Poseidon's Lady (Poseidon's Warriors MC)

by Darlene Tallman

  “Are you Mary Poppins?” I question.

  “What?” He lifts his head and one eyebrow raises in confusion.

  “She carried a big black bag like yours and had everything in it, like you do.” Great, now I’m apparently delirious on top of everything else!

  Laughter rings through the room and I watch as two men who are definitely what I would term badass lose their composure, laughing so hard they’re doubled over. Trident finally wipes his eyes and stands, saying, “If you change your mind, brother… I’d be interested and waiting in the background.”

  “Not. Happening. Ever.” Even I hear the warning in Poseidon’s voice. For someone who is running from her fiancé, the fact that two men who look like Greek gods are interested has me realizing how sheltered I likely was because this shit has never happened before.

  Before long, Trident has an IV in me and two bags are hung on a hook that Poseidon put on the wall, using a wire hanger. Because both of us suspect that Anson and Kassidy were poisoning me, Trident has also taken several vials of blood, as well as a sample of my hair. I don’t understand all the medical stuff, per se, but he’s going to get it tested to see if our suspicions are true. Right now, I can hear the two men talking low in the ‘living room’ portion of the cabin as I lay all snuggled in the bed. Trident must have added something to the medicine because suddenly, my eyes are too heavy, and I feel myself drifting off into a peaceful dream-filled world.

  Poseidon

  This past week at the cabin with Lillianna has been entertaining as well as enlightening. Trident stayed for two days to make sure she was on the mend and once her fever broke, he left for home. She hated doing the breathing treatments, but despite the funny faces she’d make, she did them without too much complaint. Thankfully, other than being weak, she’s feeling better.

  I’ve found that she’s a wicked rummy player, but she really does suck at poker. We played for Hershey’s kisses and somehow, even though she lost at poker, I still owe her a family-size bag. My mind drifts back to last night, when we played rummy again.

  “You’re cheating, Lilli,” I state, grinning at her.

  “No, no I am not, Jesse. I don’t cheat,” she answers back.

  “Then how is it that despite me shuffling the deck before you dealt, you ended up with a straight? That’s nearly impossible to do.”

  “Just lucky I guess.” I can see the laughter in her eyes and realize that somehow, she’s managed to pull one over on me.

  “Well, I hope you pull it off, because I’d hate for you to lose the winnings you’ve already got coming.”

  I shake my head and chuckle; there are so many things to like about her that I can’t pick just one thing. Before he left, Trident also clipped some of her hair and took some blood to get it tested at the hospital’s lab so we could figure out what she was being poisoned with. He didn’t take a urine sample because he forgot a specimen cup, but advised that they would likely get one at the clinic once I get her back home. If anything, as of now, it’s all speculation. But I’m positive that they’d given her something since she overheard them stating that fact.

  While I haven’t pushed the topic of it with her regarding anything other than that mind-blowing kiss we shared, the fact of the matter is, I want to find this fucker Anson, let her ‘officially’ break things off with him, then claim her as mine. As long as she understands and doesn’t argue the fact that she won’t be going anywhere near him alone, everything will be copacetic between the two of us. I will be planted at her side along with a man or two of mine. Maybe three. Hell, maybe the whole fucking club. I’m taking no chances where she’s concerned. Plus, it’d be one hell of a statement to the two assholes that she’s well protected and untouchable. Lilli is funny, smart, witty, intuitive, and that’s all wrapped up in a singular package that is beyond easy on the eyes. “You ready?” I inquire, coming back into the cabin after loading up our stuff.

  “Yeah, just wanted to make sure that I got all the perishable stuff into the cooler so it doesn’t spoil,” she replies. I’m glad those small details that I possibly would’ve missed in my haste to leave were remembered by her.

  “Good idea. It shouldn’t take us long to get to the clubhouse so it should be fine in the back of the truck since it’s still colder than hell out there.”

  She giggles before stating, “You know that hell isn’t cold, right?”

  “Alright, Miss Sassy Pants, y’know damn good and well what I mean.” I pull her close and kiss her forehead before bending down to grab the cooler. “Just twist the bottom lock and head out to the truck. I’ve got it started and warming already; I’ll lock the deadbolt and be right there.” She nods and pulls the hoodie she has over her head. I frown at her lack of true warm outerwear but console myself with the thought that we’ll be in a warm truck.

  Once she leaves the cabin and heads out to the truck, I take one last look around to make sure we’ve remembered and gotten everything, then pick up the cooler and head out the door. Setting it down on the porch, I close the door then use the key and lock the deadbolt. I make a mental note to send a text to the neighbor who keeps an eye on the place informing him that it’s vacant again. He comes over when the weather is shitty and makes sure water is running so the pipes don’t freeze. Placing the cooler in the bed of the truck, I strap it down then get into the driver’s side to see her fiddling with the radio.

  “How do you know that wasn’t my favorite channel?” I ask teasingly as I buckle myself up.

  “Static? You listen to static? Would’ve never thought that about you at all,” she retorts, grinning.

  “We won’t get a decent signal until we hit the main road. Once we do, I’ve got SiriusXM and quite a few channels already programmed, so I’m sure you’ll find something for us to listen to.”

  As I maneuver the truck out of the driveway and down the long windy driveway, I glance over at her to see her staring out the side window, a lost expression on her face. Once I have us going in the right direction, no small feat due to the amount of snow and ice on the ground, I reach over and take her hand. “It’s gonna be okay, Lilli.”

  “You can’t know that, Poseidon,” she replies, her voice low. “He was going to kill me. Hell, he may still have that on his agenda for all we know.”

  He does. She doesn’t know that yet, however. Specks called me a few days ago to go over what he sent me and after we discussed it, I decided dumb and dumber needed to be watched. I put eyes on them and the two of them have been hunting high and low for one Lillianna Rose. They just don’t know that she’s now under the protection of the Poseidon’s Warriors MC, and more specifically, me. “Like I said, it’s gonna be okay. Now, do you need to go by your place and grab anything?”

  “Probably more clothes,” she discloses. “Remind me, why am I staying at the clubhouse again?”

  “Lilli, you’re not safe at your apartment any longer, sweetheart. You’re gonna come home with me to the clubhouse.” I watch her eyebrows raise at my words and smirk. We’ve discussed this already but it’s like she blocked it out or something. I decide not to give her a hard time seeing as she was pretty sick.

  “You live at the clubhouse?”

  “Haven’t had a need for a place of my own. Yet.” I slyly glance in her direction when the last word leaves my lips.

  She says nothing for long minutes and I start to wonder what’s going through her mind. “Where am I sleeping?” she finally asks. On my dick, runs through my mind, but I’m sure we’re not at that point in our relationship.

  “In my room with me,” I state. It might give me the biggest case of blue balls in the history of mankind, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather have her than right by my side. I’ve gotten used to curling around her body every night and have slept better than I have in years with her right there, next to me.

  “In your bed?” What’s with the twenty questions all of a sudden?

  “Well, I don’t sleep on the fucking floor, so yes, in my be
d.”

  “I can’t do that, Poseidon.”

  “Why the fuck not?” I’m starting to get a little angry, but it dies down at her next words.

  “Because I can’t sleep with you in a bed where others have been. Not if we’re starting something once I end it with Anson.” The proverbial lightbulb goes off in my head and I nod before activating my hands-free device. I’ll start a bonfire and burn that shit before I allow that to be the sole reason she doesn't lay her head down next to me every night from here on out.

  “Call Loki,” I command. The phone rings twice before he picks up.

  “Yo, Pres, what’s going on?” he answers.

  “Need you to do something for me. Use the prospects for the physical labor. Need you to head down to the furniture place and get me another king-sized bed. Then grab new sheets and a comforter set. Once the sheets are washed, get the prospect to remake the bed for me.”

  “I’m on it.” But I swear I hear amusement laced in his voice.

  “Great. Use your club card and I’ll pay the bill since it’s a personal matter. Should be there in a few hours.” I leave off the ‘get a move on it’ part of that, I don’t want to put her off on how bossy I can be. Especially when my mind is set on something happening asap.

  He chuckles before saying, “I’m sure there’s a good explanation for why you want this done.” Yeah, but it’s not the kind of thing I wanna share with him as my woman sits next to me in the cab of my truck.

  “There is. You’ll meet her when we get there.” With that, I pull his trick and disconnect the call before glancing over at Lilli. Her eyes are wide and she has an expression of disbelief on her face.

  “Y-you just threw away your bed? For me?”

  “Pretty girl, I wasn’t thinking the way you were but you’re right. If you’re going to be in my bed from here on out, we don’t need anything attached to that bed except for the memories we’ll make. I can promise you if the situation was reversed, I’d chop your bed into kindling.” And that’s not an overexaggerated statement. That shit would be fire logs by the time I was done. Mattress and all would burn.

  Lilli

  I’m in complete shock at what he just demanded and did. For me. He comes across as a complete and utter badass, and I’m sure he totally is, given the fact that he was a SEAL and is now the president of a motorcycle club, but I never would have expected or anticipated that he would have that core of sweetness inside. I mean, I don’t expect him not to have a past; after all, I’m still technically with Anson and we were sexually active. But to toss his whole bed away, sheets and all, for me? Yeah, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that one.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I say. Even though I’m lying through my teeth, he did need to if he wanted me parked beside him.

  He takes my hand in his and laces our fingers together. It feels so right, unlike anyone I’ve ever been with before. “Not big on repeating myself, but I get that you’re in shock and have been recovering. I need you to pay attention to every word I’m fixing to share with you. What we’re starting, in my world, means that it won’t end until one of us draws our last breath. That means we get a fresh start, so to speak, with respect to where we’ll be sleeping and eventually, making love and fucking.”

  My mouth goes completely dry at his words as my imagination runs wild. He’s the epitome of sexy; all growly voiced, wide-shouldered, and muscled. Doesn’t hurt that he’s got just the perfect amount of body hair. He has a commanding presence, likely from his time in the Navy, but I can see how he presides over a biker club. And while sex with Anson was so-so for me, somehow, I think it will be another story with Poseidon. I finally find my voice and say, “I see.”

  “You don’t but you will. First, we deal with the whole Anson and Kassidy situation. While me and my brothers are handling that, I want you to get in touch with whoever handles your shit and let them know what’s been happening. And I want you to know something else as well; I don’t want your fucking money. Got more than enough of my own and I’m not pussy enough to try and take any from my woman. I’m a man, your man, and as your man, it’s my job to take care of you in all aspects of life. No ifs, ands or buts about it. You’ll have to suck it up and accept that, it’s who I am and I won’t change.” Okay, so his words aren’t all hearts and flowers, but the eloquence behind what he’s saying resonates deep inside. Whereas I’ve never been the kind of woman who allows a man to take care of her in all ways, I’m kind of happy to sit back and let him shoulder all the financial worries. He may not know this… yet, but I will find a way to sneak money into us with or without his knowledge of how I do so.

  “What about my apartment?” I think I’m due to sign a new lease, but I don’t want to pay to break it. Granted, I can afford to do it, but my parents raised me to be somewhat frugal so throwing money away is something I can’t bring myself to do.

  “When’s your lease up?” he questions.

  “Not sure. Next month?” I’ll need to look at my signed lease to remember for sure when it’s up. The plus side is it is furnished, so all I have are my personal belongings.

  “So pay next month’s rent, don’t renew the lease and let them know you’ll be out by month’s end. That’ll give you time to figure out what you want to do with everything. Do you still have your parents’ house to deal with?”

  I nod, and am able to hold back the tears from falling from my eyes. Everything is so overwhelming and lately, all I’ve wanted to do was shut down and not think about it. I know, not a very mature thing at all, but the thought of sorting through their stuff is daunting. “Yeah, but their house is paid for so it’s not like I have to do it today or anything.” The lawyer hired a caretaker for their estate for me since I now live in a different part of the state than they did. He makes sure the yard is kept up and that no one tries to break in since the house is not currently being lived in by anyone.

  “We’ll get it done, pretty girl. Maybe one of those people who do estate sales can help once you go through and set aside the things you want.” I make a mental note to reach out to the attorney concerning that as well. Jesus, I’ve got a lot of shit to take care of, no wonder I’m overwhelmed!

  “That’s not a bad idea. Let’s get this other stuff dealt with first though.” The thought of facing Anson makes bile rise up in my throat but I know it has to be done. And seeing Kassidy? Yeah, not looking forward to that either. I hope I’m able to maintain myself and not try to claw my best… ex-best friend’s eyes out.

  “Absolutely. So, just to let you know, we don’t have loose pussy running around the clubhouse except at parties.” Ummm… say what now? I’m not sure I like where my mind just traveled to. Loose pussy? Does he mean club whores? Uck! I’ve read about these easy women who spread their legs to try and gain a patch. As these images run rampant through my mind, I turn around to look at him through narrowed eyes and blurt that very thing out without overthinking it. He starts laughing when I stammer and I want to smack him. “Some of the guys might have a woman stay over for a night or two, but none of them live there full time. Well, three girls do, but they actually work around the clubhouse as well. Laundry, cooking, that kind of thing. Of course, the nights we throw a party, all types show up, so you need to be prepared in case any of them cause some shit.” Just how many women has he slept with?

  “How many women are going to be aiming for my eyes?” I ask with my arms crossed over my chest. “Should I carry a weapon with me at all times? Maybe pepper spray, a taser gun? A fucking cat claw?” His laughter continues at my words and I sigh. Typical man.

  “Not that many, Lilli. Promise. But I’m no saint, so there’s a possibility some of them could show up from time to time. I promise they’ll know I’m off the market.” Well, good to know that one because I refuse to get sucked into another relationship with someone who can’t keep his dick in his fucking pants. Call me old-fashioned, but if I’m with someone, I’m only with them and I expect the same from them
.

  “Okay.” I drawl out, “but just saying, I don’t share well and I have a jealousy streak that may rear its ugly head. You know, just so you're prepared.” I throw his words back out at him.

  “Okay? You’re really okay with this?” He sounds shocked and I turn so I can face him better. I give him a tilted smirk that causes his eyes to widen. Feeling bold, and wanting to make a point, I reach down and undo the first three buttons on my blouse.

  “You’re a hot, red-blooded male. Why wouldn’t you have had female attention before? As long as they realize that you’re no longer available, I’m good. Otherwise, I might have to cut a bitch. Plus, keep in mind what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” I lean over and allow the tops of my breasts to spill out of my shirt, almost baring myself completely to him. “I won’t go down that road ever again. If you cheat or ever take another woman to bed, I will return the favor.”

  “Fuck that noise! You’re perfect for me, Lilli, and I’m so fucking glad that you found the cabin, sweetheart. You have no fucking idea.” His hands now grip the steering wheel so harshly that his knuckles begin to turn white. Men aren’t the only ones who can drive a point home.

  “Well, if I hadn’t, I’d likely be a frozen popsicle, so trust me, I’m glad as well.” I shudder when I remember just how cold I was; who knew that you could feel like you were freezing all the way down to the soles of your feet?

  He pulls into a small diner and I look at him. “Figured we’d stop and grab a bite to eat that we didn’t have to cook. No clue how busy I’ll be when we get to the clubhouse.”

  “I could eat,” I admit. Right now, I’m grateful for my metabolism, because sitting around for the past two weeks pretty much housebound because of the snow means I didn’t get to work out. Granted, I didn’t eat much when I was sick, but once I started feeling better, he plied me with food almost constantly.