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Charlie
I wake to the sound of Hudson’s voice singing in the shower. I jerk upright, taking a minute to remember everything that happened. We were fighting, and then we agreed to be friends with benefits basically. And the worst part is, it was my genius idea.
It’s okay, I can totally do this. Just awesome sex with a rock star until he leaves. A thousand women would kill to be me right now, so no overthinking is allowed. I’ve truly made some awesome leaps and bounds toward becoming a better me, and this is just my reward. Yeah, totally, I tell myself, karma is not going to come rip my heart out later. That’s not what this is. Just his sexy as sin body pounding into mine. End of story.
As I’m internally debating my decision, Hudson comes out of the shower in nothing but a towel, his god-like body on display for only me. Tattoos cover his arms and shoulders and down his sides, and as my eyes find the tip of the towel, I bite my index finger and then motion to him with it.
“Good morning.”
“I’m hoping so,” I say and sit up a bit more to let the sheet fall down my chest. He gives me that growl I love so much and tears the towel off. I’m so giddy I actually squeal in my excitement and he pounces on me. I take the lead this time and push him over and straddle him and kiss all of his amazing artwork all the way down. I take him in my mouth and work him up until he’s pulling my hair and warning me he’s there. Suddenly I hear the front door of his apartment open, and I pop off him and stumble to the floor. Voices of his bandmates get louder, but he scrambles to the bedroom door and locks it. They don’t try to get in, and he shouts at them to leave. Of course, they don’t, and I get dressed as soon as possible.
“I think it’s probably in our best interest if this arrangement stays between you and me, right?” I say grabbing for my glasses on his nightstand and heading to hide in the bathroom. He stops me just as I’m closing the door and grabs my face.
“That would be best. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect them. I’ll get them out of here and you can sneak out. I’ll see you soon, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say with a happy smile, and he kisses me. It’s a deep kiss filled with promises to finish what we had started this morning, but then he breaks it and heads to his dresser, and I finish closing the door. While I wait in the bathroom, I splash water on my face and use the bathroom. I brush my teeth with my finger and his toothpaste and being a little noisy I open all the cabinets and doors and rifle through the very little he has.
Soon I don’t hear any noise in the apartment and start to make my way out. I’m reaching for the doorknob when something on his dresser catches my eye. On top of the wood dresser is a ripped lace thong. I feel the familiar rush of embarrassment color my cheeks but then recognize it as the one I wore to the masquerade. He kept my underwear; I’m so turned on at this but don’t fully understand why. He is turning me into a freak instead of confident and in control. I laugh out loud but leave the lace where it lies.
Making my way back to my apartment, I undress and step under a steaming hot shower. I wash my face and very gently wash my center, which has never felt such amazing devotion. I shave everything, wash my hair, and step out, toweling dry. I get dressed and check my phone. I make my own schedule and work when I want, which is usually all the time. I don’t need to go to the studio and even though I’ve been there for the recording of most of the songs so far, I decide to work in the record room today since I know they’ll be working on the same song for the next few hours.
I check my Facebook and I’m happy to have a reply from Wallflower. My excitement grows when they reply they would love to come meet us and sent me a rough video of their new song. I love it. It’s soulful and total girl power. I forward it to Marcus and Mason and ask for times they might be available.
Back in my notebook, I start knit-picking all the songs I try to work on, so I decide to find my way to the studio. Marcus has his headphones on in deep concentration, and Hudson seems to be struggling with the chorus of this one. Deep frowns are found from the band, and soon Bandit throws his drumsticks in the air, his frustration getting the better of him.
“Alright, why don’t we take a break. Meet back here in an hour. Go eat, rest, just please make it back here. We have to wrap up this song tonight and move on.” Marcus sounds tired and rubs his eyes after taking off the headphones. Nick, Bryon, and Bandit head out, soon followed by Mason, but Marcus stays back.
“You look beat, buddy.”
“I am.” He rubs his hands over his face and turns off the intercom so Hudson, who’s doing a vocal exercise, can’t hear us. “This song you two wrote is brilliant; I’m not saying it isn’t, but Hudson needs help. We’ve been struggling for hours, and it’s just this song. I had the band play an old one just for fun, hoping to shake him up, but I’m starting to think about scrapping this one, Charlie. I’m sorry but it’s too hard for him to sing.”
I take a deep breath, thinking.
“Let me see if I can help. Maybe since we wrote it together, I can lend some kind of support, give advice, or maybe I’ll just kick him in the nuts so hard he can hit the notes.” I shrug and get a small laugh from him as I open the door and head inside to the box where Hudson is still practicing.
“Hey.”
“Ow, love, I’m bombing our song.”
He sounds defeated so I slip on the extra pair of headphones and step up beside him.
“Marcus, let’s try just one more time.” I shrug casually, not trying to pressure either of them.
The song starts and I hum while he hits the intro. When the chorus comes on, he pulls me to the mic and without thinking I sing. It flows from me effortlessly and as perfectly as we’ve done so many times before but never for a recording. I keep my eyes closed, staying in the moment, and let him take over until the chorus again. His hard, angsty voice gives me goosebumps, and a thrill runs down my spine. He keeps his hand around my waist and squeezes his encouragement when he wants me to sing. The song flows beautifully and when it ends Marcus is giving us a standing ovation on the other side of the glass. We keep our excited hug PG, and I can’t help but bounce.
“That was so incredible,” I whisper yell.
“Charlie, you were exactly what that song was missing.” Marcus claps as we walk into the studio room. He gives me a big hug and goes on about how perfect it was.
“Only one take and its perfect. I can add in all the music from today and if it lines up, we don’t even need another take.”
“What? You’re going to keep it?”
“Of course we should keep it. Charlotte, its bloody perfect. I’ve been trying for hours to make up for your voice, and I can’t do it, love.”
“Okay,” I stutter, stunned that they both seem to think it’s better with my voice. I would never have even tried to sing if I didn’t think it might have helped Hudson, but when he encouraged me, I slipped into our comfortable normal so easily and sang my heart out. It was fun and exciting and so surreal.
