He pulled back only long enough to slide my panties down my legs and was inside me in the next breath. I gasped at the fullness of him as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me as close as he could get me. His lips were everywhere, as though desperate to mark every patch of my skin.
When he paused, pulling back to look down at me, I let out a whine of frustration, desperate for him to move. “I want to put my baby in you,” he growled.
“You could have already,” I panted, thinking about the time in the shower not long ago.
A look of satisfaction crossed his face. “Good. I’m gonna keep trying. You good with that?”
More like ecstatic. I wanted nothing more than to build a family with Cash. “Yes. I want that,” I rasped. “I also want you to move. I need it,” I begged.
His hips flexed in answer, and I let out a groan of relief. His movements intensified, his body taking mine in the way only Cash could, completely and overwhelmingly. It was only a few moments before I was biting my lip to avoid screaming out his name, his grunt of release following.
He collapsed on top of me, our breathing labored. I wrapped my arms around his back, holding him close. When I shifted slightly under his weight, he made a sound of disapproval. “Don’t move, baby. I don’t want any getting out.”
I laughed. “I don’t think it really works that way.”
“Well, couldn’t hurt,” he defended, pulling up on his elbow to look down at me. “Christ, you’re so beautiful,” he murmured.
“Are you okay?” I asked gently, sifting my hands through his hair, damp with sweat.
“I’m okay,” he affirmed. He pulled back from my body, lying on his side and pulling me close. “I’ll always need to protect you. That will never change. But this trip, it made me realize that this was more about me than justice. I don’t want to be that man anymore, prideful to the point of selfish. I’m a bigger man than that. You’ve helped me to be.” His words floored me as he continued. “I’m sorry for leaving, baby. If I ever do that again, it will have nothing to do with me and everything to do with you or my duty to the club. Do you understand me?”
“I understand you,” I murmured softly.
“Good. Now let’s get some sleep. I’m fucking wiped.” He sighed.
“Okay, but let’s put some clothes on. You know Riley will be in here first thing, hoping you’re home.”
He chuckled. “Good point.”
A few minutes later, Cash in boxers, me in panties and a sleep shirt, we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.
****
We decided to pull Riley out of school the next day, wanting to be together as a family. We’d spent a perfect morning at the zoo followed by lunch at Francesca’s bakery and were now preparing to make our own pizzas for dinner. Riley’s giggles filled the air as she and Cash kneaded the dough, making an epic mess in the process. I couldn’t care less. Seeing them together was worth every surface being covered in flour.
Once the pizzas were baked, the whole house smelling amazing, we sat down to eat. Cash surprised me by producing two bouquets of flowers, one for Riley and one for me.
“So, tonight is a special occasion,” he stated, looking from me to Riley.
“Oh?” I asked curiously.
“It is. Because I have a very important question to ask. Two questions, actually.”
My heart galloped in my chest as I caught on to what he might be alluding to. But could I really be so lucky?
He pushed back his chair, getting on to one knee in front of Riley as I gasped in shock.
“Riley, I want to ask your mama to marry me. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes!” she shrieked in excitement as I blinked back tears.
“And I also want to be your daddy more than anything in this world. Will you let me?”
“Yes!” she shrieked again, making me laugh through happy tears.
He produced a necklace, showing her the charms. “There’s one for me, for you, and for your mama.”
“I want to wear it,” she breathed, her eyes wide with excitement. She’d always loved playing with my jewelry, and I knew it meant the world to her to have her own, especially something that meant so much.
Once her necklace was on, Cash moved to me, producing a velvet box and lifting its lid. I put my hands over my mouth, staring down at the exquisite three-stone diamond ring. “Layla, if there’s such a thing as love at first sight, you were that for me. And every day I love you more than the next—to the point that I can’t believe my heart could be that big. I want to love you, protect you, and support making all of your dreams come true. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I breathed as he slid the ring on my finger and kissed my knuckle. He pulled me up into his arms, kissing me soundly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He grinned.
“Yay!” Riley exclaimed. “Can I eat my pizza now?”
We both laughed, turning to look down at her. “Yes, baby. You can eat,” I answered.
Chapter 23
CASH
“I think they’re here!” Riley shrieked from the front window, where her nose had been pressed for the past thirty minutes waiting for Thorn and his wife, Roxy. Sure enough, the sound of an approaching Harley reverberated through the house.
It had been two weeks since Layla and I had become engaged, and in that time, Thorn and I had stayed in contact. Roxy had reached out to Layla, and the two had talked on the phone. When we’d made the decision to tell Riley that she had a new grandfather and grandmother, she’d been beside herself with excitement. Tonight, we were celebrating our engagement with a barbecue at our place and had invited them. Layla had suggested they come earlier to give us some time before everyone else joined us.
The last few weeks had been good. Great, actually. Having my ring on Layla’s finger felt right in a way not much else had in my life. We’d talked about having a small wedding, something soon. Though not as soon as I’d like. I would marry her tomorrow if she’d let me.
“Okay, baby. Well, let’s give them a second to get inside.” Layla laughed from the kitchen where she was prepping a salad.
When the doorbell rang, Riley let out a squeak, rushing over to me and grasping my hand. Clearly her earlier bravado had worn off now that they were actually here.
“Shy?” I murmured, remembering the little girl I’d first met. I was equal parts grateful that she’d come out of her shell for me as I was that she turned to me for comfort when she wasn’t ready to do that with new people.
She nodded as I opened the door, finding Thorn and Roxy, who was grinning from ear to ear and practically bouncing on her heels with excitement. She was an attractive older woman, and her red lipstick, high heels, and thick mane of brown hair was a bold look, but she wore it well.
“Come on in.” I gestured as Riley peeked out from behind my legs. “This is Riley. She’s feeling a little shy right now,” I explained.
Roxy looked down at her with such adoration, I could tell she was doing everything she could to hold herself back from squeezing her. I remembered what Thorn had said about them always trying for kids. Now here she was getting a son and a grandchild at the same time. Despite neither of us being her blood, I knew instinctively and by her obvious excitement that it didn’t matter to her. As I looked at her warm brown eyes, bright with unshed tears she was desperately blinking back, I realized it didn’t matter a lick to me either.
“Nice to meet you, Riley.” She smiled, offering a little wave with her bright red fingernails.
“And this is Layla,” I added as Layla stepped forward, wrapping Roxy in a hug.
“It’s nice to meet you in person, Roxy.” She smiled in welcome. “And to see you again, Thorn,” she added, returning to my side. “Come on in, make yourselves comfortable. What can I get you both to drink?”
“Beer for me,” Thorn rumbled.
“White wine if you have it, honey,” Roxy added as Thorn wrapped a hand around her shoulders in an obvio
us gesture of affection and likely comfort. It was a big moment for everyone.
Layla nodded and headed for the fridge.
“Looks like the pool’s come a long way since I was last here,” Thorn noted, eyeing the backyard, which was still in the midst of construction. “Who’s going to be swimming in it, though?” he pondered aloud.
For someone who’d never had kids, he certainly knew how to lay out the bait.
“Me!” Riley exclaimed. “I will! Every day!”
Thorn bit back a smile. “Oh yeah? Do you know how to swim?”
“No, but my daddy’s going to teach me,” she replied.
“I bet you’ll be like a little mermaid by the end of the summer.” Roxy grinned as Layla returned with drinks, including a beer for me.
Riley’s eyes got comically large as she looked at Roxy in awe. She was in a serious mermaid phase. “You think so? Really?”
Roxy got down on her haunches so that she was at Riley’s level. “I know so. And guess what? Once you learn how to swim, and if your parents say it’s okay, there are mermaid tails you can wear in the pool. I’ll get you one.”
Riley’s shriek was nearly earsplitting.
“I think she likes that idea.” Layla laughed.
And with that, the initial tension I hadn’t realized I’d been feeling ebbed. Everything was so new, but we all wanted to try, that much was clear. I’d found that in life that was usually the hardest part.
I had a second beer in hand and was feeling mellow when Gunner caught my gaze from across the room an hour later. The house was full of club members and even a few Black Riders. Layla was in the kitchen talking to Wren and Liv. Riley was sitting on the counter, chattering away to Roxy, who was watching her with such a loving expression, you’d hardly believe they’d just met. Then again, I knew firsthand how easy it was to immediately love Riley.
I gave Gunner a nod, cocking my head toward the back patio. I pointed toward Cole and Thorn with a raised brow, wondering if they should join us. At Gunner’s nod, I tapped Cole on the back and made eye contact with Thorn before heading out the back door. I knew that’d be all I’d need to do.
I stopped at the railing, leaning against it, arms crossed as the three men gathered around.
Gunner cleared his throat. “You know I’ve been looking into the ADA. I wanted to find something we could pin on him. Something big enough to put him on notice that the shit he’s been pulling with the Riders and may have been thinking of doing to us won’t stand.”
“And?” Cole growled impatiently.
“Took me a while to find what I was looking for. He hid his tracks well, but I knew with an asshole like him all I had to do was follow the money. The money that, as it turns out, he’s been stealing from taxpayers to supply his sex and coke addictions.”
I let out a low whistle. “No shit.”
“No shit,” Gunner affirmed. “I don’t think the state of Nevada would be too thrilled if they knew what he was up to.”
“Or his wife,” I grunted.
“He may be alerted to someone looking into him, since I was able to access his offshore accounts,” Gunner continued. “Whatever we’re gonna do, we need to do it fast.”
Thorn looked to Cole. “We’re not taking him out.” It wasn’t a question, but you could still hear the disdain in his tone.
Cole shook his head. “Not unless he forces our hand. And you know why.”
“Fuck,” Thorn grumbled.
Hell, I understood his frustration, but the ADA was high-profile. We didn’t need that kind of heat.
“This was my fight,” Thorn growled. “I’ll take what we know to him directly. I’m not working through that rat that works for him,” he added, referring to Marty. “I’m not accepting anything less than his resignation and taillights getting the hell out of town. I’m taking care of this shit tomorrow.”
“I’m backing you up.” I didn’t know I was going to say it until the words were out of my mouth.
Thorn looked surprised for a moment before he quickly masked his expression, shooting me a nod. “Appreciate it.”
“You say the word, and everything you’ve paid him gets transferred back into your accounts.” Gunner spoke up. I didn’t ask how he would do that; I just knew he could.
“Appreciate it. Not yet. Need to deliver the message first,” Thorn replied with gratitude.
I glanced inside, catching Layla giving Riley a stern look. She was likely trying to get her to go to bed, not an easy task on any night and especially not on one as exciting as this one. “Gotta get back inside.” I nodded toward the house. “We’ll meet when it’s done.”
Cole nodded his agreement as I strode back inside, intent on getting my daughter to bed so my woman could enjoy her engagement party. And, if I was being honest, so I could enjoy her later after she’d had a few drinks.
My girl was fucking hot in bed as it was, but get some drinks in her and a whole other side of her came out, one completely wild and untamed.
And I wasn’t complaining.
Chapter 24
LAYLA
I was sitting in my office processing the last of the photos I’d taken for the Nevada tourism campaign I’d been hired for when the doorbell rang.
“Thought you could use one of Francesca’s newest concoctions and some coffee.” Emmie smiled knowingly when I opened the door. She held out a pastry bag and a cup of coffee.
“Bless you.” I sighed, gesturing her inside. After a late night, I was tired and slightly hungover. But it had been worth it. Our engagement party had been a blast, and my after-party with Cash, even better. My skin was a map of love bites, my body sore in places I didn’t realize I’d even used. “I’m just working on some photos,” I explained as she followed me into the office, plopping onto the sofa we kept on the far wall.
“How’d they come out?” she wondered.
“Good.” I took a sip of the coffee she’d brought me. “Even if I had very reluctant hiking partners,” I added dryly. Emmie and Grace had volunteered to come with me the day I’d needed some more scenic shots a few weeks back. To say they weren’t the outdoor type was an understatement.
Emmie wrinkled her nose. “There were bugs.”
I laughed, shaking my head at her. “What’s your plan for the day?”
“I’m working the night shift tonight,” she explained, “so taking it easy today, just going to run some errands. Where’s Cash?”
“He went with Thorn somewhere, I think something to do with the ADA but he wouldn’t say much.” I sighed. He hadn’t mentioned anything last night, and by the time he’d said something that morning, we’d both been preoccupied getting Riley out the door. I hadn’t been able to press him for details the way I wanted to.
“I’m sure he’s okay,” she replied gently, clearly picking up on my concern.
“I’m just ready for all of this to be over.” The underlying threat from the ADA’s blackmail attempts had been with us for nearly the entirety of our relationship, and I was more than ready to move on.
“I know you are. We all are,” she agreed emphatically as she rose from the couch. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I can let myself out.”
“I’ll text you later. Thanks for the coffee,” I said as she walked out of sight. I’d already turned back to my photos when I swore I heard a thump from the living room. I cocked my head, wondering if it had just been the front door, when I heard what sounded like furniture scraping. “Em?” I called.
The silence that followed had the hair rising on my arms. I realized with a feeling of dread that I hadn’t reset the alarm when I’d let Emmie in. On instinct I picked up my phone, calling Cash, knowing this wasn’t a time to hesitate. When I got his voicemail, I hung up and called Gunner.
“Layla,” he greeted on the first ring.
“I think something’s wrong,” I whispered. “Emmie was just leaving my house but I didn’t hear the front door and there are noises in the liv
ing room. I think someone’s here.”
“Stay where you are. I’m coming,” he barked, the agitation clear in his tone just as I heard another noise from outside the office door.
“I’ve got to go help,” I replied, knowing there was no way in hell I was going to leave Emmie on her own if there was something happening.
“Layla, stop!” I heard Gunner order, but I was already setting my phone down and picking up the photography innovation award I’d received a few years back. It was the heaviest thing I could find. I tiptoed out of the office, my heart hammering in my chest. When I got my first glimpse at the living room, it was as though a real-life nightmare was unfolding right in front of me. A masked man had Emmie by the hair, a gloved hand covering her mouth. Her panicked eyes met mine just as his dark, unfamiliar ones looked up. I reacted on instinct, rushing him, hand outstretched, aiming for his head.
He dropped Emmie like a rag doll, wrapping huge hands around my wrists in order to thwart my attempt to knock him out. I kicked out, trying to find purchase in some vulnerable spot on his body. He grunted when I hit his knee but didn’t loosen his grip.
Emmie rose to her hands and knees, shaking her head slightly as though to clear it.
“Run, Emmie!” I cried. “Get help.”
The look of determination on her face when she looked at me promised a different plan, one she soon proved true as she stood and launched herself on the intruder’s back. She pulled at his head as he held me pinned to his chest.
I felt him throw his arm back and heard Emmie drop to the floor. He spun me, his arm braced over my neck. A moment later he was pressing a rag to my face, the chemical smell suffocating as I fought with all I had against it. I tried in vain to hold my breath, my last thought as my body went limp of Riley, hoping desperately she was safe.
Cash Page 14
