The Lucky Bullet Read online

  “Guess so babe,” he forces out through his own laughter.

  He placed the spatula down on the right side of the grill and spun around to face me.

  “What’s going on between Dakota and Cade?” He asked after he placed his arm around me and tugged me till I fell into his chest.

  “I’m not sure, honey. When Kota and I went to get my stuff, I introduced them for the first time I thought,” I took a deep breath then continued, “but they acted as if they knew each other. If looks could kill both of them would have be dead. Why?” I finished. I wondered how Mace knew something was going on between them.

  “I called Cade and told him your brothers were having a cookout. He said he’d come as long as Dakota wasn’t here,” he replied. He had a confused frown on his face, along with those dark shadows.

  “Honey, they’re adults. They will figure it out on their own,” I told him as I reached up and smoothed the frown line between his eyebrows.

  He nodded and tried to smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Oh and about my brothers. I’m so sorry about Bryan. First it was Michael now Bryan. I don’t know what’s gotten into them,” I rambled on. I felt terrible he was getting treated like he was.

  “You want to know what’s gotten into them?” He saw that I nodded and continued, “They see that little girl all grown up and finally falling in love with a good man,” my breath caught but he hadn’t noticed, “they don’t want to let you go.” He finally finished speaking.

  He still hadn’t noticed I was having trouble breathing. He couldn’t know I was falling in love with him. How did he know that? I questioned my inner self.

  “I know because I see it in your eyes every time you look at me. And my eyes mirror yours, Araylia,” he once again answered my unspoken question.

  My breath became even harder to suck in when he said he felt the same.

  “Y-you…feel the same way?” I asked stupidly, since he already said he did.

  He lifted his hand from my waist and tucked a stray hair behind my ear then cupped my cheek tenderly.

  “Yes Ray. I’m not going to lie and say I wanted it to happen or even that I thought it would happen but it did. I’m falling for you, fast and hard. I was going to try and stop it but it’s futile. I’m not fighting what I feel anymore,” he told me truthfully.

  I knew he was speaking the truth because I could see it shining in his eyes. I had never noticed it before, maybe because I was blind to the truth, maybe because I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t know, but it didn’t matter because it was clear to me now.

  I leaned up on my tiptoes and sealed his mouth with a kiss. I didn’t care that we were at my brother’s house and that my brothers were in that house. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was showing him how I felt. Not telling him with words but showing him in a different way.

  I slid my tongue in his mouth and moaned at the ever present spicy taste. Mace slipped his hands into my hair and grabbed some of it to tilt my head back for more access. I allowed him the access he was searching for and dug my nails in the back of his neck.

  He pulled my legs up around my waist, picking me up, and I hadn’t noticed he was walking until my back was slammed against the concrete wall. I felt the bite of the concrete wall in my back but the sting was taken away with Mace’s skilled mouth. He started groping at my ass. I began rocking my core against his hard denim. His fingers found easy entrance to my pussy because of the dress I was wearing.

  He slid my flimsy thong to the side and his fingers quickly found their destination. I was so moist that his fingers slipped around trying get in my core. He finally sunk two fingers in my pussy and I cried out loudly.

  “Shh, babe. You have to be quiet,” he whispered over my mouth, trying to hush my cries.

  Being quiet with him is next to impossible. I was so close to coming, I needed an extra push! Mace knew what I needed and put his thumb to my clit and flicked it. It felt like I came apart at the seams.

  “Maceee,” I moaned so loud I’m sure everyone in the house heard me.

  Mace drowned out my moans once again with his mouth. He kissed me hard until I calmed down. He started nipping softly at my bottom lip and I was ready to go again.

  “Baby, unless you plan on fucking me right here, I suggest you stop,” I ground out through clenched teeth.

  “Alright, I’ll stop. You. Are. Mine. Tonight.” He told me seriously and I knew there was no way to get out of it, not that I wanted to.

  He set me down on my feet and helped me straighten my dress out. He went back to the grill and flipped everything. I hugged him and kissed his chest right over his heart. I told him I would be right back with drinks.

  I went back inside and kept my head down. I was sure if somebody looked at me they would know what happened outside. I saw Liam was asleep on the couch with his head in Nanny’s lap, I smiled at my little boy and Nanny.

  I walked into the kitchen and saw my brothers sitting around gossiping like a bunch of girls. I giggled and their heads swiveled to me.

  “So why don’t you use those fantastic bar tending skills and make me a vodka tonic?” I asked Michael.

  Back in our college days Michael bartended to earn extra money. I would always come in the bar when it was quiet to get a drink and study. Michael hated seeing me in a bar. He used to say that his little sister should never be in a bar.

  Michael made me a vodka tonic and I got Mace a beer out of the fridge. After I took Mace his beer we sat outside and talked about nothing and everything. It was wonderful finding somebody I could talk to about all the small things or even the big things. He was a great listener.

  Chapter 17

  Mace

  Two hours later

  I had learned that vodka tonic wasn’t the best drink for Araylia. She was drunk off her ass after 4 drinks. Nanny left with Liam about an hour ago, saying she wanted to spend some time with her baby. She decided to take him back to her house for the night and most of tomorrow. All of the guys showed up about ten minutes after Liam and Nanny left.

  Matt had broken out the cards and we’d been playing Poker for an hour. Every hand that I was dealt was shitty so Araylia was kicking my ass. Ray’s brothers had taught her well. She was kicking all of our asses. I was amazed at the things I still had yet to learn about Ray. Poker for example, I had no clue she was so good at it.

  “We should have never taught her how to play poker,” Michael muttered under his breath.

  “Yes, you should have. Wait, you did. That’s why I’m soooo good!” Ray slurred, swaying in her chair.

  I was sure that she hadn’t realized that she was drunk yet. The guys were to say the least very entertained by Ray’s drunk-ness. I had planned on taking her back to the house and fucking her senseless, but I wasn’t going to do it while she was drunk. I didn’t want her to wake up the next morning and have forgotten it, or worse, think I had taken advantage of her.

  After another round and another vodka tonic for Ray, she was crawling in my lap.

  “I’m so sleepy baby. Didn’t you want to fuck me tonight? We can’t fuck if I’m drunk, that would be bad,” she mumbled.

  I looked up at all the guys and immediately regretted it. Michael looked pissed, Bryan had spit his drink all over the table, and Matt was laughing.

  I didn’t even bother to look at Cade, Callum, Ryan, Leo or Blake, I knew they were laughing. I decided that it was time to go before I got my ass kicked. I grabbed Ray around the waist and threw her over my shoulder.

  “Hey! Just because I’m drunk,” hiccup, “doesn’t mean I can’t walk.” Ray said.

  I slapped her ass to get her to be quiet, she shrieked when my palm made contact.

  “Mason Jones! Put me down,” she told me in a near shout, hitting my back with her small fists.

  “No,” I simply said.

  She stopped beating me when I told her no. By now we had reached her car and I was getting ready to set her down. That was until she took a
bite out of my rear end.

  “Take that you big caveman!” Ray said, thrilled she had bitten me.

  I swung her down off my shoulder and righted her after her feet hit the ground. She was so shocked, she didn’t make a noise, and her mouth hung open. Perfect opportunity.

  I bent down and took her mouth in mine. I swept my tongue in her mouth and devoured her. My baby was greedy, she had an orgasm a few hours earlier and already wanted more. I sucked her tongue in my mouth and lightly nipped at it. She moaned and tried to move closer but I pulled away.

  She made a frustrated noise in the back of her throat. As much as I wanted more I wasn’t going to do it. Number one, she was drunk. Number two, she was being punished for that bite.

  “You gonna bite me again babe?” I asked seriously.

  “Are you gonna throw me over your shoulder like a caveman again?” She retorted crossing her arms over her ample breasts.

  I tilted her chin up with a finger.

  “Babe. You are mine. If I want to act caveman with you, I will. Get me?” I said as I looked intently in her eyes.

  “Y-yes,” she stuttered breathlessly.

  “Get in the car.” I lifted my chin toward her car.

  She complied without complaint and got in the car. I rounded the hood and opened the car door when Cade came striding out of Matt’s house.

  I rested my arm on the car and waited for Cade to speak.

  “What we talked about the other day? I’ll be leaving out tomorrow,” he said quietly.

  “Safe trip, brother.” I told him as I slapped him on the shoulder.

  He nodded and turned back to the house. I got in the car and cranked it. Ray had her forehead rested against the window.

  “What were you and Cade talking about?” She asked.

  “Business, babe. Can’t talk about that with you,” I told her. I really can’t discuss business with her, it’s all confidential. This wasn’t business though; I still wasn’t going to tell her where Cade was going. I didn’t want her pissed at me or try and talk me out of it.

  I promised her brothers I would protect her and that’s exactly what I was doing.

  “Mmkay honey,” she hummed in reply.

  She seemed content with being quiet on the ride home. When I pulled in the driveway the garage was up like I left it so I pulled in. I turned to peer at Ray and she was sound asleep. The drinks had probably caught up to her.

  I shut the car door quietly then hit the button for the garage door and it began to close. I went around to her side of the door and got her out. I carried her through the house bridal style until I reached the bedroom. I laid her down and took her shoes off.

  I carried her shoes to the front door and set them down under the table by the door. I trekked into the kitchen, reached up and got some Tylenol and a glass. I filled the glass up with water and took them back into the bedroom.

  “Babe, take these pills and you can go back to sleep,” I said shaking her lightly to get her to wake up.

  “Huh?” She mumbled. I held the pills out to her. She took them and gulped them down with the water.

  After I set the glass of water on the nightstand I went to my side of the bed and stripped off my clothes.

  I got in bed and pulled Ray to me. I played with her hair, like most nights, until I fell asleep.

  One week later…

  Ray and I were in the stands at her brother’s fight. Ray really wanted to go; she said she needed to get over her fear of violence.

  Matt was on his second round and he was kicking some serious ass. He was pretty good.

  “Hey honey, I’m gonna go get us a drink. What do you want?” Ray asked as Matt was dodging punches.

  “I’ll go get it babe. You want Pepsi right?” I questioned.

  She nodded her head, not paying much attention to me, instead on her brother. As I walked to the stand to get our drinks, I thought about the last week.

  Everything had been going pretty smoothly. Ray hadn’t had anymore nightmares, she hadn’t even thought about Luke. Cade said that Luke was firmly in place. He hadn’t gone anywhere except work and to see a girl.

  I was next in line to get what I needed. I ordered a Pepsi for Ray and water for myself. The guy at the counter set the Pepsi down and bent to get my water out of a cooler.

  When he sat back up, he had my water and a manila envelope. He gave me both and shrugged his shoulders.

  “I was told to give this to you,” he spoke loudly to be heard over the noise in the gym.

  I stepped out of line after I paid him. I opened the envelope and immediately felt overcome with rage.

  I pushed everybody out of the line and waited for the counter guy to bend back up.

  “Who the hell gave you this?” I asked vehemently.

  “I don’t know, dude! Some guy with blonde hair, kind of tall, not as tall as you though,” he said, scared.

  As soon as he was finished talking my phone started ringing. I answered it while I walked to the exit.

  “Better be important, Cade.” I told him

  “Right. Fucking douche tricked me. He must have known I was trailing him. He had somebody drive his pussy car home and he got into a cab or something,” he rushed to say.

  “You didn’t think to tell me this earlier?” I roared. I was outside and couldn’t see him anywhere.

  “What the hell? I found out about 15 minutes ago,” he said calmly.

  “Well that was when I found out as well,” I told him.

  “What?” Cade whispered before going deadly quiet. I didn’t need to see him to know he was fuming.

  “Ray and I are at Matt’s fight. Our boy paid off the concession stand guy to give me an envelope with a picture in it,” I said.

  “What was the picture of?” He asked.

  “A picture of Ray’s dress around her fucking waist and my fingers in her pussy. It was taken at Matt’s barbeque. Last week.” I forced out through clenched teeth. I was going back inside, getting Araylia and leaving. Now.

  “I’m coming home. We’re ending this shit now,” Cade told me.

  “No. Stay there, he won’t be here long, he’s trying to scare us,” I said.

  “And that’s not all he left in the envelope. There was a note that read ‘touch her again, you die.’” I replied.

  “I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Cade said gravelly.

  “I know, man. My gut is telling me the same thing. Let me know when he’s home,” I told him as I found Ray. I hitched my thumb up. She had a confused look on her face but got up.

  “Right, later.” He said before I heard the click of the phone.

  I shoved my phone in my pocket and tried to catch Matt’s eye. After a minute he looked at me and I tilted my head to the exit doors. He nodded and continued with his fight.

  We were halfway home before Ray spoke.

  “What happened Mason?” She inquired in a timid voice. I was sure she could tell I was pissed.

  “Not now, Araylia.” I said

  “But-” She tried speaking.

  “Araylia, trust me. Not now,” I said working my jaw so hard my teeth hurt.

  “Okay Mace,” she choked out.

  We got home 15 minutes later. I rushed Ray in the house and locked the doors. I made sure all the other doors and windows were locked before arming the alarm. Ray was standing in the living room with her arms around herself and an unsure look on her face.

  “Sit,” I commanded.

  She didn’t hesitate to sit on the couch.

  “You are not going to like this Araylia,” I said. I was pissed I had to tell her this.

  “Mason, spit it out! You’re scaring the shit out of me,” she yelled as tears filled her eyes.

  “Right. When I got our drinks, the guy at the counter handed me an envelope,” I took a deep breath and forged on, “there was a picture of us, along with a death threat in it.” I finished. I closed my eyes and shook my head.

  Araylia started crying harder. I wa
s livid. How could he do this to her? I would never understand.

  “Who was the death threat made against?” She asked as she peered up at me from under her lashes.

  “Aray-” I was cut off.

  “Tell me!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

  “Me,” I whispered

  That brought a whole new wave of tears. I went to her, prepared to comfort her, but she wouldn’t let me.

  “No,” she screamed again, “this is my fault! If you had never met me you wouldn’t be on your death bed basically!” She yelled as she thrashed around.

  “It’s not your fault. It was my choice to be here and stay. I will want you until my dying breath,” I told her calmly, trying to get her calm as well.

  “Do you really?” She asked astonished.

  “Babe, look in my eyes and tell me what you see,” I said.

  She glanced at my eyes for a second before she spoke again.

  “I don’t know,” she said with her face scrunched up and masked with concentration.

  “No Araylia. Really look,” I advised her.

  She looked in my eyes again and she looked deep this time. After a minute she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth and tears filling her eyes again.

  “Love,” she whispered, shocked.

  “Yes babe, love. I love you, now and forever. You have made an imprint on my heart,” I took her soft face in my hands and wiped her tears, “I want to be here, I won’t go anywhere and neither will you.” I kissed her gently, conveying what I felt into the kiss.

  She opened my mouth with her tongue, deepening the kiss. I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her closer. She jumped up, wrapping her legs around me causing her core and my dick to line up. She started rubbing against me like a cat in heat. I groaned and tore my mouth off hers.

  She latched her mouth to my neck and sucked hard. I knew there would be a mark there tomorrow. She moved up to my ear and tugged my lobe in her mouth.

  “Babe, we’re gonna have to stop,” I croaked out.

  “Don’t want to honey,” she moaned.

  I pulled away so her mouth came unlatched from nibbling my ear. She looked up at me in frustration and blew out a harsh breath.