by J. M. Dabney
He wasn’t taking the bait. Crave just wanted to fight. Other than fucking, fighting was the only other thing Crave enjoyed. Well, those and making everyone around him as uncomfortable as possible.
“If you’re gonna stay, keep quiet and let them sleep. There’s a cot over there, curl up and shut up.”
Crave pushed to his feet and stormed across the room. The man liked to be in people’s business too much. He had enough shit he didn’t need Crave’s too. He wanted to sleep, and he needed to figure out how to get out of here as soon as possible. What he needed more was his and Priest’s bed, their crazy fur babies and some pizza—greasy pizza and a beer.
18 WHERE DO YOU WANT THE BODY BURIED?
Flowers arrived a week later, Priest stared at the bouquet and knew who they were from even without a card. Andre had picked up flowers the day after every hit and time he’d begged Andre to stop during sex because it hurt. Andre seemed to like it best those nights.
He hated flowers.
Scary and Tank sat at the table with Elijah perched on Scary’s lap with his legs across Tank’s thighs. Those three were an odd trio, but they made their relationship work. He wondered what it was like to be so sexually free, so unafraid to be intimate. Sometimes he found himself jealous and wondered if he was keeping Lucky from—Lucky’s strong hand took his and gave it a squeeze.
Lucky only came home the day before after spending two weeks in the hospital. He was hobbling around on one crutch and refusing to sit still. It was driving Priest crazy chasing after him.
“Where do you want us to hide the body,” Scary asked, and there wasn’t an ounce of joking in the question.
“No one is hiding bodies,” Priest squeaked.
“He’s joking,” Elijah shot a fake glare at Scary.
Since Elijah had hooked up with Scary and Tank, the sweet man turned downright vicious. Well, not vicious, he was still nice as fuck, but he stood up for himself. Didn’t hurt he had a personal bodyguard. That was still a point of contention between Elijah and his men. Psycho didn’t listen to damn word Scary or Tank said.
“No, I wasn’t.”
Tank snorted and tried to hide it with a cough.
“I’d put you two on the couch, but you two would have too much fun without me.”
Lucky let out a loud laugh, and Priest choked on the mouthful of water he was about to swallow.
“We have a daughter running around; we wouldn’t be having any fun. Don’t get any ideas,” Scary warned.
“I still think you should go to the cops,” Landon suggested as he strode into the room.
“Elijah didn’t go to the police.”
“Psycho and Scary dealt out their own brand of justice. Which I’m not condoning,” From his smile Elijah totally was, “I think we handle this in house.”
“You’re starting to sound like your husbands, it’s a bit creepy,” Brody said from his seat on the counter with Trouble between his legs and leaned back against his chest.
“It was bound to happen; they’re together all the time,” Trouble answered as he nuzzled his scruffy cheek to Brody’s smooth one.
“So, what do you plan, kidnap him and beat the shit out of him until he agrees to stay away.”
“Pretty much,” Scary said with a smirk.
“Lucky, don’t you have an opinion, you're way too quiet.”
“To be honest, I think we should go to the cops. They already came to the hospital to ask questions since they’re treating it as a hit and run. As tempting as seeing that fucker in a deep hole, we do anything wrong side of legal and we’re fucked.”
“True, so calling the cops is the best option.”
Priest didn’t want to deal with the cops. They’d ask too many questions. Make him feel like shit about not reporting the abuse and rapes. Would they even believe him after three years: Not even his mother believed him, why would anyone else?
Lucky used his thumb to rub a soothing circling on the back of Priest’s hand. Lucky’s quiet comfort meant everything to him.
“Detective, this is Lee Trenton, I have new information on the hit and run—” Lucky paused. “Yea, you can come by, twenty minutes is fine.” Lucky disconnected the call and laid his phone on the table.
“We’re out,” Scary lifted Elijah to his feet.
“Big, bad Scary running from the—”
“Damn right; I got enough shit dealing with those fuckers sitting outside my bar for no fucking reason. At least it’s down to one guy. New deputy, never seen him before. Newbie is getting all the shit jobs.”
“He’s pretty, though,” Elijah confessed and then snorted as Scary and Tank rumbled.
“Didn’t think pretty did it for ya,” Scary smacked Elijah’s ass.
“It doesn’t, but I can notice. We’ll see you later. Juvie is about done with her art class. We’re late, and she starts to worry.”
He watched the trio leave with Psycho close behind. That one he couldn’t figure out. Psycho shadowed Elijah and Juvie wherever they went. The only time Psycho remained behind was when Elijah went to work.
The rest started filing out to give them privacy for when the detective arrived. He knew the guys didn’t like new people in their space. Most of them didn’t have any fans in law enforcement. It wasn’t like they were criminals, but their appearance was enough to get them noticed. They wanted to go back to their lives as much as he did. If and when that would happen remained unknown.
“It’ll be okay,” Lucky tugged him onto his lap.
He soaked in Lucky’s warmth and the comforting scents which were all Lucky.
“I just want it over with. Get back to life as usual.”
“It will. We gotta get this fucker off our backs first and then I have a surprise for you.”
“You’re finally going to let me see,” Priest asked.
He didn’t have to specify. He was dying to see the house Lucky bought. When they’d move in was a mystery, and he’d miss Twirled House—this was the place he’d finally started to feel safe. He was probably planning too far in advance, but it was a beautiful dream. A home of his own with Lucky and their crazy pets, Princess and Juvie spending nights and who knows maybe he wanted more. The thought of more still terrified him.
“I sent someone to clean it up a bit. It’s been about a month since I sneaked away to take care of the place.”
“You keeping secrets. It seems weird. What else have you kept from me?” Even though he didn’t want to sound defensive, the question came across as an accusation. He stood to throw the flowers in the trash, but Lucky’s hands on his hips kept him from walking away.
“That I’ve loved you forever. You were it when I met you,” Lucky leaned in and pressed his face to the curve of Priest’s stomach.
He cringed a bit, but his muscles under his soft stomach contracted. It was a strange rippling that worked its way into his chest. He almost felt like he couldn’t catch his breath.
“I love how soft you are,” Lucky slipped just his fingertips beneath his shirt.
The cast on Lucky’s left hand felt rough against his skin.
“Six packs—”
“Whoever says this isn’t sexy as fuck is crazy.”
This time he held his breath as Lucky’s nosed the bottom of his t-shirt up to place a nipping kiss on his hairy belly right above his navel. He was hairier than he’d been after years of waxing and shaving; he’d put back on the weight he’d lost from starving to fit Andre’s idea of what Priest should be.
“He doesn’t belong here,” Lucky hissed as he tugged Priest’s waistband.
He stumbled and then came to rest astride Lucky’s thighs.
“You have to be careful; you’ve got broken bones and just because you had laparoscopic surgery doesn’t mean you can just—”
A rough kiss cut him off, and Lucky slanted his mouth across his nipping sharply at his lips.
“This is you and me; I won’t have that bastard of an ex ruining us. I’m fine. Just can’t wait to ge
t the casts off, but if you’re gentle, we can fool around. Ya know ya want this sexy hippie.”
Priest sucked his lips between his teeth to hide the smile, but he couldn’t help snorting out a laugh as Lucky waggled his thick, dark blond brows.
“You’re so damn weird.”
“And you love me for it.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what,” Lucky’s voice dropped to an almost dangerous rumble.
Something flared in his gaze Priest never saw before. He didn’t know if it excited or terrified him.
“Say it, Priest. Tell me,” The demand was clear.
“I love you.”
“Fuck yes, I love you so much.” The kiss Lucky gave him was very much like their first real one in the hotel room. Desperation mixed with a teasing retreat and advance. He slipped his arms around Lucky’s neck, tangled his fingers in the man’s thick locs as the tip of Lucky’s tongue danced over the seam of his mouth. He tentatively parted his lips, and his tongue peeked out. Together they groaned as their tongues touched and Lucky took over thrusting inside. The depth of his desire shocked him, and he hugged Lucky closer. The softness of his stomach and chest conformed to the hard planes of Lucky’s body.
An ache began in his balls, and his dick started to harden. He shivered as Lucky clutched at his back and his fingertips dug deep into Priest’s skin. His hips involuntarily jerked, and he rubbed against the ridges of Lucky’s abs.
“You’re so beautiful, all mine, no one will ever see you like this,” Lucky bit at his bottom lip, “All flushed and turned on. Eyes all fucking wild. Your body needing only mine. Say it, Priest, say you’re mine—always.”
He felt like he was coming out of his skin. His muscles quivered, and he was so close to coming in his jeans. This wasn’t like any of the times he tried to jerk off. The frustration at a body he couldn’t make feel.
“Say it, baby, let me hear it, please.”
It was Lucky’s please, the edge of pleading to it that had him acquiescing. “Yours, always, since the first night you let me sleep with you. So safe,” His words ended on a sob. He wanted and needed things he couldn’t understand. Sex had always been pain and humiliation. What the fuck was this?
“This is me loving on you. No pain. I’ll never hurt you. You’re always in control. What happens or doesn’t happen is up to you.”
“But that isn’t fair—”
“It is fair, your choice, when you’re ready and if you’re never ready I’ll always be right here. Okay,” Lucky asked.
He didn’t understand how a man who embraced his sexuality would easily give up a normal sex life to be with him. Intimacy was one thing. The kisses and cuddling, touches Lucky so freely gave, he could accept those, but could he open his body completely to Lucky?
Lucky placed tiny, sweet kisses all over his face. “I know what you’re thinking and what we do, how we decide to show physical love is our business, no one needs to know or approve. I want every inch of you. However I can—”
A loud rapping at the patio door made them turn to find two men in suits with disapproving expressions, one even bordered on disgust.
“Let’s talk to these assholes and tomorrow we’ll go see our house. It’s about time you decided how the hell you want it decorated. I took liberties.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“One more kiss, they can turn away if they don’t fucking like it.”
He probably gave in too quickly, but he craved one more kiss before his past took away this moment. Another loud series of knocks broke them apart, and he eased off Lucky’s lap to answer the door. He was about to rip open a wound he’d left festering too long, and he was ready for it to be over. Starting to plan his future and stop living in the past was his top priority because it’s what Lucky and he deserved.
19 THE COTTAGE
Nerves twisted his sore gut, and he swore he was close to puking. Until the turn off to get to the cottage he’d bought less than a mile outside of Powers, he’d been fine. Now all he could think was Priest was going to hate it. He should have done this with Priest and not assumed like he always did. What the fuck had he been thinking?
“Are you going to puke?”
He didn’t appreciate Priest’s obvious amusement at his rare show of nerves. With his over-inflated confidence and his radical honesty upbringing made second guessing himself so rare until recently he couldn’t remember a time he had.
“Not funny, what if you hate it? We can sell—”
A loud gasp and a slamming of the brakes had Lucky’s body weight pulling at his seatbelt. He shot a look forward to see what had Priest’s face ashen. Had Andre found them, but all he saw was the cottage.
“Great, Mama had the Model T delivered,” Flowers flowed from the bed of the truck. Lily promised to have all the landscaping done before he got out of the hospital. A rope swing hung from the only towering tree near the house.
Priest was quiet except for small hitches in his breathing. He turned his head to find tears dotting Priest’s thick lashes.
“Hey, what’s wrong, we can change—”
“It’s perfect. Can I go inside,” Priest asked in a voice that was too quiet.
“Of course. It’s ours, here,” He pulled the single key from his pocket and held it out to Priest.
The man’s strong hands shook as he took them and then drove forward until he parked in front of the white picket fence.
He snorted as he saw the mailbox with The Trentons written in his mother’s beautiful handwriting. Point to his Mama on her plan to get herself a son-in-law. They’d never talked about marriage. As far as he knew, Priest didn’t believe in it and he wasn’t sure he did either. A signed piece of paperwork didn’t always mean two people loved each other.
Priest was already out of the car, and Lucky opened his door as he struggled his one crutch from the backseat. He kept a close eye on Priest as Lucky made his way out of the car and followed at a slower pace. Priest touched everything as he passed. The pointed tips of the fence, the sun-warmed metal of the mailbox and Priest fumbled a bit with the gate latch.
After the police interview and all he had to confess, Priest had seemed on edge. Maybe seeing the cottage was a little more overwhelming than he’d anticipated. This could’ve waited a few more days, but Priest was determined to see it today.
He wanted to ask questions and to know what was going on in Priest’s head, but he bit the inside of his cheek to keep quiet.
The Mosaic tiles of recycled colored glass made up the walkway. Priest stopped to cast his gaze downward and turned as Priest took it all in. Instead of pale, Priest's face flushed, and a small half-smile tilted his mouth.
His tense muscles relaxed at the wonder and happiness in front of him. Priest turned, his steps quickened as he approached the small porch and ascended the three steps.
He heard the snick of the lock, but Priest didn’t go inside.
“Are you okay,” Lucky asked as he climbed slowly to the landing and stopped behind Priest.
“I’m just trying to imagine what the inside looks like.”
“You don’t have to imagine; you can just go inside.”
“I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
“For us,” He stepped forward and leaned down slightly to rest his chin on Priest’s shoulder. “There are three bedrooms, not huge or anything, but I wanted you to have your own room if you—”
“You don’t want to sleep with me here.”
“Are you crazy, I can barely sleep without you. No way in fuck I’m gonna give up you sleeping beside me, but I wanted you to have a—”
“Choice,” Priest finished for him. “No matter how pushy you can be, you’ve always given me options. I could always say no.”
“Of course, you have the right to say no any damn time you want. I’d never take that away.”
“Thank you.” It was all Priest said before he opened the door and pushed it open. He stood on the threshold, almost frozen there u
ntil he took a hesitant step forward. Lucky followed but stepped to the side and leaned back against the wall. Except for bedrooms and baths, it was open, he’d added large picture windows that let in the sunlight.
“The furniture was used, but I reupholstered, stripped and finished everything. It took forever to redo the hardwood floors. You can change anything you want.”
“No,” Priest practically yelled. “It’s fucking perfect. Everything is just right.”
He upholstered the ceilings in midnight fabric with tiny mirrors that would twinkle when they caught the firelight or the night lights he’d plugged in. Priest didn’t like anything to be in complete darkness.
“Show me everything,” Priest practically danced in place with excitement.
“As you can see this is the living room, the kitchen is right there. There’s a half bath off the kitchen, a full one at the end of the hall and one in the master bedroom.” He placed the crutch under his arm and limped forward until he could take Priest’s hand.
He led him towards the narrow hallway. All the doors were open to show to sparsely furnished guest rooms. The bathroom that they’d already stocked with everything. He got a bit nervous when he reached their room. Unlike the other rooms this one was closed.
“Go ahead, open it,” He stepped to the side to let Priest take his spot.
Priest turned the old brass knob and opened the door. A huge four-post bed stood center of the room. Colorful printed Saris were tied and draped around the dark wood to pool on the dark purple carpet. Priest had a fondness for purple.
“This is our room,” Priest asked.
“Yea, go on, again everything was used, but Mama and me spent a lot of time refinishing everything.”
“Can we stay here tonight?”
“Yea, the bathroom is stocked with all your favorite things. I didn’t know if you wanted to, but I had Trouble sneak groceries and our backpacks into the trunk. I thought maybe you’d like a little time away. They don’t expect us back for a few days.”
He suddenly had an armful of shaking, beautiful man.
“Thank you,” Priest repeated between quick kisses as smiling lips pushed against his.