King of Kings

by Shreffler, Betty

  Stepping out of the shower, I grab a towel and dry off, then find fresh clothes. Liz is outside the little bathroom waiting for me, a shot of liquor in her hand. She outstretches her hand for me to take it as I rub the towel in my damp hair.

  “Thanks.”

  Downing it, I set the empty shot glass on the counter.

  “Need more?”

  “I’ll take another, yeah.”

  Liz studies me as she pours another shot of vodka.

  “You all right?”

  “I’m coming down from the adrenaline blast, but yeah, I’m all right.”

  “Nix told me your ex had you in his tent. If you ever want to talk about it with me, you can. I’ve been in a situation like that.”

  There’s a brief flicker in her eyes that hints of something painful. I imagine whoever caused that pain is the man Nix was referring to when he told Levi he’s killed before. That makes sense and leaves me with more questions.

  “He barely got his cock in me.” I take the shot glass from her hand and down it. “I promise I’m all right. I’ve had that cock in me hundreds of times before. Having him shove it into me isn’t going to scar me.” I slide the glass toward the bottle of vodka she’s holding. “It’s what he was going to do after that terrified me.”

  Liz opens the cabinet and gets herself a shot glass. Filling it, she tilts her head back and swallows it quick.

  “What do you think he would’ve done?”

  “I think he planned to take me back to the Sinister Sons. I wouldn’t have made it out alive.”

  Worry pinches her brows inward.

  “Think he or the Sons will come back?”

  “I don’t know. Nix scared him though. I could see it.”

  “Hopefully, that’s enough to keep him away.”

  “I hope so. What your brother did for me…” My cheeks warm at the thought. “I was with Levi for five years, and I don’t know that he would’ve protected me like that.”

  The corner of her mouth pulls back slightly. “My brother is really protective of the people he cares about.”

  “I like him, more than like him, but I keep my walls up because I’ve had to. I grew up around rough men who didn’t show their feelings very often, and with Levi being a cheating asshole, I learned to protect myself by not allowing myself to open up emotionally. I want to be open with Nix, but the threat of the Wild Royals is real, just like the threats from Levi were today. How do I do it?”

  Liz steps closer, the corner of her mouth lifting into a reassuring smile as she places her hand on my shoulder.

  “You let us in. All of us. In the Kings, we’re a family who looks out for one another and protects each other. You can trust us. Nix, my husband, the rest of the Kings, they’re good men. They protect the women they love, they don’t hurt them.”

  Wrapping my arms around her, I hug her. It feels good, so good to have a friend like her. Liz releases me and touches my cheek.

  “Would you like me to cover that with makeup?”

  “Yeah, I don’t want to be walking around with a bruised face.”

  Walking back to the bathroom, I hang the towel up to dry. Sitting on the toilet seat, I relax as she works on my makeup.

  “What’s everyone doing?”

  “Dominic and Ink are getting patched tonight, so they’re preparing to celebrate.”

  “Good, they could use a reason for fun after the shit that happened today.”

  Liz stops dabbing the concealer sponge on my cheek and looks me in the eyes.

  “What happened isn’t your fault. I don’t want you to feel that way. You had every right to leave him. You don’t owe Levi anything.”

  “Thank you. You don’t think the Kings will harbor any animosity toward me for what happened?”

  “No, they won’t. None of them would do the shit Levi did, and they know Nix wants you.”

  Those words cause a flutter in my belly. I must be grinning like a fool because Liz looks at me and winks, her smile cheeky.

  “Yes, he wants you. You two should stop fighting it.”

  “What about the Wild Royals?”

  Liz puts her hand under my chin and turns me to face the mirror. Our gazes meet, her green eyes glistening with the pain of the past and worry for the future.

  “I know my brother and the Kings are planning something. What the Royals did to Jenna won’t go unpunished. The Royals will get what’s coming to them.”

  I can hear it in her voice—the hope for retribution. She wants it as much as they do. With a look in the mirror, I give her a smile of approval for a flawless cover-up, and we leave the camper to join the party. The Kings have created a four-wall barrier around camp with the camper, motorcycle trailer, and both trucks. Inside, they have their bikes parked in a circle and inside that, the tents, coolers, and firepit. It’s smart, protective, and means they plan on partying hard tonight.

  Nix is sitting in a camp chair, bullshitting with Jake and Dom. Erika is on Dom’s lap, cuddled against him, keeping warm. His hand is on her hip, caressing her as he talks. Seeing that creates a longing in me that takes me by surprise. I want that, to be loved and protected as she is, a feeling I struggled to have with Levi.

  Nix catches sight of me and motions his head for me to come over. Putting his hand out, I take it, and he brings me onto his lap and puts his arms around me. Nuzzling his face into my neck, he kisses me with a tenderness I didn’t expect but appreciate.

  “I love the way you smell—cinnamon and vanilla. It’s perfect for you—spicy and sweet.”

  With him stroking my neck and head, I lean back, giving in to the delightful sensation and the warmth of the liquor in my belly. With his green eyes sparkling from the firelight, I stare at him, taking in the details of his handsome face. Above his short, dark beard, there’s a tiny scar on his cheek, and I raise my hand to it, running my finger over it. As he looks at me, I see the desire in his eyes, the longing, the want. Coming forward, I kiss him, giving in to the buzzing electricity that swims between us. His kiss is powerful, sensuous, but not overbearing and forceful. He takes his time, tasting me, savoring me, drawing out my desire. Several moments later, we break apart, and he rests his head against mine.

  “You’re the only thing that takes the pain away.”

  His words shock me, catching my breath. When he raises his gaze to mine, I accept it and all the emotions with it. Kissing him again, I rise from the chair, keeping hold of his hand and lead him to the camper. Inside, I close the door behind us, and he presses me to it, his body welcome against mine. With our kiss, I drift into euphoria, my mind clear, my body taking control. His fingers curl around the back of my neck as he slips his tongue between my lips. Gripping each side of his vest, I pull it back from his shoulders, and he moves his arms behind him, letting it slide down before he tosses it on the couch. Unable to pull away from our kiss, we stay united as I tug his black tank out of his jeans. Taking hold of my wrists, he stops us, reading my eyes. My lips tingle, needy for his kiss to return.

  “If you’re not ready, I understand.”

  I answer with my lips to his and back him to the bed, and he drops onto it. Crawling over him, my hands reach for his belt. Undoing the skull belt buckle, I unzip his jeans and open them.

  “You take away the pain for me too.”

  Sitting up, he lifts my shirt off, then his. The touch of his warm lips kiss along my neck and shoulder as he squeezes my ass in his hands. I arch forward, his erection pressing into me, and I moan from the pleasure.

  “I want you.” The moisture of his lips coats my ear, then across my cheek as he places his lips to mine. Heat, warm and inviting, fills my body. Between my legs, it’s a blaze of desire.

  “You can have me.”

  Guiding me off his lap, he has me stand as he takes off my pants and underwear. Keeping his sensuous gaze on me, he lifts his hips and removes his jeans, briefs, and boots. With his hands on my hips, he brings me forward and onto the bed with him. As I lie atop him, he
turns us and spreads my legs apart with his knee. Warm, strong hands caress my body as his kiss adds to my pleasure. Moving his hips to the right, he centers over me, his stretched cock lying between my wet folds. Rocking his hips forward, he slides his length up my opening, covering himself in my slickness. Rocking back, he aligns himself and slides in, the warmth and feel of him filling me, satisfying me, bringing me the physical and emotional gratification I need.

  At first, he thrusts slowly, taking me on a sweet ride of freedom—freedom from my anger, my guilt, my shame, my fear. As my hips rise to meet his, our desire for more of that freedom quickens our pace. With each of his powerful thrusts, my moans are a crescendo, my body and mind lost to the passion, the heat, the need for release.

  With several more thrusts, he takes me to the peak of freedom, and I let go, freefalling into a cavern of exquisite bliss. With another thrust, he loosens his hold on me, nearing his climax.

  “I’m on the pill.”

  With my whispered words, he tightens his hold, thrusts deep, and releases inside me. My legs tighten around him as he pushes into me again, continuing the little pulses of pleasure leftover from my orgasm. Staying inside me, he holds me close as his passionate kiss and intimacy brand my heart.

  I’ll never be the same after this. Nix has cracked me open and exposed a hidden, delicate part of me.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  NIX

  I don’t think either of us was ready for the intensity of what we just experienced, yet I’m already thinking about how much I want her again. Lying on my back, I stare up at Synne, admiring her beautiful face as she leans over my chest, appreciating my ink.

  Dragging my eyes down her body, I follow her ink and discover the bluebird in flight on her arm and just below it, the name Jay. It amazes me how much pain she’s suffered at the hands of other men, yet she’s still so strong. It’s fitting for her to bear the phoenix branded on her skin because that’s what she represents—a woman who’s risen from the ashes of despair and learned to live again. I respect that about her, fuck, I admire her for it. There’s something about her, about the fire inside her I’m drawn to. Each time I’m with her, that fire burns away the darkness surrounding my soul, and I crave more of it, need more of it.

  “What you did for me…” As she caresses her finger over my skull and crown tattoo, her silver ring reflects off the outside firelight, drawing my attention to it before I look back at her emotional expression. “It’s not something I’ll ever forget. You saved my life.”

  Putting my hands on her arms, I pull her body on top of me and caress her back, making sure she sees the sincerity in my eyes.

  “You don’t owe me anything. I don’t ever want you to feel like you do. I meant it when I said you mean something to me. There’s no way in hell I was letting that piece of shit take you.”

  A shadow of a smile flashes across her lips.

  “You mean something to me too. The first thought I had when Levi forced me to go with him was that I might not see you ever again, and it upset me because I want to see you more. I’d like to spend a lot more time together.”

  Running my hand down her back, it rises over the curve of her ass, and I squeeze it as I lift my head to kiss her.

  “I would too.”

  As I rub my fingertips up and down her back, she stares at me, her smile peeking out as she bites her lip. In her eyes, I see desire developing, mixed with her affectionate gaze.

  “I’d like to stay in here all night, talking and fucking,” I wink, and she grins. “But I need to get out there and perform my duties. Dominic and Ink are becoming full patch members tonight.”

  “How do you feel about me sleeping in your tent tonight?”

  “I thought that was a given.” Sitting up, I bring her with me and kiss her forehead. “I want you with me.”

  With a smile swelling her cheeks, she gathers her clothes. Picking up my shirt, she tosses it at me when she catches me staring at her ass. Lower on her shin, I notice a bruise. Putting my shirt on, my brows draw together in thought, worry pinching my chest. After we’re dressed, I take her hand and bring her back to the bed.

  “You sure you’re all right?”

  My hand grazes her cheek, where her bruise is covered by makeup. Her eyes fill with recognition, and her hand raises and takes mine before kissing it.

  “I am. It would’ve been far worse had you and the Kings not arrived when you did. I’ll be okay. I promise.”

  Looking off, I release the breath trapped in my lungs. When I look back at her, there’s a question in her eyes.

  “If you decide it’s something you need to talk about, I’ll listen.”

  A smile sneaks up one side of her face.

  “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you would.”

  Coming forward, she straddles my lap, caressing her fingers into my shoulders, pleasuring me with her touch.

  “It would take more than what Levi did to break me. And with the way you make me feel, it doesn’t leave room to dwell on what happened.”

  Cupping her ass, I pull her in closer to kiss her. Resting my head against hers, I indulge in the massage she’s giving my muscles. Her cinnamon vanilla scent fills the air I breathe, and I take another slow breath, savoring it.

  “I’m glad we got to you when we did. I never would’ve forgiven myself if he’d hurt you more than he did or if he’d taken you back with him.”

  With her soft fingers, she lifts my chin and stares into my eyes, her words as potent as her scent. “You carry the burden of everyone else’s pain as if it’s your own. You’re a good man, Nix. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

  What this woman does to me is startling. With the way she looks at me, the way she touches my soul, she’s tearing down the wall of anger, guilt, shame, and rage I have built too high to climb over myself. But as that wall crumbles and hope emerges, so does fear. I’m afraid this won’t last. One way or another, I’m afraid I’ll lose her, and I’ll be left broken beyond repair.

  With her hands on each side of my face, she kisses me, and I continue the kiss, deepening it, cherishing this moment—a moment where I’m able to forget all my emotional turmoil and have a taste of freedom.

  * * *

  Leaving the camper, I have my arm draped over Synne’s shoulder with two new vests dangling from my hand. She takes a seat in my camp chair while I draw the attention of the Kings. Everyone makes a circle around the fire, either standing or sitting.

  “The Kings have been through a lot over the years. We’ve gained and lost many great men. But one thing that holds true today is our brotherhood. I know every one of you has my back, just as I have yours. Our brotherhood has taught us to be better men, better spouses, and better brothers to one another. What this club has brought us more than anything is family. Looking around at each of you, I know you can be counted on when we need each other, to help if a brother is down and out, to step in and be a voice of reason when we’re at our worst. Which makes tonight an important night.

  “Dominic, Ink.” When I look at them, Erika moves off Dominic’s lap and stands behind his chair, a smile tilting her lips. “I’ve come to respect you both and believe your loyalty to the Kings has been well earned. Tonight, the Kings welcome you as official club members. Come get your colors.”

  Setting his beer down, Dominic rises and comes forward. I hand him his vest and tap his back as I hug him.

  “Respect the patch, wear it with pride. We are a family, and I’m honored to call you my brother.”

  Dominic shifts out of his prospect vest and tosses it into the fire before sliding into his new vest. He glances down at the new patches and gives a half-cocked grin.

  “It’s a damn good group of men. I’m honored to be a part of the Kings family.”

  Ink fills his spot as Dominic receives pats on the back and welcoming words from his brothers.

  Ink sheds his prospect vest and tosses it in the fire, then gathers his new vest from my outstretched hand.<
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  “Thanks, Pres. This means the world to me.”

  Putting it on, he lets out a long, savored sigh as if he’d been waiting on this moment for a while. Bringing him in, I tap his back as I hug him.

  “Respect the patch, wear it with pride. We are a family, and I’m honored to call you my brother.”

  “Thanks, brother.”

  William shakes a whiskey bottle toward the campfire, and as the liquid hits the flames they surge upward, dancing in the dark night.

  “Now, it’s time to fucking celebrate!”

  Axel flips on music from his truck, and shot glasses fill hands as the women start to dance.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  NIX

  Wiping my hand down my face, I blink a couple of times then reach for my phone. Heat is thick in the air, and I expect it’s later in the morning. Grabbing my cell phone, I check the time, and sure enough, it's nearly ten a.m. Synne stirs next to me, and I put out my arm for her. She lies on my chest, draping her hand over my side as she looks up at me with drowsy eyes.

  “What time is it?”

  “Nine forty-six.”

  As I caress her back, she caresses my side.

  “I need a shower,” she proclaims. “I have your cum all over me.”

  Laughing, I lean down and kiss her.

  “Hearing that reminds me of how good last night was.”

  With messy, wild hair and a lopsided grin, she sits up and searches for her clothes.

  “It was hella good, and I’m a little shocked at how many positions we accomplished inside this small space.”

  Sitting up, I spot her underwear peeking out from the sleeping bag and pull them out. Dangling her blue silky thong from my finger, I rub her back, getting her attention.