by Harley Stone
“That’s too bad. I really liked Amber,” Mom said.
Frustrated, I raked a hand through my hair and tried again. “You’d like Lily, too, if you gave her a chance.”
“That poor girl. And poor Gretta. Losin’ her like she did… it was a cryin’ shame.”
Mom was getting derailed, and I didn’t have it in me to go wandering down memory lane with her. The past had consumed far too much of my time and energy, and I refused to let it draw me in again. I’d made a promise to Lily, and I had every intention of keeping it. “It’s been two years, Mom. Don’t I deserve to be happy?”
“Yes. Of course, you do, dear. I just… this is kind of shocking.”
“I know. If you think it’s gonna be too hard on everyone to meet Lily, she and I will stay up here for Christmas.”
“But you always come home for Christmas,” Mom said.
“Yeah, I do. But like you said, nobody should be alone for the holidays, and I’m not leaving my girl here by herself. That’s not the kind of man you raised me to be.”
“You won’t come if she doesn’t?” Mom asked.
“No, ma’am. I know her resemblance to Amber will probably make you and the Kents uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t be calling you if I wasn’t serious about her. I love Lily. I plan to keep her in my life as long as she’ll stay, and I won’t bring her down there if she’s not welcome.”
The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening, confirming every fear I’d had about their reception. They didn’t say Lily wasn’t welcome, but they didn’t have to. It was obvious where they stood on the matter. It hurt like hell, but I’d drawn my line and I wouldn’t cross it. I loved my family, but Lily was my future, and they damn well needed to accept her if they ever wanted to see my ass again.
“We have four months until Christmas,” I said. “Plenty of time for the two of you to think about it and let me know what you decide.”
“Okay.” Mom’s voice quivered. I wondered if she was still looking at the pictures of me and Lily. I hoped like hell she didn’t still see Amber. “We’ll let you know. We love you, Deryk.”
“Love you, too.” We said our goodbyes and I ended the call and stared at my phone, wondering what my parents would decide. Then I realized I couldn’t worry about that right then, because I had shit to do.
Grabbing the shoebox from my bed, I headed downstairs. Naomi and Monica were sitting on one of the sofas discussing something. I stopped by long enough to hand Naomi Amber’s ring. She looked from it to me, and her eyebrows rose in question.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“A donation for Lady’s First. Maybe you can sell it?”
Naomi looked like she wanted to ask a shit-ton more questions, but Monica settled her hand over the ring and smiled at me. “Thank you, Bull. We’ll make good use of it.”
I was sure they would. Mood lifted, I took my box and headed for the fire pit in the back yard. It was time to let Amber go.
15
Bull
SINCE I HAD the day off, I picked Lily up after work so she wouldn’t have to ride the bus. She walked out of the building, talking to an older guy with salt-and-pepper hair, a shaved face, and kind eyes. It had to be Tom, the supervisor who was training Lily. She’d told me all about him, and he seemed like a nice enough guy. Then again, I was pretty sure Lily could find the good in anyone.
As soon as her gaze found me, a smile about split her face in two and she waved wildly. His gaze followed hers, found me, and he frowned. It wasn’t the first time someone had seen my cut and my Harley and made a split-second judgment about my character, but it still ruffled my feathers. I wanted to tell him where he could shove his judgment but didn’t want to make trouble for Lily at her new job. So, I got off my bike, removed my helmet, and offered the condescending asshole my most disarming smile and my hand.
“Hi. I’m Deryk. Lily’s boyfriend.”
Lily’s smile grew impossibly wider. “Deryk, this is Tom, the super patient supervisor who’s been training me.”
Tom still didn’t look too sure about me, but he shook my hand. His grip was firm, and he looked me in the eye and said, “Nice to meet you.”
I turned up the charm. “The pleasure’s all mine. Lily has nothing but good things to say about this place. Thank you for taking such good care of her. We’re relieved she gets to apprentice in such a positive environment.”
His demeanor relaxed marginally. “We’re lucky to have her. She’s catching on quickly. At this rate, she’ll be out in the field in no time.”
“Good to hear.” Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out a business card. “I work for a veteran-run and operated tow company. If you ever find yourself in need, please don’t hesitate to call.”
He turned the card over, and the remaining frost thawed from his demeanor. Apparently my being a veteran trumped my being a biker. Good to know. “Thank you.”
Lily beamed Tom a smile. “Thanks again for all your help this week. Have a great weekend.”
“You too.” He nodded at my bike. “Both of you. Be careful on that thing.”
“Yessir.” I handed Lily a helmet, letting him see her safety was important to me. “We always are.”
Tom headed for his car and Lily put her helmet on, leaning close to say, “Schmooze level, expert. Please teach me your ways, oh great one.”
I chuckled. “I can’t teach that. That there’s my superpower, Angel. I was born with it, but it was honed by Dad’s belt and Mom’s lectures, which I wouldn’t recommend enduring. How was your day?”
“Great, but even better now. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you this week.”
I flipped up her visor and leaned in to give her a quick peck on the lips, completely aware that Tom—and probably others—were watching. One quick taste of her wasn’t enough. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and kiss her so long and hard it left no doubt in any motherfucker’s mind she was claimed, but I withheld. I’d wait until her job was a little steadier before I started that shit. Instead, I put my helmet back on, mounted my bike, and offered her my hand. Lily slid on behind me, wrapping herself around my core.
It wasn’t the first time we rode together.
No, Lily had been on the back of my bike more times than I could count. To some bikers, the back of a bike is sacred, used only for long-term relationship women. But, outside of my work truck, I only had one form of transportation. I wasn’t going to make Lily walk, so she was often at my back. But now that our relationship had evolved, her presence felt different. Everywhere our bodies touched felt like a promise of more to come… more heat, more comfort, more intimacy.
Enjoying the feel of her behind me, I was tempted to take the long way to the shelter, but it had been almost a full week since I’d had her writhing beneath me, and was desperate to repeat the experience. Just thinking about all the ways I wanted to fuck her had me riding the throttle like a sinner busting out of hell.
We made a quick pit stop to feed Brahma and let him out, and found Stocks placing decorative rocks around a tree trunk. He stopped what he was doing and wandered over to join us.
“Hey brother. Lily,” he said with a wave. “You two off to the fire station?”
“Yep. You’ll be there for church tonight, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll see you there.” Stocks’s gaze followed Brahma. “You know, Lil, you don’t have to come home tonight if you don’t want to. I can let Brahma out and make sure he gets fed in the morning.”
Hope filled her eyes as she looked to me, and then to Stocks. “But he’s my responsibility, and I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”
“Please. He’s the most mellow dog I’ve ever met. He’ll be fine. Go. Enjoy yourself. Remember you’re in your mid-twenties and have a fuckin’ weekend for once. I’ve got the mutt.”
Lily dropped the pooper scooper and plastic bags to jump down and hug Stocks. “You’re the best adoptive dad, big brother, security guard, maintenance man, best friend
’s husband ever. Thank you.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I’m the shit.”
She laughed. “Yes. You are definitely the shit.”
She reached for the pooper scooper, but I stopped her. “Go pack. I’ll clean up after Brahma.”
Bouncing on her heels, she gave me a hug too. “Fine, you can be the shit, too.” Before I could respond, she went bounding into the house.
“Thanks, brother,” I told Stocks.
He leveled a stare at me. “I know I don’t have to tell you this, but Lily means a lot to all of us. What are your intentions with her?”
It felt somewhat surreal to have the question lobbed at me by someone who wasn’t even a full decade older than me, but I appreciated the way he and Monica took Lily under their wings and looked out for her. I rocked back on my heels and thought about where I wanted this thing with Lily to go. “We haven’t really defined the relationship, but we’re exclusive. I love her, and I’m all in. I’m not gonna do anything to hurt her.”
He nodded and clapped me on the shoulder. “Good. See that you don’t. If I have to bail Monica out of jail for killin’ your ass, I’ll dig you up and kill you again. Got it?”
I chuckled. “Loud and clear.”
“Great. My job here is done.”
He went back to his rocks, and I picked up dog shit until Lily was ready to go. She’d changed out of her work clothes and into a pair of distressed skinny jeans, boots, and a tight black tank top. She swung her backpack over her shoulder and nodded toward the door. I glanced at Brahma, wondering if we should get the dog inside before we left.
“Leave him,” Stocks said, reading my mind. “I can use the company.”
He didn’t have to tell us twice. Excited to be spending some real quality time with her, I grabbed Lily’s hand and towed her toward my bike. We made it back to the fire station in record time. There were a handful of people milling about in the common area, so we sneaked in the back entrance like a couple of teenagers hoping to get lucky. It wasn’t that we didn’t want anyone to know what we were up to, we just wanted to be alone. Sneaking around with her was surprisingly hot, and by the time we made it to my room, I was so wound up, it was all I could do to keep myself from ripping her clothes off. Locking the door behind us, I spun her around, putting her back to the wood. Her eyes were wild and her cheeks were rosy as she giggled.
“I don’t think anyone saw us,” she breathed.
Whisps of hair had escaped from her braid to frame her face. I tucked them behind her ears, letting my fingers linger on her jaw. “You’re so fuckin’ beautiful, Angel.”
Heat flooded her eyes. Our mouths mashed together and our tongues danced, getting reacquainted after what felt like forever. She wrapped her legs around my waist, and I trapped her between my body and the door as I explored her mouth with my tongue. The heat of her core against me teased and tempted, ramping everything up.
Breaking apart, she tugged her tank top over her head and tossed it aside before grabbing at the hem of my shirt. I removed it. The satiny fabric of her bra felt good, but not nearly as good as her skin. Reaching around her, I unfastened her bra and slid it over her arms before pressing against her. Much better. The door shuddered under our combined weight, bouncing off the frame. Lily moaned, and the sound went straight to my cock.
“More. I need you inside me,” she said, reaching between us to fumble with the button of my jeans.
Thank fuck.
Needing her every bit as much as she needed me, I set her down and unfastened my pants, letting them fall to my ankles. Since I didn’t work today, and knew I’d be picking up Lily, I hadn’t bothered with boxers. Her eyes rounded, doing wonders for my self-esteem, as her hand landed on my shaft. She kicked off her boots. While her soft, small hands tugged on me, I removed her pants and thong before running my fingers through her slick folds.
“So fucking soaked for me,” I said.
She nodded. “Yes. I want you bad.”
This time she wrapped her legs back around my waist, I lined myself up with her entrance and sunk into her wet heat. She took every inch of me, her tight channel spreading to accept my girth. Her pebbled nipples called to me. Dipping my head, I sucked one into my mouth as I played with the other. Lily moaned. Her head fell back, hitting the door.
“Ouch.” She rubbed at it.
I froze, afraid to injure her further. “You okay?”
“Yes. Don’t stop.” She squeezed my cock inside her, and I almost blacked out.
My breaths came out ragged as I caged her between myself and the wood, driving into her again and again. Each time the door bounced against the frame, knocking. By now, everyone knew we were together, but I respected Lily too much to announce that we were fucking. Some things should remain private. Pulling her away from the door, I kept us joined as I waddled across the room.
When we reached the sofa, she released me and climbed down, bending over the cloth arm. I took a minute to admire her fine heart-shaped ass and appreciate the fact she was all mine.
Mine.
The claim resonated within me. No matter what, this girl was mine, and I refused to give her up.
Looking over her shoulder, she gave me a knowing smirk. “You just gonna look at me all day?”
“Thinkin’ about it. You do look damn good.”
But my cock was throbbing, wanting more of her. I lined myself back up, grabbed her hips, and plowed into her. She grunted and dropped her head to the seat cushion.
“Yes. Right there. Oh, God.”
Her building pleasure inspired my own. Heat sprouted at my backbone and spread through my entire body. Having her bent over like this… positioned especially for my pleasure… it was goddamn perfect. Every time I sheathed myself into her tight, slick pussy, I was in danger of busting a nut. Both nuts. Hell, I was surprised my entire body didn’t explode. Watching myself slide in and out of her hot channel was erotic as fuck. Knowing I was hanging on by a thread and needed to get her on my level, I wrapped one hand around her and started circling her clit as I continued to fuck her.
“Get there, Lily,” I ordered. I was close and didn’t want to come without her.
“Oh God, that feels so good,” she said, arching her back to take me in deeper.
My hand continued to work her clit as I fucked her. Within minutes, we were both tumbling over the edge in a sweaty, sated mess.
I pushed her French braid aside to kiss her neck. “Mine,” I whispered, enjoying the resulting goosebumps that sprouted across her flesh.
16
Lily
THE PARK WAS bustling with activity when Brahma and I arrived Sunday afternoon. Sun shining, temperature in the low eighties, it was the perfect combination to draw every kid in the neighborhood between ages two and ten. The energetic little psychos ran back and forth from the dog park to the play structure in some bizarre game of tag with rules I was clearly too old to understand. Regardless, the entire group had come to the consensus that a little boy named Dylan was cheating and they wanted him to stop. They kept yelling it over and over.
Johnny saw me and Brahma approach and peeled off from the group to join us, tackling the dog in a hug.
“What’s going on here?” I asked, eyeing the rambunctious kids.
Johnny pointed at a brown-skinned child in the middle of the group who had the frustrated expression of someone trying to herd cats or decode instructions in a foreign language. I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. “That’s Oscar. He just joined a flag football team, so he’s trying to teach us the rules.” He pointed to another little boy. “That’s Dylan. He says it’s Opposite Day and we need to do the opposite of whatever Oscar says.”
Chaos. Complete and total pandemonium. I’d known Dylans in my lifetime, and they all needed a swift kick in the ass. “If you want to keep playing with Oscar, you can. BB and I are gonna be here for a while.”
“No. Oscar’s okay, but Dylan’s kind of a bully, and I would much rather spend time with BB.
Huh, boy?” Johnny pulled a ball out of his pocket.
Brahma did his best not to roll his eyes at me before dutifully running after the ball. Call me crazy, but I didn’t think fetch was his favorite game.
Parents loomed along the sidelines and chatted as their spawns raced back, screaming about cheaters, in their sabotaged game of flag football. Finding Shelly, I sidled up to her and asked how she was doing.
“Good. Much better than Tina over there.” She nodded toward a woman with streaked mascara running down her face. “Apparently her husband lost his temper yesterday and she had to file a restraining order against him.” Shelly shook her head. “Poor woman. I thought John was bad, but at least the cheating bastard never laid a hand on me or Johnny. I probably would have snapped, killed him, and ended up in jail. You know it’s a horrible state of affairs when I feel lucky my husband was just a cheater.”
“Men can be assholes,” I agreed. “But there are good ones out there.”
She didn’t look so sure. “I’ll have to take your word for it. I have no intention of going down that road again any time soon.”
I almost offered to introduce her to some hot, single veterans, but it was too soon. Shelly needed time to heal before she even thought about diving into another relationship. It had taken Bull more than two years. I was hoping it wouldn’t take her nearly as long because she was a good person who shouldn’t have to be lonely.
Every time Bull so much as crossed my mind, I felt twitterpated, like I was in some sweet Disney movie, dancing among the wildlife as I made plans for the perfect future with the man of my dreams. Monica had ratted him out for donating an engagement ring—a ring that had to be Amber’s—to Ladies First. She’d sent me a picture and everything. Seeing the ring he’d intended to marry another woman with was difficult, but the knowledge that he’d donated it helped wipe the tears from my eyes. My man was finally moving on, and he was doing so with me. His progress was huge, and I was so damn excited I could hardly sit still.
