JAX: MC Biker Romance (New Adult Contemporary Bad Boy Romance) (45 page)

“Why so quiet all of a sudden?” He leaned back into Samantha’s face. “I thought we were getting on?”

“You’re sick!” Julie spat. “You get away from her!”

Her anger was uncontrollable and she wriggled furiously in her seat to try and escape.

“Ooh! We have an angry little madam over here,” the intruder laughed.

He swapped targets and moved toward Julie with fire in his eyes. Reaching out a tentative finger, he stroked the side of her face, his leather glove squeaking as he moved.

“No! Leave her alone,” Samantha pleaded to no avail.

The intruder acted as though he never heard her and proceeded to get closer to Julie with his whole body pressed up against her side.

“You’re real pretty, you know that? I mean, not as pretty as your friend over there, but still…. I wouldn’t say no.”

Julie recoiled at his words and tried to move her head away from him, but he was always inching closer, trying his best to intimidate her. He began to trace his finger from her face and down her neck as she struggled even more. When his finger reached her chest, the bulky, gloved finger reaching inside her top, she was shaking so much the wooden chair was clattering against the floorboards.

Samantha had never felt so lost or helpless.
Why aren’t the cops here already, what the heck is going on?
She closed her eyes and began to pray for someone to come save them, but, her attention was averted when she heard heavy footsteps approach her once again. She opened her eyes to find the intruder standing in front of her with a changed demeanor. He was no longer playful, but was now ready for business. His voice was insidious, as he spoke with the machete never leaving his side.

“So, I guess you’re Tony’s sister,” his gravelly voice was now low and sinister. “You have the same eyes. You both look like frightened rabbits before you get killed,” and he let out a maniacal laugh that boomed around the room.

He noticed Samantha eyeing the blade and knew the terrifying effect it was having on her. Holding it out, he delicately pressed the tip between her breasts and pulled up a few inches. It ripped her top apart to reveal her pale skin.

“Very nice,” he sneered. “But, as lovely as you are, it’s not gonna pay off your brother’s debt.”

“I keep telling you. I haven’t seen Anthony in months. I don’t know anything.”

“I don’t care!” he bellowed. “He owed me $5000 and you gotta pay it.”

“But, I don’t have it. Not right here anyway.”

“So, you
do
have it? You got savings?”

“That’s not what I meant,” she was nervous and babbling, not sure what to say next.

“Look lady. You got five seconds to tell me where the money is or your friend here, Jules, you call her? She’s dead. I’ll cut her throat. Tony must have hidden it somewhere, that junkie was real sly.”

In his drug fueled state, he was deluded and angry. Holding the machete to Julie’s throat he pushed the point into the skin just enough to show an indentation. The girl closed her eyes so she didn’t have to witness her last few seconds of life.

“5,” the intruder said, his gaze moving from the blade to her neck.

“I keep telling you! I don’t know anything about Anthony’s money, but please, take anything you want, just leave her alone.”

“4,” he seemed disinterested in her pleading, and kept his eyes on Julie’s throat with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

“Please! You can hurt me instead, just leave her alone!”

“3,” he was enjoying himself, getting off on the terror he was inflicting.

“Please! For God’s sake, don’t!” Samantha was desperate, as she fought against the ropes around her limbs.

“2,”

“Noooooo!”

“1!” his laugh echoed around the room.

But, as he gripped the handle of the machete and got ready to move, bodies blustered in through the front door, as Cooper burst in. Backup surrounded him, as he pounced on the intruder. Ripping off his mask, he saw the face of the masked man. He was little more than a boy with a baby face and beady brown eyes.

Cooper punched him square in the nose with blood splashing up onto his face. The boy yelped in pain, but was quickly silenced by more punches. The detective finished him off with a kick to the gut before letting his partner cuff him and take him away.

“Don’t worry girls, I got you.”

He proceeded to untie them. As he unwound the rope from Samantha’s wrist, he ran his finger over the grazes on her skin. He felt her flinch in pain and wanted to kiss her wounds better, but he kept a stern face and a professional attitude.

“Paramedics are on the way.” He helped her out of the seat. “Now, let’s get you some water.”

*****

Samantha still jumped every time someone knocked at the door or the phone rang. It would take a long while to recover from the ordeal, but she was determined to get over it. She sure as heck wasn't going to let some psychotic drug dealer with an attitude scar her for life.

As always, on a Sunday, she set about tidying the house and treating herself to a much needed DIY spa day. As she ran the bath, she texted Julie to make sure she was ok, as she too was having difficulty trying to forget. Then, she slipped off her clothes and ran her fingers along the bathroom cabinet, as she decided what bath milk to use. Settling on rose and blood orange, she inhaled the aromas, as she poured the milk into the bath. She needed this.

Dipping a tentative toe into the water, she tested the temperature and decided it was just right, almost scalding and extremely steamy. However, with only one leg submerged up to the ankle, she was interrupted by a knock on the door. She flinched at the sound before hurrying to pull on her dressing gown.

Walking to the door, she knew it was going to be someone she knew, but still, there was that lingering feeling that she was in danger. She pulled her dressing gown around her tighter and opened the door.

"Detective Cooper?" she couldn't hide her smile. "It's so great to see you."

"I just wanted to drop in and see how you were getting on after.... you know after the other night."

He found himself nervous and unsure of what to say. He shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other and fiddled with his hair, as he remained in the doorway. Meanwhile, Samantha was feeling butterflies in her stomach, as she remembered him saving her and Julie. She thought of the way he pummeled the intruder, as though he was nothing and she felt her heart begin to race.

"Oh! Please, come in, won't you?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Once in the kitchen, she flicked on the coffee machine and sat across the table from him. She was aware that he was looking her up and down. The opening to her dressing gown was starting to come loose with a slight hint of cleavage exposed. She watched, as his eyes fixated on the spot beneath her clavicle and she took her chance.

"I just wanted to say thank you for everything, for saving my life, for catching Anthony's killer. You don't know how amazing you are," she smiled again and Cooper found himself leaning over the table toward her.

Reaching out a hand, he held her dainty fingers between his and looked into her hazel eyes.

"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't another reason I came over."

"Oh yeah?" Samantha raised an eyebrow.

"I just wanted to see you." He looked her up and down again.

Samantha felt herself melt beneath his gaze, and she leaned in toward him, eager to get closer.

Cooper took his chance and kissed her quickly with his lips becoming moist against hers. Just to feel the warmth of her was incredible and, as he pushed his chest into hers, he could feel her heartbeat as it quickened to his touch.

Meanwhile, Samantha felt as though all her troubles were melting away in the arms of her protector. She’d never had such a sense of safety and affection and, in that moment, with her body softening in Cooper’s arms, she thought she could die happy knowing she’d felt true tenderness.

“Do you want to…. Maybe come to the bedroom?” she flicked her eyes up toward the bedroom door.

“Only if you’re ready, I don’t want to pressure you.”

“You’re doing no such thing,” she gripped his hand, as she stood up. “There’s nothing I want more than to be close to you.”

When Samantha woke, the late afternoon sun was shining on her face. She relaxed into the warmth for a second before she was startled by the sound of static. Rolling over, she saw Cooper dozing on the other side of the bed with his police radio standing on the table.

"We have a 242 over on Maynard Street."

The female voice was calm, but authoritative, as she gave the information. Cooper woke up as soon as he heard her and groaned, as he opened his eyes. However, as soon as he saw Samantha and her dazzling smile, he grinned.

"I gotta go."

He reached out a hand and placed it on her stomach, caressing her gently, as he nuzzled into her neck. As he kissed her, goose bumps ran down the length of her spine and she wriggled away.

"Aah!" she shrieked and giggled.

She rolled over to get closer to him and went to lean in for a cuddle, but he moved from her grasp.

"Will I see you again?" she asked sadly.

"Absolutely," he held her by the jaw and bent down to kiss her. "I could never stay away from you."

Again, the radio crackled with the female voice growing impatient.

"OFFICER! 242 ON MAYNARD!"

"Ok, I really do have to go," he clipped the radio to his pants and left the bedroom with Samantha in tow.

As they said a quick goodbye at the door, she reached up on tip toes and hugged him hard with her nails scratching at his clothes.

"Hey," he laughed. "I'll be back, I promise," and he bopped her on the nose before kissing her one last time. "I'll call you soon," and he was gone.

Samantha felt as though she was in a dream-world, as she floated back to bed. Collapsing onto the bed, she felt as though her heart was singing. Finally, her luck had seemed to turn. Grabbing her cell phone from under her pillow, she pressed the name she knew so well and blushed in anticipation.

"Jules! You'll never guess what just happened?

The End

Bonus - Gage

Gage

I was so drunk that I didn't even know his last hit had been a good one until I tasted the blood in my mouth. I grinned at him and spat the coppery liquid onto the parking lot pavement, squaring up for another round.

"You just don't quit," he snarled.

I just kept grinning, which must have really thrown him off because his next hit was sloppy as heck. I ducked it easily, slamming a fist into his gut with a force that I'm sure he didn't expect from the guy who had been drunk enough to hit on his girl.

Little did he know that I didn't have to be intoxicated at all to seduce another man's woman. If she was hot, she was fair game. Plus, she was free to make up her own mind about the damn thing; equality, and all that.

I was disappointed when my opponent keeled over and put a hand up in surrender; so was the crowd.

I spat again, and then pulled up my t-shirt to wipe my face on it. A girl in the crowd whistled, and I looked up at her; blonde, perky, and legs for days. It looked like that fight hadn't been a disappointment after all.

*****

"Matthews," Sergeant Buchanan said lowly. "That's the third fight you've gotten in this week."

"That's a new record," I remarked smugly.

After pulling me into his office at an unholy time in the morning, I suspected Buchanan was ready to blow a fuse. Having never seen him actually lose it, I was curious to see how that played out.

"Dang it, Matthews!"

Oh, I was very, very close.

Much to my dismay, he took a moment to compose himself. He put his face in his hands, and then ran his fingers through his close-cropped gray hair.

"Gage," he said.

Oh no — his tone was almost gentle now.

"I know that you've been through a lot recently."

"This isn't about that," I protested.

Buchanan looked up and fixed me with a grim smile. "Sure it isn't."

I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair. Better let the old man say what he pulled me in here to say.

"I want you to take some time off," he said.

That hadn't been what I was expecting.

"Time off?" I looked at him like he'd just told me that the force was taking up knitting as a training exercise. "I don't need any time off. I don't want any time off."

Buchanan sighed. "That's the problem, Gage. Most guys, after —" I shot him a glare before he could say the words. "Uh... going through what you went through, they take a little time. You hopped right back in with both feet."

"Because I'm a good soldier."

"Because you're too good a soldier."