Blood of Cupids (8 page)

I felt much better after talking with Aunt Kathryn, even if
she had accused me of hiding bits of the truth, but it was time to head back to
the city. I wanted to say goodbye to my dad, but he was in a closed meeting
with the guys. Screw them; they’d have to deal with an interruption. Their
clubhouse was attached to the strip club, and being a Saturday night, I
expected all members, prospects, and the whole lot of hang-arounds
to
experience my intrusion.

I fought my way through the club, hugging the girls along my
route. I did miss them. They would have loved to hear all about Ryan, and I
would have loved to tell them everything. I got the normal catcalls from the
new hang-arounds; obviously they had no idea whose daughter I was. They were
lucky my father was in church, or their short stay with the club would cease
immediately.

I knocked on the door, announcing my impending departure,
and pushed my way through. It was much nicer to see these guys fully clothed.

“So who is coming to see me Friday?”

The guys looked around at each other, and one by one, gave
me a show of hands: all of them.

“Dad, a word?”

“Gracie, we just have to be sure of something.”

“Are you trying to run me out of my college? You do realize
if
The Cupids
figure out who I am, they will not allow me to stay in
Philly, right?” I was getting angry.

“And then maybe you can come home.”

Was this his plan all along? I shook my head and stormed
off.

“Gracie!” Dad was following at my heels. “Gracie stop.
Listen to me.” He grabbed my arm and swung me around. “Fine. We think one of
their prospects was here a few days ago.”

“What?”

“Yeah, one of the guys overheard a phone conversation
outside the club, so we planted the idea that we were coming to town on Friday.
If we get there and they’re prepared, then we know we were being spied on.
After that, I can’t promise anything.”

What was I supposed to say? It’s not like he’d listen to me
anyway. This was the part I hated. I couldn’t speak to him any longer. I
reached up on my toes and begrudgingly kissed his cheek. I pushed my way back
through the clubhouse, through the strip club, and out to the parking lot. I
activated my remote ignition, crawled into my car, and pulled the seatbelt over
my chest. I steered onto the road, preparing for another four-hour trip. That’s
when I started to cry. What if it was Ryan who was in Alexandria, spying on my
family? What if he was spying on me? What if the only reason he asked me to bed
was to get information on
The Walking Shadows
?

Then again, what if it was all for real? What if he didn’t
know me, and our lovemaking was innocent?

What would my dad do to him on Friday?

The possibilities repeated themselves over and over in my
brain, allowing the trip to fly by, practically unnoticed. I pulled into the
garage, and locked my car behind me. I stepped onto the street and looked up to
my tiny windows in my tiny apartment. Was I prepared to say goodbye to this
taste of freedom already? Would this be the last week I spent in Philadelphia?

And why was my bedroom light on?

So maybe breaking into her apartment wasn’t the best idea
I’d ever had, but she wasn’t answering the door, and I needed to make sure she
was okay.

Who was I trying to kid? I needed to make sure she wasn’t
ignoring me.

Why wasn’t she home? It was almost midnight on a Saturday.
Was she out at another bar, seducing other men? No. I wouldn’t be able to
handle that. She belonged to me now. If I caught another man touching her, I
would have his balls in a vice. Where the hell was she?

I looked through her books: Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Wells—I
thought she wanted to be an elementary school teacher. Where the hell was Dr.
Seuss? And why were they all so old? I needed to touch something. The
anticipation of her return was getting to me. I grabbed a book of sonnets off
the shelf and flipped through. There was faded writing on the inside cover.

E,

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake

Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take…

Today, tomorrow, and past the light,

J

It sounded like a fucking love letter. And who the hell was
“E”, or “J” for that matter?

The knob creaked, and I turned to see Grace in the doorway.
She was alone. I let out a sigh of relief as I made my way to her.

“Grace.”

“Ryan, what the hell are you doing in my apartment?”

“Where were you?”

“I asked you a question.”

“I thought you were ignoring me.”

“So you just broke into my apartment?”

“I needed to make sure you were okay.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Where were you?”

“It’s none of your damn business.”

“Fuck, Grace. Why aren’t you telling me where you were?”

She swung at me. My instincts kicked in and I blocked her,
twisting her arm behind her back. She arched into me and her sweet scent invaded
my breath. I dropped her arm immediately and took a step back.

“Shit, that hurt.” Her voice was stern and her small jaw
jutted forward in anger.

“I’m sorry. I kept your arm low. It shouldn’t have hurt.”

“Well, it did.”

“Well you shouldn’t have thrown a punch at someone who told
you he was an amateur boxer.”

“Well you shouldn’t have broken into the apartment of the
girl who ended things after your one night stand.”

“Well you shouldn’t have ended things.”

“Get out of my apartment, psycho.”

“I am not leaving you.”

“I said get the hell out.”

“And I said ‘no’.”

With each passing bit of dialogue, I inched closer to her. I
wanted more, and her anger just spurred my desire. I grabbed her shirt and drew
her into me, crushing her lips with mine. She had stopped talking, but the fire
inside of her continued to burn; I could feel it spreading throughout my body.
Grace fought her craving long enough to piss me off, but she inevitably gave
into me, answering my tongue with hers. She pressed her pelvis to mine, begging
to be closer, and I threw her legs around my hips. I found her dresser, and
swiped it clear, sitting her down atop the wood. I refused to take my mouth
from hers, wanting to explore every inch of her sweetness. Grace clawed at my
back, asking for my shirt, and I allowed her access to my nakedness. Her
fingers traced my muscles, sending chills up my spine and an ache down below.
It had barely been a day since I’d been inside of her, and yet, the prospect of
it happening again was almost too much to endure.  

I reached for her chest, my palms yearning to be filled. She
was small, but full, and obviously real. She purred as I squeezed harder,
pushing into my open hand. I needed the separation to disappear. I ripped her
shirt from her body and rested my head on her upper chest, needing to catch my
breath. My hand disappeared behind her back and sprung her bra open. I couldn’t
avert my eyes as her soft, pink nipples bounced free from their confines. I
lightly traced their shape with my fingertips and listened to Grace’s soft
moans. I didn’t want to move, but my body ached for more.

My hands caressed her sides as I slid her pants down her
smooth legs. Her naked body was nothing short of art, and I pleaded with my
memory to never forget the image. Our eyes met, and she lightly smiled. She
wasn’t angry anymore. The fire was calm, but the passion remained. I stepped
closer to her, spreading her legs open with my hips, and my fingers found her
wetness. I pushed inside her, requesting her ready body to offer more, when I
noticed her wince.

I had completely forgotten that she might be sore. It was
endearing to watch her face twist, yet a bit frustrating. I wouldn’t be getting
my way just yet. I lightly kissed her lips.

“Sorry, I forgot.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Or we can try something else.” I winked at her, and her
cheeks blushed.

“What?”

I lowered my kisses, all the while keeping eye contact. She
looked concerned, but interested. I met my target and her head kicked back with
a sharp intake of air. I let out a small chuckle; I couldn’t help myself. I
pulled and sucked and teased and danced my tongue around as she slowly
released. Her cries heightened as she dug her fingers into my messy hair. My
body tensed at her touch. I grabbed her hips and delved deeper, taking in more of
her. Her cries turned to screams, causing me to work faster and harder. She
twisted my hair in her fingers and pulled, giving one last moan, and softly
shook as she collapsed into my now outstretched arms.

I cradled her against my chest and laid her down on the bed.

“Wow.” She looked up at me.

“Not so bad, huh?”

Unlike yesterday, I was happy to be her first. I now wanted
to be her only. But to ask her to enter into the life I live, would that be too
much? I know the kind of torment clubs can bring to small towns. If she really
grew up in Alexandria, in those conditions, in the shadow of a dangerous MC,
there would be no way she would accept me once she found out that I was a part
of that lifestyle. But, what if she knew I had my doubts; that I would give it
all up if the need were strong enough? Could I ask her to be that need? It had
been only one day; there was no way I could burden her with all of this. It
would have to wait, but I was not giving up on her.

“I’m sorry I broke into your apartment.”

“What am I supposed to say to that?”

“You forgive me?”

She twisted onto her side and looked at me. “Ryan, while it
turned out to be… a pleasant surprise, you can’t invade my privacy like that. I
only just met you yesterday.”

“I know, but…”

“No, no, I’m not done. I ended this. Maybe I have a good
reason. Maybe a relationship isn’t the best thing for me right now. And yes, I
made the mistake of inviting you into my home without really knowing you, but I
need to lay down the ground rules.”

I sat up. She was beginning to piss me off again. I didn’t
want ‘rules’. “So you think this was a mistake?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“But that’s what you said.”

“You are not allowed to get mad at me right now. I came home
to find a man I barely know standing in my bedroom. You’re lucky you’re hot, or
I would’ve called the cops.”

I flashed her a broad smile, and wrapped my arms around her,
bringing her into a kiss. There was only so long I could go without touching
her.

“I won’t break into your apartment anymore, unless…”

“There’s no ‘unless’, Ryan.”

“Let me finish. Unless I feel that I need to protect you.” I
needed to add that stipulation.

“I’m a big girl.”

“Please, Grace.”

I couldn’t explain to her what I was talking about, but in
my line of work, you never knew what might transpire. If I feared for her life,
I would absolutely go against her wishes and break down her door.

“Fine. If, and only if, I call you and tell you I need you
to save my life, then you’re allowed to break in.”

“If you call me?”

“Yes.”

“Only if you call me.”

“Yes.”

“So I can have your number?”

Yeah, I walked right into that one. But I couldn’t. I
couldn’t risk both of our lives in this way. I was starting to feel that he
definitely didn’t know I was a Brennan. Our passion was too real. But I would
eventually have to tell him who I was. What would he say to that? Would he feel
betrayed?  

And what was going to happen on Friday? Did he know about
it? How high up was he on the totem pole? If he already had the tattoo, he was
well beyond a hang around and a prospect. Who was I really dealing with?

“Ryan, I… I just can’t right now.”

“Shit, Grace.” He leaned over me as I tried to sit up. “Who
is he?”

“What?”

“The only reason you could be acting like this is if there’s
someone else.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “There’s no one else.”

He lowered closer to me. I had intense feelings of both fear
and ecstasy as his breath met mine. It was dizzying.

“Then where were you tonight?”

I would not answer to him.

“I said, ‘where were you tonight?’”

“This is what I am talking about. I am free to do whatever
the hell I want. I don’t know who you think you are, but I don’t need to tell
you what I do in my free time.”

He punched the pillow next to my head, and pushed off of me.
His anger made me warm and wanting. Maybe there
was
something to these
bad boy bikers?

“Fuck it. You obviously don’t want me here. See you around,
Grace.”

No. I hadn’t figured out about next weekend; I couldn’t let
him leave just yet.

“Wait.” I called after him.

He turned, his eyebrows raised, waiting for my request.

“School is a bit crazy, but maybe I can see you next
weekend?”

He breathed deeply, and his face softened. “Okay. What about
Saturday?”

“How about Friday?”

“I can’t Friday.”

Here was my chance. Don’t screw this up, Grace. “Oh, what
are you doing?”

He paused, seeming to decide on his answer. “If you don’t
have to tell me what you do in your free time, I certainly don’t have to tell
you.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked up at him with my most contrived, sad
puppy dog eyes. “You’re absolutely right.”

I stayed there in the moment, unfairly using my feminine
charms to get what I wanted.

Of course, I won.

“I have a match.” He gave in.

“A boxing match?”

“Yes.”

“That’s exciting. Maybe I could come watch.”

“Absolutely not.” His answer was too quick.

“Why not?”

“You said yourself, you can’t come to Southwest Philly.”

“I could make an exception.”

He strode back to me, grabbing my face in his hands. “Grace,
please, don’t ask me to explain, but just, please don’t come to the match. I’ll
be here Saturday morning; we’ll spend all day together. But, please, whatever
you do, stay here Friday night.”

While I felt a tinge of guilt, I still wanted to play the
game. “Okay, I guess I’ll just have to find another man to keep me company.”

I felt his body tense, and his lips pressed together. Club
guys got jealous so easily. It was kind of funny. He sucked in the air around
him and brought me closer. “Believe me, you don’t want to do that. Don’t even
play with me, Grace.” He looked around the room, regaining his composure. His
voice fell quiet. “Please, just don’t leave here Friday night. Stay in your
apartment. Please.”

His concern was real. He knew what was happening, and he
didn’t want me to get caught in the crossfire. He pulled my lips to his and was
gone. I heard the front door shut behind him.

After a few minutes, a motorcycle roared to life and
disappeared into the distance.

What was I going to do?