Arkham — The little pixie warrior is a conundrum if ever there was one. She’s strong and capable but scared inside and out. I can’t fix what’s broken inside her, but I can share her burdens and make her part of my circle. I’ll take her with me, with Bones MC. She’ll be protected there.
But who’s gonna protect her from me?
Arkham cleared his throat. Rain’s eyes snapped open and she gasped in surprise.
When he said nothing more, she tugged her blanket higher and continued to stare at him. He jerked his chin at her, indicating she should get out from under the bed. She did nothing for a moment, then sighed and did as he asked, bringing her blankets with her.
“I feel safe with something at my back and when I’m out of direct sight.”
“Understood.” Arkham moved to the bed and pushed, shoving the big thing flush against the wall, solidly in the corner. Then he motioned for her to climb in. She did, reluctantly, protesting when he climbed in with her. Arkham ignored her, facing away from her but putting his back solidly against her. “We’ve got about three or four hours before Cain calls us. Get some sleep.”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Putting myself between you and the outside. Anyone wants to get you, they have to go through me. Was like that anyhow, but now you’ve got a more solid idea I mean what I say.”
“Yeah? Who protects me from you?”
“I have a feelin’ you can take care of yourself in that regard.”
She rolled her eyes at him, but settled under her blanket with a sigh, then didn’t move. For about thirty minutes, neither of them did. Then Rain inched closer to him. Arkham didn’t dare breathe. Especially when she rolled over and tucked herself into his back. Her mouth was in the middle of his shoulder blades. He could feel her warm breath through his shirt. Her body pressed tightly against him as if for warmth.
“You cold?” His question was soft, near a whisper. She didn’t answer but snuggled closer. Carefully, Arkham turned over. He wasn’t sure what to do, but she mumbled in her sleep then turned over, putting her back to his chest. After several seconds, she mumbled again, patting around until she found her blanket then tugged it higher. Still, that didn’t seem to satisfy her. Rain mumbled again, this time shivering as she pressed herself still further against him. He would have smiled except her ass found his groin and pressed itself tightly into his body. There was no way to prevent or diminish the growing erection pressing against her ass. She’d be pissed when she woke, but really, none of this was his fault.
Just when he thought she’d relax and drift back into a heavy sleep, she found his wrist with her tiny hand. With a contented sigh, she pulled his arm to settle around her body and didn’t seem satisfied until he’d wrapped her up tight.
This was a bad idea. He knew it. If she were awake, she’d know it, too. It would all be his fault, and he couldn’t argue with her because he was awake. But the second he settled himself tightly around her, her wrapped up in his arms, the woman didn’t move a muscle other than to breathe. She settled her muttering and squirming and just… slept. Like the dead. How long had it been since she’d had a good night’s sleep? Or afternoon, as the case may be.
They searched the slums at night; the other crew took the day. Every evening they met before Torpedo took the second team out. Every morning, they met before Cain took the first group out. This was the first time they’d had anything more to pass on that wouldn’t fit into a five-minute conversation. Now, he knew there should have been a longer one before, but the presence of Rain had discouraged it. The remaining team had probably given Cain the run-down anyway. He just had to fill them all in on what Rain had told him. And about her past.
How the fuck was he going to do that without saying something Rain would be embarrassed about? While Bones would never judge someone for simply surviving, Arkham knew instinctively Rain would see her past differently than they all did.
She sighed in her sleep. Without thinking, Arkham tightened his hold on her, burying his nose in her hair close to her ear. “I’ve got you, honey,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”
“Arkham?” Her voice was sleepy, like she wasn’t fully awake.
“Yeah. Go back to sleep. No one’s gonna hurt you.”
“You swear?”
“On my life, honey.”
There was silence for a while. Arkham thought she’d drifted off again, but she added, “No one’s ever kept me safe before.”
“I’ll always keep you safe, Rain. Always.”
With a soft sigh, she snuggled more firmly against him, pulled her knees up a little tighter, then said nothing else.
Arkham lay drifting in and out for the next three hours. When he finally woke enough to really take stock of his surroundings his body ached like a son of a bitch. Rain still lay against him, still as death except for her breathing.
Carefully, he extracted himself from around her. He wanted a shower before they met after Cain’s patrol came in for the night. He needed to be ready to do back out, but that was going to be a problem. He didn’t trust Rain not to run at the first opportunity.
He’d nearly made it to the shower when he heard Rain’s sleepy voice. “Arkham?”
“I’m here, honey. Just taking a shower before patrolling. I’ll leave the bathroom door open if you want.”
When she gave no response, Arkham pushed the bathroom door open wide, letting the light flood into the bedroom and over the bed where she lay. He stepped out of his sweats and underwear, whipping his shirt off once finished. As he adjusted the water in the big, open shower, he heard her stirring. It made him a little uneasy, until glanced over his shoulder and saw her standing in the doorway.
She watched him as he stepped in the shower, not in a calculating way, but just looking at his body. She seemed more curious than afraid or shy. He gave a mental shrug. If she wanted to look him over, let her. He’d done much the same to her earlier.
In the shower, he turned his back on her, giving his body a quick wash while he checked for scrapes and cuts. The hot water and soap always found the small nicks and cuts he hadn’t noticed but needed to clean. The moist heat on his aching muscles felt wonderful. Staying so still in such an unfamiliar position had done a number on his body. All the while, he was conscious of Rain standing there. He hadn’t glanced over his shoulder or tried to catch a glimpse of her in the mirror across from the shower, but he’d bet his last dollar she was still there watching him.
The thought had just crossed his mind when he heard her entering the open shower, her foot splashing lightly in the water of the tiled floor. He raised an eyebrow as she fully entered.
“There some reason you’re naked in the shower with me?”
She shrugged. “If I’d gotten in here with my clothes on I’d be without again. Better my clothes be dry when I go with you on patrol tonight.”
That made him smile a little. “So you think you’re going with me.”
“If you meant what you said about me leaving here with Bones, then yes.”
He continued to scrub himself, soap sudsing over his skin as he did. “Not sure what one has to do with the other. Or why you’re in here with me instead of waiting your turn.”
That brought her up short. “I, uh…” She cleared her throat, turning away. “Good question, I suppose. Just thought you might like some company.”
She started to get out, but Arkham lunged for her, snagging her arm and pulling her back in. “Get wet,” he said, gruffly. “I’ll wash your back.”
When he said nothing more, she tugged her blanket higher and continued to stare at him. He jerked his chin at her, indicating she should get out from under the bed. She did nothing for a moment, then sighed and did as he asked, bringing her blankets with her.
“I feel safe with something at my back and when I’m out of direct sight.”
“Understood.” Arkham moved to the bed and pushed, shoving the big thing flush against the wall, solidly in the corner. Then he motioned for her to climb in. She did, reluctantly, protesting when he climbed in with her. Arkham ignored her, facing away from her but putting his back solidly against her. “We’ve got about three or four hours before Cain calls us. Get some sleep.”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Putting myself between you and the outside. Anyone wants to get you, they have to go through me. Was like that anyhow, but now you’ve got a more solid idea I mean what I say.”
“Yeah? Who protects me from you?”
“I have a feelin’ you can take care of yourself in that regard.”
She rolled her eyes at him, but settled under her blanket with a sigh, then didn’t move. For about thirty minutes, neither of them did. Then Rain inched closer to him. Arkham didn’t dare breathe. Especially when she rolled over and tucked herself into his back. Her mouth was in the middle of his shoulder blades. He could feel her warm breath through his shirt. Her body pressed tightly against him as if for warmth.
“You cold?” His question was soft, near a whisper. She didn’t answer but snuggled closer. Carefully, Arkham turned over. He wasn’t sure what to do, but she mumbled in her sleep then turned over, putting her back to his chest. After several seconds, she mumbled again, patting around until she found her blanket then tugged it higher. Still, that didn’t seem to satisfy her. Rain mumbled again, this time shivering as she pressed herself still further against him. He would have smiled except her ass found his groin and pressed itself tightly into his body. There was no way to prevent or diminish the growing erection pressing against her ass. She’d be pissed when she woke, but really, none of this was his fault.
Just when he thought she’d relax and drift back into a heavy sleep, she found his wrist with her tiny hand. With a contented sigh, she pulled his arm to settle around her body and didn’t seem satisfied until he’d wrapped her up tight.
This was a bad idea. He knew it. If she were awake, she’d know it, too. It would all be his fault, and he couldn’t argue with her because he was awake. But the second he settled himself tightly around her, her wrapped up in his arms, the woman didn’t move a muscle other than to breathe. She settled her muttering and squirming and just… slept. Like the dead. How long had it been since she’d had a good night’s sleep? Or afternoon, as the case may be.
They searched the slums at night; the other crew took the day. Every evening they met before Torpedo took the second team out. Every morning, they met before Cain took the first group out. This was the first time they’d had anything more to pass on that wouldn’t fit into a five-minute conversation. Now, he knew there should have been a longer one before, but the presence of Rain had discouraged it. The remaining team had probably given Cain the run-down anyway. He just had to fill them all in on what Rain had told him. And about her past.
How the fuck was he going to do that without saying something Rain would be embarrassed about? While Bones would never judge someone for simply surviving, Arkham knew instinctively Rain would see her past differently than they all did.
She sighed in her sleep. Without thinking, Arkham tightened his hold on her, burying his nose in her hair close to her ear. “I’ve got you, honey,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”
“Arkham?” Her voice was sleepy, like she wasn’t fully awake.
“Yeah. Go back to sleep. No one’s gonna hurt you.”
“You swear?”
“On my life, honey.”
There was silence for a while. Arkham thought she’d drifted off again, but she added, “No one’s ever kept me safe before.”
“I’ll always keep you safe, Rain. Always.”
With a soft sigh, she snuggled more firmly against him, pulled her knees up a little tighter, then said nothing else.
Arkham lay drifting in and out for the next three hours. When he finally woke enough to really take stock of his surroundings his body ached like a son of a bitch. Rain still lay against him, still as death except for her breathing.
Carefully, he extracted himself from around her. He wanted a shower before they met after Cain’s patrol came in for the night. He needed to be ready to do back out, but that was going to be a problem. He didn’t trust Rain not to run at the first opportunity.
He’d nearly made it to the shower when he heard Rain’s sleepy voice. “Arkham?”
“I’m here, honey. Just taking a shower before patrolling. I’ll leave the bathroom door open if you want.”
When she gave no response, Arkham pushed the bathroom door open wide, letting the light flood into the bedroom and over the bed where she lay. He stepped out of his sweats and underwear, whipping his shirt off once finished. As he adjusted the water in the big, open shower, he heard her stirring. It made him a little uneasy, until glanced over his shoulder and saw her standing in the doorway.
She watched him as he stepped in the shower, not in a calculating way, but just looking at his body. She seemed more curious than afraid or shy. He gave a mental shrug. If she wanted to look him over, let her. He’d done much the same to her earlier.
In the shower, he turned his back on her, giving his body a quick wash while he checked for scrapes and cuts. The hot water and soap always found the small nicks and cuts he hadn’t noticed but needed to clean. The moist heat on his aching muscles felt wonderful. Staying so still in such an unfamiliar position had done a number on his body. All the while, he was conscious of Rain standing there. He hadn’t glanced over his shoulder or tried to catch a glimpse of her in the mirror across from the shower, but he’d bet his last dollar she was still there watching him.
The thought had just crossed his mind when he heard her entering the open shower, her foot splashing lightly in the water of the tiled floor. He raised an eyebrow as she fully entered.
“There some reason you’re naked in the shower with me?”
She shrugged. “If I’d gotten in here with my clothes on I’d be without again. Better my clothes be dry when I go with you on patrol tonight.”
That made him smile a little. “So you think you’re going with me.”
“If you meant what you said about me leaving here with Bones, then yes.”
He continued to scrub himself, soap sudsing over his skin as he did. “Not sure what one has to do with the other. Or why you’re in here with me instead of waiting your turn.”
That brought her up short. “I, uh…” She cleared her throat, turning away. “Good question, I suppose. Just thought you might like some company.”
She started to get out, but Arkham lunged for her, snagging her arm and pulling her back in. “Get wet,” he said, gruffly. “I’ll wash your back.”
 |
Angel: I’m a teacher. Or rather, I want to be. Fresh out of college, I went on a date with the wrong man and ended up drugged and helpless in a really bad place. The motorcycle club I was taken to was no place for a woman, as I found out the hard way. They thought I was helpless, but I managed to get away -- only to stumble onto three kids who need me as a teacher. The problem? They’re with another club. I can’t leave them until I’m convinced they're safe. Unfortunately, the club president doesn’t like me much. He’s also the hottest man I’ve ever come across and resisting him is not even something I’m going to attempt.
Cain: As president of Bones MC, it’s my responsibility to decide how to handle the kids who adopted us. Who the fuck adopts a MC club anyway? Knowing for whatever reason they didn’t want social services finding them, the club hires a teacher for them. And what a fucking teacher she is! Woman nearly put me to my knees the first time I saw her. I fought it as long as I could, but a man can only take so much of that shapely ass in those tight skirts. I’ll use everything in my sensual bag of tricks to make her mine, and no one will take her away from me. Not even the club from Nashville intent on getting her back. WARNING! If you don’t want hotter than hell alpha males, you need to move on. This is a tale of gruff love. A rough around the edges biker claiming the woman he wants no matter the consequences. If you want lust so strong it will melt your panties, then read on! |
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Luna: Never in a million years did I think I'd meet up with my childhood hero like this. Beaten down and scared out of my mind, my heart dropped when I realized who had me. I've never been so humiliated in my life, but Gage Bohannon the man was even harder to resist than the ridiculous fantasy I'd held in my mind.
Bohannon: I've never kept a woman who don't want to be kept. But I've made more than one good girl turn rogue. If I had any decency in me at all, I'd have locked her in my room and left her alone. Instead, I'll take whatever she wants to give me and coax a few things she doesn't. WARNING! This book contains graphic violence and hotter-than-hell sex. The men of Bones love as fiercely as they fight. You can expect a HEA ending with no cliffhangers and no cheating. |
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Magenta: The day my mom took up with Black Reign was the worst day of my life. She became ol’ lady for their president. I became another whore for the club to push around. I fought them at every turn because death was preferable to living this life. Beaten, downtrodden, I was about to be given to yet another man. The scariest man I’d ever seen. He was intent on having me on his own turf, and I wasn’t sure I would survive.
Sword: The second I saw the slight young thing being beaten by that ogre of a man, something inside me I’d thought leashed broke free. A demon better left in check reared his head, and I knew she would be mine no matter what. I got her, but she came with bigger problems than I was prepared to deal with. Not that it mattered. I’m Bones MC. We don’t give up, and we protect our own. Even against The Devil himself… ***WARNING!*** Bones MC has no pussies. These men are rough around the edges and fight as hard as they love. You can expect violence -- some that may have triggers -- and smoking hot sex. If either is something you object to, you should pass. Otherwise, expect an HEA and a man who always satisfies his woman. |
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Who knew I’d find my destiny at Christmas? Not me. Or her daddy. Don’t mean I ain’t keeping her.
Darcy: I didn’t run away from a sadistic stepfather and a mother who wouldn’t protect me just to be carted off by some strange man. I fought the son of a bitch. Woulda won, too, except the bastard had help. Viper’s rough around the edges and some kind of badass biker, so there’s no way this is going to work out well. Unfortunately, he calls to me on a purely sexual level. Makes my heart race and my body melt just looking at me. It doesn’t help he’s actually nice to me. He claims to know my dad. My real dad. Says he’s been sent to bring me back. I have no idea if I believed him or not. Just don’t really have a choice but to go along. At least for now. Viper: I tracked the cunning little wench for three fuckin’ days. In the fuckin’ snow. She’s good, too. She survived on her own in a hostile environment with only a little trouble. That alone would make me respect for her, but then she had to go and kick me in the balls. Had I not been on the ground in agony, I’d have been turned on beyond belief. Now, with her safely under my protection, I’ve got to figure out how to keep my hands off her so her father won’t kill my sorry ass. He’s our intel man and one of my best friends, so I don’t want to cause him grief. But I want Darcy. Badly. It’s Christmas Eve, and there’s an enemy on our doorstep with a unique gift. One that will leave us all with some hard choices -- Darcy especially. What unfolds next is something none of us ever planned for. Warning: Viper (Bones MC 4) deals with issues of abuse and human trafficking that may be triggers for some readers. |
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This book sounds like an excellent read.
ReplyDeleteinteresting
ReplyDeleteI love MC books and series.
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