CARTER (Steel Daggers MC Book 6)

by Elisa Leigh

  I pass Carter’s room and stop in front of his door wishing he was in there instead of wherever he’s gone. Maybe he went to see a woman, a girlfriend perhaps, that knows more about what he wants and how to give it to him. When I get to my room I close and lock the door then strip out of the stupid dress, throwing it into the trash instead of my suitcase. I take a long hot shower, scrubbing the feel of that guy off of me. God, I’m so fucking stupid. What Tyce said to me earlier and not knowing where Carter is has me tied up in knots. Is Tyce right? I know with my condition I need to be careful and that it’s best if I stay in low-stress environments. All of the doctors I’ve seen have told me this time and time again. I know this, yet ever since I saw Carter walk into the bunker looking like some ripped, combat-ready, bad boy I’ve been hooked. It’s not just his good looks either. I’m surrounded by muscular tattooed men every day. Not one of my brother’s men have ever made me feel the way Carter does.

  I stand under the shower letting the hot water rain down on me. When I was twelve I was involved in a car accident with my parents. They didn’t make it and neither did the woman who had been drinking heavily that crashed into us head-on. I was placed in a medically induced coma for over a week due to a skull fracture and when I woke I wasn't the same twelve-year-old girl I used to be. My entire life was turned upside down because of my injuries and the loss of my parents.

  My brother came home from the military when he got word of the accident. He ended up being honorably discharged from the Army because he was the only family I had. I was now his responsibility, one he probably wasn’t ready for at twenty-seven. It wasn't long after I was released from the hospital that I had my first seizure. A few months and several seizures later I was diagnosed with epilepsy. The doctor said it was from my severe head injury. Over the years we've learned what triggers cause my seizures and the things I need to avoid to keep from having one. I have to take medications daily. That combined with a healthy diet and a stress-free environment help to keep me seizure-free, most of the time.

  Life on the road isn’t without stress, but Tyce does his best for me and so does his crew. He always makes sure that I go to my doctor appointments and that I fill my prescriptions regularly. The truth is I’m an adult now and have been taking care of myself for longer than he cares to admit. We’ve been avoiding the elephant in the room for far too long. I tried going back to school after my accident, but I couldn’t handle it at the time. Tyce pulled me out and homeschooled me. I stuck with it and graduated high school at fifteen. There isn’t much to do when you’re on the road, so I’ve been taking online college classes. I already have my associate’s degree and am only a few semesters away from my bachelor’s. Neither of us wants to say goodbye, but maybe now is the time. Even if it isn’t in a small biker town in Pennsylvania, I need to put down roots and start living my life.

  I get dressed in black yoga pants and a white long sleeve t-shirt, then I brush my wet hair and braid it so I don’t wake up to a mass of tangles in the morning. Gazing at myself in the mirror I wonder what Carter thinks of me. Am I just a girl with a crush on a man, or could I be something more to him? Since the day I saw him I’ve been completely captivated by the man. To his friends he’s obnoxious and won’t shut up. I’ve been watching him closely though, and there is so much that he doesn’t say. It’s like his words are a mask he hides behind so the people around him don’t see what he’s trying to hold back.

  I should know better but I can't keep away. I tiptoe down the hallway to his room and knock on his door. When there’s no answer I turn the knob. I’m expecting his door to be locked, but it opens to a dark room that smells exactly like leather and his cologne. I walk in and close the door so I’m not caught snooping around and then run my hand along the wall to search for the light, once I find it, I flip it on and look around his room. It’s surprisingly neat for a guy and not at all what I expected to find.

  It is filled mostly by the queen-sized bed situated against the far wall in the middle of the room. There’s also a dresser, a tall bookshelf full of books, and a computer desk. Only the officers of the club get a room in the bunker. There are a few extra rooms the brothers use if they need to crash, but most of the time the rooms remain empty. Does Carter have a home, or is this it for him? His room looks lived in and makes me wonder why he’d choose to stay here over getting a place of his own.

  I study the books lining the shelves and laugh when I see the large collection of Star Wars novels. The man is a nerd and it makes him even more endearing. Along with the Star Wars novels, I find a wide selection of science fiction, horror, and crime novels. He has books on war, on guns, and even some cookbooks. Lying on his nightstand is a tablet. Does he read on that too?

  I know I’m pushing it but I sit on his bed and run my fingers over his pillow. It definitely looks like he has a certain side he sleeps on because while one pillow looks brand new the one I’m touching is worn.

  Three

  CARTER

  I go for a ride hoping to clear my head. What I really want is for my brain to tell my dick no. No to wanting someone I shouldn’t. No to wanting a life I’ll never have. No to believing the fantasy could be a possibility. Life isn’t fair like that for people like me and any hope of finding it died in the middle of the desert with many of my brothers.

  There isn’t any point getting excited over someone I can’t have, yet here I am still wanting her something fierce. There’s something addicting about the raven haired beauty and it isn’t her looks. While she is the single most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, there’s something else about her that calls to me in a way no other woman has. Her brother Canton warned us all when they got here that Georgia was off limits. I didn’t worry too much about Canton swearing us off of her until I saw her. I can’t figure out what it is about her that’s drawing me in and not letting me go. It could be that I haven’t been with a woman in a while, but if that were the case there are plenty of women that come into Spanky’s who I could curb my itch with. No this is something different.

  Every time she looks at me, it’s like she thinks I have all the answers, which is funny for a guy who has none to offer. I keep my life simple on purpose. I work construction for him during the day, run the bar for Pres at night, and collect my share from the MC owned businesses around town. I do what my Pres and MC need me to, and keep my head down. I haven’t even had a girlfriend since I was in high school, but even then it wasn’t anything serious.

  I never wanted the kind of life that all my brothers are suddenly diving into head first these days. The rage I feel isn’t suitable for a family. The last thing I’d want is to snap and hurt them in some way. The idea of being tied down to responsibility and commitment makes my skin crawl. When I can’t commit to more than lunch with my sister and my nephew once a week I know there’s no hope for a different kind of future. I tuck any hope of making Georgia mine into the back of my mind and bury it deep. There isn’t a safe place for her in my world or in my heart even if I want there to be.

  When I make it back to Spanky’s, the front and back parking lots are empty, save for a few bikes I recognize that belong to a couple of my brothers. By the time I make it down to my room I see my light shining from under the door. I draw my gun, knowing my brothers wouldn’t dare step foot in my space. Ever so slowly I twist the handle and push the door open, then creep in with my gun at the ready. I’m stunned to find the object of my desire tempting me, asleep in my bed. Everything I just resolved myself to feel is out the window. I’ll make it work no matter what.

  I should wake her up. I should pick her up and put her in her own bed. What I shouldn’t do is lock my door and turn out the light. I shouldn’t get undressed and crawl into bed. I really shouldn’t pull back the covers and wrap my arm around her middle, settling in close behind her and pulling the covers up over us. I run my nose up the nape of her neck and inhale that cotton candy scent that must be all her and not from a bottle. My dick hardens wondering if her pink puss
y will taste just as sweet.

  Damn all the reasons I shouldn’t be with her because now she’s mine and I’m never letting her go.

  I haven’t been able to fall into a deep sleep with Georgia’s body pressed against me. It doesn’t help when her perfectly round ass pushes against my neverending hard cock, and then she moans in her sleep. I swear she knows what she’s doing to me even if she isn’t awake.

  When she rubs against me again, I’ve had all that I can take. I grab her hip and steady her, so she won’t move.

  “Carter,” she moans in her sleep laden voice. She grabs my hand and rests it over her stomach.

  “What baby?” I ask, leaning up on my elbow to look at her.

  Her eyes are closed and her face is pinched. “Carter please stop teasing.” She says in a whisper soft voice and pushes my hand down her belly to cup her hot pussy.

  Holy shit, she’s having a dream, and I’m starring in it. As best as I can as to not wake her, I pull my hand away from the only place I want it to be. I’m about to roll away and get out of bed when Georgia moans my name again and starts rubbing her pussy over her skin tight leggings. Fuck me, I’m a sick bastard. There’s a lot of things I should do at this moment to be the better man, but I don’t. Slipping my hand into my boxer briefs I grab ahold of my monstrous hard on and stroke it to the sight and sound of Georgia losing her mind to me in her dreams.

  I keep rhythm with her, the faster she rubs her tiny fingers against her core, the faster I stroke my cock. For several minutes I watch as she pleasures herself getting off on the site of it. At long last, she slides her hand underneath her shirt grabbing her plump tit in her free hand, then pinches her nipple, causing her to shatter around her fingers, calling my name over and over. I follow right behind her, groaning her name as cum shoots out of my dick and covers my hand, making a mess of my boxers.

  I fall back against the pillows and groan. What the hell am I doing? Sitting up, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet hitting the cold cement floor of my room. Not for the first time do I reconsider my decision on not finding a more permanent place to call my own. There was never a reason before now, but as I look behind my shoulder at the angel curled up peacefully in my bed, I know that she’s the reason I’ve been waiting for.

  I grab a clean pair of jeans and a black T-shirt from my drawer, along with some clean boxer briefs and socks, then head to the bathroom. I turn the shower on and wait before stepping under the ice cold spray for it to heat up. Once the temperature is as hot as it will get I step under the powerful spray and sigh in relief. While washing myself I think of all the changes I need to make and smile, ready to take this step. Georgia doesn’t know it yet, but things are changing and she’s at the center of it all. I didn’t see her coming, but damn am I lucky.

  Four

  GEORGIA

  Consciousness slowly weaves its way through my mind. I’m still trembling from the dream I just woke up from. This moment before my day begins, before I acknowledge that I’m really awake, I replay the way his rough hands felt as they gripped my hips, leaving marks on my skin, as he pummeled in and out of me. I can still hear the dirty things he growled and the severe expression on his face as he demanded I come for him.

  Sighing, I open my eyes with a smile on my face, only to frown immediately when I see that I’m not in my room. The only reason I know this is because I plugged a nightlight into the wall of the room I’ve been staying in since we got here. You see, the problem with sleeping underground is there is no natural light from the stars and the moon to drift in through the window leaving that natural glow, or from the sun slowly lighting up a room. Groaning, I realize I must have fallen asleep in Carter’s room last night. I hear the shower going and see the light from underneath the door of his bathroom. Oh my god! He knows I was asleep in his bed! I look to my left and see that side has been slept in. My face heats in shame and I know I need to get out of here before he comes back out. There’s no way I am ready to talk to him. I bolt up and jump out of bed, stumbling toward the door only to stub my toe against the bed frame.

  “Son of god damn donkey cunt!” I yell, hopping around on one foot. “Stupid underground bunker and no lights! Stupid bed and it’s metal frame!”

  “Aww. Now, Angel, what did the bed frame ever do to you?”

  I look up to find Carter, the man I’ve been trying to get to pay attention to me for over a week now, standing in front of me clad in a towel hanging loosely from his hips, beads of water dripping down his very muscular chest, and steam pouring out of the bathroom behind him. “Jesus Christ, it’s better than a wet dream come to life,” I mutter, my mouth hanging open as I stare at his gorgeous body.

  He smirks and I can’t even with him anymore. Scowling I turn and march out of his room heading for mine, only for Carter to follow after me, begging me to stop in between laughing hard. When wouldn’t you know it, I run into Tyce, who looks less than thrilled to see me coming from Carter’s room.

  “Good morning big brother,” I say passing the brute. I expect him to mutter a good morning, or give me shit about what he’s seeing, but he doesn’t. When I turn to ask him why he’s so quiet he’s down the hall in Carter’s face pushing him against the wall.

  “I told you she was off limits asshole,” Tyce yells.

  Carter, who is wearing a grin, and struggling to keep a hold of his towel only shrugs.

  Why does he have to be so damn infuriating and sexy at the same time? He knows absolutely nothing happened between us. Why is he egging on Tyce?

  “Keep your dirty hands to yourself. Out of everyone here, you’re the last person I’d allow Georgia to be with.”

  Carter’s arrogant grin never leaves his face, but I notice a tick in his cheek, and he doesn’t look as happy as he was a minute ago. “Too late for that.”

  One minute Tyce has him pinned to the wall with his forearm, and the next he’s swinging his fist and punching Carter in the face. He releases him and turns back, walking in the opposite direction. Carter’s eyes find mine. Something flickers behind the dark green orbs staring at me. “Hey Tyce?” He barks.

  Tyce stops and looks at me, waiting for Carter to say whatever it is he stopped him for.

  “That was the only one you’ll get. Next time, I’m hitting back. No one puts their hands on me and walks away.” Carter says, his smile gone and his eyes still locked with mine. “And this thing between Georgia and I, this is only the beginning. You want to talk about that, fine, but figure your shit out because your sister is going to be mine, best you understand that now.”

  Tyce, who’s still looking at me, shakes his head as he walks towards me. “You know this can’t happen Georgia. He isn’t right for you. For Christ’s sake, you only just turned eighteen.” He growls.

  I go to speak, but Tyce puts his hand up, stopping me, letting me know he doesn’t want to hear it, then walks past me and back to his room. Damn it all to hell, Tyce had to go and ruin my fantasy. What’s worse is that he’s right. I should have left well enough alone. When his door slams shut I wince. My eyes that have been studying the ground snap to Carter’s. When I open my mouth to speak he distracts me by walking to where I am standing, all of his sexy tattoos on display. The man needs to put a shirt on because he’s breaking my brain.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open them, Carter is standing directly in front of me, only a few inches keeping us apart. I’ve never had anyone look at me the way he’s looking at me right now. He sweeps some hair out of my eyes and pushes it behind my ear, his knuckles dragging ever so delicately down my neck. Jesus, what am I doing?

  “Don’t. Whatever you’re about to say, just don’t.”

  “Carter-”

  “Have breakfast with me. I know this place that makes the best pancakes and bacon.”

  “I can’t.”

  Stepping closer, his body presses against mine, and he leans over and speaks low in my ear. “You can’t? Or you won’t?”

  The
way his gravelly voice sounds and the warmth of his breath against my ear makes me shiver. I shift my feet, very aware of his hard on pressing against my hip. “I shouldn’t.”

  He kisses my cheek and steps back, putting space between us, a big toothy grin spreads wide across his face. “I’ll meet you in the living room in twenty minutes.”

  “Wait, … what? No, Carter. You misunderstood. We aren’t going to breakfast.” I say more forcefully, doing my best to get my point across. I’m serious, aren’t I? I’ve wanted this since I met him, but now that he’s interested I’m pushing him away? Why?

  He turns and walks down the hall to his room.When he gets to his door he looks back at me and winks, then walks in and closes it. I feel that wink from my chest down to my toes. I’m in so much trouble.

  I shouldn’t go with him. I know this, but it doesn’t stop me from walking to my room and jumping in for a quick shower. I pull my dark curly hair into a bun and search through my suitcase for something that is cute but would be safe to wear on the back of a motorcycle. I slide into a pair of light skinny jeans, some black knee-high boots, and a coral colored long sleeve t-shirt. I spray on my signature Ralph Lauren Romance and then grab my purse where I keep my medication.

  I head to the kitchen, hoping no one is in there. No one here knows about my condition or that I need to take medication daily to regulate it. I’d rather they didn’t find out either. It’s bad enough every one of the guys in the crew knows. They handle me with kid gloves, especially Drake. What my brother said is starting to make a lot of sense now. I’m seeing the way Drake was with me a lot different. When I get out there the place is full of men in the MC and their families. Usually, it’s quiet around here in the morning, even if I am getting up later than I usually do. I wonder what’s up. Ryker’s wife Emersen is in the kitchen with Lana and Holly cooking something that smells delicious. As soon as they see me they all smile big while Chelsea, Rock’s old lady, who is sitting at the breakfast bar wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Hey babe. I gotta know, How was your night last night?” She wiggles her eyebrows like I should know what she means.