Page 20 of Beautiful Noise

I tugged at my beard and replayed a few things she said.Shit happens. No one to count on and nowhere to go. That partially explained why she was here. Kori was homeless, but the real question was why.

She also wasn’t crazy or a stalking fan and she wasn’t here attempting to swindle me out of a few dollars by offering pussy in exchange for a come up. Sure, she was attracted to me, but she was attracted toEzren, not Eccentric. A refreshing twist on things and a reality I hadn’t experienced in a really long time.

Mostly because I wasn’t remotely interested in a woman wanting anything from me other than a few good orgasms. Women were my muses. Sex inspired the songs I wrote. I slept with enough to stay inspired. Not that any of them seemed to mind. Occasionally a few caught feelings, even after my one and done policy, which I strictly kept in place for the sole purpose of avoiding that annoying little issue…

Women assuming sex would lead to more.

I had only broken that rule once and seriously regretted doing so.

The inspiration I received was more profound the more sex and women I explored. The experiences were all different—some satisfying, others not so much—but either way, the lyrics always came to me once I had my fill.

Why on earth I was tempted to entertain Kori was beyond me. But Iwastempted and my gut was telling me she wasn’t an opportunist. One thing my mother taught me was to trust my instincts, same as she trusted hers. Kori being here meant my mother saw or felt something that seemed right with her. I hated to admit I did too.

Against my better judgment I decided I needed real answers and hopefully those answers would be delivered over a perfectly grilled steak and a side of garlic mashed potatoes.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kori.

I was emotional when I didn’t have the right to be.

And I was about to let these damned emotions of mine render me homeless… again.

So be it.

I wasn’t sure why Ezren’s words cut so deeply or why his assumptions pierced me deeper. He didn’t know me. Didn’t know shit about me, yet he’d made harsh assumptions.

Okay so maybe I had done the same thing by sending jabs about how much he spent on this studio. Why should it matter? He worked hard for every penny he earned and it made perfect sense that an artist would build a world-renowned studio in their home. Who wouldn’t want the convenience of climbing out of bed when inspiration hit only to travel a few feet into their private studio to bring that inspiration to life?

I only said those things because… well shit, there wasn’t much else I could say about the man. He was a good guy from what I could tell. He mentored kids and funded several music programs. Never had he been caught in the media disrespecting women or treating anyone, for that matter, badly…

His clean image could also be thanks to his high powered attorneys keeping his indiscretions quiet, but deep down I knew that wasn’t the case. Sure, he slept with a lot of women. Rumor was that sex was his inspiration and the women he slept with were his muses. It wasn’t like he forced them. I would bet my last they willingly offered to assist with his creative journey. How could they not, he was…

Focus, Kori.

But point being, what the hell else could I say about the man other than he was irresponsible with money? I was standing in the middle of his very exquisite studio that cost a fortune and that was the only thing I could use as ammunition to strike back. I was so angry with myself.

Spinning on my heels I turned to grab a few items I was comfortable enough to place in my room.

His room.

Perfume, hairbrush, flat iron, blow dryer, and my body butters.

I was also cataloging and counting down in my head how quickly I could be out of here. Before I could make my grand escape, the reason for my irate temperament strolled into my room, completely at ease aside from a slight pinch between his brows. He waltzed right in and sank onto the foot of my bed, reclining all the way back and lazily turned his head in my direction.

“You leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Is he serious? He can’t be serious.

“You just accused me of finessing your mother or being a crazy stalker who wants to sleep with you for money, or fame, or hell I don’t know, whatever the takeaway is for those women after being with you.”

He grinned smugly. “Their only takeaway is the most amazing sex they’ve ever had. I don’t buy gifts, pay bills, offer money or photos with me that they can sell to the media for a come up. That’s not my thing.”

“Thanks for the clarification but your clarity has nothing to do with the point I was making. You think I’m using your mother to get to you.”