by K E Osborn
“Squuueee.” The squealing echoes through the house before I see her and I smile wide. I’ve missed Petunia too. She suddenly comes bolting into the front room, she’s grown slightly and I smile wide as she runs up and cuddles into my leg. I lean down and pet her as Willow watches me still with her arms folded across her chest.
“She’s grown.”
“Well, it has been a month without hearing one… single… word… from you.” Her clipped and harsh tone makes me look up to see her pursed lips and tight jaw. She’s pissed.
“I wanted to call… so many times. But I thought you didn’t want me or anythin’ to do with me. It’s a two-way street. You could have called, too.”
She swallows hard and looks away from me taking a breath. “Fair call.”
The tension in the air is thick and I want to lighten the mood. So I lean down picking up Petunia and holding her to me—her front legs in my hands and her back legs dangling down—bringing her in line with my face. Willow raises an eyebrow as I start waving Petunia’s front legs around as if she’s waving at her.
“Please, Miss Willow. I know I’ve been a dick. Being apart from you was no is the worst time of my life. I was such a bad little piggy, and if only I could find some way to make it up to you?” I say in a cutesy voice as if it’s Petunia saying it. She snorts as if she’s laughing at me moving her around with my words, and Willow stands tilting her hip to the side and places her hand on her hip. The slight rise in her lips doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s working and I need to grovel, so I continue, “I swear I’ll be here for you and never do anythin’ bad… ever again. I piggy promise, Miss Willow.”
Her lip rises up even more as Petunia snorts and wiggles in my arms as I move her along with my dramatic performance.
“I’ve missed you every day. It’s been like havin’ eggs without bacon… that just isn’t right. You’re my bacon, Willow. So from one pig to another, please find it in your bacony goodness to forgive me?”
I exhale as I look into her eyes to see them watering. The sight pounds me right in the chest. Now’s the time to be serious, no more jokes. Standing back up straight, I place Petunia down to the floor and walk over standing to face her. I grab her cheeks in my hands and look deeply into her eyes.
“Please forgive me?”
She turns and steps over to the lounge suite and I follow her, she pulls out the blue towel from under the lounge and I’m a little shocked she still has it there.
“I was getting around to moving it, I just hadn’t yet.”
I nod and try to hide my smile as she places it on the lounge, so I don’t dirty up the whiteness of it. Sitting down next to her, I badly want to take her hand but I don’t. “How have you been?”
“Okay. A little sad, but plodding along.”
I take a deep breath and look her in her eyes. “I’m really sorry for the way things were left.”
“I am too, Dylan, but it doesn’t change anything. You still killed a man—”
“And I’m deeply sorry for that. I honestly had no intention of killin’ him. It was one hundred percent an accident.”
She exhales and looks away from me. “I hate that people disappear in your world.”
I can’t wait any longer to touch her, so I reach out and grab her hand. She doesn’t flinch away, and feeling the warmth of her silky skin against mine again is like an all new kind of heaven on earth. "Only bad people disappear, Willow.”
She huffs. “That’s what jail is for.”
“Sometimes bad people don’t get what they deserve. The justice system isn’t fair, and people are paid off easily. I’ve seen it plenty of times. A guy like Tyrell would’ve been let off and back out to beat up Niki in no time had she reported him. Why do you think she hadn’t done it already? ‘Cause she knew he was already tied up with the police force. He knew people, Flame. This was the only way to have him stop. I honestly didn’t mean for him to die. I really didn’t, but that’s what happened. He deserved it, Willow. I’m not gonna apologise for that. He wasn’t only beatin’ up Nikita but dealing with underage sex rings. The man was fuckin’ bad news, Willow. Scum of the earth.”
She swallows hard and nods. “I didn’t know all that other stuff. He really does sound like a scumbag.”
“Maybe he didn’t deserve to die. But the world is a much better place without him in it, babe. Niki and Jackson are safe and never have to worry about being hurt again.”
She nods and takes in a deep breath. “Okay.”
I furrow my brows in confusion. “Okay?”
“Yeah, okay. I don’t like it, but at least now, I understand it a little better.”
I exhale and shift a little closer to her on the lounge, our legs touch and my entire centre of gravity shifts toward her, pulling me closer. It’s like all my atoms shift to be nearer to her.
Oh God! I love this feeling.
“I’m so sorry about all of this. I’m sorry I didn’t call. Just know I’ve been thinkin’ about you every second of every day for the past month. I’ve honestly been a fuckin’ wreck,” I admit.
She half smiles and places her hand on my knee squeezing tightly sending a jolt up my leg. “I missed you, too.”
I let out a small breath and bring my hand up to her cheek and caress it tenderly. Her silky skin under my rough palm feels like God damned heaven. I’ve missed touching her so fucking much every inch of me is aching right now just being in her presence. My body is screaming at me and I feel like I’m physically shaking. Reaching my hand into my jeans pocket, I pull out her necklace. The one I got her for Christmas and grab her hand placing the cool metal into her palm.
She looks down at it and her eyes water as her bottom lip trembles. She sniffs and smiles, bringing it up placing it around her neck without saying a word. It sends an ache deep into my chest as my insides quiver with tension. I press my hand against her cheek again wiping a stray tear falling down her cheek.
“Would it be all right… I mean can I… Fuck! I’m so nervous,” I admit.
She smiles and leans into my hand. I take a deep breath and start again. “Can I kiss you?”
She giggles and smirks. “It’s not like you to ask.”
I open my eyes wide and figure, fuck it! I’ll just go for it then. I lean forward and press my lips to hers with some force. She instinctively leans back into the lounge letting me move over her as her mouth opens to let my tongue slam into hers, and it’s the absolute best fucking feeling I’ve had in my entire life.
Her tongue moves with mine, as we make out on the lounge feeling the spark and chemistry flowing through us again like it always used to. It’s exhilarating. The energy and heightened emotion rolling through me at merely kissing her is making every inch of me burn with an incredible heat and desire. I want to touch every inch of her. I want to kiss all over her skin, my lips frantically tasting every skerrick of her body while she moans in pleasure. I hope she will give that to me tonight.
Leaning into her more, her hands are frenzied as they make their way to the bottom of my shirt and start to lift it up.
Bingo!
I smirk against her lips, this is going exactly where I want it to go. I never thought waking up this morning that I’d be here making out with my girl and it possibly leading to sex, but yet here we are, with a gentle push from Lunar and Techie.
I’ll have to remember to thank them later.
Much later.
We part lips as my shirt comes up and over my head. She throws it on the floor narrowly missing Petunia, who’s sitting watching us—the little pervert pig. I move back in to kiss her lips again needing to taste that strawberry lip gloss, and move my hands to her top to lift it up. As I start to pull it up, she groans like she’s in pain and then pulls back making me furrow my brows wondering if she’s okay.
“Are you okay? Are you in pain?” I ask looking down as she pulls her shirt down and pushes me off her slightly so we sit up straight on the lounge suite, both panting to catch our breaths. “Will
ow?”
“Sorry, I'm okay. I just think maybe we should cool it down and talk more first.”
I take a relieved breath and rub my forehead comforted that she’s not in actual physical pain. “Okay. What do you want to talk about?”
She shrugs. “I’m not sure, I just don’t want to rush things.”
I nod and take her hand in mine and squeeze it. “Okay, babe. Well, let me start by sayin’ I want to change the club… so there’s less violence. I don’t like how it is now. I’m the VP and my say should count for somethin’.”
She smiles and it sets my heart hammering. “I think that’s very noble of you, Dylan.”
“You know I haven’t heard anyone call me Dylan for a long time. Really only my dad and my mother.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Sorry, would you prefer me to call you Steel?”
I smile and bring my hand up to caress her cheek. “When it’s just us, I’d love for you to call me Dylan.”
She smiles brightly and nods. “Well Dylan, I can forgive you for Tyrell, and I understand how it happened and why. I just don’t want it to happen again. But this is a trial, okay? I don’t function without you, but I also can’t condone a life being a partner to a guy that kills for fun.”
My chest tightens. “You’re sayin’ you’ll be my girl again?”
She smiles biting her bottom lip and nods. I laugh feeling a jolt of ecstasy run right through me as I lean forward and pick her up into my arms. “I’ll do everythin’ better this time around. I promise you that Willow.”
She giggles and holds me back. “You only get one more shot. So make it count.”
I pull back looking in her eyes. “I will make this work, Willow.” I don’t wait for her to answer before my lips are forced to hers claiming what should have always been mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
WILLOW’S POV
Steel stayed over last night and we made love for the first time. It wasn’t rough and fast, it wasn’t hard and dominant. It was gentle, and I loved it. He showed his softer side and it proved he really is willing to lay everything on the line for me. He wants us to work, and even though we have issues and this is a new relationship, I think he’s worth the fight.
He went back to the clubhouse this morning. He said he didn’t want to crowd me too soon by smothering me. He knows I want to take things slow. I didn’t mind him staying, but he was adamant to allow me some time to think things over. He wants me to get my head around us being back together, and all the things that come with that. He wanted to come back over tonight, and it’s funny because I’m actually missing him more than I thought I would. So I’m heading to the clubhouse to surprise him instead. I hope he’s okay with that. I want to show him, I’m okay with going a little faster than at a snail’s pace. Needing to go back to how we were before I broke it off, I want to see him as often as possible, and even though I only saw him three hours ago another fix is needed.
Now I sound like the whipped one. I think maybe I am. There’s something about Steel that makes me want to be near him all the time. Even when we’re apart, all I wanted was for him to show up on my doorstep. And when he finally did, I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming again. I’m just so glad he finally found the courage to see me and explain everything. It still doesn’t sit right with me about what happened, but I can’t be apart from him because it hurts too much.
Pulling up to the gates I look through the windscreen up to Gatekeeper and he smiles down at me and waves opening the gate. It creaks and moans as it shudders open. “Great to have you back, Flame.”
I stick my hand out the window to wave at him. “It’s great to be back.”
He seems like a nice guy. Shame he’s stuck outside on gate duty all the time, though.
Parking my car, I climb out to the happy greeting from Cassius and Shogun. “Hi boys,” I say petting them each in turn. It’s nice to know they haven’t forgotten me. Walking with a spring in my step, I look to my right to see Ryder and Jigsaw smoking in the compound. They smile and wave as I skip my way through to the giant black door. It’s so heavy and I struggle to pull it open as it scrapes and grinds with its weight as I pull. I manage to get it open and walk inside the relatively empty clubroom. Looking around, I see the young guy behind the bar, Knucklehead I think I remember someone calling him. I make my way over to him and sit down at the bar, he smiles at me and looks me up and down.
“You’re Steel’s girl?” he asks and I smile and nod.
“Sure am, do you know where he is?”
He tilts his head toward the gym. “He’s just finishing up in there with Techie, they’ve just ordered lunch. It should be out soon. You want something, too?” he asks.
“Sure, I’ll just have whatever Steel’s having.”
He nods and picks up a red phone on the wall. “Yo, Boiler, can you make up another bloody burger. Yeah, same as the VP.”
I open my eyes wide at the name as he hangs up the phone. “Bloody burger?”
He smirks. “Extra sauce, love. Nothing to be scared about.”
Relaxing my tense muscles, I nod smiling at my own idiocy. Of course, it’s only something like extra sauce or a rare burger patty, not actual blood. God, I can be a real idiot sometimes.
“Thanks, Knucklehead. Hey, question. Why do they call you knucklehead?”
He smiles and throws the tea towel over his shoulder. “‘Cause of my bike. It’s an old classic Harley Davidson with the Knucklehead engine, which was distinctive because of the shape of the rocker boxes. The engine is a two cylinder, forty-five degree, pushrod actuated overhead valve V-twin engine. It was the third type of V-twin engine for Harley, which replaced the Flathead VL model in nineteen thirty-six. It’s great and classic bike, as it was manufactured until nineteen forty-seven. So an oldie but a goodie.”
I open my eyes wide not understanding a single word he’s just said, but the enthusiasm behind his words was definitely there. Whatever he was talking about, he certainly is very excited about it.
“Oh, cool,” I say not knowing how else to respond to any of that.
He chuckles and starts to wipe down the countertop. “You have no idea what I just said, right?”
I chew on my bottom lip and raise my eyebrow. Busted. “Umm… no.”
He laughs and shakes his head and hands me a glass of what I’m assuming is Coke. I smile and take a sip as the bubbles pop against my lips while I drink the refreshing cola.
“Sorry, I tend to get excited about my bike. Anyway, Steel should be back any second, feel free to wait here. I’ll just be cleaning the glasses. Any requests on the stereo?” he asks and I smile and listen as some song is being sung in another language.
“What is this song?”
He smiles. “It’s ‘Du Hast’ by Rammstein. They’re a German Neue Deutsche Härte band.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t know what that means… Got any Bieber?” I tease. Knucklehead opens his eyes wide and frowns, reflecting back almost as if I’ve thrown holy water at the devil while I chuckle to myself. “Kidding… this is fine.”
He flares his nostrils and shakes his head. “Wow, Flame! Don’t go saying stuff like that around here, being a Belieber will likely get you shot in this joint.”
I burst out laughing as the phone on the wall rings and he winks at me turning to pick it up. He starts a conversation, and I don’t want to listen in so I swivel on the stool and turn looking out into the clubroom. There're a couple of bikers in the corner keeping to themselves, then I notice Chops sitting in another corner leering right at me. His brows are so creased they’re practically one, and he’s glaring at me so sternly I feel awkward looking at him. I turn back to the bar hoping like hell he doesn’t come over. But I can still feel his penetrating death glare digging into my back. Glancing over to the gym, I hope Steel comes out soon. Where I was feeling quite happy sitting chatting to Knucklehead, all that good energy is now replaced with tension as my heart races and my palms begin to sweat knowing Cho
ps is in the same room as me.
He’s not one of the good guys. He has always had some sort of grudge against me. Why? I’m not sure, but I don’t really want to stick around to find out.
Deciding I’ll go to the gym to find Steel rather than wait in the room with Chops, I swivel, and as I turn I’m met by Chops who’s stepping up next to me and smiling that ridiculously evil smile he’s renowned for. His grey mutton chops on the side of his face and his stupid Chopper Read wannabe moustache he has going is creeping me out as it frames his maniacal smirk.
“Flame, it’s so good to see you again.” His hand comes up and moves some of my hair behind my ear. I flinch back as my breath catches. My heart is racing knowing this guy doesn’t care if I’m Steel’s girl or not, he’ll try to take me no matter what.
“Chops, Steel will be back soon,” I murmur and the crack in my voice only shows how much he affects me. I mentally slap myself for showing weakness.
“Well, in the meantime, I’m glad you’re back and I can’t wait to taste you when Steel lets his guard down.”
My heart is beating out of my chest as my fists clench at my sides. I have no idea what to say or how to react. I glance to Knucklehead to see if he’ll help me, but he’s cleaning glasses and looking down and breathing hard like he’s scared of Chops too.
I look back at Chops who’s smiling so wide it's unnerving, he leans in pressing his foul smelling body against mine forcing me against the bar, his hand running against my cheek as my body goes rigid and into shock not knowing what to do as he advances on me. I tremble as he caresses my cheek, but hard in a dominant way. His face moves in close to mine, his nose running along my cheek as I close my eyes tight and his mouth comes up next to my ear. “I’m going to shove my cock so far up your arse you won’t be able to walk for—”
“Fucker…” Steel’s voice is like an angel breaking through the grit of the devil. My trembling body sags as Chops’ body is pulled off mine, and I open my eyes to see Steel holding him by the scruff of his collar. “Stay the fuckin’ hell away from her.”
