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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

DRAKE

M y cock had been half hard since I’d had her mouth. Since I’d had her in my arms and held her against me. Her scent, fuck me, but it was like a drug. I loved having it on me in the morning when we woke and she gave me her coy smiles and looks.

I’d hated dropping her off to work and prayed she was right about this likely being her last day here.

I wanted to get her back to Ballarat. To home.

Let everyone know she was mine.

Instead, I’d wait until she was ready to go, and in that time, I’d fight with myself to keep from sticking by her side like some obsessed sap who didn’t want to look away from catching all of her smiles and looks.

“Dragon, we’re walkin’ into church. You want in?” Dodge called.

“Yeah, brother.” I nodded, catching up to him. “As long as no one else is put out.”

He scoffed, placing a hand on my shoulder as we walked. “We’re all family here. You know that.”

In the room where church was held, Dodge called the meeting to order as he sat at the head of the long table. Not all brothers in the club were there, since not everyone could get out of work or had family duties. But notes would be taken and shared among the brothers who couldn’t make it.

I’d sat down at the other end of the table. I was a brother but also a guest.

“First order of business.” Dodge grinned. “The cunt of a corrupt cop and Officer Jones landed in the US safely. Country and his brothers have control of the situation before Jones takes him in.”

“Good riddance,” Dive called.

Other brothers voiced their agreement.

“Right, before we get down to the business, I’m pullin’ brothers into rotation. Another woman has gone missin’. That’s too many in our fuckin’ territory. We need answers. Vicious and Fang are workin’ out the shifts.”

“You know the brothers from Ballarat will be willin’ to help,” I called.

Dodge tipped his chin up. “Yeah, I’ll talk to Talon this afternoon. I reckon we’re gonna need it. Wolf also has his crew onto it, but somehow, this fucker is slippin’ through.”

“We don’t have any news on what happens to the women after they’ve vanished?” Dallas asked.

Knife leaned forwards. “Nothin’. All we know is they vanish. Lan and Parker have an ear out within the department, but the detectives have nothin’ to go off.”

Beast signed something, but it was so fast, I didn’t catch it since I was still learning sign language.

Knife nodded at his man.

Dodge grunted. “Yeah, Beast. In case anyone missed it, Beast thinks it’s not just one person nabbin’ these women. There’s a group. It’s too smooth and clean for just one.”

Pick rapped his knuckles onto the table. “The only good news is that none of the women are turnin’ up dead. They’re out there somewhere, and we need to find them.”

This fucking crap made me want to go get Swan and take her home.

As far as I knew, no one from the country towns had been taken. She’d be safer in Ballarat. Hell, maybe all the women within the club needed to take a trip to the country until these pricks were found and the women rescued.

I fucking prayed that we’d find some information soon.

The brothers went on to talk about their businesses. I liked sitting back to see how Dodge led church as the president here. It was similar to how Dad would do it back in Ballarat.

Since we didn’t have any pressing issues to deal with back home, Dad would be more than willing to add us to the rotation here.

By the time Dodge called the meeting to an end, it was nearing lunch, so I headed to the common room with the others to see if there was anything ready to eat. The job I had booked for the day couldn’t make it; the poor brother was puking his guts up at home, so I was pretty free for the day.

There was a spread of baked goods and sandwiches on a long table, and I was heading there before everything disappeared when my phone chimed.

Shit. There’ll be nothing left.

Still, I stopped and pulled the device out of my pocket, smiling when I saw Swan’s name on my screen.

I opened her text.

Looks like Jody has everything covered. She tried calling to tell me not to come in, but I forgot to turn my phone back on from last night. I’m good to head home today if you want to?

If I wanted to. Fuck yes, I wanted to.

I’ll swing by to pick you up, Birdy. Lookin’ forward to gettin’ home.

Would she want to have dinner with me at my place? Not that I wanted to rush things, but I’d love to have some time with her in my place, have her stay over and sleep in my bed.

My cock thickened.

Yeah, maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea to invite her over just yet. My dick was acting like it was still twelve and getting hard over the slightest thought.

I made my way over to Dodge. “Hey, I’m out. Swan is done with the library stuff, so we’re headin’ home. Make sure to talk to Dad about us comin’ to help out.”

“Yeah, brother. Will do.” He pulled me in for a quick slap to the back. “You be careful with that woman of yours.”

When he stepped back, I cocked a brow. “Rommy?”

He chuckled. “Came home all excited that you and Swan kissed. Know you wouldn’t start somethin’ just for the hell of it. Must be serious?”

I nodded. “Yeah. She’s mine.” My old lady. My forever.

He grinned, shaking my hand. “Congrats, brother.”

After a quick goodbye to the others, I made my way out to Swan’s car and drove to the library. I found her outside waiting, which had me frowning.

Before I could stop the car and get out to grab her door, she was already pulling the passenger door open and getting in.

“That didn’t take you long. Are you sure you’re okay with going today? I don’t mind hanging about if you need to do more.”

My woman was nervous. This was new for us, and she didn’t know how to act just yet when we met up after not seeing each other for a while.

It was all good. I’d teach her.

“Birdy, look at me,” I ordered.

She turned to me, resting her hands on her lap.

I grinned. “Hey.”

She blushed, smiling shyly. “Hi.”

“Gonna need somethin’ from you.”

“Anything,” she said all serious, her hands nervously rubbing together.

“Anytime we’re apart and we come together, I’d love if you’d share your mouth with me. Even if it’s just a—” I closed my mouth when she suddenly leaned over to kiss me with a brush of her sweet, plump lips.

“Sorry,” she whispered, still close.

I carded my fingers through her hair at the back and tugged her towards me again gently. “Don’t say sorry, Birdy. All good.” It was my turn to kiss her then, and it wasn’t just a quick one. This one had my body reacting to her little whimpers and the way she gripped at me, needing more, wanting me as close as I could be.

Fuck.

Her attention was a rush.

Pulling back, I grinned at her dazed look. I released her hair and tapped her nose. “Good to see you, babe.”

She rolled her eyes, blushed, and snorted. “You too.”

“Can you do me another favour?”

Her gaze flared a little, and the red to her cheeks deepened. It wasn’t the first time I wished I had the ability to read her mind; I was sure it just went to the gutter.

“Y-Yes.”

“Next time I pick you up from somewhere, or anyone does, I need you to wait inside until I arrive, yeah?”

I caught her nod before I glanced out the rearview mirror. I picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Thanks, Birdy. You wanna grab some lunch on the way home?”

“I’d love to.”

“Perfect.” Sucked I rode to the city when I wanted to be in the car with her. “You follow me on the way home, and I’ll find us a place to eat.”

“I will.”

Smiling, I glanced over at her, which she returned, before I looked back to the road. She was my dream come true—that or I’d won the damn lottery.

I had my woman finally at my side.

Never thought it’d happen. I’d always told myself that I’d have to watch her from afar and never be able to touch her, hold her, kiss her, and love her like I knew I had it in me to do.

I picked up her hand and kissed the back of it before placing hers in mine on my thigh as I drove. Swan was mine, and I’d do everything in my power to make sure it stayed that way.

* * *

Back in Ballarat, I got off my ride and walked to Swan’s car that she’d parked in her parents’ driveway. I opened her door, and she got out with her bottom lip between her teeth.

She only released it when I took the edge between my own teeth for a beat before I licked over it and kissed.

Her gaze darkened.

My beautiful birdy.

“Are you sure you want to come in?” she asked again. At lunch, I suggested I escort her inside to inform her family we were dating. She’d been hesitant, worried for my own sake about what her father would say or do. I hadn’t told her that Griz already knew that I completely fucking adored his daughter.

I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t said anything, but she’d soon find out because I wasn’t ready for this day to end with her.

“Yeah, Birdy.”

She sighed and nodded. “Okay then.”

I grabbed her bag out of the boot, and with my other hand in hers, we walked up to the front door. Swan entered, and I heard voices coming from the kitchen. I dumped Swan’s bag near the staircase on the way through.

Deanna was wiping down the counter while Griz and Nicky sat at the table together playing a card game.

Griz and Nicky looked over first, and their gazes dropped to our clasped hands.

“Whoa,” Nicky yelled and then laughed. He stood, pointing at us.

Griz placed his cards on the table and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

Deanna suddenly gasped and flung the cloth to the sink before she pressed her hands to her chest. “What the hell is this? What. Is . This? Oh my God… is this for real? Drake? Sweetheart? Tell me this is for fucking real.” Her eyes widened even more, which I wasn’t sure how she managed, as she slowly turned to Griz.

“Um, hi, everyone,” Swan called.

My sweet, shy woman was already blushing.

Nicky was busy grinning and looking from his dad to us over and over as if he was waiting for Griz to attack.

Griz asked his daughter, “He what you want?”

It felt like my heart was caught in my throat, waiting for her reply.

“Yes.”

His gaze shifted to me. “You know my thoughts already.”

I nodded. “I do.”

Griz grunted.

“Wait, you knew?” Deanna accused her man.

Swan’s shocked gaze swung up to me. I gave her a tight smile and shrugged.

“You already spoke to him?” Swan asked.

Deanna fell silent from ranting at Griz to look at us.

I turned to face her, pulling her around to me, but lost her eyes in the process when they slid to the floor. I slid my hand to her neck and pressed my thumb up under her chin. She met my gaze.

“He saw my interest and wanted to check if I was serious. I told him I was as long as you were into me in the same way and made it clear you were.”

“Was this around the time of the tattoo?”

She was fishing for clues, but I grinned. “No. Your dad talked to me recently.”

“Oh… okay.”

I couldn’t resist dipping down to brush my lips against hers. My grin grew when she blushed.

“What’s this about a tattoo?” Nicky asked.

“Nothing,” Swan said quickly.

“Hang the fuck on,” Deanna said. “Is. This. Real?”

Swan drew in a deep breath, facing the others, and I curled an arm around her waist as she said, “Drake and I are dating.”

Christ, it was good to hear her say it.

Deanna bounced around and squealed. Until she just as quickly gasped and stilled. “Can I call Zara? Does your mother know?”

Since they were best friends, of course Deanna would want to tell my mum.

“As far as I know, she doesn’t.”

“Can I call her? Can I?”

I glanced down to Swan, who shrugged. “It’s up to you.”

Shrugging right back, I tipped my chin up. “Go for it.”

Deanna snatched up her phone, unlocked it, and pressed on Mum’s number. She placed it to her ear. “You won’t believe what happened. … Your son and my daughter. … They’re dating. … No, I’m not joking. … They’re standing right in front of me, and he’s got his arm around her. They kissed . This is 100 percent real. … I know!” She beamed over at us. Obviously both mothers were happy about our relationship, and I had a feeling it was because they loved the idea of them being related in some way one day.

Like the day I married Swan.

Holy shit.

My gut just swirled over the thought of sliding my ring on Swan’s finger.

Calm the fuck down, idiot. We ain’t there yet.

Yet was the key word.