He nodded his head. “Okay.”
“Now, I think it’s time we went outside. Elijah promised to go hiking with us, remember?” I said with a big smile.
“Hey, I know where there’s a stream. I’ll bring along a fishing pole. Have you ever been fishing?” Trevor said, clearly excited about the idea.
Joey’s eyes went big. “No! Fishing? Really?”
Trevor winked. “You guys get ready and I’ll grab the fishing stuff.”
He headed out the back door, leaving me and Elijah with Joey.
“Go grab the new hoodie Elijah bought for you in case it’s chilly,” I told him.
He took off, running for the stairs.
“Slowly!” I cautioned.
Once he was out of earshot, I turned to look at Elijah. “Well?”
“Well what?” he asked.
“What are we going to do?” I hissed.
“We don’t need to do anything right now. Trevor and I need to sit down and work out a plan. I’m not trying to get killed. I have to be here for you and Joey,” he said as if he were talking about the best flavor of coffee.
“Elijah, what about Rayne? I can’t leave her there. Liam and Nick are going to hurt her because they’re mad at me and can’t get to me,” I said, feeling frantic.
“I know. We’ll figure it out. Let’s get Joey settled and then, after he’s in bed or we have a few minutes to ourselves, we’ll talk about how to handle this. I don’t want Joey overhearing. This isn’t going to be a casual talk, Michelle. This is serious.”
His words were sinking in. All of it was. I didn’t get to simply run away and leave everything behind. There were consequences, just like Nick had promised, and Rayne was going to be the one who paid for my crime.
I didn’t get a chance to ask him exactly what he had in mind. Joey returned, more excited than ever to go fishing. I put the Liam and Nick drama to the side, focusing on Joey and his happiness. That was what was most important. Liam and Nick would be there tonight, tomorrow, or whenever. Rayne was smart. She could protect herself.
26
Elijah
After the call yesterday, things were tense. I hated that Michelle couldn’t relax. She had just started to lose that look of fear and the need to constantly look over her shoulder. Trevor and I had talked about what she was going through and likened it to PTSD. It was going to take some time for her to realize she was safe. Stupid phone calls like the one yesterday were not going to help her heal and move on.
Nick and Liam were menaces to the world. I would have loved to put them down, but I wasn’t an exterminator. I didn’t go around killing people or hurting people outside the ring. It was a code Trevor had drilled into my head from the beginning of my training. I had to argue this was an exception. This was a situation where my fighting abilities needed to be used to do serious harm. I had to send a message.
“We respond. We don’t react,” Trevor said, his voice low as we stood outside on the porch. “They want to piss you off and get you back in the city.”
I leaned my head back, looking up at the beams over the covered porch. “I know. I really need to hit him a couple times. Did you see her eye?”
“I did, and I think they both could use a lesson in how to treat a woman. That doesn’t mean we go looking for a fight. This could all get really ugly. Michelle doesn’t need that. She needs you to be her rock. If you get hurt or end up in jail, that isn’t going to do anyone any good,” he said.
I groaned, knowing he was right. “This sucks. I want to beat the shit out of him. He threatened Joey. What kind of guy does that?”
“You already know. Now come on. Today, we’re going to get them set up to be alone here for a while in case things don’t go as planned.”
I took a deep breath, hating the idea of leaving her alone, but it was the only way. I couldn’t risk her or Joey getting hurt. “Okay.”
“I’ll be back in a few hours. That’ll give you time to talk to her and get out everything you need to say. You two have been tiptoeing around each other the last several days,” he griped.
I laughed. “We have not.”
He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. “Neither one of you knows what comes next. She’s holding back and you’re treating her like a guest at a hotel. You both need to relax. Decide what you want to do. I’m not rushing you guys out of the cabin, but this little dance needs to stop.”
I grinned, slapping him on the shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you sure you want to go alone?” I asked Trevor again. “You don’t have to do this. I don’t want to run you out of your own cabin.”
He smiled. “Trust me, I want to get out of this cabin, and I won’t be alone. I have a case of cabin fever, and I think Joey could use a little trip into town as well. You two talk. Talk to her about what we discussed. This is all festering. It isn’t going to go away. We need to do something, and the sooner the better.”
I nodded. “I know. You’re right. I’ll talk to her. Thank you for this, really, all of it. I know this is not how you wanted to spend your time off. I appreciate it.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like a little excitement in my life. It isn’t like I was going to be doing anything else beyond teaching newbies how to take your place in the circuit.”
I pulled open the front door. “No one is ever going to take my place,” I shot back.
Michelle and Joey were coming downstairs as we walked into the living room. She looked nervous as hell. Ever since the phone call yesterday, she had reverted to the skittish woman I had seen that day at the diner. I hated seeing her like that and vowed to make sure I never had to see it again.
“He’s ready,” she announced.
Trevor grinned. “All right! I’m ready. Are you excited to hang out with me today, Joey?”
Joey nodded his head. “Mom said we’re going to get ice cream.”
“We are, and we need to pick up some groceries.”
Michelle gave Joey a quick hug. “I’ll see you in a bit. Be good and stay close to Trevor.”
“I won’t take my eyes off him,” Trevor told her.
She nodded and waved as they left. I could tell she was nervous about letting Joey out of her sight. I had no doubt in my mind Trevor would keep him safe.
“Trevor has a daughter, you know? She’s three and the light of his life. Joey’s going to be fine with him, I promise. Want something to drink?” I asked, knowing we needed to talk and hoping to stall a few more minutes.
She shook her head. “I want to know what you two came up with. Please don’t spare any details.”
“Let’s sit down.”
She groaned. “That sounds serious.”
We took a seat on the couch, my knees touching hers as we faced one another. I leaned forward, my elbows propped on my knees as I searched for the right words.
“Tell me,” she said.
“We need to go back.”
“All of us? If he sees me or you—” She looked at her hands. “Elijah, I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“We’re not going to let him see us. Trevor and I are going to find him. He won’t know we’re coming until we want him to.”
“How? He is always with a group of guys. I guarantee you he’ll be surrounded all the time now. He knows you’re coming for him.”
“I spent the past couple weeks following Liam, learning his habits and where he goes,” I said, tiptoeing into the subject. “I can catch him off guard.”
She was nodding her head. “Okay. What does that mean?”
“It means he isn’t going to surprise us.”
“I can’t stay here indefinitely with Joey. This isn’t a long-term solution. He’s missing school. I have to do something. I mean, I’ve enjoyed it here. It’s the perfect place to find my bearings, but now it’s time for me to do something. I need to either go home or make a home somewhere else.”
“I know. I understand.”
There was a troubled look on her face. “I hate the violence. When I thought about leaving, I always imagined it would be a clean break. I don’t want you hurt. I should have thought about Rayne. I can’t believe I didn’t!” she admitted, her voice quiet.
“Shh. You were thinking of what was best for you and Joey.”
“I could have warned her.”
I shook my head. “No. If you would have, she would have had to lie, and people put under a lot of pressure don’t lie well. She would have told them what she knew.”
She was nodding her head, agreeing with me.
“I don’t want to rush into this, and honestly, I would rather this not get messy. If we can avoid violence, that is always going to be our first choice,” I said.
She ran her hands over her face. “I know. I don’t mean to sound bloodthirsty. I don’t want them seriously hurt. That would mean we weren’t any better than them. But I do want them to know they have to stay away from us, and I don’t know if talking is going to do that.”
I knew what she was saying. There was no need to spell it out. I wanted to protect her, and that meant shielding her from the violence. It didn’t do her any good to know.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll do what we need to,” I assured her.
“Am I ever going to be able to go home?” she asked.
“Do you want to?”
She gave me a weak smile. “I do and I don’t. There’s a lot of memories there—good and bad. My mom is there. She doesn’t even know what’s happening. I usually try to visit her once a week. If I quit showing up, she’s going to think something bad happened.”
“You can write her.”
“Yeah. I’ll have to. I will miss LA though. I know it was a dark place for us, but I really did love it there. There’s so much more than that little street where we lived. There’s life beyond Liam and his gang.”
I leaned back against the couch. “I know what you mean.”
“Oh? I know you have bad memories. Are you telling me you have good memories?” she asked, a coy smile on her face as she leaned back, her shoulder touching mine.
“I have plenty of good memories, you, even Liam.”
“Really?” she asked, astonished.
I nodded. “Liam was like a brother to me. Back then, he was cool. I could count on him to have my back. I would have done anything for him. He gave me a place to crash and convinced your mom to feed me. Because of Liam, I never had to go into the system.”
“He loved you like a brother, or at least I thought he did. He was good. I mean he always had that bad boy streak in him, but so did you,” she teased. “You seem to have turned out okay.”
I guffawed. “Your brother has always had this weird thing about protecting you. Back then, I appreciated it. He crossed a line into crazy some time ago. It’s an odd obsession.”
“You’re telling me.”
I nodded, turning my eyes to the floor. “I want you to know that my life since you’ve been gone hasn’t been all bad. Joey’s been well taken care of. There were moments of happiness. It hasn’t always been easy, but he’s never been abused,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“But you have.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I could take it.”
“You shouldn’t have had to.”
“I’m sure none of the women and children who are abused every day should have to. I’m okay, Elijah. I promise you. I’m so glad to be out of there.”
“All those nights I was away from you, I always thought about that night. Not the beatdown, but before that. I remember every detail of that night, your dress, your hair, how beautiful you looked. I remember holding you in my arms as we danced to the Black Eyed Peas. I could have stayed there all night, dancing with you,” I told her, closing my eyes and remembering how she had felt and how I had felt holding her.
That night held such fond memories that couldn’t be erased by the ugliness that came later.
I turned my head to the side to find her staring at me. I couldn’t resist. I leaned in and kissed her, infusing every bit of passion I had into the kiss. Thinking about that night took me back, reminding me of how much I had loved her. Reminding me of how much I still did.
27
Michelle
His kiss was making me crazy with need. I reached up to run my hands through his hair. It had grown so much in the short time we had been reunited. I loved the silky feel of it between my fingers. His hand moved to my face, holding me still while his mouth covered mine, his tongue plunging in and out.
“I need you,” I whispered.
“I’m here.”
My movements were jerky and shaky as I tried to pull him closer to me. I couldn’t get close enough.
“Now, please,” I groaned.
His erection pushed against me, making me hotter.
“Shh, we have time,” he whispered against my neck.
I shook my head. “No, please.”
He pulled away, breaking the contact between us as he lifted my shirt over my head. I quickly yanked his up, demanding he pull it off. Then it was blissful skin-to-skin contact, his hot, hard chest pressing against mine. But the bra. The damn bra was in my way.
I wiggled under him. “My bra,” I said. “Get it off.”
“Shh, slow down,” he said again, making me crazy and wanting to scream in frustration.
I arched my back, using the back of the couch for support and pressing my breasts against him. I felt him smile against my lips.
“Okay, okay,” he mumbled, sliding his hand between my back and the couch and quickly unfastening my bra.
I sighed has he pulled it off my body. His eyes moved to my breasts before lovingly stroking his hand over one, then the other.
“You’re so beautiful.”
His mouth closed over one taut nipple, sucking it inside before using his teeth to gently nibble. I ran my hands over his back, memorizing every ripple of muscle under the skin stretched so tight across him.
It wasn’t long before my body wanted more. My pussy was throbbing, demanding attention.
“Elijah,” I moaned, thrusting my hips upward.
“We need to take this to the bedroom,” he said, moving to stand. “Things are going to get very messy.”
Judging by how wet my panties were, I knew he was right. He pulled me up, and like a cat, I rubbed against his hard body. I slid my jean-clad pussy down his hard thigh, needing the contact, shivering with delight.
His eyes were burning blue flames as he looked down at me. I bit my bottom lip as he flexed his thigh muscle, encouraging me to ride it. I quickly obliged, pressing against him, moving down his leg before sliding up. I could feel myself close to an orgasm. My head dropped back, my hair tickling my back, sending more lovely sensations over my body. I leaned back, my arms outstretched as I held on to his biceps and rode his leg.
I moaned in pleasure, on the brink of release.
He jerked away, leaving me gasping and frustrated. He bent down and grabbed our tossed clothing, took my hand in his, and led me to the small room on the opposite side of the hall from where Trevor was sleeping.
“Take off your pants,” he ordered, shutting the door behind us.
I smiled and quickly pulled off the jeans, then slid out of my wet panties. The cold air in the room did little to cool off the fire burning between my legs. I reached down, tentatively feeling myself, shocked by how wet I was.
I looked up to see him watching me with a predatory look in his eyes.
“Lie on the bed,” he ordered, his hands moving to his jeans and unbuttoning them.
I turned and crawled onto the queen-size bed, not knowing what he wanted or expected. I propped my head up on the pillows, my legs straight in front of me, my thighs squeezed tightly together. I watched him strip naked, staring at the cock that sprang out of his briefs before he stalked toward the bed.
“Turn,” he ordered.
I slowly moved to lay horizontally across the bed,
excited as hell about what he was about to do to my body. His hands moved to my ankles, spreading them apart before pushing them back, forcing me to bend my knees, his eyes on my core the entire time.
I was suddenly embarrassed to be looked at in the broad light of day, sprawled completely naked before the man. My knees came together, blocking his view. His nostrils flared as his eyes darted up to mine before his hands went to my knees, gently pushing them apart. I took a deep breath, letting myself completely trust him, and relaxed my legs, my knees dropping wide, opening me to his view.
He reached out, his palm covering me, sending white-hot desire streaking through my body. I gripped the blanket, my arms spread as wide as my legs, my body shaking with need.
“You’re so wet already, Michelle. I haven’t even touched you yet.”
I vigorously nodded, my hips pushing upward, pressing my pelvis against his palm. He pressed back, the heel of his hand applying delicious pressure to my clit. I moaned and shimmied my hips, wanting more pressure.
His hand moved away a split second before he pushed against the inside of my thigh while his fingers spread my pussy lips. I opened my eyes briefly, watching him stare at the most intimate part of my body as he explored it with his fingers. The look on his face as his finger pushed inside me sent me flying, and my eyes closed once again as a million stars exploded behind my eyelids. My body convulsed as he held that one finger halfway inside my pussy, not moving as I rode out the orgasm that had been building for days.
When I managed to catch my breath, I opened my eyes to see him staring at my face. “Ready?” he asked, his finger still inside me.
I licked my lips. “I think so.”
He pushed his finger in higher, and my back arched as I took him inside. He plunged in and out, scraping over my clit before moving deeper inside. I watched him watching himself fuck me with his fingers. The intense look on his face was driving me crazy. I felt myself stretching and looked down my body to see two of his fingers pressing into me.
Men in Charge: A Contemporary Romance Box Set Page 37
