After wiping hishands on his jeans, he beckoned her to stand. She was hesitant. They’d been keptprisoners in the bathroom since this attack started. The prezhad wanted to kill her in front of Lord, so he could watch him suffer.
“I’m so sorry,baby.” He pulled her close and she tried to ignore all the blood and accept thecomfort. “Did he touch you?”
“No.”
“You were right. Inever should have left you behind.”
“I wasn’t sure ifyou’d come.”
“I’ll always comefor you, Ally.” He pressed his forehead to hers, and despite their circumstances,she could feel the love and intimacy from the simple act. They had each other back.
“Where’s Rancher?”asked Betty.
“He’s in the barn.The doctor’s probably here by now. He’s shot in the leg,” Lord said. Betty rushedout the bathroom door. She heard the footfalls all the way down the stairs.
“I thought I was dead.Thought I’d never see you again,” she said.
“I’ll take goodcare of you.” As he led her out of the bathroom, his men parted for them. Theywere heavily armed and she finally felt safe that the club had come. At thebottom of the stairs, she saw Betty reunite with her kids before heading outback. They’d been excellent, staying in their secret place without a noise theentire time.
“Should we stay?”she asked.
He shook his head.Lord looked exhausted. “We’ll check in tomorrow. I’ll leave a couple guys heretonight on watch, just in case.”
She didn’t argue.All she wanted to do was get back to the club, take a shower, and sleep for aweek. He held her hand as they walked out to his bike in the darkness. The airwas crisp at this time of night, soothing after being holed up in the smallbathroom. It had been too claustrophobic for her liking.
“Will it always belike this?” she asked.
He mounted the bikeand helped her climb on behind him. “Like what?”
“Knowing I can loseyou every time you ride away.”
Lord leaned back inhis seat enough so they could kiss. It was a soft, gentle kiss. “This is overnow. We learn from our mistakes, and from now on you stay by my side.”
“Good. That’swhere I want to be.”
The bike waskicked to life, and the familiar rumble of the engine reminded her of Lord.Together, they rode back to the club with some of his men behind them. She heldhim tight around the waist, feeling safe and relieved to be heading home. Thenightmare was over and, as far as she knew, no Straight to Hell men had been killed.
As theyapproached, the gates were opened for them. They all filed in, and the gateswere securely closed behind them. She’d hated this place when Lord had broughther here, but now it was her sanctuary.
After parking,Lord didn’t help her off the bike. Instead, he swung her body up into his armsand carried her inside to their bedroom. His strength always amazed her … andturned her on.
“Tonight, we needto wash off every memory of this fucked-up day. Then we’ll sleep long and hard,”Lord said.
“And tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow I’ll showyou exactly how grateful I am to have you back.”
****
One week later
Lord left Tank’sroom when the doctor came in to check on him. His surgery had gone well lastweek. He’d have a nasty scar on his stomach, but he’d heal as good as new.
Rancher would needto be off his feet for a while, but Betty was more than happy to wait on himand keep things running on their ranch. The club covered the cost of all thedamages.
As far as they knew,all senior members of the Skull Nation had been wiped out. If there were anyothers, they’d gone into hiding … for now. They’d play it safe for a whilelonger, but Lord was confident this war was over.
“How’s he doing?”asked Brick once Lord was in the hallway.
“He’s a tough motherfucker. You’d think he cut himself shaving.”
“Good. How’s yourgirl? Still shaken up?”
Lord shook his head.“She’s tough, too.”
“Tough enough tobe your old lady?” Brick raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not evengoing to answer that.” Lord kept walking toward his room. Before opening thedoor, he turned to his VP. “I’m making it official tonight.”
“About time.”
Once inside theroom, Ally rushed him. He twirled her around, then held her close. “You’rehappy today. Feeling better?” Yesterday, she’d been sick in the morning. He blamedthe cookout they’d had the previous night. Probably undercooked meat.
“I need to talk toyou about something.”
“Can it wait?” Hedidn’t want to deal with problems today. Didn’t want to talk more about the attackagain. Now that things around the club were finally shifting back to normal, hewanted to lower his guard enough to enjoy his woman. “I have some unfinishedbusiness.”
“Are you leaving?”Ally balled his shirt up in her fists.
He began to walk herbackward. She kept her hands on his chest. “This business can be handled righthere.”
She was about toquestion him but stopped when he leaned down to kiss her neck. He trailedkisses along her skin before suckling her earlobe into his mouth. She let out alittle moan.
“This business Ican handle,” she whispered close to his lips.
“You’re the bestthing to ever happen to me, Ally.”
“I love you, Lord.”
They kissed, hardand demanding. The connection between the two of them was always simmering. He couldn’teven imagine how life would be if he’d lost her last week. Nothing would get betweenthem again. He’d learned from his mistakes. The safest place for his old ladywas at the club and by his side.
“Let me see mybeautiful body,” he said.
A barely-there smileappeared on her lips. She slipped out of her pants and tugged off her shirt. Herlong blonde hair fanned out along her bare back.
“No bra again?”
She shook herhead.
He loved the waythose big tits sloped out into tempting peaks. Her body was lush and he’d neverget tired of fucking the same woman for the rest ofthis life. He was addicted to Ally.
“Lose those pantiesbefore I rip them off.”
She wiggled out ofthem, staring at him the entire time.
“Are you wet forme? You should always be wet for your man, Ally.”
When she didn’tattempt to answer, he pulled her close to his body. He reached low and impaled herpussy with two fingers. She was hot and slick,
