Rock Me Slower (Licks of Leather #3) - Jenna Jacob Page 0,10
wobbly legs. Quinn, Ava, Sofia, and Tori were instantly there, extolling their congratulations and smothering me in hugs. Ava snagged my clutch for safekeeping as I stepped farther into the aisle.
Praying my legs wouldn’t fold from under me, I hurried toward the stage, shaking like a leaf. Burk greeted me first with a brief hug and peck on the cheek, before Syd did the same.
“Congratulations,” the crazy bass player whispered in my ear.
Oh, my god. This is really happening.
Darren smiled and bussed my cheek before Ross followed with an awkward icy hug and barely there brush of his lips.
Ozzy’s smile was a cold, dispassionate curl, a performance mask meant to shut me out. The warm, loving expression he’d once bestowed, the one that had always set my soul on fire, was nowhere to be found. Neither was any trace of the blistering spark we used to share. The melancholy ache of what could have been slid through me, but I quickly shoved it away.
Fuck it… Fuck it all.
I wasn’t wasting a precious second on this stage mourning my past, and not reveling in accepting this prestigious award. Because whether Ozzy or anyone on the planet liked it or not, this moment was the start of a bigger, brighter future for me.
I ignored the man pressing the Grammy into my hand, and let euphoria surge.
The crowd was still on their feet…still cheering and clapping. I nearly burst with pride.
“Congrats,” Ozzy murmured. When he moved in closer, his masculine scent surrounded me as he placed his hand against the small of my back.
His blissful touch sent tingles skittering down my body, igniting nerve endings I thought had long ago died. Glancing up, I foolishly hoped he felt the rebirth of our connection, as well. But his indifferent, arctic stare was nothing but a slap to the face. His emotional detachment only served to reinforce the skepticism that had torn us apart.
Of course, that made the irony of this moment all the sweeter. I couldn’t think of a better way to rub his nose in the fact that I was a force to be reckoned with in this industry than for him to have to present me this award.
As he leaned in to kiss my cheek, my heart, mind, body, and soul synced in perfect harmony. Longing throbbed through my system. Dismissing both sensations, I pressed my lips against Ozzy’s ear.
“To set the record straight, I didn’t earn this award on my back, asshole.”
Inching back, I cupped his cheek and planted an angry kiss on his lips.
Chapter Three
Ozzy
Mia’s snarky comment was still whizzing in my head when her velvet-as-sin lips crashed down on mine. I nearly lurched back at the feel of her mouth on me again. But her lush breasts meshed to my chest, and her heady scent of wildflowers filling my senses held me prisoner.
I knew by the brutality of her kiss that Mia was tossing down some kind of gauntlet. Sadly, for her, I never backed down from a challenge. If the sassy minx wanted to play games, I was all in, but that didn’t mean I intended to play fair.
Snaking my arm around her waist, I dragged her flush against me and basked in the feel of her heart hammering wildly over my ribs. Nestling my swollen erection between her thighs, I swallowed her muffled squeal of surprise. Even knowing I was making the second biggest mistake of my life—the first being hooking up with her—I cupped her nape and took complete control of the kiss.
Like fighter jets, memories bombarded me as I pressed my tongue past her pouty lips and delved deep inside her slick mouth. Mia tried to wriggle free, but I simply clutched her tighter. Taking my time, I reacquainted myself with every dip and crevice, savoring her so-sweet flavor.
Her nipples stabbed my chest.
Her breathing turned short and choppy.
Wicked pleasure filled me when she subtly arched her hips into mine.
“Dude, we’re on TV,” Burk reminded under his breath.
At that moment, I didn’t give a fuck. All I wanted was to tear the scraps of leather and lace from her body, bend her over the podium, and reclaim her in every way known to man.
Catcalls and nervous laughter infused the air.
This was beyond reckless and stupid, but I couldn’t stop. I’d spent a fucking lifetime searching for someone with whom I could recapture the sensations Mia sparked. But no other woman, before or after her, touched me on such a raw, visceral level.