Sven takes my hand and wordlessly places a small box into my palm. I look over at him, but his gaze remains fixed on the ocean before us. My breathing quickens as I lift the lid of the box to see a ring with a pearl adorning it.
“It’s May 9th,” he says softly.
“Sven,” I whisper.
“May 9th is the day we met, the day you changed my life.”
I watch the side of his face as he continues. My brain is whirling and spiraling.
“I know you aren’t ready, and I know when I asked you before you didn’t take me seriously…so I just wanted you to know I am serious. And while you think about it, I want you to wear this and know that even though we aren’t married, you and I are connected.”
He doesn’t even finish the words before I pull him into my arms and kiss him. I know he probably doesn’t understand my reasons and maybe I don’t either. But to know that he’s willing to put up with me is the reassurance I need that this man isn’t going anywhere.
“I’m sorry I’m being selfish about this, and I know it’s not fair to you. But this is what I want, just you, just us. You’re more than a husband to me Sven.”
“Just stop talking,” he tells me. I growl with frustration playfully as I lean in and kiss him.
We make out a while and the heat ignites between us as we play on the beach. I finally suggest we head back, since it’s secluded here, but not that secluded. When we get back to the room, I can’t control myself anymore, and my hands begin to tear at my dress.
“Oh fuck,” Sven sighs, as my breasts tumble free and his hands palm them. “You have the best pair of tits I’ve ever seen,” he adds, leaning down to suck a nipple into his mouth.
The dress falls to my feet and I grip Sven’s hair in my hands as I turn and walk us back toward the sunken couch area. But as we walk, Sven begins to lower his body and I find myself with my ass right at the ledge where the floor ends and the couch begins, like bending backwards over a cliff. At first the position has me fearful of falling and my hands grasp the top of the cushions to hold my body up. The anxiety of feeling awkward like this takes over and I attempt to move more fully onto the couch, but Sven’s hands grip my waist firmly and it seems he’s more intrigued by my newly hairless center than my squirming. Watching him gaze at me, his index finger trails up and down the small mound above my lips like he’s witnessing a miracle.
“Fuck,” he whispers, and I jerk as he nudges my clit.
I find myself looking down too, having never seen what I look like totally bare there before. I wondered if I’d like it, but- Wow! The feel of the air, and his breath caressing the sensitive flesh, enhances my need for him.
“Open up for me,” he says softly as he licks his lips.
Adjusting my position, I bring my feet up and part myself before him. A jolt of sensation sparks through me as the air hits my wet skin and then, Sven’s mouth latches on my clit, his nose burying against my mound as he looks up at me. His beard on my skin, good lord. The coarse strands tickle and tease my inner thighs and where I know I’m seeping wetness. I shout out as my head falls back, one hand moving to my hip, lacing our fingers together there as he holds me open. My tummy trembles and my chest heaves as I watch his mouth work me up into a frenzy. My brows furrow as I hold my breath and feel my eyes glaze over, fire pooling just inside me where I want his cock and I urge him with my hand to put his fingers inside me. His eyes connect with mine in urgency as he sucks me harder, pushes into me faster and I go off. The sensation of falling is so real, and when my back hits the pillows, I realize I have actually fallen. My back is arched and my lower half remains up on the ledge.
Sven’s hands grip my hips hard as he positions himself between my thighs. I plant my feet, allowing him to let me go. He begins to unbutton his shirt, then gives up halfway when I start touching myself, ripping the shirt apart and sending the buttons flying. My eyes close as I rub my chest and push my hips up. When I open them again, I notice his hands shaking as he undoes his pants, pulling out his hard, hot erection and guiding us together. I don’t know if it’s this place, or both of us being excited with the promises we made tonight, but the way we make love, it’s unlike we ever have before. His eyes look at me longer, deeper, his hands gripping me in a way I understand as symbolism for how he’ll never let me go. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I know my heart isn’t fooled.
We make love over and over, orgasms crashing and never ending. Once I think we’ve finished, his cock hardens inside me and I can’t help but feel like with every kiss, every thrust, every exchange, we’re linking our entire beings, heart and souls, together.
The rest of the week is fun and carefree, and I feel like we’re connecting in a way we never have before. I can’t explain it, I just know it’s exactly what we needed.
16
MISSY
When we arrive at the terminal, Joseph and Gwen come and pick us up. Sweetie runs to us as soon as she sees us in the airport. I missed her so much and I don’t ever want to be away from her for that long again. Yes, the trip was fun, and important for me and Sven to reconnect as a couple, but I feel bad she couldn’t go. The guys ride up front and talk about something quietly, while I tell Sweetie and Gwen all about the vacation as we ride in the back. I give Gwen her present of a conch shell necklace and Sweetie a mermaid shirt, and a hula girl costume.
“So, listen to this,” Gwen says softly, checking to make sure the guys can’t hear us. Sweetie’s fallen asleep on my lap, since the ride from the airport is three hours. “Last weekend,” she begins, her voice low, “there was a club party and I don’t know what made it kick off but, out of nowhere, Jasper accused Owen and Shine of being together.”
“What?” I whisper in shock, my jaw dropping, “Are they?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know, but listen, Jasper went and beat Shine up in his apartment. Missy, it was terrible.”
My eyes widen, but I’m not surprised.
“Owen broke the door down to get her out of there, then Jasper and Owen got into a massive brawl. Owen’s nose is broken, and Jasper’s all fucked up too-”
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
“But the even more fucked up thing is,” she stops and glances at the guys, then back at me before continuing. “Owen begged Shine not to go with Jasper, to come with him, right in front of everyone. It was so sad and I thought for a second she would, but she went back to the apartments with Jasper after he laid a guilt trip on her about how he’s done everything for her and all this other bullshit.”
I close my eyes and shake my head.
“I know, believe me I know,” Gwen sighs.
Gwen and I both don’t understand any of this. We put one-hundred percent blame on the MC. I mean, this club was created by men for brotherhood and family. I understand that a lot of these guys don’t feel like women exist for anything more than sex and popping out babies, but what I don’t understand is how Sven and Joseph, respectable men that treat me and Gwen like gold, could allow their “brother” to be such a jerk. But it surprises me even more that Ivan condones it too. Maybe, just maybe he doesn’t know, but come on. I feel like the only way Shine’s abuse will stop, will be for her to leave Jasper, because the club certainly isn’t going to help her or hold Jasper accountable.
“So, is Owen okay?” I ask.
“No.” she states. “He’s been fucked up, drinking, back to trying to get with Jill Milton. Something had to have happened between him and Shine, I mean, if you could’ve seen him begging her. The man was crying for her.”
My heart breaks, not only for Owen because, wow- but also for Shine feeling she’s indebted to Jasper or some shit and for him making her feel that way.
Arriving home, we eat dinner and Sven and I tell more stories about our trip, answering the millions of questions Sweetie has about us seeing anything mythical there. Afterward, I give Sweetie a bath, then she goes to play in her room before bed while I go unpack and sort clothes for laundry.
&nbs
p; “Did Joseph tell you about what happened with Owen and Jasper?” I ask as Sven enters our bedroom moments after me.
“Yeah,” he nods, pulling his clothes from the luggage.
“I know he’s hard to get through to, but I…” I stop, not really knowing what to say. “I feel bad for Shine. I don’t get it, she makes a lot of money at the club, she doesn’t need him.”
Sven moves in front of me, cupping my cheeks, causing me to look at him.
“She’s got no one but him. I know it’s hard to understand, and although your family wasn’t the best, you at least had one. Knowing what I know, that Shine was a runaway and no one’s looking for her, sometimes people crave just being with someone. Doesn’t mean she can’t support herself, she just probably doesn’t want to be alone.” He stops and I nod, trying to understand the need to be with someone so badly that you’ll be a punching bag. “Why don’t you ask if she wants to stay here, maybe some distance might give her the confidence to leave him,” he suggests.
I nod. “You think?”
He shrugs again, “Maybe. It’s worth a try.”
Leaning in, Sven kisses my forehead before turning for the door. “Got dragon storytelling to do tonight. Don’t wait up for me,” he says as he turns toward Sweetie’s room and disappears. I continue to unpack the suitcases, tossing all the dirty clothes in the hamper.
I know Shine is an adult, and she needs to do what’s best for her, but having gotten to know her over this time, I also know she’s never been shown she can do anything on her own.
17
SVEN
I wake to Owen in my bedroom. It’s dark, Missy’s asleep and curled up beside me. What the fuck?
“Sven,” Owen pants in a whisper.
“Yeah?” I ask, blinking my eyes in the dark to see his massive shadowed form beside me.
“I need you to come with me,” he tells me.
I sit up, knowing this must be serious for my brother to come into my house at two a.m. and wake me. Missy groans as I pull my arm out from under her and I lean over to whisper in her ear that I’ll be back. She nods and I place a kiss on her cheek. Owen leaves the room and I hear his boots attempting to be quiet on the wood steps, as I reach for my discarded clothes on the bedroom floor. I grab my leather cut and boots and put them on, running a hand over my long hair to get it out of my face.
As I make my way down the steps to the open front door, I see Owen and Joseph standing at the bottom of the porch. Owen’s smoking a cigarette, while Joseph talks in a lower voice to him. Closing the screen door as quietly as I can behind me, I clear my throat, and they both look at me. It’s then I observe how agitated Owen appears. His eyes are red rimmed, and he looks like shit, and I notice as he raises his hand to hit his cigarette again, it’s shaking.
“What the fuck?” I question.
“I was in Coral Groves and saw Jill Milton there. Some guy was fucking raping her. Beat his ass up, took his wallet, got Jill to the hospital.”
His words come out in a rush and it takes me a minute of just staring at him to understand.
“What were you doing in Coral Groves?”
Joseph gives me a pointed look and I realize Owen had been following Jill.
“Is she okay?” I ask.
“He was raping her!” Owen growls in agitation.
“Okay, okay, calm down.” Joseph says.
“No! I got that fucker’s address. I’m going there. You either come with me or don’t, I don’t fuckin’ care-”
“Of course, we’ll come.” I nod and raise a hand.
I see relief wash over him and know he’s a mess. We can’t let him go alone because he’ll do something stupid in his current state. We walk toward the driveway just as a car comes flying up the street, screeching to a halt at the bottom of the driveway. It’s Milton in his cop car, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and practically running up the driveway toward us. Joseph and I both step forward and in front of Owen, putting hands on Milton’s chest to stop him since he’s obviously upset.
“You fucking stalking my sister!” he yells, trying to get through us as he points a finger at Owen.
“Come on, man,” Joseph says.
“She doesn’t even know you exist!” Milton tells Owen.
“Stop hollerin’! You’ll wake up the whole goddamn neighborhood,” I state.
“What were you even doing there?”
“If I wasn’t there, God only knows what the fuck would’ve happened to her. That guy was a beast. He was massive compared to her, she didn’t stand a chance.”
Owen’s voice drops, like the memories of what happened earlier tonight assault him. Milton stops fighting, and looks at Owen for a long minute.
“I know you hate me, but I won’t let that fucker not pay for what he’s done,” Owen growls.
Joseph and I look at each other as Milton nods, and we both know that we’re the only rational people here. Yes, it’s awful what’s happened, but sometimes vigilante justice isn’t the answer. Maybe she told the guy she liked rough sex, maybe they were both consenting, we don’t know shit.
“You take care of the piece of shit who hurt my sister and I promise nothing will come back on you,” Milton says through clenched teeth.
“Let’s take a minute-” Joseph begins.
“Nothing will happen to you, I promise,” Milton reiterates.
Owen nods and Milton steps out of our grasp.
“But in return Lofgren, you need to promise me, you won’t ever see my sister again,” Milton adds.
**
I come to consciousness, but instantly regret it. My eyes feel glued shut, my hands are sore and my body is screaming for more sleep. But the more awake I become, the more it’s just screaming for a hot shower. The memories from what happened in the middle of the night come back to me.
After Milton left, Joseph and I went with Owen. We found the guy and Owen was right, he was a beast. He took one look at us and began fighting. Even though this was supposed to be Owen’s deal and Joseph and I went just to make sure he got out okay, we quickly all became involved. Once we got him pinned, he started taunting us about how good Jill’s cunt was, how he liked her screaming, sick shit, which only enraged Owen even more. The rest is a blur, scattered flashes of a knife, blood, the guy going limp and lifeless. When it was all done, I came home and scrubbed the blood off my hands before curling up beside Missy and listening to her heartbeat beneath my ear.
I was feeling the way about this guy’s death the way I had during war. Nothing. It wasn’t bothering me, and it fucking should have. Even once I’m up and moving, Sweetie talking about fairies and trolls doesn’t get me out of my head. Missy coming into the shower and giving me a blow job didn’t either, though it was a good distraction for the moment.
Getting to the clubhouse after taking Sweetie to school, there’s a weird vibe in the air, or maybe it’s just surrounding me. Owen’s at a table by the bar with some old timers, drinking beer and laughing, apparently not affected by last night’s events. Is he as cold as me? As calloused and jaded as I have been since the war? Of course he is, who wouldn’t be?
“Brother,” Joseph says coming up beside me.
Turning to face him, eyes look troubled as if he barely slept, like me.
“You all right?” I ask him with a tip of my chin.
He rubs a hand across the back of his neck and looks at me. “Last night kinda fucked me up…it’s been a long time since I felt that way, been around somethin’ like that,” he states.
I nod, understanding him completely.
“All night I just kept thinking about how I felt when we were…doing it. It was so natural for me, and it bothers me that it was.”
“Yeah, I feel you,” I tell him and put my hand on his shoulder.
As shitty as it may sound, because I don’t want any of my brothers to be troubled, it comforts me that he’s just as fucked up as me.
“Gathering,” someone says as they walk past us and we make our way am
ongst everyone else to the gathering room.
Jasper’s hand on my chest halts me just before the door. I look over at him, taking in his irritated expression.
“Tell your bitch to back off,” he tells me.
“I don’t have a bitch.”
“Missy. The bitch. Tell her to keep her fucking business to herself, or I’ll-”
“You’ll what?” I growl, turning to face him as I step closer and his hand falls.
“You know what.”
“I don’t tell Missy what to do. Maybe the problem is you, Jasper, not her. And if you ever lay a hand on her, if you so much as accidently bump into her,” I pause, letting him see the expression in my eyes that I’m not fucking around. “I’ll fucking kill you.”
I’m feeling beastly and protective as I always do when it comes to Missy. But this is different. This isn’t a veiled threat, because Jasper is crazy and when he says he’ll do something, he will.
“Problem here?” Ivan asks, coming to the doorway.
Jasper blinks and deflates in a way to not allow Ivan to question us further, because he knows Ivan will have his ass if he thinks Jasper’s causing shit within the club or with its members. Then Jasper plasters on a smile I know is anything but playful before throwing an arm over my shoulders.
“We were just fuckin’ around,” he tells Ivan.
Ivan looks between us and moves aside. “Then get your asses into Gathering.”
Ever since I’ve voiced my opinion, and Ivan’s let the younger guys have more of a say, the MC has begun to improve. The autobody shop and used car lot have been seeing more business since we’ve been advertising to the public. We’ve always been accepted in Plantain, but let’s be real, what civilian really wants an MC just off the main street of their town. We’ve never had trouble come here, not to my knowledge at least, but still, it’s not something people brag about having where they come from.
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