Chapter Five
Roark
Walking away from Charli hadn’t been easy. Roark had wanted to climb inside that car, ride with her to her place, and spend every moment he could with her. Preferably naked. Hell, he would’ve fucked her on the hood of that amazing car if they hadn’t had an audience.
He groaned, running a hand down his face. When he returned to the group, several guys stared curiously at him, but he ignored them. Until Griff opened his mouth.
“You gonna do right by her, Sarg?”
Roark stopped in his tracks, eyeing his Prez. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Unfazed, Griff said, “It means, can you keep your head in the game and be honest with her, letting her into your life knowing what that means? The good and the not so good. Don’t just make her a fuck buddy. She deserves more than that. You do this, you do it all the way.”
Roark tried not to snap at his Prez, his friend, but his anger welled. “How do you know what she deserves? You don’t even know her.”
“I know plenty thanks to Owen. And tell me you didn’t see that tattoo on her ribs and felt a sense of pride, of ownership, and I’ll tell you you’re a damn liar. She’s finding her way back here, right where she belongs, just like Owen said. So do right by her, Sarg.”
Roark looked at his Prez who was not unlike his father, Owen. Loyal, generally laid back but fierce when he needed to be. And he ruled justly, firmly, caring for every single member of the Club and their families.
Roark then looked at his father, receiving only a nod. Fuck, he knew Griff was right. Knew his father was right. She was family. Seeing that part of her tattoo shocked him but also thrilled him. Told him all he needed to know. She wanted to be here and she belonged here. With them. With him.
“Before you go,” Owen started, “let me tell you something I never shared with you and your brother.”
Roark eyed his dad as the man looked at Griff who made a gesture with his hand. Several people started to leave, and when Konstance made a move to go as well, Bradley placed his hand on hers, keeping her in her chair.
“Stay, Konstance,” Owen said. “Would be good for you to hear, to understand Charli a bit better. It’s my hope you’ll become a good friend to her.”
“Thank you, I hope so too,” she said.
With their group consisting of Roark, his brother, his father, Griff, Motley, Stacks, and Konstance, Owen launched into his story.
An hour went by and after talk and a lot more angry cussing, Roark’s heart broke all over again for that girl. He’d wanted to portal through time to change it all. To take away every second of suffering and pain.
But then, who would she have become? Would she still be the same resilient woman his father described? The determined woman who’d been brave enough to carry on, do her duty, then return here, not knowing what kind of reception she’d receive?
The woman was fucking incredible, and Roark planned to tell her so himself.
Fifteen minutes later, Roark parked his Harley next to Charli’s Nova. He sat a moment, looking at the RV and scanning the area, trying to imagine what plans Charli had for the place. She’d mentioned building. How soon would she get started? Could she imagine him in her plans?
Suddenly, the door opened, and there stood the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. She still wore her t-shirt and shorts from earlier, but she was barefoot, her hair still loose, flowing over her shoulders. Roark’s cock sprung to life just staring at her.
“Thought maybe you changed your mind,” she said.
Roark climbed off his bike and strode to her, climbing the tiny set of steps, making the trailer rock. He backed her into her space then shut and locked the door all while keeping his eyes on her.
“Not a fucking chance,” he said. Standing there, just looking at her, he took in her features and now noticed a few lines around her eyes.
She wore no makeup but didn’t need to. She was a natural beauty.
He then looked closer at her left arm and leg, inspecting the tattoo, trying to see beyond the ink.
When he met her gaze, he saw a flash of panic, and she tried to turn away.
Roark was on her in an instant, framing her face, holding her stare.
“Don’t,” he said gruffly. “Don’t ever turn away from me.
” Her lower lip trembled, and he swore beneath his breath.
Then he pressed his lips to hers, tenderly nipping before exploring her mouth.
Triumph barreled through him when she sank into him, opening her mouth, and kissing him with the same exploratory tenderness.
Her hands gripped his waist between his cut and t-shirt before slipping around to his back.
Her needy moans had him taking the kiss deeper, and it took all his restraint not to rush and ravage. Not to tear away her clothes and fuck her senseless. God, he wanted that, but he also wanted to worship her and show her how he’d treasure her.
How the hell had his feelings for this woman intensified to this magnitude in the span of hours? He’d gone from thinking about her often over the years to needing to instantly claim her when she finally reappeared.
“I need you, Charli,” he said between kisses. “Need you so goddamn bad.”
“I need you too, Roark. I’ve waited so long for this. For you.”
He leaned back, staring into her hazel eyes that were half-lidded with lust. “So damn beautiful,” he murmured, enjoying her blush.
Roark then took her hand and walked them to the bedroom at the back of the RV.
There was already a dim light on, creating a cozy setting.
Not that he gave a damn about cozy. All he wanted was Charli naked and sitting on his cock.
Noticing that the closet door was a mirror, he turned Charli to face it while standing behind her.
Roark locked eyes with her as he wrapped his arms around her, his hands finding the button to her shorts.
When she held his gaze and did nothing to stop him, he unfastened the denim and slid the zipper down.
Then he slipped the material over her hips and legs, going down on a knee to remove them.
“Gorgeous,” he said as he slid his hands back up her legs to mold around the luscious globes of her ass that were exposed due to the thong she wore.
Sexy, but useless. He slipped off the material then stood to remove her t-shirt and unsnap her bra, letting the garments fall away.
She stood gloriously naked, and he couldn’t help repeating, “So fucking gorgeous.”
Roark traced his hands over her soft skin, inspecting the tattoo on her left side that did indeed span the full length of her body.
“This must’ve taken years to complete,” he said.
“Three. That was as ambitious as I could be.”
“It’s remarkable.” He went to her side, moving her arm to look closely at the SoS emblem along with the flowers that were all done in terrific detail.
Roark once again went to a knee and peppered the area with kisses, causing Charli to suck in her breath.
When he maneuvered her arm, he twisted it to look at the inside of her forearm.
He felt her resistance, but a fraction later allowed his actions.
Roark met her gaze as he trailed his fingers along the ink, feeling the tiny swells on her skin. Tiny scars up the entire length of the forearm. Without breaking his stare, his hand went to her hip, over her thigh, and to the inside of her leg. Again, she tensed, but again, Roark was determined.
“Open for me, Charli,” he said softly.
She complied but tears welled in her eyes, and she closed them, causing the moisture to spill over.
“Look at me.” When she didn’t immediately open her eyes, Roark gently squeezed her leg. “Look at me,” he repeated, just as softly as the first time.
She opened her eyes as more tears streaked her cheeks. Roark wanted to bellow to the heavens with anger that she’d endured any kind of pain or anguish. And he’d not been able to do a damn thing about it. Well, now he’d make damn sure she knew how amazing and precious she was. To him.
He skimmed along her inner thigh, feeling more ridges beneath the mask of ink. Breaking her gaze, he took a moment to inspect the tattoos, the incredible work that turned something ugly into something beautiful and victorious.
Roark looked into the mirror at their reflections, ordering Charli to do the same.
“Look at how stunning you are.” Her breath hitched.
“Gorgeous body, phenomenal work.” He continued to move his hands along her skin, reveling in the softness.
He traced over her abdomen, feeling it quiver, then rose to stand behind her, cupping her full breasts.
“Perfection,” he whispered against her neck.
Charli sighed as she leaned into him, her hands flattening on his thighs behind her. Roark gently squeezed her flesh before rolling her nipples between his fingers and thumbs. And her gasps of pleasure were only the start of how good he planned to make her feel.
With a nip to her neck, he then stepped back and to the side, keeping his reflection in the mirror for her to see.
He rid himself of boots and clothing, standing naked.
With their eyes still locked on each other, he fisted his cock and slowly pumped from base to tip several times.
He watched her gaze flick to his groin before staring into his eyes again.
“This is yours,” he said. “Only yours.”
Her gaze dropped again to his cock and she licked her lips, earning a moan from Roark.
“I haven’t been with anyone in a while,” he said gruffly. “And now, I won’t be with anyone else.”
“Same.”
That single whispered word had possession roaring through Roark. He stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Come here, Charli.”