by Colt, Shyla
“I think we’re both a little warped and worn, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change, right?”
It was an olive branch he grabbed with both hands. “Right.”
An understanding passed between them. They were kindred. Despite the fear and tendency to be gun-shy, what they’d discovered was rare.
She opened her mouth to speak and paused, shaking her head.
For now, it was enough that she remained here with him at this moment. The rest they would figure out as they went.
“Speak now or forever hold your peace, Symone. ‘Cause from here on out, I’m placing you under my protection.”
“With conditions.” Her voice fell so low, he had to strain to hear it.
“I’ll bend as much as I can, but if it comes down to keeping you safe and we disagree, I’m not going to back down.”
She frowned.
Don’t backpedal now, babe.
“We’ll see how it goes.”
The words were all the green light he needed.
CHAPTER FIVE
The jingle of the telephone drew her attention to the end table beside the couch. The name Monster flashed in bold black and she snickered. Leave it to him to program something into my phone. She answered, “Hello.”
“What are you doing, babe?”
His laid-back approach made her smile. The man was persistent. She had to give him that. “Watching television. What are you doing?”
A knock sounded on her door.
“Answer the door and find out.”
“What?” She stood from the couch and walked over to the door. She peered out the peephole.
Monster stood outside in a black t-shirt, his cut, and a tattered pair of jeans that hugged his legs.
She licked her lips.
“You debating whether or not you’re going to let me in?”
“Maybe,” she leveled.
He chuckled. “How about you make it easy on both of us and let me inside?”
Symone unlocked the chain and pulled open the door.
Monster hung up his cell and shoved it into the pocket of his vest. “You ready to come away with me?”
“Where to?”
“Wherever you want.”
The words stunned her into silence. No one had ever taken her feelings into consideration. “I-I don’t know.”
“How about we figure it out together?”
She narrowed her eyes and studied his expression. Underneath the scarring and hooded eyes lay a sincerity that stole her breath. He was a man of action. It scared her witless and drew her to him like a moth to a flame. Every statement he made had been instantly backed up by action. Maybe you can trust him.
He leaned against the doorframe.
His massive size filled her vision.
“You can trust me. I’d never let anything hurt you. That includes me.”
“Why?” she asked once more.
“I see something in you I’ve needed for a long time. I didn’t realize it until you came and it struck me like white-hot lighting. In the blink of an eye, everything shifted for me. You’re not an average woman and we both know I’m nowhere near normal. So, let’s not get hung up on how we think things should be and deal with things as they are.” He cupped her face in his callused palm.
She leaned into his touch, desperate for the unexpected gentleness he offered freely. The exterior people presented meant nearly nothing. It could be manipulated and prettied. The soul that lay at the core of person’s being was a different matter. This man, with his mangled flesh, stern face, and cold eyes exhibited more heart than anyone she’d ever known.
He held out a hand to her, ready to save her from drowning in her own confusion, doubt and fucked up past.
All I have to do is take what he offers. She stood on the edge of a cliff with more of the same behind her and a vast space of unfamiliar territory ahead.
“No man will ever want you now. You’re used up goods with a hideous face and no other skills besides lying on your back,” Mylandra’s cruel voice taunted her.
Her stomach tangled into knots. She placed a hand on her belly.
Monster studied her from beneath lowered lids.
Don’t let her win.
She struggled with the ghost of her past, thrashing in the proverbial deep waters of her mind. Wriggling back and forth, she kicked her way to the surface. The only way to break free was to do the very thing that scared her most, trust someone. “Show me.”
Monster grinned and she could imagine him as he would’ve been. Free of blemish and so gorgeous he’d make your heart ache. Like a young James Dean, he gave a sense that he lived fast. Everything she’d seen and heard told her bikers rode a dangerous path. Being with one wouldn’t be a walk in the park. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to feel true fear. He wanted her to be his. She clutched at the yearning to belong that he offered. A part of making your own decisions is making mistakes and he’s someone I’m willing to take a chance on. The affirmation kept her demons at bay.
“Get your shit, baby. I’ll show you around town.”
Symone turned on her heels, then ran for her purse and keys she kept on a table. She snatched up the small black clutch and key ring, then walked out of the apartment feeling in charge of her life.
“You ever been on the back of a bike, babe?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, that stops now. Only bike I want you on the back of now is mine.” His eyes darkened with possession.
To some, it might be insulting, but for her it was the ultimate compliment. The common liberties and freedoms most took for granted, she’d coveted and dreamed about. She locked the door behind her and he took her hand, lacing their fingers. Her jaw dropped.
“What?” he asked.
“I didn’t think you’d be one for showing affection in public,” she admitted bashfully.
“There’s plenty you have yet to learn about me. Let’s start off with this. You’re mine and I’ll touch you anytime and anywhere, regardless of who’s watching.” His eyes darkened with desire.
It was a look she knew well. Coming from him, it felt good. With no guilt or fakeness. Just a raw connection she craved more of.
“You like the thought of that?” He pressed the down button to the elevator. The left side of his lip quirked upward, rearranging the scarring.
Without thinking, she reached out to brush the area with her thumb.
He froze. His jaw twitched and his body tensed.
The ding of the doors broke the tension building like a storm between them. She dropped her arm and they stepped inside.
“Tell me what you like to do,” Monster urged.
“I—I don’t know. Leaving the compound wasn’t something that happened.” She stared at the carpeted floor of the elevator, humiliated by the by the lack of living she’d done.
The cart came to a stop and the door opened with a ding.
“That’s going to change.” His nostrils flared.
She stepped back, feeling slightly wary.
“When I think about how much you’ve missed, it makes me want to kill someone. Those are your basic fucking rights. People think we’re the devil and we wouldn’t dream of doing any shit like that. It’s all about living free. I want to you experience that. To see what life should be. It’s the whole reason the brothers and I ride.”
They walked out of the complex and stopped in front of his massive black and chrome steed. Her modern day black knight with his brutal honesty, coarse language, and distorted visage. He mounted the motorcycle, handed her a helmet, and put on his own. “I’ll show you how to get on. Grab my shoulders, put one foot on this kick stand, and swing your leg over.”
She clutched his shoulder, awkwardly launching her body up behind him.
“Now, wrap your arms around me and hold on tight.”
Symone looped her arms around his middle.
He ran his fingertips over the back of her hand. “You can do better than that.”
She held him closer.
“Now, you’re getting it.” He brought the bike to life.
The growling beast shook her from the inside out. The vibrations shifted something in her lower belly that made her want to squirm.
“I’m going to make you love this life as much as I do. Wait and see.” He pulled away.
Symone gasped as they propelled forward. Her stomach bottomed out and she pressed her chest against his back. The wind whipped at her, greedily pulling her close and caressing her face. The world passed by in a blur.
Monster expertly maneuvered the bike down the streets between cars.
As time passed, her anxiety faded and she began to enjoy the ride.
The signs above changed from English to scrawling symbols she couldn’t make out. They pulled in front of a large glass window with gold lettering and a slanted green roof. The Jade Duck?
He parked his bike and they removed their helmets. “This is my ace in the hole. We’ve been coming here since I was a kid. Best Chinese food you can come by in this city. Have you ever had Dim Sum?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“No better place to be introduced.” He took her helmet and stored their gear in a saddlebag. He held his hand out to her and helped her from the bike. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her beneath it.
She couldn’t help but smile at his openness. He fed the starved space inside her. They walked inside and the smells made her stomach rumble. The scent of cooked meats, savory vegetables and mouthwatering spice wafted up into her nostrils. Roundtables were covered with crisp white linens and napkins folded into the shape of fans. Waitresses walked around pushing carts with round bamboo baskets. She looked on with interest, taking in the beautiful jade accent pieces that decorated black shelves placed along the warm beige walls.
“Hayes!” a heavily accented voice cried out. “It’s been too long since I saw you. Oh, I see you brought a special friend.” A petite woman with strands of silver mixed into the black hair she had pulled back into a bun, rushed up and patted Monster’s arm.
Hayes?
“I know, Ms. Fong, it’s been too long. This is my girlfriend, Symone.”
“Ooh, girlfriend!” She beamed. Her almond-shaped brown eyes sparkled.
Symone smiled.
“He’s never brought a woman here. You must be very special. Please, let me take you to your usual seat. How’s your brother?”
Symone enjoyed their banter.
“Hartley’s good. Staying out of trouble for the most part.”
Mrs. Fong clucked her tongue. “Drama is attracted to that one.”
“You’re not wrong,” Monster replied.
They paused at a table in the corner that was removed from the hustle and bustle.
“Do you want your regular?”
“No, we’re going to pick and choose off the carts today. This is her first time at Dim Sum and I want to give her the total experience.”
“Aaah. You came to the right place. Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Cola for me, Ms. Fong. Babe?”
“A water, please.”
“I’ll be right back,” Ms. Fong said.
Symone leaned over the table. “Wow. You’re like royalty here.”
“As much money as we’ve given her, we might as well be.” He flashed a boyish grin.
She stared at his smile. It showed her the boy still buried inside the man.
“It was a family tradition to come here just about every weekend growing up. Something my mom used to do with her family once upon a time.”
“That sounds lovely,” she whispered, envisioning the domestic scene his words painted with a pang of envy.
“It was…until it wasn’t,” he mumbled. Shadows crept up into his eyes and chased away the joy. His face smoothed back into its usual stern expression. “Let me explain Dim Sum. It’s like a buffet on wheels. They bring the trays around and you pick and choose what you’d like to eat. Most of the dishes are steamed items like sticky buns and dumplings. Is there any spice or vegetable you hate?”
“No, I’m pretty open when it comes to food and coming from Jamaica, spices are my best friend.” She smiled. There were things she loved about her country of origin. Those were the memories she wanted to keep close. The rest could fade into oblivion. If only it was easy to forget the things that haunt us most.
“Every time you open your mouth, I think I like you a little more.”
Heat filled her cheeks. She toyed with the edges of her t-shirt. Normally, compliments came before a request. People like to try to butter you up before they asked for their pound of flesh. She wanted to believe this man, but history had a way of beating the hope out of a person. She waited for the other shoe to drop.
“We should make a list.”
The change in direction startled her.
“What?”
“Of things we need to figure out about you.”
“I’m not following.”
“You said you never had the opportunity to learn. I’ll be the only teacher you need. I promise you that. So, let’s get the lesson plan mapped out.” He reached across the table and held out his hand.
She placed her shaking hand in his.”
“How about we start with what I want to show you. Like how good it’s going to be between us. How you’ll sound when my face is between your legs and my tongue is deep inside your pussy.” He licked his lips.
The sight of his long pink tongue made her whimper.
“I bet you taste like a ripe peach, babe. I can’t wait to find out.”
Mrs. Fong returned with their drinks and Symone did her damnedest to ignore the dull throbbing occurring at her center. The tops of her inner thighs were damp with her desire. Monster did more for her with his words than any man had done with an assortment of toys and a long dick. That was saying a lot, given her past profession. This connection he refused to let be dueled was changing her, whether she wanted it to or not.
* * * *
The disbelief he saw in her eyes acted as fuel, propelling him forward. He needed her to believe she was worthy of everything he planned on giving her. She’d told him enough to paint a grim picture of her past. He couldn’t erase that time, but he could offer her a bright future. He wasn’t ignorant enough to believe it was all about her. This was for him too. His redemption. If he could repair what was broken inside her, just maybe, he could start on his own soul.
In many ways, she seemed younger. The joy and wonderment she expressed as she tried new dishes placed more cracks in the glacier that had formed around his heart. She made him feel human again. It was an experience he cherished. For so long he’d wandered around like the undead. Still functioning, moving on his feet, but feeling next to nothing.
As they finished their meal, he struggled with the wicked thoughts running through his mind. He wanted to taste her, brand her, and addict her to him, so she’d never even think of leaving. He was Gollum and she was his precious. The clubhouse was nowhere to get to know each other, but it’d been months since he set foot in the condo they’d purchased years ago with the insurance money from their parents.
She’s worth it.
Mind made up, he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You about ready to get out of here?”
“Yes, I couldn’t eat another bite if I wanted to.” She patted her belly. “This was amazing, thank you for bringing me here.” Her eyes were alight with happiness.
The small glow in her eyes and her smile made his heart skip a beat. It was the most relaxed and sincere he’d ever seen her be. She didn’t strike him as someone who let her guard down often. This small show of faith was a huge deal. “Remember this, the next time I ask you to take a chance on a new experience.”
“The look in your eyes tells me this next adventure won’t be tame.”
“Did you want it to be?”
She inclined her head. “I think I’m ready to accept everything you have to offe
r me today.”
“Be careful, babe. I could offer a lot.” He removed his wallet, tossed a few bills on the table and stood. “Come on, let’s take another ride.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and gave her a swift once-over. In jeans that hugged her like the lover her wanted to be and a form fitting black t-shirt, she was slaying him. His jeans grew tighter and his body temperature spiked. He welcomed the wind and the distraction that came with the trip across town.
He pulled up in front of the white three-tiered building with glass railings. Slick and modern, it’d been a home most people dreamed of having. They’d bought out the other residents with club money and used it as a place for people to crash when they needed. He cut the engine and removed his helmet.
“Is this your place?”
“My brother and I own it. We bought it after the fire with the insurance money. It’s easy to become an emancipated minor when your P leans on the local judge.”
“Do you stay here?” she asked.
“No, mostly I stay at the club. It’s just easier.” He shrugged.
“But you brought me here now.”
He could practically see the apprehension building up inside her.
“Because you deserve better than some subpar bedroom tucked away among the chaos that comes with DD.”
She crossed her arms and leaned back. “What are you expecting from me, Monster?”
“Whatever you’re willing to give and no more.” He ran his thumb across her petal-soft lips. “I want to make you feel good, babe. Show you how it’s supposed to be when a man is worshipping your body and living to see you take your pleasure.”
I’m losing her.
Her eyes grew shuttered and her face lost its softness.
Fuck that.
He snapped the chinstrap and open removed her helmet. He buried his fingers in her hair and held her in place as he attacked her lips, nibbling, licking, and willing her to feel the fire between them. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth and explored every inch he could.
Her body went limp. She leaned heavily on him and whimpered.
