by Levine, Nina
As we end the call, a knock sounds at the front door and I find Carey standing outside, his arms up, hands resting on the doorjamb. “You’re still breathing, I see,” he says before dropping his arms and entering the house.
I follow him into the living room. “Yes. What are you doing here? I mean, besides making sure I’m still alive.”
He cocks a brow. “Sarcasm duly noted, little sister.” Then, glancing around, he says, “Where’s Winter?”
“Nice. I beg you to come over and help me with my tiles and you don’t want to come, but Winter comes home and you’re all over him. Best brother in the world.”
His face remains impassive. Typical laid-back Carey. “So, where is he?”
I throw my hands up. “One of these days, I’m gonna get myself two new brothers. He’s gone out to buy tiles.”
“What’s with the tiles?”
“Nothing.” I’m never going to hear the end of this from either of my brothers once they know how badly I screwed up.
He grins. Asshole. “What did you do, Birdie?” Before I can stop him, he brushes past me out of the living room and heads towards the kitchen. When he says, “Fucking hell,” I really know I’m never going to hear the end of it.
I’m half way to the kitchen when the front screen door bangs and my other brother, Lucas, comes down the hallway. I just love how my brothers act like this is their home.
“Why aren’t you at work?” I ask. “Come to think of it, why aren’t either of you at work?”
Lucas shrugs. “It’s Friday afternoon. Winter’s home for the weekend.”
Understanding crashes into me. “Oh no you don’t. He’s mine for the weekend.”
Carey steps out of the kitchen into the hall. “You’ve already had hours with him.”
“Uh-uh, no. Not happening.”
Carey ignores me and looks at Lucas. “Take a look at the kitchen.”
I move closer to Carey and smack his chest. “Shut up.”
He eyes me with humour. “Did you watch some YouTube videos again?”
I smack him harder. “Screw you, Carey. I was trying to help take the load off Winter.”
“And what, he didn’t like the tiles? Has he gone out to buy new ones?”
I groan. “I didn’t buy enough. He’s gone to buy more, but the supplier doesn’t have any more. Mum gave us the name of another supplier who might have some. Winter’s checking it out. And yes, before you say it, I fucked up and didn’t calculate properly how many we needed.”
Lucas surprises me when he says, “It’s not the end of the world.” He glances around the kitchen. “Good job ripping the cupboards out.”
I practically beam at him. “Thanks, Lucas.” I may have screwed up the tiles, but I did manage to gut the kitchen and dispose of the mess by myself, so I at least feel pride in that.
Before Carey gets another word in, the front door sounds again and a few moments later, Winter joins us.
“Hey man!” Carey says, pulling him into a hug with a slap on the back.
As I watch the three of them catch up, I think about how much I love the friendships they have. My brothers missed Winter being in their lives almost as much as I did while we were apart for those five years. They’ve come back together like they were never separated, and I love that for them, so as much as I don’t want to share him this weekend, I will.
“Okay, you guys,” I say, breaking into their reunion, “since we have no kitchen to cook in, I’m ordering pizza for dinner. And although I imagined a night with Winter to myself, I’ll let you two stay to watch the footy with us.”
Winter chuckles and Carey grins while saying, “It’s nice you think you have a say, sis.”
I arch my brows. “Oh, I have all the say, just so you know, because when it comes to getting his dick sucked, my man knows what’s good for him.”
Lucas chuckles this time and lifts his chin at Carey as he exits the kitchen. “She’s got a point, bro.”
Carey grabs some beers and follows Lucas into the lounge room, muttering something I barely hear because Winter is watching me with the kind of intensity that tells me he has something to discuss.
“What?” I ask, grasping a handful of his shirt and moving in close.
He drops his lips to mine. His kiss is intense, too, and he lingers for a beat. When he finally lets my lips go, he says, “Cleo called me.”
Still gripping his shirt, I say, “And?”
He kisses me again. “And you two are fucking tenacious.”
My mouth spreads out in a slow smile. “We really are, and you should listen to what we say.”
“Oh I’m listening, Angel. I’m not in agreement, but I know the chances of me winning this are fucking slim, so I’m listening.”
“So I should pack my bags?”
One of his hands lands on my ass. His other one smooths my hair, his fingers threading through it. His touch is gentle and his expression is sombre. “It’s a fucking shitshow in Melbourne, Birdie. I need you to be prepared for it.”
“What was that thing you said to me once about never being prepared for something until you’ve actually gone through it? I don’t think I can prepare for this, Winter, but I know I’m going to be okay because I’ll have you by my side. I can do anything with you there.” I grip his shirt harder and pull myself even closer. “You need me by your side, too. We make each other stronger.”
His eyes search mine and I see every ounce of hesitation and uncertainty he’s feeling. “Fuck,” he curses softly before saying, “This happens in two weeks. You’ll come back with me next time.”
My heart beats faster with excitement and happiness. I push up onto my toes and kiss him with everything I have in me. He gets all my emotions in this kiss and I know he feels them because when I pull away, he’s as breathless as I am.
I smile, still holding his shirt. I never want to let him go. “What are we going to do about this kitchen?”
He chuckles with a quick shake of his head. “We’re not gonna lay any more of these fucking tiles, that’s for damn sure.”
My smile turns to a frown. “You couldn’t find the same ones?”
“Yeah, I found them alright, but I didn’t buy them.” When my forehead wrinkles more, he adds, “They’re god-awful, Angel. I’m not sure what you were thinking when you bought them. I bought different ones.”
I let go of his shirt and place my hands on my hips. “What’s awful about them?”
“For one, the colour. Who the fuck puts blue tiles in their kitchen?”
“I do! I love the colour.”
“Yeah, but we have to sell this place. We’ve got a helluva lot more chance of doing that with a neutral colour.”
I pout. “Fine. But when we renovate next, I get to choose the tiles.”
He slides his hand around my waist and pulls me back to him. “Baby, you get a lot of say in a lot of shit when it comes to us, but not when it comes to tiles.” When I open my mouth to protest, he silences me with a finger to my lips. “And let’s not pretend this means you won’t suck my dick as often as I want. We both know you couldn’t keep your lips off me even if you tried.”
I pout again but it’s fake. He’s right. Ugh. “Just shut up and kiss me,” I mutter. His chuckle is the last thing I hear before his lips consume all my attention again.
I talk a good game of running the show when it comes to my husband, but the truth is, I don’t. He owns me body and soul, and I will give him anything he wants. Sure, I’ll fight him until I’m blue in the face, but at the end of the day, Winter is my everything so I’ll give everything I have to him, and for him. Even if that means I don’t get the damn tiles I want.
Acknowledgments
Wow, this story started as a warm-up to a writing day. I sometimes write what I call #LifeIsMessy short chapters featuring random characters I’ve never met or intend to write again. The prologue for this story started that way and when I shared it in my reader group, you guys asked for more. So I started p
laying. And holy hell, this has become my absolute favourite story I have ever written. Thank you to my Levine’s Ladies for encouraging me to write more of this story. And well, thank you for everything you bring to my life! You girls don’t know, but you keep me going some days. I feel so very blessed to have each of you in my group <3
To my readers who keep supporting me by buying and reading my books - THANK YOU SO MUCH! Without you, I wouldn’t get to keep doing what I love, so from the very bottom of my heart, I love you and thank you <3
Jodie, as always, I couldn’t have done this without you. And lol, there was no asshole in sight this time and you loved him like I don’t think you’ve ever loved an alpha of mine. That you adored Winter so much kept me pushing to do better, to get him and this story exactly right. For that I thank you, my friend.
Becky, thank you for being the brilliant editor you are, and for always having my back. I adore you so very much and couldn’t do this without you either. You and Jodie are my dream team and I am so damned blessed to have you both in my corner <3
To my Levine’s Ladies (again because you really are the best!) - thank you to those of you who have been reading and loving this story. Your check-ins each Friday kept me going. Angela Hart - seriously woman, I love you so freaking hard. I think the girls in the group were looking for your emoji post the most each Friday! I can’t wait to squish you in a few months!
To all the readers, bloggers, and authors who share my books with the world - THANK YOU. I appreciate the hell out of every share, recommendation, review, and word of encouragement you send my way <3
Copyright © 2019 by Nina Levine
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editing by Becky Johnson at Hot Tree Editing
Cover Design by Letitia at Romantic Book Affair Designs
Cover Image by Wander Pedro Aguiar
Model Josh Mario John
Storm
Storm
Dirty talking biker alert...
* * *
These bikers go hard and love even harder.
* * *
WARNING: The Storm MC are addictive.
* * *
Madison Cole’s family is the Storm Motorcycle Club. Her father is the President and her brother is the VP. She grew up surrounded by bikers, crime and violence. Two years ago she walked away from her family and the world they live in. Her soul was shattered, her heart was broken and she had an addiction she couldn't shake. She picked up the pieces and put herself back together. Now her family wants her back. The club is being threatened and they send a club member to return her home to safety—the one person that could destroy everything she has worked so hard to build.
* * *
Jason Reilly has sacrificed a lot for the motorcycle club he calls family. Two years ago he made the biggest sacrifice of all—he gave up the woman he loved for them. Now he is being sent to bring her back and he is conflicted. He thought he was over her but discovers their connection is as strong as ever. Their love was all-consuming, passionate and fiery. It was also their undoing and he doesn't know if either of them is strong enough to battle the demons that ripped them apart, to find love again.
* * *
Madison and Jason are brought back together by a force out of their control, one that pushes them to a breaking point. Can they overcome their past and discover a love worth fighting for or will the harsh reality of their world finally and completely break them both?
* * *
This story contains all the panty-melting sexiness and alpha goodness that Nina Levine books are known for.
* * *
Praise for Nina Levine and the Storm MC series:
* * *
"Nina uses her words to make her readers ache and burn, only to turn around and soothe with her thoughtful prose. Her ability to make me feel, to experience her characters' journeys wholly, keeps me coming back for more." - Prisoners of Print Blog
Motorcycle Club Romance
* * *
********
Storm MC Series - complete and ready to binge.
* * *
1. Storm
2. Fierce
3. Blaze
4. Revive
5. Slay
5.5 Sassy Christmas
6. Illusive
7. Command
8. Havoc
9. Gunnar
10. Wilder
11. Colt
* * *
Once you finish the original Storm MC series, check out the other MC series in the Storm world.
* * *
Sydney Storm MC Series - complete and ready to binge.
* * *
1. Relent
2. Nitro's Torment
3. Devil's Vengeance
4. Hyde's Absolution
5. King's Wrath
6. King's Reign
7. King: The Epilogue Collection
* * *
Storm MC Reloaded Series - complete and ready to binge.
* * *
1. Hurricane Hearts
2. War of Hearts
3. Christmas Hearts
4. Battle Hearts
* * *
Contains Adult Sexual Situations & Language
This book is dedicated to my daughter.
* * *
You’ve watched me try many things in life, and what I want you to learn from this is that it doesn’t matter whether you follow the one steady path in life or if you veer off and try numerous paths – so long as you keep believing in yourself and follow your OWN path.
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
- J. R. R. Tolkien
Prologue
Fuck.
How has my life come to this?
My heart raced in my chest and dizziness threatened to consume me as my gaze skittered over the gravel of the bar car park where I sat in the dark, taking in Rob’s lifeless body and my torn panties. A sharp chill hit me and although the night was warm, a shiver ran through my body. I pulled my arms around me, trying desperately to push away the ugly thoughts assaulting my mind.
My dress being ripped.
My hair being yanked.
His hands on my body.
His knife slicing my arm.
Bile rose in my throat and I lurched forward. My hands skimmed across the gravel as I tried to stop myself from falling face first onto the ground. Swallowing hard, I glanced up at J who was pacing back and forth, on his phone. His nostrils flared as he snapped something into the phone and his arms swept wide, gesturing wildly throughout the conversation. When he ended the call, he raked his fingers through his hair and blew out a harsh breath.
Crouching in front of me, he said, “Scott will be here soon.” His eyes searched mine, looking for what, I wasn’t sure. They were so hard, though. Not like the J I knew and loved.
Blinking, I tried to wipe away the tears streaming down my face. And then my eyes slid to Rob’s body, sprawled dead on the gravel close by.
You motherfucker. Why did you have to do what you did?
I didn’t know how long I sat there like that, staring vacantly at him, but movement to my left caught my attention and I turned to see what it was.
Scott strode towards me, his shoulders pushed back, brows furrowed and lips pressed together. When he reached me, he knelt down and gently touched my arm. “Madison, it’s time to go,” he said quietly.
I stared into his eyes, not sure what I would find there, but all I saw was tenderness. Unusual. Scott didn’t do tenderness. Not very often.
J knelt on the other side of me. “Come on, baby,” he said as he tried to help me up.
Pain shot through my body as I stood. I winced but didn’t let it slow me. J wrapped his arms around me and helped me to Scott’s Charger. I looked back at
Rob, my eyes taking in his bloody body and then scanning the area to note my underwear on the ground; a reminder of the attack that had occurred.
J settled me in the back of Scott’s car and wrapped a towel around my arm, covering the blood. His blue eyes met mine, full of concern. “Will you be all right here while Scott and I deal with the body?” he asked.
I nodded and he left me; left me to go deal with a body like it was just another thing to do in his day. Well, I guessed it sometimes was. All part and parcel of being a member of the Storm MC. My dad’s club. The club I grew up around.
Fuck.
I asked myself again.
How has my life come to this?
1
Madison
“Jesus, darlin’, you know how to suck, don’t you?” the guy whose cock was currently in my mouth said. His hand was on my head trying to direct me, but I didn’t need it. Like he said, I had talents. I kept on sucking while my hands reached under to massage his balls, and he groaned with pleasure.
We were in his bedroom, him leaning against a wall with me on my knees. Two hours ago we’d never met and less than two hours from now would be the last he’d ever see of me. This was perhaps a shame because he was one hot guy; built with muscles that screamed to be touched, ink that begged to be traced and a face that any woman would kill to kiss. But I didn’t do relationships, not anymore.