by Jordan Marie
Skye
“You are completely insane!” I bark at him. He is, the only problem is I like what he just did. I can’t remember anyone ever standing up for me. Here is this man doing it without even being asked. I’m not sure how to react and on top of that there’s Walter. I may like what Bull did, privately. Walter might have been so far out of line that there was no way to recover, but he is my boss. My very vindictive boss, and Bull just threatened to kill him. No, correction he threatened to bury him where no one would ever think to look. What do I do with this? What do I do with Bull?
“Mom?”
I turn to see Matty coming down the hall, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The familiar tug at my heart hits me. Just seeing my baby infuses me with pride. We may not have had an easy time of it, but I don’t regret a minute of it.
“I’m sorry sweetie, did we wake you?” I ask him, getting down on my knees, so I can hold him close and ruffle his hair.
“I heard yelling,” he says looking at Bull. “Who are you?”
“He’s…”
“I’m a friend of your Mama’s. You, Matthew?”
I watch as my son straightens his back and looks Bull over like he’s seeking out everything he can find out about him.
“Yeah. Were you yelling at my Mom?”
Bull smiles widely, almost proudly, at Matty. He’s given me cocky grins and flirty looks before, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a genuine smile from him before, until right now. The fact that he gave it to Matty means more than I could say. Maybe that was the exact moment I decided to soften. Up until this point, I was just fighting an unexplainable attraction for a man I should in no way be attracted to. Now? Now, I think there might be more to this attraction than just hormones.
“Horse feathers…,” I mumble.
“What’s that Doc?”
“Mom always says horse feathers when she gets upset.”
Bull laughs. “Or Christ’s toenails?”
“Sometimes,” Matty says, and I feel myself blush. “Did you yell at my mom?”
“No, there was someone else here, but I got rid of him.”
“You like my mom?” Matty asks, and I hold my head down. I want to interject, but I don’t know what to say. What can I say? Sorry Matty, this can’t be the daddy you’ve been asking me for, because he’s a player who is just now recovering from a disease you get when you bump uglies with another person without protection. I don’t think that would work.
“More every minute.”
Damn it, why does he have to be so sweet and be an ass?
“Let’s get you back in bed, baby. We leave for the zoo awful early. You need your rest.”
“You want to go to the zoo with us?” Matty asks, and I wish the ground would swallow me up.
“Mr. Kane, can’t…”
“I’d love to. I love the zoo. I’m a big turtle fan.”
“Me too!”
I shoot Bull a look that could freeze Lake Michigan harder than any winter storm. He just gives me another cocky grin. I’m starting to hate those. I know he looked at Matty’s pajamas. Jerk-face. He ignores my look.
“Let’s get you to bed,” I say again, leading him back to his room.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Matthew.”
“Later…Hey! What’s your name?”
“Bull.”
“Bull like the animal?” Matty asks.
“That’s it.”
“Cool! See you tomorrow Bull.”
“Bye, little dude.”
I say nothing. All I can think of, over and over are words I can’t say around Matty. Sometimes horse feathers just isn’t a strong enough expletive.
Damn.
17
Bull
It’s the first of November and it should be cold, or at the very least, cool. Not today. Today, Mother Nature decided to be a bitch and bless the state of Tennessee with a heatwave. Since we drove down to Knoxville to spend the day at the zoo, you would think that would make this the most miserable day I’ve had in my life. It’s not. I can’t remember having a better day in my life. Skye and her son…
Hell, I was intrigued by her before, but after today I’m pretty much gone for the woman. I used to think Dragon and Crusher were pussies for falling for their women so hard, but hell if Skye gives me the opening, she’s never getting rid of me.
I was afraid the reason I was attracted to Skye in the beginning was because she reminded me of Carrie. The more I get to know her, I realize she’s nothing like Carrie. The color of their hair—that’s it. Skye has more grit. Where I felt the need to be gentle all the time with Carrie, Skye is like electricity to my system. She can be mouthy as all hell, and it makes me itch to grab her, push her against the wall, and fuck her into submission. Then I watch her with her boy, and see the way she takes care of him. Fuck, even that makes my dick grow hard. I want a taste of her, I want her fussing over me. Hell, I even wonder how she’d be with a kid we had together. This leads me to imagining her pregnant with my baby, and I get a fucking hard-on just thinking about her stomach tight with my baby, her tits swollen. All of this means I’ve pretty much spent the day walking around with a cock hard enough to bust through concrete.
“You’re looking tired sweetheart,” Skye’s voice grabs my attention. So motherfucking sweet my teeth hurt. I’ve got to have a taste of her.
“Mom, I’m okay. I just want to see the kangaroos!”
I watch Skye, and I know she’s been working a ton of overtime. She’s worn out. It amazes me that with all of her responsibilities, she still manages to be such a great mom.
“Hey Matthew, I’m dying of thirst man. How about we stop in the food court and grab a bite to eat, and then head to the Down Under exhibit? I’m an old man, you have to have a little mercy on me,” I joke, determined to get Skye a small rest.
Matty’s shrewd eyes are looking at me and he knows what I’m about. I can see it. So I cave and point towards his mom, giving him a wink. He looks over and sighs, but then nods back, smiling.
“Okay, Bull. I could use a cherry slushy anyways.”
“Cherry? Man, that’s whack. Lime is where it’s at.”
“You’re both wrong, it’s raspberry,” Skye chimes in.
“Raspberry?” Matthew and I both ask her—like she’s crazy.
“That’s just gross, Mom.”
“It’s not even a real color,” I add.
“It’s a fruit!” she defends.
“Not a very good one,” I come back with a smile, as the three of us walk over to the tables. I leave them there, waving off Skye’s attempt at giving me money. Damn woman has a huge independent streak. It’s cute, but she has no idea who she’s dealing with. It’s going to be fun, showing her.
“What is that?” she asks when I come back to the table.
“One of life’s greatest pleasures,” I tell her, winking at Matthew while handing him a chili-dog.
“Oh man! Thanks, Bull!”
I hand one over to Skye, and then sit down beside her.
“This doesn’t look healthy,” she says, but she’s licking her lips. She’s been doing it all for so long by herself, I think she’s forgotten how to enjoy herself. I still feel like I should have let her go, but that’s off the table now. I’m just going to bust my ass trying to be a better man.
“C’mon, Doc. Live a little.”
“Yeah, Mom! Live a little!” Matty joins in.
That’s probably when it happens. Skye laughs—not just a little, but a lot. She laughs hard. I’m frozen with the damn hot dog half way to my mouth, and all I can do is watch her and hear the joy coming from her. It’s beautiful. Then I look over to Matty, and see the chili running down his face, as he’s stuffing the damn thing in his mouth. He forgets to take the time to breathe, and I can’t help but laugh too. That’s probably when I fall completely for her. Maybe.
“Slow down there, sport. Take time to enjoy it. I’ll get you another one if you’re still hungry.”
“Really?” he asks, like it’s Christmas morning. “What about mom?”
I look over at Skye, and she looks at the two of us and then takes a huge bite of her hot dog too, licking some of the chili off her lip when she’s done. My poor dick.
“I want another one too,” she says with a grin. Matty giggles and goes back to eating.
He must forget about wanting seconds, because one of the traveling workers comes to the line just beyond the tables, with a green wing macaw. Kids are gathering around to watch the bird and to feed it peanuts.
“Can I go over there, Mom? Please?”
“Don’t go any further,” Skye tells him. He nods his head yes, while running to the kids already there. It’s then she lets the worry come back into her face.
“He’s fine, Doc.”
“I know. I just worry.
“You need to unwind. Matthew’s good, Doc. He’s a happy kid.”
“I worry over everything. I’ve made so many mistakes, I try to make sure I don’t misstep now. I forget I need to let Matty have a life sometimes too. I’m sorry. You were right. I need to live a little.”
“I get it. You’re a Mama, and from what I can see a damned good one.
“Bull, about last night…well, all of it really…”
I put my hand along the side of her neck and pull her to me, so I can look in her eyes.
“I want your body, Doc. I want it so fucking bad, I’m having fucking wet dreams about it. But regardless of what you think, I don’t have to buy a woman’s interest. What I’m feeling for you woman, is special. Today has been one of the best days I can ever remember having.”
“It has been for me too, Bull.”
“That has to mean something, right?”
“Can, we take it day-by-day?”
“That sounds good to me.”
“You’re wrong you know,” she says, licking her lips, and I swear it’s all I can do not to attack her right there. How much is a man supposed to stand?
“What do you mean?” I ask, mentally apologizing to my balls.
“I’m starting to have a very good impression of you,” she whispers, leaning further into me.
Her tongue darts out and caresses against my bottom one. I suck it in briefly, then let it go.
“Are you trying to seduce me, Doc?”
“I think I might be,” she answers, and I let my thumb pet the pounding pulse point along the side of her neck.
“I’m not sure that’s a smart thing to do,” I warn her, because if she lets me in, I’m not letting her go.
“C’mon, Bull. Live dangerously,” she taunts and that seals her fate. The last thought I have before I take over the kiss, is this is when it really happens.
I’m not falling. I’ve fell completely. I’m gone over this woman.
AW
I got off work to watch Skye today. I knew she would want me close. It was there in the look she gave me yesterday when we talked. She hides so much from the world, but I see it. I see it in her eyes. She needs me. I wasn’t prepared for him. He’s been panting after her for way too long. She won’t let him touch her. She’s too pure for someone like him.
I know it. It’s the one thing that drew me to her from the beginning. I just needed to make sure the time was right to make my move. You can’t rush connections like ours.
I go cold, as she bends over to hug her child. I don’t like that she has him. I almost decided to walk away when I found out. The more I was around her though, I came to realize that even she could make mistakes. I certainly did with my last choice. Skye is different. She will be forever. I will have to disperse of the child. That’s regrettable. He might be a good kid, but he can’t come between our love. Skye and I need time together. No one else around. Just the two of us learning the path to pleasure. I will need all her attention for her training.
Mr. Kane must go and soon. He is distracting her. I know who he is. It wouldn’t be wise to alert his friends to me. But if he doesn’t back away, I may have to speed my plans up. I may have to take Skye away from all the distractions and begin her training early.
My heartbeat thunders in my ears, and anger funnels through me, when he kisses her. That shouldn’t have happened. Skye should have known better. Now she will have to be punished before her training begins. I will have to break her.
I didn’t want it to be this way. She left me with no choice.
18
Skye
I pull the door until it’s just cracked after getting Matty settled, then walk back into the living room. Bull is sitting on my couch and he’s so big, he makes my streamlined couch look small. He also looks really good sitting on it. Dang.
“Did you get him settled?”
“Yeah, he was completely worn out,” I tell him, standing in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do. It’s been such a good day, and I’ve really let my guard down with Bull, but now, I’m nervous.
“Come sit down, Doc,” Bull says, patting the couch beside him.
I take a breath and sit down. I worry about what to do when I get there. Do I sit on the edge and give us plenty of room, do I sit next to him? In the end, I don’t need to worry. The minute I sit down, Bull takes over. He pulls me so I’m lying against his side and we’re curled up. He has the television on and the volume turned down low, to an old black and white movie.
“You like old movies?” I ask him, watching the screen, but enjoying the way the heat from his body seeps into me.
“They’re okay. You don’t?”
“Honestly? Unless it’s Matty’s cartoons the television never comes on.”
“No television?”
“Nah. I like reading, or napping. Napping is always good.”
He flips the TV off and pulls me so I’m lying completely over top of him. His hand plays with my hair, relaxing me.
“I tell you what, Doc. You can nap on me anytime,” he says softly. I think if I let myself, I could drown in the dark pools of his eyes.
“Generous of you.”
“I thought so.” he laughs.
“I had a good time today, Bull.”
“I did too, Doc.”
“You’re different than I thought you would be.”
“Well given my track record you can’t have a good impression of me.”
“Umm…”
He smiles and gives me a squeeze. “It’s okay, Doc. I didn’t exactly leave a good impression with you. I would like to explain, if you want.”
“The pills?”
“That’s what worries you the most?”
“Yeah. I mean, I know addiction is something you can overcome, but you can also go back to it, and I have Matty…I don’t want you to get mad at me Bull. But…” I start, and then have to take a breath—I should have prepared myself. “I’d be lying if I said I’m comfortable about it.”
I’m afraid I’m hurting him, and I don’t want to. But somewhere over the last few times I’ve spent with Bull, I’ve decided to take a chance…or at least try. If I do, then there are things I need to be open and honest with him about.
“We’ve talked about the attack and the headaches. I was having trouble dealing with the pain and tremors, I had just lost a woman I…cared about, and I let her down…let my brothers down. Then, I lost someone I was in the service with. He wanted me to help him and I couldn’t, I chose my club because they needed me too. Hell, Doc the list just goes on…it was stupid. It all sounds like an excuse for someone who was weak. I don’t even know how or why it started. It just did. I can only promise you, I’m not that man now.”
“I’m sorry you went through all of that, Bull,” I whisper, letting my fingers brush along the side of his face. I can’t stop myself from placing a kiss on his chest, above his heart. He gives me another squeeze. Does he know that when he gets this look in his eyes it makes me want to hold him close, and make the sadness go away? “What was her name?”
“Carrie,” he says and it’s wrong—all kinds of wrong, but I find m
yself jealous over the woman who he lost. How old was she? She must have died young. I have a hundred questions about her, but they’re all selfish, and I don’t want him to talk about her. I selfishly don’t even want him missing her, so I concentrate on the other things he said.
“You said you chose your club? I don’t guess I really understand that much about your club, other than you seem close to them. Growing up, my Dad was part of the Shriners, is it kind of like that? A place where men meet, let off steam, and do work for charity?”
His face gets the strangest look on it. He looks as if he is in shock. His body tenses up under me. “Shit,” he mutters.
“Bull?”
“Skye, you said you like to read. Haven’t you ever read anything about motorcycle clubs in your reading or something? Anything?”
“As a student and even now in my residency, textbooks and charts are about all I have time to read, why?”
Again, that look comes across his face. I’m starting to worry. What exactly is this club? I mean, I’ve heard of big motorcycle gangs, criminals really, but it’s been glamourized for television, I’m sure. He can’t be part of that kind of group. Fear grips my heart. I have Matty to think of. Hell, I have myself to think about here. He can’t be part of a gang.
Can he?
19
Bull
Fuck! I didn’t see this becoming a problem. I just assumed she knew about the Savage Brothers. I figured she knew what it meant. I already have two strikes against me with this woman. Will this be the fucking third? I’m scrambling, racking my brain, trying to figure out how to approach this.
“I live in a different world than you, Skye,” I start vague, because I’m not diving into what we do exactly. I can’t. Hell, no member tells his old lady the specifics in the first place, and in the second, as much as it kills me, I can’t trust Skye with information about the brothers right now.
“I’m starting to see that,” she says, and I nearly groan at this latest road block I have with Skye.
