by Winters, KB
“What?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
Brick put a hand to my chest to stop me. “We’re bikers, we’re complicated. And that wasn’t an answer.”
I sighed but he was right. I did want to have a long talk with Chance about being my girl, but the only way that would happen was if I managed to keep her out of jail.
“When this is over, yeah we’ll talk. As soon as I figure out what to say to a woman like Chance.”
“Good luck with that,” Brick whistled, his smile pure mischief as we made our way out of the front door, shutting it behind us.
“That girl is a terrifying combination of badassery and gentlewoman.”
Great. Just what I wanted to hear.
“Let’s get this shit to her lawyer right away.”
Brick grinned. “Afraid something might happen to one of us?”
“Wouldn’t put it past these fuckers, especially since we don’t know who the fuck Leon was doing business with.”
His expression sobered. “True. We might have enemies we haven’t even seen yet. Got anyone else you can trust just in case the right way doesn’t work?”
I nodded, appreciating the way Brick’s mind worked, thinking he was right earlier when he said Chance’s weird idea just might work out.
“I have a person or two,” I told him, thinking of all the influential people who came to The Barn Door every week to sate their kinky desires.
Finally, it looked like something close to peace might be on the horizon.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ella Mae
When Gunnar said he had something for me to do, I didn’t think he meant getting all dolled up to sit in a bar all afternoon. But it wasn’t like I had anything better to do and this kind of thing was exactly in keeping with the spirit of The Counsel. Just saying those words made me smile, even if all the guys gave me shit about it. Sure, the brotherhood might sound cooler but brotherhoods have been done before. Some might say they were done to death, but The Counsel? That shit is new. Ish.
“I’d love to be the reason you smile like that.”
I had to stifle my natural tendency to eviscerate any man who would ever try a line like that on me, because right now I looked exactly the kind of woman who would buy that line. By design, thanks to Annabelle and Aspen, who had managed to get me into a short white sundress covered in roses with old lady heels even though Peaches had called them kitten heels. Apparently those chicks knew what they were talking about. Maybe.
I spun on the barstool slowly with an easy smile on my face. “Maybe you can be. What’s your name, handsome?”
He smiled, chest puffing out a little at the compliment before he leaned in a little. “The name’s Rocco. What’s yours?”
Bingo. This was the guy, and yeah he wasn’t bad looking, but he looked a lot like Leon had about nine months ago, like he was headed down a bad path. A really bad path.
“Ella.”
“Pretty. Is that short for Cinderella?”
Original. Not. “Why, are you looking for a princess?”
I let out a bitter laugh that I didn’t have to try all that hard to fake.
“Of course, you’re down on your luck. It’s all I seem to attract these days.”
Rocco smacked his lips, a playful smile giving him a more youthful look. “Don’t tell me you’d discriminate against a man because life’s got him down?”
Oh, he was good. Probably used the same twenty lines on every woman he met.
“Me? Never.” I finished off the rest of my watered-down ginger ale and whiskey, knocking it back like a woman who’s had a few too many.
“But those types always find better luck and then leave me behind.”
Rocco let out a laugh that was deep and masculine. I bet when he was showered and shaved with a haircut, he had his pick of women. Now he looked to be a few weeks away from homelessness, unless of course he had a woman somewhere taking care of him.
“Let me buy you a drink to prove I’m not down on my luck.”
I waved to the bartender to bring me another and turned to Rocco, casting a quick glance to the booth by the door where Holden sat with his Stetson on low.
“That’s a good start, Rocco.”
“It is Ella. It really is.” He shook his head and raised his drink when they came. I did the same. “Here’s to good luck getting better.”
Aaaaand here we go. “Really?”
He nodded, a cat who got the cream smile spreading across his face. “Oh yeah. I got a real big payday comin’ up. Real big. Enough for a little vacay for two?”
I giggled and leaned in. “I love vacations. How are we paying for it? Stock wins? Crypto-currency? Coffee beans?”
This was too easy, but I owed Gunnar a thanks because this was fun. “Are you a pimp, Rocco?”
“Nah. I’d get too high on my own supply,” he said with a disgusting laugh and no sense of irony. “Can you keep a secret Ella?”
“Totally.” I gave an exaggerated nod and leaned in, resting my chin in my hand.
“I got a paternity thing.”
I didn’t think most people would call trying to take a man’s kid a thing, but hey, we all had our things.
“Wow. Isn’t that something guys usually run from?”
When Rocco laughed this time it was bitter, and I leaned against the bar a little more, sensing a long fucking story in my future.
“Nah. There was this woman I used to see from time to time. She was a good lay with a wicked sense of humor. Anyway, she died recently.”
According to Gunnar, it had been years, but again, why bother with details?
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Sure, thanks. So, the last time I saw her she was fat and pregnant, so it’s been a while. Then recently my bitch of a wife got it in her head that she wanted better. Can you imagine?”
He shook his head in disgust, shocked by the notion there was better than him, I supposed.
“Hardly,” I deadpanned, but he wasn’t paying attention.
“Anyway, one night I got to thinking about that kid, and I figured the timing is right. I mean I know she was the kind who got around, but it could work, the kid could be mine.”
“And you want a sense of family?”
“Yep,” he snorted. “And her guardian now, her brother,” he rolled his eyes at that for some reason. “He’s loaded. Has a big spread with cattle and goats and I’m sure he’s got oil. I bet he’d pay a pretty penny to make me go away.”
And there it was. Thankfully, Rocco told most of the story to my tits where the tiny microphone was attached to my bra so it should all come through loud and clear for Gunnar.
“What’s a lot? Like ten grand? Because no offense Rocco, but I ain’t following you out of Texas with a lousy ten g’s in your pocket.”
“Ten,” he scoffed. “It’ll be hundred at least, to get me to go away forever.”
Oh, this guy was a real piece of shit, and I really hoped he wasn’t related to Gunnar’s sister.
“You staying somewhere close Rocco?” I leaned in and his gaze fell back to my tits, eyeing them hungrily as he licked his chops.
“Sure am. We can go back to my place. On the highway.”
I smiled flirtatiously and ran my fingers through my hair. “Want to get out of here?”
He nodded and finished off his drink. “Where are you holed up?”
“That cute little bed & breakfast run by twins. You know it?”
According to Peaches, the two sisters were the heart and center of the gossip in three counties. Dropping their name would get me access to his shitty hotel room.
Rocco frowned and shook his head. “Fuck that. We can go to my place. I got a fifth of bourbon and clean sheets we can dirty up.” He winked, and I had to stifle the urge to vomit.
“Sounds good.” I slid from the stool and wobbled a little for show, ignoring the clamminess of his hands working to steady me.
“I’ve gotcha, Ella,” he
said, letting his hands do more wandering than steadying.
“Thanks, Rocco. Such a gentleman.” I gave his face a little pat and grinned. “I’ll follow you. My car is right over there.” I pointed to a row of dark sedans.
“You’re not fit to drive, babe.”
“Maybe not, but I’m also not dumb enough to leave myself stranded at your motel.”
His grin widened. “Smart girl. I’ll pull around to your car, and you can follow me.”
I headed to the little blue box Gunnar had provided and hopped inside. “Did you hear all that?”
“We got it.” Curt’s voice came through loud and clear. “For a second I wasn’t sure if you were buying his shit or not.”
“Or not.”
“Just checking. We got it all, and we’ll be there.”
“Good. Gotta go.”
Rocco pulled up and ten minutes later we were inside his motel room which smelled like mildew and day-old socks.
“Home sweet home. Make yourself comfortable, Ella.”
I flashed another smile and kicked off my shoes. “I think I’ll do just that. Thanks, Rocco.”
His gaze lingered on my body until I disappeared into the stereotypically disgusting motel bathroom. It was smelly and filthy, but it was better than being out in the room when Gunnar and Curt showed up. A quick look at the clock said it was time, and I reached for the little snub-nosed revolver that was the only thing small enough to fit into this sorry ass excuse for a purse, just in case.
Seconds later, I heard the door kicked in. Rocco let out a very un-masculine scream that made me smile.
“What the fuck?”
The question had more venom in it than I expected, but then silence descended, and I knew he’d set eyes on Gunnar.
“You’re trying to take my kid from me, that’s what the fuck, Rocco.” Gunnar was pissed, and I didn’t blame him one bit.
“Sh-sh-she could be mine,” he insisted because it was clear his mother hadn’t taught him about when to shut the fuck up. A sickening crack sounded and then an anguished cry. “Ow!”
“She is not yours. Do you understand?”
When I opened the door, Gunnar stood over Rocco with a dark scowl on his face, one hand pulled back and ready to strike. Curt stood by the door, letting him know without words that he couldn’t leave until they said so.
“I said, do you understand?”
Rocco nodded. “We could take a paternity test,” he suggested with a smile that was still on his face when Gunnar’s fist slammed down on it.
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Gunnar hit him again, anger slowly turning to rage. Finally, Gunnar sat back against the wall.
“As soon as the proof comes in, I’ll take that trust fund you got from your wife. And that condo in Miami.”
Rocco visibly paled. “Impossible.”
“It’s called back child support, fucking idiot. See, while you were so fucking worried about getting a big payoff, you failed to realize one important thing. I’d win in any court battle.”
“Bullshit,” Rocco spat. “A biker who owns a sex club?”
“A military veteran and entrepreneur who hires other military vets. In Texas. Wanna keep this up?”
Rocco shook his head in defeat. “How much are you offering?”
Gunnar barked out a laugh. “Offering? I’m offering to let you live if you get the fuck out of Texas right now and never come back.”
Rocco frowned. “But…”
“Never,” Gunnar said again, his voice lethally calm. “If I see you again Rocco, I promise that they won’t find one piece of you.”
Rocco shivered at the threat and nodded his head quickly. Furiously. His gaze slid to me, and he scowled. “You set me up, bitch.”
I shrugged. “Damn straight I did, you piece of shit.”
He must’ve realized there was no winning this game. Rocco gave up. “Fine,” he spat out. “I’m gone. Whatever.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow at ten in the morning. You’d better be history.” Without any further threats, Gunnar stood and left the motel room, me and Curt on his heels.
“You look weird dressed like this,” Curt said with a frown. “Too girly. It’s weird.”
“Thanks, fucker.” I smacked his arm.
“You did good,” Gunnar said, his words genuine even as anger lingered in his expression. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. Playing dress up is fun.”
It had been exciting too, but now I was exhausted. And yeah, I was eager to get back to Slayer.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Slayer
Chance was so lost in her thoughts, her troubles that she hadn’t heard the bathroom door open. It had a loud as fuck squeak I’d been meaning to fix for weeks. Okay, months. So, I wondered what was on her mind.
Was it Leon? Or was it all the shit he’d laid at her feet since he got mixed up in whatever shit me and Brick had found earlier? I didn’t know what was on her mind, and it wasn’t usually my style to ask, but maybe Chance and Brick had a point.
Maybe this was exactly what it felt like. Something more.
More than what, I had no fucking clue. Chance was clearly more than a piece of ass because we’d damn near been living together for the past few weeks. And it was more than casual dating, since we created a whole fucking alliance just to be together.
Shit. We did all this to be together. How the fuck did I not realize it before now?
And there was Chance on the other side of that shower door, nothing but a silhouette with the weight of the world on her shoulders. And here I was on this side, wanting nothing more than to relieve her burden. So, I did, taking less than two seconds to get rid of my clothes and slip in behind her, wrapping my arms around her shower-slicked skin and pulling her close to me. “Long day?”
She nodded wordlessly and leaned back, letting me take some of her burden, even if it was only physically.
“Wanna talk about it?”
Chance shook her head against my shoulder, and a feeling of warmth washed through me. She was exhausted and a little vulnerable, and goddammit that got to me in a really big way.
“Good. Talking is overrated.” It would have been easy to take what I wanted with her naked and wet, but I couldn’t. Not now.
Instead, I took a step back so my cock wouldn’t brush right up against her ass. I put my hands on her shoulders, digging my fingers deep into the tense muscles until she relented. Moaned. Dropped her head forward.
“Slayer.”
“See, Chance, there are all kinds of ways I can get you to moan my name.” I whispered the words in her ear, that little catch of breath doing nothing to keep my arousal at bay.
She let out a small laugh, the tension leaving her body with every press of my fingertips.
“Is that so?”
“Mmm-hmm.” My hands moved from her shoulders to the muscles that went down the length of her spine, pulling out erotic groan after erotic groan until her voice broke the silence.
“Stop. Teasing.”
“Who’s teasing? I’m just comforting you.”
“Ah,” she moaned and tossed her head back against my shoulder. “Is that what this is, comfort?”
“Yep.”
She gasped at the popping sound at the end of the word and took a step back until we were skin to skin again.
“Are you not comforted?” I moved my hands from her shoulders to her hips, pressing my lips to her spine and kissing a path all the way down to the curve of her ass.
“So. Comforted,” she panted when I spread her ass apart and found that dark tight spot most women feared.
“Yes, Slayer!”
Not Chance. Not my girl. She rested her palms flat on the shower wall, bracing her arms and legs as my mouth licked her between her legs until she was a writhing, crying mess in my arms. I licked and licked, gripping the back of her thighs to keep her standing, to keep her right where I wanted her while my tongue teased and tortured her, prolonged her p
leasure until she begged.
“I need to come, Slayer.”
I flicked a tongue against her clit and looked at her, pink and swollen and pulsing with need. With the heat of desire and the urge to come. “Not. Yet.”
“Please.” My cock leaked at that one word, spilling from her lips like a prayer. “Slayer.”
“Please?” I pulled her clit between my teeth, nibbling it gently, which only heightened her pleasure, pulling out loud wailing cries from her throat. Then I slid my middle finger between those beautiful ass cheeks and deep inside until she moaned, “Yes!”
She bucked back against me and then forward to get to my tongue, riding my face like we both wanted.
“Slayer, yes!” she wailed, “Oh fuck!” signaling to me she was there.
I held Chance as she rode herself to orgasm, to the kind of pleasure that was so all-consuming it required every ounce of energy to ride it out. The moment her orgasm ended, her legs gave out.
“Just can’t get enough of me, huh?” as she fell into my arms.
Another laugh escaped, and she tried to find my face under the shower spray, making visibility limited.
“I feel too good to give you shit for that ego right now.”
“I’ll take it.”
Chance laughed again, and I knew I was beyond in trouble. I was so thick into trouble that I feared I might end up like the rest of my MC, in love.
“I guess I should get up,” she said with a laugh. “But I don’t want to.”
I squirmed, because even though I loved the feel of her naked body on top of mine, the bathtub was hard as fuck.
“You stay here and I’ll get up.”
She squirmed and laughed, but that laugh quickly turned to a shriek when the water turned cold.
“Holy fuck! Holy fuck! Holy fuck!” I could honestly say I’d never seen anyone move that fast. “Holy shit that’s cold!”
“Got you out, didn’t it?”
She glared at me, at my smiling face and then at the shower, her glare intensifying.
“You didn’t.”
“I might have.”
“Asshole,” she accused.
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
That anger turned quickly back to lust as she took in my naked body, my cock hard and jutting out almost like he was reaching for her.