Craving Rose (The Aces' Sons)

by Nicole Jacquelyn

I stubbornly refused to give him what he asked for and felt him chuckle against my neck. Sliding my hand underneath my hips, I reached back as far as I could and cupped his balls, using my middle finger to rub the spot right behind them.

  I smiled as Mack groaned.

  “Playin’ dirty,” he muttered, his hips moving faster.

  “You like it dirty,” I gasped back. I held my breath for just a moment, and that’s when my orgasm hit hard. I couldn’t have stopped the moan that fell from my lips if I’d tried.

  “That’s the noise I wanted,” Mack said through gritted teeth. Seconds later, he was coming, too.

  I fell onto my belly as Mack’s hands slid around my sides and swept feather-light up my back.

  “Gonna take care of this condom,” he said as he pulled out. He leaned down and kissed the space between my shoulder blades before crawling off the bed. “’Cause as soon as I lay down, I’m gonna pass the fuck out.”

  “Water,” I mumbled, reaching blindly for my glass on the nightstand.

  I leaned up and took a sip, then sighed as I pushed myself up to find my underwear. I was all about sleeping naked, but not with Mack’s parents and Kara sleeping right outside in the RV. They were planning on camping in one of the local parks, but by the time we got done visiting, it had been too late for them to go looking for a spot.

  “Whatcha doin’?” Mack asked as he walked back into the room.

  “Putting some clothes back on,” I replied, staring as I stepped into my underwear. “But feel free to sleep naked.”

  Mack laughed. “Nah, I’ll put some shorts on. You want a shirt?”

  “I can use this one,” I said, lifting the shirt I’d stripped him out of.

  I sputtered as he smacked it playfully out of my hand.

  “That one reeks,” he said, laughing. “I was sweatin’ in it all day. I’ll get you a fresh one.”

  By the time we climbed into bed, I was yawning.

  “Told you they’d like you,” Mack said as he pulled me against his chest. “They’re cool.”

  “Cool is an understatement,” I replied. “Your parents are freaking magical.”

  He chuckled. “How so?”

  “They just wander around the US, no destination in mind, living like freaking vagabonds,” I said in wonder. “And they make friends everywhere. Did you hear your mom telling us about that guy they found in Yellowstone that they’re pen pals with now? Who does that?”

  “Louise does that,” Mack replied. “That guy’s probably wondering what the fuck he got himself into.”

  “He writes her back!”

  “Guilt,” he said jokingly. “They’re lucky they’ve got a fantastic son that forwards their mail to ’em whenever they stay in one place long enough.”

  “Well, I think they’re awesome,” I said firmly. “They love you guys.”

  “Of course they do,” Mack replied easily.

  “No, they adore you,” I insisted, leaning up to meet his eyes. “Your parents think the sun shines out of your ass.”

  “Your parents feel that way about you, too,” he pointed out.

  “Well, yeah,” I huffed, laying back down. “Because I’m their only girl. They love the boys a lot less.”

  I smiled as Mack’s chest shook with silent laughter beneath my head.

  “Howie and Lou dug the hell outta you,” he said, rubbing his hand up and down my back. “Don’t be surprised if you gain a fuckin’ pen pal.”

  “That would completely make my year,” I replied seriously.

  “I love you,” he said quietly.

  I froze, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. If I had, holy shit. If I hadn’t… what had he said?

  “Could you repeat that?” I asked, swallowing hard.

  “I love you,” he said louder.

  I closed my eyes and let the words wash over me. I’d heard them before. Men had been telling me they loved me since I slept with my bull-faced prom date in high school. Some said it during sex, some said it jokingly, and some were completely serious, but I’d never felt the words all the way to my bones the way I did then. It was like I was covered in a weighted blanket and Pop Rocks were crackling in my belly at the same time.

  “You gotta say somethin’,” Mack murmured. “Even a thank you would be okay.”

  “I love you,” I said quickly, climbing on top of him, my legs straddling his hips. I peppered his face in kisses, and pulled back to grin at him.

  “Thought I was tired,” he said, reaching up to slide his fingers into my hair. He pulled me down for a kiss. “Feelin’ all sorts of awake now, though.”

  Our kiss was interrupted by Mack’s phone ringing loudly on the nightstand.

  “The fuck?” he said in frustration. “Who the fuck is callin’ at two in the goddamn morning?”

  He reached out and snagged the phone, cursing when he saw the name lighting up the screen.

  “Yo,” he barked. His hand patted my hip, and he was up and out of bed as soon as I’d climbed off his lap. “When?”

  My eyes widened as he started dressing quickly.

  “Give me twenty,” he said before hanging up. He turned to me. “Sorry, baby. I gotta go.”

  “What?” I sat up in bed, alarm making my stomach twist. “What’s wrong?”

  “Club shit,” he said dismissively.

  I scoffed. “That won’t work with me,” I shot back.

  Mack paused from putting on his boots and turned to look at me. “Right,” he said with a shake of his head. “Club business. Everyone’s fine, I just gotta go take care of some shit.”

  I let out a breath of relief. Calls in the middle of the night were never good, but if everyone was okay, I could deal. “Should I go home?” I asked quietly, watching him pull on a hoodie.

  “Hell, no,” he said in surprise. “I’ll be back in a while, and I want ya waitin’, all warm and sleepy in my bed.”

  “You know you won’t be back tonight,” I murmured against his mouth as he leaned down to kiss me goodbye.

  “I’ll do my damnedest,” he said, pulling back just far enough to meet my eyes. “If not, there’s pancake shit in the pantry for breakfast and bacon in the fridge. Hang with my parents until I get here?”

  “No problem,” I said, leaning up to kiss him again.

  “Jesus,” he muttered. “You’re fuckin’ perfect.”

  “Remember that,” I ordered as he pulled away.

  “Hard to forget,” he said with a grin.

  “Keep your head on a swivel,” I called out as he walked away.

  “Say what?” he asked, laughing.

  “I always wanted to say that,” I admitted with a shrug. “Love you.”

  Mack’s eyes grew soft. “Love you, too, baby. Be back in a bit.”

  He strode out the door, and I listened to him jog down the stairs. Within moments, his bike started up. As the sound of his motorcycle faded away down the street, I sighed. Then I giggled.

  He loved me. He was a fantastic dad, a hard worker, close to his parents, and damn near perfect for me on every level, and he loved me. I’d finally hit the jackpot.

  * * *

  “We heard him leave,” Lou told me the next morning while we cooked breakfast. “Hard to miss those pipes.”

  “They are pretty distinctive,” I replied, shooting her a smile.

  “But we figured he just had to run to the store or something,” she said with a shrug.

  “The store?” Why would he go to the store in the middle of the—

  “For rubbers,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Kara didn’t hear her as my mouth dropped open in shock.

  “Uh, no,” I stuttered. “We have plenty.”

  “Good,” she said with a nod. “Can’t be too careful.”

  What in God’s name was happening, and how did I stop it?

  “Oh, don’t be such a stick in the mud,” she teased. “You’re red as a tomato.”

  “I’m usually not,” I replied, trying to scho
ol my expression. “You surprised me.”

  “Then I’ve done my job,” she said, smiling. “I’d never want to be predictable.”

  “You’re definitely not that,” I muttered, making her laugh. The sound was low and raspy, and I loved it.

  “You’re good for them,” she said, bumping me with her hip. “I can tell. Kara wouldn’t stop talking about you in the camper last night.”

  “I’m pretty popular with the tween crowd,” I replied. “It’s because I swear so much.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s more than that,” Lou said. Before she’d finished speaking, I heard Mack’s bike outside.

  “Dad’s home,” Kara yelled from the living room.

  “As if we couldn’t hear it,” Lou said with a chuckle.

  I smiled as I flipped pancakes, but my stomach exploded with butterflies. Mack had left before we could spend any time post-I love you, and I was anxious to see him. Would things be different? Would he say it again? In front of his parents?

  “Jesus, I’m wiped,” Mack said in the living room. “You guys eat yet?”

  “Your mom and Rose are cookin’ now,” Howie replied.

  “You’re not helpin’?” Mack asked Kara.

  “No, Grandpa said he wanted to kick my butt at checkers, so Nana said I could clean up instead.”

  “Alright,” Mack replied.

  Then, he was in the kitchen and I couldn’t stop the wide smile that pulled at my cheeks.

  “Hey, Ma,” Mack greeted as he came toward us. He stopped right in front of me. “Hey, baby,” he said, leaning down to give me a sweet kiss. “You sleep okay?”

  “Without you taking up most of the bed?” I teased. “I slept like a rock.”

  Mack chuckled. “Good.”

  “You get everything straightened up at the club?” Lou asked, watching us with an indulgent smile.

  Mack sent a guarded look my way.

  “I told her about the fight that broke out,” I said, keeping my voice even. “No one’s hurt, I hope?”

  “Nah,” Mack said, catching on easily. “Just a bunch of drunk idiots.”

  “Sounds like any other party,” I said, turning back to the pancakes.

  “I’m gonna take a quick shower,” Mack said, resting one hand on my hip as he kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be right back.”

  “You have time,” Lou said.

  After he walked away, we were quiet as we cooked. Then, without warning, Lou wrapped her arm around my waist and squeezed, giving me a kiss on my temple. “See?” she said. “You’re good for him.”

  I smiled at her and shrugged.

  Breakfast was loud and fun. We ate on the patio and I got to know Howie a little better. He was a lot like his son, both funny and serious, and I found myself laughing until my stomach hurt as he told me stories about life on the road. He and Lou had planned their entire lives for the moment they could retire and take off, and every word out of his mouth proved how much he loved it. I had to admit, I was a little jealous. I’d gone with Lily to college on the other side of the US, but I’d rarely traveled away from the western states otherwise. Maybe one day Mack would want to do the same thing, just take off and travel for a while.

  I glanced over at him and smiled at the way he was laughing at his mom, his body bent at the waist.

  “I did not,” Lou said imperiously. “I never told you that.”

  “You did, too!” He looked over at Kara. “She told me that if I didn’t pull my tooth out, the Tooth Fairy was gonna come and yank it out while I was sleepin’. ’Cause the Tooth Fairy ain’t got the patience for your shit.”

  “I really didn’t say that,” Lou said, throwing her napkin at Mack.

  “Okay, I’m paraphrasin’, but that was the gist of it.” He turned to Howie. “Dad? Am I right?”

  “I gotta live with the woman in a camper,” Howie said, nodding his head. “So I can’t confirm that.” He continued nodding his head as he looked at Kara.

  “You’re so full of it,” Lou said with a laugh. She glanced down at her watch. “Honey, we better get a move on, or we’re not gonna be able to find a good spot before everyone starts showing up for the weekend.”

  “Yeah,” Howie said with a sigh. “You’re probably right.”

  “Can I come with?” Kara asked hopefully.

  “Okay with me,” Lou said.

  “Clear the table and load the dishes first,” Mack told his daughter. “I’ll wash the pans for you.”

  “Thanks, Dad!”

  I stood up to help Kara clear and Mack put his hand on my ass to stop me.

  “It’s part of her chores,” he reminded me quietly.

  “I don’t mind,” I whispered back, leaning down to kiss his cheek. “Plus, the sooner they leave, the sooner we can get naked.”

  He laughed and leaned back in his seat. “How can I argue with that?”

  “Mmhmm,” I murmured.

  Fifteen minutes later, we watched as Lou drove the RV away with Kara in the passenger seat and Howie following behind them in the Mustang.

  “Do you keep the Mustang so your dad has something to drive when they’re here?” I asked, following Mack into the house.

  “No,” he replied, shaking his head. “I keep the Mustang ’cause it’s a hot fucking car and it took me years to rebuild. They could rent a car if they wanted to get around. But I do keep those fuckin’ aviator shades in the glove compartment for him.”

  I laughed.

  “Come here,” he said, pulling me toward the couch. He dropped down onto it with a sigh and let go of my hand. “Strip.”

  “What?”

  “Come on,” he said, smiling as he leaned back into the cushions. “Gimme a show, baby.”

  I snorted, then realized he was completely serious.

  “You want a show?”

  “Yep.”

  “Want me to turn on some music?” I asked dryly.

  “I want you to take off your clothes,” he replied.

  It should have been awkward, but it wasn’t. As I slowly took off my clothes, he sat patiently, his eyes never leaving me. By the time I was down to my bra and underwear, his hands were fisted at his sides, but he didn’t move.

  “Jesus,” he murmured as soon as I was stripped bare. “You might be the most beautiful woman on the planet.”

  “Might be?” I asked jokingly as I moved forward and straddled him.

  “Haven’t seen all of ’em,” he replied, grinning as I pinched his side. “How the hell did I land you?”

  “Pure dumb luck,” I shot back. “And the ability to make anything sound dirty.”

  “I knew that would come in handy someday,” he said, reaching up to fist his hands in my hair.

  Mack kissed me hard, all lips and teeth and tongue, and I lost my mind. I tore at his clothes, barely getting his t-shirt off before his fingers were sliding inside me, hitting just the right spot. We didn’t even bother with his jeans, pushing them down just far enough to pull his cock out. I was glad Mack had the presence of mind to roll on a condom, because I wasn’t thinking. I was too busy feeling. The rasp of his beard on my neck, the scratch of his jeans against my thighs, and the smooth skin of his shoulders under my fingertips had me on overload. It was fast and desperate and neither of us lasted long.

  Later, after we’d moved to bed and fallen asleep, I woke up to Mack’s fingers running slowly up my thigh. That time was slow and even better.

  * * *

  The week passed quickly, full of visits with Mack’s parents between working at both jobs, packing for our trip—when you can only bring a backpack, you have to be strategic about it—and stumbling into bed with Mack in the middle of the night, only to wake up with him a few hours later. By the time we got to the clubhouse Friday morning I was a tired, haggard mess.

  “Look at you, riding in on the back of Mack’s bike,” my sister-in-law Hawk teased out of the side of her mouth. “Someone’s an old lady.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled, my li
ps twitching. “Is Tommy wearing his shirt today?”

  “Not if he values his nuts,” she replied breezily.

  “Please don’t talk about Tommy’s anatomy,” Lily said as she strode up to us. “I’d like to keep my breakfast in my stomach.”

  “His dick is fantastic,” Hawk said, jogging away as Lily slapped at her.

  “Those two are freaks,” I told Lily, watching as Hawk pinched my brother’s ass and took off running.

  “They’re freaking made for each other,” Lily replied. “And speaking of made for each other… things look like they’re going well with you and Mack.”

  “They are,” I said, grinning. “Sorry I haven’t called. Shit has been crazy.”

  “His parents are in town, right?” Lily said as we walked inside the club. “How has that been?”

  “Great,” I replied with a shrug. “They’re the nicest people ever.”

  “Not surprising,” Lily said. “Look at the kid they made.”

  “True story.”

  “You ready for this?” she asked, gesturing at the room full of people.

  “What do you mean?” I asked in confusion. “I’ve been around this all my life.”

  “Runs are different,” she said, throwing her arm over my shoulder. “Riding on the back of your man’s bike is different.”

  “I think I can handle it,” I said with a laugh.

  “Trust me,” she said seriously. “It’s one thing going as one of the brother’s kids—that shit is tame. This’ll be different.”

  “I’m good.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “But don’t come crying to me when your ass is numb from riding.”

  “I’m gonna ask you to rub it for me,” I said, smiling huge.

  “You have Mack for that now,” she shot back.

  I made my way around the room, saying my hellos, but it didn’t take long before we were all headed back outside. Watching the bikes move in a massive group was something to see, but riding in that group was something else. I’d always felt free on the back of a bike, but this time, I felt powerful. People stopped to stare as we rode through town, and other motorists changed lanes to let us pass, watching in awe as the men rode in sync, like one huge entity.

  By the time we reached Seattle hours later, my ass was numb, just like Lily had warned me it would be. I was surprised when my legs buckled a little getting off the bike.