Ripper's Torment (5 page)

“Baby, I’m going to keep looking until I find out
what’s wrong with you.”

No one, not even Lexie, was going to tell Devil what
to do and not to do. Lexie sighed but didn’t actually argue with him.

“Fine, don’t worry though.
It’s
morning sickness and nothing else.” Lexie sat down and dived into her food.

Judi ate with relish loving the spicy sauce. She
noticed Devil’s gaze was constantly on Lexie, and yearning hit her hard.

What would it be like to have a man who loved her as
much as Devil loved Lexie? After dinner she did the dishes making sure Lexie
rested. Wiping down the work surfaces, she thought about Ripper and his
comment. She’d never experienced a single orgasm or known what true passion was
all about. Closing her bedroom door she rested her head against the wood
wishing Ripper hadn’t said anything earlier at the diner. Her thoughts were
constantly on sex and nothing else. She’d been with so many men, and yet faced
with Ripper’s raw sexuality she didn’t know how she was going to cope. Her
emotions were completely fried. Life was better when she didn’t have to think
about sex or men or anything but her coursework.

Moving away from the door, she went to the bathroom
and started her nighttime routine. It was only seven, but she needed to wash
the day’s sweat and grime from her body. Even sitting in the library had caused
her to sweat in the heat. There was no air conditioning inside the small
building. Standing underneath the shower she let the hot water scald her body.

Thoughts of Ripper’s large capable hands holding her
invaded her mind. Pressing her palms to the tiles she bit her lip trying to
contain the whimper of need threatening to escape.

You don’t deserve love or lust.

You’re a whore and a killer.

Turning the heat to cold she gasped at the sudden
lashing of ice attacking her skin. When she couldn’t take the chill she turned
the water off, climbing out. She wrapped a towel around her body and then
around her hair. The mirror was steamed, and when she wiped her hand across to view
she gasped as the man from last night stared back at her. Closing her eyes,
heart pounding, she forced herself to look back in the mirror to find
herself
staring right back at her.

“He’s gone, and he’s not coming back.”

Entering her bedroom she heard her cell phone beep.
Frowning, she went to see who it was.

Ripper: What you doing?

What the hell was going on with him? They’d gotten
along well for the last couple of years, but he never checked up on her.

Judi: I’m home if that’s what you’re worried about.

Throwing the cell to the bed she quickly dried her
hair before running a brush through the length. She loved taking the time to
get rid of every knot. When she first moved in with Devil, she would spend
hours brushing her hair. Lexie would take over when her arms ached. The cell
phone buzzed again. Dropping the brush to the bed she picked up the small
device.

Ripper: Want to go somewhere?

Judi: Don’t you have a club whore to fuck?

Ripper: No! Want to go for a ride?

Glancing at the door, Judi wondered what the hell he
was doing. Ripper was her friend, yet he kept a good distance from her.

Ripper: Well?

Devil and Lexie never checked on her anymore. There
was one time Devil had walked in while she was getting dressed. She’d screamed
at him, and he’d turned bright red and left. Since then, neither of them
entered the room.

Judi: Pick me up in ten.

Ripper: Rebel!

She smiled, going to her wardrobe and putting on a
pair of jeans followed by a shirt. Tying her hair up in a ponytail she went
toward her window. Slowly she climbed down from her bedroom using the brackets
for Lexie’s hanging baskets for support. Lexie was standing in the kitchen, and
she heard Devil talking.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” Devil said,
wrapping his arms around her waist.

“I’m sure there’ll be plenty of pussy to replace me.”

Judi watched as Devil caught hold of Lexie’s chin,
turning her to face him. “I don’t give a fuck about any other pussy but yours.
Promise me if this starts to feel like more you’ll tell me.”

The raw emotion on his face cut Judi deeply. This was
the kind of love people wrote about, but they tamed it to make it readable.
Devil would die for Lexie and vice versa. Walking away, she left the couple to
their moment. Ripper was waiting for her down the road with his main light
turned off.

“Come on, Princess. Let’s go and have some fun.” He
handed her a helmet waiting for her to climb on the back of his bike.

“What’s gotten into you?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I needed a ride and wanted your
company.”

She held onto his waist as he gunned the machine.
Pressing her head against his back she felt the power between her thighs as his
bike rode the road. Ripper was an expert, and each turn had her tightening her
grip.

“I’m not going to put you at risk. Stop panicking.” He
shouted to be heard over the wind and noise.

Closing her eyes, Judi basked in the freedom. Rob had
taken away her freedom trapping her in cars, hotel rooms or even her apartment
with men she didn’t want near her. She had been with them all, fat, thin,
businessmen, thugs, even guys she used to go to school with. Judi shivered
forcing her eyes tightly closed to rid the memories from her thoughts. She was
no longer the town whore, along with all Rob’s other women.

Devil had taken her away from the pain and the stench
of sex. Would she ever know what it felt like to be made love to?

The time passed with Ripper working the roads until he
pulled up outside a late night diner. They entered taking a seat at the back.

“What are we doing here?” she asked, sitting opposite
him.

“I’m hungry and thirsty. Order what you want. Food is
on me.”

She glanced down the menu as the waitress took his
order of three hamburgers and fries with all the trimmings including slaw. Judi
took a milkshake and a burger.

“Wow, how do you not weigh over a ton?” she asked.

“I work the shit off every day.”

“Yeah, I heard fucking was a good weight loss
program.” Judi rolled her eyes, chuckling.

Ripper wasn’t chuckling. He looked annoyed. “I don’t
fuck everything that walks.”

“I didn’t say you did. I don’t mind you being a man-whore
and all that.” She smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood. “Someone has to
keep the sweet-butts company.”

“Curse is more than enough company for them.”

“I’m only joking, Ripper. Out of all of the men the sweet-butts
talk about you the least.”

He seemed satisfied with her answer. The waitress
bought them their food and drinks.

Ripper finished a burger in three bites. Judi stared
open mouthed at how much he packed away. He didn’t look like a pig at all.

“Does riding do that to you?” she asked.

“How are you handling what happened last night?” He
counteracted her question with one of his own.

“Erm, I’m dealing with it, I think.”

He stared at her, clearly seeing through her lie.

“I got out of the shower, and I thought I saw him.”
She stopped to rub at her neck. Her throat felt swollen shut.

“You’ll feel that way a long time.”

“Did you?”

Chapter Four

Ripper stared at Judi wondering how much he should
share with her. His life hadn’t always been sunshine and roses. He learned the
hard way no one cared about him. Born to a whore, he’d done everything to earn
a living. Killing someone had struck him hard the first time, but now, it was
second nature. No one messed with him or the brothers of his club. The one
salvation in his life was Chaos Bleeds. He owed them everything.

“Yeah, I felt that way. There’s no stopping it. We’re
human, and taking another life still takes its toll.” Killing people had long
stopped causing him a problem. If someone needed to die, then he was more than
happy to do the deed.

“How did you get over it?” she asked.

Glancing over the table he watched her nibble on a
burger. She wasn’t doing her food any justice. No one nibbled on a burger.

“I couldn’t take it back. No matter how much I thought
about it, I couldn’t bring them back to life. They were dead. I was not. That
man you put a bullet in his brain, he would have fucked you that night.” He
stopped, fisting his hands to try to stop the anger. “That bastard would have
forced his dick inside you, Princess. He’d have raped you and probably killed
you so you didn’t say a thing.”

She looked around at the diner. “Why are you saying
these things?”

“Because they’re true and you need to stop feeling
guilty. If it was me, I’d kill him in a heartbeat. You did good to protect
yourself.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t tell Devil. Why haven’t you?”
she asked. “You don’t have to listen to me.”

“You want to tell him then do so. I doubt he’d let you
out after dark, and your windows and doors would be nailed fucking shut.” He
raised a brow waiting for her to see what he was saying. “Devil has taken his
daddy role with you. You’re his daughter. Don’t test him. Otherwise you’ll be
begging for something different.”

He took another bite of his burger waiting for his
words to sink in.

“What about you?”

“What about me?” he asked.

Her cheeks went bright red. “Erm, what was all about
today at the other diner, talking about sex and orgasms?”

Ripper chuckled. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

There was no denying his attraction to her. He
wouldn’t take it too far. If he touched her, Devil would kill him. He figured
spending time with her would show it wasn’t attraction at all but friendship.

“Are you going back to college?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think so. I’m not sure. With Lexie struggling
with her recent pregnancy I’m thinking of staying around and doing my work
online.” She ran fingers through her hair as she spoke.

He’d been counting on her leaving so he could get over
this shit that was going on inside him.

“What does Lexie say?”

“She’s determined its only morning sickness. Devil’s
worried. I see the way he looks, and he believes it’s something more.” She
finally took a large bite out of her burger. “Do you want me to leave?” she
asked.

“Why do you ask that?”

“I’ve caused you nothing but trouble. I mean you’re
only here with me, and I bet you’d have been with a sweet-butt by now or at the
strip club.”

He shook his head. “No, I’m not here for any other
reason than I wanted to spend time with you.”

There, he said it.

She stayed silent for the rest of the meal. When they
were done he threw down some money then got to his feet.

“Come on, let’s get back to town.”

Judi put the helmet back on climbing onto the back of
his bike. He headed back to Piston County but stopped on one of the highest
hills looking over the town. It was a small picnic reserve, and he parked up.

“What are you doing?” she asked, following him. Her
hair was a mess, but she looked incredibly cute.

The moon was shining high in the sky overlooking the
small town. “Sit with me a little while.” He patted the seat beside the bench
not wanting their time to end. She took a seat beside him. Her hand lay on the
bench between them. Staring at her hand, he returned his gaze back to the view.
“I love coming here. We stopped travelling to stay in this town.”

“It’s so small.”

“I know.” Unable to stop himself, Ripper covered her
hand with his. Compared to his, her hand was so small, tiny even.

He heard her gasp. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

“That there is nowhere I’d rather be than sitting with
you looking over where we live. I’ve been on the road most of my life. I’m not
a good man, Judi. In fact, some would say I’m a total fucking bastard, but I
can promise you I’d keep you protected and I’ll stick to my promise.”

“Why are you saying this?”

Ripper didn’t respond. He didn’t know why he was
saying anything. Locking their fingers together he looked out over the view,
wishing things
were
different.

His cock thickened, and he closed his eyes, wishing it
would go away.

“You were right,” she said, capturing his attention
once again.

“About what?”
The sane part of his brain knew where this conversation was going while
another just wanted to get it out in the open.

“I’ve never been kissed before, not by a guy I wanted.
You were right about so much.”