by L. Ann Marie
She stops on the cut, the bike and the little laptop. She laughs at the phone, pixie and boot. “You’re right it does mean something. I really like the wave, tiara and the D&C. What’s the ribbon with the S?”
“Sister or Serenity. He made that one too.”
She nods. “Why didn’t you give it to me?”
Jesus. I push my hair back. “Getting the charms to add means something to me. Te Jess has one that Uncle Steve adds to all the time. She still wears it and he bought it for her when they first got together.”
“You didn’t know if it would mean the same thing to me?”
I nod looking from the bracelet to her eyes. “Yeah.”
She leans down and kisses me. “I love it and knowing that it’s important to you makes it that much more special. Thank you.”
She hands it to me and I put it on her. “I guess our anniversary can be the day I gave you my cut.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “That’s why you didn’t give it to me? You weren’t sure of our anniversary?”
That is, in a way, so I nod. Then shrug. She laughs. I get up and throw the box away then look around for anything else to do. “I’m sorry, but men are so funny.”
I look at her. “Men?”
She waves her hand and the charms make a little chime sound. “You know what I mean.”
“No really. Men because you’ve been around so many and you’d know or men meaning me and my stupid fuckin’ gestures?”
She freezes and I realize what I just said. “I’m taking Nekanis for a run.”
“Don’t leave.”
“I’ll be back after we run.” I walk out, hearing her call me. I’m such a fuckin’ idiot. In the mud room, I sit to put sneakers on, but hold my head in my hands. She doesn’t want my name, she doesn’t want to marry me and I gave her that choice. Now I’m taking it out on her because I didn’t want her to take it and she’s got no fuckin’ clue. I take a minute to breathe then go back up the stairs. Fuck. She’s in the middle of the bed crying because I fucked this whole thing up. “I’m sorry baby. I’ve got shit fuckin’ with my head. Walking away isn’t an option and you don’t deserve it.”
She looks up at me. “Is this ‘all in’?” She hiccups with her red eyes and tears still falling.
I nod feeling like a dick for doing this to her. “I shouldn’t have walked away.” I lift her up and sit her on my lap.
“You were coming back?”
What? “Of course, I was just taking Nekanis for a run. Why would you think I wouldn’t? I gave you my cut babe.”
Her arm moves and the charms hit together again. “I don’t know anything biker. What if I say something too stupid and make you leave?”
I smile. “I couldn’t walk out the door after our first fight babe. ‘All in’ means forever. It’s not some weird biker meaning it’s just English meaning actually forever.”
“Oh. I like ‘all in’ even more now. Why were you so mad?”
I move tissues to her and watch as she cleans her face. Her eyes are swollen and red because I was a dick. I owe her the answers to every question she has. She’s watching everything I do so I keep my face blank. “You don’t corner the market on saying or thinking stupid shit babe. I’ve done some pretty stupid things in my life too and Brothers thought of me as the fuck-up of the family. Not my family, but it took me time to realize they didn’t understand how much I could read and see. They had no idea how to help me and I had no idea that they wanted to. I’m not proud of it and I don’t like talking about it.”
Her face scrunches up so cute. “I can’t believe the Club would think of you like that. You save everyone all the time.”
I love her for giving me that and kiss her little red nose. “Now. Before I could only tell them what was coming. Sometimes they’d be pissed if I didn’t tell them things I saw. It’s only been the last two years that I’ve been training and growing into abilities. Since Dakota is here, he explains shit better to them and they understand more now.”
“I’m sorry I laughed. I only meant men are different than women. We think different.”
“Yeah. As soon as I said it I realized what a stupid fuck I was. I’m going to do and say stupid shit, but I’d never walk babe. Every night I’m here and we’ll talk about what a dick I’m being. I never had an old lady or even a girlfriend. This is new for me too.”
She giggles and my heart catches. “I’ll meet you in our bed. I’m sure my damn mouth will lead to more fights, but I’m new at this too. I like that you didn’t leave and love knowing you won’t.”
I kiss her head thanking the ancestors and Mucimi for bringing her here. “Never baby. I love you Dean. You don’t hurt what you love. I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Her charms make a noise as she moves and I think I’m going to love hearing that sound. She turns so she’s straddling me. “I never got to relax you.”
Fuck. “I have a better way to relax. Guarantee we’ll both sleep.”
“Oh yeah?” I nod loving the challenge in her voice.
“It’s called the numbers game. We start with seven then move to sixty-nine.”
She giggles. “I don’t know seven, but I know what sixty-nine is.”
“You’re going to love this.” I raise her up and lay myself down sitting her down on my face.
“I really like the numbers game,” she moans, moving for my mouth.
Chapter Seventeen
Two days
Christian
“If you keep riding my leg I’m fuckin’ the shit out of you.”
“Yes.”
I flip her to her hands and knees and move behind her. My fingers find her wet and I slam in moaning. “Fuckin’ perfect.” My hand wraps her hair and I wish it was longer, but I get enough to hold her head back and slam in again.
“Oh my God. Yes!”
Her yell spurs me on and I picture my hands running down her from the front. “You like my hands on you my beautiful Little Pixie?”
“Yes!” she yells.
Raising us up I let her hair go and flip her. “I need to taste you baby.” I move down, smiling at her grunt of frustration. As soon as my mouth is on her she’s moaning with her hands in my hair.
She’s bucking into me and I hold her tighter. “Oh, please don’t stop.”
As if I would even consider it. I suck her all in shaking my head in a no motion. Stroking her inside gets her purring then I get my scream. “Love my name on your lips when mine are on your sweet pussy.”
I angle her so her head is lower and slam back in knowing my dick is hitting right where she needs it. “Take it Dean.” Seeing her already so close has me moving faster. Raising her higher, she grabs my arms and I like the feel of her nails on me. I get her tit in my mouth and suck hard then bite the underside. Her hand moves pulling my head into her harder. I picture my hand slapping her and she’s bucking into me again. “I love your tit in my mouth beautiful.” Needing deeper I move her out, but picture my mouth on her tits sucking and biting while I’m slamming into her. Watching her head move from side to side, I move towels over the bed. “Baby you’re going to give it all to me.” Fuck, it feels like we’re sucking the air out of the room. “Push babe. Push and it will feel so fuckin’ good.” Stroking her inside she screams raking her nails down my arm and I lose it. We drop to a few inches above the bed and I’m fighting to keep us up and move with the strangle hold she has on my dick. Jesus. Feeling the heat run through me I lower us and empty into her with a roar. Falling forward, I land on my elbows and bury my face in her neck. Holy fuck. “Whatever you’re doing to me don’t ever stop. Don’t ever fuckin’ stop, baby.”
It takes a good fifteen minutes, but I finally feel able to get us cleaned up. My hip is on the wet towel and it feels like shit. My girl doesn’t need to wake up feeling dirty after she gave me all of her. I raise us up and get to the tub. It’s the only thing I can do without the brace on and feeling so drained. She moans when I lower us down. “Love you my beautiful Little Pixie.” I get us c
lean and dry. She’s still out of it, but she stands leaning against me. I lift her moving us back to the bed. Fuck, I move the towels right to the washer. I’m losing it if I can’t even remember to clean the mess we made.
Dressing in shorts and putting my shirt on her. I think about talking to Dakota about healing my leg. This fuckin’ sucks already. I check my Protectors and see the MC already starting to get antsy. I need to sleep for a couple of hours. It’s just hitting four. This will work. I get us comfortable and close my eyes then smile. My girl doesn’t think I’m a fuck-up.
* * *
Nekanis sits in the seat beside me on the chopper. Since I’m not running Ops, Prez keeps me with Princes HS. I don’t need the coverage and told him I’ll just run with whoever they had, but he shut me down saying MC HS won’t get me. What he was thinking was Princes will make sure I come home. I threw him chin liking the way that felt and have had a Princes partner all week. Today my partner is Jessie. He’s got shit swirling in his head when he sits.
Dakota lifts off and waits until we’re out of Princes air then talks to us in Mohegan. I’ve noticed he always switches languages until we’re over the MC. I should ask, but let it go and listen to him tell Jessie about Destiny getting her breakfast yesterday. I shake my head smiling. The fuckin’ kids are unreal. She’s two.
Mucimi is throwing me pictures while they talk. The last is Pres hugging me and I push it away. My job is keeping the people that protect him alive today. Nothing Mucimi sent is new to me so I thank him for the heads up and focus on what’s being said.
When they’re quiet Jessie asks, “What’s going on with Pres?”
I shrug. Prez gave him an update last night at the patio. Since I wasn’t there, but saw the conversation, I tell him what I’ve seen. “He’s letting Ricky run Ops with VP. He knows Ricky reads him and has been staying away.” I don’t tell him Pres was so pissed almost everyone in the room was readers, he threw his chair through the window. I’m pretty sure Tiny gave him that since they talk regularly.
“Baxters are looking at taking over PD.” He watches for my reaction. I was surprised to see it in his head a couple of days ago, but it works out so I just nod. “You’ve seen it?”
“I talked to Kevin yesterday.” He’s surprised, but doesn’t ask everything that brings up for him. “It works out. Their concerns are legitimate and they have the people, with the MC in place, nothing much changes.”
He nods, but he’s trying to figure a way to ask for more detail. “Pres is okay with this?”
“I don’t know. I’ve stayed away. Since he’s letting Protectors cover him on his Security detail I’m not that close. The first time I showed, after Dakota took him to the reservation, he still wanted to shoot me. Since I like living and he’s not under a direct threat I’ve been keeping the lines up making sure no one gets in or close enough to become that threat.”
He’s pissed, but not at me. “That’s been a fuckin’ week. He’s been to Never Never Land almost every fuckin’ day.”
“We need a way to get the Protectors aligned with him again. If you can do anything to help, or you see something I’m not, just tell me. We can’t keep running with this disconnect.”
“You don’t think you’re part of that disconnect?”
What? “I’m here every day doing my part to keep threats away from him. It would be fuckin’ nice if they focused on where the threat was coming from and not just the Ops. I’ve brought it up and I’m shut down. The Officers are still pissed and Ricky is following orders. He says there aren’t many, but keeping the borders safe is the focus. I’m not a fuckin’ miracle worker here. Aside from doing my job what can I do?” Since he’s talked to Baxter’s and Tiny he knows what I’m saying is true.
He thinks about that. I focus on the Protectors and see Ally is happy today—she’s going for a girls’ night out. She’s so cute deciding what she’s going to wear. I jump to Jacob. He’s ready for the day. Quickly making my way through them, I stop on Jeremy. He’s working at the lab, but I can’t get anything going through his head. Aubrey is with Mitch and Carolina. Pulling away from them I see Jessie watching me.
“Vision?”
“No. just checking on everyone. I see through the visions now. They don’t hold me like they used to.”
He doesn’t understand, but I don’t explain. I seem to have to explain shit to everyone and it’s getting fuckin’ old. I’ve got no problem telling Prez where I’m at, but I’ve already told them how the visions work for me now.
“There are many things changing in our great Protector, Jessie. He is just realizing the strength in his abilities and adjusting to keep up with them. Visions are no longer the concern they were because he controls them.”
“You need to stop calling me the ‘great Protector’ and shit. It throws negative on people. Especially the Brothers that don’t know me.”
He jumps to English, thank fuck we’re close. “I did not see that my—Christian. I will adjust my language.” He starts talking to MC Air and I watch the Compound pass under us.
“Brothers still have a problem with you?” Jessie asks and sounds baffled.
My eyes snap to his. “Yeah. They’ve got no clue what’s going on.”
“Jesusfuckin’Christ. My father can fix that.” His look is fierce and I’m reminded of just how deadly Jessie can be.
I unclip my belt and stand. “He’s not in the fixing mood lately. I could change that, but it would be a misuse of my abilities and I’m supposed to protect him—not control him. I don’t give a fuck what he thinks as long as he stays alive.” I open the door and jump out. Nekanis walks beside me.
I hear him and Dakota talking, but push it away and clear my thoughts. Aiyana jumps in my head. ‘The Army Corp of Engineers is stopping the pipeline!’
I smile and stop walking. “That’s great Aiyana!”
‘It is a start. The company refuses to listen, but the Vets have kept everyone safe. I am here if you need me my Warrior Protector.’
“Keep me updated with the pipeline and thanks Aiyana. Thanks for the help. I’ll call if I need you, but it should be an easy day. I’ve got nothing happening until later.” I start walking again.
‘As you will Christian.’
Uncle Danny is at the door smiling. “Great news.” Jesus.
“I can see you coming out is going to be a pain in my fuckin’ ass.” We walk by and he gives Nekanis a pet laughing.
“Always keep them guessing.” He turns to the chopper. “They know the way.” I look and see he’s got news, but I don’t touch it. He follows me to the meeting room. Just as I thumb in he touches my arm. “Thanks for not asking.”
I throw him chin walking in. Mase’s face lights up and I laugh. Fuckin’ kids. “No, she isn’t agreeing, but I’m good with it.”
His smile changes to a frown. “I saw you take her to your room.”
“I’m glad you’re getting better, but that better be as far as you ever go.”
He gets pissed. “I don’t need your shit in my head, but I thought the kids had it covered and she finally said yes.”
I stop and Nekanis stands beside the door. “The kids? They’ve been fuckin’ with her music?” She’s still pissed about it, but I’m smiling. They’re too fuckin’ much.
He nods. “I can’t read you, but I thought you were happy last night.”
I was for the minute I thought she agreed.
“I can’t read him either,” Harley says. The Protectors go around the room saying they can’t read me.
Dakota comes in and everyone is quiet. He threw for them to give him a minute. Ricky and VP walk in and watch everyone wondering what’s happening. “I can read Christian, but only certain areas. As a Prophet, it is not necessary for me to see all his thoughts and plans. With our—Christian, his intent and the ability is my focus. I see his heart and get his reasoning. It is enough for our ancestors, our great Leader, and our cause.” Wow. That’s kind of cool. I throw him chin.
“So, he reads everyone, but no one reads him?”
Jesus. My head falls forward and I wait. No one says a word. You’d think a week would be enough to cool him down.
Dakota puts his hand on my shoulder. I see the Protectors see it and stand straight shrugging his hand off and throwing for him to explain. “He will not read you Pres. He is open to everyone in the room, but not you. His last thought is of you want...”
“Enough! Jesus. We need a way to fix the fuckin’ disconnect here not make it bigger.” I turn and throw chin to Pres. He still deserves respect.
He looks me right in the eye, but I don’t see his anger. “We have a disconnect? I thought things were running well.” That look says he’s confused.
What? I look at Ricky and he’s smiling. ‘He’s clueless.’ He throws and I want to laugh. Harley, Elizabeth and Colt turn their heads away. Rich, Blaze and Blake actually laugh. I sit.
Pres looks at Ricky. “What time are we starting?” He means Ops, but Ricky gets it.
“Sometime around lunch.”
“I’m eating early,” Uncle Danny says and everyone is laughing. It feels good. Jessie says he’s going to lunch with him and I laugh. Fuckin’ Brothers and food.
“Got shit to do,” VP says and everyone shuts up.
Pres walks forward and looks unsure until Ricky steps back throwing him chin. When he steps up I see something has changed. “I need some time to hear and fix this disconnect. I wanted to let you know how proud I am of your ability and effort to keep the Brotherhood and our communities safe. Without the combined efforts of our new Protectors and Ops planning and execution we all wouldn’t be sitting here today. Thank you, Brothers.” He throws chin and walks out.
I’m pulling what I can get from Ricky. He watches me smiling. I peg him a finger and he laughs. “If you’d read him, you’d see for yourself.”
He’s right, but fuck. He still thought I was a fuck-up for putting him in the tree. I push my hair back and think. They go through Ops while I pull from them. Everyone is cautious of the new change, but excited.