Crank's Rescue (Hell Raiders MC Book 6), page 15
Fuck. My woman was smart as hell. I had no fucking clue what to say, so I just nodded. I'd figure it out later.
"Crank, you can't just nod. You have to say something."
Well, shit. "I…uh…okay, yeah, I'm sorry." The temperature in the room went up a few hundred degrees and sweat broke over my upper lip. "You're completely right."
My damn phone started buzzing. Pissed at the interruption, I glanced at the screen anyway. Two Case. "What?"
"Get over here." Then dead air.
"Two Case has something. Come on." While Sarah pulled her clothes on, I threw all our shit back in our bags, and double checked my weapons.
"Ready." She pulled her hair back in a ponytail. One glimpse of the way her shirt stretched over her tits, and I cussed Two Case for his bad timing.
I unhappily adjusted my half-hard dick, and grabbed our bags, keeping one hand free for a gun. Outside, the security light over the parking lot flickered randomly in the deepening darkness. The building muffled traffic sounds from the street. The whole thing felt eerie as fuck. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I watched carefully for signs of a threat. I'd learned long ago to trust my instincts.
"Stay close." The bags over my shoulder made it awkward, but I kept that hand on Sarah's arm. I had no intention of allowing someone to take her in a snatch and grab.
Her surprised grunt served as my only warning before a force hit the middle of my back and propelled me against the side of the building. Spinning, I used the bags as a weapon, and caught the attacker about chest high. It was enough to slow him down. Pushing Sarah behind me, I allowed my training to take over.
A slashing downward blow with the butt of the gun caught one fucker on the side of the neck, and he went down hard. A kick contacted the solar plexus of the other one, doubling him over to take a knee to the face. In a matter of seconds, the threat was cleared.
I grabbed the bags, and Sarah's arm again. "Stay fucking close, and run." I shortened my strides to accommodate hers, and practically dragged her to Two Case's room. I smacked the window as I passed. "Open up. Coming in hot."
The door swung open and I gave Sarah an unceremonious shove inside, then kicked it shut behind me.
Two Case helped Sarah to her feet as I dropped the damn bags. "What's going on? Besides you coming in here like a lunatic."
"Two thugs tried to get the drop on us coming out of our room."
"Sennit?"
"I don't know. Could have been, but if it was, he didn't send the good help." I gave a quick re-cap. "I didn't take the time to check them out."
"I'll get it. We have some extra hands right now." He placed a quick call, said a few words, and hung up. "If they're still there, the boys will get to the bottom of it."
A small sound drew my attention back to Sarah. She huddled at the end of the bed, tears rolling down her cheeks, hands shaking as she tried to still them in her lap.
With a sick feeling in the pit of my gut, I sat down beside her and pulled her close. "It's okay now. You're safe."
She nodded. "I know. I…I was just scared." Her whole fucking body trembled against me.
"Hey, Gator, you got any liquor? She could use a shot." I wrapped both arms around her and lifted her into my lap.
Gator brought over a fifth of Jack, and a plastic motel water cup, still wrapped in plastic. He got the cup opened and poured three fingers. "Here, Sarah, you drink all this. It'll help you feel better."
I helped her hold the cup, and she got the first gulp down, then gasped at the force of the alcohol hitting her throat. After a lot of coaxing, she managed to get the whole thing down. But the tremors had already subsided.
Two Case stepped back a little from the post he'd taken at the window. "All good now?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"It's going down tomorrow. Sennit liked Lanea enough to include her in his scheduled sale tomorrow. Her and several other kids go to at least a six paying customers. He gave her all kinds of warnings about what would happen if she opened her mouth about not wanting to be there." Two Case scowled. "Also got his name on tape. He got a call and answered during the conversation."
"That's good then for turning it over to the feds." I still had no intention of allowing anyone else to punish Sennit, and I figured Two Case and Gator felt the same way. They nodded in silent reply to my unasked question. Yeah, same idea. "So what's our plan?"
"We don't have an exact location yet, though Sennit mentioned something called the Wilmott. Assume that's a hotel. Gator is running it down now." Two Case went on with how everything should go down.
When he finished, I nodded, considering. "Yeah, that should cover everything." They'd made a solid plan of action, accounting for variables that may or may not come into play.
A soft tap at the door interrupted, followed by a few words in a language I didn't recognize. Two Case seemed to, though. He crossed and let a kid inside, who looked about seventeen or so.
The kid glanced around, did a double take when his gaze landed on Sarah, then turned back to Two Case. "Couple of junkies, looking for easy cash."
"You're sure?"
"Of course, motherfucker. I don't make that kind of mistake. They had a little on them, though, so they're on a payroll and following orders." The kid grinned as if he'd pulled off some big prank, then spun to face Sarah. "My name is Storm, if you ever need anything. Your man did a good job, laid those cocksuckers out cold. They both need a medicine man."
Two Case shook his head. "Get the fuck out of here, kid. If I need anything else, I'll send a smoke signal."
The kid grinned again, gave a mock salute, and left without making a sound.
"Excuse him." Two Case turned the lock on the door and glanced out the window. "He's young and…enthusiastic."
Gator gave a muffled laugh. "Yeah, that's one way to put it. Little fucker is bloodthirsty."
Two Case agreed and they joked back and forth for a moment, until Sarah gathered her composure enough to speak. "You, all of you, sound like this…" She gestured around with her hands. "All of this, is just business as usual. I don't even know what to think about that."
"Sarah, darlin', it kind of is business as usual." I tried to think how to put it. "The difference is, we're coming down on the right side this time. We're one-percenters. We live outside the law, and we break it all the fucking time. Usually, we're breaking the law, or figuring out how to skirt it."
She shrugged a little. "I thought that sort of thing was only on TV."
And there it was. She couldn't accept my life, even though before she thought she could. I should have known better than get my hopes up. It was okay, though. I couldn't expect her to just turn against everything she'd ever fucking known.
"For most people, it is. For me, and others like me, it's fucking everyday life. I told you before, Sarah, I'm not a good man."
She stared up at me for a moment. "I don't care what kind of life you lead. I know you're a good man when it counts."
Sarah:
My head spun with everything that happened in the last couple of hours. I was more than ready when Crank led me back to our room. As we walked, the memory of that man's hands on me earlier made me jump at every shadow or little noise. Crank seemed to sense my fear, and pulled me closer.
I tried to slow my heart rate by remembering the speed and effectiveness of Crank's actions against the attackers. They hadn't had a chance with him. He warned me before that he was a dangerous man. He hadn't lied. Maybe that should frighten me, but it had the opposite effect. I felt entirely safe with Crank. He wouldn't allow anything or anyone to harm me. And he had the skills to back it up. By the time we reached our room, I was okay.
He closed the door behind us, and put our bags back on the dresser. "Guess we didn't need all this shit after all. Figured we should take it though, just in case."
I watched him pull his boots off, suddenly wary. Had the Crank I loved really returned? Or that cold and distant stranger? Acknowledging the emotion surprised me a little. It felt new and unfamiliar, but strong and ready to flourish. All it needed was him.
His leather vest followed his boots, and then his T-shirt came off to reveal the ridges and planes of his chest and abs. Even after I knew what he tasted like, what his skin felt like, and traced the swirling lines of his tattoos, the view still left me unable to do anything more than watch him. Another realization came to me with startling clarity. He was a drug, and I was the junkie.
I stood, my mouth dry and my pulse fluttering wildly, and started peeling my own clothes off. He loosened his jeans and stared at me like a starving beast, ready to devour me. And I wanted to be consumed, more than I wanted to keep breathing. Naked, I faced him, already breathing hard, waiting. My breasts felt full and heavy, needing his touch, while the ache at my center expanded.
He stared at me, chest rising and falling steadily, and his gaze flicked over my body in an intimate touch that felt physical. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Sarah?" His voice sounded uncharacteristically rough and husky. "I won't fucking back off again. If you're mine tonight, you're mine forever. I'll do everything possible to shield you from the bad shit in my life, but it will always be there."
How strange that I didn't need even a moment to consider. "I'm sure." The old me, even at her most rebellious, would never have considered such a thing. "I don't care what else is in your life, as long as I'm there, too."
Crank crossed the room in a rush and gathered me roughly into his arms. "Thank fuck."
I couldn't get close enough to him. My body yearned for his touch, and I made some pitiful pleading noise deep in my throat.
His mouth came down on mine with almost bruising force, and I met him more than halfway. A sharp nip at my upper lip sent even more heat to pool in my lower regions. He took advantage of my small gasp to thrust his tongue between my lips. That velvety stroke against the sensitive skin he found made me squirm against him. I never wanted that kiss to end, but I needed so much more.
He slid his hands between us, separating us a little, even as I struggled to get closer. And then he shoved his jeans down, allowing me to press against the full length of his body. A low hiss escaped him as his erection came into contact with my body, bringing me a sense of satisfaction.
Rough, calloused hands skimmed over my body, then settled just under my butt long enough for him to lift me a bit. My turn to hiss came as his erection slipped between my thighs, and he moved so it just barely caressed my outer parts. My entire lower area pulsed, incredibly aroused by the light touch.
"Fuck, baby, so hot!" His hot breath against my neck made me whimper with need. He raised me in his arms, and took a few quick steps, then lowered me to the bed. "And for fucking once, I'm taking my time with you. By the time I'd done, you'll know exactly who you belong to." The words made me shiver with anticipation.
***
Crank:
Fuck. She fucking destroyed me with the little noises she made. The only consolation was she seemed as deeply affected by me as I was by her. With one knee on the bed beside her, I leaned down to taste her mouth again, before I moved on to other delicacies. She gave a little moan and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Mmm, no baby. Going on my schedule this time." I untangled her arms and drew away a little, just enough to lick down her neck and settle on one nipple. She arched as I applied a little pressure with my teeth and flicked my tongue over her sensitive flesh.
I continued, fucking determined to find everything she didn't know she loved. A scrape of my teeth on the underside of her tit brought a frustrated groan as she tried to guide me back to her nipple.
In sheer self-defense, so I didn't give in and let her have what she wanted and bring this to an end way too fucking soon, I pulled back, out of reach. "Keep that up, baby, and I'll have to punish you."
She looked up at me, maybe a little worried, but her eyes stayed dark with desire, and her lips parted. "Punish?"
Fuck, I hoped she pushed it. "Yeah. You know that thing that happens when you do shit you're not supposed to."
"Oh." She stared at me a little longer. "Okay."
I switched to the other nipple, and teased the first with my fingers, and just like that, she pulled at my hair, trying to guide me again. I let her nipple pop out of my mouth. "Ah, ah, I warned you."
A touch of fear widened her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Too late for sorry." I backed off the bed and drew her to the edge. "Now you get the fucking consequences." Leaning over her, I stroked my cock along her tit, concentrating on the nipple. Fuck! Why did I feel like the one being tortured?
She moaned again, small hands reaching for my hard-on, wanting more. For just an instant, I gave in, and let her, then pulled back again. Lifting her gently, I turned her, and flipped her to her belly, then raised her to her hands and knees.
That perfect ass offered way too fucking much temptation. I brought my palm down on it with a light smack. Sarah gasped in shock, but now that she was prepared, I gave it another smack, a little harder, then stopped to rub away the sting.
"You spanked me!" Her indignation almost made me laugh.
My fingers dipped to her wet slit, silencing her objections with another gasp. "Yeah, and you fucking liked it." One finger slipped inside her, and the reflexive clench of her muscles nearly undid me. The sight of my handprint standing out in pink relief against her pale skin did it. I lined up and slid the head of my dick along her slit, then paused at her entrance for only a second. So much for waiting.
Sarah met me more than half way, thrusting back onto my hard-on with a sound that curled my toes. I caught one arm around her waist and drew her fully onto her knees as I pushed deep, groaning at the impossible tightness of the angle. Wrapping her hair around my other hand, I angled her head back and to the side so I could taste her mouth again.
She whimpered when I increased the pressure on her hair, and her internal muscles squeezed hard. I let my hand at her waist slip down to circle her clit with one finger, bringing on another spasm.
"Fuck, baby, how you keep doing this to me?" I lowered her back to her hands and knees, but kept my grip on her hair, and my finger strumming that little bundle of nerves. Her only reply was a wordless cry, and she thrust back onto me, hard.
More than ready, I gave myself over to her. Our skin slapped together, punctuated by my harsh breathing and her sounds of abandon, pushing me to drive harder. Even the fucking smell of sex with Sarah was different, addictive, and enough to keep me on edge forever.
My head buzzed with desperate need for release, and she gave a sudden cry, sharper than before, and her body seized up, inner muscles rippling on my cock as she rode the crest of her orgasm. And that's all it took. Heat exploded at the base of my spine and my muscles went rigid, keeping me in place as I poured into her. Finally, I slumped forward over her, and we both concentrated on just getting enough air into our lungs.
She moved a little, and I allowed her to turn over, then dropped to the soft cradle her body offered. "Crank?"
"Mmm?" Any other words refused to form.
"I love you."
Shit! I raised my head, looking down at her. She looked thoroughly fucking satisfied, happy, but a little nervous. She was hardly the first chick to say that word to me, but she was the first I took seriously. And the first I felt the same thing back for.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." She bit her lip and tears filled her eyes.
Leave it to me to fucking wait too long. "Fuck, Sarah, no don't cry. Please." I rolled to the side and gathered her close. "You startled me a little. I've never had someone say that to me and actually mean it."
She pushed back from me. "No, it's okay. You don't have to explain, or anything. I got carried away."
Now how the fuck was I supposed to fix this shit? "Sarah—"
"No, really, Crank." She turned away, but not before a fucking tear spilled over. "I'm tired. Goodnight."
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This amazing proud woman actually loved me, and all I could do was fucking hurt her. A goddamn lump the size of a Harley engine filled my throat. I fell back against my pillow in defeat, and for the first time since I killed Old Man Hardymon on that crooked mountain road, fucking tears of pain leaked from my eyes.
Sarah:
Tears soaked my pillow, and I didn't even have the will to wipe them from my eyes. He'd broken me. In just seconds. Maybe he was right. He was a bad man, and I would do well to keep my distance. Except even while my heart shattered, every fiber of my being craved him.
And he lay there beside me, his body still, his breathing even and deep as he slept. Not even a hint of regret, beyond that moment after I first said it. No doubt that came from embarrassment more than any kind of feeling for me.
First thing tomorrow, I would talk to Gator and Two Case. There was really no need for me to be here any longer. I could creep away and lick my wounds in private, while they took care of Sennit however they chose.
One side of me, the little girl with the boo-boos, wanted her mommy to kiss it all better, the real me knew I could never share this with my mom. She wouldn't let it go, and every time she thought I might be on the brink of taking a risk, she would pull it out to remind me of the consequences.
No matter how badly I hurt now, I found no anger in my heart for Crank. He was just living his life the only way he knew how. In fact, a sort of gratitude filled me. In the brief time I knew him, he had shown me what it was like to be treasured. No regrets.
For the first time in my life, I understood how some women tolerated absolutely anything from a man, just to keep him. An empty, bleak future stretched before me, without Crank. If he offered the opportunity to stay with him right now, what sacrifices was I prepared to make? I had already given up any measure of self-respect. And suddenly, the unfathomable prospect of numbing my heart and mind with drugs seemed like a reasonable thing. Was this how people fell into that life?
