Ignite
Page 8
I got back in bed and tried to settle my nerves. I laid there for a few minutes and realized it wasn’t working. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I needed to see him, to touch him. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I did, so I eased myself out of bed, being careful not to wake up John Warren. I left the door open just in case and quietly slipped down the hall.
My nerves were going wild as I stood in front of his door. I had no idea what I was doing there, but I couldn’t pull myself away. Just when I was about to lose my nerve, I lifted my hand to the door and knocked lightly. I was freaking out. My heart was beating a mile a minute, and I couldn’t decide if I should just turn around and go back to my room, or wait for him to open the door. I was about to forget the whole thing when Goliath appeared, his lips curled into a sexy smile, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. I took a deep breath as my eyes roamed over the tattoos on his bare chest. Damn, the man was perfect. I stood there for what seemed like hours before Goliath reached for my hand, pulling me into his arms.
I rested my head on his chest and whispered, “I missed you.”
“You have time to figure things out?” he asked. He knew the answer to that. I wouldn’t have been there if I hadn’t.
“Yes,” I whispered as his arms hugged me tighter. He held me close against his chest, and I could feel his heart beat against my temple. The smell of his cologne surrounded me as my hands ran up and down his back. I loved how safe I felt in his arms. I could’ve stood in that moment for eternity. Even with the warmth of his touch, my body shivered from the coldness of the room. He pulled free from our embrace and ran his hands down my arms.
“Damn… you’re freezing,” he said lifting me in his arms. He gently cradled my legs in his arms and carried me over to his bed. He carefully rested me on the bed and laid down beside me. Once he pulled the covers over us, he pulled me over to him. I rested my head on his chest as my fingers roamed over the lines of his tattoo.
“Where’s Little Man?” he asked.
“Next door, in Ace’s old room. I left the door open so I could hear him.”
“Okay,” he whispered as he gently ran his fingers through my hair. I smiled against his chest. It meant so much to me that he cared about John Warren.
“I don’t like it when you’re gone,” I told him. “I know it sounds crazy, but I miss you driving me nuts. It’s like part of me is missing. That’s crazy, right?”
“Not crazy, Lily. If that’s the way you feel, it isn’t the least bit crazy,” he told me as he played with a strand of my hair.
“Did you have a good trip?” I asked.
“Don’t wanna talk about work, babe. I’ve got you in my bed, in my arms, and that’s all I wanna think about.” His voice was deep and filled with promise. I should’ve felt content just having him close to me, but I wanted more.
“Goliath? Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“What’s your real name?” It didn’t really matter. He would always be Goliath to me, but I wanted to know more about him.
“Colt. Colton Hayes.”
“Really? I didn’t expect a name like Colton. Maybe… Sterling or Remington. Colton seems kind of tame for someone like you.” I could feel his laugh as it vibrated through his chest. I liked the sound of his laugh.
“I haven’t been Colton for a very long time,” he replied.
“Well, I like it. Colton, Colt, or Goliath. It doesn’t matter to me,” I said as I pulled myself up on my knees. I lifted my leg over his waist, so I was straddling him. I rested my hands on his chest as I looked down on him.
“Lily…” he stammered. I didn’t give him a chance to protest. I leaned over him, pressing my lips to his. Without any further hesitation, his hands reached up and grabbed me by the back of my hair taking control of the kiss. When his tongue brushed against mine, I felt a surge of heat soar through my body. I’d never felt such a strong desire for a man. He was consuming me, filling me with want. Sensing my need for more, his hands released my hair and moved down my body to my thighs. His fingers dug into my skin as he guided me over his erection, rocking me back and forth against his hard cock. His growl of approval filled the room. I continued to grind into him as he slowly moved his hands to the hem of my shirt. He pulled my shirt over my head, exposing my bare breasts. He let out a deep breath as he took my breasts in his hands, holding them firmly as his thumb brushed across my nipple. I felt his erection throbbing beneath me, and I wanted to have him inside me. A hiss escaped his lips as I reached down, slipping the tips of my fingers into his boxers. Just as I wrapped my fingers around him, my attention was drawn to a desperate cry coming from down the hallway. Panic surged through me as I realized it was John Warren. I quickly reached for my t-shirt, throwing it over my head.
“Shit. Shit. Shit. I’m so, so sorry,” I cursed as I jumped out of the bed. I continued to whisper, “I’m so sorry” under my breath as I left his room and headed down the hall. I could hear the springs on the bed squeak as he got out of the bed to follow me. John Warren had big tears streaming down his face by the time I reached the crib. I lifted him up into my arms, cradling him close to my chest. As soon as his head fell on my shoulder, he stopped crying. Something must have scared him. I was swaying side to side trying to get him to fall back asleep when I noticed Goliath standing in the doorway watching us.
Chapter 14
Goliath
“I’m so sorry, Goliath. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said with worry in her voice.
“Don’t do that. There’s nothing to be sorry about,” I told her. Things like this were going to happen, and she was gonna need to get used to it.
“You… you aren’t mad about this?” she said looking surprised by my words.
“Nothing to be mad about Lily.” Damn, the girl was beautiful. My chest tightened seeing her standing there, still carrying the taste of her on my lips. My heart was all twisted up in knots, and I knew right then, in that very moment, I would do anything for her. I walked over to her and placed my hand on JW’s little head. His eyes were closed, and it looked like he had already fallen back to sleep. She looked down at him and smiled. The love she had for him radiated throughout the room. She may not have been his mother, but you never would’ve known it by looking at her with him.
“It looks like he’s fallen back asleep. You get him settled, and I’ll see you in the morning,” I told her. I leaned over and lightly kissed her forehead before I turned for the door.
“Goliath?” she called.
I turned back just as she was laying him in the crib. Once she had him settled, she walked over to me. She placed the palms of her hands on my chest and lifted herself up on her tiptoes, kissing me lightly on the lips. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I couldn’t help myself. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her hard against my chest taking her mouth in a deep kiss. I loved how her body felt against my bare skin. I wanted to take her right then and there, but I knew it wasn’t the right time or place. I released her quickly before I had a chance to change my mind. “Goodnight, Lil’. Get some sleep. I have big plans for you tomorrow.”
Her brows furrowed and I knew she wondered what I meant, but I didn’t plan on sharing what I had in mind. I wanted to surprise her, so I left before she could ask any questions. I heard her door click shut just as I entered my room. I took a deep breath enjoying her scent that still lingered in the air. It’d been a long time since I’d had something to look forward to, and I was definitely looking forward to spending the day with her. I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble sleeping that night. I crawled back into bed and closed my eyes, thinking of what I would need to do to make the next day perfect.
Lily and JW were still asleep when I got up, so I got busy making some calls. I called Crack Nut Bobby first. I needed Courtney to watch JW for a little while. After I told him what I had in mind, Bobby told me it wouldn’t be a problem. They said they’d be by to pick him up in an hour.
As soon as I tried to shut the door, JW rolled over and stared at me. A smile spread across his little face as he rubbed his eyes with his little fist. He reached out his hands asking for me to pick him up. I couldn’t have resisted that face if I’d tried. I leaned over the crib pulling him up to my chest. He pulled on the collar of my shirt and started babbling. It cracked me up that he was trying to talk to me.
“Dude, you need a diaper change. You stink,” I told him. I reached over to the diaper bag by Lily’s bed and looked for everything I’d need. I laid him on the bed and got to work changing him. He continued to babble and giggle as I took the old diaper off him. I had him ready to go by the time Lily walked back into the room. She had a small towel wrapped around her, and water was dripping from her hair.
I lifted JW into my arms and said, “I got him. You finish getting ready, and we’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly.
“Where’s his food?” I asked.
“There’s some in the bag, but I… uh…” she paused, and then a smile slowly crossed her face before she continued. “I don’t have a high chair here.”
“I’ll make do,” I told her. I would add another high chair to my list of things for the new prospects to take care of. There was no way I was gonna make a habit of feeding that kid on my lap.
When I got in the kitchen, Melinda was making a big breakfast for Doc and Sheppard. Her eyes lit up the minute she saw JW.
“There’s my new favorite guy,” she said reaching for JW. Doc shook his head and smiled. Their kids had already grown-up and gone, but she still had that motherly touch. She reached out and took the baby jars from my hand.
“I have him. You grab a plate and eat,” she ordered. I loaded my plate and sat with the guys.
“You on baby patrol today?” Doc asked.
“Just for a bit. Lily’s getting dressed, and then I’m taking her out for the day. I have Courtney coming to get JW while we’re gone.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I would have loved to watch him,” Melinda said as she sat him in her lap. She fed him several bites and didn’t get a drop of baby food on her. The lady was a pro.
“I thought you’d want a break after last night, but I’m sure you’ll have another date with him soon enough.”
“I hope so. I need to talk to Tessa and make sure she has me on that calendar of hers,” she said laughing.
I turned to Sheppard and asked, “What about the new prospects?”
“They came last night. Just got back from their last deployment. They’re out in the garage getting acquainted with everything,” Sheppard replied.
“Good. Looking forward to meeting them,” I told him. With the new club moving in on our territory, it’d be nice to have more members in the club. These guys were military, so they’d know how to handle themselves. I had some things for them to take care of, so I’d have to stop by the garage before we left.
Lily walked in wearing a pair of loose fit jeans with worn out knees and a Tennessee Vols long sleeve t-shirt. She’d pulled her hair up into a ponytail, and she wore just enough makeup to make the color of her eyes seem darker.
“Come grab some breakfast,” I told her, motioning to the seat beside me.
“Melinda, this looks amazing! I’m starving,” she said as she filled her plate with bacon and eggs.
“Thanks, hon. JW was pretty hungry, too. He just finished off his second jar of peaches,” Melinda explained.
“So, big guy… whatcha got planned for us today?” Lily asked me smiling wide.
“It’s a surprise, but you’ll need a good jacket and your boots. We’ll run by your place before we head out.”
“What about JW?” she asked.
“Taken care of. Now, eat so we can head out.”
“Mmm, okay….” She seemed a little hesitant to trust me, but she went with it. That pleased me. Maybe she was figuring things out after all.
I told Lily I would be right back. It was time I met the new prospects Sheppard had brought in. Bishop was showing them all the things they needed to take care of in the garage when I walked up.
He looked over to me and said, “Goliath, meet Conner and Levi.” They both reached out their hand to me as Bishop said, “Goliath is our VP. He’ll keep you posted on the things that you need to know. If he tells you to do something, do it. No questions asked.”
They both nodded their heads. Nothing like new prospects - so eager to please. They were both pretty big guys, and they were still sporting their military haircuts - high and tight. It was going to be good to have them around. I didn’t have time to waste on small talk, so I told them all the things I needed them to do. They listened to everything and didn’t even ask a question when I told them I needed them to pick up a Christmas tree. I figured that was a good sign, so I gave them Lily’s address and headed back inside. I had a big day planned, and it was time to get going.
Once Courtney got there to pick up JW, we were set to go. Lily followed me outside to my bike but stopped when I got on and started the engine.
I handed her a helmet and nodded my head for her to get on. She stood there a moment, and then a huge grin spread across her face. She stepped forward, taking the helmet out of my hands. She quickly slipped it on and buckled it. She threw her leg over the bike and wrapped her arms around my waist. I’d heard her say that she used to ride with her dad, but I was still impressed that she seemed to know what she was doing. She scooted up, pressing her breasts into my back, and shouted, “Ready!” My girl was excited, and I liked it.
When I pulled into her driveway, she quickly jumped off and raced up to her porch. She turned back to me and said, “I’ll be right back!”
She quickly returned wearing her black boots, and a heavy black jacket with matching gloves. It wasn’t leather, but it would do for today. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about her wearing a leather jacket bearing my name. She eased herself back on the bike and resumed her previous position. She tapped me on the back letting me know she was ready. Yeah, she definitely knew what she was doing.
I really didn’t have a destination in mind. I just wanted to spend the day with her on my bike. I took her out by the lake, stopping by some of my favorite spots. Her nose was bright red from the chill of the day, but she didn’t seemed fazed by it. She was eager to go anywhere I wanted to take her. We rode for several hours before we made our first stop. Her arms hugged me tighter when I pulled into the old Christmas tree farm. As soon as I killed the engine, she started with the questions.
“What are we doing here?”
“I’d think that was pretty obvious.”
“Are you getting a Christmas tree?” she asked.
“No… you’re getting a Christmas tree.”
“How much is a real Christmas tree?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care,” I said firmly. I was getting her a tree. It was JW’s first Christmas, and I wanted him to have the best tree we could find.
“I doubt I can afford this,” she said looking down at her feet.
I didn’t want to argue with her, but I’d already made up my mind. I grabbed her hand and pulled her through the main gates of the tree farm.
“Goliath… I….” she said pulling her hand from mine.
“Lily, don’t make a big deal about this. I know you have a hard time letting people do stuff like this for you, but I’m gonna get you a tree today.”
She looked like she was getting pissed, so I continued, “Look, it’s been a long time since I’ve actually looked forward to Christmas. Don’t give me a hard time.”
She thought about for a minute before she reached for my hand and simply said, “Okay.”
We walked around the farm for over an hour before I found the perfect tree. It was a thick spruce just over 7 feet tall. I paid the owner and told him that Conner and Levi would be by later to pick it up. We got back on the bike and headed for the store, so we could buy a couple boxes of lights and some ornaments.
Once we had everything we needed, we stopped by the local Italian restaurant to pick up dinner. When we pulled up in Lily’s driveway, I was relieved to see that the prospects had actually followed through. They’d put the Christmas tree and a few boxes of extra ornaments on the front porch just like I’d asked. I was impressed. They even remembered to get the popcorn. My dad would always get us to help him make a popcorn garland to go around our tree, and I thought it would be cool to do it again with Lily. As soon as we finished our dinner, we decided to get started on the tree.
“Where do you want to put it?” I asked.
“How about in front of the window so people can see it when they drive by,” Lily said sounding excited.
“You go make the popcorn while I set everything up. Crack Nut texted me and said they were on their way with JW.”
“Great. I’ll get started,” she stood there watching me pull the tree in from the porch. “Thank you,” she whispered. Sweet Lily was hard to resist. I walked over to her and put my hands on her hips, pulling her close to me.
I leaned over her and lightly kissed the side of her neck. I felt a shiver vibrate through her body as I continued kissing her along her jaw. When I found my way to her lips, she wrapped her arms around my neck and reached for the edges of my hair. Her tongue brushed against mine, and I claimed her mouth with a deep, demanding kiss. I wanted her more in that moment than I ever thought possible. Her nails dug into my neck as I lifted her legs up around my waist. I knew she felt how hard I was for her when she began to grind her hips into mine. I turned us towards the hallway to her bedroom. My heart stopped cold when I heard the knock on the door. Damn! I released her from the kiss and eased her down to the floor. I could see the lust in her eyes when I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
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