She undulated under him, squeezing his softening cock gently. “You already did.”
“Naw.” He chuckled and liked how she gasped at that, feeling him laugh inside and over her. “That’s an everyday present. We won’t be holding that back for special occasions. Welcome to your new wake-up call, Dana.”
“Oh.” She laughed, turning her head to kiss him softly. “I could get used to this.”
He moved and slipped slowly from her body, liking the pout she put on for him, the tiny sigh of disappointment at losing him. “Hold that thought, baby.” Condom taken care of, he balanced on one foot as he opened the top drawer of his dresser and brought out the tiny box he’d placed there weeks ago, when his heart recognized she wasn’t going anywhere. “I picked this up in Dallas when we went there for the Veterans Day memorial ride back in November. It took weeks to have it made. I was afraid it wouldn’t be ready in time.” She hadn’t gone, staying behind at the clubhouse, and he realized she’d never consented to ride on his bike. Never ridden on any of the bikes. Gonna have to correct that. Without fanfare, he climbed back on the bed and stretched out beside her as he placed the box between her breasts, directly over her heart. “Open it.”
“Should we wait for everyone?” She plucked the package up, turning it this way and that, fingers slowly trailing along the edges of the bow that was nearly as large as the package itself.
Kirby shook his head. “Nope. This is all you. You and me.” Just how I want it to be. “Open it,” he urged again. Fist wedged under his head, he propped up and watched as she carefully teased the tape loose, unfolding the paper instead of ripping into it like he would have. “You’re doing that just to annoy me.” Dana cut her eyes at him, a look of such shy pleasure on her face that he swooped in for a kiss. “Go ahead, annoy me more.”
“If that’s my reward, honey, prepare yourself to be mightily annoyed.” She laughed, setting the ribbon and paper aside. “Here we go.” She used a fingernail to pry the box open, then gasped softly, gaze fixed on the contents. “Oh, Kirby.” Tipping the box, she let the necklace flow into her hand. The gold chain was fine, links shining even in the dimness, but what held her attention was the pendant. The front carried the emblem for the club, worked into a circle of gold, with words etched on the back. “Most Rikki-Tik.” Fingertips tracing the letters, she turned a hopeful gaze on him. “Does this mean I’m an honorary member now?”
“Forever and ever, you’re one of us.” He paused when she reached up, coin dangling from the chain as she caressed the side of his face, the gold already heated from her grip. He closed his eyes, savoring her touch, and he marveled at how everything had fallen into place for him. For us. “You’re mine now, Dana. No going back.” The motion of her hand ceased, and he opened his eyes, staring down at her openmouthed expression. “No taking any of this back. I’ve wanted you for so long, you can’t take that away from me.”
“No, I don’t expect I’d want to, truth be told.” She smiled and sighed. “Is it too early to say the words?”
“Not if you feel ’em in your heart.” He shook his head. “I’m not afraid of jinxing us, because this is real and true.” Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed her gently, reverently, before telling her, “I’ve wanted a love like this with you forever, woman. Tell me how you feel.”
“I love you, Kirby Westbrook. I love just you.”
***
The house had been quiet when they’d come down the stairs, Dana trailing behind, connected by her small hand in his waistband. Kirby had propped the crutches to one side and gotten coffee started in the kitchen while she retrieved breakfast fixings from the refrigerator. Together they’d made heaping platters of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. A few more minutes saw a stack of toast on a plate. By then, there’d been half a dozen of the men in the kitchen with them, mugs of coffee in hand. It was silent, but not uncomfortable, just the normal quiet communion with brothers not yet awake.
Kirby winced when he heard Nathan’s distinctive footfalls in the upstairs hallway, accompanied by low cursing. That generally only happened when his stump was swollen and he’d had to force it into the socket of his prosthesis. Kirby looked up to see Dana and Oscar sharing a look, and he knew they would take care of whatever Nathan needed. This, he thought, this is why I wanted the club.
Then Nathan pounded on any still-closed doors upstairs and Kirby grinned. “And that, my friends, is how we start Christmas morning at the MBMC.” Laughter filled the kitchen, and he locked gazes with Dana, watching as she reached up and fingered the pendant resting at the base of her throat. “From here forwards,” he said as Nathan made his way into the kitchen to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them, the just-awoken men crowding behind him. “We make our own traditions, plot our own courses, and bear the burdens so our brothers don’t have to. If you stumble, we’ll steady you. If you fall, we’ll help you up. When you can’t walk the path on your own, we will carry you. This—” He spread his hand towards Dana, smiling when she accepted his offer, coming to him and letting him cradle her into his side. “This is the result of everything we’ve all worked for, and I thank you, my brothers. We remember those gone ahead, securing the shores of Valhalla until we’re together again.”
When he looked around the room, every eye was on him, intense gazes from these men he’d promised so much to all those months ago. “Together we’re stronger, and I’m proud to be a Mayhan Buckler.” Dana’s hand pressed to his chest, and he glanced down, happy to see a smile on her face. “Thank you, brothers. For believing in me. In us. In what we wanted to build. For being part of this thing, grown so much larger than I imagined. I’m proud of you.”
Mugs of coffee lifted in an accepting toast, every head nodded, and Kirby saw more than one man furtively knuckle an eye.
Then Oscar asked the question Kirby had been waiting for. “So, you and Dana?”
She tensed beside him, and he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze. “Yeah, me and Dana.”
“Good.” Nathan coughed and choked, then sputtered through what turned into whooping gales of laughter. “I was hoping that’s what all that noise was last night.” He elbowed Kirby, still chuckling. “You know you’re marrying up, right?”
It was Kirby’s turn to freeze, much to the amusement of every man, and woman, in the room. He allowed the laughter, because it signaled so much more than it seemed. He and Dana were together, and his club accepted it. His brothers were happy for him because they could see what it meant.
Hope you’re happy, Pops. Mayhan Bucklers forever.
~~~
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for reading Most Rikki-Tik, book one in my Mayhan Bucklers MC series. These stories have a dear place in my heart, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raised in the south, MariaLisa learned about the magic of books at an early age. Every summer, she would spend hours in the local library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she says "I've always loved to read, but then I discovered writing, and found I adored that, too. For reading...if nothing else is available, I've been known to read the back of the cereal box."
Also by MariaLisa deMora
Alace Sweets
A dark thriller, this book is not a light read. Filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense, this intense story commands the reader's attention as it drives towards the explosive ending. Alace Sweets is a vigilante serial killer, with everything that implies and is sure to trip all your triggers. Be ready.
At seventeen, Alace Sweets turned a corner in her life, taking the wrong shortcut home from school.
Resisting the harsh knowledge her attackers will never be made to pay for their actions, Alace takes a stand. Justice must be served, and if fate’s scales are out of balance, she’s determined to set things right as best she can.
When the laws of men fail, the rules of Alace prevail.
5-Star Reviews for Alace Sweets
“deMora ha
s a superb story-line and exceptional character development. All of her characters have such depth that will intrigue the reader...”
~Turning Another Page
“Hot, sweet, dark thriller.”
~Beth D
“It will keep you on the edge of your seat and give you chills.”
~Escape Reality Book Blog
“Disturbing, haunting, sickly; yet hot, sexy and heart racing!”
~Amanda L
“From the first page [deMora] pulls you into the world she has created and you do not even try to escape...”
~Little Shop of Readers Blog
“A must read for all those dark, gritty romance fans out there.”
~Sweet & Spicy Reads
“You will find yourself so drawn into the story that the outside world is blocked out and your locking the doors and turning on all the lights.”
~Danena F
“Don't judge me for bonding with a vigilante serial killer, she's more than what she does.”
~iScream Books
“Thrilling...chilling...full of suspense, nail biting edge of your seat excitement.”
~Tracey H
“Every time MariaLisa deMora picks up her pen (or opens her computer), she creates characters you want to believe in.”
~Gail S
“Intriguing dark storyline, beautiful love story and nail-biting conclusion, what more could a reader ask for?”
~Manda M
“This book takes you a dark and twisted ride that is gripping...”
~Renee Entress' Blog
“This book is dark and gritty and I literally had to take a day off from reading it because it's that intense.”
~My Girlfriend's Couch
“This is my favourite book so far from this author ... I recommend this book if you enjoy dark romantic thrillers.”
~Cheekypee Reads and Reviews
“There's not enough stars to give this book and 5 just doesn't really do it justice!”
~DeLane C
“I couldn't put this book down from page one! Tried to stop & go to bed but couldn't sleep thinking about Alace and got up & finished the book.”
~Debbie M
“MariaLisa DeMora, wordsmith that she is, made this a story of the enlightenment of a woman and finding love in a life where she has had none.”
~Kat W
“Whatever deep dark trench [deMora] pulled a character like Alace from should be revisited again and often.”
~Confessions of a Serial Reader
ADDITIONAL SERIES AND BOOKS
Please note that books in a series frequently feature characters from additional books within that series. If series books are read out of order, readers will twig to spoilers for the other books, so going back to read the skipped titles won’t have the same angsty reveals.
Rebel Wayfarers MC series:
Mica, #1
A Sweet & Merry Christmas, #1.5
Slate, #2
Bear, #3
Jase, #4
Gunny, #5
Mason, #6
Hoss, #7
Harddrive Holidays, #7.5
Duck, #8
Biker Chick Campout, #8.5
Watcher, #9
A Kiss to Keep You, #9.25
Gun Totin’ Annie, #9.5
Secret Santa, #9.75
Bones, #10
Gunny’s Pups, #10.25
Never Settle, #10.5
Not Even A Mouse, #10.75
Fury, #11
Christmas Doings, #11.25
Gypsy’s Lady, #11.5
Cassie, #12
Road Runner’s Ride, #12.5
Occupy Yourself band series:
Born Into Trouble, #1
Grace In Motion, #2 (TBD)
What They Say, #3 (TBD)
Neither This, Nor That MC series:
This Is the Route Of Twisted Pain, #1
Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad, #2
Shelter My Heart, #3
Trapped by Fate on Reckless Roads, #4
Thunderstruck, #5
Mayhan Bucklers MC series:
Most Rikki-Tik, #1
Mad Minute, #2
Pucker Factor, #3
If You Could Change One Thing: Tangled Fates Stories
There Are Limits, #1
Rules Are Rules, #2
The Gray Zone, #3
Other Books:
With My Whole Heart
Alace Sweets
Hard Focus
More information available at mldemora.com.
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