Looked sexy on her.
“The fuck’s got you all smiles?” Stone asked.
“Good question,” Boulder said.
“Don’t you have a job to work or something, prospect?” I asked.
“Someone’s not getting laid enough,” Boulder said, grinning.
I peeled my eyes away from his girl of the week and stared at him. He had those same eyes as Ella’s. Deep green with flakes of gray that lended a powerful and mysterious quality. On Stone, they were the eyes of death. The last thing many men in this town saw before they met their end.
But on Ella, they were the opening to a vast ocean I wanted to keep swimming in.
I debated on actually telling Stone what was on my mind. How I slept with his sister. How she was incredible. How I couldn't get her off my mind. The flash of Stone’s piece on his side, though, kept me from doing that. He’d shoot me in the head on the spot, and not think twice before going and fucking the jelly off his date for the night.
“Is it a crime to be happy?” I asked.
“Nah, it’s not a crime. So long as it doesn’t have anything to do with my sister,” he said.
I immediately went on alert and found myself growing nervous. I took another sip of my beer to hide the pursing of my lips. Did Stone know something? Did he suspect something? I talked myself down off the heated ledge in my mind and tried to play it cool.
No need to rush into things.
“Speaking of your sister, I had dinner with Ella the other night,” I said.
Stone narrowed his eyes at me as the bar around us fell silent.
“What? Again?” he asked.
“Wait, there’s an again to this statement?” Boulder asked.
“Get the fuck out of here and go do something with your life,” I said.
Boulder held his hands up. “I know entertainment when I see it. I’ve been waiting for you two to finally fall out for a while.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got a shit sense of humor?” Stone asked.
“Stone, take some breaths, yeah? She wasn’t feeling safe, she asked me to come over for some spaghetti,” I said.
“She wasn’t feeling safe? Why the hell not?” he asked.
“‘Cause she’s got a bullshit ex on her tail. Why the hell else?” Boulder asked.
“Beat it, prospect,” Stone and I said together.
He shoved the woman off his lap like she was some sort of tick he was getting rid of. His fist clenched around his glass and I knew I had to tread lightly. Boulder shrugged his shoulders and walked away to wipe down some tables or some shit, but I knew the entire bar had their eyes focused on us.
Don’t fuck this up, Texas.
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t talk about it. But she came over, offered me dinner, and when I got there, she admitted that she feels safe when I’m around. I’m doing some snooping to figure out why it happened, but I think maybe that encounter with Jett spooked her more than she’s letting on,” I said.
“Have you found anything?” he asked.
“Not yet, but she didn’t look the best coming home yesterday from the store. Figured I’d see if she’d come to me to talk, but she hasn’t. Might need to get on her tomorrow or something.”
I tried to play it off to read Stone’s reaction, but I knew I was in rough territory. If I didn’t tell him and he found out from Ella, I was as good as dead. But I couldn’t even talk about having some fucking food with her without him flying off the damn handle.
“Look, fine. I don’t mind you going over to check up on shit. Especially if she asks you over ‘cause she’s not doing well. But Ella’s not looking for anything right now. She won’t for a while. Got it?”
“I hear you, Stone.”
“She’s going through enough right now because of Jett.”
“I know that, man. Settle down,” I said.
“Did you just tell me t—”
“Dude, I wouldn't even be talking to your damn sister right now if it weren’t for you moving me in next door. Can you put a fucking lid on it?” I asked.
Stone’s nostrils flared as the entire bar focused onto us.
“Look, you don’t have shit to worry about. I’ll protect Ella, but that means I’m gonna be around. If food’s the only way she feels she can get me over to make her feel safe, then I’m gonna eat her food because it isn’t half bad. Okay?” I asked.
Stone narrowed his eyes a little more before he reached out for that girl. He gripped her side and pulled her in, burying his fingertips into such an excess I couldn't see his fucking hand anymore. He eyed me as he finished his drink, and I kept his stare in kind. Then, when Stone turned his attention back to Miss Ruby Lips, I looked around the bar.
All of these guys were like a family to me. And as they started going back to their conversations, guilt filled my chest. I was lying to a man I considered a brother, and all because shit had careened out of control. It made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t want to stay in the bar any longer.
I can’t sleep with her anymore.
Fucking around with Ella wasn’t worth jeopardizing my relationships. My family. My spot with the crew. They were my life, not her. I wouldn’t lose the only family I’d ever known for some woman.
Even if she was the most amazing woman I’d ever met.
I sank into the background as the guys roared with laughter and Stone practically stripped his date down in the damn booth. I threw back the rest of my beer and tossed some money onto the table, then slipped out and put my helmet over my head. Some of the guys stared at me as I left without another word, and I knew what they were thinking. They wondered what I was really up to. What was really up my sleeve. What I really was hiding.
Fuck. I’d never been good at hiding shit from people I cared about.
I rode back to the house in silence. There wasn’t a smile on my face anymore and Ella’s sounds no longer echoed off the corners of my mind. I pulled my bike into the garage and ripped my helmet off, settling my brain on the idea of a hot ass shower. But when I heard a door slamming open across the street, my eyes whipped up.
Ella stormed across the road from that older woman’s house, but she didn’t have Keva with her yet.
I instantly went on my guard.
“Ella!” I called out.
I closed the garage when I walked out, listening as she rushed to her porch.
“Ella, wait a second!” I exclaimed.
“What, Texas!?” she shrieked.
My eyebrows rose as I turned toward her. Even from across the lawn, I saw her cheeks were flushed, her eyes darting around. She was nervous. Scared. Afraid. And my heart slammed against my chest. I trotted across the lawn as she threw open her front door. She didn’t close it behind her, so I took it as an invitation to at least stand in her doorway.
“Ella, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“Come in and have a drink or shut the door and get out. You’re letting out all the air,” she bit.
I narrowed my eyes at her before I peeked back out of the house. I looked around for any sign of trouble—or Stone—and then I stepped inside. I closed and locked the door behind me, then gazed across the street one more time to see if anyone was harassing Keva or that nice lady across the way. Ella poured something into a glass and when I turned around, she shoved a wine glass into my hand.
I didn’t make it a habit to drink wine. Much less pink wine. But I wasn’t going to complain about it.
I watched Ella sit heavily into the kitchen chair before she chugged back her wine.
“Rough day at work?” I asked.
But all she did was grab the wine bottle and fill her glass up again.
“Have you eaten dinner?” I asked.
“Not hungry,” Ella murmured.
“Well, I’m hungry. So, I’m gonna cook something. What do you want?”
“I said I’m not hungry.”
“And I heard you, Ella. So, I’ll cook. And if you get hungry, you can eat,” I said.
/>
She sighed. “Thanks, Texas.”
I took a sip of the wine and grimaced before I set it onto the table. I went over to her fridge and her freezer, sifting through the contents of both. She didn’t have much to cook that was fresh. And I wasn’t about to leave her in this condition to go back over next door. So, I settled on a buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese with only half of the casserole dish covered in the chicken.
That way, Keva could have some fresh mac and cheese for whenever she got hungry, too.
“Jett came by my work today,” Ella said.
I paused at the stove, staring down at the chicken I had chopped up.
“What?” I asked.
“He came in and asked me why I was all smiles, then asked if it was because of you,” she said.
I peered over my shoulder. “What else did he do?”
“He harassed me enough that my manager had to come over and ask him to leave.”
“Did he?”
Ella nodded. “But it worried me. I kept looking out at my car to see if he was waiting by it. He’s done that a few times. Caught me just after work.”
Fury rushed my veins as she continued talking. I wanted to pound Jett’s face into the fucking gravel sidewalk.
“Did he do or say anything else?” I asked.
“No,” Ella said softly.
“You know you can tell me if he—”
“I said he didn’t. Okay?”
I stared at the kitchen backsplash before I started cooking again. I made the entire dish in silence while Ella practically finished that damn bottle of wine. I slipped it into the oven and set it to bake, then I made my way back to the kitchen table. Ella’s eyes were glossed over. Silent tears fell down her cheeks. I reached for her hand, taking it within mine and reminding her that I was there.
And Jett wasn’t.
“I’m right here,” I said.
“I know,” she whispered.
“No one’s getting to you as long as I’m around.”
“Yeah, that’s the point,” she said flatly.
She squeezed my hand but looked down into her lap.
I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn’t know how. Part of me wanted to go find Jett and have a nice, man-to-man sort of talk.
Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea.
“Listen, I could talk to Jett if—”
“Please don’t do that,” Ella said quickly.
Her eyes whipped over to me and the pain behind them killed me inside.
“Please don’t. I’m begging you. I don’t want to make things worse. Okay?” she asked.
“Okay. Yeah. I won’t then. That’s fine,” I said.
I stood from my chair when she started crying again and pulled her into my embrace. I locked my arms around her, holding her to my chest as she soaked my shirt in her tears. I slid my hands through her hair, swaying her side to side. I placed a mindless kiss to the top of her head, feeling her tremble with her sobs against me.
I’d never felt anger like this in all my life.
“I’m going to make sure Jett doesn’t bother you again. Whatever it takes. What Jett needs is someone to put him in his place. And when that happens, everything will be over. Okay?” I asked.
“Please don’t do anything, Texas. Please,” Ella whispered.
“I won’t approach him, but I can’t promise what I might do if I see him intimidating you like that again.”
Ella slipped her eyes up to meet mine and I brushed away her tears with the knuckles of my hand. Her face was splotchy and red. Her eyes, swollen and puffy. It killed me to see her like this. To see such a vibrant and beautiful woman so distraught over some asshole that didn’t deserve the air he breathed. I cupped her cheek and smoothed my thumb over her soft skin. I tried soothing away the redness so that the only thing left was the spark of happiness she had whenever she looked at me.
And in the blink of an eye, she stood to her tiptoes and crashed her lips against mine.
11
Ella
I slid my hand into Texas’ hair and fisted it tightly. The way he held me was exciting. The way he kissed me was arousing. The way his tongue stroked the roof of my mouth made me weak in my knees. I collapsed into him. Like a fly drawn to a buzzing light, I was his unknowing prey. And I loved every second of it. Texas set my soul on fire. He shivered me to my toes and gave me finger-curling kisses that made me want to cling to him harder. His warm tongue danced with mine. His large, strong hands fisted my ass, bringing me closer to him.
I knew I needed to stop kissing him. I knew I needed to pull away.
But I couldn’t.
He groaned down my throat and my gut clenched. My nipples puckered against my bra as he slowly backed me into the wall. My back pressed against the cool surface while his chest buried deeper into mine. And as the overflow of my curves filled the divots of his strength, my heart stopped. Our teeth clattered together. I panted for air, breathing whatever he afforded me as his hands slid down the backs of my thighs.
“Come here, you,” he grunted.
He plucked me off my feet and urged me to wrap his legs around him. My back slid up the wall as my hands dove further into his hair. My nails raked down his back. My lips swelled against his. His chest heaved with his gasps of air as the two of us struggled to keep enough oxygen in our lungs to keep on our passion for one another.
Texas was warm. Comforting.
Safe.
I needed to feel safe, and he made me feel that way. Every time I was in his arms. Every time I was pressed against his body. Every time his lips were against mine.
I knew Texas would never hurt me. And I loved that.
Without another word, he pulled me away from the wall. As my legs locked around him, his cock grew. Pulsing. Throbbing for me. I sucked on his lower lip as he walked down the hallway, marching me straight to my room. His hands gripped me thoroughly, his fingerprints marking themselves into my skin from beyond my jeans. The darkness of my bedroom took over us. My heart pounded against my chest. He laid my back down onto the mattress and unraveled my arms from his neck, then pinned my wrists above my head.
And finally, he pulled back.
I panted with half-hooded eyes as I gazed into his. I took in his beautiful stare, stern and strong and warm. My eyes danced within his stare as my mind fell blank. But there was one thing that still bounced off the corners of my mind.
I had to pick Keva up in an hour.
“Do you want this?” Texas asked.
My hips rolled against him as my body answered. But he pulled away. He didn’t want my bodily answer. He wanted to hear it from my lips. Oh, that man. This kind, strong, gracious man. He wanted to make sure this was my decision. Not my body’s. Yet another thing Jett never did. Jett always took what he wanted without a second thought, whether or not I wanted to go along with it.
Tears brewed as I closed my eyes.
Texas’ nose fell against my cheek. His hands slid down my arms, leaving an electric tingle wherever they went. He knelt between my legs that were spread for him. He supported himself as his hand came down, massaging my breast softly.
I whimpered at his touch as his thumb rushed over my clothed, puckered nipple.
“I have to pick up Keva in an hour,” I breathed.
Texas kissed the shell of my ear. “That might be a problem then. Since we won’t be done in an hour.”
I giggled as a flash of joy ignited in my gut. Oh, how I had longed to be wanted by a man. Really, truly wanted. And in that moment, Texas wanted me.
I sure as hell wanted him, too.
“How am I ever going to let you go?” I whispered.
Texas nuzzled his nose against my neck. “We don’t need to think about that right now. All we need to be focused on is each other.”
“Then what?”
His eyes rose to meet mine as his hands pressed into the mattress.
“Then, I promise in an hour, I’ll let you go. No matter what you
want,” he said.
I rose my head to capture his lips and it didn’t take him long to respond. Our hands shed one another of our clothes as we rolled around, tasting and licking, and sucking. Texas marked my breasts. His naked body settled between my legs as his tongue rushed over my tits. He lapped at my nipples and sucked on the bare patches of skin that overflowed the sides of them. I gripped his hair and bucked against him, feeling my wetness leave a trail on his abs. He slithered between my legs. I slipped my thighs over his shoulders. He nuzzled my pussy with his nose before his tongue dipped between my folds, exploring and tasting.
“Texas, yes,” I whispered.
“Keva isn’t here. Don’t you dare hold back on me,” he commanded.
His tongue raked across my clit and I moaned out into the room. Sounds I’d never made before fell from my lips as his hands pinned my body to the bed. He bent the crooks of my knees up to my chest, folding me and opening me as he lapped at my slit. I dripped for him. Straight down my ass crack and lubing up my entire body as his tongue slid down to my asshole.
“Texas! Shit!”
“Mmmm, there it is,” he groaned.
He filled me with his fingers. First, my pussy. And then, my asshole. I’d never been stretched like that before in my life. Never had I had a man breach that part of me. And yet, Texas felt perfect, stuffing me with himself. I rocked against his face. I clung to the sheets of the bed. My eyes rolled back as stars burst in my vision, and then my entire body spiraled into the deep, dark black.
“Yes! Yes! Fuck!”
My body clenched tight as Texas pumped his fingers. Slowly. Deftly. Curling them into the most sensitive parts of me. I fell over the edge, my walls fluttering around his fingers. My body gripped them tightly as he pressed his tongue into my clit, soaring me to heights that left me without words.
Without breath.
The Lost Boys MC Series: Books 1-4 Page 7
