Every Which Way (Sloan Brothers) (16 page)

Macsen picked up on her sarcasm and let out a deep breath. He smiled widely as he opened the door for her. “You’ll get why I brought you here,” he explained as he walked closely behind her into the bar.

For a weekday, it was busy. It wasn’t packed body to body, but many of the seats were filled with people talking. No one looked up as they walked down the open space in between the bar and stage.

They picked a seat close to the stage. Severine noticed the instruments and people testing out the three microphones placed around the stage. Macsen’s face beamed with contentment.

Severine smiled at his happiness. He was close to bouncing around like a young child. “Why are we here, Mr. Sloan?”

His palm positioned itself to its most favorite place: the back of his neck. He rubbed it a few times and nervously moved his feet up and down. “A buddy of mine found Kasser a few months back. I try to come when a certain band plays.”

Severine turned in her chair and glanced at the stage. “What’s their name?”

Straight, white teeth came into view, and Severine discovered the small dimple on his left cheek. “Skinned Knees.”

His grin was contagious and made Severine’s lips turn up into a wide smile of her own. “Skinned Knees. That sounds rocky. Are they going to be screaming out all their songs? Should I have brought some earplugs?”

“Easy with the questions. No—to the earplugs. And a massive
hell no
to the screaming.”

“Will I like them?”

Macsen leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. With a thin gray t-shirt paired on top of a black long sleeve thermal, his style was comfortable, but hot. Severine looked down at his arms. The fine dark hair that coated his arms shone against the bright lights of the stage.His arms shifted to rest on his stomach. Severine lifted an eyebrow at the sinew of muscle that became easy to see.
Thank you, bright lights.

“Wait to hear them, will ya?”

All the lights in the room turned off. Severine couldn’t see her own hand in front of her. “Oh God. Did this place lose electricity? Are we going to get slaughtered by the village idiot?”

“Relax. The band is coming out.”

“And they need complete darkness? Because I have to say, that kind of gives me the creeps.”

“Just wait,” Macsen whispered.

A second later a spotlight came on and illuminated the stage, and nothing else. A guitar started to strum, and the drums picked up soon after. In total, there were four guys on the stage. The attention was directed on the lead singer. He grabbed the mic and held it between his hands as he started singing a song unknown to Severine.

The tune was catchy, and soon Severine’s foot moved up and down to the beat. She leaned over to Macsen and cupped a hand to her lips, “They’re a lot like OneRepublic.”

He nodded his head and focused back at the stage. “They’re great, right?”

For two hours they listened to Skinned Knees, and Macsen’s smile never left his face. Severine could’ve stared at him the whole night.

When they left the crappy bar, Severine sighed and looked up at Macsen’s profile. “I didn’t know you had this side to you.”

“What side?”

“A love for music. Do you play any instruments?” Severine asked.

“Ha. Fuck, no. My mom pushed me into piano lessons as a kid. It’s definitely not my niche. I’m better off being a spectator.”

“What other part of you have I yet to discover?” Severine teased.

He shrugged, trying to appear shy. When his arms reached out, he snatched her up easily and dangled her in the air. Macsen made her feel as light as a ballerina. Severine yelped and let out a laugh.

He kept walking, and her elbows lightly rested on his shoulders as he slowly walked them further from the bar. “I’m thinking about taking you in between one of these buildings,” Macsen admitted.

Many factors should stop her from smiling at his declaration. They were in a dangerous part of town ranked up there as number one. But she could think of nothing else. Her one good reason escaped her mind as Macsen turned to the left and guided them into the dark alley, away from the streetlights.

Her feet touched the ground, and she felt the uneven concrete beneath her feet. She felt as broken as it looked. Macsen matched her steps until she felt the side of the brick against her back. “Scared?”

He moved closer, until her body was covered from the world. Severine shook her head. “No.”

Macsen nodded and reached out to loosen her scarf. The red piece dangled around her neck like an unknotted tie. Cold air tickled her skin. Severine kept her mouth shut to prevent the gasp from escaping. Goosebumps broke across her skin, and she knew he saw it. He saw everything.

Two calloused hands settled at the base of her. Macsen turned his body to the side. Her throat contracted against his palm. “Sometimes I think you should be scared of me.”

Severine flashed her eyes up to his face. His fingers methodically rubbed her skin, and she prayed her eyes wouldn’t close from his touch. “Why...” Severine licked her lips and tried to speak firmly. “Why should I be scared of you?”

“You give me control, when I don’t know what do with it. I can barely dominate you, how could I ever have authority over us?”

“Don’t ask. Just take what’s in front of you,” Severine urged. And if he didn’t, she gladly would.

Before she could finish her thoughts, he firmly kissed her. His lips and tongue went to a limit and pushed the boundaries of any other kiss before this one. Her arms became bands around his neck, and she stood on her tiptoes to return everything he was giving her.

She could feel how hard he was. He pressed himself against her leg, and Severine moaned. He pressed her against the wall until a gasp escaped her lips. The buttons of her coat became unbuttoned, and his hands shaped her body with frantic touches. His hands grasped her breast and teased her until she couldn’t remember her own name.

Severine. I’m Severine
.

She jolted back and panted out heavily. “See.” Her smile was weak. “That wasn’t so hard.”

He pressed against her and laughed out in between breaths. “I think I have to disagree with you on that.”

When they moved away and walked back to his truck, Severine demanded her heart to slow down. But it didn’t.

She sketched this moment into her mind, because nothing could be so perfect. Nothing could stay right, and last.

Chapter Fifteen

Given the chance, her heart could start a tune with its erratic beating. Severine wanted this high to stay forever. And as long as Macsen remained by her side, that feeling would never leave. When she glanced across the couch at Macsen, she smirked.

“Stop staring.”

“Why?”

“You’re distracting me,” Macsen replied with his eyes glued to his laptop.

For the past hour, the two of them had studied. Severine’s brain was fried. Macsen’s obviously hadn’t shorted out. His fingers flew across his keyboard. Occasionally, he would glance at his notes before bringing his concentration back to the words on the screen. He looked rushed and typed furiously.

Severine smiled. “You’re going to break your keyboard, Macsen.”

“I’m trying to finish so we can really spend some time together.”

Severine sighed in response and settled her legs into his lap. Macsen barely seemed to notice, and leaned forward only a little. She felt his stomach and wiggled her feet. He only smirked and typed away. She watched his hands type faster until he pressed the period button, turned to her, and placed a hand firmly on her knee.

“Yes?” he said while he smiled.

“I think we need to go out this weekend.” Severine gave him her most charming smile.

He watched her thoughtfully and smirked. “Really? We need to?”

“Lily invited us to go to a new club. I said yes.”

He scratched the top of his head and frowned slightly. “Wasn’t there a bar they all went to only a few days ago?”

Severine moved close enough that her legs dangled off his thigh and spoke quickly, “Yeah. But it’s Friday. The weekend!”

Macsen stared at her with a blank look.

“We need to do something, or I’m gonna lose my mind! I know it’s not your scene, but, come on!”

“I’m not what you’d consider the slickest dancer.”

“So what? No one will notice. You can dance with me. Closely,” Severine emphasized slowly. He stared at her, and she drifted her foot up his thigh. “I’ll be wearing a really short dress,” Severine threw in for good measure.

Macsen groaned and leaned back. “I don’t know.”

“It will be fun, Macsen. I promise,” Severine pleaded lightly.

“I’m sorry, Sev. You should still go.”

“What? And dance by myself?” Severine jokingly asked as she inched her foot upward.

He grabbed it from going any further. “You’ll dance with someone and have fun.”

“And that doesn’t make you jealous?”

“Yes,” he growled and tackled her to the couch. “That’s why I won’t think about it.”

His lips moved to her neck and kissed everywhere. She could feel how hard he was becoming and tried a cruel tactic. Her hips moved against his thighs. His groan sounded tortured.

“You won’t have to think about it if you come with me,” Severine said in a seductive voice; one that usually gave her everything.

She watched as his eyes glazed over as he stared at her. He broke eye contact and placed his forehead on her neck. “It’s not my thing, Sev.”

“Macsen, it’s fine, don’t worry.” Severine paused to wrap her arms around his waist. “I’ll go with Lily and Benji. It will be great. I’ll be that annoying third wheel and barge in on all their conversations.”

His expression was sweet. The stubble he always forgot to shave gave him an edge. But with him right now, Severine saw how gentle he truly was. “Are you going to lose control like you did near Kasser’s?” Severine whispered.

Macsen pulled back and narrowed his eyes. “Are you questioning or wanting?”

He’d probably never push the boundaries too far with them. Severine sometimes wanted that other side of him to come out. She wanted him to be confident and sure. She was his; there wasn’t any other way around it. Her hand dragged the zipper of his hoodie down, and Macsen sat up quickly.

His cheeks turned red, as he took off the piece of clothing. He raised an inquiring eyebrow in Severine’s direction. She nodded her head and grabbed the hem of his dark green t-shirt. “I want, Macsen.”

Next his shirt came off. Severine’s eyebrows immediately jumped up in approval. He was lean, but more muscle was hidden underneath his shirt. His hands rested on his knees, and Severine noticed his abs flex at the movement. When he shifted closer, Severine wrapped her arms around his neck and grabbed onto the dark strands that were always covered with his trademark baseball cap. He suspended his body above hers. “What do you want me to do with you, Severine?”

Her full name never came out of his mouth. When it did, it captured her attention immediately. Her body reacted to the deep, soothing sound of his voice. “I’d like anything you could give me.”

“I don’t know if it’d be enough for you,” Macsen admitted quietly.

Severine pulled him closer. Her lips grazed against his slowly. He still hovered above her, but his warmth started to push closer and closer to her until their bodies touched fully, completely.

Soon, his lips and his tongue skimmed across the seam of her lips. Her arms pressed against his back with force. Macsen’s hands drifted down her stomach towards her jeans; his hands were insistent as he undid the button and lowered the zipper.

Through his pants, she could feel him. Severine shifted her hips, and Macsen’s hands moved across her stomach toward her hips to hike them around his waist. His belt buckle dug into her skin. Even with the discomfort, Severine didn’t want to pull away. All of this felt too good. She didn’t want to ruin this.

The door crashed loudly against the wall. The wall rattled, and Severine’s body completely froze up. She didn’t have to look up to know who was home.

Macsen shifted slightly to discreetly move the waistband of her jeans together. All his action did was rub his dick against her thigh.

His eyes fluttered shut, and Severine smiled. “Bonjour,” she whispered in his ear.

“It’s not funny.”

“Given our situation, and the fact that my pants are close to falling off, there’s nothing left to do but laugh.”

He went to respond. Chris’s loud voice boomed across the room. “Fuck, dude. You’re going to break the door off the hinges!” Chris exclaimed.

Thayer was hidden in the kitchen while Chris noisily dropped his things and kicked off his shoes.

“How are you two love birds?” Chris asked with a cheesy wink. He openly stared at the two of them entwined on the couch.

“Well, I’m effectively finished for the night,” Macsen mumbled against her neck. He pulled away and discreetly zipped up Severine’s pants. “We were doing great until you guys came barging inside.”