Jax's Dilemma:Insurgents Motorcycle Club (Insurgents MC Romance Book 2) (25 page)

“Have you had any contact with your mom since you ran away?”

“No, I never want to see her again. I know she’s still with him ’cause a friend of mine is their neighbor. I don’t care if I ever see her again. That’s why I’m determined to give Paisley a life full of love and happiness. I
have
to keep her safe. I remember how life could be good ’cause my dad was wonderful and I have those memories. I’m grateful for that.”

Squeezing her hands, Jax said, “Don’t freak on me, but you know you gotta get some therapy, right? You can’t handle it all on your own. You want to be all good for Paisley. I know you’re gonna say you can’t afford it, but I can, and you’re gonna accept my gift. I won’t hear you argue about it. Okay?”

Looking at Jax’s half-smile, his warm eyes, and his soft hands holding hers, Cherri’s heart melted. Could she fix herself? For so long, she felt broken, but could Jax help her heal? She grazed her teeth over her bottom lip and nodded. Jax brought his thumb up and ran it under her lip, his eyes watching her mouth. He bent down and kissed her, and she leaned in to him and kissed him back. He drew her flush against him and lay down with her by his side. He stretched over her and turned off the light.

In his strong arms, Cherri’s muscles slacked, and her breathing was slow and easy. For the first time in years, she had no desire to be anywhere else but right there, in Jax’s embrace. The steady beating of his heart against her ear lulled her to sleep.

T
he next morning,
Jax stood at the stove, cracking eggs and laying raw bacon on the hot griddle. The coffee was made, the table was set, and he had even poured orange juice in the glasses. He knew if his brothers could see him, they’d give him shit and accuse him of being pussy-whipped, but he didn’t care what the hell they or anyone thought—he was making breakfast for his woman. He hoped the mouth-watering scent of bacon sizzling and crisping in the pan and the rich aroma of toasted coffee beans would puncture the bleary veil of sleep and bring Cherri downstairs. Hearing her padded feet as she entered the kitchen, he smiled, happy his enticements worked.

Her lavender lotion touched his nostrils as she kissed the back of his neck. He flipped over the bacon then swung around, pulling her into him. “Morning, sweetness.” He kissed her deeply.

“Morning,” she said when their lips parted. Her voice still had the remnants of sleep in it. “How’re you?”

“Great. You?” As he scanned her face, relief washed over him when her twinkling eyes and crooked smile met his gaze.

“Great, too.” She stole a slice of bacon and put it in her mouth. “Mmm, that’s yummy.” Looking at the place setting at the breakfast bar, she said, “Did you do all this?”

He nodded.

“Wow, I hit the jackpot—a hot guy who can also cook?” She laughed. “I’ve never had a guy cook for me. You’re sweet.” She kissed him and rubbed herself against him.

“Yeah, you
are
lucky, ’cause I’ve never done this for any woman. This is between us; no need to be blabbing it around Dream House.”

“Ah, now I have something on you. I like that,” she teased.

Pretending to be angry, he scowled and drew her flush to him. He kissed her, savoring her minty taste. Swatting her butt, he said, “Let’s eat before everything gets cold.”

He watched her as she ate her food, making small noises of delight with each bite. She was downright giddy this morning. A wide grin spread over his face as he watched her dance on the stool while she buttered her toast. He was glad he had urged her to open up the previous night; she seemed almost calmer like she had a sense of freedom this morning. However, he had a fire burning inside him. When Cherri recounted her stories of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfuck, Jax pretended to be calm, but the rage in him built with each word she uttered, each image she painted, and each tear she shed. He wanted to kill the bastard for what he did to his woman, and he planned on paying the fuckin’ pervert a visit. When he confronted the fucker, Jax would see if the asshole was as brazen with a man as he was with girls. If he were taking bets, he’d say the pervert would crumple into a sniveling wimp after Jax’s hand did some damage to the jerk’s face. Yeah, he’d make sure Cherri’s stepfather paid for every second of pain and terror he caused her.

“Whatcha doin’ today? Maybe we can go for a ride on your Harley?” She threw him the sweetest smile.

“Fuck, you’re cute, sugar. Sure, we can head over to Crystal Lake. I have an errand I have to run first, then I’ll be back to pick you up.”

“Okay, what do you have to do?”

“Club business.”

Nodding, she put the last forkful of food in her mouth.

*     *     *

Stringing up and
torturing the sonofabitch who hurt his sweet babe was all Jax could think of as he sat in Hawk’s office at the bike shop, waiting for him to finish with a customer. Blood rushed to Jax’s head as he visualized the serious harm he planned to do to Cherri’s fucking stepfather. By killing the sick bastard, he could assure Cherri she’d never have to worry about him hurting her again. Even if Cherri didn’t realize it, killing the bastard would bring her the peace of mind she’d been craving ever since her abuse; it’d put closure on the horrible years of her life.

If he could manage it, he’d love to do away with her mother, as well. Not protecting her daughter was unforgiveable, and just thinking about it made the back of Jax’s neck prick in heat and anger. Since his mother cut out on him and his dad years ago, Jax wasn’t quick in forgiving errant mothers. Cherri’s mom should’ve dropped the scum and taken her daughter away from the abuse and shame. Instead, she chose big-screen televisions, new cars, and a nice house over her own flesh and blood.
Fuck, sitting and thinking about all this shit makes me want to break something.

The door opened and Hawk walked in just as Jax hurled a glass ashtray against the wall. Observing the shards of glass scattered on the floor, Hawk said, “What’s going on with you?”

“Just fuckin’ pissed, that’s all.” Jax tipped his chair back while clenched fists tapped against his denim-clad thighs.

“About what?”

“I found out Cherri’s stepfather violated her over and over for about three years. He fucked her up something bad, and I can’t let it pass. I can’t let a perv like him not pay for what he did to her. Fuck, he’s made her all messed up about sex, men, and life. I gotta find him and teach him shit like that doesn’t go unpunished.” Beads of sweat ran down his face as he jumped up, pacing around the small office.

Staring into Jax’s rage-filled eyes, Hawk, nodding, said, “You want me to find out where he lives?”

“Yeah, I want to pay him an unofficial visit. This is my deal, not the club’s, so I go alone. I own this.”

“Okay, I get that. I’d be doing the exact same thing you are if I found out someone had hurt Cara. I have to tell Banger what’s up, but I know he’ll support you. Fuck, he’s got a daughter, so shit like this pisses him way the hell off. If you need my help, just let me know.”

Jax pulled Hawk in a bear hug, his hand clasping Hawk’s shoulder. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it, but this is something I have to do alone. I do need your help in locating this fuck, but then I’ll take it from there.”

“Okay, I’ll see what I can do. When I get an address on him, I’ll let you know.”

“Sounds good, brother. Thanks.”

As he left the shop, Jax’s muscles slackened a bit, and his body was more relaxed. He squinted against the summer sun. Swinging his leg over his bike, he straddled it then revved the engine and headed toward Cherri’s place. Having her on the back of his bike was all he could think about as he rode past the tree-lined streets. At the stoplight, he took out his cell and texted Cherri that he’d be at her place in ten minutes.

When he rounded the corner of her street, he saw her waiting on the sidewalk dressed in denim shorts and a green checked crop-top, her blue eyes shielded by sunglasses, and her blonde hair half-covered by a blue bandanna—she looked young, fresh, and fucking hot. Shifting on his seat, he cruised up to the curb and flashed a smile. “Climb on, sweetness.” He motioned to the place behind him.

Cherri swung her leg over the bike, circled her arms around him, and leaned in to him, brushing her lips against his cheek. Winking at her, Jax shifted and the Harley lunged forward, making its way into traffic.

Within fifteen minutes, they left the town’s noise behind them and rode on one-lane backroads toward Crystal Lake. The sun burned brightly overhead, and the fleecy clouds seemed bolted in the large expanse of sky. Veering to the left, the Harley entered a lush valley carpeted by pink, purple, and periwinkle wildflowers whose sweet perfumes drifted and swirled in the warm, summer breeze.

Jax parked the Harley next to the banks of the lake. He helped Cherri off the bike and crushed her small frame into his powerful chest as his hands cupped her ass. Bending low, he closed his mouth over hers as she circled her arms around his neck, pushing herself even closer to his body. His hardness rubbed against her as she moaned into his mouth.

“Oh, sugar, you taste sweet,” he said against her lips. He moved away, took out a blue blanket from his saddlebag, and led her over to a grassy area next to the lake. After spreading out the blanket, he took her in his arms and eased her down on it. Sitting on the cover, side by side, Jax held her so her head fit comfortably into the crook of his arm.

“It’s so beautiful and peaceful here. I never knew this place existed,” Cherri said as her eyes scanned the natural surroundings.

“I love it here. I come to the lake often when I need to think or decompress. I’ve been coming here for years. My dad and I used to fish for trout when I was young. We had some good times. In high school, my buddies and I would drink beer and target shoot. This place holds a lot of memories for me. I wanted to share it with you.” Jax kissed the top of Cherri’s head, and she snuggled deeper in to him.

They sat in silence as they looked at the mountains’ reflection tattooed onto the placid and crystalline lake. Every so often, speckled trout slapped the surface, hoping to catch one of the army of flies which buzzed slightly above the water. Behind them, humming bees flitted from flower to flower, and a feathered medley of birds echoed through the ponderosa pine trees lining the valley.

Cherri tilted her head up and met Jax’s intense stare. Cupping her chin in his hand, he brought her face toward his and brushed his tongue over her full lips. His gaze lingered on her mouth as his thumb caressed her bottom lip. As she licked his thumb with the tip of her tongue, he moved it in her mouth, and her lips captured it, sucking and biting it. Burying his face into her hair, a deep heat built up in his body which made his blood pump and his heart race. Cherri’s heady lavender scent, her feminine curves, and her hot mouth on his thumb heightened all of his nerves. With his craving for her consuming him, he pushed her down on the blanket, his digit still in her mouth.

“Fuck, baby, I’m so damn horny for you,” he rasped. He brushed away some stray hairs from her flushed face.

“Me, too,” she said in a low voice as she rubbed her thigh against his shaft.

Unzipping and shrugging off his jeans, he kicked off his boots then stretched out beside her, his toes sinking into the silky soft grass.

“You’re so beautiful.” He stroked her soft cheek.

Sliding her hand down past his chest, her fingertips slipped under the waistband of his boxers until they grasped his hardness. A strangled moan came from deep in his throat. Cherri pulled his boxers down, exposing his thick, long shaft whose top glistened with pre-come. Wiping away the small beads of come on his dick’s head, Cherri put her finger in her mouth and licked it off her with her pink tongue. Watching the act drove Jax wild, and he pulled Cherri up with him as he started to rise. Sitting with open thighs, he nudged his sweet one’s head between his legs.

“Look at me when you lick my cock,” he said in a low, hoarse voice.

Under half-lidded eyes, Cherri locked her stare with Jax’s as she ran the tip of her rigid tongue up and down his cock. Jax bent down, raising Cherri’s arms up, and took off her crop-top and bra, exposing her perky tits. Cupping them in his hands, he kneaded them, running his fingers over their stiffening nipples.

“It feels real good when you touch me like that,” Cherri murmured.

“I love your tits, baby. They’re perfect. I could suck on them all day.”

Pushing herself up, she slid her breasts over his chest. Leaning back, she whispered, “I love it when you suck on me.”

Bending his head way down, he took a rigid nipple in his mouth and sucked hard on it, making Cherri throw her head back and whimper. As he sucked each of her tits, his hands ran down the sides of her body; tiny bumps popped up under his touch. After he tugged down her shorts and panties, she spread her legs open, and his calloused palm covered her smooth pussy. As he ran his finger between her folds, her wetness glistened around it. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me, sweetness. I can’t wait to lick you dry.”

“I want to taste you, too. Give me your cock so I can suck it.”