The moment my boot hits the ground, she comes through the door to greet me. I dressed as nice as I could; my best jeans, a good belt, a black button down, and I am relieved to see she is not in a dress or anything herself; just some black jeans that hug her in just the right way and a shirt that shows off her cleavage. She is looking quite tempting tonight, and I smirk at her.
I guess it’s a nice way to spend my last night as a decent person.
I hold the door and let her walk back in, flashing her a winning smile. When it comes to ladies, I am always a gentleman. That was something my father taught me from day one that stuck with me. He was by no means a perfect man; a workaholic no less, which was likely the stress that killed him, but he taught me some valuable things that set me apart from a lot of these men here in the south that think they are superior. That they own women and women owe them something.
I still remember my father talking about coming to the land of opportunities when I was little and we were still in Korea. It’s such a joke now because I know that the American dream is only for the rich or those who decide to steal it out from under the rest of the people.
Pulling my mind out of the bitter thoughts of the past, I look around for the first time and see Paisley has done a bang up job with the place. I can see a lot of the old elements; the velvet detailing, only it is now a royal purple and not red, and some of the old black and white film posters have been placed back on the walls. However, modern elements have been brought in; a soda machine and candy vending machine sit next to a counter that will have gourmet foods at night time as well as beer on tap. The floors are now tile instead of the old, stinking carpet.
“You sure do have an eye for design,” I compliment, looking back down at her. She grins at me, and I notice the perfect pink color of her lips. Damn, I wonder how they taste.
“Wait til you see the screening rooms,” she says and turns on her heel to lead me inside of one. I pause for a moment and watch the wiggle of her cute, little body before I follow her. The way she danced up on me at the club keeps playing in my mind now, and I have to take a deep breath before I lose it.
She is right, though. I am shocked at what I see. She has had all the old seating ripped out and has replaced it with more modern seats, and in fact, the front in particular has full leather recliners. “I don’t think this town deserves such luxury,” I tell her as she prompts me to pick any seat I would like. I go for one of the recliners smack dab in the middle. Damn, I could get used to this.
“Just because it is a small town doesn’t mean we can’t bring it into the modern age,” she says. “Besides, a small town like this could do with some extra income, and this could end up being a pull for tourists and those in surrounding towns.”
I scoff because I know Snake would be thrilled with that. More people in town meant more people to scam, and women out of town could easily disappear along with my help.
I can tell Paisley caught my reaction because she gives me a strange look but doesn’t call me out on it. I hope she never does because I don’t think I could look her in the eye and tell her what it is I have done and plan on doing. And it’s not because I am afraid of the possible jail time if she turns me in. Hell, prison could be a way out of this. It’s not like any of the men would come visit. Loyalty ends when you land yourself behind bars.
“Excuse me while I go get the film started, and I will be right back. Do you like chick flicks?” she asks, and I shrug. I don’t want to offend her, but of course I find them complete drivel. I am a motorcycle owning Texas man. What would you expect?
“Don’t worry, I don’t either,” she says with a wink and a laugh before wiggling her way up to the glass box that sits at the back, where the projector will be. I shake my head as she has surprised me yet again and turn towards the screen. Being around her is dangerous. Paisley is someone I could actually end up liking, and it scares me for her sake. But she also doesn’t strike me as someone easy to say no to. I am stuck where I am for now, here with her, and I can’t say I am too unhappy about it, no matter the future consequences.
I feel her sink into the seat next to me as the previews begin to roll, and I am grateful that there aren’t so many. I’ve been to bigger theatres a couple times in other town and it seems sometimes that those previews last as long as the damn movie.
“I found this gem already up there,” she leans over to tell me, and I wait for it and see that it is a Vin Diesel movie, and I know this can go one of two ways. Either she is a really cool chick and likes action movies, or she is here to drool over a famous guy instead of me. So, I find myself watching her throughout the film, but she seems totally into all the violence and suspense. I am impressed. Where did this woman come from, and how did her ex-husband ever die and leave her here knowing someone else would so easily fall for her. I would have given whatever higher power I saw the big middle finger and decided to live. I wouldn’t be watching some other man ogle my woman.
I chuckle at the ridiculous thought and hope it isn’t loud enough for her to hear over the film, but she looks at me and catches my eyes. Damnit, she has these two baby blues that just seem to seep right into me. I can’t look away, and all laughter is certainly gone. Luckily, she’s the one to break it up and clears her throat, mumbling something about grabbing us some popcorn.
I lean back in my seat and let out a breath as I watch the next few minutes alone. There is a tension between us, and that tension could easily be satisfied by a good romp, but the problem is Paisley is not like the other women in this town or like the clubwhores that have no self worth. She is not a woman I think I could be with once and call it quits; ghost on her. Not to mention with it being a small town avoiding her would be near impossible. She would know I had been THAT guy. I need to get a handle on myself and the situation before this goes too far, and I kind of wish I had the willpower to do it long before now.
As soon as she comes in with the popcorn, I end up standing up, ready to run and get out of there. I mumble an incoherent excuse as I run smack dab into her, and instead of leaving, I end up with my lips on her, the popcorn forgotten on the floor. “How long before opening?” I whisper into her ear, and I can hear the gasp as her reaction. My blood is boiling as I am about to cross a line I am likely not coming back from.
She begins pulling me along, and I follow like a dog on a leash. We end up in the room with the projector as we tumble to the ground, hidden behind the solid part of the wall. I am sure we will fog up this glass soon, though, as our breathing picks up.
I raise up to tug my shirt off, and I look down at her, a lust in her eyes as her nails rake down the front of my chest. I smirk at her, liking that she likes what she sees. That’s the biggest fucking turn on for a guy; seeing a woman looking at him like this.
I slide her clothes off and throw them on top of a pile of film in the corner as I dive down with my lips travelling all over her sweet, creamy skin. If this is the only time I get to taste her, then I am going to make the most of it. But part of me knows that I can never be one and done with this one. I am in a shit load of trouble, and I will have to live it up until she finds me out and leaves me in the dust.
My lips land on her groin, and she sucks in a breath before arching her back into my tongue that snakes out to lick down to her clit. I begin to flick it, savoring the flavors she is giving me. A woman has never tasted so damn good, but maybe I have been stuck in this town too long. Or maybe I was just waiting or Paisley.
Her mound is warm and swelling with desire for me, and her soft moans make me feel like I am going to lose it before I even get inside her. But I hold myself back as my fingers make little trails across her abdomen. I don’t want her to ever forget me this way. Maybe if I am good enough the bad won’t outweigh what I can do to her body. She’ll get so addicted to me she can’t stay away.
I devour her, my nose and lips covered with her sweetness until I know it’s time. I crawl back up her body and look into her eyes, full of pleasure and wanti
ng while my cock sits right at her entrance. She is so wet for me already, I just slide right in as she calls out and wraps her hands around my neck for dear life.
“Fuck,” I murmur as she tightens around me much too soon. We are rocking each other’s worlds so hard we can’t hold back. I sure as hell hope that no one comes into this theatre right now because she is screaming my name as I feel her cum, and my mouth is sucking hard on the skin below her neck, leaving my mark.
I fall on top of her, quaking as our heart beats begin to slow. It is silent, and neither of us wants to break it. But then, she does. “I think now is a good time for that popcorn,” she tells me, and I chuckle. What a firecracker. I follow her with my eyes as she slips her clothes back on, her hair a bit of a mess from what we just did, and she looks fucking hot. I just want to take her again, but I know she has the theatre opening soon.
I feel around in the dim light up here for my phone to see what time it is while she is grabbing more popcorn, but I end up flipping her wallet open as I reach for it. It must have fallen from her pocket after I took her clothes off. Right in front of me, plain as day, I see the badge, and my blood runs cold. I have a million questions, and I know I need to get the fuck out. But I have the sense to cover the thing back up like I have never seen it.
I have little time to concoct a story as she comes back in. “I had such a good time,” I tell her, trying not to meet her eyes as I kiss her on the cheek. She can’t know anything is off just in case this was all a ploy. But god damn it’s a good one if it is. I really hope there is something real here, that she is not playing me and has no idea who or what I am yet, but I can’t risk it either way. “I just looked at the time and realized I have somewhere to be. Good luck on opening night. Let me know how it goes.” I flash her a smile and high tail it out, knowing it will have to be the last time anything happens.
Right?
Chapter Ten
Paisley
He is standing above me as I blink my eyes open. There is a bright lamp above me, and it is swinging. It's like a scene from a horror film as I come to. I find myself on a metal table, something a dead person would be on to be put away in one of those damn drawers or something. I don’t get what is happening, and I panic, finding that I have leather straps keeping me down. "What are they doing to me? What’s going on?" I plead with him. At first, I think he is here to save me. This is the closest I have come to dying in the line of duty. I am good at what I do. But these people just had too many spiderwebs coming out, and I could never tell who to trust. They must have found me. I know it means my career is over, but I hope that he can at least save me and we can ride off into the sunset.
But as he looks over me with that face, I can see him transform before my eyes. The once soft, sweet face that would tell me he loved me and kiss me on the forehead is now twisted into a maniacal grimace. If I believed in vampires, I would think I am suddenly being thrust into their den or something. But what I do believe in is evil. I fight it every day. It’s my job and has been ever since the day I was recruited by the FBI.
He shakes his head and clucks his tongue at me. "Oh, babe, they really fucked up when they chose you, didn’t they? You are too weak to be an agent. So easy to manipulate."
"Wh-what? What do you mean? What is going on?" I demand, my voice screeching to unnatural heights as I try again, to no avail, to break out of the straps.
"I am the enemy, babe. Always have been. Never loved you. You were always just a means to an end. And now I am going to use you to send a message."
A blood curdling scream escapes my lips as I see him pull out a knife as someone else comes from behind to bind my mouth, probably to stifle the sounds I will make as he carves into me.
I sit up in bed with a jolt in a cold sweat. I hate that I still see it all, still remember what he looks like, even what he smells like. But I know why I had the dream. My brain is trying to tell me something; warn me. Or maybe just tell me to chill the fuck out.
I got a strange vibe when Jade left after our little encounter...not that there was anything little about it. Damn, I need to wash my brain out with soap.
But I know that even if he left in a hurry because he thought he got too close to me or whatever other reason, whatever his demons, my demons can’t afford to get entangled anyway. Now that he is out of my system, I need to focus on the job at hand. Though, my body trembles at the idea of him, and I know forgetting about him will be a bit hard. But I have to do it. I can't have that happen to me ever again.
Not only did it ruin my career and almost get me killed, but it has ruined my heart and soul for anyone who ever wants me. Not that an FBI agent should be worried about that. But we all want the dream in the end; to retire a success and settle down with those we love without a care in the world. That's our reward for putting ourselves in the line of fire constantly. But I fucked it up, and I am paying for it. But they will see. I will bust the shit out of these monsters here, and the FBI will roll out the red carpet again.
How do I know? They have been trying to catch these fuckers for two decades.
Chapter Eleven
Paisley
It has been three weeks since I last saw Jade, which is pretty impressive considering the size of this town. I mean, sure, the theater has been incredibly busy, so I have been there a lot. So, if he hadn’t come to the theatre, I would have missed him those times, but I don't live there. I have to go to the store and even to get gas, and yet, I haven’t run into him, and I have to think that there is a reason for that. Either that he has done that on purpose or that he has left town for some reason. It’s probably best, though, considering he is the last person I need to run into tonight.
I survey myself in the mirror and am proud at myself for playing a part. I don’t look like myself at all. My hair is tied up in this messy, sexy thing on the pack of mt head, and my lips are bright pink and full. My makeup looks like I am a slut and so does my short, short dress. I didn’t want to go this way with things, but I am pretty desperate at this point, and talking with some of the locals who have come to trust me and become regular customers at the theatre, I think this is the only way I am going to know anything.
I pull a leather jacket over to complete the look before grabbing my keys and heading out the door. It is Tuesday night, and thanks to my new staff members, the theater is entirely taken care of this evening. So, I can do what I need or want to do, like go back to Red Steele and catch me an MC member, get him drunk off his ass, and make him tell me his secrets. A week night is perfect too, because low lives are bound to be the only ones at the bar, and that would mean most the MC will. It will mean that they feel safer, more in control, which is the best time to catch them off guard, and they will think I am nothing but another slut or ol’ lady to rope into it.
When I get there, it is pretty quiet. I walk in and look around and see that, compared to last time, things are pretty demure, though there are several people inside. There is a small group of men playing pool, and I catch them looking over at me as I lean over the counter, sure to stick out my assets, if you know what I mean.
“Well, hello again, sugar,” Clara says, coming up to me with a wink. “I was beginning to think Jade had scared you off or somethin’,” she continues, and I scoff at that and shake my head.
“Nothing scary about a perfectly sculpted chest. Just a benefit,” I tell her with a grin, and she smiles back at me. “I’ve just been so busy settling in and all.”
“I heard you fixed up the old theatre, I sure hope I get a night off to come by and check it out,” she says, making small talk. “Now, where are my manners? What can I do you for?” she asks me, her eyes darting to the group of men playing pool. She doesn’t lose the grin on her face, but there is some tension in the air now; something making her uncomfortable. I don’t dare glance back and show I am paying any of it any mind as it might hurt my chances, but I get the feeling the prez must be around.
That would certainly get that reaction from her,
especially if I caught his eye instead. I don’t know whether to think that’s entirely perfect or a bit too much to risk here.
As I get my drink from Clara, I feel a presence beside me. I try not to react in any jumpy way. I continue sipping at my drink before turning to him and flashing a half smile. His hair is long, down to his back, and he is a wall of muscle underneath his cut. He has these hazel eyes that look up and down me, and I can’t help but feel like he was a snake in another life. And then I catch a glance as I turn around, leaning my back against the bar so we both get a good view of each other. The name on his cut is Snake, plain and simple. What a perfect name. This must be him, the prez. It would make sense considering how slippery these men have been over the years.
“I haven’t seen you in here before,” he says. No smile, but his gaze is intense. He is eating me up with his eyes even though I can see out of the corner of my eye there is a very annoyed looking young woman over by the pool table that is glaring at us. She is way too young to be wrapped up in this lot, but maybe Snake’s behavior will give her the courage to walk out the door.
“Well, I guess I am a little new,” I tell him, allowing him to get a little too close for comfort, but he is also close enough for me to knee him right where it hurts. He certainly trusts an awful lot in his effect on women. He is so not my type, though.
“Clara,” he barks, his eyes still on my lips, a bit of a grimace on his face, a very sinister one as if he has won me, a prize. Oh, if only he knew. “I want the rest of her tab to be on us tonight. Feel free to stay as long as you like. I hope you enjoy yourself, but make sure you stop to say goodbye before you leave.” He winks at me and gets a drink of his own before heading back over to the pool table. Even as I turn back to the bar, I can feel his stare still on me. He wants me good and drunk and ready for him. I will have to be careful this one. But maybe a round of pool after a couple of drinks will get me what I need. He will get cocky and maybe he will spit something out, thinking he can control me and my mouth.
One Way Out (Red Crows MC Book 1) Page 4