by Debra Kayn
Her sex spasmed, sucking him in, holding him tight, never wanting him to leave. Hypnotized by the need, the desire, the craving, swarming her body, she moved, until she was the one impaling herself on his cock, stroking his length. She tilted her hips up and went down on her elbows, giving him more access. His thrusts became more sporadic. Her breath came out in sharp pants. Her eyes fluttered and she put her head on her arms, because the only thing she could concentrate on was the way he fucked her.
The beauty of the movement.
The power of his strength.
The attention aimed at her.
Awareness deep inside of her erupted, taking her higher, spiraling tighter, and she clung to the sensation, until she could no longer dictate her response. She erupted in pleasure. One delicious pulse after another.
His hips jerked and he gave one final plunge and pressed into her, grinding his pelvis against her ass. He stayed there for long minutes, his hands aimlessly rubbing her hips and the curve of her ass. Her ragged breathing calmed. His hardness softened. She sighed when he removed himself from her body, tossed the condom into the wastebasket beside the bed, and collapsed on the bed beside her, pulling her closer.
She snuggled against him, her leg over his hip, her arm trapped against his side and wrapped around his back. She lazily drew circles on his skin with her fingernail. He sucked in air and growled.
She smiled against his chest. He lay perfectly still, not attempting to move.
"Are you going back to sleep?" she whispered.
He laughed softly. "Hell no, I'm resting. I plan on having you again once my cock stops taking a nap."
"That's what you said a couple of hours ago," she whispered.
He kissed her nose. "Not often I get to spend so much time in bed with you, I'm spending my time wisely."
"But it's late. The days almost over."
He grunted.
She laughed and lifted her chin, gazing at him. His sweet smile rejuvenated her. She cupped her hand over his cheek and kissed him. His hand went to the back of her neck, possessive and strong. She lay her head back down and closed her eyes.
He had a way of showing her what he was feeling. Every time he was near her, whether it was when they were alone together or when he was around the guys, he'd reach out, claim her, and make sure she knew he was there. Whether he subconsciously knew what he was doing or it came naturally, she didn't care. She noticed, he claimed her a lot.
There were times when they weren't beside each other. Like last night when he caught up with his family and she visited with Tori and Taylor before Remmy took her to the cabin. Remmy had watched her. His lips would continue talking to the people he visited with, but his eyes took in everything about her. She was never alone.
His presence was always with her, and she was becoming used to having someone who wasn't thinking about themselves, but thought about her. That devotion was foreign to her, and now that she had it, she wasn't willing to let it go.
A knock startled her. Remmy cussed, and extracted himself from her arms. She sat up on the bed, covering herself.
"Do you have to leave?" she asked, hoping whoever was at the door only wanted to tell him hi and then would leave them alone.
Remmy slipped on his pants, leaving the top two buttons undone. "Stay here. I'll see what's going on."
While he walked out of the bedroom into the main room of the cabin, she got out of bed and went into the bathroom to clean up and dress. She was pulling on her boots when Remmy returned.
"Raul needs us outside," he said.
"Okay." She stood and smoothed down her shorts. She tried to remember everyone she met last night, but the name Raul escaped her. "Is everything okay?"
He smiled. "Yeah."
She studied him, but he reinforced his answer with a kiss. "Let's go see what they need us for."
Outside, a crowd gathered in front of the cabin. Remmy looped his arm across her shoulders and stayed on the porch. She looked up at him. "What's going on?"
"Whatever happens, you stay beside me." He lifted his chin to Kurt.
"Congratulations, brother." Kurt lifted a bottle of beer in front of him. "Since you jumped the gun and put Natalie on the back of your bike before you even got in her panties—"
The crowd of Bantorus members and their women cheered, and Remmy laughed. She leaned her head against the side of him, unsure of what was happening.
"All right, simmer down." Kurt waved off the crowd and stepped forward. "We thought we'd throw you both a party."
"Any excuse, prez," Ink yelled, making everyone laugh.
"Start the music." Kurt walked up onto the porch step and held his hand out to Natalie. "Come on, sweetheart. You're center stage tonight."
She glanced at Remmy, who nodded his permission, and accepted Kurt's hand. He led her out into the gravel parking lot in the middle of the crowd and pulled her into his arms. She held onto the sides of his vest to keep her balance.
She laughed against his chest, because his intent was to dance, but Kurt would have to move his feet to make that happen. His chest vibrated in amusement against her cheek. Out of nowhere, a beam of light shined down on them.
"Shit," she buried her face, laughing harder. "What are they doing?"
"Giving you a party to celebrate your new status," Kurt said, twirling her out with his hand.
Another man grabbed her waist and turned her, bending her over his arm. She blinked up into Ink's smiling face. "Welcome to the family, sister."
"Thanks." She screamed in surprise when he righted her and Rain stood in front of her.
The original Bantorus president folded his arms across his chest and gazed down at her. She backed up a step, but Rain snagged her wrist before she could escape back to Remmy. She gasped, because the others were all about having fun. Rain seemed too serious for a party.
"Remmy's woman is protected by the club." He grabbed her hips and kept her in place. "You need anything, you come to me. That pledge is good now, in the future, whether you're with Remmy or you're not with Remmy. Do you understand everything I'm saying?"
She nodded. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." His mouth softened and he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Make my man happy, and we'll get along fine."
Rain walked away. Before she could turn around and seek out Remmy, another member swept her into his arms. While the others had no idea how to dance, this man was smooth on his feet.
He rocked her side to side in a box pattern. "I'm Raul Sanchez, and my woman is Crystal. We weren't able to attend your homecoming yesterday."
"It's nice to meet you," she said, seduced by his accent.
He swung her around. "Love my brother like he's never been loved, amiga. He'll make you a happy woman."
"I will," she said, swaying away from him into another hard body, this one she recognized.
"All right, assholes. The funs over." Remmy's hands tightened on her waist.
"Oh, we're not done yet." Torque dropped a large cardboard box on the ground and held up a lighter in his hand. "We thought Natalie might like to burn everything that was left behind in the cabin when you moved away from Pitnam. There sure are some pretty clothes, panties, and some—"
"Bull shit." Remmy moved in front of Natalie, but his negative claim had a hint of laughter.
She wiggled around his bulk and pressed her hand in the middle of Remmy's chest. "Hang on, baby. Torque is offering the job to me."
The crowd quieted.
He lowered his voice. "Lady, I've never had a girl in that cabin, except you."
Because he confessed out in the open and any of the men or women here could call him out for lying, and they didn't, she believed him. She rose up on her toes and kissed him, whispering, "Whether they were or they weren't, it doesn't matter."
"You're good?" he asked.
She nodded. "They're your family, baby. Tonight is all about showing you how much you mean to them, including their jokes. But just in case t
here really are some ratty skank's panties in that box, I'd love to set it on fire."
Remmy leaned back and laughed louder than she'd ever heard him. She turned and marched straight to Torque and held out her hand. "Lighter, please."
The wind kept blowing the flame out, until Torque cupped his hands around the lighter. "You make him proud, honey."
She raised her brows, bending her knees to take the fire to the box. "Because I'm putting an end to his fast and wild life?"
"No." Torque removed his hands when the edge of the box caught on fire. "Because you're strong, beautiful, and you have my brother looking at you in a way I recognize, because I have a woman that makes me happy."
She stood and gazed at Remmy.
He had his hands shoved in his front pockets, and he gazed at her with hooded eyes that made her stomach flutter. She titled her head, unable to look away. She wasn't an expert on men. All she could go off was how that intense look in his eyes made her feel. She swallowed hard.
"You get it," Torque said beside her.
She nodded. "Yes."
"Then go to him, stay with him, and make him remember the night he claimed his woman," Torque said.
She walked straight to her man. When she was within arm's reach, he hooked her neck, and brought her forward. "You're mine, lady."
There wasn't any doubt. She was falling in love with Remmy.
Remmy moved her over to the porch of the cabin, sat on the top step, and put her between his legs. She leaned back, circled in his arms.
The others clustered outside talking and laughing in small groups. The music continued to play, and someone brought in an oil drum and lit the wood inside it to cast light over the area. A keg got wheeled out the back door by Bruce, the bartender and another Bantorus member. Natalie stretched her legs out in front of her, totally relaxed. The cool night a welcome relief from the heat of the day and the stuffiness inside the small cabin.
Remmy rubbed her bare arms. She sighed in contentment. At first, she was leery about how the others in Pitnam would accept her. After tonight, she had a place within the family.
Every single detail about her trip to Remmy's family branded in her mind. The smoke from the fire floating in the air. The metal music playing from a stereo on the ground that came straight out of the eighties and probably survived hundreds of parties that she assumed most of the Bantorus members couldn't remember. The men, too confident for their own good, made sure everyone knew which lady belonged to him and wasn't afraid to claim her when the mood struck. Occasionally, someone would come over and lean on the railing of the porch, say a few words, and leave Remmy holding her tighter.
From the ambiance to the camaraderie, she enjoyed every single minute.
"I can see why you love them," she said.
He kissed the side of her head. "They're family."
"You've been lucky to find so many people who support you," she said, holding his hand in front of her chest.
Caught up in the music and watching the others in front of her, she yawned. The stress she'd been feeling eased, and her body relaxed. She could get used to the freedom of living at her own pace. One day at a time, and doing what she wanted to do.
A scream interrupted the night, and everyone froze, not saying a word. She pressed her hand to her racing heart. The music continued to play. Remmy picked her up and stood her on the porch.
She gazed over his shoulder, but he guided her inside the cabin. "Stay inside."
"What's happening?" She grabbed his arm.
"I'll check it out." Remmy whistled and two men—she thought they were prospects—came over. "Stay on this porch. Do not move or open this door."
He cupped Natalie's neck. "Sit down and leave the lights off."
She nodded, backing up into the room. Scared and confused, she could only do what he asked.
The door shut.
She reached out in the dark and found the couch, sitting down and straining to hear. When she'd heard the scream, she'd thought someone was playing. There was a lot of laughter and talking outside and the music muffled everything. She'd even heard the women shriek if the bikers became too grabby, but it was all in fun. The scream she'd heard was full of fear and sent a shiver down her spine.
Not ten minutes later, Remmy came into the cabin. She stood, but before she could ask him what was wrong, he grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom.
He flipped on the light switch. "Change your clothes, pack up, we're hitting the road."
"What happened?" She stood beside the bed. "Is something hurt?"
"Change of plans, we're going back to Federal. Nobody's hurt. It's a club decision." He grabbed his vest and his duffle. "Meet me outside when you have your things."
She stared after him until he disappeared from view and the door of the cabin closed. Gone was the carefree Remmy who held her moments ago. She'd seen the about-face when club business was going down, but he'd never shut her completely out.
She missed him reaching out and assuring her they were okay, and that somewhere inside of him, he was still aware of her. She went through the motions of packing their things. When she was done, she walked out onto the porch, and found Remmy clustered with Rain, Slade, Torque, and another man she didn't recognize from last night.
Not wanting to interrupt them, she stood on the porch. Each Bantorus member sensed her approach and turned. She swallowed hard at the seriousness of their gaze before they turned away and left Remmy alone.
He stood with his back to her for several seconds, and then he turned around and walked toward her.
She bit down on her lip. Something was wrong. He wouldn't look at her and he stopped two feet away.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded and stepped off the porch. In the parking lot, she was surprised to find the members of the Federal charter already packed and sitting their bikes. She gazed at Risa, trying to figure out what was going on, but her friend turned away from her too and seemed upset.
Something was very wrong, and Remmy's distance gave her all the information she needed. Whatever happened involved her or she wasn't allowed to know. She climbed on the back of Remmy's Harley.
Afraid to find out what caused them to cut their time in Pitnam short and what caused a woman to scream in fear, she kept her mouth shut. The only trouble that she could cause would be if Will somehow found out where she was, and came here. He was desperate to have everyone believe Robert was innocent and clear the family name. She wouldn't put it past him to freak out Bantorus MC, even follow her to Pitnam, to make her change her mind and have her request the FBI re-open the case.
Chapter Seventeen
Eight and a half hours after leaving Pitnam, Remmy toed the kickstand on his Harley and planted his boot in Federal. The slight pressure on his shoulder when Natalie braced herself as she climbed off the back of his bike further validated that he'd handled the situation badly.
The agony over watching the pain in Kurt's face when he'd explained Risa's breakdown in Pitnam when she heard Natalie's last name and put the connection together with Los Li murdering Natalie's husband killed him. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt a woman who already bore the scars of Los Li.
Before he could recover from the shock of how devastating the news hit Risa, he received a phone call from Sheriff Colby that put everyone from the Federal charter back on the road and heading home. The information waiting for Natalie in the clubhouse changed the course of how he'd protect his woman.
It was time to let Natalie know Bantorus MC's part in her husband's death, and doing so meant the odds of her staying with him were slim.
He gathered their bags and walked up the steps to the club with Natalie in front of him. He wasn't sure he could work his way out of this alone or without bloodshed. His instincts pushed him toward starting war, to seek justice, and end Los Li ever touching someone close to him again.
Another part of him wanted to shut Natalie in the club and never let her leave. He could keep her happ
y for a while; maybe buy some time until he came up with a way to get them out of the situation. As quickly as the thought came, he shoved it away. Not one to back down, he'd face the problem and make sure Natalie understood the seriousness of the situation, even if he had to spend the rest of his life proving his commitment to her.
Natalie's stiff posture continued up the stairs. Besides the customary, 'you okay?' and 'use the bathroom, we're riding out in two minutes' he'd spoken during the trip, he hadn't included Natalie in his thoughts.
And, she hadn't said one word.
Each mile, she shut down more. Halfway back to Federal, her arms no longer wrapped around him, and instead she clutched the edge of his vest as if she couldn't stand to touch him. His attitude to toughen her up before they arrived home hurt her, but what lay upstairs was going to hurt her more. What ate at his gut was the fact that he could fix her attitude toward him if he told her the truth of what happened the night that her husband supposedly killed his brother and then turned the gun on himself.
He could support her.
He could protect her.
He could heal her.
What he couldn't do was change the past or the facts.
Doing so would be at the cost of their relationship. He'd taken an oath that club came first. When he'd sworn his allegiance to Bantorus MC, he'd created a family, one he'd never turn his back on.
Natalie deserved the same, and he'd shortchanged her. That lay on his shoulders.
The day he set Natalie on his bike and took her away from her apartment, away from the threat, away from everything she'd known and claimed, he'd envisioned bringing her into the lifestyle and making her part of the family.
Except, he'd fucked up.
She needed more than safety within the Bantorus MC. He opened the door and walked inside the club. All eyes turned to him. The concern and sympathy directed at him wasn't lost on him. He could no longer hide the truth from Natalie and in telling her the information he'd kept, he'd destroy her.
"Everyone, get busy. Meeting in two hours, and I'll update you on what's happening." Kurt slung his arm around Risa's shoulders, drawing her around to his chest to protect her from the sympathy aimed in her direction. "In the meantime, keep your bitching to yourself, and get a move on.