Encore Worthy: a Mountains & Men prequel novella (15 page)

“Hell no,” cries Maddox. “Just us and Derrick. You’re good, babe. Fuck-tard’s not here.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“I’ll be right back. Let me fill this up for you,” says Knox before turning to head for the kitchen. I watch him disappear down the hall before looking back in the living room, unsure whether I should join them or stay put.

“Wow. Sage really likes you,” says Violet, nudging JJ as she nods in my direction.

He smirks, eyeing me over. “Yeah, he does.” My confusion must show on my face because he’s quick to clarify their meaning. “He put our name on you.”

I look down and take a good look at the shirt I’ve got on. I hadn’t really paid much attention to it before, other than how soft it was from so much use. Now, as I stare down at it, I see that the logo for Mountains & Men is etched across my chest. Before I can say a word in reply, I feel a hand sneak up underneath the hem of the shirt before grabbing my ass and giving me a squeeze. I gasp, my eyes widening in shock, my blush coloring my cheeks.

“What are you doing walking around in nothing but my t-shirt, doll face?” Sage whispers into my ear.

“I was thirsty. I came to get some water.”

“I live with a bunch of guys, Millicent. They’re my friends. I’d hate for that to change when I find them staring at your legs.”

His possessiveness makes me scoff and my embarrassment is forgotten. I’m suddenly feeling defiant, considering my bare legs are really no one’s concern but my own. I turn to face him, giving him my best annoyed expression. “They’re walking around without shirts on and you’re worried about my legs?”

He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against him tightly, and I suck in a breath. I can feel his hard cock pressed against my hip and my own desire is made evident by the pulsing ache between my legs in an instant.

“Your legs are hot as hell,” he mutters just loud enough for me to hear, grazing his nose along mine. “I’m not going to let you walk around this house getting a bunch of dicks hard and filling their heads with ammo for their fucking spank-banks. Got me?”

I nod, unable to conjure a single word.

“Get your ass upstairs, doll face. I’ll bring you some water and something to eat.” When I start to pull away from him, ready and willing to do exactly as he says, he doesn’t let me go. I look at him, an unspoken question in my eyes, and he smirks at me before pressing his lips to mine. “You’re so goddamn gorgeous.” He kisses me again before I push my way out of his arms and take a breath.

“Keep that up and they’ll see a lot more than my legs.”

He laughs, which makes me smile, and I wink at him as I turn for the stairs. He smacks my ass before I’m out of reach, eliciting a small yelp. When I look over my shoulder at our audience, I see Violet wearing the biggest grin. She waves and I wave back, feeling slightly awkward, then disappear up the stairs.

EARLIER, WHEN I CAME
back to the room to find Millie asleep, I decided to head out to pick up a couple of things. I didn’t want to leave her before, not until I was sure she was okay; after I had the chance to speak to her, I was levelheaded enough to leave the house. I didn’t go far, stopping at the nearest corner store outside of our neighborhood. I got her a toothbrush and picked up the necessary food items for grilled cheese. As I stand at the stove now, making one for her and two for me, Knox hops up onto the counter next to me.

“You better be glad you saw her first, kid, that’s all I’m gonna say.”

I flip him off, not even bothering to look over at him, and he laughs.

“
Sage,
” says Violet in a singsongy voice. I turn and look over my shoulder, spotting her as she mimics Knox, sitting across from him on the island counter. “She seems nice.”

“She spoke, like, two words,” huffs Maddox, making his way into the kitchen and directly to the pantry. He pulls out a bag of pretzels and sits next to Violet. JJ stands in front of Vi and she wraps her arms and legs around him, resting her chin on his shoulder.

“Uh, no,” I mutter, shaking my head as I look back to the skillet. “We’re not going to do this. We’re not going to
pow-wow
over Millicent.”

“She’s pretty,” Violet says, ignoring me. I don’t say a word, flipping the sandwiches to reveal two perfectly golden tops. “So what’s the deal? Are you two dating, now?”

“How’d she end up with
Fuck-tard?”
asks Maddox, his mouth full.

I shrug. “They met at the gym. Guess he was bugging her about buying her a drink. The details are sketchy. Look, I don’t want to talk about that asshole.”

“We’ll have to talk about him eventually. We’re short a bass player, now.”

“No shit, Maddox,” I grumble, putting the two finished sandwiches on a plate and starting another.

“Sage is right,” pipes in JJ. “We don’t have to talk about this now. Your girl, she’s really alright?”

“Yeah. I think so. She was upset earlier, but I think she’s okay.”

“And is she?” Violet probes. “Yours, I mean. Is she
your girl?
”

“Vi . . .” JJ mutters.

“What? I’m just saying, it would be
nice.
One less revolving door around here. Not to mention, a concert companion.”

“What about Andrea?” Maddox asks, seemingly offended.

“
Please,
” we all grumble in unison.

“Fuck all of you,” he laughs, knowing we have a point.

“Anyway—back to Millie.”

“Vi, I told you, we’re not doing this. There’s nothing to tell.”

“Like hell, there isn’t! Was I the only one here watching that flirt-fest?” she asks, lifting her hand. “You, Sage McCoy,
do not
flirt in the entryway of this house. It should be called an
exitway.
That is where you kick girls out—
if
they’re lucky enough to make it through the door! I haven’t seen you like this in
years.
So, level with me here—give me
something.
”

I finish the last sandwich, adding it to my stack; then I grab Millie’s glass of water and face my friends. “I want her. For now, that’s all there is. That’s all you get.” I leave the room without a backwards glance, heading directly to my bedroom.

When I open the door, Maestro strolls out into the hallway. I look down at him and he looks up at me. “You in or you out, buddy?” He listens to the hum of conversation downstairs before he goes hunting for a new crowd. I shake my head at his indifference and then close the door behind me.

“Grilled cheese sound good?”

Millie is standing at my desk, admiring my clutter. When I sit on the bed, she comes and joins me. “Grilled cheese always sounds good. Thank you.”

“What is it with you and these things, anyway?” I ask as she takes her first bite.

She shrugs, finishing what’s in her mouth before she answers. “It’s my comfort food. Always has been.” She doesn’t look at me when she speaks, making me think there’s more to her answer than she’s telling me, but I don’t press. “So, that looks like the mess of a genius,” she says, nodding back over her shoulder.

“Is it killing you? Do you want to go stack it in neat, even piles?”

“A little,” she replies with a grin that makes my dick stir.

“Well, I wouldn’t call myself a genius, but sometimes shit that doesn’t suck happens over there.”

“How long have you guys been here—or, I guess, how long have you been
Mountains & Men?
”

“I met Maddox and Knox when I was twelve, when they moved into my neighborhood. We’d all dabbled in music one way or another on our own. We started fooling around with the idea of a band a few years later. By the time I was eighteen, we’d roped in JJ and Derrick. At some point, rooming together became an act of convenience, one of life’s blessings in disguise. We found this spot with the perfect garage and moved in. Been here ever since.”

She hums, signaling that she’s listening, and picks at her sandwich. “And Keith?”

“He’s only been with us for a year. It’s not exactly a loss.”

She sighs, looking away from me again. “I’m sorry this happened, that it’s screwing with your band. I can see how important they are to you.”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” I insist, reaching out to tip up her chin. Her dark green eyes meet mine and I shake my head at her. “Don’t apologize for
anything.
He’s not worthy of another thought. We’ll find someone new. Someone better. We’ll be fine—we always are. Got it?”

“Yeah. I got it.”

“Good. How’s your sandwich? Do you need another one?”

“No. It’s perfect.”

“Do you want to watch a movie or something? I’ll let you pick,” I tease, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Okay. What have you got?”

Ten minutes later, we’re watching the opening credits to
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Needless to say, her quick and easy choice just gives me one more reason to like her. When I push the pillows against the headboard and prop myself up, I lift my arm in a silent request for Millie to tuck herself against me. She does, and it doesn’t take long for her lithe, warm body to distract me. After another ten minutes, the last thing on my mind is Ferris Bueller.

“Hey,” I murmur, looking down at her. When she looks up at me, I don’t hesitate before I press my lips to hers. Each time I deliver a light kiss, I’m reminded of how long it’s been since I’ve tasted the inside of her mouth. When she opens up for me, I dive in, reaching up to sink my fingers in her hair. She twists her tongue with mine and all I want is more. I kiss her deeper and she moans, the sound awakening my dick. When she leans into me, one of her legs hooking over one of mine, I grab her hips and bring her to my lap. She straddles me, her hands turning needy as she feels her way across my shoulders and down my chest. She rocks her hips, pressing her pussy against the bulge in my pants, and we both free a sigh.

“You miss me, baby doll?”

She nods, closing her mouth around mine as she rocks her hips once more. I groan as she teases me, my cock undeniably hard for her. I slip a hand into her panties and swipe my finger over her entrance. She gasps, her hands finding their way into my hair.

“Make me come, Sage. I want you,” she breathes.

I toss my glasses onto the nightstand before I open the top drawer and reach for a condom. It takes me longer than it should, the feel of her lips on my neck and her teeth tugging on my earlobe distracting me.

“Fuck, doll face.”

“Yes, please,” she says with a grin.

I strip her out of my shirt and her hard nipples stand out as if they are screaming for my attention. I suck one into my mouth and she whimpers as she grinds against me again, clearly impatient.

“Sage, don’t make me beg—I will. I swear, I will,” she mutters.

I chuckle as I pull away from her, lifting my hips off the bed. “A little help?” She wastes no time pulling my pants to my knees. My dick stands to attention in between us and I can hear it as her breathing turns ragged with desperation. I rip open the condom and suit up before shoving her panties aside. She doesn’t need permission to ease her way over me, so she takes what she wants.

She’s feeling greedy and it’s sexy as fuck.

“That’s it, doll face, take my cock—all of it, baby.”

When she’s fully seated, she reaches back to grip my thighs, offering her the leverage she needs to glide up and down my shaft. Watching her take control turns me on even more, and I can’t help but stare, my hands roaming up her legs, across her stomach, around her tits, then back down.

“Oh, Sage, you feel so good—so fucking good,” she groans.

“Just good, huh?” I question, taking hold of her hips.

It’s my turn to drive.

Using the power of my legs, I thrust my hips up
hard,
hammering into her over and over. “Who fills your pussy like I do? Tell me.”

Her hands grope their way up my body and around the back of my neck, her eyes focused on mine, her mouth open as she whimpers and sighs. Each sound uttered is like a note sung and it’s the sexist fucking song I have ever heard in my life. I know listening to her will only make me come faster.

“Answer me, doll face,” I demand. “Who fills your pussy like I do?”

“No one—
oh, shit
—Sage! No one!”