by Sam Crescent
Lacey gasped, looking around them as Whizz got on one knee before her. Her heart was racing. After everything they’d been through, this was the last thing she thought he’d do for her. He took hold of her hand.
“Lacey, you’re a crazy woman with blue hair, but you’re my woman.” He pressed a hand to his heart. “You’re in here. I didn’t think I was capable of love, that it had been torn out of me. I was wrong. I love you. I want to live the rest of my life with you.” Tears filled her eyes. This was something out of a fairytale, a biker fairytale. This was not what happened to people like her. “Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”
She was shocked still as he removed his cut, his symbol of the club he was part of. “I don’t have an engagement ring, but I have this. I want to marry you more than anything.”
For several seconds she simply stared at him in shock. “Yes.” The words came out of her mouth as if they were spoken by someone else. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Whizz got to his feet, wrapping the jacket around her shoulders. The leather smelled of him.
“Let’s go to the beach.”
She’d go everywhere with him. Whizz went to climb on the bike, but she stopped him. Gripping his arm, she cupped his cheek. She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
****
“For fuck’s sake, Angel, put some muscle behind it,” Gash said, growling at her. He watched her land on her ass again after she failed, again, to get a hit out at him.
“I’m trying,” she said, blowing some blonde hair off her face.
“I’ve told you it would be easier to just shoot the fucker in the face. I’ll teach you how to work a gun.”
“No, a gun would be useless. I wouldn’t carry a gun. Every time I’ve been attacked a gun would have been useless. I’d have to reach for it to grab it. I’ve not had any time to grab a gun. The only thing I’ve got is to be able to attack back or to stall them.”
“You’re doing fuck all to try.” He moved away from the mat to grab some water. The gentlemanly thing to do would be to offer her a hand. When she was in the middle of a fight, man or woman, no one would act nice about her landing on her ass. He’d tried to get her to take the gun training, but she wouldn’t do it. Gash understood why, but it pissed him off. He took a long swig of the water watching her get to her feet. She wore sports gear. The shorts clung to her body like a second skin while her shirt, long with a picture of a skull in the center, had to belong to Lash. Angel was a beautiful woman, no denying that. Her biggest problem was the fact she was too damn nice. “How the fuck did Lash get you? He’s an asshole.”
“That’s not nice. Lash is a wonderful man.”
“You and me, princess, we see two different kinds of men.”
“No, you see a different kind of man. I see the man I love.” She got to her feet, stretching out her muscles.
He watched her closely as she started to wince. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said.
“Your biggest problem is you’re too afraid to hurt me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. This is only supposed to be about training.”
For the past couple of days they’d sneaked away to start her training. She was making little progress. He needed to up the stakes for her to realize the real danger she could be in.
“You’re right. This is supposed to be training.” He put the bottle down and advanced toward her. “But this is not training.” When he was in front of her he grabbed her around the neck. He held her tight, not enough to leave bruises but enough to make her start to panic. “This is the fucking reality, sweetheart.” He turned her around so her back was pressed to his front. She started clawing at his arm. Gash didn’t let her go. Angel was useless at self-defense. How Lash could live with himself knowing that his woman was unprotected was beyond Gash. Angel would be in a hell of a lot more danger when she took the role of Eva in years to come. “What are you going to do now? Men are going to want to touch you, Angel. They don’t see a mother or Lash’s woman. They only see a woman with a body capable of fucking.”
He moved them both so she was pressed against the wall and his body flush against hers. She cried out as he connected them to the wall. Releasing her neck, he grabbed both of her hands, capturing her in place. “I was able to disarm you without worry. I could beat you, rape you, kill you without even breaking into a sweat.”
Gash moved in close, adding to the threat.
Withdrawing away, he gave her space she needed.
She turned to face him. Tears were in her eyes, and she stared back at him.
“This is not training. You’re at risk every time you go out. Lash knows the risk, and yet you’re still unprotected.”
He saw she was scared.
“I want you to know I’ll never hurt you. I’ve never in all my life hurt a woman. I was convicted of raping one and murdering a man. I didn’t kill or rape anyone. When you’re here, you need to start taking this training seriously. There are men out there who will go out of their way to make you suffer.”
She placed her hand over her neck, taking several deep breaths.
“If you want to continue training, you’re going to have to get used to the fact you’re going to hurt me. I need you to hurt me to know that this is working.”
Angel nodded.
“The choice is up to you.”
“I want to continue. I need to do this. You’ve just proven how much I need this.” Her eyes grew wide as she spoke.
“Good.”
They both walked back to the center of the mat. “Then let’s start this again.”
Gash moved to grip her, and Angel started to put more force behind her hits. She didn’t get the better of him, but her kicks and punches were starting to hurt him. Throughout the session she stopped shaking from his threat and started to channel her fear into her attack. He saw the change in her eyes and stance. Gash hoped he didn’t need to put his hands on her again. He wasn’t lying to her. Gash never put his hands on a woman in anger. In a few months time when he got the all clear from Tiny, he was going to do exactly that. There was a woman out there he was going to kill.
Chapter Ten
Whizz arrived at the beach a little after one. Lacey climbed off the bike, handing him the helmet. He watched her as she took in the scene around them. The beach was filled with lots of people soaking up the last of the sunshine before fall truly hit. It wouldn’t be long for Christmas to be upon them and then all chance of sunshine would be lost. Fort Wills often got a lot of snow, making it impossible to drive anywhere.
“Wow, this is beautiful.”
Over the horizon he saw the ocean. A couple of ships were out at sea, but the sun shining down created a beautiful, picturesque view. Whizz was more interested in the woman staring out at the view. Lacey looked like she’d never seen a beach or ocean before, and he asked her if she had.
“I’ve seen one. I’ve just never gotten the chance to enjoy the view before. It’s beautiful. Breathtaking.”
“Come on. Let’s go and join in with the crowd.” He left his bike and took her hand.
On their way down to the beach his cell phone started to ring.
“I can’t go anywhere,” he said.
Lacey started chuckling.
Answering the call, he saw Killer was calling him.
“You went to the beach and didn’t even think to invite us?” Killer asked.
Whizz started to laugh. “Why would I invite you? Your woman’s sick.”
“She’s got a stomach bug. It would be better than being here.”
“Why?”
Lacey slowed down, and they took their time getting mixed in with everyone. He was aware of some of the men staring at her. She was a striking beauty with her blue hair and body covered with ink. When she was naked she was even more tempting. None of these men would ever know how truly beautiful she was. He didn’t like anyone looking at his woman.
“Ned and Tiny have
started shouting and not stopped. It’s fucking insane.”
“Do you know why he brought a couple of fighters?” Whizz’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Yeah, you should see them. They actually look like mutants or something. They’re large, strong, and deadly. They’re three of his prized fighters.”
“I don’t need you to tell me that you fancy them, Killer. Why are they here?”
“Bite me. Ned wants Eva to keep them around as an extra layer of protection. He’s let Tiny know he doesn’t trust him or the club. His little girl was never in danger when she was in Vegas, and there were a lot more threats when she lived at home. It’s more a pissing contest between the two men. Ned’s fucking scary for an old dude.”
“I doubt that went well with Tiny.” Ned was an old man, but he’d kept in shape and was still a deadly fucker. No one should underestimate him.
“Eva called Alex. We’re waiting for him to make a stop to try to talk to one or the other. They’re both too hard-headed to let the other one have space. Eva’s ready to snap.”
“Thank you for giving me a heads-up.” Whizz stopped outside of a shop. Lacey didn’t question him. She rested against the wall that separated the footpath from the beach.
“No problem. When are you due home?”
“We’ll be home in a day or so. I just want to spend some time away from the club with my woman.”
“You’re claiming her?” Killer asked.
“Yeah. She’s the one for me.”
Lacey’s face heated under his assessment. He wanted her naked with no fear of the club interrupting with their time.
“I’m happy for you, man. I’ll leave you to it.”
He hung up, leading the way into the shop.
“Do I want to know what’s going on?”
“Ned wants to leave three fighters for Eva’s protection.”
“Is Tiny happy with that?”
“No. He doesn’t want anyone who’s not part of the club there protecting his woman. Tiny can do a lot of shit, and say a lot of shit, but he loves that woman more than he loves everything else.” Whizz picked up a blanket and a couple extra towels. When he passed a stand, he grabbed the sunscreen, and bottles of water.
“I feel bad for you paying for everything.”
“Don’t.” He liked her depending on him for everything.
Once outside, they made their way close to the sea. There was a small section of beach that had a space for them. He placed the blanket on the sand as Lacey removed his jacket, taking a seat.
“It’s so warm.”
She pulled her knees tight up against her chest as he took a seat beside her. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. She was so beautiful.
You’re going to marry her.
When they got home he’d start looking for a place for them to share. After they were settled he’d start to look at adopting. He never thought about children. Sure, he loved the kids his brothers had back at the club but never for himself.
“Tell me about yourself, Whizz,” she said, lying back. No one invaded their space. The noise of laughing adults and children filled his senses. Dogs barked in the distance, as the ocean swished about. The sounds were peaceful to him.
“What do you want to know?”
“Your life before the club and bikes? What was it like?”
He picked up a strand of her hair, twirling it through his fingers. “You want to talk about my past.”
“You know my past, my family. I know nothing else about you. Were you normal? Human? Machine?”
He laughed at her teasing. “I was normal. I had a family.” Whizz stopped thinking about his life before it all changed. “I was the oldest son. I had a younger brother. My mom and dad were the kind of couple you adored. She was always in the kitchen baking.” Whizz hadn’t thought about his family for such a long time. “She didn’t like buying pre-packed stuff that she could make herself. In her home the bread on offer was baked by herself. Biscuits, cakes, everything that was sweet she made. When we went out she’d make everything. My dad was on Wall Street. He was good with figures and shit, made a lot of money, but it never got to him.” He frowned, staring past her shoulder to the family lying a few feet away. The dad was ticking his son as the dog barked around them. “He didn’t let the money or the business go to his head. Mom was a stay at home mom. She was there for everything, awards, football games. You think it, and she was there. We were happy.”
“Wow, it seems strange for you to have actually experienced a happy life.”
With every story it didn’t end there.
“What happened, Whizz? If your family was so perfect, what happened?”
“I was eighteen when the cops came. Mom and Dad had gone into the city with my brother for his birthday. I had to study. I wanted to go with them, but I wasn’t allowed to. I had studying to do for a damn math exam the next day.” Whizz stared into her green eyes, losing himself in their color. “Mom told me to get an A and she’d make it up to me. I remember her kissing my head, my dad ruffling my hair on the way out. I fist bumped with my brother, and they were gone. They didn’t come home.”
“Why?” Lacey’s eyes were watery. He leaned forward, kissing each of her eyes in turn.
“You don’t need to cry for me.”
“Yes, I do. Why did they die?”
“A drunk driver in a truck. He fell asleep at the wheel at the same time my parents’ car was coming toward him. They were killed instantly.”
“How do you know?”
“I didn’t trust the cops. I hacked into the CCTV around that area and watched it happen. I’d always been a computer buff, still am. I’ve been working with computers all my life. I love them.”
“They tell the truth,” she said.
“Yeah, they tell the truth.”
“What did you do?”
“Dad made sure everything was taken care of. I sold the house when I was twenty-one. I went to college. I’ve got a degree in business and technology. When I passed, I got into bikes, somehow stumbled upon The Lions. The rest is it. You know the rest.”
“You’ve not had an easy life.”
“No one has an easy life, Lacey. You’ve not had an easy one, and neither have I. Shit happens.”
“Do you miss them?” she asked.
“Sometimes. I miss how easy life seemed to be then. They made all the decisions, and I just went with whatever they wanted.” Whizz hadn’t given them much of a thought in the last few years.
“What was your brother’s name?” she asked.
“Billy. He hated the name, but Mom and Dad loved it.”
“Billy and Adam?”
“Yep.” He smiled at his name.
“I think I like Whizz a little more.”
He released the strand of hair and moved to sink his fingers into the full length of her hair.
“Kiss me,” he said.
Whizz pulled her close until he hovered above her lips. He wanted to taste her, to touch her and know they were both alive to tell the tale. She opened up to his invading tongue, and he dived in.
He swallowed down her moans, relishing every sensation she inspired.
When he pulled away, he rested his head against hers.
“Come on, let’s go for a swim.”
“I’ve got no swimsuit,” she said.
“So? I’ll buy you an extra pair of clothes.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on, Lacey. This was supposed to be about fun, not sadness.”
****
“Hold on.” Lacey bent down to untie her laces, kicking off her shoes. Whizz did the same. His story had been a sad one. She couldn’t imagine a boy who looked like Whizz being given the news. He was a strong man who kept a great deal locked up inside.
When she finished with her shoes, she ran down with him to the sea. The moment she hit the water, Lacey screamed. The water was cold.
Whizz was right behind her. “No, you don’t.”
He started to push her further into
the water.
She screamed, laughing as she tried to fight him. At one point she managed to break free of his hold but not for long as Whizz caught her up against him.
“You’re not going anywhere.” He lifted her up in his arms and started walking further out to the ocean.
“No, Whizz, no.” She tried to pull out of his arms.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Don’t you dare, Whizz. I swear if I go into that water you’re going to regret it.” Not long after she spoke the words he dropped her in the ocean.
Lacey didn’t let him get away. She grabbed onto his legs and pulled him under with her.
Together they broke the surface, laughing. His face changed with the happiness. There was no darkness reflected in his eyes. He looked so happy. This was what she wanted to do for him, to help him find that glow for life. He made her feel exactly the same, and she didn’t want to lose that.
Flicking water at his face, she pushed her hair off her face.
“I’m so not happy with you right now.” She tried to glare but failed as he caught her close.
“I can make you happy with me,” he said.
“No, you can’t.” Again, she went to glare at him. One of his hands moved between her thighs, stroking her through her trousers. “That’s cheating,” she said, gasping.
He shook his head. “It’s not cheating. I’m using all the tools at my disposal to get what I want. What I want is you, Lacey.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts to his hard chest.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I’m right where I want to be.”
Lacey wouldn’t let any of the memories or guilt invade their moment. When she was with Whizz, he made her want to be a better person.
“I love you,” she said, whispering the words against his lips. “You’re the first man I’ve ever said that to.”
“Funny, you’re the first woman I’ve said that to.”
“We broke each other’s love cherry.” She nipped at his lip, not wanting this moment to end.
“It’s a good job I left the phone back on the beach.”