by Chelle Bliss
He tips his head back, staring up at the trees. “I’m not a saint. When I look at you—” he glances back down at me “—I see everything that’s pure. I see an untouched soul who’s had a life of good. And in the short time I’ve known you, I’ve brought you a whole lot of bad. I don’t want that for you. I don’t want you to have a moment’s sadness in your life. I never want to see the look on your face I saw the night in my room after I shot that guy. I don’t want to know I’m the one who put that look on your face.”
“Are you done yet?” I ask, tapping my foot and giving him a dirty look because I’m barely keeping my shit under control.
He nods, not adding more fuel to the wildfire he’s already started. I stalk up to him, pressing my fingers into his chest, letting my fingernails dig into the skin underneath his black T-shirt.
“Now it’s my turn to talk and for you to shut the fuck up.”
He throws up his hands. “I won’t…”
I dig a little harder. “My turn, Pike.” I glare up at him, and the corners of his lips twitch. “You didn’t bring the bad into my life. That was your father’s sin, not yours. Stop blaming yourself for shit you couldn’t control.” He nods, but I keep going because I’m not giving him a second to argue. “As for the look on my face, I didn’t care that the bastard who wanted to kill you was lying on that floor, blood oozing from his body.”
He scowls. “You didn’t?”
I shake my head, twisting my lips. “I kept looking at him, imagining what would’ve happened if your gun hadn’t gone off first. How that could’ve been you lying on that floor, bleeding everywhere, having taken your last breath.” I lean forward, dropping my hand and resting my forehead where I’ve just poked the hell out of him. “It would’ve killed me seeing you like that. Do you know how close you came to dying?”
His arms wrap around me, one hand flattening on my back. “But I didn’t die, Gigi. We lived. We’re standing here, under the sun, listening to the birds sing, just as alive as we were last week when things were normal and you were never in danger.”
I slide my fingers under his shirt, running my hands along the soft skin at his sides. “We’re standing here because you made sure I lived to see another day. If it weren’t for you, I could be dead right now.”
He shakes his head. “If it weren’t for me, you never would’ve been in that situation.”
“Shut up, Pike.” I listen to the slow, steady beat of his heart underneath his shirt. “I’ve never told another man besides my father that I loved him. I’ve had a few boyfriends, not many, but they never got the words from me.”
“Never?” he asks as I tip my head up, seeing the shock all over his face.
“Never. You know why?”
“Why, darlin’?” he asks softly.
“Because they never got me. All they cared about was getting in my pants. Even Erik, my last boyfriend, I never saw a forever with. He was nice and all, but he didn’t have what it takes to be with me for the long haul. My father and uncles would’ve chewed him up and spat him out. Hell, if someone would’ve come after us, I’m pretty sure Erik would’ve hurled me in front of a bullet to save his own ass.”
Pike’s hands are on my shoulders, pushing me backward so he can look at me. “That’s what I’m talking about. You haven’t had any good relationships in your life, babe. You can’t compare what we have to those guys…and I use that term loosely. Every man you’re with should be willing to die for you because you’re his girl. You need to explore, sow those oats, before you decide you want a nobody like me in your bed every night.”
“Pike, do you really love me?” I whisper, gazing up at him, my nails starting to press into his skin because he’s beginning to piss me off again.
“I do,” he says quickly.
“Then can you just shut the fuck up and see where this goes? I’m not ready to walk away. I don’t want to date someone else, I don’t want to find out what good and bad is out there because I’ve already found something good, someone good, and I don’t want to let go because even if I find someone out there who’ll love me, they’ll never be you.”
His hands cup my face, and I melt into his touch, wanting more, always wanting more. “I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I want you. I’ve never felt so at peace with someone as I do you. I’ve never been surrounded by so much love as I have been with your family, even if they don’t like me.”
“They like you.” I wish he’d shut up and kiss me already, but he doesn’t.
“They’re tolerating me, hoping I go away.”
“Not everyone in that house grew up the way I did. They have pasts and skeletons in their closets too. It didn’t change the way my family feels about them. The Gallos judge people on who they are, not what they did or how they grew up. All that matters is that we love one another. The men in my family are protective and overbearing, a little like you, and I know they’ll love you and welcome you with open arms when they realize how good we are together.”
“Gigi…”
“Pike, just kiss me already. And so help me God, if you try to break my heart again, I’m going to knee you so hard in the balls, you won’t be able to sleep with another woman for months.”
Pike smirks. “I kind of like my balls, babe.”
“Me too.” I smile. “Now, you better kiss me, or I’m going to leap into your arms and cause a scene that’ll have my dad out here so fast…”
I don’t get the rest of the words out before his mouth crashes down on mine, stealing away the threat I was ready to carry out if necessary.
My hands slide behind his neck as I plaster my body to his, kissing him with all the force I can muster on my tiptoes. I’ve been waiting hours for a moment alone to feel his lips on mine, tongue sliding inside my mouth, giving me his small moans and the warmth of his body.
“Don’t you ever threaten to leave me again,” I murmur into his mouth, needing him to say the words.
“Never again,” he whispers, pulling back and gazing down at me. “You’re mine now, darlin’, and I hope you understand what that means.”
“I’m hoping it means a lot of dirty shit.” I wink, pulling his head down because his lips are looking lonely.
“Gigi. Pike. Dinner,” Nonna yells from somewhere in the distance. “Get your bodies untangled and get your asses in here.”
Pike rests his forehead against mine, trying to catch his breath as we both gasp for air. “We better go.” I know Grandma’s still watching and isn’t going to go anywhere until we “untangle” ourselves and start marching our asses toward the house. “But we’re finishing what we started as soon as we get home.”
“Your place or mine?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows with a playful smirk.
“I don’t have a bed.”
“Darlin’, I only need a wall.”
Oh. My. God. Fuck yes!
27
Pike
“Give me ten minutes, and then come over. I’ll leave the front door unlocked because I have a surprise for you.”
I can’t stop the smile on my face as I lean forward, brushing my lips across hers and squeezing her ass. “What kind of surprise, darlin’?”
She bats her eyelashes, smirking. “What kind of surprise would it be if I told you?”
“You’re a tease.”
She giggles when my fingers find the bottom edge of her jean shorts and my lips slide down to her neck. “Hey,” she says, pushing against my chest. “If you don’t stop doing that, I won’t be able to let you out of my sight, and the entire night will be ruined.”
“If I fucked you right now, it would ruin the night?”
She lets out a loud huff. “Well, no, but I want this time to be special.”
“Baby, every time with you is special,” I murmur against her skin before running my tongue from her ear to her collarbone. “I don’t know if I can wait ten minutes.”
She tries to wiggle out of my hold, but I grip her thighs, wanting to sink between them even
though we’re outside. “You waited fifteen months, I think you’ll survive another ten minutes,” she says, pushing against my chest again. “Please, Pike.”
I loosen my grip, allowing her to put space between us. “Well, since you said please. But get your surprise and come to my place. I have a bed.”
“And walls too.” She winks.
“Walls too, darlin’.”
“Okay, I still need ten minutes. I’ll grab the surprise and be over.”
“Perfect.” I try to grab her again, wanting to taste her lips or skin, but she isn’t having any of it.
She backs away, shaking her head. “No touching.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I hope that isn’t part of the surprise because touching is required for what I have in mind.”
“There will be touching,” she says, still moving toward her front door. “But not until I say so.”
“Not until you say so?” My mouth falls open, but I’m totally playing. I know this girl, and she doesn’t play hard to get. I also know just the right buttons to push to have her begging for more than my touch.
There’s a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Of course. I’m the boss.”
“Naturally,” I tease, but she is.
I learned today that every woman in her family is the boss too. It doesn’t matter how big or tough the man is, his wife has the final say in how things go down. I loved their strength and that their husbands didn’t care as long as their women were happy.
“Now, go.” She shoos me with one hand and takes her keys out of her back pocket with the other. “I’ll be quick.”
I throw up my hands and turn toward my door. “I’m going. I’m going.”
“Catch ya in ten,” she says before disappearing into her apartment.
I step inside my place, flipping on the light and kicking off my boots, thankful as fuck to finally be home and still breathing. I wasn’t sure I’d make it back, and after a long-ass day of travel and Gigi’s family, I’m happy as shit for a little peace and quiet.
I strip off my clothes as I walk toward the bathroom, needing a shower and a reset after all the bullshit that went down the last few days. I don’t waste too much time under the spray because my girl’s coming over with a surprise that I’m hoping includes very little clothing and a whole lot of fucking.
After a quick wash, I dry off, pulling on a pair of sweat pants and nothing else. I don’t see the need when I don’t plan on having clothing on my body for very long.
I glance at the clock, realizing it’s been ten minutes, but Gigi’s nowhere to be found. I press my ear against our adjoining wall but only hear silence. I wait another minute, pacing a path down my hallway, back and forth between my bedroom and living room.
“You comin’?” I text her because I’ve never been a patient man.
I take five trips up and down the hallway, turning my phone over in my hand, waiting for her reply, but I get no response.
I’m out the door, knocking on hers. “Gigi!” I yell because it’s not like her to promise one thing and do another.
It isn’t like she could lie down and accidentally fall asleep. The girl just moved in and doesn’t have any furniture in her place.
I try the handle and it’s unlocked, but I hesitate for a second because I also don’t want to walk in and scare the hell out of her, getting myself kicked in the balls in the process.
“Gigi!” I yell again, pounding louder this time, and when there’s no response, I open the door, figuring a kick in the balls is worth knowing she’s okay.
My foot connects with something, and it skids across the floor, slamming into the wall. I look over, realizing it’s her cell phone, and my heart immediately slams into my chest like a brick.
“Gigi!” I yell again, but I only get my echo back and not another sound.
I frantically look in each room of the tiny space, searching for my girl, but find nothing. My hands are sweating and my heart’s beating double time as I push open the door to her bedroom, catching sight of a person’s back.
A back that isn’t Gigi’s.
I lunge for the man, turning him around, laying eyes on his mask-covered face. His eyes widen, the only part of his face that’s visible before I rear back, hurling my fist through the air and connecting with his jaw.
“Pike!” Gigi screams, and I move my eyes toward her voice. She’s in the corner, hands at her neck, huddled in a ball, and tears staining her cheeks.
I lay into the man who’s staggering in front of me, whaling on him with my fists until he falls to the floor. I kick him in the ribs once, making sure he’s out cold before I run to Gigi, kneeling in front of her. Her eyes are wide, and her cheeks are stained with tears.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, lifting her into my lap, checking over her body.
“I’m fine. He was hiding in here when I walked in,” she says quickly, whimpering at the memory. “He… He…”
“Did he hurt you?”
She shakes her head and curls into my chest, gripping on to my T-shirt with her long fingers. “He put his hand over my mouth and hauled me back here, but he didn’t have a chance to hurt me before you showed up.”
“I’m so sorry, baby. I should’ve been here sooner.”
“I’m okay,” she whispers like she’s trying to convince herself or maybe just me, but by the way she’s shaking, I’d say she’s anything but okay. “We have to call the police.”
“I will in a minute.” My priority is making sure she’s okay before I let her out of my arms.
“No, Pike. I don’t want him waking up and coming after you. My heart can’t take any more,” she whispers. “Please.” She crawls out of my lap, staggering, but catching herself on my shoulder. “I have some packing tape we can use to tie him up.”
“You’re crafty,” I tease because right now, we could use a little lightness in our fucked-up week.
“You have no idea.” She smiles, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. “I’ll grab the tape, and you check the guy.” She’s out of the room before I have a chance to rise to my feet.
“Let’s see who you are, motherfucker.” I hunch down next to the man’s face, staring at the asshole who went after my girl.
Gigi’s back, holding a roll of packing tape, eyes pinned on the lifeless body on the floor. “You didn’t kill him, did you?”
I shake my head and laugh, reaching for the man’s mask. “Darlin’, I may be strong, but my punch didn’t kill him.”
“Thank God,” she mumbles.
When I pull the mask from his face, I’m knocked backward, falling on my ass.
“What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, blinking like my brain doesn’t believe what my eyes are seeing. “It’s my father.”
Thank you for reading FLAME. I hope you loved Gigi and Pike as much as I do! Their story continues in Burn, Men of Inked Heatwave #2.
It’s going to be another wild ride…
menofinked.com/burn
Want to know when the next Men of Inked book releases?
Join my VIP newsletter or get a Text Notification sent directly to your phone. Text GALLOS to 24587
**US Only…Sorry!
Want more Men of Inked?
There’s two series with the Gallos and they’re waiting to be devoured.
Want to read the ORIGINAL Men of Inked series and meet City, Anthony, Thomas, James, Mike, and more? Check out the Throttle Me and get to know the other side of the Gallo family. One-click Throttle Me and read now—It’s FREE!
* * *
If you love James, Thomas, and men of ALFA Investigations. Download your FREE copy of Sinful Intent here! The series is sexy and suspenseful and filled with your favorite characters too!
Visit menofinked.com/books to learn more about Chelle Bliss books.
And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to find out about new books and special members only goodies… TAP HERE to sign up now!
You can also join my Facebook group, Chelle Bliss
Books, for exclusive giveaways and sneak peeks of future books.
Do you LOVE audiobooks?
Flame is NOW available in audiobook. Visit menofinked.com/flame for more information.
Plus, my entire audiobook collection is available on your favorite retailer or online local library.
Visit menofinked.com/audio-bm to see where you can get your next favorite listen. Plus, while you’re there… listen to a FREE audiobook too!
Get a Text Audio Alert
Text AUDIO to 24587
USA Only
* * *
Join my audio only newsletter and get the latest audiobook news and special giveaways!
Join here: menofinked.com/audionews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chelle hails from the Midwest, but currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. She's a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, and ex history teacher.
She loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers. To learn more about Chelle, please visit menofinked.com or chellebliss.com.
Want special perks?
JOIN MY NEWSLETTER and get access to the Members Only section on my website. Special Discounts, Free eBooks, and so much more!
* * *
Get Text Notifications sent directly to your phone (US only)