CHAPTER XX

– Set fire to the rain –

"Ella?"

She stood at the door, trying to decide what to do. He was honestly the last person she expected to show up at her door especially at that time of the night after he left the clubhouse with that woman earlier.

"I know you're here, Ella."

With a sigh of irritation, she unlocked the door, opening it and there he was, standing sheepishly in her hallway, his hands playing with his sleeves as he did sometimes.

She welcomed him with a tired look. "Please tell me this isn't a booty call?"

He smiled at that. "You mind if I come in?"

"What are you doing here Kozik?"

"Please."

She rolled her eyes before waving her arm inside inviting him in. She stepped back, letting him in and closed the door behind him. He made his way inside, looking around, checking the surroundings like he was thinking of renting the damn place. When he was done with his inspection, he turned around to face her. "It's a nice place."

She crossed her arms incredulous. "It's a dump. Nice try though."

His face illuminated as a grin spread on his face, his eyes lingering on her. She followed his gaze from her face to her chest and realised her cardigan was open, giving him a nice view on her bra-less breasts through her camisole. She pulled her cardigan back to her chest and closed the belt before meeting his eyes with a questioning look. "What are you doing here?"

He took a beat to answer. "I'm sorry about Joan." He apologized, meeting her eyes. "It was shitty thing to do."

She was slightly taken aback by the apology but then again he seemed to be on a roll on the surprise front. "Yes. It was."

She waited for him to continue but when he didn't, she prompted him again. "What are you doing here Kozik?"

"How many times you're gonna ask me that?"

She huffed. "How many times is it going to take for you to answer? You have to see that this is random right. You showing up here after what went down tonight? After what went down in Charming? I mean-, you can't keep doing this to me Kozik. This push and pull, it's just... It's exhausting! What are you doing here?"

Again, she waited for an answer but he wasn't forthcoming. He just pored over her with his hypnotic stare as if he was wondering what his next move should be. She couldn't get a read on his expression and that annoyed her. It was past midnight, he was the one who'd showed up at her flat without a warning and now he was just staring at her in muted silence. Well screw that.

"You know what? You should probably leave. Or stay. Whatever really. Do what you want, you seem to have that down. Now, between my godfather's memorial, you rubbing that slut in my face and the fucking shower that doesn't understand its own purpose, it's been a real crappy night, it's late and I'm going to bed!" She yelled before stomping out moving past him and walking into her bedroom slamming the door behind her.

What the hell was his problem? She took off her cardigan angrily and threw her blankets away, sliding between the cold sheets. She was so sick of trying to decipher him. Two hours ago, he was telling her to move on and next thing she knew he's standing at her doorstep looking all… well hot and bothered came to mind, but no, she couldn't let him suck her in again. Just no.

She closed her eyes, burying her face in her pillow trying to obliterate the man. She was all too aware that he was still in the flat since she hadn't heard the familiar creak of the front door opening. What she did hear though was noise coming out of the bathroom as if he was rummaging through it. What the hell?

She got off her bed in a flash and walked out of the bedroom to see what was going on.

He had removed his cut and hoodie and was presently standing in her shower, in a white fitted tee-shirt that hang onto his body as if it had been sawn on it, trying to unscrew the shower head. He heard her coming in and looked down at her as she stood at the threshold.

Leaning against the door, she exhaled before speaking. "Kozik, what are you doing?"

"I'm checking out your shower?" he replied casually as if her question surprised him and him messing around her shower in the middle of the night was the most natural thing in the world.

"I can see that. Why?"

"You complained about it."

She crossed her arms and tried to hide a smile. "So what, you're a plumber now?"

He beamed at her. "Already told you babe, I'm a man of many talents. You got any tools around?"

"I don't think so."

He got out of the shower, washing his hands in her sink. "I can pick some up for you tomorrow. You can't live in a house with no tools."

She cocked an eyebrow at him and tittered. "So you're spending the night now?"

"Well you offered didn't you?" There it was, that self satisfied grin he'd given her the very first time they'd met. It seemed like so long ago. He dried his hands with the towel by the side of the sink and left the bathroom.

She just sighed as she followed him as he made his way towards the kitchen. "Kozik-"

"Are you hungry?" he casually asked, cutting her off.

"What?"

"Are you hungry?" he repeated "I can make us something."

Once again, she had to fight to suppress a smile. He was being so casual about his presence in her flat in the middle of the night it was irritating, yes. But it was also mildly amusing.

"You know, I don't usually let random guys fix my bathroom and cook for me."

He laughed heartily and she liked the sound of it. "Random? Babe, a couple of hours ago, I was the guy who saved your life."

"Yeah, and then that guy left the clubhouse with another woman and now he's here and I can't get rid of him."

He took a step toward her so that she was at arm's length and fixed his intense gaze on her. "You don't want to get rid of me, Ella."

"I don't?"

He shrugged with self importance. "I'm the guy who saved your life."

"You're also the guy who loves to pull the rug from under my feet." she pointed.

She paused, mentally running through her options, she could ask him to leave, or she could let it play out and see where he was going with all this and get some food in her empty stomach while she was at it. There was something she needed to make clear though. She's let him sit back and watch while she put herself out there twice now and both times she'd crashed and burned. It was his turn.

"I'm not kissing you again Kozik. "

He grinned. "Noted."

"Then fine." She conceded as she walked to the kitchen island and sat on a stool.

"Fine?"

"Fine, you can cook for me."

"Alright."

He opened the fridge which was almost empty and mentally ran its contents in his head, thinking of what he could come up with. After a moment reflection, he looked up at her. "I'm going to need bread, maple syrup and cinnamon. You got that?

She quickly ran through the list in her head and shot him an amused look. "Are you making French toast?"

"Yes, I am."

"Breakfast food for diner. What are you 12?"

He smirked. "First of all, it's way past midnight, so dinner time is over, second of all, your fridge looks like a war zone, you girls need some serious grocery shopping and finally do you want to be fed or not?"

Biting the inside of her mouth to prevent a laugh, she pointed to the cupboards. "Maple syrup and cinnamon are on the left cupboard, top shelf bread is over there on the counter."

"Thanks." He replied begrudgingly as he pulled two beers out of the fridge and held one out to her. "Beer?"

"Sure since its mine." She replied sternly, taking it.

He didn't engage, his eyes never leaving hers as he twisted the cap off and opened his beer, taking a big swig before setting it back on the counter. He walked back to the fridge taking out the ingredients he needed and got to work. For the next few minutes, he rummaged through drawers and cupboards to find everything he needed as she watched on.

She didn't offer to help, preferring to sit back and observe, quietly sipping her beer. He seemed so out of place in her kitchen and yet he looked perfectly at ease. It was almost surreal. After all, he was an badass biker who was currently making her French toast in the middle of the night. Yeah, surreal was definitely the right word.

She couldn't help but see how good he looked doing it too. She was still amazed at how her body reacted every time he laid his blue eyes on her. She could feel it down her spine, in her core. Ella wasn't very experienced. She had only had sex with one guy she dated in high school and he definitely didn't have that effect on her. They had sex because it was what you did and if she had been attracted to him, her body had never responded to him like it did with Kozik. But she told him she wasn't making the first move again and by god she was going to stick to that.

He put the food into two plates and she decided to break the silence. "Kozik?"

"Uhuh"

"Why are you here?"

He let out a deep breath as he set the plates to the island loudly. "You know, this is exactly why this will never work. You ask too many questions, you don't listen to shit I say, you always feel like you have to challenge me and you hate my club. You're just going to drive me crazy."

"Wow. So we should probably not start anything."

He took a stool facing her and sat. "Probably not. Now shut up and eat." he retorted dryly.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, the only sound in the room was the noise of cutlery against the plates. She had to admit, it tasted good. She loved French toast even if she didn't usually have it in the middle of the night. As they ate, she continued her silent observation of him as something dawned on her. She took a sip from her beer, biting her lip as she spoke. "Kozik?"

He dropped his fork loudly in his plate. "I swear Ella, if you ask me again, why I'm here…"

"How did you know where I lived?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. The minute she asked, she already knew the answer. She snorted "Of course!"

He straightened up on his stool. "You didn't really think that Ray would just let you move to some random place without having someone check it out first, did you?"

"Unbelievable!" She groaned with exasperation "Did you speak to my landlord too?"

Again, he might as well have yelled Guilty as charged as he looked at her with a look of mock astonishment as if he didn't quite understand why she was getting her panties in a bunch. "Unfuckin' believable! you guys are just-, This, this is exactly what is wrong with you guys, you know that right? You think you can just control anyone and anything just because you can scare people into doing what you want! We're not all just puppets you guys can manipulate to do what you want!"

"You done?" he voiced calmly.

Now he was truly pissing her off. She stood up picking up their empty plates. "Next time Ray sends you to spy on me, stop by for coffee by any mean."

She turned her back to him, cutting off the conversation and walked to the sink. She dropped her plate and reached for the sponge to get a start on the dishes when she felt his hand on her arm. He spun her around in one smooth gesture and picked her up by the waist setting her up on the counter, moving in between her legs so she couldn't move.

"Kozik, what the -"

"Shut up." He ordered firmly as he leaned so close to her that their faces were inches apart. "If you expect me to be sorry for wanting to protect the things I care about, then you're going to be waiting a long time gorgeous because I'm not making any apologies for that. Ray didn't have to send me. If he hadn't, I would still have checked it out by myself because that's who I am, Ella. It's how I'm wired. I don't care how others do it. I'm always going to try and protect you from bad shit. Deal with it."

"I-"

"I'm not finished." He interrupted again, cupping her face in his hands, his eyes poring over hers with an intensity she hadn't seen yet. "You want to know why I'm here Ella? It's because I'm fucking crazy about you, okay? I'm crazy about you. But this thing with us... it's- it can't be casual. We do this, we're in. You're mine for the long haul, babe. That means getting right with your father, and you getting right with me being in the club. I'm not asking you to be a part of it, but you need to accept that it's a part of me and that's never going to change.

"Is that all?"

"No. You have to please, please try and not drive me completely fucking nuts." He concluded with a fond smile.

She smiled faintly as she tried to find her voice. "You trying to control me? I'm never going to like it Kozik, you have to know that. It's how I'm wired.

"Anything else?"

"Yes. If I'm yours, you're mine. No exceptions, no loophole."

She knew he understood what she was asking. Exclusivity. No road pussy, no sweet butt in a dark corner of the clubhouse, her and her only.

"Ok."

"I mean it Kozik, I-"

"I said ok." He reassured firmly, voice full of affection.

"Ok."

He slid a hand from her face to gently grab the back of her neck. "You're so fucking beautiful." He murmured as he leaned into her, finally capturing her lips with his.

She closed her eyes, giving herself to the intense feeling of his lips on hers. He slowly ran his tongue on her lips and she opened her mouth giving him access. He clamped her hair in his hand, pulling her closer as her tongue tentatively met his. They had kissed before but this was different. This sealed the silent agreement they'd just made about their relationship, about their future. He thrust his tongue deeper into her mouth and she gripped his hair, fully welcoming it.

She felt his hand trace down her back until he reached her hips. Pushing the hem of her camisole, he ran his hand on the small of her back and a quiet moan escaped from her mouth as pulled her closer to the edge of the counter. With her legs spread either side of his body, she circled him, feeling his crotch against her stomach and felt her body tense, reacting to his hardness. He must have felt it too as he let go of her mouth, resting his forehead on hers.

"Ella, I want you so bad baby."

She didn't let him go any further. Those words in his mouth had electrified her, breaking down any defenses she still had up. She gripped his neck with one hand, taking over his mouth, letting him know how much she wanted this too. Reading her signal, he effortlessly lifted her from the counter letting her wrap her legs around his waist and started walking towards the bedroom, his mouth never leaving hers.

As they reached Ella's bed, he put her down on the mattress softly, his mouth finally letting go of her mouth to explore the rest of her body. He trailed kisses from her jaw line down to her neck, before trailing onto her exposed collarbone. He heard a sharp intake of breath as she arched her body, her hand still gripping his hair. He looked up and realised her eyes were closed and she was biting her lip, trying to stop any sound from coming out. He sat up on his knees, resting his body on his heels as he stared at her. She opened her eyes and found his smiling face.

As she did, he smoothed the hair around her face with his hand. "You okay?"

She nodded affirmatively but she was nervous, apprehensive. Although they had never discussed it, she knew Kozik was aware of her inexperience and she was almost embarrassed by it.

"Do you trust me, Ella?"

She stared intensely into his eyes for a moment and there wasn't a single hint of doubt in her voice when she answered "Yes. I do."

She caught the hem of her camisole between her fingers and slowly lifted it, her eyes never leaving Kozik's before finally taking it off. She watched as his gaze travelled to her perfectly flat stomach looking at her as if she were a work of art. She instinctively brought her arms together to hide herself but he stopped her, catching her arm in his strong hand. "Don't" he voiced firmly.

His gaze still on her, he let go of her arm and his hand travelled down her body, touching her shoulder, the side of her chest, trailing down her waist onto her stomach slowly caressing her before working its way back up to her chest. She took a deep breath in as he softly captured her nipple between his fingers sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. Still trying to keep a semblance of control, she closed her fists on the pillows trying to focus on his eyes. After caressing her for a few minutes, his hand left her breast and reached under her pajamas making its way to her panties and sliding them off her body. He slowly ran his hand up her legs, taking his time letting her get used to the sensation before moving up. She finally parted her legs allowing him access as his fingers found her core and Ella was overwhelmed by a new sensation. Something she had never felt before. She felt herself completely letting go.

Kozik felt it too. It was all over her face, in the way she moved under him, rubbing her knee up his leg, saying his name as his fingers explored her. She was offering herself to him completely, trusting him with everything she held precious.

It was as if there was no more barrier between them. There was no club business to handle, no danger to fend off, and there was no one to interrupt. It wasn't about Ray, Nell or Pete, it wasn't about the Mayans and Juan Ortega, it wasn't about Jax or Joan. For the first time, it was just about the two of them, together, finally.

From the moment Kozik had met Ella on the side of the road, he had always felt something for her. At first, he had been subjugated by her looks, then he had been intrigued and charmed by the opinionated, stubborn woman he was getting to know. He had pissed off when he'd found out who she was, he was sad for her when she lost her mother, he'd been scared when Juan Ortega went after her, he'd been empathetic when she lost her shit in Oregon allowing him to see how vulnerable she was and then proud when she chinned up and patched him up in that seedy bathroom. Since that first day, there was no doubt that he had been through a lot of feelings where Ella Strickland was concerned. But from the minute she'd kissed him in that bathroom, his world had shifted without him even realizing it.

He had tried again and again to fight it for all the right reasons. But somehow, the more he came up with reasons why he shouldn't be with her, the more he realised that she was all he wanted. What Joan had told him about regret had only finished convincing him. He finally understood why some people were ready to risk it all for love. Because he was doing just that now and at that moment he didn't care as long as he had Ella.

"Kozik." She repeated like a mantra, her voice barely above the whisper.

His need for her was almost unbearable now. . She felt amazing around his fingers but he wanted to be inside her so badly it almost hurt. He felt her move faster, encouraging him to match her pace and knew she was getting close. He bent over her capturing her mouth in his as he accelerated his rhythm catching her increased moans in his mouth. She clawed at his back, her fingers digging into the fabric of his tee-shirt as he felt her body tense. She cried out his name and buried her head in his chest as she clenched, her core pulsating wildly around his fingers.

They remained still for a moment until he felt her kissing his jaw line quietly whispering against his skin.

"I want you inside me."

She raised her eyes to meet his before sliding her hand down to his crotch and caressing him through his jeans.

He buried his head in her shoulder kissing her collarbone. "Shit, Ella."

She squeezed his hardness and he let out a guttural moan. He was ready. He was more than ready. And she had just given him confirmation that she wanted this as much as he did. He sat up and quickly lifted his tee-shirt throwing it across the room before undoing his belt and yanking off his jeans and boxers as she looked on. Before throwing the jeans away the same way he did his tee shirt, he produced a condom from his back pocket.

"Let me." She said holding out her hand.

He obliged and she sat up on her knees, mirroring his position as she teared up the foil and slowly slid the protection on him When she was done, she ran her hands on his chest, before kissing his chest, running her lips on his smooth skin. He clenched his hand in her hair fighting to keep control but when he felt her slightly biting his collarbone, he lost it. He couldn't wait any longer, he had to feel her, taste her, have her. She had to be his. He grabbed her hips, drawing her closer and he slid her legs around him as she guided him inside her, ready for him.

He buried himself inside her closing his eyes as her fingers dig into his back. They both stilled for a moment, overwhelmed by the moment. After a while, he felt her lean back and start rocking on him. He put his hands on her hips, accompanying each movement, letting her set the pace again. God, she felt so good, so tight around him. He had sex with a lot of women but this was something else. There was an intimacy to what they were doing that he had never shared with anyone else. "Ella, baby."

She didn't reply but he could hear quiet moans escaping her, a sexy sound that he had never heard before, a sound that was threatening to send him over the edge very quickly.

He had to move or he was going to come. He lifted her up and laid her on her back, burying himself deeper into her as he took over. He held tight as he thrust into her encouraged by her moans which had gotten louder.

"Please…don't stop, please."

He knew she was getting close and closed his hand around her breast, toying with her nipple as he sunk in and out of her. Just as he thought he wouldn't be able to hold on anymore, he felt her nails dig deep into his back as she threw her head back, convulsing under him as she called out his name again. It was the best sound he'd ever heard and all he needed to send him spinning. He slammed into her a couple of times and let go, gasping as he poured himself into her. "I love you baby, I love you."

She didn't reply and they laid like this in silence for a long time until he kissed her hair and got up on his elbows. "Are you alright?"

She smiled lazily, her hand reaching for his cheek. "Yes, I'm great. I love you too, Kozik."

Happy new year everyone! Hope 2014 brings you all loads of joy and happiness! So I know this chapter is a long time coming but like I said to a few of you in PMs my computer died on me which is never good on Christmas Month and between that and the holiday madness it took me this long to update.

I have to say that I had most of this chapter ready for weeks, but the love scene took ages to come through for some reason… guess I have been writing Ella and Kozik's story for so long, now that we are finally here I wanted to do it justice!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it and I really hope you will let me know your thoughts!