“Focus, Frazzle.”
I wrinkled my nose, but kept quiet.
“Your dad protected his family. No less than what me or Doc would have done.”
I sighed, dropping my head to his chest again. “I know.”
“So my only question is, are you going to lean in or freak out?”
“I can’t do both?”
He chuckled. “Nope. You gotta pick one, baby. If you lean in, though, I’ll make sure it’s worth your while.”
I bit my lip and smiled up at him. “I’m fixin’ to lean in, Smoky. Better get your dick ready to make it worth my while.”
He laughed, lifting me and throwing me on the bed, pulling my sweats and panties off and burying his face between my legs.
I leaned in. And sideways, and he definitely made it worth my while.
Raquel
Two years later…
I SET THE pregnancy test stick on the counter and washed my hands. Orion was at the warehouse checking on the progress of our new strain he affectionately called ‘Razzle Dazzle’ in honor of my research. We had already extracted a liquid that was working beautifully on adults with challenges, and he had plans to make edibles and wax in the near future.
We’d been married a little over a year ago, and our life was close to perfect in my opinion. We’d had the wedding of my dreams with Orion’s club, my brother’s club, family and friends all in attendance. Sierra, Violet, and Olivia were my bridesmaids and Orion had his brother, dad, and Tristan as his groomsmen. My younger brothers acted as ushers, although, they were somewhat useless at keeping any kind of order. Not that I judged them too harshly. How do you keep bikers from stomping all over the white carpet runner when you’re only nineteen and twenty-one years old? It’s not easy.
I’d made the mistake of popping an edible before we said our vows, so I found myself giggling a lot through the ceremony. When the preacher had said, “You may kiss your bride,” I had a different idea, running my tongue up Orion’s cheek and announcing, “I licked him, he’s mine.”
Orion’s family (and the few friends who knew them well) burst into belly laughs, then Orion pulled me in for an epic wedding kiss that was full of love, promise, and tongue.
Sundance had insisted we take one of the cabins on the compound property, rather than looking for a home outside the walls. From the little Orion shared, I knew the club was fixing for a war they didn’t want, but ultimately had been forced to participate in with the Predators, so it made sense they wanted us close and within the safety of the compound. Orca’s mutilated corpse had been found deep in the woods and the cops determined it to be a hiking accident, his body picked at by predators. I knew better, but kept that knowledge to myself.
Since we figured we’d be here a while, we’d picked the biggest cabin, mostly because it had been gutted a few years ago, so it was a blank canvas. It took six months to make it the home we both wanted and needed, and I loved every inch of it. We had three bedrooms plus a den, three and half bathrooms, along with a huge kitchen and great room. Orion and his dad had attached a three-car garage to the side of the cabin, giving us access via the laundry room which they’d expanded and made more of a mud room.
My mom wasn’t too thrilled with me living in Colorado permanently, but Dad promised to fly her here anytime she wanted, so she stopped harping on me. Sort of.
“Babe?” Orion called and I grabbed the stick and made my way to the kitchen.
“Hey, Smoky,” I said.
He kissed me gently. “What are you hiding behind your back?”
“Okay, you know how I keep crying all the time?”
“Nope,” he deadpanned. “I have never known you to be anything but even-keeled.”
I grinned. “And my nipples are extra sensitive?”
“Not to mention your tits have doubled in size.”
“They have not.”
“Yeah, baby, they have. It’s like you’re preg—wait, are you pregnant?”
“Let’s find out together.” I pulled the stick out and held it up.
Orion leaned closer. “What do the two lines mean?”
“It means that in about eight months, you’re gonna be a daddy.”
“Fuck, seriously?”
“Yep.”
He threw his arms around me, picking me up and spinning me in a circle. “I fucking love you, baby.”
I laughed. “I fucking love you too, Smoky.”
Setting me on my feet, he kissed me, laying his hand on my belly. “Our very own little howler.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Me neither,” he said, kneeling in front of me and kissing my belly. “Listen here, little pup, you need to go easy on your mama. No making her sick or growing so fast her back goes out.”
I giggled, sliding my hands into Orion’s hair.
“And no fucking coming early,” he continued. “You will cook the adequate amount of time and be healthy.”
I groaned. “Baby, I’m not baking a cake.”
He looked up at me. “No, it’s way more important than that. You’re baking a human.”
I grinned and cupped his chin. “I suppose you’re right.”
He rose to his feet and kissed me gently. “So fuckin’ proud of you, sweetheart.”
I grinned. “Back atya.”
“Are we going out or am I cooking?”
“Out,” I said. “Definitely out.”
“Bistro?”
“Yes, please,” I said.
“I’ll clean up and we’ll go.”
He kissed me again and went to clean up.
* * *
Eight and a half months later…
“Your little baby cretin is late,” I complained, inching my way down the stairs of our home. My ankles were the size of my thighs, and I could barely move without waddling in discomfort.
Orion smiled gently from the bottom of the stairs and held his hand out. “I know, baby. You’ll be induced tomorrow and all of this will be over.”
“I don’t want to wait—” Sudden wetness flooded against my thighs and I froze. “Shit. I peed again.”
“I don’t think that’s pee, Razzle,” Orion countered.
I glanced down and could barely see over my belly a huge puddle at my feet. “Oh, my god, I think my water broke.”
He grinned. “Looks like it. Come on, Razzle, we’ll get you to the hospital.”
“Call Mom.”
My mother had run up to the main cabin to grab a set of keys for the cabin next to us. My whole family would be descending upon us the day after tomorrow and Mom wanted to stock it with food.
Doc and Olivia were already here with the twins, but they’d opted to stay in the main cabin, so there’d be more room for Mom, Dad, and my brothers
“I will, baby,” Orion promised, his cell phone already out of his pocket.
“And Tristan.”
“On it,” he promised, helping me to my car and helping me inside before securing my seatbelt.
“I need my bag.”
“I’ll get it.”
“And my purse.”
He grinned, kissing me gently. “I’ll get everything, Frazzle. Don’t worry.”
He left me briefly to grab everything I needed and then we drove to the hospital where I was quickly settled into a birthing room.
Tristan and Olivia arrived a few minutes later with my mom and I settled in for what I expected would be a long labor.
I was wrong.
Luca Thorne Graves arrived two hours later, nine pounds six ounces, and twenty-three inches long, perfectly pink and healthy, with a quick howl, then a quiet cool that I was sure he’d inherited from his daddy.
“He’s perfect,” I whispered, smiling down at my beautiful little boy with the ice blue eyes. Luca stared up at me and then his lips began to purse, so I settled him to my breast and he took the sustenance my body offered.
“You’re perfect,” Orion said, leaning down to kiss me. “Thank you.”
I
reached up and stroked his beard. “You’re welcome.”
As our family filtered in and out of my room, greeting its newest member, I held tight to my husband and baby, sending up a silent prayer of thanks for the perfection that I’d been given.
I was beyond blessed.
Unedited Copyright ©2019 Trixie Publishing, Inc.
Sundance
I’m the president of the Primal Howlers out of Monument, Colorado. My wife was taken from me ten years ago, leaving me to raise our three children alone. I’ve been diagnosed with a disease that I’m not sure I’ll beat, and my club’s in the crosshairs of a rival coup.
But enough about the upside of my life, because Wyatt Bates just walked into it, her confidence enough to rock my world, but her sweetness might just be the end of me.
Wyatt
I’ve lost almost everyone who ever loved me. Cancer took them all, so the last thing I’m looking for is a relationship that will break me again.
Then I meet Thorne “Sundance” Graves and my world is turned on its head by the sexy as hell biker. Now I must choose between a chance at love or the risk of complete devastation.
PROLOGUE
Wyatt
Six months ago…
“Daddy, we gotta go,” I said, grabbing my father’s jacket out of the closet and stepping into the family room. My father, who was supposed to start chemo today, still had his butt planted in front of the television, volume pegged on ninety-two, as always, and watching one of the Real Housewives shows. No, not watching, pretending to watch.
“Daddy!” I growled over the television, grabbing the remote from the side table and turning it off.
“Hey, I was watching that.”
I shook my head. “We need to go.”
“Bullshit,” he countered. “Why won’t you just let me die already?”
I bit back tears. “Get your ass in my car, old man, or I’ll spend every last dime I have finding a way to make you live forever.”
“There’d be a lot more dimes if you’d let me die so I can leave you your fucking inheritance.”
“Daddy, I don’t need your money. I’d rather have you.”
God, he was impossible. He and Teddy were all I had left. My older brother was currently in an assisted living facility, having the mental capacity of about a twelve-year-old, and he’d been there since my mother had died ten years ago. She’d left me enough money to last me to old age, and pay Teddy’s medical bills, but so far I hadn’t touched it. I owned a successful PR firm and I loved my work.
But I’d had to take a little time off to deal with my dad, which meant my second in command, Ripley, was taking over my clients until my dad’s health was stabilized. He was pushing eighty-five, and this new cancer diagnosis meant he was living on borrowed time.
Dad groaned as he pushed himself out of the chair. “Can’t just let an old man smoke his reefer and die quietly,” he muttered. “Gotta try and save my life.”
I rolled my eyes as I settled his jacket over his shoulders and helped him to my car. We pulled up to the oncology center and I helped him into the building, sitting him in a lobby chair before checking him in.
When I walked back to where I’d set him, he was asleep. I bit my lip, once again forcing back tears. Maybe this was all too much for him. Maybe I should just let him die. I knew I was being selfish, but I just couldn’t imagine him not being around.
“William?” a nurse called.
I tapped his shoulder. “Daddy?”
He blinked up at me and then we walked slowly back to his chemo area. We arrived to find a man sitting near Dad, a needle in his arm, and a vomit bag in front of him, which he was using quite violently.
“Mr. Graves,” the nurse cried as she rushed to him. “Let me get you something for the nausea.”
“I think we’re well past nausea, sweetheart,” Mr. Graves retorted, and my heart squeezed.
Lordy, he had the sexiest voice alive.
“I’m good,” he said.
“I’ll just get Mr. Bates settled and then I’ll get you something to calm your stomach.” She turned back to my father. “I’m Tina. I’m so sorry, we’re a bit short staffed today.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “We’ve got all the time in the world. Don’t we, Daddy?”
“I want to sleep, so if I can sleep, then we got all the time in the world.”
“He’s having a rough morning,” I explained.
“Bullshit,” he growled. “I’m having a rough life, which could be over, but my pain in the ass daughter won’t let me die.”
I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face now. “Daddy, please.”
But my plea fell on deaf ears because he was once again fast asleep.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Tina asked.
I pressed my lips into a flat line and nodded.
“Have a seat. I’ll get Mr. Graves something for his nausea, then get your dad sorted.”
I nodded again, still unable to find my voice. I set my purse on the floor and sat in the chair between my dad and Mr. Graves, then linked my fingers together and tried not to completely lose it in the middle of chemo row (my dad’s not so affectionate term).
“You’re doin’ the right thing,” Mr. Graves said quietly.
“Hm?” I’d heard him, but I wasn’t quite ready to form actual words, so I pivoted slightly to look at him.
“You’re doin’ the right thing, sweetheart. Your dad’ll appreciate it. Eventually.”
Him calling me sweetheart broke me, and I grabbed my purse and stood. “Excuse me,” I rasped and rushed to the bathroom like the coward I was, bursting into tears as I leaned over the sink. It took me a good ten minutes to pull myself together and I headed back to Dad to find him still asleep, but now hooked up to his chemo.
Mr. Graves watched me closely, and his ice blue eyes seemed to see into my soul. It was both comforting and disconcerting. I gave him a slight smile and took my seat again. “I’m sorry for rushing off, Mr. Graves.” He choked on a laugh and I frowned. “Did I say something funny?”
“Sundance.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Call me Sundance. Mr. Graves is someone’s science teacher.”
I gave him a genuine smile this time. “I suppose it is, isn’t it? But it’s a good, strong name, either way.”
“I appreciate that.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked. “Can I grab you a Sprite or saltines or something?”
“I’m good, sweetheart. The nurse gave me something and it’s workin’.”
“If that changes, please let me know.” I nodded to my snoring father. “Dad’s not requiring my help right now.”
Sundance smiled. “Thanks.”
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence… well, other than Dad’s snoring… I turned back to Sundance. “Are you always here alone?”
“No.”
When I realized I wasn’t going to get more than that, I nodded. “Oh, okay. Good.”
My phone started buzzing in my purse, so I took the lull in the wickedly inspired conversation to answer it. “Wyatt Bates.”
* * *
Sundance
Just fuckin’ kill me now.
Wyatt. Of course her name’s Wyatt. Fuckin’ sexy name for a fuckin’ sexy woman, and I’m sittin’ here looking as wrecked and as old as her father. Jesus!
I slid my beanie lower in an effort to cover more of my now totally bald head, wishing for my beard back to hide my expressions. My wife used to joke that if I thought real hard, my beard would grow.
That was not the case now.
At least I’d stopped puking in front of her.
“No, Ripley, he cannot DM random dick pics to women on Instagram. Well, if you know that, why is he still doing it?” Wyatt dropped her forehead to her palm and shook her head. “Reel him in, because if I have to do it, his dick will no longer be attached to his body and the problem will be solved.”
This last part she practic
ally whispered, but I heard it and couldn’t stop a chuckle.
“He’s asleep,” she continued. “As ornery as ever. Yes, exactly. No,” she said with a sigh. “I needed the distraction. Okay, thanks.”
She hung up and dropped her phone in her purse just as my son, Orion, walked in.
“Hey, Pops.” I gave him a chin lift and he sat in the chair beside me. “How are you feeling?”
“Never better.”
Wyatt faced me and raised an eyebrow. Jesus, she was beautiful.
“He’s bullshitting me, right?” Orion said, and Wyatt nodded.
“I’m fine,” I said.
Orion reached his hand out. “I’m Orion.”
“Wyatt,” she said, and shook his hand.
“Fuckin’ cool as shit name,” my boy said.
“Thanks.” She smiled. “My dad wanted a boy.”
“So did mine,” Orion retorted, and I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Quit flirtin’ with the poor woman,” I snarled.
“Don’t stop him on my account,” Wyatt said. “I don’t get a whole lot of normal human interaction these days.”
“See, Pops? Some people enjoy my conversation.”
“Well, other people enjoy it more when you stop talkin’.”
Orion grinned. “You’re feeling better.”
“This is him when he feels better?” Wyatt asked.
Orion laughed. “Pretty much.”
“Leave the poor woman alone,” I grumbled.
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s been a long time since a gorgeous man verbally sparred with me. It’s a nice change.”
Orion grinned. “She thinks I’m gorgeous, Pops.”
I glared at my kid. He needed to quit while he was ahead.
“Mr. Graves?”
I focused on Tina who walked over to me and leaned in to check my IV.
“You’re about ready to get out of here,” she said. “How’s your nausea?”
“Gone,” I said.
“Good.” She smiled and disconnected me from the life-saving poison. “Feel free to sit here for a bit and get your sea legs under you, but you can head out anytime.”
Primal Howl (Primal Howlers MC Book 1) Page 17