The men who killed him decapitated him and I buried my father without his head. The police claim to be working the case, but they know, and I know they won’t find his head, nor will they arrest the men responsible. In their eyes my father got what was coming to him and maybe he did.
I shut off the car and grab my bag from the backseat. I have never met my stepmom. Her and my father only married a few months back. She’s in Tennessee. Something to do with her ex. I guess he is in the hospital or something. I really don’t care. Those people are nothing to me. I’m on my own as usual. I’m used to it. As much as my father was there for all the big moments in my life, he was missing in action for the little things in between.
I take out the key from under the fake rock that was left for me and unlock the massive door. The house is warm considering no one has been living here. Aside from the maid coming in to clean and to stock the fridge for me. Speaking of food, I am starving. Dropping my bag on the floor by the front door, I give myself the grand tour. Stephanie said I could have my pick of any of the bedrooms on the second floor. This isn’t the home they shared. My father had several properties. The fact that they all belong to her now bothers me, but at the same time do I really want my father’s blood money. I stand to inherit thirty million dollars I will receive half upon my eighteenth birthday a few days from now and the rest when I turn twenty-one. I will never have to work a day in my life. My father made sure of that. He left me well supported but now I am unprotected. I don’t expect anything from Stephanie nor should I. From what I hear she is as cold and evil as my father could be.
She’s in bed with the Devils Rejects and only out for herself. Though can I blame her? It’s a man’s world and we just exist in it. My father had a lot of enemies and I can’t help but wonder when they will come for me. I am sure my existence and DNA has been made known. No sense in dwelling on things out of my control. I continue to wonder the halls of the house. I make it to the lavish kitchen that has state of the art everything including a fully stocked bar.
Smirking to myself I grab a bottle that looks fancy without reading the label. Peeling the plastic seal from around the cap, I twist it off and take a hard swig. I nearly spit the vile liquid back out but force myself to swallow it. My throat is on fire and my belly is burning as well.
I drink until my fingertips and my lips are as numb as I feel inside. It’s growing dark outside and the automatic timer for the Christmas lights goes off. The outside and interior of the house comes alive with Christmas but all I want to do is shout, “Bah Humbug.”
I look down at my wet shirt and grab my bag. I take it upstairs to one of the bedrooms and start dumping the contents out on the queen-sized bed that has a cream-colored duvet with pink roses embroidered on it. It matches the one I have back at school. I wonder if my father intended this to be my room at some point. I suppose whatever his intentions were, they don’t matter now.
Looking down at the bed I let out a groan of frustration when I see that I took my dormmates bag instead of my own. Her candy cane striped tights and red velvet sexy Santa dress is staring back at me instead of my jeans and my sweaters. Maybe it’s all the twinkling lights and decorations but I say screw it and change into the ridiculous ensemble. My phone goes off from inside my purse. At least I got that right. It’s a message from Phoebe.
I’m so sorry! I have your bag. —Phoebe
I dial her instead of texting. “Hey. It’s no biggie. Just an excuse to go shopping.” I don’t tell her it also gives me something to do.
“Are you sure? I feel terrible.”
“It’s fine but what are you going to wear for the play?”
“I dropped out.”
“Phoebe…did you take my bag on purpose, so you could weasel out of the play you volunteered for?” I laugh under my breath.
“Maybe, but I was only doing it to impress, Manuel.”
I sigh. “He is married and like thirty-five. Not to mention your teacher. Don’t be gross.”
“I know,” she whines.
“Suck it up and do the play.”
“Yeah…yeah,” she groans, and I smile to myself. Suddenly I see headlights coming down the driveway.
“I gotta go.” I end the call and hope it isn’t my stepmother. As depressing as the thought of Christmas alone was sounding, I would much rather spend it alone than with a woman whom I have never met. I know she didn’t love my father. She didn’t attend the service I held for him and my grandmother. Some of my father’s friends paid their respects and were disappointed to learn that the family business was in her care. They thought things would fall to me—a child they were hoping to manipulate. Joke was on them. I am happy that Stephanie inherited a problem I never wanted. I know my father had hoped for a son to leave his dynasty too. Stephanie is pregnant but says the child isn’t his.
I rush down the stairs and make it to the foyer just as the door swings open. I skid to a halt, sliding on the marble floor in these stupid candy cane tights. Before me stands a tattooed and muscled wall of biker. He smirks at me and looks up at the mistletoe centered above his head in the entryway. A patch on his black leather vest reads the name Axel.
I freeze in place, but he winks at me then pulls me in close to him before I can register the feel of his arms around me. His lips come down bruisingly hard on mine. I’m taken by surprise but decide what the hell. My lips move against his. This strange guy has lips soft as pillows. Just when I am getting into the kiss he pulls back. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” His thumb brushes under my lip, wiping away my smeared lipstick.
“Um… you’re welcome.” I say the first thing that pops in my head, sounding like an idiot.
He chuckles softly then pulls a pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket of his biker vest and lights one up.
I study him unsure what to do. I hope he isn’t one of the men responsible for murdering my father.
Did Santa really just bring me a biker for Christmas?
Chapter 4
Axel
I roll through the gates of the estate Hades, the Prez of the Devils Rejects said I could crash at until shit gets squared away with this merger between the BRRMC and DRMC. There isn’t supposed to be anyone here, but the place is lit up like the Griswold house in that Christmas movie my Mom loves to watch every year. I knock on the door, but no one answers. Twisting the handle, I throw the door open to find a sexy Mrs. Claus sliding across the floor coming straight toward me. I look up thinking maybe I am in the wrong house but am distracted by the sight of mistletoe. I smirk at the hot chick. She has gorgeous dark hair that rests on her shoulders in silky waves. Her breasts are spilling out the top of her red velvet Christmas dress.
Wrapping my arms around her waist I bring her into my chest, then slam my mouth down hers. I have no idea who she is but damn she is a pretty little thing. Her lips taste like bourbon. As I pull back and stare at her I am sure I have kissed her silly. I tell her merry Christmas and she says you’re welcome in response. I chuckle under my breath as she peers up at me with wonderment evident in her doe eyes.
Finally, she says, “Who are you and what are you doing in my house?”
I hold my hand out to her, cocking my head to the side and study her features. She has a tiny freckle under her right eye. “Name is Axel. I was told I could crash here and that no one would be here,” I explain, tempted to kiss her again.
“Well…you were told wrong. Did Stephanie send you to babysit me?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Don’t tell me you need a babysitter? How old are you?” I frown hoping she doesn’t say something crazy that will get my ass locked up.
“Old enough.” Her lips curve into a devious smile. “I’m here as a guest too, just for the holiday.”
Relief washes over me. I thought for a minute she was going to tell me that she’s the daughter of that piece of shit Tiny Leone. I know that bitch he was married to, Stephanie has guardianship over the girl, but no one has said much about her. “So, Stephanie a
friend of yours or something?”
She rolls her lips inward. “Mhmm. You want a drink or something?” Her thumb hooks over her shoulder pointing behind her.
“Sure, but I brought my own.” I go out to the truck and grab my overnight bag and a jar of shine. I return to find the girl sitting in front of the fire, glowing like a damn angel tree topper. I drop my bag on the floor and take the seat next to where she is sitting staring at the flames. “How come you’re here all alone in this big house?”
Her left shoulder rolls and I get a glimpse down the top of her dress, seeing a hint of white lace covering her nipples. “I’m used to being on my own.”
“What you got a shit family or something?”
“Or something,” she whispers not looking at me.
I lean forward with my jar of moonshine. “Take a sip of this and you’ll forget all about whatever it is bothering you.”
“You sound like you know a lot about wanting to forget.” Her brown eyes meet mine, glittering with unshed tears. I don’t even know her but something inside me feels for her. There’s something so sad and yet beautiful about her.
Twisting the lid off, I hold the jar out to her. “Just a sip. It has a lot of kick.”
Her right brow lifts. “You aren’t just trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of me, are you?”
I tilt her chin up with my thumb. “Babydoll, if I want inside you, I don’t need liquor to make it happen.”
Her eyes brighten and her lips curve into a coy smile. “Oh, you’re good. I gotta be careful around a man like you.” She accepts the jar of my family’s moonshine and takes a hearty swig that can bring even mean old bastard’s like Grim to seeing the backs of his eyelids.
“Better hold onto your panties,” I tease.
“I’m not wearing any,” she says, leaning up on her knees, bringing her mouth close to mine. The jar of moonshine falls from her hand, spilling onto the rug as our mouths fuse together.
Out tongues move together ignited with the passion of two lonely strangers brought together by a twist of fate. Her fingers move through my hair as the kiss deepens. We kiss sloppily, exploring one another’s mouth, our tongues brushing together. I was exhausted from the drive but now I feel refueled, driven by the urge to make her mine just for tonight. A chance to get lost in the comfort of a pretty woman who doesn’t think I’m trash.
I move from the chair to the floor with her. She pushes my cut off and helps me out of my pants as I lift my shirt over the back of my head and fling it straight into the fire not caring if we burn the house down. I stare into her brown eyes, tracing my finger between the valley of her breast. “What’s your name?”
“Ainsley,” she says. “Is Axel your real name?”
“Yup, born and raised.” Her finger moves to my mouth, silencing me. I’m not going to argue. I don’t need any small talk either. I grin at her and suck her finger between my lips, raking my teeth along the soft skin. Ainsley removes her finger and trails it along my jaw and down my neck. Pushing her dress down, I reveal her perfect tits shrouded in white lace. Her skin is golden like honey and she tastes sweet like cinnamon. Bending my head, I capture a nipple in my mouth and suck it until it hardens into a point.
Ainsley continues tracing her fingers down my chest, running her hand over my abs. The fire crackles next us and being so close to the flames has sweat beading down my spine as I hover over this beautiful stranger. We escape from our troubles seeking shelter in one another. Our bodies rubbing together slick, hot, and needy.
As I kiss my way down her torso to her stomach, I tug on her striped tights, yanking them down over her hips and smirk seeing that she wasn’t lying. Ainsley doesn’t have anything serving as a barrier between us. Plunging two fingers inside her sweet heat I shut out everything and let the weight of what lies ahead slip away for the time being.
I take pleasure in her soft moans as I continue to tease and please her. She reaches between us, stroking my length. We’re both more than ready but I want to taste her sweet pussy first. My fingers move to her clit, as I kiss her between her thighs. Her legs thrash beneath me as she wiggles and rides my tongue greedily. Her clit is pulsing to my touch and her nails scratch at my scalp as she tugs on my hair, while I’m burying my face nose deep in the heart of her desire, inhaling her scent, tasting her essence on my tongue. I need to be inside her. Feel her squeezing my cock in her tight velvety warmth.
I reach to my jeans and look in my wallet for a condom, my face falling when I come up empty.
“You got protection?”
“No,” she pants. “Don’t you?”
Frustrated, I growl with a shake of my head. I look over my shoulder to the kitchen and grin. My old man beat into my head to always practice safe sex. I leave Ainsley laying naked on the rug by the fire and use the only substitute I can think of—plastic cling wrap. This isn’t my proudest or smartest moment, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
I return to her and she is trying hard to fight back her laughter and I shut her up with a kiss as I thrust inside her, long and deep. My tongue sweeps the roof of her mouth and her nails rake down my back, but this plastic wrap has to go.
Pulling out I rest my forehead against hers and question, “Are you on birth control?”
She bites her lip and tells me no.
“Fuck.” I look down at her tight body and my pulse is pounding in my ears. The need to get off wins out over my better sense. “I’ll pull out,” I promise, but I think we both know it’s a lie but are too caught up in the moment to care.
Chapter 5
Ainsley
Axel moves inside me hard and deep, thrust after relentless thrust. He isn’t my first, but he is my second. I used to mess around with the son of one of my teachers at school until she caught us and stopped allowing him to come to school property. But still, Axel is the first man I have given myself to and he is beyond a doubt a skillful lover. His full attention is on me and my pleasure while he seeks out his own.
We roll over so that I am now on top. His large hands hold my hips, guiding the pace. I roll my hips forward and circle them from side to side as I bounce on his thighs. He gazes into my eyes, making me feel beautiful and wanted. Not discarded like the rest of the world has. I grind down on him, feeling the pressure of my impending orgasm starting to build.
“You’re beautiful,” he tells me running his hand through my hair and caressing my face. I throw my head back, high on his words and drunker than I care to admit off that one gulp of moonshine. I close my eyes and he sits up, hugging me to his sweaty chest. “Eyes on mine,” he demands, pressing me back down to the floor and taking control again.
My legs hook around his waist, my ankles locking together, keeping him right where I want him. Warmth flows through my body as he pushes harder. His arm grabs under my knee, forcing me to unlock my ankles, bringing my leg up on his shoulder as he drives into me with punishing force. “God, you feel so good,” he rasps as I buck my hips and arch my back up off the floor. “Are you close?”
“Yes,” I hiss, not wanting to lose the momentum. “Fuck me. Axel.” I take control of the moment, grabbing his hip and pressing up into him, meeting him thrust for thrust until I feel like I am shattering into tiny shards of glass.
Axel grunts and shudders on top of me, he goes to pull out, but I stop him. I lock my legs around him, wanting to feel his release. His cock twitches inside me and his mouth comes down on mine. He nips my bottom lip and starts to move inside me again. “Go big or go home, right?” he growls into my mouth, his tongue entwining with mine as I milk him dry.
Minutes later, he lays next to me, heavy breaths and the crackling of the fire the only sounds passing between us outside of the thumping of our heartbeats. Christmas lights twinkle around us giving the room a soft glow. I lay next to him on the brown furry rug, not knowing what to say but not wanting whatever is happening tonight to end. He pulls me to him, placing my head on his chest. His lips find my forehead.
“You’re crazy, you know that, don’t you?”
I smile and trace the lion’s head that is tattooed on his chest with my finger.
“So…” I trail off not knowing what it is I want to say to him, but I feel like I should say something. “I gotta pee,” I blurt out and roll my eyes at myself. I am so damn lame.
He chuckles and moves his leg off me, so I can get up. I raise up off the rug to stand, feeling his fluid run down my leg and panic sets in of what I just did. Rushing to the bathroom I am feeling like an idiot. I relieve my bladder and turn on the shower. I step under the spray of the water questioning my actions.
I feel crazy.
So out of control.
Before I would have been scared to death of my father finding out and locking me away for twenty years but now, I am free to live my life however I choose to. Tomorrow morning first thing I’ll go to the nearest pharmacy and get Plan B. I was impulsive tonight, but it won’t happen again.
As I am telling myself that it won’t happen again the bathroom door opens, then the glass door to the shower. I know it’s Axel without turning around. If this were a horror movie, I’d be dead right now, but it’s not.
Neither of us speak as he steps under the second shower head on the opposite wall. I try to focus on washing away my sin, but I can’t keep my eyes off him. He’s…well the man is beautiful. His body is all muscle and decorated in amazing ink. The attention the artist put int the details is unbelievable. Whoever did them must be insanely talented. His left bicep is adorned in skulls and roses. His right has a gorgeous cross. I know he feels me studying him, but he doesn’t appear to mind.
Axel finishes his shower and grabs a towel from the rack as he steps out. It’s weird but I find his silence oddly comforting. Like we both got what we needed and now we can part ways. I stay in the shower until the water runs cold and my skin is all shriveled up on my hands.
Moonshine & Mistletoe (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 11) Page 2