18. Bronco
18
brONCO
We watch a little TV until it’s Olive’s bedtime. She’s been curled up on the end of the couch, Titan by her feet, sleeping soundly.
“He’s really taken to her,” Amber muses when she comes back from settling Olive into bed.
“He really has.” I smile. Titan is nowhere to be seen. “Speaking of my dog, where is he?”
“He’s lying in her doorway, in full protection mode.”
I yawn. “Good boy.”
“Sorry, am I keeping you up?” She smirks.
“Someone did in fact keep me awake last night doin’ very bad things to me.”
“That’s funny, someone did the exact same thing to me.”
“Huh, guess we both got lucky.”
“I guess we did.”
I move closer, keeping my hands to myself even though I’m dying to touch her. Our lips meet and a soft moan leaves her throat. “ Bronc …” Our kiss is feather light.
Knowing I probably can’t take this where I want to with Olive in the house, I pull back, kissing her forehead. “Did someone miss me today?”
“I don’t know what you’ve done to my best friend,” she sighs. “But I’ve been having withdrawal symptoms all day.”
I smirk. “Miss me bad, that’s good news for me.”
“But not good news for me. I was counting stock over and over because I kept daydreaming.”
“Daydreaming about me?”
“Yes, and your cock.”
I grin slyly. “Stop teasin’.”
She glances down the hall. The bedrooms aren’t together, so that’s one plus, but I didn’t come here tonight expecting sex. I just wanted to be here, with them.
“Now I’ve had it, you’ve got me wanting more.”
It’s like music to my ears. “Even after you said you couldn’t walk.”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t walk, Cassanova. I said I felt you.”
I’m still grinning when I brush one hand over her face. “You did, and I can’t help feeling a little smug about that.”
“I hadn’t had sex in a while.”
“You sure it’s that?”
“Okay, maybe that missile between your legs played a part.”
“A pretty big part if I’m hearin’ it correctly.” I kiss her again, her lips part as our tongues lightly touch. Again, it isn’t rushed or needy, it’s a simple understanding that comes from knowing someone so well.
“Behave,” she whispers.
As she climbs into my lap, I chuckle. “Me, behave? You’re the one sittin’ in my lap, rubbin’ that pretty pussy against my missile.”
“That’s because you smell fucking amazing.” Her mouth is on my neck and my dick is straining between us.
“It’s just soap. I smell better when I use your body wash.”
“Thief.”
Our kisses grow faster, heat rising in my body at a rapid pace. I want nothing more than to strip her out of her clothes, shove my jeans and boxers down, and have her ride me on this couch. But we can’t.
“I need to get some of that so I can jerk off to you in my shower.”
“Oh, God,” she sighs, her hips moving back and forth over my cock. “I’m going to come just from this.”
“Gotta be quiet, we both know how loud you get.”
“Olive is a heavy sleeper.”
That’s like music to my ears. “So get those pretty tits out and let me suck them.”
She rises farther, pulling her t-shirt up and her bra down. Her glorious tits pop out and I groan, palming them with my hands as I cup one breast and sink my mouth over one peak.
She gasps, gripping my shoulders. “So good,” she whispers. “Get more of me in your mouth, that’s it?—”
“Fuckin’ perfect.” I lave her tip with my tongue, moving to the other side as my cock begs to be let out.
I suck her pretty titties, working my way between the two as she grinds down on me. Her gasps and moans may be quiet, but they lead a trail straight to my dick.
“Bedroom,” she groans. “Bedroom, Bronc.”
“Need to fuck you with my mouth, Princess. Been a whole day without you on my tongue.”
She shivers, and I know she’s almost there. I pull her off and she yelps when I haul her up, throwing her over my shoulder as she smacks my ass. Carrying her to her bedroom, she lands on the bed with a bounce as I put a finger up to my mouth. “Shhh, you’ll wake Olive, and then I won’t be able to taste your multiple orgasms.”
“Multiples?” she wines.
I ignore her, dropping to my knees as I pull off her sweats and panties. “Spread your legs.”
She does as I say, and my, my what a sight she is with her tits hanging out of her bra and her pussy on display. I slide my tongue through her wet folds and she shudders.
“Oh, my God.”
I do it again, this time swirling my tongue over her clit. I love teasing her, it’s my new favorite pastime. “Taste so sweet,” I murmur. “All this honey, just for me.”
Her hand grips into my hair. “Only you.”
“Good girl.” I spread her with one hand, my mouth closing down on her clit.
She makes a garbled sound and I suck harder, knowing she’s right on the edge. This time, I let her orgasm. She grinds against my face, her panting uneven and raspy, but barely any sound comes out of her mouth. Her head drops back and I reach one hand up to pinch her nipple and a shudder ripples through her body.
But I’m not done. I want more. I throw both her legs over my shoulders, pulling her hips so she scoots forward and I really dig in deep. I eat her like a man possessed, fucking her hole with my tongue as she comes unglued. Her next orgasm is faster, her pants heavy, and my name a whisper on her lips.
“Dick,” she whispers. “I need your dick, Bronc.”
“You’re sore,” I remind her, my hand already at my buckle as I stand.
“Shut up and fuck me.”
I grin, dropping my jeans and briefs to my ankles as I reach for her feet. I’m standing, flush up against her, pulling her legs in front of my chest at an angle. “So glad you’re flexible.” I hold my cock, teasing the tip over her clit as she grips the comforter with both hands.
“I guess all those yoga classes paid off.”
I tease her until she’s writhing against me, begging me in short, sweet gasps and when I can’t take it anymore, I slide all the way in to the hilt. “Gonna be fast.” I pull out and slam back in. “Got me so fuckin’ worked up with that smart mouth of yours.”
She cups her tits and I stare at them while I plunge in and out of her. She grips me like a vice, my dick throbbing as I try to make it last a little longer. Amber’s grip on the comforter tells me she’s close, and I am, too.
“So good, you’re so sexy.”
Her words are my undoing, and I spurt with ferocity as I come undone, clenching my teeth as she falls, too. I reach down to my cock, pulling out slightly as I watch my cum shoot all over her pussy and lower abs. I like to make sure I’m everywhere.
“Jesus.” I’m a sweaty fucking mess as I plunge in, making sure I coat myself in all our juices, and pull out again.
“I should clean you up,” she pants.
Oh, fuck, what?
“You’re gonna?—”
She reaches between my legs as she sits up, scooting toward the end of the bed as her hot little tongue licks my tip, and down my length as she does exactly that.
“Gonna have me revved up again in no time,” I pant, watching her work between my legs.
“I think I’m addicted to your dick.”
“You know that’s a package deal. You can’t get one without the other.”
She looks up at me, her tongue swirling over my head. “Don’t get jealous. I’m addicted to you, too.”
I grin, cupping one side of her face. “Your mouth is gettin’ dirtier the more you hang out with me.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
I yank her to her knees, bending down to kiss her. Tasting myself and her on my tongue, I groan. “Love seein’ my cum spillin’ out of you.”
“Yes, you do tend to make a mess.”
I smack her bare ass cheek lightly as she yelps. “Can’t help that you make me crazy.”
“I wish you could stay over again.”
“Me too, but I get why I can’t. I think my dog’s right at home here, though.”
He hasn’t even been in to check on us. Right on cue, he lets out a growl.
I quickly pull up my jeans and underwear, securing my belt as I move across the bedroom. It could just be Olive, but Titan wouldn’t make a sound like that. It’s a warning.
I see him down the hallway, his tail straight, his stance ready for battle as he stares at the back door. I head his way, touching his head as I pass him. “Good boy, Tite.”
I don’t carry a piece, but I do have a knife inside my cut, which I realize is back on the couch.
“Is everything okay?” Amber asks behind me.
I turn. “Stay here, just gonna check stuff out. He doesn’t normally act like this unless somebody is there.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Don’t worry, just stay here. Lock this behind me. Titan.” He follows me and I unlatch the back door. As soon as the door is open, Titan leaps out and runs into the backyard. I follow behind, trying my best to keep up with him, but he’s super fast. This isn’t like him at all.
I should’ve brought my fuckin’ knife. When I find him, he’s pacing back and forth at the edge of the garden. I don’t see anyone, or any movement, but my dog’s telling me otherwise.
“What the fuck?” I whisper, looking all around the small space.
Titan growls, then barks, coming to stand by my side.
“Was someone here?” I ask him. He growls low. If there was, they’re long gone now. I pet his head. “Good boy.”
I continue to check the rest of the space, but being small it doesn’t take that long. I come up blank, but I trust my dog. Walking full circle, I knock on the backdoor. “It’s me,” I call out.
Amber unlocks the door and pulls it aside. I step back in, Titan at my heels. “Didn’t find anythin’,” I tell her. “But Titan wasn’t happy, best to check it out.” I don’t want Amber to feel unsafe, but now I need to check on her security or get some cameras installed. I know there’s a street camera, but nothing outside except a sensor light.
“Do you think someone was here?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “But the good news is there's nobody out there now. Sometimes he just gets spooked.” She bites on her lower lip. “Just keep the doors locked at all times, double check before you go to bed.”
“I always do.”
“Good.”
Titan lays down again, half-way inside Olive’s bedroom, his head facing us. I know him. I know that he doesn’t just bark at nothing. I don’t like the idea of anyone being around here at nighttime, prowling around Amber’s house.
“I think it’s best if I stay here tonight,” I say. “Just as a precaution.”
“Okay.” She doesn’t sound certain.
I grip her shoulders. “It’s fine, I promise. I’ll be gone early before Olive wakes up.”
She nods.
I was gonna go see the twins tonight, but that’ll have to wait until the morning. I’d rather be here just in case that was someone casing the joint, and they don’t come back. Or better yet, they’ll be met with my 150 pound guard dog. When it comes to security, Titan kicks into defense mode, and I kinda love that about him.
“Look after the kid,” I tell Titan. He rests his head down on his paws, but his eyes are still open.
I check the rest of the house, door and windows, but everything looks normal.
We head to Amber’s bedroom as she changes into her pajamas, and I slide my jeans and t-shirt off. “Sure you’re okay with me bein’ here?”
“Yes, of course. There have been some burglaries in the area lately,” she says. “So who knows, it could’ve been someone trying to break in.”
“I think you need security cameras.” I frown. “I’ll talk to the boys tomorrow, if you’re cool with that?
“Do you think that’s necessary?” There’s a worried tone to her voice.
I pull her into my shoulder as she wraps an arm over my chest. “Nothin’ wrong with updatin’ security, Princess, especially now you have Olive for a little while.”
“I guess not.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Try and get some sleep. Titan will wake us up if he hears anythin’.”
“He’s so protective.”
“Told you, once he gets pets — especially from kids — he’s putty. She’s made a friend for life.”
Amber yawns. “He’s such a sweet looking menace.”
I chuckle. “He sometimes remembers his job, even though he spends most of his day upside down, dreaming of pork tenderloin and unlimited belly rubs.”
She kisses my chest, making a humming sound. “I feel safe with you.”
That’s music to my ears, and as I glance down, I see her eyes squeezed tightly shut. “I’ll never let anything bad happen to you,” I say. “Or Olive.”
“Mmmhmm.” She’s falling asleep, and I take it as a compliment that she feels secure enough to do that when I’m around. That’s my job, regardless of our situationship.
“Always,” I whisper into the dark. “I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”
“The Kingdom of Faith?” I balk. “What in the actual fuck?”
“Yeah, well don’t go tellin’ Star I told you,” Rock says. “I’ll be wearin’ my balls for earrings.”
“I won’t. Just need to make sure Amber isn’t in any danger.”
“I get that. With her sister-in-law missin’, it makes sense to check it out, but these fuckers have means and ways of staying hidden. Not like they’re gonna have a website; I already checked.”
Yeah, that will be an issue, but surely somehow I can find out more intel. “Fuck. So what do we know about this fuckin’ Vince dickhead?”
“Well, from what Amber told Star, and the little I’ve found online, he started this church twenty-something years ago, and in the last decade — that’s when Steven joined — they’ve added over a hundred new members.”
“And it’s still in Illinois?”
“Looks like they haven’t spread their wings that far out of their own nest.”
I run both hands through my hair. Amber will be here soon for work, and we’ll be talking to Cash about what’s going on, just so he’s in the loop. “Probably content corruptin’ the minds of the innocent people within their reach,” I mutter. “I’d like for him to be within my reach.”
Rock looks up from the screen. “Damn right. How do all of these cults mass manipulate that many people?”
“Amber was a kid when her brother joined, she didn’t have a choice.”
His face sobers. “That sucks.”
At least I have a name now, and I can do my own investigating. I give him a chin lift. “Got anythin’ else?”
“I’m just workin’ on security cameras. Star is doin’ all the heavy liftin’.”
“Speakin’ of which, we’re gonna need to get cameras around Amber’s house. Last night Titan was on edge, and I know someone was out there.”
“Got it. Tag and Harlem can set it up with Jett this weekend.”
“That’d be great, thanks.”
“You think it’s somethin’ to do with this dude? Or Steven?”
“I don’t know, my gut tells me they’re not done, but I don’t see them leavin’ Illinois all this time later to chase their wives. It still doesn’t explain Erica.”
“That’s a dead end right now,” he says. “But like I say, Star is workin’ on the case, she’ll have more information than I do.”
I figured as much, but Star is a professional, and as much as I’d love to go barging in there demanding to know what she’s found out, she’ll only tell me to get the hell out. “Got it.”
That uneasy feeling washes over me. If Erica was snatched, or worse, I don’t know how Amber will take that news.
I thumb over my shoulder. “Gotta talk to Cash.”
“I’ll let you know if anything newsworthy comes up,” Rock says.
“Appreciate it, brother.”
I head out, stopping by the kitchen to say hi to Manny. He’s been creating some new dishes, and the boys have only been too happy to be guinea pigs with anything he cooks.
“Somethin’ smells good.” I stick my head in the doorway.
Manny is kneading dough when he looks up from the bench and grins. “Chicken pot pie, apparently I’ve been overdoing the beef bourguignon.”
“Garbage, don’t listen to anyone who utters that shit outta their mouths.”
“So, how are things with you and Amber? Talk about a dark horse.”
“Good news travels fast.”
“Uh, we had to see it on the kiss-cam on the TV.” Manny rolls his eyes. “Kept that kinda on the quiet.”
“Things didn’t develop until that night.” It isn’t too far a stretch from the truth. “And we’ve been friends forever, so we didn’t wanna rush things.”
He gives me a narrowed side-eye. Manny is known for his almost psychic-like abilities. He’s very in tune with bullshit radars, too.
“Uh, huh.”
“You would know, you were friends with Lace and Bandit before you all got together.”
“I wouldn’t say I was friends with Bandit. In fact, we started off hating each other.”
“But you knew, right?”
He puts the rolling pin down, then lays the pastry very carefully over the top of the huge casserole dish. “I fell before he did because he hadn’t quite come out yet, but me and Lace were pretty instant the first time we kissed. I think you should be friends before getting into any kind of relationship. The sex and lust is fun, but it wears off. If you don’t actually like the person without all that, it’ll never work.”
As usual, the man talks sense.
“Exactly. Amber’s so smart, funny, sexy, and we have fun together, and I’ve got the Pelicans to thank for it.”
“Another one bites the dust,” he sighs.
“We’re just takin’ things slow.” Also not a lie. “Not claimin’ her or anythin’.”
Manny can’t resist his next jab. “Hmm, so technically if she’s not claimed, she isn’t your ol’ lady.”
“Amber and I have an understandin’,” I say. “And she’s not one to be tied down like that. Blame her ex, he was an asshole.”
Manny puts the pie in the oven, then turns back to face me. “I’ll repeat it in case you missed it.” He cups his hands around his mouth. “If she’s not claimed, she isn’t your ol’ lady.”
“Yeah, I got that part.”
“Which means some other bozo could come along and sweep her off her feet, and you can’t do shit about it.”
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“Right, you know what I’ve discovered over the time I’ve been in this MC?”
“God help us,” I mutter under my breath.
“It’s that no matter how tough, independent, or mouthy our women are, they all still need one thing.”
I frown. “And what’s that?”
“Stability. Be the one true thing she can lean on, especially in hard times. The solid structure in her life that never waivers, no matter how big or small the mountains are that will arise. Women need dependability, no matter what they say.”
“I like to think I’m all of those things.”
“Good, then pull your finger out of your ass and claim her.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Amber doesn’t want to be claimed, not yet anyway. Like I said, we’re takin’ things slow.”
His brow furrows like he doesn’t understand. “In that case, you better be pullin’ out all the stops to worship her, brother, because a woman like Amber doesn’t come along twice in one lifetime.”
He’s right. I of all people know that. I just can’t tell Manny, or anyone else, how I really feel because it’ll get back to Amber, and then she’ll run a mile. I want to live in my bubble a little longer.
“You got any pie to go?” I try to change the subject.
Manny scoffs. “If you’re takin’ some to your lady love, then yeah, I might be able to arrange that.”
I grin. “Spoken like a man who knows how to please.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “You have no idea.”