He also can’t follow through on his promise to put the miles of hurt behind us and travel together down the open road before us. Skylar and I are a package deal. There is no me without her and I’ll choose her over everyone, first loves and all. Always her.
However, my heart is naïve to my mind and to the world around me. I want to believe he would want to be her father. I don’t know a damn thing about his motorcycle club other than they’re shady as fuck and they just got their shit blown up. His world is scary and danger seems to find him more than anything else, but I beard witness to a whole lot of love in that hospital. I saw those men rally around each other. They might not be ideal citizens but there was something about them. Some of them had families, and those who did seemed to make it work despite the mayhem.
Maybe Cobra could be like them. I’m not saying I’m looking for a fairy tale but there are all different types of families.
Maybe we could make something work for Skylar.
For us.
I don’t know. I won’t know unless I knock on that door and give him the choice.
To stay and put the work in.
To turn away and never look back.
Replaying the memory of yesterday, I fed off the spark of determination set in his eyes as he promised to come for me once the dust settled and his pipes cooled.
Determination.
It’s the most noticeable common thread between the outlaw and the boy. Jagger wanted to play football more than he wanted anything else. He never gave up, and that night the coach put him in, all his hard work and patience had finally paid off. The man who took me to the diner yesterday and promised me he’d make this right between us, the man who swore the wind might carry him away but he’d always come back—that man and the boy I loved are the same. When determination sets into those blue eyes, there is no stopping him.
That’s part of the reason it’s so easy to latch onto his promises.
Sucking in a deep breath, I raise my fist and aim it at the door but freeze when I hear a gruff voice from behind me.
“Well now, what do we have here?”
As thick and raspy as it might be there is also a hidden twang to the teasing sound of Deuce’s voice.
“Finally decided to take me up on the offer to play doctor?” he asks as I drop my hand to my side and spin around to meet the amusement decorating his face. He’s quite the character, a little charming and a whole lot amusing. The nights he guarded Wolf he flirted shamelessly with all the nurses and I’d put money on it that he even nabbed a quickie in the supply closet with the new girl the other day.
“My room is this way, darlin’.” He nudges his chin toward the room just left of the one I was standing in front of.
“Is it now?” I ask as I shuffle my weight onto one foot and tilt my head to study the cocky grin lifting at his lips. “And whose room might this one be?”
Twisting the brim of his baseball cap to the back of his head he arches a brow.
“You’re choosing him over me?” he teases. “You’re killin’ me, blondie,” he adds with a shake of his head. Pointing a long finger between us he frowns. “You and me, we could’ve been good together.”
Is that what I was doing? Was I choosing Cobra? Coming here didn’t seem like a choice, it seemed fated—almost as if I had to come here. I needed to be here like people need air. There was no choice, it was an order delivered from a higher power and my heart slammed down the gavel making it official.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I lift my eyes back to Deuce and smile at him.
“I bet,” I tease, pausing to look over my shoulder at the door behind me.
“Wolf will be devastated,” he points out.
“Actually…” I start, turning my attention back to the wild man standing in front of me. “He took it pretty well. I guess he decided he didn’t need a fourth wife. His plate is kind of full with the three he has.”
A chuckle rumbles through him and his tired eyes light up with amusement.
“I like you, blondie. So much I’ll forgive you for breakin’ my heart,” he states, flashing me a smile full of dimples. “You got any friends that might want to ride a stallion?”
It was my turn to laugh and to my surprise the light banter between Deuce and I eased the tension radiating off of me.
“Sorry, even if I did something tells me I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I matched her with you.”
He clutches his heart in mock disappointment.
“You wound me, blondie.” He pouts as he reaches into his pocket to produce a key.
“No disrespect,” I reassure. “I only mean it’s obviously going to take a special breed to tame the likes of you.”
He laughs, a full belly laugh and the exhaustion fades from his eyes as he brushes me aside and fits the key into the lock of Cobra’s room.
“Sure hope Cobra knows what to do with you, blondie…seems you need some taming too,” he croons, unlocking the door. “And the good Lord knows it’s going to take a beast to wrangle that one in there,” he warns, jutting his chin toward the handle.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
Winking at me, he turns on his heel and saunters to his room.
Drawing in a deep breath, I reach for the knob, twisting it until I open the door and step into dangerous terrain. Closing the door behind me I stagger into the darkness of the room, feeling along the walls as I walk further into Cobra’s territory. A waft of stale smoke assaults my senses as I glance around the small, dated room. My roaming gaze comes to a halt, landing on the man twisted in the sheets of the bed. Tucking my bottom lip between my teeth, a wave of longing washes over me as I stare at the corded muscles of his back and all the colorful tattoos that seem to take up every inch of his skin. So many colors, so much story in each piece. As I gravitate toward the bed the urge to trace every single one consumes me.
It’s not the promise of the man I’m hooked on.
It’s the man.
It’s this incredibly mysterious man that I used to know.
“I’m not dreaming,” he mumbles into the pillow, startling me.
My knees touch the edge of his bed as his thick, raspy voice blankets me and sends a shiver up my spine. It’s not new—that voice was there years ago too. It’s the voice of sex, of carnal pleasure and the promise of bliss. It’s predatory, feral and so damn tempting.
“No you’re not.” The words are a breathy whisper, a tone he’ll recognize. One that is as sinful as his.
We’re in trouble.
So much fucking trouble.
His head slowly rises from between the pillows and his eyes slice to me, squinting as if he’s witnessing a mirage.
“Feel you in my bones, Cel,” he explains huskily before dropping his face into his pillow.
“I’m sorry, Deuce let me in. I could go, maybe—”
He rolls over on his side, the sheets twist at his waist, leaving very little to the imagination as his eyes skate over me.
“Don’t know why you’re here, don’t care too much either, but thankful as fuck for whatever brought you here, gorgeous,” he says, a lazy smirk tipping his lips as he extends a hand. “Get over here,” he demands.
I should have been prepared.
I should have known that a higher force always has a plan for us.
I should have been stronger.
I should have known he’d hook me with a look and I’d crawl into bed with him.
I should have known old habits are hard to break.
I should have known old loves never die.
-Twenty-
Cobra
I roll onto my side as the mattress dips and she crawls into my bed. Chewing mercilessly on her bottom lip she lays flat on her back and chances a glimpse at me through the corner of her eye. She looks as if she’s fighting some inner battle between her mind and the rest of her. Willing to be the guy that makes her mind and body surrender, I reach out and run my finger down her bare arm and watch through hooded eyes as chill
s run down her skin.
I fucking love that.
I love how responsive she is to my touch.
The exhaustion I was feeling since I left the hospital suddenly fades and my body awakens. Alive, wired with a need so palpable it’s frightening because now that she’s here with me I’m not letting her go. Not without branding her mine. I don’t know why she’s here or how she got here and I don’t give a fuck either. Resolving to take now and ask later, I slip a finger under the strap of her tank top.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who decided to come home,” I mutter, rolling on top of her.
Nudging her thighs apart, I slide between them and lift her hands over her head.
“I didn’t come here for this,” she croaks.
“Sure you did, gorgeous. You told yourself it was for different reasons, made it sound innocent and right in your head and then you believed the lie. You gathered your courage and came home.”
I dip my head, run the tip of my nose down the slope of hers and force her eyes to mine.
“Welcome home, Cel,” I rasp.
“Don’t,” she pleads. “Cobra—”
“Shit,” I hiss as I drop my mouth to her neck, drawing her skin deep into my mouth. Sucking harder than necessary but leaving my mark nonetheless—branding her, claiming her. She used to be mine. In another life she was the prettiest girl I just had to have. Now she was the woman I needed, the woman I needed the world to know was mine.
“Say it again,” I demand, flicking my tongue over the fresh brand.
“Cobra,” she breathes, arching her hips as she whimpers.
“Going to fuck you until the sun rises and the only fucking name you know is that one,” I growl, nipping at her shoulder.
“We need to talk,” she whimpers, writhing beneath me.
Balls aching, cock heavy, I release her hands and grip her thighs. My hands wrap around her and squeeze her ass through the tight black pants she’s wearing.
“You want to talk or you want me to find a better use for my mouth?”
“God,” she hisses, turning her wide eyes onto mine. “What are we doing?” she whispers.
“Been that long, huh?” I tease, gripping the elastic of her pants. Peeling the pants, along with her lacey thong down her silky legs, my eyes find her pussy.
Pink.
Bare.
Wet.
The groan rumbles through my chest and I lift my eyes to her beautiful face and watch her tongue dart out and swipe her lips.
“I can’t quit you,” she admits.
Thank fuck for that because if she told me no right now I might fucking cry like a bitch. I need to be inside her. I need to feel that pussy wrapped tightly around my cock, squeezing me so hard she pulls the come from my balls.
My hands settle around her narrow waist and my fingers dig into her curves.
“Then don’t,” I rasp. “Don’t quit, just take.”
Her chocolate brown eyes flash with want, with need, with a fucking fire so desperate to burn bright. It rattles something inside me, makes me realize this right here, this is the fucking point of no return.
“Kiss me, Cobra…kiss me long and hard like you used to,” she orders softly, wrapping her arms around my neck. “It’s what I miss most.”
Clenching my jaw, I release her hips and let my hands slide up her body. My fingertips glide up the column of her neck, my thumb rubs her lower lip before I thread my fingers in the mess of blonde hair on my pillow. My mouth comes down hard on hers as I yank her head back and grant myself better access to the abyss that is her mouth. I kiss her long and hard like I used to, like my life fucking depended on it—like hers did too. My lips pull at her bottom lip first before I take the top the same way. My tongue darts along the seam, coaxing them to part until she’s welcoming me inside her mouth. Her tongue touches mine, tentative and curious. Almost as if she was expecting me to taste different.
She opens more, surrendering to the intrusion of my tongue and the desperate assault it takes on her.
“Long and hard,” she repeats on a breath.
“Just getting started, babe,” I promise, diving right back in as I take her legs and wrap them around my waist. My throbbing cock rubs against her, teasing and torturing us both. I grip the hem of her shirt and push it over her belly and her breasts before painfully breaking our kiss to lift it over her head. I have every intention of continuing the kiss but my eyes dart to her tits and I am lost in heaven. I grunt as my palms greedily fist her tits, ripping down the lace until her pert nipples are staring back at me. Hard and eager for my mouth to suck on.
“Fucking heaven,” I rasp, bending my head to pull one nipple between my teeth. Her hips instantly shoot off the bed and her hands snake around my neck. My teeth nip and pull, tongue soothes and laps as her body squirms and begs for more.
Too much.
Never enough.
Not for me.
And not for her.
Lifting off the mattress, she snakes her arms behind her and unclasps her bra, pulling the straps down. Completely naked, at my mercy, she falls back against the sheets, spreads her arms wide and invites me to take.
Take.
Take.
Take.
The heel of my hand skirts down between her breasts, over her stomach and pauses over her hip.
Clouds, wistful and delicate intertwine with words scripted in ink.
Beyond the clouds a beautiful sky awaits.
Her breath hitches as my thumb traces the clouds. My eyes lift to hers before I close my mouth over the words and slide my hands between her legs. Panting, she opens wider and I lean back on my haunches. I grab two handfuls of ass, drag her closer to me and sling her long legs over my shoulders before spreading her lips apart with my fingers and dipping my head for a taste. The moan vibrates through her and purges from her lips as I lick, suck and fuck her with my tongue. I ease my tongue slowly up and down before pushing two fingers deep inside her. She arches frantically, thrusting her pussy into my face and hands as she chases the high. Fingers soaked, pussy swollen, nerves frayed. I suck her clit and lap at her as she goes off.
“Cobra,” she cries, locking her ankles around my neck.
Her body combusts, exploding like a bomb.
I walked away from a bomb unscathed, without a scratch.
This, her, even if I wanted to walk away, I couldn’t.
Not again.
Not when I just started a new tally.
Fucking went from tallying smiles to tallying orgasms.
I’m going for five tonight.
Releasing her from my mouth, I slide my fingers out of her and rake my eyes over her body. A fresh sheen of sweat covers her as I untangle her legs from my shoulders.
“That was…” she pants.
“Nothing,” I finish for her. “Turn around and get on all fours,” I command.
A strangled sound slips from her lips as she sits up and stares at me.
“All fours?” she hesitantly repeats, questioning me.
“Want that ass, baby,” I say as I watch her eyes shoot to my swollen cock. Thick and offensive, glaring at her to let him in. Wrapping my hand around my shaft I give it a nice long stroke, swiping away the little bit of come glistening on my swollen head.
“Want to finger fuck your ass while I bury my cock deep inside your pussy. Going to smack that ass, pull your hair and twist your nipples between my fingers. I’m going to set your nerves on fire so you don’t know whether you’re screaming in pleasure or pain. You’re going to come all over my dick, scream my fucking name and beg for more. Then I’ll flip you over and eat your pussy again while you suck my dick.”
“Jesus Christ,” she hisses, swallowing down the lump lodged in her throat.
“No, baby, I can promise you he ain’t here. So what do you say?”
Reaching for her hips, I pull her closer, bury my face in her neck and suck her sweet spot.
“Sin with me, Celeste,” I whisper against her
throat.
Her hands tremble as they take hold of my face and pull me back to her. She stares at me for a moment, searching for something. I have no idea what that something is, but I pray she finds it.
“I never stopped sinning with you,” she murmurs before slamming her mouth over mine. She takes and takes, matching every burn of my tongue with hers, branding me the same as I have branded her time and time again. Then she gives.
She pulls away from my mouth and flips over. Hands splayed against the cotton sheets, knees firmly planted and ass perched for me, offering me the opportunity to make every fucking fantasy I’ve had over the years my reality. My chest tightens as I crawl over the mattress, eating the space between us. Leaning over her, I take her hips forcefully and rock my dick against her ass. Her nails claw the sheets as I push my dick between her ass cheeks, torturing us both with promise.
“Cobra.” It’s a plea, a curse, a fucking wish.
I close my eyes, trail my hands up to her body and clutch the cap of her shoulders, manipulating her until she arches and pushes her round ass against me. One hand snakes around her neck, the other digs into her hair as I nudge my dick lower, skating over her pulsing cunt.
Sweet, sweet cunt.
Sinfully delicious.
I fist her hair and pull her back as I drive my cock into her. The scream she releases renders me motionless and for a moment I think it’s too much, that I’ve crossed a line and hurt her.
“More,” she cries.
Fuck yes.
My hand slides from her throat and closes over one of her breasts. They used to be enough to fill my hands and now my hand feels small in comparison. I roll her nipple between my fingers, twisting until she’s screeching and bucking her hips.
That’s it, gorgeous, lose yourself in sin.
Feel it.
Breathe it.
Fucking own it.
I comb my fingers through her hair and rear my hand back, slapping her ass as I pull out and slam back in. Her pussy swallows every inch of me, tightening and constricting—my cock a prisoner between her walls.
“More,” she demands.
Gritting my teeth, I fight to keep control of my head and fuck her right and not recklessly.
The Nomad Series-Collectors Edition Page 44