Etched in Stone (Six Degrees Series Book 2)

by Statham, Mayra

  We did okay there, working to save every bit of money we could until we had enough to make a big move. Three hours away might not be a big move for some, but it sure as hell was for us. We pooled our money and had the rent paid for three months, plus the safety deposit. We now have enough to stock the fridge good and live and pay utilities until we get paid from our new jobs. Roy has a friend who worked as a manager for Wolves Den and got us interviews. We nailed the jobs and told them we needed two weeks to give our former employers notice. We didn’t really, but it takes time to move and get settled. It happened so quickly once we made the decision, that my head is still kind of dizzy, but I’m happy. I look over at my best friend for life and smile—really happy.

  “Hey, I’m thirsty!” Dani hollers.

  “We’re just thirty minutes or so away!” I yell back, not crazy about stopping.

  “Big damn deal, let’s get some drinks and chocolate girl!” She yells back.

  I frown and look down at my gas gauge. I could use some gas. I give my signal to get over and take the upcoming exit. We have to take it to get to where our new home will be. So off I go. We pull into the first gas station I see. I cut the engine off and push my hands through my hair shaking it out, because hello, interstate driving, convertible. Enough said.

  “Whatcha’ want bitch?” Dani asks, and I laugh at her. She’s yelling over the music. Ludacris is blasting through the speakers.

  “Pepsi, fountain if they have it,” I yell back, looking around. I notice there are a bunch of men on bikes by the entrance. They’re looking over at us laughing. I open the door, cutting off Ludacris as he screams out about his woman riding his dick. I can feel the heat rising up in my face and turn my eyes from them immediately. Shit!

  Our “on the road” play list is very eclectic and the Ludacris’ offering is one of Dani’s choices. Don’t get me wrong, I like it. I like a bit of naughty and I like the beat, but it’s not my usual thing. Lorde’s song Team is next. That’s me, but what the hell. I don’t know the men that are laughing, maybe they aren’t even laughing at me. It feels like they are though. I hate this about me. I am so self-conscious I automatically take things personally and find myself lacking. Dani isn’t like that. She’d flip the bikers off and go about her business. I wanted to be like that. I have just never achieved it. They are laughing harder now, but I turn around to the pump and run my card through and ignore them. In my mind I’m wondering if my ass is hanging out of my cut offs and if that’s why they are laughing. Can they see the small catsup stain on my pink shirt from the fries we had shared in the car earlier? I set the pump to go on its own and start cleaning the trash out of the car. I’m mostly trying to keep myself busy and ignoring the bikers. It takes a while; my conclusion is that my girl and I are pigs.

  I walk over to the garbage can and throw the crap in. When a deep gravelly voice from behind me sends chills up my back.

  “Damn I’ve heard of it, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it.” I turn slowly and look up to see one of the bikers standing in front me. I bite my lip and move back a small step. I ground my teeth into one corner of my lip and my hands go to the back pockets of my shorts as I take him in, and damn there is a lot to take in. Holy Mother of God, standing before me is a man that towers over me. He’s at least a good six foot. His mocha skin glistens in the sun and he’s wearing a black t-shirt that’s worn to the point it’s almost gray, over that he has on a leather vest. Weird, because it’s like eighty freaking degrees today, but I can’t deny it’s sexy. I think maybe he could wear a feed sack and it’d be sexy.

  The vest has the word Savage written on it in dark red letters and underneath a rabid wolf. It’s kind of scary looking. Underneath that is the word President. I move my eyes up from his massive chest and the biceps covered in tattoo’s, to look into the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen in my life. They are a deep, dark, sparkling brown, and I think I could drown in them and be happy. His hair is cut short to his head with just enough left that I want to see how the texture would feel against my skin.

  I let go of my lips and lick them because my whole mouth has gone dry.

  The god before me would be a good way to let go and experience life.

  Bad Nicole whispers in my head, and the sane part of me agrees. I wouldn’t mind a piece of what stands before me, not that I’d ever have a chance of holding onto him, but still.

  “What’s that?” I ask and shit does my voice sound breathless.

  “A barefoot Kentucky girl.” he says.

  I look down at my feet, realizing I left my flip flops in the car. I hate shoes and I absolutely hate driving with shoes on. I tend to wrap my toes around the pedals of a car and you can’t do that with shoes on. I forget to put them back on all the time. I once went to the grocery store and got all the way to the door, before I noticed I was barefoot.

  I look back at him and turn my head to the side in what I hoped was a flirty action.

  “You must be new to Kentucky.” I’m feeling warm all over; can he see the heat rising on my face?

  “No Mama. Been here awhile, seen a lot of girls in a lot of places. Don’t believe I’ve ever seen one pumping gas barefoot.”

  “Glad I could be your first.” I grin, wondering if he could pick up on the sexual innuendo. I’m subtle, way too subtle sometimes, as Dani likes to remind me constantly.

  His lush, full lips widen into a smile and his bright white teeth are visible for a minute. It’s a good smile. Damn good.

  “What’s your name Twinkie?” He asks. The boys with him laugh harder. I don’t know why, maybe it was just a sixth sense, but I don’t think I like that name. Now when he had called me Mama? I’m pretty sure I drenched my panties.

  “Does it matter?” I ask, a little confused with the situation coming at me.

  “I like to know the name of the woman who took my virginity.” He quips, his long arm leaning against the post by the gas pump.

  Guess that means he picked up on my innuendo. Only now with his boys laughing, I get the feeling this is some kind of game, and that disappoints me. I have been the butt of too many jokes, way too often, mostly because of my size.

  The pump kicks off and I reach down to take the nozzle out when he does it for me. His hand brushes mine. I feel a charge of electricity at that small touch and my nipples harden in reaction. Damn, that has never happened before and this guy was the wrong person for it to be happening with.

  “How about you just call me mystery, that way you won’t get me confused with the millions of girls that come after me,” I smile, though it probably didn’t reach my eyes, but he wouldn’t know that.

  “Damn Nic, when I said I wanted chocolate, you didn’t have to go all out bitch. Hello there, Tall Dark and Do me all over.” Dani pipes up, as I close the gas lid and shake my head.

  I turn back around to see him look Dani up and down and I don’t miss the interest flair in his eyes. I sigh, yep, no competing with Dani. I take my pop from her hand while she is still staring at Stud Muffin.

  “Dani meet Stud, Stud meet Dani. I popped his cherry while you were in the store,” I say walking around to the driver’s side of the car. The men laugh harder, I continue to ignore them. Dani laughs and opens the door, careful not to hit him as she gets in; I notice he closes her door. Damn. Yeah, that’s jealousy I feel, dang it. Stud doesn’t move away either. His hands are firmly propped on the passenger door and he leans in the window. Damn Dani and her sexy size eights. Still, when I look up, his eyes are on me.

  “Me and my crew,” he said, and jerks his head in the direction of the men who had finally stopped laughing, “are having a party this Tuesday. You girls should come. It’s the least you can do for stealing my virginity and all Nicole. I was saving that,” he said, stressing my name to let me know he had it now.

  “Sorry Stud, we just moved and have some stuff to do before we start work Friday.” I reply, starting up the car. Immediately, Ludacris fills the air again, but I reach down and mute it q
uickly.

  “Where are you working?” He asks, looking straight at me, and I wonder if for a minute I mistook his interest in Dani, but then I realize he’s sizing us both up. He’s a player, a total player—disappointing, but not surprising.

  “Wolves Den,” I say putting the car in drive, but I keep my foot on the brake. His smile grows and he walks around the front of the car and slaps the hood.

  “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime then Twinkie.”

  “Sorry, I don’t do repeats, it’s hard to beat that first time.” I reply waiting for him to move past the hood so I can go on.

  “Now that’s damned disappointing. Maybe I can show you some things get better with practice,” he purrs.

  “It’s nice you believe in miracles. Good to know I didn’t take all your innocence,” I return. He barely clears my car before I give it some gas and pull out from the pumps, intent on getting away.

  “Be seeing you soon.”

  I ignore that warning, and the chills it sends down my spine, and turn the sound back up on my radio. By this time Creep from Radiohead, is on so I crank it high.

  “Who the hell was that?” Dani asks when we get on the road, turning my music back down.

  “Have no idea. Thought he was sexy, but he seemed to be getting his jollies off messing with me, while his buddies laughed.”

  Dani was silent, but I saw her nod out of the corner of my eye.

  We go down the road about a mile or so before I notice the bikes behind us. I can see Stud in the back mirror with his shades covering his eyes. Damn he is sex on a stick.

  “Don’t look now, but I think your play toy is following you.” Dani says looking through her side mirror. I turn on the signal to cut down road 80, where the house we had rented is located. I couldn’t help but notice the bikes followed.

  “Do you think we should be worried?” I ask, trying not to hyperventilate.

  “Nah, it’s a long road, maybe they live on it, or maybe he just wants to tap your ass. Worse things could happen girl. Hell, it’s been forever since you got laid.”

  She’s not wrong. I had been with two other guys. One was in high school. I was sixteen and gave my virginity to my boyfriend Marshall after prom. Both Marshall and the giving away of my virginity were a mistake. The second was the last relationship I was in, Tony or as I affectionately referred to him, Tony the Tool. I sucked the big one at picking men.

  We drive a little further along the road then turn up a dirt road on the right. It leads to the house we rented. We’d found an ad online and rented it just by the pictures. Apparently the pictures were old because the grass out front would come up past my knees. Holy Splendor in the Grass, Batman!

  “Shit.” Dani said, and I wholeheartedly agree as we pull into the drive. I park and we get out, still in shock.

  We hear the bikes following us in, somehow I’m not surprised, but I am in shock over the house, so my attention is somewhat diverted. I am counting up the hours I’ll be stuck doing yard work and praying the house is in better shape, when Tall, dark and studly parks his bike beside me.

  “Nice place, Twinkie.” He says and at least this time the boys aren’t laughing.

  I turn so I can face him. God he is hot. Did I forget to mention that? Even if I didn’t, it sure as hell needs repeating.

  “Listen it’s cute how you cling to me and everything, but first rule in cherry popping 101, hit it and quit it. So really we should say goodbye now.” I hear Dani snort over his men’s laughter.

  “You go barefoot in these weeds Mama and you’re liable to get snake bit.”

  I roll my eyes. “I have shoes, plus last time I checked I was a big girl, you don’t need to worry Daddy.” I open the car door, get out my flip flops and put them on my feet.

  I am giving him much more lip than I normally would. I’m not sure why, but I think it is because it felt like he and his men were laughing at me earlier. If you added that along with the fact he checked out Dani, of whom I could never compete with, while I was standing right there…..

  “I’ve never liked that before,” he says resignedly, getting off his bike.

  I take a step back now that he is standing beside me. I had to, to try and get air or I would have swooned. It was a near miss as it was.

  “What’s that?” I ask suddenly lost to the conversation.

  “Being called Daddy, but it might be hot as hell from you. Especially, if you scream it out while I’m spanking that ass of yours.”

  Have you ever seen a goldfish jump out of its bowl and flap around? Its mouth opening and closing while it’s trying desperately to breathe? I’m pretty sure that’s what I look like.

  Then he shocks me further by picking me up and walking me towards the house.

  “Wait! What on earth are you doing?”

  “Mama those things on your feet are cute as hell, but they aren’t going to protect you from snakes.” I hear Dani laughing and looked over Stud’s shoulders to see her piggy back riding one of the other men. She was having the time of her life; I am confused, aroused and panicked. See? Totally different from Dani, damn it!

  “Put me down! I’m too heavy,” I say, feeling way out of my depth here. I had never been literally picked up by a man before, but especially by a man I didn’t even know. At my words, he shifts and turns me so I am hanging half over his back. His hand comes up and slaps me hard on the ass.

  “Ow! What the hell was that for?”

  “Quit talking about yourself like that. You sure as hell aren’t heavy.”

  “I don’t even know you, you creep. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “Spanking an ass I plan on tapping later?” Gulp! I think this might be an Oh-shit-moment if ever there was one. What did you say to that? I mean I didn’t even know him!

  JUMP HIM!

  Bad Nicole orders in my head. She seems to be coming out to play more and more around this man, and I only met him thirty minutes ago! If that!

  “There’s no way in hell!” I growl, as he puts me down on the small cement square in front of the back door.

  Liar! Bad Nicole chided.

  I really need to find a way to slap that bitch.

  “Oh yeah there is Mama, and something else you should know, before I’m through you’re going to be begging me to spank you harder.”

  My face jerks back like he had hit me. Seriously? Did he just say that to me? I would have argued, but he picks that moment to grab me by the back of the head and pull me to him. My hands come up between us, to try and pull away. He is too strong, or I didn’t really try—one of those. He slams his lips against mine. He slides his mouth over mine possessively. I grind my teeth together refusing to open for him. His tongue teases along the inside of my bottom lip. It feels good. It feels divine, yet somehow I had the wherewithal to not open my mouth.

  Because you’re stupid!

  Bad Nicole should seriously go back into hibernation.

  Stud must have got impatient. I can feel his hand moving between us. It leaves a heated path though my shirt along my stomach, his touch is gentle, but oh so commanding. I would be lying if I didn’t admit my resistance is melting. It so was, but in the end that didn’t matter. His hand reaches up to my chest and he places that big, warm palm over my right breast. Moisture begins pooling in my panties and I can feel heat moving through my body and centering on all the pleasure receptors in my body. I am preparing to have them blown sky high when he twists my nipple between his fingers. The jolt of pain was so intense I gasp. It’s the opening he wanted. He pushes his tongue in my mouth, finding mine and teasing it, drawing it out to play with his. I am helpless to stop it. A woman would have to be dead not to respond to this man’s kiss. Our tongues dance and tangle. I can’t stop my moan that releases into his mouth. It is a mere vibration, barely a whisper of a sound, but it gives him all the encouragement he needs. I know that by the way his thumb brushes over the erect nipple he had inflicted pain on earlier. My arms circle around his neck as
my body pushes in. I need to get closer to him.

  I push my fingers into his hair, the texture abrasive and exactly as I imagined. I’m trying to get his mouth closer, even though that is physically impossible. I want to devour him. The kiss turns up another notch, hell another ten notches. His hands move down to my ass cupping it, kneading it and bringing me up his body. His hard cock pushes where I need it most. I’m not sure what would have happened next. I think I might have let him fuck me right there on the porch. I was that ready, that needy, that willing to go there. Until the hoots and hollers from his friends start, my body locks and I pull away, regretfully. I look into his warm dark chocolate eyes, and I have to catch my breath at the beauty.

  His fingers bite into my ass. I realize I had pushed my thighs into the side of his like a wanton hussy, but seriously that’s what he made me into. I might as well own it. I push against his shoulders and release my legs so he would put me down. Luckily, Bad Nicole was as speechless as me.

  Stud watches me and somehow his eyes get darker. Oh they looked good before, but now I melt, and from the sticky wetness between my legs I could honestly say I mean that literally.

  I tear my eyes from him and look down at his feet. I feel heat enter my cheeks as the men with him keep ragging at us. He lowers me back to the ground slowly, my heart pounding, beating hard and echoing in my ears.

  I step back the minute my feet hit concrete. My fingers come up to my swollen lips, as the world begins to right itself. In the background I can hear the boys making comments. I’m sure it would embarrass me to death, but I can’t concentrate. I glance at him and then try to look away, but can’t seem to pull my eyes away.

  “You should come by the club tonight Twinkie…me and the boys are just right up the road. We could show you and your girl a real good time,”