Rider was a dead man.
I ran over to Styx, trying to lower the tension. I tried to take hold of his arm, but he shrugged me off. I rubbed his back, but he stiffened and shrugged me off again. Styx focused only on Rider. I knew I had to get through to Styx, to help Rider, so I did the only thing I could think of. Walking to his left side, I pulled his arm from across Rider’s throat and, wrapping my index finger around his, lifted it up high and pressed it softly to my lips.
With a hard exhale, those beautiful fall eyes I adored so much finally focused on me. “I burst in on Rider… He was with a girl. Having relations with a girl. It was my fault he is like this… free of clothing. The blame is all mine.”
“Then why the hell was he all over you, pawing at your fuckin’ face, trying to get in your pussy, a pussy that’s owned by Styx?” Ky asked from behind. Styx stiffened once more and pushed the barrel farther down Rider’s throat. Rider was completely unafraid. In fact, he seemed to be resolved when he closed his eyes and bit the barrel with his teeth.
I paled.
“Styx! Stop!”
Mouthing something to Rider that I could not make out, Styx pulled back his gun and tucked me under his arm. His hold was consuming and Rider watched us heatedly, until his expression hardened.
Rider ran his hands down his face. “You know what, Styx? Fuck this! I fuckin’ love Mae and I needed her to know. So, I kissed her, and I would’ve done more if she’d a’ been into it. I wanna be her goddamn future… not you.”
Styx released a feral growl.
My head fell. Rider had just signed his own execution.
It all happened so fast. Fists and the weapon went flying. Rider and Styx became a blur of tangled bodies in a fight.
“NO!” I screamed, but Ky gripped my arms and pushed me back toward the door. I struggled to get free as Styx and Rider hit the floor, but Ky pushed me into the hallway, locking us both out.
“Ky, let me back in!” I yelled as I ran at his chest, but he was like a granite boulder barring my way.
“Reel it the fuck in, Mae. This has been coming a real long time. Shit’s just hit the fan.”
“Styx will kill him!”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Probably.”
“Ky!”
Ky rolled his eyes and gripped my arms. “Listen up, bitch. You being in Rider’s room, not cool. Him being buck-ass naked, work it the fuck out. Styx needs this. Maybe if you were more concerned with your man than fuckin’ Rider, we wouldn’t be here right now!”
“Screw you, Ky!” I bit back, shocking myself with my choice of language.
His blue eyes widened at my outburst, then we quickly resumed our silence.
The bedroom door suddenly crashed open and Styx carried a bloodied and beaten Rider by his neck. Styx was mostly unmarked, and he threw Rider to the floor, right at my feet.
My hand flew to my mouth and I choked out a cry.
Get the fuck outta my club. You’re done. Leave your cut and patch at the door, Styx signed.
“Styx—”
“Just shut the fuck up, Mae!” Rider ordered from the floor, slowly getting to his feet. Blood from his mouth and nose pooled on the floor. My gaze shot to Rider’s eyes. All I saw was disappointment in his stare. Styx threw a pair of jeans and boots at Rider’s face and Rider shoved them on. As he stood, he looked me dead in the eyes and held out his hand.
“Mae…” he whispered, looking so broken stood before me, imploring me to choose him. I drank in his large frame, his brown eyes, and his soft rugged beard. His long straight brown hair hung wild over his broad shoulders and his Hades tattoos stood out proudly against his tanned skin. This was it. I knew I would not see him again after this moment. I was losing another friend and it was killing me.
“Rider…” I cried as I turned my head to Styx, who was watching me intently, a hint of fear in his beautiful hazel-eyed gaze.
“Mae?” Rider pushed again, and facing him once more, I repeated, “I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Rider smiled in disbelief and shook his head. “You’ve chosen wrong, Mae. You’ve chosen so fuckin’ wrong.”
In a flash, Rider stormed out of the door and out of the club. The loud thrum of a Chopper’s engine disappeared into the distance.
Rider was gone—for good.
Styx stood before me, panting, glowering, his ripped muscles bulging under his black T-shirt. He lifted his hand, wiping blood from his lip.
Ky hightailed it from the hallway, leaving us all alone.
“Styx—”
Styx flew at me and slammed me back against the wall, his mouth crashing to mine. I broke away, palming his chest. “How could you do that? How could you hurt him like that? He is broken-hearted! You did not need to beat him!”
His eyes seemed to burn. “Fucker d-deserved it. I’m d-done with the c-cunt trying to have you. You’re mine.” Styx’s fingers ran over my mouth and my eyes rolled back at his gentleness. “I own th-these perfect d-damn lips.” His fingers then ran across my cheeks. “Th-these wolf e-eyes.” Then he cupped my face and kissed my nose. “This f-f-fuckin’ t-twitchin’ nose!” Styx leaned in and his tongue ran around the shell of my ear. “You n-need to let him the fuck g-go. This is m-me, Mae. This i-is wh-who I am! You w-want this… us… you t-take me as I am.”
“Styx—” I cried as his hands crept up to fist in my hair, my tears falling at his words, and he locked me in his embrace. I could not move an inch.
Styx’s lip ring scraped against my lips as his tongue fought and plundered its way into my mouth. His tongue found mine and it dominated, demonstrating his absolute control. He was so raw, so unrestrained when it came to me, and my thighs clenched together in need. Lord, I wanted him so much… exactly how he was.
A long moan ripped from my throat, my anger quickly forgotten as a hand slipped under my tank and aggressively palmed my breast. His fingers rolled and plucked at my nipples and I broke away with a hiss, Styx’s hazel eyes wild and untamed. My hands smacked down hard on his back; his wide, huge muscles shifted and twitched under my fingers as his teeth bit into my neck.
“Styx!” I yelled as his fingers moved to rip at my leathers, wrenching them down my legs, my panties following shortly after. He stepped on the center of my pants around my ankles.
“Off,” he growled.
Moisture pooled between my legs at his order, and I lifted my feet from my leathers.
I was open, bare and more than ready.
Styx’s nostrils flared, then his fingers plunged in me. My hands roamed around his hair and I clutched the messy dark strands, already feeling the butterflies building in my stomach. Then all too soon, he withdrew, only to fill me to the hilt in one hard thrust with his hard length.
Gripping my thighs around his waist, Styx pounded me against the wall. We had never made love like this before—hard, rough, wild… so desperate.
“Mine,” Styx groaned, deep, guttural, possessive, against my neck.
His busy mouth latched onto my breast, his teeth grazing and pulling at my nipples. “Ah! Styx!”
“Mine!” he growled, pumping even harder, his fingers circling my clitoris as my shoulder blades burned with the friction of the wall. I had never felt so full.
My hands gripped hard on Styx’s shoulders, clawing and raking at his skin. It was too much—the fire, the burning… the pressure—too much, and with a final slam, light burst behind my eyes, pleasure a rolling thunder through my body—jerking, invading, overwhelming.
Styx’s hold became almost painful on my thighs, and he stilled. “MINE!” he bellowed, spraying his warmth into my womb, his hot sweet breath panting into my neck. My thighs shook with overexertion and our bodies were slick with sweat.
Not a word passed between us as we caught our breath.
Styx nuzzled his face into my exposed chest, his hot tongue lapping and kissing at my breasts, red teeth marks decorating my pale skin. I combed through his hair with my fingers, deep sounds of pleasure rumb
ling up from his throat.
“Mine… mine… mine…” he murmured over and over before kissing across my collarbone, up my throat, and finally onto my mouth. The kiss was deep and meaningful but short. Styx pulled back, staring into my eyes, his length still twitching inside me.
“I love you,” I whispered, gazing into his eyes.
“M-Mae,” he groaned. “You’re n-not going an-anywhere. R-right?”
“Right, baby,” I assured as I ran my finger down his cheek.
“Mine,” he sighed in relief.
“Yours.”
I cupped his rough, unshaven cheeks. “I did not kiss him back.”
Styx stilled and I could see the anger seeping back into his ruggedly handsome face, his muscled shoulders expanding.
“Styx, I did not. He was drunk and sad and reacted poorly… erratically. He is my friend… but he is not you.”
“He’s never fuckin’ coming back,” Styx said with authority. “N-no one touches what’s m-mine. If you weren’t standing there, I’d have killed the fucker.”
“I understand,” I said, relieved it had not progressed that far.
Water filled my eyes and my heart broke. I will miss my friend, but Rider himself had told me he could not, would not, live here with Styx and me together. And I was not leaving Styx. As hard as it may be, Rider needed space and Styx needed me.
I prayed to God that Rider would find his way.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mae
“Won’t you guys come? Please,” Beauty begged.
Styx wrapped his strong arms around my shoulders, his hands free to sign. I’m locking us away. Alone. No fuckin’ interruptions. No more fuckin’ drama. I wanna be with my woman.
“Beauty! Leave them the fuck alone!” Tank shouted as he gripped Beauty’s arm and yanked her to his side.
“Fine!” Beauty folded her arms and glowered at Styx. “But a ride out’s meant to have the Prez, you know! Just saying!”
Tank rolled his eyes and slapped his hand over Beauty’s mouth, successfully shutting her up.
I felt Styx’s unshaven cheeks rub against mine, and he leaned in to my ear. “B-be back in five.” I watched him walk toward Ky and the psycho trio, signing something as he went. He was so dominant, so commanding as he strutted through the room in his jeans, white shirt, and cut, his muscles rolling beneath the tight shirt, his hair still messy from making love to me this morning.
“You got it bad, girl.” I looked beside me and Beauty was watching as Tank joined Styx and the guys in a deep, serious discussion. She smiled a huge smile and nudged my arm. I blushed.
“I do have it… bad, as you put it. I love him more than life,” I confided.
“Really? I’d never have guessed!” I grinned on hearing Beauty’s playful tone just as Styx glanced back my way, fire igniting in his eyes as he noticed my attentions… all strong and male… and all mine.
Beauty stepped in front of me, blocking my path to Styx. I met her worried gaze.
“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling cold as dread filled my bones.
“Tank told me something last night,” she whispered low.
“What?”
Her eyes darted around us, checking we were not being observed. Satisfied, Beauty confided, “Tank said a group of the brothers went ’round Rider’s yesterday, you know, just to check on him.”
I reached out and grabbed her arm. “And?”
Beauty raised her eyebrow at my hold on her arm. I immediately let it go.
“I am sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She took a breath and leaned in close. “He weren’t there.”
“Where do they think he has gone?”
“Here’s the thing. Tank said it was like Rider’d vanished. His things were still there, his Chopper still parked out front. He even had a half-full glass of liquor by his chair. He’s disappeared, just like some damn ghost. They got the new prospect, Slam, watching his place twenty-four-seven… But there’s still nothing.”
An ominous feeling crept over me. Something was very, very wrong.
“Beauty!” We both jumped as Tank shouted Beauty’s name across the room. “We’re out. Let’s roll!”
Beauty gripped my hand and squeezed. “Don’t tell Styx I told you. I’ll be in a whole worlda hurt if you do. I’m not meant to know club business.”
“I promise.” I caught sight of Styx heading my way and faked a happy smile. With a wave, Beauty headed over to Tank and, as one, the brothers and their women left the compound.
We were all alone.
Styx towered over me and, clutching my face, pressed a long promising kiss on my lips. When he withdrew, I was breathless. “R-ready for a d-day i-in bed?” he asked confidently, accompanied by the playful arch of an eyebrow.
I threw my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist. “I have been waiting for this day all my life.”
I was rewarded with a wide smile.
Beautiful.
***
“I can’t get enough,” Styx said breathlessly as he laid kisses along my inner thigh. He had taken me three times. Three lots of hot, sweaty, and oh-so-intense sex.
I ran my fingers through his hair as he crawled up my body, hovering above me. “I love you,” I whispered.
He smiled and his dimples stood proud. “Babe. Fuckin’ love you.”
“Your stammer is better.”
His teeth dragged along his bottom lip ring. “It’s y-you. Ain’t near as m-many barriers in my way, no python choking me t-tight when I’m around you. It’s freedom.”
Placing my palms on his chest, I pushed him to the side, climbing on to straddle his waist. I drank in his naked form: muscles, tanned skin, colorful tattoos, pure masculine perfection. My finger began an exploration starting at his beautifully rugged face, down his rough cheeks, down his neck, over his raised pink swastika scar.
He flattened my hand to his chest. “It don’t b-bother me.”
I glanced up in surprise, then frowned, questioning, “Does it not? Those men carved up your chest.”
He shook his head. “It f-fuels me, babe. Makes me st-stronger.”
I bent down and pressed my lips to his. As I pulled back, I slipped off his waist and climbed off the bed. I caught a glimpse of him over my shoulder and he smirked in response.
Walking to the black leather chair in the corner of the room, I picked up Styx’s Fender and made my way back to the bed.
Styx rolled to his side, leaning on his hand. “You want me to teach you again?”
I shook my head and lowered my eyes, placing the Fender in my lap. “I want to play you something.” My eyes fluttered up to meet his.
Styx’s mouth dropped open, then closed again. “You w-wanna play… f-for me?”
“I have been practising. Beauty helped me get some music and well, while you have been out on runs, I have learned a song for you.” I knew I was blushing bright red. I could feel the fire under my skin.
“Babe…” Styx whispered. When I glanced at him once more, he urged me to play with a jerk of his chin.
Taking a deep breath, I positioned the guitar and began clumsily strumming the first chords. I watched as a proud smile spread across Styx’s handsome face. This spurred me on; it was time for me to sing.
“I hope you’re the end of my story. I hope you’re as far as it goes. I hope you’re the last words I ever utter. It’s never your time to go…” I sang each line exactly like I had practised. Styx’s face lit up, showing pride had given way to utter adoration. I meant every word of the song, the lyrics a benediction on my lips.
As I let the last chord of Pistol Annie’s “I Hope You’re the End of My Story” drift to a close, Styx ripped the Fender from my arms and tossed it to the floor.
“Styx!” I squealed as he trapped me below his huge body, his length hardening against my thigh. “Fuck, Mae…”
“Did you like it?” I asked as I squirmed against his chest, my arms wrapping around his broad
back.
“Mmm… babe. Y-your voice… p-perfect.”
Styx lifted his hips. With one swift thrust, he plunged himself within my depths. A long groan cascaded from my mouth at the feeling, the pressure, the fire… the perfection. Linking his fingers around mine, Styx powered forward in long, forceful thrusts. His hazel eyes never left mine as he burrowed himself farther inside me, the tip of his length hitting my womb.
“Styx,” I moaned as his movements became frenetic.
“Come,” he commanded in one long growl. “Come. N-now.”
Spurred on by his commands, an irresistible pressure built at the base of my spine and suddenly exploded, bright stars dancing behind my eyes.
“Mae!” Styx hissed from above me, body stilled, neck corded, tendons straining, his length expanding almost painfully inside me.
With soft thrusts, he relaxed above me, slipping to the side to rid me of his massive weight. His warm seed trickled down my inner thighs.
A large hand pressed against my cheek and Styx guided me to share his pillow. “I c-can’t believe you c-came back after all th-these years.”
My heart danced in my chest. “It was meant to be.”
Styx shifted uncomfortably on the bed before inching in closer. “M-Mae?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my breath held.
“I—”
Heavy footsteps suddenly pounded outside the door, interrupting Styx.
“PREZ! MAE! Watch out!” a muffled voice shouted from the hallway. The bedroom door burst open with a terrific bang and I screamed as a bloodied man was pushed into the room, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Four men in balaclavas then charged in, guns instantly aimed at our heads.
Styx lunged out of bed and stormed toward the men, but he was felled by the barrel of a large gun crunching into his temple. I screamed again, realizing Styx was in danger, then scrambled to cover myself with the sheet and caught sight of the other beaten man on the floor.
No… no… no… no… Rider!
Rider, half naked and hurt. His swollen eyes opened a fraction and his brown-eyed gaze met mine. Sadness surged through me and my stomach sank.