Lilly
Two weeks ago, Lilly Summers’ life changed. Whether it was for the better or not was still in question. She had been kidnapped, beaten, then finally returned to the man she loved, Cass, Lucifer’s Hounds Baton Rouge Chapter President.
Her job at Creek’s Sportsbar, the bar he had just bought, was put on hold while the club tried to figure out what precautionary measures to take to keep her safe. For the past two weeks, she had been staying at the clubhouse, forbidden to leave the premises alone. Which was really starting to irk her nerves.
“I’m not a fragile fucking child!” Lilly screamed her frustrations into her cell phone to a listening Mindy.
“Lilly, I’m sure he knows that, but he’s just making sure you’re safe. I can’t say I blame him after the shit those guys pulled.”
She sighed in frustration. “You aren’t supposed to agree with him!”
“I agree with whatever keeps my best friend alive and in one piece. So, therefore, I agree with him.”
“Ugh!”
“Gotta go, people walking in. Love you, bye!” Mindy said before the line went dead.
Lilly tossed her phone on the double-bed in what was now her room at the clubhouse. She had made it hers, too. The closet that was next to the adjoined bathroom was full of her clothes and the bathroom had everything from her house in it. She had a desk in the corner of the room where she kept her laptop and camera.
The rooms in the clubhouse weren’t your typical rooms. They were nearly identical to suites in a hotel. Large, spacious, and set up almost the same way. Someone took their time designing these rooms for sure. Who would’ve thought bikers could be so classy?
Lilly had tried to tell him that it wasn’t permanent, but he insisted she have everything she might need. Since she didn’t feel like arguing, she had decided to go to her house to get her things, but not without Linc right behind her. Linc was one of the newest Prospects, trying to earn his patch. When Cass said he needed someone to supervise Lilly, Linc was all over it. He was a determined little shit.
Lilly decided it was never too early to drink so she headed downstairs. As usual, Linc was behind the bar and a couple of Hounds sat on barstools. She was getting to know a few of the guys. Old School was one of her favorites. He sat next to Snapper at the bar and they were laughing when Lilly walked up.
“Hey gorgeous.” Snapper’s scratchy, rough voice made her smile. The guys had welcomed her with open arms.
“Hey darlin’,” she smiled as she took a seat next to him.
“Prospect, get our girl a drink,” Old School ordered. His soft voice was not what you would expect from a man who looked like he’d lived this lifestyle since the day he was born. Although he had a rough exterior, he was kind and soft-hearted. But, Lilly knew that was not all he was made up of. He would no doubt kill anyone without flinching for fucking with his brothers. All the Hounds seemed to have that trait, though she wasn’t sure how she felt about it yet.
Linc set a double Crown and Sprite in front of Lilly before sitting down behind the bar. Lilly thanked him before taking a big sip. The Crown didn’t burn anymore, it was now a welcoming feeling. Most of her days were spent on the phone with her mom and Mindy. Her mom was anxious to meet Cass, but she and David were still on a job in Ohio.
She knew she wasn’t a prisoner, and she didn’t feel like it. But sometimes it would be nice for a long, relaxing drive. Alone. Without supervision. Cass had been so busy lately that he would come in dirty and tired, shower, then go to sleep and do it again the next day. She knew he was busy with club shit, but damn. She was starting to get lonely.
“I hear we have a national run coming up.” Snapper’s voice caught Lilly’s attention.
“Yeah, Prez said it’s in Oklahoma this year,” Old School said.
“They said the chapter up there has a nice spot for the party.”
“Fuckin’ right they do. I went in ’03. One of the best parties I’ve ever been to.”
“And we all know you’ve been to a lot of parties in your long life.”
Lilly couldn’t hold her laughter back, gaining the attention of the two men.
“What’s so funny?” Old School asked, his tone playful and energetic.
“Snapper just called you old. You gonna take that abuse?” she asked, stirring the pot.
Snapper’s expression changed and the look he gave her could’ve frozen water on the spot. He held his façade for only a few seconds before he burst out laughing.
The front door of the clubhouse opened and they all turned their heads toward it. Cass came walking in with Scott and Gater in tow. They were cutting up and laughing. To her surprise, they didn’t seem nearly as exhausted as they usually were when they got in. Lilly looked at the clock on the wall behind the bar. It was only five-thirty. Of course, they didn’t look exhausted, this was the earliest they’d been back to the clubhouse since the night she got here.
She turned back around at the bar and took a sip of her drink. She could hear footsteps behind her and out of nowhere her barstool was tipped backwards, nearly hitting the floor, and Cass’s lips were on hers. His tongue infiltrated her mouth, dancing with hers. His kiss was like lightning, wild and electric.
He sat her barstool upright and pulled away. It took her a second to catch her breath and she couldn’t wipe that silly grin only he could cause off her face.
“Come here often?” he asked.
“Yeah, kinda.” Lilly’s words were breathy and quiet.
“Damn, brother. That’s the best pick-up line I’ve seen in a long time,” Scott said.
Cass shrugged his shoulders and laughed. “Well, ya know.”
He sat down next to Lilly at the bar and downed half of what was left of her drink.
“Hey!”
“What? I was thirsty.” He smiled a wide, happy smile.
Lilly narrowed her eyes at him. “Uh-huh. I see that.”
Cass slid her drink back in front of her. She had missed him since he had been gone so much and just seeing him sitting next to her was comforting, but she was dying to be alone with him.
“Is it wrong that I want to forcefully drag you to the bedroom right now?” she whispered.
He raised his eyebrows at her and his entire face lit up. “Nope. It isn’t wrong at all, but church is about to start.”
Lilly sighed. Of course, that’s why he was here so early today. It was Saturday and they had church, or their meeting, every single Saturday evening. She had learned a lot about the club in the two weeks she had truly been around. Everything prior to these last two weeks were simply minor details in the whole aspect of it all.
Now she got to see it from the inside, so to speak. She wasn’t allowed in their meetings, no one was, and Cass didn’t tell her much about what was going on. Although she was dying to know what they were going to do to take care of the Moccasins, Cass hadn’t been home long enough for her to ask.
Lilly was tired of being cooped up, so she ran upstairs to retrieve her phone to text Mindy.
“Drinks after work? I need to get out of here for at least an hour or two.”
“Done. I have lots to fill you in on, anyway.”
Lilly smiled as she set her phone down on the bar. By the time she had come back downstairs, Cass was already in church. She looked at Linc, who was still behind the bar.
“I’m going to meet Mindy at the bar,” Lilly said.
“Fuck. When?” he asked.
“I’m leaving in about five minutes.” Lilly smirked.
“Lilly, I don’t know if Prez is gonna like this shit.”
“Oh well. He’s in church and church is never to be interrupted. So, what you gonna do?” she asked as she walked slowly backward toward the front door of the clubhouse, twirling her keys in her hand.
“Fuck.”
Linc set his cut down behind the bar and followed Lilly out the door.
“If you’re planning on drinking, I’ll drive my truck, or if you’d rather I drive your car…?”
“Your truck it is.”
Lilly climbed into Linc’s blacked-out Chevy. It was navy blue with a lift kit and looked brand new on the inside. However, alternative rock blasted through the speakers when he cranked the truck.
“I expected hokey country to be your choice of music.”
“Not quite. I like old country, but I’m not a fan of new country,” Linc said as he backed out of the driveway.
“You know how to get to Creek’s?” she asked.
“Well yeah. What kind of Prospect would I be if I didn’t?”
“Alright. Alright.” Lilly threw her hands up in surrender. He really was a good prospect. He was always at the clubhouse and that made Lilly wonder if he had a family. She hadn’t gotten to talk to him much about his personal life. Hell, she hadn’t talked to any of them about their personal life much.
“How old are you?” she asked.
“Twenty-two.”
“That’s it?”
He chuckled. “Yeah. That’s it. Why?”
“I was just wondering. You don’t have a family or anything?”
“I do. I have parents and siblings, but we aren’t from here and they live a thousand miles away. So, it’s just me.”
“Oh. So that’s why you spend all your time at the clubhouse.”
“Yeah. I don’t have anything else to do, so why not prove my loyalty to the club with all this free time I got?”
“Good point. Okay.”
Creek’s wasn’t far up the road and they were in the parking lot before she knew it. Mindy’s car was parked out front along with a few bikes and other cars and trucks. There wasn’t anything special going on tonight, but the place seemed to have a good crowd.
Lilly hopped down out of the truck and headed to the door without waiting for Linc. She could hear the jukebox playing before she even opened the door. The music was loud, a cloud of smoke filled the bar, and people were everywhere. She scanned the crowd and found Mindy sitting at the bar in the corner with an empty seat next to her. Perfect.
“Hey love!” Mindy squealed and pulled her into her arms. Her hug was one that said, “I miss you” and it made Lilly feel good. It was good to be missed.
“Hey babe!” Lilly sat down next to her best friend.
She heard the door open behind her and instinctively looked to see who it was. It was Linc. He looked over at the two women, nodded, then walked to the other side of the bar. Turning her focus back to Mindy, Lilly saw the look in her eyes as she watched Linc.
“I ordered you a drink. Double Crown and Sprite.”
Lilly grinned at her. “You’re the best. Okay, so tell me all about everything that I’ve been missing out on!” she demanded.
“Well, the bar is doing great. He’s definitely making a profit off the place, which is good because I wasn’t sure we could turn this place around from what it had been turned into before.”
“Kevin ran it into the ground pretty good.”
“Oh, yeah. Completely. But now that Cass is running it, things are starting to pick up and take off. You know, there have been a lot of bikers coming in, and they are the most respectful and down to earth people I’ve ever been around. It almost makes me wonder how they got stuck with such a bad reputation.”
Lilly thought of the night at the clubhouse when the Moccasins returned her and what Cass had done to them right in front of her. The only emotion he showed was sympathy for her. He didn’t even flinch when he pulled the trigger or when their lifeless bodies crumbled to the ground. That’s where they got their reputation.
“Almost, huh?” Lilly asked.
“Yep. Almost. I know that there’s probably a lot that the public doesn’t see. Some of it good, some of it bad. But I’m just gonna choose to be blind to it and pretend they’re the nicest people I’ve ever met, because they are when they’re in here.”
“I’ve only been around the guys at the clubhouse. I kind of haven’t been able to go out by myself.”
Mindy laughed. “I noticed. Speaking of…” she trailed off as her head turned in Linc’s direction. He was sitting on the other end of the L-shaped bar.
“I don’t know a whole lot about him. I know he isn’t from here and doesn’t have anyone family-wise. But as far as a girlfriend, well, you’ll have to find that out for yourself.”
Lilly knew what her words would do. Sure enough, Mindy looked at her inquisitively for only a second before she got up and walked across the bar to where Linc sat. Linc pulled a chair out and Mindy sat down. They were smiling and talking and from what Lilly could see, it looked like they were hitting it off.
She lit a cigarette and sipped her drink. For the first time since she got there, she looked at the girl behind the bar. Lucy, Shorty’s wife, was working and she was handling the crowd well for being a new bartender. Lilly watched as Lucy scanned the bar tentatively, making sure all the customers were taken care of. That was a quality that was few and far between in bartenders, which made Lilly glad to have her as a part of their staff.
Lucy approached the side of the bar where Lilly sat.
“Your face looks better!” she said. Lilly had been watching her bruises fade for the past two weeks. They were still there, but damn did they look a hell of a lot better.
Lilly smiled at her. “Thanks love!”
“You good on your drink or do you need one?” she asked.
“I think I need another one and a blueberry bomb.”
“You got it.” Lucy walked off to fix Lilly’s drinks while Lilly looked over at Mindy and Linc. Linc’s usual stone-faced demeanor was gone, replaced with softness and a smile. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy, though, because this was the first time she’d really been out and around Mindy and she bolted on her.
Over the sounds of the music, Lilly heard motorcycles pulling up. More than one, but she wasn’t sure how many. She looked over at Linc. He met her stare with his own but there was no worry on his face. That meant it was Hounds pulling up. Which meant Cass was pulling up. Great.
The front door opened, and Cass walked in with Snapper, Scott, and Old School right behind him. He scanned the room until he spotted Lilly in the corner only a few feet from him. He smiled and walked over to her.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” she said as Lucy sat another drink and shot down on the bar.
“I’ll have the same thing,” he called to Lucy before sitting down in the chair that Mindy had abandoned.
“I might not look it, but I’m pissed.” Cass smiled as he said the words through his teeth.
“I don’t know why. It isn’t like I just ran off. I brought the new babysitter with me and everything.”
“I expected you to be at the bar when I was done with church.”
“And I expected you to be around more often than to just sleep and then leave again the next morning,” she retorted.
Cass’s nostrils flared. “Do you even have any fucking idea what I’m doing?” His voice was loud, but controlled. He wasn’t loud enough for everyone else to hear, but it was loud in Lilly’s ear.
“No. I don’t have any fucking idea what you’re doing because you’re never around to fucking say anything!” Lilly had a buzz already and that liquid courage was giving her balls. Balls that she wasn’t sure she could back up, but balls nonetheless.
His frustration was evident on his face. Eyebrows drawn together. Mouth in a taut line. Lilly had pushed his buttons and he was fighting to keep his temper under control. She could see it.
Lucy set down Cass’s drink and shot on the bar and walked away. Cass threw back the shot and downed the double Crown and Sprite that sat in front of him in two gulps.
“Say your goodbyes and meet me outside.” Cass’s demand was non-negotiable as he stood up and walked out the door. Scott followed behind him. She hadn’t even seen him since he walked in until now.
“Bye, love.” Lilly hugged Mindy and kissed her cheek.
“You’re leaving already?” Mindy asked.
“Yeah, but we will get together soon.” Lilly promised as she walked toward the door.
Outside, Cass and Scott were already seated on their bikes. Lilly opened the saddlebag of Cass’s bike and grabbed her helmet. She put it on in silence then hopped on the back of Cass’s bike. The ride to the clubhouse was comforting. The night air was sticky, yet cool. She could feel the moisture in the air as they rode. Cass and Scott stayed side by side, taking curves faster than she thought they should, yet never losing synchronicity.
She hadn’t realized it until now, but she missed riding. Something about it made her feel better about everything and the buzz she had helped a little, too. The ride was over too soon, though, as they pulled into the parking lot of the clubhouse. Snapper and Old School’s bikes were out front alongside her car.
Lilly stepped off Cass’s bike, her hand clinging to his shoulder for support. He didn’t say anything as he unstrapped her helmet for her and put it back in the saddlebag. Scott was already walking inside when Cass grabbed Lilly by her hand.
She quickly jerked her arm back. “What is your issue?” she asked, her voice louder than she intended.
“What is my issue? You can’t be serious! I’m going to fucking war for you and all you can think about is the fact that I’m not here with you? That’s a little fucking selfish and inconsiderate, Lilly, don’t you think?”
“That’s not fair. I’m stuck here, unable to leave— “
“There you go being selfish again! You think I want you to have to stay here? You think these men want to stay here all the damn time? NO! They’re here for YOU, Lilly!”
Lilly fought the tears that threatened at the back of her eyes. She was being selfish and didn’t even see it. She hung her head and turned to walk inside.
“Where are you going?”
“Inside,” she said, as if it were obvious.
Cass walked up beside her and grabbed her hand once again, leading her inside. No one was at the bar when they walked through, and Lilly thought that was odd for a Saturday night.
Cass’s grip on her wrist was firm, but he wasn’t rough with her no matter how angry he was. He stopped as soon as he closed the door behind them.
“Kneel down,” he commanded.
Lilly knelt, and although the buzz she had from the few drinks she’d consumed that night was fading quickly, that little bit of alcohol left in her system fueled her mouth.
“What are you gonna do, spank me? I’ve heard about that whole power trip bullshit and let me just tell you that spanking isn’t my— “
“Oh no, baby. I’m not going to spank you. I’m going to fuck you.” The promise in his voice made Lilly’s panties wet. He was dark and brooding, sexy and powerful. She looked up at him from where she knelt in front of him. He grabbed a fist full of her hair and gently tugged her up to his level. His actions were almost contradictory to his tone. He was firm, yet gentle and it made no fucking sense to her.
Cass’s large hand gripped the nape of her neck and pulled her in close before his lips crashed into hers. Hot, blueberry-flavored tongues collided as Cass unleashed all his anger into his desire for Lilly. His hands roamed her body, scouring every inch with thirst. His fingers gripped and grabbed all over, as if he were fighting with himself to go slow and enjoy it while taking his time or rip everything to shreds and take what he wanted.
Lilly’s hands fumbled at the belt on his waist as he hungrily devoured her lips, sending waves of euphoria to every nerve ending in her body. She couldn’t suppress the moan that was pressing to get out. Her head pushed back, breaking their kiss, as she moaned his name.
His hands slid down her torso and undid her blue jeans before she was done with his belt. He grabbed her hands in his and pinned them above her head while his other hand undid his belt and dropped his jeans. He released her hands long enough to take off his cut and T-shirt before he slammed them back above her head. Her shirt had ridden up, the bottom of it hanging on her tits and exposing her tanned stomach to him.
Cass’s mouth was back on hers and he let her hands go as he slid his down her stomach. He touched just low enough to send sparks through her abdomen before he lifted his hands and grabbed the center of her cotton T-shirt before ripping it wide open. He didn’t pause to take it completely off her before his right hand was behind her back, unclasping her bra. She welcomed the feel of him undressing her, thrived on it even.
The callouses on his hands were rough on her skin as he pushed her shirt down her arms and pulled her bra off. Her pebbled nipples caught his attention and he lowered his mouth to tug on one. A deep rumble came from his chest as he lifted her up and carried her through the room to the bed. In one swift movement, she was laying on the bed and he was on top of her, her nipple still in his mouth. His tongue circled it slowly before tugging on it.
Lilly’s back arched in response.
“Are you going to leave without telling me again?” he asked.
A smug grin spread across her lips. “Yes.”
Cass growled. “Wrong. Answer.”
He ripped off the red lace underwear she had on and pushed into her without warning. Her breath hitched in her throat at the pain and surprise of his actions. He buried himself to the hilt inside her, pushing hard to insure he was all in. Lilly cried out a ragged screaming moan. She didn’t know if it hurt or felt fucking amazing, something she’d never experienced before.
Cass’s eyebrows were drawn together, his mouth partially open. He stilled, judging Lilly’s reaction. He pulled out slowly before driving back in again, hard.
“Fuck, that feels so...” Lilly trailed off.
“Feels so what?” Cass asked as he repeated his method of torture.
“So…fuck!” she screamed as Cass pulled out and slammed back in.
Chills ran down her arms at the unfamiliar sensation below. It was torture. So much pleasure. So much pain. So much…just so much.
“Tell me, baby. How does it feel?” he asked.
“Dizzying...” she breathed. “And euphoric, like fucking paradise.”
Cass’s pace quickened with her words and his brutal, gratifying punishment was gone and pure, sweet ecstasy remained. His hand cupped her ass cheek while the other one lifted her thigh, wrapping her leg higher around his waist. The feeling of him opening her up even more was overwhelming. Her hands gripped the sheets on the bed, pulling on them while she allowed her body to feel every sensation he was giving.
“Baby, yes!” she moaned.
Cass had changed it up a little, this time every time he went all in, he ground his hips, his pelvis rubbing her clit with each motion. The hand that was on her ass was now on her now-hard nipple. He rolled it between his fingers before pinching it.
Lilly’s body was starting to spasm as she pushed back against him, so close to that cloud of euphoria she anticipated washing over her with each stroke. This one. No, this one. Here. This one. Now. Oh fuck. Yes.
“Come for me,” Cass commanded as he focused more on her clit and nipple than moving faster. It was exactly what she needed. His words were her undoing and she came shattering over that edge she toyed with so much. White-hot sparks flew behind her eyelids in a relentless explosion as Cass drove into her. Harder. Faster.
Her stomach muscles clenched and unclenched continuously with the orgasm he milked from her. She floated on the cloud of pleasure, relinquishing in him inside her. Her hands grasped his back and she made a conscious attempt at not clawing him.
Cass powered on, picking up the pace until she swore he could’ve been a jackhammer.
“Fuck, baby.”
Lilly knew exactly what her words would do to him. She felt him slowdown in long, elaborate strokes while he came. He stiffened on top of her, his head resting on hers, eyes closed, and mouth open. His breathing was heavy, mimicking Lilly’s.
Cass was drenched with sweat and the heat coming from him was enough to warm a small house in Alaska. Still, she relished in the moment. She had missed him since he’d been gone and hadn’t had the feel of his skin against hers in far too long. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry to move and Lilly took the opportunity to run her fingers through his hair then down his cheek to cup his face.
She didn’t even mind the sweat that was now on her hand, that’s how much she missed him. That, and it was kind of sexy to have a sweaty, pleased man above her.
“I need you to do something for me.” Cass’s words were quiet and calm.
“Okay.” Lilly would agree to almost anything right now.
“Stop trying to be disobedient on purpose. I don’t control you and I hate that you feel like that.”
“I’m not allowed to leave alone, Cass. What would you call that?”
“Protection!” he yelled.
Lilly flinched back at his suddenly escalated tone. He was so damned wishy-washy with this whole calm one minute then angry the next. Cass rolled off her and retrieved a wet towel from the bathroom that he used then handed to her.
“What are you protecting me from? You murdered the men that did that shit to me.” Her tone was thickly laced with sarcasm and it didn’t go unnoticed.
“That’s the whole fucking issue! I murdered two of their members, throw-aways or not doesn’t matter! They did that shit on purpose. They knew I’d kill them and that’s all the fucking ammo Asher needed to point the finger at me and say that the start of this war was on me! Not my men, not my ol’ lady, me!”
His breathing was heavy again, but he was expressionless. Again, with the wishy-washy.
“But, Asher was the only person there that had any decency toward me, why would he do that?” she asked.
“He doesn’t give a fuck about you! It was a money scheme! It was a way for him to get exactly what he wants, or at least in his mind that’s what it is.”
Lilly thought about what Cass said. Maybe he was right.
“What does he want, exactly?”
“Contacts. He wants my fucking connections. The people I used to get loads of drugs from that refuse to work with them because they’re pieces of shit.” Cass ran a hand through his hair and sat down in the chair at Lilly’s desk.
“Why didn’t you just say that? Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because I’d beat the fuck out of any one of the members in my club if they told anyone else that same thing. Whatever goes on at our table doesn’t leave our fucking table.”
Cass’s expression was unreadable. He didn’t look happy, or sad, or angry even. He just looked…like Cass. He sat quietly in the chair, presumably waiting on Lilly’s next question, but there wasn’t going to be one. She was tired of asking questions, and quite frankly, she was tired of laying in this bed alone.
“Come to bed, please.”
Cass didn’t say a word, he simply turned off the lamp that was on and crawled into bed next to her. He laid on his back and she curled into the space between his left arm and his body; her spot. The spot she hadn’t had in what felt like an eternity.
“I love you, Lilly.” Cass kissed her forehead and squeezed her tighter.
“And I love you,” she whispered.