Penance

by K E Osborn

  The typhoon slowly rolls away as I feel more like myself for letting all that rage out now Trax has helped calm me. Which I’m glad about, I needed that before I see Sass.

  “Thank you.”

  “Get out of here, you freak,” Trax jests.

  I smirk and turn heading for the stairs to go and be with my girl.

  SENSEI

  Pulling up to her home, I realize I’m probably going to be faced with meeting her brothers properly for the first time tonight. I’m not sure if I’m prepared for this. All I know is I’m here for Sass, and if that means taking a grilling from two cocky brothers, then I’ll take it on the chin. I’ll do that for her. Because tonight she needs me. I already took a grilling from her father, what’s another couple from her brothers?

  I got this.

  Hopping off my ride, I take a settling breath. Somehow, I have to try to keep my head level tonight. I don’t need her seeing me lose my shit like I did in front of Trax. That would be… unwise.

  So, I take off my helmet and walk to her door knocking on it gently. A few moments later, the door swings open and a broody man answers it. I’ve definitely seen him before, and I’m fairly certain he is Heath. He’s the middle child and the more protective brother of Sass. The one I need to be more assertive with. I dip my head.

  He looks me up and down with a small grunt. “Ayla said you were coming over. She’s in the kitchen helping Bowie with dinner. But before I let you in, I want to get one thing straight…” raising my brow, I nod without saying anything, “… my sister’s been through a lot today, and she means the fucking world to this family. If you hurt her or bring her any harm … I don’t care what cut you wear… I will hunt you down.”

  I smile cockily, and it throws Heath as his head jolts back in shock at my blasé reaction. “Heath… while I don’t take kindly to threats, in this case, I appreciate your honesty, and welcome it. When it comes to Ayla, all I want is for her to be safe, protected, and cared for. So, if anything happens to her, I will be hunting down the motherfuckers responsible, too. But I can promise you… it won’t be me.”

  Heath reaches out slapping my shoulder while a slow smile draws up on his lips. “Well all right then…” He nods and gestures inside. “Want a beer?” He turns and leads the way, and I walk behind him as I ponder over how easy that was. I thought it might be a little harder, but I guess all he needed to hear was that I would protect her. Just like he would.

  We walk into the sounds and smells of something boiling in the kitchen, and as we round the corner, I notice Bowie wearing some crazy woman-in-a-bikini apron, and Sass in just a pair of boyshorts and a white tank top.

  She looks fucking perfect.

  I smile, placing my helmet on the kitchen counter as she turns to see me while a contented smile forms on her lips. Sass walks toward me, the same time I move toward her, but then I see the red welts and bruising around her neck. I quickly move my hand to her throat and gently glide my fingers over the tender area. She slumps against me as an ache forms in the pit of my stomach.

  I exhale feeling a little helpless I wasn’t there to help her. “Fuck,” is all I can manage as I sniff, and she slides her hands up my arms and looks into my eyes.

  “It looks worse than it feels,” she rasps out.

  I grit my teeth, my eyes glistening with fury as I look at her. “Where’s the fucker who did this?” She tenses looking to her brothers for guidance and a low growl echoes from my chest. “Don’t look to them… tell me, Sass.”

  “Hey, man, ease up. She’s had a rough day,” Bowie defends, and I glance at him as Sass places her hand on my arm placating me.

  I relax slightly and exhale. “What I mean to ask… is simply… will he come after you again? Do I need to put a watch on you at work?”

  She smiles and steps closer seeming to calm her nerves as she shakes her head. “No, I’m fine. He’s in custody being charged. I’ll be okay, but thank you for that, Sensei. I like that you care enough to do that for me.”

  I glance at her brothers who are both watching me and how I’m going to play this. I can’t let it go. Huffing, I grit my teeth puffing out my chest. “Sass, I’m getting someone to stand watch at the garage. I know you think it’ll scare the customers away, but honestly, right now, I don’t care about them. I care about you and your safety. You told me that your co-workers would protect you, that I didn’t need a guard on you because they would keep you safe. I can’t fucking trust that anymore, Sass…” She goes to talk, but I put my hand up stopping her. “There’s nothing you can say to argue a point, you won’t win this one. You will have a fucking guard, but I’ll make sure you can’t see him. He’ll be, in your words, stealthy as fuck.”

  A slow smile creeps on her face as Heath and Bowie chuckle as I lean in, grabbing the back of her head and pull her to me planting a hard kiss on her forehead. She molds into my body while I wrap myself around her needing her comfort as much as she needs mine. “I need to know you’re safe. Hearing some heathen attacked you today…” I trail off as I hold her to me. Her brothers both move off to continue what they were doing in the kitchen.

  “Fine. I concede. But I’m okay. I promise. Heath and Bowie were there to help me.”

  I give a nod in thanks as Heath hands me a beer, and I move away from Sass as she turns back to the stove and stirs what looks like pasta. “Thank you. I appreciate you helping her.”

  They both snort out a laugh. “Like we wouldn’t, we’re her blood, man,” Bowie replies, and I nod.

  “So, are you staying for dinner?” Heath asks.

  I look at Sass for confirmation. She smiles with a slight nod. “It would be my pleasure.”

  “Great, because I need to grill the fuck out of you, starting now. How many drug deals have you done?” Heath asks patting my back and leading me into the living room. I take a long gulp of my beer as Sass opens her eyes wide with a smirk. I tense up knowing I’m in for a long night of carefully answered questions without incriminating myself or my club, and doing it to the best of my ability without lying, but without exactly telling the truth either.

  This should be an interesting night!

  AYLA

  Sitting back watching Sensei interact with my brothers has been riveting. It’s gone from an intense grilling, where Sensei tactfully deflected the answers—even though Heath and Bowie didn’t pick up on the fact he was doing it—to them hanging out and playing video games. I had no idea Sensei would be the type to even try video games, and by the skill level he is showing, he certainly hasn’t played many in his time, but at least he’s making an effort with my douchebag brothers.

  As I lounge back and watch the male bonding unfold, I can’t help but relive moments of today.

  It was scary.

  Having someone you know come at you like that tends to rattle you.

  But knowing I have the support around me like I do makes coming out of the other side a hell of a lot easier.

  Sensei dies on screen as Bowie yells out in celebration. Sensei chuckles as he places his controller down and then turns to look at me, his hand sliding onto my bare leg and gripping my knee for comfort. “How are you? You’re very quiet?” he asks while the game continues in the background.

  I cuddle into his side. “I’m fine, now that you’re here.”

  A loud round of gunfire pummels through the living room as Bowie yells out in victory, standing up and thrusts his hands in the air as Heath throws his controller to the floor in a huff.

  “Ha! Suck it! I win, yet again,” Bowie calls out, and I smirk as Sensei smiles along with me.

  Heath stands up looking down at us letting out an exaggerated yawn. “It’s been a long day. I think you pass the test, Sensei. As long as you stay on our good side, you’re all right by me,” Heath announces slapping Sensei’s shoulder and then turns to walk off. “I’m going to bed. Night fuckers.”

  “Piker!” Bowie calls out and sits down starting up the game again as I glance at Sensei who looks at hi
s watch assessing the time.

  I lean into his side, a tightness developing in my chest at the thought of him leaving. I don’t want to be alone tonight, not after the day I’ve had. I grip onto his hand and look him in the eyes. “Stay with me tonight?” My voice is low. Bowie doesn’t hear over the gunfire, but it’s loud enough for Sensei.

  He brings his hand up cupping my cheek to caress my face in a tender moment. “Sass, there was never any question about me staying the night.”

  Smiling at him, I glance toward the hall then look at Sensei and sigh. “Bed?” I ask.

  He nods and moves to stand up grabbing Bowie’s attention. “Where the hell are you guys going? We have Nazi zombies to kill.”

  “I’m tired, Bowie. It’s late, and we have work in the morning.”

  He scoffs. “So?”

  I chuckle. “So don’t stay up too late, okay?” I scald walking past him as he dodges me to keep his eyes on the screen.

  “Okay, Mom,” he blurts out, and I roll my eyes as I grab Sensei’s hand and walk with him toward my room.

  We step through the door. I close it behind us and stroll over to my bedside lamp and turn it on sending an amber glow around the room. Sensei takes his time looking around my bedroom that was my parents when we were growing up. My queen-size bed sits in the middle, the purple quilt still in a mess from when I got up this morning because I didn’t make it. But other than that the room is pretty well kept. The three doors to my built-in closet at the back of my room are closed, two made with white plasterboard, and the other has a mirror. It takes up the length of my room. Then to the left of that is my bathroom. My curtain is pulled over my window closing the nighttime moonlight from entering the room as I glance at Sensei who looks like he’s mentally taking note of where everything is. He’s so methodical in everything he does, and I like that.

  I walk over to my bed and slump down on the soft mattress letting out a long, heavy breath.

  Sensei follows sitting down beside me and shakes his head. “I don’t know what I would have done if the call I got today had a… different outcome.”

  I turn to look at him, his normally ochre colored eyes have taken on a golden and chocolate tone. They are dark, somber, forlorn, and I sink into myself knowing what he’s thinking. If Vince had choked me today, and I didn’t make it, this could be a totally different aftermath right now. I reach out grabbing his hand and thread my fingers with his. “I’m okay.”

  He grits his teeth. “No thanks to me. I hate I wasn’t there to protect you—”

  “It’s not your fault, Sensei. How could you have known? You can’t be with me all the time. You have the club, and I have work. We’re going to be apart sometimes.”

  He nods and exhales. “Yes… but I feel like I failed you today. I should be able to keep you safe.”

  “I was at work. It was a fellow employee, not some mob boss or crime lord… a simple mechanic who got a little crazy. This is not on you, Raiden.”

  Sensei nods, but I can see his mind ticking over. He’s keeping quiet about whatever he’s thinking. Whatever battle he’s waging in his head, it’s eating him up. So I decide to ease his tension.

  “Look, I know you think me being in your life is dangerous, that it puts a target on my back by being with you, but as you can see simply being at my work, I’m in danger. There’s danger in all walks of life. So aren’t I better having you around and being in your protection than you leaving me out to dry if that’s what you’re thinking?”

  His brows crease while he rubs the back of his neck like he’s relieving the tension in his muscles. “Sass, I don’t know how you know what I’m thinking, but you are making sense in this bullshit situation…” He pauses. “I care about you. In this short time, I feel like you know me and have a way of bringing out the best in me. I don’t want to lose this, but I also don’t want you in harm’s way. With what’s to come with the club, I’m unsure of whether you being involved with me is a wise choice—” I go to interrupt, but he keeps talking. “But, I see now your logic is sound. With me and the club on your side, you’ll be far more protected than out on your own.”

  I try not to smile too wide so as to rub it in, but I can’t help but grin a little bit. He manages a half-smile so I bump into his side and let out a small laugh. “So you’re keeping me around then, hey, slick?”

  “Yes, slick,” his tone inflects on the last word mocking me. “I am.”

  “Right, well, if you’re going to be sleeping over, you’re not sleeping in my bed with that cut or those jeans on,” I tease. He grins standing up and shrugs out of his cut walking over and placing it on my nightstand. He follows it with his shirt, his torso half in and out of the amber hue of the lamp, the shadows highlighting his sculptured muscles. His body is a work of art, his brown skin so tempting to touch. With his chiseled abs signaling his strength to the half body of tattoos, Sensei really is a marvel to admire.

  He follows with his boots and his jeans, and it surprises me when I see he’s wearing briefs. I smirk, his reply is a grin flashed back to me, then he walks over wearing only a pair of boxer briefs. Sensei slides onto the bed next to me looking sexy-as-fuck, and I look him up and down suggestively.

  He chuckles. “I thought I better bring something to sleep in. I wasn’t sure what state you’d be in when I arrived.”

  Nodding, I sigh. “I wasn’t sure what state I was going to be in tonight either.”

  He brings his hand up sweeping my hair from my neck as he assesses the wounds around my throat, and he shakes his head. The fire’s back in his eyes as he lets out a low grunt. “I hate that this happened to you, Sass.”

  I reach up grabbing his hand and look him in his eyes as they finally find mine. “Make me forget... if only for a little while.” My voice sounds weak, not like me at all, and it shocks me as I look to Sensei who seems a little rattled by my weakness too. His brows scrunch tightly together from the sign of angst from me, and I can see his hesitation, but he nods leaning in and presses his lips to mine. Hard. There’s no uncertainty in his actions.

  My tongue dances with his effortlessly, just needing to be with him.

  Kissing him is easy. It feels right. Being with him is simple.

  I know this is the right thing to do now. Taking my mind from today and letting myself unwind is just what I need as he moves in, making me lay back on the mattress while he slides in on top of me. His hard body pressing down is a welcoming feeling.

  My arms wrap around his neck, my fingers running through his hair as we kiss passionately. His hard cock presses against my pussy with only the thin layers of our underwear between us. His mouth leaves my swollen lips bereft as his travel down my jaw to my collarbone, pressing hard, nipping and sucking. He’s quite forceful, and even though it’s rough, I love it.

  My clit is throbbing as he moves further down my body, his hand coming up and sliding under my tank top to rest on my breast over my bra to massage my left mound. He slides down me further as his hands move to my tank top and lift it up while his head ducks down, his lips connecting with my tummy. I grin as he kisses my skin, his tongue darting out and gently licking around my belly button as his hand lifts my top up. Kissing as he lifts, my breathing becomes quicker as he moves. He raises my top up until it reaches my chin, and I shift allowing him to pull it up over my head, then he throws it over the side on the floor.

  I giggle, and he moves back in kissing down my body delighting me in the care and attention he’s showing me tonight. One of his hands hooks under my back as I arch it, and he unclips my bra without a hassle as I loop my arms through the straps and throw it off the side of the bed to meet my top.

  Sensei wastes no time, bending down and planting his lips over my erect nub. He sucks my nipple into his mouth making me arch my back off the bed in delight as I clench my eyes shut reveling in the feeling.

  His hand skims down the middle of my body sending goosebumps rippling down my skin as his fingers travel past my belly button and into t
he hem of my boyshorts. His fingers hook into the hem, and he begins to pull them down as his mouth continues its assault on my nipple, his teeth nipping and grazing the bud making me let out a small whimper as I clench my eyes tighter enjoying his touch. His hand pulls my boyshorts down as his lips leave my nipple with a slight pop, and he blows sending a shudder over me as he takes my shorts off completely leaving me naked on the bed.

  Sensei spreads my legs and slides in between them running his hands up my calves as I pant deep, heavy breaths wondering what he’s going to do to me as he plants feather-light kisses on my calf leading up to my thigh. I tense knowing where he’s headed, and I can’t wait. I need a release.

  As his hand moves up ahead of his mouth, his fingers graze my opening, teasing as he lightly strokes me, so I can only just feel it. It makes me pant and squirm against him. I need to feel something, anything. I’m starting to feel desperate as he moves his mouth to my thigh and kisses hard, his finger dipping in more strongly and then slightly pressing on my clit. I gnaw on my bottom lip, my back arching off the bed needing a little more friction. Suddenly, he removes himself from everywhere and stands up from the bed making me open my eyes wide while I pant out in frustration as he ducks down beside me opening up my bedside drawers.

  I lean up on my elbows wondering what the hell he’s doing going through my shit when he stands back up with a bright smile. “Somehow I knew I would find what I was searching for.”

  I have no idea what the hell he’s on about. “And what would that be?”

  He brings his arm around to the front showing me my favorite B.O.B., and I try to hide my half-excitement, half-embarrassment. “You wanna use my vibrator?”

  He moves back on the bed between my legs and pushes them open. “Bend your knees up, it will go in deeper,” he demands. So I do as he says laying back and bending my knees up with Sensei between them.