Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Ace
I see it the moment she realizes something and by her body language, this woman is ready to bolt. I grab her arm before she can take off out the garage doors and pull her next to me, guiding her to the counter. I sit her on a barstool. Electricity jolts my body from Liz’s soft warm flesh flush against mine. I’ve never and I mean never, had this happen before.
“Stay,” I demand before walking around to the other side. I need to calm my racing heart and give us space before I do something stupid. Liz complies and I pour us both a shot of Whiskey setting the bottle on the counter. I walk back next to her and lean against the bar top so our legs are touching. Since she climbed on the back of my bike, I want to touch her every chance I can get.
“Drink.” I push the shot glass toward her and Liz wraps her fingers around it before lifting it to her plump red lips and downing the shot.
“Holy shit. What is that?” Liz coughs into her hand before turning back to me.
“Whiskey.” I shrug. “Figured you could use something to relax.” I offer her another shot and she shakes her head no. I pour myself another shot and down it in a quick gulp. Liz is watching me, her fingers playing with the crystal charm around her neck.
I move closer to her and rest my palm over her fingers, looking at the charm. I’m asking for trouble, but I can’t help it. My body wants her near me. Liz’s heart is pounding hard against her chest. “Where’d you get this?”
“My Memaw gave it to me before she passed. It’s supposed to bring me good luck, but I don’t think it’s working.” Liz’s voice is soft.
I lean in until my lips are next to Liz’s ear and I inhale her intoxicating scent. “I think it’s working just fine, Sweet Cheeks.” Liz shivers from my hot breath across her skin and I’m hard against the zipper of my jeans. Her intoxicating scent is driving me crazy. Fuck, this woman has me in knots. From the top of her fire-red hair to her pale skin sprinkled with freckles, down to her lean sexy legs, this woman has captured my attention in no time. Don’t get me started on her southern drawl or her dark blue eyes. This woman screams sex appeal.
Liz tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looks into my eyes. The pools of dark blue pull me in and I’m happily following, no questions asked. No woman has ever captured my attention the way she has.
“Ace.” My name floating through Liz’s lips sends a roar of lust to travel through my veins and straight to my aching cock. What is it about this woman? “What are we doing?”
I pull away breaking the trance she’s enraptured me in and shake my head. “We’re having a drink and I’m fixing your car. If I don’t have the parts, I’ll give you a ride to wherever you like, for as long as you need it.”
Liz’s breath catches in her throat and her mouth falls open. “Why would you do that? You don’t even know me.”
“Does it matter? I’m not leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere with no wheels.” I tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear that keeps falling into her face.
“Thank you,” Liz whispers.
I walk away from her and head back to the car Butch is working on. I remove my cut and hang it on a hook against the wall so I don’t get grease all over it. I can feel Liz’s eyes burn into my ass and I smirk. Hook, line and sinker. I’ve cast my line and now it’s time to reel her in. I lean over the hood of the car and get to work timing the distributor. Butch leans over so Liz can’t hear us.
“What are you doing, bro?”
“Fixing this car.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.” His eyes cut to Liz and she’s still watching me. I give her a wink and her face turns red. Her blush is beautiful. The first time I saw it when she was ogling me, I knew right away I wanted to keep on making her blush. “Who is she and what’s she doing here?”
“Don’t worry, I have Rooster running her plates, finding out who she is. So far her name’s Liz and she’s from the south. I wasn’t going to leave her stranded on the side of the road.” I mess with the timing chain a little bit more before I straighten up, ending this conversation. I don’t even know where this is going between the two of us. But what I do know, I want to keep her by my side. “Ok, give it a try.”
Butch walks around the car in a huff and turns the key. The motor hesitates before coming to life. The car purrs like a champ and I close the hood, latching it. “We’re good to go with this one.”
Butch pulls the car out of the bay and parks it in the parking lot. The owner will be by to get it later tonight. Tex comes around the corner in the tow truck with Liz’s car. He pulls the flatbed up and backs it into the bay we just cleared. Liz hops off the stool at the counter and walks toward me. Her long legs eat up the path between us. Her blue eyes land on me and a smirk forms on my lips.
She watches me watching her and it’s making me hard with arousal. Liz’s fingers grab the crystal charm hanging around her neck again. I see the look in her eyes the moment she realizes something I’m not going to like. The shutters come down and her walls rise. That won’t do at all.
Tex has Liz’s car off the flatbed and I get to work trying to figure out what’s wrong with it when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and see a text from Kayne.
Kayne: Chainz called. Tank had an issue on the way back to PA. We need to get this shit done tonight.
My heart sinks into my toes at the thought of having to leave Liz, but the Club always comes first. I fire off a response.
Me: I’ll be there as soon as I can. Have to make a stop before the clubhouse.
Kayne: Copy that. Make it quick.
Shit. Liz’s car isn’t fixed and I can’t leave her stranded with no ride. I’ll have a prospect bring her my pickup to use while I’m away. It’s the only thing I can think of on the fly. I’d bring her back to the Clubhouse, but I don’t want to scare her off right away.
“Sweet Cheeks, where’s your house?” I ask. Liz is standing right next to me and I about fall on my ass when I turn my head and we’re nose to nose.
“Bridgeton Apartments 24C. Why?”
“Something came up and I need to get you home but I don’t want you to go without a ride.” Liz starts to protest but I put my finger up to her mouth, silencing her. Her ocean-blue eyes widen in surprise before anger flashes across her perfect face. I knew she had a fire inside of her and I’ll be happy to be the one to light the flames. “No arguing. I can’t fix your car right now and I’ll be damned if you need something or need to go somewhere and can't. Now get your Sweet Cheeks on my bike and ready to go.” I fire off a text to one of the prospects, telling him to meet me at her place in an hour. That should be enough time to get there, make sure Liz is alright, and ride back to the Clubhouse.
Liz huffs and turns on her heels. She grabs her purse and keys from the car before stalking outside to my bike. I watch her from the bay doors as she tries to figure out how to strap on her helmet. Butch and Tex come up beside me.
“Bro, I know that look. Fuck me, you’re screwed.” Tex drawls.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scowl.
“We’ll follow you to her apartment and wait outside.” Butch doesn’t give me room to argue. “No one rides alone, brother. Not now.” He grabs our cuts and hands them to us. I put mine on and feel at home immediately.
“Fine, but if either of you fuckers say or do anything to scare her off, I’ll have your balls.” I close the garage bay and the three of us head toward our bikes. Liz is watching each of us with nervous energy radiating from her body. I take the helmet from her hands gently and set it on her head before clasping the strap around her chin. My fingers alight with flames as tingles shoot up my arms and straight to my heart. I clear my throat and my palms linger on her shoulders. “Ready?” My voice is husky with need and want.
“Yeah,” Liz whispers.
I mount my bike and stabilize it with my thighs before she climbs on behind me. Her tits are pressed tight against my back and her hands are wrapped tightly around my waist. It feels right with her on my bike riding bitch. I’ve never let anyone ride on that seat and my heart skips a beat at what this means. Have I found the one who’ll accept me for who I am? Only time will tell but right now I have to get her back to her place so I can handle Club business and then see where this is going between us.
I fire up my bike, and the deep loud rumble of my engine roaring to life centers my mind. Liz hangs on to me tighter and moves closer to me which I didn’t think was possible. Butch and Tex do the same and the three of us ride away from the repair shop toward the city.
We took a longer route to avoid traffic and were pulling up to Liz’s apartment complex. She relaxed her grip a little and looked around while we were riding. The laughter that bubbled from her lips sent a shot of lust straight to my dick. No woman has ever had this effect on me and that scares the living fuck right out of me.
Butch, Tex and I park our bikes in front of her building and turn them off. Liz hops off the back of my bike and struggles with the helmet. I put my kickstand down, climb off my bike and help her remove it. I’ll have to teach her someday how to take it on and off, but not right now. I like having her rely on me.
“Thanks for the ride, Ace. I’ll see you around.” She hands me the helmet and I push it away.
“Keep it for now.”
“Oh, uh... OK.” She starts backing away, not taking her eyes off me. I follow her and she turns on her heels and heads up the staircase to the third level. Her ass looks perfect in these jeans with every step she takes and I want to peel them off and cherish the body underneath.
Liz pulls out a set of keys from her purse she had strapped around her chest and starts unlocking the door when we stop at 24C. The security here is cheap and old. Looking at the flimsy door and raggedy deadbolt, my blood is boiling. Someone could easily break into her apartment and she’d never know. The gates at the front were open and anyone could come in here. It’s not safe for her to even be here. My mind is made up once she has the door unlocked and I push her inside. I text the prospect and tell him not to bring my pickup. She isn’t staying here.
“Grab your shit. I’m not letting you stay here.” I stalk inside and take a look around.
“What are you doing?” Liz asks.
“You’re not staying here. I’m not repeating myself. This place is a shithole and I’ll be worried about you the entire time I’m not here.” I take in her apartment. The door locking her in from the outside world is flimsy. She has little things here and there to make it homely, but from the stained walls to dirty carpet and dripping faucet, this place is a fire hazard waiting to happen. This landlord needs to be taught a lesson on security for young women staying here. Anyone can come in here and Liz would be in trouble.
“Ace, I can’t just uproot my life because you think this place is a shithole. I have classes, a job, and friends. I can’t just drop everything for you.” Liz throws her hands up in the air in exasperation.
“Liz, listen to me, please.” I grab the front door and almost take it off the hinges. “This door won’t stop anyone from getting in here. If some crazy psychopath has an itch, you’re an easy target.” I walk over to the window and throw back the curtain. Just as I thought, the lock doesn’t even work. I grab the window and show her how easy it would be to get in through the fire escape outside the window. “This lock doesn’t even work. If a rapist wants in, he will get in.”
I approach Liz cautiously, trying not to scare her, but I need her to understand. I rest my palms on her shoulders and she swallows hard. “I cannot, I repeat, cannot let you stay here alone. Please, pack some things you’ll need and come stay with me. Just until I can find you a safer place to live.” I run the tip of my fingers over her porcelain skin. Liz shudders under my touch.
Liz shakes her head, not giving me what I want. Her deep blue eyes mesmerize me and I lean closer until we’re a hair’s breadth apart. Liz’s breath catches in her throat and her eyes hood with desire. She licks her lips and I know I’m a goner. I need to taste her, breathe her in, capture her desire the way she’s captured mine.
I cup the sides of her face and press my lips against hers. Slowly, gently, but firmly our mouths fuse together. Liz grabs my cut in her hands and pulls me closer. I run my tongue along the seam of her lips and she opens them allowing me inside. The moment her taste lands on my tongue, I’m done for. Stick a fucking fork in me, I don’t want or desire anyone else. It’s like she cast a spell on me and I’m powerless to stop it.
A loud bang comes from Liz’s open front door. She jumps away from me and almost lands on her ass. Her face burns a deep shade of red when a man I’ve never seen before is standing inside, trying to look menacing. He stares at Liz and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I grab Liz’s hand and pull her behind me. If this fucking lunatic wants to try and do something, he’ll have to go through me first.
“Can I fucking help you?” I growl. Liz clutches the back of my cut with shaky fingers.
“Who the fuck are you?” His voice booms, trying to intimidate me.
“None of your fucking business, dickhead. What the fuck do you want?” My voice is deadly and I’m ready to knock this motherfucker out. I clench and unclench my fists at my sides. My feet are shoulder-width apart, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
“I want to speak with Elizabeth.”
“Too fucking bad. If you want to talk to her, you’ll do it through me. Now what the fuck do you want?”
“Ace, it’s OK. It’s my boss.” Liz steps out behind me but doesn’t move very far. “What do you want Joe? I’m not due into work for another six hours.”
“About that.” Joe runs his hands through his hair and blows out a deep breath. “I figured you’d be alone and we could finish what we started a couple of nights ago.”
Liz stiffens beside me, her body frozen in place. “What we started a few nights ago?” Confusion is written across her face.
“Yeah, you know, in the supply room.” This slim ball motherfucker touched my woman.
I growl low in my chest, ready to pounce on this motherfucker and beat the shit out of him.
Liz lets out a tight laugh. “Oh, you mean when you grabbed my ass while my hands were full and I slammed you against the wall?”
That’s it. I’m done with this motherfucker. I step toward him and he takes a step back. “You touched her without her permission?” I see red. I don’t hear or see anything else when I take a swing and land a solid uppercut under Joe’s jaw and he falls to the floor like a sack of bricks. I hear a faint gasp from behind me and strong arms hold me back before I go after the ass wipe again.
“Bro, chill. You knocked his ass out.” Butch hisses in my ear.
I turn my head and see fear and admiration in Liz’s eyes. “I’m good. I’m good.”
Butch releases my arms and steps between me and fuckhead Joe to make sure I don’t go after him again. I carefully make my way to Liz, afraid of what she’ll say. I have my hands up, palms out. My adrenaline is pumping through my veins but I tamp it down.
“Are you OK?” I ask.
“I’m fine. Are you?” Liz gently touches my face and I close my eyes from the contact.
Fuck, this isn’t what I wanted to show Liz. I don’t want her to be scared of me in any way, but by the way she’s watching me, I don’t think she is. I think she’s intrigued. I follow her into her tiny bedroom and look around. She has some weird doll shit on a stand in the corner along with some incense and candles. There are skulls and crossbones scattered about on a weird looking board and some cards. I go to touch one of the skulls and Liz swipes them away with her hand and puts them in a black bag.
“Don’t touch them, you’ll curse yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Liz says gathering the cards and putting them inside the bag.
“What is all of this?”
Liz hesitates before answering. “Have you ever heard of spiritual folkways and liturgical languages” I shake my head no. “Research it before I tell you anymore.” She walks away into the bathroom and ends that conversation.
What the fuck is spiritual folkways and liturgical languages? Is she some kind of demonic princess or something? It doesn’t matter to me what she is or what she believes. I just know I want her with me for as long as she’ll have me.