Chapter 26
COPPER
I gaze at the woman sleeping beside me as we ride in the back the following morning—head on my shoulder, arm thrown over my waist, blonde hair in a braid down her back.
I still can’t believe she’s mine. There’s no going back now. She accepted my cut last night, in front of her parents, my family, and my brothers. She agreed to be mine.
Am I worried about taking down this Eades piece of shit?
I am. There’s always the chance we won’t make it home.
I saw the worry on the faces of all we left behind.
The way Thea and Jeanie clung to Coal and Bolt.
And how Dog and Maggie hugged Bee a little longer.
I can only imagine how they must be feeling.
They’ve only just got their daughter back, and now she’s putting herself in danger again.
Although they were slightly mollified when she told them she’d be in the communications van with Ramzi, piloting the drones that Thea had made.
I can’t lie. Even though I know how capable she is, I’m glad she agreed to take a back seat for this operation. Bee isn’t healed enough to kick ass and take names. Although I have no doubt she would if necessary.
I meet Coal’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He looks concerned. He’s driving, with Nickel riding shotgun and Bee and me in the back. We’re towing a trailer with our sleds in case we need them tonight.
“Everything okay, Cop?”
“Yeah, Pres, everything’s good. Or it will be when we’re done with this, and Bee, Noah, and I can take time to heal, and Noah can get to know us.”
Coal nods. He understands. He went from being single to married and a father in the blink of an eye. “How do you feel about being an instant father?”
I smile when I think of the terrified little boy I met, who now trusts me to make sure he’s safe and cared for. “It feels right. Something clicked from the moment I saw him and Bee in that warehouse. We’ll make sure he knows about his parents, but he’s ours now.”
I think carefully about how to word my next thoughts because I’m not sure what they’ll think. But they’re my brothers first and foremost, so even if they don’t believe me, they’ll never disregard what I have to say.
“I know we aren’t a very religious family, but we also know this world contains unexplained things.
Hell, we’re related to four of them. But it feels almost like Noah’s parents are still watching over him, that they knew he’d need a woman who would protect him with her last breath and a family to ensure he’d never be alone again.
” I fall silent, looking out of the window into the darkness.
We left at four this morning, and we’ve been on the road for an hour.
“I like the idea of that,” Nickel admits quietly. “That those who loved and left us are still looking out for us.”
We fall silent then, lost in our own thoughts until we stop for a break. I swap with Coal and take over the driving. None of us has much to say, and when we pull into the motel that Sterling booked for us, I can’t wait to catch up on some sleep before tonight.
Cahir is waiting for us in the parking lot. He, Cai, and Silas rode ahead, leaving Ramzi to drive the surveillance van in the convoy with us.
“Thanks, Sugar.” Bee yawns as I help her out. She rests her forehead on my chest with a groan. “Sick of being so tired. I slept most of the way and still feel like I could sleep for hours.”
I press my lips to the top of her head, inhaling her vanilla and cinnamon scent. “You’re still healing, Spice. Give your body time to catch up with your mind.”
“You’re right,” she agrees, tilting her head back.
I take her lips in a soft kiss. I’d love nothing more than to deepen it, but her lips are still pretty fucked up, and I don’t want to aggravate their healing.
Breaking apart, I rest my forehead on hers. “Let’s grab our room key and crash for a few hours. I’m beat.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
We get our stuff from the vehicle and join the brothers, some of whom are still in the parking lot. The others have already checked in and left to get some rest.
“This one’s yours,” Cahir says, handing us a key. I’ve no idea how the Cursed Skulls got us into a motel this early. They always seem to find a way to achieve the impossible.
Coal leans against the surveillance van, watching us.
My brother is a worrier, which is what makes him a damn good leader.
Right now, he’s taking cues from Cahir, learning the ropes before he takes over for good.
Most Presidents are too arrogant to listen, but not Coal.
It’s why I’ve followed him all my life—he knows when to shut up and learn from the right people.
Oh, don’t get me wrong; he can be a complete asshole, and often butts heads with Maestro, but underneath all that, he’s the perfect man for the president’s position.
“Thanks,” I answer, taking the key with my free hand, the other wrapped around Bee’s shoulders. “What time do you need us to be ready?”
Cahir looks at Coal in question, waiting for him to take the lead.
“Let’s meet back here at six-ish,” my brother says. “We’ll get something to eat, go over the plan, and catch a few more hours of sleep if we need it. We’ll head out to the asshole’s place at one in the morning.”
“Sounds good to me. See you both later.”
Turning, we leave them to it and find our room. Half an hour later, we’re both showered and in bed. I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.
***
I’m not sure what time it is when I’m woken by the warmth of Bee’s mouth on my cock.
“Fuck, Bee.” I let out a rumbling sigh, tunnelling my fingers through her hair.
I look down the length of my body at the woman who was born for me. Her mouth is stretched wide around my cock, cheeks flushed, and eyes raised to mine. She lowers them and goes back to sucking my cock. It’s been days since I was inside her. It won’t take me long to blow if she keeps this up.
I gently tug her hair to get her attention, and her eyes lift to mine again. “I’m about to blow, baby, and I don’t want to come in your mouth.”
Bee releases my cock with a pop, and I hold back a groan at the loss. She crawls up my body and straddles my thighs, smiling as she braces her hands on my chest.
“I want to kiss you, but it hurts to bend over,” she admits sheepishly.
I frown, realising that she was in pain while I was enjoying my blowjob.
“Don’t be angry,” she whispers. “I’ve missed you, and I wanted to blow you. I didn’t realise how uncomfortable it would be. But this”—she lifts her hips and slides down my cock, taking me deep and smiling at me—“I can do with your help.”
“Jesus, Bee.” I squeeze my eyes shut as I try not to come before her. Settling my hands on her hips, I help her move.
“Yes,” she sighs as she rocks her hips. “Just like that. I’ve missed this Cop. I’ve missed you. I need this.”
I’ll never deny Bee anything, and she knows it. Gripping her hips, I use my thighs to power up into her. Her pussy grips my cock, and I know she’s not far off. But she needs more to find her release.
“Look at me, Bee,” I order. When her eyes meet mine, I say, “Use your fingers. Work your clit for me, baby.”
Bee whimpers low in her throat at my growled order and does as I ask.
“Fuck,” I grit out as she clenches around my cock with a cry that has me following not long after.
We both pant as we come down, a fine sheen of sweat covering us. Curling up, I enfold her in my arms, pressing my forehead to her shoulder as we breathe deeply. A happy rumble leaves me as Bee tunnels her fingers into my hair, gently rasping her fingernails against my scalp.
“Love you, Copper. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
Lifting my head, I cup her cheeks. “I’ll never give up on you, Bee.
That’s one thing you never have to worry about.
We’re a team, you and me. From the start, that’s what we’ve been, and that’s what we’ll always be.
I knew you were mine before I met you, and I vowed I’d do anything to make you see yourself the way I did.
It didn’t take me long to fall for you. You’re exactly the type of woman that’s kryptonite to a Tin man.
That you learned to love me… well, that was my prize. ”
“God, Cop,” Bee whispers. “You’re way too good for a woman like me. But now I’ve got you, I’m not letting you go.”
I snort. “Like I’d ever let you get away.”
Bee squeezes me, letting out a small sigh. “I’m happy, Cop. It’s a strange feeling. But even with all the shit swirling around us, I’m happy.”
“That’s good, baby. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s you. Now, how about we shower and get this over with so you can continue to build on your happy.”
“Okay.”
I lift her off me. My gaze never leaves her as she hurries into the bathroom. I hate that she’s still covered in bruises, but I’m also glad she’s safe and back with me.
“You coming?” Bee calls.
“Yeah, Spice. I’m coming.”