"Get out," she repeated louder.

His chest exploded, and he rolled onto his back laughing. She pounced on top of him, jostling the bed, and he flung his arm around her and dragged her underneath him until he covered her body.

"Are you serious?" The vulnerability of doubts softened her voice again.

He planted his elbows on each side of her and framed her face with his hands. "Look at me, bug. I don't have a moment in my life where I have time to fuck around and make mistakes. You're young, and you've got a lot to learn, and I can't teach you when you're working at a coffee house giving every fucking man in the city a look at what belongs to me. I live a hard life, and that means I'm more diligent about what's mine."

She stilled underneath him.

"What we've always had going between us...what we'll have together, will be behind closed doors. You have a problem with me, you talk to me in private. Once we're on the other side of the door, around the others, they'll see you as the closest thing in my life." He waited for her to finish thinking about what he was telling her and continued. "There are going to be men who believe they can take you away from me, to get to me, to get to Brikken, to take what I've built, what Rollo built. I need you in Karla's house so I can make sure Brikken survives."

"Where is Karla?" she asked.

"She's living in Tacoma and near the boys if they need her."

"Will I be able to see her again?"

"She doesn't want to see you, bug."

"Ever?"

The hurt in her voice was on him. He'd put her in a home, with his family, where he understood the risks. Over time, Johanna had grown to love Karla.

"It's nothing you did." He kissed her softly. "She's upset with me because she doesn't agree with my decision to be with you. I've known how she felt about us for years, but no woman is going to tell me what to do."

"There's so much that I don't understand." She brought her hands up to his chest. "What if everyone else doesn't like me with you? How about Jett, Olin, and Thorn?"

"Everyone in Brikken will accept you, or they'll deal with me." He used his thumbs to wipe the corners of her eyes.

"I liked where we were heading." She wiggled. "I'm not sure about living in the house that—"

"Only way I can protect you, Johanna. The moment any of my enemies realize you're not some kid in Brikken, it's going to open a fucking door that I'll have a hard time closing."

"Then, we'll be together in secret?"

She struggled to get up from the bed. He pinned her down again. "Listen to me."

She stilled.

"Been waiting to get in that sweet pussy of yours since you were sixteen years old and kissed me when you had no idea what you were doing." He gazed down at her breasts squished against his chest. "Dreamed about it. Jerked off dreaming about it."

She sighed, and her body relaxed. "Me, too."

"I'm not going to share you with a job, have you away from me in an apartment, or jump through your friends' ideas of whether I see you or not. Nothing is going to stop me from being with you."

"But, I don't want to sit around waiting for you—"

"I'm going to stay at the house with you, bug." His chest warmed. "No Karla. No Nene. No women looking to fuck when I'm free because my time will be spent with you, in our bed, in the privacy of our house."

Her mouth formed an O. He grinned. She finally understood.

"Do you think you can strip out of those clothes in the time it takes me to get my boots off or do you want me to rip your clothes off and take you now?" he asked.

Her lips curved. "Do your boots. I'll be ready."

***

SHE STRIPPED, BEATING him by thirty seconds when he stood from the edge of the bed and toed off his unlaced boots. Not waiting until he took off his pants, she crooked her finger. He went to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and took her to the bed. A shock of arousal swooped through her at his dominance—making her feel loved and safe.

Long ago, she'd learned to accept Chief for the man who catered to no one. She understood his position as the leader of Brikken from observing and listening. Any kind of compromise would only happen on her part of the relationship if she wanted to remain with him.

He kissed her hard and pulled back. "Need my jeans off, bug."

She pouted, rubbing the inside of her thighs against his pants, loving the abrasive material.

Chief left the bed, stripped his jeans and boxers off, and retrieved a condom from his wallet. She rubbed her hand over her stomach, smiling at the view he gave her. His tight ass only made his thighs look more muscular. Having felt the muscles under his jeans while riding on his Harley, she bit down on her lower lip wanting the power of his legs between hers.

He turned, giving her a full-frontal view of his naked body. She sucked in air, shocked at the size of him. In her head, she'd imagined what he'd look like. Daily. For years.

Because of only having a few sexual encounters with other guys, she'd based her expectations from her past.

She'd been wrong.

So, so very wrong.

She also doubted that he'd fit comfortably inside of her. Nobody and nothing could've prepared her for him.

He glanced over at her as he rolled the condom on his cock. "I'll take care of you."

She squeezed her thighs together. Chief grinned, catching her movement, and she lifted her head, refusing to back away. She wasn't afraid, only a little overwhelmed.

"I've had sex before," she blurted.

"Know that, Johanna."

She couldn't tell if he was mad or relieved. Though she felt the surprise that he knew every single detail about her life, even when he wasn't around, clear down to her toes. She'd been careful, and besides sharing the experience with Lindsay and Ashley, nobody else knew.

"I watched over you. There was never any time when I didn't have someone from the club watching you."

She swallowed. "They didn't see me have—"

"No."

He opened the top drawer of the dresser and squeezed lubrication from a tube on his fingers. "First time with me is going to hurt. No getting around it."

He kneed the bed and placed himself on top of her. Unsure of her earlier confidence, she reached down and wrapped her fingers around his width. Oh, boy.

Both turned on and freaked out, she gazed into his eyes. "Be quick. Then, be slow."

"Been fucking since I was thirteen years old, bug. I know what I'm doing." He slipped his hand between her legs.

The cool, wetness of the lubrication a startling sensation against her heated body. She widened her legs and rested her heels on the back of Chief's calves. He rubbed the lube all over her pussy, taking his time over her clit.

"Been waiting a lifetime for you." He slowed his caress, rubbing over her as if she'd break. "Softest thing I've ever touched," he whispered almost to himself.

Maybe going fast was overrated. She quite liked the way his rough fingers glided over her.

Every callus and blunt fingernail on his hand finely tuned to turn her on. Slow was good. Very good.

She arched her back until her breasts skimmed his chest. His gaze lowered, and her nipples hardened. Flattening her hands on his chest, she found his nipples. Small, hard dots on an even harder chest. Trailing her finger around each one until the skin puckered tighter.

"What do you like," she whispered.

"I like what you like doing." He lowered his head and captured her mouth.

He swallowed her moan, and she liked that. Sliding her hands down the sides of him, she absorbed his returned groan when her fingernails scratched his skin. Her lips moved under his in satisfaction. She liked that.

She lifted her legs higher, rubbing her inner thighs against his hips. Goosebumps tickled her skin. Oh, yeah, she liked that, too.

He plunged his finger inside of her pussy and lifted his head. His intense expression only broken by the softness of a smile.

Her body flashed warmly at his approval. He'd always had an unexplainable power over her. Hours, days, weeks could go by without seeing him, and her love hadn't returned when he came to her, it'd never left. She gave up a long time ago on fighting her feelings and trying to make sense of her connection with him.

He lowered his mouth to her breast and took her nipple between his lips. She shivered at the brush of his beard against her bare skin and then gasped at the burrowing pull throughout her whole body.

"Chief." She stroked his head, her pussy throbbing with the touch of his fingers. "Now."

He licked her nipple as he raised his head, and their gazes connected. The searing pain of him entering her happened instantly. She tensed, holding her breath, unaware he'd moved.

Weighted down by his large body, her legs spread wide, she couldn't move. The insides of her spasmed convulsively on him. She patted stiff fingers on his shoulders in some womanly signal, probably older than time, telling him without words not to breathe, not to move, not to do anything.

And, he remained still. "Give it a second."

"You're huge," she panted, trying to relax after going from hot to cold in a blind second.

His body shook in amusement. She tensed expecting more discomfort, but the movement warmed her, stretching her more.

"I'm sure it'll be possible, later, after a few times, once I get used to your size, for us to have more...wilder sex?" She inhaled her first lungful of air and exhaled. "This probably isn't what you wanted." Her fingers relaxed, and she rubbed his shoulders. "I always pictured us having sex against the wall. I've never had it that way, but I can see that the logistics—with you being tall and me being...not as tall would make that hard. I've only had sex this way and with me on top, and the guys...well, they weren't you."

Chief tilted his head.

"I'll stop talking." She closed her mouth, then thought of one more thing because her body was no longer stinging but pulsating in a good way. "I think..."

Chief remained still.

She combed her fingers through his beard, tugged him lower, and kissed him. "I think you can move now."

"We will fuck against the wall. Later." He slid his cock out slowly and back in. "By that look on your face, you're okay?"

Her smile only contained by the attention that was drawn to her pussy. "It feels good."

He grunted and moved in and out. She lifted her legs again and concentrated on breathing. He touched her soul. There was not one iota of room left untouched inside of her. He slid—no, he glided. She stared up at him, her body trembling under an assault of need.

"Like a fucking glove." He supported his weight on one elbow and slid his other hand down her body, over her hip, and between her legs.

His middle finger skimmed her clit. Her breath caught, and her whole body tightened. They both groaned, her because of the intense desire and he because—she had no idea, except his cock pulsed inside of her and she felt, yes felt, the twinge of his hardness and knew he liked it. Because she liked it.

He pulled out and again pushed in. His finger lightly circled, and she decided right then, she'd never be jealous of the sex Chief had in the past because how he made her feel was hers alone.

She loved everything that made Chief...Chief. Past and present. Every memory and every dream.

She loved him.

She loved his body.

His cock. His mouth. His finger. His chest. His nipples. His hips working their magic.

"I need you to come on me." His forehead wrinkled in concentration.

"Now?" The muscles between her legs tightened, swirling her higher.

"You're killing me. So fucking tight."

He kept pumping, grinding into her. She no longer laid there letting him thrust inside of her. She lifted her hips pushing back, letting his cock hit the sweet spot that flooded her body with pleasure.

He stretched and spread her more, every fully-seated plunge took her higher until she moved on instinct. She dug her nails into his arms, straining and holding, trying to suck a little more pleasure out before it was over.

The pressure built and her body spiraled.

She held her breath as he fucked her to impossible heights.

Chief's finger pressed firmer against her clit. She writhed, unable to stop. Winding tighter and tighter.

"Jesus Christ." He pulled back until he almost slid out of her body and slammed back inside of her.

A scream bubbled in her throat as her breath harshly exited her body.

He stilled. His finger stopped moving.

Panic filled her, and she grabbed his chest, his shoulders, and found purchase when her fingers curled in his beard. Her body vibrated, caught in the mayhem he'd created.

"I'll never let you go," he said gruffly. "You owned me from the start."

Her chest heaved with each breath. She'd wanted him forever. There was never any question that she was meant to be in his life.

"Chief?" She trembled, needing him to—she gulped and gasped. "Oh, my God."

He thrust again, harder. "I'm going to take you there."

"Yes." She muffled her scream.

His finger steadied, up and down on the side of her clit. His cock stroked back and forth in her pussy.

"Want this." He rocked inside of her. "Always wanted this with you."

"Yes." She pulled him down by the beard, searching for his mouth.

Then, his lips were on her, his tongue in her, and he gave her what she wanted.

Explosive.

Her body bowed on the bed, breaking away from the kiss, and convulsed underneath him in pleasure. His groan vibrated through her as he pinned her to the bed, his cock pulsating its release.

In the back of her subconscious, she heard yelling. Chief rolled to her side. Her hands still clutching his beard, she moved with him.

She smiled, dreamily looking at him. "I love you so—"

"Fuck." He pushed her away, jumping over her and out of bed. "Get dressed."

Confused and unaware of the abrupt change of mood, she sat up in bed. "What's wrong?"

Banging on the door startled her. She grabbed the blanket, covering her naked body.

Chief shoved his legs into his jeans, looking at her. "Listen, bug. Whatever happens, when I open that door, you stay with Brikken."

Blind panic succumbed her. The noise from outside added to her confusion. All the yelling, Chief's jerky movements, banging.

"I don't understand." She threw off the blanket and picked up her jeans, frantically thrusting her feet into the legs. "What's going on?"

The force of the pounding vibrated the room. "Raid, Chief!"

"Chief?" She froze reaching for her shirt. "I don't—"

"Listen to me. I don't have much time. Whoever ends up in charge will make sure you're taken care of." He shoved his arm into his vest. "Take the house. Take your place as my woman. Do me proud, bug."

Her throat burned. She'd never seen Chief lose control or talk like that. He couldn't leave her now, not after having sex with her. He said he was staying. Club business was over.

"Thorn and Olin..." He grabbed his pistol off the dresser, looked down at his hand, and emptied the gun of bullets, then tossed the weapon behind the dresser and dropped the ammo in the drawer. "They'll be here. Lean on them, Johanna. Don't stray away from the club. Remember who you belong to."

"What's happening? Why are you talking like you're leaving me?" She pulled on her shirt and grabbed his arm. "You can't leave me."

"The Feds caught up with us. This place is going to get busy any minute, and they'll take me. I need to go down there with my men and make sure Brikken survives." He cupped her face. "Stay in the room until someone comes and gets you. If the Feds question you, stay strong. You've got nothing you can't say. Just take care of yourself."

"The Feds? Why would —"

"Can't talk, bug. Trust me. Let me protect you."

Her fingers ached from holding him tightly. "They aren't going to arrest you, right?"

He kissed her hard, and when he came up, he exhaled loudly. His frustration rubbed off on her, and she recognized the reality in his eyes. Law enforcement was here to arrest him for something she had no clue about, and he accepted the consequences.

He was going to leave her.

He knew he was leaving.

She sobbed, terror rushing through her. "Chief?"

"I need to go out." He walked across the room. She dragged her feet, refusing to let go of him. The noise outside the room louder after he opened the door, she could no longer hear her racing heartbeat. The thud of running boots vibrated the second floor of the clubhouse.

Chief stopped and faced her. "Love you, bug. Remember that."

He tore her hands off his vest and pushed her back into the room, closing the door. She rushed after him, stepping out into the hallway and almost got knocked over by Mill, one of the Brikken members, running for the stairs.

She gazed down the hallway. Chief was already out of sight.

A mumbled voice came over a loudspeaker barking out orders. She couldn't understand what they were saying. Stumbling back into the room, she shut the door and lowered herself to the floor.

Buzzing started in her head like a thousand bees circling her in a fury. She couldn't breathe and rocked, calling for Chief.

He wasn't leaving.

He'd come back.

He always came back.

He'd promised never to leave her.

That's where she stayed until two men in uniform busted through the door and ordered her to put her hands in the air.