Bud (Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club Book 10)

by Candace Blevins

  “Aren’t you supposed to be down on one knee when you ask?”

  His face had been tense, afraid she’d say no, but he seemed to think her bratting to him meant she was going to say yes. She hadn’t realized that was what it meant until he relaxed and flashed her a beautiful, laidback, cocky smile. Damn, once again, he knew her thoughts before she did. Okay, fine, another sign it was going to be okay. Her gut relaxed and her brain settled. She was being proposed to on a magical stone mountain, and she was going to say yes.

  “Not for you, Brat. Give you an inch and you’ll take a mile.” He looked around, took in the sunset, and looked back to her. “You called it magic and you were right. It’s a place of power, and I want our union to have the blessings of mother earth. Please, Nickie. Please tell me you’ll marry me with the sun giving us its glory and the earth providing the power of this place.”

  Nickie looked into his eyes and lost her will to brat and give him grief. She nudged the tip of her left ring finger into the gorgeous ring he’d chosen with the brilliant blue gem of at least two carats, and he slid it onto her finger. She knew in her heart it was a blue diamond, but didn’t want to make the assumption and be wrong. She’d be thrilled whether it was sapphire, diamond, or something else. He’d chosen it to match her eyes. How many stones had he looked at to find the perfect one?

  “Yes. Yes, I will marry you and become your wife.” She took a breath and rushed to get the next part out. “Under the condition you fly to Alaska with me to meet my father before we tell him I’m engaged. I want to tell him face-to-face, and I want him to meet the man who’s finally stolen my heart.”

  Bud’s smile lit his face from ear to ear. “Best deal I’ve ever made. I can’t wait to meet the man who taught my brat how to shoot guns, fight, and race motorcycles. I need to shake his hand and tell him how much I love his daughter. How special you are. Need him to know I’m taking care of you, whether you need it or not. You’ll always be his little girl, and I want him to be okay with you being my wife, too.”

  Nickie had told him once that the relationship between a girl and her daddy was special. He hadn’t just listened, he’d understood she wasn’t just talking about Bud and Angelica, but about Nickie and her dad, too.

  His arms went around her and Nickie leaned in, let him hold her. She could lean on him and let him take care of her without losing who she was. What she was. She’d never expected to have this — a man who loved her unconditionally. He loved her strength, her independence, and would never try to change her or conquer her. She gave him her submission, he didn’t take it.

  His mouth met hers, sparking heat and fire all through her body, his tongue pressed in and she met it with hers. He leaned down and she wrapped her legs around him, boots and all, and settled on his hips when he stood straight again. Strong hands and arms supported her back and head, and the kiss intensified until the world ceased to exist around them.

  Joined. One. A union.

  Nickie felt the ring on her finger and again felt the weight of her decision, but she had no doubts, no regrets.

  The sun had long since sunk below the horizon when Bud finally settled her back on her feet, and she looked at the uneven, hard stone ground. In the shadows, it looked more like the moon landscape than it had in the sunlight.

  “Did you bring a flashlight? How are we going to get down in the dark?”

  Bud gave her his cocky grin and said, “I have the wolf’s night vision. Thought I taught you to trust me to walk blind at my side the first time I had you naked?”

  Nickie’s blood spiked hot again at the memory, but her heart melted. He had, indeed, taught her she could trust him. He held out his hand, she took it, and they started walking.

  Bud would never let her fall.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Dragon King — Aaron Drake’s story.

  Also by Candace Blevins

  If you enjoyed Bud, you may also like the other books set in the same universe, though in different series.

  Chattanooga Supernaturals series, paranormal romance:

  The Dragon King (Aaron Drake’s story, and the first time we meet Duke and Brain)

  Riding the Storm (Kendra and Eric’s story)

  Acceptable Risk (Bethany, Ranger, Mac, and Jonathan’s story)

  Careful What You Ask For

  Uncaged (Ghost’s mother’s story)

  Slave – A Dark(ish) Faerie Tale

  Only Human series, urban fantasy

  Only Human

  An Unhuman Journey

  Of Humans and Monsters

  Unhuman Acts

  Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Series

  Duke

  Brain

  Bash Volume I

  Bash Volume II

  Bash Volume III

  Horse

  Gonzo (where we first meet Britches/Briana)

  Nix

  Ghost

  Bud

  Dark Erotica Shorts from the world of The Chattanooga Supernaturals

  Pride (A short story featuring The Lion King)

  Indentured Freedom: Owned by the Vampire

  The Safeword series, intense BDSM contemporary romance

  Safeword Rainbow

  Safeword: Davenport

  Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon

  Safeword: Quinacridone

  Safeword: Matte (Sam and Ethan Levi’s story, we first meet Frisco and Cassie)

  Safeword: Matte – In Training

  No Safeword: Matte – The Honeymoon

  No Safeword: Matte – Happily Ever After

  Safeword: Arabesque (Frisco, Cassie, Abbot, and Cam’s story)

  Safeword: Mayday (TBA)

  Check out other books by Candace Blevins at candaceblevins.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Dragon King.

  The Dragon King

  By Candace Blevins

  Prologue

  Aaron

  Sophia is the most adorable two year old I’ve ever seen. Fluffy blonde hair, rosy chubby cheeks, and a laugh that makes my heart sore.

  I turned to her father, the Swan King, and chose my words carefully. “Raul, you’re sure this is the best course of action? I know you’re still grieving over Angelique’s death, but can you truly prepare Sophia for a life of leading your people if you keep her a prisoner in your home her entire life?”

  I could only get away with asking this question because I’d helped raise and train Raul, helped prepare him to take the crown when he beat his brothers and won the throne.

  “I did my best to protect my wife from supernaturals, and a damned human hunter took her out. Sophia won’t leave the walls of the castle until she marries, and hopefully whoever wins her will follow my lead and also keep her behind protective walls. She won’t see the same fate as Angelique.” His voice was firm, didn’t waver, and let me know further conversation on the matter would be met with hostility.

  Sophia is the first Swan Princess without at least one brother since before I was born, and by my best guess I’m around nine thousand years old. Give or take a thousand.

  Swan Princesses are usually given to other royalty as a way to unite families and sometimes species, but they never have a hope of the throne. Their brothers are required to fight each other for power, the strongest and most cunning winning the crown.

  Instead of finding another wife to give him sons, Raul is arranging for a contest between the other Swan royalty, with the strongest being allowed to care for her until she turns twenty five, and then marry her and eventually take the crown. Personally, I think Raul wants to step down and find a way to join his dead wife. The grief of her death still holds him.

  I’ve trained the past seven Swan Kings, including Sophia’s father, Raul. I know him well, and I know he loves his daughter. However, he’s still feels such pain over his wife’s slaughter, I worry about the decisions he’s making.

  There is precedence amongst some other supernatural species for his keeping Sophia in seclusion, finding a s
uitable King, and not giving her a choice in who she’ll marry. However, watching the toddler play and laugh and flirt, my heart hurts with the knowledge she’ll grow up with no control of her major life choices. Or, likely the minor ones, either.

  She’s such a happy baby, so full of life and adventure. I hope her life turns out better than most fairy tales.

  Ten years later, my heart aches as the court Herald announces me into the Swan King’s mansion for Sophia’s final unchaperoned lesson. I’ve been coming to the mansion once a week for a four hour session since she was six, but this must stop once she becomes a teenager, which in swan lore makes her a woman.

  I’ll be allowed to come four times a year for an all-day review session, but will never again be alone with her. After today she’ll have a chaperone or minder with her anytime she’s with a man besides her father — or husband, once she’s married.

  I’m going to miss my time with her. In my busy life, my half-days with the Swan Princess have been the sunshine of my week. Sophia is a special child, so smart, so willing to learn, and a joy to be around. My heart is happy when I’m with her, and we most often go to our spot near a manmade waterfall on their property so we can talk without worrying so much about being overheard. Someone from the house can see us, but our words are drowned out. Sometimes, though, my favorite part of the day is her smile when I arrive and she skips to me for a hug. Today will be the last time she’ll be allowed to hug me for no reason, just because she’s happy I’ve arrived. My heart hurts as I wrap my arms around her and tell her I’m happy to see her.

  We walk to our spot, sit on our rock and I open a few books as I give her another to hold. The rushing waters may provide white noise to block our voices, but we still need to appear as if I’m teaching her.

  “You know this is the last time we’ll be alone, right, Soph?”

  Sophia looks down, takes a breath, and raises her gaze back to mine. “I know. I’ll miss my time with you.”

  “And I’ll miss you, but you’re a Princess, and one day you’ll be Queen, and this is the way it has to be. I’ll be back to review the important stuff, but there are some things I’ve taught you that I won’t be able to review with you out loud. I’ll try to write it in a notebook and let you read it, so you’ll remember, but there is some danger in that, so I won’t do it every time.”

  “Why take the risk? If I’ll never rule, never make a difference, why put yourself in danger?”

  “Because I’m grooming you for power, Princess. No one knows for sure what the future holds, and to fully do my job I can’t just teach you the palatable parts of your history. I understand your family wishes to shield you and protect you, but I can see the strength in you.”

  Sophia sighed. “I’ll still see you at social occasions? Not just the four times a year you’ll be allowed to come for review?”

  “Yes, and I may or may not be allowed a dance with you. I will certainly not be able to take you outside for a conversation.”

  She nodded, and I carefully said, “Sophia, if ever you find yourself in need of a protector, get a message to me. Your father and Cyrano will look after you, but if you find yourself without their protection I hope you’ll feel comfortable letting me keep you safe.”

  Shaking her head, Sophia said, “Cyrano scares me. My latest Governess tells me when I’m a woman I’ll appreciate him for his strength and resolve, and I must remain meek and quiet around him while I’m a child.”

  I wanted to wring Cyrano’s neck for frightening her, as well as the Governess’s for giving crap advice, but I had to walk a fine line. “I’m sorry he scares you, Princess. I would advise you to speak to your father about it, see if he can intercede on your behalf.”

  “You always do that.”

  I tilted my head and let my eyebrows raise, and Sophia explained. “When we’re just talking, I’m Soph or Sophia, but when you’re thinking politically, you call me Princess.”

  “Yes, because this is the way an elder speaks to someone of royalty. I’m your teacher, I know more than you, but I must also show respect. It’s a balance, Sophia.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know what you are, and my father either doesn’t know or won’t tell me, but I’m positive you’re royalty, too. I’ve learned to tell the difference in someone with their own power who addresses me and my father as an equal while using all the right words, and someone with no power who addresses us with the same words but a completely different energy.”

  I hoped my smile showed how pleased I was with her insight. “You make me proud, Sophia. I hope you’ll keep your suppositions to yourself, though.”

  She nodded. “Of course, and I hope someday you’ll trust me enough to tell me what and who you really are.”

  I needed to be sure she understood my offer, so I repeated it. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Soph? If you ever need help, a protector, a friend, an advisor…If you’re ever in trouble I hope you’ll find a way to get a message to me.”

  Chapter One

  Sophia

  I’d been planning my escape for eleven years, and tonight I’d either fly to my freedom or die trying.

  I was to be married to Cyrano on my twenty-fifth birthday, in seventeen days. However, I was determined it was never going to happen.

  Tomorrow, my governess was meeting with people in Charleston on my behalf to assure the wedding would go off without a hitch. Since I was never allowed off my father’s property, if someone couldn’t come to me then I had to send someone to them, and the caterers had decided they couldn’t make yet another trip to go over last minute details.

  I knew they wouldn’t, it was part of my plan.

  I’d sent my governess away earlier this evening so she could stay in a hotel and be present for the seven o’clock meeting tomorrow morning, and then make surprise visits to check in with the florist and a few other vendors.

  I’d brought books up from the library to my bedroom, asked for my tea service a little early, and told everyone I wasn’t to be disturbed.

  I’d been nervous and anxious for months, so no one paid any attention to my scent anymore. I was perpetually on edge.

  It was eight fifteen, and I figured I’d have until the guard shift change at three in the morning before anyone realized I was gone. My current guard wasn’t likely to decide he needed to put eyeballs on me, but I knew they’d look in on me at shift change. They always did.

  Swan shifters need to change a minimum of four times a year, at both equinoxes and both solstices. However, since my father didn’t want me leaving the property, when I changed they immediately turned me back human. I’d never been allowed to even try to fly. The rest of the time I wore an anklet my father had brought someone in to create especially for me. It kept me from turning into a swan any other time of year.

  I’d spent years combing through the books in our extensive library, and was convinced I’d found a way to defeat the anklet. I’d also learned from one of our servants years ago that it was possible for a virgin to change without the normal flogging to rip enough skin away so we could shift into our swan form.

  She said one could use a knife to cut a seam from one foot, up the outside of the body, from armpit to fingers on the bottom of the arm, and then fingers to shoulder on the top of the arm, over the head and scalp, skip the right arm and go down the body to the right foot, and then as the left foot comes out and forms, use the claws to rip a seam in the skin from the right arm so it can pull free.

  I had a very sharp crafting knife and hoped it would do the job.

  Meanwhile, I’d long ago figured out how to defeat the alarm system at my window so I could at least open it and get fresh air. I used a screwdriver to carefully removed the contact from the window’s hardware, taped it to the stationary contact on the window frame, and then slowly opened the window, making sure everything stayed put.

  Taking a breath, I poured the hot water from my tea service into the plastic bin that normally held items in the storage are
a of my closet.

  It’d taken me years to assemble all of the herbs and roots without arousing anyone’s curiosity, and I now dumped them into the bin and stepped into the scalding water. Trusting the concoction would do its job; I bent with the knife, stuck it into my foot just under my ankle bone, and began the excruciating task of literally skinning myself.

  I’d known it would hurt, but this was worse than the traditional flogging a virgin must undergo in order to change. I was more than determined, though, so I did it fast and didn’t make a sound, even though I wanted to scream and cry.

  Halfway through the process I knew I’d been wrong about having hours until my escape was discovered. They were used to smelling fear on me, but not pain, and certainly not blood. I was going to have to fly for my life and hope they couldn’t keep up. I cut faster, and my blood flowed into the hot water at my feet.

  As the knife finally reached the outer edge of my right foot, I stood and imagined myself a swan, thought of how it felt to change after I was flogged, and breathed in relief as I felt the transformation happening. The herbal concoction worked, and the anklet would end up in the water once I turned into a swan and it could come off my foot. As I changed, it only took a few slices with my claw to rip the skin on top of my right arm enough for it to come free of the skin and turn into a wing, thank goodness.

  I made it onto the window sill, looked out at the Waccamaw River, and knew if I couldn’t figure out how to fly within a few minutes, and the crash landing didn’t kill me, I needed to find an alligator and hope he was hungry. I was going to either escape or die — I couldn’t live the rest of my life trapped in this house, and being forced to marry Cyrano was the final straw. People might make fun of the Princess trapped in the mansion with anything her heart desired at her fingertips, but this Princess preferred freedom to riches.