Chapter Eight
Isy
I paced back and forth in Rebel’s living room, my heart pounding. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I weighed the consequences of revealing my secrets to him. The thought of losing his trust or affection made my stomach churn.
“Damnit,” I whispered under my breath, clenching my fists until my knuckles turned white. My brow furrowed, as if trying to squeeze out the right answer from my own skull. Breathe. Think. I couldn’t keep it from him forever. Didn’t need to. But what if he hated me after this?
“Isy?” Rebel called out from the doorway, his voice laced with concern. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I lied, forcing an unconvincing smile onto my face. “Just… lost in thought.”
“Come here,” he beckoned, his green eyes darkened by a mix of desire and curiosity. How could I resist? In the short time we’d been together, I was already addicted to him.
The longer I kept the truth from him, the worse it would be. I knew it, and yet, it was so hard to just say the words.
“Rebel, there’s something I need to tell you.” Fear clawed at my insides, threatening to rip me apart. Was I making the right choice? There was no turning back now.
“Spill it,” he said, his rough hands cupping my face. His touch sent shivers down my spine, igniting long-dormant desires within me. But this wasn’t about lust -- it was about trust.
“Promise me you won’t hate me,” I pleaded, my voice barely more than a whisper. He hesitated for a moment before nodding silently.
“Okay, Isy,” he sighed. “You know I care about you. Whatever it is that’s eating you up inside, just tell me what it is.”
“Rebel, I…” The words caught in my throat, choking me. This was it. The point of no return.
A heavy knock on the door shattered my thoughts. My heart leapt into my throat, my body freezing in place. The club usually left us alone, except for my first day here. Had something happened? Or had Wire uncovered the truth?
“Wait a Goddamn minute!” Rebel’s voice cut through the haze of my panic, his green eyes narrowing with concern. “Isy? What’s wrong?”
“Rebel, I…” My voice wavered, on the edge of breaking. My mind screamed at me to tell him everything, but the fear held me hostage. What if he thought I was weak?
“Answer me, Isy.” His tone was firm, laced with frustration and worry. It seemed I was testing his patience to the limit, but I knew he cared too much to give up easily.
“Someone’s at the door,” I managed to choke out, my pulse racing beneath my skin like wildfire. “I’m… scared.”
“Stay here,” he ordered, his face hardening with determination. He moved toward the door, his broad shoulders tense with anticipation.
“Rebel!” I called out, desperation clawing at my insides. I couldn’t let him go without knowing everything. “Wait.”
“Isy, we don’t have time for this shit. Spit it out.” The impatience in his voice was palpable, but so was the concern. He needed to know -- I owed him that much.
“Someone’s been doing more than following me, they’ve been threatening me,” I blurted out, tears welling up in my eyes. “My family too. That’s why I came here -- to try and keep them safe. It’s why I freaked out over the man following me and Casey. I thought if I left, then he’d leave everyone alone. But what if I was wrong? I think he’s more than just a stalker. I mean, I know stalking is bad enough, but I think I brought a monster with me when I came here.”
“Christ, Isy,” he muttered. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I was scared,” I whispered. And stupid, I admitted to myself. My voice trembled like a leaf in the wind. “Scared of losing you.”
“Isy,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. He glanced back at the door, then turned his gaze back to me. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, we need to deal with whoever’s out there. A stranger isn’t getting inside the compound, so it has to be one of my brothers or their women.”
I sucked in a shaky breath. My hands trembled as I met Rebel’s intense gaze. It was now or never. I couldn’t keep hiding the truth.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before. I didn’t want to drag you into it,” I admitted, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “But I can’t do this alone anymore, Rebel. I need you. I’m so, so scared those people are still after me.”
He let out a long, ragged breath, his chest heaving as he fought to rein in his emotions. “You’re not losing me, Isy. Not now, not ever. We’ll face this head-on, together. No more lies, no more secrets. Promise?”
“Promise,” I whispered, my heart swelling with gratitude for the man standing before me -- the only one who had ever truly seen me and accepted me, flaws and all.
The anger slowly faded from his eyes, replaced by a steely determination that sent a shiver down my spine. Without another word, he stepped outside. A moment later he ducked back in. “It’s Maui. Club business. I’ll be right back.”
I thought I saw movement out the side window and could have sworn I saw a woman peeking in, but I didn’t get a good enough look. Maybe I was so stressed I was imagining things now.
Rebel came back inside, and I couldn’t stop the tears sliding down my cheeks. Coming clean hadn’t gone as badly as I’d thought it might. But still, if he’d turned his back on me, I wasn’t sure what I would have done.
“Enough with the tears, babe,” he murmured, his voice rough but gentle as he tugged me into his arms. “We’re gonna get through this shitstorm together.”
I nodded against him, my heart swelling with gratitude. Despite everything, he still stood by me, ready to fight for our future.
Rebel pulled back slightly, his hands cupping my face as his piercing green eyes locked onto mine. “First thing we’re gonna do is gather some allies. We need backup if we’re gonna face these fuckers head-on.”
“From the club?” I asked hesitantly, knowing how fiercely loyal the members of the Savage Raptors MC were to each other.
“Fuck yeah, from the club,” he confirmed, determination flashing in his eyes. “But not just the Raptors, babe. I’m gonna reach out to the Dixie Reapers MC too. I can’t promise they won’t be furious.”
His words sent shivers down my spine, a mixture of relief and anticipation. The thought of facing my enemies alongside the men who’d come to mean so much to me was both terrifying and exhilarating.
“All right,” I agreed, my gaze never leaving his. “We’ll face them together, like you said.”
Rebel’s lips curled into a predatory grin, and something dangerous flickered in his eyes. “Damn straight, Isy. No one is going to tear us apart. We’re going to show those bastards what happens when you fuck with a Raptor and his woman.”
His raw intensity sent a thrill through my body, igniting a fire in the pit of my stomach. I had no doubt that with Rebel by my side, we would face down any threat -- and come out on top.
“Let’s do it, then,” I said, determination coursing through my veins. “Let’s take them down, together.”
Although, I wasn’t sure what sort of help I’d be. It wasn’t like I was tough like Ridley, or even my mom. Compared to the two of them, I was nothing more than a ball of fluff.
My fingers brushed away the last of my tears, and I looked up at Rebel, my eyes filled with gratitude and love. “I promise to stand by your side, no matter what we face.”
There was a hunger in his eyes that sent a shiver down my spine. As if drawn by some irresistible force, our bodies gravitated toward each other until there was no space left between us. His hands were on my hips, gripping me tightly enough to leave marks, and I couldn’t help but love the possessiveness in his touch.
“Isy,” he growled, his voice thick with need. “You have no idea how much you mean to me. We’ll get through this, baby. You and me, together.”
“Cam,” I breathed, my throat tight with emotion. I needed him -- not just to protect me, but to anchor me. Being out in the world was terrifying, or it had been until he found me. I knew I’d essentially traded one cage for another. Being with Rebel didn’t feel confining, for some reason.
As if sensing my thoughts, he pulled me even closer, his hard muscles pressing against every inch of my soft curves. Our lips met in a searing, passionate kiss, like a wildfire consuming everything in its path. Our tongues tangled together, both of us fighting for dominance before settling into a rhythm that was equal parts tender and ravenous. Every nerve in my body seemed to come alive under his touch, as though I’d been waiting for this moment for an eternity.
“God, Isy,” he groaned against my mouth, his hands sliding down to cup my ass and pull me flush against him. “I can’t get enough of you. You’re all I think about, all I want.”
“Then take me,” I urged, desperate to feel the full weight of his possession. “Make me yours, Cam.”
“Fuck, baby,” he rumbled, his eyes darkening with lust. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.”
“Then show me,” I challenged.
With a growl, he lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bedroom. He hurried inside, pushing the door open with his foot. I bounced as I hit the mattress, and he came down over me, caging me between his arms.
The air felt electric between us as our lips parted, my breath hitching in my throat. He kisses with a ferocity that thrilled me, making my toes curl. I loved the possessive way he watched me, the way his touch made me feel completely owned by him.
“Isy, you’re mine.”
I shivered, feeling a thrill run down my spine. It was intoxicating, knowing someone as powerful and dangerous as Rebel saw me as a desirable woman he wanted all to himself.
“Yours,” I agreed. “Now and always.”
“Good,” he said, leaning in to capture my lips once more. Our tongues danced together, tasting and teasing, while our bodies pressed even closer. The intensity of our desire was palpable, threatening to consume us both.
“Let’s make sure they know it too,” he suggested, his voice rough with need. “Everyone who dares to come after you, everyone who threatens what we have -- they’ll regret ever crossing our path.”
“Cam… I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me,” I admitted.
“Isy,” he said, his voice softening, “I can’t let those people off easy. If I don’t squash them, they’ll just keep coming. You’ve lived this life long enough to realize that.”
“I know. Make me forget what’s waiting for me outside the gates. I don’t want to think about anything but you.”
He winked. “I can make sure you only think about me all night and into tomorrow.”
My cheeks warmed, but I couldn’t help smiling. He made me so happy.
As his words washed over me, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of security enveloping me like a warm blanket. As we shared another heated kiss, I briefly thought I saw a shadow outside the bedroom door, but then Rebel pulled away to undress the both of us, and I put it out of my mind.
Entangled in a heated embrace, Rebel’s ran his rough hands over my body, leaving trails of goose bumps in their wake. And as he leaned in to capture my lips again, I could feel his hard cock pressing against me. My lips already felt swollen, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t get enough of him.
“You’re so hot,” he murmured against my neck, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.
His touch was electrifying, and all I could think about was how much I wanted him inside me. The way he possessed me made me feel alive. I moaned softly as his fingers traced circles around my nipples, causing them to harden into sensitive peaks.
“Do you like that, baby?” he whispered, his voice low and seductive.
I nodded my head against his chest, unable to speak from the overwhelming pleasure coursing through my veins. He pushed me gently onto my back and crawled between my splayed thighs.
As he stared down at me, I saw the raw desire in his eyes. It made my heart race and my stomach flutter. His hands slid up the insides of my thighs, teasing me with the anticipation of what was to come. And then, he pushed his fingers inside me.
I gasped at the pleasure-pain sensation that consumed me. I wanted more. It was nowhere near enough. I arched my back, silently begging for him to take me.
Without warning, he pulled his fingers out and positioned himself at my entrance. I held my breath as he slowly pushed into me, inch by delicious inch. The feeling of being filled by him was indescribable. My entire body hummed, and no matter how amazing it felt, it would never be enough.
“You’re so tight.” He groaned, thrusting deeper into me.
I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him closer as the world around us disappeared. All that mattered was the rhythm of our bodies moving together -- his harsh breaths, my soft moans, and the slapping sound of our skin against each other. It was wild and primal -- and everything I’d ever wanted.
“God, Isy! You feel so good.” He moaned, picking up the pace.
“Cam.” I gasped, arching my back, my orgasm building, coiling inside me and just out of reach. The pleasure crested and on the next stroke of his cock, I came so hard I felt like I couldn’t even breathe. “Oh, yes! Yes! Don’t stop. Please don’t stop, Cam.”
“That’s it, baby, come for me.” He growled, thrusting hard and fast until I felt the heat of his release as he filled me up with cum. He collapsed on top of me, and slowly pulled out. When he rolled to the side, he took me with him, and I cuddled against him.
Breathing heavily, we lay tangled together, our hearts pounding in sync. The room was silent except for the sounds of nature outside the window. I nuzzled my face into his chest, inhaling his unique scent of leather and motor oil with a hint of spice.
“I love you,” he mumbled against my hair.
I froze, my body tensing. Had he meant to say that? I looked up and caught him watching me. “What did you say?”
He grinned. “I said I love you. Did you come so hard you went deaf?”
I shook my head. My heart started to race, and I felt giddy. Wasn’t it too soon to feel like this? But I knew without a doubt I felt the same way.
“I love you too.”
How did we get here? When I’d come to the compound with him, I’d worried he’d never like me much less love me. I nestled in his strong arms and basked in the afterglow. It felt like a dream, but I didn’t want to wake up. Not now, not ever.