Because He's Perfect

by Anna Edwards

  “I know what he is and what he ain’t, little girl.” King placed his hand over hers, stopping the nervous twitch.

  “I’m sorry, Tymber. I didn’t mean to bring you into this…mess. King, can I ask you a question?” At his nod, she inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of booze, sex, and smoke filling her lungs. “Would you love your brother no matter what?”

  “Just spill it out, or so help me, I’m not going to be responsible for what happens.”

  A grunt followed by cursing had her tensing, attempting to stand again, only to be pushed back down by Tag. She glared at the big bastard, then finally, realizing there was no getting around her telling King what he wanted. “Darian wasn’t my boyfriend, King. He was Luke’s. I loved Luke, and he loved me, but it was a brother and sister love.”

  Silence greeted her announcement.

  Chapter Six

  Tymber didn’t want to hurt a member of the Royal Sons, but he’d be damned if he allowed one hair on Ivy’s head to be hurt. It was a lesson in control he was sure he didn’t have, to allow Rooster with his big ass knife to hold him. His control snapping as the man decided to wrap his big beefy arms around his neck. Tymber was many things, but a fool or pussy wasn’t one of them. If the Royals wanted a fight, he’d give ‘em one.

  “If one more fucker tries to sneak up on me, I promise I won’t play nice,” he warned.

  King’s warning completely ignored as he twisted at the last second, missing the punch aimed at his head. He grabbed the bastard who tried to sucker punch him by the arm, flipping him over his back so that he landed in front of him, a look of shock on the younger man’s face. The knife he’d taken from Rooster was big, but he avoided cutting the fucker, barely.

  “Settle,” King uttered the one word.

  Tymber stepped around the sprawled man, walked up to the one named Rooster, keeping his focus on what was going on around him. He flipped the knife around, handing the blade back by the handle. “I meant no disrespect, but having shit like that shoved in my face, brings back memories I’d rather not have.”

  “Ivy, you telling me my brother never stuck his dick in you?”

  He wanted to punch King in the mouth for the way his question made Ivy jump. “What’s it matter now? I’m sorry your brother died, but what the hell does Ivy have to do with it?”

  “My brother killed himself because he caught her with another son-of-a-bitch. Ain’t that right, Ivy?” Duke, the quieter of the brothers spoke up. Menace and anger filling his features, twisting what was probably a good looking guy, into something ugly.

  Ivy was shaking her head, her hands still trapped under King’s. “No, that’s not what happened. Your brother…Luke thought you knew about him and Darian. He said you caught them together?”

  King jerked back like he’d been struck. “Are you telling me it was my fault he offed himself?”

  This time it was Tymber who jerked, looking toward Ivy for confirmation. He’d first seen her outside the suicide meeting and had thought it was her who was contemplating killing herself. He ran a tired hand down his face, sighing loudly. “King, its nobody’s fault for Luke’s choice to end his life. Fuck, I should know. If I had gone through with my dark thoughts, I could’ve done the same thing. I had to pull myself out of depression and decide that living was better than being six feet under. I did that. I would’ve been the one to end my life, same as your brother.”

  Ivy’s whispered, no was the only word uttered for minutes.

  “Everyone out except Duke,” King ordered.

  Tag, the sergeant of arms grunted. “Do you think that’s wise?” he questioned.

  “I ain’t scared she’s gonna slit my throat or afraid of that one leaping across this table. I got this.” King stood up as he spoke, each word coming out from between gritted teeth.

  Tymber stayed where he was, listening as Ivy told them about her and Luke’s bargain. From where he stood, she didn’t gain shit, except a bullseye on her chest.

  “You look ready to spit nails. Fuck, my brother was gay and was scared to tell me.” King shook his head, his hands scrubbed down his face.

  “He was scared you’d kick him out of the club. I tried to tell him you wouldn’t, but he wasn’t prepared to listen. I don’t know what you saw with him and Darian, but it was enough to make him think you knew. Combine that with his depression, he felt he had no option. I…I have a letter from him to you. Don’t do that.” She stopped speaking as King ground his teeth loud enough he could hear it as well.

  “Where’s this fucking note, Ivy?” King squeezed her hand, pain reflecting on her face.

  “Get your fucking hands off of her or so help me God, I won’t be responsible for my actions.” Tymber took the few steps separating him from Ivy. “Baby, do you have the letter?” he asked in a soft tone.

  Ivy nodded, looking toward the floor where her bag had fallen. King walked around the table, bent, and then dumped her purse’s contents onto the smooth surface in front of her. Her hands fumbled for the letter, sifting through a few pieces of mail she’d had in it before pulling it out. “It’s right here. I didn’t read it, though.”

  The charged atmosphere heightened as King read the note with Duke looking over his shoulder, both men freezing for a few minutes, their shoulders lifted and fell. King balled the paper up. “Motherfucker,” he roared, his fist slamming into the table, making the bottles on top fall off, shattering glass echoed around them.

  “Why have you skipped out on us if you weren’t guilty? Why’d I have to virtually kidnap a man to get you here?” King asked, moving around to take his seat back.

  “After you had a couple members break into our apartment and beat the shit out of Darian, I felt it was in my best interest to make myself scarce. I’d planned…I mean, I thought about leaving, but…” she trailed off.

  Tymber stared at Ivy, then King. “You were at the center because you were thinking of killing yourself, weren’t you?” The knowledge had his gut rolling.

  She shrugged. “I didn’t have anything to lose or to live for. My family has always been Luke and his family. Without them, I had nothing.”

  He didn’t care about protocol anymore. His arms moved with no fear of consequences, pulling Ivy into his embrace. “You have so much to live for, Ivy. You hear me?” He gave her a shake, wanting her to acknowledge his words.

  “I thought he was bi, not gay,” Duke muttered. His head in his hands as he spoke. Bent over in the chair, he looked gutted. “He was my twin. How did I not know what he was going through?” Duke stood, the chair scraping loudly behind him, falling on its side in a crash. “Who’d you have go rough up their place?” he asked King.

  King held his hands up. “I didn’t.”

  “Yes, you did. Darian said the guys had on their cuts and told him he was gonna pay for Luke’s—his death.”

  “Either Darian,” King spat the name out. “is lying or someone took it upon themselves. You know who I believe, don’t you?”

  She reached for her phone lying in the middle of the table. “Darian saved them coming and going on our security camera. I didn’t look, but I know he wasn’t lying. My door didn’t just get broke down on its own, King.”

  King grabbed the phone with the glitter shit of a cover on it. “Show me,” he ordered.

  He almost felt bad for the fear and anxiety he could see stamped on Ivy’s little face. Almost being the key word. Once she put her code in, she handed him the phone. He opened the app for the security company, his thumb hovering over the key that said Event History. One push and the dates began to pop up. He scrolled down, stabbing at the date in question. “Fuck,” he muttered as he watched two prospects enter the building. The next saved event was over an hour later. Again, he hit the button, watching Frog and Groot swagger out. From the looks of the two men, they were proud of whatever they’d done. “Duke, get Frog and Groot in here.”

  He barely controlled the urge to bust the phone held in his palm, anger surging through him like lav
a. If he wanted to see his brother alive again, he knew all he had to do was scroll back a couple more weeks and see if there were any saved events. Instead of following through on the impulse, he sat the phone down, the last video still displayed.

  “Have a seat, fuckers,” Duke growled.

  Ivy looked toward the two men, her hate clear as the green in her eyes. King knew then if she’d have had a gun, she’d have shot the two bastards. He wasn’t far behind in his thoughts. “You need to tell me anything?” King asked, breaking into the silence.

  It took the two idiots less than two minutes to turn on each other, each blaming the other for their actions. “We were going to tell you, but then we noticed some things,” Frog muttered.

  “Well, don’t stop now.” King waved him on.

  He listened to the men explain how they’d began trashing the place after beating the shit out of the man who’d been there. “So, you decided to fuck up my brother’s home without asking me for permission?”

  Again, each of them spoke over the other until he had enough. “Groot, shut the fuck up. Frog, what made you decide your actions? Let me warn you, if I don’t like what you say, there’s going to be consequences.”

  Frog’s words brought his mind to a hard stop. “You didn’t share a bedroom with Luke?”

  Ivy shook her head, tears leaking down her cheeks.

  “This Darian, he was important to Luke?” King asked, his hand balling into a fist. Control, he needed to get his shit back under control. Ivy’s dark head nodding up and down pissed him off. “Why did he hide from me what was essentially his life?” he breathed out loudly.

  “He loved you both, worshipped you. He just…he was scared.” Ivy lifted her hand, placing it on top of his.

  “Tymber, sorry you got pulled in the way you did. I know how stubborn this one is, and one of my guys said he’d seen you two together on several occasions. I took a chance and, well shit, here we are.”

  King could see the war raging in Tymber’s eyes. On one hand, he knew the bastard wanted to punch him, yet he also didn’t want to show too much disrespect. He put his other hand over Ivy’s. “You two get out of here. I’ve some things to take care of, but Ivy,” he said, waiting until she met his stare. “You’re still family. You’ll always be family.”

  Ivy’s chin wobbled, more tears flowed from her eyes. “Thanks, King.”

  He sat back, waving his hand, he dismissed her and Tymber. However, the man didn’t seem to be mollified. “You got something to say?” King raised one brow.

  Tymber leaned down, so he was on the same level as King. “What happened tonight wasn’t cool, but I know you were doing what you felt was right. Next time you want a meet and greet with me, call first. I don’t like having my chain jerked even by someone I liked and respected.”

  “That sounds past tense, Tymber. I suppose I owe you an apology?”

  He grinned as time ticked by. Frog and Groot shuffled their boots in the ensuing silence.

  “Was that your apology?” Tymber asked, pulling Ivy into his side.

  “That’s as good as you’re gonna get. Now get the fuck outta here. Ivy, don’t be a stranger, girl.”

  When the two walked out, he speared his prospects with a glare. “Now, let’s have a talk, boys, shall we?”

  Tymber walked out with Ivy under his arm. He was shocked to see so many standing around, waiting outside for whatever they were anticipating happening. He’d be damned if it was a show of him getting his ass kicked.

  “I suggest you stand the fuck down,” Tymber warned.

  “Let them through, King’s orders.” Tag moved away from the crowd, coming into the circle they’d formed around Tymber and Ivy, speaking loudly enough he could be heard over the murmurs.

  “I’ll follow you, Ivy.” Tymber didn’t take his eyes off of Tag.

  His breath stalled in his throat as she did what he said. He then proceeded to where he’d parked his bike, happy to see they hadn’t fucked it up. “Thanks for the hospitality.” Tymber fired his motorcycle up, using his feet he moved it backward. The red lights from Ivy’s Bronco flashed, showing Tymber she was stopping. He lifted two fingers, saluting Tag before he followed Ivy. Fuck, his damn heart was near to bursting. Usually he’d go for a long ride and get his head on straight. Instead, he followed Ivy as they rode out of the driveaway. A mile or so down the road, her Bronco swerved to the right, coming to a jarring stop on one of the scenic lookouts that dotted the highway. He let his bike come to a rolling stop next to her rig, waiting until she glanced his way. In his hurry to follow he hadn’t put his helmet on, which normally would’ve been his first move. Now, he set the stand down after turning the key, The cool night air ruffled his hair while he sat, waiting for her to look his way.

  When her head turned, and those eyes that were so green he swore he could get lost in them met his, he knew then and there he’d fallen in love for the first time. He dismounted the bike with ease, moving toward her. The driver’s door flung open, and then he found himself holding onto a sobbing Ivy.

  “You fool,” she whispered.

  Tymber palmed the back of her head. “Is that all you’re gonna say?”

  Ivy stood on her toes, her body shaking, not from cold, but the release of tension he was sure. “They could’ve killed you.”

  Gripping a handful of her hair in his fist, he made sure she couldn’t look away. “You shouldn’t have followed us.”

  Ivy slapped his chest once, twice, three times, then her hands went around his neck, pulling him down to her. “I will always follow you.”

  He looked around them, the dark night lit by stars and the soft glow of the moon the only lights. In the still of the moment, he bent, taking her lips in a kiss that was a claiming. She was his, and he’d make damn sure nobody else could hurt her.

  The need for oxygen had him breaking away from her lips, her arms around his neck squeezed. “We need to go before my body overtakes my mind and I end up fucking you where we stand,” he muttered, kissing her again because he could do nothing else.

  “I don’t care where we are. I want you now.” She released her hold, wriggling until he dropped his arms. Staring transfixed at the sight before him, he swore he was in heaven as her top was pulled over her head, then tossed aside. Her eyes held him spellbound while her fingers unsnapped her bra, giving him a glimpse of the perfect mounds while she peeled one side back then the other, her shoulders rolling helped her remove the scraps of silk and lace.

  “Fuck, you’re gonna kill me.” In all honesty, he’d die happily if he was buried inside Ivy.

  She unsnapped the button on her jeans, the sound of her zipper going down excited the fuck out of him. For too many nights he’d fantasized about seeing all of her laid out before him. Again, he looked around the clearing. “Wait,” he ordered, stopping the shimming she was doing to get the tight as fuck denim off. He scooped her off the ground and carried her around to the passenger side, opening the door with one hand while still holding her with the other. Slowly, he let her slide down his front, the sweet sensation of her hard little nipples scraped against his shirt covered chest. He had yet to show her his scars from the removal of the cancer and the surrounding tissue. Hell, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever told her the extent of his fight. A fight he won and was at the five year mark, meaning he was considered cancer free. Not in remission, but in the clear.

  “There’s something I need you to know,” he broke eye contact, looking over the city below.

  “Whatever it is, if you’re not married or have a girlfriend, and you’re not gay, which I’d be fine with, but clearly we’d have to—”

  Tymber silenced her ramblings with a kiss, his body aching to feel her nakedness against him. “Lets get a few things straight. One, I’m not now nor have I ever been attracted to men. Two, I don’t have a woman in my life, other than my sisters and nieces. Three, I’m done talking for the moment, woman. Take those jeans off unless you don’t like them, which I’d then happily destr
oy as I stripped you. Your decision.” He waited, watching Ivy’s chest move up and down was a work of art.

  “What about you?” Her sassy words were accompanied by a grin.

  He undid the top button on his jeans, the crown of his dick sprung free from the tight confines. “I don’t want to get caught with my clothes off, but I promise you this, once I get you to my place, you can explore ‘til your heart’s content.”

  Her hand moved, the tip of her finger ran over the top, spreading the moisture over the head. “What about me?”

  “Trust me, if anyone shows up, I’ll be able to keep them occupied until you’re dressed. I have a feeling I won’t be wanting anyone else to see this body but me,” he groaned at the feel of her hand fisting his dick. “Pants off, Ivy,” he ordered.

  He sighed at the loss of her touch, until seeing her shimmy the jeans down her legs, taking a little scrap of lace with them. She stood straight, letting him look at her. “Fuck you’re perfect.”

  With her jeans below her, she knelt, grabbed his jeans and opened the fly further. Tymber nearly came at the sight of her kneeling before him, her pink little tongue swiping over her lips. God, he wanted to feel her mouth on him. “You planning on staring at my dick all night?”

  Ivy leaned in, placing a kiss to the top of his aching cock, then swiped her tongue across, moaning as she slipped her mouth over the end. Tymber tunneled his hand into her hair, palming the back of her head, guiding her in the rhythm he wanted. She kept one hand on the base, keeping him from going too far. Pulling off, she looked up at him. “I can’t take it all,” she explained.

  He nodded, giving her head a little tug. “Babe, what you’re doing is perfect.”

  Ivy licked the tip again, her eyes fluttering closed. Tymber wanted to order her to look at him, but he too felt the need to close his eyes and enjoy. Only the image of her, on her knees sucking him was one he didn’t want to miss. He let her suck him for a few more minutes, each second was a lesson in control. Finally, he tugged her off him, lifting her to a standing position. “The first time I come with you, I want it inside your pussy, not your mouth. Although I do reserve the right to replay this scenario again.”