Page 91 of Skid
Epilogue
Grace
Two weeks later
Last week, I’d finallygotten the nerve to meet with Aubrey. She and I sat on Dalton’s back porch while he and Hayden gave us time alone. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and when she pulled me into a bruising hug and whispered, “It’s not your fault.” I broke down crying.
Aubrey amazed me with her ability to put her pain in the past. She took something that could have been devastating and turned it into strength. I didn’t go into detail about The Community and what their plans were, and I didn’t tell her that last week, they were all destroyed for their sick perversions.
I could see us being good friends since she and her friends are so close to Dalton, but there was a small part of me that still felt guilt over what happened to her. Dalton reminded me that I had nothing to do with what she endured, but I still felt like I was to blame. I agreed to start seeing a counselor about everything, and I hoped they could help me get past the last hurdle.
This morning, Dalton woke me up with his head between my legs and a smile on his face as he brought me to climax. He was attentive to my needs and always seemed to know when I needed his strong arms around me or an earth-shattering orgasm. After he and I found release together, he pulled me against his chest and asked if I wanted to go to a Death Hounds party. After the last one, I was afraid of how the brothers would look at me, but when they started calling me Rocky, I laughed, knowing I’d found a family.
The party was in full swing, with music playing over the speakers around the compound and food lining tables under the picnic pavilion. I was visiting with Sadie and a few of the other old ladies when the music suddenly stopped. Looking up, I saw Dalton walking toward me with something draped over his arm.
When he was in front of me, I looked up at him with a smile and noticed everyone was watching us intently.
“Grace, since the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were mine. Tonight, in front of my brothers and my friends . . .” He paused and looked off to the side. I followed his line of sight and saw Devlin, Elise, James, Amaya, Hayden, and Aubrey standing in the distance with huge smiles on their faces. Dalton turned back to me, lifted the leather cut up, and turned it so I could see the back. “I give you this cut, declaring to the world that you’re my old lady. I want to ride with you through life’s ups and downs, and I vow to make sure you have the wind to lift your wings and fly.”
Tears streamed down my face as he looked at me expectantly. I nodded, and he spun his finger to encourage me to turn around. He slid the cut over my shoulders and spun me around as the Death Hounds and our friends cheered. His tattooed hands cupped my face, and he kissed me until I felt my knees wobble.
The group surrounded us and offered their congratulations as the music cranked back up and the alcohol began to flow. It was a raucous party, and I was surprised to see Devlin and the rest were still here. I thought for sure they would have left, but the Death Hounds were showing them hospitality as everyone visited and laughed.
Dalton was talking with Devlin when Sadie sat next to me and nudged me with her shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”
I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and ran my hands down the smooth leather vest. “You did an excellent job raising him and Jacob, just in case they never said thanks.”
I met Jacob shortly after coming back from Atlanta, and he was just as handsome and charming as his brother. You could see they all had different fathers, but they all had the same striking blue eyes that seemed to pierce into your soul.
“I don’t know about an excellent job, but I did what I had to do, and I’d do it again if needed.” Sadie was shy about compliments, but I wanted her to know how important she was to her brothers.
“It looks like he wants to eat you alive.” She chuckled as Dalton approached us.
Realizing the club wasn’t shy about sex and all that came with it, I shrugged with a smile. “Maybe.”
Just as Dalton stepped up to us, she muttered, “Starving is more like it.”
He leaned over and kissed his sister on the cheek, and turned to me. “Feel like taking a walk?”
I looked at a giggling Sadie and saw Gunner walking up to us. Turning back to Dalton, I replied, “That sounds like fun.”
He took my hand into his, and just as we started to walk away, Gunner shouted, “Remember, there are kids at Piper’s cabin.”
Dalton looked over his shoulder and threw up two fingers as we walked through the crowd of Death Hounds. Passing through the clubhouse, we walked farther away from the party until the music was barely audible. We were past the small cabins and not quite to the large houses where some of the married brothers lived when Dalton spun me around to face him.
His thumb caressed the line of my jaw as he whispered, “I need you, Grace.”
I wrapped my arms over his shoulders and linked my hands together. “Then take me.”
His stiff length was pressing against his jeans, and I rubbed my pelvis against him, needing him just as much. He walked me backward until my back rested against the trunk of a large tree, brought his lips to mine, and kissed me until I was squirming against him. I could feel him smile against my lips as his hand moved from my waist, slowly pushing my shirt up until his hand was cupping my breast.
Nibbling down my neck, I whimpered, and he whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ve got you, darlin’.”
His hand inched down until he reached the button of my jeans, and with a flick of his fingers, they were open. Lowering my zipper, he pushed his hand into the front and flicked my needy clit with his thick fingers, forcing my hips to chase them. I was soaked and he groaned when he pushed into my wet pussy.
“Fuck. You need it bad, don’t you?” he asked, and I nodded, reaching out and opening his jeans.
