Mae moved and straddled my thighs. “No! Do not do this! Not to us!”
“Mae—”
“NO! Listen to me, Styx.” I gave her a nod and gripped my hands on her tiny fuckin’ waist. “This is no cage.” Her arms motioned to the clubhouse. “It is freedom. For the first time in my life, I feel wanted… like I finally belong. There is nowhere on Earth I would rather be than here with you. You do not cage me, Styx. You make me soar.”
And just like that. I knew she was it. There would never be anyone else for me. Hell, there’d never been anyone else since I found her at that fuckin’ fence fifteen years ago. Mae’d always been mine.
“Styx?” Mae whispered, worrying her lip. I stared at my woman and a smirk spread on my lips. Mae sighed in response. Gripping the back of her neck, I smashed my lips to hers and kissed the fuck outta her mouth.
Mae groaned and I broke away still smirking, lifted her up and put Mae on her feet. “Let’s g-go get a d-drink.”
Mae pulled on my arm for me to stop, confusion on her face.
I pressed her forehead to mine. “I’m a-an outlaw, Mae, a-a one-percenter. I take wh-what I want, wh-when I want. L-lucky for y-you, I’m a s-selfish fuck, so you’re st-staying right h-here with m-me.”
The smile she gave me was blinding.
As soon as we walked into the bar, Beauty came barreling over, grabbing for Mae’s hand. “Mae! You’re coming with me!” Mae glanced over her shoulder at me and I gave her a nod. Smiling, she took off with Beauty in the direction of Letti, the bitches fuckin’ jumping now that Mae was back. I couldn’t take my eyes off my bitch and her ass in those jeans.
An arm slung ’round my shoulder ripping me from the view.
Ky.
My VP shook his head and pointed his beer over at Mae. “Fuck, Styx. You’re one lucky bastard getting that pilgrim bitch in your bed.”
And didn’t I fuckin’ know it.
Epilogue
Styx
Two days later…
Brothers, we took back my woman and reclaimed our turf. Now, drink, relax—
“And eat pussy!” Ky shouted, cutting off my sign from behind. My VP walked to the edge of the stairs, drink held high and howled, “Live free, ride free, die free!”
The hundreds of brothers already drunk off their asses cheered Ky and hollered back, “Live free, ride free, die free!” He slapped a hand on my back laughing as I sent him a death glare. He downed his whiskey in one, smashing the empty glass on the floor.
Three days of celebrating were coming to an end, and the brothers were splitting, heading back to their own chapters. One war was won, but there were plenty more to be fought down the road.
I caught Mae standing off to the side of the stairs, looking too damn hot back in her leathers. She was stood with Beauty and Letti. The two old ladies never let Mae outta their sight.
Jumping down off the stairs, I wrapped her up in my arms, her wandering hands slipping under my shirt and along my ripped abs and back. Heat flared in her wolf eyes.
“We’re g-going for a r-ride,” I said just for Mae to hear. She looked up and flashed me a huge smile.
“Okay. Let me just tell Lilah and Maddie I am going out for a while.”
Mae pointed up at my apartment window and sighed. With huge eyes, her two sisters were watching the brothers in the yard, staring off in different directions. I groaned when I followed their differing paths. Lilah was watching Ky like a hawk. He was in the middle of groping Tiff’s and Jules’s bared tits, smiling up at the pilgrim blonde with a shit-eating grin. And Maddie, fuck, Maddie was transfixed on Flame, the brother pacing the yard like a bull. His black eyes stalked Maddie watching him from the window; his head twitched and his fingers ripped at the skin of his arms, drawing blood. I’d warned my brothers to stay the fuck away from them, but Christ, I could just feel the shit about to descend on this foursome.
Mae’s arms slipped from my waist and she pressed a kiss to my lips.
I slapped her ass. “I’ll m-meet you out f-front.”
Five minutes later, Mae strutted outta the gate and got on the back of my bike. It felt so fuckin’ good.
With a roar of the engine, we pulled out onto the road. There was only one place I was taking my woman.
As we pulled up to the Colorado River, I felt Mae’s arms squeeze my waist. I smiled. She loved this place.
Pulling the Harley to a stop, Mae jumped off the back and we sat down on the dry grass. Before my ass had even hit the ground, she dived on top of me, her tiny weight managing to slam my back to the ground, her lips pressing to mine.
I instantly gripped her ass as she ground that hot pussy right against my cock.
“You want m-me, babe?” I asked, breaking from her kiss, titling up her neck and licking up her throat.
“So badly, Styx. I want you so much,” she replied breathlessly.
Rolling her under me, I snapped open her zipper, yanking down her leathers, her teeth dragging down her bottom lip. Her bare pussy came into view, no panties. My eyes rolled back and I groaned just as Mae gripped the hem of her shirt and ripped it over her head. No bra.
Christ.
With Mae naked under me, I made quick work of getting outta my clothes and I moved above my woman, my fingers plunging inside her slit. Wolf eyes widened at the feeling and her head snapped back with a hiss. Leaning down, I took her tits in my mouth and sucked, her answering moan making my cock twitch.
“Styx… inside… please…” she begged, her hips rolling, and smiling around her nipple between my teeth, I moved my dick to her pussy and, tucking my hands under her head, slammed inside.
Fuck…
“Styx!” she screamed, raking her fingers down my back.
I rocked within her as she gripped my ass, my mouth moving to hers and my tongue thrusting in her wet mouth.
It felt too damn good. She was so tight. Our tongues wrestled and her moans were driving me fuckin’ insane.
“Styx… I love you,” she whispered as she broke from my mouth.
Groaning too loud, I picked up speed, the heavy slapping sounds of our thighs driving me on. My nose tucked in her neck and her pussy tightened, fisting my dick so fuckin’ hard. Back arching, her tits pressed against my chest and a scream ripped from her throat as she came.
“Shit… Styx… Styx…” She panted.
I slammed into her once more and my head tilted back as I flooded her with cum. Fuck. Fuck. Fuucckkkkk…
Collapsing on top of Mae, I rolled us so she draped across my chest. We caught our breath and I laughed.
She sat up and raised an eyebrow. “What?”
I ran my hand down the crack of her ass and her eyes hooded. “D-did you j-just cuss?”
Her eyes widened and a giggle lit up her face. My heart fuckin’ flipped.
“Yes, I did. You must be rubbing off on me.”
“Oh, I’ll r-rub off on you a-all r-right!”
She slapped my chest and then ran her finger along my swastika scar. Her smile faded. “I cussed at Gabriel too.”
I brushed hair from her eyes. “You d-did?”
She nodded, but her eyes dulled, so I waited for her to speak. “He said you had corrupted me. That I had sold my soul to Satan.”
“C’mere,” I ordered. Mae shifted up my chest, allowing me to cup her face. “I ain’t ever m-met a bitch as pure as you, as in-innocent as you. You ch-changed my f-fuckin’ life, babe. You ain’t c-corrupted. Y-you’re f-fuckin’ perfect.”
Her face melted into a stunning smile. “You spent so long telling me you were not good for me. ‘It ain’t me, babe,’ you said emphatically. Now I am perfect for you?”
“I was wr-wrong. So d-damn wrong. You need a st-strong man, babe. You n-n-need a man to l-love you, to pr-protect you, to be your f-fuckin’ world.” Her breath paused and I smirked. “It’s m-me, babe. It’s s-so fuckin’ me.”
Mae dived at me again and I laughed as I pushed her back before I felt that pussy and we ended up fuckin
g again.
Her lips pouted and her forehead creased. “I want you again,” she complained.
“I g-got something to g-give to you f-first.”
She quickly lost her pout, curiosity taking over. “What is it?”
Picking her up and setting her naked ass down, I walked to my Harley, buck-ass naked, and pulled the tiny cut of leather from my saddlebag. For some reason, I was fuckin’ nervous. I never thought I’d have a woman of my own, never thought I’d ever be able to speak to anyone but Ky, but Mae came in my life and knocked all that shit outta the park.
“Styx? What is it?” she asked excitedly.
Facing her—all long black hair mussed, blue eyes huge, and pale perfect skin—I relaxed. Fuck, she was beautiful.
Shaking myself ’round, I held up the tiny black leather Hangmen vest. Mae stopped breathing, her mouth dropping to form an O. I turned it around, our Hades Hangmen emblem standing proud on the back, and a Property of Styx patch in white stitching with Mae embossed in small writing at the front.
I jerked my chin. Mae stood and walked to me.
“You w-want this, b-babe? You w-wanna officially be m-my old lady? ’Cause once th-this goes on, it’s n-never f-fuckin’ coming off.”
“Styx,” Mae whispered and edged in closer, her hand running down my unshaven cheek. I swallowed and my heart slammed in my chest. “I was born to be with you. Born to be your old lady.”
And then that damn nose of hers twitched.
My eyes rolled back. “Fuck, b-babe…” I rasped out and spun my woman around, slipping the vest on her back. She turned slowly, gripping the edges over her perfect tits, and playfully pouted her lips.
“How does it look?”
I checked her out from head to toe, looking like a damn pinup girl, all naked, wearing my name on her back. Growling, I stalked Mae and lifted her, slamming her back against a tree, her legs wrapping ’round my waist.
“Fuckin’ l-love it, babe. L-love you in m-my life, on the b-back of my bike, in m-my bed, wrapped ’round m-my cock, and w-wearing my name on your back. You’re n-never l-leaving me, babe. Y-you’re in with m-me for life. The good, the b-bad, the f-fuckin’ crazy. M-met you as a kid, a damn m-mute. You g-gave me a voice. You g-gave me a life. You’re i-it, babe. You’re m-my whole f-fuckin’ world.”
I slammed my mouth to hers.
She kissed me right back.
Our foreheads touched and our breaths came hard.
“You’re m-mine,” I told her once more.
“And you’re mine,” she repeated with pride.
“We’re official n-now, babe, yeah? You and m-me together. This is y-your family. This i-is your club. You b-belong in this MC with m-me. Through hell a-and high water, you’re g-gonna be by my side, m-making shit good. M-my old lady for life.”
“Always. We start our lives now, Styx. Leave the scars of our pasts behind.”
I took her left hand and kissed along her ring finger. “And someday s-soon you’re g-gonna be wearing a r-ring, right h-here, telling the whole fuckin’ w-world you’re mine. And wh-when you do, you’ll n-never fuckin’ take it off.”
“Yes, Styx,” she whispered, tears dropping down her cheeks. “I am yours… only ever yours. Forever.”
“Fuck, babe… love you,” I growled, rubbing her tight little body against mine.
“I love you too.”
Then that fuckin’ nose twitched again.
And I sank back into my woman…
… a pair of wolf eyes bringing me home.
***
Rider
Cain
Two weeks later…
Utah, Undisclosed Location.
My eyes burned as I raced down the country road on my Chopper. Two weeks of hard riding. Two weeks of avoiding Hangmen chapters. Two weeks of thinking about what the hell to do next.
“Run. Please. Run… Save yourself… for me…” Mae had begged me, her fear for my safety shining through her crystal-blue eyes. Then she’d kissed me. She’d finally fuckin’ kissed me and it all but obliterated the few remaining fragments left of my heart.
FUCK!
The heavy iron gate to The Pasture, my childhood home, opened on my arrival, and I took a deep breath. I didn’t fuckin’ know who I was no more, where I belonged. The Order was not what I expected and my head was all over the place.
I cruised down the stone paved lane, pulling to a stop outside Prophet David’s farmhouse. I didn’t know where else to go, didn’t have anywhere else to go.
The door to the house suddenly swung open and Judah, my twin brother, sprinted to where I sat.
“Cain!” he shouted, pure relief on his identical face—same features, hair, beard, and build. Physically we were exactly alike…
I jumped off my Chopper and embraced Judah, his brown eyes tight and filled with a mixture of sadness and rage. Hell, I’d missed him. Five fuckin’ years I’d been gone; no direct contact.
“You live,” he said on a sigh. “We feared you had been killed also.”
“I got away,” I said, offering nothing but the barest of intel.
“Thank the Lord!” Judah said in relief but his head dropped, eyes to the ground. “They killed them all, Cain: Prophet David, the elders. They slaughtered our brothers. Only women and children survived.” My breath paused until Judah shook his head, meeting my eyes once more. “Cain, none of the original twelve remain alive.”
My gaze was impassive.
Judah swung his heavy arm around my shoulders and began leading me into the house, the house where we had been kept apart all our lives from others of The Order. Where we’d been trained since adolescents for a day such as today, no other family but each other, our mission as the heirs was our only purpose in life.
“We have begun to rebuild,” Judah informed. “We have found a new site for the commune to where our people can be moved. We are planning on uniting all the communes, creating one unified community: more guards, more people, and more guns. Then it will be time, brother,” he said meaningfully, squeezing my arm.
I stilled.
Judah moved before me and frowned. He had always been the most militant of us both, the most devout. He had never left The Pasture, believed one hundred percent in the cause.
“Time for what?” I asked vaguely.
Judah smiled in excitement and in response, a wave of dread set in my stomach. “For you to ascend… Prophet Cain.”
My heart stopped.
My eyes widened.
Oh… fuck…
The End
Playlist
To listen to the playlist, please check out my website: www.tilliecole.com
Metallica —Nothing else matters
AC/DC — Highway to Hell
Nirvana — About A Girl
Guns and Roses — Knockin on Heavens Door
Jonny Cash — God’s Gonna Cut You Down
Tom Waits — I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You
The Pretty Reckless — Makes Me Wanna Die
Nine Inch Nails — Closer
The National — Gospel
Willie Nelson — Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain
Pistol Annies — Hope You’re the End of My Story
Bob Dylan — It Ain’t Me, Babe
AA Bondy — The Mightiest of Guns
The Eagles — Desperado
Rolling Stones — Wild Horses
Depeche Mode — Personal Jesus
Velvet Underground — Pale Blue Eyes
Black Sabbath — Heaven and Hell
Acknowledgements
Dad, thank you for finally jumping on board the Tillie Cole express and for devoting a huge amount of your time helping me with this novel. Your notes on Psychology have been amazing and I look forward to the next one!
To my beta reader team—Thessa, Kelly, Rachel, Kia and Lynn. Thank you for reading a very badly edited, first draft version of this novel and for your amazing feedback. I adore the final outcome and it wouldn’t be where it is to
day without your brilliant input.
Thessa, for being on board from the very beginning, assuring me my book was not crap and for making me laugh through our emails. Oh, and for begging me to write Flame and Maddie’s story! We’ll see…
My husband, for putting up with my various meltdowns and moments of writer-insecurity. You’re always there and I love you to pieces.
Kelly Moorhouse for just being one of the best people I know. Book Blogger, tour organiser and now, beta reader, and of course, friend. You amaze me and I am beyond thankful for all that you do.
Mam, Sam and the brood. Love you, guys, lots.
A special shout out to the bloggers who gave this book (and author) a chance. There are so many of you that have been supportive during this—relatively new— journey for me. Gitte and Jenny from TotallyBooked, Smitten’s Book Blog and Lezley-Lynn’s Book Blog. You guys rock! Oh, and Lezley-Lynn for just being amazing and creating my fabulous street team: Tillie’s Hot Cole’s. Love the team and want to thank you lot for your support! World Domination!!!!
Lysa, my crazy Bostonian web designer and one of THE most hilarious peeps ever! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
And finally to YOU, the readers for your constant support.
I have no words.
You simply floor me…
About the Author
Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.
After graduating from Newcastle University, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies for seven years.
Tillie has now settled in Calgary, Canada, where she is finally able to sit down, write (without the threat of her husband being transferred), throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.