CelinaIt’s amazing and now I really want to cry. It’s only a small step, but it gives me hope. Kiley forgoes her fork and sticks her fingers into the spaghetti. She reaches out and offers a piece of spaghetti noodle to the dog. I hear a sigh and look to the door of the kitchen. Gabriella has her hands on her hips. She shakes her head and without saying a word, walks over to the sink and begins running water. She really is a softy.I look back at Kiley when Mak talks to her. “Kiley, honey, you can help me feed Two-dogs after you eat. He really likes you. I bet he would chase his ball if you tossed it for him.”Mak receives no reply, but Kiley awkwardly picks up her fork. She scoops up noodles and puts them in her mouth. I’m saddened that she automatically does what she’s told without hesitation. I pat Two-dogs on the head. Four legs is better than my two at the moment and I’ll take any help I can get.Kiley eats everything on her plate. I’m surprised her small belly can hold it. She a
AlexThe women enter the gym. With the loud music, I don’t actually see them, but I know that Celina is standing there as surely as I know the sun will set today. She’s a vibe beneath my skin and the closer she is the more intensely I feel her. I keep lifting the set I’m currently working on and hear Madison whistle. I have no doubt it’s intended for her husband. I glance over and sure enough she’s not looking my way, but Celina is. Crazy, hot need simmers in her eyes. She’s so easy to read. I don’t think she would mind if I stood up and rubbed my sweaty body all over her. Of course my cock hardens at the thought and I have a feeling this workout is about to be cut short.Madison walks closer to Moon. “Gabriella is the child whisperer as well as the food Goddess. We decided that the mental abuse being thrown at us in her territory was too much to handle, so we came looking for some eye candy,” she informs her husband. Moon grabs his wife and does exactly what I want to do to Celina. “
I love the look on his face as he comes. He’s beautiful I feel such power for bringing him to this point. His expression is no longer haunted—need and desire are all I see. His taste, everything about him draws me closer to the cliff that my heart sits on. I’ve never wanted to be owned. Alex changes that. I want to own him too. Watching him slide into my mouth is thrilling and erotic, as well as satisfying, even though I haven’t gotten off.He lifts me from the floor and I stand facing him. The look in his eyes burns my flesh. It’s a visceral reaction to watching him come undone.Then he smiles.I couldn’t stop my grin if I wanted to.His smile grows tender. “You’re worth more than I could ever pay, Celina.”I need the words. Selling my body was all I had. The women at the escort service have their reasons for what they do, but they also have the option to walk away. I was desperate. Alex’s simple words clear the baggage from my head. He brings his lips down on mine. My mouth is fill
AlexWe shower in cool water as I slide soapy fingers over Celina’s curves. She’s facing away from me with her shoulder leaning against the wall of the shower. Whereas she was content a few minutes ago, she’s troubled now. I feel her tension as my hands glide across her skin. “Tell me what you’re thinking, mi corazón.”She doesn’t make a sound, but after a few moments, I see the tremble in her shoulders and turn her so I can see her face. The pain I see in her eyes has me pulling her against my chest. I run my fingers over her wet hair as she cries. She’s been so strong and this shouldn’t surprise me. It guts me. I don’t want her tears and would do anything in my power to stop them. She mumbles something against my chest and I move her slightly away. She looks at me with pure desolation.“I don’t know how to be a mother,” comes out between more sobs.“Oh, baby,” I say as I pull her against me again. What do I say? I haven’t the slightest idea how to be a father.“She needs so much and
Celina I arrive at the nursing home an hour later. It’s a large white building that looks exactly like what it is: A place to die. I wipe my eyes again. Having a driver has its benefits, though sitting in the back of the car and thinking about all the overwhelming details is not one of them. On the only positive side I can come up with, having a driver most likely saved me from crashing my car. I left Kiley with Gabriella and Alex and I can’t think about it right now. My mother is sitting beside my father when I enter the room. Her hand is resting on his pale, lifeless one. She glances over her shoulder and sees me. That’s when she leans into my father and begins sobbing on his chest. I walk over and put my hand on her back. I inhale deeply because even in this place, the smell of sugar cookies rolls off her and brings me home. She feels so frail. When did that happen and why didn’t I notice? The man lying in the bed with his slack, frozen features is not my father. He’s been gone
AlexAll I can do is be thankful that Gabriella takes over with Kiley. When Gabriella walked into the kitchen, I was doing my best to wipe juice off Kiley’s face and fingers. In Spanish Gabriella let me know exactly what I was doing wrong. Apparently I needed more water on the paper towel that is now stuck to the child’s fingers. I made my escape as soon as possible.Then, things went from bad to worse. I received a call from the men I sent to Antigua. Manuel is dead and Danita nowhere to be found. I have Cal using his computer skills and checking airline manifests. Thankfully, the flights out of Antigua are limited to only a handful of airlines. Of course, there’s always the ocean. That escape route will be harder to track. Danita isn’t stupid, so I expect none of this to be easy.With Kiley in Gabriella’s capable hands, I drive to Manuel’s wife and inform her of his death. They’d been married for ten years and don’t have any children. Giving her the news is bad enough and I shouldn’
CelinaIf not for the frequent conversations with Alex, I would be crazy. I haven’t seen him or Kiley in three days. He gives me assurances and even talked dirty during one of our short calls. For a few minutes, I was able to forget this crazy world I’ve been thrust into and dream about the next time I’m in his bed. I really need him doing all those dirty things he’s so good at.Yesterday, Gabriella called and said she had arranged for two women to provide food at my mom’s house after the funeral. I couldn’t question her about Kiley because I hadn’t found the chance to tell my mom about her or Lee. I feel like the worst person on the planet and guilt eats at me.When my mother and I arrived at the funeral home to meet with the director, we found out that Alex had covered the expenses. I should have done something to stop him from paying the bill. In reality, I’m too indebted to Alex already, but I have no idea how to stop him from spending his money on me. I’ll save that for another d
AlexNo one in their right mind enjoys funerals and least of all me. Watching Celina suffer with her father’s loss won’t be easy. She sounded so incredibly sad when I spoke to her by phone, and it’s hard not having her close and wrapping my arms around her. With my lack of sleep, I’m pathetic over wanting her near me. I’ve lived with the images for so long that they’ve become part of me. Now, I know what it’s like to sleep soundly. Yes… pathetic.I’ll be attending another funeral as soon as Manuel’s body is in Arizona. As of now, it’s unknown how long the Antigua authorities will keep it. Murder is a rare occurrence there and the government isn’t happy. Moon’s lawyer spoke to an investigator for two hours last night. He told them Manuel was in Antigua to offer protection to Ms. Danita Moon because she is Moon’s beloved aunt. Now she’s missing and her bodyguard dead.The attorney proceeded to throw incriminations back on the investigator and told him Ms. Moon retired to Antigua because
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