Chapter Twenty-Eight
The first thing Mike scented when he came through the door to his dark loft was Rin. With a contented smile, he imagined her all warm and toasty, curled up in his bed sleeping and he couldn’t wait to crawl in behind her and cuddle until he fell asleep.
The light snapping on by the couch had Mike startling and clutching at his heart with a rather embarrassing yelp. “Holy shit, Rin. You scared the crap out of me.”
He had been smiling when he said the words but one look at her face and his smile fell, replaced by concern. “What is it? What’s happened?”
“I followed you tonight.”
Mike grimaced, not sure what to say now that his worst fear had come true.
Rin motioned with her hand to the closed laptop sitting next to her on the couch. “And while I was waiting for you to come home, I looked it up online.” Man, he hated how flat her tone was. Why wasn’t she screaming at him? Yelling? Something…
“Did you know that if someone had called the cops and reported that place everyone there would have been arrested?”
Mike blew out a breath and winced as he ran his swollen hand through his hair. “I wish you hadn’t seen that, Rin. I never wanted you to see me like that.”
That statement finally got a response. Standing up from the couch, her eyes glittered with anger as she marched over to him, poked a hard finger into his chest, and spat, “So you lied about it? Really? You thought that was the better way to go? Why?”
“It’s not like I’m proud of it,” Mike growled.
“Then why do you do it?” Her voice was a plea, begging for him to explain it to her so that she could understand, and it was tearing him up inside that he had hurt her. By trying to protect her, he had hurt her.
Mike was too agitated to stand still so he started to pace. “I was drowning in debt, Rin. Do you know how much money it takes to keep this place open?” He asked waving his hand around to encompass the building. “Even if I service every vehicle in Malsum Pass every week, I still wouldn’t pull in enough to keep the lights on. I have to keep my prices competitive or people will go elsewhere, but I can’t make a profit at those rates.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, he collapsed onto the couch and dropped his head into his hands. Rin sat down next to him and he felt her hand come to rest on his back. “The fights pay out enough that I’ve been able to clear my debt, keep this place open, and even save some money.”
Rubbing his hands over his face, he sat back. “But I’ve been planning to quit soon,” he assured her. “I’ve got enough of a cushion now where I should be good with the combined income of the garage, the wrecker calls, and the sales from the cars I fix up.”
Rin’s hand came to his cheek and turned his face so that he was looking at her before she cupped his face with both hands. “I want you to quit now. No more. I understand why you did it, but you're mine. The thought of you getting arrested, or hurt, or worse... please, please just stop. Please tell me that you won't put yourself at risk like that again.”
Mike’s hands reached for her face as well and smoothed his thumbs over her cheeks. He could see it all in her eyes – her fear, her love… how important his next words were to her. He loved this female, and if such a small thing would make her happy then there was no question as to his answer. With firm resolve, and absolute honesty, he looked deeply into her eyes and said the words, “I promise.”
The breath Rin hadn’t been aware she was holding left her in a rush. She could see the truth in Mike’s face, so open and honest. And shining from his beautiful hazel eyes, love for her. Happiness nearly overwhelmed her and with a glad cry, she threw her arms around his neck and peppered his face with kisses.
Within moments, Mike had her on his lap, his arms locked tight around her as he sealed his mouth to hers. What had started as an expression of relief and happiness quickly turned to passion as heat uncoiled in Rin’s belly.
Close to panting, Rin broke the kiss and attacked his shirt, nearly desperate to remove it, to see him fully, feel him fully. Mike eagerly obliged, the sound of threads snapping at the seams as he tore the shirt roughly over his head.
As soon as he was bare to the waist, Rin’s hands skated over his ribs, his belly, while her lips caressed in their wake. Mike groaned, the sound music to her ears and her fingers set to work on his jeans. Mike’s hands covered hers and forestalled her. Shooting him a questioning look, he smiled in reassurance and scooped her up into his arms as he stood from the couch. “I love your hands on me, baby and I love the way you take charge, but right now I need to touch you, Rin. Tonight, let me love you.”
Rin was sure she was going to melt into a puddle of goo as Mike laid her down on his bed and slowly removed her clothing, kissing every inch of flesh as he bared it to his admiring eyes. If Rin had had any doubt about Mike’s feelings for her, the way he looked at her now, the way he worshipped her, would have put any fears to rest. With fingers, lips, teeth, and tongue he brought her to screaming heights of desire again and again before he finally entered her waiting warmth.
Mike’s eyes were intense as he gazed into hers, glittering with need yet he held back. His jaw was clenched hard. His arms locked, to hold his weight above her, trembled with his restraint as each thrust of his hips was designed to bring her the most pleasure rather than letting go and pumping into her roughly as he most likely wanted.
Lifting her hands, she cupped his face. Such a good male, such a sweet male, and completely hers. Her eyes shining with love and her voice breathy with passion Rin moaned, “Let go, love, I want all of you. I need you.”
The dam of Mike’s control broke. His mouth crashed down on hers as his arms squeezed her tight and his hips thrust rapidly in his passion; deeper, harder, and exactly what Rin needed. It was a spectacular display that propelled her quickly to the pinnacle, and once spent, left her smiling in satisfaction.
Cuddled together in the tangled sheets, their breathing still slightly labored, Mike’s fingertips caressed the skin of Rin’s arm. “So who gave you a ride to the warehouse tonight? Ginny?” His voice was sleepy and he even ended the question with a yawn.
Rin was also tired after such an eventful evening, but his question had her blushing. As if he could feel the heat of her cheeks against his skin, Mike’s head lifted from the pillow to look down at her face with concern. “Rin?”
Twirling her finger through the mat of hair around his nipple, she lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I drove.”
Mike let out a slight choking sound of disbelief. “You did?” Then he chuckled and wrapped his arms tight around her and gave her a squeeze.
Rin’s finger stilled in surprise. “You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?” Before Rin could explain that she had technically stolen a car and driven illegally, Mike asked, “I thought driving wasn’t for you?”
Rin propped her chin up on his chest and grinned. “I guess I just hadn’t found proper motivation.” Her expression turned to pure chagrin. “I ah, may have scuffed up the car on one side.”
Mike sat up fully, pulling her with him, and frowned, his hands gripping her arms. “Were you in an accident?” He asked appalled at the idea, “Are you hurt?” He finished, the words coming out in a deep growl.
“I’m fine,” she was quick to assure him, her hands settling on his shoulders as she pet him to calmness, “Though there’s a trashcan that wasn’t so lucky.”
Mike collapsed back onto the pillows in relief taking her down with him and resumed his strokes only on her back this time. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not sorry you found your motivation, Rin, but I am sorry that it was because you had reason to be suspicious of me.”
Rin yawned and burrowed closer. “I love you, Mike. No matter what.” She said sleepily. “Just no more lies, okay?”
Mike squeezed his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I love you too much, Rin to ever keep anything from you again. Promise.”
That was all she needed to hear before falling asleep, warm in her lover’s embrace, with a contented smile on her face.