Blood & Bones: Deacon (Blood Fury MC Book 4)

by Jeanne St. James

  He was probably not happy she just up and deserted him earlier without a word. But he hadn’t stopped her or chased her down, which meant he could very well be with someone else right now. And if he was... Well... They’d only known each other for a week and had no ties, so it shouldn’t bother her.

  “Head down the steps, hook a left and go through the back door into the bunkhouse. Doubt it’s locked. Rarely is.”

  “Thanks.” She paused at the top of the steps. “Hey, I’m curious. How did you and Autumn meet? She’s an accountant, right?”

  “Yeah. She’s an accountant. For us, mostly.” He pulled on his bearded chin. “We met by fate.”

  Reese frowned at his ambiguous answer.

  Just when she figured that was all she would get from him, he continued. “Never had anythin’ good happen in my fuckin’ life ‘til her. Fate musta decided I’d eaten enough shit sandwiches and gave me her as a reward for makin’ it through the fuckin’ meal without dyin’.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Sig unfolded himself from the chair and got to his feet. “Yeah. Me neither. Let’s just say I’m a lucky motherfucker.”

  “She’s very sweet... and really young.” If Autumn was as old as Reilly, Reese would be surprised. “I’m sorry if that sounds like I’m insinuating anything inappropriate, I’m not. She just looks very innocent to be tied in with a bunch of bikers.”

  Sig stared at her with a tilt to his head for a long, uncomfortable moment. “Yeah, she’s young. But like me, she’s lived a lifetime already. Stella might look like the baddest bitch of the bunch, but scratch the surface and you’ll find it’s Red.”

  “She has a story.”

  “Yeah. She’s got a story. One that ain’t gonna be told tonight. Go find Deke. Heard he wasn’t happy when you bolted earlier like your ass was on fire.” With that he turned and went into his apartment, closing the door softly behind him.

  She stared at it for a second, hoping she didn’t insult one of Deacon’s “brothers” when she hadn’t meant to. In truth, they’d been nothing but accommodating since Reilly arrived last week.

  She should be grateful.

  She was grateful, but she still couldn’t help but worry. She’d worried about Reilly for the past twenty-four years, even when it shouldn’t have been her job to do so. When Reese should’ve been a child herself, she had to step up and be the adult. She thought back and wondered how she, at only ten, figured it all out.

  Had she made mistakes raising Reilly? Too many to count. But she learned from them. And she wanted to protect her sister any way she could.

  But even Reilly looked and acted more worldly than Autumn.

  Reese had to remind herself that Sig’s “Red” wasn’t her problem. The rough-around-the-edges biker seemed to dote on her and she him.

  She headed down the steps, made a left and found the back door to the bunkhouse unlocked, just like Sig said. With only one light midway down the corridor, the interior was bathed in shadows and she made her way inside, pausing long enough to let her vision adjust.

  While it was dark, it wasn’t quiet. The sounds of someone—or someones since they didn’t sound alone—having sex echoed down the long hallway.

  The shouted chant of “Yes! Yes! Yes!” was pretty high-pitched. Loud, deep grunts accompanied each one.

  She peeked in at the first open door and saw it was a bathroom, which consisted of a couple stalls, showers and sinks. It reminded her of a shared bathroom in a college dorm.

  Even though she couldn’t afford to live on Villanova’s campus, nor could she leave her sister alone at home, she had used a few while studying with classmates. The ones she’d had the pleasure of using made her appreciate not having to use it on a daily basis.

  She was pretty sure if she turned on the light, she’d find this one much worse since a group of bachelor bikers used it. She wrinkled her nose and then gasped after doing so, forgetting how messed up her face was. She needed to perfect her “resting bitch face” so she wouldn’t cause herself pain until she was healed up.

  She wandered down the corridor, cursing silently when none of the rooms or doors were marked with whom they belonged to. And she wasn’t about to start opening them to peek inside. Not unless she wanted to bleach her brain afterward.

  The sounds of the enthusiastic coupling got louder as she made her way toward the front of the bunkhouse. She wasn’t sure if it was Deacon doing all the grunting. Her stomach twisted.

  She had no idea how to find him without yelling out his name.

  A door to the right, near the end of the hallway, opened and a naked man stepped out with his head tipped down and he was running his fingers through his long, hair as he walked her way. Reese froze and made a small warning sound so she wouldn’t spook him.

  His head popped up and he only hesitated for a split second before continuing to saunter towards her, not bothering to cover any of his nakedness.

  Reese was thankful because she kind of appreciated the view. The man’s hair was now loose, unlike earlier when he had it pulled into a man-bun for their ride. Undoubtedly to keep his long hair from knotting in the wind. She noted he looked good either way.

  Christ. Not counting the prospects, she hadn’t met an ugly Fury member yet. No wonder those sweet butts liked to... hang out.

  He gave her a crooked grin when he recognized her. “Lookin’ for Deke?”

  Did he just ask if she was looking for dick? No, that couldn’t be right. Her tired brain just changed Deke to dick since it was hard to ignore what was hanging casually between his thighs.

  She tried to remember his name while not staring at it. When he reached down, she figured he was going to finally cover himself. She was wrong.

  He scratched his balls instead.

  When her eyes rose again, he said with a low, rumbling chuckle, “Easy, remember?”

  “I’m not easy,” she whispered.

  “Not you. Me.”

  Oh shit, that was right. His name was Easy. Seemed like his attitude was the same way. Easy.

  He slowly and deliberately dragged a hand up his tattooed chest.

  Gah. He needed to stop drawing her attention to everywhere but his face. He was baiting her on purpose.

  His repeated, “You lookin’ for Deke?” got her attention back on track. Barely.

  “I... Yes, I... uh...” Since when was she at a loss for words? She shook herself mentally. “I have something I need to discuss with him.”

  Easy snorted just like Sig had.

  Was she that transparent? “Do you know where he is?”

  “Fuck no. Check The Barn. But if you can’t find him, I’m available.” He hooked a thumb over his bare shoulder. “My room’s down there on your right. Door will be unlocked.” He jerked his chin at her. “Easy. Don’t forget.”

  It wouldn’t be easy to forget his name again.

  Reese mentally groaned.

  Yes, this was the Twilight Zone. She was now sure of it.

  “Which door leads to The Barn?”

  “The one at the end of the corridor. Behind me.”

  She nodded and walked around him, giving him a wide berth.

  “Hey, Reese!” Easy called out, halting her forward progress. “It’s okay if you wanna check out my ass.”

  Without turning around, she lamely lifted a hand and let it drop in a silent acknowledgement, but kept her eyes focused on the closed door ahead.

  If Deacon wasn’t in The Barn, she would continue walking right out the front door and take the long way around back to his apartment. It was a mistake to come down here and search for him.

  Any discussions she needed to have with him could wait until morning.

  Yes, this was a mistake. She should just go back upstairs and watch TV until she fell asleep.

  As she hit the end of the corridor and was ready to head into The Barn, a woosh came from her left and a hand came out of the dark, grabbing her and yanking her through a swinging door.

&nbs
p; A squeak escaped her, and her heart jumped up her throat. She swung her fist to strike whoever it was, and it was caught in a bigger hand than hers. Now both her hands were restrained, and she couldn’t see shit in whatever room she’d been pulled into.

  “Let me go!” She jerked up her knee but missed her target.

  “Yo! Need my fuckin’ junk in one piece, woman.”

  Her breath rushed out of her and every muscle loosened as she recognized the voice. And then his scent.

  Pot. Whiskey. Sandalwood. Deacon.

  “Gonna let you go. Don’t maim me.”

  “Is this your room?”

  Suddenly, a bright overhead light turned on and blinded her. This was not a bedroom, but a large, commercial-looking kitchen. A chef’s wonderland of stainless steel between the large appliances, the expansive counter space and variety of cooking implements. Everything looked restaurant quality. And not a dumpy diner type of restaurant, either. More like a four-star establishment.

  It was unexpected. Just like the interior of The Barn. These men were not slumming it.

  “Wow,” she whispered, looking around. “Do you have a chef among you?”

  “Nope. Though, that’d be a good fuckin’ idea. With Trip rebuildin’ this club from scratch, he decided to do it right from the start. But we’re all responsible to make our own shit. Plus, the sweet butts use it to make food for our pig roasts and parties.”

  “They can cook, too?”

  “Some. Not all. But this discussion ain’t why you’re here, Reese. So, why you here?”

  Her wide eyes landed back on him. He wasn’t naked like Easy, but he was pretty damn close. He only wore a pair of snug boxer briefs. She licked her lips and lifted her gaze slowly from his thick thighs, over what she knew was tucked in those navy briefs and up his tattooed and pierced torso. When she reached his face, he had one eyebrow cocked which was barely noticeable under the dark blond waterfall of his long, loose hair.

  She expected to see amusement in his expression, but it wasn’t there. His lips were nothing but a thin, angry slash.

  Had she interrupted something? He could be grabbing a late-night snack for whoever was spending time with him in his room.

  “Why you here?” he grumbled again.

  “I...” Good God, even angry, his voice caused a flutter in places it shouldn’t. “I don’t know.”

  “Yeah, you do. You walked the fuck away from me without a goddamn word. Left me standin’ there cold, with just my dick in my hand. Bolted like a damn deer hearin’ a gunshot durin’ huntin’ season. Didn’t think you were afraid of anything ‘til I saw it in your eyes.”

  “What did you see?” She knew what it was. Had it been that obvious?

  “Somethin’ spooked you.” He pulled his chin back and stared down at her. “Was it ‘cause you were jealous?”

  Had she been jealous? No. Impossible. “It just hit me while standing there that I don’t belong here.”

  He crossed his arms over his bare chest, causing the muscles to bunch. His eyes glittered like brown diamonds. And not in a good way. “Then, good thing it’s only fuckin’ temporary. You don’t gotta like what goes on here. You don’t gotta fuckin’ fit in.” One side of his lip pulled up in a sneer. “Sorry this is all fuckin’ beneath you. Thought you lost your stick. Musta found it again. Hopefully you used lube to shove it back in place.” A muscle popped in his cheek. He dropped his arms and headed toward the exit behind him. “Go to bed, Reese.”

  “Deacon...”

  He stopped with his palm planted on the door, poised to push it open. He didn’t look back, but he did wait.

  She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. When she opened them, she asked, “Did you fuck any of those sweet butts after I left?”

  Every corded muscle in his back and extended arm went as hard as his eyes had been. “Would you be pissed if I did?”

  Lord help her, yes, she would. And that thought did scare the bejeezus out of her.

  Silence shrouded them. Reese could no longer hear whoever had been going at it down the hall.

  Then she asked something stupid. A question which would intentionally cause a reaction. Anything to avoid admitting she would be jealous if he’d ended up with one of those women. “Would you be pissed if I accepted Easy’s invite?” She knew it was petty the second it escaped.

  He spun around and she automatically took a step back, her breath catching in her throat.

  “What invite?” he growled. His nostrils flared as he raked his gaze down her. “What the fuck you wearin’?”

  She glanced down as if she’d forgotten what she had on. “Jeans.”

  “No. On top.” He took a step toward her, his hands now clenched into fists, and she took another one back. “That goddamn thin, silky thing with no bra. No fuckin’ wonder he gave you a goddamn invite. Walkin’ down here in the middle of the fuckin’ night wearin’ that shit. I can see every fuckin’ detail of your nipples.” The last came out in a barely-controlled roar.

  Dumbstruck, she glanced down again and realized he was right.

  “Why you here, Reese? Were you lookin’ for me? Or any available dick?”

  She picked her dropped jaw off the floor and knocked it back into place. “That’s not fair.”

  “Yeah? Life ain’t fair. You of all people know that. And I’m just callin’ it as I see it.”

  He took another step forward and she held her ground this time, snapping her spine straight and lifting her head.

  “Why you here, Reese? You here to ride my dick, then disappear as soon as you get off?” He reached out and pressed his thumb to her lips. He dropped his head and stared directly into her eyes. “You here to give me just enough of you to make me want more? That why you here? Let’s talk about fuckin’ unfair.” He dragged his thumb roughly across her bottom lip and her breath swept over it. “Wanna know why there’s no one waitin’ in my bed right now?”

  She didn’t. But she was pretty damn sure she was going to find out.

  “’Cause I didn’t wanna use them like that. The way you’ve been usin’ me. Know what the fuck it feels like now. To want more from someone who don’t wanna give it. It sucks, Reese.” He tucked his thumb under her chin and tipped her face up. Their lips were now so close she could feel his hot breath mingling with hers. “You... fuckin’... broke... me.”

  Her chest tightened to the point where she couldn’t breathe.

  He released her and jerked away, spinning on his bare heels and slamming the swinging door with both his palms.

  Reese blinked, frozen in place.

  She broke him? What did that mean?

  It was her fault that he couldn’t use a woman, like one of those sweet butts, and not feel guilty now?

  Bullshit.

  Oxygen flooded her lungs and she lunged forward, pushing through the still swinging door. She spotted him down the dark hallway, turning right and disappearing into the room at the very end. Down by the shared bathroom.

  She kicked off Reilly’s flip-flops, ran down the hallway and just as he was shutting his door, she shoved it open.

  “Oh no. No, you don’t. You don’t blame me for not being able to treat women like nothing more than a piece of fucking meat.”

  “Keep your fuckin’ voice down or we’re gonna have an audience.”

  “I don’t give a shit. Let them listen.”

  He yanked her into the room, far enough to be able to close the door. “I don’t need my brothers ridin’ my ass ‘cause of some woman squawkin’ at me.”

  “Some woman?”

  “Yeah, Reese. Some woman.”

  “Am I just some woman to you?”

  “Just like I’m only a dildo to you.”

  “Isn’t that supposed to be how it works?”

  “What the fuck you talkin’ about?”

  She waved a hand between them. “This thing between us.”

  “This thing...”

  “Yes, this thing... Oh wait. You’re supposed to be the one wh
o usually disappears. Did I beat you to it? Did I damage your fragile ego when I walked away earlier?”

  He huffed. “Don’t got an ego.”

  “The hell you don’t.”

  “You know who has a fuckin’ ego? You. Think you’re too good to have a man in your life. One man fucked you over and now they’re all trash.”

  It wasn’t only one. “Tell me something... When’s the last time you’ve been in a long-term relationship?”

  Deacon pursed his lips.

  Reese’s flattened out. “Thought so. You’ve probably been banging your way through all the available women in this town, right? And maybe even surrounding towns. Not to mention, all those sweet butts your club keeps around to use like whores or slaves, or whatever. Women you use when it’s convenient. So, you have no room to talk, Deacon. None. Why can’t a woman do the same as a man? Why is it that when a man sleeps around and doesn’t settle down, it’s okay. When a woman does it, it’s not. Tell me.”

  His brow was pulled so low, his brown eyes appeared almost black. “Tell me what made you.”

  “What made me,” she repeated, once again dumbstruck. What did that have to do with anything?

  “Yeah. Why you’re so goddamned driven and have a hard time lettin’ loose. Reilly ain’t like that. If you didn’t look so much alike, I’d doubt you were even related, forget bein’ sisters. What the fuck made you the way you are? And I’m not talkin’ about your lyin’, cheatin’ ex, either. You said you came from shit beginnings but never told me the details.”

  Suddenly, her mouth went dry and she needed to escape. Yes, it was a mistake coming down here.

  “It’s not something I want to share with anyone. Or even remember.”

  “Why? Whatever it was made you the way you are.”

  “Why are you turning this around?” She was getting loud again. She was sure if the rooms near Deacon’s were occupied, they could hear their conversation.

  “Ain’t turnin’ shit around, Reese. Wanna know why you are the way you are.”

  “Why do you care? And why would you even think you have the right to know?”

  His head jerked back, and a couple veins protruded near his temples. He stared at her, unblinking, as he growled, “Get the fuck outta my room. Use your own fuckin’ fingers if you need to get off.”