“They’ve got camps spread out all over California, but there must be a place where their officers stay. We’ll go to one camp, see if we can tail anyone.”
Gunning it as a warning, Ramos took off. He wasn’t joking about going slow. He accelerated fast, taking off well beyond the compound’s unspoken speed limit.
Before I followed, someone stepped out into the night. I almost didn’t look, but I did. It was Ash. She was standing there, hands flat against her sides, looking lost.
We locked eyes for a second.
Then I was gone.
Ash
Drained...so drained. My feet were shuffling. The front of my thighs burned with every step.
Physically, it was from working hard for the old ladies. Mentally? It was from Red, an incubus who sucked my energy at every turn. He was an idiot for coming to me the way he did. Was that a biker’s way of saying sorry? A compliment and a hard on pressed against your ass?
While it was a stupid way to apologize, I had to admit that he almost got me. Everyone slowly left the kitchen, leaving me alone. As I brushed the already immaculate floors, I knew I had two choices—talk to Red or leave. The broom got hung up.
Good alcohol, food, and music finally let everyone relax in the bar. It smelled like barbecue sauce and deep-fried wings still, despite everyone being finished an hour ago. They were all huddled around now, drinking and talking. Mostly drinking. But with the way their week went, who could blame them?
Em cut through the crowd. I chased after her. Then with a hand on her shoulder, stopped her charge.
“Where’s Red?”
“He went outside, hun.”
“Thanks.” As I headed outside, she yelled after me, “Go catch him. Don’t let him get away.” I laughed, but as soon as I got to the door, thinking about Red being on the other side, I fell sullen again.
When I sheepishly opened the door, Red was on his bike. Another bike raced off into the night, roaring away from the bar. He looked ready to follow, but he turned and saw me.
No emotion. Cold, distant, Red left me standing alone as he tore off into the night.
I watched as they kept going past the gates. Wherever they were headed, I got a sickening feeling about it. Like I had just watched my man go off to war and hadn’t even gotten a proper goodbye.
I headed back inside to get my answer.
Em was talking, explaining a story, which involved talking with her hands more than her mouth. Once finished, she got a tug on her elbow.
“You catch up to him?”
She noticed my response.
“You give him a piece of your mind yet, dear? Don’t be afraid. These guys need to be put in their place sometimes.”
“That’s the problem. I gave him a little too much of my mind. He tried to apologize...I think.”
“Oh, an apology, that’s something new.”
It was a different form of apology than I was used to.
“Do you know where he went?”
A helper came up beside us and reached out with a giant margarita bowl, like a hand off stage, and Em grabbed it and took a sip while scrutinizing my words, “You sure he left?”
“It looked urgent.”
Em shut down.
“If it’s business, we don’t get to know about that.”
“I only want to know if he’s doing anything dangerous. If I can, I want to talk to him. I’m not sure—”
I started, but there was a swelling in my chest and a sudden sadness that stomped out all confidence. Em noticed. She reached out with one hand to steady me, the other to hold her bowl of liquor.
“I’ll ask Boots. It’s usually not okay. But he might be drunk enough to tell me a little something something, so you stay here and I’ll come back, okay?”
“Okay,” I repeated, standing in place for her return.
When she returned, she told me all of the grisly details, few but fearsome enough to send me spiraling into worry.
“He’s out on a mission. He’s doing Bastard work.”
Bastard work...that wasn’t comforting.
“When’s he coming back?”
Em shook her head slowly and looked timidly back to her circle of friends.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
“Thanks, Em, I know,” I said.
Em moved away, figuring we were done. I took a staggered step. She caught my wrist, standing me straight. “I feel sick,” I said, but I still flung myself off and tried another.
“I should leave,” I said.
“No, out of the question. You’ll stay here for the night.”
“This place looks packed.”
“You’re staying here,” Em said again, and she took my hand, taking me away.
The trip from the bar to the vacant room seemed instant. Once I was dumped onto the bed, Em checked my temperature with the back of her hand. I crawled to the pillow, imaging it was Red’s. Imagining Red’s scent—leather, oil, and pine, could help sedate me.
“You’re running hot. Try to calm down. You really need to learn how to deal with all this stress, because trust me, there’s a lot of it. Maybe a shopping trip is in order tomorrow?”
I smiled weakly, gripped Em’s hand to show her my heart was still beating, and said, “Sure, if Red comes back safe, I’ll go on a trip with you.”
“Good, you shouldn’t worry about him. He knows what he’s doing. Nothing like what happened to King will happen again.”
I nodded, but I didn’t know if that was the truth. I didn’t trust that empty promise, but soon, after Em left, I closed my eyes and exhaustion took over.
Red
The party was mostly over by the time Ramos and I got back. Most of the members were done with their partying. They retired to their beds before the big day.
We parked our bikes near The Backyard. Ramos gave me another handshake with a “Good work.”
“You going to be good to ride tomorrow?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m still awake. Wide awake.”
“I hear ya. I’ll see you in a couple hours,” I said.
We broke off. Ramos would go and report to the team about what we saw. Boots was probably the only one awake. Seeing how drunk he was hours ago, I wondered how awake one could really say he was.
The main enemy camp was a roaming site near the edge of California and Arizona where they parked tons of RVs, pickups, and tents to spend the night in isolation. From where we trailed a Defiler, weed smoke drifted off the mountains into the valley. I was sure weed was the most harmless drug they were on. Tomorrow, I hoped we’d catch them nodding off, rather than amped up on PCP, because a man on PCP could shrug off gunshots like bee stings.
I did my job. Now I wanted to know what happened to Ash. You couldn’t blame a guy for wanting to see a pretty face before he was shipped off to war.
But Ash wasn’t in the bar. Just Crack. Showing off his impressive crack as he leaned on the bar, chugging down what I hoped was his last beer. It was best not to mention his ass showing. Even if I could probably get away with it, I didn’t want to tempt him at that ungodly hour.
Ash needed to be looked after. My heart thudded in my chest at the thought of her in trouble as I asked anyone I ran into. Was I ever falling for this girl or what? Now I knew why most men died before their women—the good ones worry too much.
In our living quarters, I spotted Ramos again, who left his room without a shirt and had a sheet of sweat over his muscled frame.
“Mind asking Roxy where Ash is?”
“Really, man? I gotta ask Rox about that right now? Things were heating up in there. I’m ready for round two.”
“Could you do it for me? And save round two for tomorrow.”
Ramos sighed. “For another Bastard, anything,” he said, and then he ordered a water bottle from the vending machine, entered his room, and then promptly walked out, not quite as excited as he was before.
Emotions were high. Everyone would be cooped up with their loved ones toni
ght. There was a good chance some kids might find out later this was the day they were conceived.
“She’s in room thirty two.”
The top floor? Those were usually reserved for very important guests. With soldier-like nods, we departed to our rooms.
As I climbed the steps, I knew I wouldn’t tell her what I was doing tomorrow. I wouldn’t stress her out. But I needed to see her. It was reckless. Maybe juvenile. But I needed to see her. If this was the last time—I shoved those foolish thoughts away. The Defilers would be given hell tomorrow.
I knocked on the door and was pleased to hear her softly call for me to enter. Good thing I wouldn’t have to barge in or worse, be turned away again.
This was the biggest room in the whole compound with a large bathroom, a living area, and a bedroom. Through the living area, I spotted Ash in the bedroom, a soft glow cast on her as she waited, hands clasped on the edge of the bed.
She still wore that sexy dress. My cock lurched against my jeans at the sight of her sexy legs and her luscious mounds pressing into the V. Her hourglass shape turned me on to no end. It took all of my willpower not to drop her onto that firm mattress and rock her world. All of the Bastards’ beds were sturdy California Kings. An important detail that hadn’t been skipped over during renovations.
“Hey,” she said, her voice low and sultry, giving my cock another tantalizing jolt.
I was overcome with emotion. What if this was the last time I would see her? The thought shouldn’t have entered my head. I was usually so confident, but there were things Ash and I still had to do. There were things I needed to say.
Waiting in the doorway, I put one hand against it, using it to lean, not sure if I should approach. I couldn’t read her. Ash seemed on the verge of tears. But why?
“What’s—” I started. I was going to ask her what was wrong when she launched herself from the bed. I expected a punch to the gut. Instead, she threw herself at my chest and wrapped her arms around me.
She was so soft, warm, and right. I splayed my hand across the small of her back as she gazed into my eyes, hers wide and shining with the emergence of tears.
“I thought I might never see you again.”
Oh, shit. She knew that I went on the run. That wasn’t supposed to happen. That was Bastard business. Someone had dropped the ball.
“Don’t get hurt. Please, don’t get hurt,” she said, grabbing fistfuls of my shirt. Her strong grasp on me shook me from my spinning thoughts.
“I’m fine,” I said. My calloused fingertips rested on her neck, burning, she was so worked up. I slowly swayed over her tense muscles, trying to relax her, but it stirred my arousal. Touching her was driving me wild, and the beast inside of me couldn’t be contained for long at this rate.
“You can’t go.”
“No, I’ll never leave you,” I said. I dug my fingertips into her hips again, not letting her go, unable to break away.
She hugged me again, shoving her cheek against my chest. I couldn’t stand her this distressed.
“Don’t leave. I’m sorry about what happened between us,” she begged.
“Hey, I told you, I’m not going anywhere.” I peeled her off me. She gazed at me in wonder. Her bottom lip hung open. It was juicy and plump, and her tongue was laying there, just waiting to be taken. How could I allow that angel to cry for me? I needed to change this. I knew the perfect way.
“I won’t leave you. You mean too much to me, Ash,” I said. Overcome with possessiveness and a need to take care of her, I crushed her lips with mine. She let out a sharp moan, spreading her lips for me to enter, and I was in, rushing against her.
Ash tugged at my shirt.
She wanted the bed.
IBWTO (Chapter 8)
Ash
I was a blubbering mess when he walked into my room. It scared me that he might leave my life violently and sudden. When he emerged, the truth came spilling out of me.
He calmed my nerves at first, even making my heart swell when he said that he wouldn’t leave me. I believed him. He said it with such conviction that my world had been sucked of all worry and I was thrust into an erotic frenzy, a need for him to get closer, deeper, for him to take everything.
I trusted him, but I needed to savor him. Red was mine. He was possessive, and I was as well. Tugging at him, that was all he needed to suck me into that erotic whirlwind with his tongue dancing with mine.
Tossed playfully on the bed, I bounced onto my elbows. My thighs were spread. He dropped between them. Pressing his weight on me, I let out a gasp and succumbed to the mattress. His throbbing cock rubbed against me, so hot he could’ve tattooed my inner thigh.
“No more games. I’m fucking you tonight.”
No complaints from me. A thought emerged in the back of my mind, What about your job? but the voice was far away. My need for Red pounded in my chest, hammering all doubts. Raining down kisses on my neck, he hit that sensitive, weak spot, and I curled against him and kicked the sheets.
“You’re mine, Ash. Mine,” he growled. He sucked and nibbled my shoulder. His hands grasped my ample ass, cupping it and swaying his fingers closer to the edge of my dress.
Pulling away, he tossed off his shirt, revealing rows of finely sculpted muscle. His chest was wide and powerful, his abs strong, a thin trail of hair seducing my eyes lower.
He kissed me again. When he did, I snapped his hair clasp off, letting his manly lock falls to his shoulders. My gorgeous Bastard. With a vicious smile, he peppered my stomach with kisses. His lips met my hips and got them rolling.
My heels dropped to the floor. His touch caressed the full length of my legs as I closed my eyes and embraced the welling arousal taking control of my body. A surge hit me and my eyes sprang open as he arrived at my inner thighs.
He growled again. His abs flexed at the sight of my black panties peeking out from my dress. Getting lower, he speared my thighs wide, his tongue winding up my inner thighs to my dripping hot pussy.
Moaning madly, I clamped my thighs shut in anticipation. His presence bore down on me, as if I could feel his testosterone emanating in crashing waves right at my gates.
Driving me wide again, he kept a hand on my right thigh, pulling me closer as his other hand threw my dress higher. Exposed, I was slick, begging for his touch.
His lips ravished the curve of my panties. I lifted my ass to get him to peel them off. Thankfully, Red granted me that much. He tossed my panties to my ankles and I kicked them off. My hot, needy cunt was exposed, feeling so vulnerable at that moment, I couldn’t revel in it, instead I was taken into an insurmountable bliss as Red’s tongue met my velvety folds.
I pushed my mound at his rushing tongue. Rocking my hips, I tried to get off on the bridge of his nose as he teased me with that skilled tongue of his, running from my lips to my beating, blossoming bud, but not touching it, not yet.
He shoved his fat tongue into my slit. I couldn’t believe how long and thick his tongue was, or how good it made me feel. Swaying inside me, he spread open my tight channel as I flowed onto him. I stopped thrusting my hips. Involuntary shudders rocked me to my core and had me a whimpering, hot mess on the mattress.
My fists grabbed for the sheets. I pulled them closer to me as he ate me out. When he let up for a breath, I could pull air into my expelled lungs. I screamed, “Fuck me.”
I squeezed my hips again. My pussy hugged at nothing. Aching arose from inside of me. I needed him. Needed him now.
“Please,” I begged.
He bit down on his lip.
“I love this dress on you, but it needs to come off. Lift your arms.”
I did as he asked. He grabbed the dress and slowly raised it over me, exposing every inch with a wider, wolfish smile. When it was off, he wasted no time, driving his full weight on me, keeping me pinned as his hands wrapped underneath and unsnapped my bra.
His eyes were lit, raging at the sight of my perky nipples pointing right at his lips. Cupping my swollen mounds, caressin
g the underside and letting the heaviness bounce in his palms, Red let out a long groan.
His smile was gone.
I tugged at his jeans. He understood what I wanted. He wanted it just as much. Jeans off, he wore some black, fit boxers underneath, hugging his rigid, full cock.
“I’d like to take those pretty lips of yours, but if I don’t get inside of you right now, I’m going to lose my mind.”
He pushed his boxers off, as soon as he did, his thick, long cock reared up. He looked perfect, if not a little threatening. His size would make me feel even more vulnerable, even more like it was my first time. Why did I feel like I was a virgin again when it came to Red?
Usually, I was quite confident, even maybe a little too confident, a little bored? Sex seemed mechanical...but with Red...magical.
Red snapped his condom on, then rolled it down all of that delicious length. Pushing himself on me again, he pinned my thighs wide. He pushed himself forward. His thick tip rested at my slick hole and pumped endorphins into my already high-flying mind. I reeled back, almost coiling in on myself as I braced myself to take all of that beautiful length.
“I’m not going anywhere. That sweet pussy is all mine. Forever.”
Really? Forever? It was strange. Usually this would spark fear. Instead I believed him, and truly, deeply wanted forever. He spread me even wider. All air was shot from my lungs as he shoved inside of me, his love filling me. This was only the beginning.
There was a mix of pleasure and pain, which surprised me, but in the best way. I rocked back. He slid a hand under my ass and kept it splayed to take me deep. I spread wider to fit him. My pussy gaped, his fat, hearty cock shoving me open even more as he thrust to my end.
“Red,” I cried out. “Yes,” I screamed.
I reached for him. I clawed at his forearms. He left me, pulling out, and I was so empty, but that space was filled again as he rushed in, slamming into me, this time, with less pain, and a lot more pleasure.
Lucas (A Billionaire Bad Boy Novel) Page 29
