by Jax Hart
I gasp, unable to stop the sound from tearing out of my mouth.
He chuckles, “That’s right, sugar. You’re gonna come for daddy. Real soon.”
My breath comes out in gasps. I still haven’t uttered one word.
“I can see you Dev, sittin’ in the dark, biting that lip, thighs still slick where you imagined it was me touching you. It’s all right love, I’m stroking my thick cock right now, wishing it was you. I’m gonna come hard tonight knowing the next time that I do it will be between your thighs.”
My thighs clench, and I stay on the line as hearing him stroke himself, groaning my name. Despite his warning not to, my hand slips back down to my swollen clit and I make myself come again just as he does.
“Good night sugar. Your quick little breaths on the line told me everything I needed. I’m gonna punish you for taking two orgasms away from me tonight. Don’t disobey me again,” he disconnects.
Holy shit. Is Rog a DOM? Jeff was good in bed, but he never wanted to deviate. I can’t fuck this up. A tear streaks down my face. Why? Why did I have to be her daughter? I just know there would be no obstacle to him loving me and keeping me forever if I was just born to someone else, anyone else.
I cry softly under my covers, drained from the three orgasms I had today and from too many truths that were uncovered. I fall into a fitful sleep, dreaming of seeing his eyes burn as they bore into mine right before his powerful hips surge forward and he claims me as his woman.
SHE’S NOT HERE YET. I’m keyed up. I’m gonna have to keep my hands fisted in my pockets so I don’t grab her and haul her deep into the woods. We cleaned the camp up good. The club bought it on the cheap five years back. We needed someplace to blow off steam where no eyes could look. A hundred acres of wild woods and mountains in southern Oregon fitted the bill. It used to be a summer camp for kids but now it’s Creed’s playground. I’ve spent days out here, getting everything ready. I’m chomping at the bit for my girl to show. Christ, listening to her pant as she came into the phone calling my name had me harder than granite.
She makes me feel re-energized as if the best sex of my life is yet to come—with her. I’m pacing like a damned idiot, checking my phone every five minutes in case she calls saying she’s lost. I should’ve driven her and Luce out here, but they wouldn’t let me. I know she’s embarrassed at the intimacy we shared. We haven’t had sex yet, but damn if it already doesn’t feel like we’re lovers.
“Damn, Rog. What’s eating at you?”
“It’s good to see you,” we clasp hands before pulling each other in for man hugs. But I drop him like a stone to pick up the brunette standing behind him. I spin her around in a circle like I’ve done a million times before. She has the same eyes, but her hair used to have little bows.
“Shanna, girl. I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too. Meat. Or can I call you Silver Fox, too?” She goads sticking a finger into my chest. My face turns red, all the feelings I have for Dev, turning me into a fool. I swipe a hand over my face as Duke and Shanna link hands grinning like idiots.
“No one calls me Meat anymore. Jesus, I have so many damn names… Jefe, Rog, Silver Fox, I’m having a goddamn identity crisis,” I joke taking the beer Smith hands me as he walks over to greet Duke and Shanna.
“So… where is she?” Shanna asks her eyes full of mischief.
“Not here yet,” I rub the back of my neck with one hand irritated at myself for feeling like a teen dying for his first crush.
“You look good.”
“Thanks baby girl. I feel good. I miss your pops like hell. Sometimes, I forget…”
“I know. Me too. I-I can’t go back to Springdale. It’s too raw knowing he’s not there. But the lake… this is as far as I can go to home. I’m just not ready yet.”
“I understand. I do. I miss you like hell. He still taking good care of you?” I nudge the tip of my boot in Duke’s direction.
“He takes the best care of me. Life came full-circle when we met. I believe everything happens for a reason. I know that sounds cheesy but… who would’ve ever thought twenty years ago that Colin Flynn’s daughter and John Masters’ son would be soulmates?”
“Not me. Shit. I remember how they fought. The two of them were like rabid dogs fightin’ over that bitch in heat.”
“Why did you bring up my aunt? Damn, Rog… that’s a very sore topic for me.”
I shrug, “Sorry man. That bitch was…”
“A homewrecker, for one. She ruined my eighteenth birthday. I’ll never forget it or forgive her even though she’s dead. My old man promised me we’d go out riding. He helped me re-build my first Ducati. He taught me everything I know about engines… but he forgot. She brought over coke and condoms and they had their own party,” he breaks off bitterly, taking a drag of his smoke.
I shake my head and raise my beer, “To the brotherhood. To Creed decades later, we’re still going strong despite that woman,” I raise my bottle feeling my heart trip and fall. Dev’s standing ten feet away. She’s as pale as a ghost and shaking like a leaf.
My friends forgotten, I stride straight for her. “Who hurt you? I’ll kill them.” My fists clench ready to tear the devil himself apart if need be.”
She looks at the ground, refusing to meet my eyes. I tip her chin up with my finger. My eyes hungrily roam over her face, her eyes hold a thousand secrets that I’m determined to discover.
She clutches my plaid shirt with her hands moving into my arms.
“I’m so sorry, Rog.”
“Shhhh, shhh,” I stroke her hair wondering what the hell she’s apologizing for, but know she’s in no state for me to pry it out of her… yet.
“I’m fine really. I just… my ex has been calling and texting a lot lately. Seeing you reminded how much I don’t want him anymore. I want… you.”
I pull back, hands cupping her face and kiss her like I’m her master and commander. No one is taking this woman from me. The thought of another man being where I’m going to go—has me seeing red. I don’t care that we have an audience. I’m staking my claim here and now in front of everyone—Dev is mine and under my protection. I’m trembling with desire, high on her words telling me she wants to be my woman as much as I want to make it happen.
I rest my forehead against hers, it’s not even noon yet and I vowed to woo her but I’ve already broken that vow when I touched her in the woods a few days ago.
“Come meet my family,” gently tugging her hand I lead her over to where Duke and Shanna stand with Smith. The three of them do a poor job pretending that they weren’t watching me and Dev like a movie.
Her feet move slowly, her head lowered. I’m puzzled. Dev’s never been shy. I must’ve embarrassed her. Shanna’s the first to break the ice.
“Hey. It’s about time someone beat some sense into Roger’s thick skull. I’m Shanna, nice to meet you.”
“Devon,” she replies nervously, eyes bouncing around like a skittish alley cat. I put an arm around her, pulling her tightly to my side.
“And this is my silver fox, Duke.” The men standing behind us all snicker at the joke.
Dev’s face turns redder than a beet as Duke pauses for a second not sure if he heard his woman right. He arches an eyebrow, puts his beer down and picks her up fireman style. She shrieks as he shouts out over his shoulder, “Nice to meet ya’ Devon. Sorry, but I need to prove to my old lady that I still have stamina for an old guy.” He smacks her ass playfully, but hard enough the slap is clearly heard.
Shanna half-heartily pounds her fists against his broad back. I smirk, sipping my beer. She hates being called an “old lady.” He set her afire on purpose and now they’re going to go burn it out in the cabins behind the lake.
Lucky bastard.
Dev sags against me seeming relieved they’ve left. I frown, wanting her to fit in with them. Shanna’s practically my niece and Duke, well, Duke is more like a brother since he’s been with Shanna, the girl I spent my life loving and protecting
like she’s my own blood.
I half expect Smith to shout out some smart-ass remark to them but he’s standing still as a statue, eyes lookin’ hard across the picnic tables and string lights at, Luce.
“Who’s your friend?” He asks Dev, eyes never leaving the pixie blond who’s staring back at him just as boldly.
“That’s my best friend, Lucille. She’s visiting from Chicago, she’s supposed to leave on Monday.”
“We’ll see if she makes that flight,” he smirks taking a swig of his beer heading straight for her. He doesn’t even stop but brushes against Luce with his shoulder, grabbing her hand like he already owns her. She doesn’t put up a fight. But goes with him without even knowing his name.
I look down at Dev, tucked against me, “Guess it’s just you and me,” I whisper kissing the top of her head.
I’m torn.
My tongue hurts from all the times I bit it today. The words were on the tip of it, on the brink of tumbling out a thousand times. I wanted to tell him I was Duke’s sister, that Dee was my birthmother, that I needed him to stand by me through the storm my truth would start. But then he’d touch me. Butterfly touches, pushing a lock of hair off my face, skimming his fingertips up and down my bare arm as we sat side-by-side listening to the band the club hired play or feeding me bites of food, fingers brushing the crumbs from my lips.
Rog is a master of seduction. Each touch is a secret caress, slowly breaking me down wanting him to do to me what Duke did to Shanna: Carry me off to one of the secluded cabins and fuck my brains out. Their cries echoed across the lake and through the trees. They obviously didn’t realize the windows were open in their little log cabin. No one seemed to care. Rog did signal to the band to hurry the hell up and get on the makeshift stage. As soon as they started playing they drowned out the shouts of ecstasy coming from all directions.
It was my turn to smirk when I recognized Luce’s shout of “Oh, god!” coming from somewhere beyond the trees.
I’ve been drinking vodka and club soda for hours. It occurred to me; today was not the time or place. I can’t tell Rog here with the men all around celebrating the club’s version of Christmas.
I almost died when I got here and overheard Duke talking about Dee. The way they toasted one another in solidarity was a slap in the face that as soon as they find out who I am—I’d be on the outside of this family who have taken me in.
But seeing Duke in the flesh was the biggest shock. I didn’t know he was going to be here. For some reason I thought it would be just the Springdale crew, but damn, there’s over a hundred men here—some from LA and others from Canada.
Duke is… huge. I’d be scared of him if I didn’t hear through Rog and Toad what a standup guy he is. He’s got eyes as dark as the devil, a full beard but it’s trimmed, and wild dark hair that has a hint of curl—just like me. I’ve been avoiding him since he came back to the party after his lovefest with Shanna. I’m terrified of standing too close to him, that someone might see how similar we are if they look close enough.
“Having fun?” Mac casually asks, walking over.
“I am.
“Really? Then why are you sitting here all by yourself looking like someone stole your lunch?”
I shrug, watching Rog play cornhole with Duke and Federico. “I like the view.”
“Uh-huh. I know it’s a lot. Hundreds of us gathered in one spot. But you’re one of us Dev. Don’t be shy. Come on, we’re playing the winner.”
I let him help me up and I down my drink only to go mix another. After five of them, I loosen up and become myself. As much myself as I can be since my life’s become a pressure cooker.
“Toad and I are playing the winner,” I boldly announce, placing an arm around Rog’s waist and placing a kiss on his cheek.
“You good?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” I answer hugging his back and resting the side of my face against him.
Crazy thoughts spin through my head. Maybe I can just let it all go. I have my answers, I have my adopted family… I could have Rog, too and never wound him with the truth.
What’s the point?
The man is so good… why should I hurt him? The past has been buried for decades, I should let it stay that way.
Feeling wise, like that’s the right decision, I slam the door down on my guilt, let the alcohol loosen me even further and my hands rake down his taunt abs and back up again.
He groans, catching my wrists. “I promised myself I’d be good.”
“I don’t want good, Rog. I want you to be bad, very bad,” I whisper stepping up on my tippy toes to tease the back of his neck with my tongue.
“Christ,” he mutters, “not here. I’m not taking you for the first time here like an animal with all my men around.”
“Why not? Everyone else is getting it on.”
He spins in my embrace. “You are not everyone else, Dev. You’re special… deserve the moon and the sun.”
I swallow, “O-okay. We’re up. If Toad and I win, you are mine tonight to do whatever I want with….”
“When you lose,” he answers walking back a step drink in hand, “I’m taking you on a proper date. I say when, I say where and you aren’t gonna say shit about it. Got it?” He finishes tapping the end of my nose.
“Not a problem. Since I’m not gonna lose,” I answer noticing Smith and Luce walking hand in hand out into the clearing. She’s following behind him like he has her on a leash. She’s grins at me as I mouth, “What the fuck?”
Toad comes up next to me beanbags in hand, “You ready?”
“Yup. Let’s whoop some ass,” I respond taking them from him getting ready to make my first throw. I grin. I was a pitcher in high school. Throwing underhand and hitting a target is something I practiced for years.
Rog doesn’t have a chance in hell of winning our wager.
My knees shake as I picture all the ways I could drive him crazy… later in one of these cabins. My first throw lands on the wooden board with a thud, an inch from falling into the hole. Roger’s brow arches, he’s impressed.
“I’ve got mad skills,” I call out. My second throw arcs in the air, sailing right into the hole.
“Damn, girl. I should’ve made a wager, too.” Toad says swigging his beer. I grin, take a large sip of my cocktail and wait for Rog’s return throws.
It’s a close one. We’re up by three points, when Federico lands an ace in the hole, tying it up.
I’ve racked up points but damn, I wasn’t expecting these guys to be so good. Federico laughs, “Don’t look so pissed, Dev. What did ya’ think we do? We drive out here or up north, drink and play lawn games.”
I roll my eyes, “Uh huh. Yep, that’s all you guys do.” Not one of them has an inch of fat on them. They’re ripped, beefcakes, every last one of them. It’s easy to see how Luce turned into a slut at just one hot look from Smith. I’m close to grabbing Rog’s hand and whispering in his ear how I’m going to tie him up while I strip and grind my naked body all over his.
Rog finishes his beer, places it down in the grass and winks. With one easy toss, the game’s over.
He won.
I can’t say I’m disappointed. Being pursued by him is hardly a punishment. In fact, it’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in my life.
“Come on sugar. Don’t take the loss too hard. Let’s get some food.”
I grin, “It was a fair game. We would’ve kicked your ass though if I wasn’t so buzzed.”
He takes the plastic cup from my hands, chucks it in the garbage and takes a bottle of water from an ice bucket.
“Here.”
“Thanks,” I whisper noticing it’s getting dark. A few bonfires are going on the small beach. Smoke wafts from the charcoal grills where burgers and hot dogs are cooking. It smells like beer and cook out: a real American summer. Romance is in the air, Rog is by my side and in this moment—I believe in happy endings. The kind you always read about but never get to experience yourself.
We fix plates and sit in Adirondack chairs on the beach by the fire. Toad has a guitar in his lap and strums a few cords. Someone else places some twigs they gathered from the woods on the flames and as they catch fire, sparks shoot up with a few crackling pops.
I sigh in contentment.
For a moment my world is perfect.
I feel heavy, drowsy. Being in the sun all day drinking is something I haven’t done in a long time. I sigh, yawning into my hand, listening to the chatter all around us. Rog is talking to Smith who’s practically feeding Luce off his plate. She’s acting like a freakin’ submissive. I need to figure out what the hell is going on.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Rog touching his arm lightly. Standing up, I step over to Luce and grab her by the hand, she moves to get up, but Smith stops mid-sentence to look at me. His eyes are full of alpha man shit.
“Sorry. She was my best friend long before you ever laid eyes on her.”
He grunts, nods his consent and allows her to go with me.
“What the fuck, Luce? Smith is acting crazy.”
“I know,” she sighs, “but I like it.”
I shake my head as we walk to the camp restrooms. We both enter stalls and I wait for her when I’m done. There are other women in here who I don’t know so I grab her hand and we sneak out when our men aren’t looking this way.
Running in the dark down a trail, I keep looking behind, half-expecting Smith to chase us. Pulling her behind a huge pine tree, we catch our breaths for a minute.
“Spill, Luce. Now.”
She swallows, the pulse in her throat is racing as she excitedly starts talking. “He’s. He’s… on a whole other level. I mean, he took one look at me and I felt… claimed. Owned. Completely.”
“What? Did you smoke a joint this morning before we left?”
“No. I’m high on him though, that’s for sure.”
