Shattered Dreams (The Believe Series Book 1) Read online

  “You don’t, asshole,” she says as she turns to storm off.

  I look at her retreating back and then back to Jareth. “You have a lot of apologizing to do, Jareth,” I tell him.

  He looks at me stunned. “You know?” he asks.

  I just nod and give him a sad smile. “She won’t talk to you willingly, but there is something you need to know. It’s not my place to tell you, just don’t give up on her, she needs you more now than she realizes.” He just stands there looking at me, unsure what to say.

  I feel Gage tug my hand. Through everything happening, I didn’t realize he was still holding it. “Let’s leave the love birds to hash things out,” he whispers, “Dance with me Alicia.” It wasn’t a question, more a command. I sit my glass on the table, nod, and allow myself to be pulled to the dance floor.

  Gage stops, turns, and looks into my eyes. “I’ve missed you, Alicia,” he says, running both his hands down my arms.

  When he reaches my hands I swallow. “I’ve missed you too, Gage,” I whisper.

  He tilts his head, flashing that killer dimpled smile. My breath catches and I feel my chest tighten. He’s all around me; I’m like a caged animal, trapped by his body and scent. A scent I am beginning to crave.

  He places my hands on his hard muscled stomach and slowly runs them up and over his chest. When he reaches his neck, he slips them behind and locks my fingers together.

  Sliding his hands back down my arms he leans in to whisper in my ear. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” he says as his hands reach my hips and he jerks me towards him.

  I gasp. “Do what?” I ask.

  “Hold you,” he answers just as the music fills the room. Through the speakers comes the beautiful voice of Etta James singing ‘At Last’. How appropriate after what he just admitted to.

  “I never knew,” I say next to his ear, “Why, how long?”

  He pulls back to look at me and starts to move to the music. “I never said,” he says. “Since high school and I’m not even going to answer the other question.”

  “But why didn’t you ever say anything?” I ask.

  He shrugs and looks away. “Rick,” he simply answers and looks back at me. I nervously bite my bottom lip. His pupils dilate and he groans. “Don’t do that,” he moans.

  My brows furrow. “Do what?” I ask in confusion.

  He reaches up and runs a finger across my lower lip. “Bite your lip,” he answers. “You have no idea what it does to me.” He leans close to my ear and lightly nips my lobe. “By the way,” he adds, “I drive a 1979 Harley Shovelhead Wide Glide.” Then he pulls back, his lopsided smile is back, the one that really shows the dimple and I feel myself really start to respond.

  “Oh god,” I moan and my knees go weak.

  “Wanna get out of here?” he asks, “Go for a ride?”

  I’m looking, wide eyed, as he reaches up to my face again, releasing my lip from between my teeth. I didn’t even realize I was doing it again.

  “What about Shannon?” I ask in a labored voice. I notice then that his chest his also rising and falling quickly. He’s as turned on as I am.

  “Jareth took off after her,” he tells me. “She’s good in his hands.”

  I nod then. He smiles again, takes my hand, guides me out, and down another set of stairs. I don’t question him. I don’t remember Gage as being someone to be afraid of. He was so sweet and quiet in school. However, Gage the man has my insides all twisted in knots. Why didn’t I see him like this in school? Rick, I think to myself. I was blinded by his fake charm and good looks.

  Gage opens the door at the bottom of the stairs. “After you,” he says with his hand on my lower back and guides me through.

  I smile and step out into the night. The moon is large and bright tonight, but it’s the street lamp that lights the way. My eyes focus on the bike parked below it and I freeze, covering my mouth with a gasp. Without looking at Gage I whisper, “You weren’t lying.”

  He chuckles as he moves closer towards it. “No,’ he says, “I didn’t. You ready for that ride?”

  I nod as he walks towards the back of the bike. “Yes,” I say.

  “I only have one helmet,” he starts to say, “But I want you to wear it. I hate them myself, but I’ve seen too many bad crashes when I was a beat cop.”

  I glance at him and see that he has slipped a leather jacket on. I knew he was talking, but my attention was drawn back to the design on the gas tank. There are red flames in the background, the words Ride Free, and around it is a very familiar drawing of a dragonfly.

  “What’s this?” I ask in a voice just barely above a whisper and look up at him.

  He frowns as he makes his way back towards me. “What’s what?” he asks then stops when he sees what I’m pointing at.

  “Oh,” he says, “that. It’s, uh, it’s a symbol to remind me of someone I cared for long ago.”

  I start to shake my head. “No,” I breathe, “I know that drawing.”

  He nervously laughs. “You should,” he says, “I rescued it out of the trash the day you tore your locker apart. It’s your drawing, Alicia.”

  “But, why,” I ask. I just can’t wrap my mind around what he saying. Did I choose the wrong brother all those years ago? Did I make the biggest mistake of my life? Did I destroy my chance at happiness? Too many questions and not enough answers.

  Gage steps closer, turning me towards him. “I fell in love with you as a boy,” he says. “I would like the chance to see if Gage the man, loves you just as much as the boy once did, still does.”

  I opened my mouth to speak when his lips crashed down on mine, stealing my breath. My knees trembled and I grip his upper arms to keep standing. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer as his tongue slips inside my mouth. I slide my hands up and around his neck, running my fingers through his hair and moan into his mouth.

  Pulling his mouth from mine, he nips my lower lip and drags his teeth across it. “We need to get out of here,” he whispers placing the helmet on me and tightens the strap, “now.”

  He climbs on his bike, stars it, and then reaches to help me get on behind him. He chuckles when he sees I’m having problems with my tight, short dress.

  I pause, my leg half in the air and glare at him. “Very funny asshole,” I say. “You wouldn’t think it’s funny if it were you.”

  He laughs more. “True,” he agrees, “That is a good thing, as your legs look better in it than mine would. Now get that sweet ass of yours on. I wanna take you for a ride.”

  I laugh as I swing my leg around the back of the bike. Good thing no one else is out here, I just remembered I’m not wearing any underwear. After I’m settled behind him, I wrap my arms tightly around his waist. “Let’s ride,” I say.

  He throws his head back in a fit of laughter, drops the bike into first, and throws gravel as we fly out of the parking lot.

  Chapter Six

  Fly With Me

  Seeing Alicia again has my insides twisting. Tasting her lips, I almost died. It was Heaven; soft, warm, and addicting, everything but more than how I had dreamed. How will I survive without her once she finds out that she is a job?

  I shake my head, she isn’t just a job. She’s the girl turned woman that I fell in love with years ago. She is one of the very reasons I don’t do relationships, as no one could ever measure up to my Alicia. After the job ends, how will I move on? I will be nothing more than an empty shell of what was once a man.

  Like now, with her sweet warm arms around me, I feel my heart breaking, bleeding me dry. The ache has already settled into my chest and I haven’t even made love to her yet. Whatever I do, I must protect my heart at all costs.

  I’m driving her to a favorite spot of mine, just off the bank of Lake Michigan. Not many people know about it which makes it a good place for privacy, since I’m not sure how she would have felt about me inviting myself back to her apartment or her to mine.

  We couldn’t very well talk back a
t the club. I don’t needing people there knowing I’m a cop. As I’m slowing, I feel her arms tighten and she sighs. I wish I knew what she is thinking, I think to myself.

  Without cutting the engine, I put the kickstand down and turn my head to look at her and smile. “We’re here,” I say.

  She raises her head, smiling. Her eyes are alight and I can see them sparkle. “Already?” she asks and begins to remove the helmet.

  I laugh. “You really like bikes, don’t you?” I ask.

  She chuckles. “If you only knew,” she says. “All my books have some tattooed bad boy on a bike.”

  My smile drops and I look deep into her eyes. “I know,” I whisper, “I’ve read them all.”

  She gasps. “You have?” she whispers.

  I nod and reach a hand behind me. “Come here,” I say. “I want to show you something.”

  She takes my hand and slips off the bike. Lifting the helmet, she asks, “Where do I put this?”

  I motion to the ground next to her with my head. “There,” I answer.

  She leans down, not taking her eyes off mine, sits the helmet down, and stands. Before she can react, I scoot back, pick her up by the waist, and have her straddling me, face to face.

  He hands go straight to my shoulders for support. “Oh my,” she gasps, looking into my eyes.

  I run my hands up her arms and bring them down to rest on my thighs. What I’m about to show her will tell her just how deep I’ve always been into her.

  “What do you want to show me?” she asks breathlessly.

  I stroke her hands once more, take a deep breath, and remove my jacket, her eyes following my every move. I toss it to the ground next to my helmet and pull my shirt up and over my head.

  I heard her intake of air before the shirt even cleared my face and her fingers are tracing it. I tossed the shirt to the ground and studied her. I had tattooed directly over my heart a black dragonfly, her name below it, and flames licking it.

  “What did you do Gage?” she asked as she looked up at me, her fingers still tracing it.

  I shrug. “I told you,” I start, “the boy in me fell in love with you in high school. He wanted to always feel close to you.”

  Tears pool in her eyes and one escapes. I reach up to wipe it away with my thumb when she lunges for me, her lips crashing against mine. I groan deep in my throat, my arms going around her, crushing her to me.

  Our tongues dance together in a move as old as time, and time stands still. All I can feel is her soft warm body next to mine, her heart beating as fast as mine, her labored breathing, her body molded to mine as if she were made for me, her scent of vanilla clouding my already foggy brain. However, I knew we were moving too fast. I needed to slow it down.

  Pulling back, I lay my head against hers. “Alicia, baby,” I say, trying to catch my breath, “we need to stop, to slow down.”

  A shiver runs through her beautiful body. “Don’t… don’t you want me?” she asks shyly.

  I immediately cup her face and search her eyes. I know what my asshole brother did to her, and I know that because of him she hasn’t dated much. I don’t want her thinking I don’t want her. That is far from the truth. I’ve wanted her…no, needed her for years. That’s why I kept a close watch on her.

  “Alicia, look at me,” I say. She tries to turn her face further away from me. I harden my grip without hurting her. “I said look at me.”

  She snaps her head around and I can see the tears and hurt in her eyes. “You,” she starts to say with a trembling lip.

  “No, baby,” I say softening my voice. “I do want you. I want you more than you know.”

  Her brows furrow. “Then why did you stop?” she asks.

  I place a soft kiss on her lips. “Not because I don’t want you,” I explain, “because I want you too much. We haven’t seen each other in years. I don’t want you thinking that all I want from you is a quick fuck. You’re so much more than a quick fuck and deserve to be treated as such.”

  Smiling shyly, she brushes her lips over mine. “Then let’s talk,” she suggests, then wraps her arms around my neck and links her fingers through my hair. “What have you been up to since I graduated?”

  I laugh; the irony of the situation strikes me as odd. “Well, let’s see,” I begin, “I finished high school, obtained a criminal degree, and went into the academy.”

  She leans back with a surprised look on her face. “You’re a cop?” she asks.

  I nod. “Well, a detective in training,” I say.

  She tilts her head. “Wait,” she says, “that can’t be. You’re only twenty-eight. Aren’t you a little young yet to be a detective?”

  I smile brightly. “The youngest in a long time,” I say proudly. “You see, I helped in a very big bust last year. Not only did I make detective in training, but I also received a large reward.”

  She kissed me excitedly. “Oh my god, Gage,” she says. “I’m so proud of you! I bet your parents are so happy.”

  I hate talking about them. They caused Rick so many problems. I’m sure they’re to blame for the way he turned out. “I wouldn’t know,” I say, “They died in a car crash while I was still in high school.”

  Her face is suddenly shadowed by sadness. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Gage,” she says.

  “It was a long time ago,” I say, “Let’s not mark this night with sadness, ok?” She smiles and nods. “What about you? I know you’ve been writing for a few years.”

  Her smile widens and there is a dreamy look in her eyes. “For four years now,” she says. “I also have a degree in human resources working for F&S International.”

  Shit, I think keeping the smile on my face. F&S International is a division of the Facciolo family’s dealings. I wonder if she knows that.

  “Do you like your job?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “It’s ok,” she says. “I would rather be able to devote all my time to writing though. That’s my first love. What about you? Do you like being a cop?”

  I run my hands up and down her back and feel her shiver. “I love it,” I admit, “although the hours can be a real bitch.”

  She laughs and slides a little closer towards me. I’m hoping that leaving the bike running will work her up more. “I bet,” she says a little breathlessly, “Don’t you ever worry about getting shot? I know I would worry about you.”

  I slid my hands down to her hips and around to her thighs. I run my thumbs along the hem of her dress then under. Her hands tighten at the nape of my neck. “Ya, I worry some,” I say with a shrug and lean close to her ear. “I’m glad you would worry about me.” Then I take her ear lobe between my teeth and feel my cock stiffen.

  She gasps. “Gage,” she whispers.

  “Yes, Alicia,” I reply kissing her skin just below her ear.

  “I think we’ve talked enough,” she informs me.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” I groan as I lean back and crush my mouth to hers. I slip my hands under her dress and find no barrier. I pull back and growl, “You’re fucking bare!”

  She leans close to my ear. “And I’m fucking wet,” she purrs, “just for you Gage.”

  “Fuck Alicia,” I groan, “are you trying to kill me?” I pull the bottom of her dress up around her waist, thrust two fingers inside her, and she stars to ride them. “So fucking wet,” I say against her neck. “I’m so goddamn hard right now I could burst.”

  She moans and throws her head back, pulling my hair. “Be easy with me, Gage,” she says grinding her pussy against my thrusting fingers. “It’s been a long time.”

  “How long, baby,” I ask, licking my way down her neck to the top of her plump tits.

  “Nine years,” she answers.

  “Damn baby,” I say taking my other hand to pull the top of her dress down, exposing her tits to my waiting mouth. “I promise to fuck you slowly now, but later, I can’t make that promise.”

  “Ahh…,” is the only sound she makes as I suck a nipple into my mouth and continue plungin
g into her with my fingers.

  “You are so fucking beautiful,” I say, nipping her harden nipple. “I’ve dreamed about this for a long fucking time.”

  “Gage,” she breathes as she rakes her nails across my back.

  “What is it, baby?” I ask.

  “Stop talking and just fuck me already,” she demands.

  Leaning back and removing my fingers from her, I bring them to my mouth and suck her juices off. In the moon light, I see her eyes dilate more as a groan escapes her lips. I give her a cocky smile as I reach down and slowly open my fly.

  “Quit teasing me,” she says, slapping my hands away and pulls my zipper down herself. Without underwear, my cock springs free and a drop of pre-come forms on the tip. “Fuck me,” she gasps and brings her eyes to mine.

  “With pleasure,” I growl claiming her mouth. With one hand I grip her hip, moving her closer and take my cock in the other. “You ready, baby?” I ask. She nods and I slam into her.

  “Gage,” she screams as she pulls my mouth towards her by my hair. “Move, please.”

  My tongue slips in as I start to move. She wraps her legs around my waist, her heels and nails digging into my back. I’m sure they will leave marks, but all I can think about is how fucking good she feels in my arms and on my cock; her pussy gripping me, milking my cock dry.

  “Fuck, Alicia,” I groan. “How I have dreamt of this moment for so many fucking years.”

  I feel her tighten around me. “Gage, I’m so close,” she pants.

  An idea comes to me, Harley’s are known as the ultimate vibrator. I lay her back on the gas tank. “Hold on, Baby,” I say as I reach for the gas and let it rip as I thrust into her one last time.

  Her arms tighten as the engine revs up, the bike vibrates, her nails tear across my back, and she screams, her orgasm ripping through her. Seconds later, I join her. The feel of her pussy gripping me pushes me over the edge and I spill my seed inside her harder than I ever have before.

  I collapse on top of her, releasing the handle bar. Our breathing is labored, and she wraps her arms and legs around me tighter.