Tommy Doyle visited us at home, taking her official statement. With my statement and Brighton’s statement, we got Rodrick on assault and attempted first-degree murder. Plus, Tommy informed us with a huge smile on his face that several of the Horde were pissed that he brought the Lords into their operation to begin with. They could’ve made huge paydays if he’d stopped the bullshite and they started talking, cutting deals right away with the DA.
He tried and failed to claim he was only there because he got wind of the production and shipment of products in his county and went in undercover. But when every one of those men who turned named him as the ringleader of their meth and gun circus, his defense spiraled. Judge set his bail at two million dollars. Two fucking million.
It wasn’t but three days after bail was set that Rodrick bought it inside. No one knows what happened except he was found dead in the bathroom shower, a puncture wound below his ear, severing his carotid artery. He died in that shower, his life literally flowing down the drain. I didn’t cry over that phone call. Neither did Frankie.
Best we can guess, Horde on the inside did him.
Don’t know. Don’t care.
The world won’t miss an arsehole like Deputy Rodrick.
Because we have a growing family and I put my foot down about living anywhere other than the compound, Duke gave me permission to set up a doublewide on the property. When it’s ready and arrives, we’ll move this place to another section of property. Since Frankie loves the yellow siding of this trailer so well, I ordered us one with yellow siding, white trim. A fireplace. Huge kitchen. Laundry room. A master en suite. A room for each lassie. A guest room. A living room and a bathroom for Mollie and Macie to share when they’re older. Frankie’s getting her wraparound porch, her garden. Anything she wants.
Ms. Lockhart, her director at the daycare, had to put off her retiring plans for a few months longer while Frankie recovers. The selfless woman Frankie is, she offered to step down from the director position, but Ms. Lockhart assured her that there wasn’t anyone else she’d trust to fill the position. It would be waiting for her when she got back to work.
Thank Christ Frankie didn’t have to worry about that. Moreover, thank Christ I didn’t have to make a visit to the daycare in order to convince an old woman that she really didn’t want to pass my woman up. I don’t relish the idea of intimidating old women, but the days of Francesca Cardone—soon to be Francesca MacGregor—not getting everything her heart desires are over.
Brighton is another story. needed care after she got out of the hospital, so Crass brought her to his room at the compound to be the one to take care of her and to keep her close to Caity. Or Dr. Brennan-Elis, as the rest of Thornbriar knows her as. Brighton’s a beautiful girl, but she’s a pain in his arse. Thus, she’s a pain in the arse of all the brothers. She blames the Lords for what happened to her. It’s a narrow way of thinking, but still… I can’t blame her at the same time. Crass is determined to win her over. He’s got a long road ahead. I suggested winning her over one orgasm at a time.
Macie starts up her fussing louder than before to get a sleepy-eyed Frankie to pay attention to her and Frankie, predictably because it’s always how Frankie reacts when one or both of the girls require immediate attention, gives it.
“Hey, Macie girl… What’s wrong?” Frankie picks her up, giving hugs and peppering her head with kisses. “Frankie’s here for you.”
“Mama,” I correct her.
“Sorry?” she asks, picking Macie up to hug her tighter, but I think it’s more to give her something to do with her hands, something to look at to avoid meeting my eyes.
“Ya said ‘Frankie,’ mo leannan, what ya meant was ‘Mama.’ Yar their ma. Make it legal, whatever we have to do, but yar their ma—the only one they’re ever gonna know. And forewarning, that ring on yar finger says we ain’t ever letting you go, either.”
And exactly as I expect her to do because this is something else she does whenever I get soft—my woman can’t handle my soft—she bursts out crying. With Mollie and Macie between us, I pull her into my arms.
“Will I ever get used to this life?” she whispers.
“When ya do, I’ll do my best to make it better.” I place a soft kiss to her temple. Her tears roll harder and I take that as my shot to pick up the girls from the bed and walk them into their room, setting them both in the playpen. They ain’t tired. Neither am I, but I’m still going to lay with their ma.
Frankie sits on the bed, knees bent, arms wrapped around her legs, her chin resting on those bent knees. She looks up when I enter, smiling a watery smile, filling my life, my home, my heart with everything that is her. I stalk toward the bed, putting a knee to it, and crawl until I have her under me. I’m so ready for her and I know she can feel my readiness pressed against her thighs, but right now’s not about fast. This’ll be our first time making love since the kidnapping and I plan to do just that and do it right. I tease with my tongue, tasting her… her lips, her mouth, then I work my way down, slowly enjoying every delectable bit of skin.
She reaches up to run her thin fingers through my hair and there’s my ring on her finger, blinking in the sunlight, shining through the sheer curtains. I intercept those fingers, pressing those hands into the pillows, and shake my head no, rubbing my nose against hers to emphasize my point. She giggles, and it’s no longer the blinking gem to catch my attention, but the gleaming twinkle in her eyes shining only for me.
As I make my way down her body, I stop at the hem of her nightshirt, dragging it up her body using flat hands for maximum contact. She sucks in a breath, arching her back, shoving her luscious tits my way while I devest her of the shirt completely. I lavish attention on each breast, returning to my teasing, this time with each nipple, showing each one in the only way I can how much I’ve missed doing this, being here with her.
Attempting to pull her panties down her legs, they get tangled and I get impatient, yanking at the black satin fabric, tearing them from her body instead. Then I nuzzle my nose against her center, breathing in her sweet, decadent honey, and lick my fill. She moans, pushing harder against my face, riding my face. She’s taking what she needs and I fucking love giving it to her. As her orgasm hits, she pushes her hips up from the bed and I catch her arse on the way back down, positioning her the way I want her, legs flung over my shoulders, spread wide.
This is my favorite way to have Frankie, spread wide for me. I take my time, putting my mouth to her core again. She strains from want of touching me, fisting her hands in the sheets to keep from reaching out.
She’s so close to coming again, she squirms against me, the walls of her sex clenching, everything clenching. “What do ya want, mo leannan?”
“Your cock… Please, Rory. I need you.”
“Relax so I won’t hurt ya,” I whisper against her wetness. And I feel her force herself to relax. I push my sleep pants down my legs, kicking them off to the floor and position myself at her entrance. I use my dick to tease her more. “Never another woman for me…” I say as I push inside her. When I’ve filled her completely, I repeat that one word, “Never.” I glory in the feel of the woman gripping my dick as we begin to move together. I thrust; she thrusts. Sweat slicks our bodies. I bend in to conquer those lips once more. She’s mine. My Frankie. Still, she doesn’t touch me, just letting me do to her everything I want to do to her. It feels so damn good, I struggle to remain in control. Fuck, she undoes me. I could get off just watching her move, but that’s for a different day.
Today we give of ourselves. With every movement, I’m faced with the memory of how I lost her once for eight years and I thrust harder. Then I think about how I was so close to losing her forever, and I thrust harder still.
“Rory,” she calls and I look up into her unfocused eyes. “I… love you.” Then she squeezes tight around my shaft and I can’t hold on any longer, releasing a torrent of love in her through my mind-blowing orgasm.
She throws her head back, matching me moan for moan, bu
cking her hips, giving back her love to me. The pulses ripple but slow. My chest heaves and I press my forehead to hers.
“Love you too, mo leannan,” I say softly back.
Then we hear a baby squeal and burst out laughing.
The Story Doesn’t End Here…
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you, Amy McNulty. You’re a fresh pair of eyes to keep the readers on their toes. Thank you to Kyleigh Poultney, my brilliant cover designer. Thank you to you, my wonderful readers, who followed along as Frankie and Scotch found their forever. Thank you to my boys. You are the best apple and waterfowl a mom could ask for. I am so glad to see this year ending better than it began for us, but as long as we continue have each other’s backs, we’ll always make it through. Here’s to a better 2020! And thank you to all coffee everywhere. Whether instant or brewed, vanilla or mocha, iced, frappéd or even hot, my life would be less tasty without you. And without you, these stories would never get written. I am so serious on this point.
I will end with a sentiment I truly believe in. It takes a village to raise a novel, and you all are my villagers. The people who helped turn a project I was proud to have completed into a project I’m proud to present to the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah spends her days embracing the weirdly wonderful parts of life with her two kooky sons while pretending to be a responsible adult. And there is plenty of the weird and wonderful to go around with her older son being autistic and the younger being a plain ol' wisecracker. She resides in Michigan, where the winters bring cold, and the summers bring construction. The roads might have potholes, but the beaches are amazing. And above all else, she lives by these rules. Call them Sarah’s life edicts: In Sarah's world all books have kissing and end in some form of HEA. Because really, what more do you need in life?
Read More from Sarah Zolton Arthur
www.sarahzoltonarthur.com
Scotch: Unraveled (Brimstone Lords MC Book 4) Page 18
