The Luminous Rock Series Box Set

by K E Osborn

  The door swings open and his eyes look me up and down then he grins with his usual sideways smile. His floppy blond hair looks a little more disheveled than normal, but his white button-up shirt fits like a glove. Does he ever wear anything else?

  “Luke,” I murmur and he nods.

  “Mercs, you’re back. It’s good to see you. I’m assuming everything went well with your trip?” he asks and I take a centering breath.

  “Look, I’m not here to talk pleasantries about my trip. I’m here to talk business,” I clarify.

  Luke widens his eyes and nods, opening the door, leaving room for me to walk into his suite. Sliding past him, my feet feel heavy as I stomp into his room and step down to the living area. It’s neat and kept, and even though there’s a small gathering of papers on the desk, I don’t miss the pair of ladies panties hanging from the edge of the sofa.

  Luke, you sly dog.

  Walking past them, I make my way to sit on the bed rather than next to the panties. I take a deep breath as Luke strolls in and sits on the sofa, trying to stealthily slide the panties in behind a cushion. It’s a terribly obvious move, but I don’t react.

  “So, business… I hope this doesn’t mean we need to discuss ways of keeping you already?”

  “No, nothing like that. It’s Swift Division. I want you to find another opening band.”

  Luke jolts his head back in surprise at my demand. “Umm… for starters why would I do that? Their music blends so well with Luminous, and the crowd love them?”

  “I don’t care. Jett’s gotta go. He’s manipulative, conniving, and to top it off a fucking asshole. He put the moves on Effa and makes her uncomfortable continuously. It’s not all right, Luke.”

  He rubs his chin. “When did this happen?”

  “Just now. He made this play about winning one over me by having Effa talk to him after I told him to stay the hell away from her. She played right into his hands, and then when she tried to back away, he practically assaulted her by kissing her.”

  Luke’s head snaps up with his eyes wide, he says, “Kissed her, how?”

  Swallowing hard, I clear my throat as my jaw twitches. “On the cheek, but it was the force that he used. He wasn’t nice about it, Luke. The guy’s a jerk, and he won’t stop. I’m scared that his infatuation for her is out of control. What if he tries something when one of us isn’t there, and next time he goes for more than a kiss and she can’t stop him?”

  Luke looks out the window, the curtains are pulled back letting the amber hues of dusk filter through the high rise suite. “I get what you’re saying—”

  “Then get another band.”

  His head shoots back to me, his eyes hard, his face stern. “It’s not that simple. Finding another band to fill in on the ass end of a tour and to start straight away…” His face scrunches up and his forehead puckers. “Shit like that doesn’t happen, Mercs. They have a contract, and we have to honor it. He stays… there’s little I can do about it.”

  Standing up, I begin to pace the floor at the thought of Jett being around longer than necessary.

  Luke exhales and shakes his head. “Sorry, but you might just have to suck it up—”

  “Suck it up? Suck. It. Up. I’m talking about the safety of my girl here, Luke. Or do you not care about that?”

  He stands and walks over pulling up right in front of me, forcing me to look up at him as he takes a deep centering breath. “Of course, I care. I love these girls. They mean everything to me. Every one of them…” His mouth sets in a thin hard line while he thinks then he continues, “I’m already having Raoul follow Effa at all times while she’s here. But Mercs, I can’t pull Swift Division. We’d be in court before my ass hits the ground. You get that, don’t you?”

  I grit my teeth, hating the fact that Jett’s sticking around, but knowing that Luke’s right. The tour needs an opening band and the girls don’t need a lawsuit. What really fucking grates is that in all of this, Jett has all the fucking power. I can’t do anything to get rid of the little asshole. At least, I’ll be around to protect Effa, and Raoul is on her when I’m not. That fact, I can make sure of.

  “Raoul’s to be with her at all times when I’m not with her?” I ask.

  “Yes. It’s already done. And if he isn’t Cooper will be. I know you want what’s best for Effa. I do, too. Trust me on that, Mercs.”

  Relaxing my tightly wound up muscles but only slightly, I nod once. He looks at me and brings his hand up to my shoulder giving it a tight squeeze. “Look, I know you guys have grown really close. I can see it in your eyes you care for her deeply. But trust me when I say, I will do everything in my power to make sure she’s cared for. After all, I don’t want anything happening to her either, Mercs. I care about her way too much for that.”

  His voice is deep, but full of vigor like he’s saying it with nothing but pure honesty. And at this moment, I trust him. Things will work out. They have to. Luke knows what he’s doing, and I have to trust that even though this is not the outcome I needed, for now, it’s the only one I’m going to get. So I crack my neck to the side and take a deep breath.

  “Thanks for listening. I don’t like it, but I get it.”

  He nods and walks with me toward the door, as I try to compose myself enough to head back down to see Effa. I want to be what she deserves, and that’s calm and collected.

  “I’ll keep you informed of any updates.”

  “I appreciate that. Thanks, Luke.”

  He nods, opening the door for me and stepping to the side. “Thanks for coming to me with this, Mercs, rather than going after Jett yourself.”

  “Thank Effa. I would have beaten him senseless if I had my way, but Effa asked me not to, and I can’t deny her anything,” I say with a smirk.

  “Not that Jett doesn’t deserve it, but it would have made my day very chaotic if you rearranged that pretty face of his.”

  With a nod, I step out of his room and walk down toward Effa, my muscles still tense and needing a release of some kind. Before we arrived back at the hotel, they needed a sexual release, but now I feel like I need a good workout with a boxing bag. One preferably with a picture of Jett’s head painted on it. All the joy I had at home has quickly evaporated and is now filled with the stressors of rock star life again.

  How quickly it turns.

  The idea of seeing Jett later when we go to the stadium is pissing me off, and as I step up to the hotel room door, I try to keep calm. I knock quickly and the door swings open and Effa peers through, her eyes squinting like she’s concerned who might be on the other side. But then she relaxes spotting me and opens the door wide so I can come in. She looks me over, obviously assessing my body to check for any damage, but seeing none she visibly relaxes.

  “Oh, praise Gaia. You’re okay,” she expresses.

  “I didn’t go to see Jett.”

  “You didn’t?”

  I turn reaching out and pulling her to me. Her tiny body moves to me instantly falling into my arms. I automatically feel calmer for holding her. “No, I had a visit with Luke.”

  Her brows knit together. “Oh, I bet that went well.”

  I lean in resting my forehead against hers. “Jett stays… but Raoul’s going to be on you whenever I’m not around. I’m sorry, I know you like having your space to do your yoga, and to be at the arena before the concerts, but Raoul will be with you from now until the tour is over.”

  Effa lets out a heavy sigh, but agrees with a nod. “Okay. Raoul’s kinda been following me around for a while. But if it helps you relax, I’ll let him follow me everywhere even to the toilet.”

  “You don’t have a choice here, baby. I don’t want Jett alone with you. At. All. I don’t trust his motives, his intentions, or his libido.”

  “I don’t think he’d try anything like that, but I hear you, and it’s fine. But, umm… what are you going to do when you see him next?”

  Leaning in, I plant a soft kiss on her lips, and that all too familiar spark s
hoots through my entire body. She still manages to electrify me. Pulling back, I look her in her eyes and shrug. “Not a thing. Be the bigger man and all that shit.”

  She smiles so wide, the little dimple in her left cheek really comes alive as her button nose wrinkles up in a look of delight. “Have I ever told you how amazing you are?”

  “No, actually, I don’t think you have.”

  “Well, you… the center of my world… are the most caring, affectionate, most stunningly courageous man I’ve ever met. And I swear to Gaia that you make me the happiest woman in the world.”

  My muscles finally loosen from their intense tension, and I relax holding onto her tightly. Looking into her eyes, they sparkle and shine brightly while she stares at me with such immense adoration, it fills me with nothing but an amazing sense of worth and a feeling of home. I’m undeniably a lucky man.

  I lean in and kiss her lips again, sending a shudder all the way down my spine. She’s the light in my dark. She’s guiding me through this hell of a life I live, and as I pull back from her, I don’t even know what to say to top that. I can’t. Nothing seems enough.

  “After Lilah, I never thought I would ever fall for another woman. I never thought I could ever open myself up to feeling so strongly about another person again. But with you, it’s totally different. You get me. But the one thing I do know is, that when I heard Jett was making a move on you, it literally killed me to think of another man with you. I don’t want any other man to have you. They can’t because you belong with me.”

  My fingers scrub through my hair and then I gaze back up at Effa again. “I don’t know how. I don’t know why. It shouldn’t work. You’re from Australia, I’m from Pennsylvania. We’re from opposite sides of the world. We’re opposites in almost every way. But baby, we work. I need us to be together, because when I think of a life without you, even for one moment… my life’s black and empty. Despair fills my heart. I can’t be in a world without you in it, Effa.” The words flow out of my mouth openly and honestly. Telling her all the truths I’ve needed to say for some time, I watch her eyes fill with tears.

  She leans in and embraces me hard. “I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. We’re in this. You and me, until the last light dims.”

  “Until the last light dims…” Leaning down, I press my lips to hers, forcing my tongue inside and kiss her firmly. She makes no attempt to soften the kiss, only kissing me back with as much passion as I’m showing her. My hands slide down to her ass, and I squeeze, as her hands lace around my neck bringing us together.

  Needing her even closer, I lift her tiny frame up. She doesn’t break the kiss as her legs wrap around my waist, and I turn us, her back to the wall and slam her into it as we kiss. She lets out a small “oomph” as we collide with the plasterboard, but our dueling tongues continue to dance the tango against each other’s.

  My cock hardens in my pants against her pussy which she’s grinding against me, and I figure we have a small window of time. I wanted to take it slow, but maybe a quick fuck to tide us over until tonight will have to do.

  Effa must think the same as me as her hand slides down between us and dives straight into my pants. She unzips my fly and frees my rock hard cock as I shimmy my hips to let my jeans fall around my ass. She hitches her summer dress up and moves her hand between us to pull her panties to the side. I push her harder against the wall and line my cock up with her opening. We’re both panting, the need in us building at an undeniable rate.

  My cock’s so hard, I’m guessing this won’t last long. My tip slides against her slickened folds. She’s so wet and ready for me. Our mouths are still connected as I thrust up into her.

  Warmth.

  Fulfillment.

  Home.

  She moans into my mouth as every part of me instantly comes alive at the feeling of her encasing me. I pump into her against the wall, my fingers digging into her ass cheeks as our throaty moans echo through the suite.

  She feels so good, and taking her hard, fast, and unrelenting against the wall like this is perhaps just what I need to get me through this bout of pent-up tension.

  Her pussy tightens as I pull back and thrust in, hitting the spot that I know she loves. Her husky moan growls deep from her chest as her lips break from mine and her head falls back against the wall needing air. I don’t hesitate as my mouth takes possession of her collarbone, my teeth grazing harshly over her skin as she moans loudly, riding me hard.

  Her nipples stiffen beneath her dress, and they rub against my shirt. The cool drifting down over us from the air vent above, doing nothing to cool the heat on my skin from the inferno Effa is blazing me into.

  My teeth slide up her neck, my tongue tasting the sweet saltiness of her slickened skin as we move together in unison. The heat building and building. The pressure in my cock becoming so intense, I feel like my balls will burst because they have tightened up so tight.

  Her whimpers are only building to a crescendo as her pussy clenches around my cock. I know she’s close as her nails dig into the back of my neck while her quick breaths come out raspy and breathless.

  “Oh, Kaden…”

  The husky sound of her voice sends me over the edge as I thrust up hard into her, biting down into her neck. Not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to leave a mark. She moans as her pussy tightens so intensely that her entire body shudders. She shakes violently and screams out my name again. Her pussy clenching and milking me, sending me over the edge into bliss.

  I clinch my eyes shut seeing flashes of light. One last time, I thrust up into her before my balls squeeze fully and my cock swells then I explode, ramming hard inside of her, coming strongly as we come down from our extreme tension relieving high.

  My teeth turn from biting to a tender kiss on her neck as I wind her down. I pull back looking into her hazy eyes. She looks back at me and smiles, as I lean my forehead against hers. “You’re so beautiful,” I whisper a little breathless, and she giggles as her fingers trail feather-light strokes up my hairline.

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  Our heads both snap around. “Who in the hell?” Effa murmurs.

  I groan, pulling out of her, and let her feet touch the floor and then regrettably releasing her. She looks at me as she adjusts herself, and I bend down pulling my pants back up and put myself away.

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  “Effa? Are you in there?” Alana’s voice calls out through the door, and I relax instantly as does Effa. She smiles, tussling her hair and walks to the door, pulling it open.

  “Hey, how are you?” Her voice clearly sounding like she’s been caught in the middle of something.

  I smirk as I walk to the bed and take a seat.

  “Well, sorry I interrupted whatever was going on in here, but we gotta go. Everyone’s waiting.”

  I furrow my brows, standing up, and walk around the corner toward the door where Effa looks rattled.

  “What? What do you mean? We have another hour, don’t we?”

  Alana shakes her head. “No, we’re leaving now. There’s been a change in plan. Some security upgrade or some shit. Luke’s arranged for us all to go now. So c’mon, we gotta go.”

  I tense up instantly. We’re heading to the arena where I’m inevitably going to run into Jett, and I’m going to have to act like he doesn’t bother me.

  Good fucking luck to me.

  I’ll need my A-game on that’s for sure.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  MERCS

  Effa and I are walking through the empty halls of the PPG Paints Arena, attempting to get a feel for the space. There’s not many people here yet, mainly just the other girls, but Luke and I’m sure the other members of the crew are here by now too. This place is big, and we’re wandering down halls to gain our bearings.

  “Shit,” I mumble, as I take Effa’s hand in mine.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We should have left Ligonier earlier. Gotten here sooner so you could have been here
to check out the space. You need more time in the zone, I know that. You like to connect with the venue before a show. You haven’t had the time you need.”

  She shakes her head and waves her free hand through the air. “Stop. That doesn’t matter. I got to spend time with you, and that’s what matters more to me anyway. I’m here now. Let’s go out to the stage and get a feel for it, though,” she suggests.

  We head down the hall toward the opening for the stage. I must admit I have missed this, it’s only been two days, but I do love being on tour with these girls. We round the corner, and the other girls are already here with Luke having a discussion.

  “Oh, Effa, there you are. Come here, we have to talk to you about something,” Kristy calls out. I smile at her, then look to Raoul who’s standing by the other girls and give him a curt nod. He understands with a dip of his head as he watches Effa, and I turn to her and take a deep breath.

  “Don’t go anywhere without Raoul, okay? Promise me?”

  She smiles, letting out a small giggle. “Yes, Mr. Overprotective. I’ll see you after the show?”

  Leaning in, I wink at her then press my lips to hers.

  She’s quickly turning and running off toward her girls. Raoul steps to her side, and I feel a sense of ease wash over me.

  Spinning around, I head to the back of stage area. I have some crew to catch up with. Making my way to the rafters, I notice Tank setting up the rigging as per usual. He’s puffing and grunting while he’s lifting a heavy load. I rush in to help him as he looks at me and smiles wide.

  “Hey. Welcome back. It’s been fucking miserable without you here, bro.”

  I raise my brow, tilting my head. “You call a threesome, miserable?” I tease and Tank chuckles.

  “Well, maybe not that so much, but fuck me… I can’t keep up with Andi’s moody shit. I need some bro time. You, me, and Jay. Man, we need some beer and some pool or something, ‘cause fuck, I swear I have lost my fucking balls.”

  I burst out laughing and slap his shoulder. “Shit! Andi’s really gotten to you. What the fuck happened?”