by Colt, Shyla
“It wasn’t small! Which you know, or you would’ve told me.”
“Did it work out?”
“That’s not the point.”
His jaw ticked. “You happy at Rain?”
“Of course I am. I love it there.”
“So what’s the problem? I apologize for keeping my ownership to myself. I thought it was best at the time, and it didn’t really come up later.”
She shook her head. If she let this go would it continue? Did being with him mean accepting whatever he thought was best at every turn? “I need to be allowed to make my own decisions, good or bad. I want it all laid out in front of me. I know we’re going to disagree and hit snags, but this feels too much like a manipulation. I won’t do it again.”
“Now who isn’t willing to give? Neither of us can toss down ultimatums. I’ll try to meet you in the middle. I’m not used to being questioned. I take care of things the way I see fit.”
“Not anymore,” she said, standing firm.
“We can—”
His phone rang, interrupting his response, and she growled.
“I have to take this, it’s the lawyer.”
She waved her hand.
“Hey Arbuckle. You do? Yeah, I can come in right now. This is good news, right? Well, let’s hope so.” He hung up and she studied him expectantly.
“They want to talk negotiations for Jocelyn.”
“Go, I need to get to work anyway.”
“Are we okay?” Snake inquired.
“We will be. Just…think about what I said, okay?”
He nodded. “It’s an adjustment for me, too, Sprite.”
“I know,” she said softly. This would be a part of their day-to-day. Can I handle this? Things had been calm recently. But it wouldn’t always be. Reality poked a hole in the bubble of fantasy she’d been living in.
§
Snake
Nerves had him on edge as he pulled into Arbuckle’s offices. This was the first time they’d heard anything from the Miles. It would set the precedence for how things would proceed. He was grateful that Joc landed with a nice family. The things he’d imagined her living through were straight off the ID Channel. Now, he had to deal with the complications that came with a substantial amount of money. We have the upper hand. They purchased her illegally. No judge would rule in their favor. Unless they’re on the payroll. Money had the ability to make the impossible possible. He wouldn’t lose her a second time. Walking his bike into a parking space, he got off and hurried into the small brick building.
Arbuckle’s secretary greeted him with a smile. The fifty-something women with coal black hair, heavy make-up, and a tight black T-shirt that showed her expensive cleavage always gave the impression she was on the prowl.
“Good evening, Mr. Kolton,” she purred.
“Evening.”
“You can go back,” she said, leaning forward.
He nodded and hurried through the small waiting room.
“Snake, come on in,” Arbuckle said.
He walked in and shut the door behind them. Sinking into the coal-colored chair he tried not to squirm. Something about the older man behind the desk and the set-up reminded him of being called into the principal’s office in high school.
“You heard something from them?”
“Yes. They had their lawyer send back a letter requesting a DNA sample. Which I anticipated.”
“You think I should do it?”
“Yes. Once we have the proof, it’ll open up the playing field. Right now you could be some whacko after a chunk of their money.”
“You think they actually believe that?” Snake asked, leaning back into his chair.
“No, but they’re covering all their bases. Right now they’re probably scrambling to create a legal paper trail for adoption and making sure there’s nothing left behind to prove the one under the table.”
“Can I tell them I’ll do the DNA test with a stipulation?”
“You could, but I wouldn’t suggest it. It could slow things up.”
“I want to know my daughter. Right now I know nothing more than her name and what she looks like. If they’ll send me information on her—just some basics: favorite color, foods, allergies—I’ll take the test no problem.”
“Okay, I’ll send the information to their lawyer tonight. He’s waiting on us. I don’t think it’s too much to ask.”
He gave a stiff nod and bit his tongue to keep his thoughts inside. It wouldn’t help anyone if he popped off and spilled every angry thought he had rolling around his skull. Arbuckle was a shrewd man who demanded patience and respect. Snake wouldn’t get on his bad side when he had so much riding on this.
“I already put a request in for a kit. Sometimes they’re backed up. We’re out a week, unless they protest your terms. I know we’re all anxious to get this process going so chances are you’ll have your information tomorrow.”
“Who’s going to be handling the kit?” he asked.
“We agreed on a lab that has no affiliation with either of us. They came highly recommended and they send a representative who administers the kit to each client. It’s a nice way to ensure nothing underhanded goes on.”
“Is there anything I can do, or should be doing to prepare for a potential court case?” Snake asked, wiping his palms on his jeans.
“You’ve already done it. You procured a house. You have steady employment that brings in a nice wage. Your girlfriend has been professionally trained to care for children physically as well as mentally. Did she move in with you?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Fix that. Even better, if you can, get a ring on her finger. Courts like nuclear families.”
“And they wouldn’t find it odd we just tied the knot now?”
“Not with her back story. God, they’d eat it up. From tragedy to married bliss in under a year because you were the one. It’d be a good move for you.”
“I’ll think about it,” Snake said, feeling ill at the thought of using their love for his gain. Could I do that to her? I’ll only bring it up if things take a turn for the worse. Being married wasn’t an issue—he saw that for them down the road—but it needed to be for the right reasons, or she’d never forgive him. I’ll focus on moving her in.
“See that you do. If this thing gets ugly, you’ll want the tables stacked in your favor. I’ll give you a call when we have an eta on the DNA test.”
“All right, man. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow then.”
He walked out of the office hoping for the best and fearing the worst. What had they told Jocelyn about him and Jade? Clearly she knew she was adopted. Both of her parents were Caucasian. Feeling the weight of the club who wanted to plan a patch in party, his journey to get his daughter back, and the unsettled feeling between him and Es, he did the one thing he knew would clear his head: hit the open road.
He ended up at Rain just before closing. I’m officially whipped. Part of him worried that she’d come to her senses any minute. She was an ex-school teacher. He knew she had no business being with a man like him. After parking, he walked inside scanning the mostly empty floor. He spotted her at the bar closing out tabs. He nodded to Chuck, the bouncer, and walked over to sit in Es’ section. She lifted an eyebrow.
“Can I get you something?” she asked.
He leaned in. “Hey, do you think your boss would let you leave early?”
“Not funny,” she replied, shaking her head. The twitch of her lips betrayed her amusement.
He mentally wiped his brow. “I was serious. How was your night?”
“Busy, but good. How did the meeting go?”
“Good. They want a DNA test.”
“Makes sense.”
“I told him I’d take the test as long as they agreed to tell me something about Jo
celyn. I don’t know a damn thing about her anymore.” He glanced down at his hand on the bar, ashamed.
“Hey, none of that’s your fault. You’re going to make it right.”
“If they accept, the test will be given by an impartial third party company.”
“Sounds fair.”
“I hate this whole civilized act we’re putting on. I want to go down there, get my daughter, and bring her home yesterday.”
“Except it’d be horrible for her. She wouldn’t know what was going on, who you were, or why you took her. You’d be the enemy who stole her from the parents who’ve loved and cared for her all this time. You don’t want that.”
He clenched his fists. “Only reason I’m doing this.”
She patted his hand. “You’re doing it right. It’ll take longer, but in the end it’ll be worth it. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for, but their brains are still developing. You have to break it to her little by little and ease her into this. You’ll get where you want to be.”
“And you’ll be there to help me.”
“I said I would.”
“Are we okay?” he asked.
She looked startled, which caused his stomach to sour. He cleared his throat and swallowed. He wasn’t used to being unsure where he stood, or dealing with all the emotional work that came with relationships. He’d been alone for a while, and giving orders that were carried out without question for nearly the same length of time. It had colored his personality in ways he hadn’t anticipated. She was new to his world in so many ways. Another girl would’ve folded and accepted what he gave. Es never would. It was part of why he loved her so much. She would always speak her mind, demand the respect she deserved, and love him because he was Xavier Kolton. With the biker bunnies there was always a question mark when it came to relationship. Were they with you because of the cut, your position, or the bad boy image you personified in their eyes?
“We’re okay, Snake. This was our first fight, but I’m sure it won’t be our last. It’s the way of things,” she said with a smile and a shrug.
Reassured, he relaxed on his stool.
“How about I wait here until you get off?”
“Shouldn’t you be working?” she teased.
“Perks of being the boss. I don’t have work unless I want to.”
“Ass.”
“You just now figuring that out, Sprite?”
“Less flirting and more working,” Kali called from the other end of the bar.
Es huffed. “Look, you’re getting me into trouble,” she said, walking away from him to start the closing policies as the last of the patrons made their way outside. Eager to reconnect after the brief rift, he focused in on the prospect, Stealth.
“Stealth, come here.”
He strode over. “Yeah, V.P?”
“Finish cleaning up behind the bar and give Kali the register to count out.”
“Yes, sir,” Stealth replied.
He liked the boy. He’d be a good fit for the club. He followed directions down to the letter, never asked more questions than necessary, and held his alcohol and knowledge well. One of the main reasons they let people go was over inflated egos that lead to wagging tongues.
“Come here, sweet girl,” he said, crooking his fingers.
“I’m not finished yet.”
“Yes you are.” Snake grew hard as he took in the formfitting tank top and black pants. Not long ago he’d been inside of her and all had been right with the world. He needed to get back to that. He stared her down; her eyes dilated, and her chest heaved. When she walked around the bar, he opened his legs and guided her to stand between them. Gripping the back of her neck, he pulled her to him. He kissed her hard, intent on leaving his mark behind. They broke apart, and he stood, pulling her through the quiet club. Rain had a special room with a two-way glass and plush furniture. Normally used for private meetings, the space would facilitate a more recreational purpose tonight.
“Where are we going?” Es asked breathlessly.
“A place where I can remind you who you belong to.”
She gasped. He glanced back and chuckled at her scandalized expression.
“Here?”
“Anytime, anyplace. And I promise you, you’ll love every second of it.”
She bit her bottom lip, and he groaned and walked faster, pulling her along behind him. She was intoxicating. They’d danced around one another, put in the work to build a strong foundation, and now he wanted to learn her body as well as he knew her soul. They climbed the stairs, and he paused at the door to enter the code. The door clicked, and he turned the handle, allowing her to step inside the spacious room. Flicking on the light, he revealed the large wooden table lined with chairs by the door, and comfortable, black leather couches in the back of the room against the wall. A table rested between them and a bar sat a few feet away against the back wall.
He walked them to the back, sank onto the couch, and patted his lap. With her pink cheeks, she looked like a maiden waiting to be spoiled.
“Come here, sweet girl.” He grasped her hand and tugged her until she complied, straddling his legs. Gripping her hips, he pressed her down onto his hard-on. “See what you do to me? I can’t get enough of you.”
“You’ve only had me once,” she whispered.
“That’s just your body. Your soul has been mine for months. That’s why this is so good between us. You know that, right?”
She peered up from beneath a fringe of blonde hair.
“When I claimed you as my old lady, it wasn’t a decision I made on a whim. I did it because I’m in this with you for the long haul.”
She rested a hand on his chest, over his heart, and smiled bashfully. “Xavier, I feel the same way and it scares the hell out of me.”
“Don’t be scared. I’m not perfect. I’ll screw up, piss you off, and frustrate you to no end at times. That’s the way it is between an old lady and her man. But I will never let you down, abandon you, or leave you unprotected. I come with an entire family that’s embraced you. While we may be rowdy and unconventional, we’re also there for each other.” He laughed. “I guess what I’m saying is I pledge myself to you, sweet girl. You deserve flowers, poems, and a number of other things I can’t give you.”
“You just did,” she whispered.
His lips twitched upward. “Are you ready for the commitment that comes along with me? ’Cause I’m past the point of being able to let you go, and this life is an all in or out thing.”
“Don’t you know by now I’m with you, always? I love you. I never thought I would say those words to another man. Then you came along, and I couldn’t maintain all the walls I’d buried myself behind. You showed me how to live again. No, you gave me the courage to thaw out and experience life the way it was meant to be lived. After losing my family the way I did, there will always be a part of me that’s terrified by love this deep. There will be times when I retreat, try to push you away, and shut you out. I’m not perfect. I’m broken, but breathing and fighting like hell to keep what we have untarnished by my—”
“Hey, no.” He placed a finger on her lip, silencing her. “Neither of us is whole apart. We’re a work in progress, and that’s okay.” Burying his fingers in her mane, he massaged her scalp. Her body melted in to his hips. “I want to love you now, Es. Are you going to let me?” he asked, moving his fingers down to her neck. He worked out the tension, and she whimpered, circling her hips. He could feel her heat through his jeans and her pants. He continued kneading his way down her back and let her set the pace. His dick strained against his pants. She placed her hands on his shoulders and used him to balance as she rocked back and forth against him.
She was beautiful as she took back her power and put herself out there. Life steamrolled her, beat her down, and stole her sense of security. This woman before him was a phoenix r
isen from the ashes.
“You keep this up, I’m going to come in my pants.”
Her eyelids lifted, and her brown eyes smoldered. The wicked smile that graced her lips made him moan.
“Is it wrong that I find that thought appealing?”
Her impish playfulness made his heart sing.
“You challenging me?” he asked.
She tilted her head to the side. “Maybe.”
He tightened his hold on her and thrust up. “You want to see who comes first? Or you want to let me inside that tight pussy? I know you’re wet, I can smell it from here. Clothes off now, sweet girl.” They were a clumsy rush of movement as they stripped down and he put on a condom. She lowered herself onto him and loved him slowly. Sinking down and lifting as she flexed her muscles. He sucked her breast into his mouth, massaging its twin as he worshipped her with his mouth. He bit down on the stiff peak. She cried out and gripped him tighter. So his woman liked a bit of pain with her pleasure. He accompanied his next nibble with a soft slap to her ass.
“Oh yes,” she breathed.
Her throaty response made his balls tighten. She dropped down hard, and he thrust up, helping her lift and lower as he continued to devour her breasts. They found a rough rhythm that had her convulsing around him. His balls drew up, and he erupted.
He rested his head in the valley of her breasts as he came down. “Love you sweet girl.”
“Love you, too,” she murmured.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Estelle
As she finished another load of laundry, Es realized just how bare her apartment felt. She rarely stayed here, and the barren landscape she once used to punish herself saddened her. For too long she’d fed into her guilt; keeping her friends at bay until they gave up, living in this tiny one bedroom with only the basics. It had all been steps to keep her numb to life because she felt it was what she deserved. The road she’d left behind was dark. She could see that now as she entered into the light.
A knock came. Right on time. She opened the door and hugged Jolene tight.