“Shit, her own brother did that to her?”
“Yep. I saw it, too. Kicked her right in the face. And I’m not so sure he didn’t try to choke her out, too. It’s all bits and pieces once we got up the stairs. When their voices started raising, I got worried for her. I walked down the hallway and my jacket got snagged on a picture. It crashed to the ground, and a lot of shit happened. I ended up grazing Alex’s leg, putting a bullet in his thigh. Then, we hightailed it out of there in Kaylynn’s car. I didn’t even get my damn bike,” I said.
Rock paused. “You were worried about her?”
I groaned. “That’s literally all you took from that damn story?”
“I mean, it’s an important piece,” Saint said.
“Why were you worried about her?” Bear asked.
“Can we focus on the fact that I just brought Alex Petrov’s sister back to this place with me? And that she seems to trust me? Can we focus on the fact that we might have yet another ‘in’ with this Lars asshole now?” I asked.
Diesel let out a long sigh. “He’s right. And not only that, but her brother is probably after us now. Did he get a look at your leather cut?”
“Actually, when me and him came face to face, I’m not even sure he looked at my leather cut to point out who I was. I think Lars knows us all by our faces now,” I said.
“Fuck,” Grave hissed.
“Of course, he does,” Toxin murmured.
“Which only complicates matters beyond what’s already happened,” I said.
“My brother isn’t completely stupid, you know.”
I whipped around at the sound of Kaylynn’s voice.
“You need to go back—”
She shook her head. “Lars wanted Ariel thrown into foster care, for whatever reason. And after some convincing, Alex let her stay with me. Under the precaution that we didn’t go anywhere, do anything, or interact with anyone until we figured out something else to do.”
“Doesn’t matter. He wanted to take my daughter tonight,” I said.
“I know. But if he reports back to Lars that Ariel’s gone, it’s not going to be good for him. Alex would most certainly be killed, because then Lars—”
“—would find out he superseded his orders,” I said.
She nodded. “Exactly. So, right now? He’s in self-preservation mode.”
“Which buys us some time,” Diesel said.
“Time we’ll need,” Rock said.
Kaylynn thumbed over her shoulder. “The kids are all down, by the way. The girls wanted me to come tell you guys.”
The guys murmured their thanks to her before her eyes fell back to mine again.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I’ve been better.”
I grinned at her as all eyes darted between the two of us.
“Anyway, we won’t get anything accomplished tonight. We’re all sleep-deprived as it is. We’re on borrowed time, but we won’t be able to make the most of it without sleep. Get to bed. Get some rest. And we’ll go at this hard in the morning,” Diesel said.
“Whenever you can pull away, Ariel’s wanting you,” Kaylynn said.
I nodded. “Right behind you.”
I looked around at the guys one last time, taking in their perplexed looks. I didn’t know why the fuck they looked as if they smelled dirty diapers in the rafters, but they all looked idiotic. I shook my head as I walked out of the room, following Kaylynn down the hallway.
And my eyes locked onto the mesmerizing sway of her hips.
“I hear someone wants a bedtime story,” I said, coming around the corner.
“Daddy!”
Ariel leapt out of her perfectly-tucked position, launching herself at me. I chuckled as I hugged her close, swinging her around in my arms. She smelled of freshly-brushed teeth and baby wipes. Which meant she’d been resisting bath time. Normally, I’d get onto her about it. But tonight? I simply wanted to cherish it with her. I walked her back over to the bed and laid her down. I brushed her hair away from her face, coating her forehead in fluttering kisses.
She giggled as I tucked her back in. Then, I sat down on the edge of her bed.
“You want to talk, or you want a bedtime story?” I asked.
“Neither,” she said.
My eyebrows rose. “Neither?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Can you just stay here for a little bit?”
“Can you give me a second to show Miss Kaylynn where she’s sleeping tonight? Then, I’ll come crawl into bed with you. How’s that sound?”
“Promise?”
She lifted up her pinky and I smiled as I locked mine around hers.
“Pinky promise, promise.”
I kissed her forehead again, then stood from the bed. I ushered Kaylynn out of the bedroom, walking her around the corner. The small, darkened hallway was full of guest bedrooms that usually stayed vacant. But with so many families crammed into this space, we’d been converting every extra room we had into a bedroom. It wasn’t homey, by any means. It didn’t have much space. The bathrooms were a joke, and that was when we weren’t sharing them. But it kept us safe. It kept us together. And it kept us from being separated so all eyes could be on the women and children.
“I know it’s not much, but—”
“It’s fine. Thank you,” Kaylynn said.
She turned around in the doorway, her eyes whipping up to mine.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For bringing me with you. For not leaving me behind.”
I shrugged. “Where the hell else were you going to go?”
“I don’t know. But it wasn’t yours to worry about.”
“I wasn’t worried about it.”
“Then, why did you bring me along?”
She stood close to me. So close, I smelled her deodorant. The floral notes wafted up my nose, and I took stock of her eyes. Those striking green eyes with flakes of golden honey in them. Peppered throughout, like the rising of the sun through a forest of treetops. I wanted to take her cheek within the palm of my hand. I wanted to know what her bubblegum lips tasted like. The darkness from the bedroom clawed its way over her, threatening to swallow her whole.
And without thinking, I stepped closer. Drawn by her magnetism.
“I don’t know why I brought you along,” I murmured.
Kaylynn nodded. “Well, thank you for the honesty.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“What?”
“If honesty is what you want, then you’re beautiful.”
“Oh.”
My hands ached to touch her. “Just the truth.”
She paused. “Thanks.”
“Not the kind of truth you like?”
“Not used to the truth, in general.”
I grinned. “So, you know you’re beautiful.”
She blushed. “I didn’t say that.”
“You implied it.”
She swatted my chest playfully. “You’re frustrating, you know that?”
I caught her wrist before it fell back to her side. “Very frustrating, yes.”
I brought her knuckles to my lips, kissing each and every one of them. As I stared into those forest eyes of hers, I watched her freckles come alive. I watched her skin tint with a crimson flush I wanted to see permeate her skin. I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I needed to feel her skin against my lips. My gut lurched as I kissed her knuckles and my heart fluttered as she gasped at the touch.
The electric touch that sent her skin puckering up her arm.
“Well, goodnight,” Kaylynn said breathlessly.
She pulled her hand away from mine, leaving me wanton for more of her.
“Sleep well,” I said.
Then, she slipped into the darkness and closed the door in my face.
Leaving me with a promise to fulfill, and a need to cast aside.
18
Kaylynn
I stared at the darkened ceiling,
unable to sleep. Between the sounds of hushed whispers coming from all angles of the clubhouse and my mind swirling with the phantom heat of Ryker’s lips against my hand, I didn’t stand a chance. Every time I looked at the digital clock on the bedside table, time seemed to creep by slower. The slow ticking up toward eleven o’clock almost killed me. I got up and paced the room, hoping to wear myself out by midnight. But as twelve-thirty came around, the only thing that walking made me was thirsty.
So, I crept out of the room and headed for the kitchen.
I had nothing with me, not even a change of clothes. Just my car, my keys, and the clothes on my back. Oh, and my phone in my back pocket, which I still debated on whether or not to get rid of. I didn’t have my laptop, even though that wouldn’t have been smart. I didn’t have my bank cards, so I didn’t have money. I didn’t have a safe means of transportation since my brother knew what kind of car I drove and what the license plate was. All of which meant I didn’t have the ability to go out and purchase myself any other clothes or pajamas.
Or a charger for my phone.
Fuck, I really needed to get rid of this before my brother tried tracking it.
I was fortunate that Piper lent me a large shirt of hers. Because it covered me just enough to warrant leaving the bedroom without pants on.
The fabric brushed against the backs of my thighs as I padded out to the kitchen. With socks on my feet that weren’t mine and a shirt that draped over my frame, I wasn’t too sure Piper hadn’t given me one of Rock’s t-shirts. I tried not to think about it. Mostly because that felt weird. Wearing someone’s husband’s clothes.
“Yikes,” I murmured.
I reached for the fridge and opened it, sighing as the cool air hit me. The rooms were stuffy. Especially since they didn’t have windows. The fan only blew the stuffy air around. It didn’t do anything to alleviate how hot it had gotten in there. And as I drew in a deep breath, I reached for one of the water bottles in the back. The ones that were slightly frosted over.
“Come to mama,” I whispered.
“Okay.”
I jumped at the sound of his voice. The fridge door slammed closed as the water bottle tumbled from my hand. I whipped around, staring wide-eyed at Ryker as he grinned at me. With his arms crossed over his chest, his pajama pants hanging low on his hips, and his torso completely exposed.
I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked.
I cleared my throat. “Uh, just thirsty.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“I can’t sleep because I’m thirsty. Once I rectify that, I’ll be fine.”
“Uh huh.”
I paused. “What was that for?”
“What was what for?”
“That ‘uh huh.’”
He shrugged. “Just an ‘uh huh.’”
“That wasn’t any ‘uh huh.’ That was the ‘uh huh’ of a man that doesn’t believe me.”
“Because I don’t believe you.”
“And why’s that?”
He smiled cheekily. “Because you aren’t as opaque as you think you are.”
“Big words for a man who rides a bike for a living.”
“Just because I ride a bike for a living doesn’t mean I’m an idiot.”
He walked toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. That stoic stare backed me up, until my body pressed itself against the kitchen counter. He came up to me, mere inches away from my form. And as the smell of his freshly-washed body wafted up my nose, he bent down. His nose traced an invisible line between our bodies. Until his gaze stopped at my nethers.
I drew in a shuddered breath as he reached for the water bottle I dropped. And after pausing for a second, he slowly journeyed back up.
“You dropped this,” he said.
He placed it on the kitchen counter beside me, but his hand didn’t move. My eyes slowly traveled up his arm, taking in the rippling muscles. The way they flexed with need. The way his skin twitched as his muscles clenched. I swallowed hard as my eyes found his again. And though I expected him to, he didn’t back up.
“Ryker?” I asked softly.
“Hello, Kaylynn.”
In a flash, his hands were on me. His massive palms gripped my hips, hoisting me off the ground. I gasped as I clung to him. I curled my fingertips into the taut skin of his back. He placed me on the edge of the counter, his hands running up my legs.
“Ryker,” I whispered.
“Oh, hello beautiful,” he groaned.
His lips fell to my neck and my head tilted back. I moaned as he kissed me. Raking his teeth down my pulse point and sucking at my vulnerable skin. Something slid across the tiles of the kitchen floor. His hands slid up and down my thighs, causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach. I gasped as he kissed me. I moaned whenever his teeth hit my skin.
And when his hands pressed my knees open, I felt him move.
“Ryker,” I whimpered.
“Oh, fuck Kaylynn,” he whispered.
He tossed my legs over his shoulders and my eyes found him between my legs. I braced my hands behind me, leaning back as he pushed the shirt up over my stomach. He sat on a chair between my legs. My pussy, at the ready as he pulled my panties to the side. His eyes sparkled with delight. As if I’d given him his favorite Christmas present.
And as his eyes looked up at me, his tongue lapped up my slit.
“Shit,” I hissed.
“Better keep it down, just in case someone wakes up.”
“Oh, Ryker,” I moaned.
“That’s not keeping it down, beautiful.”
He spanked the side of my thigh softly, the crack filling the space between us. My head fell back, and a hiss escaped my lips as his tongue pierced my folds. I rocked against him. I panted for air as his tongue flattened against my clit. He licked it softly. Tenderly. Very much unlike the way his hands gripped my hips.
“Shit. Yes. Like that. Just like that.”
He growled into my pussy lips and I shivered at the ready. My juices dripped down my ass crack, relishing the quick moments we shared together. Years. It’d been years since I had experienced something like this. The intense pleasure of sharing my body with someone. The yearning I had for someone to feast upon me in whatever ways they wished. My toes curled into his back as I sank further to the kitchen counter. His tongue dug deeper, parting my pussy folds as my arousal coated his cheeks. His stubble tickled my lower lips. His hands massaged my hips. I rocked against him, moving and swiveling my hips as fire took hold of my body.
I quaked for him with every stroke. I gasped his name with every press. The faster he moved, the more I shook. Until my toes curled deeply and my legs locked out.
“That’s it. That’s it. Ryker. Ryker. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Please, I need—I need—”
“Tell me what you need,” he murmured.
He wrapped his arms around my legs, pulling me toward him. Feasting upon me as my broken breaths tried to piece together the answer he wanted.
“Don’t leave me hanging. Turnabout is fair play,” he growled.
“I need to come. I need to come. I need you to let me come,” I said quickly.
“Good girl.”
With those two words, he slid his fingers inside me. Two of them, filling me up as my body careened over the edge. He pumped them. He spread me. His tongue traced my clit as my walls quaked around his intrusion. My jaw unhinged in silent pleasure as my back fell against the counter. My neck, crooked at an odd angle, sat lopsided against the backsplash. And yet, I didn’t care. All my body knew was rocking against him as he filled me, licked me, and sucked my clit between his lips.
Soaring me to heights I couldn't even bring myself to experience.
“Oh—yes.”
The choked words fell from my lips before my body collapsed. My legs fell weak against his strong shoulders. My juices stopped pouring for him as his tongue fell away. He kissed my lower lips. Nibbled on the excess of my inner thighs
. I whimpered softly, unable to swallow as my moans turned to coughs. His tongue cleaned me up. He swallowed every drop of me down as I laid there, unable to move. Coughing. Sputtering. Trying to catch my breath.
Then, he took my hands within his and slowly lifted me up.
Before cracking that damn water bottle open.
“Maybe now you finally have some time for this, you dirty girl.”
“I’d swat you right now if I weren’t so tired,” I said.
He grinned. “Seriously. Drink.”
I took the bottle from him before he stood, and my head fell against his chest. I heard him literally suck my taste from his fingertips before he started running his hand through my hair. I groaned at the sound. The only thing I hated was that I missed it. I missed watching him enjoy the last taste of me. I brought the bottle to my lips, squeezing the plastic so I wouldn't have to move. His rhythmic motions relaxed my body, causing me to lean heavily into him.
“Had enough?” Ryker asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Good. Because I’m not done with you yet.”
19
Ryker
“Wait, what?”
Her shocked question sounded so cute in that gravelly voice of hers. I plucked the water bottle from her still-trembling hand and tossed it back, chugging the rest of the water. I fisted her hair in my hand and drew her head back. She looked up at me with hazy, sex-crazed eyes. I chuckled as my lips dropped, claiming hers in our first-ever kiss.
And the way it seized my heart gave me pause.
I’d never reacted this way to a woman before. I hadn’t been with many since my daughter literally got dropped off on my doorstep, but I’d been with a few. To relieve stress. To lessen the loneliness. And during my boy-whoring days back during my teenage years, I’d experienced my fair share of kinks. Wants. Desires. Shit no sixteen-year-old should’ve indulged in.
None of those girls—or those women—made me feel the way Kaylynn did.
They didn’t make my heart race the way Kaylynn did. They didn’t make me second-guess myself the way Kaylynn did. They didn’t pucker my skin the way she did or make my cock ache the way she did. My gut tightened whenever I looked into the forest of her soul. My heart stopped every time her sultry voice hit my ears.
Dead Souls MC: Prospects Series Books 1-5 Page 57
