“Naughty girl.”

  He dips me into a hot kiss that lasts for an eternity, but I remind him we need to pack and rest. We still have a thousand miles ahead of us before we reach San Diego. And we haven't slept well the past few nights, too busy making love. Well, making love is putting it lightly. I think the hotel will need a new mattress.

  After we get in our room, Luke’s eyes blaze with heat.

  “Get on the bed, baby girl. Show me your treasures. I don’t want to see a single inch of skin covered.”

  Blushing, I take off the new clothes I bought in town before I climb into bed.

  “Stop,” he growls.

  I’m on all fours. I throw him a look over my shoulder.

  “What?”

  He strips naked slowly and frees his huge cock that belongs to me alone. “You look insanely sexy like that,” he says with a wicked smile.

  I roll my eyes as heat flushes my skin, but deep down, I love how obsessed he gets. The animal that comes out behind his eyes. I shake my bottom before Luke buries his face back there, licking my folds, slapping my cheeks, touching me in all the right places. There's a humming sensation in my pussy when his tongue twirls over my clit.

  “Do you know what your little hole tastes like?”

  “Strawberries and honey,” I mutter.

  “That’s right.”

  “Whatever.”

  He smacks my bottom. “I can’t decide where to put my cock first.”

  Every muscle below my waist clenches. “Remember, we have an early day tomorrow. No playing tonight.”

  “Hm. Pussy then. Let’s make sure you’re pregnant before we get to California.”

  “Luke!”

  He kisses over my shoulders. “I’m serious. I want us to start a family.”

  “And what about going to school?”

  “You can go to school while you make me a daddy.”

  My breath hitches.

  I arch my back as he mounts the bed and then mounts me, his thick cock sliding into my slick channel, and every nerve in my body lights on fire. He kisses my neck to the rhythm of our loving, and I clench around his forceful thrusts.

  “You like that, darling? Your little pussy should always have my cum in it.”

  “Yes!”

  His tongue slides over the tip of my ear. “You can do your classwork while you ride my cock.”

  I gasp. “I’m pretty sure I have to live in a dorm my first year.”

  “We can't have that,” he growls. “No way in hell am I gonna let a bunch of eighteen-year-old frat boys see my treasure. Hell no. You're all mine, darling.” The tempo of his hips quickens, his cock stamping into me in hard thrusts. “Come to think of it I may have to lock you up at home and just fuck this pussy all day long. You’re so beautiful, you’d make any man’s dick hard and I can’t have that. I own this sweetness.”

  I buck back as my body builds toward that final peak, my fingers digging into the sheets.

  He yanks out with a sudden hiss, flips me on my back, and thrusts back into me to the very base. Our faces are an inch apart, my mouthing half-open as my pussy ripples, my juices streaming down my thighs.

  Then he pulls back ever so slowly, the drag on my tender walls making me writhe with pleasure.

  “Luke,” I gasp.

  He punches his hips.

  I cry out as my orgasm explodes. Half a heartbeat later I feel him tense, his cock buried in my body twitching as a blast of molten heat floods my pussy.

  “I love you,” he groans.

  Our mingled release leaks out when he withdraws at last. “Yes,” I sigh. “I love you too.”

  I never thought I’d get to say those words.

  The morning dawns bright and clear.

  We get into his SUV in happy silence. I have to carry Bandit in my arms she’s gotten so big. In the car, Luke kisses my fingers.

  After a final stop at the police building to say our goodbyes, we leave Sheffield behind.

  Daisy Rose is waiting for us just outside town, and we pull over on the roadside. The sheriff has a big smile and her shoulder looks fully healed. She holds out her palm, showing us four tiny metal balls. “They dug these pellets out of my shoulder at Iraan General. I was lucky. The pellets could’ve severed a ligament or cut my rotator cuff, and then I would’ve been in a world of hurt.”

  “Ouch,” I say. “Throw them away!”

  “No, sweetheart. I’m keeping them. A souvenir from this little adventure.”

  Rose hugs me and shakes Luke's hand. Then they hug too.

  “Take care of her,” Rose says.

  “Take care of her mother,” Luke says. “I’ll call you when we get settled in San Diego.”

  “You better.” Rose straightens. “It's been an honor, Alvarez. Nice to see there are still good men in this world.”

  “Nice to see there are still people who care,” Luke says.

  Rose scoffs. “Most people care about something. I’m glad Piper found someone who cares about her. Take care, you two.”

  We watch her drive off.

  Luke glances at me. “Shall we start our own journey?’

  “We shall,” I say with a smile.

  Epilogue

  Piper

  Five months later

  It’s Friday.

  I’ve barely put my key in the look when Luke pulls the door open with a big grin on his face. His shirt is unbuttoned as usual, those thick abs cut with sexy shadows.

  “Did you pass?” he asks.

  I hold up my new California driver’s license. “Flying colors.”

  “Never had any doubt.”

  I walk into our new condo four blocks from the beach.

  There’s no beach view, but you can still smell the ocean and I love the airy feel. Property prices in San Diego are crazy. The cheapest place we could find near the beach costs seven figures. Too rich for us, at least for now. Even our modest condo wiped away half the money we’d brought.

  But I love our new home for what it is—a place that's mine and my husband's. The neighbors are friendly, and no one has a problem with pets.

  We’ve been living here for just over four months, after spending our first three weeks at a hotel. Those early days were hectic with all the details of starting a new life.

  “What’s for dinner?” I say.

  “Grilled chicken with a strawberry glaze for me.”

  I roll my eyes. He’s still a picky eater. Still obsessed with strawberries.

  I stifle a smirk.

  “And for you, darling, bacon-wrapped scallops and filet mignon. Mashed potatoes and sour cream. Four different kinds of cheeses.”

  I look at the table spread. “Very good, Mr. Ginnez.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Ginnez.” He adds in a throaty voice, “Baby girl.”

  I pout. “Now don’t you get dirty just yet. I’m hungry.”

  When we got married last month, we couldn’t decide on a new name. I wanted to take his name, but Luke insisted that everything we do together should be new. New and together. After a lot of wrangling, we settled on Ginnez. It rolls off the tongue pretty easy, and it has no past but what we give it.

  Mom was kinda surprised when I told her right before the wedding, but she approved in the end. She supports most things I do these days. After she’d heard my recording of Gavril Marsh, Mom tossed his few possessions right outside. I think she had an epiphany. That recording had been the first time she heard the honest truth from a man she likes.

  Sheriff Rose made make sure he caused no more trouble, checking on Mom twice a day. Both of them flew out here last month for my wedding.

  “Eat your fill,” Luke says.

  I sit at the table and try the filet mignon. It’s delicious as usual.

  My husband watches me with a smirk.

  “What?” I say.

  “You look lovely.”

  “You think I look lovely every day.”

  He rakes a hand through his sexy hair. “It’s true.”

  I blush. “The honeymoon’s over, Luke. You don’t need to spoil me all the time.” We didn’t have a real honeymoon since he’s been busy at his new job, and I’m getting ready to start community college, but we did take one week to explore the city together, and every night we made love.

  But we make love every night, so that’s not really special.

  “The honeymoon’s never over,” Luke says softly, wrapping his hand around mine. “Every day. Forever. That’s why I married you.”

  I swallow a mouthful of food with some difficulty. He always tells me he’s not good at expressing himself, so he just says the first thing that comes to mind no matter how corny it sounds.

  Well, I like corny.

  "Where's Bandit?" I ask in a rush to change the subject. When my big bad man gets all tender like this, it just melts me too much. I’d turn into a puddle before long.

  Luke whistles. Bandit dashes downstairs from the loft bedroom like a dog. I swear, she’s turning into a dog.

  But she hops onto the table with feline grace and nuzzles her head against my husband’s hand.

  “Excuse me,” I say. “Who saved you from under a car?”

  Meow.

  Bandit whirls around, snuggling up to my neck. I swear she can understand me.

  “That’s better.” I scratch her scruff.

  Luke tries to hide his smile, failing miserably. “She waited for you by the door all afternoon, you know.”

  “I know.” I kiss Bandit’s nose. A vet in our neighborhood couldn’t tell me what breed she is exactly, but she’s had a major growth spurt over the past three months. She still loves backpacks though, so we got her a huge hiking backpack to play in.

  Bandit pounces to the floor and curls up by the corner. Naptime, I guess.

  I push my empty plate away. I have to say, the food usually turns out more gourmet when Luke cooks.

  Even though he loves it when I cook for him, but I think that’s more of a caveman thing. One of his favorite activities is watching me cook, and I’d wear nothing but an apron. Dinner never finishes right on those nights.

  Like yesterday, I tried to make lasagna. Luke spent thirty minutes standing in the kitchen doorway with no shirt on, flashing those thick abs of his with one fist around his cock. He stroked himself for half an hour watching me chop veggies. And while I poured tomato sauce into a pan, he moved behind me before his hand slipped to the wetness down there, those fingers teasing my clit.

  It’s a miracle I get anything done in the kitchen.

  “Piper,” Luke says.

  “Huh?”

  He stands, carries our plates to the dishwater—which is another appliance I’m still marveling about—and returns with a different hunger on his face.

  “I’m getting these removed tomorrow.” He points at the gritty tattoos on his throat and left hand. “So tonight’s the last night you get bad boy Luke.”

  “Oh?”

  Luke works as a consultant at this motorcycle club called the La Jolla Motorcyclists Association. LJMA is super upscale. Basically they’re rich guys who want to dress up like bikers every weekend. But the money’s good, and LJMA is very impressed with Luke’s history from the Santa Muerte MC, so they made him Vice President of Culture. That’s his actual job title now.

  We should have enough saved after a year to start our own business.

  But Luke's tattoos unnerve a lot of LJMA’s members, so he’s removing anything that can’t be covered by sleeves. He also told me the skulls don’t represent him anymore.

  He’s too happy for skulls.

  I’m a little miffed.

  On the other hand, I’m tired of people on the street staring at my man like he’s dangerous. He’s only dangerous to bad men.

  “It’ll be interesting to see you with a clean neck,” I say eventually.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes. But I’ll miss the tattoos because that’s how you looked when you found me.” When we found each other.

  “Well, baby girl, I’ll give you something to remember.”

  He lifts me into his arms so fast I yelp.

  He carries me upstairs to our big bed and sets me down gently. We get naked in record time, and his thick cock stands at attention.

  I haven’t even caught my breath when his tongue hits the peak of my clit. A long moan leaves my mouth.

  “So sweet,” he growls, slurping at me, kissing my clit, splitting me open with his tongue. He always gets me so wet.

  Then he climbs over my body, that thing between his legs swaying as his lips press to mine. “Taste how sweet you are.”

  My breaths turn choppy as he slides into me below, the hot stretch taking my breath away. I always feel so vulnerable under his muscled bulk, but never afraid. I know he’d never hurt me.

  “Such a wet pussy. You’re just too much, darling.”

  He moves against me, thrusting faster as he changes angles, pressing on my most sensitive spot.

  He knows my body so well and uses that knowledge to wicked effect. Before long, the hot tickle inside me swells to a wave that crashes from head to toe. I clench around him, clawing down his back.

  But one orgasm is never enough for my man.

  An hour passes before we pull apart to let our bodies rest. I lay my head in the crook of his shoulder, my fingers tracing over the tattoo at his throat.

  No, I won’t miss the ink. I never fell in love with the ink. I fell in love with the man wearing it.

  “Luke?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you ever wonder where we’d be if we had never met?”

  “Nowhere good.”

  True. We found just the right person at the wrong place.

  “I love you,” I say in his ear.

  His lips are all the answer I need.

  Epilogue

  Luke

  Five years later

  Piper walks across the stage to pick her diploma from the University of California Los Angeles. She’s the smartest woman I know, but it took her four and a half years because we had Esperanza first, our four-year-old daughter who sits in my lap. Her name means hope, and it’s fitting.

  Piper is the valedictorian of her graduating class. My wife has made many friends over the years, and they’re all clapping now.

  When she transferred from San Diego Community College to UCLA three years ago, I was anxious for a while. But only for a short while. We trust each other completely. And for all my piss and vinegar about locking her in our bedroom, I was the one who encouraged her to transfer.

  I wanted my wife to realize her potential.

  She wants to be a veterinarian. If Bandit’s care is any indication, she’ll be a great one.

  “Wave to Mommy,” I say.

  Esperanza waves while I catch Piper’s gaze. She can find me even in this crowd of hundreds.

  I hear a happy sob and turn my head to see Esther Ginn bring a handkerchief to her eyes. Daisy Rose is also attendance. Both women are part of my extended family.

  I’ve only ever felt part of a family twice in my life. The first was when I found the Santa Muerte MC, and Maya took me under her wing.

  I still honor Maya’s memory every year by returning to San Antonio, wearing the chain she gave me, the only time I ever put it on nowadays. I’d visit the site of our old clubhouse, now wholly owned by me. The building houses a charity I founded that helps street kids and runaways. I think Maya would be proud of me.

  But I don’t dwell on the past anymore.

  My family gets all my attention. And I’m always busy running the motorcycle store I founded four years ago with some help from the La Jolla Motorcyclists Association. I used my Santa Muerte mystique to great effect. Most of my profits the first year I invested in tech companies. This is California, after all. By my second year, Piper and I didn’t have to worry about money again.

  She deserves nothing less.

  “Thank you,” Esther says. “For everything.”

  “What are you thanking him for,” Daisy says with a wry smirk. “Piper’s the one who studied her butt off.”

  “Yes she did,” I say.

  The three of us share a laugh.

  After the ceremony, we fly back to San Diego.

  We leave Esperanza with her grandmother and Daisy Rose early next morning. The two women volunteered to stay at our beachside villa for three weeks, looking after the four-year-old.

  Five years ago, I wouldn’t have even left Bandit in Esther’s care, but she’s changed as much as Piper and me. Esther bought her own ranch house back in Texas last year, and her fiancé Mark is a doctor.

  “You be good now,” Piper tells our daughter on the front steps. “Listen to Grandma and Aunt Daisy.”

  Esperanza nods her head once. “Yup!”

  “Don’t you worry none,” Rose says to us. “We’ll keep four eyes on this munchkin until you get back.”

  “Can you leave Bandit home, Mommy?” Esperanza says.

  “No can do,” Piper says with a laugh.

  My wife and I spend another half hour chatting with our family before we head toward the car. It’s hard to part with people you love, but we’re going on a road trip, just the two of us. And Bandit.

  Piper takes another look at our villa, the terraced front pool and the gardens. She sighs. We only bought it last year.

  “It still feels like a dream,” she says.

  I kiss her hand. “Not a dream.”

  “Mmm.”

  She leans against me, and I get hard in an instant. We hurry to our SUV, the same Escalade that had carried us from San Antonio to Sheffield and then here. It’s been through the shop a few times, but we'll never get rid of it.

  Besides, Bandit won't ride in any other car.

  The cat hops onto the passenger seat, but she’s a kitten no longer, and I put her in the back. She’s too big to fit on Piper’s lap. Bandit makes a sad face, but I scratch her neck until she purrs. We couldn't leave Bandit at home even if we wanted to. She goes stir crazy without Piper or me nearby.

  “So, Colorado?” my wife says as we get in.

 

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