Twenty-Two
I swear, he brings out some kind of inner vixen that I never knew existed inside me. How I came out with these things, in such powerful, intimate moments, I had no idea. It wasn’t a side of me I’d even seen before. I wasn’t generally this confident sexual woman.
I was full of anxieties and neuroses, I mean, we worry about everything, right? Is my stomach flat enough? Have my boobs sagged too much? Do I have stretchmarks or cellulite? Does my O face make me look like a baboon? So many things. With Reacher, they didn’t even occur to me. He made me feel beautiful, and desirable, and it gave me confidence to feel that way.
“Woman? If you think you’re making the rules here, you’re about to learn how wrong you are.”
Reacher grabbed my legs, and dragged me down the bed, pinning my hands by my sides, as he lowered himself on top of me. He was still wearing jeans, so there was definitely a flaw in his plan, but it still made my heart race, and my breath catch in my throat. He was so masculine, so strong and powerful. So overpowering, in every possible way. Did I want him inside me? Pretty much always. I’d never wanted someone the way I always want him.
“I love you.” The words were out before I could stop them, and I bit my lip as Reacher stopped everything and stared at me.
“You what?”
Oh god. Embarrassment burned through me, and I swallowed hard.
“Never mind. Heat of the moment. I didn’t say anything.”
He practically scowled at me.
“Don’t you dare try taking it back, woman. It’s out there now. You said it, and I know now, and for the record, I love you as well. I’ve been trying to tell myself I don’t, so the rejection of my club won’t hurt so fucking much.” His hands released mine, and he cupped my face with both hands.
“I love you, Ally, even though you sass me relentlessly. Hell, maybe even because of it, I don’t know. I want you and I want to be with you, all the fucking time. I want you by my side for the rest of my life. As my old lady. As my wife. My mouthy other half.”
“You were doing well at times, but your words of love are almost as clumsy as your apologies. You need me just to keep you on track, Reacher.”
He laughed, thank god, he laughed.
“Woman, you’re mine, and if I have to step down and let Stitch take over, that’s what I’ll do. The club isn’t keeping us apart.”
I shook my head, or did my best attempt, with his hands holding onto my face.
“You can’t. Not… you’re their President. You worked hard to be their President, and they rely on you. Don’t give that up for me. I’m honestly not worth it, Reacher, I’m not.”
His lips touched mine, and it was soft. Gentle, and sweet. Nothing like the normal kisses I get from Reacher. The ones that set fire to the blood running through my veins, and curled my toes. This was more than a kiss. It was a promise, a whole damn speech about how he felt, and I understood every word he didn’t speak. I wanted that too.
He moved, making short work of the buttons at the waist of his jeans, and shoved them down, taking his underwear with them, and then he was easing inside me. It wasn’t the usual forceful thrust, that pushed the air from my lungs. It was a slow glide, a caress from the inside out. It was love, and I never expected it to feel this way.
I looped my legs around his waist, and held on tight, my fingers stroking through his hair, as he made love to me, not a brutal fuck like we normally indulged in. This was slow, deliberate, and heavenly. It was like the first time, like he was introducing me to something I’d never had before. Love. Lovemaking. I didn’t want it to end.
Even when he started speeding things up, chasing release for both of us, it never stopped being loving, and intimate. It was intense, deeper than anything we’d shared before.
“I love you, Ally. I’m not giving you up.”
His words were a heated whisper in my ear, as he moved his mouth to my neck, and kissed, and sucked at my skin. Every roll of his hips against mine was a delight, rubbing perfectly at my clit, as he teased that magical spot inside me in rhythmic movements. Who knew that this could feel better than the frantic fucks we’d shared? My orgasm built slowly, and every glide into me pushed me a little closer. It made every inch of me tingle, in readiness for the flow of pleasure that would awaken every nerve ending.
A low groan from Reacher told me he was close, and his lips closed over mine again, just as I finally tipped over the edge, and felt that burning rush of bliss that singed its way through me, my body arching up against his. He caught every one of my pleasured moans with his lips, and then he followed me over the edge, his body shuddering as he filled me with his release. His eyes stayed on mine as he came, and I felt like we’d just connected on a new level, an even deeper one. Damn right his club wouldn’t keep us apart, because I wouldn’t allow it, any more than he would.
But I wouldn’t let him quit his position, or lose his family. I’d win them over, even if it freaking killed me.
Reacher
W e lay together after what can only be described as lovemaking, and fuck me, I didn’t know it could feel so intense. I’ve always been of the ‘fuck hard, come hard’ mentality, but that was something new, and I liked it. Maybe it was because we’d both finally admitted to our feelings. Hell if I know.
What I did know, was that she was never leaving my fucking side. If I couldn’t have her as my old lady, in my club’s eyes, then I’d marry her the old fashioned way. Get my name on her skin privately. She’d still be mine. The club just wouldn’t recognise her status. Fuck, I wanted her recognised though. She deserved to be recognised. She deserved to be fucking worshipped. The hell she’d been through in her life, and she was still standing. If she wasn’t meant to be mine, then I was meant to be alone, because I’d never met a more perfect fit for me.
“You’re too quiet. It either means you’re dwelling on shit, or you’re plotting, and if you’re plotting, I want in.”
I snorted. “Woman, I’m just trying to remember how to breathe.”
She giggled quietly, resting a hand on my chest.
“Take it easy, old man. Try not to croak on me just yet.”
I rolled my head, meeting her eyes.
“Careful. I might be exhausted, but I can probably still slap that ass for you.”
She sighed and curled into me, her face against my chest and her breaths heating my skin. I wrapped my arms tightly around her.
“We’ll figure this shit out, woman. I refuse to lose you. I mean, how the hell do I live the rest of my life without you beside me? I’m not even gonna try.”
She nuzzled my chest. This right here, it was the most intimacy we’d indulged in during the time we’d been together. Normally we fucked, and we moved on, but I liked this. It felt fucking right.
“Reacher?”
Stitch poked his head into the room, glanced around and cursed, covering his eyes.
“You better have a good fucking reason for eyeballing my old lady naked.” I pulled the bedding over Ally as best I could.
Stitch was still holding a hand over his eyes.
“I knocked three fucking times, brother. You want to get your ears tested, or something?”
I glanced at Ally, who shrugged and snuggled back into my chest.
“We didn’t hear you. You maybe wanna try knocking like a man next time?”
Stitch snorted. “Look, I realise this is a bad time, but apparently they want to try waking Ice up. I know you want to be there.”
Jesus. I nodded, sliding out of the bed, and grabbing for my clothes.
“I want to come too,” Ally hissed, dragging the bedding with her, as she made a move for her clothes.
“I wasn’t planning on going without you.”
I watched as she moved carefully to the bathroom, the sheet wrapped around her curves, and a bundle of clothes in her arms.
As soon as the door closed, I fastened up my jeans and glanced up at Stitch, who still had a hand over his eyes.
“It’s safe now, brother, but give me one good reason not to carve out your eyes for what you saw.”
“You don’t want a blind VP,” he offered, grinning widely at me.
I laughed, but then I felt a sobering thud in my chest. Nor did I want a blind president, if I had to step down. It probably wasn’t the time to mention that though, because Ice had to be our priority.
“I’m coming with too,” Stitch muttered, drawing my attention back to him. “Whatever you’re worrying about, just set it aside. Ice deserves our full attention.”
“Yeah. Look… before Ally comes back out. I realise that things are a mess right now, but I already know I can’t be without her. If it comes to it… are you ready to step up?”
Stitch frowned, glancing at the bathroom door, then back at me. I saw the moment when comprehension dawned on him, like a punch in the stomach, and his breath left him like he’d taken a physical blow.
“Wait… step up? Like, take over? Fucking hell, Reacher, surely it won’t come to that.”
I shrugged, hoping it looked carefree, even though I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“I have to make a decision, Stitch. If the club won’t agree to Ally being my old lady, then I need to step down. I can’t be without her, and I don’t think I can lead a club who can deny me this.”
He tugged at his beard, his eyes darting around as he absorbed my words. Hell, I was feeling the exact same way. This was never the plan. We’d always planned to run things together, until one or both of us passed on.
“Fuck me. This is the last thing I expected you to say, and truthfully? No. I’m not ready to step up. I figured I had another decade or so of being your VP, before I’d have to do that.”
Jesus. “I don’t want anyone else but you in this role. You’re the only one I know will keep things the way they’re going. Our view for the club is practically identical.”
He nodded, watching the bathroom door open, and Ally step out, fully dressed.
“Don’t do anything rash, man. Let’s puzzle this out together. I’m not convinced this is necessary, and Jesus… I don’t want it to go this way, okay? We make a fucking amazing team, and this club is better for the both of us being here.” He dragged both hands through his hair.
“Please don’t destroy everything we worked so hard to build, Reacher.”
Ally was watching us, that razor sharp mind of hers figuring everything out in a split second.
“My god… I’m ruining everything for you. Reacher, please, don’t lose what you have, what you’ve created, just for me.”
I grabbed her arm, and dragged her closer.
“You said you love me. Did that change while you were getting dressed or something?”
She snorted. “Idiot. You know what’s not what I mean.”
“Yeah, well, you’re fucking stuck with me now, woman, so shut it and let’s go.”
She poked me hard in the chest, my fucking feisty woman.
“You don’t want me to shut ‘it’, trust me.”
Stitch groaned, heading for the door again.
“I’m not even fucking listening. Can we go?”
And with that, we hopped on our bikes, and headed for the hospital, my old lady wrapped around me in that fucking amazing, blissful way, that made me feel like a fucking king.