Chapter Twenty-Five #2
He places a firm hand on my shoulder, squeezing tight. “I can see how much you care about her. And I want you to know, I’ll do everything in my power to protect her. I promise you that.”
The sincerity in his voice lands hard. I believe him. It’s not the outcome I wanted, but it’s the only one I’m going to get right now.
Cracking my neck, I exhale. “Thanks for listening. I don’t like it… but I get it.”
As we walk toward the door, I steel myself. Effa does not need to see me this wound up.
“I’ll keep you in the loop,” Luke says.
“Appreciate it.”
He opens the door for me. “Thanks for coming to me instead of handling Jett yourself.”
I smirk. “Thank Effa. If it were up to me, that prick would be eating through a straw. But she asked me not to, and I can’t deny her anything.”
Luke chuckles. “Not saying he doesn’t deserve it, but yeah, that would’ve made for one hell of a day.”
I head down the hallway, muscles still knotted, nerves buzzing. A half hour ago, I needed a sexual release. Now? I need a punching bag with Jett’s face duct-taped to the front.
Rock star life—joyful one minute, rage-inducing the next.
I reach our room and knock. The door opens, and Effa peeks out cautiously until she sees me, then her shoulders drop.
“Oh, praise Gaia. You’re okay,” she murmurs.
“I didn’t go see Jett.”
“You didn’t?”
I pull her into me without hesitation. Her tiny body melts into mine, instantly calming the storm brewing inside.
“No, I saw Luke.”
Her brow furrows. “Oh, I bet that went over well.”
Resting my forehead to hers, I whisper, “Jett’s staying. But Raoul’s going to be with you whenever I’m not. I’m sorry. I know you like your space for your yoga and pre-show rituals, but Raoul’s glued to you until the tour ends.”
Effa lets out a long sigh, then gives me a small nod. “Okay. Raoul’s been my shadow already. If it helps you breathe easier, I’ll let him follow me to the bathroom and back.”
“You don’t have a choice, baby. I don’t want Jett alone with you. I don’t trust his intentions. Or his dick.”
“I don’t think he’d go that far, but… I hear you. What are you gonna do when you see him next?”
I kiss her softly, but full of fire. That connection, that heat, still hits like a lightning bolt. Pulling back, I shrug. “Nothing. Be the bigger man… and all that shit.”
She grins, dimples flashing. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”
“No, actually, you haven’t.”
“Well, the center of my chaotic universe, you are the most caring, stunningly brave, irritatingly protective man I’ve ever known. And I swear to Gaia, I’ve never felt safer than I do with you.” Her eyes sparkle with pure adoration, and the tension bleeding out of me finally vanishes.
I kiss her again, lingering, grounding.
“After Lilah, I didn’t think I’d feel this again,” I murmur. “Didn’t think I’d be capable of it. But you… you’ve changed everything. I can’t even think about a world without you in it. You belong with me, Effa. You just do.”
She throws her arms around me. “I’m not going anywhere. You and me… until the last light dims.”
“Until the last light dims.”
My lips crash into hers, rougher this time—more desperate, more possessive—and her mouth parts instantly, welcoming me in. My tongue slides in deep, tangling with hers as I taste her. She’s sweet, hot, and fucking addictive.
I grip her ass with both hands, fingers digging in as I lift her effortlessly. Her legs wrap tight around my waist, like they were made to be there. I slam her back against the wall, and she gasps into my mouth, a soft “oomph” escaping her lips. But she doesn’t stop, she kisses me harder, hungrily.
Effa grinds against the thick ridge of my cock through my jeans, her heat practically burning through the fabric. The friction is insane. She’s panting, breathless, needy, and it drives me fucking wild.
This isn’t just lust.
It’s a need to brand her.
To claim her.
To make sure she knows she’s mine.
Her hand fumbles between us, urgent, and I hiss as she finds my zipper and drags it down.
My jeans fall with a rough shimmy of my hips, and my cock springs free, heavy and ready.
She hitches her dress up, pulling her panties aside with a twist of her wrist, and I growl at the sight.
It’s so goddamn sexy it makes my vision blur.
I pin her tighter to the wall, pressing the leaking tip of my cock to her slick heat.
We’re both breathing hard, like we’ve just run a marathon. The anticipation, the tension, it’s explosive.
“You ready for me, baby?” I rasp, my voice gravel.
Her eyes blaze as she nods. “Always.”
I thrust up hard, and we both moan. Mine is a deep grunt, hers a breathy, needy cry.
She’s hot, tight, and soaked for me. Fuck.
My cock’s buried to the hilt in one solid push, and I swear I feel the universe shift. She arches against the wall, back bowing, head falling as her pussy clenches around me like a vice.
“Oh my God,” she pants.
“This is mine,” I growl, thrusting again. “You’re mine.”
She claws at the back of my neck, her nails digging in deep. Her lips find my jaw, my cheek, my throat, and every kiss is frantic and desperate, like she needs me as much as I need her.
I drive into her again and again, fast and hard, each thrust rocking her up the wall.
Her breath catches every time I bottom out, her soft moans growing louder.
Her dress is bunched around her hips, her panties still stretched to the side, and every time I slide out, I catch a glimpse of how wet she is and how much she wants this.
I bite her collarbone, not gently, and she whimpers, her body clenching in response.
“You feel that?” I growl against her skin. “That stretch? That fullness? That’s me, baby. No one else. Ever.”
Her pussy tightens even more, and her breath hitches, her eyes rolling back for a moment as she chokes on a moan. “Kaden! Oh fuck, I’m so close…”
“Then come for me,” I command, slamming into her harder. “Come while I’m inside you. Let me feel it.” I take her mouth again, devouring her, and with a strangled cry, she shatters.
Her orgasm hits like a tidal wave, her body trembling, her pussy spasming around my cock as she rides the wave with everything she’s got. She cries out my name, loud and raw, and that’s all it takes.
I growl into her neck, thrusting up one final time, and explode deep inside her. Hot, pulsing release surges through me, my cock jerking with every spurt as she milks me dry. My whole body goes taut, shaking with the force of my release.
I keep grinding into her, drawing it out, riding it with her until we’re both boneless and breathless.
My teeth release their hold on her neck, and I trail soft kisses over the mark I left—my mark.
She clings to me, her head resting against mine as we pant in unison.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whisper, brushing her hair off her damp cheek.
She giggles, her fingers ghosting up my spine, still catching her breath. “You keep doing that to me, I’m gonna need a wheelchair for the rest of this tour.”
“Not sorry,” I murmur, smirking as I slowly let her slide down my body, her feet finally touching the floor.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Our heads jerk toward the door.
“Who in the hell?” Effa pants.
I groan, pulling out and setting her down.
We fix ourselves quickly.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Effa? Are you in there?” Alana’s voice floats inside.
Effa laughs breathily, raking a hand through her hair and opening the door. “Hey, how are you?”
Alana gives her a knowing look. “Sorry to interrupt whatever that was, but we gotta go. Everyone’s waiting.”
I frown, moving into view. “Wait, what? We’ve got another hour.”
Alana shakes her head. “Change of plans. Some security thing. Luke said we’re heading to the arena now.”
Effa glances at me.
I steel myself.
Because ready or not…
I’m about to see fucking Jett.
And it’s gonna take every ounce of self-control not to punch his smug face into next week.