JE owns the rights to anything familiar - thanks to alix33 for the beta skills
For M
The Manor
ZIP POV
"All I'm saying is there must be something wrong with him if he's not already in love with you."
I rolled my eyes and put her on speaker phone so I could finish getting dressed. "I think you might be a little biased, Mom."
"Of course I am. I'm your mother; I already know you're perfect."
"Zyla is the perfect one." And right now I was silently cursing my perfect sister. Ever since she moved across the country to go to college, my Mother insisted on talking to me about my love life, or the lack of one, once a week. I slid on an old pair of jeans and then dug around in my closet for a shirt as she went on.
"She used to be until she decided to go to school all the way in California. There are respectable colleges in New Jersey, you know."
I rolled my eyes again but at least she'd quit talking about Hector. I didn't even know why I told her about him. I knew what she was like when she thought someone was slighting her children.
"Do you want me to talk to him? He is obviously clueless and I'd be happy to buy him a few." Damn, I should have known she wouldn't be that easily distracted.
"Mom," I warned as I discovered a chocolate brown Armani t-shirt I hadn't worn in a while in the back of my closet. It was a little too tight but that might work to my advantage. I pulled it over my head and tried to end the torturous conversation with my Mother. "You do know this is why Zy moved three thousand miles away, right? Because you wouldn't stop sticking your nose in her business." I checked my hair in the mirror and ran my fingers through it. The summer sun had bleached a lot of it blonde and I thought it looked stupid but there wasn't anything I could do about it.
"She moved there because she thinks she'll meet Brad Pitt," my Mom countered and I had to laugh because she was probably right.
"I gotta go, Mom. I'll talk to you next week, okay?"
"Are you going dancing?"
I sighed and sat down on the edge of my bed to put on my boots. "Yes."
"Will he be there? I could go and convince him to get his head out of his ass about you."
"Mom!"
"Okay, okay," she relented. "I just worry that you..."
"Goodbye Mother," I cut her off, completely done with the inquisition.
"Good night, Zip," she sighed and finally disconnected.
My Mother meant well, she really did, but she was relentless and I was half afraid she'd end up cornering Hector someday and not let him go until he agreed to go out with me.
The sad part was the other half of me secretly hoped she would do exactly that. I'd been trying for over a year without any luck so maybe she'd have some if I let her have a crack at him.
Hector is an enigma and I wanted nothing more than to unravel the puzzle. He has a reputation and I know the history that some of his tattoos suggest but I also know there is more to him than he lets anyone see.
He likes that people are afraid of him because it means they will keep their distance but I've seen him sometimes when he thinks no one is watching and there is a vulnerable side hidden under his rough exterior. That's the Hector I want to get to know better.
No one notices that side of him, because he doesn't want them to, but mostly they just don't take the time to see past his lethal nature.
But I do. And I want to see more. Unfortunately he won't give me the time of day and I think I'm nearly ready to throw in the towel.
I was going to try one more time tonight at the Manor. He liked to dance as much as I did and more often than not, I found him at the club. The last time he'd been there with Stephanie and I ducked out before either of them saw me. I thought it would be safe tonight because I'd been in the garage when Ranger got back from wherever he'd disappeared to so I figured she'd be occupied for a while.
I grabbed my keys and my phone and headed out, most of me still holding out hope I might be able to break through Hector's seemingly impenetrable armor.
I scanned the parking lot when I arrived, looking for his truck. Just as I was about to declare failure, I spotted the black king cab in the shadow of the building at the back of the lot. I parked close by and turned off the car but had a moment of doubt before I could get out. Did I really want to do this to myself again? A person could stand only so much rejection and I was about at my limit. Part of me knew this would be a futile effort at best so I sat behind the wheel, listening to the cooling engine tick for a good long while.
Was Hector worth the ache in my chest every time he turned me away? I touched the spot on my thigh where I'd impulsively branded his initial over a year ago and made a decision. Yeah, he was worth it. He was more than worth it and if I could just get through one layer of his wall, I might be able to prove to him that I was worth it too.
I ran a hand through the mess of my hair one last time and then made my way into the club. A blast of techno beat hit my ears when I pulled open the door and I pushed my way through tightly packed bodies to get to the front. That's where I knew I'd find him and when the current song ended, the sea of people briefly parted and there he was, leaning against the bar holding a glass of vodka and looking sexy as hell.
The ice blue t-shirt hugged the lean muscles of his chest and shoulders and a pair of black jeans highlighted his slim thighs and hips. I knew there was a knife in the steel-toed boots he was wearing and there was probably a gun strapped to his ankle. The whole image turned me the fuck on.
My heart lurched in my chest when he met my gaze and then tried to thump right out of my rib cage when he didn't immediately turn away. He always turned away but those heavily lashed, whiskey colored eyes held mine the entire way. When I finally reached him and he still hadn't looked away, I couldn't stop the smile as I leaned in close to be heard over the music. "Hey."
He didn't respond, but he never did, and I didn't let it discourage me. I didn't want my eyes to ever leave his face, but Pauly asked what I wanted so I turned away briefly to give him my order and when I looked back Hector had his eyes closed and was taking a healthy swallow of vodka. I watched the muscles in his neck working and felt my dick go immediately hard. When he opened his eyes I was staring into them and when his tongue darted out, I thought I was going to lose control completely.
Luckily my drink arrived, affording a small distraction but I didn't look away, couldn't look away, not even as I took a drink. Grey Goose, his favorite. For the first time, ever, I saw clearly what was on his mind and I couldn't stop the smile because it was me. Hector wanted me. My pulse pounded in my ears. Tell me, Hector. Say the word and I'll give you whatever you want.
But he didn't. Instead, he finished his drink and signaled for another. I followed suit, tipping the rest of the vodka down my throat and as soon as I was done, Pauly dropped two more in front us. I grabbed mine and before he could get his to his mouth I clinked them together and offered a quiet, "Cheers," deliberately touching his fingers with mine before pulling away and downing half the drink. I'd never done anything like that before, but since this was my last hurrah, I was throwing caution to the wind.
His gaze widened at the contact and then he quickly consumed his drink and slammed the empty glass on the bar, eyes flashing with anger even though his breathing was slightly erratic. Hector was as turned on as I was, I could tell. What would he do if I kissed him right now? Probably slit my throat but that thought didn't stop me from staring at his lips. He pushed away from the bar, away from me, and I couldn't let him go. Snagging his arm, I pulled him back until he was flush against me. "Dance with me," I pleaded into his ear. I wasn't above begging but Hector didn't respond so I made a choice, hoping it was the right one.
I tugged him out onto the dance floor, half expecting him to rip away from my grasp, but he didn't and I found myself exactly where I'd been dying to be for what seemed like forever. I settled my fingers onto his hips and when he didn't pull away I pressed my chest to his back and let the rhythm of the music take over. When there was still no protest, I grew bolder, sliding my hand across his stomach, pulling him back as I pushed forward. It took all my self-control not to sink my teeth into his neck when he dropped his head back on my shoulder and when the song ended, I somehow found the strength not to spin him around and take his mouth in a brutal kiss.
I could hardly believe what was happening. It was way too good to be true and I had to test the theory. I told him I needed a shot and left him standing there while I went to the bar. My hands were shaking as I made my way through the crowd. He'd let me touch him and it was almost too much to handle. I managed to get the shots fairly quickly but I convinced myself he'd be long gone when I got back to the dance floor.
I had to blink a few times when I found him exactly where I'd left him. What was going on? Did I finally break down the wall? It was probably best not to think about it. I held out a shot glass and he took it without a word. I didn't know what was happening but this felt like something so I offered a toast. "To...beginnings."
We tossed the shots into our throats and I found myself smiling again. This was too fucking good to be true and I never wanted the night to end.
"Another?" I asked eagerly even though I expected a negative response. Hector shocked the shit out of me by lifting a shoulder. I went and got two more rounds, surprised again that he was still there when I returned. We quickly decimated the alcohol and usually I would be buzzed after all that but I was too keyed up, too thrilled and confused and surprised about what was happening so I didn't think the booze would ever hit my veins. After ditching the glasses I brought him against my body again, moving with the beat of the constant music. I grew bolder, gliding my fingers over his arms, over the ripped muscles of his abs and back to the narrow flare of his hips. His head tilted back against my shoulder, his eyes drifted closed and when his arms found their way up and slid backward around my neck I think I lost my mind.
My skin was buzzing, my cock was throbbing and I wanted him so badly I couldn't see straight. I grabbed his hand when the music stopped and led him towards the exit.
The suffocating summer heat tried to envelope us when I opened the door and Hector murmured something about me not following him to New York. It was the first words he said all night and they didn't make sense but I wanted to disabuse his incorrect assumption.
"I'll follow you anywhere."
His eyes widened at my declaration. I pulled him out of the doorway, spinning him until his back was pressed against the wall right next to the door. I leaned into him, holding him in place and stared directly into his eyes, trying to let him know it would have to be his choice. Kiss me, Hector. Kiss me or make me leave.
He didn't move, frozen in my penetrating stare. I breathed his name, half plea half prayer and then his hand was on my neck and our mouths met in a furious kiss. I was sure I'd died and gone to heaven as I sucked in every stroke of his tongue with the urgency of long denied desire. I savored every soft moan, every pull of his fingers in my hair until only the need to breathe forced an end to the unbelievable miracle.
"Hector?" It was all I could say but I knew he'd understand. It would have to be his decision again. He knew what I wanted, what I needed but I would walk away if that was his choice. I touched my forehead to his and waited.
"Let's go," he said and I think I could have wept with relief. He led me to his truck and drove us to a cheap motel a block away. I waited in the truck with my skin on fire while he secured a room and when were finally inside, he began stripping me slowly, methodically until I was bare before him.
"Hector…"
"I know," he said, cutting me off. "I know."
I didn't think he did, but right then it didn't matter. He was letting me in, maybe not all the way but it was a start, a beginning and although I knew he'd see it that way, I had all night to convince him it didn't have to also be an end.
