I stared at the empty space where Torin had been. If what he said was true, then I was in deeper trouble than I had realized. This wasn’t just about some stolen money as Lucien had claimed; it was about family bloodlines and vengeance.As the door to my room creaked open, I pretended to sleep, my breathing shallow and even. Soft footsteps approached my bed, and I peeked through my lashes, seeing Tannin. She looked exhausted, as leaning over me she tucked the edge of my blanket in a little more securely."How you doing? You need anything? Something to eat? Drink?" she asked.I shook my head, tempted to telling her about Torin visiting again, but for some reason I held my tongue.Her hand hovered for a moment longer before standing, she murmured, "Just holler if you change your mind," then retreated, closing the door softly behind her.After she'd left, I lay for hours, thinking about Torin's visit and listening to the sounds about the apartment; the low volume of the tv. The hum of a
Half an hour later, I made my way through the shadows, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. I’d been unable to get a hold of Rook, and unable to let things rest until I did, I’d parked LadyBug a little way up the road from the Dinelli estate, and set out on foot. Now, as I reached the edge of the property, I heard a sound of twigs breaking underfoot, and before I could react, I had the barrel of a pistol pressed against the side of my head."You've got some nerve," a man's voice sneered right next to me ear. "You do realize this is private property, right?"I swallowed hard, my hand inching closer to the knife I’d placed in my waistband and fingers wrapping around the handle. “Private property? No, can’t say I did,” I lied, securing the knife in my grip.The man took a step closer, his bulk brushing against my back, but keeping the gun firmly in place. “Boss don’t take kindly to strangers crawling around the grounds,” he sneered. Afterward, he chuckled, a sound that sent ch
(Trigger warning: This story contains drug use and explicit adult content.)**MARLOWE**A light flush of sweat coated my skin for I needed a fix, and I needed it badly, so when Auriella held out the pills in her hand, I took them from her without question, quickly swallowing them with a drink from my bottled water. "Your dad wants you in the room tonight, he said you have a request," she told me, watching me recap the bottle.I grimaced. "Do I have to? You know what happened the last time."She gave a small snort. "Of course you do," she quipped, her tone that of disbelief I was even asking. At fifty-two, Auriella was my dad's ol' lady, as well our House Mother, and it was her job to make sure everything ran smooth within the compound, as well the clubhouse, and just like my dad, she ruled it all with an iron hand. I'd seen her beat the shit out of some of the girls for a simple eye roll when they didn't like what they had been told to do. I didn't like Auriella much, and she didn'
With my fingers gliding across his flesh, I kept contact as I moved around to his back and across the broad expanse between each shoulder, afterward, I ran my fingers in a soft caress over the nape of his neck—God, how I'd always wanted to touch him in this way—and then began making my way over to the opposite shoulder, shortly coming around to his collarbone.Afterward, with a pivot of my fingertips, and practiced turns of my feet, I came a full one hundred and eighty degrees, facing him again.As I gazed into his eyes, my breathing increased, and I felt myself give a small pant as I moved my fingers down to his chest. Then, without so much as a pause in my actions, I lowered myself toward the floor. In a slight squat, I maintained the position for several seconds, moving my hips to the beat before easing my way back up. Once again standing and with slow deliberateness, I let my knees brush his crotch, my breasts hovering near his face. Seconds later and with a seductive move, I pl
At our appearance in the hallway, Darius Moss, one of the prospects, came charging toward us. Torin continued plowing forward, shoving him out of the way as he snarled, "Get the fuck out of the way Darius before I knock your ass out!"As we passed by Darius when he hastily stepped out of the way, Darius exclaimed, "What the fuck, Tor? What the hell are you doing? Stye ain't gonna be happy, man!""Fuck Stye," Torin snarled as he slammed his way through the exit door.~TORIN~It had been hard as fuck not to burn the club down after I'd gotten Marlowe out and brought her to my room. It wasn't as if I hadn't known what she did. Fuck, I'd been trying to convince myself for the last few weeks not to go into that fucking room. To stay the hell away from it. However, when I had gotten back from the run, I'd given in to that weakness and requested she dance for me. And God, how she'd made me want her—not like I hadn't forever it seemed anyway. I'd told myself just this once I'd enjoy her danc
The following thirty-six hours were pure hell. Torin tried to make me feel better, as I shook, cried, cramped, screamed, cursed, as well suffered through horrible bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. But I did nothing but snarl, bitch, whine, and complain. Three days after the worst year of my life, I was finally beginning to feel half-human again, when the smell of food cooking hit me square in the face. My stomach churned once again, and turning, my hand covering my mouth, I bolted toward the bathroom.Despite my vain effort, halfway down the hall, the contents of my stomach gave up its struggle. Falling to my knees, I vomited, then completely collapsed to the floor. As I lay in my own puke, I was unable even to find the will to pick myself up out of it. Once again feeling disgusted with myself for having fallen so far from the dreams I'd once held. Tears of shame began to trickle down my cheeks as I curled into a ball, but at the thud of Torin's boot heels on the floor coming toward
At the sensation, shrill whimpers of pleasure escaped me, the sound causing him to feast upon me until I was almost mad with the need for release. Once again rising, he molded us, belly to back. Then, reaching around me, he penetrated my slick opening with a finger, slowly beginning to pump it in and out as he groaned, "Fuck, baby, you're soaked." After a few seconds of pleasuring with one finger, he slipped in a second. The feelings he was creating within me were too much, and I pushed down on his fingers burying him deeper within me. The tingles of my orgasm rippled up and out from my core, causing me to utter a scream of pure ecstasy. Afterward, calming, I found myself thankful for the wall and the strong body holding me up. Breathless and still tingling from the mind-shattering orgasm, I could feel the quivering in my legs and knew they wouldn't have supported me. The thrumming inside the feminine heart of me continued as I rested the side of my face against the cool wetness o
The next morning I awoke to an empty bed. Confusion swamped through me as I climbed off the mattress, then made my way out of Torin's room and toward my own.After softly closing the door behind me, I made my way over to my dresser and pulled out clean panties, a tank top, and a pair of shorts. Once dressed, I hurried from my room and toward the kitchen. As I entered the room's large expanse, I was happy to see the only one occupying it was Crystal. Over the rim of her coffee cup, she eyed me, amusement and a knowing look written on her features. Smiling at me, she greeted me with a chuckle in her voice. "Good Morning, Marlowe. Did you have an enjoyable night's sleep?""Morning, Chrys," I returned, giving her a curious look at seeing her lips twitch with held back laughter. What's with her? I mused, giving my head a small shake.The sound of bike's revving their engines filtered into the kitchen as I moved about, preparing myself a cup of coffee. There was always some kind of noise a
Half an hour later, I made my way through the shadows, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. I’d been unable to get a hold of Rook, and unable to let things rest until I did, I’d parked LadyBug a little way up the road from the Dinelli estate, and set out on foot. Now, as I reached the edge of the property, I heard a sound of twigs breaking underfoot, and before I could react, I had the barrel of a pistol pressed against the side of my head."You've got some nerve," a man's voice sneered right next to me ear. "You do realize this is private property, right?"I swallowed hard, my hand inching closer to the knife I’d placed in my waistband and fingers wrapping around the handle. “Private property? No, can’t say I did,” I lied, securing the knife in my grip.The man took a step closer, his bulk brushing against my back, but keeping the gun firmly in place. “Boss don’t take kindly to strangers crawling around the grounds,” he sneered. Afterward, he chuckled, a sound that sent ch
I stared at the empty space where Torin had been. If what he said was true, then I was in deeper trouble than I had realized. This wasn’t just about some stolen money as Lucien had claimed; it was about family bloodlines and vengeance.As the door to my room creaked open, I pretended to sleep, my breathing shallow and even. Soft footsteps approached my bed, and I peeked through my lashes, seeing Tannin. She looked exhausted, as leaning over me she tucked the edge of my blanket in a little more securely."How you doing? You need anything? Something to eat? Drink?" she asked.I shook my head, tempted to telling her about Torin visiting again, but for some reason I held my tongue.Her hand hovered for a moment longer before standing, she murmured, "Just holler if you change your mind," then retreated, closing the door softly behind her.After she'd left, I lay for hours, thinking about Torin's visit and listening to the sounds about the apartment; the low volume of the tv. The hum of a
As I laid back down, my thoughts raced. How could I face the monster that Lucien had shown me he was? I had survived the attack, but the fear remained, like a stubborn stain on my soul. I needed to find a way to get him to leave me alone for good.I needed to be smart, to use my brains as a weapon.I thought back to the night of the attack, to the words that had been exchanged. "Where's the fucking money, Rylee?" he had snarled. Another puzzle piece I was missing. Had Torin taken the money? And if he did, how the hell had he gotten his hands on it?I knew I had to get better, to get my strength back. I needed to face this situation head-on, and I couldn't do that lying in bed.The following days were a blur of pain, both physical and emotional. Each breath I took was a reminder of the bullet that had pierced my side. Surgeon had patched me up as best as he could, but the healing process was slow. Tannin, Jess and Rook took turns caring for me, their eyes filled with a mix of concern a
Tannin’s voice brought me out of my memories, as sitting beside me, her eyes filled with concern, she asked, "You okay?"Nodding, I swiped at a tear that cruised its way down my cheek. "Yeah. Just haunted by some old memories."Her hand found my shoulder and she gave it a gentle squeeze. "Here, lay back," she urged, fluffing the pillows behind me with her free one. "You need to rest."With a sigh, I laid back on the pillows, allowing them to envelope me like a warm hug. "What if...." I began, then shook my head, allowing the words to trail off. Too many questions to voice. What if Torin really was alive? Why now? Why, after a year of absence, did he come back?Tannin sat down on the edge of the bed, and taking my hand, she murmured, "For now, rest. You're in no kind of shape to figure any what-if's. Heal first, answers after, okay?"I knew she was right, and that worrying myself over something I couldn't say wasn't a dream, was not doing myself any favors. But the possibility Torin wa
There were times it wasn’t all fun and games, though. The dangers of a club's lifestyle were real. There were fights, drugs, the occasional gunshot between Dad's charter and rival clubs, and Torin, the devil with the heart of gold, was in the thick of it all.As the months went on, I grew up fast. I started to filling out in ways that made the older guys look twice. Torin noticed the change too, his glances lingered a little longer, his touches became a bit more deliberate. Yet, despite my desire that he would, he never stepped over the line.One night, after a particularly nasty run-in with a rival gang, Torin sat me down on an old crate in the garage, his eyes dark and serious. “You care about me, right?” he’d asked, his voice gravelly with exhaustion.I’d nodded. "Of course," I'd murmured, wondering where he was going with his question.Letting out a sigh, Torin stated, "Just don't put me on a pedestal, Princess. I'll only let you down."But I'd known he never would. And the day I
Days passed and I’d begun to think maybe Tannin was right and Torin had been nothing more than a pain-induced dream. Or maybe it was just me missing him. But if he hadn’t been real then I had one whopper of an imagination. Every nuance, every movement, even his intoxicating smell had been too fucking real. Painfully real. He was the devil, aptly named by his brothers. I’d been in Hell since I’d first caught sight of him all those years ago. I don’t know that I believe in love at first sight, but the feeling that had gone through me had been as close as what one could come to describing it as such.My dad had picked me up from school, the bike’s engine rumbling like a beast outside the school gates. It was the first time he’d ever done that, and the whispers of the other kids had been like a siren's call to the rebellious spirit I didn’t even know I had. I straddled the bike, feeling the leather of the seat stick to the bare skin below my shorts and the heat of the engine seep through
~MARLOWE~I stared at my reflection, my features distorted within the fissures stretching the length of the bathroom mirror. My hands shook as I gripped the sink. Tiny droplets of red dripped from my hand, staining the porcelain red with my blood. Dropping my eyes, I stared at the cuts and gashes, my thoughts racing. Whispers of confusion filled my mind—Torin was alive. I’d suffered through a year of pain. Of grieving. Of walking a road of death that hadn’t been mine. How could he? How could he have done this? I had grieved over his casket, died with each toss of dirt placed upon it. Anger was a light emotion to the wail of fury that had arisen within me as I’d gazed at the features of the man who had taken my heart six-feet under with him.The door to the bathroom creaked open, and Tannin stepped in, her eyes widening at seeing the blood on the sink. "What the fuck Marlowe? Are you okay," she hissed, coming over to stand beside me as taking my hand in hers, she gazed at the mess I
I glared at Lucien. "You're going to regret this," I hissed, my voice filled with loathing."Doubtful," Lucien said with a sneer, his hand tightening around my neck. "But you're going to, for not cooperating."Blood pounded in my head from lack of oxygen and the room spun, but I knew I had to get out of this somehow. Using what strength I had left, I head-butted him.At the blow, he stumbled back, cursing, and I used the brief moment of respite to kick the chair from under me, landing hard on the floor.My legs had gone numb from the tight ropes, but I managed to get to my knees, my eyes scanning the room for anything to use as a weapon.As I saw a glint of metal in the corner, a knife, I lunged for it, my heart in my throat. But before I could reach it, the door slammed open and Rook burst in, his eyes wide with alarm."Marlowe!" he bellowed, drawing a gun.The two thugs that had brought me here had their weapons drawn, but they weren’t fast enough. Rook fired a shot, and one of them
"It seems, you’re my stepbrother,” I blurted. Then shrugging, I continued, “My mom…your dad."For a moment, something flickered in Lucien's eyes, something that might have been admission of former knowledge of the fact. But whatever it was, it was quickly hidden. "Okay, so?" he asked, his voice taking on a slight edge as he shifted a little straighter in his chair.“Well, don’t you think it makes our relationship a little…awkward?” I murmured."No. Do you?" Lucien's voice sounded like more of a snap than a question."Honestly? Yeah, I kinda do,” I returned, defensiveness entering my voice."And why should the fact your mom is married to my dad change anything between us?" he said, his laughter grating on my nerves like nails."Because we're family!" I exclaimed.Sitting straight up in his chair, he leaned across the table menacingly toward me, sneering, "You're not my family.”I stared at him, the hurt and betrayal burning in my chest. "You knew all along, didn’t you?"“That you’re my