Derek Read online

  His expression changes to one of pure shock before morphing into the most heartbreakingly beautiful smile I have ever seen. My heart is in my throat waiting for his response.

  He moves between my legs, pushing himself inside me slowly, filling me all the way up. He intertwines our fingers, pulling my hands above my head and leaving his face inches from mine.

  “And I love you, my beautiful girl,” he whispers, and my throat starts burning and tears are stinging my eyes because of the full realization that he loves me as much as I love him.

  He kisses my cheek, then my lips as he slowly moves inside me. Loving me, holding me, and making love to me in a way that steals my breath at the raw emotion of it all.

  I run my nails down his back at the pure, unadulterated passion I am feeling, but most of all my heart is so utterly full.

  Seconds, minutes, hours… time stands still as we are locked together in this very special moment that is going to change our relationship. I tighten my legs around him, and he buries his face into my neck as we come together, both of us breathless.

  He kisses my neck before kissing me oh so sweetly. My toes curl all over again, and his hand is on my throat, his fingers on my pulse.

  I run my fingers up his back and into his hair, rubbing his scalp. He pulls back, a slight smile on his face. “I do love you, my doll. I look at you and see my world. The second you smiled at me, the second you stomped on my fucking foot, I was gone for you, baby.”

  “Derek,” I whisper, his words hitting me hard. He is not a man of many words, and I have noticed that he reserves them for those he is close to—and for him to give me this…

  is everything.

  “I will be back, baby.” He kisses me and slides out of bed. I miss him the second his skin leaves mine.

  He walks into the bathroom, shutting the door, and I roll onto my side, taking the sheet with me, smiling to myself.

  I am so happy, like the kind of happy that goes down to your very soul.

  A little bit later Derek comes out, scoops me up out of bed, and carries me into the bathroom. My mouth opens at the sight of the tub filled with water and surrounded by candles, giving it a really romantic look.

  He is sweet and beyond thoughtful.

  He steps inside the tub with me in his arms and turns me so my back is against his front. I lean my head back and close my eyes.

  “This is heaven,” I moan and run my hands down his legs.

  He kisses my temple. “You’re my heaven.”

  I can’t help it—I crawl up and put my legs on either side of him. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his shoulder. “I wanted to be closer to you.” He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly.

  We sit in silence enjoying each other’s company, his hands running down my back soothingly and playing with my hair.

  “Are you excited to see your brother tomorrow?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I missed him a lot. I am glad that this is his last tour and he is going to be prospecting at the club.”

  “It makes me happy that you’ll have your brother.” I run my hand down the back of his neck.

  “What’s one thing you want to do?”

  I think for a second and I answer honestly. “I want to go find my biological parents. I want to know how they are. I want to see if they’re sorry for letting the drugs steal everything from them. Steal me from them.”

  He turns me around so he can look at me “What happened?”

  I sigh. I hate going into detail, because a lot of people have had it a lot worse than I did, but it did affect my life. “My mom and dad were never the best, but they weren’t mean. Darla has always been a mother figure in my life.” I push my hair behind my ear and stare down at his chest as I go back into my memories.

  My parents got addicted to drugs and, as the years went by, it just got worse and worse, they became more dependent on it. As time went on they lost more and more of who they were.”

  Derek holds my hand in his, just letting me talk. “As it got worse my mother cut off contact with Darla, because she would not allow what was going on to happen. It got bad. We had so many people coming in and out of our house because my parents resorted to selling drugs. I was scared that something could happen to my parents—or to me, for that matter.

  “Food was scarce. I worried all the time how I was going to eat and how my parents were at the same time. How I was going to make my shoes make it for another winter.

  “I was just so stressed out all of the time. I started to lose hair at one point and then I withdrew inside of myself, trying to escape with what sanity I had, because walking on eggshells all of the time was hard.

  “Mom—Darla—showed up out of the blue, as she was tired of trying to get a hold of us…and our phone was cut off…so she came looking for us. Right before she came, my mother got mad at me and threw an ashtray, hitting me in the face. Darla happened to show up at that very moment, and she took me to the hospital. I never went home again.”

  I look at him to see his reaction. His jaw is clenched, and I can tell he is angry. “She saved me, and she gave me something I never knew I craved: a family. I am thankful for them all, but that doesn’t mean that I am not curious as to what has happened to my parents.”

  He nods. “I understand, baby, but I have no sympathy for them. I just can’t fathom the thought of you going hungry or being scared all of the time, that shit tears me up.”

  I close my eyes and allow him to hold me. Even to this day it hurts, because I feel like was betrayed by my parents, and it hurts me that I wasn’t enough for them.

  When the water starts to cool, we get out of the tub and dry off. I climb into bed naked, and Derek takes Princess out to the bathroom before he joins me in bed, his hand on my stomach.

  We didn’t use a condom again. That just doubled the chances of me being pregnant, but at this point I don’t have it in me to fight it.

  I love him and I know he loves me; he shows me that every single day. I didn’t need his words to feel secure in the way he feels.

  I just know.

  If he is so confident about everything, who I am to argue with that?

  “Goodnight,” he tells me.

  “Goodnight, boo bear,” I tease and he growls. “Not nice.”

  He hates pet names, though you’d think someone who calls me so many endearments wouldn’t care. But no, he is all man, and men don’t get called those kinds of names.

  That just makes me want to call him those names even more.

  I laugh and get comfortable. He pulls the blanket up to my shoulders, and I close my eyes. “Goodnight.”

  Chapter Nine

  Brittany

  The Next Morning

  We arrive at the airport. Derek is holding my hand, and his parents are in front of us. His mother is about to bust out of her clothes, she is so anxious.

  Soldiers and their families sacrifice too much—the worries, the loneliness, and the homesickness are just a small smidge of it.

  Most of the guys in the MC have served, one way or another, in different branches of the military, including my Derek.

  After what seems like hours, I see a few soldiers come through the doors, and a few women scream as they run toward the guys. I don’t even bother trying to stop my tears at their pure happiness.

  And the part that really gets me is the kids clinging to their fathers. The tears, the laughter of pure happiness, and the sadness as some of the soldiers come home and have no one there waiting for them—that is the most heartbreaking.

  At the end of the long stream of people, I see someone who looks like Derek but is even taller than Derek’s six-three.

  “My baby!” Willow screams, and he grins as he runs straight to his mom, who clutches the front of his shirt, sobbing. He hugs her and allows her to have her moment. “Are you home for good now?” She sniffs, wiping her cheeks, and Zander tears her away so he can hug his son.

  Then he looks at me and Derek, his smile growin
g even more. Good genes run in Derek’s family, that is for sure.

  “Hey bro.” Derek hugs him.

  “Gareth, this is my old lady, Brittany. Brittany, this is Gareth.” I smile, holding out my hand for him to shake.

  He shakes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. You don’t happen to have any sisters, do you?” He winks.

  Oh, I can already tell that is he is big flirt. Derek pulls me more tightly into his side, and we all walk out of the airport together.

  Derek is on edge today. It’s getting worse every day, and I am becoming concerned for him.

  I look at Gareth, who is staring at Derek with concern.

  I think as Derek gets more attached to me, his worry is growing, and I don’t want him to get stressed out because, no matter what, if something is meant to happen it’s going to happen.

  “Mom, I am going to ride with Derek.” Gareth throws his bag in the back of the truck and gets in the back seat without giving their mom time to argue, and I can tell she wanted to.

  Derek helps me inside the truck and gets in the driver’s side. “Now tell me what the fuck has you in warrior mode, Derek?” he asks, and Derek sighs. He knew it was coming.

  I sit in my seat silently as Derek tells him exactly what has been happening with the cartel. I peek around to look at Gareth, and he winks when he sees me looking but immediately turns his attention back to Derek.

  I know instantly that he is a good-ass brother. Derek is probably one of the best guys I have ever met, and I know Gareth is right up there in that category because of his concern for Derek.

  I will like anyone who is Team Derek.

  “I will come stay in the basement apartment,” Gareth tells us.

  “That’s fine,” Derek tells him, and we pull up in front of a restaurant. Derek’s parents pull up beside us.

  Derek gets out and, when I give Gareth a thumbs up, he laughs and gets out. He is the happy-go-lucky version of Derek—now I wonder how that’s going to work out.

  We all eat dinner and Willow does all of the talking, grilling Gareth about what he is going to do now that he is out. She would love to have her baby living with her for a while.

  Gareth crushes her dreams when he informs her that he is going to be living with us. She looks betrayed, giving Derek the stink eye.

  I love her dearly and Derek’s dad literally thinks her dramatics are the cutest thing ever, and I have to agree. She is a momma bear through and through.

  Gareth is smooth and informs her that he will be over all the time to visit, so she settles back into her seat and eats her food.

  Derek’s phone rings and he checks the screen and hands it to me. I would know the number anywhere. “Just one minute, Darla.”

  I nod and take the phone. I step away slightly, still in view of Derek but far enough way that I have some privacy.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “My baby, how are you? How is Derek treating you!” she practically yells into the phone, and I try not to laugh. I have missed her voice.

  “Derek is treating me amazing, Mom.”

  She awws. “I knew I liked that boy, he is being good to my girl and he has my vote. I miss you so much, and I can’t wait until you’re home so I can squish you.”

  I laugh and try not to cry at the same time. “I love you, Mom, and I have to go. I will see you soon.”

  “See you soon, baby.”

  I hang up and sit back down at the table, handing Derek his phone. He turns it off and wraps his arm around me. I am quiet as Willow carries the conversation for all of us. I smile and nod, trying to keep myself in the conversation as best as I can, but my mind is back at home with my family.

  I don’t think I realized how attached I’d gotten to everyone until I was away from them. I want to see Joslyn, I want to see her growing stomach, and I want to piss off Wilder and the other guys. I miss doing makeup. I miss doing their hair and seeing smiles light up on their faces when they see what I have done. They were beautiful before, but sometimes women need a boost to see it themselves, and I love having a part in this.

  “You want to go shoe shopping?” Derek whispers in my ear, and I sit straight up in my seat.

  “Uh…hell yes!” I practically yell. There’s one way straight to my heart, and it’s asking me if I want to go shoe shopping. Derek chuckles at my excitement.

  “What has her so excited?” Derek’s mom asks and I grin at her.

  “He said he is going to take me shoe shopping.”

  Willow glares at her husband. “Why don’t you ever volunteer to take me shopping?”

  I bite my lip because I just may have started a war. Derek grips my hand under the table, trying not laugh at his parents. Zander glares at Derek, and Derek just grins at his dad. “Yeah dad, why not?” Gareth eggs it on, and my eyes almost bug out of my head as Willow scoots further and further away.

  “Fine, I will take you tomorrow,” Zander says and Willow drops her frown instantly. “I knew I married you for a reason.” She grips his jaw and gives him a big smooch on his cheek.

  He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, because I am a pushover.”

  She ignores that and goes back to her wine, downing it. “I think I am ready to go home and sleep. I didn’t sleep much last night, excited that my baby was coming home.” She eyes Gareth. “You sure you don’t want to come home with Mommy?”

  He laughs. “I am sure, Mom, you and Dad tend to forget that we are home.” He gives them a pointed look and she blushes.

  Uh oh.

  “Well, this is my cue to leave.” Derek stands up and takes my hand, throwing down cash for the meal.

  “It was nice seeing you guys again!” I yell as Derek drags me away, Gareth following us.

  I laugh at the expressions on the guys’ faces. “Shit, last time I was home on leave, I walked into the fucking kitchen and I can’t even.” Gareth makes a wrenching sound and I laugh louder.

  We walk outside and I see an older man standing next to the truck, looking angry. Derek tightens his hand on mine, and Gareth moves to my other side as we walk over. “Can I help you?” Derek asks, and the guy immediately starts talking a hundred miles an hour.

  “Your tire is on the white line!” he yells, and my mouth opens in shock. The tire is barely grazing the line. Mind you Derek’s truck is huge, so it kind of has to touch the line to fit. Derek just glares at him as he continues to point then smacks the side of the truck.

  I think this guy is on something, because this is just beyond ridiculous, honestly. We all look at him like he has three heads. I have seen some road rage, but this is a whole different level.

  The guy stops talking and looks at the three of us. “Which one of you drove this, this truck!” His voice gets louder with every word.

  “Why does it matter?” I can’t hold my tongue anymore, and I am genuinely curious as to what his problem is, because it can’t be because of the white line.

  Right?

  He steps closer to me, his face contorting with anger. “Because this is my parking lot!” he screeches.

  Derek pushes me behind him and gets in his face. “Do not fucking yell at her. I will cut off your balls and feed them to you. Leave or I may change my mind and do it now,” Derek tells him, his voice deadly.

  The guy glares at us, backs away, and runs around the truck; my guess is that he’s heading to his vehicle.

  Derek walks me to the passenger door and helps me inside. The guy is sitting in the car beside us, glaring. Derek shuts my door, and Gareth gets in behind us. Then the guy’s face is in my window, smiling.

  Uh, creepy much?

  He rips open my door.

  Derek

  Just as I get to the passenger’s side, I see the guy get out of his truck and open Brittany’s door.

  Motherfucker.

  I run and grab his hand before he can touch her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I growl in his face, dragging him away and slamming his face down on the front of his vehicle. He cries out and drags
his nails on the car, trying to get up. “Let me go!” he yells and I press his face down harder.

  “Tell me what I want to know, or I will carry out my threat.” I take out my knife and press it against his dick.

  “Please, man.” He stops moving so my knife doesn’t dig in anymore. But he doesn’t give me the answers I need, so I press my knife in harder and twist. “Now.” I pick his face up off the hood of his car and slam it back down.

  He screams and tries to buck away, but all it does is cause him more pain. “She has a bounty on her head. The person who brings her in gets to have her for a round and fifty thousand dollars.”

  I see red, have a round with her? Never.

  I let him go and let him fall to the ground. I take out my gun, looking down at the stupid fucker in disgust. I put two rapid shots straight into his kneecaps so he can’t get up to follow us. Good thing I put a silencer on my gun or I would have had a crowd by now. He screams and rolls to the side, holding his knees. “My knees!” he screams over and over.

  I laugh at how pathetic he is. “Oh, shut the fuck up or I will cut out your tongue.” He nods as the tears roll down his face. I don’t have any kind of sympathy for him. He came here to hurt Brittany and take her.

  I have to kill him or they will know that we are here. That is without question.

  I pick him up and put him in the trunk of his car. I cover him with a blanket, and he doesn’t make a sound because he knows what is coming. I put my gun to his head and pull the trigger without even blinking.

  I look at Gareth, and he nods and gets in the driver seat of the truck. Brittany is pale. Fuck me. I hate that look on her face.

  I pick her up, put her in the truck, and slide in beside her.

  I don’t think they know where we are, but my guess is that they did a background check and found out I grew up here. But my place isn’t in my name, so there’s no way to track the house to me. We are safe here for now, until I call Lane and get another place lined up.

  Brittany lays her head on my shoulder, her hand wrapped around my forearm. I can feel her shaking.