Chapter 17

Salvatore

I watch Reynolds stride away from me. He’s built like a mountain, all muscle and tattoos. His companion catches up with him and together they head for their clubhouse. I look down at Emily, nice name but I prefer Amare. I don’t understand why she didn’t tell me who she is. I move her towards my motel room. She’s visibly upset and the locals all stare at us as I practically drag her with me.

We stand in front of the door to my room and I look at her; tears stain her face and her bottom lip quivers. She holds herself as she shakes. I open the door, go in and do a quick check; the bed’s been made and the room tidied. I go back out, grab her and pull her inside. I place her in front of the bed.

“Sit down, Amare.” I go into the bathroom to fill up a glass with water. When I return she takes it from me. Her hands are unsteady as she brings it to her mouth for a small sip. I grab a chair near the door and position myself in front of her. I notice she is still shaking so I take off my jacket and place it around her shoulders; her eyes go to my gun.

“It’s for protection, Amare, nothing else. I have many enemies and you never know when I am going to make a new one.” As I go to sit back down, she grabs my face and tries to kiss me. It’s a fumbled attempt and I end up head butting her.

“Ouch,” she says as she rubs her head.

“What was that?” I say as I sit back down and rub my own head.

What was left of the glass of water is now all over the floor, soaking into the carpet.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry!” Her face is a mask of embarrassment—well, at least she’s stopped crying.

I sit there, as we both rub our faces, and begin to laugh. I look at her, a little concerned she’s going to cry but a smile spreads across her face and she laughs too. I like her laugh; her whole body shakes with it.

She throws herself backwards on the bed and says, “I’m sorry. That was a disaster. I am so not good at that.” She continues to laugh and stares at the ceiling; not realizing that I’ve stopped.

“You’re so not good at what?” I ask. Her laughter freezes and her eyes remain glued to the ceiling.

“Ahhh...It’s just that I’m...awkward. I always have been.”

“Awkward?” I say with a smile in my voice. I lean forward in the chair and place my hands on her knees. I feel her go completely still.

She sits up and covers both my hands with her own. “I’m sorry, I should go.”

I let my hands move up her thighs and I hear her intake of breath. I capture her eyes with mine and whisper, “How about we try it again? I’m going to kiss you. You are going to give yourself over to me, Emily, my Amare. Do you understand?” She has no idea what I’m really asking her but she will learn. Before too long she will understand that her submission is important to me. It’s who I am.

She nods at me ever so slightly but I take the opportunity to move in on her. I slowly put my lips to hers and let my hands travel up her body to cup her face. She sighs into my mouth and I place my hands on her shoulders and gently push her back onto the bed. I feel her small hands as they travel up my body and encircle me. I place my knee between her legs and she opens for me. Putting some of my weight on top of her, my hand cups her breast; she’s not wearing a bra and I tweak her nipple through the dress. She arches into me so I move my hand further down her body, all the while our kiss intensifies and our tongues duel.

The dress is easily pushed up and as I explore her further, I discover she isn’t wearing any underwear. She moans into my mouth and her hands tug at my shirt, trying to touch the skin beneath.

I stop and move away from her and say, “Awkward? No, Amare, I think not. But I need to stop this before it goes any further. I have much I need to discuss with you, much I need to know. My first question is...do you always wear no underwear?” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I ask this so I kiss the side of her cheek in an effort to mask it.

I shift to the side of her and prop my head in my hand. The blush that creeps up her face is adorable and when she turns her head from mine, I reach over and turn it back, capturing her eyes with mine.

“No, it’s that I didn’t pack anything. I’d been in those clothes for days and after I had a shower I couldn’t put them back on so I borrowed this dress and went commando.”

“Commando?” I roll to my back and laugh.

“Yes, you know, commando, no underwear...” Her voice trails off. I stop my laughter and look at her.

“Amare, I know what commando means, I’ve just never heard a woman say it before, it was funny.” I chuckle.

She gives me at tentative smile and pushes the hair off her face. “I really need to go shopping.” 

“Hmmm, yes you do, but we’ll do that later. Now, tell me why you don’t have any clothes with you and why you didn’t tell me who you were?”

“I wasn’t hiding who I was; you never even asked me my name!” I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts and trying to keep her out of trouble that I didn’t ask her anything important. Christ, am I slipping? First, the Savage Angels move in on my gun business; then, I am continually saving this woman and I didn’t get her name, a woman who could prove useful in future negotiations. As this thought goes through my mind, I rub my face and lay on my back.

“You are right, I should have asked you your name; I don’t know why I didn’t.” I rub my hand over my face again, trying to sort out my confused mind. “So, you are the sister of Dane Reynolds, leader of the Savage Angels.” I make it a statement. All you have to do is look at them together and you can see the family resemblance. It’s strange, he’s enormous and she’s tiny but there is no doubting they are related. I turn my head to her. “He’s the whole reason I came to Tourmaline.”

“You came to Tourmaline to see Dane? Why?”

It’s clear that Emily and Dane have a very distant relationship, I’m not even sure if she understands his position within the Savage Angels or what he stands for. I am drawn to her; it’s as though she needs protecting from the world—including her brother.

I sit up, move the chair further away from the bed and then retake my seat. I find it easier to tell if a person is lying to me if I stare them in the eyes. “He has interfered with some of my business dealings near home. I need to work it out.” She sits up and pulls her dress down over her knees. I reach over and grab her hand. “Why don’t you have any clothes? Or do you keep them at your brother’s?” I ask.

She pulls away from me and shakes her head. “No, I haven’t seen Dane in years. He and my father had a falling out years and years ago. I’ve only spoken to him twice in the last ten years.” She sighs and drops her gaze to her hands. “When Dad died, I wasn’t thinking straight.” She straightens her shoulders and locks eyes with me. “I am now, though. I need to go back home. Will you come with me when I go to see Dane? I don’t know if I have the courage to see him on my own.”

“Of course I’ll come with you but you haven’t told me why you have no clothes.” I watch as a smile spreads across her face.

“I kind of just got in my car and drove. I don’t have anyone, not even friends really, Dad made sure of that. Dane is all I have left of my family.”

“Amare, I’m so sorry.”

She shakes her head frantically. “Oh no, Sal, don’t be sorry for me, not that. I’ve had enough sympathy to last me a lifetime. It’s time I started living for me. So, starting right now, I need to go and buy myself some clothes—underwear included—and then I’ll go see Dane with you.” A frown creases her forehead.

“What is it, Amare?”

“There’s one small problem. I wrecked my car so how do I leave town? Do you think they have buses?” I begin to laugh and so does she.

“How about when I have finished my business with your brother, I drive you to wherever you need to go? I could use the company and you are pleasant when you aren’t in trouble.” I chuckle.

“Really? Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.” Her eyes are wide and I can tell she means it. It’s been a really long time since a woman hasn’t wanted something from me. Most of them can be paid off with a bauble or money. In my life they serve a purpose, they are either trophies or brood mares and they never cause me this much trouble.

“You are not an imposition, but...you must keep out of trouble. Your brother is head of the Savage Angels and he deserves respect. Do not hit him again, Amare. His men won’t stand for it.”

She nods at me and says, “I’ve never hit anyone before. Ever. I can’t believe I did that.” She sounds upset with herself.

I smile at her and say, “Next time, aim for the jaw or his crotch, but his chest? No, Amare, that probably didn’t hurt him at all.”

She laughs and nods her head. “Ok, jaw or crotch. Got it!”

Now, I laugh. “How about we go shopping before you take on the Savage Angels?” I stand and walk to my jacket.

“I don’t really know a lot about them.” She stands and looks at her hands. “The Savage Angels, I know who they are but...that’s about it. If you have business with Dane, do you know him?” Her eyes are almost pleading.

“No, I don’t know him. He’s a business associate, one I have yet to have the pleasure of dealing with first hand. Now come, Emily, let’s go shopping.”

She nods at me and I again find her hand in mine. Compared to mine, hers is small delicate, just like the rest of her. She offers me one of her disarming smiles and pulls me towards the door.