Chapter 22 Aila
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aila
I blink and he’s gone.
Shit, Theron, be a little more subtle, why don’t you?
Fortunately, Mom’s busy braiding my hair. It’s what she used to do whenever I had a bad day. I feel the soothing sensation of the comb pulling through my hair as the detangling spray cools my scalp.
I can’t stop staring at that empty spot by the door now that Theron is no longer here.
His unexpectedly sudden absence gives me a lot to think about. My vampire biker has become this weird hybrid of guardian angel and dangerous lover. Yes, he sucks my blood whenever we have sex, but never once have I felt endangered by it.
When Theron accepted my decision to leave with such quiet dignity, I was kinda pissed that he was so casual about it.
But the moment he showed up again, I was disproportionately relieved.
Is that how it’s always going to be with Theron and me? How quickly did I get used to him always being there to catch me when I fell? Right from the start, there was an addictive quality to my luscious vampire biker.
Even putting Theron’s habit-forming handsomeness aside, his steadiness and serenely sexy manners are so much more than skin deep. He is like that refreshing drink of cold water after too much hot tea.
And when my mind puts it like that, is it any wonder that I am able to see how Piers coming to Landslide might just be a godsend in disguise?
“Piers is here, Mom. He came with the ferry.”
Just as she’s always done, my mother keeps calm and carries on braiding. But I can feel her fingers trembling.
“Well, we’re just going to have to cross this new barrier when we know more about why he followed you here, won’t we?”
None of what Mom is saying seems to comfort me. It’s polite platitudes. That’s all.
“Look on the bright side, baba. Maybe he just wants to apologize. It’s one of the steps to recovery, isn’t it? Piers really liked to party as I seem to recall, so it makes sense that posh family of his would send him to rehab sooner or later. And we’ve got Ben to protect us now.”
All I can do is nod.
Suddenly, I’m very angry. How dare that billionaire waste of space come here and try to patch things up? When is that vulture going to take the hint?
“Are you mad at me, Aila? I’m really sorry. I should have told you about the date with that faker.”
When I hear the rubber band snap into place around the end of my braid, I turn around.
“Mom, I’m a big girl now. Time for you to let me sort this out myself. I don’t want Piers coming after you again. You’ve got your new life with Ben. So… stay in your lane.”
Her eyes get wide.
“Aila! You’re not thinking about reaching some sort of agreement with that maniac, are you?”
We’re on an island full of hulking, bloody minded vampire bikers, and my mom is worried about Piers Jordan.
“He’s a thorn in my side, Mom, but Piers is my responsibility. Landslide seems like the perfect place for the two of us to… negotiate how to move forward.”
Ben’s truck is coming. Kissing my mom on each cheek, I head out.
“Ben will give me a lift back to the inn, Mom. Thanks for the hairstyle. I guess I’ll be serving you drinks when you come to the bar tomorrow.”
She opens her mouth to object, but I get in my clapback first.
“Stay in your lane, Mom!”
The cool evening air soothes my heated skin as I step on the patio and walk down the porch steps. There isn’t a skip in my step—yet—but I believe there will be. For the first time ever, I feel the odds stacked against Piers.
This isn’t his island or his domain. And I am not obliged to be anything other than vaguely polite to him.
“One more stop, if that’s okay, Ben. I’m going back to the inn.”
It’s kinda funny that I’m the only person on this island who knows that the Motorcycle Club is really a Motorcycle Coven. For the first time since college, I think I will be meeting my ex-boyfriend with a few aces up my sleeve!
Ben’s shaking his head when I hop into the passenger seat.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Aila. Although, to be frank, he seems like a nice guy. Maybe what the two of you needed was to grow up and put some distance between you.”
Yes, Ben, by all means keep telling yourself that. That’s what stalkers like Piers Jordan rely on.
Besides making a joke about him turning the truck into a cab service, Ben seems relieved that I am facing facts instead of running away from them. Parking in the lot at the front of the inn’s entrance, he hauls my case off the back of the truck and leaves it on the ground.
Getting behind the steering wheel, I can see that Ben is itching to get back home and leave all this drama far behind him.
“I doubt if you’ll still be in that nice bedroom with the two single beds anymore, Aila. It’s usually reserved for kids because it’s connected to the bedroom with the double bed. Best you ask Luna for a room. Or find a free bunk bed in one of the dormitories. Good night.”
The truck rattles away, spraying pebbles and kicking up dust.
Leaving my case where it sits, I walk with a confident step to the clubhouse—and freeze.
The ATV is parked next to the obsidian line of Harleys. I have not been this close to something belonging to Piers for a good couple of years.
I hear the hum of deep voices coming from the clubhouse. Luna will be in the bar serving welcome cocktails and mocktails to the new guests.
Hell, this feels the same as standing outside the principal’s door after doing something naughty at school!
Here I am, taking a deep breath and knocking on hell’s door. Rapping my knuckles too hard on the wood stings my fingers.
The door cracks open and I start talking.
“Hi, sorry to bother you, but please can I speak to—”
The crack widens as Theron shoulders his way to the door and opens it. He stands with one arm lifted up on the frame, staring down at me from his superior height.
He looks tussled, preoccupied. And I think I’m the reason for that. Theron could have the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he will always be insanely good looking. Call me crazy, but a frown suits him.
He must be occupied with MC business because his dark tawny hair is pulled back into an untidy ponytail. A few strands hang over his brow, making him look like a strung out rocker.
“Yep?”
Same old Theron. Abrupt and to the point. And very monosyllabic. But totally gorgeous underneath it all.
“Can I put my case in your room?”
Shooting a look behind him, Theron debates. “I dunno ‘bout that, princess. We’re kinda busy.”
I don’t bother lowering my voice, because they can all hear me inside anyway.
“Not the clubhouse, your bedroom.”
Theron doesn’t bother lowering his voice, either, but I wish he at least tried, because what he says next is kind of hurtful.
“Go curry favor with your ex, Aila. Like I said, I’m busy.”
I manage to grip the cuff of his sleeve before he can shut the door in my face.
“I’m not here because I need you to scare off my ex, Theron. Nor do I need you to provide free accommodation for me,” I say, pulling the band off the end of my braid and shaking my hair loose. “Don’t you want to suck me anymore?”
On this warm summer night, I’m wearing a shrunken baby t-shirt—so thin and over-washed that it’s got holes—with my favorite cut-off denim shorts.
The cotton material sticks to my skin where the sweat has made it damp.
And yes, maybe I am a little damp between my thighs right now as I think about what I’m about to do.
The only thought going through my mind right now is There’s a coven of vampires inside that clubhouse. No one is gonna mess with me right now. Pulling the t-shirt over my head, I throw it at Theron.
With his usual lightning fast reflexes, he catches my t-shirt before it falls to the ground. But it’s not enough to stop the sultry striptease I start doing.
When Theron takes a step towards me, I dance away.
“Ooh, yes, happy birthday, Mister President.” Cupping my breasts, I bend over and do a little shimmy, pouting my lips in my best Marilyn Monroe impression. “Come on and show me how much you want this.”
His eyes are transfixed on me as Theron tries to get things back under control.
“I’m not club prez, Aila. I’m just a Rider. C’mon. Let’s get you inside.”
This crazy nymph inside me just won’t stop. He’s let the genie out of the bottle with his grumpy refusal to play nice.
Wiggling out of my shorts, I relish the chill breeze as it blows against my white cotton panties.
“See what you’re missing out on?” I throw the shorts at him. Theron swats them aside.
“Quit this shit, Aila. There are guests. You’re gonna lose Landslide it’s family friendly appeal.”
I’m sorry but that just makes me hoot with laughter. Perhaps I’m hysterical. Who knows? Whatever it is, it feels like a marvelous release of tension after the last few days of uncertainty.
Dancing towards the forest, I shout over my shoulder.
“Yoohoo! Theron! Catch me if you can.”
Before I can second guess what I am about to do, I bend down and step out of my panties. I make sure to do it with my back to him, because why the hell not.
Wham! I feel him pick me up and run with me under his arm like a football. It’s the most thrilling sensation, to be carried at such speed with no machinery involved.
We’re in the forest, but it’s not dark and scary to me. I don’t have to keep reminding myself; it’s already ingrained into my mind.
I am safe. I am with a vampire.
Those statements might be in complete contradiction with one another, but it’s true all the same.
Placing me down gently, Theron speaks with his jaw clenched.
“Fuck it, Aila. What’s gotten into you?”
He’s super pissed, but I don’t care.
“I want to sleep with you tonight. No holds barred. Don’t you want that, too?”
In the stillness of the forest, I can hear him panting. It’s not because Theron is out of breath but because he is rabid for my pussy. In the dark, I hear him twitching and swallowing like a starving man in front of a delicious buffet.
He doesn’t even bother hiding the lust in his eyes as he stares at my semi-naked body. The desire he is feeling must be making those 501s tight in the crotch area. Tempted beyond restraint, I brush my hand over the front of his denims. Just as I suspected, Theron is rampant and bulging.
But he’s not willing to let go of his grudge.
“You tried treatin’ me like a well-trained puppy dog, Aila. Come. Go. Sit. Leave. That’s not how I roll.”
“If you wanted a tame pussycat, Theron, you would be with one.”
We’ll go toe to toe and round to round about this all night if that’s what he wants, but I have the feeling this is one fight that I am destined to win.
Growling, he grabs my upper arms, pulling me closer.
“You wanna go heavy on the animal comparisons, princess? Then you better get ready to be fucked like one tonight.”
Throwing back my hair and lifting my chin, I have nothing to hide.
“Bring it on.”
Letting his hands slide down my arms, Theron licks his lips with a lengthy, bestial lap. Then, lowering his head, he licks mine. The harsh texture of his tongue gives me goosebumps.
Our kiss is everything I could ever want it to be. In that moment, I know he’s forgiven me. He lets me know that he gets it. Gets me, and all my complicated, repressed, frightened little girl bullshit.
Instantly, my nipples get so erect, the puckering is almost painful. They are anticipating the rest of the night, knowing that Theron is going to pinch them and nibble on them until they ache.
“You okay to wait here, darlin’?” Pulling my t-shirt out of the back of his jeans pocket, Theron hands it to me. “I won’t be gone longer than a minute or two.”
“Come back soon.”
The badly behaved nymph that I usually keep hidden away inside me peeps out again. Touching my breasts, I circle my fingers around my nipples and then slowly let my hand drop under my panties. Fingering my clit, I bring my hand back up and lick the tips. “I want you so much it hurts.”
Glowering at me, Theron takes one step back. It’s as if he’s making sure the imprint of my image is burned into his brain.
“Hold that thought, darlin’.”
And then he is gone.