Blade (Archer's Creek Book 3)
Page 6
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
She’s wearing a skintight, white shirt that shows off the smooth skin of her neck and shoulders, and blue shorts that accentuate every curve of her waist, hips, and thighs. Her legs are fully on display and fuck, a vine-like tattoo runs from the bottom of her shorts, circling her leg all the way down to her ankle.
Her lips are painted bright-red, she’s wearing killer heels, and she looks like a pinup girl wet dream. My eyes rake over her, and my cock twitches in appreciation of the sight before me. She fusses over the stupid little dog, leading him through the door before shutting it behind her, and I silently will her not to acknowledge me. Right now, I just want to look at how fucking perfect she is and if she speaks, the illusion will be broken. If I can just get her to stay quiet, I can commit the way she looks to memory long enough to twist it into a dirty, perverted daydream to jerk off to later when I’m alone.
She walks past me without looking in my direction and I glance up at the sky and thank the spank bank gods that they’ve let me have this moment. When I turn my attention back to Nikki, she’s in front of the wooden garage doors, unlocking them and pulling them wide.
I brace myself for the frou-frou girly car that I’m sure is behind the doors, but my mouth falls open as I get the first glimpse of the beauty stored within. Gleaming chrome bumpers, shiny black paintwork, and the iconic rear grill and lights of a Mercury Comet. I groan as she runs her red polished fingers lovingly across the metal, circling the car until she reaches the driver’s door.
I watch slack-jawed as she ushers the dog into the car and then slides into the red leather seat. She turns the key and the engine roars to life. My cock hardens at the throaty burble of the V8 engine and I almost reach up to wipe drool from my mouth as she backs the car out of the garage and the full masterpiece comes into view.
The sleek black convertible looks to be in mint condition and I unconsciously take a step towards the car. “Fuck me, Duchess, this is one hell of a car.”
Nikki slides big black sunglasses onto her face and grins at me. “I know. She’s my pride and joy.”
Narrowing my eyes at her, I run my gaze over the stunning piece of machinery before focusing on her. “Do you even know what you’ve got here?” I ask, my tone condescending.
Nikki scowls, then she smiles and I’m instantly unnerved. “No, Blade, I have absolutely no clue at all about my 1963 260 V8 Mercury Comet convertible. I was completely ignorant of what, I’ve got here, when I spent the last twelve months lovingly restoring her to her former glory and obviously even now I must be moronically oblivious to the vintage perfection that sits in my garage.”
I can’t see her eyes behind the dark lens of her glasses, but I visualize the stony glare she must be sending me. “Well, Duchess, I’m glad to see you picked a real pretty car,” I say, with a sardonic tilt of my head.
“Jackass,” she mutters, shaking her head. Then she backs out of her driveway and disappears down the road, leaving her garage doors wide open. I step forward, intending to close the doors when they start to close automatically, clicking into place seconds later.
Whistling between my teeth, I turn to stare at her taillights in the distance. Nikki is an enigma. She’s hot as fuck, she obviously knows her cars, she’s covered in tats, and she’d be the perfect woman if she wasn’t such a massively angry bitch. But I don’t need her to be nice to me. She can’t hide the way I affect her, and I’d have to be blind to miss the way she reacts when I talk dirty to her, or step into her personal space. I smile to myself; she might think she hates me and the rest of my brethren, but she’s hot for me and making her snarl might just have become my new favorite game.
Climbing onto my bike, I start the engine, push off the stand and pull away from the curb. My mind instantly clears; riding is my religion. On the back of my bike, the wind in my face feels like a spiritual experience, and this is as close to heaven as I’ll ever get.
It doesn’t take me long to catch up to Nikki’s Comet. Her radio’s cranked loud and country music pours from her speakers. The wind mutes the words of the songs from my ears, but the rhythmic melody of the notes drifts through the air. Slowing, I follow behind her as she drives the short distance back to Archer’s Creek. We hit the town lines, and she slows as she passes the old wooden sign welcoming people to Archer’s Creek.
I swear I see a shudder ripple across her shoulders. She’s expressed her dislike of the town I call home more than once, but that shudder exposed her. That small innocuous action that I could have blinked and missed is more telling than all the bullshit that’s spewed from her mouth so far. Archer’s Creek haunts her enough that even a signpost can evoke a reaction from her.
Thoughtfully, I watch her shoulders tense as she navigates her car towards her sister’s new apartment and by the time she parks at the sidewalk and steps out of her car, her whole frame looks rigid and uncomfortable.
Pulling up behind her, I kill the engine and push my bike onto its stand. Climbing off, I watch as she bends down to fuss her dog. When she stands back up, she pulls in a deep breath and her shoulders visibly rise and fall. Her fists are tightly clenched, and I watch as she forces them open, spreading her fingers wide before allowing them to fall into a natural position at her sides.
Her dog is happily trotting along at her heels, holding his leash between his teeth as she starts to walk toward the door to the building. I follow a few steps behind her until we reach the door and lengthening my stride I step into her path.
“What?” She snaps, pushing her sunglasses up onto the top of her head and glaring at me.
“Ground rules,” I say, my voice more of a growl than I’d planned.
She rolls her eyes dramatically, then moves to step around me. I step with her, blocking her again. “Number one, if you can’t find it in that frozen heart of yours to actually be happy for your sister, at least pretend to be. Dove’s been through hell and back the last few months and she fucking deserves to be happy and loved up, so don’t even think about ruining this for her because you aren’t getting what you want. Number two, don’t bother trying to convince Dove to run with you. She’s happy here, this is her home and we’re her family now. Lastly, Daisy and Dove are solid. She’s his old lady, and he won’t take kindly to you whispering in his woman’s ear about how bad bikers are. That’s the kind of shit your dad did, and I will haul your skinny ass out of there before I let you try to turn Dove against us.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but I interrupt her. “I don’t want to hear any bullshit from you, Duchess. I know you want to get your sister away from this town. You’ve stayed close to a place you obviously hate for the last two years just biding your time, so don’t pretend that you’re all happy fucking joy joy about Dove wanting to stay here.”
“Fuck you, asshat,” she snarls. “You’re right, I do hate this godforsaken town, but I love my sister. I love her enough to want her to be happy, and if Daisy makes her happy then I’ll figure out a way to learn to deal with him. But you can bet your ass that if she changes her mind about him, I’ll have her on a plane and away from this cesspit so fast your head will spin.”
Her eyes are murderous, and her pouty luscious lips are twisted into an angry line. She takes a step closer to me and lifts her finger, pointing the red talon in my face. “Don’t ever suggest I am anything like my fucking sperm donor. He was the devil incarnate and I am nothing like him. Now move the fuck out of my way so I can go look at my sister’s new home.”
Rage pours from her rigid, angry body and she moves to step around me. Without considering my actions I reach out my arm and hook her around the waist as she passes me. Pulling her into my chest, her heaving breasts pressed firmly against me, I drop my head and plant my lips on hers.
I kiss her.
She kisses me.
For a second her tongue pushes against mine and the sweet taste of her invades my mouth. My constantly whirring mind silences and all I can feel is her soft body held against m
ine, her warm full lips moving in sync with mine as we devour each other.
Searing pain bursts through my lust-filled haze as her knee connects with my balls. All of the air evaporates from my lungs and bile fills my mouth; my knees give way and I sink to the floor in a heap.
The bright sun distorts my vision as Nikki looms above me, her hands fixed indignantly on her hips.“If you ever touch me again, I will rip your balls from your body with my nails and squash them beneath my stiletto heels while you watch,” she snarls.
Opening my mouth, I try to speak, but no words come out. A puff of pained air escapes me and I swear I see the evil bitch smile as she roughly shoves me out of the way and walks up the front steps to the door, her rat dog following happily behind her.
Closing my eyes, I pull in a deep breath and try to stand, but my knees buckle again and I sink back to the sidewalk. Through a fog of nausea and pain I vaguely hear the buzzer, then Dove’s voice and Nikki’s reply. The click of the lock finally shakes me from my prone position and I force myself to rise to my feet. Feeling like I’m going to puke, I slowly make my way to Nikki, grabbing her arm and stopping her from stepping through the door.
“Duchess, I’m gonna make you pay for that,” I threaten with a pained smile.
I feel the faint tremor that vibrates through her body. It could be fear, but I don’t think so. She kissed me back, just as ardently as I kissed her. It might only have been for a second, but I made this hellcat purr and now I’ve had a taste I want more.
“Yeah, yeah, Grandad. Like I told you earlier, I prefer men closer to my own age.” Her gaze runs up and down my body and then she locks eyes with me and smirks. “There’s nothing sexy about saggy old man balls.”
My mouth falls open and I stare at her. Her eyes are twinkling with amusement and taunting and I can’t help myself. Twisting my hips to the right and out of her knee’s line of fire, I crowd her, backing her into the doorjamb. “Keep it up, Duchess. I love all of the attitude you’re firing at me. It’ll make it all the sweeter when you’re on your knees begging for my cock and my old man balls.”
There’s heat and uncertainty in her eyes, but when she speaks, her voice is full of bravado. “Seriously, what is it with men like you? No woman has ever begged for cock. It’s the past-their-prime assholes like you that are the ones begging.”
She pushes at my chest, but unlike before I don’t acquiesce. I stand unmoving, and so close I can feel her chest rising and falling with each breath she takes. Placing my knuckle under her chin and my thumb on top, I lift her face up. She tries to twist free, but I hold firm, leaning closer to her so our lips are a hair’s breadth apart. I speak, my voice raspy and low. “They beg. They all beg. Then they scream my name and beg for more.”
Parting my lips, I run my tongue along her bottom lip and she shudders. A full body movement that has my cock standing to attention. But instead of moving in for a kiss, I pull back, allowing her to see the smug smirk plastered on my face. The lust on her face morphs into anger and turning my back on her I stalk through the still open door and head up the stairs to Daisy and Dove’s apartment.
That fucking arrogant asshole. Glaring holes into his back, I watch him walk away from me and I have to literally fight the urge to pull off my shoe and throw it at his head. My nipples are hard and pushing against my bra, and lust is pulsing through me, but I force it down and allow my annoyance to take over.
Who the hell does he think he is? He doesn’t get to touch me and kiss me. Egotistical, pig-headed biker. I don’t care that my body reacted to him. God, I’ve only known him for a couple hours and he’s already driving me crazy. I certainly don’t have any interest in getting to know him or any of his stupid bikers. I’m only here for my sister. She’s all that’s important.
Looking down, I spot Jock sat at my feet and I instantly calm. Scooping the ball of black fur into my arms, I drag in a lungful of soothing air and walk forward, toward my sister. Climbing the stairs quickly, I enter the hall just as Daisy opens the door and smiles brightly at Blade. Blade slaps him on the shoulder and moves past him and into the apartment. Daisy’s smile dulls when he spots me, but I plaster a cheerful expression on my face, reaching him a moment later. He holds the door wide for me to enter, but I pause on the threshold, suddenly feeling like I should speak to the man who’s in love with my sister. I turn cautiously to face him, and my eyes lift to his. I wait for the animosity I expect to see from him, but when he looks down at me, his gaze softens.
“Come on in, Nikki, Angel’s been waiting for you,” he says with a kind smile.
In this moment I get a glimpse at why my sister fell for him. His outward appearance is all badass biker, but beneath the surface is a kindness that he just showed to me. So far, I haven’t exactly made the greatest first impression, and he has no reason to be nice to me. I’ve been open about wanting to take my sister and leave town, yet when he should be warning me off or threatening me, he’s opening his home and inviting me into their lives.
“Thank you,” I say, but I’m not sure exactly what I’m thanking him for. For loving my sister, for protecting her when I didn’t, or for being her family when her own failed her. Maybe I’m thanking him for all of it.
He nods and reaches up to squeeze my shoulder. An understanding passes between us—we both love Angelique and we both want to be a part of her life. Exhaling slowly, I release the tension that had settled on me when I first saw him standing in the doorway. “I’m not going to try to take her away from you,” I blurt out in a rush of words.
His eyes harden for a split second and then he laughs softly. “It wouldn’t have worked anyway.”
His words are so confident that I know it’s the truth, but I don’t know how to respond, so I don’t.
“Don’t hurt her,” Daisy says, his tone suddenly lethal.
“I won’t,” I reply. Then I turn pleading eyes on him.“Please don’t keep her away from me; she’s all I have,” I say, my voice cracking.
“I won’t,” he replies earnestly, shaking his head like the thought never even crossed his mind.
A single tear escapes my eye and I quickly wipe it away, pulling back my shoulders and forcing myself to stand tall. We stay in the hall silently for a moment more and then Daisy nods as though something settles in his mind. He holds out his arm, and with a smile he gestures for me to move further into the apartment.
Looking up, I smile back at him and step past. Until this moment, Jock has sat placidly in my arms, but sensing that the confrontation has passed, he struggles against my grip, so bending down I place him onto the floor and he scurries off to explore.
“You’re here,” Dove cries, rushing around the corner and barreling into my chest.
“I told you I was coming,” I say, wrapping my arms around her.
When she pulls back, her eyes are a little glassy, but her smile is bright and happy. Reaching down, she grabs my hand and pulls me along behind her. “Come on, I’ll show you around. It’s amazing.”
I let her drag me into the lounge room. She releases my hand and twirls excitedly. “The couch we ordered just came. It’s literally the only furniture we have right now, and I wasn’t sure we were gonna be able to fit it in, but I love it.”
Giggling at her enthusiasm, I watch as she strokes the back of the couch reverently. “Come try,” she says, grabbing my hand again and dragging me to sit down on the plush, black leather. My sister wiggles her butt, then dramatically falls back into the cushions. She sighs happily, twisting her head to face mine and smiling joyously. The scrabbling of claws on hardwood heralds Jock’s arrival, and he barrels into the room, skidding to a halt in front of Dove, his tail wagging so excitedly his butt swishes from side to side.
“Oh my gosh, is this your dog?” She cries, leaning over to scoop him into her lap. “Hello, cutie. Oh my gosh, you are so adorable,” she coos at him, holding him close.
“This is Jock,” I say, reaching forward to stroke my dog’s soft black fur.
Jock jumps from Dove’s lap when Daisy enters the room and rushes over to him, obviously hoping for another person to fuss him. Dove leaps off the couch, bouncing after him. “Daisy, did you see Nikki’s dog? He’s so adorable. I’d love a dog, only we were never allowed to get one, err, he, I mean our father, was allergic.”
Dove’s voice gets quiet when she mentions him, and I stand, intending to go comfort her, but Daisy is across the room, Jock locked in his arms a second later. “The past is done, Angel. This—us—is our future. Do you want me to get you a dog?”
Her eyes widen, and she looks from Jock to Daisy and back again. “Really?”
“Angel, I love dogs. If you want one, I’ll get you one. We can even head over to the rescue place in Keatsville this afternoon if you want?” Daisy says, one arm wrapped around my sister and the other holding Jock between them both, so Jock can comfort her with his special brand of doggy love.
She nods her head and Daisy smiles, pulling her closer into his side and kissing her lovingly. I hear the softly spoken “I love you,” Dove whispers, and my stomach lurches like I’ve been kicked. I wince, feeling like a terrible person. This isn’t who I am, I’m not someone who’s hurt by somebody else’s happiness and certainly not the happiness of the only person in the whole world who I love. But seeing the contentment on my sister’s face makes me feel empty. It’s only been just over a month since Dove’s life was turned upside down and our parents died, yet she’s moved on and is happy. I’ve been on my own for years, yet my life is as hollow and empty as it was when I still lived in the shadow of the sperm donor’s anger.
Unable to watch the love that’s so obvious between Dove and Daisy for a moment longer, I look away from my sister and the man she’s fallen in love with and glance around the room. The apartment is nice, clean, and full of natural light from the large windows on two sides. I smile when I realize Dove wasn’t lying when she said the couch was the only furniture they had. There’s literally nothing else in the large space.