"IT'S SETTLED. THE a.s.sholes are backing off with the cash, and we are in the clear," Pops says as we sit around the table at church. "Ralphie laughed his a.s.s off after I chewed him out for all the stops. I'm guessing he did it on purpose to be a f.u.c.king a.s.shole."

"Figures," Dagger grunts.

I nod in response.

"Buzz, tell me you've got something." Pops directs his eyes to the man we are counting on.

"I've narrowed it down." He looks around the room. "They are here in Georgia."

"You have got to be s.h.i.tting me!" GT explodes, rising from his seat. "Who the f.u.c.k is it? This s.h.i.t has to end now."

"We all agree, son," Pops says calmly. "Sit down and let's hear him out."

GT listens, sitting back down, the glare still in his gaze.

"I don't have much, just narrowed some of the data transmitters to here, but the state is f.u.c.king huge." Buzz sweeps his hand through his hair. "I'm getting closer, though."

That man has been working around the clock for days on cracking the computers. He deserves a h.e.l.l of a f.u.c.king party once this s.h.i.t is done.

"All right. What about our buddies Griff and Miller?" Pops asks, looking at Dagger and myself. Considering neither one of us were there, I'm not sure why.

I shrug.

"Griff should be found any day now, about two hundred miles from here. I have eyes on Miller. He hasn't said a word," Becs answers.

"Tanner said she saw Miller, and there was nothing. Said she also talked to Griff's wife who was distraught, but nothing has come back on them for the fire or for the a.s.s's disappearance," I include.

"Sounds good. Let's get out of here." Pops slams the gavel.

"COME ON." I grab Tanner's hand and pull her out the door of the two bedroom apartment that she insisted on getting with her mother. She's only been here a few days, but it was the first thing she insisted on. I wanted to lock her a.s.s up at my place about three miles from here; however, she didn't agree. I don't know why I let her have a choice in the matter. Regardless, it won't be long before I get her where I want her. If she's here in Sumner, I want her in my f.u.c.king bed, but for now, being in hers works fine.

"Where are we going?" she asks as I pull her to my bike and hand her the helmet, which she puts on with a smile on her face.

"It's a surprise."

"You know I love being on the back of your bike," she tells me as she throws her leg over and nestles behind me.

"Good thing, because I love you being back there, too."

She gasps. I only say what comes natural, and at that moment, that did.

She squeezes me as we pull off for a ride.

The day is beautiful: not too hot, not too cold, just f.u.c.king perfect. The wind around us while Tanner's wrapped around my body is the best f.u.c.king place in the world. I honest to G.o.d don't think I'll ever get enough of her.

We ride for hours, taking back roads as I show her around Sumner and the surrounding area. I want her to see her new home and show her the places that I've loved going to over the years. As we pa.s.s by places, I tap her arm and point to them, and she just nods her head. I'll explain everything to her later.

I pull the bike up to my place. It's nothing big, only a three bedroom log cabin that I bought as soon as I could afford it. I never had a home before this one. I helped a few buddies of mine build it. A lot of blood, sweat, and beer went into making the place, and I wouldn't change it for the world. It sits back on two acres with woods around it. It's serene and quiet. While I love being at the club, it does get to be a bit much at times. When I need some time, I come here.

I've brought Tanner here a couple of times, but we have never really stayed long. With getting her and her mother settled, it's been hectic. Hopefully, things will calm the h.e.l.l down now. That's why we're here today. I want to show her something.

I park the bike, and Tanner climbs off. She pulls off the helmet and flings her blondish red hair. f.u.c.k, that's hot.

I pull her to me and lay a searing kiss on her lips. Nope, never getting enough.

I lace our fingers together. "Come with me." I pull her around the back of the house and through the small path in the woods.

She follows, the swish of her boots on the gra.s.s right behind me.

I pause when I see it through the clearing, and Tanner inhales deeply.

"Oh, my G.o.d," she whispers.

I smile. I'm so f.u.c.king proud of this place. "I built it. It took me a couple of years, but I think it turned out great."

She pulls away from my hand and moves up the small stairs and into the grand gazebo I created by myself. It's not small. No, I had to knock out trees and make a huge clearing for it, but with the cedar boards, I made it into a huge octagon, incasing it with railing all around.

"This is beautiful, Rhys." Her eyes are wide as she takes everything in.

There is a large, wooden swing that hangs in one area; a grill built into the structure; and a hammock swings freely on one of the railing sides. The huge area in the middle has couches, chairs, and even a small fire pit. I added a hole in the top of the roof that can open and close when I have it on, which if I have to be honest, isn't much. I hardly ever get to come out here.

"You did all of this?" she asks, dragging her fingers over the fabric cushions of the couch.

"Yep. I don't get to come out here as much as I'd like, but it's peaceful." I walk over and snag her arm. "Sit."

We both take a spot on the couch, facing the fire pit that isn't lit. I wrap my arm around the back of the cushion and pull her to me. She feels so d.a.m.n right, so perfect when she snuggles her body up against mine.

We sit there for long moments in silence. I kick my feet up on the small table I made out of the leftover cedar and just enjoy life for the moment. Tanner shifts, getting comfortable, and then I rest my cheek on the top of her head. This right here is what's missing in my life. Then it hits me like a ten ton boulder, and I feel my body tighten.

My heart begins to pick up, and all of a sudden, my body is extremely hot. My mouth goes dry, and my grip tightens on Tanner. She's what I've been missing. Her. Tanner. She's it for me. This ... This is going to be my life from this point on-my club and my girl.

The tightness recedes, and something foreign takes its place. I don't want to call it love, because I don't believe I'm capable of that s.h.i.t, but it's something. The feeling is euphoria, and I f.u.c.king love it.

I suck in deeply, and Tanner hesitantly raises her hand cupping the side of my face. I try not to flinch, but I do a bit. She doesn't stop and I suck in deep something inside of me not allowing myself to back down from this. Tanner wouldn't hurt me and I need to trust in that. I haven't talked to her about my past because that is where I want to leave it. I need to look to the future.

"Are you okay?" she asks, but I can't answer, from the touch to the swirling emotions squeezing my insides tight. I can't.

I need to show her. I have to show her how much she means to me. I may not be able to say the words, because I don't fully understand it, but my gut is compelling me to show her.

I lay my hand on top of hers then guide her to my lips. Sparks combust as our lips touch. I've never done sweet before, ever. I can't help worrying that I'll f.u.c.k this up somehow, but I go with my gut and let it lead.

Tanner moves and straddles my hips, her hands coming to my face, and I freeze for a moment, saying nothing, then go back to kissing her.

I want her to touch me. I want her to claim me as hers. I want her to inflame me.

Her hot heat rests on my already aching d.i.c.k as both her hands cup my face, and she takes every opportunity to touch me. I have to admit, that s.h.i.t is getting me off.

I take my time exploring her s.e.xy as h.e.l.l mouth, memorizing each and every sound she makes when I touch her in different places. I've never thought kissing a woman could be so d.a.m.n powerful. With each movement of her lips, though, I can't get enough.

"Need you," I tell her, and she nods then stands up for me.

I slowly pull down her jeans, kissing her legs as I go, loving the feel of her shudders from my touch. I remove them as she lifts her feet for me, and then I rise, taking another mouthwatering kiss before I step back.

I slip my hands under my shirt, but her hand stops me.

"Let me," she says softly as she lifts the fabric from my body. Her nails trace down my chest as she makes her way to my jeans next. "You are so s.e.xy." She unb.u.t.tons my jeans and removes everything from the waist down. My d.i.c.k bounces on my abs, hard and ready, and my blood pumps as she rises enticingly.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I lift her, kiss her, and then lay her down on the couch. As I settle my hips between her legs, her foot comes to rest on my a.s.s while I devour her in another searing kiss, trying to pour into her the words that I'm not saying.

I place my d.i.c.k at her entrance where the heat is detrimental. I realize quickly I have no condom on. f.u.c.k. I reluctantly pull away to go to my pants and take care of that, repositioning myself.

I lace our fingers together and place them above her head. Entering her is heaven, but I go so slowly, so f.u.c.king slowly I'm sure I'm going to make myself crazy.

I make myself hold back, gliding in and out of her heat, building us both up slow and steady as we kiss with everything we have.

I pull away and look into Tanner's beautiful emerald eyes.

"Rhys?" she says questioningly.

I'm not sure what look I'm giving her, but she can tell this is different than the other times. This is special.

Instead of answering, I kiss her.

She rips her mouth away. "Oh, G.o.d," she yells, cutting my restraint.

I continue to hold her hands as I thrust harder and deeper, wanting to climb inside of her and claim her for the world to see. Her o.r.g.a.s.m hits, squeezing my d.i.c.k within an inch of its life, and I explode while looking into her eyes.

It's the best f.u.c.king experience I've ever had, and it was with her. My woman.

I LIE IN RHYS'S arms, allowing my heart to come to terms with what just happened. I've f.u.c.ked him enough times to know what just happened was something way more than that. It felt as if he were making love to me-sweet, l.u.s.tful, unconditional love. It's strange because part of me is right there with him, while the other is scared as h.e.l.l. I need to get over that, but how when your man has the reputation of s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g lots of other women?

I'm not that experienced, but I don't think I'm bad in bed. Rhys seems satisfied enough. What scares me is not being enough for him. What if he needs more than what I can give him?

His actions as of late show me every moment that he's thinking of no one but me. I need to go with that and hope that he takes care with me.

"You're thinking awfully hard there," he grumbles low as he strokes my hair while I lie on his chest, listening to the rise and fall of his breaths. Each puff helps to sooth my wayward thoughts.

"A lot to think about," I tell him. It's probably not the best time to get into some deep conversation when we're both completely sated and in our own little worlds.

"Talk to me." I close my eyes briefly at his command.

"Is this real, Rhys? I want this to be real." I speak with every bit of honesty, pain, and uncertainty pouring from each syllable.

He shifts us so our eyes are level, and he's holding me tightly to the couch so I don't fall. I wrap my arms around him and hold on. His eyes dance, making all the tough, scary lines of his face soften. I'm certain not many people get to see this side of Rhys, and I'm ecstatic to be one of them.

"It's about as real as it gets," he says as his eyes tell me he's in this the same way I am. "It can't get any closer, Sprite."

I kiss him with every bit of emotion I'm feeling, and he deepens it. My heart flutters and twists in my chest. I feel it. It's smacking me in the face. Rhys is mine.

"RHYS, I NEED to get a job, and this is perfect," I tell him, my hand c.o.c.ked on my hip and foot pointing out, going all b.i.t.c.h on him.

"I don't want you working there." He crosses his arms over his chest and widens his stance. It's scary, but I'm not backing down. I've been looking for a job around here for the past week, and there is nothing. I refuse to mooch off my mother. I have to support myself.

"Princess upped security, and I'll be working behind the curtain. They'll have to get through bouncers to get back to me," I try to reason with him.

When Princess offered me the job, at first I didn't think she was serious. Yeah, I helped out there once, but I thought she was just being nice. As time went on, however, she started pursing me harder, and I finally said yes.

"I don't give a s.h.i.t. Remember what happened?"

Do I ever.

"Yes, and it won't happen again," I retort. "I think it'll be a lot of fun."

Princess wants me to style the girls' hair before they go on stage, but on top of that, she wants me to color and cut each of them once a month. She is also offering me almost three times as much money as my other job, and it's shorter hours. I'd only be there for their initial dance, and then I'm gone.

"f.u.c.k!" he growls, swiping his hands through his hair in frustration. "I should just paddle your a.s.s."

"Rhys, it's a job. I'll hardly be there, and she's paying me a s.h.i.t load. You've gotta give this to me." I move closer to him and grab the front of his shirt. Some of the starch comes out of his spine as he sucks in a breath.

"I can't be there to keep those f.u.c.kers in line. You have to carry a gun."

While I should be shocked and mortified at this request, I'm not. Over this past week, I learned that everyone in the club carries, including Princess, Blaze, and Casey, whom I met briefly.

"Only if you teach me." I don't have the first clue what to do with a gun, let alone how to load and fire it. Yeah, no clue. I'm fine with learning, though.

"Fine," he growls, pulling me into him. His hand comes to the top of my head, and he kisses me on my temple. "If any of those f.u.c.kers touch a hair on your head, I'll f.u.c.king kill them."

At that, I smile. I've grown to like his overprotective side ... to a point. He tries to get more and more, but I still have a spine, and I've made sure he knows that. A prime example is this current conversation.

"Okay, babe," I tell him, burying my face in his neck and inhaling. I love being this close to him. I just can't get enough.

"And I'm f.u.c.king talking to Princess. I want someone on you the whole time. I don't give a s.h.i.t if I have to put a prospect on you for when I can't be there. I f.u.c.king will."

I hold onto him more tightly.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE you hooked up with Rhys," Casey says from the seat next to me while we converse in the clubhouse. "And look at him."

My eyes cut to him. He stands with his legs apart, the corded muscles of his arms crossed while a beer dangles from his fingers. His face is hard as he listens to whatever Dagger, Cruz, and GT have to say.

"What?" I ask, not seeing anything truly wrong. He looks p.i.s.sed, but when does he not?

"No, look at the couch." She points over as a club momma eyes Rhys up and down, not taking her stare off him for a moment. She wets her lips as she rises from the seat. My heart picks up as the woman saunters over to him, her hips swaying way too much to be considered normal. I want to get up and stop whatever is going to happen. My gut tells me to sit and watch, while my heart tells me I should guard it.

Her fingers graze his arm, and I clench my hands. She has her hands on him. Fury, the same as when I saw my mother's battered up body, hits me hard. It takes everything in me to keep my a.s.s planted in the seat.

"This'll be good," Princess says, sitting back in her chair and eyeing the show.

Rhys turns to the woman and lifts his chin, and my heart plummets. Is he inviting her? Is he welcoming her touch? No, he can't be.