Windswept (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Free

arpeggios to get her flute warmed up and prepare herself. Five minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, Cadence opened it.
    The accompanist was one of the fourth-year piano students, a sturdy brunette named Olivia. Cadence smiled and Olivia smiled back. “I’m glad to see you here,” Olivia whispered. “You’re the best at the school.”
    “You think so?” Cadence asked incredulously.
    “Know so,” was Olivia’s emphatic reply. “What pieces are you playing?”
    “I’m going to start with the last movement of the Mozart in G major and then the second of the Mercadante in D major,” Cadence replied.
    “Nice choice,” Olivia said appreciatively. “No one has managed to really nail the cadenza in the Mozart, and only one other person has done the Mercadante. Good luck!” They walked on stage and Olivia settled herself at the piano while Cadence stood beside the music stand and faced the seats. The lights shining on the stage made it difficult to see the two men sitting a few rows from the front.
    “Cadence Bennett?” a rich, velvety voice asked. Cadence’s breath caught. The voice seemed to echo around her head, caressing her name. A shiver ran through her body.
    “Y–y–yes,” she managed to stammer.
    “Play for us,” the voice commanded quietly. For a moment, Cadence had the wild thought that she would do whatever the voice asked her to do. Focus, Cadence! she thought as she prepared to play.
    Cadence nodded at Olivia, and as the pianist played the introduction, Cadence took several deep breaths and raised the flute to her mouth. As her cue approached, she closed her eyes and began to play.
    The sound floated through the auditorium, quick and light. Cadence’s fingers flew over the keys, the endless practicing of scales and studies enabling her to move through the piece almost effortlessly. At the cadenza, the flute alone filled the auditorium with rapid-fire arpeggios and trills until the piano reentered for the conclusion. Cadence lowered the flute and took several deep breaths. She glanced at Olivia, and when she saw that the accompanist was ready to continue, Cadence began again. This time, the piece was slower, freer, and much more expressive. Even though she knew she was following the dynamic and tempo markings, Cadence could hear that her playing was somewhat cold. Frustration swirled through her as she continued through the piece, the anger at herself forcing the sound out more harshly. When she finally reached the end, she lowered the flute and her head to look at the ground.
    Cadence was breathing hard and had her eyes squeezed shut as she silently went through all the things she felt she had done poorly, berating herself for not working more carefully. When the voice spoke from beside her, she jumped and gave a tiny squeal. Looking up, she gazed into a pair of the bluest eyes she had ever seen.
    “I’m sorry.” The man chuckled. His laugh was low and sexy, and Cadence felt shivers racing through her body. “I didn’t mean to startle you. My name is Chris Clements.” He held out his hand to her.
    For a moment, Cadence was speechless, but she finally extended her own hand. When he grasped it, a warm tingling sensation spread through her hand and up her arm. And though it might have been her imagination, his blink suggested that he had felt something, too. His hand lingered for an extra moment on hers, and then he slowly dropped it. Looking at the pianist, he said, “Thank you for your help today, Olivia.” She nodded at the dismissal, picked up her music, and left the stage.
    To Cadence, Chris said, “Please come down and talk to us.” He indicated that Cadence should precede him down the stairs on the side of the stage. As Cadence walked past, he placed his hand gently against the small of her back to guide her. At his touch, warmth shot through her body and straight to her pussy, causing a small spasm.
    Cadence was impressed when she managed to make