by Simone Elise
“It’s for you.” And the camera flicks back to my twin sister. “I have lined you up a date with one eligible bachelor.”
I groan. Loudly. “Elle I don’t need to be set up!”
“Yes you do. Honestly I let you go find a man and you went straight into the fools grip of a biker.” She states something very embarrassment and it takes everything in me not to look at Kace right now. Because if I did she would know he was here.
“So?” I challenged her. “My life. I’ll live it how I like.” And I see Kace smirk out of the corner of my eye.
“Ivory. This isn’t just any eligible bachelor. It’s Noah.”
And my mouth drops. “You better be fucking joking Elle!”
“Nope.” And she grins. “He is so excited, come on you two were so sweet.”
“He is called an Ex for a reason!”
“Yes but I think there is room for a second chance romance there.” She winks. “You’ll thank me when he gives you that mind blowing sex again.”
I gritted my teeth. Seeing Kace glare at the pan.
“Elle. Cancel it.”
“Can’t Ivory.”
“Why?” I huffed.
“Cause, he is backing one of my companies and the deal was, if I got him a date with you--- he’d back me.”
I groan.
“You owe me Ivy.” She chimes. “So it’s at seven, and he’s not picking you up because if he sees where you live, it screams gold digger. Which you aren’t.” She is still grinning. “So come to my house at six and get ready. See you tonight!” And she hangs up.
I exhaled sharply, pissed off. And I see Kace full on glaring at the pan. He wasn’t even flipping it.
I slid off the kitchen island, and frowned looking at the eggs and bacon. “You burnt it.” I state a fact. And he snaps back into the moment, sort of shocked, that he had burnt it all. “Okay, where are the corn chips?”
He glanced at me, and then turns the shove off. Giving up on the whole cooking thing. But I see a new argument brewing in his eyes.
18
Kace
Chain smoking, that was how I was managing while Ivory gets ready for a date. My eyes were on the television, but my mind was on the fact that Ivory was getting ready in the bathroom. Finally I hear the bathroom door open up, and hear her walking to the bedroom.
I butted my cigarette out and got up. Walking to her bedroom door, which she had left the door open.
She was standing there in black lace underwear, sending my desires of her wild. How I’d love to peel her free from that lace.
“Dressed up I see?” I state the obvious and she throws a look at me. “Getting ready for him to give you that mind blowing sex again?”
She rolled her eyes. But doesn’t say anything.
“Thought you were meant to be getting ready at your sister’s house?” I continue to make conversation with her.
She sighs, and turns to face me in see through black lace; and it kills me knowing I won’t be the guy that frees her from it.
“Kace. Are we doing this?” She states, “We aren’t a couple.” She states a fact I strongly dislike. And grabs a dress from the wardrobe, as well as high heels. Slipping the dress on. I walk towards her doing the zip up.
“If I asked you to be in a relationship with me, what would you say?” I murmured as I did the zip up. My fingers hovered at the top. I see her inhaled sharply.
“You don’t want that.” She mumbles and turns to look at me. “You don’t want to lock me down. You don’t do commitments. I do. When I’m in a relationship. I’m hundred percent in it.” She shakes her head. “Why are we even having this conversation? We aren’t a couple.” And then she pulls on her heels and brushes past me. And I grab her arm.
“Would you consider it, if I asked?”
She blinks and straightens up. “You’d get an answer if you asked. Until then. I’m not telling you.” And she pries away from my grip and leaves, which had me wanting to reach for a bottle.
19
Kace
I knew I shouldn’t be here. Yet here I was. Out the front of a restaurant and ready to storm in it. I needed an answer to a fucking question—that Ivory thought I wouldn’t ask. Ivory had never met a man like me, when I set my mind on something—I went through with it.
I climbed off my bike and scanned the security. I was a big guy, muscles wise and could take them on if needed.
I was not letting this Noah guy, fuck my woman tonight. So I headed for the security.
IVORY
Noah was always a charmer. Always. He used to have me under a spell. Where I would easily fall for his games. It was the same tonight.
I was smiling back on cue but the sooner this debt to Elle was over, the better. Noah finally asked how life was, and I just blinked staring at him.
“It’s…” and I had no words. How was life at the moment? I had a biker crashing at my house. Who my brothers hated. Then on top of that, I had a stock car I had wasted time on building, only to get our old one back. I just blinked. I had no words.
“Ivory?” he prompted me, and gave me a smile that once used to make me melt.
I glanced up, and my eyes widened. I see Kace through the double doors. Arguing with security by the looks of it. I snapped back into the moment and get up.
“Ivory?” Noah says to my back but I head for Kace.
A butler opened the door for me and I step outside, seeing Kace, about to throw a punch at security. Was he mad!
“Kace?” I say and score his attention. His fists clenched at his side. I looked at him speechless. “What are you doing here?” I asked, and really I couldn’t come up with one logically reason why he would be here.
He steps towards me and security steps in his way. I hear him threaten the guard, until I say it’s okay and the guard steps aside.
Kace’s eyes locked with mine. “Come with me. Leave this date.” He states like it is an option.
“Why?” I say off handed. “You know this date means nothing. I’m doing a favour for my sister.” He had to know that.
“If it means nothing come with me.” He states like I can just walk out half way through a meal. Frustrated I walk towards him, gripping his hand and pulling him to the curb.
“Kace why are you here?” I let go of his hand, only for him to grip my hand back, like touching me calmed him down.
“I don’t want you seeing other people.” He grits out, like it is painful for him to admit it. He opens his eyes, looking a bit calmer. But still furious. “I don’t want you dating other men and I sure as fuck don’t want you fucking them.”
“Okay.” I blink.
He hesitates then swallows sharply. “I want you. You hear me Ivory. This is me asking you to give me a shot. A real one.”
I blink. Okay this can’t be happening.
“I want you.” He cups my face, stepping in closer to me. “Please baby tell me you want me back.”
I continue to stare up at him. I made a promise to myself that I would never commit to a man. That I would never give a man a piece of my heart. Not after being burnt.
I inhaled softly and my eyes are locked with his. He wants an answer, I see the panic building in his eyes.
“Please Ivory, tell me you want me back.” His other hand goes to my other cheek, and his hands are shaking. He is that nervous and for some reason scared of my answer.
“Baby please.” He begs. “Don’t shut down on me. Tell me you want me back.”
My eyes drop from his and I can feel him take that as a sign. I grips his hands and he cups my cheeks harder.
“I’ll apologize to your brother. I’ll match whatever Olivia took from him.” He’s panicking. “I’ll do anything, just give me a shot to be your man.”
My heart is racing, so fast that I feel like I’m going to pass out.
My eyes run over his showing tattooed skin, he is everything I can’t have but everything I want—and how the hell was that fair?
“Please baby g
irl, give me a chance.” He whispers one last time, trying to get me to speak. “Please tell me you feel something for me.”
I swallow sharply and I’m closer in height to him because of the high heels. And I lean forward, brushing my lips against his.
I pull back. “I do. Which is why I’m saying yes.” And his lips twitch up immediately before he kisses me. I don’t know whether I am making a life decision or not but I was following my heart for the first time.
20
Ivory
I left Noah at the restaurant leaving with Kace. I even ripped my dress up the sides so I could get on his bike. I knew come tomorrow Elle would ring furious but for some reason—I didn’t care in that moment.
We were now back at my apartment. Kace held the bike steady as I climbed off and as soon as he leans it to the side, his hands are on me. Like I’m his drug and he’s addicted.
My heart races every time he touches my skin. It’s like a rush of adrenaline. Excitement. It floods my body so quickly that it gives me head spins. His impatience as he pulls me along to the red door. He had my spare key, as he opens it, and then turns to me, gripping me by the waist and lifting me up, my legs wrapping around his waist.
He nipping my bottom lip while he kicks the front door shut and then leans me back against it. All while kissing me. My hands lost in his hair.
Holding me with one arm, his other hand goes to my dresses zipper, and he pulls it down the ruined dress.
“Kace?” I murmur against his lips. “My thigh is buzzing.”
He frowns and then realizes his phone is ringing. He goes to ignore it but I grip his shoulders.
“Babe I’m not going anywhere all night. Just answer it, it could be important.” I then kiss his firm lips, as he is clearly pissed off.
He lowers me to the ground, sliding his phone out and barking a hello into it.
My dress is half undone, my hair is a mess from the bike, I look like a real sex wreck, as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
Then I hear the words that I don’t want to hear. I’ll be there soon. My eyes are locked on Kace, as he hangs up.
“I have to go.” He looks as pleased about it as I am that he is leaving. “Don’t wanna but your brothers have made a mess at the club and I have to do damage control.” He runs a hand down my side, and kissed my forehead.
I pout. But don’t say anything because it is sort of my fault.
“Guess I’ll see you when I see you.” I say, not sure what else to say.
“I’ll be back tonight.” He looks me in the eyes. “I promise.”
I nod my head. “Okay,”
He kisses me again before leaving. And when he leaves. I felt like he wasn’t telling me something and that annoyed me—but then again I was only hours into this relationship. If I started doubting him now, that wasn’t great. So I shook my head of those thoughts. Kace always kept his word. He’d be back tonight.
He doesn’t come back. I barely sleep all night, rolling on my sides, waiting. I finally fall asleep only to wake up that morning, with him not here. I didn’t have one missed call from him, or one message. And the concern I feel is all consuming.
I eat cereal, worried. I get dressed, worried. And I put off leaving, until I have to.
In the end I can’t put it off any longer and I leave for the track. To meet Gabe. The whole time, I’m nervous for some reason. My stomach rolling with guilt, nerves and concern. I for some reason feel like it is my fault that Kace isn’t home.
I pulled into the garage. Spotting Gabe walking towards me car with a grin on his face.
“Don’t you think it’s a great day sis?” he grins at me.
No. I just nodded my head. The sun was out if that was what he was getting at.
“Guess what happened last night.”
“You got laid, cause you are in a good mood.” I say off handed and walked towards the shed, past him.
“Better than that. The bikers got raided. From what I heard nearly most of them are heading to prison.”
I full on stop. “What?”
Gabe continued to grin. “Yep. The bikers got raided. Wasn’t even our doing. They had a rat for the feds.”
I shake my head. This can’t be happening. “How do you know all this?”
“Manson, chief of police, you know Dad’s best mate. He told Dad, dad called me.” He shrugged. “Guess this means Kace is out of the race this weekend. Can’t be in two places at once. The gods are looking down on us Ivy. For our main competition to go to prison.”
I’m speechless. I can’t form a word. Gabe nudges for me to keep walking but I can’t.
21
Kace
Fucking police. Vein of my existence. I used Ivory’s spare key, opening her door. It was night by the time I got here. Letting the door swing up, I balanced food in the other hand. Had a feeling I needed something to sweet talker for standing her up last night.
Then my eyes landed on Ivory. On the couch, and I drop the food on the coffee table.
“Ivory what the fuck is wrong?” I go to her, seeing her with tears down her cheeks, barely breathing. She was hyperventilating as I cupped her tear stained face. She was looking at me like I wasn’t really here. “Ivory, what happened!”
She was a crying mess, I had never seen any woman this upset and she grips my vest, pulling me to her. Locking her arms around my neck, as I kneeled in front of her.
“Darling, what the hell has you this worked up.” I run my hand down her back, wondering who had caused this mess. My expression sharped. Had Gabe said something? Had Ivory told him about her and I, that would make sense.
She was hiccupping not being able to string words together. I needed to calm her down.
I stand up, and then sit down on the couch, lifting her up and bringing her to my lap. My hand going to her back, as I rubbed small circles, on the small of her back. Trying to get her to calm down, so she could tell me what the problem was.
She drops her head to my chest. “I’m right here darling,” I say into her ear, tucking her hair away from her cheek. “Slow and steady breathes darling.” She still isn’t calming down, so I placed her hand on my heart. “I’m right here Ivory.”
Within moments her sobbing turned to crying and she calmed down.
“Good girl.”
I noticed how she is tracing my skull and roses tattoo on my hand with her finger. I think it helped calm her down.
Moments passed and I kissed her cheek. “You feeling better.”
Her eyes locked with mine, bright red, stained. Her lips tremors a little and she opens her mouth. “I hate you Kace.” She said words that stuns me. I’m speechless. And tears welled in her eyes again. “Cause you’ve made me risk it.”
“Risk what?”
“My heart.” Her lip tremors. “I thought you were…. I thought I wouldn’t see you again. I thought that…” she swallows sharply. “How are you here?”
I frowned. What was she on about? Then it clicked. She knew about the raid. She thought I was one of the members arrested. Fuck had she gotten this upset over me? Surely that wasn’t possible.
I had never had anyone cry over me. I had never had anyone care that much about me. To know she was this upset because of me, stunned me to the core.
“I’ve got a problem.” She whispered, through more tears, and she looked me in the eyes. “I realized when I thought I lost you, I realized… I care about you Kace. I don’t know how you did it. But you got in my heart.” Her hand was still over my chest, over my heart. “And I don’t want to lose you before we even get a beginning.”
I lean towards her, wiping the tears away from under her eyes. I never had a reason not to risk my life. I never had a reason not to do things that could cost me my life. But right now, as I looked at Ivory. She gave me a reason.
22
Kace
Ivory had calmed down, though had a headache from crying so much. I couldn’t help but feel the blame. If I had called her and told her
that things were fine, this wouldn’t have happened. Instead I let the club distract me.
To be seven members were now looking at a long time—and there wasn’t shit the club do about it.
“Races start tomorrow.” Ivory broke the silence, and looked up from the food to me.
“Yeah and it’s going to kill me.” I muttered, and she frowned, wanting me to explain. “You kind of have a reputation at the track.” She looked at me to keep explaining. “For wearing see through tops. The boys run bets on it. Surprised Gabe hasn’t shut it down.” I looked away but wished I could tell her to wear a bra, but with a rack like hers, she didn’t need one. They were perfect. Women would go under the knife for breasts like Ivory’s.
“Guess I need to get some new clothes.” She says and I notice her drop her pizza slice. “It’s going to suck though, I do agree with you on that.” I arched my eyebrows for her to explain. “I’m not the only one with a reputation. Let’s face it fucking the new single Kace Striking is on every woman’s going bucket list.”
“Part from I’m not single.” I point out,
She gave me a dry look. “But you can’t say I’m your girlfriend can you?” She pushes the box away from her. “Like I said it’s going to suck.”
I reach across to her, my thumb wiping the sauce off the corner of her lips, and without thinking or at least I don’t think she was thinking, she took my thumb in her mouth. Immediately my dick twitches and just like that she’s turned me on for the night.
She moves over me, straddling me. “You know what we haven’t done?” her finger traces over my neck tattoo. And she leans in, her lips so close. “Foreplay.” She says a word I was not expecting. And I feel her hand grip my dick.
“Ivory. I’ve only got so much control.”