Chapter 9
nine
. . .
Pixelated Pleasures
“Is that your ‘O’ face or is your Zoom frozen?”“
~ Jake Steele
Jake
“Come on, Amelia. Travis White tours with his girl,” I said, toweling off my wet hair.
I’d run from the shower when I heard my phone ringing.
Of course the boss would call when I was rubbin’ one out before my Zoom with Emily.
I had to take precautions, or I’d only last five minutes.
The thought of seeing her face, even through the computer screen, was enough to make my heart race.
I took the call, though. Shit, I’d jump through whatever hoops necessary to get the okay for Em to come on tour for the summer.
I was using every argument I could think of.
Travis White, one of Clarke Records’ biggest names, toured with his girlfriend and Hidden Voices second place winner, Jody Boyd.
But shit, Em wouldn’t be a performer like Jody.
I should’ve thought that one out better …
“You’re not on your fifth world tour, Jake. I backed Steele Horizons when the board didn’t want to sign you. And this is how you repay me? Trying to wrangle a plus one on the tour bus?” Her sharp voice was a reminder of how much we owed her, but I wasn’t backing down.
Amelia was Amelia Clarke, CEO of Clarke Records and the woman who singlehandedly pulled Steele Horizons from obscurity.
I could picture her on the other end, pacing back and forth in that swank office of hers at the top of Clarke Tower, pivoting from one end to the next on those crazy-ass stiletto heels she always wore. In fact, I was pretty sure I could hear them clicking on the floor in the background.
“I’m not asking Clarke to foot the bill. This will be on my dime.” I kept my tone firm, determined to make this work for Emily and me.
She sighed long and hard across the line. After five seconds of silence, I knew I had her.
“Okay, Steele. She’s your responsibility. Clarke won’t insure her if something goes wrong, and she signs something agreeing to it.” Yeah, that was definitely her toe tapping in the background.
“Deal!” I shouted before she could take it back, pumping my fist in the air.
“Jake?” a voice from the other room called .
Oh, shit!
It was showtime.
“Amelia, I gotta run,” I said, hanging up on her shocked gasp over being dismissed. That was a woman who did not like to be told what to do. Her reaction made me grin, but my focus was already on Emily.
I ran into the other room and sat in front of my computer. Emily’s face filled the screen. Her smile was my solace, soothing the chaos of my day.
“Hey, baby!” I turned my camera on and saw her eyes light up with excitement.
Right back at cha, babe.
Seeing Emily—even if it was from over a thousand miles away and with a computer screen between us—was the highlight of my day.
Every day. That’s how often we talked. I refused to let a night pass without connecting with her, especially since—once the tour officially kicks off—our schedules will be so fucked, we’ll be lucky if we can catch a glimpse of each other.
The thought of being apart from her made my chest ache, but I was determined to make this work.
“Hi!” She waved her adorable little nerd-girl wave. Fuck, she was cute.
Wait … what the fuck was she wearing?
“Em, what’s all that lacy shit?” I asked, grinning from ear to ear. “You got a surprise for your boyfriend?” I licked my lips, ready for whatever she had in store. Her boldness through the screen was new for her, and I was here for it.
Instead of a striptease, her eyes nearly bulged out .
“Boyfriend?” She swallowed hard. “Are you my boyfriend?”
“No, I’m a figment of your imagination you dial into every night.” I rolled my eyes. She wasn’t going to get away with this. “What did you think we were doing?” Her uncertainty was adorable, but I needed her to know I was all in.
“I-I-I didn’t k-k-know.” She swallowed hard. “I mean, I’m just a frickin’ English major at FU and you’re … you’re fucking Jake Steele, sexiest goddamn rockstar on Earth!” Her voice went from squeaky to raging at the end. Her entire apartment building probably heard her screaming my name.
Hell, yeah.
Her outburst made me laugh, but it also made me want to reassure her she was more than enough for me. I let her calm down and take a breath. “Did you hear the news?”
She pursed her lips. “What?” She sounded exasperated. If she were standing, she’d have her hands on her hips, I knew it.
“I have a girlfriend,” I started, seeing if she would eat the bait. She lifted only an eyebrow. “And she’s the most adorable little book nerd in the world. She likes big books, and she do not lie.” I chuckled.
“Oh, my God, Jake.” She grinned, giving me the side-eye.
Her cheeks were bright red with a blush.
“So,” she let out a huge breath, “I guess it turns out my boyfriend is a rockstar,” she stated, blowing on her nails before polishing them on her shirt.
Her playful confidence was a turn-on, making me want her even more .
“That’s right. And what are you wearing for your rockstar boyfriend?”
With a saucy grin, Emily stood up from her chair and stepped back.
My eyes bulged at the beauty before me. She was wearing a white lace lingerie set with delicate flowers stitched into the sheer fabric.
She turned, letting me see the sheer thong slip between her lush buttocks.
Her curve in the lace was a vision, and I was wholly captivated.
It was so simple. It was so gorgeous. It was so Emily.
“God, baby …” I groaned, letting my towel slide off. I leaned back in my computer chair and gripped my dick, paying homage to her beauty with a long stroke.
She licked her lips, her eyes zeroing in on my hard cock.
“You like that?” I asked, stroking a dollop of pre-cum from the tip.
“Oh yeah,” she purred. She swayed her hips, the lace clinging to her curves like a second skin. “You want a show, rockstar?” Her voice was low, teasing, with a spark of confidence replacing her earlier jitters. Her transformation into a confident seductress was mesmerizing.
“Fuck yes,” I growled, my grip tightening as I watched her fingers trace the edge of her bra, teasing the strap down her shoulder.
Emily smirked, turning slowly, revealing the soft swell of her breasts. “Like this?” she asked, her voice a sultry whisper, eyes locked on mine through the screen.
“Keep going, baby,” I urged, stroking myself harder, my breath coming in ragged bursts, lost in all that was Emily. Her desire mirrored my own, our connection transcending the physical distance between us.
She slid off her bra, tossing it aside, her nipples standing at attention. Her hands roamed lower, fingers dipping beneath the thong’s delicate lace band, teasing it down her thighs. “Is this what you want?” she asked, stepping closer to the camera, her body filling the screen.
“Goddamn, Em,” I groaned, my hand moving faster, heat building. “You’re killing me.”
She giggled, a mix of shy and bold, then leaned forward, giving me a perfect view. “Your turn,” she whispered, biting her lip. “Show me how much you want me.”
I stood, angling the camera, letting her see every inch of my arousal. Her eyes widened, with a hungry glint in them. “Jake,” she breathed, fingers sliding between her thighs, matching my rhythm.
“Together,” I said, voice rough, as we moved in sync, the screen a thin barrier between us. Her moans grew louder, her body trembled, and I knew we were both close. “Come for me, Em.”
With a gasp, she shattered, her head tilting back, lips parted. That was all I needed—my release hit hard, a low groan escaping as I watched her ride out her pleasure. Her vulnerability in that moment was as beautiful as her confidence.
Panting, she grinned, flushed and radiant. Sitting down, she took a sip of wine that’d been sitting out of sight. I would never get tired of her relaxed glow.
I wiped up my mess, pulled on a pair of boxers and sat back, just watching the beauty that was Emily Lane glowing after an orgasm. It didn't feel like it had on the beach, but what could you expect over a computer? Nothing would ever be as good as her flesh pressed against mine.
“So … I’m your girlfriend, huh?” She twirled her hair in her hand, her eyes hooded as they met mine.
“I don’t know…” Her eyes bulged, and I grinned with excitement. “My girlfriend is spending her summer break on tour with me. Is that you?”
Her jaw dropped. “Shut the fuck up!”
I bent over laughing, ecstatic at her reaction. Her joy was infectious, and I couldn’t wait to have her by my side.
“Zara!” she screamed as she stood and went to run out of the room, stopping herself just in time to put on a robe. “Zara, I’m going on tour!”