by Debra Kayn
Suddenly, he had too many clothes on, and he shrugged out of his coat. Celina's found his buttons and quickly undid each one. Her breath came in little pants as she worked to help him remove his shirt. She no longer had the nervous touch of someone not used to touching him. Instead, she expertly roamed his chest with her hands.
She gazed up into his face, passion bright upon her cheeks. His hardness pulsed. He'd never tire of the way she openly gave herself to him.
"I want you." He sketched every soft plane of her face, memorizing the way she looked right now, on their wedding night.
She lowered her gaze to his chest under her fingers. Her wet tongue ran the length of her bottom lip. "Please..."
Celina legs caressed his sides. He worked fast to remove the rest of his clothes. His legs trembled with desire, and he hurried to return to her embrace. "You are driving me insane, babe."
"Let's go insane together. Now. Right now." She arched up and pressed her body against him.
They came together in perfect harmony. Drake smoothed her hair back from her face to meet her eyes. The emotions of the day surrounded him. The overwhelming intensity of the moment sent a quick jolt through his body.
His hardened arousal seated deep within her warmth. She writhed against him. He slipped his hands underneath her body. The smooth material around her hips bunched underneath her bare bottom and the sexy way her body slid against him sent him plunging, withdrawing, thrusting within her. She mewed, and he quickened his movements.
The sensation of her womanhood pulsing, squeezing, loving him nearly took his breath away. As they moved together as one, she met each stroke from him with an enthusiastic response.
Her gasp and squeal of euphoria spurred his release. His body stiffened as hard spasms shot down through his legs and up to his chest.
His pulse raced, and his mind went blank. The only thing he grasped was the immense love he had for Celina.
"I'll never forget this day." He rolled to the side without letting her go.
"Nor I. You are what I have waited for my whole life."
Chapter Twenty-Two
Noise from the activities out in the courtyard trickled into the suite, rousing the newlyweds from their latest nap after consummating their marriage for the fourth time. Celina stretched her legs. Drake moaned. His manhood swelled beneath her hand. Her husband was insatiable.
"Good morning."
"It's morning already?" Celina lovely stroked his length.
Drake growled and pulled her on top of him.
She laughed, and dodged his hands before climbing off the bed. This was the first full day of being Mrs. Randall, and she felt invigorated to start the day off right. "I'm going to bathe."
"Good idea, I'll join you." Drake sat up.
"No, I want to surprise you." She kissed him. "Stay in bed, rest. You'll need all your energy later."
***
Drake awoke with a jolt and sat up in bed. Something was terribly wrong. He picked up his watch off the bedside table, and breathed a sigh of relief. Celina had only been gone fifteen minutes. She'd still be in the bath. The bath!
"Damn it."
He jumped out of bed, pulled his pants on, and ran out the back door. The rocks dug into his bare feet. How stupid could he be? He knew better than to let her go out to the detached bathhouse by herself. With Shanna still on the loose, Celina wasn't safe anywhere on the island.
"Celina!"
The bathroom vacant, he turned the corner and looked in the sauna. Damn.
"Celina!"
He ran back to the suite and dressed. He couldn't lose her. Maybe someone else distracted her, and she was in the courtyard.
Outside, he searched the crowd of people for any sign of his wife. An overwhelming sense of panic hit him in the solar plexus. He leaned over and braced his hands on his knees. Where was she?
The palace crawled with people moving about after a late night at their wedding. Drake ran through the hallway headed straight to Prince Joqua's office.
Linje spotted him and ushered him in without question.
"Drake, what is the meaning of this?" Prince Joqua leapt from the floor. "Where's, Celina?"
Drake bent over, his breath coming in great waves. "She's gone."
"What are you talking about? Gone? Where?" Prince Joqua clutched him by the front of the shirt and hauled him up.
"She...she got up this morning and went to the bathhouse. I didn't...I didn't think. I can't find her."
"Shanna," Prince Joqua hissed. He let go of Drake and turned toward the doorway. "Linje! Go round up my men. Shanna has taken Celina again."
Linje ran out of the room followed by Prince Joqua and Drake. Drake listened to the prince issue orders to the palace guards and demanded they lock down the house and secure the women to their wing immediately.
"I'm going down to the docks. Last time Shanna mentioned shipping the women off the island." Drake already headed toward the door. "Let my dad know what is happening. He must keep Natalia safe."
"Yes. Find my daughter."
Drake nodded.
He ran across the courtyard and followed the road to the market. If Shanna succeeded in shipping Celina off the island, he might lose her forever. He wouldn't have any idea where she'd end up.
Men rushed about loading crates onto the decrepit barge tied to the dock. He didn't ask to board, but leapt onto the deck and shoved his way past the dockhands.
"Celina!"
Hands seized him, but he pushed them off and forced his way down into the belly of the ship. Barely using the ladder, he jumped to the floor. Crates stacked the whole area. He scanned the room. Nothing moved.
He punched the crate nearest him. "Where are you, Celina?"
As he turned to go up the steps, the softest shuffle came to him. He stopped midway up the ladder and listened. Was that a muffled voice?
The sounds of the men above him on deck and the slapping of the waves against the side of the barge blocked out anything he imagined.
"Celina!" His echoes bounced back to him, and he waited it out. Yes!
Someone other than him was in the room. He dodged cargo and pushed boxes aside. He worked his way toward the far corner of the storage area. I'm coming for you, Celina.
He almost tripped over a large shipping container. His arms wide, he braced his feet, coming to a skidding halt. He'd found her.
Shanna had taped Celina's mouth, and his wife fought the binds keeping her hands behind her back. Drake stepped forward. The tearstains on her face had him seeing blood. He'd kill the person who caused her more pain.
"Stop right there." Shanna stepped out behind Celina, and set a knife to her neck.
"Please, let her go. I'm taking her to America tomorrow." Drake held his hands out to his sides.
"It's too late. She and her mother ruined everything. I cannot go back to the palace."
"I'll give you money. You can live anywhere. Just let Celina go, and I'll see that you can safely travel anywhere you would like." Drake fought to keep his voice calm.
"No. I have lost the prince and I have lost my daughter. There's nothing left for me." Desperation lined Shanna's features, but her arm remained steady. Too steady. Positive Shanna might slice Celina's neck without an ounce of guilt, he dared not make the wrong move.
Celina moaned under the tape and looked over Drake's shoulder, her brows lifted. He didn't want to turn around and find what held Celina's attention with Shanna holding the knife into the delicate skin on Celina's neck.
"Shanna, let my daughter go."
Drake kept his arms up. He held his breath as Prince Joqua came into view from the side. He perched on his toes, ready. If the prince distracted the woman from him, he might have a chance to apprehend Shanna and get the knife away from Celina's neck.
"I said, let my daughter go." Prince Joqua moved closer.
Shanna shook her head, her eyes feverish. Drake poised for attack. That's it, a little farther.
"I won't tell yo
u again, Shanna. Release Celina and stand back. Now!" Prince Joqua's final order spoke directly to Drake.
He rushed forward and caught the arm with the knife in his grasp. With one shove, Shanna crashed to the floor. The weapon tumbled away from her, and Drake reached over to catch Celina in his arms. "God, baby, are you all right?"
She nodded, the tape muffling her words. Drake apologized, and then swiftly ripped the tape off her mouth.
"Ow!"
"I know, I know, baby. It's all over." He kissed her cheeks, her lips, and her neck.
"My hands. Please, Drake, untie my hands."
Drake found the knife he'd wrestled away from Shanna and used it to cut the rope. He massaged Celina's wrist. "It's over."
Prince Joqua held Shanna captive and called for his men. The moment they filled the area, he shoved his second wife away from him. "Take her away and lock her up."
"Papa, is Mama safe?" Celina bunched the front of Drake's shirt in her hands.
Prince Joqua stepped over and gathered her in his arms. "Your mama is fine. She's safe at the palace with Charles. Did Shanna hurt you?"
Celina shook her head and stepped back to wrap her arms around Drake.
Prince Joqua clapped Drake on the shoulder. "Let's get you two home. I bet Charles and Drake would like it if you took an earlier flight and left tonight after your family says their goodbyes, yes?"
"Yes!"
"Yes!" Drake laughed and shook the prince's hand. He walked back to the palace with Celina tucked safely under his arm. "Let's go home, wife." Home to America.
Epilogue
The moon glowed over the mountains, lighting up the backyard. Celina relaxed beside the swimming pool, having attended Charles and Natalia's wedding earlier. Drake swam laps in front of her, and she smiled.
His muscular arms cut through the water; barely a ripple rose across the pool. A warm tingle started low in Celina's belly and spread into her womanhood. The sight of him always excited her, even after six months.
Six more months of discovering life in America, she'd learned how to belong in a culture where men and women strived for the same dreams. Sometimes she still struggled with saying 'yes' and 'no' to other people, but that happened less often now. At home, she'd become a bear to argue with and enjoyed seeing the frustration on her husband's face when she got the best of him.
Of course, she always rewarded him. At times, she wondered if he chose to argue with her just to get the benefits afterward in bed.
"Deep thoughts, hon?" Drake materialized beside her.
She leaned her head back on the chair and purred. "All about you."
He groaned. "Ready for bed, Mrs. Randall?"
Drake flung the towel over his head and rubbed the moisture out of his hair. His body dripped water on Celina's legs, and she jumped up.
"Brr...that's cold."
"I can tell." Drake stared at her chest and wiggled his eyebrows.
Naked as the day she was born, she enjoyed the reaction she received from Drake. Especially now, since Charles and Natalia moved into a new home and had given Drake's childhood home to them as a wedding gift.
Despite her love for the freedoms offered in America, there were a few things from Antaka she wasn't willing to give up. She walked around naked anytime she wanted. She just made sure to double-check the locks on the front door first.
Drake snapped his towel, and a sting on her bottom followed. She jumped ahead of him through the door and shimmied her backside to tease him. "Hey, you'll pay for that, mister."
"You know what? I don't believe you ever stood on your head for me. Remember? You told me," he scratched his chin and grinned, "it would be the best orgasm I ever experienced."
Celina kept walking. Of course, she remembered. "Hm...I'm not sure what you're talking about."
Drake's arms fell, and he tossed the towel to the floor. He followed her to the bedroom. He pouted, and Celina loved the way his lower lip stuck out. She enjoyed those lips.
Inside the bedroom, Celina stopped and pointed for Drake to stand over by the bed. He raised an eyebrow, but followed the direction of her finger.
"What you wish, I shall give you," she purred. "Like the dutiful wife that I am."
"Dutiful?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes, dutiful."
Celina took two steps toward him and bent over. She placed her forearms on the floor to cushion her head and kicked off from the floor. Doing a headstand, she arched her back and spread her legs until she wrapped them around Drake's waist to anchor herself.
"Oh. My. God." Drake clutched her hips.
She imagined the expression on his face. This position had rumors of making one's husband a slave for life. She smiled to herself and let him experience the full effect this position did for a man. For her husband.
"Celina!"
His voice quivered, and her own juices ran knowing what her manipulations did to him. She basked in knowing that she alone knew the secret. Why wouldn't she? She was a trained Antakian Princess.
THE END
Grasping For Freedom, Bantorus MC series
— Chapter One Sample—
The rough idle of Torque Kendler's Harley Davidson muffled the conversation between the two women outside Cabin D. Torque cut the engine, toed the stand, and moved off his motorcycle. Sometime between last night and this morning, the new gal— Brandy, had arrived in Pitnam to take over Gladys's position as the manager of the bar.
Gladys's shoulders rounded even more as she glanced over at the line of motorcycles lined up in the parking lot and shook her head, looking every bit her age today, before walking toward her vehicle with slow steps. Torque clenched his teeth and swallowed past the emotions of what Gladys's leaving meant.
At sixty-eight years old, Gladys deserved to retire and spend her free time enjoying her activities away from the bar. He exhaled loudly. She was every Bantorus member's surrogate momma and knew every secret, every story, and every bit of scandal that rocked Pitnam.
The MC members were obligated out of love and respect to let her enjoy the rest of her years without burdening her with club business. He'd continue to protect and look after her, because he'd personally promised her deceased husband, Willy, she'd remain part of the family for life. Gladys was Bantorus, through and through.
Gladys leaving left a hole within the club that a younger, more energetic woman at the headquarters of Bantorus MC would never be able to fill. He gazed back at Brandy. The chick wasn't what he expected. Rain, the president of the Bantorus Motorcycle Club, described her as smart, educated, and most of all reliable.
First impressions shot down each one of those qualities.
Her hair—long and blonde, but dyed black underneath nearly hit her waist. A slim waist above an ass used to bouncing on a man's dick. No way could a woman walk with loose hips and that much confidence without knowing exactly what she was doing to every man watching her. He leaned against the wall and refused to look away when Brandy's gaze hit on him outside the door.
High cheekbones, angled chin softened by full lips almost distracted him from the narrowed eyes. Green eyes stared intently at him, making him wonder how in the hell a woman like her found herself in Pitnam. Or, how Rain found her through his contacts.
Brandy's eyebrow lifted. The small silver round ring at the edge of her brow picked up the glare from the setting sun and seemed to taunt him. His breath caught in his chest. From outside appearances, she was any biker's fantasy with her tight jeans—ripped at the thighs, her chrome spikes on black leather boots tilting her tits and ass out to an angle he appreciated.
She fit right in with the bitches hanging around the bar.
Yet, she was different from any of the girls or old ladies at the club. Those differences rubbed him the wrong way. Independence, lack of respect, over confident, and opinionated were qualities in a woman he typically avoided.
Besides his irritation with the newly acquired manager, there were too many changes happening around him la
tely to trust anyone new. His shoulder throbbed reminding him of the dangers that had infiltrated his town lately. Bantorus Motorcycle Club was on tender ground and Pitnam wasn't the safe haven it was years ago.
Los Li, part of the Mexican mafia, shot him twice in the last ten months, and almost took the lives of two women belonging to Bantorus members. Men were dropping like flies for their old ladies and settling down. Now Gladys leaving Cactus Cove left him wanting to escape on a long ride to avoid the turmoil that came with changes.
For some reason, this new chick bothered him and he couldn't figure out why.
Brandy walked toward him with long strides, showing off her killer legs again. He remained where he was, not taking his gaze off her. She surprised him by staring back, all the way to the door. She continued her stare down as she grabbed the handle, twisted, and walked into the bar.
Finally, the door closed blocking her from his sight. He blew out his cheeks. Shit. She was a piece of work.
The door swung open again and Brandy stepped out of the building, crossed her arms, and said, "What the hell is your problem?"
A bitch with a mouth on her.
He lowered his gaze and took in the heaving breasts under her skintight T-shirt. He moistened his lips, surprised to find he wanted to keep her mouth busy so he didn't have to listen to her attitude.
"Ah, I see." She lowered her arms and pointed at her chest. "Take a good long look, buddy, because that's all you're going to get from me."
He tilted his head and spoke to her tits. "Is that so?"
He saw movement coming from his left and grabbed her wrist before her hand made contact with his face. "I'll only tell you this once, so listen closely. You ever try to hit me again, and I'll hit you back."
She covered her shock well, except for the swift intake of air. "You'd hit a woman?"
He never had before, but he didn't want her to test him. There was only so much he'd accept and taking shit from anyone, man or woman, wasn't going to happen. "All you need to know is I'm an asshole who you need to stay away from."
