Dance With The Devil (The Devil's Riders Book 4)

by Blake, Joanna

  Apparently, this was Whiskey’s best friend and another more recent member of the club. They’d even both served in the Marine Corps, though not at the same time .

  Not to mention, he was the one who had helped Whiskey serenade me last week. I shook my head in exasperation. I would never, ever forget that night. Whiskey might have a decent singing voice while sober, but the two of them had sounded like cats in heat .

  Callaway had his jacket in his hand and his arms had full sleeve tattos, literally covered with ink. Not just the standard tats either. These were intricate designs that bled into each other perfectly. If you had asked me, I would have said it looked like some Japanese art I had seen, with birds and waves and patterns weaving it all together .

  It was stunning really .

  “It’s nice to see you again, Becky .”

  He sounded well mannered enough, as usual, but the light in his eyes looked a little too bright. A part of me thought he must be at least a little bit crazy. Also as usual .

  “Can I hold her ?”

  My eyes grew huge in alarm. Whiskey didn’t look at all worried but I just shook my head. I was half afraid that one of Callaway’s piercings would poke the baby .

  Could a nipple ring give you tetanus? It definitely was not worth the risk .

  “I think she needs to go down for a nap .”

  “Okay. Whatever the mama bear says .”

  I snorted at the mama bear comment and gestured to the huge pile of gifts that had been arriving for the past few hours .

  “Can you guys stack these somewhere? Mae is going to have a fit .”

  They both snapped into sharp salutes with huge grins .

  “Yes, ma’am !”

  They waved at the baby, making ridiculous noises as I carried her from the room .

  “Uncle Callaway will see you real soon, ya hear ?”

  Good Lord. Uncle Callaway was it? I groaned and escaped to the nursery. I glanced out the window. There were at least a dozen bikers still outside, waiting to see the baby .

  Maybe I could hold her up in the window and they could take pictures. Yeah, that was a totally normal thing to do .

  But I was well aware there was nothing normal about this .

  I knew Whiskey was popular at the club. Well liked and well respected. He was also high ranking and part of the inner circle with the Club Prez, Devlin .

  But this was like the second coming! It was too darn much. I knew I was being cranky, when they were just doing it to be nice, but I didn’t care .

  Mama bear needed a nap .

  I settled Eliza into her crib after checking her diaper. She’d be hungry soon but I think we both just needed a little peace and quiet for the moment .

  “Petunia, what have we gotten ourselves into ?”

  She looked up at me with her beautiful blue eyes .

  And then made that adorable face she made when she pooped .

  I tickled her belly, deciding that Whiskey had done enough posturing for the day. It was time for him to get his hands dirty .

  Literally .

  “I think it’s time daddy learned how to change you .”

  She gurgled in agreement .

  “Oh, Whiskeyyyy !”

  Chapter Thirty -One

  Whiskey

  “F old here… through the legs… powder… sticky thing here… that’s it. I think we got it !”

  I high-fived Callaway while Becky rolled her eyes at us .

  “Mission diaper change accomplished .”

  “Imagine, it only took the two of you to do it .”

  I smiled at Becky, who looked beautiful as always, if a little tired .

  “Why don’t you go take a nap, sweetheart ?”

  “I’m not tired .”

  “How about food? Do you want me to make something ?”

  She threw up her hands in exasperation and left me alone with the baby .

  “You said I could hold her !”

  Callaway was pouting. His hair was sticking straight up, which made him look like a young Billy Idol. I mean, he had been styling it that way lately. It was almost a mohawk, but not quite .

  I nodded and Callaway held his arms out. Carefully we transferred Petunia over. I pulled her back immediately .

  “Hold up. Take your jacket off. Too many zippers .”

  He nodded, pulling it off and hanging it on the doorknob .

  “Okay, ready .”

  “ Safety pins .”

  He looked down .

  “Oh, right .”

  He pulled off his shirt that had several safety pins attached to it. His chest was covered in tats but he looked clean enough. And his nipple rings weren’t sharp .

  “Better not let her get ahold of your hardware .”

  He grinned .

  “Worth the risk. Gimme .”

  I guided Eliza into his arms and stared, dumbfounded as my best friend fell completely under the spell of a three-month-old baby. I knew without a doubt that she had another protector for life .

  “Coochie coochie coo !”

  I started laughing at the ridiculous sounds Callaway was making. Becky came back in, holding two plates with sandwiches. Her eyes got real wide when she saw him holding the baby against his bare chest .

  “Is that sanitary ?”

  Callaway raised an eyebrow .

  “I’m clean as a whistle. I’m extremely fond of long, hot showers.” He grinned and winked. “I just look dirty .”

  She held up the plates .

  “Well, come into the kitchen anyway. Bring Eliza. I need to feed her .”

  Callaway’s eyes got big now .

  “With your boobs ?”

  “Hell no, you are not watching my woman suckle our child .”

  I grinned .

  “But I am .”

  Becky ignored us both, leading the way to the kitchen .

  “I’ll take her while you two eat .”

  “Or he could take his sandwich to go and I could help .”

  She sighed .

  “You just want to see my boobs .”

  “Guilty as charged .”

  Callaway was already eating the sandwich, nearly finishing it in a few bites. I decided I should eat too. So I could focus on the boobs, I mean, the baby, with my full attention .

  “I’ll be right in to get Cal’s jacket and shirt .”

  “Whatever .”

  Ten minutes later the plates were in the dishwasher, and Callaway was walking down the front path with his shirt and jacket in his hands. The door opened a few minutes later, while Eliza and I were napping in an easy chair .

  A shrill voice woke me from my nap .

  “What is he doing here ?”

  I smiled at Mae, even though she looking more bristly than an aggravated hedgehog. Becky was about to tell her the deal but I beat her to the punch .

  “I’m holding my baby, Mae. What does it look like ?”

  Chapter Thirty -Two

  Becky

  “M ae, can we go into the kitchen please ?”

  “Humph .”

  She followed me in and stood there, looking angrier than a hornet .

  “I was going to tell you .”

  “That you gave in ?”

  “What I thought I saw last year? It wasn’t what it looked like .”

  “Oh, I’ve heard that one before .”

  “It was a scavenger hunt. The girls were sitting on his lap just long enough to snap a picture. They were doing it because he doesn’t mess around. He was worth more points that way .”

  “Points ?”

  “On the hunt .”

  “What was the prize ?”

  “Huh ?”

  “What did these floozies win for sitting on his lap ?”

  “I don’t know .”

  “Humph .”

  Mae crossed her arms and glared at me .

  “I believe him, Mae. And besides that, he has the right to be in his daughter’s life, even if we weren’t getting ba
ck together. And we are .”

  “Where’s he been all this time then ?”

  “That part is my fault. Not his .”

  She narrowed her eyes .

  “So, I guess you don’t want me moving in then. Right Mae ?”

  Whiskey was leaning against the doorframe, our tiny daughter nestled against his massive shoulder. The sight of the two of them together warmed my heart. He really was a natural with her .

  Though he said it was Callaway who really had the magic baby touch .

  Now he was waving a red cape at Mae, and she was about to charge him like a stampeding bull .

  “Whiskey…” I warned. But the daft man winked at me .

  Winked !

  “Move in? You are out of your everloving mind !”

  He nodded .

  “I guess that settles it. Becky and Miss Eliza here will be moving in with me then. That’s good. I would have been sad to have to sell my house .”

  He was whistling as he headed down the hall to the nursery. I chased after him, hissing in a loud whisper .

  “Whiskey! Stop right there !”

  He paused, then headed into the nursery to put the baby down. I watched as he opened the closet and fished out a clean baby bag. I had a few washable ones in steady rotation. They got messy fast .

  “What are you doing ?”

  “Packing, of course .”

  “Why ?”

  “I told you, angle cakes.” He looked at me, his eyes full of warm promise. “I died inside without you. And that was before I even knew about Eliza .”

  He stared down at the baby sleeping in her crib and then back at me. He brushed his rough knuckles over my cheek, sending chills down my spine .

  But not nearly as much as his next words did .

  “I’m never letting you go again .”

  * * *

  I n the end, only a few boxes got packed. Mae started carrying on and Whiskey said we should leave for the night. Surprisingly, she agreed to watching Eliza until morning. I think she just wanted to get us out of there so she could think. She was upset that we were moving out, even though I promised her it was not really decided yet .

  I was oddly nervous when Whiskey picked me up and slung me over his shoulder, carrying me out to his car .

  “Put me down, Whiskey! I can walk, you know !”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m not letting you make a run for it before we settle a few things .”

  “Make a run for it ?”

  He rubbed a hand over my bottom and I gasped in outrage .

  “You can’t just abduct me! It’s insane !”

  He settled me into the passenger seat, locking my seatbelt in place .

  Then he shut the door and used his keys to lock it. He stared at me through the open window, giving me a salty smile .

  “ Watch me .”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Whiskey

  “T his is the living room, and the kitchen. And there are three bedrooms, plenty of space for the three of us .”

  I grabbed Becky, stealing a quick kiss .

  “Of course, we only really need two… for now, anyway. I think I could expand out in back if we ever needed more .”

  She was giving me a suspicious look .

  “More rooms ?”

  “Yeah, it won’t be an issue. I already checked the set backs .”

  “Uh huh. Well, thanks for the tour but I’ve been here before, Whiskey .”

  I gave her a suggestive look .

  “I know you have .”

  She rolled her eyes at me so I grabbed her, giving her another kiss. She was nervous. Skittish even. But that didn’t change the facts .

  Becky was mine. Eliza was my daughter. The three of us were a family now. And that would never change .

  We belonged under one roof .

  Besides, I didn’t think I could stand being separated from either one of them for even one more night .

  “We can change anything you like. I was gearing up to paint the exterior again anyway. You pick the colors. I know you are partial to blue .”

  “ Oh . Okay ?”

  She sounded uncertain .

  “I could redo the kitchen too. And the bathrooms. You could pick out tiles and cabinets and anything you like .”

  “I don’t know if all that is necessary …”

  “Why not? I want you to be happy.” I pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her lips. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted .”

  She nestled her head into my chest. I loved it when she did that. She literally fit perfectly. It made me feel a thousand times stronger. And I was going to need to be strong, to protect my ladies for the rest of our lives .

  “ What’s that ?”

  I looked down to see Becky staring at the dining room wall. Whoops, I’d forgotten about that .

  I might have punched the wall a bunch of times when she first disappeared. I had been out of my mind with worry. And drunk. It wasn’t my finest moment .

  “I promise that will be fixed by the time we bring her in here. Two days to get the guys over here with some drywall. Plus, we need to baby proof the outlets and stuff .”

  “Okay but I haven’t agreed to move in yet, Whiskey. We need to talk about it .”

  “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m your family. You’re mine. And so is Eliza. We belong together .”

  She was chewing her lip in a way that made my stomach turn over .

  “We love each other. Don’t we ?”

  She stared at me, her eyes looking suspiciously watery. I felt actual physical pain when those tears spilled over, running down her cheeks. I loved those cheeks. They were adorable. I brushed the tears away with my thumb .

  “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Please don’t cry .”

  “I’m sorry .”

  “Don’t be sorry, just tell me what’s wrong .”

  “Mae is all the family I have in the world, until Petunia. And now …”

  “You’re afraid to trust me ?”

  “No. I do trust you. It’s just all so new …”

  “I know, sweetheart. Come here, let me hold you .”

  She laid her head against my chest again. I could feel her tears soaking my shirt .

  Dammit! I hated seeing her cry !

  I murmured soothingly into her silky hair as I held her tight. She was resisting the inevitable. I just needed to turn her thinking around. I had an idea of how to convince her, but it was pretty radical. She looked so sad that I felt like a heel for what I was about to do .

  “Alright, let’s talk .”

  “Okay .”

  I picked her up and carried her down the hall to the bedroom .

  “Where are we going ?”

  “ To talk .”

  “In your bedroom ?”

  I smiled at her .

  “Yes. In our bedroom .”

  The door was shut so I kicked it open, carrying her to my bed. She was flat on her back and staring at me in shock when I lashed her arm to the headboard .

  “What are you …”

  Time was of the essence so I moved fast. I wanted a captive audience and this was the only way I could think to get it. Plus, I knew how to wind her up. All I had to do was get her turned on and wanting me. She would see that we belonged together, all under one roof .

  I had her other arm secured before she could even finish the sentence. I was a big guy but my time in the Marines had taught me to move fast. To seize opportunity when it presented itself .

  To win .

  “…doing ?”

  I busied myself with tying her ankles to the footboard and then sat beside her. I fished in bottom drawer of the bedside table for a pair of scissors. Not that I did this often (or ever), but I happened to keep my mom’s sewing kit in there .

  It was perfect for repairing buttons .

  It was also perfect for cutting someone’s clothes off them when they were spread-eagle. I needed her clothes off so I could work my magic… Becky was going
to say yes to moving in with me .

  And she was going to say it tonight .

  Come hell or high water .

  “You were right. We do need to talk, and this is how we’re going to do it .”

  “This is crazy! Why do I have to be tied up ?”

  “Because I want you to have plenty of time to really think about what I’m saying .”

  “We’re just going to talk ?”

  She looked a little disappointed at that. But I was gonna make sure she’d be smiling by morning .

  I just smiled and left to get a glass of water .

  And a bowl of ice chips .

  And whipped cream for sustenance, if I had any .

  It was going to be a very long night and I needed to keep my strength up .

  Chapter Thirty -Four

  Becky

  I tugged at the bonds holding my wrists again. Nothing. Not even an inch of wiggle room, though they weren’t uncomfortable. Whiskey must have been a boy scout back in the day .

  Damn it .

  What the heck was he thinking ?

  I grumbled against the bandana he’d put in my mouth. I could make noises but it was impossible to actually pronounce anything. I kept trying anyway .

  I tried to say ‘how are we supposed to talk’ but it came out ‘huh duhduhduh blalk .’

  Not dignified .

  Now, I wasn’t opposed to a kinky sex game by any stretch of the imagination, but Whiskey had a look in his eye that was making me a little nervous. He looked determined .

  He looked really, really determined .

  And wicked .

  I swallowed, watching him roll his shirt sleeves up his thick, tanned forearms. I was already turned on and he hadn’t even started. I blamed his arms for that .

  A man’s forearms were one of his best parts, in my humble opinion. And his were thick and tanned with a few sexy scars thrown in as a bonus. The hair was golden from countless hours riding in the sun .

  Gorgous arms. Stunning even. Manly perfection in motion. And now he was putting them on display, inches away. I had a strange urge to reach forward with my tongue and lick those sexy forearms .