Sanctuary (Freaks MC Book 2) (17 page)

“
I'm gonna fucking kill that prospect. It was his idea.”

“
Can't kill him, brother. He's got his top rocker now.”

“
Fuck.” Tiny looked around. “Where is he?”

“
Dunno, last I remember he was tripping out on those shrooms and buried deep in that blonde with the big tits.” Samson smiled at the memory. Nothing would ever match that first party with a full patch on your back. “Kid was having a ball.”

They sat in silence for a while, sipping the strong black coffees that had miraculously appeared in front of them. Samson's cell buzzed, and ignoring Tiny's smirk, he pressed answer. “Hey.”

“Hey. How bad are you hanging?”

“
About a seven – eight if I move too quickly.”

Emma laughed – unnecessarily loudly. “Ouch, Poor baby.”

“I might actually be dying. This could be the last conversation we ever have, so be nice, huh.”

“
I'm always nice. It's my default setting. Actually I'm calling for a favor.”

“
Sure, what do you need?”

“
Anton – y'know, the guy who owns the gallery – sent a check and it bounced, so I need you to collect what he owes me. I'll tell him you're coming so he doesn't call the cops as soon you walk through the door. And only accept cash.”

“
You want me to lean on the gallery owner?”

“
No, I want you to collect my cash so that I can pay the delivery guy for the tiles. Do Not Bring Tiny.”

“
You saying Tiny's a scarier motherfucker than I am?” His brother turned a bloodshot eye on him and smirked.

“
No, I'm saying you know how not to be scary. Tiny just is.”

“
Oh, okay. I'll drop by on my way home. See ya, baby girl.”

~ oOo ~

There were few places that Deke felt uncomfortable, but as he stepped through the gallery door, he was acutely aware of how wrong he was in a place like this.

There was a tall, well dressed, middle aged man talking to a woman who had clearly never heard the maxim 'Less is more.' Even across the room her perfume assailed his senses, and while she obviously believed that she was rocking the bohemian look, the reality was somewhat different. His girl – in her thrift store clothes – always looked hot as hell, but this woman just looked ridiculous.

He recognized the look she gave him as he made his way to the antique desk: Fear and lust. Even without his cut, he knew he was an intimidating guy, but he also knew that women loved it. Maybe in the past, he would have capitalized on it; a few choice words and a spin on his bike would be all it took to get Mrs. More Money Than Taste to part with her panties, Samson knew how it worked. But now she held no interest as he ignored her and nodded to the man she was talking to. “You Anton?”

“
I am. And you must be Deke.” Anton smiled. “Please take a seat, I'll just get Emma's payment.”

Deke sat and looked around as Anton disappeared out back. His eyes fell immediately on Emma's paintings. He didn't pretend to be an expert, but it was clear that her work outshone everyone else's.

Anton sat down and laid an envelope on the desk. “Please apologize to Emma for me, it was a genuine error on my part, and I really don't want to lose her.” He smiled. “She has a rare talent.”

Deke reached for the envelope, but Anton laid a hand on it. “I'll need to see some ID. While the chances of there being another – he glanced a scrap of paper in front of him – 'big scary looking biker, beard, long blonde hair, pretty eyes, walks with a slight limp. Will park that goddamned bike right outside the front door' – are remote, I can't just give Emma's money to anyone who walks in off the street.”

“Of course.” Deke grinned and handed over his driver's license. “Good to see you're looking out for my ol' lady.”

As he was leaving, a group of small sculptures caught his eye and he smiled. Shit, Tiny would love those.

~ oOo ~

The house – on the outside at least – was almost complete. They'd used the original foundations, and it looked almost exactly the same as the original, although Emma had plans for a
sun room on the back in the future. Inside was different. The second bedroom had been sacrificed to give them a bigger kitchen, and they had decided to build a guest room in the attic space, despite Bugs' misgivings about the space a staircase took up. The neglected yard, too, was undergoing a transformation – Emma style. She'd acquired a goat, who was currently munching his way though the scrub, and at every opportunity, she was out cutting back overgrown bushes and rebuilding fences.

Deke dismounted and wandered over to where she was playing with her new toy, a chainsaw, courtesy of Tiny. Resisting the urge to snatch it from her, he stood back, watching as she felled a small tree she'd insisted was diseased, and grinned as she turned around and shot him a look of triumph.

“Hey, little lumberjack.”

Emma pulled off her goggles and threw the gloves on the ground. “Hey. How's the hangover?”

“Pretty much gone. I picked up some bagels and shit. You hungry?”

“
I am, actually.” She ran her tongue along her top lip and pressed herself against him.

He could smell the tree bark in her hair. “Jesus, woman. Sometimes I swear you only want me for my body.”

“Actually it's for your money and lavish lifestyle.” She pulled down the zipper on his hoodie and slipped her hands inside. “I just tolerate your body.”

“
Oh, that's okay, then. So you gonna tolerate it indoors, or we gonna fuck in front of the goat again?”

SEVENTEEN

Wild horses wouldn’t get him to admit it, but Emma may have been right when she'd said he wasn't fit to ride. Spending three days on the road had nearly crippled him, and even with regular breaks and after a full night’s sleep, he could barely drag himself out of bed and across the shitty little motel room to the shower. He could have stayed at the Tucson clubhouse, but he'd hardly been able to walk, and he didn’t want word to get out just how bad he still was.

He had been asked to sit at the Tucson table while the President was in hospital for a routine operation. The vice President was impulsive and inexperienced, and Mace, the President, thought that the nomad would be a steadying influence on him. The charter was peaceful and, like Seattle, most members had jobs away from the club, but they did run a lucrative bounty hunting business which had earned Samson a good deal of cash in the past, so he was happy to oblige.

He was still limping slightly as he crossed the clubhouse, but the hot shower had eased his the worst of his pains. He grinned and joined Lucas and Benny at the bar. “Good to see you, brothers. How’s Mace?”

“Doing good, but he’s gonna be grounded for a couple of months at least.” Lucas grinned. “Good to see you back on your feet. I heard you were busted up pretty bad.”

“
Yeah, luckily I landed on my head.” Samson leaned back against the bar. “I ain’t fully fixed yet, but I’m fit enough to help you to keep you fuckers in line.”

~ oOo ~

The last two months had passed in a blur. Emma had sold off three more canvases and was working on a large commission piece, found herself a nearly new kitchen as well as finding a part-time job in a gift shop in Aberdeen.

Her days had been full, and she’d had no time to think. Her nights, however, had been different.

From the moment she lay her head on her pillow, Deke invaded her thoughts. If she’d thought him being away was tough before, it had been a picnic compared to now. She knew he wasn’t fit, and not wanting to bother Beth with her fears, all she could do was worry. He’d called, but if anything that made things worse. She didn’t want to be whiny and needy, but he was being so vague and evasive all the time, and it was putting her on edge. So much so, that the last couple of times he called, she hadn’t answered.

She was starting to think that maybe she wasn't cut out to be an old lady after all.

~ oOo ~

Samson had been in Tucson for eight weeks. He hadn’t ridden much; in fact, he hadn’t done much at all. He’d sat around in the office, taking calls from bail bondsmen, visited Mace in the hospital, and taken the VP’s seat in church. But apart from that, he rested.

Emma had been right; he wasn’t ready to be out on the road. He worried, too. He’d left her alone, practically unprotected in the middle of nowhere, and now she’d stopped answering his calls. It had been nearly three days, and although Bugs had seen her at the house, he was getting increasingly concerned. Even Beth said she hadn’t spoken to her for days.

In a couple of days Mace would be ready to retake the gavel, and he could head back up north, just for a day or so, and check on his girl.

~ oOo ~

Emma scowled at the goat and put her hands on her hips. “Get down off there.” The goat eyed her defiantly from his position on top of the
pile of rubble and remained firmly where he was. “Sammy, I'm not telling you again. Get down.”

She hadn't told Deke that she'd named him Samson. As it was, the damned thing had been a bone of contention between them. He'd insisted that getting the big billy was a bad idea. She'd get attached and want to keep him after he'd cleared the yard, and then he'd eat everything she grew. Emma had assured him that she wouldn't, that she would re-home him as soon as his job was done. Of course no one would actually want a big old, stubborn billy goat and she'd already allocated a space for him. The yard had more than enough space, and when he wasn't escaping or eating the washing from her line, he was quite sweet. She took a step towards him and he lowered his head, threateningly. “Do not even go there, big fella.” She rustled the bag in her pocket. “Come down and get back in the yard and you can have some candy.”

She could almost see the internal debate inside his head. He liked standing on the rubble and if he followed her, she'd shut him in again, but he really liked candy. Eventually the candy won out and he trotted behind her towards the back yard to get his reward.

She fed him his candy and secured the gate. She wasn't sure how Sammy had opened it - maybe Bugs or one of the guys had left it open – when the familiar sound of a Harley broke the silence.

Deke was hardly off his bike before she threw herself into his arms. He laughed and, cupping her face in his hands, kissed her. “Miss me?”

“Nah.” She squealed as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “Deke! Your back.”

“
Quiet, woman. My back's fine.” He slapped her ass and strode towards the princess house.

It certainly seemed fine as he threw her on the bed and pulled off her Uggs, then pushed her dress over her head. “Miss me?”

“Nah.”

Pinning her to the bed by her shoulders, he leaned over her and kissed her. Hard. “Miss me?”

“Nope.” Oh, sweet Jesus. She could feel his wonderful thick cock through his jeans as he pressed himself against her. She needed to touch him – to pull him closer – but she was still pinned firmly to the bed as his mouth moved down her throat, stopping – oh god – just there. “Deke.”

He lifted his head and grinned. “Miss me?”

“Deke.”

“
Miss me?”

She needed him so much. Every atom cried out for his touch, and she wondered if it was actually possible to die of lust. He brought his mouth close to her ear; just the touch of his breath on her skin was enough to send her crazy. “Miss me?”

“Yes! Yes! I missed you. Every second of every day, I missed you, goddammit. Now take your fucking clothes off.”

It was so good... The best. She loved their soft lovemaking, their playful fucks, loved bike fucks. But homecoming fucks... When their hunger for one another was so all consuming. When his ferocity was both wonderful and terrifying - Emma cried out as he slammed inside her – When it felt she would die if he didn't stop and would die if he did. When - her body arched – when he did that. “Yessss. I missed you.”

“
Emma.”

“
Mmm?” She snuggled closer into his chest, reluctant to open her eyes.

“
Why'd'ya stop answering my calls?”

“
I dunno. It was just easier, I guess.”

“
Easier how?” He didn't sound pissed, but she could feel his body stiffen.

She sighed. “Before... When you went away, I never heard from you, never knew if I'd even see you again. I still worried.” She ran her finger down his chest. “But I could just push it all away, somehow. But now, whenever I speak to you. It just... I worry so much, Deke. I can't shove it to the back of my mind anymore.”

“I'm sorry, baby girl.” He pressed his lips against her head.

“
It's not your fault. And you're here now.” She sat up and stretched. “You hungry?”

“
Sure.” As she was about to stand, he grabbed her hand. “We okay?”

“
Never better, big guy. I just freaked myself out, is all.”

~ oOo ~

“So let me get this straight. You want me to have dinner with your faggot friend and his boyfriend.” Deke dropped the wrench into the toolbox and straightened up.

“
Felix really wants to meet you, and he's a sweet guy. You'll like him. C'mon, Deke. It's a few hours out of your life. Please, this means a lot to me.”

Maybe his brothers would have told their ol' ladies in no uncertain terms that it wasn't going to happen, but his brothers weren't faced with huge blue eyes that would look all sad and shit if they said 'no.' He sighed. “I don't have to kiss them or anything, do I?”

“No, big guy. It's just a meal. You will come away with your masculinity intact.”

~ oOo ~

For six-foot-four of muscle-bound biker, Deke really could do the best impression of a sulky six year old. Emma grinned as he dismounted and followed her to the huge waterfront house. “I'll make it up to you, big guy. I promise.”

“
Damn straight. I'm gonna want blow jobs for a week for this. An' if this gets back to any of my brothers, you can sleep with the goat.”

“
It'll be our secret. Now play nice.” She rang the bell and slipped her hand into his. “Who knows, you might even enjoy yourself.”

“
I hate you.”

The door opened and Emma found herself being pulled into a warm embrace. “Hey, Felix. This is Deke.”

“Deke. It's so nice to finally meet you.” Felix smiled. “Emma has told me so much about you.”

Deke nodded. “Likewise.” He followed them inside and looked around. “Nice place you got here. Those sculptures sell well, huh?”

“Oh no. This is James' place. He's a lawyer, I'm just a kept man.” Felix led them into a huge kitchen. “James, our guests are here.”

James turned from whatever it was he was stirring and smiled. “Ah, Emma, so nice to see you again. And you must be Deke. Wow honey, you really weren't exaggerating.”

Emma laughed at Deke's scowl. “Yep, he really is the hottest man in Seattle.”

Felix sighed. “Such a waste. Come on you two, let's make ourselves comfortable in the den. James gets tetchy if we interfere with his cooking.”

“
So Deke, you are part of that biker gang, is that correct?” James poured more wine into Emma's glass.

“
Club.” Deke stabbed the steak with his fork.

“
I'm sorry, my mistake. So what do you ride?”

“
Right now, I'm riding a Dyna. Ain't nothing special, but I'm looking to get her chopped as soon as we got some spare cash. Right now all our money is going to the build.”

“
Yes, Emma said you were in the process of building a house. Actually I may be able to help you out there. I have an old tourer in the garage – I think I was having some weird midlife crisis when I bought it – it's been a complete bitch ever since I got it. I've no idea what's wrong with it, but I think it's the fuel pump or something. If you could fix it up and sell it for me, I'd give you a percentage of the proceeds. I have no idea what it's worth, but it should get you some shiny new forks and risers.”

“
Sure, I'll take a look at it. Ain't sure if I'll have time to fix it up for you, though. I'm hitting the road soon, but I can get one of my brothers to work on it if you like.”

“
I'd really appreciate that.” James turned to Emma. “You don't mind me stealing him for a while later, do you?”

“
Nope. Just be gentle with him.”

Felix snorted his wine out of his nose as Deke scowled. “Oh, stop teasing him. The poor love is rapidly losing man points here.”

Emma giggled and squeezed Deke's thigh. “Oh, Deke has more man points than he knows what to do with. He's all caveman.”

“
Oooh, maybe I can steal him when James is done.”

“
I'm right here, people.” Deke tipped the last of his beer down his throat. “I would just like it noted that I'm a badass motherfucker, so tread carefully.”

“
Oh, I don't doubt it, sweetie. But I think when it comes to Emma you are an absolute pussycat.”

Grinning, Deke planted a kiss on her temple. “You got me there, man. She's got me wrapped around her finger so tight, it ain't true.”

“Aw. That is so cute. You sure I can't persuade you to bat for the other side?”

“
I know I'm pretty fucking irresistible, but you're gonna have to suck it up, pretty boy, I don't suck cock.”

“
Too bad. You are one lucky bitch, Emma.”

“
I know.” She kissed Deke on the cheek. “I love your macho ass.”