CHAPTER SEVEN

Sofia always thought of herself as a pacifist. Considering the war zone she’d lived in most of her life that was either a miracle or expected. All of the turmoil and insecurity brought by having an uncle and then cousin leading a gang for over twenty years caused her to hate what they loved. Violence. She wanted peace. So she worked at keeping the tone even around her. She believed in turning the other cheek. But she would never let anyone run over her.

“Well, Sofia, what’s it going to be?” Wolf raised one eyebrow, his tone low like a sexy growl.

How did he do that? Not the eyebrow thing, but make her feel like mush around him. Too fast he’d gotten beneath the shield she’d built after kicking Ramon out. When she was seeing Wolf, he’d been the perfect gentleman: pulling chairs out for her, opening doors, and picking up tabs at restaurants and coffee houses. Such simple old-fashioned kindnesses. They made her feel special. She was a sucker for the niceties. Maybe because no one had ever treated her so sweetly.

She’d never really dated Ramon before they married. They attended the same parties supported by the Thirty-Second. She’d seen him daily at the shop as they worked together and Hector always set up activities where they were paired, hinting that they made the perfect couple. She’d been lonely and Ramon had been there, everywhere she turned. Not long after they married, it all changed. Ramon treated her more like a ball and chain, and told her often she was one. He even mocked her in front of Jorge and his other friends.

Her cousin had been kind in his own way, but Hector was Hector. Gruff and protective most of the time, but he did have issues with believing what women told him.

“Fine. Take the handcuffs off me.” She held her wrist up.

The suspicious look Wolf gave her brought out a giggle.

He scowled.

She laughed and covered her mouth with her free hand.

“What?”

“You’re so like my cousin.” The shocked look he gave her brought on another fit of giggles. “You’re so determined to think everyone is out to do you wrong. I like you. A lot. No matter how crazy you are.” She smiled and pointedly looked down at the handcuffs.

His lips straightened with frustration and worry, causing her to giggle again.

“Don’t try anything,” he said.

He was so freaking gorgeous when he was uncertain. Hard to imagine Wolf being unsure of anything. Maybe it was the way he stood with both feet planted on the floor and shoulders back. So sure of his decisions and what to do next. She guessed with her being in control the last few hours had placed a dent in his male pride.

“Don’t try anything?” she asked, repeating his command.

“You know what I mean.”

“But did you?”

One dark eyebrow lifted as his smirk spread across his face into a full blown smile.

As soon as he unlocked the cuffs, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. He’d surprised her earlier with the kiss that melted the soles off her shoes. She wanted to show him how much his words and touch swayed her to his side.

She caught her breath when a broad hand slipped between her legs and caressed the pulse that suddenly materialized there. How did he know the exact place to touch her?

He broke off the kiss. His mouth dropped to her neck and nipped the nape. She bowed her body into his and moaned.

“Damn.” He inhaled deeply. “Sorry, baby, but we have to get out of here before your cousin figures out you’re gone.”

Her fingers slid into his hair, enjoying the silky feeling before she let go.

“Do you have my cell phone?” She glanced over to the saddle bags on his bike. “I’ll text him and say I’m going away for a few days, visiting my friend, Lisa. She lives in Atlanta. He doesn’t know her, but he’s heard me talk about her. He won’t be able to check on me but by calling me.”

With a quick nod, Wolf released her and pulled out the cell phone from his bags.

There was still a little charge left, and she nimbly typed in the message and hit send. She felt bad for lying to Hector, but she wanted the few days before Christmas with Wolf, without the pressure of knowing how pissed her cousin would be by her so-called defection. She wanted to see if her feelings for the man holding her were real. Like he said, he would protect her. If it turned out to be only lust, she deserved a fling. By marrying at eighteen, she never experienced the things other women, who attended college and remained single, had before marrying. Ramon had been her only lover, and he told her often she was shitty at it. She wasn’t stupid. Being good at making love took two. Ramon’s kisses hadn’t been as mind-blowing as Wolf’s. She couldn’t imagine anything being less than wonderful with him.

“What about my clothes, toothbrush, you know things I need each day?” No way could she go back to the house and pick up her stuff.

“I’ll take care of that. Don’t worry.” The confident Wolf was back.

Could she shake him up again? She’d have to think on it. For the moment, she would enjoy the freedom and experience life on the other side of Sand County.

They moved the bike out of the garage and she settled on the seat behind him. He looked at her over his shoulder.

“Yes. I’m ready.” The thought of for it all raced through her mind as she held onto his cut with both hands.

They zoomed out of the neighborhood and headed toward Sand City, Brothers of Mayhem territory.

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The motorcycle leaned into the curve and Sofia recognized the house as soon as it came into view. It had been dark when they arrived the night before last, and she hadn’t looked back when they left yesterday morning, but she remembered the boarded up windows and overgrown yard. Though off-putting, the house had been a showplace at one time. With a big bucket of money and hard work, it could shine again.

Wolf parked the bike and helped her off. Her whole body ached from too little sleep and too much drama. By the time they slipped inside the house, she doubted she would ever get warm again. The day’s temperature had dropped considerably during the ride. They had stopped long enough for burgers, and he’d picked up a bag filled with snacks.

“Here.” He tossed her a blanket. “I’ll get the fire started.”

She held up the material to her nose. It smelled of Wolf, a mixture of leather, soap, and oil. Draping it over her shoulders, she watched as he cleaned out the ashes and chucked in firewood. Then he stuffed newspaper under the grate and between the sticks. His concentration at the chore was endearing. There was something about the way he placed everything precisely. She could tell that someone had taught him.

“Did your dad show you how?” She nodded toward the slow-burning fire.

“Dad? Shit! The old man was too drunk most of the time. My brother, Thorn, probably learned how when he was a Boy Scout.”

“You close to your brother?” During their short time together, she hadn’t insisted on knowing more. Otherwise, he would ask about her past. At the time, she’d just wanted to live for the moment. Maybe a little of what she planned for now.

He moved to the couch and scooted next to her, lifting the blanket to spread it over his lap too. His fingers rasped over his stubble as he stared into the fire.

“When I was a kid, I thought so.” He lifted one corner of his mouth without smiling.

The sadness in his tone nearly broke her heart. She couldn’t imagine not having her cousin or even her older brother. Though Angel had gone to do whatever he normally did for months on end. He and Hector had been fighting a lot lately. She figured he thought she was safe at Ramon’s house and didn’t need him, or she would have heard from him.

“What happened?”

He leaned back and glanced at her. Whatever he saw satisfied him, and he stretched out an arm over her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “He’s a cop.”

“You’re kidding.” Her eyes widened. A cop from a known crime family. Who would’ve thought?

“When he left home, he joined the Army. We never heard a word from him. Then when he shows up fucking years later, he’s working undercover as a cop.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“Nope. He was pretending to be a Mayhem Brother.”

“Does your club know?”

“Oh, yeah. Now they do. Took a while, but they found out a couple months ago when our former club prez went to trial. That’s part of why I’m no longer VP. How can you trust a cop’s brother?”

“How didn’t you know?”

“Like I said, we didn’t see or hear from him after he left for boot camp. He’d been back for almost a year before I found out he was living in Brook Hill. Then after the club was busted, it took a couple years before the case came up and his part in the takedown came out. You know how it is. With an overloaded court system, cases with multi-defendants take time to go to trial. So after that train wreck and a few other things, I lost the VP position in the club.”

The blankness on his face told more. It had hurt to have a brother leave without a word and show up to bring down the club he loved.

“I’m sorry, Wolf.”

He looked down. A sad grin came to his face. “Nothing to be sorry about. It is what it is. Not like I asked him to be an asshole. It’s the fucked up way of the Savalas family.”

“What’s your real name?”

“Who says Wolf isn’t my name?”

“I guessed it was your road name. Are you saying your mom put that on your birth certificate?”

“Sort of. It’s Wolfgang. Shit! Thankfully, I didn’t get stuck with Thorndyke like my brother did.” He squeezed her tight.

The heat from his body was almost as hot as the fire. He was so big and solid. She liked how she felt small next to him.

“Oh, no. Those names . . . what a mouthful. No wonder you two go by Wolf and Thorn. What about your middle name? Did she give you one?”

“No way are we going there. You got enough info from me.” His big hand slipped down the neckline of her tee shirt and into her bra. He cupped her breast and lightly squeezed, a thumb grazing her hard nipple.

She swallowed as she tried to catch her breath. It felt so good. Unable to stop, she arched her back.

When he pulled away, she had to bite back a protest, but he pushed her head into his lap. On her back, she looked up. Did he expect her to take care of the hardness behind his zipper?

The fascination on his face stilled her. His gaze focused on her chest. He shoved her shirt and then her bra above her breasts.

“Fuck,” was all he said as he played with her breasts.

One hand took turns brushing the needy tips. Then he lifted and massaged each mound. How could it be so relaxing and arousing at the same time?

When he stopped and hauled her body up to his mouth, she was sure she would die. She trembled. Heat pulsated between her legs. He suckled and nipped. His tongue swirled over the areola. The chilled room caused everything he did to be more . . . electrifying.

She struggled for air. The room darkened.

“Shh, baby. Breathe.” He clutched her hard to his chest.

That was when she realized she’d been whimpering and holding her breath.

Embarrassed by how wrapped up she’d gotten with his attention, she ducked her face into his shoulder. “Sorry.”

“Quit saying that. I like knowing I make you forget yourself.”

She opened her eyes. His smile, gentle and encouraging, brought a warmth to her whole body. She could easily fall in love with him. Only problem was . . . well, there was more than one problem. Nevertheless, she wanted him desperately.

––––––––

Wolf’s dick was so hard he was afraid it would break. He’d heard of an old guy in Birmingham who had a bad reaction to those woody pills. He had a stiffy for two days. When it softened up, he couldn’t get it up again.

Not that he needed the pills, certainly not around Sofia, but he ached so bad. He was certain if he stayed hard any longer he would fuck himself up.

“Wolf, let me go. I can’t breathe.”

He released her. He’d been holding Sofia tight to his chest.

“Shit! You all right?” He arranged her legs on both sides of his hips with her facing him. Without asking, he lifted her tee shirt and unclipped her bra. She halfheartedly slapped at his hands, but he quickly pulled it off.  “Fuck. You have beautiful tits.”

“You sure know how to sweet talk a girl.” Her voice was smooth as honey. Despite her initial protest, her half-closed eyes and lust-filled tone ensured him she enjoyed what he did to her.

“Stand up,” he said.

“What?” The confusion on her face tickled him. He liked her large brown eyes looking at him with surprise.

He picked her up by the waist and stood her between his legs. Without giving her time to protest, he unsnapped and jerked down her jeans and panties.

“Kick them off with your shoes.” His voice low with need.

She started to ignore his orders and raise them up, but when she looked into his eyes, she stopped. Whatever she saw changed her mind. He burned for her, and she recognized it and felt the same. She pushed away her clothes and toed off her sneakers, not stopping to untie them.

When she straightened, his heart stopped. He loved curves on a woman and she had plenty. The pink blush on her face and down her neck only added to her appeal.

“Fuck. You’re a fantasy come true.”

She shook her head as she tried to cover up with her hands and arms.

“Don’t make fun of me,” she said in a whisper, her gaze pinned downward.

Unable to hold back from touching her, he ran his hands over her waist and clasped her ass with both hands. Damn, he loved how she filled them out and more. So fucking soft. He loved how soft she was beneath his hands. He pulled her onto the couch, spreading her knees on each side of his thighs again, opening her pussy to his gaze. When her breasts rested against his chest, he roughly clasped her chin and lifted her face for those chocolate eyes to meet his. He didn’t want her to avoid looking at him. She had nothing to be ashamed of.

Tears welled in her eyes. The shock from seeing her so unhappy hit him in the gut. He gentled his touch, smoothing over the red prints his fingers had left. He dipped his head and leaned into her until their noses almost touched. She needed to look into his eyes, to see how serious he was about the next few words.

“I would never make fun of you. It’s the truth. I’ve been fantasizing about you for weeks. You’re the one I think of when I stroke myself off at night alone in bed. Shit! You can ask the club bitches. I haven’t taken none of them since I met you. Why have hamburger when there’s steak waiting?”

“So I’m hamburger?” She sniffed and then giggled.

Fuck, he was going to explode. He loved that sound. He’d always loved women and how they giggled and tittered, instead of roaring with laughter like men. Fuck, he loved women, and Sofia was all woman.

“Oh, no, baby. You are USDA prime rib. Nothing better than that.”

Her sweet smile grew bigger.

“You look at me as if you could eat me with a spoon. I’ve never had a guy want me like you do.”

“Then they are fucking idiots. But that’s good for I want you to myself. Just you and me, babe.” He picked her up. She protested, scrambling to hold onto his neck. “Shh. Sit right here. It’s time for me to try out some of that fine dining.”

She blinked at him. He released her, twisting on the couch to sit her up and spread her knees apart. Not until he kneeled between her feet and pushed her thighs wider apart did the confusion leave her face.

He planted a kiss into the center of her heat. Oh, yeah. She tasted so sweet. He’d gone down on a few women in his life, but he never really wanted it as bad as he did with her. Knowing it was his sweet Sofia beneath his tongue brought a hunger out that only she could fill. He wanted to hear her moan and say his name over and over again at the top of her voice.

As he licked, sucked, and nipped, he rotated her hips, showing her how to get full satisfaction from his touch. When she screamed his name several times, he grinned. Music to his ears.

––––––––

Sprawled on the couch with Wolf gently pressing kisses to the crease of her thigh was nearly as much of a turn on as what he’d just done. Fingering herself had never felt that good. To have the big man’s tongue doing such wicked things was fantastic. Her ex had touched her there a time or two, but not like that. She’d overheard women talking about it, but the whole deal had always sounded awkward.

Gradually, she released her tight hold on his dark hair. The sensation of every inch of her body happily relaxed brought a sigh to her lips.

At that moment, his broad hands slid up her sides and all of that sated feeling disappeared. Heat and desire filled each nook and cranny. How mind-blowing would actual sex be with the provocative, badass biker between her legs?

“You have such a sweet pussy. I like how you get all wet for me. Damn, you even hum when I go down on you. Did you know that?”

She shook her head, unable to take her eyes off him. No way would she tell him he was responsible for her first oral orgasm. Oh, God, I hope it was the first of many more. Would sex with him cause her to have her first orgasm during sex? Ramon always reached his. He never acted as if hers mattered. She mentally flinched and sealed that door from the past.

He slowly crawled over her body, placing kisses and little bites along the way. Wiggling, she was torn between arching into his touch or shoving away from his overwhelming attention. His tongue dipped into her bellybutton and she almost came again. After a few awe-inspiring seconds, his hot mouth covered one stiff nipple and she released a small squeak.

That time Wolf lifted his head and grinned up at her.

“I love those little sounds. Maybe I can get you to hum for me again.” He cupped and then pressed her breasts together. She inhaled and held her breath as his tongue took turns swirling around the hard nubs. The cool air chilled the moisture he left behind. Her breasts ached. His mouth sucked in the tender skin on the side of a breast. The place stung when he moved to the other side. He’d left behind a small love bite.

She could only moan and pant with his every touch. Each husky word he spoke ratcheted what she felt to superhuman levels. The man was talented. She guessed all the women he’d slept with had helped to refine his skills. Jealousy washed over her. She shut that door in her mind too. His past relationships were not important.

“I’m on birth control,” she blurted out.

His rumbling groan traveled along her collarbone. “Damn, that’s the best news yet.”

She felt his lips move into a grin against her neck. Every cell in her body wanted to melt against his. He had the sexiest grin. Just knowing he’d pressed those lips to her skin and smiled shot a tremor straight to below her stomach.

“What about you?” she asked.

“I’m not on birth control.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She giggled and dug fingers into his side. He jerked. “What? The big, bad biker is ticklish?”

He jumped again as she poked his other side. Strong hands circled her wrists and pushed them to the cushions above her.

“Yes. I am. Don’t do that again, if you don’t want me to do this.” He walked his fingers along her side.

She wiggled and squealed.

He became motionless, staring down at her. His face still swollen and bruised but so handsome to her.

Smiling big, she asked, “What?” She couldn't figure out his expression.

“Damn, you are beautiful.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. Why was she being such a cry baby? Her chest tightened. But when had anyone uttered such words to her? Her family had loved her, but her brother was considered the good-looking one in the family. So most compliments were directed his way, and she heard the occasional, “she’s so sweet.”

“No. Don’t do that.” A panicked tone came into his voice.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” She sniffed. “And I’ve never had an orgasm that way before.” Oh, God. She didn’t mean to say that out loud.

“Baby.” He drew her into his arms. “I can’t promise much, but I can promise you more orgasms.” His rough fingers swiped away the tears.

Her burst of laughter surprised them both. Moving back a little, he stared down at her with a questioning look.

“I’ve never laughed during sex before.”

“Technically, we haven’t had sex yet, but sex is fun and should always be. That’s the best time to laugh.” Then as if he’d heard what he said, he quickly added, “That is as long as you’re not pointing at my dick when you do it.”

She couldn’t help it. She looked down.

“From what I’ve felt beneath your jeans, I don’t think I have anything to laugh at,” she said in a solemn tone.

He growled. “Damn, woman, you know just the thing to say to make me want to show off.”

Covering her mouth, she grinned. Unable to resist, she lifted to her knees and pulled at his colors.

“Be careful.” He helped her to take off his vest and then shirt.

“Oh, no! Poor baby.” How had she forgotten he’d been more than beaten on his face? “I’m so sorry. You haven’t said a word. Where did you get the other bruises?” His chest appeared to have been spray-painted with red, blue, black, yellow, and green. The last two colors indicated healing bruises. “What happened?” Her fingers glided across his torso. She was afraid to touch him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Your cousin and his friends weren’t exactly giving me love taps.”

She glared with frustration. “I’m talking about the older ones. The ones almost healed.”

“Let’s not talk about it.” He kissed her, his tongue delving into her mouth with the intent of making her forget.

A moan vibrated into his mouth from her.

“I want to kiss each bruise.”

“That sounds good. Later.” His voice deep and airy. “I want your sweet lips wrapped around my dick.”

The feeling was mutual. For the moment, she wanted to show him how much he meant to her. She’d heard enough to know men enjoyed women going down on them. She dropped her hands to his zipper and dragged the tab down. The bulge beneath his underwear was impressive.

“Go ahead, but be careful taking me out. Don’t want to damage the goods.”

She bit her bottom lip. Her palm itched with the need to feel his satiny hardness. Then her hand wrapped around him and stroked.

All the laughter disappeared from his eyes. Eyes bright blue like the hottest flame watched her hands.

“Do it again,” he whispered. He closed his eyes and rolled his hips with her touch. “Fuck. You’re good at that. I want your mouth there, but I might explode. Just keep doing that for now.”

She bit her lip to keep from saying that Ramon always complained about how clumsy she was whenever she tried to initiate their lovemaking. Why was everything different with Wolf?

Eyes half closed, Wolf looked at her with such hunger, her body heated and melted in response. Maybe that was it. She knew he wanted her. Desired her. He had no other motive from what she could tell. He didn’t care who she had for a relative.

His fingers parted her folds and rubbed the sensitive knot.

Her back bowed as pure pleasure shot through her. No more thoughts of other people. The man whose lap she sat on had her full attention as he leaned down and sucked on one nipple and then the other. He had a wicked, wicked mouth, and she loved it.