Property of Fox (Mayhem Makers: Bastard Boilers MC)

26. Fox

FOX

Anger seethes through me, boiling in my veins until I feel like I might explode. Brea's refusal to accept my claim is like a slap in the face. Az's pathetic attempt at offering temporary protection is nothing compared to what I could have given her if she’d accepted.

As soon as the meeting is over, my rage takes over. The next thing I know, I am dragging her by the arm out of the room and straight to the room I keep here at the clubhouse. She jumps as the door slams hard against the frame behind her.

“What the fuck were you thinking, Brea? I was trying to protect you.”

“By claiming me?” she spits back. “Is that what you had planned to do this entire time? Slap a property patch on my back and make your club help me?”

I take a deep breath, wrestling with the words that claw at my throat. “No, it’s not like that,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “It’s about keeping you safe.”

Her green eyes flash defiantly, and I can’t help but admire that fire in her. She crosses her arms, curving her body away from me as if shielding herself from our confrontation. “By sacrificing your club in the process. It’s bad enough that Keira and now you, are wrapped up into my mess, but I would never be able to live with myself if someone else got hurt or, worse, died, because of me.”

“But you’re okay sacrificing yourself?”

“Don’t twist my words,” she snaps.

“Do you not care what losing you would do to me, Brea? Have you even thought of that?”

Her eyes widen, and for a moment, I think I see something in them—fear, maybe even a hint of regret. But it vanishes as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that fierce defiance. “And what would you have me do? Bow down and let you decide what's best for me just because you've claimed me? If I wanted to live that life, I would have stayed in Bloomington with my mom and Tank.”

I move closer, my instincts telling me to bridge the space between us, yet I can sense her walls growing thicker. “Brea,” I say softly, letting some of the edge fade from my voice, “this isn’t about control. This is about survival. Yours. Please reconsider. If not for me, but for you and Keira.”

“No,” she shakes her head. “I know what it means to be claimed by a biker. I will not be shared with the officers to wear your patch and get protection. I’d rather die than subject myself to that.”

“Where did that come from? Jesus, is that what they do to their women? How do you know that?”

“My mom,” she admits. “They put her through hell because of Tank. I refuse to be like her.”

“Brea, that’s not how my club works. I would never let someone touch you or fuck you. Do you think that’s the kind of man that I am? We don’t pass our women around like a fucking offering plate at church. You know me better than that?”

“But, your club…”

“We aren’t the fucking Hoosier Hellions, Brea? Do you think for a single second that they would protect you like I am desperately trying to do? I would rather give up my fucking cut than to let you step a foot out of this clubhouse without protection.”

“You act like I’m asking you to sell your soul. But in reality, I’m just trying to keep you alive. Accept the claim, baby.”

“I can’t.” Her eyes plead with me, but I can see the fear and desperation behind them. She takes a hesitant step closer, her hand reaching out to rest against my chest as if she can feel my heart hammering inside. “I hate that my decision is hurting you. I wish you could understand why I have to do this.” Her voice cracks with emotion.

“I wish I could see it from your perspective too,” I say, capturing her hand, desperate to bridge the newly formed chasm between us. “At least tell me why you won’t reconsider my offer.”

“I don’t want to be claimed because it’s a necessary evil.”

“I want you to be safe. I want you to be free to make your own decisions and to live the life you deserve to live. My claim can give you that.”

Brea's green eyes search mine. "What if I want to choose my own path—away from you? Would you be able to accept that?"

The thought destroys me. I’ve never met someone who has gotten under my skin like she has. I used to think that I’d live my life as a bachelor, never settling down and just having fun. But now, I’m not sure that’s still what I want. I swallow hard, the answer hanging in the air between us. “If it made you happy and safe, I’d let you go. It would kill me to do it, but if it meant you’d be happy, I’d step aside.”

She studies me in silence, doubt still flickering across her features, and I brace myself for another wave of rejection. But instead, a single tear breaks free from the corner of her eye, cascading down her cheek. “Why do you have to be so damn noble?” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “You make it so hard to push you away.”

I reach up instinctively to wipe the tear away, my thumb brushing against her soft skin. “Because that’s what you deserve,” I declare, my voice low but steady as I look deep into her eyes.

“Why? I was trying to give you a way out of this mess with me.”

“It’s simple, baby. I want you. All of you—fire and fury and everything in between.” She blinks rapidly, fighting the tide of emotions swirling in her chest. I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the small gesture stirring something deep within me. Her breath catches as surprise dances across her features, and for a heartbeat, I fear I’ve gone too far. But then those lovely green eyes soften again, and I can almost feel her heart racing in sync with mine. “I’ll take whatever you’ll give me.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that if you don’t mean them,” she murmurs.

“I mean every word.” My voice is steady, unyielding. “Claim or no claim, you’re it for me, firefly.” Brea’s breath catches in her throat at my admission. “Mine to protect. Mine to love.” The truth is, I claimed her the moment I saw her. I just didn’t realize it until now.

“Fox…” she starts, but her voice trails off as her gaze drops to the floor between us. Her fingers twitch slightly against my chest, and I can feel the fight within her.

“Look at me,” I whisper, lifting her chin gently until those captivating green eyes lock onto mine again. “You don’t have to decide right now, firefly, but now you know why I’m trying so hard to fight for you.”

I graze my lips over hers softly at first, testing the waters, and when she doesn’t pull back or shy away, I deepen our connection. I lose myself in the taste of her. I try to kiss away her fears, and mine. For those precious moments, nothing else exists except Brea and the truth of this moment. Her lips are soft and sweet, tasting like the very essence of everything I’ve been yearning for.

Brea sighs against me, and I take that as a sign to hold her closer, arms wrapping around her waist. Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me deeper into the moment and sending a rush of hope surging through me. Hope that despite everything that has been said today, and what we’ll face in the future, that she’ll stay with me.

“Fox,” she breathes, her voice shaky as though she’s standing at the edge of a precipice. “If I let you in… if I give you this chance…you can’t break my heart again.”

“Trust isn’t given on a whim, firefly, it’s earned. I’m willing to fight for it. For you.”

Something shifts in that moment. Her doubt seems to flutter away when she surges forward. Her lips crash to mine this time. She kisses me harder and harder. Almost as if she’s staking her own claim on me. My fingers splay on either side of her head, tangling in her beautiful red hair, drawing her closer. She leans into me, removing any space between us. Body to body. Soul to soul. I shift backward, walking us towards the bed until the edge of it collides with the back of my knees.

I fall back onto the bed, pulling her down with me, our laughter mingling as we tumble onto the soft sheets. She lands on top of me, her hips straddling me. I reach up, drawing her face towards me by her chin.

“Let me worship you, firefly.”

Brea’s cheeks flush a deep pink. With careful precision, my hand brushes along her arm, slowly tracing the outline of her delicate collarbone before resting at the nape of her neck. She shivers beneath my touch, and that reaction fuels me more than anything else could. My fingers weave through those fiery locks as I lean in again, pressing soft kisses against her forehead and down to her cheeks.

“I swear, Brea,” I murmur, my lips grazing her ear, “I’ll show you a love that doesn’t let you down.”

“Fox…” she breathes, still overwhelmed by the whirlwind of affection I’m showering her with. Each kiss feels like a promise made in quiet desperation, each caress a vow to protect her heart—even from itself. I can feel her pulse quicken as I trail soft, lingering kisses down the curve of her jaw, savoring the warmth of her skin.

Brea gasps when I press my lips to the sensitive spot just below her ear, a sigh escaping her as I continue to plant kisses down her neck. It’s intoxicating, feeling her vulnerability wash over me like a warm tide. I want to drown in this moment, to erase all the scars of her past and make her see that I’m different—that I’m worth the risk she’s terrified to take.

She sighs softly, her fingers gripping my shoulders as if she’s anchoring herself to me. And for every kiss, every gentle stroke of my hands against her body, I’m reminded of how fragile this connection is and how fiercely I want to hold onto it.

“Fox,” she whispers again, but this time there’s a firmness in her voice. “Promise me… promise you won’t go anywhere.”

I pull back just enough to look into those mesmerizing green eyes to see the sincerity behind her words. “I promise,” I vow earnestly. “Wherever this takes us, I’m not going anywhere.”

She exhales like she’s been holding her breath for far too long, and a small smile creeps back onto her lips as if she’s finally allowing herself to hope, to believe that maybe we could make this work.

I shift beneath her, my hands gliding down her sides before resting on her hips. “You’re everything I didn’t know I needed, firefly,” I say softly, my voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes sparkle with a light that makes my heart race.

“Then show me.”

“I can do that.” I oblige, capturing her lips again, plying them open with my tongue as we lose ourselves in each other. The warmth of her body presses against mine, a delicious ache that fills me with longing. I could stay here forever—just her and me, lost in our own world.

Her hands trail down my chest, exploring as if she’s mapping every scar and muscle beneath my shirt. I groan in pleasure, dragging my tongue along the seam of her lips before delving deeper into her mouth. "Fox," she whimpers against my lips.

I break the kiss gently, trailing more feather-light kisses down the side of her neck, nipping and suckling at her soft skin until she gasps in surprise. "Feels good?" I murmur against her pulse point, feeling her body tremble with need beneath me.

"Yes," she pants out. I sweep my tongue up along the column of her throat, tasting her skin, marking it as mine. My hand slides underneath her t-shirt, tracing patterns over her stomach and upwards until my hands reach the small of her back. Her breath hitches as if it’s been stolen away, and she rocks her hips against me in silent invitation. Her vanilla scent envelops me. I breathe her in, savoring every inch of her. I inch her shirt up until she reaches down and removes it for me.

I trail kisses and soft touches downwards, pausing at the curve of her breast as I slowly tug on one side of her bra strap until it slips off her shoulder. She moans softly at the sensation, arching into my touch as if begging for more. Her skin is so soft here, so incredibly inviting. I hesitate for only a moment before taking her nipple into my mouth, suckling gently as I tease it with my tongue.

Her cries echo around us. In response, I shift slightly so that I can reach down with one hand to caress her through the thin fabric of her leggings. Brea gasps again, her head falling back, exposing more of her delicate neck to my hungry lips. I take advantage of the moment, trailing kisses up to her collarbone, where I pause, savoring the moment as if it were the most precious gift I’ve ever been given.

“Fox,” she breathes, her voice thick with need, “I want you to—” The rest of her words melt away.

“Shh,” I murmur against her skin, taking my time. “Let me worship you.”

Her breath hitches at the promise of what’s to come. My fingers dip beneath the waistband of her leggings, brushing against her soft skin just above where I know she needs me most. Where my cock is screaming to be. Between her supple thighs, claiming what’s mine, but this is more than staking my claim. It’s showing her how much I love her without saying the words aloud despite how much I want to.

When Brea rolls her hips against my hand, seeking more contact, I know I’ve found the spot she needs. I circle my fingers around her clit, tracing gentle figures of eight until she gasps in response. Her hips buck beneath me, and I lick my lips in anticipation of taking her over the edge. With one hand, I continue to wind her up until she’s trembling with need—her muscles tense and pulsing around my fingers.

“Fox,” she whimpers. “Please,” she begs softly.

"Anything for you," I reply, capturing her lips once more before plunging a finger inside her tight pussy. She cries out against my mouth, an eerie sound that sends shivers down my spine. I pump in and out of her slowly at first, watching as her body adjusts to the sensation of being filled again. Her walls clench and unclench around me, drawing me into every curve and valley of her body.

"Harder," she pants out between ragged breaths.

I withdraw my finger only to replace it with two more, stretching her tight grip on me until I'm sure she can take it no more.

“You have no idea how beautiful you are right now.”

“I need you,” she gasps, and the desperation in her voice sends my heart racing. I don’t want to hold back any longer. She deserves all of me.

As if reading my thoughts, she grabs my wrist, pulling my hand away from her warmth and looking up at me with those doe-like eyes. “I want to feel you… all of you.”

"Anything for you," I repeat, my words echoing her own. Brea slides off my lap, tugging down her leggings while I jerk off my jeans and boxers quickly, freeing my cock from its confinement. She crawls back towards me, hovering her delicious little cunt over my pulsating cock. “Ride me, baby.”

Her emerald eyes glimmer with desire as she sinks down, filling the space between us with her warmth. The moment we connect, a jolt of electricity courses through me. I watch her reaction. Her lips parting in a silent gasp, her brow furrowing in bliss as she takes me deeper.

“Just like that,” I coax, my hands resting on her waist as she begins to move. Every roll of her hips sends waves of pleasure radiating through me, her body fitting like a glove. “You’re perfect.”

Brea throws her head back, surrendering to the rhythm as if she’s been dancing to this melody all along. Her curls bounce around her shoulders, highlighting the flush of color that spreads across her cheeks.

I can hardly breathe as she rides me with abandon, our worlds collapsing into this singular moment. Her breath quickens and I can feel my own heart thundering in tandem with hers.

“Fuck, firefly,” I murmur, pulling her closer as I guide her movements. My fingers dig into the soft flesh of her hips, urging her on while I meet every thrust with equal passion. “Your pussy was made to ride me like this.”

Brea’s eyes clash with mine, and I can see the hunger burning bright in their depths. Each movement becomes more frenetic, more desperate, as she chases her release while I fight against my own impending climax.

“Fox,” she breathes, desperation lacing her voice. “I’m so close…”

Her walls clench around me, squeezing tightly as if trying to pull me even deeper. It’s intoxicating, the way she rides me—tangled in a rhythm that feels like it was always destined for us. Her body responds instinctively, rocking against mine as though we were two waves crashing together under a violent moonlit sky.

“Let go for me, baby,” I coax, guiding her with my hands and urging her on. The sound of skin slapping against skin fills the room. “I want to feel you lose control.”

“Fox… please!”

“Just a little more,” I murmur, voice thick with need. My hips rise to meet hers in an urgent dance, desperation taking over in a primal instinct. The edge of sanity teeters close—need pooling low in my belly tells me that we're both slipping dangerously close to oblivion.

"Come for me, Brea," I demand, pulling her down so that she's flush against my chest, skin on skin. "I want to feel you falling apart around me."

With a final thrust of her hips, she gasps, and the world narrows to just us—her warmth enveloping my cock as a wave crashes over her. Her tightness squeezes me in a vice grip, each pulse sending shockwaves through my body. I lose myself in the moment, matching her rhythm as she undulates above me, spiraling into a blissful frenzy.

“F-Fox!” she cries out, voice trembling with ecstasy. It’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. I’ve never wanted anything more than to be right here, right now, lost in her.

Brea’s fingers dig into my shoulders as if anchoring herself to this pleasure. Her eyes flicker open and find mine amidst the haze. I see everything in those emerald depths—the trust, the yearning, and something else that sends my heart racing.

“I’m right here,” I rasp between breaths, feeling every beat of my heart reverberate through the air around us. “You got this.”

Her body tenses around me one last time when the tide finally breaks—she’s come undone completely. A chorus of moans escape her lips while she grips onto me like I’m her lifeline.

I slip over the edge alongside her. The sensation is all-consuming as I spill myself into her, filling the space between us with the proof of our connection. Every muscle in my body tenses as I let go, surrendering myself to her body and the promise of what we could be.

The aftermath is a blur of sticky skin and heavy breaths as we collapse into each other. Brea’s head resting on my chest while her fingers lace through mine. We’re tangled together, surrounded by a symphony of our own making: sweat-soaked skin and ragged breaths mixing with the scent of vanilla and sex in the air. Our chests heaving until hers slows, and soft snores replacing her labored breathing.

I can’t help but smile at the sight of her, so utterly peaceful. Brea’s long curls cascade over my shoulder, tickling my bare skin as I shift slightly to get comfortable beneath her weight. She’s wrapped around me—soft and warm—and every instinct in me screams to protect this moment for as long as possible.

As she sleeps there on top of me, I run my fingers through those curls and soak in how real it feels. The rise and fall of our bodies glued together, each inhale carrying with it the whispers of something profound unspoken between us. My heart beats steadily under her cheek while she burrows deeper into the crook between my neck and shoulder. I savor this moment because tomorrow is never a guarantee.

Brea stirs slightly, her lips brushing against my skin as she adjusts into a deeper sleep, instinctively seeking out my warmth—my protection. At that moment, there's an ache deep inside me that's both painful and exhilarating.

“I love you, Brea,” I whisper to her sleeping form. A love I hope she will return someday, but not knowing what tomorrow brings, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t tell her. Because tomorrow, while the clubhouse and Brea sleep soundly, I plan to make sure that Brea never has to worry about being safe ever again.

Tank Lambertson will die.