Chapter Twenty
Cujo
Hidden in the shadows, panting silently, I catch my breath.
Someone needs to teach my woman about self-preservation. She waltzed right in there with Gy’s devil beast. While he’s behaving like a docile angel at the moment, I know it’s all a lie. And one snap of that creature’s maw could kill her.
But he’s not gonna get a chance.
Popping open the ammo cartridge of my dart gun, I load in a tranq strong enough to take down an elephant. I’m not a fucking dog killer, but if I see so much as a raised hackle, the beast is going to have the nap of a lifetime.
Why Gy is even allowing this shit is beyond me. Soft fucker. Stupid simp.
Keeping to the shadows, I lurk, getting closer as she takes the dog out of his cage and starts walking it around. It prances behind her like it’s had a sudden lobotomy and has turned into a different animal.
I don’t trust it.
Her sweet honeysuckle calls to me as she makes a loop around the abandoned yard, and I get nearer, noticing the way she catches my scent and searches without seeing.
There are several different buildings scattered around the MC property, and though she doesn’t know it, her current trajectory is going to bring her face-to-face with a sea of Alpha bikers in our mechanics’ bay.
There’s music strumming from the garage, and I know most of the conscious brothers are tinkering with their bikes and gossiping like old women. Probably day drinking already. But hell, that’s what Saturdays are for.
Gy follows her, way too far behind to stop what’s about to happen.
My instincts push me to stop her as the distance between her and the other Alphas narrows, but the second I do, the dog goes from relaxed and listening to stiff, stepping between her and me.
When his body language changes, so does hers.
She snaps to attention, scenting the air.
It’s in that moment that I know I’ve been caught.
Dammit.
“Come out, you creepy stalker.” My little honeybee holds the leash tighter. The expression on her face is unreadable. Annoyed? Amused? I’m hoping for the latter, but my personality does tend to piss people off.
Letting the tension simmer, I wait her out.
“Cujo.” She stomps her foot adorably, and Gy comes to stand behind her. The dog snarls at him.
Good mutt.
Figuring there’s no reason to piss her off further, I step out of the shadows, rifle at the ready. I know I should probably say something, but her sheer beauty blows me away. And the only thought in my head is that I want to drag my cheek over hers, scent-mark her in every way I can.
“Why are you hiding?” she asks, stopping at least ten feet away. It’s way too far. My feet close the gap, disconnected from my brain, until the mighty mastiff by her side snarls at me in warning.
Well, well, well. Looks like she’s found another protector. Except she doesn’t need this one. She has me. I’ll defend her from anything.
She shifts from foot to foot as I stare at her, still mute. Say something, you dummy. But all I can think of is being inside her. The scent of her slick is thick in the air, like it was last night.
“Do I need to stab you again to get you to talk?” At that, I chuckle, and with a wary glance at the big beast, I take a step toward her. He doesn’t like it, but she tells him to sit, and he obeys the instruction begrudgingly. I inch forward, not really in the mood to lose a chunk of flesh.
“Maybe.” Her assertiveness is hot as hell.
A woman with a blade? Yes, please. I don’t bother to refute her claim that I’m a stalker.
It’s true, I am, and I’m going to continue to be every day for the rest of our lives.
But it’s still fun to watch her cheeks heat and challenge flash in her silvery eyes.
“Happy to oblige. Thank you for returning my knife.” The sass she was going for is lost when her cheeks pinken. So damn cute.
“When did you do that?” Gy interjects, giving Bigfoot a wide berth as he comes to stand between Willow and me.
No. Not happening.
“When she invited me over last night.”
Gy takes the bait immediately, bumping me with his chest. “She did not.” Steam flies out of his head like a cartoon character. One point to me. Ignoring his posturing, I peer over his head.
“What are you doing here, Willow? Did you miss me?” Her brows furrow as I push Gy aside and take the chance to get closer. Bigfoot snaps, and she corrects him gently before pinning me with an annoyed glare. “Liar. I didn’t invite you over, and I came here for Bigfoot.”
God, she’s a brat. My cock twitches below my belt.
“What do you need that big beast for, anyway?” I ask, glaring at the dog who’s salivating, wanting a taste of me. “You already have Bruce the Biter.”
Willow ignores me for a moment, giving Bigfoot praise and treats before addressing me.
The sweet omega tilts her head to the side as though considering her words before answering, “You’re right, Bruce is my heart dog.
I’m hoping Bigfoot will fill that same space for someone else.
I’d just like to train him up first.” She speaks slowly, choosing each word carefully, and though I don’t think she’s lying, it’s clear she’s omitting vital information.
“Will this other person be coming to meet him?” Gy asks carefully, stepping straight into the minefield.
“No,” she whispers, heartbreak etched in the word. The person she wants to train Bigfoot for must be very important to her. Questions flood my brain, ready to spew from my mouth, but the faint souring of her scent stops me dead in my tracks.
Abort. Abort. I haven’t made the best impression so far, and although I enjoy her prowess with a knife, I prefer not to spend my time trying to talk her out of stabbing me on the regular. And I would rather stab myself than make her sad.
“Think he’ll be easy to train?” I ask, wanting to change the topic and bask in her sweetness once more.
It works, and she immediately perks up. “Yeah, Bigfoot’s perfect. He is very wary of men right now, but with some work, I think I’ll be able to train him to use his natural instincts appropriately.”
My inner Alpha preens, having done something right.
“Well, he’s sure got one hell of a bite.” Wincing, I remember how bloody our moody beta prospect’s leg was when Bigfoot nearly tore it off a few weeks ago. And Pup was just trying to clean the brute’s kennel.
“That’s what I’m hearing.” She giggles, and her scent blossoms cheerfully. On a whim, I do the dumbest fucking thing I could possibly imagine.
“If you need help with him, let me know.” My offer is ludicrous. What are you thinking? The chance of being ripped limb from limb by Bigfoot is astronomical, but judging by the way her face softens, I’m on the right track to stealing her heart.
What’s a few more scars?
My sweet honeybee launches herself at me, knocking the dart gun out of my hand.
It clatters to the ground, but I’m too shocked by the sudden contact to catch it.
As her arms circle my waist, an electric shock of recognition flows through me, and I wait for the bubble of discomfort I’m used to, but it never comes.
Her gentleness doesn’t set off a single alarm bell.
In fact, the second we touch, my hyperactive brain goes quiet.
The instinct to wrap her in my strength kicks in, and I pull her tight, lifting her until we’re nose to nose.
“Mine.” Rubbing her cheek with mine, I scent-mark my honeybee for all the world to recognize my claim. My teeth pulse, and her scent alone makes me teeter on the edge of becoming feral.
Our surroundings begin to disappear, my primal nature taking over, when a snarl rips through the air.
In my moment of comfort, I’d forgotten about the Bigfoot in the room.
“Fuck,” I shout as his enormous, muscular frame smashes into mine. The impact makes my bones rattle, and my teeth clench, but I stay upright, shielding Willow with my body.
Chivalry isn’t dead, but I might be soon if that monster has anything to say about it. Willow doesn’t need a shield; that beast won’t harm her. No. All his psycho is directed at me.
Snarling and barking, he goes for me again, ready to tear open my jugular.
I place Willow on the ground, hiding her behind my bulk, and turn to face my demise. Jaws snap, and my dart gun lies uselessly in the dust. Snatch it? Doing so will bring my jugular dangerously close to those teeth.
Nah. Better to fight him off with my bare hands. Just as the dog’s about to attack, my omega leaps in front of me.
“Willow, no!” Gy shouts, rushing forward a day late and a dollar short.
Shock makes me stumble, but it’s too late. My heart thunders as the dog leaps, then surprisingly stops short, sitting at Willow’s feet like he wasn’t murderous mere seconds ago.
“That’s a good boy. Relax.” She gives him treats, getting Bigfoot under control like a canine pied piper.
“Let me get him back to the kennel.” Gy is out of breath, reaching forward, but the little omega’s honeyed scent turns instantly bitter, making him pause. My nose wrinkles, missing the sweetness of just a few moments earlier.
“No.” She glares at him, chin held high, unwavering. Her gaze falls on me. “I can’t train him by keeping him locked away. Will you come closer and try again?”
My jaw ticks as she reaches into her bag and asks him to sit, then lie down calmly. Once the tension leaves his body, she beckons me toward her. “You offered to help.”
That I did. Might die today. But, oh, what a way to go…
“Okay, now don’t look at him. Just me. And come stand on my other side.
” I do as she says, until he growls and she tells me to stop.
The distance between us feels expansive, but in reality, it’s only a few feet.
She praises him as soon as he quiets, then we add a few more steps until I’m close enough to touch her.
Honeybee reaches out, our fingers intertwining, and I can’t help but lift them to my lips. Jeez, what kind of biker are you?
Her perfume says it all, bursting forth and making my mouth water. Mine. Raking my teeth over her knuckles with a wicked chuckle, I’m rewarded with a soft moan that goes straight to my cock.
A cough from behind me makes both of us jump, and Bigfoot barks in warning. Too late.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Orthos appears, his shifty eyes darting between us. “Pres says Church now. Mandatory.”
As quickly as he appeared, he’s gone, leaving behind the awkwardness of knowing I want nothing more than to spend more time with Willow, but my loyalty to my club demands I follow Cerberus’ orders.
“Fuck.” Gy rakes his hand over his hair, stepping forward with his palms out. “I’m sorry, Willow, we need to go see what’s going on. Let me help you settle Bigfoot back in his kennel. Maybe you can hang out with Mama C until we’re done.”
“You promised me I could leave whenever I wanted to.” She narrows her eyes on Gy, and I’m glad he’s the one receiving those daggers. “We’ll discuss it in a minute.”
She turns back to me, and I squeeze her hand. “Think Bigfoot will rip my face off if I kiss you?”
“Probably,” she admits, shrugging. She’s such a tiny thing, I could break her in half, but I never will.
“I’m willing to chance it if you are.” Her eyes light up, and I lean down, pressing our lips together and letting her set the pace.
My inner Alpha pushes me to take over, control the moment, but I can sense her hesitation, the touch of nerves.
Willow’s trust is more important than my dominance.
The kiss is soft, sweet, and over too quickly, but I’m thankful for it all the same.
“Start answering my text messages.” I brush my fingers over her cheek, wishing I could stay.
“Only if you promise to knock next time you come over.”
“Deal.”
“And I’m not letting you out of helping me train him.”
“I’ll buy body armor.” She smiles up at me, her eyes sparkling with mirth before blowing me a kiss and sauntering away, Bigfoot following closely at her heels.
I know that I need to go into the clubhouse, but the hypnotic sway of her hips holds me captive. Completely fixated on the way her long black hair rests just above her perfect little bottom.
Now I just need to decide whether I’m going to eliminate Gy.
Possibilities, so many possibilities…