by M J Marino
Gnawing on my lip, I’m torn with what to do with all this information. I don’t need access to everything in Josephine’s life, but now that I have it, I’m not going to turn it back over to Chase. I should keep it in case of an emergency. This way I keep it all in the palm of my hand—easy entrance when needed. Yeah, this totally makes sense.
Chase takes another sip from his beer before waving at his computer. “This shit was too easy to hack into. I’ll make sure we ramp up her security in the cyber world. At a quick glance, everything in the background looks pretty normal, nothing stood out as concerning, aside from the crap that went down at her old place of employment in California. Oh, and maybe our favorite Italian mobster, Lorenzo, for who she did some work about nine months ago, but she seems to be holding her own with the douchebag. ”
My head snaps up from my phone. “What shit went down at her old work? Wait, don’t tell me, I’ll ask her.” But I can’t help myself. “How bad was it?”
Chase shakes his head. “Her ex, Jacob Klein, screwed her over. It’s probably the reason she’s gone solo in the field. If she doesn’t fill you in after you ask her, I will. But I should warn you, from what I’ve seen, he’s not ready to let her go. The guy hasn’t stopped calling or texting her since she dumped him. And those messages are creepy as fuck.”
I’m not surprised Josephine’s ex is still hung up on her, but I don’t like what Chase is implying. “Does she respond back?”
Chase shakes his head. “Not one fucking peep. She has moved on—he has not.”
I’m silent, murderous feelings rolling through my veins. It’s completely wild that I feel this strongly, but I do. “If he hurt her in any way, I’ll kill him,” I fume.
“It can be arranged, you know,” Chase adds with a knowing look. “Shit, the dickwad really fucked up when he lost her.”
I nod, but I’m annoyed he’s referencing how great of a catch Josephine is.
Chase continues, oblivious to my irritation. “I mean with her curvy ass and pouty lips, he was lucky to score her in the first place.”
Infuriated, I huff and puff like a bull ready to charge. Chase better stop talking about Josephine’s body or so help me.
Clueless to my wrath, Chase finishes his beer. “But his loss is your gain. And it looks like she’ll be gaining a lot more too, after what I saw of the dick pics he sent her.”
Dick pics? Naked pictures! What the fuck?! That’s it!
My vision goes red and the bottle I’m holding is launched across the garage, shattering against the cinderblocks.
I’m stewing and ready to haul Chase outside. “Were you looking at her nudes? Is that why you’re talking about her body like it’s a fucking playground?”
“Christ, Atlas, calm down! I swear I didn’t see any nudes of her, only the ex. I was only referencing what I saw at the diner and through her pictures—where she’s covered. The worst thing she sent him was a pic of herself in her bra, years ago. It was practically PG-13.”
“Could you see her nipples in it? Could you?” I’m nearly screaming. I’ll fucking knock Chase out if he got a look at them.
Deep down, I know my actions are over the top, but Josephine’s the first woman who’s ever made me consider having a relationship, and I feel protective as hell over her. She may not be mine yet, but I don’t want another man ogling her pictures. It’s bad enough her ex-boyfriend got them anytime he wanted.
“Shit, man, I don’t know. It popped up and I closed out of it the next second. You guys may not have worked out the logistics of your relationship yet, but for all intents and purposes, she’s your fucking woman, and I wouldn’t disrespect you like that.”
That’s right, she’s my woman. I calm some and jut my chin at the laptop. “Show me.”
“Dude, I don’t want to set you off again with me sitting right here.”
“Chase,” I warn.
“Shit, Atlas.” But he doesn’t fight me, and quickly gets to work on his computer.
The pic comes up and Chase quickly turns the laptop my way, staring up at the attic of the garage. I look closely at the image of Josephine, trying hard to control my rage at the unappreciative prick who was the recipient of it. I let out a sigh. Chase was right. As far as sex pics go, this is pretty mild, but damn if she isn’t fine as hell in the shot.
“We good?” Chase asks, still staring up.
“We will be when you delete this shit from the fucknut’s phone and cloud,” I snarl.
Chase gives me a tired look, and I get it, he’s on as much sleep as I am. “You know this shit is going to take me all night to bury.”
My body tenses, a growl building in my throat. “I don’t want the bastard eye-fucking her on his phone. And I don’t want it buried. I want it fucking gone, as if it never existed to begin with.”
“Fuck, fine,” Chase concedes with a groan and starts hacking away. “But I get the bottle of Pappy you took from the drug bust in Kentucky last fall.”
I grit my teeth. “Fine, you can have the Pappy Van Winkle, but don’t go all weak and mix it with cola. You harden the fuck up and drink that shit straight like a man.”
Chase grins, like a virgin getting his first peep show. Clever bastard. He’s been after my Pappy since I swiped it, and he’s finally found something I’m willing to give it up for. Good thing Josephine is worth every drop of the priceless bourbon. I’d rather drink from her, anyway.
I grit my teeth before asking my next question. “Does she still have images of his pecker on her cell or cloud?”
If I have it my way, my dick will be the only one she’ll be laying her eyes on from here on out. I’m half-tempted to send her a shot right now, to remind her of this morning. The women I typically get involved with would absolutely love a digital pic of my junk, but I’m pretty confident it would turn Josephine off at this stage of our relationship, regardless of how impressive my cock is.
“You don’t need to worry. She deletes every single one she receives, promptly. The vast majority were sent to her after she quit her job. Like he thought his limp dick could win her back. But he still sends them,” Chase mumbles, typing away.
“Lecherous prick,” I mutter, though I’m pleased with my pixie for erasing his sorry ass from her life.
Pissed off about her fucking ex, I look down at my phone. I’ve got her contacts. It wouldn’t be hard to find his number. I start scrolling and check myself almost at once. She would be fucking irate if I called her pitiful ex and threatened him. I settle on sending her a text instead.
*Two hours ‘till I’m there, Pixie.*
My phone pings and I smile, knowing it’s her.
*Can’t come here since you don’t know where I live. And I’m not telling.*
I laugh out loud. Man, she’s going to shit a brick when I show up tonight.
*Wear something to show off those sexy legs of yours.*
*Fuck you, Maceo.*
Now I’m shaking with laughter. God, this woman slays me. No one has the balls to talk to me the way she does. It’s refreshing to have someone go toe to toe with me.
“Dude, she has you by the balls,” Chase says, not looking up from his laptop.
“Oh, she will tonight,” I tease knowingly.
“Asshole,” he mumbles. We both know he won’t be getting anything tonight but a five-thousand-dollar bottle of bourbon. Knowing Chase, he’d rather have pussy instead.
With a salute, I head to the house to get cleaned up for tonight. For once, the only bathroom in the rental is unoccupied, and I take full advantage. I scrub down in the shower and shave my face in the bathroom sink. I don’t mind growing out a beard while I’m on a mission, but otherwise I can do without. I buzzed off my beard yesterday, as soon as we got home. I hate how it itches as it grows out, so I shave daily. Besides, I don’t want any barriers when I run my face against Josephine’s soft skin.
After throwing on some aftershave, combing my hair back and holding it in place with some hair clay, and thoroughly brush
ing my teeth, I wrap my towel around me and walk to the room I share with my three closest men to get dressed.
Fuck me if I’m not standing there, second-guessing everything I try on like some teenager. I settle on a pair of jeans without holes and a white fitted tee. I tie up my black boots and throw on my leather MC vest before grabbing my wallet, phone, and Pappy.
I almost take some condoms from the nightstand out of instinct, when I recall Josephine saying she has an implant.
“Fucking best day ever!” I sing, as I drop the condoms back in the drawer. I’m cool with her having the IUD right now, but if we decide to dive into this relationship, I’m going to ask her to get the damn thing removed. Never planned on or wanted kids before, but fuck me, I want her to bear my children—the more the merrier.
Heading through the house, I get a lot of smug smirks from my crew, which only strokes my ego. We all know I’m getting laid tonight.
I’m almost to the garage when Candy and her bubble-gum-colored hair sidles up to me, running her hands along my chest.
Candy is one of our MC bunnies, and she’s constantly trying to get in my pants. She offered herself to me last night, and I was slightly tempted by the big fake tits shoved in my face. Hard pass. I don’t shit where I eat. A club bunny won’t do. Doesn’t stop the bunnies from trying, hoping this time may be the time I take one of them to bed.
“Looking fine, Atlas. Going out tonight? I could go with you and keep you company,” she offers, licking her glossy lips suggestively.
Fighting an eye roll, I shake my head. I’ve never had a woman on my hog. That baby is all mine, and I’ve never wanted to share it with anyone until a certain pixie crossed my path. Josephine will be the first to ride with me, and I can’t wait to feel her body flush to my back.
“Sorry, Candy, but I’m off the market. I’m sure you’ll find someone here to take you up on your offer.”
She pouts, which has absolutely no effect on me. “You prefer the bitch in the pencil skirt with the stick up her ass?”
I pull her hands from my chest as firmly as I can without hurting her, and I lean to her ear. “Say one more venomous slur about Josephine, and you’ll see yourself out of this house, out of this club, and back on the street. You hear me?”
Candy shudders and gives me a curt nod before hustling her ass back into the house.
Back in the garage, I find several members drinking beers and shooting the shit while Chase works away on his laptop. I set Chase’s bourbon payment next to him, and he gives me another proud smirk.
“Make good on this,” I add, jutting my chin to his laptop screen. I give the rest of my crew a nod and climb on my bike, taking off to get Josephine.
I arrive at her condo nearly an hour early, but fuck if I can wait any longer to have her with me. My heart pounds like a drum the closer I get to her front door.
I ring her bell and stand back to let her see me through the peep hole. Hades is growling on the other side of the door. She must have trained him not to bark his head off.
Shuffling behind the door alerts me she’s there, but it hasn’t opened. I can fucking feel her through the wood, like her very presence is pulling me toward her.
I place both hands on either side of the doorframe and lean in toward the peep hole I know she’s looking through, giving her a close-up of my face.
“Let me in, Josephine.” It’s a loaded statement which can be interpreted a number of ways, and I want every single one of them to happen.
“How the fuck?” I hear her mumble on the other side of the door. Clearly, she’s trying to figure out how I tracked her down.
My inner asshole smiles. “Open the door, Josephine.”
“No. You’re, um, too early,” her sweet voice calls out with panic, muffled by the door between us.
My nose flares in irritation. “Josephine, open the damn door.”
“I’m not ready,” she squeaks.
I groan. Of course, she’s not ready. I showed up a fucking hour ahead of schedule. “Pixie, it’s fine. Let me in, and I’ll wait for you to finish up.”
Nothing. No noise, no movement—and definitely no door opening.
She’s seriously trying to keep me outside when I’ve waited all damn day to see her? Not a fucking chance. I need to have eyes on this woman, now.
Threatening to kick in her door isn’t going to score me any points, even though it’s the first thought to fly into my head. A hilariously evil idea pops into my mind, and I smile wickedly.
She is going to hate me.
I back up to make myself visible to all her neighbors in the surrounding condos. “Pixie,” I shout, my baritone voice carrying to every open window in the complex. “Come on, don’t be mad at me. Baby, if you let me in, I promise to do that little tickle thing with my tongue that you love.”
“Oh my God!” I hear her shout on the other side.
A couple of heads pop out of windows to see what’s going on. Josephine is going to be totally embarrassed. Well, she better open the door if she doesn’t want me to make a scene.
“I’ll even let you finger my ass like you’ve been begging me,” I holler.
“Alright! You win,” she shouts. “Just shut up, please.”
Good. I hear the dead bolt and the lock before she opens the door. “Get in here,” she snarls.
Sweet Lord in heaven!
My precious pixie is only dressed in a fluffy towel wrapped around her pretty, petite body. She holds it in a death grip, dramatically waving me inside with her other hand.
I step through the threshold and close the door behind me, never taking my eyes off of her.
“That’s fucking hot,” I growl in approval, my eyes sweeping over her glistening skin.
“Yeah, well, don’t get any wild ideas. I’m not going out like this, obviously. Save your comments ‘till I’m actually done,” she huffs.
I grin. “I’m pretty content with your wardrobe choice right now.”
She scowls. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a ginormous asshole? I can’t believe you pulled that humiliating shit in front of all my neighbors. I’m never going to be able to look them in the face again.”
I shrug. “You wouldn’t let me in and it forced my hand. At least I didn’t kick in your door.”
Josephine looks super pissed, and I have to bite my lower lip to stop myself from laughing.
“How did you find where I live?”
“Finding people is kind of my job. And you didn’t even make it a challenge. If you don’t want people to know where you live, perhaps you should have your address unlisted in the directory.”
Josephine slaps her forehead. “Well, fuck. I thought it was.”
“Nope. You need to change it to unlisted. It’s not safe.”
“I get it. I’ll change it tomorrow. But it still doesn’t explain how you got my cell number,” she snaps.
She’s super cute when she’s feisty. “Pixie, you gave me your cell number when you handed me your business card.”
“Josephine, you stupid, stupid girl,” she chastises herself, and I have to fight my smile.
“Not that I’m complaining, but why are you in a towel?”
“I was soaking in the tub when you started pounding on my door. I was trying to relax. It’s been a busy day.”
A soak in a tub sounds fucking amazing, with Josephine naked and covered in bubbles. “We could stay in and finish your bath together.”
Josephine rolls her eyes before waving me away. “Have a seat in the living room. Hades can keep you company ‘till I’m done.”
My hands twitch to reach out and snag the towel off her body, but I’m trying to be the gentleman she deserves, or as much of a gentleman as I can be.
“Of course,” I say with a wink while I lower myself onto her blue velvet couch. Damn, I can’t wait to fuck her on this.
“Give me fifteen and I’ll be good to go,” she says before sashaying her perfect ass back to her bedroom. I hear melancholy musi
c drifting down the hall. Bon Iver, I think it is.
“Fuck,” I grumble, adjusting my growing cock. Looking for a distraction, I take in her home. It’s totally her, elegant and simple, with enough bling to shine.
Hades pads into the living room. His coat is shiny and his nails look trimmed. It seems Josephine actually did have an appointment for him, although I’m pretty certain it was a last minute decision, letting her ditch me at the diner.
Hades looks at me and bares his teeth before plopping on the largest fucking dog bed known to man.
“Hades’s bed is bigger than the one I sleep on at the rental,” I holler.
Her laughter carries all the way to me. “It’s not a real dog bed but an XL twin mattress. I have a plastic sleeve on it to protect it and a fitted sheet on top. Super easy to wash and keep clean.”
“Lucky bastard,” I mumble, thinking of the regular twin mattress I sleep on. I can’t wait to have a giant-ass bed in the new MC house to roll Josephine around on.
“So, what are we doing tonight?” she asks after several minutes of silence.
“Nah, not gonna ruin the surprise,” I call back with a mischievous grin, completely pumped with where I plan on taking her.
Her music changes to the Boss himself, and fuck if the love song doesn’t have me on my feet and stalking right to her room. Her door is wide open, and I lean my head in and see a beautiful sight.
She’s standing there in a lacy white bra and panties, looking at her massive bed where she has two outfits laid out for this evening. One is a practical choice of skinny jeans and a deep cut plum-colored shirt—she would be comfortable on the back of my bike wearing it. But the second is a white cotton sundress that makes my cock spring to life.
Feeling like a creep, I’m about to pull my head out of the room to give her privacy when her head turns toward me. She jumps, surprised at my intrusion, making her tits bounce in the most delicious way. I lick my lips, eager to get my mouth around them.
She scowls, as if she knows what I’ve got on my mind.