“Like what you see?”
His amused question startled me and I let out a shriek, jerking back so fast I fell off the bed. “Doc? You okay?”
I stared up at the ceiling, trying to decide if the water stain looked more like a Picasso or a Pollack.
“Doc?”
“Died. She died,” I replied, still laying on the floor and making a concentrated effort not to think what might be in the carpet. “I’m sorry.”
A dark head appeared above me, blocking my view of the Picasso on the ceiling. “Sorry she’s dead or sorry you took a peek?” A devilish grin lifted one corner of his mouth and I closed my eyes, but there was no hiding the tomato red of my cheeks, the heat of my blush hot enough to cook an egg.
“I – I, please let me just die here.”
“Why?” He leaned further over the bed, bringing his face closer to mine. “I don’t mind. In fact, little Clutch was enjoying showing off.”
“Little?” I murmured, my eyes popping open. “Little? You could declare that thing a third leg.”
He roared with laughter, his arm dangling over the edge of the bed as he reached for me, pinching my side when I tried to wiggle away. “Now, you’re just trying to flatter him.”
I sat up, hugging my knees as the movement brought my face next to his. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have looked,” I whispered, embarrassed at being caught and ashamed I’d violated his personal space.
He snorted. “You have my full permission to look as often and as long as you want, Doc.” He snagged a lock of my hair, tugging it until I looked at him. “Touching is also allowed,” he added with a wink. Our foreheads bumped. “Any chance of a reciprocal agreement being negotiated?”
I turned my head, meeting his mouth with mine as he tangled his hand in my hair. I hooked my arm around his bicep and he hauled me forward, our lips still clinging as we rolled onto the bed, my body sprawled over his. The towel disappeared at some point, and my leg came to a rest between his thighs. His third leg rose to the occasion, pressing insistently into the soft flesh of my thigh.
“Is that where the nickname Clutch came from?” I asked, barely lifting my lips from his. He smiled, his hand squeezing the back of my neck as he shook his head. “Really, that seems like a missed opportunity.”
“Cars,” he gasped as my hand found its way to his dick, wrapping my fingers firmly around the quickly hardening flesh. “I spend most of my time under the hood.”
“Again, a wasted opportunity,” I teased, my hand moving in long strokes as his palm drifted down my back.
“One of us is wearing too many clothes,” he admonished, sliding my shirt up. “Way, way too many clothes.”
I arched up, my hand slipping from him, but his disappointment quickly disappeared as I tugged my shirt up and over my head. “Better?”
“Getting there,” he conceded, his finger tracing my breast above the bra. “More to go.”
I reached behind me, unhooking the bra’s clasp, and instantly my breasts spilled forward, filling his palm. A delicate stroke of his thumb made my nipple pebble instantly. He tossed my bra to the side, his mouth latching onto my nipple and I moaned as he sucked, one hand toying with my other nipple, his other hand sliding over my spine and toying with the crease of my ass.
I planted my hands on his chest, curling my fingers into the thick, curly hair, and finding his flat nipples. I traced them, noticing they pebbled, as he released my nipple with a satisfied pop. He placed an open mouthed kiss between by breasts, and I squirmed as cold air hit my wet nipple. He nudged my other breast with his nose, intentionally blowing hot, moist air against my nipple and I wiggled, spreading my legs so I straddled him that massive third leg wedged right up against me.
He scraped his teeth along my nipple, toying with it and me. “Clutch,” I gasped.
“Hmmm?” The simple sound vibrated through me, sending little sparks of pleasure radiating along my nerves.
“Bite me,” I gritted out, slipping my hand between our bodies, my hand finding what it was looking for in seconds. I squeezed and his teeth snapped down on my nipple, sending a hot blend of pleasure and pain through me.
I tugged, my hand pumping, barely able to grip his girth as he sucked hard, soothing any lingering pain. He brought his hand around, unzipping my jeans far enough he could slip his hand inside. His finger discovered my soaked panties and I felt him groan. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” he growled again, rocking his hips against mine. He pulled his hand out and I whimpered. “I’m going to make it all better,” he promised, his hands going to my hips to lift me up.
Ringing pierced the air, loud and insistent. We both glanced at the nightstand where Clutch’s phone was vibrating along the top as it rang again. “Ignore it?” I pleaded, clenching my aching pussy.
“I can’t,” he groaned, lowering me so he could reach over and grab the phone. I rolled off him as he answered, listening to his monosyllabic replies. He hung up a minute later, laying the phone carefully back on the nightstand. “Tweet got a lead. Rob’s in Singer and he still has Kara.”
“That’s three hours away,” I mentioned, trying to get my desire saturated brain to work. “Faster if we ignore the speed limit.” He rolled on his side, his long body on full display, his cock proudly at attention, the head pulsing and I reached for it.
“Fuuuuck,” he groaned as I gripped him. “Next time, we’re going to do this right,” he promised, his hand wiggling into my pants, those long fingers finding my clit unerringly. He stroked hard, sending pleasure pulsing through me as he worked my soaked pussy. I returned the favor, keeping my grip firm as I worked his cock, trusting the sound of his labored breathing as I stroked faster, matching his speed as his finger slipped over my clit.
I cried out as the orgasm slammed into me, my hand tightening around his cock, and he gave a shout, his hot cum shooting out in thick ropes, coating my breasts. I panted, pleasurable little tingles zinging through me as his fingers continued to caress the folds of my pussy. I released my death grip on his dick and he pulled his hand out of my jeans. He pressed a hard kiss against my mouth, wiping the towel over my chest and cleaning me up.
“You are a crazy kind of amazing,” he stated, leaning back. “And I will make this up to you.”
My eyes widened. “You do it any better and you’ll kill me,” I protested and he smirked in satisfaction.
“I promise to take you to heaven,” he agreed, pressing a kiss to my jaw then rolling to a stand, his back to me, taut buttocks flashing as he bent over to get pick up my bra. “But for now, we need to go.”
“You expect me to drive? I don’t think my legs work,” I whined, slipping my bra on and hooking the clasp, before twisting it around and positioning my boobs in the cups. He watched me, a curious expression on his face. “What?”
He shook his head, glancing down at his naked body. “I should get dressed.”
“Yes,” I agreed instantly. “You’re a distraction.”
“And you’re not?”
“I have clothes on,” I defended, pulling my shirt in front of me. “Totally different levels of distraction.”
He nodded, an amused smile playing on his lips. “You might be right.”
He dressed in record time, the saddle bag slung over his shoulder as he swiped his phone off the nightstand. I had my shirt and shoes on, my keys in my hand as we stepped out of the room.
I glanced back as he came to a stop by the car, my gaze lingering on the concrete block walls, the paint peeling off them, and the crooked number on the door. “Doc?”
I turned, jogging toward him as he gave me a questioning glance. “Taking a picture,” I said dismissively, knowing my odd habit of taking a picture with my mind to remember moments could be considered weird.
“Don’t you need a camera?” He asked as we got in the car.
I tapped my temple. “I prefer to keep them up here.”
“I can understand that,” he replied, buckling his seatbelt. “Memories l
ast a lifetime. Pictures fade.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly right,” I agreed, surprised he understood so quickly. “I don’t want to forget,” I paused, not sure if we were ready for me to admit that I didn’t want to forget any of the moments with him. “Certain things. I don’t want to forget certain moments,” I said hastily.
“Me either,” he replied quietly, reaching for my hand. “The good thing is you have a lifetime to make new memories.” His eyes met mine. “With certain people.”
I nodded, not really sure where we were going with this, but willing to go along. I’d never experienced emotion like this before, something that felt as steady as a rock and delicate as a bubble. “Let’s go get Kara.”
The ride flew by as we played 20 Questions and Never Have I Ever, our only rule was no questions about past sexual partners. My stomach hurt from laughing at some of his answers and I was pretty sure he’d thought I was lying on some of mine.
We passed the sign for the town of Singer, rolling through the only stoplight before pulling into the parking lot of the local Walmart. “Do we know where he might be?” I asked, not having seen a hotel of any kind. “What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know,” Clutch muttered, looking around. “Maybe he’s buying drugs or calling in a favor?” He swung his head toward me. “He doesn’t have any friends. He’s an escaped convict. He needs to get out of the country.”
“And that would be difficult with a little girl,” I murmured, scanning the mostly empty parking lot. It was the middle of the day on a weekday, meaning only old people and stay at home moms populated the local grocery store. “He tried to drop her with his grandmother and that didn’t work out. Is he going to try again?”
“But who does he know here?”
“Would he,” I stopped, hating to even think it, but there was no escaping the possibility. “Would he sell her?”
“Sell her,” Clutch repeated, his jaw twitching. “Like she’s a fucking car or something?”
“Child trafficking is a huge problem in this country,” I said, having seen some of its effects first hand when I worked in the trauma unit of the ER. “If he needs money and she’s a liability.”
“We have to get her,” Clutch muttered, getting out of the car. “We have to find him.”
I followed him, locking the car. “We drove through town. I didn’t see the car he stole. So unless he’s stolen another one or parked in a garage….”
“Or he’s at Walmart,” Clutch stated, pointing at a car parked along the side of the building. “Isn’t that the same model?”
“It is,” I said slowly, digging in my purse for the paper with the license plate number. “Let’s make sure.”
We walked closer and I matched the string of letters and numbers. “That’s it,” I confirmed.
“He’s inside. He’s inside with Kara,” Clutch said urgently. “We have to get her.”
“Someone needs to stay here. Watch the doors in case he comes out,” I replied. I paced in front of the stolen car. “I can go inside, see if I can find them.” Clutch started to protest. “He won’t recognize me,” I reminded him. “He’s going to come out eventually. You’ll have a better chance of getting Kara out here, in the open.” I rested my hand on his chest. “Remember, you also have a warrant out for your arrest.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, “Yeah. I haven’t forgotten.”
“Here,” I dug my keys out of my pocket. “If something happens take the car.” I pulled an old receipt out of my purse and scribbled my brother’s address on it. “Go here.”
He was shaking his head. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“I appreciate that, but if something goes wrong, that’s exactly what you’re going to do,” I replied tartly. “I don’t have outstanding warrants or a criminal conviction hanging over my head. You do.” I curled the slip of paper and keys in his palm. “Give him a dollar and tell him Twinkie sent you.” He opened his mouth and I shook my head. “He’ll understand and that’s what matters. I really hope this is unnecessary, but we can’t take any chances.”
“I don’t like your contingency plans,” he finally grumbled. “And you can’t make me do it.”
I smiled, already knowing he would if it was for Kara. “You will though. Now, do you have a recent picture of Kara? I’ve already seen a mugshot of Rob so I’m pretty sure I’d recognize him.”
Clutch pulled a picture up on his phone, showing me. “Here. This was taken a couple of weeks ago. Her grandfather sent it to me in case,” he didn’t finish and I knew it was because it was in case he needed to identify her body.
“Okay. We get her back today,” I promised, believing it, determination crystalizing inside of me. I spun toward the door and he hauled me back.
“Doc.”
“Clutch.”
We both stared at each other.
“I like holding your hand,” he said finally, dropping his gaze.
A smile tugged my mouth. “I like when you hold my hand.”
“I want to keep holding your hand so don’t do anything fucking stupid.”
“Same goes for you,” I replied, startling him into raising his gaze. “Now that we’ve established that, let’s save Kara.” This time he let me go, but not before squeezing my hand.
I walked briskly inside the store, fighting the urge to look back at him, afraid it might be the last time I saw him.
Chapter Fifteen
Clutch
She walked away, not hearing me as I whispered, “Look back. Look back.” She never did and something in my chest tightened as she disappeared through the automatic doors. I was afraid she wouldn’t come back, even with me holding her damn car keys in my hand. I stuffed the keys and the address in my pocket, pacing away from the car. Rob had parked on the side which gave me a clear view of the entrance Doc had gone through, but I would miss anyone coming out the other side.
I positioned myself next to an oversized Ford dually, using it to hide the fact that I was basically casing the store. Watching moms and kids enter and exit gave me plenty of time to second guess my decision to let Doc go inside alone. She had no idea how dangerous and desperate Rob was, meaning she would underestimate him. She won’t engage him, I reminded myself, not unless absolutely necessary.
A woman and little girl came out the side entrance and I barely glanced at them. The little girl was throwing a fit though and my gaze went back. “Kara,” I said, quickly straightening from my relaxed position. They were headed for a van idling by the garden center and I started to run. “Kara,” I shouted, skirting around a car that slammed to a stop as I ran in front of it. “Kara.”
The little girl struggled harder, twisting as I yelled her name. She froze for a second and the woman managed to haul her closer to the van. “Kara,” I shouted again, breaking her trance.
“CLUTCH,” she screamed, tears pouring down her face as she recognized me. My arms pumped as my legs ate the ground between us, but the woman was now moving faster, realizing I was coming after them.
“Kara,” I shouted, growing desperate as they got closer to the van and I was still a dozen yards away. “Kara, fight.”
The words triggered her and I watched as she stomped on the woman’s foot, and threw her little elbow back, slowing the woman down. A man leapt from the van and Kara screamed, “Fire!”
The word drew attention and the man stopped as the woman slapped Kara, cursing at her in Spanish. The few people who had glanced over looked away and I ran faster than I thought possible. I didn’t slow down as I neared them, using my momentum to slam into the woman, sending her skidding right into the van she was trying to wrestle Kara into.
I grabbed for Kara, who clung to me with one arm, and we played a version of Tug of War until Kara spit at her, and kicked her foot out, landing a hit on the woman’s stomach. She let go and I hauled Kara into my arms, tearing out the stitches Doc had put in, but keeping a firm grip on Kara.
“Morir,” she hissed at me and
I smiled grimly.
“That can be arranged,” I told her as Kara sobbed against my shoulder and I backed away from the van. Sirens sounded in the distance and I figured someone must have finally called the cops after seeing us. Kara had a stranglehold on my neck and I started jogging as the van peeled away, abandoning the cause.
I didn’t want to risk going inside the store, figuring our best bet was to lie low in the car until Doc came back out. “I’ve got you, Kara. You’re safe.”
“Mommy?” The word came out as a question, one she already knew the answer to and I shook my head.
“No, sweetie.”
She cried harder and I hurried to the car, blood starting to soak through the bandage and onto my shirt. I fumbled with the keys, almost losing the slip of paper, but managed to grab it off the ground as I unlocked the car. “Here, get in,” I murmured, but Kara refused to let go so I awkwardly slid in the back with her. “It’s okay.” I patted her back, sinking down in the seat as police cars entered the parking lot. “We’re going to be okay.” I kept repeating it over and over as my heart finally slowed and Kara ran out of tears to cry.
My saddle bag poked against my side and when I pushed it, a little furry ear brushed my hand. I managed to wiggle the beloved bunny out of the pocket I’d stashed it in and showed it to Kara. “Here.” I pressed it into her hands and she hugged it immediately. “You love Mr. Rabbit.”
“His name is Clutch,” she informed me, squeezing it so hard I thought the stuffing was going to come out. “You gave him to me before you left.”
“I did.” I brushed a strand of hair from her wet cheek. “So you would know I’m always thinking about you.”
“You came back.” I nodded, not bothering to try and explain how. “A bad man took me. He said he was my daddy.” Her expression turned mutinous. “He wasn’t my daddy. My daddy wouldn’t hurt Mommy.”
Renegade (Southern Rebels MC Book 4) Page 13
