Almost too easy.
Blood stains my knuckles. It’s possible I’m enjoying myself a little too much.
White heat surges through my veins, heart thumping, blood pounding, my wild eyes search the immediate area, primed for the next opponent.
Z’s busy flirting with the pretty bartender when a hefty old biker takes a swing at Rock.
“Shit!” I smack Z’s arm as I slide off my stool.
“Oh fuck.”
“I’m gonna call the cops,” the bartender says.
“Shit, Z.”
That’s the last thing Rock needs.
Rock seems perfectly at home knocking the guy out and the other bikers who come at him. It’s honestly a little terrifying to see my husband so comfortable being so vicious.
A short scream jumps out of my throat when one of the guys pulls a knife.
Rock handles that too.
It all happens so fast.
Z tugs on my arm, trying to push me toward the back door, but I dig my heels into the dirty wood floor. “I’m not leaving without him.”
“Hope,” he warns.
“Where’s Wrath?”
Some patrons flee out the front door, while others use the fight as an excuse to start their own trouble.
Two more bikers head Rock’s way.
I pull out the little pepper blaster and Z laughs. “What the hell are you gonna do with that?”
“Shoot those guys.”
“Hope,” he says, grabbing my arm again. “Let’s go.”
“Z, I can either shoot you or them.” I snap the cartridge in place and slip the extra one in my pocket. “I’d rather not shoot you, but I will if you don’t let go of me.”
“Goddammit,” he mutters, releasing my arm. I’m halfway across the room, when Wrath bursts in the front door.
“Hope, don’t.” He motions me toward him. “Let’s go.”
But two more guys are approaching Rock, one with what looks like a broken chair leg clutched tightly in his left hand.
I aim the plastic gun in his direction first. My finger pushes the white, plastic safety to the side.
“Hey!” I shout to get his attention.
He turns, and oh fuck, I pray this stupid little thing works because he’s a scary asshole and now he’s coming my way.
Deep breath. Just like Rock’s taught me, aim for right between the eyes and slowly squeeze the trigger.
A loud pop bursts from the gun and the glob of pepper spray lands in the middle of his scraggly, gray beard.
Huh, guess my aim is off.
The liquid spreads, soaking his beard as well as dousing the guy to his left enough to make him stop.
The one I nailed drops to the ground, clawing at his throat. The chair leg thumps to the floor.
Happy it worked, I smile in triumph and grab the second cartridge.
Wrath’s already in the thick of things with Rock. I’ve witnessed what Wrath’s capable of doing in the somewhat controlled environment of an underground fighting ring. Here, with no rules at all—he’s absolutely savage.
“All right, let’s go, Hope,” Z says.
I can tell he doesn’t want to leave. He’s struggling between staying with me like Rock asked or helping his brothers.
“I’m fine. Go help them.”
“Woman, I swear to—”
A bearded blur storms through the front door. “Look, Murphy’s here. I’ll go with—”
Too late, Murphy’s already joined the brawl.
“Fuck. Stay put,” Z says.
I glance at the bartender who’s on the phone, probably with the police.
We’re all going to end up being carted off to jail tonight.
“Bitch,” someone snaps to my right and I whirl around.
The girl who hit on Rock earlier advances on me with a beer bottle in one hand.
Cold fear swirls in my stomach. I’m not a fighting type of girl. Never have been. I squeeze the gun in my hand, very aware I only have one cartridge left.
I flick my gaze to the corner where Rock, Wrath, Murphy, and Z have neutralized most of the threats. Everyone else has fled the building.
The girl in front of me seems to realize her backup is either beaten to a pulp on the floor or gone, leaving her behind.
I casually snap the cartridge into place. “Did you have something to say to me, short stack?”
She blows out a breath. “Uppity cunt.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that, sweetheart,” I mutter, raising the gun and aiming for her mouth.
She pauses and cocks her head, maybe trying to figure out if the gray and red plastic gun is an actual threat.
“Last chance,” I warn.
“Fuck you.”
That seems pretty hostile. My finger twitches and the gun fires. The blob of pepper spray lands in her cleavage, spreads across her chest and drips down her shirt.
“What the fuck is that?” The girl screams, scooping up the goopy stuff with her long coffin-shaped nails.
It must sting because she shrieks even louder and dances around like a possessed marionette.
I don’t feel as bad about it as I probably should. After all, I tried to warn her. Not my fault she wouldn’t listen.
“What the fuck, Hope?” Teller shouts. He races over from the main entrance and grabs my hand. “We gotta go. Now.”
“Rock!” I yell as Teller drags me to the door.
Breathing hard and covered with sweat and maybe a little blood, he looks up and scowls. “Get her out of here,” he barks at Teller.
“Cops are on their way!” the bartender shouts. “Get out while you can.”
“Go, Rock. I got this,” Wrath says, shoving him away.
The group who earlier outnumbered us by quite a bit lies scattered on the floor in groaning, bloody heaps.
Teller’s clamps down on my arm harder, determined to get me out of here whether I like it or not. “Ow. Watch it with the iron grip,” I yelp.
He ignores me and pulls me into the parking lot.
“We gotta get out of here,” he says, pulling me toward Murphy’s truck.
“Where’s Trinity and Charlotte?”
“Back at the beach house.”
Wrath, Z, Murphy, and Rock burst out of the front door just as sirens sound in the distance.
“Move!” Rock yells, running toward us as if the bar’s about to blow up.
My boots slap over the hard pavement, jarring my bones. These weren’t meant for running. Teller opens the back door and lift-shoves me inside. I scoot to the other side as fast as I can to make room for the other guys and end up jammed against Alexa’s car seat. Rock jumps in next, followed by Z.
Teller climbs behind the wheel and Wrath hoists himself into the passenger side.
“Where’s Murphy?” I ask.
Wrath jerks his finger over his shoulder and I turn. Murphy taps the back window and gives us a thumbs-up.
“Let’s roll, welterweight,” Wrath rumbles.
“I’m going. Gonna be a little suspicious if I peel out of here, don’t ya think?”
It’s maddening, but Teller takes his time—even uses his blinker—as he slowly pulls out of the parking lot and onto Main Street.
Several police cars pass us, lights flashing, sirens blaring, but none of them slow down or turn around.
Once the police are a good distance behind us, Teller finally speeds up.
Everyone’s breathing hard and excitedly recapping the night’s events.
Rock grabs me by my hips and pulls me into his lap. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” I search every inch of his face, neck, and chest to make sure he’s not hurt. He hisses when I touch his shoulder and push his leather cut to the side. I peel his shirt away and gasp.
“Jesus, Rock,” I breathe out. His skin’s already reddened and turning purple in places. “Can you move your arm?”
“Got you into my lap, didn’t I?”
I’m too worried to joke
around. “Be serious.”
He shrugs and rolls his shoulders for me, clenching his jaw the entire time.
“All right. Nothing’s probably broken. But we better ice it when we get back to the hotel.”
“You think it’s wise to go back there tonight?” Teller asks. “Everyone in that place probably saw our colors. The cops will come looking for you.”
“Everyone in there also knows we didn’t start that shit,” Z says. “Doubt the bartender will say anything.”
“What about the other club?” I ask.
“Fuck them,” Wrath growls. “They want another beating, I’m happy to deliver it to them.”
Rock lets out a dark chuckle. “Not quite how I wanted the night to end.”
“Hope’ll tend to your boo-boos, Prez,” Wrath says. “Don’t worry.”
“Are you okay, Wrath?” I ask, twisting around to touch his shoulder.
He reaches back and pats my hand. “I’m fine. You did good, Hope.”
“What about me?” Z asks, shaking out his hand.
I grab his arm and check out his scraped knuckles. “You’ll need some ice too.”
Rock must be tired, he doesn’t even object to me fussing over Z’s injuries.
Teller drives back to the house where we clean up. Once she’s sure Teller’s okay, Charlotte disappears into one of the bedrooms with Alexa and doesn’t ask any questions.
Trinity’s all over Wrath the second she sees him.
We call to check in with the rest of the guys who’re partying at a bar across town without issue.
When everyone’s been taken care of and we’re sure all of our brothers are safe, I grab a blanket and take Hope down to the beach.
“It’s dark,” she says, following me into the soft sand.
“We’ll know when we hit the water.” I point to the moon, glowing soft silver over the water. “Besides, it’s not that dark.”
“Oh.” She stops and gasps. “It’s so beautiful.”
It’s low tide, but I stop and spread out the blanket far enough from the water that we shouldn’t get wet anytime soon.
I pull her down with me and she immediately pushes an icepack against my aching shoulder.
“You need to slow down,” she murmurs, kissing my cheek. “Let me take care of you.”
“It’s my job to take care of you.”
“Well, you can’t do that if you’re injured, now can you?” she sasses right back.
My mouthy lawyer woman.
I run my hand over her hair. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She grins. “My pepper gun worked. But I need new cartridges.”
“Think we’ll grab those tomorrow.” I turn my head to the side and let out a dry laugh. “Obviously it comes in handy.”
Her hand with the icepack falls away and she sits back. “That was… surreal. One minute we’re hanging out joking around with Z and the next—”
“This is the reality of our world, Hope. Damn ugly at times.”
She inhales deeply and tilts her head toward the ocean. “But sometimes it’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” And now I’ve further tainted her with the shit in my life, exactly what I never wanted for her.
She watches me for a few seconds before speaking again. “The violence I felt when that girl was flirting with you was nothing compared to how I felt when those men…” her voice trails off and she shakes her head. For a second I think she’s about to tear up but her voice is clear and firm. “I wanted something bigger than a pepper spray gun to beat them with.”
“Look at you so vicious under all that innocence,” I tease, even though I don’t feel like joking.
Her gentle fingers settle under my chin forcing me to look at her. “When it comes to you, yes.”
As if she heard my earlier thoughts, her voice hardens. “And don’t think it’s because you somehow tainted me or turned me into something I’m not.” She taps her chest. “That desire to do whatever I can to protect what’s mine comes from deep inside.”
The air leaves my lungs and I pull her closer for a kiss.
She breaks the kiss, her mouth turning down. “Unfortunately, I feel pretty useless in a situation like that.”
I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb over her lips. “You did good. I wish you’d left with Z when I asked you to, but I should’ve known better.”
“Leave you behind.” She snorts. “I don’t fucking think so.”
“Fuck.” I take her hand, guiding it to my lap and the erection she’s given me.
Her eyes light up and she squeezes gently.
“See what you do to me?”
Soft, husky laughter falls from her lips. “I’m pretty sure a stiff breeze would get you hard.”
“Yeah, if it’s carrying your scent.” I shove my nose into the crook of her neck. Inhaling her scent like it’s the cure for everything wrong in my world.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“I need you,” Rock whispers against my skin. His lips trace my collarbone, to my shoulder, sliding my shirt down my arm.
“Rock, wasn’t one brush with the law enough for tonight?”
He glances up and down the beach. In the distance someone’s having a party around a bonfire, but other than that, the beach is empty.
“Rock!” someone shouts behind us. “Hope?”
Rock lets out an unholy, unhappy growl and turns. Wrath and Trinity are kicking up sand on their way over to us. Rock stands and pulls me up with him.
“We’re going back to the hotel. You want to stay here?” Wrath asks.
Half an hour later, we’re tucked safely inside our room and Rock’s no less wound up than he was on the beach. He stalks me across the room until the back of my knees hit the bed and land on the mattress.
“I really wanted to fuck you on the beach.” He strips off his shirt, slower than usual, putting on a show for me.
“Rock, is your shoulder still—”
“I’m fine.” He works his belt loose. “Although, I’d start taking those clothes off if you don’t want them shredded.”
I crawl up into the center of the bed and watch him undress. Fire races over my skin when he tips his head up and focuses on me.
“Hope,” he warns. “I’m fucking you one way or another.”
“Is that right?”
He strokes his hand up and down his cock a few times and meets my eyes. “Nah, you’re right. On second, thought, I’ll go take care of myself.” He struts off to the bathroom leaving me staring after him.
“Rock?”
I scurry off the bed and just as I turn the corner, he grabs me, lifting and flipping me in the air.
“I can’t believe I fell for that,” I shriek.
He tosses me on the bed. “I can’t either.”
This time, I slowly lift my shirt and toss it aside.
“Much better. Still too slow.” He leans down and yanks my boots off, then drags my jeans down my legs. “Open your legs.”
I hook my fingers in my underwear and lift up. He helps by slipping them off.
Despite his rough tone and crude words, he’s achingly gentle as he covers me with is body. He cups my face with his hands and brushes a soft kiss against my lips. His steel-gray eyes take in more than my face.
He pushes inside me slow enough to make me moan for more, harder, faster.
He’s controlled enough to deny my request and take his time. Gathering me in his arms, cradling me as he thrusts into me again.
I open my mouth and he captures my lips in a kiss. Every shared breath, every roll of his hips sends me spiraling.
“You’re so beautiful.” His hands clutch my hips, holding me tighter as he thrusts into me harder. Satisfied primal growls rumble from his throat with every roll of his hips.
“Whose pussy is this?” Rock whispers against my neck. His lips travel over my shoulder, teeth sinking into my flesh.
My mind’s blank except for one word. “Yours.”
“That�
��s right.” His frantic thrusts slow. “Give it to me any time I want, right, baby doll? Is that right? Tell me.”
“Oh!” I scream and groan at the same time. “Yes. Don’t stop.”
I whimper as he sits up and captures my ankles in his hands. He spreads my legs obscenely wide and hammers into me, leaving me no choice but to twist my hands into the comforter beneath us and hang on.
“I’m not fucking stopping. Don’t worry ’bout that. Look how pretty you are.”
He shifts so he’s holding my ankles in one hand and squeezes his free hand between my thighs to play with my clit.
“Nooo. Too much.”
“No such thing. Come on.”
Streaks of white-hot pleasure race down my body tossing me into my own personal blissful nighttime moonlit ocean waves. My wild moans of orgasmic joy give way to high-pitched broken laughter as the sensations overwhelm me.
Rock rides out my climax until my wild, breathless laughter turns to satisfied sighs.
He releases me, pulls out and throws himself down next to me.
“Come ride my cock, my dirty little doll.”
I waste no time throwing my leg over him.
“Greedy tonight,” he teases.
“Yup.” My eyes squeeze tight as I take him inside me and slowly work my hips up and down.
“That’s it,” he encourages, running his hands up and down my thighs. “Oh fuck.” He closes his eyes and throws his head back. “Keep going. Come on. Don’t slow down now.”
“Oh, Rock,” I gasp. “I’m gonna… again… Oh!”
“There it is. Keep coming for me.”
I’m breathless and limp when he pulls me down, burying my face against his neck. His arms clamp around me, holding me tight, shoving his face against my neck and sucking at my skin.
He stills and groans deep, the sound vibrating through me.
“Hope.” His voice is rough-edged with both love and need.
“I’m here.”
He doesn’t loosen his hold on me, keeping me anchored to his body so we can trade soft kisses and murmured declarations of love.
Something thumps against the wall our bed rests against.
“I hope you’re done for the night! We need sleep!” Sparky shouts.
After Burn Page 14
