4. Past and Present （Dust）

4

Past and Present (Dust)

Several Minutes Earlier

I sat on my bike, watching the sun slip down across the horizon. Several thousand men were buried here beneath the tombstones, long lost boys who'd died in every damned war this country ever had since 1830.

Conflict ran deep in my veins on both sides. My great great granddaddy fought for Dixie in a cavalry regiment on my old man's side. Ma's side had my great great uncle, an artillery Major for the North, who'd crawled through hell when East Tennessee became ground zero for all the blood soaked brother-on-brother savagery defining the war.

History buff? Maybe I was, but I'd punch anybody in the face if they ever called me a nerd.

I thought about my family a lot, bloodlines steeped in the country's wickedest turmoil, trickling down across generations. The Deadly Pistols name wouldn't exist for this club if it wasn't for my old man's gun, passed down to me since it did its time killing men on these battlefields more than a hundred and fifty years ago .

The gun was locked up at the clubhouse, stuffed in a wooden box I rarely opened for anybody. Seeing her, touching her, that was just for me.

Every brother wore her symbols all over, inked deep in our skin. I had a whole arsenal scrawled across my back, my chest, smoke curling out of the steel barrels on my arms. Saw them every morning I woke up, every time I shed my clothes, every time I got between some girl's legs and fucked her 'til she screamed my name.

Deadly Pistols Motorcycle Club. So much history, and a lot more blood, wrapped up in a tidy symbol that grinned back at every man who'd ever put on the patch. We'd sworn our lives to the skull, the wings, and the smoking guns. Wouldn't ever change.

This club, this symbol, they went straight to my family. Brothers, ancestors, kin by blood and patch alike. Made me who I was, straight to my fuckin' core.

Right now, the club deserved a helluva lot better than it'd gotten.

I took a long pull on my pipe, pinching it between my fingers, thinking about how we were still busy undoing my old man's bullshit, several years after he'd met the reaper.

Early had his fun, and he fucked a lot of people over. My daddy made too many enemies, blew too much money, and left Ma's heart in tatters. Left that poor, sweet woman waiting to join him some day on the other side, but I knew they'd be going their separate ways.

Ma was never bound for hell like him. He deserved every fuckin' lick of the flame for what he'd done to the club, done to his brothers, done to me.

Fuck you, Danny, his ghost growled in my ear, as he did way too goddamned often. I ain't the only one bound for fire.

Someday, we'll meet again, boy. Count on it.

Growling, I stubbed out my pipe, wanting to put bad memories behind me. I had my getaway.

I was eager to start the long ride home from Georgia, heading back into the Smokies. I'd take the off roads leaving this state at night so the Deads wouldn't have a shot at getting me alone.

They came around these parts, but they'd been slow to snap up the free territory we'd left for the assholes after killing our old friends-turned-enemies, the Atlanta Torches. Even if they showed, they'd have plenty of street gangs to fight in the city, so many battles it'd stretch a club as big as theirs to the bone.

I had my key in the ignition when my phone went off.

I ripped it out, looked at the screen, and saw a name that turned my dick to stone. “Hannah? Where are you?”

“About to get off the runway and come home, Dusty.”

“Yeah? What's wrong, darlin'?” She shouldn't have been calling me from the airport. Adrenaline filled my veins, overwhelming the desire to finish what we'd started at Firefly's wedding for just a second.

When a woman rang this line, she only did it for two reasons.

Either she wanted every inch of me up inside her, or she needed me to bust heads.

Both were plenty valid. I'd never said no to either one, and I sure wasn't gonna break trends with this little minx .

“Why does something have to be wrong? Can't a girl just call to say hello?” Her sarcasm warmed my ears, sharp and sexy as ever. “Listen, I talked to Firefly. I'm coming into Atlanta tonight, and I don't want to deal with a rental. My brother said you're the only club man down there. Honestly, making your head any bigger is just about the last thing I want to do, but I need a ride to Tennessee even more, so...I think you see my dilemma.”

“Yeah, darlin', I think so, too.” I smiled, feeling the fight-or-flight hornet swarm in my blood calm, surrendering to lust, running in my blood thick as warm honey. “I'll be at the airport, waiting. When do you get in?”

“Four hours or so. Sometime around ten. I'm not much for driving at night, but I'll make an exception if I'm the passenger.”

“Gonna have to make an exception for my bike, too, babe. Only way we're getting home.” I heard her suck in a sharp breath, and suppressed a laugh. “Calm down. We'll take it slow through the mountains and stop for coffee to stay warm. You can keep those little hands around me as tight as you want. I won't even try anything crazy.”

“You'd better not!” she squealed, sucking in another sharp breath as soon as the words are out.

Almost like the sounds I imagined she'd make all red and sweaty, riding every inch of my cock. Fuck.

That hard-on in my jeans jerked something fierce. Knew I'd probably have to pull over at a gas station just to jerk off if I wanted to make it home with this girl without losing my damned mind .

“Seriously, babe, just get your sweet ass home. I'll be waiting. Text me wherever you want to meet as soon as you're on the tarmac.”

She hesitated for several seconds, saying nothing. I wondered if she'd really take me up on the ride, or take off with that rental after all.

“Okay, Dusty. I will. I appreciate the help here, even if you might be the last man I want giving me a helping hand.”

Click. The line went dead, and I saw her name flashing cold on the screen.

Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I started my bike, and headed for the closest bar by the airport. I'd have a couple beers while I waited for her long ass flight to come in.

Perfect timing, really. Gave me a few hours to figure out how the fuck I'd keep a lid on my raging need to screw this girl 'til we both went blind.

Several hours later, just after ten, I saw her standing on the curb. Uptight, punctual, and sexy as the last time we'd kissed.

Hannah squeezed the handle on her suitcase when she saw me getting off my bike and coming toward her. White knuckles meant nervous, increasing the odds that her pretty blue eyes liked everything they drank in when they looked at me.

“Been awhile, darlin'. Let's get this loaded up and hit the road,” I said, pulling the suitcase from her hands. Surprisingly, it didn't weigh much.

“You're lucky I traveled light,” she said, trailing after me. “Going home on a bike wouldn't even be an option if I'd brought more of my wardrobe.”

“You'd be surprised what fits on this bike when it needs to. I'm more than happy to have you tag along with your thongs and handcuffs tucked in this bag. You and your kinky shit are always welcome on this ride, darlin'.”

Her eyes flew open, looking like they were about to leave her head. “Dusty! I've only been here for two minutes, and we're already joking about sex?”

“Who said I was joking?” I narrowed my eyes. Extending a hand to her, I wrapped her little fingers in mine, and passed her a spare helmet with my free hand. “Don't worry, babe. All screwing around aside, I'm not getting between your legs 'til you show me you're ready. We both do business. Let's treat this like any other professional deal, something you're entitled to because you're part of this MC. I've got too damned much respect for your brother to do anything else.”

That seemed to calm her. Relaxing her grip on my hand, she straddled the bike, climbing on behind me and fixing her helmet.

“Okay, damn it. Deal. But I swear, Dust, if you go back on anything... I'll get off first chance I've got and hitchhike the rest of the way.”

“I actually believe it,” I told her. “Everybody with the last name Davis is stubborn as a mule. Firefly's shown me that a hundred times over, and I know you've got the same spark, seeing where you're at with life.”

I watched her in the mirrors. That perfectly beautiful chestnut hair disappeared into the black shell protecting her skull.

Didn't know if the helmet made my temptation better or worse. It had a way of bringing out her other features, outlining her big blue eyes, her rosy lips, those white cheeks I wanted to paint red with fuckin' lust.

My compliments brought a smile to her face, but it seemed like there was something else, too. A quiet, halfway hidden sadness, some secret shit chewing at her, gnawing deep. Any girl who looked like that had secrets beyond her rocking body. I'd pull them out of her, sooner or later, one honest kiss at a time.

“Let's just make some miles,” she said, curling her hands around my waist.

We rolled out of the city without another word. Left me wondering why the hell having her hands on my abs felt more electric than anything else.

We were about to cross the border into Tennessee just south of Chattanooga, a little after midnight, when all hell broke loose.

Rain. Fog. Lightning. Thunder so loud it shook the countryside.

Hannah had been damned quiet up 'til then. Her hands did all the talking I needed to hear, tensing up against my skin, making her cling to me like a scared cat .

Who the hell could blame her? We were having a good old fashioned mountain storm, crashing straight through the summer sky and rolling toward the Smokies, breaking up the humid summer sweetness.

Too bad we got our asses caught right in the middle.

Another lightning bolt hit the ground off to the side of us, taking out a tree. My old navy senses stabbed my brain, slowing everything down, making me duck and weave like I was back on a speedboat, chasing the sea.

“Dusty!” Hannah screamed my name while we missed a few more hulking fallen branches.

“Hold on with everything you've got,” I growled back at her, gripping my bike's handlebars. “We're in for some chop heading down this exit.”

At least, I thought there was an exit in front of us.

I took the chance, knowing any side road was safer than staying on this highway. My bike roared down it, away from the poor bastards on the road just as blinded by the rain and chaos as us. Every car passing was a human error waiting to happen.

I couldn't let it. Not with this woman behind me, shaking like a leaf, gone so quiet she must've been praying for her life.

Didn't have a clue if we'd hit the border or not, passing into Tennessee. Just then, I didn't much care. My eyes scanned for neon signs, seeking a truck stop, a motel, anything that'd keep us safe while we waited out the storm.

Several more long, rainy miles passed before I saw it.

ROOMS AVAILABLE! The sign blinked through the blurry waterfall pouring down on us like a dream. Just a crooked old sign lit neon pink.

I didn't think twice while I swerved in, ramming my bike into one of the empty spaces. Hannah's nerves were too fried to get up when I told her to.

“Let's go, babe. Let me help.” She didn't fight me when I reached for her hands, pulled her off the seat, and into my arms.

Practically carried her inside while we moved into the dingy little front office. There was nobody at the register, so we stood there waiting. My arms were still around her, and I swore when I realized it.

“Shit. I'm sorry, I saw the storms coming when I checked the weather this afternoon. Thought we could beat 'em. Also didn't think hell itself was opening up and dumping the whole fuckin' sea on us.”

Another lightning bolt stabbed through the sky above the parking lot, drowning every other sound in savage thunder. My grip on her softened, sliding down toward her hips, palming that little nook near her belt line, where some man was gonna be lucky to put a kid one day.

“We'll wait this out, darlin'. Won't hit the road 'til it stops and the weather report on my phone says the coast is clear. You okay?” I asked.

“Not if you think I'm getting back on that bike tonight!” She spun, jerking away from me, her back going flat against the wall. She sighed, pushing her wet bangs out of her face, big blue eyes softening. “Look, I'm sorry, Dusty. I really am. It's been a long trip. I'm tired, burned out, and it looks like there's no chance I'll get home anytime before four in the morning.”

Seeing her freak the fuck out didn't even bother me. I stepped up slowly, a smile on my lips, letting my eyes roam her throat and her face.

This time, I took her softly in my arms. Reached out, cupped her chin, and softly pushed my fingertips into her skin.

“Ain't a problem. We can get ourselves a room here tonight, and wait for mornin'. It's just a short hop home from here. An hour, maybe an hour and a half. None of the boys are gonna miss my ass for a few more hours.”

Nodding softly, she pulled away from me, and stepped up to the counter, ringing the bell. A small, older man stepped out of the little room behind the desk a few seconds later.

We made our arrangements quick. One room for us to share, the best he had in this run down pit stop, deserted thanks to the storm. Going for two would've been risking roaches or bed bugs, but Hannah asked about it, telling me she'd pay for everything.

I leaned in, whispering my worries in her ear. Bugs seemed to set her on edge, so she agreed to one. Took every fiber in my bones not to get up in arms about that. But I gave her a pass to soothe things over, watching as she slipped the man her card to run.

I gave the lazy little fuck behind the counter a dirty look. Too many off-the-books shit motels like this had fucked over my club. Not so long ago, we had more dirty bars, motels, trucker spas, and whorehouses in the mountains. Same place Skinny Boy had rescued his old lady, Meg, from.

“It's straight down the hall, sir. Last door on your right,” the owner said. Hannah grabbed her bag and walked off before she heard the last part. “Only one bed, I'm afraid. Our spare cots are busted right now, so I can't offer any help.”

“Forget it. We'll live,” I told him, before I took off, heading for the room with the keys in my hand.

Yeah, we'll live. Assuming laying next to the hottest little ass I've wanted in years doesn't make me have a stroke tonight.

I didn't say shit to Hannah, stepping past her to unlock the door. Let her find out our dilemma once she opened it, turned on the light, and we stepped into the tiny room.

It was cleaner than I'd expected. I made the rounds, looking for any signs of screwed up locks on the windows that could make it easy for anyone to get in, or bugs waiting behind the headboard.

Nothing. Small favors went a long way tonight.

“Well...this is just great, isn't it?” she said quietly, looking at me as I flopped down on the mattress. “You're going to take the whole thing yourself?”

I lifted my head, mischief beading in my eyes. “Nope. We're sharing the bed, darlin'.”

“Sharing?!” Damn if her cheeks didn't go rosy red when she turned her head. “You know that isn't going to work. We can't forget what happened at the wedding...”

“I remember just fine, Hannah. Told you, I ain't doing shit to you, if you don't beg. I'm the one in control, remember? You're not getting so much as another kiss 'til you're good and ready. So, you can come on over, take off those wet clothes, and get some shut eye.”

For a second, she stood there like a statue. Staring me down, one hand perched on her hip, wondering if she can trust me not to tear off her clothes the instant she laid down next to me.

Truth be told, it wouldn't be easy keeping these hands, this mouth, and this cock to myself. Thankfully, age had its advantages, like helping a man save the fire and brimstone for the times when he finally sunk into a pussy craving every inch of him.

Blue balls had nothing on my word.

I swore on everything I had I wouldn't fuck this chick 'til she was good and ready. Yes, ready.

Ready to whimper.

Ready to moan.

Ready to scream my name when I frigged her clit so hard she squirted all over my balls.

“Darlin', the sheets are getting cold. I know you need the sleep. If you're still pondering the ifs, ands, and buts in your sweet head, you can stop. Here's some collateral so you know I'm going by my word.”

I sat up and stretched. She watched me stand, throwing off my cut, working on my belt. I stripped to my boxers, only thing I still had on that wasn't soaked, pulling out my knife and gun before I let my jeans hit the floor.

“Here,” I growled, stepping up to her, holding out my weapons. “You can hang onto these for the night, if they'll make you feel better. If you think my word ain't good enough, you're welcome to stick a bullet or a blade wherever you think it'll hurt the most the minute I put a finger on you.”

She grabbed the weapons weakly, shaking her head. “Dusty...fine. You're a good man, and you've been around long enough for me to know that, without any doubt. I trust you. That's not the problem.”

“No?” I said, cocking my head. “Then what the fuck is?”

We locked eyes. Must've stared into each other's souls for a solid minute, her not saying shit, but her eyes giving me enough hints.

She wouldn't tell me outright. I watched as she broke the gaze first, shuffling to the other side of the bed, laying my gun and knife down on the nightstand next to her. I listened to wet, slippery clothes coming off skin.

Damn if my cock didn't throb each time I heard something hit the floor. I hated having to make that fuckin' promise not to touch her, knowing I'd catch seven kinds of hell if I ever broke my word, inside and out.

No, I knew what was eating her. She wanted it as bad as I did, but for some reason, the girl was too afraid to admit it.

“You can turn around now,” she said.

I did, and saw her in bed, the sheet bundled tightly around her. A second later, I crashed down next to her, ready to focus all my attention on shutting up the lust churning in my veins.

“I don't mean to lead you on, Dust. You know as well as I do what could happen if we get too friendly, go too far...wouldn't be good for either one of us, much less your club.” She spoke softly in the darkness, almost a whisper, like she was afraid to finally hammer down the truth.

She swallowed, but something hard and bitter caught in her throat. “Please don't hate me. I really do appreciate the ride home, and stopping here tonight, just for me. After Huck, I think you're the best man I know wearing that patch, though all of you are pretty great. I –“

“Darlin' – hush.” Reaching across the bed, I put my finger gently against her lips. “We've got nothing else to talk about 'til mornin'. You just get your beauty sleep, and I'll stroke myself off for being the biggest, baddest looking guardian angel you ever met.”

That got a laugh outta her. Fuck, her sounds were so sweet, so innocent, so good they touched my heart for a micro-second instead of just that hard-on I pushed into the mattress, trying to stamp it out.

“Goodnight, Dusty,” she said.

“'Night, babe. I've got an alarm set to wake us up by eleven to check out.”

A little while later, I laid there wide awake in the darkness, listening to her softly breathing in her sleep.

Couldn't shake the truth she said because it was the same thing I knew deep down inside. Hannah Davis was too damned good for any man in this club.

I knew it, she knew it, and so did her big brother. If she ever crossed a line she shouldn't, or anybody else did, my Enforcer would be ready to jerk their spine outta their skin, even if that person outranked him.

Exactly what he ought to do as her big brother. No, fuck, I had to keep it in my pants with her. Didn't need the drama or the trouble with war on the horizon in a few more months.

Wouldn't be long 'til I came back through these parts, my club at my back, riding against the wind and into the bloodbath ahead. We'd take out the Deads, win ourselves a trade route with Blackjack's Grizzlies or Throttle's Devils, or we'd all die trying.

The club's problems were a nice distraction from fucking the beauty sprawled out next to me. I focused on them harder when she rolled in her sleep, moving toward me. Shit, now her half-naked skin pressed against mine, with nothing but a sheet between us.

I'd been tortured a few times on runs that went bad, and they weren't half as rough as this. Had to think of anything that wasn't Hannah's fuck-worthy ass wedged dangerously close to my dick, and I had to do it fast.

Sometime before sunup, I heard my old man's voice. Early always came to me in my dreams, day or night, whenever I didn't shut his evil ass down with Doctor Jack or Jim.

I can't believe this shit. You always were an indecisive fuckin' pussy, Danny.

Sleeping with this fine bitch – just fuckin' sleeping with her – proves I was right. Hard to believe I left my club in the hands of a boy who don't even know how to use his dick like a man.

Rage coursed through me. Wanted to walk up to the corner where I saw his shadow talking to me, grab him by the throat, and spit in his big, bearded face.

Next time I looked over, he was gone. The fuck always disappeared before I could tell him how wrong he was, or how I was sick and tired of hearing his twisted shit.

I didn't run this club into the ground, old man.

I didn't get brothers killed for nothin'.

I didn't shit on Ma and leave her heart in a million pieces just for strange pussy.

All those truth bombs and more lodged in my throat.

Worst of all, I knew it wasn't really Early, coming up from his grave to taunt me like a ghost. It was my own brain, pulling make believe demons out of nowhere, mining them in my subconscious.

Deep down, some evil, screwed up part of my soul fought the rest of it, trying to tell me I wasn't good enough to bring my boys everything they deserved.

Good fuckin' luck.

I'd keep fighting, damn it. And one of these days, I'd spread the legs of the angel laying next to me, when she wanted it so bad I'd feel her little teeth digging into my skin.

She belonged on my cock, one way or another. I belonged in her, teaching her sweet young ass the dirty, addicting things a woman oughta know at least once in her life.

Wanted it. Needed it. Imagined it, right down to how her face would look when I took what was mine.

Opening her up, tasting her, fucking her with everything I had. Wasn't a question of if, but when .

Whenever that day came, I had a feeling it'd be the same day this club smiled on me for leading it to glory, bringing every brother a woman, a bottle of whiskey, and enough peace to enjoy it.