I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I would have to give him an answer within the next several seconds. It sounded like a relaxing way to escape the stress of life, but I still had a job to do.
I had clients and orders to fulfill. Maybe if I agreed to go with him, he’d still allow me to continue my work as a seamstress. I could work anywhere as a seamstress, and I obviously wouldn’t have to keep paying my dead landlord rent at the place downtown.
I had wonderful memories of going to the log cabin as a child. Tucked away in the woods, it was the perfect getaway where you could get lost in the beauty of the nature surrounding you. Every time my mind explored the options, I was left with peace and tranquility. I opened my eyes and smiled.
“My Mama used to take me there,” I mentioned.
“She did?” Ace seemed genuinely interested.
“Uh-huh.” I nodded. “She loved to swim,” I trailed off nostalgically. “She loved the lake.”
“I love the water too,” Ace admitted softly.
I glanced up at him. “You do?”
“Sure. I swam almost every day when I was a kid.”
“Even in the winter?”
He chuckled as if humored by our conversation getting to know each other. “Sometimes, but I grew up in Virginia before moving to the Midwest. The winters weren’t as harsh as they are in this region.”
I swallowed hard. “I remember watching sunsets out there on the dock by the lake. In the summer, we’d nap under the sun outside on the hammock. We had a puppy, but I think he ran away. I had given him a name and everything. They were wonderful childhood memories." I kept them in the private seclusion of my heart, but I didn't admit that out loud to him.
Ace dared to approach me. He cupped his hand over mine, gently. I froze. The touch of his skin sizzled against mine and filled me with a serene sensation. It was like being enveloped in a warm blanket that was draped in security and safety.
Was he genuine? I would soon find out. “My Mama also liked to go camping in the middle of nowhere,” I stalled. Then I grinned and chuckled. “That obviously wasn’t my thing. I guess I’m too much of a girly-girl. I like the outdoors, but I need the security of four walls at night.”
“Sure. Makes sense. You’re kind of in between.” Ace's eyes flashed with playful teasing.
“What?” I laughed. This little arrangement sounded better by the second.
“Nothing.” Ace gave me a charming, handsome smile that melted my insides. Then he held his hands up defensively. "I know you'll like it there then. Not much has changed. There are still four walls for security. You'll be safe, and there's a lot of privacy."
“I guess I need all the privacy I can get after what just happened,” I said.
“The cabin is peaceful. No one will bother us there.”
I thought of something, and I blurted it out. "What's your real name?"
He chuckled, lightly. “You’re joking, right?”
“Nope.”
“Do you know how many aliases I’ve used since the age of fourteen?” he asked.
“I can only imagine. Is Ace really your real name?”
“It’s my childhood nickname. I’ve kept it all this time,” he admitted.
“No matter what we go through, I think we all hold on to something from our past,” I said.
“Arthur Remley. Arthur Allen Remley.”
“Arthur?” I whispered.
“I hated that name. When I was in school, I just went by Allen. And then I became Ace.”
I smiled. “I love Arthur. It’s cute.”
He grinned. “I figured you would think that.”
His expression grew serious as he stared at me.
“What is it?” I asked uncomfortably.
“I just want you to be happy.” He dropped the endearment out of nowhere.
“I am happy,” I lied with a gulp, surprised at how much he could sincerely seem concerned for my safety and happiness when he didn’t even know me.
“You will be,” he said, reading right through me. “That I can promise.” He straightened his shoulders assertively.
I knew how that went. I had been promised things before that fizzled out, leaving me in the wake of cloudy disappointment. I didn't want to go down that road again, but like I said, I had a debt to pay.
Ace unearthed the wild side of me, helped me lower my inhibitions. Something was intriguing about him. He had that effect on me. I wanted to follow him because he was mysterious and sexy. My senses were heightened. How bad could it be to re-explore my joyful childhood memories?
Privately, I mulled over the idea of maybe being able to get closer to my deceased mother. Perhaps I would be able to feel her energy rippling through me if I went back to the very place that she loved?
“Okay,” I said with a confirmation nod.
“Okay?” His voice peaked with enthusiasm.
“Yes.” This was going to be an exhilarating trip, and I was up for the challenge. “Let’s go. I’ll go there with you.”
Ace's eyes blazed with something euphoric. He looked as if he wanted to pick me up and spin me around, but for whatever reason, he refrained.
This was it. I was going back to my roots. It would either become a curse or a blessing, but either way, I’d be prepared for the outcome. How bad could it be? Mountains, a lake, possibly bears and wolves, and birds chirping in the trees? It could be worse. I mean, what could be worse than working for a boss that harassed me and having one’s retail shop shot up?
In my eyes, the proposal sounded like a great place to restart my life again. There was no end to second chances. But this time, I wanted to do it right.
Chapter Eight
Ace
“Let’s go in here,” I called over my shoulder over the roar of my Harley.
“To the diner?” Khloe pointed out inquisitively.
“Aren’t you hungry for something other than gas station food?” I asked.
Khloe nodded and licked her lips, a clear sign that she was ravished with hunger. “Yes,” she confirmed.
I parked the bike on the side of the building and glanced around, scoping the area for anything suspicious. We were far away from town by now that it was unlikely for us to be spotted by anyone that either one of us might recognize.
“Come on,” I said and gently coaxed her by placing my hand on the small of her back. She was warm and soft as she pushed past me. Her feminine touch caught my breath as I pushed the diner door open and we hurried inside.
The diner was crowded. A warm glow from the overhead lights gave it a mild color from the outside looking in. It was already pitch black outside. Dusk had set on the horizon at least an hour ago.
I preferred to make the trip at night. There was a better chance of us being concealed by the darkness, and the roadways would be less crowded, giving us more of an opportunity to arrive at the cabin with less obstruction.
The cabin was in the bordering state of Minnesota. With a traveling companion and factoring in stops for food and rest, it would probably take us a day or two to get there. I was used to being out on the open road, but I wearily glanced over at Khloe as we slid into a booth and waited for our meals to arrive.
Her eyes were glassy with exhaustion, and she yawned several times. I just needed to find a way to bide my time. Letting her slip through my fingers again just wasn't a viable option. She didn't understand the danger she was in, and I wasn't necessarily prepared to advise her on that. She was already skittish enough as it was.
She’d witnessed a murder. I suspected that the guy who had ordered the hit wasn’t the type to forget that or let her get away without finding a more permanent way to silence her. Maybe he was looking for me too, since I went missing, vanishing along with her. He hadn't dealt with me directly when the deal was made, and I couldn't be sure that someone from my clan wouldn't talk, especially if their own lives were in danger or if offered money to spill my real name.
The cabin would be the safest place for us
to hide out for a while, at least until I figured out how to deal with this predicament we were in. This wasn’t my first time on the run, but I was normally by myself, a lone wolf. Now I had a woman to take care of. Khloe was my pride and joy. She just didn’t know it yet.
I glanced at her, wanting to spend every waking moment with my eyes open staring into her beautiful ashen eyes. Her lips were the color of a candied apple. She looked like a princess. I wanted to drink her in and memorize every feature on her perfect face. She was going to be my princess. If I didn’t step up and become her protector, I risked losing her forever.
Our food came to the table, given to us by a sleepy teenage boy. He wasn't too kind either with the way he dropped the food down haphazardly in front of us. We thanked him for the food, and he wandered off back behind the counters.
Khloe eyed her burger with devilish hunger. I’d ordered a juicy sirloin. The meat melted on my tongue with a burst of delicious flavor as soon as it hit my taste buds.
There was a moment of silence as we chewed our food and gulped down hefty bites of starvation for finally receiving a real meal. It was comfortable, just as if we were an old couple who had spent years getting to know each other.
“So where is this cabin?” Khloe asked after a few minutes.
I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know where your own grandfather’s cabin is?”
Khloe stuck out her tongue and gave me a playful smirk. “For your information, I haven’t been there since I was a kid.” Then her expression softened to something enchanting. “But I still remember everything about it, even the way the wood smelled like cedar,” she whispered.
My heart pounded. I yearned to make new memories with her, to fill her up and be the sexual god she’d always dreamed of. I wanted her to beg for surrender and mercy with the enormous amount of pleasure I had in store for her.
“It’s in Arrow Lake about thirty miles south of the mountains. Minnesota, of course.” I responded. Then I changed the subject. The less she knew, the safer she’d be.
The cabin was off the grid for a reason. I used it for the sole purpose and benefit of hiding out or lying low. Since abstractly inheriting it from her grandfather through our deal, I had only been out there a few times a year, at best.
Her grandfather had promised me seclusion, safety, and privacy at the cabin which included Khloe in the package. I wanted to take what was mine, but at the same time, I didn’t want her to think of me as her captor. If I could get her to agree with me about staying for her own safety, maybe in time we could build up to a trusting relationship of some kind.
Khloe pressed her lips to her straw and sucked the sprite from the glass, making beads of desire begin to form on my brow. She was so sexy, even drinking from a straw was tantalizing and turning me on.
In a perfect world, I was supposed to spend the rest of my life on the private land surrounding the cabin with Khloe by my side. I was an ex-convict and wanted to retire from it all. I’d drop everything to live the rest of my life peacefully with Khloe. There was no question in my mind that I’d have to quit to be with her.
My time as an outlaw was over anyway. I had been holding on because I previously felt there was nothing else left in this world for me. Everything crumbled when my crew and I unexpectedly took the fall for a crime we didn’t commit. I found myself in prison and helpless to do anything other than wait out the time in my cell. These were dark times for me, but I’d survived and surpassed the odds. Yet here I was again, falling into the same trap and routine, on the run once again. But this time, I had Khloe. Things were going to be different.
“I came back for you, you know,” I blurted out of nowhere. It was an admittance that I wasn’t sure how she’d react to, but I gave it a shot.
Khloe's eyes widened. “You did?”
“Yeah…after I spent some time in the slammer.” I adjusted in the seat and folded my arms down on the table. “I raced back to the city to reunite with you, but you had moved away without a trace.”
Khloe looked reflective. Her mouth formed a tiny circular shape. “Oh. I was just so scared. I thought maybe my grandfather owed the cartel more money and his accounts were empty. I had to go.” She stated flatly and flicked her eyes to the plate of mostly eaten food in front of her. Then, with a weary smile, she glanced up at me. “Well, I’m here now.”
Her statement carried an ample amount of weight. She was here now, but how long would she stay with me?
“I understand, Khloe, and I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Chapter Nine
Ace
An hour later, we were back out on the open road, stuffed to the brim and ready to make the last stretch of road. We were almost across state lines. I relished in the way Khloe's slender arms snaked around my waist, giving me a chill of massive pleasure and a huge erection. I was relieved she couldn’t see it while sitting on the back of the bike.
The sky was ominous. The storm in the distance looked somewhat threatening, making me apprehensive to complete the trip all in one night. Thunder crashed overhead, and streaks of jagged white lightning lit up the sky in the distance. The sky illuminated with purple and blue hues as clouds hung heavy up above.
I pulled over to the side of the road. “I don’t think we should get much further out,” I mentioned, then pointed at the horizon. “This stretch of road is rural. We’re running out of places to camp out for the night.”
Khloe's features frowned in contemplation, but as the rolling thunder began to crackle nearby, she relented. “Okay,” she sighed with exhaustion. “I can handle one more night on the road.”
I smiled. Her voice was without complaint, and with relief, I pulled into another motel's parking lot, just a few miles off the highway. I asked her to come inside with me while I checked in and got a room key in the lobby. I didn't want to leave her alone for even a second, especially after dark.
As soon as we stepped into the room, we were hit with a refreshing blast from the air conditioning. Khloe plopped down on the bed and sighed, allowing her body to conform and sag into the mattress.
“Well I must say,” she said with a snicker. “I enjoy this more traditional way of entering a hotel room. In fact, I much prefer it.” She began giggling, teasing me.
“What can I say?” I laughed. “I aim to please.”
“Do you?” She nibbled on her bottom lip and tossed her midnight hair casually behind her shoulder. She looked sensual, tantric, alluring.
I took a deep breath as I placed my backpack on the floor beside the dresser. "Often," I said in a whisper as I moved closer to her. She sat up on the bed, inspecting me as I narrowed the gap between us.
I sat down beside her. Our legs brushed up against each other and I pulled her thighs over mine. Just one touch to her skin and my dick was rock solid.
Sexual chemistry made the air seem damp and stiff. I swallowed hard, afraid to breathe or move. I leaned in closer to her, but still maintained a safe distance just in case she was prepared to deny me or fight me off or something. I didn’t want to be kicked in the nuts again.
But she didn’t fight me. Her eyes were blazing with longing and lust. A frenzy of excitement flourished in my mind. I pressed my lips to hers. I was drawn to her like a moth hovering over a dancing flame.
I tasted the hunger on her lips. I gently laid her down on the bed. She eyed me with a mystical expression as if she couldn’t wait to see how I would play with her.
“Is this okay?” I whispered gently as I stroked her inner thigh by grazing my fingertips tenderly across her skin.
“Yes,” she whispered and swallowed hard. Her cheeks were flushed and ablaze in a fiery red color that matched her sensual lips. “How much longer until we reach the cabin?”
“Not much longer.” I kissed the warm cavern of her neck, sliding my tongue along her throat. I felt her fingers at the nape of my neck, pushing me where she wanted me to go. I delved deeper and lifted the ends of her top upward. She had a sexy tummy. I licked he
r belly button before rising back up to kiss her breasts. Her moans turned me on and I got lost in the beautiful sounds she made.
With my hands on the latch of her bra, I raised my gaze to meet hers. Licking my lips, I said, “I want to taste you.”
I wanted to give her a preview of how much passion and pleasure I could bring to her. I wanted her to crave me in the same sexual way I pined after her.
“Yes,” she mewled, reaching around and unhooking the bra for me.
She had perfect breasts. They were just the right size for me, and her nipples were perky and tight.
As soon as I sucked a nipple between my lips, she arched her back and cried out. I licked and slurped until her tight little buds were stiff. My mouth watered as I sampled her soft flesh.
“Ace,” she moaned, sweetly, lying back on the bed. “Oh…”
I traveled downward, pulling her shorts down her legs. Her fingers were threaded through my hair and she was writhing on the bed. I kissed her sweet-looking mound. I tugged on her panties, daring to push them down. Khloe didn't protest. She pulled her legs out, exposing her most profound, most private desires.
“Are you gonna do what we talked about now?” she asked, her eyes wild with a bit of fear in them. Yet, her dripping pussy told a different story.
“Not yet, Khloe. But I want you to come for me.”
“Okay,” she panted.
Her legs were jammed together tightly. I licked her closed slit until she spread her thighs. My dick hardened the moment her juicy pussy lips were opened for me to taste her. She gasped and arched her back as I pushed my head between her legs, sliding my tongue across her most delicate and sensual places. She tasted like cotton candy. I knew once I had a taste, the rapture would never end. The craving would last an eternity. Her approval sent me into overdrive, powering me through with enough adrenaline to fuel the city. Her slit was plump, and her clit was engorged, pulsing with desire. My tongue melted onto her wetness. She was juicy and puddling a lake of pleasure on the sheets beneath her. Not able to constrain myself any longer, I took what she offered, running my tongue up and down her labia lips. I swirled circles around on her pink, sensitive clit.
Claimed by the Ex-Con: An Ex-Con Second Chance Contemporary Romance Novel Page 5