Evidently, these guys didn’t “talk business” in front of the women folk. She bristled, but after taking in their grim mugs, she decided she wouldn’t push it.
Shep stood up. “Let’s go for a walk, Cowboy. We got some things to discuss.”
She watched as the two of them headed out the back door of the bar, and then grabbed the beer Fetch brought over and took a seat on a barstool next to Eddie and Elizabeth.
Both of them gawked at the necklace hanging around her neck, open-mouthed. Daisy decided it was a bit like having Harry Potter’s lightning shaped scar. People stared at the pendant the same way.
“You’re wearing Cowboy’s pendant,” Eddie pointed out.
She shrugged. “Yes, he gave it to me last night. It’s not a big deal.”
“Oh, yes it is,” Elizabeth said with a grin. “Tell us what happened yesterday.”
The women watched her like two hawks eyeing a particularly juicy mouse, so she decided to give them a condensed version of the story. She had a feeling they’d just drag it out of her, piece by piece anyway.
“Was he any good?” Elizabeth asked, cocking her head to the side after Daisy explained.
“I’m not going to give you a blow by blow!” Daisy said. “So, see? The necklace is no big deal. We’re just doing a harmless fuck buddy thing.”
Elizabeth pulled out a matching necklace she’d tucked in her shirt. “Well, when I started dating Ryker, he gave me his pendant and I have name tattooed, er, somewhere as well.”
“I did too.” Eddie flipped her wrist over to show the name, Joker. “When he was still alive, I wore Joker’s pendant, along with a property jacket. So, it might not mean anything to you, but trust me. Cowboy thinks you’re special. That’s why he gave you the necklace. It means you are on the road to becoming an old lady.”
When she tried to argue, Eddie cut her off. “No, trust me, honey,” she said firmly. “Whatever kind of bullshit justification he gave you, you mean something to the man or he wouldn’t have parted with the pendant. But he’s probably not even aware of it himself.”
Elizabeth grasped Daisy’s arm excitedly. “What if you become an old lady, too!? There aren’t many of us, just Eddie and Sailor from the old days, and then me. Lexie and Dani hang out with us, but they’re grown children of members. We could use a few old ladies in the ranks.”
Daisy’s eyes widened. Woah. Too much. She might have slept with Cowboy, but she had no intention of giving up on Fort Bliss. She still planned to find Rose and go. She swallowed, feeling queasy. “Well, we’ll see what happens.”
Eddie chuckled, and pulled her into a hug. “I swear to God, you could give Ryker a run for his money, back in his commitment phobic days.”
“I’m not commitment phobic, I’m—”
“Scared shitless?” Eddie replied dryly. “No point in trying to deny it, honey. It is written plain as day all over your pretty face.”
Daisy gulped, feeling like the necklace had become a cartoon ball and chain around her neck.
***
Cowboy leaned against the wall, watching Shep closely. The VP lit a cigarette and inhaled before blowing a long stream of smoke. He’d learned as a prospect Shep had some sort of Zen shit goin’ on with the way he patiently ignited a smoke and waited before speakin’.
“You slept with her, didn’t you?” he said simply.
Well, shit. “Yes, I did,” he admitted. No point in a denial, but he didn’t apologize for it.
Shep slumped against the wall next to him. “Even though we asked you not to?”
Jesus. Talk about a guilt trip. “I know you did, brother, but it happened. I can’t take it back and I’m sure as shit not gonna stop.” He felt this unmistakable pull towards Daisy.
“I see. And am I mistaken or was Daisy wearing your club pendant?”
“She is.” He still didn’t know what the fuck happened, but all of a sudden he’d handed it over and he had to admit, it looked damned good around her pretty little neck. It also made him crave to see his name tattooed on her back, right next to the sexy lioness tat.
“That’s a big step, brother.”
“I know,” Cowboy said.
“So, you think she can handle club life? She’s plenty tough enough, but she’s a Captain America type.” Shep blew a smoke ring, then ashed his cigarette on the ground.
“She is, but she’s had no trouble working with us, I think she’s a better fit than you might think.”
“And how are you doing?” Shep turned to face him. “I sponsored you as a prospect, but I’m your brother now. We’re both in Fam together, which means we’re family. I’m worried about you.”
In a very real sense of the word, he’d become a part of Shep’s family, when he’d become a full-fledged brother in the club. And family seriously mattered to the Four Horsemen. The Four Founders of the MC, Death, War, Fam(ine), and Pest(ilence) created "family trees". In order to join, you had to be a legacy member, meaning the male relative of a founder, or be taken on as a prospect by a member. In turn, you joined his family. The Founders felt it would foster more of a tight-knit atmosphere, keep the brothers together.
“I got it covered, I promise.”
“Cowboy, when I first met you, you were going through hell. I hate to break it to you, but I don’t see the Marine staying here long term. She’s got a bright, shiny citizen future ahead of her. I don’t want to see you go through more shit than you have to.”
“This isn’t like before. When you first met me, I wanted to die, brother, but I don’t anymore. The club gave me a purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, but I haven’t exactly been living, not really, not since Melissa…and…well, you know.” Cowboy sighed. “The past couple of years, I’ve only been existing.”
“And Daisy makes you feel alive?”
He nodded. “She does.” He had no idea how long this thing would last, but he intended to enjoy every single minute of the time he had with her. He hadn’t felt this good in years.
Shep stubbed out his cigarette on the blacktop. “Is she your old lady, or what?”
He chuckled. “Not a fucking clue where this thing is headed.”
The VP grinned. “Lord knows I ain’t no expert on relationships, but the confusion sounds about right.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” He dug in the pocket of his cut and tossed Shep the blue velvet box. “Some dickhead left this on Daisy’s windshield, with a note that said ‘soon’.”
Shep opened it up. “A heart, huh?” He shot a glance at Cowboy. “Stalker?”
“Oh, hell, yeah. Stalker. I don’t know if it's connected to the Raptors or what, but I think we’d better run down who bought it.”
“I’ll put a prospect on it.” He pocketed the jewelry. “We’ll track it down.”
“You know what the kicker is?” he said, raising a brow.
“What?”
“Daisy wanted to keep the damned thing.”
“What?” Shep said, making a face. “Fuck that shit! If she’s gonna wear any man’s goddamn necklace, it’ll be yours.”
“Damn straight.”
Chapter Seventeen
Like at the Palace, Daisy noticed the atmosphere changed as the night wore on. After the old ladies left, the hellions crowded around the bikers, flirting, laughing, and teasing.
Cowboy came up beside her. “You enjoying yourself?”
She nodded, cracking open another salty peanut from the dish in front of her.
“Sorry about being preoccupied. I got one more thing to handle and then we’ll be on our way, soon, and I have a special night planned.”
She bit her lip. “You do?”
“Yes, I need to talk some club business with Ace, and then we’ll beat it. But I need you to stay in my eye line while I do it, okay?’
She made a face. This protection crap was getting old. “I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine on my own for a bit. “Besides,” she said, waving the pendant at him. “Elizabeth and Eddie enlightened me.�
��
“Don’t get your back up, it ain’t like that.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, searching his face. “You sure? I’m not your old lady, so why did you give this to me?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around the horse, feeling the smooth lines.
He finally said, “I honestly don’t know, but the point is, I did.”
She started to take it off, hand it back to him.
“No. It’s yours. I meant what I said the other night. But there’s no reason to stress about it. You wanted a necklace, and I gave you mine. Don’t read more into it.”
She felt a little better about the whole thing, but she was curious about the tats. “So, what’s up with old ladies and tattoos? Eddie has Joker’s name on her wrist. Elizabeth said she has Ryker’s name tattooed, too.”
“It’s a club tradition, of sorts, both of them are proud to wear their men’s names. It’s a lot like a wedding ring,” he insisted.
A name permanently inked on your body. Woah. Talk about commitment. “Except wedding rings come off without a trip to a specialist.”
“Exactly. When a woman wear’s a man ink, it means she belongs to him, even after death. It’s more permanent than marriage, more intense, and it cuts both ways, Wildcat. He belongs to her every bit as much as she belongs to him.”
She shuddered. “Promising to love someone until one of you dies is not enough of a commitment?”
He raised his chin and she got the distinct impression she’d disappointed him. “No, it isn’t. Promises can be broken, getting inked is more of a vow. Citizens don’t take relationships seriously. That’s why so many divorces happen every day.” A muscle worked in his jaw.
She didn’t know what to say.
“It’s okay, Wildcat,” he said gently. “You don’t have to say anything. I get it.” He brushed his thumb over her lips. “Let me speak to Ace and then we’ll leave. Stay where I can see you.”
“But—”
“I know you aren’t my old lady. But you are temptation on two legs, so I wanna keep an eye on you.”
She reluctantly moved into his eye line and watched him as he spoke with another biker. Just looking at Cowboy made her want him again. He lived up to his road name, in his tight fitting jeans, and battered Stetson. He made her long for sultry summer nights spent rolling around with him in a hayloft. They’d had sex last night, but her body had already developed quite an addiction to him.
She tried to focus on something, anything else.
At the table across from her, Duke sat with a blindfolded brunette. He brought a beer to her lips and she took a sip. Duke had tied the woman’s wrists to the chair arms and she certainly didn’t seem to protest. She had her mouth open, chest heaving with barely contained excitement. While the tableau wasn’t exactly sexual, it felt private and thoroughly sensual.
Duke brought the beer across the front of her thin T-shirt until one of her nipples puckered up for him, from the cool touch of the bottle.
And now it just became sexual.
Daisy glanced away, face heating. What is it with bikers and public sex?
She couldn’t resist another look and Duke caught her eye. “What’s a matter? Isn’t Cowboy satisfying you?” He raised one wicked eyebrow, his lips curving into a self-satisfied smirk.
“Sorry, Duke, she is private property.”
Before she could say anything, Cowboy grasped her arm and towed her behind him to the door. Outside in the parking lot, he pulled her into his arms, manhandling her in an alpha male way she wished she didn’t find so damn sexy. “Why the fuck were you flirting with him?”
“Easy, Tarzan. I didn’t flirt, I just watched him.”
“Yeah, which would be considered an invitation by any man.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Stay away from Duke, he’s into some seriously kinky shit.”
“Like what?” she asked, inquisitive despite herself. She wasn’t attracted to Duke, but he was an intriguing mystery.
“Never you mind, let’s just say he’s wilder than an acre of snakes and leave it at that.” Cowboy kissed her quickly and then handed her a helmet. “Let’s go back to Hades and get this night back on track. Okay?”
She smiled softly. “Okay.”
“Good. I have one hell of a surprise planned away for you.”
***
After they pulled into Hades, she leaned over and kissed him which he returned, sliding his hands into her hair. She pulled back, she grinned at him. “Why don’t we go inside and play a little? Have some fun?” She teased. Fun sex was more in her comfort zone, with no talk of possession, tattoos, and no family get-togethers.
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I don’t want to fool around with you, Wildcat. I ain’t like those Marine boys who fucked you and moved on. I’m not just playin’ with you.” His eyes pinned hers. “I want you, not just your body. It doesn’t have to be something lasting, but it has to be real. I’m not a dildo with legs, or Prince Charming. I’m somethin’ in between.”
She bit her lower lip. “I honestly don’t know how to have a relationship.”
“Lucky for you? I’m a good teacher.” He hoisted her up in his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. But instead of taking her to his room, he carried her around the rear of the hotel.
“Where are we going?”
“You feel like a soak?” he asked.
“Outside? That sounds like a strictly indoors type of activity.”
“Not in Hell.”
She’d glimpsed the springs before, but she’d been so busy, she hadn’t thought to time to investigate it thoroughly. As she got nearer to the water, she noticed a thick fog rolling off it. It was a cool night in Texas, the temperature hovered around eighty, even at two in the morning. Beside the springs, a small, round natural hot tub of sorts, all made of rock. Surrounding it, mason jars filled with pebbles, which kept thick white candles steady. Cowboy set her down and began to light them methodically with the Zippo he’d pulled from his pocket.
“What’s all this?” she asked.
“This is the club’s portion of the hot springs,” he explained. “Thermal waters bubble up several places throughout the town and there are a ton of these little hot tubs, as well as some larger ones.”
“That’s why it sometimes smells like sulfur.” And it’s probably how the town got named Hell.
Although rather than sulfur, tonight the springs smelled like vanilla mixed with lemon, due to the sweet scent of magnolia blossoms in the air. The water was surrounded by a dozen or so flowering trees. Some of the blossoms had fallen into the heated pool and released their oils, creating a perfumed bath of sorts.
“When the club bought the hotel, it came with the water rights to this portion of the springs. I come here a lot to soak after I get injured. The temperature’s around a hundred and five degrees, usually, and it feels fucking amazing. Athough, it can push up to a couple hundred degrees at times, so you have to watch.” Cowboy dipped a hand in the water, experimentally. “Perfect.”
“Who placed all the candles around it?”
“Eddie,” Cowboy said, shaking his head.
Of course.
He pulled off his shirt and then began to unbuckle his belt. She shot a glance around them, but didn’t see anyone. “Seriously, you’re going skinny-dipping?”
“It’s the only way to swim if you ask me.” He smirked at her. “Been doing it since I was a kid, and I don’t plan on changin’ now.” He undid his fly and pushed the jeans down, and palmed a condom he tossed on the grass, by the water.
Damn, he might not be in the military, but the man loved to go commando.
She couldn’t look away, taken in by his masculine beauty. Cowboy had a sculpted torso, long and lean. His muscled thighs made hers clench, so hard and well-defined. And his cock stood at full attention, brushing against his tight stomach.
She let out a shuddering breath.
He sauntered towards the water and she got a chance to ogle his tight a
ss. She couldn’t help but think about sinking her fingers into it as he thrust in and out of her. He sat on the rim of the stone tub, watching her with a wolfish grin on his handsome face. “Now, it’s your turn.”
Why not? When in Hell…
Daisy slid the shirt over her head and then yanked her jeans down, which left her in a wispy pair of white lacy panties and bra. She turned around then, cocked her hip to the side, so she could see his hungry face, and then peeled the panties down her legs. He fisted his erection, pumping it a couple of times as he watched. She tossed her bra aside shortly after, far too needy to perform any striptease.
She padded into the hot water and moaned. He was right; it felt damn good, just hot enough to be soothing without scalding her.
With a sigh, she sank to her knees in front of him, perching on one of the benches which had been carved into the stone. Daisy imagined some ancient Native American man painstakingly made them, long before any white settlers came, probably so he could share this place with his lover.
With a teasing grin, she licked Cowboy’s cock from base to tip.
He growled in response. “Fuck, I need your mouth on me.”
She opened wide and sucked him in then, relishing the taste. He eased down into the water a bit, so he could reach down and knead her breasts as she suckled him, his fingertips tweaking her nipples. Daisy went faster than, spurred on by the decadent noises he made as she suckled.
Finally, he wrapped her blond hair around one hand and began to thrust into her mouth, fucking it. She relaxed her throat and let him pump, taking everything he would give her.
“Jesus,” she heard him mutter as he finally pulled back from her mouth. “I can’t take anymore.”
He sank down on the bench and she straddled his hips, making sure to catch his big, thick erection between her thighs, so the end protruded from between her ass cheeks. She teased him then, bracing her hands on his broad shoulders, and coaxing him to lie back a bit, so she could rub against him.
“Fuck!” he howled.
With a growl, he hauled them both from the tub, rolled the condom down over his cock and positioned himself at her entrance. She cried out as he charged into her, relishing the rigid length of him inside, the way his pubic bone abraded her clit with every tilt of his strong horsemen’s thighs.
Hot as Hades (Four Horsemen MC Book 2) Page 17