“Ranger?” I hear her call out.
I go to her bedroom. “Yeah?”
She walks out of her closet, and my eyes practically bulge out of my head. “Holy fuck.”
“Look what I found,” she says, winking at me and doing a little spin. She’s dressed in a black teddy, knee-high stockings with garters, and hot red pumps. “Do you like?”
My dick definitely likes. I narrow my eyes on her as I approach. “And who have you worn this for, Jo?”
“No one,” she says, scowling.
“Then why did you buy it?” I ask, circling her. Her ass looks amazing and I can’t help but reach out and touch her.
“I didn’t have any lingerie, and I wanted to buy something,” she says, shrugging. “I never wore it for anyone. It’s just been sitting here.”
“Well I wouldn’t want it to go to waste,” I say, licking my suddenly dry lips. I head to the iPod dock next to her bed and turn it on. “Fine by Me” by Chris Brown starts to play as I sit down on the bed. I raise an eyebrow, daring her.
“You want a lap dance?” she asks, laughing. I thought she’d balk at the idea, which is why I never verbalized anything, I just waited. “I think we need something a little sexier,” she says changing the song to “Feel It” by Jacquees. The atmosphere in the room instantly changes, the air getting thicker. She mouths the first line in the first verse of the song, then starts to dance, moving her hips in a sensual grind.
Fuck.
She turns in a circle slowly, hips swaying in a way that has my dick so hard it’s straining against my track pants. She bends over slightly, giving me a full view of her round ass, and I can’t help but cup the globes with my hands. When she turns around and says, “No touching,” I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. She starts to roll her stomach in that sexy move women like to do, then straddles me, grinding her pussy onto my hard cock. She runs her hands down until she’s cupping her breasts enticingly, looking me right in the eye as she pulls the cups of her lacy bra down, exposing her nipples. I lick my lips, wanting to suck on them badly but playing the game. I love how she’s becoming so comfortable around me. She definitely wouldn’t have done something like this when we first met. She continues to dance on my lap, her bare breasts in my face, her body moving in a seductive motion that has me wanting nothing more than to be inside of her. She slides off my lap, making sure she rubs the length of my dick at the same time, then spins and starts to shake her ass. When she bends over and touches her ankles, I have to wonder who this little temptress is. Having enough of being teased, I grab her by the hips and pull her so she’s sitting back on my lap but facing away from me. I start to kiss her neck, my hands roaming over her nipples, gently pulling them just the way I know she likes it. Her head falls back on my shoulder, and I take advantage of her exposed neck, biting down gently. My hand moves from her breasts, down her stomach to between her legs, where I slide my fingers inside her panties to find her already soaking wet.
“My baby liked doing that, didn’t you?” I murmur into her ear, sliding a finger inside of her slick heat. She groans as I move up to her clit, stroking her. I stand with her and use my other hand to slide my pants down, then rip the center of her panties with one hard tug.
“Ranger,” she moans. I think she was trying to sound angry but failed.
I bend her over a little with a hand on the small of her back, then slide into her, watching my cock disappear inside of her inch by inch. When I’m fully inside of her, I start to gently thrust, the perfect view turning me on and making my cock so fuckin’ hard that I could break glass with it. With me still inside of her, I lift her and place her on the bed on her knees, then continue to thrust. I reach over to play with her nipples a little, then her clit, loving her little moans and gasps.
“Fuck,” I hear her whisper. “I’m going to come, Ranger.”
“Come, babe,” I command, wanting to feel it on my dick. Fuck, I love it when she comes. I can feel her tighten on me as she comes, which pushes me into my own orgasm, even though I wanted to last longer because it feels so good right now. Once we’re both finished, I pull out of her, kiss her nape gently, then lay down next to her.
“I love you,” I tell her, pushing her lightly damp hair off her forehead.
“I love you too, Ranger.”
FORTY-ONE
Johanna
WE got the house.
Although everything has happened so fast, everything feels so right, and I don’t have any regrets. Sometimes you just need to do what feels right, as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, instead of letting outside factors control your reactions and views on things. I’m sure anyone would tell me I’m crazy to buy a house with a man so soon, a man who didn’t even let me pay for the house but still put my name on it, but I just know that this is where I’m meant to be. I’ll never regret my time with Ranger, no matter what happens with us in the future. For now, my job is safe, I spoke to the sheriff and explained that Ranger is no longer a part of the Wind Dragons. And even if that’s not enough—well, I will make do. I’ll find something else. I’ll work with Faye, or maybe I’ll consider a fresh start in a new career. I love my job, but I love Ranger more.
“This house is amazing,” Elizabeth says as she walks through it, taking in everything she passes. “I love it, Jo.”
“It’s perfect,” Helen agrees, pointing to the pool outside. “I know where I’ll be this summer.”
I grin and open the door so they can go outside and have a look. “You’re welcome here any time.”
“Where do you want these boxes, Jo?” Talon asks me as he walks in carrying a giant one.
“In the kitchen is fine,” I tell him. Sin comes in with the next box, then Tracker. I can see the girls’ eyes go wide as they take in the fine specimens that make up the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club.
“They’re all taken,” I tell them, laughing as their faces drop. “I know, right? Bikers . . . who knew?”
• • •
“Do you know what I do to women like you?” Faye asks, scowling as she fiddles with the throwing star in her hand. A fucking throwing star! Who is this woman?
“I didn’t tell him to quit the MC, Faye,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest. “Did you come here to help me buy furniture or to kill me?”
“Both,” she snaps, scowling. Then she sighs, the anger draining out of her. “I’m just sad, okay! We lost a man.”
“I know,” I say, touching her shoulder. “But he’s still going to be around. We’re moving in down the street!”
“And I’m on my period,” she adds, then points to a black leather couch. “Oh, look at this one! What color theme did you decide on?”
Boy, this woman jumps from one topic to another. “I haven’t decided yet, black and gray maybe? And can you put that throwing star away? This is my partner’s cousin’s store, and he’s going to wonder about the crazy woman I’m with!”
“Tell him my name. I bet my reputation precedes me,” she says, grinning. She puts her star away and wraps her arm around me. “Lighten up, Jo. We’re shopping, and it’s always a good time.”
Ranger arrives straight from his first job interview, and I’m grateful for his presence.
“How did it go?” I ask him, reaching up on my toes to kiss his cheek. He’s so tall he still has to lower his head for me. Our relationship has been amazing, and I know without a doubt I’ve made the right choice by fighting to be with him. I have never been this happy before.
“Went well,” he says, saying hello to Faye. “They said they’ll let me know this week.”
“Ranger with a nine-to-five,” Faye says, shaking her head with amusement. “I’m going to be interested to see how that one goes.”
“Why are you here again, Faye?” Ranger asks her, but I can see the affection in his tone. He cares for Faye, and I can see why. She just kind of grows on you.
“Because of my impeccable taste,” she says, pushing between us and entwining her arm with us
on each side of her. “I have an hour before I have to pick up Asher from day care and Clover from school, so let’s make this time count.”
Denver, Travis’s cousin, walks out.
“Well, hello,” I hear Faye mutter as he approaches us. I know exactly what she means. Where Travis is light, Denver is dark, with a headful of thick dark hair and eyes the color of whiskey and Coke, dark with a hint of amber.
“Hey, Jo,” he says, eyeing the three of us, Faye’s arms looped through ours like we’re in high school. I detangle myself from her and go and give him a hug.
“Nice to see you again, Denver. This is my fiancé, Ranger, and my friend Faye,” I say, introducing everyone.
“Ranger?” he asks, eyebrows rising. I wince and correct myself, “His name is Cam. Ranger is kind of a nickname.”
“Nice to meet you,” Denver says, shaking Ranger’s hand. He turns to Faye and kisses her hand seductively.
“She’s married with kids.”
“Oh,” he says, letting her hand go and returning his attention to me. “I haven’t seen you since Trav’s last birthday, and all of a sudden you’re getting married and buying furniture for a new house. Sounds like quite the story.”
Travis is such a gossip.
We order all the stuff we need, and on the way out I hear Faye mutter to Ranger, “We should have brought him to Cinderella’s ball. Trust me, it would’ve worked.”
I don’t even ask what she means. I’ve learned that with Faye, sometimes it’s better not to know.
• • •
A week later, and we’re finally unpacked. I walk around the house, just taking it all in, pinching myself that this is my life now. I’d be happy living wherever Ranger is, no matter what it looks like, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the beauty that’s in the home he bought us.
“Jo, what are you doing?” he asks me, giving me a weird look as I touch one of the tables with my finger as I walk past it.
“Admiring our house,” I say, sighing happily. “I still can’t believe we live here. Together. It’s all ours.”
He smiles and takes my hand, leading me to our new bedroom. “I got the job.”
“Did you?” I ask, jumping on him. He instantly lifts me and I wrap my legs around him. “Congratulations, Mr. Accountant.”
“Thanks, babe,” he says, kissing me. “I grew up in a trailer park, and now I’m a fuckin’ accountant, living in this fancy house with the woman of my dreams. Took me a while, but I got here.”
“Will you let me know if you’re ever unhappy?” I ask him, pressing my forehead against him. “Your whole life has changed, and like you’ve done it for me, I’d do it for you, Ranger. So you need to tell me if you ever change your mind about all this.”
“I won’t change my mind,” he says, kissing me briefly. “But I promise to tell you if I’m ever unhappy.”
“Okay,” I say against his lips. “Now are we going to break in our new bed?”
“You bet we are.” He grins, slamming his mouth down on mine.
EPILOGUE
Ranger
Five Years Later
“JO!” I yell through the house, wondering what the hell is going on here. “Why are all the women here? And why the hell are they all dressed as vampires? If I’d have known, I’d have dressed up as Sam from Supernatural and kicked everyone out.”
I hear her sweet laughter as she walks down the stairs. “Ranger, it’s Halloween. I told you we were having the party here about ten times. It’s a vampire theme.”
I narrow my eyes. She’s a vampire too, with fake blood around her lips. First time in my life I’ve never wanted to kiss the crap out of my wife. “Where are all the men?”
“They said they’ll come later,” she says, shrugging. “Apparently they all had something important to do.”
I’ll bet they did.
And thanks to the assholes for not choosing to save me too, instead putting me in the same house as all the women and children, the only man here.
Clover walks past and the tiny vampire hisses at me, exposing little plastic fangs.
Jesus Christ.
Next to walk past is Vinnie and Shayla’s daughter, Alexa, who flashes me a sweet smile. She’s holding hands with Serena, Anna and Arrow’s daughter, who is a spitting image of her mother.
“Where is Isla?” I ask, referring to our three-year-old daughter. Jo calls out her name, and I see my little princess, a cute dark-haired beauty with chubby cheeks and her mother’s blue eyes toddle over with her aunty Faye holding her hand. Every time I see Isla, my heart just melts. I can’t tell you how much having a daughter has softened me. I thought Jo had done that, but Isla . . . I’m like putty in her hands. I see the whole world in a different light now, my daughter has turned my life around and changed my entire world view. She’s also dressed as a mini vampire, wearing a cloak and the same little fangs Clover had.
“Hi, Daddy,” she says, her smile exposing them to me.
“My daughter is dressed as a vampire,” I say, sighing and picking her up in my arms. “Did Aunty Faye do this to you?”
“No,” she answers, giggling. “Mama did.”
Faye smirks at me, her fangs sticking out. She says, “Don’t blame crap on me. I’ll suck your blood,” then walks off. I don’t think Faye will ever grow up, and I like that about her. At the same time, I’m also thankful there is only one of her. Asher comes and stands next to me, the only kid not dressed up.
“Where’s your costume, dude?” I ask him.
He points to the wooden cross on his chest, attached by a black cord around his neck. “I’m a vampire hunter.”
I throw my head back and laugh. What a fuckin’ great kid. “Whose idea was that?”
“Mine,” he says, grinning.
“I had the same idea,” I admit to him.
We share a high five.
“Can you protect Isla though?” I say to him, and he nods quickly, a smile on his face.
Yeah, everyone loves my Isla.
I put Isla down, and she and Jo head to the kitchen for some “blood,” which is apparently red Jell-O.
Yeah, I need to bail.
I call Sin, and he tells me they’re at his house, so I drive straight there.
I could have walked, but I wanted out of there fast. The sight I come across is hilarious. All of the men from the Wind Dragons are sitting in front of the TV, beers in their hands, watching a basketball game.
“Thanks for saving me, guys,” I say, scowling and taking the only spare seat left.
They all laugh, and I know that they did it on purpose. “Whose idea was the vampire theme?”
“Faye and Jo came up with it,” Sin says, shrugging unapologetically. “Did you see Asher though? What a little legend.”
“I did,” I say, lip twitching. “He’s hilarious.”
Over the last few years it’s been such a change, but we’ve all stuck together, even without my being in the MC anymore. I don’t go to the clubhouse, but I still see all of them every week. They’re still my family. Our kids are friends. And Jo is thriving, working her way up in her career, loving her life. I don’t have any regrets with the decisions I made.
I now have what I never thought would be possible. A respectable job, a family, and a home. My daughter has a completely different life to what I had, and I’ll make sure she always does. I made this little life for me, and I love it. I fall in love with Jo all over again every single day, and Isla makes the sun shine that much brighter for me. Not everyone is this lucky in life, and I know it, and I’m thankful every damn day.
I’m also thankful for the men in this room, the ones who took me in when they didn’t have to, the ones who still love me even after I left them. The ones who were at my wedding, my daughter’s birth, and who celebrate with us all of life’s achievements. The Wind Dragons are one of the best things that have ever happened to me, after Jo and Isla, and I wouldn’t even have my girls if it weren’t for them.
Arrow glances around the room. “Want to go for a ride before we hit the vamp party?”
We all stand up at the same time.
Some things never change.
Revved up for more of New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando's Wind Dragons MC series?
When Faye catches her boyfriend Eric cheating on her in their apartment, she begins to make decisions that hurt their relationship by getting involved with Eric's brother Dex, vice president of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club.
Dragon's Lair
* * *
Following the death of the woman he loved, Arrow is drowning and guilt and has to struggle with the feelings he's developing for the sister of another Wind Dragon MC member.
Arrow's Hell
* * *
Tracker is one of the bad boys of the Wind Dragons MC, and when he falls for Anna's shy and sweet best friend Lana, he has to learn to soften up to win her heart.
Tracker's End
* * *
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CHANTAL FERNANDO is the New York Times bestselling author of the novel Maybe This Time, the Resisting Love series, and nine Wind Dragons MC novels and novellas. She lives in Western Australia and can be followed on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her website at authorchantalfernando.com.
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