Paladin's Hell

by Manda Mellett

  “Mo certainly went off on you and Jay last night, didn’t she?” Demon and I are checking the positioning of the new camera’s behind the auto-shop.

  Reaching up, I slightly alter the angle of one, squinting my eyes to make sure the area’s going to be totally covered. “She’s apologised. Time to move on.”

  “From what I heard, what she said didn’t make any difference at all.” He nudges me in the side hard and winks suggestively. Damn. Those walls in the clubhouse really are paper thin.

  I feel myself flush. “Truth be told, Moira escalated matters. Well, her and that fucker Runt.”

  “Yeah,” Demon frowns. “He was well out of fuckin’ line.” He pauses, and looks around, then leans in and speaks quietly. “What do you make of him, Pal?”

  “Runt? After that display last night you could say I’m biased,” I reply carefully.

  “Can understand that. Hey, is that camera working?”

  “Should be. Why?”

  “Can’t remember seeing this view earlier.” Demon gets out his phone. “Ah, my mistake. It’s there. Back to Runt. Apart from last night, what are your feelings?”

  “He’s a prospect. I’ve not been here long enough to form a view, VP.”

  “Well, think on it. If there’s anything you come up with that’s made you look at him twice, let me know.”

  He’s got Runt in his sights? Interesting. But I say nothing more, just nod. “I will. Right now, apart from makin’ an unwanted move on my woman, nothing stands out. If he hadn’t been injured, I’d have taken him on last night.”

  “No one would have blamed you, Brother. Hey, you makin’ Jay your ol’ lady?”

  “That’s the way I’m thinkin’. Need to ask her first. She’s still young.” Moira’s words had got me considering. Jay deserves to have the best in her life. I just hope I can be that for her.

  “Jay’s mentally older than a lot of women her age. She’s been through a lot.”

  He’s got that right. My phone rings. Looking down at the screen, I see it’s a call I’m expecting. I wave the device in the VP’s direction, he nods and concentrates on what he’s doing as I go around the corner to answer.

  “Mouse. Whatcha got?” I’m hoping I’m wrong and he’ll say nothing.

  I’m to be disappointed. “Fuck,” I exclaim, half to myself, half to him. Wondering what I’m going to do now. In fact, that’s the next question Mouse asks me.

  “Even with this, I haven’t got enough.” I’m thinking out loud.

  “Thought you’d have a problem.” Mouse clears his throat, “Look, Brother, I know you didn’t want him involved, but I’m fuckin’ worried about you. I’ve spoken to Drummer. He agrees you shouldn’t tackle this by yourself.”

  “I don’t know who to trust…”

  “Taken that into account. You’re going to have a visitor.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Uh huh.” When he tells me the name, my face splits into a grin. Be good to have backup from someone I can trust.

  I must still be beaming as Demon stops what he’s doing. “Good news?”

  I haven’t thought this part through. “Uh, well. Yeah. I know we’re on lockdown, but one of my Tucson brothers is passing this way and wanted to come for a visit. You okay with that?”

  “He handy with a gun?” Demon seems interested.

  “Very,” I smirk remembering how he got his handle. “His name’s Shooter.”

  “He know we’ve got trouble?”

  “That’s hardly likely to put a Tucson brother off,” I scoff.

  “True that.” The VP gives a quick grin, then he looks thoughtful. “We don’t know what we’re up against. Not going to turn away an extra pair of hands that could help. Only problem, space is tight, as you know. He’ll have to be on the couch or in your room.”

  I’ll sort out the logistics later. After the info Mouse had dug up, it will be good having someone at my back as I dig deeper. Someone I definitely can trust.

  After Demon and I meet up with Cad and Pyro to discuss the fine tuning of the new security system, the VP goes to his bike.

  There’s an important stop I need to make before returning to the compound. “VP, I’ve got to make a slight detour. I’ll meet you back at the club.”

  His eyes narrow. “You’re not riding alone, Brother. You know the rules.”

  My face starts burning. “Er, I need to visit a pharmacy. There’s some shit I need to pick up.”

  “Some shit, eh?” Instead of mounting up, he leans against his bike with his arms folded. My reddening cheeks must betray me. “This have anything to do with last night? Need the morning-after pill?”

  “No.” I reply fast, not wanting that rumour to get about. “I need fuckin’ condoms, satisfied?”

  He chuckles. “Why didn’t you just come straight out and say so?” Now he does throw his leg over the bike. “I know just the place. Follow me.”

  When he pulls up, it’s not the type of store I was expecting. It’s a place with the windows blacked out. I park alongside him, raising my eyebrows. “Really?”

  An unrepentant shrug. “Thought they’d have the best selection.”

  It’s a fucking adult store. Knowing he’ll just jerk my chain even more if I protest, I kick down the stand, get off, and straighten my shoulders before stepping inside. Demon, to my relief, stays with the bikes.

  The array of merchandise is astounding. With the VP waiting outside, I try not to get distracted of the thought of Jay in handcuffs, and instead go straight to the display stand I’m after. Quickly, I realise, I’ve no idea of what I’m buying, especially when the store has such a bewildering array. I’ve never previously had reason to purchase condoms, and I’m certainly not going to be asking the advice of the female assistant.

  Instead, I nonchalantly peruse them, as if I’ve done this a hundred times before. Flavoured? Hmm. Would that mean I get to come in her mouth knowing she doesn’t like to swallow? Great idea. Now, what would she prefer? Strawberry? Bacon, for fuck’s sake? Chocolate? All girls like chocolate, don’t they? I grab a pack of those.

  Glow in the dark? Now that would be decidedly creepy. Who wants to look down and see their cock glowing green? I put those back on the shelf. Studded? Inside or out? Nah, maybe some time in the future we’ll experiment.

  There’s pleasure-shaped, warming, mint? Tingling with a spearmint lubricant. Coloured—which would she prefer? In the end, I impatiently pick up a couple of packs of the ones they seem to have most of, assuming they’re the most popular brand. Then, knowing the VP is waiting, hurry to the counter and act cool as my purchase is rung up and I hand over my cash.

  “You took your time.” Demon grins knowingly as I head for my bike. “Find what you needed?”

  It’s best to ignore him.

  As soon as I get back to the compound, I find Jayden. When I tell her about my phone call, she’s delighted at my news.

  “Shooter? Coming here?” Her face lights up. “It will be amazing to see someone from home.”

  I share her enthusiasm, but in truth it makes me feel guilty. Jayden and I should be embracing our new life, not looking back to old friends and places. Once lockdown’s ended I resolve to find out what Pueblo has to offer us. There’s no point continuing to wish for what we left in Tucson, the Herreras aren’t going to disappear anytime soon. Fuck knows when, or even if, they’ll stop looking for Jayden.

  Later, when we’ve retreated to our room, I close the door, standing with my back against it. As Jay looks at me with one eyebrow raised, I put my hand in my cut and bring out the packets I’ve bought.

  She comes closer to see. “Chocolate?” Her eyes sparkle with mirth.

  I smirk. “Thought you might give me more blowjobs.”

  The minx reaches out her hand and traces my already lengthening cock. “You liked how I woke you this morning, then?” she asks cheekily.

  “Fuckin’ ace, babe.” I press my lips to hers.

  “You like chocolate then, do you
?”

  “Mmm mmm,” I agree, nuzzling her cheek.

  “Could get some chocolate paste and smother my pussy.”

  Fuck. I like the sound of that. “Trying to sweeten me up, Doll?”

  “Is it working?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “I balked at the glow in the dark ones.” As I go on to describe the various types available, Jayden’s holding onto her sides as she laughs. It’s when I talk about the studded ones, she looks interested.

  “What about a cock piercing?”

  “How about I just give you my cock for now?” Christ, I don’t desire a needle anywhere near my dick. To get her mind on other things I back her over to the bed, watching her eyes light with desire.

  It seems easy, natural between us. Our hands move together, her helping me out of my clothes, mine helping with hers. Both of us breathing faster, heart rates speeding up. In our impatience, it doesn’t take long before we’re both naked. She lies back when I encourage her, more than happy to allow me to give her a couple of orgasms with my tongue to get her in the right mood.

  Then I’m fumbling, trying to get the condom over my dick.

  She raises her head at the delay and watches. “Did you buy the right size?”

  “Not helpful, Jay.” I toss the one I’ve just torn a hole in away. My eagerness is making me clumsy. I try again, this time with more success.

  “You didn’t get ribbed for her pleasure?”

  I send her a look. But I do love her teasing. I’m more than conscious that mine isn’t the first cock she’ll have inside her, but the first time she hasn’t been forced. I’d rather she was relaxed and laughing at me than tense and scared.

  “Are you ready yet?” she taunts, exaggerating an exasperated sigh.

  “Sure am,” I tell her, positioning myself, while watching her face. A slight look of apprehension as I start pushing inside, gently, hoping I know what I’m doing.

  She gasps, I pull out slightly, then try to advance some more. She was tight enough for my fingers, she’s strangling my cock. I’m going only on instinct, holding back when all I want to do is thrust inside. Not even her hand or her mouth, nothing has ever felt so good around my cock. Her tight, warm sheath that I can feel even though I’m covered in that thin barrier of latex.

  Her fingernails are digging into my shoulders, but I ignore the pain. On impulse I pull her leg up around my hip, which opens her to me, allowing me to gain more ground. She makes that little gasp again, checking her face, it’s with shocked pleasure. If I was with anyone else, I’d be nervous. But this is Jay, my girl, the one I’ve waited for what seems like forever.

  “Are you there yet?”

  One more push and I am, “Yes. Oh fuck, Jay. You feel so fucking good.” She squeezes her muscles. “Do that again.” She obeys.

  “Pal, can you move now? I need…” Her breathless moans and sighs encourage me.

  Fuck yeah. I pull out, push in gently. As she pushes back against me, I thrust harder. Trying to remember that spot I’d found with my fingers. I angle my hips differently, and when she groans, I know I’ve found it.

  “Pal,” she cries out in encouragement, and again I fasten my pace, putting a snap and a swivel into my hips, making sure to catch that special place over and over again. Whatever I’m doing, it seems to be working.

  “Pal, Pal, oh God, I need…”

  I reach my fingers down between us, strumming her clit, determined to hold off on my own satisfaction before, oh, fuck. She’s tensing, her muscles pulsating, she’s screaming, coming all over my dick. That’s it, I can’t hold back. Tingles down my spine, my balls draw up, I’ve lost all control and any sense of rhythm for the last final strokes as cum shoots out. Shivers run down my spine and I realise I’ve never come this hard in my life.

  I drop down over her, only when she pushes at me do I realise I’m crushing her. Well, hey, I’m not practiced at this. “I’m sorry.”

  “Couldn’t breathe,” she huffs out, but the smirk shows she’s fine.

  When I get my own breath back, I go deal with the condom. Suspecting she’ll be sore, I get a warm damp cloth and take it back to her. When she tries to close her legs, I shake my head. She’s got nothing to hide from me.

  Finally, I lie down beside her, pulling her into my arms. “Jay, on your seventeenth birthday, I’m gonna ask you to be my old lady.”

  “You are, huh?”

  “You gonna say yes?”

  “You’re giving me two months to think about it?”

  I’m a bit concerned she’s not jumping in with both feet now. But I try to be reasonable. “If that’s what you need.”

  “I think,” she starts, distracting me when her nails graze over my nipples, “I need to see more of what you can offer before I make up my mind.” Her tone suggests she’s teasing.

  “You do, huh?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “I haven’t scored ten out of ten yet?”

  She bites her lip; I think it’s to stop herself grinning. “There’s probably room for improvement.”

  “You reckon?”

  “I think you need more practice.” She’s trying not to giggle. “Perhaps quite a lot more.”

  As I pull her to me, and our lips meet, I’m thinking I’m more than happy to oblige.

  Chapter 34

  Paladin

  “Spi… Shooter.”

  Having received a man hug and a slap on my back, Shooter steps back and touches his fist to mine. “Hey, asshole. You ain’t been gone long enough not to be able to remember my fuckin’ handle.”

  Yeah, I shouldn’t have forgotten. It’s been nearly three years since he lost the name Spider, not that he was that lanky lad anymore. He’s muscled up a lot. Still the same in many ways since we prospected together, still that twinkle in his eye. You form a bond when you enter the club more or less at the same time, working all the shit jobs, trying not to complain in earshot of the members, but laying it on the one who’d understand. Hank had been our third prospect back in those days. Hank had ended up being the first to patch in, unfortunately posthumously as he had died protecting Sophie. Luckily Spider had kept her safe too, survived and patched in and had been given a new handle due to his sharp-shooting skills.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Brother.” I tell him earnestly, waiting while he gets his saddlebags and shit off his bike. “Want to come inside and get a drink?”

  He pretends his tongue’s hanging out, I punch his arm. Fuck, I’ve missed someone I can just relax with. Apart from when I’m with Jayden, my guard has constantly been up since I came here.

  As soon as we go inside, Jay comes running over, throwing her arms around Shooter. I stand back grinning, not in the slightest bit jealous of my brother. Tucson brothers all know where I stand. When she steps back, it’s natural for me to put my arm around her, pulling her into my side.

  Shooter grins knowingly. “Didn’t think it would take you long, Brother.”

  Jay speaks up fast. “Let us tell Slick and El, okay?”

  He makes a motion of zipping his lips. “Your secret to tell.” He whistles. “Wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, Paladin.”

  There may be some benefits to being in Colorado.

  He follows me to the bar, Runt, with one hand in a sling, and a slightly wary look in his eyes, hands us two beers and a can of soda.

  “Shooter, isn’t it?” Demon holds out his hand.

  “This is Demon, the VP.” That starts a round of introductions, queries as to Shooter’s ride, and how he found the journey. It’s a while before we can get a moment to ourselves. Then it’s Jay wanting to know how all the babies are doing.

  When at last she’s satisfied, Shooter catches my eye. “Can I dump my shit in your room, Brother?”

  Jay gives me a knowing look. “I’ll give you some time to yourselves.”

  Shooter follows me upstairs. Inside what counts for my home here in Pueblo, I quickly pull the comforter and sheets over the bed and straighten
them up. Guess neither Jay nor I are the domesticated types. He ignores me tidying, just waits patiently until there’s somewhere to sit.

  Leaning over he picks up something from the bedside table, looks at it and snorts. “Really?”

  I snatch the chocolate flavoured condoms out of his hand and shove them into the drawer.

  He grins, then tells me without preamble. “Mouse got you an address. I’ll text it to you.”

  I close my eyes. “Thanks.”

  “You sure about this?”

  “I’m not sure at all.” He’s sitting, I stand. Pacing the room. “Apart from the people who work there, only a couple of men knew about the parts that had been delivered.”

  “Custom parts for a ninety-nine Dyna Super Glide,” Shooter confirms.

  “Yeah. Only about three hundred dollars’ worth, if that. But they’d had to be ordered in. Brass foot pegs and passenger pegs, grips, solid brass gas cap with Fuel Hole written on it, and matching oil cap. Oh, and brass throttle holding.”

  “Nice, if you’re flashy like that.”

  I stop my pacing. “What d’you reckon they’d be worth second hand?”

  “Possibly two-thirds if they’re sold as new. Not a lot to risk getting caught by the Satan’s Devils.”

  “And a Satan’s Devil wouldn’t be able to put that shit on their own bike.”

  “His,” Shooter taps the phone, “cousin just happens to own a ninety-nine Dyna Super Glide.”

  “Bit of a coincidence, isn’t it?”

  “So what’s the plan?”

  “You and I go to the address Mouse gave you, check it out. If the parts are on the bike, then we’ve solved the garage break-in.”

  “Have you considered that might be all you solve? That it was just coincidence that happened on the same night the body was left in the dumpster?”

  Shooter’s got a point. I’d been worrying about that too. “Apart from the drive-by, it was mainly mischief. And even that was timed when there was no real chance of anyone getting hurt.”