Chapter 9
Preacher
She’s late.
Two fucking hours late.
I’m about to drive my ass to her place and find out what the fuck is going on.
I’ve been counting down the seconds until I see her. Tonight is the night. At least, it was supposed to be the night until she decided not to show.
I walk over to Payton.
“Do you know where your roommate is?”
She eyes me skeptically.
“Is there a reason you’re asking?”
There are a million of them.
“Do you think you could answer my question first?”
“She went to pick up my sister Kota, but nobody had seen her all day. Meg and Chassie went driving around looking for her, but they couldn’t find her either. Cage was getting ready to send out the troops, but Scar texted that she’s safe.”
Scar? How the fuck does he know where the girl is? That man lives in the shadows of life. He barely ventures near civilization; too afraid he’ll scare people off with his face. I think he’s too ashamed to be seen but I’d never force a man to face his demons.
“Chassie’s on her way now. Now, it’s your turn. Why are you so interested in the whereabouts of my friend?”
“Because I…”
I don’t have to finish that thought because Chassie and Meg barge through the door, and Payton’s little sister comes rushing up to her.
“Where is she? How do you know she’s safe?”
“Because Scar said she was fine.”
“That man is terrifying, Payton. How can you be so calm? I want to see her. Make him bring her here.”
“We’re not making him do anything,” Dozer grits through his clenched jaw as he steps up behind the girl.
“None of our brothers would hurt your sister. Just because a man has a scar on his face doesn’t make him a villain.
You sure do like to wield your judgement as a weapon, but the only one you should be pointing that sharp knife at is yourself. ”
“I didn’t realize that being worried about my sister was a problem. Excuse me for wanting to protect her.”
“It’s not the worrying part that’s the problem. It’s the part about you assuming the worst about people just because of the way they look or how much money they have.”
“I think they should just fuck and get it over with,” Chassie whispers as she saddles up to me. She looks so fucking good. Wearing a little black dress and red heels. She definitely dressed to impress tonight. And my dick is thoroughly impressed.
“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.”
“Did that make you sad?” She bites down on that fucking red lip and I swear my cock feels her teeth tingling down my shaft.
“Very.” I grip her neck and yank her towards me. She’s kissing me tonight. I want that fiery little tongue tangled with mine. “Where’s your bag, babe?”
“I didn’t bring one.”
My grip tightens. “Then you’ll have to borrow something of mine in the morning.”
“I have no intentions of losing this bet, Preacher.”
Damn, my cock is so fucking hard.
“Really? So, you’re going to tell me you don’t want my mouth sliding up your thighs. My lips wrapped around your clit. My tongue flicking against it. You don’t want to feel me rub my fingers against that sensitive little spot inside and make you come so fucking hard you see stars?”
I grip her waist as she sways into me. Her eyes barely holding their stare as they fight to close. She wants it as much as I do. She’d be lying if she said different.
“Bet you another thousand your pussy is soaked right now.” Her little intake of air hits my cheek as I lean into her ear, brushing my lips across her skin. “You get the money if it is.”
I press my lips to the side of her neck, absorbing her weight as she melts against me. “I think you should come to my bedroom and let me see if you’ve won.”
A little whimper trembles out of her.
“What do you get out of this deal?” she asks, breathless.
“I get to lick your fingers clean.”
“Preacher.”
Fuck. The fire is burning so hot in my groin it feels like my dick is about to go up in flames.
“Stop fighting it, baby. Fucking kiss me already.” Her head lifts. Those lips are so close. Her soft skin brushes over my jaw.
“Preacher, where have you been? I’ve missed you.”
I might kill Misty for choosing the worst possible time to interrupt, especially when Chassie’s lips leave my chin. I grip her neck as she tries to pull away. She’s not going anywhere. But Misty better take a hike before I kick her ass to the curb.
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” I keep my eyes locked on Chass, trying to read the expression on her face.
“Who’s the new girl?” Misty asks and Chassie flinches. She’s recalling the moment I asked her the same question.
“She’s mine.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize. No one said anything.
” That’s because no one knows. I haven’t had a chance to make an official claim.
I wanted to give my girl some time before I put the pressure on.
She just ended a twelve-year relationship.
My goal right now is to ensure I’m not the rebound but that I’m the one she chooses in the end.
“Make sure the others know my bed’s taken.” I don’t want anyone else interrupting. Now that I’m back, they’ll come knocking for a fuck.
Misty scurries off and now I’m faced with a rigid girl in my arms. Just a minute ago she was all hot and wanting and now she’s ice cold. I’m gonna need to thaw her out again.
“Your bed isn’t going to be taken, Preacher. You may want to call that girl back and let her know different.”
She’s still trying to fight the inevitable. Don’t think I’ve ever met a woman so stubborn. Or one I wanted more.
“Whether you’re in my bed tonight or not, I don’t want any of them. I only have eyes for one girl if you haven’t noticed.”
The blush is returning to her cheeks, which I take as a good sign. So is the fact that she’s no longer locked in the shoulders.
“Now, where were we, babe? That’s right. You were about to kiss me.” I move in, but she turns her cheek to me right before I reach her lips. My growl has her giggling. I nip her neck and pull back, narrowing my eyes on her. “I’m going to hurt Misty.” More of her laughter fills my chest.
“I should thank the girl. She saved me from losing a thousand dollars.”
I’ll give her a hundred thousand right now for a taste of those smiling lips. But in truth, chasing her is so much fun.
“The night is young. And I am a determined man.”
“What the fuck are they doing here?” King’s angered shout has my head whipping in his direction.
He’s looking out the window. Incoming are three police cruisers with their lights flashing.
I’m wondering the same thing. Until… Chassie’s ex comes barging through the door.
He must’ve figured out it was me who damaged his precious paint job.
“Oh shoot,” Payton’s sister says. “I forgot to text him that we found her.”
She must’ve phoned in her concern for Dakota.
“Why would you call him?” Chassie moves from my side, and his eyes go right to her. “Dakota’s fine, Dusty. She’s out with a friend.”
His eyes move up from her face and glare me down. “I’m here for you, fucker. You’re going to pay for what you did to my car.”
See? I knew he cared more about his damn shit than the people in his life.
He starts stalking toward me and once again my girl is blocking me with her fine little ass.
“Move out of my way, Chass,” her ex barks at her. “His ass is going down to the jail.”
For disrespecting my girl like that, I should punch his teeth out.
“No. I’m not moving.” She holds her ground. “The only reason you’re here is because you’re jealous that I have feelings for him.”
My hands tighten on her waist as I hear her words. I was hoping that to be the case, but I wasn’t sure if I was assuming more from the attraction.
“No,” he seethes. “I’m here because he vandalized my car.”
“Can’t prove anything,” I say. “Not unless you’ve got my DNA at the scene of the crime.”
“Who the fuck else would it have been?”
I shrug. “Lots of folks in this town don’t like the cops. It could’ve been anyone.”
The men that he brought for backup bristle at my remark. I’m just speaking the truth.
“Nice try, fucker, but you’re coming with me.”
“Stop, Dusty. You are not arresting him.” She tries to block his path.
He actually stops and looks down at her pleading face. There’s a glimmer of humanity final showing through. Shocking.
“Fine. If you don’t want me to take him in, then you need to leave with me now. I don’t want you associating with these criminals.”
Funny how he wants to call me a criminal. His boss would tell him different. Don’t know how many times the sheriff has called us up needing our help. We’ve stepped in and saved their asses more times than he can count with that pea-sized brain of his. He clearly hasn’t gotten the memo about us.
“Okay,” Chassie says as her entire body slumps. “I’ll go with you. Just leave him out of this.”
Not a fucking chance in hell.
I step in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere with him, babe. I can handle my own war.” I hold my hands out to the fucker. “Go ahead, Officer. Put the cuffs on.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” King sneers, giving him a glare that would have me trembling if I were in his shoes.
“Nah, it’s all good, Prez. ‘Bout time these guys learned who they’re messing with. We’ll let Sheriff handle them.”
King smirks, nodding as he stands down. “I think you’re right.
We’ll let these boys learn their place. Come on, brothers, we’re rolling out.
Just so you know…” He narrows that icy glare on the one who just cuffed me.
“We’ll be right on your ass. If you try to do anything to our brother, none of you will ever be seen again. ”
The stupid fucker in front of me actually has the nerve to talk back to our Prez. “Sounds like you’re threatening officers of the law. That’s grounds for an arrest. Maybe we should haul you down too.”
King throws his head back on a laugh and all of us join in his amusement.
If that piece of shit dares to haul our Prez in, he’ll not only have his badge stripped from him, but we’ll all be laughing our asses off on the way to his funeral.
He has no clue who he’s dealing with. But he’s about to find out.
“I’ll be expecting an apology for that when all is said and done.
That’s if you want to live another day.”
An apology? I laugh. Yeah right. The only reason I’m playing along is because I don’t know how Chassie would handle it if something happened to her ex.
I know she doesn’t love him, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t care.
And the last thing I want is for her to hate me. I’m falling hard for the girl. So hard.
“We ready to roll out, donut boy? I need to get back so I can get back to my woman.” I give her a wink, but she looks to be panicking. Everything is going to be fine. Good news is, it’s me she’s panicking over and he’s getting to witness every second of that.
“Call me that again,” he grits, “and I’ll be adding to your charges.”
“Never knew name-calling was a crime. I’ll be sure to never make that mistake again, little dick.”
His jaw snaps so tight I can hear his teeth gnashing. “Come on,” he tells his buddies. “Can’t wait to show these thugs who actually holds the power in this town.”
And I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he learns the truth.