by Debra Kayn
He grabbed her ass, moving her faster. She had no idea what to do in the water, where to move, what to hold on to, so she touched everywhere on him. His neck, his shoulders, his face, his chest.
"Give it to me," he grunted, his hips jackhammering with her on his cock under the water.
She grabbed fistfuls of his hair and arched backward, letting the back of her head lay on the surface of the water. Sprawled out in front of him in her favorite place in the world, and full of Battery.
Each groan that came from him wound her tighter, closer.
Her Battery.
Her pond.
The muscles inside her lower stomach and between her legs clenched and she almost lifted her head out of the water at the power of her orgasm hitting her deep and spreading throughout her body.
"That's it." Battery buried himself fully in her and the heat of his come warmed her inside like nothing she'd ever experienced. Without a condom, the coolness of the water, and Battery holding her and filling her, she quivered long and passionately.
She let go and spread her arms on the surface of the water, floating and anchored to his cock. Battery shivered and hauled her up until he was eye to eye with her. She smiled and kissed him deeply. A hum of satisfaction came out, and she laid her head on his shoulder.
His cock slipped out of her.
"That was..." She laughed softly, tired and relaxed. "Crazy and good. You kept me from drowning."
"I'd never let that happen, Bree." Battery carried her to the front of the dock. "Better hop up. I think we've kept the guys out around the pond long enough."
She crawled to her feet and looked around at the four members of Ronacks, holding duty to their president with their backs to the dock. "Do you think they heard?"
"Don't care."
She slapped his arm. "Don't say that."
Battery picked up his clothes, his boots, and shoved everything under his arm, reached out for her hand, and walked back to the house. She floated by his side, unable to believe that the president of Ronacks Motorcycle Club had sex with her out in the pond, and she loved it.
Chapter Twenty One
Bree sat on the sofa, surrounded by the women of the Ronacks' members. From Battery's perch on the stool across the room, he couldn't hear what they talked about, but going by Bree's animated expressions and her hands gesturing in the air, the news of her being the president's woman went over easily enough with him in the same room.
Rod set a beer on the counter beside Battery. "Are you going to break your sobriety and have a drink with everyone tonight?"
He half turned and picked up the bottle. "Only one."
"We haven't heard, seen, or smelled a hint of anyone on the property." Rod drank deep from the bottle. "Maybe whoever breached the property and shot at the house was some young and stupid thug trying to prove himself that he could show the big, bad bikers up."
"Is that what you think?" Battery shook his head. "You've been in the club as long as I have. We always know who is after us and why. If nothing else, motorcycle clubs want to take ownership if they have a problem with us. They're not going to shoot and not let us know it was them. How many times has an attack on the club went without a reason?"
"None that I can remember. We've been patched in for twenty-three years. Hell, we were both boys when we pledged our lives over." Rod chuckled. "Eager to please and thought we were tougher than shit."
Bree was twenty-one years old.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Taking Bree, guiding her right into being his woman, and keeping her for himself added on to his long list of things he'd go to hell for. He drank from the bottle. Though he was headed in that direction from the start, she was too good to take to hell with him.
"You okay, man?" asked Rod.
He scoffed. "What do you think of Bree's position in the club?"
"You mean her belonging to you?" Rod shrugged. "Look at her, and tell me if you see any problems. The women respect her, because of how you've treated Bree this whole time."
"She's young," said Battery.
"From what she's shared with everyone. I don't think there was a time in her life where she was immature. She grew up tough. She's a survivor with a smart head on her shoulders. I think she's perfect for the club and man, we all knew she belonged to you from the moment you brought her back to the house. You raised her right."
"Yeah." He moved off the stool and stood. His question wasn't whether Bree belonged with him. No one had the right to have an opinion on his life, even the club. What he wanted to know was if he was doing the best thing for Bree, and some days he wondered what the fuck he was doing.
She couldn't remember her parents and had only known foster care. For all he knew, she latched onto him as a daddy figure. He gave her discipline, security, and raised her to know what to expect from him.
His gut tightened. Hell, she wasn't looking at him as a father when she laid underneath him and took his cock. Maybe she was right and things happened because not being together wasn't an option. Neither one of them handled being apart from each other, and they were happiest together.
"Carny-girl," he said over the crowd. "Order some pizza for everyone."
She nodded and rolled to her hip and removed the cell phone he'd given her back last week. She and Raelyn spent a lot of time texting, and there was no harm in her having a phone so she could talk with her friend.
Swiss headed toward the door. Battery walked over and stopped him.
"Have you heard anything from the guards posted outside?" asked Battery.
Swiss shook his head. "Nope. I was heading out to park at the road and pick up the pizza when it comes and check with the others. I figured we'd save the poor, delivery kid a trip up the driveway, and the shock of having rifles pointed at him."
"Good idea." He opened the door and stepped outside. "I need to talk to you for a second before you head out."
Swiss and Rod were the only ones who knew about his need to acquire provisions each month, and that was the extent of their involvement. His initial reasons to keep his business private became even more important over time.
Battery pulled a cigarette out of his pack and lit the end before offering Swiss a smoke. "I need supplies by tomorrow."
"It's the twenty-third." Swiss exhaled the smoke. "Month isn't up yet."
"I know, but this can't be helped. Can you get everything gathered in time?"
"Yeah, sure." Swiss slapped his hand down on Battery's shoulder. "I'll start as soon as I check in with the guys and grab the pizza."
"Thanks." Battery gazed out into the darkness. His respect for his members high. They never questioned his orders, and he could depend on them.
"Watch your back tonight," he said.
"Yeah, I will." Swiss frowned. "Expecting something to happen?"
"I don't know. Just a feeling that won't leave."
Swiss nodded. "Listen to your gut."
"Can you have the supplies bought around by noon tomorrow?" Battery rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to get up and back down off the mountain before dark.
"Yeah, I'll get an early start." Swiss shook Battery's hand.
"Thanks, man." He tossed his cigarette and walked back inside.
Bree hurried toward him and slipped her arms around his waist and squeezed his ass. "Pizza is ordered."
He kissed her hard. "I'm hungry."
"Me, too." She widened her eyes. "Did you hear the news? Raelyn's pregnant."
"Yeah, Duke mentioned it to me earlier." He tipped her chin and studied the excitement in her eyes. "What else is going on with you?"
She wiggled side to side against him and grinned. "Everything is almost back to normal at the house and with the club."
"Almost," he said.
"The rally is six months away..."
"And?"
"I can go with you this year since we're together." She slipped her hands inside his vest. "Which means, I need to buy some clothes, and that leads me back
to I want to take you up on that offer to be put on the club's roster and take my turn working where I'm needed with the businesses that employ Ronacks."
He'd spoken out of frustration when he brought up getting her out of the house, but their circumstances had changed. She was his woman now and needed to take care of the club. Besides, with her at high risk for running when scared and the trouble hovering around, there was no way in hell he'd let her out of his sight.
"Maybe afterward, carny-girl. We've got lots to do in six months," he said.
"Like what?" Movement at her side distracted her, and she smiled at Rod approaching them.
Rod stopped and laid his hand on Battery's shoulder. "Mel got evicted from his apartment."
"What for?" Battery used the interruption to distract Bree from all her questions.
"He was rooming with his cousin, and apparently, his cousin lost his job and went back to Oregon to look for employment. He ditched Mel, and the kid can't handle the rent on his own. Apparently, Mel waited until he had no choice but to leave. He's been bunking with Duke and Raelyn all week, but Duke wants him out because Raelyn wants to start working on the spare room for the baby." Rod shook his head. "Thought I'd bring it up and see if you want the rest of the guys to rotate keeping Mel at their place."
"He's got five months left before we can patch him in and I'm not budging on letting him have more of the pot until he's a lifer." Battery scratched his jaw through his beard. "Go down the list and have everyone take a turn housing him, and skip those members who have kids. They have enough responsibilities toward their family without having Mel underfoot. In the meantime, tell Mel to look for a place he can afford. If he can't do it, I'll find him somewhere, and he probably won't like where I pick."
"On it." Rod walked away.
"Poor Mel," said Bree.
"Don't feel too sorry for him. The boy is going to grow up fast. He spends all his money playing slots two towns over." Battery hooked her fallen bra strap with his finger and pulled it up under her tank. "Now he'll learn how to take care of himself first before he goes and wastes his money."
"The boy is older than me." She smacked his chest. "He's coming into his own later than I had to, that's all."
The door swung open. Swiss came in with flat pizza boxes piled ten high and yelled, "Dinner time."
Bree looked up at Battery. "Go grab a stool at the counter, honey. I'll get you a plate. You need to eat."
"Yeah, I'm starving," he muttered.
Her step faltered, and she turned around with the most beautiful smile and in the husky voice he never tired of listening to said, "Eat now, and then you can eat later."
She raised her brows, dropped her gaze to his crotch, and slowly turned to get his pizza. He rubbed his hand over his beard to hide his grin. Damn, he liked what she was thinking.
He went over and sat on the stool, saved the one beside him for Bree, and observed his club. Bree was right. Ronacks fell back into their routine even on high alert. Members would go to work in the morning, they'd check in when they could, and the armed guards would continue to protect Bree.
Nobody questioned their duties or the work they put into running extra security around the house. News of a baby for Duke and Raelyn heightened everyone's mood. He was happy for his MC brother.
After he got back home from visiting the man on the mountain tomorrow, he hoped things would settle down for him and go back to normal. Almost a month had gone by without a sign of any trouble, and he'd started to believe the shooting was a random act and not a calculated one from the past.
Hell, maybe Swiss was right, and some stupid kid thought he'd make his mark on the club.
Bree weaved through the crowd standing around the pool table that doubled for a buffet when they all ate together. She held the paper plates above her shoulders, and her hips worked the room, left, right, left, right, until she reached his side.
"Here you go." She put a filled plate of pizza in front of him and one beside him, then pulled throw-away napkins out of her back pocket of her shorts and set them on the counter.
His gut warmed. When he'd brought Bree back to Montana, she would've served herself and not thought of going out of her way to give him food. Her whole existence settled on survival, and now every act, every thought, every action included him.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Thanks, carny-girl. Appreciate it."
She smiled and motioned toward his food. "Eat. I piled a couple of pieces on my plate for you, too. The paper plates don't hold enough pizza before they start bending.
LeWorth and Jana came and stood at the end of the counter to eat their dinner. He watched Bree for any sign of upset at having Jana around, but she only smiled at them and went back to eating.
She had nothing to worry about. He only wanted her, and he'd make damn sure she believed it every single day.
Six pieces of pizza later, he carried all their garbage outside to the trashcan and stayed in the yard to have a cigarette.
The warm day had turned into a cool night, and the breeze relaxed him. He leaned against the outside of the house. The overgrown lawn was overdue for a good mowing. He'd ask Mel to do the chores in the yard while security remained on the house, and that way the kid could get some extra cash in his pocket.
He flicked the coal off his cigarette, pocketed the butt, and went back inside to find Bree and take her upstairs. He always had room for dessert, and if she were offering, he'd be taking.
Inside, he found Bree talking to Raelyn. He held back, giving her time to talk with her friend.
Her smile dropped, and she frowned, reaching into her back pocket, and looked at Raelyn in confusion. Hesitantly, Bree put her phone up to her ear. From across the room, he watched her lips form hello, and his body went rock hard.
Only Raelyn ever called her.
Bree looked up, searching the room, and found him. The fear in her eyes pierced his chest, and he moved toward her. When he reached Bree, she shoved the phone toward him and ran out of the room. He glanced down at the screen on the phone to see the call ended and no telephone number displayed. Only the word 'unknown' gave him any clue to who upset her.
He took off after Bree, issuing orders for everyone to stay inside and call the guards and alert them to stay diligent. The danger hadn't left, and the person after Bree had patiently waited for him to let down his guard.
He'd fallen right into their plan, and he had a feeling tomorrow, he'd find out exactly what was going on when he visited the cabin on the mountain.
Chapter Twenty Two
Bree paced the living room upstairs in the house, staying away from the window and out of view from outside. She couldn't sit. She couldn't stand. She couldn't have Battery touching her or she'd fall apart. The only things she had to do was figure out who called her and how Battery could stop him.
"Tell me again what he said," asked Battery.
She pressed her fingers to her temples. "He said I couldn't hide forever, and he'd already waited years to find me. A few more days wouldn't hurt him."
"And what did you say?"
"I asked who was calling." Bree groaned in frustration. "I couldn't think."
"Who did he say?" Battery approached her.
She held up her hands to keep him away. This was all her fault. Somehow, she'd done something bad and pissed someone off, and now they wanted to kill her. The gunshot that almost hit her last month was meant for her. She'd talked herself into believing none of the recent trouble had anything to do with her, and now it turned out she was the cause of everything.
"I don't know. I don't think he even said his name. He said something else that I can't remember because I saw you, and I only wanted to give you the phone." She paced the floor. "Who would have my phone number?"
"Nobody, but the club and the women," muttered Battery.
"What am I supposed to do?" She looked up at Battery. "Do I call the sheriff or file a report? I don't want him calling me back."
"I'
ll get you a new number." Battery reached out and snagged her before she could move away. "The club doesn't go to the sheriff with club business, and you are club business."
She pushed against his chest. "Don't touch me right now, Battery."
"Shutup. I'm going to touch you." He held her tight and cradled her head against his chest. "I want you to relax and breathe."
She caught a sob before the sound could escape. Clinging to his vest, she wanted to hide. All the time she was on lockdown in the house, she honestly believed whoever shot at the house wasn't trying to kill her. To find out differently pushed her into a reality she couldn't imagine. Nothing like that had ever happened before. Who would want her dead?
Battery took her over to the couch, sat down, and held her on his lap. "I'll fix everything. Nobody is going to hurt you."
"I don't know many people, and I don't think I've ever made someone mad enough to harm me," she whispered. "Maybe it's Bill."
Battery's body hardened underneath her. "Who's Bill?"
"My old boss at the carnival. I left him short a worker and never told him I was leaving or picked up my last paycheck. He had a temper, but I thought he mostly yelled and fired people." She gulped for air. "There was also this boy at one of my foster homes who I turned in for abuse. I stopped him when he came to me, but he hurt one of the foster girls that were staying in the house in the worst way a girl can be hurt, Battery. He was evil, and when I told the social worker, she believed me and sent him away to a juvenile hall, that's like a prison for teenagers. He was older than me, so he'd be an adult now."
"I know what juvie is, Bree." Battery palmed the back of her head. "I don't think either of those people would want to hurt you. You've been in Montana for years now and completely out of their lives."
She peered up at him. "I haven't always had a life without trouble, Battery. I ran from foster homes. I got caught stealing once because I wanted clothes that other kids were wearing and not second-hand stuff that never fit. I lied to stay out of trouble with the foster parents, and I can't recall one who I thought liked me, not one of them. No matter how hard I tried to help out in their homes, they only tolerated me because they received a monthly paycheck from the state. I never stayed long before they got rid of me. I always said it never mattered that others never had the chance to like me, but maybe I should've tried harder."