Amazing. Juanita glanced at Watcher over her shoulder, and the expression of joy faltered on her face at whatever she saw on his. He gave her a grin, tipping his chin up, trying to show her the desire she’d roused in him hadn’t flagged. Wasn’t gone. I could take her again, now, and the moment the idea crossed his mind, his cock began to uncoil and fatten. Trying to capture her scent, he sucked a deep breath, and then watched as heat rose in her eyes, matching his. Need her. Without thinking, without giving a damn who else was in the room, he stood, holding out his hand and—fuck him—she came to him without question. He waited until her palm rested against his, joy threading through his heart as her fingers laced between his knuckles and he led her from the room.
As soon as the bedroom door closed behind them, Watcher turned and lifted her, pressed her against the wall and pushed between her thighs until her legs fell open and wrapped around his hips. He rocked against her, the pressure and heat feeling unbelievably good, his dick so sensitive he could feel the seams in their jeans creasing his skin. He kissed her hard until they were both panting for air, desperate for more. “Show me.” He breathed the words, lips grazing across her jaw. “God, Juanita, show me what you want,” he whispered, mouth to her throat.
Her fingers tangled in his hair, and her lips lightly brushed his ear when she said, “Anything.” With thoughts of scenes he’d witnessed, exaggerated emotions of porn, knowledge of what the women he’d had his hands on liked, he walked to the bed, kissing her, working her mouth over until she moaned sweetly. Stretching them out on the mattress, one hand threaded underneath her shirt, he found and cupped her breast, fingers slipping into her bra and tweaking her nipple. “God,” he breathed, as mouth to her neck, he nibbled and sucked his way down, then back up, kissing her hard again.
One hand flattened between her legs, he pushed against her core, pressing hard with his thumb, feeling her arch up into his hold. Make her feel good. Rubbing and stroking, Watcher fondled her, knew it was good from the tension that built in her limbs as she pressed her thighs together. “Want you to come, honey.” Mouth to hers, he took in every panted breath, heard and felt the high, keening whine as it built in her chest. He pushed his hand into her pants, happy for once they were baggy and not form fitting. They gave him room to maneuver, and he took advantage, curling his fingers into and underneath her panties, slipping through the wetness he found there. Rolling and sliding, he delicately stroked across her clit, dipping a finger inside her, listening with pride when the sounds from her mouth grew louder as he pushed deep. A second finger and she twisted her head, pressing into his neck, burying her face against him, arms folded around him, holding tight. “For me, Juanita. Come for me.”
He took his cues from her, matching his careful thrusting to her hips lifting into his touch. Timed everything with his mouth on her neck, on her cheek, back to her shoulder through her shirt, biting and grazing her with his teeth. Fingers inside her, curling and twisting, thumb pressing and circling on her clit. Press and circle, press hard, circle again. He felt her pussy clamp down on his fingers, knowing she was climbing to inescapable heights when she whined again, every muscle in her body tightening. His name escaping her mouth on a short-lived wail, “Watcher,” cut off when she burrowed under his beard, face pressed tightly to his neck while she came hard on his fingers.
“So beautiful, honey. Everything you do.” He dropped a kiss on the side of her head, hearing her breathing fast and hard. “Make me feel like I know what I’m doing.” Cupping his palm over her sex, he cradled her into his side. “I’ve never asked for easy, never expected to find perfection. God—” He kissed her again, feeling her arms squeeze him. “—top of the world. You make this all effortless, and I’m one hell of a lucky guy.”
***
“Time to roll,” he told Spider, looking away as his brother walked to the rest of the men, passing the message. Seated on his bike, Watcher kept his eyes on Juanita where she stood next to Bethy, sides of their heads pressed together, Bethy’s mouth moving as she spoke quietly into Juanita’s ear. They stood like that for another minute, arms wrapped tightly around the other. The moment was broken when Mason called to his sister, pulling her away and into his arms. Juanita’s eyes found Watcher’s, and when he held out his hand, she came to him without hesitation, giving him her trust as she had from the beginning.
He twisted his wrist, holding her steady as she swung her leg across the bike behind him. Snuggling up tight against him, his cock hardened. Fucking hell, he thought, feeling the softness of her breasts pressing into his back. He heard a noise and looked up, seeing Bones watching from across the parking lot. They’d be rolling together for a while, the clubs all wanting to have miles of bonding to build on for future encounters, and this gave them an opportunity to ride through neutral territory, none of them owning any part of this countryside. As he stared, Bones lips curled into a devilish grin, and he nodded then fucking winked, apparently approving where Watcher’s relationship with Juanita had gone.
Twenty minutes later, Watcher had settled the speeding bike into place behind Mason, Juanita’s arms wrapped tight around his middle, going there after she’d finished waving good-bye to Bethy and Ty. Cheek to his back, she curled deeper into him, and he sighed in contentment. If Darrie knew what his death bought, he’d be happy, Watcher thought, knowing it for truth. Darrie’d tried as hard as Deke to get Watcher laid, and he’d never given up on the attempts. One of his brother’s hardest burdens was bearing the weight of everything that happened to their little family through the years, and the toll of what happened to Tabby had torn through both of them, wearing them down.
Feeling the sweetness pressed up against him, Watcher found he’d never been happier to disappoint his brother. Holding out hadn’t been a conscious decision to wait for a woman he could love, but it didn’t suck knowing she’d been his first. Special, and good, and everything he could have hoped for.
***
“I'll be right here,” Watcher murmured into Juanita’s neck as he glided deep and stayed rooted, feeling the last tight pulses of her climax slowly decreasing. Filled again with the profound awe he felt every time she gave herself to him, he touched her reverently, palm stroking up her side, thumb brushing across the bottom swell of her breast. “Promise.”
Her unease was palpable, defeating his attempts to soothe her fears. Muscles still tense, arms wrapped around him, she shivered. “What if they don't like me?” There was a Soldiers’ party planned for the following night. It was their memorial for Darrie, and meant a dozen different clubs from the region were invited. Juanita had been worried since he’d mentioned it back when they were leaving Nashville. Not about the strangers, or at least he didn't think they factored in her anxiety. It was about the men he called brother and their women.
“They're going to love you, honey.” He pulled out slowly, then pushed back deep, feeling himself beginning to soften but wanting a few more minutes of closeness. “You got nary a thing to worry about.”
“Things are never that easy,” she whispered.
His return whisper was just as soft. “Easy as I can make it, rest of your life. Promise.” This time, when she shivered, it was for a different reason as he pulled out and slowly traveled down her body until his chin rested right above her pussy. “Easy as I can make you come right now,” he whispered, moving to drag his tongue across her lips, flicking across her clit. “Easy as this.”
The next morning, she darted around the house, a house that was empty and echoing without Darrie’s presence, but she helped make it less lonely. Room-by-room she went, cleaning and straightening, tidying things away. Then she disappeared, and after twenty minutes of silence, Watcher went looking for her, finding her in the bathroom. From the doorway he watched her for a moment as she appeared to study her reflection, making minute adjustments to her hair. When the tears began trailing down her cheeks, he realized she was attempting to hide the brand on her neck.
“Honey,” he called softl
y, hating how she still cowered momentarily, “no one will say a thing to you about what went before. I get that what you’re trying to hide feels like a huge flashing sign to you, but no one will notice. And if they do, they won't care. That life wasn't something you chose, not an experience you sought out. They’re not gonna give a fuck about it.”
She stared at him through the mirror for a long moment, then dropped her eyes, breaking the connection before nodding. He knew she wasn't convinced, so he moved in behind her and wrapped her up, bending his head to place a soft kiss on the brand. With emphasis, he told her, “I don't give a fuck about it. So they won't, either. And if they do, well, I don't give a fuck about that. Or them.” He pressed a second and then a third kiss to the mark. “Love my honey. Love my Juanita.”
At those words, she relaxed in his arms, finally, just as the first roar of bikes sounded in the distance.
An hour later, he’d been proven right and knew it, watching as she tentatively settled onto the grass next to one of the women. Greeting Juanita with a smile, Spider’s old lady reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Daena and Juanita had begun to chat when Opie spoke up from behind him.
“Good turnout, boss. Danger woulda been pleased.” Turning to look over his shoulder, Watcher nodded. Opie’s lips pressed together, and Watcher stiffened, sensing this would be the precursor to something he didn’t want to hear. “Need to talk about what we’re doin’ with the rest of the rescues. We need to find ‘em shelter, permanent like, or get them back home if they want to go.”
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure those women have what they need.” Watcher hadn’t known what he was going to say when his mouth opened, but his words didn’t surprise him. Neither did the emotion that swelled inside him, a determination to see this through. “And you mind my words, brother. We’re going hunting soon.”
Tilting his head towards Juanita, Opie asked him, “How much of this is for Danger, and how much for her?”
“Don’t fuckin’ matter, brother. Same outcome gonna hit the horizon. We need to, we’ll end Machos entirely.” Looking at Juanita, he let the sight of her smile warm him. “Estavez needs to die.”
“Brothers will care, Watch. You know they will. They’ll be all-in for revenging Danger’s death. Gonna be less so for a bitch they don’t know. It’s asking a lot.” Shaking his head, Opie cautioned, “Not sayin’ it to be a dick, just makin’ sure you’re lookin’ at all angles, brother.”
Opie grimaced and Watcher cut off the argument he knew was coming. So soon after losing three men, no one wanted to think about crossing the river again. Not yet. “Now’s not the time, Opie. Tonight’s for Danger, not for strategy. I ain’t gonna back down, though. So don’t think this is me takin’ back anything I said.”
With a nod, Opie acknowledged his words, making it clear he would comply even if he might not agree with the directive. Watcher found he didn’t really give a fuck because Machos needed to pay for what happened. Not only with Darrie but because of Juanita. Because of all the women. “Shit can’t go unanswered, Opie. We can’t let them continue to do whatever the fuck they want and expect to keep any authority. We make our own way, and we force our authority down their fuckin’ throats if need be. Slit ‘em if we need to make room.”
Watcher saw the boy in Daena’s lap reach out, fingers aiming for Juanita’s neck and without pausing, Watcher was on his way to Juanita’s side, long strides taking him there as the boy’s fingers touched her skin. He dropped to his knees behind her, an arm firm around her chest, lips pressed to the side of her head as little Dean told his mother, “She a qween, Mama. Gots a cwown.”
Juanita was trembling, but Daena smiled down at her son and didn’t see. Watcher felt Juanita tensing and knew she was preparing to retreat, something he couldn’t let her do. He instinctively knew if she left the party, not only would Daena feel guilty, but Juanita would never be able to face the group again. Brushing his mouth deliberately across the brand, he caught Dean’s awe-struck gaze and grinned. “She’s my queen, Dean-boy. This tells the world she’s mine.” Another kiss to the brand earned a soft hitch in Juanita’s breathing when he repeated, “She’s my queen.”
Time of miracles and wonder
Watcher stood in the doorway and looked towards the house from the barn, one ear listening to the rumbling talk from behind him. He might be giving about half his attention to his brothers, but his real focus was on Juanita, watching as she hung sheets on the line. Bending over, standing and stretching up, bending over again. He smirked, thinking, Love the view. In the desert’s arid climate, the laundry would be dry within half an hour, and then he’d get to see her gathering them in, arms spread wide to capture the billowing fabric, breasts straining against her shirt. Watching and knowing that when he laid his head down on fresh, clean sheets tonight, it would be with her by his side. Best part of my day.
Since coming together the first night in a borrowed bed in Nashville, they hadn’t slept apart. For nearly three months, everything had developed into exactly what he had hoped and prayed for. She was all he needed, and he tried his damnedest to be the same for her. Learning what she liked, giving it to her every chance he had. Loving her had turned into a favorite song, one that played in his head all day long. She loved him, too, and he knew it, even if she didn’t say the words.
There had been struggles along the way. He’d been terrified the first night she woke fighting and ran from him, fucking beat feet as fast as she could. Bolted from his bed to disappear in the closet. He went to her, and in silence, she’d fought him with every breath. Pulling away to dart back into the closet, again and again, pushing her way behind the clothes on the racks, struggling to stay concealed as best she could. She’d scored deep grooves into his flesh with her nails before he could get her under control. That was also the first time she’d tried to run away, ashamed of what she’d been driven to do by the demons in her sleep. His mistake was thinking everything had settled down, so once Watcher had gone back to bed with her in his arms, he’d slipped into sleep beside her without understanding how deeply her terrors ran.
An hour later the alarms around the periphery of the property had woken him, and when he looked at the screens, it had been just in time to see a black and white image of a sobbing Juanita staggering out into the desert. He’d been afraid an ATV would frighten her and worried he’d lose her if he pursued on foot, so he’d gotten on the bike and set watch on a road about a mile out. Thank God she’d stumbled into the road right on top of him. After freezing in place for a few moments, her chin dropped to her chest before she accepted his outstretched hand, climbing onto the bike behind him. Minutes later they were back at home, and he tried to reassure her with both words and actions.
Now, however, something wasn’t right. They’d had more episodes, of course they had. A person didn’t get over the kind of things she’d lived through without scars. But, unless she was keeping the dreams from him, she hadn’t suffered through one for weeks now. Something else was up, and it was bugging him to no end. She wasn’t sick, wasn’t stressed, but she’d seemed abnormally tired over the past couple of weeks.
Opie spoke again, and Watcher changed position, twisting to look back at him. Without any idea what his brother had said, he owned up to the fact he hadn’t been listening with a quick, “Didn’t catch that, sorry.”
“No doubt, eyes only for your woman. Like seeing you wearin’ this kinda happiness, Watch. She’s gonna make a beautiful mama.” Watcher’s face must have given away his surprise, because Opie laughed gleefully, shaking his head. Choking on his laughter, Opie said, “Jesus, Watch. Did you seriously not know? Look at her little belly.”
Focus again on Juanita, Watcher now saw the signs he’d missed. She was rounder, only a little, but it was there. Her rack was bigger, too, and not by a little. He’d even joked about it in bed, playing with her breasts until she’d been moaning for his cock. Sensitive, so fucking sensitive, and he hadn’t a clue.
“Shit.”
“Oh, man. That word does not shout joy.” Opie’s voice was quiet, but anything else he had to say was lost, trailing to silence behind him because Watcher was already on the move, striding towards the house. Opie didn’t have it right, because if she were pregnant, then Watcher would be the happiest guy in the world…but only if she was.
“Juanita,” he called softly, seeing the smile fade from her face as she turned his direction, paling at whatever look was on his face. He wondered, How do you ask a lady if she’s preggers? Then felt his heart clench when her lips trembled right before she looked to the side and down, avoiding his eyes. “Honey, is everything okay?” Time to ease her back into a situation where she’d be comfortable, and he set about trying to do that, taking a towel out of the basket and folding it in half before dropping it across the line stretched between them. “Thought I’d help a bit.” Shit. This would be guaranteed to make her more nervous because it wasn’t something he’d ever done before. “Thought we might talk.” Sure, that’ll make her comfy, asshat.
Her voice trembled when she said, “Watcher?” The question evident in the uplifting tone at the end of his name. “What…?”
“You pregnant?” Fucking shit, my mouth doesn’t have a damned filter. He rolled his eyes at himself, reaching for another towel while studiously not looking at her. I want this. He could see her from the corner of his eye but refused to look straight on. In the two minutes since Opie dropped the bombshell on him, he’d already become invested in this kid, if she indeed was pregnant. “Just…seemed the thing to ask. We had a condom break and all.” They had, on the trip back from Kentucky, something he’d put aside in his head since she didn’t talk about missing her cycle. He hadn’t paid attention, though, so he didn’t know if she’d skipped or not. “Thought I’d ask.”
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