by Jayne Blue
“God damn it. You’re fucking up to something. I’m taking possession of that island tomorrow morning show up there, and I’ll shoot you off.” Kevin looked around in confusion.
It was clear he couldn’t tell a Great Wolf from a vacationer. And it was Stone who set it in place. It driving in Kevin nuts as he darted around and got pinned into a crowd.
We walked in silence up to the kitchen and inside we found Ryder and Walker guarding the cooler. I stepped in.
There was the treasure in beer coolers. Transported under Kevin’s nose thanks to the partying part-time vacation bikers and my hardcore Great Wolves. To Kevin, they were all the same.
And in a way he was right. They were all loyal, fierce, and beautiful no matter how often they wore the leather and rode the bike.
“My guys are going to take shifts,” Stone said.
“How did you arrange this little bait and switch?”
“I got my bikers in on the plan, and Frank got his.” I went on my tip-toes and kissed Stone.
“I’m going to shower up and meet you on the Cobalt?”
“Sounds good. And don’t worry. Only six of the guys know where this is stored. They’ll be the ones on guard.”
“I trust you.” And I did. And for some reason, I trusted Walker and Ryder. And even that southern biker, Nash. They were honorable. I could feel it in my soul.
I was too excited to be still but also bone tired. I washed off all the sand and put on a sundress none the less. I wanted to be with Stone. Thank him. Feel his arms around me.
I went down to the Pier. Things had settled down quite a bit.
The bikers were partying it up, and my treasure was safe, for now, it was still hard to believe.
I made my way down to the Cobalt.
“Permission to come aboard.” I was hoping for a sexy reply, but Stone was looking pretty dangerous.
“Permission granted. Come in here we need to talk.”
It sounded serious, and it scared the hell out of me.
We sat on the bow of the boat, and I knew it was time for me to apologize.
“I should have trusted you. I’m so sorry can you ever forgive me. I love you and need you, and it was a big mistake to send you away.” I felt myself freaking out as Stone stayed silent. I was rambling.
“No, shh. I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“You need to know this before you say you love me. I’m not wanted for murder. I’m not on the run anymore. That is true. The authorities determined that Berry Stabler, the dead guy? Well, they officially ruled it was a suicide.”
“Right. That’s why I’m a terrible person.”
“Kara, I killed him. I snapped his neck in cold blood. And I’m not sorry.”
I didn’t know what to say, why was he telling me this? Then a calm washed over me. I knew. I one-hundred percent knew why he killed a man.
“You had a good reason. That much I know.”
“How can you tell that? I just told you I’m a murderer with no remorse you should be screaming and running away.”
“I know because I know you. I know you’re a good man with a huge heart who loves his brothers and who stands up for the little guy. I’ve seen it. I don’t need to know any more than that.”
“I need to tell you.”
“I’ll always listen.”
“I killed him because he was a child raping monster. The reason the investigation stopped was because his cousin realized that’s what would come out if I was prosecuted in any way. I did it, and I’d do it again.”
Stone’s face was hard, his jaw set, his deep blue eyes hooded by the dark lashes. There was no shame in the statement, but there was fear. It was a fear of my reaction. Of my acceptance.
I leaned forward and took his beautiful face in my hands. I kissed his lips softly he resisted me. I didn’t quit. I kissed him again and slowly felt his lips move against mine. His arms slid around me. I felt his strength and heat pulling me closer.
He leaned back.
“I love you, Kara. I love every part of you. Don’t send me away again.”
“I never will. Ever.” He exhaled. It was a ragged sound. A relieved sound.
“Let’s go down to the cabin. I need you naked.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The dress I’d worn because he’d said he’d liked it one day was in a heap on the cabin floor. Stone leaned me back on the cushions and ran his rough hands over mine. I put my palm to this stubble, and it stung. I’d forgotten for a moment about my raw skin. It was broken from so many days of shoveling.
“Here, baby.” He gently kissed my palm, and I squirmed, he took my finger in his mouth, and I started to move against him. I was impatient. He slid rough cheek to my breast, and I felt every nerve ending stand up. I was strung tight and had missed his hands on me. I pushed my hips into him. I felt his hardness up against my softness, and a moan escaped my throat.
“Stone, I can’t wait too long.”
“Oh, you won’t wait too long. Just as long as I say, remember our deal. You’re still on my boat, whenever, wherever and however I want.”
“Wait, how long am I bound to that deal?”
“It’s a lifetime thing.”
Stone covered my mouth with his. His tongue swirled around mine. The Cobalt gently rocked in the water, and Stone rocked me, but gentle would not be the word for that.
Stone
Kevin showed up inside of Pontiac’s the next morning as we were eating Frank’s signature bacon and eggs. Walker, Nash, Ryder, Jason and the Pontiac’s were all a little sunburnt but still living in a post treasure hunt happy place. One Kevin Potter was happy to shit on.
“Here, just like I said. You’re done. That’s my island now. Sundown was a courtesy.” He shoved a piece of paper in Kara’s face as she tried to calmly drink her coffee.
“Well isn’t that interesting. It does appear to be in order.” She didn’t seem worried about Kevin taking her island. I didn’t think the treasure was her only interest, but maybe it was. Kara was pretty sure that it would take months before the treasure would be hers free and clear. That would probably be too late to stop Kevin, but she wasn’t freaking out about it.
“Yeah. And anything you found there while it was in foreclosure will be forfeit to me.”
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong. Here’s a paper for you. I got official confirmation on last night.”
Kevin read the sheet Kara had handed him.
“The Broad-Winged Red Beaked Hawk? What the fuck is that?”
“Well Kevin, I spotted what I thought were a nesting pair of Broad-Winged Hawks on my island while working for Florida Fish and Wildlife. I did my job and documented them and of course reported all my findings to the department.”
“So the fuck what?”
Kara took a sip of her coffee and let Kevin huff and puff for a second. I had no idea where she was going with this.
“Turns out I had it wrong. It wasn’t a pair of Broad-Winged Hawks it was, as the letter states, a pair of The Broad-Winged Red Beaked Hawk. That red beak makes all the difference doesn’t it?”
“This is bullshit. They can’t do this. You can’t do this,” Kevin was livid. This was quite fun to watch even though I had no idea what was going on.
“Yeah, that red beak means it’s a species that was thought to be extinct. Turns out it isn’t. Turns out Ross Island may be the only place outside of Cuba that this particular bird can be found.”
“What, what does?” Kevin ripped the paper intro several pieces.
“Get as mad as you want, take the island, I certainly understand if you want to. I mean a bird sanctuary is for sure a great use for it.”
“I don’t want a goddamned bird sanctuary. There’s no money in a goddamned bird sanctuary.” Kevin’s eyes looked like they might pop out of his head.
“True. Very true.”
“This is not the last of this Kara.” Jason was laughing at this point.
“Fuck you, Jason,” Kevin said and walked out of the restaurant.
“I’m shutting you all down so laugh it up.” He yelled as he left.
I looked at Kara. And she kept sipping her coffee like the cat who ate the canary. Or more like the cat who discovered the endangered The Broad-Winged Red Beaked Hawk.
“I have a strong feeling Kevin Potter is out of the Ross Island business,” Frank said.
“Cheers to that!” Estelle said.
“No cheers to the Broad-Winged whose it?” Ryder said.
“The Broad-Winged Red Beaked Hawk whose it.” Kara corrected. And I had a strong vision of a sanctuary on the island, but it wasn’t one run by Kevin Potter.
Epilogue
Kara
It was somewhere between 60-million dollars and priceless. That’s how Sotheby’s valued the Ross Island Treasure. It was a mixture of gold, silver, jewelry, goblets, and other trinkets. And I wasn’t done finding it.
The first check I wrote was to Potter Savings and Loan. Pontiac’s, Jason’s and Slim’s were free and clear. They had no debt and no worries. Then I established the Old Florida Trust. Estelle was in charge of helping encourage and preserve local and historical business of Gold Cross. There would be no more condos.
But there would be a sanctuary and a pirate fort.
After I paid the debts and started pushing back from his development plans, Kevin Potter started looking elsewhere for his plunder.
It wasn’t a surprise, but it still felt like a miracle. I was working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Department to nurture the bird population and at the same time continuing to excavate.
Stone was by my side as we found the outline to the old pirate fort, log cabins, and even remnants of a few ships. It would actually take years to be sure we’d found everything.
And then years after that to turn it into something people could learn from and enjoy.
But I had time. That was a beautiful thing.
Stone switched charters, and he started calling me his old lady. I had a lot to learn about that job. But each Great Wolf I met I fell in love with a little bit. Stone wasn’t thrilled about that, but it was hard not to love these men.
On July 18th, the anniversary of the day the U.S. Navy came to break up the pirate colony I had a surprise party for the Wolves, Estelle and Frank, Slim, and a few dozen other friends. We were surrounded by familiar faces on the beach next to Pontiac’s Pier.
I had gone pretty traditional, wedding dress wise. It was white, came down to my ankles, but was all silk, no frills after that.
My only concession to the location was no shoes. Hell with shoes.
At the end of a short walk from Pontiac’s to the beach, on Jason and Frank’s arms, was Stone. He was stunning to look at. He had his trademark jeans, but new ones for the occasion, and a crisp white dress shirt with a tie. I laughed when I saw the tie. This was new. Over that, he wore his leather. The Great Wolves cut proudly displayed on the jacket was his family crest more than biker patch.
Ryder was his best man and Sawyer his family.
Jason and Frank handed me off, and Stone put a hand on his heart before taking mine. He also held back a tear.
“You look like an angel baby.” He said, and now I was crying.
Slim, in a surprise to all of us, was an actual minister and did the honors. We said the traditional words and then it was time to say what was in our hearts.
“I, Kara Ross, promise to love you, whenever, wherever, however, forever. And I also promise to try not to ramble on too much about bird poop.” The crowd laughed at that. But it was true. I really did get going about bird droppings.
“I, Angus Calder.” Angus? I had no idea. Neither did the assembled guests I surmised after a murmur rippled through the aisle at that pronouncement.
Stone started again.
“I, Angus Calder,” he shot a look at the crowd, that brooked no more murmuring, “promise to love you, protect you, and do the grocery shopping. I promise to put you first in all things. I promise to put my body and soul in front of anything that would hurt you and never be the thing that hurts you.”
We kissed as the sun went down. I was vaguely aware of applause. I was hyper aware of Stone’s arms pulling me in tight against his chest as the kiss went a little longer than appropriate for a wedding.
“Nice to meet you, Angus.”
“Nice to marry you Pirate Queen.”
The End
Click here to get the latest on Ryder’s sexy love story…
Want more on Sawyer? Here’s a little taste…
Bess
It was on his desk. I think it was his desk. He smelled of open air, leather, and beer. Well, I probably smelled the beer on me. I didn’t care.
He had his mouth on mine and I wanted it everywhere else.
It had been so long.
I had my legs around him and felt his hard length. I was out of my mind. I reached up to his hair. It was long, thick, and had gray streaks in spots. I loved that.
His body was hard everywhere, hell his clothes were hard, leather, denim, metal, I was lucky he slid my blouse back because somewhere in the back of my mind I registered that the fabric would be shredded against all that roughness.
Even his face was rough, stubble raked against the top of my breasts and I felt his teeth on my nipple. I cried out.
His hands were lifting the fabric of my skirt away from my thighs, his fingers sliding the silk of my panties aside. I had worn stockings, and I didn’t always do that. Who was I kidding? I had been doing that secretly since I first saw him. I had been sending a message.
Today he received it.
“Oh my god. I love these.” He had almost growled it.
This was not a timid man, this was not a weak man, this was a man who took what he wanted, but who also gave to everyone around him.
Everything about him was wrong when you looked at who I should be with. A biker? An outsider? Hell, I didn’t even know where he was from.
I knew I had to have him.
I had come to this place with my friend. This was a celebration for her; a party in a bar I had never been.
As the party wore on, I got braver. The one-beer limit I had kept myself turned into two, and when I found myself wandering in the hall trying to find the way back from the ladies’ room, he was there.
I think he owned the place. I didn’t know how biker bars or clubs worked.
It was the Great Wolves Motorcycle Club bar and they called it The Wolf Den. That I did know. His leather had a patch that read Prez. So, I guess he was in charge, but he didn’t need that patch for anyone to see that. The man was confident and dominant. He gave orders quietly, once, and moved on. Something about him reminded me of a tiger. The way he moved?
I thought about brushing by him, going back out, joining my friend Cassidy at the bar for her celebration, and staying out of this kind of trouble. The problem was I wanted him. I had from the moment I first saw him. Each brief time we had crossed paths, those fantasies got more intense.
I froze. His wide frame blocked my progress down the tiny hall. The sounds of music and laughter coming from the bar faded as every sense I had tuned to him. I followed his eyes as he took me in from my ankles up to my lips.
“Kiss me Bess. Let me see if you taste as good as I think you do.”
I had no quip, no funny reply; I had dropped my normal defensive position. I arched my calves in my stilettos, another secret message to him, and lifted my lips to his.
Lip to lip. Breath to breath. For one charged second. Then, our hands were all over each other. He backed us into his office, and onto the desk.
I wanted him to fuck me. Plain and simple. Right then, on the desk, raw, no consequence, no reservations, and no strings attached.
We were almost there. Almost.
Then the text. My ex.
Dammit. I had to take it. I had to. When you are a mother, there are strings attached. I put a hand up and the gentleman biker
held off. He understood.
You need to get Henry. I have an unexpected meeting. Pick him up in an hour.
The usual terse missive from Chris Geary. It was his weekend, and he used me as a backup when it was not convenient to be a full-time father.
I assessed my situation. I was inches away from having sex on the desk with a biker I barely knew.
It was going to be great sex, of that I had no doubt.
But I had to go. I had to stop.
“I, I’m sorry. I have to get Henry.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Fine, just custody fun.” There was no graceful way to separate my body from his though I felt an ache at the thought.
“Can I drive you somewhere?”
“It’s okay, I’m okay.” He helped me upright but he did not stop staring as I smoothed over the rumpled state of everything.
I could only imagine what the top knot I had going looked like now. I could feel the unruly tendrils violently trying to break loose. As my hair went wild, my personality went mild. My brave lusty plans were evaporating as my real world returned.
But the biker was not done with me.
I was preparing to say an embarrassed goodbye. I struggled to pull together the pieces of Bess Geary, responsible adult. I stood and tried to separate myself from my moment of lust.
He locked a muscled arm around my waist and put a strong hand behind my neck.
“Those garters and heels are for me aren’t they Bess?” I swallowed hard.
I could have lied. What did he know? Except I wanted him to know they were for him. I wanted to walk on the edge once in my life.
“Yes Sawyer, I wanted you to see them.” I had never been that bold, sexually speaking. I never flirted or talked dirty, or if I was being honest, had sex anymore, with anyone.
What had gotten into me? Short answer, he had almost gotten into me.
“I saw them and I’ll never forget them,” he said and his low voice vibrated deep within me.
He slid a hand down my pencil skirt and lingered at the top of my thigh. Then he loosened his grip. I had to go.