Chapter 17
Emerson
I didn't want to see what was happening, yet when I felt the cool air between my spread thighs I couldn't stop myself from opening my eyes to see what had caused it. The biker who'd been leaning over me was suddenly gone, and he hadn’t just stepped away. I watched him stagger backwards, his eyes round with shock and disbelief, before he crashed to the floor with a bullet hole to the temple.
Yelling, flashes of gunfire, and the acrid smell of something unpleasant filled the bar. The four Hellraisers had no chance against the encroaching Sentinels who continued to pour into the room, firing their guns. Gloria screamed and rolled off the pool table and to the floor when the two men attacking her pulled their weapons.
"I think one of them took Sissy to the bathroom," I said, meeting the rage of fire in Ace's eyes as he stomped toward me. I tried to arrange my clothes back into place, but he grabbed me away from the machine and into his arms when he reached me.
"I've got it!" Tanner snarled, spinning toward the direction of the hallway.
"Are you alright?" Ace growled down into my face, holding his gun up and pointed away from me. I'd never seen him look so feral before, like a wild animal getting ready to rip another one apart.
"Yes—I--," Suddenly it was all too much. Now that we were safe I fell apart in the powerful arms wrapped around me, burying my face against his hard chest. I was trembling against him, holding back tears, all too aware of the unleashed fury holding his body taut. Ace was a hard man through and through, and it wasn't often that he let his emotions get away from him. Now was no different. I felt safe and protected in his crushing arms, but it was his heart that I wanted inside of, the one pounding beneath my ear. Why couldn't he let go?
"I've got you, baby." He'd murmured the words so low that I was sure I was the only one who'd heard them.
A last gunshot caused me to jump, but I remained against him, accepting his comfort for however long he'd let me. The sound had come from one of the restrooms. Soon afterward, Tanner walked back into the room with a disheveled Sissy right in front of him. Her blouse and stockings were torn. Black mascara ran down her flushed cheeks and her cherry-red lipstick was smeared all around her mouth. We met each other's eyes briefly before she continued to where Gloria was.
"Where's Bonnie?" Tanner asked in a hardened tone.
"I'm here," Bonnie said, finally standing up from where she'd been hiding behind the bar.
"You okay, honey?" he asked. She nodded, but the unshed tears in her eyes revealed how frightened she'd been. "Gabe, call Callahan."
I shuddered at the thought of how close I'd come to being raped. The muscles in Ace's arms flexed in response. I looked up, taking in his tightly clenched jaw and the muscle twitching there, breathing in the scent of leather and smoke. His mouth was pressed so tightly that I felt the urge to smooth my fingers over it until it softened. His nostrils were flaring with his rapid breaths. I finally met the glittering fierceness in his dark eyes. Our gazes locked. I shuddered, but this time it was for a different reason. He made me feel so much.
I wanted Ace.
God, how I wanted him.
"Anyone need to go to the hospital?" Tanner would expect it if any of us had been raped. He cared for and took care of his employees.
"No," I said softly, reluctantly stepping out of Ace's arms. Sissy and Gloria shook their heads in response, too. The look that moved across Tanner’s face revealed his relief.
"The bar is officially closed until further notice."
Knowing the girls and most of their situations, I knew that closing the bar was going to be a financial hardship, myself not excluded. We'd had damage to the bar before and had managed to stay open, but I had the feeling that Tanner's decision had more to do with our safety. I could see the look of resignation and worry on Sissy and Gloria's faces over his words, but they remained silent. We all knew better than to question Tanner’s decisions.
"William, Heath, Pete, follow the girls to make sure they make it home okay, and then come back. If Callahan wants their statements he can get it later."
Heath walked toward Gloria and Sissy, who shared an apartment. "Come on, ladies."
"We need to get our things first," Sissy said, heading toward the break room with Gloria following. I could understand their eagerness to get out of there.
"Get your purse, Bonnie." William marched toward the bar.
"Guess that leaves you and me, darlin'," Pete smiled at me.
"I'll take her." Dawson stepped forward.
"The fuck you will." Ace's low growl caused the younger man to halt with raised brows.
Three different expressions were suddenly directed at me. Pete's revealed that he didn't care one way or the other who took me home. Dawson's was one of concern and slight amusement that was directed at Ace. Ace's expression was carved in granite, and it was obvious that he didn't expect to be challenged.
"I don't care who follows Emerson home." Tanner's tone revealed his slight aggravation and impatience over the situation. "Just get it done and get back here. We have shit to take care of."
Ace took my hand and led me out the front door.
"My car is out back." I was sure that he already knew that, but felt the need to remind him anyway.
"Know that."
What was going on? He led me to his bike. I felt my heart race at what that meant.
"Want you on my bike." He turned and faced me before getting on. "I'm done resisting you, Emerson." I caught my breath when he threaded his fingers through my disheveled hair, cupping the back of my head. “I’m going to fuck you. You better prepare for that.”
His kiss was everything I thought it would be, sending a river of wild lust through my blood, and turning me on in a heartbeat. There was nothing soft or tender about it. There was no time for finesse. His mouth was claiming mine in a rough and passionate grinding that made me instantly wet and needy. I opened my mouth beneath the pressure of his, and our tongues went on the attack. I didn't realize that I'd moved in closer to Ace’s massive body until I felt his erection grinding against me.
He pulled away from me with a deep growl. "Hell, I shouldn't have done that because now all I want to do is fuck you right here."
A breathless sound of reciprocation escaped me as I stared up into his glittering eyes. I wanted that more than anything, too.
"Get on my bike, baby girl."
I was quivering with arousal but managed to do as Ace asked. It surprised me when he mounted behind, rather than in front of me. A strong arm wrapped around my middle and jerked me tightly against his unyielding body, so tight that I could feel the size of his hard-on and the strength of it as it throbbed against my lower body. I instinctively arched my bottom into the hard muscle, closing my eyes with anticipated pleasure and a moan that I'm sure he could hear. The sound vibrating in his chest confirmed it.
Somehow, we made it to my apartment. By the time we arrived, most of my hair was loose and windblown and curled around Ace's upper body. He pulled his bike up close to the curb and set his foot firmly on the ground, but he didn't turn the loud machine off. Disappointment rolled through me as I moved to get off. I gasped when he splayed his large hand over my belly, holding me captive.
"Do you know how fucking bad I want to go in there with you, tear your fucking clothes off, and fuck you until you can't walk?"
I shuddered wildly, the result of his hot breath and the raspy sound of his voice against my ear.
"Tell me you want that too, Emerson."
"I want that, too." My words were breathless as my breathing turned ragged. My hand moved to his, guiding his up to cover my suddenly achy breast. My nipples were so hard they hurt.
Ace growled, squeezing the heavy mound roughly, and then he pinched my nipple until I cried out from the burn. His teeth chewed on the side of my neck, slowly nibbling up to my ear again. "Your nipple hard for me, baby?"
I nodded, arching my neck with a whimper.
"You wet?" His other hand cupped my sex.
"Yes!" I hissed, straining into his intimate touch. My skirt had ridden up when I'd mounted the bike, and the only thing between his hand and my pussy was my thin panties. He wasted no time in wiggling his finger beneath the silk and running it along my sopping slit. "Oh, God!" I cried, throwing my head back against his chest.
A savage sound escaped Ace as he sank his finger deep inside me while using his thumb against my sensitive clit. I began to tremble uncontrollably, riding the digit that was giving me so much pleasure. I didn't care where we were. I didn't care about anything except what he was making me feel. I'd wanted this for so long that I knew it was just a matter of seconds before I exploded around him.
He knew exactly what to do to get me off, adding another finger until they were both swallowed up by my constricting pussy. I clenched my muscles around him, bringing my arms up to link around his neck. With a hand pinching my nipples, his mouth and teeth biting and sucking the flesh of my neck, and his fingers fucking my pussy, I came undone, biting down on my lip to keep from screaming out.
"That's it, baby," he rasped huskily into my ear. "Put some fucking cum on my fingers." I hardly recognized his hoarse tone.
My body went into convulsions, riding out one of the most intensely satisfying orgasms I'd ever had while Ace ground his cock against me, his breathing hot and raspy. He held me until my breathing calmed and my body stilled. As I came down I became self-conscious of our surroundings.
"Go inside, baby." Ace took my hand and helped me get off his biker. Our eyes met in the semi-darkness of the parking lot. "I'll be back."
"You will?"
His big hand wrapped around the back of my neck and he pulled me in for a brief, hard kiss. "Count on it. I gotta go. Now go."
I ran my tongue over my swollen lip as I walked to my apartment door, tasting his warmth. Ace revved his bike behind me, but he didn't leave. I knew that he wouldn't until I was safely inside. His consideration brought a smile to my lips. Everything else had left a pleasant arousal warming my blood, in spite of my recent orgasm. If this was how I felt from his fingering me, I'd never survive a pounding from his cock.
I closed and locked my door, leaning against it. He was coming back. Tonight? Tomorrow? He hadn't been clear. The only thing I could focus on was the mild tingling between my legs and the wetness of my arousal and climax soaking my panties. I gave a sharp shiver, anticipation of his return giving me hope that something significant was changing for us. I couldn't deny that I wanted Ace to fuck me, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. I wanted it all.
I loved him.
I headed toward my shower. If Ace was going to return tonight, I wanted to be ready for him.