Cyclops (Reckless Kings MC 5): Dixie Reapers Bad Boy Romance Read online

  Once the water had warmed, I stepped under the spray. I’d just soaked my hair when Cyclops joined me. He’d already removed his jeans before entering the bathroom. When he stepped into the shower, I immediately reached for him.

  “Your bag is on the bed.” He placed his hands on my cheeks and kissed me, soft and slow. “You need more clothes.”

  “I can get someone to ship my stuff to me, or bring it during a visit,” I said.

  He shook his head. “No need. I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

  “I’m not with you for your money. You know that, right? All I need is you, Tucker.”

  “And that right there is why I want to spoil you a little. Other women might have demanded I take them shopping or give them access to my accounts the moment I said I was claiming them. Not once have you brought up money. You don’t even know what I do for the club.”

  “Thought club business wasn’t my business. At least, that’s how it is at home.”

  He ran his nose down mine. “This is different. It’s my job, and one you probably won’t like. I can ask Beast to move me elsewhere.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I work at the strip joint the club owns. I’ve never touched the dancers, and don’t plan to start now. But I know most women wouldn’t be too happy having their man around naked women every day.”

  I bit my lip and tried not to laugh. “Tucker, you go to the clubhouse, don’t you?”

  “Well, yeah. I enjoy having a few beers with my brothers.”

  “And there are club whores there, right?” He nodded, his eyes narrowing. “So what’s the difference? Why am I going to demand you get another job because of the dancers, when you can just head down the street to the clubhouse and see naked women? Except those will put their hands on you. The dancers probably have better boundaries.”

  “Damn,” he mumbled. “Now I see the draw in claiming a woman who’s been part of this club or another. You already know the score and aren’t shocked by any of it.”

  “Did you want me to be?”

  “No. You’re perfect as you are. And all mine.” He grinned and kissed me again. “I can’t wait to see what life has in store for us.”

  “Hopefully, a lot of laughter, happy memories, and…” I stopped myself before I said the L word. We were still strangers. Did I hope he might love me one day? Of course. But I’d also seen plenty of guys like him run the moment a woman said that word. I wasn’t risking it.

  “And what?”

  “Nothing. Or rather, everything. I want it all.” Nice save, Leigha!

  “I’ll give you the world. It’s all yours. Name it and I’ll make it happen.”

  I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Careful. Don’t make broad promises like that. It’s only setting yourself, and us, up for failure. Besides, I don’t need or want the entire world.”

  “You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever known,” he said. “In a good way.”

  “We should hurry. Beast said my dad would be here in an hour or less. And since the water is cooling down, I think we’ve been in here longer than we realize.”

  “Do I get to wash you?” he asked.

  So not fair. I wanted to say yes more than anything. The logical side of my brain told me it was a bad idea. Something other than washing would end up happening, then we’d be even later getting out of the shower. The last thing we needed was my dad storming this house and finding me and Tucker together. Naked. In the shower. Possibly with his cock inside me.

  “Next time,” I promised. “When we aren’t about to fight my dad and possibly your club just so we can stay together. Besides, if there’s even a chance he’s here already, keeping him waiting is a bad idea.”

  “All right, kitten. Raincheck.” He nuzzled me once more before taking a step back. “We’ll wash, get out, and order food. I’ll call Beast and let him know it’s safe for your dad to stop by.”

  “Just promise you won’t take a swing at him. He can be infuriating, but he’s not as young as he thinks he is.”

  “You said he’s older than your mom, and I’m closer to her age. When you say there’s a big gap between them…” Cyclops winced. “He’s still going to kick my ass. No matter how we look at it, I’m over a decade older than you.”

  “He’s a little over fifty,” I said. “So he still has more than a decade on you. But Mom… she’s close to your age.”

  “Damn. Make me feel old, why don’t you?” He griped, but the wink he gave me told me he’d only been joking. “Guess you’ll have to make me feel young again once we’re alone.”

  I paused. “Exactly how often do you have sex? You said you’d gone three months without. Is this just a build-up you need to purge from your system? Or do I need to invest in ice packs? Because my pussy is sore as hell, but if you wanted to go again, I’d readily agree. I’d pay for it later, but I’d agree just the same.”

  He sobered and held out his hand. I went to him, letting him hold me once more. “Leigha, never let me do something that will cause you pain. It doesn’t matter if my dick is hard. I’ll live. But the thought of hurting you? It fucking guts me.”

  “It’s a good kind of pain. Promise.”

  He kissed me and my toes curled. The man was potent. I hadn’t lied. No matter how sore I was, I’d gladly let him take me again and again. It seemed in just a few hours, I’d become addicted to his touch. I wondered what it would be like a year from now, or a decade. I couldn’t wait to find out!

  * * *

  Cyclops

  A right hook came at my face and I ducked, throwing up my arm to deflect the blow. “I’m not going to fight back.”

  “Good,” Preacher snarled as he swung once more. “Then stand still so I can beat the hell out of you. Why the fuck is my daughter in your house? Did you touch her?”

  I swallowed, not ready to admit I’d done far more than that. I’d been her first and only. Thankfully, I wasn’t getting a hard-on thinking about her. I didn’t think it would go over well with her dad. “She’s mine,” I said.

  Wrong fucking answer. He let out a roar and launched himself at me, knocking us both to the floor. He got in a blow against my ribs and another on my jaw. I deflected the next hit and tossed him off me.

  “Would you stop? I’m not breaking my word to Leigha. I promised I wouldn’t hit you.”

  He staggered to his feet and froze. “What?”

  Pinching the bridge of my nose, I wondered how I’d feel in his place. Probably pissed as fuck. I didn’t fault him for wanting to tear me in two. All I’d said earlier was I wouldn’t hit him. I hadn’t told him why.

  “I get it, Preacher. She’s your little girl. Doesn’t matter she’s a grown adult and can make her own choices. You want to keep her safe forever, hold the monsters at bay. But I’m not going to hurt her any more than you’d hurt her mom.”

  His shoulders sagged. “Shit. You’re claiming her, aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “Marrying her too.”

  He worked his jaw back and forth, his hands clenched at his sides. I braced in case he decided to punch me again. Thankfully, Leigha hadn’t come out yet. I didn’t know if she was hiding, or just hadn’t finished getting ready. The moment I’d stepped out of the shower, I’d heard someone pounding on the door. Instead of waiting for her, I’d answered the door, knowing damn well it was likely her dad standing on the other side.

  “Are you the reason she left home?” he asked.

  I could have lied. Made it seem like we knew each other longer. But I wouldn’t do that. I didn’t want to start my relationship with Leigha by lying to her dad. I had no doubt it would come back to bite me in the ass later. But I also wouldn’t tell him the entire truth of how we met. I’d leave it to Leigha.

  “No. She came here hoping to find the freedom to go on some dates without someone watching over her shoulder. We met outside a café in town. I didn’t realize who she was at first, only knew she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.” I smiled. “I know we’re moving fast. Not once have I ever been tempted to keep a woman. Until now. She accepts me, flaws and all.”

  Preacher’s gaze went to my fucked-up eye and over the scars on my chest. I hadn’t had time to do more than pull on my underwear and jeans before letting him in the house. I typically kept myself covered. My brothers didn’t give a shit about my scars, or my eye, but the women were another matter. I either got pitying looks, or they were disgusted.

  “Military?” he asked. “Or did you get that on a mission for your club?”

  “Looking for a reason to haul her out of here?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. Can you blame me?”

  I shook my head. “To answer your question, I was in the military. Got this and the scary-looking eye courtesy of an IED. I usually wear an eye patch when I’m outside the house, but your daughter says she prefers me without it.”

  He smiled. “That’s my Leigha. Accepting of everyone. Probably got all pissed someone made you feel like you needed to hide your true self.”

  “Something like that.”

  “She’s the first daughter to leave the nest. Her brother moved into the clubhouse and asked to prospect for the club. No one’s voted either way yet, but Torch said let him have a room, so he’d feel a little independent. Maybe if I’d let Leigha live a little, she wouldn’t have felt the need to come all the way here to go on a date.” He ran a hand down his face. “I admit I hold on a little tight.”

  “She told me you lost your first wife.”

  “Yeah. Long-ass time ago, but I guess I still harbor this fear I’ll blink and my kids and woman will be gone. You know Saint is her uncle, right? He came with me, along with Savior. Left them at the clubhouse. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into.”

  “Beast know you’r
e here?” I asked.

  “I didn’t call before pulling up if that’s what you mean, but I’m sure someone has notified him by now. He knew I was on my way. That’s as much courtesy as I gave him, so I’m sure he’s ready to tear me in two.”

  “Call Saint and Savior. They’re welcome to stop by. Grab some beers from the fridge while I get Leigha. And a shirt. I’d already planned to order some pizzas.”

  “Is she…” He put his hand over his mouth a moment. “Is Leigha okay?”

  “She’s fine.” I hesitated. It was up to Leigha to tell him what happened, but I felt like he needed to know. There was a chance the asshole would pop up again, wanting revenge. Should have killed the fucker. If I hadn’t worried how she would react, I would have. Now that I knew Leigha was born into the Dixie Reapers, I’d have done things different.

  “But she wasn’t?” he asked.

  “It’s her story to tell.”

  “Guess I can respect that. As long as you let me handle my daughter the way I see fit?”

  I folded my arms. “I’ll stay out of it, up to a point. She’s your daughter, but she’s soon to be my wife.”

  “Fair enough.”

  I walked back to the bedroom, where Leigha sat on the edge of the bed only halfway dressed. I shut the door and went to crouch in front of her. Taking her hands in mine, I kissed them.

  “You all right?” I asked.

  “I heard my dad hitting you. I wanted to rush out there, but I didn’t think you’d be happy if I interfered. So I’ve been sitting here waiting on you to come back.”

  “Naked?” I asked, eyeing her exposed breasts. She’d put on leggings and nothing else.

  “If I’m not dressed, I’m not leaving the room.”

  My lips twitched but I refused to laugh. I had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate it. She seemed so serious. Although, I had to admit I was grateful she hadn’t come out to confront her dad while we were fighting. Neither of us would ever hurt her on purpose, but if she’d gotten in the way, one of us could have accidentally hit her.

  “I guess that makes sense. Get dressed. Your dad and I have worked out our issues. He’s getting a beer and I’m going to order some pizzas. Your uncle Saint is on his way over, and so is Savior.”

  She stared at the floor, refusing to meet my gaze. I could see the worry etched on her features. I’d thought she’d be excited to spend time with her dad and uncle. Even though she’d dreaded him showing up, she had to know Preacher loved her.

  “You’re going to make me tell them what happened, aren’t you?”

  I reached up to cup her cheek. “Honey, I’m not going to force you to, but I think you should.”

  I stood and picked up her bra where she’d tossed it farther up the bed. Handing it to her, I dug through her bag and pulled out a shirt. Once she’d dressed, I put on a tee and led her into the living room.

  Preacher was no longer alone, and each man had a beer in his hand. I grabbed one, and a soda for Leigha, before joining them. Since I ordered out a lot, I had all the local places on my phone for quick access. I didn’t know what everyone liked, but I had a feeling it would be more than just the five of us soon enough, so I ordered enough to feed a small army and a variety of toppings.

  “Any idea where the three of you are staying?” I asked.

  “Beast offered the guest house,” Saint said. “We accepted.”

  “I’m sure you’d prefer us not staying under your roof.” Preacher took a swallow of his beer. “But I plan to visit with my daughter before heading back.”

  Leigha reached over and took her dad’s hand. “I’ll come visit, Daddy. It’s not like I moved all the way to California. Besides, Lyssa and Danica are here too. You can come whenever Torch and Cowboy visit. Or anytime you want.”

  “Think we’re going to need more guest housing,” I said.

  Preacher smirked. “Well, if your club would stop stealing all our daughters, it wouldn’t be an issue. At this point, I think the Dixie Reapers just need a chapter down the street from your clubhouse.”

  “It would make it a lot easier to steal all your daughters.” He flipped me off and I laughed. “Joking! Sort of. Leigha said her sister is eighteen. Only five of us have old ladies. Better lock up your eligible daughters if you don’t want them poached.”

  Leigha glared at me. “You make me sound like livestock.”

  “Keep talking.” Preacher leaned back and relaxed. “At this rate, she’ll be begging me to take her home.”

  “You’re not taking her anywhere,” I said.

  Leigha rolled her eyes and got up, heading for the kitchen. “The two of you can stop fighting over me. If I’m not livestock, I’m damn sure not a bone either.”

  Saint shook his head. “No one going to address the elephant in the room? Clearly there’s something Leigha doesn’t want us to know. That girl is deflecting like she’s done every time she’s tried to be secretive. And you two are playing into her hands. She’s keeping all of us going so she doesn’t have to say anything.”

  “Not my story to tell,” I said.

  “So she is hiding something,” Saint said. “I knew it.”

  Leigha peeked in from the kitchen. “It’s no big deal. I know you’ll blow it out of proportion. I’d rather just keep it to myself.”

  Preacher eyed me. “Is that true? It’s nothing huge?”

  I ran my hand over my beard. “Could have some blowback. I need to discuss it with Beast.”

  “Leigha, get in here,” Preacher said. “You’re going to tell me exactly how you met Cyclops, and don’t leave a damn thing out.”

  Leigha groaned and I heard a banging sound. If I had to guess, it was her head against the wall. A knock sounded at the door, and I went to answer, hoping it was the food. We needed an ice breaker, and I couldn’t think of anything better than pizza.

  I yanked open the door and froze. Nope. Not the food.

  “Pres. Wasn’t expecting you.”

  Beast pushed past me and entered the house. “I see you’re still standing.”

  “We’ve come to an understanding,” Preacher said. “And I’m sorry for not calling before I arrived. I tend to have tunnel vision when it comes to my kids.”

  “Since I have a daughter, I get it. Not to mention what happened when Torch arrived after I claimed Lyssa. But if anyone asks, I came in pissed and let you have it.”

  Preacher gave a nod.

  “Now, let’s talk about the trouble your woman got into,” Beast said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Read your text on my way here. That lowlife could be a problem. Should have fucking ended him, especially after what he did.”

  “No!” Leigha screamed out the word and ran into the living room. “Not another word.”

  Beast arched an eyebrow. “Last time I checked, I’m the President of this club. If I want to discuss something, I will. And unless Cyclops married you, then you’re a guest here. Nothing has gone to a vote.”

  “Beast,” I said, not wanting him to hurt Leigha’s feelings, or piss off Preacher.

  “Did you marry her?” he asked.

  “Haven’t exactly had time.”

  “They don’t know,” Leigha said. “And now that you’ve said I’m not part of your club, my dad will make me leave.”

  Preacher eyed me and I shook my head. No way would I let him take her away from me. Didn’t matter if my club had voted yet or not. As he said, my brothers had a tendency to pick Dixie Reaper daughters. I didn’t see anyone voting against me.

  “Then I think you need to tell them,” Beast said. “When you’re done, we’ll discuss the options.”

  I went to Leigha and put my arm around her shoulders, tugging her against me. I felt her tremble and knew the last thing she wanted to do was tell her dad about the attack in the alley. Beast had shit timing, but I couldn’t disagree Preacher needed to hear what happened.

  “Come on, kitten. Get it over with.”

  She sighed and nodded. As the story spilled out of her, I saw fury flash in the eyes of each Dixie Reaper. And the moment Preacher’s gaze met mine, I knew none of them were leaving until we’d buried that fucker six feet under.