The Devil's Due Read online

  My mind went back to that story he told me of the time he spent in the mountains. I imagined him in a cabin, with deer heads mounted on the wall—a real man-cave that I could slowly turn into a home.

  I would make it cozy, with pretty pillows and fresh flowers on the table every day. I would learn how to bake, I decided, even though it was something I had never attempted before. Not in Darryl’s dirty trailer with the two-burner stove, anyway. But Cade made me want to try it.

  My excitement flushed away my exhaustion and I slowed down. “Can we talk a minute?” I wheedled. “Just a minute?”

  He looked at me and I smiled winningly at him. He grunted and stopped. “Okay, talk.”

  “Not out here?”

  His eyes registered understanding and a slow smile crept across his lips. He took my hand and crossed into a darkened hallway. He wove expertly through the gloom until he found an unmarked door. He pushed it open and flicked on the cranky overhead light that sputtered before emitting a weak, jaundiced glow.

  We were in an old office of some kind. Yellowing binders drifted up the walls in teetering piles. A heavy wooden desk dominated the small space. It looked completely out of place, since this seemed like nothing more than a glorified storeroom.

  Cade leaned up against it and crossed his arms across his chest. I watched the muscles under the tawny skin of his biceps bunch and tighten and I swallowed, trying to tamp down the sudden rush of desire. But it was undeniable.

  “What do you want to talk about?” he sighed, pursing those warm lips of his.

  The memory of the honey taste of his mouth echoed through me and I moved quickly. I pounced on him, pressing my body into his muscular chest and craning my neck to reach those lips. He grunted softly in surprise, but bent his head eagerly, wrapping his huge hands around my waist to lift me higher.

  His mouth met mind and I tasted the sweetness I craved. His tongue swirled in my mouth and the taste of him flooded my senses. My body reacted instantly with a desperate, insistent need. I pulled back from the kiss, gasping.

  “What’s this about?” he asked.

  “I wanted to tell you,” I gasped.

  He covered my mouth again with his. “Tell me what?” he growled.

  I kissed him back deeply then pulled away once more. “How am I supposed to talk with your tongue in my mouth?” I demanded playfully, nipping at his lower lip, tasting the sugary flavor of his mouth on mine once more.

  “Oh, I didn’t realize that would bother you,” he teased.

  I moved my small hands to cup his chiseled face. His oceanic eyes met mine and grew serious.

  “I wanted to tell you,” I began, “that I’m happy.”

  He arched an eyebrow, but didn’t ask me to elaborate. Which was good, because I no longer felt like talking. His nearness was sending me into overload. I slid my hands down his chest and hooked my fingers in the waistband of his jeans.

  “You make me happy,” I breathed, as I tugged at his zipper. “I want to make you happy.”

  He exhaled slowly as I freed his cock from its prison. I took a moment to stroke my fingers over the smooth skin. I dragged an exploring finger, tracing the outline of the single throbbing vein that pulsed as he hardened in my grip. I smiled up at him when I saw how quickly he responded to my touch.

  “Guess I don’t have too much to worry about,” I said with a sly grin.

  “What are you talking about?” he gritted, desire tightening his voice.

  “All the strippers love you,” I said carefully.

  “Lainey, for fuck’s sake.” His hips were moving of their own accord in the rhythm of my stroking hands.

  “So I’m right?” I pressed. “Nothing to worry about?” I stroked faster and he closed his eyes.

  “You’re mine,” he groaned, and that was good enough for me.

  I dropped to my knees in front of him and opened my mouth. Flicking my tongue around the head, I explored the smooth ridge just beneath his bulbous tip. His skin tasted as sweet as his tongue.

  I wanted to go slowly. I wanted to take my time with him the way he took his time with me. But desire made me impatient.

  I looked up at him, licking my lips in preparation. When he caught my gaze, he put his hand on my head and I knew he was as impatient as I was. I slammed my lips down the slippery shaft, engulfing the whole length of him in one smooth motion.

  “Fuck,” he breathed and began moving his hips again.

  But I wanted this on my terms. I pressed my hands into his thighs, holding back his thrusting. He groaned, but allowed me to control the motion. Slowly, I began to slide my lips back up the shaft, relishing the hardness.

  “You’re mine, too,” I told him. Then I grabbed his buttocks and began bobbing my head up and down his cock in a frenzy all my own.

  With each down stroke, I tried to take more and more of him into my throat. His hips jerked spasmodically and a guttural moan tore from his throat. I gathered the tight flesh of his balls into my hand, pulling them forward with each stoke of my lips. The momentum let me gather more and more of him inside of me.

  I wanted to devour him. I wanted to swallow him whole and taste him forever on my lips.

  A low pressure began to build in my belly and I squirmed across the seam of my tight new jeans. The crotch was pressing deliciously into my clit as I bobbed on my knees. Heedlessly, I took my hand from his thigh and pressed it between my own legs.

  The startling burst of electricity that radiated out from my fingertips took me aback. I pulled my head away from Cade’s cock with a gasp. That little moment was all he needed to retake control.

  With a growl, he grabbed me from where I knelt. He lifted me high in the air, heaving me upward to catch me under the ass and hold me suspended against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he kissed me roughly, tangling his fingers in my hair.

  “I can’t figure you out,” he murmured.

  “What do you mean?”

  He spun me around and my ass landed on the desk with a thump. Binders fell in an avalanche of musty paper.

  “You’re a sweet little girl who fucked her way into a motorcycle club. You wear flowered skirts and then wiggle around in these tight little jeans. You’re sweet as pie and you fuck like a wildcat.” He bit my earlobe and I gave a little shriek. “You’re everything at once, Lainey-girl. And it’s driving me fucking crazy.”

  His ragged breath in my ear made me quiver with readiness. “So fuck me,” I begged.

  He tore at my jeans and I heard a seam pop. My panties went flying in the next swipe. I spread my legs eagerly.

  “You’re mine,” he repeated.

  “I’m yours.”

  He was inside of me in an instant. The sudden fullness overwhelmed me, and I screamed out loud. I felt him everywhere at once. His breath in my ear; his hands on my breasts; his cock touching every sensitive point inside of me.

  I pressed into his body, rubbing my flesh against his. The wild desire that had been throbbing inside of me burst forth and I became electrified. I was on fire. I scratched and bit, sobbed and swore. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the burning inside me that threatened to consume my every cell.

  “I’m yours!” I screamed again, and my voice no longer sounded like my own. He had brought me through the flames, and like the phoenix, I was born anew. Each pounding, punishing thrust of his cock drove out the old hurts and stored resentments that had made up my life thus far. With Cade, I could start fresh.

  The realization brought tears to my eyes even as my sight started to dim. The burning fire became a sudden explosion. and I heaved myself up into his arms. I tried to shout again, but my cries became wordless. Instead. I shrieked out a crashing, shuddering orgasm, rocking myself against him. I bore down. grinding myself into that perfect cock. aching to take every bit of pleasure he had to offer. My lingering cries were the last I heard of old, scared Lainey.

  He must have felt it too. He must have seen the transformation that took place right before his
wide, cerulean eyes, for his rough, heedless movements took on a new depth. He slowed his rhythm, pushing himself deeper inside of me, deeper than I ever thought he could go. He wrapped his strong arms around my shoulders so that my whole weight was resting in his arms.

  A low rumble started deep in his throat, startling in its rawness. I locked my eyes on his, fixing him with my gaze. Nose to nose, we moved as one, undulating in sinuous movement. All I could hear was our ragged breath, and as we breathed into each other, it became one single, glorious sound.

  The fire within me was smoldering low and slow. All my senses were heightened and ready. I held my breath as he sucked his in.

  Then, with a roar, he surged upward. The deep, pleasurable rhythm broke and his whole body jerked as if touched by a live wire. The sudden violence of his movement ripped a ragged breath from my throat.

  As he thrust deeply inside of me, the jerking, twitching motions of his hips sent my buzzing clit into overdrive. A roiling pleasure rolled through me, different from the scorching heat I had felt before. This orgasm melted me into a puddle of jelly. My head lolled back on my neck.

  Cade thrust again and again, filling me with himself. I went limp in his arms, and his strength held up the both of us.

  I was spent, shuddering and twitching against him as he finally pulled back to kiss me. Gently, he laid me back onto the desk and pulled himself free. I moaned softly and held out a plaintive hand.

  He smiled and folded his enormous frame onto the desktop. It couldn’t have been comfortable for him, but he didn’t complain. He shifted until he was on his back and I curled up around him.

  We lay there unmoving for several moments. My exhaustion flooded back and I closed my eyes. Snuggling against his chest, I exhaled, ready to fall asleep right then and there. I sighed in pleasure as the remnants of my orgasms still pulsated inside of me.

  I must have slept for a moment, because Cade’s question made me jump. “What’s gotten into you?”

  I wiggled down into his armpit and rolled back to stare at the pockmarked ceiling. “I’m happy.”

  “Happy?” He said the word like I had spoken in a foreign tongue.

  “I’m going to see your home today. I’m going to get to be part of your life for real.”

  Cade smoothed my hair back and sighed as if the whole world rested on his broad shoulders. “Lainey-girl, I don’t know if you’re being dense on purpose, or if you just really don’t understand. You’re not mine yet.”

  “I know, but I’m here with you now.”

  “That could all change in a few hours.”

  “What happens in a few hours?”

  “I take you to meet Moloch.”

  Chapter 19

  The spell of our lovemaking was broken and a chill went through me. Once more, I remembered his confusing words. Something was wrong, and his brothers wanted him to do something about it.

  But neither of us knew what it was. All we knew was that it stemmed from Moloch.

  And I still had to meet him and give him his due.

  I swallowed. “How much longer?”

  “Not sure.” He sat up and propped himself on his elbows. I traced the well-defined line down the center of his taut stomach with a lump in my throat.

  “I really have to go take care of a few things now,” he continued, and his voice sounded like he was a million miles away. He sat up, suddenly all business. “Let’s get you behind that bar.”

  I let out a long breath and blinked at the ceiling. The magic of a few moments ago was gone. Once again, I was scared little Lainey.

  But I didn’t want him to know it. He would try to protect me. He would try to send me away for my own good. And the last thing in the world that I wanted was to leave Cade Turner.

  I sat up from the wooden desk and stretched. My elbows were rubbed raw and my lip gloss was smeared all over my face, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t like this would be the first time the Devils saw me looking a mess.

  Fetching my jeans and panties, I shimmied myself back into some semblance of order and nodded to Cade.

  Tucking his cock back into his pants, he opened the door of the storage room and strode out. I followed his broad back through the labyrinthine passageways behind the stage.

  We emerged back out into the thumping music of the club. I blinked at the swirling lights. I was so tired my eyes were fuzzy and each spotlight was haloed in my blurry sight. Cade took my hand and led me back to the bar.

  “This is Lainey,” he grunted at the fat old biker from before.

  The grizzled old man had finally torn his gaze from the stage now that the redheaded stripper was on break. He now occupied himself with wiping down glasses. He had a slightly manic look, bearded and fat like a demented Santa Claus.

  “Can you keep an eye on her for me, Zyz?”

  Zyz wiped his filthy hands on his dingy apron and held out a ham-hock sized fist to me. This was the first time a biker had acknowledged me with respect. I guess he didn’t know that I was not yet Cade’s old lady and I didn’t plan on telling him otherwise.

  “Name’s Zyz,” he rasped. His voice was rough and gurgling, the voice of an old, dedicated smoker. He pumped my hand up and down in greeting. “I don’t hear so good, little lady. Did Cade say your name’s Elaine?”

  I shook my head. No one had called me Elaine since my mother died, and hearing it hurt my ears.

  “Lainey, please,” I said, wincing as he vigorously shook my hand. I was afraid he might dislocate my shoulder.

  “You’re a pretty little one, Lainey. I can see why Cade don’t want you up on the stage. Wants to keep you fer himself.” His manic eyes twinkled in the neon glow of the bar lights.

  I looked at him warily, but for all his crazy expression, his eyes betrayed no malice. I realized he thought he was paying me a compliment, so I smiled and relaxed.

  “Thanks, Zyz, but the girls up there are way prettier. I just want to hang back here and stay out of the way.”

  He nodded sagely. “Prolly a good ideer. Here’s whatcha do. Guy’s got a Devil’s patch? He gets any beer he wants and whiskey shots are a dollar each. Guy don’t have a Devil’s patch? Charge ‘em whatever the fuck you want, what the hell they doin’ here anyway?”

  I smiled, remembering the bald man in the khakis who had grabbed the girl. “Why do outsiders come here?”

  He blinked slowly and sleepily, like a cat. “Guess they want to play pretend—whaddya call them, weekend warriors?” He looked around, amused, and I followed his gaze to the knot of men in business casual, nervously huddled together at a table in the corner. They stood out like a whole group of sore thumbs.

  Zyz was watching them casually, when suddenly his expression changed. Before I could react, he had scurried away as fast as his fat legs could carry him.

  A small, slight man slid into the barstool in front of me and gave me a little signal with a flick of his hand.

  Chapter 20

  I leaned forward to listen to his order, and when I did I caught a rough, burning smell, like a campfire or a barbeque pit. His dark eyes were so black I couldn’t make out the pupils in the dim light, giving him the disconcerting look of a doll. His jet back hair was combed straight back, held in place with a greasy slick of oil or pomade and curling back around his neck.

  I could tell he groomed it meticulously. It was nearly as long as Cade’s mane, but was arranged so carefully it was almost elegant.

  His black beard was trimmed neatly and came to a crisp point at the edge of his chin. I immediately thought of a European count or some sort of 17th century pirate from the storybooks at school. If ever a man looked out of place in a tattooed, muscular biker bar, it was him.

  His voice didn’t belong, either. It was soft and sibilant as he hissed in my ear. “I’ve never seen you before.”

  His voice was low and soft, and he played it like an instrument. I was caught off my guard.

  “Uh, no, I’m new,” I ventured, not wanting to reveal too much. Despite
his small size and soft voice, there was an aura of something sinister swirling around him.

  “You must be new to town, too.”

  “Uh, no?”

  “Yes you are.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  He leaned in closer. HIs flat, dead eyes fixed on me and he flicked a blood-red tongue across his lips.

  I flinched as he reached out a hand to touch my hair, but his touch was soft and his hands were as smooth and soft as his voice.

  “You smell new,” he said, staring at my flaxen waves. Light seemed to disappear into his eyes, like they were a pair of black holes puncturing his face.

  Everything about him made me want to run away. I bounced on my toes in agitation, but without Cade around, there was no one I could run to for comfort.

  I swallowed and tried to remember the fearless Lainey I had been for one shining moment as Cade and I made love in the storeroom. I grasped hold of that fearlessness and stared straight into the small man’s flat, black eyes.

  “You smell like fire,” I replied.

  “Do I?” He arched a black eyebrow.

  “Have you been camping recently?”

  The corner of his mouth quirked in amusement and he spun one of the paper coasters lazily in his fingers. “Not exactly.”

  “Huh,” I grunted. He didn’t seem interested in making conversation. I wished he would direct those black eyes away from me. I kept falling back into the pull of his gaze and I didn’t like what I saw in the abyss. “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Just a water, please.”

  I tossed my head. “You must not be a biker. I’ve never seen them drink water.”

  “It’s good for the body.”

  I shifted uncomfortably. No matter what tactic I tried, he wasn’t revealing a single thing about himself.

  I thought of asking Zyz for the water, but the old man had waddled back into the storeroom and left me all alone.

  I grabbed a clean glass from the rack and filled it from the tap. I didn’t know if I should charge him or not. I couldn’t see any patches anywhere on his tight black clothes. But water was usually free at bars, from what I knew, so I made to slide it to him.