“I need you,” he says with a desperation I’ve never heard from him.

I should say no, but this will be the last time I’ll have him. Selfishly, I nod. His mouth crashes down on mine, his tongue plundering into my mouth as he pushes me against the wall, my spine slamming into the plaster hard enough to bruise. His movements are frantic and bold as he takes, claims what he wants and I let him, wanting everything he’s giving. We tear off each other’s tops and he slips my bra off, leaving us both bare from the waist up.

His fingers tangle in my hair, tugging my head back so he can deepen the kiss and my legs feel like jelly. I grip his biceps, trying to keep traction and let him take what he needs from me.

His knee goes between my legs, forcing them apart and then his free hand cups my pussy. I gasp as he rubs me there, tingles building in my pelvis. I’ve never seen this side of him, and I can’t say I don’t like it. He’s forceful, but I’m not scared, not even a little. I know if I tell him to stop, he will, but the frenetic pace of his movements has my pussy throbbing with anticipation.

I’m lifted into his arms and he walks me over to the bed, tossing me down on the mattress. I bounce a little before he crawls on top of me and captures my mouth again. I can barely breathe and I’m grateful when he pulls away, giving me a chance to drag oxygen into my lungs.

Lying on my back, I watch as he moves to my jeans and tugs them down with my underwear, leaving my pussy on display to him. He doesn’t pull them off my ankles, but instead moves back between my legs, his tongue darting over my clit.

I arch off the bed, a moan ripping from my lips as he touches my sensitive area. Then his fingers find their way inside me and I nearly come right there. He continues to finger fuck me, his heated eyes locked on my face as he does. I break contact with his gaze as my orgasm hits. My eyes screw shut as I gasp and blurt out his name. Fireworks dance behind my lids and between my legs pulses in time with my racing heart. He’s going to kill me at this rate.

Nox doesn’t give me a chance to recover. He flips me onto my stomach, pulling my arse up. Cool air touches the dampness between my legs, and I tremble as I lean on my forearms, waiting for him.

Anticipation gets the better of me and I peer over my shoulder in time to see him rolling a condom down his magnificent shaft. He gives his dick two pulls then steps over to me. Grabbing my hips, he spears me to him in one quick motion.

I cry out as my pussy burns at the sudden intrusion before it adjusts to his cock. He waits for a second before he pulls back and then slams balls deep into me again. Delicious sensations tingle through my belly, and I lean heavily on my forearms as he drives into my pussy from behind. At this angle, he’s able to get deep inside me and every touch has tingles building higher until I’m a writhing, sweaty mess beneath him.

My orgasm this time makes my vision wink out for a second, and he follows me over the edge with a groan of his own. His cock moves in and out of me for a moment longer before he pulls free, leaving me whimpering for more and sags onto the bed next to me.

He turns his head towards me and a lazy grin is splayed over his face.

Nox pulls me into his arms, our naked bodies pressed against each other. He gently strokes my hair.

“I love you.”

My heart shatters into a million pieces at his words. He can’t love me. He can’t want me. How am I supposed to leave with him saying these things to me? Shame clings to me like dirt rubbed into my skin, and I have no idea what to say to him. I love him too, but I’m planning on leaving. How can I give him the words and then walk out on him?

It kills me to do it, but I crane my neck and brush my lips over his, hoping I can show him with actions what I can’t say with words.

The universe is a cruel bitch. My life has been a series of hurt and pain and now I’ve finally found something good I have to leave it behind.

We stay wrapped in each other for the rest of the night, fucking and cuddling. I don’t know what happened to him today, but what I do know is I don’t leave the compound.

Tomorrow night I will go. I have to.

Time is running out for Lucy Franklin.

18

Nox

I wake the next morning with Lucy in my arms. She’s still asleep, black smudges ringing her eyes as if she hasn’t been sleeping well. I watch her sleep, my mouth pulled into a smile, until my phone beeps.

Carefully, I roll to the side and look at the screen. It’s a message from Rav. He wants to speak to me in the common room.

I free myself from Lucy’s hold and climb out of bed. I need to shower, but I pull on my boxers, my jeans and my tee before shrugging into my Untamed Sons kutte. The leather is soft, worn from years of wear. It’s a part of me and will always be a part of me, but Lucy makes me want to be more than just a brother.

I don’t know what the fuck came over me yesterday, but Titch’s words were playing in my head on repeat when I got to her room. Last night, I’d fucked her like a man desperate for answers, but too much of a pussy to ask for them. I’d fucked her like a man who needed her to breathe.

I give her a lingering look as I make my way to the door, my heart pounding. My brothers are fucking wrong.

I steal from the room like a one-night stand. I don’t like the idea of her waking up alone, but if she’s going to be mine that’s something she’ll have to get used to. My club keeps me busy at all times of the day and night.

Lucy tracks my thoughts as I head into the bowels of the clubhouse. The urge to keep her safe overwhelms me. I have to protect her. She’s done so much for our club by keeping Sasha and Lily-May, but it’s more than that.

I love her.

I fucking love her.

I shouldn’t.

I’m no good for a woman like Lucy. I bring too much darkness to the table—darkness that will stain her too after a time. It’s impossible to be around the club and not be marred by it, but I don’t want my filth to touch her. I should keep my distance, but I can’t do it. The thought of staying away makes my gut fill with rot. I’m a selfish prick, putting my needs before hers, but I feel a connection to Lucy that I’ve never felt with anyone else and I’m not ready to let it go. When I see Rav with Sasha, I want that for me.

But this ain’t me. I don’t dwell on women. I don’t get caught up in someone else’s drama. Yet here I am, knee-deep in her shit, and that shit could be getting deeper—if Titch is right. I hate that thought. It twists my gut that I doubt her for a fucking second.

I find Rav sitting at the bar in the common room, a glass of Scotch in front of him.

“You wanted to see me?” I ask as I slide onto the stool next to him.

“We’ve got a shipment of guns coming in this week.”

No matter what happens our world still keeps turning and business has to get done. It doesn’t stop just because Lucy was nearly murdered.

He talks me through the details, but my mind keeps straying back to what Titch said—if it’s not Hank they were targeting, it has to be Lucy. Could it be some fucking stalker? Someone obsessed with my girl? Something Lucy herself isn’t aware of?

The thought has my blood pumping with anger. There’s no way she could look me in the eyes as if I capture the fucking moon and lie to me.