Bourbon Street Royalty: Jaded Series, Book Two

by Kimmie Easley

  Carried popped her thin lips. “Oh, she’s cheeky, James. I like it.”

  Lucky stepped forward. He coiled his lean, masculine arm around Baby’s hips. She attempted to conceal the slight gasp that escaped as his strong fingertips dug into her silky flesh.

  Carrie snickered. “Aren’t you cute? I’m surprised, James. I never needed you to fight my battles. But then again, I’m a strong, intelligent woman. I guess the average, street trash whore just can’t manage to keep up.”

  “You dirty bitch.” Lucky flexed, the veins in his neck begging to break free.

  Carrie snarled through her pearly, white teeth.

  Baby planted her hand in the center of Lucky’s bulging chest. “It’s ok; I got this.” Her green eyes blazed. The concerned glint in his own eyes clutched at her heart. It was obvious that he wanted to save her from this misery.

  She plucked the dress up from the floor and hurled it at Carrie, who caught it just before it smacked her in the face.

  “It’s time for you to go,” Baby demanded.

  Rather than covering herself up, Carrie rested the expensive, little black dress across her dainty arm. “This isn’t your house,” she started.

  Baby stepped closer. “The same goes for you. You’re a real embarrassment; you know that?”

  Carrie rolled her eyes and smoothed her free hand over her neat ponytail. “Excuse me?”

  “To women, I mean. It’s a real shame. You have the opportunity to work in a male dominant world. And instead of being a strong example for struggling women everywhere, you’re a poor, pathetic excuse of a female. You know, I actually pity you. You wouldn’t know integrity if it came up and bitch slapped that pointy, plastic nose off of your shrewd, shriveled up face.”

  Carrie fidgeted with the dress. She opened her mouth to speak, but Baby quickly threw a hand in the air.

  “Save it. I’ve heard it all before. I’m a low life, piece of stripper trash. Hell, I’d probably prostitute myself out for a few crack rocks, am I right? Is that about it?” Baby paused as Carrie puckered her lips and arched her pencil thin eyebrows.

  “Oh, wait,” Baby continued. “One more thing. My entire goal in life is to sink my gold digging claws into James Gauthier’s deep pockets.”

  “Sounds fairly on point to me,” Carrie spewed.

  “Yeah, well, I’ve heard the same bullshit my entire life. I guess money can’t buy originality. You know nothing about me. You don’t know that I’ve been working my ass off since I was a teenager to pay not only my bills but my mother’s as well. I don’t take money from men, not for sex, drugs, or groceries. Sure, I’ve been dealt a shitty hand. I take my clothes off to keep my rent paid and my electricity on, all because, and listen to me carefully, I don’t need any fucking charity.”

  Carrie’s head snapped. She eyeballed Lucky as if he should come to her defense. Baby leaned in and lowered her head to make eye contact.

  “Get out of my way. I’m done with you.” Carrie glowered.

  Baby chuckled. “Who the hell do you think you are to dismiss me? I’m not done with you yet. Yes, there was a time when I did turn to drugs. Hell, I was an addict and made a thousand wrong decisions while I was using, but I’m not going to live my entire life allowing snotty bitches like you to pull me back down. My past is just that, my past. I’m clean. And I pity you because you will never know that level of self-pride or accomplishment. You’re the one who needs the man. The one who lies and cheats. Probably the one who sleeps around for promotions and favors. Everything about you is fake and calculated. And as for James and his overflowing piggy bank, I’m not interested.”

  Carrie scoffed.

  “Yeah, you heard me right. I don’t want James or one red cent of the Gauthier wealth.” Baby heard the sound of shuffling coming from behind her. “I’m in love with Lucky, with every part of him. I don’t know anything about James, but Lucky is warm. He’s kind. He cares with his whole heart, not with his bank account. He guards himself, but that’s because of the fucked up bullshit you did to his head. I got past that. He let me in. He opened his heart to me, and now I know what it’s like to have all of him, everything you could never have. He loves hard, with everything he has, and then some. Yeah, you wouldn’t know anything about that, but I do. I feel it. I feel him. Every time he looks at me. He reinforces his love for me every time he touches me; it’s in the way he caresses me, kisses me, and don’t even get me started on the way he makes love to me.”

  Carrie recoiled. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

  “No, I suppose you don’t. I don’t even have to say it. You already know it’s true. You’ve seen it on his face, and it’s eating you up that he never looked at you that way. You never had a shot in hell.”

  Baby’s insides fluttered as the weight from Lucky’s arms enveloped her from behind. The heat from his body made the hair on her arms stand on end. It wasn’t just Carrie who had been impacted by her sudden burst of nerve.

  “Now, like I said before, it’s time for you to leave.”

  Carrie’s hard gaze darted from her to Lucky. “You’re going to regret this. Enjoy your little make believe world while you can because playtime is almost over.” Still wearing her bra and panties, Carrie snagged a coat from the rack next to the door. She slipped it on, peering back at Lucky. “Your dad wouldn’t mind. He never did.”

  She winked before disappearing into the dark.

  Lucky’s hands were immediately roaming Baby’s arms. “Are you ok?” he questioned, searching her face.

  She collapsed into his tall frame, pressing her face against his chest. Her insides quivered as she struggled, attempting to take in air. “I should have just punched her, knocked out a few teeth, and called it a day. It would have been a lot easier.”

  He gripped her by the shoulders and held her at arms’ length. “Are you kidding? That shit was epic. I’ve never seen Carrie Scott shutdown like that before. The best part? She expected you to hit her, but instead you gave her a verbal beat down. That was rough! You’re not only sexy as fuck wearing my shirt, but you are one hell of a class act, and that caught her completely by surprise.”

  “Ha!” her mouth twisted. “Me, a class act? Baby Jade, stripper extraordinaire from the Seventh Ward? I think you might have the wrong girl.”

  He slipped a lean arm under her bare legs ad swooped her up, into his arms. He grazed his eager lips across hers. “Never, I have the right girl. The perfect girl.”

  Baby gazed into his smoldering, intense eyes. “Why aren’t you pissed off?”

  He shook his head. “Hell, in my opinion, this was a small victory. A much-needed win.”

  With a crinkled nose, she asked, “How’s that? She just walked out of here, her bones still intact, and with your father’s coat, no less. We got nothing out of her. We’re no better off than we were.”

  Lucky grinned. The dimples nestled deep in his beard made the point between her legs stir. “She’s gone. My dad hated that itchy, fucking coat, and we know her weakness. She’s scared of you. I don’t know why but she’s scared shitless. And the sooner we find out why, the sooner we end all this bullshit.” A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. He wagged his eyebrows. “In the meantime, we celebrate the win.”

  His hot, wet lips crashed down on hers, slamming their melded bodies into the wall. She locked her legs around his waist. Her pulse raced as blood surged through her quivering veins. She kneaded her fingers through Lucky’s thick hair.

  He ripped off her panties and somehow managed to unbutton his jeans before burying his full length inside of her. He grunted with every thrust, his body propelling into hers. His fingers dug into her skin as he gripped her ass. The pain from crashing into the wall was overshadowed by the thrumming of her pussy. Finally, she bit down on her vibrating lip. Her wet sex clenched around his swollen, pulsating cock. Having lost the t-shirt in the lustful frenzy, Baby’s tan, bare breasts spilled back and forth as he drove into her, sending them both into an exploding o
rgasm.

  She felt his heart hammering in his chest. The movement of his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as he tried to swallow betrayed his emotions.

  “Shit.” His lips feathered against her shoulder. “The perfect girl,” he whispered.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Lucky

  A light knock on the bedroom door startled Lucky. He shot up in bed and fumbled around for his jeans. He was exhausted from the night before but invigorated. He and Baby had made love for hours. It was raw and exciting. She brought every part of him to life.

  Another knock sent him stumbling for the door.

  “Joyce, what the hell? Is everything ok?” He glanced back over his shoulder, relieved to find Baby sound asleep. Her long hair looked like an ocean of black waves. A pile of her clothes rested on the floor. The crisp, white sheet lay over her slender hips, setting off her silky skin, barely covering her gorgeous, round tits.

  Damn, she was fucking hot. His dick stirred. He stepped out into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind him.

  “Yes, everything’s fine. Better than fine. Tilly will be released today. I came to prepare a room on the first floor. She can’t do those stairs.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You’re not alone, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Should I ask?”

  “No.”

  “You know how your mother can be.” Joyce searched his face before letting out a small sigh. She touched his arm. “I’ll prepare an extra room.”

  “You know that’s not necessary.”

  “Son, it’s your mother.” Joyce winked before walking away.

  Lucky was relieved that his mother was getting discharged from the hospital, but she wasn’t going to be happy about Baby staying at the manor. Of course, that’s if he could talk her into staying.

  “You are out of your damn mind. There’s no way I’m staying here with your mother coming home. Forget about the fact that it would be crazy awkward, she’s sick. She doesn’t need the stress of an unwanted house guest.” Baby ran around the room gathering up her strewn clothes.

  “Come on, it’s not like that. She’ll be fine, and she’ll understand.”

  She scooped up her shirt and glared at him. “Not a chance. Besides, I have things to do. I need to go check on my mom. I also need to touch base with Ma’Linn and run some errands. We can catch back up after.”

  Lucky ran his hand over his beard. “I’m not ok with this, but willing to address it later. In the meantime, let’s get you some breakfast.”

  He threw on a shirt and laced up his boots, all the while, unable to break his gaze away from Baby. Everything about her made his body react. His groin. His brain. His fucking cold-ass heart. He had no idea what he had been thinking when he ran away. There was no way he could survive without her. No one else could ever compare. He needed her, the same way he needed air to breathe.

  His chest tightened as he watched her get dressed. She tamed her mane with a clip. No makeup, but her skin glowed. Perfection.

  Lucky strolled into the kitchen with Baby trailing a few steps behind.

  “Thought you might be hungry.” Joyce stood at the stove flipping French toast.

  He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and poured two cups of coffee. “Joyce, I’d like you to meet someone.”

  The older lady held the spatula in the air until Lucky took the hint and grabbed it. She crossed the room, surveying Baby before pulling her in for an embrace.

  “Welcome, Baby.”

  Baby Jade’s green eyes widened. To her credit, she smiled, but Lucky could see the uneasiness growing in her eyes.

  “Thank you. You can call me Jade.”

  Joyce waved a hand in the air. “Oh, please. That would be like me calling this little good luck charm James. Not going to happen. He’s been Lucky to me since day one. Sit. Eat.”

  He peered at Baby, rounding his eyes and shrugging. He had mentioned Baby Jade to his parents, but they quickly shut down the conversation, calling the entire notion absurd. He should have known the old hen was eavesdropping somewhere in the background. Not that it bothered him. She had always been able to read him like a book. It was obvious that Joyce knew how important Baby was to him. The fact that she welcomed her with open arms, literally, spoke volumes.

  For the first time in a long time, he had an ally.

  The three sat up to the island bar in the kitchen, making small talk. For one fleeting moment, Lucky’s heart grasped at the idea of a family. Informal. Small, quaint. Chatting about the day ahead over coffee. It was so foreign to him, but he wanted more. He could get used to the sappy, family bullshit.

  An unexpected pang pierced his hardened heart.

  Joyce wrapped her arms around Baby Jade. “I do hope you’ll be back soon.”

  “Sooner than you think,” Lucky responded from the doorway. Baby’s defiant gaze held his.

  Joyce observed them both. “Well, there will be a bed with your name on it anytime you’re ready.”

  “You’re sweet. Thank you.” Baby shot Lucky a death stare and grabbed the helmet he held out for her.

  He kissed Joyce’s cheek and whispered, “Thank you.”

  As he cranked up the bike, his heart raced as Baby hopped on behind him. He craved the way her perfect body formed to his when she rested her head against his back. He almost couldn’t contain himself when she looped her arms together around his waist, trailing her hands along his abdomen.

  He winked at Joyce, drawing a smile from the old woman. “I’m dropping Baby off to check on her mom. Then, I’ll meet you at the hospital to pick up mother.”

  Lucky eased through traffic, attempting to go slow. He still wasn’t sure how Baby felt being on the back of a bike after the accident. He edged up to the curb in front of the massive building. He slipped off and helped Baby do the same. He never grew tired of seeing her on his bike.

  “So, what’s your plan?”

  She attempted to run her fingers through her long, tangled locks. “Well, I’m going to check on things here, make sure Momma’s ok. Then, I’ll head home and pop in on Ma’Linn before I shower and head to work.”

  His forehead creased. “You’re not thinking about going back to the club?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Let’s not do this again.”

  His back snapped straight. “Dammit, you have to take this shit seriously. You can’t just go walking into the fucking lion’s den.”

  “Look, I know there’s a lot of shit going on, but I’m not going to hang around hiding with my tail tucked between my legs. I have bills to pay, and until some dead, rich bastard leaves me millions, I have to make due. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

  Lucky searched her steady face. If she was scared, she wasn’t showing it. “And I can’t talk you into coming back to the manor?”

  She quickly shook her head. “Go get your mom settled in. When you’re done, you can come check on me at my place. Cool?”

  He wasn’t happy that she appeared so calm and collected. It wasn’t like her to let her guard down. “Deal.” He lowered his head and focused on her mesmerizing jade colored eyes. “But stay alert, and for fuck’s sake, get a damn cell phone.”

  She leaned in, her soft, full lips brushed across his, setting off fireworks in his chest. His stomach leapt as he watched her stroll away.

  He wanted to protect her. To throw her on the back of his bike and take off, but history has proven there’s no happy ending there. He had to stay and fight, to keep her safe. Things were about to come to a nasty head. It was all about to blow up around them; he felt it deep in his gut.

  The shit storm was about to hit the fan.

  ***

  “Hey, I hear someone’s ready to blow this joint?” Lucky was relieved to see his mother up and dressed. Joyce bustled around the room gathering all of the strewn about belongings.

  “Well, it’s about time.” Tilly stopped yapping orders long enough to direct a disapproving scowl towards her son.

 
“Save it, Mother. You’re not even finished packing yet.”

  She shot him a death stare from across the room. “Yes, that isn’t my doing either.”

  With her hands on her hips, Joyce stared right back. “You’re about two seconds away from being left here permanently.”

  “Pssh.” Tilly huffed. She ignored the comment and glanced back toward her son. “Any news?”

  Lucky leaned against the wall and sighed. “Let’s just say, you were right to be concerned.”

  His statement must have caught her full attention. Her tired eyes grew cold and hard. “I knew it. Carrie Scott is nothing but trouble.”

  He bit his tongue. He had been telling them that same line for years. No need to rehash old war wounds. “You’ve got that right, but it doesn’t stop there.”

  Tilly tilted her head and waited.

  He hated to unload on his mother, especially with all that she had been going through. Her blood pressure was already unpredictable, but she would find out with or without him. “I still have some digging around to do, but I’ve been able to narrow down one major detail. Carrie’s only a middleman. There’s someone bigger behind the wheel. I have no idea who it is or their intentions, but I plan on finding out.”

  Lowering her gaze, she appeared to be deep in thought. After a few moments, she lifted her head and pulled her thin lips into a grin. “Good, sounds like you’ve got it all covered. Let’s get me back home. Everything will be better once I’m sleeping in my own bed.”

  Lucky weighed her words. Her quick change in behavior left him uneasy. He didn’t even bother trying to tell her to be safe or that she was in danger. Joyce knew, and that was more effective anyway.

  The old woman just couldn’t help herself. She spot-cleaned the room as they waited on the discharge papers while he helped gather up all of Tilly’s personal items. Thankful when the doctor gave the all clear.

  After finally making it home, Lucky helped the two women get his mother settled into the downstairs bedroom, listening to her gripe and complain the entire time.