“Come sit,” I instruct, pulling out the chair next to me. Quickly making her way over, she drops down in the seat beside me.
“What’s this about, Nate?” Her hands rest on her lap as she nervously shakes her leg.
“It’s about you being here,” I say, sitting up straight and leaning back in the chair.
“Oh, great!” she snaps, her knee tapping more than before.
“No… I mean… of course you are welcome here. I will still offer you the same protection as before, not that I think you’ll need it now. But I wanted you to know that you are free to leave. You decide this isn’t the life for you and I’ll support your decision to leave.”
“I have nowhere to go. I like it here with you and the rest of the guys. I have a good feeling about being here, Nate. Especially since your father and Silver left.”
I smile and shrug my shoulders. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You have become a good, loyal member of this club, Emily. And I know I can trust you. Tara is going to need your help. This whole MC lifestyle can be rocky. I think you two could really help each other.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s letting herself in for, does she?”
“No idea,” I say, clasping my hands together and leaning on them. “I’m fucking terrified that the minute she realizes what a car crash I am, and exactly what it takes to be an old lady, that she’ll panic and run.”
Leaning forward, she grabs my clasped hands, pulling them away from my face. “No way,” she blurts out. “That girl has got it bad. Doesn’t look like the kinda chick to bail.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Tara
I’m in the car and I can’t help but clutch onto my bag of belongings. I swallow the lump of nerves that have formed in my throat.
This is happening.
This is really happening.
We drive down the familiar road, Brax driving and me in the passenger seat. The whole ride has been silent. Because I’m utterly lost for words. I’m not sure if it’s the fear of knowing that Jeffries is out there on the rampage, or the fear of not knowing what is waiting for me at the club.
Pulling up, we stop just outside a huge gate that now blocks the entrance.
“Well, this looks different,” I say, finally breaking the silence.
“Must be part of the extra security Nate asked me to set up for him. Remember, you did the same for me?”
“So I did,” I reply with a smile. But one that soon fades.
“Hey,” he says, squeezing my knee gently. “I have my men looking for them. If they are anywhere near here, they’ll be found.”
“But what if they’re not, huh? I’m going to be looking over my shoulder until they are found. What if they get to me before you get to them?”
“Ain’t happening,” he replies casually. “We’ll have them before the end of the week. I have my best men on this.”
The gates slowly open and we drive through, parking in the space just in front of the huge clubhouse. My stomach knots at the thought that the exact place where I was abused will now be my home. I blink hard, clearing the awful memories from my mind. I refuse to be that girl. The victim. The girl whose life is forever affected by what one man did to me.
I’m stronger than that.
Reaching for the handle, I can’t help but notice the amount of workmen on the site.
“He’s taking this seriously.” Brax nods with approval as he strolls toward the entrance, like he can no longer wait. I throw my arms in the air, grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
“Yeah, thanks a lot,” I mutter as I watch him walk into the distance.
“Let me take that for you.” A voice startles me, and I let out a shriek.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” He holds up his hands, backing away from me in surrender.
“You startled me, that’s all,” I try explaining, laughing a little, dropping my huge duffel bag to the ground.
“Shall I take that for you?” he asks, pointing to the bag.
“Thank you,” I say with a smile, offering him my hand. I focus in on his cut, noticing the prospect patch sewn to the front. “Looks like I’m not the only new one around here.”
“I’m Ozzie,” he replies, taking my hand and shaking.
“It’s nice to meet you. How are you finding it?” We walk toward the entrance, Ozzie beside me with my bag in his hand.
“Good,” he says with a nod of his head.
“Tara,” Nate calls me. As soon as I hear his gravelly voice, the butterflies flip over and over in my stomach. He barrels toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me from the floor. He turns on the spot, his lips crashing against mine. My lips tingle with excitement and my heart flutters to life. And in this moment, all the doubt about being here, with him, suddenly disappears. We are surrounded by cheers and the sound of applause.
Slowly, he stops spinning and my feet are back on the ground. “Welcome to the club, Tara.” He smiles in a way which is different from every other time I’ve seen him smile. His eyes light up, the smile reaching from ear to ear, and I see the happiness on his face. Overwhelmed with emotion, a single tear falls over my cheek. With a swipe of his thumb, he removes the tear, leaning in and pressing his nose to mine.
“Can’t believe it, right?”
“I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long. Of that single moment where we could be together and tell the whole world.” I shudder, goose pimples covering my skin. “It’s all so surreal.”
“I know,” he whispers. “Come inside, I think you have a bunch of outlaws waiting to meet you.” He reaches down, intertwining his fingers with mine and holding my hand so tightly, like he’s never letting go.
I don’t ever want him to let me go.
Glancing up at him, I can’t wrap my head around what is happening. It’s all happened so fast.
Following him inside, he leads me down the hall and into the main clubhouse room, where the other guys follow us. I glance over to Brax, leaning against the bar, beer in hand. He looks at us, his chest pushed out and a shit-eating grin on his face. Lifting the beer in his hand, he shouts, “To Tara and Nate.”
Leaning against Nate’s arm, I blush a little as I look around at the scary-looking dudes toasting us.
Nate clears his throat in an attempt to get everyone’s attention. “Guys, please make Tara welcome. And there is only one thing you guys gotta remember. This one right here,” he squeezes my shoulder as he pulls me tightly against his side, “she’s the most valuable member of this club and we protect her with our lives. You know my father and Silver ran outta here like the fucking cowards they really are. We have to keep this place on lockdown. No one comes in or out without my say so.”
They all nod, shouting out words of agreement, before one by one coming over and introducing themselves.
After a short while, Nate leans into me, his warm breath against my ear. “Come on, baby,” he says giving my hand a tug and nodding his head in the direction of the door. I pause, studying him for a second. “I can’t wait to get you alone.” The warmth of his breath causes the hair on my neck to stand on end as his hand strokes down the length of my back.
Despite my hesitation, I allow him to guide me out of the room, through the hall and up the stairs. I swallow the bile that rises at the memory of fleeing this place, not that long ago. I shake my head, mentally trying to get a handle on the emotion I feel every time I think about what happened, and the secrets I keep from the man that owns my heart.
“The extra security. You think it’s necessary?”
“Honestly?” He pauses, nodding his head lightly. “Yeah, we need it now more than ever.”
“You think he’ll come back?” I gasp as we come to a stop outside a bedroom door. Glancing to the end of the hallway, I gulp at the sight of the door that holds vivid memories. I look at the side of the door we stand in front of, noticing my bag on the floor.
“I’m not sure. If he’s as smart as he says he is, he’ll stay clear of here. There’s more than one bullet with his goddamn name on it.”
Pulling out a key, I watch as Nate opens the door and steps aside, indicating for me to walk in. Grabbing my bag, he follows me inside, closing the door.
“Welcome home,” he says, dropping the bag to the floor and wrapping his arms around my waist from behind me. I cover my hands over his. His strong arms keeping me held against him. He swipes my hair from my neck, his lips kissing and sucking at my skin. Sliding his hand down further he cups my sex as he continues to assault my neck.
“Fuck, I want you so bad.”
Twisting in his hold, I lift my head and our lips crash together.
It’s hot, messy, and full of desire. Our tongues work together and the fire grows deep inside of me.
“This is the start of our future,” he murmurs as he slows the kiss. “You. Here with me.” I search his eyes and all I see is sincerity.
He quickly slides the dress I’m wearing over my shoulders allowing it to drop and pool around my feet on the floor.
“You’re fucking hot,” he says blowing out a breath as his eyes rake over my body. I drop my eyes from his, embarrassed by his admiration for my body. I work my hands into his hair. The usually tied-back hair is down and slicked back. He drops his head, working against my breast, pulling down the cup and taking my hardened bud into his warm mouth. I moan a little at the intensity, his hands falling lower as he tugs on the small amount of material between my legs. Moving me backward, we stumble until my back meets the wall. Pulling my panties to one side, he allows himself access to my sex, driving between my wet folds. Flicking and touching my sweet spot, I grind down, working against his fingers while he licks and nips my breast. I reach down, slowly lowering the zipper on his jeans, pushing them down far enough to see his huge, straining erection.
“My cock hurts so much from wanting you,” he growls and I wrap my hand around his shaft slowly rubbing up and down. A low moan escapes him, and I know he wants more. I feel his dick swell in my hand. His free hand covers mine, squeezing and causing mine to move faster. Nate pulls back pushing his jeans and boxers further down his thighs before kicking them off completely. He removes his fingers from me, sliding off his cut and shirt, before reaching for my ass and lifting me from the ground. His cock pressing at my entrance. He turns, stepping toward the bed before dropping me down.
I giggle a little, a small smile forming on my lips. I’m happier than I’d ever thought possible.
“Fuck, that’s a good look on you.” He smirks, but it soon fades and his face goes tight. “I will keep you safe,” he murmurs, his jaw tightening as his eyes penetrate mine. “I can’t lose you… this feeling. Fuck, I’ll die before I ever let anything happen to you.”
“You really think I can do this? Here, with you. As your old lady. I’m scared. I don’t know what is expected of me...”
He pulls back, narrowing his eyes on me. “This is my club now. My rules and you very much fall under the protection of me and the club. Those men out there trusted the responsibility of this club to me. This is who I am.”
“Hey,” I say, placing one hand on either of his cheeks. “I accept this as who you are. But it doesn’t make being here any easier. I don’t know this life. But I’ll try, Nate. For you, I’ll make this work.”
His eyebrows hike and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “You’re mine, Tara. Your place is here by my side. It always has been. I just had to make it happen.”
My hand wanders, stroking over his hair and drawing his lips to mine. Closing my eyes, I press my lips against his, knowing above all else, without any element of doubt that I love this man. This sexy-as-hell biker. Who he is and where he comes from doesn’t matter. I’d still feel the same.
Reaching for the clasp on my bra, he quickly flicks it open. Freeing me from its confines, he exposes my breasts, replacing it with his hands. Dropping his head, his mouth finds my sensitive nipple, his tongue wrapping around it. He nips and sucks. Hard. It causes me to take in a sharp breath as the wetness grows between my legs. A rush of heat sweeps through my body and my sex pulsates, needing and wanting to feel him inside of me. I’m so aroused, my breathing becomes erratic, almost a pant. Nate’s eyes meet mine as he moves to my other breast, sucking and teasing, all the while our eyes are locked. His hand trails over the skin on my stomach and I instantly part my legs giving him access to the place where the ache is strongest. I arch my back as he enters me with his fingers while teasing my breast with his tongue. His thumb rubs in a circular motion flicking over and over my clit.
“Shit, I need to come,” I cry out in ecstasy.
“Not yet, baby. I’m gonna fuck you, I need to feel your pussy strangling my cock.”
My eyes meet his, they're dark and full of lust. “I need to feel you,” I say breathlessly as I try to hold back the pending orgasm I feel tightening like a knot in my stomach. Nate’s hand goes to his dick, palming it back and forth and all the while his gaze is locked on me. Repositioning himself, he tugs on my thigh, dragging me to the edge of the bed. Spreading my labia, he begins sliding the head of his cock up and down, hitting my clit over and over, then back down to my soaked entrance.
Nate continues, again, and then some more. I jerk up my hips, the need to have him inside of me almost too much to bear. I glare at him and my body shudders with need.
“Please,” I croak, pushing toward him. My pleading only causes the smirk to grow and I know he’s enjoying watching me beg for his cock.
“Say it,” he growls. “Tell me you want my cock.” He flicks the tip against my clit one more time and I drop my head back, but he leans over, his face coming into focus.
“I want you inside me. So bad,” I whisper.
With a nod, he moves the head of his cock to my entrance. My thighs tense with anticipation as he slides his hands under my ass, jerking me toward him. I whimper as he plunges inside me, his eyes hooded as he pushes deeper, a moan escaping me as the pleasure heightens with the movement.
“Fuck,” he moans. “So fucking tight, baby.”
His head hangs over me, long strands of hair fall over his face. Each movement is harder and deeper than the last. My eyes focus on his beautiful, art-covered body, so defined and toned as he finds his rhythm. Thrusting inside of me, he fills me completely as I move in time to his rhythm.
My insides tighten a little more with every thrust. The more I tighten, the more my sex strangles his cock, fitting so perfectly around him.
Because, together, despite our differences, we fit.
Plunging into me, I know he feels how close I am. “Fuck. I’m not gonna hold on, baby,” he whispers through labored breaths. Slowing down, he almost withdraws before plunging into me hard, and I know he feels how close I am.
“Oh, God,” I cry out as my sex starts to pulsate wildly, and I come apart. His hand lands heavy on my hip, his nail digging in as he picks up the tempo.
“Fuck,” he growls with one deep, final thrust before I feel him swell inside me. Before I can react, he lowers himself, pressing his lips softly against mine. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do this? Be here with you in my arms. Letting the world know you’re mine and knowing that no one can fucking change that?” His eyes bore into mine as they fill with happy tears. Tenderness washes over his face as he falls beside me on the bed. He places his hand on the side of my face, guiding me until we are face-to-face. He stares at me for a moment, drinking me in, while his finger gently caresses the side of my face. I close my eyes, taking in the contentment of this moment.
Tara
The last two weeks have flown by, most of it spent trying to adjust to my new lifestyle and getting the clubhouse in order, making it feel more like a home. Apart from the room Nate calls church, I’ve taken on making sure the place has been freshened up. There's only one room I’ve yet to step foot in.
Jeffries’ bedroom.
The
room where he laid his hands on me.
I just can’t bring myself to do anything in there.
“Hey.” Nate places a gentle hand against the back of my head, kissing the top lightly. “You looked deep in thought there for a moment.”
“I was,” I say, looking up at him. The smile on his face warms my heart. He narrows his eyes, squinting at me. “Anything I need to know?”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head, wafting my hand in dismissal.
“I’ve been thinking,” he says dropping down on the bed beside me. “The room at the end of the hall, my father’s old room. I think we should move in there.”
“No,” I blurt out. “I like this room,” I continue, my voice a little softer.
“It’s bigger though, baby,” he adds.
“I’m getting the designers to rework the room, but I like it here,” I say, grabbing his chin and planting a fleeting kiss on his lips. “This room reminds me of us, and our first night here together. I don’t want to be in his room.”
He nods.
“Any luck on finding him?” I ask, hoping that they have managed to finally locate the bastard.
Pressing his lips together, his eyes fall to the floor. “Nothing.” He lets out a huge breath. “We will find him, don’t worry about that.”
Shooting him a sad smile, I step up from the bed, grabbing my purse.
“Hey.” He grabs my wrist pulling me back toward him. I stand between his open legs, my hands resting on his shoulders. “Where ya going?”
“Work,” I scoff. “I still gotta work, Nate.”
“Hmmm…” he squeezes my ass tightly, “I have a little somethin’ you could work on.” His eyes trail down to his straining cock in his jeans and I let out a little giggle.
“I gotta go, baby,” I say, tearing myself away from his hold, when all I really want to do is stay here in his arms and fall back into bed with him.
“Let me take you. I have some spare time before I finish up in the studio.”
In love and ruins Page 24