Page 4

Nova

“What the fucking hell just happened?”

I question in disbelief as we drive away from the madness.

It feels as if I have been in a trance and just awoke.

I wish that were true. I could use it as an excuse, but it’s not.

“Calm down, Pinkie.” Ash says calmly. How is he so calm?

I just threatened a guy with a gun in a street full of cops and a burning house.

The burning house . Oh my God. His house.

His damn house is burning to the ground, and this man’s priority was to get me out of there instead?

His life is falling apart, but there he is taking care of me .

While the man who was fucking me every night for, let’s say, the last six months, is busy with his blonde bimbo of a side piece.

That’s a wake up call if I ever needed one.

The universe is screaming in my face to wake up, or just giving me alternatives to mess up my life more.

Depends on how you look at it. It’s not like the man with the green hair that steals cars for a living is exactly a better choice, right?

“Why?” I ask. My voice barely coming out.

I don’t think this makes any sense. Him.

Me. Everything. It makes no sense to make someone a priority that you met…

What? Just a few hours ago? Over your livelihood being destroyed?

“Because it does no good to anyone if you are upset.” His eyes remain focused on the road as the car speeds up.

I don’t recognize where we are going, though.

It’s not the familiar route to my house.

He takes turn after turn, calculated like everything else he does.

His body language is tense. The knuckles of his hands are turning white as he grips the steering wheel.

He takes another turn, and now we are far from the road.

The car rides up the way to a hill that I know I recognize.

It’s a famous hookup spot, but I have never been there myself. “No, I meant…”

I pause, not exactly sure if it matters.

It’s just the sensitive girl in me that wants answers.

She doesn’t believe someone would do something good for us.

No one ever did, anyway. When you have been failed by people again and again, countless times, you learn not to expect kindness.

You learn the hard truth. It becomes deeply rooted in your psyche like a small, expanding black hole with each new betrayal.

You feel worthless, and even though you know that’s not true, you still believe it.

You learn to expect people to double-cross you.

It’s not a shock anymore when it happens; just another Tuesday.

“Are you asking why I took you away from your ex’s street?

” I chuckle. “Basically, yeah!” The car suddenly stops, almost making me go through the windshield in the process.

Gratitude for the fact that I have my seat belt on rushes over me, but it passes as fast as it came, quickly being replaced with a new feeling.

Fear mixed with something I can’t quite pinpoint yet.

Ash turns to me, a smile on his lips, one that is not exactly pleasant.

It’s forced, as if he is trying to show compassion, but he doesn’t quite grasp the feeling himself.

His finger brushes my cheek, wiping a tear I didn’t know was there.

“Pinkie, you didn’t deserve how he treated you. ”

He continues in a low voice, just above a whisper.

“If I didn’t take you from there, you would have ended up behind bars again.

I don’t know if this time would have been as easy to get out of as your sister paying for your bail.

” I nod. He is not wrong; I know that much.

I was out for blood, my eyes only seeing red.

I would have probably shot Craig if he hadn’t stopped me.

I would have likely killed him. My mother used to say that my downfall would be my temper.

She wasn’t wrong. It’s the one thing that can only get me in trouble.

“But your house.” A tear falls down my cheek as I think about the burning house.

“You had bigger issues than mine.” I say, keeping my voice in the same tone as his.

It’s almost as if this conversation between us is a secret.

Just for the two of us. Even if no one is around to listen, it’s an understanding between us.

One that doesn’t need more words. A pact.

“Aaron is more than capable of taking care of the situation.” He says and starts the car again.

His eyes return to the road. He navigates the road carefully, like he has been here a million times.

My mind drifts between lanes that it really has no point going to, thinking about how many girls he has driven here before.

How many times has he ridden this road on his bike with a girl holding him tight on the back of it?

“I am not taking you there to hook up if that’s what you are thinking.

” He explains what I assume he thinks is what I am thinking.

“I don’t use this spot for that. Never have.

” He explains more, hitting exactly what is on my mind this time.

“Why are we here then?” I question, not really thinking before the words leave my mouth. A hint of desperation in my voice.

“Because this place has always helped me clear my mind. I didn’t know where to take you.

I didn’t want to force you to be in a close space with me by driving you to your apartment, and my house is clearly not an option.

A hotel seemed weird too, which is probably where I am staying tonight anyway.

” He takes an audible breath, then continues.

“So, this.” He points with his hand to the road ahead of us.

“This seemed like a good place to spend a few hours until you are back to your senses.” I smile.

A smile that seems like it’s the first in months and is actually genuine.

But the realization that it isn’t hits me immediately.

This man has me smiling all day for him without even trying.

“Thank you.” I say this time my voice sounds more confident.

This time I mean it. I know he deserves it.

He deserves my gratitude. “No need to thank me Pinkie. I did it for myself, really. If you had shot him and missed, I would probably have to finish the job.” He chuckles.

“Don’t get me wrong; being locked up in a cell with you sounds like a fun time, but I rather be free with you instead.

” I smirk as my own fingers brush the fabric of his jeans, traveling across his thigh for a moment before I retreat my hand and set it on my thigh instead.

He turns to look at me with a puzzled expression, causing my smirk to grow.

“I wouldn’t mind being locked in a close space with you.

” I say while looking out the window, avoiding his gaze.

“I am sure we will have plenty of opportunities for that, pinkie.” He says with a wink as he parks the car.

He opens his door and exits, and I do the same, following him to the front of the car.

He leans against the hood as he reaches into his pocket, bringing out a packet of cigarettes.

He takes one and offers me the open package, and I repeat his motion, taking one for myself.

Smoking is not my thing, but from time to time, I indulge in a bad habit or two, usually with a man who is just as bad for me.

I bring the cigarette to my lips, pressing them around the filter.

Ash flicks his lighter and brings the fire close to light the one my lips hold before he lights his next.

We don’t talk, silently smoking as the night falls around us.

Lights from afar, all over town, shine like stars in the dark hour.

Silence wraps around us like a security blanket.

It’s as if we are the only two people left on earth.

I used to dread that type of silence. It was as if all the things that come lurking in the night would be awaken at any moment, and I would be their prey.

But here. with him, it’s as if this silence is the best thing to have happened to me in a while.

I take a long drag of my cigarette, watching the ash grow before flicking it to the ground.

My eyes follow the ash as it scatters, mixing with the dirt, before the cigarette follows it with the same motion of my fingers.

I turn to look at Ash, only to find him looking at me.

Observing me as if I am a work of art that has escaped the finest museum.

He seems mesmerized by the view, even though the one in front of us is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Yet he seems to have eyes only for me. “It’s his loss.

” He says in a low voice, and it’s almost like he is always talking in a low, calming tone.

As if he is talking to a wild animal ready to flee at any time, which wouldn’t be exactly an exaggeration.

I have been known to be a flight risk. But with the men I date, who would blame me?

“Is it?” I mimic his tone, with every word kept in a low tone but with a hint of flirtation between them.

He scoots a little closer, his eyes still fixated on me as if he is scared of losing me from his sight.

They drift for a mere moment to my lips, then back to my eyes.

I blink once and take an audible breath, trying to compose myself as this man closes the last few inches of space between us.

His body lifts from the hood, and he takes a calculated step, rotating his body in the process until he is right in front of me.

His body between my open legs. He leans over, causing me to back up until my elbows land on the hood.

The only thing keeping me from lying on it.

I fix my eyes into his. Holding his gaze.

“Pinkie, any man on this earth would be grateful to have you, but only a fool would be stupid enough to lose you.” Every word tugs at a string inside me that I didn’t know was loose.

Both calming the little girl inside me with daddy issues that chases every man like a lost puppy and praising the woman that I like to pretend I am.

The one that punches assholes in the face and points guns at others in a street full of cops.

I would like to say that they are two different people, but that would only be a lie.

They are both me . “You deserve a man who would put himself in front of your gun, dare you to shoot him. Because he knows he has nothing to hide and has done nothing wrong.” Every word is like a stitch in my soul.

They mend every wound that has remained open for way too long.

“You don’t deserve a coward who would be scared of you.

” He continues, his eyes never leaving mine, and every breath he takes between words brushes my lips, making my body shiver.

“You deserve a man that would treat you like the fucking queen you are.” His voice is full of lust. It sounds hungry for every part of me, but at the same time, he is not moving even an inch.

He doesn’t demand. He waits. He gives me every choice.

“And I guess that would be you?” I say with a smirk pulling my body upwards a little more until my lips are almost touching his as I talk.

“I could be, but I would prefer to stand by your side while you cause mayhem in this world rather than keep you locked in a golden palace.”

His lips brush mine, teasing me without really kissing them.

Just a little pass over them with his before he continues talking.

“I would still worship you like my goddamn goddess, but what’s the point of seeing your fire if I don’t let you unleash it into the world?

” I part my lips to talk, but instead, his tongue invades my mouth, muffling my attempt to form words as he claims my mouth.

His kiss is rough, demanding, almost as if it will be the last, not our first. His hands travel on my body, grabbing the side of my ass and pulling me closer.

I remain still under his grasp, not because of fear but of lust. My body is filled with desire and need.

“Fuck, pinkie. You make my breath stop.” He says as he deepens the kiss.

His growing hunger for me is highlighted with every word.

My hands trace his back, pulling his t-shirt to reveal the skin underneath.

My nails lightly scrape the surface of his skin lightly as I push his body on mine.

His lust is visible in his eyes as he parts his lips from mine and his hand travels to the button of my shorts.

No words are spoken as he unbuttons the tight denim pair of shorts and pulls them down my legs with my underwear with it.

He pushes my legs further apart and pauses for a moment.

“Damn Nova, you are fucking beautiful.” He mumbles as he lowers his face between my legs, his tongue passing over my clit in a hesitant movement.

My gaze drifts around us in a desperate attempt to make sure we are alone as another pass from his tongue hits me just right.

“Oh god. Do that again.” I say between rapid breaths, shutting my eyes as he dives in.

Eating me out like I am the finest meal in a five-star restaurant.

He fucks my pussy with them while he sucks, licks, and bites.

“Ash.” His name leaves my lips like a prayer.

As if it’s the holiest thing ever to leave my lips.

He picks up a pace completely in sync, his hand moving in fast movements as his tongue licks and sucks my juices, driving me over the fucking edge like a teenager having her first orgasm in secret before she has to sneak back home on Friday night.

My orgasm rushes over me like a tornado, completely wiping over any evidence of anger I had still inside me.

Erasing the night. Leaving just him and me.

The world completely silencing around us as wave after wave rushes through my body, with another orgasm following the first seconds apart.

My body falls back on the hood, and my eyes open, staring at the sky as I pant, trying to grasp my breath.

“Good girl, Pinkie. You did so good for me.” He praises as he pulls my shorts up my body and buttons them around my waist. He wipes his lips with a grin.

Proud of himself. I smile and rest my head back on the hood of the car while he leans back on his previous spot and brings another cigarette to his lips.