Like dragonflies, p.15
Like Dragonflies, page 15
“Hey,” I greet.
The line is silent for a moment and then she rattles out a choked, “Hey.”
My back stiffens. “What’s wrong? You don’t sound okay?”
“I’m not.” The sob she was holding in whines out of her. “I…I…please come get me.”
I’m already grabbing my keys and heading out the door. “Where? At your house? Where are you?”
She sniffles and whispers, “I’m in the bathroom at the Monticello Hotel in Ashton Hills.”
I climb into The Beast and fire up the engine. I put the phone on speaker and sit it in my lap so I can talk to her while I drive. “Tell me what happened. Talk to me, baby.”
I try not to wince that I called her baby. She doesn’t seem to realize I did, thank God.
“Everything was fine,” she murmurs. “Mom was off doing whatever and Dad was chatting it up with his golf buddies. I was hanging out with Sophia and her friends.”
She groans and I cringe. Sophia is a bitch who likes to make Sage feel less than she is. In reality, Sophia could never even be half as amazing as Sage.
“What did she do?” I demand.
“She kept going on and on about how I’m finally dating now. Apparently she said my mother asked for her to set me up with someone.” She blows her nose and growls the cutest little sound. “I told her I’m not going to date anyone. Then, she dragged me over to meet one of her friends. This guy named Blake.”
My blood boils over and I find myself gassing it on the highway to get to her faster. “Go on.”
“So the next thing I know, I’ve been dragged out to the rooftop—where it’s cold as hell—and this guy keeps blabbing about how much he’s into me.” She lets out a harsh laugh. “I wasn’t into him.”
Fucking right she wasn’t.
Jealousy burns hot in my veins and at this point, I don’t care. I’m jealous. So fucking what.
“Then what?” I urge.
“Then, he just grabs me and pulls me to him. Starts kissing me like he has the right!”
I grip the steering wheel so tight, it’s a wonder it doesn’t crack in my grip. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
She snorts, bordering on hysteria. “Oh, don’t worry, Mars. I took care of it. My mother is going to freak when she finds out.”
A smile cuts across my face, sharp like a knife. “What did you do, baby?”
“I slapped him! He started yelling about what a tease I was and grabbed my elbow, so I kneed him in the balls!”
I burst out laughing, despite the urge to kill this motherfucker. It sends her into a fit of giggles too.
“That’s my girl,” I praise. “What did he do then?”
“Well, he went down crying like a little wussy, and then I ran to the bathroom to call you.”
“Good girl,” I tell her. “Now get your butt downstairs and into the parking lot. I’ll be in The Beast.”
“I miss The Beast.”
“He’s not sick anymore and he misses you too.”
After a quick goodbye, I hurry my ass to the hotel. Limos line the front and I get the stink eye from a valet man when I bypass them to drive in the fancy semicircle. He starts whistling at me to move on, but then I see her.
My fucking girl.
Dressed in red, mascara stains down her splotchy cheeks, raven hair in disarray.
So goddamn beautiful.
I may not be able to have her like I want her, but I can still have her.
Like this.
Mars and Sage.
I throw the truck in park and lean over the bench to undo the latch. With a shove, I pop the door open. Sage is barefoot, her fancy shoes in her hand, as she runs across the pavement. Her giant purse is pulled over her shoulder and a smile stretches across her face when she sees me.
“Excuse me,” she squeaks out to the unimpressed valet man. She tosses her bag into the floor and slams the door shut behind her. As she scoots to the middle, I throw the truck into drive, peeling out of the semicircle. “Mars!”
Her arm loops with mine, and she leans her cheek on my shoulder.
“Missed you,” I tell her, kissing her soft hair on top of her head.
“Missed you too.”
I drive out of Ashton Hills toward that little slice of heaven neither here nor there. Our field. Sage leans forward and turns on the radio. “Alive” by Pearl Jam starts blaring and she sings along.
My heart cracks right open and Sage fills it back up.
I was empty.
Now I’m filled again.
I’m not really sure how this friendship will have to go with us, but one thing’s for sure. It won’t be apart. Now that she’s back in my atmosphere, shooting her sparkles across my black void, I’m so fucking happy. It’s where she belongs. With me.
In less than fifteen minutes, we’re driving down the long road to our field. I find a good spot to park and then shut off the truck. We’re both quiet a moment. Then, Sage reaches over and takes my hand. I thread my fingers with hers. Maybe friends don’t hold hands like this.
But we’re Mars and Sage.
More than friends. Less than lovers. The something in between.
“Kicked him in the nuts, huh?” I ask with a chuckle.
Her giggle echoes through my soul. “Yep.”
I look down and catch her green eyes searing into mine. My palm finds her cheek as my thumb tries to erase the evidence of her tears that are a black stain now. She licks her lips, sending currents of forbidden heat burning through me. The look she’s giving me is anything but disgusted.
Pleading.
Begging.
How could I ever deny those sad eyes and plump lips?
My lips brush against hers in the softest of kisses. So sweet. So gentle. And then the neediest mewl escapes her. I can’t help but bite her supple lip. The sounds coming from her are maddening and addictive.
I need more of her.
Gripping her hips, I pull her to me. She slides her leg across my lap, settling her center right on the part of me that is hard as stone for her. My sinner grinds against me, destroying all self-control. I become ravenous as I kiss her perfect mouth.
She tastes like heaven and hell.
She tastes like all the stars in the sky.
She tastes like mine.
My hands are greedy, desperate to feel her everywhere. When my thumb brushes against her side zipper, I do the unthinkable. I pull it down. She whimpers and starts yanking my hoodie up. As soon as it gets pulled away, along with my shirt, I tug her dress down. Underneath she has a strapless bra that I unhook with a quick flick of my finger and thumb. I toss her bra away and take both breasts in my hands. She cries out when my mouth latches onto one of her hard nipples.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
Fuck, she’s mine.
Sanity is a thing of the past.
Insanity is my newest love.
Logic and reason are for haters, not lovers.
Lovers take the plunge into madness together, hand in hand.
The next several seconds are a feral ripping and pulling of fabric and material. She lifts up long enough for me to shove my jeans and boxers down. Her dress hangs at her hips, but she pushes it out of the way. Both of us are chasing the moment so fast, we don’t stop to think. We just do. Our mouths crash together again, sending us spiraling into lust and love and whatever the fuck we are. I have enough foresight to lick my fingers and get the tip of my cock wet so I don’t hurt her. Then, I pull her scrap of panties to the side. She rocks her hips, her pussy rubbing along my tip, eager for me to take her.
“Sage,” I growl, one hand on my cock holding it upright and the other on her hip.
Her wild, green eyes meet mine and she bites down on her bottom lip. “Mars.”
That’s all we are.
Sage and Mars.
Mars and Sage.
The everything in between nothing.
My hips buck as she sinks down on me. Her fingernails dig into my bare shoulders as she screams at the intrusion. I’m not gentle. She’s not ready. Nothing about this is lovely or simple. It’s rushed and wrong and out of control. The moment will slip past us if we don’t take it now.
We’re living in the moment.
The moment is ours.
“Relax,” I whisper. “Up and down. Slowly.”
She whimpers, tears pooling in her green orbs. Then, she eases herself up and down. Each time gets easier as her wet body lubricates my cock.
“You’re inside me,” she breathes. “We’re together.”
Her forehead presses to mine and her hot breath tickles my lips. Our movements are in sync. When she moves, I move. When she breathes, I breathe. When she moans, I moan.
Together, we hover above the nothingness of the world.
Like dragonflies.
This space away from our world is the space where we belong.
Together.
Sage
Everything about being with Mars is right. I can’t stop myself from moaning at the sensations he sends coursing through me. Being on top of him while he stretches me is driving me insane, and the pressure mounting in my core is begging to be released.
I look down at him and study the way his face contorts from pleasure.
I do that to him.
Sweat rolls down my spine as I slide up and down his cock painfully slowly. I want to savor everything. I want the feelings, the noises, the intense charge in the air all committed to memory.
“Fuck,” Mars blurts. His eyes snap shut and he grips my hips, holding me in place. In the next instant, I’m filled with warmth and the balloon of pressure growing in my core is deflated. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he curses again, resting his head on the headrest.
I climb off him and maneuver myself into the passenger seat with a sigh. I don’t know what to say. My brother just took my virginity and came inside of me, all in one fell swoop. Words continue to evade me as we get dressed again in awkward silence.
Once we’re fully clothed, and the fog of lust and impatience has faded, my knuckle finds my lip and Mars groans. “I’m so fucking sorry, Sage. I just lost my head a little. I shouldn’t have come inside you. I shouldn’t have rushed your first time.” I look over at him and he seems torn.
I can feel his cum slipping out of me every time I shift around in my seat and the sensation sends prickles of excitement up and down my spine. “I liked it,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “I just wish...” My words hang in the air, but Mars grabs hold and finishes my statement.
He glances at me and pulls my hand away from my mouth so he can hold it up to his lips instead. “You wish I made you come.”
A small laugh escapes me and I nod my head. “I want to feel what it’s like when you make my body react the same way I made yours react.”
“Give me another chance, Sage. It can be better, trust me.” His voice is husky and it makes me tingle.
“I’d trust you with my life, Mars.”
He gives me a relived smile then he starts The Beast. The quiet rumble of the engine makes me feel secure. I don’t miss the happiness in his blue eyes as we pull off. I don’t know where we’re going, and I don’t care as long as I’m with him. It’s been too long since I’ve seen his face and now, I can’t stop staring at him.
He probably thinks I’m a fucking creep.
I’m staring so hard I don’t notice we’ve pulled into the driveway of a house. It’s a squat brick house with blue shutters and a mailbox with flowers painted on it. “Where are we?” I quiz, staring out of the window.
“Aunt Darcy’s house. She’s letting me crash and the opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time. I can’t stay in the same space with my dad anymore.” His jaw flexes as he stares ahead at something only he can see. “Besides, now I can be with you without anyone barging in on us. Well, maybe except for Haddock.” He flashes me a grin before he hops out and walks around to open my door.
“Who’s Haddock?” I lift an eyebrow.
“The sixteen-year-old that lives here.” Mars is still smirking when we walk up to the front door. I frown as I shrug my purse up on my shoulder. I don’t want to share a space with anyone else but Mars, it doesn’t matter how nice Haddock might be.
We walk into the house and a beautiful cat teeters over, rubbing against Mars’s legs. He reaches down and strokes the furball between the ears and even I can hear the purring.
“Sage, meet Haddock. He’s an old man, but he’s pretty easygoing as long as you keep the good food coming.” Mars gestures to the cat and I tip my head back and laugh. I laugh until my sides ache and instantly I remember why there’s nobody else for me besides him. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.
I swat at him playfully then bend down to see if Haddock will let me pet him. He inspects me with a curious sniff first, then deems me acceptable to pet him, and I do until he saunters away swishing his tail. I stand and look around the quiet house.
“This is nice.” I smile, clasping my hands together. Really, anywhere I am with Mars is nice.
“Yeah, it’s perfect,” Mars says. When I look over, he’s staring right at me and it makes my stomach do acrobatics. He dips his head low and kisses my lips, pulling each one into his mouth before slipping his tongue inside of my mouth.
“Stay the night,” Mars says when we break apart.
“Like I could ever say no to you.” I’m grinning so hard my cheeks burn, but I’ve never been this happy so I don’t mind.
Mars gives me the grand tour of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house and we end up in the guest room where he’s staying.
“I’m going to take a shower and then we can find a movie to watch,” I tell him. I run my fingers through my hair, gunky with product that desperately needs washing, and toss my purse on his bed. I fish out my comfy clothes and peel out of my red dress. I can’t wait to scrub my face free of makeup.
“Sounds good.” Mars tips his head to the side and stares at my naked body before smirking and walking out of the room. “I’ll grab you a towel,” he calls from the hall. The way he looks at me makes my knees wobble. For once, I actually feel beautiful.
I take a nice long shower and wash my face over and over, until I’ve scrubbed off all the corrections Mom made with makeup. I wash my hair until all the product rinses down the drain.
Now, I feel like Sage.
I cut the hot water off and step out of the shower. Mars materializes with my towel hanging from his index finger, and when I go to grab it, he snatches it away and I stumble forward a few steps. He laughs at the glare I shoot him before finally handing the towel over.
“If I had my way, I’d keep you just like this,” he says. His blue eyes map out my slender frame and I don’t try to shrink myself or hide. I like the way his eyes feel on me. They only pale in comparison to how his hands and mouth feel on me.
“Glaring at you?” I ask.
“No, naked and wet.” He pulls me against his body and kisses the top of my damp head. My growling stomach breaks up our cute moment and Mars looks at me. “You haven’t eaten?”
“They had food at the party but I didn’t want any. I didn’t want to be there,” I tell him.
“I’ll go see what Aunt Darcy has in the pantry. You get dressed.” I get lost watching him leave the bedroom. Mars might be tall and lean, but I never get tired of watching the muscles in his back move.
I get dressed in a T-shirt, and nothing else, then I make my way to the kitchen where Mars is rooting around the cabinets and pantry. He sees me when he looks over his shoulder and he smiles. Damn, that smile melts me every time.
“I’m gonna have to grab some groceries but we have ramen noodles.” He holds up two orange packs of noodles, and I stare at him with a puzzled expression. His lips fall into a frown. “You don’t like ramen?” he asks.
“It’s not that. I’ve never had it.”
“Never had it?” He laughs then starts moving around the kitchen, grabbing things.
“I’ve heard of them and seen people with them, but Mom and Dad always have someone cook our meals for the week or we go out.” I move closer to him and watch as he puts a brick of wavy noodles into a bowl with hot water. “Are they like…dehydrated noodles?” I ask with wide, curious eyes.
Mars laughs again and I can’t get enough of the sound. I want to drink it. He leans over and kisses my forehead. “Something like that. They’re good though, I promise.” I’m amazed at how little time it takes for him to hand me a steaming bowl of noodles. My stomach rumbles at the smell.
We sit on his bed in the guest room and never get to turn on the TV because we’re talking too much. “These are really fucking good,” I moan before shoving another forkful in my mouth.
“See? Trust me on this. I’m a pro when it comes to scrounging food together.” I realize in that moment, sitting alone with Mars, laughing and talking without a care in the world, he makes me happy.
He makes me feel like I’m flying and I never want to let go of this feeling. I never want to let go of Mars. I don’t care that he’s my brother.
“Is your mom going to blow your phone up when she realizes you’re gone?” He finishes his bowl of ramen noodles and stares at me.
“Probably. I’m putting it on Do Not Disturb though. I can’t deal with her right now. Ever since she told me that…” I suck in a breath and tap my lip with my knuckle.
“That I’m your brother?” Mars finishes my sentence then snags my wrist in his hand and presses slow kisses along my forearm.
“Yeah.” I try to breathe and talk at the same time, but the way his lips feel on me makes it tough. “She’s been all over me like we’re best friends or something. I hate it and I just want her to leave me alone. I know she doesn’t really want to spend all that time with me. She just wants to make sure I’m not with you and I’m not talking to anyone about you. She only cares about appearances.”
“Did she tell anyone we’re related?” Mars looks worried, so I calm him down by slipping my fingers through his soft hair.
“My mother would never tarnish her image by letting it be known that my dad isn’t really my dad.” It still hurts to think I share DNA with Mars’s dad. Fucking bully.
