Laura looked at the bartender. “Don’t listen to him. I can do what I want.” As she got up from her stool, her legs buckled. She had had more to drink than she realized.
Will swept her up and over his shoulder. He left the bar in long strides. He stepped out into the biting January air. He cautiously lowered her, giving her time to adjust to each position, coaching her to breathe. Once she was stable, he took her by the hand and led her to her car. He even went so far as to buckle her seat belt for her.
Laura’s face was deadpan. “Really?” She eyeballed him. “You don’t think I could have done that for myself?”
He glared at her. “You’re kind of a mean drunk, aren’t you?”
“Drunk?” she demanded, completely insulted.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Will and Laura thought better of speaking to each other on the short drive to her house. She did have a few drinks at the bar; he was right, but she had the presence of mind to keep her mouth shut and to not start anything. Besides, she was finding something completely hot about the fact that he was driving her car. In their silence, she spied on him. He was a big guy and his upper body took up so much more of the backrest than hers did. He had to adjust the seat just to get his legs in. And even though she had ridden in a car with him – Will had a smokin’ vintage Porsche – she was so accustomed to seeing him on his Harley that his driving a car was novelty.
The way he turned the steering wheel and used the turn signal, the way he engaged with traffic and maneuvered. Will Shriner was just so cool. Laura found herself smiling at him, but then she remembered that she basically left him high and dry after her brother went missing, so she could run off and deal with her feelings – or not deal with them. She was overcome with a sense of guilt and basically stared out the window.
They came to a stop. Will leaned over her to reach for something in the glove compartment, not careful of the contact he made with her. His forearm lay across her thighs, which, but for the stockings, were bare. Her dress rode up as she sat in the seat. Her neckline was loosely banded and it drooped somewhat off her flesh so her cleavage was exposed. His elbow grazed her breast. He was so casual, so familiar, like he had a right to touch her.
He didn't react, but she did. Laura had missed his masculinity and Will Shriner was all man. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was his brushing up against her, but she was focused on his forearms. How did someone get such powerful forearms?
Will must have felt her thinking about him. He dropped his hand, easily, and rested it on her thigh just above her knee and wrapped his fingers around. He glanced over at her and there was a connection of affection there. He was annoyed and disappointed. He was being his stern self, trying to make a point to her, but he let her know at that moment that he cared for her.
Will pulled up to Laura's house. He walked ahead of her, letting them in.
Like a robot, Laura had lived, barely ate, went to work, and not felt her best because of the drinking. She never dirtied the kitchen – she didn't eat at home. She came home and passed out. For a person who had been neglectful of her life, Laura's house was remarkably tidy.
But it was cold and empty. Will went straight for the fridge.
"Are you hungry?" Laura laughed. She could see from his expression that he was not pleased. There wasn't anything the refrigerator and she knew he didn't like that. Will regarded her sternly over the appliance door.
Laura meandered to her bed and climbed on top of the mattress. She let her shoes fall off. That was how she usually tucked herself in, but Will had other ideas. She heard him turn the faucet knobs of the bath. Part of her was eager. She was going to get amazing attention from him. Part of her was bothered. She wanted to cave into the sleep that was calling her and to be alone.
Without any warning, Will reached up and under the hem of her little T-shirt dress and, in a single move, gripped the waist of her tights and her panties, and drew down her tights. And in a similar fashion, only moving in the other direction, he took her dress off. Laura was naked. Will scooped her up and placed her in the full tub of water.
The water was the perfect temperature. It rose up around her neglected muscles, lapping her with comfort. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to his treatment of her. She heard him lather up soap in his palms. It was warm and soft as he coated her with it with his large and knowing hands. Laura drifted to the memory of the first time they had ever had sex. The atmosphere was thick with drama; they had just been attacked by a rival gang. She and Will collided in the hallway, both connecting with the same passionate mind set. They had only a passing acquaintance with each other and yet they craved each other furiously.
The blend of sensations of reliving the torrid sex they enjoyed in the hallway as he masterfully drove into her that first time combined with the titillation of his hands soaping her skin as he bathed her now, delving into sensitive undersides and crevices, was unavoidably arousing. The sound of Laura’s rising breaths filled her ears.
She peeked at him. He had that look on his face. The one he got when he was pleased with himself, pleasing her. He loved the power he had over her. Their chemistry was timelessly but so rarely electric. Laura had been a fool to walk away from him.
Will’s hands glided up the faint indentation of her taut abdomen. He toyed with her breasts. As he trailed upward, Laura’s nipples went rigid with pleasure. He captured them in his fingers and lightly agitated them with the faintly rough skin of his fingertip. Her insides clutched, seized, and she was at once aching with need.
Instinctively, her hand went to the apex of her legs, his eyes wantonly following. He drew her hips down to the rushing water. Laura lay flat against the back to the tub, her body deliciously enveloped in the warm soothing bath. Will directed the turgid flow strategically to the point of her need. His large and powerful hand cupped her, his fingers gliding through the petals of her body, his thumb applying pressure and releasing strategically.
Will leaned down and Laura craned up. They came together for a tantalizing kiss. Their tongues danced and feasted with lazy sensuality. He pulsed his tongue back and forth imitating the ultimate carnal act. A sound rose and caught in her throat – something in between a gasp and a moan. Will entered her with his fingers. But it wasn't enough.
"Please," she murmured against his lips. "Take me to bed."
He ignored her. He took her hand and placed it under the running water to encourage giving herself pleasure. The pressure of the very warm water aided her and she was so aroused by him that her orgasm hit immediately. The sensation of wave after clenching wave cresting over her as the heat and flow of water cascaded against her was intensely sweet.
Laura felt her wetness flow from her body, now pleasantly sated. She felt herself organically relaxed, something that she had not experienced in quite some time – not since her brother disappeared. Since then, she had been relying on alcohol and endless work to blot out the stress.
Will spilled shampoo in his palm and gently lathered her hair. He massaged her scalp with the finesse of a cosmetologist, sending tingling waves of relaxation throughout her body. Laura was pleasantly, naturally doped. He rinsed her hair, then drew her to her feet. Very thoroughly he dried her off with a towel. He released the tub water and guided her out to her bed.
Will drew down Laura's bedcovers and encouraged her to lay down, naked. A soothing comfort blanketed her as Will covered her with the clean, cool bed linens. She felt whole and secure. She felt serene. The natural fabrics against her bare body were sumptuously healing. She was so comfortable that the mild ache that he was not climbing into bed with her did not hurt so much. Sleep was drawing her in. Through her closing eyes, she watched him dim the lights to all but just a night light. Will sat in the chair at the end of her bed. He was watching her go to sleep.
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
Whatever charm Will Shriner worked on her seemed to relieve Laura of her yearning to take her usual detour at Luckie's. It was the end of January
and the Baltimore winter had been a bitter one, but it had been days since she had her encounter with her handsome bad boy Disciple, and Laura had the undeniable urge to start exercising again. She had been an avid jump roper but she felt like running. The timing was perfect, as Baltimore hit a patch of unseasonably warm weather.
Laura pulled her hair back into a ridiculously short spiky ponytail, threw on a hoodie, and hit the pavement. It was dark by the time she arrived home, but the streets were lit. The neighborhood had a so-so reputation but Laura's need to run was greater than her fear. The air was soft and warm. Late spring like this was a welcomed change to the blasts of snow. Snow piles from plowed pavement lined the streets, but still it was pleasant enough outside she could run without a coat.
Laura grew up in this neighborhood and knew it blind. She ran, earphones in, and wasn't focused too greatly until she hit smack dab into an obstacle. She was knocked flat on her ass.
She looked up and standing before her was a mean looking young man, sporting the colors of the Marauders – the gang who corrupted her young brother and were the last to see him alive.
She was so enraged at the sight of him, she contemplated charging him with everything she had, consequences be damned. She glared at him, formulating a plan of attack.
The Marauder laughed at her show of feathers. "Aren't you feisty? Luke didn't mention you were so hot," he teased.
"Luke? Who would that be?" Laura toyed, knowing full-well that her brother, Lucas, went by the name Luke on the street. "Don't know any Luke."
The Marauder sank to his haunches. He showed her his cellphone. "Maybe this will refresh your memory," he said.
She tried not to show her horror but she felt it through and through. On the screen was a shot of her brother, face swollen and bruised from battery. He appeared to be unconscious. Laura knew the gang member was looking for a reaction and she struggled not to give him one. She waited for him to come closer and when he did, she shoved him swiftly in the chest. It was the only think she could do to distance herself. She had to move quickly for he would rally and be pissed off. She had already been lucky once with Will coming to the rescue at the right time. 'I hope you're stalking me now, babe," she said out loud.
Laura did an about face and gunned it straight, to close the gap to her house. Lightning wasn’t going to strike twice for her. She wasn’t going to get rescued again like she had been in the bar. She and her attacker danced around the spotlight of a street lamp a couple of times. Laura was beginning to lose her coordination. She was beginning to get dizzy. Praying like anything that a car would drive by – one that was friendly in an unfriendly neighborhood, that was – Laura began running again down the middle of the street. A car would have to stop or run her over. She shouted. “Fire!” at the top of her lungs, hoping one of the residents would come out of their homes to help her.
A blast of headlights from a car crawling down the street towards her nearly blinded her. Laura felt somewhat relieved but she didn’t get her hopes up. For all she knew, the car was someone to help the Marauder who was right on her heels, charging her.
“Come back here, bitch!” he shouted.
The car in front of her stopped and someone was getting out the driver’s side door. He was tall, that was all she could make out. Laura screamed. She felt very solid arms around her as she dropped, struggling not to faint.
“I’ve got you,” said Will.
Unbelievable, thought Laura.
“Are you scaring my sister?” she heard someone say. It was not the voice of her young brother. It sounded like a man. It sounded like her father. Lucas. Her brother. He was alive. The mix of shock overwhelmed her; it made her dizzy. Reality and emotion swam around in her head in such turmoil.
Will guided her into the running car and quickly joined her brother in battle. Even while the gang member was having the stuffing knocked out of him, he was making threats to both Will and Lucas. He promised them both they were dead men.
Then all was quiet. Except for the unmistakable clicks of handcuffs. Laura watched as Will drew the Marauder up to his feet, hands pinned behind his back in cuffs. The gang member was much shorter than either Will or Lucas, who looked like a giant. He had grown so much since the entire gang nightmare began. There was no trace of the boy she raised. Lucas was a man, a man she didn't know. Lucas and Will guided the Marauder to the back of the car, but not without a fight. Immediately the contained man kicked at the seat. Laura saw Lucas throw a punch and the man was out. Lucas knocked him out. Will phoned the police.
Once he was contained, Lucas came to a stunned Laura. He put his massive arms around her. No; no trace of the boy she raised at all. "I know you're in shock," he said.
"I am so tired of being confused – of having my serenity undermined," she touched her hand to her nose.
Lucas pressed his lips to her hair, chastely. "I know. And I am going to make it up to you. I've changed. I've grown up I am going to take care of you from now on."
The scene was suddenly swarming with motorcycles and cop cars. Members of the Knights' Disciples Motor Cycle Club made a show of force and Detective Frank Vasquez, who had been handling Lucas's case, arrived to take Laura's attacker away. Laura made a statement. The detective promised her he would hold him for as long as he could.
Will called an impromptu meeting of the Club. They were to revert to his house. The bikers provided a safe escort to Will’s place just minutes from the scene. The Marauders were a well-organized, powerful and vicious gang. Even though Laura's attacker seemingly acted alone, the Marauders knew exactly what was going on. Will said they would be after them in no time.
The entourage of bikers, along with Laura, Lucas and Will filed into Will's house. Despite that they held their meeting on the basement level, they kept the lights low. Once they settled in, Laura could see that the Disciples were not very pleased with seeing Lucas there. Laura's stomach twisted. She loved the Knights' Disciples for all their support they had provided for her family – which consisted strictly of her younger brother and her. But her brother had thrown them under the bus time after time. He had treated her beyond badly for all that she had sacrificed for him, but she loved him. Her loyalties were torn.
Will's eyes were on her as he spoke. "Lucas has obviously been alive since we thought he was lost. He has been working with Detective Vasquez and me since then. We thought it best if we kept his whereabouts hush hush."
Laura flew into a rage."You knew?! You saw me suffer?"
Will looked down, evading her anger. "We thought it was best. We are trying to get a handle on the gang activity."
"Don't be angry with him," Lucas intervened. His voice was soft and sympathetic. "As we all know, none of this is his fault. We know who to blame here."
"We do," interjected Pete, a Disciple who devoted a lot of time to Lucas, trying to be a mentor to him.
Laura shook her head, overcome by guilt. "If anyone is to blame it's me. If I had done a better job, you wouldn't be in a gang."
"Bullshit," said Lucas. He was sounding more like Will now. "I made the choices and I am here to say that I will prove myself to you – to all of you. I am working with Detective Vasquez and cooperating with the District Attorney to clean up the streets. I found my calling. I want to be a cop, just like you were, Will. And I want to earn a right to be Knights' Disciple. Whatever it takes."
"Boy, if you ever right all the wrongs you've committed, all the people you hurt, you can be a Knights' Disciple," said Will.
"What?" asked a stunned Pete.
Will scoffed, "I say that because I don't believe it can be done."
Laura turned her head. She had been madly in love with Will Shriner. Madly. She shared the pinnacle of passion with him and knew it was likely he was the only man ever that would ever give her such pleasure. And yet her protective nature of her brother made her side with him over Will. Will's remarks offended her greatly. She finally exchanged looks with him and she could see he knew she was bothered.
"But if you can do that, Lucas, I will gladly make you a member of my club. However, I guarantee you that the Marauders are having a meeting similar to this one. And they are formulating a way to get you, me, and her," he pointed to Laura. "We need to go. Leave. Vasquez has okayed it. We are leaving tonight to a place far away so we can be safe from these animals until they are foiled once and for all."
"I have a house, a job. I have roots here," Laura snarled.
Without missing a beat, Will replied. "The Knights' Disciples have connections, too. And I am not asking you. I am telling you. You're leaving. We are going to a safe house and that is all there is to it."
Laura knew Will Shriner enough to know that this decision for them to leave was a done deal. He would pick her up physically if he had to and cart her off to wherever he thought was the safest. Throughout this ordeal, she had been fired from positions and left her house empty. She was so glad to have her brother back and to know that Lucas had a change of heart, she didn't care, but she wasn't too fond of Will at the moment. "Fine," she said tightly.
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