Chapter 4 Ripper
Ripper
“If she’s a spy, what’s to say she isn’t trying to lead you to your death? Don’t let a woman be what kills you.”
Judge’s words linger in the back of my head, alongside his lack of permission. He denied my request, no shocker there. He’s not a fearful man, but he’s doing everything possible to avoid bringing a war here. To destroy all the work he’s put in over the last couple of years.
“If she doesn’t have proof that Eliza was here, then let her go. She can return empty-handed, and the world can move on.”
Let her go back to them? What does that even mean? They’ll kill her if she has nothing to give them.
Looking down at her now, face flushed, hair spread out across the grass and spilling against her cheeks, I let out a shaky breath.
How can one woman be what causes all of my work to come undone? A nobody who has no right stepping into my world?
I should be furious that she ran, but now that she’s here, I can’t even think about her defiance. All I can focus on is her.
“What?” The word spills from her lips, confusion filling her eyes.
I really am going to defy Judge to help her out. Now isn’t the time to laugh, but fuck, do I want to.
“If I’m going to get myself killed, then at least let me enjoy one last kiss from a beauty.” Leaning down, I hear her breath catch. “Paulie, right? I’ll free him. Just put me out of my misery.”
“That’s all?” Her words are soft, vulnerable. Nervous.
If I weren’t worried about scaring her off, I’d ask her to let me taste her entirely. There’s this greedy ache that demands I get my tongue where I know she’ll be the sweetest.
I’ve got a gut intuition that this woman’s a virgin, too. Probably never had her pussy licked. Never moaned a man’s name before.
Instead of turning me off like normal, I can feel my cock weeping in jealousy and longing that I can’t demand more than what I have.
The wind picks up, causing tree limbs to sway as I stare down at her. The longer she remains silent, the more a voice in the back of my mind demands that I do it for free.
Would I risk my life for nothing in return for a woman I’ve just met?
The way my eyes catch the flicker of her tongue as she swipes it across her bottom lip tells me all I need to know to answer my question.
I’m willing to risk it all.
“One kiss.” Ever so softly, her words ring clear. “Just one.”
A hungry, guttural sound tears from my throat. I can’t remember the last time I wanted anything this much—it’s a physical ache, a deep, hollow starvation. The sight of her biting that plump lip, as if to keep its sweetness for herself, is pure, exquisite torture.
“Open up,” I breathe. “Let me in.”
A shiver wracks her entire frame before her lips part on a soft, surrendering sigh.
I swoop in like a man depraved.
The world dissolves into heat and taste. The gasp that forms on her tongue is mine to devour, a delicious, startled sound as I press my body against hers.
My tongue sweeps in, and the taste of her—sweet, like cherries, and something uniquely, intoxicatingly her—explodes across my senses. It’s a flavor I instantly crave. I feel her hands curl into the leather of my jacket, not to push me away, but to hold onto as I consume her.
I trace the curve of her bottom lip with my tongue, committing its perfect shape to memory, a map I already know I’ll need to read again.
But then, she’s turning her head, breaking the connection. The cold air rushes in to fill the space she left, a brutal insult.
“There.” Her voice wobbles. “One kiss.”
That wasn’t a kiss. Fuck, it was, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t enough.
She should be the one melting, asking for more. Hell, she shouldn’t have rushed for it to end. What is it that I’m doing wrong?
“One more,” I rasp, using every ounce of physical strength not to crush her against me and show her just how thoroughly she’s unraveled me. My voice is rough with a need that shocks us both. “What will it take? There’s got to be something else you want.”
What is this dripping from my lips? Desperation? We’re both stunned by it, but I can’t stop. Not with this hunger clawing at my insides.
“I’ll kill the men who made him suffer, how about that?” Promises, wild and reckless, fall from my lips with every ragged breath. “I’ll put Paulie under our protection. My protection. We’ll take care of him until you’re satisfied.”
The words hang in the air. How many lines am I crossing? How much am I offering for one more measly taste? It’s laughable, it’s insane, but the moment her head bobs in a hesitant nod, my world rights itself.
My lips are on hers again before the breath leaves her lungs, not with finesse, but with a claiming hunger.
I need more.
The sweetest sound of a moan escapes her lips as my mouth drifts to her throat.
Right where her pulse races, my tongue traces, I don’t think.
Teeth grazing next, I feel her hand move to the back of my neck.
Like she’s holding me in place, her nails prick my skin as I suck a spot right above her collarbones, marking her.
A voice in the back of my mind whispers that this woman is mine, declaring words I’ve never muttered out loud. I want to believe the words, but I ignore them.
She can’t be mine. But her body… that’s different.
What could I give her in return for the sweet thing between her thighs? If she is a virgin, she’s clinging to her cherry like it holds worth. What does she want to trade, a ring on her finger? Marriage?
Once more, I’m hit with that same vision. This beauty in all white. This time, it’s different. It’s not a thought I want to turn my nose up at.
Yanking back at the realization that I’d risk my bachelor lifestyle, I take in her flushed state. Eyes glossed over, lips plump, she’s the physical form of a wet dream.
Haven’s reaching for me this time, like she should’ve been the first time. I’m not amused by her caving. I’m more frustrated that I’m not dipping back in for more.
Could I take something precious and call it quits like that? If her pussy is anything like her mouth, I’m going to want to come back for more. Over and over until my knees hurt from begging for whatever she’ll give me.
“Who are you?” Muttering the question softly enough to miss her ears, it lingers in my head. Is the fight I just witnessed that’s making me want her? Could it be the chase?
I need to put distance between us before I do something I can’t take back.
As I pull away, she sits up slowly. Her eyes are on me, and I can tell from her breathing that she notices my arousal. There’s nothing I can do about it.
“Come on.” Offering her my hand, I try to smile, but struggle. “No more running or fighting. I’ll help you in return.”
Her hand is smaller than mine as she pulls herself up on wobbly legs. “No more locking me in someone’s room.”
As if she thinks there’s room for discussion, she throws her stipulation out.
Amusement flickers in my chest, and my mouth curves without effort this time. However, it feels natural.
What is this woman doing to me?
“You hated my room that much?” The knot in my chest grows tighter when her eyes round in surprise. “You didn’t do anything to it, did you, sweetheart?”
Her mouth carves into a frown, ending this heated moment between us. “You are poorly armed. How are you supposed to keep your word if you have no weapons?”
A laugh escapes me at that, but it’s a joke only I know the punchline to. I don’t want to scare her by telling her how many men I’ve killed with my bare hands. So, I do the next best thing. Opening up my jacket, I reveal my holsters, one for a knife, one for my gun. “I keep mine close.”
Now, whether she will try to take it and use them against me is another question.
“Come on. I need to pull some strings if we’re going to make this happen.” Jerking my chin, I wait for her at my side just in case. “Can’t do this alone if I do want to live.”
Judge might kill me if none of those Crimson Road bastards do, but it is what it is.
“Who is going to help you?” She’s curious, keeping up with me as we walk back toward the club.
Instead of fitting through the window again, I shut the screen to keep bugs out, disgusted by the eight-legged freaks. Once I’m satisfied, I wrap an arm around her to prevent her from going too far. She doesn’t jerk away, which is good. But then she’s close enough to make my head swim.
Haven’s going to be what gets me killed in more ways than one. She’s too distracting, but I can’t find the strength to put distance between us.
Hell, once we walk in the club and a few of the members look our way, I want to drag her to my chest so they all know she’s mine. Not just for a night of fun, but for much, much longer.
Shaking my head, I search for our sergeant-at-arms. He’s currently hovering over the pool table, enjoying his favorite way to pass the time. Robbing Warden of every penny he can get through bets.
Strolling over to them, I reach out and catch a ball in mid-roll. Both men scowl, ready to fight. From the amount of solids on the table, it’s clear who’s going to win the game.
“Care to pause your game for a moment?” Tilting my head, I drink in their rage and know they’ll be perfect for what I need. Two experienced men in their field, dedicated enough to the cause that they’ll be happy to spill blood if I ask sweetly enough.
Disobeying the Prez is an entirely different obstacle, but I’m still willing to push some buttons to get what I want.
Haven presses closer to me, and I see it on her face. She’s scared, but she’s trying not to show it. Is it Hammer’s murderous intent behind his gaze that’s doing it?
“They’re harmless,” I murmur softly, the words falling past my lips without thought.
Warden sets his stick down, sighing as he stretches. “Guess I can’t lose a hundred bucks now. I can afford a few minutes.”
Hammer grabs the yellow solid, squeezing until his knuckles turn white. He eyes me, counting seconds in his head as he works through his anger. After ten seconds, he sighs and drops the ball with a heavy thud.
“What do you need?” He glances at Haven, but it doesn’t linger. He doesn’t care for women like I do. Money is more important to him than a good time.
“Privacy.” The answer comes with a joyous cry coming from the few prospects surrounding Diesel and his girl. “Somewhere quiet.”
Somewhere far from any listening ears. The clubhouse isn’t safe.
We end up in the garage. It’s a small space next to the clubhouse, where we can repair our bikes if it’s not necessary to take them to the shop in town. Tucked in the corner is Hammer’s belongings, our armory.
He throws a glance at me as we near. “You’re bringing her?”
Typically, unless she were my old lady, she wouldn’t have any need to listen in. Club business is only ours to worry about.
“Yep.” The answer comes easily. “She doesn’t bite, right?”
Haven’s cheeks turn pink all over again, and she doesn’t answer my question, looking at the table of tools instead.
Hammer grunts, not caring either way. They don’t know that Haven is a spy, not yet. Judge won’t tell the others until they’re sober, or she becomes a threat. Neither’s going to happen any time soon.
I don’t want anyone thinking about getting their hands on her besides me.