Provoke (4 page)

“Would it have killed you to be civil?” I said acidly, reaching for my handbag.

“Come on, Leeta. What the hell are you doing with that fool? You can do better. You
had
better.” And there it was: he was never going to get over me breaking up with Ben.

“You don’t get it, Dad. Ben didn’t make me happy. Mace does. You might not like the package, but if you gave him a chance . . .”

I laughed as Dad scowled at me.
Why am I even bothering?

“All you’re doing here is pushing me away,” I warned as I backed away from the table.

Stalking out through the restaurant lobby, I scanned the room for Mace. I spotted him outside, walking to his bike. I raced after him.

“Mace!”

He turned around and waited for me to catch up. “I’m sorry, Leets. But I couldn’t sit there and be judged like that.” He ran his hand through his dark, curly hair, his blue eyes sad.

“I’m sorry. My dad can be an asshole.” I ran my fingers over his ripped chest, with one thing on my mind: making him realize just how important he was to me. “Take me home?”

“Sure,” he sighed. He handed me the spare helmet. “Jump on.”

#

There was nothing quite like soaring through the streets on the back of a bike with your arms curled tightly around a hot, sculpted body. I leaned my face against the back of his jacket, holding him as close to myself as I possibly could without mounting him.

It took me a moment to realize we were headed to his house, not mine. Smiling, I held on a little tighter to my man. He pulled into his driveway and steered the bike into his garage.

We walked inside through the internal door in the garage. His house was a far cry from my inner-city apartment. Situated in one of the poorer suburbs in Melbourne, his street was one I’d feel nervous about walking down alone at night. Well, nowadays I’d feel nervous walking
anywhere
alone at night, but around here . . . it gave me the creeps. With Mace with me, though, I felt safe. One of the benefits of dating within a crime family was that nobody was game enough to touch you. Everyone knew who he was, and by association, everyone knew I was his girl.

“He’s right, you know.” He put his arms around my shoulders and smiled down at me. “You could do so much better than me, Leets.”

How had he known that Dad had told me that?

“Mace, quit doing that. You are an amazing guy. I’m not dating my father, thank God. I’m a big girl. Believe it or not, I’m old enough to decide who I date.”

“You sure your dad knows that?” He smirked. I punched him lightly on the arm. I hated that he felt like he wasn’t good enough for me. We couldn’t be any more different, but together we were perfect.

Every day, my feelings for him grew stronger and deeper. There were so many layers to this man, and every one I peeled back revealed another reason for me to love him.

There were things he hadn’t told me—tonight at dinner was a perfect example—and I knew there was more, secrets from his past locked up inside his soul, but I could only trust that when it felt right for him, he’d let me in completely, with no boundaries.

“Shut up and kiss me, you idiot.” I pulled him toward me, my mouth closing over his as my arms wrapped around his waist. His fingers struggled to free my shirt from the constraints of my skirt until they roamed over my bare back.

I pushed him away and narrowed my eyes.

“You think I’m sexy?” I asked, tilting my head. My dark hair tumbled over my shoulder as I unbuttoned my shirt. He smirked and leaned back against the kitchen counter, his hands behind his back, just watching me.

With all the buttons undone, my shirt fell open, giving him glimpses of my smooth, creamy skin and the soft-pink lace bra that was doing a wonderful job holding my girls up.

I bit my lip and reached behind me, unzipping my skirt. Very slowly, with my thumbs hooked on either side, I lowered it. His eyes fell to my matching pink thong as the skirt disappeared down my long legs. I kicked it aside and walked over to him, swaying my hips. The heels I was wearing gave me an extra few centimetres in height, which brought me almost to eye level with him.

“So?” I repeated coyly, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. I wanted to burst out laughing. This sexy little minx act was so not me, but from the obvious bulge in the front of his pants, he didn’t seem to agree.

“Come here.” He leaned forward, his fingers getting lost in my long dark hair. “You’re fucking beautiful,” he growled, kissing me roughly.

He pushed me down until I was kneeling on the floor. I smiled up at him, my fingers reaching to unbuckle his belt. He stared down at me with hungry eyes, his fingers still lost in my hair.

“Fuck, sexy,” he mumbled as I freed his hardness. I didn’t answer. Instead, I took his long, stiff shaft in my hands and began to move them up and down as he groaned softly. He shifted as I gripped the base of his cock. I flipped my hair over my shoulder so he could see me take the tip of him into my mouth. He loved watching me. And I loved to be watched.

My lips closed around his girth and began to glide along his shaft as my tongue massaged and tasted his cock. I loved the feeling of control this gave me. There was no more powerful feeling in the world than giving your man head.

Gawd, I’ll probably set back women’s rights a few thousand years just thinking that
.

My tongue rolled over his cock as he grabbed a handful of my hair and guided my mouth along his length. As much as I enjoyed control, I
loved
it when he dominated me. Nothing compared to his grabbing me by my ponytail and forcing his stiff cock down my throat, demanding that I suck.

He grunted as my tongue rolled along his length. My eyes remained on his, loving the feeling of him watching me as I sucked. I flicked the tip, tasting his precum as his arousal increased.

“Such a tease,” he muttered, his grip on my ponytail tightening to the point where it hurt. His body tensed—he was close, I could feel it. I moved back and forth faster, my tongue caressing his cock as his elation began to heighten. “Stand up,” he demanded. I got to my feet.

He slipped my thong down over my hips and hoisted me onto the counter. I wrapped my legs around him, wet and ready as his erection pressed at the entrance of my pussy.

“Oohh,” I gasped as he thrust hard inside of me. I lay back on the counter as he climbed on top of me, propping my leg over his shoulder. A whimper escaped from me as he pounded into me. So close… I arched my back as elation filled my body. My muscles tensing, I reached down and slipped a finger against my spot, gasping as his shaft impaled me.

“God, yes!” I gasped. I closed my eyes, reeling in the delirium that was coursing through my body. His movements slowed until he eventually pulled out of me. He took my hands and sat me up, my body falling limp against him.

“I’ve still got to get home,” I muttered, resting my chin on his chest. He smiled and stroked my hair.

“Stay here.”

“I’ve got work in the morning, and my clothes and makeup . . .” I sighed as my nails drew little circles over his smooth chest.

“Tell you what: set your alarm an hour earlier and I’ll run you home in the morning.”

“You’d get up early for me?” I grinned at him. Mace hated mornings.

“I’d do anything for you, Leets,” he said.

He put his hand on my neck, tilting it up until my eyes met his. All I saw was the love and desire of a man who would go to the moon and back for me. Not a day went by when he didn’t tell me how much he loved me. I cherished that, especially knowing how hard it was for him to show his feelings.

“Come here, you.” He nodded his head at me, so I made my way over, laughing as he picked me up. I threw my arms around his neck as he carried me into his bedroom, carefully laying me down on the bed. He pulled the covers over me and climbed in beside me.

“I knew not making my bed would come in handy,” he grinned, his lips finding mine. I melted into his embrace as he gently stroked my hair. “Go to sleep, sweetheart.”

Closing my eyes, I smiled as his fingers swept over my back, each touch driving my body crazy and relaxing me at the same time. I sighed. I couldn’t ask for anymore from this man. My eyelids closed as I began to drift off, faintly aware of him whispering sweet words in my ear as I fell asleep.

Mace

I woke up early, for the first time ever, before my alarm sounded. Leet was fast asleep, snuggled against my body, my arms wrapped around her. My face against her neck, I breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of her skin.

My stiff cock pressed against her ass, begging to be satisfied. Even the smell of her got me hard. I gently rocked myself against her, my fingers wandering around, tickling her stomach.

She stirred, her eyes opening. She smiled at me, rolling over. Her lips tilted up, pressing against mine as her hand found it’s way to my cock. I groaned as she gripped hold of it, stroking.

“Morning,” I muttered, my mouth finding hers. She kissed me back, her tongue curling around my own. She slid to the edge of the bed, standing up.

“That’s just cruel,” I grumbled, fisting my cock underneath the covers as I took in her curvy, naked body.

She laughed. “I was going to have a shower. Are you going to join me?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

I didn’t need to be asked twice. I jumped out of bed and walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist, my fingers tickling her bare skin. She giggled and tried to break free.

“Come on, let’s make this quick. I’ve got work to get to,” she said, walking us both toward the bathroom.

I hit the taps, and then turned my attention back to her and that glorious body.

“Come here,” I said, taking her hand. She smiled, and moved toward me as I checked the temperature of the water.

“What are you doing?” She laughed as I hoisted her onto my hips. She cried out as her back hit the cold tiles of the shower, water streaming down over us.

“What do you think?” I murmured, kissing her neck. She set one foot down, the other remaining locked around my waist. My hands roamed over her wet skin. I felt her nipples harden against my touch. Leaning down, I took one in my mouth and began to suck as her hands clutched at my wet hair.

“Down,” She muttered, pushing me down onto my knees. I chuckled as she hooked her leg over my shoulder, the other remaining on the floor to steady her.

“What can I do for you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

She glared down at me. “You know what I want.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“You’re an ass,” She muttered, blushing. “I want you to lick me. I want to feel your tongue inside me, okay?”

I grinned, my tongue moving slowly along her entrance as she whimpered. “More than okay,” I whispered. I loved making her say it. Making her tell me what she wanted. For such a confident woman she could be so shy when it came to sex that I couldn’t resist teasing her.

My hands on her ass, I buried my face in her pussy. She squealed as my tongue pushed deep inside of her, massaging her spot as she shifted, thrusting me further inside of her.

“Oh god yeah,” she gasped. She pressed back against the tiles, her leg clenching around my neck as she pressed the back of my head. “That’s…yeah,” she panted. I glanced up at her, water spraying me in the face as I took in her expression, and the way her hand was now rubbing her nipple as my mouth fucked her pussy.

She moaned. Her back arched, pushing her hips forward as her pussy demanded more of me. My tongue flicked at her clit as I plunged a finger, then two, inside of her slick wetness. She was so ready; I could feel she was going to explode any moment now.

“Arghh,” she cried, her body convulsing as she began to climax. I could feel the tension in her legs and her arms as her limbs clung to me, yet at the same time she was pushing away my head. Eventually, her hold on me relaxed and I stood up, holding her under the stream of water, my hands all over her.

“That was fucking incredible,” she sighed. “I can’t even…” she shook her head and sighed. I chuckled, kissing her lips as I reached for the body wash. Lathering up a handful, I ran my hands over her body again as she sighed.

“Why are you so good to me?” she muttered as I rinsed the suds from her body. I shook my head. She just didn’t get it.

“With you, I’m the only way I can be. You bring out the good in me, Leets,” I muttered. She smiled, letting me help her out of the shower. Wrapping the towel around her, I kissed her on the nose. “If we’re going to get you home in time to change we’d better hurry.”

She nodded again. She looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in a week. I grinned, loving that I had that affect on her.

“Have I told you how awesome you are?” she asked.

“Everyday.”

#

It was nearly nine in the morning when I returned from dropping Leeta home. I looked around the dump I was living in. I was supposed to be at work in five minutes, instead, I grabbed my phone and texted Finn.

Hey, want today off and put in a double on Thursday? I can meet you at the bar after lunch?

Finn replied right away.

Couldn’t you have texted ten minutes ago? I’m fucking on my way already. Yeah, sure, whatever. How did dinner go?

I cringed. Shit, I’d managed to push last night completely out of my mind.

Not good. I’d like to say it could’ve gone worse, but I’m not sure that’s true.

Throwing my phone down on the counter, I stripped out of my clothes and went back to bed.

#

“’Sup, man?”

Dex slapped my arm, a joint hanging from the corner of his mouth as I walked into the room. The rest of the guys stood around the pool table—except for Max, who was passed out on the couch with Teegan collapsed on top of him. I shot Dex a look. He shrugged.

“What? Can’t hold their alcohol.”

It didn’t seem to bother him that his girlfriend was straddling his brother. I shook my head and shrugged off my jacket, throwing it on the table to the right of the door.

A bottle of bourbon sat open on the countertop. Grabbing it, I took a swig, gagging as the liquid burned down my throat. I wiped my mouth on the sleeve of my shirt and downed another mouthful before setting the bottle back down.

“Big day, Mace?” Jon asked, taking a break from sticking his tongue down some random chick’s throat.

I snorted and nodded. I looked over at Finn, who was wincing, already aware of how badly it had all gone down with Leet’s parents.

“Yeah. I met the parents last night,” I explained, making a face.

Cheers erupted from the guys, which woke up a startled Teegan, who glanced at me in her drunken stupor before face-planting down on Max’s chest. I shook my head.

“No. No cheering,” I grumbled, clenching my fists. “It was a train wreck.”

The whole fucking night had been a disaster. How had I let her talk me into that? I didn’t do parents—especially stuck-up snobs who looked down on useless pieces of shit like me. Fuck them for treating me like shit, and fuck Leeta for being so sweet and understanding.
Fuck everything and everyone.

“What, Little Miss Perfect’s parents didn’t approve of gangland spawn Mace Jordan?” Max gasped and widened his eyes in mock horror, slapping his hand over his chest.

“Go fuck yourself, Max.” His comment hit a little too close to home.

When people found out who my father was, they immediately assumed I was like him. The reality was that we couldn’t be any more different. The only thing we had in common was we both put family first.

God help anyone who fucked with a Jordan.

Dad was big into crime: car theft, drugs, fraud, murder—you name it, and chances were he’d had his fingers in that pot at one time or another.

I tried my best to keep myself clean. While it didn’t always work out that way, I ran a legitimate business that made me a legitimate income.

Grabbing the cue off Finn, I aimed for the small six, socking it right into the left pocket. I winked and threw it back to him.

“Show off,” he muttered.

“Can’t help it if I’m good.”

“Whatevs.”

“Mace!”

I glanced over at Teegan, who had just woken up—again. Her eyes lit up when she spotted me. She stood up, unsteady on her feet. She stumbled over to me. I patted her on the back awkwardly as she threw her arms around me. I could feel Dex’s eyes on me.

“How are you?” she asked, batting her eyelashes as her fingers tugged at the cleavage of her low cut shirt. This girl was a mess.

“So, how did Leeta react to the night?” asked Max.

“By taking me back to my place and fucking me senseless,” I muttered.

Shit
. I hadn’t meant to say that aloud.

Or maybe I had. Maybe I felt like I had something to prove with Teegan hanging off me, who knows? The thing was, I never bragged to the guys about Leeta. Other girls in the past? Yeah, sure. But Leeta . . . what we had was different—stronger than anything I’d ever felt before.

“Oh, yeah, I bet that girl gives good head. Those lips . . .” Dex pursed his lips and shook his head. “She’s a fine piece of ass, I’ll give you that. Here,” he said.

I glared at him as I caught the can of beer he’d tossed me. Throwing it down on the table, I stalked over to him and grabbed hold of the scruff of his shirt, bringing his eyes level with mine as my knuckles pressed against his windpipe. He coughed, struggling to breathe.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that around me, you fucking wanker,” I growled.

He put his arms up in surrender. “Fuck, jeez, settle down, bro. It was just a joke,” he wheezed, doubled over. I glared at him.
Walk away before you do something stupid.
I backed off, still angry.

Dex and I had history—mostly because his girlfriend had been in love with me for the past three years. He fucking hated the fact that she settled for him. Teegan was nice and all that, but I’d had no interest in having a girlfriend until Leeta came along.

“Look, I might call it a night. I’m pretty wrecked,” I muttered, rubbing my neck.

“Ahh don’t be such a pussy. Stay and have a drink. We never see you anymore,” Dex said, slapping a can of beer against my chest. I took the can and cracked it open. Maybe spending a few hours with the guys wasn’t the worst idea in the world.

#

It was after three in the morning when I stumbled inside. I wasn’t drunk—I’d only had the one beer and a couple of mouthfuls of bourbon—but after barely sleeping the night before I was fucked.

I had a missed call and two messages from Leet, but I knew better than to respond to them now. As sweet as she was, she could be a real bitch when I woke her up—even when it was accidental . . . which was often.

Walking into the kitchen, I grabbed a beer from the fridge and fired up the laptop. I didn’t have to work the next day, thank fucking Christ, because the guy who owned the garage I used ran a training workshop every second Wednesday. After taking today off, too, I was going to have to put in a long one Thursday in order to catch up.

Not that it bothered me.

I loved what I did, and when I was working on my bikes I felt like I was good for something. When I was a kid, Dad would throw old, run-down bikes my way, and I’d strip them down and rebuild them. Anna would sit there for hours, watching me.

Even with no formal qualifications, I knew everything there was to know.

Pictures of Anna filled my home screen on the laptop: Anna with me, Anna with Dad, one of all four of us smiling like fuckheads on the beach. Even Dad was grinning, beer in hand, which was a rarity for him.

My childhood had been dysfunctional, but we always knew Dad loved us. It wasn’t the usual kind of affection—there were no trips to our school productions, no Christmas or birthday celebrations—but in his own way, he made sure we knew how important we were. We were so close.

Up until Anna died.

I leaned back in my seat. I missed her so much. I was supposed to have protected her.

I’d found out she was dead when my brother woke me up after an all-night bender. I was passed out in bed when Cash came charging in, his eyes red. Right away, I knew something was wrong. My mind had gone to Dad first, because that was the logical explanation: another fight in prison, or maybe all the drinking had finally caught up with him.

But Anna? My sweet little sister? It was impossible.

I can’t think about her now.
Thinking about her left me a mess. Anna had been the glue that held our family together. Without her, we were a mass of pieces, none quite fitting next to the other. Even Leet didn’t realize how much Anna’s suicide still affected me. Talking about it led to questions I couldn’t answer. Besides, talking was for pussies. I’d tough this shit out like my brother did. Like my father did.

I pushed her from my mind. I couldn’t think about her right then. If I did, I’d fall apart. It had been a year, and I still hadn’t gotten over it. I didn’t think I ever would.

My email whistled. I glanced at the icon. My blood ran cold. Holy fuck. After six weeks of nothing?

My hands shook as I opened my email. There it was.

A time. A date. A description.

Slim, brown eyes, blond hair. I mentally ran through my girls. Only one fit the description.
Cassandra.
Now I had to pray that she was available.