by J. L. Leslie
“Hey, I just said I’d remove them, I don’t need your help with that,” Skylar scolds.
I lift my shirt, and she goes to work at taking my bandage off. She tells me everything looks good and starts removing the stitches.
“’Bout damn time. They itch,” I complain.
“Pussy.”
“Seriously?”
She giggles. “If the shoe fits.”
“Jesus.”
“Anyway, have you and Allie decided how you’re going to make things work?”
“I’m giving her some time.”
She snorts. “That’s not what I’m talking about, but just so you know, if you give her too much time, you won’t stand a chance. Especially since she’s moving.”
“The fuck?”
“Yep. I thought she told you already. She said she was going to talk to you about how to handle your visitation. She isn’t leaving right away, but she is leaving.”
“She isn’t fucking going anywhere.”
“I’m done,” Skylar says, and I lower my shirt. “Hate to tell you, brother, but you should’ve pulled your head out of your ass a long time ago.”
“Better late than never, right?”
“I do hope you can get her back,” she says, her voice sincere. “She doesn’t seem happy, and she deserves to be happy.”
And I want Allie to be happy. I thought it was best to let her figure out if that meant being with Paul or if she could be happy with me. She may have given me her body, but that doesn’t mean she’s willing to give me her heart. I’m pretty certain that’s what I want. Every broken piece of it.
That is, if she’ll have me.
ALLIE
Hunter opens the door to his apartment and motions for me to come inside. I hadn’t planned on picking Wes up, but he texted that he had some stuff to deal with and couldn’t drop him off.
“Is he napping?” I ask, walking over to the bassinet only to find it empty.
“He’s with Skylar.”
“Oh, I thought you said six at your place.”
“I did,” he replies, crossing his tattooed arms over his chest. His stance makes him look pretty damn intimidating. “When the hell were you going to tell me you’re moving away with Paul?”
I should’ve known Skylar would tell him. I confided in her, told her I’d work out visitation with Hunter so he can still see Wes. I’m not taking Wes away from him. Doesn’t seem like she told him everything, though. He thinks I’m moving away with Paul. No. Not happening.
I forgive you. I forgive you for fucking that piece of shit.
When he said that, I screamed for him to stop, fought against him until he relented. He knew all along what had happened between Hunter and I and he was like a different person throwing it in my face.
What? You can be a whore for him but not for me?
I left with Wes and went to Skylar and Jake’s place. Begged them not to say anything to Hunter about what happened. I didn’t want him confronting Paul.
I can handle it myself. I’m leaving on my own, with my son. I can start fresh without Paul and without Hunter.
“I don’t have everything ironed out yet, so I wanted to wait until I had more details.”
“You are not taking my son away from me,” he says. “And I’m not letting you go again.”
I sigh. “I’m not going to argue with you about this. We’ll work out some sort of visitation schedule once we get settled.”
“There won’t be a damn thing to work out. Did you not hear me? I’m not letting either of you go. You are not leaving.”
“You know, I’m getting really sick and tired of men telling me what to do,” I say, anger coursing through me. “I’m fucking leaving, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it!”
I start for the door, but he grabs my wrist, snatching me back before I can reach it. I slap him so hard, my palm stings, my chest heaving with adrenaline.
Leaving is what’s best for Wes and me. Hunter will not ever open up to me. Never fully be mine. And he hasn’t offered to be. The club will always come first. It will always come before me. Before Wes. I don’t want to settle for that.
“You aren’t leaving me again, Allie.”
I draw back to slap him again, but he catches my wrist and jerks me forward, slamming my chest against his, effectively pinning my arms down.
“Let me go!” I yell, and he spins me around, pushing me forward until my knees hit the couch. He wrestles me to the floor, shoving my face into the cushions.
“Enough with this bullshit,” he says as I struggle to get my wrists free. “You belong to me. It’s time you start fucking acting like it.”
My eyes go wide as he unbuttons my jeans and yanks them down along with my panties. I buck against him, but he’s too strong for me to get free.
“You put your hands on me, Allie — I’m only returning the favor,” he says. “And showing you once and for all you’re mine.”
His palm smacks hard against my ass cheek, making my breath catch in my throat. He smacks me again, and I scream out, but the sound is muffled against the couch cushion.
Hunter is spanking me.
And I fucking like it.
HUNTER
My intention was to ask Allie not to leave. To beg her to stay if I had to. Even tell her I’ve been an idiot for not fighting for her sooner. But when she said she was leaving and there was nothing I could do about it, I lost it.
Then she slapped me. She damn slapped me, and I couldn’t stop myself from bending her over and spanking her perfect heart-shaped ass. Her cheeks are red from my palm, but her muffled screams have turned into moans.
“Does Paul make you scream, Allie?” I ask, thrusting two fingers inside her soaking pussy. “Does he make you writhe like this? Make your pussy weep?”
“I don’t…no…” she chokes out, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“You’re trembling. Your body is fucking begging for this. And I’m the only one who can make you feel this way. Come this hard. Fucking crave me.”
I unzip my jeans and shove them down over my ass, just enough to free my cock. I slip my fingers from her warmth and position myself behind her.
She shudders when I ram my cock inside her. I draw out to the tip and drive in again, her resistance gone. When I release her wrists, she pushes herself up so she’s flush against me, her ass arching against my thrusts. I kiss the nape of her neck, and she reaches for me, threading her fingers in my hair. My scalp stings as she scrapes her nails across the sensitive skin.
“Fight me, Allie. Deny me. Hate me. Lie to yourself all you want. You’re mine.”
She shakes her head. “Never again.”
“Always.”
To show her I mean that, I bite down on her neck, leaving a mark. She lets out a moan, and I reach between her legs, massaging her clit as she comes. My release sneaks up on me, and I pump it inside her.
No one else has compared to this. To her. Not even close. I could’ve had this with her the whole time, but I fucking broke her.
“Please,” I say, kissing her shoulder where I bit her. “Please don’t leave me, Allie. I don’t know how to survive without you.”
“You don’t want me, Hunter. Not really.”
She pulls away from me and stands up, shimmying her pants and panties up without bothering to clean my cum off. Damn if I don’t find that the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
I shove my dick back into my pants, then I go to her, cupping her face in my hands. She needs to hear it. Hear how much I want her.
“The fuck I don’t. I searched for you for a damn year. Non fucking stop. It destroyed me to think I wouldn’t find you. That you were gone for good. You can’t move off with that prick, Paul. I will kill that motherfucker before I let you leave with him.”
“I’m not leaving with Paul,” she confesses. “I’m going alone. Just Wes and me.”
“Then I’ll go with you,” I state.
“What about the club? You’d l
eave the club?”
“You and Wes are my family. The club will understand.”
She laughs a little, tears forming in her eyes. “I told myself I wouldn’t choose you. That I couldn’t.”
“I don’t think we have a choice in this.”
She sniffles, and I wipe away her tears. She grips my wrists, holding my hands at her face.
“I won’t do this if you’re not all in. It’s just us. We’re a family, like you said, so we make decisions together. Especially decisions that can end with you either in jail or killed.”
She knows as long as I’m in the club, I can’t run every decision past her. We won’t always agree on what I’m doing and what can happen to me. Especially when I know we’re about to make a move on the Souls.
But if she’s staying here, I can compromise.
“How about this? I will always, and I mean always, put you and Wes first. I will protect the two of you at all costs.”
“And what about you? Who protects you?”
“I won’t take any unnecessary risks. You and Wes will always be at the forefront of my mind when I’m out there. I’ll do everything I can to make it back home to you every fucking day.”
She reaches up, stroking her fingertip over my lips. Then she kisses me, and I know she’s good with that offer. Know she’s staying with me. She’s choosing me.
“In case you need to hear it, Allie. I am all fucking in.”
ALLIE
I put the last bit of my clothes into the suitcase just as Dash walks into the room I shared with Paul. He picks up the box on the bed, and I grab the suitcase.
Paul is at work, but he knows I’m getting my things out today. He wasn’t happy about it, even begged me to stay. Claimed he knows me so well, more than anyone else, and that’s why he knew I’d slept with Hunter. Then, he apologized for the way he treated me, and assured me he really does forgive me for what happened between Hunter and me, but it’s not enough.
I want it all. The flutters, the racing heart, the knowledge that my man craves me as much as I crave him. I’m addicted to Hunter, and he’s addicted to me. The way it should be.
“You all set?” Skylar asks. “Peppermint is almost finished getting your things out of the kitchen.”
“Thanks for helping me out today,” I say. “I appreciate it.”
“I only wish Hunter could’ve been here. I know he wanted to help.”
“I know. Club business.”
But he was honest with me about it. He and Jake are doing recon on the Souls’ clubhouse. That’s all he would say, but it was enough for me. I know Jake will have his back.
I assured him I could get my things packed without him, that Munsey would watch Wes. He sent Bishop and Dash to help us. I knew with their help we’d get everything done quickly, and I promised him Wes and I would be at his place when he got back.
“Got any more boxes?” Bishop asks, peeking his head in. “I’m fucking starving.”
“I think that’s everything.”
“No! Put that down!”
There’s a commotion from the kitchen. Bishop is the first to go investigate, and Skylar and I follow, finding Paul attempting to unpack the things Peppermint boxed up for me. She pushes his hands away. I had one set of dishes, a set my aunt and uncle gave me. That was all I asked her to pack.
“Paul, what are you doing here? You knew this was happening today.”
I put the suitcase down and try to reason with him, get him to calm down, but it doesn’t work. His eyes are wild. Sweat beads on his forehead. I know the look. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve seen it reflecting back in the mirror many times.
“I’m the one who saved you!” he yells. “And this is how you repay me?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You don’t get to take anything from my house,” he says, his tone menacing. “Not one single thing.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to work, buddy,” Bishop says. Walking over to Peppermint, he grabs the box of dishes. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“You walk out that door, Jane, and you’re going to regret it!” Paul screams.
I calmly take the engagement ring off my finger and place it on the counter. Then I pick up my suitcase and follow behind Bishop, Dash, Peppermint, and Skylar. I have my and Wes’s things — only our things. This place was never my home.
“Jane!”
“It’s Allie.”
I close the door behind me, hearing his wails as I go get in the car with Skylar. I’m moving on, just like I wanted to.
Moving on doesn’t necessarily mean starting over, it can mean starting fresh too.
HUNTER
“You are so pussy whipped,” Jake teases as I carry a watermelon through the grocery store.
“Shut the fuck up,” I growl. “Pretty sure I remember you making three a.m. runs for Skylar. And what was it she wanted? Oh yeah. Oreos. Fucking Oreos.”
He rolls his eyes. “I got my ol’ lady what she wanted. That’s my damn job, asshole.”
“Well, I’m doing the same.”
“Didn’t know you made anything official.”
“What the hell do you think I’m doing?” I say, lifting the watermelon a bit.
“Jesus, man, buying her a watermelon and fake cheese is not going to make her your ol’ lady. Maybe just say, hey, will you be my ol’ lady?”
“That’s really fucking original. Look, I’m trying to do something romantic here.”
“Yep. I can see that. Can’t wait to see you with that damn thing on the back of your bike.”
“Just put the shit on the counter,” I say. “And not a word about this to the club.”
He puts the two cans of spray cheese and box of crackers on the counter, and I place the watermelon up there next. I pay the cashier, and we grab the stuff. I have a hard time figuring out how to strap the damn watermelon to my bike, making Jake laugh his ass off, but I finally manage to get it.
“Go home, get your woman and let her know you want to put a patch on her,” Jake suggests. “Because who the fuck knows what’s going to happen in the next few days.”
We’re meeting with the Eagles tonight to finalize our plans. We have to take Dean alive so we can find out where the missing girls are. We know he has something to do with it. Know he’s trafficking them. And I hope to hell he still has Owen’s niece.
“See you soon, brother.”
The word slips out without me intending them to, but despite all the bullshit, Jake is my brother. He gives me a nod and rides off.
When we arrive at my apartment, my heart starts racing with anticipation. Allie and Wes should be here. I went from being a bachelor to a one-woman man in no time. Oh, a one-woman man with a damn kid. Jake was right, it is overwhelming, but I love this feeling.
I open my door and see boxes stacked on my kitchen counter and floor. Allie is working on unpacking, putting her things in place. She smiles when she sees me, and Wes lets out a cry, making it known he’s not happy about something.
“He has a bottle in the warmer. I was getting ready to feed him, but I’ll let you take care of that if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.”
“What’s all that?”
“I got you a watermelon. And spray-can cheese.”
I put the watermelon on the counter, pushing the boxes over. Then I take the crackers and spray cheese out of the bag. I pop the cap on one of the bottles and walk over to her. She reaches for it, but I pull it away, telling her to open. I squirt some in her mouth, and she laughs when I do the same.
“You got that for me?”
“Yes.”
She encloses her arms around my neck and leans in for a kiss. Before I can deepen it, Wes lets out another cry. I hear you, boy. Easing away from her, I go grab the bottle from the warmer, pick my son up, and settle on the couch so I can feed him.
“Are you sure this is okay? All of our things here?” Allie asks. “I had to move your… um, guns out of the
nursery. Dash and Bishop took them to the clubhouse.”
“All of them?”
“No. I put two underneath our bed,” she answers, then adds, “On each side.”
Our bed. I love the fucking sound of that. Damn, I haven’t even fucked her in that bed yet. I’m going to have to do something about that. Tonight.
ALLIE
I let Hunter feed Wes while I unpack a few more things. I’ve told myself so many times today we’re moving too fast, that I went from Paul to Hunter without any kind of break in between.
But this feels right. Being with Paul never really did. There was always something missing. Now that I’m here, with Hunter, I’m complete. There aren’t any missing spots to fill, no voids. I have everything I want right here. Why waste time?
I toss an empty box to the side and hear music playing. Hunter has turned his phone on, and a slow country tune sounds throughout the living room. He hums along, his low voice sending chills over my body.
He surprised me with the food he brought home. Such a simple gesture. And it means the damn world to me.
I grab the box of crackers and a can of cheese and walk over to join the two of them. I tear open the box and pull out a sleeve of crackers before squirting a generous amount of cheese on it. He watches me with an amused expression, so I open my mouth and squirt a bunch of cheese into my mouth, just like he did, making him laugh.
I grin, mouth full of cheese. “I really don’t know what to say about this. I love it.”
He nods his head, a smile on his gorgeous face. I munch on cheese and crackers while he takes the empty bottle from Wes. Placing him on his shoulder, he gently pats his back to get him to burp.
“You may want to get a—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence before Wes burps and spits up all over Hunter’s shoulder. Hunter gags, coughing at the horrible smell. I burst out laughing and put my snack on the couch before taking Wes from him. I get him cleaned up as Hunter strips his shirt off. And I swear, it’s a sight I’ll never tire of seeing. Ripped abs, pierced nipples, intricate ink.