by Wilder, L.
“I’d like that.”
He stepped closer, really close, then rested his hands on my hips as he pulled me over to him. My mind began to race with a million thoughts as he lowered his lips to mine, kissing me for the very first time. I wanted to hold him there, savor the moment, but before things became heated, he pulled back and studied my face for just a moment. After several seconds, he finally said, “You’re really something, Cass.”
I was remembering the thrill I got from that first stolen kiss when Henley thumped my arm and said, “Hey. Don’t get your panties in a twist. You know I was just teasing. I think Cotton is awesome. Really. I can see why you’re crazy about him.”
“Um hmm,” I grumbled.
“Seriously. I think you two are great together. I’m just ready for y’all to get on with it. You know? It’s time for him to throw you over his shoulder and claim you as his woman,” she laughed. She sat there, staring at me for a second, and when I didn’t say anything, she asked, “Seriously… are you going to tell me what happened when he took you to the back or what?” Heat rushed to my face the second I thought back to what he’d said earlier, and the second Henley noticed, she leaned forward and smiled as she said, “Never mind. You don’t have to say a word. It’s written all over you face.”
“Whatever. No, it’s not,” I said defensively.
“You’re blushing, Cass. I don’t know if I’ve ever even seen you blush before,” she mocked. “So I guess it went well.”
“Yeah, you could say that,” I told her as I tried to suppress my smile, but it was no use. I couldn’t remember when I’d been so relieved, and there was no point in trying to hide it. Before I could say anything more, Henley’s attention was drawn to the end of the bar. Even though my back was to him, I didn’t have to look to know it was Cotton standing there. I could feel the heat of his stare against my skin.
Henley confirmed the feeling when she said, “Well, speak of the devil.”
I leaned in toward her and whispered, “Okay, Henley. This is where you don’t act like your usual self. Rein that shit in when it comes to Cotton. Seriously.”
“Who, me? I don’t know what you are talking about,” she laughed.
When I turned to look at Cotton, I could see the same look of lust in his eyes I’d seen earlier. Damn. I would never get tired of that look. I took a deep breath and tried to settle myself before heading toward him. I’d only taken a few steps when Henley said, “You kids have fun.”
After giving her a warning look, I walked over to Cotton and asked, “Everything okay?”
“Better now,” he growled as his eyes slowly roamed over my body, causing a slight quiver between my legs. He looked toward the end of the bar and asked, “How’s Henley hanging in?”
“The lockdown is getting to her a little bit.”
He smiled and said, “I’d say it’s getting to us all. Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon.”
“That’d be awesome. I could use a day away from all the testosterone,” I laughed.
His eyes dropped to my mouth as he teased, “Too much testosterone?”
“Oh yeah… there’s only so much a girl can take. It’s like running a daycare around here sometimes. You’ve gotta admit… your boys are messy and the hallways smell like feet.” His head fell back as his laughter rumbled through his chest. I couldn’t help but smile. I loved seeing him laugh. For just a brief moment, it looked like the weight of the world had fallen from his shoulders.
Still smiling, he looked back over to me and said, “Yeah, the bathrooms can get pretty bad.”
“Bad? Oh no… they are worse than bad! I’m scared to even walk in there!”
“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m pretty sure there’s something growing in the back of the refrigerator. It’s green, and I think it might have even waved at me.”
“Hold up… you just left it there?” When he nodded, I fussed, “Cotton, that’s so gross! You’re just as bad as the rest of them!”
“Not even going to try to deny it,” he smiled.
Shaking my head, I told him, “You are too much!”
He didn’t respond. He just sat there, quietly staring at me, making me wonder what he was thinking. I leaned closer to him, placing my elbows on the bar as I flirted, “You know… when I see that look, I always wonder if I should be nervous or really, really turned on.”
With a wicked grin, he said, “Only one way to find out.” He didn’t wait for my response. Instead, his warm, strong hand took a hold of mine, and he led me down the hall. I followed him inside his room, feeling my heart beat rapidly against my chest as I waited for him to approach me. He slowly stalked over to me, closing the space between us, while I stood there, unable to take my eyes off of him. I wanted him, all of him… now and forever, and it terrified me. I looked up at him, seeing the passion that lay behind those beautiful dark brown eyes, and my pulse pounded harder, roaring in my ears as I waited for him to take that last step. And then it happened. He was standing in front of me, so close I could feel the heat of his breath against my flesh, and before I could even react, he brought his hands to my face, holding me steady as he lowered his mouth to mine. His intoxicating scent, the subtle mix of cologne and leather, surrounded me, only intensifying my arousal. His tongue explored my mouth, slow and deep, making every cell in my body fill with need. Maybe it was because he’d finally admitted his feelings, but I’d never felt so much from just one kiss. I knew then that I’d never feel the same about any other man.
I was so lost in the moment that I didn’t even notice he’d unfastened the buttons of my skirt until it dropped to the floor. He pushed his hips into mine, revealing his growing erection as the bulging denim ground against my center. My heart was beating out of control. Everything was happening so fast, but it felt like a dream, every detail playing out in slow motion. I wanted it so much. I wanted him so much, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer. Groaning into his mouth, I eagerly unbuckled his belt and released him from his jeans. I reached for him, my fingertips gently brushing across his swollen shaft. I heard him take in a deep breath as he took hold of the hem of my sweater and pulled it over my head. He began kissing me again as he reached behind me to remove my lace bra.
Once it hit the floor, his eyes dropped to my breasts, and he breathed, “So damn perfect.” He let out a low growl as he reached for my ass, lifting me up close to him.
“Cotton…,” I whispered as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me over to the bed, laying me flat on my back. As soon as he removed my boots and his, he covered me with the warmth of his body. He gently took my nipple in his mouth, taking his time as he nipped at my sensitive skin. A moan permeated the room as I arched my back, pressing my breasts toward him. The bristles of his two-day old beard brushed against my skin when he lowered his mouth to the curves of my stomach, licking and nipping my flesh as he settled himself between my legs. When his teeth raked across my panties, I groaned out with pleasure. With one quick jerk, he ripped them from my waist, making my legs quiver as his hand moved between my thighs. His fingers circled my clit, while he continued to torment me with his mouth. When his fingers entered me, I rocked my hips against his hand, encouraging him to move faster, but it made no difference. He was the one in command of my body, and he was determined to make me shatter with his touch. My clit throbbed with the need for release, causing me to whimper as my body tensed and filled with heat. When the sensation grew to be more than I could bear, I screamed out with pleasure, calling out Cotton’s name over and over as my orgasm exploded, rocking me to my very core. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath.
“You’re even more beautiful when you cum,” he rasped as he began to pull his shirt over his head, exposing the defined muscles of his bare chest. Unable to resist the temptation, my fingers quickly started to roam over the lines of his colorful ink… my god, he was gorgeous.
As I continued to explore him with my hand, I slowly eased up on my knees
, letting my eyes soak in the beauty of his body. When I caught sight of his throbbing erection, I couldn’t resist the temptation to touch him. I eagerly reached out for him, taking him in my hand, then slowly started to stroke him. Without the least bit of resistance, he lowered his back to the mattress. I felt him grow even harder as I moved my hand up and down his long, thick shaft. His eyes closed and he groaned as I leaned forward, gently licking the tip of his cock.
“Fuck, you make me so hard,” he growled.
“Hmm,” I moaned and opened my mouth wider. He tangled his hands in my hair, silently begging me for more as I took him in my mouth as far as I could. When he tilted his head back and moaned my name, I became even more aroused. I loved seeing him like this, completely lost in the pleasure I was giving him. A low rumble worked its way through his chest when I started to move faster, licking and sucking his cock, making him struggle to maintain control. With deep satisfaction, I listened to his sharp breaths and watched the torment on his face until his eyes suddenly opened and locked on mine.
“Love your mouth, Cass, but I need inside of you… now,” he growled.
When he reached for his jeans, I whispered, “Please don’t. Not this time… I’m on the shot. I want to feel you… all of you.”
I lay back on the bed, and without hesitation, he settled himself between my legs. He looked down at my body with desire so intense I could feel the heat of his gaze burn against my skin. My body tingled with lust when he teased my entrance with his cock, bringing me to the point of pure agony before he drove deep inside me in one swift thrust. He filled me, completely. A needful moan vibrated through his chest as he gazed down upon my naked body. He lowered his face to my neck, the bristles of his beard tickling against my skin as he nipped and sucked along the contours of my neck. Once he knew I’d adjusted to him, he withdrew slowly, deliberately, causing chills to run down my spine as I waited for him to enter me again. He drove deeper inside me as I tightened around him, and a deep moan vibrated through his chest as he began to increase his pace. I moved with him; our rhythm was flawless, like our bodies had been made for each other. As we continued to move together, pleasure crashed through me like a tidal wave. My body tensed from the exquisite agony of another build, causing him to lose all control. He took me harder, faster, forcing me closer to the edge.
“I want to feel you come undone, Cass,” he whispered. I felt his breath against my neck as his teeth raked against my skin.
He continued to whisper in my ear, but I didn’t understand him. I was too far gone. My body trembled with anticipation as he slid one hand down between our bodies. As soon as he brushed his thumb over my swollen clit, I was gone. I’d lost all sense of control, and there was nothing I could do but scream out my pleasure when my body exploded and jolted around him. I raked my nails across his back as I clamped down around him, urging him to give in to his release. Unable to contain his climax any longer, Cotton’s body tensed, and he drove into me one last time, holding himself deep inside me as he found his release.
While he still remained inside me, his body rested on top of mine, and I could feel the thunder of his heartbeat pulse against my chest. I loved having the weight of his body pressed against mine and groaned with displeasure when he rolled to the side, collapsing with exhaustion onto the bed. Missing his warmth, I curled up next to him, resting my head on his shoulder. I lay there quietly as I waited for the tremors in my body to settle. We’d never had sex like that before: possessive, hungry, and filled with need and heat. It was like Cotton wanted to own my body, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted him, all of him, and as I listened to his breathing begin to slow, I felt a contentment I’d never felt before. He gave me a light squeeze, pulling me from my thoughts.
A sexy grin spread across his face as he said, “Definitely the best part of my day.”
“Mine, too,” I laughed, feeling a warmth in my heart like I’d never known.
A fire burned deep inside me, one fueled by the need to protect what was mine. When things were good with my family and my brothers, the fire would simmer, low and dim, and I wouldn’t even know it was there. But when there was trouble, or when my family was threatened, the fire would rage inside me like a beast clawing its way out of a cage. Cass brought a different fuel to my flame. My need for her burned deep within me, and after spending the night with her, I knew I’d never get enough of her. She’d fallen asleep in my arms, and I couldn’t remember a night when I’d slept so soundly. She was so warm and soft, and I would have liked nothing more than to spend the entire day tangled in the sheets with her. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Fuck fate. Fuck fate and the goddamn horse she rode in on.
“Cotton,” Maverick called as he banged on my door. I rolled over to check the clock on my nightstand and saw it was only eight in the morning—too damn early for anyone to be knocking at my door.
“Yeah?” I grumbled.
“There’s someone here to see you.”
“You gonna tell me who?” I snapped.
“Some woman. Says she’s a friend of yours,” Maverick replied. After a short pause, he said, “Her name is Sara Locke. Said she’s come all the way from Alaska.”
Fuck. The sound of her name was like a punch to the gut, and even though I hadn’t seen her or heard from her in almost twenty-five years, I could still see a perfect image of her face when I closed my eyes. We had history, but that time had come and gone. So why had she come after all this time? What was so damn important she’d come to my club, looking for me? Whatever it was, I had a feeling it wasn’t good.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” I told him as I pulled myself out of bed. With Cassidy still sleeping soundly, I headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I came back out, Cass was awake and propped up on her elbows, giving me a questioning look. Unable to resist the temptation, I dropped my towel to the floor and waited as the expression on her face quickly changed. I loved watching her eyes instantly fill with lust, like she could never get enough of me.
With a mischievous smile, she fussed, “You did that on purpose.”
“Did what?” I taunted as I reached for my jeans. She sat there, watching me appreciatively as I pulled them up over my hips.
“You know what,” she said playfully. “You’re just a tease.”
As I pulled my t-shirt over my head, I said, “You’re the tease, sweetheart. Lying there, wearing nothing but the smile I put on your face, making it hard as hell to walk out of this room.” I reached for my boots and said, “Unfortunately for me, I’ve got some things I’ve got to tend to. Might be awhile.”
“I’d say that’s unfortunate for both of us, but we’ll have time for that later. I’ve got tons to do today too. I’ll catch you later when you’re done.”
After kissing her long and hard, I headed out to find Maverick. I wanted to see if he had any idea why Sara had come looking for me. I found him in the kitchen, talking to Guardrail, and as soon as I walked into the room, Maverick turned to me and said, “She’s waiting in the bar.”
“Did she say what she wanted?”
“I asked, but she said she’d explain everything to you,” Maverick answered.
“Well, I’d say whatever it is, it can’t be good. It’s been too fucking long, and she wouldn’t come all the way from Alaska just to catch up on old times,” Guardrail clipped.
Guardrail was there when Sara left for college. He’d just patched in around the time her father was killed by a member of a rival club. Like the rest of us, he was there to witness the fallout between her mother and the club. It wasn’t good. Needing someone to blame, her mother cut ties with everyone involved with the club and pushed her daughter to do the same. She wanted Sara to start a life outside of the Satan’s Fury MC, so she sent her off to college in another state, making her leave everything she cared about behind. Knowing in the end it was for the best thing for Sara, I never tried to stop her. She was beyond brilliant and had a talent with technology like I’d never seen. He
ll, even Big Mike would have trouble going up against her, and I didn’t feel right holding her back, preventing her from being everything she could be. When I heard about her success in college and later with her own security firm, I knew it’d been the right decision. That didn’t mean it was easy. Hell, it damn near broke me to see her go, and Guardrail knew it.
I ran my hand down the back of my neck, trying to ease some of the building tension, and said, “You two stay close. I need to talk to you about what Big found last night when I finish up with her.”
Just before I turned to leave, Maverick said, “We’ll be here.”
“Cotton,” Guardrail called out.
I turned back to him and said, “Yeah?”
“Be prepared, brother. She’s was a beauty before, but now… she’s a total knockout,” he warned.
Trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach, I turned and headed for the bar. When I walked in, Sara was sitting with her back to me. She was looking down at her phone, completely focused on the screen, and didn’t even realize I was standing behind her. Guardrail was right. She’d grown into a beautiful woman. She was still the same Sara, but there was an elegance to her that hadn’t been there before. Her chestnut hair was shorter than I remembered, cut in some trendy style that rested just below her shoulders. It suited her, just like the dark denim jacket and black leggings she was wearing. I cleared my throat as I sat down beside her, drawing her attention to me. When she finally turned to face me, a thousand memories came rushing back, slamming me right in the gut, and I had to fight the urge to turn away. Those damn eyes, so fucking blue you’d think they were plucked straight from the sky, were staring at me with such intensity I almost lost my breath.
“Hey,” she said softly. “It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. Too long,” I clipped. I took a deep breath as I tried to sort through the blur of thoughts racing through my head. Fuck. I wanted to slam my fist on the counter and yell at her, releasing all of the pent-up feelings raging inside me. I wanted an explanation. I deserved to know why she hadn’t contacted me, not even once over the past twenty-five years. The only way I knew anything about what was going on in her life was Doc. Sara’s mother trusted him and confided in him from time to time, telling him Sara had gotten married and then divorced when her piece of shit husband cheated on her. But all that happened years ago. I wanted to know what had made her come back now, what was so damn important that she’d come to me after so much time had passed. But I couldn’t do it. She was Sara, the girl who stole my heart when I was a kid. She looked like the same girl, sounded the same… even smelled the same. I inhaled, and the familiar scent of her Channel No. 5 triggered an unwanted memory, making it difficult to even look at her. I cleared my throat and asked, “What the hell are you doing here, Sara?”