Chapter 25

JAKE

She accepted my apology gracefully and I can not help but smile at her answer. She seems to make me smile every time I am around her and I feel completely at peace. She makes me feel like I belong again and that there is no evil within me.

"Well, I am glad that you are not angry at me"

I see her shyly smile and then she hides her face. Then with her back turned to me she says.

"Are you ready to sit for makeup?"

"Yes, I am ready but then you have to promise me that you would show me the makeup you wanted to do yesterday"

LAYLA

I am amazed at his words and I did not expect him to say that. I was truly under the impression that I was going to get fired and I should be more like Laura. I love the way how he sits down in the seat and then just says those words as if it means nothing.

He wants to see what I can do and he is not afraid to show it to the world. I smile and then I say.

"I would love to show you the makeup"

He looks deep into my eyes and then he says.

"I am all yours. Do with me what you like"

I feel a tingling feeling running straight to my core of desire for him. He says those words as if he wants me to do something else and if he does not watch himself I might. The attraction between us is so thick that you can cut it with a knife. I have to take a step away just to break whatever is holding us together.

Then I turn my back and get to the makeup. I know now that this will be very uncomfortable and that I have to practice a lot of self-control. I am about to put on some foundation and then I say to him.

"I think it would be best if your eyes would be closed for this one. I do not want to get any makeup in your eyes"

Then he smiles and closes his eyes. It feels as if I can breathe again because if his eyes are open I can not control anything in or outside of myself. I start to put on the makeup and the closer I get to him the more I want him.

But I shake my head and concentrate on what I am here to do. I have to make a good impression. So, I start to work on my piece of art.

JAKE

I can not believe that I have said what I have said to her. I did not even control what was coming out of my mouth as I want her even closer to me. Then when I close my eyes and I smell her scent my senses go into overdrive. I have no idea how to control what seems to be brewing inside me. I have never had to practice so much self-control while feeling myself trembling.

With every touch of her fingers on my face, it feels as if I want to grab her and give her a passionate kiss. I want to taste her. I can feel the wolf within me wanting to come out but I take deep breaths and concentrate on my human form. I can not allow him to come out now.

She has completely intoxicated me with her scent and her presence. I have never felt the things with a woman that I am feeling with her. I did not even know that I consisted out of so many nerve endings. I can feel every part of my body trying to grab her and make her mine.

It is pure torture to sit here while she is doing my makeup and I start to wonder how I am going to do it the rest of this world tour.

LAYLA

While I am busy with his makeup I can feel him shivering, and then I said to him.

"Are you cold? Should I turn on the heat?"

"Uhm... No, I am ok thank you"

I know that is not okay because he is shivering so much but I am new here and I am not really even supposed to talk to him. So, I just focus on what I am supposed to do. Finally, I am finished and I take a step away.

"You can open your eyes now"

Suddenly, I am the one that is starting to tremble because I am so nervous about what he is going to say. This is not how he usually looks like and I am changing an image of a man. He opens his eyes and looks into the mirror.

I struggle to read what he is thinking and then he turns to me.

JAKE

Finally, when she takes a step away I could breathe again. Then she says that I should open my eyes and I see myself in the mirror. It seems as if my breath has been taken away again at what I see. I do not look good, I look great.

"I am very much impressed, Layla. Well done"

I can hear how she breathes a breath of relief and I realized how nervous she must be.

"Thank you"

"Now, where is that outfit of last night. I would like to open with that if that is okay?"

I see a big smile appearing on her face and I know I made her happy. Then she hands me the clothes and I can see that she has a slight tremor in her hand. I let my hand just graze over her hand and then I say with a soft smile.

"Thank you, I am sure I am going to look good on stage tonight"

Then I walk into the bathroom and put on my pants.

LAYLA

The moment that our hands touched it was like an electric current was running through our bodies. All of a sudden he has immobilized me and I struggle to move. I hear how he loves my clothes and wants to open with them. This just has me completely knocked off guard and I watch as he goes into the bathroom.

I know now that when he comes out he will be without a shirt and I have no idea how I am going to keep my hands off him. Every time we are close to each other it is as if I can not seem to pull myself away from his aura. I still stand like a fool with his clothes in my hand and I know he is going to come out any second.

I shake my head so that I can act normal because I know that I need to get him ready for the show. I can not afford to make him look like a fool because I can not control my actions.

JAKE

I have finished putting on my pants but I just want to take a breather. The attraction between us is so strong and it becomes more difficult to fight it off every time I see her. I do not know how to act as my cold self when she is in the room.

She makes me smile just thinking about her. She makes me feel so at peace. I look at my watch and I see that I have to be on stage any minute now. I take a deep breath and open the door. Then I stand in front of her and she quickly helps me with my shirt.

I try not to think about the moment we find ourselves in and try to be as professional as possible. When she has finished everything, I look in the mirror and I say.

"I almost look like Jake Anderson"

I can not help but smile when I say that and then I see her laughing a little bit while she covers her mouth with her hand. This drives me through the roof and I know I better get out of here immediately. Then there is a knock on the door and it is Mark.

"Are you coming?"

I look at Layla and then at Mark.

"Yes, I am coming"

I do not know what I should say to her so I just make use of this opportunity to walk out with Mark. Just as I am about to leave the room, I say.

"Thank you, Layla. You did a great job. I will see you out there"

Then I turn around and walk with Mark.

LAYLA

As Jake disappears out of the room, I collapse in the chair as I am struggling to stand or breathe or do anything that is normal. I never thought that my biggest struggle would be to just act normal around Jake when I joined the crew. It makes me wonder how I will react when I see him dance and sing. I have to be backstage in a few minutes with the outfits and be ready to change him between the songs.

This is going to be very interesting to see how I react while he is on stage.

"Dammit, Layla get it together!"

I stand up and get all the clothes on the rack. I need to be backstage immediately. I grab my kit of makeup and then start to push the rack close to where I need to be. The show is about to start and everyone starts to take their places. I watch the other stylists of the dancers standing on the other side as I am having this side for myself.

I can hear the crowds cheering and then the music cues. It is time to start.