An hour passes, maybe longer, before she finally speaks.
“How long have you been a mechanic?”
I look up from my bike and wipe my hands on a towel. “Since I was fifteen. My uncle taught me to work on vehicles back when we used to stay with him off and on. It helps to clear my head sometimes and keep the demons at bay.”
“It’s nice having a distraction, something that you enjoy doing.”
“It does.” I stand up and walk over to stand in between Melissa’s legs. She lets out a small moan as I cup the back of her neck and press my body against hers. “You’re a distraction for me, Melissa. In a good fucking way. Feel that?”
She sucks in a small breath when I grind my erection between her legs and growl.
“Yes. Oh God, yes.” Her gaze roams over my shirtless body before moving up to land on my lips. “It’s kind of hard not to feel you, Ace. Or not to notice you. You’re a distraction for me too, no matter how much I try and fight it.”
“Good,” I whisper.
I grip her thighs and pick her up, carrying her over to the closest car. She lets out a little surprised gasp as I set her down onto the hood and roughly pull her toward me so that her legs are wrapped around my waist.
I watch her watching me with curious eyes and I can tell by her heavy breathing that she desperately wants me to make the next move. So I lean in and pull her bottom lip between my teeth.
She moans and wraps her arm around my neck, pulling me in closer as I give it a soft nibble before running my tongue over it.
She wants me to kiss her, but I hold back, wanting her to wait a little longer.
I want her to fucking want me as much as I want her.
I want her to fucking crave me.
But I know, and my body sure as hell knows, that I can’t hold back for much longer.
Fuck, I need to get her home.
“I should get you home.” I back away and run my hands through my hair in frustration.
The twisted side of me wants to fuck her on top of every vehicle in this garage and make her scream my name until her voice goes out. I want her nails in my back, making me bleed as I fill her with my long, thick cock.
I want to fucking possess every part of her body and soul until she can’t even breathe without thinking about me.
My fucked-up, twisted side won’t even be a concern for her once she really feels me.
I’m going to make sure of that.
8
Melissa
I feel Kadence staring at me and finally glance at her. I am on my break with a latte in front of me, a half-eaten scone beside that, and my mind consumed with Ace.
“What?” I know she has something on her mind, and I know she’ll voice it.
I lean back in the chair and cross my arms over my chest, waiting for it to come.
She stares at me for a prolonged second, maybe trying to guess what I'm thinking about, or what's really going on. Kadence is pretty perceptive, and I know that she'll figure it out without me having to say a word.
“Are you going to tell me what's going on or do you really want me to start naming off things?”
I really don't want to talk about this on my break, but I do want to discuss it with her. With Kadence now being with Aston, she spends a lot of her time with him. And with me working more, our time together is limited.
I hate that, hate that the majority of when we see each other is at the Lockes’ house. We used to do so much together, and I want that back.
“This is about Ace, isn't it?” She phrases it like a question but I can hear in her voice that she already knows the answer.
I exhale and glance around me. Even though we are semi-secluded, it still feels like a million people can hear me. Not that I care if anyone knows I have strong feelings for Ace, but I’ve never been one to open up about how I feel.
“You know you can trust me, right? You can tell me whatever you want.”
I look into Kadence's eyes and nod. Of course I know I can trust her, but it isn't about that. It is about me finally admitting out loud how I feel and what I want, when I’m not even sure what it all means yet.
I've never done that, never been the person to open up like this. But I know I need to talk about it.
“I trust you, Kadence. It's myself I don't trust, especially where it concerns Ace.” There, I said it, all but admitted that I have no self-control when it comes to a Locke brother.
This sympathetic look crosses her face and she leans forward. When she smiles I can see that she understands what I mean, how I feel. Hell, she went through the same thing.
“I’m here. I’m listening.”
“I have some pretty strong feelings for Ace, and they scare me because of the type of man he is, the violence that I know he houses.” I glance away, the words spilling from my mouth for the first time ever. I've thought them plenty of times, but actually saying them out loud is another thing.
“I know.” Kadence says and gives me a genuine smile. “The violence and danger that the Locke brothers have within them is not something that just anyone can accept. It was hard for me at first too.” She gives me another sympathetic look. “It takes a really strong woman to be with one of those boys, and we are those women, Melissa.”
I nod, knowing she speaks the truth. “I guess I'm just afraid to fully give myself over. I don’t know what to do.”
“Is that what you want, though? I mean, do you want to give yourself over to Ace completely? Because once you do there's no going back. He won't let you go. You'll be his irrevocably.”
”Maybe.” This is not something I haven’t thought about before and now, after I’ve gotten to spend some one on one time with him, the feeling has only grown stronger. The need is becoming overwhelming, even though I’m trying to fight it. “I don’t know, Kadence. I think at the end of the day that's what scares me the most when I think about it. I’m afraid that if I give myself to Ace in every way imaginable, I will be his and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.” I can already see the possessiveness in his eyes when he looks at me, when he touches me. It ignites something deep in my body, makes me yearn for more than I’ve ever wanted before. I’m confused by it, not sure if I should accept it or run the other direction. A part of me is afraid, terrified of what it means to want him, what it will mean if I give myself over.
A part of me fears that, but another part, a bigger one, anticipates and wants it so damn badly. It’s that part that’s dominating me, controlling me … consuming me.
“Look. I’m going to be honest with you about something, Melissa. And listen carefully.”
I sit up straight, nervous to hear what she’s going say. Especially since it will undoubtedly involve Ace. “Okay,” I say a little hesitantly. Kadence can be a little abrasive when she wants her point made. But I love her because of it. Hell, right now maybe that’s what I need. “Give it to me.”
“All right…” She sits up straight too now. “Ace is twisted in ways that his brothers aren’t. It’s simply because he went through hell the longest and had to stand up and become the Locke that his younger brothers could look up to for protection. But I know without a doubt that Ace or any of the other brothers would never hurt someone they care about, especially a woman. They protect those who need it. It may be scary giving your heart and body over to a Locke, but I can tell you with everything in me that it’s the best feeling in the world once the initial fear wears off. It’s even exciting in ways that you’ve never experienced before. At least it was with Aston for me. I can’t even imagine what it’d be like with Ace.”
I feel my stomach sink because I hate to hear how Ace and his brothers were forced into becoming who they are today by parents who physically hurt them and put them in danger. I’ve heard some of the stories and they’re ugly and unimaginable. It’s one of the reasons I’ve softened toward Ace a bit. Because no one should have to go through what they went through. “I know Ace would never physically hurt me, Kadence. It’s not th
e physical part that I’m worried about. Everything about him is so damn intense.”
“Well, you shouldn’t be worried about him hurting you in any way. When the Locke brothers find someone they care about, they never stop loving them.” She smiles as if just remembering something. “Oh, and I almost forgot that Sterling and Wynter are having a fire at their house tonight. You’re coming. Ace is coming. The whole crew is coming. It’s going to be great.”
I feel my heart speed up at the thought of seeing Ace again so soon. Truthfully, I haven’t stopped thinking about him since he dropped me back off at my car last night.
The moment he set me down onto the car and pressed his hard body between my legs, I almost forgot how to breathe. Especially when he pulled my bottom lip between his teeth. That scared me even more.
If he could make me feel that way simply by touching me… I can’t even begin to imagine how he’d make me feel if he kissed me.
I’ve dreamt about those sexy lips on my body more times than I can even count and I know for a fact that I’d be done for the moment I feel them owning me. Because I know that’s what he’d do.
He’d own me with just a single kiss and I need to make sure I can handle being his before I allow that to happen.
“Do I have a choice?”
She shakes her head and stands up. “Nope. You’re family. If you even think about not showing up, you’ll have one of the Lockes at your door, breaking it down.”
“I don’t doubt it,” I huff.
And I’m sure Ace would look sexy as hell doing it too.
9
Ace
I lean against Bobby’s door and pull out the rest of the joint that’s stuffed inside my jacket pocket and light it up. “Don’t make me bust this door down, Bobster…” Placing it between my lips, I light it and take a few quick hits, keeping the smoke in my lungs for a second before blowing it out. I glance down at my watch. “I’ve got somewhere to be. That means you have about twenty fucking seconds to unlock this door before I break it down, come inside, and drag you out by your fucking balls.”
“Ten seconds now…”
I hear the clicking of the handle unlock, and then a second later the sound of footsteps running through the house comes through.
“Really?” I flick the rest of the joint across the porch before I speed walk around the house and to the back door. This idiot tried this shit last time. You’d think he’d know it’s pointless for him to run from me.
As soon as I round the corner, I get a clear view of Bobby jumping off the back porch and racing for some shitty little bicycle that’s laying in the yard.
“This is pretty fucking comical, Bobster.” I watch as his overweight ass struggles with the little bike but gets nowhere.
“Shit!” He screams as it falls over.
“Chasing you is like chasing a toddler.” I make my way over and stand above him as he struggles with getting back up. “Why do you insist on running every damn time? Is it simply for my entertainment or is it because you really believe you’ll get away?”
“I don’t have the money,” he spits out, kicking the bike away. “I told Jim I’d have it next week. Can’t you just give me a break, buddy? Come on… I promise I’ll have it by next Friday.”
For a second I just stare at Bobby, and although I’m pissed at this little fucker because he owes me money, I can’t help but start to chuckle at the comical routine he always delivers.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to chase his ass around, but in the grand scheme of things he’s harmless.
He’s a dirty bastard, and I mean that in a literal sense. Overweight from only eating fast food, and reeking of cheap-ass beer, Bobby’s always getting himself in shit.
And I’m the stupid motherfucker who lets him get away with it.
I should just put a stop to it, but because of all the dark shit I’ve gone through—and still go through—this is almost like a little reprieve from all of that.
“Get up, Bobby.” I take a step back as he tries to stand upright. His white shirt is stained with grease, and the hem hits him right above his bulging stomach. He’s even got some fucking lint in his belly button.
I just shake my head at the state he’s in. He’s a sorry sack of shit, that’s for sure.
“I’m sorry, Ace. I swear I’ll have your money next week. I swear it.” He starts crying over and over again, sweat starting to cover his forehead and dripping down his temples. He needs to calm the fuck down or he’ll have a heart attack. “I’m really, really sorry—”
I reach out and slap him across the face. His fat cheek jiggles and he stumbles back a little bit. His face instantly becomes red and I know that he’s going to start crying any second. I don’t have time for him to be apologizing continuously.
He’s panting, breathing like he just ran a fucking marathon. “Calm the hell down, Bobby.” I cross my arms over my chest and eye him up and down. The asshole is out of shape. If he wants to fuck over people then he should at least work out so he can get away. “Because I’m in a good fucking mood, I’ll give you three days to get me my money.” He opens his mouth as if he wants to argue, or maybe tell me again how he needs a week, but I hold my hand up and give him a hard fucking look. “No, you have three motherfucking days to get me my money. If you don’t I’m gonna come back here and I’m going to open you up like a goddamn fish. Do you understand me?”
He starts nodding furiously, and then starts repeating over and over how thankful he is. I turn, leaving him standing there, wondering why the fuck I let him off the hook.
On any other day I wouldn’t have given him a second chance. But the truth is I am in a good mood, the thought of Melissa still running through my head. Although I will never change who I am, or how I do things, even knowing that Melissa can soon be mine has me feeling … different. I don’t know if I like it, but I sure as hell don’t want it to disappear.
I head back to the truck and climb in, and for a second I just sit there, staring out in the distance and thinking about Melissa. She’s all I’ve been thinking about lately, but hell, I like that. I want her on my mind always. I want her by my fucking side. It is hard as hell not to just make her see that she’s mine. But I don’t want to rush this, don’t want her to see me as some arrogant fucking bastard who can’t keep his dick in his pants.
But the truth is I want her so damn badly. I want her under me, naked. I want her arms above her head, her breasts thrust out as she parts her thighs. I want her begging me for more. And I want to bury my face between her legs and lick her pussy until she comes in my mouth.
I reach down and adjust my massive erection, groaning at the very image of me thrusting in and out of Melissa. Fuck, I’m so damn aroused, so ready to claim her and make her mine. And I know that time will come, sooner rather than later. I’m a patient man, but when it comes to Melissa I want her like a fucking fiend jonesing for his next fix.
Shit, I need to get control of myself. I can’t be going off the handle. This isn’t like me, isn’t how I operate.
I want Melissa like I want to fucking breathe. I want her as mine, forever, with nothing stopping me, no one telling me that she isn’t mine. I want her to see we belong together, that we’ve always belonged together. She’s afraid, I see that, but I’ll show her that if she were mine she’d be treated like a fucking queen.
I am coming to realize that when it comes to Melissa, all bets are off on how things play out. I am so not in my element with her, but I like it.
I fucking love it.
10
Melissa
I got off work hours ago, but took the time to decide if I should make an appearance at Sterling and Wynter’s or not, knowing that I’d be seeing Ace there.
Yet, when I arrived thirty minutes ago, and everyone was here but him, I couldn’t help but to be filled with disappointment.
I’ve been sitting beside Kadence and Aston, and although Kadence has been making attempts to talk to me every few minutes,
my mind has been too distracted to pay attention to anything she’s been saying. The way Kadence is with Aston makes me long for that with Ace, and a part of me hates myself for wanting that, knowing the type of man he is. He’s dangerous, but not to me. Never to me. He helps people, even if that is violent, destructive. But that’s the way he is, who he is. I wouldn’t want to change him ever.
I keep finding myself staring out into the darkened street waiting for Ace to show up. Hoping he’ll show up.
“Why is your leg bouncing?”
“Huh?” I pull my gaze away from the road and take a sip of the beer in my hand. “It’s not. What are you talking about?”
She just laughs and places her hand on my knee, stopping it from moving. “Why are you acting all weird?”
“I’m not. What do you mean?”
“Okay… if you’re not acting weird then why have you ignored everything everyone has said to you since you got here?” She looks out toward the street at the same time I find myself doing it again. “Ah… I see.”
I shake my head and let out a small laugh. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, never mind.” She’s silent for a moment. “But Ace isn’t coming.”
My heart sinks in unwanted disappointment. “I thought you said he was?”
She shakes her head and reaches for her beer. “He got held up with a job and said not to expect him tonight.” I feel like this weight settles on me, holding me down. He’s not coming tonight, and that makes me feel like shit. I realize, even if I want to hide it, try to pretend to myself that it’s not true, that I am well and deeply into Ace and there’s no going back.
She smiles as she takes in my disappointment. “You wanted to see him, didn’t you?” Her voice rises and I have to shush her before everyone else hears.
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