up.
The waitress approached. “Do you need more… Wait, are you MILA?”
Frankie firmly corrected her, “Warner. She’s Janae Warner now.”
I smiled at Frankie’s defense of me and then at the waitress. “I like to be called by my birth name.”
The waitress nodded. “I apologize.”
“No need. I want egg whites scrambled with spinach, any cheese but cheddar or American, and any mixture of fruit. Perrier water with a side of lemon.” Another reason I didn’t like taking meds. I couldn’t mix any type of citrus fruit with my meds, which made my daily routine of drinking water infused with lemon and lime challenging.
The waitress walked away.
Frankie took a sip of her mimosa. “How has it been dating Landon?”
“It is a blessing, and I’m glad we found each other. Sometimes I do wish he liked to be outside. I’m more like Cedrick and the guys. I love a good party or two.”
“Does he care if you hang out?”
I smiled. “No, he doesn’t. He accepts that we’re different and wants me to be me. I’m not always sure if he’s truly the man he’s supposed to be. The Landon I see is fun and makes me laugh. Loves all music and can rap and dance his ass off. But he doesn’t show that side to anyone else. Maybe the guys… but I wonder if his reservedness is him, or if he’s like the tortoise who ducks in his shell whenever he remotely feels threatened.”
“You just got with him. You’re still learning each other.”
“He’s always been like this puzzle. Amazing talent and unassuming. Quiet until he plays that guitar.” I could feel myself being sucked into Landon Hayes obsession mode, so I waved my hand. “Enough about him. What’s going on with you and Cedrick?”
She smiled, displaying one deep dimple. “Learning each other too. I don’t have these lofty aspirations to be like you and Landon. Still, I wouldn’t mind spending more time with him.” Frankie rolled her eyes slightly. “I know. I know that he’s not the type to be in a relationship, and he’s made that clear. I just like him, you know?”
“I do. Be careful with your heart and have fun. You have his attention now, and you might keep it later. Just keep your options open. There are plenty of men, and you’re a snatched woman from head to toe.” I snapped my fingers in front of her face. “Thank you very much.”
Frankie pursed her lips and dipped her head. “Facts.” She picked up her cell and swiped until she found something, then flashed the image before me. “Your brother is delicious. What’s his deal?”
“Eww,” I squealed, though the picture she showed was a good one of Rashad. “He is so thirst-trapping in this pic. I need to call him.”
“Can you do it in front of me? I would so holla.”
“The Rashad I know is bad news. He loves women way too much and has three children and two baby mothers.” I tilted my head, assessing my new friend. “But he might have matured in relationships, because he’s been a good dad.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Call him. It’s all in fun.”
I inhaled and blew out my breath. She didn’t know that the only communication we’d had in four years was the text message I sent more than a week ago. “It’s a Monday morning. He might be working.”
“I bet he’ll pick up for his baby sis.”
I nodded and searched for his number.
He answered promptly with his usual: “What’s up, buttercup?”
My eyes watered. “Same ol’ same,” I replied the way I’d used to.
“I can’t believe you called,” he said.
Aware that his booming voice carried, I tucked the phone closer to my ear. “Listen, I promise to call you later tonight or tomorrow, but I have one question.”
“Shoot.”
“How many women are you talking to right now?”
He chuckled. “Naw… not about to be tricked.”
“You just told me it was more than one.” I laughed, and Frankie shook her head ruefully.
“Why?”
“One of my girls saw your pic and asked about you. I warned her, but she insisted.”
“Mm… is she hot?”
“Boy… bye.” I snorted.
“Wait… wait… Is she?”
Frankie grabbed my phone. “I’m the one who asked about you. The next time you visit your sister, come holla at me too.”
“Tell him he can visit any time after next month,” I suggested, wanting him to know that I welcomed him.
I eased back in my chair, watching my friend talk to my brother. After all the craziness of the past two months since the rodeo in Houston, my life had already changed in ways I’d never imagined.