“I love you,” I tell her, my mouth hovering above her lips.
“Again,” she says on a moan, digging her nails into my neck.
“I fucking love you,” I murmur, slamming into her. Pleasure zings through me. She’s mine; the battle is over. My balls are so hard and tight, but I don’t want this to end. Every cell in my body is alive, magnified by life, death, love—it all swirls together.
“Ryder,” Julianna screams and my mouth takes hers, swallowing all her need and making it mine as her cunt latches onto my cock and contracts so hard I soar. My body jerks, as I release my seed into her. Kissing her face, I lick the water from her cheeks. It tastes like tears.
This is real. We are real.
I am complete.
Gradually, I pull out and let her legs find their balance. Her eyes remain fixated on me while I grab the soap.
She remains silent, watching me while I clean her and quickly wash myself. Our breathing returns to normal. I reach over, turn off the water, and grab a towel.
She blinks up at me, and I smile. After drying her and tossing the towel away, I reach for her chin. “I’m gonna brand you.”
She shivers, but nods. “I know.”
I should have done it years ago. I knew the first time I put it together that she was always the one in my dreams.
Who knows what that means. I don’t even try to decipher it all. Maybe it means we’ve been together many times in other lives, if you want to believe in that.
Or maybe it means she is mine, my soul, and I will let it go at that. I’m too fucking tired to dive any deeper. I’ve spent my whole life believing I’m cursed, trying to have some proof or explanation for why I am what I am.
And it doesn’t matter anymore. I can accept that, and in return accept myself.
That is from her, her gift to me.
I step out and grab another towel, wrapping it around my waist. “Sit on the bed.” I walk into my closet and bring out my wooden box, holding the small brands the Disciples have used during the club’s sixty years of existence.
Just thinking about my brand on her makes my cock hard. I’ve done this more than a hundred times. After all, it’s my job to brand the brothers and their women.
But this… this is different.
This is my moment. My woman.
Mine.
Setting the box down next to her, I walk over to grab my cancer sticks and check my phone.
“Choose,” I say, lighting up.
When she licks her lips, I can’t help but smile. She wants it—she has no idea about the pain, but she wants me to brand her to me as much as I want it.
Her hands trace the long brand on the wood, the classic wings and knife. She lifts the lid and my eyes narrow.
“There are so many.” She looks over at me, then picks one up. “Oh wow. This is heavy.”
I grin and look at my phone. “They’re real.” I walk over to the window. Looks like I missed a call from Blade. Other than that, nothing.
We’re on lockdown. What happened today is never supposed to happen. Blade’s house is a safe zone. He’s the president of the fucking Disciples.
Somehow it happened though. If Julianna didn’t have her Glock…
I press on Blade’s number.
“Hey, brother,” Blade answers on the second ring. “Julianna doing okay?” I glance over at my jewel, her legs crossed, towel spilling around her waist, tits almost beckoning me to suck on them as she rummages through the brands.
“Yeah, she’s doing fine. How’s Eve?”
“Pissed off that Julianna got to him first.” He snorts. “She and the kids, along with my mom, are in a safe house for the time being. Ox picked up Pavel. Church in thirty.”
“I’ll be there.” I hang up, knowing this is gonna be an all-nighter, but that can wait.
“Which one, Julianna?” She licks her lips and holds the one I used on Eve.
“This one.”
I hold my hand out as she drops it into it. “I branded Eve with this one, you know.”
She nods.
“Can you make mine look better? Hers needs to be touched up or something.” I pull off my towel as her eyes go to my hard-as-fuck cock.
“It’s a brand, not a tattoo. Where do you want it?” I growl.
She tries to stay focused on my face, but her eyes dip to my cock.
“You choose,” she groans.
I smile. “Will you feel better if I let you suck on him?” I grab ahold of my dick and watch as she slides from the bed to her knees.
“Yeah, you want my thick cock in your mouth, don’t you?”
She nods yes.
“Say it,” I demand, rubbing the tip on her lips.
“Can I please suck on your thick cock?”
I look down at her, power surging through me. “Very good, Bellezza, now suck hard. Then I’m gonna make you mine.”