by Jagger Cole
“When I said I’d have it fixed quick, I didn’t mean an hour.”
She smiles sheepishly. “I kinda wanted to apologize. I was a bitch earlier.”
“Kind of, yeah.” Her eyes go wide, almost indignantly, and I grin. “You’re not used to hearing that.”
“I’m not usually a psycho bitch like I was earlier either, to be fair.” I shrug, and she clears her throat again. “It might help if I tell you who I am.”
“I know who you are.”
She looks surprised. “You’re not intimidated by that?”
“Intimidated?” I smirk. “Sweetheart, you’re like a hundred and four pounds soaking wet.” She blushes a little, and I find myself wondering if it’s because I said she was soaking wet. I feel my cock twitch in my jeans, and I wonder just how dirty a girl little miss prim and proper is hiding under that cardigan. “And no, I’m not.”
“I mean because of my father.”
“Why would that intimidate me? He got a thing against me fixing your car?” I joke.
She rolls her eyes. “No, because of who he is.”
“I’m not intimidated by job titles. Or by money, sweetheart,” I growl.
She smiles and shakes the bag in front of her. “I went to Mabel’s.” I laugh heartily, and her smile grows wider. “It’s chicken and waffles.”
“This a peace offering?”
Annabelle nods sheepishly. “Sorry again for before. Really.”
“It’s fine. Takes a little bit more than a spoiled little rich girl to throw me off.”
She looks indignant again for a flash of a second. But then she takes a breath as she sees me grinning “Okay, okay. That’s fair. I deserve that one. Well, for whenever you want it.” She drops the to-go bag on a tool bench behind her.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome!”
She’s smiling when she turns back. I smile back, but then my eyes drop, and my face hardens. Before, she had the bag held in front of her. But now that it’s not there, and with me lying on the floor, I’m looking right up that short skirt to her pink panties. My teeth grind as my gaze soaks in the sight of her thong pulled tight across her sex. There’s a cleft down the center, and it takes all of my willpower not to sit up and just yank her against my mouth.
“Well, sorry again,” she says, clearly oblivious to what I can see now. She actually shifts her weight, and when she cocks her hip, her legs spread a little more. My jaw clenches even tighter. My dick throbs against my jeans. All I’m able to do is nod. “You’re going to order parts tomorrow?”
“Uh, yeah,” I mumble. I attempt to order my eyes up to her face, but it’s a losing battle.
“Enjoy the food,” she says with another sheepish smile. “See you tomorrow.” I just nod and watch her walk away, her flirty skirt swishing around her tight little ass.
When she’s gone, I grunt and sit up. Fuck is she a problem. A very big and very tempting problem. I stand, but when I glance down at the state of my work clothes, I decide to wash up before I eat. I peel my t-shirt off and walk over to the sink next to the door to the reception area. I wash my hands and face, and I reach for a towel when the door slams open. Annabelle gasps as she trips right against me and right into my arms. I grunt as my pulse races, my arms circling her and my hands clutching her as she falls against me. Her palms go flat against my bare chest, and we freeze like that—her in my arms looking up at me with those big green eyes.
I didn’t plan this. I didn’t expect it. But now, whatever control I’ve maintained around her before is over. My hands hold her tightly as the growl rumbles in my throat. Annabelle gasps quietly, and her tongue slips over her plump lips, making them glisten. Yeah, good-fucking-bye, self-control.
I lean down, my lips find hers, and I kiss her hard. Annabelle moans into me as she falls against my chest. Her hands grip at my muscles, and suddenly, our lips are parting and our tongues slide together. I grunt as the kiss deepens, and my hands tighten their grip on her. I push her back, my heart thundering as I pin her to the wall and kiss her deeply. She gasps and moans, kissing me right back, and her hands slide over my chest.
I kiss her hungrily, and my hands move to her waist and then slide lower behind her to cup that perfect ass. I grip it tightly, and she moans eagerly. Her moans drive me wild, and I grind my cock against her, making her gasp into my lips. One hand slides lower and grabs the back of her thigh, lifting her leg up to my hip and pushing her skirt high. I press against her, and I know damn well she can feel my swollen dick hard against her pussy through those pink panties.
My lips stay glued to hers, and the kiss deepens as I taste her tongue with mine. A beast roars inside of me, and my hand slides up her side to cup her full, soft tit. My thumb discovers her hard nipple through the tank top, and I brush it back and forth as she moans into my mouth. I can feel the wet heat between her thighs, and it makes me cock even harder as I lust for more.
But then suddenly, she pulls away, and then pushes me back.
“I…I forgot my purse,” she mumbles quickly. She’s red-faced and panting heavily, and her green eyes are on fire. She looks quickly over to the ledge next to the sink, to the designer bag I didn’t even see. She snatches it and looks back at me with a pale face. Her lips are swollen from my mouth, and I like that they are. It’s like I’ve marked her as mine.
“Goodnight.” She rushes the word out before she turns and runs back through the reception area and out the door into the night. My heart races, and my whole damn body is clenching and on edge when I shut the door. I groan and lean against it, and then my hand moves on its own accord, sliding down my bare torso until I’m cupping the fat bulge in my jeans.
I squeeze my dick and groan, feeling how fucking hard she’s got me. My pulse quickens as I reach for my zipper. All I want is release. I’m seconds away from pulling my big cock out and jerking off there against the door. But something stops me. I’ve battled temptation all day. I’ve restrained myself and kept myself from going there in my head. But that was before the girl I’ve been lusting over all day fell into my arms. All of that was before I tasted her sweet mouth. And now, I want so much more of her.
I grab a clean shirt from a shelf and pull it over my head as I storm through the reception area. I lock the shop behind me, and then I’m off—a man obsessed. A man possessed. A man ready to claim what’s his to claim.
5
Annabelle
My hands shake when I lock the motel room door behind me. It feels like I’m buzzing all over; like there’s an energy inside of me ready to explode its way free. Heat spreads over my skin, and I walk in a daze towards the bathroom. My eyes catch my reflection in the mirror, and I pause and just stare at myself. There’s excitement on my face and wildness in my eyes. My hand raises to touch my lips, and I feel how swollen and bruised they are from kissing him.
Holy shit, what a kiss. I’ve never even come close to being kissed like that. Kissing Rowan was like kissing a force of nature, or a wild beast. Kissing him felt like letting go or jumping off a cliff. My mind replays the details of his stubble against my lips and his strong hands sliding over my body. My breast still tingles from where he cupped it, my nipple still tingling for more of his touch. I tremble as I turn to turn on the shower and start to strip down. My chest is still flushed from what just happened. I go to pull my panties down, and I blush when I realize they’re so wet that they’re stuck slick against my lips.
I ran away because I was scared. I wasn’t scared of Rowan, but I was scared of what might come next. And I think I know perfectly well what would come next with a man like Rowan O’Neil. But the issue isn’t that I don’t want that, the issue is that I’ve never done that. I know being a nineteen-year-old virgin isn’t exactly the height of cool, but it’s never been something I wanted. At least, not with any of the guys I’ve known growing up or at college. Frat assholes, snobby rich boys, and aggressive and fumbling wannabe players have never appealed to me at all. So, it’s
just never happened.
But dear lord would I have wanted it to happen with Rowan. Except that I freaked out and ran, because it felt too real. Also, a man like that definitely knows what he’s doing. Why would he want anything to do with a girl who’s totally clueless when it comes to sex? I guess that’s why I pushed him away and ran back here to sulk in my motel room. But now that I’m here, the regret is real.
I sigh as I turn the water on for a shower. But suddenly, there’s a heavy knock at the motel room door. My body trembles, and heat begins to seep through my center. My heart races as I turn off the water and wrap a towel around myself. I can feel my fingers and toes tingling as I walk with bated breath to the door and pause right in front of it.
Somehow, I instinctively know who it is. I know I should tell him to leave. But he’s lit something wild inside of me with that kiss and the way he touched me. And now every part of me is screaming to open the door and finish what we started before. I know I may make a fool of myself. And I know I might get hurt. But I also think it might all be worth it for a night with a man like Rowan; one wild night. My hand shakes as I reach for the door, unlock the bolt, and turn the knob.
“I don’t usually—oh God!”
I scream as the door slams in, and three big, terrifying looking men pile inside and slam the door shut behind them. I scream again and rush for the bathroom, but one of them is much faster than me. He grabs me and throws me onto the bed. My heart lurches into my throat, and I scream bloody murder as I yank the bedsheets up to cover myself.
“Please!” I scream. “I have money! Whatever you need, I can get for you! Just please don’t hurt me!”
One of the three steps forward, his dark eyes glaring at me. He reaches behind him and pulls a gun out of his belt. My face pales, and he just grins.
“Good, I’ve got your attention. You scream again, and I’m going to use this thing, you get me?”
I nod, trembling in fear. “My dad has money. If you don’t hurt me, he’ll get you anything you want, I swear!”
The three of them laugh and glance at each other. “Yeah, I bet he will,” one of the other two says. “And we know damn well who your daddy is, Annabelle.”
The fear grows inside of me like a cold dread, and they just keep on smiling.
“The Carbone Family has found that we need to send your dear papa a message about his ‘tough on crime’ platform. All his shit about bail reform and extending sentences for repeats? See, that shit don’t work for us.”
“I can call him!” I blurt out. “I can get him on the phone right now and you can talk to him! I’m sure he’ll listen!”
The first guy smiles a thin, mean smile. “Oh, we’re done talking. Your papa needs a more severe message. He pulls something out of his pocket and begins to screw it onto the front of his gun, and I realize with horror that it’s a silencer.
“No, wait… please!” I gasp.
“Hey, don’t do her face,” the third guy mutters while fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. “She’s too hot to fuck that up.”
“You wanna do it, you dumb—”
The motel room door smashes right off its hinges as it flies open, and suddenly, Rowan is everywhere at the same time. He barks out a yell and grabs the guy with the cigarettes. The man screams as Rowan slams him into the wall, crumbling the drywall before he drops to a heap. The guy with the gun is next, and he screams just as loud as the first when Rowan punches him square in the nose. The gun doesn’t even hit the floor before Rowan’s caught it and aimed it at the last thug. There’s murder and rage on his face, and the guy sees it plainly.
“Whoa, hang on, pal! Hang on!”
“You’re going to walk out of here,” Rowan growls savagely. “You’re going to get in your car and get the fuck out of Silvervale. And if you ever come back, they’ll never find your remains. Understand me?”
The man nods eagerly, but the first guy on the floor laughs. He spits blood as he climbs to his feet and glares at Rowan. “You have no idea who the fuck we’re with, do you, buddy?”
Rowan shrugs. “Nope. Don’t give a shit either. The lady wasn’t looking for company though, so I think it’s time for you to walk away before I make sure those knees don’t ever walk again.”
The guy glares at him. “You’re making the mistake of your life here, pal. You’re fucking with the wrong guys.”
“Yeah, I get that sometimes,” Rowan mutters. He cocks the hammer back on the gun, and the two other thugs glance nervously at each other.
“Alright, we’re gone,” the first man grunts. “But next time I see you, I’m gonna stick that gun up your ass and—” He yells as Rowan slams the gun across his chin, splitting his lip and knocking him to the ground.
“Big mistake, pal!” the guy groans as his buddies help him up. They stumble to the door. “Big mistake!” They run out, and we hear a car engine starting before it screeches out of the parking lot.
Rowan turns to me as I slide out of the bed, tightening the towel around myself. “What the fuck was that?” he growls.
“I… I don’t know,” I whisper. “They just… my dad.”
It feels like I’m talking through a blanket, and like I’m outside of my own body. I’m dimly aware that this is probably shock, and I’m shivering when Rowan wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest.
“Let’s go.”
I frown. “Where?”
“To my place. C’mon.”
I shake my head and pull away from him. “No, that’s… that’s not necessary.”
“Yeah, it damn well is,” he growls. “You’re sure as hell not staying here after that shit.”
“It’s fine, I’ll just find somewhere else to stay.”
“Annabelle,” Rowan grunts quietly. “You’re coming with me. End of discussion.”
I nod, still numb and in shock. “Okay.”
“Get some clothes on and take what you need.”
I nod again as I stumble to the bathroom and close the door. My pulse is humming through me as I put my clothes back on, and when I step out, Rowan’s already got the rest of my stuff in my bags.
“Those guy were mob, weren’t they?”
“I don’t know.”
“Annabelle.”
I shrug as I look up into his eyes. “Maybe. I don’t know,” I lie.
“There’s no mob in fucking Silvervale.” His gaze darkens as he peers into my eyes. “This have something to do with your father?”
I look down as I nod my head slowly.
“Shit,” he shakes his head. “Alright, give me your phone.”
“What?”
“Your phone,” he growls.
“No.”
“Now, sweetheart. Those guys knew exactly where to find you.”
I scowl at him. “Fine, whatever. There’s barely any service in this fucking town anyways.”
“You got enough service for an Uber?”
I look at him in surprise. “You know Uber?”
Rowan rolls his eyes. “This isn’t fucking Mars, you know. Yes, I know what Uber is. There’s two guys in the next town over who’ll pick up for the app.” He snatches the phone from my hand. “Password?”
I frown. “Nine-nine-nine-nine.”
He glances at me. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
Rowan unlocks my phone.
“No poking around.”
He chuckles. “Got some pictures you don’t want me seeing?”
“No,” I mutter, blushing because it’s true. I mean come on; what girl hasn’t taken nude pictures of herself on her phone before?
Rowan grins. “Sweetheart, if I wanted to see you naked, I could have just ripped that towel off before.”
I tremble at his words. But it’s not out of fear. It’s that the idea of him just ripping my covering away and seeing what he wants is terribly, horribly, exciting. My thighs tremble and I shift on my feet as he brings up the Uber app.
“So where are
we going?”
“L.A.”
I arch my brows. “Um, what?”
“Well, you’re gonna pay Sam to drive your phone to L.A., at least. He’s a friend. I’ll have him book you a hotel room and drop the phone off there. But you’re staying right here, with me.”
“Why exactly is my phone going to Los Angeles without me?”
“Because the hitmen who just broke down your door knew you were here. Did you post on social media or anything about where you were?”
“As if I’d want anyone to know I was in this crummy little town?”
He rolls his eyes. “Glad to see your brush with death hasn’t knocked that brat attitude out of your system. I’m guessing your phone is being traced. That’s why it’s going to L.A. Now come on. We’ll meet Sam at the shop and then go to my house.”
He’s halfway out the door holding my bags when I clear my throat.
“And if I refuse?”
Rowan glances at me over his shoulder. “If you refuse, then I’m going to toss you over my shoulder and bring you there kicking and screaming if I have to.”
His words and his gruff tone bring the same naughty excited feeling I felt earlier, and I take a shaky breath as it spreads through me.
“Fine,” I mutter. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
6
Rowan
It’s only seven by the time we’re heading out to my place just outside of town, so the sun is still low in the sky. It’s time’s like this that really make me remember why it is I moved out here after the service. I grew up all over the place since my old man was a Navy officer. But the one brief stint we had outside Tucson left a pretty big impression on me. When it’s close to twilight like this, and the desert turns purple and orange, it’s like being in a dream. Having the tempting little knockout sitting next to me in the front of the pickup truck doesn’t hurt much either.
Sam’s got Annabelle’s phone and is on his way to L.A., and she’s been quiet on the drive out here. I finally pull off the main road and onto the smaller one that winds up the low hills to my property. I’ve been slowly building this place for the last year, and I’m pretty damn proud of it. So when we finally round the bend and see it up ahead, I grin when Annabelle stares at it in awe.