by Debra Kayn
"Do you think the kidnapper was there?" asked Gracie.
"That's information we don't have. As of right now, Megan Hillard is a missing juvenile." Gomez stood from the desk. "But, if anything changes, we will let you know. If you could stop at the desk on your way out and leave all your contact information with Lieutenant Murray, we'll let you know the moment you're allowed back into the bar."
Clara and Gracie stood at the same time. In unison, they said, "Thank you, Lieutenant Gomez."
Gomez's lips twitched in amusement, and he nodded. When the twins turned, Gomez looked at Wayne and lifted his brows. Wayne ignored the Lieutenant's fascination with the sisters and put his hand on Clara's lower back, letting Gomez know where he stood.
He walked the sisters out to the desk and waited by the front door while they supplied all the information requested. Then, walked them to the car.
Wayne leaned down into the open driver's window once Clara was seated. "I'll follow you back to your house."
"We'll be fine." Clara's gaze dropped to Wayne's chest. "You probably need to go help in the search, and we're not planning on doing anything today after being told we can't open the bar. I'm just going to stay home."
"Clara..." He went down to his elbows on the window frame and lowered his voice. "You need to take what's going on seriously."
"Trust me. I am. A girl is missing." She crooked her finger and motioned him closer.
He leaned down and stuck his head in the car, and she cupped his cheek, stretching to kiss his lips. She kissed him tenderly, almost shyly. He licked his lip when she pulled away, wanting nothing more than to take the time, take her home, take her to bed.
"I'm going to swing by your place tonight." He tapped the car door with his hand. "No arguing with me. I'm coming over and spending the night."
Clara smiled softly. "Okay."
He stepped away and put on his helmet, sat his motorcycle, and waited until the sisters pulled out of the parking lot. He walked his bike backward out of the parking spot and then rode away from the police station.
Thad waited for him on Peninsula Street. From there, they were going to Buffalo Street to meet Chuck and Glen before they pay a friendly visit to the Columbia Villa Crips — a local gang running under the blue banner, that would've heard if anyone brought in a new girl to pimp out in their territory.
Chapter 14
The doorbell rang. Clara shut off the television and looked at Gracie. Her sister gave her a pointed look. There was no reason to rehash the reasons why she should talk Wayne into not spending the night with her.
Every minute she spent with him, she found more things out about him that had her trusting him more, which she and Gracie needed for when they finally sat down and talked to him about hiring Notus Motorcycle Club. But, she was falling in love with him. She could feel herself slipping deeper and deeper.
"Go ahead and open the door. I'm going to bed anyway." Gracie stood. "Night. Love you."
"Love you, too." Clara walked toward the door. "And, thanks."
Gracie waved her hand over her shoulder and jogged up the stairs. Clara looked out the window, having turned the porch light on earlier knowing Wayne wanted to come over and found him at the door.
She inhaled a shaky breath, unlocked the handle, and let him in. Her stomach a constant Tilt-A-Whirl since her and Gracie had talked through everything happening after going to the police station this morning. They both agreed that she wouldn't say anything to Wayne about why she'd come to St. John's and opened the bar. They'd play things day by day, and Gracie promised her that if Clara ended up falling in love with Wayne, they'd tell him before things got too serious before they were both invested in a future together.
It was the only fair thing to do for Wayne, who remained unaware of what they needed him to do. The only other solution would be to forget about making their mother's killer pay. She couldn't let Gracie down. That's all they'd wanted since they opened the safety deposit box and found out the truth about how their mother had died.
The pressure was on her shoulders. If she kept herself from falling in love, they would eventually tell Wayne everything when he wasn't on a search, and they had a better understanding of his views of legal and illegal activities. She walked into his arms. The problem was, she had no idea how to stop the feelings growing inside of her.
"Fuck, it's good to hold you, sweetheart." Wayne tilted her head and claimed her mouth.
She nibbled on his bottom lip, then met his tongue. Tilting her head, she could do nothing more than hold on to him and succumb to his thoroughly demanding kiss.
She unconsciously trusted him. Her back arched. He took her weight. Her leg came up. He palmed her ass, dragging her against the front of him. There was too much heat rolling off him, or maybe it was her. She could no longer tell because the way he stroked her tongue was more arousing than she'd been prepared for.
Wayne pulled back. "Where's Gracie?"
"Her room." She panted, lightheaded.
"You've got two choices," he said.
She dug her nails into his Notus vest. "Only two?"
"That's all you'll need." He kissed her hard and quick, bending her backward. "I want you. I'll take you to your bedroom, or we get Gracie, pack some things, and you both come back to my house, where I'll take you up to my bedroom? Either way, nothing is going to get in my way."
"Bedro—" She squealed as he abruptly set her right and she careened into his chest overcompensating for the swiftness of him moving her.
Wayne took her hand, pulled her several feet, and stopped. "I don't know where your fucking bedroom is."
She laughed softly, tugged his hand, and led him up the stairs and into the room, shutting the door behind her. Flipping on the light, she caught Wayne taking off his vest and pulling the Velcro apart from his shoulder holster. She rushed to him and helped him remove his shirt, unable to deny herself the opportunity to feel his bare skin. The second she'd stripped him of the material, she trailed her hands over the span of his chest. His swift inhale at her touch excited her. She stepped closing, shoe to boot, and rubbed her breasts through her tank against his skin.
Wayne pulled her shorts down over her hips, rubbing her sides. She toed off her shoes and kicked them out of the way while she found his belt and worked to pull the leather apart. She exhaled in relief, giddiness filling her when she got to the buttons of his Levi's and pulled, hearing the satisfying pop, pop, pop of his jeans moving out of the way.
"Your turn." He grabbed the bottom of her tank.
She lifted her arms and tilted her head back. A coolness swept over her naked body. She shimmied until her shorts hit her feet, and she stepped out of them.
"Jesus," whispered Wayne, stepping back and ogling her body.
She stood still, letting him have his first long look at her without the rush. His approval warmed her insides, and she rubbed her thighs together. The first time they got together at his house, he hadn't had time to view her completely. And, neither had she with him.
He bent over and pulled his pant leg up. She walked to him and kneeled, unlacing his boots for him, promising herself that when she was done, she'd look up and see him totally naked. The crinkle of a condom wrapper filled the room. Her hands shook, and she bit her lip. Not looking at him, knowing his cock was hard, was the most difficult thing she'd had to do in a long time.
"That's good enough." He toed the back of his boot, then the other one.
She straightened and stepped back before he could touch her. "It's only fair that I get to look."
He'd put the condom on. His cock stood hard almost pressing against his lower stomach. She swallowed. God, the man had muscled legs. Legs she wanted to grab and squeeze.
"You can spend all night afterward looking at me." He made it to her in one step, picked her up, and when she wrapped around his body, he fell back on the bed.
The movement had her bouncing on top of him until the mattress settled. Wayne palmed the back of her head an
d brought her down for another kiss. Gone was the need to see more of him. All that existed was his mouth and his hard chest beneath her hands and the pulse of his cock between her legs.
His stomach muscles flexed. She moaned into his mouth. He answered her with a growl that sent vibrations through her, drawing goosebumps.
She moved on top of him. Every nerve in her body warmed making her hurried. Wayne's mouth worked its way to her neck, licking, sucking, nipping. She arched her head back, giving him better access. Her sex throbbed in reaction of the rough scraping of his unshaven face over her skin. She panted heavily, desperate with need.
His hands found her breasts, and her body quivered, teasing her with what would come bigger, deeper, more powerful.
"Please," she said. "I need you."
He brought his head up, and his gaze burned her. Sure that her need for him stared back at her, she lifted herself up and reached down between them and wrapped her fingers around his hardness.
She slid down on him slowly, and then replaced her hand on his chest. The whole time Wayne stared at her, never saying a word. But, she knew what he was thinking. They were perfect together.
Their chemistry went beyond attraction for each other. From the first moment they'd met, knowing him, talking to him, being with him came naturally and easy. He was someone who fit into her life in more ways than one.
Wayne started to move, wiping every thought from her head. She rode with him, not needing directions or guidance. Her body willingly followed him as she knew exactly what he could give to her.
Straddling his hips, she took control as her body urged her to move back and forth. She watched his face lose the intensity he'd had when he arrived at her house, and he relaxed. His eyes, half-mast, filled with warmth. She tightened around him, and he grunted in approval.
Pleasure curved her lips as her muscles tightened, reaching. She caught herself digging her nails into his chest and pushed herself up until she sat perfectly straight on him. His cock hit a delicious spot inside of her that left her gasping.
How could he do that? She rocked back and forth, repeating the thrill that shot through her entire body. He was bigger than any man she'd ever been with, and if she'd known, if she'd experienced, if she'd realized that size matters, she would've been pickier in the past.
Wayne's hands palmed her breasts. She let her head fall back, and her eyes closed in sweet response. Her body, frantic and tightly wound, catapulted into an orgasm. Her head snapped forward, and her eyes opened as pleasure spiraled from her lower stomach out to her limbs.
He lowered his hands to her hips, holding her down, pressed against him, and buried his cock inside of her. His hardness pulsed deep inside of her, and his grip tightened possessively. His eyes soaked her up and melted her. She slowly lowered her upper body to his chest and her arms gave out. Turning her head, she laid her cheek against his bare skin.
Wayne wound his arm around her back and palmed her ass, cradling her to him. Her heart raced. Would sex always be mind-blowingly great with him?
There was never any awkward moment when they battled for what they selfishly wanted. They fed off each other, taking the best of both of them, and giving it away.
His chest shook with laughter underneath her. She raised her head. "What?"
"I believe that humming was the song Someday."
"No way." She tilted her head and squinted at him. "I know that song. Rob Thomas sings it, but I wasn't humming."
"Soft and sweet." He rolled her off him, kissed her, and sat up. "I need to get rid of the condom."
"There's a wastebasket beside the bed or in the bathroom which is through that door on the other side of the room." She sat up when he left the bed. "Are you serious? Was I really humming again?"
"Yep." He walked across the room butt naked.
His firm ass clenched with each step. She hugged her middle, feeling new and alive for the first time. She wanted to wake up in the morning beside him. See him off to work with a kiss, and know he was returning when he was done.
God, he made her hum.
Wayne returned to the room and stretched out on the bed. She blinked, snapping out of her fantasy, and curled against his side. There were other things that needed to fix themselves before she planned on any future with him.
He yawned. She placed her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist. "What time do you need to get up?"
"Five o'clock. Your place is closer to the port than my house."
Wide awake, she listened to his heartbeat slow and his breathing even out. Both of them ignored what brought him to her house tonight. He was concerned for her safety.
"Wayne?" she whispered.
He palmed her butt, snuggling her close. "Huh?"
She closed her eyes prepared for the worst. "The police never called. Did they find any clues at the bar or figure out where the missing girl is located?"
"No. Nothing yet."
She swallowed. That poor girl. Her family must be worried sick.
Chapter 15
Gomez sat in his patrol car in the alleyway behind Vavoom's with his window down and his arm hanging outside the car, two fingers pointing to the ground. Wayne rolled to a stop beside the vehicle and toed the kickstand on his motorcycle, turning off the engine. He wasted no time and took off his helmet.
"Did I miss Clara and Gracie?" asked Wayne.
"Nope." Gomez opened the door of the vehicle and got out. "I've called three times and left messages, but they haven't returned my calls. I gave them the time I'd be here to meet them and figured they'd be here once they checked their messages."
"Shit," he muttered, stepping off the motorcycle and hanging his helmet on the handlebar. "I called not ten minutes ago when I was leaving work. It went to voicemail."
Gomez had called him at noon with the information the crime scene investigators had gathered at Vavoom's and to update him on a new development. He'd wanted to be there with the twins when they heard the news.
He took out his phone and called Clara again. He'd spent the night with her last night and left her happy this morning. She had plans to go out to lunch with Gracie, and they should've been home by now. At least paying attention to her cell, knowing the police were finishing up their investigation.
Voice mail came on. He disconnected the call. "She's still—"
A car pulled into the alleyway. He exhaled in relief at the sight of Clara driving toward him.
"Here they are," said Wayne.
The car came to a stop, and Clara and Gracie stepped out of the car. Clara hurried toward him. "I'm so sorry. I shut off my phone at the restaurant and forgot to turn it back on when we went shopping. We were on the way home when I remembered, and we heard everyone's messages."
"Why the fuck would you turn off your phone?" Wayne softened his lecture by cupping her neck and bringing her to his chest.
"It's rude to have it going off in a restaurant." She tilted her head. "Then we hit Target and got caught up buying things for the house."
"What did you find out?" Gracie ignored her sister and talked to Gomez.
Wayne kissed Clara's forehead and led her closer to Gomez to hear what he had to say. He kept his hand on her back in support.
Lieutenant Gomez took off his uniform hat. "As far as they can tell, there was no crime committed here."
"What's that mean? The young lady's clothes were found." Clara leaned against Wayne's side. "That's a crime."
"Unfortunately, no." Gomez glanced at Wayne. "While there are things about the investigation I'm unable to share with you, I can tell you that there were no signs of an abduction or struggle in the alley."
Clara exhaled loudly. "Thank, God."
"As the St. John's Police Department is done here, you'll both be free to open your business up to the public." Gomez ran his fingers over the edge of his hat.
Gracie looked at Clara, nodded, and turned to Gomez. "If it would help you, you're free to set up cameras or surveillance...whatever
you need to do in case the person who left the clothes returns."
"Thank you." Gomez put on his hat. "At this time, we don't believe it will be necessary."
"That's good to hear." Clara put her hand on Wayne's stomach. "Though I wish the investigators would've found something to help bring the girl home. Safe and sound."
"That was our wish, too. You all enjoy your evening." Gomez turned toward Wayne. "Are you still planning on riding out?"
"I'm meeting the rest of Notus in an hour," said Wayne.
"Keep in contact." Gomez stepped away and got in his car.
There were clues found in the alley that wasn't shared with Clara and Gracie and was handed over to Notus MC to use to help them figure out a direction to search. Wayne gritted his teeth. Megan Hillard's shirt was torn at the neckline, and the button was missing off her jeans. Most telling was the strong urine smell coming from her clothes. Whatever happened was enough to scare the girl enough she wet herself. The case had gone from a runaway to an abduction, but he couldn't share that information until the police decided when or if they would release a new development in the case to the public.
As much as he wanted to know more, the police department and the detectives on the case couldn't even share everything with him. They couldn't afford to fuck up and miss out on going after the person responsible.
"I don't know about you guys, but I could use a drink." Gracie raised her brows. "I could pour you a Coke if you'd like, Wayne. Since you said, you're riding out tonight."
Clara looked up at him. "Can you stay a few minutes?"
"Yeah." He stood back while Gracie unlocked the back door of the bar.
When they walked inside, he stopped. "Hey, do you usually leave the door unlocked when you're inside?"
Clara stopped at the door of the kitchen. "Yeah. Paxton takes his breaks in the alley. He's a smoker. Once in a while, Gracie and I will step outside just to get away from the noise and get some fresh air, but not after dark."
