The Lucky Bullet

by H. S. Strickland

  As soon as her foot hit the floor again, I busted out laughing. She looked like a three year old not getting her way. She had her hands on her hip, lips pouted, and had stomped her foot.

  “Mace! It’s not even five in the morning which is too early for you to be laughing at me!” She whined.

  “Don’t give me a reason to laugh then,” I told her while I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest and a smirk gracing my face.

  “It…you…Ugh,” she stuttered and blew out a frustrated breath that moved the hair out of her face.

  My grin widened. She glared and stormed off. I loved picking on her because she got exasperated so easily. I finished cleaning up the coffee that was on the counter and made breakfast for her.

  She came back in the kitchen 15 minutes later with her hair wet and slicked back into a bun. She had on much the same outfit that I did, black T-shirt and jeans and sneakers. She bent over the counter and I was able to see just how tight her jeans were. Her ass was tipped up and her jeans hugged her ass like yoga pants would.

  I stepped up behind her and rested my hands on her hips.

  “Keep it up and we’ll be late.” I ground my hips into her ass to make my point.

  She moaned and wiggled her ass against me. I growled roughly, we really would be late if she kept tempting me.

  “What’s so wrong with being late?” She whispered huskily.

  I spun her around then placed my hands under her arms and picked her up and plopped her ass on the counter behind her. I leaned so far into her that she had to lean back on her hands. I kissed my way up her neck till I got to her ear then nipped it. I felt her shiver beneath me and her breathing become heavier.

  “You sure you want to tempt me? I don’t play games, babe, you know that.” I then bit her lobe and tugged it in my mouth and she cried out softly.

  I traced the cup of her bra through her shirt and bit my lip. Her eyes went to the dark blue-green-violet color that I loved so much.

  “Uh…ma-maybe we should uh…wait.” She told me trying to fight off what my touch did to her. It was useless.

  I pinched her nipple through her bra and grinned devilishly. I had no intentions of taking her, we had too much to do, but I did want to make her throb for me. I wanted her pussy soaked just from the thought that I was going to take her.

  I abruptly took a step back and let my hand fall away from her breast. She opened her eyes and tilted her head back up. She saw the look in my eyes and knew I had been fucking with her. She scowled and jumped off the counter.

  “Is it ‘fuck with Araylia day’? Be ready in ten! And grab me a travel mug, fill it to the brim with coffee, and get your ass out to the truck!” She yelled angrily as she walked down the hall to our bedroom.

  I snickered while fixing her a travel mug of coffee. I took my ass out to the truck and started it, now the real fun would begin.

  We had been on the road for an hour and Liam had finally woken up.

  “Mommy, where are we going?” Liam yawned and I saw him stretch his little limbs through the rearview mirror.

  “To Mace’s other house,” Ray said. She was still pouting from my teasing earlier.

  “What does it look like?” Liam was now looking out of the window curiously and wide eyed.

  “I don’t know baby, I’ve never been there.” She told him.

  I lifted the hand that was on the middle console and placed it on Araylia’s thigh. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, huffed, and crossed her arms over her chest.

  I rubbed small circles on her thigh while she continued chatting with Liam about the landscape. When Liam decided to stare out of the window instead of talking, I raised my hand higher on her thigh. She turned her head and looked at me as if I was crazy.

  My hand was close enough to her pussy that I could feel her heat, but I wasn’t touching her, yet. I took my eyes of the road long enough to give her an innocent look and her to glare back. I grinned to myself and drew lazy circles on her thigh again.

  Another 15 minutes passed and I took my index finger and rubbed up the seam of her jeans, right over her pussy. Her hand slapped over mine, trying to move my hand, but I wouldn’t budge. I was going to get her over her snit.

  I found where her clit would be and flipped my hand over so I could massage it with my thumb. Ray had stopped fighting with me and had her head against the head rest with her eyes clenched shut. Her chest was rising and falling quickly with her deep breaths.

  I flicked her clit until I heard her breath catch then felt her place her hand in her mouth to stifle her moans. She rested her head against the window to catch her breath afterwards.

  “You still going to be mad at me?” I asked quietly so I didn’t disturb a very content Liam.

  “No honey. I think you made sure of that,” she chuckled at my way of handling things.

  She ought to know by now that if I wanted something, I was going to get it. I don’t care who or what I had to go through. No doubt about that.

  We were almost half way to Colorado Springs and I refused to ride in the truck anymore. It was almost seven P.M. so we had been in the truck a little over 12 hours. I was cramped and Liam and Araylia were both restless. Liam had played the same show over and over and over again. I could tell you every word in the damn show so he was definitely getting some headphones before we drove the rest of the way.

  I found an exit that had a hotel and crossed three lanes of traffic so I didn’t miss the exit. I rode through the town until I came across a fast food restaurant. Ray and I ordered a burger and Ray ordered Liam some chicken nuggets.

  I drove another mile down the road to first hotel I came across. I pulled into a parking spot and put the truck in park. I gazed at Ray and she was salivating to get to the food. I chuckled at her, she was a damn nut.

  I lifted my left ass cheek off the seat so I could pull out my wallet. Taking my card out, I handed it to Araylia, she shook her head and said no.

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Do you really want to do this again?”

  “You’ve paid for all the gas; I can pay for the hotel. We’ll be even then.”

  “Vacation was my idea. Even if it hadn’t been my idea, I would still be paying. You’re my woman, Araylia and I’m going to be taking care of you. Like it or not.” I said to her sternly as I turned to my right to look at her.

  I didn’t care if she had all the money in the world, I would still be paying for almost everything. As her man, I was going to take care of her how I saw fit.

  “Mason! This is the 21st century, you know that right? Women pay for things nowadays!” She was refusing to take the damn card that I was handing to her.

  I pulled the collar of her shirt away from her neck and stuffed my credit card in her bra. She tried to pull it back out but I grabbed her hand.

  “Take the card Araylia. Now,” I warned her.

  “But-” I cut her off by putting a finger to her lips.

  “Araylia I don’t give a fuck what century it is. I will be taking care of you regardless. That is a part of being with me. You knew this the first date we had. That’s not going to change; I will be taking care of you how I see fit.”

  “Why do you have to be so stubborn!” She yelled as she was getting out of the truck.

  I jumped down and went around to her side. She had the back door open, getting Liam out. I walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. I pulled her ass against my groin and bent to whisper in her ear.

  “I’m not stubborn, I love you. I’m always going to love you therefore I’m always going to take care of you.” I breathed in her ear.

  I felt her body melt against mine and knew she was giving up the fight. I kissed her temple and moved around to the back of the truck. I got our bags out and started for the hotel doors.

  Chapter 20

  Ray

  Mace was so infuriating! He couldn’t let me pay; he had to go all macho on me. I understood his reasoning even though I wasn’t happy about
it. I knew he wanted to take care of me in every way possible but, I had plenty of money. I had a good chunk of money saved up and a trust fund set up from my Papa’s death.

  I wasn’t comfortable not paying for anything and we would revisit this conversation when we got home. I finished gathering up a sleeping Liam and walked up the sidewalk to the hotel doors. As I was almost to the sliding glass doors I felt a tingle go up my spine. This tingle wasn’t the good kind Mace gave me. I felt like I was being watched. I looked at the parking lot but didn’t see anything unusual.

  I shook my head and continued the walk into the hotel. I guessed my body and mind were so tired that they were playing tricks on me and making me think I was being watched.

  When I strode into the hotel the first thing I saw was the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. The front desk, where Mace was waiting, was placed to the left of the entrance. To the right there was a lounge room with magazines placed on the tables. Straight ahead were the elevators leading to the rooms. The marble floors were so sparkling clean that I could see my reflection in them.

  I trekked over to the desk and saw a pretty brunette trying to flirt with Mace. She was leaning over the desk putting her very large, very fake breasts on display. I instantly felt white hot anger course through my veins. Mace gazed at me with an uncomfortable smile on his face. As soon as he smiled at me, I had a very mean idea pop in my head. I grinned wickedly back at Mace and his face morphed into confusion.

  When I reached the counter the brunette’s eyes went hard and she leaned back over her desk.

  “Oh don’t stop on my behalf. This here,” I hitched my thumb behind me at Mace, “is my brother and he is a ladies man! He tells me all the sordid details and apparently he’s really good, although,” I leaned across the counter like I had a secret, “I’ve heard he has a really tiny penis.” I whispered loud enough for Mace to hear.

  The girl jerked her head back and had wide, disgusted eyes. She looked at Mace’s face then her eyes fell to his crotch and she wrinkled her nose.

  I took Mace’s card out of my bra and handed it to her. I turned my back to her and rested it against the counter and peeked at Mace through my lashes. His eyes were as wide as saucers and his mouth was gaping open at me.

  “Close your mouth before you catch a fly.” I giggled and lifted a hand to his chin and forcefully shut his mouth.

  “Here ya go,” the brunette said.

  I turned around and took the key card out of her hand with my free one and winked at her. She tried to smile but it was more of a grimace.

  I bounced to the elevator feeling very happy with myself and Mace was, to say the least, horrified. The elevator dinged and we stepped in. As soon as the doors closed I started laughing hysterically. I couldn’t hold in the laughter anymore, I laughed my ass off.

  “You are an evil woman, and you play dirty,” Mace said trying to hold in his own laughter.

  “I…couldn’t…help…it,” I gasped out between breaths.

  “Mhmm…sure babe.” He rolled his eyes at my antics.

  “Aww, was the poor baby embarrassed?” I said in a baby tone.

  “What did you do mommy?” Liam lifted his head off my shoulder and rubbed his eyes vigorously, like he always did when waking up.

  “Nothing baby. I was playing with him.”

  He nodded and put his head back on my shoulder. I rubbed my hand up and down his back and kissed the top of his head. I snuggled my face in his neck and breathed in the comforting scent that always seemed to linger on him.

  I eyed Mace and saw the intense sadness filling his eyes again. My brows snapped together in confusion. I didn’t understand what could be bothering him.

  “What’s wrong?” I mouthed to him.

  He stood still in the same spot, not moving an inch, not blinking. The elevator dinged again and he still didn’t move.

  “Honey?” I snapped my fingers close to his face to get his attention.

  He looked at me in confusion for a second then shook his head, as if to clear it, then stormed out of the elevator. What the hell?

  He acted as if he were mad. I didn’t think I had pissed him off with my joke. Matter of fact, he was trying to hide his laughter about it.

  “Did I piss you off? You know with the joke?” I asked, hopeful I hadn’t.

  “No,” he replied in a clipped tone.

  I flinched away from him. He had never talked to me in that tone and it scared me.

  I put the key card in the door and opened it. I didn’t bother looking around; I went straight to the extra bedroom and set Liam down on the bed.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get your food,” I told him briskly.

  He nodded and lifted a hand to indicate he wanted his backpack, which was thrown over my shoulder. I took it off, handed it over, and kissed his chubby cheek.

  I strode down the hall to the small living room that Mace was pacing. He always paced when he had something on his mind.

  “What’s on your mind?” I asked in a quiet, scared voice.

  “Nothing Araylia,” he growled, still pacing the small room.

  “Baby, you’re pacing the room. You never do that unless you have something on your mind.”

  “Leave it alone,” he told me, his voice getting louder.

  “I just want to help,” I said nervously, fidgeting with my hands.

  “STOP!” He roared.

  I reared back as if I had been slapped. He had never been so hateful to me. I wanted so bad to cry, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let another man disrespect me. No man was going to take their anger out on me.

  “Get out.” I felt the pain of those words all throughout my body. I didn’t want to make him leave, but he needed to calm the hell down and realize he was being an ass to me and Liam had more than likely heard him and is scared.

  He looked stunned, if he thought I was going to take the way he was talking to me, he was sorely mistaken.

  “I…what?” He stumbled over his words.

  “I said get out. You are not going to be rude and think I’m going to let you cuddle up with me.” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest and let a mask slip into place over my face, hiding my hurt feelings.

  “Okay.” He hung his head in shame. “I need to get a jacket first.” He took his time walking over to the couch, where he had set our bags down.

  After getting his jacked he walked out of the door without a backward glance. I fell to the floor and bawled. My emotions were all over the place. I was pissed at him, why the hell would he yell at me instead of letting me help? Then again, I was so hurt that be wouldn’t let me help. I didn’t know which emotion was stronger, the anger or the hurt.

  After I had cried quietly for a few minutes, I picked myself up off the floor and headed to the bathroom. I needed to clean myself up as much as possible. I didn’t want Liam to see me like this. I’m sure I had snot all over my nose and I knew my eyes were red and puffy.

  I wanted to clean up my face then go be with my boy. I wanted to eat then curl up in bed with him. He always gave the best snuggles.

  I really wanted to question what had just taken place with Mace but I wouldn’t let my mind wander there. I couldn’t, if I did I would worry myself sick. I thought we had resolved the issue last night, when he had told me those horrible things about Luke. Obviously not though.

  The thing that hurt me the most? He didn’t trust me enough to tell me what was going on in his head. I had told him things that I hadn’t even told my family but he didn’t trust me enough with his problems. If it was something he couldn’t tell me, why not say he couldn’t tell me?

  I shook the thoughts from my head and vowed not to think about it again. I opened the bathroom door and headed down the hall to get Liam’s and my food. I took our food down the hall to his bedroom.

  He looked at me with worry when I entered the room. He had Legos strewn all over the floor. I had to watch my step while I stepped further into
the room so I didn’t fall and break my neck on a Lego.

  I sat down on the floor with Liam and fiddled with some of the Legos.

  “Why did Mace yell?” Liam asked.

  “Because he’s upset,” I told him. I added another block to the tower I had started.

  “Did we do something wrong?” His voice cracked and I looked at him. His eyes were filling up with tears and my level of anger toward Mace skyrocketed.

  Mace was not going to make my little boy cry. Oh hell no! I patted my lap, indicating to him to crawl over his toys and sit in my lap.

  He crawled over the toys and plopped in my lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in my chest. I ran my fingers through his hair and rocked him back and forth to calm him down.

  “Baby we didn’t do anything wrong. Mace is having a tough time with some things right now.” I told him.

  “We should help him!” Liam exclaimed, not knowing that’s exactly what I was trying to do when Mace got mad.

  “I don’t know if we can.” I regretfully told him.

  He looked at me in confusion, not understanding what I meant. Before he could ask more questions I spoke.

  “Do you want to eat then take a bath?” I asked enthusiastically.

  He bobbed his head up and down in a fast motion. He sprang out of my lap and ran out of the room. I snagged the bag of food off the bed and followed after him. He was at the small table in the dining room, already sitting in a chair waiting on me.

  I set his food out in front of him and he immediately dug in. I went into the tiny kitchen that barely had any walking room and looked in the fridge for something to drink. The only thing in the fridge was water, so that was going to have to work. When I came back to the table Liam had already scarfed down half of his nuggets.

  “Slow down Liam. They aren’t going anywhere and you don’t want to choke,” I scolded.

  He nodded and picked up a nugget and made a show of taking a smaller bite. I smiled my approval and sat down to eat with him.

  While we were eating it was quiet so I let my mind wander. I wondered what Mace was doing. Was he in another room? Was he out getting drunk or was he fucking the brunette that so obviously wanted it? I hope I scared her far enough away, I thought.