by Em Petrova
“Mowing Mr. Kelley’s yard.”
His brow shot up. “No fucking way. You’re all done with that.”
Her jaw dropped. “But I need the work, and I can’t let him down. You’re just afraid I’ll have spectators while mowing, but you’ll be happy to know that today there was no sign of that car or those guys.”
Withholding a growl of irritation, he had to stop and ask himself why he felt that way about her. She’d given herself to him and he’d challenge another man to try to lay hands on her now. But more than that, he hated the thought of her working so much to pay the bills. He had no idea what she paid for that tiny apartment, but whatever it was, he knew it wasn’t worth the money.
I have to let her do things her way. But the minute I get a sign, I’m moving her in.
“Good. Then I don’t have to worry about your safety when you’re mowing Mr. Kelley’s grass.”
She slid her arms around his neck and went onto tiptoe to brush her lips over his. “No, you don’t. I was wondering if we could talk.”
He blinked at her. “Of course. Here?”
She shook her head.
“We’ll take a ride.” While he missed having his own wheels, he couldn’t complain about the beauty Tank had built. In fact, he planned to stop by the bike shop later on and hand him a fat stack of cash to lease it until he got his own motorcycle from the sheriff’s department.
Taking Aarica by the hand, he led her from the clubhouse. The sky was the perfect cloudless blue to ride beneath, and the air crisp with the tang of the mountains.
He knew right where he’d take her—to the place where they’d met.
Once they were seated on the bike and her arms were wrapped tight around his waist, words started to tumble out of her. It seemed having the intercom in their helmets provided the link she needed, and who knew he enjoyed talking so much when he rode?
As they rolled out of Mersey, headed toward the Smokies, she told him about all five of her male cousins and a few of the others she’d grown up seeing. One in particular had some learning disabilities, and that had set her on her path here to work with the Post boy.
Patriot listened to everything she said and a lot she didn’t say. Reading more into her words was easy when his heart had opened up completely to the woman. Hearing her dreams and ideas filtered through her perception of the world meant he felt more attached to her.
When he finally turned into a scenic lookout and he parked, they both sat there a minute.
“C’mon. Let’s walk.” He waited for her to climb off the bike. She removed the helmet and fluffed her hair out over her shoulders. The pink in her cheeks tugged at an invisible cord connected to his cock. Whatever happened, he would not be bending her over his bike out here at the scenic lookout.
They hung their helmets on the handlebars, and then hand in hand, walked over to the rail of the lookout.
“It’s breathtaking,” she whispered. “The way the greens are so different, each complementing the rest of the greens, but the shades stand out in their own individual beauty.”
He watched her face as she stated this. He could barely tear his gaze from her to notice the view, but he did look for her sake. She was right that the greens created sweeping outlines of each elevation, growing almost black in the distance before converging with the sky. Orange and gold rays of light fanned across the land.
Reaching out, he slipped the pad of his thumb along her lower lip. A soft rush of air crossed his thumb, and her eyes took on a faraway expression he recognized so well now.
They moved in at the same time. Their mouths met in a soft, seeking kiss. When he thumbed the corner of her mouth downward to plunder her, she swayed into his arms and gripped the open edge of his leather jacket.
The soft interior of her mouth against the insistent hardness of his tongue drew moans from them both. She wiggled close, wrapping a thigh around his hip. Inches away from his steely cock nestled the slick heat he wanted to bury himself in so damn much.
Before he compromised her out here in the open, he withdrew. That dazed expression slowly faded in her eyes, and she rested her head against his chest. They stood embracing until his blood cooled enough.
“I’m glad we came here. I wanted to speak with you too.” Why did his voice sound so gritty?
She tilted her head to meet his gaze. “About what?”
How to say any of the feelings rushing through his heart? He wasn’t good with words—he was a man of action.
Holding her by the upper arms, he stared down at her. That tingle of emotions around his heart had spread so much since that night she tumbled into his arms and begged him to touch her. When their paths kept crossing and she showed him she would stand at his side through thick and thin, he realized that she’d become the center of his world.
“Do you understand what a property patch means in the MC?” Hell, he’d just jumped right in, hadn’t he? Probably scare the hell out of her.
Her brows creased, giving her such an adorable look that he found himself thinking up other ways to perplex her.
“It means you’re property of the club, I’m guessing.”
He nodded. “In a way. But if I give you the property patch, then it binds us. You’re my property.”
She blinked rapidly. “I don’t know if I approve of that.”
“Its meaning depends on the couple, I suppose. For me, it means that no other man can put his hands on you. It means that I’ll protect you until my heart stops beating, and then my brothers will do it for me.”
“Like family.” Her whisper left the short hairs on his nape standing on end.
“Exactly like family.” His response came out with a vehemence born of love for his brotherhood and all it stood for.
She drew free of his arms and turned to the view. He studied her profile, waiting for her to come to some conclusion. If she chose to refuse his patch, then he understood—but that didn’t mean he’d give up on her.
“You know I was drawn to you from the first moment I saw you at that campsite. Something about you being alone… Though you were with friends, you held yourself apart from them in a way I came to understand later once I knew you better.” Her words came out quiet, and he leaned closer to hear.
She went on, “At the same time I saw you alone, I just knew I was meant to be with you. After our first encounter, I thought I was only supposed to touch your world briefly, for a few fleeting, stolen minutes. Then I met you again and again and again…and I saw your brothers in the club and how close you all are. That’s when I realized why I’m so drawn to you. It isn’t just you—it’s all you stand for and all you have to offer.”
She turned to him, and the glowing intensity in her eyes was a lightning zap to his system.
“I come from a big, protective family. I left them to find something for myself…and ended up finding it again with you.” She stepped into his arms, and he felt the quiver of her body.
Tightening his arms around her, he inhaled the rich scent of her shampoo. “Does that mean…” It was too much to hope for, and the words wouldn’t dislodge from his chest.
“Yes, I want that patch, Patriot. More than anything. But on one big condition.” She met his stare.
“Anything.”
“I help organize the fundraisers—especially the upcoming one for autism. You see, that’s what I’ve decided to do with my life. Working with Jay really showed me that I’m on the right path, and I want to learn more and do more with people who face challenges such as his.”
“God, baby. You’re so damn incredible. Do you know that?”
She buried her face against his chest as if embarrassed by his praise. “I’m just passionate about helping these people is all.”
Using a knuckle beneath her chin, he raised her face to his. When he lowered his mouth to hers, their kiss instantly shot from 0 to 100 mph in a single flip of her tongue against his. With a growl, he bent her over his arm and worked on stealing all the little whimpering sound
s she made for him.
Chapter Nine
The strains of carnival music drifted to Aarica before the roar of motorcycle engines ever died down. She craned her neck to see around Patriot’s broad back for a peek at the fairgrounds.
Some of the rides were already in motion, whirling without fair-goers in the seats, as they got warmed up for the upcoming event.
An event she’d helped plan. The guests today were sure to walk away with big old smiles on their faces.
Patriot cut the engine, and the guys all clustered in a group waiting for the rest of the Dark Falcons to drive in. Excitement gripped Aarica, and she grabbed Patriot’s hand. They shared a grin.
Once the gates were opened for them, they spread out in their various positions. Booths were set up and manned by the Dark Falcons throughout the fairgrounds, where they’d sell raffle tickets, hot dogs and apple dumplings, with all proceeds benefitting autism.
From beneath an awning to keep them out of the hot sun, she looked at the huge crowd of people milling through.
“At least Hunter did one thing right for the club—he put up enough fliers in the area to draw a decent crowd,” Patriot rumbled.
She laughed despite the darkness behind the reference. “This is so great! I’m so thrilled to be part of this.”
Gliding an arm around her middle, he drew her into his side. At that moment, some people emerged from the crowd, and she waved frantically at Jay and his mom.
The boy’s face lit up when he saw her, and she pulled away from Patriot to circle the table where they sold leatherworks made by one of the Dark Falcons to hug Jay. He squeezed her tight and then pointed to Patriot. Instead of placing his hands over his ears to indicate that he made loud noises, this time he motioned throwing a ball.
Patriot laughed. “That’s right, bud. I’ll come by this week with Aarica, and we’ll toss a ball again. Does that sound good?”
His face split into a wide grin and he nodded.
Aarica traded smiles with Mrs. Post. “I’m so glad you came today.”
“This is amazing. Seriously, I’m so impressed by all the things you’re doing.” Mrs. Post beamed at her. “Jay can’t wait to visit the bouncy house, can you, Jay?”
He looked around for the big red castle and pointed, impatient to get over there.
“You’d better hurry before the line gets too long,” Aarica said with a chuckle. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
He paused to pretend to throw a ball again, and Patriot nodded. “I’ll come too. See you then.”
After the mother and son walked away, they got crushed with throngs of people looking at the leather wallets, knife sheaths and more that one of the Dark Falcons had donated. She noticed how many other bike clubs came out to support them, and they were tossing out money right and left. She saw more than one person carrying bags filled with apple dumplings in plastic takeout containers and knew they were snatching them all up to take home to their families at six bucks a pop.
Tank and Catarina strolled up, and Tank clapped Patriot on the shoulder. “We’re here to relieve you and your lady. I’m supposed to tell you the prez says to go have some damn fun for once.”
Patriot barked out a laugh at the message. He didn’t waste time in grabbing Aarica’s hand and dragging her away from the booth. She barely got to throw a wave at Catarina before he dragged her through the crowd. Raising a hand at all his bros as they passed, he marched her right up to the line at the Ferris wheel.
Surprise flitted through her. “We’re going on the ride?” she asked.
“Unless you’re afraid of heights.”
“Nope. I’m just surprised that a tough guy like you would think to bring me to the Ferris wheel.”
He gathered her near and placed his lips at her ear. “Maybe I want to make you come at two-hundred feet,” he rumbled.
Shudders of desire rushed down her spine, and she leaned into his muscled body. “We definitely can’t do that, but I hope you’ll make it up to me later…” She trailed off with a seductive bite down on her lower lip.
“Mmm. You drive me crazy, woman.”
At that moment, Diesel walked by pushing a lemonade cart that looked dwarfed by his size. Patriot poked jeers at him but purchased a drink, and after the man walked off to peddle more of his wares, Patriot handed her the cup.
She sipped the fresh-squeezed delight, so ice cold that she wanted to drink the entire thing in one long gulp. After she passed it to Patriot, a gleam came into his eyes. He tipped the cup up and took a sip. Then he kissed her.
The icy press of his hard lips against hers ignited deep in her core. The lemony sweetness on his lips built that rush of need. And when he parted her lips and pushed an ice cube into her mouth with his tongue, she gasped.
His grin stretched over her lips. “When I have you alone, I’ll slide an ice cube over your clit until you sizzle for me.”
“Oh God,” she murmured on a moan.
They drew apart when the line moved. She found herself gazing toward the mountains in the distance and imagining how they’d look from the top of the Ferris wheel.
Patriot followed her gaze. “I fell in love with you back in those mountains.”
Her jaw dropped. She turned to him, eyes wide. “You…fell in love?”
It was the first time he spoke the words to her. She searched his face for signs of stress over his admission but saw only love gleaming in his eyes.
Planting his hand on her spine, he drew her close enough that their hips bumped, same as that first moment in the mountains. “Yes, baby. I love you more than I can ever put into words. It’s why I haven’t said it aloud—I was hoping to find a way to express it better.”
She cupped his face and kissed him with all the passion burning to life for this man. Her own love overflowed, and she didn’t know if she could find a way to put it into words either.
“Next!”
The ride operator’s call separated them, and Patriot tossed the almost empty lemonade into the trash before grabbing Aarica’s hand and towing her to the waiting seat.
Her stomach lit with butterflies as they began to circle upward. Her hand tight in Patriot’s grasp, she replayed his words over and over in her mind. She hadn’t come to Mersey looking for love, but it’d found her. Her life couldn’t feel more complete than right this minute, looking out over the mountains where their love affair began.
“Maybe we can go back next weekend and finish what we started there.” Patriot stared at the mountains rising up in the distance.
“Really?” she asked.
His gaze locked on hers, and she saw that same expression in the depths that she read at the campfire when he looked at her. “Maybe I better seal the promise with a kiss.”
She nodded and closed the small gap between them.
Patriot skimmed a fingertip over the crest of Aarica’s nipple, down the slope of her breast to her ribs. She sucked in sharply at his barely-there touch, and he felt her quiver as he continued down the flat of her stomach. When he reached the junction of her thighs, she parted for him.
He couldn’t see in the dark of the tent, but he could feel his way. Through her damp curls to her wet clit. She rocked upward as he settled his fingertip over the bundle of nerves and pressed down gently.
He let up the pressure and she issued a tight cry.
“You want that, baby? Just like the first time?” He pressed down again, and she writhed. “Tell me how you like it this time,” he urged.
“I need…that!”
He circled her clit with a slow circle of his fingertip. “And this?”
“Yes!”
“How about this?” He pinched her clit lightly between his thumb and forefinger, and she came off the air mattress to meet his touch.
“Patriot.” His name came out as a rasp from her lips. “Patriot, yes!”
“That’s what you said the first time we met, baby.” He shifted down her body, holding her thighs prisoner in his big hands and spread
ing her as wide as the tent would allow.
She dug her fingers into his hair as he lowered his mouth to her wet heat. The first taste had his cock pounding. Sucking on her clit, he gorged himself on her flavors and the soft moans of ecstasy he ripped from her. In seconds, she was peaking, just as she had that first time. God, would he ever grow used to how responsive she was to his touch? He hoped it never changed.
He dipped his tongue through her seam, down to her entrance and flicked the tip inside her.
“This time you’re not stopping, Patriot. I’m giving myself to you on this mountain.”
He moved up her body again, cock in hand. When he pressed the flared head through her folds to burrow into her heated walls, he kissed her long and deep. Her jagged cries fueled the fire inside him, and he withdrew fast to thrust in again.
Breaking the kiss, he looked down into her eyes. “You belonged to me before you ever walked off this mountain the first time, baby.”
She dragged him down again, sealing herself to him as he fucked her nice and slow. When their movements grew jerky and their breathing harsher, she clawed at his spine. “I love you. Love you!”
“I love you too,” he grated out a second before jets of cum shot insider her clenching pussy.
Epilogue
Diesel shoved a hand into the wood door and strode outside. The clubhouse was starting to feel too damn cramped for his liking.
He seemed to be surrounded. Everywhere he looked, he saw happy couples. Dixon and Fiona, Tank and Catrina. Now Patriot held his woman as if she was the most precious bit of spun glass in his rough hands. Hands that could smash heads if he wanted.
Hell, he’d just stood up as the best man at his sister’s wedding, stood there with his hands clasped in front of him while listening to them exchange vows that they would stand by each other forever.
Fuck that. Forever meant nothing.
He leaned against the wall and glared at nothing.
While he might feel like a dick for feeling this way, deep down he was happy for his fellow brothers who’d found love, and he couldn’t be more thrilled for Lily. His sister deserved a good man to help take care of her two-year-old son.