Looking around his simple bathroom devoid of the beauty products, soaps, and candles that dotted Ava’s bathroom, he found it empty. There came a time in a man’s life when he had to come to terms with certain things. Moving in with Ava was one of them. Learning about Dipshit had only added to his natural tendencies, and protectiveness surged in him afresh. It was time to put the place up for sale.
Sammi was installed in the loft of her billionaire prosecutor boyfriend. He’d converted half the place to store clothing and whatnot for her business. A light shudder coursed through Puck, thinking about Stanton. Wasn’t sure he’d ever like the guy. A little rough around the edges for a rich guy, but he was still the guy fucking his kid sister.
Funny, this place used to be a haven for him. He recalled the pride he felt the day he’d scraped together enough money for the down payment. Now he couldn’t stand being in the house alone for more than an hour. Done drying himself, Puck hung up the wet towels, padded into the bedroom, and threw on a pair of jeans. Anticipation of getting to Ava was riding him hard. It had gotten to the point that by the time the sun started to set, he got antsy to be at her side.
The roads were dry, the air crisp. It was still cold as fuck, but he could take her out for a short ride. After shooting her a text to be ready for him, Puck locked up the house and got on his bike.
He pulled up to the curb of her house and waited. Ava came out dressed in layers and a thick jacket. Hooking his arm around her waist, he pulled her in for a deep kiss.
“You okay?” she asked, searching his eyes.
“Now I am,” he replied, giving her a cocky smirk. Her gaze followed the upward movement of his lips, glancing over his nose and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes. Leaning into him, she sighed against his lips before grazing them lightly.
He handed her a pair of leather gauntlets and a helmet. Slipping in behind him, she latched her hands around his stomach, and he pulled out. They rode outside of the city, over still country roads, the sun warming their backs. Crossing a bridge over the Hudson river, he drove onto a rocky crag overlooking a large span of water.
They walked to the outcrop, and Ava leaned over the rail. The sun was spread out over the horizon, leaving the sky layered with filaments of tangerine orange and gold. The wind whipped around them, flinging Ava’s hair across her cheeks. Puck leaned in, caught a few strands, and lifted them away from her stunning face. Pops of green slivers in her eyes stood out, her skin flushed pink, and her lips were a juicy cherry-red color.
“It’s done,” Puck said. “If he knows what’s good for him—and after today, I’m sure he does—you’ll never see his face again. Found out he was supplying Kingpin in jail and requested a transfer to follow him to Green Haven.”
“Damn,” she murmured.
“Dipshit’s absence will slow Kingpin down for a while. We’ll have to stay vigilant to keep him in check for as long as he’s behind bars.”
Ava’s hand drifted over Puck’s and squeezed. “Thank you. You didn’t have to help me, but you did it anyway.”
“’Course I did.”
“It relieves my guilt over Sasha,” she confessed.
“I see you, angel, and I’d do anything for you. Even without the sex, I would’ve done anything to get closer to you when I was in jail.” He leaned close to her. “Wanna know why?” he teased.
She batted her lashes at him coyly and purred, “Why?”
“’Cause I’m in love with you, Ava. You’re my old lady, and I want it all. I want my jacket on your back with big ole letters branding you as “Property of Puck,” I want the ring on your finger, and my baby in your belly.”
She threw her head back, and her laugh rang out across the expanse of space. “Okay, okay. It’s yours. You know I love you to death. I never got over you the first time around. And then, to top it off, I can’t seem to have an orgasm with anyone else, so…” she paused with a dramatic sigh, “I guess I’m stuck with you.”
“Oh, it’s my skills in bed that did it, huh?”
“Not only that,” she quipped, “but it definitely tips the scale when you get on my last nerve.”
Tangling their fingers together, his eyes turned serious. “I made an appointment with a therapist. Robert something or other.”
“I know Robert. He’s a good guy. You’ll get along with him.”
Puck slipped his hand away from hers and sauntered over to his bike. Opening the hard-shell pannier on the side, he pulled out a jacket. He heard her gasp behind him.
Good.
Twisting around, he shot a look over his shoulder and found her covering her gaping mouth.
Walking toward her at a languid pace, he held it up. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed.
She was right. It was. He’d had Hoodie, a brother with wicked design skills, make graphics for the back. It had the Demon Squad logo flanked by angel wings, and a bottom rocker etched with the words, “Property of Puck.”
Her hand slipped away. Tears glistened in her eyes, the orange sky backlighting her mahogany hair. Yanking it from his hand, she stripped off her coat and slipped the black leather biker jacket on. Stuffing her hands in the front pockets, she gently dragged one of her hands out and opened it. A little black velvet box was nestled in the palm of her hand.
“You didn’t,” she murmured, her head sweeping from side to side, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I did,” he confirmed with a grin. “Whatcha gonna do about it?”
Taking the box from her trembling hands, he flipped it open and turned it toward her. It was a solitaire, clear and brilliant, just like her. Glints of coral orange reflected off the diamond from the setting sun.
“Whatever you decide, you’ll have me forever. I’m not going anywhere. You make me a better man. Not perfect, never that,” he said, one corner of his lips tipping up sardonically. “You’ve always been in my corner, and if I can be a better man, I’ll try. For you.”
Tears dropping faster, she silently held out her hand. He grabbed her fingers, feeling the tremor in them, and slid the ring on. He lifted her hand to his lips and gently brushed her knuckles. Releasing her, he opened his arms, and she flew into them. He grasped her tightly against his chest, as tightly as he could, because he was never letting this woman go.
“It was worth it, you know?” she said, her tears wetting the side of his throat. “To be here with you makes the times apart almost worth it.”
“I’m a lucky bastard to have gotten a second and third chance,” he murmured. Gripping the back of her neck, he pulled her head back and dropped kisses along her cheek down to her chin. “There’s no getting away from me now. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, babe, and I love you, too,” she murmured against his lips.
His mouth slanted over hers in a bruising kiss.
A kiss expressing everything he felt for her.
A kiss that claimed her for what she was.
His property.
The End
Would you like to read a BONUS EPILOGUE? Subscribe to my newsletter and get it for FREE: https://BookHip.com/QNMVHL
Please Review This Book!
If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub or all three! I Every little bit helps for a spanking new series from a self-published author, and your opinion counts to me. Trust me, I read each and every review!
US: https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review?&asin=B08N1BTKHS
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review?&asin=B08N1BTKHS
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/review/create-review?&asin=B08N1BTKHS
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/review/create-review?&asin=B08N1BTKHS
More by Monique Moreau
Fans of sizzling hot alpha bikers and the sassy, strong women who can tame them will love Monique Moreau's steamy new series.
The Demon Squad MC Series
Kingdom’s Reign (Book I)
A grieving biker. A lo
ve jaded attorney. Can they heal each other's wounds?
Since the death of his patch brother, Kingdom has felt nothing but rage and loss. Until, he meets Sage on a trip to a tattoo shop to get fresh ink for his fallen brother. She’s sexy. Brilliant. And exactly the kind of challenge that makes him ache. If asked whether he deserves her, Kingdom's straight-up answer would be, hell no. But, nothing will stop him from taking what’s his. Not even her.
Being a no-nonsense defense attorney, the second Sage caught her fiancé cheating she'd sworn off men. While breaking that rule for a tatted up member of an MC seems like a monumentally bad idea, she can’t fight her attraction to Kingdom. When he invites her on a ride, she finds herself wanting so much more. Sage yearns to indulge in one of the sexiest and most dangerous men she's met, but fears risking her battered heart.
Can the unlikely pair help each other move on from the wounds of the past? Or will club tensions with a rival MC find a way to use their weaknesses against them?
Looking for a steamy, standalone bad boy biker romance with plenty of heat? Click here!
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/KingdomsReign
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/KingdomsReignUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/KingdomsReignCA
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/KingdomsReignAU
Cutter’s Claim (Book II)
Who needs more than bikes and willing women? Not Cutter. Until he meets Greta, a former biker princess who turned her back on club life. She challenges him every step of the way, and Cutter doesn't tolerate disobedience.
Greta lives by one rule: No Bikers. She didn't escape her father's MC and build a new life for herself just to be brought down by a dirty biker. Not even hot, domineering Cutter could change her mind.
Cutter is ready to play dirty. In their battle of wills, he begins to master her deepest desires. Can she find the inner strength to submit to him? Meanwhile, a danger from the past lurks in the shadows—ready to pounce.
Cutter's Claim is a steamy, standalone bad boy biker romance with plenty of heat.
Looking to ride in the fast lane? Click here!
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/CuttersClaim
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/CuttersClaimUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/CuttersClaimCA
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/CuttersClaimAU
If you’ve already read Book Two, Cutter’s Claim, subscribe to my newsletter and check out this Dark and Spicy Bonus Material of Cutter and Greta here!
https://BookHip.com/ZCZTTV
Loki’s Luck (Book III)
To punish himself for his baby brother's death, Loki is determined to live a life of abstinence - no partying, no women, no nothing. He stays focused by throwing himself into managing his MC's new gym. But when he's roped into teaching a self-defense class, the supervisor threatens his self-control. She's an annoying little pixie that loves butting into his business, but Loki still finds his gaze lingering on her curves.
As a social worker, Abby's calling is to help troubled souls, and she's never met anyone more broken than Loki. Determined to heal him, no matter what it takes, she offers him a deal: he can have her - any way he wants - in exchange for stories from his past. Whatever it takes for her to uncover the truth, she's game.
But when Loki's enemies hurt Abby to get to him, the biker revs up for a long-overdue fight. He'll have to convince Abby she's safer by his side or risk losing all of the progress they made.
Looking for a steamy ride with a splash of power exchange? Look no further!
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/LokisLuck
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/LokisLuckUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/LokisLuckCA
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/LokisLuckAU
Stanton’s Sins (Book IV)
A biker princess. A broken billionaire. Will his sins come back to haunt them?
The darling little sister of the Demon Squad MC, Sammi loved everything about growing up in the club, including her infuriating older brother Puck. She'd do anything for Puck. After he gets arrested, she marches into the courtroom to give him a piece of her mind and marches out with the prosecutor's full attention.
Recently clean and sober, prosecutor Stanton Prescott is focused on two things: working his caseload and making his very unprivate life, well…private. But when a sassy woman interrupts one of his cases to give the defendant a dressing down, she’s a temptation he can’t resist.
Stanton tracks Sammi down and makes her a proposal – be her sugar daddy in exchange for a taste of her luscious body. After a month in rehab, Stanton’s active imagination is dying to be set loose. He counts on her to agree, in exchange for getting Puck out of prison. What he doesn’t expect is for Sammi to see past his sophisticated mask. She not only sees him, but revels in the demanding beast within.
Together the pair battle angry exes, suspicious bikers, and other shadowy figures. Will their unlikely love survive the sins of Stanton's past?
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/StantonSins
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/StantonSinsUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/StantonSinsCA
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/StantonSinsAU
Join Monique’s Mailing list to receive goodies and release information: https://www.subscribepage.com/moniquemoreau
I have a Facebook page just for readers, Monique’s Sexy Squad Clubhouse. Become a Squad member, I’d love to hear from you:
Like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/moniqueauthor
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/monique.moreau.books
Follow me on BookBub: https://bit.ly/3gNvrsU
Learn all about my books: moniquemoreau.com
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my family for your support and patience each time I say, “Hold that thought!” while I pound out one more sentence. Thank you Alison Aimes for your encouragement, for being a fantastic and supportive beta reader, a mentor, and an all-around incredible person. Thank you Joy Daniels for brainstorming with me. A shout out to Monica Bogza of the Trusted Accomplice for editing. Veronica Adams from L. Woods PR for holding my hand through the process of birthing this latest book to the world! To all the blogger and booklovers who help spread the word and finally, but not least, to every single one of you who’ve picked up this book and given it a chance. Thank you!
Puck's Property: A Bad Boy Biker Romance (The Demon Squad MC Book 5) Page 23