CHAPTER 22
SNAKE
The wrench slips out of my hands. A-fucking-gain. It takes everything in me not to throw it across the shop. I don’t.
But only because I don’t want to deal with the damage I would do. It would only make me have to stick around longer instead of going back home to my Graycie.
Thinking about her brings a smile to my face. I’m sure I look slightly deranged, but I don’t have it in me to care.
My problem isn’t just being away from her, which would be bad enough, but I can’t stop thinking about the fucking envelope she opened a few days ago. With a lock of hair, which we can only assume is hers, inside.
The sick fuck.
There wasn’t even a note this time. I think the hair was more than enough of a message.
It was creepy as fuck.
When Ryker called me, Sidewinder had to catch me when my knees buckled. For a moment I really thought I might have been having a heart attack.
Thankfully, Sidewinder was able to snap me out of it.
He gripped my shoulders and got right in my face. “Turner,” he snapped, “you need to get your shit together. With how you are right now, I’m not letting you get on your bike, brother.”
That had him coming into focus, but the fear was still clinging to me.
“I will put you in a damn cage and drive you home like your Miss fucking Daisy,” he threatened.
I reared back from him like he had backhanded me. “The fuck you will,” I grunted.
“Thank fuck,” he gasped, way over dramatically. “I thought I was really going to have to slap you.”
He made a motion like he was going to do it, but I pushed him way. We both chuckled which broke the tension and I was able to see straight again.
“Go,” he waved me off even though his body language was screaming that he wished he was going with me. “I have some work I have to get done. I’ll be there as soon as I can get out from under it.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. By the time I got to the clubhouse, my woman was drinking a bottle of water, while looking a little pale, but no worse for the wear.
She’s bounced back and her belief in the club, in me, being able to protect her, has been rock solid. I’m the one struggling.
Because I can’t stop thinking about how I shouldn’t have sent Opal for my woman’s mail. I should have picked it up myself and checked every piece of it. It was a stupid fucking oversight, one that added more trauma on Graycie’s shoulders.
She doesn’t need that shit.
I fucked up, but I won’t let it happen again.
The guilt has been eating me up and I’ve been walking around like a bear with its paw caught in a trap. I know it. But I can’t stop it.
I’m never like that with my Graycie though. No, with her everything disappears, including the rage and the guilt.
She’s fucking magic.
“Excuse me?”
I hear the voice of my Angel behind me, and I spin around too fast and almost trip over my own fucking feet. She’s here. Right in front of me. In jeans that look painted on, and one of my shirts which is large enough to hang off one shoulder.
Fuck me.
She giggles and one side of her mouth quirks up.
I swallow hard, but it does nothing to help with my dry mouth. “Did I say that out loud?”
Graycie nods slowly and takes a step closer to me. Her hips swing and my eyes track the movement.
Then something clicks in my mind and I straighten up. I snap, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
My Angel isn’t deterred by my outburst; she simply takes another step closer and arches an eyebrow.
“This is a special case. Call it a furlough, if you must.” She flips her hair over her shoulder, and my hands itch to grip the strands, to wrap them around my fists and tug.
“I heard,” her eyes slide over my body, “you’ve been having a hard day. ”
She pouts slightly and she’s right about the hard part. My cock becomes a steel pipe, and I let out a growl of warning. I’m on edge.
I have been for days.
Not that my woman hasn’t gotten off. I made fucking sure of it.
But not me.
It’s my penance.
I don’t deserve it.
I don’t deserve her.
“You should be at the compound, where it’s safe,” I try to protest, but the words sound weak.
The smile that curls my woman’s lips is sweet seduction in human form. I’m just about ready to fall to my knees and give her anything she wants.
Me.
All of me.
“I brought your woman,” Dad calls out and I glance over to see him leaning against the rolling door track since it’s open. “I’m going to take Hank and grab a cup of coffee. The man’s gotta take a break now and again,” he grumbles the last part before heading into the reception area.
I think I hear Sidewinder chuckle, but I’m not paying him any attention. Not when Graycie grips my wrist and tugs.
She leads me back into my office without needing me to tell her where to go. For all I know, the woman looked up blueprints. She’s resourceful like that.
Or she just asked Warden.
Right.
Or that.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I try again, but it’s a lost cause at this point.
My dick is telling me to shut up and the way Graycie’s eye flash in warning is more than enough to have me pressing my lips together.
When I’m standing in front of the small couch I’ve slept on more times than I’d like to admit, she gives a little shove. I flop back into the seat and my woman’s face flushes with satisfaction.
I reach for her as she gets down on her knees, but she slaps my hands away. “Turner,” she warns, “you are not going to interfere.”
She makes quick work of my jeans and boxer briefs. When my cock springs free, she lets out a little sigh like she’s pleased with herself. She fucking should be. The way she’s looking at my cock like it’s a delicious treat? It’s hot as fuck.
“I don’t see why you’d want to anyway,” she murmurs and for a moment I have no idea what she’s saying or why.
Because her tongue slides along the crown of my cock and collects the pre-cum beading there. The soft throaty moan she lets out makes my dick twitch and she tightens her grip on my length.
First, she teases me with her tongue. Lapping. Licking.
My hands slide into her hair, pushing it back to ensure I have the best seat in the fucking house for this show. I don’t want to miss a moment.
Her hazel eyes lock with mine and I have to count backwards to stop myself from blowing my load right then and there. As she takes me into her mouth, slowly, I don’t look away.
Graycie starts to find her rhythm, playing with me and testing what I like and don’t like, while I keep a grip on her hair. My fingers flex with the need to fuck her face, but I hold back.
This time.
She strokes me in time with the slurping of her mouth. It’s a heady experience. Watching her.
Feeling the wet warmth of her mouth. And then when the head of my cock kisses the back of her throat? It’s almost too much.
Experiencing her eagerness. It makes me feel like I just returned from a fucking crusade.
Only with her.
“Your mouth is fucking heaven,” I growl. “Your taking my dick so fucking well, Angel.”
My words wash over her, and I watch as she shivers. Fully clothed.
On her knees for me.
And I know she’s dripping wet.
It’s like I can smell her arousal filling the room.
“Careful,” I warn her, “I’m too fucking close.”
I swear my woman smirks around my cock and doubles her efforts. Her saliva coats my dick as she strokes me faster. When she takes me just a little bit deeper and almost gags, I hold her in place for a beat.
Her eyes widen, but I don’t see panic there.
Fuck. Good.
“One day I’ll fuck your pretty little throat,” I growl, the words a warning and a promise. “I’ll hold your head in place and use your mouth just as roughly as I use your sweet pussy.”
Graycie moans around my cock and it does something wicked to me. My fingers tighten in her hair and I pant out, “You’re going to swallow everything I give you.”
It’s the only warning I give her as I hold her steady as my balls draw up and the first jet of cum fills her mouth.
“Fuck, yes,” I groan, “take my cum, Angel.”
And she does.
Not only does she swallow every drop, but she cleans me up. Very thoroughly.
After I tuck myself back into my jeans, I tug her up into my lap and wrap her up in my arms. She snuggles against my chest, and I’ve completely forgotten why I was pissed about her showing up.
Not really, but that doesn’t mean I’m not glad she’s here.
I’m fucking ecstatic.
“You seem to be in a much better mood,” my woman teases.
I smile at her and press a kiss to her forehead. “How could I not? You’re here.”
“I’m sure the blow job helped,” she snarks.
I chuckle and wink at her before standing up and putting her down but holding her hips until I know she’s steady. “How about I take you to lunch, Graycie?”
She arches an eyebrow in challenge. “What? Like a date?”
“I don’t need the label because every moment I spend with you is special,” I tell her honestly.
Her eyes soften as she looks at me before sliding her arm around my waist and leaning into me. “You’re sweet.”
“Don’t say that too loud,” I whisper-yell at her and she giggles.
Her voice is hopeful, “Can we go to Dolly’s? I want to see Stan, I haven’t in a few days, and I really want a grilled cheese and tomato soup.”
My face pinches and I’m sure I sound dumbfounded, “I thought you hated tomatoes.”
“I do,” she deadpans.
“You do know what is in tomato soup, don’t you?”
She huffs and rolls her eyes. “I do not like to eat just a tomato, or have slices of them on, well, basically anything. But when it comes to ketchup or marinara sauce, or tomato soup, they are transformed tomatoes. Which makes them different,” she explains like the words she’s saying are completely logical and understandable.
They are not.
“That makes no sense,” I mutter under my breath.
She scoffs while letting me lead her out of my office and back toward the bays. I’m impatient when she ducks into the bathroom to freshen up, but I try not to make it too obvious. The moment we step through the door, Sidewinder glances up and smirks.
“I hope you took care of him because he’s been a real asshole the last few days,” there’s a teasing note in his voice, but there’s also a truth there.
Graycie’s cheeks turn pink and I swear my brother’s grin grows. “You can consider the thorn removed,” she jokes.
Sidewinder’s eyes widen for a moment like he wasn’t expecting her to say anything and just blush. I chuckle under my breath because I’m not surprised.
I’ve gotten to know my Graycie-girl, really gotten to know her, and she’s downright fucking bawdy. I love it. Especially because I know it’s part of her that dead man walking tried to destroy.
He didn’t.
I have loved every second of watching her come alive and find herself. It’s been beautiful, and it’s a damn gift being able to witness it.
“Well, shit, Graycie,” Sidewinder looks impressed, “I was not expecting that.” The nod he gives her is full of acceptance and pride. “If I haven’t said it, yet, I’m glad you’re family. I think you’ll be good for Snake, and I know he’ll be good for you. Good to you.”
She leans into me and gives one of my best friends a soft smile.
“He is good to me and good for me.” Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, “He doesn’t want people to know he’s a softie, but I’m figuring out you’re one too.
So, it’ll be our,” she makes a motion between the three of us, “little secret.”
“Well,” I start to lead my woman toward the door, “that’s our cue. I’m taking Graycie to Dolly’s for lunch. You want your regular?”
“Thanks brother,” he calls out, but I just wave over my shoulder without looking back.
“I should spank your ass,” I faux threaten her out of the side of my mouth, “for telling him about me being a softie.”
“Oh no,” she gasps, the outrage completely fake.
The moment she slides into place behind me on my bike, I curse at how short the ride is going to be. I’ll have to take her back to the outlook, or maybe farther, soon. I love the feeling of her wrapped around me. There’s nothing quite like it.
Except maybe being buried inside her tight heat.
I’m looking forward to having lunch with my woman. It’s something so fucking normal, and I could do with some normal. She could too.
The moment I notice Sheriff Lyon’s vehicle in the parking lot I let out a low groan of annoyance. He barely tolerates the club, while keeping his eyes open for any reason to come down on us. Honestly, he hates the club.
The feeling is fucking mutual.
You’d think that he would be glad when we take certain matters into our own hands. It’s not like there’s a drug problem in town. Because we make sure of it.
And we deal with problems when the law isn’t going to, or can’t, handle them.
Which is why we’ve been keeping a lookout for any information on the dog fighting ring operating out of our county, and a few surrounding ones from what we can tell. We’ve allowed Lyons to do his investigation. We’ve just done our own as well.
And we’re not going to stop until we find who is behind it.
I’m fucking pissed that they were able to operate in our backyard and we had no idea.
It’s just a matter of time before we find something out, or they slip up.
I shake off those thoughts as I open the door to Dolly’s Place for my woman. Her sweet smile, and the way she ducks her head slightly when she steps inside, makes me feel like a fucking superhero.
It’s nice.
And not a feeling I’m used to.
“Graycie,” Sheriff Raymond Lyons is standing a few feet away from us, clearly on the way out, his face a mask of disappointment. “I heard rumors about you taking up with Snake,” he sneers my road name, “but I didn’t want to believe it.”
My woman doesn’t miss a beat, her hands finding her hips as she stands tall.
“I don’t know why you’re looking at me with disappointment, Sheriff.
You are not my father, nor are you even someone I have exchanged more than fifty words with since I moved here.
” Now it’s her turn to look disappointed.
Her words are pure chastisement, “Everyone should be so lucky to find someone who worships them like he worships me.”
The Sheriff’s mouth drops open before he snaps it shut, narrows his eyes, and storms out of the diner. I don’t even watch him go. I don’t need to.
Instead, I lead my woman over to a booth which will allow me to see the front door. I lean down and whisper, “That was sexy as fuck, Angel.”
She smirks and whispers back, “I know. Felt really fucking good, too.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her how I’ve fallen head over heels in love with her. I swallow down the words. For now.