by Blue Remy
“Well hello, Mrs. Robinson.” Mace chuckled, needing to shift his weight, pain hitting his nether regions as he was insta-hard. Who the fuck needed a little blue pill when you had an Ol’Lady who looked like that? Damn it, son.
Amy blushed and stood there. She cleared her throat and moved to get an oil packet, giving him ample view of her ass.
Not like he was going to complain. He watched her rip it open with her teeth and pour the scented oil into the bubbling water. Lavender, how did he not know? It was one of her favorite scents. He shrugged out of his cut as she climbed into the hot spring, laying it away from the water. Peeling off his shirt, he glanced to her, the wind knocked out of him at the feral look in her eyes. He wasn’t going to last very long if she kept this up. Mixed with the heat of the water, he was going to pop like a damn virgin.
He couldn’t get out of his jeans quick enough. Hard and erect, he was in near pain at how rigid he was, throbbing and in need to capture her heart one last time. He saw her breath hitch as she watched him lower into the oversized Jacuzzi, his movement slow and deliberate while he stalked toward her.
He needed her.
He needed to be consumed by her, to be lost in her. He wanted to show her just how much he loved her.
Mace wasted no time, his urgency unexpected, his lips hard and searching, covering her hungrily, while his tongue delved into the welcoming confines of her mouth. His senses reeled as if short-circuited.
There was no foreplay, no sweet nothings. He wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. Mace felt her legs wrap about his waist as her nails dug into his shoulder blades. Groaning into her mouth, he couldn’t hold back. Her soft breasts pushed against the hard planes of his chest, her nipples hard from the cold air. Her skin was enough to drive a man to drink.
His hands dropped to her waist and lifted her out of the water, breaking the kiss to allow his mouth to capture one perfect bud. Teeth ground lightly against the taut flesh, pulling before releasing and allowing his mouth to reclaim its prize to sooth the torturous pain he gave her. Her impish cries of delight fueled his fire, his need to possess.
Shifting against her, he lowered her body, giving her no time to adjust to him sinking deep into her tight folds. Mace grunted loudly, the sound smothered by her mouth crashing to his. Teeth nipped and tugged at his bottom lip, her cries grew louder when he pulled out of her tight sheath, only to thrust harder into her.
Nails scratched at his back as he pushed her against the edge of the tub, his fingers digging into her ass, moving her hips the way he liked, pulling her harder against him with each thrust. He rocked against her, almost hyperventilating, his chest tight, and his throat swelling, unable to breathe.
His eyes stung as he claimed her lips once more, his kisses frantic, urgent and demanding. He was choking on the fear of losing her, unshed tears threatening to expose him as her legs locked around him, her hips shifting to allow him to sink to full hilt inside her tight walls.
Mace half gasped, half cried out when tears slid past his lashes, mixing with the beads of sweat and splash of water on his skin. Her name was like a prayer on his lips, his back went rigid when his body spasmed against her, then bucked and rocked from the unusually powerful release until he couldn’t move. He sagged against her, his body shaking from tears that continued to fall.
He had to get his shit together and quick. Sniffling into her chest, he looked at her, seeing her own hazel depths glittering with tears. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure.” Amy half laughed, wiping at her eyes, then pushed wet hair from her eyes. “I mean, I know we’ve had sex before, but this … this was different.”
He kissed her tears, his thumb wiping wet droplets from her cheek as he whispered against her skin. “This was much needed frantic love, Amy.”
She stilled under him, her hands cupping his cheeks, eyes searching his. “Yes, it was, wasn’t it?”
He nodded, drawing in a shaking breath, then he freed himself from her. Moving to place her on his lap, he gently swept water over her chest to keep her warm against the cool night air. “I need to tell you something, Amy.”
Amy cocked her head slightly, a frown marring her brow. “Okay?”
“No matter what happens tomorrow, please, always know that I love you.” He laid his fingers against her lips, shaking his head. “I don’t know what will happen. No one does. But I want you—no, I need you to know, above anything else, I’m in love with you.”
* * * *
Amy hadn’t expected his declaration of love. It had taken her completely off guard. She knew then why their lovemaking had been so needy. He needed to take that with him tomorrow. This deal was important to the club, and if anything went wrong, it would affect everyone in different ways.
“I love you, too, Mace. I probably have since I decked your sexy ass.” Yes, she was going to make light of it. She had to. If anything happened to him, she wasn’t sure she could make it. He had become important to her, to her life. That was how she knew she loved him. It was the tiny thrills she got when she saw him, how she was always thinking of him when she was away from his side.
She couldn’t see herself with anyone else and didn’t want to.
It wasn’t something she wanted to think about.
“Want to head back, grab some food and go rumple your sheets some more before you leave?” Amy’s tongue swept over her bottom lip, trying not to gasp when his eyes grew hungered watching her speak
“Yeah, but I’m hungry for you.”
“You can have me for dessert then.” She swatted his arm playfully and climbed out of the spring to grab a towel. She watched him follow her out, tossing him a towel to dry off with. “I don’t know why, but a burger sounds good right now.”
He burst out laughing, rich and deep. “You just want some meat between your buns.”
“Mace!” Amy squeaked in surprise, followed by laughter. “You are horrible!”
“And?”
Amy shook her head, pulling on her pants. She tugged them over her hips. “Be nice or no whipped cream bathing suit.”
“Oh damn, okay. I’ll be good.”
Getting dressed was quicker than getting undressed. They stopped at the desk, turning in the towels and saying their thanks. Once back to the bike, she leaned against it for a moment.
“You know my dad is going to shit bricks over this, right?”
“Stone already knows.” Mace lifted his brows and shrugged.
Amy’s jaw dropped as she stared at him. “How? When? You told him?” That took her totally by surprise. No one had ever gone to her father before. Amazing.
“Why wouldn’t I? I respect you, Amy and I respect him. I wanted him to know how I felt, I don’t want to hide it.”
“I don’t want you to either.” She pushed off the seat of the bike, lifted up to brush her lips lightly against his. “This is why I adore you.”
Suiting up, she climbed onto the bike behind him and relaxed against his rock solid frame. She hadn’t felt this free in a long time. She could love someone unconditionally and not be afraid of what her family thought.
The lulling hum of the road must have put her to sleep, the quick swerve and skidding of tires roused her out of whatever dreamland she was in. Eyes quickly adapted to the darkness, seeing they were on the back road leading to Old Orcutt. Instinct screamed to grab his waist tight in case they went down, her brain registering once they hit to let go and roll with the ground, not to stiffen or fight the outcome.
What she saw did not register at first. Not until Mace nearly laid the bike on its side. He was able to upright it before they tipped completely over and turn the bike around.
“What the hell?” She screamed in his ear, over the sound of the throttling engine as he sped back toward whatever it was they almost hit in the road.
They came to a stop next to something wrapped up in a blanket. It was large and long enough to be a body.
“Amy, get off.” Mace ordered her and she was
all too happy to follow it.
Hopping off the bike, she stepped aside as he maneuvered the bike to shine its headlight on the mysterious object in the road. Cutting the engine, he jumped off the bike and darted over to Amy.
“Look out.”
Amy moved back as he gently pushed her to the side. She wasn’t sure what it was, but if it was a dead body, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to see it. She watched him kneel down and lift up the blanket.
“Oh sweet Jesus, Amy go to the bike.”
“Mace?” His tone scared her, chilled her to the bone. She moved around him, something telling her to look at whatever it was that lay there.
“Amy! Go to the bike!” Mace rose, trying to hide the object from her line of sight.
Too late.
Amy heard screaming.
It came from her. She couldn’t stop as it grew difficult to breathe. She sank to her knees as sobs wracked her body.
“Maggie!”
CHAPTER 26
Amy fought against Mace. He scooped her up and pushed her back toward the bike, but she was having none of it. That was her best friend lying there and she needed to be with her.
“Amy! Don’t make me fucking smack sense into you!”
It was too late; she already squirmed away from him and was running back toward Maggie. She probably needed a good slap to shake her out of this nightmare. Sinking to her knees, she gently pushed the blanket away from her friend’s face, while hearing Mace calling for an ambulance in the background.
Nearly unrecognizable, Maggie’s eyes were swollen shut, lips torn and bleeding, skin split at her cheek bones, teeth knocked out and her breathing ragged. The only way she knew who Maggie was, was by the necklace she wore. It was one Amy bought her when she was sixteen. Maggie never took it off.
Tenderly lifting Maggie’s head, she laid it on her lap, careful not to hurt her any further. “Who did this to you, Maggie?” Her voice was choked with tears, unable to keep them from falling into Maggie’s face. “I’m here, baby.” Amy whispered, perhaps more for herself than anything.
“Don’t take the blanket off of her. She is in shock and that will keep her warm until they get here.” Mace knelt next to Amy, and reached out to brush the hair from her face.
Amy looked at Mace, rapidly blinking, pushing the tears from her eyes. “Who would do this to her? Why would they leave her here? She’s never hurt anyone.”
“It’s a pretty deserted road, Amy. Whoever did this, didn’t want her found right away. They left her here to die.” Mace looked at Maggie, then back to Amy. “She got lucky tonight.”
Amy knew Mace was trying to make her feel better, but nothing could lift her spirits, not while Maggie lay in a pool of blood. She heard sirens approaching, red and blue blips of light bouncing off of the asphalt and surrounding trees.
“Mace, bro?” Saber ran up with his medic kit, his face registering shock when he saw Amy covered in blood.
“It’s not mine, it’s Maggie’s.” Amy lifted her tear stained eyes to look at her club brother, shifting her weight slightly so he could see Maggie lying against her.
“We almost hit her. I’m not sure if she’s been hit or what the hell happened. We found her this way.”
Saber nodded, setting the kit down as his partner ran up with the gurney. “Go grab the backboard and spinal collar.” Pulling out gloves, he yanked them on. “Amy, sweetie, you’re going to have to move. I’ve got to be able to look Maggie over before I get her on the gurney.”
“No.” Amy frantically shook her head as she felt Mace wrapping his arms under her arm pits and pulling her away from Maggie. “Mace! No!”
Mace spun her around and grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her, almost violently. “Amy, snap the fuck out of it! Get a fucking grip on yourself!”
Amy drew in a shattered breath, air felt like glass shards in her lungs. “I can’t lose her, Mace.” She fell into his arms, resting her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Mace tightened his arms around her, holding her to him. “I wish I could tell you it’s going to be all right, but I can’t.”
“Sweet Jesus. Branson, grab a bag of saline, start an IV drip.”
Amy pushed away from Mace when she heard Saber. Turning to see what he was surprised about, she couldn’t stop the gasp. Maggie’s clothes were torn and tattered, her body just as beaten and bruised as her face.
Branson did as Saber instructed. “She’s coding!”
Saber bolted for the wagon, running back with a box. Dropping to his knees, he yanked the box open and grabbed out two pads. He stuck one to the side of her ribs, the other in the middle of her chest. “Go to four.” A high pitched sound filled the night’s air. “Clear!” He set paddles to the pads and pressed down the buttons. Maggie’s body jolted, then slammed back to the ground. “Go up one.” Another wail filled the air. “Clear!” He repeated the action. Maggie’s body arched, then slammed back down.
“Got a heartbeat. Intubate her while I get the monitor on her.” Saber ordered his temporary partner.
Amy couldn’t stop shaking as she watched her best friend be brought back to life. Her eyesight swam with black dots, until it completely consumed her.
* * * *
Amy felt like she was moving.
Eyes fluttered open, closed, then opened again.
Inhaling a rather deep breath, her eyes finally focused on a seat. Frowning, she groaned when she pushed up and glanced around. She must have fainted.
“Dad?” She coughed, leaning toward the bench seat of her father’s truck.
“We’re on our way to the hospital. Saber is up ahead. Mace is behind us.” Stone glanced in the mirror, meeting her eyes. “Are you all right?”
Swallowing the sob in her throat, she met her father’s gaze and slowly shook her head. “No, I’m not.” It was whispered as she angrily wiped at her eyes. “First Thorne, now Maggie?”
Stone turned into the hospital and parked on the other side of the ambulance. He turned to face Amy. “We don’t know if this is related, Amy. Don’t jump to conclusions, and we don’t need Thorne knowing about this right now. She’s got enough on her plate.”
“How can it not be related?” She yelled at her father, not meaning to, but it was ridiculous. “Did you see Maggie?”
“No, she was in the ambulance when I got there.”
“She was beaten beyond recognition, Dad. This was personal.” She watched Saber and Branson lower the gurney and run with her toward the emergency entrance. “We need to go in.”
She had to wait for her father to let her out, but once he did, she bolted for the entrance, not stopping for anyone. Not paying attention to what was in front of her, she slammed into a hard body. Grunting, she was about to yell at whoever was in her way, but it was Mace. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.
Mace held her, gently rocking her. “Let’s go sit down in the waiting room. We’re no good here. Saber will come tell us what is going on.”
Sniffling, she nodded. “M’kay.” Amy let Mace guide her to the couches, a replay of waiting for news on Thorne, same family, different target. She silently prayed she made it through whatever trauma she was experiencing.
The doors swished open; the bulky medic sulked, not speaking until they closed behind him. Walking over to an open spot on a couch, he lowered himself onto it, looking at the blood on his uniform. Sighing, he glanced at the group.
Amy couldn’t stop shaking. She tried to still her body, but tiny tremors refused to listen and kept her shivering involuntarily. She pressed her hands over her face convulsively, not wanting to hear the news Saber was about to share.
“We lost her twice in the wagon on the way here. She’s bleeding internally and has several broken bones. Her right cheek bone was shattered, her teeth were pulled out,” Saber paused as he looked over to Amy. “Amy, you might want to step out. I don’t think you need to hear this.”
Her reply was muffled by
her hands as she squeezed her eyes shut from behind her palms. “Just tell us, Saber.”
Saber scratched at his head, looking around the room, then back to Amy who was lowering her hands from her face. “By the extensive damage done to her, the detectives, and the doctors think she was tortured. They also found vaginal trauma.”
Amy felt her heart stop, try to beat, then stop again. A sensation of intense sickness and desolation swept over her, bile rose in the back of her throat. She felt her body being moved, cradled against something solid and safe.
Saber sniffed as he stood, wringing his hands out, his face a reflection of the emotions tearing through Amy. “They’re taking her to surgery to stop the bleeding and repair the damage done to her face and groin. They’ll let us know as soon as they’re done.”
“How bad is the damage, Saber?” Stone’s voice wavered when he asked the question everyone was afraid to ask.
“They need to rebuild her cheek and do some reconstructive surgery.”
Amy knew he was trying to be politically correct, but she was far from dumb. Amy could easily figure out what he meant; she wasn’t so sure she could stomach the knowledge. Allowing Mace to cradle her on his lap, she faded in and out of a fitful sleep as they waited for news from the surgeon.
She jerked awake from small nightmares, only to fall back into a troubled sleep once more. Someone was shaking her awake. Blinking, she roused herself back to awareness, blinded momentarily by bright lights.
“How is she, doctor?” Stone cleared his throat as he sat up straighter in his seat.
“She’s unconscious, but in ICU for now. She has a broken cheek we had to repair, all the fingers on her right hand were broken, as well as a dislocated jaw.” The doctor glanced around, then spoke to Stone once more, looking uncomfortable being around men that were as rough looking as they were. “We had to fully reconstruct her vaginal area. She was,” he paused looking to Amy, skipping over that nasty R word. “Several men attacked her and we acquired quite a few DNA samples for the police. When they were through with her, they cut her. If she makes it through tomorrow, she’ll be out of the woods. The internal bleeding was severe and she lost a lot of blood.”