Rust

by J. M. Walker

  Lian and Henley came rushing in, fighting off anyone they could to help Dale and me get out of there.

  Fists flew. Guys were shanked by handmade knives. But all I could focus on was getting us to safety

  “It’s done,” Dale said, running up to me.

  I glanced over at Tyler who was now sporting a nice slit across his throat. Blood poured from the gaping wound, the life finally leaving the bastard. Although Dale had avenged Max and every other person Tyler had hurt, it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.

  AFTER MAKING SURE the girls were safe and comfortable, I left the club and went to Stone’s place knowing it was where he would end up after he got back from wherever he was. He had left abruptly only a couple hours before and it didn’t sit well with me. I worried, and I didn’t like worrying. That didn’t sit well with me, either.

  It was late into the night when I heard a bang followed by a crash coming from the hallway. Pulling Stone’s pistol from the nightstand, I cocked it and slowly made my way out into the hall. “You move,” I told the large, dark shadow, “and I’ll fucking shoot you.”

  The shadow chuckled. “Good thing I know you have no issues taking care of yourself.”

  “What the hell are you doing, Stone?” I demanded, lowering the gun.

  “I wasn’t sure I’d find you here.” He stood back, keeping behind the dark shadows. “How did you get in?”

  “I jimmied the lock.” I shrugged. “I texted you and called you but when you didn’t answer, I came here. I didn’t want to be alone, and I didn’t want to stay at Asher and Meeka’s.”

  “So, you broke into my home?” he asked, the deep timber of his voice lowering a notch.

  “Yes.” I shivered.

  “Hot as fuck, baby girl,” he breathed. “Hot as fuck.”

  I laughed, thankful he wasn’t pissed. “Come here.”

  He shifted, a low grunt leaving his mouth.

  “What’s wrong?” I took a step toward him. “And why all the damn noise?”

  “I tripped,” he grumbled. “I’m kind of off balance.”

  “Why the hell for?” I closed the distance between us and flicked on the hallway light.

  He squinted, turning away from me but not before I saw the bruises on his face and how he was nursing his one leg.

  “What happened?” I demanded, grabbing his arm. “Stone.”

  “It’s nothing.” He winced, licking his split bottom lip.

  “Like hell it’s nothing.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway bathroom.

  “Creena, I’m fine,” he said, going to move past me when I stepped in front of him.

  “I don’t give a shit if you’re fine.” I pushed him into the room and sat him on the toilet. “God, Stone. What the hell happened?” Dark blue and purple bruises marred his left eye. A jagged cut was deep on his cheek. Blood soaked his shirt. “Take this off.”

  He grunted, pulling the fabric up and over his head.

  My blood heated. No matter how many times I had seen the guy naked, his rough around the edges exterior did something to me I had never felt before. My stomach tumbled. My heart raced. My palms became sweaty. Even in Stone’s current state, he was a beautiful broken masterpiece.

  “Seeing me beaten down and bloody turn you on, pet?” he asked, grabbing hold of the hem of my shirt, and pulled me between his legs.

  “I don’t like seeing you hurt,” I whispered, swallowing hard.

  “I’m fine. I’ve gone through worse.” He cupped the back of my leg. “Is this what you wear when I’m not around?”

  “I usually sleep naked but after a couple glasses of wine, I passed out in your bed, wearing this.”

  “Hmm ... I like the idea of you naked and in my bed.”

  “You need stitches,” I quickly said before I jumped him and rode him like a mechanic bull.

  His eyes twinkled, showcasing that dark lust I had come to crave. “Sew me up.”

  “What?”

  “You’re a nurse.” He grimaced, taking a deep breath. “Sew me up.”

  “Fine.” I rummaged through his drawers and medicine cabinet until I got what I needed. “Do you have any alco—” I pulled out a half empty bottle of tequila from the bottom shelf. At least he liked the good stuff. “Done this before, I imagine?”

  He grunted, taking the bottle from me. “You’ve seen my scars, baby girl.”

  “I’m going to have to teach you how to sew up a wound so it doesn’t leave such an ugly scar,” I told him, brushing my fingers over a jagged piece of flesh on his right pec.

  “Are you saying my scars are ugly?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Um ...” My cheeks heated. “That’s not what I meant.”

  He laughed which turned into a wince. “I love making you blush.” He took a swig from the bottle and then another. And another.

  “All right, big guy.” I took the bottle from him and placed it on the counter. “That’s enough.”

  “Tonight was a shit show,” he grumbled, shaking his head.

  My heart stuttered, a little surprised he was talking without me having to pull it from him. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know if Brogan will tell you girls but I refuse to keep shit from my woman.” He met my gaze.

  My stomach flipped over him calling me his woman. “She doesn’t tell us a lot. But she also doesn’t know what I do. None of them are aware of my past.”

  Stone nodded, taking the bottle before I could stop him, and threw back another long gulp of the clear liquid. He coughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “We went in to finish Tyler off. To do what Max couldn’t. It was supposed to go down without a hitch. Greyson has some of his crew on the inside. They’re doing hard time and made nice with the guards. But one little bitch was a fucking rat. Told someone within the Organization who proceeded to tell Tyler. He almost got to Dale before I saw the shiv on him.”

  “Holy fuck,” I breathed, pausing in my prep to clean Stone’s wounds. “Is Dale okay?”

  “Yeah, I got to the bastard first.” Stone winced, placing his hands on his knees, and blew out a slow breath.

  “I’ll stitch this up and then get you to bed.”

  Stone’s lips turned up into a goofy grin. “Yeah?” He waggled his eyebrows. “And just what are you going to do with me there?”

  I laughed, shaking my head, and pushed an alcohol-soaked cotton ball against the cut on his cheek.

  He jumped. “Fuck. That shit hurts.”

  “Don’t be a baby.” I stepped back between his knees. “And besides, you’ve stitched yourself up before, or have you slept with another nurse who did it for you?”

  “Would it make you jealous if I said yes?”

  I reached for the needle. “Are you sure you really want to ask me that question right now when I’m about to jab a needle in your face?”

  “True.” He chuckled, taking another swig from the bottle. He grimaced. “This shit is gross.”

  “It’s tequila.” I laughed. “It’s not supposed to taste good.”

  Stone sighed.

  “Tell me what else happened.” I brushed his bangs off his forehead. “Do the other guys look as rough as you do?”

  “After the fucker tried pulling the shiv on Dale, I jumped him. That was dumb on my part, knowing where we were but I didn’t give a shit. My brothers come first. That started a brawl. Lian and Henley took out anyone they could.” Stone clenched his hands into fists, the bruising on his knuckles darkening into a deep shade of red. “So yeah, we all look rough.”

  “How did you get out?”

  “It took fucking forever but the guards were able to eventually get us out of there. Dale went home to Max and Lian and Henley went home to their girl.” Stone brushed his hands up and down his thighs. “I’m just glad everyone is safe. Everyone ...” His jaw clenched. “Is safe.”

  “So, Lian and Henley are sharing a woman,” I said, needing to change the subject before I
completely lost Stone.

  He grunted. “No fucking clue how they do it. I can’t handle you let alone two of you.”

  “Nah, baby, it would be two of you.” I thought about it for a second. Two Stones. Two delicious pierced—

  “Do not even fucking think about getting another man in our bed.” Stone shoved to his feet, forcing me back. “I don’t share.”

  I laughed, patting his chest. “I don’t want anyone else.”

  He blew out a breath, slumping back onto the toilet. “Good.”

  I wasn’t sure exactly why but his possessiveness over me was hot as fuck.

  Clearing my throat, I gave myself a shake. “You guys left quite an impression it seems.” I grabbed the bottle from him and took a swig.

  “Yeah, I guess we did.” Stone raked a hand through his hair, his eyes dark. His shoulders slumped, admitting defeat. He took on the weight of the world and after what happened tonight, I wasn’t sure if things would ever be the same.

  ***

  (Stone)

  My head swam, the bottle of tequila no longer having any liquid in it. Creena drank some too from what I could recall.

  I checked out her stitching job in the mirror. It was perfect. It would leave a tiny scar but not jagged and ugly like the rest of the ones I wore.

  “Are you making sure I did a good job?” she asked, wavering on her feet. “Shit.” She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I guess I should have eaten first.”

  Turning on her, I grabbed her hand and pulled her against me.

  She gasped, slapping a hand against my chest.

  With my hands in her hair, I tugged her head back and covered her mouth with mine.

  Creena moaned, her body melting against me.

  She tasted like sin, tequila, and fire.

  Fisting her hair, I pulled her head back further, giving me deeper access to her mouth. My cock twitched between us, resting pleasantly against her lower stomach. Cupping her ass, I ground into her and lifted her onto the bathroom counter.

  Creena tugged and pulled at my hair, fucking her way into my mouth.

  Shit, this woman could kiss. Every stroke of her tongue sent a shiver straight to the tip of my dick. My balls became heavy the longer we kissed but I didn’t care. Everything that had happened tonight hit me all at once. The idea of almost losing our lives when we weren’t on a mission didn’t sit well with me. We had to get this shit with the organization done and over with so I could move on with Creena and my daughter. Or else, I was afraid I would officially lose it.

  I WASN’T SURE what had gotten into Stone in the past couple of minutes. I had stitched him up, took a couple more drinks of the tequila, and was about to put him to bed when his mouth attacked mine. Not that I was complaining but I could feel the desperation seeping from every pore in his body. Tonight scared him. And that scared me even more.

  “Stone,” I whispered against his mouth.

  His lips traveled down the length of my jaw, kissing and sucking, licking and nipping. Every touch, every single time his skin was against mine, my body burned for him.

  Lifting his head, he stared down at me. His eyes were dark with lust, his breathing labored.

  My hands ran up his torso. A whimper left my mouth at the power beneath my fingertips. He was hard, his tattooed muscles tight as they rippled beneath his skin every time he breathed.

  I licked my lips, my tongue itching for a taste.

  Stone leaned toward me, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. “I love the way you look at me.”

  I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and kissed his collarbone. “I love the way you feel.”

  Brushing my thumbs over his pierced nipples, my fingers trailed down the sides of his torso. I slid my hands into the waistband of his pants and pushed them lower.

  Stone took them off, kicking them to the side all the while keeping his heated stare locked with mine.

  Every time I saw him, even if it had only been a couple of days, he was bigger. Working out and training was paying off.

  “I love the way you taste,” I said, emphasizing my words by licking my tongue across his nipple.

  He shivered, his fingers sliding into the back of my hair.

  “I love the way you become unhinged for me,” I whispered, pulling the barbell piercing his nipple between my teeth.

  He hissed, tugging my head back. “Open your mouth, Creena, and give me that tongue,” he growled, wrapping his other hand around my throat. “Open.”

  I licked along his bottom lip.

  He smirked, lifting the shirt up and over my head leaving me completely bare for him. Picking me up off the counter, he wrapped my legs around his waist and carried me into the shower.

  Stone turned on the water and stepped beneath the spray all the while keeping his mouth on mine. He kissed every waking thought from my body. His tongue fucked my mouth in a desperate cry to forget what happened tonight.

  Every inch of me came alive while he pressed me up against the wall of the shower. His hands roamed down the sides of my body. His waist pushed between my legs. I was caged between him and the wall.

  We had spent the next hour like that. Washing. Caressing. Taking care of each other. We knew something was coming. Tonight had been a sign at just how powerful the organization really was.

  I needed to talk to my brother but, first, I needed Stone to love me.

  ***

  “So fucking perfect,” Stone whispered against my neck early the next morning.

  I shivered, wrapping his arm around me, and pushed my ass into him. My body ached. I was tired and sore but felt at peace. I couldn’t complain. Even after everything that had happened over the past couple of weeks, Stone using me for a stress relief was something I looked forward to. A part of me needed to control him in every way possible but for now, I would be the ever willing submissive.

  “I agree,” I whispered, rubbing my rear over the powerful weight between his legs.

  “What did I tell you about teasing me with this beautiful ass?” he growled, biting my shoulder.

  I moaned, rolling toward him, and placed a hard peck on his mouth. “That you love it and would fuck it the next time I rubbed it up against you.”

  He grinned. “I think my dirty girl wants me inside every part of her.”

  “Hmmm ...” I cupped his jaw, giving his bottom lip a gentle nip. “I just want whatever you can give me.”

  He searched my face, something dark flashing behind his gaze before he sat up. The moment was lost when he became rigid and stiff.

  “Hey.” I moved behind him and kissed the back of his neck. “Talk to me.”

  Stone grabbed my hand, placed a soft peck on my knuckles, and released me. “Your brother called while you were in the bathroom.”

  My stomach sunk. “What? How do you know that?”

  “I thought it was my phone ringing but it was yours.” His gaze flicked to mine. “It seems you’ve been ignoring him, and I don’t think he’s too happy about that.”

  I swallowed hard and slid off the bed. Getting dressed, I headed into the bathroom and brushed my teeth.

  “He also asked if it’s been done yet.” Stone stood at the doorway, leaning against the wall. “What is he talking about?”

  “Are you reading my text messages now?” I asked around a mouthful of toothpaste.

  “When a man, I don’t give a fuck if he’s family, is constantly harassing the woman I love? You bet your beautiful ass I’m reading those texts.”

  I glared at him and finished brushing my teeth. I had no idea what the hell to say to Stone. Kenny knew he couldn’t count on me to take him out. I also never thought he was serious in the first place. But clearly, I was wrong. I never should have underestimated my brother.

  Stone grabbed my arm, turning me toward him. “Tell me what the hell is going on.”

  “I’ll handle it,” I said, attempting to push past him when his hold on my arm tightened. “Stone, let go of me.”

 
“Not until you tell me what’s going on. Why the hell is your brother harassing you like that?”

  “He’s not harassing me,” I grumbled, shoving out of his grip and stomped back into his bedroom.

  “Read the text messages,” Stone demanded, shoving my phone in my face. “Read them and tell me he’s not fucking harassing you.”

  I huffed, snatched my phone from him and scrolled through the last couple of texts.

  Kenny: Where the fuck are you?

  Kenny: You better not be with him.

  Kenny: It’ll be over my dying breath before I let you leave this family.

  Kenny: Is it done?

  My heart started racing the more I read. Kenny was losing it. I couldn’t tell if he had been drinking or not but the text messages almost gave away what he was asking of me.

  “I ...” I swallowed hard. “I don’t know what he’s wanting.”

  Stone pinched my chin, forcing me to look into his cold stare. “How about you try that again and don’t lie to me this time.”

  My jaw clenched. “I’m not lying,” I said, keeping my eyes locked with his.

  Pushing me back against the wall, Stone wrapped his hand around my throat. “I know you’re trained to lie and not show any signs of it. I’m not stupid. But you, little girl, have no idea what the fuck I’m capable of.”

  “Then tell me,” I threw back at him. “Tell me and I’ll tell you what Kenny wants.”

  “So, your brother does want something.” Stone leaned toward me, ignoring my demands. “Tell me.”

  I looked away.

  “Creena.” He punched the wall by my head. “Tell me dammit.”

  “Fine,” I shouted. “He wants you fucking dead. Are you happy now? Are you glad I told you?”

  His brows narrowed. “You have one second to tell me why he would want that.”

  “I have no idea.” I gulped at the deadly tone in his voice and grabbed his hand, brushing my fingers over his reddening knuckles. “I won’t let it happen. I promise you that.”

  He leaned his forehead against mine. “The first woman I fall in love with and her brother wants me dead.”

  “I think that usually happens, doesn’t it?” I cupped his cheek.