CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Sofia clasped her arms, trying to keep warm as the priest gave the final blessing, allowing the crowd to leave the gravesite. She felt so alone.

The Thirty-Second gang and their families hugged and patted her shoulder in sympathy. Still, it was a lonely feeling. She wished Wolf could’ve been with her.

In her fear of Wolf’s presence starting a fight at the services, she had talked him into staying away until after New Year’s.

For the last week, she’d been traveling between Trick’s and her cousin’s house. A few of the Thirty-Second’s women had helped go through Hector’s personal effects as the men emptied the garage of boxes, boxes which she didn’t want to know what was inside. In the house, most of the furniture had gone to those in need. She kept the bedroom suite she’d used and a couple of small tables that she knew had been in the family for generations, but nothing else.

The house was up for sale and several neighbors had stopped by to offer their condolences. She guessed it was more out of nosiness. Very few of the neighbors had been inside the house of the former boss of the Thirty-Second.

Her brother, Angel, hadn’t called or contacted anyone, not even to check on her welfare. Wherever he was, he probably hadn’t heard about Hector. Anyway, she hadn’t expected a call. Angel had never been an attentive brother.

She looked over at the Jeep Trick had loaned her. Never in a millions years would she ever have imagined staying with him. With Jennifer and Cherry hanging around, she actually felt safe. Even Trick worked hard at making her comfortable. He’d torn off the sticker on the bumper. His eyes darted up to her face faster. At least, he was trying, but she was still leery of him. Wolf had argued and demanded that she return to his house, but Trick convinced him to leave her alone until after the funeral.

There was no doubt Wolf would be waiting for her at Trick’s. Her world felt off kilter. Hector dead. Her brother nowhere to be found. And the man she loved was a murderer.

No. He was accused, not the same thing as guilty.

While working on her cousin’s house, preparing it to be sold, she had a lot of time to think. After meeting with Hector, Wolf had acted happy. No, satisfied with the results. He’d even told her that he was glad the two sides had stopped fighting.

She pulled into the driveway and there sat Wolf’s truck. Her heart jumped in her chest. She’d missed being with him, missed his voice, his heartbeat beneath her ear as they slept.

She was so mixed up. Her feelings scrambled with her loyalty to the Thirty-Second and her love for Wolf. Was that same love making her blind to Wolf’s betrayal? Had he been a part of her cousin’s death? From everything she’d learned about Wolf, he didn’t lie. Not to her.

“Everything went well at the graveside?” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and hunched his shoulders. After New Year’s, the weather had turned and stayed cold. The forecasters threatened the locals with snow and ice. That didn’t explain why he hadn’t pulled her into his arms.

She crossed her arms, hugging herself.

“Wolf, tell me the truth.” Her chest tightened. She needed to ask. No way would she wait another minute without knowing. For some crazy reason, she would know if he lied or not.

He reached out to touch her face and hesitated and then pulled back. “I’ve never lied to you, baby, and won’t start now.”

The sincerity in his voice warmed her. “Did you have anything to do with Hector’s death?”

His gaze stayed on hers for several seconds. A slow change washed over his countenance. Sadness fused with despair appeared to age him in that moment.

“Who said that?” he asked as he clenched his jaw.

“Jorge.”

“Ruiz? Your cousin’s second in command? You really believed him.”

“He made sense at the time,” she said with a wobble in her voice.

What was wrong with her? How could she be so stupid? The man she loved stood in front of her, and his face told her the truth. He’d never hurt her. If he’d been a part of killing her cousin, any possibility of them being together would have been destroyed.

She hesitantly stepped toward Wolf, expecting him to move away. As soon as her arms wrapped around his waist, he grabbed and squeezed tight.

“I would never do that to you,” he said into her hair. Then he kissed the top of her head several times. “I was not a fan of your cousin, but you loved him. I can’t hurt anyone that matters to you. I would never treat you like that.”

She believed him.

“Okay.”

As soon as she said it, she noticed his body relaxed.

“Will you come home with me now?” he asked as he leaned down to look into her eyes. The sweet hopefulness on his face helped her to decide.

“Yes.”

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Wolf’s eyes drifted shut as he squeezed Sofia to his side. His uncle had sent over a king-sized bed he’d stored in the attic, and Cutter had recently purchased a firmer mattress and given them his old “too soft” ones. For a person to want only his motorcycle and no other possessions, he sure did own a lot.

They had set up Sofia’s queen-sized bedroom suite in one of the spare rooms. When he learned she had bought it while married to Ramon, he refused to sleep in it.

Feeling her move against him, he grinned. He’d never been much for taking on responsibilities, but her happiness meant the world to him. He’d be responsible for the whole town of Brook Hill with Marystown thrown in as long as he had Sofia and could keep her safe. Like at that moment with her in his arms.

Snuggling with her in their own roomy bed felt fucking amazing. He’d recognized the bed with the carved head and footboards. His parents’ bed was back where it belonged in the old house. Sofia was where she belonged: in his home, his bed, and more importantly his arms. Only one thing left.

He eyed the nightstand on his side. In the top drawer was the wedding band he wanted on Sofia’s finger as soon as possible. His plan had been to wait until Valentine’s Day to elope, but then her cousin died. There was no way he would let her live alone for nearly two months. The best way to persuade her to stay in his home was to move up their wedding date. He wanted her in his sight, in his home and bed from that point on. With Ramon and Jorge causing trouble, she needed his and the MC’s protection. The Mayhem Brothers’ issues with the Thirty-Second would most likely come to a head soon. He wanted Sofia out of the middle of the chaos.

As he worked on what he planned to say, Sofia shifted next to him. One delicate hand traveled down his chest and skimmed over his stomach, slowing as she neared his dick. Leaning toward the same side she pressed to him, his length thickened and stretched as if yearning for her touch. Smart boy.

He groaned with pleasure when her warm hand clasped and stroked.

“You have a firm grip there, woman,” he said, his voice deep and husky. “I like it.”

Unable to stay still, his hips lifted, helping her caress him all the way to his balls.

“You like that, huh? How about this?”

She moved over him and wet heat encircled the tip. When she sucked most of his length down to the back of her throat, he gasped for air. With the exception of fucking her sweet, hot pussy, nothing felt better.

“I take that back. It’s your mouth,” he said, barely able to catch his breath. “Fucking love your mouth.”

His hands slid down her back until he cupped her ass and pulled her closer while not disturbing her rhythm. His fingers dipped between her thighs. The moisture his fingers found proved she enjoyed getting him off. In fact, the same could be said about him.

“Don’t let go of me. Straddle my face. I’ve got to taste you.”

He nearly lost it when she hummed with pleasure in acknowledgement of his intentions.

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The top of Sofia’s head almost exploded when Wolf’s tongue swiped between her legs. What a way to christen their new soon-to-be marriage.

Everything faded around her except Wolf’s mouth and the hard cock pumping in her mouth. His hips had slowed as he concentrated so hard on bringing her pleasure. To help him remember to move, she cupped his balls and pulled.

“Fuck! What was that for?”

“Just wanted to make sure you hadn’t gone numb from my sucking.”

“I swear, I’ve never felt anything better. Just as I never tasted anything better than your sweet pussy.”

Just hearing him say that hardened her nipples and brought waves of pleasure between her thighs. She clasped his cock with both hands and began stroking his length. She loved all of the foreplay, but she was ready for the real deal. She’d missed him.

“Ugh! Hell, baby. Go easy it won’t take much more—”

Without warning, she swung away and twisted until her body hovered over his hard length. Then she slowly eased down, inch by inch. His neck arched as his whole torso bowed and he tried to meet her half way.

“No. Lay flat. Let me fuck you.” She wanted to be in control.

One dark eyebrow lifted as he studied her. She almost giggled.

“You fuck me? That’s never going to happen.”

In a quick move, he slammed her back onto the mattress, and she looked up into devilishly twinkling eyes. He loved throwing around his weight and strength. She mentally shrugged. She loved it too. He was certainly all man. Thankfully, he was gentle and caring when she needed it.

His thrusts glided in and out with a steady pace, almost killing her. Her nails bit into his hard ass cheeks.

“Please, Wolf. Faster.”

His mouth covered hers and his hips picked up speed. The slapping of flesh against flesh reverberated through the room. Strong fingers tweaked her nipples. Wonderful sensations surrounded her until she felt as if she were melting into Wolf. They were becoming one person, all their passion folded into the moment, and the world had disappeared.

The swirling feeling inside her built until the moment exploded, and she held his shuddering body to hers.

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Unsure of why she woke up, she felt tears on her face. A bad dream? She took comfort from Wolf’s hold.

His big, long body spooned hers, one hand cupped her mons and the other a breast. His cock nestled between her buttocks. She smiled faintly. His breathing ruffled her hair, tickling her scalp.

The man was insatiable. For that matter, she found she was too. She never would have enough of his touches and kisses. The fucking was great, but being held and touched were just as wonderful. Whenever he slipped a hand over her skin, be it on her arm, across her stomach, at the small of her back, she liquefied.

He snuggled closer to her, tightening his hold, and giving her a light nudge. She gasped. That certain part of him stretched and hardened. Her heartbeats picked up speed with her breathing.

“Sofia?” He kissed the top of her head.

“Yes.” What a sublime feeling to lay in bed with the man she loved. Everything felt perfect.

“Let’s get married this week. I don’t want to wait any longer. I’ll keep you safe here.”

She tried to fight the tension stiffening her body. He wouldn’t understand her fear. Goodness, she didn’t understand it any longer. He’d proven to her many times that he placed her feelings above his. What was the big deal? If they married and he turned mean, she could leave. A clenching in her chest reminded her she no longer had Hector to look after her.

“Sofia, baby,” Wolf murmured. “I’m not like your ex. I’ll never hit you or cheat on you. God, I love you, girl. Nothing will change that.”

The man knew the right words to say. Such a beautifully sweet plea. How could she resist?

“Yes. I’ll be happy to marry you this week.”

He shouted and squeezed her tight.

“Oh, baby, to have you as mine . . . damn, you have no idea how much you mean to me.” He kissed her forehead, cheeks, nose, and then her mouth.

Truly, she never felt so loved in her life. She only hoped she never did anything to break his heart.

Growing up with a dad that never wanted anything to do with her, a mother that had died when she was young, and being abused by the man she believed she’d loved, her only exposure with love had been from Hector. And he often had been hard to live with, being involved with such a violent life and having everyone around him kowtowing to him. Wolf was a different experience. He didn’t expect anything from her but attention and love. He willingly protected her in every way possible and showed her how much he loved her in return.

She was a lucky woman.

They started making plans to purchase their license and get married. He wanted to be married in city hall. She preferred a more private ceremony, but knew that would take longer and decided they could plan one later.

Being with Wolf brought a lightness she never remembered having in her life. The future looked bright.

She glanced around the room. The walls were bare and a scratched up dresser stood against the wall across from the bed. Her home with Ramon had been pretty with all the little things that made a home comfortable. But it had never been home. Even with so little, she felt as if she was finally at home. A confident feeling surrounded her. She could see her and Wolf raising children and growing old together. Children?

“Wolf?” She turned toward him.

His fingers had been playing with her hair resting across her shoulder. Heavy lids partially covered light blue eyes. He was beautiful inside and out to her.

“Yeah, baby?”

“We haven’t talked about children. Do you want . . .” Unsure of his reaction, she looked down at her fingers gripping the sheet.

He cupped her cheek and gently turned her gaze back to him. “One day. I would love to see a little Sofia running around the house.”

“Or a mini-Wolf. But let’s give him a regular name, okay?”

“There goes Amadeus.”

“No way! You wouldn’t do that to one of our kids?” She punched him in the arm. “Maybe we can name a boy after your dad?”

The way his face went all cold, she knew she said the wrong thing. “I’m sorry. We have plenty of time to think up names.”

He shook his head. With a quick kiss to her cheek, he leaned back against the headboard and pulled her next to him.

“No. You didn’t say anything wrong. My brother named his little boy after our dad. Bryan. Cute little thing.”

“Do you see them often?”

“Let’s talk about when we’re going to the court house. How about Thursday?”

She accepted his need to change the subject. It didn’t take much to see he was hurting. She remembered his voice when he told her about his brother during one of the first nights in his family’s house.

“I’ll marry anytime you want, Wolfgang.”

With a quick move, he pushed her over and covered her. “There you go saying my name with your sexy voice.”

Another delicious kiss and she forgot all about the world outside.

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Wolf slipped out of bed. The light slicing between the curtains warned it was late morning. He needed to go into work but maybe later. Working for his uncle had its advantages.

“Where’re you going?”

He looked over at Sofia stretched out on the bed. His heart clenched at the sight. Dark brown hair sweeping her shoulders and falling in her face. She brushed the strands away and smiled.

“I thought I would fix us some breakfast,” he said.

She scrambled out of the covers. “Let me help.”

With determined steps toward her, he reached out and pushed her back onto the mattress. “No. Stay here. I’ll bring it to you. What do you want? Eggs, bacon, toast?”

“I can do it. You’ve done so much.” She waved her hand toward the room. “I can see how much you’ve done the last couple of weeks. You can’t even tell there was ever a fire or that the house has been empty for so long.”

He leaned down, bracing an arm next to her on the bed. The other hand cupped and massaged the breast beneath the tee shirt she’d pulled on sometime in the early morning.

She pressed against his hand and lifted her face for a kiss.

“Damn it, woman. You’re going to be the death of me. I need nourishment to keep up with you.” He felt her smile against his mouth.

She pulled back. “Scrambled egg on toast is fine.”

No doubt about it, his old lady was enjoying his role as servant. If that was what made her happy, he’d do it every day.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Get yourself more shuteye.” He walked out of the bedroom and headed downstairs, taking the steps two at a time, even jumping down the last five. The day started out the way he hoped every day would from then on out.

Life was good.

He entered the kitchen without glancing toward the dining area and reached inside a cabinet.

“Hey, little brother.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Wolf turned and glared at his older brother.