Scratch (Devil's Boneyard MC 2)

by Harley Wylde

  I noticed the box of condoms on the nightstand. Instead of the fear or revulsion I’d always felt when sex came up with other men, it just felt right when I thought about doing those things with Scratch. I didn’t care about our age difference, or that he thought he was all wrong for me. No one had ever looked at me the way he did, ever treated me as good as he did, and they certainly hadn’t made me feel the things he did. Once I’d let down my guard even a little, I’d realized that I felt safe with him. When I looked into his eyes, I just knew that he would protect me, and maybe even love me one day if things went that far. As broken as I was, I had a feeling he was a little bit broken too, or had been at some point. The strong man holding me right now wasn’t broken anymore, but maybe just a little damaged. Whatever he’d been through, it had made him into the man he was today, a man I would be proud to call mine.

  “Make love to me,” I said. “Show me what my first time should have been like.”

  “Remember what I said?” he asked.

  “That if we do this, then I’m yours, and Caleb is yours.”

  He nodded. “I shouldn’t want you, should send you back to your room and stay the hell away from you. But I don’t know that I’m strong enough to do that. You make me feel…”

  “Complete,” I said, because that’s how he made me feel. “It feels like you’re the piece that’s been missing from my life. Do you believe in soul mates?”

  “People destined to be together?” he asked. “Always thought it was a bunch of crap.”

  “Oh.” I nibbled my lower lip, but he reached up and pulled it from my teeth, smoothing his thumb across it.

  “Until I met you,” he said. “I tried to tell myself I just wanted to help out a single mom who was struggling, but I think it was something more. I’ve never loved a woman before, Clarity, and I may not be capable of it. I love my daughter, and I already love that kid of yours. But women…”

  “Someone hurt you,” I said.

  He shrugged. “Everyone gets hurt at some point, but yeah. I’ve had some women fuck me over in the past. I won’t promise you love, but I can promise that I will respect you, I will take care of you, and that I do have feelings of some sort for you even if I don’t have a label for them. Which is insane since we’ve only known each other for about a day. It doesn’t feel like that, though.”

  I smiled a little. “I know. When I look at you, when your eyes lock onto mine, I feel like I’ve known you forever. Like maybe we knew each other in past life or something.”

  He chuckled a little. “Now you believe in past lives too?”

  “Don’t you?” I asked. “Haven’t you ever had something happen and it felt like you’d been faced with that situation before, even though you knew you hadn’t? Or maybe you heard about something that happened long enough and you could vividly picture it your mind, even smell the scents that would have been there? I think it’s memories of what happened in a life before this one.”

  “Maybe you’re right. Never really thought about it that way.”

  “I won’t hear that often, will I?” I teased.

  “Hear what?”

  “That I’m right.”

  He grinned and then leaned down and kissed me hard. “Kitten, I will always admit when you’re right and I’m wrong. Just not in front of my brothers. I have a badass image to uphold after all.”

  “I think we’re wearing too many clothes,” I said, reaching for the button on his jeans.

  “Caleb?” he asked, nodding toward the hall.

  “He’ll sleep for at least a few hours. Even on the street he’d doze off for three or four hours at a time. Now that he has a home to sleep in, a place to feel safe, maybe he’ll sleep longer. With that episode at dinner, I can’t guarantee it, but I think we have time.”

  He pressed his forehead to mine. “Then get naked, kitten.”

  I took a step back and slowly removed my clothes, loving the heat that flared in his eyes as he watched me. I didn’t feel nervous or scared like I’d thought I would. I just felt desirable and wanted. He removed his jeans and boxer briefs, his cock already hard. When he pulled me into his arms again, I felt like I’d come home, like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

  We toppled to the bed as he kissed me, his hands sliding up and down my sides, then gripping my hips. His cock pressed against me and I felt a thrill run through me. He took his time, tasting me, licking along my collarbone before taking my nipple into his mouth. I sank my fingers into his hair, wishing we could stay in this moment forever. My body came alive, every nerve ending humming as he lovingly traced my curves with his lips and hands.

  Pleasure consumed me, and I gladly gave myself over to Scratch. I was his. His to touch, to protect… And my heart felt full.

  Chapter Six

  Scratch

  Her skin felt like silk and she tasted sweet as honey. She had the prettiest nipples I’d ever seen, and I loved the way she shivered when I sucked them into my mouth, then lightly bit them. I stroked the curls between her legs, feeling how wet and ready she was for me. Her clit was swollen and I lightly rubbed it. Not enough to get her off, but just enough to have her begging for more.

  “Feel good, kitten?” I asked.

  “So good,” she murmured, her eyes fluttering as she tried to keep them open. A soft smile curved her lips.

  I remembered how tight she’d been in the shower and used my fingers to stretch her a little. My cock wasn’t fucking huge, but I was bigger than average and could hurt her. If she didn’t have a son, I’d have sworn she was a virgin.

  “I can’t wait to feel this pussy wrapped around my dick,” I said as I kissed along her neck. I added a second finger as I worked her pussy, and the soft moans coming from her damn near made me come.

  “Damon, please,” she begged.

  “Please what, kitten?”

  “I need… I need…”

  I knew exactly what she needed, wanted, and drove my fingers in and out of her harder and faster. I pressed down on her clit with my thumb. Her hips bucked against me and I could feel that she was close. Sucking her nipple into my mouth again, I lashed it with my tongue before biting down just hard enough that she came.

  “Damon!” She shuddered and trembled as her pussy gushed around my fingers.

  Before she had a chance to come down from her high, I slipped my fingers out of her, sucked her juices from them, then ripped open a condom. It had to be the fastest I’d ever put one on, then I braced my weight so I wouldn’t crush her and I slowly eased into her tight little pussy.

  “Fuck, Clarity! So damn tight!”

  I used short thrusts to work my way inside her, and when she’d taken all of me, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold back. I wanted to make it perfect for her, to take my time, but I felt like a randy teenager with her lying under me, looking up at me with wonder in her eyes.

  I fucked her hard and deep, taking her like a man possessed. Her hands clung to me and her passionate cries spurred me on. It didn’t take long before she was coming again, and as her pussy clamped down on me, my balls drew up and I came so fucking hard. I growled as I kept stroking in and out of her, our hips slapping together. When every drop of cum had been wrung from me, I stilled with my cock buried inside her. My chest heaved like I’d run a fucking marathon and I felt sweat slicking my skin.

  Clarity smiled up at me with a dreamy expression, then she ran her fingers through my beard.

  “Sorry that didn’t last very long,” I said. Embarrassment made my cheeks warm. I hadn’t come that fast in a long fucking time, but being with her… Damn. There were no words to adequately describe the way she made me feel.

  “Don’t apologize for one of the greatest moments of my life,” she said. “Did you hear me utter a single word of complaint?”

  “No,” I admitted.

  “That’s because I didn’t. I was too busy screaming because of how good you made me feel.”

  I kissed her, wondering what I’d ever done to deserv
e such a sweet woman in my bed. When I pulled away, I gripped the condom and slid out of her. I stepped into the bathroom to throw the condom away and wash up, but I froze as I looked down. Holy shit!

  My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the broken condom. I’d been fucking girls and later women since I was fifteen years old. Not once in all that time had a condom ever broken. I pulled it off and tossed it into the trash, then rinsed my dick off in the sink before walking back to the bedroom. Clarity had curled onto her side, the sheet pulled over her body. She gave me a contented smile that quickly slipped away as she looked at me.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Condom broke.”

  Clarity sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. I was momentarily distracted by her rather perky breasts, but I snapped back to reality when she gripped my hand.

  “Damon, it’s okay.”

  “You don’t need a pregnancy to deal with right now,” I said. “I promised to protect you, and that means from me too.”

  She bit her lip and I could tell she was fighting not to smile.

  “What?” I asked, my tone gruff as I sank onto the bed next to her.

  “Did you not say that I’m yours now?” she asked. “That you were keeping me?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re going to love the baby if we have one?” she asked.

  “Of course, I will.”

  “Then what would be the harm in expanding our family?” she asked. “I’m not a naïve young girl, Damon. I’ve faced more in the last three years than a lot of thirty-year-old women have dealt with. Don’t let a number on a piece of paper fool you into thinking I’m some silly girl who doesn’t know what she wants.”

  I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and kissed her softly. “I know you’re not. You’re a strong, capable woman. It’s part of what I like about you.”

  “Part? What’s the other part?

  “Your perky breasts, obviously.” I grinned and she playfully smacked my arm. “I like the way you care for your son and put him first, I like that you don’t see the world through rose-colored glasses. You left a bad situation and forged a life of your own through hard work and dedication. And when everything was yanked out from under you, you still protected your son and did your best to keep him safe. You’re an absolutely amazing woman, Clarity.”

  Her eyes misted with tears and one rolled down her cheek. I wiped it away before kissing her again. From what she’d told me, I knew that no one had ever shown her any appreciation, had ever really noticed her. I didn’t want to make the same mistakes everyone else in her life had made. I wanted her to know that she was special, and that I could see how strong and capable she was, not only of caring for herself but her son too. I wasn’t trying to rescue her and dictate her life, I just wanted to give her the tools she needed to get where she was going… as long as it ended with her in my bed every night.

  “I’m claiming you,” I told her. “I’m not putting it to a vote, not asking anyone for permission. Not even you, and if that makes me a Neanderthal, then so be it. But having said that, I’m not going to lock you away or keep you in a cage. If you want to work, I’ll support your decision. If you’d like to go back to school, I’m okay with that too. Or if you want to stay home and be a mom to Caleb and any other kids we might have, then I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

  She tugged on my beard. “Are you real? I didn’t think a man like you existed.”

  “I’m real, kitten. And I admit that I can be a real asshole sometimes, but I’ll try not to be that way with you. I’m old and set in my ways so you’ll have to stand up to me every now and then. Just don’t do it front of my club. That’s the one thing I can’t allow. You want to get sassy around the house when it’s just us, I have no problem with it.”

  “Right now, I just want to curl up in your arms and go to sleep.” She yawned so wide her jaw cracked. “It’s been a while since I really and truly slept, but I feel safe with you holding me.”

  “Before you go to sleep, there’s one thing I need.”

  “What?” she asked, sounding drowsy.

  “The name of Caleb’s father. And your dad’s name too. I’m not backing down on this one, kitten. They hurt you, and I’m not going to sit back and let them get away with it.” I paused a moment. “And I need the name of the neighbor who watched Caleb.”

  “Caleb’s dad is Damon.” She smiled up at me. “But his sperm donor is Ryan Peterson.”

  “And your dad’s name?” I asked, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through my chest when she’d called me Caleb’s father.

  “Heath Davis. And the neighbor who watched Caleb was Mary Hurst.”

  “So you’re Clarity Davis and your son is Caleb Davis?” I asked, needing to know if she’d given Caleb his daddy’s name. Since she’d claimed Caleb’s dad didn’t know about him, he couldn’t have signed the paternity papers required to be on the birth certificate. I did remember that, even if I couldn’t remember much from the day my daughter was born, probably because I’d likely been drunk off my ass.

  She nodded, but I could tell she was mostly asleep already. I retrieved my phone from the pocket of my jeans and texted Shade. He was our club wizard when it came to anything electronic, and could probably hack into government files without anyone even knowing he’d been there. If anyone could find information on those men, it would be him. And once I knew where they were, I was going to pay them a little visit.

  See what you can find on a Heath Davis, daughter’s name is Clarity, and a man named Ryan Peterson who was in the area about two or three years ago. And look for a woman named Mary Hurst here in town.

  Is this club business or personal? Heard you had a woman and kid at your place

  Both. She’s my old lady and those two men hurt her, and the woman might have abused Caleb.

  When there wasn’t an answer right away, I started to wonder if maybe I’d killed him with shock by saying I had an old lady. The proper way to do things was to put it to the club during Church and let them vote. Fuck if I was going to take even the slightest chance they’d say no. Kitten was mine, and I wasn’t letting her go. If the club didn’t like it, too fucking bad. I knew they’d love her once they got to know her. Being their VP had to have some sort of perks.

  I’m on it. And congrats. Can’t wait to meet her. If the bitch, Mary, hurt your son, there’s nowhere she’ll be able to hide

  I snorted and put my phone away. Yeah, I’d just bet he couldn’t wait to meet her. Shade was a good guy, a great brother, but when it came to the ladies he was like a natural disaster that left chaos in his wake. He’d probably broken the heart of nearly every female under the age of fifty in a ten-mile radius. As for Caleb… it made me smile that he’d called the boy my son, and same for Clarity. I’d be honored to be considered that boy’s father.

  I shut off the light and then pulled Clarity into my arms. It had been a long fucking day, but I just couldn’t sleep. I could hear Caleb rustling around in his bed, and I wondered if he was having a bad dream or if he was awake. I pressed a kiss to Clarity’s forehead, then got back out of bed. After I pulled on some boxer briefs and a tee, I headed down the hallway to check on the boy.

  Caleb was lying on his side with his thumb in his mouth, but his eyes were wide open. He blinked and stared at me as I stepped into the room, but I didn’t see even a hint of fear in his gaze. If he was confused about where he was, he didn’t show it. I moved farther into the room until I was standing next to his little bed. Kneeling down, I refrained from touching him in case it made him feel afraid. He hadn’t been leery of me so far, but it was dark and it was his first night in a new place.

  “Hey, little man. Can’t sleep?”

  He shook his head.

  I held my hands out to him, letting him decide if he wanted to come to me or not. If he didn’t, then I’d back away and figure out some other way to soothe him. I wasn’t going to press him for more than he was willing to give.
Caleb looked at my hands, then pulled his thumb out of his mouth and launched himself at me. I caught him against my chest, then stood.

  I didn’t want to take him to my room since his mom had fallen asleep naked, so I went downstairs to the living room. I turned the TV on low, then stretched out in the recliner with him sprawled across me. His fingers tangled in my hair, and he held on, like he was scared I was going to leave him. Rubbing his back, I hoped he’d go back to sleep so he wouldn’t be tired and cranky tomorrow.

  “I know being in a new place can be scary, but you’re safe here, Caleb. And so is your mom. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

  He picked his head up and looked at me, staring hard, almost like he was trying to see into my soul. I briefly wondered if he was able to actually do that. I didn’t get unnerved by grown-ass men, but the toddler lying on top of me looked like he’d seen too much already in his young life.

  “I wish you’d tell me what happened to you.” I ran my hand over his head. “I know the lady who was taking care of you did something bad. I’m going to find out what it is, and I’m going to punish her for hurting you.”

  Probably not something you should tell a toddler, but his body relaxed a little more and he laid his head back down. I flipped through the channels until his breathing evened out, but every time I shifted to get up and carry him back to bed, he’d wake up again. I ended up staying in the recliner all night, dozing off and on, until the sun started streaming through the living room windows in the morning.

  I was getting too damn old for this all-nighter shit, but if Caleb felt safe and was well rested, then I’d give up a few nights of sleep. I turned on the morning news but only half paid attention to it. When I heard movement on the stairs, I watched for Clarity. She stood in the entryway, rubbing her eyes, and looking completely adorable. She’d put on her pajamas again and looked around as if she didn’t quite know where she was.