Her heart expanded so much she’d thought it’d explode. She wanted it, wished it, but she hadn’t thought it possible, so she settled for being his stepmom and had been more than thrilled to be. Adopting him was much, much more than that. It meant, God forbid, if anything happened between she and Dodge, Cul would still be hers.
Tears swimming, she moved her stare and met Cullen’s. Honest to God, she hadn’t thought she could even speak without bursting into blissful hysterics.
When Cul’s hopeful eyes began swimming too, she couldn’t hold back. She stood, knelt in front of him, and cupped his cheeks. “I’m already your mom, sweetheart.”
He hooked his arms around her neck tightly. She circled hers around his back. Dodge knelt behind Cullen and snaked his arms around them both.
Holding Cul tight against her, she peered at Dodge. Then she whispered, “Thank you.”
His eyes warmed.
She knew she didn’t have to explain. He understood.
It’d been one of the best moments of her life.
She now knew more about the club as well. One night in bed while they lay facing each other, Dodge told her everything. Hell Ryders had once been involved in illegal activities, running guns and drugs. Years ago, the club became clean. Now, they lived off the garage and their guard services, which weren’t entirely legal either since often they were paid for extras, namely manhandling men who deserved it. While this knowledge had been terrifying at first, it didn’t change how she felt about Dodge or Cullen.
Arms went around her shoulders, his breath at her ear, he whispered, “Want my wife.”
She smiled, grasped his hands, and stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m needed.”
Dodge tugged her to his side and walked to the middle of the room, the dancefloor. A stunning chandelier hanging above them, they slow danced for a full sixty seconds before Cul rushed them and cut in. She danced with Cullen for another minute. Then Dodge carried Cullen and wrapped his free arm around her waist. She danced the rest of the song with both her boys.
It was perfect.
****
“Fuck, babe… Lex…”
Her body spasmed then went limp.
His heart dropped. “Fuck.”
No doubt now. He’d been too rough. He just needed her so bad.
They’d moved into their new place just a couple of days ago. Both so tired, trying to get everything in order and set up, when they hit the bed at night, they just cuddled. He was still beat, so was she, but they were finally unpacked. With Cul at a sleepover, they ordered pizza. He’d finished his third slice when she walked into the living room wearing a blue nighty, the sides made of mesh, stockings, and heels. All it took, one look. He prowled to her and kissed her. When her back hit the wall behind her, he started touching her.
“Don’t make me wait. Please…”
Hiking up her nighty finding her bare, he freed himself and lifted her. She immediately wrapped her legs around him allowing him to dive deep.
Then she hooked her arms around his neck, buried her face against his throat, and clung to him. “Please…harder…”
He lost it. He never dreamed of being so rough with anyone, least of all her. He shouldn’t have listened, should’ve taken it slow no matter what she said, what she claimed to want. She was so soft and delicate, and he was twice her size. He could blame it on a bunch of shit—the nighty, her whispers, it’d been days—but it didn’t dissolve him of fault.
Swallowing his fear, his arm around her waist tightened. He cupped her cheek with the other. “Lex, baby? Wake up.”
Her eyes cracked open. “Why’d you stop?”
“’Cause I fuckin’ hurt you.”
Her eyes widened. “You couldn’t. Please…” She bucked her hips pressing herself against him.
He groaned, almost spilling. “Fuck, Lex. Don’t. I’ll lose it again.” Shaking his head, he snapped, “Can’t take you like that again.”
“Please…” She smiled. “That was the best.”
The best?
She shifted her hips again. Her lips slammed against his, kissing him deeply.
He gave it to her rough, hard, fast like she wanted it. Her body strung tight then shuddered as she moaned his name. Music to his ears. He followed, coming just a second later.
All of it—perfect.
They’d been married for a little more than a month, and still, he couldn’t believe it. How he managed to snag the perfect woman, he’d never know.
After all had gone down and he’d told her who’d been fucking with her and why, she had reason to blame him, but she hadn’t. To this day, she had nightmares but not nearly as often. When they came, she just wanted him to hold her, claiming he kept them away. As much as that thrilled him, it killed knowing he could’ve prevented it had he not underestimated his ex. One of the many reasons he woke up beside her every morning and made sure he told her he loved her and when he went to bed with her every night, he reminded her. One of the many reasons, he did whatever he could to make her happy. She wanted a beach wedding; he gave it to her. She wanted to be Cul’s mom; he made it happen. She fell in love with the four-bedroom house from just looking at the pictures on the realtor’s site; he bought it.
He’d continue to do what he could no matter what it cost until there was no breath left in him. It was all he could give her. It wasn’t nearly as much as she deserved, but she wanted them, loved them, and showed them every chance she had.
Holding him tight, her lips inches from his. “I’m buying more sexy lingerie.”
He chuckled. “It means you’re gonna scare the shit out of me like that again, I rather you didn’t.”
Her brows drew together. “It wasn’t good for you?”
“Fuckin’ amazing like it always is, but I thought I’d hurt you.”
She giggled. “Yeah, I think I fainted.”
His eyes hardened.
“In a good way…” she added quickly. “I…um…never felt anything like that before. I thought it was over, but then it kept going. I think it just got too intense and…” She met his eyes and flushed.
Satisfying to no end, knowing she got that from him, and the way she said it like it embarrassed her, hilarious. All of it turned him on.
He smirked, shaking his head. “What am I gonna do with my wild woman?”
She grinned. “Guess it takes a wild ride.”
They burst out laughing.
About the Author
J.L. Sheppard was born and raised in South Florida where she still lives with her husband and sons.
As a child, her greatest aspiration was to become a writer. She read often, kept a journal, and wrote countless poems. She attended Florida International University and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors in Communications. During her senior year, she interned at NBC Miami, WTVJ. Following the internship, she was hired and worked in the News Department for three years.
It wasn’t until 2011 that she set her heart and mind into writing her first completed novel, which was first published in January 2013.
~*~
Visit J.L. at
www.jlsheppard.com
~*~
To chat with J.L. Sheppard and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also available from
The Wild Rose Press, Inc. and major retailers.
Running Wild
Hell Ryders MC Book 1
By J.L. Sheppard
When the perfect life Alyssa Holden planned turns out to be a life of lies, she runs to her brother, the only person she can trust. She has no idea she’s running straight into a world of badass bikers who live and ride by their own rules. One tatted rebel in particular calls to her wilder side, and while everything in her draws her toward him, every experience she’s had with men warns her away.
Jace Warren is doing what he’s done his whole life—trying to survive, making the best with what he’d been given. The only life that makes s
ense after the military is Hell Ryders Motorcycle Club, but the sweet innocence of his army buddy’s sister promises a different life, one a man like him can only dream of. Problem is, being his MC brother’s sister puts her off limits. Hard as it is, he keeps his distance. Then she kisses him, and all bets are off.
Also Available
from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
and major retailers.
When You Close Your Eyes
By Roxanne D. Howard
Dreams are the perfect shelter for fantasies, safe havens to step inside without changing our daily lives. For Lark Braithwaite, all that is about to change. During the last six months, Lark has dreamt of a mysterious Irish lover who knows what she wants and gives her exactly what she needs. In her waking life in busy London, things aren’t as ideal as her long-term relationship with her controlling fiancé Charles has hit a dry spell.
When Lark is called home to Oregon for her father’s funeral, she comes face to face with the demons from her past, but she never expects to meet her dream lover in the flesh. Niall O’Hagan steps straight out of her fantasies and into her life, and the powerful connection they share rocks her foundation. Although she’s dealing with the bitterness of her fiancé’s betrayal and his jealousy, Niall soon stirs Lark’s awareness of her superficial existence and reawakens her sexuality…and her soul.
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
For questions or more
information contact us at
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Riding Hard (Hell Ryders MC Book 4) Page 30