of lonely out here tonight. It’s so quiet in the country; it’s kind of freaking me out.”
He chuckles. “You want some company?”
“Sure,” the word vaults out of my mouth practically before he finishes the question.
“All right. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. Ride safe.”
***
Half an hour later, I hear his bike come up the road and slow to make the turn in the driveway. I peer out the window to watch the single headlight bump along the gravel and pull to the back of the house.
I set the gun down on the kitchen table and meet him in the yard.
He looks tired as he climbs off the bike.
I jam my hands in the back pockets of my shorts and smile. “Hey.”
He strides to me, looking so good my heart flutters. He hooks an arm around my waist and hauls me against him for a long kiss. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and when he breaks the kiss, I bury my face in his neck, clutching him tight.
He holds me a long minute, as if he somehow knows I just need to be held. His hand strokes over my hair, and he murmurs, “You okay, Hot Rod?”
I pull back, pasting a bright smile on my face. He’s frowning, his penetrating eyes searching mine.
“I’m fine.” I tuck my arm in his and pull him toward the back door. “Are you hungry? I could make you something to eat.”
He pulls me into the bedroom, and we do what we do best. He strips my clothes and then his. This time he bends me over with my hands on the bed, and he takes me fast and hard from behind with no foreplay. It’s exactly what I need, and I wonder if he could somehow read it in my face, in my voice, in my nerves. However he knew, his command and control of my body takes me right out of my head and breaks that energy that’s had me strung up all evening. I give myself over to him, and he releases me from my problems.
He makes sure I come, bringing his hand around and strumming my clit as his thrusting escalates. He leans over me, bites my earlobe, and orders me to come, growling the command in my ear. My body submits, obeying him immediately before I can even process the thought in my head.
He follows me in four strokes, grabbing my hips and plowing hard, shouting as he explodes in orgasm.
“Fuck, I needed that,” he groans, dropping us both to the bed.
When both our breathing settles, I whisper, “We can’t keep doing this.”
He turns his head to me. “Why?”
“I work for you now.”
“So.”
“I keep telling myself I need space, but then you look at me and I’m done for.”
“Not gonna stop lookin’ at you, Ashlynn.”
“Rusty, I don’t know if I can be what you want.”
“Now you know what I want?”
“You’re right, I don’t.”
I go up on an elbow, my head in my hand, and study his face while my fingertips lightly move down the scar on his chest. It’s camouflaged by a tattoo, but I’ve felt its puckered ridge. It’s a straight line about two inches long. I’ve been hesitant to prod him about it, but I think we’ve been together long enough that I can ask.
“What happened here?”
His hand comes up to cover mine, and I fear I’ve overstepped. The mood was nice, and now I worry I’ve ruined it. When he doesn’t say anything I feel the need to apologize. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No. It’s okay. Just not something I like reliving.” He turns his head and meets my gaze. “Happened years ago. I was stabbed with a dagger.”
I frown. “A dagger?”
He nods. “Strange, I know. I’d bought it for that girl I’d been involved with—”
I straighten, dropping my hand from my head. “She stabbed you?”
He shakes his head. “No, but she got blamed for it by my club. Turned out she was innocent, but they saw her running from the apartment, assumed she’d done it. Especially when they realized some cash that belonged to the club was missing.”
“Running from your apartment?”
“Yeah. I was passed out drunk. Some street gang broke in while Skylar was out getting morning coffee. They stabbed me and took the money. She walked in and found me like that, called the paramedics, then saw the club rolling up. She thought I was dead and that they’d never believe she was innocent, so she ran.
“Took months before the club tracked her down and