by Bex Dane
When he kissed me, questions floated between our lips. What does this mean? Who are you to me?
"Relax," he whispered.
And I did. I enjoyed his kiss and blocked all my negative thoughts. I'd committed to this now, no going back. His rock hard dick pressed against my sex, and I wanted nothing more than to feel it move inside me again. My hands slipped his briefs down and off, and I shivered at the raw nakedness between us. Not only our bodies, our souls were bared too.
His hands skated down my sides. "You on the pill?"
"Yes."
"I wanna take you raw like this."
God, that would be fantastic. I wrapped my legs around him and tilted my hips. His hand worked his tip at my entrance and he groaned. "Yes, please. Say I can have you like this."
"You can have me. Do it."
We both moaned as he slid inside. All kinds of receptors triggered as the hot, hard pressure filled me. God. He was beautiful.
He thrust all the way in and we were one. For a brief second I froze. Perhaps this was a mistake. He could hurt me so badly. But then he moved, and I knew I'd take any consequence he threw at me later.
I grabbed his shoulders and lavished them as they rippled. My hands explored his back and his ass. Holy crow, what a tight round ass undulating beneath my fingers. All his muscles coiled, drilling his intensity into me. I loved it.
He reached a hand down to touch my clit and I gasped. So good. He moved faster. The pleasure grew out of control. No way to hold it back. I felt it welling up and bursting from me with a blast of air. He pummeled into me full speed. My hips met his pound for pound. "God, yes," I cried out. His endless pumping extended my orgasm forever.
He sped up to a ruthless pace. God, how could he last so long? I didn't last a minute. "Good?" I asked him.
"So goddamn good. Don't want to lose it."
"No. Come. Let go. Let it all go."
His head dropped, and he sucked my breast into his mouth. He moaned around my nipple as he came with a loud grunt followed by a long moan. His whole body tensed and shook with incredible power. He expressed it so clearly, it drew another wave of pleasure through my body and dragged my own orgasm out even longer. I was riding the longest wave of my life.
His scruffy jaw scraped behind my ear as he moved slowly in and out through the slick wetness. "Thank you, babe."
The fire inside me flared up at his affectionately calling me babe. As if I could be his babe. As if things could be different between us.
I sighed and closed my eyes. Being with Torrez hit me hard. Feeling so emotionally connected yet watching him slip through my fingers like sand. A temporary bliss in a sea of uncertainty and pain.
This moment would pass with the rising sun. Torrez would return to being an ass and hauling me around against my will. I had to worry about myself, not whatever business deal had gone bad with him and his criminal friend.
I lay still for a moment till he pulled out. If he sensed me closing down, he didn't say anything. He rolled to his back and remained quiet. He didn't comfort me because he couldn't tell me the words I ached for or promise me anything. And I didn't want him to anyway.
Actually, maybe I was lying to myself.
If he said he loved me, I'd probably believe him. I might even say it back.
Chapter 8
Harsh grunts woke me from my sleep. Torrez sat on his ass on the floor, no shirt—holy crap, he was cut—doing sit ups. Not just doing them, crunching his body like he had a walnut in his navel and he needed to crack it open in order to survive.
He tilted his head and peeked at me with one green eye. "Mornin', sleeping beauty," he muttered between grunts.
"Uh, morning." He must've covered me with my robe after we drifted off last night because it draped loosely around my body. I snaked my arms through the sleeves and pulled the tie tight.
Oh goodness. Last night. I cowered inside preparing for bad news. Torrez would surely dump me here. I gave in and he got what he wanted. Now he'd drop me like a dead body and carry on with his secret mission without me dragging him down.
He stilled with a loud exhale and rested his elbows on his knees. He wiped a glorious shine of sweat from his brow with a hotel towel.
"You gotta wear your travel clothes for right now." He dropped back down to the carpet to resume his routine.
I just stared at him, not understanding what he said. Oh man, I could watch him do shirtless crunches and listen to his grunts forever. The tattoos on his biceps and chest shined with perspiration, his cut-off sweats revealed strong muscular legs. My stomach flipped thinking about his hot body pressed up against mine last night. The way his huge cock filled me and his hand teased my clit.
"We're going on a shopping spree." His voice pulled me out of my memories.
Did I hear him right? "We are?"
He popped up to his full height and wiped down his abs. I'd never wanted to be a hotel towel before in my life.
"Got a rental car delivered here."
He did? When I was sleeping? "Oh."
"You need to buy a bunch of clothes and anything you need. Nice stuff, casual stuff, summer weather, be prepared."
That didn't sound like I was getting kicked to the curb in Milton, Massachusetts. And a shopping spree would be exciting. Yegor always controlled my clothing and shopping. I had some freedom when I was here for school, but there was always the chance he'd come check on me.
"Why are we getting a rental car and going shopping?"
"I made a decision."
He'd mentioned a decision last night. "About which way your life should go?"
"Yes." He grinned and winked at me.
Oh God. Before we had sex, he wasn't sure and this morning he'd made his decision. No pressure. I was either horrible in bed, and he was taking me shopping to send me on my way, or he loved it and we were buying clothes and staying together. Which way did I want this to go?
"And that would be?"
"Road trip."
that was it. He hated it and was giving me the boot. "Road trip?" My voice squeaked. "Where am I going?"
"We're going to North Carolina. Ever been there?"
We're going? Together? And I'd need a lot of clothes? Relief washed through me and anger too. Why did my life rest on his stupid decision?
"I'm not going on any road trip with you."
He tossed his towel on the floor and took two steps toward me. "You have no choice."
"I have any choice I want."
"You don't. Okay. Let's say it was up to you. What're you gonna do?" He opened his arms wide and motioned around the room. Oy vey, his body was a work of art. Skin the color of a mocha latte, patches of tattoos across the broad planes of his pecs, and abs that even at rest, had bumps in all the right places. His shorts hung low on his hips, and my eyes fixated on the perfect groove of thick muscles pointing down in a tantalizing V to his groin. How many nuts did he have to crack in his belly button to get those there?
Focus, Soraya. Don't let his near nakedness distract you. "I'm gonna stay with Zook and Cecelia." I crossed my arms under my boobs and stood tall.
"Zook's in Montana and thinks you're safer with me."
Drat. That was true. "I'll go out on my own."
"Oh really? With what money?"
He knew he had me. He was toying with me. "I don't know. I can get a modeling gig."
"Modeling?" One of his dark eyebrows arched.
"Right before graduation, an agent approached me and offered me a modeling contract."
"He did?" His lips quirked up in a smarmy smile.
"Yes, but I was leaving the country so I turned him down."
"Not that you don't have what it takes to be a model, because you do. But due respect, that guy was probably a fraud."
"No he wasn't. He had a nice card. He's from a respected modeling agency. He said he could get me print work right away. And shows once I went through their intake process."
"Hmm." His thumb and forefinger rubbed the s
cruff that had grown on his chin overnight. I'd admired his watch on the trip home, but now seeing him wearing it while shirtless, I loved it. The big face and thick black band made him seem important, in charge, and in control.
"What? You don't believe me?" It totally happened. I really considered calling him after graduation, but Yegor and Maksim had guards escort us back home.
"I believe you. I also believe he wanted in your pants." He perched his hands on his hips causing his biceps to pop out. Lordy, lordy.
"He didn't. He didn't even hit on me." I got a slimy vibe from the dude, but he didn't hit on me.
"And how much did he want from you to make you a model?"
God, I hated his I'm smarter than you because I'm older and wiser attitude. So cocky. "He didn't say."
"Ah, there's the rub. They don't do that shit for free. They ask for a few grand to make you a portfolio. Give you some catwalk classes. Next thing you know, they ghost you, and you're down a few grand."
I wasn't going to win this one, and I seriously needed some clothes. I'd let him take me shopping and then find a way to get away from him, taking my loot with me.
"Okay. I'll allow you to take me shopping."
He chuckled. "It'll be my pleasure. Where is your favorite place to shop?"
Hmm. "Nothing beats shopping in the Big Apple." I said it to test him. Shopping in New York was expensive and hectic, but also incredibly fun. Would he take me there?
"We can do that. Be there in four hours or so."
***
I'd never admit it to him but I had a blast shopping with Torrez in Midtown, Manhattan. After he withdrew a duffle bag full of cash from the bank, we took a taxi downtown and strolled up Madison Avenue. I felt like a total tourist looking up at the towering skyscrapers, but he looked comfortable walking fast, picking and choosing luxury stores to peruse.
Anything I looked at or tried on, he gave to a clerk to wrap for me. He paid cash for everything. The clerks' eyes would bug out when he pulled hundreds from his wallet.
I picked out some cute pajamas at Kate Spade, jeans that fit like a glove and had bright stitching up the sides and on the pockets, killer Louis Vuitton heels that would make Khloé Kardashian jealous, and makeup for all seasons from Sephora.
Buying the dresses thrilled me the most. I splurged and bought risque dresses I'd always wanted to wear but never could. I held my breath when he walked into the Cartier store and strutted up to the counter without thinking twice. He pointed to a one-inch thick choker necklace with five rows of pave-set square diamonds. "You'll need this."
The price tag said twenty-five thousand dollars! The magical piece sparkled like it was plugged into floodlights. The clerk wrapped it up, and Torrez grinned as he added it to our bags.
I was so shocked I couldn't even say thank you. When in the world would I need a necklace like that? But hey, if it made him happy, I wasn't gonna protest.
"Let's see that one." He pointed out a thinner diamond chain with a unique agrafe clasp. The hook-and-loop fastening hung shorter around the neck, but the long tail dangled down at least a foot. "Take this off."
A lump formed in my throat as he reached behind my neck and found the clasp of my NB Oil necklace. He messed with it for a second before he grunted and tugged it off, pulling the thin hairs at the base of my neck that were stuck in it.
"Turn around." He took the new chain, delicate and pretty, and I looked down, my heart pounding as he fastened it. His hands turned me by my shoulders. He adjusted the longer part to hang between my breasts, dipping under the V of my shirt. He kissed my ear. "Gorgeous and sexy. You're free. You don't have to wear it."
Free. He gave me that. You don't have to wear it. He also gave me the choice. Yegor had forced me to wear my NB Oil necklace since I turned seventeen. Finally, I was free. "I'll wear it. I love it. Thank you." My voice cracked, but I didn't cry. I was too happy to cry.
He paid the Cartier clerk with a credit card, which surprised me, but I suppose he wouldn't carry that much cash around in a duffle bag. Would he?
A satisfied smile lit up his eyes, and he grasped my hand, guiding me back out to the busy street. Torrez bought a sleek Armani suit before walking me past the Empire State Building to the Manhattan Mall. There, he purchased some kickass T-shirts from a Harley Davidson store, cargo pants, boots, snow gear, and beach stuff. He made a point to pick me out a red suede cowboy hat from Macy's. By the time we had finished, I had no idea where we were going, but we were ready for it.
We stopped and had lunch at an outdoor cafe at the base of three tall skyscrapers. New Yorkers and tourists walked quickly by, cars honked, and the air smelled of burnt toast. He fit right into the scene. He ate like a monkey, but he surprised me with his lighthearted conversation and his ironic sense of humor. He paid cash again and left a life-changing tip for the waitress.
We piled all the bags in the trunk of a taxi and hit traffic waiting to enter the Lincoln Tunnel under the Hudson River. As the taxi entered the dark tunnel and the echo of engines filled the cab, I tensed. I'd been in tunnels before but never one under the water and never one over a mile long. He took my hand and ran a thumb over the back of my palm.
Once we were back in the rental car and on the highway, I decided to ask the question I'd asked him several times today, but he refused to reply. "So why are we going to North Carolina again?"
"Gotta meet a guy named Falcon."
Oh. He answered me. Maybe he needed the privacy of the car before he could speak freely about his plans.
"Is that the guy you were speaking Spanish to last night?"
"Yep. He's gonna style us out."
"With what?"
"Getting us where we're going."
"I thought we were going to North Carolina."
"I mean where we're going after we leave Falcon's place."
After? "We're not going back to Boston?"
"No. I told you. Road trip."
Shoot. I'd gotten so wrapped up in shopping I'd forgotten my plan to get my stash and run. Selling the diamond choker would give me some money to get away from Torrez and get started somewhere, then I'd get a job and never see him again. "I'm not going on any road trip with you," I stated firmly.
"Too late. We're already on the road." He nodded at the front windshield.
"Let me out now."
"Nope." He kept his eyes on the car in front of him, but I nailed him with my glare.
"I'll run." I meant it too. I'd run off with all my stuff. Now it would be hard to run through this tunnel carrying all those bags, but in theory, I would run.
"You won't get far."
Darn. He was probably right. "Are you kidnapping me?"
"Me? No." He drew out the O of No.
"You're kidnapping me. What the hell?"
"Relax, princess. It'll be fun."
"Fun? Kidnapped and forced on a road trip sounds fun to you?"
"Yes. If you're with me, it does."
"What do you know about fun?" Torrez Lavonte and fun didn't seem to go together, despite him entertaining me today on our shopping spree.
"I'm fun," he said, unconvincingly.
"Sure you are."
"I am."
"You're the opposite of fun. You're a serious soldier dude."
"Sailor." He sounded annoyed. "Navy."
"Whatever."
"Not whatever. Don't mix those up." Yes, definitely annoyed by that one.
"Fine. You seem like a hardcore Navy dude. You probably spend your weekends preparing for armageddon."
His eyes pulled from the road and cut to mine. "Is that what you think we do?
"And when you're done you eat nails and kill puppies."
"It's not like that. Besides, I've been retired ten years. Make my own fun now."
"Like what?"
"You wanna know what I do for fun?"
"Yes."
"Hold on." He tapped on his phone. "Falcon, Soraya wants to know what I do for fun. Where's BRX hot right now?" He looke
d at me. "He's checking." He listened again. "Sweet. We're taking a detour. We'll be in Wilmington tomorrow night." He listened some more and his brow furrowed. "It's a date. You're not invited."
A date? And this Falcon person wanted to come? Torrez broke out into his rapid-fire Spanish. His shoulders tensed and he clenched his jaw.
After several grunts, he switched back to English. "Fine. We'll meet you at PNC at 1800 tomorrow." He tossed his phone into the console between us. "Falcon's meeting us in Raleigh, North Carolina. BRX semi-finals going on tomorrow night."
Okay. There was a lot there I needed to ask him about, but I decided to start with BRX.
"What's BRX?"
"Bull Riders Extreme."
Now if he'd said it was a shooting range or a nightclub, I wouldn't have been surprised, but bulls? "Bulls?"
"Yes."
"Your fun involves a bull? Like with horns?"
"Yep."
"Holy cow."
"No fun riding a cow."
"You ride the bulls?"
"I have ridden many bulls. Tonight we'll be spectators. It's fun to watch. No one will even know we're there."
He'd ridden many bulls and was a Navy SEAL? He didn't mess around. "How did you end up riding bulls?"
"My dad was a professional bull rider. Before BRX, we traveled the rodeo circuit with him. He was one of the founders of BRX about twenty years ago. Huge events with just bulls. No horse events, no roping cows. Just man versus bull."
I'd seen commercials for bull riding events, but always passed over it because it looked terrifying. "I've heard of BRX. It's on TV, right?"
"Yeah, it's taken off bigger than he ever expected. I guess people enjoy watching a man get whipped off a bull with a high potential of being stomped to death." He smiled to himself.
"Where did your dad learn to ride a bull?"
"Brazil." He said the Z like an S.
"You're Brazilian?"
"I was born in Texas, but yes, half Brazilian." I never would have guessed Brazilian.