Chance being unhappy, was because of Rage and Drake. Chance possibly felt threatened although there was no need. The question was how to reassure the man I loved so dearly. The man meant everything to me and when Chance was upset, I was affected too. Chance had been there ever since our infamous jail time together. He’d never called me weak for the past nor ever judged me. He accepted who and what I was and loved me. I’d known Chance had warned Drake off and Drake had pushed it this weekend.
The death threat didn’t worry me, security or the police, Hellfire or Rage would get to the bottom of that. So while scared and worried, at the end of the day, I knew I’d be safe. As safe as I could be. Chance would burn the city before harm came to the kids or me. I should be reassured, but the fear was still present.
The attraction between Drake and myself. That was a huge problem. Was I ready to risk another chance on a man? Could I risk the kids again and their safety and happiness? Instinctively, I knew that Drake would never physically harm me. Like Chance, Drake wouldn’t dream of raising a hand to a woman or child. But what happened if Drake got close and then ran? Maybe finding everything too much, with my kids and Trusts.
Yeah, the weekend just gone by proved that Drake supported the Trusts, but long term? How could that play out? I glanced across at where he sat, face lit by the flames of the fire. Yes, I’d fallen in love with Drake over the last two weeks. The strength of my feelings was not a joking matter. I needed Drake, but I’d the children to consider. No man, no matter how much I loved him, would come between me and my children or the Trusts.
Slick sat next to Drake, talking to Chance who sat next to them. Chance’s tense body a good sign of the anger he was struggling to contain. Drake’s body was as tense. Drake was a protector, he felt deep. I’d never been attracted to Chance after our first meeting but Drake knocked my socks off. Something was building between us.
Let the chips fall where they fell, I decided. No point in trying to fool myself into believing I wasn’t in love with the man. When Drake touched me, I lit up like a heat-seeking missile. Not just sexual attraction, I was deeply attracted to Drake on every level. This was intense, a relationship that was worth fighting for. I had the intuition that once Drake was in, he gave the woman everything.
Drake made me laugh, was kind and caring although at the same time grumpy. We cared about the same things, Drake made sure I’d get what I wanted. Okay, honestly, maybe Drake some did things to guarantee he’d get what he wanted too.
Drake looked over and I don’t know what was in my face but his body relaxed and he sent a shit-eating grin at me. My thoughts must have been obvious because his eyes lit with wicked glee and satisfaction. I held his gaze and announced it was time for a bath to relax. The guys sent chin lifts and nods and carried on talking.
The next day after midday, Emily opened the office door. A tall handsome man strode in, following swiftly behind him, was Drake. Drake appeared mad and the other man pissed. Warily, I watched as they both approached my desk and both men glared.
“You’d consulted Hawthorne’s?” Drake spat out slamming hands on my desk.
“What was the point of having my top security expert go over HQ, if you only implemented half the measures Davies suggested?” Dylan Hawthorne snarled. Uh oh, here came trouble.
“Imagine my fuckin’ surprise, when I contact Hawthorne, only to find you previously were a client!” Drake spat again.
“Davies suggested cameras in private offices. Where are they?” Dylan snapped. Okay, these two were tag teaming me. Enough!
“Okay, both of you stop right now. Yes Drake, I know Dylan Hawthorne, Dylan consulted with Abigail on security for HQ. Davies oversaw the installation of most of the security features.” I pointed at Drake and swapped to pointing at Dylan.
“Yes Dylan, Abigail did only carry out half of the suggestions. Neither one of us liked being watched while in private offices. It seemed like I was spying on the staff too. Yes, I made a mistake, we will correct that.” If I expected to mollify the men, I was wrong. Both sent me dark stares.
“Davies is coming later today. He’ll meet with Abigail and go back over the original plans and make changes. HQ will be more secure than Fort Knox. Whatever suggestions are made, I don’t expect an argument, get me?” Dylan pointed at me this time.
“I get you, but don’t talk to me like I’m a child.” I snapped back.
“This is my business Phoenix, you understand? Hawthorne’s doesn’t make a recommendation for shits and giggles. We make one because it’s needed. A fuckhead got through your security and left a death threat for you and the kids. Until HQ is secure to Davies’s standards, you’re working from home, starting from now. I’m putting a four-man rotating shift on you. Twelve hours each.”
“Think…”
“Don’t care what you fuckin’ think Phoe. Listen to the man or I’ll lock you down on Rage!” Drake snarled. A quick glance at Dylan told me I’d get no support there, and I gave a graceful shrug. I picked my battles, and this was one I wasn’t going to win. I bent and picked up my bag.
“Finished for the day.”
“Good.” Drake snarled. I sighed.
◆◆◆
Sat in the library a few days later surrounded by boxes, I threw an empty box at Slick. Slick was sat on the floor next to me emptying boxes. We’d argued how to unload the boxes as there was so many of them. Finally, we’d created piles of books in front of their relevant bookcase.
This led to further arguments as I’d many series in which different authors wrote in, such as Dragonlance and Star Wars. In the end an agreement was reached, that those books would be shelved according to series and then shelved by author.
Slick had dived straight into the books and began flipping through and piling them. He put a few books on a table which I guessed he meant to read. He’d teased me over the Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms books. The bugger nearly ripped my hand off when he saw me unearthing the entire collection of Clive Cussler.
Sneakily, Slick had repacked the Raymond Feist books, saying that he was keeping them as a gift. Come on, Feist is a god! Drake, laughing, had to stop us wrestling over the box. I now leaned back against his chest as we continued unloading boxes. Bear had arrived and was helping too. The four of us concentrated on getting books to the right shelves for now. By the way, I won the Feist fight. Those books were mine!
There was many sarcastic comments on the number of books. Drake had asked where the children’s books were. Jodie explained that shelves were being fitted in the spare room, turning it into a children’s library. Jodie and Serenity stopped by and helped after their tennis game.
The teens were playing a hockey game in the ballpark. The little ones were in the jungle gym with Pyro and Tiny. It was a good day. By five o’clock most of the boxes were unpacked, leaving plenty of time to eat dinner with the kids. Mrs Ames had cooked tacos, and they disappeared like lightning. Albert had planned a grandfather evening with the kids and everyone scurried to the cinema for films and popcorn.
“Wanna continue?” Slick asked looking at his watch. Time was just approaching half-past six.
“Sure maybe start shelving them?” I asked the others. Despite nods, half an hour later Bear, was curled up with a Terry Brooks book. Slick bopped Bear on the head with a book. Bear growled and then settled back in the chair.
At nine I put the babies down, smiling because we’d had a good day. Slick said he’d return the next day, and I offered him a room for the night. Hellfire were staying. Slick’s eyes slid to Drake for approval before he agreed and took the offer of a spare room. Drake watched me expectantly and I grinned at him.
“Ten’ish okay for you to come back?” I teased. Drake took two strides and his mouth crushed mine. A minute later he lifted his head and gave me a lazy grin.
“Ten’ish?”
“Huh?” I asked stupidly.
“To come back Phoe.” Drake smugly said.
“You think you can kiss me like that
and leave me hanging, you can think again.” I said, snottily. Drake gave me that lazy grin again and then scooped me up into his arms.
“Know exactly what I got comin’.” Drake grinned and carried me to my bedroom.
Once inside, he kicked the door shut and plastered me against the door. His mouth dropped back to mine, and we kissed wildly. Both panting by the time the kiss ended, Drake grabbed my wrists. Lifting them above my head, Drake pinned mine there with one hand.
Drake’s other hand cupped my face and tilted my head and he kissed me again. I struggled against the hold wanting to run my hands over that hard body. Featherlight fingers were running over my body but Drake held my arms up, denying reciprocation. Drake let go and dragged his mouth from mine.
“Move those hands angel and there’ll be trouble.” He growled, a hand slipped to my jeans’ waistband and dragged my tee free. Impatient, Drake ripped it off and stood gazing at my breasts covered by a black lacy bra. I winced. Yeah, giving birth to five kids left stretch marks, and I wasn’t twenty-one anymore. Drake appeared not to notice as he teased my nipples.
I gasped and lifting his head Drake looked into my eyes. Pure need, reflected in his eyes, made me squirm under the hot gaze. His lips touched my throat, and I moaned. Drake began licking and sucking as his hands cupped and stroked my breasts, setting every nerve on fire.
I struggled to keep my hands up and he unsnapped my jeans and sank to his knees. I dropped my hands and clenched them in his hair as he kissed his way down my stomach. Drake stopped kissing me and looked up and I went weak at the look on his face. Drake rose to his feet and shoved my arms up again and his other hand slid down my jeans and cupped me.
One finger began making lazy circles on my clit and I cried out. Eyes watched me intently, as that finger began stoking the fire he was building and I began panting shamelessly. The nasty tease moved the finger away, and I cried out a denial and a wicked look crossed Drake’s face. His groin pushed against me and I thrust against his hardness.
“Punishment.” Drake whispered, and that finger slid inside my wet core and thrust. My legs were barely holding me up and moving frantically against his hand, I rubbed against him. An orgasm was building and dropping my head I bit his shoulder. My body began to shake in release and then Drake stopped and withdrew his hand.
Shocked and in disbelief I looked at Drake. Still wearing a wicked look, he carried me to the bed. Reverently, he placed me on it before pulling my jeans and panties off completely. He parted my legs and sank between them.
“Keep hands above your head, baby.” I glared, wet and wild and needing him, then nodded as he took me in his mouth.
Oh my god, never had this! Drake was skilled beyond belief. The fire banked and rose again and for the second time my hands clenched in his hair. I held his head there as I ground myself against his mouth and Drake pulled away denying my release a second time. No!
“Naughty girl.” He said harshly, fighting for control and he took my mouth. A hand slid between our bodies and Drake had his belt in his hands. Deftly my hands were tied together and then tied to the bed.
“Drake! I need you!” I begged. He smiled, and it made between my legs tingle.
Drake ripped his tee off and my mouth went dry at the sight of his chest. Outlined muscles and a smattering of dark hair Drake was a picture of masculinity. He stood and kicked off his boots and pulled his jeans down. Naked, Drake stood in front of me and I squirmed. He took his cock in hand and began stroking up and down, my mouth watered.
“Drake!”
“What do you want, angel?” Intently watching me squirm, Drake was getting an intense male satisfaction from it.
“You, I need you.” Suddenly his body covered me.
“Greedy girl.” Drake whispered in my ear as his cock poked at me. I wriggled trying to get him inside and he held off. One hand ran over my body, cupping my breasts and bringing them to his mouth. He suckled and nipped sharing his attention equally.
I was a hot panting mess and Drake revelled it. Drake’s jaw was locked hard with self-control as he slid gradually inside me. Greedily, I tried to move my hips to make him sink deeper, but he held me down and I could only lay there and take him.
“Drake.” I nearly wailed.
Drake’s mouth covered mine and then with a hard thrust he was seated in me. Huge and throbbing he stretched and filled me and I clenched around him. Now it was his to groan deep, and I clenched harder around his cock. In return Drake nipped my lip and began to move. Supporting his weight on one arm as he looked at me. Crushing me to him, he set a frantic pace, thrusting hard. Primed to go off, I exploded.
I cried out into his mouth. Drake was battling for control as I came back to earth. His hand was still between us and I was sensitive. With a wicked glint he began playing with me again, as he thrust inside me. Drake removed his hand and slid it around to cup my ass.
“Christ Phoe.” He muttered and then began thrusting harder. I met him with every thrust and I felt an orgasm build again. With a cry I came a second time and a few seconds later he did. Drake collapsed on top of me, both of us sweaty and hot.
“Want more.” I whispered to him trying to regain my breath. He chuckled against me.
“Need a few minutes, I’ve not blown like that since I was a teen.” Instead of being annoyed at his crude words I chuckled too.
“You were amazing.” I whispered, my hands still tied above my head. I ached to touch him.
“Beyond that angel. Never had a woman go so wild for me.” Drake told me and propped himself up on one arm and snagged me around the middle. He turned us both on our sides while remaining inside of me.
“Don’t think I’ve ever felt like that before.” I told him truthfully. Drake’s hand clenched on my hip telling me how he felt.
“Good.” He muttered. He opened his eyes and looked at me. “Phoenix, you’re mine, understand?” I frowned thinking I knew what he meant, but I wasn’t sure.
“Yours?” I asked.
“You’re it for me. You’re mine.” Was Drake telling me what I thought he was telling me?
“We’re dating?” Uncertainty in my voice. Drake let out another chuckle.
“No angel, way past dating.”
“Then what?” I asked. Drake lifted himself up and withdrew from me, a moue of disappointment escaped as he left me and untied me. Vigorously, Drake rubbed my wrists and dragged me onto his lap facing him. Without hesitation, I wrapped my legs around his waist as he dragged us up against the headboard.
“Gonna give you one chance. Just one Phoe. If you take the out, I’ll leave, even though you’re the only woman for me. You chose not to take it, you’re mine for life. Understand?” Although I still didn’t get it, I nodded.
“Give it to you straight. Rage was shit. For years the club was rotten, I got it clean just seven years ago. Asshole President had us runnin’ illegal shit. He ran Rage like that for years until I took control back. We ran protection, drugs, guns, sold women and were enforcers. Bulldog the President back then, took the club my Da built and destroyed it.
Too young, when Da died to do shit about Rage. But I stayed in, always intending to get Da’s club back. Did the shit Bulldog wanted, asshole loved givin’ me the shitty jobs. I ate it and slept it. Was no better than scum. Participated in illegal shit, Phoe. Don’t have a fuckin’ record, it’s a miracle I don’t. Half of Bulldogs people had records. Apache and I began looking for people to bring into Rage. Those I recruited, kept them away from a record, but we ate the same shit day in and day out.
Searched for brothers who wanted a clean, legal club that had morals and put family first. Focus of Rage is family. Before I brought them in, I made sure they knew they’d have to eat shit. Until the legal ways of earning money and getting the club clean, kicked in. Brothers did it, Lowrider, Ezra, Manny, Gunner, we ate that shit to get club clean, and we got Rage fuckin’ clean.
Blood was split woman. Bulldog didn’t go easy, brothers took some bad hurts.
Ace lost a woman. She ran away from the shit the club was in. Apache nearly took one to the head. Manny took two to the back. Did things Phoe, that I can’t expect you to understand.
A brother took out Bulldog, I put the asshole and others in the ground. My brothers and I took out those who preferred the illegal shit, better than the legal. Worked our asses off making sure the Rage Shop, parts store, garage and the bar brought in money.
We’ve been clean seven years Phoe, but bodies can still pile up. We keep shit away from the club, sometimes a quiet word works, sometimes we gotta do more than have a word. Rage ain’t afraid of gettin’ our hands dirty even now but life is good. Brothers didn’t take a hit when we cut the illegal shit out. We keep Rage and the area around it clean. Vigilantes, if you wanna call us that.
Made sure my brothers got the money they liked and did that the hard way. But no lyin’ baby, I did shit and have shit in my past that ain’t fuckin’ pretty. So I’m tellin’ ya I never hurt a woman, I never raised a hand to one or a kid. Sold pussy, hated it, didn’t like it but could make sure those women that sold their pussy were safe.
Didn’t do drugs, occasional pot now and then but Bulldog and his cronies liked hard shit. That’s part of reason club got so rotten. Ain’t done pot for years. Don’t need it, nothing can give me a high like the one I get when I see a brother receive some bounty or goodness. Nothing beats that feelin’.
Clubs clean, I swear it angel, we’re clean but we don’t back away. Paid for Rage with blood, we bought Rage with blood and Rage blood was spilt on those streets. I’ll let ya go, I can do it, Phoe, you don’t want this, can let you go.
But you always gonna be mine, even if you aren’t with me. You pick up the phone and call I’ll drop everything and be there. No matter what I’ll always belong to you.” The last words Drake spoke were desperate. As he’d given me his speech, I’d watched the open emotions on his face, shame, hate, pride, sorrow, a whirlwind of emotions had passed through Drake. I looked into his face.
Rage of the Phoenix Page 17
