Page 33 of Playing With My Heart Strings

baylor

Bed Chem

Soft sheets, cool against my bare skin, greet me when I wake up.

Oh my God, it wasn’t a dream. My eyes widen as I realize what happened last night. Dusty was here. Again.

And he gave you some of the best orgasms of your life.

The memory of his tongue and his hands makes me press my thighs together, like there’s still a phantom touch between my legs.

I reach my hand down my body, desperate to relieve this feeling of lust and want. I shouldn’t feel this way. Nothing about this relationship is real.

Or is it?

Everything about Dusty Wilder’s bedroom skills was definitely real. And it’s pretending that Dusty is here again, fucking me with his fingers and mouth, that sends me over the edge for the fifth time in less than twelve hours.

Someone bangs on my door, both startling and prompting me to jump out of bed.

“Hold on!” I yell when they pound it again. I get dressed in record time and then look through the peephole to find Daniella on the other side. “What’s up?” I ask as I swing open the door.

“Good morning to you, too.” She lets herself in, walking right past me. “What did you do last night?”

I shut the door and slowly walk over to the bed. “W-what?”

Daniella raises an eyebrow. “I was just curious what you were doing, but that look on your face tells me something happened.” When I don’t respond, she puts her hands on her hips. “Bay, what the fuck? I’m your best friend and you’re not even going to tell me?”

I still don’t say anything, engaging in a stand-off with Dani. I pinch my brows, and her eyes widen in expectation. We could do this all day; we’re both stubborn enough.

“Wow, I see how it is,” she scoffs.

“Fine! I hooked up with Dusty,” I rattle out, my words spilling too fast to be coherent.

Daniella’s jaw practically drops to the floor. “Excuse me? You did what ?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. The last couple weeks, he’s been sneaking up here to spend time with me. He even planned a secret rooftop date. And we’ve kissed…a few times. Off camera.”

“Baylor Sommerfeld, are you telling me you’re catching feelings for Dusty Wilder?” Her smile widens. “Oh. My. God. You are! You’re literally blushing right now!”

“I didn’t plan to, okay? It just…happened.”

“I can’t believe this. My best friend is going to be a famous country singer.” Dani pauses. “You need to be careful, Baylor. I mean, get it, but if Colette or any of the other producers catch you…”

“I know, I know. I’ve been telling him that, too, but I don’t think Dusty is very good at listening and following directions.”

“If it’s worth anything, I support whatever is going on and I won’t say a word.”

I laugh. “Thanks. What would I do without you?”

“You certainly wouldn’t have anyone to share your sex adventures with Dusty with. I mean, the guy already gives off big dick energy, I’m sure the actual thing is?—”

I groan and cut her off. “Stop. Last night was the first time we did anything like that, and we didn’t even go all the way.”

“You’re going to tell me when it happens, though, right? I bet you guys have amazing bed chem.” She sighs like a lovesick schoolgirl.

“You are absolutely ridiculous!”

“I’m honest .”

I grimace. “Can you be honest about literally anything else? Something that’s not my sex life?”

“Sure, but talking about you and Dusty is so fun .” She wiggles her eyebrows. When I shoot her another glare, she sighs. “Fine. How are the other girls, then?”

Now seems like as good a time as any to bring up Aspen. “Funny, you mention them. I need you to do me a favor.”

Her brows pinch together. “What is it?”

“Can you look into one of the other contestants for me?”

She purses her lips and narrows her eyes. “Why?”

“One of the girls, Aspen, seems to be out for my blood. But I feel like she’s hiding something, too, and I want to have all the information I can. You know, in case I need to defend myself.”

“You know that’s risky.” She hesitates, but then she seems to give in. “But I’ll do it for you. In the name of love. And so you and Dusty Wilder can have gorgeous country music babies.”

The familiar chime of Daniella’s ringtone interrupts our conversation, and she looks down at the screen.

“Oh, that’s Alex. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll look into Aspen for you, okay? And I want to hear all the details of you and Dusty later.”

Shortly after Daniella leaves, there’s another knock at my door—one of the producers letting me know we’re heading back to the house for the day. Something about getting footage of all the contestants spending time together.

The only reason I’m somewhat excited to go is the possibility of seeing Dusty.

However, I’m not sure if I can keep a straight face if he does show up.

Memories of last night are still rolling through my mind like a broken record, and I have to squeeze my legs together on the car ride there to relieve some of the ache.

I just hope the other girls don’t notice.

While I was okay with telling Sage about the first time Dusty and I kissed, there is no way in hell she can find out about last night.

Kissing off camera is breaking the rules, but engaging in sexually intimate activities off camera would be enough for me to not only get kicked off the show, but likely be fired on the spot and blacklisted from other publicity firms. Not being able to follow the rules—no matter how attracted you are to the other person—is not a desirable trait in any profession.

And it would jeopardize Dusty’s career as well.

So, for now, it has to stay a secret. Preferably until either I get eliminated or the show is over.

Probably until Dusty finishes out his contract with Sparks Studio Productions, too, to be safe.

Daniella can be the only person outside of me and Dusty who knows.

And she’s my best friend, so I know she would never tell anyone.

When we arrive at the house, Dusty is nowhere to be seen. Which is fine—I’d rather not watch him kiss other girls knowing where his mouth was less than twelve hours ago.

“We just need to get some shots of you all talking and some other B-roll footage,” the producer explains when we sit down inside.

“Talk about whatever you’d like. Conversations about your relationship with Dusty are great, but do whatever is most comfortable.

” He cues us to start talking, making a wild gesture when we don’t immediately strike up conversation.

“Okay…” Katherine glances to the side. “How is everyone feeling about Dusty? Baylor, what was it like performing with him on stage at the bar?”

I wasn’t expecting her to call me out like that. “It was fun. I’m really grateful to have had the chance to sing with him on stage.”

“I’m honestly a little bit jealous,” Valerie adds with a laugh. “I felt like I was interrupting something watching you two together. You have great stage chemistry, it must feel really good to have been able to show that off.”

“Yeah, I mean, I was just doing what felt natural, I guess.” I’m not really sure what to say. I like Valerie, but it feels wrong to brag about our relationship. It would feel wrong to brag about my relationship with Dusty even if we weren’t on a television show.

“I got to record a song with him a couple weeks ago,” Aspen cuts in, and for once, I’m glad she took the attention off me.

“You did?” Sage raises her brows.

“Yep,” she pops the P. “At Ace High Entertainment’s recording studio.”

“Wow…” Katherine sighs. “Have any of you ever done anything like that before?”

We all shake our heads.

Sage turns her head toward Aspen. “Wait, you haven’t? I thought you worked in music?”

I don’t know if the other girls noticed at all, but Aspen flinches. It’s a tiny movement, one I would’ve easily missed if I wasn’t paying attention.

“You must be mistaken,” she replies dryly. “I’ve been trying to get into the music industry, just like all of us, but I don’t already work in music, no.”

“Huh, I guess I’m thinking of someone else, then.” Sage shrugs then changes the subject. “Do any of you have siblings? Or what’s your family like at home?”

“I’m the oldest of five,” Valerie answers first, her face gleaming with pride. “My family is super important to me. Knowing how hard my parents worked to set up our futures, getting a record deal with Dusty would be life-changing for me and for them.”

The difference between me and Valerie is stark.

I’m an only child, and judging by the way she speaks about her family, Valerie’s parents probably love her and are proud of her regardless of what she accomplishes in life.

I know it’s wrong to make assumptions, but I’m guessing her family supported her coming on the show.

Meanwhile, my father would probably have an aneurysm if he knew I was dating a man—who’s also been dating nine other women—on live television.

“Baylor?” Valerie’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts.

“Hm?”

“Do you have siblings?” she repeats what I assume was her question.

“No. I’m an only child.” I leave it at that. Talking too much about my family will lead to more questions, and frankly, I don’t want to get into it with my competitors right now.

“I’m an only child, too.” Aspen purses her lips and flashes me a look. I suppress a laugh at the irony. Of course, Aspen and I would have that in common, too. But I feel like we’re nothing alike, and that’s a small comfort. Because even if I don’t win, at least I don’t have to be her.

The producers shoot a couple more hours of us just hanging around the house. They also pull us aside one-by-one to do some interviews about the previous weeks. By the time the day is over, I’m exhausted and ready to go back to the hotel to decompress.