by V. Theia
Pulling the bandana off from around his neck, he tossed it down on the table, sucked back the full glass of scotch before he poured them both a fresh one.
"You ever gonna let on it was you who got your old man sent to jail?"
Steele's eyes flattened out, a dark blue turned black, the pupil masking his irises, he paused with the glass to his mouth before swallowing heavily,
"Or that you were the one who helped me load the gun? What do you think? We were both cleaning our respective houses at the same time, Rider. Shit gets messy, you ought to know that more than most, especially now you really have the attention of the bratva."
Working a kink out of his shoulder, Rider thought better of having a third drink, he needed to take his old lady home, get her tucked up safe in their bed. It might be two leaders in their own presidential right in that room debriefing yet more close call with murder, but as far as his Icy was concerned he was just a man taking care who what he loved most. Priorities shifted so subtly it was hard to see sometimes, but when she’d come back into his life his priorities had taken a hard swerve in her favor, and he didn’t apologize for it.
Club responsibilities sorted for now, that shitstorm would brew again another day, he wasn’t lucky enough to think Grigori would forget, but now he wanted home with his girl.
“Debt is cleared,” he said finally. “I appreciate you pitching in tonight.”
“It’s what we do, Rider. I have a gut feeling we’re gonna be banding together again against this guy, he has a hard on for Armado, not long before he turns those same desires towards my town.” Rising to his height, Jamie sighed wearily, Rider felt much the same, feeling every one of his thirty-seven years, it had been a long ten years so far climbing to the top and once a president was there it was no easy feat staying there.
The dye was cast now. Nothing Rider could do about Grigori. He’d invited the mafia in. With restrictions.
When it came time to pay he could only hope he didn’t lose the things he’d fought long and hard for.
******
Luxe clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. No one told her how men were reduced to toddler age when they were sick. She stopped in the middle of the living room, holding a glass of juice in one hand and his medication in the other. She glared at the man she loved. “You’re being a damn baby. Now shut up and sit down, Nathan.”
“I’m sick of sitting. Come and climb on my cock.”
Heat fused into her nervous system, stuttering her breath. All thoughts angled towards his lap.
He was hard under the gray basketball shorts he was wearing. No shirt, feet bare, bed hair standing up in sexy black tufts. He’d been crabby for two days ever since signing himself out of the hospital insisting he was fine. He was far from fine, but she’d quietly allowed it just to have him home. Trying to get him to rest was next to impossible. Having to engage tactics never used before. Mainly sexual bribery. If he napped she’d suck him off. If he rested and took his meds like a good boy she’d stroke him while they watched a movie.
It all worked until today.
His family and friends had been in and out of the condo all day. They brought food, booze (she confiscated until he could drink liquor again) his dad and two uncles came to visit for several hours, men just like Nathan, they were rowdy and kind and she liked all of them.
But as the day had gone on she’d watched him fade, blinking slower and slower until she’d seen the last guest out.
“You’re tired.”
“I’m hard up for your pussy. Get over here, Luxe.” He put extra oomph in his growl. Admitting she loved it, she kept strong, when all her body wanted to do was fold down on the sofa with him and do as he asked. He ground the heel of his hand to his hardness, her eyes flickered closed.
Strength. She needed strength to allow him the time to sleep and heal fully.
Every time she saw his bruises she felt sick, heartsick he’d endured that kind of abuse because of her.
No amount of sorry made up for that.
Ungluing her feet, she made him take the meds and drain the juice.
His hand caught her wrist. Not yanking, not releasing her either. “I’m good, baby. I need only you to feel fine.” He walked his lips over her knuckles. Luxe felt herself soften inside. Curling up at his side, careful not to knock his ribs, she rested her head on his shoulder. “You need rest more than you need an orgasm. Sleep first.”
“I can’t let you come between me and having my woman.”
Luxe blinked. And again. Her pink lips opened and closed. “But. I’m your woman. So, it’s a moot point.”
He grinned. “Yes. So, you see how serious I am, my dirty rotten thief, not even you will get in the way of what I want, what I will have, there’s only two options here, it’s up to you which you pick, but either way I’m getting you where I want you.”
Smiling, she nipped teeth on his bare shoulder, her hand sliding around his belly and rested there. “You have all of me, chico,” she wanted to relent so badly she could taste the sex they’d have, the same sex reflected in his eyes. “But you’ll sleep. I’ll nap with you.” She played her ace card since he took taking care of her seriously as a heart attack, she let her voice drift lower. “I’m tired, too, and could do with a nap.”
His eyes snapped down, face serious and then he was standing, hand out to her. “Come on, love, climb into bed with me. We have a big trip coming up if we’re gonna fly down for your stuff next week.” Arms locked around her waist tight enough to stop oxygen. Her knowing smile was sly, being taken care of by him was going to be fun.
And perfect.
She made sure it was his massive, battered body that slid into the large bed first, settling against the bank of pillows, his eyes watchful as she followed suit.
Because what Nathan needed to realize was, she would take care of him, too.
Being in love meant she was open now. Open for him, he had all of her, the good and the bad and with all that she was, thief and lover, she was his.
Arms came around her, her face found the right nook in his neck and collectively they sighed. A noise of content happiness for them both.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you did, love,” she grinned and didn’t say anything. “Feel free to manipulate me into bed any time. Cause after we sleep I’m waking you with my mouth in your panties.” As if to mark his place one of his hands slid down into the back of her underwear and stayed there while she tried to still the cyclone of need.
Luxe knew one thing. Life would never be boring with her kidnapper.
EPILOGUE
“And they lived happily ever after in chaos…. With a biker keeping his thief out of bar brawls.”
Two weeks later.
“Ah, fuck, there you are.” A very horny biker groaned into the side of her throat, licking before he pulled away. “My Luxe love.” His raspy inhales blowing her hair back, he only had one hard slam in him before she settled him down again with a gentle circle of her hips, telling him without words she’d do all the work this time, fingers playing in the back of his hair, she loved how he reared his head down for her touch, he was like a giant, hairy Labrador puppy.
It was Sunday again and they were on their couch in front of the TV ESPN playing quietly in the background, not that either were paying it much attention. She found herself in a constant flux of needing him. She was rushing home from a job to attack the clothes off him. Or Nathan called to tell her to get her sweet ass home so he could fuck her into the shower wall. Maybe as time went on that lust and need for each other would ebb and flow, but dios, she hoped it never did.
She was so deeply in love with her kidnapper, they were intertwined now.
No Luxe, No Nathan. Along the way they'd become a them, an us, Batman and Robin.
This big strong, protective beautiful man was hers. And he’d do anything for her.
His chest rose and shuddered back down with the sway of her hips.
"Fuck. You're abusing my dick
, thief." Air washed over her cheek and she turned her face to come nose to nose with her man. For all the mouthing off he was doing it was his hips rising and falling underneath her burying himself inside, fucking her back onto his erection. Countering with her own slam, his groan was magic and Luxe smiled against his lips.
"It's mine to do with what I want."
His eyes flashed. "Fuck. Yeah, it is. Ride it, baby."
They kissed and loved slowly. Time was on their side now. "I love you." He groaned into her mouth.
"I love you." She returned.
A gust of oxygen expelled from her chest. Just stalled and rattled in her throat. The curl of love from his face was massive, she felt it in every nerve ending. Leaning in, she cupped his face, soft hair tickling her hands. His beautiful masculine face was mostly healed, the stitches over his eyebrow dissolved days ago, still she went gentle on him, a few more days she told herself then she’d unleash the kind of passion they’d been used to. For now, she enjoyed the slow and the unrushed. Her nose nuzzled against his, their hips rolling quietly together, in no great rush to reach the end of the pleasure, they'd had so much today, this round was more of a reaffirming of their feelings, admitting it aloud again.
And Luxe could confess she felt good. At peace. Settled in knowing she had given her heart to someone else and trusted he'd keep it safe.
"We're doing this." A smile brought his lips up.
He didn't mean the Sunday sex on the sofa.
She was fully moved in now. All her things from Santa Rosa were in his condo, piled in unpacked boxes, stuffed in the spare room and her most precious things now had their own secured lockup on the Renegade Souls property. It was the sweetest gift he could have presented her.
" Sí." She smiled back. They really were doing this.
Together.
The thief had stolen something more precious than any jewel. And for once in her long, lustrous criminal career she had no intentions of ever letting it go. She had the heart of an outlaw who adored her.
And the best part about this whole new love thing? They'd just be themselves. No changing. He loved the parts of her that were not so sweet and easy to love.
And she cherished the notorious outlaw he was.
"I waited," he husked, nipping kisses along her collarbone. "I waited to fucking love my thief until you caught up."
Goddamn, his honesty was going to be the death of her one of these days. How could one heart feel so much and keep on beating. "Nathan...I love you. Completely."
"I know, love." He smirked that boyish grin of his surrounded by soft hair. Such a cocky shit he was. "And I promise to only kidnap you on birthday's and Christmas."
The grin said he was joking.
The fire in his eyes said where she was concerned he was always one hundred percent irrational and she fucking loved him that way.
Laughing, their mouths met in the middle.
It was the beginning of the end when his thumb pressed between her legs, the rush of pleasure came like a wave on her cry, she crested and Nathan followed her a second later.
Sighing content long after their pleasure had waned and sweat dried on their skin, she fingered the gold chain around her neck.
It had all started with this thin piece of gold. She’d taken it mostly by habit, but she’d held onto it because of who it had belonged to. Little did she know it would bring him back into her life in such a spectacular way.
There was no sum total in which Nathan had orchestrated their meeting again. He’d proved it time and again, first for retribution and then for obsessive need.
So much need she was aching with it and the only place she could put it was giving it right back to him.
They had something pretty-damn good she’d discovered these past couple of weeks, firstly the trip to pick up her stuff where Mimi had questioned him on his intentions like a drill sergeant.
God, she loved that woman and would miss her every single day, but her grandmother was insistent that Luxe do this, she was happy for her.
Lucky for Luxe and Mimi, Nathan understood their bond and insisted as soon as they found a bigger place Mimi would always have a room as and when she wanted it.
I plan to marry her one day. Not sure about kids, that’s down to Luxe, I’ll give her anything she wants, whatever she needs is hers. His answer had pleased Mimi and stunned Luxe.
Right before they left in the U-Haul truck Mimi had hugged Luxe tightly, kissed her on the forehead and told her how proud she’d always been of her, how much she loved her. And then because Mimi was scandalous had added how perfect and thick Nathan’s arms were and for Luxe to hold on tight to that one.
When her rapid breath returned to a normal setting, enjoying the stroke of wet kisses he was brushing against her bare shoulder, trying to work her up to another round if she knew anything about Nathan, she gauged his mood, found it perfect and went in for the kill.
“Oh, and I need one more thing from you, kidnapper.” Luxe figured right after sex when he was his most pliable was the best time to mention this. She couldn’t be all sweet, after all, this was a man who would always need to be kept on his literal toes in their relationship, she was the boss after all.
“Name it.” Eyelids so low he appeared asleep instead of post-sex hazy and gorgeous. Luxe kissed his lips and ran her fingers over his beard.
Name it. She was about to test his generosity. Biting back a grin, she almost got lost in his touch as fingers stroked the outside of her thighs.
“Since we’re shacking up now,” he flashed a pleased smirk, she went on. “I need you to start being nice to my friend Jamie Steele.”
And 3...2...1…. On cue Nathan growled his protest and buried his head in her neck muttering about impossible woman. She laughed and hugged him close and lost all will to breathe when he grabbed onto her mouth with his lips and tongue and didn’t let go for a very long time.
Yeah, things would never be dull between a highly trained tracker and the thief who stole him.
BONUS EPILOGUE
“Long Live the Renegade Souls.”
The Renegade Souls MC 50th Anniversary celebrations. Colorado.
“That’s Ruby and now Luxe. I’m gathering a girl squad to rival you and your boys, Biker-man.” Giggled Zara burrowing into his ribs as far as her little bump would allow her to.
Rider laughed lightly, pleased she was so damn happy with herself. “You know you sound like Dr. Evil assembling his henchmen when you say it like that, Icy.” Fuck. he loved that joyful sound. He’d drag a hundred women into the club for his girl to befriend if it made her happy.
“I’m hungry, biker-man.” Zara’s lips nuzzled his roughened cheek and Rider boiled a heated growl turning his hard body into hers, cupping the back of her skull he was about to dive into a kiss when. “Jesus fuck. I’m sitting right fucking here, Prez. Maybe shelve the porn a little, yeah?” A disgusted Hawk grouched.
Rider turned to his friend and VP. His hands stayed right where they were, he could give a fuck who was around if his girl wanted kissing. “You need a woman, Hawk, so you can get off my dick.”
Zara burst out laughing. “That sounded so wrong. I mean, if you and Hawk want a little alone time, I can-----.” She giggled again when Rider gently dug his blunt nails into her ribs.
Hawk just looked disgusted. So, his usual face then. Rider bent down to whisper something naughty in his girl’s ear to turn her pink and she pinched his belly telling him to behave. Never.
“Fuck this. I need to get back to Texas. Do something useful.” Hawk muttered shaking his head. It was then his Zara piped in, a cheeky grin on her face. “Are you rushing back to anyone special, Hawk?” Maybe Rider was seeing shit through beer goggles ‘cause he could have sworn Hawk blanched a little. It was gone a second later and Hawk turned his VP gaze towards him. “Your little queen has gotten mouthy this year, Ri.” Rider grinned. Fuck if she had. He loved it.
He’d received more fist bumps, back slaps and hugs the last
days than he’d ever had in his life. Standing tall by the doorway, looking out on the acres of land he owned, the corner of Rider’s mouth twitched. Not a square inch of ground was visible now, what with nearing five thousand members of every chapter of his club gathering and inside was no better, packed to the rafters. Everyone had come, save for a few of the older retired men who couldn’t make the long journey this far this time of the year, preferring the sunnier climates to the Colorado snow, it was all in honor of Homer and his club legacy. Fifty years today he began the Renegade Souls MC and the grim reaper as his witness Rider vowed there would be another gathering in fifty years’ time, with the club stronger, bigger, and better than ever.
Feeling a pounding in his chest, that pride rising as he looked out, caught the eye of many of his own men he’d patched in, they waved and carried on with their games. He’d handpicked each and every one of them and he trusted them with not only his life, but his club as well. Shit hadn’t been easy the last ten years, there was plenty of times he’d considered tossing the gavel in, walking away, but then one of his boys would remind him of why he was enduring the struggles, why the fight was necessary. And when he looked over at Zara laughing with Ruby and Sebastian perched on her lap, her bump poking out of her tight shirt, he knew he’d made the right move.
Through hardships, deaths and downright dirty times, Rider and his boys had weathered everything that had come at them and for what it was worth, as much he’d worry about this new strain of Russian coming through his town, the handshake he was forced into giving Grigori, Rider was more than fucking certain the RS would go on long after those bratva were kicked out of town.
Because those fucknuts were missing one key element to Rider’s operation.
He looked across at Hawk, Grinder, Preacher, Arson, Lawless, Tag, Snake, Capone, Red Light, The Butcher, Pretty-boy, Reaper and lastly, Texas.
Him and his men had loyalty. Brotherhood. When things got tough there was a kinship at the roots to maintain their strength.