by London Casey
“Everyone take a breath,” Duke said. “This is about the Hell Five and their intentions with that land and the implications it has for the club.”
“And to protect your pussy,” Trent said.
I gasped, realizing I was the pussy.
“Trent,” Trev said. “Why don’t you escort Jimbo here to pack his shit up.”
“Pack his shit up?” I asked.
“I gave him a choice,” Duke said to me. “Something to think about. He’s got to face the club and the table. We’ve got to find a way to make all of this right…”
“You can’t take my brother,” I said, looking at Trev.
“I’m not taking anyone. He’s coming with us. Driving himself.”
“Belle,” Jim said.
“No!” I yelled.
Duke touched my arm and I tried to swat him away.
“Sweetie,” Duke said. “You don’t understand…”
I hurried to the back door and left the house. I walked out to the deck and stared at the cut tree. Duke had done all the work without me asking. And the yard looked better already.
That didn’t change what was happening on the inside of my house though.
I heard the door open behind me and knew it was Duke.
“Don’t,” I said.
But he touched my back anyway. He turned and leaned against the railing. It was damn impossible to not look at his beautiful muscles. His eyes were as evil as I could ever remember, but that was always Duke.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “Jim needs to come to the clubhouse to explain everything and to be protected. If he’s innocent, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I don’t understand this.”
“Sweetie, I can’t explain all of it. The guys that are buying that land aren’t good. And neither are the other guys that think we had something to do with it. I could have sold Jim out but I’m putting my ass on the line for him.”
“Trev said you put up a fight about me,” I said.
Duke grinned. “Of course I did, Belle. I… you’ve always been special to me. You know that. I’m trying to do what’s best for everyone. That includes you.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning you’re coming to the clubhouse too. It’s not safe here, sweetie.”
“I’m not safe in my childhood home?”
“No,” Duke said. “It hurts me to say that to you. I know what this means. I was watched the last time I came up here. Okay? So we have to move.”
Duke slipped his arm around me and pulled at me. I touched his sweaty body and flinched. I made a sick face and rolled my eyes.
“Please, sweetie,” he said. “You like my sweat.”
“You didn’t have to cut that tree.”
“Yes I did. It matters to you. I was awake and my head was spinning like crazy. So I came out to burn off some steam. That’s all.”
I felt the emotion creep up inside me. “I can’t believe all this is happening.”
“Neither can I, but it’s the way we live. You never know when the reaper is going to call your number. Until then, you just keep fighting. It’s all we can do. Fight with me, sweetie. Just like we used to do.”
“Should I call you a gross pig?” I asked. “And run away from you?”
“You can try,” Duke said. “But I’ll always get you.”
Now both hands touched me. He leaned against the deck and kept me close. His right hand slipped up my shirt right to my bare breast. His fingertips playfully touched my nipple, making me shiver. My hands touched his bare chest. I sank my nails into his chest, groaning.
“I hate you so much, Duke,” I said. “For everything that’s happened.”
“I know you do,” he said. “But I’m not going anywhere this time. I’ll make everything work. You just have to trust me. These guys are my family. They’re my brothers. I would never put anyone in harm’s way. Trev is our President, sweetie. He’s got his own way of doing things. You just have to get used to it.”
“What are they going to do with Jim?” I asked.
“The club has to vote on it. Come up with a plan. I told Jim if he came to the clubhouse it would help. And selfishly, I want you there too, so you can be protected.”
I moved up on my toes and kissed Duke. “That’s for cutting the tree.”
I backed up, Duke’s hand still in my shirt.
The back door opened again and Duke moved his hand down.
“We have to get moving,” Trent said. “The other girl is here.”
“Other girl?” I asked, feeling a sting of jealousy.
“Maggie,” Duke said. “Jim wanted her to come with. To be safe.”
I grinned. “They like each other.”
“Good for them.” Duke then stole a kiss from me. “We like each other, sweetie.”
I blushed. I got that butterfly feeling I used to get with Duke.
We didn’t just like each other… we loved each other.
chapter twenty-two.
(belle)
My hand touched Duke’s heavy cock as the water pounded against us. Two of his thick fingers rubbed between my legs, curling, coaxing my body into thrusting against his touch. His thumb rested against my clit, the teetering pleasure making my body shiver.
Our lips touched, broke apart, touched again.
With his free hand, Duke pinned me against the shower wall. The tile was cold for a couple seconds.
We were alone in the house, finally. The guys in his MC left, along with Jim and Maggie. They were going into Daurian and we would follow them after a shower.
Duke said quick shower, but the way his fingers had been torturing me for a good half hour, there was nothing quick about what we were doing.
He kissed me again and broke away. “I’m starving for you, sweetie.”
His right hand slipped to the back of my leg and pulled. His mouth then kissed my neck and made a quick descent down my body. Duke stopped at my left breast, taking a mouthful, sucking hard, his tongue and teeth teasing my nipple. Between my legs, those two fingers gently rubbing me now pressed against my hole and entered me. He sank into me, making me buck my hips at him, crying out as the hot water splashed against us. I grabbed for his shoulders, instinctively pushing at him, wanting that outlaw mouth of his between my legs, devouring me.
His two fingers sank super deep, twisting, pulling, reaching depths that made my toes curl. As he slid his fingers out of my pussy, he pulled at my nipple with his teeth. The gushing feeling of pleasure between my legs and the tingling sensation of mild pain on my chest made me whimper. I had no idea what to focus on. My body was in a constant battle against itself.
His lips moved down my body, touching me, sliding down with a single kiss. Looking down, watching this hunk of an outlaw go to his knees before me was the hottest sight in the world. Then he made it hotter by throwing my right leg over his shoulder. He took his fingers from my body and cupped both hands to my ass.
Pulling me forward, I felt his breath between my legs a few seconds before his mouth touched me. His tongue flicked against my soft folds, making me groan. For a brief moment, Duke was gentle. The tip of his tongue tracing me bottom to top. But then he started to taste my clit and all hell broke loose inside me.
His hands dug harder into my ass. My hips thrust and I ground against his tongue as he pressed it flat against my clit. His movements were beautiful and deadly. He pressed so hard, I tried to ease back but his hands wouldn’t allow that. I was trapped to his tongue and my own pleasure. Not that I could complain.
I slapped my hands against the tile wall and thrust even harder at him. My right leg bent hard, my ankle pressing against the hard muscles of his back. I felt the rush already collecting deep inside my belly. Duke wanted to taste me and he was going to get it. There was no stopping or controlling what my body wanted.
“Fuck, yes,” I groaned as his tongue moved down to my hole.
He thrust forward, opening me. Then he curled his tongue
and popped out, going right back up to my clit. He leaned forward and his entire mouth started to taste me. His lips against mine. His tongue drawing pictures that were bringing an intense orgasm. He would kiss, suckle, and pull away on purpose to make a loud wet sound. With Duke I could lose myself into that stuff and enjoy it. Knowing I was wet because of him and that he wanted to taste my wetness. It mattered to me.
I managed to move my right hand and touch his head. Before my fingers could grab at his hair, Duke took my hand and moved it away. He placed my middle finger right to my clit, making me gasp.
He looked up at me and pulled away for a moment. “Do it, sweetie. Make yourself come. I’m thirsty.”
My lips quivered - both sets, actually - and I started to move my middle finger. I had never done something like that before in front of another man. Not to mention Duke was still down there, taking care of me. I felt his tongue against my pussy and even felt his tongue flicker against my finger a few times. It made me jerk forward as the build-up of the rush reached its peak. There was a hesitation, like I wanted to be embarrassed at doing such a thing, but at that point, I was no longer in control.
I added a second finger as my orgasm started to crest. I put my head back and let out a long cry as the pleasure poured down between my legs. My hand moved fiercely as Duke’s tongue did the same. My hips rocked front to back, smacking against the shower wall over and over. Duke had his hands up my body, gripping at my sides.
“Yes,” I purred as I gushed.
I slowed my hand and then Duke pushed it away. His mouth devoured me again, one last time, and then he retreated back up my body, using just the tip of his tongue to draw a long line.
That line flicked over my belly button and cut between my breasts. I put my head back and felt him climb up my throat and to my chin. I thought he would stop there but he didn’t. Next thing I knew Duke’s tongue was in my mouth. He kissed me hard, fast, letting me taste my own sweet flavor. My eyes went wide and his hands grabbed the back of my legs. He lifted me up and opened my legs.
His cocked touched me and that was it.
One thrust forward and I let out a groan as he entered me.
He held me up and fucked me right against the wall.
The water started to get a little cool but the heat between us stayed wildly hot.
And with every thrust into me, I fell more and more in love with him.
**
I was dressed and had a bag packed. Duke stood in the doorway to the bedroom. His arms were folded and he nodded to the bag.
“That enough?”
“How much do I need?”
“Enough,” he said with a grin.
“I’ll manage.”
I started to move toward the door but Duke put his foot up and blocked me. “The guy that ditched you when Jim and Big Jim weren’t having it… did you really love him?”
The question caught me off guard. I didn’t expect Duke to ever bring up Niles.
“What…”
“Jim told me he was good to you. You were good for each other. He would have bought you any house you wanted. You would have had that dream life of yours.”
I swallowed hard. “The best part about Niles was that he wasn’t you. Okay?”
“Meaning?”
“He wasn’t rough around the edges, Duke. He was clean cut and straight. I knew what I was getting and when. He had it all planned out as though life was nothing but a board game.”
“And that made you happy?”
“It made me happy to not think about you,” I said. “So, yeah, maybe I did love Niles. In a certain way, yes. In a comfortable way. Okay?”
“No. Not okay.”
Duke turned and his wide body filled the entire doorway.
“No?” I asked.
“He just left you?”
“Yes. It was too much. I couldn’t handle nursing school and taking care of my brother and father. Niles pushed me to get outside help.”
“Dick.”
“No.” I rolled my eyes even though it was sort of cute that Duke was showing jealousy. “He wasn’t a dick. He offered to pay for it. I just couldn’t do that. The doctors were very clear that Dad wasn’t going to make it long. That’s when Jim started taking an extra pill here and there. It started to get out of control. I stopped focusing on Niles. So he wanted to call it quits.”
“Just like that? Didn’t he put up a fight?”
“No. He found a new girlfriend.”
“Asshole.”
“Why does it matter to you?”
Duke touched my face, stroking my cheek. “I’ve never in my life loved anyone but you, sweetie. Nobody ever came close and nobody ever would. What I did was wrong, Belle. I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life apologizing to you if that’ll help. But I would never give my heart to someone else.”
“That’s sort of sweet.”
“I can’t give my heart to someone else. I’d have to take it back from you first.”
Okay, now that was really sweet.
I swallowed hard and felt my heart racing. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Nothing. You don’t have to say a thing to it. That’s the best part, sweetie. I’m not putting you in a position here. I’m just telling you like it is.”
“Thank you, Duke. For being here now. I can’t believe Jim thought about Maggie. He’s always loved you like a brother.”
“I know,” Duke said. “I love him too. Right now we just have to be safe. Figure this out. Settle everything and then go from there.”
As I stared at Duke, something suddenly switched in me. Something happened. It was like a light went off deep in my soul. Maybe Jim wasn’t so wrong with wanting to part ways with the past. It was just a house. It was just land. We had the memories. If Jim could see something that resembled the future, why couldn’t I?
I stood there and stared right at my future… right at Duke.
chapter twenty-three.
(duke)
Eden and Harlee took right to Belle. It was almost a load off my back when I saw Belle and Maggie hug each other, too. It was good that they could find a way to try and relax. The clubhouse had gone into lockdown before but it never involved someone I loved. Yeah, I fucking loved Belle. I’d always love her. I would protect her for the rest of my life.
I kept Jim outside with the prospects, making sure he was safe. Inside the clubhouse, it was anxious. Tense. Everyone sort of looking over their shoulders.
Inside the conference room, Trev, Jasper, and Cade were going over all the paperwork. Cade hovered over the table with papers spread across.
“What do we have?” I asked.
“A fucked up thing,” Cade said. “I need to get these to a lawyer we trust. The money hasn’t cleared escrow yet but there’s movement with the deal. We might be a day late and a dollar short on this.”
“So what’s the plan?” I asked. “Can’t we bust up the dummy corp?”
“Sure,” Jasper said. “Then what? We start that war with the Hell Five? Trev, tell him the rest.”
“The rest?” I asked.
“There’s bigger financial backing than we think,” Trev said. “The Russians think we’re involved? I think the Irish kicked up a little to the Hell Five to give them incentive to bulk up on their gun running. And someone down south is willing to supply a ton of drugs. Durango and Jop are trying to patch together a lot of deals at once.”
“The land is important to hide everything,” Jasper said.
“So what if we let this go?” I asked. “Let them buy the fucking land. Let them try anything on it. We’re there each and every time to bust it up.”
“Is that what you want in your girl’s backyard?” Trev asked.
“More so, if there is bigger backing,” Jasper said, “there’ll be bigger security. We have to stop this deal.”
“Jim will pull out. Take whatever hit he needs to.”
“That’s fine,” Cade said. “But it doesn’t fix everythin
g.”
Trev stood up and pointed to the paperwork. “Cade, put all that shit away. I want a full table right now to figure this out.”
I left the room and went outside to check on Jim. I had two beers with me. I told the two prospects lingering around to go fuck themselves and leave us the hell alone.
Jim touched my ride and took the beer from me. “Think I could get on one of these?”
“You’ve never questioned yourself before in life,” I said. “Don’t start now because of a fucking leg.”
“It was my favorite leg though,” Jim said.
I laughed. “You’re a dick. Are you ready for this?”
“Whatever needs to happen, it’ll happen.”
“You won’t get those debts paid off, brother.”
“That’s okay. The bank could take whatever they want from me.”
I grabbed his shoulder. “Hey. I’ll help. I promise. Just stay put here and wait until I come get you.”
“I’ll be right here dreaming of a ride.”
I turned and saw Trev and Jasper at the clubhouse door. They both nodded to me.
“I’m on my way,” I called out.
“We’re not nodding to you,” Jasper said.
“Bring Jim to the table,” Trev said.
That was a shock to me.
A guy that wasn’t patched in being invited to the table? That was unheard of. Unless they were going to kill him.
I looked back at Jim. Ten seconds ago I promised I’d help him.
Now I was leading him to his death.
**
Jim was way out of place as he stood at the back of the room, explaining everything that went down. The entire table heard it straight from Jim’s mouth. That was a good thing. The guy was basically on fucking trial. His life hung in the balance.
“And that’s it,” Jim said.
“So we vote,” I said. “Get this shit out of the way right now.”
“No,” Jasper said. “We can’t vote this. We need outside influence.”
“Brothers from Frelen are coming up,” Trev said. “Three. They’ll be the deciding vote. We’re not going unanimous on this.”
“Jesus Christ,” I said. “Just kill the fucking deal and wipe the Hell Five the fuck out.”
I was heated. Livid. Ready to take on my brothers.