by Chiah Wilder
“Do you want to go to the bayou tomorrow?” she asked.
“Nah. It’ll just piss me off if I see what’s happening to it,” he said as he nuzzled her neck.
“You’re probably right,” she replied, then inhaled sharply as his hand slid down her top, grasping one of her nipples and tweaking it with his thumb and finger.
“It sucks Suzette saw you tonight. I’m pretty sure she’s going to use it as an excuse to call Armand.” He tugged her nipple, loving the way it had a direct circuit to her pussy. She arched her back, bringing her tits closer to him while her legs moved back and forth.
“Armand’s dating someone. I doubt he’d even take her phone call,” she said in a raspy voice.
“Never know.” His other hand glided down slowly, and he chuckled softly when she gasped. “Did you have a good time tonight?”
“Yes,” she croaked as his hand dipped beneath the waistband of her panties.
“That’s good. You and Isa made some kickass food. We should go to a Cajun club to dance. We can go to Baton Rouge. Would you like that?”
She squirmed under his skilled touch, each movement rubbing against his cock which had grown rock-hard.
“Uh-huh.”
“It’ll be fun. I love dancing with you.” He licked her jawline, then tilted his head lower to gently bite the place where her neck curved into her shoulder.
“Oh, God,” she groaned.
Then his hand was on her hot and sopping pussy and he slid his finger between her folds, covering it with her juices. He withdrew and placed the digit in his mouth, licking and sucking. She craned her head and he caught her heated gaze. “Fuckin’ tasty, chouchou. Try it.” He slipped it into her mouth and she licked it, driving him fuckin’ wild. She pushed herself up and tugged off her panties, then undid the button of his jeans and zipped them down. His cock, harder than marble, jutted straight out and she placed her mouth over the crown, gliding her hot tongue across it. He let her play with his hardness until his balls tightened. Then he pulled her off and pushed up her skirt, moving her to straddle him while he entered her. He pulled her top over her head, unhooked her bra, and grabbed her tits with both hands as though they were food for a starving man.
She placed her feet on the ground, grabbed the arms of the chair, and began to ride him as he played with her tits. Leaning down, she kissed him deeply before moving back up, grinding and bouncing on him. He loved watching her tits jiggle and sway as she moved. She’s fuckin’ gorgeous, and I can’t get enough of her. I’m fuckin’ addicted to my beautiful Clotille. He gently eased her back a bit to give him better access to her pink pussy. He gazed at it, her clit swollen and peeking from its hood, begging for attention. Rock placed his finger next to her bud and stroked steadily as he felt her warm walls clutch his cock like a vise.
They rode each other under the moonlight and stars, their breathing heavy, their bodies coated in a thin sheen of dampness. As she stifled her cries against his shoulder, her teeth bearing down hard, guttural grunts rose from his throat. They came together, holding, biting, and loving one another.
And it was good.
It was fucking perfect.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Insurgents arrived at the diner on the far west side of the city. The smiling crawfish with the chef’s hat blinked on and off in neon blue, while the name of the diner, Crawdads, lit up the parking lot in neon yellow. Crawdads had catered to the bikers in the area for the past forty years, and it was generally considered a neutral zone for rival clubs. Dogface had told the Insurgents that would be the best place to meet with the Gypsy Fiends’ president.
When they entered the eatery, Rock noticed several men in leather and denim seated at a big table in the back. Most of them sported bushy beards and long stringy hair. The president patch on the cut of the guy at the head of the table directed the Insurgents toward them. When they approached, Rock noted the name, Copperhead, stitched on the president’s cut. The dude had long blond hair and a lengthy beard in a slightly darker shade. Icy blue eyes stared out of a face that had a patchwork of scars, cuts, and moles. He sat expressionless as they stood in front of the table.
“I’m Hawk, the VP of the Insurgents, and these are my brothers. You’re Copperhead?”
The president nodded while his brothers stared at the Colorado club. Copperhead motioned Hawk to sit down, and he grabbed a chair, the other Insurgents following suit.
“I’m not gonna fuck around. You know why we’re here. You got the weapons we want and we got the cash you need.” Hawk and Copperhead stared at each other, neither of them giving the other any slack.
Rock sat at the end of the table so he could watch what everyone was doing. He was on high alert since a seemingly calm interaction could turn bloody and deadly in a matter of seconds. In the outlaw world, anger and hate were always bubbling right beneath the surface.
“The shit we got is for someone else. We can get you some more. It’ll take some fucking time, but we can get ‘em.” Copperhead scratched his beard.
“I don’t give a fuck who it’s for. We got the cash. I’m not waitin’ for shit. If you don’t want the money, then we’re wasting our goddamned time.”
Hawk tilted his chin at his brothers and pushed his chair back. He and the rest started to get up when Cooperhead said, “Where the hell you going? Sit the fuck down. I didn’t say I wasn’t interested in doing business.”
Hawk paused for several seconds, then eased back into the chair. His brothers followed his lead, all of them stone-faced. Rock was laughing on the inside. We’ve got these greedy fuckers. Kiss our asses, Demon Riders.
In the end, the Gypsy Fiends agreed to take the cash deal and to “fuck the rich dude.” Rock and his brothers knew exactly who the “rich dude” was, and he took an enormous amount of pleasure in screwing the Demon Riders and Frederick.
To seal the deal, both clubs ordered a feast of crawfish, shrimp, red beans and rice, gumbo, and a slew of other local favorites. As the men ate, they talked about the one thing that bound all the outlaws together—Harleys. And not once did Rock have to smash someone in the face. The meeting had been a huge success.
* * *
Clotille had just finished putting away the leftovers from dinner when her phone jingled. She grimaced when she saw Armand’s name flash on her screen. Clutching it tightly, she went out to the screened-in porch, sat on a cushy chair, and answered it.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were in Lafayette?”
She sighed. “I wanted some time to myself. I was planning on calling sooner or later.” Damn you, Suzette! Rock was right… she called Armand.
“Sooner or later? What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” his voice rose slightly.
“I was going to call. How’ve you been?”
“Busy as hell trying to keep Mom happy and in the lifestyle she’s become accustomed to. It takes a lot of hard work and money to do that, you know?”
Here it comes. “I’m sure it does.” She kneaded her forehead with her fingers.
“And if Frederick stops helping out, we’re fucking toast. You do get that, don’t you?”
And here it is. The real reason Armand called me. He wants me to go back to Aspen. Frederick is working overtime trying to get me back. “I get that things may become tough, but I’m planning to help out. I don’t want you to do it alone… I never have.”
He clucked his tongue. “Why did you leave him? I thought you were happy with him.”
“Content, in the beginning, yes. Happy? Never. I became restless and realized I was missing out on so much. I missed seeing the ones I loved.”
“Frederick would’ve brought you to visit. He said you never asked.”
“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, he was becoming too possessive. I didn’t think it would be safe for me to stay with him anymore. I felt like I didn’t really have a choice when I made the agreement with him, but now I do. I wanted out.”
There was a long pause. “Well, I suppose
you have to do what you think is best. It’s your life.”
“I can’t believe you just said that. Wow, you’ve changed for the better since you’ve been going out with Jolene.” She tucked her feet under her butt. “How’s Mom?”
“The same. She’s busy with all the committees she’s on for a bunch of charities. It’d be nice if you called her.”
“I’ll call her in the morning. She’s probably pissed off big time at me.” She laughed dryly. “It wouldn’t be anything new. I always rubbed her the wrong way.”
“She’ll be glad to hear from you. Where are you staying?”
“With friends. You don’t know them.” There’s no way you don’t know about Rock, but I’m not going to bring it up.
“That’s good. I gotta go. Remember to call Mom.”
“I will.”
She put the phone down on the side table and leaned her head on her hand. She couldn’t believe Armand didn’t read her the riot act. She said a small prayer of thanksgiving for Jolene being in his life. Sometimes it takes a woman to soften a man’s rough edges. She smiled. Like Rock. All tough and badass, but such a sweetheart when we’re together. I love him so much. It kills me that I’m going to have to break his heart. He’s never going to forgive me. He told me that he wanted an easy, unfettered life. He’ll never get that with me. Damn, I don’t want him to feel obligated to me, but I love him so much, and I want to try and make a future with him. Every time I try to talk to him, he shuts me down. I have to choke back my fear and make him listen to me regardless of the consequences. I can’t lose him again.
She stared out into the night, wiping the tears that trickled down her cheeks. I never should’ve let Rock go. She sighed and wrapped her arms closer around as she let the lull of the crickets and the winds numb all thoughts.
* * *
By the time Rock came home, Clotille was fast asleep. He quietly put his gun, knives, and padlock in a metal box and locked it, then went into the bathroom to take a shower. The humidity made him sticky all the time; he missed the dry, mountain air in Pinewood Springs.
When he’d finished he walked to the bed and tossed his towel across a chair, then slipped between the sheets, the warmth of Clotille’s body radiating to him. When he moved close to her and slinked his arm around her waist, she pushed back, her ass hitting his hard dick. She made a few sweet noises in her sleep, then returned to her steady breathing. His shaft was on fire. No woman had made him hard as often as she did. All he had to do was see her, smell her, or hear her and his damn dick would wake up. He dipped his head and kissed her silky hair, the scent of lemon and cucumber filling his nostrils.
I’m so fuckin’ hooked on her. I’ve never loved any other woman but her. I can’t believe we fuckin’ wasted all those years, but now that I have her, I’m never letting her go. She’s a part of me. She makes my life whole. She was the one who filled all the dark places in his heart. She’d become his comfort from the storm of life. And he loved her for it.
His trust had begun to come back since she’d told him she loved him. And he knew she did by the way she watched him when she didn’t think he noticed, or the way she’d wrap her arms around his neck and stipple kisses all over his face even if Isa and Charlie were in the room. Whatever it was that still haunted her, he could ride through it. He could weather anything now that his chérie was back in his life.
And he was never letting her go again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rock sat at the kitchen table dunking a praline in his cup of coffee while he watched Clotille exercise to a DVD in the family room. I love those yoga pants. Fuck. Best invention after the thong.
“I’m thinking of going over to Madame Vincennes to get a reading. It’s been ages since I had one done.” Isa poured a cup of coffee and sat on the chair opposite of Rock.
He raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
“She died a few weeks ago.” He snatched another praline from the plate in front of him.
“Oh… that’s too bad. I’m real sorry to hear that. She was a nice woman. I knew she was old, but I guess I never thought she’d die. Silly, huh?” Isa stirred a lump of sugar in her coffee.
“It wasn’t old age that got her. She had some help. She was murdered.” He wiped his hands on a napkin.
“Murdered? Oh my God.” Isa’s hand covered her mouth. “Why would anyone kill Madame? She was so poor, I can’t imagine anyone thinking she had any money. How did you find this out?”
“I heard it. I’m surprised you didn’t know.”
“I’m not friendly with anyone from the old neighborhood, and Aline and Michael keep me pretty busy. I hardly ever watch the news. Where did you hear it from?”
Rock glanced over at Clotille and figured she had another forty-five minutes left of her exercise routine. He leaned across the table. “I have something to tell you that’s going to fuckin’ blow your mind.”
Forty-five minutes later, Clotille came into the kitchen and ran her fingers through Rock’s hair as she passed him on her way to the fridge. She took out a bottled water and guzzled it down. Rock stared at her tight body that looked fantastic now that she’d put on some weight. Sweat glistened over her bare arms and neck, and those damn yoga pants had him adjusting his jeans. Damn, she’s so sexy after she works out. I can’t stop looking at her.
“I’m going to take a shower.” She broke off a piece of the praline on Rock’s plate and popped it in her mouth. “What’re you two talking about? You look so serious.”
“Family shit,” Rock said after yanking her to him.
She wriggled out of his grip. “I’m covered in sweat. I’ll be back.” She laughed when he smacked her behind as she walked away. He loved seeing her tight ass shake in her yoga pants.
When she was out of earshot, Isa—a dazed look on her face—wrung her hands over and over. “Have you told Lille and Henri about Pa? I can’t believe he spent twelve years locked up for something he didn’t do. Poor Pa.” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“You’re the first one I told. I wanna find out some more shit before I tell Henri and Lille.”
“Do you believe Tessa?” Isa stared wide-eyed.
He nodded. “There’s no reason for her to lie to me. And Madame sent me the mojo bag. Why the hell would she have reached out to me after all this time? And… someone murdered her. I checked it out with the public records.”
“Do the police have any leads on who may have done it?”
He shook his head. “Not that I can see. Poor old woman. If she would’ve just come clean that night, she’d still be alive. Fear is a terrible thing to have. It makes people do all sorts of crazy shit they’d never do.”
“Do you have any idea who would’ve killed Maman? She didn’t have an enemy in the world.”
“I have an idea. Working on how to put it all together. When I do, then I’ll tell Lille and Henri. Just keep it to yourself, okay? I wanted to tell you ‘cause I know you went to see Pa a lot, and you were the only one out of all of us who couldn’t believe he killed Maman.”
She shook her head. “I still can’t believe all this. Thanks for telling me. It makes the whole tragedy less horrific to know Pa was innocent.” Rock placed his hand over hers and squeezed it.
They stood like that until Clotille came in. “A good shower feels wonderful after a workout. It’s so quiet around since your kids went back to school. It was adorable the way Michael danced around the house after you came home with his school supplies. I don’t think I was ever that excited about school.”
Isa laughed and wiped the corner of her eyes. She slid her hand from under Rock’s and stood up. “I have a ton of errands to do.” She glanced at the wall clock. “Damn, look at the time. I have to run.” She rushed out of the kitchen. Rock watched her until she was gone.
“Everything okay?” Clotille asked, grasping his hand.
“Yeah. We gotta think ‘bout heading back. The club business is going to
be finished in a couple days. I gotta go back home.” He skimmed her face, noticing the way her eyes darted away from his. “You wanna go back with me, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Armand called. You were right about Suzette. Anyway, I promised him I’d call my mom. I was going to do that this morning.”
Rock’s face hardened. He didn’t like that she changed the fucking subject. Doesn’t she want to come back with me? What the fuck’s going on with her? “Isn’t your mom going to be pissed at you?”
“Probably, but Armand acted like a big brother to me. Finally. It’s taken what… twenty-nine years? Not too bad.” She rolled her eyes and laughed.
“That’s good. People can change as they get older. And sometimes life handing you a crock of shit can do it too. You and your family hit rock bottom after your dad died. That shit would have an impact on most people.”
“True.” She picked up his hand and kissed it. “I’m happy with you.”
“Then why the fuck are we talkin’ ‘bout everything but us? You comin’ back with me, or am I goin’ alone? Don’t fuckin’ bullshit me, Clotille.”
She kissed his hand again. “I’m going back with you.” She blinked several times.
She’s fuckin’ hedging. What the hell’s the matter with her? He nodded. “Good. You call your mom, and I’m going to hang with my brothers. We got shit to discuss. I’ll be back later.”
Her face dropped but he didn’t give a damn. The bitterness threatened to leak out of the compartment he’d locked it in for the last ten days. I gotta get outta here before I say something I’m going to regret. He rose from the table. “See you later.” He strode toward the back door.
