Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Fury
C hevy sighs heavily before sticking a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. The orange flame illuminates the inside of the car, and I roll my eyes, wondering where Donnie found such an amateur. If Xanthe was hiding out in the house we’re watching, she’d have spotted that for sure.
“I have a gut feeling about this,” he murmurs, releasing a lungful of smoke.
“Yeah? How come?”
“She came here a few times when I was following her,” he says thoughtfully, and I narrow my eyes.
“You were following her? Why?” My heart rate picks up while I wait for his answer. Chevy is the type of guy to watch a room and hear every little secret, just so he can sit on it until he needs to use it for his advantage.
“The boss had me following her every move before they met,” he confesses, and I almost breathe a sigh of relief, knowing he hasn’t seen us together.
“Does he usually get so invested in a woman?” I ask casually.
He smirks. “You have no idea.”
“What is it about her?”
“Man, you saw her, right?” he asks, laughing. “She’s fine.” I clench my fists at my sides. I don’t like him talking about my Xanthe like that. “The fact she held out on him,” he sniggers, “just made her more appealing. The man wanted to know what she was hiding in that tight little cunt of hers.”
I push the car door open and get out, slamming it hard. I take a few deep breaths to calm the racing adrenaline inside me then head towards the house.
I hear Chevy call after me, but I can’t stop or I might go back there and smash his head into the steering wheel. Instead, I raise my boot and slam it against the door, which pops open with little to no effort. It swings back, smacking the wall behind it, and I step inside. Seconds later, Chevy is behind me. “Fuck, man, this ain’t staking it out,” he hisses.
“I got bored,” I reply, turning on the light.
The living room is bathed in the golden light, and a man sits upright, shading his eyes. “Jesus,” he mutters, having clearly just woken up. “What the hell’s going on?” He’s wearing doctor’s scrubs, and I immediately wonder why Xanthe spent time here.
“Where’s Xanthe?” I bark.
He frowns. “Who the hell are you?” I grab his top and haul him to his feet. His terrified and confused eyes meet mine, and he gulps. “I don’t know where she is.”
“Call her,” says Chevy from beside me.
“I deleted her number,” he says. “She hates me.”
“Why?” I find myself asking.
He almost smirks. “Cos I shagged her friend.”
I shove him back onto the couch. “You two were a thing?”
He shrugs. “She was into me more than I was her.”
“For how long?” It’s way more than I need to know, and I feel Chevy’s eyes on me, questioning why I need this information.
“A few months.”
I grab his ID card off the table, checking the name and committing it to memory before throwing it back down. “Forget we were here,” I say, “or we’ll come back, David Chapman, and slit your throat.”
I head out with Chevy at my heels. “What the fuck was that?” he demands, and I wonder if he’s pissed I took the lead for once or if it’s because I went rogue without his permission.
I turn on him as we get to the car and shove him up against it. “Just because I’m compliant doesn’t mean I can’t fucking break your neck. I’m here because I always clear my debts, but your constant tone is fucking me off. You wanna find this bitch and sitting in a car for hours ain’t gonna work for me.” I release him and get in, slamming the door. “I need to fight,” I add. “Take me to the club.”
By the time we stop at Donnie’s underground place, I’m itching to break something. My fingers tingle with anticipation the second we step inside to the cheers of the baying crowd. My shoulders instantly relax, and the tension leaves me.
I spot Donnie by the changing room. He’s got a woman pressed against the door, and it doesn’t take a genius to see she doesn’t want to be there. I head over. “Boss,” I say in his ear, and he stills. I make eye contact with the woman and see she’s terrified. “She wasn’t there.”
“How do you know?” he spits, turning to face me. The woman sees her opportunity and rushes away.
“We went in.”
He narrows his eyes. “You did what?”
“I don’t have time to sit and wait,” I snap. “If you want her, we’re gonna have to kick down doors to get to her.”
He thinks over my words, and then a slow, sly smile spreads across his face. He pats my shoulder. “You’re not as dumb as you look.”
I force a smile even though I want to hit him square in the face. “I need a fight,” I tell him. “One I’m winning,” I add, so there’s not room for arguments.
He gives a nod and indicates for his fixer to come over. “Find my man a fight. Not a fixed one. Let’s see what he’s got.”
I roll my eyes as I head for the changing room. I’ll show the fucker what I can do.
I leave the ring feeling a lot better than when I entered it. And even though Donnie’s fixer clearly tried to screw me over with a much larger opponent, he still couldn’t beat me.
I watch through swollen eyes as the bookie reluctantly counts out my winnings. Then I turn to Donnie and push the wedge of cash into his chest. He frowns, taking it. “Towards my debt,” I say, heading for the door.
As my bike slows to a stop, I hear the music from inside the clubhouse. My body aches, just like it always does when I fight without warming up properly, and all I really want is Xanthe. But when I step inside, I see she’s already occupied with some of the other brothers. She catches my eyes and smiles, but I don’t return it, instead heading for the bar and taking a bottle of whiskey.
“Hard shift?” asks Axel, assessing me from his seat at the bar. I sit beside him, unscrewing the cap and topping up his glass before drinking directly from the bottle.
I slam it down and sigh heavily. “I needed to feel,” I mutter.
“Did it work?”
I glance back to where Ink is whispering into Xanthe’s ear and roll my eyes. “What do you think?”
“There’s no cure,” he states. “Coop will tell yah.”
Coop looks up from his glass. “Huh?”
“For love, there’s no cure,” clarifies Axel.
Coop grins, shaking his head. “It can destroy your soul if you let it, Pres.”
“Is that why you stayed single after Widow?” asks Axel.
He shakes his head. “Nah, I chose to put everything into Lexi. I didn’t want her turning out like me or Widow.”
“Did you stay celibate?” I ask, frowning.
He laughs. “Don’t be crazy. I just didn’t let them close enough to rob my heart.” He takes a drink before adding, “It’s different for you.”
“How so?” I ask.
“You don’t have kids.”
“It’s not kids he’s protecting,” says Axel, downing his drink in one then tapping my bottle for a refill. “It’s his heart.”
I scoff, filling his glass. “You make me sound like a pussy.”
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
I grab my bottle and stand. “Look at her,” I say, “glowing in all their attention.” The words sound bitter as I watch her laughing at something Hawk says. “Is it any wonder?”
“All you have to do is walk over there and claim her.”
“So she can throw it in my face?” I ask, shaking my head. “I’m no good at it, Pres. Relationships just fuck up without me even trying.”
“So, you stopped trying altogether?”
“It’s easier this way.”
“You keep telling yourself that, Fury, but I reckon we both know the truth.”
I head for the stairs, stopping when a tiny hand grips my wrist. I turn to find Jennie, and my heart sinks with disappointment. “You want company?” she asks, smiling wide.
I give a stiff nod, and she slips her hand in mine, letting me lead her to my room.
Xanthe
I look over to the bar, and my heart sinks when I realise Fury isn’t there. I excuse myself from the guys who have spent the last hour trying to outdo one another to impress me. And if my head wasn’t so full of him, maybe I’d have noticed, or even cared enough to entertain it.
I take the stairs two at a time. If I’m not mistaken, he’d been fighting, because even though I was across the room from him, I thought his eyes looked swollen.
I go into my room and grab my bag. I always carry a first aid kit no matter what, and I smile to myself as I head for Fury’s room. I’ve spent the day without him, and I’ve missed him. At least I have an excuse to sit with him for a while.
I knock lightly and push the conjoining door open, stopping in my tracks when I spot Jennie, naked and dancing around the room to Beyoncé. Fury is watching from his half-sitting position on the bed, a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
She spins, her eyes falling on me, and her step falters. Fury then looks to me, and there’s a hint of regret in his eyes which is quickly replaced with a confident smirk. “You coming to join us?” he asks, arching a brow, and Jennie gives a smug grin.
I scoff before slamming the door closed. Pig.
Minutes later, I’m on my bed staring out the window when the door opens. Fury clears his throat, but I don’t acknowledge him, relieved I already have my back to him. I don’t even know why I’m so mad. He’s single, after all.
“She’s gone,” he says, and I want to retort with something smart, but I remain quiet, hoping he’ll assume I’m asleep and leave. “It was a bad idea. I don’t even want anyone else. I just saw you with them and . . .” He trails off. “I was jealous.”
I narrow my eyes before looking back over my shoulder, unable to keep quiet any longer. “Fuck you.”
He arches a surprised brow. “You’re mad at me?”
“I’m confused by you,” I snap, pushing to sit up. “You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to want me either. So, fuck you, Reese Northman.”
He shrugs. “You’re right,” he admits simply, stepping farther into the room. “I don’t want to see my brothers pawing at you like some cheap whore.”
My eyes widen. “Get the fuck out,” I yell.
He realises his mistake and tries to backtrack, but I’m already off the bed and storming towards him. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Out,” I scream, pointing to the door.
“I meant that’s how they’ll treat you.”
“Maybe I want them to,” I say, folding my arms over my chest. “Maybe having one of your big, strong brothers throw me around the room, treating me like a sexy whore, is exactly what I want.” I narrow my eyes further, noting how his fists are clenched by his sides in anger. “Maybe,” I continue, thrilled that I’m pushing his buttons, “I should sign up to be a club whore. Jennie can show me the ropes.”
He charges me, sweeping me into his arms and kissing me with so much force, I almost lose my balance despite him holding me. I relax into his hold as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, sending flutters to my core. I gently cup his face, using the tips of my fingers to graze his jawline, and he groans somewhere deep in the back of his throat as he walks me backwards until my legs hit the bed. He lowers me down onto the mattress, crawling over me without breaking the kiss.
His hand strokes up my thigh, taking my skirt with it and allowing the cool air to calm my clammy skin. He pulls back slightly, his lips just a breath from mine as his hand pushes into my underwear. “You still drive me crazy,” he murmurs, brushing his finger over my swollen clit. “And you’re wet,” he whispers, smirking as he lands another gentle kiss to my lips. I jerk as he rubs small circles over my sensitive area before pushing his finger into me. I arch my back from the bed, my eyes fluttering closed. “And if Lexi heard you say club whore, she’d be pissed,” he adds, kissing along my jaw and down my throat.
The question escapes me before I can stop it. “Have you ever slept with any of them?”
He manages to shut me up with another toe-curling kiss. “Xanth, we’re not about to discuss each other’s conquests when I have my fingers inside you,” he says, hooking his finger slightly to stroke that sweet spot inside. I shudder, my hands clinging to his shoulders. I need him so badly, and when I pull him down for another kiss, he rolls onto his back, taking me with him. I know without a doubt that he’s not handing over control here as I mount him. Even when he was younger, he was commanding and assertive, telling me exactly what he wanted me to do.
“This needs to go,” he says, tugging at my shirt. I grin, making quick work of unfastening the buttons despite my shaking hands. I pull it off and stare down at him, waiting for his next order. “The skirt can stay,” he adds, lifting it slightly and taking hold of my lace thong. He tugs it hard, snapping it from me like it’s nothing but paper then throwing it to the floor. “Better.” I smirk, rubbing myself against him. The denim of his jeans presses right where I need him to be, and I moan out loud, shuddering. “Still need to be thrown around the bedroom?” he asks, arching a brow.
“I got your attention, didn’t I?”
He lifts my skirt again, this time watching as I rub myself against him. His erection adds to the friction as I move faster. “I wanna see you come over my jeans,” he murmurs, his eyes hooded and his breathing hitched. “Soak me.” I moan, letting his words affect me. I grab handfuls of his shirt as the pulsating warmth rips through me at lightning speed. I have no control as my body jerks and my breaths leave me in short, sharp bursts.
“Fuck, you’re stunning,” he murmurs, gripping my waist and rolling us again so I’m back beneath him. He pushes to stand, and I feel the loss immediately, the cold air wrapping around me and calming my racing heart. He undresses quickly, his cock springing free as he shoves his jeans down his hips and steps from them. Once he’s naked, he holds up a condom he’d retrieved from his back pocket, and I push the intrusive thoughts away that remind me he probably put that there for the club girl.
I watch as he rips the packet and sheaths his impressive length. He rubs the head of his cock up and down my entrance, gathering wetness before slowly pushing into me. Inch by inch, he opens me up, and I gasp, enjoying the feel of his size. Fury hisses, squeezing his eyes closed before pausing to allow us both to adapt to the delicious feeling. He rests his forehead against mine, finally opening his eyes. One is almost swollen shut, and I gently cup his face, adding a gentle kiss just underneath it. Oddly, I find him sexier bruised and battered.
“This is where I belong,” he whispers. “Where I’ve always belonged.” I nod in agreement, unable to find the words, and he slowly withdraws his length, looking me in the eyes as he slams back in hard enough to move me up the bed. “Are you ready for me, Xanth?” he asks, nipping my bottom lip. I nod, and he grins. “The last time we fucked in a bed, I had zero experience outside of you.” He slams in a second time, and I groan with pleasure. He slides his hand down my thigh, resting it under my knee and carefully raising my leg, hooking it over his shoulder. “Now, I’m all grown,” he adds with a smirk, slowing his movements so I feel every inch of him sliding into me again.
He glances down at our connection, watching as he disappears. He growls before picking up his pace, his movements jerky with each thrust. The intense build-up of a second orgasm happens immediately, and I’m so not ready for it as it tingles through me, hanging me on the edge of bliss. He presses his thumb to my swollen clit, and I cry out, falling over the edge, much to his delight.
I’m still panting when he pulls from me and taps my thigh. “Turn over and get that backside in the air,” he instructs, and I do it without question. His hand pushes between my legs, and I jerk as he gathers my wetness on his fingers. I hear him licking them, humming his approval before he says, “You taste good.”
I close my eyes, dropping my forehead to rest on my forearms while keeping my ass in the air for his pleasure. He pushes back into me, his cock filling me up. This time, there are no sexy words falling from his mouth as he fucks me, taking whatever he wants while grunting in pleasure. And I let him, because the sounds he’s making turn me on so much. I want to be the only woman to ever make him feel like this. From now on, I’m claiming Reese Northman. He’s mine.