CoriPrimitive and amazing. I could breathe. I rested my coffee on the deck, then stretched my arms out and did exactly that. Closing my eyes, I allowed the fresh air to fill my lungs. When I opened them, Duke was watching.“Beautiful.” I breathed in the freshness. “I could stay for an extended period of time if there’s a mall within an hour’s drive.”Duke threw his head back and laughed, the sound so uniquely him. We finished our coffee in the double swing looking over the valley. I wasn’t sure why this man came into my life now but I was glad he had. He allowed me to heal in my own time and I never had to pretend. Even with Mak, I did. I didn’t want her pity or guilt. Duke, and his quiet presence, calmed the inner rage and fear that boiled inside my soul.We finished our coffee and Duke led me back to the house. He pulled out my new phone from his pocket and handed it to me. I hadn’t seen my true phone in ages. I lived off that phone and it contained all my contacts. This showed my
DukeThe picture she made when she came out of the water startled me. I always thought her beautiful but even choking, she was stunning. I hadn’t laughed in years and she brought it out without trying. If I could get the image out of my head of her breasts bouncing before she hit the water, my dick would appreciate it.“It’s freezing,” she yelled after spitting out several mouthfuls. “How deep is this?” she asked and sank down a little, though I knew she couldn’t touch. My grandfather brought me here for weekly baths whether we needed them or not. To a young kid, “not” was a good way to live. In the winter, there was a forty-gallon washtub that was set up in the kitchen. With no water heater, it was a long process to heat the water and fill it. Summers were easier.If Cori would stay, I wouldn’t leave. I leased the cabin near the clubhouse so I didn’t become a hermit like my grandfather. Dax needed a hand and I wasn’t ready to leave civilization behind. I easily could with Cori, thoug
CoriThe cool water felt wonderful. I scrubbed myself, including my hair. I’d spotted olive oil on the counter. It would help to get a comb through the mess that would be waiting after the wash. I didn’t have a razor for my legs and armpits but could touch up those places later. I scrubbed my skin using the soap on a hand towel left on the counter. The cool clean water made me feel better and I wasn’t quite as exhausted.Duke came inside just as I finished. He quickly jogged down the stairs to the bedroom and returned with two towels, then made his escape out the front door again. After drying off, I went to the bedroom to moisturize. My skin had been through some shit and I needed to take better care of it. Today was a good day to start.Duke piqued my interest even more. I was beginning to think him a saint. I knew few men who would turn down a blow job when their dick was raging. Him wanting me wasn’t a question. I wanted him too. I knew I wasn’t ready.I walked away from my past m
DukeWhen I finished checking the property and locking the utility room and garage, I went back inside. Cori was downstairs and I smiled because I heard her humming. If a bath did that much good for her, it might do something for me.Yeah, no.I shucked my clothes and climbed into the small tub. I had to bend my legs to fit. Cori looked sexy but I looked like an elephant taking a bath in a teacup. I grabbed the soap and washed, trying to keep my mind off the sight of Cori in this tub. It wasn’t like there was room to crawl in with her. But the fantasy. It was hard to get my mind off. My soapy hand rubbed over my junk which was already half alive with thoughts of Cori’s naked body. Brown thighs wrapped around my shoulders as I ate out her fucking pussy. My fingers making her come. My cock in her mouth between those incredible lips.My eyes were closed, my head back when Cori startled me.“Does it taste as good as it looks?” she asked throatily.I sleepily raised my eyelids. She wore on
CoriDuke taught me crazy eights. We played for several hours until we were both cheating so badly we couldn’t stop laughing and the game became ridiculous.“Thank you,” I said after we had the deck put away.His expression questioned my statement.“You took my mind off everything and I enjoyed playing cards. It’s not something I would normally admit to. Thank you,” I repeated.He gave me a quick hug. Duke grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the bed. He then lifted the side of the mattress and hydraulics did the rest. Underneath there was a trap door. Duke moved the lever that kept it locked and pulled it open. I could only see darkness down the hole.“Escape tunnel,” he typed into his phone. “Exits in the garage.”“Good to know, I guess. Your grandfather was paranoid.”My phone chimed.“For a reason.” He didn’t share what that reason was.We went upstairs to eat and Duke opened the front door and a few vents I hadn’t noticed in the ceiling. They drew the cooler outside air inside w
CoriThe next two weeks went much like our first two days. Duke taught me signs to look for in the desert. He taught me how to find my way back to the house. He made me get us home after the second day. We probably did some extra hiking but we made it and I felt proud of myself.My body was no longer sore and I was actually using my left hand. Bumping it didn’t hurt like it had. My calves gained muscle and I began gaining control over fear. I wasn’t in the city so it would need to be tested. I didn’t feel like there was a man waiting to cut off my fingers and rape me around each corner. Being away from everyone allowed me to see the fear for what it was. Trauma. With my head clearer, I could finally divide out the memories and think of them in small bits without becoming overwhelmed.I didn’t have the words to explain it to Duke. He was my rock and I would always be grateful to him for understanding what I needed when I did not.The second week, nature began speaking to me. The land a
DukeSex simply happened.It wasn’t as a form of payment and Cori was magnificent.It changed us.We stayed in bed the following day, exploring each other’s bodies. She sucked me off while I pulled her amazing hair.Her only comment was, “Harder, baby.” With my dick down her throat, she still managed to moan it. I gave harder and faster and she took it.We shared a bath in the tiny tub to clean ourselves after eating a large dinner, laughing the entire time. Cori was propped between my knees and chest, her legs hanging far over the edge. We didn’t come close to fitting. Water spilled everywhere in the kitchen and we laughed even harder. It took my mind off the earlier text from Dax that I hadn’t yet shared. I didn’t want to ruin the day.The following morning, we set out on another hike. I couldn’t stay still. Cori looked at me a few times with a question in her eyes but she didn’t ask. When we took a break for lunch, I showed her the text.“They came after Sofia and the kids when she
DukeWhat Cori meant by play was spend my money or more precisely rack up charges on my card. My grandfather left me the property and a heavy chunk of change. He’d worked for the railroad and had a good pension and great life insurance policy. I could live on his property and never work another day in my life.He gave me freedom.“I need phone numbers from my cell and I can find out everything we need to know about Miles’ club,” Cori said. “Chances are good we’ll need an invite and I know a few girls who play the animal circuit.”“Do I want to know what the animal circuit is?” I typed.Cori laughed and patted my hand.“Don’t worry, you’ll be the master and I’ll be the fox.”We spent the afternoon shopping. Her idea of master was an expensive suit.“Most masters will be in leather gear but if you want to make a stir, stick with a fifty shades suit. It will attract more attention,” she explained.I didn’t know what a fifty shades suit was and decided not to ask. If her skimpy fox outfit
I rolled over and yawned, my arms coming from beneath the soft white cotton of the bedding and bumped the hard body next to me. Moon’s hand went into my hair and he moved his leg between mine and something very hard hit my belly making me smile. The smile lasted a few seconds before I covered my hand and jumped from the bed trying to get to the toilet before I lost the contents of my stomach. Yep, that was sexy. This time the hand in my hair pulled it back away from my face while I heaved my guts. He didn’t say anything and just waited for me to finish. It was horrible and at the same time endearing because I loved him so much. I stood and leaned back against his body. “Crawl back into bed and I’ll grab tea and crackers,” Moon said gently. I wanted to bitch and moan about the morning sickness but held it in. When I had my shoulder injury that took me from my career as a cop, I had a small amount of control. I could do my physical therapy and ice as needed and it worked. There was
Duke The wedding night was at the cabin and our honeymoon at the property. We had a week to ourselves. Cori laughed when I carried her over the threshold and straight to my bed. “Do not touch that dress,” I typed into my phone before checking the house was secure and I could fuck my wife for the first time. Her laughter followed me. When I walked back into the room, she was waiting exactly where I left her, smart woman. She opened her legs wide, the stilettos going to either side of the bed. A bit of red showed. The dress was fucking perfect. I crawled between her legs and pushed the yards of black lace up higher in the bed and snagged the red G-string with a finger. The garter wasn’t in my way. Cori sat up suddenly and stopped my exploration. “You spoke your vows.” I smiled even though my dick throbbed. “Thank you,” she added and lay back. I planned to fuck her until she couldn’t walk or talk. I didn’t remove the red nothing lace. I lazily fingered her, then took a long, slo
CoriIf I weren’t lying down, I would have fallen. Of all the things she could say, it was the last I expected and I couldn’t hide my shock.“No, I’m not pregnant yet but we’ve decided to try. We’re leaving and starting a family. Alex and Celina are taking over Moon’s operation.” She turned to Celina. “I’ll call it Alex’s operation eventually.”“Are you sure?” I asked softly.I was having trouble processing.“I’m absolutely positive. I thought I never wanted children but when Moon brought it up, I knew I was wrong. I want Moon’s babies.”“As in multiple?” I asked in horror.Children wasn’t something I ever wanted. I was not a rug rat fan and could tolerate Sofia’s rug rats for a limited time only. I thought Mak and I were on the same page.“We’ll decide if we want another after the first.”“Congratulations,” I offered, my voice uncertain.Melina started laughing.“You’re taking it how I did. The last thing needed in this world is a mini Austin.”I could most definitely second that.“O
CoriLife slowly returned to normal, though my new normal was much different than the old one. Things changed more after the cast came off and Duke could ride again. That’s when I became a true biker bitch.I blinged the shit out of my newly purchased black wardrobe and made that shit look good. I had standing orders from the other old ladies too. The club whores and I had a talk and we seemed to be on good terms. My end of that conversation was short.“Keep your hands off my man and we won’t have a problem. Touch him, even when I’m not around, and you’ll lose a fucking nipple, we clear?”They were fine with it. I understood their world. Respect was key. I had no problem with their choices as long as they respected me and my man.Dax’s club was a community of misfits and I fit in like I never thought I could. They didn’t care that I arrived in five-inch stilettos, looking like I was heading to a ritzy club. They accepted me as Duke’s old lady.Duke spoke to Dax and arranged a week off
Cori“How is Mr. Grumpy today?” Mak asked. She had her overprotective Pitbull at her side. I hadn’t seen Two-dogs since I arrived with Duke. I contained myself to the kitchen and Duke’s room. Two-dogs stayed out of Gabriella’s domain because the two of them stayed at war over what was permissible and what was not. I secretly thought Gabriella slipped the dog treats when no one watched but I had no way to prove it. I guess her new kindness made me think she was something other than Attila the Hun. I needed to watch those stupid fantasies.With assistance, Duke had made it downstairs for this morning’s physical therapy. He refused pain meds afterward and fell asleep exhausted. It gave me time to do something normal. I’d quietly left the room and gone to the outside patio to escape. The heat, even with the water misters, would make it too hot to stay for long but it was nice to be outside.I blinked at Mak who carried a towel. She took the lounge chair beside mine.“He’s sleeping. I’m es
DukeMy biggest problem was boredom. It almost went hand in hand with people poking and prodding constantly. I didn’t live at the clubhouse for a reason. If it weren’t for Cori, I would have found a way to escape Moon’s place the first day. Maybe. I was fooling myself. The ability to lift a spoon to my lips was pushing things.I remembered little about what happened at Wild Fur. Between blood loss and the damage to my stomach, I should have died in oblivion. Things were foggy since waking too. I remembered telling Cori I loved her. It just came out. I hadn’t practiced speaking in years. It was something I did when younger when no one was around. I never felt comfortable with the sound of my voice and eventually decided it wasn’t necessary. That was true until Cori. There were things she needed to hear. Cori hadn’t asked me to speak since it happened. I doubted she even understood what I’d said.My grandfather took me in when my dad went to prison for almost killing me. They were the b
CoriThe air in the room was soft if that were even a thing. There were four rows of chairs. There was a podium at the front. No crucified Jesus hung from the wall, only a large framed needlepoint with writing.“Enter in peace and leave your sorrow.”I sat in the front row and bowed my head. My prayer was to Jesus.“I’ve never asked for anything.”Tears gathered in my eyes and turned to sobs. I couldn’t go on and fell apart. So many thoughts tumbled through my head. I was the whore of Babylon. If there were a man who would hear me, it would be Jesus.“Please,” was all I managed the next time I tried.The quiet settled over me and I inhaled in and out slowly. Within a few minutes, I wiped my tears. The room, like Duke with his silence, gave me peace. It also gave me strength.I went back to ICU and held his hand again. He wouldn’t die because I wouldn’t let him. I spoke to him quietly and assured him all would be okay. I spoke of silly things. I had to keep the connection so he knew I
CoriIt took us more than three hours to get back to the city and another hour through rush-hour traffic to get to Wild Fur. Moon sent his men in first and stayed with me in the SUV. Alex and Austin were with the other women at his compound. Moon didn’t want them here. He’d also left a vehicle behind with four men on Duke’s property to dispose of the bodies.The men cleared inside the Wild Fur quickly. There were two female employees cleaning and handling inventory. The place didn’t open until eight at night. They weren’t harmed and they were assured they could leave after we found Duke. The men hadn’t located him when they cleared the building. Moon and I entered and were shown the entrance to the basement.A light had been turned on. It looked no better than the club upstairs. I saw a rat scurry along the wall. Moon found the hidden door within a few minutes. He pried it open and we entered the dark room.The smell of excrement and death hit us.Death.I couldn’t breathe.In the sha
CoriDuke never left my thoughts. If he was dead, so was I. My life changed that fast. We hadn’t known each other long and it didn’t matter. He was everything I wanted and most of all he was someone who loved me for who I was. I knew he loved me. He shared his silent world and refused to take advantage when he could have. From the time his arms wrapped around me in the car after my escape from Fernandez, we belonged together.My past didn’t matter to him because he lived in a world where endurance and hard work were part of life. Duke and the men like him respected survival.Moon brought more firepower than required and the guns we’d pulled from the cave weren’t exactly needed. I decided to stick with Duke’s weapons because he made sure I was familiar with them. A piece of him was with me.Our plan had been to ambush the vehicles a mile before the entrance to the property. Alex moved the attack to the house. I wasn’t worried about Cartwright’s men knowing the location. None would leav