“She probably knows all the things you like in the bedroom,” I said. “You were my first. I don’t even know what the hell I’m doing when we’re in bed together.”
He smiled and kissed me again. “You’re doing more than fine in that department. You get me harder than anyone ever has before, and I’m not just saying that. If I wanted one of the club sluts, I’d have kept screwing them, but you are exactly what I’ve been wanting. Do you have any idea how hot it is that I got to be your first and that I’ll be your only? Those women have fucked countless men, and while they may have learned some skills along the way, being with them is… passionless. They’re just a place to stick your dick when you want to get laid, as bad as that sounds, but they aren’t the kind of women you make your forever girl.”
“I just don’t want you to wake up one morning and regret claiming me,” I said.
“Baby, I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. This is our home. Mine and yours. And if there’s a baby,” he said, placing his hand on my belly, “it will be loved. I’m not going to abandon you, Darian, neither of you.”
“I’ll try to do better. I know I have some issues to work through, and it might take some time, but I’ll eventually get there.”
He winked. “Let’s go eat. You have to be starving by now.”
He took me by the hand and led me out to the truck that was parked in the driveway. I hadn’t noticed it earlier, but then I’d been focused on the man rushing toward me. If he wanted to buy me a car, I wouldn’t argue, but I hated that he was spending so much money on me. Maybe I could at least talk him into something used. I’d never owned a brand-new car, or really a brand-new anything, and I didn’t see a reason to start now. Pre-loved was just as good. For a short time, I’d had a car that I’d bought for five hundred dollars, and it had been so old that it had fallen apart within a year. After having to walk everywhere for the last year, any transportation would be better than none.
Chapter Six
Bull
Being with Darian was going to be an adventure. There were so many things she hadn’t experienced, and I wanted to make sure she had the chance to really live her life. It was hard for me to imagine never having had steak, or new clothes. What else had she missed out on all these years? If I could track down her mother, I might be tempted to beat the bitch. I still wanted to know how her dad was going to justify not looking for her all this time, unless he really hadn’t known about her. But unless Darian’s mom had kept her pregnancy a complete secret, I didn’t know how that was possible. If the Devil’s Boneyard hacker was as good as Wire claimed, then Darian would have been easy enough for him to locate. Something wasn’t right about the entire thing, and I only hoped it didn’t blow up in our faces. I did know one thing, though. I’d fight for her. She was mine, and no way was I going to let someone take her away.
Her face was flushed with pleasure as she took in the atmosphere of the restaurant. There was a bucket of peanuts in the center of the table and the empty shells littered the floor. Dim lighting made the place feel cozy, and she seemed to like the red checkered tablecloth since she kept running her fingers over it. She’d said she’d never had steak, but I hadn’t thought to ask if she’d ever been out to eat somewhere before. At least, someplace that didn’t have a drive-thru.
A waitress stopped at our table, flashing a bright smile at us. The fact she included Darian in that smile and didn’t focus just on me already guaranteed she would get a nice tip. She set down the drinks we’d ordered from the hostess who had seated us and then placed two straws on the table.
“My name is Marney, and I’ll be your server tonight. Have you had a chance to look over the menu?”
“I think she’s still deciding, but for now let’s order the appetizer sampler,” I said. “We should be ready in a few minutes.”
Marney nodded. “I’ll go place that order and check back in a bit.”
Darian kept worrying at her lower lip as she looked over the menu. I had a feeling it wasn’t so much that she couldn’t choose but that she was worried about the cost. We’d stopped at the bank on the way here, and I probably should have let her see how much I’d withdrawn so she’d stop stressing. Hell, I should just show her my account balance, but I wasn’t certain that wouldn’t freak her the fuck out. It was likely more money than she’d seen in her entire life. Probably more than she would have made in twenty years waitressing.
“Angel, just order whatever you want. If you want the twenty-five-dollar filet, then order it. Hell, get the steak and lobster if that’s what you want to try. You’re not going to put me in the poorhouse even if you ordered every expensive thing on the menu.”
Her eyes widened a little.
I might regret it later, but I pulled out my wallet and retrieved the bank slip that had my balance printed on it, then I slid it across the table toward her. I tapped the paper to make her look down. When she saw the amount, her face blanched, and she swayed a moment. Leaping out of my chair, I grabbed her before she passed out.
“Hell, darlin’. That wasn’t how I planned for that to go. I just wanted you to stop worrying about money.”
“That’s a lot of money,” she whispered, a tiny bit of color coming back to her cheeks. “That’s more than I could make in a lifetime.”
“Torch takes care of us, and truthfully, I haven’t really spent a lot of what I’ve earned over the years. My house is property of the Dixie Reapers and doesn’t cost me a dime except for maintenance. My bike is paid for and is several years old. I’ve lived a simple life, Darian.”
“I think I’m okay,” she said, shooing me back to my seat.
“I meant what I said. Order anything you want. Have you ever had lobster or shrimp?”
“No.”
“Then why don’t you get the six-ounce steak, with the lobster tail, and fried shrimp? Whatever you don’t like, you don’t have to eat. I’ve never cared for lobster myself, but Ridley loves it.”
She smiled a little. “You know, I don’t have to try everything that I’ve missed out on all at one time. We can spread things out. I think I’ll save the seafood for another day. But thank you for encouraging me to try new things and letting me order whatever I want.”
The waitress returned and took our order, promising the appetizer would be out in a few minutes. She did leave a basket of rolls on the table with honey butter, and two small plates. Darian stared at them, and I picked one up, set it on a plate and passed it to her. The look on her face as she accepted it nearly broke my heart. Had no one ever done anything for her in her entire life? It had sounded bleak, what little she’d shared with me. It bothered me that she’d done without so many things most of her life, and I wasn’t too pleased with either of her parents. Ridley had spoken of Scratch a few times and thought he’d been nice. I did owe him for making sure my daughter made it to the Dixie Reapers compound when she’d run from her mother and stepdad.
I didn’t know anything about Scratch, not really, but if Darian was his daughter, then he had to be close to my age. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to be overly thrilled that I’d claimed his daughter. With some luck, the ink on her ribs would keep him from trying to walk off with her. But if things went bad, it could mean all-out war between the Dixie Reapers and Devil’s Boneyard. I really hoped it didn’t go that way. If anything, maybe Darian could bring the two clubs together. We could always use more allies. It wasn’t that Devil’s Boneyard were enemies, but I wouldn’t call them friends either. More like we knew about each other and kept to our own areas.
“How long have you been part of the Dixie Reapers?” Darian asked.
“Almost thirty years. I was just a cocky kid when I started prospecting. When I was growing up, my dad had a bike that he was always tinkering with, and he’d let me help. Learned everything I know about bikes from him. I saved up my money and bought my own when I was seventeen and started prospecting shortly after. Dad wasn’t sure what to think about the Dixie Reapers, but he never t
ried to hold me back. He died around the time Ridley was born, and my mom sold his bike to pay for the funeral.”
“Where’s your mom now?” Darian asked.
“She died about twenty years ago. Drunk driver.”
“I’m sorry. So all you have now are Ridley and her family?” Darian asked.
“And you.”
Her cheeks flushed.
When our food arrived, Darian just stared at the appetizer a moment. Sensing her hesitation, I filled a small plate for her with a little of everything, then did the same for myself, making sure to leave plenty on the platter in case she wanted more. I could easily demolish the entire thing on my own, but I was going to make sure my woman was taken care of first.
The look of pleasure on her face, with her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, made me wonder if she’d ever tried any of this stuff before. Surely she’d at least had mozzarella sticks before? As she dipped her quesadilla into sour cream, then took a bite she hummed in appreciation.
“So good,” she murmured before taking another bite.
I smiled a little, watching her eat. Something as simple as a quesadilla filled her with joy. I’d always taken for granted getting to eat out at places like this, but for Darian it was a new experience, and something she’d been denied her entire life. I wanted to see that look on her face all the time, and I liked being the one to put it there. All right, so the food technically was making her happy, but I was providing the food for her. I’d never really given a lot of thought to the providing aspect of a relationship. I’d wanted a woman in my bed and in my life, but I hadn’t really thought about everything that would entail.
We ate the entire appetizer, then waited patiently for our dinner to arrive. Darian spoke a little more about her childhood, but I could tell she was glossing over things. I’d known a few kids in the foster system when I’d been a kid myself, and I’d heard some horror stories. It made me wonder if Darian had some of those herself, and just didn’t want to share, or more likely, just wanted to forget. The thought of anyone harming her was enough to make me want to pound the shit out of something.
“How many foster families did you have?” I asked.
“A lot,” she answered, tracing a pattern on the table with her finger. “Some weren’t so bad. I mean, I was mostly ignored, but I preferred that over…”
“Over what?”
She shrugged and wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Baby, I know you were a virgin, but did something happen while you were in foster care?”
“Sometimes the dads would get a little grabby once I turned thirteen. It never took long for the moms to catch on, and then I’d be off to another home. Nothing really bad happened to me, not like some of the stories I’ve heard. Maybe a boob grab here and there, or a slap on my ass. Inappropriate for sure, but I was never raped or made to do anything horrible.”
That eased my mind a little, but I didn’t like the thought of men touching her when they shouldn’t have. No one should ever have to go through that. If I could rid the world of all the rapists and child molesters, I’d gladly do so. Our club might be into some illegal shit, but we didn’t deal in women or children, and never would. At least, not under Torch’s watch. If that ever changed, my ass was out of here. I didn’t see Torch passing on the gavel to anyone he didn’t trust, though. If he ever stepped down, the job of Pres would likely go to Venom, unless Torch had a son at some point who was old enough to take over. As often as he cornered that wife of his, it wouldn’t surprise me if another baby was on the way before too long.
Speaking of… I needed to do a little research and find out just how soon we’d know whether or not Darian was pregnant. Was there a set timetable? You’d think I’d already know this shit since I had a daughter, but I hadn’t had much contact with Ridley’s mom after I’d fucked her, other than to make sure my little girl was taken care of once she arrived in this world. The thought of having a kid with Darian filled me with longing. I wanted that. I never thought I’d want more kids, but I do. Ridley disappeared from my life when she was just a tiny thing, even though I traveled to Florida to spend as much time with her as I could over the years. Having a kid with Darian would mean I’d have a chance to do the parenting thing the right way, and I’d get to enjoy every second of my kid’s life this time.
“You just got this weird look on your face,” she said, as the waitress set our plates on the table.
“Need anything else?” the waitress asked.
“I think we’re good, thanks,” Darian said, then focused on me again. “What were you thinking?”
“Just imagining you pregnant.”
Her jaw dropped a little, and she stared at me. “I know we discussed that it was possible, but I didn’t realize it was something you really wanted.”
“I want it. With you. Only with you.”
She smiled a little and ate a few more bites. I could tell by the look of rapture crossing her face that steak was definitely a big hit. I might not make one as tasty as these, but I’d have to keep some on hand to grill for her whenever she wanted another one. Or we could just come back here.
“When will we know if my dad is coming?” she asked.
“I don’t think he’ll warn us. I have a feeling he’ll just show up. He’s probably going to want some answers once he finds out who was checking into him, especially since Wire was searching for Scratch’s real name. That’s going to likely make warning bells go off in the man’s head.”
“How could he not know about me? We have the same last name. How could he have been put on my birth certificate without knowing I exist?”
“I don’t know, Darian. I think each state is different when it comes to that kind of thing. But it’s possible he did know about you, and maybe he and your mom just weren’t compatible. I can’t imagine him willingly walking away from you, though.”
I hadn’t known her that long, but I honestly couldn’t see someone meeting her and not wanting to spend more time with her. She was sweet, and even though she’d led a hard life, there was still an innocence about her, and not just because she’d been a virgin. Ever since I’d laid eyes on her, I’d felt this urge to protect her. And that’s exactly what I’d do, even if I had to protect her from her daddy. Getting on the bad side of Devil’s Boneyard wasn’t overly smart, but no one was going to hurt Darian on my watch.
We finished our meal, and I paid the check. When we stepped outside she reached for my hand, her slender fingers sliding against my palm. She was so much smaller than I was, and her hand felt delicate in mine. I looked up at the stars for a moment and just breathed in the fresh air. Darian leaned her head against my arm, and I smiled down at her. I’d done some really fucked-up things in my lifetime, and I had no idea what I’d ever done to deserve an angel like her, but I was going to hold tight and never let her go.
“What are you thinking?” she asked softly.
“That I don’t deserve you.”
She gave me a startled look. “You don’t deserve me? Are you kidding me? I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.”
I kissed her softly. “We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one. Come on, baby. Let’s go home.”
“Home. I like the sound of that.”
I did too. I helped her into the truck before walking around to the driver’s side. My phone chirped in my pocket, and I pulled it out, swiping the screen and opening a text from Wire.
They’re still here.
What the fuck did that mean? I dialed his cell and waited for him to answer.
“Who the fuck is still here?” I asked when he picked up.
“The guy who brought Darian and some of the thugs who were going to harm her. Thought you’d want to know. I was able to track them down. For whatever reason, the asshole didn’t leave town. I could be wrong, but I think they’re looking for another girl to, um, party with.”
I growled into the phone. “Not on my watch.”
“Want me to send some guys to round
them up? I can have them delivered to our special place at the back of the property.”
“Yeah. Do that, then call me. I’d like to have a conversation with them.”
Although, I didn’t plan to use my voice for most of it. Wire disconnected the call ,and I climbed into the truck. Darian gave me a worried look, but I smiled and winked, hoping to set her at ease. That last thing she needed to know was that the garbage hadn’t left town yet. I didn’t want her more worried than she already was. While I didn’t know for certain she was pregnant, I remembered Venom being concerned about stressing Ridley out during her pregnancies. I didn’t want to do anything that would harm Darian or a child she might be carrying.
“Everything okay?” she asked as I pulled out onto the street.
“Everything’s fine. I just need to take care of some business later on, but we can go home right now. Wire said he’d call when I’m needed.”
“Is it dangerous?” she asked softly.
“No, baby. I’ll be perfectly fine.”
She seemed to take me at my word and didn’t say anything else the rest of the way home. The silence between us wasn’t awkward, though. I pulled through the gate, waving to one of our newer Prospects. He held up a hand, making me pull to a stop.
“What’s up, Gabe?” I asked.
I hadn’t had many dealings with the man just yet. He’d only asked to prospect a few weeks ago, when he’d returned home from the military. Seemed like a good enough guy, even if he did have that haunted look in his eyes. I knew what that look meant. He’d seen too much shit, and probably done too much shit, things that would likely fester inside him until he figured out how to deal with it.
“Heard about your job later,” Gabe said, glancing toward Darian. “If you need someone to watch over her while you take care of business, I’m finished here in another half hour. Johnny’s taking over after that.”
Bull (Dixie Reapers MC 4) Page 8
