“Go straight to our clubhouse,” Bill called to the Eagles, “Ride all night. We’ll sort this out, Brand. We’ll find her.”
Brand nodded unhappily. “Go with them,” Bill told Anchor. “Keep an eye on Brand.”
We clumsily loaded Gunner’s bike into the back of the truck and the man himself into the passenger seat. He wrapped his wound using a hotel bedsheet while I drove, following Bill and Theo back onto the highway. The dead, we left behind. I resisted the temptation to spit on Viper’s corpse. I settled for kicking him the nuts, and bringing my heel down on his pocket with a satisfying crunch.
I couldn’t believe it was over. I didn’t know how to feel. I just felt numb.
Bill eventually found a vet that was willing to see Gunner. A friend of a friend who was happy to stitch up the occasional criminal, low life, or biker - for a price. He sent Theo and I on, giving us the same instructions - drive through the night. Meet us at the clubhouse.
Fuck that.
This drive was a much more somber one. I became weary as the adrenaline wore off. I couldn’t shake the images from my mind - Viper, dropping to the ground with a hole in his head. Theo, shielding me against the guns, ready to take a bullet in his back. Ready to die in his attempt to save me.
You didn’t do that for somebody you didn’t care about. You didn’t do that for someone you intended to leave behind.
He signaled and pulled over to the side of the highway as the sun went down. I rolled down my window as he walked back. “You’re weaving,” he said. “Want to stop to eat?”
“Want to stop to sleep,” I said. And talk.
He nodded. Bill could just wait. He didn’t need us there, anyway. He’d left us in the dark about his setup; he could figure out the resolution without us, too.
We stopped at a fast food joint before finding a clean motel. I was more exhausted than I thought - almost too tired to eat. When we finally got to our room, I flopped across one of the two beds with a sigh.
"Gonna take a shower. You good?" I waved him on, happy to just close my eyes for a few minutes.
It was dark when I woke. Theo was asleep on top of the covers on the other bed in nothing but his briefs. The light of the television washed over his muscular form. The sight made my breath catch. Shower. Cool down, clean up. Stop staring! I tip-toed into the bathroom.
I stood under the hot water and reminded myself, Viper's gone. Viper's gone. The whole day still seemed so unreal. I'm here with Theo and the threat is gone. It's just us, now.
And he's gonna want to leave.
I dressed only in a t-shirt and undies, figuring on going right to sleep. But instead I stood frozen between the two beds. We'd been sleeping together since he'd pulled me from the van - nonsexually, for the most part - but now that everything was over, now that he wouldn't need to protect me anymore, would he want to keep his distance?
"You're doing that thing again," he said. I jumped. I didn't know he was awake.
"What thing?"
"Where you stare at me so I can't sleep." He reached out a hand. "Come here." I let him draw me onto the bed next to him, stretched out close at his side but not quite touching. Unable to resist, I lightly traced the skull tattoo on his chest with a fingertip. His skin felt so smooth and warm, I had to fight the impulse to taste it.
But why? Why fight it? We're alive and together and should be grateful.
I leaned in and kissed the skull. He tensed. "Ivy..."
My cheeks burned, with embarrassment and with anger. "Let me guess. You don't want to hurt me."
"That's right." He smoothed my hair away from my neck and traced the shell of my ear with his thumb. It was like his hands acted on their own. Like he was at war with himself.
"The danger's gone," I said. "Bill's got some explaining to do, the bastard, but it's over, Theo."
He shook his head. "I'm a danger. When I say I don't want to hurt you, I mean it literally, too." He sat up and leaned back against the headboard.
Gears clicked into place in my head. I propped myself up on my elbow. "You mean the sex stuff?" He looked away. Bingo. "Like when you spanked me? Did you forget how into it I was?" He shook his head. "So what's the problem?"
"I try to contain it but it comes out." He spoke in mumbles, like he didn't want anyone to hear. "There was a girl. Long time ago. I tried to hold back, for her. But I scared her anyway. The way she looked at me..."
I wanted to push his buttons right then. That dominating part of him that I'd seen, that he was so ashamed of - I wanted it. There's got to be a way to convince him. I let my hand rest on his thigh. "I'm not afraid of you. After what you did, I could never be afraid of you." I toyed with the elastic hem of his briefs. My mouth watered at the sight of the soft bulge below. I wanted to bring it to life any way I could.
"That's a lot of trust," he said, "To let me... take charge like that."
"Let you dominate me, you mean? Theo, there's nothing in the world I want more." I sat up and took his face in my hands. He looked shocked. That girl must have really done a number on him. "I loved how it made me feel. It shut off all the noise in my brain, and you know there's a lot more noise, now. It's like a goddamn warzone in here."
His hands surrounded my waist. My entire body rejoiced at the contact. I let my hands trail down his chest, back to his waistband. "Please," I whispered.
His eyes darkened. He answered by tilting my head to the side and brushing my hair out of the way; he peppered my neck with feather-light kisses. "You'll tell me if I'm too rough."
"I will," I said, though the idea of "too rough" for me was amusing. I plunged my hand inside his pants and found the object of my hunger. The velvety skin was furnace hot against my palm, and it twitched at my touch, lengthening and hardening as he groaned against my neck. My body throbbed with lust as our conversation put all sorts of ideas in my head. Most would have to be saved for later, but one in particular stood out. I leaned back and bit my lip. “Would you like it if I called you Sir?”
His cock answered before his mouth could, twinging and swelling to full attention beneath my light strokes. He looked surprised. “God, more than anything. Do it.”
“Yessir,” I smirked.
His fingers dug into my jaw as he tilted my head back. “With a little more respect.”
“Yes, sir.” Heat flared in my belly. He ran a thumb over my bottom lip as if examining it.
“You talk too much. Why don’t you show me what that mouth can do when it isn’t busy yapping.”
I stroked his length slowly. “Yes, sir.” I scooted further down the bed positioned myself between his legs. The sight of his cock in my hand sent another wave of arousal coursing through me. He was so big and so thick, it was almost concerning. I wanted to learn every vein, every bump and ridge. With a quick smile sent his way, I kissed the tip and flicked my tongue across the spongy mushroom head. He sighed with pleasure when I closed my lips around him.
I had every intention of taking my time until I found myself so wrapped up in him - his smell, his taste, all so very masculine and just him. It was just what I needed. I sucked him down as deep as I could, bathing his cock with my tongue. I bobbed with long, slow motions. What I couldn’t take with my mouth, I held in my hand and stroked, my saliva dripping and coating him down to his base.
When I felt his hand on my hair and his hips thrust subtly, an electric thrill ran through me. I loved this - his heat and his hardness, the soft sounds of pleasure he couldn’t hold back - I loved that I could do this for him.
I created suction around his shaft and quickened my pace. His hips bucked again and he groaned, then said, “Stop.” No, not yet… He yanked my head up by my hair. “I said stop.”
“I’m sorry. Sir. You tasted so good.”
He got up and stood next to the bed. I felt cold as he moved away. “Undress. Then get on your hands and knees.” I moved quickly, flinging my panties in one direction and my t-shirt in the other before getting into position on the mattress. Eve
ry nerve was at attention, awaiting his touch. “I love having you on display for me like this,” he said as his eyes roved my body.
He didn’t leave me hanging long. His hand came down on my ass with a loud smack. I yelped, then asked, “Shall I count, Sir?”
“No.” He struck again. I fisted the blankets; he gently massaged me where he’d struck and said, “Shh, easy.” I leaned into his touch. “Tell me why you’re being punished.”
“Disobedience. Sir.”
Two more quick blows had me gasping and panting, my head hanging down between my arms. I tried to remember that we were in a motel, not in a soundproofed room, and bit back yelps. He ran his hands along the smooth skin of my ass, soothing away the sting. I expected him to strike again, but his fingers slid between my thighs and sought the heat and wetness there.
"I'll be good, sir, please."
"Do you have any idea how hard it makes me when you say that?" he growled.
"Show me." I wiggled my ass enticingly. "Or..." I remembered something he'd said what felt like a long time ago. Something he wanted to do.
"Or what?"
"You said you'd like to tie me up. I think I'd like it, too."
He muttered something under his breath. He caressed the globes of my ass again as he considered it. I waited patiently though my heart raced. "I don't deserve you."
My heart stuttered. Was he going to back off again? He moved away from the bed and rummaged for something in his clothes.
When he returned with his belt, I internally rejoiced.
There was nothing to tie me to on the bed - just a flat, solid headboard - so he bound my wrists behind my neck so my elbows were sticking up and out. Not the most glamorous position, but we were in too much of a rush to care about aesthetics.
He guided me onto my back. I tested the thin leather restraint - it had a little give, but was pretty secure as far as I could tell.
"Spread your knees." His eyelids were heavy, his voice an octave deeper. I felt it rumbling through my bones. I parted my legs, revealing my flushed and swollen pussy to his heated gaze. "Beautiful." He gripped my inner thighs and opened me further. Dampness trickled, and he licked his lips.
His warm hands roamed my inner thighs. "Do you enjoy being bound like this?"
"I do," I breathed. Being so helpless and so open before him was oddly liberating. I was just his to use as he pleased. I didn't have to worry about being entertaining, showing him a good time. I didn't have to worry about being hurt - at least, hurt more than I liked. I was just his, and safe.
He ran a finger slowly through my slit, taking my wetness and spreading it. I shivered. When his finger brushed my clit, I thought I would explode with need.
A grin lit up his face at the mewling sound I made. Then his fingers dug into my thighs and his head dipped between my legs. His tongue licked between my folds, quickly, briefly, making me cry out when it withdrew. But then he found my clit and moved over and around it with teasing flicks, each light touch more electrifying than the last. I tried to arch my back, to lift my hips and press against him, but he held me pinned to the mattress.
My breath stopped with each tiny touch. I thought I’d go mad - but then he slid a finger between my swollen lips and inside my needy channel. I yelped with surprise. One finger, then two, he slid in and out of me with his mouth latched to my clit. His tongue teased it with a soft touch, then with firmer strokes, keeping me guessing. Every nerve was on edge.
I pulled on the belt that bound my arms again, longing to grab him and pull him closer, to urge him on. But all I could do was give myself over to the pleasure he gave me at the pace he chose. I could feel my climax building - a delicious ache right at my core - but Theo backed off at the signs of its approach, lapping at me with a lighter touch before bringing me closer to the edge again until I thought I would scream.
“Please,” I urged, “Please, you’re driving me crazy. Sir.” He growled with satisfaction at my words. His mouth closed over my clit and he sucked hard, as he thrust his fingers harder. I cried out as my insides convulsed around his fingers; my hips bucked and my body spasmed as I came. As he kept sliding in and out of me, I felt like it could go on forever.
I heard him kick his pants away while I stared at the ceiling and caught my breath. His face entered my vision as he moved over me. “Let me go?” I asked, tugging at the restraint again.
He cupped my chin planted a soft, tender kiss on my lips. “Soon,” he said. There was a longing in his eyes, like he wanted to say something else, but he looked down between us instead and ran the head of his cock up and down my wetness. My lips parted with a soft moan. He caught my eyes again as he pressed slowly and firmly into me, so hard and hot and thick, stretching me, filling me completely.
I loosed a sound somewhere between a deep moan of pleasure and a sigh of relief; I felt like I’d been waiting for this for ages. My pussy contracted around him as he squeezed and nibbled my breasts, sucking on one nipple and then the other as he let me adjust to his size.
Finally, once I was a writhing, trembling mess, he moved. He adjusted his position so with each stroke, he brushed against my clit. I moaned again and yanked at the belt, desperate to feel my arms around him. He pumped with hard and controlled thrusts, his deep brown eyes boring down into mine, the heat and the passion mingling with disbelief. He leaned down and kissed me; as his tongue slid against mine, he reached behind me and unbuckled the belt, setting my hands free. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders like I was drowning.
I couldn’t hold back the tiny whimpers that rose in my throat. He increased the pace and force of his surges, filling me over and over. The whimpers became long moans against his neck, my nails digging into his back. I was close again; my hips tilted and lifted with a mind of their own; I wrapped my legs around his waist, taking him deeper, as deep as he could go. He groaned and nipped my ear. “Come for me, Ivy” he growled. His finger slid against my clit. “Come for me again.”
My wails filled the room as my body obeyed; lights exploded behind my eyes as great spasms enveloped me. My body jerked as my pussy contracted around him, squeezing him, milking him, taking him over with me. Every jerk of his cock sent another wave of pleasure through me. His breaths hitched in my ear as he came, his whole body stiff and tense above mine until finally, he slid out of me, rolled onto his side and pulled me close.
We were both sweaty and panting and unable to speak for several long moments. But there was nowhere else to be, nothing else to worry about, and finally, after so long, we could both relax. He stroked my back as we came back to earth.
“They blacked out your tattoo,” he said when he finally caught his breath. I’d nearly forgotten.
“Yeah. Wasn’t so happy about that.” The “Property of the Dust Bowl Devils” mark had been earned - they didn’t get to just take that from me.
“Do you want to have it replaced?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. I knew what I wanted to do - I wanted to stay with Theo, wherever he went - but if that still wasn’t an option, I had no plan b in mind. I took a deep breath. “There’s only one Devil I want to belong to.”
He tensed, and I braced myself to be rejected again. But instead he said, “You could bring yourself to forgive me?”
I propped myself up on my elbow. His face was twisted with pain. My heart ached for him - I reached out and smoothed the lines away. “If it wasn’t me, it would have been some other girl. There were a bunch of other girls. You didn’t make Viper what he was. None of this was your fault.”
His eyes slid from mine. His expression darkened. “So you say.”
“Yeah. So I say.” I took his hair in my hand and shook him, made him look at me. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, coiled and ready to jump and wondering Hell, what’s the worst that could happen? I jumped. “I love you, Theo. I think I’ve been falling for you since the minute we met. I don’t know if you remember, but I kept blushing and giggling like I’d lost my damn
mind. I think this was inevitable.” I bit my tongue against the tide of words. Quit babbling.
He muttered a curse and pulled me tight against his chest, tight enough that I could hear his racing heartbeat. “I remember,” he said. He blew out a breath. “Fuck. I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve you.”
I pushed him back and made him face me again. “Then fucking earn it. I’m sick of hearing that.”
Finally, his face softened. A smile played at his lips. “You really don’t hold back a thing that you think, do you?” I shrugged. I was trying to hold back. My pulse pounded in my ears and I wasn’t sure I could trust myself to say anything more without babbling again out of fear. He seemed less upset, but I still didn’t know what he was thinking.
“Well, I talk too much,” I mumbled. I suddenly wanted to get dressed. I felt foolish. If he was going to give me the same old song and dance again, it was better if I got out of his arms; it would do me no good to hold on any longer.
But his hands closed around my arms, holding me beside him. “It started with the first thing you said to me,” he said, watching my eyes, “I was exhausted after chasing two monsters across the damn country, weary after pleading my case to Bill to let me go after them on his turf. I thought I would never catch them. They left a trail of carnage all the way from Pittsburgh. I was in a serious funk, and you… you teased me the minute I met you. I didn’t know how the hell to take it, but it was a serious bright spot while I was in a really low place.” I held my breath, afraid to interrupt him. He kissed me softly. “I love you, too,” he whispered. “Come home with me.”
My heart soared so high, I felt light-headed. I showered his face with kisses until he started laughing and held me out of reach. “That means you’ll come?”
“Yes!”
He wiped my cheek with his thumb. “I didn’t take you for a crier.”
I laughed, “I’m not!” I wiped my other cheek. Tears flowed freely, but I was still laughing. Dammit. Even now I still have the most embarrassing reactions around him. It didn’t matter though. He loved me and wanted to take me home with him. And home was a nice, long drive away.
Devil's Girl: Dust Bowl Devils MC Page 13
