My Hero, page 8
Sloane scoffed. “I’m not planning anything until Yarder lifts the no-leaving-the-clubhouse ban.”
“As if Aero is going to let you go to a book signing without him,” Dove laughed. “He’d be afraid you’d find some other book boyfriend to bring home.”
Sloane rolled her eyes. “As if. I’m a one real-life book boyfriend woman now. The ring here sealed the deal on that.” She flashed her ring to us.
“So now you can only visit your other book boyfriends in your mind,” Olive teased.
Sloane shrugged. “Yeah.”
“Talk to Winter lately?” Dove asked. “I’m sure she’s feigning for more biker stories from you.”
“She’s still reeling from Aero and me running away to the mountains to get married. She’s going to live off that story for a while.” Sloane turned to me. “Do you read?”
“Sloane,” Olive interjected.
Sloane rolled her eyes. “I mean, does she like to read for enjoyment? I wasn’t questioning her basic reading skills.”
The girls looked at me expectantly.
“Uh, well...”
“It’s okay if you don’t,” Dove reassured me. “I only went to the book signing with Sloane to see all of the models and drink for free. I do enjoy an audiobook now and then, though.”
“I’ve never really had time to read,” I admitted, my gaze dropping to the floor. Or the money to buy books, I silently added.
Sloane motioned around the room. “Honey, you’ve got all the time in the world right now while our men are slaying the dragons outside. Let me get you some books to start with.”
She returned moments later with a stack of books in her arms. “These are some of my favorites.” She dropped them in my lap. “Of course, there’s Winter Travers, but I also brought you a couple of Kristen Ashley, Nicole James, and Mayra Statham.”
“Her MC authors,” Dove clarified.
“They all write MC, but they also write other genres,” Sloane explained. “Mayra is good when I don’t have much time, so I want a hot and spicy quick read.”
I flipped through the books, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. “There’s a lot of man chest here,” I laughed nervously.
“If you’re blushing at the covers, just wait until you start reading,” Dove teased. “You and Yarder will be doing a whole lot more than just watching movies once you get a few chapters into one of those books.”
“What are you reading, Sloane?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Sloane grabbed a book from the bottom of the pile. “Start with this one.”
I examined the cover. “Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley.”
Sloane nodded enthusiastically. “There are three more after that one, and then a spinoff series. I promise you will not regret reading Kristen.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t start her with Winter,” Dove remarked.
“Oh, don’t worry. There are two Winter books in that pile,” Sloane assured her. “I’m just giving her the full spectrum of amazingness.”
I settled into the couch, the weight of the books in my lap comforting. “Well, I guess I can read a little bit to see if I like it.”
Sloane plopped down beside me, a grin spreading across her face. “I love witnessing the birth of a new reader.”
I didn’t expect to be as enthusiastic about reading as Sloane was, but I figured it would be something to help pass the time. Opening the book, I immersed myself in the story of Gwen and Hawk, eager to explore this new world of books Sloane had introduced me to.
Chapter Fifteen
Yarder
I stepped into the bedroom, expecting to find the TV on and Poppy waiting for me, but to my surprise, she was engrossed in a book. Her attention was so focused that she hadn’t even glanced up when I walked in. Sloane had gotten to her, I mused. It was only a matter of time. Sloane always had her nose buried in a book during downtime, and now it seemed Poppy was following suit.
“Poppy,” I called softly.
No response. She continued to scan the pages of her book, flipping them one by one.
“Clubhouse is on fire,” I joked, trying to get her attention.
Still nothing.
“Sloane is at the door with a stack of books,” I teased further.
Finally, Poppy’s eyes snapped up from her book to meet mine. “What?” she asked, clearly startled.
“Babe,” I chuckled, “I’ve been standing here for a minute, and you didn’t even notice.”
She waved the book in her hand dismissively. “Gwen just woke up in Hawk’s bed,” she explained, as if that clarified everything.
I cocked my head, bemused. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”
Poppy laughed. “Well, no, but I’ve been waiting sixteen chapters for this.”
“You sound like Sloane,” I chuckled. “When we first met her, she talked like she was from a different planet.”
“These books offer a whole different world,” Poppy explained. “I can see why Sloane is so obsessed with reading. She can leave this world and disappear into a new one with each book.”
An escape, I thought. That’s what Poppy had been searching for her whole life.
“You want me to leave you alone?” I offered. If Poppy wanted to spend her night reading, I was fine with that. I could always find something else to occupy my time, or simply watch Poppy read. I had grown accustomed to enjoying her company, and I didn’t want to leave her.
She closed her book and set it aside. “I was just reading until you came in. I can get back to Gwen and Hawk later.”
I held out my hand to her. “Then let’s find something to watch.”
Poppy took my hand, and I led her over to the couch. As she settled into my lap, it felt natural, as if we had done it countless times before.
“I thought we were going to watch Battleship?” she inquired.
“You mean you don’t want me to scroll for ten minutes trying to find something to watch, only to end up watching the movie suggested from what we watched the night before?” I teased.
Sloane sighed contentedly, leaning against me. “I’m good with whatever you want as long as I stay right here.”
I scrolled through the movies briefly before putting on Battleship.
“So, what is your book about?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Poppy hesitated. “Uh, well...” she trailed off. “It starts with Gwen and Hawk...in bed.”
“Damn,” I chuckled. “I knew Sloane read romance books, but I didn’t know they started right off the bat going at it.”
“Stop,” Poppy laughed. “It’s not like that. Gwen didn’t know who Hawk was.”
I looked down at her. “Are you trying to make it sound better or worse?”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “She knows him but not his name.”
“I’ll take your word for it, babe,” I replied. “I’m not much of a reader. Road signs while going eighty down the road on my motorcycle is more my speed.”
Poppy reached up, stroking my cheek gently. “Can I come along for the ride?” she asked. “You know, once you stop the guys who are trying to kill me?”
“If you’re up for it, babe, you’re always welcome to ride on the back of my bike,” I assured her, turning my head to press a kiss to her palm. Something had completely shifted between Poppy and me. The pull I felt to her had morphed into a constant need to be connected to her.
I trailed kisses down her arm, and then she leaned in. Her lips gently pressed against mine, and that’s when I felt completely connected to Poppy.
“Is this okay?” I asked. I wanted to be one hundred percent sure that this was what Poppy wanted.
She nodded, and her eyes connected with mine. “This is exactly what I want,” she whispered.
I pressed my lips against hers, savoring the taste of her. This was exactly where I wanted to be, with Poppy in my arms. She was it for me.
Our kisses grew heated, passionate, and urgent. Hands roamed freely, exploring every inch of each other’s bodies. As Poppy’s fingers trailed over my chest, I couldn’t help but shiver with desire. She took off my shirt, her gaze lingering on the intricate tattoos that adorned my skin. I watched as she traced the swirls and lines with her fingertips, sending shivers down my spine. Her touch was electric, igniting a fire within me that burned hotter with each passing moment.
I wanted nothing more than to take her right then and there, to show her how much she meant to me. With a surge of strength, I lifted her into my arms and carried her to the bed, never breaking our kiss.
As I undressed her, my eyes drank in the sight of her lush body laid out before me. “You’re fucking perfect, babe,” I growled, unable to tear my gaze away from her. Poppy was speechless, her eyes filled with desire as she looked up at me. “I’m hoping you like what you see,” I chuckled, my voice thick with longing.
“Uh, more like love what I see,” she murmured, her voice husky with need.
Climbing into bed, I knelt between her legs, eager to taste her. I leaned down and buried my face between her thighs, my tongue tracing slow, deliberate circles as I savored her essence. The sounds of her moans filled the room, driving me wild with desire. Poppy’s body writhed beneath me as she reached the peak of ecstasy, her pleasure washing over her in waves.
I moved over her and covered her body with mine, unable to resist the urge to be as close to her as possible. With her legs wrapped around my waist, I entered her slowly, savoring the feeling of her warmth surrounding me.
“Oh, wow,” Poppy gasped. “Oh god!” she shouted when I was fully in her.
“Been a little bit, babe?” I whispered as I pressed a kiss to her lips.
“Been a minute,” she giggled. “But I think this is going to make up for the past few years.”
Oh, I was more than going to make up for it. I was going to make her forget every man before me, and she would only remember me.
We were loud, noisy, and unapologetically passionate. Every thrust brought us closer together, our bodies moving in perfect harmony as we sought release.
I was consumed by the heat of the moment, lost in the sensation of being with Poppy. With each movement, each touch, I felt myself drawing closer to the edge. And when it finally hit, it was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I came hard, my body trembling with pleasure as I poured myself into her.
Poppy chanted my name, her arms wrapped tight around me as we drifted down from the peak of ecstasy.
As we laid in each other’s arms, I knew, without a doubt, that Poppy was the only woman I would ever want. She had captured my heart completely, and I would do anything to keep her by my side.
“That was way better than watching a movie or reading my book,” Poppy sighed, echoing my thoughts.
“I always knew real life was better than those books Sloane read,” I teased.
Poppy agreed, snuggling closer to me. “Yeah. I mean, they get pretty spicy, but nothing beats having your own biker in your bed.”
I laughed, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. “Does that mean I can turn the TV off?”
“If we do, does that mean we’re going to do that again?” she asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I grinned. “That’s going to happen again whether the TV is on or off, Poppy. I do suggest we leave it on, though, to muffle all that moaning and screaming you do.”
She chuckled, pressing her lips to mine. “Leave it on.”
Chapter Sixteen
Poppy
The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window as I stood alongside Olive, Sloane, and Dove, helping prepare breakfast. The aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee.
“I’m surprised Yarder isn’t up yet,” Dove remarked, breaking the comfortable silence.
I cracked eggs into a bowl, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach at the mention of Yarder.
“Yeah,” Olive chimed in. “He’s normally up before any of us. Is everything okay with him?” she asked me.
I nodded, tossing the eggshells into the garbage. “Uh, yeah. He’s fine,” I replied, though the truth was far from that. Yarder and I had shared a hot, sexy night together, and I left him sleeping peacefully this morning. I hadn’t expected to be up so early, so I decided since I was, I could surprise him with breakfast in bed.
“What movie did you guys end up watching last night?” Sloane inquired, breaking into my thoughts.
“Uh, well...” I hesitated, struggling to come up with a response.
“Girl, did you and Yarder finally seal the deal and move on from cuddling?” Olive whispered, leaning in close.
The color rose to my cheeks as I tried to find the right words. Before I could respond, Yarder stormed into the kitchen, shirtless and visibly agitated.
“Or maybe you two did not seal the deal by the look on his face... That is a pissed-off alpha if I have ever seen one,” Sloane muttered under her breath.
“What the hell are you doing?” Yarder’s voice boomed, causing a jolt of fear to course through me.
I looked down at the bowl of eggs in my hands. “Cracking eggs,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly.
“Why?” Yarder demanded, his tone harsh and accusatory.
Confusion swept over me. Why was he so upset? “Because to make scrambled eggs, I need to crack the eggs,” I answered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Yarder strode over to me, pinning me against the counter with his powerful frame. My heart raced as I met his intense gaze, feeling his breath against my skin.
“Oh my,” Sloane whispered. “It’s like a romance novel coming to life.”
“I need to start reading if this is what your books are like,” Olive muttered.
“Yarder, you’re kind of scaring me,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.
“I woke up, and you weren’t there,” he growled low, his eyes boring into mine.
“I thought I could make you breakfast,” I offered, confusion still clouding my mind.
“You weren’t there,” he repeated, his voice softer this time, laced with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.
His fingers tangled in my hair, drawing me closer until our lips were mere inches apart. “We never leave each other without telling the other one where we’re going,” he murmured, his voice filled with a tenderness that caught me off guard.
“We don’t?” I questioned, my mind racing to make sense of his words.
He shook his head. “Not after last night.”
A wave of understanding washed over me, and I leaned into his touch, my fear melting away. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me as his lips met mine in a gentle kiss.
“Do you want me to bring you breakfast or...?” I began, but Yarder shook his head, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
“We’re going back to bed, babe,” he declared, his voice husky with desire. Before I could protest, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms and carried me out of the kitchen.
“Swoon activated,” Sloane sighed. “I need to go find my biker.”
“And I’m off to locate my Romeo,” Dove muttered, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Well, this is some bullshit,” Olive called. “My savior is dead asleep in our room, with Rocky sleeping on the couch.”
“We’ll be back in an hour,” Sloane called. “Keep the coffee warm,” she instructed.
As Yarder carried me back to our bedroom, Sloane and Dove followed but peeled off into their rooms before Yarder got to our door. I couldn’t help but smile.
Yarder strode into our room, his demeanor oozing with raw masculinity. In one swift motion, he tossed me onto the bed, his eyes burning with intensity as he pinned me with his gaze. I pushed my hair out of my face, trying to maintain some semblance of composure despite the flurry of emotions swirling within me.
“That was totally hot, but I also can’t believe you did that in front of Sloane, Olive, and Dove,” I remarked, my voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. “And the cameras!” I exclaimed. “You just gave the whole world a show.”
Yarder kicked off his pants, his movements fluid and purposeful, before climbing over me. “You’re mine, Poppy. I don’t give a fuck who knows it. We kind of passed out before I could get that out there, but you’re mine. For all the club and cameras to see, you are mine,” he asserted, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling the heat radiating from his skin. “Does that mean you are mine, then?” I inquired, searching his eyes for confirmation.
Yarder pressed a tender kiss to my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “Yeah,” he murmured against my skin, his breath hot and tantalizing.
A simple word, yet it carried a weight far beyond its syllables. It held promises of passion, commitment, and a future filled with possibilities. I held onto his words, savoring the warmth they brought to my heart.
He trailed kisses down my neck, igniting a fire within me that threatened to consume us both. With a swift motion, he pulled my shirt over my head, leaving me bare before him. His touch was electric, sending waves of desire coursing through my veins.
“I know we’re still getting to know each other, Poppy,” Yarder began, his voice low and husky. “But last night was the start of us. You and me. I’m not into playing games or hard to get. I want you, and I’m pretty damn sure you want me too. Am I right?”
I nodded silently, unable to form words in the face of his unwavering gaze. His words echoed in my mind, resonating with a truth I couldn’t deny. In Yarder’s arms, I felt alive, desired, and utterly cherished.
“So, you are mine, and I am yours,” he declared, his words hanging in the air like a sacred vow.
“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath yet filled with a certainty that echoed in the depths of my soul.
He leaned back, his eyes locking with mine in a silent understanding. “Okay.”
Yarder
