Chapter 28 – Lumen
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lumen
I’m sleepy and out of it as the sexy dream fades. I can’t even remember all the details, but there are flashes of Riser’s, Kincaid’s, and Malcolm’s faces. I think we were in the greenroom at the venue they played at tonight.
Or last night.
It’s past midnight, meaning it’s a whole new day.
Sweat sticks to my hairline and a particularly fat bead slides down between my breasts as I lie on my side. I’m achy and needy, like I was about to come while I was dreaming. That never works out for me, but I wish it would have.
“Ahh, I wasn’t sneaky enough,” Malcolm whispers next to my ear. “Sorry, baby doll. I was hoping I could make you come, and you wouldn’t even lose any sleep.”
That’s so hot.
I grind back against him.
He’s rock-hard.
My eyelashes flutter.
Jesus.
The urge to roll over and beg him to fuck me is strong.
Wait.
The last thing I remember was watching a movie with Riser. My hand stretches out, and I run into his back.
Huh.
He’s here too, but Mal wasn’t when I fell asleep.
“You want me to stop?” Malcolm asks, teasing over my clit.
Damn.
I knew his arm was resting above my hip bone, but I didn’t realize he had his hand on my pussy.
Sleepy, lazy, out-of-it sex is the best, and I’m still not completely with it.
“Please don’t stop,” I whisper.
“Mmm, I can’t wait until I can slide inside you,” Mal murmurs close to my ear. He circles my swollen nub as his other fingers tease up and down my labia. “You’re my fucking dream girl. Everything about you turns me on.”
There’s no doubt about it, I’m soaked.
“I feel the same way about you.”
“Good.” He nips at my earlobe, licking and sucking down my neck. He switches up his movements, burying two fingers inside me and working my clit with his thumb. “You were grinding against me in your sleep, whimpering like you were begging to be fucked.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from moaning. I put on an oversized T-shirt when Riser and I got dressed after our bath, but I really need to do laundry, so I didn’t bother with underwear.
Malcolm is relentless, working his fingers deep and stretching them as he pulls out, only to do it all over again.
“I woke up about to come in my boxer briefs, you naughty little tease.” He chuckles darkly, the sound vibrating against my throat.
“Goddamn, you have no idea how bad my cock is throbbing. You’re so damn tight and wet.
Fuck, man. I’m going to make you come all over my hand then suck your pussy off my skin as I jerk off. ”
I was already aroused before I woke up, and the imagery is so hot that I shiver. My nipples ache as Malcolm sucks on my pulse point, brushing his fingertips over my G-spot.
I try to grind to meet him, but he must have scooted back to be able to reach my throat.
Damn height difference.
“My dick does not enter another person without a condom,” Malcolm whispers, his warm breath fanning over my skin. “But all I can think about is what it’ll feel like to slide inside you raw.”
I moan, pulling my hand to my mouth to muffle the noise.
“You want that too, baby doll?”
I nod as my inner walls flutter around his fingers.
“I’m gonna stretch your tight little cunt over my cock and pump you full of my cum, over and over again,” he groans, flicking his tongue down my neck.
Pleasure cascades through my nerve endings as I tighten around his fingers.
“You’re going to milk my cock,” he says. “Fuck, my balls are already tight just thinking about drilling you full of me. I’m going to watch it drip out and push it back inside you. Mmm, maybe I’ll lick your clit and make you come. Watch it spill out and then fuck it back inside you all over again.”
My tits ache, and I spasm, jerking as his naughty words prolong my orgasm.
He swipes his thumb over my clit and works me through my comedown. Once I’m coherent again, I pull his hand from my pussy and roll over to face him, but I don’t stop there.
I shove his shoulder, and Malcolm falls to the mattress. He’s so hot with his long brown hair falling over his shoulders. It’s a pain to climb on top of him with the blanket in the way, but I settle over him on all fours and grab the hand he fingered me with, pulling it to my mouth.
His other hand lands on my ass as his muscles strain. “Fuck, Lumen. I’m so close. Even that could send me over the edge.”
I lick and suck his fingers clean and reach between us, pushing his boxer briefs down. His heavy cock slaps against my ass, and his crown is a sticky, leaking mess.
When I release his hand, he moves it to my ass, his fingers digging in almost painfully as I kiss him.
“We could totally play just the tip.” He groans, and I wiggle enough that I can get his shaft between us, shoving my mouth to his to keep him from saying anything else to convince me.
My slick lower lips perfectly frame the first few inches of his length as I grind him against his pelvis. There’s something cold and metal, and I reach between us to see what I’m feeling.
“Dermal piercing,” Malcolm says softly. “It’ll feel incredible against your clit when I’m all the way inside you.”
“That’s so hot,” I whisper, working my swollen nub. I’m even able to tease his crown as I glide over him without ever having him inside me.
Malcolm keeps a hand on my hip, working the other up under my oversized T-shirt. He cups my tit, flicking his thumb over my nipple as his head falls back against the mattress. The surface piercing on his chest, along with his nose rings, glint in the low light.
His muscles strain, like he’s barely holding himself back. His grip on my hip is so deep that I wouldn’t be surprised if I woke up tomorrow with bruises.
I wouldn’t mind a bit.
Seeing him restrain himself is fucking sexy.
I almost wonder what it would feel like if he snapped. My opening bumps his knot, and I glide over the bottom of his shaft until I bump his crown.
His electric scent is everywhere, making me floaty and desperate to come again.
Malcolm pulls me against him even more firmly and growls. “Fuck, I wish I could watch your tits bounce.” He cups my breast, pinching my nipple, and I leak all over him as I pick up speed on my swollen nub.
“Gonna come all over your pretty pussy,” he chokes out.
“Next time, I’m going to come as deep inside you as I can get.
” His cock gets so much harder and thicker, and when I bump his knot, it’s clear it’s more swollen than before.
A needy sound escapes my lips as I work over him, desperately chasing my release.
“That’s it, baby doll. Purr for me as you come all over my cock.
” He releases my breast to move his hand to my hip, and he shoves me down, grinding me over him as he jerks. “Jesus. Fuck me.”
A shiver slides down my spine at how desperate he sounds.
It’s so tempting to force him inside me, but that would be irresponsible. Not that this probably isn’t just as dangerous as having penetrative sex.
The look on his face sends me over the edge. His pointy canines dig into his lower lip as he jolts, growling ridiculously loudly.
Even though it’s hard to keep my eyes open, I don’t let them fall shut, keeping eye contact as bliss rocks through my body.
Grinding my hips, I curl toward him, working him for as long as I can.
Malcolm sits up in a crunch, wrapping his hand in my hair and shoving his tongue into my mouth.
It’s intense.
I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted anyone more than I want Mal in this moment.
I was already out of breath before he kissed me, and I pull back, gasping for air.
As his length jolts under me, I purposely grind against him a little more.
That electric scent of his is everywhere, and it’s more potent than any drug, making my skin sizzle.
Malcolm smirks, nuzzling his nose against mine. “Holy shit, baby doll. You just fucked my world up.”
I nod as my stomach flutters with monstrous-sized butterflies. “Same.”
“Let me run and grab something to clean us up.” He kisses my forehead, lifting me off him.
My eyes widen.
Riser is awake.
He rolled over at some point to watch the show. To be fair, we weren’t exactly quiet, and I’m sure the bed was shaking like crazy.
He turns onto his back and stretches his arm out across the pillow.
It’s just the invitation I need.
I roll over, resting my head on his bicep. I’m sticky and need a cleanup, but Riser wraps himself around my back.
His erection bumps my ass, and I’d be down to get him off too, but he kisses the side of my head and buries his face in my hair.
“Damn, Lumen, you smell divine.”
A ridiculous smile crosses my face as I soak up his chamomile scent.
Oh yeah, I am in so much trouble when it comes to these men.
My phone rings before any of us are awake. I climb over Riser and grab the device, frowning when I see it’s the lawyer’s office. I bolt into the living room, answering it as quietly as possible to avoid waking the people sleeping on the couch and in the chairs.
I’m half-delirious as I answer the woman’s questions to verify my identity.
She tells me to hold while I’m transferred to the lawyer, and I make my way to the room Kincaid must be in.
It’s the room Mal, Riser, and Kincaid dropped their stuff in, anyway. I also didn’t see him in the living room, and he didn’t come with Mal into the primary bedroom, so if he’s not here, I have no idea where else to look.
I knock lightly as the hold music plays, but Kincaid doesn’t answer.
I finally give up, letting myself into his room.
It’s almost completely dark with the shades pulled, but there’s a tiny strip of light coming in from the middle where the curtains don’t overlap. I use that to help me navigate.
He’s in here, based on the lump on the mattress closest to the door and the smoky, nutty hazelnut scent that I know belongs to him.
It takes a lot of courage to approach him, but I stop next to the bed, plant a knee on the mattress, and gently shake him. “I’m so sorry to bother you.”
Kincaid’s arm wraps around my lower back. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” His voice is low and raspy, lined with sleep.
“Nothing,” I say softly. “But the lawyer called. I’m on hold. You said you would talk to him with me to make sure I don?t miss anything important…”
“Yeah, of course.” He pulls his other hand to his face, rubbing his eyes as he sits up, displaying his bare chest. He pushes on my lower back, and I sit on the edge of the bed. “Once you’re connected, put him on speakerphone.”
I nod, licking my lips.
Even from the moment he wakes up, he manages to be all unapologetically dominant, and dammit, I love it. It makes me feel like I can relax and let him be in control.
“So, you’re saying what?” Kincaid asks as I hold my phone between us. “That it’s not worth pushing for a more aggressive offer?”
“Not necessarily,” Mr. Hawthorne says. “We can play this as friendly or aggressively as you’d like.
My main concern is that none of the songs have been recorded yet.
Less money has been spent bringing them to life.
Essentially, there’s less investment on the label’s part.
If we push too hard, they may decide it’s not worth the effort.
There are a million and one unscouted bands that could be the next big thing.
Any one of them wouldn’t have this hassle attached to them. ”
“If I push too hard, you think the label will drop Tangled Desires?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from cracking.
I might be furious with Theo, but I care what happens to all of them. Remmy’s mom is disabled, and his dad is really old. Like past the age he could have retired, but he hasn’t because they can’t afford for him to. Remmy planned to use his payday to finally pay off their house.
Jesse has a brother with cerebral palsy. Deacon was living in his car for like three months before he and Jesse moved in together right after Jesse stayed with us.
None of us had fantastic lives, and I won’t rip their chance at financial freedom away from them.
I wouldn’t want the risk of that kind of karma on my soul. I already feel like I must have done some pretty bad shit in a past life that I’m currently paying off.
“That’s exactly what I believe will happen,” Mr. Hawthorne says. “I’m not saying I don’t think I can get you a better offer. They owe you either way for the usage of your songs up to this point.”
My head shakes. “I don’t want to risk them dropping Tangled Desires. I’ll sign the contract.”
“Wait a second,” Kincaid interjects. “The label has deep pockets. Tangled Desires is blowing up. I’m sure you can get a better offer without risking the execs cutting and running.”
“Definitely,” Mr. Hawthorne says. “This was an introductory offer. There’s always room for negotiation. I just want you to understand that it’s likely not going to be the forty to a hundred grand per song that Andrew was used to for writing credit.”
My jaw drops.
Forty grand per song?
Up to a hundred thousand dollars?
Holy fucking shit.
“Test the waters,” Kincaid says. “I mean, if that’s okay with you, Lumen?”
“If I sign, does it prevent me from being able to create my own music or work for other record labels in the future?”
“It does not, and as of now, there is no right of first refusal clause on any future works, but I’ll let you know if that changes as the negotiations progress,” Mr. Hawthorne says.
“Okay,” I agree. “But I don’t want to piss them off. Be gentle, please. I don’t want to ask for too much and mess everything up.”
“Understood…” Mr. Hawthorne asks a few more questions, and we disconnect.
My hands shake as I drop my phone on the nightstand next to Kincaid’s.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod, then shake my head. “Forty grand per song? That’s like as much as I made a year bartending thirty-five hours a week.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, the numbers can get pretty unreal, but you deserve to be paid for your hard work.”
I blink incredulously.
It wasn’t even hard.
Making music is fun.
It doesn’t feel like a real job, and I have trouble believing it ever would.
“It’s not even ten,” Kincaid says, patting my thigh. “Why don’t you lie with me, and we can get a few more hours of sleep? I’ve got an alarm set.”
I nod, and he lifts me, putting me near the middle of the bed.
“I have a weird thing about needing to be closest to the door,” he says, pulling the comforter over me as I get settled against the pillows. “If you roll over, I’ll cuddle up behind you like I did the other night.”
I flop like a fish, trying to get into place, and Kincaid chuckles a low, sexy sound.
It’s that whole I’m in over my head thing all over again.