“Stop,” he commanded, and the muscles around his cock relaxed.
“You take all the fun out of it,” Jewell complained.
“You think so?” Lucky murmured, speeding up his strokes so she couldn’t catch her own climax, building her frustration until a sheen of sweat glistened on her lithe body. Her breasts shook with her rapid breaths and the ferocity of his driving thrusts.
“Lucky, you’ve got to let me come,” Jewell panted.
Lucky lifted her hips higher until only her shoulders rested on the bed. She tried to twist her hips but Lucky held her steady, forcing her to take only what he was willing to give her.
Raci’s moans filled the bedroom as she began to come, and Jewell began to shake with her own orgasm as her head tossed back and forth on the mattress without making a sound. Lucky liked that the woman wasn’t excessively noisy.
His own climax built, and he was barely able to maintain the iron control to prevent himself from coming. When Jewell’s climax had played out, Lucky removed his dick from her, ripping off the condom and throwing it in the trash can.
Anna was frantically using her fingers to achieve an orgasm on her own. Going to the opposite side of the bed, he took her under the shoulders, tugging her until her head fell over the side of the bed.
“You still want to suck dick?”
Anna’s mouth opened, and Lucky drove his cock into it as he leaned over her, sucking her clit into his mouth, ravenously licking at it as if he had never sucked one before. His expert tongue had her convulsing with her orgasm before he could work his cock to the back of her throat.
Without stopping, he continued to play with her clit until he felt her begin to climax again, and then he gave in to the frantic desire that had his cock twitching his own release into her greedy mouth.
When he finished, he raised her head up and turned her until the unconscious woman was lying back on the bed.
“She dead?” Jewell asked, turning her head to look at Anna.
“No, she passed out when she came the last time,” Lucky said, unconcerned for the woman he had never seen before today and wouldn’t see again.
He picked his jeans up from the floor and slid them on. He was zipping them closed when Anna began coming to, staring dazedly around the room.
Lucky sat down on the side of the bed to tug on his boots. Standing, he grabbed the T-shirt he had thrown on the chair. After putting it on, he turned to Rider, who was sucking on Raci’s nipple.
“Make sure she get’s home.” Lucky stated, checking to make sure his wallet and keys hadn’t fallen out of his jeans.
“I’ll take good care of her.” Rider grinned, content to be the lone man with three naked women.
Lucky nodded, moving away from the bed.
“That’s it? You’re not even going to tell me good-bye?” Anna rose up on her elbows, glaring angrily at him.
He turned on a booted heel, returning to the bed. Reaching down, he jerked his knife from the bed. Then, picking up her shirt off the floor, he wiped it off before sliding it into his boot.
“The last time you came was my good-bye.”
Leaving the room that had become stifling, he went down the steps to where the party was still in full swing. Lucky went out the front door, heading down the large flight of steps to his bike. He rode into town, the cool night air cleansing the scent his carnal night of sex had produced. He had wanted to shower yet hadn’t been in the mood for any of the women to join him.
Lucky slowed his bike and pulled into a dark lot. Parking, he went to a side door and inserted his key before walking through the eerily quiet building that had once held him hostage through his desire to stop a dangerous drug ring.
Walking down the long hallway with the gleaming wood floors, his eyes went to the stained glass doors. His hand shook when he reached out to open the door, going inside where he took a deep breath. Why was there always a distinct smell that seemed to belong to all churches?
He sat down in the last pew, staring at the pulpit where he’d stood and preached for so many years. The case had dragged on too long, trapping him in the profession he had walked away from in the military.
Lucky bowed his head, clearing his thoughts before he began.
“Lord God, forgive me, for I have sinned against you.”
Chapter 4
Willa brushed her hair back from her flushed cheek. Without a doubt, this was the worst idea she had ever had. Bringing all five children to the diner for lunch had been meant to give herself a welcome break from cooking and cleaning for the afternoon. Instead, it had become a visit to Hell.
Caroline was ready for her nap. Chrissy was grumpy, and nothing was making her happy. Then there were Leanne and Sissy who were arguing, and Charlie was still angry that she had made him leave his video game when he had reached a new level.
As if that wasn’t enough, The Last Riders came in to take a table not far from hers and were able to easily observe the pandemonium going on at her table.
Chrissy spilled her glass of milk then burst into tears as the cold liquid dripped onto the new dress that Willa had put on her.
She gratefully took the towel from the waitress hovering near The Last Riders’ table, cleaning the mess and trying to ignore being the center of everyone’s critical gazes.
Opening her purse, she took out the plastic bag of toys she kept for emergencies. She found a toy car and a small stuffed bunny she hoped would occupy the girls then gave each of them one to play with. They instantly began to fight each other for the toys, wanting what the other had, so Willa took the toys away, switching them then giving each girl the toy they wanted. Silence reigned for a short time until they became bored. Thankfully, the waitress was able to drag her attention away from the bikers long enough to serve their food, and Willa was given a few moments of peace as they ate.
Her food grew cold as she concentrated on the younger girls not making a mess. She was wiping Chrissy’s ketchup-filled fingers when she heard the sound of a chair scraping back.
Lucky dragged his chair closer, placing it between the girls and her chair, blocking her from them.
“Eat,” he ordered.
Willa didn’t know if he was commanding her or the girls, but all three of them obeyed. Chrissy and Caroline stared at Lucky while they chewed on an apple slice. She took a bite of her grilled chicken sandwich, trying not to choke on the nervous tension his hardened expression was raising. Even Sissy and Leann stopped arguing, picking up their forks.
He motioned to the waitress to bring his coffee, leaning back as she poured him a fresh cup. Razer, Viper, and Shade all watched from their table as Lucky calmly poured sugar into his black coffee.
Willa forced herself to swallow the bite she had taken before she told him quietly, “I have it under control.”
Lucky’s hazel eyes met hers directly. “Willa, you’ve not had control of your life since I’ve met you.” He reached over, taking Caroline’s cup away before she could take the lid off. “You need to get them some sippy cups.”
Willa raised her brow at his authoritative tone. “They need to learn to drink out of regular cups.”
“Doesn’t seem to be working.” He picked up the towel still lying on the table and cleaned the new mess Caroline had made.
Willa refused to sit still and let Lucky intimidate her. She opened her mouth to snap at him then changed her mind. Taking another bite of food, she instead stewed silently as the children suddenly seemed to remember how to behave appropriately in public.
When the waitress came back with his food, Willa, feeling self-conscious, tried not to stare as he ate his burger and fries while she continued to eat her own food.
She had no idea how to talk to men, much less one she battled her constant attraction to despite telling herself it was only his handsome face that drew her. His muscular body in suits had been a thing of fantasies, but Lucky in jeans and T-shirts with his tattoos showing on his arms w
as enough to make any woman speechless.
“You must have had a hard time keeping your tattoos covered.” Willa blushed, not able to believe she mentioned something personal about his body.
“It was hard during the summertime, but I was used to hotter temperatures overseas, so it wasn’t too bad.”
“Do you miss being a pastor?” Willa asked curiously. “You had the whole town believing that ministering was your calling in life.”
He left her question unanswered. “Everyone, it seems, but you.” Lucky tilted his head to the side. “Why?”
Willa took her time answering, trying to come up with exactly why she hadn’t believed in the man all the parishioners had taken into their hearts.
“I have an uncle and several cousins who are pastors. I was raised in the church.”
“So were Beth and Lily, and they were just as surprised when I left the church.” The women’s father had been the pastor Lucky had taken over for after his ‘death.’
“Saul Cornett wasn’t a real pastor. Thank God my parents weren’t some of the fanatics who followed him.”
Lucky’s voice turned grim. “I won’t disagree with that assessment.”
Willa took a drink of her ice water. From his expression, he was still waiting for her to answer his question.
“You did everything perfect: gave the right sermon, were gentle with the children, even when their crying disturbed your sermons…” Her eyes went to Caroline and Chrissy who were playing contentedly next to him with their toys, chewing on the french fries he had given them. The other three children were sitting, listening quietly to their conversation.
Charlie had lost his angry expression and was awestruck by the large biker sitting at the table. Sissy wasn’t awestruck; she was eying the bikers as if they were her dessert. Thankfully, the bikers didn’t return her flirtatious smiles.
“You never paid too much attention to the women parishioners, even when they threw themselves at you. I couldn’t find fault with anything you did. That was the problem. Nobody’s that perfect; we all have weaknesses.”
Lucky’s mouth twitched in humor. “What’s your weakness, Willa?”
Willa gave a wry twist of her lips. “I think that’s obvious.”
He frowned at her answer. “Enlighten me … because, from what I’ve observed, you place yourself on a moral high ground.”
Willa paled at his harsh assessment of her. “Is that what you truly believe?”
Chrissy began to try to climb out of the highchair Willa had placed her in, but Lucky deftly unsnapped the front tray, lifting the fussy toddler onto his lap and giving her the toy she had dropped onto the floor.
“If you believe your weight is a weakness in God’s eyes, then, yes. Believe me, He has much more damning sins to forgive than worrying whether you have a cheeseburger or grilled chicken for lunch.”
Willa stared back blankly at Lucky, not knowing how to respond to him. From the time she was Caroline’s age, she remembered her mother being critical of her size. As she grew older and began school, it was obvious she was bigger than the other girls her age—another criticism her mother pointed out.
Her mother was small and delicate. Willa would try to emulate her so hard, yet despite her efforts, she was never able to achieve her mother’s approval. Then her father and mother would argue over her, making her feel worse for causing contention between the usually loving couple.
As an only child, she had felt like she was an interloper in her own home. The loving couple had planned on not having children, so she had been an accident and stolen her mother’s freedom, something her mother had reminded her of frequently. Willa had tried to be a good daughter, striving to please her mother and father. However, each parent resented the time she took away from the other; as a result, Willa had learned early not to make demands on her parents’ time.
Had she unknowingly developed the same critical attitude she disliked in her mother? Willa hoped not. She wanted to be liked, not resented.
She stared down at her half-eaten plate of food, placing her fork on the table, unable to eat another bite.
“You don’t like me very much, do you?” Willa raised her eyes, unaware they were filled with hurt, to meet Lucky’s surprised gaze.
Lucky shook his head. “That isn’t what I meant, Willa.”
“You practically called me a self-righteous bitch.” Her bottom lip trembled.
Lucky’s eyes narrowed on her mouth, and Willa shivered in sudden awareness. Jumping up from her chair, she bent over, snatching Caroline from his lap and handing her over to a startled Leanne who had risen when Willa had. Then she unsnapped Chrissy’s highchair and picked up the little girl who started crying when she dropped her toy. Lucky reached over, picking it up and giving it to her.
“Thanks for helping with the children.”
Willa motioned the rest of the kids to the register where she paid before exiting the diner. As soon as the door closed behind her, she felt a rush of relief, despite the knowledge that she had made a fool of herself in front of Lucky again.
“What’s wrong, Willa?” Leanne asked, shifting Caroline to her other hip.
“Nothing,” she prevaricated. “Caroline and Chrissy are ready for their naps. Let’s get them home.”
Charlie and Leanne moved toward her minivan, but Sissy held back. “You like him, don’t you?” The observant seventeen-year-old stared at her with pity.
“Of course not,” Willa denied.
“Good, because I don’t think he likes you back.”
Willa’s chest filled with hurt. Sissy wasn’t being ugly; she was actually trying to be nice to her for the first time.
Willa turned away from her, wishing with all her heart she had reacted differently when he had stared at her. She had acted like the frightened virgin she was. Now Lucky was probably inside, laughing his ass off at her.
She bundled the kids inside her van before driving them home, and all the while, her mind played the last few minutes in the diner over and over. Had it been a figment of her imagination? For a second, she could have sworn she saw a spark of desire in Lucky’s eyes. If it was desire, though, what was she going to do about it?
What she always did when she became frightened—run.
* * *
Lucky returned to the table where Razer, Shade, and Viper were sitting. He motioned for the waitress to reheat his coffee.
“What did you say to her to send her running like a scared rabbit?” Shade asked after the waitress left.
“Nothing,” Lucky pretended innocence, which he knew damn well didn’t fool any of the experienced men surrounding him.
Shade wasn’t about to let him get away with it, though. “She reminds me of Lily whenever I frightened her.”
“There’s a big difference between Lily and Willa,” Lucky said, taking a drink of his hot coffee and nearly burning his tongue off.
Shade arched a brow, waiting for an explanation.
“Lily was afraid of her sexual attraction to you because of her past. Willa doesn’t want to be attracted to me because she doesn’t like the type of man I am.”
Shade gave a bark of laughter. “Lily hated me at one time. She definitely didn’t like the man I was when she stumbled into that Friday night party.”
“Willa’s attracted, all right, both to the good and bad in you. The question is are you going to do anything about it?”
“No.” Lucky threw some money down on the table then got to his feet, leaving the restaurant before Shade could ask more questions he didn’t want to answer, either to them or himself.
Instead of going to his bike, he crossed the street to the police station. The older woman sitting behind the desk gave him a wink. She had overly-tanned skin that had the appearance of dried leather. She was at least sixty and was wearing a tight dress that showed she weighed maybe ninety pounds. When he had been a pastor, she had attended church regularly, her behavior always respec
tful. However, since he had re-joined The Last Riders, she stared at him like he was one of Willa’s cupcakes.
“The sheriff isn’t busy; he’s in his office.”
Lucky avoided her appraising look, briefly knocking on Knox’s door before entering to find Knox sitting behind his desk, staring at a computer screen.
“What’s up?” Knox leaned back in his chair.
Lucky didn’t beat around the bush. “Have you found out any information on Georgia and Lewis’s next of kin?” The only way he could help Willa was to try to get the children off her hands.
Knox folded his hands across his stomach. “Found Lewis’s ex-wife, the younger three children’s mother. She’s in a state mental hospital. She can’t take care of herself, much less the kids. From what little her doctor told me, Lewis practically beat her to death when he found out she left him. She took off with the kids, but Lewis found her, took the kids back, and left her for dead.”
“Why weren’t charges filed against him? The son of a bitch should have been sitting in a jail cell instead of terrorizing Willa.”
Knox’s face was grim. “No witnesses and she refused to press charges.”
“What about Leanne and Sissy?”
“Georgia never told anyone who the fathers of the girls were.”
“Fuck. No other relatives are able to take the kids?”
“There aren’t any. The only other relative we know about is Georgia and Lewis’s half-brother, Clay Meyer, whose mother took him then disappeared years ago. She died twelve years ago in Tennessee. I’m trying to track Clay down, but it’s like he’s disappeared off the face of the earth. I have a couple of men searching for him, but so far, they aren’t making any progress.”
“What’s Willa supposed to do, keep them indefinitely? It would be hard for any set of parents to keep up with that many children.”
“Maybe that’s why Lewis was trying so hard to get Willa.”
Knox’s words struck Lucky’s temper, and his foot kicked at the chair Knox was leaning back in, nearly toppling the large man over.