Page 9 of Paladin's Hell

Using the information Jeannie had so helpfully supplied, Hell had indeed called me. Of course he wasn’t named Hellfire then, hadn’t yet got his road name. He’d been a plain and simple Carter. Yeah. He’d called me, not Jeannie, turns out it wasn’t her he was interested in. Something I could never understand. And it wasn’t a party he’d invited me to, instead he asked me to go for a ride on the back of his bike. In my naivety then, I had no idea what that meant to a biker like him.

Carter had turned up at my door, helmet in hand, while he wasn’t wearing one himself. It was the one time I was grateful I had parents who didn’t give a damn, Dad normally lost in an alcoholic fugue, with Mom not far behind. They didn’t seem to find anything odd in a biker ringing the doorbell.

I’d been nervous. Of going somewhere with a man I didn’t know, and on transport I’d never been on. But Hell, well, from the start he was dominant, knew what he wanted. He swept me away, and before I could have second thoughts, I was climbing on behind him, obeying his instructions, putting my hands around his waist. It wasn’t long before I knew I could become addicted to this, the most exciting thing I’d ever done. It was the feeling of freedom, seeing the scenery as if I was part of it, smelling the air. So much better than being trapped in a car.

Hell rode confidently, even then. Not for one moment did I have concerns about him losing control and crashing. His warm leather-clad body encircled in my arms, the power seemed to emanate from him, installing a confidence in me.

I’d felt alive. For the first time in my life. I felt me. As if in covering those miles took me on an internal journey. I hadn’t wanted it to end.

After a while he pulled into a little-used picnic spot. When he took my hand and led me away from the bike, I suddenly became nervous. I’d been on dates with boys, of course I had. But Hell wasn’t a boy, he was all man. He might want to go further than I’d been before.

Jeannie wasn’t a virgin, but unlike her, I’d never seen my virginity as a burden or something I felt in a rush to lose. It was partly down to the casualness of her relationships with the opposite sex, that had made me vow, I wanted my first time to mean something. And I didn’t want it to be over a picnic bench with a virtual stranger.

Out of sight of the road, Hell stopped, pulled me around to face him. As I looked up, I saw his eyes flaring, and when he pulled me against his body as he lowered his lips to mine, I felt a hardness against me.

I’d jumped back.

“Carter. I…”

He turns away sharply. I’ve made him angry, I know I have. But when he swings back, he’s wearing a lopsided grin. He takes a step toward me, I stand my ground as he shakes his head. “Moira, I’m sorry,” he says sheepishly. “But you’re to blame. Felt too fucking good with you on the back of my bike. Ain’t gonna treat you like a whore, babe. You deserve better than that. We’ll take this slow. Slow as you want. You’ll let me know when you’re ready.”

“I’m sorry.” I don’t know why I’m apologising.

“Babe. You’re young. You’ve not done this before, have you?”

Feeling more confident, I ask. “What gave it away?”

“Babe.” He grows serious, his brow creased as though thinking. “Bitch feels a hard cock against her, if she wants it, she doesn’t pull away.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell him again.

“Hey, don’t fucking apologise. To anyone, okay? You choose me when you’re ready? I’ll be over the fucking moon. When it’s time, you’ll know.”

Now it’s me who closes the distance between us. Raising my hand, I place it against his cheek. He’s made me confident, made me trust he won’t be taking what I’m not offering. “You could kiss me.”

“Fuckin’ right I could,” he chuckles. “And I will. Just ignore… him… if it seems he wants to play. I’ve got him under control, okay?”

I smirk, finding it funny he’s talking about his dick as though it’s a separate entity. Then I stop thinking about anything at all and just start feeling as he lowers his head and his mouth touches mine.

He might have said we weren’t going to be having sex, but this kiss is almost criminal. His tongue probes, his teeth nip, my mouth opens. Every part of me starts to tingle as he explores and ravishes. That he knows what he’s doing is certain. I’d heard Jeannie talking about boys who’d made her wet, but had never understood she’d meant it literally until my own panties feel sticky in my jeans. I’d be embarrassed were it not that I was fighting to prevent myself from rubbing against him.

He pulls back, I want more. Now it’s me who goes on a hesitant attack, the growl in his throat tells me that’s what he’d wanted.

Men like him should come with a warning.

When we finally part, my lips are swollen, my face burns. He pulls my head onto his shoulder, and gently cradles me with his huge hand. “Babe, love your taste, love the smell of you. If we don’t do something else, gonna forget my promise to you. Let’s walk.”

It wouldn’t have taken much for me to give in. At the time I was pleased that he hadn’t pressured me. Later, well, that was another story. We’d walked, talked about everything and nothing. He’d told me some of his dreams, explained his father was the president of the club he was in, had started it along with some of his friends. Despite the familial relationship, Carter wasn’t having anything handed to him on a plate, having to start at the bottom as a prospect. He’d had me laughing with some of the jobs he was asked to do, or at least those he could discuss. Other things he wouldn’t talk about, but that was fine with me. I simply enjoyed listening to his deep, sexy voice.

When he asked me what I wanted from life, I came up with a long list that young girls often have. I wanted to travel. See other states. Other countries. No real idea how I’d be able to afford it, but not having had the best home life myself nor attending much to my education, I was thinking of perhaps at least qualifying as a nanny, and getting a job with a rich family.

He listened as if my dreams were perfectly achievable, offering no judgement at all. It was one of the best afternoons of my life.

I went home with stars in my eyes and dreams filling my head of my handsome biker.

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