I feel powerful. s.e.xy. Unstoppable.

"Come on, dirty girl. Your turn." He bends at the waist and helps me up to my feet. Before I can wipe my mouth, he smashes his lips to mine, finding my tongue in desperate need, and strokes me to a new kind of ecstasy. l.u.s.t.

I'm consumed by everything he gives me. Everything he takes from me.

Jesus, the man can kiss.

He continues to kiss me for what feels like hours, until I'm pushed back against the counter.

"Up." He drops to his knees, while I climb up and spread my legs open for him.

"Jesus, I'll have to f.u.c.k your mouth every day, darlin'. You're dripping for me." He pushes his tongue between his teeth and with a devilish grin lifts it in two quick flicks.

Oh, G.o.d, yes please.

"Hands beside you, flat on the counter," he orders, but this time I don't want to comply.

"No. I want to touch you." His eyes narrow at first, waiting for me to submit, but I don't.

"Please, Beau," I push, needing this more than he knows. I know he said it would be like this, but I need to connect with him on this.

"I'll give you this one today, but next time you learn what happens when you disobey me." He shakes his head before lightly nipping at my thigh.

My fingers move to his hair, spreading wide to pull the length between them. I want to ponder on what kind of punishment I would find myself taking, but time ceases to exist when the rough tingle of his beard lets me know his mouth is there. A moment later, his tongue spears my c.l.i.t and two fingers fill me.

I block out everything else, too lost in what his fingers and his tongue are doing to me.

All thoughts of punishment gone.

"Do you have any other family alive?" I ask later that afternoon as we lay in bed naked. After Beau made me come with his mouth on the counter, twice, we sat and ate breakfast before racing back to bed where Beau made me come apart with his c.o.c.k.

We've spent the rest of the day switching between the kitchen and Beau's bed. I shouldn't be able to walk, let alone talk with how many o.r.g.a.s.ms I've received in the last twenty-four hours. But I can and now we've started, I don't want to stop.

"Only the club left," he answers, his finger trailing soft circles along my neck.

"Did you grow up in Rushford?" I keep the questions coming. It's the first time I've ever felt Beau is completely relaxed to open up.

"Yeah, grew up with Nix and the club. What about you? You always lived here?"

"I grew up in Los Angeles. My mom and dad were actors."

"Yeah? Movies?"

"No." I laugh. "I should say aspiring actors. They were in a few TV commercials, but my mom and dad were free spirits. They never really had a serious job, always floating from place to place."

"How did they die?"

"When I was twelve they were in a car accident. I was at a friend's house for the night. They were driving out to a party when a drunk driver ran a stop sign. My mom died instantly. My dad died three days later."

"Sucks, darlin', losing your parents so young." He presses his lips to the side of my head, offering me comfort.

"Yeah, it was hard, I had to move to Redwick to live with my nan. I hated it at first, but every day was better than the last. My nan was great. She let me adjust, and have my moments until I finally came around. I took it hard when she died five years ago. She was the last of my family." He squeezes me closer, breathing in my scent.

"I felt the same way when my ma died." He offers his own story. "My sister, Missy, died first. It was tough on all of us, but Ma, she was a mess. Thinking back now, part of her died that day too. Then two years later when we all just got back to a good place, Dad died suddenly one morning. Aneurism. f.u.c.king brutal. By the time she was diagnosed with cancer the following year, she was ready to go. It was bittersweet. I knew she didn't want to fight, so in the beginning, I was fighting harder for the both of us."

My heart breaks a little for him. To suffer the loss of his whole family over a period of a few years can't be anything short of agony.

"It took a while for me to forgive her, leaving me for them. But I understand it now. She lost too much."

I don't know what to say. I mean what could I say?

Nothing.

I don't offer words. I simply let him continue to stroke my hair, the silence comforting enough for both of us.

We must have drifted off shortly after, because the next thing I know, Beau's shifting me off his chest to answer his cell phone.

"Yeah?" he answers in greeting.

I roll to my side and check the clock.

Just after six.

We'd fallen asleep for four hours.

"Yep. Can do." He opens the drawer of the nightstand, grabs a pen and a pad of paper, writing on it quickly.

"Yeah, probably four hours." He continues to write. "Okay, thanks." He ends the call and then starts typing out a text.

"Everything okay?"

"Sorry, darlin'. I gotta head out." He drops his phone to the nightstand, presses his knee to the bed, and leans over to kiss me. I want to ask him why, but I know it's for someone in need.

"Okay," is all I say, before returning his kiss. He doesn't take it deep, just peppers three more along the corner of my mouth then pulls back.

"You wanna stay at the clubhouse tonight, or I can see if one of the guys can keep an eye on the house?" He moves toward his dresser and takes out a pair of boxers, stepping into them.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll be fine here. And don't bother anyone." I know Beau has been having some of the guys come and sit out the front whenever he's away. Something I feel guilty about.

"Not gonna leave you all night. Gotta go out to Henderson, and back. Won't be home till early morning. It's either clubhouse or one of the guys will come around." The last thing I want to do is head into the clubhouse. I just want sleep.

"I'm sure I can handle one night on my own." I shake my head at his concern. Beau has the whole place set up with a security system. I'm as safe here as I am there; besides, there's no threat to me here. Surely by now he realizes it.

"I'll call Hunter." He ignores me and tugs on a pair of jeans, this pair almost black.

"No, don't. I'll be okay. I'll have a bath, find something to eat and then head back to my own room," I add, not sure what the etiquette is. We live together in the roommate capacity. Does that mean we still sleep in our own beds?

"You're not sleeping in here?" He looks over at me, still half-dressed.

"I mean it's your bed. I have my own bed next door." I shrug, not really sure what to say. Does he want me to stay in his bed when he isn't here? Do I only come in here when we have s.e.x?

Why does s.e.x make you stupid?

"Want you in my bed, darlin', but if you're more comfortable in your room, I'll climb in there." He sits on the end of the bed and pulls his boots on.

"You don't think it's weird me being here while you're gone?" I press on, voicing my unease.

"f.u.c.k no. The only thing wrong with the idea is I'll be thinking about it all night. Probably have a semi half the night. Jesse will probably give me s.h.i.t."

I laugh at the image. Yeah, Jesse will so give him s.h.i.t. "I'll see how it goes," I finally say, watching him stand and put on his cut.

"Okay, but so you know, coming home to you in my bed would be a f.u.c.king dream." He leans down and kisses me one last time. "Be thinking of ya, darlin'." He stands to full height, and without a backward glance, he leaves me naked in his bed.

It's not until later when I see Hunter's truck parked across the road I realize he didn't listen.

It makes me fall a little more for him.

Past

Mackenzie

"I don't know what you're f.u.c.king thinking here." A voice pulls me out of my groggy sleep and back to reality.

The past twenty-four hours come flooding back and then I realize I'm in a hospital.

"Don't start your s.h.i.t right now, Sy," Beau's voice answers and I keep still, wondering what they're talking about.

"She's f.u.c.king dangerous. Look who she's connected to. This is bad s.h.i.t, Beau."

Me. They're talking about me.

"What the f.u.c.k is your problem, Sy? You think I'm gonna walk away from her? I'm following this through. If you want to leave, fine. f.u.c.k off. But we're all this woman has right now. I'm gonna take her out of town away from that abusive-a.s.s husband, with or without your help." I hold my breath, then slowly let it out as I realize this man is truly going to save me.

"I'm not saying to leave her here. I'm saying call Tiny in. Have someone else do this. I'm worried about you. I haven't seen you like this before."

The room falls silent, the insistent beeping of the machine grows louder the longer no one talks.

Like what?

After what feels like ten minutes I decide to give up my facade and release a soft whisper, like I'm just stirring from sleep.

"Mackenzie?" My voice is called and I slowly open my eyes. Beau is sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed, Sy standing by the door.

"How did it go?" I take stock of my body, but can barely lift my head. The drugs are doing their job. Even my face is numb.

"Everything ran smoothly. They were able to reset your arm."

I don't answer, but nod as I try to move myself up to a sitting position. "When can we go?" I look toward Sy and see him quietly a.s.sessing me.

Oh, G.o.d. He scares me.

"Tomorrow. They want you to stay the night here, and then once you receive the all clear, we'll be on the road." Beau stands and pa.s.ses me the remote to control the bed.

"I'm gonna go check in with Nix. Be back." Sy turns and leaves us alone.

"I don't think he's too happy," I murmur, more to myself than Beau.

"He has his head up his a.s.s over his woman. Just ignore him. I do." He rests back in his chair and stretches his feet out in front of him. Faded jeans, scuffed boots. I don't say anything for a few minutes, until I can't help but want to engage with him.

"Beau, why do you do this? Help women." He regards me for a long while, and I wonder if I've overstepped some line I didn't know was drawn.

"Ten years ago, someone close to me lost their life because she didn't leave." His face darkens, his brow dipping low, and then he shakes his head clear. Like he can't believe he just shared a little of himself.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Beau."

"Nothing to be sorry about. Now get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow." He shuts down any more chances for me to talk. Deciding sleep sounds appealing, I rest my head back and let my eyes fall shut. He's not leaving. I'm safe.

"Beau," I call one last time, hoping he answers.

"Yeah?"

"I bet your special someone would be proud you do this." I hope to offer him some kind of peace.

"Thanks, darlin'. I hope so." His reply is soft, gentle and if you could breathe hope from my words alone, you'd swear he was trying.

"I know so," I whisper just before sleep takes me.