Page 17 of Maverick

“I know,” he said, and hit his fist against the nearest table. “We might’ve been better off just dealing with Carter.”

“Fuck that,” Rocky said, gripping his shoulder even tighter. “They are one and the same, brother. Eventually, Carter would’ve sicced them on us as soon as we told him to fuck off. Again. Now at least we know what we’re dealing with.”

Diesel was pissed off, worse, he was carrying a heavy load of guilt over all the injuries suffered by more than a dozen of our girls. “I need to go see Ellie and the kids.” He stormed off, leaving the rest of us to sit around in silence as we finished our drinks.

“I’m gonna head off to see Peyton,” Rocky said. “Everybody do what you gotta do, but I expect you all back here at sunset. No exceptions. Got it?”

We all nodded, and the minute Rocky’s bike became a distant hum, the rest of us took off to take care of business.

***

I didn’t have shit to do other than check in on Mabel, so I got on my bike and rode out to my grandma’s house. Though much to my surprise, she wasn’t at home. Where in the hell was she?

“Hello?” she answered when I called her cell.

“Grandma, it’s me.”

“Oh, hi, Dylan! How are you and why do you sound so perturbed?”

“I’m perturbed because I just stopped by the house, and you aren’t there.”

“I’m old, not bed bound. Did you need something?”

“Yeah.” I was unreasonably frustrated for reasons I didn’t understand. “I need to know where you are.”

“Ruby was nice enough to take Sophie and me to this wonderful little craft fair over in Henderson. I found the most beautiful yarn and these handmade cookie cutters. Do you know that kids love unicorns pooping out rainbows? I didn’t.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, unable to believe or maybe fully comprehend this conversation. Maybe it was exhaustion since I’d been up since three in the morning. “No, Grandma, I didn’t know that.”

“Me either,” she giggled. “I also found some dirty ones, if you know what I mean. I figured some of the other girls in the neighborhood will get a kick out of ’em.”

“Grandma,” I began, a warning in my tone. “Don’t need to know everything.”

“Don’t be such a prude, Dylan. You and I are both too old to pretend we’re virgins.” She laughed to herself.

“Grandma.”

“What did you say, Dylan? I can’t hear you. I think we’re going through a tunnel or something. How odd.”

“There are no tunnels between here and Henderson, Grandma.”

She laughed. “That’s what makes this so odd. Gotta go, talk to you later, my boy. Love you.” Stubborn old woman ended the call before I could say another damn word.

With nothing else better to do until the sun went down, I made my way home for a long, hot shower where my thoughts—inevitably—turned to Ruby. There was something about her beyond her girl next door looks and her pinup curves. She was equal parts strength and vulnerability, silk and steel.

Ruby was the epitome of a woman with secrets, which should be a huge fucking turn-off, but it oddly wasn’t. The way she cared for Sophie and Mabel said she was a kind woman, one who wouldn’t bring more bullshit to me and my MC.

It was probably just wishful thinking, another case of a man thinking with his dick, which was currently aching and hard, ready for some action. I slid a hand down my slick body and gripped my cock in a stranglehold. My eyes slammed shut and there she was, Ruby, with the plump pink lips, bright red hair, and curves for days and fucking days. I stroked my cock to nothing more than the image of her smiling face, the sound of her laughter while we washed dishes together. The sight of her licking her lips, not to seduce me, but simply to wet her lips, made me think about what else her tongue could do. My hand moved faster and faster, my whole body tensed as electricity ran up my spine, spreading out through my arms and legs. The base of my skull tingled at the same time my balls tightened up. One more swipe of her pink tongue across lush lips and my cock erupted against the shower wall. “Fuck!” My body shook with pleasure and the relief of release.

My legs wobbled and I smacked a palm against the wall to steady me. I hadn’t had a good fuck in more than a month, maybe two with all the shit that’s been going on with the club and I needed that.

Holy fuck, I needed that.

Hours later, I walked into the clubhouse lighter and freer, almost smiling. Almost, except I’d get too much shit from my brothers, so I pinched my lips between my teeth and scanned the room. Most of the brothers were here except for Rocky and Slate.

“There you are, man.” Gio clapped me on the back, wearing a wide smile. “You should’ve helped me earlier. Got so many long hugs I’ve been sportin’ a chubby all damn day. So many juicy tits pressed up against me, I’m probably gonna blow out my nuts later.”

Gio was ridiculous, but he was young and dumb and had pussy on the brain. “Good luck with that, kid.”

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