“What are you saying?” I ask, already knowing the answer, but needing to hear it anyway.
Luke shrugs. “It’s simple. We have to kill her.”
“And we have to make it look like it was them,” Dan adds, his face equally as stony.
Fuck.
I’m sorry, Ash.
~*~*~*~
ASH
It’s been five days since the bikers arrived, and it’s been quite chaotic. If they’re not drinking, they’re fucking, and if they’re not doing both of those things, they are plotting shit we don’t have any idea about. My injuries are mostly healed now, and I’m able to walk without any pain. Santana and I spend the days wondering around in the trees surrounding the house, just exploring nature and getting to know each other.
She hasn’t revealed a lot about her story, but I’ve no doubt it’s something life-changing. You can see the pain behind her eyes; it runs deep. Krypt spends most of his time with Maddox, formulating a plan to take down the Tinman’s Soldiers. It would appear a war is on the way, and I have no doubt it’s something I don’t want involvement in.
Krypt and I are full of sexual tension. I can’t look at him without feeling it sizzling between us. I’m doing everything I can to avoid it, to stay away from him, to find some inner strength, but each day it gets harder and harder. I don’t want to involve myself with a man I know I could so easily fall in love with.
“Ash!”
I’m out in the trees, just weaving through them. The sun is out today, bright and beautiful, sending rays of warmth through the thick leaves that are poking out from the gorgeous stumps of the trees. I’m soaking it up, loving the outside air. At the sound of his voice, however, I find myself turning, and squinting to see what the problem is.
“Ash!”
It’s Krypt. His voice sounds frantic. Why is he frantic? I rush out of the trees and I notice him right away. He’s standing on the patio, his eyes scanning the area to find me. When his gaze falls on me, I’m sure I can see him breathe a sigh of relief. He charges down the stairs, stopping when he reaches me.
God he looks good today, like he belongs in a museum for women to fawn over. His big shoulders are covered with a tight, black T-shirt and his jeans hang low on his hips. There are no chains today, but he is wearing those sexy-as-sin black boots that make everything inside me clench. His eyes are darker than usual, which I’ve noticed happens depending on his mood. If he’s angry, they almost go as blue as Maddox’s, but when he’s relaxed, they’re a dark, stormy grey.
“We got a big problem,” he says, taking my arm and pulling me inside the house.
“What?” I pant, following after him.
He leads me into Maddox’s ‘domain’, which is just a bedroom he’s converted into an office so he can do all his private stuff. Maddox looks up the minute we walk in, and he nods at Krypt, who closes the door. Well, this can’t be good. It’s like being in the school principal’s office again; you know you’re in for it when the door closes.
“Sit down,” Maddox orders, and I slink over and drop into the seat.
Krypt stands behind me, his big hands resting on my shoulders. I feel a little dominated in this position and I shift, uncomfortable.
“So?” I ask, my voice low and quiet. “Care to tell me why I’m in here?”
“You’re in danger,” Maddox says, not holding back any punches. He just gives it like it is.
“What do you mean?” I ask. A shiver runs up my spine, and Krypt squeezes my shoulder.
“I mean I have people everywhere, just like that no good—”
“Get to the point, boss,” Krypt urges.
“I have word that you have a death sentence.”
My stomach turns, but I manage to stutter, “W-w-what?”
“I didn’t think they’d let you go so easily. You have too much information, and it’s going to ruin what they’ve created. They aren’t going to do it themselves, though, no. My guess is they’ll put it on us. ‘Cause that’s how these fuckers roll. Which means they’re goin’ to take you out, but they’re goin’ to make it happen in a place where we are. You can imagine why. They need the heat to stay off them, and what better way to do it than to have news flashin’ around that we killed our hostage?”
I’m going to pass out; I just know it. My head spins and I swallow over and over to try and keep the contents of my stomach in. I didn’t ask for any of this. Being a prisoner to this club is one thing, but suddenly becoming the hunted is another.
“They don’t know where I am, right?” I whisper.
Maddox looks to Krypt, and he squeezes my shoulders again. Oh God, they do.
“You said this was a safe location,” I croak.
“It is, but there’s a chance they were trackin’ Krypt’s phone. It ain’t hard to do. If that’s the case, they could show up here. The advantage we have, at this point, is that we can hear anyone comin’. I’m putting watches on every entrance; we will make sure we catch anyone who comes close.”
That’s not enough; it’s not. They’re asking me to just trust that they can keep these men away from me; we all know that isn’t the case. It never works like that. The girl always gets taken. I close my eyes and shove to my feet, my entire body shaking. I can’t be here; I don’t want to be here. The only place I’m safe is in a police station, possibly in a cell where no one can get to me.
I turn and rush out of the room.
“Ash!” Krypt calls, but I don’t dare stop. If I do, there’s a chance I’ll hurt him, and I don’t want to do that. Or maybe I do. I don’t know.
I run to the room I’ve been using and swing the door open. I reach the drawers in a split second and pull out a fresh pair of clothes before jerking mine off. I need something clean on to leave.
I can get out of here; I’ll find a way to safety. It can’t be any worse than staying here with a target painted on my back.
The door squeaks and then closes, but I don’t turn, I already know who it is. He can’t talk me out of this; he can’t convince me that he’s safer for me. He can’t, and he won’t. I’m leaving. If I have to shoot him, I will. There are plenty of guns lying around this place.
“What’re you doin’?” he asks, stepping behind me and putting his hands on my shoulders. I stiffen as he turns me to face him.
“I’m fucking leaving.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You lost your mind?”
“Lost my mind?” I screech. “It isn’t me who has lost my mind, it’s this fucking place, and all the shit around it.”
“Calm down, process what Maddox told you, and get your shit together. Runnin’ is dangerous, and you’ll be killed without hesitation.”
“You want me to stay here,” I growl, shoving my finger into his chest, “with a bunch of men who kidnapped me? And trust that when it comes down to it, they’re going to have my back?”
He reaches up, tangling his fingers into my hair and pulling my face forward. The air crackles between us as he lays his intense expression upon my face. “Yeah, I fuckin’ do.”
“Well, I don’t. I’m a walking fucking target. You can’t ask me to stay here, and just roll over and wait for a bullet.”
“You don’t get a fuckin’ choice.”
I shove him in his chest. I don’t think it does a great deal until I see him struggle for air before composing himself and jerking my head back, causing a sting to radiate through my skill. “Listen to me, girl. You ain’t runnin’ out of here because I’m not goin’ to have your death on my hands. If I have to chain you up, I’ll fuckin’ do it.”
“Let me go!” I screech, raising my knee and hitting him so hard in the balls his entire body drops to the floor.
He growls in pain and barks, “What the fuck is with you and balls?”
I leap over him, but his hand shoots out and catches my leg. He tugs me so hard I land flat on my face. Angry tears course down my cheeks as I kick and push forward, desperate, needing to get out of here.
“I
don’t want to be here with you,” I bellow, my voice cracking just slightly. “It’s your fault I’m here. It’s all your fucking fault. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“I know you didn’t,” he growls, his voice low and clearly pained. “But there ain’t no way I’m lettin’ you get killed for it. You have to fuckin’ trust me, Ash.”
“I don’t want to,” I scream. “I should fucking hate you.”
He slides up over my body, his chest pressing against my back. His mouth drops to my ear and he murmurs, “But you don’t fucking hate me and it kills you, because you know I’m the best thing for you right now.”
He’s right; deep down I know that, but it doesn’t mean I will accept it easily.
“I will go to a police station, and—”
“Ash,” he growls into my ear. “They’re in on it, too. You wouldn’t be safe.”
“What?” I squeak.
What sort of horror are these people running?
“Right here is the safest place you can be right now.”
“I don’t want to die, Krypt,” I whimper, my voice low and pathetic, like a whiny child’s. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“Look at me,” he demands, moving off me and rolling us so his body is settled over mine. Our eyes lock. His are determined, like he’s sure nothing will ever happen to me. “I won’t let anythin’ hurt you. I will lay my life down before anyone touches you.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“Because innocent people don’t deserve bad things. They don’t have a choice.”
I stare up at him. “Is that all?”
My heart picks up and I swallow, wanting to dart my eyes away, but instead I hold his gaze.
“No,” he says, his voice low and husky. “But that’s the only reason I’m tellin’ you right now, because the rest of it . . . I’m goin’ to show you.”
I don’t get the chance to answer, because his mouth comes down over mine. His jaw flexes and pulls as he kisses me, deep and powerful, taking all the bad away and replacing it with heaven. Krypt is my little piece of heaven, the fantasy I can’t have but I want. When I’m with him, I forget that he can never be mine.
His kisses fog my mind, his body floods my heart, and his presence makes me forget to breathe. I can’t protest, there’s nothing left to say. The fact is I want Krypt as much as he wants me, wrong or right. And if being here with him, feeling him over me, is how this moment is going to go, then who am I to stop it?
Our bodies grind against each other in frenzied passion as our tongues dance. The piercing in his lip tickles my skin as he devours me. His hands find my stomach and slide up beneath my shirt, splaying out across my warm flesh. My cheeks burn; I’m not a skinny model, not like most of the women I have no doubt he fucks.
“Don’t touch me there,” I breathe into his mouth.
“Give me a good fuckin’ reason why not,” he rasps against my lips as his hand slides up, searching for my breasts.
“I’m . . . I’m not skinny, and . . .”
“I’ll tell you this once, so listen fuckin’ close. I don’t want no skinny, bony-assed woman. I want a woman with flesh, something for me to appreciate. I want curves that make my jaw tighten, and my dick hard. I want to see beauty that only a woman with curves can accentuate. You, baby, are what a woman should be. So, I’m goin’ to keep my hands on you, I’m goin’ to suck your nipples, I’m goin’ to squeeze your ass, and then I’m goin’ to put my cock deep inside you—purely because you’re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”
Oh, God.
When he puts it like that, there really is no way to say no.
“There’s somethin’ else.” He nips at my lower lip. His hand finds one of my breasts, and he squeezes it with a firmness that has my back arching.
“W-w-w-what?”
“I like it rough, darlin’.”
“Don’t they all,” I mewl, sliding my hands under his shirt and feeling the hard, yet silky smoothness of his skin against my palms.
“No, sweetheart,” he grates out, sliding his hand around my back to unclip my bra so he can find my nipples. Oh God, yes.
“Then elaborate,” I pant, squeezing his hip with my fingers.
“When I fuck, I like to fuck with a raw ferocity most women can’t handle. I don’t make love. I want you up against a wall, my hands tangled in your hair while my cock is driving in and out of you. My hands won’t be gentle; my cock won’t be gentle; and baby,” he growls, “I won’t be fuckin’ gentle.”
“Give me all you’ve got, biker,” I challenge breathlessly.
“Fuck,” he hisses. “Never had one so eager.”
“Just one question,” I moan, writhing beneath him as he pinches my nipple so hard that pain shoots through my spine, and pleasure floods my pussy.
“Only one?” he murmurs against my mouth. “Go.”
“Will you put your hands on me in an aggressive way that will be forever scarring?”
He pulls back, his lips swollen from our kiss. “It’s your turn to elaborate.”
“Will you hit me?”
He narrows his eyes. “Fuck no.”
“So you just like angry sex, you don’t like . . . sadistic sex?”
He smirks. “I’ll hurt you, baby. But it’ll be with my mouth as my teeth sink into your flesh. There will be no brutal violence. I’m not fucked up. I don’t like it like this because I’ve got deep, dark issues. I like it like this because there is a certain thrill that comes with sex that is rough and angry. I know you won’t get it because you’re a chick, but it’s how I like it. Not all the time, of course. But eh, I’m a biker and a bit of rough and tumble is fuckin’ hot.”
I stare up at him, and a slow smirk creeps across my face. I believe Krypt has underestimated me. I have a sex drive wilder than most men; I love it. I am forever wanting to find different ways to do it, often fantasizing about more than one scenario. I reach up, stroking his jaw. His eyes soften—at least, until I pull my hand back and slap him.
“You fuckin’ . . .” he growls, taking my hands in one of his and shoving them above my head. “Don’t do that again.”
“You want it rough, Krypt? Then do it properly.”
His eyes flare with need, his mouth slackening as if he’s just discovered something he has dreamed about his entire life.
“Well?” I hiss up at him. “Are we going to lay here, or are you going to fuck me and make it count?”
A slow, wild grin spreads across his face. His eyes flicker between grey and blue as the light shines in over us. Then, before I can say another word, he has me flipped on my stomach. He presses himself over me, his hands taking hold of my shirt and sliding it up. He shifts his body and rips it off as if it didn’t have to clear my head and arms first.
He leans down, biting the flesh on my back, causing little moans of pain and pleasure to escape my lips. Using one hand he tucks my arm underneath me, pressing his face down to my ear. “I’ll make it count, baby, don’t you fuckin’ worry about that.” He nips my earlobe and then his lips are sliding across the back of my neck, pushing my hair out of the way.
I whimper shamelessly, pushing my backside up into his already hard cock. “Uh, uh, uh,” he chastises, pushing it back down. “I’ll be the one to decide when you get that.”
His weight goes off me for a second while he takes my pants and quickly pulls them down my legs. He puts his hands under my hips and raises my ass into the air, revealing my tiny G-string, which thank god was brand new; I made Krypt assure me of that. He leans down, and his warm breath penetrates the thin cotton to warm my damp sex.
“I love how you fuckin’ smell,” he rasps against me. “So fuckin’ sweet. Have you ever had your pussy licked from behind?”
I shudder. Oh, God.
“Didn’t think so.”
He tears my panties off with a loud rip, and then his mouth is back against my ass. He breathes me in, a long, slow inhale that has my cheeks flushing. Then his mouth is a
gainst my exposed entrance, his tongue slides along the damp flesh. I drop my head, my eyes fluttering closed as he presses his entire mouth against me, his tongue sliding out to find my clit.
“Oh God,” I whimper. “Shit.”
All that heat covering me sends me over the edge. I press myself against him, wanting him to put his fingers inside me and fuck me while his lips are against me, but on this angle, I know it’s not possible.
Krypt makes it possible.
His tongue penetrates me as a finger would, and I cry out so loudly I shock myself. It feels oddly amazing, so soft and yet hard. His fingers go up and he strokes my clit while his tongue fucks me in a way I’ve not been fucked before. I thrash my head from side to side as an orgasm rises.
Then he pulls back.
It takes me a moment to realize what has happened, and it isn’t until the cool air hits my exposes skin that reality kicks in and my orgasm dies. I turn around, and he’s rocking back on his heels. He’s squatting as he rocks, a smirk on his face. He’s got no shirt on, and his jeans are unbuttoned. His cock pokes out the top, the head an angry red, like it needs to be freed.
“Are you proud of yourself?”
He winks at me. The fucker. I lunge at him, knocking him clean over. He lands on his back with an oomph. I drop over him, straddling his hips. I take his hands and shove them above his head. He grins up at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. Effortlessly, he throws me off him. My entire body is aware of him as I crawl forward quickly.
I hear shuffling behind me as he crawls after me. His hand lashes out and catches my hip, pulling me backwards. I drive my elbow into his ribs, before spinning around and raising my hand to shove him backwards. He catches it, slamming it against the wall behind him. He slides his body up against mine, pressing me against the cold surface with no way out.
“I win, sweetheart.”
“I wasn’t even trying,” I pant.
He thrusts his cock up against me, and I can feel the soft skin against my belly. It’s clearly freed from its confinements. He presses his forehead against mine, while his hands hold my hands above my head. He continues to thrust his hips, sliding his length up and down my belly, warming me.