Chapter 19
God, my whole body felt as if I’d been awake for a week and someone had beaten me.
I barely kept my eyes open as the men told me how they found me, and then we shared what happened with those who remained behind at the clubhouse when they found me and Jordan.
They had fun teasing me about my head-whacking abilities.
I told them they’d better remember that and to stay on my good side.
After a much-needed cranberry and vodka, a huge plate of yummy food made by the other old ladies, and the retelling, I was ready to call it quits.
Cowboy must’ve seen my stifled yawns because one moment I was sitting in my chair, the next he scooped me up and was striding for the door, telling everyone he’d see them later.
“Babe, you don’t need to carry me. I can walk,” I told him.
“You can barely keep your eyes open. Let me do this. We’ll take a quick shower, then crawl into bed and hold each other.”
“I can go for that,” I sighed.
The whole undressing, washing, and then getting into bed was hazy for me.
I barely cracked open my eyes. I was more exhausted than I first thought.
Cowboy washed me, then himself, making sure I was thoroughly dried and tucked into bed before he dried himself.
When he slid under the covers, I immediately inched over and half lay on his chest. His arm wrapped me tightly against him. A tender kiss brought tears to my eyes.
“Anya, God, I love you,” he whispered hoarsely.
“And I love you, Zander. Thank you for coming for me,” I murmured.
“I’ll always come for you.”
It was the last thing I remembered before I went out.
???
I woke to an empty bed. I wanted to cry.
Why hadn’t he woken me before he left for work?
It was Friday, so everyone would have to work.
Wait, Friday! I had patients to see. I tossed back the covers and sprang out of bed.
I raced to the closet just as the door opened, and in walked Cowboy.
He was carrying a tray with two plates heaped with food, along with juice and coffee for the two of us.
“Where are you running off to?” he asked.
“To work. Where you should be, Zander. I thought you had left already. I’m late,” I said, glancing at the clock.
“Get that sweet ass back in bed. You’re not going anywhere.
And before you argue, I called Maggie. It seems Owen called and spun a tale about the two of you being exhausted from yesterday, and you’d be taking the day off.
She told me to let you know she would take care of the rescheduling.
After speaking with her, I called Owen. He’s home, and other than a headache, he’s fine.
Wolverine checked on him last night after we got back to let him know you were home safe. ”
“God, I’m so glad, but I feel awful. Other than asking if he was okay last night, I didn’t call him to reassure him that I was alive and fine, or to check on him. I’m a terrible boss.”
“You’re not terrible. You have until the count of five to get back into bed. One…Two…Three…Four,” When he said four, I was flinging the covers over my legs.
He smiled, then placed the tray over my lap. Getting in next to me, he and I shared the tray of food. There was scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, bacon, fried potatoes, sausage links, orange juice, and coffee.
I moaned after the first bite. “Oh, this is amazing. Who do we have to thank for this meal?”
“You’re looking at him. And I’ll take your thank you payment out in trade, later.”
I giggled when he wiggled his eyebrows at me, and his hot gaze ran down my body. Because of that first glance, I thought of skipping breakfast and letting him make love to me. It seemed to me like it had been a week since we’d been intimate.
“You eat first, then we can get naked and sweaty. I can’t have you passing out in the middle of it,” he warned.
We ate in mostly silence until we were close to finished, and I could no longer stay quiet.
“Zander, what’s going to happen to Jordan? Or has it already?”
He lowered his fork. “He’s still alive, though I doubt he’s feeling very spry right now.
I have no doubt my brothers paid him visits last night and this morning.
But they won’t finish him off. However, he will die, Anya, by my hand for what he did.
There’s no way he’ll be allowed to live and come after you again.
People like that, they don’t stop. They grow worse.
Remember what I told you about Amy, Diablo’s first wife. ”
I swallowed and nodded. “Yes. And I don’t want you to think that I believe he should be granted leniency. The reason I’m asking is I hate the thought of you and the guys having to be the ones to do it.”
“You think prison will be enough, assuming he’s convicted?” he asked, scowling.
“No, not at all. I meant that you guys shouldn’t have to be the dispensers of justice.”
“Are you done eating?” he asked.
At my nod, he lifted the tray and placed it on the floor. Then, he rolled over and took me into his arms.
“My club, as well as those we’re friends with, the ones I’ve told you about, have been the dispensers of justice many times, babe.
There have been stalkers, human traffickers, crazed family members, and more who have targeted the clubs and our families.
And even if the cops could arrest them and the courts convict them, in most cases, they’ll get a few years, then be out on parole.
They have no incentive to reform. Now, that doesn’t mean it has never happened, but it’s not the norm.
“The seven clubs and the Dark Patriots have each other’s backs no matter what.
Sometimes, we go wherever we’re needed to help them.
Other times, they’ve come to help us. We’re a huge extended family.
I’m telling you this so you know that you can never speak of what any of us do.
If you do, we could go to prison for the rest of our lives, or even be executed.
We’ve taken lives. What I can assure you is that we don’t hurt the innocent.
I should’ve explained more about us before now, but I hated the thought of scaring you away. ”
“Zander, you can’t scare me away. The only way I’d walk away is if you cheat, abuse, or hurt someone innocent. I can’t have the man I love and the father of my children involved in those things.”
“Mmm, father of your children, I like the sound of that. I know your property cut hasn’t been given to you yet, but it will be.
After that, we have more things to discuss.
I’d like to explore the children thing. A life with you forever is what I want.
And that includes having kids. I’m ready whenever you are.
Just be warned, we bikers tend to be fertile and start having babies nearly from day one. ”
“You give me that cut, and I’ll tell you when I want to start on baby number one,” I promised.
“Deal. Now, any more questions before I make love to you?”
“Just one more. Where did Wolverine take Jordan last night? I heard someone say swamp box. What is that?”
“A swamp box is an evaporative cooler. It was a method people used to keep cool before air conditioners were invented. It absorbs heat from water before evaporating. There’s a building in the back corner of the fenced-in property.
It’s set up as a huge one where people like Jordan are taken and dealt with.
That’s all you need to know—enough about him and the swamp box.
Take off your nightie and lie back. I need a feast of a different kind to sate all my hunger,” Cowboy growled.
Instantly, desire raced through my veins.
My nipples peaked and hardened. My pussy grew damp.
Not wasting time, I worked my nightie up over my hips, then off.
While I took care of it, he wiggled out of the shorts he wore.
Both pieces of clothing were tossed to the floor and forgotten.
I greedily ran my gaze all over his muscular, tattooed body. I never got tired of seeing him.
Swiftly, I rolled until I was on top of Cowboy. His heated gaze burned brighter. His hands came up to grip my ass cheeks. “Tell me what you want,” he drawled.
“I want to worship you, Zander. Let me show you how much I love and desire you.”
He groaned. “Fuck, you want to kill me, don’t you? But what my wildling wants, she gets. Do whatever you want. But know that I’ll eventually break.”
“I know you will, but I want to see how strong you are and how long you can hold back,” I confessed. It was hotter than hell when he restrained his passion until it exploded. We both benefited more when it happened.
Sitting up, straddling his stomach, I started.
I had to run my fingers over his incredibly muscular chest and arms. Even though he was firm, he was warm, and his skin was soft.
He had scant hair on his chest, but his arms were smooth and dark.
Leaning down, I used the tip of my tongue to trace out the tattoo on his chest. He groaned.
Smiling to myself, I moved from that to doing the same to the ones decorating his arms.
The way he squirmed as I did his chest, I knew he wanted my mouth on his nipples.
I made him wait. When I was finished with his arms and chest. I scooted my ass further down to rest on his thighs.
However, when I did, I nudged and then slid over his erection, pushing it against me.
The head nudged my entrance, and I gasped, but before he could thrust inside of me, I swept past it.
Though in truth, I wanted him buried in me.
“Christ, just like I said. Kill me,” he muttered.
“Ah, you can handle more than that, honey. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to skip your abs. They are works of art,” I whispered.
I gave his eight-pack the same attention as I had the upper half of his torso. It was hard to concentrate when his cock kept lifting to attention. It begged me to touch it. Soon, I mentally promised.