Page 30 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

TALON

“Your girl’s asleep on my sofa.” Major tosses his phone on the seat between us. “Jewls said we owe her big time.”

“Not necessary.”

“Man, she spent the weekend helping with the boys. Trust me, we owe her.”

“Just hope they didn’t wear her out too much.”

Ford glances over his shoulder with a shit-eating grin. “Feel for the woman if a couple of babies can best you. Thought you were more man than that.”

“Easy to blame the innocent,” Ace joins the goading.

“Probably would have been easier on her if she was closer, instead of driving home each night. Gotta say, you’re taking your sweet fucking time.”

I slice my eyes to Major, whose grin matches Ford’s.

“She’s getting there.”

“Now whose game sucks? Been three weeks, seven if you count the month she blew you off.”

Their collective chuckles amp up my irritation. “Fuckers.”

“Yeah, well now you know how it feels. Been waiting a long time for this. Willow’s a cool chick.” Major reaches over and claps my shoulder. “Maybe you’ll convince her one day.”

“She has no choice. Not going through this shit again.”

“Word from the wise, you may want to finesse that conversation.” Ford’s hands blast in a wide angle.

I can’t help but crack a grin, thinking about Willow’s response when I tell her she’s staying at my place the next time we have a Reserve weekend. She’ll be pissed but that’s where the fun comes in.

After being out of town for the last three nights, I’m ready for that fight. Since our role in the Reserves changed last year, we’re not required to be at drill as often, so there’s time to ease her into the decision.

If Rowan wasn’t in Alabama with her mom finishing wedding shit, it would have been a much easier sell.

When she heard Major was recruiting people to help with the twins, she jumped on the chance to help during the day while Janice, Bea, and Ronnie came at night. Harley wasn’t around because of an event with the Label.

Each night I waited for the damn text she was in her house with the doors locked. If she was at my place, I’d have eyes on the perimeter and her secured inside.

It’s been weeks since the incident at the salon, but I’m not satisfied Rylee isn’t a threat.

I fucking hated it and had no problem telling her that. Which is why Robbie and Finn are installing a security system this week.

“Hey, man, did you hear me?” Ford interrupts my thoughts.

“What?”

“Your phone call earlier?”

“Sterling had an update on Rylee. She’s demanded he get her out of her community service and everything scratched from her record.”

“Really wish Willow would have pressed charges long enough for us to keep that bitch in lock-up for one night. I’d have thought the sibling bond shit was severed.”

“The bond is severed but Lo has a bleeding heart,” I grumble.

“You know anything about the dickhead who screwed her over?”

There’s a bite to Ford’s question and I spot the familiar burning in his gaze. Rowan’s ex, Craig, was a massive psychopath. When Rowan kicked his ass out, he didn’t immediately set off any concern. The situation that followed was messy, and all of us felt the hit of not clueing in on his insanity.

The fire in his gaze lives in all of us. “He’s clean.”

“Not too clean when you’re dipping your dick into your girlfriend’s sister.”

“Got what he deserved. Marrying that miserable bitch is a form of punishment.”

“You dig into his finances?”

I slice my eyes to Ace for the amateur insinuation.

“The guy works at a brokerage firm and pulls in a decent salary. He’s invested fairly well, has a retirement account building. Going back through his credit cards, it’s obvious when the cheating started. Charges at luxury brand stores, high-end boutiques, and fancy restaurants—none of them for Lo.”

“Too bad we can’t sink him and that bitch of a sister,” Ford rumbles low.

We’re a protective bunch. All of us. But Ford has a fucking darkness inside of him.

Which is why I know, if there was anything I thought could put a stain on Joseph Wynn, he wouldn’t hesitate.

The nights I’m not on shift, Willow stays with me.

Which means Ford and Rowan have had the most time with her. All the women love her, but she and Rowan have fallen into a friendship like they’ve known each other forever.

The shield Willow lived behind is long gone. Carefree, happy, relaxed—not an ounce of drama.

I plan for it to stay that way.

“The dad going to help out the sister?” Ace’s question is loaded with disgust.

“Not sure how he’s leaning. Watching the video footage of his youngest daughter acting bat-shit crazy had him worried for both his girls. He thinks it’s time Rylee learns responsibility for her actions but doesn’t want it to backfire on Willow.”

“Any word from the mom?”

“Sterling said she’s embarrassed, ashamed, and rethinking her decisions and allegiances. Rylee’s outburst at Rendezvous was a wake-up call.”

“Shoulda thrown her in the fucking clink.” Major’s voice is tight.

“One night in would be too easy.”

Ford turns in the front seat to face me, crossing his arms. “You onto something other than Shayla getting her banned from every high-end salon in five counties?”

I nod. “First up, she’s got a meeting at work tomorrow.

She coasted into her position as a glorified receptionist because her mom sits on the board at the charity.

Board member or not, her boss wasn’t too keen on his employee showing her ass in public at one of the hottest spots in the city.

Rylee violated their values. She’s out with no severance. ”

“It’s been two weeks; the boss took his sweet ass time.”

“He may have been sent a copy of the video from an anonymous and concerned donor.”

Ace grunts his approval.

“The woman is maxed out and drowning in debt. She’s been using cash advances to float her lifestyle. Those credit accounts have been flagged as high-risk and cut off. “

“No job and no money. Think her mom will bail her out?”

“Possibly, but there’s more. Rylee used Joe’s information to open one of those credit cards. The billing address is a P.O. Box. The address has been updated, and he should be getting his bill any day now, along with a copy of his credit report.”

“Good call, but he can fight it.”

“My guess is that’s his first instinct until he sees the charges.

If he knows his woman at all, no amount of stupid could deny it’s Rylee.

He’s backed into a corner. She has no job, no credit, no savings, and no way to pay that shit off.

Unless he wants his credit to take a hit, he has to pay.

He chooses not to, the company won’t willingly walk away.

He files fraud—they investigate and the trail leads to Rylee, and she gets slapped with identity theft and whatever else. ”

Ford’s eyes light with admiration. “Nice. The asshole doesn’t drop her after that, he’s the dumbest motherfucker on the planet.”

“Willow know any of this?” Major asks.

“Not yet. She has enough on her plate.”

“Meaning you know she’ll be pissed about you getting involved?”

I shrug, not wanting to agree even though he’s right. “Bitch had it coming.”

“Fucking finally.” Ace veers off the exit.

The weight in my gut releases the closer we get to our neighborhood.

By the time he pulls into Major’s driveway, I’m beyond fucking ready to see Willow. I stop briefly in the doorway to kiss Jewls on the cheek and then make my way straight to Willow.

She stirs when I pull her into my lap and brush her hair from her face. Her eyes flutter open, dazed at first until they lock with mine and light up.

“Talon?”

“Right here, Princess.”

She throws her arms around my shoulders and plants her lips to mine. “You’re finally here.”

“You miss me?”

She cuddles in, kissing along my bearded jawline. “You’re scruffy.”

“I’ll trim it tonight.”

“Don’t do it on my account. I like it.”

“Then I’ll shape it up.”

Her lips split into a sweet smile and my chest releases the last of the pressure. “You ready to go back to my place?”

The smile falters and her gaze clouds with guilt. “I have to go home.”

“Excuse me?”

“Chase and Wyatt had Wolf today and took him back a few hours ago. Plus, I have to go in early tomorrow for an evaluation.”

The spark of irritation is a reminder of why she will stay at my place next time we’re gone. She notices and grips my shirt. “I didn’t know if you’d be up for me… you might be exhausted and…” she gulps, “I didn’t want to assume anything.”

Shit, the woman is like a brick wall. She thinks I give a damn if she has to leave early tomorrow.

“Baby, I’m in my bed, you’re there with me. Told you this and gave you a code to get in.”

“Not without you there.”

“Let’s go get Wolf and pack your bags.” I’m not discussing this again with the audience behind us.

“I can do it, and you can go rest.”

“Haven’t seen you since Friday morning at daylight. Not letting you out of my sight. Let’s go.”

She kisses me too quickly and rolls off my lap, offering her hand. “Let me tell Jewls goodbye and then we’ll go pack my bag.”

I let her pull me along without correcting her.

We’re not packing a bag; we’re packing a fucking suitcase.

“I c-c-can’t, it’s too much.” Her thighs clench around my waist.

I balance her weight on one arm, sliding my hand between us and gently strumming her clit. Her body goes rock solid and then trembles as her hips rock down.

The familiar sensation uncoils in my spine, my dick thickening with each stroke.

“Three fucking days without you, babe. Give it to me.”

Her small cry echoes around the room, driving me insane. I walk us the few feet to the bed, pinning her down and staying connected. My thrusts ease, giving her a chance to catch her breath, and when her eyes flutter open, my world tilts.

Every time I’m inside Willow, my soul feels at peace. But tonight, after dealing with her bullshit resistance the last weekend, I’m on a mission.

It’s time she understood.

“I want you in my bed.”

“Honey,” she cups my chin, “I’m already here.”

“Full time.”

Her eyes go wide with shock and she stills.

“You’re moving in with me.” I drive into her harder.

“Talon!”

“Say yes.”

“I’m not moving in with you.” She wiggles to get away, but I’m stronger, increasing my speed.

She moans, her eyes rolling back as I pound relentlessly.

My dick throbs when her hips lunge and her core squeezes. Momentarily taken off-guard, she bucks upward, and I’m forced to roll so she doesn’t hurt herself.

She sits astride me, her naked body a fucking temptation.

Her hands go to my chest and she lifts up agonizingly slow, my metal scraping along her smooth walls. When she drops down, I’m so fucking deep she groans in pleasure.

Over and over, she taunts and teases, grinding, rocking, and swiveling until I’m sure she’s close again.

Then she stops, a wicked smile crossing her lips.

She leans over, her tongue darting out to circle my nipple. “Since you’ve lost your mind, I’m taking over.”

The husky tone of her voice, the soft touch of her lips, the grip of her pussy has me ready to snap.

Fucking Simms, don’t blow right now. You have a mission!

My control wanes, but when her tits rub along my chest, I’m done. Knifing up with her in my hold, I guide her to her back.

“I wasn’t done.”

“You’re done.”

Our eyes lock and electrifying sparks surge through me at the sight of her laid out below. So damn beautiful, her expression full of lust and hunger, the way her body was made for me. Possessive and primal instincts take over and I slam into her, grasping her hips.

“Oh my God, yes.”

She takes my brutal thrusts, never losing my gaze.

“You’re moving in,” I grate out.

“No, I’m not.”

I tilt her hips and pound harder, ready to fuck a yes out of her. She catches on to my plan, her wicked grin returning. Her hands come to her tits and tweak her hard nipples, groaning in pleasure, closing her eyes.

“Give me your eyes, Princess.”

They snap open and my dick pulses at the fire in her gaze. “Harder.“

Oh fuck.

Sweat beads and trickles down my neck as I fight to hold back. She continues to play with her nipples, taking my assault and surging up to meet my strokes.

She purrs, the sweet sound setting off the beast inside.

My fingers move to where we’re connected and flick over her clit until she’s thrashing.

Reading her body has become one of my favorite things. She’s exactly where I need her to be, desperate for release. I slow my movements, lazily pumping into her.

“Say yes.”

The fire in her eyes turns into a blazing inferno. “Swear to God, Talon Simms, you stop right now, I’m getting in my car and going home to my vibrator. By the time I’m done with it, you won’t get sex for a week!”

The thought of her coming apart to anything but me awakens the animalistic brute wavering below the surface.

My little minx knows exactly what she’s done.

“The fuck you will.” I hammer into her ruthlessly, until the image of her with a vibrator disappears. “You’re mine.”

Her thighs and ankles lock around me, she rams up and screams.

I have no choice but to explode with her, a loud growl rumbling from my throat as I pour into her.

I coax another orgasm out of her, circling her clit until she’s chanting my name.

Willow may think she’s won this argument, but she’s only laid down a challenge.

I’m not above playing dirty, starting with getting rid of that fucking vibrator.