His Young Queen: (Steel Jackals MC #1)

by Tiff P. Raine

  Her voice was shrill, and Tish could tell she was honestly upset. That made her snicker. “Why do you care so much what he thinks?” She was beginning to wonder if her best friend had a tiny love/hate crush on Uncle Nick. But then, most women did.

  Nina glanced over and straightened her back. “I don’t,” she said, utterly calm now. “Was just sayin’. So, tell me about this almost sex you had with Daddy Josh. Did he kiss you?”

  “Don’t call him that, Nina.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it sounds inappropriate.” Tish waved at Brian as they pulled into the parking lot behind the bar. He was hanging near his car smoking. The guy drove like a maniac.

  “Oh, so that means he either touched your boobs or your cooch. Which was it? Or was it both? Because calling him daddy, otherwise, would be no big.”

  “Both.”

  “Ooo, tell me everything. Like how in Sam hell this came about. I mean, I know you’re in love with him, but I had no idea he was lusting after you, too.”

  Tish wasn’t surprised to hear Nina knew about her feelings. Because she was possessive of everything to do with him, she’d never come right out and said she loved Josh, but with Nina, she wouldn’t have had to. From the moment they’d met in grade five, they’d been as close as two friends could be. Tish valued their friendship more than Nina would ever know.

  “I’m not so sure he is anymore. I mean, I thought he was, but everything was so overwhelming and…chaotic. I didn’t know if I was coming or going. I ended up doing neither when he stormed out after saying he wouldn’t fuck me like a wild animal for my first time. He didn’t come back. He didn’t even call.”

  Nina sighed. “I think I’m in love with your man for being such a sweetheart underneath that me-Tarzan thing he has going on. I have to say, I wouldn’t have expected that. I’d have thought he’d be more selfish and gone ahead and mauled your smokin’ bod without thought. Guys are pigs. I’m so glad Josh is an exception.”

  There was a note of disgust layered beneath the dreamy declaration, and Tish frowned. Nina had changed since her mom had died from breast cancer two years ago, which was completely understandable since the two had had the type of mother/daughter relationship Tish hadn’t been aware existed until she’d started hanging out at the Samson’s home. But it was Nina’s disparaging attitude toward men that seemed to be picking up steam. It was as if she was mad at the entire gender because one jerk had messed around on her.

  Thinking about where Josh might have spent the weekend, Tish suddenly didn’t blame her in the least. She rushed out her greatest fear. “I’m afraid he went to someone else to take the edge off and will now expect me to welcome him back and be grateful he didn’t cause my pussy to sting from entering me too fast.” She covered her face and bent forward. “I’m such a fucking idiot. I’m a furious fucking idiot! Who is he with? Why would he do this? You know why I’m an idiot? Because I hate him, but at the same time I can’t breathe without him. I know I’m not making any sense. Sorry.”

  “Oh, honey. Come here.”

  Seeing as they were parked, Nina’s arms were free to gather her up. Tish dropped her hands and returned the warm hug. She laid her head on her best friend’s shoulder and soaked up the sympathetic concern. Until she saw their new bartender staring at them as he walked by, an odd smile on his face. Dickhead. She drew away from the comfort. Men were jerks.

  “He walked out on you so he wouldn’t hurt you, Tish,” Nina said. “Which placed your welfare over a man’s greatest driving force. His dick. He cares about you; that’s always been apparent. Maybe he’s madly in love with you, and he’s been wasting away in prison all this time, freaking out at the thought of you finding someone else before he could come back and claim you.” She sighed. “How sweet.”

  “Sweet?” Tish scoffed as she fell in love with that scenario. “It didn’t feel so sweet the other night. Did you know being turned on could hurt?” She sounded more curious than anything.

  Nina arched a brow. “Hurt? Like, it caused you pain?”

  She nodded. “My muscles wouldn’t relax. Way up high in my—” She looked at Nina, who seemed totally engrossed, and blushed like an ass. “Too much information, right? Sorry.”

  “No.” Nina touched her arm. “Tell me. You know I don’t mind information. Maybe someday I’ll feel it, instead of just hearing about it.”

  “Well, really deep inside, it felt like I was in knots. I understand why they call it need.” She smoothed her skirt down her thighs, feeling edgy. “I needed to have sex. It would have been so exciting, feeling like that, if he’d stayed.”

  “I’ll bet.” Nina settled back in her seat. “I never felt that with Pat. I let him fuck me because I didn’t want him to break up with me. That’s what pisses me off the most.” She looked over. “I think it’s great that Josh will be your only lover.” She straightened with a jerk and coughed as though embarrassed that she’d shown a softness Tish hadn’t seen since Mrs. Samson had been alive. “Forgive me. Got carried away there for a second. See? I can be a romantic. But that was insensitive of me. No matter how darling and altruistic and downright gallant of him it was, I should be calling him an asshole for ditching you like he did.” She rolled her eyes to show she was being sarcastic. “At least you can take pleasure in the fact that he must have suffered the absolute worst case of blue balls in the history of blue shriveled balls. And that’s on top of the pair he’d have already been living with after having been locked up for three long, sex-free years. Boy, Daddy Josh has some impressive control.”

  Torn between being sad, amused, and frustrated, Tish simply threw her hands up. “I’m terrified he didn’t exercise that control and didn’t suffer shit all weekend. I’m terrified he fucked his way through every bitch who hangs out at the clubhouse!”

  “Why would he do that to you?”

  The question threw her, and she gave Nina a blank look.

  “Why do you think he, of all people, would do that? This is Josh we’re talking about, right?”

  Guilt rolled in like fog. “Yes.”

  “The same Josh who, before he went away, was constantly bugged by your stupid uncle because he wouldn’t participate in the orgies they have at the clubhouse?”

  Tish’s teeth snapped together. “Excuse me?”

  “Yeah. I heard Nick yanking his chain once. The conversation singed my young ears; I should add. Nick mentioned offering Josh the chance to tag-team some girl, and Josh apparently passed. Nick wanted to know why he ‘kept doing that,’ which means the pass came up more than a few times.” She shrugged. “If he wasn’t taking advantage of plentiful pussy then, why would he now? I know you didn’t see it because you were too involved, but the way he was around you before he left was crazy sexy.”

  All ears, Tish turned in her seat. “How was he around me?”

  Nina tapped her thumb on the steering wheel and thought for a second. “You know, really protective, but not in a spooky way. He was like…like an animal protecting his mate. At the time, I’d have said his young, but now that you guys have diddled each other, mate sounds better.”

  “He’s very possessive of those he cares about,” she got out around the pleasure spreading through her.

  “I thought it was more than that. But what did I know back then? I was seventeen and mooning over a guy who would eventually take my virginity and use the experience as a sex story to turn on the girl he cheated on me with. Fucking jerk.”

  Tish winced. Patrick was the same jerk who’d been in her section the other night, the one who’d invited her to get on the table sans utensils.

  The clock on the dash caught her eye, and she gathered her things. “I’m sorry he did that to you. He does deserve a good ass-kicking.”

  “Doesn’t matter now. The past is the past.”

  Sure. But it had left scars. “I have to get in. Thanks for the ride, and for listening to my crazy.” She forced a smile and jumped from the car before Nina could say anything more. />
  As she made for the side door the staff used, she heard the whir of the window come down. “Give the Guardian some credit, Miss Low Self Esteem. He’s a good guy, and you know that. And you’re a prime catch that he’d be damn lucky to have!”

  With her eyes watering, she blew her bestie a kiss and disappeared inside. She did know Josh was a good guy. But that didn’t stop her insecurities from showing her clips of him wearing himself out all weekend on willing bodies that weren’t hers.

  ~ Chapter Nine ~

  At the end of the night, the ache settling into Tish’s muscles made it feel as if she was coming down with the flu. She shoved out the staff door and held it open for Brian as he scooted out behind her. He slung his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close. She knew he only had eyes for his Meredith, so she wasn’t bothered in the least by the affectionate gesture. She was simply as grateful as always that he was saving her cab fare since buses didn’t run this late.

  “Remember when I rushed home to Meredith the other night?”

  She nodded and leaned on him as they walked the length of the building toward the rear lot where the staff parked. “Yeah.”

  “I asked her to marry me,” he whispered conspiratorially. “And she said yes.”

  Tish stopped as they rounded the corner. “What? Oh, my God. Brian!” She pulled him in for a happy hug. “That’s great! How did you do it?”

  Brian’s gaze had gone beyond her and flashed wary before becoming hostile. Alarm crawled down her spine as she turned, expecting to see someone about to rob them with a gun or knife.

  Everything around her faded away when she saw Josh leaning his big body against the front fender of the mean looking F-150 that had been parked in her driveway for the past year. She’d assumed it was her uncle’s but had never seen him drive it. Now she knew why. It belonged to Josh. Though, at that moment, he looked as if everything in sight belonged to him. He had his arms crossed in that pose he favored, his head low, his hard eyes focused on the man next to her. He was wearing his usual uniform of boots, loose-fitting jeans, a black tee, and his cut.

  “Get back inside,” Brian murmured as he slid a hand to her hip to pull her behind him. “Hurry before he—”

  “No,” Tish interrupted as she saw Josh’s eyes narrow on the hold. “He’s okay. He’s mine. Uh, my friend. My, uh, that’s Josh.”

  “Josh?” Brian squinted. “He’s out?” He was still talking quietly even though Josh probably wouldn’t have been able to hear him from twenty feet away had he used his normal voice.

  “Yes.” Isn’t that amazing? she wanted to add.

  Josh raised his arm then. Didn’t call out, or change his unfriendly expression. Just raised his arm and crooked two fingers.

  The memory of her wretched weekend tried to slide away, the tears, the worry, the suspicions. She attempted to hold onto something so she wouldn’t be the stupid, gullible sucker she was terrified of becoming where this man was concerned, but she failed. With Nina’s advice ringing in her ears, Tish obeyed the arrogant summons. She stalled and turned back to Brian, remembering her manners at the last minute.

  “Congratulations. Tell Meredith I’m really happy for you guys and I’ll call her soon, okay? If I don’t, I’ll probably see her on Nina’s birthday. Goodnight.”

  “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?” he asked as she began walking again.

  “Absolutely.” She waved back at him, and by the time she came to a stop five feet away from Josh, her knees were weak and she had a nervous tremble in her belly that was spreading out to her extremities. The first thing she noticed was he had a black eye and a bruise on the side of his jaw that she could see through his goatee. She immediately wanted to kill someone. She also wanted to smother him with what-happeneds and oh-my-God-are-you-okays. She didn’t. She didn’t even take the hand he still had extended.

  He sighed and dropped it to his side. “Don’t touch the kid again.”

  That low rumble brushed over her skin and caused a wave of warmth to roll through her that was a combination of hurt, annoyance, lust, and a crippling love she found difficult to keep contained. “Excuse me?”

  “You threw yourself into that hug. I don’t care if he just won the Powerball; you don’t do that again.”

  What a bully. “For your information, Mr. Hot and Cold, he was telling me he got engaged to one of my good friends. I was congratulating him.”

  “Then shake his fuckin’ hand next time and be done with it. No need to give him a hard-on he’ll never have the chance to use on you.”

  She gave an unladylike snort and hiked her purse higher onto her shoulder. “Don’t be silly, Josh,” she said mockingly. “That talent of mine is reserved especially for you. That must be why you’re here. You in need of a refill? I can make sure you’re extra stiff this time so you can take it elsewhere and let some other tramp benefit from it.”

  A dash of humor crossed his expression, then regret, but it was respect that triumphed in the end. “You just implied you’re a tramp, honey.”

  She gnashed her teeth together, because she had, and remained silent.

  “That where you think I’ve been? Fuckin’ some other pussy? Did you not hear anything I said to you the other night?”

  She’d heard what he’d said, but she was terrified to believe in it.

  She looked at him now, her chin wobbling, and Tish knew right then that if he admitted he’d been with someone else, she would never be able to forgive him. That was one of the things she’d suffered through over the past couple of days, worrying she’d accept him even after he screwed another woman despite knowing Tish was in love with him. The very idea had been abhorrent to her, but she’d feared she’d let what would be blatant and undeniable cheating slide because he was Josh. Now she knew that wasn’t the case. If he’d had sex with someone else, this would end here and they would be nothing but friends.

  She didn’t want to ask, would rather have stuck her head in the sand and hid from the possible pain awaiting her. But that would be immature, not to mention disrespectful to the woman she felt she was. So, bracing herself for the worst, she posed the dreaded question.

  “Were you?”

  That gold star bore into hers, open and honest. “No, baby,” he said tenderly. “Yours is the only pussy I’ll be going anywhere near from here on out.”

  Her breath caught, and her heart skipped a couple of beats before falling into a dangerous rhythm. She so badly wanted to believe that, but how could she? To believe would mean he wanted her for keeps. A dream come true. Tish’s dreams never came true.

  He’s home two years earlier than he was supposed to be, a little voice in the back of her head reminded her.

  Okay. There was that.

  And he’s here with you right now, the voice added.

  She frowned. Two dreams. Realized.

  She looked at him standing before her, allowing her all the time she needed to wade through this. And hope was born. But even that she was afraid to trust.

  He pushed off the truck. She took a step back, knowing she’d weaken if he touched her, but he kept advancing.

  “I would have come to you sooner, but we just got back into town.”

  She put her hand up to hold him off as she tried to absorb what was happening. “What? You went out of town?”

  He came right up against her, trapping her hand between them. He blatantly cupped her ass, and at the same time, tunneled his long fingers into her hair to hold her steady. “Nick thought it would be entertaining to string me along for a couple of miserable days. We got back an hour ago from a big meet in Tucson. Before he crashed, the asshole gave me the green light. And look at me,” he murmured, looking at her mouth. “Running to my old lady like a typical pussy whipped motherfucker.” His head came down, and it was a few seconds before she was able to respond to the softness of his lips coaxing hers into a kiss not nearly as zealous as the one they’d shared on Friday. This one was sweet and tender. Meaningful.

&n
bsp; She pulled back and looked at his shiner as her head spun with questions. She ran her palm over the bruise on his jaw and felt a bump. “Who did this to you?”

  He grinned. “When I told Nick I’d claimed you, he misunderstood and thought I meant I ‘claimed you’ without first clearing my intent with him. He jumped the gun on the beat down. But he’s okay now.”

  Yeah. That sounded like something her uncle would do on her behalf. But to Josh? “I’m sorry he did that.”

  He shrugged as though it was normal for best friends to punch each other in the face. “He did what he’s supposed to do.”

  She nodded and stood on her toes so she could press her lips to the bump beneath his bristles. She took the opportunity to inhale a lungful of his familiar, comforting scent. Mmm. Sexy, too. “So, you cleared this with him?” She dropped back down as what he was saying began to make sense.

  “I had to. The way it was unfolding on Friday was fuckin’ backward. I had to get the order of things right so there’d be no regrets all around. I didn’t want anything shadowing this.”

  “Oh.” And that sounded like something her loyal Sergeant at Arms would do. It was then something else he’d said registered. “Uh, Josh?”

  He was watching the progress of his hand as he brought it from under her hair and made a path down the side of her neck and over her shoulder. “Yeah, baby?”

  “You called me…”

  “My old lady,” he finished when she didn’t. He stepped back, releasing her, but snagged her hand. “Come on. We gotta get home. This convo can wait until later.”

  She rushed to keep up when he dragged her around the truck and all but tossed her up into the cab. He was in the driver’s seat, bouncing out of the parking lot in the next few seconds.

  “Seatbelt.”

  She reached around and pulled the belt across without taking her eyes off of him. “Can you tell me what hap—?”

  “No,” he interrupted. “Not ’til we get home.”