Staking His Claim: Tattooed And Taken Book 5

by Reagan Phillips

  Kyle may think he's claimed me, but it's the other way around. I've made him mine, and now that I have him, I'm going to make sure we never let anything come between us again.

  Kyle

  Hopper pours me a beer, and Everly is sitting on my lap. Bear, Gunner, Tank, and Vegas all sit at our table in the bar, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Since prospects aren't allowed in the meeting room, my formal initiation is being held in the bar.

  It's been over a month since Gunner handed me my cuts and a week since Everly agreed to marry me. We've been working on that baby every chance we get, and by the way Everly is smiling at me tonight I know something is up.

  Now, the only thing left is joining the family. There are three prospects total getting named tonight. Tempest Elite has a tradition of senior members naming the new prospects. Gunner is in charge of mine, and I'm a bit nervous about what he'll choose after weeks of making me his slave.

  It's all worth it for the smile on Everly's face. She and Gunner are back to rights even though she's decided to live full time in their house in Queens and give up her room at the club. She's still working weekends at the shop with me and spends her weekdays finishing her residency.

  Gunner and I have spent time scoping out possible storefronts near the club for Everly to start her own practice. We both agree she'd be happier practicing outside the club but still close by.

  Bear is on the stage, giving the background of the naming ceremony, and Everly nudges me with her elbow. "I know what your new name is."

  I lean down to her ear and nibble the lope before asking, "Then what is it?"

  "I can't tell you," she giggles and turns, so my lips graze hers. She presses her mouth to mine and speaks against my lips. "I may have had something to do with picking it out."

  "Good," I grin. At least it won't be anything too horrible.

  Bear calls me up on the stage, and I pull away from Everly. "If this sucks, you're going to make up for it tonight."

  "Gladly," she answers.

  Bear introduces me then tells the crew I need no introduction. Most everyone knows me as the hangaround with the decent bike shop. He talks about what I've done for the club with the shop and how I've been welcomed into Gunner's family. Then Gunner takes the floor and roasts me a few times before he presents me with my name patch.

  "Rigs," I read out for the members before looking at Everly then Gunner.

  "The rigs are what makes a boat sail. The parts that keep the boat moving forward on the water, no matter the weather." Gunner's heavy hand slaps down on my shoulder. "Putting your faith in our brotherhood is the reason we keep this club moving forward."

  He slaps me on the back and pins the patch to my cuts before I'm back to Everly and pulling her on my lap. I kiss her neck behind her ear and whisper. "You had something to do with the name?"

  She smirks and wiggles her ass the way she knows makes my cock swell. "To Gunner and the rest of the guys, it's all boat talk, but to us ladies, we like to think of the Australian definition of the word." She turns and holds my face between her palms. "You're a rig, Kyle. A hot ass man with a body for sin. And I'm the luckiest little mama in this room to have you."

  I smile and peck her lips before something she said sticks, and I study her expression. "Little mama. Is that another code I need to learn?"

  "No. Everly grins and looks down at her hand on her belly. "That one is self-explanatory."

  The End

  If you enjoyed the Tempest Elite family, I have great news for you! Bear, Doc, and Gunner all get their happy ever afters coming in March. Check my website for up to date news on the spinoff series, Tempest Elite MC.

  Her Brother’s Best Friend

  Cass

  It’s the bottom of the ninth, and the Giants are down by one run. At least that’s what the commentator on the television says right before the bar goes wild with shouts and angry yelling.

  Joe, my blind date for the night, thank you very much, Veronica, is shouting over all the other voices, and I stick my fingers in my ears to keep him from bursting my eardrums.

  I’ve never understood men’s fascination with sports. I mean, it’s one thing to actually be at the game and cheering on the team, but to be on a date in a seedy bar acting like an ass over action on a stupid screen is a waste of energy in my book.

  The batter strikes out for the second time, and I’m ready to grab my bag and sneak out on this horrible date when I see him. The bar is dark and thick with men in Giants gear, and he has a hat on that shadows most of his face, but I know that body as well as I know my own name.

  Two tables over, Luke Donovan is sitting with a group of guys I somewhat recognize from my brother’s bike shop. His eyes are transfixed on the screen, just like every other guy in the bar.

  Luke smiles, and I’m instantly ten again, and he’s walking into my life for the first time. Though, now he has much more ink and a body that fills out his jeans and stretches his blue Giants shirt to the max.

  “Shit. Hit the fucking ball, you idiot.”

  Joe shouts and slams his fist on the table, sending most of the burger I didn’t eat dancing off my plate. Veronica told me her brother-in-law as passionate, but this takes aggression to a whole new level. I push my food back on my plate and concentrate on not stealing another peek at Luke. Yeah, that doesn’t go as planned either.

  The batter gets a foul ball, and Joe shakes the whole table with his foot. The water in my glass swishes, and I move it away from the edge just in time to notice Luke isn’t at his seat anymore.

  Maybe he left. That would be better than him catching me on a date with this jerk. Luke and my brother, Kyle, have been friends since Kyle brought him home from school one day and announced Luke, at sixteen, had just been adopted by the couple next door. Now they own a bike shop together, and I’ve made a vow to never set foot in the place for fear of running into--

  “Cassy?”

  I look up from my drink into steel grey eyes and a smile that still awakens every butterfly in my belly.

  “I didn’t know you were a fan. You should have brought Kyle out with you.”

  “I’m...not,” I say quietly. If Joe takes his attention off the TV and hears I’m not crazy for the team he’s dedicated his life too, I’m not sure I want to know what will happen next.

  “Oh,” Luke glances at Joe then back to me. “Lucky guy then.” For a second, his mouth contorts in a half frown half-smile combo that makes my lady bits tingle. Then he puts a hand on my shoulder, and I can’t breathe, though somehow I can still smell him and...oh...God...he smells amazing. A heady mix of motor oil and peppermint and something I can’t describe, but it’s all Luke, and it’s all familiar.

  “I haven’t seen you around the shop in ages.”

  “Kyle doesn’t like me there,” I lie. Kyle could care less if his little sister hung around, but I can’t be that close to Luke. Not after what he did to me.

  “Well, you should come around more often. Like the old days. The place was a lot more fun when you worked there.”

  I want to respond with something witty, but my heart and brain are battling it out over the exact words to use, I play it safe and nod. I’m a deer in headlights, only the light is Luke, and I could only wish he was hunting me.

  “I guess I better go. I open the shop on Saturdays so your brother can attend some of the bike shows in the area.” He smiles that panty-melting smile of his and waves on his way to the front door.

  My cheeks are hot, and my heart is in my throat. For my sixteenth birthday, Luke decided he didn’t have enough money to buy me anything nice, so he gave me my first kiss instead. Then he told me it meant nothing, and he took it back.

  I’ve never been able to look at him without blushing and feeling shame since.

  I guess while I was occupied in painful memories, the batter struck out because the bar explodes, and Joe picks up the basket of peanuts on the table and throws them on the ground.

  I’ve never seen rage like this
in a man. It’s terrifying.

  “Fucking loser team. I don’t know why I waste my time,” Joe spits out and jumps off his stool. “We’re getting the hell out of here. I need to blow off some steam.”

  Joe grabs my arm and yanks hard. His fingers dig into my skin, and he’s hurting me. I’m forced to stand, but the second my feet hit the floor, I plant them. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  The hair on my neck stands at the way Joe scowls at me. He’s a big guy, and if he wanted to, he could pull me off my feet easy. My gut twists. I know how this ends. If he gets me outside, there’s no stopping him from whatever he wants to do next.

  “Are you fucking serious right now? I bought you dinner. Now it’s time to go.”

  The laugh that bubbles up my throat won’t be held back no matter how hard I try to swallow it down.

  “Your making fun of me?” Joe’s eyes flash black. His fingers wrap around my arm so tight I know they will leave bruises. He pulls and I have no choice but to move with him. “Wait until we get outside. I’ll show you what happens to people who fucking laugh at me.”

  I’m tripping, falling over stool and table legs and my own feet. Not a single person in the bar takes their eyes off the screen long enough to see what is happening. Even if I try to go dead weight, Joe’s massive enough to drag me.

  The front door gets closer, and I know my only hope is to stop him before he can pull me out of the bar.

  If we leave... my brain goes blank. I can’t think past the next few seconds and not letting Joe take me outside.

  I need someone to see us. To see me. I need someone to save me now.

  Luke

  Shit. My heads a screwed up mess, and it’s all because I saw Cassy in the bar with a guy. Like I have any right to stake any claim on her. Kyle made that clear years ago when I made a play for her on her birthday. Brothers until the end, he told me once. I learned that night; the end was messing with his little sister.

  I haven’t seen Cassy in at least a year. She went off to school while Kyle and I started the shop, and she spent one summer working at the front counter. I thought we had something going then too, but as soon as the school year began, she was out without a second thought about me.

  Maybe it’s for the best. I’m not really Cass’s type. Sure, I spent the last two years of my adolescence living next door, but the first sixteen years of my life weren’t the kind you talk about. And, I have my demons. I always will. But, Cassy made that all go away for me once. She looked at me as if I could be her equal. As if I could own her, heart, and soul.

  Then I fucked it all up by kissing her on a stupid whim that cost me everything.

  Shit. I reach into my jeans pocket and realize Bret still has the keys to the shop on him in the bar. I’d been so messed up seeing Cassy for the first time in a year, I’d forgotten to get them off him before heading out to my bike.

  I can’t open the shop without them. I’m heading back through the parking lot when I spot Cassy and her guy. I should avoid them. She’s got her own life, and I have no right to intervene. But as soon as I get close enough to see his hands on her, I hear Cassy scream my name.

  I see fucking red. My fists are tight before I even reach Cass. She tries to pull loose, but the jerk’s got her arm, and he screams at her to move.

  No one screams at my Cass.

  I cross the rest of the lot in seconds. My hands wrap around his neck and I lift him until his hand releases Cass, then I send him flying to the ground.

  He lands on his back and rolls to his side before jumping back to his feet. If he wants to fight, I have no problem using his ass as my personal punching bag.

  Cassy whimpers my name, but I block her out. The loser takes a swing at me, landing his fist smack dab in my open palm. I could crush his hand with one squeeze, but that’s too easy. I want this to be hard. I want to leave scars he has to look at daily and remember what happens when you hurt women.

  My fist lands along the side of his nose and digs into his cheek before he flails and falls.

  “Luke, stop.” Cassy grabs my arm as I’m cranking it back for another hit. “He’s not worth it. Can you just get me out of here.”

  I hear her, but there’s blood rushing in my ears, and as long as this piece of shit is still breathing, I can’t be satisfied.

  He moans on the ground and rolls to get up, and I land a kick to his ribs.

  “God, Luke. Just stop. Joe, stay down.”

  Why is she defending him? My head is spinning until her hands clasp around mine, and her eyes lock on my face. “Luke. Please. Take me home.”

  The parking lot lights catch the tears in the corners of her eyes, and I break. I can’t make Cass cry again. Instead, I lead her to my bike. “Can you ride,” I ask over my shoulder.

  “I think so,” she whispers so low I barely catch it.

  I hand her my one helmet. Kyle would do worse to me then I just did to Cass’s date if I didn’t keep her safe on my bike.

  Cass wraps her arms around me and lays her head on my back. She holds on while I start the bike and peel off into the street. She doesn’t move again until we’re outside her parent’s house in the dark.

  I didn’t even think to ask her where she wanted to go. I stop on the street before the driveway and cut my bike off, but Cass doesn’t move. She’s molded to my back.

  I give her a second before I reach up to my chest and unlatch her hands. I hold them in mine and turn as much as I can without disturbing her. “Cass. You okay?”

  She whimpers into my back. “I can’t go in there, Luke. I can’t face my parents right now.”

  “Is there somewhere else?”

  She’s silent for a second before she moves off my back and sits up on her own. “My apartment, but that guy... he’s my roommate’s brother-in-law.” Cassy dissolves again and molds into my back.

  I’m at a loss. Cass is right about her parents. They will ask questions seeing the state she’s in. There’s Kyle’s, but what I did to the punk is nothing compared to the beating Kyle will inflict, and I can’t run the shop alone while he’s locked up for manslaughter.

  There’s no other way around it.

  Cass is coming home with me.

  Also by Reagan Phillips

  The Blue Line Brotherhood Series

  Confess

  Seduced

  Uphold

  Tattooed And Taken Series

  Baby on Board

  Her Brother’s Best Friend

  Tattooed By Her Silver Fox

  Her Bad Boy Bartender

  Stand Alone

  Lone Star Sizzle

  Box Sets

  Romantically Ever After- Pre Order