Chapter 26 Duke
ONE WEEK LATER…
We'd been back in Rose Haven for a week and I decided to throw a block party for the community. Solana needed it, the Thorns needed it, the town needed it, and honestly, I needed it too. It had been feeling like if it wasn't one thing it was another.
I stood in front of the Thorns inside Chrome, looking around the room at the stone-cold expressions that had led me to call this meeting. Juelz was at my right and Rico to my left.
"It's been a crazy few months and we've had a few of us go missing.
This is exactly why I tell you, if you're struggling with finances or anything else, speak up.
It doesn't have to be in front of everybody.
You can step to me privately whenever you need to.
As for Rafe and a few of the others, their bodies still haven't been found. "
One of the Thorns stood and waited for me to give him the floor. I nodded for him to go ahead.
"Word is they'd been dealing with those Viper boys, moving all kinds of product. If you didn't come through on what was agreed, those boys are known for making people disappear."
I nodded, my jaw tightening.
"That street life doesn't forgive mistakes. But we're going to make sure we look out for their families. I need a few of y'all available to cut their wives' grass, and ladies, we might need some pop-ups to check in and see if anything else is needed. We look out for our own, even in their absence."
Juelz stepped up beside me. "The sign-up sheet is on the bar. You don't have to commit to this every single time. We'll rotate unless the ladies of those households let us know they've got it handled."
Everyone nodded. I went over a few more things, then wrapped it up.
"Last thing before I let you go. We're partying tonight for those we've lost and for ourselves.
Come out in your gear and be ready to ride by six.
Bring your ladies and your families. This is a community block party in the Parks.
Everyone knows tonight is off limits for all street business and personal disagreements. Come out and have a good time."
"Thorns out," I started.
"Stand firm," they replied.
I gave a closed-mouth smile, dapped up a few of them, then headed up to my office. Sugar Kissed would be closing soon, so I needed to knock out a few things for Chrome before I slid through.
"Knock knock. Are you free for a little company?"
I looked up from my computer. Solana was standing in the doorway holding a box of treats with that signature smile on her face. It didn't matter what kind of day I'd had. She could make it better just by showing up.
"For you, always."
I turned to face her.
Her hips swayed with every step. I bit my lower lip and smirked. Solana settled onto my lap, then slipped her tongue into my mouth. She wrapped one arm around my neck and placed the box on the desk with her other hand.
I reached out and pulled her other leg around my waist while she reached between us to undo my belt.
"Let me find out you missed me," I said, pulling back.
Her eyes were heavy and half-lidded. I placed two fingers beneath her chin and brought her gaze up to meet mine.
"I'm yours, love. Take what you need," I groaned.
Solana freed me from my briefs and jeans, then sank down over me slowly. I slapped her ass as she moved, her sweet moans already driving me out of my mind. I leaned forward to muffle the sound because in her rush to get to me, she had forgotten to close the damn door.
I stood with her still wrapped around me, praying nobody rounded that corner or came up the stairs. We couldn't afford any more Thorns going missing under suspicious circumstances.
I lifted Solana and carried her toward the door, making sure both of her legs were over my shoulders comfortably as I kept going.
Nessa came into view the closer I got, her scowl immediate and unmistakable.
I didn't give a single damn. I pressed deeper into Solana, drawing a louder moan from her, then reached the door and shut it firmly in Nessa's face.
I turned and walked back to the desk, laid Solana down across it, and went to work. Stroking slow, then fast. The top of her dress had been pulled down and she was playing with her own nipples while watching me.
"Damn, Sweets. You're so beautiful cumming all over this dick. Wet this shit up."
I reached out and wrapped my hand lightly around her neck, then leaned down to bite her lower lip.
"Fuuuuck," she cried out.
I pulled out and slapped myself against her clit a few times before sliding back in slowly, feeding her every inch one at a time.
"This is what you came for, right, Sweets? You want me to have you walking sideways."
"Yes, sir," she moaned.
Her ass was going to have us expecting a baby if she kept saying that. Her pussy got wetter every single time she said it, so the word was doing something to her too. I closed my eyes and tried to hold myself together a little longer.
I pulled out and dropped down to eye level with my new addiction. Solana's pussy was a delicacy. The way she glistened, like she had her own brand of gloss spread across her lips, had my jaw tight and my whole body ready to go at any second.
I gripped her thighs and dragged my tongue around her pearl, then down to her center, then back up to her pearl again. I needed that essence I craved every waking moment.
"Right there!"
Her legs locked around my head as I feasted like it was a holiday. My dick was so hard it had started to ache.
"No more," she cried out.
I pulled back, her essence coating my lips and my beard, then slid back into her. I moved with purpose, making sure to find that spot every time. I always knew when she was close. Her walls would tighten around me like they were trying to keep me from leaving.
My head dropped back as I emptied into her and she let go right with me. I couldn't move for a full minute while the feeling slowly returned to my legs. Then I leaned down and kissed her inner thigh.
"You're going to make me have to deal with every man in this building. Your ass forgot to close the door. I know they heard you, but they better act like they didn't."
Solana covered her face with both hands. I knew she was embarrassed. I reached up and pulled her hands away.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about, love. I'm yours, aren't I?" I asked with a raised brow.
She nodded with a smile I matched.
"Alright then. It's not your fault I got something you can't get enough of."
She swatted my chest. I lifted her from the desk, my seed trailing down her thighs, and carried her toward the bathroom in the back.
"Sweets?"
"Hmm," she hummed.
"You on birth control? Because if not, we might have just made something happen."
"No. Would that bother you?" she asked, a small note of uncertainty slipping into her voice.
I stopped just inside the bathroom and looked at her directly.
"Hell no. I know what it means when I do that. I've never done it with anyone else, not like this."
She swatted my shoulder with an eye roll.
"I'm just being real, Sweets. I love you and I know you're the woman I plan to marry. Shit, sounds like we already started building a family."
Solana cracked up, her head falling back. I reached out and brought her eyes back to mine.
"Just understand, you're it for me," I said, then leaned in to kiss her.
"I'm glad we're on the same page. I would hate to have to check somebody who thought this was still open. This is your last one."
I pulled back and raised a brow. "Sweets, let me find out you've got a little crazy in you."
"Don't make me ever have to show you," she replied.
I set her on her feet and reached in to turn on the shower.
"I'll say this. When the right one steps into your life, that crazy tends to find its way right on out." I glanced down and gripped myself for emphasis.
"You get on my nerves so bad," she groaned, then laughed in spite of herself.
I helped her out of her dress and stepped back to take her in fully.
"Sweets, are you out here with no panties on?" I asked, finally realizing she hadn't had anything on underneath.
"I figured they would only slow things down," she said with a simple shrug.
I leaned down and pressed a kiss right there.
"Don't let me catch you walking around like that again. I would send people to their maker behind that."
She rolled her eyes and her cheeks went pink.
"Mm-hmm. Let's get in the shower, sir."
I raised a brow. "Keep that up and we won't make it to the block party."
She giggled as I lifted her and stepped us both under the water.
Damn, I couldn't believe this was my life.
After Solana and I got out of the shower, I carried her back to her shop to change.
Now that I knew she had been walking around without panties, I didn't need anyone else catching wind of that.
She decided to swap her whole outfit while she was at it.
She came out wearing a pair of black and gray distressed jeans with a red NASCAR-style long sleeve top.
I glanced down at her feet. Red pumps.
I smirked and raised a brow.
"Sweets, you know we're going to be on our feet for most of the night, right?" I asked.
She did a slow spin and then looked down at her heels.
"Yeah, I'm aware. When I was in Hollywood, I wore heels like these everywhere for hours at a time. You think I should change them?"
I crossed my arms. "Love, you can wear whatever you're comfortable in. I just wanted to give you the full picture. If you can do it, wear them. You look good either way."
Solana stood there for a moment, then looked up at me.
"Is Vanessa going to be there?" she asked.
She rarely asked about her, if ever. "Yeah, from what I know she is. We're all riding in together. Every Thorn who's coming."
I didn't bother asking why she wanted to know. My answer was enough. She turned around, went back into her room with the heels, and came back out in a pair of sneakers. I didn't ask any questions. I walked over to the door and pulled it open.