by C. M. Allen
Once we were all three in the office and the door was shut behind me, I turned to face her only to be met with a small fist that collided with my jaw. “Fuck!” I shouted out, grabbing the side of my face as I descend on her with a fury burning inside of me. “That only happens once Ava, am I clear?” I growled at her, not seeing an ounce of the fear in her eyes that any normal person would have had right now. But something always told me that Ava was not just the woman we saw in front of us.
She was something more.
“Mav,” Roman warned with a grip on my shoulder. “Keep your cool man. She’s still a female.”
“I warned you what I would do if you didn’t keep her safe Maverick, did I not?” Her hands firmly on her hips, she continued. “And I’m not afraid of you or your friends either.” She looked over at Roman before glaring back at me.
“Fuck me.” I heard Roman practically breath out.
“Are you fuckin՛ serious right now with that shit?” I shouted at him, pissed that I knew for a fact he was getting off on this chick, thinking only about his dick right now. His only response was to shrug his shoulders.
“Where is she? I heard about what happened to her parents’ house.” Ava demanded, returning my attention to her.
“She’s somewhere safe.”
“I can keep her a hell of a lot safer than you can Maverick. Just bring her to my house and I will take care of her.”
“Too late, I already sent her away from here to make sure she is.”
“Where?” When I didn’t answer her question, she began to pace, balling her fists.
“I will keep you informed if anythin՛ happens, but she’s not comin՛ back here until this whole thing is settled Ava. I won’t allow the shit in my life to touch her again like it did today.”
Stopping, she looked between Roman and I. “Was it the Slayers?”
Not wanting to get her involved in this dangerous situation any more than she already was, I simply answered. “That’s not somethin՛ I’m sure about yet.”
Yet again this chick was right up in my face. “One hair on her head Maverick, that’s all it’s going to take for you to find out just what I’m really capable of. Are we clear?”
“God damn that is fuckin՛ hot!” Roman blurted out, drawing both of our glares. “What? She is.”
“Who the hell are you anyway, asshole?” Ava snapped.
Stepping forward, he held out his hand and practically bowed before her. “Names Roman, and you honey are one hell of a sexy vixen. A real fire cat.”
Her lips tugged up in the corner of her mouth so fast it was almost as if I imagined it. “Well then Roman, consider yourself warned as well. Anything happens to Harper and I will rip your God damn balls off, got me?”
“So what do you say to you and me doin՛ a little dinner and dancin՛ next Friday night?” He asked, completely ignoring her threat against his family jewels. “I’ll even pay,” he ended with a wink.
“Are all your men this fucked up in the head?” she asked, looking over at me with a shake to her head, seemingly calmer than before.
“The only thing that’s goin՛ to be gettin՛ fucked around here darlin՛ is goin՛ to be what I know for a fact is that beautiful p—.”
Walking up to Roman, she got right up in his face, so close that her body was practically pressed up against his, essentially ending what he was about to say. “Finish that sentence asshole, and I’ll be showing you just how good your balls taste al dente.”
“Fuck me! You always this angry? Because I could sure put all that fire you got boilin՛ over inside of you to good use in the sack.”
The slap that echoed throughout the room had me chuckling before my irritation with the situation Harper was in came back tenfold. “Enough with this fuckin՛ bullshit between you two! Ava, Harper is safe and will stay that way, you have my word. Roman, get you and your fuckin՛ hard on out to the truck so we can get the hell out of here and back to the clubhouse.”
Both of them took a step away from one another. “All right, I’ll go. But before I do, I would just like to say one more thing to you Ava… so if you’re into that whole BDSM scene, I am on fuckin՛ board with that shit! Hell, I’ll even let you paddle my ass honey. Who wee! Damn this woman is hot!” Roman shouted before heading out the door.
Looking at Ava, I now knew for sure that she was wearing a smile, because this time it lasted longer. “I think that friend of yours must have been dropped on his head when he was a baby.”
“And I think by the smile on that face of yours, you liked my friend. Anyway, if there’s anythin՛ to tell I’ll be sure to call you later,” I said quickly, walking out the door and shutting it behind me before she came back with some smart-ass remark or threat.
Getting into the driver’s side of the truck, I looked over at Roman who was grinning like a Cheshire cat and shook my head at him, starting the truck up. “What?”
“Do you ever not think with that dick of yours?”
“Man, you know as well as I do, that woman wants to ride my cock way too bad.”
“I’d be very cautious puttin՛ any of your appendages near her if I were you. You may not get them back.”
“Shit, I’ll take my chances if it gets me inside that sweet pussy of hers.”
CHAPTER
22
Harper
The feeling of my body being jostled around had woken me up with a start, and when I looked around, the first thing I saw, was a lot of trees. But then I heard his words and it caused me to gasp when it hit me who I was stuck in this truck with. “How ya feelin՛ over there Sweetness?”
“Where are we?” I asked, holding my head that throbbed.
“We’re headed somewhere safe. We’ll be there in about another fifteen minutes.”
“So, you’re not going to tell me where we’re going, I take it?”
“Look, it’s really better for you if you don’t know where I’m takin՛ ya. That way, if anyone should ask you and someone happens to be near them listenin՛… you get what I’m sayin՛? Besides, there’s only a few of us in the club that even know this place exists”
Getting angry at all this cloak and dagger bullshit, I crossed my arms over my chest and looked back out the passenger’s side window at all the forest that surrounded us. “What the hell did you give me anyway? I’ve got a headache from hell now.”
Shuffling around in the middle compartment, he pulled out a bottle of pills. “Shit, my bad. I should have known you’d wake up with a doozy. Here, take these. They’ll help.”
“What are they? More drugs to knock me out?” I snapped at him.
Lifting a brow, he just grinned at me. “It’s actually Ibuprofen for your headache.”
“Oh.” I simply said, feeling like a total bitch right now. But didn’t I have a right to be one?
Handing me the pills and a bottle of water, I could actually see sympathy in his eyes for the first time since I’d met him. “Look, I know this whole mess is pretty fucked up and you’re spittin՛ nails right now, but the Prez only wants to keep you safe.” Looking over at me with those googly, flirty eyes of his he makes, he said. “Seems he’s kinda fond of ya. Can’t say I’ve ever seen him this protective over a female in all the time that I’ve known him.”
Sitting there for a moment, I thought about what he’s just said and even though I’m extremely pissed off right now with all that’s going on, I couldn’t help my smile. But I’d be damned if I was going to let Vulture see it. “Really? I can’t help but think Maverick has probably had a lot of women in his life.”
Chuckling, he continued to stare out the windshield as we made a left turn down a dirt road, that led us even further into the forest. “Sweetness don’t confuse willin՛ and disposable pussy with yourself. Trust me, you’re nothin՛ like those bitches that he’s fucked in the past. He could give two shits about them after he had their mouths on his dick, or his dick in their__”
“I get it Vulture! Please stop telling me in great and un
necessary detail of all the ways Maverick has had sex with other women. I can imagine it all on my own, thank you very much.” Letting out a frustrated breath, I looked back out the passenger’s side window again, but now with images of Maverick and other women invading my mind.
Great!
Clearing his throat, I heard him mumble an apology just before a two-story cabin came into view. “Well, here we are,” he announced as he turned into a roundabout driveway. Shutting the engine off, he got out and headed to the back of the truck.
When I got out of the passenger side, I just stood there in awe of the building before me. It looked as though it had one time been your typical looking cabin that was made into something more spectacular like you see them do on one of those home makeover shows. The outside was made up of wood and rock and had two wraparound porches that sat on each level with a rock formed chimney that took up part of the side of the second story. The front steps also ran along the side of the cabin all the way up to the second floor where I could see a huge oak front door. “Wow! This place is really beautiful. Who owns it?”
Shutting the tailgate, Vulture walked towards the stairs as I followed behind him. “It used to belong to Mav’s parents’, and it sat empty for years. But last year Mav finally came out here and started workin՛ on it. He ended up just hirin՛ a guy that lived locally to do a total overhaul on the place when he saw how much work it was goin՛ to need.”
“Well, he did a great job.”
“Wait ˋtil you see the inside. Maverick spared no cost when it came to bringin՛ this place back to life.”
As we climbed the stairs, I looked around at all the land that surrounded this place and spotted the small lake out back. “Wow, it even has a lake? He must come out here all the time, I know I would.” I said just before Vulture opened the front door and moved aside to let me in.
“Actually, I think he’s only been up here the one time since to see that the work was done right and pay the guy for it.”
Not understanding why someone would go through all the trouble of having all this work done, let alone how beautiful and peaceful it was up here, not to be here every weekend I asked. “Was the remodel just recently finished?”
“Work was completed on the place about eight months back.”
“Why hasn’t he come up here then? Do his parents like what he’s done to the place, or do they not live around here anymore?”
“His reasons for not comin՛ up here are his own to tell. As far as his parents go… ah… no, they don’t live around here anymore.” The way he mentioned Maverick’s parents sounded as if there was more to that story than he was letting on.
“Oh,” I simply said as I started to look around the inside the cabin. The top floor we’d entered on had a balcony that surrounded the whole top floor. When I looked over the edge, I could see the beautiful open floorplan below. The living room had two full sized dark brown sectionals that took up the area in front of the large stone-faced fireplace. There was a big dark wood coffee table that sat on a large tan and white rug between them with matching smaller tables on the ends. “Did he pick out all the furniture?”
“Nah, he had Chainsaw’s old lady come up here and do it.” He motioned to the stairs on the right. “Want to see the rest of the downstairs? The bedroom you’ll be stayin՛ in is down there as well.”
“Sure.” As we made our way down the stairs, I couldn’t help but think of the first time I’d met Vulture and how scary he seemed. “You know you’re a lot different than I thought you would be.”
Chuckling, he turned around to face me. “What, I’m not as scary lookin՛ as I was that first day we met at the gas station when you wouldn’t even get out of your car?”
Feeling like jerk at how I reacted to him that first time, I also thought about how he treated me when he thought I was a cop. “I do feel bad about that and I’m sorry, but you have to admit the way you came at me when you thought I was a cop was pretty damn terrifying too.”
Turning back around, he headed on down the stairs. “Yeah, well, I had to be sure we didn’t go through that whole shit storm I caused all over again.” Pausing at a doorway, he looked back at me. “But I am sorry if I scared you.”
Nodding, I asked. “Since none of you all like to tell each other’s story, think you might tell me about that one since it’s yours to tell?”
“We’ll see Sweetness. But for now, why don’t you get settled in here. There’s a bathroom to your right and everythin՛ you’ll need should be in there. I’m going to go call Mav and let him know that we’re here.”
“Ok, do you think I might be able to talk to him soon?”
“I think you might actually get to see him soon enough.” Winking at me, he turned and shut the door behind him.”
As I took in the room, it became abundantly clear that this must be the master bedroom. There was a king-sized bed and a small sitting area in front of a large open window that had a beautiful view of the lake out back. Walking into the bathroom, I found a large sunken in tub with enough room for two or three people. There was also an all glass stand-up shower with two shower heads on either side.
Definitely the master bedroom.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Maverick and I would be spending any time in this room together.
***
After being up here almost a week now, Vulture and I had fallen into a bit of a routine, me cooking all the meals, and him doing the dishes and taking out the trash. Most days like today I went for a quick run or took a walk, but I never went any further than around the small lake and back. That way Vulture could drink his beer on the deck while he kept an eye on me, not that I didn’t have any way of defending myself if someone was to approach me. The weight of the 9-mil reminded me of where it was tucked inside my pocket. Suddenly I noticed Vulture jerk to a standing position and walk inside the cabin as I made my way back. Wondering what was going on, I picked up my pace.
When I didn’t see him return, I started doing a full out run back. When I rounded the corner to the front of the cabin, I came to a sudden halt when I saw Maverick come around the corner. “Hey there, Sweetheart.” At first, my heart sang with joy at the sight of him and I wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and feel his body against mine. But then I remembered how he took my choice in coming here away from me when he had Vulture stick me in the neck with a needle. “I see you’re still pissed at me.”
“Pissed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about you right now,” I snapped out before turning and running up the stairs into the cabin, leaving him and Vulture outside to talk. When I heard a car leaving, I found myself running to the window. It was the one Maverick had driven up here. The disappointment I felt as I watched him leave sat heavy in my stomach like a lead weight.
He left.
“So, you goin՛ to stay pissed at me the whole time I’m here?”
Shocked that he really stayed, I spun around to face him. “Where did Vulture go?” I asked with my arms crossed over my chest in defiance.
Slowly making his way over to me, I could feel all my lady bits begin to light up and come to life after being dormant for this past week. “Why the fuck you care where Vultch went? Did I leave him out here too long with you and you’re sweet on him now?”
For a second I thought he was being serious, but then the smirk on his lips told me he wasn’t. “I think you already know the answer to that.” I couldn’t help my own smile that crossed my lips.
“Hey! She’s smilin՛ at me, that’s a start.”
“I’m still pissed at you for drugging me and having me carried off like some damsel in distress, it’s ridiculous! I can take care of myself you know!”
Erasing the last few steps between us, he towered over me, and before I knew what’s happening, I felt the wall at my back and the warmth of his body bleeding into mine. Leaning down, his lips were so close to me, it felt as if they were already touching mine. “I told you, I will do whatever I have to do to protect yo
u. Don’t you know how much I fuckin՛ hated doin՛ that shit to you? That seein՛ Vultch carry you out in his arms didn’t gut me? It should have been my arms around you, not his.” I watched him move away and begin to pace back and forth, running his hands through his hair, but then he stopped to look at me. “You are mine Harper.” He growled.
In a flash he was on me once again, his lips pressed against mine. Loving the feel of him surrounding my body, I opened up to him, and he wasted no time sliding his tongue over mine.
Everything that had happened in the past week just melted away as we both sank into one another, letting out moans at almost the same time, causing us to break out in laughter at the same moment too. “God I’ve missed you,” he pressed his forehead to mine.
“I’ve missed you too.”
CHAPTER
23
Maverick
As I made the drive up to the cabin, I thought of everything that had gone down over the last week. After Harper was out of town and safe, Butch and Gunner had finally gotten back into town with Nico’s sister, Raven. She and Butch definitely had something going on between the two of them, I could feel it. Hell, everyone could feel the sexual tension between those two. Gunner would only say that he didn’t know or see shit. It was the way things were in our club; no one talked shit about anyone’s business but them. You wanted to know what was going on with them, you ask them.
My phone ringing drew my attention away from my drifting thoughts. Pulling it out, I looked at the caller ID to see Dick Sucker flashed across the screen, it was the pet name I’d given Dekes. Not wanting to deal with his shit right now, I let it go to voicemail. Butch and I had met up with him earlier this week and both of us walked away with a nagging feeling in our guts about him, that something wasn’t quite right with him. It was almost as if somehow, he thought he was above the law with the remarks he made. One in particular had me thinking about the attack on us at Harper’s parent’s house. He had mentioned something about bad things happening to those who didn’t answer his calls. He was talking about someone he was trying to help in witness protection, but the way he said it, it felt a lot like it was being directed at us.