Chapter 18

Darcy

Wow. Just, well, wow. Three orgasms in one session must be the most I’ve ever had, each one was so powerful it’s sapped all my energy and I’m unable to move. I hear harsh breathing behind me, realising he’s in no better shape than me. What he did should have scared me. But I trusted Peg, I let him tie me up. Had he done it on purpose to wipe every trace of Pete from my mind? Showing being completely under his control, unable to do anything but take what he offered, brought rewards I hadn’t even known existed? Whether it had been by design or accident, it worked.

Gradually, as my heart slows to a more normal rhythm, I feel him pull himself up and undo the straps on the spreader bar and massaging my ankles and legs, then moving over me, under the handcuffs, and rubbing hard to bring the feeling back into my hands. It’s only when he turns me over that I look to see him staring down at me, his beautiful face shining with sweat, his beard covered in me.

“I’ve got to go deal with the condom.”

As I nod, I see him pick up a crutch I hadn’t noticed was placed by the side of the bed, and he expertly hops away into the adjacent bathroom. When he comes back he’s got a washcloth and, too exhausted to move, I let him do what he wants to me, relishing the feeling of being taken care of.

He climbs on the bed and puts down the crutch, holding out his hand in invitation. When I snuggle into him, I smell myself on his beard, and start to chuckle.

“What’s up?”

I lift his beard so he can see it. “You smell of me!”

“I’m thinking of bottlin’ and sellin’ it. Make a fuckin’ perfume. Eau du Flashfire or some shit like that.”

I start to giggle, and then laugh at the thought of anyone wanting to walk around smelling like me. “You’re crazy.”

“Me?” His eyes open. “I believe it was you who had your finger in my ass. Gotta tell you, babe, that was a new one on me.”

“New for me too,” I admit softly, still not believing I had the nerve to do it.

“Where the fuck did you learn that then?”

“From a book. I read a lot when we’re hanging around waiting for a call out.” I don’t tell him it was one of Nicole’s.

“Hmm.” He places a kiss to my forehead. “Anything else in those books you read?”

I feel myself redden before I confess, “Well, it was the first time I’ve given head.”

He lifts my head away from my body and stares in my face. “Honestly?”

I try to look away. “Yeah, I’ve never wanted to before.”

A satisfied smile crosses his face. “And why did I get lucky?”

“It seemed right, Peg. I didn’t even know I was going to do it until it was there, waving in front of my face.”

As he chuckles I can feel his chest vibrating. “What was waving in your face.”

As my cheeks go darker, I don’t want to give him another chance to tickle me, so I give him the words he wants to hear. “Your cock.”

“Fuckin’ love hearin’ you talk dirty, darlin’.” He considers for a moment. “So, obviously the first time you swallowed. You like my taste?”

I make a face. “Nah, it was actually horrible.”

“So, you’re not going to do it again?” He sounds disappointed. “I did try and warn you.”

Placing my fingers over his mouth, I tell him the truth. “It’s you, Peg. And I want all of you. I want to give you pleasure. And as your woman, it’s mine to take if I want to, isn’t it?”

Suddenly I’m not on top any longer, he’s rolled us over so I’m underneath. “Say it again,” he says gruffly, and then clarifies which part. “Say you’re my woman.”

He’s so intense, I swallow, realising our conversation’s grown serious. Raising my hand, I stroke it over his face, starting at his brow, descending his cheek, and ending up cupping his chin. I don’t know what I’m doing here, why everything inside me makes me want to be his. I barely know him. But deep down I know he’s everything I want. It’s going too fast. What does that matter? When something feels right, it’s right, isn’t it?

There’s nothing I’ve got that he needs, he’s not using me for anything. Our physical connection is out of this world, and we seem to fit together so well. Do I take this leap? I’m a thirty-year-old woman, I’m not getting any younger, and it’s not as though I’m committing to marriage or anything. Just be in a relationship with him to see where it goes.

He asked me if I’d have his babies. Is he thinking long term?

“Were you serious, Peg, when you asked if I’d have your baby?”

“Fuck yeah.”

His immediate response makes my toes curl, and I swear my womb clenches at the thought of his seed growing there. A man who’s already shown how protective he is would be so nurturing toward my, our, child. Shit, is it my biological clock or something that just the idea has me wanting to start now? But that’s in the future, when we’ve explored whether this, whatever this is between us, will work.

Throwing all caution to the wind, I open my mouth and let the words come out. “Yes. Yes, I’m your woman.”

He’s up and looming over me. Searching my face as if trying to read something there. “One chance, one chance, Darcy. That’s all you’re getting to change your mind. I want this. I want you. You say yes again, and you’re mine, you understand me? There’ll never be another man in your life, and definitely not in your bed. Just me, forever, babe. You’ll wear my property patch to show everyone that you belong to me. I’ll get your name tattooed over my heart, babe, and I want my name tattooed on you somewhere. A permanent commitment. And one day, soon, I’m taking you bare and you’ll have my baby. Fuck, babies. Our family.” He pauses, as if struggling. “One chance.” His voice is almost hoarse, breaking with emotion. “One chance, that’s all I’m giving you. Say yes again, and you’ve committed.”

I gulp, suddenly realising how serious this is to him. He doesn’t want me to be his woman for now, he is thinking of something long term. I take a moment, knowing I’ve never been with anyone like him before, but not truly appreciating what this might mean. Can I make him a promise, right here, right now?

I look into his eyes, knowing everything he’s asking of me, he’ll be giving of him. I’ll own him as much as he owns me. How could I give this up without giving it a chance? Raising my hand, I touch his cheek, feeling his bristles against my smooth skin. Never, ever, have I come across someone like him before. I’d be a fool to let this opportunity go. I swallow, then tell him, “Yes.” He blinks as his eyes start watering, and I know it’s right to throw caution to the wind. “I’m falling in love with you, Peg.”

He sweeps me up in his strong arms, holding me tightly as if he’s never going to let me go. His voice breaks as he answers, “Already love you, Darcy, Flashfire, whatever you are to me. I fuckin’ love you.”

He kisses me, devours me, and I give as good back. His cock is hard between us as he pushes me back down on the bed. After testing I’m wet, he reaches for a condom, slips it on, then slides inside.

This time our fucking isn’t hurried, isn’t frenzied, and isn’t rough. There’s only one name for it, we’re making love. Another side to my man, and it’s just as amazing as anything else I’ve learned about him.

The alarm goes off early the next morning, giving me enough time to get up and down to the station for my shift. I reach out my hand to the side to find I’m alone, but I hear the sound of the shower coming from the bathroom. I examine the thoughts running through my head, finding I’ve got zero doubts or self-recriminations. I’ve done it. I’ve jumped in with both feet.

So why isn’t he with me? Is he the one having second thoughts? Were the declarations something to be left in the dead of the night?

But when the bathroom door opens and he steps out, legless and leaning on that crutch, there’s something in his expression that’s missing, a guardedness that had always been there before. I look at his eyes, at the shape of his mouth, and realise he looks happy, content, and relaxed. Well apart from his cock, which is up and ready.

“My eyes are up here, darlin’. Keep lookin’ at my cock like that and we won’t get out of here anytime soon.”

I go to sit up and wince. Hell, I got a work out last night and used muscles I don’t normally exercise at the gym.

He smirks at my discomfort, then comes across. “You okay?”

“I don’t think I’m up for another round, Peg.” I grimace, annoyed with myself.

His mouth curves up into a grin. “The truth? I’m a bit on the raw side myself.” He stares at me, and suddenly we’re both laughing, and when he comes closer, we hold each other as if we’ve been doing it forever.

“What time’s your shift?” He finally asks.

Shit. I almost forgot I had to go back to work. I seem to have been living in a bubble for the past few hours, and now it’s about to burst. “Seven,” I tell him, for once not enthusiastic about my job.

“That gives us an hour or so. Let’s go down to the clubhouse when you’re ready, get something to eat. If you’re okay with it, I’ll see about getting you a new bed while you’re at work. I’ll get it delivered and set up ready for you later.”

I nod. A new bed is the last thing on my mind. “You showered without me,” I pout.

“Babe. You, me, in the shower? Wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands off.”

For a second, I’m worried how I’ll get to the bathroom without clothes, and then realise he’s been looking at my body all night. So, I stand, naked, unashamed in front of my man. Then I frown. “Did I actually agree to getting a tattoo last night?”

Another smirk. “Sure did, darlin’.”

I think about it for a moment. Never considered getting one before. “Okay, but you get yours first, alright?”

“How about we go together?”

“Deal.”

I shower quickly, taking delight in using Peg’s shampoo and body wash, though lamenting that he doesn’t have conditioner, which means getting the tangles out of my hair will be a bitch, and then throw on the clothes I was wearing last night. Well, I suppose I didn’t have them on very long.

Peg gives me time to get ready, just sits and watches me from the bed. Out of the corner of my eye I see him strapping on his prosthesis, before putting clothes on himself. Once we’re ready, I expect him to take me straight down to the clubhouse, but he makes a short detour—very short—into what I’d assumed was another biker’s room.

As he pushes open the door, he explains, “I’ve converted this room into my living area. Got all the comforts you see.” I step in. There’s another balcony here, just like in his bedroom. It has a wonderful view looking out over the basin and to the Tucson Mountains beyond. “And here,” he opens what I expected to be another bathroom, “I’ve had a small kitchen installed.” Small is the operative word—it’s tiny. But there’s a small stove, microwave, mini fridge, and cupboard space. You wouldn’t want to prepare a huge Thanksgiving dinner here, but a simple meal you could easily do.

“It’s great, Peg. Like your own apartment.” I’m shaking my head, pleasantly surprised at how a biker lives. “Does everyone have rooms like this?”

He snorts. “Nope. Oh, Drum has his own house, Wraith and Heart are building theirs too, but normally there’d be two brothers living here, one in each room.”

“Why d’you get so much space?”

“’Cause I’m a miserable asshole and no one wanted to share.”

I can’t help teasing him. “You should have told me that before you asked me to be your woman.”

“Woman. And my ol’ lady. And as it’s your job to keep me happy, if I revert to being miserable, that’s on you.”

As I raise my fist to play punch him, he grabs my hand and pulls me in close. Christ, but this man can kiss. When he bunches my hair together to pull my head back, leaning his head down to get access to my throat, gently sucking the pulse points there, I feel weak, as though I could faint at his feet.

When he finally pulls away, I lean my forehead to his chest. “Think I need some recovery time.”

Laughing, he takes my hand and leads me outside.

The blast of heat hits me as soon as I leave the air-conditioned building. It’s going to be another very hot day. The thought makes me turn to look up at the forest coating the side of the mountain behind the compound. Oh shit.

Peg’s stopped beside me and sees what I’m looking at. “We see that a lot this time of year.”

I can’t be quite as calm as him. “A wildfire can get out of control so easily, Peg.” I lift my hand and gesture around me. “It’s why you were able to buy up the resort. I heard most of it was destroyed.”

He points up to the mountain top. “The fire’s miles away. And it tends to burn uphill, doesn’t it?”

The first bit of concern enters his voice, so I seek to reassure him. “Never any guarantees, Peg, but yes, it’s far away, and,” I wet my finger and hold it in the air, “wind’s blowing away from here, so nothing to worry about for now. And clearly, you’re more prepared this time around, and have the firebreak in place.” I gaze at the plume of white smoke again, heading almost straight up in the sky. It’s a light wind as well, which will help to contain it. “I’m more concerned about whether the teams on the ground will need extra support.” I indicate the top of the mountain. “If it gets worse, might be waving at you from up there later.”

Now he does look worried. “Hate to think of you putting yourself in danger.”

“Pah. I know what I’m doing.”

He takes my hands and turns me to face him. “I know you do, Flash, but it won’t stop me worrying about you. Just promise you’ll take care.”

Going on tiptoe, I can just about reach his cheek. After pressing my lips to his skin, I draw back. “I’m not careless or reckless. And now I’ve got a reason to be even more careful.”

But my eyes return to the smoke billowing up in the air. I’d love to ring Nicole for an update, but she’ll be dealing with all manner of communications right now, and while I’d like to know how that fire’s behaving, I’ll find out what I need to when I go on shift. Hopefully, by then, it will be out. This time, for good.