16. Millie
CHAPTER 16
Millie
I t’s not often all of us get to be in one place at the same time. So, thank you Jere, for throwing a party so I have an excuse to get everyone together before Florence leaves for her work trip.
All night, she’s been complimenting each one of us, making us promise we won’t forget her, and pre-apologizing for text spams in the middle of the night. She can’t help it since Norway is seven hours ahead of Tennessee.
This night is also a good reminder for myself to take a step back and away from work. With both businesses, I’m busy all the time. And when I’m not working in the business, I’m working on the business. My friends often barge into my home, finding me on the couch, huddled with a blanket and my computer. Social planning, inventory check-ins, scheduling for the month, and other admin tasks that keep me working when I should be relaxing.
But, that’s the life of an entrepreneur. Taking on more now means I can reap the benefits later. Right?
Jeremy always knew what he wanted to do. His first job was a runner at the bar in town, and because of that, his role kept growing. Eventually, he was asked to take it over when the old manager retired. It’s been good to have him to talk about business-things that neither of our parents would grasp. Granted, I’ve owned my business for eight years and Jeremy has had his for over two years, so I’m the one reminding him to pay his taxes and to make sure to order extra for upcoming holidays.
But, I know he’s grateful for me.
And I know he’s ecstatic about Will and I.
When it’s time to “break up” and tell everyone, Will will be the one to tell Jeremy. I will not be breaking that news to him. Not when he’s rooted for us our entire lives, always thinking he saw something between us and loudly giving Will his blessing when I was around so I was aware of the fact. It’s never been a secret how much he supports me, but it’s nice to know that he still feels this way.
I knew Will was going to be here tonight, but it didn’t take away the shock value when I saw him.
His outfit should put him in the running for People ’s sexiest man of the year: black jeans, v-neck to show off his tattoos, leather jacket, and messy hair.
It’s not anything different than he normally wears, and this could be the one too many shots I’ve consumed paired with the low lights of the venue, but I cannot tear my eyes away from him. I don’t normally drink as a personal preference, so my body is reacting accordingly.
The beat of the music has been bumping, and we have not stopped dancing. The night has been great, everyone keeping to their bubble of friends, until a pair of hands comes to my waist.
“You dancing like this for me, sweetheart?” A grumbly voice comes from behind me, and it’s a shock to my system.
Florence, Ava, and Riley left to use the bathroom. He must have been waiting until I was alone for a moment. Perfect . He’s not from here, because no one local would lay hands on me. Not in such a public place.
I whip my head around, or at least try, but whoever has a grip on me has since tightened their hands and keeps me from turning. I try my best to wriggle out of his hold, but it’s no use. My heart frantically beats and my body goes still, temporarily stunned from being touched by a stranger.
“You have your hands on my girl,” my knight in shining armor says from my left.
“She doesn’t look like she’s your girl,” the douchebag says while trying to turn me away from Will.
But he doesn’t know Will like I do.
“I’m going to give you one more chance to let her go and go back to your little friends sulking in the corner.”
I can’t see the guy behind me, but chances are fairly high that he’s sizing Will up. I promise I’m not worth it, dude. Of course I can’t figure out what to say because between the loud music and the terrible decision I made to drink tonight, Will is here on the dance floor. For me.
The guy chuckles and tugs me in tighter toward his chest.
“Come on sweetheart,” he says, loud enough for Will to hear. “Let’s move somewhere away from this guy.”
Will chuckles. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”
“Dude—”
That’s the only word he gets out before Will’s fist connects with the side of his jaw. Like I said, I know Will and I knew this is where it was going. Why is it unbelievably hot that he punched a man because he was dancing with me? Okay, maybe it was more than that. He had terrible intentions, but still.
It’s enough of a hit that the guy loosens his grip on my hips and I tumble forward. I manage to catch myself by putting my hands on my knees. Before I have the chance to look and see what happened, Will grabs my hand and leads me off the dance floor. He doesn’t let others mess with people or things that are his, and I’m included in that short list.
“Will, slow down,” I say, but he doesn’t hear me over the music .
He leads me past the bar, to the hallway, to the stairs. I’m confused. I thought he would have brought me back to the bar to have a drink and make sure everything was okay, or over to where Jeremy and Grant were talking, to be in our crowd of friends. I don’t know why he’s bringing me to the stairs.
We’ve been teasing each other all night, agreeing to forgo any previously set boundaries, but my stomach bubbles with nerves as we turn the corner and he opens the door to the stairs. We climb and climb. He doesn’t turn back once, but holds my hand and leads me until we are on the balcony and over on the opposite side where there’s only a corner, no stairs. Whoever designed this venue didn’t take into account how people would get here, so instead of there being a staircase on both sides, there’s only one.
In this corner we are secluded.
No one can see us.
The music is quieter, and it’s dark enough that only our silhouettes are illuminated.
He pushes me against the wall before I have time to pull him toward me instead.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, I am. Thanks, for um, helping me,” I say, my heart now beating faster thanks to his proximity.
“I’m going to kiss you now, okay?”
“Okay.”
He throws all his emotions into his lips as he slams them into mine.
I want to ask him what he’s thinking.
If this is more to him or if I’m a way to pass time until he’s gone.
A fleeting moment that will be something to remember in years time.
Something we can look back on and laugh at how close we got to being with one another.
Except I don’t want that to be the case. I want him, even if I can’t bring myself to tell him. Because telling him would mean asking him to stay in Willow Pines, and I haven’t figured out a way to show him he could make a home here.
So, I also kiss him with everything I’ve got.
All the feelings I’ve held over the past few years when he was with someone else.
All the times we visited our spot on the rooftop of Carter Records, and I thought this was the time , but it wasn’t.
I kiss him with all the pain and love and hope that I’ve had to endure for the past decade since we started this back and forth between us.
His hand palms my breast as he pushes harder against me, my back flush with the wall.
I’m sobered by his touch.
My arms hug his shoulders, needing him to be closer.
His hands trail my torso, leaving goosebumps in their wake. All tension leaves my body and all I’m left with is want .
I pull myself off the ground to wrap my legs around his waist, his length hard beneath me, and he rests his palms under my ass to help hold me in place.
I’m sure my dress has risen at this point. It was barely long enough to cover my butt. Will rocks his hips forward and backward, guiding the best he can as our tongues dance.
“I promised you interest,” he rasps against my lips. “Lower your legs for me, love.”
I’ll have time to spiral on how vocal he’s being, but for now I do as he commands.
“That’s my girl. Spread them.”
I do as he says.
“Good girl,” he leans in to whisper, nibbling at my ear first before painting my jaw with kisses. He trails them lower, to my neck, to my collarbone, and the sensation is overwhelming.
“I’m going to touch you. Is that okay? ”
I bite my lower lip and dip my chin, pushing myself toward him to show how eager I am for his touch.
“Rose, you’re going to have to open that pretty little mouth of yours and say yes. Otherwise how do I know you want this to happen?”
His fingers dance along my panty line, brushing over my center, and I shudder. He chuckles. I could be angry at myself for how responsive my body is for him, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to having multiple wet dreams that include a similar situation to this.
“Yes, I want this, you , now,” I say with a shaky breath.
Will smirks. “Don’t worry about being quiet. No one can hear you.” He slides a finger beneath the lace and circles my clit.
I buckle.
“Eager, are we?” Will teases. He switches his hand position so a finger is inserted while his thumb replaces the previous movement. “How many fingers can you take right now? Two? Three?”
“More, Will,” I beg.
His lips find mine as he inserts one more finger. I’m aching for him all over again. It’s been a while since I’ve been intimate with a partner, and although I can take care of myself, it’s not the same as receiving pleasure from someone who acts like it’s the only thing in the world they want to be doing at this moment.
“Fuck, Millie,” Will grumbles as I moan into his neck.
“Yes, like that,” I say with sharp breaths. “I’m close.”
He’s a great listener, I’ll give him that. He maintains his pace as I whimper from his touch. My body shakes, my knees like jello, as if they will give at any moment. I remind myself to breathe, to stay in the moment, that I don’t have to overthink what’s happening right now because it’s with Will.
“That’s it, Millie, let go for me.” That’s all it takes to have me diving off the deep end. I cry out his name as he pulls his fingers out, but slows his thumb on my clit as I come down.
His mouth is on mine as his thumb quickens its pace again instead of stopping. My nerves are already heightened by the first orgasm. Add being in public to the mix, and it won't take long for me to come again. I'm aware this is an experience I wouldn't enjoy if it wasn't for Will.
Without warning, he thrusts three fingers into me, over and over again, until my thighs shake. He’s thrusting hard, and it makes me want his cock in me instead of his fingers. We’ve never crossed that line before, but tonight could be the right time.
“That’s it, love, tell me what you need,” Will says.
“Nothing, no-nothing,” I respond because he’s doing exactly what I want.
And within minutes of the constant thrusting of his fingers and his tongue against mine, I’m coming all over again. I wrap my hand on his to stop him. I’m so sensitive now. Any touch from him has my body twitching.
“That’s two, Mills.” Will leans in to kiss me.
“Where’s the interest?” I ask as I right my dress to a more appropriate position.
“Well that depends.” Will grabs both my hands and slides them slowly above my head until they are clasped on the wall. He leans forward to say, “Are you coming home with me?”
I take a moment to think, which is hard as he won’t stop kissing me. My lips, my jaw, my neck, any open skin he can get his mouth on.
“You’re distracting me,” I say with a pout.
His eyes drop to my lips, and he kisses them, pulling on my bottom lip as he leans back.
“What’s there to consider? This is ten years in the making for me. You and me, Millie Mae.”
When he says that, I can’t comprehend how he feels. If he has been thinking this before tonight, or if this is an in-the-moment thought. He’s right. We have been a thing for ten years, even when we were with other people. Not always together, but forever tethered by an invisible string .
“You trying to sweet talk your way into my bed, Will?”
“I’m trying to sweet talk you into my bed, Rose. How close are you to saying yes?”
“Eh, I don’t know…” I try to say it with a straight face, but as soon as Will furrows his eyebrows in disbelief I laugh.
“Oh, I see, you presume this is a game. I can play.” Will smirks and takes a step back.
For a moment I’m stunned because I don’t know what he’s going to do. After a beat, he takes a step back toward me, leaning forward to stand and throw me over his shoulder.
“Will, put me down,” I yell over the music. “People are going to see my underwear.”
“Good, they’ll be able to see how drenched you are.”
“William Blake Carter. My brother is down there,” I say, remembering why we are here.
“Shit, that wouldn’t be good for the birthday boy to see, would it be?” Will asks, laughing to himself, before setting me on my feet.
I shake my head and roll my eyes. When I look at Will, he has his hand thrust out my way, waiting for me to grab it.
“Come on, Millie. Let’s go home.”