by Brook Wilder
He growled appreciatively at the sound of her climax. With each new thrust, Della felt extra ripples of pleasure flow through her. She felt on the verge of collapsing when he finally started to tremble and moan all around her. Feeling bold, she pulled away from him, turning over beneath him.
“Do it here,” she whispered. “On my body. I want to feel it.”
She had been worried that that would be too much for him, but his smile told her different.
“I knew you were an animal,” he murmured.
He slipped the condom off and wrapped his hand around himself. He leaned over her as he brought himself to climax, kissing her hard. Soon she could hear him grunting, and then his warmth spread over her. Della has always fantasized about this, but had been too shy to ask her previous boyfriends for it. Now she knew that she had been right to take Prescott to her bed.
His moans of pleasure were music to her ears, and she basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. After a few seconds, he collapsed onto the bed beside her. They were both panting. Happily exhausted, Della thought. That was how she felt.
Once she’d gotten her bearings, and her mind had cleared, Della excused herself to go to the bathroom to clean up. She felt instantly cold without his presence, and she washed quickly. He was still there when she got out of the bathroom. He was propped up on his side, putting all those perfect muscles on display for her. She slipped back into the bed and nuzzled into him. He draped his arm over her and pulled her close.
“Thank you,” she whispered, breathing in his scent. “I’ve never had the guts to do that. No one’s ever made me feel safe enough before.”
“I make you feel safe?” he asked, sounding surprised and incredulous.
“Yeah, you do. Don’t make me explain it because I can’t.”
“Hey, I’m not going to question a good thing.”
He pressed a kiss into the side of her head, his arms tightening around her. Della didn’t want this moment to end, but she realized she had something she needed to tell him. He had more than earned it. It was easier to talk, knowing she didn’t have to look him in the eye because he was spooned up behind her. Instead, she looked at the rumpled sheets.
“That night,” she began quietly. “Kate and I were walking home. We were working on a group project, and we were out pretty late. It was probably around midnight, a little after. We heard the motorcycles before we saw them. The first one zoomed by and crashed. The rider fell off. The second pulled up. A man in a kutte got off. Kate and I instantly knew that we were looking at two men from the same MC. It had to be the Reavers because they’re the only ones in this area. The second man shot the first and drove away. He might have seen us. After meeting Al, I’m sure it was him I saw. And what he said… about recognizing me. I can’t tell if that's a coincidence or not.”
That was it. She’d given him what he needed. He had no reason to stay now. Della felt tired and sad; she didn’t want things to end this way.
Prescott was silent for a long time. Della let him think. His arms were still around her, and that was all that mattered to her for the moment.
“Thank you for telling me,” he said finally. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
“Are you going to leave now?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “You got what you wanted.”
“Do you want me to leave?” he asked in return.
She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want him to leave, but she wasn’t going to try to keep him with her against his will either.
Prescott lifted himself up and turned her so she was looking at him.
“Tell me what you want, Della.”
“I want you,” she said. “I don’t want this to be the end of things.”
“Then get your phone.”
She was confused at first, but did as he said. He took her phone from her and punched his number in.
“Now you have me,” he said, handing the phone back to her. “This isn’t the end.”
Della smiled at that, allowing him to wrap her up in his arms once more.
This wasn’t the end.
CHAPTER SEVEN
They had stayed in bed together for a long while. Della had lost track of time. Eventually they came to the mutual conclusion that they should get up. Prescott had to get back to his club and his investigation. Della made sure to program her number into his phone before he left.
Kate was sitting on the couch in the living room when they left Della’s bedroom. She didn’t say a thing as she watched Prescott leave the apartment, and he ignored her in return. As soon as the door closed behind him, Kate turned to glare at Della. Her expression was a mixture of anger and worry. She looked tired.
“Sorry,” Della said. “Did we wake you?”
She wandered into the kitchen to make some coffee, realizing that she and Prescott had never gotten around to having any.
“Towards the end there, yeah,” Kate said, following Della into the kitchen. “Wanna tell me what the hell you were thinking?”
Della shrugged. “You were the one who was saying I needed to get laid.”
“Don’t give me that,” Kate snapped. “You know what I think about Prescott. You know he’s dangerous. I don’t care how hot he is, you don’t get in bed with a motorcycle club, Della!”
“It’s not serious,” Della told her. “Don’t worry so much.”
“The moment you invited him into our home, it became serious,” Kate said. She sighed and leaned back against the wall. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”
“I’m a big girl, Kate. I can take care of myself.”
“Clearly not.”
Della rolled her eyes and tried to walk past Kate out of the room. Kate reached out and took her arm.
“Wait, Della. Listen. Just hear me out.”
Della obliged her roommate by pausing, but she didn’t say anything. Kate released her arm.
“I have some personal experience with this,” Kate said. “My cousin Trevor got into some trouble a while back. He started hanging with the wrong kind of crowd, you know? This was in Bed-Stuy. Everything went south so quickly, Della. Trevor was in way over his head. But before the shit went down, he would have insisted he knew what he was doing. Do you understand?”
“I’m sorry,” Della said, because she could tell it was hurting Kate to talk about this.
“Prescott is bad for your health,” Kate insisted. “Please believe me.”
“I’ve got to get to the library,” Della said. “Try not to worry about me. I’m not going to become one of the Reavers’ club girls. I’m playing it safe.”
“I know you think you are,” Kate whispered.
She didn’t say anything else as Della gathered up her things and walked out the door.
Della was furious. She was glad for the walk to campus because it gave her a chance to think and relax. After the time she’d had with Prescott, she didn’t want anything to dampen her mood. Kate just had to throw a bucket of ice water over everything. Della knew all the reasons she shouldn’t associate herself with Prescott. She understood the risks. But it wasn’t like they were getting married. She wasn’t getting into club business. He wasn’t trying to drag her in.
Della reached campus while she fumed. She decided not to let Kate get to her anymore. She was happier with Prescott than she’d been in months, and she wasn’t going to give that up. She was an adult and she knew what she was doing.
With her resolve settled, she made a beeline for the library. She was almost at the door when someone stopped her.
“Della.”
That voice… it couldn’t be.
But it was.
When Della turned around, Simon was jogging up the steps towards her. This day was going to Hell in a hand basket. Della glanced over her shoulder. The door wasn’t far away. She wondered if she could jump inside and lose herself in the crowd somewhere.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Simon said.
“What are you
talking about?”
Della mentally kicked herself for engaging him. She should have ignored him and left when she had the chance.
“I saw you earlier. You rode off with that punk on his motorcycle. I was scared for you.”
“Okay, a couple things,” Della said tiredly. “First, you don’t get to be scared for me. I am not your sister or your girlfriend or even your friend. Second, who I choose to associate with is none of your concern. I can get on motorcycles with whomever I want.”
“He’s dangerous, Della,” Simon said.
“Oh shut up,” Della snapped. This was too much. First Kate, and now this. She wasn’t going to take it anymore. “Simon, you’re a creep, and I want nothing to do with you. I feel safer with Prescott than I ever have with you. What, were you watching me earlier? Following me? Why can’t you see how unsettling that is?”
“That hurts, Della,” Simon said. He was getting closer now. “You’re a real bitch sometimes, you know that?”
“Thank you for the information,” Della said, turning to leave.
Simon reached out and grabbed her arm. She shook him off, deciding to head down to the street instead of into the library. She wasn’t going to deal with this again.
“Don’t walk away from me,” Simon said, following her.
His voice was rising. They were drawing attention from a lot of passersby.
“Leave me alone, Simon,” Della said as calmly as she could.
“That freak is dangerous. I’m looking out for your best interest! He’ll fuck you and leave you. Or worse. You’re going to get yourself killed. Then you’ll be sorry you didn’t listen to me.”
Della stopped at one of the emergency towers that dotted the campus. It was essentially an intercom that connected whoever pressed the button directly to campus police. She pressed the button. The light on top of the tower flashed. Della turned without fear to confront Simon, but kept her finger on the button.
“Prescott was good to me,” Della said. “If I called him now, he’d be here in a second.”
And he’s helped me to speak up for myself, she thought.
Would she have been this adamant with Simon if he hadn’t brought out her slightly wild side? She’d always been the shy one who was afraid to speak up. Now she felt like Prescott had drawn something out of her. And she liked it.
“Don’t you dare call him!” Simon shouted.
The two officers approached from behind Simon, and Della smiled. She removed her finger from the button. That had been a fast response, but it made sense. Their station was on campus, probably only a couple buildings away.
“Is there a problem here?” one of the officers asked.
“Yes,” Della said, while Simon whirled around to stare, slack-jawed. “This man will not stop harassing me. When you take his information, you’ll find out this is the second time I’ve had to have campus police intervene to protect me.”
“We were talking,” Simon said.
“He was yelling and insulting me,” Della corrected. “His voice and actions were threatening. He tried to grab my arm to prevent me from getting away from him.”
Della felt like she shouldn’t enjoy watching the two officers clean up the mess that was Simon. It seemed cruel. But he’d been plenty cruel to her. The first officer scribbled down her statement, her student ID number, and her information. Then the two of them took Simon away. Again.
She hoped this really would be the last she saw of him. Crazy or not, it’d be hard for him to miss a hint like this. She wanted nothing to do with him.
“Are you okay?”
Della turned to see one of the onlookers had approached her. A girl about her age.
“I am now,” Della said, meaning it. She felt great.
“You should really take out a restraining order against that guy,” the girl said. “I’ve never seen anyone act like that, but he’s definitely scary.”
Della thanked the girl for her advice and headed back toward the library. The idea wasn’t totally crazy. Simon might be the type who needed something legally forbidding him to approach Della. She had to admit the idea was enticing. Taking out her phone, she saw she had a text from Prescott.
Already thinking about round two.
She smiled at that. If she was being honest, she didn’t mind the idea either. She sent back a one-word response: Tonight?
His reply came almost immediately.
Yes
CHAPTER EIGHT
Prescott rolled out of bed early. It was already warm and humid, but he didn’t mind the heat. Spring had been like a second winter, so he was happy for the summer months. Especially since they had brought him more time with Della.
He looked at her, still asleep, the sheets wrapped around her naked form. She’d been with him almost constantly since her graduation in May. The restraining order she’d filed against Simon had gone through shortly after that, and she had been visibly more relaxed since then.
Prescott felt a wave of guilt hit him as he looked at Della. They’d been enjoying a perfectly casual relationship, despite living together since her graduation. She had never once called him her boyfriend or asked him to commit. Yet he knew keeping her around in any capacity was putting her in danger. His investigation into Al was ongoing, and she was the only witness to the crime. Having her here was the worst idea.
But he couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
When he had been at his lowest, she was the one who had pulled him up and made him feel again. He’d found himself confiding in her a little, telling her stories about his father. He never told her anything about club business, of course; the less she knew on that front, the better.
It helped that she was a pistol in bed, always begging him for more, digging her nails into him. His cock twitched at the very thought of it. He watched her chest as it rose and fell, her perfect breasts thrust upward with each breath.
While he watched, she let out a soft groan and her eyes fluttered open. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, then turned to look at him. Her smile was sleepy, but beautiful nonetheless. It was made all the more precious by the fact that it was meant just for him.
“What time is it?” she asked, stretching.
“Half past eight,” he replied, his eyes following the movement of her body.
“Mm, I gotta get ready.”
Prescott had nearly forgotten that she had an interview today. Something to do with an investment bank.
Della got up and began dressing. He went into the kitchen to start some breakfast while she got ready.
She emerged from the bedroom ten minutes later in a blue dress, her hair done up in a professional bun. Prescott nodded his approval and handed her a cup of coffee.
“You’re going to do great today,” he told her.
“I hope so,” she replied, plucking a piece of bacon off the plate he’d prepared. “You have plans for today?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna head to the clubhouse,” he told her.
They sat down and ate together. Della didn’t ask what was going to happen at the clubhouse because she knew better than to try to get involved.
Once they were done eating, Prescott kissed Della goodbye and watched her get into her car. As soon as she was on the road, he mounted his bike and headed for the clubhouse.
Prescott was the last to arrive for the meeting Al had called. He took his place at the table and looked around, surprised to see so many unfriendly faces. Without Shaft there to participate in the vote, he felt completely alone and helpless. He had been dreading this meeting ever since Al called for it. This was the second meeting they’d had in as many weeks, and he knew exactly what the topic of discussion was going to be.
“We’ve all been here already,” Al said, confirming Prescott’s suspicions. “The Varangians have yet to admit to their crime. They still claim innocence in Charles’ death, and they haven’t been made to suffer a single consequence.” Al paused here to cast a glare in Prescott’s direction. “So I’m going t
o put this to a vote for a second time, in the hope that everyone present will see reason. War against the Varangians. You have my vote already.”
Prescott’s heart sank more and more as each new vote was cast. It was the same as last time – everyone but him was in favor of the war. He knew Shaft would be on his side, but Shaft was too low on the ladder to have a vote. He was barely allowed in the more general meetings at all these days.
