Thanking Her Hero (Steel Daggers MC Book 2) Page 5

  ∞∞∞

  Later that afternoon

  “I thought we were going to the grocery store,” I ask after Harrison turns right instead of left like he needs to.

  “We are.”

  “Which one?” I probe.

  “Will you just be patient.” He laughs, and the butterflies in my stomach flutter around. I can be patient, for him, I can do just about anything.

  When he pulls into the parking lot of our towns only jewelry store I can only hope that we’re here for what I think we are. I nibble on my bottom lip, trying to keep my excitement at bay.

  “You ready Angel?”

  I nod and wait for him to get me. When he comes around to the side and opens my door, he stops me from getting out. He places his hands on my thighs and looks me in the eyes.

  “Chelsea, since the day I met you, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I spent the last few months making sure that when you were ready, I was able to give you everything you deserve. I picked the house for us to raise our family in and I found a vehicle that’s safe for you and our children. I did this while you were healing. I did this to prepare for our life together. I want you to choose this part. If it were up to me, I’d tattoo my name all over your body so no one would have any doubt as to who you belong.”

  “I’m sure you do.” I giggle and wipe my tears away. This man keeps giving, and I hope he knows it’s more than enough.

  He helps me down, and we walk into the store hand in hand, facing our journey together. It takes me all of fifteen minutes to find the ring that feels like us. I chose a platinum band with a 1.5-carat princess cut diamond. It’s bold and straightforward, just like our love.

  Eleven

  Chelsea

  Two weeks later

  “I was talking to Ryker last night.”

  I raise my eyebrows because those two don’t do a whole lot of talking when people aren’t around.

  “What? We talk! I mean we have sex too, but we do talk Chels!”

  I laugh, and she smacks me in the arm. “Okay, okay. I believe you. So, you were “talking.” I say making the quote symbols with my fingers.

  “Whatever. I’m not telling you. You’ll just have to wait until you get to work to find out.”

  “Honestly, I think I’m ready to quit. I’m in a good place now, and Harrison keeps telling me to do what I want. There’s no reason for me to not use my degree. I miss playing with numbers every day. They make sense, ya know?”

  “Sure, whatever you have to tell yourself. Your degree is bor-ing!”

  “Anyway, what did you two talk about?”

  “Funny you should bring up wanting to quit. He was busy in his office last night, working late like he has been for the past week. I don’t think he’s used to having me there taking up all his time because he’s gotten behind on billing and payroll. I may have told him that you have a degree in Finance and that he should probably talk to you about helping out.”

  “And…”

  “He liked the idea. Said he’d talk to you about it today when you came in for your shift.”

  I hug my friend across the table. “Thank you Emersen! I was starting to get bored waiting tables. This will definitely give me more of a challenge.”

  “I’ve got more news.” She says, bursting at the seams. Oh, here it is, she’s going to tell me she’s pregnant.

  “I took a test this morning. Okay, I took three, because I couldn’t believe the first and the second. I’m pregnant! Can you believe it?”

  I give her that look, the one that says, ‘you’re kidding right.’

  “Shut up. Don’t even say it. I don’t want to be compared to bunnies or whatever other animal that has lots of sex and babies.” She says pointing at me before I even get a word out.

  “I was going to say congratulations, you crazy lady. Hormones getting to you already?” She glares and throws a chip at me. I laugh and then laugh some more. The next nine months are going to be hilarious.

  Emersen and I spend the rest of the afternoon stuffing our faces with chips and salsa, then doing a little bit of shopping before I drop her off at home so I can go get ready for work.

  ∞∞∞

  When I arrive for my shift, it’s already seven o’clock and dark. I’m supposed to call someone to come escort me when I work these late shifts, and usually, I do. I’m too excited thinking about Emersen’s pregnancy and the new job I might be given that I don’t even think to do it. I hop out of the truck but forget to grab my purse, so I turn around to grab it. I didn’t realize the target I painted on my back.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” A familiar voice snarls from behind me. I turn around quickly, but he’s there in front of me, grabbing me by the throat and pushing me up against my truck before I’m able to do anything. I know who it is before I can even see him clearly. He looks impeccable as ever in a suit and tie with his expensive watch and fifty-dollar haircut.

  “Why did you leave me, Chelsea? How could you do that to me?” With every question he asks, his grip gets tighter. I’m scratching his hands trying to get him to release me, but my efforts are fruitless.

  He steps closer and runs his free hand up my thigh. I squeeze my legs together praying he doesn’t touch me there. God, don’t let him, please. “Have you been spreading these thighs for all the bikers in that bar? Is that what they pay you for? Are you their hired whore?” I’m thankful that his grip loosens a fraction so I can take a breath. He must be fucking with me because he keeps squeezing my neck harder, then loosening up for a few seconds before making it difficult for me to breathe again. The sadistic fucker is getting off on this.

  “Hey!” I Hear someone shout across the parking lot. That quick distraction is all that I need to get free. I knee him in his dick, and he hunches over from the pain. While he’s bent over, I push him to the ground and stomp his balls over and over until there’s no way he can get up. I stand there shaking, unable to move and get somewhere safe, unwilling to take my eyes off this piece of shit who took a part of me I can’t ever get back.

  “Sweetie are you okay? Hey hun, look at me. Are you hurt?”

  I finally look up and see a beautiful woman that looks like she could kick some serious ass.

  “Yeah. No. I’m not hurt badly.” I croak, my throat sore from Eric choking me. She looks me over and winces when she gets to my neck. I guess it looks as bad as it feels.

  “Why don’t you go inside and get some help.” She suggests.

  “I’m not leaving you alone out here, not with him.”

  She smirks and shrugs her shoulders. “I’m pretty sure I could take him.”

  I begin searching for my phone and find it on the ground in a pile of things from my purse. I dial Harrison’s number, and he answers on the first ring.

  “I just tried to call you. I thought I asked you to call me when you were going to be late, so I didn’t worry.”

  “I need you outside. I’m in the backlot.”

  Less than a minute later Harrison, Rash, and Jester come running out the back door of Spanky’s, guns drawn ready for anything. They size up the situation quickly. Rash and Jester walk over to the woman who begins explaining what she saw. As soon as Harrison gets to me he sweeps me into his arms.

  “Angel are you okay? Look at your pretty neck. Shit, I’m going to call an ambulance. And who the fuck is that?” He keeps talking, but I just hold him tight, thankful that he’s here and he’s mine. Tonight could have been so much worse, but it wasn’t. I survived, able to spend the rest of my life loving the man holding me.

  Epilogue

  Chelsea

  One Year Later

  I’ve been on the porch rocking our son Jackson to sleep for the past thirty minutes. He’s been up for a few hours, and he just nursed, but it usually takes him a bit to fall asleep. I’m praying he passes out soon so that I can get a shower before Harrison gets home from work. Harrison has taken over security for all the Steel Dagger’s businesses and
hasn’t been home as much.

  About six months ago Ryker decided to build onto the back of Spanky’s adding more office space. Harrison and Triton, or as I like to call him, Dominick, work side by side in the new building. Dominick is a great guy but too shy to talk to the ladies. I know that when he decides to open up to someone, she’ll be special and likely be the one he gives his heart to. Until that day, you’ll usually find him at our house.

  I’ve asked Harrison a couple times about the night Eric attacked me in the backlot at Spanky’s. Most of the time he tells me that he took care of it and I’ll never have to worry about that “sorry piece of shit ever again.” It was all a blur after he showed up and took control of the situation. All I can remember is Rash and Jester walking him into a side entrance of Spanky’s that I had never seen before. I didn’t see him after that. I’ve asked Holly, and she just shrugs her shoulders and tells me that Jester and Rash won’t tell her either. I think she knows more than she’s willing to say, so I don’t push. When the police showed up, we told them that I had no idea who he was, and he had run off. I guess it’s better that I don’t know what happened to him.

  Emersen and I ended up having our babies within weeks of each other. Her water broke while in Ryker’s office. Hmm, wonder what they were doing to make that happen? I was in my office when I heard Ryker shouting at someone to get the truck. Then I hear Emersen in the background telling him to calm the fuck down. The woman is in labor, but she’s the one calming the beast. They welcomed Remington into the world at eight pounds three ounces kicking and screaming. They couldn’t be happier parents.

  Realizing Jackson is finally asleep, I walk inside and lay him in his crib before I get into the shower. I do a lot of my best thinking in the shower. Unfortunately, I also do a lot of my worrying there too. I know Harrison loves Jackson and me, but that doesn’t make it any easier when he works late at least four to five nights a week. I know it’s silly, but I’m beginning to worry he’s starting to get sick of us.

  “Is there room for me in that shower?” Harrison says from behind me, scaring me and almost making me slip.

  “Easy there, Angel. Can’t have my love busting her ass when all I want is to shove inside her.”

  He holds me close to him, chest to chest.

  “You scared me,” I whisper.

  “I can see that. You wanna tell me what you were thinking about so hard in here?”

  “I miss you, Harrison. I know you have a job to do, and I’m not asking you to give that up, but I wish you were home with us more at night.”

  He breathes out a large sigh and kisses the top of my head. “I’m sorry Angel. I know since I took on the position as head of security for the Steel Daggers’ companies I haven’t been around as much. I had a talk with some of my guys today. That’s why I’m home earlier tonight than I usually am. I delegated some of the workload, that way I can be home with you and Jackson more. I’ve missed you both too.”

  “Really?”

  He shoves me up against the wall and falls to his knees. Looking up through his lashes he answers. “Yes, really. Now can I make it up to you?”

  I part my legs and nod my head. Using his two fingers, he spreads my lips and makes love to my pussy with his mouth. When he bites my clit, I come undone, coming all over his face. The next second he’s up and shoving his big dick inside of my still pulsing pussy. “Fuuuuck, Angel. Your pussy feels like heaven each and every time. I’m never going to get enough of it, enough of you. Do you hear me, Chelsea?”

  He pounds into me in hard rhythmic stokes relentlessly trying to get himself off inside me. I love when he uses me this way. Love that I can give him exactly what he gives me. Only with each other do we find the peace that comes from the love of your perfect person.

  “I love you so damn much Angel. Thank you for giving me you and Jackson.”

  “Same Harrison. I feel the exact same way. I love you.”

  The End

  His Sweet Trea

  t

  Book 1 in the Steel Daggers MC

  Emersen

  You got this Emersen. Walk in there, find Chelsea, and everything will be okay. I hope. The truth is, things haven’t been okay between Chelsea and me for a while now. In college, we had been complete opposites, but I thought we balanced each other well. Her outgoing personality and my quiet one worked when we roomed together.

  We graduated about six months ago, and we haven’t seen each other much. We stopped talking and hanging out altogether about a month after graduation. Chelsea surprised me when she called me last week and invited me to a costume party on Halloween at a bar she is working at.

  I almost didn't come, but my interest won out. Where has she been? My hand hovers over the handle to the vibrating door. I’m about to walk away when the man at the door interrupts my inner battle.

  “You going in, or what?” The man is well over six feet and built to cause damage. He’s got a black leather vest on with Steel Daggers on one side and Sergeant At Arms on the other. Judging by the look he’s giving me, I doubt the man is wearing a costume.

  I look down at my costume that I had so much fun picking out and smile. I remember when I was a little girl and my momma would take me trick or treating. We used to have so much fun for those few uninterrupted hours. I loved getting to play dress up with momma and spending time with her. Stew didn’t like going trick or treating with us. So, one day a year we could be together not worrying about my stepfather.

  “Look, babe, it’s in or out. If you aren’t coming in, you need to leave.”

  “Do you know Chelsea?”

  He quirks an eyebrow at me but stays silent. There's something there, recognition maybe?

  “Right. Okay, going in then.”

  He opens the door for me, and as soon as I walk in, I immediately know this is a mistake. The people closest to the door stop talking and stare. Yep. I’d stare too if I were them. I look around the entire bar and see that no one is wearing a costume. In fact, most of the men I see are wearing leather vests like the guy outside. Am I in a biker bar? Chels didn’t say anything about it being a biker bar.

  Not seeing Chelsea, I decide I can’t do this and turn around to leave without making a bigger ass of myself. Before I get to the door, I hear someone call my name. I look back and see her waving me over to where a group of women standing and staring. I really don’t want to go over there, but I do, for Chelsea.

  I feel the eyes of everyone I pass and my skin begins to crawl at the awareness of being watched. I know they’re laughing at me. I hear their sarcastic comments about what I look like. Every step I take, I regret my choice to walk in here.

  “Emersen. I can’t believe you came!” Chelsea yells over the music and hugs me quick.

  “Hey, Chels.”

  She releases me and stumbles backward, but rights herself by grabbing onto my arm.

  “Girls, this is my friend Emersen I told you about.”

  They nod. Not ‘Hey, I’m so and so, nice to meet you.’ It’s basically a fuck off, in the form of a chin lift. Yep, my night is rocking. Not! I can’t believe she invited me to this and let me think it was a costume party when it apparently isn’t!

  “Uh, Chels. Why am I the only person in here wearing a costume?”

  She just laughs and shrugs. The girl is wasted. She can’t stand still, and her eyes are glazed over. Great, she’s going to be no help.

  “Come on, let’s go get you some water,” I tell her, grabbing her hand, trying to pull her over to the bar.

  “No, I love this song!” She screams and runs out into the crowd of people dancing.

  “So, no costumes?” I ask the women standing near me. They eye me over but go back to their own conversations.

  “Alrighty then.” Used to being ignored, I let the sting of their rebuff roll off my back. I need a drink if I’m going to stay for this, which I feel obligated to do now that my once best friend is here, out of her mind.

  I push through the groups of
people and eventually make it to the bar. The men sitting there staring at me, but quickly go back to their conversations.

  “What can I get you doll?” The man behind the bar asks. He’s tall and is wearing a leather vest like everyone sitting here at the bar. He's younger than some of the guys in here but older than me. He’s in his late twenties maybe. He's got a kind face but looks like he's seen too much to be free from the pain of regret.

  “A shot of whiskey.”

  “You got it.” He says, pouring it quickly and handing it over.

  I grab it and shoot it quickly. Not used to the taste or the burn of it going down my throat, I shiver. I set the shot glass down on the bar, and the bartender laughs and asks if I want another. I hold up a finger, and he pours me one more, sliding it over to me.

  “Thank you.”

  Still smiling, he nods and watches me take my second shot. This time the cool liquid goes down easier.

  I’m wearing a black tutu with a black corset laced with ribbon down the back. The cherry on the top of my embarrassing sundae is the black wings attached to the corset. I wanted to be a dark fairy, but now I’m left feeling like an idiot.

  Acknowledgments

  KL Fast, Unicorn Bestie, what can I say other than thank you for encouraging me to finish and being an awesome, amazing beta reader and friend. #69unicorns

  MK Moore, thank you for your friendship and suggestions on this project, we likely wouldn’t be headed into book three if you hadn’t pushed me so hard through book one.

  Brooke O’Brien, you know I love you girl! You’re always there to listen and offer up sound advice when I need it.