Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
Johny B
I take the drive towards the city; the navigation showing that Scarlett’s place is on the perimeter, an area known to be where many of the higher paid city workers live. I drive past the building and park up nearby, leaving me a short walk to the entrance. The five-story complex looks both new and expensive, with its state-of-the-art security intercom cameras, and the shine on the exterior shimmers, reflecting the distorted globes from the fancy exterior lighting. Ornate, oblong boxes line the path to the entrance, containing lush displays of sweet-smelling blooms.
Announcing my arrival via the intercom isn’t an option I’m willing to take, because chances are, Scarlett won’t let me set foot in the building. So, I hang around outside, standing back in the shadow, out of camera range and wait it out.
After an hour, I resign myself to the fact that I’m going to have to take a chance and press the goddamn intercom buzzer. I start to move towards it but then falter when a cab comes to a stop at the roadside and a chick gets out. She’s a young blonde, petite little thing, and very unsteady on her feet. She’s obviously had her fair share of liquor, moving slowly as she makes her way to the entrance.
I grab a handful of flowers from the nearest box, and then move quickly to the doorway.
“Hey!” I say loudly when I step out in front of her. She jumps so much that if it wasn’t for my quick response, catching her arm to steady her, she’d have fallen on her ass. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I quickly remove my hand as soon as she’s found her balance and hold up my hands in surrender. “Do you live here?”
“Yes, why?” she slurs, looking up at me, her eyes blink rapidly, as if fighting off sleep or unconsciousness.
“I’m wondering if you could do me a huge favor?”
She doesn’t respond, just weaves from side to side and squints.
“I’m here to see my sister. I’ve been overseas for quite some time.” I bring the flowers from where I was hiding them behind my back, around to the front of me, to further justify my lie. “I want to surprise her, you see. You might know her, actually, although she only moved in here a couple of months ago. Scarlett’s her name. Red hair, slim build, about five feet five?”
“Oh yes,” her eyes go wide, no longer any signs of suspicion. “I know Scarlett. You want me to let you in?”
“That would be amazing.” I hit her with one of my ‘panty dropping’ smiles, not that I want her to drop them, but needs must.
“Are you sure?” she questions me. “It’s a little late to be visiting, isn’t it?” she checks her wristwatch, but I’m not convinced she can actually focus on it. “Maybe you should come back tomorrow.”
“Yeah, it’s late, but my flight just got in and… well, to be honest, it’s been so long since I’ve seen my baby sister, I can’t wait any longer. Plus, she’d kill me if she found out I was in town and didn’t go to her straight away, whatever time of day.”
“That is so sweet.” With one hand on her heart, she sweeps an escaped tear from her cheek with the other. “Okay, I’ll let you in. Anything for a military man.”
Whoa! Where the hell did that come from? I never said I was a soldier boy, but at this moment in time, I ain’t going to correct her assumption, it might jeopardize me getting into the building.
“Bless you, darlin’” Once she’s keyed in the code and the lock disengages, I grab a hold of the door, opening it for her like a true gentleman, and follow her into the building.
She stumbles again, and I quickly slide my arm around her waist to support her.
“Whoops,” she giggles. “Maybe I shouldn’t have had that last dirty martini!”
“Maybe, but did you have a fun night?” I ask, looking down at her as she clings to me to keep her stability.
“Oh yeah. I swiped right, and for once the guy was as hot as his profile picture, but I don’t put out on the first date. I don’t even give head, so if he’s truly interested in me, then he’ll ask me out on another date. If not, he was only after sex, and I’m looking for more than a fuck buddy.”
TMI, but who am I to judge, with my illicit past? For once, I’m not sure how to respond, so I just go with, “Do you need help to get to your apartment?”
“No, I’m good. I’m only here,” she points to a door a few feet down the corridor. “Kind of you to offer, but no need.”
“Well, you take care of yourself, and make sure you get some water down you. Maybe have a couple of Advil handy for when the headache kicks in.”
“I will.” She lets go of me, wobbles, but then straightens her back, standing tall and heads towards her apartment. “Now go see your sister,” she shouts over her shoulder with a wave. “Good luck to you.”
I hold back until I see that she’s safely entered her home. The door shuts and I hear the sound of the lock falling into place. It’s then I find the stairs, taking them two at a time, following the signs to the number of Scarlett’s apartment. When I get to the second floor, my confidence wains, my stomach is in knots. The fear of rejection real, but my need to see her, to reassure her and admit that I fucked up, has me stepping up to her door.
I have to take this chance to turn this around and win her back.
I suck in a deep breath before rapping my knuckles against the wooden door. On getting no response, I go in harder, so much so that the door rattles within the frame. It takes yet another attempt before I hear the muted sound of movement from inside.
“Okay, okay, I’m coming.” The sound of metal-on-metal sliding and the click of the latch has my nerves once again jangling, but I suck it up.
“Where’s the fire…” she mumbles, cracking open the door. It’s enough for me to catch a glimpse of her, causing my heart to flip a beat or two. Scarlett is standing right in front of me, looking so fucking cute. My cock, already semi-hard at the thought of seeing her, is now hard and unashamedly pushing against my jeans.
Everything about her is fucking beautiful, from her flaming-red, bed-hair, to her pouty mouth at being woken before her time. A mask of both confusion and fear veils her face but soon disburses as she takes in my altered appearance.
“JB!” she gasps when she realizes it’s me standing at her door, and not one of her neighbors. It kinda gives me a thrill that it’s only taken a beat for her to recognize me despite my dramatic transformation. “What the hell are you doing here?” She pulls the door fully open, takes a step forward and looks left, then right, checking out the hallway. I’m not sure if it’s to see if I have anyone with me, or to check that none of the neighbors are witnessing her late-night visitor, being it such an ungodly hour. Especially one with a buzz cut and neck tattoos.
The way she rubs sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand causes the nipples of her round, firm breasts to push against the cotton of the tiny tank top she’s wearing. The matching shorts are well short, and I just know that her perfect little ass cheeks will be peeking out from the bottom of the hem at the back. Sweet, ripe, and perfect for my mouth.
“How did you find me?”
“If you don’t mind, so as not to get anyone in the shit, I’ll plead the fifth on that.” I take a step closer so my foot breaches the threshold. “I needed to see you.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“But I do, and I ain’t leaving until you hear me out.”
“I don’t want to listen to your lame excuses, JB. Leave.” When she pushes against the door to try to close it in my face, I push back, laying my palm against the top of the door and my boot firmly at the bottom, blocking her attempts to push me away.
“Like I said. Not happening.” I lean in, placing my face closer to hers. Fresh linen, vanilla and the memory of warm cozy sheets fill my senses. I want to sweep her off her feet and take her back to bed, but this time, I’ll be there, too, and taking her lush body in every way possible. I drag my mind back to the task at hand.
“I could make a scene right here in the hallway. Wake up all your neighbors. But I’m sure you’d prefer that not to happen.” I lay on my cockiest of smirks before leaning in even closer, my head aside hers so I can whisper into her ear. “Let me in, Scarlett,” I purposely let my lips brush against the shell with the lightest of touch. I take advantage of the situation and breathe in more of her natural perfume, and fuck, if my cock was hard before, now it’s steel. Her body reacts, too. Short, sharp breaths fall from her lips. Tiny beads of perspiration pop up on her top lip. Her head unceremoniously tilting to one side, offering me her slender neck, yet I don’t even think she knows that she’s doing it.
I want nothing more than to place my mouth against her delicate, heated skin. Kiss and suck her tender flesh. But if I do, I know that I won’t be able to stop. That could set me up for a fall, because going all in, taking what I need from her now, could ruin any chance I have of making this right. Making her mine. That would kill me.
“Come on Scarlett, let me in. Hear me out, at least give me that.”
A long shaky sigh leaves her, and for a few seconds, I think she’s going to reject me. So when she turns and walks further into her apartment, leaving the door wide open, with me still lingering, I drag in a huge breath of air, relieved that at least I’m getting my chance. I just hope to fuck I don’t crash and burn.
I follow her inside. The narrow hallway opens up into an open-plan living area. It’s all clean lines and predominantly white with minimal furniture to one side, couch, tv, side table with a modern lamp; what you’d expect to see. On the other side is the kitchen area. High-gloss, white cupboard doors, and brushed silver appliances. The two zones separated by a long, dark slate countertop with two high stools tucked up close. Against the far wall, under a large picture window, is a desk that has papers and open books covering the surface, and a high-backed swivel chair. The mess on the top is in total contrast against the neatness of the rest of the place, which makes me think that her working day spills over into her downtime. The stark white of the room is warmed with a rich gold and red fabrics, and wall art.
Everything is spotless, from what I can see and, except for her workspace, perfectly orderly.
“Shit, Scarlett. This is nice,” I compliment. There’s a spiral staircase that, from what I can only assume, leads up to the bedroom and bathroom facilities, although we did walk past a door in the hallway which might be the John. Sure, from the outside it looks like one hell of a place, but inside, it’s more than I expected. Everything is to a high standard and must have cost a lot of bucks.
“Stop with the pleasantries, JB. Tell me what it is that you’re so desperately wanting to get off your chest, then fuck off and let me get back to my bed.”
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out, because, well, how else am I meant to start?
“Yeah, sure…” she interrupts. “If that’s it, then you can go now.” She turns to go back towards the door, but I grab a hold of her arm to stop her.
“Scarlett, please.” She stops, but sharply pulls her arm free. She moves over to the counter, putting space between us, and rests her back against it. Her arms tightly crossed over her body. For a split second, her eyes meet mine, and I see the defiance in them, but quickly she looks away, as if it hurts too much to keep eye contact.
“Go on then,” she sneers. “Speak.”
I take the footsteps needed to bring me closer to her, leaving not much space between us. My girl’s not stupid by any means, but I’m sure she’s now realizing that she’s made a rookie mistake. Standing here with her back against the counter, she’s giving me the perfect opportunity to crowd her, cage her in and giving her little room to run. At least not before I’ve had my say.
“I’m sorry.” I say again because when it comes to her, despite my reputation at being able to talk the pants off any woman, I find myself almost tongue tied.
“You keep saying that, but what for?” She fires back at me. Her arms are still tightly crossed over her body, a barrier against my closeness. Her eyes still refusing to meet mine.
“I’m sorry,” I say once more.
“You keep saying that, but I’m not even sure you know exactly you’re sorry for,” she fires back.
“For leaving. For being a fucking fool. A total asshole.” I drop my eyes to the floor for a moment, because seeing the hurt on her face pains me more than I can bear. But I deserve it. I should suffer for the lack of respect I’ve shown her. So, I lift my head and focus back on the beauty of her face. I needn’t have worried, because she can barely look at me.
“I should have contacted you as soon as I got to Florida. But instead, I immersed myself into club life, took on every run, every task. Anything that would keep me busy and my mind occupied. Otherwise, my head would’ve been consumed by you.”
Tentatively, I take a lock of her hair between my finger and caress the silky red strands between my fingertips. My other hand falls gently to her hip. The urge to grab hold of her, bring her body to mine, is real strong, but I keep my palm light, grazing the cotton fabric, my fingers itching to slide up to touch the slither of flesh showing above the waistband of her shorts. Fuck knows what that would do to me, because these simple touches have electricity surging through me like a lightning strike.
“The nights were the worst.” I confess. “Constantly fighting the urge to make those thousands of miles journey to get to you. But I knew if I did, Smoke would trip out, ruining any chance I had of ever getting back to you.”
“If that’s truly how you feel, why didn’t you at least call? Instead, you ghosted me. Not a word. Nothing.” Her eyes look glassy with unshed tears. A stab of pain sears my heart.
“I wanted to call you, but to hear your sweet voice would have been hellish.” I give in and pull her closer into my arms. “I’m not good with words, Scarlett…”
“Liar,” she hurls back at me as she wiggles to try and escape my hold “I know all about you, and your history with women. The way you sweet-talk them into your bed and have them falling to their knees. You’re a player, Johny B, and I’m just another mark on your tally.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I growl at her, tightening my hold on her. I’m pissed that she thinks that’s how it is with her, when it couldn’t be any further from the truth. “I don’t deny that I have a shady reputation, but hell, Scarlett, what do you expect from a hot-blooded man when sex is obtainable with no ties and little consequence?”
“With you, it’s different.”
“Meeting you… Damn woman, you make me feel things that I didn’t even think I was capable of.” I let out a deep sigh. “It’s hard to explain, because when it comes to love talk, you make me tongue tied.”
I bring my hand to her face, cupping her chin, tilting her head until her eyes meet mine. “Fuck, Scarlett. I’ve missed you so much. Not one hour of the day or night has gone by without my thoughts turning to you.”
“I’m sure you managed to fill your bed at night with women more than willing to keep you company,” she snaps back at me, turning her head away in an attempt to free herself from my hold. I let her, but I don’t give her space to move away from me.
“You jealous?” I tease.
“Don’t be absurd.” Tilting her head back, she looks to the ceiling, as if searching for God’s intervention, before dropping her head back down, focusing on anything but me. “I don’t care one iota what you get up to. What you do is of no concern to me.”
“I think the lady protests too much.” I crouch down a little, bringing me down to her eye level. I weave my head from side to side as she tries her absolute best to avoid my gaze. “Look at me, Scarlett.” With an air of reluctance, her eyes meet mine. “There’s been no women since the day I left you with the promise that we weren’t over, by any means.” She blinks rapidly. “I confess that the muscle in my right arm is a bigger than my left now,” I smirk, flexing my arm to prove it before placing it firmly back around her. “My thoughts were of you only, when I was jerking off.” A slight upturn at the corner of her mouth encourages me to go on. “Not sure I should be telling you this, but every time I had time to myself, whether it be in my room at the club, or a motel while out on a run, I needed to ease my permanently blue balls because you never left my thoughts. Fuck, right after seeing you with Smoke at the club, I had to whack off in the downstairs John at the clubhouse. Even though you shot me down. Do you realize how fucking sexy you are when you’re all riled up?” Her eyes go wide and when her mouth opens to say something, I lay the palm of my hand against her cheek, my thumb grazing her bottom lip. She stills.
“Do you know what my favorite is? When I’m in the shower, water hammering against my skin. The memory that has me losing all control, coming so hard that I can barely see?” I can tell by the dark arousal in her eyes, the pout of her open mouth, the way her tongue peeks through and wets her lips that she knows exactly what I’m referring to. “That was so fucking hot. Knowing that you were watching me. Do you know what I was thinking while I was getting myself off?” She shakes her head, her breathing now short sharp breaths. “I was imaging how your clit would feel against my tongue. How fucking good you’d taste, and how tight your sweet pussy would be when I slipped my cock inside you.”
“Oh fuck,” Scarlett exhales against my lips when I bring them close to hers.
“I need to kiss you, Scarlett.” The seconds feel like hours as I wait for her to agree to my request. “Let me kiss you.”
She doesn’t reply. Not with words, anyway. Her hands fly around my neck, pulling me against her and her sweet, soft lips. But the kiss is anything but soft. It’s hard, passionate and as needy as fuck, and I meet it with the same uncontrollable need.
With our lips tightly locked, I grab hold of her ass with both hands and lift her onto the countertop and find my place standing right between her open legs. Soft moans rumble in her throat when I suck on her bottom lip, nipping at the tip with my teeth. My cock is so hard and desperate for tenure.
I bring her legs around my waist, and grab her ass again, but this time I lift her, bringing her flush with my body. My cock hits the apex of her thighs, only the thin cotton of her shorts protecting her pussy. Still, I struggle to raise the friction needed, so I turn and walk us both back against the nearest wall. With her back flat against the firm surface, I push my cock hard against her cunt and rotate my hips, giving us both the contact that we crave.
“Oh my God…” Scarlett whimpers as the bulge of my hard cock rubs against her, hitting the spot that has her eyes rolling back into her head. “J... B…” she stammers, her cheeks flushed, fingernails digging into my shoulders, as she thrusts her hips against me, seeking more and more of the friction needed to have her clit pulsing. I drop my mouth to one of her hard peaked nipples that is clearly outlined against the fabric of her tank and cover it, sucking hard, then biting with just enough pressure to cause a surge of heat to her core. “Oh fuck… I’m going to come.” Her voice it thick and husky with arousal and damn it, don’t I nearly come in my fucking pants. But this is about her, not me.
Scarlett’s head bangs against the wall, her eyes flutter, and her mouth falls wide as her orgasm hits. Her body tenses while she rides out the wave of ecstasy. I kiss along her exposed neck, sucking on the skin at her racing pulse. When she goes limp in my arms, I hold on to her tighter and take her mouth once more, kissing her deeply, showing her exactly what she means to me.
“Bedroom,” I enquire as I brush my nose against her unruly hair, breathing in her essence.
“Upstairs,” she whispers.
I carry her to the spiral staircase, and carefully negotiate the curvature of the stairs one at a time until I get to the landing at the top. The door to what is obviously the primary bedroom is open, revealing its soft colors, and cream carpets. It’s not pink and girly, but warm and feminine. I head straight for the white framed bed and lay her on top of the covers. Uncurling her arms from around my neck, I sit on the edge of the bed facing her, letting my hands rest on my thighs. Our eyes connect, hers steeped with contentment. I look away, knowing that I’ve fucked up.
Sure, I was desperate to see Scarlett, to try and make her understand my intentions were nothing but sincere. That I want her, need her and I’ll do whatever it takes to regain her trust. Giving her an orgasm, coming close to fucking her, was never my plan. Not yet anyway. In fact, kissing her wasn’t on the agenda either, but my need to taste her sweet lips consumed me and was the catalyst to me losing control.
The silent tension between us is palpable.
“You’re not staying, are you?” she accuses.
“Scarlett,” I groan out. “Coming here was a stupid mistake.”
“Fuck you,” she lashes out, slapping me hard across the face. I snatch hold of her hand before she goes in for a second hit.
“Damn it, Scarlett.” I bark back at her. “It’s not that I didn’t want to. Haven’t I already made it clear to you that I want you more than my next breath?”
She pulls her hand free and snaps both her arms around herself, partly in annoyance, partly to give herself comfort, I’m sure.
“I’m deeply involved in something for the club, and being here could put you in danger. That’s the last thing I want. Not only that, but your dad will also have my head if he finds out, and would kill any chance of me proving myself worthy of you.”
“What are you talking about?” With furrowed brows, she searches my face for more. Suddenly her eyes go wide, her brows now toward her hairline. “Has this something to do with the MC’s feud with the Death Valley Irish?”
“Once again, I need to plead the fifth.”
“Fuck you and the fifth.” She snarls. “I knew my dad was up to something when I overheard him talking to Stone the other day, when I called in to see Tenley, but now it makes sense.” Bringing herself up onto her knees, she grabs hold of the fabric collar of my shirt. “That explains the tattoos and the buzz cut.” She lets out a long, shaky breath. Her eyes are fearful as her grip on me tightens. “You’re the one that they have on the inside.”
“You need to stay out of this, Scarlett.” I growl my warning, taking both her hands and placing them firmly back in her lap. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Exactly, and you’re right in the fucking middle of it.” She cries. “JB, you need to get out. Tell Smoke that you’re not doing this. You’re going to end up dead.”
“I’m not going to do that.” I say sadly, because I would do anything for her, but going back on this when I’ve got so far isn’t an option. “I’m sorry,”
“Then get the fuck out of my home,” she says with fierce determination. “Because if you think I’m going to spend my time worrying what the fuck is going on with you, not knowing if you’re dead or alive, then you’re wrong.” She jumps from the bed; grabs hold of my arm and pulls me to my feet.
“Scarlett,” I beg.
“Don’t fucking Scarlett me.” she pushes me, with more strength that I would have given her credit for, towards the door and down the stairs, until she’s swinging open the front door and giving me one final push. I turn to take a last look at her before I leave, make one final plea for understanding, but when I see her face, I know that at this moment, it’s pointless. “You’re right, JB. You should never have come here, but not because of some bullshit excuse, but because you’re an asshole who gives absolutely no fucks about the consequences of your actions.” With that, she slams the door in my face, hard enough that even the heaviest of sleeping neighbors will now be wide awake.