by Brook Wilder
“Diesel!”
“Keep your head down!”
Diesel turned sharply down a side street and came out the other side onto another intersection. He kept twisting and turning so much that I had no idea where we were going. My ears were ringing, and all I could hear were screeching tires. I didn’t dare look back again.
Chapter Seventeen
Amber
I had no idea how Diesel managed it, but soon we were on the main road outside Eden. The screeching tires were gone, and all I could hear was the insistent whirr of the bike’s engine. Diesel was silent, but his whole body had tightened up. I felt like I was hugging a plank of wood.
My heart felt like it was about to burst out of its chest. And my stomach was starting to get uncomfortable. I wasn’t losing the baby, was I? I tried not to panic at the thought. I needed to stay calm, as much as I could. The time for worrying can come later.
“Dammit.”
I felt the rumble in Diesel’s chest as he cursed, and lifted my head. “What is it?”
“We’re nearly out of gas. I didn’t get to fill up today. And there isn’t a gas station nearby.”
I looked over Diesel’s shoulder. The road felt far too long and straight for my liking. It was like we were driving off into oblivion. Then we approached a fork in the road and I saw a few lights off to our left. I strained my eyes in the dark and saw a gas station light flashing. I tapped Diesel’s shoulder and pointed.
“What about over there?”
Diesel looked. Then he grunted approvingly.
“Good eyes.”
He turned the bike down the road and they eventually pulled into the gas station. Diesel slowed to a stop beside a petrol pump that was clearly switched off and turned off the engine. There were no lights on inside the station, the only lights coming from the street lamp and the sign.
Diesel climbed off the bike and helped me off. I swayed a little, my legs wobbly, before Diesel caught me.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.” I gave him a small smile. “I haven’t been on the back of a bike for that long in a while.”
Diesel’s mouth twitched. Then he kissed my forehead.
“Stay strong. You’re doing great.” He looked towards the station and groaned. “Well, we might be out of luck. The pumps will be turned off and there’s nobody inside.”
“What do we do now?”
“Stay here.”
“What?”
Diesel guided me to stand by the bike.
“You stay here while I go to see what I can find.” He fished out a gun and pressed it into my hands. “You see anyone approaching you don’t like the look of, use this.”
“Okay.”
With one last look at me, Diesel broke away abruptly and limped off towards the gas station. I hadn’t noticed the limp before. His right leg wasn’t holding as much weight as it normally did, and his movements were slower.
Had he been hit? I began to panic again, and then forced myself to be calm once more. No, Diesel wouldn’t have been hit. He was tough. And indestructible. He would be fine.
Diesel disappeared around the side of the station. After what felt like forever, during which I felt like the darkness was pressing down on me until I could barely breathe, a pick-up truck appeared in the forecourt, lights on and blazing. I could see a dark shadow behind the wheel, but it wasn’t until it pulled up next to me that I realized it was Diesel. He leant over and opened the door, beckoning me over.
“Get in.”
I hesitated, but just for a moment. I hurried over and climbed in, slamming the door behind me. Diesel didn’t wait for me to take off my backpack or put on my seat belt before tearing out of the towards the fork in the road, taking a sharp right before going back onto the main track.
I put my backpack on the floor by my feet. “Where did you find this?”
“It was around the back. I managed to hotwire it.”
“You mean you’re stealing it?”
Diesel snorted. “What did you expect from me? I wasn’t going to call the guy up and say I was going to use the car as we’re being chased by the cartel.”
I had nothing to say to that. I stared out the window, but I could barely see anything. It was practically pitch-black outside. I had never quite got used to the intense night. I preferred being around a lot of light. Being out in the desert, that was the real terror for me.
Diesel shifted in his seat. I saw his face was sweating and he was pale. Then I saw he was pressing on his leg. Even in the dim light, I could see the blood between his fingers. I gasped.
“Diesel… Your leg.”
“I’m fine.” Diesel spoke through gritted teeth. “I’ll sort it out when we stop. It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” I cried. “That is most certainly not nothing. Next place we see to spend the night, take it. I’ll clean you up.”
I wasn’t going to argue on this. Diesel could very easily bleed out. He was a stubborn man and could probably withstand the pain, but not for long. I wasn’t about to be left out in the dark on my own.
Diesel looked like he clearly wanted to argue, but I was hearing none of it. When he saw me glaring at him, Diesel seemed to realize that, too. He backed down and scowled with a grumpy nod.
“Okay, fine. If it will make you feel better...”
“I’d rather not have a dead man on my hands, Diesel,” I shot back. “If you die, how can I take care of myself?”
“I’m sure you’d be able to figure it out.”
“Huh!” I slouched in my chair and glared out the window. “I won’t want to try anytime soon.”
Diesel said nothing. They drove on in silence. Soon, they reached the outskirts of Las Vegas, lights flashing on various signs as Diesel drove past little joints and suburban houses. Finally, he pulled in to the parking lot of a motel. The motel rooms spread around two sides of the lot on a single story. It didn’t look particularly desirable, but it was better than nothing. Diesel stopped near the reception sign and turned off the engine.
“You’d better go in.”
“Why me?”
“I’d cause a stir if I go in covered in blood.” Diesel gave me a sheepish smile. “Even in a place like this, they’d call the cops.”
I was annoyed to know he was right. Bracing myself, I climbed out and took a wad of cash from Diesel that magically appeared in his hand. Heading towards the lobby, I was aware that even though I was dressed in sweats, they still left nothing to the imagination. My curves and my breasts were clearly visible.
And the young man behind the counter had certainly noticed. As I managed to book a room and paid for it, his eyes never left my breasts. I was used to being openly gawped at, and it never failed to make me feel like I needed a shower afterwards to get rid of the grimy leer. This time, I wanted to bathe in disinfectant.
It wasn’t difficult getting a room without ID. The man looked as though he wanted something in return, but I pointed out at the car with raised eyebrows, and the interest died in his eyes. Snatching up the key before he could change his mind, I hurried out into the parking lot. Diesel climbed out and met me at the front of the car. I slapped the key into his hand.
“Don’t ever make me do that again.”
“You work in a brothel and you found that difficult?”
I growled, baring my teeth. “You make it sound like I enjoy being stared at all the time.”
Diesel grunted. Then he winced and leant on the hood.
“Let’s get inside and stop arguing about it.”
I hurried to my side of the car and picked up my backpack. Then I joined Diesel again as he managed to stand up, his face coupled into a grimace. I hadn’t seen him look so pained before, and he had been injured previously. I slipped an arm around his waist and made him put an arm over my shoulders.
“Lean on me.”
Diesel stared at me. But he did as I said, limping along to the room further down the lot. I managed to open the door, and Diesel hopped
inside, sagging onto the bed. A double bed. I was under no illusions about why I had been given the bed. I switched on the lights and locked the door.
“I’ve got a flannel in my bag.” I put my backpack on a table and dug inside. “I’ll get it wet and then I’ll clean your wounds.”
“You’ll need to take my pants off.” Diesel was smirking. “You won’t be able to clean it like that.”
He cupped his crotch, and I had to look away. Now was not the time, even if I wanted to climb him like a tree. Blood was staining his jeans, and that put my arousal on the back-burner.
“Fine,” I muttered as I hurried to the bathroom. “Take off your pants.”
I soaked the flannel under the cold tap and then came back in. And stopped short. Diesel had taken off his jeans, but he had also taken off his underwear. He sat on the edge of the bed in just a t-shirt, his cock standing up thick and proud. His hand absently stroked it. I cleared my throat.
“You didn’t need to take off everything below the waist.”
“Why waste an opportunity?”
“And you’re a fucking idiot.” I pointed at the bloody mess just above the outside of Diesel’s knee. “I’m not going to suck you off while I clean the blood away. Put your boxers back on.”
Diesel huffed and reached for his underwear.
“Fine. Cock-blocker.”
“For the first time in my life,” I muttered. I reached him and lowered to my knees, inspecting the wound as Diesel slid his boxers on. “If you don’t want to bleed to death, you do as I say.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Diesel eased himself back and propped himself up on his elbows. “You’ve never taken control in the bedroom before. It’s quite a turn-on.”
“Shut up.” I brushed the flannel over the wound, drawing a sharp flinch from Diesel. I began to wipe the blood away. “How can you think of sex when you’ve just been shot?”
“Why break a habit?” Diesel winked. “And I do have a sexy nurse. Even if she’s in sweatpants.”
“Shut up.”
I concentrated on the cleaning, trying not to look at the strong, muscular legs that bunched under my touch. And knowing Diesel’s cock was close by, still hard and straining against his boxers, made concentrating on the more important things even harder.
“You’re lucky it’s a flesh wound,” I said as I took a closer look at the wound. There was no sign of a bullet. If anything, it looked like the bullet had grazed his thigh. “It could have been fatal.”
“You have medical experience now?”
I grunted.
“I’ve watched enough shows to know that you have some important arteries in your thigh. If they’re ruptured, you can bleed out in seconds.” I drifted my fingers onto the inside of Diesel’s knee and slid upwards. “About here, from what I remember.”
The tips of my fingers brushed against the leg of his boxers before Diesel sat up and gripped my hand tightly.
“Careful,” he growled.
“What? You’ve been flaunting it in front of me for the past ten minutes.” I pulled my hand away and laid it on top of his erection. I grinned as Diesel sucked in a sharp breath. “You don’t want me to do that?”
Diesel growled. Then he grabbed me, pulling me hard against his chest. His hand threaded through my hair, his dark eyes blazing.
“Bitch.”
His kiss was hard, fierce, biting at my lips. I tried to pull back as the pain made me flinch, but Diesel held me tightly against his chest. Soon, his kiss turned firmer and less fierce, but the passion was still there. I sighed and melted into his arms, allowing Diesel to pull me with him onto the bed. Then he rolled, pinning me underneath him. He slid a thigh between my legs and pressed against my sex. I gasped and arched against him as he let out a low groan.
“God, you taste so sweet.”
He slid down my body, shoving my sweater and bra up. I felt the cool air pebble my nipples under Diesel’s heated stare. Then his mouth was on my breasts, kissing, sucking and nibbling. I clutched at his head, my fingers digging into his scalp, torn between getting him to carry on and go lower to where my throbbed, desperate for attention.
Taking his cue, Diesel started making his way down my belly, pressing gentle, wet kisses along my skin, when I heard a loud buzzing. It shook me out of my lust, and I tried to sit up.
“Isn’t that your phone?”
“No.” Diesel started tugging my sweat pants down. “It’s not.”
“Don’t lie, it is.” I pushed his hands away and sat up. “It might be Mason.”
Diesel growled and sat back on his heels, glowering at me. The desire was still burning brightly, barely contained.
“Mood killer,” he grumbled.
“That’s Mason’s title.”
“I think he knows it.” Diesel reached for his jeans and fished out his cell phone. He stood and answered the call with a snap. “What? No, just cleaning my wounds. My leg took a beating.” He glanced at me, and I tried not staring at his erection pointing in my direction. “She’s still here, and she’s unharmed. Okay, got it. We’ll meet you there now.”
I realized he was hanging up and slid off the bed, putting my bra back on and tugging my sweatshirt down.
“Was that Mason? Meet him where?”
“That was Noah, and we’re meeting them at our warehouse.”
“Warehouse?”
Diesel grunted as he snatched up his jeans.
“It’s not exactly something we discuss with people who aren’t members. We have a warehouse just outside Las Vegas, where we house most of our weapons in case of emergency.” Diesel jammed his legs into his jeans and tugged them on. “Mason wants us there now.” He paused and gave me a look that made a shiver of arousal shoot up my spine. “And I’m going to finish what I started later.”
My eyes drifted to his erection, which Diesel was trying to stuff inside his jeans. From Diesel’s grimace, it was going to be difficult to take his mind off what might have been. Approaching him, I eased his hands away and gave him a coquettish smile as I sank to my knees.
“Maybe I can help with that,” I whispered, tugging his jeans down his thighs, pulling his boxers away with them.
“Amber, what…”
Diesel’s protest broke off abruptly as I slid a hand over the smooth skin of his cock before licking the head. Then I lathered my tongue along the shaft, using my other hand to rolls his balls in my fingers. Diesel’s breathing was now ragged, his hand reaching for my head.
“I thought we needed to go now,” he rasped, but even as he spoke, he was starting to thrust towards my mouth, pressing my head down.
“This should satisfy you for now.”
I knocked Diesel’s hands away and slid my mouth over his cock, swallowing him until my lips touched the base. I felt his throbbing head pressing against the back of my throat and pulled back, sliding my tongue along the vein on the underside of his shaft. Diesel gasped and tried to thrust into my mouth, but I pulled away until Diesel pulled back. Then I took his cock back into my mouth.
I sucked him in long, hard strokes, using my hand as well, while my other hand slid around his hip and gripped his buttock. Diesel’s fingers slid into my hair again, but he didn’t press, even as his hands tightened in my locks. His moans got louder, and his body tensed. When he came, I took in every drop, licking up his seed until Diesel groaned, pulled away, and tugged me to my feet. He kissed me hard, breaking it with a heavy sigh.
“You always know how to satisfy me,” he growled.
I grinned. “Why stop a habit?”
Chapter Eighteen
Amber
“Amber.”
I jerked awake. It took a moment for me to realize that the gentle rocking of the pick-up had stopped and we were outside a huge warehouse that looked like it was in the middle of nowhere. Diesel had opened the passenger door and was looking at me intensely. His fingers brushed against my cheek, moving a strand of hair away from my face.
“We’re here.”
“Are we?” I sat up, clutching at his arm as the world spun. “Sorry, Diesel. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”