VENDETTA: A Bad Boy, Motorcycle Club Romance (10 page)

But she wasn’t mine yet.

“Don’t miss out on the chance to do the things you want most, Emmy,” I said. “What do you want?”

“It’s stupid.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“I’ve always wanted to learn to make baked Alaska.”

I smiled. That would be easy enough to give her. “When we get back to California, where will you go?”

“Campus, probably.”

“Cal Tech, right? Do you like it there?”

“It’s a good place, but my heart wasn’t set on it. Any college would have done.”

“You have three years left?”

“Two.” I raised my eyebrow and she continued. “I took a lot of accelerated classes in high school and some night classes, too.”

“Nice. I got good grades, but I just wanted to leave every day and get home. Why’d you take such a heavy load?” Most people in high school were more interested in scamming beer and screwing than taking extra classes.

“Seemed better than being home,” she said, ending the sentence abruptly. It was the second time Emily had indicated that something was wrong at home.

“Your uncle not a great guy?”

“He’s fine,” she said, but I knew a lie when I heard one and that was a whopper. Choosing not to pursue it, I asked whether she wanted to head back to the hotel.

“Sure,” she said, and I could hear the nerves in her voice.

Outside, we walked down the sand together. The lights of our hotel were bright in the distance, but indistinguishable amongst all the other property lights. When Emily reached out to take my hand in her small one, I smiled and pulled her closer, keeping her warm against me from the cool winds that blew off the waves. Her shaking didn’t stop, though.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” I told her. “I’m not going to touch you unless you want it.” Keeping my hands off her was a struggle, but she’d been through a lot of shit in a short time. I wasn’t about to make things harder on her. Besides, I wouldn’t want her under me unless she was hot, excited, soaking wet and begging for more.

“That’s not what I’m nervous about,” she said, stopping to look at me.

“Then what’s wrong? You’re quiet.”

“I’m worried that you won’t touch me,” she said, coming to a stop.

“What?”

“I practically strong-armed you into what we did the night we met. All I can think about is that I want to know what the rest is like with you, but you don’t want me.”

“Don’t want you? I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.” I touched her face. “What did you think I meant by what I said on the balcony?”

“Then why haven’t you touched me again?”

“Fuck,” I growled, letting my shoes drop onto the sand. “That’s enough for me.”

I seized her arms and pulled her close, my mouth devouring hers. I could still taste the smokiness of the wine on her tongue when I pulled it into my mouth. Her lush little body was curved against mine, soft and strong in all the right places. When she moaned, I pulled back to look at her wide eyes.

“Can’t get enough of kissing you,” she murmured, pulling away and placing her hand on my cheek.

“Then don’t stop.” I dragged her mouth back to mine and kissed her trembling, swollen lips. Afraid of scaring her, I kept it soft until she nipped my bottom lip and dragged it out with a playful bite.

Game on
.

I lost myself in her there in front of the crashing waves. Even knowing that people could look out and see us, I pushed things farther. I ran a hand up her leg in the skirt she was wearing, letting my fingers play against her thighs. Her silky skin made me want to come in my pants, but I focused on her, not my raging erection. She was perfection.

“You’re wet,” I said, stroking the soft space between her thighs. “I can feel it.” She whimpered when I teased the crotch of her panties, and I swallowed the loud cry that erupted when I pushed past the elastic and stroked her swollen slit. She was so fucking
hot
, and the barbarian in my chest yelled in pleasure.
She’s mine
.

“Oh, god, Flash.”

“Not yet, baby. Don’t come yet.” I wanted her wet and wanting, needed to see everything she felt for me in the most primal way. Her silky wetness coated my fingers as I stroked her clit until she was moaning. Dipping down, I kissed the vulnerable skin at her neck, then moved to lick her nipples through the thin material of the cotton tank she wore. When I sucked on one—hard—her legs started shaking and I realized I had to pull back or I was going to lose control and take her right there in the sand.

“Emmy, baby, let’s go back to the hotel.”

“No, please,” she said, and I couldn’t deny her. So I slid a finger into her tight, wet channel and used my thumb to stroke her clit until her breathing changed and I felt her walls convulse around my finger. “Oh god, oh god,” she panted, her breath heavy against my ear. Her core shook, holding me tight, a preview of what it was going to be like to sink into her hot, wet depths.

“That’s it, Emmy. Fuck yes, you feel so good.” I punctuated my words with another thrust of my finger and felt her shudders strengthen. It was all I could do to not lose it right then and there.

“You’re perfect,” I said when her body stilled, rubbing a hand up and down her back to soothe her. Emily’s eyes were wide and vulnerable. “That was amazing.”

“I didn’t do anything for you,” she said.

“Yeah,” I told her. “You did.”

Emily

My legs were still shaking as I followed Flash back into our hotel room.

God, I wouldn’t even let Tommy kiss me in the gym, but I let Flash put his finger inside me and get me off on a public beach. People in the restaurant were within viewing distance, if they decided to look away from the bay. I consoled myself with the fact that it was dark enough on the sand that they couldn’t have been sure of what they were seeing…I hoped.

Even so, though, I knew that I wouldn’t have changed things, even if I could. I wanted what he had to give me and I wanted it then and there. For the first time, I’d really believed that he wanted me. And that meant that just maybe there was something waiting for me in California besides another beating at my uncle’s hands and endless years of packaging and finding new, profitable ways to sell meth.

Because I want him, too
.

If I told Flash the truth, there was a chance that he’d help me get out. That he’d judge me never crossed my mind. It was obvious that The Fallen had their hands as deep into the drug world as I did—maybe deeper, since my uncle had some kind of prejudice against cartels. For a few years there, he’d had a wild hair to go into business with one, but it evaporated overnight like most of his grand schemes.

Maybe he’d even be willing to go with me back to the house in Malibu so I could get my documents and the few things of value I’d kept over the years. There was a stash of money, courtesy of me never eating lunch in high school, but I hadn’t been able to get it when he’d sent me away so quickly to stay at the resort. For the first time, I wondered why he’d sent me away so fast and what I would come home to find. But there was nothing I could do about it.

Sighing, I thought of my room. I also had some photos of my parents, a few books I’d like to keep and a stuffed animal. If I had protection for once, getting the things and getting on with my life could be easy.

But I didn’t care as much about that as I did about Flash himself. Every moment we spent together made me happier, because I finally felt that zing I’d been waiting for since I was a little girl. When we’d been at the market, he’d made me laugh over and over. It didn’t hurt that his ass in jeans was a work of art. It would take a stronger woman than I not to ogle it, and I’d helped myself to the view more than once, skimming my gaze over the taut muscles of his ass and back.

His hands on my body, pushing me over the precipice on the beach and then holding me while I came back to myself, were the most amazing things. For years, I’d avoided being touched by almost anyone, but now I craved his hands on me. I didn’t think he could ever touch me enough for me to be satisfied. The whole way home, all I wanted was to throw him down and strip off his pants, to find that pulsing hardness that I’d only felt through clothing and to take him into my body.

Flash turned back to me. “What do you want to do now?”

Is he kidding
? Deciding he was, I arched a brow and smiled. “I thought maybe we could read something together. Surely there’s a book somewhere in this room.” His mouth quirked.

“If not, there are two in the bags still on my bike,” he said. “Going anywhere without a book is a bad policy.”

Surprised, I ended the joke. “What do you read?”

“Biographies. History. I like knowing what came before.”

“I didn’t know…” I was too late to stop myself from speaking. It was a surprise that such a man read for pleasure. Flash was more wild parties than nights curled up with popcorn and a book.

“That I could read?” He laughed, and I relaxed. He wasn’t offended. “My parents would have tanned my hide if I didn’t appreciate a good book. Never could get into fiction, but non-fiction? I’m down with it.”

“I like fiction,” I said. “I spent a lot of time at the library in high school.”

“What’s your favorite kind of story?”

“Romance or fantasy, I think. Really, anything with a happy ending will do.”

“Why?”

His question opened me more than I was willing to be, exposing me. I wasn’t ready to share all the dark spaces in my heart with him yet. “There aren’t enough happy endings in life.”

“We can make sure there are more,” he said. “You and me, together.”

“I like the sound of that.” I meant it. His inexhaustible gentleness and humor charmed me. Life with him would be more than good.

“I’m glad,” he said. “And I have something for you.”

“What is it?” I hadn’t gotten a present in years. My uncle wasn’t going to give me any, and Tommy didn’t believe in them. So when Flash reached out for my wrist and pulled the bracelet I’d admired out of his pocket, I gasped.

“I can’t believe it.”

“It’s just string, Emmy,” he said. “I’ll get you something nicer when we’re home.”

“This is more than perfect,” I said while he tied it tight enough that it wouldn’t fall off. Seeing it there, bright against my skin, I felt warmer than I ever had. “It’s wonderful. Thank you so much.”

It’s strange how life can change so quickly in such a short time. I’d known men for years who I had no feelings for whatsoever—but it was different with him. Flash already felt like something I desperately needed to get through the day. When he’d walked away from me to get more food at the street fair, I’d missed him in the few moments he’d been gone. Missed him. I couldn’t recall missing anyone in my entire life, other than my parents.

So instead of reiterating that happy endings are rare enough, and don’t happen for people like us, I walked to him and wrapped my arms around him. Expecting him to continue where we’d left off on the beach, I was surprised when his arms came around me and stayed there, still. Pressed against his big body, all the nerves that had built up on the walk back drained out of me.

I wasn’t fanciful about my virginity, but I was also nervous. Nothing really changes after the first time a person has sex, of course, but I’d always been worried about adding more regrets to my tab. I didn’t want Flash to be someone I regretted later. More than that, I didn’t want him to regret me.

“You okay?” he asked, and the sweetness of his voice was nearly my undoing.

“I’m great,” I said, my voice muffled against his jacket. “It’s just that so much has happened.”

“Life does that sometimes,” he said. “But no matter how it happened, I’m glad I’m here with you.”

“I’m glad to be with you too.” I meant every word. He pulled away from me and removed his jacket so that he was clad in only a t-shirt and jeans, then reached for me.

The reward for my honesty was a searing kiss. It wasn’t like the kiss on the beach, because we both knew where it was going to end. For the first time, he didn’t hold back. His hands were like steel bands on my arms, holding me tight against him. His head lowered to mine and he kissed me until my toes curled.

While his mouth worked on mine, I shivered, loving the languid thrust of his soft tongue. It was the perfect counterpoint to the rising arousal and adrenaline working its way through my body.

Pressing close to him, I could feel the iron shaft trapped behind his jeans. Soon that hardness would be mine. In me. Curious, I moved my hips to rub myself against him and the hand that had been splaying over my back tightened.

“Don’t do that,” he said against my lips. “This will be over before we’ve started. I still need to get a condom.”

Heady with power, I reached down between us to stroke the jeans over his length. “I like doing this,” I whispered, “I love the way you feel. And I’m on birth control.” My uncle had insisted on it when I started dating Billy.

“Emily…” His breath was hot on my ear, and one of his hands dropped to tease the hem of my skirt, pushing it up. I gasped and parted my legs just a bit more. I’d never been so turned on by anything as I was by his hand sliding up my thighs while I traced the outline of his erection.

What he’d done to me on the beach had already made me melt, made me ready for him. But the fire had died to embers and now he was stoking it back up, returning me to a blaze. When his fingers hooked in the crotch of my panties and yanked them down, I buried my face in his chest.

“You okay?” he asked, sliding a finger up and down my swollen folds. Knowing that it was only a taste of what was to come thrilled me. Nothing would get between us tonight—even if I was a little nervous about his huge cock pushing up into my body.

A finger slipped in me and I felt my muscles flutter around it, excited. Using both hands, I popped the button on his jeans. “Get naked,” I said. “I want to see you.” My mouth was watering with anticipation.

He nodded and pulled off the t-shirt, exposing rigid muscles and the black, inky swirl of the tattoo I’d noticed before. Moving closer, I examined him, pleasure radiating through me. When I leaned forward and flicked a flat nipple with my tongue, his eyes closed.

“Emily…” I put my fingers to his mouth to stop him and continued my exploration. Biting gently on his shoulder, I kissed a line down to the open fly on his jeans. My fingers ached to yank them down, to finally see the part of him that would take me.

So I did.

He was so
fantastic
. The large head rose above the straight, pink shaft that was swollen with blood, eager to fuck me. Loving how turned on he was, I grasped the shaft and grinned when precum appeared on the head.

“You like this?”

“Yes,” he gritted out, his eyes hot on me.

“What about this?” I leaned down to skate my tongue over his slit, swirling it through the drop of precum that had beaded there. When his massive body shuddered, I smiled and did it again.

“Emily!” he shouted, grabbing me and pulling me up to face him. Then his hands were everywhere. He stripped me the same way I stripped him, biting each of my nipples when they were revealed to him. “You drive me crazy,” he said, pulling away and licking each one. They were hard and pebbled in the cool air of the room.

“Me too,” I said, taking another look at his long, lean body.

“I hope so,” he said, and I wanted him to know just how much I wanted him. How much I needed him in me.

Taking his hand, I brought it to the juncture of my thighs, sliding it down over the smooth skin there. “Feel this?” I asked, stroking myself with his fingers until my eyes grew heavy with bliss. “I’m so wet for you.”

“I love your pussy,” he said, taking control and stroking my clit while my hips bucked. Just when I thought he’d make me come again, he tossed me onto the bed, then knelt at the foot. Each hand wrapped around a leg and he pulled me to him.

“Put your legs on my shoulders.” I obeyed, and his breath was warm against my slick heat. The part of me that was embarrassed by the strength of my response melted away when he said, “Ah, you’re perfect,” before licking me like I was the best thing he’d ever tasted.

“Flash…” I couldn’t say anything else, could only exist in the heat and slide of his tongue on my skin. I came once, my legs stiff over his shoulders while my center rocked across his face, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

So he gave me more.

His tongue stroked me, ratcheting the tension higher and higher while I moaned and begged him to make me come again. When he worked a second finger into me, I nearly came apart.

“I love the way your wet pussy hugs my fingers,” he said, pulling away from where he’d been lapping at my clit. “Soon it’s going to be my cock.”

“Now, please!”