by Simone Elise
“So you’re heading out, then?” I asked, then held my breath. I knew what I wanted to say but wasn’t sure if I should, so I fiddled with my hair and bit my lip hesitantly as anxiety reared its ugly head at the thought of him leaving. “Are you coming back? Do you really have to leave? Can’t you stay?” I whispered.
“No, I can’t stay, but I will come back. I’m a nomad, Libby, and I won’t settle down. The open road calls my name. You’re either with me or you’re not,” he replied. Lynx walked around the couch and knelt in front of me, then taking my hands in his, he rubbed my knuckles with his finger and planted kisses on the back of my hands.
The inner turmoil was almost too much to bear. The urge to go with him was so strong I nearly said yes, but I wanted a stable home and somewhere to come back to every night, something I hadn’t had since I was a kid. But this man calmed me in ways I didn’t think possible. How could I give that up? Seeing my inner turmoil, he picked me up and placed me on his lap.
“We can make this work. Just gonna have to trust me. Whatever this is, it’s real,” he said quietly, placing a kiss on my nose.
Completely taken aback by his brutal honesty, goose bumps covered my skin, and a gasp escaped my lips as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.
“You two make me sick. Get a room!” Critter shouted as he emerged from down the hall, dressed and shaking his head as he shot me a wink, causing Lynx to tense.
“You ass, who the hell do you think you are? Stay the hell away from my cousin. Families are off limits, you know that, you manwhore,” I snapped, pointing my fingers at him accusingly.
“What can I say? I can’t help myself. Sexy must run in the genes, and you ladies can’t get enough of me.” He chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows, causing me to turn bright red.
“You shut your damn mouth before I come over there and make you,” I grumbled. I leaned forward and gave him my best angry face, which caused him to laugh.
“Not scared of you, munchkin. Hate to break it to you, but I could push you over with my little finger.” He laughed as he wiggled his pinkie finger to prove a point.
“Oh, yeah, well, I have the muscle to back me up now, and he’s just itching for a good fight, isn’t that right?” I challenged as I stood, dragging Lynx, who had this evil look on his face as he cracked his knuckles slowly, up with me.
Critter paled before puffing out his chest, trying to look bigger than he actually was. “I-I can take you. Let’s move this outside!” he said with a small waver in his voice as he headed for the front door.
Lynx followed, leaving me dumbstruck.
“What the fuck just happened, Libby? Maybe that punch in the face really did more damage than I thought,” I muttered. “Now, where’s little Emmeline. She’s got some explaining to do.”
Walking down the hall, I headed back to the room I had found her in, but the door was now closed.
“Emmie. Oh, Emmie, where art thou, Emmeline,” I said in a singsong voice. Opening the bedroom door, I found her curled up on the bed, headphones in and eyes shut, unaware that I had entered the room. I quietly made my way over to the bed, and as slowly as possible, I made my way in front of her before I reached out a hand and grabbed one of the headphones, yanking it out of her ear. “Emmeline, what are you doing in here all alone,” I shouted, laughing hysterically as she screamed and fell off the bed, turning bright red from embarrassment.
“Oy, what the hell was that for?” she hollered from her position on the floor.
“Why the hell are you locked up in here? Come and join the rest of the world. I’m in the living room, and the boys went outside. Apparently, Critter thinks he can whoop Lynx’s ass,” I rambled nervously. I found it slightly off-putting she would rather stay locked up in her room than come and hang out with the rest of us.
Crawling back up onto the bed, Emmie looked at me weirdly, probably deciding on whether or not she could trust me, which was fair. I, on the other hand, had always liked Emmie. We got along great as kids, and I was a bit bummed we never kept in contact when I started traveling with my father.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I’m still the same Libby I was when we were kids, just a whole lot crazier,” I said, jumping on the bed and lying next to her with a grin as I propped my head on my hands.
“I will keep harassing you until you talk to me just so you are aware I can be that obnoxious,” I playfully warned her. “What are you even doing here anyway? Does your father know you’re here, or does he think you’re holed up in your room?” I arched my eyebrows, wondering if she’d own up to running away without telling Uncle Hammer.
“He may or may not know I’m here. I just needed to get away from there for a while, and I sure didn’t miss your chattiness,” Emmie admitted sheepishly as she stuck her tongue out at me.
“Hey, that hurts right here.” I laughed as I rolled over onto my back and pointed at my heart. “I’m going to go cry over in the corner because you don’t love me anymore.” I pouted as I fake cried.
Emmie laughed. “Stop, you overgrown child. Of course, I still love you, it’s just been a while, and I've changed,” she added hesitantly, fiddling with her earbud.
“Nonsense, you're still the same sweet, little Emmeline. I can feel it in my bones. Well, maybe not so sweet. I see you’ve been Crittered,” I teased, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively.
Face going beet red, she covered her face with a pillow and muttered something I couldn’t quite understand.
“What was that, Emmie? I couldn’t quite hear you. You enjoyed Critter’s hands all over your body while he undressed you? You liked the feel of his hard body pressed against yours?” I giggled as I teased her.
She threw the pillow at me, which made me laugh harder.
“It wasn’t like that. Well, it was, but I couldn’t help it. He’s not even really my type, but he’s just charming,” Emmie confessed. “Anyway, it wasn’t like we had sex.” She sheepishly smiled. “Seriously, Libby, we didn’t. He was proving a point to me about…” She sighed. “Never mind.”
“Trust me. I know exactly how you feel. I’ve been Crittered myself. Last year, at my eighteenth birthday party, he snuck in a pack of beer, and I had a few too many. The night ended with me in his bed, and let me tell you, he’s got some skill. It wasn’t bad for my first time,” I admitted. This time, it was my turn to be sheepish. “After that, things were a little awkward at first. The man would follow me around like a lovesick puppy, but I put him in his place. He still likes to tease me about it, though.” I chuckled and nudged Emmie. “Really glad you’re here. I hate being alone, and Lynx is taking off when Maiden gets here. Now, what made you run away?” I asked coyly,
Her eyes went wide. “You know.”
“I know all.” I grinned wildly.
“Well, if you must know, my father is a dick. He kept the fact I have a stalker from me. Even though I saw the man, Dad kept saying it was all in my head. They let me think I was going crazy, Libby. Do you have any idea how that feels?” Emmie groaned. She got up and went over to the window, then said, “Maiden’s coming?”
“It’s just now registering in your head that I said that? Yes, he’s coming.” I laughed
“Shit, he’s going to be so mad I took off. We didn’t part on the best of terms exactly…” She started breathing sharply and then locked eyes with me. “Oh, I’ve meant to ask, you and Lynx, how the hell did that happen? He’s never shown interest in anyone the few times I’ve seen him around. He just goes in my father’s office and then leaves. A few of the club whores tried clinging onto him once, and he just shoved them off.” Emmie tapped her finger on the window ledge, clearly recalling something. “Not to mention the fact I heard Grit mention once that Lynx fucked someone up so bad in a fight it made even Grit cringe,” she said.
Opening the French glass doors that led to the patio, we made our way outside. We removed our socks and shoes and sat at the edge of the pool.
“Oh, Emmie, I don’t even know what’s going on. Everyth
ing’s happening so fast, and he makes me feel things I didn’t think I could. We met at an underground fight, and when some guy tried to grab me, Lynx saved me. The guy got away, somehow, after Grit had him.” I told her the details, and then I looked Emmie in the eyes. “But he’s a nomad, and I don’t want to be on the road all the time. I want a home, and he’s made it pretty clear he doesn’t, but he wants me, so it’s either I go with him or we only see each other whenever he’s around.”
Emmie gave me a look of pity and hating to see pity from anyone, I kicked water at her, smirking evilly as I saw it splash all over her.
“Hey, you little snot, knock it off before I push you in the pool, and you know I’ll do it.” Emmie pushed on my shoulder. “I’m kind of in the same boat as you but with Maiden.” She sighed.
I knew she and Maiden were going to happen as soon as Critter said they had been left alone together.
“I want him, I’ve always wanted him, but he doesn’t want to piss my father off, so he’s been staying away.” Emmie groaned in frustration. A haunted look came to her eyes. “Not to mention I think it was all fake, anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Dad and Maiden speaking. Maiden said he had been putting up with me and, basically, made it sound like he was forced to look after me.”
“Don’t you think that perhaps that there is your answer. You said yourself he is staying away because of your dad, and it sort of makes sense he would downplay yours and his relationship.”
Emmie shook her head. “No, he was determined to tell Dad about us, and the other day was the perfect opportunity. Secretly, I was hoping that was what he was doing, telling dad, and then we could finally be a couple,” she scoffed. “But then again, that would be normal, and nothing about me is normal.”
“You just had to go and pick that man.” I shook my head and splashed her with the water again.
I got a look of death from her. “Do it again, and you’re in the water.”
I giggled, tempted to see Emmie snap. It wasn’t normal for Emmie to have a temper. “Hey, I have an idea! Let’s get you spruced up, so when he gets here, he won’t know what hit him!!” I said excitedly. I dragged her back to her room, laughing at her loud protests.
“Oh, God, I’m being pulled into one of Libby’s ideas. This is not going to end well.”
I looked over my shoulder. “Did you just speak to yourself?” I couldn’t believe had she done it.
She smirked a little, giving me the answer.
“Looks like I’m startin’ to rub off on you.” I giggled and stuck my tongue out at her
“Oh, great.”
“Hey, I heard that”
Chapter 11
Emmie
Libby hummed to God knew what tune, I sure as hell didn’t know it, but she was in her own world while going through my bag.
“You do realize nothing is exciting in there, right?” I questioned her after she had spent five minutes going through it. When I saw the evil grin on her face, I knew what she had found.
“No.” I started shaking my head. “No, no, and no!”
“You’re the one who packed it.” She looked like she had discovered gold when she came across my Victoria’s Secret underwear, which I didn’t usually wear.
“I only packed them because I hadn’t done washing!”
“Sure, sure, more like you were planning on a sexy retreat with Critter.”
Those words scored a pillow in her face.
She was killing herself laughing at her Critter joke, and I knew I would never live it down. I just hoped she didn’t mention the position Critter and I were in when Maiden got here. God forbid that. Critter wouldn’t be able to walk again, or worse, Maiden might just kill him.
“Isn’t Critter and Lynx having some sort of fight? Why don’t you go annoy them?” I went to snatch my underwear off her, but she continued to daggle them in front of me.
Huffing, I gave up. “Fine, do your worst to me,” I muttered and walked back to the bed.
“Well, you have to do your makeup because there is no way in hell I’ll do as good as job as you.” Libby handed me my makeup bag. “Just touch it up so it’s perfect. The water from before might have ruined it.”
“And whose fault is that?” I snipped at her. “Someone whose legs turn into an octopus when in the water.”
She hushed me, which made me roll my eyes.
Her pink hair was out and free, and I had forgotten just how breathtaking Libby was. It had been years. I could see why Lynx was making a claim on her—honestly, I could. She was one of a kind, and everyone knew that Libby Paxton was a girl no one messed with, not only because of her father but also because of my dad, her uncle. It would take a man like Lynx to be able to stand up to Uncle Rusty and Dad, who were deadly when put together. They were able to strip members from their ranks, but most of all, when they were mad, fuck it was scary.
I had never copped the full wrath of Dad, but I had seen members who had, and I never want to be in that position. So Lynx was the perfect man to claim Libby.
Chapter 12
Libby
Leaving Emmie by herself, I made my way downstairs and headed for Lynx, who was lying on the couch. I slowly made my way over to the couch and crawled on top of him, which caused him to grunt in surprise. He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tightly as I lay my head on his chest. “So comfy. Maybe a nap doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.” I sighed. The rise and fall of his chest and the sound of his heart beating lulled me to sleep.
A loud bang jolted me awake, and I fell off the couch with a thud. Instantly, Lynx was on his feet, gun drawn and aimed at whoever came through the door.
“Where the fuck is she?” Maiden growled. He wore a look of desperation I’d never seen before, and his fists were clenched. He looked crazed.
I stood up quickly and wrapped my arms around Lynx’s waist. As I peeked my head out from behind him, I breathed hard from being startled so suddenly. “She’s down the hall. Last bedroom on the left,” I muttered.
Maiden instantly took off down the hall, and once he’d disappeared, Lynx put his gun back in its holster, turned, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed the top of my head.
“Gotta head out before the storm, babe. Gotta get this taken care of,” he said while trying to remove my arms from around his waist.
“Aww, can’t you stay, please, for me.” I all but begged, giving him my puppy dog eyes.
“Libby, I can’t,” he said firmly
My heartbeat picked up, and tears stung my eyes as I let go of him. I spun around so he couldn’t see my shaking hands as I tried to control my breathing.
“Fine. Just fucking leave. I don’t care,” I spat out, speed walking out of the living room to the room I had decided to stay in on the opposite side of the building. I had just reached my bedroom door when a large hand grabbed my arm and spun me around, then Lynx’s lips crashed onto mine as he slammed me against the door. All the burning rage coming off him poured into to me as he held me in my spot.
Pulling away, he growled at me, then opened my bedroom door, and shoved me inside. Once we were both in, he slammed it shut and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my dress hiking up significantly, and he put his hands on my ass as he pinned me to the wall. Nipping at my neck, he growled. “So damn needy. Gonna have to teach you who’s in control.”
I moaned and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding onto him with all the strength I could muster. He ripped my panties off with one hand, then undid his jeans and pulled them down to free himself. He grabbed my hips again before slamming into me hard, filling me completely. My walls clamped around him tightly, and I leaned my head back against the wall as he nipped and bit my neck, which would surely bruise later.
“I’m going to leave, and you’re going to be fine. I will come back.” He growled as he pounded into me hard and fast.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I screamed, panting hard as my nails dug into his sho
ulders. I rocked my hips against him as best I could and looking down to watch him pound into me, spurred me on even more.
Lynx put me down, then spun me around to face the door, and entered me again. Barely breaking the momentum of his thrusts, he reached between my legs and rubbed my nub quickly, biting my shoulder as we both climaxed.
After pulling out, he headed to the bathroom to clean himself up, and I sagged to the floor trying to catch my breath. “You can’t just use sex to fix all our problems, you know, no matter how amazing it is,” I hollered after him. I was unable to stand on my own two legs, my body completely spent.
“I can and I will because it works.” He chuckled as he entered the room again, daring me to challenge him. When I didn’t, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
I got up to clean myself. Once finished, I sat next to him on the bed and rested my head on his shoulder.
“Damn my body for needing yours. It’s not fair, not fair at all,” I grumbled as I closed my eyes. “How long will you be gone for?”
“Don’t know. My number’s in your phone. Message me as much as you like,” Lynx said softly, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “I’ll send Critter inside. He’s workin’ on his bike in the garage.”
“Okay, that would be nice. It looks like it’s going to storm, and I hate storms. Can’t you please just stay?” I pouted as he got up and headed to the bedroom door and shaking his head, he left.
Chapter 13
Emmie
My phone rang again and once again, I ignored it when I saw Maiden’s name. I knew he was coming here, and I was planning to escape before he arrived. I knew it was stupid to run from the man I loved, but at the same time, there was no future with him. He chose to lie to me. But the one question I couldn’t find an answer for was, how could he let me walk around thinking I was now experiencing visual hallucinations, let me think my schizophrenia was getting worse?
