Ashes & Embers Series Collection (Books 1 to 4)

by Carian Cole

  I wrench my arm out of his grip. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

  I leave quickly, without looking back. By the time I reach my car and have Halo’s carrier strapped to the front seat, I’m crying and shaking. Michael just threw every fear I already had into my face. What if he’s right? What if I really have disillusioned myself about Storm?

  I start the car but pull my phone out before I drive off. I have a bunch of text messages from Storm.

  Storm: Just wanted to check in on you and make sure you’re okay. I know this is hard for you.

  Storm: You okay, baby?

  Storm: I gotta get on stage now. Kind of worried. Don’t like it. Text me.

  A sense of peace washes over me as soon as I step into my new apartment. I feel safe here, surrounded by these soft, soothing colors. There’s no negativity here, no bad memories.

  I show Halo where his food dishes and litter box are and watch him creep around the rooms, sniffing everything. I hope he likes it here as much as I do.

  I send Jane a text, telling her I have officially moved in as I’d promised I would. I’m not ready to text Storm yet. I need to be alone with my feelings for a little while and clear my head. Hearing Michael admit he’s had not one, but several long-term affairs completely shocked me. I never even realized or suspected anything. Was that because I trusted him, or because I was so wrapped up in my own feelings that I just didn’t notice?

  I need to sleep, to rest my mind and body. I take a Valium, something I haven’t done in a very long time. I just need my brain to stop for a while. I undress and crawl into my new king-sized bed. It reminds me of Storm’s bed, plush and cozy. I don’t feel scared here, being alone, like I did at the condo. I feel like I’m home.

  My brain, on the other hand, feels numb. Somewhat disconnected from my own life. I once read the brain will sometimes just shut off to try to protect us from feeling too much. I think that’s what’s happening to me right now. Or maybe it’s the Valium starting to take effect. Either way, I welcome the fog that settles in my mind.

  The buzz of my cell phone startles me. I pick it up and see Michael’s number on the screen. Seriously, why would he even call? I hit ’ignore’, but a few minutes later I have a voice mail, which I’m not sure I even want to hear. What could he possibly have to say? I should just delete it, but curiosity wins and I press ‘play’.

  “Ev, it’s me. I just wanted to say . . . I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I do love you. I-I don’t want to lose you. I want you to come home. Let’s talk about this. Maybe we can work this out somehow. I don’t know how, but maybe. I just think you’re going to get hurt. Just think about what you’re doing. Think about who you’re putting yourself with. What kind of life could you possibly have with him? You’re afraid to leave the house most of the time. You hate me being gone all the time. Fuck, how are you going to deal with dating someone famous who’s on tour half the year? With women offering themselves to him? C’mon, Ev. I think you’re star-struck or something. Just come back home. You don’t have to do this. All right . . . just call me, I guess.”

  Come back? And do what? Share him with another woman? Crawl back into my dull, clueless, passionless existence?

  No.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  BANGING. BANGING. RINGING. RINGING. THE NOISE is slowly pulling me out of my slumber. What is that racket? I slowly lift my head, unsure of where I am. I look around the room and it all comes back to me. The clock next to my bed says eleven-forty-five P.M. Holy shit, I slept for freaking fourteen hours!

  What the hell is that noise? Someone is banging on my door and leaning on the doorbell. I climb out of bed and head down the hallway toward my front door. I swear if Michael somehow figured out where I live and came here, I will strangle him.

  I stand on my tip-toes and peer out the little door peephole. Holy. Shit.

  Quickly, I unlock the door, not able to open it fast enough. He rushes in and has me in his arms so fast I almost fall on my ass.

  “Storm. What are you doing here?” I can’t believe he’s really here. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tighter than I ever have. God, he feels so good.

  He pulls away slightly and holds my face in his hands. “I was so fucking worried about you.” He kisses my lips, softly at first, then deeper with an urgency I’ve never felt from him.

  “I’ve been calling and texting you like crazy, Evie. I called Amy to get your address and took the first flight I could out here.”

  I try to catch my breath, breathless from his kiss. “I can’t believe you’re here.” I lean against him and bring my lips back to his, kissing him softly, tasting him. He tastes like bubblegum.

  He breaks away from me and runs his hands through his hair.

  “Why didn’t you call me? Or text me? Did you change your mind?” He grabs both of my hands in his. He looks so worried and totally frazzled. He’s unshaven, his shirt wrinkled. It seems like he jumped on a plane right after his concert.

  “Changed my mind? About what?”

  He looks around my apartment and then back at me. “About me. About us.”

  I shake my head frantically. “No . . . of course not. It was just . . .” I try to find the right words. “ . . . so horrible with Michael. I was upset. By the time I got here, my head was just killing me and I couldn’t deal with any more of it . . . so I took a Valium and it completely knocked me out.” I lean up and kiss his cheek. “I can’t believe you came here. I’m so sorry. I feel terrible now. It must have cost you a fortune to get here so fast—”

  “Evie, I don’t give a shit about that. I just needed to see you.” Holding my hand, he walks me to the couch and pulls me down onto his lap. “This place is really cute, just like you. I like it.”

  I snuggle against his chest. “I do, too. I like it even better with you here.”

  His hand goes to my neck and gently pulls my mouth to his. He kisses me so softly, his lips traveling across my cheek, then down my neck, lightly sucking and biting along the way. His other hand slides up the back of my t-shirt then slowly comes around to cup my naked breast beneath the thin material, his thumb rubbing over my nipple.

  “So, this is it?” he whispers between kisses. “It’s just me and you now?”

  “Yes. It’s over with him.”

  The biggest smile ever spreads across his face. “I’m so fuckin’ happy, baby.” He pulls me in for another long kiss. “The whole flight, I was worried I would get here and you wouldn’t be here. And you’d tell me you changed your mind and stayed with him.”

  I move on his lap until I’m straddling him and rest my hands on his chest. “Never. I want to be with you.” I close my eyes for a moment. When I open them, he’s still staring at me, smiling. “Just . . . please, Storm. Don’t hurt me. I’m so scared to be with you, but I’m even more scared to be without you.”

  He tilts his head at me and lifts my chin up with his finger, forcing me to look into his eyes again. “Evie, I will not hurt you. Yes, we’ll fight and annoy each other. I’ll probably be an asshole sometimes, when I’m tired or pissed off about something, but I will not screw this up. We’re on this ride together, okay?”

  His large hands encircle my waist then slide up my back, pulling me down to him. His lips come down on mine again, his tongue meeting mine for a sensual dance. I sigh as his hands slowly lift my shirt until my breasts are bare. He leans back against the couch and just looks at me for a few moments, his hands coming around and covering my breasts, lightly pinching my nipples. Bringing his lips to my chest, he drags his tongue between them, squeezing them in his hands as his tongue moves from one to the other. Flicking over my nipples, it sends a million little lightning bolts up and down my spine. My hands go up to cradle his head, my fingers in his hair as he licks and sucks. Straddling him this way, I can feel his cock between my legs growing harder.

  He pulls away and looks up at me, flashing me that devilish, sexy smirk. His signature stage smirk that drives the girls wild. I
love when it’s just for me. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined you’d be. I haven’t touched a pair of real tits in about ten years. I could sit here all day and just touch and lick you.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

  He nods then flips us over. In one smooth move, I’m flat on my back on the couch and he’s lying on top of me, propped up on his arm. His hair hangs down into my face, tickling me.

  “You bet your sweet ass that’s a compliment. You’re going to have a hard time keeping me away from you.”

  He lowers himself and meets my lips, letting his weight down on me. This is the first time he’s laid on top of me, and he feels massive and muscular. So solid and strong. His shoulders and back are broad, spanning almost the entire width of the couch. Wanting to feel his flesh, I lift the hem of his shirt, tugging it up, and he quickly pulls it off and throws it on the floor. My hands go to him in a frenzy, running up and down his rippling back. Damn, he feels good. He nudges my legs apart with his thigh and settles between them, heavy and hard.

  He devours my mouth with kisses, his hand on my breast, squeezing then lightly tugging my nipple—the painful pleasure of it driving me wild. His kisses are like a drug I can’t get enough of, so deep, his tongue caressing mine. I let my hand travel down the length of his back until I meet the waistband of his jeans, and then push my hand under the material to squeeze his muscled ass. Even his ass is hard as a rock. I want to see this man in a pair of tight boxers. Stat.

  He pulls away from my lips, but not too far. “You’re asking for it,” he growls.

  “I am,” I breathe out.

  Yes. Asking. Begging.

  “I have bad news,” he says.

  My heart stills. My breathing halts.

  “I only have a little over an hour before I have to get back on a plane for the concert tonight.”

  “No . . .” Yes, I just whined. Like a teenager.

  “I really don’t want to leave, baby. You have no idea how badly I want to stay here and lick every inch of you.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “Two more weeks, Evie. Then I’m all yours. I told my mom you were gonna need a few days off when I get back so I can properly ravish you.”

  I giggle. “Did you really? Why do I have a feeling you got me this job with your mom just so you can get me days off?”

  He kisses my neck. “You got the job all on your own, baby. But I will be getting you days off. Fuck . . . I promised myself I wouldn’t start this when I got here. I don’t want our first time to be rushed with me leaving right after. I won’t do that.”

  Ahh. I love him for this.

  “That would upset me,” I reply, raining kisses on his bare chest.

  “But . . . I would love to give you your first lesson. If you want it.”

  What he’s saying slowly sinks in. A blowjob. Lesson one.

  He’s leaning above me, watching my eyes, caressing my cheek with his fingers. His eyes are dark with lust. I don’t want him to leave this way, with a monster hard-on. Especially knowing Juggsy is on the other end of the plane, along with hundreds of other women who will be grabbing at him on stage tonight.

  But even more than that, I want to give him something. A piece of me. I want to show him how much I want him, how happy he’s made me.

  “Yes,” I whisper. “Show me how to get you off like you did for me on that table.”

  His eyes widen and he kisses me hard. “You’re sure?” he asks.

  I nod before I have a chance to back out.

  He stands and gently pulls me with him, then lifts my t-shirt all the way off, throwing it on the floor with his.

  He kisses my lips quickly. “Go in the kitchen and get a soda and a towel.” When I stand up, he spanks my ass playfully before I walk away.

  Shit. A soda and a towel.

  Don’t think.

  When I come back to the couch, his eyes are so dark and intense it almost scares me. There’s this side to him that’s here right now that I’ve seen glimpses of, that is incredibly sensual and powerful. It literally seeps out of him. It completely obliterates his normal sweet, sexy smile and laughing eyes.

  “I want you to undress me.” His voice is low and gravelly, like when he sang on stage that night.

  I kneel in front of him and undo the laces on his boots, pulling them and his black socks off. Swallowing hard, I unbuckle his belt, my fingers trembling. I unbutton his jeans, pull the zipper down and tug his jeans and boxers all at once and down his legs. He lifts his feet so I can pull them off completely.

  He spreads his tattoo-covered legs a bit more, giving me room to kneel between them. I finally let my eyes wander to his long, thick cock. He was right—it is bigger than the vibrator and looks to be twice as big as Michael’s. I fight the urge to gulp and stare. My vag muscles clench just looking at him.

  He takes my hand and puts it over his cock, gently squeezing my hand around him, his eyes pinned to mine. I grip him gently, slowly moving my hand up and down the length of him. He touches my face, his thumb grazing over my lower lip, and then pushes his thumb past my lips into my mouth. His eyes are dancing with fire, his breath quickening already. His thumb is slightly calloused and a bit salty. I run my tongue over it and feel it pressing against the roof of my mouth.

  “Suck on my finger, Evie,” he says, his eyes lowered to my lips.

  Obeying, I suck his finger further into my mouth and roll my tongue around it, sucking the tip like a lollipop.

  “Don’t forget your hand.” His voice is just above a whisper. My hand has stilled on his cock as I am mesmerized with his finger in my mouth. I start to stroke him, feeling the ridges of him, the dampness at the head. I suck his finger deeper into my mouth until my lips reach his palm.

  “You’re going to lick and suck just like that, baby.” He licks his lips. “And use your hand at the same time, like you’re doing now.”

  He drags his thumb out of my mouth and wipes my saliva on the head of his cock. Him touching himself turns me on immensely.

  He gathers my long hair in his hand and holds it back away from my face as he gently nudges my head downward. With one hand on his muscled thigh and my other on his cock, I swipe my tongue over the head then lower my mouth down over him, my lips gliding over the crown and down his shaft. Taking a breath, I try to take more of him until my gag reflex kicks in.

  He gives my neck a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to take it all. It feels so good just like you’re doing. Use your hand a little bit, move it up and down with your mouth.”

  I do as he says, wrapping my fingers around his width like a fist and sliding it up and down his length in unison with my mouth, sucking harder, then softer, then harder again. I peer up at him, past his chiseled abs, over his inked chest, to his face. His head is leaning back against the couch, his eyes closed, lips parted a bit. He looks absolutely, insanely hot. I swirl my tongue over the head and suck it back into my mouth, deeper this time. He lets out a moan and his eyes fly open and meet mine. His hand tightens a bit at the back of my head, and his hips thrust up a tiny bit as I suck him. I can feel he’s getting closer.

  “Fuck. That feels so good . . . Keep doing that, baby.” His breathing is becoming more ragged, his shaft swelling in my mouth with each suck. It’s exhilarating, having him pulsing on my tongue.

  “You don’t have to swallow it,” he whispers. “Just let it fill your mouth and spit it in the towel if you want and take a drink.”

  Fill your mouth.

  His words make my insides quiver. I squeeze my thighs together, feeling wetness between my legs. I have the urge to climb up on him right now and just take him deep inside me, to watch his eyes flutter closed and feel his muscles tightening beneath me as I ride him.

  “Baby . . .” He gives a slight thrust and his cum spurts to the back of my throat: hot, thick, and salty. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of it all, gulping as I continue to suck for a few more minutes
until he softens. I slowly pull my mouth off him and reach for the soda, washing it down. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, leaving a small trail of his juice on my hand. I lean back on my heels to gaze up at him.

  “Wow,” I say. His cock is lying against his stomach in a small puddle of cum. I take the towel and gently wipe him clean while he watches me with a small, satisfied smile on his lips.

  “Come here, you,” he says huskily. I crawl up on his lap, Storm pulling my legs to either side of him so I’m straddling him. The boy shorts I wore to bed last night are thin, allowing me to feel his cock pressed against me through the light material. That’s exactly what he wants as he positions my lips directly over his shaft. Grasping my hips, he pulls me forward, grinding against me. His hand rises to my neck and pulls me down for a deep, wet kiss, his tongue searching out mine.

  “I want you to rub yourself on me like this and get yourself off.”

  I’m already there, moving against his cock, feeling the warmth seeping through my shorts. He starts to feast on my breasts as I grind on him, sucking and licking my pebbled nipples, his hand sliding down my back to grip my ass and pull me harder onto him. His tongue is magical, fluttering over my nipples, building the climax within me.

  Suddenly, he pulls my body up, lifting me a few inches off him.

  I moan in protest as he holds me away from the source of my pleasure

  “Do you want that?” he whispers, his tongue gliding between my breasts, and up to my neck. He sucks my tender flesh into his mouth.

  “Yes,” I say breathlessly. I was so close. I try to wiggle out of his hold to get my body back down onto his.

  “Beg me.”

  “Storm, please . . .” I grab fistfuls of his hair and bring his head back to mine, kissing him like a woman out of control.

  “What, Evie?” He lowers me a tiny bit, but still not letting my body down onto his.