by Elle Boon
He felt her shiver, tiny little nipples stabbing into his bare side let him know she liked the idea. Yeah, he liked it too, but he wouldn’t be taking advantage of what they both wanted until he got back.
When her leg shifted some fifteen minutes later, he groaned, trying to ease it away from his dick. Damn, he was going to wake up with the biggest blue balls he’d ever had. However, when her body stiffened several hours later accompanied by a whimper then a scream, rousing him from sleep, Duke knew he was doing the right thing heading to New York. The little fucker and the stupid cunts she roomed with had no clue the wrath that was coming down on them in less than twenty-four hours. As he held Lennox’s sobbing body against his, reassuring her she was safe, he vowed to make them pay. They’d be crying, shaking, pleading for mercy. A mercy he wouldn’t be giving. They’d fucked with the one person he treasured above all else. He was an asshole on the best of days. Fuck with him or his, and the cage you rattled was one you would wish you had never set eyes on. He was damn glad F.O.C.U.S and The Bishop were every bit as ruthless as him.
The sound of his alarm beeping had him muttering a curse. It felt like he’d just closed his eyes again only moments before. He snagged the small device, hitting snooze before it woke Lennox up. She’d fallen back asleep after her nightmare. Her tears had gutted him. He wanted to murder the motherfucker, and he would, there was no doubt in his mind he’d be taking a man out. Judge, jury, and executioner was what he’d become in those hours as he held her, wiping her tears.
“Good morning, Duke.” Her voice sounded raspy.
“Mornin, baby. How you feeling?” he asked.
She rubbed her forehead against his chest, not looking up at him. “I feel rested, and I need to pee,” she said with a laugh. “And I gotta brush my teeth.”
He swatted her ass, his hand coming into contact with bare flesh. Instantly he pulled back, not wanting to alarm her. She froze, her head popping up. Need reflected in her gaze, then she ducked her head again. “I got yuck mouth, dang it.”
Duke scooted out of the bed, not wanting to embarrass himself with the fact he had a hard-on to rival that of a damn pole. “Ballerina girl, I could care less about yuck mouth when it comes to you. Come on, get your ass up, though, I can see you’re doing the peepee dance.” He made light of the fact she was excited and clearly nervous. He’d let her use his bathroom.
“I’m not doing the...peepee dance. What the heck is the peepee dance anyway?” she asked, wiggling to the edge of the bed, her hand trying to hold the T-shirt down.
He grinned as he got a peek of her goods. “Your leg was shaking really fast. I call that the peepee dance.” He jumped back as she swatted at him.
“Duke Royal, that’s rude. A gentleman isn’t supposed to mention those things.”
He bent, bracing both arms around her hips. “In case you missed the memo, baby, I’m no gentleman.”
Her hand traced his chest tattoos, over his pec and scraped over his nipple. “Yes you are, you just like to hide it,” she whispered.
He stood straight, letting her see the evidence of his arousal. In the position she was in, his dick was right in her face. “Lennox, does that look like a gentleman?”
She blinked, he could see her long lashes flutter, but she didn’t look up, her eyes were staring at his denim covered dick. Sonofafuckingbitch, he felt the damn thing swell, pulse even inside the confines of the denim. “Stop staring at it,” he ordered.
Lennox snorted. “He is not an it, Duke.” She lifted bright eyes to his.
“You are trouble, girl,” he swore, stepping away as she lifted her hand as if she planned to touch him. Duke knew if he allowed her to put her hand on him there, he’d have her flat on the bed with his dick between those smooth thighs before she could say ‘yes Sir may I have another’.
“You’re no fun, Duke.”
He turned away from the temptation that was Lennox, shoving open the door to his room. Over his shoulder, he pointed at the bathroom. “Take a shower, go pee, brush your teeth, whatever you gotta do to get ready, do it. You got fifteen minutes, then we’re outta here.”
She opened her mouth, snapping it shut with a nod.
“Good girl, Lennox. I want you. Make no doubt about that. You clearly saw the evidence of how much, up close, and almost personal. However, I want more than a fifteen minute quickie with you. I think we deserve more than that.” He gave her one last look, leaving before he could change his mind. The woman could make him lose not only his self-control, and his mind, but his damn man card.
Chapter Seven
Duke waited for Lennox to come out of his bathroom. He’d left her a change of clothes on his bed. Luckily King’s ole lady had dropped off a set for her. Of course, the panties were new, since King didn’t let Ayesha wear any most days. Duke would make the same rules with...his thoughts came to a halt as Lennox appeared. She was even sexier in the light of day. Although he missed her long gorgeous blonde hair, another crime to lay at the New York fucks feet, he couldn’t deny the new do suited her as well.
“You look beautiful,” he told her. He wasn’t one to give empty compliments. He said what he said, and he meant what he said. Period.
“Thank you. Um, whose are these?” She waved her hand down her body.
He brought his hand up to cover his grin, seeing the question with obvious jealousy in her tone. “King’s woman dropped them by for you. Let’s get one thing straight, Lennox. Come here,” he said, crooking a finger. He was a dick, but he wasn’t a prick. She shuffled from one foot to the other. He waited, not willing to tell her again, not without punishments. Finally, she moved after seventeen seconds. Yes, he counted.
“I would never have you wear clothes of another female I fucked. There’s a level of respect I give to my woman. I don’t bring women to my bed here in this house. I have a room at the clubhouse I’ve taken women, or in town at The Club when I was there, but never here under this roof. You and I both know I’m no virgin. Look at me, Lennox.” He gripped her by the back of the hair, forcing her to meet his stare. “You seem to have these fucked up misconceptions about me. You have questions or whatever, you ask. Don’t let shit sit and simmer in the back of your mind.” That kind of shit will fester and be the death of a relationship. The thought had him freezing. Did he want a relationship with Lennox? Hell, a man didn’t make plans the way he had, move things into place the way he was, for a woman he didn’t have deep feelings for.
His phone rang, the ringtone letting him know who the caller was. “It’s King, baby. We gotta go. I asked for a meeting with him before I head out. If I’m late he’ll be pissed. A pissed off King isn’t good on the best of days.” Her eyes were like windows to her soul. He could see himself drowning in them, and fuck all if he didn’t want to dive right in. Instead of backing away, he bent, taking her lips in a kiss he didn’t think he could give. A light brush of his lips over hers. Her breath hitched, peppermint scented puffs of air floating over his lips as her tongue licked over his. Goddamn, she undid him.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Fucker calls a meeting but has his tongue down Lennox’s throat,” King groused.
Duke sucked Lennox’s tongue into his mouth as he pulled away, opening his eyes so he could watch her face as he released it. He wanted to see her expression. Damn, she was gorgeous. “We were on our way,” he said to King, not bothering to look at his brother.
“Really? On your way to what, tonsil hockey practice?” King didn’t wait for a reply, turning around with a mutter of ‘hurry’, his chuckle let him know his brother wasn’t upset.
“Is he mad at us?” Lennox asked.
He sighed. “Nah, he was just passing by on his way and thought he’d give me shit. It’s his brotherly love.”
“Fuck you,” King yelled.
A chuckle escaped him at King’s words. “Ah, brotherly affection at its finest,” he murmured.
“Is this where you chase him down then you both begin beating the shit out of one an
other? ‘Cause if it is, I need to pop some popcorn first.” She smiled up at him.
He shook his head. “Let’s go, trouble, before he comes back and makes good on your fantasy.”
Duke kept his arm locked around Lennox as they headed toward the clubhouse, his eyes scanning the lot to see who had already arrived even though it was early. A lot of the guys stayed the night, preferring to sleep in one of the rooms in the back of the club, or like him and King, had built a place on the property. Of course, the members who had been allowed to do so were ones who were high ranking and had a stake in the Royal Sons, men like Traeger who he spotted walking with his ole lady. “Good ‘mornin, Traeger. How’s it going?” he asked, nodding to Kailani, Traeger’s woman. She’d been through hell and back at the hands of her father and brother who had sold her like she was property at the age of eighteen to the highest bidder. They had been one of the leaders in a sex trafficking ring, making Kailani a commodity to be sold off time and again until Traeger and King had gone looking for King’s ole lady’s little sister. Now she was free, but forever changed.
“It’s going good, brother. Hey, Lennox, this is Kailani. Kailani, this is Doc’s baby girl, Lennox. She’s a fancy ballet dancer from New York.” Traeger gave a lift of his chin, coming to a stop next to Duke and Lennox. “When did you get back in town?”
Duke ground his back teeth at the mention of Doc. “She’s been back for a minute.” He didn’t have any plans to explain anything else outside of Church. With his hand on Lennox’s hip, he steered her toward the steps, figuring Traeger would get the hint. The familiar scents of booze, Pine-Sol, and bleach permeated the air. “Ah, the cleaning fairies have been here,” he breathed.
Lennox nudged him with her elbow. “Why do you say that?”
He inhaled deeply. “Smell that?” he asked.
She shook her head. “You mean the fresh scent overlaying the stink of alcohol and sex, then yep.”
“I happen to love the smell of sex and booze. It soothes my soul,” T-Rex said.
Lennox rolled her eyes. Duke put his hand over her mouth, keeping her from responding. “Nope, we don’t engage with the crazy.”
The man in question raised his hand, flipping Duke the middle finger. The man was nicknamed after the dinosaur because his love of all thing’s reptile. King had to finally tell the fucker he couldn’t bring his pet into the clubhouse anymore once the women and other brothers complained the Komodo dragon freaked them out.
Duke kept moving them until he and Traeger reached a table they both silently agreed would work. Not that he thought anyone would fuck with Traeger’s ole lady or Lennox, especially when it was before noon. However, he didn’t want to take any chances with Lennox’s safety. Once he made sure King and the others were on board with his plans, keeping both Lennox and the woman with Cosmo safe, he’d head out. In his mind he’d already ran through every scenario of what he planned to do, several times, but on top of each was making the fucker bleed. “What do you want to drink?” he asked both ladies, struggling to keep his tone neutral when murder was on his mind.
Traeger raised a brow as he stood behind Kailani’s chair. “You fetching drinks for us?”
He didn’t bother answering Traeger, instead after both Lennox and Kailani told him what they wanted, he walked over to the bar and did just as Traeger accused him of, except he didn’t get the other man a drink. Teach the asshole a lesson. With a quirk of his lips, he passed Lennox her glass of tomato juice and a soda to Kailani. “You better get you a drink if you want one before we start.” Duke pressed a kiss to the top of Lennox’s head, unwilling to leave her without showing everyone she was his. “Be good and don’t get into any trouble. You both sit tight. If you have any problems, holler.” He didn’t anticipate any, but fuck, his gut was rolling.
“What Duke is saying without saying the actual words is, we’re to be good little girls while the men take care of men stuff.” Lennox tilted her head to the side, her hair sliding over one creamy shoulder.
He wanted to suck on that bit of flesh, wanted to leave his mark right there for all to see. “Pretty much,” he agreed.
Kailani laughed. “Oh, Duke, she’s got your number.”
Traeger bent, covering his woman’s mouth with his. Duke wished he and Lennox had that same easy relationship. Hell, he didn’t even know what they had. Her father, the man they called Doc, had been the one they called when they needed patched up. The bastard had been like an uncle to him. Having a board certified doctor part of their MC was a stroke of luck their father had been damn blessed to secure. Of course, Duke cursed the fucker when Doc had told him in no uncertain terms to leave his baby girl alone, or he’d make sure the club needed a new doctor. That dictate was something they couldn’t afford to do, not at that time. Duke had assumed Doc would change his mind once Lennox was old enough to make her own decisions. He’d been wrong. The old bastard didn’t want his daughter with a Royal Bastard at all. “Too fucking bad,” he muttered.
“What?” Lennox asked, her eyes wide, looking far too sad for his peace of mind.
“Nothing. I was just thinking about club stuff. Come on, Traeger, quit molesting your woman.” He winked at Kailani, trying his best to appear normal. In less than five hours he would be on a plane heading East.
“I told you to quit flirting with my woman, asshole.” Traeger kissed Kailani once more, before moving next to Duke. “You two stay outta trouble.” Traeger looked around the almost empty bar. “I’ll be on the other side of that door.” He pointed at the door in question.
Duke punched his arm. “Let’s go. I imagine King is having a fit about now.”
The door to the kitchen swung open, showing the man in question hadn’t made it to Church yet. His woman walking behind him had a smile on her face. “It’s about time you two got here,” King said.
Duke stared at his brother and then at Ayesha, noticing their flushed faces. “Hmm, I think you two were up to something, and it sure as shit wasn’t club business, Pres.” He shook his head.
King looked over his shoulder, reaching for Ayesha’s hand with a chuckle. “Can’t help it. I still beat your ass here and had time for a little fun. Let’s go. Time’s a wasting.” He led Ayesha to the table, making sure she was settled before walking toward the door, punching in the code that unlocked it with his smirk still in place. The huge thick door swung open. King entered, followed by Duke then Traeger. Moments later, the others filed in until finally the table was full.
King sat at the head of the table, tapping his finger on the top, staring at the emblem carved in the center of the skull with the crooked crown. Duke knew that look and action his brother was doing. He’d seen him do that very same thing more times than he could count. “What’s up, King?” Whatever it was, Duke hoped like hell his brother didn’t need him for the next few days.
“Keys has heard some disturbing things on the dark web. I ain’t gonna pretend to understand that shit ‘cause I don’t, and I ain’t got no intentions to find out either. What I do know is what he’s found has him worried. If Keys is worried, then we should be too.” King looked up, spearing Duke with his stare. “Whatever your girl got tangled in is a lot bigger than we thought. Cosmo, what did your girl tell you?”
Duke didn’t look away from his brother as he waited to hear what Cosmo said. Whatever was going down, Duke wasn’t going to bring them into it. What he did, and he planned on doing some shit, he’d do without his colors on.
“She’s from a small village in China. Although she’s half American, she doesn’t know her father. Her maternal family treated her as...well, less than shit her entire life.”
Duke turned to stare at his friend, hearing the anger in the words.
Cosmo’s hand clenched and unclenched on the tabletop. “There’s a fuckton of reckoning I’d like to give her people, but that’s for another day. Right now, I’m assuming you want the details on who the fuckers were outside The Club last night?”
King gave a curt
nod, his stare releasing Duke. Shit, he’d almost forgotten all about what had gone down outside. “The huge Sumomotherfuckers?” he asked, Cosmo.
Cosmo chuckled. “That’s a good description of that big bastard. She says she didn’t know any of them, but she admits to knowing why they were there.” Cosmo looked around the room. “King this is huge, and its fucked, man. It’s nothing like what we’re used to.” He sighed, running his hand through his hair. “She’s been through more than any woman ever should.” He stopped, looking at Traeger.
They all knew about Kailani and how her father and brother had sold her at eighteen, for the first time. None of them knew how many times she’d been sold, except maybe Traeger. He could guess, but even then, none could know the horrors she’d endured. For Cosmo to say the other woman had suffered more, would mean the abuse had to be devastating. Fuck, he couldn’t imagine what she could’ve endured.
“I had Keys do some digging with the information you gave me.” King held his hand up as Cosmo sat up. “He’s better than the best, Cosmo. There’s none on his level and you know it. Like I said, the dark web isn’t a place I know a fucking thing about. Keys though, it’s his playground. Although, I’m a little worried about him. He said he needed a break after what he’s found from this shit. Your girl...she’s got some real heavy hitters looking for her. We’re talking government types. Did she mention that to you?”
“What?” Cosmo asked, leaning forward..
Duke was glad the heat was off of him and Lennox. He listened with half an ear, watching the time on the clock tick closer to his deadline. He didn’t need to listen to King and his lecture to know that he’d already started putting players into place. No, his brother would already have a backup plan ready to roll if plan A and plan B didn’t work.
“What do you think, Duke?” King asked.
“I think Cosmo keeping the girl here is the best thing right now. Nobody at The Club saw him leave with her, right?” Duke asked, knowing his brother had known that was what was best as well.