The Ties That Bind 1

by D. A. Young

  Ransom didn’t stick around for her protests. He plucked the bag out of her hands and headed toward his bike, offering, “I’ll give you a ride to town and make arrangements for your car to be towed there ASAP.”

  “I’m fine walking, Ransom! You don’t have to do this!” Billy caught up to him and tried to take her bag back. He was quicker and held it high above her head with an infuriating chuckle. “If you don’t gimme me my purse, I’m gonna shank your ass!”

  “We’re done talking. You must be out of your goddamn mind if you think I’m gonna leave your ass to strut the big slab under this heat.”

  Ransom stored her purse in his bike’s compartment box and swung his leg over the bike. He offered Billy his helmet and removed his shades from his hair, tucking them on his shirt neckline and put Harley’s helmet on. The thought of her wearing another man’s property didn’t sit well with him.

  He had a point about the heat. Billy was baking in her black blouse, and it was starting to stick uncomfortably to her skin. With a mulish glare, she snatched it from him and slapped it down on her head. Ransom’s grin was smug as he fixed his strap. She was sexy as fuck while pissed off and wearing his lid.

  “All that attitude isn’t doing anything but turning me on, wild thing. C’mere and let me adjust it.”

  She leaned in and their faces were mere inches apart. Billy pressed her lips together as the cool mint of his breath caressed her face and his intoxicating scent enveloped her. This close up, Ransom could see her eyes darken impossibly and knew that, like him, she was just as affected by their close proximity.

  “You look good. Ever been on a bike before?”

  “No.” Billy stepped back, eyeing the Harley dubiously. Already, she could feel the excitement building at the idea of riding with him. It was a beautiful sight, the big man on the gleaming silver and black road warrior. “But you do know what you’re doing, right?”

  Ransom snorted his disbelief. “If you’re worried about eating asphalt, don’t be. I was riding before I was walking. Just follow these simple rules: hold on tight and lean in the same direction that I do. My baby corners like she’s on rails, so don’t worry about the twists and turns we’re about to take. I guarantee you’re gonna love it, fancypants. Now, hop your pretty ass on and let’s get going.”

  Instead of listening to his instructions, Billy reached out and fingered the assorted patches on the front of his leather vest, appraising them. “Very cute. Did you swipe them from a Boy Scout?”

  Ransom’s low chuckle sent shivers racing down her spine. He slid a finger through her front belt loop and yanked her impossibly close to him. Her softness sank into his hard frame, allowing Billy to realize just how much he was feeling her. The image she had before her eyes drifted shut was of the devilry dancing in his green eyes.

  Definitely not a Boy Scout.

  It was her last coherent thought before his lips captured hers in slow motion. That was all it took. From there, everything expedited and the world fell away. No matter what happened after today, they both knew they’d be forever changed.

  His slightly callused palms framed her face while his firm, commanding mouth, demanded that Billy surrender completely to him. The kiss was seductive and dominating, sending their erogenous zones into chaos. Ransom’s teeth sank into the ripe softness of her bottom lip as he staked his claim, making her gasp in surprise. His tongue lazily swiped away the sting before taking advantage of her open mouth to further probe and conquer. Ransom plundered her mouth with a harsh groan, addicting himself to the silky plushness of her lips, her sweet taste of cinnamon, and the way her tongue danced wildly with his. She was the reason he didn’t partake in kissing or eating pussy that was freely offered to him. Billy was fresh and undiscovered, in a whole other class by herself, and his hunger and desire for her were carnivorous, scrabbling beneath his skin, clawing to get out and feast on the beauty.

  Her hands clasped his forearms as she returned the kiss hungrily and slid them around his corded neck. Billy was drowning in the foreign sensations encompassing her as his warm palms ran over her curves and the backs of her bare thighs. She wasn’t shy, mayhap a little naïve, but the yearning Billy was experiencing created a war of elation and terror within her. Never had she been kissed like this. Ransom’s taste was a lethal combination of mint, confidence, and one thousand percent man. There was nothing chaste or bumbling about the way he operated. Nothing overly wet and sloppy. There were no teeth bumping together or braces scraping her lips that made her want to fend him off. His scruff was surprisingly soft as it grazed her face. Drunk on Ransom, Billy clung to him weakly, whimpering into his mouth, signaling her need for so much more of him.

  Understanding her urgent cue, Ransom shifted his leg and wedged his muscled thigh between her slender ones, rubbing it against her core. He wasn’t surprised to feel her dampness through the denim of his jeans and her shorts as Billy rode his thigh. Ransom needed to pull back before he did something even more impulsive like bend her over his bike and wear that ass out. Goddamn. He was excruciatingly hard and his senses were blistering hotter than the sun, on overload with an insane yearning and lust for this angel. The concept of pleasuring her was too mind blowing a concept for even his sinner’s mind to wrap around. Billy seemed untouched, and Ransom wanted to dirty her up, real pretty-like, with bruised lips and hickeys and filthy words of encouragement spewing from her lips.

  She was going to explode.

  Billy’s cries tumbled into his mouth, and he greedily demolished her and them. The friction caused by her ministrations against her sensitive clit created an unbearable tension that mounted with each frantic shift of her hips, building an unbearable heat that had nowhere to go. Ransom’s hands cupped her breasts and—

  The rumblings of a large vehicle broke them apart as a big rig whizzed by them, the driver honking his approval of their hot and heavy make out session. Ransom slowly released her and swiped his thumb over her tender mouth. His cock was manic to find release. Not with a hand job or in a house mouse. Only the softness between Billy’s thighs would do.

  Just not right this moment.

  “This is to be continued,” he informed her huskily. “For now, we need to get going. The shop closes early today. For the last time, get on the damn bike, Billy.”

  She was too stunned by her shameless behavior to do anything but wordlessly obey. Ransom had her losing her mind. She’d been ready to go at it out in the open, where anyone could see them. “Hey, Ransom?”

  Her voice, intense in his ear, was fucking with him. It projected images of her moaning his name while he was deep in that ass. His hands curled around the handles and held fast. It was either that or snatch her up and finish what they started.

  “Yeah, fancypants?”

  “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. However, I just want to give you fair warning that if you aren’t on the up and up…It’d be a real shame if I had to use my blade on you. I mean you don’t give off a creepy ‘I lock people in my basement vibe’, but…well, you get my drift, right?”

  Ransom heard the honest regret in her tone and grinned. Slipping his shades back on, he started the bike, smiling at her startled laugh when it roared to life. Fuck, if she didn’t stimulate him in every way. He’d expected nothing less from her. She wasn’t scared to neither stand her ground nor show her fiery side. Billy was going to do what she needed to do in order to come out okay. He liked the way she operated, and more importantly, the way she fit perfectly at his back. Like she’d always been there. There were no claustrophobic feelings as her arms slid around his waist and her chin rested comfortably on his right shoulder. Idly, Ransom wondered what she’d say if he asked her to give him a hand job as they rode. He predicted the puncture of her dagger between his ribs would be her answer.

  “I’d expect nothing less from you.”

  Ransom checked his left mirror for oncoming traffic. Seeing none, the motorcycle shot forward and onto the empty highway.

  A
s soon as the Harley stopped in front of Lawson’s Automotive, Billy hopped off. On shaky legs, she ran to the nearest trash can, retching violently. Unsuccessful, she shoved her fingers down her throat, trying to make herself throw up. Tears clogged Billy’s eyes as her gag reflex kicked in, but still nothing came up. The crunch of approaching footsteps on the paved, clay road reached her. She didn’t bother looking up. At least not until a water bottle was shoved in her face. Billy snatched it, tearing off the lid and gulping copious amounts and swishing then spitting into the garbage can.

  “Sorry about that,” Ransom drawled while she continued the process until the bottle was empty. “I guess I forgot to mention the rule about keeping your mouth closed.”

  “You think?!” Billy fumed, incensed by his amusement. She threw the plastic into the trash can and barely resisted kicking it. “You’re the devil!”

  Until she’d swallowed the pinky-nail sized bug, Billy loved the ride on Ransom’s motorcycle. They’d had the road to themselves as they cut through a series of terracotta hills covered in a wavy psychedelic pattern. When she tapped his thigh and pointed at them, Ransom had shouted back, “Wind!” for her to understand that was how they were created. She’d done her homework before heading to New Mexico, so she knew of their famous windstorms. They’d eroded these hills to form the stunningly unique design she was lucky enough to witness in person.

  Billy spotted more wildlife as well. Another Gila monster (cue shudder), sunning on a rock, roadrunners, and hawks. They’d just passed the faded, rusty sign welcoming them to Chatham when she spotted a small group of black-tailed jackrabbits chasing each other. In her excitement, she opened her mouth to speak. That’s when the large black insect flew into her mouth and shot down her throat. Billy’s frightened scream made Ransom swerve, but he swiftly corrected himself as she let go of him to grab her throat only to latch back on quickly.

  “Relax, fancypants. You’ll be fine. Just let things take their natural course.” Ransom wiggled his eyebrows at her humorously, and her mouth thinned with displeasure “Not that you probably care, but you’re making a bad first impression on the town’s residents, carrying on like this.”

  For the first time, Billy took notice of her surroundings before turning back to him with a puzzled look. “What is this place?”

  “This is Chatham.” Ransom had an idea of what she was probably thinking. He was surprised to find that he cared what her opinion might be about the place he’d been born and raised. He treated the curious residents who were openly staring at Billy to a piercing glare. For the men blatantly ogling her, the stare was menacing. Their eyes recognized the deadly intent in Ransom’s, dropped to his cut and colors, and they scurried away.

  Ransom couldn’t really be mad at them for staring. With her unique looks Billy was the ultimate diamond in the rough. A rose in the desert, she stuck out in the predominantly white and Hispanic town.

  She peered at the street sign from where they’d just come and then around him. “That sign says Main Street. Where are the rest of the streets?”

  “There aren’t any. Aside from where I live, a couple of neighborhoods, and a one-room school house that doubles as a church on Sunday, this is Chatham.”

  Billy’s mouth gaped open in shock. Surely, he was kidding! There was a buffet, a Mexican and Chinese combo restaurant, three-pump gas station, something called a Quickie Grocery, mercantile store, laundromat and dry cleaner, movie theater, and a diner. Everything was divided on either side of a wide road. There were no parking spaces, just…dirt.

  Was that a bookmobile at the end of the street??

  Good. God.

  The few people who were out and about were staring at them in astonishment.

  “I take it that I’m the most color they’ve seen in a while?” Billy inquired dryly, doing some staring of her own. Under her mean-mugging, they hastily went about their business.

  “It’s probably a number of things but fuck ‘em. As long as they keep their mouths shut and distance, don’t worry about it.”

  Ransom knew it probably wasn’t so much her race as the fact that she was with him and on the back of his bike. Harley had pretty much fucked his way through every eligible woman in Chatham, but everyone knew that wasn’t Ransom’s style. He pointed to the end of the street that seemed to curve into an L-shape.

  “Down there is pretty much off-limits from the town residents who aren’t over twenty-one. There’s a hotel, bar, strip club, and brothel.”

  “Ah. All the essentials. Brothel? How progressive of Chatham,” Billy snarked. Her grandmother mentioned that Marcus owned a bar. “You said something about a bar?”

  “Yeah, Inferno. It’s down at the end of the street on your right. Why don’t you take a look around? I’m going in here to make arrangements for your car. When I’m done, I’ll come find you and we’ll grab a bite to eat.”

  Billy slung her purse over her shoulder and stiffened her spine. “No way! I’m coming with you. I need to find out what that will entail and pay for it.”

  Ransom raised his eyebrows mockingly. “What’s the matter, wildthing? You don’t trust me?”

  “It’s nothing personal, Ransom. I don’t know you, this town, or the people in there,” she gestured toward the garage. “You think I’m some brainless fluff who’s supposed to just twiddle her thumbs while ‘Mr. Man’ sorts my problems out for me?”

  With an impatient sigh, Ransom reached behind him and removed his gun from its holster. He removed the clip and showed her it was full before putting it back in and securing the safety. Then he grabbed her hand and placed the weapon, along with his wallet, in her hand.

  “Call this a gesture of good faith. You’re right not to trust what you can’t see. I promise that I’ll get your car here in one piece with everything in it. No strings attached. Right now, I’ve got some other business to tend to here as well. When I’m done, I’ll come looking for you. Deal?”

  They locked eyes stubbornly, neither willing to give an inch. Making a face at him, Billy finally relented. “Okay, fine. I’ll hold you to that promise, Ransom. But you should know a fun fact about me. I’m the kind of person who only gives one chance. Don’t disappoint me.”

  The “or else” was heavily implied and hit a sore spot with the biker. Both his pride and dick demanded that he claim her and let her know who was really running shit. To fuck Billy until she couldn’t stand and her voice was raw from screaming his name. Jaw tight and eyes flashing with ruthless determination, Ransom stepped into her space, grabbed her by the elbow, and lashed back.

  “And you should know that for every action, there’s a reaction. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t respond well to threats, Billy. I’m a man of my word, but I’m also a man who won’t stomach disrespect, no matter how prettily it’s packaged.”

  “Then I’m glad we understand each other,” Billy murmured, resisting the urge to retreat even as her hormones went spastic at their proximity. Her body had been having withdrawal symptoms from his touch as soon as she hopped off his bike. She seriously wanted to crawl into him and get lost.

  Ransom stared at her mouth. Damn, if he didn’t want to kiss her again. But not now and definitely not here. Already, he could feel prying eyes on them, speculating. Instead, Ransom settled for releasing her arm and tweaking one of her French braids.

  “You’re driving me crazy, wildthing. Go explore and I’ll catch up with you. Do us both a favor and stay out of trouble.”

  “Trouble? In this town?” Billy scrunched her nose in disbelief as she did an exaggerated sweep of her surroundings. “How much trouble could one possibly get into here?”

  Ransom’s smiled enigmatically. “You’d be surprised. Even a town this tiny has a crime rate and holds its secrets. There have even been a few deaths where foul play was suspected.”

  “Yeah, right!” Billy crinkled of her nose. “Foul play, my foot. Those people died of boredom, plain and simple.”

  With a chuckle, he turned away from h
er to enter the shop. “I meant what I said, Billy.”

  “Ransom!”

  He pivoted around with a questioning look and found himself hypnotized by the sway of her hips and those long legs as she strutted, not walked, strutted over to him. Reaching up on her tiptoes, Billy wrapped her arms his neck and pressed her lips to his. The briefest taste of heaven with the teasing flicks of her tongue. Just as quickly, she released Ransom, leaving him starving for more.

  “Shit, Billy! Don’t start with me,” he growled, and Billy treated him to an impish grin.

  “You were going to leave without giving us what we both wanted,” she sassed. “‘Don’t cheat yo’self, treat yo’self’ is another one of my mottos.”

  Her heart stuttered when he treated her instead to a panty-melting smirk and wink.

  “Remember that when I put that ass outta commission, fancypants.”

  “I can’t tell if that’s supposed to be a threat or a promise?” Billy wondered aloud, her nerves jumping giddily while he confidently strode away.

  “Take it however you want. Just don’t say you weren’t warned.”

  Inside of Lawson’s Automotive, Ransom headed to Slade’s office located at the back of the shop, returning shouted greetings along the way. He knocked once and waited patiently. Two minutes passed. Then five minutes. While he waited, his mind drifted to Billy.

  How was he going to convince her not to leave town once her car was fixed?

  Ransom wasn’t looking to acquire an old lady. Before today, the thought of spending time with just one woman held as much appeal as sticking his dick into an electric socket. After witnessing his parent’s volatile relationship, Ransom was officially soured on the idea of relationships and commitment.