by Lilly Atlas
“Are you out of your freaking mind, Michelle?” she asked.
“Well, I’m a single mother of a sassy four-year-old, so probably,” Shell shot back as she deposited the box of fresh-baked donuts on the small kitchen table. “But I have a feeling you’re referring to something specific, so I’m going to need a bit more information.”
“Don’t you run that smart mouth at me. You may have all but cut me from your life, but I’m still your mother.”
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes was something Shell had perfected over the years. Her mother was nothing if not a drama queen. Always had been. She lived to play the victim, and anything less than positive that occurred in her life was a personal and purposeful attack against her. “Look, Mom, I had a crazy shift at the diner today and I’m exhausted. Can you just skip the games, and tell me what has you upset?”
Cindy let out a nasty chuckle before grabbing a tall glass and taking a healthy sip. One ice cube floated at the top; the rest was probably sixteen ounces of vodka. “Surprised you’re still working now that he’s got his claws in you.”
Ahh, someone told her mom about Copper. “So this is about my being with Copper?”
“Don’t you say his name in this house!” Cindy’s free hand flew about wildly. “That man and those damn bikers are responsible for your father’s death. How can you betray me like this?”
“Betray you? My relationship with Copper has nothing to do with you. And those damn bikers are the ones who took care of you for months after daddy’s death. He was their president, for crying out loud. Mom, they are our family. Bad things happen in every family, but you don’t just write off your family members.”
Cindy spat at Shell’s feet. “Fuck them. The moment I came to my senses I walked away from them. What happened? Copper finally decide to claim Beth as his own and you hopped right back on his dick? Maybe you should just go be with that deadbeat who knocked you up, and Beth and I will have dinner alone. I’m not sure I want you here when you’re trying to ruin my life like this.”
Shell breathed through her nose, trying to quell the blue flame of anger surging inside her. “I’ll say it one more time because it seems the other thousand times weren’t enough. Copper isn’t Shell’s father. I can’t tell you how much I wish he was, but he’s not. And there is no way I’m leaving Beth here alone with you when you’re acting like a lunatic.” Shell absolutely despised parents who used their children as bargaining chips in relationship feuds, but her granddaughter was the only thing Cindy seemed to care about these days. “Now, Beth has been excited to see you all week, and we’re here, so if you can keep your tongue civil in front of my daughter, we will stay for dinner. But I will not continue to bring her here if you are going spew vile nonsense about my ol’ man.”
Jesus, ol’ man. It was the first time she’d put any kind of claim on Copper, and the words felt heavenly rolling off her tongue. Of course, they also squeezed her heart in the most painful of ways. Because things were unraveling and soon she’d be unable to pretend all was right in her world. In fact, she planned to speak with Copper about Rusty over the upcoming weekend, just two days away.
Made her sick to her stomach thinking about it.
Cindy shot daggers at Shell with her eyes. Two seconds later, Beth flew into the room, a swipe of chocolate smeared across one cheek. Cindy’s eyes softened as she took in her disheveled granddaughter. Exactly the way she used to look at Shell, with love and affection. Been a long time since Shell received anything other than cold indifference or disgust.
“What’s for dinner, Gramma?” Beth asked, inching closer to the cookie sheet.
Cindy snatched it up milliseconds before little hands pilfered another sweet treat. “Spaghetti,” she said with a wide grin.
“Yes! My favorite,” Beth sing-songed. “Me and mommy brought donuts for dessert. Can we eat those first?”
With a chuckle, Cindy bopped Beth on the nose. “No, silly Beth, you cannot. In fact, if you want a donut, you have to eat all your spaghetti and three broccoli trees.”
Beth’s face fell into such a pitiful look of disgust, Shell had to cover her mouth to hide the burst of laughter. Broccoli was Beth’s mortal enemy.
Dinner was uneventful though a little stilted. Beth remained blissfully unaware of any tension between Cindy and Shell. She rattled on throughout the entire meal regaling them with stories of the “trouble-boy” in school. The one who not only kissed her on the mouth, but dropped his drawers and gave Beth a glimpse of his “hanging thing” the other day. Her incessant chatter allowed Shell to remain quiet and avoid questions from her mother.
By the time she’d helped clean up, dessert was eaten, and Beth watched Frozen with her grandmother, it was nearly nine at night, a solid hour past bedtime. Thankfully Shell had anticipated the late hour and brought Beth’s pajamas and the stuffed unicorn Copper gave her for her birthday. She refused—loudly—to sleep without the stupid thing. To top it all off, she’d named the animal Horny on account of its sparkly pink horn. Didn’t matter how many other names Shell offered up, Beth was sticking with Horny.
“Thanks for dinner, Mom,” Shell said, giving her mother a stiff hug.
“I’m going to be away at the end of the month, for about ten days,” Cindy said, standing in the doorway of the house.
Shell adjusted the drowsy Beth on her hip. Her mom couldn’t have brought this up before she was holding thirty-five pounds of sleeping child? “Where you going?”
“On a cruise.” A grin broke out across Cindy’s unwrinkled face. “A singles cruise.”
And how on earth was she affording that? Knowing Cindy was spending money on vacation while Shell had been forking hers over to Joe had her grinding her back teeth. “How nice for you.”
“I deserve this, Shell. I’ve been alone for a long time. Some girlfriends and I are going to have some fun.”
“Great. Enjoy yourself.” With a nod, Shell turned and hefted her daughter down to the car. There was no point in getting upset over her mother’s actions. Cindy was going to do what Cindy wanted to do. Always had, always would.
“Want to see my granddaughter another time before I leave,” Cindy called from the open front door.
“It is what it is,” Shell whispered to herself, a mantra that had gotten her through many a tough time. Suck it up, accept reality, and deal. “Sure, Mom. Text me when you’re free,” she called out.
“Don’t you dare bring that man around me, you hear?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Shell yelled, rolling her eyes.
After securing the many buckles on the car seat and making sure Horny was snuggled into her daughter’s arms, she slipped into the driver’s seat.
Another evening survived.
It said something about her enjoyment of the dinner that she’d have preferred to be cleaning offices that night.
Just as she was about to turn the ignition, her phone alerted her to an incoming text message.
Maverick: Any chance you can swing by the clubhouse for a few hours? Steph would be happy to watch Beth for you.
Shell glanced in the rearview mirror. Beth was already out cold.
Shell: She’s passed out in the car. I can put her to sleep in a spare room. Everything okay?
A horde of elephant-sized butterflies flitted through her stomach while she waited for the response. Had something happened today?
Oh, God…
An icy wave of fear washed over her.
Did Rusty say something to Copper…
Maverick: Your man had a shit day. Club business fucking with his head. Could use something soft and sweet tonight.
Air she hadn’t realized she’d been holding rushed from her lungs.
Okay, club business. Chances were, Rusty hadn’t spilled his guts about Beth. Thank God. Once the grip of fear left her, concern for Copper took its place. He’d never ask her to come himself, always ready to shoulder the club’s loads on his own. Hopefully, he wouldn’t turn her away. If she
could offer even an ounce of support and peace, it would be time well spent.
Shell: On my way.
A string of eggplant and kissy-face emojis was his response.
Glad for the levity, Shell pulled onto the road and tried not to let her laughter wake Beth.
Twenty minutes later she’d been admitted through the gates of the clubhouse and parked her car near the door. Not two seconds after she’d killed the engine, Beth’s door opened, and Mav appeared.
“Hey, sweet stuff, I’ll carry this monkey in for you.”
“Thanks, Mav. You’re the best. The monkey is getting heavier every day.”
Mav expertly unbuckled her sleeping daughter and gathered her into his arms without so much as making her peep. All the men were so good with Beth and willing to help Shell at a moment’s notice. She was beyond grateful for her family, unconventional as they may be.
“Where you want her, Shelly-belly?” he asked as they strode toward the clubhouse.
“You can put her in that room across from Copper’s if no one crashed there already.”
“Nah, it’s free.”
“Thanks, Mav. I really appreciate this. Especially you looking out for Copper.”
He came to a halt in front of the door. “Got some shit going on with the club, sweetie. You know I can’t tell you more, but it’s got your man in a bear of a mood. Know he’s too damn hard-headed to call you himself. If he’s a bit of a dick, try to let it roll off, okay?”
Her lips curled up. Every man here was always looking out for her. Surrogate big brothers. That’s what they were. “Got it, Mav. I can handle a growly Copper.”
Inked arms full of her passed out daughter, Maverick speared her with a stern look he didn’t often sport. “If he’s too much of a dick, you come find me or Z, and we’ll set him straight.”
“Like I said, Mav, you’re the best.” Shell landed a peck on his cheek just as the door opened, revealing Stephanie.
“Hey, Shell,” she said with a smile.
It’d taken a bit of time for Shell to feel comfortable around Stephanie. She’d been an undercover FBI agent when she met Mav, and the betrayal hit hard. But as time passed, she’d proven her love for Mav and loyalty to the MC over and over. Now they were close as sisters and part of the sacred club of women devoted to the Handlers.
“Hey, Steph.”
“Look, babe,” Mav said, glee oozing out his pours. “Shell just kissed me. Pretty sure you know what that means?” He bobbed his eyebrows then winked at his ol’ lady.
“What?” Shell said. “It was a peck on the cheek.”
With a roll of her eyes, Steph waved a dismissive hand at Mav. “Just ignore him. Come on in, it’s freezing.”
As Steph stepped to the side, Shell slipped into the clubhouse.
“Threesome, babe. Means I’ve finally found the woman who is just dying to join us.”
Shell burst out laughing while Steph gave Maverick an exaggerated nod and patted his cheek. Throughout the entire exchange, Beth didn’t stir.
“Sure, honey,” Steph said as though placating a child. “How about this. We’ll get naked and wait for you right here while you go put Beth to bed then tell Copper that you’re going to have a threesome with his woman.”
Mav’s smile faded so fast both women cracked up. “Why you always gotta ruin my fun, woman?” he grumbled as he made his way to the stairs. “All I want is a little threesome with one of your friends. But nooo, first I gotta tell Copper and risk getting my balls shoved down my throat.”
Three steps up, he turned and speared Steph with a smoldering look. “I’ll remember this.”
“I’m counting on it,” she fired back with a wink.
“Shit, woman, I’m holding a child. Don’t get me all riled up.”
Laughing, Shell hugged a giggling Steph then trailed Mav up the steps. Mav’s antics were legendary around the club. Nothing that fell out from his lips surprised anyone. They’d all come to expect the outrageous every time he opened his mouth.
“Thank you one more time, Mav,” Shell said after he’d tucked her daughter into the queen-sized bed across the hall from Copper’s suite. “She’ll be dead to the world until morning.”
“That’s good,” he said with a wink. “Though I have a feeling what’s about to come will be loud enough to wake the dead.”
Heat rushed to Shell’s face. The sexual side of her relationship with Copper was still so fresh, she wasn’t accustomed to being teased about it. She better get used to it fast with friends like Mav.
“We’ll try not to offend your delicate ears,” she said, face burning.
Mav barked out a laugh. “Sassy,” he said. “I like it, babe.” He gently nudged her toward Copper’s door. “Give it to him good, girl. The man was dished up a whole plateful of shit today.” With a smacking kiss to her cheek and one last wink, he jogged down the stairs, leaving her nodding at his retreating back.
Shell tapped her knuckles on the door. In the five seconds it took Copper to yank it open, her mind had run through every possible issue the club could be encountering. The sound of Copper’s gruff, “What?” grated over her exposed nerve endings.
“I, uh…hey,” she bumbled over the words and shot him what she hoped was a sweet smile. His large frame took up the entire expanse of the open door. The fierce look on his face softened a fraction as he stared down at her, but not enough to have her anxiety subsiding. She’d dealt with Copper’s temper many times in the past, but tonight she felt the added pressure of needing to be the one to soothe the beast.
“The fuck you doing here?” he practically shouted at her. A half-full bottle of whiskey dangled from the hand resting on the top of the door frame. Shirtless, he wore only a pair of charcoal sweat pants. The damn things hung low enough to expose a healthy portion of the V she had dreams about licking. That was one dream she needed to turn into a reality. Tonight.
“I…” Jesus, it was like she swallowed her tongue at the sexy sight of him.
He huffed out a laugh. “Asked you a question, Shell.”
She forced her gaze to leave his mouth-watering body and met his none-too-welcoming stare. “Maverick texted me. Said you might be up for some company.”
He took a swig from the bottle. “Meddling motherfucker.”
“Huh?” What had he said? She was too distracted by the flex and play of his throat as he swallowed. “Uh,” she cleared her throat. “You gonna let me in?”
“I’m shit company tonight, Shell. Just go on home, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
With a snort, she slipped under his arm and into his room. “I don’t think so.”
Copper spun, bottle in hand and stalked toward her. She stepped back until she hit the wall opposite the door. His forearms landed above her head, boxing her in. The damn man loved to hover over her. Sometimes she wished she could grow a foot just so she could be on even footing with him when he was pissed at her. Being a full thirteen inches smaller was such a disadvantage. Not that she ever felt threatened by him, but it would be nice to eliminate his ability to loom.
“What exactly is it that you think you’re going to do for me?”
Heat poured off his naked torso. Shell had to clench her fists to keep from stripping and rubbing her breasts all over that hard chest of his. “Whatever it is you need from me.” She let her gaze roam his body once again. “Mav mentioned something about soft and sweet.”
Copper set the bottle on a nightstand within reach. With his now empty hand, he traced the curved collar of her T-shirt then circled her slender neck. The fingers squeezed, not hard, just exerting enough pressure to remind her he had the upper hand. Like she could ever forget who and what he was. It was why she loved him.
“And if soft and sweet is the last thing I need tonight?” Copper asked.
She swallowed, feeling the muscles of her throat ripple under his unyielding grip. “Then take what you do need. I’ll do anything for you, Copper. Everything for you.” Even pretend for a ti
me that this relationship had long-term potential. Pretend there wasn’t a ticking time bomb counting rapidly down to a destructive blast.
“And if I want to take you so hard your legs give out and your pussy aches for a week?” He breathed the words against her ear sending shivers through her.
The pussy in reference clenched at the promise of what was to come. Maybe he needed more than her words. Perhaps he needed to see how willing she was to submit to anything he asked of her.
She took a step back, and he immediately released her neck, probably assuming she was pulling the plug. Instead, she slid her fingers into her panties. His emerald gaze followed the movement like a hawk tracking a rabbit. When she drew her hand back out, her fingers glistened, coated in her arousal. “What do you think?” she asked, holding her hand up.
He grabbed her wrist, nostrils flaring as he inhaled her scent. Then he licked the seam between her second and third fingers, cleaning them of her juices.
Holy shit, that was some powerfully sexy stuff right there.
“Strip,” he ordered as his own hands went to the waistband of his sweats.
She was about to work on her jeans when he lowered his pants. Having gone commando yet again, his cock bobbed out, hard as a lead pipe.
Her mouth and pussy watered at the same time.
Damn, that thing felt so good inside her and knowing she’d have it soon nearly made her jump for joy.
“Shell!”
Oh right.
His bark had her whipping into action and scrambling to shed her clothes. Once they were both fully nude, Copper strode toward her again. His large hands landed on her waist and the next thing she knew, she was moving through the air only to have her ass land on Copper’s dresser.
Mouth grim and eyes smoldering, he worked the rubber band out of her hair, releasing the messy bun that was part of her mom uniform. Once the strands were unbound, he sank his fingers into her hair and gripped a healthy handful. With full control over her head, he tipped her chin back until her entire neck was exposed to him.