The Promise (Dogs of Fire: Wolfpack Book 1)

by Piper Davenport

Mom walked into the kitchen and smiled. She looked gorgeous... funny but gorgeous. Her long, dark hair was in rollers, and she was wearing her fluffy white robe.

  “You just need a rolling pin, and your ensemble would be complete,” I said.

  Mom chuckled. “Some of us aren’t blessed with beautiful blond curls that provide natural body.”

  “I happen to love your hair, baby,” Dad cut in, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her temple.

  “Thanks, handsome.” Mom focused back on me. “You ready to get pampered? Kim and Darien are already upstairs.”

  I nodded. Kim and Darien were my hair and makeup people. We only had about two hours before the ceremony, so we needed to hustle.

  I followed Mom upstairs and hugged my beauty team; admittedly, I was a little excited now that my family surrounded me. I missed Maverick, but I had the rest of my life to act out my co-dependence.

  * * *

  “You may now kiss the bride,” Crow announced.

  Amid hoots and hollers from the Dogs, Maverick kissed me quite thoroughly. I smiled against his lips, and he kissed me one more time before facing the crowd and lifting me in his arms to carry me back down the aisle.

  I squeaked in surprise and then settled in, looping my arms around his neck, as we rushed down the aisle and out to the lobby. We’d been married in the church where Sadie used to be a nun. She’d set it up so Crow could marry Maverick and me... and everything had been perfect.

  Maverick couldn’t control his tears as Dad walked me down the aisle, and I knew I’d nailed the dress, which fit perfectly. No alterations needed since I’d managed to gain back a little of the weight I’d lost.

  Maverick set me gently on my feet and kissed me again. “You’re beautiful, baby doll.”

  “So are you, Möosh.” I grinned up at him. And he was. He wore a black tuxedo with his cut underneath and a pair of motorcycle boots. Delicious.

  He grinned, pulling me close. “Can’t wait to get you to the hotel so I can start by kissing every inch of your body then I’m gonna—”

  He didn’t get to list anything else he planned to do to me because our family suddenly surrounded us.

  Maverick kissed me gently. “We’ll put a pin in that.”

  I smiled with a nod.

  The rest of the day went by in a blur... a really fun blur, but a blur nonetheless. By the time Maverick decided he’d had enough, I could barely keep my eyes open, so he had loaded me in his truck, and we drove to the Monaco hotel where we’d be staying for a couple of days. We didn’t have the time (or the money) to take an actual honeymoon, but Knight had given Maverick Monday off, and I didn’t start my next shift until Tuesday, so we were making the most of it. Charleston would have to wait, but we’d made a commitment that we would go as soon as I felt comfortable enough to leave the baby for a few days.

  Arriving at the hotel, Maverick guided me up to our room (he’d already checked in and dropped our bags off earlier that morning). He helped me out of my dress, kissing my neck as he undid the pearl buttons at the back. He stripped me down to just my panties... then he forced me into bed.

  I gasped. “But—”

  “Sleep, Lil. We’ll consummate our marriage when you wake up.”

  “Honey—”

  “Don’t make this a thing.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I will sleep because I’m exhausted, but promise me something...”

  He stroked my cheek. “Anything.”

  “Don’t ever use the word consummate in reference to our love life again.”

  He chuckled. “Got it.”

  I bit back a yawn.

  “Time for bed,” he said, throwing back the covers and lifting me onto the mattress.

  I bit my lip and watched as he stripped down to nothing and joined me, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. “How are you feeling, wife?”

  I chuckled, kissing his chest. “I feel amazing, husband.”

  He stroked my stomach gently. “How’s our baby boy?”

  “She’s amazing.”

  “Yeah?”

  “We both are,” I confirmed. “So...”

  “Nope. You need to sleep.” He kissed me gently. “Don’t worry, baby, we’ll make up for lost time.”

  I yawned again. “We’d better.”

  Maverick tucked me closer, and I closed my eyes...

  Soft lips on my shoulder, and a gentle hand cupping my breast awakened me. I sighed and leaned into Maverick’s touch.

  “Time to make up for lost time,” he whispered.

  “Yes,” I breathed out.

  My husband did not disappoint.

  Lily

  One month later...

  I WALKED BY the mirror on the way to the bathroom and gasped. I had dragged my body out of bed a little later than expected, and I needed to shower and get to work. “Ohmigod, Mav!” I called.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing.” I walked back into our bedroom and turned sideways. “I am officially showing.”

  He finished pulling his T-shirt over his head and grinned. Kneeling in front of me, he kissed my belly. “You’re beautiful, Lil.”

  “You certainly make me feel that way.”

  “Just stating fact, baby doll.” He kissed my belly again and then rose to his feet and kissed my lips. “Get showered, or I’m taking you back to bed.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Can you take me back to bed and I’ll skip the shower.”

  “Your call, baby.”

  “How about you come take a shower with me?”

  “I just got out of the shower,” he said but pulled off his T-shirt.

  “So that’s a no to servicing your wife?”

  “I didn’t say that,” he said and guided me into the bathroom. “Get naked.”

  “So sexy with the bossy talk.” I stepped out of my panties and tugged my cami over my head while Maverick turned on the water. “I love your foreplay, Möosh. It’s unmatched.”

  “Don’t share my secret, hmm? All the ladies’ll want me.”

  “Pretty sure they all want you now.”

  He laughed. “You’re good for my ego, baby doll.”

  “More foreplay, honey? Careful, I might come before you actually do anything.”

  “Then my reputation would really be set. Maverick Quinn, the man who can make a woman come just by speaking.”

  I giggled and stepped into the shower. “I’m definitely keeping that to myself.”

  “Appreciate it, baby.” Maverick followed me in. “I’m already tired. Can’t imagine dealing with more than you.”

  I faced him and wrapped my hand around his cock. “You’d better not deal with anyone other than me.”

  He grinned, kissing me gently. “Love you, baby doll.”

  “Love you more.”

  Maverick lifted me and anchored me to the wall of the shower. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he slid into me gently. I swallowed, dropping my head forward to kiss him. “Am I too heavy?”

  He frowned. “Stop.”

  “It’s just a question, Maverick.”

  “A stupid one.”

  “I’m stupid?” I snapped.

  He took a deep breath. “Lil—”

  “I swear to God if you tell me not to make this a thing while your dick is buried inside me, I’m going to lose my mind.” I could see he was trying not to laugh, and I scowled. “Maverick.”

  He lost his battle. “I love you,” he said once he stopped laughing.

  “Really?” I challenged.

  “Okay, you need to hear me... and not just because my dick is still buried inside you.” He dropped his forehead to mine and kissed me quickly. “You seem to forget just how much I can bench, but regardless of that fact, you aren’t, nor will you ever be, too heavy—”

  “What if I gain two hundred pounds?”

  “I will love you just the same.”

  I scoffed.

  “Lily,” he warned.

  “You’d be happy
if I gained two hundred pounds?”

  “Baby doll, you are the most beautiful woman on earth, and if you gain a thousand pounds, I will still think you’re the most beautiful woman on earth.” He frowned. “I might not be able to lift you anymore—”

  I slapped his arm, and he laughed again.

  “I love you, Lily Quinn. You’re my woman. I chose you for a reason. I love you. Who you are. And yes, you’re beautiful, but I don’t love you just because you’re pretty. I love you because you’re you. You’re my baby doll. And now, you’re giving me the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. Our child. Do you know how much that means to me?”

  I blinked back tears. “I think I do.”

  “So are you gonna make this a thing?”

  I shook my head. “But I reserve the right to make it a thing in the future.”

  “So... since I’m still buried inside you, may I fuck you now?”

  “I’d appreciate it. But you’re probably going to need to make it quicker than originally planned, or I’ll be late for work.”

  He thrust into me again. “Yeah?”

  “Yes,” I rasped. “Oh, God, baby, yes.”

  He kissed me, holding me tight as he continued to bury himself inside me until I could no longer stop the flood. I cried out as I came, and Maverick followed within seconds later, kissing me again as we caught our breath.

  I dropped my forehead to his and grinned. “It’s so much better when I can make noise.”

  He chuckled, setting me on my feet. “Yeah, baby, it is.”

  I finished my shower and dressed quickly then Maverick drove me to work. My shift started with a new mother arriving ready to deliver. By the time I headed to the cafeteria for lunch, I’d helped deliver two babies, and I was ready for a break.

  “So my little bitch is knocked up.”

  I had just paid for lunch, and I was walking toward the exit. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned to face Jenny. “Is there something I can do for you?”

  I hated that I looked like her. I had one consolation, and that was if she’d taken care of herself instead of abusing drugs and tanning her body to the rawhide level, she’d be pretty. The longer she was alive, the less I looked like her, and I was grateful for that.

  Jenny crossed her arms over her over-large, fake breasts. “Well, that’s a fine way to greet your mother.”

  “You’re not my mother,” I ground out.

  “Only because that whore stole my man. If Payton—”

  “Stop,” I interrupted. “My mother is not a whore.” I sighed. “What do you want, Jenny?”

  “You and I have unfinished business.”

  “You’re high.”

  “You will not speak to me that way.” My stomach roiled. I didn’t tell Flea I was heading up here and I was regretting that decision.

  I rolled my eyes. “Jenny, you’re at my place of business, interrupting my work. You also tried to sell me. I’ll speak to you however I want.” I turned to walk away, but she grabbed my arm, squeezing painfully. “Let me go,” I demanded.

  “My grandchild’s gonna fetch a pretty penny.”

  My blood turned cold and I settled my hands protectively on my belly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You can’t be watched all the time, Lily.”

  “You’re insane.” I turned to walk away, but she grabbed my arm, squeezing painfully, pressing something into my side.

  “I will kill your spawn, girlie, if you don’t come with me now.”

  “How did you get a gun in here?”

  She tugged on my arm without answering my question. “You owe me.”

  “I don’t owe you anything,” I hissed.

  “Come with me now.”

  “No!” I tried to pull my arm away again. “Let me go,” I demanded.

  “Bitch, get your fucking hands off her now,” a deep, angry voice seethed.

  I glanced at Flea who was approaching quickly, his face contorted in rage.

  Jenny removed her hands, raising them in surrender. “I was just havin’ a conversation with my daughter.”

  I shook my head. “She has a gun.” I wasn’t going to waste my breath to remind her I wasn’t her daughter. I wasn’t even convinced she believed what she was saying; she was just trying to intimidate me.

  Flea tackled her to the ground and divested her of her gun, sliding it into his belt. A crowd had formed in the cafeteria now, and I felt embarrassed, but more than that, I felt guilt for bringing her crazy into what was supposed to be a place of healing.

  Flea lifted her off the ground and held her with her arms pinned behind her back.

  Jenny hissed, “Your time’s comin’, little bitch. Hear me now. You can’t hide forever.”

  “Bitch, you don’t fuckin’ walk away right now,” Flea hissed, “I will kill you.”

  Jenny smirked and then turned and left the cafeteria.

  “You okay?” Flea asked.

  I swallowed convulsively as I nodded. “Why are you letting her go?”

  “She won’t get far, babe. Got a couple of guys outside each exit watching for her. Right now you’re my priority.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “Sorry I didn’t get here sooner. You’re supposed to text me when you leave your station.”

  I pressed my lips into a thin line and nodded. “Sorry, bud. I didn’t think it would be an issue if I stayed inside the hospital.”

  “Well, it is. Don’t do it again.”

  I blinked back tears. “I won’t.”

  “You okay?”

  My heart was racing, and I shook my head. “I just need to call Mav.”

  “Okay, babe, let’s get you back to the break room.”

  He took my lunch from me and wrapped an arm around my waist. I let him keep me steady as we headed downstairs. Once inside the break room, I pulled my phone out of my scrubs pocket. L&D was a lot less strict than the ER was, and as long as there wasn’t anyone around who cared, I could keep my phone with me. I dialed Maverick, and he answered immediately. “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  I filled him in on my altercation with Jenny, my shaking finally subsiding as I told him everything.

  “She threatened the baby?” he ground out.

  “Yes.” Tears streamed down my face.

  “Where the fuck was Flea?” Maverick snapped and I jumped.

  “He was there. I just didn’t think I needed to text him since I was just running upstairs to grab a sandwich.”

  “You text him if you’re pissing in a different bathroom, Lily. Hear me?”

  I nodded.

  “Lily? Do you hear me?”

  “Oh, yes, sorry.” I groaned. “She’s stalking me, Mav. This is a whole new level.”

  “Yeah.” He sighed. “I’ll talk to Dad. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, Möosh.” I rubbed my arm where Jenny had grabbed me. It hurt... more than a little.

  “How’s the baby?”

  “Good, honey. We’re good.” I laid my hands on my tummy. “Just hungry.”

  “Eat. I’ll check in with Flea and see you when I pick you up... unless you need me to come now?”

  “If only.” I smiled. “I’m good, though.”

  “Okay. Love you, Lily.”

  “Love you too.”

  He hung up, and I unwrapped my sandwich. Now that things were a little calmer, I didn’t know if I could actually eat. The thought of how close Jenny got to me suddenly overwhelmed me. This was getting all too real. I now knew how much Maverick had protected me. I had no idea how close she’d gotten in the past, and I was well aware I didn’t know because my man was sheltering me from her.

  I took several deep breaths, covering my belly with my hands until my heartbeat leveled out. Luckily, the second I took a bite of my food, my appetite returned, so I finished everything, put the scary incident aside, and finished out my day.

  Lily

  MAVERICK ARRIVED EARLY and all was righ
t with my world again. I clocked out and walked into his arms, squeezing him tight as he held me. “You okay?”

  “I am now,” I breathed out.

  He kissed me gently then he took me home.

  “A couple of things are changing, Lil,” Maverick said as we walked into the apartment.

  “Like?”

  “You’ve got Flea and Train on you, plus a recruit watching the exterior.”

  I sighed. “I’m okay with that, honey.”

  He ran his thumb along my lower lip. “Thanks for not making this a thing.”

  “Thanks for keeping me blind to all of this.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and dropped my head to his chest, bursting into tears. “I knew it was bad, but it didn’t really hit me just how bad until today.”

  He stroked my neck. “I got you.”

  I burrowed deeper against him.

  A pounding on the door had us breaking apart, and Maverick pulled open the door.

  “What the fuck is this about Jenny attacking you at work, and why the fuck am I just hearing about it now?” Dad bellowed.

  “Calm the hell down, Hawk.” Maverick stepped between us.

  “I’m not gonna calm the fuck down until I get some answers!”

  I stepped out from behind Maverick and approached my father. “Dad, I’m fine. Flea was on it. She’s obviously moved her efforts to stalking level, but I’m okay.”

  Before he could comment, Ace, Cassidy, and Mom rushed into the apartment.

  Ace placed his hands on my shoulders and frowned. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

  At that moment, I realized Ace totally had my back. He loved me as if I was his, and he was genuinely concerned about his grandchild and me. “We’re fine, Ace.”

  “Where was Flea?” Ace asked, his voice gentle.

  “He was there.” I dropped my eyes to the floor. “I didn’t text him that I was running to the cafeteria. It’s my fault Jenny—”

  “Why the fuck didn’t you text Flea, Lily?” Dad snapped.

  “You need to change your tone, Hawk, or you and I are gonna have a problem,” Maverick ground out, stepping in front of me again.

  “Can we all just take a beat?” Mom asked, wrapping her hands around Dad’s arm. “She’s safe, the baby’s safe.” She settled her palm over his heart. “She’s okay, honey.”