Tanked: TANKED (29 page)

He gives me a funny look and I say, “Yeah, I had a great time. We danced and played pool and attempted darts.”

He turns off the dome light and Jessie laughs. “One of my darts landed on the pool table. I think it pissed one of the biker dudes off but they just brought the dart over and handed it to Flame.”

Tank reaches over and rubs my neck. “That’s great, I’m glad to hear it.” 

The gate we stopped at earlier that you had to put a code in automatically opens and allows us to leave.  We drive in silence until we turn and are back on the main road. Then Tank says, “Now you have to tell me how in the world you guys managed to befriend Flame?”

I ask quickly, “Why couldn’t we talk back there?”

“Jagger is a security freak; he knows all and hears all.”

“How can he hear us in the vehicle?”

“Believe me there are ways.”

“What did he want to talk to you about?”

“You first. How’d you meet Flame?”

I sigh and lean back against my seat and start the story, every now and then Jessie interjects something he thinks I forgot.  “So she was by herself?” Tank asks curious.

“Yep.”

“That’s odd, really odd,” Tank says in deep thought. Then asks, “And he let her go with you guys just like that?”

I answer, “He didn’t let her do anything, she called him and told him she was going with us. Okay it’s your turn. Why’d you go to the back with him?”

“I owe him for the damages that Alexander caused and also he wants to know how Alexander breached his system.  And he let me know he took care of the tuna, err, woman who drugged me.”

“What did Alexander damage?”

“I didn’t ask. I’m just going to pay whatever he says I owe.”

“What happened to the girl” Jessie asks.

“I didn’t ask that either and it's best that neither of you do, too.  Just trust they took care of it.”

“She didn’t get arrested for drugging you?” I ask.

“Yeah, but she got out on bond pretty quick.  I have a feeling she'll have a failure to appear on her record soon.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, and ask, “Tank, how do you know these people?  I mean they’re some scary people.”

“It’s a long story.  As long as you’re honest and upfront they’re good people, but don’t ever double cross them.  I can’t believe you and sweet pea back there are best friends with Flame.”

“Awe, I have a nickname,” Jessie says with sarcasm.

Jessie’s phone chimes. “It's Flame.  She says she had fun tonight and wants us to do it again soon.”

“I wonder if we can meet and do our nails and stuff and go to Sweetie’s. I don’t think I can hang out at Weasel's for a while. That was…”

“Intense,” Jessie finishes my sentence for me.

I look at Tank when he says, “I don’t know how to say this without sounding like I’m being condescending and I don’t mean it that way, but both of you did well tonight. You didn’t overreact to the craziness.”

Jessie says, “I almost didn’t hold it together when that man started licking his armpit, I almost puked.”

“Yeah, that was disgusting,” I wholeheartedly agree.

“Why would anybody get a tattoo like that?” Jessie asks.

Tank reaches out and takes my hand. “You will find yourself asking why a lot when you're with that bunch.”

When we arrive home, Jessie goes to his room and Tank and I go to mine.  “I want to get a quick shower before I lay down, I smell like cigarettes.” I say as I go to my dresser and kick off my shoes then grab clean undergarments.

“If your mother could only have seen you tonight…,” Tank says teasing, I hope.

“That’s not funny.”

“I think you need to figure out a way to persuade me to keep my mouth shut.”

“I know how to make you keep your mouth shut, but we have a few things to discuss about this afternoon before any adult extracurricular activities will happen.”

“You know I was just looking out for you, right?  I know what kind of people hang out there; you were safe because you were with Flame. Had you been with anybody else, even Hunter, it may have turned out a lot different.”

“What about you? Was I safe with you?”

“You’re always safe with me. Why else would I blow a good paying job and drive three hours to get my ass back here?”

“I’m sorry you lost out on money.”

“It’s not about the money. I don’t need it really.  It’s about the job.”

“I promise I’ll consider what you’re saying the next time, but you can’t order me around. That’s not going to work.” He looks down at the floor with his hands on his hips so I continue, “Look, I almost backed out, I did hear your warning but I felt bad for her. It’s obvious she doesn’t have many friends which I can’t really figure that one out. She fits right in with Jessie and me. We clicked instantly. I saw it in her eyes when I tried to back out, she felt rejected.”

Tank shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter now, it’s done.  Jagger must have trusted you a little ‘cause you would’ve never stepped foot on his property if he didn’t.”

“Why does he treat her that way?”

“That man has one weak spot and it's Flame.  You could cut his fingers off one by one and he wouldn’t flinch.  But you let her whimper and he crumbles.”

“Is it because of what happened?”

“She told you about her kidnapping?” I nod and he shrugs his shoulders. “Partly, and partly because I’m sure he has guilt for her brother, but mostly because he loves her.”

“That’s sweet in a way.”

“I guess.  Now back to my persuasion…”

He begins to walk toward me. I hold my hand up, “Tank, no! Let me get a shower. We still have more to discuss.”

“You can tell me in the shower.”

He closes the distance between us and scoops me up over his shoulder, I squeal, “No, Tank, no!”  He yanks the shower curtain back and sets me down gently in the shower then steps in with me.  He holds up his finger and pulls his wallet and phone out of his pocket and tosses them on the counter.  Then he slides the shower curtain closed. “You’re not seriously going to turn on the water are you?”  He reaches back, turns the knobs and the water starts flowing out of the faucet. “Tank I’m wearing leather pants they’ll be ruined.”

“Good.  You don’t need to ever wear those out in public again.”

The warm water reaches my feet and I say, “I think that’s you telling me what to do again.”

He flips the switch and the shower head sprays water. I flinch under the burst of cold water that quickly turns warm. As he stood directly under the flow of water, he reaches down and pulls his t-shirt over his head and it makes a thwop sound as it hits the tub.  I can’t help myself. I’m enjoying the show with the water running down his body and his sexy smirk. All I can do is smile. He grabs me and pulls me against him, his lips hover over mine but never make contact. He reaches up and rubs my face with his hand as he says, “I’ve changed my mind, I don’t need persuasion.”

I feel his fingers at my waist and it doesn’t take much to pull my oversized red shirt over my head.  He runs his hands around my stomach and up myback, taking a painstakingly slow time.  Then his hands run up my sides and cup my breasts.  I feel his thumbs stroke my nipples over the lace of my bra. He leans in and his lips almost touch mine then whispers seductive and slow, “Are you sorry you hung up on me?” I shake my head no, he smiles. “Are you sorry you turned your phone off where I couldn’t call you back?”  I nod my head yes.  “Are you ready to listen to what I say yet?”

He watches me waiting for my reply as I lick my lips then lean to his side and begin kissing his neck lightly.  I rub my hands up his back massaging the muscles and kiss my way up his neck to his ear and say, “It depends on what you’re telling me to do.”  I lightly nip his ear lobe between my teeth.

I feel him exhale and I lean back enough to see he has his eyes closed.  I smile then lean back in and begin to run my tongue down his collar bone, lightly kissing along the way.  I bring my hands around to his front and I manage to get his belt unbuckled but he grabs my hands, lift’s them up and place’s them on his shoulders.  He runs his hands slowly down my arms then down my sides.  He leans forward and kisses me, his tongue playing with mine.  He reaches around my body and squeezes my ass with both hands.  I let my hands fall and unbutton his pants then slide the zipper down slowly.  My body reacts when I feel his hardness. I push his pants down then slide my fingers down the front of his boxers.  I take him in my hand and rub lightly back and forth.  He pulls my hand away and then pushes his boxers down. 

I lick my lips at the view in front of me.  He spins me around and pulls me against his body.  I can feel his stiffness pressed against my bottom as he reaches up and massages my breasts.  I feel his teeth lightly nip at my shoulder. He runs one hand down my stomach and the other is at my back working on the clasp of my bra.  I feel a pop, and then my bra falls loose, so I drop my arms as he lets it slide and drops it in the tub.  He pulls me against him again, his front to my back. He rubs all over, up and down and finally says, “Let’s get you out of these pants.”  I undo the button and zipper on the front while he hooks his thumbs on the sides and begins to pull them down along with my panties.  As he bends he kisses and nips my back, then my side, then my hip, all the way until he reaches the floor. On the way back up he runs his hands slowly up my legs, up over my bottom, then all the way up my back, stopping along the way to have a little fun.  He pulls me tightly to him. I can feel his harness pressed against me again.  He uses his foot to gently push my feet further apart. He then reaches around pinning my arms to my sides.  One hand he places on my hip keeping me pulled firmly against them, the other slides down front in between my legs and begins to massage. I let out a light moan he leans into my ear and plants a kiss on top then says, “Do you want me to tell you what to do?”

“Yes.” I say almost begging.

“Put your hands on the wall.” He softly commands in my ear.

I put my hands on the wall and smile to myself. Because he does exactly what I want.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Not At All What I Was Expecting

Over the next two months things are move right along. Jessie has been staying between my house and his parents’ house.   I shake my head when he informs me, “Sunshine, it’s a lot of responsibility to look after a house.”

“Try it without a gardener or a housekeeper and see how much harder it is,” I sharply reply.

Work has been okay. Mr. Samford has been more irritable than usual.  He had a lot of trouble with his father’s estate and I try not to ask too often if he’s alright but when I do, he just says it’s personal and gives me a reassuring smile.  Business seems to be going well. I really hope it’s not problems at home.

It’s taken some getting used to with Flame because more often than not she has the grunting Rocco with her as her bodyguard.  But she’s intertwined into our family nicely. My mother had a lot of questions after she came with me to my parents’ for dinner one night. 

Tank and I are inseparable. I don’t know if it’s everything we’ve been through together or what but it’s all been great, even our squabbling fights, and especially the making up.  I’ve decided to ask him to move in with me since he’s here every night he’s in town so, why not?  I send him a text, “Be here in time for supper?”

My phone chirps almost instantly. “Yes but I’ll stop and pick up Chinese.”

I smile and lie back in my recliner with Prima on my lap, flipping TV channels.  When Tank walks in the door Prima jumps off my lap and trots over to meet him.  He bends down and scoops her up in one arm, carrying a plastic bag of yummy Chinese food in the other.  “Hey babe,” he calls.

“Hey,” I say as I push my legs down and lock the recliner back in place then jump up to join him. 

He’s standing at the table unloading the bag.  He opens the box with the lo mien and pulls out a long noodle, and blows on it.  I watch as he feeds it to Prima like she’s a dog and the crazy thing is she ate it.  He sets her down and she runs off with the rest of her noodle.  “We so need to get you a dog,” I say as I go into the kitchen to grab a couple of plates and forks.

“Can we get a German Shepherd?  I’ve always wanted one of those.”

I stop at the door to the dining room and my heart begins to race. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.” He grabs the plates out of my hands then leans in and gives me a peck on the lips. “What’s up?”

“How would you feel about moving in with me?”

His sexy smirk appears. “It would be nice to get my stuff out of the back of the SUV.”

“So, you’re not opposed to it?”

“Do I get to get a dog?”

“Is there a pet store open tonight? We’ll go get you one right now.”

He puts the plates down on the table and walks over to me. He places his hands on my cheeks and gently pulls me to him.  His eyes burn with fire and he plants a gentle kiss on my lips, “There is
no
place I would rather be, ever.”

I pull him back for a better kiss and we end up eating cold Chinese.

****