CHAPTER 6
Ruckus braced as his son made his way over and stood next to him at the edge of the giant porch. He was like a loaded weapon and Ruckus couldn’t keep from tensing up when he was near. “How’s Aunt Gracie?”
Interesting conversation starter. “She seems fine,” he said, keeping his eyes on her as he was told. Not that he needed to be told. He may never mate with her, but he would surely protect her. How quickly that had developed.
“Rumor has it she likes you. A lot.”
“Word travels fast here.”
“And you?”
“Me what?”
“How do you feel about her?”
“She’s a nice woman and has been very helpful.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” he said, matter-of-factly while feeling like his son was seeing through the half-truth.
“Good because there are quite a few of The Twelve who are interested in catching her eye. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something there.”
“Nothing like that,” he said, wondering which of The Twelve. “But I do intend to watch out for her.”
He nodded. “We all intend to do that,” he assured.
“Which of The Twelve?” he decided to ask.
“Nitro, Shank, 8-Bit, Hurricane, and Spar.”
Ruckus went through the faces in his memory. He remembered Nitro, Spar and 8-Bit. “Which one is Hurricane?”
His sun jutted his chin. “The one talking to her now.”
Ruckus had been sizing that one up since he’d joined the women. “So what’s the process?” he asked, wanting to know what to expect.
“I think they intend to all ask her for a date. Whoever she picks gets a shot first.”
“A shot?”
“At winning her heart.”
“Her heart huh?” He’d reserve judgment, but a couple of those men in The Twelve didn’t seem like the heart pursuing type.
“Bishop doesn’t compromise in these things. He’ll have their balls on a platter if they fuck with that code.”
“And what code is that?” he wondered, ready to have a full detailed list.
“It’s real simple. You don’t put your dick in it till your heart’s in it.”
Ruckus nodded. “To the point. And how long is this courting process? Assuming it has one.”
He caught his son’s grin in the corner of his eye. “You sure you don’t want to ask her for a date?”
“Just want to know to make sure it’s done.”
He chuckled. “I have no clue.”
Ruckus watched the Hurricane dude work his charm. His gaze locked on his roving hands then the arm around her shoulder as he whispered in her ear. Judging by her laughter, he’d said something outrageous. He wasn’t sure what turned her head but she was suddenly looking right at him. Her eyes brightened and she said something to Hurricane and made her way to the porch.
“I’ll see you in ten minutes,” his son said, heading off as she came bounding up to him.
“Hi! I was looking for you.”
“I’ve been right here.” He held back the watching you not wanting her to get the wrong idea. “You have secret admirers I hear.”
“I do?” she wondered, looking around.
So, they didn’t tell her. “You were just talking to one.”
“Hurricane? Really?” she gasped, sounding surprised and maybe even honored. “What?” she whispered not missing his smirk.
“Why do you act so shocked that men are attracted to you?”
“I mean…he’s kind of young seeming? You said admirers. As in more than one?”
“At least five. They all intend to ask you for a date. The one you choose gets a go at you.”
“A go at me? Is that what they called it?”
“No, that’s what I called it.”
“Who told you?” she whispered.
“My son.”
“You talked to him? That’s good!”
“How is it that everybody knows you like me, Gracie?”
She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t tell anybody! Except Maggie,” she whispered.
“Well, she no doubt told her sister, and it went around from there.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, offended now. “Would you like me to make an announcement that I recant?”
“Recant?”
“Take my interest back or away.”
“I know what it means, and no, I don’t want you to recant. I just want you not to tell people anything that involves me.”
“Well…it’s kind of hard when some of the things I want to say about me involve you. I can just not mention names.”
He looked at her. “What could you possibly have to tell anybody about you that involves me? Find a way not to.”
“Fine, I will. So…who are the other admirers?”
“Not sure,” he decided to say. “Not my business.”
“Guess I’ll find out when I get asked on a date. Any pointers for me?”
“Say no?”
She sputtered a laugh. “And why?”
He considered the answers. There were a few. “Because you’ve agreed to assist me while I’m here, for one.”
“And for two?”
“One reason is enough.”
“Maybe it’s not for me.”
“Maybe don’t give them an answer until I give mine about that request you have.”
She stared at him with her mouth open. “I cancelled that,” she said, leaning closer.
“Well, I didn’t.”
“What if he asks me before you answer?”
“Then say yes. And ask him to give you what you asked of me.”
“No!” she hissed. “I don’t want just…any man trying that!”
“Then say no.”
“Are you saying yes to that?”
He looked around before meeting her worried gaze. “Under one condition,” he said watching her brows raise. “Once I do that, you agree to no dates till I’m gone.”
Her mouth hardened a little. “And I have a condition for you,” she muttered. “If you can make me orgasm, I’m yours for however long you want me. And for whatever you want.”
“You sure about that?” he said, eyeing her.
“Very.”
“For whatever I want?” he repeated, making sure she meant it.
“What. Ever,” she confirmed, bravely.
“Get ready to orgasm then.”
“Name the time and the place,” she said, answering the threat.
“On my bedroom floor. Midnight tonight.”
He stared at her, making out the fluttering pulse at her throat. “I’ll be there.”
“Good,” he said, their gazes locked hard.
“Your meeting is starting,” she informed lightly before swallowing.
He finally turned and headed for the Basilique, realizing what he’d just done. Agreed to giving her an orgasm. He wasn’t sure what made him more of an idiot. Agreeing to that or not having a fucking clue how to give it to her.
****
Ruckus was in three hells at the Basilique. Sitting through a Fate Dice roll about whether or not he’d unleash hell on the swamp, eyeing the men who wanted to date Gracie, and wondering how the fuck a woman’s orgasm worked. Even after digging through the sick past buried in his mind for a single memory that might serve him, he was moronically clueless.
And then the Fate Dice rolled yes. Yes, they should join and unleash hell. Yes, they should invite it to the swamp for a family reunion. His son would learn the ugly truth he protected him from, and he’d have to watch Gracie date men lacking the scruples Spook, Bishop, and his son possessed. And that meant his stay just got extended because like fuck would he risk anybody hurting her. The connection he’d formed with her in a single day was no doubt a result of years of isolation.
He just hoped it wasn’t the darkness that had imprinted her on his soul. It was beginning to feel that way with the uptick in kill urges. He may not be able to marry her, but he could do everything in his power to protect her and make sure she was happy. Even if it meant breaking a lifelong tradition and allowing in pleasure. Her pleasure. He doubted his body was even capable at this point of anything sexual, but he’d find a way to give her what she craved and then help her find the bastard who could give her the whole package. Because that’s what she needed and deserved.
“With the Fate Dice settled,” Bishop announced, “I’ll move to close the meeting if there’s no further business to be addressed.”
“I have a question,” Ruckus injected. “What are the dating rules for The Twelve. I was informed several of them have an interest in Gracie. And I have an interest in ensuring rules are strictly followed where she’s concerned.”
“It’s no secret that Gracie has affections for you,” Bishop said. “You would have first rights to date her.”
“I can’t marry,” he informed. “But I’ve formed bonds with Gracie that come with obligations. I understand and respect and even admire the community here and see that your codes are strictly enforced. I would like to know the protocol where Gracie is concerned so I can let whoever dates her knows there will be seven hells to pay if they break them and hurt her.”
The Bishop seemed pleasantly surprised. “Perchance you may want to sign up for our Code Keeper position.”
“What Code Keeper position,” Hurricane muttered, his gaze burning on Ruckus now.
“The one I’m making for our dating codes since we’re freshly implementing them. You all talk swamp shit in here when it comes to women and marriage. That needs to change. From now on, any woman that makes it into our circle needs to be treated with the respect we show my wife and mother.”
“I’d rather have no position if it’s all the same,” Ruckus said. “Other than the business the Fate Dice gave me.
“Why can’t you marry?”
Ruckus eyed his son, wondering why the hell he’d ask that there. According to their Fate Dice, he no longer had anything to hide. But he’d always have something to guard. “Because of my gift.” They’d have to work for the rest.
“I have gifts,” his son said easily. “I’m married.”
Ruckus stared at him for many seconds. “And there isn’t a man on this earth who is happier about that.” He looked at Bishop. “I just want to handle this one thing if that’s at all possible.”
“I have no issues abiding by any rules,” the dude on his right said. Nitro, he remembered. “But I’d also like to know at what point we’re off parole observation.”
“At no point,” Ruckus said.
The man leveled his gaze on him. “Then I have a problem with that.”
“As do I,” Hurricane said.
“Watch me for the rest of your life,” Spar cut in. “You’ll just learn from the best.”
“Okay,” Bishop said, hitting the table with his hand. “We’re all on the same team here and want the same things. The door for The Twelve is not locked from the outside. You don’t like something, you know how to leave. But I’ll kick your ass if you do. We’re a brotherhood. We work our problems out. We don’t fucking run from them. And I know there will never be a point in my life that I’m not watching over my own daughter, married or not. There are lines we cross and lines we don’t. But if any of us ever see any woman not being treated according to our laws and codes, I don’t care if they’ve been married for a hundred years, I’ll intervene. We serve and protect the whole hoard. Not just from external threats but even those within.”
Ruckus muscles loosened a little at his words. “If that’s the law, I will surely uphold it,” he announced as the rest of The Twelve also gave a mix of grumbled consent.
****
Ruckus watched Gracie in the Birdhouse from the porch of the small shack. It was soon obvious she was biding her time while the two lovebirds played gracious hosts. He let himself look at details he normally had no interest in. Particularly the way her small breast looked in the pale-yellow sundress she wore. And her ass. That was a fucking catalyst for war. But unless she wore a curtain, there was no hiding it. He was beginning to agree with her idea about teaching men how not to look rather than requiring her to hide all that beauty.
He was done waiting. He made his way to the Bird House and knocked on the door. The sight of Gracie’s smile as she ran to let him in opened things in him that felt hot and angry. And yet hungry. Almost an angry hunger.
“Hi!” she greeted with a light in her brown eyes.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, waving when Maggie and Spook called out their hello. “I just need Gracie for a bit,” he said when they invited him in.
“I’ll be back,” she called, stepping out and closing the door. From the moment he turned and led her to his shed, he felt like he entered some test zone and the universe watched. But it was Gracie’s eyes he felt on his back that he was interested in impressing. He’d decided giving her an orgasm didn’t need to be rocket science. He was an astute observer and if he knew where the target was, he could figure out the rest using every safe gift at his disposal.
Once inside, he lit the small lantern while she took a seat on the handmade stool near the small stove. “You want anything?” he asked, blowing out the match while angling a look at her.
She shook her head and he stared at her. A sweet butterfly that intentionally flew into a web. Waiting to be taken and consumed by a hungry creature. Ruckus was paying attention to his own physical state. His dick was still in a coma even as his body roiled with the same chemicals he had during a dangerous kill. The question of the hour was what would happen to him when he gave her an orgasm. He had no idea. He’d never once questioned the use of pain over pleasure in his coven. It had been a constant in all his memories as far back as he could recall. He was now wondering why? What was it about that pleasure that caused them to avoid it? Did it make one weak? Vulnerable? With a power-hungry coven like his, those components wouldn’t be allowed.
He took a seat on his bed of furs, catching her gaze on his chest. He realized that did something for her much like the sexual signals did something for a man. He decided it was a safe tool to bring about that orgasm he’d give her. “You want me naked?” he decided to ask. He almost regretted putting that one in her hands while sensing something very close to fear in the air.
Her gaze flew up to his. “I…”
“I shouldn’t have asked that,” he said.
Confusion softened her face. “Why?”
He stood, looking down at her. “Because I already know the answer.”
He removed his leg coverings then paused to see how she’d handle his leather cock-sheath. The sight of her lips opening that way while she stared right at it brought something in his balls he hadn’t ever felt. The heat was instant, like a spark, then left the second he felt it.
“Wow,” she whispered. “That’s…different.”
He was suddenly concerned what she’d think of his manhood. “I feel like I need to warn you.”
“What?” Her eyes remained locked on his cock still.
“The… life I came from had a fondness for pain.”
This pulled her eyes up to his. The worry in her gaze created a concoction of chemicals that brought a light sheen of sweat to his body.
He decided there was really no way to explain it, so he tugged the leather strap securing the sheath and slowly slid it off.
“Oh…my…God,” she whispered.
Ruckus used his observational skills to define her shock and the rapid rise and fall in her chest. At finding more arousal than worry, he experienced his second streak of heat. This one had small shards that reached into his cock, causing his own chest to heave in wonder and excitement.
“Can I…touch it?”
The question brought a third pulse of heat in his balls. But as he considered her sweet request, that heat traveled through his entire body. “Yes,” he said, marveling over his response. A mix of panic and wild urgency arched through him as she moved onto her knees just before him. The sight of her there, staring at that part of him had him winded and clueless as to why. His body and mind knew something he didn’t, and he was waiting to find out what it was. She raised both hands and used all her fingers to stroke along the shaft. A carpet bomb of heat bloomed under each of her fingers sliding down to the very tip. By the time she’d reached the bottom, his entire cock was filled with a pounding, living, breathing heat. “What are you doing to me?” he shuddered, gasping when she leaned in with her mouth and kissed it. He grabbed her head in panic and she devoured his entire cock into her hot mouth as thought hungry for it.
“Gracie! Oh fuck, Gracie!” His hands trembled at her head as fire engulfed him. She pumped her mouth quickly over the crown and he locked his fingers in her hair, seething around every groan. The suction commanded him, and he moved into it. The sight of his evil shaft moving in and out of her mouth made his groans thicker and harder and so much fucking hotter. “Oh God,” he shot out again when the heat turned angry and demanding. Her high-pitched moans drove him fucking crazy. “What are you doing to me,” he blasted, moving faster to the devouring heat. The part of his psyche that knew things he couldn’t remember woke and took over, pumping his cock into her mouth. At feeling his seed coming, he pulled back only to have her grab hold of him and force him to the back of her throat. He gave himself to that forbidden orgasm of mind-bending pleasure while an unfathomable awe filled him. Followed by a bloodthirst to hunt the one that hid this divinity from him. Then put him deep into the fucking ground.