by V. Theia
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You can't judge a book by its pretty cover, Ruby reflected as she watched Preacher through the window, standing stock still in the middle of the backyard looking up at the sky every few minutes, because otherwise if you never get past the outer packaging you're cheating yourself on what could be an extraordinary book.
Take Preacher. That man made her crazy in the best way, she was so full of love it was ridiculous how she'd lived her adult life without him.
He had two titles before she got to know who he truly was; manwhore and biker. Neither of which appealed to her. Until one day she took a risk on a deep-seated attraction and she turned his page, she thumbed through his chapters, making notes, her mental kindle highlighted in bright pink of his special moments and by the end of the final word she knew Preacher was her favorite book.
Generous of spirit, so damn generous, how did a man like him even exist in this big bad ugly world? His own heart had been empty and hollowed out by grief and tragedy, stuck on pause within his own mind, hurting and still he'd reached out to her when she’d needed it the most and became her savior, the safeguard against a world not so kind to her.
She'd judged him brutally in the beginning, unfairly so, he was neither just one thing or another, he was colored outside of the lines, he was the box you had to think outside of, there was so much more to Asher Priest than most saw. And that was the thing, despite everything they faced, would face in the future raising a small child neither had the first idea how to do that truly, they were finding their way as they went, they'd do it together. Mistakes, flaws and bad days, they'd be together.
Love wasn’t something each had looked for, Preacher wanted the fast sex, it found them both when they were least expecting it and when they needed it the most.
Love was funny like that. Leaving Preacher to do what he had to do, she slid a frozen pizza into the oven, added chicken wings for her guys.
She could hear Seb giggling at cartoons on the TV in the other room, the noise of his little boy laugh made her smile. I’ll take care of him, sissy, I swear. I miss you. I’ll always miss you, but I’ll be a good mama to your boy. She swallowed past the lump of sadness. One day at a time, Pastor Danny told her recently. Grieving was a process. Fortunately for Ruby, she had a little man and a bigger man to always help raise her up when she falls.
His arms came around her from behind a while later, he smelled of the summer air as he brushed his smile against the back of her neck, arching greedily asking for more he didn’t disappoint, he skimmed his lips and beard the full length.
"Everything alright?" She inquired, lacing their fingers together.
"Yeah, beautiful, all's good now. In fact. I got you something earlier when I was picking up my wedding band.” Sandpaper rough voice, her eyes lit up. Oh yeah, he wore a platinum wedding band to match hers now, back off waitresses.
Greedy for gifts she spun in his arms and wiggled her fingers. She hoped it was chocolate. He produced a little box in front of her face and stepped back while she carefully unwrapped it.
It wasn’t chocolate.
“Oh, Asher.” A white gold bracelet sat inside a long box. Twisted metal curving in on itself. He was fastening it around her wrist before she spoke again. “It’s gorgeous. You absolutely should have, I really do deserve it.” He grinned that smile that did funny hot things to her belly.
“You do, beautiful. It’s engraved.” Oh, it was. Twisting it around to see on each link in small cursive lettering was; Without you, I don’t make sense.
"Asher. Ugh, you’re gonna make me cry." There was no gonna, Ruby was crying. Preacher pulled her in, rubbed her back, and pervert that he was, gave her ass a little squeeze to make her laugh. She stayed within the nest of his massive arms, safe, loved and warm.
“I love you so much.”
“Back at you and more, beautiful.” Hands fisted in her naturally curly hair. “Now, can I interest you in a little one-on-one while the little cockblocker is busy with his cartoons? I know this Priest you can pray to on your knees.” Oh, the wickedness of this man.
Ruby looped both arms around his neck, up on her tiptoes she brushed their lips together, a promise of what was to come. “You’re always my one,” she whispered.
“Hey, Ruby?”
“Yeah?” A little more kissing. He put his mouth against her ear.
“"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
The world stopped moving.
Ruby gasped blinking up at a smiling Preacher like he just knew he was about to get so laid. So, fucking laid. He'd just given her the biggest lady-boner.
She squealed and then laughed. “Did you just quote the best movie of all time at me? You did. You really fricking did.” Fingers grasped his beard, Ruby tugged him down to her mouth, crashing their lips, making them one.
It’s true what they say, that if you just have enough faith in God he gives you exactly what you require to be happy.
And sometimes, in those rare distinct times, he presents a Preacher to lead you out of the shade.
There was nothing but light in Ruby’s future.
That, and a lot of sex. Starting in the kitchen.
THE END
COMING NEXT:
Tracking Luxe. (#3 Renegade Souls MC Romance Saga)
©2017 V. Theia. All Rights Reserved.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
I'm not a native to Colorado, and my Spanish is practically non-existent, Sí! So, in writing my dirty bikers I put the bat signal in the air and some of my favorite people lent a gracious helping hand in the small details I needed to enrich Preacher Man. Thank you Amber and Sasha, I'm so grateful for your input and never getting irked at whatever silly little question I tossed at you randomly.
Any, and all errors are my own and should not be held against me in a court of book-law *laughs*
Elisha; your enthusiasm for Preacher Man and epic edit making that promo those wicked MC men have made me smile for months, you're the best, thank you, I hope the (former) manwhore didn't disappoint you.
For everyone who read my debut novel Dirty Salvation, and took a chance on my little new baby, who left me reviews, made Instagram posts and contacted me to let me know you enjoyed Rider and Zara, I am so, so, so humbled and grateful by the response, you don't know what that meant to me. Readers are the best people in the world and I'm happy to know you.
Tamara; you were my very first reviewer for Dirty Salvation and I'll never forget that day when I saw in black and white someone actually talking about my book, Omg, I wanted to burst, and the way you reached out and let me know how you loved my bikers. Now we have those epic book chats that are just us basically encouraging each other to buy more and more and more books. *laughs* So glad to know you.
To the readers of my filthy talking outlaws, thank you so much. Your readership is invaluable, and support is irreplaceable. Thank you. Thank you! I hope you enjoyed Preacher Man, and what is still to come. xoxox
MORE FROM V. THEIA:
Renegade Souls MC Romance Saga Series:
Book One: Dirty Salvation
Can you really fix a broken soul?
Can you mend three years of torture?
Who said outlaws don't have a heart?
One bad decision forces a change on Zara and Rider that they never saw coming.
The president of the Renegade Souls MC is inked, foul-mouthed, unfiltered and gorgeous as hell and Zara wanted him instantly. Their attraction blazed hot, but in the midst of a turf war Rider screwed up royally with the one woman who grabbed his attention. She wasn't a club whore, she was pure and beautiful and far too good for his dirty hands, and yet he wants her still more than he ever did, with her broken body and scars touching her soul. He wants her.
There is no easy path back to each other.
Gang wars. Brother loyalty. Endless love. Dirty wicked things with ice cream.
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V. Theia, Preacher Man (Renegade Souls MC Romance Saga Book 2)