Haven

by J D Worth

  I ask with caution, “What are they?” I hold one up, and everyone bursts into laughter.

  Violet dips one in ketchup and pops the fried treat into her mouth. Grinning, she shares, “Tater tots!”

  Mace grabs one while Cal scoops up a handful, tossing them into his mouth. I try one, and they wait for my reaction. Violet bounces on her toes. I break down in giggles. “These little fried potato balls are surprisingly good.”

  “Told you!” Violet smirks. I can’t get enough, so my friends tease me by adding more to my greasy pile.

  Payton says from the couch, “I love the sparrow, Baby Girl! That’s a beautiful symbol of love.”

  “Thanks,” I say.

  Payton grins. “What do you think, Mace?” Winking, she tips her head towards him. He can’t take his eyes off from me. She snickers when he hops off the couch and brings the fifth over to me.

  Gazing at me, Mace says, “Tonight’s gonna be fun. Maybe we’ll try to find you some cupcakes, huh, Princess?”

  My face heats as he grins. Violet laughs behind us.

  Mace takes a few swigs while we watch Jax. The crew talks about the Sunset and Trent’s band, giving me the rundown of their favorite Crow songs.

  Jax says, “The sparrow is done if anyone wants to check the fresh ink out before I wrap it up.” He smiles at me, tilting his head towards the boards. “Darlin’, shall we take a photo for the ‘wall of shame’?”

  “I’d like to keep this private if you don’t mind. I don’t like the thought of someone else walking around with my design on their body,” I say, almost bashful I have a tattoo on my own body.

  “Aww, dang it!” Jax teases me. “Nah, I can respect that.” I’m thankful when Mace tucks the sparrow design into his back pocket, giving me an appreciative smile.

  The others check out my new addition. Mace says to Jax, “I’ve got her. You clean up here so we can head out sooner.”

  “Thanks, brother.”

  Mace pulls me into the mirrored changing room and locks the door. He stands behind me as I see the sparrow for the first time reflected back. “Wow, that’s beautiful! His replication is an exact match to my drawing.” Jax angled the small sparrow, making the bird take flight while matching the curve of my hip at the same time.

  “That tattoo is incredibly sexy,” Mace whispers into my ear.

  “That’s not really—”

  “Put your hands up high.” Mace steps close behind me.

  “What?”

  Mace guides my hands above my head. Fascinated, I watch his reflection as he takes charge. Mace raises my cami higher so that my breasts spring free. He tosses the material aside and rests my hands on the back of my neck, making my chest jet out. “Don’t move. Keep your hands pinned in place or else I’ll tie them, Princess.”

  I gasp, desperate and needy.

  Smirking, he cocks his head. “Ooh, you wanna play…”

  My lips tremble with the new tantalizing possibilities.

  “Please…” I lift my wrists, offering them to him. My body is already vibrating in anticipation from his earlier actions. He fastens my cami around my wrists and drops my arms back over his head, binding us even closer. We gaze into the mirror as our carnal delights play out before us.

  My nipples harden and the surrounding rosy skin puckers. Mace slides his hands over my breasts and sinks his fingers into my soft flesh, taking his time massaging me. Skimming my skin with his lips, he sucks and kisses my neck. He moves his hands downward, disappearing into my yoga pants. His fingers massage tender flesh, and I let out a moan. He pushes the material down lower than he did before.

  One hand travels up across my body and between my breasts. His large hand holds my throat in a seductive way while his other possessive hand spreads around the tattoo. His fingers grip my hip. He rubs his thumb up and down, appreciating my natural curves. The sight is breathtaking.

  His mouth catches my ear. “Do you know why I suggested white ink?” Watching Mace touch my body in the mirror is sheer eroticism. He slides his hand down and cups my pussy, pressing his hardness into me from behind. “You needed a reminder on your body.”

  “Yeah, of my mother.”

  His laugh grows dark and tantalizing. “No, every time you see that white ink, you’re gonna ache for me to paint you white.”

  “Fuck…” My body goes limp against his.

  His grip tightens as he sinks his middle finger deep into my pussy, swirling nice and slow. “Right here, nice and deep.”

  I gasp again as my sex grips his thick finger in a desperate spasm.

  “You’re mine, Princess. Every sexy gasp, every sweet agonizing moan, and every fuckin’ orgasm you have will be ’cause of me.” Closing my eyes, my head goes back against his as he slips two more fingers into my slick pussy. Sweet pleasure spurs through me as he pumps his fingers. I whimper and jar my hips, begging for more. He spins me so my back is against the mirror and kisses me rough and needy. “I’d take you right now, not caring who heard while I claimed you back here.”

  “I’m not stopping you, so go ahead and make me scream.”

  Mace breaks my bind and steps back from our heated exchange. An internal battle brews in his eyes. “Princess, you’re not here to stay, so I can’t claim you like I wanna.”

  I furrow my brows. “That gives you the right to tease me? To lead me on?” I throw on my cami and pull up my pants. “I’m planning on returning. You promised to retrieve me like a damn horny Neanderthal. I am right here with you asking for more. Isn’t this what you want too?”

  “You don’t get what I’m asking, do you?”

  I shrug my shoulders.

  “Fuck!” In a swift manner, he flings the door open, and tugs me out to the supply closet. He cleans up my tattoo and slaps on a bandage. Stunned, I waver in the back room as he storms off to the front. I take timid steps, composing myself after his emotional outburst. Violet busies herself with picking up the trash in between sweeping while Jax collects the instruments for an autoclave cleaning. Mace stands behind the counter, smoking a cigarette. He cracks open his fifth and takes a long pull.

  I ask, “How much do I owe you, Jax?”

  “Princess, I got it.” Mace slaps down two hundreds and a fifty for a tip from a wad of bills in his wallet.

  Jax says, “Wow, I guess you did clean up. How much more, Mace?”

  He downs several more mouthfuls before tucking the fifth away in his leather bag. “Not enough to make a dent. I’ve only got fifteen, so no more smalltime for me. I still need fifty.”

  “That bad, huh?” Jax replies, forming a grim frown.

  Nodding, he shares, “I’m working on it. Don’t need any more distractions.” Exchanging looks, Mace leaves the shop in a hurry, joining Payton and Cal outside.

  “Thank you for the tattoo, Jax. You don’t know what this symbol means to me.” Hoping I can grab a private moment with Mace, I say, “I’m going to wait outside.”

  Jax places his hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “Look, Darlin’, Mace doesn’t play games. You shouldn’t be pushing his buttons.”

  “Honest, he’s the one storming out on me.” I try to defend myself, not wanting to put any drifts between his friends and me. “I want what we have to work.” I search Jax’s eyes for answers, yet he seems as dumbfounded as me.

  Violet and Jax exchange shocked expressions. Jax says under his breath, “No shit?” Violet gives him a ‘told you so’ look.

  “Audrey, why don’t you sweep while I finish with the trash.” Violet hands me the broom to sweep the already clean floor. “Mace can be rather moody and probably needs a cooling off.”

  Exhaling a frustrated breath, I busy myself with the task while musing over what to do about Mace. No matter how he tempts me, I can’t stay.

  21

  “They headed to the motel.” Jax shows us the incoming text as we step outside of the tattoo studio, finding the sidewalk empty of our friends. He wraps
his arm around my shoulder while Violet loops her arm through mine. “Tell you what, Darlin’, you play it cool, and everything will be mighty fine.” He squeezes me in a supportive hug.

  We walk several blocks down the strip, moving towards the seedier part of the boardwalk. Older businesses and buildings fill the rundown area. We reach a questionable two-storey motel. Jax knocks on a scuffed up blaze red door. Cal lets us into a room with two doubles. The interior is sad and depressing, filled with worn furniture and dated bedding. Payton mixes drinks on the long scuffed up dresser lined with juice and bottles of alcohol. Mace sits back in one of the creaky chairs, resting his boots on the edge of the small round table. He eyes me, swallowing straight from the whiskey bottle, not offering to share. Payton hands Violet and me mixed drinks. I take the hint, sipping the new cocktail instead.

  “I scored the last two rooms. Y’all figure out sleeping arrangements. That is, unless you wanna spring for something better, Princess?” Mace lights a cigarette, gauging my reaction while testing me once again.

  “This place is great. Thanks for booking the rooms.” I down my drink. He snorts and goes outside to smoke.

  “Let’s get ready.” Violet pushes me into the bathroom while Payton grabs our overnight bags the guys brought in from the vehicles.

  I tug Violet’s arm. “Fuck the Neanderthal and his whiplash. Violet, make me fierce tonight. I’m heading into battle, so I need just the right armor.”

  Payton chuckles. “Then let me pick out your clothes, Baby Girl. Time for you to give him whiplash. We did warn you that Mace needs to be put in his place. Time to show him this princess doesn’t fuck around.”

  Violet winks as she does my hair, giving me the beach-blown, loose curls I adore. She adds dramatic eye shadow and liner and deep burgundy lipstick.

  I smile in the mirror. “Damn…”

  Violet tosses her head back in a giddy laugh. “Oh, Mace is in so much trouble.”

  “Yes, let’s drive him crazy.” Payton smirks while nixing my lacy bra from the sexy outfit she’s pulling together. I slip into the tiny cutoff jean shorts and drop a clingy tank top over my head. My bare breasts pop against the thin material. The top bares my belly button while the shorts sit low on my hips and expose my new bandaged tattoo.

  Payton nixes her own bra and pulls on a shirt that falls off her shoulders and reaches mid-stomach, showing off her sexy belly button ring and ample cleavage. She throws on similar shorts and yanks them low to match mine. Violet sports a sheer button up shirt with a cute lacy bra underneath and skinny crop jean shorts.

  Payton opens the bathroom door and rolls her eyes at the mixed martial arts match on the television as we filter in. She mixes more drinks for us. Violet bounces through the room and tackles Jax on the bed. They fall back and laugh. I linger by the bathroom door while Mace cocks his head, drawing his eyes nice and slow over me. He shifts in his chair, and I smirk inside, catching him off-guard for once.

  “Come here, Princess.” Mace’s husky voice beckons me. I take my time owning each step as I near him. He jerks forward and loops his finger through my jean belt, jarring me closer to him. Heat stirs in my sex again. Gawd, I want this man to throw me up against the wall and fuck me hard.

  He slides his hand down my hip, peeling the bandage off my tattoo. “There’s always a rowdy crowd at this bar. This isn’t some fancy hoity-toity tea party.” I smile, raising my eyebrows at his choice of vocabulary. He continues without any hint of humor. “Cal and I often bounce at this bar. Rough crowd, especially when there’s a live band, and they’re boozed up ’cause of the holiday.”

  “True,” Cal says.

  “You stick by my side like glue. I mean all night,” Mace says in a warning tone. “If you gotta use the little girl’s room, Payton will take you. Got me?” I nod at him.

  Payton says, “I got your back, Baby Girl.”

  Mace says, “Anyone, and I mean anyone lays a finger on you, you let me know.”

  “Or me.” Cal steps up, meeting Mace’s challenge.

  “Me too,” Jax replies.

  Mace draws a long sigh. “The crowd will see that you’re with me and leave you alone. Cal and Jax will step in and deal with the issue.” I nod my head, unsure of what to expect after receiving multiple warnings. He draws his finger around my sparrow, mouthing mine. My body heats below his touch. Mace passes me his bottle of Jack. I take a swig, relaxing my tense body as fire runs through me. He always runs ice cold or burns red hot.

  ***

  An hour later, we’re standing in front of a busy club. People are smoking pot and drinking alcohol in the open. A hulking beast of a bouncer stands outside the entrance only letting certain patrons in as we work through the rowdy crowd.

  Cal slap hands with the bouncer. “Ford.”

  Ford says, “Checking out the Sunset tonight ’cause your boy Trent’s playing?”

  “Yeah, Crow’s moving up by landing this holiday gig.”

  “No doubt.” Ford snaps us a bright smile. “Several fights out here already. The cops keep making the rounds every twenty minutes ’cause of public intoxication. Big crowd tonight with the Fourth, so keep your crew tight, Cal.”

  “Will do,” Cal says, slinging his arm around Payton’s shoulder. Ford stamps everyone’s hand as he chats with Jax and Violet. He’s letting us bypass the line without bothering to collect the twenty-dollar cover charge from any of us.

  “Mace, my man!” Ford gleams with a bright smile, happy to see his friend. “Anton’s on the lookout for you. Says he got something lined up. Worth a nickel for you.” My eyes widen. A nickel of what exactly? Is Anton Mace’s side partner in this troubling disclosure of events?

  Mace replies in a discreet, low voice, “Not tonight, he ain’t. I’m looking for at least a dime anyway. A nickel won’t do it for me, not anymore. I’m gonna need more than that from now on, so if you hear of anything, let me know.”

  He needs more? They sound as if they’re discussing drugs, yet that can’t be right at all. I’ve never seen one of my new friends take anything in front of me, which may be out of respect now that I think about the situation. Cal’s not into drugs at all and has frowned multiples times upon Mace’s “troubles.” Often Trent and Jax wear dopey grins after their beach strolls. What kind of shitstorm has Mace caused for himself? Cal and Violet warned me he has stuff going on the side, which Ford just confirmed. A stark shiver runs through me in the staggering heat.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought I’ve been hearing too. I’ll let you know if something comes up on the outside. You gotta new bird?” Ford asks, eyeing my barely visible tattoo. I put on my professional Audrey mask, smiling back at him. The white ink message sears in my skin like an agonizing reminder.

  “Ford, this here is Princess. She’s here with me.”

  “Hello.” I offer my hand for a handshake.

  Ford lights up and places a kiss upon my hand. “Well, hello, doll.” His smile stretches across his handsome face as he checks me out.

  Mace gives Ford a slight head nod my way. “Let Anton know he better step off tonight.”

  Ford gazes back at me, dropping his gleeful smile fast. An awkward downward spin begins as the situation turns serious. Mace is trying to keep his mysterious side business separate from me. “Will do,” Ford says, waving us inside.

  Mace chuckles as he guides me into the packed club. “Ford?” I ask, grasping how colorful stories match colorful names here.

  “Came out of his momma big as a Ford pickup. Plays for LSU and bounces for the hell of it when he’s home. I got a friend heading to the pros one day. Ford has taken him under his wing for me. I admire Ford. He grew up dirt poor and worked his ass off. All ’cause football is how he’s gonna pull his family outta poverty. Ford’s a good guy.”

  “Football?”

  “It’s all ’bout football here.”

  My curious eyes rake over Mace’s bulky frame. “Did you play?”

 
“I was running the garage at fifteen, so I had no time, but Cal did. Jax is like me. He’s gotta work to help his momma out. You Yankees have an unhealthy fascination with baseball. A little more hands on sport would loosen up the rigid North.” Mace laughs, grasping his hand tight around my bare skin instead of the denim low on my hip. His fingers brush close to my ink, reminding me I’m his. My skin trembles as a bead of sweat runs down my back.

  Mace slips his hand into mine, keeping me safe from the energetic crowd. The smell of fermented beer, the tackiness of spilt drinks on the floor, and a smoky haze overwhelms my senses as we move at a snail’s pace through the mass of people. The packed crowd parts for Mace. Several patrons acknowledge him with chin lifts, which he returns while ignoring the flirtatious smiles from beautiful women. He stops out of irritation before we can reach our friends. His hand tightens around mine as he tugs me forward. I land against his back. He locks his arm back around me, holding me in place against his body.