Rive_Little Mermaid Retold

by Daniela Jackson

  “Shall we?” he says with a slight impatience.

  “Let’s go,” I say.

  We meander among the tables and my papa’s piercing glance follows me. But I don’t care. I don’t belong to him any longer. I belong to Zane now.

  We pass two bulls at the main door and Zane sits on his bike. He invites me with a gallant gesture to jump on it. I don’t hesitate. My hands gather up the draped hem of my gown, revealing knee-high boots.

  Zane holds his hand out for me and helps me sit behind him. The engine starts and I wrap my arms around him. We shoot forward, and I feel free for the first time in my life.

  I’m three years older than Zane but I’ve gained life experience like a sixteen-year-old. I lost my virginity with one of the bulls, and I don’t even want to remember that disaster. He made me feel nothing. He used me.

  I tried with another bull and it wasn’t any better so I decided to live like a nun. Now, I’m sitting behind a wonderful man who is everything I’d want in life. And who wants to be my husband.

  Life is malicious.

  We roar along the deserted road for about an hour. My hair is a mess and I shiver of cold.

  Zane parks in front of the garage and helps me jump off the bike. I saunter towards his house and he joins me, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

  “You are so beautiful,” he murmurs into my ear.

  Tears prick my eyes. He sounds so honest.

  “It isn’t that bad, is it, Brianna?”

  “You are a decent man I must admit.”

  “You don’t even know me.”

  “You don’t know me either. At all.”

  Zane chuckles and opens the door for us. “I know you enough. I will rip that horrible gown off you and then I will fuck the hottest woman on the face of the earth. And guess what? She is my wife. Wife.” He repeats the last word like he’s tasting it with pleasure.

  His left hand cups my breast and his hot lips touch my neck. An electric current surges through my body.

  We move across the living area and I turn around. Zane’s lips press against mine and his hand gathers my gown up. He touches my outer thigh then squeezes my ass cheek.

  I want him badly. But I can’t be with him.

  My hand plunges into the small sack attached to my waist and I close my fingers around the small syringe I put inside just before the wedding ceremony. Removing the needle cap, I grip the back of Zane’s neck with my other hand and wrap my thigh around his waist. He moves me backwards and my back rests against the wall. I kiss him deeper, entangling my tongue with his and he growls into my mouth like a contented bear.

  A thought flashes through my mind. We are as one now. I want to scream of despair, but instead I compose myself and take out the syringe. My hand sweeps and the needle jabs Zane’s arm.

  He pulls away from me, hissing like a cobra. “What the fuck?”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “What did you do?” He removes the syringe from his arm and sways, then falls on his bottom, jerking his hands behind his back for support.

  “You will sleep for a few hours. That’s all.”

  “You drugged me?”

  “I had to.”

  He shakes his head, rolling his eyes. “I would be a good husband to you.”

  “I know.”

  “Why don’t you want to give me a chance?” His voice falters and I know that his mind is filling with a fog.

  “I can’t, Zane. Just try to understand.”

  Zane collapses on the floor, unconscious.

  “I know you would be a good husband to me,” I murmur. “But I want to be free. Free from my daddy, his bulls, his dark secrets, you and the MC stuff. Sayonara.”

  I back up and leave the house. There is enough money in my secret bank account for at least three years of a comfortable life. I will be free.

  My boots click against the ground as my eyes travel to Zane’s bike. I can ride a bike. Daddy taught me to ride a bike. He also taught me to fight and shoot a gun.

  Sabrina Atkinson. My new name. I will find a job and a nice place to live. I will take a cat form a pet rescue centre. I will be free and happy.

  I will just need to fill the hollow in my chest with something else because my heart has stayed with Zane.

  I didn’t expect that complication and I have just realised I’m in love with my husband. Life is sometimes ridiculous.

  Chapter 30

  Axel

  Sive purrs like a cat as her naked body arches against mine. I glide my palm over her enormous pregnant belly and kiss her neck. She moans softly and pushes her ass against my groin. The smell of her light sweat teases my nostrils, sends a tingle across my skin, fills me with greed like a sweet aphrodisiac is diffusing into my whole being.

  It’s late in the morning. The sun’s rays filter through the gaps between the curtains. The hot bubbly cloud of our desire coats us, sheltering us like we’re in another realm.

  We are lying on our sides, and I’m fucking my wife slowly from behind. Her body is so pleasantly soft to touch now. So tempting. So fucking beautifully curvy. I guess I will make her permanently pregnant.

  I thrust into her gently, and she tenses in my arms. Her breath halts as her forehead wrinkles. There is nothing more beautiful and more arousing to me than watching her face sharpened by pleasure.

  Her pussy contracts, massaging my cock and I push into her once more. My toes curl as pleasure rolls over me.

  I’m still buried inside her as the haze in my head clears. My mouth touches her shoulder and I plant kisses up to her neck and cheek. Sive waves her hand like I’m an annoying fly and she moves away from me. Her breathing steadies and she falls asleep.

  She’s so pleasantly slow now. Sleepy all the time. So absolutely mine.

  My palm rests against her pregnant belly and the baby kicks me. My son. I will hold him in my arms soon. Now I’m playing with him, trying to catch his tiny heels poking through Sive’s belly.

  My eyes flick over our wedding photo hanging on the wall. A monster and an angel one can tell.

  A sense of absolute certainty fills me. I have one goal in my life—to make my beloved wife feel happy and safe.

  Sive shudders and squeaks like a mouse. She has another nightmare, but I know what to do. I draw her closer to me and enclose her with my arms. Her back moulds against my chest.

  “It’s okay, baby,” I say into her ear and she sighs with relief. “You’re safe. It’s over.”

  I will be for her to soothe her fears and nightmares for the rest of my life.

  I will spend every night with her.

  I will make sure her gallery brings a stable income because that will make her happy.

  I will always choose my son and wife.

  I haven’t abandoned the club, but since Zane is the president I can focus only on my family.

  I love being a husband and father. I don’t want more in life. Maybe I would want Zane to stop looking for his crazy wife.

  He’s fucking mad about that worthless bitch. Focused only on one goal—to find her.

  Sive sighs and strokes my arm with her palm.

  “You were supposed to sleep until the afternoon,” I say and kiss her temple.

  “A-xel,” Sive hums.

  My mouth moves down to her lips, and we kiss. My palm cups her enormous breast and my dick grows hard again. I stroke myself then enter my wife’s hot pussy in one firm thrust.

  I love being a husband and I love fucking my wife.

  Our bodies sway as one. Sive moans and I thrust into her faster.

  I love Sundays.

  We wake up late in the morning, fuck to the point of exhaustion and visit my parents in the afternoon. Ma is crazy about Sive and her pregnancy. She feeds my wife like we are expecting triplets.

  Sive gasps into my mouth as I push into her one more time and pleasure ripples through me.

  Now, I need some proper sleep.

  The front door bangs and Sive shudders in my arm
s.

  “What the fuck,” I mutter under my breath.

  “Axel,” Zane’s impatient voice comes from downstairs.

  My brother hasn’t learnt yet that he shouldn’t visit us without calling us first.

  I get up and slide into my jeans. My mind has a dense fog and an urge to murder flows in my veins. I walk downstairs and stop at the bottom of the stairs as my eyes travel to a man standing next to Zane.

  “Jax,” I growl. “It’s really you. Long time no see.”

  What a surprise. I haven’t seen Jax for a year and a half or so. He’s Blaze’s first son who’s very uninterested in being a regular member of the Shadow Wolves MC. His life passes travelling around the world and sending us postcards.

  Jax steps towards me and we hug, slapping each other’s backs.

  “Sit down,” I say as my palm rests against the back of my neck.

  Zane and Jax drop into the couch as the sound of light footsteps makes me look over my shoulder. Sive is walking down the stairs. She has a grey vest and red shorts on. As her eyes spot Jax, she pulls her vest down to cover her pregnant belly, but it rolls up. Her nipples poke through the fabric and the possessive animal inside me wants to throw a blanket onto her.

  “What is it?” Jax explodes and chuckles.

  His amazed eyes roam over Sive as she flushes and runs her fingertips over her blind eye.

  “I told you,” Zane says. “A lot has changed since your last visit.” He rushes towards Sive, hugs her, stroking her back then lowers his upper body to kiss her belly.

  She giggles as my brother strokes her belly and murmurs something to my son.

  “Zane,” I bark. “Take your hands off her.”

  In fact, I’m not jealous of my brother. He loves Sive like she’s his sister and is very excited with the prospect of having a nephew.

  I wave my hand at Sive and she walks towards me then clings to me as Jax rises from the couch and moves closer to us.

  “This is Jax, baby,” I say. “Jax, meet my wife, Sive.”

  “Your wife?” Jax takes Sive’s hand and plants a kiss on her knuckles. “Nice to meet you, Sive.”

  “Since when have you been so chivalrous?” I ask with sarcasm and throw my arm over Sive’s back, pulling her closer to me.

  The possessive animal in me is furious. Jax can make a woman splay her legs for him with just one glance and I see that he’s intrigued with Sive. He has a boyish face without any scars and long blond hair. With his unshaven cheeks, he looks like a fucking rock star and women throw themselves at him.

  I hope Sive hates rock stars. I hope she hates all the baby-faced men. I hope she’s crazy about one monster with a scarred face.

  My wife turns her face to me and raises her hands.

  “I’m tired,” she signs. “Can you look after the guests?”

  I lower my head and kiss her ear, whispering, “Sure, go and have some proper sleep.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you more,” I say.

  She chuckles as I plant a kiss on her lips and stroke her belly.

  I shove her ass. “Go.”

  Sive walks off as Zane and Jax fall onto the couch. Jax shoots me a consternated glance like I have just done something really embarrassing.

  “She’s really pretty,” Jax says. “Really pretty. She’s—“

  “She’s mine,” I say sharply.

  “And the baby,” Jax says.

  “My son,” I say.

  Jax nods several times. “A lot has changed. Don’t blame you though. She’s—“

  I shoot him a warning glance. “Mine.”

  Jax raises his hands in a warding gesture as Zane shoves his hand into the back pocket of his jeans and takes out his wallet. He opens it and takes out a folded photo.

  “My wife,” Zane says and passes the photo on to Jax.

  “You have no wife, Zane,” I say. “That bitch of yours—“

  “Don’t call my wife a bitch,” Zane says through clenched teeth.

  “She might as well be dead,” I say. “No offence.”

  “I will find Brianna,” Zane says.

  “Sure.” I raise my hands. “If you want to spend your life, chasing a ghost, I’m not going to stop you.”

  Jax takes a closer look at the photo. “Really pretty. Your wife is really pretty, Zane. And she has a good sense of humour. A mourning gown as a wedding dress? I already like your wife.”

  Zane’s face softens and his mind seems to wander off to somewhere very far from here.

  His unstoppable desire to reunite with Brianna is so absurd that it’s even funny. He isn’t drinking alcohol because he wants to remain alert all the time. He isn’t fucking anybody because he doesn’t want to cheat on his wife. He bought a small apartment in the town and is renovating it like that bitch of his is going to return to him soon.

  I’ve tried to reason with him on a number of occasions, but it was pointless.

  Jax inhales deeply. “I met a woman.” His fingers roll into fists.

  “Really?” I say. “You meet a lot of women. They’re all very desperate to meet you.”

  “No, Axel,” Jax says. “I mean I met a unique woman.” His face sharpens.

  I can’t believe it. Another suffering Romeo who’s drying out of love.

  “She’s really pretty,” Jax continues. “Six years older than me. Very educated. Off limits.”

  “What’s her name?” Zane asks.

  “Athena,” Jax says.

  “Very nice,” Zane says.

  “Beer or vodka?” I ask to interrupt that funeral-like conversation.

  It’s fucking ridiculous like there is a love-charm hanging in the air and infecting my brothers.

  “Vodka,” Jax says.

  “Vodka,” Zane says. He inhales deeply and glances at Jax. “I think Brianna is in Europe. In England to be precise. Samael’s private investigator is going to find out for certain.”

  “Athena is living in England,” Jax says and nods at Zane.

  “No fucking way,” I growl. “You’re the president, Zane. I have a pregnant wife.”

  “I’m taking a leave,” Zane says firmly. “You can manage for a few weeks, Axel. I’ll only wait for Sive to give birth to my nephew and then I’m gone.”

  I raise my hands in a warding gesture. “A few weeks. No more.”

  I really hope he’ll find her. Otherwise, he’ll spend life chasing a ghost.

  It makes me think how happy I am. I hope that one day Zane and Jax will visit me with their wives.

  Sive

  I lie on my side. My eyelids grow heavy. The sounds of the men’s excitement of gathering together settle in my ears.

  Thoughts flow through my head.

  I’m damaged, but I’m happy.

  I went through hell but I’m strong like never before.

  I’m an outlaw’s wife and I learn about the business every day. Axel’s garage needs somebody like me to make sure that the money laundering is properly concealed. I’m better at maths than my husband is. It jabbed his pride, but he digested it some time ago.

  My gallery thrives. And it washes more money than the garage. Samael comes to do business directly to me. In person. I think he respects me. He even suggested that he could pay for my law school.

  I told him that I wanted to wait until my children were big enough and Axel wants to have at least three of them. He winces each time Samael visits us, but I think he’s proud of me. Boulder is very proud of me too. Amanda smothers me with her care. She loves me like I’m her daughter.

  I belong in this town and this life.

  The men downstairs are getting drunk.

  I crawl out of the bed to go downstairs. I need to call Amanda and ask her to bring the food to ours. As I walk across the living area, Axel rises from the couch and moves closer to me. He kneels in front of me and wraps his arms around my belly.

  “I love you, baby,” he says in a drunken voice. “I love you so much.”

  Jax and Z
ane erupt into laughter.

  ***

  If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review.

  Thank you,

  Daniela Jackson

  Check out my other books:

  Brianna (Shadow Wolves MC)

  Munroe and Stanka (Shadow Wolves MC)

  Wandering: A Rock Star Suspense Romance

  By Daniela Jackson

  Planned Books:

  By Daniela Jackson:

  Talia (Shadow Immortals MC)

  Kai (Shadow Immortals MC)

  Amaia (Shadow Immortals MC)