"Tch... why the hell am I tied to the bed?"
Madison blinked through the fog in her head.
The voice sounded annoyed. Maybe amused too.
Hard to tell when her brain felt like it had been run over by a truck.
She squinted at him.
Dark hair. Sharp features. Handsome in that mature, expensive way that shouldn't be legal at whatever hour this was.
Green eyes stared back at her under the crappy yellow light of her hotel room.
He had this rich vibe about him. The kind that screamed money without trying.
Like he probably owned a yacht. Or three.
He was stretched across the mattress, wrists bound together with her red scarf. The fancy silk one she'd worn to the performance.
Right. She did that.
Drunk Madison had apparently decided tonight was the night to try being dominant.
With a literal stranger she thought was a handsome escort.
Because why not?
Brandon's voice still echoed in her skull, calling her stiff, a log, not a real woman because she wanted to keep their courtship pure and sacred until marriage.
Then he'd proposed to Jessica. Perfect blonde Jessica with her perfect teeth and perfect model everything. Right there in front of everyone at the Blue Moon Lounge.
Right after Madison's set.
So yeah. Screw Brandon. Screw Jessica.
And honestly? Screw being the good girl who played it safe.
"I always wanted to try this," Madison mumbled.
"Sure you have."
Her words came out slurred. "To like... be in charge."
His eyes flickered.
Something dark crossed his face before he smirked.
Actually smirked like she'd just told the funniest joke.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. "Don't mock me, E!"
She yanked the red scarf tighter.
Except his wrist barely moved.
The knot loosened instead, silk sliding against itself like it was mocking her efforts.
Her stomach dropped. "Wait. Did I tie it wrong?"
"Looks like it."
His voice was smooth. Deep.
Way too calm for someone who was supposed to be helpless right now.
Madison scrambled forward, her brunette hair falling in her face.
Fingers fumbling with the fabric.
She tried to tie it again, pulling harder this time.
The hair wouldn't move. She blew at it. Once. Twice.
It didn't budge.
'Great. Real sexy.'
"There," she said, sitting back. "Now you're stuck."
He raised one eyebrow.
Then he laughed.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Full on laughed, shoulders shaking, the sound rumbling through his chest.
'Okay, rude. Even for a call boy, that's rude.'
"Going to take my virginity now?"
Her brain short circuited. "Yes!"
The word popped out before she could think.
Her ears burned. Her throat felt tight.
But she doubled down anyway because backing out now would be worse.
"That's exactly what I'm gonna do."
He laughed again. Deeper this time.
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
The bed frame actually shook.
"You're wasted," he said, like he was pointing out the weather. "And I'm not a virgin."
Madison frowned. "You don't look like you're not."
"What does that even mean?"
"I don't know! Just shut up!"
Her voice cracked. God. This was pathetic.
Why was he laughing at her?
Then he moved.
His wrists twisted once.
The red scarf fell off like it was nothing.
Her jaw dropped. "You... how..."
Before she could finish, he sat up.
In a blink, he flipped her onto her back.
The mattress dipped under his weight as he hovered over her, arms caging her in.
Heat came off his body.
His face was close. Too close.
That smirk was back.
'Okay, unfair. That's just unfair. Do all call boys look like this or did I hit the jackpot?'
"Maybe you should've practiced tying knots first," he said quietly.
Her legs pressed together. Stupid body.
"I'm in charge," she tried.
It sounded weak even to her own ears.
His thumb brushed her cheek. Slow. On purpose.
The touch sent warmth spreading across her skin.
"You sure about that?"
Madison swallowed. Hard.
She wanted to forget.
Brandon. Jessica.
The embarrassment of watching her ex fiancé propose to someone else right after she'd poured her heart into a song.
She wanted reckless.
She wanted to feel something other than worthless and stiff.
His touch trailed down her neck.
Fingertips barely touching her skin but leaving heat behind.
She leaned into it without meaning to.
His mouth grazed her ear.
Warm breath sending a jolt straight through her.
"C'mon, tipsy little fox. What do you actually want?"
"Everything."
The word tumbled out. "I want everything."
His chest shook with a quiet laugh.
She felt it buzz against her collarbone.
"Then let's start slow."
His hand slid down her arm.
Traced the curve of her waist.
Fingers hooked under the hem of her cream blouse, pushing the fabric up inch by inch.
A tingle shot through her. Low. Pressing.
His lips found her neck.
Pressed against the pulse point there.
She gasped.
He smiled against her skin.
"Sensitive here?"
"Shut up," she breathed.
But her body arched into him anyway.
His hand moved higher.
Traced the line of her hip.
Thumb circling against bare skin.
She cursed under her breath, nails digging into his shirt.
He took his time.
Kissed down her collarbone.
Across her shoulder.
Each touch slow. Teasing.
Her blouse slid up further.
His fingers traced patterns on her stomach.
Getting closer but never quite where she wanted.
"E," she whimpered.
"Hmm?"
"Stop teasing."
"But you're so fun to tease."
He unbuttoned her blouse slowly.
One button. Then another.
Taking his sweet time.
'Is this what they teach in call boy school? Torture by button?'
She wanted to yank it off herself but her hands felt heavy.
He pushed the fabric off her shoulders.
Kissed the newly bare skin.
Her breath hitched.
His hand finally moved to the button of her jeans.
Popped it open.
Dragged the zipper down.
She lifted her hips to help.
He chuckled. Low. Dangerous.
"Impatient?"
"Very."
He pulled her jeans down.
Then her underwear.
His fingers brushed against her inner thigh.
She jolted.
"So responsive."
His shirt came off.
Then his pants.
Then he was hovering over her again, skin against skin.
Cool air hit her.
She shivered.
He looked at her.
Really looked.
His eyes dark. Hungry.
'Okay, definitely hit the jackpot. This man is unfairly hot.'
"Beautiful."
Heat flooded her cheeks.
She tried to cover herself.
He caught her wrists. Pinned them gently above her head.
"Don't hide."
His mouth found hers.
The kiss was slow. Deep.
Nothing like the rushed mess from earlier.
His free hand traced down her body.
Cupped her breast.
Thumb brushing over her nipple.
She arched into the touch.
A moan escaped before she could stop it.
He pulled back.
Looked at her with those intense green eyes.
"You're drunk."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure you want this? I'm not..."
He paused.
"I'm not an escort, so you can't just use and forget me like some toy."
The word made her pause.
NOT AN ESCORT.
'Wait. Did he just say...'
But then his hand moved between her legs.
Fingers sliding through wetness.
And the thought vanished.
"Oh God..."
He circled slowly.
Found the spot that made her gasp.
"Still with me?"
"Yes. Yes. Don't stop."
"I need you to be sure. Are you sure you want this?"
His fingers kept moving.
So slow it was torture.
"Yes! I'm sure. I want this. I want you."
He pressed a kiss to her jaw. "Good."
But he didn't move to enter her.
Just kept teasing with his fingers.
Building the pressure until she was squirming.
"E, please..."
"Please what?"
"You know what!"
"Say it."
Her face burned. "Please... please just..."
"Use your words, fox."
"Please fuck me already!"
He grinned. "There it is."
He reached for something in his wallet on the nightstand.
A condom.
'Wait, call boys carry condoms? Well, duh. Of course they do. Professional and all that.'
He tore the wrapper open with his teeth.
Rolled it on.
Then positioned himself at her entrance.
Pressed forward slowly.
The pressure was instant. Not normal.
"Oh... wait..."
Her hands flew to his chest.
It felt wrong. Too much. Too big.
He stopped. "You okay?"
"I don't... I don't know if..."
"Breathe. Just breathe."
He pushed in a little more.
She winced.
It burned. Actually burned.
Not like she thought it would. Not like anything she'd imagined.
"Ow..."
He froze. "Madison."
"I'm fine. Just... give me a second."
But tears pricked at her eyes.
This wasn't supposed to hurt this much.
He looked at her. Really looked.
His expression changed.
Understanding showed on his face.
"You've never..."
"I said I'm fine!"
Her voice came out sharper than she meant.
But the embarrassment was worse than the pain.
Brandon's words echoed.
Stiff(STIFF). A log(A LOG). Not a real woman(NOT A REAL WOMAN).
"Hey." His voice was softer now. "Look at me."
She did. Didn't want to but did.
"We can stop. Right now. We don't have to..."
"No." She grabbed his shoulders. "I want this. I want to do this. Just... just go slow. Please."
He studied her face.
Then nodded.
He moved again. Slower this time.
The burn was still there but different now.
Less sharp. More... pressure.
She bit her lip. Hard.
"Breathe," he reminded her.
She did.
In through her nose. Out through her mouth.
He pushed in deeper.
Her nails dug into his back.
"That's it. You're doing so good."
The praise made something warm bloom in her chest despite the pain.
He finally bottomed out.
They both stayed still.
She felt full. Stretched. Too much.
"Okay?" he asked.
She nodded. Couldn't speak.
He gave her time.
Didn't move. Just held her.
Pressed kisses to her forehead. Her temple. Her cheek.
Slowly, the burn faded.
Her body adjusted.
Started to feel... different.
"Okay," she whispered. "You can move."
He did.
Slow. Careful.
Watching her face for any sign of pain.
It still felt weird.
But not bad anymore.
Actually... kind of good?
"How's that?"
"Better. It's... yeah. Better."
He picked up the pace a bit.
Still gentle but with more purpose.
Her breath hitched.
Not from pain this time.
"Oh..."
"There?"
"Yeah. There."
He angled differently.
Hit that spot again.
"E..."
"I've got you."
The pain melted into something else.
Heat. Pressure. Building.
She wrapped her legs around him.
Pulled him deeper.
He groaned.
"Say my name again."
"E..."
"Louder."
"E!"
He thrust a little harder.
She gasped.
"Still okay?"
"Yes. God, yes."
The rhythm built.
Her body moved with his now.
Finding the pattern.
She felt it building.
That same pressure from his fingers but stronger.
"E, I think... I think I'm..."
"Let go. I've got you."
And she did.
Fell apart with his name on her lips.
Her first time.
Her first orgasm during sex.
It crashed through her in waves.
He followed moments later.
Buried his face in her neck.
Held her through it.
They stayed like that.
Breathing hard.
Tangled together.
"You okay?" he asked after a moment.
She nodded.
Too overwhelmed to speak.
He pressed a kiss to her temple.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"That you'd never..."
"It doesn't matter."
"It does."
She didn't answer.
Just closed her eyes.
The exhaustion hit her all at once.
He pulled out carefully.
She winced at the loss.
He dealt with the condom.
Then cleaned her up with something soft.
A towel maybe.
She was too tired to care.
He pulled her close.
Murmured something soft.
But darkness took her before she could make out the words.
✧ω✧ω✧ω✧
Morning light peeked through the blinds.
Madison's head pounded. Her stomach rolled.
And between her legs?
Sore. Really sore.
'Oh my fucking God!'
The memories came flooding back.
Panic hit her like a freight train.
There was a stranger in her bed.
Gorgeous. Naked.
Still smirking even in his sleep.
'How does someone look that good sleeping? Is that part of the service?'
Wait.
She looked around.
This wasn't in some hotel.
This was her apartment, HER hotel.
'Oh no. Oh no no no. Did I bring him here?'
Her clothes were scattered across the floor.
His suit jacket draped over her chair.
She must've brought him back here after the bar.
"Oh shit."
She scrambled out of bed, nearly face planting on her own shoes.
The clock on her nightstand glared at her.
4:47 AM.
Her audition was at 7.
She had just over two hours to get this stranger out of her apartment, shower, fix her disaster of a face, and somehow not have a breakdown.
Immediately texting Rin.
[I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life. Or the best decision. Can't tell which. Thank you for the advice. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm heading for an audition downtown!]
Madison grabbed her cream blouse off the floor.
Pulled it on. Buttoned it with shaking fingers.
Found her jeans. Yanked them on.
Every movement sent soreness shooting through her.
She looked at the bed.
At him.
Still sleeping.
'Okay. Wake him up. Get him out. Deal with the crisis later.'
She walked over. Shook his shoulder.
"Hey. Wake up."
Nothing.
She shook harder. "Seriously. Wake up."
He stirred.
Those green eyes opened slowly.
Focused on her.
That damn smirk appeared.
"Morning, fox."
"Don't call me that. You need to leave."
He stretched. Lazy.
Like he had all the time in the world.
"What's the rush?"
"I have somewhere to be. And you..." She gestured at him. "You need to go."
"Not very hospitable."
"I'm serious. Get dressed. Now."
He sat up.
The sheet fell to his waist.
She looked away.
'Nope. Not looking. Not going there again.'
"At least let me use your bathroom."
"Fine. Two minutes."
He stood.
Completely naked.
Walked past her like it was nothing.
Her face burned.
She heard the bathroom door close.
Water running.
Madison scrambled around the room.
Grabbed his clothes.
Shirt. Pants. Jacket. Shoes.
Piled them in her arms.
The bathroom door opened.
He stepped out.
Towel around his waist.
Looking way too comfortable in her space.
She shoved his clothes at him. "Here. Get dressed."
"You're really kicking me out?"
"Yes. I have an audition. A really important audition. And I can't..."
She gestured between them.
"I can't deal with whatever this is right now."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then took his clothes.
Started getting dressed.
She turned away.
Gave him privacy.
Tried not to think about how those hands felt last night.
"Done."
She spun around.
He was fully dressed now.
Suit back on.
Hair still a mess but somehow it worked on him.
'Stop. Stop thinking about how good he looks.'
She walked to the door.
Opened it.
Then remembered.
'Wait. Payment. He's an escort. I need to pay him.'
She rushed to her bag.
Dug through it.
Found her wallet.
Pulled out a wad of cash.
About three hundred dollars.
Most of her tip money from last week.
She walked back over.
Held it out to him.
"Here. For... you know. Your services."
He looked at the money.
Then at her.
Then he laughed.
Not a mean laugh.
More like he found something genuinely funny.
"Ha ha ha."
Her face burned hotter. "What?"
"Nothing." He took the money. Folded it. Slipped it into his jacket pocket.
That smirk was back. "Thank you for your generosity."
"You're welcome. Now please go."
He walked to the door.
Stopped in the doorway.
Looked down at her.
"Good luck with your audition, Madison."
"How do you know my..."
"You said it last night. Multiple times."
Her face went nuclear.
He leaned in.
Pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"You were amazing, by the way."
Then he walked out into the hallway.
She slammed the door.
Locked it.
Slid down to the floor.
'What the hell did I just do?'
Her phone buzzed.
Rin.
[I'll be leaving Vegas today!]
Madison stared at the message.
Then at her apartment.
Then at the clock.
4:53 AM.
'Okay. Shower. Makeup. Vocal warmup. You can do this.'
She pushed herself up.
Ignored the soreness.
Ignored the memories trying to surface.
Ignored everything except the one thing that mattered.
AUREYA Entertainment audition.
Her shot.
She couldn't let one night of reckless stupidity ruin it.
✧ω✧ω✧ω✧
She jumped in the shower.
Rushed it. Almost slipped on the tile.
The water burned but she scrubbed anyway, nails dragging over her skin like she could erase him.
Like she could wash away that stupid smirk.
It didn't work. He was still there. In her head.
She hummed her audition piece.
Her voice cracked halfway through.
It sounded terrible in the echo.
Her throat felt tight. Scratchy.
Like it didn't even want to work.
Her stomach kept doing flips.
If she breathed too hard she'd probably throw up before she even made it to the stage.
She got out.
Stared at herself in the mirror.
Her hair was a disaster.
Eyeliner? One side looked like she'd used a Sharpie. The other looked like a twig.
And her neck...
Oh God. Her neck.
Hickeys. Multiple hickeys.
'Are you KIDDING me right now?!'
She grabbed concealer.
Started covering them.
One. Two. Three.
'How many did he leave?!'
Her phone wouldn't shut up. Ping. Ping. Ping.
Fifty texts from her aunt.
All of them basically said: "Don't puke on stage."
Thanks, auntie. Real helpful.
By the time she was ready, it was 6:15.
She had forty five minutes.
Madison grabbed her bag.
Her keys.
Her phone.
Took one last look in the mirror.
'You've got this. Just sing. That's all you have to do.'
She walked out.
Locked the door.
Didn't look back.
✧ω✧ω✧ω✧
By the time she reached a high rise building rented out to AUREYA Entertainment's audition, her legs were shaking.
And not just from nerves.
Inside smelled like expensive perfume and polished wood.
Money. Power.
Everything her dingy apartment wasn't.
She checked in. Got in line.
Her foot bounced.
Tap tap tap.
The lady next to her shot her a look.
Like Madison was personally ruining her day.
'What's her problem?'
Madison forced a smile. Rubbed her sweaty palms on her skirt.
One by one, singers went in.
One by one, they came out looking crushed.
Her turn.
She stood. Smoothed her skirt. Breathed deep.
'Don't puke. Don't trip. Just sing.'
The door creaked open. She stepped inside.
And froze.
Because sitting in the middle of the panel, sharp suit, hair perfectly styled, looking like he owned the world... was him.
Her "call boy."
Except the nameplate in front of him read: Ethan Hayes. CEO.
'Wait. WAIT. No. No no no no...'
He stared at her. That same damn smirk on his face.
The same smirk he'd had when she'd handed him three hundred dollars this morning.
His lips moved. Silent.
But she read them clear as day.
"I trust last night won't affect your audition, Ms. Cole?"
✧ω✧ω✧ω✧
Author'sNote ⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚
Hya!
If you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading! I really appreciate you giving Madison and Ethan's story a chance.
Just wanted to let you know—this is a spin-off from my previous book, "Backstage With The Idol I Hated." Madison and Ethan's story happens in the same timeline and entertainment world as Soorin and Haejin's.
If you're curious about what happened before Madison and Ethan's encounter (especially how she had mistaken Hayes as a call boy at the bar, or the events leading up to that Vegas night), you should definitely check out the starred chapters in my previous book.
These books are interwoven as a series, so little Eastereggs and connections are scattered throughout. You don't have to read both, but it definitely adds extra layers if you do!
Thanks again for being here. Your support means everything.
Now let's get back to Madison trying not to die of embarrassment at her audition...