by Winters, KB
I frowned at her. “It would’ve been better if he had.” Because then the Reckless Bastards would have put him down and gotten rid of the body before the law showed up. I didn’t like loose ends, and this all felt like a loose fucking end.
“What else? Tell me.”
I nodded and sat down, taking off my boots and laying down beside her. “He tried to get you to leave town with him and once he realized it wasn’t gonna happen, he ate a bullet.”
There might have been better ways to deliver the news but her reaction was genuine. Her eyes slammed shut and there was real pain in her expression, but on its heels came relief.
“I’m sorry it had to be like that, but Leon made sure that this was the only way it could end.”
Her words surprised me. “You really mean that?”
Chance nodded, and her eyes met mine. “I do. He wasn’t always like that, and that’s what made it so hard. Such a fucking test of my leadership skills, ya know? Remembering the boy and the man he was before he left for the service. He saw shit no man should have to see, before he came back as a new man altogether.”
She shook her head at first but ultimately accepted my arms around her shoulders.
“We all come back changed, Chance.”
She nodded. “Believe me, I know. But I shouldn’t have let the problem get this bad. That bullshit’s on me.”
“That’s a load of shit. The guy was clearly fucked in the head. Nothing you or anyone else could have done would have changed things if he didn’t want to be helped.”
“You don’t know that,” she snapped.
She wanted me to be wrong, but I couldn’t let her shoulder this when she didn’t have to. It wasn’t hers to shoulder.
“I do. My best friend, Cal. He was a good fuckin’ dude. Always up for a good time and a laugh, always making sure everybody felt included and loved when care packages came in. He was just that kind of guy, you know?”
She nodded, a half smile on her face. “One of the good ones?”
“Exactly. But when we came back, he couldn’t handle it. Saw enemies everywhere. He was jumpy as fuck and convinced people were after him. I tried everything I could. So did his wife and his parents. Nothing worked. Six months after we got home, he was dead.”
“Wow.” Tears streamed down her eyes, but Chance was tough and kept her expression nearly even. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thanks. Me too. I’m so fucking sorry but that’s what helped me realize that some guys…fuck, they just can’t handle it.”
It wasn’t their fault. No one knew how the desert would affect them until they were already there, knee deep in the shit.
“I know, but it didn’t have to get this far.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But that’s our life, babe. Shit tends to go too far and too often. That’s why you proposed this brotherhood, right?”
She nodded with an exhausted smile.
“Of course, it is, but we gotta rethink this brotherhood thing. How about we call it The Counsel? That sounds way scarier than brotherhood. It’s got an ominous ring to it, like it’s filled with people you don’t want to fuck with.”
“You make a good point. We’re bringing it to an official vote soon. Right now, though, I think you should sleep.” Her eyes lowered to slits and she fought it, hard. Not that I blamed her. It was hard to sleep after someone tried to kill you.
She shook her head and tried to sit up but the pain and exhaustion were winning out. “I still gotta call Curt. When are you gonna let me have my phone?”
Annabelle hadn’t let her make any calls while she was high on pain killers.
“I’ll take care of it. If you trust me with your phone that is?” I quirked an eyebrow and waited for her to answer.
“If they approve The Counsel then I’ll be trusting you with more than my phone, won’t I?”
I nodded, and she flashed a sleepy grin.
“And here I am, completely at your mercy and in too much pain to do anything sexy about it.”
“Gunshot wounds heal,” I told her and leaned in, nipping her ear.
Her smile widened, but her eyes stayed closed. “Does that mean you’re not here out of some misplaced sense of guilt?”
“Is that what you think?” I wish that was the reason. “I’m here because you took lead in your side. You were out for hours. I wasn’t sure if you would make it, so I had to see for myself.”
I didn’t need to mention that seeing her pass out in my arms had shaved at least a decade off my life.
Chance smiled again, sleepy and sexy as she lifted her arm to hit me. It just barely grazed my thigh. “Asshole.”
“Get some sleep. You can verbally abuse me in the morning.”
I pressed another kiss, to her cheek, this time as she snuggled close to me on her right side, taking care with her left.
“That sounds perfect, Slayer. Thanks.”
She laid her head on my chest with a smile and sleep quickly claimed her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ella Mae
“You should take it easy for as long as you need to.” Annabelle sat beside me on the sofa in Slayer’s living room, where I’d spent the past week recuperating. And…something else.
I snorted. “You mean I still can’t ride my bike?”
She sighed. “I mean listen to your body. If you still feel pain when you move, don’t move like that.” The doctor snapped her lips together in an effort to avoid laughing, but I beat her to it.
“Noted.”
“You up for visitors? I ran into some guys on my way in who said they’re friends of yours.” Based on her smile, I could guess who it was.
I shrugged. “I guess they’ll let anyone in here these days.”
The door opened and the first thing I heard was Brick’s laughter. “You’ve been here long enough to stink the place up, I see.”
His smile was wide and just a little bit relieved.
My own smile was just as wide.
“It’s so fucking good to see your big ass, Brick.”
The guys had stayed away just in case there was any heat in the aftermath of Leon’s suicide. So far it had been routine questions and statements so Curt felt at ease coming by.
“No kidding. You don’t look nearly as bad as I was expectin’. I mean you need some makeup but…” he shrugged, easily dodging the pillow I tossed at him.
“Annabelle, this big ugly fucker is Brick, and the guy checking you out is my Prez, Curt.”
She laughed, and the sound was as pretty and feminine as she was. I liked Annabelle, but I envied how easily she wore her femininity even as a doctor.
“Nice to meet you both.” She turned back to me and pointed a finger my way. “Listen to your body.”
Brick snorted. “She don’t listen to nobody, Doc.”
“Then I hope you have a nice sedan she can drive.” With those words, Annabelle left us alone.
“So how are you? Really?”
I shook my head. “If one more person asks me that I’m gonna scream.”
Between Slayer and Annabelle and all the women at the ranch, everyone had given me that sympathetic head tilt while asking that exact question.
“I’m fine. Pain is…manageable.”
“And shacking up with lover boy?” Brick arched dark brows my way, his mouth twisted into a teasing grin.
“It’s fine, though I was fucking shot so I don’t have that post-orgasmic glow you’re looking for. Asshole.”
Between the pain and the distinct lack of orgasms even after spending the past eight nights in Slayer’s arms, I was a grumpy bitch.
Brick and Curt both laughed. Dicks.
Curt said, “The cops came to the clubhouse. Asking questions.”
I frowned. “What kind of questions? And what brought them to the Lords’ front door?”
He shrugged and took the oversized chair beside the big picture window.
“Leon used to be one of us, a
nd he has plenty of arrests that say as much. They asked basic questions that I thought were fucking odd for a suicide but nothing to jam us up.”
The breath Curt let out said he was worried, but this shit show was my own creation so I just nodded.
“They asked about your relationship with Leon,” Brick added ominously.
“They did the same to me, trying to find a way to put the blame on me.” I felt responsible in a way but damn sure not in a legal way. “Anything else?”
“Hell yeah. The main reason we’re in this neck of the woods today.”
“Neck of the woods? It’s literally the next town over.” I rolled my eyes and Curt laughed.
“Anyway, your boyfriend came by late last night with some news.”
I stared at Curt blankly. Slayer had come in really late last night, and I was asleep. This morning, well, we had other things on our minds. Things that didn’t end in orgasms, but as good as I could get. For now.
“You did a damn good job selling the idea of this little merger. But…The Counsel? Really?”
That teased a laugh from me, and the wince was mild compared to even yesterday. “The Brotherhood was too male-centric considering I’m not a dude. Plus, we sound way more ominous as The Counsel.”
Brick snorted. “She’s right.”
“Anyway, the Reckless Bastards voted last night. The Lords voted this morning, and I cast your vote in favor of joining The Counsel.” He put his fingers in air quotes and snorted again, in case there was any doubt what he thought of the name.
A satisfied smile crossed my face, and I relaxed against the sofa. “That’s good. Did they brief you on the baby daddy situation?”
Curt nodded. “They did. That’s fucked up, but we’ll do what we can. In the spirit of brotherhood.”
I rolled my eyes. “Or, you know, humanity.”
Bricked snorted and shook his head. “Can’t believe bikers are fucking selling cattle.”
Curt barked out a laugh. “There’s a multi-million-dollar sex club on this property, and he’s surprised ranchers grow steaks in Texas.”
Ah, these bad ass bikers with the hearts of thirteen-year-old boys were my brothers. My boys.
“Brick’s special. You know that.”
“Special as fuck,” he agreed with a crazy-eyed smile.
“Everybody will get a chance to see just how special this weekend because the Lords have been invited to a barbecue on the ranch. A get-to-know-you kind of thing.”
“At least the meat will be fresh,” Brick grunted, feeling territorial.
“Good. This will be good for the club.” I nodded.
“I know,” Curt said. “I’m also kinda sorry about Leon.”
“I know. Me too.”
We all fell silent for a long moment out of respect for who Leon had been to each of us, hell to all of us, at one point in time.
“Let’s just hope the next clusterfuck is in the distant future.”
Curt let out a bitter laugh and nodded his agreement. It was a constant wish in our circle, but it was just that, a wish.
“Here’s to hoping,” he said with a grim smile.
“Right,” I added.
“We’re gonna get going,” he said, making for the door. “But all of us will be here Saturday. Wear something pretty.”
“You first,” I shot back and walked them out, feeling a little sad to see them go, like I should be going with them. But I also wanted to be here. With Slayer.
I hated that it felt so good being here, on the ranch and with Slayer. It felt like a betrayal, of my MC and my heart. This was sex. Just sex. It wasn’t the beginning of some great love story, I knew that. Sure, he was being kind and attentive right now. But no matter what he said, I knew at least some of it was guilt. And as long as that was true, this could only ever be sex.
Spectacular sex.
And I must’ve been out of my fucking mind to even want anything more than sex after the spectacular shit show that had been Leon. That and the fact that our MC’s would now be working together meant this could blow up, too. All roads led to a shit show.
Maybe the universe was trying to tell me something.
“Looks like a whole lot of thinkin’ going on over here.” Slayer’s deep voice pulled me from my thoughts, which must have consumed me because I didn’t hear him come in.
He stood there in nothing but a pair of skintight boxer briefs that did wonderful things to the outline of his cock. I unconsciously licked my lips at the sight of him.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” My eyes grew big and round, as innocent as I could muster.
“Like you wanna eat me up,” he growled and the sound was deep and sexy, hitting me right between the thighs.
Oh I wanted to do more than eat him up. “More like lick you up and down, but if eating is your thing.” I shrugged.
His gaze darkened and his jaw clenched tight. “Dammit, Chance. You’re hurt.”
I sighed and leaned back against the sofa, my gaze still traipsing over his beautiful body.
“It was a flesh wound that hurt worse than the actual injury, and don’t forget, Annabelle already took out the stitches.” Earlier today, but still.
Slayer’s folded his arms across his chest, and one dark brow arched in a question.
“Okay,” I admitted. “It still hurts but only a little. And only when I move.”
Slayer’s lips twitched as he came closer and sat down beside me, his warm thigh brushing against my own as he leaned in.
“When I fuck you again, Chance, heaven and earth are gonna move.”
“Tease,” I groaned as his lips brushed the side of my neck and slid down to my throat and the tops of my tits. His fingertips scraped along my chilled flesh until he found my warm, wet center and teased the hell out of me. His thumb brushed over my opening until I pulsed. Groaned. The tip of one finger slid inside, and I gasped. Twice.
“Oh fuck. Oh fuck!” I gripped his wrist until he stopped moving so that I could stop moving.
Slayer’s deep rumbling laugh pulled me out of the fog of pain, and I looked into his smiling face. “Welcome to blue balls, babe.”
I groaned and fell against his chest. “I hate you.” I didn’t.
“You don’t.” See? Even Slayer knew the truth. He winked playfully and pulled me closer, taking care to avoid the slightly tender spot where my ex had shot me.
“I totally do,” I told him when I felt my body melting into a big damn puddle at that playful wink and sexy smile.
“Prove it.” The challenge in his eyes was irresistible, but not so much as those kissable lips. I couldn’t help but think about them on my own mouth, or anywhere else on my horny, overheated body.
I was a girl who couldn’t resist a challenge, especially a sexy one like this. Wounds be damned when it came to seduction and winning. Right now, both were on the line. I took one hand and slid it slowly down his cheek, his neck, over his shoulder and down his arm until my hand found my own leg and slid upwards.
“Chance,” he groaned, but there was no stopping me.
I kept my gaze trained on Slayer because he was better than any clip of porn, hotter than any live sex The Barn Door could offer. As my hand slid into my shorts and panties and between my thighs, there was no better sight than him in nothing but his underwear. My fingers clipped my clit, and my head fell back, and a moan escaped. I slowed my hand to avoid the pain caused by a sharp intake of breath without completely dulling the pleasure. The definition of a slow simmer as my desire slowly increased.
His gaze darkened and intensified as his nostrils flared, and his tongue slicked across his lips. I imagined those lips and that tongue between my legs, tasting and pleasuring me.
“Fuck,” he growled, and dropped down on his knees until his lips and tongue were pleasing me.
“Oh fuck, yes!” He moved slow and steady until my whole body was covered in sweat, his fingertips pressing into my skin as pleasure lifted me off
the sofa. It was the most intense head of my life, because I couldn’t get freaky with it. All I could do was grip his gorgeous long hair in my fingers and slowly grind against his tongue.
“Slayer,” I moaned when his tongue slipped inside my pussy and licked me. “Fuck!”
His deep laughter sent vibrations through me that only heightened my arousal. My nipples tightened to the point of pain. He pushed my legs farther apart and blew. Then laughed.
“Look at how wet you are. How dripping wet your pussy is.”
I smiled. “And it’s all for you.”
His gaze darkened to black and when his mouth touched me this time, it stayed there until I came so powerfully that I passed out. Completely.
Fuck yeah, it was more than just my greedy pussy in trouble with this long-haired biker.
A lot more.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Slayer
If I was a religious man I’d say that the good weather was a blessing. That some kind of benevolent being was looking out for us, the Reckless Bastards and the Lords of Buckthorns. We gathered on Hardtail Ranch to celebrate the creation of a new and growing alliance. The sun was out, shining like she was showing off, and three little cotton ball clouds hung in the clear blue sky. The smell of charcoal and wood tore through the air along with half a dozen conversations and laughter.
It was a bigger version of our own twisted little family and kind of nice to see. This was one hell of an idea, one that would benefit both clubs and make us all rich men. Something like pride bloomed in my chest at the thought of what Chance, no—Ella Mae—had done for all of us.
And Chance was in her element. The past ten days together had been unreal. Unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Sure, there were women when I was on leave, but a day or two in a hotel, not more than a week in my home. And the crazy part was that I liked having her around, liked seeing that sexy little smile she wore that looked like she had a secret. I liked going to sleep with her in arms and waking up with my cock pressed against her soft feminine curves.
It was nice to see the shadows gone from her pretty, brown eyes. It was especially nice to see how easy she was with her guys in her club. It made me realize just how much of herself she held back when she was with me, at least when we weren’t consuming each other. Which made it easier to see how familial they were with her. No jealousy detected.