Page 19 of Property of Scythe (Kings of Anarchy MC: Ohio #1)

I never meant to reveal what I am or the curse to Lottie this way. It just happened.

Hangman called me as soon as Lottie rushed from the panic room. He said she planned to save Emma.

My crazy, fearless ol’ lady. I’m going to spank her ass later.

I’m running into the cornfield as I release the scarecrow and leave him at his perch, knowing he’ll be there whenever I need him. It’s Lottie I care about. She’s all I can think of as I rush through the stalks toward the circle where I left her. I don’t want her to feel that I abandoned her.

When I push through and find her staring up at the scarecrow’s face, relief washes over me. She’s safe and she’s alive. We saved her. I couldn’t have done it without his help.

“Lottie.”

She spins around and, with a soft cry, launches toward me. I catch her and hold her against me, kissing her damp hair. The rain is nothing more than drizzling now. It’ll wash away most of the blood, and the cornfield will drink it in, refueling from the vitality it stole—a circle of life and death.

Macabre, but true.

“You saved me, Scythe,” she whispers, hugging me tighter. “I know you’re the scarecrow.”

“What gave it away?” I ask, curious how she figured it out.

“The tattoo on your neck. He has the same one.”

Incredible. “You know, it won’t last more than a few hours. It’ll fade. He takes on the characteristics of his host.”

“Host?”

“The club member who needs and uses him,” I explain.

“Club member,” she repeats, blinking. “Oh, wow. You’re all a scarecrow creature?”

“Not exactly. It’s a bit more complicated than that. Let’s get you inside so I can tend to these wounds.”

“But you’ll tell me more?”

“Baby, I’ll tell you everything and anything you want to know.”

She smiles, and it warms my heart. “Okay.”

I lead her toward the cornstalks, glancing at the scarecrow as he hangs. My scythe is still gripped in his gloved hand. He looks a bit annoyed. I nearly grab it, but decide against it.

I’ll come back for the scythe later. Sometimes, the scarecrows get temperamental when we try to remove their toys too soon. I don’t want to deal with his shit if he decides to fight me for it tonight.

The door opens as we reach the porch, and Hangman rushes out with Emma. They completely ignore me and rush toward Lottie, tugging her away as they hug and gush about how brave she is. I shake my head and lean against a wooden column, waiting to be noticed.

You’d think Lottie was the one who defeated the killer. They fuss over her for fifteen minutes before Pops finally lets the women talk and joins me .

“You did well, son.”

“Thanks.”

“But your woman? Fucking fierce. She’s more than an ol’ lady, she’s the grit and glue that’ll hold this club together.”

I’ve thought of that too. “She’s got what it takes to be a president’s ol’ lady. It’s not an easy position.”

“No, but she’s perfect for it. Don’t fuck it up. I like her. A lot.”

“I didn’t fuck up the last one,” I remind him.

“Yeah, so? Keep her happy. I don’t want her leavin’. Mila loves her. You love her,” he points out.

I do. It’s only been a month since we met, but I’ve fallen hard for Lottie. “Yeah.”

“Not gonna deny it?”

“Nope.”

“Good. This might work then.” He slaps me on the back. Hard. “Get her inside. She’s bleeding.”

“I was on my way when you stopped us.”

He waves me off. Uh-huh.

I stride toward Lottie and thread our fingers. “I need to take care of my fearless woman,” I announce.

Emma nods.

“You okay?” I ask, knowing she went through hell tonight.

“I am, or I will be.”

“Let us know if you need anything. The club is here for you. So am I.”

“I know, Scythe. Thanks.”

Inside, I prop Lottie on the sink in the bathroom and fish out the first aid kit. With utmost care, I clean her scratches and scrapes, applying ointment and noting none of them are deep. She’ll heal quickly .

As I press a band-aid over her arm, I look into her pretty green eyes. “So. The scissors. What’s the deal?”

“I needed a weapon,” she explains.

“But scissors?”

“Hey, all the knives were gone. I had to improvise.”

“Hey, I’m not judging,” I promise. “Just keep your distance with kitchen shears.”

She giggles. “Hey, where’s Boomer? I never saw him.”

“Trying to find the killer with a scarecrow.”

She gives me a playful shove. “You already found and defeated him.”

“True.”

“Does Boomer know that?”

“He does. Sort of.”

“You’re a terrible brother.”

That makes me laugh. “I’m just getting him back for being a dick.”

“I don’t want to know the details. Keep that sibling rivalry stuff away from me,” she laughs.

No problem.

“We need a shower. Come on.”

I carry her from the lower-level bathroom because we need privacy, up to our room on the third level.

I kick the door shut behind us and set her down outside the stall, letting her feet land on the plush rug.

She starts undressing as I turn on the water and adjust the temperature.

Once we’re both naked, I take her hand and bring her in with me.

The rainfall showerhead drops warm water onto us as we enter. Lottie begins washing her hair as I soap up with an agenda on my mind. I want us to be clean as fast as possible because there’s something I need to tell her .

As soon as she rinses the soap from her skin, I bring her close and lower my forehead to hers. For a few seconds, I just breathe.

“I knew you were moving to Raven’s Crest before you ever arrived. Call it intuition or whatever you want, but I knew you would come and you’d need me.”

She sucks in a breath of surprise. “How?”

“I saw you in visions. They didn’t stop until I met you that first morning when I dropped off Mila in class.”

“Scythe, I saw you too.”

Now it’s my turn to be surprised. “What do you mean?”

“I dreamed of you. More than once,” she admits. “I don’t care why, if I’m honest. I just care that we’re together.”

And that’s how I know this isn’t chance. It never was, not that I doubted it. But tonight, she nearly died. “And you still faced a killer.” I’m pissed at her for risking her life.

“I had to save Emma.” She’s so resolute.

“I almost lost you tonight,” I say as my voice cracks. “Scared the fuck outta me, Lottie. Don’t you see that?”

“I know. Scared me too.” Her hands glide up my chest and circle my neck, where she locks her fingers in place.

“I need you, baby. I need to be inside you so I know you’re here and safe where you belong.”

“Then kiss me.”

Her order is met with hunger. I’m suddenly fucking ravenous for her as I lift her, devouring her mouth as I press her up against the shower wall.

“I don’t think I can be gentle right now.”

“It’s okay. I want you to fill me, Scythe. Erase that killer from our minds so we can leave it behind us.”

And that’s what I do.

I don’t have to worry that she’s wet enough. As I dip my fingers between her thighs, I slide through her silken lips and feel her arousal. It instantly turns me on even more.

With her legs wrapped around my waist, she’s at the perfect height. I wrap my palm around my cock and stroke, groaning because I’m so fucking hard for her. When I line up and press inside her pussy, I shudder.

“Fuck. You feel good, baby.”

“So do you.”

My hips snap forward, and I start to thrust, driving into her hard and fast. I’m chasing my orgasm and hers, hoping I’m hitting the right spot. I don’t have to wonder for long.

Lottie’s fingers grip my shoulders, and I can feel the bite of her nails as they sink in. “Oh, God. Just like that, Scythe.”

Her breathy voice and moans fill the bathroom, and it sends my need higher. I grip her ass and hold her still, pumping in and out, relentless in my pace. I want her body and her pussy, but I desire her heart even more.

I slow down, taking the fast fucking I intended into a slow lovemaking that proves how I feel. I can’t deny it, not to my father, and not to this fierce female that owns me.

“I need you to know something, Lottie,” I tell her, pausing as she opens her eyes. We’re staring into each other’s souls, and neither of us is holding back. I see what I already know reflected in her glittering green eyes.

She loves me.

“I’ve fallen for you, Lottie. You have my heart. Hell, baby, you’ve got all of me. I’m yours.”

Her smile nearly steals my breath from my lungs. “You’ve got me, too, Scythe. I love you.”

I kiss her, swallowing those words and ingesting them inside me, letting them take root. I want them to grow and thrive because there’s no one else for me.

Lottie is my woman. My love. She’s my ol’ lady. As dear to me as a wife and as addictive as a mistress.

She’s my property. And I’m forever hers.