Encore Worthy: a Mountains & Men prequel novella (17 page)

My mouth falls open of its own accord. I certainly was not expecting him to say what I
think
he just said. “You want—you want to be
exclusive?
” I ask.

“Call it what you will, doll face. I don’t want anyone else’s lips on yours,” he says, brushing a soft kiss against my mouth. “I don’t want anyone else’s hands on your tits,” he continues, his fingers pinching one of my nipples. “And I sure as
fuck
don’t want anyone else’s dick near this pussy.” I suck in a sharp breath when he cups his free hand between my legs.

“Sage—we haven’t even been on a date yet.”

“Is that an excuse? Or do you really think one night, or even a dozen nights out will change either of our minds?” As he speaks, he dips one finger into my core. I pull my lip between my teeth when he adds another. “Are you really going to make me ask again later? We both know how this will play out. We’ve done this before. You want me, Millicent.”

I stifle a whimper as his fingers continue to slide in and out of me. When I unfasten the top of his jeans and slide my hand down his boxers and around his hard cock, he licks his lips.

“You’re such an arrogant little shit.”

He lifts an accusing eyebrow at me. “That feel little to you, baby?”

I press my lips together, suppressing a grin. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth as he rests his forehead against mine. “There’s a fine line between
arrogance
and
confidence.
I toe the line, baby doll, but I never cross it. If there’s one thing I’m confident about right here, right now, it’s that
your
pussy is wet for me and
my
dick is hard for you, and when you say
yes,
I’m going to make you come against the wall—so cut the shit and tell me you won’t fuck anyone else
. You and me,
doll face. Just you and me.”

I think about it for another second, knowing that he’s right; knowing that any reservations I have, any reason I might come up with that would justify my hesitancy, it’s all bullshit. My body is sure of the answer already. I can’t argue that he satisfies me in a way that no one ever has before. He is the master of my orgasms—I come at the command of his body, and his body unravels me often.

I don’t know how to protect my heart against him, but I can’t stop us from moving forward. So I don’t fight it. Instead, I let go of his cock and I reach into his back pocket for his wallet. He pulls his fingers out of me and sucks on them as I hunt for the condom I know I’ll find. When I take out what I’m looking for, he strips out of his shirt and I push down his pants. I rip open the package and roll the rubber over his long, hardened length before he bends down and picks me up, guiding my legs around him.

I breathe out a sigh saturated with longing when he presses my back against the wall and fills me with every glorious inch he has to offer. Once he is all the way inside of me, he pauses and stares at me—his icy blue eyes piercing my green ones. I want him to move, I
need
him to move, but he doesn’t.

“Sage—”

“Say it. I want you to say it.”

“Yes,” I obey.

“Yes, what, baby?”

“Just you and me. No one else.”

“Who owns your orgasm, baby doll?” he asks as he begins to pump in and out of me.

“You,” I mewl, instantly lost in the pleasure of his friction. “Only you.”

“You bet your sweet, little ass.”

When he leans forward to kiss me, I meet him halfway. It’s not a tame kiss, but a greedy one—we suck, we bite, we lick and then repeat. As he pulls away, he repositions me—slipping one arm, then the other, under my legs, so that my knees are hooked over the crook of his elbows. He spreads my legs wider, opening up my hips, causing him to go even deeper. The deep, guttural groan that slips out of me will not be silenced.

“Shit, Millie—you’re so goddamn sexy. Come all over my cock, baby.”

“Faster,” I moan, so close to finding my release that I can utter no other words.

He pounds into me faster
and
harder. Heat spreads throughout my body from my core as my insides constrict with my orgasm. He continues to move in and out of me, his own climax following on the heels of mine. His thrusts turn lazy as we both come down from our heightened state of pleasure, and then he smacks a kiss against my lips before he pulls out and eases me down to my feet. I grab onto his biceps to steady myself, my legs feeling unreliable, and he grins.

“You okay, doll face?” I nod and he kisses me again—only slower this time.
Deeper.
The way he caresses my tongue with his does
nothing
to strengthen my legs. “Hate to hit and run, but I’ve got to go,” he says when he pulls away.

“What?” I mutter, still breathless from that kiss.

“Yeah, I have to run home,” he tells me as he removes the condom, ties it up, then pulls his pants around his hips. “I’ve got a hot date tonight.” He winks at me before he disappears into the bathroom. He’s only gone for a second, but when he reemerges, his eyes take me in from head to toe as if he hasn’t seen me in a while. “Think she’ll put out after one night?”

“Maybe,” I say with a laugh. “If you play your cards right.”

He grins as he scoops up his shirt and tugs it over his head. “I better not be late, then.” With one more kiss, he heads for the door. “See you in an hour, doll.”

He slips out and the smile on my face lingers. I ignore the small voice in the back of my head that’s trying to grab my attention, trying to
warn
me that I’m entering into dangerous territory. I don’t want to remember the past. Not right now. Not tonight. Tonight, I want to get dressed and go dancing with that twenty-one year old man; that man who seems to want no one but me. I want to embrace every little thing he makes me feel—all of which far exceeds anything I’ve felt in so long.

So I ignore the small voice in the back of my head as I pick up my clothes from off of the floor and head for my closet. I rifle through my hangers, searching for the perfect dress for tonight. I decide on a sleeveless, mini tunic dress. The rose floral pattern is bold and colorful, the belt that goes with it will go perfectly with my nude wedge heels. The dress
and
the shoes will both do wonders for my legs. I hope it drives Sage crazy.

I hop in the shower, washing away my day and the sex I just got finished having. I smile, knowing that it won’t be long before I’m covered in a new, thin layer of sweat from a night of dancing. No doubt followed by the delicious musk that will coat my skin after hours in bed with Sage. I shake the thought away, knowing that now is not the time to get distracted.

When I’m finished in the shower, I blow dry my hair, opting to leave it down, and apply a bit of make up. I slip into my dress and I’m fastening the buckle on my shoe when a knock sounds at the door. I feel a ridiculous amount of excitement as I grab my clutch and head down the hallway.

I saw the man an hour ago, for Christ sake.

Yet, despite all reason, when I twist the knob and pull back the barrier that separates us, my stomach flutters at the sight of him. Red Converse. Black jeans. Charcoal gray t-shirt,
Mountains & Men
scrolled across his chest. His sleeve of tattoos covering his left arm on display. And those horn-rimmed glasses . . .

Who the fuck looks sexy in those things?

He does. He knows it. And now I know it, too.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he says, giving me a once over. Tingles rush down my spine when he brushes my hair over my shoulder and then presses a kiss against the sensitive spot just behind my ear. “Good thing I claimed your pussy earlier,” he whispers before pulling away, holding out his elbow. “Let’s get out of here.”

One Week Later

“Love . . .

Why I don’t like the word is that it means too much to me,

far more than you can understand.”

—Anna Karenina [Leo Tolstoy]

“
ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!
”

The room is buzzing, the crowd begging for more. I look around from where I stand, just a few feet away from the stage. Mountains & Men just finished their set. They were
amazing,
which doesn’t surprise me in the least. I know Sage and the guys must be going wild off stage, listening to the roar of their fans—new and old.

We’re in the next town over at a place called Moxi Theater. The band was offered a headlining spot by chance.
Literally.
They entered a lottery with dozens of other bands and won the coveted spot. The energy in the room, the excitement that seems to be overflowing—that’s not chance in the slightest. That’s all them. They killed it tonight.

“This is fucking
insane!
” cries Violet, gripping my wrist to get my attention. “I bet they’re flipping their shit back there!”

The shouting in the room grows louder as Derrick walks back out onto the stage, sticking his tongue out to rile up the crowd even more. Knox and Maddox are close behind, followed by Wren—their bass guitar stand-in. When JJ comes back out, Violet cups her hands around her mouth and yells, “
Get it, baby!
” I’m sure he can’t hear her, but she doesn’t seem to mind, pleased to add to the cacophony of cheers.

Derrick drops the beat and then Maddox begins to pluck out a solo. I know right away that he’s playing the beginning of a song I’ve not heard before. Knox joins in, then Wren, then JJ, and then out he comes . . .

He oozes sex appeal. It’s not something I can simply see, but something I
feel
—me along with every other female in the room. I know this by the change in pitch of the cries that battle against the sound of their music. I’m sure he could hop off the stage right now, take his pick of girl by the hand, and she would follow him into any dark corner he wished to occupy. I know the immense amount of pleasure he could bring her, and I’m sure he would leave her begging for a different sort of encore.

I know because it’s exactly how I feel.

“I’ve got to be honest with you,” Sage speaks into the microphone, quieting the crowd, the band still playing behind him. “I was
really
hoping you’d want just
one more
song.” The patrons yell and the grin that splices his face makes my stomach flutter. “We’ve got a new one for you tonight. Something special we’ve been working on.” Violet grips my wrist again, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Sage. “There’s a girl out there who inspired me to write this,” he continues to say, his eyes finding mine, as if I’m the
only
person in the room. “It’s called,
Just Tonight.
This one’s for you, doll face.”

I see the demons in your eyes and I want to dance

Can’t stop the beat I hear from one haunted glance

Take my hand, baby, don’t let go

I’ll set you free, baby, won’t let go

All night/One song

This room/My home

I’ll set you free, baby, don’t let go

Tonight/Just give me tonight

Can’t stop the beat, can’t stop my feet, just want to dance

I’ll set you free, but will you let me go?

You cage me in and now I can’t let go.

All night/One song

This room/My home

Set me free but, baby, don’t let go

Tonight/ Just give me tonight.

And in my arms you’ll find your ecstasy

When you lose yourself, I’ll set you free

Baby, just let go and let it be, let it be

Tonight/ Just give me tonight.

I see the demons in your eyes and I want to dance

Can’t stop the beat I hear from one haunted glance

Take my hand, baby, don’t let go

Set me free, baby, won’t let go

All night/One song

This room/My home

I’ll set you free, baby, let it be, let it be

Tonight/Just give me tonight

Love. It’s not something I’ve allowed myself to feel in so long. Love is messy. It’s complicated. It’s fucking
crazy.
In my experience, it sweeps you up and then spits you out, taking with it pieces of yourself that you can never get back. I vowed that I would never become its victim again. Now, here, in a room filled with people, one pair of icy blue eyes is threatening to knock down every barrier I’ve worked so hard to maintain in order to keep my heart safe.