Payback (Dueling Devils) (7 page)

The bike cut off and she unlocked the door, waiting in the doorway
.

He
walked up the well lit stairs. “Miss me, baby?”

His raspy voice washed over her. Her breasts grew heavy and her mouth dried out like a desert.
“Yes.” She bit the inside of her cheek and looked away. The intensity in his eyes scorched her.

He stepped
inside, wrapped his hands around her hips and lifted her up to eye level. Leaning in, he captured her lips.

T
he masculine spice that belonged only to him engulfed her senses. Warmth from his body seeped into her flesh. Her eyelids drifted shut. When they were together like this, her world narrowed to one point. Demon was the breath in her lungs, the fire in her belly and the center of her universe. The pressure resting on her chest all day eased.

She brought her legs up to circle
his waist and he ran a hand down to cup her ass. He gripped a large handful of hair in his other hand, pulling her face even closer .The meeting of mouths became violent as he bit her lip hard and used his tongue to sooth the sting.

A jolt of electricity shot through her body and she gasped.

“I want to be buried deep inside of you.” His vibrating voice made her belly flutter. “Matter of fact I think I will. How long have the kids been asleep?”

She cleared her throat. “A couple of hours.”

A wicked smile stretched his lips up, revealing blinding white teeth. “Good, then we won’t be interrupted.”

She glanced at the door, stunned to find it closed and locked. When she was with D, time
became distorted.
If
she didn’t know better, she’d wonder if he was some sort of renegade time lord.

He stalked down the hallway
while carrying her. “You want that don’t you baby? For me to fuck that sweet pussy of yours.”

The muscles in her belly flexed.
Her breath caught in her lungs as she fell deeper into the abyss that was Demon. Like the being he’d been named for, he’d sucked out her soul and claimed it for himself, binding them. He walked into the main room and smacked her ass.

“Oh.” She jerked in his arms.

“I want to hear you say it, Ardy. I know deep down, there’s a dirty little girl waiting to get out. You’ve been locked up and tied down with commitments not your own for far too long. I want to see you let go and fly free.”

“I am free.” She narrowed her eyes
while feeling confused.

“No
, you aren’t baby. I’m going to break you out of that shell and show you what life can be like and you are going to enjoy every minute of it.” He gripped her ass harder. “Now tell me, or I’m going to paddle this thick ass of yours.”

Her heart took off like a runaway horse and fresh gush of cream coated her panties.

“Or is that what you want me to do?”

His eyes darkened to that impossible black that told her he was about to put a hurting on her pussy.
“No.”

His hand came down on her ass, delivering firm blows in rapid succession.

The new play made her wetter than a well.

“Mistake one, don’t lie to me.”
He smoothed his hand over the protesting flesh of her ass.

“I—
I.”

“I know what you need baby
and I’m going to give it to you.” He strode over to the bed “You been bad girl, trying to hide your desires from me. My job is to keep you safe, happy and pleased. I aim to do all three.” He massaged her ass, setting her on fire.

She rubbed against him, feeling like an animal in heat.

He sank to the bed and she let her legs rest on the mattress.
He spun her around in his lap. “Spread your legs.”

Trembling, she complied.
What is he doing?

Demon
cupped her pussy. “This is mine now.” He unbuttoned the top of her shorts and slid his hand inside her panties. Let me hear you tell me you’re mine.” His calloused fingers circled her clit.

“I’m yours,” s
he whispered as her body shuddered.

He pinched her clit and she jerked. “That’s right. Which means I take care of you, so you need to listen to what I say, I’m your man now Ardy.”
He eased two fingers inside and she clutched his jeans. Her legs dangled over his and she rose up to meet his strokes. “Trust me to know what you’ll like,” he whispered the words in her ears, weaving a web of intimacy around them.

“D-d.” Her eyelids popped open and she tilted her head back to look at him.

“No, call me Jonah. When I’m this close, buried inside of you, I want to hear my given name on those luscious lips of yours. You’re so wet and tight.” He moved his fingers faster. “I want to hear you scream it when you explode. Give me your cream, baby.” He tilted his angle and she lifted up out of his lap. “That’s it baby, ride my fingers. So fucking sexy.”

Her walls trembled and she let go, coating his fingers.
Nerve endings exploded with sensation. She rode the wave a he continued to stroke her through the fireworks display going on beneath her lids.

“That’s just a sample baby. I hope you’re ready. Lift up.”

She forced her languid limbs to obey and helped him pull down the jeans. “Good girl, now get on the bed, on your knees and show me that ass.” He ran his fingers down her spine and she shivered.

She glanced over her shoulders and watched him undress. He was lean with defined muscles and a smattering of dark hair across his trail down his stomach.
The v at his lower belly begged to be licked. An ache began to form in her stomach and her moisture began to flow once more. The bed dipped with his weight and his body covered hers. His thick cock rubbed over her slick clit, bringing her clit back to life.

“D,” s
he whimpered.

“You like that baby? You’re so wet for me. You ready?”
He moved forward, piercing her needy center.

Ardy
clutched at his head.

He gripped her hips
, kneading her flesh as he slowly sank in.

Her walls
protested for a brief moment before he sank in. “So tight.”

She gasped, gripping the sheets.
“D…Oh, my God.”

“Exactly the opposite
, baby.” He chuckled as he pulled out, then slammed inside over and over.

Their bodies moved in sync.

“So good,
so good…” She moaned.

“Sit up baby.”

She rose on her knees and he reached around rubbed her clit. A strangled cry erupted from her throat. The slap of flesh against flesh filled the room. Her body shook. The wave rose.

“That’s it baby, come for me, take me with you.”

Demon’s dark whispers pushed her over the edge. Biting her lip to keep the scream in her throat silent, she exploded. White flashed beneath her eyelids. Slick warmth filled her center and her upper thighs.
Shit! They hadn’t used a condom.
“D, we didn’t use a condom.”

He grunted. “I don’t go bare with anyone else baby. You’re safe. I wouldn’t fuck you raw if I wasn’t sure of that.”

She huffed.
How can he be so flippant?

He rolled to his side, taking her with him, still inside her.
“I only get to be here for a few hours. Let’s just enjoy it.”

“Wait, you’re not staying?”
The afterglow disappeared. She glanced over her shoulder.

“No, I need to
be hands on with what I have going on. “

Her stomach bubbled. Questions lingered on the tip of her tongue. She knew he wouldn’t tell her, but that didn’t stop her from wondering. Swallowing her need to be
in the loop, she nearly bit her tongue. The last thing she wanted to do was start an argument before he left. Carefully choosing her words, she soaked in the warmth of his broad frame against her back. “Are we safe?”

“It may not look like it, but I have eyes on you at all times.”

“That’s creepy.”

“No, it’s necessary. But it won’t be for much longer.”

“Can you tell me anything?”

“Yeah, I’m taking care of it.”
He cupped her chin and leaned down to meet her gaze. “This business ain’t for you to know the details on. It’s how we do things, so you need to get used to it. I understand it was different back home. You were the one running things and giving orders. You don’t have to do that anymore.”

“I can’t just…
sit here and do nothing.”

“You’re doing plenty by taking care of the kids, so I can focus on what I need to do.” He leaned in and
brushed their mouths together. “Am I your man?”

His whispered words tickl
ed her lips and she shuddered. “Yes.” The swirling emotions in his dark eyes melted her resistance.

“Trust me to take care of you.” H
is hand wrapped around her throat and he caressed the side of her neck with his calloused thumbs. “You’re the heartbeat of the family. You keep the home together and my children safe. That’s a big deal. You think I let just anyone around Rocket and Harley?”

“No.” She licked her lips.

“Damn straight.” He nipped her bottom lip.

His cell phone rang
.

“Shit.” He released her and rolled off the bed.

Her skin protested the loss of warmth. She shivered in the chill of the room.

“Yeah? What! Are you okay Gia? Look
, stay there. I’m coming and I’ll bring Lefty with me. We’ll put some boys on security detail okay? Don’t worry, I got you.”

Gia.
Who is this woman? One where he’d run to her rescue?

He hung up and turned to her.
“I got to go babe.” He walked over to her and planted a swift kiss on her lips. “If you need anything, call me. If I can’t get away I’ll send a prospect. Any of them can be here in ten minutes, flat.

Ardy
remained silent as he dressed and rushed out of the room.
Who the fuck is Gia?
He cared about her, but they’d made no declarations of love and she wasn’t completely blind to the way bikers strayed. Is Demon one of those types? Had she misjudged him? Suddenly, their whirlwind courtship showed a lot of holes. She’d never been the jealous type, but right now, she wanted to pull out the unknown woman’ hair.
Is this what being his woman will be like? Late nights, alone wondering what he’s doing and bitches popping up from the past like daisies?
Her thoughts went back to Natasha.
Was she one in the line of many?
Even more important, what do I do if he is the cheating type?

Chapter Four

D
emon strode into the club. The scent of desperation and lust permeated the air, mingling with the fragrance of perfume the girls used and alcohol. Pounding bass traveled through his body as he weaved his way through the crowd, focused on reaching the office in the very back. The bikes out front told him a Lefty had beaten him here and brought two Prospects with him. He reached the club office, nodded to the bouncer and stepped inside.

“Thank God you’re here,” Gia said. She ran from
Lefty to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

The smell of vanilla and cinnamon surrounded him. He glanced at Lefty and caught a glimmer of pain.
Fuck.
Holding her arms, he carefully extracted himself. “You want to tell me exactly what happened?”

“Louis must’ve found about Michelle talking. I came
into open the club today and everything seemed fine, until I took my garbage out an hour ago. Her voice shook and her gaze darted around the room. “I saw her hair first. But I chalked it off as a discarded wig mixed in with the trash.” I started to walk away, but something stopped me.” Gia shook her head. “It sounds crazy telling it now, but once the idea popped into my mind I had to know for sure, so I went back inside, grabbed a broom and started to dig.” She swallowed heavily. “I hit something solid, so I started to focus on that area—and I saw her.” Her voice cracked. Her chest heaved. “She was pale, like a vampire and her eyes were glazed over. They look so different when there’s no life behind them. I finally understand the term dead eyes. There were think streaks of red around her pupil.”

She’d
been choked.

“But the worst part was her face. God
, I could barley recognize it. She was so black and blue and the slash across her throat.” Gia pressed a hand to her belly.”

“Keep it steady, G,”
Demon urged, giving her upper arms a quick squeeze.

She nodded her head. “That’s when I called you
and Lefty.”

“You did the right thing.”
Demon looked over at Lefty who shrugged. “Can you tell us anything else? Was there a note, or anything out of place?”

“No, that’s what scares me. Was this a warning or
a logical place to dump her body? Stripper meets a John at the club after hours and loses her life. It makes since. No one would bother to look into it really. Especially, given her record of drug abuse.”

“You make a good point, but I’m not sending you out there
, knowing it might be unsafe. He might be at your house now. He’s not the type of man to take a slight easily. He must’ve offed her for a reason. Wither she told, or he figured it out because he was trailing her. Either way, you need to be protected.”

“No, I’m not going to run an
d hide because of him,” Gia argued, crossing her arms over her chest.

“At this point, you don’t
have a choice. He’s not stable and things are only going to get uglier.”

“Where would I go? This club and my house are my life, you know that.”

“Everyone knows that. That’s the problem,” Demon said thinking on the fly. By now, Louis probably had her home and her business staked out. It’d be impossible to regulate who comes in and out of a strip club. “I’m working on that one.”

“Can I stay with you? I feel safe with you.”

Jesus shit, could this situation get any worse?
“I’m not at my old place anymore, G. Its’ snot safe right now.”

The hopeful expression faded from her e
yes. Her lower lip trembled. “W—wait, then where are you living?”

“A place out by the woods on some land I own.” He worked through his options. “You can stay with Lefty, he’ll keep you safe.”

“He’s always with you. What will happen to me then? You expect me to just be cooped up in some apartment for hours on end?”

“You wouldn’t be alone. We
’d leave you with a prospect.”

“Bullshit.” G
ia stomped her foot. “We got into this partnership together, because I wanted freedom to live my life the way I saw fit and have complete control over my business. You expect me to revert to the very thing I rebelled against?”

“Look
, I’m trying to keep you safe now, so stop giving me shit.”

“P
ick a better location then.”

Demon released her, pushed her
away and clenched his fists. “Keep pushing me and I’ll shut your ass down. You brought a lot of money our way. I like doing business with you G, but that fucking mouth of yours is killing me right now.”

“Am I really being that unreasonable?” She placed her hands on her hips. “
I’m fucking terrified and I’m clinging to what I know. I don’t want to be scared and alone, Demon. It’s not a good combination for anyone.”

“
Fine, come stay with us at the cabin then.”

Lefty
looked troubled and shook his head from side to side.

Demon shrugged.
He didn’t have time to fuck around with this. Any other bitch, he would’ve put in her place, but he liked Gia and he wanted her safe. “I don’t like the turn this is all taking. We need to get our shit together, so we can move on this fucker.”

“We’re looking everything up as quickly as possible. You know bikers don’t
make a habit of leaving a traceable trail,” Lefty explained.

“I don’t give a fuck. I don’t want the geek squad sleeping until they give me what I want.”

Lefty held up his hands. “Don’t kill the messenger brother. They’re typing their asses off as we speak.”

“Good.” Demon turned his attention to Gia. “
Look, put whoever you trust in charge. You’re going away for a while. I’m not going to risk the back and forth from here to the cabin, putting my family in danger. You ride on the back of my bike…leave everything. I don’t trust it to not be rigged or tracked.”

“What about clothes?”

“I’ll have someone pick you up something. You got five minutes to get your shit together, so we can leave. You already call in a cleaner?”

Gia nodded. “Good girl, now go do what I told you.”

She strode off, closing the door behind him.

“Dude, what the fuck are you thinking
, bringing her to the cabin right now?” Lefty asked.

“What? It’s not like I’m going to fuck her.”

“NO, but you have. You think Ardy’s going to be okay with that?”

“I don’t have time for petty bullshit.”

Lefty shook his head and released a deep sigh. “Brother, you are too smart to be this stupid. You should’ve told her to shut the fuck up and deal with the alone time at my place.”

“Is this about Ardy, or the fact that you got a hard on for Gia?” Demon narrowed his eyes and studied Lefty’s blotchy face.

“Don’t turn this shit around.”

“I’m not. I’m asking a legit question. I thought you were going
to rush my ass when you saw her run to me.”

“You got an Old lady. The shit between you is over, unless you plan on doing Ardy dirty?”

“The fuck!” Demon stepped closer to him. “Come at me wrong again and I’m going to lay your ass out, brother or not. Whatever you got jumbled up in that thick ass skull of yours needs to be fixed. I need your head to be on straight for this.”

“Yeah. I’m here,” Lefty muttered
.

“Look
, I found my forever. You got nothing to worry about from me.” Demon patted Lefty on the chest.

The door opened and a sullen faced Gia walked in. “I’m ready.”

An hour later, Demon pulled up into the driveway, cut the engine and rubbed his burning eyes. His contacts were nearly dried out from the lack of sleep and the wind. He slipped off the bike with Gia on his heels. “Everyone is probably passed out. I’ll show you to the spare room and we can get everything sorted in the morning.”

The motion light turned on and they walked up the grassy pathway to the front porch.
With every step, his boots seemed to grow heavier. Clearing the stairs, he unlocked the door, waved Gia inside and followed behind her, shuffling his feet like a zombie. “Alright, the guest room is the second door on the right. The bathroom is directly across from it. “He pointed to his right. “The kitchen is that way. The fridge and the cabinet are stocked, so feel free to grab whatever you want.”

“I just want to crash right now.” Gia shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m going to do right now.” He walked off, eager to hold onto his own personal slice of heaven bundled in covers that smelled of their mingled scents. Ardy was his one simple thing in his complicated life. She accepted him as he was and offered up affection and comfort. The feel of her soft body pressed into his, set him at ease and allowed him to sleep. It’d been a long time since he could sleep the entire night soundly.

He stepped
into the room and shut the door, sealing the world outside. The moonlight spilled through the window putting her on display. Her curly mop of hair stuck out the top of the sheets and her body formed an s shape. Stripping down, he crawled in behind her, placing a hand on her waist.

Arty
snuggled back into him and he buried his nose in her hair inhaling the clean, citrus smell. “Demon.” She mumbled.

“Yeah
, it’s me baby.” He brushed her hair out of her face and placed a kiss on her cheek, absorbing the sweetness radiating off her in invisible waves.

“Everything okay?”

He squeezed her. “It is now.”

“
Mm-hmm.” She hummed. “Missed you.”

“I missed you too, baby.”
They lapsed into silence and as he drifted off, he felt his heartbeat sync to hers. He never thought he’d find someone to spend his life with. It wasn’t really the norm in the biker society. They lived to ride and be free. A relationship put a restriction on that, unless the woman was like minded, or damned understanding. Natasha had never been his old lady. Just a baby mama. His mind conjured up imaged of Ardy round with his child.
She’d be such a good fucking mom. Hell, she already is one now, for the most part.
The thought of making shit official pleased him.
Maybe after all this shit is over.
Sleep overcame him and he drifted off with images of a ring on Ardy’s finger and a family that made a man happy to come home at the end of the day.

The sound of hushed whispers pulled Ardy from her sleep. She frowned, not recognizing the female
voice far too old to be Harley.
No, this motherfucker did not bring some skanky bitch up in here and expect me to just deal with.
She sat up in bed, tossed the covers away from her body and ground her teeth. A red haze swept over her. So far, she’d accepted everything that came with this lifestyle, but here she drew the line. Ready to go to war, she stepped from the bed and chose her outfit carefully. Her parents hadn’t raised a pushover and she’d be dammed if she gave up everything she knew, only to be unhappy. Dressed in a pair of black jean shorts, a black tank top and a pair of chucks, she artfully applied her makeup, going heavy on the liquid eyeliner. Completing the look with red lipstick, she squared her shoulders and walked out into the hallway.