Before the fool can answer she’s standing behind us on the verge of tears with Cupid. They start talking and Cupid pulls me along with him. The moment he touches me my body hums with excitement. “Why don’t you take me upstairs and take care of me,” he murmurs, and I can’t tell him no despite my head telling me to do so. My stupid heart has a mind of its own. So like the idiot I am I lead this man upstairs.
When we get to my room I can’t stop myself from asking, “Where’s your date?”
He shakes his head as he sits on the edge of my bed and kicks off his boots. “I’m tired and in need of some pussy.”
“Is that all I am to you—pussy?”
Sighing, he blows out an exasperated breath and stands with his hand on his zipper. “Don’t. Don’t do that. You aren’t that woman.”
“I know I’m not. Maybe that’s the problem.”
He steps into my space and holds the back of my neck. “Wanna tell me why every time I turn my back you’re with Zo Zo? Huh? Where were you today. I looked for you. You weren’t there. Did Zo Zo fuck your ass to sleep and you missed the wedding?” He lets go and I shove him away when he tries to kiss me.
“That’s not fair and you know it.” Tears burn in the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
“All’s fair in love and war.” He grabs my ass and squeezes both cheeks hard.
“Only there’s no love here, Cupid.” I feel terrible for picking a fight with him like this but it’s for the best. I need to push him away. I need him to let me go.
He drops his hands. “I don’t need this shit tonight. Your pussy’s good but it’s not so good that I am gonna stand here and listen to this bullshit.”
“Then go. I sure as hell am not gonna stand in your way.” I hold my arm toward the door, part of me hoping he’ll stay. That he’ll pull his alpha male bullshit and throw me down on the bed and have his way with me. That he’ll fuck my anger and jealousy out of me. Fuck my stupidity away and remind me of my place, because far too often when I am in the presence of this man I forget who I am.
A whore.
A nobody.
Easy pussy.
He stares me down, but I don’t break. It will be better for us both. Hades will never agree to my being Cupid’s old lady. It would set a bad precedent for the other whores. “I’m outta here.”
“Don’t forget your boots.” I pick them up and toss them out the door following his departure.
He snarls at me and bites his knuckle after one hits him in the back of the head. It takes every ounce of control I have not to laugh as he curses and picks them up off the floor.
Chapter Six
—Cupid
Fuck my life. I grab my boots up off the floor and make my way downstairs. I don’t know who lit her tampon string on fire but Goddamn. If I wanted to deal with that bullshit, I wouldn’t have filed for a divorce from Mandy. She was a whole other level of fucked up and crazy. Thinking about her makes my head hurt.
I get on my bike and head home. I don’t remember the last time I slept in my real bed at my house. MaryAnn and her sweet pussy have had me too wrapped up in her. I have bigger shit to worry about like making sure we pull this deal with fucking Tiny off without the BRRMC sniffing up our assholes. Hades’ has a debt to pay and I intend on seeing that the transaction goes smoothly.
When I pull up to my house the grass is overgrown, and my mail is hanging out the box. Mandy always took care of this shit. The porch light is either off or blown the bulb. I use the flashlight on my phone, so I can see to get in. A cobweb covers the front door glass. I get inside and go to flip on the light, but it won’t come on. Shit. I forgot to pay the bill. I’ll take care of it tomorrow.
I kick off my boots and lay my cut over the back of the couch. My cell phone dies taking my light with it. I stumble my way down the hallway to my bedroom and go to swan dive in the middle of my bed when half of my body hits something hard and an ear-piercing scream reverberates through the house. I jump up and shout, “Who the fuck are you? Why are you in my house?”
I hear the woman cough. “It’s me dumb dick, your wife. Remember me?”
“Mandy?”
“Yeah. You nearly scared the piss outta me.”
“The fuck you doing here? You’re lucky I didn’t shoot your ass for trespassing. Fuck.” I start pacing the length of the bed.
“I’ve come home, baby. For you.” Her confession leaves me feeling shocked and skeptical. Bitch has been gone for months.
“Sure you did. What is it this time? Need money? Need a place to stay?” I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose as a tension headache starts pounding at the back of my eyes.
“I missed you.”
“You mean you missed my money.”
“Ry…you know we’re good together.”
“Only thing I know is I’m tired and horny. You can have the bed. I’ll come back in the morning and we can talk.”
“Don’t be stupid. Stay. It’ll be like old times.” Her hands find mine and pull me down on the bed. The moment our mouths touch I know it’s a mistake, but I never claimed to be the smartest man. Mandy’s kiss is familiar and nothing more. There is no deep longing between us. Only loneliness and the desire to get off. Two bodies moving together in the dark. Heavy breaths but empty hearts.
Regret fills me the next morning as I wear my shame like a fucking patch on my cut. I pull on a pair of jeans from the closet and pray last night was a dream. A Goddamned nightmare.
She’s sitting in the kitchen with two plastic coffee cups. “Black, just how you like it.”
I nod not wanting to have this conversation. I was hoping that it was a fucked up dream but here she sits. Her hair is darker than I remember. Her smile though it hasn’t changed nor have her liar’s eyes.
She twists her cup around in her hands not meeting my gaze. “I know I am probably the last person you expected to see again.”
“You got that right.” I take a sip and enjoy the warmth as it coats my throat. “Last night shouldn’t have happened.”
“I want you to know that I’m sorry I got scared and ran off. This lifestyle. Your late nights. It worried me. I couldn’t do it. The not knowing where you were. Who you were with. If that day would be the day you didn’t come home. I miss you, Ryan. I miss our home. Our life.”
“Get out,” I spit at her.
“Wha-what?”
“I didn’t stutter. I got shit to do but when I get back I expect you gone. Your mother has the divorce papers. Sign them.” I toss the coffee in the trash just like she tossed our marriage aside and set it on fire.
I never should have married the cunt. We weren’t right for each other. We never were. I was only fooling myself into believing I was happy, but I was going through the motions playing house. As I walk out to my bike, I can feel her watching after me, hoping I’ll turn around but I don’t. There is nothing to look back on. It’s time to move forward.
Later when I return to the house the utilities are back on and the place is spotless. The fridge is stocked with all my favorite foods and drinks.
There’s a manila envelope on the table. I dump the contents out on the table. The door key, a copy of our divorce papers, and a note.
Dear Ryan,
I’m sorry. I know you may not believe that but I am. I regret that I didn’t try harder.
All my love,
Mandy
I read over her words wishing I could feel something, but I don’t feel a damn thing where she is concerned. I wrote her off a long time ago.
Chapter Seven
—MaryAnn
Cupid’s been weird since our fight. I knew I was a fool to believe that he meant it when he said that he was going to speak with Hades after the wedding. I knew better, but I fell for his lines anyway. He tried to hide it and pretend that nothing is eating at him, but I can see a sadness behind his eyes. He can’t hide from me. I see him. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I see his truth. Tonight though I finally realize why
he is acting so off.
A mass text goes through to everyone’s phones telling them to beat it from the clubhouse when I am upstairs with Zo Zo. He looks at his phone and groans. “I gotta go, darlin’. Best you stay here until morning.”
“Okay.” I let out a yawn and stretch. I have no intentions of staying put in his bed. Zo Zo is sweet enough but everything between us is purely physical. There is no wanting for more between us. He’s single and I’m available. The man does favor me over some of the other girls who come and go from the clubhouse, but I suspect it is more the do with the fact that he’s not looking to get tied down and he doesn’t have to worry about me turning into a clinger who dreams of more. At least not from him. I never make demands of him and would never dream of doing so. One day though he will make some girl a great husband.
I support my head with my elbow as I lean up on my side and watch him get dressed. The man is good looking but not in that chiseled body way. He’s not what I would call overweight but he’s stocky and thick in build. He isn’t as tall as Cupid but he’s taller than me. Gorgeous baby blues you could drown in and a bear hug that no one can compete with.
“Get some sleep.” He winks at me and closes the door.
I roll to my back and throw back the sheet. I feel like a cat stretching after a bowl full of milk and a nap. Three yawns later, I’m dressing and sneaking down the backstairs to the kitchen to put on some coffee. I know the guys will need it. When a mass text comes in this late it is never anything good.
I peer around the corner and see a few girls I don’t recognize. I see Cupid shove his chair back when his eyes meet mine. Shit. I shrink back and hurry back to the coffee, hoping he doesn’t rat me out.
The door to the kitchen swings open and closes as he walks through. There is a darkness swirling behind his eyes that scares me. His fingers dig into my hips as he stares me down. His nostrils flare as he blows out a heavy breath. “I can smell him on you. Do you know how much that pisses me off?”
“Aren’t you tired of the back and forth.” I press my hand to his chest, but I don’t push him away. “You need to forget about me.”
“I don’t want to,” he states boldly, moving his hand up my side and touching my face. “Why couldn’t I have met you first years ago.”
“Coulda shoulda woulda only leads to trouble. Who are the new girls?”
“I wish you hadn’t seen them.”
I swallow hard. A familiar and uneasy feeling sinks to the pit of my stomach reminding me of the bad things Marek would do. Blinking my eyes, I try not to think about those darker days of the club. “What’s going to happen to them?”
“Nothing good.”
“Can’t you—” he grabs my lips, cutting me off.
“We both know it’s them or us. Forget about them. I already have.” His mouth says one thing, but I know those girls out there whoever they are—they are far from being forgotten.
Chapter Eight
—Cupid
Present Day
“Fuck, MaryAnn. I think you want to fight with me just so we can have wild ass make up sex.” I chuckle as she glares at me. “All I said was your ass felt thicker and your tits are spilling out of your bra. I didn’t call you fat, baby. C’mere.” I jerk her into me before she can get her shirt on. “I love your sexy body.” I squeeze her ass. “I love the way you feel when I’m deep inside you.” I thrust my hips. “I love the way you taste on my tongue.” I kiss her lips. “What’s with you? You seem moody as fuck.”
She pulls back looking like she is on the verge of tears. “I don’t know.” A sigh leaves her lips. “Probably PMS.” Her eyes suddenly go wide and her skin appears paler. Almost a sickly green shade. “Oh God.” Her hand flies to her mouth as she pushes around me to the bathroom to look under the bathroom sink. I can hear her in there banging around. Despite her protest after shit died down around the clubhouse with Boogeyman and his drama and Reaper claiming Harley Black, I went to Hades and put my claim on MaryAnn.
We’ve been living together for the past few weeks at my house. Getting her to leave the clubhouse was one hell of a fight that resulted in me spanking her ass in front of the club and throwing her over my shoulder. I had to get a prospect to pack up her shit and drop it off along with her car. She’s mine and I will be damned if she lives at the clubhouse where other fuckers like Zo Zo can try to fuck her like old times. I was afraid the bastard was going to challenge me, but he shook my hand and said it was about time.
It’s been an adjustment but we’re making it work. I’ve been working for Reaper and Hades made MaryAnn the bar manager. She now has set hours. Cocky’s sister Melissa needed a place to stay and Hades gave her MaryAnn’s old room. Cocky wasn’t too pleased nor were some of the other girls but what Prez says goes. Melissa isn’t a whore, but her story isn’t mine to tell.
I pursue my woman and find her sitting in the bathroom floor hugging her knees to her chest as tears slide down her cheeks.
“Hey.” I crouch down in the small space and tilt her chin up. “Look at me. What’s wrong?”
“My period’s late,” she admits.
“How late?”
“A month maybe more. I’ve not been keeping track like I should. Will you…will you go get me a test?”
I shake my head. “Nope.” She looks up at me confused and wipes at her eyes. I stretch my arm to the sink and grab a roll of toilet paper that rests on the edge of the counter. “Get cleaned up. We’ll go together. We’ll take your car since it’s raining. I’ll just be in the living room watching the game until you’re ready to go.”
Her head bobs in acknowledgment and I pull her to her feet. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’ve always been careful.”
I narrow my eyes on her. I’m not upset but am a bit put out that she finds the need to explain herself. “Listen to me. I’ve been chasing your fine ass for months. I’ve claimed you. You live in my house. Sleep in my bed. You suck my dick and I fuck your sweet pussy bareback. If I was worried I woulda used a condom. If I were pissed off, I’d have no one to blame but myself. Now dry your tears and let’s go get that test. Yeah?”
“Stop being so wonderful,” she grumbles.
“Women,” I mutter and leave her to get dressed.
Ten minutes go by before she emerges. “You okay?” She’s got me on edge. Afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. For the first time in my life I truly feel content. I don’t want to do anything to fuck this up. MaryAnn is perfect for me. She gets how important my role as VP in the club is. She knows how things work. I don’t have to explain shit to her.
A faint smile crosses her face. “Nervous.”
“I’ll drive.” Grabbing her keys from the hook by the backdoor, I go out and start the car. MaryAnn slides into the passenger side still appearing uneasy. Children is something we haven’t discussed. I don’t know if she wants a family or if she had ever considered the option being she was a club girl. I’ve never been against the idea, but I never tried to knock anyone up either.
Chapter Nine
—MaryAnn
Ryan and I are sitting outside of the drugstore in my car. Rain is beating down on the hood and we are waiting for it to die down before attempting to make a run for it. He keeps trying to talk to me, but I’d rather not say anything at all until we know for sure. I don’t want to tell him that part of me is terrified that if I am pregnant the baby might not be his. Sure, he is the only man I have had unprotected sex with but he isn’t the only man I have shared a bed with the past few months. I don’t know if the thought has crossed his mind, but this baby, if there is one could very well belong to Zo Zo.
I don’t know how to feel about it. I’m still in shock at the possibility. It’s all too fresh. Too real. I never planned on having children. I never planned on bringing a baby into this club life I live. I’m not against it but being who I am—who I was before Ryan claimed me I never thought it was a possibility. He makes me feel like anything’s possible. He encourages me
to want more. It terrifies me. I’m trying so hard to be happy, but I keep waiting for something bad to happen to bring it all crashing down. Girls like me don’t get happily ever afters. We get happily for nows.
Ryan squeezes my hand. “Stop worrying. You have me. You won’t do this alone.”
I fight the smile that is begging to stretch across my face. Most women would be excited right now but there is this nagging voice in the back of my head. It sounds a hell of a lot like that cunt Stephanie that I hate. I have never hated anyone in my life but her. She’s tried to make my life hell. The bitch is even more determined now than she was before when I was still a clubwhore. She hates the fact that a woman like me got Cupid, the VP of the Devils Rejects MC when she tried her damnedest to hook her friend up with him. Despite her best efforts he chose me.
He chose me.
I allow myself to smile at Ryan. This man proves to me that he loves me every day. He’s sweet and thoughtful. He does little things when we are apart to let me know he is thinking of me. I find random notes throughout the house when he has to go on a run or handle club business. On Sunday mornings he brings me breakfast in bed. I’m lucky and know he is one of the good ones. I need to embrace the love he’s giving instead of constantly fighting against it. Only its hard when I’ve never had anyone treat me the way he does.
“There’s my pretty girl.” His thumb rubs across my lips and I kiss the tip. The rainfall has slowed to a light drizzle. “Come on.” He exits the car and comes around to my side. I am learning that he’s a gentleman and likes to open my door when we go out. The first time we went out to eat and I got out on my own he made me get back in the car and act it out his way allowing him to open my door for me. My car door opens, and he holds his hand out for mine.
Cupid's Arrow (Devils Rejects MC Book 4) Page 3
