CHAPTER ELEVEN
For the last night of the get-together, everyone’s invited to a big cookout.
“Should I dress up more?” I ask Rock.
He tilts his head as if it’s an absurd question.
“Some of these women don’t mess around.” I toss clothes out of my suitcase, searching for the right thing.
I finally settle on a short, black flippy skirt that falls just above my knees, a silky royal blue sleeveless blouse with ruffles down the front, black high-heeled sandals and my property patch.
Rock stares at me for a second before commenting. “We should just order room service.”
“This sounded like a mandatory event.”
He comes closer and leans down for a gentle kiss in contrast to the coarse words that come out of his mouth. “It’s mandatory that I fuck my wife.”
Laughter spills from my lips and I take his hand, dragging him to the door. “We’ll have plenty of time for that later. I don’t want you to get in trouble. Priest seems kind of scary.”
“Now you want to be on time,” he grumbles. He tips his head down and frowns at me. “You think I’m worried about Priest?”
“No, but I think you respect your national president too much to miss this dinner.”
He groans as if he doesn’t want to admit I’m right.
Downstairs, I spot Trinity and Wrath. Without waiting for Rock, I run over and grab her for a crazy hug. “I feel like I haven’t seen you all weekend.”
“I know,” she says, hugging me back. “You’ve been very popular.”
I duck and shake my head, embarrassed.
“We’ll have plenty to talk about when we get to Florida,” she assures me.
Wrath’s lips curl into a sinful smirk. “There won’t be a lot of talking going on.”
He lifts his chin at Rock. They do their usual silent-president-enforcer-communication thing before ushering us outside.
There’s a long buffet set up outside. Four huge grills are being manned by two nervous-looking prospects under Priest’s watchful eye.
After scarfing down large quantities of fried crab claws, Cajun fried chicken, pulled pork, and cornbread, I’m ready to burst.
“I’m going to explode.” I rub my stomach.
“Told you we take our food seriously,” Valentina says.
“Totally worth the hours on the treadmill I have waiting for me when we get home.”
She laughs and moves on, checking on every member and their significant other with an easy, welcoming manner.
Rock takes my hand and tugs me toward the grass.
“My hands still have barbeque sauce on them,” I warn.
He answers by licking my fingers.
“Stop, stop! That tickles!” Anywhere else I might feel silly. But there’s a playful, festive atmosphere surrounding us tonight. The Lost Kings must have concluded all their serious business and now they’re ready to party.
We cross the yard and find Sparky sprawled out on a blanket, under a tree where the party seems to end and the woods begin. “What are you doing all the way out here?” I ask.
He peels one eye open and gives me a serene smile. “Listening to the trees. I need to get in touch with nature occasionally.” He squints and lifts his arm, lazily pointing up at me. “Your panties match your shirt. That’s cute.”
“Asshole,” Rock grumbles, kicking Sparky’s thigh.
“Ow!” He rolls over and hugs his legs to his chest.
“I meant it as a compliment, boss.”
“Stop looking up my woman’s skirt.”
“Well, all right, then,” I say, holding my skirt tight to my legs and backing away. “Thank you, Sparky.”
He seems to forget about his injured leg and flashes another blissful smile. “You have nice legs, First Lady.”
“I like you better when you’re in the basement.” Rock snarls and leads me away. When we’re alone he leans over and whispers against my ear, “Why are you wearing panties at all?”
“Uh, in case one of your brothers decides to look up my skirt?”
He rears back and laughs. “Good point.” His laughter abruptly stops, and he pins me with a simmering stare. “But don’t get used to them.”
“Stop that. We still have a long night ahead of us.”
“Fireworks!” One of the guys shouts. People start moving toward the empty field to set up with blankets and drinks to watch the show.
I clap my hands and bounce up and down. “Oh! I love fireworks. I can’t remember the last time I saw them.”
Z stops next to us and hands Rock a blanket. He leans in and says something to Rock that I can’t hear over all the noise around us. A few seconds later Z’s headed toward the hotel.
“He’s not staying?” I ask.
“I think he plans to watch from somewhere else.”
“With someone else?”
“I didn’t ask.”
I spot Wrath and Trinity up ahead, but Rock drags me over to a more secluded grove of trees and spreads the blanket out at the base of a thick maple.
He drops down to the blanket, leaning against the tree and holds up his hand to me.
“Hmmm… this is suspiciously familiar,” I say as I settle between his knees with my back to him.
He traces up my legs and kisses my cheek. “One of my best days in the woods.”
I shiver and wrap his arms around me, savoring his warmth.
“Cold?”
“Not anymore.”
The first firework screeches into the sky and explodes overhead sending a shower of sparks raining down. A hush falls over the crowd.
One by one the rockets burst into the air. The shoot into the sky at a faster and faster rate and a dizzying array of colors. Gasps, oohs, and ahhhs from people carry over to our secret spot.
Rock’s hand travels over my rib cage, stopping below my breast.
“Rock?” I whisper.
Ignoring me, he works one of my buttons loose and teases his finger over my bare skin.
I glance around. People are everywhere. Not near us, but we’re not exactly invisible.
Two can play this game.
I reach back and stroke my hand over the hardness pressed against my back and he groans.
“What’re you doing, baby doll?” he rasps against my ear.
He’s not going to make this easy. Without taking my eyes off the fireworks display above, I reach behind me with both hands—thank you for the yoga classes Swan—and work his jeans loose enough to free his cock. Hot, hard, and smooth against my fingers.
I shift, gripping him with my right hand and slowly slide it up and down his length.
He groans and stretches his legs out. “Fuck, Hope. You better plan to finish this.”
Instead of answering, I move my hand a touch faster.
Fireworks burst into the sky at a frenzied pace, meaning we probably don’t have much time left. Rock growls and pries my hand off his cock. Holding my arm, he presses my shoulder back until I turn to face him.
His hands slide up under my skirt. “Been waitin’ to do this all night. Fuck, you feel good. Come take care of me.”
I bat my eyelashes at him. “How?”
He wraps his hand around his cock and strokes a few times. His free hand squeezes between my thighs and he presses two fingers against my damp panties. I gasp at the sensation as his fingers glide over my slit.
“Wrap this wet pussy around my cock,” he invites. He hooks a finger into the material and drags it down my legs. “You won’t be needing these.” I step out of them and he tucks the material inside his pocket.
With his hands on my hips, he guides me down until I’m straddling his lap. “There you go. Nice and slow.”
The sizzle and pop of the fireworks above us are nothing but background noise compared to our breathing and the racing of my heart. Heat sears my skin where we’re connected. I take my time, enjoying the feel of the being stretched and filled by him.
“Teasing me all night,” he whispers, gathering my hair in one hand to tilt my head back so he can lick and kiss my neck. “Such a bad girl. You’re lucky I didn’t bend you over, flip up this skirt, and take you right in front of everyone earlier.” He continues whispering a steady stream of filthy, possessive words in my ear that take me higher and higher.
I tip my head forward, pressing my forehead against his so I can stare into his eyes and moan his name.
“What, baby doll?” He captures my hands and holds them behind my back while yanking my top down with his other hand.
“Rock! People around!”
“It’s dark. Everyone’s watching the fireworks.”
He reaches down and pinches my ass. “Stop sassing me and ride my dick.”
I growl my annoyance at the bossy command at the same time fire shoots through me.
His jaw tightens and his gray eyes peer straight into my soul. He lifts one hand and cups my cheek. “I fucking love you so much.”
It’s not an elegant declaration, but it’s real and raw, laced with emotion and honesty.
Everything I need.