AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because I’ll resign. In fact, I really think Bear or Piston would be better in that position. Piston has some season on him. He’s smart, quiet, and very thoughtful in his decision-making. He’s not going to say or do anything that would embarrass you or set someone off and cause some kind of turf war.”
“Lemon.”
“And if he’s serious about claiming Venus, you’ll have her too. If it hadn’t been for Venus, they’d probably have killed me before the third guy got back from scouting out Bane. She’s the real deal, Rocket. She’s a member of Salvation’s Bane, but maybe you could convince her to move here?”
“Lemon. Stop.”
“But --”
I cut her off the only way I knew how. I kissed her. Hard. Our mouths crashed together with a fervor that matched the intensity of our conversation, and for a moment, the world outside the shower dissolved away. I could feel her fighting back her tears as she responded to my kiss, her body trembling with emotion.
Finally, we broke apart, gasping. My cock was hard as fucking diamond, needing to be inside her, but I had to ease her fears first. I needed her to realize she was my woman and always would be.
She sniffled a couple times as I pulled back but said nothing.
“Now,” I said, snagging the shower gel once more. “Listen to me, Lemon. Listen good.” I waited until she nodded her head. “First of all, you’re my woman. I’m your man. Ain’t no fuckin’ club whore in this place or any other, ain’t no woman anywhere I want more than I want you. It’s you and me, honey. Understand?”
“Not really,” she muttered. “Most guys would want a woman who was easier than me. No matter how much I know I need to tone it down, I can’t seem to. Even when my life is on the line.”
“No one said you should. Especially not me.” I grabbed her wrist and brought her palm to my cock. “You think this is just because I’m in the shower with a naked woman? I was hard long before I got in here with you.” I made sure to hold her gaze. When she tried to turn her head, I brought my fingers to her chin and forced her head up. I used her hand to stroke my cock several times while she looked up at me. “Watchin’ you defend your claim on me was fuckin’ hot. Now, I have no desire for you to fight because any time you’re hurt I want to kill someone. This?” I brushed my fingertips along her bruised cheek and swollen eye. “This makes me want to kill those sons of bitches in the dungeon. But I’d do it too quickly.”
She ducked her head again, but this time, she wrapped her arms around my middle and buried her face in my chest. The feeling of her clinging to me so sweetly made my heart swell.
“Lemon,” I whispered against her hair, brushing my lips gently over her temple. “I’m your man. I’ll never let anything or anyone hurt you if I can help it, and if it does happen, I will annihilate whoever is responsible. And I’ll always want you. You can be as fierce as you need to be, but remember that I’m here to catch you when things go to shit. So the very last thing in this world you have to worry about are the club whores or any other woman in this world catching my attention. You’ve got my attention focused squarely on you.”
I leaned in to kiss her again before continuing on. Because I had to. And I was pretty sure she needed some TLC. I was more than happy to give that to her. I wasn’t kidding earlier when I said she’d fuck me. She was getting ready to.
When I ended the kiss, I pressed my forehead against hers. “As for being vice president? Honey, the men of Grim Road elected you. Unanimously. I didn’t prompt them. I didn’t tell them they had to once it was suggested. They did it because they saw in you what they needed their vice president to be. That includes your lack of a filter.”
“I don’t believe you. I wish I did, but I don’t. Any of these guys would be better than me.”
I scowled at her, squeezing her shoulders and forcing her to back up a step. I leaned down so that I was staring straight at her, hovering over her in a dominant position. “What do you think would have happened to Gina if Bear had been vice president?”
She shrugged. “Ain’t his problem. Hell. It ain’t even my problem, I just couldn’t stand to see everyone hurting because of one bastard’s actions.”
“Exactly!” I gripped her shoulders hard enough to bruise because I really wanted her attention. “You listen to me, Lemon. Listen good. You need to really think about what I’m about to say.” When she gave a small nod, I continued.
“This club has grown together this last month. I’ve seen men… maybe not really breaking out of their shells, but at least coming together once a week for an hour or two to eat and drink together. This compound and clubhouse is becoming more than simply a place for them to crash. It’s becoming a home. Because of you, girl. You forced the issue on them by making them all get to know each other.
“Those weekly dinners might have started out a little forced, but most of them look forward to it. Hell, I’ve noticed more than one of them getting together to ride or whatever on their own. And Gina? Yeah. She’s still not completely comfortable with everyone, but she loves the daily rides on that stupid pink bike. And she and Falcon are more at ease than I ever thought would happen. That girl would be a broken, terrified mess if not for you.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “Now, you tell me that’s not something a vice president should do. You’re bringing this club together like family. You.”
“You promise I’m not more trouble than I’m worth? Don’t you need to get away from me for a while? Because you don’t have to take me with you if you need to go on a trip to relax a bit.”
I wasn’t used to this Lemon. Since the first day I’d met her, she was larger than life. A force of nature. It never occurred to me she’d been under this much stress because she handled it so well. This was stress she put on herself. I was absolutely convinced she had higher expectations of herself than anyone else ever could.
“Honey, every single day in your presence makes me realize how miserable and empty my life would be without you. I’m not going anywhere without you. We’re a team.”
“Oh, Rocket!” She jumped into my arms, wrapping her limbs around me as tightly as she could. I held her just as hard. “I love you. I love you so damned much!”
“Ah, baby. I love you too. I have for a while. I will never, never, let you go. Do you understand me?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she found my lips and kissed me like she was starving for my touch. I wanted nothing more than to devour her, to let her lose herself in my body the way I wanted to lose myself in hers. But the bruises covering her body made me restrain myself. Making love to her would be easy enough. I could make her come until she passed out. But I was going to do it my way. That meant not taking her like I normally do. Like an animal during mating season. No. This time was going to be slow and careful and long. So very, very long.
Chapter Ten
Lemon
This man. This wonderful, wonderful man…
