What Love Sounds Like Read online

  Kenny was breathing through his nostrils.

  “Honestly, I don’t know what to feel. I’m mixed with anger, yet feel good about the type of men you are and how you’ll treat my sister, but it’s weird as hell because we are so close.”

  “I get it. It’s why we’ve all held back. There’ll be the fear of this not working, but I think the desire to have her as our woman will overpower all of that. It already is.”

  “Well then, you four really need to get your shit together, because you’ve got competition from everyone, not just in Jake and Crespy,” Kenny said and nodded toward the stage where multiple men were surrounding Ivy, smiling and flirting, and making her laugh.

  “Don’t I know it, bro. Don’t I know it.”

  Ivy was finally starting to feel more comfortable with the band, and auditioning for everyone, despite her earlier emotions, with having Keller here. She was touched that he investigated Mike and Jacoby through his friends, and even more emotional as those friends showed up, and started talking about the military, and her bosses joined Kenny and Keller. As she sang song after song, they all clapped and cheered. There were some daytime drinkers hanging out at the bar, some staff preparing for tonight’s crowd. They were really enjoying themselves when Madison showed up and it seemed like the atmosphere changed. For everyone. The woman really wasn’t liked, and Ivy especially didn’t like her because she just screwed Johnny in his office yesterday and left a huge hickey on his neck. She got a call from Faith explaining what happened.

  She cried. Actually cried over the information and felt so hurt, especially because Bronc kissed her, and made it sound like he and his brothers were on board. On board for what? Sex? She was furious and hurt, and she couldn’t stop thinking about them, their bodies, their sizes, capabilities, and good looks. How intimidated she was by them, and totally turned on by them. She was angry and then she wanted to hurt them, or at least make them feel badly, but that would be immature. She got this far in her life without a man or men, she could do life without any. Her focus was on this experience, this achievement. It was just odd because Keller, the most unapproachable, quiet, cold-as-ice man, was here supporting her. His touch set her body on fire, and that wasn’t something so easily ignored. But as she sang “Good Girl” by Carrie Underwood, and saw Madison stroll into the bar, she nearly lost her focus, then reminded herself about what Cherise told her this morning. “Men are pigs. If you want to play with the players then be prepared to get hurt. If you don’t, and you want commitment, then stay clear of men with reputations who run from commitments.”

  Cherise was right. These men were older, and so used to just screwing around. Women threw themselves at them all the time. She witnessed it over the last two years. She had to be strong here. She just had to.

  As she finished the song, they all clapped.

  “Well, that wasn’t too bad at all. We definitely need to work on your stage presence,” Madison said, strolling in like she was queen shit.

  “I like her stage presence just fine. She looks perfect, and I especially like that dress, the cowgirl boots, too,” Jacoby said and offered Ivy his hand as she stepped from the stage down the side steps. He gave her a wink. “You look gorgeous, and local. I’m not looking for glitz and smoke and flashing lights. I want our patrons to hear your voice, fall in love with your sound. You know what I mean?” he asked, squinting at her.

  She could sense the emotion, the honesty in Jacoby’s voice. “Yes, sir, I sure do. That’s exactly me. I’m not into glitz, and these here boots, they’ve seen hard work and action. They’re comfortable,” she said to him and he smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

  Madison was there with her manicured fingers gripping her hips as she gave her the once over. “Boots need to be shiny and new, and that dress shorter. You got great legs, and a good ass, show them off. Plus that top.” She reached out and unbuttoned two more buttons and Ivy felt uncomfortably exposed. She pushed her hand away and turned toward Keller, who was right there. He pulled her into his arms as she re-buttoned the top.

  “Madison, that’s enough. We don’t need you trying to change who Ivy is. We like her just like this. Sweet, loyal, realistic, not some bullshit project you want control over. Now let her be. Go with Mike and discuss that event for Friday evening,” Jacoby ordered.

  She couldn’t even listen to the conversation, or rather, argument, that started between Madison and Jacoby. She felt completely awkward and Keller knew as he pulled her along to the side of the stage and out of sight of everyone. Her brother stayed put and was pissed off. Her hands were shaking as she tried to button her top. “Hey. You’re okay,” Keller said to her and placed his palm against her hands that were over the buttons on her dress. She looked way up at him. He cupped her cheek. “She’s a jealous, nasty, lying bitch. You and I will discuss things when we get back to Cherry Hill, but for now, you hold your ground. You’re tough, beautiful and so damn talented, baby. I love your voice. I can’t believe I’m here with you right now and got to hear you audition. The crowds are going to love you. Love you, not some image that bitch wants to create and then destroy.” She nodded her head. Felt more confident than a moment ago.

  “Let me help you with this,” he said to her and she moved her hand and he held the material where the buttons were undone. He wet his lower lip, stared at her cleavage, her lace bra she wore and he started to button them. “You’re sexy and naturally beautiful. You’re flawless, and don’t need an ounce of anything. Be you, okay, and I’ll have your back, always,” he said to her as he finished buttoning her buttons, buttoning one more than she had undone earlier. She hugged him around the waist and he caressed her hair, slid a palm to her ass and squeezed. She pulled back, tilted her head up toward him and Keller slowly lowered. She had a choice, and could have turned away, or stepped from his hold, but she didn’t, and when his lips touched hers, it was wild, and hot, and she wanted more.

  He moved her closer to the wall and lifted her thigh up against his waist while he hungrily ate at her lips. She felt his large, warm, calloused palm slide along her thigh then to the crack of her ass. As he plunged his tongue into her mouth, he slid a finger around her thong panties then to her pussy. She gripped him and turned. “Keller,” she said, sounding breathless to her own ears.

  He lowered his head to her head and fixed her dress. “God damn, baby, I’m sorry. I feel so much. No wonder Bronc is in a state,” he said to her and pulled back. Gave her a wink, then fixed her lipstick as she fixed her dress. “Later on we’ll talk,” he said to her and she nodded.

  “Ugh.” They both turned to see Madison standing there looking pissed. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said and gave Ivy the evil eye. “You need to focus here. You’ll have your pick of men, and believe me, some washed up, older soldiers that don’t believe in commitments will be your downfall. Now let’s get down to business. This is work and you need practice.” She turned around and walked away.

  “If I was a woman, I’d knock her teeth out,” he stated in annoyance.

  “Well, I’m a lady, and we don’t pay attention to the trash. Come on. My brother is probably feeling out of sorts all alone right now.” She held on to his arm and they returned to the room to see another young woman there.

  “Sarah?” Keller said her name and the young brunette smiled. She was talking to Kenny like they knew one another.

  “Can you believe it? Clark’s sister.”

  “Holy crap, we haven’t seen you in years,” he said to her and Ivy watched as Keller gave the woman Sarah a hug.

  “I can’t believe you guys are here and you know this new singer, Ivy. I mean it’s your sister,” she said to Kenny.

  “Yes, and this is Ivy. Ivy, meet Sarah,” Keller introduced her and he kept his hands on her shoulders. She shook Sarah’s hand hello.

  “My God, you are stunning, and your eyes, they’re so blue.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Oh great, you met Sarah. She is going to b
e your singing coach,” Jacoby said and placed his hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “She is awesome, and will help you to train your voice to handle singing numerous songs so you don’t hurt those pipes of yours.”

  “That’s awesome,” Kenny said to them.

  “Why don’t you two sit down by the piano, and go over some things, and maybe a schedule. Just an hour here and there,” Jacoby suggested and Sarah nodded and Ivy looked up at Keller.

  He cupped her cheek. “Have fun. We’ll be right here.” She nodded and he winked before he released her and she walked away with Sarah.

  Keller helped Ivy get into his truck, back at her house. Kenny looked serious, but he gave them a smile as they headed out.

  “Come closer,” he told her, his voice kind of hard. He was a bit nervous and that surprised him. As a Marine nothing intimidated him, or so he thought. The idea of losing Ivy, or missing this opportunity, encouraged him to take control. Johnny needed to clear the air. Bronc needed to explain his emotions and let Ivy know he wanted more than just sex from her, and Angus had to get control of his temper, and just court the woman.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, scooting closer. She crossed her legs and he immediately placed his palm on her knee and then slid it back and forth along her upper thigh. She tightened but leaned into him.

  “Our place,” he said and she moved slightly.

  “What?”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter. We’ll sit out back on the patio and talk. I don’t want anyone interrupting us, and I sure don’t want that conniving bitch showing up spewing her hate.”

  She leaned back against his shoulder. He squeezed her knee. He loved the way she smelled, the scent of her shampoo, the style of her outfits. He loved how feminine she was and in need of protection. He felt even more possessive after the attention she got today from other men, and he knew more was coming. Once she got up on that stage, the guys would be vying for her attention. It made him feel jealous. He squeezed her thigh more as he pulled up the long driveway leading to the ranch. His brothers would get there soon.

  He parked the truck and then got out, came around to open her door then lifted her up so she wouldn’t have to jump down. He held her close, stared down into her eyes. She held his gaze and neither said a word. He took her hand and pulled her along, closing the truck door before they headed to the front door. He unlocked it, walked her inside and then toward the patio. She had been in their house a load of times over the past two years, and today felt incredibly different. “Want some sweet tea or something?”

  “No, thank you. I’m shaking, still recovering from the excitement of today and what’s to come.”

  “I could only imagine. Water, then?” he asked and she nodded. She slid her hand along the island as he grabbed two water bottles from the refrigerator. She took it, opened it and took a sip. He did the same.

  He looked at her, reached for her hand. She was young, and he felt like he didn’t deserve her. It was a feeling he got often, yet the desire to be hers was stronger. He led her outside and they sat down on the love seat furniture. “So how do you feel about today? How things went at Black Jack?” he asked her.

  She leaned back and sighed. “Nervous, excited, a bit apprehensive.”

  “Apprehensive why?”

  “A fear of failing, I guess. I mean I’ve thought about this for a long time. I never expected the reaction I’ve gotten so far. I mean one night, one chance I took, and now all this. I guess I fear the changes maybe.”

  “Change is good,” he said and stroked her arm, took her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips. She stared up at him.

  He leaned closer but didn’t lean all the way. She closed the space between them and they kissed again. He ran his palm along her hair, then to her waist. He hauled her up onto his lap and she straddled his hips and kissed him back. He was careful not to push too much, when all he kept thinking about was bringing her to his bedroom, stripping her naked and getting a good look at her sexy body. He slid his palm up her dress to her thigh and ass, exposing it. She pulled back. Lips parted, she was kneeling above his hips. He massaged her ass. She massaged his shoulders, cupped his cheek. “Feel good?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He squeezed her ass cheeks a bit firmer, stroked a finger down her ass and right to her cunt. She was wet. “Keller.”

  “Shhh, just feel. Let go and feel.”

  Her lips looked edible, her eyes sparkled and she gripped his shoulders tighter as he maneuvered fingers in and out of her wet pussy. “Why do you want me?” she asked him. He stroked a little deeper. “Oh.” She moaned and closed her eyes.

  “You’re beautiful, sexy, sweet, and capable. You’re strong, and smart, and the connection we share is beyond sexual. I know it,” he said and thrust faster.

  “Oh God, how do you know? How do you know it isn’t more than lust? Then your need to possess my body, take my virginity before another man or men can.”

  “No other men but us, ever,” he said through clenched teeth. He moved her to the side, lifted up and thrust his fingers deeper, faster into her. “Undo your top. Show me your beautiful breasts.”

  “Keller?”

  “No, this is real. I don’t want any other men loving you, possessing this body, making you come, but my brothers and me” he told her and she cried out her release. “Holy God, baby. I want to taste your cream. I want to bring you pleasure.”

  “I never did anything like this before, Keller.”

  “Ever let a man finger your cunt, then lick it clean, and make you come some more?” he asked and lowered down, his one leg off the couch and his mouth now where her pussy and panties were.

  “No,” she said and it drove him wild.

  He stared up at her as he started to pull her panties off of her. The loss of his fingers must have made her feel desperate for their return because she reached for his hand, stopping him from pulling away. “Undo that top. It’s an order,” he commanded.

  “Oh God, why am I so turned on.”

  “Because this is real.” He tossed her panties to the floor and then lifted her thighs over his shoulders and began to feast on her. She tightened up and wiggled. He licked her pussy, and over her asshole then back and forth. “Keller!” She cried out another release and he suckled her cream.

  He lowered her thighs from his shoulders. “The top,” he said and she reached up, unbuttoned it with shaking hands. “Lower,” he said and slid fingers to her cunt, spread her thighs and placed her foot on the side coffee table so she was fully open to him.

  “Such a sweet, pink pussy. All clean shaven, and sparkling with cream. Your body knows this is right. That you’re more than ready for us.”

  “Us?” she asked, her breasts now exposed from the bra.

  He glanced up behind her. His eyes locked on to Bronc’s first then Angus. “Oh God,” she cried out.

  “It looks as good as it sounds,” Bronc said and she gasped, went to move but Keller was wedged between her, fingers in her cunt and used his other hand to keep her spread open.

  “She’s incredible. She’s letting go right now. Allowing the desire, this connection we all feel to lead her. Have a look at our woman,” Keller said.

  Bronc lowered down to his knees. He held her gaze, caressed her hair from her cheek. “You look like a goddess. I don’t know how we got so lucky, especially after holding out and denying that we wanted this for so long,” he said and pressed his lips to hers.

  She reached up and held his head as they made out while Keller thrust his fingers faster. “She is wet, and coming like a faucet. Our sweet little virgin never got fingered or eaten out before,” Keller said.

  “God damn, that is hot. We’ll be her firsts in every way,” Angus stated.

  Bronc released her lips. “You’re so damn special to us,” he said to her.