“I really don’t want to go,” she whined, lifting the armrest and sliding over next to him.
“Vanessa will be there.”
Maci leaned her head on his shoulder. “I mean away from here.”
“We’ll come back.” He pulled the truck in gear and pulled away.
“Your mom will be there too, right?”
Colt nodded. “She’s looking forward to seeing you.”
Maci was looking forward to that part. It was nice to have women in her life again.
“Have you thought about what you want to do?”
Maci hummed, delaying. She and Colt had discussed so many possibilities of what she’d do with her life as Elizabeth Parker. There was no going back to Maci Newman. Not unless she wanted to risk bringing attention to the Demons, and she didn’t want that.
“You think Julie would rent me a booth at her salon?”
“You want to cut hair?”
“Such a man,” Maci groaned, rolling her eyes. She grabbed a wisp of hair in her fingertips. “This is art. This is not a haircut. And I think I’d enjoy it.”
She wasn’t going admit it to Colt, but she’d enjoyed shopping to be stylish, even if it had been with Jess. She had enjoyed getting her hair done by Julie, and walking away feeling like a whole new woman. She wanted more.
Colt shrugged, shaking his head. “Ask her, if that’s what you want to do.”
“I’ll have to look into some cosmetology programs.”
They spent the rest of the drive discussing potential schools and some possible ways for Maci to earn some money while she went. Colt suggested going to work in the office at the tow company, but Maci felt like the club had done enough for her. Some things she just needed to do on her own. “I want to look around, first.”
“Suit yourself.”
Colt turned off the main road and drove down a short dirt path that opened in a huge clearing with a small farmhouse. There were already a half a dozen cars scattered in the yard, and smoke rising from a grill out back.
Parking off to the side, Maci watched as Colt looked around. “Everything OK?”
He glanced back to her, a smile brightening his face. “It’s just been a long time since I’ve been here.”
Maci tucked herself at his side and let him lead her to the small porch. “You ready for this?” he asked.
Maci peered up at him, knowing that if she said no, he’d turn around and take her wherever she wanted to go. She was tensed up on the inside, but she wasn’t going to be that woman anymore, the woman who ran when things got uncomfortable. Besides, she had Colt at her side, and together, they could do anything.
“I’m good.”
Colt studied her, just a hint of a frown tugging his lips. He knew she was stretching her comfort zone. He bent low, even though there was nobody around, and whispered, “I’ll make it up to you.”
He gave her a quick hug before opening the door, pulling her into a large, but outdated living room. Voices carried in from the open sliding glass door in the kitchen. They walked through, pausing only long enough for Colt to push the screen aside.
Maci held his hand a little tighter as they stepped out onto the small patio. Anna swiveled around on the bench of the old wooden picnic table, jumping to her feet when she saw them. She grabbed Maci and rocked her back and forth in a hug. “It is so good to see you again,” she whispered. She pulled away, glancing toward Colt. “Maybe I’ll see him a little more, now.”
“Not likely,” Tex said, stepping out into the party. “We’re liable to not see either of them for a couple more weeks.”
Colt’s mom rolled her eyes, but not before giving Colt a warning glare that only a mother could. “I will see you more, won’t I, son?”
“OK, OK.” Colt threw his hands up, defeated. He turned to Tex. “Thanks for the truck. Sure made getting supplies up to the cabin easier.” He searched the front pocket of his jeans for the keys, but Tex waved him off. “Let Maci hang on to it. I’m going to be riding up to Chicago in a few days. She may want a way to get around.”
Colt was surprised, but passed Maci the keys. “What are you going out there for?”
They were all seated at the picnic table now, except for Hank, who was flipping burgers at the grill. Vanessa was at his side opening hot dogs.
Tex shook his head, frowning. “A buddy of mine is getting married. At least he says he is. He came for Pops’ funeral. The least I can do is pay my respects.”
Maci watched as the words caught up with him, and Tex’s face flashed an almost painful grimace, but no one seemed affected by the reminder but him.
“You should take Mom with you,” Colt suggested.
“Colt.” Anna’s warning was clear, but her son wasn’t swayed. “It would do you good to get away.”
“He’s right,” Vanessa chimed in. “The ride would be nice.”
Glancing to Anna, Maci didn’t miss the slight flush that brightened Anna’s face. Oh yeah, she was interested. Her gaze went to Tex, who seemed way too focused on the label on his beer. It seemed that she and Colt weren’t the only ones infatuated with each other.
Biting back a smile, Maci took in the large backyard that ended at a small pond. It was a cute little house. Maci turned to Anna. “Who lives here?”
“One of the brothers inherited it, but never uses it. We sort of took it over,” she added with a wink.
“Burgers will be ready in five,” Hank announced.
“Help me get the fixings?” Not giving her a chance to answer, Anna grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, Vanessa following behind them.
“Are we eating in here?” Maci asked.
“Yeah, just line the bowls up on the bar,” Anna said, nodding toward the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room.
Maci took in the kitchen as she worked. It had the same 80’s feel, but was uncluttered with small appliances and knickknacks. There was plenty of room, and she’d thought there’d be more people, and she said as much.
“We don’t have to party like rock stars every night,” Vanessa said, laughing.
Maci started to apologize, then thought better of it. She’d never partied in her life, and while she didn’t see herself jumping feet first into club life, the thought of letting loose once in a while wasn’t completely unappealing.
Before she could think of a witty comeback, the backdoor slide open, and the guys poured into the kitchen, bringing chaos with them.
“I hope someone made fries,” Tex said, looking over the display of food.
“Crinkle fries are in the oven,” Anna said.
“You remembered,” Tex grinned. Maci cut her eyes to Colt, who was watching her. He didn’t seem perturbed by their attraction. In fact, he winked, and she grinned at the normalcy of it all.
“Mom, I think you need to teach Maci how to make that homemade spaghetti sauce.”
“That shit is fanfuckingtastic,” Tucker announced, coming into the room, tucking his cellphone in his back pocket.
“That shit is a disaster to cook,” Anna said. “Colt, you’re going to need to get Maci a dishwasher.”
Maci took a paper plate from the stack and laid a bun open on it. “I don’t mind washing dishes.”
“See,” Colt argued. “That just means I can get a big-ass TV for the living room. Does that TV in there even work with cable?”
She ignored the conversation. This argument was between Colt and his mom.
“You need to buy her a bed. She doesn’t want to be doing the deed in your grandparent’s bed.”
Maci’s gaze drifted to Tucker, whose face was completely serious.
“Do you?” he asked, pushing the issue.
Maci turned to Colt. “This was your grandparents place?”
Colt didn’t even stop piling food on his plate. “It was. It’s ours now.”
He made his way to the table, leaving a chaste kiss on Maci’s forehead as he passed her. Anna had said a brother had inherited it. She’d never consid
ered it was Colt.
“We’d already bought our house by the time both my parents died,” Anna explained. “They left this one to Colt, but I sure never thought I’d get to see him settle down here.”
Anna stared at her son, emotions getting the better of her for a brief moment, before she shrugged them away.
“I smell food.” Storm’s voice boomed from the living room. He came without Kelly and Maci wondered why. She wasn’t his old lady, but she’d gotten the impression they were close. Not my business. He made a plate and joined the rest of them at the table.
“Maybe you can get him housebroken,” Tex said, tossing his head toward Colt.
“That hasn’t happened for the rest of us,” Vanessa piped in, giving Hank a playful shove.
“I’ll deal with you later,” he shot back, but his voice was playful.
Maci sat back just taking it all in. She wasn’t sure how she’d travelled from losing her mother, dealing with Cain’s attack, to finding a family again, but she was learning to love it.
“Maci?”
Colt’s voice broke through the musing. Maci blinked, realizing the entire table had gone quiet, and was watching her. “I’m sorry?”
Frowning, Colt studied her. “I asked, do you think you’ll like living here?”
Maci studied the faces surrounding her. “That depends,” she said, turning her attention back to Colt. “Think you can raise the toilet seat?”
The entire table broke out into laughter. “That’s my girl,” Anna declared.
Maci smiled, but inside she was jumping up and down. Not only did she have Colt, they would have a home of their own.
“Maybe I’ll just go outside to piss,” Colt said, grinning.
Shaking her head, Maci finally took a bite of her burger, and just enjoyed being around people who accepted her so completely.
By the time they finished eating, and cleaned up the leftovers, Anna announced it was time to go. The others said their goodbyes and filed out behind her.
“That was quick,” Maci mused.
Colt grunted. “I didn’t want to bring you to an empty house. I love the place, but it’s old. Nothing has been done to it since they died. Hank and Tex have been doing some small repairs, and Mom and Vanessa have been making sure we have what we need, for a few days at least.”
Maci turned, grinning up at Colt.
“What?” What? What was it about this woman that brought out every protective instinct he was capable of?
“Nothing. I’m just happy.”
“But?” Colt didn’t miss the thread of concern in her voice.
“Are you worried it’s a little soon?”
Grabbing two beers out of the fridge, Colt shook his head. “I stayed with Mom when I moved back because I thought she needed me. You can’t keep staying with Vanessa and Hank, and this house is just sitting here, falling apart.”
He handed her a long neck bottle and caught her gaze. “And I don’t want to spend another night without you curled up next to me.”
Maci smiled, and being careful of their beer, wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tight.
“Let’s go sit on the pier,” he suggested.
It was right, having Maci there with him, but there was still something hanging over them and they weren’t going to be able to avoid it forever. They’d talked about her attack, about his dad, but they had avoided any discussion of his trip to South Carolina and Cain.
Walking out to the pond, they took their seats in the ancient lounge chairs someone had pulled out of the garage. The sun had just set, and with no other houses close, it was quiet. Perfect. Except for that invisible cloud hanging over them. “You know I can’t discuss it with you, right?”
She looked out over the water, avoiding him, her eyes scanning the barely visible horizon. “I don’t think you guys would have just given up and come home,” she said, flatly. She sat her beer on the pier and turned in her chair, facing him. “I don’t need to know what happened. I just need to know it’s over. For good.”
The familiar rage was already beginning a steady beat in his chest. Blood for blood hadn’t brought him the peace he’d been looking for, but he did find comfort that Cain’s hands would never touch this woman, again.
She wanted to know if Cain was over and done with, but she wasn’t going to come out and ask if he was dead. With his eyes never leaving hers, Colt dipped his head, knowing that’s as close to a confession as he’d ever make.
He waited for her reaction, wondering if hate or disgust would cloud her vision of him, but she simply gazed back, gauging the meaning of the gesture, before she offered a simple nod, mirroring Colt’s.
Her silent approval was like a pardon for his soul. Regardless of what Cain had done, he was a part of their past. Nothing he’d done, or that Colt had done, would change things. Maci was his. “Come here,” he said, reaching his hand out to her.
She took it and let him pull her into his lap. “You know, I miss your blonde hair, but I think I can get used to this.”
Maci giggled. “I hope so. It’s probably going to be a long time before it goes back natural.”
Colt’s huff developed into a deep chuckle. “What’s so funny?” Maci asked.
“I just realized. I’m a patched member of a motorcycle club, with a college education. I have no record and I’ve never even been arrested. My old lady is a fugitive from justice, with outstanding warrants, and an alias.”
Maci burst out laughing. “Elizabeth Parker is fitting, huh?”
Colt wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek. “Only if I get to be Clyde.”
Settling into his arms, Maci played along. “I don’t know if you’re tough enough. You may not be able to hang with me, you know.”
“Ouch, that hurts. I’d planned on being with you for a long time.” Colt reached for his phone and pulled up the email he wanted. “Read this.”
He handed her the phone and waited while she looked over the results. “I never, ever had unprotected sex with Jess.”
He waited, giving Maci time to read it. “The same day you got the prescription for the Pill, I got tested. Every disease you can think of, and some I’ve never heard of, is on there.”
When Maci passed the phone back to him, Colt laid it on the pier and wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t want anything else between us. The doctor said give you a week for it to become effective. I’ve waited two.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I don’t want another woman in my life. I don’t know where you came from, or why you ended up in my world Maci, but I don’t want to lose this.”
She spun in his arms, her blue eyes locking on his, and Colt knew he held everything that would ever mean a damn thing to him. “I will ride and die for my brothers, but I promise you, if you put your faith in me, I will live every day for you.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek, and he brushed it away with his thumb, then moved his hand to cup the back of her neck. She leaned in, fisting his shirt in his hands.
“I think I can love you, Colt Johnson.”
He answered with a kiss, deepening it as his hands snaked under the hem of her t-shirt, skating over her smooth skin, and squeezing her ribs in his grip. Seconds later she was naked in his arms.
His hands roamed over every inch of her, his lips nipping and trailing a path from her neck to her nipples, and back up again. “It’s fucking insane what you do to me,” he groaned, pressing her tighter against his jean-clad hard on.
“Get naked and let’s fix it.”
Not having to be told twice, Colt reached around Maci’s hips and undid his jeans, tugging them down with her help. He kicked them off and shed his shirt, before pulling Maci tight against him.
“Condoms are in my pocket if you want them.” Maci ignored him and rocked her wet center over his throbbing cock.
“Nothing between us, remember?”
Her words took him higher. It’d been what he was hoping for,
but he wouldn’t have pushed the issue if she wasn’t ready. Now, just knowing he’d be inside her with no barriers sent a shiver of need through him. “You sure you want to do this?”
“Mhm.”
“Thank fuck.” Colt grasped her waist, lifting her slightly. “You stay right there.” He sat back, taking her in, her knees planted on each side of his thighs, her chest rising and falling faster and faster as she waited. He ran his palms up her ribs, over her tits, watching the way her body swayed against his touch.
When his fingers dipped between her thighs, and floated softly over her, both of them released a satisfied moan. “You are always so damn wet for me.”
Maci fell forward, bracing her hands on his shoulders as he slipped a finger inside her.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
But her words didn’t move him any faster. Instead, he pulled his finger from her and refocused his attention on her clit, bringing her a little closer to the edge.
“I can’t wait to feel your pussy around me.”
Maci’s nails dug deeper into his shoulders as her body sank toward him. “Not yet,” he warned.
She whimpered, but stopped, hovering over him so close, the back side of his hand rubbed against his cock as he played with her.
Changing tactics, he took himself in his hand and rubbed the tip of his cock through her slit, wetting himself before pushing just inside of her.
Maci didn’t need any direction. Colt watched as he disappeared, inch by inch, inside of her. “Oh fuck, baby.” His hands went to her hips, but every muscle in his body rebelled as he tried to keep from slamming into her. Fucking perfection, and he wanted more. “That feels so goddamn good.”
When she was firmly seated on him, with his cock buried deep in her warm pussy, Colt fisted his hand in her hair, and pulled her lips to his, desperate to find release for some of the tension.
Feeling the steady thrum of her heartbeat against his chest was sobering, given how close he came to letting it all go. He held her tighter, savoring the feel of her in his arms, feeling a peace he’d never known.
Colt: Demons of Destruction Page 16