Page 14 of Desert Loyalties

SKYE

Drake and I are in bed. We’d showered together, too exhausted to do anything more than rinse off the heat and sweat before collapsing, naked, onto the sheets.

He lies on his back, one arm curled behind his head, while his other hand moves slowly across my bare back.

I’m on my stomach, legs swinging lazily in the air.

His voice is quiet, serious. “Do you know anything about the Ceremony?”

“Not really,” I murmur, “Apart from the fact that every woman of the new generation said no.” I never really met the old timers, but the guys told me that they were pissed that none of the new patches could get their girlfriends or wives to participate.

“Ranger told me about it today,” he says, voice low. “Apparently three are three ways a woman can get in.”

I glance up at him, my cheek pressed to his chest. “Three?”

He nods, fingers tracing slow lines down my spine. “First... commit a crime in front of the brothers. Something real. No petty shit. Has to leave a mark.”

I stay quiet.

“Second,” he continues, “confess to something you’ve already done. On tape. With your face. No lies, no edits. Has to be enough to ruin you if it got out.”

I feel a little shiver slide down my ribs. Not from the cold. From the weight of it. “And the third?”

He hesitates. Long enough that I have to prompt him. “Drake?”

He exhales through his nose, like it pains him to say it. “Fuck all the brothers. In one night. Also on tape.”

I lift my head, eyes wide. “Are you serious?”

He’s not smiling. “Yeah.”

“There’s over fifty of you.”

He nods.

“Jesus.”

“I know.”

We’re both quiet for a beat, the ceiling fan whirring above us. I thought he was letting me weigh my options, until he says, “Same goes for the man bringing her in.”

I blink. “Wait. What?”

He rolls to his side, facing me. “If you choose the third option… I’d have to do it too. All of them. Same night. Same tape.”

I stare at him. Then laugh. “Okay. That’ll stop anyone cold.”

“That’s the point,” he says. “None of it’s supposed to be easy. It’s not about sex or crime. It’s about exposure. Loyalty. Sacrifice.”

My fingers drift to his chest, circling absently. “And you? Would you?”

He doesn’t flinch. “I’d do anything for you. Except let those motherfuckers touch you.” His voice dips lower. “I want you to be mine. My old lady. But I’m not putting your freedom on the line. Not for a patch. Not for pride. Not for men who wouldn’t do the same for you.”

I go still.

“You’d leave,” I say quietly.

He nods once. “In a fuckin’ heartbeat.” And I believe it. All of it. The depth of him. The danger. The devotion. The man who would break bones and rules and his own damn world… just to keep me whole. “I already told Ranger if he holds you to the ceremony, we’ll leave.”

“Where would we go?” I ask, genuinely curious.

He doesn’t want me to risk my freedom; well, I don’t want him to risk his.

I’m not stupid, I know he still does illegal shit.

It was way to easy for Grim to offer to get rid of the body like it’s a regular thing.

But I’m guessing those crimes weren’t committed in front of witnesses or on tape.

Drake, exhales in… relief? “I thought I would have to drag you kicking and screaming to the cabin in the woods.”

“You have a cabin? And why would I resist?” Spending my life with a hot-ass man in the woods, nothing to do but fuck and read? Count me the hell in.

“I know you like the club and all it offers.” This man did not just say that.

I want to hit him over the head, but then I see the look in his eyes. Vulnerability. Raw and unguarded. I’m guessing that’s not something he shows often.

I sit up and grab his face in my hands.

“There is nothing in this world I would ever choose over you. Nothing. Don’t you get it? I love you, Drake.”

He doesn’t say it back. Not yet. But he kisses me; soft and sure. It’s not I love you too, but I’ll take it. For now.

I kiss him back, slow and deep, letting the moment stretch between us. My hand comes to rest over his chest. His heartbeat is erratic beneath my palm.

I rise and move to straddle him, skin sliding against skin. I’m already wet, have been since the moment his hands touched on me.

His hand moves down my back, grabbing my ass and kneading the flesh. “You’re the best damn thing that ever happened to me.” I smile, angling my hips to take him inside me. Removing his hand, he lines up his cock for me to sink down on.

He’s big and thick and I feel so full.

I start to move, raising and lowering my hips, my breath comes out in quick pants.

Drake grabs my waist, thrusting into me, meeting my downward movements.

He kisses my neck and then bites my shoulder so fuckin’ hard his teeth nearly break the skin.

I gasp, arching my back and moaning into his ear.

“You’re so fuckin’ deep.” He grabs my thighs, bouncing me on his lap.

I’m gasping for breath, my bed shaking so hard I’m afraid it’s going to break.

He pushes his hands into my hair. Thrusting, grunting…

“Oh, God!” I moan as Drake flips me onto my back without leaving my pussy.

Taking my leg, he puts it onto his shoulder, opening me as he starts thrusting again.

“Do you have any idea?” he says between thrust, gritting his teeth, “how hard it was for me, to leave you in that room.” One hand grabs my ankle. His other moves to my clit.

I moan, breathless, barely coherent as the words tumble out. “It was for the club.”

He loves the club; it’s his life, his purpose, his priority. I knew what I was signing up for when I said yes. It wasn’t easy. It hurt. But I’d still rather be with Drake, even if it meant becoming part of the club on their brutal terms.

What I didn’t expect; what floors me now is that when it came down to it, when push finally met shove… he chose me.

I wasn’t in any real danger today, not with Drake and Ranger having my back. I knew Drake would never let anything happen to me. I love him and he loves me.

Drake rubs my bundle of nerves; making me arch up and forget my thoughts. My hands grip the sheets as he continues pounding me. I come so hard I see stars.

He continues thrusting, slowly as I come down from my high, “I would burn the club down to protect you.” With that, he lowers my ankle, resting his body on top mine.

He locks our lips together while I wrap my legs around his waist, locking his hips to mine.

He leans on one elbow beside my head, the other hand touching me everywhere.

My face, my stomach, my breasts… It’s like he can’t get enough.

My hands wrap around his massive shoulders, clutching his back, pulling his body closer to mine, not that its possible. Drake’s not fuckin’ me anymore, no, he’s making love to me.

Breaking the kiss but keeping his lips ghosting over mine, he whispers, raw and certain, “I love you.”

It’s not rushed. Not a heat-of-the-moment confession. It’s from his heart. I open my eyes, meeting his, and for a heartbeat, the whole world stills. “I love you too,” I say, steady and sure.

His breath hitches, like he didn’t think I’d say it again and for a second, he stops, resting his forehead on mine.

He lets a boyish grin break out before kissing me and picking up the pace.

With every thrust, he rubs against my clit, groaning against the seam of my lips.

He thrusts deep and comes inside me; his hot cum spurts into me, triggering my own climax.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he says breathlessly, voice rough at the edges.

He collapses beside me, still panting, pulling me into his chest like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he doesn’t hold on tight, he did the same in the shower. I melt against him, my cheek pressing to the slick heat of his skin, listening to the wild rhythm of his heartbeat as it slowly begins to settle.

“I really do love you,” I murmur, eyes half-lidded, drifting. “But I can’t believe you got me all sticky again.” I peel my cheek away from his chest with a wince. “Ugh. Gross. I’m literally sliding off you.”

He chuckles, low and smug. “Why don’t you have Air Conditioning again?”

“Because someone,” I drawl, propping myself up on one elbow and narrowing my eyes at him, “decided it wasn’t worth the expense to put air conditioning in the guesthouses.”

“Rumours,” he says with a smirk, stretching like a satisfied cat. “Lies. Slander.”

“Rumours that are true,” I shoot back, fanning myself with my hand.

He groans, pushing himself up. “Well, it won’t matter anyway.” He glances down at me with that possessive glint in his eye. “You’ll be moving in with me soon.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, feigning enthusiasm. “Totally looking forward to packing. Can’t wait to shove my entire life into boxes in this heat. Yay.”

He catches the look on my face and laughs, wicked and knowing. Then, before I can protest, he grabs my ankles and yanks me down the bed.

“Drake!”

“I’ll have the prospects do it,” he says, grinning.

I shoot him a flat look. “You really want prospects digging through my panty drawer?”

He pauses, considering. Then he shrugs like a man making peace with his fate and hauls me up effortless, throwing me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.

“Then I’ll help you pack,” he says smugly, slapping my ass hard enough to make me squeal.

“You really love pulling this move,” I say, my voice bouncing as he carries me.

“It’s efficient,” he replies, like this is the most logical thing in the world, already striding toward the bathroom. “And I get the view.”

“You’re such a caveman,” I mutter, laughing in spite of myself.

He kicks open the bathroom door.

“Yeah,” he says. “But I’m your caveman.”

And then he steps into the shower, both of us still a mess, hot, sticky, and grinning like idiots.