by K E Osborn
Trying hard to gather my thoughts, I pace the room. My heart’s racing a million miles a second, and as I think to Neala, sweet innocent Neala who’s sleeping soundly upstairs, the thought that if they had gotten away with her, right now this fucker could be doing unspeakable shit to her. It’s fucking with my head. I’m a man of my word, but right now I can’t be that man. I have to be a brother, a president, and I must have vengeance on the man in front of me who wouldn’t have had a second thought in violating Neala.
He has to pay.
Severely.
I turn to Sensei and give a simple nod. He grins at me and steps up to Alfonso. Trax steps to the side, shaking out his hand from a volley of punches and tries to walk off his anger. I reach out placing my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. He looks to me and curls up his lip, shaking his head. I give him a curt nod, letting him know I’m not letting this asshole get away with the thought of touching our sister.
I turn to Alfonso and take a centering breath. “Alfonso, I know I said I would give you safe passage. I swore it. I am a man of my word—”
“What the fuck, Torque?” Trax interrupts me, and I hold up my hand to stop Trax’s tirade. He stops with a huff as I turn to look at him with a sly smile. He visibly relaxes as I turn back to Alfonso who’s trying to look at me with a very swollen face.
“But, with this new information, I’m afraid there’s only one course of action I can grant here.” I give a curt nod to Sensei, and he steps in front of Alfonso, whose eyes light up in pure terror as Sensei brings the Katana blade up to his eye level while taking his stance.
“No, you can’t chop off my head, bastardo. I gave you the information you requested,” he yells at the same time Sensei swipes the blade downward. It slices straight through both his wrists and his hands drop from the sides of the chair in one fell swoop. Alfonso’s screams echo through the room as snot runs from his nose, saliva runs from his mouth, and he begins to fade in and out of consciousness from blood loss.
Sensei takes a step back and again takes his handkerchief and begins to wipe off his Katana making sure not to leave any grossness on his precious steel. I step up in front of Alfonso, not caring my boots are being covered in his blood. I bend down to his eye level and turn up my lip as his unfocused eyes slowly stare at me. “Now your filthy hands can never touch a woman again.”
His bottom lip trembles as he coughs and splutters trying to stay awake through his immense agony.
“Sensei… get his stubs wrapped. Then deliver him to Enzo with a message… ‘You come after what’s mine, I come back even harder.’”
Alfonso’s head snaps up, and he shakes it with what little strength he has left. “No. No. You can’t. Don’t take me back to him… please. Torque, you promised you’d protect—”
I turn with Trax by my side, and we head for the stairs. “That was before I learned the repugnant news that you were gonna rape our sister. Deal’s off… Enzo can have you.”
CHAPTER SIX
HEELEY
I spent most of my Sunday reminiscing about last night. My crazy whirlwind time at the club with Torque.
I wonder if he’s okay. I wonder how things went with those Andretti dudes. All I know is he shut down on me, told me to leave, and I have no idea if I’ll even see him again.
My gut is telling me no.
We said goodbye, and it sure felt final.
I hate that it did. I’ve been playing that time over and over in my mind again today while I should have been studying. But no, Rylan ‘Torque’ O’Shea is on my damn mind once again. He seems to be everywhere I look.
At work—he’s everywhere. The memory of him being here plays over and over again. No matter what I do, and I can’t seem to focus on anything right now. My mind can’t concentrate on what it needs to, and that’s work where I am right now.
“Heeley? Heels. Damn, girl, will you wake up,” Ari berates throwing a cup of ice at me, the cubes smacking me in the chest as I shake my head, and they tumble to the floor clanking and smashing apart while she chuckles at her own joke.
I huff and turn, grabbing the handheld dustpan and broom and get to work cleaning the mess up as Xav and Ari both look at me raising their brows.
“What the hell had you so deep in thought you didn’t hear us talking about Chris Pratt’s junk? I mean…” he pauses for dramatics, “… you saw that pic in the tabloids, right? I know you couldn’t actually see his cock, and it was only the outline through his pants, but damn that man’s packing, and I don’t mean boxes,” Xav blurts out.
“Yes, yes, I saw the pic.” I smile. “You both tagged me enough times for me to notice. And yes, it’s great. Sorry, my mind’s elsewhere.”
“Mm-hmm, on a certain biker who’s also packing?” Ari replies.
While putting the dustpan away, I roll my eyes and then lean against the counter hoping some customers will come in and save me from his line of questioning.
“Look, we shared a kiss—”
“A hot, steamy, sensual, sexual… oh my fucking God, toe-curling kiss,” Ari interrupts.
“Okay, fine. Yeah, one of those. But… it’s over now. He has much bigger things to think about than me.”
Xav slumps his shoulders and shakes his head. “I don’t believe that for a second. I saw the way he looked at you. The way he tried to take possession of you, Heels. He’s not done with you. Even if he thinks he is, he’ll be back. Mark my words.”
“Well, what if I’m done with him?”
They both burst out laughing. Bending over in a fit of hysterics, I tip out my hip in annoyance as they continue to carry on at my expense.
“Oh, good one, Heels… the way your mind wanders off thinking about him all the time, I’m one hundred percent sure you’re nowhere near done with him yet, either,” Ari laughs.
With a quick shake of my head, I head out the back to try and busy myself with something, anything, to get away from these two annoyingly right people. I move over to the fridge and figure I’ll restock it, try to rearrange it around, so the items with the closest use by dates are near the front. Beginning with the cans of whipped cream, I grab the cans one at a time and start moving them, sorting them by date, trying to numb my brain with the mundane task. I vaguely hear the bell of the shop door ting, so I know customers are coming in, but I also know Ari and Xav are out there, and if they need me, they’ll call.
“Ahh… Heeley. There’s someone here to see you,” Ari calls out.
Looking up at the clock on the wall, it’s almost nine at night, which is closing time for a Sunday. Who the hell would be coming in to see me now? I have a can of whipped cream in my hand and don’t bother to put it down before I turn and walk out the front. My mind is running through the possibilities—maybe it’s Mom or Dad coming to check up on the place.
I round the corner and stop dead. Torque’s standing at the divider waiting for me with a weak smile. Letting out a small puff of air which moves my hair, I swallow hard and take a step forward, the dividing bench in the way as I place the can of cream on the counter between us.
He looks down at it and smirks his fucking gorgeous smile as he glances back at me. “What is it with you and whipped cream?”
An image of me in an all too compromising position with Torque, and some whipped cream flashes into my mind. I clear my throat as I slide the can away from us. He chuckles.
I look up at him and take a deep breath. “I thought we’d said our goodbyes. That I had to leave and never come back.”
He looks down and sighs. “Yeah, I did say that. But someone told me I basically need to suck it up…” He stops, his eyes flash with something—maybe regret—and then he continues, “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Heeley. I’m a fuckin’ idiot. Please, let me make it up to you?”
Opening my eyes wide, I’m a little shocked. Torque's usually all brash and bravado, but right now he’s being straight with me. I appreciate the effort, so I nod and relax my shoulders looking at him kind
ly. “Okay, sure… what did you have in mind?”
He tenses slightly, his jaw clenching. “See this is where my plan kind of falls apart. I don’t really have anything planned. I wasn’t sure what your answer would be, so I thought I’d wing it—”
“Smooth, real smooth,” Xav murmurs under his breath.
I’d forgotten we have an audience. I think Torque had too by the quick movement of his head turning to look at Xav and Ari as they stand in the corner watching us.
I roll my eyes and look at the clock. “Well, I finish in five minutes or so... how ‘bout we just chill out for a bit. No clubs. No fellow bikers or friends—”
“What? We can’t come?” Ari interrupts, and I glare at her.
“No…”
She and Xav both pout as Torque smiles.
“Just you and me. Hanging out together. What do you think?” I ask.
His eyes light up, and he nods. “Fuckin’ perfect.”
“Finish up now, sis. Ari and I can close up shop,” Xav says with a bright smile.
“We can?” Ari asks, and Xav glares at her. “Oh, yeah. Yeah, course we can. You go. Have a good night,” she emphasizes the word ‘good’ for effect.
I nod with a smile and start undoing my apron around my waist and move to hang it up as I head toward the back area to grab my stuff. “I’ll just get my things and meet you out front.”
Torque nods as I turn to head for the backroom. “Thanks, guys, appreciate the help,” Torque’s gravelly voice chimes through the front of the store as I hear him walk out. Grasping my stuff, I can’t control the smile which is spreading across my face. I shrug on my leather jacket, grab my backpack, and head back out.
“Be safe,” Ari calls out, and I snort rolling my eyes.
“Oh, not even… I’ve known him all of what… three days? Give a girl some credit,” I call back as I pull the divider open and walk through closing it behind me.
Ari and Xav both snort and shake their heads. “I would have done him in the back room the night he came in, but that’s just me. I’m a hussy like that,” Ari calls out. Xav bursts out laughing as I shake my head and step out the front door. Torque’s waiting at the curb, leaning against his gorgeous looking Harley. My eyes go wide checking out the shine on the chrome, and I’m super impressed by the immaculate sheen on this thing. He smiles as I walk up to him, and he looks me up and down.
“You sure do look great in leather. You’ll fit right in on the back of my bike.”
I grin and look at the blue Kawasaki Ninja 250 motorbike that’s parked right next to Torque’s, raise my brow moving in beside it and lean against it. His eyebrows furrow, and he tilts his head as I grab my helmet from the handlebars and bring it to my stomach with both hands. “Maybe that’s because I already look good on the back of a bike.”
He stands up suddenly letting out a big puff of air as his hand rushes to his chin rubbing it furiously. His eyes bugging out of his head, and I can’t decide if he looks angry, impressed, or horny. Maybe a mixture of all three.
“This is your ride?” he asks, looking over my sports bike.
I nod with a smirk. “I know it’s not a Harley, but it’s what I can handle, and it’s mine.”
He shakes his head, his body moving slightly like he’s uncomfortable. I’m just not sure why. “Fuck, Heeley. I mean… I don’t know if I can handle this.”
“What do you mean?” My brows scrunch up in concern as he stalks toward me.
He looks me up and down, and his eyes take on a darker shade. They look almost menacing, but underneath the blue tone, they’re filled with lust. It’s unmistakable, and I swallow hard as he steps up to me making me move my helmet to my side so he can step in closer to me.
“I mean, you may be riding a crotch rocket, of all fuckin’ things, but the fact that you can ride a bike at all…” his mouth curves into a smile, “Well, fuck, foxy… I’m all kinds of hot for you right now, and I don’t know if I can hold it in.”
Swallowing hard, the buzz around us flickers and ignites hot as he steps closer to me. I’m addicted to the tangy scent of his aftershave teamed with the smell of leather that’s flooding my senses making them work in overdrive. It’s like everything’s happening at once. All my emotions are firing, and all my thoughts are kicking off making my mind think of only one thing.
Torque’s lips on mine.
I move my helmet subtly to the tank of my bike as his body steps right against mine. The pressure building between us, he inches closer and closer. The chemistry is firing off in all directions. His hand slides up against my cheek in a tender caress, and I gulp as he looks into my eyes. The intensity is burning, my skin prickling in goosebumps as he leans in, his lips press against mine hard and fast, and I don’t have time to think about anything other than the fact that we’re kissing, again. My hands instantly loop around his neck, pulling him closer to me, threading through his hair as his hand on my cheek moves into the back of my hair and tightens into a fist. Our tongues dance together as our mouths collide in a frantic kiss. It’s hot, and I want to feel more of him.
His hands move down to my ass, and he hoists me up to sit on the seat of my bike. I hold onto him for dear life thinking at any moment my bike’s going to topple over, but he has a hold on me firmly. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he moves in so close I can feel his hard cock pressing against the seam of my shorts while we kiss on my bike in front of my parents’ froyo bar at nine on a Sunday evening for everyone to see.
The kiss is hot. It’s frenzied. And fuck do I like it. I don’t even care about his public display of affection. All I care about right now is that Torque is kissing me, and at this moment, I’m turning him on to the point of a raging hard-on. It makes me feel alive, and I haven’t felt this way in a very long time. It’s invigorating. It’s adrenaline pumping. And mix that with the emotions of kissing Torque, it’s a high I don’t want to come down from.
Honk. Honk.
A car horn and a group of men catcalling from a car window breaks the tension as Torque releases our lips, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. We’re both panting for breath as I try to hide my smile and hold back a laugh. He looks to the car driving off down the street, and I clear my throat as I attempt to get a hold of my raging libido. My clit is throbbing like crazy and having Torque’s hard cock still pressing up against it, isn’t doing anything to ease the damn pressure.
Torque looks back to me. My legs drop from around his waist as he finally takes a small step back, and he smiles shaking his head. “She rides a bike,” he murmurs with a chuckle, and I let out a small laugh.
“She does.”
He takes another step back putting an actual gap between us this time, and he smiles so wide his toothy grin is so fucking gorgeous it makes me melt. “Fuck me! You’re so full of surprises, foxy. Now take me back to your place so we can…” he pushes his eyebrows up and down, “… hang out.”
I snort out a laugh and nod. “And just like that, the demanding biker boy is back, ladies and gentleman.”
He rolls his eyes subtly rearranging his crotch, but I don’t miss it as he turns and grabs his helmet off his bike and places it over his head. I slide off my bike and grab my helmet pulling it on as I glance to the window of the froyo bar to see Ari and Xav standing there with big grins on their faces. I shake my head, and they both give me the thumbs up. I flip them the bird, making Torque chuckle as the roar of his Harley’s engine comes to life. I slide on the back of my Ninja and start her up, her engine sounds weak in comparison to Torque’s bike, but I still love the rush of the feeling of the vibration between my legs as I look to Torque. He shakes his head, and I can just imagine his smile beneath his helmet as I kick back the stand and walk my bike back getting ready to take off.
The ride home should be fun.
I’ve never ridden with someone on my tail before. So having Torque following me is actually quite exciting.
I pull out and yank on the throttle. My bike lurches for
ward, the strength and power thrusting beneath me giving me a thrill as I take off down the road. Torque doesn’t hesitate and is beside me in an instant. I smile loving that this is something we can share together. The open road, the wind in our hair, the love for two wheels.
I have no idea what his riding style is. Is he brash? Does he obey the road rules, or does he bend them like I do? I decide to test this theory when I notice a line of cars parked at the top light in both lanes. There are at least four cars in each lane. I smile knowing this will be a breeze for my small bike, but for Torque’s bigger, more masculine ride it might be a little trickier. But I want to push him.
So I race forward, lane splitting all the way between the cars, racing to get to the front of the traffic lights. I giggle under my helmet as I pull to a stop looking back to see Torque, who, with no hesitation, follows me down the thin line. He moves in front of the car to my left and pulls up. I see his chest jolting like he’s laughing, and I smile wide knowing he’s enjoying this as much as I am.
When the lights change, I take off like a rocket speeding through the intersection, setting the pace way more than the speed limit.
After a while, I slow to the actual speed limit and drive the streets more like a sane person as we ride side by side. He casually looks across to me every now and then, and I smile liking that he’s watching me.
I flick the blinker to turn left, and we turn, and then I signal to my apartment on the right. He nods, following me into my driveway, and both the bikes pull to a stop and turn off at the same time. The intense roar of bike engines coming to a complete halt filter through the dimly-lit street as I kick out my stand and slide off my bike yanking off my helmet. My hair falls around my shoulders in soft waves as Torque jumps off his Harley, pulls off his helmet placing it on his seat, and turns rapidly. His broad steps race toward me, and I don’t have time to think before he grabs me, picking me up and twirls me around in a circle. I laugh, grabbing hold of his shoulders as he chuckles letting me slide down his body until I’m looking in his eyes. That surge, that buzz, that energy, it’s here again, and fuck if it doesn’t feel good.