Mouse: A Steel Paragons MC Novel (The Coast: Book 7)

by Hart, Eve R.

  “Well, yeah. It’s hard sometimes, to be surrounded by all these wonderful people and see the love they have for one another. And don’t get me started on Chris and my brother.” She rolled her eyes but the smile was a dead giveaway to how she really felt about it. “I don’t know any of that. I didn’t get to fall in love and have that experience where you have some deeper connection. I’m basically a virgin but I’m not. You know? And how am I supposed to— this is weird talking to you about this stuff, no?”

  “I mean,” I said scratching the back of my neck.

  Okay, yeah it was a little bit.

  What the hell was I supposed to say to that?

  “And how do I know if all of these things I’m feeling are real?” She kept going like it didn’t matter that I was stumbling. “Like how am I supposed to know that what I feel is true or if I’m just clinging onto the first person that came along and showed me kindness. Or maybe I’m latching onto one event that brought us closer together. Something we shared that no one else was a part of.”

  “What are you saying, Ingram?” It was clear that she was talking about me. Yeah, my heart was about to beat out of my chest.

  “Dr. Walsher said that I was grasping for something good in an ugly situation. That maybe I wasn’t old enough to understand things. But I think she had it a little wrong. I may have been sheltered in some ways, but in others… well, I got things that maybe other people wouldn’t. Things that people should not ever have to get. I understand the difference between being forced to do something and wanting to share something special with someone. Malcolm, I just need to know that I’m not crazy.”

  “I don’t think you are. But what do you mean?” I asked and was so afraid to hear the answer. But deep inside I knew. I knew what she was talking about because I felt it too.

  I tried my hardest to think of her as the girl I first met. It helped me in times when I felt I was falling deep.

  Except, she wasn’t seventeen anymore. And she wasn’t looking at me like some bright-eyed teenage girl with an infatuation.

  If I let myself admit it, she hadn’t looked at me that way since she returned. Maybe, just maybe, I felt it too when she was around because that was when it was impossible for me to ignore.

  “Malcolm.” She whispered my name like a plea and I was instantly thrown back to that night. The night I first kissed her.

  I blinked and then she was straddling my lap.

  Holy fuck!

  I didn’t know what to do.

  “I miss your touch, Malcolm,” she whispered and she was right there for the taking. “I wish for it all the time. Even before you kissed me. I think I’ve wanted it for a long time now.”

  It was then that I realized my fists were clenched at my sides.

  “Tell me…” she whispered. Her eyes were on mine and her fingers lightly dug into my shoulders. Even in the dark of night, I could see how much she wanted me. “Tell me there’s more with us. Tell me you want more from me.”

  My hand raised on its own. Her hair was silky against my fingers as I tucked it behind her ear. She was so beautiful and warm. Touching her only made it harder for me to hold back.

  As my fingers trailed along the skin behind her ear she shivered hard. Her eyes threatened to close but she held them open, held them on me. I couldn’t help but continue to trace the line down the curve of her neck.

  “Yeah, Ingram, I want more. I want all of you,” I said and my voice sounded raw.

  My hand moved around to lightly grip the back of her head as I brought our lips together.

  I kissed her and she didn’t hesitate to kiss me back. It’d been far too long that I’d gone without this and I hated it. But I only had myself to blame.

  What started off sweet and tentative quickly turned heated. Her fingers were threading through my hair, gripping the strands so tightly that it began to sting a little. Her body pressed into mine as she opened her mouth for me.

  Trying to hold onto some sort of control, my tongue slowly glided over hers but when she moaned at the simple touch, I broke.

  I gripped the back of her head, crushing us together even more as my other hand went to her hip. It didn’t take much to pull her against my throbbing, jean covered cock.

  “Oh, yes,” she moaned out softly as her lips ripped away from mine. “Yes.”

  I kissed down her neck as her head fell back and her hips began to rock back and forth against me.

  “That feels so…” Her words trailed off as I nipped the tender flesh at the curve of her neck. “I want it all, Malcolm.”

  I always thought it was cute how Ingram wore dresses all the time. But right now it wasn’t cute, it was hot as hell and perfect. I didn’t want to say convenient, but it was because it wouldn’t take much to slip in and find out how much she wanted me.

  As my hand ran up her thigh, I felt the tiny goosebumps rising on her skin and I knew it wasn’t because she was cold. A smile tipped up my lips and I pulled back a little so I could watch her face.

  My thumb grazed over her swollen, panty covered clit. A tiny moan slipped out of her throat and I did it again so I could hear her repeat the sound. Over and over, I teased her. Her panties became soaked even more as her back arched into me.

  She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. So sexy and erotic right now. Absolute perfection.

  “No, I want more. I want you,” she said as I started to hook my finger around the edge of her panties.

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Maybe I didn’t really hear her right over the pounding in my ears. I tried like hell to control my breathing as my heart felt like it wanted to beat out of my chest.

  “No,” I choked out and part of me was cursing myself in my head. “Not out here like this. You deserve more. Privacy. A bed.”

  Her head shook like she was telling me I was wrong.

  One of us had to keep a level head and I feared I wouldn’t be able to do that much longer.

  “Here. Right now. Like this.” She struggled to get her words out as she rocked against my hard cock.

  “Ingram,” I growled in warning as she started to work my belt free but I made no move to stop her.

  “You want this, don’t you?” she paused and I could see the insecurity on the outer edge of her expression.

  “Fuck,” I breathed out, completely broken now because I knew there was no going back. “Yes.”

  She unbuckled my belt and pulled the buttons of my jeans free as I shifted to grab my wallet out of my back pocket. I smiled as she reached into my pants and didn’t hesitate to wrap her tiny fingers around my cock. I sure as hell hadn’t expected that from her but damn, did I love it.

  My hands were shaking and I was fumbling so bad as I tried to rip the condom package open. She let out a sweet giggle.

  “I’m nervous too,” she told me sweetly but her grip said otherwise.

  As I rolled the condom on, she shocked the hell out of me by lifting up her dress a little. Then she was pulling at something on the sides of her panties. I wished like crazy that I could see her better. A second later, she somehow pulled her panties free and my jaw went slack.

  “Hm, Laurel was right about these,” she whispered like she wasn’t really talking to me.

  Before I could get a word out, she sank down on my cock and I gripped her hips tightly to keep myself from moaning.

  Fuck, she felt so good.

  Her eyes were on mine as she lifted up and dropped back down.

  She controlled the movements and I held onto her for the ride.

  “You’re really big,” she said innocently. “It feels so good, Malcolm.”

  “So good,” I repeated right before I pulled her mouth to mine.

  Our kiss mimicked her rhythm. I made love to her mouth slowly while she rode me. I greedily swallowed down every single one of her sweet moans.

  I could feel it, she was hanging right there on the edge. Her movements sped up and the rhythm became erratic. My balls tingled but I could
n’t let myself blow yet. As her head fell back, I lost her soft lips. She was losing herself and I was chasing after her.

  “I’m so close. I can’t… I can’t…” Her voice was raw and desperate.

  In one quick move, I gripped the back of her head as I pushed her onto her back and covered her body with mine, making sure not to lose our connection. Her hair fanned out all around her head and her legs instantly came up to wrap around my waist.

  “Yes,” she whispered, her eyes locked onto mine.

  My hips worked hard and fast as her short nails dug into the back of my neck. Her pussy quivered and tightened around me and I knew I couldn’t hold back much longer.

  “Let go with me, Ingram,” I said, watching the wetness build up in her eyes.

  Her mouth parted and her eyes drifted halfway closed. A long, almost pained, moan escaped her throat as she came for me. With two last hard thrusts, I came with a low, almost gentle grunt.

  Her arms wrapped around me and I kissed the hell out of her as we came down.

  “Thank you,” she whispered against my lips once I finally forced myself to pull away from her mouth.

  I barked out a laugh.

  “Not something you should ever feel like you need to thank me for, Ingram, but doesn’t hurt the ego to hear.”

  She giggled and her shoulders gave a little shrug.

  I placed a quick kiss on her lips before I reluctantly slipped away from her. I fixed her dress so that she was covered then dealt with the condom, knotting the end and shoving it in my pocket because I couldn’t bring myself to litter. I stood and righted my clothing before reaching down to help her up.

  We walked back to the house silently. I could tell that she was worn out and I needed to let her get some sleep. Her hand in mine was so small but felt just right.

  “Did you have fun, kids?” Chris asked with a chuckle once we tried to slip into the back door quietly.

  Ingram ducked her head into my side and I tried to hold back my laugh. I knew there was no hiding what had just happened.

  “Goodnight, Chris,” Ingram said with a shake of her head.

  She walked me to the front door.

  Her smile was blinding as she looked up at me.

  I leaned down and kissed her one last time.

  “Sweet dreams, Ingram.”

  “I’m sure they will be.”

  Her hand came up to cup my cheek. I turned my head and placed a light kiss on the palm of her hand.

  “You should go before I pull you back to my room and keep you for the night,” she said with a little laugh.

  “Ky would kill me,” I said, wishing that I could stay.

  He may have been slowly coming around to the idea of us but I was sure if he found out I’d stayed the night in his home, he wouldn’t be so cool.

  With heavy steps, I turned and forced myself to walk away.

  I was only okay leaving her because I knew this was just the beginning.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Ingram

  I woke to a text message from Mouse. It was simple and sweet.

  I wish I was staring at your beautiful face and not my phone this morning. Thinking of you.

  I was pretty sure I smiled for a good ten minutes as I read it over and over again.

  I sent him a reply telling him I wished for the same thing and that maybe one day soon, we could make it happen.

  The thought of staying the night in his arms made the butterflies take flight in my belly. I would have to slyly work something out with Chris and hope that my brother wouldn’t blow his lid when he figured it out. I knew asking if Mouse could stay here was out of the question. Ky seemed a bit more laid back about the Mouse and me thing, but there was no way I was going to push to see how laid back he was about it. So I knew that meant that I’d have to go to the compound for a night. I hated the idea of being away from Chry at night but Chris had made me see that it was okay for me to take a mommy timeout every now and then. Just because I was a mom didn’t mean I had to lose the woman that I still was.

  I got Chry up and ready for the day, then headed for the kitchen to get breakfast together.

  Chris smirked at me the moment I came into view and I knew the blush was hitting my cheeks.

  “We are not going to talk about it,” I told him pointedly but I couldn’t hold back the laugh for long.

  “As long as he wrapped it up, I have nothing to say. Because it was clear from your glow last night that it was good, so I don’t need to know that part.”

  My jaw fell open as I stared at him blankly.

  “Ky will be home this afternoon. I was thinking of making chicken and lemon rice,” he said as he opened the fridge and pulled out a yogurt for me.

  “Sounds delicious. I’m not going to miss that.”

  I made Chry’s breakfast then the three of us sat down and ate together. Luckily, nothing more came up about last night.

  We took Chry to the park for a little bit and the day seemed to slip by quickly.

  Dinner with Ky was normal and I was glad that he didn’t notice anything. I mean, how would he know that I had sex with Mouse? I wasn’t sure but it seemed like I was having to force myself to relax all throughout dinner.

  Mouse sent me a text message after we were done eating. He wanted to know when he could see me again and I smiled knowing that he was feeling much like I was. I didn’t want to go all crazy and rush into this thing. I wanted to savor these parts. Even the ones when I missed him because we were apart. I was smart enough to know that a bright flame burned out fast.

  Later that night, I sent him a goodnight text message after I slid into bed. I tried to be flirty and tell him I was thinking about him and added one of those winking face things. I didn’t really know how to flirt, especially through texting, but I hoped it worked.

  He sent me one back saying that he didn’t need those type of images in his head while he was hanging out at the bar with his brothers. But he added a face that looked like it was laughing so I took it as a good thing.

  The next morning I was a little disappointed when I didn’t wake up to a text message from him. I tried to brush it off but then the whole day went by and I didn’t hear a peep out of him. I wondered if I had done something somehow. Maybe he had a chance to think about it and decided that it wasn’t going to work between us. Or maybe… I had been awful and he didn’t know how to tell me.

  My mind spun with all the things that I might have done wrong. I knew it was stupid but I couldn’t seem to help it.

  Finally, I had to tell myself enough. I closed my eyes, counted to ten, took deep breaths, and remembered the things that made me smile. That seemed to do the trick.

  But then, I didn’t hear anything from him the next day either. I sent him two text messages because I couldn’t hold back any longer. What if something had happened? But I was sure I’d hear about it from Ky or Chris if it had. I was wracking my brain trying to come up with answers so I could clear up the confusion that tainted my head and heart.

  Work was a blur and Ky was home to watch Chry so there was no hope in seeing Mouse. In fact, Ky and Chris were able to watch Chry for the next couple of shifts that I had so I didn’t need to bother Mouse with it anyway. However, it was just strange that he seemed to poof off the face of the earth.

  After work, I blindly drove to the compound since I knew Ky was in for the night with Chry.

  I banged on Mouse’s door and when I didn’t get an answer, I set out to search the compound for him.

  Everyone I asked shook their head and gave me a small shrug like they didn’t know where he was.

  I was a mix of hurt and angry.

  Then I checked the bar out front only to receive the same thing when I asked some of the members hanging out there. I even went to Iron because from what I’d seen he was the man that knew everything. Being the President, I guessed that was pretty smart and all. But he sighed heavily and told me that Mouse wasn’t around right now. I didn’t know what he meant by
that but I knew better than to press the man.

  I went home frustrated and couldn’t find sleep that night.

  “What are you doing today?” Chris asked me as we sat down to breakfast the next day.

  I looked between him and my brother as I hesitated on my answer.

  “I was thinking of checking out some apartments,” I said softly.

  I wasn’t sure if I could swing rent and bills and everything but there were a few places that I’d found that could fit into my budget.

  Ky let out an unhappy grunt but surprisingly didn’t say anything. I suspected it was the fact that Chris had placed his hand over Ky’s that kept the words from slipping out.

  “That sounds good. How about I go with you? I don’t have to be at the bar until five,” Chris said with a small smile.

  “Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.”

  Well, it turned out all the apartments I could possibly afford weren’t all that great. I didn’t need something amazing, but I did need something that was mold free and didn’t have strange stains all over the carpet and walls. We didn’t even stay two minutes in the last one because you could hear the couple next door fighting. And not the muffled kind of hear. It sounded like they were standing right there in the room with us. There was no way that I’d have Chry in some place like that.

  “Ingram,” Chris said after we’d all gotten settled back into the car. “I can’t let you do this.”

  “I know, Chris. I will keep looking.”

  “No.” His head whipped back and forth as he said the word. “I get that you want to move out and have your own space and everything. I don’t want you to go. Ky doesn’t want you to go. But we understand. So will you at least let us help you a little? We can pay the rent and that way you can get a place better than… whatever the hell we’ve been looking at.”

  I sighed and hung my head.

  “Just for now,” he went on when I didn’t say anything. “When you get on your feet and feel like you can really handle it, we can talk about working something out then. Please?”

  “Okay. But nothing too crazy. Promise me, Chris.”