Page 141 of Tracking Luxe

Rider's jaw was granite tight, he felt the relief ease from his shoulders that they'd found Grinder relatively in one piece, thankfully still fucking breathing. It could have so easily gone the other way, an all-out bloodbath and high body count. Too much death and carnage this last year without bringing a new gang war.

He wasn’t ready for that.

Pulling the bandana off from around his neck, he tossed it down on the table, sucked back the full glass of scotch before he poured them both a fresh one.

"You ever gonna let on it was you who got your old man sent to jail?"

Steele's eyes flattened out, a dark blue turned black, the pupil masking his irises, he paused with the glass to his mouth before swallowing heavily,

"Or that you were the one who helped me load the gun? What do you think? We were both cleaning our respective houses at the same time, Rider. Shit gets messy, you ought to know that more than most, especially now you really have the attention of thebratva."

Working a kink out of his shoulder, Rider thought better of having a third drink, he needed to take his old lady home, get her tucked up safe in their bed. It might be two leaders in their own presidential right in that room debriefing yet more close call with murder, but as far as his Icy was concerned he was just a man taking care who what he loved most. Priorities shifted so subtly it was hard to see sometimes, but when she’d come back into his life his priorities had taken a hard swerve in her favor, and he didn’t apologize for it.

Club responsibilities sorted for now, that shitstorm would brew again another day, he wasn’t lucky enough to think Grigori would forget, but now he wanted home with his girl.

“Debt is cleared,” he said finally. “I appreciate you pitching in tonight.”

“It’s what we do, Rider. I have a gut feeling we’re gonna be banding together again against this guy, he has a hard on for Armado, not long before he turns those same desires towards my town.” Rising to his height, Jamie sighed wearily, Rider felt much the same, feeling every one of his thirty-seven years, it had been a long ten years so far climbing to the top and once a president was there it was no easy feat staying there.

The dye was cast now. Nothing Rider could do about Grigori. He’d invited the mafia in. With restrictions.

When it came time to pay he could only hope he didn’t lose the things he’d fought long and hard for.

******

Luxe clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. No one told her how men were reduced to toddler age when they were sick. She stopped in the middle of the living room, holding a glass of juice in one hand and his medication in the other. She glared at the man she loved. “You’re being a damn baby. Now shut up and sit down, Nathan.”

“I’m sick of sitting. Come and climb on my cock.”

Heat fused into her nervous system, stuttering her breath. All thoughts angled towards his lap.

He was hard under the gray basketball shorts he was wearing. No shirt, feet bare, bed hair standing up in sexy black tufts. He’d been crabby for two days ever since signing himself out of the hospital insisting he was fine. He was far from fine, but she’d quietly allowed it just to have him home. Trying to get him to rest was next to impossible. Having to engage tactics never used before. Mainly sexual bribery. If he napped she’d suck him off. If he rested and took his meds like a good boy she’d stroke him while they watched a movie.

It all worked until today.

His family and friends had been in and out of the condo all day. They brought food, booze (she confiscated until he could drink liquor again) his dad and two uncles came to visit for several hours, men just like Nathan, they were rowdy and kind and she liked all of them.

But as the day had gone on she’d watched him fade, blinking slower and slower until she’d seen the last guest out.

“You’re tired.”

“I’m hard up for your pussy. Get over here, Luxe.” He put extra oomph in his growl. Admitting she loved it, she kept strong, when all her body wanted to do was fold down on the sofa with him and do as he asked. He ground the heel of his hand to his hardness, her eyes flickered closed.

Strength. She needed strength to allow him the time to sleep and heal fully.

Every time she saw his bruises she felt sick, heartsick he’d endured that kind of abuse because of her.

No amount of sorry made up for that.

Ungluing her feet, she made him take the meds and drain the juice.

His hand caught her wrist. Not yanking, not releasing her either. “I’m good, baby. I need only you to feel fine.” He walked his lips over her knuckles. Luxe felt herself soften inside. Curling up at his side, careful not to knock his ribs, she rested her head on his shoulder. “You need rest more than you need an orgasm. Sleep first.”

“I can’t let you come between me and having my woman.”

Luxe blinked. And again. Her pink lips opened and closed. “But.I’myour woman. So, it’s a moot point.”

He grinned. “Yes. So, you see how serious I am, my dirty rotten thief, not even you will get in the way of what I want, what I will have, there’s only two options here, it’s up to you which you pick, but either way I’m getting you where I want you.”

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