by A. M. Myers
Rain pelts against the windows of the clubhouse as thunder rumbles in the distance. It’s totally indicative of my mood these past few days. Sighing, I cup my hands together in front of me and let the water from the showerhead fill them up before releasing it and watching it fall to my feet. Turning, I step back into the spray and let the water trickle down my body. It’s Christmas Eve and almost everyone else is gathered here in the main room, wrapping presents for all of the kids to open tomorrow morning but I haven’t really been able to get into a festive mood this year and I’m terrible at trying to fake it. Especially with what happened at the mall four days ago. I’m not sure how they can all sit around drinking eggnog, wrapping presents, and acting like Piper, Tate, Blaze, and I weren’t just stalked through a mall by a madman. Travis has barely left my side since we got back to the clubhouse four days ago and we’ve spent the last few days lying in bed and watching movies in an effort to distract ourselves from how terrified we are of everything that is going down around us. I haven’t even really been down to my room except to grab a clean set of clothes every day and at this point, Travis might as well clear out a drawer for me.
Sighing again, I turn and rinse my hair, closing my eyes as the warm water cascades down my back and I yawn, desperate to crawl into bed with Travis and pass out. Nightmares have been plaguing me every night since seeing Warren in the mask again, seriously limiting how much sleep I get, which is one of the reasons Travis was so insistent about me spending every night with him in his bed. He wanted me to feel safe enough to get a full eight hours but that hasn’t happened yet.
The shower door opens, startling me, and I jump as my eyes snap open and my heart climbs into my throat. Travis steps inside before closing the door behind him and pulling me into his arms.
“Sorry, Princess. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I’m okay,” I tell him as I shake my head but the words sound hollow. “Something I can do for you?”
“Nope. I’m here for you,” he answers, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before he turns me to face the showerhead and I scowl, glancing back at him.
“What does that mean?”
He moves behind me and grips my hips as he leans down and presses a soft kiss to my neck. Goose bumps race across my skin and I sigh as my eyes flutter closed. I lean my head back against his shoulder and he nuzzles into my neck, kissing me a few more times.
How in the hell did he know this was just what I needed?
I swear, I’m beginning to wonder if the boy is telepathic.
“I’ve got something for you,” he says as he plants a few more kisses against my skin, leaving a trail of heat in his wake as he molds his body to mine and wraps his arms around my waist. His cock jerks against my lower back and I wiggle, grinning to myself as he groans in my ear.
“Is it that?”
His lips stretch into a grin against my neck. “Maybe later.”
“Maybe,” I scoff because he and I both know he’s a sure bet every single day of the week. Turning in his arms, I lay my head against his chest. His large arms wrap around my body, holding me close as the water trickles down my back, and he presses his lips to my forehead. This is the only damn place I feel completely safe since the incident at the mall and if I could get away with it, I don’t know that I would ever leave his arms. Right here, right now, is my happy place. As he presses another kiss to my forehead, he drags one hand up my back and cups the back of my head before massaging my scalp with his fingers. Moaning, I lean into his body as my eyes close and a shiver runs down my spine.
Oh, hell, that feels so good.
“Oh my God, Travis,” I breathe, every muscle in my body relaxing with his touch while goose bumps simultaneously race across my flesh. He groans, spins me back toward the showerhead, and slips his hand between my legs as he nips at my neck.
“Is this what you need, baby? Want me to take your mind off of everything else?”
I nod, arching my body against him. “Yes.”
His fingers find my clit and he circles it slowly, again and again as he reaches up with his other hand and wraps his fingers around my neck. My head falls back against his shoulder and I moan, slapping my hand against the shower wall to keep myself from falling as my legs shake.
“You gonna come all over my fingers?” he asks, his voice full of gravel as he nips at my earlobe and my nipples tighten as my back arches more and I nod. He strums over my clit and I gasp as I rock my hips with him, pressure building in my belly. The hand around my throat releases as he grabs my tit, his fingers digging into my skin as he growls into my neck but the bite of pain only adds to the pleasure. Grinning, he presses a kiss to my skin and pulls his fingers away from my pussy but before I can protest, his slips them inside me.
“Travis,” I cry out as his fingers thrust in and out of me and the heel of his hand rubs against my clit. My body trembles against him as I reach up and thread my fingers into his hair. His hard cock presses against my back and I reach back with my other hand, wrapping my fingers around his length and he groans in my ear. His cock jerks in my hand and I moan again, remembering how it feels when he thrusts inside me as my pussy clenches around his fingers.
“There it is,” he growls, curling his fingers inside me and hitting the perfect spot to send me flying. I grip his hair and give it a tug as an orgasm rocks through me, wringing pleasure from my body as my entire body shakes but before I can come back down, he spins me into his arms and slams his lips to mine. He grips my jaw in his hand as we stumble back into the shower wall and it doesn’t matter that I’ve already come because in an instant, I want him again. His kiss is fierce, demanding, and everything I need right now and I am putty in his very capable hands. His tongue tangles with mine, teases and exploring my mouth with the promise of more as I hook my leg over his hip and grind into him, desperate for some friction. One of his hand slips down my body, stopping to grab my tit before he pinches my nipple between his fingers and his other hand grips my ass, pulling me into his body.
“Oh, God,” I whisper, dropping my head back as he thrusts his hips, rubbing his cock along my slit as he drags his lips down my neck. My nipples ache for attention and I cry out when he leans down and sucks one into his mouth. His tongue toys with the sensitive little bud and I slip my fingers into his hair as I lean back against the shower wall and reach down to wrap my fingers around his cock. He groans, scraping his teeth over my nipple and my body jerks as everything south of my belly clenches. “Travis.”
“Fuck,’ he groans softly, straightening to his full height and thrusting into my hand as his lips find mine again. He reaches behind my head and grabs my hair in his fist, forcing my head back as he gives it a tug and bites at my neck. I wiggle against him, my entire body tingling with a need so fierce that it’s stealing the air from my lungs and wiping every thought from my mind - every thought except him. His hands glide over my body, giving me just a tiny taste of what I need, before he grabs my hips and spins me around to face the wall.
Yes.
Planting my hands on the wall in front of me, I arch my back and glance back at him as he presses his cock against my entrance and meets my gaze, sinking into me slowly. My lips part in a silent gasp as he stretches me, filling me completely with his length and his eyes hold me captive as he grips my hips and his fingers dig into my skin. The bite of pain sends a shiver down my spine and my heart hammers in my chest as he slowly pulls back before sinking into me again.
I’m hypnotized, entranced, and completely his.
He glances down to watch his cock sink into me again and his teeth sink into his lip as his grip tightens. Leaning over me, he presses a kiss to my shoulder before biting me in the same spot and I cry out, turning to the wall as I close my eyes and revel in the feeling of his push and pull.
“God, Rowan,” he whispers, pressing his forehead between my shoulder blades as he keeps the same pace but it’s not quite enough. I need more but he doesn’t care. Releasing my hip, he moves his hand u
p to my breasts and grabs it as he drives into me with a little more force and I moan, hoping it encourages him to give me more. It doesn’t. Instead, he pulls me upright until our bodies are almost one and reaches down between my legs to toy with my clit as he continues casually thrusting into me.
“Travis,” I beg, tears of desperation stinging my eyes and I reach over my head and thread my fingers through his hair. He groans in my ear, kissing my neck before he grabs my leg and lifts it up until my foot settles on the bench next to us. Gripping my hips again, he picks up the pace and the sound of slapping fills the bathroom as pleasure explodes through my body. I lean over and press my hands to the wall again as his ragged breath rushes over my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
God, I love hearing how turned on he is and I absolutely love knowing that he’s just as desperate for me as I am for him. I love the fire in his eyes when he looks at me and the way he grabs me like he owns me but most of all, I love that I can let go with him. When we’re together, there is nothing else on my mind and I don’t worry about a single goddamn thing because I know, with more certainty than I’ve ever felt before, that Travis has got me.
“Where did you go, baby?” he asks, leaning over me and wrapping his fingers around my throat again. I shake my head as my eyes roll back into my head.
“Nowhere.”
He uses the hand around my throat to pull me back onto his cock as he surges forward and his other hand slips into my hair as he bites the top of my shoulder. “You going to come for me?”
“Yes,” I whisper, my pussy clenching at the thought and he groans again.
“Reach down between your legs, Princess,” he orders, his voice full of gravel as he releases a ragged breath in my ear. “I want to watch you play with your pretty little clit when you come.”
My skin aches everywhere, every inch of me begging to be touched as the delicious, frustrating pressure continues to build in my body. My legs shake and I do as I’m told, slipping my hand between my legs and pressing my fingers to my clit and he groans in my ear again.
“Hard?” he asks and I can’t nod “yes” fast enough. His dark chuckle is the only warning I get before he sets a merciless pace, pounding into me harder than ever before as I scream, struggling to stay on my feet. The hand around my throat disappears before clamping over my mouth and he nips at my ear lobe but doesn’t slow down or back off.
“Travis,” I cry into his hand as my body jerks with each thrust of his hips and just when I think I can’t take anymore, that I’m going to die from the pain and pleasure of it all, my body lets go. Spiraling into the abyss of my orgasm, my knees give out but Travis doesn’t let me fall as he wraps his arms around my body and holds me up as he continues driving into me until he stills and releases a loud, rumbling groan. He pours himself into me and I close my eyes, leaning back into his hold as I struggle to catch my breath. My entire body tingles with the aftermath of my release and I’m almost certain that there is no way I’ll be able to walk out of this shower.
“Baby,” he whispers into my hair, his chest heaving with heavy breaths as he nuzzles into me and warmth rushes through my chest at the gesture.
“I don’t think I can walk.”
He laughs. “Don’t worry. I got you.”
“I know you do,” I whisper, my thoughts from a moment ago rushing back to me as he sets me on my feet. He keeps his arm wrapped around me and lets me lean back against his body as he turns off the shower before guiding me out onto the mat. Grabbing a towel off of the rack, he wraps it around my body before turning me to face him.
“Still can’t walk?”
I shrug, peeking up at him with a smile. “I guess I can manage now.”
“Good,” he answers, pulling me into his arms. “Because I really do have a present for you but it’s in the bedroom.”
“You mean to tell me that wasn’t my present?” I ask with a laugh, pointing to the shower and he grins, wrapping his arms around me.
“You think my cock is a gift?”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t say that.”
“Mmm, I think you did but no, that is not what I was talking about,” he answers and I pull back, narrowing my eyes at him.
“You got me a Christmas present?”
“Maybe. Guess you’ll have to get your ass in the room to find out,” he shoots back and before I can protest, he spins me toward the door and smacks my ass, urging me forward. My head spins as we walk back into the room and I throw my hair up in the towel before pulling one of his t-shirts over my head and plopping down on the bed. Once he has a pair of mesh shorts on, he walks over to me with a little red box in his hand and sits down next to me. I eye the gift in his hand.
“I didn’t know we were… I didn’t get you anything,” I tell him, my cheeks heating as I mentally kick myself for not picking up a little something for him. He shakes his head, his eyes melting me as he stares at me with something I can’t quite name. It makes my belly do a little flip. “You don’t need to get me anything.”
“I really should…”
“Here. Open it,” he says, interrupting me as he drops his gaze from mine and thrusts the box into my hand before I can protest any further.
Sucking in a breath, I nod and lift the lid off of the box, gasping. The necklace inside has a delicate chain and the most unique star pendant I’ve ever seen in my entire life. The main star has four points and the entire thing has what look like diamonds embedded in it while the second star in the back is pure metal and shifted to the left so it’s four points fill in the gaps left by the other star. It’s absolutely gorgeous and makes me think of the time my dad took us all camping and taught us about the North Star and how to use it to find our way home. Tears sting my eyes and I look up Travis.
“You like it?” he asks, chewing on his bottom lip. “It popped up in an ad when I was online and it just made me think of you…”
I flash him a wide smile despite my tears and lean forward, pressing my hand to his cheek as I seal my lips to his. His hand half slips into my hair and relief pours off of him as the kiss grows into something more. When he pulls away, my heart is racing and butterflies flutter around in my belly as he flashes me a silly grin.
“Thank you, Travis. This is…” I look down at the necklace and attempt to swallow the lump in my throat. “You have no idea how much this means to me and I’m so sorry I didn’t get you anything.”
He brushes his thumb over my cheek and his eyes hold me captive once again. “Believe me, Rowan. You’ve already given me so much.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Travis
Running my hands through my hair, I blow out a breath before grabbing my beer off of the picnic table I’m sitting on and taking a sip as I watch the sun sink toward the horizon. I spent most of the day digging into anything Warren related I could think of but every lead I found only took me to another dead end, as usual, and now my head aches and I desperately want to put my fist through something… or someone. My chest feels tight as I shake my head and tell myself to calm down but it’s easier said than done when I have this asshole taunting me every minute of every day. I swear, it’s like I’m eighteen all over again, diving into a world I don’t really want to be a part of and hunting down a monster. The only difference is that this time, it doesn’t hit quite so close to home.
Fuck.
Ever since the day Warren followed the girls and Blaze through the mall, I’ve been single-minded in my determination to find him and end all of this. I spend my days with Rowan and then I stay up all night, searching even the deepest, darkest corners of the internet but none of it does me any good because he already planned for every move I would make. Somehow, he knows me and he knows how I think. He’s put every contingency in place to make sure I don’t figure out who he is before he completes his mission and rips this club apart. Scrubbing my hand down my face, I take another sip of my beer as I remember the way my heart stopped when Tate called Kodiak from the mall and told us w
hat was going down. During the entire drive to them, all I could think about was the threats Warren had made against her and the images I’ve been fighting so hard to keep buried pushed their way into my mind in an instant. Thankfully, we got there in time but I’ll never fucking forget that feeling.
It’s been a week since the incident at the mall but I still hate letting Rowan out of my sight for long and I can’t even imagine how much of a goddamn nutcase I would be if she left the clubhouse without me. I can’t stop thinking about what could happen to her if I’m not there to protect her and it’s part of the reason I’m not sleeping much. Rowan has enough nightmares for the both of us and I don’t want to burden her with all of my shit. My jaw aches as I grit my teeth, thoughts of my darkness tainting her making my stomach turn. She is perfect, just as she is, and the only thing that brings me any kind of peace these days so I’ll do whatever it takes to preserve that, even if it means never sleeping again.
“You pouting?”
I glance over my shoulder as Storm walks out of the clubhouse with a beer in his hand and I shake my head, sliding down the picnic table to give him room to sit. “Nope. You?”
“Naw,” he answers, rolling his eyes. “I just had to get out of there. The girls are all taking photos of Mags in her new dresses.”
I laugh, taking a sip of my beer as I turn to watch the sunset again. I guess all the guys went a little crazy or got super bored leading up to Christmas and bought Storm’s daughter, Magnolia, a shit ton of frilly dresses and toys. In fact, all of the kids made out pretty well this year so they’ve definitely been more entertained for the last two days.
“I noticed Rowan sporting some new jewelry. You get that for her?”
I arch a brow as I turn to look at him. “You noticed that, huh?”
“No,” he scoffs, laughing before he takes another sip of beer. “Ali did and mentioned it to me and then Tate pointed it out to Kodiak when I was there.”
Shaking my head, I glance back at the clubhouse door. “I don’t know whether that woman is trying to help me or get me killed.”