Page 21 of A New Era

Her smile turns coy. Slipping her finger into my waistband, she pulls me toward our bedroom and I’m too eager to be led so easily. Once we’re through the door, she leans around me and closes it. The second it’s closed, she flips the lock and pushes me back against the wood. Pressing a single kiss on me, she lowers herself down onto her knees. She works my belt expertly until they’re around my knees and she’s grasping my rock-hard length.

I tip my head back as she runs her tongue along my shaft and winds my fingers into her hair. I tighten my grip and throb as she skims her teeth a little too hard in return. Opening my eyes, I look down and watch her head bob up and down and grit my teeth as the sensation of her power hits me in the balls. Her fingers dig into my thighs the faster she sucks and they begin to shake as she takes me fully into her mouth. The game is over the second I hit the back of her throat and she gags. I empty myself into her mouth and a shudder ripples through me as my orgasm hits. She swallows easily and holds her hand out for me to help her up. Once on her feet, her coyness has turned to triumphant and she slips my softening dick back into my boxers and zips my jeans up.

“You owe me now,” she says. “I’ve got a bubble bath waiting for me but be warned, I’ll be collecting tonight.”

“I’ll be ready to pay up.”

I make my way back over to the bar and join Dad and Jay like I’d never left.

“Everything okay?” Dad asks.

“It is now. Don’t mention anything when you hear Rayna calling Holly mommy.”

“Why would I mention anything? I thought it’d only be a matter of time anyway,” Dad asks.

“You did?”

“You didn’t?” he retorts. “Anyway, have you given any more thought to Effie’s offer?”

“Not really.” Only, it’s been on my mind since the meeting. “There’s no way I’ll accept her offer but I haven’t decided how I’m going to tell her to fuck off.”

Dad laughs and takes one of my cigarettes. Jay gets a text and says his goodnight. No doubt my sister has called him home. Dad leans on the table and lowers his voice. “Earlier this morning, in the back room, Ricky and Dex sought my opinion. That’ll fade out soon enough. The more time they see you at the head of the table, they’ll stop looking to me for approval on your decisions.”

“I haven’t given it a second thought. I expected them to keep looking at you for a while. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Not now, perhaps, but it will do in time. I remember when I took over from Michael. Though the circumstances were vastly different, it took longer than I liked for certain brothers to fully trust me the way they did Michael. Most of the time it wasn’t noticeable, just enough for me to see.”

“Maybe you were a little paranoid?” I hedge.

“Aren’t all men who sit at the head of a table like ours?”

“Touché.”

If truth be told, I don’t care how long it takes the brothers to stop looking at my dad because they already follow me.

* * *

I should’ve listened to Mom all those years ago when she promised me life always leads you where you need to be. That you may not like where it takes you but that it’s where you are for a reason. Holly is where she needs to be, with me, at my side, and a mother to my daughter. Or our daughter. With Shane riding behind me, we ride for Slade’s and since I’ve got enough to deal with what with Effie’s twenty-four hours fast approaching its end, I want to deal with the McCarthy’s early before Slade heads for the club, and Kristen goes to the shop.

Time moves on so fast that I mostly forget Shane had a thing for Holly. The nights I spent in prison unable to sleep because I was struggling to deal with what I felt for her, and the thought of anyone else touching her, Shane especially after he asked her out on a date, brought out carnal jealousy. Yet now, he’s a brother and I’m pretty sure he’s stuck his dick in every single, and some married, women in town and around the club.

The urge to light a cigarette after parking outside Slade’s house is strong. This needs sorting for Holly as much as my peace of mind, so I climb off my bike and turn to Shane.

“Wait here, I won’t be long.”

The door opens as I walk up the front path and Slade frowns.

“Trouble?”

Swallowing, I shake my head. “But I need to talk to you and Kristen. Settle a matter before you hear it elsewhere.”

“Is Rayna okay?”

“She’s good.”

Inside, Kristen is preparing for work and though the tension between us has eased, I still catch her tense her jaw and put on a smile to keep our peace going.

“Leo needs to talk to us,” Slade tells his old lady.

---