14
BLOOM
I had a thing for Logan playing with my ass. He knew it and used it to his advantage whenever he wanted me to turn into a puddle. It worked every single time. Winding down from my climax, I lay sprawled on my stomach, face pressed to the pillow. Logan had already come inside me, but that didn’t stop him from sticking two fingers up my butt, stroking in and out of me.
“How do you feel?” He kissed my shoulders.
I couldn’t muster words, but I managed a grunt. We’d been all loved up since our fight two days ago. Logan insisted I needed to rest more, and he did everything possible to keep me in bed. Including bringing me food in bed. Not that I minded. Although I would never openly agree with him in case he got too protective again, he was right. I’d been doing too much in the short time I’d left the hospital.
Logan chuckled, planting kisses down my spine. Sweet Satan, what he was doing with his fingers was so relaxing. I drifted in and out of consciousness. His fingers danced a slow rhythm inside me, and when he finally removed them, he slapped my hole gently.
“All right, enough of that.” But even as he said it, he was still rubbing the flat of his fingers around me. I should be closing my legs, not widening my thighs and tilting my ass.
If the other bikers knew how much of a slut I’d become for Logan, they would never let me live it down.
“Sweetheart, I have to get into the shower.” He kissed my shoulder. “You look tired. Get some more rest so you’ll have enough energy for dinner tonight. I’m gonna take you somewhere fancy.” Somewhere security was tight and we could eat in private.
“Stay with me.” I sounded like a whiny baby, but I clutched his arm anyway, not prepared to let him go yet.
“I can’t. I have an appointment with my insurance company and other errands to run.”
I turned over onto my side. Logan’s gaze swept over my naked body. Grinning, I parted my thighs and bit my bottom lip.
“Who’s been teaching you to do that?” he whispered.
“What?” I propped my elbow on the bed with my head resting in my hand and threw my hair back to fall down my back.
“That.” His eyes darkened, and he placed a finger on my Adam’s apple, then slowly drew his finger down to my navel. Goosebumps trickled along my skin, following the trail his finger blazed. “Looking so damn irresistible. Count your lucky stars. If I didn’t need time for my body to recuperate, I’d be on you all the time.”
“Like I’d mind. In case you didn’t realize, Logan, I’ve turned into a slut for you.”
Leaning over my body, Logan kissed me softly. “Does it bother you?”
I sighed into his mouth, wrapping my arms around his neck while trying to discreetly pull him on top of me. “It should. It sounds demeaning, but I like spreading my legs for you too much to let it bother me. Logan, you fuck me so good I want it all the time.”
Logan chuckled against my lips and loosened my arms. “I really have to go, baby.”
“Can I at least go with you?”
“No, you need your rest.” He pecked my nose and rose to his feet. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
He stretched, and I gawked. He went on and on about my body, but did he not know how perfect he looked? Muscles contracted and released, and I almost swallowed my tongue. I twisted my engagement ring.
He’s mine.
“Logan, when are we going to tell people we’re engaged?”
No one had noticed the ring yet, and I didn’t know whether to bring it up. Tomorrow Crowe was due back from an unplanned trip to Riverton to work out some disputes there. He’d been vague about it. I preferred telling him first. If he heard from anyone else, he would never forgive me or approve of Logan.
“Do you want to invite everyone to dinner this weekend and tell them then?” he asked.
“That’s a lot of people to feed. Have you seen how much food my brothers can put away? Feeding Sarge alone could put you in debt.”
Logan laughed. “He’s quite a big man, but if it’s just the ones who raised you, it should be okay. Figured they should hear it directly from me. What do you think?”
“Sounds good.”
“All right, go back to sleep. Later, we can talk about wedding dates.”
He winked and disappeared into the bathroom. I liked that Logan didn’t want to wait too long for us to get married. Better sooner than later, so I didn’t have to worry about whether he was truly serious about marrying me.
Hand flattened to the sheet, I admired my engagement ring. It was the most precious piece of jewelry I owned. I would never take it off.
Despite my will to stay awake, I fell asleep. I didn’t even hear Logan leave. When I finally surfaced, it was past noon. My stomach was grumbling, so I kept my shower short, yanked on underwear and one of Logan’s shirts, and went in search of food in the kitchen.
The clubhouse was quieter than usual. Saint was in the mess hall, with a baby on his lap, feeding him. I glanced around for Jasper or Dove, but neither was around.
“Yo, they put you on babysitting duty?” I rubbed my belly, but it did little to quell my hunger.
“Jasper’s sleeping.”
“Sleeping? He spent the night? Whoa, what happened between you and Dove?”
“What are you going on about? Dove doesn’t care about what I do. We like each other and get along, but our relationship’s not exclusive like you and the doc. They do their own thing, and I respect that.”
“As in they sleep with other people?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but I knew that from the start.”
“And it doesn’t bother you that they fuck around?”
“Language. There’s a baby present.”
“He’s too young to understand me.”
Saint rolled his eyes. “It’s good to see none of the doc’s refinement has rubbed off on you. But no, it doesn’t bother me. Maybe at first, but I understand how it is for them.”
“I couldn’t do that sh—err thing. It’d drive me insane if I caught Logan sleeping with someone else. I’d probably kill them both.” But could I hurt Logan? I’d be devastated, though. “Or maybe kill the one he cheats with, then keep Logan locked up just for me.”
“Spoken like someone who needs more time with his psychiatrist. My mom’s been trying to reach you. She says you’ve stopped going to see Dr. Simms. I haven’t said anything to Crowe about it yet, but if he knows you’re not going, he’s going to flip.”
“Who cares? It’s my decision, and I’m not going.”
“Why don’t you try saying that to Crowe’s face?”
I shot him two middle fingers. “Is there any food? I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”
“Because all you’ve been doing is riding the doc’s you-know-what since you’ve gotten home. It’s good you’re enjoying yourself, but don’t wear the merchandise out.”
“Hey, you and Bay were such hos back in Riverton. Maybe it’s my time now, so let me be one for a change, all right? You didn’t answer me about the food.”
He nodded slowly. “Well, damn, our little Bloom’s not so na?ve anymore, is he?”
“The food, Saint!”
The baby startled, face crumpling as he let out a wail. Oh shit. I didn’t regret a lot, but he sounded so pitiful, I felt sorry for frightening him.
Saint shot me an annoyed look, cooing to the child. “It’s okay. Don’t let the mean uncle scare you.” He rose to his feet, placed the bottle on the table, and walked back and forth with the baby propped up on his shoulder. He looked way too much of a natural with a baby when I knew he’d never held one before in his life. “Food’s in the oven. Your man sent a delivery guy. I might have eaten half the potatoes.”
“Asshole.” The temptation was great to yell again, so he’d have a crying baby on his hands, but I took the high road. I grabbed a can of Pepsi from the fridge but returned it. Logan’s voice reminded me of the orange and apple juices he’d bought for me because he’d seen me drink one too many sodas.
I guess he just lives rent-free in my head now.
In the oven, I found a beautifully wrapped package, still warm. When I unwrapped it, the aroma hit me—a blend of herbs, melted cheese, and something else I couldn’t quite place. My stomach grumbled. The box had the same logo as the restaurant he’d taken me to recently.
Inside was an avocado toast. Not regular like, though. The bread was thick, crusty sourdough, grilled to perfection, and slathered with creamy avocado. On top were slices of smoked salmon with a poached egg in the center. A side of roasted cherry tomatoes and truffle-seasoned potatoes completed the meal.
I grabbed my plate and returned to the mess hall, only to find it empty. Saint must’ve taken the baby elsewhere. I settled down at one of the tables and dug in. The first bite was heaven—the creaminess of the avocado mixed with the smoky salmon and the rich yolk of the poached egg. Logan knew how to treat me better than I treated me.
Grinning, I pulled out my phone, holding a huge forkful of food and snapping a picture of myself midbite. I sent it to Logan with a message: “Thank you.”
I hit Send, then leaned back, savoring another bite, the taste and textures blending perfectly on my tongue. I was almost finished when footsteps approached me from behind. Gunner entered the mess hall, his eyes flicking to the plate in front of me.
“Goddamn, that smells good.”
“Tastes fucking good too. Gunner, get you a man who knows what you want even when you don’t.”
He scowled. “I’d not trade Ben for any other man. I like him just fucking fine the way he is.”
“What’s with all the cussing?” Ben came up behind him, making a beeline straight for the bar.
“Just bragging about who has the better man. I’m winning, by the way.”
Ben’s face turned red, but he failed at hiding his grin. “Before I forget, Jamie’s inviting us over to his and Grimm’s place for Thanksgiving. He says no isn’t an option. Bloom, pass the info on to Doc, will you?”
“Okay. I’ll let Logan know.”
Gunner walked over to the bar and crooked his finger at Ben, who didn’t bat an eye but moved forward to kiss him.
Fuck, now I miss Logan. Why didn’t he text me back?
I double-checked, but I had no message from him.
“I’ll see you later,” Gunner said.
“Where are you off to?” Ben took a sip from his drink.
“To repay a debt. Found out where the doc’s car is. Gonna get it back.”
“You found Logan’s car?” I cried.
“You’re not going alone, are you?” Ben’s eyebrows were drawn.
Gunner shrugged. “Shouldn’t be a hard task.”
“I don’t want you going alone.” Ben placed his glass on the bar and crossed his arms. “If you can wait until tomorrow, I’ll go with you.”
“Tomorrow, they may move the vehicle, so now’s the best chance.”
“Get someone to go with you.”
Gunner’s grin only irritated Ben, but he seemed oblivious. “You worried about me?”
“Fuck you, Gunner. You wouldn’t be happy about me running off on my own. Why do you get to do it? Last night you went on my stakeout with me for no damn good reason!”
“I can handle myself.”
“And I can’t?”
I rose to my feet. “I can go with you.”
“You just got out of the hospital,” Ben said.
“You want him to go alone?”
“If you take him, the doc’s gonna be mad. Crowe too.”
You promised Logan to stay out of it.
I hadn’t. Not really. I’d told him I wouldn’t do anything rash. If I accompanied Gunner but did not interfere, technically, I was staying out of it. He didn’t have to know a thing.
“It’s my choice. Let’s roll, Gunner. I don’t have my bike, so I’ll have to ride pillion.”
“That’s fine. One of us will need to bring back the car anyway, so this way is better.”
“You two better not get into any trouble,” Ben said. “Somehow I can’t see you two working on something together and it not going sideways.”
“Have some faith in your man, Ben. Don’t I always come through?”
I picked up the disposable plate and utensils and dumped them into the garbage.
“I have faith in you, Gun. Too much faith that you bring nothing but trouble.”
“Damn right I do, and don’t forget it.”
I shook my head at their banter. Love really did strange things to people. First time I met Gunner, he was a moody bastard who didn’t look like he had the will to live. Now he laughed more, told jokes, and actually looked like he was enjoying life.
But what could I say? Logan had changed me too.
Gunner rode with me on the back of his bike, not the most comfortable position being behind another man, but for Logan, I did it. For the one not steering the hog, the ride brought back the sense of freedom I usually got on my own bike, the wind whipping at my clothes and ruffling my hair. Gunner navigated the streets with the confidence of an expert rider.
Soon, he pulled up to a dingy, out-of-the-way garage, the kind of place where nobody asked questions as long as the cash was right. Of course a place like this would have Logan’s car. Why hadn’t the cops found it?
A line of beaten-up cars sat scattered across the gravel lot outside, a few in pieces, others stripped down to the bones. A sour, oily smell hung heavily in the air.
Gunner cut the engine, and I slid off his bike.
“Stay close.” He swung his leg off the motorcycle with ease.
As we walked toward the garage, two guys working on a dented pickup straightened, eyes narrowing. They looked rough but skittish, like stray dogs eyeing fresh meat yet ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. One of the guys—a wiry man with greasy hair and a nervous twitch in his left eye—dropped his wrench.
“Afternoon, boys,” Gunner said, his voice dripping with the kind of calm that made my pulse quicken. I heard the danger in his tone. They couldn’t have missed his cut or the president’s patch. “I called earlier about a car you had for sale. Spoke to someone named George.” He mentioned the make, model, color, and year of Logan’s car.
The guy with the twitch barely kept his hands steady as he wiped them on a rag. “Um, yeah. That’d be me. I’m George. It’s a sweet ride. Follow me this way.”
George led us farther into the yard to a small warehouse at the back. As we stepped inside, my eyes danced over cars in varying states of damage: some clearly stripped for parts, while others just looked abandoned.
George walked over to a vehicle covered with a dusty green tarp. He pulled it back, revealing the sleek lines of Logan’s car. Gunner glanced at me, eyebrow raised, and I nodded.
“Someone dropped it off here a couple of weeks back,” George said, his voice wavering. His gaze flicked to Gunner, then immediately away. “Paid upfront to have it serviced. Never came back to claim it.”
Gunner circled the car slowly, running his hand over the smooth hood, opening the driver’s side door, and peering inside. His face didn’t betray any emotion as he took in the pristine leather seats, the polished dashboard, and the keys still in the ignition.
“You sure that’s the story you want to stick with, George?”
The man stepped back toward the door. I shifted to put myself between him and his escape route.
“’xcuse me?”
“You stole this car from a friend of mine, and we’re here to get it back. I reckon you’ll drop the price mentioned on the call to free?”
George’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. He eyed the door behind me while wringing the greasy rag between his hands. I wanted to smash his face with a hammer. But I’d promised Logan to be good.
“Look, George, we don’t want any trouble,” I said. “You fucked up and took the wrong person’s car. You didn’t know, so we’ll overlook your mistake this time. We’ll take it off your hands.”
“Not so fast,” Gunner said. “We want to know how you got your hands on this vehicle. Who’s been selling contraband on my turf without my permission? I don’t recall allowing any such activities, do you?”
“Well, um, we—” George’s eyes darted between Gunner and me like a cornered animal. “Look, man, I—I didn’t know,” he stammered, taking a shaky step back, his hands twitching at his sides. “I just… I just took the car off this guy’s hands. He said he needed cash fast. That’s all!”
He lunged for the exit, shoving his entire body weight into me with a force that took me off guard. His shoulder drove hard into my chest, right where the wound was still healing. Pain exploded inside me, sharp and blinding, and my vision went white. It felt like my chest had split open all over again, the pressure crushing, my lungs seizing in shock.
I staggered back, gasping for breath, clutching my chest. The agony was overwhelming, radiating out in waves, each pulse hammering like a fist to my ribcage. A strangled sound escaped my throat as my knees buckled, and I hit the ground, struggling to stay conscious.