“Where am I supposed to go?”
It was a valid question. Something I hadn’t considered. Sebastian had just told e to get to Redding, and then wait to be contacted. My only thought once I saw the Black Hornets was getting to these men on their motorcycles and seeing if they could help. I hadn’t thought far enough down the road as to what I would do if they told me they could.
“Have you ever been on a motorcycle?” Jace asked.
“I have,” I said, smiling.
“Oh really? Did you enjoy it?”
“I was a young girl then, but yes. It was fun. The Aztecs would come into town and buy the kids ice cream from a truck that set itself up in town every day during the summer, and they’d offer the kids little bike rides up and down the main drag. I rode on all of them one summer.”
“They sound like a good club,” he said.
“They were. It made me sick when the cartel ran them out of town. But they came in with heavy artillery and guns a’blazing, and I guess looking back on it, they weren’t well-equipped to handle something like that.”
“No one really is. But I can tell you we are. It’s why you’re safe with us.”
I sighed and nodded my head before I drew in a deep breath.
“At any rate, it’s a lot more fun riding a bike when you’re an adult,” Jace said, smiling.
“I bet it is.”
“Want to learn how to drive one?”
“What?” I asked.
“You said it yourself. You’ve ridden on several. Would you like to learn how to drive one?”
“Can I do that?”
“Leti, you left behind a suitcase full of illegal drugs, hopped into a taxi, followed us into a bar, and all on a whim that we might be able to help you. You took on your little brother and cast your education off to the side to work jobs so you could support him. And now, you’re doing everything you can in your power to save him. Far as I’m concerned, you can do anything.”
I blushed at his words as a massive smile overtook my face.
“Come on. Let’s get your first lesson in,” he said.
He held his hand out for me, and it felt warm against mine. I curled my fingers around his massive palm, clinging to him as he helped me down from my stool. He led me outside, past a man with two guns on his hips while he stood there with a scowl on his face. I looked up at Jace, and the two of them nodded at one another, then he led me to a bike I recognized instantly. While the men were blazing past, there was one that caught my eye. A bike with a red body, chrome accents, and sleek black handlebars.
“This is your bike?” I asked.
“This one’s mine.”
“I remember staring at this one as you guys passed by.”
“Then it seems as if you have good taste,” Jace said, winking.
I felt my stomach do somersaults as my cheeks burned with his words.
I threw my leg over the bike, and he walked me slowly through all the controls, and for the first time in forever, I felt the stress of everything melt away. It slid off my shoulders, and the chronic tension in my body dripped into a puddle beneath the bike between my legs. I grabbed onto the handlebars and got used to the seat. I listened intently as Jace walked me through how to start it up and how to gas it up. In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to be worried about my brother. I knew I was selfish in enjoying something like this. But like Jace said, there wasn’t anything I could do right now. And it would be a waste of my energy to sit waiting on a park bench, biting my nails and waiting until someone came along.
At least listening to Jace’s velvety baritone voice could distract me from all that.
“Ready to crank her up?” he asked.
“Your motorcycle is a female?” I asked.
“She’s been loyal to me from the beginning. It’s the only bike I’ve ever purchased, and so long as I take care of her, she takes care of me. She’s dedicated, she keeps me safe, and she’s never steered me wrong. And I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like the description of a man to me.”
I giggled and shook my head before I turned the key in the ignition. The bike came to life, and I throttled the gas. Felt the vibrations between my thighs. Listened to the powerful sound emanating from the machine I controlled.
Control.
It had been years since I’d felt in control of anything.
But then, I throttled it a little too much when shifting into first gear and the bike came to a grinding halt.
“It’s not a problem. Don’t panic. It happens on the first few tries. Let the bike rest, breathe, and then strike it up again,” Jace said.
I felt the bike settle between my legs and I looked out over the expanse of the woods. There was an odd sort of beauty to it. To the pitch black night and the endless twinkling of stars. Clay mountains loomed in the shadows, their navy silhouettes chiseled underneath the horizon of the stars. I panned my gaze above my head, counting thousands and thousands at a time. The wind was cool against my skin. It fluttered my hair around my shoulders and relaxed me into the leather seat of the bike. I removed my hands from the bars and propped myself up onto my feet, steadying the bike between my clenched legs and trying to get used to the feeling.
“Take your time,” Jace said.
I recalled the last conversation with Sebastian. How he had told me to do nothing but wait. Wait for more instructions and wait for more drugs. Wait for more jobs and wait for more reports. So much waiting and not enough promise-keeping. I had no idea where they had Nicholas. I didn’t even know if Nicholas was still alive. And while I didn’t want to entertain the thought--while I couldn’t possibly consider the idea of being alone in this world--I knew it was a possibility. I knew there was the chance that Jace wouldn’t be able to retrieve my brother and bring him back to me.
I chose to believe in the goodness of Jace. What I did not accept was to believe in the integrity of the words of some cartel asshole.
As far as I was concerned, I might as well enjoy these few moments with him. I might as well take in the beauty of my surroundings. Because I didn’t know if I’d ever experience them again. I didn’t know if I’d ever get this opportunity to feel as if all was right with the world. I knew that whatever came after this point would drastically alter my world. If Nicholas were alive, I’d have to rehabilitate him. Take care of him. Cancel his plans for college and make sure his head was right. We’d both need help. Time to heal from all of this.
And if Nicholas wasn’t alive…
“Are you okay, Leti?”
I drew in a ragged breath as a tear escaped my cheek. I found myself gazing up at the stars, allowing the beauty of the woods to suck me in. I had no idea dust and forest could be so beautiful. But I supposed anything, in the right context, could be seen as beautiful. My eyes fluttered over to Jace, and I saw concern etched in his features. Such kind eyes he had. Those dark green orbs, staring back at me. Wanting to ask what was going on in my mind but respecting my right to privacy.
I didn’t encounter good very often, but I knew good when I saw it.
And Jace was nothing but good.
“I will be once things get into motion,” I said.
“And they will. I promise you that. Once we have a plan laid out, it’s all about execution. We’ll be fighting this on multiple fronts, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“We have a personal stake in this as well. For years, this area has been drug-free because of us. And now, someone’s flown under that radar. The cartel smuggling drugs straight into Redding is not something we can turn our back on. We’ve got people to contend with that are supposed to be keeping tabs on this kind of thing. We’ve got the issue of pushing the drugs out of this area while keeping you safe. We also have the issue of finding your brother. My club and I will have a personal stake as well as a professional one in this, so a plan that attacks from all sides will be drawn up.”
“How long will something like that take?”
“A
day. Maybe two.”
“That’s shorter than I thought it would be,” I said.
“We aren’t the government. We don’t take weeks to execute something. When there’s an issue, we don’t stop until it’s resolved.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to pay you.”
I kicked the stand down on the bike and settled it back into its original position.
“I don’t want you worrying about that right now,” Jace said.
“I want to pay you something, but I don’t know what it will be.”
“I said, don’t worry about that, Leti.”
The harshness of his voice took me back, and I whipped my gaze up to meet his. Jace’s face fell stoic. His eyes, hard as stone. The care was still there, but it was wrapped up in a commanding presence that stopped my heart. I swallowed and nodded my head. I rested back against the leather seat and rubbed my hands against my thighs. I knew he wasn’t upset. More like he was trying to get me to listen to him.
And while I’d done my fair share of listening to commands without questioning them, for some reason, it felt okay coming from Jace. Maybe it was because I trusted him, or perhaps it was because he was helping me. Maybe it was because I was entranced by his emerald stare or taken with the way his body heat reached out for me. Whatever the reason, I decided not to question him. If I was going to trust his words, then I had to believe all of them.
“Okay,” I said.
“Good. Now, let’s crank this bike up again and work on your shifting. It’s not as hard as you think.”
Then his hands settled on top of mine on the bike, and the feeling of fire ripped through my veins.
Chapter 6
Jace
“It won’t stay cranked!”
“Leti, it’s fine. Everyone has these issues on their first try,” I said.
“Isn’t this like driving stick-shift in a car? I mean, they say that backing out and starting up is the easiest part.”
“And they’re wrong on both parts. Come on. Let’s try it again. It only takes that one time getting it right to know how it feels in your hands.”
“Do bikes come with automatic transmissions?”
I chuckled and shook my head. Leti was absolutely adorable. The way she scrunched up her face when she concentrated was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. And the determination in her eyes whenever she cranked up my bike was awe-inducing. It gave me a glimpse into the type of determination she’d had her entire life. She turned the key in the ignition and cranked up the bike, then she slowly let off the handles. I heard the bike grind a bit, but when Leti re-corrected, instead of shutting off, it lurched forward.
And the smile on her face was priceless.
“Good. Now, slowly let off this handle and press down onto the gas,” I said.
I watched Leti scoot a couple of feet, and then she panicked and the bike stalled out.
“Fucking shit,” she whispered.
Even cussing sounded cute coming from her.
After a few more mishaps and practically guaranteeing my bike a day in the shop at some point in time, Leti started riding around the parking lot. It was in small circles, with me steadying her at the side, but she was riding. And after a couple more tries shifting in between gears, I decided to take the training wheels off. Without her knowledge, I released the bike and let her ride down the length of the parking lot.
And when she looked over to the side to try and find me, she slammed on the breaks, and her jaw dropped.
“Jace!”
“I’m back here, Leti!”
She whipped her head around in the darkness, and her beautiful hair slid against her exposed chest.
“How long have you been not beside me!?”
“The entire time,” I said, grinning.
“No, shit!”
I even heard Dean chuckle from the doorway of the bar at that one. I jogged over to her as she kicked down the stand and got off, and before I knew it, she launched herself into my arms. It was an action I hadn’t expected, but the feel of her wrapped around me felt sensational. I held her close, my arms fitted perfectly in the encompassing dip of her waist. She dangled from me, her feet far from the ground as her face buried itself into the crook of my neck.
Fuck, if she wasn’t a prospective client…
“Want to go on a real ride?” I asked.
I settled her back down onto her feet, and she cleared her throat.
“What was that?” Leti asked.
“Let me take you on a real ride, now. You know how to work it, but you don’t know how to ride it yet.”
Her smile lit me up inside, and soon the two of us were mounting my bike. I offered her my hand and helped her situate herself behind me, and she effortlessly slid her arms around my waist. Her hands fell onto my stomach, and I could’ve sworn I felt her fingertips curling into my abs. I bit back a groan as I kicked up the stand, then struck up the bike and slowly inched us out onto the road
“That was so easy for you,” she said.
“I’ve been riding for many years now.”
“How long?”
I drew in a deep breath and allowed my past to wash over me as we picked up speed down the highway.
“Ever since I was eighteen. So, seven years.”
I felt her nod against me before she pressed her cheek into my back. We rode through the night, and I savored the way her body pushed against mine. Her spread legs gave my ass the greatest feeling of her warmth. Her arms grew tight around me, clinging for dear life as we took sharp turned and picked up even more speed. The wind howled. My bike growled. And the entire time, I felt Leti breathing against my back. Pressing her breasts against my back. Tightening her arms and allowing me to touch her softness against my back.
Her warmth was comforting. Peaceful. And I found that I enjoyed it a little too much.
After a while, the bar was nothing but a distant memory. I pulled off the main road and onto a desert side road, where my bike kicked up dust and the towns were left behind. Leti curled her body against mine, trying not to get hit with the dirt we were kicking up. I lifted one of my hands from the handlebar and settled it down onto hers, smoothing my palm over her skin and calming her down.
And at my ministrations, I felt her relax.
I rode us up to the top of one of the red clay mountains in the distance. The stars seemed closer than ever, and when I came to a stop, I heard Leti gasp. She slid off the bike and walked to the edge of the cliff, and I felt my heart lurch. I didn’t want her that close. I didn’t want her in any situation that could result in her enduring any other pain. I walked my bike up to the ledge and reached out for her, pulling her into me without a second thought. She fell into my grasp, her eyes clinging to the nighttime desert sprawled out in front of us for miles underneath the darkened sky.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said breathlessly.
“Did you enjoy the ride?”
Her eyes turned up to mine, and I saw the reflection of the sky in her amber gaze. And at that moment, I couldn’t keep my hands off her any longer. The feel of my fingers in the small of her back. The way her warmth encompassed my arm. The way she looked up into my eyes with adoration and praise. It tugged at a part of me that was slowly being revived. I dipped my lips to hers and trod lightly, puckering them and pressing into her as I pulled her close.
But the second I felt her fist my leather vest, all bets were off.
I pulled her onto my bike, my tongue pressing between her lips. She straddled my motorcycle as I scooted back, making room for her as her legs locked over the tops of mine. My hand fisted her hair while the other slid down her waist. I cloaked her back and bent her over the handlebars, standing up and pressing myself further into her. She tasted like salt and ocean water. Like the life of the earth. I raked my tongue against the roof of her mouth and felt her moan against my lips. The wind around us was cold, but her body was fire. Ripping a heat through my bones no other woman had ignited in me. My hands fisted her hi
ps. They slid up the salacious dip in her waist before bringing her into my body. I sat back down, bringing her upright as I nibbled on the pout of her lower lip.
And when I finally pulled back, I felt her hands grip my leather jacket in order to keep me there.
My forehead connected with hers. I felt her hot breath against my lips. I lightly nuzzled my nose against hers, drawing her eyes up to mine. The darkness of her pupils had devoured the beauty of her stare. She shivered against me, but I knew it wasn’t because she was cold. Heat radiated from between her legs. Her lips begged for another kiss.
She was wanton. Filled with desire. And I wasn’t going to be the man strong enough to turn her away.
“Want to get out of here?” I asked.
I felt her nod quickly against my forehead before a smile slid across my cheeks.
“Then hop on and let me take you for another ride,” I said.
I helped her down from the bike, moved forward, and felt her quickly slide on before she wrapped her arms around me. I was strong, but not strong enough. I was good, but not good enough. I was a man, but in her grasp, I was nothing but a little boy, begging for an ice cream cone from his mother. I pulled away from the edge of the mountain and struck up my bike, then quickly rode us down and back onto the road. My place was the perfect place for her to lay her head. For her to get rest and refuel and prepare for the oncoming storm. My bed was comfortable, my fridge was stocked, and my pantry was full of any snack she could ever want. And she could make herself at home.
After I made her mine.
Chapter 7
Leti
I closed my eyes and took in the strength I had wrapped up in my arms. I knew what was about to happen. I knew where Jace was taking me. And I couldn’t believe I was doing it. Agreeing to it. Allowing it to happen. The weirder thing was, however, that I’d never felt this comfortable with anyone.
Ever.
I’d never felt such an innate need and want to trust a person in front of me. Growing up, I never dated. There had always been too much at stake. Feeding my brother and taking care of my father. I never got any time to myself. And Sebastian? He always made me feel gross. Disgusting. Ugly, and uncomfortable. The only reason why I had gone along with it in the first place was to keep my brother safe. I wasn’t a virgin by any means, but I sure as hell wasn’t experienced in the area, either.
Jace (The Black Hornets MC Book 1) Page 4
