by Aaron Riley
“No dammit!” I yelled at him. I slammed my hands on his chest, hoping to bring him back.
Dagger pried me off him. “He's gone, Ares.”
I turned towards Pain, my eyes tearing up. “If only I had seen him a second sooner.”
Pain began to cry and hugged me. “It's not your fault, Ares. There's nothing you could have done.”
Dagger went back into the coffee shop and shot off two rounds. Mr. Thatcher was dead now too.
“We need to get out of here,” Slade said. “The cops will be swarming around here any minute.”
Pain nodded and released me from the hug. “We'll take his body to the clubhouse. Everyone meet back there.”
I stumbled back to my bike in shock. I couldn't believe it. Isaac was gone. Over something so stupid.
Chapter Sixteen
Owen
I arrived at the apartment and the smell of chicken and potatoes were in the air.
“I'm home,” I announced, throwing my keys on the floor next to the door.
“I'm in the kitchen,” Winona replied.
I wandered in to a mess of pots, pans, and a lot of smoke. “Did you try and cook dinner?”
“Only the potatoes are burnt. The chicken came out really nice,” Winona gave me a half-smile.
“You've never cooked dinner before,” I stated.
“I thought it would be nice after the hell you went through last night. And because I wanted to celebrate.”
“Celebrate?”
Winona fixed the plates and set them at the small dinner table. I sat down with her and the smell of the food was a lot better than it looked. I took my first bite of chicken and it melted on my tongue. How could she make something so good?
Winona took a bite of potatoes and spat them out. “So I went out today...and found a job!”
“What?” I dropped my fork on the plate. “You finally got a job?”
Winona nodded. “Photographer's assistant at a studio.”
“I didn't even know you were into photography.” I took a bite of the burnt potatoes and spat them back out too. At least the chicken was good.
“I didn't know either. I saw a help wanted sign on the way to the grocery store. I popped my head in and they hired me on the spot.”
I wiped my mouth with the napkin. “We really do need to celebrate.” I went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine that was half-full.
Winona clapped her hands in delight. I poured our glasses and returned to the table.
“What's wrong, Owen? You seem happy but I can tell something's bothering you. Still thinking about Ares?”
I was hoping I could hide my feelings. But Winona knew me too well. “He came by the hospital today.”
Winona slammed her glass down. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “He wanted to apologize.”
She rolled her eyes and took a sip of wine. “Of course he did.”
I sighed, trying not to stress out too much. “I didn't even really listen to him and walked away.”
Winona smiled and returned to her food. “Good. Better to give him no satisfaction. Maybe he won't try the same thing twice with the next man.”
Next man? I didn't even want to think about Ares with anyone else but me.
I finished my red wine and grabbed the bottle and set it at the table. “But maybe I should've heard him out. I kind of ditched him at the bar without hearing his explanation.”
Winona waved me off. “There could be no valid explanation for what he did to you. You just need to forget and move on. I was thinking about trying this pilates class next door to the photography studio tomorrow morning. We should do it together. It will keep your mind off all this bad stuff.”
“That sounds fun. It's been a long time since we've gone out and done anything together.”
“Beats watching the same movie over and over again.”
“I'll cheers to that.” We clinked glasses and giggled the night away. My sister always knew how to make me feel better. But now that she had a job, was she going to move out? There was a time that I begged her to leave. But we were so close now. The thought of living alone terrified me. I couldn't even bring up the question to her.
A knock at the door interrupted our girl time. “I'll get it,” Winona said.
She left me at the table and I listened hard to see who it was. “What are you doing here?” Winona mumbled.
My curiosity got the best of me. Who would be coming by at this hour? I got up and approached the door. Winona kept the door open a sliver and blocked the way. “You need to go away now,” she repeated. “Owen never wants to see you again.”
“Just please let me see her.” The voice was so familiar. I pushed Winona to the side and opened the door all the way. Ares was standing there, his head down, his hands and clothes covered in blood. This couldn't be the same strong man who saved my life.
I pushed Winona out of the way. “Come in.” I grabbed Ares' arm and pulled him inside.
“What are you doing, Owen?” Winona yelled.
“Let me handle this. Stay in your room, Winona.”
Winona waved a finger at me. “If he lays a hand on you, by god, I'll kill him.”
Chapter Seventeen
Ares
Somehow I ended up at Owen's apartment. I didn't even remember riding here. “I'm sorry Owen, I didn't know where else to go.” Tears fell down my cheeks.
“Are you injured,” he asked, checking my body.
I shook my head. “I don't think so.”
“Let's get you fixed up.” Owen took my arm and led me to the bathroom.
I felt like a zombie as I followed him down the hallway. His sister peeked at me through a cracked door and then closed it. Not the best first impression.
“Take off your bloody clothes and I'll wash it for you. A nice warm shower will make you feel better,” Owen said softly. He went under the sink and pulled out a fresh towel.
I stood there while he turned the knobs and made the water hot. I pulled off my bloody t-shirt and remembered Isaac dying in my arms. I collapsed onto the bathroom floor, sobbing. Owen bent down and held me.
“What happened?” he asked.
The tears burned my throat and I could barely speak. “The guy came out of nowhere and fired. I tried to warn him but it was too late.”
“Who? Who did you try to warn?”
“Isaac...he's dead.” I didn't know what else to say. I couldn't find the words to explain what happened.
“I'm so sorry, Ares.” Owen held me close, his fingers massaging my scalp. I cried like a little baby, my face pressed against his chest. I had lost MC members before but Isaac was different. He had been there ever since I joined and we were close. He felt like a true brother to me. And now he was gone.
“He died in my arms, Owen. I tried to get him to you but I wasn't fast enough.”
Owen put his fingers to my lips. “Hush. You did everything you could.”
I don't know for how long we sat on the cold bathroom floor. Time didn't seem to matter anymore. Owen just held me until I was finished crying.
I reached for toilet paper and used it to blow my nose. “I'm sorry you had to see that. Isaac would be laughing at me right now for being such a little bitch.”
Owen shook her head. “He knew you cared for him.”
I looked up at Owen, his face only inches from mine. I stared into his eyes, wondering how somebody as hot as him could still be single. He was everything I ever wanted. I glanced down to his parted lips. I bet he tasted good.
I reached up and planted my lips on his. Owen breathed in sharply, pulling me in. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pushed my body against him. He tasted better than I ever could've imagined.
Chapter Eighteen
Owen
I dealt with death everyday of my life. I learned early on that you couldn't save everyone. No matter how much experience you had—sometimes people just died.
I wished I could take away all of Ares' pain
and anguish. He didn't explain exactly what happened but I got the idea that one of the Devil's Hellions members was shot and killed. What were they doing? It didn't matter. My poor King.
I held him close on the bathroom tiles for what seemed like hours. His whimpering slowly faded away and he blew his nose and cleaned up his face. Kiss me, dammit! I didn't want to force it. He might not be in the mood.
Ares looked deep into my eyes. My heart beat quickened and the butterflies crashed around in my stomach. He leaned in and kissed me. Time froze as his tongue ran over my lips and into my mouth. I moaned against him as our heads moved side to side.
My hands rested on his strong chest, the Devil's Hellions tattoo burning brightly. Ares bent my neck and nestled in my crook, showering me with kisses. He tugged at my baggy shirt that I suddenly felt embarrassed about for wearing. I didn't know an unbelievably sexy man was going to drop by. I thought it was just going to be a quiet night with Winona.
Ares pulled the shirt over my head and my chiseled chest. His fingers traced over my pecs, sending shivers down my spine. He kissed me again on the lips and moved his way down my neck and to my chest.
Steam from the hot shower was filling the room.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” Ares asked.
I shook my head and my face flushed crimson.
The teasing was absolutely tortuous. How much longer could I last?
I quickly slid my sweatpants off and Ares ran his hands up my thighs. His eyes blazed desire and I knew he wanted me. His fingers hooked into waistband of my black boxer briefs and slowly peeled them down my legs.
“Take me, Ares. I can't wait anymore,” I moaned.
He grinned, wide-eyed, looking around at the bathroom. “Right here?”
I bit my bottom lip. “Right here. Right now.”
His fingers brushed against my erect shaft “You're so ready, baby.” Ares moved me over to the bathroom rug and laid me down. He fiddled with his belt and pulled his jeans down along with his boxer briefs. His massive erection flung out and was pulsing up and down.
I sat up and reached for his shaft, stroking him. Ares arched his head back and moaned.
“Lay back down,” he ordered.
I let go of his manliness and lay down, ready to do whatever he wished. “Let me warn you that I haven't been with a man in years. Be gentle.”
Ares' eyes narrowed. “Flip over on your stomach.”
I flipped over for him. Ares came over until he was right behind my ass. His erection was so close yet so far. Ares kissed me on the back, claiming me again. I felt his tip at my entrance, knocking to come in. I gyrated my hips, trying to get him inside. But Ares wasn't done teasing yet.
“I've wanted this ever since I woke up in that hospital bed,” he whispered in my ear.
“Me too,” I replied but barely coherent.
He pinned me beneath him, his perfect body hovering above. Ares pierced me with one thrust. We both cried out as he filled me up. “You're so fucking tight,” he murmured.
I couldn't even respond. My brain had shut off and all I could do was feel. Feel his body against mine. Ares inside me, pulling in and out. I swayed my hips towards him, forcing Ares deeper and deeper. The pleasure was too much to handle. I couldn't last much longer.
“Come for me, Owen,” Ares ordered.
My whole body tensed up and a sudden explosion rippled through me as I came around him. Ares continued to fuck me harder and harder. Our bodies were red hot from the steam. Our sweat was sticky sweet.
Ares stilled and bit his bottom lip hard. “Come with me, Owen.” Ares found his release, saying my name over and over. I shattered into a million tiny pieces, experiencing the most intense and uncontrollable orgasm ever. Ares collapsed on top of me, panting and full of happiness. Our heart beats raced together.
“I'd forgotten what that felt like,” I said, exasperated.
“I've never felt so close to somebody before,” Ares replied, rolling over next to me.
“I've never come so fast before. How did you do it?”
Ares ran his fingers through my hair. “We work well together, don't we?”
I nodded and rested my head against his chest. My fingers traced the Devil's Hellions tattoo. Underneath it was a Latin phrase that I didn't understand—In Pace Ultio. “What does that mean?”
Ares looked down at his chest. “Means Peace in Vengeance.”
My eyebrows raised in suspicion. “Not a very happy motto.”
“That's not the point. In my life, things can go very wrong at any moment. There's only one thing that can bring you peace.”
I lifted my head up off his chest. “Did you already take revenge for Isaac?” I knew it was wrong to ask the second it left my lips. How could you be so stupid, Owen.
Ares looked lost, staring off into space. “I did get revenge.”
“Did you find peace?”
Ares sniffled and shook his head. “Nothing will bring back Isaac. But at least he can rest knowing that his killer was brought to justice.”
A tattoo of a small gun was marked on his side. “What's this one for?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
Ares smiled. “I forgot about that one. That was my first tattoo—back when I joined Devil's Hellions.”
“You mean you didn't get this spider tattoo first?”
“No when I first joined I had to be a prospect for a year.”
I scratched his head with my nails and Ares purred like a cat. “Prospect?”
Ares closed his eyes, deep in thought. “Kind of like a pledge for a fraternity. You do all the shitty work the MC needs done. I got this gun tattooed on my side after my first week with Devil's Hellions. Isaac was with me at the time.” Ares smiled at the memory. “He wanted me to get a sword with fire but I thought a gun would be more badass.”
I stood up and started putting my boxers back on. “You should take a shower. You'll feel better.”
“Only if you take one with me.” Ares' lips stretched into a grin and he pulled me into his arms. I giggled as he nuzzled his nose against mine. Would I always be this happy with him? He had so much darkness surrounding him. How could we ever live a normal life?
Chapter Nineteen
Ares
How could this be one of the worst nights of my life and the best at the same time? I lost Isaac but Owen—the sexy and understanding man made me feel so hopeful. That life isn't just about being an outlaw. It could be so much more. I just needed to trust him and follow his lead.
“Only if you take one with me.” I latched onto him and pulled Owen to me. His lips tasted like candy and I couldn't let go, not even to breathe.
I craned his neck to the side, revealing his bare and sensitive skin. I sucked on him, nibbling and love-biting. I looked at his backside in the bathroom mirror, mesmerized by his nice ass in boxers. I reached down and squeezed each cheek hard.
Owen jumped at the pain and scoffed. I loved it when he was playfully mad at me. I escaped into the tall shower and closed the steamy door, shutting Owen out. The hot water hit my head and cascaded down my body, warming me all over. I closed my eyes and let it wash away all the pain.
Owen knocked at the shower door. I could only see a naked silhouette of him through the fog. “Mr. King, the doctor is here to see you now.”
I opened the door. “It's about time. I need my annual checkup.”
Owen bounced into the shower, closing his eyes and soaking her blonde hair. His hands caressed my body, moving from my chest down my happy trail. “There's seems to be a problem down here.”
I gasped. “What could it be, Doctor Holmes?”
“You're abnormally thick and long,” he replied, gripping my erection. “We need to release the pressure immediately.”
I nodded and bit my lower lip as he deftly stroked me. He was so good at this—too good at this. The pleasure was building more and more. I didn't want to come yet. It wasn't time yet. Owen kissed me and forced his tongue into my mouth. I had
to snatch his hand away from my manliness before it was too late.