Harley's Achilles (The Rock Series Book 3) (19 page)

“Are you almost done in here?” he asked.

“You can’t rush greatness,” I said, planting my hands on my hips.

“That’s right, now shoo!” Jinx’s mom swatted Achilles’ bicep and he left the kitchen. She turned to me and wrapped me in her arms. “I am so happy for you! You have a wonderful man at your side.”

“Thank you,” I said. “That I do.”

She pulled away and palmed my cheek. “You are very special, Harley Payne. You are like another son to me. Merry Christmas and happy birthday.”

“It was yesterday.” I smiled.

“I know that. I have an extra present under the tree for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, I know.” She winked.

Once the cooking duties were over, I wandered into the living room and Achilles pulled me into his lap. I snuggled in and we watched a football game together. The guys were very vocal about their team and I just smiled at all of them. I felt as if I were at home, as if I finally had a place to be where I fit in. Jinx’s mom called us all to the table and there was a groan from all the guys.

“You can watch the game from the table, ya big babies!” she laughed.

We moved to the large table filled with food and I was seated between Achilles and Jinx. I bowed my head as Jinx’s mother said a prayer.

“I want you all to say something you’re thankful for!” She pointed at all of us.

“I’ll start,” I blurted out. I took a look around the table and smiled. “I’m so thankful that you all put up with me —”

Laughter filtered across the room and I sobered.

“I’m so lucky to have all of you. You treat me like family, and I am so grateful to all of you. Thank you so much for all that you do.”

“You’re like my son, Harley.” Jinx’s father mussed my hair. “We love you.”

Achilles held my hand as the others said what they were thankful for. It finally got to him, and Achilles glanced over at me with a small smile.

“I am so thankful I said yes to Mac the day he called and asked me to work for him. Otherwise, I would have never found the love of my life. My lobster.” Achilles kissed my forehead.

“Awww!” they all said in unison.

“Merry Christmas!” Jinx’s mom lifted her glass.

“Merry Christmas!”

~*~

I was half asleep in Achilles’ lap from turkey overload when Jinx’s mom placed a present in my hand. I looked up at her with a grin.

“Thank you for my electric mixer, Harley. How did you know I needed one?” she asked.

I pointed to Jinx and he stuck his tongue out at me.

“Well, I love it.” She bent down and kissed my cheek. “Open yours.”

I unwrapped it carefully and smiled. “It’s so beautiful.”

It was an ornament. The picture inside was of all of us together and at the bottom in glitter was the word “family”.

“Thank you so much,” I whispered.

“We love you, Harley.” Jinx’s mom smiled.

I sat staring at the ornament in my hand as Jinx’s mom moved off to hand out more gifts. Achilles leaned into my ear.

“Merry Christmas, Harley.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Harley

I felt free as I left the DMV. I’d spent the last three days testing for my motorcycle license and I’d finally gotten it. I rode Holden’s bike home and let the chilly air sweep across my face. My life with Achilles was just beginning and I’d never been so happy. He’d been busy the last couple days working with Axel and Mac training new recruits. I’d seen a few of them; they were just like the others — tall and scary.

I pulled into the driveway and the garage door lifted slowly, revealing Achilles’ Tomahawk parked off to the side and his pick-up truck parked next to mine. I slid the bike in between them and shut off the engine. I climbed off and set the helmet on the seat. I could hear music in the house and entered, throwing my keys into the bowl by the back door. I wandered through the house, listening for where the music was coming from. As I entered the kitchen, I found Achilles seated at the table with a cake.

“Look what I got!” I held up my license.

“I knew you could do it!” Achilles bounded off the chair and enveloped me in a hug.

“What’s all this?” I asked as he let me go.

“I knew you’d pass, so I made you a cake.” Achilles pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. The round cake was blue with white letters that spelled out, “Congrats on passing, Harley!”

I looked up at Achilles and tears formed in my eyes. It had to have been the sweetest thing he’d done for me besides fixing Holden’s bike. Achilles sat down and took my hand.

“Is this okay? I thought since Holden used to do it for you —”

“I love it, Achilles. Thank you so much,” I said, a smile lifting my lips. “This is very sweet of you.”

“If you’d failed, I still would have made you a cupcake.” Achilles grinned.

And that right there was what I loved most about Achilles. Was he a badass? Yep. Could he kill someone from a mile away? Yep. He could also love and make me feel like the most important person on the planet.

“I’m going to eat this cake off your ass,” I said huskily.

“Well, let’s go then.”

~*~

Seeing Achilles buck-naked on his hands and knees on my bed, ass hiked up in the air, was the best present I could ever get. I licked my lips and swiped some frosting off the cake. I set the cake off to the side and crawled up on the bed. I slapped Achilles’ ass, spreading icing all along his ass cheek. Achilles groaned and dropped his head.

“Grab your dick and jack off,” I ordered as I moved over him.

Achilles did as I commanded, and I slipped my fingers down his crease, coating it with icing. There was a loud intake of breath from Achilles and then I bent over, swiping at his ass with my tongue. As much as I loved forceful Achilles, I also loved hearing him whimper and moan at my touch.

“Fuck, you’re even better than the cake,” I groaned against his skin.

I loved seeing his fingers grasping at the blanket, the way his ass pushed back into my face, begging for more. But the best part was hearing him when I finally sunk inside him. I bent my knees and grabbed his hips, plowing into him. Achilles made a choked sound and then began to stroke his cock furiously.

“You going to come?” I smacked his ass.

“Yes!” Achilles rasped.

“Do it. Let me hear you.”

I nailed his spot relentlessly until Achilles came apart beneath me. His loud shout echoed around the room and then I was coming, my fingers buried in his flesh. I slumped over his back, gasping for air as my orgasm ebbed from me. I pulled out slowly and fell to my back on the bed next to him. Achilles rolled into me, pulling me into his chest.

“Damn, Harley,” Achilles panted.

“Yeah? Did you like it when I spanked you?” I chuckled.

“Oh, you’re so going to get it from me now.”

“I can’t wait.” I wiggled my brows.

Achilles licked my lips and bit the lower one.

“Want to go again?”

“Give me five.” I pointed to my dick.

“No. I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk.” Achilles rolled me to my back and hovered above me.

“Oooh! Are you going to get rough?”

Achilles leaned down until our lips were barely touching.

“Just a tad.”

“I like it.”

“You really are something else, Harley Payne.”

“I’m yours, though.”

“Yes. Yes you are.”

The End.

3 months prior, Sebastian Lowery’s Hollywood Hills home.

I should have brought Scarlett with me. What was I doing here alone? When Sebastian called and invited me to his house for some Hollywood party, I should have said no. Scarlett had begged off tonight due to a headache. I couldn’t really blame her. She attended every single premiere with me as my girlfriend, so taking the night off from a party was fine by me. I entered Sebastian’s house and looked around for the man of the hour. As I scanned the room, my eyes caught sight of a man that I’d been dreaming about for years.

Ransom Fox stood across from me in all his delicious glory.

“Sal,” Sebastian strode up to me and I leaned into his ear.

“Please tell me you’re going to introduce me,” I said quietly.

“I sure am,” Sebastian chuckled.

I’d known Sebastian since we were in our teens. He’d come to America to make it big and I was on a sitcom that my dad was producing. Sebastian had tried out for a role and lost it, but we got along great and I introduced him to my father. That, as they say, was that. Sebastian began acting in films and eventually turned to producing. Sebastian curled his fingers around my bicep and walked me across the room. Ransom looked petrified to meet me, it seemed. He had that wild, panicked look in his eyes.

“Ah, Ransom Fox, I would like to introduce you to my dear friend, Sal Falco.” Sebastian pushed me closer to Ransom and he seemed to stiffen.

“What a pleasure, Ransom. I love your music,” I said smoothly.

“Wait, what?” Ransom stammered.

Sebastian introduced me to Jinx Jett and I shook his hand, but my attention was focused solely on the gorgeous blond in front of me. Jesus, could God have made a more perfect specimen? Ransom Fox was a wet dream.

“Can I offer you a drink, Ransom?” I motioned to the bar.

“Oh, um, I don’t really drink.” Ransom bit his bottom lip.

Oh fuck me. Damn, he was sexy when he did that.

“Water, maybe?” I asked.

Jinx coughed and pointed to the corner. “I’ll just be over there.”

“Uh huh.” Ransom nodded, his eyes fixed on me.

I held my hand out, indicating we should move towards the bar and Ransom started walking. I fell into step with him and pulled out one of the high backed stools. Ransom jumped up into one and I took the one right next to him.

“So, you, um, like my music?” Ransom fiddled with a napkin, his attention focused on the wooden top of the bar.

“I really do,” I admitted. “I’ve been into metal since I was a kid.”

“I loved you on that show
Neighbors
. Your character was hilarious with all the shit he got himself into.”

“You watched that?” I asked in astonishment. “That was my very first show.”

“The writing was fabulous. I would watch it religiously. Then when that ended, I watched
Park Place
. You were such a bad boy in that.” Ransom laughed.

“Well, I was in my late teens, so you know they had to up the angst.” I motioned to the waiter and ordered two waters. Ransom’s eyes met mine and a blush hit his cheeks. “You could have been an actor with your looks, you know.”

“Oh no. I get camera shy and I’m really not all that.” Ransom shook his head.

Was he blind? Ransom could have given me a run for my money as a leading man. He was drop dead fine as all fuck.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, Ransom. I’m sure you have women all over you.”

“Because I’m a rock star,” Ransom pointed out. “None of them would want me if I wasn’t who I am now.”

I wanted him on the bar, naked and screaming my name. I had to stop looking at him like he was the last cannoli on the plate or I was going to give myself away.

“No one would want me if I was just plain ole’ Salvatore Falco.”

“Are you kidding me?” Ransom’s eyes went wide. “Have you seen—” Ransom clamped his mouth shut and sipped his water.

“Have I seen what?” I leaned in with a grin.

“Your reviews,” Ransom blurted. “All the women want you.”

I leaned back in the chair and eyed Ransom. He was biting at his bottom lip and I wanted to bite it myself. He was a little shorter than me, lean but defined. His forearm held a smattering of tattoos and I wanted to lick them. I wondered if he had more, and where they were. Ransom cast a glance at me and I smiled.

“I can’t stay long, but I was hoping we could continue this discussion at some point?” I asked.

“Sure.” Ransom nodded.

“Well, here is my card with my cell phone and email. I hope to hear from you soon, Ransom. Maybe next time you’re in town we can have dinner?”

“Oh, um, sure. I’d like that.” Ransom’s head bounced up and down and I couldn’t help the smile that rose to my lips. Ransom Fox was the guy I’d always wanted. Too bad I could never have him.

I hated Los Angeles. I really did. You couldn’t pay me to live here. I exhaled in frustration as the car in front of me moved two inches. I’d been stuck in this shit for an hour already and it wasn’t looking much better up ahead. I should have taken a limo instead of driving myself in this tiny tic-tac of a rental car. My phone beeped and I looked down at it. My heart began to race as I saw Sal Falco’s name on the screen. After the LGBT youth fundraiser, I didn’t think I’d hear from him. He basically disappeared right after his duties were done. I felt like I’d done something wrong somehow. Did he figure out I had a huge crush on him? I swiped talk and braced myself.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Ransom. I heard you’re in town.”

“I am, I’m moving Paul to Arizona, so I have to settle things out here.”

“Well, if you’re free tonight, we could have dinner?”

I swear I was sweating just talking to him. I needed to get my shit together and act like a fucking man for fuck’s sake.

“I could do that. I’m not due at the hospital until morning anyway.”

“Well, where are you staying? I can pick you up.”

“I haven’t decided yet, whatever’s closest to the hospital.”

“I’m actually not that far. You could stay with me.”

I choked on my spit and then broke out in a hacking fit.

“Ransom? Are you All right?”

“Yep,” I coughed. “Swallowed my water wrong.”

Stay with Sal? That was just begging for me to fuck up somehow. I knew I acted like I had my shit together, but when it came to Sal Falco, I was a teenage girl.

“I’ll text you my address. If that’s okay? You don’t have to stay here.”

“No, that’s fine. Saves me some money.”

“Okay, I’ll see you when you get here.”

“Okay, thanks, Sal.”

I hung up before I could say something really stupid. Two seconds later, Sal texted me his address. Luckily for me, the exit I needed was right ahead.

I finally got off the freeway and headed towards Sal’s house. Palm trees lined the roads and manicured lawns were everywhere. Tall gates surrounded beautiful houses as I finally took Sal’s street. I checked my phone and slowed down, looking at house numbers. I didn’t need to because two houses down, Sal was standing out front of his house. I pulled up to the gate and lowered my window as he approached the car.

“How do you fit in there?” Sal peeked into the car. “Does it plug in?” Sal started laughing.

“This is what happens during a holiday weekend. You get the last of the cars on the lot. It was this or a huge gas guzzler.”

“Why didn’t you just get a limo?”

I lifted a brow and Sal laughed some more.

“Well, come on in.” He moved away from the car and I followed the path around to the front of the house. I had to admit, I didn’t know what I was expecting, but Sal’s house was very low key. Palms and roses covered the entire front of the house and a small waterfall was off to the side, watering lavender. I got out of the car and popped the trunk. I bent in to get my bag and Sal brushed up against me. My whole body reacted and heat pooled in my balls. I righted myself quickly and pulled my bag out, closing the trunk. We walked to the front door and I took a long look around. Sal came to my side and opened the door.

“This is beautiful,” I told him.

“Thanks. I like to bring a little bit of Europe to my houses.”

We walked into the foyer and I set my bag down on the hardwood flooring. Plants sprung up in every direction I looked and there were paintings of vineyards on the walls.

“You have a gorgeous house,” I said.

“It’s all thanks to me.”

I turned to see a gorgeous redhead in jeans and a ratty T-shirt. Her makeup was flawless, but she was wearing slippers.

“Ransom, I’d like you to meet Scarlett. My girlfriend.”

My gut sank at those last two words. Scarlett was breathtaking. I’d seen her before in pictures, but in person she was even more beautiful.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I stuck my hand out.

“Well, my, my. Ransom Fox,” she purred. “You are even more handsome in person.”

“Thank you. Pictures don’t do you justice, Scarlett,” I responded.

“And he’s polite.” Scarlett lifted her brows at Sal. “Are we keeping him?”

Sal chuckled. “He’s just staying here while he gets his friend’s affairs in order.”

“Well, if you need anything, you just call on Sal there. He’ll take care of your every need.” Scarlett grinned.

Sal coughed and shot her a look. I tilted my head and observed them. “Where should I take my stuff?”

“It’s down that hall, last room on the right,” Sal answered.

“Thank you.” I said.

“How about dinner? Still up for it?” Sal asked.

“Oh. Maybe you and Scarlett want to go out?”

“Not me, sweetie. I have lines to run. Maybe next time? I’m sure Sal wants you all to himself.” Scarlett batted her eyelashes at me. “So good to meet you.”

“You as well. I’ll just go get settled then?”

Sal nodded and I took off down the hall. That had to be the weirdest conversation yet. I dropped my bag just inside the guest room and peeked around. More pictures of vineyards and a few of Sal’s movie posters covered the walls. I walked up to one of them and just stared at it. Sal was just…wow.

“Settling in?”

I jumped in the air at the voice behind me and Sal chortled.

“Sorry,” he snickered. “Hungry?”

My stomach chose that moment to growl and I smiled sheepishly. “I guess I am.”

“Well, I know this great place not too far from here. They serve Irish food.”

“Aren’t you Italian?” I asked.

“Yes, but you’re not,” Sal pointed out.

“We don’t have to eat Irish food just because I’m Irish.”

“Maybe I like Irish food.” Sal cocked a brow.

“Oh really? What’s your favorite?”

“I’ll find out once we get to the restaurant.”

I laughed and Sal blushed. I wanted him right then. He looked so…vulnerable. Why, oh why did I have to be infatuated with a straight man? I raised my eyes to see Sal watching me and the look in his eyes caught me off guard. He coughed, straightened, and backed towards the door. “Yell when you’re ready.”

“Okay.”

Fuck, how the hell was I supposed to keep my thoughts clean when I was going to be around this man for God knows how long? I’d wanted Sal Falco from the second I saw him on TV.

Fuck my life.