"Yeah. Why am I being sent out of town when all this is going down? I've already fucking proven I can administer Hellion justice," Mel asked tightly.
"Trey and Bishop are gonna give you the 4-1-1 on that, dude. You did fuckin' do yourself proud in Sheridan and have the fuckin' pin to prove it. But remember what I told you? About recruits and their questions? In this instance, it's time for you to shut it," Dare warned before slapping Mel on the back. "Just do your best on your run and I'll fuckin' fill you in when you get back."
As Dare moved away, Donny came to stand next to Mel giving the recruit only a chin lift in greeting. Trey and Bishop seemed to speaking with Pagan and Chucky before peeling off to come to where Mel and Donny stood.
"Here's what's doing in Idaho. Same thing about not paying the fucking bill but Collins is into HC for a hundred and eighty large. He's been making fucking payments but Quad, one of our managers there, has word that the bastard is planning on pulling a pussy and running. You'll be collecting as much fucking cash as available but we'll also seize his assets since HC filed a pre-lien to protect our fucking rights," Trey explained, his eyes going from man to man.
"We will also be offering the same message to Collins that was given Hart only we expect his recupe to take a hell of a lot longer and to be under medical supervision," Bishop added. "Need you boys to get your fucking shit sorted 'cause our asses leave the compound tomorrow at noon. Thinkin' it'll only take three days but pack for fuckin' five just in case we get to play hide and seek with the dickhead."
"Questions? No? Good. We're bringing Derek in to stay at the compound while you're gone, Hardwood. And you know the Honeys will take care of Lil' Taste," Trey said. "I'll expect fucking updates and a recap when you getcha asses back home. Until then ride true and stay safe."
Mel started to follow Donny out but Bishop held him back with a large hand on his arm. "Couple of other doings, Hardwood. There are saddlebags are in the storeroom so take 'em before you leave. Second, you need to make other arrangements for Jules during the funeral. Know you haven't ever been to one but they can get wild, bro. Since Trey wants fuckin' everybody there, that means the Honeys would have no choice but to take your sister. These things aren't for innocent eyes, dig?"
Mel wanted to ask Bishop to define what he meant by wild but remembered Dare's warning about questions. "Would asking Lulu to watch her be okay? Isn't Lu supposed to be at the funeral as well since she's an honorary Honey?"
He watched as the long-haired man thought it through before saying, "actually, that works out fuckin' perfect. Lulu and Grit were starting to become friends so I know she'd want to be there but she don't belong at that scene anymore than your sis does. Where were you planning on fuckin' keepin' them? Your place or Lu's?"
"I'm torn on that. I don't think the Ghosts know where I live but Lulu has that kick-ass security system."
"Try to keep them at your place. I'll have a brother check in on them daily and we'll be in touch with 'em on the road, so it should all be good," Bishop said and flashed a grin for the first time.
"One last thing, where do I go to get a pair of leather pants or chaps?" Mel asked dreading the run only because of how he'd had to stay in filthy clothes on the last one.
"Got an extra set of chaps I'll bring tomorrow and then we'll see if Lucille can order you a pair online. Them bugs are a bitch on a run, right?" Bishop laughed. "Just be sure to keep your mouth closed when you ride 'cause those fuckers don't care where they fuckin' land. Now getcha ass home and tell your family what's doing about the ride. I'll see ya tomorrow."
Mel checked the time on his cell before he swung a leg over his bike. Almost 2.30 in the morning. He hoped Lulu had taken his suggestion and gone to bed.
In his bed.
A sight he wanted to add to his memories of her and use when he was on his run to Idaho.
*.*.*.*.*
I tucked a sleepy Julie into bed about 10.30 which she confided was a full hour and a half past her bedtime. The delay caused by the full tour of her room where I'd been given a detailed and very thorough description of each and every poster, memento and gee-gaw that decorated her special space.
I was right. Julie was a girlie-girl. A fact that hadn't escaped the Honey's attention since, according to Julie, they just kept adding to all her delightful decorations.
Derek had stayed in the front room keeping the TV on low which I thought was his way of 'keeping an eye on things'. But by the time I came out of Julie's room, Derek was sprawled across the cushions dead asleep. Using an afghan that was folded over the back of the couch, I covered him but kept the light and the TV on. It wouldn't do to treat him like a little kid and wake him up or to take away whatever would keep the 'boogeyman' at bay even if it was only a light and the TV.
I went back into the hall and turned left into Mel's room. It was nice but very plain. The bed had been made and there were no piles of clothes holding up the corners. I didn't want to snoop but I did need something to sleep in, so I carefully opened the drawers on the chest in order to find a t-shirt. Second drawer down held them and I was surprised to see they were sorted by color.
Another snoop in the bathroom provided me with an unopened toothbrush and I was able to do my evening routine but without moisturizer or body lotion. As I slid into bed, I realized how tired I was. It had been an exciting couple of days and as I pulled Mel's second pillow to me to cuddle, I reviewed all that had happened. Promising myself I would call my sister the next day to give her an update, I found I couldn't keep my eyes open and let sleep pull me into its void.
But it felt like only a few minutes had gone by when I was awakened by a warm hard body pressing against my back as a thick muscled thigh slid between my legs.
"Mel?" I rasped out sleepily.
"Yeah, precious. Sorry to wake you but you're hogging all the pillows," he breathed, his mouth right next to my ear as his strong arm looped around my waist. "But if it gets me close to you like this, darlin', I'm willing to share yours."
Now that's the way to wake up, I thought but didn't say. Instead I snuggled until his thigh tighter against me before twining my fingers with the hand he was using to hold me with. Secure in his arms and the shelter of his body, I let sleep claim me again.
But I was given an even better wake up when the sun was just beginning to peek through the cracks of his bedroom curtains.
Actually it had been sounds coming out of my own mouth that had caused my eyes to open. Deep and fervent moans had brought me almost immediately up from sleep to full wakefulness.
Only to discover that my legs were draped over Mel's shoulders as his tongue worked its magic against my mound was downright shocking, but I was too far gone, too aroused to stay shocked for long. He'd obviously been at his task for a while because it didn't take long before my body exploded.
And as soon as he crawled back up my body to slip next to me, I pushed him over onto his back and reciprocated. Something he hadn't let me do before, distracting me from my efforts with more touches and kisses in just the right places. But that time I was determined to give him the same unbelievable pleasure he'd gifted to me again and again.
I used my mouth to stroke and tease, to lick and to suck as far as I could fit him. And from the noises, the growls and groans he made I knew he was enjoying it. It was when I added my hands to the play, man alive. That was when Mel began to lose the rhythm his hips had found. I felt his hands on my shoulders and I couldn't decide if he was trying to push me away or pull me closer.
But it wasn't long until he gently grabbed the back of my neck and curled up with a moaned, "pull off, Lu," that I realized he didn't expect me to swallow. I liked that he hadn't automatically assumed I would unlike more than a couple of the partners I'd had in the past.
I continued my hand movements but my eyes were on his face, his very flushed cheeks and heavy-lidded eyes that seemed glued to my stroking fingers. They flicked up to stare into mine as he groaned, "gonna hit it, girl. Fuck, that's perfec
t." His hips arched as his steel-like length began to throb and then spasm as he came hard and fast.
"Oh, good Christ! Oh, Lu," he moaned as he dropped back down to the mattress.
I sat back on my heels and discreetly wiped my mouth with my fingers as my eyes surveyed the absolute gorgeousness of the man spread out before me. Were you kidding me? He was like some of the models from the porn sites for women I'd discovered a couple of years ago. Absolutely perfectly crafted in every way and I loved the fact he didn't have any body hair to distract me from the view. And, man, how I viewed.
He smiled as he twisted to retrieve his t-shirt from the floor in order to clean himself up but as he did there was a hearty knock on his bedroom door.
"Mel?" I heard Derek call and my eyes flew to the portal, happy to see it was locked.
"Yeah?"
"Lulu's car's here but I can't find her anywhere," Derek said and I had to cover my mouth in order to hold the giggle inside. The kid was, after all, only fifteen.
I saw Mel was holding on to his mirth too by only allowing one side of his grin to show. "Think about it, Der," he called and held up a hand using his fingers to signify the seconds as he counted them down.
"Oh! Ooh!" came the reply when Mel had two finger remaining. "Oops! Sorry, Lu. Just got worried when I couldn't find you."
"It's okay, Derek. I'll be out in a bit," I said proud that I was able to keep the laughter out of my voice.
"Is Julie up yet?" Mel called out.
"No, but I'll wake her if you want me to."
"Please. I've got something to talk to the three of y'all about." Mel's voice had changed and I wondered why I was to be included in the family's talk. I moved around the room, finding the panties I'd washed out by hand were dry and my jeans and top had remained unwrinkled.
Two days of doing the walk of shame. How unbelievably cool!
Mel stepped into a pair of boxers and grabbed some other clothes from his closet and drawers before coming to where I stood. "Didn't realize I was out of condoms until this morning, precious. But it was still good wasn't it?"
"The best, baby," I murmured going up on tiptoe for a kiss. And I wasn't fudging in the least. What woman didn't want to be awakened more than halfway to her personal heaven?
"You want first shower?" he asked when we finally came up for air.
I glanced at the beside clock and saw it was only eight. "I've got time if you want to go first." I'd planned on going home straightaway so the little family could enjoy their Saturday together, but Mel's warning about wanting to talk to the three of us blew that out the window. While he was in the shower, I put the room to rights by making the bed and dumping his pile of clothes into the hamper I'd spied in a corner of the closet.
As soon as he was back, I made haste to get clean knowing that there were still two more people that needed their morning turn.
By the time we were all assembled in the kitchen each of us leaning on a separate portion of the countertop, Mel started speaking, detailing his upcoming run. Derek seemed sad about having to stay at the compound and I wanted to offer my services but didn't want to stick my nose into their family business. I was already overjoyed that he'd deemed me good enough to take care of Julie in his absence.
Julie seemed excited by it as well and asked if I could pick her up from school on Monday.
"No, baby girl. Do like you always do and go home with the Honeys. Lulu will pick you up from wherever you are after she's done working."
"I'll need to get some more clothes and things from my place," I advised.
"Not a problem, precious. Just shift my shit in the drawers and closet so yours will fit," Mel said, his arm going around my waist to pull me into his side. "Der, if you need anything, you get one of the brothers to call her, all right?"
Der nodded and moved to stand closer to his big brother. I saw Julie take a couple of steps forward before looping her arms around Mel's waist and burying her head in his belly. "Hey, why the long faces? I'll only be gone a couple of days and y'all be busy. Pro'lly too busy to miss me."
"It doesn't feel like home if you're not here," Julie said, her voice only slightly muffled in his shirt. I felt a lump form and my eyes prickle at the little girl's words.
"What happens if the school calls while you're gone? Do I let Bishop talk to 'em?" Derek asked, leaning his shoulder against Mel's.
"Sorry, Der. Bishop is leading the run. If they call then Lu will take the message and get it to me. I'll call 'em back from the road if I have to, but I don't want you leavin' until I'm back. That's the important part, bro. You don't leave without me saying goodbye, you get me?"
"Yeah, Mel," Derek sighed pressing his body into his brother's big form and I couldn't tell if it was one of relief or of sadness although it could've been some combination of the two. "Should I give Lulu my house key?"
"Good thinking," Mel replied with a smile as he ruffled his brother's hair. I liked how Mel was with his brother. Affectionate in a guy kind of way that didn't give a hint of how young his brother still was.
"Okay, so who wants what for breakfast?" Mel asked disentangling himself from all of us and stepping to the refrigerator.
It was after we'd eaten and Derek was cleaning the kitchen that Mel led me out to the back porch to tell me about Grit. About how my escort had been shot and killed after dropping me off yesterday and how his body had been found in the middle of the road not even a half-mile from my apartment.
And my man held me tight while letting me cry out my grief into his beautiful, hard-scaled chest at the loss of the man known as Gritty.
But who I had started to call friend.
Chapter Twenty Five
Mel pulled into the compound with fifteen minutes to spare and with Derek on the back of his bike.
"You think Lu and Jules will be okay?" his brother asked, twisting his helmet in his hands.
"The club will be sending people out to make sure they will be, just like they'll do with all the families. I need you to keep yourself safe, though," Mel explained draping an arm around Derek's shoulders as they walked towards the clubhouse. At his brother's confused look, Mel tried to explain without giving too much club business away. "Things are happening with the Ghosts, Der. And even Trey doesn't know how its gonna play out. So if a Hellion tells you to do something, even if it sounds crazy, you fuckin' do it, all right? Your number one job while I'm gone is to keep yourself safe."
"I will, Mel. But you protect yourself, too. It would kill Jules if something happened to you," Derek replied with a snarky grin.
Mel couldn't help his own one-sided smile at this brother's words. "Shithead."
"Dickwad," was shot back quickly before Der handed Mel the helmet and began to jog to the back of the clubhouse. After entering, he saw Bishop and Donny bent over a map at the bar and moved to join them.
"We were going to make this run through the mountains by taking the 93 highway to Twin Falls but since the fuckin' weather reports saying we got a system moving in, we're going with the freeways," Bishop announced after their fist bumped greeting. "I've got an app that'll warn us if the roads get fuckin' dicey but here's some rain gear just in case. Oh, and the chaps for you, Hardwood."
"I've got Lulu with Jules but Lu's gonna need some shit from her place," Mel advised. "She wants to go get it…"
"Oh fuck, no," Bishop said and pulled out his phone. "Hey, beautiful girl. Yeah. Hardwood says you need stuff from your place? No, sorry. I need you to stay fuckin' put right where you are, dig? You need to make a list and call Carly with it. She'll get a brother to help her and get your shit to you. Yeah. Well sorry, babe, but that's how its gotta be for the mo'. Just do as Uncle Bish tells you and it'll all be chilly." Bishop listened to whatever Lulu was saying before throwing back his head and laughing. "Yeah, I will. Late."
Bishop glanced at Donny before turning his smile to the recruit. "Lulu instructed me to take good care of 'her Mel'."
Mel closed his eyes as he felt the heat creep
ing up his neck even though another part of him was thrilled she'd called him 'hers'.
"Still can't figure out how you got in there so quick, Hardwood." Bishop's tone made it sound like he expected an answer which Mel knew he wasn't going to give. In order to get off the subject, Mel asked, "Why can Carly go but Lu can't?"
Receiving a slap to the back of his head, Mel saw Donny's hand retract and the frown on the tall, silent biker's face.
Reinventing Mel: A Hellion MC Novel Page 23
