Chapter Eight

Mama

I'll admit, I didn't expect the club to be lined up outside the garage like Pops had told them to be. And when the fuck had I embraced these stupid names everyone had started calling us? I wasn't anyone's mama. Wasn't ever gonna be.

Heavy sigh … Except I was. Started with Alex. Then Gracie and her unborn child. Now this whole fucking club. I was getting soft. Which pissed me off to no end. Sure enough, when I got out to the garage, there they were. Every single one of them was at attention like it was the second day of basic training and they were determined not to give the sergeant any reason to get all up in their shit.

Pops stalked past me, his game face firmly in place. "Gonna be some fuckin' changes around here. Startin' this very fuckin' second." A couple of them glanced at each other, and Pops jumped all over that shit.

He moved quickly, like he was expecting this very thing and was ready to shut it down. Getting in the faces of the two in question, he yelled as effectively as anyone I'd ever met in the Army.

"You two got a fuckin' problem?" When one of them opened his mouth, Pops continued, his voice carrying all over the compound. Almost made me wince. Almost made me smile, too. "No one cares if you've got a fuckin' problem! It's my way or the highway. Hell. Ain't even no highway option. You will do what the fuck I say and you'll fuckin' like it! You clear?"

"Sir, loud and clear, sir," he yelled back, staring straight ahead.

"Don't fuckin' call me sir ."

The guy faltered, looking up at Pops instead of staring straight ahead. "Uh… Pops?"

Pops was silent for a long while, staring both those fuckers down like they really were back in the service. These two were Marines. Most of the others were Army, but there were a smattering of Navy and Air Force. And why the fuck had I made it my business to know that shit? Christ.

"Good. Listen up because I'm only gonna go over this once."

Taz chose that moment to enter the yard. He stood beside me and nudged my shoulder. When I looked up at him, he appeared to be struggling to keep the amusement off his face. Which made me scowl all the harder at him.

Pops continued. "Taz has a situation he has to deal with. He'll be gone for a while. Ain't sure how long. He's leavin' me and Mama in charge." Surprisingly, no one gave any side looks or showed any surprise, their training kicking in as I'd hoped it would. This was, after all, basic stuff. "He let you be laid back and adjust for a while, but I'm done with that. We got shit to do around here to make this place livable and we're gonna get it done. Anyone who ain't on board, get the fuck out."

No one moved. Taz cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Not sure how long I'll be gone, but there is no negotiation. You do what Mama and Pops say or you're out. I don't care why, or how unfair you think it is; if they say you're gone, you're gone. Even if I don't agree with them, they're still in charge. I will not override their decisions." He glared at each of them for a long moment before continuing. "A word of advice to all of you, and I suggest you pass it on to anyone and everyone who comes to this place looking for a home. Of the two of ‘em, y'all might think Pops is the bigger threat. He's not. Mama will have your balls sliced clean from your body before you even know she's near you. Don't fuck with either of them, but especially don't fuck with Mama."

"Now you're just taking away all my fuckin' fun," I muttered. I was secretly pleased he'd done it, but I also knew there would be a couple who'd test me. There always were.

As I glanced around, I found two, possibly three, who would test me. I could see it in the way their gazes slid to me. They were all young -- none of them over twenty-three or twenty-four -- but they had been on their own long enough to not take kindly to a woman giving them orders.

I walked up to the biggest of them. He was a good three or four inches taller than me, but I managed to get in his face. "I see you got a problem with me bein' in charge." My voice was quiet, as deadly as I could make it. "You gonna test me, do it now. I won't have anyone claimin' I snuck up on ‘em before I nutted ‘em." I stepped back a couple of steps and held out my hands to my sides, raising an eyebrow. "Take your best shot, motherfucker."

As I expected, the guy lunged for me, going for his arms around my waist, probably to take me down in a football tackle. Amateur. I went down to one knee and uppercut his crotch with as much force as I could. The guy let out a startled yelp, then went down to his knees, clutching his privates.

I spun out of the way so he couldn't reach me if he tried. Immediately, the other two charged. One of them I punted on the side of the knee. The other one wrapped two brawny arms around me from behind. I snapped my head back twice, my height letting me catch him in the nose. He staggered back and I nailed him with a spinning kick so my heel connected with his jaw.

"Who's next?" I glared at the three men on the ground before staring down the rest of them. Mike, bless his heart, stood with his arms crossed over his chest, a big-ass shit-eating grin on his face.

He looked at Taz. "That's my woman."

The men on the ground groaned, looking to Taz for… something. I had no idea what, but this would define our relationship with this club. If it wasn't to my satisfaction, I'd take Gracie and Liam and we'd get the fuck out. Start our own fucking club.

Taz shook his head. "Don't look at me. I tried to fuckin' warn ya."

I waited until the guy whose knee I'd taken out attempted to stand. He looked up at me, pain on his face. "Sorry, ma'am."

"Mama. My name is Mama."

I reached down to offer him a hand up. The kid nodded as he took my hand and stood. "Mitch Bohannon. They call me Brutal."

The one I'd kicked in the face was already on his feet, holding out a hand to me. "Mason Gray." He shrugged. "Gray."

The poor guy I'd nailed in the balls had made it to one knee, but he didn't look like he was ready to go farther. "Gerald Ferguson, ma'am."

"Mama." I grinned, holding out a hand to him. "Got a road name?"

He gasped for air. Though he took my hand, he couldn't seem to get to his feet. Kid shook his head before dropping my hand, one arm braced on his knee, the other went back to his balls. "Nah."

"How about Squid?" someone called out. The guy on the ground threw a scowl over his shoulder. Or tried to. He ended up groaning, but finally managed to get to his feet. He still bent over, sucking air.

"How about you shut the fuck up." Pops took charge, angry scowl firmly in place. "He needed a demonstration. He got one." He tilted his head at Gerald. "How about we call you Mo." Pops shrugged. "Seems fitting."

"Mo?" One of the other guys barked out a laugh. "What does that even mean?"

Pops looked at me, grinning before shrugging his shoulders. I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the twitch to my lips. "The Mighty Mo."

"What does the USS Missouri have to do with Ferguson?"

"Jesus, man." Brutal gave the guy an irritated look. "Missouri is the fuckin' Show Me state. Maybe you're the fuckin' dumbass."

"Oh." The other guy looked a little deflated but didn't protest. "Yeah. That's pretty good."

"Mo it is then." I clapped the guy on the shoulder. He grunted, but actually attempted to chuckle. Straightening slowly, he extended his hand to me. I took it in a firm grip. "Mama."

I grinned. "Good." Looking around the rest of the group I raised an eyebrow. "Anyone else need a demonstration?"

When no one answered, Pops took over again. "You all are gonna get to work. We've got a place to clean up and remodel. And build. We can't have a proper home until we get it finished."

"We've been working."

I winced, almost feeling sorry for the guy. Pops growled and stomped toward the guy in question. Immediately, the guy backed off. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

"You got a problem with working harder?" Pops was back to yelling again, right up in the guy's face. "Do you? ‘Cause I won't allow no deadbeat pussies in this fuckin' outfit!

"No problem. No problem at all, Pops."

Taz got a kick outta that. "Yeah. Things're gonna be just fine while I'm gone."

* * *

Taz left the next morning. He spent the whole evening with Liam, preparing his son for his absence. The boy was resistant, but agreed he'd stay behind if he could stay with Gracie. Kid might have thought he was negotiating, but it was exactly what Taz wanted.

Gracie was more than agreeable. The girl seemed to have latched onto Liam the same as he had her. I knew they needed each other. I got the impression Taz thought so too.

"You know, this is a good thing. Right?" Pops pulled me aside and wrapped his arms around me from behind. His mouth found the side of my neck and he sucked ever so delicately.

I shivered, trying not to show how much he affected me, but it was a losing fucking battle. "I know they're gonna be a pain in my ass. Solidly."

Mike chuckled. "Not disagreein'. But you're good with this. Right?"

I turned to look at him over my shoulder. "Of course, I'm fuckin' good with this! These guys are a fuckin' mess!" I snapped my outrage, turning around completely to glare at him. "With Taz leavin', who the fuck else is gonna save these bastards from themselves?"

Mike lifted his hands in surrender, an amused smirk on his face. "Just makin' sure, Mama. No need to go all mama tiger on me."

"Good." I turned back around, giving him my back. I reached back for his hands and tugged him to me. "Now. No one told you to stop what you were doin'."

Mike chuckled against my neck, sending electric zings down my spine. I wanted to melt into him. I wanted him to bend me over and take me right here. Fuck me. Show everyone who happened upon us that I was his and no one else's. "Demanding little thing, ain'tcha." God! The man knew how to push every single one of my buttons!

"I am. Ain't apologizin' either."

"Never said you had to."

"Good. ‘Cause if you don't satisfy me, I'll find someone who will."

With a growl, Mike spun me around, slamming me against a nearby wall. When I went to shove him away, he grasped my wrists in one of his big hands, pinning them above my head. A wild, frenzied lust punched me in the gut, taking my breath. When I parted my lips, Mike descended on me, taking my mouth in a hard, controlling kiss.

His tongue thrust deep, his other hand squeezed my breast hard. He pinched my nipple roughly, twisting it once. Then again. I cried out with the third twist but not in pain. Sure, it hurt, but the pain morphed into something I wasn't sure I was prepared for.

The pleasure was sharp, intense, making my knees buckle. Mike steadied me with his body, his breath hot against my cheek as he whispered, "You want this. You need this."

I couldn't deny it. The mixture of pain and pleasure was intoxicating. Every harsh touch was a message, every tender brush a contradiction that drove me wild. Mike's hands roamed over me, exploring as if he had all the right in the world -- which, in this moment, I might have given him.

Then the hand holding my wrists tightened and his other hand went to my throat. It was a threat pure and simple. Except… it wasn't. Instead, it was a dark temptation I'd never thought I'd even contemplate going down.

"Tell me what you want," Mike murmured, his voice low and husky, filled with an unspoken promise. "Ask me for what you want." He looked into my eyes, studying me. Withholding my reactions from him was impossible, but I tried to keep my gruff, demanding exterior so he didn't get the idea he could push me around. Or take the lead. Except, wasn't that exactly what I wanted? Needed?

"Fuck me, you bastard." I bared my teeth at him. Mike tightened his grip on my throat just that little bit. He was a big, strong man. While I was tall, fit, and a seasoned warrior in my own right, Mike towered over me and was easily twice my size. Had I been in this position with any other man, I'd have been worried for my life. The expression on his face was hard. Calculating. And so very dominant it curled my toes.

"You don't get to dictate. You're not in charge here." His voice was gruff, husky with steel in his tone. "Ask me." He gave me an almost evil grin. "Nicely."

"You've lost your mind," I bit out. "Put up or shut up."

He fused his mouth to mine, never letting up on his grip around my throat. With wicked flicks of his tongue, he proceeded to set my body ablaze with sensation. The contrast between the pleasure of his kiss and the aggressive hold he had on my neck was a confusing mix of fear and overwhelming lust.

"Little witch." His lips still brushed mine as he growled out the words. "Fuckin' little witch."

"Are you gonna fuck me or not?" I tried to sound angry. I mean, angry sex was always good sex. But, if I was honest with myself, I sounded every bit as breathless as I felt. My head was swimming with all the sensations he effortlessly created.

"Like I said. You gotta ask nicely."

"Like hell." I tried to shove him away, but Mike was having none of it. He just continued to kiss me. The more he did, the feebler my efforts to get away from him became. I didn't really want him to stop, but I couldn't quite make myself actually ask him to fuck me.

I watched in fascination as his hard, dominant expression turned into an almost evil grin. As he kissed me, I kept my eyes open, looking into his gleaming eyes watching me back. It felt like he was the predator who'd caught me as his prey and was just waiting to go in for the kill.

God, the man was skilled with his tongue! He kissed me like no man had ever before. I'd never even imagined kissing could be so exciting! And we'd had sex regularly since we'd started. It wasn't like this was all new. Mike -- no. He was Pops now. And Pops was different from Mike. I saw it in the way he took charge of the men in this club, and many of them were definitely alpha. Pops was the top alpha. And he was slowly but surely asserting dominance over his very alpha mate.

I continued to shove at his chest, trying to get free. Though, I had to admit, I wasn't trying as hard as I should have. Not if I'd felt threatened. Did I really want him to dominate me on some level? Did I want to submit to him? But that was crazy. Right?

The sharp scent of lust hung heavily in the air, making my thoughts and feelings all the more a chaotic mess. A window somewhere let in a sweet summer breeze smelling of the rain about to come.

The taste of his lips and tongue was a strange mix of the whisky he'd sipped earlier and his own intoxicating, unique taste. It was aggressive, sweet, power and tenderness rolled into one that left me breathless, wanting more. My lips tingled from the force of his kiss. There was the faint essence of his cologne mixing with the other scents and tastes until my head spun in a dizzying high.

My breathing was strained, ragged as I struggled against him, needing to assert some kind of dominance before I completely lost myself in this erotically tantalizing madness. My gasps and moans were muffled by his kiss as he literally stole the breath from my body. Our mingled sighs, grunts, and growls were the music to our cacophonous dance.

No matter how much he kissed me, no matter how I halfheartedly fought him, Pops's grip around my throat was unyielding, his touch both arousing and infuriating.

Just as I thought I might succumb completely to the bewildering storm of emotions he was stirring within me, Pops suddenly pulled back, his eyes burning into mine with an intensity that both scared and excited me. He loosened his grip but didn't let go completely. There was a slight smirk playing around the corners of his mouth as he watched me catch my breath, panting.

"You're a wild one," he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

"That may be. But if you think you're going to tame me, think again."

"Got no desire to tame you, Mama. I like that you have fire. I hope you always do."

I glared at him, not fully believing he could actually want me to fight him. And I would. I would always be dominant. But for Pops, I thought I could let him take control. Sometimes.

Maybe.

"I'm not some pet to be domesticated," I shot back, my voice husky with need.

"No. You ain't. But the fight is half the fun. Make no mistake, Mama. In any battle with you, I… will… win. I will win because you won't have a man you can't respect. And you won't fully respect any man you can best. Giving you up isn't something I'll ever be able to do, so I'll do whatever it takes." He lifted his chin, looking down at me. "So, I'm going to ask you once again, Mama. What is it you need?" It was a demand pure and simple. A command.

I swallowed. No doubt he could feel the movement of my throat with his hand still a tight, unbreakable band. Then I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly before obeying him. "Please, Mike," I whispered. "Please fuck me. And that's as much as I'm capable of. I won't beg. I can't."

He grinned. "Never said you had to beg, darlin'. Never that. But you need to know I can and will take care of you. If I step in, you need to know I can enforce my will if necessary."

"We'll have words," I threatened, but I was pretty sure it came out a breathless protest more than an actual warning. "I won't roll over for anyone. Not even you."

"Which is where you're going to trust me to have your back. I will never take over unless I feel you're being too careless with your safety, or I think you need it. Then, in private, we can hash it out. But I want you to understand, from this point on it's me and you. We have each other's back. We are united."

God, what he was saying appealed to me. Not only did the relationship he described appeal to me, but also, wasn't this how a mother and father should be? United in the eyes of the children so they couldn't play one of us off the other? I knew in my heart we were better together than we ever were separately.

After giving it thought, I nodded my head slowly. Only then did Mike let up on his grip around my neck. "I like the sound of that." I didn't look away from him. And though he eased his grip, he didn't let me go.

With a grunt of approval, Mike bent his knees and wrapped his arms around me, lifting me so I had to wrap my legs around his waist to hang on.

He carried me to a nearby door and opened it, taking us inside. He locked the door before kissing me again. I knew the room was being used as an office at this point. It was unfinished and smelled of sawdust, drywall, and paint. The desk in the middle of the room was littered with papers and notebooks that Mike brushed away with one swipe of his arm.

Setting me on my feet, Mike whipped my shirt over my head before moving to my jeans. His movements were swift and jerky in his haste. I unfastened my bra and reached for his shirt, tugging it from his jeans, running my hands up his hair-dusted torso as I pulled the material from his body.

While he shoved my jeans and panties over my hips, I leaned in to take one of his nipples between my teeth, nipping at the bit of flesh. He barked out a sharp yell before he pulled away to lift me to the top of the desk. Shoving my legs apart, Mike unfastened his own jeans and pulled out his cock.

The next thing I knew, Mike had shoved himself inside me and began a brutal ride. He slammed into me with explosive force. Our flesh slapped together loudly in the small room. With each of his thrusts, my body shook, forcing the breath from my lungs. I clung to his shoulders, trying to ground myself until he shrugged off my grip and grabbed my throat again. This time, I wrapped my hands around his thick wrist. Only thing is, I wasn't sure if I was simply holding on to him, or making sure he didn't abandon this aggressive, dominant position. My entire body was consumed in a firestorm of lust and need. His cock filled my quivering pussy, stretching and burning even as he pounded inside me with bruising force.

Mike's body was a work of art as he moved over me. Muscles played under his skin, heavy and strong. A man able to protect his family.

With a cry, I went limp beneath him. I laid my arms out to my sides and let my legs fall wide open. That seemed to be exactly what Mike wanted because he snarled loudly before fucking me even harder. Faster.

"Gonna come with me, woman. I'm gonna put my cum deep inside your pussy and you're gonna take it from me. Now. Fuckin' come on my cock, Josephine. Now!"

I did. God, I did! My body fragmented into a sensory explosion the likes of which I could never have been prepared for. Each time Mike took me seemed to be better than the last. Each time he took me, I fell for him that much more. He was a force to be reckoned with, but beneath his gruff exterior he had a soft side. He slipped up on you when you weren't expecting it and completely took you over. At least, that's what he did for me. The thing was, I surrendered willingly. And I knew I'd never regret it, and never look back.