She seemed pensive, her gaze distant. Phil let her have her moment of inner reflection, then, finally, he asked, “Is Daffodil your real name?”
“Yeah, Mom always liked daffodils, said that after a hard winter in Russia that if she saw a yellow daffodil in the snow, she knew that spring was right around the corner and it gave her hope. So when I was born, she felt she had hope for a new life and named me after her favorite flower.” She lifted her shoulders in a small shrug that caused the afghan to fall around her hips. “But what she hoped would be a new life here in the States was based on a lie.” She told him about how her mother had been duped into paying for their passage to the US only to lose what little they had and end up as a sweetbutt just to keep food in Daffodil’s mouth.
“Damn,” he said, wishing he could erase the past for her. “That’s harsh.”
“It would have been worth what Mom went through, what I went through with her, if we’d just had a real chance.”
“But you’re changing your life around now,” he pointed out.
She shifted so she could look up at him. “That’s only because of you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “How so?”
She studied him for several seconds, then said, “I’m not sure. It’s something that radiates from you, something strong and full of hope that I see whenever I look into your eyes. It gave me the strength to start fighting back, Phillip, and I found I’d had enough of the way my life has been.”
“Aw, baby doll, you had the strength in you all along. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have known you were ready to begin a new, better life.”
She thought about that for a moment. A myriad of emotions passed through her eyes. “Maybe, but I meant what I said about you. I felt so drawn to you, and when something bad was happening to me, I’d see your face and my mind and suddenly I had strength.”
He couldn’t help himself. He captured her mouth with his. She parted her lips and cupped the side of his face with her unpinned hand. Her gentle action forged a desperate need in him to make her his forever. Deepening their kiss, Phil tangled his tongue with hers. Need shot straight to his groin, his cock straining painfully against his jeans. It has been a while since he’d had a woman, not even participating in sweetbutt night for months, but now he knew why. He’d been waiting for one woman—Daffodil, his flower of hope.
She broke the kiss and wriggled out of the cover. After straddling his hips, she kissed him back. Phil slid his hands inside her shirt, the sensation of her skin on his palms soft as silk. He wanted her naked, her pussy shoved down over his cock, gripping him, milking him… He groaned into her mouth and found the hook to her bra. It took him a few seconds, but he eventually release it, then palmed her breasts. She let out a startled sound and ground herself against him.
About to stand with her then disrobe, he paused as she murmured against his lips.
“Hmm?” he asked.
“I said we can have outercourse, but nothing else until I get checked at the clinic.”
He blinked several times as his hormones raged, then abated and blood returned to his starved brain. What she’d said doused him with reality. “Uhm…okay?”
She laughed softly. “I reached a point a few years ago where I couldn’t have an orgasm anymore, so sex meant nothing to me, and what Ezra does to me seems…perverted. He makes me come somehow and it leaves me feeling filthy and exhausted to the point I feel as though I could lie there and die. But you’ve changed something in me, Phillip.”
Fuck, how he loved it when she used his given name.
“I want you so badly that I could take my clothes off, lie on the floor next to that stove and spread my legs.”
He gulped audibly at the mental image she’d given him. His cock surged with blood yet again, and just the pressure of her jeans-encased pussy on top of his straining dick was about to make him come. He shut his eyes to get a grip on himself.
“But,” she continued, “even though Ezra insists that all his girls get checked every couple weeks for STDs and my last checkup was clean, I know nothing about Ezra or what women he’s been with, so I want to have the usual tests done again and a complete physical to be on the safe side.” Daffodil leaned in and nestled her head into the crook of his neck, winding her arms around his waist. “I don’t want to pass anything to you, baby. I couldn’t bear it if I hurt you in any way.” She squeezed him, and he realized he’d wait forever for her. “Are you okay with that?” she asked.
He chuckled, suddenly so touched and so proud of her at the same time. “More than okay, baby doll. That tells me you really do care about me.”
“Oh, more than you realize,” she whispered directly into his ear. She licked his earlobe.
Her words pushed goose flesh down his neck and over her chest. Phil growled low in his throat, willing his cock to listen to him and abate—and it stubbornly refused—but hugged her tightly and held her to his chest for a long time.
Finally, he said, “I guess I’ll have to pour us two fresh cups of coffee. Ours have grown cold. Plus, I need to stoke the fire.”
“Let’s use this time to tell each other everything,” she suggested.
“You start,” he said as she slipped over to her spot on the love seat.
“Okay,” she said, chuckling, “but coffee first. I’ll get fresh cups while you take care of the fire.”
Once she’d stood, he swatted her on her ass.
“My ass,” he stated with a grin.
“Yes,” she said, returning a brilliant smile. “For the first time, I’m going to give it willingly.” She rubbed the place he’d swatted and sauntered out with a little more sway to her hips than normal, but he loved every second of it.
Chapter Seventeen
Daffodil couldn’t believe it was almost Halloween. Tomorrow night the children of Frank’s clan would go around the community for trick or treat, then up to the main house for the annual Halloween party the MC hosted for first the children, then, after the kids were in bed for the night, the adults would party.
She’d never been with a motorcycle club like this one. Having grown up in an outlaw gang, then sold to another such gang once she was 14, passed to a third one when she was 18, then settling with the Wraithkillers for a few years before the River Rebels, Daffodil had seen nothing but debauchery, cruelty, drugs abuse, alcohol abuse, physical abuse, prostitution, lies and manipulation.
Until now.
Oh, how she’d fallen in love with these people. She’d even met Frank’s mother, Galina, a drop-dead gorgeous Italian woman, and his grandmother who was just as beautiful, despite her advanced lycanthrope age. They were mysterious and powerful. When either of the women spoke, they commanded attention and everyone, including the men, listened with respect. There was no way in hell she’d ever leave the Werewolves of Rebellion. And she’d die to protect them too—without any hesitation. When she’d told Phillip how she’d felt about his MC and its community, he’d replied that it had only been two weeks. But just as she’d thought he’d meant that she’d change her mind about them over time, she’d caught the smirk tweaking his lips and had swatted him on the ass. It was worth it, though. He’d grabbed her and kissed her so hard and long that she found herself curling her toes in her sneakers and happily breathless.
Now, helping Puppy, an adorable little Filipina, Daffodil shivered against the morning cold. Above the farm, the sky brooded with heavy, slate-gray clouds. The chilled air carried the aroma of crisp snow. Another gust of frigid wind ruffled their warm clothing, and sent the tassels on Puppy’s scarf to dancing. Daffodil held the bundle of cornstalks so Puppy could refasten them.
“The radio forecast this morning said possible snow showers tonight,” Puppy said. “I believe it after those gales that howled through here last night. A big wind like that always brings a major weather change.”
“Phillip has been saying for days that there would be snow by Halloween,” Daffodil replied.
“I hope it holds off so the k
ids can finish their trick or treat tomorrow night.” Puppy stepped back and surveyed her work. “Okay, I think you can let go now. It shouldn’t fall over anymore.”
Daffodil moved aside. The cornstalks with their wire-and-orange-ribbons around the center of the bundle held fast. After rolling a couple small pumpkins back against the base of the fall arrangement, Puppy motioned toward the destroyed display at the base of the back lawn’s shade tree, and Daffodil picked up the rolls of wire and ribbon as Puppy gathered the wire cutters, plyers and a battery-operated glue gun.
“Once we finish that other one,” Puppy said, “I think we’re done. I haven’t noticed any other messed-up arrangements, although the wind did blow a big pumpkin down to the barn, but Beastman said he’d bring it up later today. It’s too heavy for the two of us to carry.”
Strangely enough, Daffodil enjoyed feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, tossing in hay to the horses and even slopping the pigs—although the stench of the pigpen was an experience that she could do without. The first time she’d experienced it, she had to jog upwind from it just to catch her breath and wait for the stinging tears in her eyes to abate. Luella had given her a handkerchief, which helped some, but Daffodil didn’t have to slop the pigs often. She found the mundane farm chores, even the minor things like fixing what the wind had done last night to the autumn decorations, soothing. The tasks kept her hands busy and allowed her to sort through her emotions, her past traumas and her feelings for Phillip.
Phillip. Every time she thought of him, her heart started a crazy rhythm, blood thundered in her ears and heat peppered her skin. There were times she’d be in the kitchen helping with a meal and suddenly she’d find Bernadette or Luella snapping their fingers in front of her face to bring her back to reality. Luella would shake her head and say, “Damn, girl, you’ve got it bad,” followed by Bernadette laughing and patting Daffodil on the back.
Bernadette had surprised her. Here she’d thought her a bitch after what had happened between them at the Wraithkillers MC, but the perky redhead had turned into the best friend Daffodil had ever had. Although her abilities unnerved Daffodil from time to time, she also found the things Bernadette could do rather cool too.
The clinic still hadn’t called with her test results, but she’d been told a couple of the tests had to be sent away and those usually took two to three weeks to get back. She wanted Phillip so much that it stunned her. Every time he was near, her body hummed with need until she sometimes had to walk away from him so the throbbing in her folds would stop.
When Luella had noticed her taking breaks from Phillip’s presence, she’d taken Daffodil aside and asked what was wrong, then explained it was a natural reaction to a lycanthrope mate, and proof that they were destined to be together. Daffodil’s heart had thrilled at the idea.
“Well,” Puppy said, “this bunch of cornstalks just needed straightened. It won’t be long before we’re setting out stuff for Thanksgiving, then Christmas.”
“Christmas…” The word dazzled Daffodil’s mind.
“What about it?” Puppy asked as she tightened the ribbon around the corn.
Daffodil shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Oh, it’s just that I’ve never been with anyone who took Christmas seriously. I never had money to give gifts to my girlfriends, and they were the same. Hell, the only reason any of the one-percenter gangs I was with had a Christmas tree or holiday decorations was because the sweetbutts and old ladies scrounged up a few things. I remember one time we had a tree, but the only thing it had on it was strung popcorn, and one of the sweetbutts had cut a star out of a beer box and set it in the branches at the top.” She glanced over at Puppy, who wore a horrified expression. “Don’t feel sorry for me,” Daffodil hurriedly added. “I’m here now, and that’s all that matters.”
A beautiful smile lit up Puppy’s face, her straight teeth vivid white against her olive complexion, and her big puppy-dog eyes, which had earned her the nickname, glowed with happiness for Daffodil. Flustered, Daffodil looked away, then leaned over and tossed some colorful leaves around the gourds placed at the tree’s roots.
When Daffodil straightened, Puppy rose up on tiptoe and kissed her cheek. Startled, Daffodil placed her fingers over the spot. Heat rushed into her cheeks. “What was that for?”
“I’m happy for you, that’s all,” Puppy stated, still grinning. “Luella has an expression from an old cigarette ad years ago that she uses for people who have been to hell and back.”
“What is it?” More warmth flared in Daffodil’s face and spread down into her neck.
“‘You’ve come a long way, baby,’” Puppy quoted.
Suddenly, Daffodil found herself grinning back so wide that her cheeks hurt. “Yeah, I guess I have. It feels awesome.”
Tittering softly, Puppy said, “Come on. Let’s put this stuff away. We have a lot of decorating and cooking to do for tonight’s Halloween party.”
Daffodil hugged the tools to her chest and followed her friend into the main house. She couldn’t wait to get started. Besides, prepping for the festivities would help her keep her thoughts from straying to a dark-haired, dark-eyed, sexy-as-hell man.
* * *
Bernadette, her stomach in knots, sat at the table with Frank. In the laundry room, the sounds of Luella shutting the dryer door and starting it wafted in to them. When Daffodil and Puppy walked in, Bernadette waited for Frank to drop his bomb.
“Daffodil,” he said immediately.
“Yes?” The tall blonde placed some tools in a kitchen drawer, then turned and dropped spools of ribbon into a box full of decorations that sat on one of the table chairs. “Is something wrong?”
The anxiety in Daffodil’s voice bothered Bernadette. She patted Frank’s forearm. “Be gentle, babe.”
Daffodil yanked out a chair and practically fell on to it, dismay written all over her face. “What happened?” Fear weighted heavily in her voice. “Something has happened to Phillip, hasn’t it?”
“No, no,” Frank said, holding up a hand to stop her train of thought, “nothing like that. I just got a call from Deputy Williamscot. Ezra Smith was released and all charges dropped except for assault.”
Incredulous, Daffodil gaped at him. A low curse popped out of Puppy where she stood pouring herself a cup of coffee.
“I don’t know how he managed it,” Frank went on, “but there was no evidence to point to human trafficking except for the victims, but it was his word, and word of witnesses he supposedly had, against yours, Jess’, and the abductees’. He said it was a prank, and his buddies backed him, saying you wouldn’t have known anything about the prank and had assumed the worst. The victims are pressing assault charges, so at least Ezra and a few of his men will spend some time in jail—providing the judge doesn’t go lightly and just give them probation.”
Bernadette reached over and took Daffodil’s hand. The look on her friend’s face was a punch to Bernadette’s gut.
“I knew something like this would happen,” Daffodil whispered, a tremor in her voice. “He’s unnatural, a demon of some sort. He must’ve used some sort of power over the cops, made them believe him.” She looked sharply at Frank. “What about the extortion charges?”
“It seems that a few prospects got the rap for that.”
The flare of hope in Daffodil’s eyes extinguished. If only Bernadette could perform a spell to erase her friend’s fear. The devastation in the woman’s eyes tore at Bernadette’s heart.
“Ezra insisted he knew nothing about what they were doing,” Frank explained, “that they must’ve been trying to impress him so he’d make them full members by showing their loyalty in that manner. Also, just so you know, Deputy Williamscot is a good friend of mine, so he tells me things any other officer normally wouldn’t tell a citizen. Craig said he knew these latest developments were a crock of shit and that he’s going to keep his eyes and ears open to nail Ezra any way he can.” Frank sighed heavily and sat back in his chair. “I’m sorry, Daffodil. You
realize what this means, right?”
“That I have to leave here so that the rest of you are safe,” she replied as tears wound paths down her cheeks.
“What? No!” Luella said from the doorway. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Luella is right,” Puppy agreed. She turned and began pouring a second cup of coffee, then set it in front of Daffodil. “We like you and we’re all here for you. So you’re staying.”
Bernadette squeezed Daffodil’s hand. “What Frank is saying is that you’ll be under constant protection until we figure out a way to handle Ezra Smith.”
“Whenever Phillip isn’t here,” Frank explained gently, “you will be under the guard of one of the prospects or a male who is a full member, understood? Even if you’re with Bernadette or Luella, or even one of the other women, there will always be a male guard with you.”
Daffodil nodded, her lower lip wobbling. “I’m so…sorry.” Her breath hitched, and in a rush, Luella moved behind her, giving her a hug around her shoulders.
“We’ll figure out something about this asshole,” Luella said with conviction. “Don’t you worry, honey.”
“Just make sure you go nowhere without a guard,” Puppy chimed in, then refilled her mug.
“Don’t focus on it right now,” Bernadette suggested, needing to make Daffodil feel better. “We have so much to do for the kids’ trick or treating and the parties tomorrow night, so just enjoy decorating and having fun. After all, you won’t ever be alone.”
“Okay.” Daffodil nodded vigorously. “I’ll try.”
Bernadette wondered how they could protect someone against a demon—if that was what Ezra truly was—but there was a chance he was some other supernatural creature. Still, what would they do if they were wrong about him? The brand on her wrist began to burn. She turned it over to find it glowing soft red.
The Devil's Russian Beauty Page 18