by Nicole James
“Joker,” her voice caught, broke. And then, his hand still working her, he positioned up on the bed next to her and stared down into her face, watching every nuance as the orgasm took her soaring over the edge.
His mouth covered hers, swallowing the sounds of her pleasure as if they were his, as if they belonged to him, like everything else about her felt as if it all belonged to him. Her heart, her soul, her pleasure, her very being… They all belonged to him now.
***
Joker stared into Holly’s flushed face. The reaction he’d just coaxed from her had been one of the most beautiful things he’d ever seen—almost as good as the first orgasm he’d given her days ago. She was magnificent when she reacted to his touch, holding nothing back, letting him see all her honest reactions, being shy about none of it. She amazed him.
He brushed his mouth over her panting lips. Her pulse beat wildly in her throat. The need to take her was strong. Every primal urge within his body pushed him toward the goal of males since the dawn of time.
His eyes dropped to where his hand still played. God, she was soaking wet, and he couldn’t wait to sink his dick into all that silken honey. He wanted to feel her tighten around him with each fluttering response of her body to his.
His instinct was to claim her, pin her down with his body, and dominate her as he took her roughly, but he knew he couldn’t do that. He’d hurt her, and she’d suffered enough at the hands of brutal men.
He took her hand in his and brought it to the front of his pants, closing her tiny palm around the thick, hard erection pressing against the denim. “Do you feel that? That’s how much I want you. That’s how much I need you right now.”
Her eyes, heavy with sexual satisfaction, opened and met his. She fumbled with his belt, yanking and tugging as if she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
He kicked off his boots and pants and came down on top of her, his naked, hot body pinning her to the bed. A knee wedged between hers, spreading her thighs wide, and he moved between her thighs.
His palm grasped the tender underside of her knee and pushed it up, spreading her even further. His erection slid along all that wet heat, and he groaned, deep and guttural.
“Christ, baby, I want to fuck you. I want to sink into that sweet pussy as deep as I can get and never let you up.”
He gripped his erection and swirled the head through all that sweet wetness and spread it over her lips and clit until she was rubbing against him, her arousal resurfacing, her body ready for round two.
She moaned, a soft throaty sound that made his cock throb, so much he had to grit his teeth against the ache.
He head lowered to her breast, seeking out her nipple to kiss and lick and suck and nip until she was writhing with abandon.
He couldn’t remember ever being so hard or wanting a woman as much as he wanted her.
“I want to take it slow,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck as her head fell back giving him access. “I want to drag this out so long that by the time I slide my cock inside you, you’ll be so fucking aroused you’ll be begging for release.”
“Please, Joker.”
“You’re so fucking wet and ready for my cock.”
Her breath caught, and her eyes dropped to where his hand still swirled his cock in tormenting circles over her until he thought they’d both go crazy with need.
He tightened his hand in her curls. “You take me so well, baby doll. Like you were made for me.”
She clutched at him, guiding his mouth to hers, and he obliged, kissing her hard and passionately as he rocked against her.
He broke off when they finally both needed to gasp in a breath. He drew his hand from her hair and took hold of her luscious breast, squeezing and kneading, his eyes moving over her. “You’re beautiful.”
“Tell me…” Her voice was broken as she panted, “Tell me something dirty.”
He grinned and his hand released her breast to thread into her hair and tilt her head back. “I can’t wait to see you on your knees while I watch those sweet lips of yours slide up and down my cock.”
“Oh, God. I want that, too. You make me want that.”
“Next time. This time I just want my cock in that silken pussy of yours, feelin’ you clench around me like a fist. Tell me you want this, Holly.”
“I need you. Joker, please.”
He pushed up on his forearm, his body moving over her as he plunged inside. She clutched his shoulders, crying out, and he held himself still, buried inside her, giving her a moment to adjust.
He pressed his forehead to hers, and whispered, “You okay, precious?”
She nodded, clutching him tighter. “Don’t stop.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. He began to move, drawing back and pushing in again, slow at first until his hips began to roll with a pace all their own, and soon he was thrusting in and out almost roughly.
She took it, she took it all; her legs wrapped around him, and she hung on, surging up to meet him and clenching down around him until he was sure he’d explode too soon.
He wanted this to last; he wanted to drag this out until she’d given him everything and couldn’t take anymore, until she was rung dry of every last drop of response.
She rolled her hips, urging him on, and he growled in her ear, “You’re so fucking hot. I can’t wait to have you riding my cock, your tits bouncing in my face until you come all over me screaming my name.”
“Oh, God, Joker. I’m going to come again.”
“Hold off for me, baby.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. You wait for me. Don’t you come.”
“Joker, I can’t. Oh, God.”
He growled, pounding into her, then when his balls tightened and he knew he was about to explode, he reached his hand between her legs and fluttered his thumb over her, simultaneously changing his angle to stroke that sweet spot inside of her.
“Now baby,” he hissed, and she jerked violently against him, moaning loudly
“Joker,” she whispered then threw her head back, her body shuddering with orgasm while he kept up his pace, holding her hips hard and keeping her in place to get all that glorious friction that had him panting and ready to explode. He pounded into her for another few thrusts, then planted deep inside her and came, following her over the edge into oblivion as the longest orgasm he’d ever experienced washed over him in waves.
Finally he dropped, exhausted on top of her, his heaving chest sweaty against her breasts. Her body took his weight, and her arms wrapped around him. When he could muster the strength, he moved his mouth to her ear to whisper, “Love the sound of my name when you moan it all breathless like that.”
She stretched and writhed like a cat beneath him, but she couldn’t get far because he was still implanted in her and in no hurry to leave that sweet heaven.
He arched his body, rubbing against her.
“Holly?”
“Hmm.”
“If you want to talk about those things you didn’t want to talk about before—I’m here. It’s just you and me. I won’t judge, and I won’t tell you any stupid useless platitudes that won’t help you. Anything you tell me I’ll take to the grave, I swear it. The brothers won’t ever hear a word of it, if that’s your worry.”
She shook her head. “Joker…”
“And maybe you aren’t ready, and that’s okay. But, I’m gonna say this cause you need to hear it: you’ve got to let that shit go and move beyond it. Don’t let that stuff hold you back from livin’, Holly.” When she stayed quiet, he prodded, “Promise me, you won’t.”
“I won’t.”
He cupped her face and got deep in her space. “You’re gonna be okay, baby. I’m gonna make sure of it.”
Her arms tightened around him, and for now that was enough.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The next morning, Joker sat shirtless on the deck, his feet up on the rail when Holly walked out, pausing to study him. The man was beautiful—a
ll that tanned tattooed skin stretched over that muscular frame, and a face chiseled to perfection. He really took her breath away.
His gazed at the distant horizon to the east, watching the sunrise.
Sensing her presence, he turned and their eyes met. His hand lifted toward her. “C’mere, gorgeous.”
She walked to him slowly, holding his stare and it was as if every moment of last night flashed between them. He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, then he grasp the back of her neck and pulled her down for a long, slow, coffee-flavored kiss.
She grinned when he finally let her go.
His feet slipped from the railing, and he stood. Before she knew what he was about, he put a shoulder to her stomach and hefted her up. She squealed as he carried her like a caveman back to his bed.
She bounced once as he dropped her to her back on the mattress, and then he was on top of her.
They made love, and when they were both sweaty and exhausted, he tucked her to his side, and they laughed and talked.
He told her how he wanted to be able to take care of his mom and sister and how he wanted to be his own boss and start some type of business. She encouraged him, telling him he had to try and make a go of it, and he encouraged her to find what she loved to do, even if it wasn’t accounting.
Now that the sexual frustration was gone and they’d put aside the fighting, they found they got along quite well.
As the days passed, they found that being with each other was so very easy.
One afternoon, Miranda stopped by to see Holly, who now stayed at Joker’s place as often as she could. Miranda was so impressed with the home Joker had built all by himself that she asked if she could interview him about it and snap a few pictures for a writing assignment for her internship.
Joker humored her, answering her questions and letting her take a few photos. He liked Miranda and was pleased to help her with her assignment.
Chelsea, on the other hand, had stayed away, and it seemed Holly and her had drifted apart. It was something Joker couldn’t have been happier about. Chelsea was nothing but a bad influence in his book, and that was something Holly did not need in her life.
Now that Holly was doing so well, Undertaker took Joker off “official” protection duty. Of course he was spending a lot of time with Holly and still felt protective of her, but now he once again needed to be available when MC business arose, and Holly was finding out, it often did.
There were nights when Holly would be staying over with Joker that he would get called out and be gone until sunup. He would call if he were able, but it soon became clear to Holly just what being involved with a member of the Evil Dead MC entailed. She would have to defer to the needs of the club, which always came first.
She also learned from a chat with Undertaker that he and some of his brothers felt Joker was heading places in the club and someday his role would be more involved. Joker was definitely headed for an officer’s position—perhaps one day, even President.
Undertaker wanted her to know just what she was getting herself into if she was to become his ol’ lady.
She thought about it, long and hard, but in the end, any sacrifices she’d have to make she felt would be something she could deal with, especially if it meant she got to continue to see Joker.
He was fast becoming the center of her very world.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Holly walked out of the grocery store with a paper bag full of ingredients to cook Joker dinner. It was her last day of finals, school was over, and she was surprising him at the boat tonight to celebrate.
She was near to bursting with happiness. It had taken her a long time to crawl from the pits of depression she’d been in last fall to this exuberant feeling as if she—no they—had a fabulous future ahead of them. But she’d made it, and that was something to celebrate, too.
When she’d texted him earlier, not telling him about her plan, he’d said he would be busy until later, but should be free around seven and would call her. He said he had something he wanted to talk to her about.
She had a feeling she knew what it was. He’d been acting strangely the last week, and with the semester almost over she guessed he might ask her to move in with him.
He didn’t know she planned a special dinner, though. She smiled. She’d picked everything she’d thought he’d like: steaks, big baked potatoes with all the fixings, even his favorite, coconut crème pie, for desert.
She loaded the bag into Cat’s car and jumped inside, grateful her sister had let her borrow the car. Cat knew her plans and was happy for her.
Her phone rang, and she pulled it out, expecting it to be Joker, but the number was an unfamiliar one. She wouldn’t have taken it, except it was from the Beaumont, Texas area.
“Hello?”
“Holly? It’s Gabi.”
“Gabi? Oh my God, how are you?”
“Happy, sad, crazy emotional. I’m in the hospital. I just had a baby girl. Alejandro’s overseas, and his submarine won’t dock anywhere for two days. They’re supposed to give him shore leave when they dock, but I don’t have anyone to drive me home from the hospital. My mom’s in Mexico, and I don’t know anyone else. Do you think you could stay with me for a few days?”
Gabi was her best friend from high school. She’d married a man who’d joined the Navy right out of school, and now they’d been separated for six months.
Holly bit her lip, her eyes on the horizon through the windshield. How could she say no? Her friend had no one.
“Oh, Gabi. You had the baby! That’s wonderful. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you!” She sniffled. “They’re bringing her in now. I’ve got to go. Do you think you can come? I’m at St. Mary’s Hospital. Please?”
“I’ll find a way, Gabi. I promise. You take good care of that baby… and yourself.”
“I will. And thank you, Holly. I love you!”
“Love you, too, honey.”
She disconnected and stared down the road. Beaumont was a four-hour drive from New Orleans. Maybe if she left first thing in the morning, she could be there by the time Gabi got discharged. Surely Joker would take her when he saw how important it was to her. If not, maybe Cat would let her use the car for a day or two.
She fired up the ignition, positive that somehow she’d manage to get to Beaumont and take care of her friend. But tonight was her and Joker, and she wasn’t going to let anything stand in the way of that.
When she turned into Joker’s lot, Holly had another surprise waiting for her. A car was already parked in front of his place. And not just any car, a silver Corvette. It had to be Whitney.
Holly climbed out, gathered her purse and grocery bag, and went on board. When she opened the slider, Whitney was bent over, peering in the refrigerator, wearing a little sundress, her feet bare, and looking quite at home.
“Darling, we have got to go shopping. You’re mother told me you wouldn’t have any food when I got here, but—” She broke off when she straightened and saw Holly standing there. “Oh. I thought you were Johnny.”
“What are you doing here?” Holly asked.
“I’m staying here. What are you doing here?”
“Does Joker know you’re here?”
“Of course he does, sweetie. He asked me to come.”
Holly tried to make sense of what she was hearing. “He asked you?”
Whitney gave her a smug smile. “Of course. After we saw each other that day, we started talking, and Johnny asked me again to come to New Orleans. I finally was able to get away. We’re getting back together, and we couldn’t be happier about it.”
“Getting back together?” Holly’s universe tilted.
“Didn’t he tell you? Oh, you poor thing. I thought he’d told you. He said he was going to tell you. I’m sorry if he led you on.” She shrugged. “What Johnny and I have, it goes back a long way, and the feelings we have for each other, well, we just couldn’t deny them. You understand, do
n’t you, honey?”
The floor gave way beneath her. Was this what Joker planned to talk to her about? She felt dizzy and set the bag down on the counter. And then her hands were digging through her purse for her phone.
She called Joker, but he didn’t pick up. He’d never done that before—not taken a call from her. Never. But then, he’d never been away on MC business before. She’d always been his MC business, and watching over her had been his only task.
She’d thought things were progressing between them. Had it all been just about the conquest for him? Had it just been sex? Had she just been another pussy for him to fuck?
How could she have been so fooled? Was she just young and naïve and immature to believe what they had was something special? He was a biker, for god sake. She should have known this came with the territory.
But still, her heart couldn’t believe this was happening. Yet, there was Whitney, standing before her in Joker’s kitchen, acting as if she’d been here for days.
Holly thought back to the last time she’d been over. It had been on the weekend. She’d been so busy with studying for finals that she hadn’t much time for him this week. They’d really only talked on the phone.
There was one day he’d met her on campus and they’d had coffee. Oh, God. Had she already been put into the friend zone?
Had Whitney been with him all this time? Fuck him for not coming clean about it! And fuck him for letting her fall in love with him. Maybe she hadn’t said the words, but he knew; he had to know.
The last thing she wanted to do was break down in front of perfect, beautiful Whitney, so she dashed out, leaving the groceries sitting on the counter.
When she got to the car, she jumped in and tried to decide where to go. At that moment she didn’t even want to see Joker. Screw him! If he wanted to break up with her, he was going to have to hunt her down to do it, and if he wasn’t going to take her calls, then she wasn’t going to take his!
She thought about driving to her apartment, but she knew he’d go there. She thought about going to Cat’s, but he’d eventually turn up over there if he couldn’t find her.