by Stone, Piper
Taking long strides, he forced my back against the wall, using it as an anchor as he drove harder and faster. He jerked my arms over my head, holding both wrists in one hand as the hard fucking continued.
With every frenetic plunge, every savage slam of my body against the wall, I squeezed my pussy muscles. I was driving him to the point of madness.
Breaking the kiss, he licked around the seam of my mouth, holding his body against mine, all motion stopped. “Do you like, little girl?”
“Yes. Yes!”
A dark chuckle slipped past his lips as he held the stance, merely shifting his hips back and forth. He let go of my arms, sliding me further up the wall until he was able to suck and nip on first one then the other nipple.
I rubbed my hands along the back of his neck, my fingers just able to reach past his shoulder. I could feel another scar, this one cruder in formation, the edges jagged, and the center caved in. A wound? None that I could imagine. Then what?
Blade shifted his shoulder, forcing my hand away. Whatever he’d endured was just as private as the horrors from my past. Two damaged souls. The thought would never leave my mind. He bit down on my hardened bud, regaining my full attention. I knew he was holding back, waiting to come, but the wait wouldn’t be for long.
Every motion over-exaggerated, he carried me to the bed, tossing me down in the center. I tumbled and turned, but there was no getting away. Planting me on all fours, he rubbed the tip of his cock up and down the crack of my ass then shoved his cockhead inside. A series of guttural sounds rose from the depths of his throat as he pushed his fingers into my hips.
The pain was blinding, breathtaking and I jutted my entire body backward just as he thrust his hips forward, impaling me with every inch. “Oh!”
Both our bodies shaking, he kneaded my skin before moving in an orchestrated motion, driving in and out, taking his time.
I met every hard thrust, arching my back as I clawed the bedding. A wild fire enveloped my system as this man, this amazing and very dominating man ravaged me, taking what belonged to him. Skin slapping against skin and primal moans floated up toward the ceiling. This was pure magic.
“Fuck...” he rumbled.
As a string of sweat from his face trickled down my back, I squeezed my ass muscles, smiling when he roared.
“Fuck!”
He hovered over me, his body swaying and covering me completely. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. Everything about this experience had been cathartic, pulling me into an amazing bliss.
Easing us both onto the bed, he wrapped his arms around me, tugging the hair from my face and nuzzling against my neck. There weren’t any words to say, nothing that we should talk about. We both knew the score, yet I’d never felt so comfortable in the arms of a man. So many emotions ripped through me until I realized tears had fallen across my cheeks, sliding in zigzagging patterns toward the comforter. He wasn’t my boyfriend. He wasn’t even my lover. He was simply a blip in time.
Rolling over, I eased onto my elbow. While he didn’t push me away, he didn’t react in any manner either. He stared at me, not blinking, his face pinched. I cocked my head, my eyes drawn once again to the scar. Very gingerly, I brushed the tip of my little finger all the way down the edge, refusing to stop even as he flinched. “What happened? Who hurt you?”
Blade took several deep breaths but said nothing.
I repeated the gentle caress until he grabbed and snapped my hand away. “Don’t, Crystal.”
“Why won’t you tell me?”
“Not something I want to talk about,” he whispered.
“There’s a scar on your back too.” This time, he flinched as if I’d hit him or as if I’d found his ugly secret.
“It doesn’t matter what happened to me or why and you don’t need to know.”
“No, you’re right, maybe I don’t. We all have scars, Blade. We all hurt. We all want something or someone we can’t have. I’m not immune. Some of the worst scars are on the inside, festering and eating at what little humanity or happiness we have left. So, I do get it. You mentioned trust. Interesting word.”
Whether or not he cared wasn’t on the table. As I rolled over, I expected that he’d simply walk away, and I was going to be fine with that. Yes, I could be.
Then why did the tears welling in my eyes burn straight into my soul?
* * *
Bam! Bam!
Blood was everywhere, covering my hands and arms, the sweet stench of copper creating a wave of nausea. Leaning over, I could see my terrified reflection in the gooey substance. No. No! There was no way. I was squatting in a pool of blood, a dripping sound all around me. I struggled to stand, but my bare feet slipped, pitching me forward until I slid along the cold, concrete floor. The hard thud knocking the wind out of me, I smacked at the surface. “Help me!”
I was so cold, my teeth chattering. “Please...” My voice hoarse from screaming, I realized there was no one coming to save me.
Click!
A bright line came down as if from the heavens, forcing me to look up. Instead of salvation, I found hell.
“No!”
“No. No!”
I swam up from a brutal dream, blinking several times in order to determine whether it was real. Everything was dark, pitch black. Where the fuck was I? What was happening? Panting, I struggled with whatever was holding me down, fighting as I tried to remember. Bed. Home. What the...
I heard the growl coming from Zorro’s throat. “I’m okay, baby. Go back to sleep.” His tail thumped for a few seconds before he eased back onto his bed and within seconds, he was snoring.
As my eyes became accustomed to the darkness, I clutched at the covers and scanned the room. The nightmare had seemed far too real. Blade was centric, his tortured body... Refusing to remember the gory details, I took several deep breaths. Why would I dream something so horrible? The scars. That had to be the reason why. The scent permeating the air wasn’t filtered with blood, only the scent of sex. I bit my lower lip to keep from groaning until I realized that Blade was no longer in the bed. Shifting, I allow a brief whimper, feeling the effects of the spanking. The belt. I closed my eyes briefly, remembering the dazzling pain darting through every portion of my body. Jesus. Why did everything seem so cold?
Because he’s not lying next to you.
No, he wasn’t, and I didn’t see that happening. Ever. Why did I want him? Why did I crave what I couldn’t have, what I shouldn’t taste?
After my ridiculous try at asking anything about his personal life, he hadn’t muttered another word, but at least he’d remained with me until I’d fallen asleep with my head on his chest. I knew one thing for certain. He’d closed and locked the door on discussing anything personal, even after our intimate moments. And even now, I longed to feel the rough touch of his fingers stroking my back, my bruised ass. Damn it. He’d allowed me in for the briefest of time, but I’d seen enough to know how much pain he was in.
A bad man. He’d issued the words as if he was proud of being able to say them, but I sensed he’d been taught he was nothing more than that. Shuddering, I brushed my hands through my hair before easing out of bed and finding another robe. The house was quiet. Even with Zorro’s heavy breathing, everything remained ominous to me. Blade had intended on putting the fear of God into me and it had worked.
The knife was gone, and the items that had been knocked to the floor were back on the dresser as if the amazing event hadn’t occurred. As if he’d never been here, but I knew he wouldn’t leave me alone in the darkness. I didn’t need to search the house. I knew exactly where he was. I moved to one of the front windows, carefully peering outside. There would be no sleep for him this time. He sat on the edge of his seat, peering into the darkness. Watching.
Waiting.
And he would kill any intruder.
Chapter Eight
Blade
You belong to me.
The words burned in the back of my mind. I’d actually said
them, and it wasn’t all about the heat of passion. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. There was no excuse for my behavior. Brash. Without thinking. All I’d done the remainder of the night was think about my careless actions, and not just the evening before.
Even now, I wanted nothing more than to go back inside and take her over and over again. She was my drug and damn if I wasn’t already addicted. No. It couldn’t happen again. I was going to find a way to get the hell out of here. Touching the side of my face and feeling the rough edges, I hissed, furious with myself for shutting her out. Crystal’s gentle touch should have broken through. But what was I supposed to say, how could I explain to her what I’d been forced to endure? She didn’t deserve to hear the shit storm of my life. No one did.
I stood staring out at the tangled mess of her front yard. The place was a far cry from the glass and steel I’d just left. Oddly enough, I’d realized she and I weren’t all that much different. We were both hiding.
From ourselves. From our pasts.
I sensed she’d endured more pain than I ever had, but there was nothing I could offer to either soothe or help ease her pain. If she ever found out my true identity, she’d run far away. As she should. I was no good for her, or anyone else for that matter.
The early morning fog had given way to streaks of sunlight cresting over the horizon. I could almost gather a whiff of the ocean, even though Crystal’s scent covered every inch of my body. I was no longer on edge, at least to the level I’d been the night before. She’d be safe for the time being until the little fuckers regrouped. The one thing I knew about the types of assholes who’d jumped me was that they were fueled by alcohol. The only way they could get their dick up, at least in my opinion. They’d taken a significant chance threatening her in such a public location. Then again, they certainly weren’t trained made men. They were kids in a gang, pretending to be men.
Diego would call these kinds of morons ‘gavones’ or total embarrassments to the organization. I’d never heard of the Desperados, but I assumed they were the typical of the ones I’d experienced in Miami. Retaliation was the rule of the game. They waged wars for the sake of doing so and to gain more turf. I’d ask around in my own manner, finding out what I could about them. I had a feeling few people would talk, especially to a stranger. Chuckling, I twirled the knife, watching the way the sun shimmered over the jagged edge. I had certain methods I could use, and I would if necessary. Everything I’d said to her had been truthful but overdramatized, the spin meant to keep her from going off half-cocked. I smiled at the thought. She was indeed a handful.
Hissing, I shoved the blade back into the sheath, this time attaching it to my waist, and leaned against the front railing. I’d been a damn fool to fuck her for several reasons, including taking my eyes off the perimeter of her house. My weakness could have cost her life. If several gavones had come for her, I wouldn’t have had the element of surprise.
What the hell was I going to do now? I sure as shit hadn’t intended on staying more than a day in the location, two at best. The damn Harley. I knew my way around an engine, no matter whether cars, trucks, or motorcycles, but with limited tools, there was little I could do at this point. And the mechanic the dude at the motel had suggested? All bets were off about whether he knew what the hell he was doing. Parts needed to be ordered. Fucking fantastic.
I took a glance over my shoulder. The blinds were still closed and even the dog hadn’t barked. Hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I’d walked the entire property no less than three times after leaving her... bed. The last time just minutes before, taking my damn sweet time about it too. I snapped my fist against the railing and stormed toward the door, anger furrowing inside. The sight of her intimate attire drew my attention. Stopping short, I leaned down and balled the material into my fist, bringing the softness to my nose and inhaling. Stars floated in front of my eyes, bringing another round of longing. I hissed and ignored the sensations, regrouping in order to keep her safe.
There was zero sound as I walked inside. Nothing. I hadn’t owned a dog since I was a kid, but no matter their size or breed, they reacted when someone came into their world and usually with a bark. There was no sign of either in the kitchen, but the fucking back door was open, the screen door unlatched. What. The. Fuck. I craned my neck until I was able to look past the open door and into the yard. There were no signs of tampering of any kind. Keeping quiet, I closed and locked the door, refusing to allow easy access.
Still, a sickening feeling remained in the pit of my stomach.
Taking long strides, I smashed my way into the bedroom, my eyes sweeping the empty bed and the sleeping dog. Zorro raised his head, whining. Even his tail wasn’t thumping. Shit. Was the dog terrified? The bathroom door was partially cracked. Moving cautiously, my hand on the knife, I pushed open the door and waited before stepping inside. There was no blood trail, no sign of struggle. Scanning the room, I yanked the shower curtain.
“No!” Crystal yelped, one hand immediately covering herself, the other thrust out, prepared to fight her attacker. Gasping for air, her eyes remained open wide. “What are you doing?” She cowered in the corner, her eyes never leaving my holster.
I allowed my gaze to travel all the way down her naked form, searching for any sign of injury, prepared for a fight. My mouth watered seeing the way water trickled down the length of her beautiful body, licking against her brightly painted toes. The dim lighting hadn’t done her enough justice. She was the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on. Hunger swelled from deep within, fighting the torturous man. There would be no victory today. Not in this regard.
Backing down, I turned slightly, reaching for a towel. Why the hell was my damn hand shaking? While I’d been inside her sweet pussy only hours before, this was far too intimate, as if invading her space. Zorro crowded into the area, whimpering for attention, his entire body wiggling. “I was concerned about your safety. The back door was open. You can’t leave any doors unlocked at any time. I thought I was very clear.”
“Oh, you were clear as mud,” she hissed, her tone bordering on nasty. “I’m fine, Blade. I told you before. I can take care of myself and have for years. As far as the damn back door, I stepped out on the deck looking for you. Okay? Stupid, huh? You obviously don’t want me in your life.” She yanked the towel from my hand, shaking as she tried to position the material around her body. “I thought you’d gone. I just... Oh, it fucking doesn’t matter.”
Nodding, I released my near death grip on the knife and rubbed the top of the dog’s head, scouring through my mind for the right words, as if there were any. She couldn’t be in my life. Not now. Not ever. “I was checking the perimeter. I had to make certain there wasn’t any signs of the assholes before I left.” The same electricity we’d shared soared, but an uneasiness was also rearing its ugly head. Why was this so damn uncomfortable?
Because you went too far. Because you allowed your guard to fall.
“Just stop worrying about me. I know you just want to leave and that’s fine. We shared one night. It doesn’t matter. I’m a big girl.” When I said nothing, she huffed and tried to sidestep me.
I snapped my hand around her wrist, the movement allowing the towel to fall. “What we shared does matter and don’t be a fool, Crystal. Just because it’s daylight doesn’t mean that you’re safe.” I crowded her space, pushing her back against the counter.
“Blade. I...”
My lips hovered over hers and I wanted nothing more than to fuck her again, drive my cock so deep inside she’d beg me for more. All the shit said about owning her was all I could think about. I was blinded with my own lust. I craved the feel of her pussy wrapped around my cock. I longed to lick her for hours, keeping her tied to the bed.
Crystal jutted her breasts forward, crushing them against my chest, her breath skipping. “What do you want, Blade? I asked you that before. Open up to me. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to follow you into whatever private hell you insist on driving yours
elf into.”
“What do I want?” Hell. She had no understanding of the true meaning. Adrenaline rushed into every blood cell, fueling the already wild fire. With no control, I could lose my self, damaging this special woman. You fucking asshole. There weren’t enough words to chastise the hungry beast.
“Yes. You refuse to tell me anything. You act like I’m your possession. You tell me you’re a bad man and not to give a shit about you. Then you make certain you protect me with your life. Tell me!”
So demanding. So fucking dangerous to me. And I couldn’t take anymore. I would stop at nothing to devour her, strip away the mask and peel aside all her inhibitions. Damn the consequences. Damn the danger.
And damn my very soul.
Fisting her hair, I crushed her mouth, my lips moving over hers, devouring her essence and tasting the woman I already adored. I couldn’t get enough as I thrust my tongue inside, fighting with hers, as if she was raging against my dominance. The sensual feel of her naked body pressed against mine drove me into the kind of beastlike state I’d fought so hard to keep hidden, unearthing my wildest desires. She had no way of knowing how desperately I wanted her submission, succumbing to my every need.
Her moans became strangled whimpers as the moment of passion became nothing more than a savage conquering his mate. She would no longer deny me anything, no matter what I required. I cupped her face with my other hand, almost crushing her fragile bones with the power of my fingers. Rubbing my thumb back and forth, the excessive heat of her skin created a string of electric current bouncing off every muscle and bone.
Crystal undulated her body against mine, her cravings just as dark, just as perilous. We were standing on the precipice of oblivion, but neither one of us cared. Tugging on my shirt and releasing the thin material from my jeans, she jammed her hands underneath, kneading my stomach. Her lithe fingers tickled every part of my synapses, drawing my beast closer to the surface.