by Rie Warren
My toes curled, and my fingers clawed at him.
Screaming pleasure seared through me then detonated into pure hot fire.
Wailing his name, I came in overwhelming paroxysms on his cock, and he kept fucking.
Both my knees in the crook of his elbows, he pushed me up in half.
Sweat dripped from his chest to my breasts, and a wild wet sound saturated the room with every deepening stroke of his thickening meat inside me.
“Angel!” I held onto his shoulders, clinging as another orgasm shuddered and thundered through me.
Angel pistoned into me, held me completely against him, and craned up into a thrilling masculine pose of utter ecstasy. Every muscle on his body locked except for the organ inside me that throbbed and lurched and exploded with cum.
I only wished the condom wasn’t necessary. That I could feel the hot flood of his seed blast against my womb.
Released from my climax, I lay panting beneath him. I watched the glorious manifestation of making him—making this man—lose it completely.
Shudders wracked his body and then shivers. He lunged several more uncontrollable times before dropping on top of me.
His cock remained hard and large and lodged inside.
When his breathing steadied, he rolled off me, groaning as his dick withdrew. He leaned to the side to take care of the condom before flipping to his back to curl me on top of him.
My leg wedged between his, my knee lying across his unflagging erection, which was truly impressive.
He slid a hand down my hair, fingers getting caught in loose snarls he’d caused.
“My gamine,” he murmured against my forehead.
“What?” I peered up at him.
It was cute the way he averted his gaze while a faint blush made his cheeks ruddy.
Cute that he could blush while he still boasted a hard-on.
“My gamine,” he said again. “What I call you. In my head.”
“So you think about me a lot?” I propped up on his chest, my breasts dangling down.
His eyes darted toward my bosom as his tongue poked at his cheek. Then he got a completely boyish look—especially when a blond curl fell across his brow—and leered openly.
“You’re fishing for compliments, Mercy.”
“Not.” I flipped to my back.
He stretched to his side, fingertips tickling down my tummy. “Oui. I think about you a lot. All the time. And I’d think you’d know that by now. Especially after what we just did together.”
“How much?” My eyes shot to his, a needy urge compelling me.
He gathered my hand in his and placed it on the thick cylinder of hot flesh rising from his groin. “What do you think?”
His hardness filled my palm, and I stroked him as leisurely as he’d fucked me.
His breathing labored, he dropped his eyelids over his eyes for a second.
“It’s not just that though.” Then he pulled my hand from his cock and brought it to his mouth.
He nuzzled the heart of my palm with a slow lick and rested my hand against the stubble on his cheek.
My heart strummed like a crazy banjo, and he smiled with serious intent.
“It’s this too.” Angel drew my hand in his to his chest.
Beneath my fingers, his heart boomed just as wildly as mine.
“Me too,” I whispered, not even sure if we meant the same thing.
Angel and I fucked twice more that night, and each time I wished he could fill me with his cum.
I knew better than to take chances.
I wouldn’t risk anything that could hurt him.
He rammed me full of thick meat. Once in the shower where I’d imagined him taking me the first time—sleek and wet and foamy with soap. He held me in his arms as he gave into his basest instincts. Then again on the bed, but that time I rode him.
I marveled at the control I had over him, which made me even hotter. I gyrated on his cock and watched while his head craned back as muscles tightened in his throat. At the end, he hoisted me up and down with a fast drilling rhythm that had me crying out until my voice grew hoarse.
Angel only got up later when someone knocked on the bedroom door. The bar noise still roaring downstairs, I caught a glimpse of Sol. His mouth stretched in a broad grin, he delivered a huge tray of food and drinks to Angel.
I fell asleep slightly sore. Thoroughly satisfied.
When I woke the next day, Angel still slept beside me for the first time.
It was way past morning, the sun’s rays slanting far across the floorboards from the balcony and windows.
I padded to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I smoothed the tangles from my hair and noticed the flushed glow on my body brought on by the man who continued to snooze.
Crawling back in beside him, I caressed the stubble on his cheek. I laughed when he wrinkled his nose and reached out to drag me closer, never once opening his eyes.
“Gimme a kiss,” he slurred sleepily.
“You don’t even know who I am.”
“Mercy.” One hand slid to my butt, and he squeezed me against his remarkably renewed cock. “Like I could forget my gamine.”
Smelling of leather and smoke and sex, he pulled me right up to him.
I kissed him languidly, my tongue taking a long soulful trip inside the lush heat of his mouth.
“Bien. Better.” His vivid blue eyes cracked open.
“I love your drawl.”
“Ah love yours.”
“I don’t sound like that.” I nudged my nose against his neck.
“Yeah. You do. My Tennessee sweetheart.”
“Hillbilly you mean.”
“Sure. Hillbilly, Tennessee, gamine, gorgeous beautiful woman. Mine.”
Flutters swooped inside my belly at his serious but playful intonation.
“Do you think we should get out of bed?”
“You wanna christen the balcony next?” A lazy smile curved his lips.
Sitting up, I let the sheet fall away from me.
With Angel completely preoccupied with my breasts, I slammed a pillow against his head.
He batted it away and lunged for me.
I hopped off the bed, giggling. “I meant get up. Go out. Maybe grab some food.”
“Mean.” He stood in front of me, fully hard, really big.
“Practical.” I dragged my straying gaze back to his face.
“Fine.” He glowered briefly before stalking, bare-assed, to the bathroom.
I almost had to fan myself.
I dressed quickly so Angel couldn’t trick me back into bed—a feat that wouldn’t be difficult at this rate. It was a luxury putting on new clothes. Angel hadn’t purchased anything fancy, but I wasn’t a flashy girl anyway.
Angel smirked wickedly when he exited the bathroom. His skin glowed damply, and one specific drop of water trailed down his neck, through the carved network of muscles on his torso, to the large half hard cock rapidly filling to completion.
I spun around fast so he could dress without me drooling, and he snickered.
I listened to the rustle of clothes then jumped in surprise when he placed a long kiss on the side of my neck that made me all shivery.
“You snuck up on me.” I whirled in his arms.
“Yep. And now I’m gonna sneak you out of here.” He tugged on my hand, lacing his fingers through mine.
We didn’t sneak so much as Angel proudly escorted me out through the bar where Slade joked, “Decided to come up for air finally?”
“This one practically tied me to the bed last night.” Angel winked.
“That is not true.” I tried to pull my hand free, but he wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me close.
“You’re giving me a bad reputation, cher.”
“I think it’s the other way around, buddy.” I jerked my elbow into his side.
He just laughed and swept me outside.
He kept up the light teasing and flirtatious conversation while we walked d
own the street. With each of his easy smiles or impromptu kisses my guard dropped a little more.
I forgot to be scared. I forgot to be on the lookout for trouble. I forgot to be cautious.
For the first time in a very long time, I just was.
We munched on tasty street food and drank sweet tea, ambling aimlessly from street to street. Angel pointed out some of the sights, giving me lessons in New Orleans history. Everything about the city fascinated me, but the street musicians purely mesmerized me.
I stopped Angel in front of a string quartet. It wasn’t the type of music I’d ever listened to, but the song reminded me of playing the piano with my memaw. My foot tapped to the whimsical tune, and I watched the players almost unblinkingly.
Angel placed a couple dollars in my hand then nodded to the open violin case.
It was then I noticed that the pretty young woman playing the violin was clearly making eyes at Angel.
I glanced at him, and he took the opportunity to draw me close with his lips nuzzling my earlobe.
He hadn’t even noticed the girl’s attention, but I sure did. And I almost didn’t want to toss the money into her case.
I shook off the petty jealousy with a small laugh. The song ending, I left the tip, and Angel and I made our way back toward the Thunder Road Bar.
When we crossed the road in front of the bar, I looked up to read the sign on the business next door.
A giggle tumbled up from inside, and I pointed. “Tit for Tat, Angel?”
He shrugged self-consciously. “Um . . . the name seems to attract customers?”
“I’m sure it does.” I wondered what kind of work they could do for me. If there was a way to cover up the brand. “Can I go in?”
“Sure we can.” He steered me toward the tattoo parlor.
“It’s your guys who work there, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So I’d be fine on my own.”
“Can’t see why not.” Holding the door open, he waited for me to enter.
“Ahem?” I arched both eyebrows, wondering if he’d back down and let me go in alone.
He scratched his chin then his lips quirked. “I’ve gotta talk to Saint about something.”
“Really.” I rolled my eyes at my big blond guardian angel.
Inside I was surprised at how neat and tidy everything was. Large designs hung on dark blue walls, and stacks of binders stood lined up on the counter.
“Howdy, Miss Mercy.” Saint shoved a pencil behind his ear, greeting me with winning charm.
All the MC men were built big and incredibly good-looking in a rough and rugged sort of way. There had to be something in the water because they certainly didn’t grow such handsome men where I came from.
Angel bristled beside me when Saint winked boldly.
Saint’s eyes creased at the corners when he asked, “Came to take me up on my offer? Maybe something to go with those stars? How about along your waist or lower pelvis?”
Just then, the even bigger man I thought was called Lenny—or was it Lennox?—emerged from a curtained-off area.
He doffed his head in my direction.
All the while, Angel glowered, showing his displeasure at Saint’s suggestion. I suspected he just didn’t want any other man seeing more of my body than necessary. His jealousy was a bit of retribution for my reaction to the violinist earlier.
“You’re not getting anywhere near Mercy’s waist or lower pelvis.” Clenching my hip possessively, Angel all but snarled.
The Lenny guy grinned. “So giving Mercy more ink up top isn’t out of the question?”
And that time Angel did snarl.
The Blood Legion MC seemed to be a motley crew of biker dudes who got off on goading one another mercilessly.
I unwound Angel’s arm from my waist to wander around, listening with a growing smile as the banter continued.
“Easy, Prez.” Saint chuckled. “I’m talkin’ about tats, not molesting the lady. It’s not my fault she’s got some fine looking ink already.”
I liked the stars, but in some ways they were just a sad reminder of my past, and only Angel knew the real reason for all the stars shooting down my arms.
The other sad reminder was the brand. I didn’t want to talk about having the mark covered with Angel around, so I decided to leave my questions for Saint for another time.
If I was around long enough.
Swaggering his way around the counter, Saint crossed his arms over his chest and one booted foot over the other. “So whaddya say, Mercy? Can I interest you in anything?”
I broke out laughing at the comical waggle of his eyebrows.
Angel didn’t think Saint’s invitation was quite so amusing. “I’m gonna interest you in my fist knocking out your teeth in a minute.”
Okay, so maybe Angel was more jealous than me.
The thought didn’t frighten me. The opposite in fact. His possessiveness warmed me, although I did feel a little bad for Saint.
“Thank you, Saint, but I think I’ll come back another time.” I made my way to the door, and Angel rushed to open it for me.
“I thought you said you needed to talk to Saint about something.” I glanced at Angel.
“Yeah. I decided I’m just gonna take him out back and shoot him later instead,” he muttered.
“See ya later!” Saint called out merrily.
I patted Angel’s arm soothingly as he gritted his teeth together.
Angel reeled in the jealousy and was soon back to his usual bonhomie. He didn’t even try to maim or kill Saint later when the biker turned up in the bar a few minutes after it opened for the night.
The pair bumped fists, traded less menacing jibes, clinked beers, and apparently that was the universal MC sign for all good.
The room filled quickly, noise swelling from people talking and the music piped in over the speakers. It was miraculous to me they’d built this livelihood without being dependent on gun running or the drugs trade or prospering from sexually enslaved women.
It made me ponder a future of my own.
Angel strutted over carrying two beers.
He lightly looped an arm around my waist, handing me one of the bottles. When we kissed, his cool lips quickly heated.
Leaning away from me, he looked at me with hooded eyes. He twirled a lock of my hair between his fingers before tucking the strand behind my ear.
“Have I told you I can’t stop thinking about you?” The low timbre of his voice rumbled beneath the raucous sounds of the packed bar.
Feather-like flutters hummed all around my tummy.
“Maybe.” I drew him down for another kiss, which had my toes curling in my boots.
I gave him lots of hot suction when I drew away. “I probably wouldn’t complain if you told me more.”
He laughed boldly. “I could show you instead.”
“It’s early.”
“Wasn’t too early yesterday.”
“You’re a wicked man, Angel L’Esperance.”
Nestling my hips into the cradle of his groin where his interest couldn’t be more evident, he tempted me with one more tongue-teasing kiss. “But you’re makin’ me so good, cher.”
“What if I want to hang out for a while longer?”
“That’s fine.” Yet he rocked into me with seductive intent.
“What if I want to shoot a game of pool?”
“I’ll cue up the balls.”
I had a feeling he wanted to cue up another set of balls, and those ones were swinging between his legs.
Just to test my newfound freedom, I asked, “What if I want to go outside for a few minutes. Alone?”
“Really?”
“Just to get some fresh air. By myself.” I persisted.
Squinting at me, Angel squared his jaw.
Then he said, “Fine.”
I knew he didn’t relish the idea of me being off on my own, so I reached up to wind my arms around his neck. I kissed the spot on his throat that always mad
e him groan.
“I’ll just be five minutes. Just outside.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
“You owe me.”
“Do I?”
“I’ll owe you?”
“Ha!” He barked a loud laugh then his palms cruised to my ass before he pulled his hands off me. “You don’t owe me anything, Mercy.”
Something somber shifted over his features.
And it hit me with a pang to my heart.
In that moment, I wanted to tell him.
I wanted to hope.
I wanted everything to be all right . . . forever . . . with him.
“I’ll be right back. Promise.”
He nodded solemnly. As I walked away through the throng of people, I knew he watched.
I knew he wanted to haul me back.
The pull he had on me would be harder to break the longer I stayed.
Yet I didn’t think I could ever leave of my own free will.
Exiting the bar, I slipped into the back hall. I headed for the side door just as Chase came out of the stockroom wheeling a keg.
“Hey there. All right, Mercy?”
“Just getting some air.”
“Does Angel know where you are?” He halted in his tracks.
“Are you gonna tell on me?”
Suddenly flustered, he fumbled for words, and I felt bad for teasing him.
“Angel knows. It’s okay.”
“Right. I’ll just”—he indicated the keg—“better get this on the tap.”
As he headed back into the bar, I opened the side door and propped it ajar with my beer bottle.
Aside from the chirps of crickets and the echo of the bar, it was blissfully silent on this side of the alley. The night muggy, the sky deepened from twilight purple to endless black. I leaned against the building, looking up to where stars lurked beneath a light cloud cover.
Prickles started crawling up the back of my neck, the only warning I had before Uncle Ned stepped into the illumination shed from a flickering street light.
“Wondered if that bastard was ever gonna let you outta his sight.”
“You’ve been following me?” The prickles became daggers of pain radiating around the brand on my chest.
He snorted. “You bet. Real sweet on you, ain’t he? I particularly liked the part when he gave you that money for the busker. You shoulda pocketed it.”
