Cocky's Fight (Devils Rejects MC Book 6) Read online

  I nod with a slight frown crossing my face. “I went by the hospital. We ended things on good terms. His path is taking him to Texas and I am just settling into a life here. I can’t fault him for wanting to be a good dad. It sucks but it is what it is.”

  “I like Uno, but he will never be happy with Stephanie. But those two and I hate to say it, but they belong together.” I know what she says is true. Everyone tells me the same thing. She smirks. “So what’s this I hear about Cocky. I thought he was like your brother or something.”

  “Stepbrother and there is nothing to tell there.”

  “Your mouth says one thing, but your red cheeks and starry eyes tell a completely different story.”

  “Stop. Do not go there with me right now. Shawn and I have a complicated past but I’m not looking to go back. I think relationships are off the table for me right now.”

  MaryAnn gets a dark and serious look in her eyes. “Life is too short. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. If you have chemistry with that man…you owe it to yourself to explore it.”

  “It’s not that. I mean he kissed me.” I exhale slowly as she perks up at that information. Hope fusses and she brings the tiny baby up on her shoulder and starts patting her back. “It was nice. Good even.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “I was just involved with Justin and I don’t want to give Jimmy the impression that his Momma is a harlot kissing every man that comes around.”

  “Well I’m just saying when he busted up in the club and come up on that stage…that was a look of a man in love.”

  “I didn’t come over to talk about Shawn. I came to meet this little lady.” I get up when she covers her breasts and places Hope in her crib.

  “My life has been nothing but talking about feedings and pooping. I love Ryan and am so glad he is such a good dad, but I need some adult talk too you know.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “Sweet my ass. He is driving me crazy. He’s like a damn drill sergeant making sure I am sticking to our feeding schedule and keeping track of dirty diapers. I want the dirt. The good stuff. Being away from the clubhouse I don’t get all the good gossip anymore so details, woman.”

  I shake my head. “Shawn is…I don’t want to lose him by taking a step neither of us are really prepared for. I need to focus on taking care of my son and getting back in school.”

  “You’re not wrong but what if you miss out on something amazing because you are scared of what if. I think the question you should ask yourself is what if you don’t take the risk? Playing it safe doesn’t always work out.” I file her advice away for later. I’ve got to get Jimmy to the sitter and go to work.

  We go into the living room to find Cupid and Jimmy asleep. Jimmy is on the couch with cookie crumbs and chocolate staining the corners of his mouth. Cupid is snoring in the recliner and a monster truck rally is showing on the TV.

  “I’m glad you stopped by.”

  “Me too. Hope’s perfect but I better get going. I still need to drop Jimmy off with his sitter.”

  “You can leave him here with us. He’s sleeping good. I will make sure he eats something healthy for dinner and put him to bed later in the guest room.”

  “Are you sure? I won’t be off till late.”

  “Let him stay here. You can pick him in the morning. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to keep him.”

  “Thanks. I really didn’t want to see Carmen anyways.”

  “Carmen? How come?”

  “Well…her daughter watches Jimmy sometimes for me and the other night there was an incident.” I tell her about the laundry room.

  MaryAnn huffs out a breath. “Carmen has hungry eyes and sharp claws. Shawn was probably telling the truth.”

  “Maybe but I have no right to even care.”

  “You have every right if he’s important to you. You have your apartment to yourself tonight. You don’t have to marry the guy, but it wouldn’t hurt to get you a little either.” She smirks, and I shake my head. But honestly, warmth pools in my belly at the idea of spending the night with Shawn.

  We say our goodbyes after I grab Jimmy’s stuff from the car. I always keep a change of clothes for him. I tell myself it is because I never know when he might spill something on his clothes or have an accident, but truth is I never know when Jim could show up and I’ll need to run again.

  I send a quick text to Carmen to cancel on Marcella. Shawn’s message is still staring at me and I send him a quick and to the point text.

  Melissa — I have to work tonight.

  There simple and to the point.

  I get to the Cherry Room and park around back. I work as the daytime manager, but I still need the extra money I can make from dancing so here I am taking my clothes off again. I want to give my son better than what I had growing up and I will do whatever it takes to give him a better life.

  I go to the office to clock in expecting to see Amber’s old man, Terror, but am met with Shawn behind the desk instead. “What are you doing here?”

  Shawn grins at me, stroking his goatee. “Made a switch with Terror. He’s running the garage and the Cherry Room is under my management,” he explains, and I nod.

  “Cool.”

  “You don’t look very happy to see me.” His voice sounds wounded as his face falls. I feel like all I ever do is hurt him. I hate it but don’t know what I should do. What if I take a chance on him and it ends in a disaster? Then I will be ostracized from the club and the friendships I am making. I do like it here even after the drama with Justin.

  I put on a smile for him, trying not to wonder if he was telling the truth about the laundry room with Carmen, but MaryAnn’s voice keeps repeating in my head. “I’m always happy to see you. I just wasn’t expecting you to be here. I need this job and I don’t want any drama.”

  “I’ll be strictly professional,” he tries to assure me, and I hope he stays true to his word. I want to send Jimmy to preschool and start taking classes again. Both take money that I don’t have right now. I had to start over from scratch. Shawn and his club have been good to me, but I want to take care of myself. I don’t want to be beholden to anyone. “Can I get your opinion on something?”

  “Sure.”

  “What do you think of this announcement for the local radio station?”

  The Cherry Room is hosting a New Year’s Eve bash. Selling different packages for VIP and general admission. I scan over the write up on his computer screen and the email he is sending to the head of their marketing. “Everything looks good to me,” I tell him feeling impressed. “Did you come up with this on your own?”

  “Yup.” He chuckles. “You sound shocked.” I spin the chair sideways to get up. I need to go change. Shawn stops me from getting up out of the chair and I remember being in this office with Justin and push those thoughts away. Justin is leaving, and I have to move on with my life. Shawn looms over me, bracing his hands on the arms of the chair, caging me in. He stares at me intently. “You’re so beautiful.” His tongue darts out, wetting his lips and my pulse races. Part of me wanting him to kiss me. Part of me terrified of what will happen if he does. Dark and broody the man is at war with himself and God if I don’t understand that emotion.

  “Shawn…I should.”

  “Yeah you should.” He leans in closer. My head is swimming with thoughts of his lips on mine. “See you out there.” I blink and he’s walking out the office door.

  As I walk to the dressing room confusion clouds my judgment. What the fuck was all that back there? I feel like we are moving in circles around each other.

  Chapter 6

  –Cocky

  God, she drives me fucking crazy with want. I wanted nothing more than to claim her sweet tempting lips when it was just the two of us in the office, but I have been thinking maybe I have been going about this thing with Melissa all wrong. I can chase her, but it won’t do me a damn bit of good if she doesn’t want to be caught. I do a walk through of the club.
The sound system is good. The bar is stocked, and a few girls are already on the floor. A couple of brothers from the clubhouse are here. If I had my say Melissa sure as fuck wouldn’t be taking to the stage and taking her clothes off. However, she wants to be independent and take care of her and Jimmy on her own. I have to give her some space there even though it kills me.

  I could support them while she goes back to school. I haven’t told her, but I bought Cupid’s old house. He gave me a hell of a deal. He wanted to unload it and I wanted a place to call my own. A place I can move Melissa and Jimmy into eventually. It needs a lot of work, but I already talked to Reaper about hiring some of the guys from the crew I was on when I was working for him. I’d like for Melissa to fix it up the way she wants but I have to do it without her knowing it’s for her. I have to approach it like I want her input without clueing her in that I am doing everything I am for her.

  I want to give her the life I always promised her. The life I told her I could never provide. When I got sent away to prison, I knew she’d move on with her life and hopefully forget all about me. I tried to pretend we existed in two different worlds, but I couldn’t stop myself from checking up on her. She did the exact opposite of what I had hoped for her. She got involved with a bad man who took advantage of her. It killed me being behind bars and unable to do a damn thing about it, but I’m back now. I’ll be damned if anyone ever uses or hurts her like that again. I’d love to put a bullet between Jim’s eyes but he’s Jimmy’s father. I don’t ever want that coming between us. Even though they’d both be better off with him in the ground. Melissa doesn’t know it, but I’ve got eyes on the bastard. He doesn’t take a shit without me getting a full report. If he makes a move to come after her, I’ll know about it and I’ll be ready for the bastard. He’ll never lay another hand on her as long as I am breathing.

  I lay my bills on the counter and order a beer from the prospect working behind the bar. A guy by the name of Cyrus. He’s young but tough. We call him Cyrus like Billy Ray because he’s a bit country. He came to Tennessee hoping to make it big as a country music star but somehow ended up in Webb Hollow prospecting for the Devils Rejects. He seems like he’s chill. He works hard and does as he is told. Keeps his hands off the girls too.

  The lights dim, and the music gets louder.

  A big tittied blonde takes to the stage. I grab a booth in the back, so I can keep watch over the full room. I sit back and enjoy the show. Melissa will be dancing soon. I don’t like it, but she is damn good at what she does. She brings in a crowd and I have to accept it for now. The minute I claim her though she will never take her clothes off again unless it’s for me. She had promised herself to me and it eats away at me that I wasn’t her first like we planned. Jimmy should be my kid, but I will treat him as if he is and I will for damn sure be the last man to be with Melissa.

  She was meant to be mine and she will be.

  I’m lost in my thoughts of the life I want to provide her with when she takes to the stage. I can see her scanning the crowd and I wonder if she is looking for me. I’m back in the corner where I have a good view of the stage but with the dim lighting I’m hidden. Her hands grip the pole and she moves fluidly. Seductively. She commands the room and my cock as it strains in my jeans, practically weeping to be inside her. One of the girls approaches my table. I don’t even realize it’s Carmen at first. Not until she slides into the booth and puts her hand on my dick. Her fingers slide my zipper down. Her breath is hot in my ear. “Let me take care of you. It will be our secret.”

  I go tense but am ashamed to say I don’t stop her. I’m not promised to Melissa. She has made it clear she isn’t ready to be with me. It might make me an asshole, but I keep my eyes on her. Watching her dance, pretending the lips on me belong to her. Her fingers glide up her sides and her top comes off. She spins around, thumbs hooked around the waistband of her thong teasing at showing off her ass crack. My hand goes to Carmen’s hair as she hides beneath the table sucking me off. I fuck her mouth as I stare at Melissa, craving her touch. I look down between my legs seeing Carmen with tears in her eyes as she gags on my cock and I feel disgusted with myself yet unable to stop.

  Melissa is rolling around on the stage dry humping the damn floor. Her hips arch and she spreads her legs, gliding a hand over her pussy. She still has on her thong, but it is highly erotic. My balls tighten, and I pull my dick out of Carmen’s mouth and cum in my hand. I don’t trust the whore not to try something fucking stupid. I know she has dreams of being taken for an old lady like Cupid did with MaryAnn but that was different and I’m not Cupid. I’m a cocky bastard.

  “I’ll see you later.” Carmen winks, wiping her smeared lipstick.

  “Don’t count on it,” I tell her with a snort, wiping my hand on some napkins and shoving them in my pocket to dispose of later.

  “And why not? What about me?” She pouts.

  “What about you?” I down the last of my beer wondering when she started working here and already regretting getting head from her.

  “I thought…,” she stammers.

  “Whatever you fucking thought—you thought wrong. Now get gone.”

  “It’s Melissa, isn’t it? I thought she was related to you.” Her arms fold across her chest.

  “Nope,” I pop the P growing more agitated by the second. I don’t owe her any explanations.

  “If you toss me aside, you’ll regret it,” she warns.

  “Don’t threaten me, bitch. You’re nothing but a whore. You know it. I know it. You came to me wanting to suck my dick. Not the other way around. You wasn’t even good at it. The whole time your lips were on me I was watching her and imagining her mouth. Like I said you’re nothing to me. Take this to the trash.” I thrust my beer bottle into her hands. “Better yet, take it and go fuck yourself. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to my mouth being on you.”

  Her eyes start to water with unshed tears. Maybe I am being too harsh and taking the anger I feel toward myself for being so Goddamned weak out on her, but I don’t want her to come near me again and being cruel should achieve that.

  “You’ll be sorry,” she mutters and stomps off.

  “I already am,” I call out after her. I’m gonna have to put a word in with Hades to get the cunt gone. I can already see it coming. She’s going to cause shit for me with Melissa. I spend the rest of the night hiding away in the office angry with myself. That was fucking stupid.

  It’s closing time and Melissa comes in to clock out and cash out her tips. She eyes me, and I wonder if Carmen already told her. If Melissa knows she isn’t saying anything.

  “You looked good up there,” I tell her, guilt rotting away at my insides though I technically didn’t do anything wrong.

  “Thanks. I didn’t see you out there on the floor.”

  “I was in the back.”

  “So hey, Carmen started working here tonight but she was being real weird.”

  Fuck here we go.

  “How so?” I should come clean and tell her now but I’m a chicken shit. A fucking pussy when it comes to the thought of disappointing her.

  Her shoulder lifts into a shrug. “I don’t know. She was short with me and kind of snappy. I thought maybe she was mad at me because I canceled on Marcella watching Jimmy tonight because he stayed over at MaryAnn’s, but it felt like more than that.”

  “I wouldn’t stress it. She’s flaky.”

  “I guess. I just got the feeling I did something to her.”

  I attempt to change the subject. “Ignore her. She’s probably jealous of you. Let me walk you out.”

  “Okay. You’re probably right. I’m just paranoid I guess and feel bad because I know the little money that I give Marcella helps out and it’s the holidays.”

  “Didn’t you bring a coat?”

  “It wasn’t that cold out when I left.”

  “Here. Wear mine.” I snatch my leather jacket from the back of the chair and hold it up for her to slip her arms into.

 
; “Thanks.” I hear her breathing in the leather and letting out a sigh of contentment. We walk down the hall and out the back door. Everyone else has mostly left for the night.

  Melissa stops at her car, rubbing her hands together, and I can see her breath. “You should have let me start your car up.”

  “I’ll be okay. I don’t have far to go. I’m not picking Jimmy up until morning.”

  “You wanna go grab a bite to eat or something?” I hold onto my jacket that she’s wearing, pulling her in close so I can wrap my arms around her. “You’re shivering.” I press my lips to her forehead waiting for an answer.

  “I think I had better go home and get some sleep. I have to be back here tomorrow around seven and I promised Jimmy I’d take him to see Santa. You should come with us. That is if you want to.”

  “I’ll let you know. Call me before you leave.”

  “I will.” Her body trembles against mine and there are so many things I want to say to her, but I hold back, not wanting to push too hard too soon.

  “Goodnight, Lissa. Drive safe.”

  “You too.” She squeezes me and goes to hand my jacket back.

  “Keep it. I have another one. I don’t want you without a jacket.”

  “I’m fine,” she argues, teeth chattering.

  “Don’t fight me on this, stubborn ass. Let me take care of you and don’t go telling me you can take care of yourself. I know you can.”

  “I was going to say thank you.” She grins up at me and I cup her face between my hands.

  “You’re welcome,” I breathe the words onto her lips and she closes the gap between us. Her lips, soft and sweet press against mine then quickly pull away. The moment ends far too soon for my liking but it’s a start in the right direction.

  “I should go,” she whispers.

  “You should but I don’t want you to,” I confess, meaning it.

  “Bye.” She backs into the door and I follow her.

  “Bye.” I crash my mouth down on hers not waiting for permission or an invitation. Kissing her just feels right. Sweeping my tongue in tandem with hers I kiss her long and deep. Her arms circle my neck and I press her up against the cold metal of the car wanting more but not demanding it tonight. She knows I want to be with her and I know deep down part of her wants it too. I think she’s scared to take a chance, but I’m brave enough for the two of us.