by Sophia Gray
Before I could interject, he’d planted her back on her feet and sent her off with a pat to her bottom.
“The door’s locked,” I said, and followed her to the house. Once I had her situated on the couch with one of her favorite videos on, I headed back out to deal with Rafe.
“So, where were you two?” he asked me before I even stepped back onto the driveway.
“Police station.” I folded my arms over my chest and stopped, leaving enough space between us that he couldn’t touch me if he wanted to. Even though I really wanted him to.
He gave a curt nod then looked over my shoulder back at the house. “How is she doing, for real?” I saw more concern in his eyes when he asked that question than I ever saw in Jeremy the entire time he lived with us.
“The social worker says she’s doing well. She said she seems to be hanging on to the parts that I was with her, and that Brittany and Gray didn’t hurt her. Well, she didn’t mention Gray, just Brittany. I assume that was your doing?” I gave him a knowing look.
The night everything happened we’d been visited by the police. They said they had received a call about the kidnapping. Stephanie sat with me while I gave my statement, and I cuddled with Maddie while she answered a few questions. I wouldn’t let them ask too many. I kept my answers brief, not sure who called them and if I was playing into a trap of some sort. When I started to say something about him, Stephanie pinched my thigh beneath the kitchen table.
“Gray’s been taken care of.” He didn’t flinch, or show any remorse, just stated the fact as it was, a fact.
“I’m not going to say I’m sorry about it. In a way I wish you’d let me do it.”
“No.” He shook his head and stepped toward me. “You will never know that sort of life. Never.” His deep voice hit me hard; he sounded angry.
“I know.” I nodded. “It’s probably better this way, you going your way and me going mine.” I said the words, heard them with my own ears, but my heart ached with each syllable.
“That’s not what I meant.” He took another step toward me, and I willed my body to move away, outside of his reach. But my mind wasn’t mine anymore, not when he was around. With just a look he put me under his control, and damn if I didn’t love it. And loved him.
Tears filled my eyes. “I have to think about Maddie,” I whispered, tilting my chin down and starting at his boots.
“I am thinking about her. And you.”
“Stephanie said you were giving me space.” I slid my hands into the back pockets of my jean shorts, for no other reason other than I had no idea what else to do with them.
“I was, but I’m done with that now. You had time. You had space. Now you have me.” Another step toward me. He seemed to be approaching me like I was a wild animal, one false move on his part and I might bolt. “There were a few things to get squared away at the club. I wanted it all set before I came to see you.”
I just nodded.
“Look at me, Beth.” That arrogant demanding tone was back. I raised my chin slightly, enough to see him through my lowered lids. “You haven’t been working, have you? You look tired.” His hand gripped my chin, thrusting it upward then turning my face to the right then the left. Inspecting me.
“No.” I tried to pull away, but he was set on having his way. “And not because of your threat either,” I bit out.
He scoffed. “You lie.” He pushed my chin down and drew my gaze to his. “My promise to spank you had more to do with it than you want to think.”
“I’m not afraid of a spanking,” I announced, sounding every bit a defiant child. I couldn’t blame him for the laugh he let loose. “I mean, I’m not afraid of you.”
“Good.” He let go of my chin. The pad of his thumb ran across my cheek, collecting the tear that fell. “I don’t want you to ever be afraid of me. I’ll never hurt you. And because you have a hard spanking coming your way.”
My breath caught in my throat. “What?” Did the man think of nothing else?
“You lied to Stephanie. You fed her that bullshit about the warehouse and the wrong time, knowing she’d feed it to me. What happened wasn’t your fault. Gray did what he did, and that’s his shit to take to his grave. But you were dishonest. You tried to play the situation and keep me from protecting you. And that I can’t let go unpunished.” His eyebrows knitted together again.
“Rafe.” I whispered his name, the sound of it almost hurting to speak. He was right. I knew damn well Stephanie was going to go to Rafe come morning. I fed her that crap so he wouldn’t get involved. Why I thought I could handle Gray on my own didn’t make much sense after it all went down. At the time I assumed Gray would give me Maddie if Rafe wasn’t with me. If he couldn’t hold her as a prize, he’d let her go home. But another spanking? I wasn’t sure I wanted that, either. “We can’t—”
“We’ll wait until Madison’s asleep for her nap, but then you’re taking five with my belt for lying.” He looked completely serious.
“I’m not yours.” My voice cracked when I spoke that lie. My heart ached for him, but what sort of future could we really have? He saved us from Gray, but what about next time? He was still dangerous. Could I really let him pull us into his world?
“Did you want to add more for lying again?” He sounded firm, but when I glanced up at him, I could see the torment in his eyes as well. I could say no. I could walk back into my house and lock the door and never see him again. He wouldn’t stop me. The call was mine to make.
“Madison could have been killed,” I reminded both of us.
He gave a slow nod. “I’m not denying that my life isn’t as uncomplicated as a guy who wears a suit and heads off to a cubicle every day. But I’m promising you that I’ll keep you and that little girl safe from all of it. I’m taking the club into legit businesses.”
“They made you president.” I reached out and traced the patch on his chest. Just feeling him beneath my hand made me want to lean into his strength. “How can we be safer now that you lead the club?”
He pulled me into his chest, letting me lean into the length of him and felt his arms wrap around me. His chin heavy on my head as he rested it there. “Baby, I will never let anyone hurt you or Maddie again. “
“If I hadn’t made you leave that night, Gray wouldn’t have taken me,” I whispered into his chest, inhaling the now comforting scent of leather.
“Do you want me to leave the club?” The question was asked with sincerity and I knew that if I asked it of him, he would do it. He’d walk away from the only family he ever knew, the thing that, outside of us, made him who he was. He may not have been perfect, but he was strong, devoted, and he would protect his family to the death.
I shoved away from him to look up at him, not sure if he was serious or not. He was. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.” And I wouldn’t. Stephanie hated the club after losing her family because of the violence, and truthfully, I was terrified of ending up in her shoes. But that night I spent with her, she told me about Jason and the club. Gray wasn’t a true member, he saw the club as a means to gain power and fortune. That wasn’t what the Anarchy’s Reign was really about. Not at their core. Even with her grief, she knew that and knew Rafe sat on the right side of that table. “But I really don’t want to live at the clubhouse. Maddie can’t be around that all the time. She needs normalcy as much of it as possible.”
A smile spread across his lips. “You won’t have to. We’ll live here.” He nodded to the house behind me. “No, someplace better. Better schools for Maddie. You can keep working at the ER if you want, but you don’t have to.”
I watched the excitement of what he was saying cross his face. Could I really be doing what I was planning? “Madison adores you.”
“I love that little girl, too. Just as much as I love her mama.”
My heart stopped. “What did you say?”
“I said I love you,” he growled. “Now you say it back.”
I laughed. “You can’t demand me to tell y
ou that I love you.”
“Sure as fuck I can. Remember, I give the orders, you follow them. Now stop making me wait and say it.”
“Impossible man.” I shook my head. His hand moved to my ass and his fingers gave me a pinch. I jumped but he didn’t let me go. “Okay. I love you, too.”
“I know you do. Now, don’t you ever stay away from me this long again. Ever.”
“You stayed away. Not me.” I gave his shoulder a little shove. He gave me a good glare, but it didn’t frighten me.
“Well, I’m never staying away again, no matter how much you cry and yell. You and Maddie, you’re my family now, you belong to me, you got it?”
“Yeah.” I sighed with a grin. “I got it.”
His hands framed my face, holding his mouth just above mine. “You deserve way better than a biker like me, Beth. But I swear I’ll never let you want for anything.” His lips pressed into mine, capturing me once again and making my head spin.
His hands held me right where I belonged, with him.
Epilogue
BETH
My ass was on fire. Who would have thought a few licks of a leather belt would create such agony?
Rafe made good on his promise to give me five lashes with his belt once Maddie went down for her nap. I didn’t think she’d go to sleep in her own room, but after Rafe talked with her and read her a short story, she snuggled into bed and was asleep before he made it to the door. Who would have thought a big biker like Rafe would voluntarily read a Curious George book to a five-year-old in order to get her to take her nap?
“You ready for the last one?” His deep voice came from behind me. The roughness of his fingers ran over my already tender bottom, sending shivers throughout my entire body. He’d been “generous” as he called it by warming my ass up with a hand spanking before taking off his belt. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that my pussy was dripping for him, and I wanted that last lash to come fast so he’d sink himself into me.
“Yes.” I gritted my teeth, waiting for the crisp burn of the leather.
“Relax your ass first, Beth.”
I tried to soften my bottom, but it twitched knowing what was coming next. He must have seen that I was at least trying because the lash of fire was unleashed across both of my cheeks at once. I hopped up from the bed and starting dancing around. That last one had been harder than the rest, feeling more like he cut me than slapped me.
“No rubbing.” He curled his belt up and placed it on my dresser. I removed my hands from behind me but still hopped from one foot to the next, like that would help at all. It didn’t, but he seemed to enjoy the show. “Take off that shirt of yours.” He’d let me keep my shirt on for the spanking, but nothing else.
I peeled it off me and tossed it in the corner. I wanted to jump on him, but he wouldn’t have it. As always with Rafe, it had to be his way. “Are you always going to do that when you’re upset with me?” I asked, nodding toward the bed I had just been draped over with my bare ass turned upward for him.
He gave a little laugh. “No, sometimes I won’t be mad at you. Sometimes, I’ll just want to see that cute little ass of yours all red and hot for me. Now, put your hands on top your head and spread your legs. I want to see that wet pussy.”
At some point I would get used to the way he talked, but in that moment my face burned as hot as my backside. I complied. My fingers laced together and placed on top of my head he moved to me. My legs were pressed against the bed, and he took up all the space in front of me.
He had removed his shirt just before he pulled his belt free of his jeans. I accused him of that being added torture as it allowed me to see all his muscles and tats but I wasn’t able to touch him yet. He’d laughed and pointed to the bed, completely undeterred by my flirting.
But now that the spanking was over, and my body was all tingly and warm for him, his skin pressed against mine sending new sparks to my core. Thick fingers slid through my slippery folds, rubbing my clit and barely touching my entrance. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me.” He leaned in, his chest pressing against my chest as he whispered into my ear.
His tongue darted out and licked my earlobe and I let out a loud moan. I wanted to touch him, my fingers itched with the need to feel his strength beneath my fingertips. “Please, Rafe. I need to feel you.” I didn’t care if I begged, he would just make my soon anyway.
“Not yet.” He ran his tongue down the side of my neck. My breasts were being cupped in his hands while his thumbs rolled my nipples in circles, driving me even crazier with need. My pussy clenched down with regret that he stopped touching me there. “On the bed.” He gave me a little shove to get me going. Like I needed to be told twice at that point.
Once on the bed, I dropped my hands to my sides. I kept my eyes on him as he unbuttoned his jeans and pulled the zipper down. I couldn’t help but lick my lips when his cock sprung free, bobbing for a minute as he shoved his jeans down.
He climbed on the bed and yanked my thighs apart. The hunger in his eyes matched what was bubbling in my chest. Shoving my legs back he ran the head of his cock along my pussy, gathering my wetness on his head.
“Rafe, a condom.” I managed to get my head on straight for a minute.
“No.” He shook his head. “Not this time.” With one quick thrust he was inside of me, filling me with this thickness and his desire. He kissed me, a deep, long, passionate kiss. One that made my brain fuzzy when he pulled away. “I think I like the idea of putting a baby in your belly,” he said between kisses.
His hands were everywhere, feeling, caressing, pinching. Every sensation he caused was followed by a more intense touch. He began to move inside of me, driving hard into me over and over again. My legs tucked upward, I was able to take the full length of him but not without some discomfort. He made it worth every second of it with his kisses and his touches.
I could feel my orgasm brimming. My body began to tighten as he plowed into me. My bed banged against the wall. “Oh, God! Rafe. I have to come.” I gripped his shoulders, feeling awesome strength beneath my fingers.
He locked my gaze. I could see his lips thinning, he was barely holding onto his own control. “Come for me, Beth. I want to feel your pussy come all over me.” It was all I needed to be tossed over the edge. The body shaking wave of my orgasm ripped me from any coherent thought. I planted my feet on the bed and arched up at him, taking him as deep as I could while I screamed out my release.
Not one to coddle me, Rafe plowed even harder into me, finding his own fulfilment. His groan penetrated my orgasmic fog and I pulled my legs back again and he growled his pleasure at the new sensation.
Our heated breaths mingled as he lay on top of me, catching his breath while I caught mine. He slipped from me and rolled to his side. His large arm wrapped around me and yanked me to side. He kissed me softly. “I love you, babe.”
“I love you, too.” I wiggled my way under his chin and let out a loud sigh. “If you got me pregnant, I’m gonna slap you.”
“If I didn’t get you pregnant, we need to go another round.” He pinched my hip. “I’m serious, Beth. I want a family with you, a brother or sister for Maddie. A wedding. Everything. I want it all.”
“Is that your twisted way of asking me to marry you?” I asked with wide eyes. I shouldn’t have been surprised.
“Yeah, I guess so.” His lips curled at the edges.
“Well, fine, then. But can we wait for a baby? Maybe a few months at least?” I kissed his chest.
“Fine, but we get married this month.”
It was my turn to laugh. Leave it to Rafe to simply demand it be done and expect to happen. “What about Maddie?”
“She’s my daughter, too. I’ll ask my brother to get one of his lawyer friends to make it legal.”
“Why didn’t you take care of Brittany the same way you did Gray?” I asked, aware I was completely ruining the moment. “I mean, why get the cops involved? You hate the cops.”
“Some of them are
okay. The ones I called are friends of the club.” He dragged a piece of hair from my eyes. “Brittany was your friend before; I didn’t think you’d like her ending up like Gray. She’s fucked up, but she’s not like Gray. I figured you’d want it this way.”
I rested m head back on his chest, listening to his heart beating beneath my ear. “Thank you. I mean, I’ll never forgive her for what she did and I’ll never see her again, but I wouldn’t want her to end up like Gray.” I almost asked what happened to him, but I knew better. “What happens with Stephanie now?”
“Steph? Nothing. Either she’ll stick around the club or she won’t. It’s her call now. But the club will continue to support her.” He pulled the blanket up over me. “Now stop talking and go to sleep. Our little girl is going to be waking up soon, and I’m gonna make her a snack. You are staying in here to nap.” He pressed his lips to my temple and slid from the bed. I didn’t argue. I was exhausted.
