Like Dragonflies, page 10
I bolt to my room. Tears are burning my eyes. I slam the door and lock it behind me then I fall to the bed, an angry sob caught in my throat.
She’s just as awful as everyone else in this shallow-ass town. I don’t know why I expected more from her. Not much more but I definitely didn’t expect that kind of blowup.
A dull throb radiates from the base of my skull. Soon, my head is pounding and all I can think about is Mars. I won’t see him again until his next shift at The Grind House.
I will see him though.
Mom can’t stop me from seeing him.
She can try, but she’ll have one hell of a fight on her hands.
Mars
Something happened between Sage and her mom. One moment we were kissing and happy, the next moment, she ghosted me. I called and texted, but she never responded. It wasn’t until my shift was over, and I was cleaning up, that Haley gave me the message Sage called The Grind House main line.
My mom is being a psycho and forbade me to see you.
I remembered the sucker punch to my gut at her words. But, in her next breath, she made it all better.
But I won’t let her keep me from you.
Sage kept good on her promise. She came to The Grind House on Wednesday and stayed my entire shift “studying.” And every break I got, I took her to the back room to kiss her supple lips. Late at night, once her parents go to sleep, she calls me from her house phone. We talk until the sun comes up. Both of us are running on fumes of sleep, but it’s worth it.
She’s worth it.
“Have a good weekend,” Dave calls to me after my Friday night shift.
I give him a wave over my shoulder, but my attention is on The Beast. And the beauty sitting on the back of the tailgate. God, she’s fucking gorgeous.
“Come here,” I growl.
She jumps off the back and runs toward me. Her skinny arms wrap around my neck as I grab her ass. A squeal erupts from her as her legs hook at my waist. I can hear Dave chuckling on his way to his car as I kiss my sweet girl.
“You taste like cookies ‘n cream lattes,” I murmur between kisses.
“I had like three.”
“I’m pretty sure it was four.”
Tonight she “studied” my entire shift, too. Her mom thinks she’s working on a group project with some classmates.
“And here I was just going to go home and nap,” I tease, nipping at her bottom lip.
“No napping allowed,” she says, pulling away slightly to look at me. “You have to spend the night entertaining me.”
My brow arches. “The night?”
“I told my mom I was going out with a girlfriend to the movies and would probably just stay the night with her.” Her grin is wicked. “I brought a bag. I hope it’s okay I come with you.”
The idea of having her all night to myself is more than I could ever hope for.
“It’s more than okay,” I say, squeezing her ass cheeks through her jeans. “I’m so fucking happy.”
She grins, her green eyes shining bright in the moonlight. “I’m hungry though. You?”
I lean forward and nip at her throat. “I’m starved.”
Dave drives off and Sage’s giggles are muffled by the sound of his engine. I kiss my way to her ear and nip the lobe too. Walking her over to the tailgate, I sit her down so I can look at her.
“I know your mom thinks I’m Duncan trash,” I say, frowning.
She starts to open her mouth but I press my thumb to her lips, silencing her.
“But I’ve never wanted to crawl myself out of that dumpster more than I have since I’ve met you. With you, I want to give you so much more than I am. I want to be the best person I can be.”
Her green eyes are watery as she kisses my thumb. “You’re the best person I know.”
Leaning forward, I kiss her forehead. “You know a lot of shitty people then.”
She laughs, filling the night air with the musical sound. It makes me want to pluck each note from the night and hold it to my chest.
“I know a lot of shitty people.” She looks over her shoulder. “Speaking of, we should get out of here before one of said shitty people tries to ruin all our fun.”
Her hair smells like honey and almonds, even though it should smell like grease from eating at Jimmy’s. Collette is going to be so pissed she missed seeing Sage. It was a nice dinner and I got to show Sage where I work when I’m not making her awesome lattes. At first, I felt a little ashamed, but she didn’t seem weirded out or embarrassed.
She was happy.
Like now as she hums along to the radio. When I passed Dad’s truck at Duncan D’s bar, I knew I could sneak her in and away from his drunk ass. Most days, as long as I stay out of his path, he doesn’t come looking for a fight.
Tonight is about Sage.
“This is it,” I say, as I pull into the grass in front of our trailer.
“It’s nice,” she says, her tone polite.
I snort. “Compared to what you’re used to—”
“Don’t,” she whispers, turning her head to look up at me. “Don’t make me like them, because I’m not.”
I feel shitty for lumping her into the same category as all the other Ashton Hills, uptight, rich assholes. “Sorry.”
“You’re forgiven,” she teases.
We climb out of the truck and I take her inside. Luckily, Dad didn’t leave any bottles of liquor sitting on the table. The house is clean and quiet. I show her around but as we’re headed toward my room, she stops to look at pictures of my mom.
“She’s pretty,” she says softly.
“She was. Until she got pregnant with me and I ruined everything.” I try to laugh but it comes out cold and not funny at all.
Her hand clasps around mine. “You didn’t ruin anything. You were a baby.”
“Try telling that to a sixteen-year-old girl. I shackled her to a future she didn’t want. Her key to freedom was meth,” I say bitterly. “In the end, it freed her all right.”
“Oh, Mars,” she murmurs. “I’m so sorry.”
Shrugging her comment off, I walk down the hall to my room. I try not to wince at the hole in the door. It’s embarrassing, but she knows what a dick my dad is. I’ve told her on many occasions. I set her bag on the floor and turn to look at her. Her eyes are wide as she stands in my doorway.
“Wow,” she breathes.
I follow her stare to my walls. Completely decorated in my chaos. She walks over to the far wall and runs her fingers over a picture I drew of hubcap in a ditch. Then, her fingers dance along the strands of the kite. She bends to look at a picture of Collette and me in high school dressed as hobos and laughs.
“That your dad?” she asks, pointing to a picture of my parents when my mom was pregnant.
“Yeah.”
“They look happy there.”
Until she gave birth to me.
As she continues to look at my stuff, I close the bedroom door and kick off my shoes. I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her.
“You smell good,” I tell her, kissing the top of her head.
She turns to face me, encircling her arms around my middle. “You smell like coffee and French fries, two of my favorite things.”
I dip my head down and kiss her supple lips. Our kiss starts sweet but quickly becomes ravenous in nature. It takes everything in me to pull away from her.
“You should change into something comfortable. I’ll go grab a movie from the living room.”
She nods and I leave her to find something for us to watch. When I come back, she takes my breath away. Lying on the bed in just a T-shirt that goes to her mid-thighs and her cute neon green socks, she looks up at me with a nervous glint in her eyes. True to her nature, she bumps at her bottom lip with her knuckle.
I grin at her. “Since when are you nervous around me?”
Her hand falls away and she smiles back. “Is this okay?”
“You, half-naked on my bed? More than okay. Trust me.”
I put the movie in the DVD player and turn on the television. Once I get it started, I shut off the lights. I whip off my hoodie and shirt before stretching out beside her. She curls around my side and her palm splays across my chest.
“You have tattoos,” she breathes, her voice breathy and in awe.
I chuckle. “I like art.”
“I like art too. I want one but…”
“Your mom won’t let you.”
Her brows furrow together as she looks up at me. “Do you think I’m pathetic? Letting my mom control me?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “You’re talking to the guy who puts up with his dad’s mean-ass shit, so he’ll give him a roof over his head, and pay for another semester of school. If you’re pathetic, then I’m pathetic.”
“We’re not pathetic,” she says primly. “We’re tough to put up with their shit. Survivors. They like to control us and keep our heads pushed under the water, but we keep popping up for air.”
Survivors.
I’ve always thought of myself as a thorn in my dad’s side. The horrible reminder of a life gone bad. Down, down, down he’s pushed me. And I let him. I believed it. Yet, all this time, I kept popping back up. Struggling and striving for better. Looking for happiness. Always trying harder.
Like a survivor.
“You’re good for me, Sage.” I run my fingers through her hair. “You’re so good for me.”
Her eyes flutter closed when I lean forward to kiss her. A small moan escapes her and I devour it. My hand slides down her ribs over her shirt, over her hip, and then settles on her bare thigh. I squeeze her flesh just under her ass.
“You’re good for me too,” she whispers, her breath hot against my lips. “You make me feel…like me. The me they push behind the stone wall. I like that with you, there is no wall.”
I kiss her deeper and my hand slides between her thighs. She lets out a mewl when I tease my fingers over her silky panties along her slit. I groan when I feel wetness through the material. She’s turned on. Just like me. I’m about to nut in my pants, and I’ve barely touched her.
Slowly, almost in a lazy way, I rub a firm circle around her clit over panties. She makes the sexiest fucking sounds I’ve ever heard. Her body squirms and twitches, like she can’t get enough, yet it’s too much.
I slide my fingertip higher to the waistband of her panties, and then I inch it down underneath the material. Her hair is trimmed neat and short, so finding her clit again is an easy task. The bundle of nerves there is hot to the touch and seems to be alive with sensitivity because when I massage it, she cries out and claws my shoulder.
“Mars,” she whines.
“Too much?” My voice is gruff and desperate sounding.
“Not enough.”
I pick up my speed, loving the way she responds. Her body jolts each time she nears the edge of bliss. I can smell her arousal in the air and it makes me crazy for her. If I didn’t think it’d embarrass her all to hell, I’d bury my face between her thighs and inhale her.
“Oh God,” she chokes out. “Oh God.”
I keep the momentum going until she explodes with my name practically cursed from her lips. As she comes down from her high, I slide my finger through her wetness, seeking entrance into her body. As I push into her, she groans. Her body is tight and imagining my cock inside her is almost enough to have me blowing my load like a chump. I manage to harness some self-control and set to slowly fucking her with my finger. Her pussy makes juicy sounds that have her biting on her lip and groaning.
“You’re so wet,” I murmur. “Your panties are soaked. Maybe you should take them off.”
This sends her into a fit of giggles that makes her pussy clench around my finger. I end up chuckling too until she reaches for my belt.
“I want to get you off too.” Her green eyes meet mine and lust swims in them. The movie flickers on the screen, reflecting on her face, but neither of us are watching it.
We’re only watching each other.
“If you want…”
“I want.”
Fuck. Her husky, turned-on voice does me in. I keep fingering her pussy, loving the way she’ll jolt anytime my finger grazes along the nub within her. She fumbles around with my belt buckle and then my jeans. Then, her curious hand is diving past my boxers, seeking my aching length.
“Fuuuuck,” I hiss out.
“Does that hurt?”
So fucking cute and innocent.
“No, beautiful. It’s the best damn feeling I’ve ever had. Don’t stop. I’m going to make a big-ass mess and I don’t even care. I just want you to touch me.”
She bites on her bottom lip as she focuses on her stroking.
“Put your leg on my hip,” I instruct.
Her body shifts to obey my words. As soon as she opens up to me, I ease in another finger. She whimpers but doesn’t pull away.
“Too much?” I choke out.
“No,” she says. “It’s okay. I like it.”
“Me too,” I growl, thrusting my hips against her fist. “So much.”
Her hot gaze stays locked on mine until I can’t control it any longer. Cum shoots out of me as I groan out my release. She jerks me until I’m milked dry of pleasure. I’ve soaked us both but she doesn’t seem bothered. Pulling my fingers out of her, I slide both the wet ones on either side of her clit, loving how she shudders at my touch. It doesn’t take but a few rubs against her and she’s coming again.
I tug my hand from inside her panties and look down between us.
“You made a mess,” I tell her.
“Me?” She giggles at me. “That was all you.”
“You started it,” I tease as I kiss her plump lips.
Reluctantly, I pull away from her to hunt down a towel. I grab the one hanging off my closet door and clean myself up before laying it on the bed. I shed my jeans and grab a pair of shorts from a drawer.
“We missed the beginning of the movie,” she says, pointing at the screen.
“We put on a better show.”
She smiles at me—a smile that promises more shows later—until the front door slams, making her jump. Immediately, I’m on guard.
Dad.
I am not fucking dealing with him tonight.
Swallowing down the shame of how it must look to her, I walk over to my door and lock it. She doesn’t say anything, just waits for me to rejoin her. This time, she curls up against me and watches the movie.
But me?
I’m tense as fuck.
I watch the door.
Sage
Mars is so warm and he smells like safety. I never want to leave his side. I want to stay just like this. My arms and legs draped over him while he holds me like I mean the world to him. It’s nice to mean the world to someone.
It’s nice to be seen for who I really am.
A smile pulls at my lips and I slide my knuckle across my bottom lip.
I’m snapped from my happy thoughts when I hear a crash in the other room. Mars was visibly tense after he locked his bedroom door, but now he’s wound so tight he might snap. As long as I’m beside him, I feel safe. I know his dad is a dick, and I know he worries about what I think, but I don’t care. His dad is probably just as horrible as my mother.
It’s one of the things we have in common. Somehow we manage to paint our gray world with bright colors and it doesn’t matter if anyone else likes it.
The floor outside the bedroom door creaks and Mar’s fingers press harder against my shoulder like he’s bracing for impact. I rub his chest, painting invisible loops on his smooth skin. I hope I can give him the same bravery he gives me.
There’s something about being with Mars that makes me feel like I can conquer the world.
The knob turns and his eyes dart to the door. It doesn’t budge but his dad pushes against it then says, “Boy, you got ten seconds to unlock this door before I come through it.” His voice is deep and gravelly.
Mars’s Adam’s apple wobbles and in the next second he’s on his feet. I sit up in bed, watching tight wedges of muscle flex in his back as he stalks to the door. When he unlocks and opens it, he blocks his room from view so his dad can’t see inside.
“Sorry, Dad.” I hate the way his vibrant crimson aura seems muted now. I see myself in him and my heart aches.
“This is my fucking house. You don’t lock doors in my house. Understand?” I can’t see his face, but I can hear the bitter anger in his voice and it makes my stomach turn into a mass of knots.
“Yes, sir,” Mars mutters.
“Are you hiding something in there? If you brought meth into this goddamn house, boy…so help me I will knock your worthless ass out.” His voice trembles under the weight of fury and I draw my shoulders up. It’s instinct whenever I hear shouting. It makes me want to vanish.
I can’t do that now though. Not when Mars so desperately needs strength.
“I’m not doing meth or anything else, Dad.” I know Mars is being truthful. He told me about his fuckup in the past and how being thrown in jail straightened him out for good. It’s more than just words though. I see it in the way he works his ass off and goes to school. He’s not who he used to be.
“Bullshit,” his dad seethes. He pushes against the door but Mars stands strong. “Move your skinny ass before I put you through the fucking wall.”
The way he speaks to Mars makes my skin crawl. I can’t handle the way his words burn my ears anymore. Mars doesn’t deserve that shit.
I’m on my feet and moving across the small stretch of floor when the bedroom door flies open, smacking against the wall with a bang. Words fly out of my mouth the moment my eyes meet the tall, bulky bully. His gaze sweeps the room and then he sees me. I’m too pissed to be scared right now. “Who the hell do you think you are, talking to him that way?” I blurt.
His eyes are green and narrowed and his dark hair is disheveled making him look even meaner, if that’s possible. He blinks rapidly as he takes a step closer to me, then another until I can smell the stale liquor on his breath.
