by Hart, Rebel
“Rae, I can make it a full body massage, if you want.”
He winked at me and my stomach flipped over with desire. My heart skyrocketed to a rate that threatened to burst the blood vessels in my head. I licked my lips, watching his eyes rake over me before a soft chuckle fell from his lips. And while I still had a bit of history reading to do, I could also do with some one-on-one time with Clint.
Especially after this shift.
“Hey, Rae!”
I looked up. “Yes, Bryan?”
“Got a family emergency, I need to leave. Can you lock up the store? I sent Dani home to get some rest. She couldn't get back up on her feet after the incident in aisle four.”
Clint quirked an eyebrow. “Incident?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. I can do that.”
“Good. I’ll count the registers when I come in. Just wipe down your area, sweep up a bit, and make sure all returned groceries are back on the shelves.”
“I hope everything’s okay!”
“Me, too!”
I watched my manager zoom out of the grocery store, leaving me and Clint completely alone. I looked over at the clock, then groaned when I saw I still had forty-five minutes.
“So, what’s the plan, Stan?”
I giggled. “If we don’t get a customer in five minutes, I’ll start shutting this place down.”
Clint grinned. “Anything I can do to help?”
“You can keep your hands to yourself until we can get out of here.”
“And here I thought grocery aisle sex sounded kinky.”
“Not with video cameras recording us.”
He shrugged. “I mean, I’m down for it.”
I scoffed and swatted at him as giggles fell from my lips. And as we continued to talk, no one came in. Not a soul. With forty minutes left in my shift, I felt confident that if I shut things down, we wouldn't lose one single customer.
So I grabbed the paper towels and the cleaner fluid to start cleaning.
36
Clinton
Despite Rae’s protests, I jumped in and helped her. While she wiped down her register or whatever, I grabbed a broom and swept up some of the bigger dirt piles. I rolled the cart of returned groceries over to her, and together we started down the aisles. She handed me things and I placed them back on the shelves. And every once in a while, I stole a kiss for myself. The camera, too. But, mostly for myself.
Rae giggled. “You’re gonna get me fired.”
I grinned. “I mean, all I hear is more time with you.”
“And what am I going to do when I graduate high school and don’t have the money to move out on my own like I want?”
“Eh, we’ll figure something out.”
I stole one last kiss from her before I let her push me away. I chuckled as we continued walking up and down the aisles, putting back everything from all-natural peanut butter to gluten-free snack items. She gave me a kiss on the cheek before she shooed me outside, telling me she had to lock everything down from the inside out.
I headed over to my bike to wait for her.
Nighttime had settled over Riverbend. And in our little side of town, there were more stars in the sky than usual. I stared up at them, my arms crossed over my chest. I found myself discovering more things like this. Like the stars overhead. Or the beauty of a sunkissed horizon. I’d been writing more and more lately. For the first time in over a year, I had to go buy a new notepad. My muse attacked me at all times of the day and night, waking me from a dead sleep and forcing me to write things down so I didn’t forget them.
And while I still struggled with this whole thing between Rae and me, I knew it was due to her.
She was my muse.
“You look lost in thought, handsome.”
Rae’s voice ripped me from my trance and I found her staring at me. Leaning against me. Sliding her arms around me with her lips only inches from mine.
“And what if I am?”
She smirked. “Well, I’d say ‘penny for your thoughts,’ but I think that price is a bit steep.”
My lips puckered. “Oh, you’re gonna pay for that one.”
“Really? How—ah!”
I smiled as I slapped my hands down against her ass cheeks. The resounding crack made her jump closer to me, and I felt her chest pressing against mine. I captured her lips, swallowing her moans and protests as I massaged her butt. We leaned against my bike, our tongues intertwining, her soft whimpers of frustration turning into moans of pleasure.
I never wanted it to end, either.
“You really need to get a car.”
I nuzzled my nose against hers. “A car? What on earth for?”
She kissed my lips softly. “They’re much easier to make out in.”
I chuckled. “Actually, that’s the most convincing argument to buy a car I’ve ever heard.”
“Does that mean you’ll buy one?”
“That means I’ll think about it. But only if you promise to break it in with me.”
“Sounds like a good time.”
“Sounds like a good promise.”
She giggled before her lips captured mine again. Only this time, she stepped between my legs. Her body molded to me as I cloaked her back with my arms, trying to feel as much of her as I could at once. Her tongue slid across the roof of my mouth and I felt my cock aching for her beyond my jeans. My hands slid from her back to her ass, down her thighs and back again. I gripped her hair and pulled her head back softly. I licked down her pulse point, hearing her gasp softly as my name fell from her lips.
“Clint, oh.”
That never ceased to make my heart skip a beat.
I buried my face in her chest. “What kind of trouble should we get into tonight?”
Her hands raked through my hair. “The kind of trouble that continues this saga.”
I kissed her skin. “Mm, you had me at ‘oh.’”
I hoisted her against my body and threw my leg over the bike. I settled her down against it, feeling her legs lock around me. Her hands clung to my leather jacket, pulling me closely against her. And as we sat in the shade of the trees planted specifically for this little shopping complex, I felt myself give way to her.
“Shit, Rae.”
My hands slid up her shirt. I cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples through the padding of her bra. She rolled against me, my bike holding us steady as her tongue explored my mouth religiously. I wrapped my arms around her, running my palms along her bare skin, feeling her shake and shiver as goosebumps poured over her skin. I sucked on her lower lip and she kissed across my cheek. I felt her nibbling on my earlobe, causing me to growl out as my cock jumped with need for her.
Then she pressed her lips against the shell of my ear. “We really should get out of here.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice, beautiful.”
It pained me to feel her slip away. But I knew it was headed toward something more pleasurable. More beautiful. More amazing than I could have ever expected from tonight. I handed her the helmet I’d dug out for her all those weeks ago, then slid my own over my head. I flipped up the visor, then reached out and flipped hers up. She gave me a massive smile as her cheeks flushed, then she inched her way onto the back of my bike. She was getting better at it. More steady, if that made any sense. Usually, she teetered, almost tripping over herself trying to get on.
But she’d gotten the hang of it.
I liked that.
I cranked up the engine. “Ready to get out of here?”
“What was that?”
“I said, are you ready to get out of here?”
Before she could answer, a set of headlights filled the parking lot, causing Rae to curse. They come straight for us, pulling up to my bike, blocking me in between the car and the tree that sat behind us.
Rae clung to me. “Who’s that?”
I shook my head. “Probably Roy. But he can piss off. There’s nothing to see here.”
I slipped my helmet off and go
t off my bike. I kept my voice raised, hoping that Roy and the goons from school would buzz off and leave us the fuck alone. I hung the helmet on the handlebars, but felt Rae reach out for me. She pulled me back to her, so I wrapped my arm around her waist, trying to comfort her as she sat on the passenger’s seat of my bike, pressing closer into me.
She was scared. And I couldn’t blame her for it.
“I don’t think that’s Roy, Clint.”
As the car door opened, I squinted my eyes, trying to figure out who the fuck was beaming us down with their high-beam headlights.
“Fucking cars,” I murmured.
All at once, I saw the darkened outline of four guys. Two in the front, and two in the back. They leaned against the hood of the car, their silvery outlines looming over us. Once they stepped closer into the light, leaning against the hood of the car, I recognized them. Well, two of them.
From the football field last week.
Shit.
They stood there, looking at us. Like fucking goofballs with their arms crossed over their chests. They tried puffing out their muscles to look bigger, but I swear they were gangly little fucks. Rich bitch boys who didn’t have a hope or a prayer in this world of stacking on muscle. And yet, I remembered the fight clearly. All three of those gangly assholes had a mean punch to them. They had been much stronger than they looked, and I’d be a damn fool to assume these other two fuckers would be any different.
“What do you want?”
My voice filled the space between us, but they didn’t move. They didn’t speak. They just stared at us with dumbass smirks on their faces. Rae pressed closer into me, and I felt her trembling. Shaking with fear. That pissed me off. No one scared my girl. No one rolled up on us and intimidated her like that.
She leaned into my ear. “Let’s get out of here, okay? Speed away on your bike?”
I didn't answer her. I didn’t want my answer to scare her. While motorcycles were fast, we didn’t have time or space to get away from them. I wouldn't even get situated on my bike before they rammed into both of us, pinning us to the tree behind us. And I couldn't put Rae in danger like that. I couldn't let her get hurt again.
Which meant running wasn’t an option.
“Please, Clint.”
Hearing her beg made me sick to my stomach, but I shook my head. I felt her disappointment as she leaned her head against my shoulder, silently begging me to step down. But there was so much to this interaction she didn’t understand. So many ways for her to get hurt that she didn’t realize.
And if she had a chance to get hurt, it meant that option wasn’t really an option at all.
37
Raelynn
The more the men came into view, the more of them I saw. They were lean, but tall. Three of them as tall as Clint. Easily. They all had beer cans in their hands and the glossy look in their eyes told me they’d been drinking. Probably all night, up until this point. I felt sick to my stomach. The smiles on their faces were wicked. The palms of their hands dwarfed those regular-sized beer cans, and the way they looked at me was frightening.
Their eyes darted between Clint and me, but they kept resting their gazes on me.
I gasped. “Clint.”
He pressed further back into me. “It’s gonna be all right, Rae. Just do exactly as I ask.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, though.
Each of them leaned against the hood of the car, blocking out parts of the high beams that shone against us. And when the blind spots faded from my vision, I found all four of them licking their lips. Staring at me. Raking their eyes up and down the parts of me they could see. I slid off the bike, staying behind Clint. I fisted his leather jacket, drawing him closer as his arm wrapped around behind me. He tapped my waist, trying to comfort me as the boys started laughing to themselves.
Then one of them finally spoke up.
“You look scared.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You think?”
Clint squeezed my side, telling me to stop. And for once, I listened. I didn’t like the way they were looking at me. I didn’t like the way they slowly boxed us in. They all pushed off the hood of the car, stalking toward us. Making their way for us. Eyeing me hotly as Clint tried obscuring their view. Clint stood his ground, despite the fact that I knew we needed to run. He locked eyes with the boy in front, who stood a little over an inch taller than him.
I still felt the other three boys staring me down. Looking at places on my body that made me want to punch them straight in their noses.
I snarled. “Fuck off.”
Another boy snickered. “She’s got spunk. I like spunk.”
The boy staring at Clint grinned. “I hate spunk.”
Clint grimaced. “Good thing it isn’t up to you either way.”
“Oh, yeah? And what makes you think that?”
I giggled bitterly. “Because you don’t get to control me.”
All four of the boys looked over at me and I clung tightly to Clint. I didn’t know what to do. I didn't know what the right move was. Mom taught me to always stand up for myself. But what the hell was I supposed to do in a situation like this? I didn’t want to run. I didn’t want to abandon Clint. And yet, I knew I was the target. I knew if they got through Clint, I’d be in a hell of a lot of trouble.
I whispered. “What should we do?”
Clint peered over his shoulder. “Stay there and do as I ask.”
One of the boys grinned. “An obedient girl. I like that in my women.”
I scoffed. “Good thing I’m not your woman, then.”
“I think we could change that. I hear you like bad boy dick.”
“I guess that takes you out of the running, then.”
The boy lunged at me and Clint jumped in the way. He stood toe to toe with him, staring him down as his chest puffed out. The other three guys started laughing, filling the air with the smell of beer. I rested my forehead against Clint’s back, feeling him stiffening, tightening, shaking with fury. His fists balled up at his sides and the staredown began, each party waiting for the other to make a move.
Was it possible to stare them down until they sobered up? Until they got back into their car and left?
Where the hell is the patrol car that always comes through?
“Clint,” I whispered.
One of the boys chuckled. “Think your girl’s calling you.”
Clint nodded. “And don’t you forget who she belongs to.”
“I don’t think she belongs to anyone. She’s a free-spirited girl, right? The one who ran to your defense?”
“And if I remember correctly, you’re the asshole that knocked her down. Hurt her. And mark my words, you’ll pay for that.”
“Oh, she’s got some fluff. She’s good.”
I felt Clint lunge and I gripped his leather jacket. I pulled him back to me as the boys erupted into laughter. He shrugged me off, whipping around and glaring at me. I glared right back, silently screaming at him, telling him there was no way on fuck’s green earth he’d be able to take all four of them in a fight without them dragging me off in the process.
And when he drew in a deep breath, I watched his eyes soften.
“Look at that, boys! He’s whipped already.”
I heard the drunk assholes making whipping noises as they twirled their hands around in the air. Clint’s face flushed with anger and he grew another two inches as fury filled his veins. He whipped back around and I tightened my grip on his leather jacket, trying desperately to keep a hold on this situation. I had my purse with me. It hung off my shoulder. And if I slipped my hand in there, I could press the emergency button on my phone, calling for help before this escalated.
Clint growled. “The four of you need to leave. Now.”
Main Boy shook his head. “Eh, that doesn’t sit well with me. I mean, what if the little lady’s in trouble?”
I snickered. “I’m not. The only people I’d be in trouble with are the four of you.”
�
�But it would be the best kind of trouble.”
Clint grinned. “She gets plenty of that with me.”
“And from the looks of her curves, there’s plenty to go around. Sharing is caring, Clarke.”
I wrangled Clint back again, feeling him trying to tug away from me. I slipped out from behind him and pressed my hands into his stomach, getting him to back up. I almost had him backed up, too. Until I felt a pair of hands on my hips. A pair of hands that weren’t Clint’s.
And he lost his fucking mind.
“What the fuck are you doing, touching my girl?”
“Clint! No!”
He lunged around me, slapping the boy’s hands away. I whipped around with wide eyes, watching as Clint went straight for the boy’s neck. His three goons wrapped their arms around Clint, dragging him back before tossing him onto the ground. And as I stood there, with a gasp falling from my lips, Main Boy looked straight at me.
“You ready to try a real man?”
Clint shot up from the ground. “You don’t speak with her. At all.”
“That right, sexy? You don’t wanna talk to a man like me?”
I scoffed. “Hardly.”
“Even if I know I can throw it down better than your measly little man here can?”
My eyes narrowed. “Sex isn’t what I’m after.”
The boys laughed at me as they leaned back against their car. Clint got in front of me again, blocking my body from their reach. I turned a little to the side, concealing my hand as it slipped into my purse, silently rummaging around for my phone.
Main Boy grinned. “So, entertain me. What is it you’re after?”
I shrugged. “Not you four, that’s for sure.”
“And what about us do you not like?”
“Other than your overall assholeish nature, your ugly looks, your disgusting demeanors, and your pompous attitudes?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. Sure. Other than those.”
I grinned. “I don’t like small dicks.”
Main Boy lunged off his car and Clint stepped in front of him, toe to toe again, though I knew he was upset with me. I pulled my hand out of my purse quickly, sliding my phone into my back pocket. Then I dropped my purse to the ground, trying to act like I was scared out of my mind to conceal what had just happened.
