Page 81 of StoryTeller's Tale

“Clean.”

Despite my rebuttal, he reaches for me. “It might be fucked up, babe, but there’s something sexy about fuckin’ you, wearing the blood of our enemy.”

He’s right. It is fucked up. I should be shocked, horrified. Instead, my stomach muscles contract, suggesting I’m turned on by the very idea that should turn me off. A smirk appears on his face as he guesses I might be coming around to the idea.

“Take off your clothes,” he demands. Forgetting he’s injured, he tries to reach for me. “Fuck!”

“You shouldn’t use that arm,” I tell him primly as he rolls onto his back clutching his bandaged left arm with his right.

“Yeah. Just found that out,” he grunts. “But I fuckin’ need you, babe. How about you do the work?”

He’s already half-naked, so it’s only a matter of moments for me to remove his boots, then he helps by raising his hips so I can remove his pants. I lick my lips as his deliciousness is revealed and have to pinch myself as I remember this man just proposed to me. I look again at the blood drying on his chest.

This man just killed for me.He might not have come out and said those exact words, but it’s all I can believe. He wouldn’t be this relaxed if he’d left Knuckles alive.

“Seems like you have me at a disadvantage,” he drawls, his eyes half-lidded, but looking at me in anticipation, as though I’m a tasty treat he can’t wait to try.

Holding his gaze, I take off my top, then stand and kick off my shorts. His tongue comes out and moistens his lips as I unhook my bra and then slide my panties down.

“Come ‘ere.” His voice is deep and hoarse. “Hold on to the headboard and sit on my face.”

For the next hour, he proceeds to give me an education as I follow his instructions, finding nothing to object to as we try cowgirl and reverse cowgirl as well. Finally, completely sated, we at last shower together. While keeping his arm dry, I sponge off the blood, then one handed, he does the same to me.

I help him get dressed then take the last of my clean clothes out of my backpack. As I’m putting them on, I notice him staring at me.

I’m overwhelmed by a wave of emotion. This man has done everything he can to keep me safe. He’s even, I’m convinced, killed for me. He says he loves me and wants to marry me. What more do I need him to prove he’s all in?

Nothing, I answer myself. “I love you,” I tell him.

* * *

I haven’tmuch to pack up in Texas. Jake borrows an SUV from the club so he can take me to the apartment I shared with Agatha to put what I want to take with me in a suitcase. She was there, and her mouth dropped open once she realised Jake and I were together. After her shock, though, she genuinely appeared to be happy for me. We parted as friends, more than perhaps we’d been in the years we’d lived together.

After one more night in the Austin clubhouse and a round of goodbyes, back slapping for Jake and hugs for me, we leave early the next morning to catch a flight to Arizona.

I think I’m more excited than apprehensive. After getting over my initial shock, the brothers in Austin had grown on me, and the final night there had been quite a laugh. I’m hoping Jake’s true brothers will be much the same.

Once we land and get through the airport, Jake’s quick to spot a man waiting for us. He introduces him as Shitface, and I can’t hide my smirk. Seems he’s a prospect, and the name is just one of the burdens he has to bear.

“That poor guy,” I whisper to Jake, as the prospect’s putting our luggage in the back.

He laughs. “Nothing to do with me.”

All too soon, we arrive at the clubhouse, where there seems to be a reception committee waiting for us. It transpires I’m the first old lady in the Arizona Charter, so a bit of a novelty.

“ST.” A serious and, if I’m honest, scary-looking man approaches. He links hands with my man and pulls him in for a man hug. “Good to see you back, Bro.”

“Prez.” Jake greets him warmly. “This is Sheri.”

It’s the first of many greetings, and I know I’m going to be hard pushed to remember them all. There’s Bull, the VP, Iron, the sergeant-at-arms, Beard, who I might remember as he has a beard going down to his waist, who apparently looks after the money. Claw is the enforcer, and Weasel the road captain.

Then I’m introduced to the rabble, as Jake calls them, getting a few middle fingers raised in response. There’s Fire, Pothead, Skunk, and Legit. Legend gets a special welcome. He’s their technology guy, and apparently helped Jake to find me. For him, I have an extra special finger wave.

After we’ve had a drink with them all, Jake leads me down a corridor. I pause, taking a moment to view all the pictures on the walls. There are numerous men on their bikes, far more than I’ve met.

“Past and present?” I ask, as I examine them all.

“Past, present, locked up or dead.” He frowns as he takes a moment to eye one in particular and I gather this one, at least, was not a friend.

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