Rain

by A G Henderson

  “Your husband. Where is he?”

  She grimaced, eyes darting over my shoulder and then away.

  So fucking obvious.

  “He’s away on business,” she managed, throat working. “Harold won’t be back until the weekend.”

  I lowered the wrench, letting it briefly press against the pulse in her throat. Her eyes flashed with vicious glee and I wanted to roll mine at the obvious sound of exertion from behind me.

  Without even looking, I turned and dipped my shoulder into the torso at my back. A pained grunt sounded in my ear and I continued my turn, using the momentum to carry the stick figure of a man into the wall with a hard crash.

  “Really?” I got right in his face, crushing his throat beneath my forearm. He hit at me like a child that had never been in a physical confrontation before, fists batting wildly and gaining him nothing but my scorn. The pale creature in the corner of my eye shifted and I raised my voice. “Stay right there, I’m not fucking done with you. Not by a long shot.”

  She paused and I turned my attention to the man in front of me. He was just as much to blame as his wife, and the urge to keep applying more pressure to his throat until the whites of his eyes turned red was tempting. Almost too tempting.

  Choking back on the rage simmering beneath the surface, I grabbed him and threw him to the floor. I put my boot on his back, grinding the dirty soles into his white robe. He tried to push out from underneath me, but I only leaned on my knee and smiled at the horrified and pissed off woman across from us.

  “Now,” I said pleasantly, tapping the wrench in my hand. “Where was I?”

  “I’ll pay you.”

  She blurted out a large number and I frowned. But she was so fucking out of the loop she mistook that for me caring about the number in the first place. “I’ll double that. Triple it,” she said when my scowl deepened. “Name your price and go away.”

  “Trying to get rid of me already? What happened to good old Southern hospitality? That’s what we’re known for around here. Welcoming people into our homes with open arms and all that shit.”

  The man beneath me spluttered and I lifted my foot high enough to make him think he had a chance. Then, when he started to scramble away again, I brought it down with twice as much force. His jaw hit the floor with a solid thud and the hissing cry that emerged from him made me think he had bit into his tongue.

  It was the least he deserved, but I hadn’t come here for that.

  I was here to get rid of them.

  Although not in the murderous way that probably sounded. The Sinners being outside was to make sure they knew I was serious. But I honestly had no interest in brutalizing either of them.

  Yeah, okay, that was a fucking lie.

  Kayla was saving their skins without even trying to. Whether or not the ties between them had been cut, I knew a few would linger. I didn’t like it, but they were her parents. As strong as she was, I knew it was still going to be hard for her to remove the traces of them from her life.

  And despite their cruel actions, I also knew it was only a matter of time before they decided cutting her off wasn’t good enough. They were manipulators. Users. At some point, they were going to decide they might have a chance to get what they wanted out of her and come back.

  If that happened, my kind-hearted Pixie was going to be at risk of making a mistake that so many people made.

  Believing scumbags could change their true colors.

  “Here’s what’s going to happen.” I speared the woman with a look, rooting her feet to the spot. “You have exactly twenty-four hours from the moment I walk out the door to get the fuck out of this city.”

  Her lips thinned into a single line. “We will do no such thing.”

  I shook my head. “You’re mistaking me. That wasn’t a request. Someone once told me that there was no reason to learn new tricks as long as the same ones kept working. Back then, I didn’t understand it. Now? Now it all makes sense.”

  “Make your point,” she spat, foot tapping an erratic beat against the hardwoods.

  “Y’all have been in Oakdale almost your entire lives. You remember what happened to the Cartel when they crossed my brother?” Her eyes widened, the appropriate level of fear finally making an appearance. “Oh yeah. You remember. There was nothing left but ashes. And that’s what this place will be if you aren’t gone before my deadline passes.”

  “And if we stay?” Her chin lifted, a last attempt at defiance. Too bad for her she was easier to see through than glass. She was used to being able to bribe or demand or coerce her way out of unfavorable situations.

  None of those things were going to work with me. Her power was null and void. The same applied to the man who had finally decided to stop struggling under my foot and simply laid there, accepting the fate I was hand delivering.

  They didn’t realize how lucky there were. Not really.

  Had I given Creed free reign, the mansion would already be on fire.

  And my brother wasn’t one to give a damn whether they were still here while it went up in flames.

  I planted my foot in her husband’s side and rolled him towards her. He crawled back to his feet like the weak, spineless prick he was. They both glared at me, features drawn and angry.

  Shrugging, I turned and went back down the steps, ready to cleanse my palate of the sight of them. “Stay and burn then,” I called out. “It’s honestly all the same to me.”

  Then I slammed the door behind me and strode towards Creed.

  His head tilted. “Well?”

  “They’ll leave,” I said with surety, hacking up the sour taste in my mouth and spitting it to the ground. “Anyone who picks on their child is nothing but a coward. They’re probably already packing bags so they can make sure they save their own skin.”

  “Sure you don’t want me to take care of this?” He raised dark brows, shifting on his bike. The tattoos crawling up his arms and necks shifted with him and in my head, I heard screams without knowing who they belonged to.

  “Thanks, but no.”

  Creed watched me for a moment before cutting his eyes towards our audience. The rest of the Sinners moved as one, starting their engines and heading back down the path. I didn’t have to look to know they would be waiting at the bottom of the hill. It was simply a fact.

  For now, we had a bit of privacy, and my gut cramped with dread.

  I hadn’t made a mistake, asking him to come with me for added insurance. But I had taken a risk. What I had gambled on was being able to put the beast back on the leash once I was done showing his fangs.

  If he tried to go in there and finish what I started in a way that would be terribly permanent. I would fight him.

  Oh, I was under no illusions that I would do anything but lose and fucking horribly at that. But I would fight him still.

  Except instead of becoming a hurricane of pain and death that couldn’t be stopped, Creed said four words. “Is she worth it?”

  There was no riddle.

  No codes that would take time to decipher and understand.

  I had once again given him something he could hold over my head for the future. He wanted to know if I was going to regret that.

  Yet the smile that melted and relaxed my features was a hundred percent genuine. “Absolutely.”

  He didn’t acknowledge that information in any way. Not even so much as a nod interrupted his stare. And still, I heard his approval ring out loud and clear.

  We didn’t bump fists or give each other hugs or motivational speeches. That wasn’t us. It probably would never be us unless a freak accident made him forget who he was and how much anger he carried around.

  Seeing as how that didn’t seem likely, I wasn’t holding my breath for the day we sat by a fire and sang cheerful melodies.

  But we were family.

  He had my back.

  That was enough.

  Pride had me holding my head high as I mounted my machine. Creed pulled out and I was rig
ht behind him, but I cast another look back at the soon to be empty house.

  Run as fast as you can. Twenty-four hours can go by awfully fast.

  ***

  It took two days before I was found out.

  Two blissful days of loving on my woman at every opportunity.

  I took her to and from work and managed to not sit in the diner and mean mug anyone who dared to look at her.

  Mostly.

  Alright, I did linger for about a half-hour the first day but that was necessary, and no one could convince me otherwise.

  Word had traveled just as quickly as I expected it to. So, when Kayla came striding out of her class and straight towards the tree I was posted up by, an accusing look on her beautiful face, I wasn’t surprised.

  “How was class, Pixie?” I asked the moment she reached me. My hands swept out naturally, grabbing her by the hips and crushing her against my body.

  Her eyes going warm and melty was a good sign, I hoped.

  “Don’t ‘how was class’ me today, Mr. Busybody. I let you out of my sight for like, a few hours at most, and suddenly my parents are up and leaving town without a word of it to anyone.”

  “Was there a question in there or…”

  Kayla rolled her eyes and smacked me on the arm without much force. “Don’t play dumb. I know you had something to do with this.”

  “If you’re implying that I could actually be responsible for such a thing, then I have to say I’m disappointed. Don’t you know that I’m a fucking saint, magic girl?”

  She pursed her lips, glancing up at me. “Pretty sure saints aren’t even allowed to use words like ‘fucking’ so that disqualifies you almost instantly.”

  “I bet you they do.”

  “Do what?”

  “Fuck. No way those robes don’t get tossed aside when they think no one is looking.”

  Kayla sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Can you be serious for at least two seconds?”

  I met her eyes steadily, smirk vanishing. “Yes. I’m the reason they skipped town. I threatened to burn their gaudy ass mansion to the ground with them in it if they didn’t get the hell out and agree to leave you alone.”

  “That might be the most psycho yet sweet thing anyone has ever done for me.”

  “That’s me. The perfect mix of instability and I fucking love you, girl.”

  She tugged her lip between her teeth. My fingers snuck beneath her shirt, flattening against warm skin. “You’re gonna make me say it, aren’t you?”

  “You can say it, or I can tickle you until you cry and send you to your next class with red eyes. Your choice.”

  Kayla smiled and started drawing on my chest. I blinked in surprise as I focused on the shape of each letter, then my eyes narrowed.

  “That’s cheating,” I complained, hands dancing over the sensitive spots beneath her arms. “I told you to say it.”

  She squealed loudly, wriggling in my grip and trying to get away. Didn’t she know by now how useless that endeavor was? She was mine. The jaws of life couldn’t pry her away from me.

  “Fine!”

  I paused my assault but didn’t move my hands. My girl was a tricky one when she decided to be. She wasn’t going to get a chance to turn the tables.

  Kayla stood, puffing at the blue locks of hair that had fallen into her face during our struggle. “I love you too, psycho. And are you going to come back to class to keep an eye on Lizzy or just keep hanging out up here like a creeper?”

  I froze for a moment. When I met her eyes, they weren’t angry or hurt, but curious. “You know. Since when?”

  Her flash of a smile was devious. “She suspected, but I wasn’t sure until now.”

  “You played me.” I staggered away, letting my back hit the tree before I slid down. At the bottom, my butt against the uncomfortable roots, I let my head tip to the side and stuck my tongue out.

  “Get up, drama queen.”

  “Sorry,” I told her with my eyes closed. “The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please leave your message at the sound of the-”

  Warm softness blanketed me, and my arms moved of their own accord, pinning Kayla who was draped across my lap.

  “You had your reasons,” she said softly, nuzzling her head beneath my jaw. I breathed deeply, holding in her sweet, blueberry scent. “Whatever they were, I’m just happy that she has someone else looking out for her. She’s always been too damn good for this world.”

  Kayla leaned out away from me so she could point a finger in my face. And I mean right in my face. I saw doubles for a second before my eyes could focus.

  “But I’m telling you this right now,” she said. “I know there’s something going on between her and Texas. I don’t give a damn how big and bad he is. If he breaks her heart, I’m going to break his dick.”

  I pulled her back towards me, burying my face in her neck. “Something tells me that things are gonna work out just fine for them.” There was no explanation for the surety in my voice, but it was there all the same.

  Or maybe there was one after all.

  Because if Tex felt as strongly about Lizzy as I did about this woman, then I knew he would make their future happen one way or another.

  And if he fucked it up?

  Well...I knew where my loyalties would rest, that was for sure.

  “I’m going to put a ring on your finger,” I said, visualizing that very scene playing out.

  She went still for a moment before a laugh burst out of her. “That might be the worst proposal I’ve ever heard in my life.” Kayla stared into my eyes, smiling so bright I needed shades to keep looking at her. “But I’ll be waiting for it anyway. Don’t take too long.”

  “Trust me, Pixie.” I cupped her face, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. “It’ll be worth the wait.”

  Chapter 12 - Kayla

  Two years later

  “Help me find my other heel you dick!” Make no mistake, I was yelling at the top of my lungs as I searched frantically around the bedroom. “We're going to be late!”

  “Baby,” Rain purred, voice rubbing against my senses like velvet. It took everything in me not to melt at his tone. “We've got plenty of time. In fact, you should join me. Again.”

  I paused, immediately distracted by the sight of him lounging in our bed, arms folded behind his head. He was gloriously naked but for the sun streaking through the window blinds, painting him in lines of alternating light and shadows. My head swam and my pulse dropped low, throbbing between my legs.

  Two years of loving this man, and the sight of him was always enough to leave me dizzy, breathless, and more than a little giddy. It was like opening the door to a candy shop and finding that the aisles continued for miles. It was a little bit overwhelming and a whole lot of amazing.

  Rain was watching me closely from beneath his dark lashes, a wicked grin on his soft lips, light grey eyes sparking with promise. The silver piercings right above his brow were catching the rays of the sun and glittering like gems. As I stared shamelessly, he absently sat up, abs flexing, and tugged at the lobe of his ear before leaning back again.

  Keeping myself from drooling was a conscious effort.

  He was always so comfortable in everything he did. So confident and at ease in his own skin. Even when his six-foot frame was sprawled comfortably over in gray sheets.

  My eyes traced across the smooth, marble skin of his wide chest and my mouth watered. Running the garage and jogging several miles each morning with his brother kept him in perfect shape. He was chiseled to masculine perfection and it stood out the most where his hips narrowed to a tight V pointing straight down.

  And let me just say that the time spent turning wrenches and whatever else he did in the shop had done wonders for his already impressive forearms.

  Lord. Have. Mercy.

  I was grateful for the covers hiding his lower body from view. If we were going to get out of here in a timely manner, I certainly didn't need to see his
thick, steel thighs. Or the heavy, pierced cock hanging between them.

  As if he was reading my mind, the sheets covering him jumped and I quickly raised my eyes to his smiling ones.

  “Stop that.” My voice was breathy to my own ears. I knew if I looked down, my tank top would be doing nothing to disguise my nipples growing stiff and sensitive, aching for attention. There was probably already a visible wet spot on my blue, lace panties.

  His grin grew. “I don't know what you're talking about, Pixie. I'm on my best behavior.”

  Using his pet name for me when I was already horny and damp between my thighs? Not cool.

  I bit my lip and narrowed my eyes, doing my best to ignore the steadily growing tent of fabric below his waist. “Stop lying. You don't even have a best behavior setting. Now get up.”

  His grin curved into something I knew couldn't be trusted. “I'm already up,” he said. Then without any of the fanfare it deserved, Rain threw the covers back, exposing the lower half of his body.

  I was helpless not to look and he knew it.

  My eyes landed on the impressive length of him laying flat against his stomach and I moaned low in my throat before I could stop myself.

  Beneath my attention, he hardened further, the pierced head stretching up past his belly button. When his hand came down and gripped the shaft, working its way up and down in one slow stroke, I whimpered.

  “You're cheating,” I whispered, crossing towards the bed. My throat was dry and I could feel my heart racing, pounding against my rib cage in a rush to escape me and get to him.

  “Since when have I ever played fair?” he rumbled. “Especially when it comes to you.”

  Rain stroked himself again and I couldn't believe how hard he was already, the head of his cock swollen and angry.

  Can’t leave him like that, can I?

  I used that reasoning to justify when my tank top came over my head and hit the floor behind me, letting my breasts spill free.

  I used it once more when I carefully stepped out of my panties and threw them at his smug face.

  Fast as a whip, Rain's hand darted out and snatched them from mid-flight. The air in my body froze on a sharp gasp when he brought them to his face, right over his nose, and inhaled my scent like a man possessed. His head went back, his eyes fluttered, and a deep, pleased groan came from his chest.