Page 44 of Saints & Sailors

The Rolling Stones came on. One of my favorite records by them, “Beast of Burden.” Bonham started singing to me, his voice all deep and raspy from smoking and drinking, and I loved it.

I swayed my hips in a seductive manner, all too aware that Bonham was right where I wanted him.

As Mick started begging in the song, Bonham dipped down on his knees, clasping his hands together, singing along with the tune.

In that moment, there was nothing sexier than Bonham Church singing the Stones to me and begging with that gorgeous face of his.

I curled my finger, telling him to come back up to me. He sang all the way as his hands ran along the curves of my body.

By this late in the evening, I was hot with desire and all too ready to rip his clothes off.

The song ended and Bonham took our cigarette stub and tossed it in the nearest ashtray.

“Bug,” he said without taking an eye off of me. “Go on a beer run.”

Bug was confused as he sat up. “But we just stocked the fridge yesterday.”

Bonham eyed his friend. “Then go and do something that buys us time.”

Knowledge sank in and Bug immediately stood up. He gave us a salute as he walked backward toward the door. “I’ll be back in two. You seem like a two-minute man.”

Bonham flipped him the bird as he made his exit.

Now alone, Bonham turned on me, eyes ignited in heat.

I wasn’t sure who attacked who first, but somehow our bodies collided and our shirts hit the floor. Unlike his brother’s pale complexion, Bonham’s skin held a slight tan and was burning hot and oh-so delicious looking with the cheeky tattoo on his hip.

Oh, I would enjoy all right.

We were still standing as Bonham’s lips traveled from mine to my throat, down my chest, and to my stomach. When he was on his knees before me, giving me a daring look, I just about keeled over.

He licked at the flesh of my belly, grinning as his teeth sank into my skin, nibbling on me. All too soon he was on his feet, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me close into him where I could feel his hardness building. His mouth stole mine for just a moment before he pulled away.

“We won’t be a fairy tale, pirate, but I can promise you the best time,” he told me.

Now I was pulling away. “Fairy tales are bullshit.”

Bonham cocked a brow. “Not a fan of Disney?”

It was more the other way around. “I’m a fan of reality. Society makes these fairy tales where the girl has to be pretty, nice, and meek, and a damn goody-goody to be the princess,” I went on. I held up the bottle of Jim Beam for emphasis. “I’m nobody’s princess.”

Bonham watched me, purely amused. “No?”

I thought of Kevin and everyone else in my life. “Happy endings don’t exist, it’s all about now.”

Bonham studied me. “You’ve been hurt before, huh?”

I tipped the bottle back, drinking more of the liquor. “Life fucks us all.”

Bonham stood back, smiling at me with a drunken gleam in his eye. He reached up, acquiring all of his hair and securing it in a very serious man-bun.

God, I loved his hair. Wild hair like his deserved to be free.

I reached up to free it from the navy-blue band he used to keep it in place.

Bonham caught my wrist, beaming down at me. “What are you doing?”

“I want it free.”