“Don’t give me that look,” I say, shoving the helmet against his chest.
“What look?” he laughs, feigning mock innocence as he hooks his leg over the Harley. My train of thought flies out the window as I watch him straighten to his full height. The worn leather of his jacket stretches across his biceps as he drags his fingers through his hair and starts for me. I can feel my nipples harden and strain against my scrubs. Pulling my jean jacket closed, I cross my arms over my chest and cock my head to the side.
“That look right there,” I say, clearing my throat as I point to his face. “The arrogant look you make when you’ve taken a first.”
“The fact that I got you to give me another first deserves arrogance, babe,” he replies as he takes my hand and leads me toward the steps and into the diner. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll teach you how to ride.”
My eyes widen as I try to picture myself on a motorcycle. I think I would actually like to learn. Well…maybe.
One ride and I’m a rebel.
I can’t blame it entirely on the ride. It’s always been like this. He gives me a taste of something, gets me hooked on his promise and leaves me wanting more.
“Come on, Cel, don’t do that,” he sighs, closing his menu. My eyebrows pinch together in confusion as I lift my head and wonder if I actually spoke what I was thinking. He folds his hands on top of the table and leans back against the booth.
“Let’s get this shit over and done with,” he grunts. “Lay your cards on the table, ask whatever questions you got and I’ll give you what I can, but after that this shit is done. I don’t want you looking at me like I’m going to disappear any second.”
“You’re kidding me right now, right?”
“No, I’m fucking serious,” he snaps. “I hate the way you look at me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I argue, glancing down at the menu.
“Sure you do,” he growls, leaning over the table. “I keep drumming into your head I’m not the guy you remember, but I’m not the only one who changed. You never used to back away from a challenge, never kept a goddamn thing to yourself. You always spoke your mind, and gave me your lip. Now, you sit there avoiding everything, thinking it’ll go away if you don’t confront it. I guess I didn’t realize how much you changed too.”
“You know nothing about me,” I hiss, lifting my eyes to his.
“Sitting right across from you, looking to change that,” he points out. “But you won’t give me an inch.”
“An inch? I came here with you didn’t I? I got on the back of your bike and agreed to lunch when I had a perfectly good Lean Cuisine in the freezer at work,” I hiss, wagging a finger at him while his eyes flicker with amusement. “Don’t!”
“Don’t what?”
“You keep pushing to get a rise out of me,” I accuse.
“Yeah, I am,” he admits. “If all I can get you to give me is your fire then I’ll take it as long as there is some form of life in those eyes when they’re on me.”
My temper flares as I grind my teeth and brace my hands on the edge of the table.
“You want fire? Here’s your fire, Jagger…Cobra, whatever the hell your name is these days,” I seethe. “I want to know everything but I’m afraid of the answers. I’m afraid of knowing where you’ve been, what you’ve seen and I’m petrified to know what you did after I saw you last. I want to know why you’re back in Brooklyn,” I sneer, my voice raising slightly as I slam my hand against the table. “I want to know why in God’s name you asked me to lunch and more than anything I want to know when you’re leaving so I don’t have to watch you go again.”
“Attagirl,” he says.
He remains completely unaffected by my outburst, causing the anger in my veins to boil and my hands to tremble.
“Call me whatever you want, babe. Call me Jagger if it makes it easier for you, but I’m not going to lie, hearing you call me Cobra did something to me. It got me thinking of all the ways I could hear it come from your lips. It got me wondering how you’d look under me, panting it,” he growls and bites his cheek. “Yeah, it fucking did something to me,” he confirms before continuing.
“I know I fucked us up when I left but I can’t take that shit back. Now you got questions you don’t want the answers to because you’re scared, but living in fear never got you anywhere before and it won’t now. So buckle up, gorgeous, because it ain’t pretty.”
I’m about to tell him he’s wrong, that I’ve been waiting for these answers for years. I want to tell him I’ve wanted the chance to make sense of everything but always felt he robbed me of the opportunity. I don’t get to tell him anything though because he opens his mouth revealing everything.
“You know why I left, I told you that before you walked out of that hotel room two years ago. But you thought you were walking away from a man that wore a suit and carried a piece.”
“There was more than a piece in that bag,” I correct.
“You going to let me finish?”
“Fine.”
“I was already a nomad with the Satan’s Knights at that time and the suit was a cover. I left you and delivered justice the only way I knew how. Then I got back on my bike and continued chasing the crumbs Rick threw at me until the man I spent most of my adult life searching for went completely off the grid. There wasn’t anything left to chase. Every sacrifice I made was for nothing because I’ll never get him. That bastard got away without having to pay for a single crime he committed and that fucking wrecked me. That’s when I met Wolf. He was passing through the clubhouse I was staying at and was at the end of his rope. His club was hurting, and he was the man sent to find the power that would fix it. Only a man with nothing left to lose would join their ranks.”
“You,” I whisper.
“Yeah, me. I knew coming back here there was a chance I’d see you, but I fought real hard not to. I didn’t want to fuck you up any more than I already had. I’ve been home a year and every day I struggle with my conscience not to go to you. I picked up the phone and called Rick over a dozen times but always hung up before he could give me your address. Then that bomb went off, and I saw you again at the hospital,” his voice trails off as he glances down at his hands and shakes his head.
“You looked at me and those two worlds collided again,” he rasps, lifting his eyes back to mine. “Innocence and sin aren’t supposed to coexist, yet here we are again and I’m thinking we’re fighting a losing battle. You can turn your back on me, walk out that door and pretend like this never happened. I can turn and drag my pipes across the country, but you and I, those two worlds, they’ll keep coming for one another.”
Tears sting my eyes as a flood of mixed emotions engulf me, pulling me in two different directions.
“I asked you to lunch because in a few days I’ll be on the road, and while I intend to come home, there are no guarantees in this life. I’m not the man that waits for a judge and jury to deliver justice, I take it myself without remorse and sometimes there are consequences. I told you once before they have to catch me to kill me, and if that day should be sooner rather than later, then at least I gave you the answers you needed.”
He tilts his head to the side as he arches his hips and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a scrap of paper.
“You remember how I used to keep a tally of your smiles?”
I don’t know if my heart can take any more truth but I nod my head anyway, sadly wiping away my tears. He reaches across the table and turns my palm upward, dropping a piece of paper with four little lines. I lift my watery eyes to his and a slew of mixed emotions slam into me.
“You’ve given me four this time around,” he says huskily. “After this ride, I’m coming home and you’re going to smile for me, Celeste.”
I close my eyes as he says my name, barely processing the first assault of words before he delivers the next one—the words that destroy and heal in a single breath.
“Heaven and Hell already know
you’re mine, baby, now, it’s time for you to know too.”
And just like that I'm hooked on his promise, wanting more.
Chapter Eighteen
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I cast my eyes toward the narrow hallway that leads to the diner’s restrooms. It’s been at least five minutes since she bolted from the table and ran away from me without a word. The waitress comes over, placing two cups of coffee in the center of the table and flips open her pad.
“Are you ready to order?”
My eyes dart to the empty bench across from me.
“We’ll take two bacon cheeseburgers to go,” I say, lifting my eyes as she scribbles my order. “Make them both medium rare.”
“You got it,” she replies before turning to put my order in.
Not entirely sure she hasn’t snuck out the window and left my sorry ass here, I get up and start for the bathrooms. All out of fucks to give, I push the door to the women’s room open and watch her raise her head. Our eyes meet in the mirror, a certain understanding passes between us. She may not trust my words, a part of her may wonder when I’m going to leave, but the rest of her knows this thing between us isn’t something we can control. Staying away from one another won’t do us any good, it won’t change the fact that our souls are shackled to each other.
Stepping into the bathroom, I kick the door, close it and lean against it.
“I want to believe you,” she whispers, bracing her hands against the counter. “I want to stop wondering when you’re going to leave and when I’m going to see you. I want to know who you are now and not mourn who you were, Cobra.”
“The first thing you should know about me is if there is something I want, I’ll make it my mission and move worlds to get it,” I promise as I turn slightly and twist the lock on the door.
Turning back to her, my eyes slice to hers and the fact that she shudders under my gaze sends all the blood surging to my cock.
“I’m scared,” she shrieks. “Losing you once wrecked me. Losing you twice ruined me. I don’t know if I’ll make it through a third time. I’ve got responsibilities, Cobra. I’ve got a life now, a life that means something to me—”
“About time,” I cut her off. “Not looking to crash your lifestyle, babe,” I add, stepping off the door and closer to her. “I’ll take what you’re willing to give. I like the idea of you getting used to me, of us getting to know who we are now and forgetting all the misery we shared.”
“It wasn’t all miserable,” she corrects sadly.
Bravely, she tears her hands from the counter and spins around so she faces me. Satisfaction ripples through me at the revelation that she didn’t purge the memories of us. Powerless, I drift closer to her until we’re sharing breaths.
“It could be good, baby,” I murmur, lifting my hand to her cheek. “Let’s erase the hurt, let’s bring back heaven,” I coax. “You and me.”
Brushing my thumb over her pouty lips, I drop my hands to her waist. My fingers kneed the cotton of her scrubs and I feel her tremble from my soft touch. It’s all the encouragement I need to press harder to grip her with vigor and pull her hips until my heavy cock presses against her stomach.
Bending my head, I sweep my lips across hers, enticing a moan from the back of her throat. No longer able to control the need to taste her, I let my tongue skim the seam of her mouth as my thumbs push into her hips, bruising her. Her lips part and my tongue slips between them, unwilling to give her a moment to change her mind. It’s that first sweep of divine pleasure that has her body coming alive. Her arms wrap around my neck, holding me for dear life.
The weight of her fear is passed onto my shoulders and I realize how absolutely terrified she is. For a fleeting moment, guilt spills over my conscience and I wonder if I’m capable of making things right between us or if I’m just a dreamer. I decide I’m willing to work for her trust and I lift her onto the counter.
She made a decision too and decided to succumb to what we both knew was inevitable. We may have gotten lost a time or two but our paths always managed to reroute themselves back to this…us.
Her resistance teeters and she slowly begins to drown, pouring all her inhibitions into our kiss. It is an all-out assault of tongues and teeth, nipping the lips that were once mine, devouring the mouth I claimed long ago.
It was too much.
It wasn’t enough.
Her hands were suddenly everywhere, touching, searching, reclaiming.
A growl rumbles from deep inside my chest as I untie her scrubs and begin to drag them down her legs. Wedging my knee between her legs, I force them wide apart and stand between them. Her breath comes out in little pants as I take her hands and wrap them around my neck.
“Don’t move,” I grunt, as I drop my hands back to her thighs and squeeze them, digging the pads of my fingers into her silky skin. “I want you completely at the mercy of my fingers,” I say as my hand rounds the inside of her thigh, sliding up to her covered pussy. Keeping my eyes pinned to hers, I trail my index finger down her center and watch her eyes narrow into tiny slits.
“You’re soaked, baby,” I growl, rubbing my fingers over the wetness drenching the thin fabric of her panties. “Got you all riled up,” I add. “You want my fingers, don’t you? You want them buried inside that sweet pussy, fucking you just the way you like it, just the way I taught you.”
Her nails dig into my shoulders as her eyes close and her ass inches closer to the edge of the counter.
Used to think she was a sight when she was seventeen and riding my cock. Thought she was a fucking enigma when she crawled onto that bed in that fancy hotel and spread her legs wide for me. But watching her face as I push aside her panties and drive my fingers deep inside her pussy is a fucking dream.
“Cobra,” she hisses, twisting the leather covering my shoulder in her hands.
Hearing that fucking name on her tongue drives me fucking mad, and I quicken my pace, my fingers sliding in and out with ease.
“Open your eyes,” I demand, pressing my thumb against her swollen clit.
“I can’t,” she protests breathlessly.
“Open your eyes,” I repeat, caressing her slowly as I still my fingers. “Want to see that storm roll through when you fucking come.”
“It’s too much,” she pants.
“It’s never enough,” I correct.
Her eyes flutter open and I lean my forehead against hers.
“Come for me, Cel,” I plead gravely.
Knowing what she needs to set her off, I stretch her and give her a third finger. Fucking her with my fingers, rubbing the heel of my hand over her clit until she bites down on her lip so hard she draws blood.
“Fuck,” she pants.
Her eyes roll as her pussy grips my hand and she drags me back to heaven—a place where only her and I exist.
Two worlds collide, only this time it’s not innocence and sin.
This time, it’s pleasure and bliss.
The tempo of my fingers slows as her arms fall from my shoulders and she wraps one hand around my wrist. She forces her eyes open and stares back at me through the fringe of her lashes.
“I—”
“Shh,” I cut her off, pulling my hand free from hers and slide my fingers out of her. “Don’t say a fucking word,” I order, drawing in a deep breath, filling my lungs with air. Bracing my hand on her knee, I level myself and lift my fingers between us. I watch as her eyes dart to my wet fingers and she follows them as I touch them to my lips. I wipe the feel of her, the scent of her across my lips before I grip the back of her neck and slam my mouth against hers.
“Fucking mine,” I growl. “Always mine.”
My lips bruise hers, prying them open until my tongue drags across hers, drunk on her taste, desperate for more. My body feels like it’s going to explode, the need to bury myself deep inside that tight pussy and resurrect my claim on her consumes me and has me reaching for my the zipper on my jeans. I barely manage to get my zipper down when my phon
e rings offensively. Tearing my lips off her, breathing heavily, I ignore the fucking call as her hands slide down my chest and start to tug the jeans down my thighs.
The phone stops ringing as I grab my dick and rub my thumb over the head, wiping away the wetness from the tip.
“Condom,” she mutters, shoving my hands away to wrap hers around my shaft. “Do you have one?” she pants.
Fuck.
Cursing, I inch back and peer at her regretfully, assessing her features. Of course I don’t have a fucking condom, and judging by the look on her face that’s a deal breaker. My cock throbs in agony and I groan when her thumb flicks over my head.
Little tease.
To add insult to injury my phone rings again and someone bangs on the door. Painfully, I pry her fingers from my cock and tuck the poor thing back into my jeans as I blow out a ragged breath. Reaching into my cut, I grab my phone and turn my feral gaze back to her, groaning at the image she paints.
Swollen lips.
Flushed cheeks.
A sated smile.
I might not have fucked her, but I managed to wipe the fear from her eyes and tally another smile, making the case of blue balls I was sporting completely worth it.
I bend down, pick up her scrubs and drop them on her lap before I take a step back.
“We’re not finished,” I state as I answer my phone. “Hold on,” I tell whoever is on the other end before I reach out and tip her chin back with my finger and force her to look at me.
“Gonna give you time to get used to this, to me and you…and then I’m coming for you, Celeste. I’m going to make you mine again and there ain’t a damn thing in this world that’s going to stop me.”
Her eyes flicker with a mixture of things but I ignore everything except for the distinct glimmer of hope. I take that shit and run with it. I lean forward and touch my lips to hers.
“Saddle up, gorgeous…forever is a bumpy ride…but a fucking beautiful one at that.”
“Promises, always hooking me on a promise,” she whispers hoarsely, tipping her chin to the phone in my hand as she hops off the counter. I finally take the call as she dresses and Deuce shouts at me through the phone, ordering me to get my ass to the hospital, revealing Linc is awake. However, he doesn’t disclose whether or not he is okay and dread churns in my gut.
Wanderer (The Nomad Series Book 2) Page 12
