by Darby Briar
Taz steps into my path. His jaw is tight, his eyes are black and throwing lethal intent, and he’s biting down on the toothpick in his mouth. He’s also flexing his muscles like he’s about to enter the ring and go a few rounds with somebody.
Fear slithers down my spine. Oh fuck, she gave him the slip. “Where is she?” I grind my molars and look down and into the hallway.
“Had to pull Lo out of Bodie’s bed not two goddamn minutes ago. Fucker’s trying to get caught.”
Fuck. A relieved breath whooshes out of me. He damn near gave me a fucking heart attack. “I’ll talk to him.” Taz gives me a curt nod but doesn’t looked pleased in the slightest.
Griz slaps me on the back. “The girls are all locked in the room. No one’s gettin’ in or out.”
The implications of what he said sinks in. “You locked Doll up?” I take one step toward the hallway.
Griz coughs and speaks up behind me. “Doll?”
My jaw tightens. “Pumpkin.”
“Oh . . . well . . . no. Didn’t see the need to. She’s learned her lesson about breakin’ the rules last night whether she broke them or not. And she’s not officially a clubpiece yet. Not jumpin’ from bed to bed yet, so the old ladies should have no beef with her, yet.”
My blood heats. I don’t know which part of his comment makes me want to punch him in his smug face more.
He holds his hands up as I glare at him. “Just tellin’ it how it is, brotha.”
“Yeah . . . well . . . don’t for once.”
Upstairs, I stall at Dozer’s door. It’s deathly silent behind it. I raise my hand to knock, but falter before my knuckles hit the wood. She could be sleeping. In fact, with all that happened last night and everything she’s done to prepare for the party, I wouldn’t doubt if she was.
At least that’s what I tell myself so I don’t have to man up and face her right now. So I don’t have to come to terms with what I’ve done and pay the price for it, which by her reaction this morning is exactly what she’s going to make me do.
In my room, I change back into my regular clothes and head back downstairs.
“I see Donut’s still alive,” Nick teases as we watch the kids play in the backyard. Nick’s a Barbie lookalike, tall, with blondish-gray hair and gray-blue eyes. She’s slim and sexy for an older woman. But you can tell the life’s taken its toll on her by the hard lines around her eyes and mouth.
“Were you really worried?” I ask.
“Considering the last time he visited the clubhouse, he came home drunker than a preacher’s son on Sunday, yeah.”
“That wasn’t me. That was every bit your old man.”
She laughs, “True. God, bless that bastard.” Then she spares me a glance and asks, “So what happened to you? You have a run-in with a Mack truck?”
I snort. “More like a bulldozer.”
She raises an eyebrow as she quickly looks up at me. “Ethan did that to you? And you’re not gonna tell me why, are you?”
“Nope.”
She eyes me for a minute. “I’ve been hearin’ a lot of things about this new clubpiece. Does it have anything to do with her?”
I watch the kids and let the question hang out there.
Nick knows me well enough to know if I don’t want to talk about it, she’s not getting anything out of me. She sighs and changes the subject. But not to a better one. “You look tired. Too many women keepin’ you up at night now that you’re sittin’ at the head of the table?”
“No more than usual.” I rub my hand over my head. My turn. “How’s Cap?”
She snorts at my subtlety. “Same. We just came from there. We’ll wait until Edge has a chance to see him, then the doctors will do what they can. He’s either gonna pull through or . . . take his final ride. I’ve done all I can do for him.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into my side. “I know you have. You’ve done good. He’s tough, Nick. He’ll pull through.”
She pats my chest and pulls away. “Yeah? He fuckin’ better. Then I’m gonna shoot his ass for puttin’ me through this.”
The crazy thing is . . . she really means that. If Cap makes it, he’s gonna have hell to pay for cheating and almost dying on her. I saw how scared she was at the hospital when they brought him in. I saw how much it stung when the cops told her he wasn’t alone, and who the woman with him was. Becca wasn’t just a clubpiece. She’s was Cap’s side piece. His girlfriend. I think at that point, Nick wanted to turn her back on him, let Cap lay in the bed he’d made. But she didn’t. Couldn’t.
Maybe it was for Taffy and Dozer. Or us. Cap’s our father in a way. At least, he is to a lot of the guys, as well as our brother. And that makes Nick the queen of this band of misfits. Together we’re whole.
Nick might not be the nicest woman in the world, but I respect the shit out of her for supporting Cap and the club for all these years. I respect her even more now for putting her hurt aside and giving Cap the best care she can, and giving him a chance to live. One he probably doesn’t deserve.
“Who do I thank for orderin’ the food?” she asks.
The back door shuts and we turn. Lil’ Bird walks toward us, her usually confident swagger missing. “Sorry I’m late. One of our bartenders no showed—”
“Oh, I didn’t know you were comin’. No worries. You weren’t missed,” Nick interrupts her. It sounds both bitchy and casual. Exactly as it was meant to sound.
Lil’ pauses and her eyes dart to mine. Her face flushes with color, something I’ve never seen happen to her before.
Looks like Nick’s found herself a new punching bag. Fuck. Not good.
Lil’ has never had a problem putting a bitch in her place. But this is different. To get accepted by the old ladies, she needs Nick’s vote of approval. And I don’t doubt Lil’ Bird’s getting an extra dose of bitch from Nick because she’s been with Cap, and most of the other brothers.
“Pumpkin,” I say to distract Nick. “That’s who cleaned and made the treats.”
“Made them? The new house mouse?”
Lil’ wrings her hands. “Yes. S-She’s a-a friend of mine. I’ve been wantin’ her to meet Bethany. Is she here?” Lil’ looks around and then frowns. “Bethany’s been looking for a new sitter for Medda, and Pumpkin’s good with kids. She’s a great cook too. She taught me how to make a few quick dinners—”
“Lil’. God, girl. Take a breath,” Nick chastises her.
“Sorry,” Lil’ mutters. A defeated look flashes over her features. She wanders away and finds Kendra.
“Nick,” I warn under my breath.
“What?” she asks innocently.
“How long you gonna torture her?”
She shrugs. “Just a little while longer.” She pops her chin toward the hallway. “So this girl . . . Pumpkin . . . I hear Dozer’s pretty fond of her. Why don’t you go get her? I’d like to meet her.”
A heavy feeling hits the bottom of my stomach. “Nah, Nick, not a good idea.”
“Nonsense. I’d like to meet the girl who’s responsible for all this.” She gestures toward the food. “Looks like we might need her help plannin’ the party is all.”
“Nick.”
“What? We’re not gonna scratch her eyes out. Especially, since she’s hands off, right? So no reason we can’t all be civil. Plus maybe before you guys ruin her, we can recruit her over to our side.”
I pull in a deep breath. “You’ll behave?”
She laughs. “We’ll behave.”
This could go two ways. Bad. Or very, very bad. Pumpkin is guaranteed to be the boys’ new favorite toy if she becomes a clubpiece. Not that she will, because, after all, we have a deal. But the old ladies don’t know that. And seeing what their men are looking at day in and day out while they’re here and not at home, is only going to incite more fear and jealously in them. More than they already deal with on a daily basis. This is the Old Lady drama I wanted to avoid today.
But if I know Nick like I do, she�
�s not going to take no for an answer.
I think about Nick talkin’ to Doll the way she just did to Lil’ and my body hardens. Protectiveness surges through me. If Nick senses Doll’s weak, she’ll try to break her. Doll already wants to leave. The last thing she needs is someone else treating her like shit, putting her down, and telling her she doesn’t belong here.
I’ve done enough of that already.
We can only see the world and the people in it more clearly, when we let our past and prejudices fall away.
MAVERICK
As I near Dozer’s door, I hear something that makes my footsteps falter and a heavy feeling unfurl in my stomach. The door’s slightly ajar. I edge it open as I enter the room, careful not to make a sound.
Doll’s standing against the far wall. Her hand pressed to the windowpane as she peers out. I take silent steps until I have a better view of her profile.
The sunshine coming through the window highlights her sandy freckles, brightens her blue-green eyes, which are wide with excitement and makes her red hair look like a waterfall of fire over her shoulders. Her rosy, pink lips are parted and every so often, the sound that drew me in here escapes from them. It’s a breathy laugh, warm, genuine and it’s accompanied by a small smile.
Witnessing both sends a trickle of warmth through my chest.
She’s as colorful as a rainbow in spring, and seeing her like this makes me feel like I’ve been stuck in a long, cold, hard winter for too long.
A thought strikes me . . . This is what she enjoys? What makes her laugh? Kids playing? So much so, that she’s pressed against the window, wishing she were outside with them. Not the act of a junkie. Or a girl simply here for a good time. Or even someone who’s only looking out for herself.
Guilt funnels through me. At every turn, she’s proven she doesn’t fit the mold I crafted her in and it guts me to know I’ve done nothing but make her days here hell. I’ve accused her of everything under the sun. Insulted her. Degraded her. Treated her like a clubpiece and the club’s personal slave.
My slave.
If that wasn’t enough, I’ve attacked her, drawn her blood, and left my permanent mark on her skin. Something I can’t take back no matter how much I want to.
The ache in my chest burns to an unbearable degree.
Doll rises to her tiptoes and leans forward as if she’s trying to get a better look at something. But a moment later, she lets out a disappointed sigh and drops back to the balls of her feet. She turns. At the sight of me, she gasps and clasps her hand over her heart. “How long have you been standing there?”
Studying her stricken face, I shrug. “A while.”
Her cheeks pinken as she frowns. Her little fist curls against her sternum. “Did you come to make sure Taz followed your orders?”
Thank God I kept my briefs on when I changed, because her feistiness sends all my blood rushing south. I’m going to need all the help I can get keeping my erection in check if this is how she’s going to be.
“I’m guessing he didn’t need to tie you up?”
“No.” She glares at me. “I thought you wanted me to leave?”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Her gorgeous eyes fire with anger. “You’ve changed your mind? Because you like having a stray cat to kick around or cut up when the mood strikes you?”
Her words hit home as they were intended to. My eyes run over her flushed face, her cheekbones, her pert nose, and chin. Now I see all the differences between her and my ex, not the similarities. Doll is soft, warm, and full of life. Dana was hard and cold—like Griz said—she was fighting to hold off the reaper. One rose was black, wilted, and sick. The other is vibrant, healthy, red, and hasn’t even fully bloomed yet.
“At first I couldn’t help but see Dana every time I looked at you. That’s not a problem anymore.” My gaze continues down her slim neck and I wince when I see the small flesh-colored bandage, the one that tells me Doc’s been here to see her.
She snaps her fingers and draws my attention back to her face. Scowling, she asks, “What’s changed?”
Me . . .
I rub my hand over my mouth and then meet her penetrating stare. “You’re not the only one reeling from last night. Believe it or not, I don’t go around hurting women, Doll.” Especially not the ones I respect and am attracted to.
When she doesn’t say anything, I go on. “I know I’ve been a complete asshole, but that stops today. I’m done lettin’ the past cloud my judgment when it comes to you.”
“What about the next time you hear something or have a few drinks and—”
“Not even then.”
“I don’t believe you, Luce.”
The name hits the air and charges it somehow. Impulse takes over and I take rapid strides to eliminate the distance between us. I can’t stand it, being this far from her when she’s throwing that temper around like it’s a whip.
Doll’s breath catches. She backs away.
I’m all primal need as I stalk her. My attempt to have tact and patience is long forgotten.
She nearly trips over her shoes on the floor, but straightens. After sweeping her hair from her eyes, her gaze locks with mine. Her eyes spark with panic, but there’s heat there too. She wants me. Maybe she doesn’t want to want me, but she does all the same.
The knowledge that this undeniable attraction flows both ways makes the last of my control crumble and fall away. This is how it was meant to be the day we met. The day I pinned her against the wall and felt the proof of her reaction to me between her legs. The day she sunk her claws into me and left an impression on me. An impression I haven’t been able to shake.
I should have kissed her then. God knows I wanted to.
She retreats until her back hits the wall behind her. As I close in, she presses her small hands to my chest.
I smirk because does she honestly think that’s going to stop me? She weighs nothing. I could have her over my shoulder and in my room, thrown on my bed and under me in a matter of seconds. I’d have her in a fog in no time. Be balls deep before she could even utter a word. The visual has my cock throbbing. Being inside her would be the sweetest kind of heaven.
“Mav, what are you doing?”
I flash her my devilish grin, one I haven’t used in years. “If you don’t want me to touch you, tell me to stop.”
Unable to contain my own desperation for her, I grab her hands and pin them to the wall beside her head. I stand so close, our body heat bounces off one another. The space in between hot enough to heat a kiln. Her chest rises and falls rapidly. She closes her eyes and turns her head. After raking in a shuddering breath, her voice shakes as she whispers, “Please stop.”
But there’s lust laced through those two words and in the next moment, she licks her lip.
I press my body flush with hers. She bites back a moan. I skim my nose over her ear. “Nah, Doll. Say it like you mean it. If you can honestly tell me you don’t want this, I’ll stop.”
She opens her mouth, but then closes it. Tries again only to swallow thickly. She can’t do it.
Her perfect tits are hitting the top of my abs. My dick is straining against her stomach and her scent surrounds me. She smells like flowers and I need to know if she tastes like them too.
Her breasts are dotted with cinnamon spots. Spots I’m dying to trace and explore with my mouth, but not yet. Instead, I brush my lips over her ear and watch her shiver. Then I trail them softly to her neck and further to her collarbone.
Goosebumps break out all over her skin and she whimpers.
I say gruffly, “Even when looking at you made the pain more real, and had all the memories slammin’ into me, tearin’ me apart, I wanted you. You shifted my world from the moment you walked in to it.”
Her body melts against mine and within seconds she’s putty waiting to be molded any way I need her. I grind my erection into her and she moans. I take her submission as the invitation it is and work my way back up to her ear. “I don�
�t want to hurt you again, Doll. Hurting you is startin’ to hurt me and I’d rather make you feel good. Make us both feel good. Tell me you want me to.”
I back away for a minute and her body follows mine, seeking it out.
“Tell me,” I say again.
Her eyes flitter open. “I can’t,” she says so quietly I almost don’t hear it.
“You can’t do this or you can’t say it?”
She peers up at me through lust-ridden eyes and bites her lip. Testing my theory, I slowly pull her arms from the wall and wrap them around my neck. She blushes red but willingly complies and holds on to me. With my hands now free, I slide them down her hips and to the ass I’ve admired from afar for days. I pick her up and back her against the wall again. A gush of air leaves her lips. I almost slam my mouth over hers to eat it up but I want to savor every single second of this moment.
Instead, I inch forward and appreciate her rapid pulse, her heavy breathing, the kiss of her breath stroking my lips right before I seal my mouth to hers.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think her lips were petals. They’re velvety soft and smooth. Her tongue is tentative and shy at first, but as I explore her mouth and stroke it to life, she responds and makes these small needy sounds that drive me fucking insane. Little by little, I lose control and deepen the kiss, taking everything I need.
This feeling is a high I’ve never known. A heady bliss that has escaped me until now. And it has every one of my nerve ends tingling.
I’ve dreamed about her hands on my skin. I’ve imagined her nails sinking into my back and her lips on mine, and I finally fucking have my wish. Even her legs, which I’ve been obsessed with, are now wrapped around my waist. But I’m not taking her here. In Dozer’s room. On his bed. I’m taking her for the first time where she belongs. In mine.
“I need you in my bed, Doll,” I tell her before I sweep my tongue over her bottom lip. But midway her mouth loses some of it softness.
Her entire body turns tense. Her arms pull away. “Stop.” She’s pushes on my chest and fights to get free of me so I relax my hold. When she still scrambles in my arms, I set her down.