Make Me Bad(Private Lessons)

Chapter Six




Madison





The rest of the week flies by and before we know it it’s Friday night—the night I invited Luc out with us. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since our private lesson, and neither has anyone else. I guess since our group is pretty much settled in the city and all of our classes have begun, Luc doesn’t feel the need to be in touch with us as much. This makes me both sad and relieved. I actually don’t even have Luc’s phone number, only his email. But since I’m taking private lessons from him, I make a mental note to get his cell phone number next time.

“So, I invited Luc tonight,” I say casually, as Cleo and I grab our purses.

“What? When?”

I try not to act like it’s a big deal. “The other day, after my lesson. I just thought it would be nice. You know, because he had a good time going out with us the other night.”

“Oh. Well, he’s been MIA all week, so who knows if he’ll show. If he does come, I hope he doesn’t have his head up his ass.”

I laugh, but I know she’s right.

We take the Metro to the Opera house and then walk towards the restaurant. Somehow Ava managed to reserve a table on short notice, and she waves at us from the back of the restaurant.

“Hey!” she chirps, as we make our way to the table.

Grace is sitting there too, already sipping some wine. “Hope you don’t mind, we ordered the first bottle.”

“We don’t mind at all. ” I say.

Cleo pours us each two small glasses. More of our group traipses in, including Philippe, who Cleo has really taken to apparently. I learned that he’s a French university student living in the city. Leave it to Cleo to truly immerse herself in the culture.

Once we assume everyone has arrived—except Luc, of course—we order our food. Being students, we spend more on alcohol than our entrees, and most of us just order small plates of pasta, or appetizers. The waiter doesn’t seem surprised.

I’m deep in conversation with Grace about plans after graduation, when I feel a hand on the small of my back. Startled, I jump and turn around to see the culprit. Luc is standing behind me, his face an unreadable mask except for his smoldering eyes.

“Madison.” he says softly.

“Well, hello stranger!” Cleo says loudly, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Nice of you to make an appearance.”

Luc gives her a friendly smile. “Well, you can thank Madison for inviting me.”

“Of course! You’re always welcome.” Cleo says.

Grace and Ava both nod.

Luc slides in next to me, the only vacant spot at the table.

I’m suddenly hyper aware of my body and his. He smells of Calvin Klein aftershave, and I have the strong desire to bury my face in the nook of his smooth neck and inhale deeply. I could live there for hours.

“You smell delicious.” Luc whispers to me, his mouth just inches from my ear.

A tingle of excitement rushes up my spine.

“I was just thinking the same thing about you.” I whisper back.

He gives me a strange look.

Conversations carry on around us, yet neither Luc nor I take part in them. We’re both silent, and anyone who looks at us would just assume we're listening to the other people at the table. But I know that neither Luc nor I are listening to anything being said.

The air is charged around us, the sexual tension between us is thick and my heart is beating so hard that I think I might faint. All I can think about is Luc’s body, so close to mine, and the uncontrollable desire emanating from my own body. I have to physically restrain myself from reaching out and touching him. I literally have to clench my hands together to keep myself from rubbing along his thigh.

Out of the blue Ava begins to talk to me and I take on the welcome distraction, chatting about the holidays in Nashville. I can feel Luc's intensity as he listens to me talk about home. Luc knows next to nothing about me, and I wonder if he even has any idea who my parents are.

I'm always nervous telling people about my parents. It’s not that I'm ashamed of my parents; I love them very much and I'm fiercely proud of them. But everyone reacts differently to celebrity and some view me differently after they realize I am the daughter of two of the biggest stars in the country music industry. I'd rather keep people in the dark. I like it that way. It makes me feel more relatable.

Even after twenty-plus years, my parents are still incredibly successful and putting out albums every year. They don’t do it for the money; they do it because they absolutely love making music and can't imagine ever stopping.

“So what do your parents do?” Ava asks inevitably.

“Oh, you know,” I say, waving my hand dismissively, “they’re into music.”

“Ohh. So that’s where you get it from.”

“Yep.”

“What kind of music?”

“Country.”

“Cool. Do they sing or write, produce?” She's being polite but I know where this is headed.

“Both, actually.”

Luc is definitely listening intently. I can feel his entire body focused on me.

“Sweet! They must do pretty well if that’s their main career. Would I know them?”

I give her a small smile. “Probably.”

Ava’s quiet, clearly waiting for their names.

“Paige Lawson. Blake Evans.” I hold my breath and wait. Sometimes people aren't into country music at all and really don’t know who my parents are, or they recognize the name but don’t really know much else.

Ava and Luc react at the same time—Ava’s reaction is loud and dramatic, but it’s Luc’s reaction that steals my focus.

Ava slams her hands down on the table, “Holy shit! No way!” she yells.

Luc’s entire body freezes, and I can practically feel the shock and surprise cascading through him. I feel his hand on my thigh and he clutches at the long sweater I’m wearing. Instinctively, I cover his hand with mine, feeling the tension in his tendons and the large ridges of his knuckles.

“Your parents are Paige Lawson and Blake Evans? I can’t believe I never put your last name together and figured it out before. They are freaking legends, Maddie! How did I not know this?”


I open my mouth to respond, but I don't quite remember what she just asked...I’m too keenly aware of Luc gripping my shirt, and his hand touching mine.

“Yes.” Luc speaks up, his voice stiff. “Do tell us how none of us knew this intriguing tidbit about you.”

“I knew!” Cleo pipes up. “I’ve known for years. Maddie doesn’t make a big deal out of it though. She obviously doesn’t want to be lumped in with her parents or live in their shadow.” She pauses. “I don’t blame her,” she adds.

Cleo is such a good friend, and at that moment I want to reach out and hug and kiss her. Instead, I flash her the most grateful smile I can muster and she smiles back at me before turning back to her conversation with Philippe.

“I’m impressed.” Grace says. “That’s some serious lineage. What was it like growing up?”

I sigh. “It was pretty normal for me. I don’t really have many good stories. My parents made sure I had a relatively normal upbringing.”

Ava raises her eyebrows in disbelief.

“Obviously we had a nice house and I never wanted for anything.” I say exasperatedly. “But I lived in Nashville year round, stayed at the same schools, kept the same friends. My parents never took me out on the road, unless it was summer vacation. They didn’t give me everything I wanted, made me get a job in high school. It was...normal.”

“Madison, can I speak to you outside?” Luc asks suddenly.

Ava gives us both a strange look.

“I just thought about something regarding next week’s lesson. It will only take a minute.” He looks back at the rest of the table. “No need to bore everyone else with the details.”

I nod, mutely and get up to follow him outside.

Somehow, I know that this isn't about my lesson at all.

“What the hell?” he says angrily, once we’re outside.

“Excuse me?”

“You failed to mention that your parents are two country music stars!”

“Oh, I’m sorry!” I say sarcastically. “I didn’t realize that was something I should wear on my forehead.”

“You should have told me,” he says, his eyes flashing.

Now, I’m annoyed. “Again, so sorry. When did you want me to tell you? When you were pushing me up against the bathroom wall and ripping my nylons the other night?”

That shuts him up, and he looks at me, gutted.

“I’m sorry about that,” he says quietly.

“No, I’m sorry. That was out of line.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me into the dark alley alongside of the restaurant. I’m not too sure what he’s doing, but then he pushes me hard up against the bricks and I moan reflexively as he presses his body against mine.

“Why can’t I stay away from you?” he says, as he kisses me hungrily. I meet his kiss with equal passion, grabbing at his ass as he presses his hips hard against me.

“Don’t stay away.” I beg, wanting him closer. Wanting more of him.

“You’re more trouble than I ever bargained for.”

“We’re in Paris.” I pant, “Let’s be reckless.”

Luc lets out a laugh. “Your twenties are all about being reckless...I’m too old for reckless Madison.”

I’m not coy by nature, but I push him away, and bat my eyelashes at him. “Be reckless,” I plead, doing my best to look seductive. “Be reckless with me.” I grab him by his shirttails and pull him back to me.

He moans helplessly, kissing me again as his hands travel under my sweater and move across the warm skin of my stomach.

“I’m too old for you,” he argues.

“No.”

“You should be with someone your own age.”

“No.”

I boldly reach between his legs, feeling his erection in his jeans. “I want you.” I say bravely.

I’m not sure what happened to the old Maddie Evans, but she sure as hell isn’t in Paris.