“I’m good, Jussie.” They exited the garage, and he aimed their steps towards the back door of the house. “Just ready to have you to myself for a few days.” He laughed, the sound harsh. “Fuck, I’d take a few hours of you and me at this point.”
“Long as you need me.” Her fingers dipped into his back pocket. “I won’t lie, it’ll be nice not to be on display to everyone for a change. It’s going to take some getting used to, folks not trusting me.”
“Those who don’t already, will soon. Shouldn’t have had to prove yourself to anyone, but you did, and that shit? That good shit what you did? That’ll seep faster than anything else. Tales and stories, folks’ll get caught up in it, and you’ll have cred beyond our family.” He opened the door and led her inside, glad when the lights came up automatically to show nothing out of place. Toeing off his boots, he lined them up next to the door, smiling when she did the same.
Myron had found the flaw that allowed Anderson to access the security. Something as small as a manufacturer’s password was all the man had needed. Busk was currently upgrading systems as well as segregating them per recommendation by the RWMC tech wizard. Long and short of it, Busk and Myron had promised Wildman his place was more secure now than he’d likely ever need, which meant he was comfortable bringing Jussie home.
Anderson was a ghost. In the wind, and distrusted by his colleagues and bosses, based on the few conversations Justine had initiated, answering a variety of calls she’d been ignoring for two days.
Mason was blaming himself for the Anderson part of things. While it was true alerting the Feds that his sister had been missing might have been the first rock over the ledge, Anderson himself had shuffled through the shale on the way down, starting his own human-sized avalanche.
There would be more to come from Alabama. Wildman had met with Twisted and Busk, and gotten Ragman on the video, discussing the information that had come out of the Florida trip. Eastern European mob clashing with old-school Italian mob, and mixed with Mexican cartel? Wildman wasn’t sure who’d been the first to suggest taking advantage of the new collaborative atmosphere, but it had been the work of minutes to get Mason and Wrench in the room, then Retro on the horn, only to find out Justine herself had been the authoress of that particular idea, back when she’d rescued herself.
“Come on.” He tugged at her fingers, turning to walk backwards, his gaze fixed on her face. “I got something to show you.”
Busk in full-on apology mode was a delight. It had only taken a single please, and the man had agreed to install what Wildman wanted. No arguing, either, which was a miracle. Now to see if it matched up with his hopes and her desires.
“What kind of surprise is it?” She grinned, crooking her fingers to lock with his. With her head tilted to the side, the dark wings of her hair framed her face beautifully, grey eyes bright and inquisitive.
“You’re so pretty, Jussie.” He checked behind himself, angled through the bedroom door, and stopped about a yard from the foot of the bed. “Beautiful when you’re strong. Courageous. You’re fuckin’ fierce, woman, and that is a miracle to behold.”
Her gaze scanned the room before landing back on him. “What’s going on?”
“Gorgeous in your submission, too. My good girl, Jussie.” He tugged at the hem of her shirt, and she lifted her arms as he dragged it over her head. He was there to smooth her hair back from her face, twisting it into a hank to hang over one shoulder. Arms around her, he flicked the clasp on her bra and let it drop to the floor. “Gonna make you fly.”
Teeth to her quivering belly, he nipped and licked as he unfastened the button on her jeans, grinning when she stepped on the legs to get them off her body faster, taking her underwear with them.
Shrugging out of his vest, he tossed it onto the dresser, then followed with his shirt, leaving him just in jeans and her bare entirely.
“Knees, baby girl.” A hand on each shoulder eased her to the floor, and he took a moment to position her arms as he wanted them. Fingers tight, palms flat towards him, she took on a mirror of her pose the first time he’d laid eyes on her.
“Saw you, and the first thing I thought was how fuckin’ strong you were. How brave.” He circled her, angling her chin down slightly. Hands on her waist, he lifted so she rose off her heels, balancing on her knees. Chafing the skin of her back with both palms, he stroked softly, then more firmly to bring blood to the surface, making her more sensitive. “And how much I wished I deserved someone like you.”
Smiling, he caught her rising chin and tugged it back into place, tapping her nose with one finger. “Shhhh. I get what you want to say, but this is about my initial impressions of you. I’ve already heard yours of me. Larger than life, strong, handsome, fuckable.” Her breath stuttered, and he chuckled. “Don’t you dare laugh, Jussie. I’d like to think I’m very fuckable.”
Stroking the long muscles across her shoulders, he took the weight of her arms, shaking them, then left her suspended again. Careful attention kept the metal pieces from clanging together as he lowered the bar from the ceiling, then fastened one cuff to each strong wrist. She tensed, and he waited for a protest, but Justine settled against the bonds, arms still at that perfect angle.
Like wings.
Standing behind her, Wildman stripped his jeans off, tossing them to the side as he opened the closet and withdrew a light flogger. As exhausted as they both were, it wouldn’t take much to overdo things, so he planned on starting very small. They would have a lifetime to work up to more, and wasn’t that a sweet thought.
“Traffic signal system.” He circled to the front and lifted her chin, staring down into eyes already hooded and dark. “Red, yellow, green. Where are you right now, Jussie?”
“So green.”
Rolling the flogger in a slow figure eight, he made sure she could see and hear the falls shirring as they brushed against their neighbors. “Still green, Jussie mine?”
“Still green.” She didn’t try to evade his touch or his gaze, and he saw her settling into the space that gave her peace. Where if he needed her to do something, he’d tell her, and she didn’t have to make any decisions.
“Let’s fly.”
Fini
THANK YOU FOR READING
Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raised in the south, Wall Street Journal & USA TODAY bestselling author 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."
Want sneak peeks into what she’s working on, or to chat with other readers about her books? Join the Facebook group! bit.ly/deMora-FB-group
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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
A motorcycle club can be a frightening place, filled with hardened men and bad attitudes. Rebel Wayfarers is a club with their own measure of hard and dangerous, led by their national president, Davis Mason. This book series follows members as they move through their lives, filled with anguish and heartache, laughter and love. In the club, each of them find a home and family they thought long lost to them.
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
Not Even A Mouse, #10.75
Fury, #11
Christmas Doings, #11.25
Gypsy’s Lady includes Never Settle (#10.5), #11.5
Cassie, #12
Road Runner’s Ride, #12.5
Occupy Yourself band series
Stardom doesn’t happen overnight. Hell, it doesn’t even happen after a decade in the business, as the members of Occupy Yourself have found out. But, with the right talent and the right representation, they might still have a chance to make it big. As long as they can keep their lead singer sober, keep their drummer focused on the music, keep their guitarist out of trouble … well, you get the idea. Come and join us, stand side stage for a close-up view of the backstage happenings in a rock-and-roll band. It’s guaranteed to be a show you won’t ever forget.
Born Into Trouble, #1
Grace In Motion, #2 (TBD)
What They Say, #3 (TBD)
Neither This, Nor That MC series
Legends are born from moments like these. Folktales spun around a single point in time so perfect, you can almost hear the click resonating through the universe as things align. Meet Twisted, Po’Boy, Retro, and Ragman, good old boys from southern states who have many things in common. First, is a bone-deep love of the biker lifestyle. Second, would be their love of the brotherhood, and knowing that you trust the man at your back. Finally, these men have the love of a good woman. None of these come without a price, and it is our pleasure to journey along with them as they discover the blessings that can be won, and lost along the way.
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
Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends, #5
Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway, #6 (TBD)
Rebel Wayfarers crossover stories
Enjoy these stories that tie the different worlds of my MC universe together, bringing Rebel Wayfarers MC and the clubs of the Neither This Nor That series into glorious alignment.
Going Down Easy
No Man’s Land
In Search of Solace
Mayhan Bucklers MC series
The Mayhan Bucklers MC has been part of the rolling hills of Northeast Texas for decades. Now, new life is being breathed into this reborn club, a legacy resurrected by grandsons of the founder. The MBMC is set to surpass its original glory, fortified with an honorable purpose: Helping wounded warriors reintegrate back into society, gifting those who’ve given so much with a safe place to land.
Learning how to navigate life while war still echoes inside you isn’t easy, but with solid brothers at your back, and the love of a good woman, anything is possible.
Most Rikki-Tik, #1
Mad Minute, #2
Pucker Factor, #3
Boocoo Dinky Dau, #4
Borderline Freaks MC series
When you can’t count on anyone else to save you, there’s only one real choice. Borderline Freaks MC is a series of books about the men of the club and their brotherhood — and of course the love they have for their women. Take a trip along with Monk, Blade, Wolf, and Neptune, and feel for yourself the connection these men have for each other.
Service and Sacrifice, #1
More Than Enough, #2
Lack of In-between, #3
See You in Valhalla, #4
Alace Sweets series
Dark romantic thrillers, these books are not light reads. Filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense, these intense stories command the reader’s attention as they drive towards their explosive endings. Alace Sweets is a vigilante serial killer, with everything that implies and is sure to trip all your triggers. Be ready.
Alace Sweets, #1
Seeking Worthy Pursuits, #2
Embarrassment of Monsters, #3
All the Broken Rules, #4 (TBD)
With My Whole Heart series
Sweet as pie and twice as delicious, these romantic love stories are a guaranteed happily-ever-after read.
With My Whole Heart, #1
Bet On Us, #2
If You Could Change One Thing:
Tangled Fates Stories
When threads in the tapestry of life are cut short, inexorably changing the future for those you love, would you be willing to tempt fate to set things right?
There Are Limits, #1
Rules Are Rules, #2
The Gray Zone, #3
Other Books:
Hard Focus
Dirty Bitches MC: Season 3
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deMora’s Rebel Wayfarers MC and the Neither This Nor That MC series do cross over, along with the Occupy Yourself band books, so readers have a couple of choices. The series can be read independently beginning with RWMC, OYBS, and then NTNT without too many spoilers. There’s also a crossover between deMora’s RWMC world and Lila Rose’s Hawks MC world. Or they can be read intertwined—in chronological order.
Here’s the recommended reading order if you want to follow according to timing:
Mica, RWMC #1
A Sweet & Merry Christmas, RWMC #1.5
Slate, RWMC #2
Bear, RWMC #3
Born Into Trouble, OYBS #1
Jase, RWMC #4
Gunny, RWMC #5
Mason, RWMC #6
Hoss, RWMC #7
This Is the Route of Twisted Pain, NTNT #1
Harddrive Holidays, RWMC #7.5
Duck, RWMC #8
Biker Chick Campout, RWMC #8.5
Watcher, RWMC #9
Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad, NTNT #2
Living Without, Lila Rose’s Hawks MC: Caroline Springs #4
Shelter My Heart, NTNT #3
A Kiss to Keep You, RWMC #9.25
Gun Totin’ Annie, RWMC #9.5
Secret Santa, RWMC #9.75
Trapped by Fate on Reckless Roads, NTNT #4
Bones, RWMC #10
Gunny’s Pups, RWMC #10.25
Not Even A Mouse, RWMC #10.75
Road Runner’s Ride, RWMC #12.5
Never Settle, RWMC #10.5
Fury, RWMC #11
Christmas Doings, RWMC #11.25
Gypsy’s Lady, RWMC #11.5
Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends, NTNT #5
Going Down Easy
No Man’s Land
In Search of Solace
Cassie, RWMC #12
More information available at mldemora.com.
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