Kincaid: Cerberus Mc Book 1 (20 page)

“Can I get used to that also?” she eventually says, turning in my arms. “Waking up to you is great, but shower orgasms are pretty high up on the awesome list.”

I smile at her and kiss the tip of her nose. “There’s a lot of things you’re going to want to get used to, Emmalyn.” I turn her so her hair is under the spray of the water so we can begin our actual shower now that each one of us is momentarily satisfied.

***

I sling a towel around my hips when I hear a knock on the bedroom door. Emmalyn’s eyes go wide at the intrusion, and I have to wonder momentarily if she’s ashamed to be caught in here with me.

“It’s just Kid with some of your clothes,” I explain. “I knew you’d need something to wear.”

She visibly relaxes and continues to dry her hair. I pull the bathroom door closed behind me because I’m not sharing the sight of her delectable body with anyone, especially not the horny, young man who will be spending almost every waking hour with her. I don’t need that image in his head while he’s required to deny his own needs, taking care of her. I trust him, but she’s beautiful enough to tempt the Devil himself.

“You’ll need to take her to get the rest of her things tomorrow,” I tell Kid as he passes over the backpack. He nods his understanding before I close the door in a rush.

I tap gently on the bathroom and hand the bag to Em as she opens it a crack, and then I began to get dressed. A few minutes later she emerges from the bathroom in short shorts and a tight tank top, and for once in my life I’m grateful for the New Mexico heat.

“Kid will take you to get the rest of your things tomorrow,” I tell her as I pull on a shirt.

“How long will you be gone this time?”

“I’m not certain, but I have to be back in three weeks for my cousin’s wedding.” Hoping for a certain answer I ask, “Will you go with me?”

She grins brightly. “Where is it?”

“Denver,” I tell her and cringe when her face falls slightly, and she shakes her head back and forth.

“Diego,” she says looking at her clasped hands. “I don’t think going back to Denver is a good idea.”

“Look at me Emmalyn,” I say and move into a crouch in front of her. “We’ll only be there one night. It’s a private event. I’ll keep you safe. You have nothing to worry about.”

Her eyes linger on my face for a long silent minute, but finally, she gives me a curt nod. “Okay,” she says weakly. “One night.”

I kiss her forehead and pull her against my chest. “I’ll never let anything happen to you, Em.”

Half an hour later we’re driving into town, and even though she’s asked several times, I refuse to tell her exactly where we’re going. I hold her hand on the center console of my truck and trace circles on the tender flesh.

“You’re so incredibly handsome,” she says completely out of the blue.

I smile at her.

“I’m serious. The second I saw you in the bar my steps faltered.”

“You took my breath away. The guys had mentioned you earlier in the week. Told me the most beautiful woman they’d ever seen was serving drinks in some shitty bar,” I admit to her. “They didn’t even have to point you out. The second I saw you I knew you were the one they were talking about.”

I look over at her briefly and see her cheeks blush.

“Then,” I said looking down at the now bare ring finger. “I saw your wedding band and knew you were off limits.”

“You found me in the hall. Were you looking for me?”

I roll my lips between my teeth. “I was…” Fuck. I’d never been ashamed of my hookups before now. Now I want to hang my head knowing I have to admit to her why I happened upon her and her piece of shit husband. “I had a girl with me. We were heading to the bathroom…”

She raises an eyebrow at me, and I have to look away from her. “She was going to suck your dick?”

I swallow roughly. “I saw your ring, Em.” It’s all I can say to explain why I was back there.

“And if I wasn’t wearing a ring? You would’ve pulled me to the bathroom to suck you off?” I keep my eyes forward but from the tone of her voice, she seems curious, not the slightest upset about the other girl.

I sigh. “You never would’ve been a blowjob in a nasty bathroom, Emmalyn.” I look over at her so she can see the sincerity in my eyes. “I felt like I was struck by lightning the second I saw you. That other girl was an attempt not to break my no-married-women rule.”

“You’d assumed I’d cheat on my husband?”

“Fuck, Em. That’s not what…” I look over at her and find her smiling back at me. “Are you fucking with me right now?” Her smile grows wider. I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles.

“I’m glad you were there,” she whispers, and the atmosphere suddenly changes in the cab of the truck.

“Me too, beautiful. Me too.” My only regret is not going back and teaching that fucker a lesson before we left town.

Diego didn’t have to tell me about the other girl at the bar that night; I never saw another woman. The fact that he told me the truth when he didn’t have to, and especially since the information wasn’t pleasing makes me trust him that much more, another part of the walls around my heart crumbled a bit.

I’m watching him as we slow down, and he puts the truck in park. He holds my hand to his lips, and it’s such a delicate thing for a big, bad biker to do. I’m falling for him. It’s not something I set out to do, but his warmth and kindness is getting to me. I question the validity of my feelings since it’s the first time a man has consistently treated me with respect and valued my thoughts since my dad was alive. I have to wonder if I’m just clinging to him because he treats me good.

“We’re here,” he says angling his head to a nondescript building. The sign above the door says “San Juan County Animal Shelter.” For a brief second, I wonder if he’s bringing me here so I can do volunteer work while he’s gone. I look over at him, confused.

I see a huge grin on his face and excitement in his eyes. Tears begin to well in mine, and the sting is painful enough I have to sniff to get it to recede.

“Why are we here?” I ask not wanting to get my hopes up.

“I don’t want you to be too lonely while I’m away,” he says releasing my hand and opening the door to the truck. I stare at the building in front of me until he makes his way around to my side and helps me out of his big truck.

“You’re getting a dog?” I want to jump up and down but I refrain from acting like a child as best I can.

“No, Emmalyn.” My face falls. “You’re getting a dog.” He taps his shoulder against mine.

I walk through the front with wide eyes. “I’ve never had a dog before,” I whisper as we approach the front desk.

A look of sadness washed over his face before he corrects. “Well, we’re going to remedy that today.”

***

“He did not need all of this stuff,” I tell Diego as I sit on the floor holding the little, white ball of fur.

The lady at the shelter said he was a mixed breed, but he has some Akita in him, which she explained means he will be a very large protective dog. I had to have him immediately. He’s tiny right now so I can’t really picture it, but I’m hopeful.

“He will eventually,” he says taking toys and dog bones out of a bag. He bought everything he saw at the pet store and doubled up on some things. “I don’t want you to run out of anything while I’m gone.”

He insisted on buying everything at the store, and he paid for the adoption fee. I lower him to the huge dog bed Diego brought in and set up in the corner. He assures me the dog will grow into the thing, but it nearly swallows him now.

“We need to name him,” I say as I walk up to him, wrap my arms around his waist, and lean my head against his broad chest.

“He needs to have a strong, manly name,” Diego insists.

“I’ll think of something,” I tell him. “How long do you have before you leave?”

He holds me tighter. “Less than an hour. Come here,” he says pulling away from my chest and walking closer to the bed. “Lay down with me for a while.

I kick off my shoes and lay beside him, situating myself against his chest when he lays downs. One of his arms is behind my back, and the other reaches down tugs on my thigh, so my leg angles across his lower body. The fit is perfect, and I sigh into his chest as his fingers trace the hemline of my shorts on my thigh. It’s not even sexual, just incredibly comforting.

“Em,” I hear Diego say. The sound of his voice startles me, and I realize that I’ve fallen asleep on his chest. “Fuck, I don’t want to leave.” His voice is a rough rumble under the ear I have pressed to his body.

I grip a handful of his t-shirt in my hand, wishing I could hold on to him and not have to let go.

He flips me on my back and hovers my body. I spread my legs instinctively so he can settle between them. We’re fully clothed, but that doesn’t prevent me from wrapping one of my legs over his hip.

“I want you to miss me,” he says as I watch the flecks of gold in his otherwise chocolate brown eyes.

“I already do,” I whisper as a tear escapes my eye and runs down the side of my face.

“I know it makes me an asshole, but this tear,” he says as he sweeps it off my face with the tip of his finger, “this tear makes me happy.” He gives me the sweetest kiss on my lips. “It lets me know I have something to come home to; I have someone missing me while I’m gone.”

I give him a sad smile and place my hand on his cheek, loving how he tilts his head into my touch. “I’ll be here when you get back, Diego. Just, please, stay safe. I don’t know what you’re doing out there…” My voice cracks, and I close my eyes softly so the emotion can pass enough for me to continue. “Every second you’re gone I’ll miss you.”

“You have to take care of the baby while I’m gone. He’ll keep you busy, but you need to think of a name for him.” I realize that he’s talking about the puppy.

“What’s your middle name?” I ask him.

“Oliveras. It was my mother’s maiden name.”

“Perfect,” I say to him and look over at the still sleeping puppy in the humongous bed. “Oliver. We’ll call him Ollie.”

His eyes shine down on me, but he doesn’t say anything. “I love that name.” He kisses me but doesn’t linger on my lips. Groaning, he climbs off of the bed and pulls me along with him.

“The guys are waiting,” he says walking to the big duffle bag he packed earlier and placed by the door. “Walk me out?”

I place my hand in the one he’s holding out for me, and he tugs me to his side. I wrap my arms around his waist as we make our way out of the clubhouse to the SUV waiting for him. It’s awkward, but that doesn’t stop either one of us.

There are at least a dozen people standing around talking out front when we make it out the front door.

Diego turns me so we’re chest to chest, and my back is to the majority of the group. I look into his eyes one more time, and the rest of the world just seems to fade away. I don’t have to worry about a thing when his arms are around me.

“If you need anything you go to Kid or Doc.” I nod my head in understanding. He lets the strap of the duffle bag fall off of his shoulder, and it hits the wooden patio with a soft thud. “Kiss me goodbye,” he says leaning his mouth down to mine.

Public displays of affection have never been my thing, but there is no way I’m going to deny Diego Anderson when he wants his lips on mine, no matter where we are or who is around. With one hand at my neck, he wraps his other arm around my waist and lifts me up so he can kiss me deeper.

I groan into his mouth. My arms are wrapped around his neck, and I devour him like I’ll never get another taste. He pulls his mouth from mine, and I feel his lips turn up in a smile. Then I hear the cat calls and whistles from the men standing behind me. My cheeks flush immediately, suddenly shy and embarrassed.

“Sorry,” I mutter against where I’ve planted my face on his neck.

“I’m not,” he says quietly in my ear. “I’ve told them you’re mine and off-limits; now they can see it also.”

I shift my weight, realizing he’s still holding me off the ground. I slide deliciously down his body, and for a split second I wonder how embarrassed he’s going to be when I pull away from him, and his crew sees the straining erection in his pants. I look down between us and give him a sly smile.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can, Emmalyn. Listen to Kid if he has concerns about your safety.”

He kisses the tip of my nose and walks around me. I gasp when he stands at the top of the porch stairs and adjusts himself in his jeans in full view and undivided attention of his entire crew.

“Let’s get out of here guys before I delay us even further,” he says as he descends the steps.

He tosses his bag at Wrench’s feet and walks around to the passenger side of the SUV while Shadow climbs into the driver’s seat. Losing site of Diego as he slides into the vehicle I turn my eyes to Wrench, who’s giving me a menacing smile. When he winks at me and licks his lips, my blood runs cold, and my stomach turns. I turn and quickly head back inside.