MERCS
“I wonder if I can get rose petals in here on time,” I murmur to myself as I light Effa’s favorite juniper and jasmine incense to have the room smelling the way she likes it. We’ve held out for a long two days, and right now I want to make her feel special. I want her to know how much she means to me. When she gets back from dealing with Andi, I’m going to make love to her slowly, until it’s time for tonight’s show.
The unmistakable click on the hotel door alerts me that someone’s entering our room and I spin around. She’s only been gone—I look at my watch—all of twenty minutes, and I’m not prepared. I’ve only lit the candles and incense, and haven’t finalized nearly as much as I wanted to have done.
Effa storms into the room along with Cooper as I blow out the lit match in my hand and place it on the bench next to the incense. Her face is hard as she walks in.
Well, that’s not the excited taken back look I was going for.
Cooper glances around the room then at me and smirks. “Right, well, I… ahh… got you back to the room. I can see this is going to be a really awesome chat so I might head off.”
Effa throws herself onto the bed with a huff and runs her hands over her face still seemingly oblivious to the state of the room.
I furrow my brows and look to Cooper. “Everything okay?”
Cooper draws in a deep breath then blows it out, letting me know something’s definitely not right.
“I’ll… ahh… leave you to it. Call me if you need me, Effa,” Cooper offers and turns heading for the door.
I don’t bother to watch him leave, but rather make my way to the bed where Effa seems to be caught up in her own world. I sit down beside her, and wrap my arm around her back, pulling her to me as her body goes limp.
“Effa, what’s wrong?” I murmur, as I run my hand up and down her back trying to soothe her like she does me all the time.
She sniffs and peers up at me. “I don’t even know where to begin…”
I nod and gnaw on my bottom lip. “Okay… is Andi all right?”
“She’s a bitch, but she’s not the one I’m the most concerned about right now.”
Furrowing my brows, I’m confused. “Effa, will you just talk to me?”
She lets out a groan, stands abruptly, and walks to the other side of the room. Then she starts pacing the floor and running her hands through her hair. “Okay fine. But I need you to stay calm. Promise me.”
Sitting up taller, I straighten my shoulders as I look at her, my chest tightening already knowing I’m not going to like whatever she’s going to say next. “Effa?”
“Jett… he… I saw him in the elevator, and I approached him about how he’s been avoiding me for the last two weeks.”
My jaw clenches and I haven’t even heard what he’s done.
“So… he told me about you two having your little argument, and that he was staying away because you told him to. That Luke was there to ‘save the day,’ but… that it was all part of his bigger plan. That he knew if he stayed away from me, I wouldn’t be able to resist staying away from him. That I would do exactly what you didn’t want me to do… which would be to talk to him. And that it would basically be his way of winning the next battle, the one where I would go to him, defying you. I think it’s his twisted way of thinking it means I want him or something, Mercs…” She pauses. “Because he leaned in and kissed my cheek so forcefully it made me extremely uncomfortable.”
Anger builds inside me as I listen, and I detest the rage that’s flowing through me caused by that useless asshole. I despise Jett for trying so hard to take what’s mine.
“He can’t have you,” I yell loudly. I’m infuriated and need to calm down.
“I’m yours, Mercs, you know that,” her soft voice echoes over to me.
“Did you tell him that?” I squeeze out.
Her silence is deafening.
Turning around, I face her. “Damn it, Effa. Why didn’t you tell him that? He needs to hear it from you.”
She sniffs, her tiny frame somehow seeming even smaller as she wraps her arms around herself. “I just wanted to get out of there… to get back to you. He was right, I did play straight into his hands, and all I wanted at that moment was you. I… I should have said something to him. I should have told him that it’s you. It’s only you. It’s only ever been you. And it will be you for as long as you want me.”
“You’re damn right. But don’t worry, I’ll tell him for you. Right now… With. My. Fucking. Fist,” I threaten and swivel to head for the door.
Effa gasps and bolts to me, her small hand gripping my bicep in an attempt to stop me. “Kaden, no. Please. Stop.”
I pause, glaring at her. “Why?”
“You c-can’t hit h-him, Mercs.” Her voice is breaking like she’s on the verge of tears, and the thought that she actually cares about what happens to this grade-A asshole is starting to grate on my last nerve.
My jaw clenches as I look down at her. “What the fuck, Effa. Why do you want to protect him?” I ask, taking a step back from her.
Effa’s eyebrows furrow as she slumps her body, her face contorting in pain. She steps closer to me, but I step back.
“Kaden, stop. Take a deep breath,” she rasps.
I realize I’m panicking, I can fucking feel it. The thought of losing her is so painful, so incredibly excruciating, it’s making it hard to focus and I’m swamped with fear. Fear of losing her.
Turning, I move off to head for the door. But I can’t do it, she means too fucking much to me. So I turn to face her, and she brings her hand up to cup my cheek.
“Kaden… stop!”
“Why… why should I when you want to protect him like this?”
She shakes her head, holding her grip on my cheek a little firmer. Somehow her touch seems to be calming me down.
“Because… asshole… I’m falling for you.”
I take a deep centering breath and look directly into her glistening eyes.
She’s falling for me?
My brows crease as I tilt my head. “Then why are you protecting him?”
She leans her forehead against mine. “We have a show tonight, and I don’t want to see you arrested for some shit that goes down between you and him. Also, that ass needs to be able to perform. That’s all. I don’t need his teeth knocked out or his nose broken so he can’t sing. He needs to be in one piece because we need our fucking opening band, Mercs.”
Taking a deep breath, I’m flooded with relief as I reach out, wrapping my arms around her and hold her to me tight. Feeling her warmth wrap around me so lovingly it fills me with hope. “You’re falling for me?” I ask again for confirmation forgetting about everything else she’s said.
“I am… have been since I met you.”
Leaning in, I press my lips to hers. She tastes of berries, and I love that Effa always tastes the same.
“I’m falling, too,” I murmur against her lips. “But there’s something I need to do first before we discuss this more,” I add as I pull back and head for the door.
She sighs and nods. “Please don’t get into a fight, I like you in one piece.”
I turn back to look at her and nod. “No physical ones, I promise.”
She winces but nods.
“Thank you… and thank you for the room, it smells delicious. I’m sorry our time together is delayed, yet again. But I love that you made all this effort. Honestly, it’s gorgeous.”
A slow smile creeps on my face and calmness washes over me. “We’ll have our time. Even if it’s tonight after the concert.”
She nods and smiles. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I step toward the door without a second thought, heading right for the man I need to have a few choice words with.
Effa… is mine.
And Jett’s going to realize that fact, plain and simple.
Storming down the hall, I hope like hell he’s in his room when I get there. I know exactly what I’m going to say, and I swear to God if he doesn’t do what I want, I will take action into my own hands.
I won’t have a choice.
Arriving at his door, I thump on the wood. I need to assert my dominance from the get-go. Let him know who’s boss. So I thump hard and fast three times. There’s no mistaking someone’s angry at his door by the tone of the banging. Standing back, my heart is thrashing in my chest, my blood coursing through my veins. I’m tense again, and I hate it.
The door swings open and his eyes look me up and down then he grins with his usual sideways smile. His floppy blond hair looks a little more disheveled than normal, but his white button-up shirt fits like a glove. Does he ever wear anything else?
“Luke,” I murmur and he nods.
“Mercs, you’re back. It’s good to see you. I’m assuming everything went well with your trip?” he asks and I take a centering breath.
“Look, I’m not here to talk pleasantries about my trip. I’m here to talk business,” I clarify.
Luke widens his eyes and nods, opening the door, leaving room for me to walk into his suite. Sliding past him, my feet feel heavy as I stomp into his room and step down to the living area. It’s neat and kept, and even though there’s a small gathering of papers on the desk, I don’t miss the pair of ladies panties hanging from the edge of the sofa.
Luke, you sly dog.
Walking past them, I make my way to sit on the bed rather than next to the panties. I take a deep breath as Luke strolls in and sits on the sofa, trying to stealthily slide the panties in behind a cushion. It’s a terribly obvious move, but I don’t react.
“So, business… I hope this doesn’t mean we need to discuss ways of keeping you already?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s Swift Division. I want you to find another opening band.”
Luke jolts his head back in surprise at my demand. “Umm… for starters why would I do that? Their music blends so well with Luminous, and the crowd love them?”
“I don’t care. Jett’s gotta go. He’s manipulative, conniving, and to top it off a fucking asshole. He put the moves on Effa and makes her uncomfortable continuously. It’s not all right, Luke.”
He rubs his chin. “When did this happen?”
“Just now. He made this play about winning one over me by having Effa talk to him after I told him to stay the hell away from her. She played right into his hands, and then when she tried to back away, he practically assaulted her by kissing her.”
Luke’s head snaps up with his eyes wide, he says, “Kissed her, how?”
Swallowing hard, I clear my throat as my jaw twitches. “On the cheek, but it was the force that he used. He wasn’t nice about it, Luke. The guy’s a jerk, and he won’t stop. I’m scared that his infatuation for her is out of control. What if he tries something when one of us isn’t there, and next time he goes for more than a kiss and she can’t stop him?”
Luke looks out the window, the curtains are pulled back letting the amber hues of dusk filter through the high rise suite. “I get what you’re saying—”
“Then get another band.”
His head shoots back to me, his eyes hard, his face stern. “It’s not that simple. Finding another band to fill in on the ass end of a tour and to start straight away…” His face scrunches up and his forehead puckers. “Shit like that doesn’t happen, Mercs. They have a contract, and we have to honor it. He stays… there’s little I can do about it.”
Standing up, I begin to pace the floor at the thought of Jett being around longer than necessary.
Luke exhales and shakes his head. “Sorry, but you might just have to suck it up—”
“Suck it up? Suck. It. Up. I’m talking about the safety of my girl here, Luke. Or do you not care about that?”
He stands and walks over pulling up right in front of me, forcing me to look up at him as he takes a deep centering breath. “Of course, I care. I love these girls. They mean everything to me. Every one of them…” His mouth sets in a thin hard line while he thinks then he continues, “I’m already having Raoul follow Effa at all times while she’s here. But Mercs, I can’t pull Swift Division. We’d be in court before my ass hits the ground. You get that, don’t you?”
I grit my teeth, hating the fact that Jett’s sticking around, but knowing that Luke’s right. The tour needs an opening band and the girls don’t need a lawsuit. What really fucking grates is that in all of this, Jett has all the fucking power. I can’t do anything to get rid of the little asshole. At least, I’ll be around to protect Effa, and Raoul is on her when I’m not. That fact, I can make sure of.
“Raoul’s to be with her at all times when I’m not with her?” I ask.
“Yes. It’s already done. And if he isn’t Cooper will be. I know you want what’s best for Effa. I do, too. Trust me on that, Mercs.”
Relaxing my tightly wound up muscles but only slightly, I nod once. He looks at me and brings his hand up to my shoulder giving it a tight squeeze. “Look, I know you guys have grown really close. I can see it in your eyes you care for her deeply. But trust me when I say, I will do everything in my power to make sure she’s cared for. After all, I don’t want anything happening to her either, Mercs. I care about her way too much for that.”
His voice is deep, but full of vigor like he’s saying it with nothing but pure honesty. And at this moment, I trust him. Things will work out. They have to. Luke knows what he’s doing, and I have to trust that even though this is not the outcome I needed, for now, it’s the only one I’m going to get. So I crack my neck to the side and take a deep breath.
“Thanks for listening. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
He nods and walks with me toward the door, as I try to compose myself enough to head back down to see Effa. I want to be what she deserves, and that’s calm and collected.
“I’ll keep you informed of any updates.”
“I appreciate that. Thanks, Luke.”
He nods, opening the door for me and stepping to the side. “Thanks for coming to me with this, Mercs, rather than going after Jett yourself.”
“Thank Effa. I would have beaten him senseless if I had my way, but Effa asked me not to, and I can’t deny her anything,” I say with a smirk.
“Not that Jett doesn’t deserve it, but it would have made my day very chaotic if you rearranged that pretty face of his.”
With a nod, I step out of his room and walk down toward Effa, my muscles still tense and needing a release of some kind. Before we arrived back at the hotel, they needed a sexual release, but now I feel like I need a good workout with a boxing bag. One preferably with a picture of Jett’s head painted on it. All the joy I had at home has quickly evaporated and is now filled with the stressors of rock star life again.
How quickly it turns.
The idea of seeing Jett later when we go to the stadium is pissing me off, and as I step up to the hotel room door, I try to keep calm. I knock quickly and the door swings open and Effa peers through, her eyes squinting like she’s concerned who might be on the other side. But then she relaxes spotting me and opens the door wide so I can come in. She looks me over, obviously assessing my body to check for any damage, but seeing none she visibly relaxes.
“Oh, praise Gaia. You’re okay,” she expresses.
“I didn’t go to see Jett.”
“You didn’t?”
I turn reaching out and pulling her to me. Her tiny body moves to me instantly falling into my arms. I automatically feel calmer for holding her. “No, I had a visit with Luke.”
Her brows knit together. “Oh, I bet that went well.”
I lean in resting my forehead against hers. “Jett stays… but Raoul’s going to be on you whenever I’m not around. I’m sorry, I know you like having your space to do your yoga, and to be at the arena before the concerts, but Raoul will be with you from now until the tour is over.”
Effa lets out a heavy sigh, but agrees with a nod. “Okay. Raoul’s kinda been following me around for a while. But if it helps you relax, I’ll let him follow me everywhere even to the toilet.”
“You don’t have a choice here, baby. I don’t want Jett alone with you. At. All. I don’t trust his motives, his intentions, or his libido.”
“I don’t think he’d try anything like that, but I hear you, and it’s fine. But, umm… what are you going to do when you see him next?”
Leaning in, I plant a soft kiss on her lips, and that all too familiar spark shoots through my entire body. She still manages to electrify me. Pulling back, I look her in her eyes and shrug. “Not a thing. Be the bigger man and all that shit.”
She smiles so wide, the little dimple in her left cheek really comes alive as her button nose wrinkles up in a look of delight. “Have I ever told you how amazing you are?”
“No, actually, I don’t think you have.”
“Well, you… the center of my world… are the most caring, affectionate, most stunningly courageous man I’ve ever met. And I swear to Gaia that you make me the happiest woman in the world.”
My muscles finally loosen from their intense tension, and I relax holding onto her tightly. Looking into her eyes, they sparkle and shine brightly while she stares at me with such immense adoration, it fills me with nothing but an amazing sense of worth and a feeling of home. I’m undeniably a lucky man.
I lean in and kiss her lips again, sending a shudder all the way down my spine. She’s the light in my dark. She’s guiding me through this hell of a life I live, and as I pull back from her, I don’t even know what to say to top that. I can’t. Nothing seems enough.
“After Lilah, I never thought I would ever fall for another woman. I never thought I could ever open myself up to feeling so strongly about another person again. But with you, it’s totally different. You get me. But the one thing I do know is, that when I heard Jett was making a move on you, it literally killed me to think of another man with you. I don’t want any other man to have you. They can’t because you belong with me.”
My fingers scrub through my hair and then I gaze back up at Effa again. “I don’t know how. I don’t know why. It shouldn’t work. You’re from Australia, I’m from Pennsylvania. We’re from opposite sides of the world. We’re opposites in almost every way. But baby, we work. I need us to be together, because when I think of a life without you, even for one moment… my life’s black and empty. Despair fills my heart. I can’t be in a world without you in it, Effa.” The words flow out of my mouth openly and honestly. Telling her all the truths I’ve needed to say for some time, I watch her eyes fill with tears.
She leans in and embraces me hard. “I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. We’re in this. You and me, until the last light dims.”
“Until the last light dims…” Leaning down, I press my lips to hers, forcing my tongue inside and kiss her firmly. She makes no attempt to soften the kiss, only kissing me back with as much passion as I’m showing her. My hands slide down to her ass, and I squeeze, as her hands lace around my neck bringing us together.
Needing her even closer, I lift her tiny frame up. She doesn’t break the kiss as her legs wrap around my waist, and I turn us, her back to the wall and slam her into it as we kiss. She lets out a small “oomph” as we collide with the plasterboard, but our dueling tongues continue to dance the tango against each other’s.
My cock hardens in my pants against her pussy which she’s grinding against me, and I figure we have a small window of time. I wanted to take it slow, but maybe a quick fuck to tide us over until tonight will have to do.
Effa must think the same as me as her hand slides down between us and dives straight into my pants. She unzips my fly and frees my rock hard cock as I shimmy my hips to let my jeans fall around my ass. She hitches her summer dress up and moves her hand between us to pull her panties to the side. I push her harder against the wall and line my cock up with her opening. We’re both panting, the need in us building at an undeniable rate.
My cock’s so hard, I’m guessing this won’t last long. My tip slides against her slickened folds. She’s so wet and ready for me. Our mouths are still connected as I thrust up into her.
Warmth.
Fulfillment.
Home.
She moans into my mouth as every part of me instantly comes alive at the feeling of her encasing me. I pump into her against the wall, my fingers digging into her ass cheeks as our throaty moans echo through the suite.
She feels so good, and taking her hard, fast, and unrelenting against the wall like this is perhaps just what I need to get me through this bout of pent-up tension.
Her pussy tightens as I pull back and thrust in, hitting the spot that I know she loves. Her husky moan growls deep from her chest as her lips break from mine and her head falls back against the wall needing air. I don’t hesitate as my mouth takes possession of her collarbone, my teeth grazing harshly over her skin as she moans loudly, riding me hard.
Her nipples stiffen beneath her dress, and they rub against my shirt. The cool drifting down over us from the air vent above, doing nothing to cool the heat on my skin from the inferno Effa is blazing me into.
My teeth slide up her neck, my tongue tasting the sweet saltiness of her slickened skin as we move together in unison. The heat building and building. The pressure in my cock becoming so intense, I feel like my balls will burst because they have tightened up so tight.
Her whimpers are only building to a crescendo as her pussy clenches around my cock. I know she’s close as her nails dig into the back of my neck while her quick breaths come out raspy and breathless.
“Oh, Kaden…”
The husky sound of her voice sends me over the edge as I thrust up hard into her, biting down into her neck. Not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to leave a mark. She moans as her pussy tightens so intensely that her entire body shudders. She shakes violently and screams out my name again. Her pussy clenching and milking me, sending me over the edge into bliss.
I clinch my eyes shut seeing flashes of light. One last time, I thrust up into her before my balls squeeze fully and my cock swells then I explode, ramming hard inside of her, coming strongly as we come down from our extreme tension relieving high.
My teeth turn from biting to a tender kiss on her neck as I wind her down. I pull back looking into her hazy eyes. She looks back at me and smiles, as I lean my forehead against hers. “You’re so beautiful,” I whisper a little breathless, and she giggles as her fingers trail feather-light strokes up my hairline.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Our heads both snap around. “Who in the hell?” Effa murmurs.
I groan, pulling out of her, and let her feet touch the floor and then regrettably releasing her. She looks at me as she adjusts herself, and I bend down pulling my pants back up and put myself away.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Effa? Are you in there?” Alana’s voice calls out through the door, and I relax instantly as does Effa. She smiles, tussling her hair and walks to the door, pulling it open.
“Hey, how are you?” Her voice clearly sounding like she’s been caught in the middle of something.
I smirk as I walk to the bed and take a seat.
“Well, sorry I interrupted whatever was going on in here, but we gotta go. Everyone’s waiting.”
I furrow my brows, standing up, and walk around the corner toward the door where Effa looks rattled.
“What? What do you mean? We have another hour, don’t we?”
Alana shakes her head. “No, we’re leaving now. There’s been a change in plan. Some security upgrade or some shit. Luke’s arranged for us all to go now. So c’mon, we gotta go.”
I tense up instantly. We’re heading to the arena where I’m inevitably going to run into Jett, and I’m going to have to act like he doesn’t bother me.
Good fucking luck to me.
I’ll need my A-game on that’s for sure.