He clicked his tongue and took another drag on his cigarette.
“How much you got?” he asked.
“I have a thousand dollars for you,” she said stepping forward and reaching into her purse for the envelope. “Here.”
He took it from her and looked inside before he flicked through the notes and nodded.
“Well, that looks about right,” he said.
“So, will you leave off Charlene for a while? She will get you the rest. She just needs some more time.”
He leaned forward so his eyes were level with hers before he blew another two plumes of smoke out of his nostrils. He was so frightening, but at the same time there was something about him that was pulling her in. She didn’t know if she was imagining it, but it felt as if they had an instant connection. His eyes were big and deep and she was getting lost in them. She pinched her arm to snap herself out of the trance.
“I’m not taking your money, sweetheart,” he said sternly. “That bitch can pay for herself.”
Lacey took a step back, shocked and completely uncertain about what to do next.
“But, please,” she stammered. “Please take it.”
He handed the envelope back to her and walked around the front of the desk. He motioned for her to sit down and sat on the edge of the desk in front of her. Lacey nervously sat down, her hands shaking as she clutched onto the envelope.
“She owes me money for drugs,” he said. “Why would you pay for her to never learn her lesson?”
Lacey felt as if she had been slapped. She sat up straight and looked at him. She had never thought of it that way before.
“I just thought I was helping her,” she said.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said warmly, his eyes crinkling around the corners as he smiled, “I’m not going to take that money… But there is something you can do to help your friend…”
“Anything,” Lacey said. “I just don’t want her getting hurt.”
He took another drag on the cigarette and put his hand on her knee.
“You can come back here tomorrow. Maybe we’ll have a drink… Maybe we’ll get to know each other a little better.” He was looking down at Lacey’s chest and she knew what he was thinking.
“I… but…” she tried to hold the envelope out again, but he just pushed it back to her.
“I’ll be here at noon,” he said, “If you don’t show, Charlene’s in trouble.”
He got to his feet and walked towards the iron door before he knocked on it hard and she could hear it opening from the other side. It creaked open and the guard stood there with his arms folded.
“But…” Lacey began.
“That’s all I’ve got,” he shrugged. “Take it or leave it.”
The guard laughed and Lacey stared at Matt. He was teasing her, she was sure, but at the same time, she didn’t want to anger him by asking.
“Noon,” he repeated before he waved her off with his hand. “Oh, and not a word to anyone.”
Lacey left the office and began walking back down the corridor. Her heart was racing and she didn’t know where to turn. Charlene had a lot to answer for. Now it was she who was in big trouble.
5.
Lacey tossed and turned all night, terrified of what the next day may hold. She knew she didn’t have to go and she could tell Charlene that he was bribing her and making her feel uncomfortable. But now that Lacey had put herself in his presence, he knew what she looked like and who she was. It wouldn’t take much for him to find her in a small town like Clay Springs.
She stared up at the ceiling and wiped a tear away. What was going to happen to her if she went back? What could he realistically want from her? She tried to recall the features of his face in her mind’s eye, but they were all blurred and distant… it reminded her of when she had a crush on someone when she was younger and she couldn’t remember what they looked like.
She knew he was handsome, and she knew she had been attracted to him on first sight… But she was also afraid. He was dangerous, an outlaw who was threatening people to settle debts. Charlene had said he could be capable of killing people if they didn’t do as he asked. Lacey bit her lip and sat up. She knew she had no way out of the situation. Matt had asked to see her, and she was going to have to go…
***
As soon as noon had passed, she left her apartment and made her way back to the Satan’s Riders clubhouse. She decided to walk and as the sun beat down on her hard from above, she found herself wondering if it would be the last time she saw daylight.
You’re going to get yourself killed, she thought. Turn back and run.
She shook the thought off, knowing there was no way back from this. She had been foolish by putting herself in the situation, and now she was going to have to deal with it. She still had her money. As soon as the day was over she was going to make a run for it. Disappear out of town and never see bad influences like Charlene ever again.
She turned a corner and saw the building looming in front of her. It was dusty out front and there were around ten bikes in different positions, all empty and cold as if they’d been there from the night before. It didn’t look anything like the previous night. In daylight, it looked like any other building in town, but she knew what lay inside.
She approached the two steps and climbed them before crossing to the door and trying the handle. It was locked, so she knocked lightly. Inside it was quiet, but she could hear men’s voices getting closer and then the dull thump of boots as someone made their way across to the front door. It swung open and a man with a long beard stood there, shielding his eyes from the light.
“What?” he barked before realizing she was a woman and looking her up and down with a satisfied grin.
“I’m here to see Matt,” she said nervously.
The man looked at her as if she was insane and then slammed the door on her. She turned and looked back to the road, confused and worried.
Okay, she thought, this is good, now I can leave and it isn’t my fault… I tried.
She was about to skip quickly down the steps when from around the side of the building a familiar set of eyes came into view. Matt walked towards her in a pair of low-slung ripped jeans and a black vest. He was dirty, covered in oil like he had been working on one of the bikes and sweat glistened all over his tanned skin. Lacey stopped in her tracks and stared at him. His face cracked into a grin.
“Lay-cee,” he said her name slowly again. “Wasn’t sure you’d show.”
She felt frozen to the floor. Her legs wouldn’t move and she just stood there staring at him, not knowing whether to speak or just do whatever he asked.
“You don’t have to look so nervous,” he laughed. “Come down here.”
Lacey walked down to meet him and followed him around the back of the clubhouse. There were around ten garages, all in differing states. Some were locked up tight with no way of seeing what was inside, while others had their doors wide open with bike parts and stacks of boxes. Matt led her around to the last garage where a bike was on its side, with rags and oil canisters littered around it. He kneeled down and continued what he was doing.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said.
Lacey looked around to see if there were any other people, but the back of the clubhouse was deserted.
“What am I here for?” she asked quietly.
“To help Charlene pay her debts,” he sniffed before he held a cigarette to his lips and clamped it between his teeth. “You want to help your friend, right?”
“I’m not so sure she’s such a good friend anymore…” Lacey said as she thought back to her frantic calls to Charlene’s cell phone as soon as she had left the clubhouse the night before, which had been ignored… Charlene had no doubt been somewhere getting high and drinking herself into oblivion.
“I thought as much,” Matt said. “That’s why I wasn’t about to take your money.”
He pointed at a large rock not far from where he was working.
&nb
sp; “Wanna take a seat?” he asked.
Lacey walked past him and sat down. The rock was blisteringly hot but she pulled down her shorts so they covered enough of her skin.
“Matt,” she said, “I don’t want to be rude, but I just want to know how I can help…”
He looked up at her and smiled.
“I thought you were all about the money,” she stammered. “I, I thought you would take the thousand and that would be the end of my involvement…”
“And like I said, I’m not taking your money,” he said as he took a drag on the cigarette. “Good girl like you, bet it took you a while to save… Bet you work hard…?”
Lacey nodded.
“Fuck-ups like Charlene don’t deserve the easy way out. I’ve been like you, I’ve worked hard and I’ve been taken advantage of, I can spot it a mile off… And if there’s one thing I don’t like is seeing good people lose out through no fault of their own.”
Lacey realized her mouth was gaping open. She couldn’t stop staring at his muscular arms as they flexed each time he moved.
“I suppose you’re right,” she agreed.
“Plus,” he stared at her, “You’re pretty hot.”
No one had paid Lacey attention in such a long time she had almost forgotten what it felt like to get a compliment. She felt herself blush and she looked down at her feet. He was nothing like she had imagined when she had turned up there. His hardened exterior was still there visually, but as he spoke to her and she got to know him more, it was as if he was genuine and kind on the inside.
“I’m trying to get this place in a better position,” he said, “Will probably never happen but my father started this club thirty years ago and these fuck-ups have run it into the ground… I was never going to have anything to do with it, but I felt like I had to come back.”
“Maybe we’ve got something in common then,” Lacey smiled, feeling herself relax. “I was never supposed to be here, either… I made my escape but got sucked back in.”
“Well at least we’re on the same page,” Matt smiled. “All the outstanding debts, I want them gone so we can start again. Then I can get the hell out of here.”
Lacey was jealous of his plan and wished she had a solid one herself. Not just the idea of making a run for it in the middle of the night.
“Instead of giving me the money,” he said, “I want to spend today with you.”
Lacey looked up and locked eyes with his.
“Let’s not beat around the bush,” he said suddenly. “I like you, Lacey,” he leaned towards her. “I don’t know what it is…but I have to have you.”
Lacey felt her sex pulse. Did he mean what she thought he meant? Her heart began to pound and she looked up at him with innocent eyes. He held out his hand and she took it as he pulled her to her feet.
“Take a ride with me?” he asked her.
6.
Lacey gripped Matt’s waist as they flew down the highway. The scent of his skin, the cigarettes, sweat and oil mixed in with his cologne was driving her wild.
She couldn’t believe what was happening. She was on the back of a bike with a supposed outlaw, driving at ninety miles an hour out across the desert. He’d said he wanted to take her somewhere beautiful, that he wanted her to experience his most favorite place in the world. He took a bend and she dug her fingertips into his muscly abs. She must have been crazy to go somewhere with him. He was a total stranger and a criminal at that. She knew the night before when they had first locked eyes on each other that there had been something there. A spark had ignited even if it had gone unsaid. And now he seemed determined to have her and Lacey realized she wanted nothing more.
He was right. She had always been such a good girl and had never given in to her passions. She had always done the best for others and let her own dreams go to waste. She had never put herself first, no matter how much she wanted something. This was her chance to take all of that back. This day with this wild, dangerous biker was going to change everything. She was at a turning point. She was going to act out of character and do things she had never even dared dream of.
The bike started to slow, and Matt pulled off the highway. They were in the middle of the desert with red and orange mountains all around them. He pulled onto a beaten track and the dust kicked out behind them. Lacey looked over her shoulder and smiled. This was like another world. The terrain was wild and deserted, and it made her feel so alive.
When Matt stopped the bike, he lifted her off with his big, rough hands and placed her gently on the ground. She looked up at him and couldn’t help but smile. She had never been so pleasantly surprised.
“Let’s walk up to that ridge,” he said as he took her hand and pulled her towards a rock face.
They made the short climb, and Matt insisted on holding his hands over her eyes.
“You have to wait to see the view,” he whispered in her ear. “It’ll take your breath away.”
He was behind her, with his arms wrapped around her shoulders and his palms over her eyes. She could tell they were high up, much higher than where they had been on the other side of the ridge. She could feel the rush of air around her and she clung to him, terrified that she would fall.
“Ready?” he whispered in her ear.
Lacey nodded and braced herself. Matt slowly peeled his hands away from her eyes and revealed what was in front of her. She gasped and held onto him tightly, not daring to move. It was like she was on the edge of the world. A huge, deep canyon was in front of her, the sunlight shining on it and showing off the most amazing colors. Deep purples, reds, oranges and yellows all merged together across the landscape. It was magical and like nothing she had ever seen.
“Oh my God,” she gasped, “How did you ever find this place?”
“I used to live out here,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and breathed into her neck.
Lacey was starting to get wet. The feeling of having a man’s arms around her was driving her wild. She turned to face Matt and ran her hands through his hair as she stared deep into his eyes.
“I want you,” she whispered.
Matt leaned forward and kissed her, parting her lips with his tongue and biting her gently. He was like an animal. A savage. And she wanted him to tear her to pieces.
Matt grabbed her gently by the throat and pushed her to the ground. Lacey’s knees scuffed against the crumbling desert rock, and he climbed down on top of her, pinning her arms high above her head. They were completely exposed on the edge of the ridge, looking out over the canyon, but Lacey didn’t care. Even if there were hikers or photographers out there, she didn’t give a fuck who saw them. She wanted him right then and there. She wanted him to break her good girl persona and give her something to remember for the rest of her life.
Matt ran his hands up her side and cupped her breasts. He pulled her top off over her head and sucked on her nipples, his mouth exploring her skin, searching frantically and nibbling her. Lacey arched off the ground and wrapped her legs tightly around him. She could feel the stiff bulge in his jeans and was desperate to see it. He kissed her neck softly before sinking his teeth into her with little bites that made her gasp with pleasure. She hadn’t had sex in well over two years and knew her body would feel like a virgin’s again. She was so worked up and hot for him, she couldn’t wait for him to remove her clothes. She bucked her hips up to meet his and Matt reached down and started to unbutton her shorts with one hand, while the other kept her hands pinned high above her head.
Lacey felt a rush of mountain air hit her, and her sex pulsed. She was already dripping wet and engorged and she couldn’t wait for him to take her.
Matt leaned back and quickly removed his vest, throwing it behind him before he reached down and started to undo his jeans. Lacey was lying on the ground, looking up at him, biting her lip and letting him stare at her sex as he pulled down his jeans and boxers and revealed the most amazing cock she had ever seen. It was so big and stiff it was intim
idating, but she knew she had to have it inside her. Matt knelt in front of her with his throbbing member in his hand. Lacey stared up at him, scared that he would hurt her, but her body betrayed her. She was soaking wet and yearning for him. Her pussy ached and as he leaned down towards her holding his huge cock she moaned. He slid his other hand down between her legs and flicked her clit lightly while pumping his cock up and down in his fist.
“You want it?” he asked. He was so close to her, his lips were skimming hers and Lacey found herself in the throes of pleasure already. As his fingers worked her, she was on the verge of a crashing orgasm. She threw her head back and Matt pulled his hand away, determined to fuck her before she came. He pulled her up in front of him and positioned her on her hands and knees so she was looking out over the canyon. Lacey felt free and uninhibited as he positioned his unprotected member at her opening and rubbed it up and down, making his tip slick and wet.
He held onto the back of her neck and positioned himself at her slit. He teased her with his big red head and gripped onto her ass with his thick, rough hands.
“Matt,” she said suddenly, “I’m not on the pill--“
But there was no stopping him. He plunged his massive length inside her, tearing her in half. The pain was excruciating and Lacey screamed.
Matt held onto her neck as he fucked her, pounding himself in and out of her. Before Lacey really had chance to register the pain, it was already giving way to the most intensely amazing sensation she had ever felt. Her pussy gripped him tightly as he thrust into her, and he was so hard and deep inside that it felt like she was being speared. She panted and begged him to go harder. Matt slowed his pace and withdrew before slowly sliding his full, wet length into her again. It was so deep that Lacey screamed with ecstasy. She fit around him so perfectly. Matt’s strokes were getting more frantic and powerful as he was ready to explode. He gripped onto her as he slowly slid himself in and out of her, on the verge of shooting his load.
STEEL: MC ROMANCE (Forsaken Riders MC Romance Book 3) Page 39