Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(47)

“Blackie,” I whispered, my breath ragged as he turned me inside out.

“Goddamn Lace,” he grunted, lifting his hips to push against me. “Like it when you say my name, angel,” he said before he sucked my lower lip between his.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged. I kissed him back, exploring his lips with mine, memorizing the feel, the fit, the way they meshed so perfectly.

Two imperfect people.

Perfectly suited for one another.

His fingers snaked into my hair, dragging them through the long waves until he fisted the ends, pulling my head back and breaking the kiss. I groaned in protest but his hot wet mouth closed over my throat and I forgot all about the loss of his mouth on mine.

“Please,” I begged, as he continued to suck and graze my neck. I ran my fingers through his hair, dragging the rubber band at the base of his neck away and freed his hair from the restraint. It was my turn to tug on the ends until his head lifted and his hooded eyes met mine.

The room grew silent, the only sound was our breaths as we both stilled and continued to stare at one another.

“What?” I whispered.

He opened his mouth to speak when the door opened and Riggs strode in carrying a pizza box.

“Ah, f*ck!” He groaned. “Why? Why am I the only one who walks in on this shit!?” He grunted, tossing the pizza box onto the bed before pointing to us. “You two got some sort of death wish!”

“Give us a minute, Riggs,” Blackie ground out.

He rolled his eyes.

“Join an M.C. they said,” he muttered, turning around. “It’ll be fun they said,” he continued as he slammed the door behind him.

I stared at the closed door for a moment, too afraid to turn around and look at Blackie, not ready to leave the perfect bubble we were secluded in.

“Lacey,” he started.

“This is the part where you send me away,” I said, swallowing against the lump in my throat before I found the courage to turn around and meet his gaze.

Yeah.

Here it comes.

“You’re better off away,” he stated. “You’re too good for this life, girl,” he said huskily.

“That’s a poor attempt at softening the blow of rejection,” I stammered, sliding off his lap.

“It’s not rejection,” he said.

“Feels like it,” I spat.

“This is me saving you one last time because I’m worse than the man with the needle baby,” he paused, standing up and closing the distance between us as he took my hand and laced our fingers together. “I’m the poison inside the needle,” he said, lifting our joined hands to my cheek. “And you? You’re everything good in this world. It’s a good dream, Lace. You and me, it’s a real good dream but dreams don’t come true for men like me.”

He dropped his hand from mine and took a retreating step back.

“They do when you want them enough,” I replied.

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweats and focused his eyes on the floor. Without uttering a word Blackie made it clear our conversation was over and so was this stolen moment.

But there would be more.

I was sure of it.





Chapter Sixteen





Four weeks.

Four Saturday’s I missed.

On the fifth Saturday I was discharged from the hospital and to my surprise, Jack was waiting for me. I hadn’t seen him much since the pissing contest over Lacey and thank Christ for that; I didn’t trust myself around him, her—basically anyone with the last name Parrish. Still, the fact that he brushed that shit aside and picked my sorry ass up from the hospital said something…in the larger scheme of things we were brothers.

I just wasn’t sure how long we’d be able to hold onto that.

When it would stop being enough.

I cupped my hand, bringing it to my forehead to act as a visor and shield the sun that was temporarily blinding me.

“It’s about time you got sprung,” Jack quipped, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pair of my sunglasses. “You’re like a f*cking vampire,” he joked.

“Fuck off,” I hissed, snatching the sunglasses out of his hand and fitting them to my face.

He laughed, slapping me on the back and tipped his chin toward the parking lot.

“Let’s get the f*ck out of here the boys are waiting at the clubhouse,” he said as we headed to his truck. I folded my discharge papers and shoved them into the back pocket of my jeans.

“Church?” I questioned as he unlocked his truck and we climbed inside. I watched him nod as he started up the truck, leaning back in his seat before he pulled out of the parking spot.

“Been too long since the table was full,” he said, glancing over at me. “Glad to have you back and not a moment too soon,” he added before turning his eyes back to the road. “Reina’s been cooking up a storm since six-f*cking-thirty this morning,” he fought back the smile itching to break free. “I don’t know if she can cook, but the woman can sure as hell bake, so I think we’re safe,” he said. “Dinner’s at seven.”

“Dinner?”

“Dinner,” he confirmed. “You beat the odds man. You and Reina made it out of that f*cking ordeal, Jimmy got what he was due, sure, we got a boatload of grief to deal with but I’m taking that shit as a win, and we celebrate f*cking wins,” he resolved.