by E. C. Land
Tears prick at my eyes, Cane might not understand this, but his words cut deep right then, making me feel as if I were a failure in keeping my daughter safe.
“Don’t cry, Parker. I’m not trying to upset you,” Cane sighs.
“Well, you’re doing a good job of it,” I mutter and pull myself out of his arms. “I mean do you know how hard it is to be a single parent? To work your butt off and the only thing you want to do is provide for your child? I work, as much as possible for Piper, to give her everything she needs. I go without so my daughter doesn’t. I can’t even get the medicine I need for myself because it’s an expense I can’t afford right now. I . . .”
“What medicine? The club provides insurance for all the dancers, you should be able to get your meds without issue,” Cane states, interrupting me.
Ugh, I hate being interrupted.
“Yeah, they do provide insurance but when it comes to not having money to go to the doctor, to cover the full bill of lab work and then having to cover the cost of the medicine itself they don’t do all of that. It takes money to get all of that done. Money, I don’t have and need for my daughter. She’s more important to me,” I state.
“What’s the medication for?”
“Not your concern,” I mutter.
“Parker, I won’t ask again. What’s the medicine for?” he growls irritably.
Good, get frustrated with me. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone.
“Like I said it’s not your concern what it’s for,” I snap and turn away from him. I need to get my daughter situated with something to wear and then get her some food.
“Mommy, hungee,” Piper pipes in. She’s always hungry and is like a bottomless pit.
“Alright, squirt, let’s get you fed then,” Cane announces. I turn around long enough to see him pull out a shirt from a drawer.
“Yay!” she squeals, throwing her arms up causing Cane to chuckle as I smile.
Cane stretches his arm out to hand me the shirt. “Don’t think this conversation is over, lil mama, we’re gonna talk later and when we do it will be alone. And after we talk you’re gettin’ your spankin’.”
Oh my.
Um.
The fire in his eyes send a shiver straight down my spine all the way to my core.
Cane could very well be my undoing.
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not right about now. My body likes the thought of him spanking me. The little slut within craves it. Whereas the sensible part of me wants to run for the hills knowing he causes this reaction within me.
If he has his way, I’m screwed two ways to Sunday.
Sighing, I take the shirt from Cane and put it on Piper. Of course, it swallows her up and hangs off her tiny shoulders but at least now she’s in more than just a towel.
Piper giggles and looks from me to Cane. “Daddy?” she asks curiously as she doesn’t know who her father really is.
“Yeah, babygirl, that’s me,” Cane states as I open my mouth to tell her the truth.
My eyes wide I meet his. I swear if he doesn’t stop, I’m going to wring his neck.
“Lil mama, if she wants me to be her dad then so be it. Already told you I’ll be in both your lives and this just seals the deal,” he chuckles with the sexiest grin in place.
Damn him.
He’s making this so freaking hard to deny him and myself both.
Chapter Eight
Cane
There is something to be said about a woman wanting to protect her child. Parker has done everything in her power to keep Piper safe and happy. In doing so she’s neglected herself in the process.
Once Parker and Piper were seated at the table with a plate of food, Parker’s filled to the brim with as much as I could get on it, I sat with the both of them to make sure my woman ate enough to satisfy me. I’m not able to watch her starve herself. Not when I can stop her.
While the two of them finish eating, I send a text message to Aries one of the prospects. Cyprus and Fist just got their patches not too long ago and Aries will be getting his soon. I should give this job to one of the two new prospects but since Aries has been around the longest, I trust him not to screw up getting the things on the list.
“Hey, brother, you good?” Whip asks, coming to sit next to me.
Nodding, I glance to Parker to find her gawking at my brother. I’d be surprised if she hadn’t at nearly seven-foot tall and one massive fucker everyone looks to my brother. Since he got out of the military, he’s grown his hair out some on top while still keeping the sides cut close. “I’m good, Whip, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be at the garage or construction company.”
Venom and Whip opened the construction company and have the club as an investor. I gotta admit they keep those boys busy. Whip and Venom both know a thing or two about structures and making sure a building is solid. I’ve even gone out there to help out sometimes when they need it but I mainly help out with providing security at one of our bars.
“Naw, not today. I’m actually gonna be heading down to see my sister this afternoon.” He shrugs.
“What’s up with her?” I ask. I know Whip loves his sister but it’s not like him to up and go down there without a reason. Sure, they’ve grown closer since the truth came out about her life and I felt for my brother during that time. He’d nearly lost it and finding out his sister was under the hands of those assholes who we took out a while ago set him off.
If the man didn’t have the control he does, my brother would probably be in prison for murder.
“The twins’ birthday is coming up and I promised them I’d be there,” he says, giving me one of his wicked grins. Fucker’s gonna go down there and cause some trouble, I can see it now.
“Cool deal, did you hear about the shit that happened down there that they’re dealing with? They ever find what’s her name?”
“No, according to Ryder, they have a clue and a few of the members of the Inferno’s Clutch MC were heading out. From what I gather they believe she’s somewhere in Montana near the Canadian border,” Whip mutters.
Shaking my head, I let out a long whistle. That’s a long way away from Louisiana. “I hope they find her. How’s Fuse holding up?”
“Don’t know,” my brother mutters once more and gives me a grimace letting me know Fuse isn’t doing well at all.
Fuck. I wish I could help them find his woman. And she is his woman whether he wants to admit it or not. She means something to him.
“Daddy,” Piper says loudly gaining my attention.
“Yes, babygirl,” I say, giving her a grin.
Giant,” Piper giggles pointing to Whip.
“Why Ms. Piper, are you saying I’m a monster?” Whip asks, acting offended by placing his hand on his heart.
Giggling, Piper shakes her head no. “Giant like in story, Mommy,” she says, looking to her mom.
“Yes, baby, just like in your story,” Parker murmurs, a slight pink tinting her cheeks.
“You telling stories about me, babe?” Whip chuckles.
“Um . . . no. I just make up stories for Piper since I didn’t have any children’s books to read to her.” Fuck me. Can my woman make me want to kiss her and strangle her anymore? If I’d known this whole time she was paying her brother all that money she was making, that shit never would have happened.
“Well, fuck me, babe,” Whip mutters.
“Language,” Parker murmurs, looking to her lap.
“Sorry,” Whip says, giving me a look.
I give him a small shake of my head, I can’t talk about this right now. I need to find out everything else that Chigger has caused my woman. I know there’s issues I need to confront her about and I will be it’s just a matter of getting a moment without Piper to do it.
I think after Aries gets back here with the clothes I sent him to get, with the help of Raven and Victoria meeting him there, I’ll find time for her and I to have our conversation. For now, I’ll enjoy the simplicity of her com
pany. Seeing her without all the gunk she has to wear.
Parker is beautiful when she takes the stage at Dolly’s Playhouse but sitting here now without a lick of it coating her face she’s downright gorgeous and I fuckin’ love it.
With her being a natural beauty, I want nothing more than to tell her she doesn’t need an ounce of makeup but I’m a smart fucker and won’t be saying shit, except for when I decide to take her to one of the clubs I’m a member of. When that time comes then Parker will do as I say and not fight me on it.
In fact, when the time’s right, I’ll be putting my mark on her. Not the ink that I want her to have but the collar that signifies her as mine. My cock twitches at the thought of seeing her wear my collar.
Before that can happen I need to make sure she trusts me. Trust that I will take care of her and Piper. Trust I will do right by her. I can’t simply take her to the room and slide it into place. No there has to be a show of trust on her end for me to be able to do it.
“Well, I’ll catch you later, brother,” Whip states, tapping the table and waves to Piper. “Later, squirt,” he says to her.
Piper giggles and waves to him. “Bye, Giant.”
Chuckles come from several of my brothers as Piper isn’t quiet in telling Whip goodbye.
“Yeah, Giant, see ya later,” Venom snorts from the stool he’s sitting on with his body turned sideways to look in our direction.
Whip looks toward Venom and throws up his middle finger mouthing ‘Fuck you’ rather than stating it loudly due to Piper being in the room. Normally, unless Corinne or one of the other little girls who come up from the Franklin charter with their dads is here, the cursing doesn’t stop. I’m sure the ol’ ladies would like us to stop but these boys are the next generation of the club.
“Lil mama, you done eating?” I ask, switching my main focus back to her.
Nodding, she lifts her gaze to meet mine.
“I need to get clothes from my apartment,” she mutters.
“Got it covered, baby,” I tell her, pulling out my phone to check the time.
“What do you mean you have it covered?” Parker huffs.
“I mean I’ve got it covered. Let’s get you and Piper back to my room and you can take a shower while we wait.” Damn images of her naked in my shower pop into my head.
Yeah, this is going to be fun making her submit to me.
Chapter Nine
Parker
I let the water stream down my body, allowing the warmth of it all to flow over me. When Cane stated he had it covered after I mentioned needing to go get Parker and my clothes I wanted to argue. However, I’m learning quickly when Cane sets his mind to something he doesn’t back down.
Plus, the thought of a hot shower without the water being a mingy drip, I’m savoring every last bit of it until the water runs cold.
Cane showed me to his room, let me in and left me alone, taking Piper with him who was more than happy to go.
Little traitor.
What is it about this man that makes not only me want to be in his arms but my daughter?
“It’s because he makes you feel safe,” my inner slut states with a snarky tone.
Ugh.
Sad part is the little slut is right. Cane makes me feel safe in a way I haven’t felt for years now. I know within my heart I can trust him, but it’s a matter of past experience that makes me want to run for the hills.
I tilt my head back and let the water rain on my face. I sigh in contentment at the wonderful feeling. I simply want to move into Cane’s shower.
Sighing I struggle with the decision I already know is going to happen. If I let him in and he hurts me though, who’s to say it won’t destroy me. I have no doubt he has the power to do that to me.
To hurt me in ways no one else has or could.
Not even my brother. Which is saying something because he’s done a lot. I mean a lot to me in the past.
For instance, sending one of his men to rape me on my nineteenth birthday as punishment for having the audacity to want to go to college. Let alone one far away from him where he couldn’t touch me. Due to my birthday being in October I graduated while being pregnant. I’d been able to hide the pregnancy from my classmates. I also opt out of walking across the stage to get my diploma since there would be no one to watch me receive it.
When Piper was born, I hoped to again be able to find a way to get out but he’d forced me to live with him stating I should spend the first year of Piper’s life taking care of her. At first, I thought this was his way of being nice to me but he had his own agenda for me. Warren didn’t want me there to take care of Piper. No, he wanted me there so he could order me to do as he commanded. I’d been lucky when I found the courage to move out and into the small, dinky apartment that all he wanted was for me to give him a majority of my money. I knew if he pushed the issue to sell his drugs I would have been back under his thumb.
Memories of our fights, our arguments, all the struggles I’ve been through over the past couple of years decide to hit me like a sledgehammer. My knees grow weak and I collapse onto the shower floor as sobs wrack my body.
My life sucks.
Truly.
“Lil mama,” Cane murmurs gently, his arms wrapping around my naked body. As many times as he’s seen me strip, I’m not worried about him seeing me without clothes on but I hate he’s seeing me like this.
At my lowest point.
God why me?
What have I done to deserve this?
“Deep breaths, lil mama, deep breaths. It’s okay. You’ll be okay. You and Piper both have me now,” he says soothingly, placing a kiss to the top of my head as he holds me to him.
Cane sits there on the shower floor holding me as I sob in his arms. Allowing him to take it from me. I’m not one to lean on others but in this moment, my head and heart are in the same place. I can trust him. Trust he’ll be there to keep me safe. Protect my daughter and myself from Warren and anyone else who might come after us.
“Parker, you’re gutting me right now with your tears,” he murmurs but doesn’t let go of me or stop pressing kisses to the top of my head.
Is this what it’s like to be cared about?
I don’t know but if it is, I don’t want the feeling to go away.
Slowly my tears subside, and I lift my head enough to turn and meet Cane’s gaze. “I’m sorry,” I utter through hitches in my breath.
“Baby, you don’t need to be sorry for crying. It means you’re human and there’s nothing wrong with that.” His thoughtful expression is my undoing though I don’t know if I’m deserving of Cane. He’s breathtaking where I’m plain.
How is it that he’s so nice to me when it’s my brother who is messing with his club? His club’s enemy is my blood and yet this man is being so kind to me.
Before I can stop myself, I lean into him and press my lips to his. Cane’s arm around my waist tightens as his hand cupping the back of my head fists my hair holding me in place. His mouth taking control as he takes over the small kiss I was trying to give him and makes it something even more. Something that sends tingles throughout my entire body, shooting euphoric sensations down to my core.
As fast as the kiss started, Cane stopped it by ripping his mouth from mine.
“Fuck, lil mama,” he rasps gravelly as I try to regain my breath. “This isn’t how I wanted this shit to go.”
Ouch.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my heart already starting to crack into a million pieces.
“Parker, whatever it is your thinkin’ in that head of yours get it out now,” he orders. His eyes narrow on me with a dominating expression like I’ve read about in books that does even more to me than I thought it would as I immediately whip the thought from my head.
“Good girl, lil mama,” he states with satisfaction. I’m surprise, I’m pleased with myself for doing as he said. “Now what I meant was I’m not about to fuck you here in the shower after you had an emotional breakdown. I wa
nt your ass in my bed with your arms tied to the posts where I can take my time with you. Bring you to climax slowly then and only then will I be inside your pussy.”
Oh my God.
My thighs tighten of their own accord.
“You like that idea, lil mama?” I nod to his question. “Use your words,” he commands.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Yes what?”
My core is tingling with need right now at the tone of voice he’s using with me. Doesn’t help his hand is still gripping my hair in his fist.
“Yes, I like your idea,” I murmur with a lick to my suddenly dry lips.
“You’re forgetting something at the end of your sentence, Parker,” he states.
I narrow my eyes in confusion, he doesn’t mean.
Oh, but he does.
“When you address me, at moments like this where we’re alone, naked or otherwise, you call me ‘Master’. From now on, I’ll be the master of your body. We’ll go over the rest of the rules later but for now we need to get you up and finished in here. We have a little girl who will be awake from her nap soon,” Cane declares.
Um, can I start crying again. I’ve never felt this much need for someone and all I want is for him to be inside me right now.
Cane’s a Dom, I’m realizing and though I’ve never thought about it, I’ve read books and it interested me. I already know I could submit to him. This is why he states he’ll take care of me. It’s who he is, in his nature.
“Now, do you understand what I’m saying?” he asks, still using the same tone of voice.
Clearing my throat, I nod. “Yes, Master,” I murmur.
“Good girl, Parker,” he rasps and rewards me with another sizzling kiss that leaves me wanting more. When Cane pulls away, I whimper in protest. “Don’t worry, lil mama, I’ll be having you soon enough, but not when Piper’s in the room with us. If you’re okay with it I’d like to see if she can spend the night with Corinne in the playroom we have here.”
