CHAPTER 11
MAYHEM
I think work is multiplying on my desk now that I’m sitting here. Or maybe it’s just my imagination because I’d rather be somewhere else. I was barely able to tear myself away from my woman in the first place.
Not only did I owe Lucifer and Scythe an update, but I had some paperwork to look over. That doesn’t mean it was easy to leave her in the common room. She’s with Mom, and Dad is there to keep an eye on things.
I’m not worried about her being safe, that’s non-fucking-negotiable as long as she’s in my compound. I just like being near her.
Burying myself inside of her last night was an experience, one that will always stay with me. The trust she put in me to give me her body, the way she let go and allowed herself to feel. It was sublime and precious.
And fucking hot.
The way her body writhed for me. The moans I pulled from her.
I can’t wait to bury myself inside of her again. I’ve been thinking about it since the moment I opened my eyes this morning. Believe me, I wanted to stay in bed and fill her tight cunt with my dick again.
But I also knew she needed normalcy and a routine. So we went down to breakfast, and I’ve been considering stealing her away every minute since. The need to be buried deep and feeling her walls tighten around me is almost impossible to ignore.
Fuck the paperwork.
Just as I’m about to stand up and stalk into the common room to grab my woman, my phone beeps. “It better not be Scythe bugging me for more information,” I grumble to myself as I check my messages.
It’s not like I have more information to give the man.
Anchor is digging and compiling the evidence of just how dirty Wagner is.
Ripper is following the dick with a badge, and I’ll get another report this evening after Duckie takes over.
Of course, if shit was going down, I’d know about it.
I trust my enforcer to have my back and my Old Lady’s back.
Because that is exactly what Addyson is. Everyone knows it too. She might not have noticed, but my brothers show her respect and even most of the angels are deferent to her. Not all of them, of course. Sin is going to be a problem. I already know it.
But it’s not like I can kick her out before she steps out of line. This is her home. I’m the Prez and have to lead my men by example.
The prospect at the gate has a delivery, one I’ve been waiting for. I shoot off a quick text to get the box taken to my room through the back door. I don’t want Addy to see it quite yet.
This is exactly the kind of distraction I need. Because I have a feeling something is coming. I have no idea what kind of update Ripper will have about Wagner’s movements, but the dirty cop won’t let too much time pass before he tracks down my woman.
Ripper might not talk a lot, being more than happy to let Rampage take the lead on that, but he’s a solid fucking brother. He takes his job seriously and would put his life on the line in the name of the club and our family.
I don’t even look twice at the paperwork on my desk. It’s a fucking mess because one thing I hate is filing. Mom had a system for Dad’s papers, but when I took over, she said it was my job to deal with.
At the time I didn’t think twice about it because having paperwork in order wasn’t exactly high on my priority list. Making sure there’s food in the clubhouse, a ton of fucking booze when we need it, and some toilet paper was more important.
Thankfully, Mom helped me keep up with those things even though Battle isn’t the one wielding the gavel anymore.
Now my office is always messy, and I file things when I can’t take the chaos of it anymore.
When I step out of my office, I make sure it’s locked behind me. Just as I’m about to step out of the hallway and into the common area, Sin walks through the doorway leading to the kitchen. I barely glance her way, but I catch how she lights up when she catches sight of me.
“Mayhem,” her voice is sweet and I don’t believe anything about it.
When I stop, my feet plant shoulder width apart, everything about me a warning. I’m ready to step away and there isn’t a damn thing this woman can do that will surprise me. She’s a snake, a fact which has become glaringly obvious since Addyson’s arrival.
The amount of glares this club angel has directed toward my Old Lady is criminal, honestly. But I haven’t officially claimed her, and I always try to be fair.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” She purrs the offer, her shoulders subtly rocking back and forth making her tits jiggle slightly.
I don’t look away from her face.
When she clasps her hands behind her back and bats her eyelashes, I almost bark out a laugh. “I’m good,” I inform her even though I don’t owe her a damn thing, “I’ve got to go talk to my woman.”
I’m walking away before I’ve even finished talking. If Sin reacts, I don’t see it and I don’t care.
The moment I step into the main part of the clubhouse, my eyes find my Tempest. She tugs at me, always. Now that I can see her, something relaxes in the deepest part of me. It’s pure in a way I thought the blood on my hands would have tarnished a long time ago.
Guess not.
Or maybe it’s just her.
Addyson and my mom’s heads are together and they’re looking over the large binder used to keep the kitchen in order. I could write off the seriousness on their faces as some sort of discussion over any dietary needs Addyson has, but I know better.
Mom has already started handing over control.
Even if she hadn’t already seen it, probably from the moment she saw me the morning after my Tempest blew into our lives, Dad would have told her about my intentions. They don’t keep secrets.
I found that out when I thought Dad was going to keep it to himself about him catching me sneaking in when I was only 15. Sneaking in would have been fine, maybe, but I reeked of whiskey and weed.
I’ll never forget that he told me, “Just because you’re a club brat doesn’t mean you have to grow up so damn fast, Briggs. You only have one childhood, and you only have one life. Slow down. Enjoy the ride.”
Honestly, I figured his little speech was the end of it.
I was wrong because Mom had a list of shit for me to do the next day and she was not going to be waiting around for me to get my hungover ass up and going all on my own.
Mom never said a word about why I was the new owner of every honey-do item she could fathom.
She just expected me to get the work done.
Dad might have given me the lecture, but I got the punishment from Mom.
I’m glad I listened to him. Well, as much as a cocky club brat who will probably wear the president patch one day can listen at that age. I did slow down, but I still had a hell of a lot of fun.
I stride toward the ladies and cross my arms when I get to the table while trying not to look amused at how damn cute the scene is. It should be making me run, but that’s the last thing on my mind. This is right in a way that’s almost painful.
“What are you ladies up to?”
Addyson jumps slightly and looks up at me with wide eyes. When our gazes lock, her eyes narrow and her body relaxes. “Wouldn’t you like to know, biker boy,” she throws back at me.
My head falls back on my shoulders, and I bark out a laugh. When I look back down at them, mom is grinning and Addyson’s eyes are glazed over. Unable to help myself, I bend down, pick her up and drape her over my shoulder all in one move.
Addyson groans, “Not again, big guy. I can walk if you’re requesting my presence in a location different than the one I am currently in.”
Fuck, she’s cute. I chuckle while repositioning her, not putting her down but cradling her against my chest. With an arched eyebrow I challenge, “Better?”
“I mean,” her eyebrows shoot up before she blows out a breath that has the little hairs around her face fluttering, “it does help with the head rush situation, but I can still walk.”
“Nope,” I pop the p and start toward our room without saying a damn thing to anyone else or even looking their way.
Why would I look at them when I can look at the woman in my arms? Her brown eyes are sparkling and there’s no hint of fear on her face. It makes the need to get my hands on Wagner claw deeper into my gut. I want her safety to be absolute and right now there’s a threat.
“Fine,” she dramatically collapses in my arms and points forward, “then take me where you please.”
I chuckle and shake my head, feeling like I’m soaking up her light when she’s in my arms. I can almost feel it, the way it lifts me up and makes me feel…
more. Protecting her, protecting this feeling and everything that has yet to happen with this woman in my life, will always be my number one priority.
Always.
I easily hold her with one arm as I dig my keys out and open the door. When I look at the bed, there’s a large box waiting for my woman to open. Suddenly nervousness hits me even though it makes no fucking sense.
My hands are gentle as I put her back on her feet, holding her steady by gripping her hips. Fuck me, the way her body calls to me is distracting as fuck.
“That’s for you, Tempest,” I tell her while nodding toward the box.
She glances between the box and me a few times before blurting, “What’s in it?”
Unable to stop myself, I lean down and kiss her lips softly. When she moans, everything about keeping the kiss chaste flies out the window. I pull her against me and plunge my tongue into her mouth. She meets every stroke, her tongue exploring just as much as mine is.
There’s something different about this kiss. It’s frantic, yes, but there’s something sweeter there too. She reaches up and grips my cut as if she’s afraid that I’ll disappear.
Never.
It takes everything in me to do it, but I manage to slow the kiss down. When we’re panting for breath, I press my forehead against hers for a moment to stay connected with her.
“You’ll just have to open it to find out what’s in it. I’m not going to ruin the surprise,” my voice is thick with emotion and all the things she’s not ready to hear. Not yet anyway.
A huge smile breaks out across her face, and she kisses me quickly before darting toward the box. Even though it was brief, that little kiss burns through me.
Maybe because it was quick? It was a reflex, my woman’s natural inclination, and it was to kiss me. She might not even realize she did it but fuck if the reverberations of it aren’t still hitting me.
Since the prospect who brought it in followed my instructions, the tape on top is already cut open. Addyson practically dives into the box with excitement written all over her face.
“I’m sure these aren’t the nicest around or the flashiest brands,” I start as she begins pulling out plastic wrapped clothing, “but I wanted everything delivered quickly and all at once. You shouldn’t want for anything while inside my clubhouse.”
Addyson glances over her shoulder and then looks in the box again before unwrapping a plastic wrapped bundle. A long-sleeved shirt unfolds in her hands once she frees it from the package. My woman gasps as she rips into the next piece of plastic and then the next.
When she’s all done, she’s surrounded by packaging and clothing.
I got everything she needs. There are shirts, jeans, socks, shoes, comfortable dresses, sweaters, leggings, along with bras and underwear I can’t wait to see her in.
Sue me if a few of the items are for me just as much as they’re for her.
My woman sits amongst the chaos with tears in her eyes and her mouth opening and closing like she doesn’t know where to begin. It’s endearing as fuck and knowing this wasn’t something she expected only makes me fall for her more.
“You got me all these clothes?” The question comes out cracked as she stares at me like I’m the one who is special when I know it’s her who deserves such reverence.
“You need them,” I point out while sitting on the edge of the carnage. “You came here with an overnight bag and you’re lucky you had that much. Being safe isn’t just being out of danger, it’s feeling comfortable too.”
Addyson scrambles toward me, plastic and clothing being pushed out of the way as she does. She’s straddling my lap with her hands cradling my face before I even know what is happening.
“You got me a lot of clothing here, Briggs,” while she states the obvious, she arches an eyebrow as if I’m going to argue with her. I’m not. “You got this stuff for me?” I nod once and she huffs out a breath. “I mean, did you pick these things out?”
My hands grip her hips, my fingers digging into the curves of her, the ones I became addicted to the moment I saw her. She has no idea how deep my craving goes. How I needed to do this for her. How I wanted to take care of her. How it was the only way I could function.
It’s what had me crawling out of bed yesterday morning just as the sun kissed the horizon. I needed to make sure she was comfortable here. Thankfully, in this day and age, I can order shit and get it delivered right to the front gate without any issue.
There is an added benefit. One I’ll never point out to her.
If she has everything she needs here, she won’t feel the need to get things herself and potentially put herself in danger. I’d rather have my woman stir crazy than hurt…or worse.
One day I’ll have her on the back of my bike, and we’ll have the sun chasing us.
“Yeah, Addyson,” I murmur softly, “I picked everything out. I wanted you to have what you need.”
Her lips curl up in the most delicious coy smile and my fingers flex on her body. Can I pull her closer? Fuck, why are we both still clothed?
“Oh,” her eyes sparkle as she licks her bottom lip, “I could tell you picked out some of the items. Lots of lace in the underwear department.”
“I’m not even a little bit sorry,” I tell her honestly.
When my woman’s head tips back and she laughs, the abandon written all over her face, I know why I am meant to exist. For her. In this moment and for the rest of our lives. To protect her from a dirty cop, and the rest of the world who wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like her.
She’s beyond anything I could have dreamed up.