Natalie almost violently stormed past me as she pushed her way out of the kitchen and ran up the lengthy staircase.
I couldn't help the guiltless smile that owned my lips as I watched her quickly disappear from our view.
"Holy shit, holy fucking shit Lena." Vanessa squealed as she grabbed ahold of my wrist, pulling me closer to get a better angle of my new watch.
"Austin bought you a goddam Roley?! Holy fucking hell."
Her widened eyes and dropped jaw was more than enough to provoke my sudden laughter at her overly humorous reaction to my gift from Austin.
"Bitch you need to spill like asap because the last time we talked, he fired your ass. Clearly the two of you have put your differences aside since you had no trouble making it known to most of the team that you fucked him last night. Plus you have the equivalent of my freaking student loans sitting on your wrist. So what the hell is going on?" Vanessa's excited tone soon shifted to anxious as she waited impatiently for my explanation.
"Well we kind of had sex at the venue after his show but he was trying to prove a point to me that it was more than just sex between us. I made Jeremy take me home cause I really just wanted time to think and didn't want to go to the after party.. He was extremely drunk when he got home last night and we kind of talked but he was too wasted to really get anywhere so we just cuddled and fell asleep together. When we woke up, we sort of had sex again. Then we went out to the backyard to have an actual talk where he explained everything to me about Natalie. He told me how much he wanted to be with me and he asked me to be his girlfriend V."
I almost choked up at the end of my sentence as I couldn't believe how far we had come in the short amount of time we had spent together.
Vanessa pulled me into a tight hug as she let out a small scream of excitement. I chuckled to myself at how grateful I was to have a friend like her. She was always so supportive and never stopped rooting for Austin and I.
"I am so fucking happy for you Lee you have no idea! You guys deserve the world." She grinned from ear to ear as she finally let go of me.
"Thanks V. I am the happiest I've ever been in an extremely long time." I smiled.
But my smile soon faded as I was reminded of Austin's coldness just minutes before.
"But for some reason Vanessa, he pushed me away the second Dre walked through the door. I don't understand why he suddenly flipped the switch. Its like he didn't want him to even get even the slightest idea that we were together." I frustratingly vented as I ran my finger along the bezel of the watch.
"Look whatever reason he has, I'm sure its a good one. Just talk to him before you jump to any conclusions." She raised her pointer finger at me as if she were scolding me not to ruin my own happiness.
"You're right you're right. I need to just enjoy this moment and not let anything or anyone get in the way of my new relationship. Especially myself." I chuckled.
"I'm glad you're thinking straight for once girlfriend." Vanessa shot a wink in my direction just before I scowled pitifully at her though I knew she was right like she always was.
"Don't worry. I'm going to sit back, relax and enjoy that delicious man that I've been blessed with, over and over and over again." I turned my pout upside down as I thought of my new boyfriend.
"Delicious huh? I've been called a lot things but damn I didn't know I was delicious."
I nearly jumped out of my skin as I heard Austin's voice from behind me, causing me to abruptly turn around, my cheeks tinted pink as I was slightly embarrassed that he overheard me.
A michevious look dwelled in his eyes as he walked past Vanessa and I to grab a case of Bud Lights from the refrigerator.
"And don't worry babe, we can go round after round after I'm done working." He added slyly as he held the beer in one hand and made his way back over to me, tilting my chin up with the other hand. "Over and over and over again."
He placed the softest of kisses along my pink lips before he silently exited the kitchen, leaving Vanessa and I nearly on the brink of exploding with laughter.
"Okay I'm fucking living for the two of you." She finally let out once she was able to regain her breath.
"You and me both V."
*****
After spending hours and hours of laying on the couch and watching countless true crime shows with Vanessa, I decided to head to kitchen to make us a snack.
I grabbed an apple that I was going to slice up but my eyes landed on a box of popcorn instead, causing me to carefully place the apple back where I found it and grab for the buttery goodness.
Just I began to place the bag into the microwave, I heard the boys making their way from the studio, talking and laughing as they entered my view.
"Well we are going to have one hell of a fourth album if you keep cranking out songs like that bud. We have a lot of work ahead of us." Dre said as went to grab a few more beers from the fridge.
"Thanks man I'm glad you like the new shit. I can't wait to make more music." Austin grinned as he cracked open a new bottle and took the longest of swigs.
I shook my head to myself as Austin's eye caught mine as he drank.
"What groupie? What's that judgey look?" He cocked his brow as he smirked.
"I'm not judging." I shot back defensively. "I just don't get how you can keep drinking after how fucked up you were last night." I chuckled under my breath.
"Well I bounced back fast thanks to you taking such good care of me." He gave me an amused expression, giving my arm a small squeeze.
Dre however, was not amused at our not so subtle interaction as his eyes flickered back and forth between the two of us.
"Lena have you worked on an brand deals for today?" Dre hastily interrupted our conversation with a look of suspicion in his eyes.
My mouth ran dry as I was caught off guard by his question and I soon realized I didn't have the answer that he was looking for.
"I um- I haven't-" I stuttered as I didn't know how to explain to my higher up that our boss had given me some time off.
"I'm just asking cause I haven't see you doing any work since I've gotten here."
My heart sank as I heard his passive aggressive tone, causing me to shoot a look to Austin, whose smile had already dropped and was replaced with a serious expression.
"I gave her some time off Dre." Austin said in low tone, clearly unhappy with the way Dre had spoken to me.
"Time off? She just got this job. She should be working nonstop not taking a vacation." Dre went on, his glare piercing into me as he finished his sentence.
"She has been working nonstop. And she's damn good at her job. So I told her to enjoy the rest of the time here in Utah." Austin calmly responded.
"I'm just saying there's a lot to be done, that's all." Dre shrugged, his eyes still fixed on mine as I tried my best not to become a nervous wreck in front of the guys.
Smitty and Adam exchanged glances with one another as Jay curiously shifted his gaze between Austin and I but he remained silent.
I watched Chris quietly lurking in the entrance of the kitchen, his mouth twitching with a small but noticeable smirk as he watched the awkward interaction between Austin, Dre and I.
"I can get back to work, it's not a problem." I softly spoke up, not wanting this to drive a wedge between Dre and I.
"Yeah I think that's a good idea Lena." Dre mumbled under his breath causing me to swallow the lump in my throat before I gave him a short nod and made my way towards the staircase.
I avoided Austin's gaze as I slowly walked yet I felt his pleading stare burning through me as I took each step.
I made my way to my own room and let myself inside. I sank down onto the bed and pulled my work laptop onto my out stretched legs.
I stared blankly at the lit screen as I tried to decipher the events that occurred just moments before.
Why was Dre behaving like that towards me? I understand why he wouldn't be happy about me taking a break as I just started this job. But he seemed annoyed with me. Almost as if he didn't want me to play as some sort of distraction for Austin.
I let out a tireless sigh of frustration as I attempted to shake the thoughts from my mind and begin to shift through the hundreds of emails that sat unopened in the shared inbox.
After about 3 hours of replying to emails and going back and forth with a few potential contracts, my eyes were finally torn away from the bright screen as I heard a quiet knock coming from the other side of my door.
"Come in." I called out, biting down onto my bottom lip as a rush of nerves invaded my stomach.
Austin's face peaked from the crack of the door as he pushed it open, and soon after let himself in.
"Hey baby. Are you okay?" He asked in a pained voice, as if he already knew the answer to his question.
I let out a small sigh as just one look at him always seemed to pull me away from reality and inhale me into our little bubble that I craved for more than anything in this world.
"I'm fine Austin. It's not a big deal. I told you I don't mind working so it's okay-"
"Lena, I have grown to know you better than I may even know myself. Baby I know when you're not okay. And it's because of me."
He swallowed hard as he made his way over to my bed, sinking down next to me as he pulled my laptop from my lap.
He took my small hands in his own, rubbing my skin with his thumbs. He sucked in a deep breath as he raked my eyes with his own. I could almost see the apologies buried in his irises as I could read from his expression alone that this was not how he wanted our first day as a new couple to turn out.
"Austin why can't Dre know about us?"
I asked hesitantly, almost afraid of what the answer was going to be. But I needed to stand my ground, hold the same attitude I woke up with this morning, and let nothing and no one get in the way of my relationship with the man I loved.
"Lena, Dre has been there for me since day one. Since I had about 10 fans and no one knew my fucking name. He supported me and believed in me when no one else would and he didn't stop pushing me until I made it big. I owe a lot of my success to him and I know he always keeps my best interest at heart. He's gotten me out of many sticky situations and has had my back since I was barely 20 years old. But as good of a friend and manager as he is, he can be a bit over protective at times. He's not exactly a fan of mixing business with pleasure and I didn't think he would have to find out about us so soon. I just don't want him to get the wrong idea about you. I don't want him to think you are here for the wrongs reasons. I want him to get to know you and see how right for me you are."
I saw the raw emotion scribbled on his handsome face as he spilled his feelings to me in so many words. I read the hurt his voice as he spoke and I knew he was genuinely telling me the truth.
"I understand Austin, I do. I'm just so tired of hiding how I feel about you. I don't want to hide any more." I let out an exhausted sigh, as if were exhaling all of the bullshit and stress we had endured as we fought to be together.
"Im sorry about what happened today.. I'll talk to him soon Lena, I just don't want to spring it on him. We won't have to hide for much longer, I promise angel." He cupped my face with his two hands just before covering my mouth with his own.
Just as I began to melt into the kiss, he broke away from me before I could even run my tongue along his bottom lip.
"C'mon it's getting late." He grinned against my lips as he spoke, before he swiftly picked me up into his strong arms and carried me to the door.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his actions as I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, holding on for dear life as I held in my squeal.
"Babe where are we going?" I asked, giving him a look full of confusion.
"I don't believe this is your bedroom anymore baby girl." He mumbled against my lips as he slowly turned the knob, peaking into the dark hallway and tiptoing to the room we were now going to be sharing.
Once we reached inside, he immediately threw me onto the soft sheets of our bed and began undoing the button of my jeans before quickly tugging them to the ground.
I was left nearly speechless at his unexpected acts and was barely able to form my words as my panties soon found their way around my ankles.
I bit my lip in anticipation as he spread my thighs further and further apart, his warm breath radiating onto my exposed heat.
"Wait isn't Dre staying in the guest room right next door?" I couldn't help but whisper, not intending to interrupt the intensity between us.
"I guess you're going to have to try your best to be quiet while I make you cum princess. Over and over and over again." He devilishly smirked before hungrily burying his face in between my trembling legs.
I let out a small gasp as his wet tongue came in contact with my tiny bud of nerves, causing me to throw my head back in a state of euphoria. I grinded my hips in rhythm with his mouth as the spaces between my fingers filled with his wild brown curls.
"Austin." I groaned as his tongue slithered not only wickedly but effortlessly against my dripping wet pussy.
At this point, I could honestly give two fucks about who could hear us.
Whenever Austin was in between my legs, there was no way I was cumming quietly.