She never had a chance.
I caught her by the back of her sweater as she rounded the bed, thrusting her backward with my staggering hold. There was no way I could grab a hold of her securely without hurting her or the baby, and she knew it. My arm wrapped around her upper ribcage, tugging her into my lap, trying like hell to reach the phone. She twisted and turned, huffing and puffing until she weaseled her way out of her sweater. Hauling ass into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. I heard the lock snap into place seconds after.
“Fuckin’ A,” I clenched out. Throwing my injured leg off the bed, I stood, making my way over to the door. “Mia! Open the fuckin’ door!” I pounded my fists on the wood.
There was a jarring commotion, followed by a loud scraping noise, coming from the bathroom. I knew she was barricading herself in, moving furniture up against the door to keep me out.
“Mia! Open it or I will!”
“NO!” she screamed, not backing down. “I’m calling my parents! I can’t do this to them! I can’t believe you’re making me! This is all your fault! Now go away!” Her voice echoed away from the door like she was standing in the shower, far away from me.
“Jesus Christ!” I took a step back, ramming my foot against the door. Forcefully kicking it open, breaking it off the hinges and taking the frame along with it. Causing pieces of the linen cabinet she blocked the door with, to smash right along with it.
Her eyes widened in shock. I didn’t fucking hesitate, stomping over to her in three, hard strides. Making her retract until her back hit the shower wall. I loomed over her small frame with a menacing regard, getting right up in her face. Her bright blue eyes wide and anxious.
Here I was trying to save her life and keep her safe, and she was about to jeopardize everything. The thought alone made my blood boil, frustration erupting from deep within my core. My hands balled into fists, my chest heaved, reaching my breaking point very fucking quickly. I was at my wits end. I couldn’t go to war with everyone, plus her. Fighting a battle with a full-grown woman constantly throwing tantrums when she didn’t get her way.
We had to be on the same page.
No more fighting.
I needed to get my point across, and it needed to happen right fucking now.
“Didn’t I tell you to open the fuckin’ door?”
“I-I-I—” she sputtered, her demeanor quickly changing.
“Didn’t I just say you couldn’t call your fuckin’ parents?”
“Y-yy-ees…” She nodded, offering me my phone back. I crudely knocked her hand away, sending the device crashing to the tile floor.
I didn’t waver, I grabbed her upper arm and held her in place. This would be the second time I ever manhandled her this way. I wasn’t trying to scare her. I needed her to listen and understand. This was not a fucking game. This was about her surviving through a shit storm. Our way of life was cruel, I’d lived it my entire life. Mia, on the other hand, was privileged, a fuckin’ princess that had no clue and needed a reality check. It was my duty to protect her from unseen enemies, and rules had to be fucking obeyed. She was testing me, making me have to put her in her goddamn place.
Bottom line, she needed to fucking listen to me.
“You don’t run away from me. Ever!”
She jolted. “You’re scaring me.” Her lips started to tremble.
“Is that right?” I rasped, leaning down close to her lips. “This ain’t nothin’ compared to what our enemies would do if they found you. They’d rape you. Beat you, and then fuckin’ kill you when they had enough. That what you want?”
“No,” she breathed out, tears forming in her eyes.
“I ain’t got time for your childish, bullshit. I’m tryin’ to protect you, Mia. What part of that is so goddamn hard for you to understand?”
“I just want to tell them I’m oka—”
My fist slammed into the shower wall behind her, causing her to duck and scream. Tile cracked beneath my knuckles. “Fuck!” I growled, backing away from her, knowing I was doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t.
I was scaring her and that wasn’t my intention, I was fucking this up real quick.
How the fuck do I get her to respect my rules and trust me?
I shook my head, disappointed mostly with myself.
“Just go, Mia. Just go to your room and stay there, yeah? You think you can fuckin’ do that?”
She didn’t have to be told twice. She cautiously made her way around me before running from the room, crying. I resisted the urge to go after her and pull her into my arms. Apologize for my behavior.
I let her go.
Even though…
It was the last thing I wanted to fucking do.
*Mia*
I ran back to my room down the hall from Creed’s, slamming the thick wood behind me. Leaning my back against it, I slid down to the floor as I pulled my knees into my chest. Letting all the emotions from the past week drain out of my exhausted body. Questioning everything I had ever felt.
When did my life come to this? How could I be so blind?
I missed my mom and dad, my brothers, my home. Mine and Creed’s relationship before the MC came in between us. I don’t know how long I sat there, letting my thoughts race before I crawled over to the bed in the center of the room. Not bothering to change my clothes, I hid under the sheets, letting the tears flow freely. Crying myself to sleep.
My body stirred when I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist later in the night. Pulling me against him, engulfing me with nothing but his warmth and scent.
“Stop,” Creed ordered in a low tone near my ear when I tried to move away. “Please,” he added when I continued to squirm.
I stilled, going lax against his hold. He placed his other arm under my pillow, holding me as close to him as possible.
“Babe, I fucked up. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t say a word. A part of me was convinced I was dreaming.
“I love you, Pippin. I’ve loved you before I even knew I fuckin’ loved you,” he paused to let his words sink in. “When I went back down to the basement to get you, and you weren’t there. I thought… I mean… it was… shit… I’m no good at this.”
I turned around in his arms to face him, looking deep into his eyes through the dim light of the moon. “You thought what?”
“I thought I’d lost you. Ain’t ever been so scared in all my life. I know I’m all wrong for you. I know you deserve better. I know there a million reasons why we shouldn’t be together, but it don’t matter anymore. You’re fuckin’ mine. You been mine since you gave me that first patch, bouncin’ around, wearin’ pigtails, actin’ like you grown,” he laughed with a gleam in his eyes, remembering me as a child. “Even back then you were a pain in the ass. The baby girl who filled my heart with hope and love. Got me through the fuckin’ war with your letters, knowin’ someone back home was thinkin’ ‘bout me. Worryin’ ‘bout me, prayin’ for me. Lovin’ me.”
I smirked, my anger gradually dissipating while hearing his confession.
“Everything that ever mattered to me don’t matter no more. Devil’s Rejects, my brothers, my fuckin’ life. I’d do whatever it takes to protect you. Ya feel me?”
“Yes.”
“I know what I’m doin’. I know it may not seem that way, but I need you to trust me. Yeah?”
“Okay.”
“I promise I’m doin’ my part on gettin’ you home… safely.”
I snuggled closer to him. “I trust you, but I’ll have your balls if you don’t find a way… fast,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. Sensing he was uncomfortable with expressing his feelings. As if it was the first time he’d ever done so.
“You can start right now.” He rubbed his dick against my leg, making me laugh.
“I love you, too.”
He kissed my forehead, letting his lips linger. “Now that. That I always knew.”
SEVEN
*Creed*
It had been three wee
ks since Mia woke up at the safe house in the woods. Getting settled in to a new routine, knowing she may be there a while. Giving Noah and me a list of essentials she’d need us to bring back, including clothes, books on pregnancy, chick-flicks, a guitar and a supply of her favorite ice cream and pickles. Spending her days following Doc’s orders, staying in bed, watching mindless movies and reading to the baby girl in her stomach. Saying some shit about giving her a head start in literacy. I knew it was because she wanted her to be educated, unlike Noah and me.
Doc came by at least once a week to check on her and the baby. Bringing a portable ultrasound machine so Mia could see that her unborn child truly was okay and that her own body was also healing, well. He even cleared her to resume sexual activity, which was music to my fucking ears.
Mia was still worried about baby girl, and it seemed to get worse as the days went by. On one of the visits from Doc, I pulled him aside and asked him if there was anything I could do to ease her worry. He said he could leave a Doppler, a handheld device with a little wand that Mia could use anytime she wanted. Not only to check the baby’s heart rate but hear it, too.
I surprised her with it one night while we were lying in bed relaxing.
“Babe, pull ‘em panties down, lift your shirt, and close your eyes.”
She turned her head, giving me a questioning look. “Again? You’re insatiable.”
“Ain’t gonna tell ya again, Pippin.”
She slipped her panties down and lifted her tank. “I am yours to do with as you please.”
“Now be a good girl and close ‘em eyes.”
When she did, I reached over, opening the drawer in the nightstand and took out the monitor and gel. Squeezing a small amount on the wand.
“Are you up to no good?”
“Always,” I chuckled, placing the tip of the probe on the lower right area of her stomach. Spreading the gel out, making her jump from the cold contact.
“Are you putting lotion on me?”
“Shhh… listen.”
Seconds later, baby girl’s heartbeat filled the room after I located it. Just like Doc had shown me. Mia’s eyes fluttered open as soon as she realized what was going on. Bursting into tears when the strong beat sounded. Not going to lie, it was the most amazing sound I’d ever heard. I hadn’t met baby girl, yet, but she had already melted and owned my fucking heart.
“Oh my God, Creed. How… I mean… when…” She couldn’t get the words out, sobbing so hard. A constant stream of tears falling to the sheets beneath her.
“I know how worried you’ve been. I asked Doc the last time he was here, what I could do to ease that. He left me this Doppler and said the best thing for you is to hear your baby’s heart beatin’ whenever you wanted. Some shit about it bein’ soothin’ for the mother. He showed me how to use it and here we are.”
“This is the best gift anyone has ever given me. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this means to me. I love you so much.
“I fuckin’ love you. Now dry those tears, listen to our baby girl growing inside you. That there is a Jameson heart. Strong and unbreakable. She’s already proven that once,” I reminded, leaning over and placing a kiss on her forehead. Reminding her that I would always do anything for her.
No matter what.
She hadn’t made any other attempts to call her parents since I showed her a glimpse of the man she wanted. She even gave up on asking any more questions. Content with what she knew for now. She was following the rules and listening to me for the most part, but she was still Mia. Stubborn to a fucking fault. I knew she was getting restless in the house. Mia had always been an active person, and being cooped up like that was beginning to take a toll on her, especially since Noah and I couldn’t stay with her every night. She was never alone, though. I didn’t trust any of the Prospects. It was always Diesel or one of the other brothers who took shifts, staying with her. Pops kept his distance after the drop-off at the safe house, wanting nothing more to do with the situation.
Ma begged me a few times to let her come stay with Mia. Saying she wanted to help during her pregnancy. Some shit about needing a woman around and not all us men hovering over her. I told her that right now wasn’t a good time. Mia was overwhelmed enough as it was, she didn’t need another person on her ass. She was disappointed but settled for making her some homemade meals for me to take back to the house to help out.
I tried to be there as much as I could, but I was still VP of Devil’s Rejects and needed to know what the fuck was going on back in the real world. Keeping a close eye on the Sinner’s and any other enemy lurking the streets. The constant surveillance we had to dodge in order to drive to the safe house wasn’t making things any easier. Fucking McGraw had us on watch, day in and day out. Noah stayed behind at the clubhouse for the most part, which I preferred. I didn’t want that little shit near my girl, especially by himself.
It had become a fucking waiting game, finding out who was behind the shootout at our house. We were running in circles with no end in sight. Chasing our fucking tails. We had words with allies and suppliers. Paying unexpected visits to every son of a bitch we could think of. Getting our hands dirty with more blood and lives. Some corrupt. Some innocent, caught in the crossfire. Every ride out we did, we came up empty. Not one fucking answer to all the relentless questions.
To make matters worse, I had Mia’s old man, his boys, and McGraw on my ass constantly. There was no staying away from daily life for too long, they were already suspicious of our behavior. I had to fly under the radar and play nice for the time being. Even offering to help, but that didn’t go over very well. Words like low-life and piece of fucking trash were thrown in my face. None of it fazed me. I knew what I looked like in their eyes. I’d never be their prodigal son, who’d be welcomed into the family with open fucking arms.
So, I pretended like nothing had changed when everything had. Noah would come and go as he pleased, but he was in the same boat I was. Plain and simple, they were waiting for one of us to slip up. We had to stay one step ahead of them at all times.
I cut the engine to the side-by-side, parking it at the back of the house along with the others. Completely out of sight. I couldn’t fucking wait to see Pippin. Take her in my fucking arms and straight to bed. It had been at least twenty-four hours since I had slept, exhaustion beginning to set in. I’d been sleeping like shit at the clubhouse, wishing I were somewhere else. It was crazy how fast I’d gotten used to sharing a bed with Mia in my arms or on my chest. Always needing to have some part of her touching me. It was new, considering I’d never shared a bed with anyone before her.
I smiled just thinking about how someone so tiny could take up so much space. Hogging the entire bed. I woke up every morning on the edge of the king-sized mattress. No matter what, half of her body was always lying on top of me, using my torso like a body pillow. Baby girl seemed to like it, too. She’d kick inside Mia’s stomach in the middle of the night all the time, waking me up.
I unlocked the front door, stopping dead in my tracks when I heard Mia giggling like a fucking schoolgirl on the other side.
“The fuck?” I muttered to myself, barging inside. Jerking back from the scene unfolding in front of me.
Mia was on the couch with Noah kneeling in front of her on the floor. His body in between her legs with his head resting on her stomach while his hands stroked her bare skin as he whispered shit to the baby. They both glanced over in my direction when they heard me walk in. Mia warily smiled, slowly moving away from Noah, who didn’t bother getting up. She nonchalantly stood, pulling her shirt down over her belly. Making her way over to me on unsteady legs.
Standing on the tips of her toes, she kissed me. “I missed you,” she coaxed against my lips.
“Shouldn’t you be in my bed?” I questioned, grabbing underneath her chin so she’d look at me.
“Waiting on you.” She shyly smiled, her cheeks turning a soft shade of red.
I don’t know what came over me
, maybe it was the fact I hadn’t seen her in a few days, or maybe it was from seeing Noah’s hands all over her stomach. Or it could have just been the fact that I hadn’t been inside of her in God knows how fucking long. I gripped onto the back of her neck, tugging her pouty fucking lips toward me.
Kissing her.
Fucking devouring her.
Clutching onto the side of her face with one hand, while taking her bottom lip between my teeth. Sucking it hard. Causing a soft moan to escape her lips.
My cock twitched, aching to be inside of her.
Suddenly, my hands fell to her luscious ass, unable to control myself. Gripping on tight, I carried her up in one swift motion, so she could straddle my waist. Wrapping her long legs around my hips as I kicked the front door shut, never breaking our intense kiss. Noah cleared his throat, but we were too far gone to give a fuck, wrapped up in each other’s love. I walked us back to my room, making sure to flip Noah off as we strode past him.
Crossing the threshold into my room, I used my boot to close the bedroom door behind us, needing some privacy with my girl. I never stopped kissing her as we made our way over to the bed. Gently laying her down on the mattress, hovering above her heady frame. Causing her breathing to escalate when she realized she was now beneath me.
I kissed along her jaw, murmuring, “The fuck was that out there?” Continuing to lick and kiss down to her ample tits. I yanked down her flimsy cotton tank top, exposing a nipple, sucking the round pebble into my mouth.
“Ahhh…” Her back arched off the bed, only encouraging me to keep going.
I couldn’t help myself.
I never fucking could when it came to her.
“Asked you a question, sweetheart. Expectin’ a fuckin’ answer, unless you want me to stop,” I warned, sucking on her other nipple while my hands roamed, fondling her breasts.