by Sam Crescent
“Lucy?”
“No. You don’t get to judge me. You cheated, Dane. Not me. I’ve done everything I can to keep this family together, and you go and try to destroy the one bit of happiness? Why?”
“Because you’re mine.”
“I stopped being yours the moment you touched another woman. Now I’m going to give you a choice right now. I’ve never given you one of these. You either get your head out of your ass and move on, because I am. Or leave and don’t come back.”
“My kids?”
“You left them before. I don’t want them to be without a father. They deserve someone who isn’t going to hurt them, Dane. If all you’re going to do is hurt them, then leave. I didn’t think I could survive without you, but I did. I moved on. You’re still our children’s father, and I could never take that away from them.”
“Even though you’re giving me an ultimatum?”
“For the sake of them, Dane. That’s what I’m doing. Open your damn brain. You would have killed Lewis tonight with all those people watching. They’re my kids, and I want what is best for them. Decide.”
He watched as she turned her back on him and started to walk away.
“I love you, Lucy. I will always love you. I can’t just leave.”
Lucy turned toward him, and sighed. “I don’t. You’re the father of my kids, and I guess there is a part of me that will always love what we had. But I don’t love you anymore, Dane. I can live without you. I have. I’m in love with Lewis.”
With that, she left.
Stumbling back, Dane sat down on the ground.
He didn’t know how much time passed before James was in front of him.
“Make that choice now,” James said.
“You heard everything.”
“You think I’d let Lucy come here alone when you pulled a knife on a man you were disrespecting?” James grabbed him and hauled him up. “You make that choice right now. You get on your bike, give me your fucking cut, and you leave. You do not come back, and you stop being a Dirty Fucker. You cease to exist to this club.”
The very thought made Dane sick to his stomach. Even when he left, he was still a Dirty Fucker.
“Or you stay, and you learn to live with the fact you lost everything for being a selfish bastard. But I swear to you, Dane. You have a repeat of what happened tonight, and I’ve got a special patch just for your sorry ass.”
“You’d kill me? You’re not like that, James.”
“You don’t know me, Dane. I know what I need to do to get jobs done. You won’t be the first fucker I’ve buried in a grave, and I doubt you’d be the last. Test me and see.”
He didn’t want to test his Prez.
There was Ryan.
His babies.
He’d been out of their lives for so long that they struggled to be near him.
The one thing he wanted back was his kids.
“I want to stay.”
“Then pick your game up.” James held the knife up to the light. “I’ll be keeping this, Dane. Don’t for a second think I’m afraid to use it.”
****
“That was more drama than I could stand tonight,” Leo said, clinking his beer with Paul’s.
“Stacey’s a problem. She thinks we’ve got a thing for her. I’ve got to ask, do you?” Paul asked.
Leo shook his head. “I’ve not had a thing for her ever since she tried to fool us. I’m pleased she showed her true colors before our feelings for her grew. No, I don’t have a thing for her, and I’ve not for a while. We both want the same thing, don’t we? A family.”
Paul nodded. “Yes, I want a family, and for a second I did think it could be possible. Then she behaved the way she did. I was fooled, and I think that is what bugged me the most. I didn’t see it until the last minute, but that’s my problem.”
Leo couldn’t agree more. “So we’re on the same page. Neither of us want Stacey, nor do we love her.”
“Nope. She’s a first-class bitch.” Paul took a long sip of his drink. “I love a good cat fight and all, but I wanted to see Teri and Cora go all super power on her.”
Leo burst out laughing. He couldn’t blame Paul. “The way she had looked at Skylar, if she had been a guy I’d have fucked her up.”
“Yeah, me too,” Paul said. “So I guess we should talk about our feelings for a certain sister.”
“Teri scares the shit out of me.”
Paul laughed. “I don’t mean her. I mean her sister.”
“I know who you mean.” Leo sat beside his friend and stared up at the clubhouse. The light in Skylar’s room was on, and he wondered what she was doing. Probably reading one of those romances she had gotten from the library. “I want her, Paul. I enjoy being with her. She’s so sweet and charming.”
“She smells like coconut, and I just want to pour chocolate sauce over her, and lick her body.”
“You two are horny bastards, you know that right?” Teri said, moving away from a darkened corner. She was sucking on a lollipop and smiling. “So you two douchebags have finally seen that my sister is worth your time.”
There was something in her smile. Leo didn’t know exactly what it was.
“You invited her here,” Paul said.
“Correct,” Teri said. “And I wonder why I did that.”
“Are you playing matchmaker?” Leo asked.
“I know my sister is a damn good woman. She’s been hurt a lot in the past, and I’ve not liked any of the men who she’s been with. They haven’t deserved her. I’m hoping you two could be different.”
Leo took a sip of his beer as Teri approached. “I want to help you. Do you like Skylar?”
“Yes, we do,” Paul said, answering first.
“I do. She’s … beautiful.”
“Exactly. Now Skylar is a hard nut to crack, if you get my meaning. She sees you as friends. It’s going to take some convincing to prove to her that you want something else.”
“We can do it,” Leo said. He stood up from the table. “I want to be with her. I want to give her all the kinds of love that she deserves, that she needs.” Their shopping trip had shown him a lot. She had bought some dresses, and he noticed how she covered up the size tag, and how she always changed the topic when it came to growing up.
“If you’re going to help us, you need to give us something,” Paul said. “What’s with her deal always working? I don’t get it.”
Teri sighed. “I’m not going to tell you everything. That’s not my story to tell, and I wouldn’t do that to my sister. Let’s just say that if she wasn’t doing something … productive, she would get punished. Skylar struggles to be sick. She can’t stay still for all that long. She also doesn’t watch movies either. She can’t. You will also know that her legs bounce in the car if she’s forced to stay still for too long.”
“There’s more to it than that,” Leo said.
“I didn’t say there wasn’t. Let’s just say that when she needed me most I wasn’t there. I want to give her a life that I couldn’t when we were younger. That is my fault, not hers. I want her to be happy. I will help you when I can. I won’t tell you her story. I can’t.” Teri turned and left, leaving him with more questions than he had before.
“She’s full of wonders, isn’t she?” Paul asked. “At least we know that Skylar’s got demons in her past.”
“I’ve got a feeling she’s still living with them.” Leo had an idea what it was. “I think it has to do with her weight. I don’t know why, but she’s … I don’t know. Something about her when we went shopping. She wouldn’t let me carry the clothes that she bought or help her in anyway. It was strange.”
“I figured her weight was a problem. I love her curves, and those tits, I can’t wait to get my hands on her. Damn, can you imagine those juicy thighs wrapped around you?” Paul moaned. “I can’t wait to sink inside her and hold her close.”
Leo’s own cock started to thicken at the thought. “Together we do this.”
�
��Good. I already called ahead by the way,” Paul said.
“To what?”
“To the real estate place. Skylar didn’t go in asking for a job. She wanted a place to rent. I told the woman to refuse her and I paid her off. We don’t want Skylar leaving. Can you imagine trying to keep up with her? She’s always moving around. It’s next to impossible to keep an eye on her now.”
Leo groaned, rubbing his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
“I didn’t think it would matter.”
“You’re a pain in the ass, Paul. Now we’ve got a secret, and I’m guessing she has trust issues already. Ugh! I could fucking throttle you.” Leo got to his feet, and walked away.
“I did what I had to do.”
“You’re officially the biggest pain in my ass.” Leo walked away. It wouldn’t be a big deal, but he didn’t know how Skylar would view it. She wouldn’t be so willing to open up to them. He only hoped they got her to fall in love with them before they told her the truth. Stupid Paul.
****
Paul knew he had fucked up the moment he told Leo the truth. He didn’t want to keep anything from his friend, and he had never been good at keeping secrets. Crap. He shouldn’t have told that woman to turn Skylar down, but what choice did he have? Rubbing his eyes, he made his way out of his bathroom. His bed was calling him, and he was so tired.
Dropping down onto the bed, he closed his eyes, and darkness fell.
He woke up to the sound of a scream, and then a whimper. Lifting his head off the pillow he saw it was a little after four. Clearing the sleep from his eyes, he lifted up, and listened. Another whimper, and a cry.
Getting out of bed, he left his room and moved toward Skylar’s. The noise was coming from her.
Leo came out of his room, and frowned at him.
“She’s having a bad dream.”
“Please, Mommy. I’m hungry. Please, I hurt. Make it stop.”
That was it. He had heard enough. Hearing Skylar in pain or at the very least hurting was more than he could take. Opening the door, he charged inside, and found Skylar tossing and turning.
“Wait,” Leo said.
“I’m not letting her go through whatever hell she’s going through.” He touched her shoulders. “Baby, wake up. You’re fine. You’re in Greater Falls. You’re safe.”
She tossed, and then gasped awake. He cupped her face, stroking her hair, trying to offer her comfort.
“Paul?”
“That’s right. You’re at the Dirty Fuckers MC clubhouse. You’re safe. You’re fine.”
She took several deep breaths, and nodded. “I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“That’s right. You’re safe.”
Leo closed the door, drawing their attention toward him. “You were having a bad dream, honey.”
Skylar shoved her hair off her face and rubbed her eyes. “I’m so sorry for waking you. It must have been the fighting tonight. I haven’t had bad dreams for some time.”
“You were crying for your mother,” Paul said.
Her face seemed to go a little pale.
“Yeah, well, I don’t know why. Again, I’m really sorry for screaming and waking you up.”
“I don’t mind. I didn’t have anything else to do,” Leo said. “Sleep can wait until we’re dead, right?”
Skylar laughed. “I shouldn’t laugh. That is an awful thing to say.”
“But it’s the truth, right? We’re all going to be dead, and then we can all party.”
Paul stared at his friend. “There are times you really need to be silent.”
Leo shrugged. “I’m only saying what you’re all thinking.”
“No, I can promise you that is not what I’m thinking. I’m tired, and I need to sleep now,” she said. “Thank you so much for coming and checking on me.” She took his hand. “Thank you, Paul, for waking me up.”
He felt the fine tremors in her hand, and he held her tightly. “You have nothing at all to be afraid of. Me and Leo, we’ve got your back, baby.”
“You’re so sweet to me.” She lifted his hand, and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “Thank you.”
The action was tender, gentle. He reached out and stroked her cheek.
“I’ve got a suggestion,” Leo said, coming to sit on the bed.
“What?” Skylar asked.
“You’ve had some bad dreams, and we’ve all seen the drama tonight. This bed is big enough. What do you say to Paul and me sleeping with you tonight? One on either side, and then we can be here to help with any of your dreams.”
Paul glared at Leo. Yes, he wanted to sleep with Skylar close, but the last thing he wanted was to scare her.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Nope. We wouldn’t mind,” Leo said. “Right, Paul?”
“I don’t mind. I think it would be good. You look a little shaken, and I don’t like the thought of you being alone, and maybe a little afraid. Leo and I won’t overstay our welcome. If you want us to leave we will.”
“That is so sweet. Thank you.” She eased down the bed and lifted the blanket. “I’ve never had two men in my bed. I’ve not had anyone offer to sleep with me to help ward off any more nightmares. You two are the sweetest.”
As Paul climbed into the bed, the last thing he was feeling was sweet. In fact, he was feeling guilty because he had done something that wasn’t sweet, not at all. Damn, no wonder Leo was pissed at him. Rolling over, he saw that Skylar was turned toward him, and smiled at him. “Thank you.” Then she rolled over, and thanked Leo.
She settled on her back, and Paul couldn’t stop looking at her.
This was a weird kind of torture.
The woman that had been appearing in his fantasies was now lying beside him. His best friend was beside her, and neither of them could touch, at least not yet. Time passed, and he knew she was sound asleep by how relaxed she had become. Her body had just gone completely soft.
“She’s beautiful. I can’t get over just how much she is.” Leo stroked some of her hair away from her face. “She’s the one.”
Paul saw it as well. “She’s had a hard life.”
“Yes. She’s not used to being treated like a queen. I think it’s time we change that, don’t you?”
“Yes. I do.” Paul rested his head on the pillow, knowing he would gladly spend the rest of his life treating her exactly like she deserved.
Chapter Six
Skylar opened her eyes, and became aware of not one but two arms crossed over her body. Frowning, she turned her head and saw Leo on one side of her, and then Paul. She tried to remember what happened the night before, and slowly, it started to come back to her, little by little.
They had heard her bad dream, and came to her room to comfort her. She hadn’t wanted to go back to sleep straight away. The memory of her mother was so clear to her even after all this time that it scared her. She didn’t like to be controlled by her fear, and yet that was exactly what she was being.
Licking her dry lips, she held onto the bedding, lifting it up to cover her mouth. Morning breath was so horrible, and there were two men in her bedroom.
She was wearing pajamas like she did every single morning.
“What on earth are you doing?” Leo asked, making her turn toward him.
“You’re awake.”
“You tugged on the blanket. I didn’t exactly have much choice in being awake.” He winked at her. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you.” Her cheeks were heating.
“Why are you getting embarrassed?”
“Well, I had not just you, but Paul here, kind of like a security blanket.”
He chuckled. “I was hoping as a big fluffy teddy bear.”
She smiled along with him, but kept the blanket over her mouth.
Leo reached out, tugging the blanket down. “Don’t worry so much.”
“I can’t help it,” she said, and then covered her mouth.
Leo coughed, grabbed his face, and pretended t
o collapse to the bed dead, doing some weird twitching thing.
She couldn’t stop laughing at him.
“He’s a goofball in the morning, and I’m trying to sleep here,” Paul said, suddenly lifting up, and dropping onto her chest, making her ooph out some air. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and his head was resting against her breasts.
“And he hogs the bed. Look at him, he has no respect for personal space at all,” Leo said, and he was suddenly there, smiling at her. “Watch this.”
She saw the glass of water at the last minute. She gave a scream and then the water was over the two of them, and she covered her face.
Paul sat up with a roar, grabbed a pillow and started to hit Leo repeatedly with it. Working her way down the bed, she fell out of the bottom, and then began to hit Leo with the pillow she had taken with her.
He caught her around the waist, lifted her up, and placed her on the bed. She screamed, and then laughed as he began to tickle her.
“Stop, stop!” She yelled for him to stop as the laughter was just too much.
Next, Paul joined in.
Laughter consumed her, and after several minutes passed, they both collapsed to the bed.
“Now that was a fun way to wake up,” Leo said.
“You have completely soaked my bed,” Skylar said. “How am I going to sleep here tonight?”
“That’s easy. My bed is just as big as this one, if not bigger. I say we all party in my room tonight.”
Skylar turned to Leo. “You want to have a sleepover?”
“Have you ever been to one before?”
She shook her head. “No, I never have. I was never invited over.”
“Then you are in for a right treat because I can say that I throw the best sleepovers. What do you say, Paul? My bedroom, sleepover. I’ll go and rent some movies. Actually, no movies, and I think we could play some games.”
“I like playing games. I’ve never been good at watching movies. I would love to have a sleepover,” she said, smiling. It was a Sunday, and she’d intended to spend the day with Teri. “I’m going with Teri to the diner this morning. I better get ready.”
“No worries,” Paul said, leaning back against the bed. “I don’t mind the show. Get changed in that red shirt I’ve seen you wear.”