Jealousy burns hot in my veins and at this point, I don’t care. I’m jealous. So fucking what.
“Then what?” I urge.
“Then, he just grabs me and pulls me to him. Starts kissing me like he has the right!”
I grip the steering wheel so tight, it’s a wonder it doesn’t crack in my grip. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
She snorts, bordering on hysteria. “Oh, don’t worry, Mars. I took care of it. My mother is going to freak when she finds out.”
A smile cuts across my face, sharp like a knife. “What did you do, baby?”
“I slapped him! He started yelling about what a tease I was and grabbed my elbow, so I kneed him in the balls!”
I burst out laughing, despite the urge to kill this motherfucker. It sends her into a fit of giggles too.
“That’s my girl,” I praise. “What did he do then?”
“Well, he went down crying like a little wussy, and then I ran to the bathroom to call you.”
“Good girl,” I tell her. “Now get your butt downstairs and into the parking lot. I’ll be in The Beast.”
“I miss The Beast.”
“He’s not sick anymore and he misses you too.”
After a quick goodbye, I hurry my ass to the hotel. Limos line the front and I get the stink eye from a valet man when I bypass them to drive in the fancy semicircle. He starts whistling at me to move on, but then I see her.
My fucking girl.
Dressed in red, mascara stains down her splotchy cheeks, raven hair in disarray.
So goddamn beautiful.
I may not be able to have her like I want her, but I can still have her.
Like this.
Mars and Sage.
I throw the truck in park and lean over the bench to undo the latch. With a shove, I pop the door open. Sage is barefoot, her fancy shoes in her hand, as she runs across the pavement. Her giant purse is pulled over her shoulder and a smile stretches across her face when she sees me.
“Excuse me,” she squeaks out to the unimpressed valet man. She tosses her bag into the floor and slams the door shut behind her. As she scoots to the middle, I throw the truck into drive, peeling out of the semicircle. “Mars!”
Her arm loops with mine, and she leans her cheek on my shoulder.
“Missed you,” I tell her, kissing her soft hair on top of her head.
“Missed you too.”
I drive out of Ashton Hills toward that little slice of heaven neither here nor there. Our field. Sage leans forward and turns on the radio. “Alive” by Pearl Jam starts blaring and she sings along.
My heart cracks right open and Sage fills it back up.
I was empty.
Now I’m filled again.
I’m not really sure how this friendship will have to go with us, but one thing’s for sure. It won’t be apart. Now that she’s back in my atmosphere, shooting her sparkles across my black void, I’m so fucking happy. It’s where she belongs. With me.
In less than fifteen minutes, we’re driving down the long road to our field. I find a good spot to park and then shut off the truck. We’re both quiet a moment. Then, Sage reaches over and takes my hand. I thread my fingers with hers. Maybe friends don’t hold hands like this.
But we’re Mars and Sage.
More than friends. Less than lovers. The something in between.
“Kicked him in the nuts, huh?” I ask with a chuckle.
Her giggle echoes through my soul. “Yep.”
I look down and catch her green eyes searing into mine. My palm finds her cheek as my thumb tries to erase the evidence of her tears that are a black stain now. She licks her lips, sending currents of forbidden heat burning through me. The look she’s giving me is anything but disgusted.
Pleading.
Begging.
How could I ever deny those sad eyes and plump lips?
My lips brush against hers in the softest of kisses. So sweet. So gentle. And then the neediest mewl escapes her. I can’t help but bite her supple lip. The sounds coming from her are maddening and addictive.
I need more of her.
Gripping her hips, I pull her to me. She slides her leg across my lap, settling her center right on the part of me that is hard as stone for her. My sinner grinds against me, destroying all self-control. I become ravenous as I kiss her perfect mouth.
She tastes like heaven and hell.
She tastes like all the stars in the sky.
She tastes like mine.
My hands are greedy, desperate to feel her everywhere. When my thumb brushes against her side zipper, I do the unthinkable. I pull it down. She whimpers and starts yanking my hoodie up. As soon as it gets pulled away, along with my shirt, I tug her dress down. Underneath she has a strapless bra that I unhook with a quick flick of my finger and thumb. I toss her bra away and take both breasts in my hands. She cries out when my mouth latches onto one of her hard nipples.