Arrow of Time (39 page)

He started pulling my shirt off, and I went for his fly.

“I have, but if I know my woman, she's doesn't need it yet.” His hands snaked to my back and unhooked my bra before stroking around my sides and rubbing my nipples with his thumbs. “I'm thinking she's already wet and ready.”

“
You know your woman,” I gasped and clenched my hand around him, and he was hard. It wasn't the first time I'd had sex with a guy on speed, and some'd had... problems. Dawg didn't seem to have any problems in that department. “Oh shit.”

“
Yeah,” he chuckled and spun me around, pushing me over the dresser. “Spent the entire fucking ride back here thinking about what I was gonna do to you.”

He plunged inside me in one swift move, and  I let out a high pitched shriek, resting my hand on the wall to be able to hold against him. His hand went up to my forehead and holding my head against his shoulder, he kept egging me on with his mumbling.

“Every time you cum, baby, I'm gonna switch position and they're all gonna be stuff we haven't tried.”

I felt his cheek against mine, his beard scratching and his whisky-scented breath hitting me in shallow exhales.

“You must have a very dirty mind.”

“
You haven't seen half of it, Nibbles.”

His hips were pumping, but not fast. More deep, controlled thrusts, and then his other hand came over my hip, my mound and directly hit my bud. I was already close. It was a combination of him and how he was and the pure relief that he was back in one piece.

After that initial frenzy he took it pretty easy. It was slow unless I urged him on, and it was, seriously, the best sex we'd had, and he didn't seem to be even close to coming.

When he put me against the headboard, I turned my head.

“This isn't new.”

“
Bear with me.” He leaned over to the nightstand and took out a tube that I suspected was lube.

To hide my smile I turned away my head. Him getting out the lube was usually a very good thing. Grabbing a hold of my hips with one hand, he entered me and his fingers covered in lube teased my clit. It wasn't that I really needed it. It just gave a different feeling that I liked, and he knew that.

His slick fingers were just giving me light touches and moved from my bud to spread the lube all over, mixing it with my own wet and when he grunted a little I knew that he was touching himself too. He seemed to really like touching himself while he was buried inside me.

He moved the hand again, and now it was on my behind, carefully stroking up and down between my cheeks until he gently pushed against my back hole. I kept my breath steady and relaxed. He kept working it while keeping his thrusts with his dick slow and shallow. The fingers disappeared for a brief moment before coming back with more lube.

“That is hot,” he said in a deep moan.

He kissed my shoulders before grazing his teeth along the side of my neck, his fingers left me again and I felt him flush against my back, holding me.

“I love you, Edie,” he mumbled.

“
I love you, too.” I turned my head and looked at him. He seemed to be up for it and he'd been taken it really slow so far. “You're gonna make me ask for it, aren't you?”

He gave me a knowing smile, a brief kiss and pulled out of me.

“No.” He took the lube and while adding even more on me he kept kissing me. “Ever done this?”

I shook my head.

“Try to relax and take deep breaths. Okay. And stop me whenever you want to, but make sure you tell me if you want me to hold still or pull out, so I know. Okay?”

I nodded again.

I'd never had anal sex, I'd never trusted anyone enough or been with anyone for long enough for that to happen. The closest had been Kenji, the Japanese tattoo artist, but he'd been surprisingly prudish in bed. So the topic of anal sex had never even been close to coming up. This might be the wrong time to trust Dawg with this, but I didn't think so. He was calm, and he wasn't hurrying. He pulled me closer and started to kiss me. I felt him behind me and he was teasing me with his fingers again.

Dawg's lips never left mine and finally I felt him remove his fingers and gently press against my opening. When he broke through I flinched and he immediately stopped, letting go of my lips. Leaning his hand against the wall over the bed he stroked my hair to the side.

“Baby,” he whispered in a ragged breath. “We're gonna do this at your speed, so move against me and take your time.”

I did as he asked, still holding my hands on the headboard I moved back and forth, shallow moves, but he kept getting deeper inside of me.

“Relax and deep breaths, Nibbles.”

When I tried that it went easier and when the movements got even deeper he hissed.

“Jesus fucking christ, babe! You okay?”

“
Yes.” I took another deep breath. “Yes, I am.”

His other hand snuck around me and I felt him carefully stroking me, making me relax even more. When his hips hit my behind he wrapped his arms round me and hugged me tightly.

“God damn it, Edie. I love you.” He kissed my cheek, still hugging me. “Sure you're okay?”

“
Yes,” I exhaled. It felt... strange, but not bad. And it didn't hurt.

“
Let me know if you want me to stop. I'll be careful.”

I nodded and then he slowly pulled out and equally slowly back inside.

“Fuck!” I gasped and grabbed ahold of the headboard. It was so different but...

He froze up. “You...”

“Don't stop!” I snapped. Probably a bit harshly, but oh my fucking god! This was good, in a weird way. “I like it.”

“
Okay.” His licked my jawline, up to my ear. “I'll make it even better for you, Nibbles.”

He let go of me a little, his hand stroked down my stomach, past my clit and dipped inside of me. While moving his hips, he kept thrusting his fingers into me and the heel of his hand rubbed my clit. I decided that I definitely liked this.

-o0o-

Dawg was on his back with Edie on his shoulder. He was smoking weed to try to lessen the blow of the comedown from the speed. It hadn't been much, just enough to get him back in the game, but it was still enough for him to get horny as hell and have to fuck for a really long time before he managed to come. When he finally did come, it was with what Edie'd described as 'a roar', and it lasted forever. He'd hear about that 'roar' from Sisco and Bull tomorrow. They were the ones who had rooms next to his, and never ignored the opportunity to say they wanted rooms next to someone else because of his loud fucking. He had a vague hope that they might skip it now when he was with Edie, but he wasn't optimistic.

He inhaled deeply, put the joint out and closed his eyes, still holding his breath. He needed sleep. Badly. His body was knackered but his brain was still buzzing from the speed. That's why he hated it and never took it anymore. Anything up didn't work with his, even normally, racing brain. He'd tried most of it, up and down, and had really quickly figured out that with the exception of pot, drugs just weren’t for him.

They'd stay in lockdown tomorrow; the day after they'd take a ride into Phoenix to check out the damage and make sure the Águilas were gone.

They'd killed Jesus. It was for the best; the man would be so filled with need for revenge it would be too much of a risk to keep him alive. They'd made sure the rest of his crew saw every agonizing second of it, so they didn't get any stupid ideas.

He turned to the side, facing Edie. She was sleeping. He hadn't thought she'd be up for anal and now, when he was coming down, he was starting to get worried about it. It wasn't why he'd started the lube-game. He'd known he could get her to like anal if she'd let him try, but the teasing her today had more been to set her up for later, for another time. He stroked the hair out of her face. It was getting longer again, and she'd colored it in a reddish brown a few weeks earlier. He dipped his chin and gave her forehead a kiss. She was probably beat, but he needed to make sure she was okay. He still didn't like that he'd done that when he was high. She stirred and turned around with a huff.

“Forget it, I'm done,” she mumbled.

“
What?” For a second he got worried that she, in fact, was pissed, so he leaned over her and was relieved when he saw her smile.

“
My entire body is sore, if you're still horny you're gonna have to jerk off.”

With a laughed he pulled her closer and pushed his arm under her head.

“I was trying to be sweet!”

She growled a little. “If you're doing speed again you better give some warning.”

“You should see me on coke.”

“
Oh god!” She laughed and finally turned around again. “Think you'll be able to sleep now?”

“
In a while. And for the record; I'm pretty fucking sore, too, and I don't usually do drugs anymore, so no worries.”

“
Good to know.” She stroke her thumb over his mouth. “I love you.”

“
So we're okay?”

“
Why wouldn't we be?”

“
Just... shouldn't have done that when I was tripping. I wasn't thinking.”

“
I wasn't high. I made the decision, and you told me you'd stop if I asked you to.”

“
Yeah... but.” He stroked her cheek again. “Still.”

“
You were really careful the entire time even before that, really controlled, that's why I asked.” She leaned forward and kissed his nose. “Don't worry about it. I liked it and we're okay and I love you.”

“
I love you. Got to sleep, baby.”

He closed his eyes as well. He felt calmer now. She was okay, and he hadn't done anything stupid. It took a while but eventually he finally managed to drift off.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

Running?

-o0o-

Monday, June 10
th

BRICK WAS FINALLY STARTING
to relax.
It had been five weeks since the big showdown, and it had been quiet. Really quiet. The runs were back on track, and the warehouse back in business. Miguel seemed especially happy with that last part, since he apparently hadn't gotten along all that well with the guy in charge of the other place.

Brick was sitting on the lot by a picnic table with Bull and Bear. It was midday, and the sun was blazing hot. They were all trying to move as little as possible. Mel had been out, yelling about the AC not working properly, and then she went back into the office after grabbing a Coke. He didn't even have time to answer, but he'd sent Bucket after her to have him fix whatever the hell the problem was.

“What about him?” Bear said as Bucket disappeared into the office. “He's been over a year.”

A year was the minimum, then they could vote, but sometimes they waited longer. The maximum was two years; if they hadn't proven themselves within two years, it was likely that they never would. With all the shit that had been going down, the voting on Bucket had been put off for other, more urgent, matters.

“I'm good with him,” Bull said. “Think everyone is. He really came through in the middle of this shit.”

It was Bear who'd taken him on as his prospect. Besides the fuck-up with his woman, he'd been great.

Dawg slanted over and sat down with a sigh and then turned to Bear.

“
What was the name of that guy who inked you last?”

“
Sami. Got a shop in Phoenix. He's great, away on conventions a lot, but if you want I'll give him a call. He'll squeeze you in.”

“
Do you even have room for more ink?” Bull asked the same question Brick had been wondering.

“
Yeah, some on the torso, legs and... stuff. But it's not for me.”

“
Aaah,” Brick laughed. “You're going to ink Edie.”

“
Gonna ask, and I want her to have a good guy.”

As opposed to a lot of the members, Dawg was anal as fuck with his ink. He'd only been inked by top artists, and whenever someone pulled out a tattoo gun at parties he said he'd rather have them work on him with a real gun. Brick couldn't figure out why he thought it would matter; not like anyone was able to distinguish a particular tattoo on that mess he called his skin.

“I'll give him a call,” Bear said. “We were talking about Bucket.”

“
He's good in my book,” Dawg said, and then he sighed. “I can't work in this fucking heat. I'm heading home.”

“
Do that,” Brick nodded. “I'm gonna go pick up Eliza and do the same. Just waiting for Bucket to fix the AC before I go inside and talk to Mel about it. She was a bit pissy earlier.”

Dawg laughed as he walked over to his bike.

-o0o-

Dawg found Edie on her back on the couch, a book in her hand and a table fan directed straight at her. They still hadn't bought a new AC. He took the book from her and sat down.

“Got a moment?” He asked.

He was uncharacteristically nervous, but he wanted to lay it out to her. All of it, what they did, who they really were, and that he wanted her to be his Old Lady. And what that meant. He'd been going over this conversation in his head the last five weeks and still hadn’t come to a good conclusion about how to do that.

Edie sat up and nodded. “Sure. What's up?”

“
I wanna tell you what really happened when we were in lockdown, why Vasco was killed and what we really do. The club, I mean.”

She studied him curiously for a while.

“Why?” She finally asked. “I mean, why now?”

“
Because... I'd like you to have my ink.”

“
Be your Old Lady?” She said with creased eyebrows and a small smile on her lips.

He knew she wasn't crazy about the entire 'Old Lady thing,' as she often referred to it. She liked the club, got along with the other guys, and the fact that she'd just started to help with gunshot wounds had impressed more than one of the members. Although the subject most often discussed regarding her and that lockdown was that she fucked up the chicken salad. What she had a problem with on occasion was how women were treated in general and the drama between the women.

“Babe, I know this is... an idea you're not crazy about, but it would mean a lot to me. I'd offer to do some ink for you, but I'm pretty sure you'd just say that it wouldn't be noticed anyway.”

“
That is what I would say,” she agreed.

“
I won't put it out there, for everyone. I was thinking on your shoulder or hip. Or above your ass.”

“
Yeah, you're not doing any ass antlers on me. That's just not gonna happen.”

“
Ass antlers?”

“
Tramp stamp, ho tag or whatever you wanna call it. I'm not getting one.”

He started laughing and reeled her in for a kiss. “Okay, not above your ass. My point is, I know it's not that big of a thing for you, but it is for me. This is what I grew up with instead of a diamond ring.”

“I don't want a diamond ring,” she mumbled and straddled his lap, holding his cheeks, and when she was nose to nose with him she closed her eyes. “So tell me.”

“
Tell you?”

“
What you needed to tell me.”

“
A gang wanted in on our pot trade and thought we grew our own, that it was just us doing the business. They had a stripper plant a bomb at the club. We found them and they're gone.”

“
You killed them?”

“
Not all of them, but some of them, and we killed the leader, the one who gave the order.”

“
Okay,” she stroked his nose. She still seemed okay with it, but she was smart. She'd probably had some idea of what they'd done. “And who else was it, if it wasn't just you, and if you're not growing your own?”

“
We mule pot and diamonds for a Mexican cartel. We get it on this side of the border and move it up north.”

She froze, sat perfectly still until she scrambled to her feet and stared at him while she started to back up.

“Diamonds?”

“
Yes?” He wasn't really sure what just happened.

“
As in conflict diamonds?”

She looked absolutely horrified, and he stood up, still extremely fucking confused. It was as if she was looking at a... monster or complete psycho or... a
thing.

“
Baby, what's wrong?”

“
What's
wrong?
” She yelled. “You kill children. People get kidnapped, Togba, he...” She seemed to have slipped and bit off around the rest of that sentence. “They're forced to... and the money is used by guerrillas who...”

She was backing up while talking. He hadn't missed it, though. This wasn't about a nameless mass of people.

“Baby, who's Togba?”

“
I need you to leave.
”

“
What?” Was she fucking serious? “Honey, is this about the diamonds? Because it's the same as the pot and cartels, and that didn't seem to set you off. The diamonds are personal to you.” It had to be, there was no other explanation for her horror. She kept backing up, shaking her head, eyes wide, and the first tear ran down her cheek. “Edie...” He started.

“
I need you to leave. I need to... think about this, I need to be alone.” And then she said that sentence he'd started to hate viciously. “I need some time.”

He couldn't fucking believe it. It didn't compute in his brain. She was okay with muling pot, working with cartels and killing people, but this was her limit? He was also fed up with her never actually fighting. She just screamed and then left, or in this case threw him out.

“I'm not leaving.”

“
Get out!”

“
No,” he said and crossed his arms over his chest. “I'm not.”

“
You said that this was my apartment, and I want you to get. The. Fuck. Out!
Now!”

He stomped up to her, and when she flinched as if he might hit her or something, like he all of a sudden was that fucking horrible, he was furious. He glared at her.

“Fine! But you stay on
this
fucking continent, and we are not done!”

She didn't answer and he left, slammed the door behind him and sat up on his bike.

-o0o-

Brick had moved into the clubhouse, but that was as far as he'd gotten. Bucket hadn't come out of the office, and he was starting to suspect that his wife was holding him hostage until the day was over or the AC was working properly again.

The door slammed open, and Dawg walked inside looking furious, grabbed a bottle of whiskey and continued towards the dorms.

“
Think I'll hold off on calling Sami,” Bear mumbled.

“
Yup,” Bull said, but Brick got up and followed in Dawg's tracks and knocked on his door.

“
Not a good time!” Dawg yelled, and Bear didn't give a fuck. He went inside anyway. “What?”

“
Since I get shit from my wife when you get shit from your woman, I wanna know
what
I'm gonna get shit for.”

It wasn't the entire truth. Dawg had looked a bit worse than usual, and he wanted to make sure it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

“Turns out my woman, or possibly ex-woman, has a
huge
problem with blood diamonds. Or
conflict
diamonds, as she called them just before she threw me out.”

That rang a bell in the back of Brick's head. “What did she call them?”

“Conflict diamonds,” Dawg muttered as he threw himself down in his armchair.

“
Mel said that Edie'd started treating shot wounds, during the lockdown. She'd been worried that she'd freak out, but she'd just started helping with them. When she asked where she'd learned, Edie just said she'd been in conflict areas.”

“
Yeah, it's something personal to her. I don't know, she threw me out. As usual we don't actually argue, she tells me what an ass I am and then she runs.”

“
She threw you out, she didn't run.”

“
She's running,” Dawg said into the bottle before taking long swallow from it. “Just gotta cross my fingers and hope that she doesn't go to Africa to start saving victims of conflict diamonds to make up for fucking a guy who's smuggling them.”

Brick leaned against the dresser and tried to contain a laugh. “That is an actual risk, isn't it?”

“You know, the fact that I've actually killed people, like shoot-in-the-head kill, or that I also mule pot, that didn't get to her at all.”

“
Shoes,” Brick said with a nod while he was thinking about something completely different.

“
What?!”

“
Shoes,” he shrugged. “Women get weird obsessions. They focus on one thing, and that's extremely fucking important to them. Mel has a thing about shoes. I don't fight it because they're sexy shoes.”

“
Obsessing about shoes isn't like throwing a guy out for smuggling diamonds. Don't think her shoe obsession is gonna cause her to throw you out at all.”

“
No, not really,” Brick agreed. “My point with Mel is that she obsesses about other, more sane, things, but others just fly by her. I don't get it. She says it's like men only seeing tits when they see a naked woman, while women look at the entire body. I think she might be right.” Dawg nodded while once again drinking out of the bottle. “Mind if I go and talk to her?”

“
Knock yourself out,” Dawg said with a big, phony smile and held up the bottle. “I'm gonna empty this and then I'm gonna pass out.”

“
Have fun!” He stood up and went for the door, then turned around. “She's not your ex-woman, by the way. So don't do anything stupid.”

“
Wasn't planning to.”

Brick went to Mel's office. She glared when he opened the door, and he saw a very stressed out Bucket, still fiddling around with the AC. It didn't look as if he knew what he was doing, so Brick decided to give the guy a break.

“Bucket, get out. I'll buy a new one tomorrow.”

“
Sure thing, prez,” Bucket said and was visibly relieved as he ran towards the door.