Chapter Six
Jacie
Bloody hell, this man could kiss. By the time he pulled back, I was breathless, panting to catch my breath, and my body was on fire. Lava flowed through my veins and if it wasn’t for the sounds of downtown Dallas cutting through my fog of arousal, I might have begged him to fuck me right here, right now.
Resting a forearm against the wall above my head, he held my gaze while he stroked my face with his free hand. The calluses on his fingertips sensitized my skin until I was trembling, desperate for more of him.
“Trident…”
My voice was more moan than anything, but it was all I could manage with how he’d scrambled my brain.
“You got a room here we can go to, Ula’ula M?’ī ?”
There was that weird name he called me again.
“What does that mean? Ula’ula M?’ī.”
“It’s a Hawaiian endearment. Room?”
That didn’t really tell me what it meant, but he clearly wasn’t going to give me any more of an explanation right now.
“Yeah, I’m staying here but I’m sharing with Neveah. We’ll have the room to ourselves until dinner finishes up.”
After giving me a quick, hard kiss, he straightened.
“I’ll take what I can get. Let’s go.”
Even though it was a warm evening, a chill washed over me as soon as he was no longer pressed up against me. I was rubbing at the goose bumps on my arms when Trident reached out and took my hand in his, tangling our fingers together before pulling me toward the hotel entrance. Keeping my eyes forward, I was careful to match my steps to Trident’s, so I stayed mostly hidden by his much larger body as we passed through the lobby.
By some sort of miracle, the moment we entered the alcove that housed the bank of elevators, one opened. After those inside exited, we followed another couple in and I tapped the button for the fourth floor as I passed the controls. Trident then pulled me in against him, moving me until my back was to his front before he wrapped his arms around my waist. Ignoring the looks the other couple gave us, I leaned my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes with a smile when he dropped a soft kiss on my temple. I couldn’t believe how all his possessive bullshit was actually doing it for me. I’d have knocked another man on his arse if they’d pulled even half of what Trident had. But instead of telling him to knock it off and standing apart from him to prove to the world how independent I was, I was snuggling back into him. Closing my eyes to fully enjoy how safe and cherished I felt in his embrace.
It really was complete and utter craziness.
When the doors opened on my floor, Trident put his palm on my lower back again as I led the way down the hall toward my room. The sweetness we’d shared in the elevator had soothed the frenzied energy that had ruled us earlier, so by the time we entered the hotel room my mind had cleared enough I could think of more than ripping his clothes off.
Leaving Trident to handle the main door, I moved to the one that joined this room to Sparrow and Mirabelle’s, closing and locking it. Once that was done, I leaned against the wall beside it, smiling at Trident doing his thing. He’d finished securing the door and was now reconning the area. Poking his head into the bathroom before scanning the rest of the very nondescript room.
“Safe enough for you?”
With a glare my way, he finished checking the window before striding toward me until he stood toe-to-toe with me. Crossing his arms across his chest, he stared into my eyes.
“I will always make sure you are safe, Jacie. Always . Now; tell me. Why’d you ghost me last weekend?”
Heat crept up my neck and over my face and I bit the inside of my cheek, not wanting to answer him. But I knew he wasn’t going to let me get away with silence.
“You ashamed to have been with me? Embarrassed?”
That had my jaw dropping and shock pinging through my brain. Was he nuts? “What? Of course not! Why would you even think that?”
He shrugged a shoulder with feigned casualness. I’d really hurt him with how I’d snuck away. Guilt tore up my gut at the damage I’d done by being such a wuss.
“Well, let’s see. I’m a lot older than you, for a start. Then there’s the fact I’m from a one percenter club. We play harder than the Charons ever will.”
I shook my head, before running my fingers through my hair, pushing the curls back behind my ears.
“I can’t believe you—”
His palms slamming against the wall on either side of my head had my mouth closing mid-sentence.
“Yeah, well, I can’t believe you’d be such a little coward either. But you fucking were. Sneaking off on me the first chance you got.” He tilted his head. “Unless I really read you wrong, and you pull this stunt on the regular. Or maybe I was just a happy little birthday present, nothing more. I can think of several options of why you did what you did, babe. But I’d like the motherfucking truth from your lips. So tell me, Jacie Lewis, why’d you run from me last weekend?”
Frustration coursed through me, mixed with anger because dammit, he had a point. Shame also weighed me down. I wasn’t proud of what I’d done, especially now that he was standing close enough I could smell the leather of his cut, while he called me out.
“I assumed you’d just gotten caught up in the moment. You know? Like in the movies when a guy gets horny and promises a girl the world only to be done with her by morning. Figured I’d avoid that scene, save us both the trouble and get out first.” I paused, looking down at my feet before continuing, “Not too many people have ever stuck by me. I, ah, try to avoid adding new rejections to my memories if I can.”
Moving his hand, he curled a finger under my chin and gently forced my face up.
“Look at me, Ula’ula M?’ī. ”
With a wince, I slowly rose my gaze to his. My breath caught at the gentleness in his dark irises.
“First up, your momma didn’t choose to leave you, yeah? Neither did your brother. From what I’ve heard about Taz, if he’d known you were alive, he would have moved heaven and earth to keep you safe and by his side. Secondly, you get that in your desperation to avoid feeling pain, you just transferred it to me, yeah?”
My throat clogged with emotion, tears stung my eyes. As much as I’d always respected people who were straight shooters, I didn’t appreciate being forced to examine myself so deeply. “I’m sorry. I never meant to—”
He cut me off again, this time with a shake of his head.
“It’s done, babe. Over. But we ain’t doing this again. Me and you are gonna be fucking open and honest with each other from here on out, you feel me? No matter how much you think I don’t wanna hear it, know that I do.”
I frowned. “Not sure that’s exactly realistic, T. I work for a security firm, and you’re in a MC. We’re both gonna have secrets we can’t share.”
He tapped his forefinger against my nose before straightening and folding his arms over his chest as he had before.
“So much sass. Yeah, babe. We won’t be sharing shit that’s not ours to share, but everything that affects us? That, we tell each other. I won’t have bullshit coming between us.”
With a raised eyebrow, I mirrored his pose, arms crossed over my breasts.
“Why do you even care so damn much? I mean, we just met last weekend, and only had one night together. Which, in case you don’t remember, started with us fighting. Now you’re saying I’ve insulted and hurt you. How can you even want to see me?”
He chuckled, the low gravely sound lighting me up, hardening my nipples that thankfully where hidden behind my forearms.
“Now that I know you didn’t sneak off to be cruel, just to protect yourself—that’s easy to forgive, Ula’ula M?’ī . And we weren’t fightin’ last weekend. That was just a little verbal sparring to get the blood pumping. Just so happens I like your fire, Jacie. Like it a fuck of a lot. So much so, I’ve spent way too much of my time this week fantasizing about all the ways I could put that smart mouth of yours to use when I caught up with you.”
Groaning, I looked to the ceiling and tapped my head against the wall.
“Why must all the pretty ones be such alpha-holes?”
His low growl had a shiver running up my spine. Instinct had me side stepping away from him before turning to dash across the room. A heartbeat later, I was face down on the bed, sandwiched between his large, hot body and the mattress, my wrists once again in one of his hands, but this time they were trapped against my lower back. I tried to buck him off, to wriggle free, but couldn’t move him. With a low growl, he leaned in and nipped at the edge of my ear.
“I’m not sure what to be more insulted over: you calling me pretty, or whatever the fuck an alpha-hole is.”
Twisting my head to the side and blowing my hair out of my face, I glared daggers at him.
“Take your pick, babe. Because while you might be nice to look at, whenever you open your damn mouth, your inner alpha-male-arsehole comes out, destroying the illusion of you being any sort of Prince Charming.”
His grin was wicked as he tilted his head down, one sexy eyebrow going up.
“Really? You trying to tell me you don’t like me just as I am? That you don’t get hot and wet for me? Because remember that little rule I just made about lying? I didn’t expect you to go breaking it so fucking fast, Ula’ula M?’ī . Prince Charming is always such a sissy. I’m more like a knight in shining armor—well, a knight on a shining Harley. I’ll come to your rescue any day…”
He ground his erection in against my butt. I tugged at my hands, anger mixing with the arousal I wasn’t going to admit to. “Release me, dammit!”
“Ask nice, and I’ll think about it.”
Swallowing down a growl, I took a deep breath before I cleared my throat, putting on my sweetest tone.
“Please, Trident, could you please let me go.”
He stilled, like I’d shocked him. Then with a bark of laughter he lifted up off me, but before I could celebrate my freedom, he lifted me, turning me over and moving me further up the bed, so my head was now on the pillow. Then he settled in beside me while I lay there trying to catch my breath.
“I’m not a damn doll, T!”
I wanted to hate the way he could move around how he pleased with such ease, but there was no denying the liquid heat that just soaked my knickers.
Leaning his head down he nipped at my chin before hovering his lips over mine.
“You are to me, Ula’ula M?’ī .” And, Jacie, I ain’t ever letting you go, you’re fucking mine. You agreed to that last weekend. And considering I can fucking smell how wet you are for me right now, you’re still on board with that plan.”
I opened my mouth to say something. I wasn’t sure what. My mind and body were at war. I didn’t want a biker, not for the long haul. Sure, I’d been wanting to hook up with one for my birthday last weekend. But that hadn’t been me looking for Mr. Right, more like Mr. Right Now. All the possessive ownership bullshit bikers pulled was not my jam. It was way too close to the mobster garbage my dad had tried to pull with Mum whenever Donny wasn’t around.
In the end it didn’t matter that I couldn’t find the words because Trident lowered his lips to mine, and all thoughts other than “more” left my head. He swiped his tongue into my open mouth and I eagerly tangled mine with his, moaning as he took control of our kiss, mastering me with his mouth. Reaching my palms up, I cupped either side of his face, keeping him close and the kiss going.
***
Trident
Fuck, this woman owned me heart and soul. Thankfully she didn’t seem to know it. I had a feeling the moment she did, she’d never let me forget it.
Breaking off our kiss, I stayed close enough our breaths mingled, keeping my gaze on hers.
“Say it, Jacie. Tell me you’re fucking mine. No one else’s.”
The arousal that darkened her pretty blue irises began to clear as she frowned.
“Why?” She cleared her throat. “Why are you so determined to claim me? We haven’t known each other long enough for you to be this possessive.”
Moving back, I returned to lie on my side beside her. We were both breathing heavily from our make out session and my gaze went to the rise and fall of her chest. As I pondered how to answer her, I reached out and started fiddling with the chunky gold-plated sun pendant she wore on a matching chain. It didn’t seem like something Jacie would pick for herself. She certainly hadn’t been wearing it last weekend.
Blowing out a breath, I started talking, trying to get her to understand.
“I learned young to always trust my instincts. Once, I didn’t, and the price was high. So now I do. Good or bad. Last weekend? I wasn’t expecting to actually like you. Initially I followed you inside simply to keep you safe. But from the moment I got my first good look at you, heard you turn that bratty mouth of yours on me, I just knew. You were meant for me. I’m old enough to not want to waste time pussy-footing around when I find a good thing.”
“What do you mean you intended on keeping me safe? I was in my brother’s clubhouse. Not sure how I could have been much safer.”
Scoffing at her I comment, I kept looking at that sun of hers.
“Safe. Yeah. Not sure you know what happened with Taz and Flick a few years back?”
I caught her nod in my peripheral vision. “Probably know more than you about that one. But basically, Flick’s uncle owned property in Bridgewater your club wanted. Not realizing Flick was an old lady, some of your men came and snatched her. Stone recognized her as his sister, busted her out of a cell. She busted a bunch of SCMC arses before they were both tossed back in a cell and Taz and the Charons rode up to reclaim her.”
I wondered what the fuck she could know that I didn’t about that situation, but now wasn’t the time to get into it.
“Animal, Tank and a couple other younger guys were the ones Flick took down. They’ve not exactly forgiven her for it. But she’s a pregnant old lady so: untouchable. You, on the other hand, my independent fiery woman, are unpatched and unprotected by club law.”
She sat up with a gasp and turned to face me.
“I’m Taz’s sister, a blood relative of the Charon MC. I am protected.”
Sighing, because I knew this wasn’t going to make her happy. I shifted until I was sitting with my back against the headboard before I reached for her, scooping her up and putting her sideways over my lap, so I could keep my arm around her waist to stop her from running.
“The Charons would see it that way, but Animal has made it clear he doesn’t. That it means he won’t suffer any repercussions for going after you. Animal isn’t in a good place. Fuck. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I’m thinking it best you know what you’re walking into with him. He’s using. We’re not one hundred percent sure, but we think he got himself hooked on pain pills after he reinjured his shoulder a couple months back. Stone’s never far from him, keeping an eye on him.”
She was nearly vibrating with rage as I tightened my hold on her.
“Are you trying to tell me you only claimed me to keep me safe from your club brother? Who’s fucked up on drugs, but apparently you guys won’t do anything about it other than watch him spiral? Seriously? That’s what you’re saying to me?
Closing my eyes for a moment I huffed out a breath. Me and my stupid no lying rule. Should have made that after we had this conversation. Fuck!
“It’s not that simple. We rat him out to the club president and it’s not what we think, we could be signing his death warrant. For now, a few of us are watching him closely, trying to work out exactly what’s going on. If it is just pain pills, we’ll sort something out. Probably a snatch and grab, knock him out and toss his ass in one of the cells back at the clubhouse until he dries the fuck out. Maybe toss his butt into rehab. But we need more facts before we go getting Viper involved. He’s got enough on his plate without adding this.” Although, I was pretty sure he already knew something was going on. It wasn’t like Animal had been careful with who saw him behaving like a fucking lunatic. “And as far as claiming you? That has fuck all to do with Animal. If I’d just wanted to keep you safe from the others, I would have just hung close to you last weekend. Could have told Taz and he would have taken you with him when he took Flick home. I claimed you because you were fucking made to be mine, Jacie. Only mine.”
Wrapping my fingers around her jaw, I moved her face so I could get my mouth on her again. Kissing her seemed to be one of the few things that could dispel her temper. Which was damn convenient because I just so happened to fucking love getting my mouth on my woman.
Ending the kiss, I rested my forehead against hers and just breathed her scent deep into my lungs. Playing with that sun pendant of hers again, lifting it up to give us a subject change. “Why do you wear this?”
Her whole body stiffened, and disappointment that she still didn’t trust me enough to share her secrets was a sour taste in the back of my throat as I dropped the necklace back down against her skin.
“Nevermind. Forget I asked.”
I hadn’t changed my mind. This woman was my ride or die, I just knew it. It’d just be nice if she felt the same way already. She needed time, I got that. She didn’t trust her instincts like I did mine. But fuck, I was impatient for when she would put her faith in me.
“It’s the only thing I have left of my mum.” She looked down, picking the charm up herself. “When I was little, I’d cling to this thing. Whenever I got really upset, she’d take it off and let me wear it, or hold it until I felt better. The day she died—was murdered—her and Gordon had been arguing. I can’t remember what it was about, just that there was a whole lot of yelling. I wasn’t quite three years old.” She huffed a half laugh. “Probably too young to be left alone with this thing. Choking hazard, right? But I never even once tried to put it in my mouth that I recall. Mum had been crying when she’d wrapped the chain around my neck twice, told me she loved me more than the sun loved the moon, then closed my door. I hated when she was upset like that. Hated Gordon and his bullshit. His friends in their stuffy suits that’d come over.” She shook her head. “I must have cried myself to sleep before the smoke got into my lungs. Donny pulled me out when he got home from school…”
She stalled out and I pressed a kiss to her temple, my heart breaking for that little toddler who lost so much that day.
“I’m glad you have it.”
She nodded and sniffled, before she blew out a breath. “Damn, that dampened the mood a bit, huh?”
Lifting her hand to my mouth I pressed a kiss to the center of her palm before I placed it under my cut, over my heart.
“Rest for a bit, babe. We got all the time in the world.”
For what had to be the first time since I met her, she didn’t argue, just snuggled into my chest and dozed off. It wasn’t long before I shuffled us down the bed, keeping her on top of me, before nodding off myself.