First Epilogue

First Epilogue

Gunner –Two Years Later

“And the winner in the Best New Country Album category is…” The latest Hollywood star fumbles open the award envelope while Cash digs her nails into my thigh.

I clasp her hand, shooting her a cocky grin just as an audience camera swoops in front of us. Our faces are projected onto the big screen just as time blurs.

“Cash Leigh and Gunner Shaw for Copper Sunrise!”

We stand as Cash’s hand trembles in mine, tears shimmering in her eyes. She still shocks me two years into this wild ride with her. We’ve already won Best New Single for our song, “Lost Without You.” The first duet we released together was enough to send us into the stratosphere.

And less than twenty minutes after that, they’ve given me the New Artist of the Year award.

I help my sparrow up the steps to collect our second award together, thinking how wild it is that I’m here. I nod to my former bandmates, Gutless Void. Two of the guys jump up and down in white masks covered in blood while the other three clap enthusiastically. I chuckle, thinking how that completely goes against their dark metalcore look.

“Congratulations.” The fancy presenter double-kisses Cash’s cheeks before shaking my hand and passing me the golden statue.

Our names, engraved side by side for all eternity.

I will forever cement the day Cash became my wife exactly one year ago as the best moment of my life.

But sharing our lives and our music every day is a pretty damn close second.

“Thank you for listening, everyone.” I nod appreciatively to the crowd, an inky black cloud of faces behind the glaring stage lights, before nestling the award in Cash’s arms.

She smiles when she catches sight of our names, pressing up on her tiptoes to kiss me on the lips.

It’s only a moment, but the crowd goes wild. The chorus of our song plays in the background until the cheers finally drop a decibel, and Cash speaks.

She begins with a thank you, wiping her eyes before turning to me. “My eternal gratitude goes to this man beside me. He brought me back to life before he knew he was doing it. He saved me, saved my words, and made me fall in love with music again. He just plain made me fall in love with him.”

She pauses, and much of the crowd is still on their feet, swiping at their teary eyes.

It is such a powerful moment of love that it nearly moves me to damn tears. A floating camera boom swoops in to catch a close-up of our faces, and it’s all I can do to hang onto her eyes to keep myself from crashing over an emotional edge.

This woman saved me from the start, and she still doesn’t realize it.

“He gives me the world. He gives me unconditional love. He gives me so much every day.” She clutches the award to her chest, barely hanging on to her crashing wave of emotions as tears fill my sparrow’s beautiful eyes.

“I love you, Sparrow.” On impulse, I dash my thumb across her cheek to catch some of the wetness. The crowd says, “Ahhh,” and I die a little from embarrassment in front of Hollywood.

“Love you back, Shaw.”

I intertwine our fingers as the rap music begins, sending the crowd a final wave and walking my girl off the stage. She’s a shaking mess with every step.

As soon as we’re behind the velvet curtains, I haul her into my arms, sending her spinning in circles as she screams and then plants her lips against mine.

With her fingertips dusting my jaw and the heavy award sandwiched between us, I stride through the maze of backstage performers, reporters, and the production crew. Everyone we pass congratulates us or pats me on the shoulder, but my thoughts are only on her.

“What have you got on your mind, Gunner Shaw?” Cash breathes a seductive shudder against my lips.

“You. Me. Now.”

She squirms, making my need to lose myself inside her rocket through my balls.

She smiles against my mouth, her lips softening as she relaxes deeper into my arms. I carry her through the auditorium lobby and into the waiting car we arrived in.

Cash giggles and straightens her dress in the back seat of the car. “I’m sure a million cameras captured that little display of caveman behavior.”

“Let them see how much I love you. I’m not hiding a thing for them.”

She cracks a grin. “You may rethink that statement when you find your handsome mug plastered on the gossip blogs tomorrow morning.”

I shrug. “A sex scandal brought you into my life. As far as I’m concerned, it’s going to bring us nothing but good things.”

I haul her onto my lap as the car crosses the few blocks of city streets before pulling into the valet station of our luxury hotel. By the time we’re in the elevator to the top-floor suite, my fingers are delving into the lips of her warm pussy.

She moans softly, adjusting her thighs and trying to push her dress down.

I grip her face and spit on her cheek. “Do I need to beat that pussy with my belt? Open up. I’m not gonna to tell you again.” I push her head over to the camera, holding her still as her legs spread for my touch. “Tell the camera what you are.”

Cash looks at the corner of the elevator, spit sliding down her face to the top of her mouth. “I’m a pathetic cum dump who sucks and fucks your cock.”

I stroke quicker, and her breathing increases. “That’s it, baby. Tell everyone what a depraved whore you are. Let them know how deep my finger is buried in your hungry little cunt.”

I run my thumb in circles over her clit, and her muscles tense around my intrusion. My cock pulses and leaks, eager to be free of the snug suit pants and inside her.

Her fingernails bite into my forearm as she comes in soft waves around my fingers. She’s so slick and warm.

I pull my fingers from her cunt and push them into my mouth, licking off every drop of her sweetness. “Who knew a dirty little cunt like you would taste so sweet?”

My hand fastens around her throat, holding her tight against the elevator wall. I place my lips to hers while working at my belt buckle with one hand and ripping it out of its loops.

I smile at her, flushed and beautiful, as I hold the strip of leather to her face. Pulling her head forward by her hair, I fasten the belt tight around her neck, holding the end like a dog leash.

Cash’s eyes widen. “What are you doing?”

I smirk as I shove her against the wall and pull her dress up, bunching it around her waist. “Why don’t you shut up and let me fuck what belongs to me?”

“Gun—”

I pull the belt, cutting her off. I used to hate doing this. I thought it was going too far, but Cash enjoys being completely taken over. She constantly asks me to go further. I always watch her hands to see if she taps the wall. Three times. If she taps three times, and I step back.

But there’s no tap now. Instead, Cash moans and pushes her ass back.

“It’s better when you can’t talk, slut. You’re so much prettier when you’re a pathetic toy for me to enjoy and toss aside like trash.”

I grab her thigh, digging my fingers into her flesh, and line up the tip of my cock against her slick pussy. I thrust forward, impaling her slowly, letting her feel the hardware on my cock before I drive fully into her warmth.

I pull the belt harder, relishing the choking sounds whimpering from her mouth, and push four fingers into her mouth, coating them with her spit.

“Fuck, baby. What does it say about me that I crave the pussy of a pathetic whore?” I pull at the side of her cheek, ensuring her face is visible to the camera. “I’m going to release the video to the press tomorrow. Everyone will know you’re a dirty slut. Maybe we should have an after party at the next concert. Tie you to a table and let your fans take turns fucking all your holes. We can even livestream it. Imagine everyone seeing your pussy with hundreds of men’s cum leaking out of you.”

My fingers fall out of her mouth, and I smear her spit all over her face before forcing her to look at the camera. “Tell your fans you’ll pay them to fuck you. How much do you think they’d pay for a dirty girl like you? Be sure to give them a price per hole.”

Cash remains silent, avoiding my request. I slap her face, and she moans as her pussy tightens around my cock. “Twenty dollars for my mouth, fifty for my pussy, and one hundred for my asshole.”

I pull her hair. “Who’s pussy?”

“Fifty for your pussy,” she corrects.

I laugh, sensing she’s close to blowing with the little game we’re playing. “You think you’re worth that much? A slut like you?” Leaning over her, I lick her face all the way to her hairline. “I think one dollar for that mouth, five for my well-used cunt, and ten for your tight ass since it isn’t as wide as your pathetic pussy.” I bite her earlobe before whispering, “We can offer a three-for-one special. Buy an ass and pussy fuck, and get the mouth hole for free.”

“Gunner…” Cash moans, her hands gripping the elevator door as she falls over the edge.

My fingers fall to her pussy, and I work her in tiny circles in the spot that sets her off. “That’s it, baby. Come all over this fat dick. Let Daddy know how much you love being fucked like a cheap, used whore.”

“Fuck!” She screams, and her body goes lax.

I plunge further, desperate to brand the depths of her with my cock. “No one will ever fill this pussy but me. No one will know this body but me. I’ll kill anyone who tries. You’re mine, Sparrow. Only mine.”

I bite her shoulder, thrusting hard and fast, marking her as my balls tighten and I spill inside her. Licking the small tear my teeth made in her skin, I whisper, “I love you.”

“I dunno if I hate or love you more, Shaw. Never knew I was into exhibitionism.” She beams at me before her face falls into a pout. “Fuck, security got a show.” Her eyes dart from my face to the camera. “Gunner, get that tape.” She slaps my chest as I slide my belt from her neck. “I’m not being called a whore again in the rags. This was stupid.”

I smile. “Kathy is the only one who saw. I paid them to get out of the room, and Kathy is the only one with access to the video. She’ll hand it over to us tomorrow. Next time, I’ll really put on a show.”

Our publicist is a saint. Kathy has put up with many of our escapades. She once told me she wanted to bleach out her eyes. My response was that I paid her enough to buy a bleach factory.

“You’re crazy,” Cash huffs.

“I love fucking you. No need to deprive myself of what I love doing most in the world.” I bite her earlobe. “I love you so much.” The elevator dings, and the doors open. “I plan on fucking you so hard that you won’t be able to walk in the morning.”

Cash smiles. “Can’t wait.”