Beyond the Cut

by Sarah Castille

  So sweet. He loved her taste. Could never get enough.

  “Something about you…” he murmured. “Sexy and sweet, vulnerable but tough inside. Whenever I see you I want you. I have to have you, like I need air to breathe. And when I can’t have you, I think about the next time I’ll see you and how beautiful you look when you come.”

  His tongue slid up and around her clit, and then down through her folds, over and over again, until her body trembled and her nails dug into his scalp, sending jolts of painful pleasure down his spine. Even when she dug her heel into his back where the defiled tat still burned, he maintained the steady gentle rhythm, staying close, but not close enough to where she clearly wanted him to go.

  “Give it to me, babe. I want to feel you come in my mouth.” His blood streamed like lava through his veins and sweat trickled down his back. Every sensation heightened, the softness of her skin beneath his fingers, the cool air, the scent of her sex, her sweet slickness beneath his tongue …

  “Cade.” She breathed his name, cupped his head to hold him still. He knew exactly how far he could take her, just when to suck her clit, and when to hold back, keeping her on the edge. Moisture trickled down the inside of her thigh, and she finally let go, grinding her sex without abandon into his mouth.

  So damn hot.

  “Tell me what you need.” He wanted to hear her need, feel her surrender.

  “Make me come, Cade.” She pulled him forward. “Make me come hard.”

  With a grunt of pleasure he cupped her ass in both hands then slid his tongue into her entrance.

  “Oh God.”

  He plunged deeper, alternating thrusts with light flicks over her clit. She bucked against him, and then he nipped the swollen bud, ever so lightly. With a low, sensual groan, she came undone, rocking against his mouth, her knees trembling as he lapped up her sweetness. Then she released his hair and fell back against the door.

  Worthy.

  Cade stood and shoved down his clothing, freeing his erection. He didn’t care if Jagger was waiting. Hell, Viper could show up and he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. Grabbing a condom from his pocket, he sheathed himself and then cupped her ass in his palms. “Too fucking sexy, babe. Can’t wait.”

  He lifted her to the bed, and then shoved down the top of her dress, exposing a red lace bra to match the panties he’d torn away. Fucking divine. Some night, when he wasn’t so desperate to come, he’d get her to wear her lingerie and then strip for him so he could spend more time appreciating her beautiful curves. But not now.

  Cade yanked down her bra and claimed one nipple, tugging into it his mouth, while he teased her other breast. He rolled her nipple between his teeth and gave a gentle nip, delighted when she gasped.

  “Fuck me.” Her plea turned into a growl of pleasure when he nipped again. God, he could play with her tits all night.

  “Now.”

  “I got a bossy girl.” Cade flipped her over to her hands and knees, and then tugged up her ass, pressing her legs apart with his knee. He smoothed his hands over her lush cheeks, and almost lost it right then. No more time to play. Without any warning, he shoved into her hard and fast, sliding deep through her wetness until she whimpered.

  His brow creased. “You okay?”

  “Hard, Cade. Fuck me, hard.” She braced herself on the bed, spreading her legs to accommodate him. Then she gave him a wiggle.

  Too much. Too hot. Too sexy.

  With a grunt of pleasure, he hammered into her, his firm hands gripping her hips, holding her still. Her pussy tightened around him, and a moan ripped from his throat, and in that moment he was hers to command.

  “More.”

  Cade shifted behind her, changing his angle so his cock hit her sensitive inner walls, driving her to come a second time. Again and again he hit that sweet spot, and then he reached around to stroke her clit. Dawn stiffened and climaxed again, her pussy clamping around him, pulling him over the edge.

  “I’m coming, babe. Fuck. So good.” Cade thrust deep and hard. His balls lifted, tightened. Then sensation exploded from his spine. His cock thickened and jerked inside her as he came in heated waves of pleasure.

  He collapsed over her, brushing kisses over the soft skin on her neck, covering her with his body.

  “You have no end of talents.” Dawn looked back over her shoulder. “But I kinda liked being in charge.”

  “You weren’t in charge. I was in charge.”

  Her lips quivered with a smile. “I let you be in charge.”

  He gave her that because she wanted it. But seriously, who did she think was running the show?

  * * *

  “Cade!”

  Dawn startled awake when someone banged on the door. Cade jerked up beside her in the bed and stumbled to his feet.

  “What the fuck?” he shouted.

  “The Black Jacks are outside,” Tank yelled. “They’ve taken out the guards. They’re trying to burn down the clubhouse.”

  They dressed quickly and Cade yanked open door.

  “Where’s Jagger?”

  “On his way.” Tank wiped a hand over his face, black with soot. T-Rex stood behind him, bare-chested save for his cut, his belt undone, hair a messy rumple. Gunshots rang out below and fire lit up the night sky, the acrid stench of smoke only now filtering through the windows.

  “What do you want us to do?” Tank panted. “There are only twenty men brothers here and the prospect.”

  Cade morphed from gentle lover to fighter in a heartbeat, his words coming fast and clipped as he strapped on his weapon. “Tell the prospect to start calling up the brothers. Get as many men out here as we can. Barricade the road where it meets the highway so they’re trapped here unless they want to chance riding through the bush. We gotta guard the Rizzoli weapons. I want five men out at the weapons shed. Everyone else should arm up and get out front.” He grabbed Dawn and shoved her forward. “T-Rex, take her home through the trail out back.”

  “He’s not a fucking babysitter,” Tank spat out. “We need him here.”

  Cade’s hand shot out and he shoved Tank up against the wall. “I’m giving the fucking orders and your job is to obey. If I say we can spare him, then we can spare him. End of discussion.”

  “I can help. I know how to use a gun.” Dawn tugged on his arm and he brushed her away.

  “What you did out near Big Bill’s wasn’t shooting. You coulda got us killed. And I can’t lead the brothers if I’m worrying about you. I want you out of here, and I want you safe. We took out five Jacks the other night and they’re here for revenge. Go with T-Rex. Now.” He tagged his cut, shrugging it on as he stalked down the hallway with Tank following close behind.

  Dismissed.

  Dawn gritted her teeth at his abrupt departure. He hadn’t even considered her offer. As with Jimmy, he thought she was a liability. But dammit, she wasn’t helpless and in need of protection, and she didn’t want him to be a man down because he thought she couldn’t look after herself.

  An explosion shook the clubhouse, and the chandelier in the hallway rattled. T-Rex ran over to the window and swore. “The weapons shed is on fire. They musta thrown something at the roof. If it blows, we’ll have the cops, the fire department, and the fucking ATF out here. We’ll all go to jail.”

  “Then we’d better put it out right away. I was part of a fire line during a vacation with my parents in North Carolina. We need buckets, hoses, and as many brothers as can be spared. We can run water from the kitchen and any outside taps.” She didn’t wait for his agreement, but ran barefoot down the hallway, wishing she’d brought something to wear other than her slinky red dress.

  Within minutes T-Rex had rounded up some buckets and Dawn organized the brothers. She filled bucket after bucket from the tap in the sink, passing them to T-Rex who sent them down the line. Gunfire peppered the front of the clubhouse and thick, black smoke billowed through the windows, choking her and making her eyes water, but she didn’t slow her pace.

&n
bsp; Please let Cade be okay.

  She didn’t know how long she filled the buckets, but when Tank came to tell them the fire was out, she collapsed against the counter beside T-Rex, soaked, sooty, and exhausted beyond belief. But she had only a moment of respite before Cade stalked into the kitchen.

  “I thought I told you to take her home.” Cade rounded on poor T-Rex. “I give an order. I expect it to be obeyed. The Jacks are still outside. They got reinforcements through the northeast trail. I got enough to deal with and now I gotta worry about Dawn being here.”

  “We needed all hands to put out the fire.” T-Rex swallowed but he didn’t back down. “We woulda lost the shed and all the weapons if it wasn’t for her idea to set up a fire line. We’d used up all the fire extinguishers and the hoses didn’t go out that far.”

  “We’re fighting a damn war.” Cade cuffed T-Rex so hard, he staggered to the side. “You do what I fucking tell you to do or people die.”

  “It was my decision.” Dawn pushed her way in front of Cade. “T-Rex wanted to take me home. I didn’t let him.”

  “You’re half his fucking size,” Cade spat out. “If he wanted to take you home, there’s nothing you could do to stop him. I want you out of here. Now.” He gestured to Nick, who had just come in with the last of the buckets. “Take her home. Do what you gotta do to get the job done. If I see her here, or I find out she’s anywhere else, you’ll be picking your fucking teeth off the floor.”

  * * *

  “Oh my God. What are the police doing here?” Dawn slid off Nick’s bike and raced over to her house, glowing alternately red and blue from the lights of the two police cars parked out front. She ran up the sidewalk and hit Doug square in the chest as he stepped out her front door.

  “Dawn! Thank goodness you’re okay. I heard a report of a break-in over the police radio and when I saw the address on the scanner I came right away. Where have you been?” His gaze drifted down her body, taking in her soaked hair, ruined dress, sooty skin, and bare feet. Too terrified to let her back in the house for her jacket and shoes, Nick had raced her out to his bike and ridden like hell was on his tail. It had been the coldest ride of her life.

  “Party.” Her teeth chattered and consternation laced Doug’s brow. He slid off his jacket and wrapped it around her. “You look terrible. And cold. Who goes to a party without any shoes?” His gaze lifted and he spotted Nick on his bike across the street. “Oh, Dawn. You weren’t with the Sinners, were you?”

  Shivering from the cold, and irritated by his patronizing tone, she pushed past him toward her house. “What happened here?”

  “We got a call that your front door was ajar and one of your neighbors saw someone suspicious inside. I’ve been through the house and I have to say, I don’t think it was just an ordinary break-in. The intruder was looking for something.”

  Dawn tapped the initials MD spray-painted in angry red on her front door. “Jimmy. And I’m guessing he was looking for me.”

  Doug put an arm around her shoulders as she took a step forward. “Actually, I think he might have been looking for something else. Brace yourself. It’s not going to be easy to see.”

  Now, that was understatement. Dawn stared at the destruction in her living room and kitchen, her breath catching in her throat. Every drawer had been opened and overturned; curtains were torn and cupboards emptied. Her bedroom had fared even worse: Clothes strewn across the floor. Ornaments cracked. Mattress slashed, and box spring broken. But it was the words scrawled across her dresser mirror in red lipstick, the handwriting sickeningly familiar, that sent her into the comfort of Doug’s arms.

  WHERE IS THE FUCKING MONEY?

  “Hey. It’s okay.” Doug ran his hand down her back. “We’ll catch him. On the bright side, someone must have scared him away because the rest of the rooms are untouched.”

  “It’s definitely Jimmy.” She lifted her head, taking a breath to banish the almost cloying scent of his cologne. “I know his handwriting. But I don’t know what this is all about. I don’t know anything about any money.” She grabbed some clothes from the floor and excused herself to change, tugging on a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie before joining Doug in the hall and handing him back his jacket. “I need some fresh air.”

  “Of course.” Doug placed a hand on her lower back and guided her out the door. He stopped to speak to the two police officers examining a set of footprints in the garden beneath her broken living room window, and then joined her on the front step. “Is there anything that might help us? Do you think this might have to do with your new biker friend?”

  Cade. She toyed with the idea of calling him, but he had enough to deal with right now, and after what had happened, he was the last person she wanted to see. She pushed away the nagging thought that Cade might not make it through the fight with the Jacks. He was a survivor. Just like her.

  “I don’t think so. Jimmy’s insanely jealous, and he’s seen me with Cade. But I don’t know if that would be enough to make him take the risk of being caught in Conundrum. And the money thing doesn’t make sense.” She shivered and Doug tucked an arm around her waist, pulling her into his warmth. Dawn leaned her head on his shoulder. God, she just wanted a hot bath, a warm bed, and two days’ worth of sleep.

  “Do you have somewhere you can go for the night?” Doug said. “We’ll be putting police tape around the property until forensics has finished collecting evidence, and you’ll need a new window and all your locks changed before you can move back in.”

  Not the clubhouse, if it was even still standing. And Arianne was probably there with Jagger. Most of her other girlfriends had kids and she didn’t want to disturb them.

  “I can call Banks. He’ll come to get me.”

  Doug leaned down and tucked a rogue curl behind her ear. “Or you can stay with me.”

  ELEVEN

  I shall show no mercy to those who have cause to fear me.

  SINNER’S TRIBE CREED

  Cade parked his bike outside Dawn’s house and took his first deep breath of the night. They had only just chased away the Jacks and tended their wounded when the prospect called to tell him about the break-in at Dawn’s place.

  So here he was, his body thrumming with adrenaline, his brain still wired for action, and his trigger finger itching for another workout.

  All of which were going to be a problem if Benson didn’t get his fucking paws off his girl.

  Cade gritted his teeth as he slid off his bike. He needed to calm down. Still primed and in full-on fight mode, he was inclined to stalk down the sidewalk, rip Dawn away, shove his fist in Benson’s face, and then take Dawn someplace safe where he could strip off her clothes and make sure she hadn’t been injured. Then he would mobilize the brothers and hunt down Mad Dog. At least he’d done Cade the favor of letting him know just who had trashed Dawn’s house.

  MD. Mad Dog. Bastard clearly wasn’t afraid of the police, or the Sinners.

  Or did he know the Sinners would be busy fighting off the Jacks? The timing of the break-in couldn’t be a coincidence. But if that was the case, how did he know? And what the fuck did he want?

  “There are two cops out back.” The prospect stepped out of the darkness. “Looks like he got in through the window. The house is totally destroyed. I heard them saying he was looking for something. Dawn and that cop have been sitting there for about ten minutes. She seems pretty rattled.”

  “You did good, prospect. Go back to the clubhouse. Tell Jagger I’ll be at the meeting tomorrow.”

  He scrubbed his hands over his face after the prospect walked away. Okay. He could do this. Walk in. Get the girl. Find out what the fuck was going on. Walk out. Solve the problem. Keep his hands to himself.

  He crossed the street and headed down the walk.

  And that’s when it all went wrong.

  Dawn looked up and the despair on her face sent his heart crashing into his gut. Not only that, she was shivering, and wrapped in an overly intimate cop who had timed his comfo
rt for the exact moment Cade arrived.

  “It’s okay … Cade.” Benson held up a warning hand. “I’ve got this. Dawn’s coming home with me tonight where she’ll be safe, and we’ve got a forensics team on their way. We’ll find the perpetrator and put him behind bars. Guaranteed.”

  Jesus Christ. Is the cop purposely winding me up? He’d managed to restrain himself at Banks Bar, but he was way past restraint now. A night in jail would be worth the pleasure of wiping that smug smile off Benson’s face.

  Cade pulled up short, the chain on his belt swinging violently against his thigh. “We both know Mad Dog did this. We also both know you won’t be able to touch him, just like you can’t keep Dawn safe. But I can.” He held out his hand to Dawn. “Come.”

  Of course, she didn’t come. Damn woman had a problem following orders. That had become abundantly clear when she’d stayed to help fight the fire, risking her life in the process. He had to respect a woman who knew her own mind, but not if she put herself in danger. Right now, he needed to assure himself she was safe and protected. And if she didn’t get off the step, and let him hold her, he didn’t know what he would do.

  As if she sensed his inner struggle, Dawn slid out of Benson’s grip. “Could you give us a minute, Doug?”

  Benson gave her a curt nod, then headed around the back of the house. Dawn made her way over to Cade. Her bare feet slapped softly on the pavement, bright in the darkness, white from the cold.

  “Thank you for coming. I’m glad you’re okay.”

  Beyond speech, overwhelmed with the need to hold her, Cade grunted and reached out, but Dawn stepped away. “I didn’t appreciate how you spoke to me at the clubhouse,” she said softly. “I didn’t like feeling like a liability. I was with the Brethren for seven years, and they treated me like I was worthless, but I survived and I learned a lot. And in the three years since I left, I learned even more. And one of those things is that I have value. I get that you want to protect me, but you need to get that I can look after myself, and sometimes I can even help.”