Dirty Side Down

by Phoenyx Slaughter

  Without thinking about it, I reach for Luck’s hand. “Thank you,” I whisper. I feel terrible that it took me this long to say it.

  Luck raises an eyebrow as if he’s surprised. “You’re welcome, Karina.”

  Dante walks me into the bathroom and strips me down. I sway on my feet and hold onto his shoulders for balance, making him smile.

  He pulls me to him and strokes my hair. “I got you, baby girl.”

  My breath catches and I choke back a sob. No one has ever taken care of me or comforted me this way. I can’t resist nuzzling against him. He shifts to open the shower stall door and flip the spray on. After waiting for the temperature to adjust, he nudges me inside.

  “I’ll be right back. Take your time.”

  I’m a jumble of emotions. Part of me wanted him to join me. Another part of me enjoys the alone time.

  Washing off this whole, horrible event helps me feel more like myself. Dante enters the bathroom, silently closing the door. A plastic crinkling noise makes me crack open the shower door.

  One corner of Dante’s mouth lifts in a tired smile. “Asked one of the girls to grab a few things for you.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  After stepping out of the shower, Dante wraps me in a fluffy towel and dries me with such gentle care, I almost cry. Wrapping the towel tightly around me, he leads me across the hall to his room.

  “Gonna take a room upstairs, babe, so when we’re here you can have your own bathroom,” he murmurs as he shuts the door. I have no idea what he’s talking about. There’s an upstairs?

  Exhaustion slams into me with the force of a brick wall once I’m safe in Dante’s room. He helps me into one of his shirts, then pulls the covers back and waits for me to get in bed.

  “Lie down, Karina.” He nods at the closed bedroom door. “I’m going to lock that. You need anything, I’ll be in the chapel. It’s the big room right off the main bar area.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  Karina’s out before her head even hits the pillow. Staring down at her, I don’t know what to think. Something that almost feels like a conscience won’t let me take advantage of her. I’m shocked I didn’t fuck the hell out of her the minute we set foot in this room.

  Even now, there’s a strange disconnect stopping me from wakin’ her up and stickin’ my dick in her. She said he didn’t hurt her. It doesn’t stop my brain from thinkin’ my girl’s been violated and I should be takin’ better care of her.

  I cover her up and, as promised, lock the door behind me.

  “That was fast,” Romeo says with a snicker when I take my seat at the table.

  The fact that I got nothing, signals I ain’t in the mood to fuck around and Romeo gets down to business.

  “Heard from our Mexican friends. Hemi ain’t down there. Spoke to Bolt—”

  I have to stop him there. “You bringing the Savage Dragons in on this?”

  Romeo’s not a fan of being interrupted. “Yeah. Thought they should keep an eye out for the little punk.”

  “They’re more likely to give him shelter than hand him over.”

  Romeo shrugs. “You still gonna kill him?”

  Here’s where my supposed level-headedness comes in handy. “Depends. I ain’t sittin’ at this table with him again, I’ll tell you that.”

  “Didn’t expect you to, brother. We’re still missing a package, though. It might be easier to get him to come in, if he knows you ain’t gonna slit his throat first chance you get.”

  Wolf pipes up for the first time. “Call Tucker. He should be out that way. Got connections to both Bolt’s crew and Hemi.”

  “Yeah, was thinking that too,” Romeo says. He whips out a burner, placing it on the table and leaving it on speaker for all of us to hear.

  “You’ve reached Ken Rivers…” blood thunders through my head when I hear the name. Not exactly an uncommon last name, but that, combined with the fact I know Karina’s dad drives a rig…

  “What’s wrong, Dante?”

  My head tips up to find prez staring at me with a confused expression. “Nothin’.”

  We can’t reach Tucker. Romeo moves to other club business and I’m havin’ a bitch of a time sittin’ still. I gotta talk to my girl. I need information from her.

  He finally closes the meeting and asks me to stick around. When everyone leaves, he gets up and shuts the door.

  “How’s she doing?”

  I’m surprised he gives a shit. “Resting.”

  “He hurt her?”

  Now normally, I’d think Romeo was asking so he’d have something to get off on, but he seems genuinely concerned.

  “She said no. But he left her fucking tied up and alone. She was terrified.”

  “Jesus. What a little shit. How’d we misjudge this fucker?”

  “Don’t know, brother.”

  “Fuckin’ Tucker’s the one who introduced me to him. Vouched for the little fuck. Definitely need to have words with him. She tell you why?”

  I cock my head at him. “Whaddya think? You heard him the night I laid his ass out.”

  “Yeah, but I thought he got over it. Been fuckin’ Sadie ever since.”

  That’s how out of it I’ve been. Haven’t really noticed or given a shit about anything except my little bitch.

  “You stayin’ up here tonight?”

  “Think so.”

  He nods. “Clubhouse will be packed. I’ll come get you if I hear back from Tucker or anyone else.”

  “Thanks, brother.” I stand and Romeo slaps my hand.

  “Glad it ended well, Dante. That coulda gone real wrong.”

  That’s what keeps nagging at me the most.

  Karina’s still asleep when I get back to my room. Someone turned the music up in the clubhouse, so I doubt she’ll be able to sleep much longer. I slide in beside her and pull her tight to my chest. One of her breathy sighs later and my dick’s twitchin’ to life.

  Never remember sleeping with a woman before she came into my life. Fucked plenty of them. Never let any of them stay long enough to sleep.

  “Dante?”

  “I’m here, baby girl.”

  “Mmmm.”

  She turns in my arms, her soft breath tickling my chest. It’s impossible to fall asleep, but holding her calms me.

  I’m hovering right at the edge of sleep when she whispers my name again. Shifts a little. Arches her tight little body against me. Her soft lips travel over my neck and down my chest.

  “Dante, I need you.”

  My eyes snap open. Sleep’s the last thing on my mind. “I’m here.”

  “Mmmmm.”

  I’ve got her naked in about five seconds. Dick free and in my hand in another two seconds. Pinned flat on her back under me a second later. She spreads her legs and hooks her feet behind my back. “Please.”

  Fuck me. I’m sliding into her tight, wet cunt a second later. We both groan as I let her adjust. I feel like I’m motherfuckin’ home again.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  This is what I needed. Damn Logan for making me doubt Dante. Doubt myself.

  “Harder, Daddy” I whisper against his ear.

  “Fuck, baby girl, you tryin’ to kill me?”

  He pulls out, urging me to turn over and get on all fours. It’s dark, but I don’t need to see him. I just need to feel his warmth and protection surrounding me. Feel him inside me. We groan together as he fills me, teasing me with a few short strokes, before gripping my hips and pounding into me like crazy. His fingers twine in my hair, twisting and pulling me up against him. His mouth on my neck sends streaks of pleasure down to my nipples. It’s as if he knows it too, because he loosens his grip in my hair. Both of his hands cup my breasts as he slows his frantic thrusting. Rough thumbs tease and roll my nipples until I’m panting and squirming.

  “Please, please, please,”

  Warm breath skates over my cheek as he bites at my ear. “What do you need, baby girl?”

  “You.”

&nb
sp; “You got me. What else?”

  One of his hands drops to my hip, then slowly slides down. His fingers brush my clit with feather-light strokes you wouldn’t expect from a man so rough.

  “More?” he rasps against my ear.

  “Yes, please.” I barely recognize my own voice, it’s so close to begging. “Please, Dante.”

  A growl rips from his throat and he pulls out of me, nudging me on my back. Working his way down my body, he leaves a trail of kisses over my breasts, my tummy, and uses his big hand to open my thighs wide. Thick fingers dig in to my flesh, holding me the way he wants. His warm breath tickles over my sensitive flesh and I let out a whimper.

  “You smell like fuckin’ heaven, Karina.”

  My skin heats from his intense tone and the way he seems to be studying me. It’s wrong, but also so right.

  He brushes a finger against my clit and I jump, pushing into his hand. Oh, shit. His tongue flattens against me, sampling me again, and more needy crying noises ease out of me.

  “Fuck me. You’re the best thing I’ve ever tasted.” His words vibrate against my pussy making me even crazier with need. He holds me open and attacks me with his tongue and lips, devouring me, until I’m bucking and squirming against his face. One finger drifts over my pussy, then slides inside, expertly finding that spot that makes me cry out and grind into his face even harder.

  I’m barely finished quivering when he crawls back up my body, lowering himself between my legs. I shiver as the head of his cock presses against me.

  “Good, baby girl?”

  “Oh, yes. Please, give me more.”

  “You want this?” he teases as he pushes in just enough to make me cry in frustration.

  “Dante, stop teasing…”

  His warm, rough laughter rumbles over me. “It’s killing me just as much.”

  I bump my hips up. “Then fuck me.”

  He leans down, catching the sensitive skin of my neck with his teeth. “Easy, baby girl. Don’t make me spank you.”

  “Maybe I want you to.”

  He finally has mercy and shoves all the way in then stops. “Christ, baby girl. I haven’t had such lack of control since I was a teenager.”

  I’m not sure what he means, but I tighten and arch my back. He presses his hips into me, sinking further inside, but also pinning me down. “Don’t. Fuckin’. Move,” he growls against my ear.

  My arms slide around his neck and I pull myself up so I can whisper in his ear. “Give it to me hard. Fuck me like you mean it. Like you were as scared as I was.”

  He draws back, and even in the dark, I can see his eyes searching my face. He pulls out, and then pushes back in, harder than before.

  Closing my eyes, I fall back against the bed, arching my back, offering myself to him. His mouth covers my breast, sucking my nipple so hard pleasure zings straight through me. He moves to the next breast, giving it the same treatment, and I wriggle under him until he slams into me again. His slow, ragged breaths excite me even more. Each time he pushes in, he grinds himself against my clit then pulls out so slowly, dragging against the spot that feels sweetest.

  “More.” I barely get the word out before he rams himself home again. I gasp and moan in surprise, then giggle because it feels so amazing. Then he lays his big body over mine, so we’re pressed together and he hammers into me hard and fast.

  I gasp and his mouth covers mine, kissing me fierce and violent until I break and come apart under him again. This time he comes with me, and I feel every pulse and twitch as he fills me with his cum. Even as he’s winding down, he keeps thrusting into me, milking every last throb of pleasure from my body.

  He raises himself up on his hands and kisses my cheek.

  “Karina? Baby? Why’re you crying?”

  “I’m so happy to be home.”

  I feel the same way. We’re not home, but her home’s with me. Wherever I am is where she belongs. I press my lips against her forehead and roll off her. “Yeah, me too.”

  She nuzzles her way under my arm until her head’s on my chest. Warm breath drifting over my skin. I let her have a minute, until her breathing evens out. My arm flexes, giving her a quick squeeze. “We need to talk, baby girl.”

  She stirs, presses her hand against my chest and sits up, tucking the sheet under her arms. Reaching over, I flip on the lamp beside the bed. It throws out a weak circle of light, but it’s enough for now.

  “About what?” she asks.

  I slide myself up, so my back’s to the headboard, and she scoots over with her back to the wall. “I need you to tell me everything that happened.”

  “But I already—”

  “Karina.” I use a sterner tone and her eyes widen. “Tell me everything he said to you.”

  “He said a lot of crazy stuff.”

  This is gonna be like pullin’ teeth. Good thing I’ve got experience extracting information from reluctant sources. Bad thing is I can’t use any of my usual methods on my girl.

  “Tell me how you two first met.”

  She scrunches up her face as if she can’t understand why I need to know that bit of history. I’m not sure either, but I feel like a giant piece of this puzzle is in her past.

  “We lived next door to each other when we were kids. My mom…drank a lot. My dad was always on the road.” Her shoulders lift and she glances at the door. “He made sure I got to school safe and would bring dinner over if my mother was too out of it to cook.”

  Christ, I hate hearing the shit she’s been through. “And?”

  “I don’t know. I had a crush on him. I was a girl and he was a boy who was nice to me. My mother died when I was twelve and my dad actually stayed home for a while and took care of me. He didn’t like how close we were, so Logan stayed away. But as usual, my Dad took off again.” She snorts and shakes her head. “I annoyed Logan until he said he was my boyfriend.” She looks down at her hands, wiggling her fingers. “He was my first. But you know that.”

  “Yeah. When’d you break up?”

  “Sophomore year? After he graduated.” She sniffles and keeps her gaze focused on her hands. “We spent the summer together. It was the best summer of my life. He took me everywhere with him. Then at the end of the summer, he told me we were through. He was joining the MC and couldn’t have a kid for a girlfriend.”

  It sounds cruel, but knowing what we put the prospects through, it was probably for the best.

  “Of course, like a fool, I didn’t believe him. I kept coming around his house.” She shakes her head in disgust. “Leaving him these pathetic notes. He yelled at me. I still didn’t get it. I caught him with another girl, and I just threw myself at him even worse.”

  I reach out and grab her hand, but it only makes her cry harder.

  “I was an idiot. I see that now. But back then—”

  “It’s okay, baby girl.”

  “One or two nights after our last big argument, a man crept into my room. He…threatened me. Told me to stay away from Logan.”

  I bolt upright and tug her closer. “Who? What man?”

  “I don’t know. I couldn’t see his face. I didn’t recognize his voice. He reeked of smoke.”

  “Did he hurt you?”

  She ducks her head so her hair falls forward, covering her face. “Yes.”

  I’m so fucking livid, the edges of my vision turn red. “Did he rape you?”

  “No. Not exactly.”

  What the fuck does that mean?

  I give her a minute to get herself together.

  “He held me down…forced his…Dante, I can’t do this. It’s too embarrassing. I’ve never told anyone what happened that night.”

  “Karina. You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about with me. Not ever. Someone hurt you and I want to know what happened so I can fix it.”

  “You can’t—”

  “Yes, I can. Now tell me.” Is this the right thing to do to a traumatized girl? I have no fucking idea. Fuckin’ the hell out of her for the last couple
months was probably wrong too. Didn’t stop me. And I ain’t stupid enough not to know that most of the girls who hang around our clubhouse been through similar shit. Never stopped to think about it before. Long as they were of age and no one was forcing ’em to be here, I never gave a shit about their issues. My girl, though? I ain’t kidding. Somehow, I will fix this.

  “He…forced his fingers in me. Until he…got me off. Then he said since I could get off so easily for someone else, I obviously wasn’t as in love with Logan as I thought I was, and I needed to find another boyfriend to take my mind off him. Threatened to come back if he heard one word about me sniffing around Logan again.”

  Jesus Christ, that’s some fucked up shit. And this is from a guy who treated ‘fucked up’ as his personal motto.

  “What else?”

  She shakes her head. “Nothing. I stayed away from him. Kept my head down and my mouth shut. Maybe a week before you and I met, I ran into him with some girl on the back of his bike.” Her shoulders twitch. “It made me so fucking angry.”

  “So you decided to get even with him?” Lucky for me. Were it not for that little run-in, she and I might not have met. Now that I have her, I don’t know what the fuck I’d do without her.

  “Yes. It was stupid. I’m so sorry, Dante.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for, Karina. You came clean. We talked it out. We’re good.” I’m slammed with the thought of just how innocent she is. Plot she came up with? Not many of the women I know would feel a hint of shame over it. My girl’s still apologizing.

  I’m so motherfuckin’ wrong for her.

  The worst part is, I don’t care. She’s mine now. No matter what.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “What else can you tell me?”

  She fidgets and blows air out her pursed lips. “I don’t know. It was a long time ago. I tried so hard to forget.”

  “Just think. Anything?”

  She leans back and closes her eyes. “He was big. Not as big as you, but in the dark, looming over me, he seemed huge.”

  “Okay.”

  “He had an accent. Not Spanish or Southern like around here.”