Page 22 of Sully
He knew what I needed without me having to explain.His pace increased, his thrusts deeper but still mindful of my injuries.One hand slid between us, his thumb finding my clit with unerring accuracy, putting just enough pressure to send me flying.My orgasm crashed over me with an intensity that left me crying out his name, my body clenching around him as waves of pleasure washed through me.He followed moments later, his face buried against my neck, my name a prayer on his lips as he shuddered above me.
After, as we lay tangled together in the aftermath, his arm a protective weight across my waist, I waited for the familiar panic to set in.The need to leave, to run, to protect myself from the vulnerability of connection.It was the pattern of my life.I’d find a momentary pleasure, then disappear before attachments could form, before I could be hurt or abandoned again.
But the panic didn’t come.Instead, I found myself with my hand splayed over one side of Sully’s chest, my body relaxed against his in a way that should have terrified me.The absence of my flight response was more frightening than any danger I’d faced tonight.
“You’re thinking too loud,” Sully murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple.
I smiled despite myself.“Just wondering when I became the kind of woman who stays.”
His arm tightened fractionally around my waist.“Is that what you’re doing?Staying?”
The question hung between us, weighted with possibilities I’d never allowed myself to consider.For the first time in my life, running felt like the harder choice.
“Yeah,” I said finally, the single word carrying the weight of a promise I wasn’t sure I knew how to keep.“I think maybe I am.”
Chapter Six
Darby
Three days locked up in the Kiss of Death compound and I’d had enough.To be fair, it wasn’t only me.The guys had all the women of the club on lockdown, from the old ladies (a term I’d found out was same as being the wife of one of the bikers), to the club whores.I admit the latter had my back up for a whole couple of hours, but I’d decided there were a few of the whores who weren’t too bad.You just had to set boundaries with your man.
Despite the good company and appreciating Sully wanting to keep me safe after the whole Jenkins incident, rules never sat well with me.They itched like a tag on new clothes, constantly reminding me they were there, constantly begging to be cut out.I watched the gate from my perch on the second-floor balcony of the warehouse that housed Sully’s apartment, counting the minutes until I could slip through it unnoticed.
The compound wasn’t a prison.Not technically.I could leave whenever I wanted; Sully had made that clear.I just couldn’t leave alone.Someone had to be with me at all times.For protection, he said.Because of who my father was and because he’d announced rather loudly around the city that I was his daughter when he’d been frantically looking for me, assuming he wasn’t full of shit.
I still wasn’t sure how much I believed the guy.Admittedly, though, Tonio Miles wasn’t pinging my bullshit radar.He’d come to the compound every evening.Just… hanging out.Sometimes he’d approach me.Sometimes I’d even talk to him.It was hard to admit, but I was actually coming to really like the guy.Both he and Sully assured me that, once they were sure no one else was gunning for me, I could do whatever the fuck I wanted.I had the feeling they were trying to give me a false sense of security because I couldn’t see either of those men letting me be vulnerable in any way.I’d already put my lot in with Sully, but Tonio Miles was worming his way under my skin too.
I grabbed my jacket and the small purse containing the credit card Tonio had given me before I’d run away from his house.He’d called it an emergency fund.I called it guilt money.Either way,shopping!
Getting through the gate was almost too easy.I waited until the guard turned to check something on a clipboard, then walked straight through like I belonged there, like I wasn’t breaking Sully’s number one rule.No one stopped me.No one even noticed.
The late afternoon sun felt glorious on my skin as I jogged down the trail away from the compound until I found a motorcycle parked on the sidewalk.I was pretty sure it was Ranger’s.He liked to stop by and see the woman who worked in one of the security offices nearer the dock.When he did, he parked in this area.I got the feeling he didn’t want her knowing he rode a bike or something.Not my business.Whatwasmy business was his bike.I needed wheels.The club provided.I’d apologize later.
Thankfully, Ranger often left the keys with his bike.Knight had them all jacked so it wasn’t like he couldn’t find it with one phone call.Besides, with all the shopping I planned on doing with Daddy’s credit card, I’d need a ride home anyway.
I ended up at The Mall at Green Hills.Normally it was the kind of place where I’d be on the lookout for people with more money than good sense and seeing what I could grift from them.Instead, I entered a shop with a smile and started doing my worst.
The first shop was all about jeans and T-shirts.I only chose the really expensive ones, because credit card abuse is fun when it’s not your money.After that, I bought some stuff for Sully’s room.And some equipment for the kitchen.There were enough women in the compound who loved to bake and cook; they needed a kitchen upgrade.Also, I think the new bedroom suite I got for me and Sully was a bit much for the small apartment, but I’m sure someone could use it.‘Cause, you know.Not my money.
It wasn’t until I noticed the lengthening shadows that I realized how much time had passed.Sully would be looking for me by now.In fact, I figured by the time I had all the shit I’d bought brought to the mall entrance, someone would be pulling up next to the bike.The thought sent a jolt of excitement through me.‘Cause honestly.I’d been very naughty today.
I’d made arrangements for everything to be brought to the front of the store.Who knew mall concierge was a thing?Might have something to do with the obscene amount of money I’d spent.I’d honestly expected the card to be declined at any point along the way, and had been gleefully looking forward to the explosion because there was no way Tonio wouldn’t get a notification when the card started loading up.
Instead of waiting for the guys to arrive, I tipped the concierge a hundred bucks to stay with my shit until a bunch of guys on motorcycles and a big-ass trailer for the bike pulled up.I’d moved Ranger’s bike to the curb and handed the concierge the keys, then headed back inside.I saw a leather store I wanted to do some inventory damage to before the guys dragged me back to the compound.
The store was in an out of the way corner of the mall because it wasthatkind of leather store.As I turned the corner to a darker area of the facility, a man stepped into my path, his face hidden beneath the hood of a dark sweatshirt.The dim light caught the gleam of a knife.
“I knew it was only a matter of time until you gave those big fuckers the slip.”
I stopped, tensing for a fight I hadn’t planned on.But then, I never did plan well.Which was my whole problem.
“You know who I am?”The man pushed his hood back, revealing a face twisted with rage.“My buddy Ray died yesterday.Hospital said his skull was fractured in that bar.Doctors said he might have lived if someone got him help sooner, but everyone was too busy with the other fight.”He stepped closer, the knife glinting in the fading light.“The fight you started, bitch.”
The name Ray meant nothing to me, but the accusation did.One of Jenkins’ crew must have died after the brawl atThrottle.I hadn’t even known how many men were involved in that fight, had only focused on the immediate threats.Someone had gotten hurt worse than I realized, and now his friend wanted revenge.
Living on my own since I was sixteen, the streets had taught me how to fight.I wasn’t going down without making this bastard bleed.
“Back off,” I warned, voice steady despite the adrenaline flooding my system.“I didn’t kill your friend.”
