Page 22

“Well, as it has happened too many times, I was surprised. When I got home, I tiptoed in. I wanted to sneak in on her. It was her night off. I had images of us being alone, some wine, and, of course, sex. There was sex involved, but it wasn’t with me.

As I got close to the master bedroom, I heard the unmistakable sounds of lovemaking, and I recognized my fiancée’s passionate sounds.

I burst into the room, ready to kill whoever was with her and to ask her what the fuck.

When I kicked in the door and charged into the room, I was too stunned to do more than stand there.

The man in my bed was Jameson. My brother was fucking my fiancée. ”

“Oh my God, no. Oh, Jagger, I’m so sorry. That had to be devastating,” I cried. I reached out to put my hand on him, but he pulled away. I let it drop. It was clear he was caught up in the memory. I sat quietly.

“There was a bunch of yelling, crying, excuses, and more. I won’t bore you with those details.

In the end, I discovered they’d been screwing since about a month after they met.

So, at the time I asked her to marry me, she was already fucking my brother.

I asked her why she said yes and what her idea was for the future.

Her answer was that she loved both of us, and she hoped that once we were married, they could tell me about them, and I’d agree to share her with him.

I laughed in their faces and told them never.

I couldn’t stand the sight of them, so I walked out.

How could I beat the hell out of my brother?

“When I returned, he was gone, and Petra was there. She tried to talk to me about it. When it didn’t work, she wanted sex.

I laughed and told her she couldn’t be serious.

My brother just had his cock in her, and she thought I’d stick mine in.

It made me wonder how often she came from him to me or vice versa. I was sick.

“Suffice it to say, I called off the wedding and told her to move out. She cried and begged me not to make her. As if that wasn’t bad enough, when my parents found out what happened, they didn’t blame Jameson or Petra.

They said I clearly wasn’t giving her something she needed, and I needed to change.

They told me that working in the ER on the weekends did it.

Dad never liked me working there. They said no matter what, Jameson was my brother.

I had to forgive him, and I should forgive Petra as well.

They were worried about what everyone would say about canceling the wedding, even if they didn’t say it.

I screamed at them and told them what the plan was, where my brother and I would share my wife after the wedding.

My parents shrugged and said, as long as no one outside the family knew, who cared?

Any children would be Phoenix babies, and the bloodline would continue. ”

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” I snapped. Outrage filled me.

“No, I’m not. I left their house and went to the one where Petra and I had lived.

I packed my things, and I left. I quit the practice and the hospital.

I went on the road. I wanted to be as far away from them as possible.

I wandered and lived off my savings for three months.

They constantly called and emailed me, but I ignored them.

Petra was furious when a realtor came to list the house for sale.

I owned it before she moved in. It was mine.

It sold within a month, and she was out.

There were a few battles and conversations after that, but it was during my time as a nomad that I decided to change my life.

“I’d no longer be the boring, predictable Jagger.

I’d live wild and free. I’d seen a bunch of bikers on my travels.

When I could, I talked to them. I found them a fun lot.

I’d learned to ride a motorcycle in the military.

A friend of mine had one. My parents never knew because they wouldn’t have approved.

I had a fuck-them and fuck-the-world attitude.

I ended up here in Cherokee by accident.

I loved its tranquility, so I decided to stay.

Not long after I settled here, I bought myself a bike.

When I found out the Pagan Souls MC was in town, I researched them and decided to see if they would take me on.

I wasn’t ever going back to being the old Jagger.

Becoming a carefree, hard-riding, hard-living biker fits the bill.

As you can see, I became a prospect and made the cut to become a member.

It did get out that I was a doctor, which the club loved.

Over time, I was persuaded to help in the ER, but I refused to open a practice or work there full-time.

I’ve been living with that shitshow in my past for ten years. ”

“Jagger, I can’t express how sorry I am. To be hurt not only by the woman you love but also by your brother and parents. No wonder you left. You had to get away before you lost it. I have a few questions, but only if you feel you can or want to answer. If you don’t, tell me. I won’t push.”

“Ask away. I have nothing to hide now.” He sounded weary.

I wanted to touch him, but he hadn’t accepted my previous gesture, so I didn’t try again. I felt a vast distance between us. Retelling this had changed him, and it increased my unease. I had to ask—the easy ones first.

“Do you enjoy those times you work at the ER and help people? Does it fulfill you? Or deep down, is it because you were pressured to be a doctor, and now, it’s hard not to practice after putting all that work and time into it? Did you ever truly want to be a doctor?”

“I thought about this a lot, and at first, I will say I resented being a doctor. If I hadn’t been one then, I would never have worked in the ER and met her.

However, as time went by, I realized I do enjoy it.

Just because my dad and my cuckolding brother are doctors shouldn’t negate it.

Yes, I was pressured to become one, but I think I’m well suited to be a doctor. ”

“Have you had contact with any of them since you joined the club? Do they know where you are and what you do?”

“Oh, I made sure to tell them I was a biker. It made them crazy. Dad screamed I was destroying our family legacy. I told him fuck it. Who wants their legacy to be one where a brother will fuck the other’s woman behind his back and then expect to share her in secret?

Mom tried to cry and beg me to come home, but it was fake.

That woman doesn’t cry. As for Jameson, he told me to get over it. ”

“What about Petra? What happened to her?”

“She married my brother. They have two kids, a boy and a girl. From what I’ve heard, they have an open marriage and are swingers.

She works in the practice with Dad, Mom, and Jameson.

I snidely asked when I heard that whether they were sure both kids were a Phoenix because of the legacy and all. They didn’t appreciate it.”

I heard the bitterness in his voice. That was enough to push me to say one more thing. I stood up and moved over toward the fireplace.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Right here. One more thing. Then I believe we’ve talked enough and should get some sleep.

What your family and Petra did to you is terrible and would scar anyone.

Knowing your history, I understand why you would hesitate to ask another woman to share any part of your life.

However, it leads me to make a choice. It’s a hard one, but I have to make it.

I’m sorry, Jagger, we can’t be together after all. ”

He came to his feet and rushed toward me. I stood my ground even though I wanted to run and hide so I could cry. He was my dream, and I just let him go. “What? Why?” he asked forcefully as he paced away from me.

“I can’t be with someone who still has feelings for his ex.

You asked me the same about my feelings for Deon.

You wanted to know if I still love him. I don’t because I realized I never did, but I think you still care for Petra.

Even as angry and hurt as she made you, you loved her.

I think there’s a degree of it still there.

It’s why no woman has been enough to make you commit.

And I don’t think I will either. I don’t understand why you would say you want me.

Is picking me a way to show them you have a family, too?

” My voice cracked on the last word, and I was done. I swung around and ran toward my room.

“Blythe, don’t!” he shouted.

Where I was put me close to the bedroom I’d been using.

I ran as fast as I could. I heard him swear, then the pounding of his feet behind me.

Tears made it hard to see. I bounced off the wall right before I reached my room.

I got inside and was twirling to slam the door closed and lock it when he caught up to me.

As fruitless as it was, I still tried to shut it. He easily held it open.

“Please, stop. I don’t want to talk. Go,” I sobbed.

He gently yet firmly pushed the door wider and walked in. Giving up, I tried to get to the bathroom. I screamed in surprise as steely arms came around me from behind, and I was lifted off the floor.

“Bones, put me down!” I shouted.

I was taken to the bed and placed on it on my belly.

I flipped over. By the time I did, he was swinging his leg over me.

I was trapped under him, with his body straddling mine.

His hands pinned my wrists to the bed. I should be scared to death, but being in this position with him made me aware of our bodies and my yearning.

I knew he wasn’t Deon. He wasn’t about to hurt me.

“Firefly, my name is Jagger, not Bones. We’re alone.

And you’re not running from me after promising to be mine and then taking it back.

That’s not happening. I need to set you straight.

I do not love Petra. There isn’t an ounce of that in me.

Do you know what?” He waited for me to ask. Finally, I did.

“What?”

“The reason I know without a doubt there isn’t any love for her is that I recognized years ago I was never in love with her.

I loved the idea of a family and a wife, and she fit into my existing family.

Her being a doctor would be acceptable. There were many other things, but those are the main ones.

After I left and got over the humiliation, I discovered it was never love.

There was lust along with those other things, but that was it. It wasn’t love.”

“Have you ever loved any of the women you’ve been with?” I asked. I was a glutton for punishment.

“No, I can’t say there’s been anyone I have. There’s been lust and desire for sex. Period.”

The tears welled up more. “Baby, why are you crying and so upset? I told you, I don’t love her. I never did.”

“I thought I was in love, and I wasn’t. You thought you were and weren’t. How can we be sure what we feel for each other will be anything more than lust or that there’s even a slim chance we’ll love each other one day? I always wanted to marry for love,” I sobbed.

Bones leaned closer until his face was inches from mine. He stared deeply into my eyes. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.

“I’ll tell you a secret. It’s how I know I can and know you can.”

“How?” I wailed.

“Because I’m already half in love with you and falling fast. You have the biggest heart, and I know if anyone can love me, it’s you.

But if you don’t, I’ll cherish the fact that I have you in my life.

I can love enough for both of us. I have years of pent-up love to give.

” As he finished his startling revelation, he lowered his head and captured my mouth.

Immediately, my body was electrified, and I caught fire.

Our first kiss wasn’t a tame peck and done.

It was hungry and sexy. We used our tongues, teeth, and lips to kiss, lick, and nibble.

When he raised himself, I was a panting mess, and I knew the crotch of my panties was soaked and my nipples were hard beads.

I wanted to be naked and have his skin sliding over mine, to see what he looked like, and then have him pounding inside of me.

I was bowing my back off the bed. I had to move, or I’d tear off his clothes.

“You have to move,” I panted.

“Why?” he rasped. I wasn’t the only one affected.

I was beyond embarrassed. “Because if you don’t, I’ll tear off your pants and strip myself naked, then beg you to fuck me.”

Bones’ growl made me shiver. “Are you wet for me, Blythe?”

I didn’t answer. The next thing I knew, he let go of my wrists, which I forgot he held, and moved down my body until he was at the juncture of my legs. I jumped when he buried his face into my crotch and inhaled. My face flushed bright red.

“Mmm, yeah, you’re wet. I smell you. It’s incredible.

Your unique scent mixed with more. Goddamn, you’re making me forget I should be a gentleman and not push for sex.

But the other side of me wants to strip you naked, feast on your body, and then slip my cock into that wet, tight pussy and see how you strangle me. ”

I moaned. More of my cream slipped out and into my panties.

If I spread my legs, he’d see the wet spot.

As if reading my mind, Bones moved one leg and pushed mine apart.

He kept me from closing them, and he stared down at me.

Oh my God! His expression was wild. His hair was messy, and I loved it.

Unable to stop, I placed my hands on his chest and ran my fingertips over the planes of his muscles and his tattoos. He growled louder.