The Ties That Bind 1

by D. A. Young

  Ransom didn’t believe in voodoo, but he was convinced Billy was a high priestess that had put a powerful spell on his ass. Everything about her fascinated him, and the feeling, thank God, was mutual. They were inseparable. After making love for the first time a week ago, something he’d never done with any female, Ransom could have easily spent the rest of his life buried inside of Billy. As soon as his shift was done, Ransom declined Shakes’ offer of a beer and found himself knocking on Billy’s door, where he’d remained until now.

  His mother was demanding to meet her, as was Slade, but fuck that. He didn’t want anything Immortal-related to touch what they had for as long as he could postpone it. With the exception of their lovemaking, which got filthier yet sweeter each time, Ransom wanted Billy to remain untainted and blissfully ignorant to his lifestyle.

  The only person he’d allowed into their little bubble was Shakes. His best friend and his woman got along great. But only after Ransom threatened to kill him for flirting outrageously with Billy upon introduction. Shakes wholeheartedly approved of her, even going so far as to graciously offer to take her off Ransom’s hands when the spark died. “Motherfucker, please!” had been his answer. They were two weeks into this relationship and the “spark” between Ransom and Billy had morphed into a raging inferno that refused to be diminished, let alone contained.

  “Oh yeah, baby? Is that all you’re addicted to?” Billy’s innocent expression was ruined when her eyes dropped to the tell-tale bulge underneath the towel wrapped around his waist. Her small tongue darted out, wetting her lips in anticipation, and those wildly expressive dark eyes shone brightly with desire. That was all the encouragement Ransom needed. He tossed the bottle of lotion on the bed beside Billy, barely allowing her time to recap the nail polish tightly before catching her slender ankles.

  Billy squealed when he dragged her to the edge of the bed and untied her robe. The molten look in his eyes drove her body temperature to a feverish height and her pussy grew slick with her need of him. “No way! Stop playing, Ransom! You’re going to ruin my toes!”

  Even as she said it, Billy’s hands slipped to her breasts and she palmed them for him, just the way he liked. Her pearl-painted nails were a striking contrast against her complexion as she teasingly traced circles over her puckered nipples while Ransom enjoyed the view. He dropped the towel, reached for his wallet on the nightstand, and pulled out three condoms. Eyes locked with Billy’s, he unwrapped one and sheathed himself as she trailed her foot, polish be damned, down to rest against his ridged abdomen.

  Billy stared at the condoms with interest. “Three is awfully ambitious…”

  “You must think you’re fucking with an amateur, fancypants.”

  “What I think is that you’re going to be late for work,” she feebly protested when he knocked her leg away and suctioned a dark-chocolate morsel into his hot mouth.

  Ransom hoisted her legs over his shoulders. Groaning his pleasure, he sank deep into her. Against Billy’s sweet lips, he whispered, “Damned if you’re not fucking worth it, babe.”

  A short while later, she was face down in her pillow with Ransom massaging her back. His fingers ran down her spine, and he loved the way goosebumps spread all over her flesh. Easily, he pictured his name inked between her shoulder blades. Or better yet, ‘Ransom’s Woman’.

  “You ever thought about getting any tattoos?”

  Billy shifted to stare at him, her sleepy eyes full of contentment. Ransom felt nothing but masculine satisfaction knowing he’d stamped that well-loved look on her face. If she hadn’t finally begged for a reprieve, he’d still be in his favorite spot between her soft thighs.

  “Lately, it’s been on my mind. Especially after seeing your “Claudia” tattoo. I want to do something to honor my mother as well. Something significant that I’ll never regret getting.”

  He waited for the shadow of sadness to cross her face as it normally did whenever she talked about Melody. None was forthcoming today. That was a good thing. Ransom had discovered that it was the wee hours of the morning when Billy really opened up and talked about her mother. At times, it was poignant, and other times, funny. He particularly liked when Billy showed him the dance routine that she and her mother used to perform to Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out”. Ransom often stayed up long after her because Billy cried in her sleep. She wept like there was no tomorrow and was inconsolable, ripping his heart apart nightly. He could only hold her close and ride the shit out. And it made the Immortals enforcer, the biker who’d willingly taken on three guys in a bar brawl once, feel completely helpless.

  Ransom was in continuous awe of Billy. She was, hands-down, the most fascinating person he’d ever met. On the surface, she was ridiculously everything. If he spent the rest of his existence staring at her, Ransom felt like it’d still be a life fulfilled. And that was just her surface. Billy was funny, kind, smart, and loving. She was also fiercely and boldly unapologetic, wildly sensual, and a straight fucking spitfire in bed. All at the tender age of eighteen.

  Fuck him, he was thoroughly, balls to the wall, screwed when it came to her.

  “I think that’s a great idea. If you’d like, I know the perfect ink-slinger in Albuquerque. I can introduce you to him when we go later. He did most of my club’s tattoos.”

  True to his word, Ransom was going to show her more of New Mexico. Today was Albuquerque; tomorrow, they were traveling to some place called White Sands in Carlsbad.

  “That sounds like a plan, but that doesn’t mean it’s happening on the spot, buddy.” Billy shuddered deeply. “I can’t wrap my head around the concept of a needle pressing into my skin for fun.”

  “In your case, it wouldn’t be for fun. It’s not that bad, and I’d be right next to you if you decided to it.” His hand wandered down to her booty and smacked it lightly. “We definitely can’t leave without getting “Ransom’s Property” inked across your ass.”

  Billy wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re delusional! That shit’ll never happen, especially with that bogus claim.”

  Ransom’s fingers slipped between the luscious globes, loving the way Billy’s breath came in stuttering intermissions as he traced the seam of her sex. Involuntarily, her thighs spread, allowing her arousal to saturate his fingertips, granting him deeper access. Her eyes dilated and her hands clawed at the bed sheets when he plunged two fingers into her pussy. Slowly, he withdrew them. With a crafty smile, he held his hand up to the early morning sunlight. Seeing her glistening essence and watching the way Ransom slowly licked his fingers clean, his tongue sliding between the digits to get every last drop, hypnotized Billy.

  “You sure about that? You get this wet all by yourself, wildthing?” he taunted, knowing damn well that it was entirely his doing.

  Ransom had opened up a whole new world up for Billy and she’d readily embraced it. Jesus, did she love it. He was correct about ruining her for other guys. He had her so wide open for him that it should be pathetic…if she had any shame. All Billy wanted to do was let him do all the things he wanted to her. Being with Ransom was nothing like being with Kenton.

  With her best friend, there’d been the niggling caution to be mindful of his feelings. Billy thought the experience was…okay. Except for the part where he’d rubbed on her clit vigorously, like it was his lucky rabbit’s foot. It was the equivalent of getting your period and discovering no cramps or bloating accompanied it. Billy was almost positive there’d been a mini-orgasm? She was unsure since it was gone in the blink of an eye before she’d even had the chance to explore it. ‘‘Emergency Sex’’ was what they’d had. The kind of sex that should have been initiated if they’d been the last two people in the world and procreation was mandatory.

  Ransom was a force to be reckoned with—tempestuous, he could be tender at times, but she welcomed his aggression. He was nothing Billy was prepared for but everything she needed and lusted for. Each time, he killed her. Softly. Roughly. Fervently. Sex with Ransom was one hundred percent org
anic. Every kiss, touch, and position between them flowed naturally. There was no fumbling or insecurities, wondering what the other liked. Ransom liked everything. His sexual appetite was voracious, and he couldn’t get enough of her. Especially his tongue between her legs. The unhurried, sensuous licks of his tongue all over and inside of her pussy drove Billy insane.

  Emitting a strangled whimper, Billy dropped her face back down on the bed. “You so don’t play fair!” Changing the subject, she asked, “Are we taking my car?”

  To Billy’s surprise, his smile dropped and was replaced with a look of abject horror. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

  “Ain’t no way in hell I’m riding in a damn car, Billy!” he fumed.

  “Calm down; you act like I questioned your manhood or something!” Billy giggled as his face turned redder at the mere thought. “Tell me what the problem is, Ransom.”

  “Riding in a car is the equivalent of being in a cage for a biker,” he patiently explained. “I need the freedom to roam, unconfined, with the wind in my face. No cages!”

  Billy laughed harder and incensed, Ransom squinted at her, demanding, “What the hell is so funny?”

  “You!” she gasped, unable to control her amusement. “You’re not a pet going for a ride! Relax; it’s fine. When you get off at noon, just head that way on your bike, and I’ll meet you there. I know the way.”

  Ransom pulled her on top of him and wrapped his arms around her. Nuzzling her neck, he mumbled, “Fuck no. I like the way you feel wrapped around me, wildthing.”

  Billy’s heart melted at his confession even as it triggered anxiety within her. This thing between them had hurtled past like and lust. What was supposed to be a lighthearted summer adventure of fun was morphing into something that Billy hadn’t even dared to dream possible. Every kiss, word, touch, and look exchanged between them caused her heart to slip further away from her and into the palms of his hands. It worried her more than she cared to admit. Particularly because he’d never mentioned anything more than the present.

  “I’d feel more comfortable sitting in a car as I’d planned to wear a dress today, Ransom,” Billy pointed out. “Not to mention, I don’t want windblown hair. I’m driving.”

  Shifting her to the side slightly, Ransom reached over her and grabbed another condom from the nightstand. He swiftly situated himself then righted her so that her pussy lined up with his shaft. With a soft, eager moan, Billy ground herself against his rigid length. “Like that, do ya? How much?”

  She saw the cunning in his green eyes and felt a burst of irritation. Did his ass really think he’d win like this? Put it on her so good, she’d give in to him? Game on, Lawson!

  Billy slid her fingers into his hair, massaging his scalp as Ransom maneuvered himself inside of her. They both paused, taking a moment to celebrate in the rightness of being one. “How about a little wager? Whoever breaks first calls transportation?”

  Ransom’s chuckle could be felt where they were joined, and Billy’s pussy to spasmed in response. “I don’t think you want that, wildthing, but I’m game.”

  He removed his arms from around her. With a brash grin, he placed them underneath his head. “Do your best.”

  Billy rose above him and leaned back until her arms were braced behind her on his muscled thighs. The view afforded Ransom a view of her pussy enveloping his cock, and the sight of their melded complexions was a fucking glorious sight to behold. He was mesmerized by the sight of the goddess gliding sensually up and down on his cock. Ransom jerked as she clamped down around him and he felt the stirring deep in his balls.

  “Shiiiit!”

  Biting his lips, Ransom’s hands clutched her thighs desperately as she did it again, causing his eyes to roll to the back of his head. Billy paused, allowing him time to regain his focus. Sluggishly, Ransom’s eyes rose past her slowly pivoting hips and swaying breasts and up the slender column of her throat to her victorious expression. Billy winked at him as she repeated her movements, but this time, she held the vice grip longer, causing his toes to crack.

  “What the fuck, Billy?!” he croaked.

  “Sshh,” Billy purred with a wicked laugh, bouncing up and down on his length, tightening her muscles as she went, making him shout his appreciation.

  “You had your chance…”

  “You look different. Why do you look different?” Marcus quizzed Billy intently.

  They were sitting at his dining room table eating breakfast. Or at least, Billy was attempting to. Her father, on the other hand, was on the warpath. The nitpicking had started thirty minutes ago when Billy crossed their threshold. “Lorelai, does she look different to you?”

  “Oh, baby, after the way you’ve been neglecting me, I’m not surprised that you’re asking a question like that,” Lorelai stated unsympathetically from her location in front of the stove. She missed the disapproving frown he shot her.

  “Ignore her, Billy. She knows I put that ass to sleep on the regular,” Marcus boasted.

  “But I didn’t want to know that. Now, you’ve permanently fried my brain with that image,” Billy cringed, cupping her oversized coffee mug with both hands and savoring the delicious Mexican chai latte he’d prepared for her. Licking cinnamon whipped cream from her top lip, she replied, “In answer to your question, nothing’s different. I’m the same ol’ me. Just chillin’ until it’s time to head back to Cali.”

  Feeling relieved, Marcus pounced on that. “Which will be when exactly? Your car is fixed now. Don’t you have to check in at school? You know what they say: the early bird gets the worm and all that jazz. Let me help you pack.”

  Billy set her empty mug down hard enough to make it rattle. “What is your deal?! For four years, I busted my butt in high school! I went to summer school for fun and never did any drugs or got into trouble. Don’t you think I deserve a little break before I hit the books nonstop again?”

  “Now, that’s not necessarily true, is it? Marcus told me about the weed your grandfather found as well as the teacher you pick-pocketed.” Lorelai placed the Denver omelet on Marcus’s plate before sitting down next to him and across from Billy. “Lucky for you, he declined to press charges.”

  “Drop it, Lorelai,” Marcus snarled, giving her a look that would curdle milk. He cut into his omelet aggressively and shoved a piece into his mouth.

  “Oh, stop being so defensive, Papa Bear!” She taunted. “Billy made a comment, and I simply disputed it. I feel like we have a right to know the truth since she put it out there. You don’t mind clearing things up do you, hon?”

  Mentally counting to ten, Billy glanced around the large industrial-looking loft that the couple shared above the bar. Lorelai was an enigma that she’d yet to solve. Sometimes, she was chill and they could make small talk. She’d shared some of her college adventures and offered Billy some helpful advice. The talks had a mother-daughter feel to them that she soaked up. Then there were days like today where Billy felt like she was walking on eggshells around the older woman because Lorelai’s ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe had morphed into an impassable force field.

  “I don’t mind in the least. It’s true; my grandfather did find weed in my belongings.” Billy smiled sweetly at the disapproving frown her answer generated from Lorelai.

  Didn’t Marcus ever get tired of the other woman’s hot and cold treatment? It certainly sucked all the energy out of Billy. Then again, with the way Lorelai looked, Billy was convinced her appeal was not in the personality department.

  The other woman pounced on her answer. “So, you’re admitting to buying and doing drugs?”

  “I’ve never smoked anything in my life, but yes, I did buy them!” Billy snapped. “The drugs were for my mother. I bought them from a kid at school to ease her pain and discomfort. It helped and I don’t feel bad about it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

  The pick-pocketing was a prank played against our government teacher, Mr. Wolecki, in my third-period class. One of the class clowns thought it’d
be a great idea to steal his wallet when he stepped out of the class to talk to another teacher. He took it from his desk drawer and passed it down my row to hide it. I didn’t think it was right, so I held on to it. When class ended, I tried to slip it back into Mr. Wolecki’s jacket as I passed him, but the clown retaliated by pushing me into him on purpose, revealing the wallet. I’m not a snitch, so I took the punishment. Anything else, Lorelai? If not, take your witch hunt and shove it up your—”

  “Enough of that!” Marcus ordered and changed the subject. “Billy, is that biker holed up with you? You’d better not be letting him freeload off you!”

  “Ransom isn’t freeloading, but he’s already insisted on paying my hotel bill.”

  He’d been severely pissed off when she declined his offer to take care of it or accept money toward it. Billy refused to take his money. She threatened to leave town earlier than planned if he offered again or went behind her back. Ransom had punished her by keeping her in bed for another hour. Ha. Some punishment. Marcus would have a heart attack if he knew that he was indirectly funding her love shack. Melody’s lucrative career enabled them to live off her salary alone. All the child support Marcus had sent, she’d matched and deposited into a saving’s account for Billy. She’d accessed it as soon as she turned eighteen and spent frugally.

  “Please take that look off your face when we’re discussing “Danny Zuko”.” Marcus tossed his fork down with disgust. “Shit, Billy! I can’t even eat my damn breakfast now while you’re sitting there all googly-eyed and thinking shit I don’t even want to know about!”