On a Knife's Edge (23 page)

He moved with leisurely confidence, kissing her senseless.

Her desire mounted. Grew bigger, stronger…then even bigger
and stronger. With no respite. Like she was dying from wanting him.

The mattress bounced and the springs protested. He tore his
mouth away, straightened his arms and powered into her. Then he abruptly
stopped.

His finger grazed her cheek, and came away wet. “I’m hurting
you.”

She shook her head which cascaded tears into her hair. “It’s
not that.”

“What is it then?”

A frustrated growl gurgled in her throat. The last thing she
wanted to do at this moment was
talk
. She dug her heels into the back of
his legs, grabbed his ass cheeks and shoved her hips upward.

He held himself away. “Tell me why you’re crying, Shaly.”

“Because of you…and me…” A small sob escaped. “Because of
us
.
Don’t stop. Whatever you do…please don’t stop.”

The concern lining his features softened. He lowered onto
his elbows and cupped her face. He brushed his thumbs gently under her eyes and
kissed her tenderly…so tenderly…her heart sighed.

He resumed his thrusts. An easy rhythm. Leisurely and
languorous. But soon he gained momentum. As did her climax. It escalated. She
squeezed her thighs to encourage a faster pace.

His intense stare burned into hers. Consumed her. Set her
ablaze.

Demolished her.

Her hips bucked and writhed and her internal muscles
tightened…tightened…then tightened even more until finally clenching around him
in a heart-stopping, epic orgasm that spiraled pleasure through every cell in
her body.

Seconds later, his tempo turned uneven and jerky. He
released guttural roar and she felt him pulse deep inside her womb.

He rested his face in the curve of her neck, his harsh
breathing echoing in her ear. She stroked his shoulders and upper back while
his body continued to shudder.

He rolled to his side and nestled her securely next to him.
His hand glided up and down her arm. “Good God, Shaly…what the hell were you
thinking to come here tonight?”

A short giggle burst past her lips. “I’m not sure I was
thinking at all.”

He snorted. “True that.”

She heard the hurt in his voice and rose up to look at him.
“Or maybe I was thinking, given all that’s happened lately, I wanted to feel
alive.” She caressed her finger along his jaw. “And I wanted to feel alive with
you.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “What will you tell your husband?”

“What I choose to tell Graham—or not tell him—isn’t your
concern.”

He cuddled her to his chest and went back to stroking her
arm. “If your brother finds out about this, he’ll fucking kill me.”

“He never found out anything about us before. He won’t now.”

His hand stilled. “I want you to know I didn’t shoot Dell. I
wasn’t even in Grant County that night.”

She hoisted herself onto her elbows, her eyebrows knitted.
“I never thought you did shoot him. And if you weren’t here, where were you?”

“In Yerington.”

“Yerington? Doing what?”

“Visiting a former member, Oz LaBlaze.”

Her stomach tightened. “Wait a minute…are you saying you had
an
alibi
for the night Dell was shot?”

“Um…yeah. I guess.”

“You
guess
? How come your lawyer never said anything
about an alibi at your trial.”

“Because I never told him.”

Shasta bolted to a sitting position. “Why the hell not?”

“It would’ve been too risky.”

“Too risky?” She slapped his bare stomach.

“Hey!”

“You were on trial for trying to kill a law enforcement
officer…specifically my brother. What could possibly have been riskier than
that?”

Lynch outlined her collarbone with a fingertip. “It was a
judgment call, okay?”

“A judgment call?” Despite her anger, his feather touch
paraded shivers up her neck. “What does that mean?”

He coaxed her to lie down. “That maybe we should talk about
this later.”

She reared back up. “You said
former
member. I didn’t
think there was such a thing as a former Streeter.”

He trailed his hand down her arm. “There is…if you’re
willing to pay the price.”

Another procession of goose bumps erupted on her skin. Her
nipples puckered. She pushed his hand away, refusing to be distracted. “What
kind of price?”

His gaze fastened onto her beading peaks and she crossed her
arms. He frowned. “A really high one.”

“Such as?”

He flopped against the headboard. “Such as when Ox fell in
love with a widow from Yerington. She owned a bakery and had a couple of
teen-aged kids. And she absolutely rejected the MC lifestyle. No way was she
cut out to be an old lady, not to mention she didn’t want her kids exposed to
our…less than legal activities. But Ox loved her. So he came to the table and
asked permission to leave. The vote was yes…if he chopped off his left index
finger.”

“My God.” Shasta’s stomach rolled at the savage condition.
“What’d he do?”

Lynch hitched his shoulder. “To the best of my knowledge,
he’s the only nine-fingered baker in the state.”

“And you went to see this Ox guy why?”

“Hey you hungry?” Lynch rolled off the bed. “I’m not sure
what’s here to eat, but—”

She grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. “Why did you go
see him?”

He settled one foot on the floor with his other leg bent and
on the mattress, rubbing his forehead and saying nothing.

Realization barreled into her. “You wanted to leave the
Streeters? Why?”

He peeked at her with a small grin. “I had my reasons. Or I
should say…a reason.”

Air caught behind Shasta’s breastbone. “
I
was the
reason? Seriously?”

His forehead puckered. “Why so surprised, Shaly? Don’t you
know how I feel about you?”

Her pulse rate kicked up a notch as her mouth suddenly went
dry. “How you feel about me?”

“Yeah.” He traced his thumb under her chin. “I love you.”

Adrenaline flashed through her body. “You…” She swallowed.
“Love me?”

Cupping her cheek, he nodded. “Probably since you ran over
my motorcycle.”

Tears sparked her eyes and she ducked from his touch. In all
the time she’d spent with Lynch, he never uttered those words. Neither of them
had. But she knew she loved him…she just wasn’t stupid enough to assume Lynch
loved her back. He couldn’t. He was a Streeter.

She cleared her throat. “How come you never said anything?”

“Because you were young, Shaly. Too young to get tied up
with someone like me. It would have only ended in disaster for you.”

“Why tell me now?”

His sigh sounded heavy. “I don’t really know.”

Silence mushroomed in the tiny space. “So what price did Ox
tell you?” she finally asked.

“The conversation never got that far. But Ox did say…”

“What?”

Lynch blew out another breath. “That the odds were the club
would never let me leave. And definitely not for the daughter and sister of a
sheriff. Ox also said if our…relationship was ever discovered, you’d in all
likelihood be killed.”

Shasta covered her mouth as icicles stabbed her chest.

“On the ride back from Yerington,” Lynch continued, “I made
the decision to break it off. I wouldn’t chance anyone finding out about us. I
wouldn’t chance you getting hurt.”

She reached for his hand. “
I’m
why you didn’t tell
anyone you had an alibi?”

He shrugged. “If Ox testified, the reason why I went to see
him could’ve come out which might’ve put you in danger. Another risk I wasn’t
going to take. When I got arrested, I thought it was divine intervention or
some shit.” He chuckled, a grave sound. “I’d go to prison and you’d be safe.
And then there was the added bonus that if you figured I tried to kill your
brother, you’d hate me.”

She shook her head, powerless to comprehend his words. “It’s
because of me that you were locked up for seven years.” Tears pooled in her
eyes. “How is it you don’t hate me?”

Smiling, he caressed the wetness from her cheeks. “Weren’t
you listening, Shaly? I love you.” He canted closer and brushed his mouth
against hers. He shifted back. “You thirsty? Want some water?”

She could only nod.

He kissed her nose. “Be right back.”

Watching him go, she laid down, suddenly unable to remain
upright.

She buried her face in his pillow, inhaling his musky scent.
Elation spiraled through her heart.

Lynch Callan loved her.
Her
.

Just as quickly, though, a sob formed in her throat. Lynch
had been willing to give up everything for her. Shit…he
had
given up
everything…his freedom. And what had she done in return? Nothing. Not a damn
thing.

She hadn’t fought for him seven years ago when she
knew
he’d been innocent. All these years she lied to herself claiming she’d been too
distraught over Dell’s shooting and Graham’s accident to come forward. But the
ugly truth was she’d been too gutless. Too weak. Just like she’d been too
cowardly to admit the real identity of Wyatt’s father.

While she couldn’t give Lynch back those seven years, she
could give him his son. And maybe Lynch would still love her. And maybe he’d
find it in his heart to forgive her. And maybe, just maybe, they could have a
life together. The three of them…

Lynch padded into the bedroom. “Here ya go.” He held out a
plastic cup.

She sat up. “Thanks.” She took the offering and a small sip
then placed the water on the nightstand. “Uh…listen…there’s something I need to
tell you.”

He settled on the mattress and held her hand. “First I want
you to make me a promise.”

“What’s that?”

“That you’ll be happy.”

Confused, she tilted her head with a small giggle. “O…kay.”

“I’m serious. You’ve got a husband and kid. You need to
focus on your life with them.”

“But I thought that we’d…you know…be together. Now.”

His smile looked sad. “You know that won’t work, Shaly.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m a criminal.”

“I don’t care about that.”

“You should. The Streeters might still come after you. But
even if they didn’t, you’d hafta give up everything. I can’t leave this life,
Shaly, so you’d hafta leave yours.”

“I know. And I would. For you.”

He squinted. “You sure about that? You’d be turning your
back on all the people you love, Your brother, your husband…your son.”

Cold fingers skittered down Shasta’s spine. “Wyatt?”

“Otherwise he’d be part of the Streeter life. The Streeter
code. You want that?” Lynch set his jaw. “One way or the other, you’d be
sacrificing him.”

She pulled her hand from his and folded her arms across her
middle. “Why are you doing this?” Tears of frustration burned her throat. “You
said you loved me.”

“And I do, which is why I need you to see reason. I live a
dangerous life. One you—and Wyatt—aren’t meant for.” He took her hand again.
“In your heart, you know I’m right.”

She bowed her head, but he tucked his knuckle under her chin
forcing her to meet his mesmeric gaze. “So promise me.”

Shasta closed her eyes. Moisture eked from the corners.

He
was
right, and that reality broke her heart.

She couldn’t abandon Wyatt any more than she could serve him
up to the Streeters. She had no choice but to walk away from the man she loved.

Stiffening her shoulders, she opened her eyes. “I promise. I
also promise not to ever forget you.”

Smiling, he eased her down onto the mattress…

~*~

L
ynch kissed Shasta with
every scrap of love he felt for her. If he’d been stronger, or better, he
would’ve turned her away when she showed up at his trailer. But he was neither
that strong nor good…

Maybe with both Rolo and Hez dead, Lynch sensed his own time
could be running short. If the Streeters didn’t kill him for his involvement
with the FBI, he might very well wind up another casualty of Blackwell’s
nefarious network. But, if by some miraculous miracle, Lynch lived to see the
week’s end, he’d make good on his vow to take his mom and leave Stardust. Go
somewhere far away, with a warmer climate. Possibly Florida.

One way or the other, he’d never see Shasta again. And he
was okay with that. She had the right to live her life without the threat of
him or the Streeters fucking up things. As for tonight, he just wanted one
final time with her. Something he could remember in the long, lonely years
ahead of him.

He skimmed his hand along the silky soft skin of her neck
and down to a fleshy breast. The nipple pearled against his palm. She moaned
into his mouth.

He left her lips and worked his way to a beaded peak. He
whipped his tongue over the crest, feeling it turn marble hard, while his hand
tweaked and pinched the other.

She moaned again and bowed her back, shoving more of her
delectable tit into his mouth. Her fingers tangled in his hair and pulled him
up where she kissed him with abandon.

He slid his hand across her taut stomach to her pussy hair.
He fingered through the mesh until finding and exposing her clit.

He slowly ringed the responsive nub. Her legs widened as her
hips arched into his touch. A raspy gurgle emanated from deep in her throat as
he delved his fingers into her channel, finding her hot and moist and ready.
For him.

Her hand wandered down his torso to wrap around his
throbbing dick. She circled her thumb over the tip, spreading the pre-cum. She
caressed his length. He instinctively thrust to the cadence of her strokes.
Pressure built in his balls.

He broke the kiss, groped for the condom box and ripped open
a packet then quickly donned the rubber. He reclined on his back and encouraged
her to straddle his hips. With her towering over him, he gripped his cock and
she slowly descended, taking him to the hilt.