17 Everleigh Beautiful War—Kings of Leon
Everleigh
Beautiful War—Kings of Leon
The tempting aroma of fir trees and salt-laced mountain air filters into my nostrils to rouse me from sleep. I’m roasting. Heat pours over me from a furnace rising and falling under my cheek, breathing evenly.
Is that . . . Sterling?
All I can remember is curling up on the sofa after one too many beers while the guys played poker. Fletcher elected to stoke the fire and observe, sitting on the floor near my feet where he could flick glances at me every minute or so.
I smile to myself without opening my eyes. When I do, I know the memory of last night will fade. The real world demands to be acknowledged, and all the conversations we haven’t had are waiting for their pound of flesh. I’d like to pretend it can always be this way for a moment longer.
“Eden? You awake?”
“Mm,” I groan.
“No need to move, sweetheart. Just saying goodbye.”
Lips feather over mine, gone faster than lightning.
“Leo?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Fletch is itching to get to the hardware store for his latest project. He wants to buy lumber for the garden or some shit.”
“What time is it?”
“Too early to be dealing with his crap, but I’ll take one for the team.” Leo chuckles quietly. “Especially while Sterling is playing the role of your bed.”
“So comfy,” I mumble sleepily.
“Looks like it.”
I wonder if I should be sorry. But frankly, I’m far too relaxed. Perhaps they drew straws to decide who could cuddle up with me once the poker game was through and I’d passed out.
“Rest,” Leo whispers. “We’ll be back later.”
“Be safe.”
“Always am.”
Once he’s gone, the firm pectorals vibrating beneath me shudder with pent-up laughter. I peel my eyes open to twist and find Sterling’s eyes half open.
“Were you pretending to sleep?” I accuse.
“Guilty.” He gifts me a mussed smile. “Leo can handle Fletch.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“More like selfish.” Under me, his hips rise to press something firm and thick into my belly. “I woke up with you splayed across my chest and I wasn’t ready for it to end.”
Grasping my chin, he pulls my lips to his, despite my grumbling about morning breath. Sterling doesn’t seem to care as his mouth slants over mine to give me a thorough wake-up call.
I’m acutely aware of my limbs strewn over his body in the manner of a jellyfish—legs splayed, tank top bunched up, his pelvis pressing into me in a not-so-discreet proof of his morning wood.
It’s been a long time since I woke up in someone’s arms. At home, I had my own room. It began as a formality, back when Christopher was still on a charm offensive and physical contact remained on the table. Then I was thankful for my own space when everything changed.
“Last night was the most I’ve enjoyed my birthday in a very long time,” he mumbles into my lips. “Thank you.”
“Leo organised everything. All I did was burn some marinara sauce.”
“You brought us all together.” He softly kisses behind my ear. “This house feels like a home when you’re in it.”
“Thought I was just here to organise some paperwork and mooch off your hospitality?”
“Now we both know that’s not true,” he hits back. “But it was a pretty good ruse.”
Teeth nip my sensitive skin, creating a spine-tingling burst. I shift on his body, bringing his erection flush with the leggings I fell asleep in. The thin cotton allows me to feel every promising inch of him rubbing into me.
“If you don’t want this to go any further, I suggest you stop wriggling around on top of me.”
“Why?” I ask innocently.
Cursing, Sterling grinds upwards. “I’m harder than steel right now at this tempting angel crawling over me like I’m a damn tree. And I really, really want to do something about it.”
Another pump floods me with piping-hot need. “You won’t break me, Sterl.”
“I don’t want to rush this.”
“Then trust me to set my own pace.” I run my hands over his hair, all mussed from sleep. “I’m a little inexperienced, but I want to explore.”
“But you’ve been with a man before?” His tone deepens to a possessive growl. “No need to go into great detail here.”
“Jealous?”
“Extremely,” he admits. “But go on.”
It takes effort to keep mental chains on the tightly packed box full of memories in my mind. No. Christopher’s evil isn’t allowed here. Not in this safe space. I won’t allow it.
“Yes, just not for a long time. I’m out of practice.”
“Is that what you were doing with Leo?” Sterling fights off a grin.
“Do we share details? Is that how this works?”
“Fuck knows. There isn’t exactly a rulebook.”
“Maybe we’ll have to write one.”
“I’ll get on that.” He captures my lips in a searing peck that scrambles my thoughts. “Right.” Kiss. “After.” Kiss. “This.”
My nails scrape against his scalp, sliding through coarse golden strands. When I lightly tug, his chest vibrates on a groan. His reaction encourages me to circle my hips, creating friction between us.
Sterling helps me to grab the hem of my tank top and strip it off. Underneath, my skin pebbles and nipples tighten at his slow perusal. I didn’t bother to put a bra on yesterday while working on filing and helping Leo to cook.
“Fucking hell,” he grunts.
With a kiss planted on my left breast, his lips wrap around my bud. I throw my head back to savour the sensation of his teeth scraping over my nipple, making the skin prickle and harden into a rigid diamond.
“So goddamn beautiful, Eden.”
Sterling feathers wet kisses across my chest, pausing to suck my flesh between his lips. I grind on him, letting my body take the lead, seeking what feels natural.
I must be driving him wild, because Sterling soon grasps my hips, sitting up and lifting my body to flip us over. I’m roughly pressed into the sofa, his bulk settling between my legs to spread my thighs wide.
“That’s better,” he purrs.
I seize a fist of his T-shirt. “Off.”
“Demanding?”
“You’re too dressed.”
“Then I should level the playing field.”
Smirking, he tugs the shirt over his head and tosses it aside. My mouth dries up at the sight of his muscle-stacked torso on full display. He really is cut. Sculpted to perfection, each chiselled line is dotted with a fine carpet of fuzz.
“Like what you see?” he asks cockily.
“Maybe.”
“Just maybe?”
“I don’t want to inflate your ego too much.”
“Ouch. Let’s see what we can do about that.”
Lifting my legs, Sterling watches for my reaction, then slowly peels my leggings off. I watch the black fabric disappear over his shoulder. I’m left bare and exposed in just a pair of panties with nowhere to hide.
The look on his stubble-smattered face would be unnerving if it were anyone else. But I know Sterling would never hurt me, even if he looks prepared to devour me whole, a morsel at a time.
“If you need me to slow down or stop, just say the word.”
“Yes, yes.” I hook a leg around his waist, tugging him closer. “Now shut up and kiss me.”
Our chests smack together as his lips retake mine in a ferocious battle. Teeth clack and tongues explore, exchanging all the pent-up lust that’s only grown over the past couple of months. It rockets through my veins until I’m trembling for any kind of release.
Rough bristle scrapes over my throat, clavicles, chest. It leaves a fiery trail over my breasts, driven home by his lips closing around each nipple to deliver a playful bite. I writhe and pant, nails digging into Sterling’s hair.
“I want those two idiots to know I was here,” he mutters.
“Excuse me?”
“I warned you, Eden. Once something’s mine, there’s no going back.”
Nuzzling the underside of my right breast, Sterling pulls the sensitive skin into his mouth and sucks. Pain flares through a haze of pleasure, heightening the blissful fireworks that race all over me.
When his mouth pops free, a vivid purple cloud blossoms on my breast. It’s an irrefutable brand that stamps Sterling’s mark on me without leaving room for doubt. Wondrous heat floods between my legs at the implications.
“So beautiful,” he croons. “Mine.”
“Sterl,” I whine.
“Shush. I’m taking my time with you.”
“But . . . Please . . .”
“So needy. You’re just begging to be touched, aren’t you?”
Air whooshes from my nose. “Yes.”
Lips slinking over each individual rib, his touch is silky soft. Kisses feather across my skin, touching the slope of my belly, each defined hip bone, and the apex of my thighs, where my underwear holds him back.
It feels like he’s drinking in every part of me, memorising all the hidden details that construct my body. I’m not used to being so exposed, but he doesn’t scare me. Even trapped beneath him, I feel perfectly safe.
Sterling pecks the insides of my thighs, giving me the time to adjust and say no. When he tugs at my panties, I’m a second away from tearing the damn things off to give him total access to my most vulnerable place.
My hips jerk, allowing him to edge the material over my ass and legs. I’m trembling like a leaf. Leo might have seen me like this, but I never thought Sterling would dare to get this close. It’s exhilarating to be caught in his trap.
“Can I taste you?”
“Yes,” I moan, legs spread either side of him. “Please.”
“Legs open now. Good girl.”
Wearing a devious smile, he shuffles back on the sofa a little to duck down and plant his head between my open legs. I tightly fist his hair, crying out at his wide, flat tongue licking me from clit to core.
“Oh! God!”
“You’re so sweet,” Sterling praises.
He laps at my centre with such passionate thirst, my vision blurs at the edges. His tongue glides over my sensitive folds, exploring and tasting. Just knowing it’s him between my thighs heightens the ecstasy.
My spine curves when he sucks my sizzling clit between his lips and swirls over the little nub, making my entire body hum. I tug on his hair, moaning loudly at each teasing rotation.
The corners of my vision white out when he slides the tip of his finger through my folds, gathering sticky moisture. Any remaining boundaries left between us spectacularly shatter at the thick force he pushes inside me.
“So tight,” Sterling hums. “You would fit me like a glove.”