Baller: A Bad Boy Romance (38 page)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Kane?”

They were in a ratty motel, far from the wrong side of the tracks, but Kane only had to nod at the desk clerk to get a key and lead her up a rickety staircase. Now, behind closed doors, Angeline paced the room and brushed her finger against the desk. Lifting her hand to her eyes, she saw no dust in the moonlight. The faint trace of smoke and sex hung in the hair, but it wasn’t a hovel, and it probably wasn’t what he had planned when he presented her the flowers. Angeline frowned when she realized that she had left his gift behind, and as she turned to apologize, he was on her again.

And she did not refuse his touch.

“Angel…”

His kiss spilled across her lips, her cheeks, her neck, and she found herself hungry for the feel of his skin on hers. Tearing at his shirt, she grazed her nails against his tattooed chest, and when she saw her name on his arm, she kissed each letter then fell to her knees. Her hands worked around his waist band, and she unzipped his fly. He was hard; she had suspected as much when she sat on the back of his bike, but now there was no doubting, no mistaking that his desire for her had not waned in the slightest. She took his cock in her hand, her fingers forming a slow, smooth stroke as she drew towards the tip of his piece. Bowing her head, she kissed him there and longed to feel him in every part of her.

“No,” he said. Angeline was stunned, scared again when he lifted her off the floor. Her knees knocked together as he steadied her stance, and when she started to object, he pressed his finger to her lips and slowly shook his head. “Not on your knees,” he said. “That’s not where you belong.” Kane was silent as he gently eased her dress from her body, and when he had her naked under his eyes, he eased her hands to his hips. “Now you,” he said.

“I… what…?”

“Strip me,” he said. “I’ve missed that.”

Biting down on her lip, Angeline felt a surge of joy, and the need for him to be inside her trumped any fear. Pulling his jeans from his taut limbs, Kane kicked his boots aside and stepped away from the denim.

“That’s my girl,” he said.

Angeline started to guide him towards the bed, but before they fell as one, his arms surrounded her bare body, and he held her close.

“I’m not leaving you,” he said. “And you’re sure as hell not leaving me.”

Kane kept her on her toes, and his lips nipped at her flesh. His mouth ran down her arms, suckled at her breasts, and when his hands bordered her tender tummy, he looked up at her with a hint of fear in his eyes.

“I’m being straight with you, Angel,” he swore. “You just have to trust me.”

Forgetting all doubt, she did just that. However, when she saw him on his knees, Angeline shook her head and kissed his brow. “I do,” she whispered. “Always. But please,” she said, as his lips stopped, and she curved her fingers under his steely chin, “not on your knees. You don’t belong there either.”

Lifting one eyebrow, Kane was back on his feet, and he held her waist. His hands glided up and down her back, and when she kissed him again, he came back to the point of power and tossed her to the bed. Angeline smiled at the feel of the sheets stroking her skin, and he fenced in her limp limbs with his dominant thighs. His cock grazed her pussy, and Angeline spread her legs to take all of him in. Sliding into her depths with no effort, she clasped his arms and arched her body to know him better, to know him again. His piece started to throb inside her, and as her eyes rolled back in her head, she felt him still, confusing her. As her fingers stretched towards his face, she grimaced at his pained expression.

“Kane?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

His swagger seemed to fade, and as he started to pull away, she grabbed his arms and fought to keep him close.

“Kane?”

Angeline remained caught between his thighs, but his hands were nervous as they touched her body. “Is this… is this okay?” he asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

This was always okay, always right. Nothing could challenge the moments when they held each other, when she claimed his body, and when there was no way of knowing where he started and she ended. Kane had never hesitated before. Not when they were like this. So why…?

“Well… is it… is it okay for the baby?” he asked.

With her pussy buzzing and her chest heaving, it took Angeline several seconds to catch up to his sudden concern. As she looked up at him, she was struck by the thought that the man on top of her could drift back to a little boy even as he hung inside her. He knew the streets; he knew more than she ever wanted to learn about a life behind bars. Plus, there was no denying that he was able to take her to new heights, and she longed for him to lift her towards the stratosphere right now.

“Kane?”

Their eyes locked, and Kane focused on her, only her, nothing but her, as she glided her fingers down his face. “It’s more than okay,” she promised. “Trust the nurse.”

Straining forward, Angeline captured his lips again, and his tentative kiss expanded around her mouth. It intensified as she drew him closer, and when he came up for air, Kane peered down at her and smiled softly.

“So you’re sure?” he teased, his fingers playing with her hair again.

“Definitely,” Angeline said. “Please…”

He didn’t need another prompt. Taking hold of her sides, Kane went back to grinding his hips, and Angeline slipped back to the sheets as he took her. His cock was sure as his thrusts grew fast, and she felt as if she was falling though space when he took possession. Under the stars was one thing; but now, there was no questioning that she was damaged goods. He could still run, leave her to her shame, and go on the hunt for Noel.

“Oh… oh!” Kane made a different move. Burying his face in her breasts, he moved closer and plunged into her warm body. At the sound of her sighs, he folded her into his arms and breathed into her neck.

“We have a lot of lost time to make up for,” he said.

Nodding into his hair, Angeline shuddered when his hands came to rest under her back. She wrapped her legs around his taut thighs and kept trying to bring him closer. When it seemed like he could go no further, Angeline brought her hands to his back, her nails poking into his skin. Their eyes met, and she felt a tinge of doubt. Her mind and her heart started to rest on the edge a rocky shore. This couldn’t be so simple. Noel would figure it out. And when he did…

“I don’t want to waste another minute,” he said.

He plunged, and Angeline gasped at the feel of him all around her. He took her without distress, and as the stream of his lust worked its way under her flesh, Angeline breathed happily.

“Me neither,” she whispered. “Stay… stay inside me.”

Honoring her request, Kane released. She thought that he was satisfied, but his pulse told a different story. Stiffening again, Kane’s thrusts revived, but she did not fall back to the bed. Angeline’s head searched for rest, and Kane brought her watering mouth to his chest. Settling there, smiling around the feel of his muscles, his beating ink, she held onto him. Her tender pussy whined around the feel of his flesh, and she longed for a way, some way, that they could just delay the inevitable. Forever. Even as she climaxed, Angeline imagined living around his cock and never knowing fear again. There was no terror when he kept pushing inside her, his cock straining to get all of her back. Angeline acquiesced and held him. Her head finally fell to the pillow, and Kane came to rest at her side, his hands studying her face.

“I’m never leaving you,” he said. Angeline starred to drift, hoping only for happy dreams, as Kane ran his fingers through her hair. “Never,” he repeated. Settling into his broad chest, tears filled her eyes as his cock abandoned her cunt. The moment of longing was quenched when he folded her into his arms and reduced his voice to a gentle whisper. “Angel,” he started, “I’m going to keep you safe.” Touching her tummy, Angeline flinched, but Kane kept her in his arms and said, “I could kill him, Angel—for what he did to you. I really—”

“No!” she moaned through her satisfied state. Clinging to him, she begged him to be careful. Angeline knew that Noel had looked out for him—but that was before he had hurt her.

“Relax, honey.” She did just that, as he dragged her closer, and as he stroked her hair, she rested, as he whispered, “It’s our secret, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

He had held her through nightmares of Noel’s cruel assault. Sometimes she shot up under the weight of the memory and nearly batted him back until she knew that he was here, that he was Kane. Falling back into his arms, she slept at his side, and when her eyes fluttered open, she was happy to find that he was still with her. Kissing her quickly, Kane would make love to her again, and as he stayed inside her, he held her face and assured her that everything was fine.

Because he had a plan.

“It is our baby,” he said. “We’re sticking to that story, and I’m going to keep you… both of you…”

He touched her tummy, and Angeline curled her fingers around his touch. Maybe it
was
possible. They could cover up the last two months without Noel keeping count. They considered hiding her away in whispered tones, and Kane had promised that even if it came to that, he was not going to leave her alone.

Resting in his embrace, Angeline pressed her hands to his chest and listened, as he promised that soon they would put their plan into action. If she had to flee, Kane would already have staked his claim to the baby. Feeling as if the baby was his eradicated Noel’s supposed rights. Angeline felt sure that she—that they—could do this. This was their child. Noel had only gotten to her because she loved and worried for Kane. However, now he was back from the near dead, and he was taking hold of everything that should only be his.

***

“Are you ready, Angel?” he asked again.

Clenching Kane’s hand, Angeline held her breath, as Jeremy opened his door. When he saw Angeline, he hardly concealed his frown, but he still ushered them inside. As Kane sat her down, his hand brushing against her back as he sat at her side.

Angeline watched Ellen serve and tried to smile as she dished out plates of glazed chicken and grilled vegetables. When Ellen sat, Angeline picked at her food. It was an effort to choke one carrot down, and soon Ellen was back on her feet, topping the boys off with fresh wine. She nearly poured into the only empty glass, but Angeline held out her hand, shook her head, and said, “No, thank you.”

Ellen winced, her nose scrunched, as she found her way back to her seat. “What the hell does she want then?” Ellen murmured, trying to speak so that only Jeremy would hear. However, Angeline heard it, and she felt like the ultimate outsider.

Taking her hand, Kane pushed his plate aside and smiled at his brother. “Prime time we shared our news,” he said. Patting Angeline’s tummy, Kane glanced in her eyes before returning his stare to his brother. “Angel’s going to have a baby,” he said, as he gripped her hand tighter. Angeline felt no fear or pain as he took her hand, and she grew content. This was their baby. No one, not even Noel would ever take the child away from them. The only thing left to do was to be happy and hold each other close and…

And Ellen abandoned her plate and rushed into the kitchen.

“She’s… she’s upset,” Jeremy muttered.

As he stated the obvious, Angeline started to stand, but Kane kept her in place and smiled into her eyes. “I’ll see you through this, too,” he promised.

Angeline watched Jeremy move towards his wife, turning her towards him. She kept her head bowed, as Jeremy wrapped her in his arms. All day, all week, Angeline knew that this was going to be a trial by fire. They blamed her for everything, maybe rightfully so. The fact that she and Kane were together again was just another pill to swallow. Yet, they had to hope that Kane might wise up and cut her loose.

But a baby in the mix? That changed the playing field for good.

As Ellen dried her eyes, she smiled weakly at her husband and patted his cheek. Angeline did not hear the whisper that left her lips and filled Jeremy’s ear, and she focused on the feel of Kane’s arm draped across her shoulders. Ellen busied herself at the sink, as Jeremy returned, his glare fixed on Angeline as he spoke. “Kane?” he said. “Let’s say we go for a walk.”

Instead of snapping to attention, Kane slumped deeper in his chair and held Angeline tighter. “What for?” Kane challenged. “You got something to say? Say it in front of both of us.”

“You so sure?” Jeremy asked.

“Of her? Always. Can’t say the same thing about you right now.”

Jeremy bristled under his brother’s words, and as their eyes met, Kane did not recoil. Jeremy sat, cracking his knuckles as his eyes danced down Angeline’s face and settled on her lap. “How do you know it’s even yours?” Jeremy asked.

Angeline shuddered, and she felt the color leave her face as her stomach churned. Alone with Kane, Angeline was starting to believe in their lie. Sometimes, it felt like Noel had never touched her in the first place. But now, Jeremy was stepping too close to the truth, and she wondered what he would do with it.

“Because I say so, Jem,” Kane said. “And that should be enough for you.”

But as Jeremy scoffed and twisted his head, Angeline knew that it wasn’t enough. Far from it.

“Is it enough for you?” Jeremy asked. “Who’s to say she won’t flip the script and decide that your boy Noel is a better option?”

Her breaths came harder, and the force of Noel’s assault came back in full force, the rough feel of his hands, the sadness that overwhelmed her when she thought that Kane was lost. Could Jeremy really think that she would go back to that?

“Jem, you don’t---”

“You better take that back. Right now,” Angeline said softly, firmly. The brothers turned to Angeline. She pressed her fists to the table and fought the urge to pound on the surface. With her eyes blazing, she fixed her eyes on Jeremy.

“Excuse me?” Jeremy asked.

“Noel is scum,” Angeline hissed. “And I swear I’ll kill him if ever tries to touch me or my baby ever again.”

Jeremy seemed stunned into silence, and Angeline started to bask in her moment of triumph. Feeling that she had put him in his proper place, she caught a glimpse of Kane and saw him smiling. The strength of his grin gave her the courage to take it a step further. “Now is that enough, Jeremy?” she asked.

“
My
?” Ellen reappeared, twisting a dish rag in her hands. Jeremy was at her side, but she pushed him behind her and charged towards the table.

“What?” Angeline asked.

“You said
my
,” Ellen said. “Why not
ours
? If you’re not a lying, pill-popping whore, then why not
ours
?”

Dammit.

“I… of course I meant—”

“No. I’m not buying it,” said Ellen. Before Angeline knew what was happening, Ellen was at her side, yanking her from her chair.

“Hey!” Kane yelled. “Don’t touch her like that—”

“Why not, Kane?” Ellen said, as her fingers became a vice, and Angeline fought the need to cry out. She would not give Ellen the satisfaction of her pained scream, and she held her hand in the air as Kane tried to wrestle her from Ellen’s grip.

“Oh right,” Ellen said. “Wouldn’t want to hurt
her
baby.”

“It’s ours,” Angeline said, hoping that she wasn’t too late to correct her error.

“Just like that,” Ellen said. “He’s out for like a month, and you’re knocked up. That’s some miracle.”

Ellen looked as if she would burst into tears again, and Angeline felt a tug at her heart. Poor thing. Crying at the drop of a hat. But why?

“Do you know how long we’ve been trying?” Ellen said, her lip quivering. “And all you have to do is spread your cheap legs and voilà!”

In that moment, Angeline understood why she had run away at the sound of their announcement, and she felt guilty. One glance at Jeremy, and she saw him sharing his wife’s agony. Kane took the cue and hung his head. “Sorry, man,” he mumbled. “I didn’t know.”

Angeline’s mind worked hard to find a solution. Lillian. If anyone could help them, it was her boss.

“I… I can get you a meeting with Dr. Palmer,” she started. “She’s the best. I’m sure that she—”

“We don’t want anything from you!” Ellen yelled. Her legs went wobbly, and Jeremy caught her before she fell to the ground. Holding her close, his nostrils flared as Kane rubbed Angeline’s bruised arm.

“You alright?” Kane asked.

“I—”

“Oh, she’s just fine!” Ellen screamed through her tears. Jeremy struggled to keep her in his embrace, but his wife fought and brought her nails perilously close to Angeline’s pale face. Backing away from the threat of her swipe, Angeline fell into Kane’s waiting arms, but even the strength of his hold was nothing in the wake of Ellen’s tirade.

“She can deal and cheat and fuck like a slut. And nothing ever sticks to her. Except you, Kane.”

Pushing Angeline aside, Ellen seized Kane’s face with shaking hands. “You don’t have to do this,” Ellen pleaded. “Not for her. Kane, she’s not—”

Kane started to object when Jeremy stepped into the fray, sniffing in Angeline’s direction before he spoke. “Far from it,” Jeremy said. “Let her clean up her own mess.”

Angeline started to wilt under their attack, and she feared that it would never work. If they couldn’t get his true family on their side, what hope was there when the club put two and two together? The idea that Noel would view the baby as his sent a chill up her spine. She suddenly had visions of him making her his old lady while Kane was forced to watch. That would hurt him far more than any time in a cell, and she couldn’t do that to him. Or her child.

But even as she tried to leave, Kane’s arm enclosed her waist, and her trembling subsided when he took charge of the room. “No mess here,” Kane said. “This is my girl, and this is our kid. And if you can’t get that, fuck the both of you.”

Jeremy looked as if he was ready to pounce, but before he could make the move, Kane dragged Angeline from the friendly dinner that never was and led her back to his bike. Lifting her off the ground, she flung her arms around him and buried her face in his broad neck.

“Angel, don’t be sad,” he said.

Finding his eyes again, Angeline was struck by the sense that he would abandon his brother, his true blood, at the thought the smallest insult. However, Ellen hadn’t lied, and if their roles were reversed, Angeline knew that she would feel the same way. Ellen was longing for a baby and here was the nurse, the reason for Kane’s incarceration, about to have the baby. Of course it killed her, and maybe she was right.

“Kane…”

She saw the sacrifice in his stare. Kane had crawled through his belly on hot coals and hoped, just hoped that he would come out the other side. Now that he had made it, she was about to plunge him into a new kind of hell.

And in the end, Jeremy was right. It was her mess.

“Kane, you don’t have to—”

Kane took her hand in his and revved up of the motor, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “No, I don’t,” he said.

Despite the show for Jeremy and Ellen, Kane had to have second thoughts. Not because he doubted what Noel had done; there was no erasing it from their minds. However, the rest of it, what was left over. It was more trouble than it was worth—than she was worth. And Angeline could handle it alone. All she had to do was take her father, leave town, and then…

“But I want to,” he said.

Without another word, Kane kissed her hair before speeding off into the unknown.