by KJ Dahlen
Pausing, he had to reconsider this theory. But twice? She got caught in the fray...twice.
Tired and ready to power down, he shook it all away as he needed to set all this aside for now, so he decided to take a shower. It had been a long night.
Stripping down as he walked to the bathroom, his mind was full of puzzles and a feeling that not all the pieces were there. By the time he got there, he was wearing only his briefs. He paused and remembered he wasn’t alone in this room of his anymore. He turned to look back at the bed when he got to the doorway.
Asia was still out cold. She would probably sleep on into the morning.
He stepped under the water after he got it on and steamy. So many thoughts ran around in his mind. Who was this girl? Why had she been where she’d been in that alley back a year ago? The man he was sent to scare took her? But why? Eagle may know and he dammed sure intended to ask him too. It was Hammer’s debt and that was all Falcon knew at the time. Well, since then, they had uncovered mountains of that same type of debt that Hammer left behind. The Russians were part of it. Now the Princes were free of all that, thanks to Viktor and his team.
Just how did Asia fit into the picture though? It irked him to have any mysteries in his life. They always ended up blowing up right in your fucking face if you allowed it. He began to see her face in his mind as the water poured over him. Dammit, he wanted her. But there was no way. He just couldn’t. He should just get a bunny and make his itch go away.
Stepping out of the shower, he heard a noise. Fuck... where was his piece? He thought back. Dammit, it’s in the bedroom. Man, I must be slipping.
Without even drying off, he quietly moved to the doorway and his alert gaze spanned the room.
Nothing and no one.
“No!” Asia cried from the bed.
He stepped closer to look down at her.
With the sheets tangled around her, she was crying in her sleep. “Noooo,” she whimpered.
His chest tightened. Poor kid. It broke his heart to hear such misery. He sat down and scooped her up.
Gasping, she clung to his neck.
“Are you all right?” he softly asked to her ear.
“No. I’m not,” she sniffled. “I’m alone in the world now. Alone.”
Patting her back he replied, “No. You’re not. You have...” His voice fell away. No. She did not have him. Not permanently.
“Yes?” she asked. “Who do I have? My mom died when I was a kid. Then my dad... I really didn’t have him, but he sent money. Then he died last year. Now—” Her voice broke. “Now my Nan...” Her crying didn’t stop.
All Falcon could do was pull her onto his lap and rock her.
She fell silent and her tears stopped as he cradled her.
He just smoothed her hair and rocked her. Maybe she had fallen back to sleep?
“Did you know that you are... naked?” she asked quietly.
His rocking-patting stopped. “Yeah and so what?”
She giggled.
This reaction surprised him as he set her away from his chest. “What’s so funny?”
“You.” She shook her head. “D- do you always walk around your room...umm... naked?”
He laughed. “No, I heard you when I stepped out of the shower.”
“Oh, okay.” Her voice had gone low.
“You disappointed?” he teased.
“About what?”
“Me not always walking around naked.”
“Hell yeah.” She again let out a giggle.
He laughed with her, feeling glad that at least she wasn’t crying anymore. He set her back down on the bed then stood. “Ok, well try to get some more sleep. We are going to have questions tomorrow...” His voice faded away at the sight of her wide eyes staring at him.
“Wow,” she whispered. “Are those flacon wings on your chest?”
He looked down at the tat. It was wings that spanned all the way to his shoulders. “Yeah and the crown is for the Princes.” He raised his head to see her gaze had gone lower.
“Another wow,” she spoke in a low whisper. “I never knew they made them this large?”
Falcon smirked but he needed for this little gazing party to end before she was lying on her back with those wings pressing her little body into the mattress. “Hey! I’m up here!”
Her head jerked up.
“You need to stop looking at me like that.” His cock was at full mast at the images in his head her staring had caused.
“Why?” she asked innocently. “I mean by God, you are an actual walking work of art!”
Shaking his head, he chuckled. “Just never, mind my art. Turn over like a good girl and get some sleep.”
She pouted. “Okay, but I will be dreaming of like...” She paused. “Falcons.” She giggled.
Shaking his head, Falcon stepped over to his dresser. This was very dangerous. He could just picture that sweet mouth on him and those eyes looking up at him as she sucked him off. He felt precum leak from his tip. “Fuck!”
“W-what is it?” she called from the bed.
Falcon placed his hands on the dresser and lowered his head with a hard sigh. Attempting to get rid of his hard on. “Nothing.” A whole lot of hard nothing.
“And another wow!” she gasped out. “You have an ass that you could bounce a quarter—”
He flipped around. “Stop looking!”
She bit at her lip and ducked her head under the pillow.
Falcon shook his head and pulled some sweats on, careful not to nudge the tip of his hard throbbing dick. Now how was he going to get into bed with her?
Shit, it was going to be a long fucking night.
Chapter Five
ASIA
Wow, was all she could think. She would rather think of that magnificent body of his than her own problems. What would it feel like? Him being inside her? She flushed all over, as she felt wet between her thighs. She never remembered a man making her wet like this by just looking at him. She huffed in frustration and turned over as she tried to sleep.
Stupid girl. Stupid little girl crushing on this man who would have no use for you at all.
The bed dipped and she knew he had just got in. Oh... he was sleeping next to her? She shivered again. The man was like— built. She seen a lot of men when working in the clubs and not once, had she seen a man like him. She would have walked right out of the club doors with him if he’d asked her to, she just knew this.
But it wasn’t meant to be. He didn’t seem interested. Who could blame him though? He could get any woman he wanted and here she was tiny bit of a thing with a little curves and not a whole lot on top. Then her eyes were slanted and not normal. Her mother had been a china doll if there ever was one. She had been dainty and looked like porcelain really. She got hooked on opium in Chinatown and she was barely there for most of Asia’s childhood. The women in their apartment building had helped to raise her while talking about her mother in low tones and looking disgusted by her lifestyle.
Then her father was entirely American... a huge man, not that she’d inherited that, just the white skin and his eye color. Still, men seemed to love her dancing. That didn’t say anything though. They didn’t care if a cow danced up there. Anything with legs was good enough. Pigs, all of them. She would bet her last dollar, Falcon never went to those places. He could have women strip for him at the snap of his fingers.
Oh, the months and months of dreams she had about this man after he’d saved her. A stranger that had walked in, saved her life, gave her a way to safety and then walked out.
This was the kind of man from those romance books. But unlike those stories, this man had no interest in her except for what she had been doing with Will—Devon.
Devon deserved whatever he got and if she knew anything so they could find him, she damn well would. She seethed with hatred. She’d never felt hatred before and it stunned her actually. But she probably couldn’t help to bury him as she hadn’t seen him since she’d left town. Out of t
he blue a year later, he just showed up then took her and her Nan hostage.
Sadness enveloped her again. Her poor sweet Nan. How could she face a day without her? Nan was too important, Asia even came out of hiding to help her and be with her.
Now, she was gone.
Sleep finally took her after a short while as more tears dried on her cheeks.
Some hours later, a booming knock sounded on the door.
Asia bolted up, but not before Falcon was out of bed, a gun in his hand.
Staring up at him, she couldn’t believe a man could just jolt out of sleep and be ready for a gunfight. Blinking her eyes, she then looked over at the door where the booming was coming from.
“Let me in,” Eagle’s voice shouted.
Sighing and looking disgusted, Falcon tucked the gun into the back of his sweats and went to the door, opening it.
Eagle stomped in. “We got trouble.”
“What kind?” Falcon asked.
“Badges,” Eagle replied.
“And?”
“And we will be fucked. You need to get her down to the basement and through the tunnel. They’re going to search the compound.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you later by cell. Bail with her and now. Take her to hot springs.”
Asia stood up. “Hot springs?”
“Yeah, you will be safe there.”
“S-safe?” she asked puzzled.
He nodded then looked to Falcon. “Your bike is at the tunnel exit. The tank is full. I had a prospect take it there.” Eagle then went out and closed the door.
Falcon was already putting a shirt on.
“What’s happening?” Asia asked.
“Don’t know. Can’t care.” Falcon stood up and tore his sweats down.
Her eyes widened and this time instead of staring, she flipped around. She did not need more eye candy when the candy was off limits. “I need clothes too,” she spoke to the wall.
“I’m getting you some. They’ll be big but better than nothing.”
Asia turned around to see him in jeans as he a sat and pulled his boots on.
Standing, he grabbed his keys and his cell then grasped her hand. The man was ready to leave by the time she blinked her eyes. He slung a bag over his shoulder as they went to his closet.
“What ...where are we going?” she asked utterly confused as she stared at the closet.
“Come on it’s a passage way.” He tugged her in, shut the closet door and then popped a panel open. He waved her through.
Asia stepped through and was surprised to see the way was lit with small amp lights.
“Generator just for the tunnels,” he commented as he shut the panel behind him and took her hand again.
They went through what seemed like a maze of low-lit tunnels for about ten minutes then they came to a wall.
Falcon pulled a lever on the wall. It opened and the sunlight hit them in the face. It was still early morning. He looked around first before he stepped out then turned to give her his hand.
She grasped it and went out with him. Seemed she at least got to do a lot of handholding with him if nothing else.
He pointed to his bike.
Asia got on.
Lifting the saddlebag lid on his cycle, he dropped the bag in. Then got on in front of her and started the bike up.
Asia put her arms around his waist. The feeling of being up next to his warm body just calmed her. Calm in the middle of a storm. This was the third time she rode with him to safety. It was becoming a habit. One she knew would break as soon as this was all over. She did note the hard gun again at his back waist. She was even getting used to that offending metal.
She had to wonder what the Badges comment meant. Cops of course, but why? Then also why hide her? She would ask Falcon when they got to where they were going. Well, if he knew anything. It seemed he knew as much as her at this point.
They rode along a dirt road for many miles.
The dust really started to bother Asia as she sneezed and coughed.
Falcon handed her something with one hand over his shoulder.
It was a bandana.
“Tie it over your face,” he shouted in the wind.
Asia did as he ordered and then she felt a lot better, though her throat was as dry as the Sahara.
Then they came out on a county asphalt road with one lane on each side.
Falcon turned the bike and headed east.
Asia laid her head onto his shoulder and wondered what time it was. She was hungry and thirsty now, as it had been maybe 24 hours since she last ate.
Pulling into a convenience store, Falcon shut his bike down and kicked the stand. “Coffee and donuts?” he asked as he maneuvered his large frame off the bike.
“Yes, sure,” she replied.
“Okay, we don’t have far to go. I’m gonna get some food here to add to what’s in the safehouse. If you can wait for the little girl’s room till we get there, that would be better.”
“I can,” she replied again.
Staring at her for a moment, he smiled at her.
Asia just sat stone still. This man was all kinds of things, but when he smiled, it felt like she couldn’t catch her breath. She hadn’t seen him smile much and it was a good thing as it did all kinds of things to her body that she could not seem to control.
Turning, he headed toward the store.
Asia just sat there and watched him walk away. The man had this confident stride, all powerhouse, all strength. Sexy as all get out. She knew she was entirely infatuated with this biker and she also knew it would do her no good. He wasn’t attracted to her in the least and he was just being kind. She needed to hang onto the fact that he was someone helping her and no more than that.
Heartbreak had been a staple in her life, for all her life. She knew nothing else. Oh, at times she would catch snatches of happiness. But that would be a brief walk in the park or sitting and watching a movie by herself. Little tiny things like putting her paycheck in the bank and knowing it was all her money that she’d made herself. She’d always come out at the bottom, not the top though in the grand scheme of things. Always losing. Never able to be happy. Just one tragic incident to the next. Now this final one had taken the last of her family.
So now more than ever in her life, she sure as hell did not need to fall for a man like him. One with a wild, thrill seeking, walking the edge way of life. Not that he would fall for her anyway. But a crush was the last thing she should feel or be concerned with. She needed to figure out what to do now. Or when Falcon and his club were done with her and her part in this.
After a few minutes, Falcon came out and he had his cell phone to his ear even as he carried two bags.
Asia got off the bike and headed toward him. Grabbing a bag, she wanted to help.
Falcon scowled at her as she went back to the bike. She could hear his conversation he walked closely behind her.
“So, that was who called them in?” He paused to listen. “No way man. That is wonderful news.” Again, he paused. “Well, fuck him. It is great news. No, I really mean that.” He listened for a couple of minutes then spoke again, “Ok, Talon. Let me know how long when you do know.” He slid his phone into his pocket and stared at Asia.
She sat with the bag in her hand on his big bike. “What is it?”
“Seems your Nan is a tough old bird.”
Blinking rapidly Asia asked, “What?”
“She is alive,” he stated.
“W-what?” Asia’s mind spun with the shock.
He nodded. “She told the cops our MC took you. Though how she knew who we were is a question.”
Asia gasped and dropped the bag to the ground as tears filled her eyes “She lived? I-I don’t understand.”
Falcon shrugged then picked up the bag and put both bags into his now filled saddlebag. “Seems she woke up and called the police. Maybe the CPR I did worked? I really don’t know, babe.”
“Oh, wow!” Asia laughed-
cried with excitement. “I need to see her.”
Pausing, Falcon stared at her. “You can’t yet.”
“But why not?”
“She is under police protection and if Devon catches you to or from seeing her, he will kill you most likely.”
Disappointed, she could see his point. At least she would see her at all. After this was over. She still had her Nan, and that was all that mattered. Sniffling, she nodded at him. “Okay.”
He stared at her. “Just ok? No argument? No hissy fit?”
Asia narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes, what else am I supposed to say?”
He shook his head as he grinned. “You are the damndest woman.”
Asia stared at him... Man, she could do that all day.... Stare at this guy. “What do you mean? I haven’t caused any trouble have I? I mean yeah, I’m always needing you to rescue me. But I—”
Falcon stepped up and grasped her face while looking into her eyes.
Sucking in a breath, Asia stilled.
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. Hard.
Her breath was simply snatched from her in a wave of heat that she’d never felt ever before. His arms wrapped around her as he tugged her off the bike and up onto his chest close to his hard body. Her mind went utterly blank as his tongue delved in. He tasted so delicious too, like mint and man and something she could keep in her mouth all damn day. She then seemed to wake up from whatever stupor he’d put her in and she kissed him back with all that she was worth. God, could this man kiss!
He pulled away and looked at her.
Her chest was heaving and she couldn’t seem to focus.
They both just stood there for a full minute or more.
Falcon then smirked at her and motioned for her to get on the bike.
Asia wasn’t certain if she could get her legs to work after that kiss but she tried.
He hefted her up like she was a small bag of feathers and set her down. Then he got on in front of her.
Placing her arms around his waist, she let out a long sigh. Wow, he just kissed her! Maybe she was wrong about him not being attracted, though that did not make any sense to her.
Starting the bike up, they rode out and down the two lane county road. Asia hung on as she leaned her body back and thought she would never feel this happy again in her life. Her Nan was alive!
