“Yes. I'm sorry, Mark, I didn't mean...”
“No,” He cuts me off with a shake of his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. He hurt you that way, didn’t he? The position I just had you in?”
I can do nothing but nod my head because I’m scared my voice will fail me if I try to speak.
His thumbs stroke under my eyes, wiping away the tears I tried not to let out. “He can’t hurt you anymore, Coral. No one can hurt you now. I swear to God above, I will kill anyone who even thinks about it. I love you, baby. I love you so much. We never have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I promise.”
I nod. I know he means every word he just said, I know it because I felt it deep in my heart. “I love you, Mark. I know you won’t hurt me. I didn’t mean to freak out. Some things are just taking a little getting used to, but I will because I know you’ll guide me. You’ll show me that I have nothing to fear.”
“Damn right I will.” I smile as he kisses me softly before pulling me into his arms.
I wrap my arms around his back. He is perfect in every way. I never have to fear anything with this man; he just proved that one hundred percent.
I kiss his chest, lips, and tongue. He hasn’t come yet, and I won’t leave him hanging. I had a little meltdown but I’m over it now thanks to this beautiful man.
“Coral...” He groans my name, and I smile against his chest. His big hand strokes the back of my head. “You don’t have to do this I’m happy just holding you.”
“I know you are.” However, I want to please him, so I grab the back of his head, pulling it down, so our mouths meet. As we kiss, I feel him growing hard again against my stomach.
I groan into his mouth, grinding myself against him. He grabs my ass in his hands and hoists me up, my legs around his waist. Pushing my hand between us, I grab his cock and shove it right inside of me.
We both call out to the heavens.
We both need this.
I need him to take away that horrible memory I stupidly let fill my head.
“Look at me, baby, don’t look anywhere but at me.”
I’m overwhelmed with how much love I see in his eyes.
I’m overwhelmed with just what he would do to keep me in the here and now, so no more vile memories fill my mind.
“I. Love. You.” He punctuates every word, and I feel it so deep within me. I am so warm with it. It's all around me and inside of me.
“I love you, too.” I clasp his neck and ride him hard; our eyes locked the whole time. I want to keep them open, but I’m finding it hard not to close my eyes.
Something beautiful passes between us. Something perfect. Something irreplaceable.
“I can feel you throbbing inside of me.”
“Coral...” He crosses his arms over my shoulders from the back, holding tightly, and pounds into me so hard I can’t slow nor stop the orgasm that takes over me and has me stiffening, back arching, eyes rolls, and I can feel him flooding my body.
I’m shaking so hard I can hardly breathe!
When I eventually do take a much-needed breath, I look at my man and smile. He’s watching me, his chest heaving with exhaustion, which I can understand with the way he’s holding me up like this.
He smiles, lifts me slightly so his cock can slip out of me, then sets me on my feet in front of him. The muscles in my legs are shaking. His hands encase my face, and he leans into me and kisses me softly. “You’re out of this world, do you know that?”
“You’re crazy,” I laugh. “But I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby. Now, come shower with me, we’re covered in sweat, and I know what a clean freak you are.”
I can’t help laughing.
I’m not a clean freak I just don’t like getting into bed covered in sweat and the smell of sex. If we make love in bed at night, then I’m fine falling asleep in his arms after. However, after what we’ve just done? I need a shower.
I like to shower before bed every night, what’s wrong with that? Sex or no sex.
Chapter Nineteen
Stryker
You lunatic,” Roman slaps my back, laughing his ass off again. “I can’t believe you of all people have fallen for this cr...”
“Shut the hell up, Roman!” Red bellows. Red’s one of our older brother’s, in his late thirties, married to Tammy, ten years his junior, mother of his two small children. She’s a beautiful girl inside and out. “It happens to us all in the end, don’t matter who the hell you are. Ain’t no man immune to love. When it hits, you’ll know.”
“Ain’t never gonna happen to me. Too much pussy out there for me to feast upon,”
I roll my eyes and knock back my whiskey. Roman will never change, don’t think he’s ever had a girlfriend in his life. I know he’s never had a steady relationship. The fucker will die alone, never knowing the love of a good woman.
That isn’t me. I used to think it would be me, never thought I’d have a family of my own until that beautiful woman walked into my life and changed everything I ever knew. No one in this world could make me feel like what I’m doing is wrong. Marrying Coral is the best thing I’ve ever done or will be when it happens.
I thought telling my brothers they’d be happy for me, and most are, but the odd few have been on my back for weeks, telling me this is stupid, the worst decision of my life. Where the fuck do they get off?
“You know, your name should have been water.” We all look at Hammer, big bastard of a man, Tank’s older brother by blood. He’s at the head of our table, a smirk on his face as he looks at Roman, who’s eyes are narrowed in confusion.
There’s a shit load of us in this bar tonight, all here for my last drink as a free man. I’m getting married in the morning!
Jett, Tank, Roman, Ace, BlackJack, Shepard, Ice, Cueball, Hammer, Red, Rader, Gunner, and a few more all sit around this large table that the owner of the club put out for us. Terry, the guy who owns the bar, knows what to expect from us. We’re loud, proud, and cause a scene wherever we go.
He also knows we don’t start shit with anyone if we can help it. We’re not animals, we like a good time as well as the next man, but we know how to keep it down too.
“Why water?” Ace asks. Ace is Roman’s cousin by blood on their fathers’ side, so they share a surname. Walker. Roman is also Taylor’s nephew, his mother being her older sister. Not that she’s much older than him, six years, I think, but by extension, it makes Roman my family too.
“Because he quenches a woman’s thirst for a while then walks away, leaving her parched and desperate for more. Because just like water, he’s a slippery bastard who doesn’t hang around for more than a few minutes.” The whole table erupts in laughter. What Hammer just said is right, and water would have been a good name for Roman.
“Oh my god!” Jett yells while falling against Tank, him laughing his head off too. “That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth!”
Hammer rolls his eyes, but I see the smile he’s trying to hide behind his beer glass. Hammer is a lot like me, doesn’t say much unless he has to, but trust me, you cross that man and the God’s above can't help you. He’s very dangerous when pushed.
Hell, every man around this table is dangerous when pushed, but out of every brother in the MC, it’s Hammer and Roman that are the most dangerous. Wouldn’t surprise me if they both had a couple of screws loose. I’ve seen them do some damage in my time.
Roman didn’t get his name from just anywhere, and yes, that does mean the whole crucifying men the way the Roman’s did Jesus Christ himself. The man is crazy and then some.
Hammer got his name through, according to BlackJack, using the claw end of a hammer on a guy who went for his father, Titus. Hammer literally hacked the face off the guy!
Titus was killed along with his old lady, Hammer and Tank’s mother, a few years ago. I hadn’t known them long before they were taken from us. I hadn’t yet been patched in, but I do know how Titus treated me like a nephew
. He was BlackJack and Shepard’s best friend. The three of them had known each other since childhood, and as Jack had taken me under his wing, it meant Titus and Shepard took me under theirs.
They were a massive part of this club, Titus, and Hillary. They were much loved and still missed to this day. It took this club many years to get through their loss. There's still a hole no one will ever be able to fill, and as I look at Tank and Hammer, I see a lot of Titus in them. They’re both strong like him. Tank’s more like him, however. Opinionated, hot-tempered, smart-mouthed. Hammer takes after his mother for his laid-back attitude.
“Why ain’t we at the strip club?” Ice clasps my shoulder. I fuckin’ hate being touched! “It’s Stryker's last night of freedom!”
Before anyone can even open their mouths to speak, I’m growling like an animal in Ice’s direction. “It will be your last night breathin’ if you don’t get your damn hand off me.” He does, instantly.
It’s not that I want to be a cunt, but no one but Coral can touch me. Every damn person in my life knows this. I initiate touch from a person, not the other way around. None of these men except BlackJack knows what kind of childhood I had. I’ve never felt the need to tell anyone here my story. I went through hell as a kid with my old man, left me scarred outside and fuckin’ in, and being touched makes my skin crawl.
Made fucking women hard sometimes. Couldn’t bear to touch them, even kiss their damn lips. That’s why I’d tie them the fuck up, so they couldn’t touch me. Wasn’t till I met Coral that I let that fear go enough to feel her hands on me. The same as she let go of her fear of men touching her.
“Calm down, Stryker,” BlackJack tells me in a gentle warning tone. He knows what I’m like. I don’t mean to snap, but when I do, I lose all sense of the here and now, and no fucker is safe. “It was a simple mistake, son.”
I close my eyes and try calming my breathing. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I haven’t felt like this in a long time. It’s not really anything to do with Ice touching me and more to do with the crap I hide inside from the woman I'm about to make my wife.
God, I’m hiding so much from her. She told me everything about her past, everything that ever hurt her, she trusted me, but I haven’t done the same, I’ve kept my pain to myself. I can keep everything from everyone else in my life, but I can’t keep this from her any longer.
I need to get out of here. I need to see Coral and tell her everything. I can’t marry her until I get this out of me.
How am I supposed to start a life with her when I’m keeping such things from her?
We’re supposed to be getting married tomorrow, moving into our own house as soon as we get back from our week in California – her choice for a honeymoon, not mine – but we can’t do any of it until I’m free from this shit inside of me. I need it out before it kills me.
I’ve never wanted to tell anyone anything so much in my life!
“I’m sorry, brother.”
“I need to get out of here.”
“Where the hell are you goin’, it’s your night?”
“I need to do somethin', Tank, and it can't wait.”
I rush away from them only to be grabbed before I get to the door. I’m all set to punch the cunt who grabbed my arm out until I see who it is.
He raises an eyebrow at me with a smirk on his face. I’d never lay a hand on him, no matter what he ever did to me. “Where are you rushing off to, son? This is your night. You’re getting married tomorrow, and your brothers want to spend time with you while you’re still a free man.”
“I need to see Coral, Jack. I have to tell her the truth about my past, why I bear all these scars inside and out. She’s asked me plenty how my back got so scarred, but I’ve never once told her. It’s bad enough that she saw them by accident. I saw the pity in her eyes. She told me everything about herself. How can I marry her when I’m keeping all of this from her?”
He looks at me for a moment before nodding his head. He understands more than anyone gives him credit for. “Just remember, you are not alone, Stryker. You have never been alone. You have a family who loves you,” I swallow hard. Shit like this... I ain’t used to it. I should be, but it’s still hard for me to truly accept it. “Everyone in the MC is your family, but more than that, Taylor and me, we’re your family, son. We love you like you were our own. Always will.”
I shake his hand, can’t bring myself to hug the man just yet. Not that I don’t want to, I just ain’t ready. “I love you, too, old man.”
He chuckles and rolls his eyes at me.
“Go talk to her. Tell her what you have to tell her, then make damn sure you keep your hands off her, save it for tomorrow night.” I laugh loudly. Son of a bitch. “Once you’re done get your ass back here and have a real drink with your brothers.”
“I will.”
I hope Coral doesn’t have a breakdown seeing me when she’s supposed to be having a drink with the girls. I just need half an hour then I’ll be gone. I just hope she understands why I’m doing this right now.
Time to let out what I’ve kept inside me my whole life.
Chapter Twenty
Coral
I can’t believe you’re getting married tomorrow! To Stryker!”
“I know!” I squeal back in Willow’s direction.
“We’re all so proud of you, darlin’.” I blush in Taylor’s direction.
I’m over at Taylor’s having a few drinks with some of the girls. Taylor, Lynette, Willow, Denise, Ruth, Tammy, and a few others. It’s turned into quite the party. We have plenty of food, plenty of drink, lots of laughs.
I needed this, to let my hair down. It’s been a hectic few weeks organizing our wedding and trying to find the right house to rent. We did find one, a beautiful three-bed place a block from Taylor and BlackJack’s house. I wasn’t sure we needed a home with three bedrooms, but Stryker told me that one day, he’d like for us to start a family, which made me cry with happiness and I hugged him hard.
Stryker said it would be best for us to buy the house instead of renting. Renting is just throwing money away. I knew we couldn’t afford it, I certainly don’t have that kind of money, and banks don’t favor lending that kind of money to a man like Stryker.
However, it was taken out of my hands. The club paid for the house for us, handed us the keys as a wedding present. I cried my eyes out when Shepard told me, ‘You’re like a daughter to me, Coral. You know that. Stryker is a son to BlackJack. We might not be your actual father’s, but as father figures, it was our duty and our pleasure to do this for you both.’
I clung to him for ten whole minutes, thanking him repeatedly for what he and Jack had done for us. We then had all the men decorating the place for us, the women bringing furniture around. Sure, it’s used stuff, but it’s beautiful stuff. We did buy a brand new bed that’s entirely ours, however. A huge one that I can’t wait to try out.
We’ll be moving in as soon as we’re back from California.
My parents are attending the wedding with my sister, but I want to spend the week with them. Okay, not the whole week. Stryker and I may not leave our hotel room for a couple of days. Then I want to take him sightseeing. However, spending a couple of days as a family will do us both good.
“I never thought my boy would open his heart to anyone,” I love how Taylor refers to Stryker as her boy. She’s not old enough to even pretend to be his mother, but I’m sure she sees herself as much older than her thirty-something years.
“It was only a matter of time before the two of them fell for each other. I tried to, you know...” Denise tips her head like we all know what she means, which we do because it’s obvious. “They pushed me on Ice to get me away from them.” She laughs out loud; she’s been so happy since being with Ice. It's nice to see.
“But you wouldn’t change a thing about it.”
“No, Lynette, I wouldn’t. I love that man.” We all look at her as she stares off into space with a dreamy smile on her face. We’re all
smiling at her. I’ve never seen Denise like this before. She’s really in love. I honestly never thought I’d see the day.
“I feel like the odd one out.” Ruth laughs. “I’m the only one not with a biker.”
“I’m not.” Willow laughs.
“You’re not with anyone. Why would a biker want you? Have you seen yourself?” Denise chimes in with a laugh.
Willow lowers her head and bites her lower lip. I don’t understand why this beautiful girl thinks she is anything but. She’s stunning, and the man whom she ends up with will be one very lucky man indeed.
I can see Lynette is seconds away from smacking Denise in the face. Not that I can blame her, Denise just made her daughter feel like shit.
I am so ashamed of my best friend right now. How could she be so cruel?
I reach over and take Willow’s hand in mine. She looks up at me with a smile on her face. Willow is my sister’s best friend, even after all these years, and I hate to see her upset. “You are more beautiful than any woman in this room, Willow. Don’t you ever let anybody make you feel that you aren’t.” Willow is gorgeous. She has curves in all the right places, eyes of the strangest shade of hazel I have ever seen, and a smile that lights up her whole face and makes you feel happy just by being near her. “The man you end up with will be the luckiest man alive, but you don’t have to rush into anything with anyone, you are worth so much, Will.”
“Th-Thank you,”
I wink at her, and she suddenly pulls herself off the floor and hugs me tightly. I hug her back and notice Lynette looking at me over Willow’s shoulder. “Thank you,” she mouths and I smile. She doesn’t need to thank me, but Denise does need to stop making people feel like they’re beneath her.
We sit for a while drinking and laughing about anything and nothing at all. Denise apologized to Willow, which was decent of her. Willow accepted because that’s the kind of girl she is, and nothing more is said about it.
Strike Fast: Prequal (Snakes Henchmen MC) Page 14