Never by Blue Saffire

Chapter 16

Up High

Sal

We take a cab up to the strip, right over to the Linq. I almost squeal like a little girl when the High Roller comes into view. The night is turning out amazing.

Gutter tucks me under his arm as we start for the entrance of the Ferris Wheel. I shouldn’t be surprised when we ride up the escalator and reach a waiting line. I smile when the photo area comes into view.

There’s a group making silly faces as their picture is taken. One look at Gutter and he leads me right over. A single nod from him and the picture guy waves us over, ahead of the others waiting.

Gutter guides me over and we take our photo. A few people give us looks, trying to figure out who the hell we are. The photographer takes a few pictures before smiling.

“Perfect,” he says as he looks down at his camera.

I expect to wait in line to get in a bubble for the ride, but once again, Gutter walks straight to the front of the line. People move aside for us, but there are a few drunken murmurs.

I guess one good look at Gutter—even without his cut—brings the slurred grumbles to a hush. I draw my brows inward as Gutter leans in to whisper in the attendant’s ear. She beams up at him, nodding her head.

Gutter squeezes my waist as I stiffen at his side, ready to snatch this chick over the chain separating us. I’m getting real tired of these chicks flirting with my man right in my face. Gutter hands over a few bills that Miss. Smiley tucks into her pocket.

The next Ferris car arrives, and the attendant opens the little chain for us to pass. We move forward to the open bubble, stepping inside. The door closes behind us. I look at Gutter questioningly.

I thought we’d be riding with others. He looks down at me and his eyes light up. It’s dark outside, but the bubble we’re in has its own lighting. The screens around us show the ascending altitude as the car moves up.

In all honesty, I don’t even know why I wanted to do this. I’m afraid of heights. My ears burn with embarrassment as I realize I just may freak out on this thing.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Gutter asks, his brows knitting as my distress covers my face.

I suck my lip into my mouth before answering. This is so embarrassing. The bubble stops and I squeeze my eyes shut. My breath comes out with a whoosh.

“I’m afraid of heights,” I whisper.

The space is silent for a few minutes, except for my breathing and the monitors on the walls. They warn us we will stop from time to time and not to be alarmed. Gutter runs both his hands down my sides, around to my backside. I’m vaguely aware of the music playing around us.

He squeezes my ass, causing me to open my eyes. There’s an intense look on his face. He searches my gaze before he nods to himself.

“I want you to focus on me and me only. Nothing else exists, you feel me?.” He commands.

“Yeah, I feel you.” I nod.

And I do feel him as he kneads my ass. He dips his head, capturing my lips. The groan that comes from deep in the back of his throat enters my mouth, calling to my nipples that start to strain against my bra and T-shirt. I close my eyes once again as I allow his touch to be everything I need.

Absentmindedly, I wrap my arms around his neck and lose myself in his kiss. The warmth of his tongue meeting mine sends heat throughout my body. I bleed into his arms as if I’m trying to bleed into him to become one.

I’m transported from our bubble in the sky to a place all of our own. He reaches one hand between us to unfasten my shorts. I squeeze his length through his slacks, pulling a deep growl from his chest.

“You’re missing the view,” he says as the voice on the screen tells us we’ve reached four hundred and twenty feet.

Gutter spins me and pulls my back to his front. He shoves his hand into my shorts and stockings, while his lips meet my ear. I shiver as his warm breath fans against my skin.

“You have nothing to ever fear when you’re in my arms. I will protect you from any and everything,” he says huskily.

I moan as he skims my seam with his long fingers. When I open my eyes to the world outside our bubble, it’s amazing. We have a view of everything. I feel safe in his arms, safe enough to forget we’ve come to a halt again as we’re suspended way up in the sky.

“I’m going to make you come for me, baby girl,” he whispers hotly. “You keep your eyes open. Enjoy that view while I take you over.”

He shoves two fingers into my heat, gently tapping my heeled foot with his booted one to get me to spread my legs more. I obey the silent command, giving him better access to my honey. I’m so wet, his fingers slide in and out of me with ease, only to suck him back in.

As I unravel, I blink at the view outside, but I’m not comprehending it. Lost, I flicker my gaze back down to his large hand shoved in my shorts. I don’t know why the sight turns me on so much.

Gutter groans in my ear. “That’s it, Salalia. This pussy only gets wet for me. Just like my cock only throbs and aches for you. Ride my fingers, baby. Let that juicy pussy come for me.”

“Gutter,” I cry out.

He grunts against my neck before sucking it into his mouth. I roll my head to the side to give him better access. My hips move to their own rhythm, chasing the pleasure that’s just within my reach.

He shifts his fingers, finding the right spot, causing my eyes to cross. I bite my lip to keep from screaming. My legs start to tremble beneath me.

“Come on, baby girl. I feel it. Come for me,” he hisses. He reaches for my clit with his thumb and uses his other fingers to rub me to ruin.

“Holy—” The rest of my words are captured by Gutter’s mouth as he covers mine. His tongue plunging into my wet cavern.

He places his hand around my throat, squeezing gently. I whimper into his mouth, causing him to release my neck and drag his palm down to my collarbone, then my breast. He squeezes my mound over my T-shirt. It must not be enough for him or he senses I need more. He glides his hand down to my exposed skin, then up under my shirt.

He pulls the cup of my bra down before reaching for my nipple and rolling it between his fingers. It’s exactly what I need. I moan into his mouth and start to shake against his chest.

I come so hard, my legs turn to jelly, my heels teeter, and I sag back into him. Gutter pulls his hand from my shorts and brings his fingers to my lips. I suck his digits into my mouth, savoring my flavor on his salty fingertips.

He pops his fingers free from my lips and raises them to his own, sucking off whatever I’ve left behind. I smile lazily up at him. The pod has stopped again, the bright lights surrounding us give his gorgeous face an ethereal glow.

The sound of his belt releasing fills my ears. In the next moment, my shorts are shoved down my hips, pooling around my ankles. Gutter wraps an arm around me, backing up until the backs of his legs hit the bench seat in the bubble.

He sits, bringing me down onto his lap. Reaching for my chin, he then cups my face and brings it back to his. I grind in his lap, while he devours my lips.

The tearing of my stockings between my legs fills the air. I’m ready to be rid of anything preventing him from being inside me. Reaching one arm around my waist, he goes to lift me, but I have other plans.

I turn to straddle his hips, pushing my panties aside, and ease down on his waiting, pulsing length. He’s so hard as he impales me, I nearly drool on myself. I wrap my fingers around the back of his neck.

It feels so good, he’s so deep. I throw my head back and arch into him. He reaches for my waist, slowing my pace and guiding me up and down.

“Being inside you is the best feeling in the world,” he grunts.

I feel the same way, but when I go to say it, I only manage to drool on my lip. When I make a slurping sound to bring the moisture back into my mouth, Gutter’s blue-grays focus in on my lips.

He licks his own, before licking my lower one. I run my fingers up through the short hairs on the back of his head to the longer strands on top and hold on tight.

He moves his hands under my shirt, freeing one of my breasts from its confines. He cups both mounds in his big hands, flicking my nipples with his thumbs. I start to ride him like my life depends on it.

The bubble has started to move again, but I’m lost to the man beneath me. I can’t say much for the view and the city below. It’s just a beautiful backdrop to a beautiful moment—as Gutter groans my name and looks at me tenderly—that’s the only word that comes to mind, beautiful.

I continue to ride him as my pussy soaks him underneath me. The ride stops again, but that doesn’t faze me. I keep bouncing and crying out for more.

When we start to move again, the voice on the screens begins to countdown our ascent to the very top. All at once, I start to reach my ascent as well. The screens flash images of fireworks and our target height of five hundred and fifty feet. It goes wild and so does my body.

I scream out as I ride through my climax. Gutter grasps the skin at my back and digs his fingers into my flesh. His tight grip causes my walls to clench around his shaft harder.

“I’m coming,” Gutter breathes in my ear just before I feel his hot seed explode inside me.

“Fuck,” I hiss as the aftershocks hit me.

I sag into him, my chest heaving against his. I finally focus my eyes on the sights around us. It’s gorgeous. I giggle to myself as the slot machine music from the on-screen celebration registers in my ears.

Yeah, I would say I just hit the jackpot. I bury my face into Gutter’s neck and inhale him. When I lift my head again to look around us, my face flames. I didn’t think once about the people in the other bubbles being able to see us.

Gutter reaches to pull his pants back up his hips and fastens them. With little effort, he lifts me and moves to retrieve my shorts. Returning to the bench, still holding me tightly, he places me back in his lap.

He dresses me with care, like I’m a little precious doll in his lap. When he’s done, he looks up into my eyes and we lock on each other. I take in all the emotions and thoughts running through his eyes.

I figure now is as good a time as any to reveal the next pieces of myself to this gorgeous man. I cup his cheek and kiss his lips. He reaches up and brushes his thumb over my lower lip.

This is a big one for me. One that’s been a well-kept secret, as far as I know. It’s what makes me unique and valuable to the Lost Souls.

“I have a photographic memory.” I smirk. “I will remember this forever. It’s like my brain has taken pictures of every moment.”

He nods. “I’ll remember it forever, but my brain isn’t half as pretty or brilliant as yours,” he murmurs. “That must have been helpful in school.”

“It was. I could see my notes in my head. I would write them on postcards, sometimes in different colors. I would be able to see the notes in my mind and recall all the information.” I laugh.

His brows furrow as he takes in my words. His face changes, but I’m not sure what has brought on the change until he speaks. His words turn my body cold.

“You’re Kodak,” he states more than asks. “Fuck.”

He runs a hand through his hair. I completely blanch. My heart starts to pound. I lift from his lap and take a step back.

“Where did you hear that name?” I whisper as I wrap my arms around my middle.

He rubs his forehead and purses his lips. He releases a heavy breath and looks into my eyes. I see the moment something clicks into place for him.

“How much do you know about the Squad?”

I swallow hard. “It’s the one thing I don’t have full access to. I never needed to know their identities. King thought it better if I didn’t. However, I know about the Squad and what they mean to the club,” I reply and lick my dry lips. “Everyone knows that.”

Gutter groans and closes his eyes. He releases another deep breath. My chest tightens with the onset of a panic attack.

As I said before, there are few people who know I work for the Lost Souls. Those that do know, know me by the name Kodak. Fear that my identity has gotten out consumes me.

The look on Gutter’s face isn’t helping one bit. He seems to be thinking his words out a little too carefully for my liking. I can’t help but berate myself for being so stupid.

What do I know about this guy? Clearly, there has been some breach of security. How do I know it hasn’t come from him or someone he’s working with?

I’ve started to fall in love with him and never asked any real questions. My heart never had a chance for questions. It has felt like it belonged to him forever. Like finding someone lost after years of searching. Yet, something isn’t right, and I fear he’s about to shatter my entire world.

“There are twelve Squad members,” Gutter starts. All emotion and expression has left his face. “You have to be some kind of fucked up to be recruited. Squad members have a different kind of loyalty to the Lost Souls.

“If you’re Squad, you’re always ready and willing to get elbows deep in blood for your brothers and anything they hold dear. Squad stands ready to jump in front of any bullet meant for our prez.”

He takes a pause, wrinkling his brows. “Do you know what marks a Squad member?”

I lick my lips again and give a short nod. “The winged reaper with the sword,” I reply softly.

“Have you seen my naked back?” he asks, his expression finally revealing an emotion. Pensive.

I pull a face as confusion swirls. “Gutter, can we stay focu…” My words trail off as he stands and unbuttons his shirt and shrugs it off. “Sugar is the only one that can and will ink one of these. I asked to have mine done a little different.”

I gasp when he turns his back to me. That first night, when he had his back to me after his shower, the lighting was dim. I’d been too into my feelings to pay attention and I can’t recall him having his back to me the next morning. I was too busy enjoying the pleasure he gave me before we had to race off.

I can’t believe this is the first time I’m paying attention to his bare back, but there it is, as clear as day. A winged reaper.

Only Gutter’s reaper is kneeling on one knee, with both hands wrapped around the sword standing before him. The reaper's head is uncovered, revealing half a face and half a skull. The face looks just like Gutter’s. The detailing is amazing.

I move in closer to touch his ink-covered flesh with my fingertips. The weight of this all hits me slowly. A lot slower than I’m used to. I mean, this is like watching a bomb go off in your face, and not being able to do anything about it.

My fingers tremble as I trace the lines of the replica of the face I’m beginning to fall in love with. It looks as if a photograph was imprinted on his skin. I know Sugar does amazing work, but this… this takes the cake on so many levels.

It’s so realistic. The dark look in Gutter’s eyes, the slight sneer of his lips. I even feel like the eyes are looking into my soul. The fact that the skull side has a matching haunting blue-gray eye causes a chill to run through me.

There is something in the eyes on this tat. It’s the same look I catch when I stare into the eyes of two other Squad members I know of. I move my eyes and fingers to the wings fanning out from the Reaper’s back. It’s so clear to me now what Gutter is trying to tell me. I jerk back as his revelation hits me hard.

“Holy shit, you have to be kidding me,” I gasp.

“I don’t kid about the Squad, baby girl,” he says as he turns back toward me. “I had no idea Kodak was a girl, less on my girl, you’re on the list of top priorities for us. Whatever you do for the club, you’re one bad motherfucker,” he says and looks at me through a seemingly new gaze.

“No one is to know that I’m the Lost Souls’ accountant. I run the money for all the chapters. I also run the database on all of you and your finances, all assets and resources are run through me.

“The whole system you guys have been running the club and your personal money through, I built it. If someone has found this out, it could cause me problems. That’s why I took off from my place. Not many people have access to this knowledge,” I huff.

“Motherfucker, I just don’t get why King didn’t tell me I was coming for you,” he bites out and pulls a hand down his face.

I lift a brow and grin. “I think you would take better care of his sister than you would his accountant and systems manager,” I try to tease.

“No, baby girl.” He shakes his head. “King is smart. He knows something, there are ears around that he’s being cautious of. Seems to me, you think so too. You’ve dumped two phones since we’ve been together.”

I shrug. “I always operate with caution, but you’re right, I have a few suspicions I want to look into when we get back to the room.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “We’re going back,” he says, firmly cutting off all protests I may have.