by Naomi West
He pulled her closer, until she was at the very edge of the bed. He rubbed the tip of his dick in her wetness, then slipped it inside her. She cried out in pleasure as he pushed deeper into her. She tightened her legs around him, pulling him in farther still.
The pain was there as he moved in and out of her, and it took a lot to ignore it. But the way she felt, so wet and tight, it was worth any small amount of agony to experience her like this. He moved back and forth, slipping in and out, letting out his moans mix with hers. He felt himself getting closer and slowed down.
But Sara tightened her legs and moved in circles around him. Her moaning grew louder and she pressed herself into him harder and faster. She cried out loudly and then shuddered. He pushed into her several times hard and fast until he, too, cried out as he came.
They breathed together, wrapped tight in each other as their heart rates started to slow. After a few minutes, he stepped back and slid out of her.
“Just for the record,” he breathed into her ear, “I would have gladly paid eight grand for that. You felt so good.”
She laughed. “I guess that’s a compliment?”
“Oh, it is.”
“You don’t normally pay that much for sex?”
“Never,” he said. “A few hundred at the most.” She was joking, and if she knew his answer was truthful, she may not be happy, but he figured if she was joking, she would think he was, too. “If you ever decided to give up waitressing, you could be rich.”
“Right.” Some of the humor faded from her voice. “I don’t think that’s the most appropriate career for a single mom.”
“No, I suppose not.” He ran his fingers through her hair, then kissed her again. “You’re much too good for that life.”
She closed her eyes and whispered, “Thanks.”
“Thank you. You’ve done more for me in the last weeks than I ever could have asked for.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
“So, are we even now?”
“I don’t know.” She winked at him playfully. “That was so good, I might owe you more now.”
He pulled his mouth into a half smile. “Would another round be payment enough?”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “Maybe.”
“Let’s find out.”
Saxton carefully slid up onto the bed. He didn’t even consider the pain anymore. He was already hard again with the thought of feeling her once more. He crawled over her, putting an elbow on either side of her so he could kiss her.
“No way,” she said.
He pulled back to look her in the eye. “You don’t want to?”
“Oh, I do, but not like this. There’s no reason for you to put strain on your wound.” She pushed gently on his shoulder to direct him to lie down.
When he was flat on his back, she climbed over him. He had to admit, this was better for many reasons. He didn’t mind the woman on top at all. And it would save him some pain.
Sara kissed down his stomach, around his bandage, and below his waist. She must not have minded that he was covered in her juices because she took his dick into her mouth and sucked. The pleasure washed over him, and he let his eyes close. Her mouth, warm and wet, moved up and down his shaft, along with her hand.
He almost came again, but she must’ve sensed this and released him just in time. She moved back to resume kissing him. It seemed like she was being careful of his stomach, holding herself over him and barely putting any pressure on him.
She straddled him, sitting over his legs, as she lowered herself onto him. His cock found its place inside her again, and as she moved up and down on him, the pain in his abdomen was almost gone entirely.
He reached down to grip her hips, but after trying to lift her once, the pain was too much and he gripped her, but couldn’t move her up and down. She did all the work, and he lay in complete pleasure, enjoying her body.
When she started to move faster and her breathing changed, he knew she was getting close. Instead of holding back, he let himself go as she did and they came together. She cried out with him, then lay beside him, her hand on his chest.
“Now we might be even,” she said.
“Hmm. I don’t know,” he said. “I might owe you again after that. You did all the work. We might just have to keep repaying each other.”
“Hmm,” she murmured. “Okay.”
She lay beside him for a few minutes, and he felt like he could sleep again now. Just as he felt himself drifting off, she moved and slid out of bed.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I have to get back to Ian. I don’t want to have to explain why I was in here and not with him.”
“Okay.”
Saxton watched in the dim light of the moon as she dressed. She leaned over to kiss him, then snuck quietly out of the room. When she was gone, he closed his eyes, but the sudden absence of her was too strong. Sleep didn’t come for a long time as he worked to put her out of his mind. She felt good and had been a nice lay for sure, but he couldn’t afford to have feelings for her. She deserved someone much better.
Chapter Fifteen
In the morning, Sara felt somewhat guilty. She had left her son sleeping alone to go sleep with Saxton. And she knew she shouldn’t have done it. It could lead to feelings starting, and she couldn’t allow that to happen, either. She didn’t have time or space for a relationship, and she couldn’t take on the danger that came with Saxton. It would be one thing if it was just her, but she had Ian to think about.
For the next few days, she tried to spend as little time in Saxton’s presence as possible. She took in his food and left immediately. When they went to sleep, she stayed in the room with Ian. After Saxton’s first shower, he had gotten washed by himself, and he even seemed able to get dressed much more easily. She couldn’t deny that the time for him needing her was coming to an end. And her feelings about that were just as mixed as they had been before.
She wanted to move on, to leave him behind, to not take the chance of falling for him. But she liked having a man to care for. Liked even more having a man to sleep with. And though she put them off, there were feelings starting. It was time for her and Ian to go. If they left now, she could forget him with little emotional turmoil. The longer they stayed, the harder it would be to leave.
Sara walked into Saxton’s room with a plate of eggs and set it on his bedside table. She turned to leave without having made eye contact. She hadn’t said a word, either.
“Hey,” he said.
She stopped by the door, but didn’t turn back around. “Yeah?”
“What’s the deal?”
“What do you mean?”
“I let it go a few days. I thought maybe you regretted sleeping with me and needed time or whatever, but you straight out ignoring me and acting like I did something to you is bull.”
She let out a slow sigh and turned to face him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to be like that.”
“So, what’s the deal?”
She thought carefully of how to respond, deciding how honest to be. “I just don’t think it’s good for us to get too close. You’re almost healed enough that you won’t need me anymore.”
“I see. Well, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m going to get out of the house today. So you won’t have to be stuck here, feeling like you need to take care of me.”
“No, you can’t do that yet.”
“Well, I’m going to.”
He might be in better shape than he was days ago, but to be out running around on his own? Who knows what he’d get into. He might end up being hurt worse or getting himself killed. “What are you going to do?”
“I have to get back to work.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Saxton, what if someone else attacks you? How will you defend yourself against that?”
“Very carefully.”
“Why risk it then? Why not just wait until you’re 100%?”
He narrowed his eyes slightl
y at her. “You know, for all your talk of not wanting to get close to me, it almost seems like you don’t want me to get back out there.”
“I don’t.”
“Why is that?”
“I told you. I don’t think you’re ready. I’d be worried about you.”
His glare grew even more intense. He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m starting to think that’s not the only reason.”
“What else would there be?”
“I don’t know. What do you know about the Cruel Crows?”
“The what? Is that an MC?”
He shrugged and waited for her to continue.
“I’ve never heard of them. I don’t know anything about motorcycles.”
“I didn’t say they were an MC.”
“Okay, well, I’ve still never heard of them.”
His glare was so strong that she stepped back. Her heart sped. What was he getting at? Was he trying to accuse her of something? He seemed angry with her, and it scared her. She had a sudden desire to run and never come back.
“I don’t know what you’re implying,” she said, her words coming out closer to a whisper through her fear, “but I’m here to help you get better and that’s it. I don’t know who the Wicked Falcons are. And—”
“Crows.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the Cruel Crows, not Falcons.”
She huffed. “Whatever. I don’t know who they are, or why you’re acting like I do.”
He paused a moment, watching her. “Swear you don’t know anything about Liam’s death?”
“Who the hell is Liam?”
Saxton’s jaw tightened and his words sounded strained. “He was my second in command. He was murdered, and apparently a gang called the Cruel Crows was involved. I need to get out there and find out who killed Liam and repay them.”
Sara felt her eyes widen and she stared at him in shock. Repay them? Was he serious? He would murder someone? Even if it was revenge, that seemed so… extreme. Every bit of her hesitation about him had been correct. She needed to stay away from him. He was beyond dangerous. He might become a murderer. He might already be one. She couldn’t have her son exposed to someone like him.
She gulped and took another step toward the door. “Well, if you’re going to do all that, then you really better make sure you’re 100%. You won’t be able to defend yourself how you are now.”
“I appreciate your concern,” he said flatly. “But I’m going back out there.”
She nodded. “Okay. Well… Kill safely, I guess.” She wondered if her face was pale. It certainly felt like all the blood had drained out of it.
“Sara.” His face softened and he pressed his lips together. “I’d never hurt you. Or Ian, if that’s what you’re worried about. I don’t just kill people. Bikers have a code. We don’t murder in cold blood. And someone did, against not only a member of my MC, but my second. That’s a serious offense that can’t go unchallenged. But that’s it. Once I find who did it and repay him, it’s done and I’ll move on. Understand?”
She nodded.
“But you’re still afraid of me?”
“I’ve always been,” she said softly. “I guess spending so much time with you here in your house made it feel safer. But I know you’re dangerous. I’ve always known it.”
“Does that turn you on?”
She chewed on her lip and considered. It did a little, but she wouldn’t admit to it. It scared her more. “That’s not the reason I slept with you.”
“What was then?”
“You’re hot. It’s been a while.” She could make it sound like she was heartless about it, couldn’t she?
“You’re just using me for my body then?” His mouth quirked into a half smile.
She relaxed some. “Basically.” She chuckled, glad to have some of the tension relieved.
“Okay then. Feel free to use me anytime you want.”
“Thanks.” She looked at him for a moment, then left the room, closing the door behind her.
As she finished getting Ian ready for the day, she couldn’t help replaying their conversation in her mind. How bizarre it had all been. All day, it tangled in her mind, sending waves of different emotions over her. Fear, surprise, even some desire and curiosity. What would he be up today, out searching for a murderer? What did a hunt like that look like?
She had been thinking about the anger in his eyes when he asked about the Cruel Crows, and feeling that same unease, and had gotten lost in her thoughts.
“Hello? Sara?”
Sara snapped her attention back to her work. This was her morning and early afternoon shift. Another hour before she’d leave to get Ian from school.
“What? Sorry.” She looked at the hostess, who rolled her eyes in response.
“I just seated table four.”
“Thanks.”
Sara walked over to table four and prepared her smile. She faced the man at the table and began her script. “Hi, my name is Sara and I’ll be serving you today. Would you like to hear our specials?”
As she spoke, her eyes settled on the man. She almost tripped over her words as she took in his appearance. There was nothing obviously strange about him. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing special, but nothing unusual. He looked fairly clean, even if he wasn’t the most well groomed man she’d ever seen. He looked like just an average Joe in almost all ways. Yet, his body language made him one of the creepiest men Sara had ever encountered.
He sat with one elbow on the table, his other hand in his lap like he was hiding something. His feet were flat on the ground rather than tilted in a relaxed pose. His eyes were intense and stared hard at her as she spoke, like he was trying to light her on fire with his stare.
When she asked about the specials, he said in a low growl, “No.”
She stood there waiting for him to say something else. “Were you ready to order?” She swallowed hard and looked around. Were any of the other servers seeing this?
“Coffee.”
“Sure thing.” She tried to remain cheerful, but almost ran back to the safety of the kitchen.
She grabbed one of her fellow waitresses. “Megan, come here.” Sara dragged her over to the window in the swinging doors that separated the kitchen from the customers. “Look at the guy at table four.”
“Okay.” She looked with Sara, but from this angle, not much could be seen of his face.
“Go out there and look him in the eye. He’s totally creepy.”
“Ew, I hate that. What did he say?”
“Nothing. That’s part of it. He spoke in one word answers.”
“Did you tell Ed?”
The manager was always supposed to be alerted when their were customers causing an issue. And he was good at taking care of problems. “No. He hasn’t really done anything. Yet. I don’t think Ed will appreciate me complaining that he’s creepy.”
Megan shrugged. “Good luck. Maybe he’ll surprise you and leave a big tip.”
“He ordered coffee. That’s it.”
Megan made a sour face. “I hate that, too. Tell him there’s a coffee shop right down the street with much better coffee.”
“Yeah.”
Megan went back out to take drinks to her table. Sara poured the coffee and took a deep breath before heading back over to Mr. Creepy.
“Here’s your coffee,” she said, setting the mug on the table. “Are you ready to order?”
“Just coffee.” He didn’t make eye contact, but stared straight ahead.
“Okay. I’ll check back in a little while to see if you need a refill.”
“Tell me something.”
He looked at her now, with that same dark expression, like he was a cop about to ask for her confession. She shifted her weight to her other foot and glanced around again. Megan was at the next table, chatting away with her customer. Ed was nowhere in sight and everyone else seemed busy.
“You worked here long?” he asked.
“Umm…
” Was he about to insult her? It happened on occasion. Some rude customer thought they should tell her how to do her job. “A few years?”
“Where else do you work?”
“Another restaurant.” How in the world did he know she had a second job? Or had he just guessed?
“What’s it called?”
She didn’t want to tell him. What if he showed up there next? She made up a name and a location. “Freddy’s? Over on Fifth.”