by V. Theia
“Hold up, you have a goat?”
“Yeah, and a kitten. They’re Poppy’s, she rescued them. Now they live here with us.” He was pacing through his bedroom to toss a few clothes in a holdall bag as he talked, made sure he grabbed enough ready cash from the wall safe too and shoved that in there.
Snake agreed to come over.
He brought Tag and Capone with him.
“Yo, goat dad. How’s it hanging?” Prince Charming sauntered in and made himself comfortable by sticking his head in the fridge and came out with the fixings for sandwiches.
“Seeing as my girl has run back home, not good.” A tick manically worked his jaw while he held onto the last three nerves he had left.
“Oh, damn.”
“And Grigori left that shit for her, sent from the fucking grave.”
All three men snapped to attention. Then cursed the air blue.
“That’s Marianna, one of the women we got out of there,” Tag said clarifying, hunched over the photos. He cut his eyes to Texas. “It’s pretty damning. I mean, for your girl to see.”
“Yeah. It was nothing, the chick needed help, I didn’t know I was having my pic snapped.”
“Glad that asshole is dead.” Snake declared with venom to his voice box. “Go get your girl, Tex, leave a key, I’ll make sure someone is here to look after the ankle biters.”
“Poppy has a feeding and walking calendar on the fridge and don’t mind Glenn if he sticks close to your leg, he’s a clingy jerk.”
The pain from missing her hit him from all corners.
He was not into spanking, but he envisioned his girl going over his lap several times when he got his hands on her until he was over this.
The club party had been canceled the other week, due to Lawless’ surprise incarceration, so the only time Texas saw Capone was that night in the bar.
He got a surprise when he felt the guy at his shoulder. “You need company to New York?”
Startled he only stared. “Thanks, but I got it.”
“Sure? We know you don’t like that place.”
“Sure, but thanks, appreciate it.”
Capone inclined his head.
It was a good start, Texas thought, but he’d work more on fixing that friendship when he got back. Ready to leave he asked. “How’s it going with Law?”
All three men looked at each other.
It was more than a shock to see that on the news the other week, out of everyone Texas knew, Lawless was the last to ever get caught.
“Looking at 10 to 15 years. He’s pleading guilty, so it’s just waiting for sentencing.” Supplied Snake, grim in the face and likely to be feeling it too, those two were tight.
“If there’s anything I can do.”
“Appreciate it, man. Now get gone.”
He was too late to try and catch the flight Poppy would be on, according to his app, it flew out of Denver twenty minutes before he got there, so he had another two hours wait, calling her dead phone until he got his ass on a plane.
She better hope he caught up to her and fast because he was not sleeping a night alone without her hair spread all over his chest and her leg holding him hostage.
He needed to keep his mind occupied while he sat on a plane destined for the one place he swore hell would freeze over before he returned.
He thought about her asking him to fool around to give her experience.
He thought about her giggling on the floor while Glenn and Snowbell tumbled on her belly. And then he thought about those sexy little noises she emitted when he was giving it to her. Front. Behind. Face to face. She breathed those raspy noises like she still couldn’t believe how good it felt to fuck.
To fuck him.
She wouldn’t get the chance to compare with anyone else.
Every breath he inhaled was because of her.
She’d resurrected him. Not just into the light. But brought back to the living.
A real life, not one where he wandered, not just geographically but aimlessly in his mind too. He’d been lost and she’d shocked him into living again.
Living a rich and colorful, Poppy filled life.
He felt weird and exposed but it was the good exposed.
The one that had been a long time coming.
While he was pissed off, he was also mentally kicking his own ass.
He’d been scared to have everything, scared if he looked away from her, she’d disappear and this was just his purgatory.
He should have given her everything so she knew not to run.
And not run back to that life she hated.
When he got back to Colorado, he assumed he’d be there a day at most, now he didn’t want to be anywhere else. But he needed Poppy with him.
He didn’t remember the touchdown or grabbing a cab.
The moment the car started to crawl up the huge Astor drive he knew he wasn’t going to do this thing in private because there was around thirty town cars parked outside.
They must be having a party.
So fucking be it, he thought, with a scowl as he climbed out and faced the house.
She better be inside.
She better be ready for him.
Poppy was used to big gestures, asshole empty proposals on yachts no less from weak spined fools who had eyes on her daddy’s money rather than the goddess in front of them.
There was no time for him to hire a boat, but he could give her the grand gesture, the one that would mean something and not be empty promises.
He’d beg on his knees if that’s what got him his girl to believe he was hers.
“Showtime, sweetheart,” he murmured as he depressed the bell and squared his shoulders.
He might not be a Renegade Souls anymore, but he had the don’t fuck with me attitude down pat.
No one inside the extravagant mansion who wanted to keep his balls intact better try and stop him from getting to his woman, he’d go to the mattresses to prove she was the one and his. Bloodshed if necessary.
His everything.
Bought and paid for and now owner of one ex MC treasurer and goat dad.
THIRTY-NINE
“There’s love. Then there’s being loved by a biker.” - Poppy
Bored.
Poppy was bored out of her skull and still so very angry at her mom for the subterfuge to get her back on the estate in such a panic that her nerve endings were still jangling.
Only an Astor would lie about being dreadfully ill so they could manipulate someone into attending a charity gala.
Poppy was furious and nervous because she’d called Tait twenty-one times and he wasn’t answering.
Was he angry she left the way she had?
She didn’t want the stupid champagne her mom pushed into her hand during her fast recovery from the life threatening illness.
She certainly didn’t want her dad orchestrating for Ronnie and his family to be here. She had the ring delivered express to him by UPS weeks ago and knew he’d received it because the notification alerted his signature. That meant there was nothing left to say to each other.
He’d tried talking to her… chastising her for her foolery, more to the point.
An orchestrated party to reunite Poppy with her ex.
Yeah, she was not happy at all and was about to walk out and go home.
She was seeing her parents through altogether displeasing eyes when she’d told them no less than a million times in an hour how she was happy without Ronnie.
She’d fallen into her old patterns by allowing her mother to guilt talk her into wearing one of her designer dresses and then to attend the party.
She hated who she became around her mother, like she had no will of her own.
When all her heart and body wanted to do was go home to Tait.
But then a hush came over the party, the band went on playing, but people stopped talking and Poppy got a chill right down her back as she turned around and searched out why everyone was staring at the doorway.
/> Oh, her giddy lungs started to inflate wildly when she saw the reason.
Her heart trip-trapped harder and faster.
Her belly took a sudden dip and she felt lust body slam until she was achy between her legs.
She didn’t know why or how.
All she knew was Tait was here and he was here for her.
His narrowed eyes moved across the crowd like he saw no one he gave a damn about.
Searching.
Seeking.
I’m here, she wanted to cry out giddily, but went on watching him.
Mouth dry.
Heart in an awful calamity.
Oh my gosh, anyone who was anyone were all here at her mother’s charity soiree and Tait looked about as bothered as a marrow for the dignitaries as he strode forward, the crowd parting for the man who was no longer one of their own and thank God for that.
He stood above everyone, exuding power, aura and downright sexiness, she heard many female gasps, though she couldn’t pull her eyes from him to check who from.
Dumping the glass of untouched champagne on the table, her dad noticed the disturbance too and took hold of her arm as she tried to meet Tait halfway.
“Penelope, this is not becoming, think of Ronnie for God’s sake.” He instructed with an air of disgrace to his tone.
She’d told them where she’d been, who she’d been with. Who she loved, more to the point.
“Dad, get off me, I told you already, I don’t give a flying saucer for Ronnie Pitstop,” she shook his hold free and kept moving.
Excitement flashed through her and made her smile, though it dropped when she was in front of Tait because his face radiated a mood so dark that she shivered.
Not fear.
Never fear.
“Tait,” she breathed, practically vibrating out of her skeleton.
She didn’t ask what he was doing here, she was just so glad he was.
So very glad that her smile came back easily as she tipped her neck to better see him at the same time he ranged his head down.
“Little girl…”
Oh, boy, she was in trouble. Yippee.
She smiled bigger.
She couldn’t believe he’d come all this way for her, not back to a place he hated.
Out of her peripheral she saw Ronnie making his way over.
Dressed in a skinny blue suit which made him look ultra-feminine with his tassel loafers, funny that she never noticed that until she fell in love with how a biker dressed.
Now all she craved on her man was scuffed leather and worn denim and magnificent ties.
Tait looked and smelled delicious.
“Penelope, what on earth is going on? Must you continue to humiliate me with your latest dalliance? I’ve saw fit to forgive you for your tantrum, now tell your…friend he has to leave.”
Ronnie didn’t get any further because Tait rounded on him like a great blustering tornado and his vicious stare would have turned anyone to stone.
Ronnie, rightly so, took a step back.
“Say one more word to her in that condescending tone, you greasy little prick and you and your shiny suit will take a dip in the pond outside, via the fucking window.”
“Well, I never.” Ronnie blustered, almost like he wanted to clutch his pearls.
Poppy didn’t hold back her giggle as she continued to stare up adoringly at the man who’d come for her.
He’d chased her down.
She felt so wanted.
“No, you never. I did, pal. So fuck off.”
Tait dismissed him just like that and stepped forward almost bringing their noses together. “You are in so much trouble, swear to Christ, Poppy.”
“I know, I’ll take my punishment like a champ.”
“You are not running from me, Poppy. Not back here, not back to him. You belong to me, I own you.”
“Well of course you do,” there were several gasps of shock from the crowd, she saw her mother standing with her father, no doubt ready to step in. “This is all just a silly misunderstanding, not of my doing, I might add, but I’ll explain.”
And she did.
While Tait stood there with his head hanging low and sexy on his neck, lips thinned and deliciously tempting, she told him about her dead phone, her frantic rush to the airport to what she thought was a bedside vigil, only to discover it was an ambush.
“I tried calling you a bunch of times.”
“Phone was off. I was on a plane,” he growled and cut a glance behind to her parents. She instantly rushed forward and pressed her hands to his hard chest, calming whatever he wanted to say to them. “It’s just us, Tait. It doesn’t matter what happened, I was coming home tomorrow on the earliest flight. Home to you.”
“Penelope, a word right now.” Ronnie piped in and this time it was Poppy herself who rounded on the man she stupidly thought she’d marry.
She must have used too much hairspray that day because it was a lousy decision, this much she knew. Thank goodness she had the balls to run away when she did because she’d run right to biker paradise.
Underneath her hands, she felt Tait’s chest start to rattle with warning.
It sent a flurry of heat between her legs.
Oh, wow, she loved him so very much.
“Honest to goodness, will you shut up, Ronnie, before Tait does something you’ll hate. He doesn’t care for people talking badly to me. You have your grandma’s ring back, I told you what a colossal mistake we were, go suck up my dad’s ass another way because you aren’t using me again.”
Another gasp spread through her parents great banquet hall.
“Penelope, you’re making a scene.” Her dad sighed and she cut him a glance too.
“Good, it’s about time I did. Please excuse me, father, while I talk privately with my man, you remember Tait Hunt, don’t you? I know you do, even though you’re doing your best bad manners impression to ignore him.”
She gave Tait a shove and that’s when he moved, by slipping an arm around her waist and situated her over to a corner.
Of course all eyes followed them, she didn’t care.
She just didn’t want Tait to get arrested for punching Ronnie, though she was tempted to ask him to do it.
“Little badass,” he amused in her ear and she beamed, clutching his chest. “I’d walk through fire for you, you have to know that.” A hand snaked around the back of her neck and drew her in until they were touching noses. His breath fanned her face and Poppy had to touch him, there was no other choice, she slid both of her hands around his waist.
“You came back to a place that didn’t treat you very well. And you did it for me. I think I get my importance, Tait.”
“I didn’t like thinking you’d left me. Not for a second.”
“I was coming back, I swear.”
He growled a torturous and sexy noise that was felt in every bone. She moaned and moved deeper into him. “I will always come after you, you hearing me, little girl? Always.”
She smiled so big, emotions swarming like bees. “I hear you loud and clear, Tait.”
The hand around her nape rolled and stroked her. His other hand swept back her bangs to better see her eyes. She didn’t care about their audience or how aghast her parents might be, she was in love and in the arms of her biker.
“I fucking missed you, Poppy. It’s only been a few hours and I thought I was gonna die without you. You walk into a room and you light it up. I didn’t know how much light you were giving me until you took it away. I need my light back, baby. I tasted my candy and I was gone. Gone for you, just like that. You own me.”
Oh, her sweet Tait.
Her closed man was finally opening and it was beautiful to be the one on the receiving end. Her teen self was somewhere having conniptions of excitement.
Tears filled her eyes and was felt in the back of her throat.
His declaration so sincere, and so public and he had eyes only for her.
The gaze of a man who felt and
loved and had forgiven himself enough to allow something good in his life.
It wasn’t lost on Poppy for the last few weeks how Tait worked until his muscles were fatigued, how he was not allowing himself to understand he deserved good things, he deserved love. He deserved to have someone for himself who loved him wholly, flaws and faults, mistakes and regrets.
She loved him completely.
It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever heard.
His voice was a low rasp. Sexy in tenor, his lips brushed hers. “Tell me you love me.”
She gave the words almost faster than her tongue wanted to work. “I love you.”
He grinned, slow and sexy. “Now ask me the same thing.”
Her heart stalled and then did an around the world loop in her chest as she squeezed in a breath, eyes nowhere but on him. She was sure the crowd were gossiping in low whispers. Let them see real love in action.
“Tell me you love me, Texas.”
His eyes flared. “Love you with all the fucking breath in my body.”
“Yay,” she declared happily, and he laughed, catching her into his arms when she jumped. “Cute,” he grinned, fisting the back of her hair gently.
He didn’t full on kiss her as she wanted, but their lips did meet. Closed and lovely. He tasted just like she remembered he tasted. Of her man. “Love you so fucking much.”
“I’ve loved you for the longest time, Tait.” She breathed against his lips and she felt his hand flex on the back of her neck.
“You loved me first, baby, but I’m going to love you longest, deepest and hardest.” he declared, melting her.
It was like Chinese whispers went through the crowd and that’s when they both looked up. Tait didn’t let her go, instead he used a boot to hook a chair leg and scraped it loudly along the floor, plonked himself in it and then her on his lap, locking both arms loosely on her waist, her fingers tucked into the back of his hair.
“Nice dress, baby.”
“Thank you,” she curled against him. “I prefer wearing your shirts and boxers.” His nose flared and she felt the steamy lust roll out of him.