The Luminous Rock Series Box Set

by K E Osborn

  Walking in, the suite is lovely. We’re on the top level of the hotel again, booking out the entire floor for everyone. I have a great view from up here, as I look out at the glistening stars which are dazzling through the floor to ceiling windows. But right now all I care about is that Mercs as there’s obviously something on his mind.

  We make it into the living area, and I turn and sit on the edge of the coffee table chewing on my lip as I look at him. He stands watching me as if he’s assessing me, looking me over for signs of something. I’m just not sure what. “What are you looking for?”

  He walks over to me gazing right into my eyes. “Signs of you being high.”

  My muscles tense even further and I clench my jaw. “That’s what this is about?”

  “Yeah. I want you to know, there’s two things I don’t do… drugs and cheating.”

  He studies my eyes further, probably trying to ascertain if they’re bloodshot. But they won’t be, I didn’t smoke enough weed for it to really kick into my system.

  “Effa, I know you grew up with drugs. But I’ve been around bands long enough to know that this shit… man… it fucks with your brain. It fucking kills people. It leads to harder stuff, and…” he drags his fingers through his hair, “… I don’t want that for you.”

  Mercs reaches out for my hands and takes them in his in a softer, gentler way.

  Relaxing slightly, I take a deep breath and nod. “I know, and I only smoke herbs. I don’t do anything harder. Only Casey, and occasionally Andi, do that. I would never. It’s just a habit for me now, one that I find helps unlock my creativity and winds me down after a concert.”

  He rubs his thumbs over my skin in a caring way. “Have you tried to be creative without it?”

  I tilt my head trying to ponder his question. I normally always write Luminous songs high, that’s a given, but the song I wrote with Danger from Recoil—the one that shot us to fame—we wrote together with only endless hours of snacks and energy drinks.

  Shaking my head slowly, I let out a small laugh. “Not normally. No. But I did do it once, and that was the song that shot us to fame.”

  “Maybe it’s time to try again without so much of the herbal interference? I’m anti anything that’s harmful to you and your health.”

  “So you would prefer I didn’t smoke at all?”

  His body tenses but not from anger, from something far more carnal. The atmosphere changes, it alights with desire, with the heat of passion. His tongue darts out licking his bottom lip as his gaze drops to my collarbone.

  My breathing hitches, as the pressure in the room sparks and crackles with tension, more of lust and excitement than from his disapproval. He looks back up at me and runs his hands up my arms, a tingle shooting all the way through my body. The intense stare from his deep blue eyes has my knees buckling as they penetrate my gaze.

  “If you were mine, I would demand it. I would clench my fingers into your hair and hold you tight until you surrendered to me and promised you wouldn’t smoke again. Then, I would run my tongue down your neck, making your body quiver, as I made you promise that you belong to me… always.” He blinks a few times and continues, “If you were mine, Effa. I’d make you quiver and scream my name until your eyes fog from a different kind of haze than the drugs you’re used to. Just succumb to me, Effa, lose yourself in me, and we could be amazing together.”

  My breaths are short and sharp as I clench my thighs together to dull the ache between them. My clit is throbbing at his domineering words, the only trouble is, I loved every one of them. My stomach flips at the thought of being with Mercs, to stop fighting the words of warning from Luke, and to just give in to temptation. We both want each other, the chemistry is there, we know that, we just need to take that leap.

  “We can’t risk losing you, Mercs. The band needs you, and if we do this, there is that chance?” I murmur as we inch closer together, chests heaving for frantic breaths.

  His hand slides up from my arm, across my neck and into the back of my hair, gripping tight. My scalp prickles with the force, sending a tingling sensation through my body, making me feel lightheaded, but in a good way—a very good way.

  “That’s Luke talking… not me.”

  I inch closer again as he looks down at my lips with a slight smirk.

  “I want you, Effa. Watching you tonight, teasing me with your sultry looks. Then seeing your bravery on the rocks… you amaze me, and I want to be part of your life. I know the risks, but if we’re adults about this and be sensible, then if there’s some sort of issue we can behave like adults and get on with it. I won’t leave the tour. You have my word. Now is that enough talking to let me fuck you?”

  I giggle and move my body against his, the bulge in his pants now pronounced as I run my hands up his chest and around his neck. “You think you have all the power?”

  Mercs raises his brow seemingly confused, as I spin him around pushing him back, so he falls onto the bed, his body bouncing a few times as he looks at me with a smirk. I saunter toward him as I pull the daisy chain headband off my head and throw it to the floor. He raises his brow watching me while he lifts up, resting on his elbows. My hands smooth down my sides as I gather my dress and start to hoist it up slowly. His eyes widen as he takes in what I’m doing, as I lift my dress up my legs and over my head, leaving me in a white lace G-string and no bra.

  A slow smile creeps up on his face as his eyes instantly move down to my ample sized breasts. I move in, kicking off my flats, bringing my knees either side of his legs on the bed and working my way over the top of him as he lays back down. My pussy presses against his now fully formed hard cock which presses firmly against his jeans, as his hands slide up my legs and grip onto my ass pulling me down onto him to gain more friction.

  My hair falls down around my face as I edge up toward his mouth, both of us panting as the energy sizzles in the air around us. I look into his eyes as they meet mine, and his dark blues are staring back at me with such intense lust that it makes me tingle all over. You can practically taste the lust in the air. It’s seeping into my pores making me feel lightheaded.

  The energy, the buzz, the natural high from being with Mercs, it’s like a shot of adrenaline straight into my veins, leaking into my system quickly and making every nerve ending come alive, every sensation more attuned.

  He is a drug I could become addicted to, far more alluring than herbs, than cocaine, than any drug I could ever try. This, here with Mercs is what I crave, and the energy of this moment, the thrill of knowing what’s to come, is only making this all the more exciting.

  Leaning down, I press my lips to his with all the passion built up inside of me. My lips fire off with excitement, and that usual popping candy effect explodes along my lips as I kiss him. My pussy naturally grinds down on him as our mouths open and our tongues frolic together, kissing frantically, and his hands move up my back and one straight into my hair in his usual way.

  His hand tightens on my back as a deep throaty groan drones from his chest, and suddenly, I’m being spun around, as he picks me up and drops me onto the bed, on my back, under him. I gasp as our lips break apart and he leans up, buttons popping as he yanks his shirt off and throws it to the floor. I have just enough time to notice his right arm is covered in a complete inked sleeve, and I noticed when I first saw him without his shirt that he has Kiera tattooed over his collarbone. I smile as I glance down to see an amazing set of washboard abs before he settles down between my legs and moves back in to kiss me.

  Mercs’ chest presses against mine, and fuck if it doesn’t feel good to feel his bare skin against me. His lips dodge my mouth, and I pout, as he moves in taking my neck as his next victim. Closing my eyes as he devours my neck, nipping, licking and sucking, his hard cock pushing against my pussy, as I chew on my bottom lip. My clit is throbbing so hard with each heartbeat. So much so that if he doesn’t touch me soon, I’m going to start on myself.

  “Kaden,” I murmur.

  H
e sucks on my neck, then trails kisses up to my ear biting hard on my lobe, sending a tingle straight down my body. I writhe against him as he works me up, and my hands run up the hard muscles of his back. He’s so strong, I love that he takes the power.

  He leans in, kissing me and I kiss him hard, our bodies rocking together causing sweet friction, working to get us to the place we both want to be. But I want him to know where he stands with me before this goes any further. Mercs kisses me rougher, more demanding, his hand moves to my breast and squeezes almost hard, but enough to be pleasurable as I moan breaking the kiss.

  “I want you to know, if we do this, it doesn’t mean you’re like them,” I murmur.

  His movements stop, completely, as he looks at me furrowing his brows. “Like who?”

  Hesitating, I suddenly think maybe opening my mouth was a bad idea. “Like the rest of the crew.”

  “Why? What are you talking about?” he asks.

  Shit! This is so not what was meant to happen.

  Those words were meant to be reassuring, and not intended for him to second guess.

  So, I figure I better deflect the situation and lean in to kiss him, but he pulls back tutting like he’s annoyed I’d even try that right now.

  Fuck!

  Chapter Thirteen

  EFFA

  “It doesn’t matter, you’re not like them—”

  He scoffs. “Like them… so you mean the crew?”

  Feeling more than a little annoyed at myself for even saying anything, I tense up. “Mercs you’re not getting it. With them… there was no feelings involved. It was only an outlet.”

  His muscles relax, but he exhales, rolling onto his back next to me on the bed. “I think maybe we should cool it for tonight.”

  Throwing my head back into the pillow, I clench my eyes shut and sigh. “Sorry. Fuck!”

  “For what?”

  “For being who I am.”

  He grabs my hand, making me open my eyes to look at him. He’s frowning. “Don’t ever say that again. Don’t ever apologize for being who you are. I like who you are. I just have to wrap my head around who you’ve been. I know the Effa who enjoyed a good time, is not the Effa who’s lying next to me right now. That’s not the Effa I’m going to be with…” Mercs pauses turning on his side, and I do the same. He leans in, gently pressing his lips to mine, his arm reaches around and holds me tightly to him as he deepens the kiss and then pulls back looking in my eyes. “Just give me some time.”

  Nodding, I move to sit up on the bed. “I guess you’re going back to your room?”

  “No. I’m not leaving on that note, and I’m not going anywhere. I much prefer being with you than my cold empty bed. You mean a lot to me, Effa.”

  “You mean a lot to me, too, Mercs. But if you’re going to stay, you need to take your pants off, because you’re still far too dressed,” I plead and he chuckles.

  I’m tired from a restless sleep, but I must have managed to fall into a deep enough sleep for the last few hours as I wake feeling almost refreshed. I hate not sleeping well. I wish I had a way of making my sleep patterns more manageable, but since I’ve had Mercs in my bed, it seems to be settling down, and I’ve been sleeping a little longer and more comfortably. Whether it’s from the solace of knowing someone’s with me, I’m not sure, but it’s nice having his company.

  Rolling over, I move my hand out to reach for him, but the bedsheets are cold, and his body most certainly isn’t within reach. Opening my eyes, I blink a few times to see daylight trying to break through the thick curtains, and my bed is completely empty.

  Swallowing hard, I turn toward where the ensuite is located, but the light isn’t on. I look down to the floor to where Mercs’ pants, shirt, and shoes were the night before, and they’re not there anymore. A shudder runs over my now cold body, and I sit up on the bed, the covers falling away from my skin to reveal my naked breasts as I look around the room.

  Nothing.

  There’s no sign of him.

  Chewing on my bottom lip, I scoot over to the edge of the bed and slide my legs out. My feet hit the plush carpet, the smooth texture doing nothing for my nerves, as I stand up and walk to the ensuite to double check. Each step I take, my heart pummels in my chest a little harder, thinking that maybe he’s done what I fear—he’s left during the night. My past being right on his doorstep is possibly too much for him to handle.

  Peering around the entry of the ensuite, silently praying to Gaia that he’s in there dressed and about to go and grab us some coffees or something instead of the alternative, my pulse quickens, and I clench my jaw as I look inside.

  Empty.

  He’s gone.

  My throat constricts as my chest tightens in the knowledge that he was too chicken shit to tell me to my face that he was going to leave. I don’t know if he’s simply left my room, left the tour… fuck! He could have left the country for all I know. The one thing I do know is there’s anger burning inside of me that I haven’t felt for a long time and I don’t like how it’s making me feel. I don’t do anger, I’m all about embracing the love and harmony. So why do I feel this way?

  I’m hurt.

  Sure, Mercs and I hadn’t fallen into anything. Hell, I’ve only known him a few days at best, but still, I thought I was worth more than a silent escape during the middle of the fucking night.

  Turning up my chin, I sniff and swing back around, storming into my suite with my head held high. “Well, fuck him,” I say. I won’t let him ruin this tour. And if he has left and Luke gets all up in my grill, I will let him, because he was right and I shouldn’t have been messing around with Mercs in the first place. Now, he’s probably gone and it’s my fault, but I will own it and take the fallout.

  Taking a deep breath, I walk up to my suitcase to grab my shampoo and conditioner to wash my hair. I’m not going to bother dressing up today, we’re only getting on our private jet to fly out to Montana for our show at Rimrock Auto Arena tomorrow night. Today we fly in, get all set up, and then tomorrow we’re ready for another concert. Touring is hard work.

  Grabbing my toiletries, I head back to the ensuite and walk to the large shower alcove. The thing about the top level suites is their rooms are always the nicest ones, and the showers are huge. I place my toiletries in the cutout and lean in, turning on the water.

  Stepping back out, I pull off my G-string and throw it on the floor. As I step in, the water instantly caresses my body, still tainted with the leftovers of last night’s show. I sweat a lot during a concert, and even though last night was a calmer more sedate performance, I still need this shower. Actually, I needed it last night, but I got quite worked up with Mercs in my bed, so I’m going to wash the memory of him away.

  My face slides under the burning hot liquid, and I relish in the frenzied attack of the water. It rains down on my face taking the remnants of the night before with it, and calmness soothes my tense body. My hair flattens as the steady lines of water run through it, reminding me that Mercs likes to clench his fist in my hair when we kiss. Clamping my eyes tighter, I scrub at my face trying to rid him from my mind as I turn, letting the water run through my hair in an attempt to rid the sensation of him from there too.

  Opening my eyes, I grab the shampoo and go about my routine. I need to get underway if I’m to make the jet on time, so I have to stop dwelling and get the fuck on with it.

  What will be, will be.

  Everything happens for a reason.

  Believe that, Effa.

  Making quick work of my shower, my muscles relaxing more and more with the fragrances of my fruity shampoos and body wash, and soon I’m feeling more like myself. I take a deep centering breath in and out and turn off the water with a smile plastered on my face.

  It’s fake.

  I know it is.

  But I believe that if you smile for long enough, your body will believe it, and in turn, you will naturally start to feel happier. So I plaster on my fakest smile and step out of the shower sq
ueezing my hair out and then reach for a towel. Wrapping my hair up first, I then grab another and start to dry myself down, the fluffiness of the towel feels like heaven against my skin as I smile into the mirror, but even I can tell the reflection looking back at me seems overly fake.

  I let out a small huff and throw my towel on the floor, walking naked into the suite and over to my suitcase. I grab some panties, throw them on followed by a matching pink bra when a knock sounds at my door. I’m hopeful that it might be Mercs. So I race toward the door, not caring that I’m in my underwear with a towel wrapped around my head. Desperately anxious, I swing the door open hoping to see Mercs on the other side with those coffees, praying that this has all been a terrible misunderstanding on my behalf.

  Smiling wide, the door seems heavier than normal as I struggle to open it, but I yank it back and almost burst through to get to him. “I knew you wouldn’t leave like tha—”

  Shit!

  My eyes bug out of my head when I see Jett standing there, his eyes wide, taking in my practically naked frame with a sideways grin.

  “Oh… so not who I was expecting,” I sigh, my voice so low you can hear the disappointment seeping through my tone.

  He swallows a hard lump in his throat, and his eyes slowly make their way up to meet mine. “Umm… have I caught you at a bad time?”

  I shrug, letting out an exacerbated sigh. “No. Just… it doesn’t even matter.”

  Jett grimaces. “Are you okay? You look… I mean, you look amazing, but you look… kinda sad?” His eyes running up and down my barely covered body again, as I look down to see my perky breasts wrapped in a pink lace bra and my panties, which are also lace, leave little to the imagination. But I’m not self-conscious, so I’m not embarrassed to stand before him like this, after all, it’s no different than if I was wearing a bikini.