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Storm (Ashes & Embers 1)

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Chapter Twen

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I dump the contents of the five shopping bags onto my bed and start cutting the tags off. Amy pretty much kidnapped me earlier and took me on a shopping spree for ‘sexy clothes.’ New jeans, tops, panties, bras, skirts, pumps, boots. All of it a little bit out of my comfort zone, but Amy says if I’m going to be dating Storm, then I should dress sexier when we go out or else social media will eat me.

At the time, I just rolled my eyes at her and let her dress me up like a little doll in each store, but now that I’m alone, my ol’ friends fear and panic are coming in for a visit.

Storm is kinda sorta famous. He has fans, groupies, probably a stalker or two. Once we start dating for real and go out in public, these people are going to be looking at me. Judging me. I’ve seen pictures of him online with the models and actresses. I read the comments beneath the photos, some saying they were the hottest couple, some saying she was a fat skank and everything in between. People can be brutal sitting behind a keyboard.

Soon, those comments will be about me.

Me. A twenty-six-year-old, five foot two, one hundred and thirty pound average girl who spends most of her free time with her cat. My hair color is real. I am not even close to being tan, ever. I wear sneakers most of the time (unless I’m in a blizzard, then my footwear of choice is the useless black pump.) How would his fans react to him dating a nobody?

My focus since I’ve met Storm has been on the connection we formed. How he cares for me, and how much I care about him. The way he brings me out of my shell but also makes me feel safe. How he has taught me to feel passion. The pure contentment we feel just being together, holding hands. The way we can fight and then bounce right back together.

The fear of him possibly not being able to commit always just under the surface, but there, regardless.

I really never thought about the fact I would be under a microscope with him, and I’m not quite sure how my fragile psyche is going to deal with all that. I’m going to have to talk to him about this and get some advice.

I’m nervous as hell when I pull into the parking lot of the club. Since Storm and the band all arrived together on the bus straight from the road, the plan is for me to just meet him here, and we’ll go to my place together after the concert.

I text him from the parking lot like he asked me to do.

Me: I’m here!

Storm: Awesome. Meet me at the back door, baby. I’ll be right there.

I walk around the side of the building, past a few dumpsters, to the back door. I tap on it lightly and it swings open. He pulls me inside, closing the door behind me, and backs me up against the wall, his body flush against mine. He smothers me with his body and lips, his hands tight on my waist. I drop my bag and wind my arms around his neck, craning my head up to meet his hungry mouth. Even with three-inch heels on, he still towers above me.

“Damn, I missed you,” he murmurs, lowering his mouth to my neck. “You always smell so good.” He inhales and his lips find my earlobe, sucking gently, sending a shiver through my body.

“I missed you...” I reply—my mind dizzy already.

He pulls back and grabs my hand. “Come on, I want you to meet the guys before we have to get on stage.”

We walk down a dark hallway at the back of the club, mostly lined with old boxes and garbage cans, and then he takes us through another door where a few people are hanging out, tuning instruments, drinking, and talking.

“Hey, guys, I want you to officially meet Evelyn...” Storm announces.

“Also known as Blizzard Chick, for those of you who don’t know,” Ash adds. I give him a weak smile, not sure if he’s joking or being sarcastic. His resemblance to Storm still freaks me out a bit.

Storm grins, his grip on my hand tightening. “Yes, aka Blizzard Chick. Evie, you met my brother Ash already, and my cousin Lukas. That’s my other brother Talon by the drums, my brother Mikah, my cousin Vandal...,that’s Robbie, he helps us out with shit, and that’s Jill.”

Jill. Juggsy. I was close.

They all say hey or what’s up or some other form of hello, and I smile shyly back at them and say hi. They are all incredibly good-looking, covered in tattoos and piercings, almost all of them with longish hair. Vandal sticks out like a black cloud on a summer day. His jet-black hair is the longest of them all, and messy, covering half his face. His eyes are dark—almost black and his skin is the color of dark coffee stretched over huge muscles. He has an intense gaze, unsmiling. He’s a bit scary to be honest, but there is something about him that just commands attention. I feel like if he raised his voice just a little, I’d be cowering in the corner hugging myself in about two seconds.

Jill is giving me the evil eye, leaning against a large speaker, arms crossed. I try not to look at her face. I don’t want to see the mouth that was on Storm, obviously not requiring detailed directions like yours truly.

Storm gets me set up on a stool off to the side of the stage, hidden from the crowd. Nudging my legs apart with his, he moves to stand between my thighs and plants a kiss on my lips.

“I might steal this stool for later,” he teases, pressing his growing erection against me. His hand moves down the outside of my jean-clad thigh, pulling me tighter against his body. “I’m not sure I can play knowing you’re sitting right here looking all hot.”

I fake a pout at him. “I’ve been dying to watch you play again.”

“We’re outta here as soon as this gig is over. I need to be alone with you.” He groans, his dark eyes lowering to gaze at my chest.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

Clutching the sides of his open shirt, I kiss his naked chest, right below the heavy black cross hanging from his neck.

Letting out a deep breath, he pulls away. “Okay, baby. Time to go. You stay right here, all right?”

I nod and push his hair out of his face so I can look up into his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Ever.

Sitting so close to the band is nearly deafening, but so exhilarating. The music vibrates through my body, pulsing through my veins. I can’t take my eyes off Storm as he plays his riffs and toys with the crowd. His stage persona is undeniably sexy, beckoning the fans to want him. I’m completely captivated by him, just as the fans are. I laugh as he crosses the stage and stands next to Vandal and they play together for a few moments, Storm grinning like a lunatic at Vandal, trying to get a smile out of him, but Vandal just shakes his head at him. The crowd laughs and screams Vandals name.

“He’ll get bored of you.”

I turn, the smile slowly fading from my lips.

Up close, Jill isn’t very pretty. There’s a hardness about her, an emptiness to her eyes. If I met her somewhere else, as a stranger, I would feel sorry for her. I would wonder what made this woman look so angry and lifeless.

“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” I throw back at her and turn my attention back to the band. I won’t let her bring me down.

“Yes,” she says. “We will.” She steps in front of me with her smirking smug face, blocking my view.

“Trust me, Jill. He won’t be requiring any of your holes anymore. I’ve got it covered.” I pray she doesn’t see through my fake confidence. “Run along now. I think I saw a group of teenage boys outside earlier that might be impressed with your plastic parts.”

I exhale as she sneers at me and prances away on her stilt-like shoes. Amy was right, just nip this bitch in the bud, and don’t give her an inch. I will not let her get wind of my insecurities.

Storm swoops onto me as the band leaves the stage, gathering me up in his arms and lifting me off the stool. I wrap my legs around his waist and he backs me up against the nearest wall.

“Christ, get a room,” one guy mutters, walking by us. I’m too caught up in Storm to even be embarrassed, loving that he is not afraid of public affection. He’s sweaty and breathing heavy as he kisses me, but I don’t care. I just want more and more of him.

He pulls away from my lips, his green eyes

are bright and fiery. Being on stage truly brings him to life. Every part of him appears to be humming with energy.

“I like having you here when I get off the stage.”

It’s not the first time he’s alluded to wanting me to travel with him, and I skirt the issue every time. Of course, I want to be with him, but so many fears jump to the forefront of my mind. My fear of flying. My claustrophobia. Leaving Halo. My job.

“Evie...” He lowers me back down on my feet. “I see your mind tweaking again.” He touches my nose affectionately with his fingertip. “No more of that. Let’s go. It’s time to commence what will forever be known as me and you.”

My heart stops.

It skips two beats.

One for me. One for him.

And then it pounds again, harder than ever.

Chapter Twenty-One

Two steps into my house and he turns, backing me against the door. His hand clicks the lock in place. I reach for the light switch, but he grabs my hand and pins it above my head. Above us, the moon is shining through the skylight, casting a dim blue ethereal light throughout the living room.

He kisses me softly, sucking my bottom lip between his. Leaning my head back against the door, I open my mouth to him as his tongue slowly sweeps in and finds mine. His free hand goes to my blouse and begins to unbutton it.

“I had this plan,” he says between kisses, “to go really slow with you,” he kisses my cheek, “and bring you roses,” he drags his lips down to my neck, “and be all romantic,” he nips my neck with his teeth, “and show you how special you are.” His fingers fumble with my buttons. “Fuck it.” He releases my hand and rips the front of my blouse open, tiny onyx buttons flying. He dives down to my chest, pulling my bra aside, his hungry mouth devouring my breast, his tongue rolling over my nipple.

“I don’t need all that.” I murmur, gripping his shoulders, my pink nails digging into his flesh.

He yanks my blouse down my arms and tosses it to the side and without missing a beat, reaches behind me to unhook my bra and tosses that, too. Seconds later, he’s got my jeans undone and pushed down to my ankles. He sinks down to his knees and pulls my pumps off then disentangles my jeans from my feet. He runs his hands from my ankles all the way up to my thighs, hooks his thumbs in my new silk panties, and slides them down and off. He kisses my inner thigh, his hands low on my hips, dragging his tongue all the way up, his tongue disappearing into my folds. I let out a small moan and grip his shoulders tighter. Lifting my leg, he bends it over his shoulder and delves in further, his tongue going in deep, his fingers splayed out to the side of my mound, spreading me apart for him. His tongue wanders up to capture my clit between his lips, sucking gently while he slowly slides a finger into my wet entry. My leg starts to shake and I grab a fistful of his hair. My hips instinctively start to buck toward his face, the urgency building. He pulls his finger out quickly, his tongue leaving my quivering bud, and he begins to kiss my tummy, his hands going around cupping my ass in his hands. My pussy twitches from the sudden abandonment, aching for him to touch me again and bring me back to that climax that was so near.



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