Epilogue
MAXINE
“Don’t even think about leaving me alone here.” My head is on a swivel, taking it all in. “As crazy as it sounds after all we confessed to each other, I’ve never been to a party, and certainly not a biker party.”
“Just like any old party, nothing special.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
We’ve been here maybe fifteen minutes, and I’ve already seen two totally naked girls—one giving Diesel a blowjob against the back wall, and another on a tabletop dancing to Motley Crue’s “Live Wire.”
Smoke closed The Tropics for a private party to celebrate my win last week and the success of the cage fighting, so, as Blood said, “Everybody’s in a party mood.” To my eyes, this looks like way past party mood and on to crazy, out of control and wild, but I have to admit, there’s something completely freeing about everyone doing their thing without judgment or repercussion. A freedom I’d never known and hoped to acquire. I’m just not sure if I can acquire it all in one night.
I keep glued to Blood’s side as he introduces me around to club members from California and other neighboring states. Meeting Jameson, the Royal Bastards National President, terrified me. His bulk and overall scary persona sent a shiver up my spine, which seemed worse when he smiled. Blood told me how he and Smoke ended up in Tijuana, and just the thought of disobeying this man makes my heart race.
Blood angles me toward the bar, where Bolt and a few of the strippers are trying to keep up with the crazy demand of drink orders.
“Hey, brother, nice to see you brought your lady tonight.” Bolt beams at me, gold tooth and all. This solid brick of a man has a gentle, deep voice that always makes me forget he rides with outlaw bikers.
“What can I get you, darlin’?”
Blood looks at me, and I shrug. Again, not used to the party scene.
“I’ll have a double Jack,” Blood says, then smiles at me. “And make something nice for my girl.”
I like being referred to as Blood’s girl, mainly because he says it with such affection.
Bolt slides a glass of Jack Daniels in front of Blood, then disappears to the other side of the huge bar. With the crush of people, it’s impossible to see what he’s making, but a few minutes later, he returns with a frothy drink in a frosty glass.
“Try it,” Bolt encourages, then waits like a child with a good report card.
I sip it, then sip again, and lick my lips. “That’s delicious.”
“I knew you’d like it.”
“What is it?”
“My special margarita. Premium tequila, made right here in Mexico, Cointreau, and fresh-squeezed lime juice.” Again his hard face splits into a proud grin. “None of that triple sec shit, only the best.”
“Well, I love it.”
“He’s a frustrated bartender,” Blood jokes.
“It’s nice to have somebody with class who appreciates my skills, instead of the usual shots and beers you guys order.”
Blood nods to my glass. “Just keep them coming.”
The party progresses at a dizzying speed, along with Bolt’s special margaritas.
“Trying to get me drunk?”
“Maybe.”
Bolt leans over the bar. “If this guy is gonna claim you as his old lady,” he grins, “you’re gonna need them.”
I cock my head at Blood. “Claim me as your?—”
“Don’t listen to him.” Blood scowls at Bolt.
“Hey, I’m just repeating what you said at our last church?—”
“Shut it.” Blood sends Bolt a deadly look.
I gaze up at Blood. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
“He’s been hit in the head too many times.” Blood gives Bolt a side-eye then picks up his drink and mine, ushering me to the tables at the rear of the bar. Obviously wanting me away from Bolt. The rest of the Bastards already claimed these tables where they hold court and keep an eye on their surroundings.
I finally got to thank Marisol for her kindness when I needed it the most. Over more margaritas, she and I discuss the finer points of being with a member of the Royal Bastards, and she also alluded to me being Blood’s “old lady.” Belonging to anything permanent is a new experience for me, but I welcome the anxiety along with the closeness and feeling of mutual support. Now I have someone in my corner, and, for the first time ever, I have a sort of family.
Marisol nods to Smoke and Blood in deep conversation. “I’m not going to tell you that it’s always easy, but I will tell you that, once these men make a commitment, it’s real and lasting.”
I’ve seen the easy way Blood relates to his brothers. The obvious trust and respect surface even through the trash talk.
“It’s what I’ve been searching for most of my life.” I’d given Marisol a brief snippet of my experiences the night I stayed with her and Smoke, but she was savvy enough to fill in the blanks without acting intrusive. I knew from Blood that she battled her own past demons too, making her a role model for me.
Marisol squeezes my hand, and the small gesture tells me she understands.
In Blood I found the strength to hope for a better future, and even if that future wasn’t with him, I knew I would survive.
Blood breaks away from the others and makes his way toward us. Is it crazy that I love watching him eat up the space between us? The swagger of his gait, the roll of his hips—yeah, I had it bad.
He plasters that cocky grin on his face. “I hope you’re not scaring my girl with stories about me.”
“If you haven’t scared her yet, there’s nothing I could say,” Marisol fires back.
“Two sassy women, hooked up with two alpha men.”
Marisol rolls her eyes. “What could go wrong?”
Blood huffs out a laugh then leans into my ear. “I don’t know how much longer I can wait to get you alone.”
“Is that an invitation?”
“You’re not teasing me now, are you?” He waggles his eyebrows. “‘Cause you know what happens when you tease me.”
Marisol waves her hand at us. “Will you please take him out of here before he embarrasses himself?”
“Too late.”
I lean into Marisol. “Thanks for being my first friend in Tijuana.”
“Always.” Marisol has experienced so much loss in her life, yet she’s still so warm and caring.
Blood leads me to the back of the club, and Diesel steps in our path. “Leaving so soon?” He’s got a stripper under each arm, one kissing his neck and the other dipping her fingers into his waistband. “The party’s just getting started.”
If this is what he calls “getting started,” I’m afraid to think of what would be going on an hour from now.
Blood tightens his hold around my waist. “I don’t wanna scare her on the first night.”
“All right, I’ll let you go.” Diesel points at me. “But come next week, your sweet ass better be in the gym. We got some new girls coming in, and I need your gentle touch.”
Blood barks out a laugh. “In other words, he needs you there so he doesn’t scare them off.”
“Get the fuck outta here.” Diesel puffs out his massive chest. “I’m just a cuddly teddy bear.” Both strippers gaze at him adoringly.
We all laugh at that one, then Blood angles me through the back hall and up the stairs.
When we hit his apartment, he wastes no time angling me toward the bedroom.
“Impatient much?” I tease.
“Damn straight, especially when my woman gets to talking. Shit, if I hadn’t come over, you’d still be yakking at Marisol.”
“Right, like you weren’t in some deep conversation with Smoke.”
“There you go with the sass, but I’mma let it go, ‘cause right now I want you buck-ass naked and spread out in my bed.”
“Is that an order?”
“Fuck yeah, it’s an order.” He slaps my ass, and I squeal. “Now, get moving.”
I give him a sassy grin, and when we enter the bedroom, I slowly, very slowly, unzip my cutoffs and push them over my hips. “What did Bolt mean before about me being your old lady?”
“Who the hell knows what he’s talking about?” Blood drags my t-shirt over my head and unsnaps the clasp of my bra.
“He seemed pretty sure of what he was saying.”
Blood nuzzles his face between my breasts, nudging me back toward the bed, then lifts me and tosses me onto the center. He pushes away the denim of his jeans, toes off his boots, rips his t-shirt up and over his head, then crawls up the bed.
“We can talk all you want later, but I’ve been waiting all night to have your sweet body under me.” He grabs me behind the knees and anchors my legs over his shoulders. “And to taste you.”
He dives in between my legs, and my hips jerk off the mattress when he drives his tongue deep while nipping my clit. He keeps at the sensitive flesh until I break apart in record time, forgetting any questions I have floating around in my brain.
“Looks like I’m not the only one in need.”
His smirky grin makes me arch my back, twist out of his hold and push him onto his back. I rest my palms on his abs, and he flinches. “You’re not the only one with skills.”
I inch down over him gradually until I’ve taken all of him. He palms my hips, and I push them away, wanting and needing complete control.
“Babe, you’re killin’ me—and what a fuckin’ way to go.”
I ride him harder, increasing the speed and pressure with every thrust, pulling almost all the way out and slamming back down. His head thrashes against the pillow as I brace my hands against his shoulders. All the anxiety, stress and fear plaguing me is exorcised with the sweet rhythm of Blood’s body.
I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I know I want it to be about the freedom to take and give to each other in the most honest of ways.
“Ohhhh, fuck!” Blood yells out as we both crash over the edge of our new beginning.
BLOOD
An hour later, I wrap my arm around Maxine, making sure I stay tight inside her glorious body. I’d lost count of how many orgasms I’d given her, and fuck me, but she drained me dry, and I loved it.
She snuggles closer to me, and her warmth has me burrowing deeper into the sheets. If this is heaven, then I don’t ever wanna leave. For the first time since we met, we can relax without the fear of the world crashing in on us. My goal is to give Maxine everything she’s missed over the years, everything that bastard Hector robbed from her.
A persistent knocking invades my quasi-sleep, and the more I ignore it, the louder it gets. What or who the fuck could need me now? I’m still hoping it stops, but, no, of course it doesn’t.
I stare at the ceiling for a few seconds, then ease myself out of Maxine’s extraordinary body. She moans and reaches for me.
“Go back to sleep,” I whisper, then edge off the bed, drag on my jeans, head for the door and gear up for whoever made me get out of bed.
I whip the door open, and Diesel rears back. I’m ready to pop and take his head off, but his expression is much too serious.
“We’re ready to move,” Diesel says.
“I hope you realize, two minutes ago, I was deep in my woman’s pussy.”
Diesel scrunches up his face. “Shit, man, really didn’t need to hear that.”
“What’ve you got?’ I ask Diesel.
“It’s all set. We’re ready to finish the job we started two days ago.” Diesel throws me a knowing look. “Downstairs in five.”
I close the door and lean against it. As much as I want to crawl back into bed with Maxine, I got a job to do. A final chapter in the ending of Hector Rodriquez and his reign of terror.
I go back into the bedroom and quietly dress. I contemplate waking Maxine, but she’s sleeping so peacefully. She probably won’t even wake up before I get back, plus I don’t want her to worry, so I kiss her forehead and leave the bedroom.
Five minutes later, we are mounted up and heading for the building Hector bought on the outskirts of Tijuana. It’s a free-standing building, which makes what we’re about to do a lot easier.
We troop inside the mostly empty warehouse, and Diesel nods to a few pieces of exercise equipment. “You wanna salvage some of this?”
Smoke looks to me, and I shake my head. “I don’t want anything that reminds me of that bastard.”
Smoke nods to Diesel. “You got your answer.”
Diesel and Bolt uncap the gas cans and drench the perimeter while the rest of us look on.
When they’re done, we head to the door, and Smoke stops. “Gonna give you the honors, VP.”
I pull the .45 out of the waist of my jeans and fire one shot into the vacant space. The shot rings out, then a whoosh of air as the gasoline ignites the floor and quickly travels up the walls.
“Burn in hell, motherfucker,” I say to the growing flames.
We head out to our bikes, and Ricky flanks me. “Nothing sends a message like gasoline and gun.”
“Talk about Mexican fireworks.” Manny laughs around his words. “This should back off anyone else looking to set up shop in Tijuana.”
We mount our bikes, and as the flames and heat intensify, I’m filled with satisfaction at erasing another part of Hector from Maxine’s life.
The sun begins to rise as we pull into the lot of The Tropics. I’m fuckin’ beat, but it’s a good tired. I have a loyal woman waiting in my bed, and a club of brothers at my back.
“Job well done, boys.” Smoke gives us a two-finger salute. “I’m heading home.”
The other brothers head into the back door, and I hit the stairs, anxious to get back into bed with Maxine. After the last few days, she’s probably still asleep. Just thinking about her warm, willing body has me taking the stairs two at a time.
I barrel through my apartment door and stop dead. “What are you doin’ up?”
Maxine pushes off the couch, heads to the kitchen and returns with a steaming cup of coffee. “Figured you’d be needing this.”
I take a sip and practically moan. “Just what I need, although I was looking forward to seeing you wrapped up in my bed.”
“I figured the coffee would keep you awake for the conversation we’re about to have.”
“Conversation?” It’s been my experience with women that conversations usually ended badly.
“Tell me what Bolt was talking about last night at the bar.”
“Who the fuck knows? The guy smokes way too much weed.”
“He didn’t seem stoned to me. As a matter of fact, he seemed on point and focused.”
All right, so she was gonna make me say it, but I knew she was gonna hate it too.
“I brought up you becoming my old lady at our last church meeting.”
“And why would you do that without saying something to me?”
Shit, she sure isn’t gonna make this easy.
“Look, I know we talked about it briefly, but I got the impression you weren’t interested.”
“Well, I’m not crazy about the term, but Marisol did explain it to me the night I stayed with them, and it kind of made sense.”
“Really?” Maybe I could salvage this after all. “What did she say?”
“She said it’s a commitment like a marriage with a rougher meaning. As in, I’ll have the devotion of all the club brothers and you. She also said if another guy even smiles at me in the wrong way, you have the green light to knock him into next week.”
I smile at her explanation. “Sounds about right.”
“Brutal, yes, but I relish the sense of protection after flying solo over dangerous territory for so long.”
“So, does that mean you’ll accept my offer?”
“Your offer?”
“To let me be your number one, to let me protect you, to be my old lady.”
She stares back at me, and my chest spasms. “Only if it means our commitment is equal, and that it’s more than ownership because, with my past, that would never work for me.”
“Of course it’s equal and mutual.” I drag my fingers through my hair. “You’re all I want, and all I think about, but I’m not gonna fuckin’ beg.”
“And that’s what makes this so perfect.”
“Shit, Maxine, I love you. I think I loved you after the first week you were at the gym.”
“You love me?”
“Fuck, yeah.”
“I love you too.” She jumps into my arms, and I almost drop the coffee. “So much.” She smothers me with kisses, and I know, from this point on, neither one of us will ever be lonely again.
THE END