Wild Heart (The Wild Heart Series)

by Culbreth, Jennifer

“Where the hell did you find her, Ani?” Rage came strolling into the kitchen.

  “She’s hard to get rid of,” Ani joked.

  “Aye, though I don’t see why you’d want to,” he said staring toward Kate who was still cleaning the living room. “You fixing some bangers with that feast?”

  “Some what?” she laughed. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to understand some of their terminology.

  “Bangers? You know, like your people’s sausage. Just better,” he explained.

  “By you people… you mean Native Americans or Americans in general?” she chuckled as she flipped the pancakes in her pan.

  “He givin’ you a hard time, darlin’?” Knox’s deep voice floated into the kitchen.

  “I don’t know yet. We are trying to clarify who you people is,” Ani smiled over at him.

  He made his way around the counter and into the kitchen, she found herself staring at the muscles along his shirtless stomach as he came closer to her. His plaid sleeping pants hung low on his hips, exposing the dips that led downward, down to the parts of his body she wouldn’t mind exploring all over again. His smile was crooked as he came up and kissed the top of her head. As he passed behind her and leaned into the fridge, she took in the Celtic symbols that were tattooed up and down his left arm. How did she not notice those last night? Or the ones that spanned across his back that she could now see as he stood and peered out of the window of the kitchen door. God, this man was already sexy and the tattoos only added to it.

  “Looks like Chloe and Butcher left last night after all,” he said, turning back to Rage.

  “She needs to go snake around someone else’s M.C.,” Rage spat out, twisting the top off a beer.

  “Ok guys, breakfast is almost ready,” Ani said loudly trying to change the subject.

  “Good. I’m starvin’.” Knox swatted her ass as he went back off to the living room.

  Ani grabbed the plates from the cabinet and took them over to the now cleaned kitchen table. She brought over the array of food; and had already began placing napkins around the table as Starla and Jameson came down the stairs.

  “Something smells good,” Jameson’s voice was raspy.

  “Doll, you didn’t have to cook.” Starla came into the kitchen. There was something about her warm demeanor that made Ani feel at home.

  “It’s ok. I don’t mind. It’s just my dad and me at home, so it’s nice to cook for someone else for a change,” Ani smiled as she took the seat next to the head of the table.

  Knox took his seat next to her and the rest of the group filled in the remaining chairs. For the next hour, they laughed and chatted the same as a family would. The men shared various stories of their time in Ireland and Starla called them out on all of their bullshit. The worry of how she looked in her makeshift pajamas no longer crossed her mind. She was so completely comfortable around the people sitting at the table that it no longer mattered. Her stomach dropped slightly as she thought about what it was going to be like to go back to the real world, she really didn’t want to leave this. She would have been happy staying locked away in this cabin with Knox for the rest of her life.

  “Where’d you learn to cook like this?” Knox said as he bit into one of the chocolate chip pancakes.

  “My dad, he was the cook of the family. My mom passed down the skill of burning bread, but that was about it,” Ani laughed.

  “You did good, girl. It all taste amazing,” Starla said from the other end of the table, pulling the end of the last piece of bacon from Jameson’s mouth and eating it.

  “Next time more bacon, love. My wife keeps stealing mine,” Jameson eyed over at Starla.

  “Noted,” Ani chuckled at the two of them. They were as playful with each other as children.

  “So that means we didn’t scare you off?” Knox asked, folding his napkin and placing it next to his empty plate.

  “I think I might stick around. If you’ll have me that is.” The blush spread across her face as she looked at him.

  “You’re always welcome here, love.” His hand grazed the bare skin of her thigh as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. She wiped at the sticky residue of syrup left from his beard.

  “That was a present,” he leaned over and nuzzled the side of her face as she squealed. “I saved it for you.”

  She giggled as he planted another kiss on her cheek and headed into the kitchen. She smiled down the table, realizing the others were staring at her with soft smiles. Kate’s eyes were glowing with pride as she looked down toward Ani. It had been a long time since Ani had felt normal, like she was where she was supposed to be in life and Kate could see that reflected in her eyes.

  As Starla and Kate cleaned the kitchen, Ani went to Knox’s room to call and check on her dad. She’d left her phone in her purse all night and hadn’t even thought to check it after they had left Kate’s apartment. She sat at the edge of the bed and turned on the screen. Fifteen missed calls, three new voicemails, and all of them from Cash. She didn’t really want to listen to them and contemplated deleting them altogether, but she couldn’t and instead held the phone to her ear and listened to the first one he’d left.

  “Ani, what the fuck are you doing on the back of some no good biker’s fucking motorcycle?” Cash was practically screaming into the phone as he spoke, “You need to call me back as soon as you get this! As in, now!”

  She pressed delete, then listened to the next message.

  “Ani, look I’m just worried about you. Can you please just call me back?” his voice still held a tone of irritation, but not as strong as it was before.

  Again she hit delete and readied herself for the third.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you. You’re an adult and you can do whatever you want to. I didn’t mean to get upset; I just worry. Please call me when you can, princess.” His voice held no anger now, but was sincere as he spoke.

  Cash fucking Roberts. She cleared the missed calls as she hung her head down into her hands. She didn’t know what to do; a part of her wanted to see what could happen with Knox, but the other part told her to stay with what she knew. She’d already tried to experience new things before and it had failed miserably. Torn she called her dad, hoping that if she talked to him she’d feel better, smiling as he cheerfully picked up the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, daddy, how are things around the house?”

  “Eh, quieter then they have been this past week, but you know I think I’m gonna be ok. How are you, did you have fun last night?”

  “We did. I should be back later tonight.”

  “No need to come back on account of me, kiddo. If you’re having fun with Kate, you should stay out and enjoy yourself. You only have one life to live, Ani.” Even throughout high school, her dad had never scolded her for staying out too late or not calling when she was supposed to. Maybe it was because her mom had done enough scolding for the both of them, but it was something about her dad’s gentle coaxing that made everything ok.

  “Ok, well if you insist,” she joked.

  “Besides, I’m enjoying walking around in my boxers,” he chuckled.

  “Too much info, dad,” she wiped her hand over her face in exasperation.

  “Don’t rush home. I have enough zebra cakes to last me until tomorrow. Have fun, baby girl.”

  “I will, daddy. See you tomorrow. Love you.”

  “Love you too,” his voice was comforting as she hung up the phone.

  She placed her phone down onto the side table and started toward the bathroom, noticing Knox’s outline leaning in the doorway.

  “You have a good thing with your pops don’t you?” he smiled as he strolled over to her.

  “I do. I have a huge family, but he’s the most important. He’s great,” she wrapped her arms around his waist and reveled in the warmth from his body.

  “I’ve never in my life seen someone who cares so much for others. You are the purest and most loving creature I’ve ever
seen, Aiyana.”

  “If you could have met my mother you would have known where I got it from.” She smiled at the memory of her sweet mother. It never mattered what happened in Ani’s life, her mother had always been able to make it better. She made living in this crazy world, livable.

  “Did you lose your mum too?” his voice held a certain tone of sadness.

  “I did. She passed away a few years back,” she hesitated before continuing, “What happened to your mother?”

  His eyes went dark and she could see the hurt that he was holding on to swirling throughout them. He was quiet as he spoke, “She was murdered when I was ten. She was walking home from work and was held up and shot just around the corner from our home.”

  She could feel his pain down to her core, losing her mother had been the hardest thing she’d ever had to accept. She could still remember the guilt and shame of not being there for her mother more, but no one should have a parent taken from them in such a cruel and sudden way. She wrapped her arms tighter around his waist, hoping to absorb the hurt and pain that flowed through him. His arms tightened around her as they stood in the middle of his bedroom. She understood now why he was so afraid to let someone into his life and she wanted to reassure him that she would never leave him like that.

  “Knox?” her voice was a quiet as she spoke.

  “Aye, love?”

  “I don’t plan on going anywhere.” She caught his stare, his eyes were wild and cautious. She didn’t know if he was capable of understanding the feelings that were coursing through her. Or the tether she could feel pulling them tighter together. “I’m right here. Where you can touch me, feel me.”

  “I hope you don’t go anywhere.” His chin rested on the top of her head, “Cause I really like your cooking.”

  She smiled as she placed a soft kiss in the center of his hard chest, looking up at him with just her eyes. The stray hairs from his beard stuck out in every direction as his head rolled back and her lips traveled down toward the dips that rested just above his pants line. Her hands grabbed his as she pulled him into the bathroom and kicked the door closed behind them. She backed him against the counter and slowly tugged his pants down exposing his large erection. She took his cock in her hand as she dropped to her knees and slowly wrapped her lips around his head. His hands softly brushed through her hair, tugging gently to pull her farther down onto his shaft.

  She took every inch of his length into her mouth as she ran her tongue in circles around him. She devoured him over and over, growing more confident with each groan that escaped from his throat. She was hungry for him and full of a need that she wasn’t sure could be satisfied. His eyes had the same longing and she relished in it every time she looked up into them. His hips swayed toward her as her mouth claimed ownership over him, sucking him harder and quicker.

  “Fuck, baby. You’re gonna make me come,” his words were choked behind his gritted teeth.

  She felt his hands travel down to her arms and he gently lift her from the floor. She smiled up at him with a newfound confidence as she slowly backed toward the door of the shower. His eyes followed her every move, watching as she slowly peeled his shirt up over her head, tossing it across the floor before she slid his boxers down. There was not a self- conscious thought in her head as she stood before him completely naked, not in the reflection of his craving for her. It didn’t matter what flaw she imagined in her head, what part of her body she wished could be different; in his eyes she was perfect. He could see all of those parts to her body she didn’t like, but he relished in the beauty that made her different from every other woman on Earth.

  “Touch yourself, Aiyana,” he instructed as he leaned against the counter.

  She leaned herself against the shower wall and turned the handle on, cascading herself in warm water. Her eyes never left his as her fingers flowed down her body, cupping her breast with one as she slid the other between her thighs. Every sense of her body was alive in his gaze; in this moment, she controlled him. Her fingers found her clit and gently ran circles around the sensitive mound as her other caressed and tugged hard at her nipple. His eyes were dark as he watched her, slowly rubbing his hand up and down his length as she brought herself closer to an orgasm.

  The water ran down every inch of her body and she imagined it was the light touch of his fingertip. She could feel the sensation building at her core and she longed to feel him inside of her. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, opening to find him standing just inches from her. His hands were against the wall on each side of her head, waiting, anticipating her release. She felt the waves spreading out through her body, warm and then cold as they tore through her limbs. She could feel his hands move to her hips, holding her up as her legs shook beneath her. He ran one hand down, sliding two fingers inside of her slightly as he hit the spot just inside of her entrance, causing a whimper of pleasure to escape from her lips. The sparks flowed throughout her body, their eyes never parted as she found her release.

  His hands snaked down to her ass and lifted her against the wall of the shower, thrusting into her hard. She wanted and needed the passion that flowed out of him. Her lips crashed against his as she rocked her hips toward him, taking every inch of his large cock as her body stretched from the fullness inside of her. Her hands pulled at his hair as she consumed his lips, causing him to quicken his assault over her body, his body tensed as his head slowly rolled back. She dug her nails into the skin at his shoulders as he pressed her hard against the shower wall, a low moan rumbled from his throat as he came, his eyes returning to hers, sated and exhausted.

  “I take it back; you’re gonna be the death of me, woman,” his head laid against her shoulder as he held her.

  “As long as I go out too.” She planted a soft kiss against his neck.

  After they’d finished showering, she rummaged through his drawers to find something that would actually fit her. When she had no luck, she went in search of Starla who just so happened to have an extra set of clothes. She borrowed a pair of jeans and a black tank top from her, she wasn’t about to ask for a pair of underwear so instead she went without.

  “Well, we gotta get back to the kids before my mom goes crazy.” Starla hugged Ani and Kate, “Thanks for letting us stay with you, Knox. I’m sure I’ll see you guys around. Rage, you be good to this girl.” She eyed him with a seriousness that only a mother could give as she patted Kate on the shoulder.

  “Prez, I’ll see you at church.” Jameson pulled Knox into a hug and patted his back hard before holding his hand out to Ani, “Young lady, it was a pleasure.”

  “Thank you. Y’all have fun,” Ani waved as they headed out the door.

  “And then there were four,” Rage joked as the door closed behind Jameson.

  “We gotta ride up to the club. You wanna come?” Knox asked Ani.

  “The guys are gonna have a field day with this one, brother,” Rage huffed before walking out of the kitchen.

  Ani frowned as she saw the aggravation cross Knox’s face. He placed a quick peck on her lips before going after Rage. Ani wasn’t sure what was going on. She looked over at Kate who had the same confused look on her face.

  “You got something you wanna say to me?” Ani jumped as Knox’s voice resounded loudly off the walls.

  “No. You run your club however you want. Perks of being the President of this charter and your old man calling the shots.” Kate and Ani eyed each other as the two men shouted against each other in the living room.

  “I don’t know what your fucking problem is, but you need to remember your place V.P.”

  “They don’t have any business being in the clubhouse,” Rage’s words were direct and to the point.

  Ani could see the hurt in Kate’s eyes as she took in what Rage was saying and it caused her to see red. She could feel the weight of the elephant that was now sitting in the middle of the room. She hadn’t been planning on anything specific between them, but the way it was starting to sound this was going to
end up a one-weekend party.

  “Aye, so it’s ok for you to bring your whores around if they only stay there for the night, but Aiyana and Kate can’t go? Yeah, that makes a lot of bloody sense, Rage.”

  Ani grabbed after Kate, but failed as she stormed off toward the living room. Ani rushed to the counter to see Kate bee lining straight for Rage. With as much force as she could, Kate pulled her arm back and punched him as hard as was possible square in his jaw. Pain struck across his face as he grabbed his jaw and dropped to the floor in front of her.

  Kate leaned down just inches from his face, “Fuck. You.” She then turned and stormed off in the direction of his bedroom to gather her things.

  “Wait! Kate wait!” Rage stumbled up off the floor and followed after her.

  Ani went to follow them. “Let him grovel. Stupid bastard.” Knox stopped her before she could make it into the room.

  “Ok,” her voice was timid. She wasn’t really sure what to say after hearing the argument between the two.

  “I know you have questions. I know there will be a time when I have to answer all of those questions, but for my sanity can we wait for that please,” his eyes were sincere as he looked down at her.

  “Yeah. No worries,” she smiled shyly.

  They stood in the living room quietly; Ani half expected to see Kate storming back out of Rage’s room with her things, but that didn’t happen. As the silence settled over them, the faint sounds of Kate’s moans came from the other side of the bedroom door.

  “Ok, time to go.” Ani walked quickly back toward the kitchen as Knox chuckled loudly.

  Less than an hour later and they were pulling up to the M.C. clubhouse. It sat back in the woods past two large wrought iron gates, away from prying eyes Ani assumed. It was made up of three buildings; one large metal building that looked like an industrial garage, a slightly smaller building that looked to have once been a barn, and the main house. It was two stories and a dingy black color on the outside with the words ‘Kings of Karnage MC’ that stood out in bright white letters just below the roof.

  She got off Knox’s motorcycle and followed him to the door. The faint smell of liquor and cigarettes hovered in the air as she followed him down the hallway toward an open room littered with un-matching chairs and couches. To one side there was a large bar stocked with every type of liquor you could imagine and various pool tables along the other. It looked like an old bar for the most part except for the two double doors to the back of the room; they were carved with elaborate Celtic symbols, the same symbols that were tattooed down Knox’s arm and back. In the middle of the doors, the words ‘Kings of Karnage’ were carved. There were no windows into the room and she could only imagine what was behind those doors.