Page 4 of Blood & Honey (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Deadman’s Beach, AL #2)

Chapter Three

“Don’t call me that,” I mock Blood as I drag my hairbrush through my tangled locks. He doesn’t mean it. He simply needs time to process the inevitable. We’re meant to be. We’re married. Our age gap doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except the fact that I’m his ol’ lady now.

He’ll see.

This isn’t a mistake.

Last night was perfect.

I twist my hair into space buns until I can wash all the product and sand out.

The thought of what he wants to talk about has my stomach souring.

What if he regrets it all? Regrets me? I stare at the bruises on my inner thighs, remembering how wicked he looked with his head between them.

I touch my fingertips to my skin, tracing the bruised outline of his rough fingertips, wishing his mark won’t ever fade away.

Heat fans up my neck, spreading like wildfire as images of our night dance in my head.

I had sex with Blood for the first time, and it was pure magic and better than I could dream.

Melissa said her first time hurt and was over as soon as Brian stuck his dick in her.

She didn’t get any pleasure from the act at all.

Her second time with him wasn’t much better.

Though she said after about the fifth time she started to enjoy it. Sounds tragic if you ask me.

I’m glad I waited for a real man like Blood. A man who has experience and knows how to touch a woman. I catch my reflection in the mirror that hangs on the back of my bedroom door and wonder if I somehow look different. More mature. I certainly feel changed.

I smirk to myself and grab my favorite sundress from my closet.

It’s yellow with thin spaghetti straps and a pattern of white daisies embroidered on the skirt.

The breast area has underwire cups that make my boobs look great.

I stare at the tattoo on my ring finger of Blood’s name.

He has mine on his. We’re connected in every way.

On paper, in ink, in body and soul.

This wasn’t a mistake.

I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on the Saint’s Outlaws MC.

Shelby was supposed to be watching me at the beach.

We were going to go to the boardwalk and ride the Ferris wheel.

She promised me cotton candy, but instead she forced me to walk past the clubhouse with her, because she was hoping to catch a glimpse of Blood.

Back then, he was just Zain. We were standing on the sidewalk as a group of them roared past us on their motorcycles and into the parking lot.

I’d never seen anything cooler until she pointed him out to me.

I clean my face with some makeup wipes and slap on some tinted moisturizer. A few dabs of perfume behind my ears and on my wrists and I’m ready to face my husband.

I find him where I left him. In the kitchen feeding my nephew. A sweet baby boy who needs a mother. Now I guess that is going to be me. It’s not the life I had planned, but Shelby left. Gave him up. I can do for him what she tried to do for me after our mother passed away.

Blood’s gaze finds mine, and for a moment he looks at me as if I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. “You hungry? I made extra eggs.”

“I’ll get something when I meet up with Melissa.”

“We need to talk.”

“This doesn’t have to be complicated or change anything,” I tell him, but we both know I’m lying. Everything has changed. We crossed a line. One there is no coming back from.

“I’m going to get an annulment.”

My heart drops to my feet. “So what? You just used me and now you’re throwing me away like you did Shelby.”

He inhales deeply then exhales slowly. “That’s not fair.” Even pissed off and broody, wearing that dead cold stare that would make the strongest of men wish for death, he’s sexy in nothing but a pair of black and gray board shorts with flames licking up the sides.

It’s true what they say about men with big hands and even larger feet. Heat scores my cheeks as I remember all too well what else he has that’s big.

“I didn’t throw her away. She walked away from me long before I ever stopped caring about her.”

I shrug my shoulder. “Then prove me wrong. Tell me last night meant something to you. That you didn’t use me. That I’m not just another girl who’s fucked the cold-hearted asshole, Zain Rogers.”

“Is that what you think of me?”

“No. I think you like me, but you’re too chickenshit to admit it. Are you going to deny that I turn you on? That you didn’t enjoy last night as much as I did, if not more.”

“You shouldn’t want to be with me, Ashley. I’m not the hero in your fantasy. I’m the villain.”

“I know.”

“You know?” His brow arches, his lips curl incredulously.

“You’d burn the world down for the people you love, Blood. That’s not a turnoff. Not to me. I think it makes you beautiful.”

“Don’t be sweet right now. I don’t deserve it.”

He turns his attention back to Ash. I’m not sure what’s going through his head. What I do know is that when he looks at me, my skin sets ablaze with a burning desire. One so powerful it threatens to consume me. Like a wildfire.

All I want is to go to him and beg him to see that we belong together, but I know I have to play it cool. Desperate isn’t attractive. Especially to a man like him.

I look at the time on my phone. “We can discuss this annulment business when I get back. If I don’t leave now, I’m going to be late.”

“Not a word of this to your friends.”

“Kind of hard to hide your name tatted on my finger.” I wave my hand, wiggling my ring finger for effect.

“I’m serious.”

I roll my eyes at the ceiling. “Whatever. Guess you really aren’t the man I thought you were.”

He has the decency to appear ashamed.

My phone vibrates with a text message from Jackson.

What the hell happened to you last night? I’ve been worried sick.

You said you were coming back.

I thought we worked through our issues.

You said you wanted to be with me.

“Who is it?”

“None of your business. You’re not my husband, remember?” I tease him, hoping it pisses him off.

“Real cute, Ashley. Real fuckin’ adorable.” He stops feeding Ash and takes a step toward me, holding his palm up. “Give me your phone.”

“No.” I sidestep around him, but he hooks an arm around my waist, drawing me in close. The heat of his body envelops me. One touch from him and I’m ready to combust.

My nipples harden. The friction of them rubbing against my bra is pure torture. The wet heat of his mouth on them last night is as fresh in my mind as it was when he was kissing them.

“I’m not asking.”

“You’re not the boss of me.”

“Like you said. My name is tattooed on your finger. What’s yours is mine, and that includes your damn phone that I pay for.”

“Piss off.”

He spins me around, pressing my back against the island in the center of the kitchen.

Towering over me, he drops his gaze to my mouth.

His breath fans across my lips. “Not a fan of repeating myself, babe.” My breath hitches in my throat at the way he pronounces babe, all cocky like he knows he has me right where he wants me.

He slides my phone from my grip. “Unlock it.”

“You’ll just get pissed.”

“I’m already mad.”

He’s got me there. “Fine. If you must know, it’s from my boyfriend. The one I ran out on at prom. The one I cheated on with you last night.”

His expression darkens. “What does he want?”

Is he jealous?

Good.

“Nothing. He wants to meet up to talk.”

His nostrils flare, and I melt a little more under his scrutiny. Why does he have to smell so damn good? All I want is to close the gap between us and have him kiss me stupid.

“You’re not going.” He hands my phone back to me and goes back to Ash, who is splattering oatmeal everywhere with his spork.

“You don’t own me. And you want to end this union, remember?” I push him closer to the edge. I’ve witnessed him being jealous before, and it’s way hot.

He grumbles something under his breath about me being a pain in his ass. I roll my eyes at him and respond to Jackson, so he doesn’t try to file a missing person report or something drastic.

Can’t talk right now. Family drama with my sister.

It isn’t a lie exactly.

My phone buzzes with a new text notification, but it is only Melissa asking if I’m coming to brunch and wondering what happened to me last night.

“Melissa,” I tell Blood and wonder what I should share with her. “Do I have your permission to meet her for brunch?” I bat my eyelashes at him.

“Is Jackson going to be there?”

“Why? You jealous?”

“Don’t be a brat.”

“If I’m bad, are you going to spank me again?” I pout, and he scrubs a palm over his face. “I really liked that thing you did with your tongue while your fingers were inside me.”

I watch as he takes a deep breath and moves his lips like he’s counting to himself.

“Just don’t tell anyone we’re married, all right?”

“Okay. I promise not to tell anyone that you married me and took my virginity.”

He stares at me. “It was your first time?”

“Were you really that drunk?”

“I’m sorry, Ashley.”

“For which part? Using me? Fucking me? Marrying me?”

“All of it. I’m just…I’m not a good guy.”

“You keep saying that.”

“I’m hoping you’ll start to believe it.”

“You’re better than you give yourself credit. I’ve been living with you for a year, and you never made a pass at me and shot me down when I tried to hint that I was interested. You tried to turn me down last night, but I seduced you.”

“Don’t try to defend what I’ve done. I’m going to make this right.”

“I love you, Blood.”

“No, you don’t. You just think you do.”

“I won’t tell anyone if that’s what you’re worried about. No one has to know about us but you and me.”

He shakes his head while staring at his feet. “Just go to lunch with your friend.”

“And what do I say when they ask where I went and why I have your name tattooed on my finger?”

He wipes Ash’s mouth and turns some cartoons on the big screen before putting him down in his fenced-in play area with some toys. “Tell them I needed you to watch the kid.”

“And if Jackson shows up, should I break up with him because I have a husband?”

He grabs me by the throat, giving me a possessive squeeze. “Stop pushing my buttons.”

“Or what?” I stick my tongue out and lick his bottom lip.

“Cut that shit out right now,” he growls all deep and husky. “This isn’t a game. You’re going to get hurt.”

“So don’t hurt me,” I taunt, practically pressing my lips to his, wishing he’d give in already and kiss me. We both know he wants to.

I can see how turned on he is. His dick is tenting his shorts.

He releases his hold on me and takes a step back. “It’s what I do. In the end, I’m going to fuck you over and make you feel like it’s your fault. Is that what you want?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Good idea,” he snaps as tears burn in the creases of my eyes.

Damn him.

None of this is going how I wanted. I don’t know what I thought would happen. That I’d wake up in his arms and he’d tell me he’s never been happier. That he loves me and will never let me go.

Instead, it is the opposite.

He can’t wait to get rid of me.

No matter how hard loving him may prove to be, with one kiss I knew he’s my one true love and our bond will be unbreakable.

He can try to fight it, but I’ve prayed for him since the day I first laid eyes on him. When I was just a girl, and he was barely a man and he belonged to my sister.

“Not even a kiss before I go out the door?”

“Go before I take you over my knee.”

“Go ahead. I know you’d like to see my ass glowing red with your handprint.”

He closes his eyes, and I leave before he can hurt my feelings more than he already has.