Rhythm of the Road (Lost Kings MC 16)

He picks up the tempo, pounding into me with quick, precise strokes. My stomach tightens. The electric jolt spreads from my hips to my thighs. My toes curl, and my legs shake uncontrollably. “Roost—oh my God.”

“That’s it.” He releases my hands and grabs my hip. “Oh fuck. You’re shaking.”

“Can’t stop.” My vision blurs. The angle or the way he’s pressing me into the mattress—something triggers the non-stop shock of sensation. It’s like he’s flipped some sort of electrical current to my clit.

“Keep coming,” he encourages. “Fuck, you’re strangling my cock.” Breathing hard, he stops moving, his fingers digging into my hips, pressing his pelvis into me like he’s trying to permanently fuse our lower halves together. After a few seconds, he collapses on the bed next to me with a contented groan.

My poor legs are still nothing but jelly, so I can’t do much more than roll onto my side next to him. He loosely drapes his arm over me and turns to kiss my temple. “You okay?”

“I think so,” I whisper, staring up at the soft gray ceiling. “Are you?”

He lifts up, peering down his glistening body. “My dick’s still attached. Afraid you snapped it off for a second.”

“Oh my God.” Laughter spills out of me, and I turn so I’m facing him.

He grins at me. “Come here.” He slides his hand into my hair, cupping the back of my head to drag me closer for a soft kiss. “Thanks for making my dreams come true.”

Still laughing, I snuggle even closer, running my fingers over his beard and down his chest.

He kisses my cheek and gently shifts me, so he can sit. “Let me clean up. I’ll be right back.”

While he’s gone, I strip out of my wrinkled skirt and underwear, stretching out on top of the bed, facing the bathroom.

“Oh, fuck me.” He stops in the doorway to stare.

“What?” I ask innocently, running my hand over my hip.

He waves his hand at me. “Careful, chickadee. I don’t think you can handle another round.”

Shirtless and jeans unbuttoned, he’s one very sexy man. “You’re the one who can’t handle it.”Rooster

At some point we fell asleep. I wake and find Shelby’s golden hair spilling all over my pillows. What I wouldn’t give to wake up to this every damn day.

I glance at the clock. Probably time to get going if we want to make it upstate before dark. I pick up my phone and send Z a text asking if he needs anything from here.

Even though I set the phone back on the nightstand quietly, I sense Shelby’s breathing change. She slowly stretches and opens her eyes. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Can’t remember the last time I napped during the day.”

“Needed the rest. Your man rode you pretty hard.” I hold out my arm. “Come here.”

She scoots closer and rests her head on my chest.

“I’m not one for naps either.”

“Didn’t think you were.” She traces an aimless pattern over my chest. “So this is where you live?”

“Most of the time.”

“Where are your parents?”

Ouch, that’s a painful topic. I swallow hard. “Dead.”

She shoots upright, distress creasing her forehead. “Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. Why didn’t you say so?”

I shrug and pull her still-naked body next to me. “Hadn’t really come up. Seems like an odd thing to blurt out.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Club’s the only family I need.”

She’s quiet, as if she’s waiting me for add some details. Fuck, if I feel like ruining the moment with such an ugly story.

“You ever hear from your dad?” Damn, what a dick way to deflect the attention from myself.

She blinks and shakes her head. “Nope. I fully expect him to come crawlin’ out of the woodwork with his hand out if I ever become real famous. After the way he left us broke and almost homeless, I look forward to telling him to go fuck himself and not giving him one red cent.”

“That’s my girl,” I whisper.

Her fire and fighting spirit pull me right into the present. The only place I want to be.

Shelby’s light and warmth is all I need to chase away the ghosts that still haunt me.Chapter Twenty-FourRooster

The sun’s almost all the way down when we arrive upstate. Everyone’s either heading out of the clubhouse or in the garage, pulling out chairs, blankets, and other stuff for the bonfire.

The scent of burning wood drifts through the trees, drawing my attention toward the woods.

“How’d the truck run?” Murphy asks, coming out of the garage and setting down two camp chairs.

“Perfect. Thanks a lot.”

“No problem.” He ambles over and gives me a fist bump, then nods at Shelby. “Heard you met Tawny.”

Shelby purses her lips and shrugs.

“Sounds about right.” Murphy laughs. “Heidi and the girls are already at the fire.” He gestures behind him. “Trinity got out the tent for the little guys.”

Murphy hands each of us a chair and a blanket. We wait to follow Z and Lilly to the clearing where the bonfire’s set up.