Chapter Twenty-One
All her bravado, all her tough talk, and she’d folded at the mere sight of Mick Smith standing a few feet from her.
Okay, maybe not the mere sight, she corrected herself as Finn led her into the small shower stall. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Mick around before this entire business had started, seen him drive by with his biker buddies. Hell, she’d seen him not so long ago in the same damned store, stuffing his face and belching like a drunken fool.
This was different. The way he waved at the driver, dismissing him as easily as he’d swat a fly. The angry swipes in the air with the riding crop, his loud cursing.
Tonight, it had been easy to imagine him ordering someone to be killed, or beating a man within an inch of his life then sending him to be dumped in an alley. She wouldn’t be surprised if there were plenty of dead bodies between here and Los Angeles, drug overdoses and beatings that could be laid at Mick Smith’s feet.
She wasn’t going to be one of them.
Not tonight. Not ever. And neither would her brother.
Or Finn.
Finn drew her into the shower stall, holding her close. He stroked her sides, drawing his naked hands up and down her body.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I should have called…”
Finn nodded, sending water flying over them. “You should have. Or texted me. Something.”
“I didn’t want to call you because I knew you’d be working your cover at the bar,” she said. “You would have done exactly what you did just now—come to save me. It could have destroyed the image you’ve worked so hard to create. And we wouldn’t have gotten the tape, gotten evidence of how they get the drivers and the cars set up.”
“I’d have given it all up it in a second,” Finn said, “to come save you.”
“I know.” She rose onto her toes and brushed her lips against his. “The mission comes first.”
He smiled. “Since when did you get all military?”
“Since I’m technically your boss.” She poked him in the chest. “I contacted you in Vegas, so I figure I’m in charge of this assignment.”
His eyebrows rose. “I see. Let me point out that I’m much better at giving orders than taking them.” The edges of his mouth curled up, igniting the desire inside her. “As you’ll find out soon enough.”
She fought back a shiver. She’d pay for that comment at some point in the future.
But not right now.
Right now, it was about celebrating life.
“So, how did the evening’s drinking go? Jake pay for any of your beers yet?”
“No. And he’s not likely to.” He smiled. “I might have a job offer soon.”
“They just sent out a driver tonight.”
He nodded. “But they’re not going to keep him. Because I’m nasty and mean and Jake’s going to vouch for me.” He tipped her head back and stared at her. “It’s all going to work out. Believe me.”
“I do.” And she did, the power of his belief holding her firm.
Skye ran her hands along his chest as the water streamed down on them. “You’re wonderful.”
“No.” His voice went a little darker, a little more feral. “This is wonderful.”
He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up. Her legs went around his waist instinctively as he pressed her against the tiles, the cool ceramic a startling shift from the hot water.
The kiss was hard and hungry, unlike the previous gentle touches. He pulled back and locked eyes with her, panting slightly.
“I thought I’d lost you,” Finn growled. “I thought I wouldn’t get there in time.” His fingers dug into her hips, and his cock pressed against her center, eager and waiting. “I thought…”
The rest of his words were lost in a passionate kiss that swamped her senses, drowning out the last of the fear from encountering the gang.
“Hold on.” Finn reached outside the shower and brought in a condom. He ripped the packet open with his teeth, his one hand now holding her up. “This isn’t going to be long, but I need this. We need this.”
Skye kept her hands on his shoulders as he sheathed himself, trying hard not to move.
His hand went back under her ass, squeezing tight as he lifted her again, her back rubbing against the tiles.
“Yes.” It was all she could get out as he lowered her down on him, her passion surging as he bucked against her, the intimate contact already pushing him to the edge.
…
It was fast, and it sure as hell wasn’t pretty. The fear had built up with every mile he drove, and he channeled it all into loving her.
The world around them narrowed.
Nothing else mattered.
Finn grunted as he thrust up into her, his desire only increasing as she arched back with a low, drawn-out scream, giving him total control.
The blaze gathered at the base of his spine, curling around his balls and waiting to be set free. He had no way to catch it, direct it. It was liquid fire, devouring his self-control like an inferno in dry brush.
Skye tightened around him and let out a rolling yell, rising in intensity with each second, drawing him up to the edge of the cliff and leaving him dangling.
He couldn’t hold back any longer.
Finn pulled her close, shuddering as he emptied himself into her. He pressed his mouth to her throat and roared, unable and unwilling to be silent any longer.
Spent, he lowered them both to the tiled floor. The water rushed over them, washing away the sweat and tears of the previous hours.
Finn pressed his forehead to hers, feeling her tremble in his arms.
“All right.” He swallowed hard, exhaustion begin to pull him down. “Let’s get cleaned up and get to bed. I’ll start the morning shift at the store while you go visit Robby. Take as long as you want.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
…
She’d worked odd jobs for years and was used to taking double or even triple shifts. If she had to go back to the store in a few hours, she would grit her teeth, get a big cup of coffee, and make it work. That attitude had worked for her and Robby in the past, and she sure as hell was going to do the same for Finn and the Brotherhood.
Except she was exhausted, mind and soul. Her thoughts were jumbled fluffy clouds and her muscles had turned to jelly, her bones so pliant she worried about being able to make it out of the shower. She allowed herself a satisfied smile as the little voice in the back of her mind reminded her she’d never been so loved, inside and out.
As she forced herself to stand on wobbly legs, she wondered if she’d ever get used to this feeling.
God, I hope not.
Finn turned off the water. He stepped out and grabbed a towel off the rack.
He turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. “You okay?”
“More than,” she whispered, afraid if she spoke too loudly she’d break the spell.
His knowing smirk both delighted and infuriated her. She reached out and playfully smacked him on the arm. “Don’t look so smug.”
“I can’t help it,” he protested. “I take pride in my work.”
“I’ll give you a little gold star later.” She nodded. “Stick it on your bare ass.”
“That’s my tough woman. No keeping you down.” He took her hand and helped her out onto the furry blue rug then proceeded to dry her off, head to toe, dropping soft kisses wherever and whenever the thought struck him.
He finished and turned the towel on himself, accomplishing in a few seconds what he’d taken minutes to do on her.
Skye watched him, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the drooping eyelids.
Finn led her to the bedroom and curled up around her, his silent strength nourishing her and she knew there were no nightmares in her immediate future.
“I’m right here,” he whispered as she hurtled toward sleep, exhausted both in body and soul. “I’m right here.”
…
Skye woke to the alarm with a start, slightly disoriented. The events of the past few hours rushed back on her, and she ran a hand through her hair as she processed it.
The truck stop.
Wolf’s visit.
Finn’s rescue.
The shower.
Her cheeks burned with the memory of the hard and fast loving Finn had given her in the shower, the wildness of it all.
She dimly remembered the alarm going off and Finn resetting it, telling her he’d mind the shop until she visited Robby and came in. A too-short kiss had sent her back to a much-needed sleep.
She grabbed her car keys and headed for the hospital, determined to get Finn back to the apartment and to bed by noon at the latest.
When she arrived in Robby’s room, she scanned the monitors as she always did, checking to see if anything had changed.
It hadn’t.
Ace smiled as he got up from the chair. “Good to see you.” He slid a phone out of his pocket. “I’ll be outside.”
As he left, Skye let out a sigh and slumped in the chair, the well-worn cushions pulling her in. She was sore and achy, not in a good way. The schedule was beginning to take its toll on her whether she wanted to believe it or not.
But she’d keep it up until the Wolf went down.
“Miss Harris?”
She looked up to see one of Robby’s doctors coming through the door. Ace glanced over the man’s shoulder and nodded his approval. Mentally, she flipped through her files until she came up with his name.
“Doctor Hargrove.” She didn’t get up as he approached, too tired to make the effort. “How are you doing?”
“I’m well, thank you.” The white-haired man studied the monitors first then turned his attention to Robby. “I hear you’ve been here every day.”
She patted Robby’s hand. “He’d do it for me.”
“I understand.” He went to the foot of the bed and picked up the medical chart, bound in a thick metal clipboard. “We need to talk about Robby.”
Skye’s weariness vanished in an instant. “Talk about what?”
Dr. Hargrove placed the chart back in its place. He tucked his hands behind him. “If he doesn’t wake up soon, we’re going to have to move him to a long-term care facility within our network.”
She sat up, her spine ramrod straight. “He will wake up. I know it.”
He nodded, a patronizing smile appearing. “I know you have faith in him. And it’s possible he will. But every day he stays like this isn’t a good sign. You need to prepare for the possibility that this may be a permanent situation.”
She went to answer him with a curse but caught herself, mentally editing her words. “Where would you put him?”
“The nearest is a special-care facility near Los Angeles. They’ll take good care of him. You can talk to our financial department about making arrangements.”
Skye closed her eyes, the harsh reality almost bringing her to tears. “Thank you. I’ll think it over.”
“Thank you.”
She waited for the door to open and close again before she dared open her eyes.
A deep sigh escaped as she stared at Robby, all thoughts of revenge fleeing.
Wake up, little brother.
Come back to me.
A knock at the door brought her out of her reverie. April poked her head in, her forehead furrowed.
“I wanted to…”
Skye waved her in. “Please.”
April held a small potted plant as she walked over to Robby’s side. “He looks good. Peaceful-like.”
“Yes.” Skye smoothed the sheets. “He’ll wake up soon.”
“Yeah.” The waitress put the plant down. “Been missing you at the diner.”
“I’ll be back soon.” She smiled. “It’s just while the Watleys are on vacation. Need someone to mind the shop.”
April nodded. “Julius’s been getting twitchy, a little worried. He spotted Finn’s truck at the Broken Spoke early one morning on his way in to the diner.” She frowned at Skye. “Finn’s not trying to join the gang, is he?”
Skye held back a laugh. “After what they did to Robby? Hell, no.” She scrambled for an answer. “He told me he found a bar to hang out in when I’m at work—doesn’t want to be home alone. I don’t think he knows it’s a biker bar. I’ll pass it on.”
“Good,” April said. “Julius is all kinds of protective about you right now. Keeps talking about you coming back from the truck stop and he’ll find more shifts for you.” She touched Robby’s shoulder. “I think he’s upset he couldn’t find a reason to keep Robby at the diner, keep him working and away from the bikers. And he might be a little bit jealous of Finn.”
“Jealous?” Skye laughed.
“Well, maybe over-protective in a fatherly type of way.” April grinned. “Told me he didn’t like you dating Finn.”
“It’s not his decision who I date or don’t date,” Skye replied, feeling a prickly annoyance building under her skin. “Besides, I thought he liked Finn.”
“He does. He’s just worried about you making bad decisions. Doesn’t want you getting in over your head between taking care of Robby, this thing with the Watleys, and being with Finn.” She winked. “Although, I’ll be glad to take Finn off your hands if you’d like.”
“I’m somehow managing to juggle them all.” Skye chuckled. “Tell Julius I’m eager to come back to work, and I’ll tell Finn to be careful at the biker bar. Don’t want Julius coming after him with a frying pan to defend my honor.”
April nodded. “Come on, let me buy you a coffee.” She leaned down and kissed Robby’s cheek. “Wake up, and I’ll give you a real kiss.”
Skye laughed and tugged at her arm. “A quick coffee, then we’re both off to work.”