His touch hard and strong, Bishop caressed every inch he could reach. Kneading his way over my hips and down my thighs, teasing my pussy through the fabric of my skirt. Holding a hand against it as he pulled away to whisper a harsh, “Tell me I can touch you, Anabeth.”
I nodded, needing the same thing he did. Giving him permission to take it. Bishop didn’t hold back, yanking up my skirt and sliding his hand into my panties, finding my clit with a precision that left me gasping. But he didn’t stop there. Mouth on mine, tongue stroking inside, he mimicked the movements down below. Brushing, teasing, pressing, rubbing until I had to break the kiss. Had to catch my breath.
And then he started talking.
“Fuck, baby. You’re soaked for me. Can’t wait to taste you again. Going to eat you for days when I finally get between your legs.” He flicked his finger against my clit, making me gasp at the sensation.
“Bishop.”
“Let me make you come, Firefly. Let me feel it.”
My knees nearly buckled, my panties growing wetter with every second. How could I say no? How could anyone expect me to?
I didn’t. Instead, I spread my legs a little wider and grabbed his hand, weaving our fingers together and pushing them inside myself. Pressing him deeper as I retreated. Whimpering my need as he stretched me so damn wide.
“So hot. Always so fucking hot.” He leaned closer, sinking his teeth into my collarbone as I pulled my hand completely away from his. I didn’t need to help him—he knew how to get me off. He always had. Long before I even knew how to do it myself.
“More, please,” I keened, trying to rock my hips, to gain more friction. But he held me in place, keeping me at his will. And I let him. Surrounded by him, weighted down by him, possessed by him…I let it all happen because I wanted him. Always had and always would.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he said, his voice so deep and growly. “I’ll treat this pussy so good. I’ll make every second so sweet for you. Just stay with me here. Stay with me.”
I broke. The words, the double meaning I heard in them, the way his fingers plunged deep inside me and his palm worked my clit. There was no way to resist. The dam holding back my lust and desire and memory of all the things I hadn’t allowed myself to think about for years finally burst as I came, as I gripped his shoulders and curled my body into his. As he whispered such filthy sweet endearments in my ear.
“Such a good girl. Just as beautiful as I remember. Feel so good on my fingers. So fucking soft and wet for me.” And then he went in for the kill. “I missed you, Firefly. So fucking much.”
My heart practically poured right out of my chest even as my body melted against him. “I know you won’t believe me, but I missed you too. Every day.”
And I had. There was no denying it, no need to hide my weakness. I’d loved this man almost since I had met him. I still did. I probably always would.
Bishop sighed loud and deep, pressing his hips against me as if seeking some sort of relief, some way to bring attention to the hard cock wedged between us. But before I could do anything more for him, he withdrew his hand from between my legs, leaning back just enough to stare down at me. To lock me into place with his gaze. Those gray eyes as dark and demanding as ever. I hadn’t seen eyes like his before I met him, hadn’t since either. I knew I never would again when he walked away from me.
Not if. When. A thought that terrified me. As did the way his eyes went from heated and needy to questioning. Determined.
I wasn’t ready for determined Bishop.
“I need to know what happened.” When I tried to shake him off, he pressed harder against me, pinning me to the wall. Trapping me there. “I deserve that much. You left, and when I came to find you, you were already with some other guy. What the fuck did I do that was so bad—”
“Stop.” I shook my head, bringing my finger to his lips to quiet him. Unable to hear the pain and anguish in his voice without wanting to cry. “You did nothing wrong.”
“Then why were you with someone else?”
Something in his voice, in the look on his face, tore through my battlements. Opening up the place where I stored my secrets and giving me just enough room to tell him that story. To soothe him with one truth. “The man? The one I lived with in Vegas? I wasn’t with him like that. Miss sent me to him because I needed to get away from here. He was a friend of hers and nothing more than my roommate for a couple of years while I got my GED and went to vocational school.”
Bishop shook his head, looking so confused. “Why didn’t you say anything? When I came to find you, why didn’t you tell me that? You had to know what I thought when he answered the door.”
I had. And I’d fed into it instead of calming him because that moment needed to be the end of us. Something I’d never admitted. Something he needed to understand. “It was easier to get you to leave if you thought I’d moved on.”
He jerked back, leaving me cold and empty against the wall. Alone, like always. I curled into myself, tears building in my eyes as I watched him retreat from me.
“I want the whole story, Anabeth.” Bishop began to pace, his steps long and loud. Stomping almost. “I deserve that much. You never gave me a fucking reason why you left.”
And I never would because to admit what I’d done would break him. Break us forever. A sob ripped through my chest, racking my body hard. “I can’t. You’ll…”
“I’ll what?” Bishop lunged and grabbed my arms, holding me up, staring down at me in a way he never would again if he knew. If I told him. With care and compassion and feelings so strong, I could almost believe he’d forgive me. But he wouldn’t. I couldn’t even forgive myself. “Tell me, Anabeth. What is it you think I’ll do if I know?”
“You’ll hate me,” I snapped. “You’ll never see me the same way, and I can’t. I just…”
Bishop stood solid and firm, waiting for me to finish my sentence. Watching as if hoping I would keep talking, but I was done. Out of words. Battlements restored.
Hating myself, knowing he wouldn’t stop pushing me unless I made him, I said the only thing I could think of to end the conversation. “Katie’s waiting on the boxes.”
Bishop reeled as if I’d slapped him with my words. I didn’t back down, staring right back at him as he gaped at me. As his own walls came crashing down, his face going from hurt to pissed in two seconds flat.
“You ruined us, Anabeth,” he said, his voice empty and lifeless. “Whatever happened—whatever you’re keeping from me—it destroyed us both. Don’t you get that? I should know what took you away from me. I should know why my heart’s been broken for fourteen goddamn years.”
But the words wouldn’t come. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t ever tell him, wouldn’t ever bring that pain to his door. A broken heart was nothing in comparison, so I simply shook my head and pressed my lips together as the tears flowed. As I collapsed under the grief and self-hatred that I carried every day. As I watched him shut down.
He grabbed a box of signs and headed for the stairs, leaving me behind.
Alone.
Always.
Chapter Twelve
Bishop
There was something completely sadistic about sitting in that restaurant and watching Anabeth work the crowd after what happened between us in the basement. Sadistic and cruel, to be honest. Yet, I couldn’t leave. Couldn’t trade guard positions with one of the men working the party. I couldn’t fucking leave her, and that ate at me more than anything else.
So I sat, my cock hard and my mood foul. I watched as she read tarot cards for people and laughed with old friends of both of ours. And I hated myself a little bit more for opening my heart to the fiery redhead fate had once again thrown at me.
“You look ready to kill someone,” Finn said as he took a seat on the stool next to mine. He sat like I did—back to the counter, legs spread. Ready to hop up if needed. Ready to fight. He may not have been in the military, but he’d picked up our quirks easily enough.
> I shrugged and took a sip of my beer, not taking my eyes off Anabeth. “Just doing my job.”
“Guard dog Bishop? Is that what you’re saying?”
Fitting. “Woof.”
Finn watched the crowd for a long moment, fidgeting. Obviously uncomfortable, though why, I had no idea. At least, not until he opened his mouth.
“I’ve always felt responsible for Anabeth le—”
“No.” I slammed my beer down, drawing attention from a couple at the closest table. Not that I gave a shit. “I get that you two were friends or are friends or had some sort of friend thing going on, I do. And I always respected that. But I don’t want you in the middle of my shit, and I certainly don’t want to hear a goddamned word of your opinion on why she left.”
Finn just nodded, his lips pulled into a flat line. “Understood. Not my story to tell anyway.”
We went back to an uncomfortable silence, watching the room again. The rage inside me built with every smile Anabeth gave someone else, every laugh she released that wasn’t directed at me. Entertaining the crowd. Sick, jealous bastard described me well at that moment, but I couldn’t stop myself from feeling so mean. So angry. So motherfucking sick of the leash she’d had on me since the day we met.
Gage appeared in front of me, blocking my view and only pissing me off more. Not that he appeared to give a single fuck.
“What’s wrong with Finn?”
I glanced over, just then noticing how Finn had left the bar. He stood in the corner, watching Anabeth and looking…guilty? But I couldn’t care at that moment, didn’t have it in me to worry about my little brother, along with the girl who’d ripped my heart out with a spoon and a showman’s smile.
“No clue.” Rex bumped into my legs, tongue out and tail wagging. “Don’t you know dogs shouldn’t be in restaurants?”
Gage took the seat beside me, leaning down to pat the mutt’s head. “If you think the health inspector is our biggest worry tonight, you’re not paying attention.”
And I wasn’t—not to the possibility of the Soul Suckers coming to town, at least. My focus stayed on Anabeth, too drawn to her not to look. I’d always said the woman was impossible to miss, impossible to ignore, and she proved it to every fucker in that room. I wanted to hate her for it, for beaming and laughing and being social while I seethed, but I couldn’t hate her. Not when my heart beat faster every time she even glanced my way, my cock hardening with every flip of her hair. And that just soured my mood even more.
Everything was going about as well as could be expected until the door opened, the pealing of the bell bringing everyone’s attention to it. A big, burly man came strolling in with another guy right behind him. Both wearing Soul Suckers vests. They blocked the door, looking intimidating as fuck in their jeans and heavy boots. Intimidating to all the people sitting at the tables, at least. Me? I was ready for them. Let them try to start shit—I was pissed and mean enough to rip them apart with my bare hands. And that bullshit block the door to scare everyone in the place move wasn’t about to fool me. I wasn’t some fucking rookie, and neither were any of the men on my crew.
The two Soul Suckers had just made a huge mistake by walking into Katie’s place.
“At least, you’ve got your boots on tonight.” Gage stood and slipped through the crowd to block the kitchen door with Rex beside him. He’d pulled Shye’s protection detail for the night, which meant she had to be back there. Good—the last thing we needed was for these fuckers to see her. I had no doubt that’s why they’d shown up. Shye’s stepbrother was one of their enforcers, and he had some fucked-up notion that the girl owed a debt to the club. Payment for her meant rape or a beating, and there was no way Alder would allow that. Hell, there was no way any of us would. These fuckers weren’t getting near her.
And yeah, I was real fucking thankful I had my boots on.
As the two meatheads stood and did their best to look scary, I scanned the room, checking on everyone else. Looking for weak spots. Katie stood on the far side of the bar, a surprised and nervous expression on her face, but Deacon had his hand on her arm. Holding her in place. There were enough men at the tables to keep the rest of the women safe as well. The town always had been a bit of a sausage fest, and that would work in our favor tonight. The only glaring crack in our armor was Anabeth herself, who stood directly in front of our new friends. I hated that she was closer to them than to me, right in the path of whatever danger was about to come our way. She didn’t seem to notice, though, or she was used to dealing with a darker sort of crowd. The woman stood unafraid, gorgeous, and looking like a goddamned cherry on a sundae for those fuckers—one they definitely took notice of. The smaller of the two even licked his fucking lips as he stared at her.
I was going to have to kill someone in a minute.
“Looks like quite the party,” the big guy in front said, scanning the crowd. “I don’t see my friends, though. Maybe someone can help me with that. See, a few weeks back, we sent a couple of guys into town to check in on another friend of ours, and they didn’t come back. We’ve come to find out why.”
I rose to my feet, stepping closer, locking eyes with him. He grinned my way. Fucker thought he was the alpha in the room—it would be so much fun to prove him wrong.
“You wasted a trip,” I said. “As you can see, your friends aren’t here. There’s a lost and found at the truck stop over by the county line, though. Little box right by the registers. Maybe you should check there. See if somebody turned them in.”
His gaze went hard, his jaw clenching. He changed his expression quick, though. Smiling again in that arrogant, sarcastic way that meant he thought he had pulled something over on us.
“Or maybe I should start asking around.” He flicked a glance at Anabeth, making my heart skip a beat. “There are an awful lot of pretty ladies in this group, and I can be pretty damn persuasive when I need to be.”
The fuck he could. I caught Anabeth’s eye, nodding toward the back of the restaurant. I wanted her safe and away from them, tucked behind Deacon or Finn or Gage, but she raised her chin and brought out that heart-stopping grin. The showman in her stepping back on stage.
God, I both loved and hated the entertainer side of her.
“I’m reading tarot cards for people tonight,” she said, walking closer to the guy, swinging her hips and giving me a motherfucking heart attack. “Why don’t you pull a card so we can see what they say? Maybe they’ll show you a path to your friends.”
“You got a witch in this town?” He looked her up and down, eyeing every curve like a dog salivating over a steak. “Okay, witchy woman, do your best.”
Anabeth gave him a flirty sort of grin and held up her deck of cards, the fan of them resting on her fingertips. But something wasn’t right. I knew her deck, had seen her with it a million times. That wasn’t her deck.
That was one Miss had used. One she’d refused to let me touch. One she’d joked should only ever be handled by the Hansen women.
If I remembered right, Anabeth had just pulled the deck that hated men.
Okay, so this might be fun.
“Pick one”—Anabeth’s smile grew—“and I’ll tell you your future.”
He huffed a laugh but did as she suggested, pulling a single card from the deck and looking it over. “A man with a hoe…fitting for tonight, don’t you think?” He laughed with his friend, the two eyeing Anabeth even harder. “So what’s it mean, witch?”
Anabeth took the card back, pursing her lips in a concerned expression. “Oh dear, the Seven of Pentacles. That’s probably not the best card to read for you. Maybe pick another one.”
“Fuck that. Tell me what my card means.”
Anabeth shot a glance my way and winked. Motherfucking winked. She was going to get herself killed, and I was still farther away from her than the man at the door.
“The Seven of Pentacles represents the promise of success…” She paused as the guy smiled, and then she went in for the kill. “…unfulfi
lled. The rosebuds never grow, and the farmer is defeated by mother nature herself. The card is about loss and deception, crushing failure and disappointment. This card calls you out as a loser.”
The guy opened his mouth twice without speaking, looking shocked. Looking pissed. His hesitation gave me just enough time to reach Anabeth. To move in beside her as the guy found his words.
“You fucking cunt.”
Primitive, but if the way Anabeth stiffened was any indication, effective. I slid in front of her as the guy’s face turned red, as he took a single step toward her, looking ready to kill.
Time to play. “You don’t want to do that.”
He practically snarled, looking from Anabeth to me and back before zeroing in on me. “Where the fuck are our brothers? We know you did something to them.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, but like I said—the truck stop at the county line has a lost and found. You should really head there. Now.”
The room, already tense and silent, went deathly still as the kitchen door swooshed open and closed again. I didn’t need to turn to know what I’d see—Alder had just walked in. And if I had to guess, he was looking big, mean, and absolutely ready to kill a fucker. Game on.
“We got a problem here?” He strolled up all casual-like, his arms folded over his chest and a hard stare on his face. “I don’t remember seeing Tweedledee and Tweedledum on the guest list.”
“Ah, the illustrious Alder Kennard.” The Soul Sucker clapped three times as if giving my brother a standing ovation. “I hear you’re good at what you do, which seems to be keeping us from getting what’s ours. But hey, I’m a reasonable man. I can barter. You burned down our kitchen, and I think you owe us a little something. Since we can’t find our brothers, the least we can do is bring back the bitch who owes us money.” The dumbfuck took a step closer to my brother, glaring…up at him. A man wasn’t so intimidating when he was six inches shorter than you, I’d guess. Still, the guy tried. He probably even got under Alder’s skin when he spat out an angry, “Where’s Pistol’s whore?”
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