Now comes the loathing. I’m allowing this man to eclipse my brother. I’m allowing him to bring me a bit of happiness, even if he doesn’t know it. And I don’t deserve to be happy, not now.
Rustling blankets catch my attention, causing me to look at the man who seems to take up more space in my mind than he should.
He opens his eyes slowly, but then closes them almost instantly. Figuring the lights probably bother him after so long in the dark, I get up and make my way to the door where the light switch is. He must misinterpret what I’m doing, though, because he sits up so fast, his head is probably spinning. “Don’t leave.”
I smile my first smile in over a week. “I’m not.” I don’t know why, but it makes me happy that he doesn’t want me to go. That it causes him distress. Maybe he feels that little bit of electricity I feel when I’m near him or think about him. It’s there, and I want to find out what it is.
He relaxes, and I can tell that the excitement earlier had to have cost him. He’s pale, and looks to be in pain.
Reaching over, I grab my soda and hold it in front of his mouth. I have no idea if I should be allowing him to drink it, but I’m not ready to call attention to him just yet.
I watch as he greedily drinks from the straw, never taking his eyes off of mine. When he’s done, he sits back and continues to watch me.
Figuring I should probably get this out of the way now, I clear my throat. “I want to thank you for what you did for me.” That’s it. That’s all I say. What else is there?
His eyes sparkle, but only for a second. Then, darkness overtakes his handsome face and I know exactly where his mind just went. “I wish I could have saved both of you,” he whispers.
I feel a tear roll down my face, but I don’t move to wipe it away. I want it to remain, to remind me of what I lost—who I lost.
“He saved you,” I say in way of making him feel better. It feels wrong, like I should be the one consoled, but it feels right. I’ve had some time to think about everything that’s happened, and I guess I didn’t want to admit it before, but I’ve made peace with the fact that my brother is gone. I know I need to live my life for him, because he would have wanted that for me. He saved me, and the least I can do is make something of that life he died for.
The reminder makes him angry, though I don’t know if he’s mad at my brother or himself. I don’t have to wait to find out.
“He was stupid and careless. He should’ve taken you and gotten the fuck outta there. Instead, he had to play hero,” he spits out, though I can see the sadness in his eyes and hear the tremor in his voice.
Smiling a wet, sad smile, I say, “My brother has always been the savior. Ever since I can remember, that’s all he wanted to be. He’d force me to play the damsel in distress, then expect a party after he fake rescued me.” I laugh, thinking back to the way things were when we were growing up. Not a care in the world, and always just the two of us. Mom and Dad were never around, and the nannies would rather keep their distance while making the big bucks. But we didn’t care. As long as we had each other, that was all that we needed.
“He did what he did because he thought you were worthy of living. He did it because he respected and cared for you. So, no matter what you think, know that. And don’t waste the gift he gave you. I know I won’t,” I say before leaning down to kiss him softly on the lips. It isn’t a romantic kiss, or even a friendly goodbye. It’s just a simple kiss. A peck of sorts.
Then, without looking at him again, I make my way out the door and into the new life my brother gave me without even knowing it.
A life that I’m not sure I fully deserve.
About The Authors
Shelly Morgan
I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I have 2 older sisters and amazing parents. Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl, hanging out with him in the garage, fishing, and building stuff. I loved to play softball and swimming, but reading, telling stories, and writing were my passion, even at a young age. I took a break from writing for a while, but you could always find me with a book in my hand.
I have three children – two boys and a girl. They are my whole world. Even when I’m having the worst day ever, they brighten up my day and make me smile.
A few years ago, there was this story that would always play out in my head and no matter how many times I went through it, from beginning to end, it would never fade. So I decided to put it on paper. I didn’t plan on publishing it, but when it was almost done, a friend asked to read it. She said it was a story that needed to be shared. And that’s what started my writing career.
I love all genres of books, and even though I started with writing MC Romance, I have a whole book of ideas, so you can expect more from me than just MC, though romance is in my blood.
Even though I currently work two jobs, my ultimate dream is to become a full time author. I want to be able to spend my days filling pages with stories. I want to be the reason people find a reason to smile or laugh from lines on a page. Reading a book allows me to live in someone else’s shoes, even if only for a few minutes. It’s a way to leave my life and troubles behind and I want to be help others do that as well.
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Avelyn Paige is a born and raised Indiana girl. While she may be a Hoosier by birth, she is a Boilermaker by choice, Boiler Up! She resides in a sleep little town in Indiana with her husband and three crazy pets. Avelyn spends her days working as a cancer research scientist and her nights sipping moonshine while writing and book reviewing. Avelyn loves everything paranormal, Cajun culture, and wants to try tornado chasing as a hobby when she finally grows up. She just has to get over the pesky fear of thunderstorms first. Avelyn also enjoys collecting voodoo dolls from her trips to New Orleans.
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Bound by Moon
Harley McRide
&
Carson Mackenzie
© Copyright March 2017 KO Ink Books, LLC
Logo ™ by KO Ink Books, LLC
All rights reserved.
Prologue
Luna “Moon” Madison thought she put one of the worst days of her life behind her for the most part. But she’d been wrong, and she knew the moment he whispered her name. Braxton Carver. He’d been a friend, a neighbor, and the first and only man to step on her heart. The funny part, he hadn’t even known he’d done it. As she looked up at the six foot five man in front of her, she cataloged every visible change in him from the last day she’d seen him. He sported a shaved head now, instead of the close-cut military style that had at least shown some of his black hair, but the biggest change in him was his gray eyes. Where they once shined with warmth, humor, and kindness, they were harder, and the hurt in their depths almost made her stagger back.
Moon wondered if she would have made the trip with the others to San Jose to pick up Jas if she’d known Brax was going to be one of the men from Black Hawk at the meet. But then again, she hadn’t known he’d become a part of them.
The voices around her sounded distant and muffled, and she knew Harmony was talking and probably wanted to know who and where she knew Brax from, but Moon couldn’t bring herself to answer. She didn’t even protest when Brax grabbed her arm and led her away from the others. Her friend would figure it out because all the Lady Riders knew the story. Thanks to one drunken girls’ night and a bottle of Tequila. Moon hadn’t drank Tequila since. The click of the motel room door and the sound of the lock being thrown was what snapped her out of the initial shock.
“What the hell are you doing, Brax?”
“What am I doing? What the hell are you doing with the Ops, Luna? Is that where you’ve been this whole time? Christ, even Stormy hadn’t known where you went. Fuck, we were friends, and you couldn’t be bothered to keep in touch?” Brax asked, ran his hand over his head, then across the back of his neck.
“How are your wife and kid?” Moon asked with a bit
e to her tone, and Brax frowned. Moon knew that hadn’t been fair. Brax had no clue what had happened.
“Dead.” The single word had Moon taking a seat on the bed.
“How? When?”
“Head-on collision the day before I landed from a mission. Stormy and BJ were on their way to welcome me home. It’s been a year and a half since it happened.” Brax sat down beside Moon on the bed and leaned his elbows on his knees.
“I’m sorry, Brax.” Brax nodded but kept his head bent.
“Thanks.” It was quiet for a minute until Brax spoke again, “She told me, you know? Everything.”
“What?” Moon whispered.
“Why didn’t you say anything that last day instead of letting me leave for BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) school, thinking everything was fine?” Brax turned his face toward her.
“Does it really matter, Brax? Any of it?” Moon stood. She needed to put distance between them. “It was years ago. I had no claim on you, just feelings that I didn’t act on, then it was too late. What was I supposed to do on your last day home on leave? Tell you, ‘Hey, Brax, saw you and Stormy fucking and oh, by the way, I’ve had a crush on you for the past two years and catching the two of you broke my heart.’ Would that have helped in the long run? Would it have stopped you from marrying Stormy when you found out she was pregnant?” Moon stopped pacing and looked at Brax as she ran her hand over her short blond hair. From the look of sadness on his face, she knew she wasn’t going to like his answer, but he wouldn’t have been the Brax she remembered if he had given her the answer she wanted.
“No, it wouldn’t have stopped me. Even if you had told me your feelings, the results would have still been the same when I found out Stormy was carrying my kid. And yeah, I know you can be an active parent without marrying, but I was raised to take responsibility for my actions. You knew my parents. They were great together. My dad had married my mom after he had done twenty years in the service. I was that late in life baby surprise that happens.” Brax stood and walked till he stood in front of Moon.
“Stormy told me after we married that you two had a fight over something stupid and she’d known you had feelings for me, so when she ran into me while I was out with some of the guys, she volunteered to drive me home. I told her I was meeting you in the parking lot at the cinema. That you and I were going to see a movie for my last night in town and she said she would drive me there and wait with me. I can give you a hundred lame excuses for fucking her in her car, but like you said, does it make a difference now?”
“No, so I don’t understand why you pulled me into this room? It’s all in the past.”
“Is that why you took off after you graduated high school?” Moon knew she could lie, but what was the use. While each of her friends was finding their men, she often wondered if it was the past that kept her from settling down instead of jumping beds with the men at Ops. Not like she did that as often as some of the other single women anyway.
“When Stormy admitted she was pregnant, I knew I couldn’t be in Phoenix when you came back to marry her.” Brax frown down at Moon, and she continued, “We grew up together, Brax. We were friends. I knew you would do right by her and the baby. But I couldn’t be there to watch it. I graduated and took off. Traveled around for about six months, waitressing when I needed to earn some more money before moving on until I ended up in Riverton, Nevada. I took a waitress job in town at a small diner, and it was a place the Ops frequented. I was there about a month, got to know some of the Ops women and they told me I could make a shit ton of money stripping and dancing at Bitches, the Ops’ club, so I did. Before I knew it, I was part of the Ops and have been ever since.” Moon shrugged.
“Is that what you’re doing now? Stripping for a bunch of bikers?” It was Moon’s turn to frown at Brax’s tone. She wouldn’t apologize for anything she chose in her life, not to Brax or anyone else.
“When I want to, but that isn’t any of your business. Like I said before, I didn’t have a claim on you, and you don’t have one on me. I’m a Lady Rider, I can damn fucking well do exactly what I want. If I want to strip, I strip. If I want to fuck one of the men, I fuck him. I imagine it’s no different with you since you’re part of Black Hawk. I know they have a strip club and you’re a single male. Bet your bed doesn’t stay cold for long.” Moon was being bitchy, and she didn’t give a damn. Being shut in that room with Brax was bringing feelings back that had long ago been put to rest.
“Goddammit, Luna—”
“It is Moon now. Ghost. Isn’t that what they called you?” Moon interrupted, and Brax sneered.
“What. The. Fuck. Ever.” Brax stepped forward, and Moon took a step back and hated herself for it. She wasn’t scared of the big man, never had been.
“Don’t cop an attitude with me. I don’t have to stand here and put up with shit.” Moon turned toward the door, and that was as far as she got when huge hands grabbed her arms, and before she could protest, she was facing him, and he held her at arm’s length and looked down at her.
“No, you don’t, but you’re going to listen anyway. We’ve been friends since I was seven and you were five, living next door to each other. I got used to looking after you, thought of you as a little sister.” Moon went to jerk out of his hands, and he pulled her into him until she had to bend her head back to look up at him. “Let me finish. Fuck, I don’t remember you being so damn prickly when we were growing up.”
“Fuck you, Brax. Let me go.” Moon refused to listen to anything more that proved her feelings for him were stupid and those of some naive young girl. She wasn’t that girl anymore.
“Yeah, like I haven’t thought of that a few hundred times over the years. I can tell by your expression that shocks the hell out of you and has left you speechless. Let’s see if I can stun you a little more. Like I was saying, I thought of you as a little sister until you hit puberty, then that went out the window right fucking quick. I will thank you for the patience you taught me because every time I was around you, all I wanted to do was strip you down. Lun...Moon, it was like I went to bed one night and you were my pal, the next day you had curves and breasts, which to a sixteen-year-old boy is everything good in the world.”
Moon didn’t think she could laugh, but she did because Brax had closed his eyes and his face looked pained as he remembered. When he opened his eyes back up, she saw want and desire, and she felt her stomach tighten.
“I wouldn’t risk our friendship because, Moon, I don’t think I could have lived without seeing you every day, but if I would have known that staying away from you was going to cost me years without yo—”
“Brax,” Moon whispered.
“Sorry, I can’t say that because if I had gone after you, I wouldn’t have had the time with BJ, my son. I would never wish him away, not even for time with you, Moon. Stormy and I had a rocky start, but I grew to love her, she was the mother of my child. I mourned the loss of them, but the hardest part for me was wondering if I didn’t love her enough and that’s why she and BJ were taken away from me. It took me a while to realize that was just stupidity on my part, and my brothers,” Brax pointed to the door in the direction of the men outside, “they helped more than I can ever repay. There is nothing I can say to change the fact Stormy and I...well, I’d been drinking with the guys and feeling a little sorry for myself because I was heading back out the next morning. Wishing you had graduated already so I could talk you into going back with me. I fucked up bad. I didn’t want Stormy then, I wanted you. I’d plan to finish BUD/S school and my basic parachute jumping course and come back for you and tell you my feelings. That dream died when Stormy called me and said she was pregnant. You were gone when I came back to marry her.” Brax stopped to take a deep breath, and Moon laid her head on his chest.
“I’ve lost enough, my parents have passed, my son is gone. I’m sorry too that you lost your mom. But when you stepped in front of me in the parking lot, the first thing I thought was there is my best friend, the
n I remembered you took off and why. It still didn’t keep me from getting pissed off.” Brax let go of Moon, and she took a step back, then looked up at him.
“What is wrong with the women at Black Hawk?” Moon asked.
“Nothing. What the fuck does that have to do with anything?” Ghost asked and frowned.
“I think there is. Blind and stupid come to mind if not one of those women figured out a fucking teddy bear is in that big ass body of yours.” Moon didn’t give Ghost a chance to reply, she raised her arms and grabbed his face and brought it down to hers. When their lips touched, she felt the change in Ghost. She didn’t hold control long. After he devoured her, he pulled back slightly.
“No, they just weren’t you,” Ghost said and captured Moon’s mouth again. She opened, and he took. She gave, and he took more.
Ghost’s big hands pulled Moon’s top up, and he only broke the kiss to pull it over her head and toss it. Her bra was next, then her breasts spilled into his hands, and he groaned into her mouth as she whimpered into his.
Lost, Moon thought, in him. They moved in a frenzy as clothes were removed and then they fell on the bed with Moon on top. Ghost touched her everywhere, and it wasn’t enough for Moon. She could feel his hardened length pressed against her, and she needed the connection. Wanted it more than her next breath.
Moon pushed off Ghost’s chest and rose to her knees and straddled him. As she watched his gray eyes darken, she wrapped her hand around his cock and moved it to her entrance. When she had his cock lined up, she sank down and took him inside her. Moon felt the burn as his size stretched her to the point of pain, but after she had let herself adjust, she began to move, and the pain was replaced with pure pleasure.
“Goddamn, I’m not going to last. You’re so wet and tight, and you feel so fucking good,” Ghost gritted out between his teeth, and Moon picked up the pace.
When Clubs Collide Page 6