by Bella Jewel
Janine flushes again.
Sigh.
“You two find something unhealthy then,” I say, walking out. “I’m going to shower.”
They don’t answer me, because they’re both in the fridge talking frantically about foods they can whip together. Rolling my eyes, I walk up the stairs. I get into the room and hear the shower running right away. Brilliant. I drop my clothes and walk in. Jackson is standing, head back, eyes closed, and oh, so beautifully naked. His body is divine, so god damned yummy. I open the glass, and a small smile plays around his lips.
“Couldn’t miss the chance for a morning fuck, darlin’?”
“Too bad if I was Muff,” I giggle.
He drops his head and pins me with his gaze. “I know when it’s my girl, or when it ain’t.”
His girl.
Oh my.
I grin, and step forward, wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning up to press my lips to his. He tangles his fingers into my hair, and kisses me so deeply my knees buckle. He slides a hand down my back, and grips my backside, using it to force me against his erection. I whimper and cling to him, rubbing myself over his cock until I’m throbbing with need.
“You keen for that fuck?” he murmurs.
I want that fuck. But I want something else more. I begin slowly lowering to my knees. Jackson’s eyes widen, and he watches with want as I take his cock into my hand, and begin gently stroking it.
“I didn’t get to finish you like this last night, today I want to.”
“Baby,” he groans. “Fuck yeah.”
I lean forward, wrapping my lips around his cock. He jerks and a throaty growl fills the small shower stall. I use one hand to stroke the base of his cock up and down, while my tongue and mouth swirl around the tip, sucking and licking until he’s panting my name.
I deepen the pleasure by sliding my mouth down lower, until he’s pressing against the back of my throat. My eyes water, but I can’t stop, the sounds of him groaning and grunting above me are enough to spur me on. I pull my mouth back, nipping at the end of his cock, and then I slide him in again.
“Goin’ to come, baby, fuck. If you don’t want me to come in your mouth, stop.”
I don’t stop. I don’t care. I want him. All of him. I suck harder until I feel him swell inside my mouth, and then he comes. I feel the first hot spurt of his release hit the back of my throat; I groan and swallow just as the second and third hit. Jackson bellows my name; his fingers are tight in my hair.
When he stops coming, I gently slip him from my mouth and peer up at him through the water. He smiles down at me, his eyes lazy, his body tight. While I’m down here, I run a finger along the tattoo on his cock. It’s an odd tattoo, a range of patterns, all black, running up and around his cock. Like some sort of tribal marking.
“When are you going to tell me about this?” I ask, sliding my finger along it.
“Come here,” he says, leaning down and pulling me up.
I let him, and I stand still as he rubs soap over my body and lathers it up. Then he pulls me out of the shower and wraps a towel around me. He still hasn’t answered the question, but when we get into his room, he finally turns and tells me about it.
“It’s a tribal marking.”
I nod. “I figured as much, why have you got it?”
“Well, my dad was part Cherokee, and I liked the tribal marking. It’s not something I wanted on my body for anyone to see, and so one night when I was young, drunk and stupid, I went and got it put there.”
I raise my brows. Firstly, because Jackson is part Cherokee, though that does explain the olive skin and that thick, long, dark hair. Secondly, because he got the tribal marking put on his penis. Isn’t that...I don’t know...disrespectful?
“Isn’t that kind of rude?” I ask, a little shocked.
He laughs softly. “No darlin’, it’s not. It’s a marking all the same, I was just stupid when I decided I wanted something different. It’s the marking of all the tribal men, so why not put it on what makes me the most manly?”
I giggle. “You have a whacked way of thinking.”
He winks at me. “I know.”
“So, when do you leave for the ride?” I pout.
He leans over, digging through a pile of clean clothes to find a pair of black jeans. He pulls them on, and shrugs at me. “In a few hours.”
“Will you be gone long?”
“Few days at most.”
I nod, and he gives me a cheeky smile. “Why, will you miss my cock?”
I go to laugh and tell him no, because I’ll have my period, when a cold feeling washes over me. My period...I should already have my period. I begin quickly adding up the days in my head.
“Hey, Serenity, you ok?”
I stare at Jackson, but I am barely focusing. Shit. Shit. I am late, I’m sure of it. Maybe only by a few days, but I’m late all the same...and I’m never late.
I begin calculating back to the time Jackson didn’t use a condom. Crap. Crap.
“Serenity?” Jackson says again.
“What?” I whisper, shaking my head.
“You ok?”
“Um, sure, yeah.”
“You’re lyin’ again.”
“Sorry, I was just having a bit of a panic about Janine...it’s ok.”
“You worried someone will come past when I’m not here?”
I nod ,biting my lip. Just add another lie to the pile, Serenity.
“Yeah, that’s all.”
He walks over, gripping my shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll send a few guys over to watch the house.”
I nod, unable to think.
“You want some breakfast?” he asks.
“Sure,” I whisper. “That would be great.”
He pulls some jeans on, and throws on a shirt before disappearing out the door. I turn and rush into my room, frantically looking for my phone so I can pull up the calendar.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
I turn when I see Janine coming in, her eyes relaxed. I stare over, and realize Ebony is in the bed, thankfully she’s still sound asleep.
“Shit, sorry, I forgot she was in here.”
Janine waves her hand. “It’s ok. What’s wrong?”
I feel my eyes welling with unshed tears. “I...I’m...I’m late.”
Janine’s eyes widen, and she rushes in. “What?” she gasps.
“Late, I don’t have my period. I’m late.”
“How late?”
“Three days, at least.”
“Oh god, Serenity! You haven’t used protection?”
I shake my head, letting those tears slide down my cheeks. “It was just once, he pulled out, but...”
Janine sighs, rubbing her head. “You know that’s not effective.”
“What am I going to do? This changes everything?”
“Ok,” she says, her voice strong. “We’re going to find out first, that’s what we’re going to do. If it is, we’ll work it out from there.”
“I need to find out Hogan’s plans, Janine. I have to know what he’s going to do, and I have to check in. We need a lie, a big one, to put him off the scent for a while so I have time to tell Jackson about all this.”
“If Hogan finds out I’m with you, he’s going to get suspicious.”
“What do we do?”
“I text Derek this morning and told him I’ve gone to visit my mom a few weeks. He didn’t even care. They’re not suspicious for now.”
“We have a few weeks, that’s it?”
“It has to be done honey, you know it does.”
“He’ll hate me. If I’m pregnant, it’s going to be so much worse.”
“Hey,” she says, wrapping an arm around me. “One thing at a time, ok?”
I nod.
“Now come on, let’s get downstairs and eat. Then we’ll go to the shop and get a test. Breathe, honey.”
I take a deep breath and stand, walking down the stairs with her. Maybe I’m just late? Th
at would make sense right? I mean, I am stressed and things have been crazy...right?
God. What am I going to do?
~*CHAPTER 16*~
JACKSON
“Baby,” I murmur against her cheek. “It’s a few days.”
“I don’t want you to go,” she whispers. “Please Jack’s.”
“Jack’s?” I say, pulling back. “Since when do you call me that?”
“It suits you.”
I smile, and run my fingers across that puffy bottom lip. She’s been crying, even though she thinks I haven’t noticed. Fuck, it makes my heart hurt.
“You goin’ to be ok?”
“I don’t want you to go, what if something happens or...”
“Hey,” I say, cupping her chin. “It’s just a basic ride. It’s fine.”
“I’ll miss you.”
I lean in close, rasping into her ear, “You’ll miss that late night sex.”
She laughs softly. “That too.”
“I’ll be back in a few days. It’s ok, baby.”
“Kiss me,” she pleads.
With fuckin’ pleasure.
I grip her chin, tilting her head to the side and taking her lips in mine. Fuck. Yeah. She parts them, and I slide my tongue into her mouth, tangling it with hers. She clutches my chest, wrapping her fingers around my shirt and pressing her tiny body up against mine. I can hear the rumble of the engines in the background, and the boys cheering and whistling, but I don’t stop. I kiss her until she’s panting and my dick is hard.
“Miss you, darlin’,” I murmur.
“Me too,” she whispers, letting me go.
She’s got this look in her eye, like it’s the last time she’ll ever kiss me. My chest clenches, and I wonder if I’m missing something.
“You goin’ to be here when I get back?” I ask.
“As long as you want me here, I’ll stay.”
“I’ll always want you here; don’t you know that by now?”
Her lip trembles again.
“Hey, stop that cryin’. It’s a few days.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her again, before heading over to my bike. I stare at her, and something inside me doesn’t feel quite right.
Little warning bells go off.
Something is wrong.
I just don’t know what.
~*~*~*~
SERENITY
“It’s ok,” Janine soothes, rubbing my back.
“What am I going to do?” I cry.
“You’re going to tell him about Hogan, you’re going to explain it as best you can, and then you’re going to tell him about the baby.”
I sit, staring at the pregnancy test with the clear + on the screen. I’m pregnant. With Jackson’s baby.
I’m. Pregnant.
I feel sick.
“If he decides he wants me to go, what will I do?”
“We’ll find a place together, just me and you. I won’t let you go back to Hogan.”
“I’m scared, Janine.”
“I know honey.”
“He’s going to hate me, I’m going to lose him forever...”
She grips my shoulders and shakes me gently. “You don’t know that.”
I close my eyes, and tears leak down my cheeks.
“Hello! Anyone home?”
I hear Ciara’s voice, and I sigh. “Oh no, it’s Ciara.”
“Take a deep breath, and go and answer the door.”
“She’s going to want to know what’s wrong.”
She shrugs. “Tell her your friend was in trouble.”
I nod, standing. Janine takes my hand, and we both walk down to the front door. I open it to see Addison and Ciara. They swing their eyes to Janine, and give her a smile.
“Hi, Jackson told us you had a friend over. He said it’s why you couldn’t make it last night,” Addison smiles.
I nod, swallowing. Trust Jackson to get in first.
“You ok honey?” Ciara asks.
“I’m ok, just a long day. This is Janine. Janine, this is Addison, Jackson’s daughter, and Ciara.”
Janine smiles at them. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Addison beams. “Can we come in? I totally need my father’s awesome coffee maker.”
“Sure, come on. I’ll make you one,” I say, trying to stop my voice from wobbling.
“You sure you’re ok?” Addi asks as we walk into the kitchen.
“Yeah, just tired and emotional. I hate Jack’s being away, too.”
“Aw,” Addison croons. “That’s sweet. Don’t worry; I’m sulking because Cade is away. You’re not alone.”
I nod, and head into the kitchen to make them a coffee.
“How are you settling in now?” Ciara asks.
“I’m good,” I say. “Jackson is amazing.”
“You care about him, right?” Addison asks.
I nod, swallowing the pain back down. “I do, a lot.”
“He cares about you too; I think he even loves you.”
I’m glad in that moment that Ebony races out with an old car Jackson gave her, because if I have to say anything about that statement, I’ll break.
“Who is this little cutie?” Addison smiles.
“That’s my daughter, Ebony,” Janine says.
“Hi Ebony!” Addi says.
“Hi!” Ebony waves. “Look at my car.”
“Hey cool, that’s real pretty.”
Ciara is smiling at the little girl, rubbing her belly protectively. My mind goes back to the tiny baby growing in mine.
God, what am I going to do?
~*~*~*~*
JACKSON
“More drugs are bein’ run, I want to know why?” I bark down the phone.
“We’re on it boss,” Spike says. “I have a lead, I should know more today.”
“Is it another gang?”
Spike sighs. “Fucks me, but it’s someone with some good support, there’s too many coming in.”
“Find out for me, and call me back.”
“On it.”
I hang up the phone, and turn back to the guys. Cade steps forward, giving me a questioning glance.
“Still nothin’. You guys manage to find the guy here?”
Cade nods towards the car, and I give them a flick of my hand. Granger and Muff open the door, pulling out a man in his late twenties, wearing holey shirts and crappy old jeans. His teeth are missing and his hair is gritty. Junkie alright. They walk the man over, and stop him in front of me. We got a lead, and came on this ride to get some information and find this man. He purchased drugs in town last weekend, and we need to know who from.
“We ain’t gonna hurt you if you talk, so you answer our question, and you’re good to go,” I say as soon as they guys stop in front of me.
The junkie looks up, narrowing his eyes. “You cops?”
I turn, showing him my colors, and then I turn back. “Worse.”
“I didn’t do nothin’ man! Nothin’!”
“If you did nothin’, then we ain’t got nothin’ to worry about. I need to know who you got your drugs off last weekend.”
“Don’t know.”
I close my eyes and sigh. I’m not a violent person, I always try to avoid it, but sometimes there’s just no choice. I grip the man’s shirt, and pull him close.
“This will go one of two ways. You tell me, I let you go. You don’t tell me, I beat the fuck out of you, and then I bury you. What’s it going to be?”
“I know nothin’.”
I drive my fist into his stomach, hearing his ribs crack. He bellows, and squirms in the guy’s grips.
“I’m not joking, tell me or I find something harder than my fist to beat you with.”
“I don’t fuckin’ know his name!” he bellows, groaning. “I just went into town, heard on the grapevine I could get some good stuff. I got it, and I left.”
“Don’t fuckin’ lie to me,” I bellow, driving another fist into his face. He screams as blood spurts
from his nose.
“I won’t fuckin’ tell you!” he roars.
“Cade, get my gun,” I order.
Cade goes to my bike, pulling my gun out and bringing it over to me. I press it to the man’s head. “I’ve killed many men before; I won’t hesitate to kill someone like you. No one will even know you’re gone. You have five seconds.”
“I don’t know!” he cries.
“Five.”
“I don’t...”
“Four.”
I load the gun.
“You fuckin’ crazy...”
“Three.”
“I...”
“TWO!”
“It was Hogan!” he bellows.
I lower the gun, shaking my head. What?
“What did you fuckin’ say?”
“The man running the drugs, his name is Hogan.”
“Fuck!” Cade bellows.
“Shit,” Granger grunts.
I stand a moment, and then turn my eyes back to the guys. “Get rid of him, make sure he doesn’t speak. I don’t want Hogan knowing I am onto him. If that fucker is still alive, then he’s playing a game with us.”
“On it boss,” Granger says, and he and Muff drag the man off.
I turn to Cade. “We’ve got a fuckin’ problem.”
“No shit.”
~*CHAPTER 17*~
SERENITY
“What else?” Hogan roars, slamming his fist into the wall.
“That’s it. They’re very quiet. I can’t get anything else.”
“You know if they’re suspicious on anything?”
I shake my head. “No, they keep it quiet. I know they went on a run.”
“Where to?”
I don’t want to tell him where. “I-I don’t know.”
“I bet I fuckin’ know where,” he grins. “I set it up just right.”
Set it up?
“What did you set up?” I rasp.
“I have had them chasin’ their fuckin’ tails for weeks. I am runnin’ drugs through their town, and they’re suspicious. I had a junkie set up that I knew they could track. I know that’s what they’re doing. They’re tryin’ to find him to get information. He’ll give them my name, just how I want it. While they’re away, I’m setting up their compound just fuckin’ right. By the time they get back, it will be rigged and ready. They’ll call an emergency meeting, I know how clubs work. They’ll call it through because they have just found out I’m alive. I’ll move in then. My weapons arrived today. Machine guns.”