by Naomi West
“You shouldn’t be up,” she said. “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
“I already did. I’m not an invalid.” He couldn’t help the anger that heated his face. He had already been annoyed at her babying him and it just kept getting worse. But looking at her and wanting her, he didn’t want to seem any sort of helpless at all if he was going to make her want him back.
“You went to the bathroom by yourself?”
“Yes, Mom. And I even washed my hands.” He crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to react visibly to the pain as he moved.
She dropped her head. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s in my nature to be a mother. I just want to do whatever I can to help you.”
“Cooking and cleaning is plenty. I’m not a helpless child.”
“No.” Her eyes trailed over his bare chest and stomach. Was she checking out his muscles or seeing if his bandage was bleeding? “I know you’re not.”
She met his eyes and for a moment, and he swore he saw desire in them. Maybe he was wrong, maybe it was just wishful thinking, but he needed to see if anything was there. He softened his face and made his voice more gentle.
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Really. I couldn’t ask for any better care than what you’ve given me.”
“I’m glad. I want to do whatever I can for you.”
“And you’ve done a lot.”
She smiled and he took a step toward her. She responded by walking a few steps closer.
“Can I get you anything right now?”
He nodded and motioned with his finger for her to come to him. When she came in arm’s reach, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him loosely. Probably trying not to hurt him.
“It’s been really great having you stay here,” he said.
“Thanks for having us. It’s been nice to stay somewhere I feel so safe.”
She looked up at him, her big round eyes full of adoration. He put his hand to her cheek, stroking her chin with his thumb. She closed her eyes at his touch and leaned in slightly.
He tilted her head up and leaned down until his lips touched hers. They kissed for a few moments, then he pulled back to look in her eyes, to make sure this was okay. Her eyes glinted with the desire he thought he saw before. Now there was no question. She wanted him like he wanted her.
He went back in for another kiss. This time, his lips pressed harder against hers. He slipped his tongue between her lips, letting it caress hers. Her hands ran over his back, then tangled in his hair. He pulled her closer, pressing against her with his erection. She let out a soft moan.
He picked her up and sat her on the bed. Pain ripped through him, but he ignored it. She gasped as her bottom rested on the bed.
“Careful,” she breathed.
He wrapped her legs around his waist and continued kissing her. He twisted his fingers through her hair and kissed along her neck. She made a soft murmuring sound, and he pressed against her again in response.
He was all too aware how little clothing separated them. He could feel her heat as she moved her hips to press herself into his stiffness. His hand found its way under her tank top. He caressed her breasts, letting his finger trail back and forth over her hard nipple. He pinched it gently between his thumb and forefinger, and she responded with a moan.
He kissed down her chest, pulling at the top of her tank until her breasts popped over its edge. He took one of her breasts into his mouth and sucked at her nipple. He kissed around and over to her other breast. Her nails dug deeper into his back.
He let his finger move farther down, to her stomach, where it danced over her skin, then down to dip under the waist band of her shorts. She sucked in a breath as his fingers slid under her panties. His fingers brushed over her folds, damp and ready for his touch.
He rubbed around her clit for a moment, enjoying the sound of her moaning. He felt like his dick would explode soon if he didn’t so something. He pulled her tank over her head and let it fall on the floor. With her chest bare, he covered every inch of her in kisses and caresses.
Then, he gripped the top of her waistband and pulled down, sliding her clothing out from under her. Her shorts hit the floor. She reached for him and pushed his pants down. They only fell to his knees, and he moved his legs closer so that they fell the rest of the way to the floor. He held one side of his pants in place as he stepped free, then did the same to get the other foot out.
She reached down and gripped his cock. Heat tore through him and he had to shift his thinking quickly so he wouldn’t finish too fast. She was so hot, he could just shoot all over her right then. She moved up and down his shaft until he had to put his hand over hers to stop her.
He pulled her closer, until she was at the very edge of the bed. He rubbed the tip of his dick in her wetness, then slipped it inside her. She cried out in pleasure as he pushed deeper into her. She tightened her legs around him, pulling him in farther still.
The pain was there as he moved in and out of her, and it took a lot to ignore it. But the way she felt, so wet and tight, it was worth any small amount of agony to experience her like this. He moved back and forth, slipping in and out, letting out his moans mix with hers. He felt himself getting closer and slowed down.
But Sara tightened her legs and moved in circles around him. Her moaning grew louder and she pressed herself into him harder and faster. She cried out loudly and then shuddered. He pushed into her several times hard and fast until he, too, cried out as he came.
They breathed together, wrapped tight in each other as their heart rates started to slow. After a few minutes, he stepped back and slid out of her.
“Just for the record,” he breathed into her ear, “I would have gladly paid eight grand for that. You felt so good.”
She laughed. “I guess that’s a compliment?”
“Oh, it is.”
“You don’t normally pay that much for sex?”
“Never,” he said. “A few hundred at the most.” She was joking, and if she knew his answer was truthful, she may not be happy, but he figured if she was joking, she would think he was, too. “If you ever decided to give up waitressing, you could be rich.”
“Right.” Some of the humor faded from her voice. “I don’t think that’s the most appropriate career for a single mom.”
“No, I suppose not.” He ran his fingers through her hair, then kissed her again. “You’re much too good for that life.”
She closed her eyes and whispered, “Thanks.”
“Thank you. You’ve done more for me in the last weeks than I ever could have asked for.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
“So, are we even now?”
“I don’t know.” She winked at him playfully. “That was so good, I might owe you more now.”
He pulled his mouth into a half smile. “Would another round be payment enough?”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “Maybe.”
“Let’s find out.”
Saxton carefully slid up onto the bed. He didn’t even consider the pain anymore. He was already hard again with the thought of feeling her once more. He crawled over her, putting an elbow on either side of her so he could kiss her.
“No way,” she said.
He pulled back to look her in the eye. “You don’t want to?”
“Oh, I do, but not like this. There’s no reason for you to put strain on your wound.” She pushed gently on his shoulder to direct him to lie down.
When he was flat on his back, she climbed over him. He had to admit, this was better for many reasons. He didn’t mind the woman on top at all. And it would save him some pain.
Sara kissed down his stomach, around his bandage, and below his waist. She must not have minded that he was covered in her juices because she took his dick into her mouth and sucked. The pleasure washed over him, and he let his eyes close. Her mouth, warm and wet, moved up
and down his shaft, along with her hand.
He almost came again, but she must’ve sensed this and released him just in time. She moved back to resume kissing him. It seemed like she was being careful of his stomach, holding herself over him and barely putting any pressure on him.
She straddled him, sitting over his legs, as she lowered herself onto him. His cock found its place inside her again, and as she moved up and down on him, the pain in his abdomen was almost gone entirely.
He reached down to grip her hips, but after trying to lift her once, the pain was too much and he gripped her, but couldn’t move her up and down. She did all the work, and he lay in complete pleasure, enjoying her body.
When she started to move faster and her breathing changed, he knew she was getting close. Instead of holding back, he let himself go as she did and they came together. She cried out with him, then lay beside him, her hand on his chest.
“Now we might be even,” she said.
“Hmm. I don’t know,” he said. “I might owe you again after that. You did all the work. We might just have to keep repaying each other.”
“Hmm,” she murmured. “Okay.”
She lay beside him for a few minutes, and he felt like he could sleep again now. Just as he felt himself drifting off, she moved and slid out of bed.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I have to get back to Ian. I don’t want to have to explain why I was in here and not with him.”
“Okay.”
Saxton watched in the dim light of the moon as she dressed. She leaned over to kiss him, then snuck quietly out of the room. When she was gone, he closed his eyes, but the sudden absence of her was too strong. Sleep didn’t come for a long time as he worked to put her out of his mind. She felt good and had been a nice lay for sure, but he couldn’t afford to have feelings for her. She deserved someone much better.
Chapter Fifteen
In the morning, Sara felt somewhat guilty. She had left her son sleeping alone to go sleep with Saxton. And she knew she shouldn’t have done it. It could lead to feelings starting, and she couldn’t allow that to happen, either. She didn’t have time or space for a relationship, and she couldn’t take on the danger that came with Saxton. It would be one thing if it was just her, but she had Ian to think about.
For the next few days, she tried to spend as little time in Saxton’s presence as possible. She took in his food and left immediately. When they went to sleep, she stayed in the room with Ian. After Saxton’s first shower, he had gotten washed by himself, and he even seemed able to get dressed much more easily. She couldn’t deny that the time for him needing her was coming to an end. And her feelings about that were just as mixed as they had been before.
She wanted to move on, to leave him behind, to not take the chance of falling for him. But she liked having a man to care for. Liked even more having a man to sleep with. And though she put them off, there were feelings starting. It was time for her and Ian to go. If they left now, she could forget him with little emotional turmoil. The longer they stayed, the harder it would be to leave.
Sara walked into Saxton’s room with a plate of eggs and set it on his bedside table. She turned to leave without having made eye contact. She hadn’t said a word, either.
“Hey,” he said.
She stopped by the door, but didn’t turn back around. “Yeah?”
“What’s the deal?”
“What do you mean?”
“I let it go a few days. I thought maybe you regretted sleeping with me and needed time or whatever, but you straight out ignoring me and acting like I did something to you is bull.”
She let out a slow sigh and turned to face him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to be like that.”
“So, what’s the deal?”
She thought carefully of how to respond, deciding how honest to be. “I just don’t think it’s good for us to get too close. You’re almost healed enough that you won’t need me anymore.”
“I see. Well, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m going to get out of the house today. So you won’t have to be stuck here, feeling like you need to take care of me.”
“No, you can’t do that yet.”
“Well, I’m going to.”
He might be in better shape than he was days ago, but to be out running around on his own? Who knows what he’d get into. He might end up being hurt worse or getting himself killed. “What are you going to do?”
“I have to get back to work.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Saxton, what if someone else attacks you? How will you defend yourself against that?”
“Very carefully.”
“Why risk it then? Why not just wait until you’re 100%?”
He narrowed his eyes slightly at her. “You know, for all your talk of not wanting to get close to me, it almost seems like you don’t want me to get back out there.”
“I don’t.”
“Why is that?”
“I told you. I don’t think you’re ready. I’d be worried about you.”
His glare grew even more intense. He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m starting to think that’s not the only reason.”
“What else would there be?”
“I don’t know. What do you know about the Cruel Crows?”
“The what? Is that an MC?”
He shrugged and waited for her to continue.
“I’ve never heard of them. I don’t know anything about motorcycles.”
“I didn’t say they were an MC.”
“Okay, well, I’ve still never heard of them.”
His glare was so strong that she stepped back. Her heart sped. What was he getting at? Was he trying to accuse her of something? He seemed angry with her, and it scared her. She had a sudden desire to run and never come back.
“I don’t know what you’re implying,” she said, her words coming out closer to a whisper through her fear, “but I’m here to help you get better and that’s it. I don’t know who the Wicked Falcons are. And—”
“Crows.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the Cruel Crows, not Falcons.”
She huffed. “Whatever. I don’t know who they are, or why you’re acting like I do.”
He paused a moment, watching her. “Swear you don’t know anything about Liam’s death?”
“Who the hell is Liam?”
Saxton’s jaw tightened and his words sounded strained. “He was my second in command. He was murdered, and apparently a gang called the Cruel Crows was involved. I need to get out there and find out who killed Liam and repay them.”
Sara felt her eyes widen and she stared at him in shock. Repay them? Was he serious? He would murder someone? Even if it was revenge, that seemed so… extreme. Every bit of her hesitation about him had been correct. She needed to stay away from him. He was beyond dangerous. He might become a murderer. He might already be one. She couldn’t have her son exposed to someone like him.
She gulped and took another step toward the door. “Well, if you’re going to do all that, then you really better make sure you’re 100%. You won’t be able to defend yourself how you are now.”
“I appreciate your concern,” he said flatly. “But I’m going back out there.”
She nodded. “Okay. Well… Kill safely, I guess.” She wondered if her face was pale. It certainly felt like all the blood had drained out of it.
“Sara.” His face softened and he pressed his lips together. “I’d never hurt you. Or Ian, if that’s what you’re worried about. I don’t just kill people. Bikers have a code. We don’t murder in cold blood. And someone did, against not only a member of my MC, but my second. That’s a serious offense that can’t go unchallenged. But that’s it. Once I find who did it and repay him, it’s done and I’ll move on. Understand?”
She nodded.
“But you’re still afraid of me?”
“I’ve always been,” she said softly. “I guess spending so much time with you here
in your house made it feel safer. But I know you’re dangerous. I’ve always known it.”
“Does that turn you on?”
She chewed on her lip and considered. It did a little, but she wouldn’t admit to it. It scared her more. “That’s not the reason I slept with you.”
