"What about me? How totally awesome I am?"

He gave my butt a light slap. "About all the places I want to take you, the things I want to do with you. We have more than enough money that you could stay home if you wanted to, you wouldn't have to work."

I poked at his chest. "I want to work."

"Then how about you work for me?"

"What?"

I lifted my head and found him smiling at me. "Yeah, that would be perfect. You would be a great fuckin' asset to the company, and anytime you need an orgasm you can just come in my office."

I laughed, unable to help it when he gave me a look filled with such mischief and happiness. "You're a dork."

He yawned, then nodded. "Only around you. Woman, you have no idea how much you've changed me, how big an impact you've had on my life. Never knew I could be this happy with someone, never knew what I was missing."

I rested my head on his chest and resumed running my fingers over the defined ridges of his muscles. The thought of working at his security company appealed to me, and not just because Smoke was there. Smoke loved the Iron Horse MC and considered them his family. As such, I wanted to protect them, to help them figure out who the traitors were and to make everyone as safe as I could, because if they got hurt, Smoke would hurt. Maybe this was how he felt about Lyric, or how Beach felt about me. Huh.

With those thoughts rolling through my mind, I drifted off to sleep in Smoke's arms, images of us working together at his security company like a couple of badass ninjas sending me off into dreamland.

Chapter Eighteen.

Miguel 'Smoke' Santos The fine golden hair on Swan's arms gleamed in the shaft of sunlight coming through edge of the curtain. It was close to noon, and she showed no signs of waking up anytime soon, much to my disappointment. The desire to give her the engagement ring I held tightly in my fist was now almost a compulsion. A small, sane part of my mind urged me to wait and go with my original plan, to ask her at sunset after a hike up the side of the mountain near our cabin. I'd scoped out the perfect place earlier when I'd left Swan alone for a little quiet time this morning. The fact that she was still sleeping by the time I got back and showered made me realize just how tired she was. The dark circles beneath her eyes had finally lightened and she looked relaxed, content.

Instead of being a selfish fuck, I knew I should let her rest more, but she'd slept for ten hours so I figured she would be fine for at least the next few. I would put her back to bed after I'd fucked then fed her. Or maybe both at the same time. Sliding into her body was all slick heat and tight muscles. When her pussy clamped down on me as she climaxed it was always a battle to hold back, but I was greedy for her orgasms. I loved the fact that she's mine, and only mine, that I would be the only one who would ever give her pleasure. Every word, every sigh belonged to me, and I was so ravenous for her that I slipped the ring onto my pinky finger and slid beneath the sheets.

Moving slowly, I lowered myself between her legs. At some point, she must have gotten up because she wore a pair of soft, pink cotton panties with little sparkling gems along the dangerously low waist band. I wondered where the hell Swan had gotten such a sexy piece of lingerie, then my mind flashed to my sister who'd bought clothes for Swan, and I immediately banished any further thoughts from my head.

I refocused on my task and slowly parted Swan's legs, then found out the panties were crotchless. Swan's pretty pussy lips with their golden fuzz were surrounded by smooth pink cotton and begged for my lips. It was so unbearably sexy, I knew right away who'd gotten them for her. Hustler. Don't know how he'd managed it, but that bastard did it to fuck with me, I'm sure. When I got back, I was going to beat his ass for giving my girl panties.

The light down of her golden curls felt soft as rabbit fur beneath my fingertips as I slowly, ever so lightly, stroked her cunt awake. I didn't want her mind to realize she wasn't dreaming quite yet, but I wanted her pussy soaked so that when she did wake up, it would be to instant arousal. She really got off on her clit being sucked, and I wished I had thought to grab my toy bag, but there was no way I was leaving the warmth between her legs. Not when her labia were slowly beginning to flush, swell, and grow wet.

Trapped beneath the sheets I was surrounded by her scent and when I saw a drop of liquid arousal seeping out I couldn't hold back any longer. My cock fuckin' hurt with my need to be inside of her, to soothe me in the way only she could. She shifted slightly and sighed as the movement rubbed the hood of her engorged clit against the slit of her panties. Moving carefully, I lifted the side of her panties just enough to use the material to rub against her. That made her moan, and she said something that was a garbled mumble. I grinned and did it again, watching with fascination as her clit swelled, emerging fully out of the hood.

Yeah, now she was ready.

I repositioned the sinful bit of cloth over her slit so I had the maximum usage of that small space. She wore these panties for a reason and I wanted to show her what fun they could be. I admit it, I got off on teaching her new things, and I had enough dirty ideas of what I wanted to do with her for three lifetimes. The first lick on her clit caused her stiffen, then shift restlessly with a gentle arch of her spine.

The way she lazily ground her mound against my face let me know that she was awake.

"Mmm, Miguel...what are you doing?"

I growled when she used my real name, and a bolt of lust drew my balls up tight. Fuck, every time I was with her I felt like an adolescent who had to fight busting his nut constantly. She's just so fuckin' sexy, and she didn't even know it. Even better, once I got her going she was shameless in her need for pleasure and that made me even hotter. Having her wet pussy in my mouth, gave me plenty of cream to lick up, and I hovered on the edge. The only thing that held me back was the ring on my pinkie. I wanted to give it to her now, but I was going to do it in a way that insured she'd say yes.

She lifted the sheet, and I was greeted by the sight of a relaxed, happy Swan. Her smile shot straight through me, and I sucked her clit hard before I released it. Her big blue eyes were glazed with lust and she gave me a pleading look. "Don't stop, please!"

I slid a finger into her and was rewarded when her cunt gripped down on me. "Who gave you these panties?"

"Hustler." She bit her lower lip, then gave me that cute, sexy look of hers that shredded me. "Does it matter?"

I shoved a second finger roughly into her, which earned me a groan. My dominant side rose a bit as I stared at her, knowing the effect it would have. Even with my face buried between her thighs I was the one in control here, the one who gave her pleasure and took it. A hard shudder vibrated my bones when she dropped her gaze, a softness crossing her features that entranced me. She slipped into submissive mode so quickly that I sometimes worried about it. I wondered if she needed a harsher hand, but I always dismissed the notion because of one simple truth. No matter how submissive she appeared, Swan was a wildcat and would rip into me if I really pissed her off. I loved the fact that she was dangerous. It made me want to screw her brains out in the worst way.

"Yeah it fuckin' matters that Hustler gave you panties. What the fuck?"

She gave me an impish look. "He also loaned me a book all about sexual positions. I want to try every single one with you. Can we do that, Miguel?"

This sweet, not-so-innocent girl knew just how to play me, and even though I knew I was being manipulated, I didn't care. Swan was just coming into her own as sexually active woman, and I wanted to encourage her to express her passion, to always get what she needed, and be brave enough to ask for it. It would make my job of satisfying her easier if I knew what she wanted.

I rested my chin on her pubic bone, looking up the long line of her lean, muscled body to her soft face. Perfection. The first time I ever saw her in the sunlight I just about had a heart attack. Swan went jogging that day while I watched her from the parking lot in my surveillance vehicle and my dick had fallen in instant lust with the hot young blonde in the tight, white yoga shorts and amazing ass. High, round, fuckable.

And those tits. Bouncing with her every step.

Mine.

My attention was drawn back to the present as she ran her fingers through my hair. "I love it when you look at me like that, Smoke. I have no words for it, but you make me feel...so much."

Suddenly any nervousness I had was gone and it was the most natural thing in the world to slip the ring off my pinky. I moved up a bit so my elbows were on either side of her ribs and settled some of my weight onto her, knowing she liked it. Sure enough, a small smile curved her lips as I pressed her into the mattress, and she continued to entwine her fingers in my hair. Each little tug made my dick jerk in response and I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to fuck her.

"Swan, I need to ask you something."

As she studied my face, her brows drew down and her jaw tightened. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Yes, yes, there is. I can see it in your eyes. They're not brown velvet like they should be right now. What is it? Please, tell me. I can take it."

Shit, this was not going as I expected. "Just calm down. I'm nervous, but not because something is wrong, but because everything is right. How it should be."

With a sigh she removed her fingers from my hair. "Fortune cookie."

"Then let me be as plain as I can then." I looked her right in the eye and said the words that would change the rest of my life. It would never be just 'me' again, always 'us'. "Miss Swan Anderson, will you marry me?"

Her eyes grew bigger, and bigger, and bigger until I had to bite back laughter. She just looked so astonished as she gazed at my mother's ring, the three one-carat diamonds sparkling in the warm light. The expression on her pretty face was so blank that I had no idea what she was thinking, no way to know if I needed to back off or keep pushing. This was the most important moment of my life, and I was at a loss for what to do to make her see, to understand, that we were meant to be.

"Like for-real marriage? Not some stupid biker shit?"

I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it. She was scowling, so suspicious, so damn adorable as she glared up at me, but her lips were twitching in a smile. My hard dick ached enough that I had to press my pelvis into the mattress.

"No, no stupid biker shit. I want to own you in every way I can, baby girl, to provide you with anything you could ever want or need. I don't care what you do, as long as you do it with me at your side. I want to be your husband, 'til death do us part."

She beamed at me, then held out her left hand, her ring finger slightly extended and shaking. "Ye-yes. I'll marry you, Miguel."

I kissed the tip of her finger before I slowly slid the ring on. It was a little bit loose, but the fit was close enough. As I held her hand up to the light to admire the brilliance of the ring sparkling on her hand, I had a vivid memory of doing the same with my mother, sitting next to her as a kid and gazing at the big stones as they threw rainbows onto our bodies. Now the rainbows were shimmering on my fiancee's face, and it felt right all the way down to my soul. I liked to think my mom and dad were with me right now, giving us their blessing, but they needed to beat feet back to heaven soon because things were about to get real dirty down here on earth.

We kissed and as our tongues stroked across each other I think we both groaned at the same time. Her wet, soft pussy pressed up against my erection, coating it with slick moisture as she wiggled against me. My whole body was on fire, my dick throbbing with the need to be inside her, surrounded by the wet velvet of her pussy. With one shift of my hips, I was in her, and I couldn't get close enough. I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face in her neck. She clung to me, only letting me pull out a few inches before pressing me back in with her legs wrapped around me.

I licked and bit at her neck while she did the same to me, our control gone and lust building like a thunderstorm. Our movements were so flowing, so in sync that I felt like I was just following what her body wanted, what she needed. I loved givin' it to her.

"That's it, baby girl, just like that. Squeeze me with that tight pussy of yours."

She groaned against my neck and bit me hard enough to make me wince. "You feel so good. So hard and deep. Love you."

My orgasm started to race up my back, spurred on by her words. Thankfully, Swan seemed to be approaching her own peak. After a little more dirty talk, she shattered around me, her pussy tightening and releasing in a way that swiftly pushed me over, and I groaned my way through the intense pleasure of emptying myself into my woman, every sensation dragging a shudder from me. As the last wave of pleasure flooded my system I collapsed next to Swan, rolling her over so she could cuddle into me. I loved holding her like this, draped on my body, boneless and purring. My feelings for this girl had grown beyond words, and I was so fuckin' happy she'd taken my ring without hesitation.

We were having lunch in bed when my phone beeped to alert me that someone had sent me an emergency text. I stiffened as a wave of foreboding moved through me. Somehow I knew the peaceful moments we'd stolen for ourselves wouldn't last long.

Swan must have noticed because she rolled off of me. "What's wrong?"

"I told Beach I only wanted to be contacted if the shit had hit the fan."

She stared in the direction of my phone and her anxiety was contagious as I dug for it through my pockets. It only took me seconds to open the text from Beach: Call me ASAP. It's about your family.

Icy dread curled around my spine, and I was barely aware of Swan on the bed behind me. I think she said my name, but I was so intent on finding out what was going on that I didn't respond. Shit, my brother-in-law, had he lost his life overseas like too many of my buddies? Or was it my sister, or-please God, no-my nieces.

I began to pace, and when Beach picked up on the second ring I barked out, "What the fuck is going on?"

"Brother, I need you to remain calm, okay? I need you to listen and remain calm. You might want to consider leaving the room if Swan is there."

I swear my breath stuck in my lungs as I waited for him to tell me my brother-in-law was dead. My heart slammed in my chest as my breathing picked up, bone-deep fear racing through me. I fuckin' hated being afraid. It sucked, but I'd be damned if I could control it. Glancing behind me, I found Swan watching me with open concern as I battled with leaving the room or staying. As I watched her, I calmed enough to keep from having a meltdown, and I knew my decision. My girl was a part of my life in every way now, and I wasn't gonna hide shit from her.

"It's all good. Now what the fuck is going on?"

"I'm so sorry to tell you this, but Veronica either committed suicide or was murdered on Hustler's back porch last night. I need you home to help your sister with funeral arrangements. We're takin' care of her, but she needs you right now and so does Hustler. I'm so sorry, man. I promise you, I swear to you, that if someone did murder her we will find them and take care of them."

A dull roar echoed in my head as I tried to figure out what he was saying. Veronica couldn't be dead. It was my job to protect her, to keep her safe and I'd failed. Failed my family. My throat tightened up, and I managed to grit out, "We're on our way home."

"Got tickets waiting for you at the airport in Denver, you and Swan."

"Leave your truck there. Khan'll have one of his boys bring it down. You okay? I can get one of the brothers to drive you if you need it. We're here to do anything we can for you. Understood?"

"Yeah, I understand."

There was a long, awkward pause where I swear I could feel Beach's sorrow through the phone then I hung up without saying goodbye.

I have no idea how long I stood there, staring at the wall, before Swan's voice tugged me out of my shame, guilt, and deep sorrow. "Smoke? What's wrong?"

What was wrong was that Veronica was dead because I wasn't there to take care of her. I didn't even come back to help her when she slit her wrists. While I didn't regret my decision to save Swan's life, I couldn't help but think about how my selfish actions had helped lead to the death of a woman who had so much potential when she stayed on her meds. And Hustler...shit, he must be losing his mind. I wondered if he was in jail right now as I dialed my sister's number, dreading the call.

After four rings she picked up, her voice thick and exhausted. "Hi, honey."

I swallowed hard and turned to face the wall, not wanting Swan to see me with my soul wounded like this. "How are you?"

"Not so good." She gave a watery sigh. "I haven't had the heart to tell the girls yet, and the military is still trying to hunt my husband down."

"I'm on my way. Just hang in there."

"I heard about the miracle Sarah managed to pull off. Congratulations."

While there was absolutely no accusation in her voice, I flinched anyway. "Thanks."

"A bunch of Tricks' relatives are on their way to help, and you know the club has been bending over backwards to take care of us. Right now, Scarlett is cooking up a storm while Birdie and Gina are with the girls, giving me some time to get my shit together. I'm hanging in there with lots of support."

"How's Hustler?"

For the first time her voice broke. "Not so good. He's a suspect, of course. Iron Horse's lawyers are talking with him right now."

"Wait, so it wasn't suicide?"

"No. Jinks and Track checked the scene out before the cops got there. Veronica was shot in the back of the head at an angle impossible for her to reach. She was for sure left there for Hustler to find. We just don't know why."

I was a total shit of a human being because that news made me feel a little better and eased my guilt. Anger built in me and filled my mind with thoughts of bloody, terrible revenge. I couldn't help but picture Veronica being shot. Someone was going to pay, big time.

"I gotta go, Julia. Love you and the girls. I'll be home soon."

"Is Swan coming with you?"

For the first time, I hesitated about that question. Of course, I wanted her with me, but I really didn't feel comfortable with her meeting my extended family at a funeral. Not that anyone would give a fuck. They'd probably be too shocked by the fact that I was getting married to care. Man, that sucked even more. I couldn't even celebrate my engagement with my family right now. Swan deserved the best I could give her and that wasn't showing off her engagement ring at a wake.

"I think I need to focus on you and the girls right now."

"Miguel Santos!" My sister shouted into the phone. "You better not fuck things up with her. You bring her with you and I don't want to hear another word about it."

"What?"

"She is so good for you, such a strong woman, and I've talked with Cathy up in Denver a lot this week, checking up on you."

"You have?"

"Of course, you're my brother. Do you really think I wouldn't worry my ass off about you? But I knew that you didn't need the distraction of my fretting. I don't think you really understand how much you're loved and by how many people. I met Swan's Dad earlier this week. Intense guy, but he said I was the closest thing you had to a mother and he wanted to make sure you and Swan were a good match." Her laugh was harsh, but when she spoke again her voice was a little lighter. "I found myself pointing out your very dubious virtues to him, and I felt like I was trying to pimp you out to a reluctant buyer."

"Mike Anderson came to visit you?"

On the bed, Swan gave a loud, dramatic moan of despair.

"He was a perfect gentleman, Smoke. Never once made me or the girls feel uncomfortable. In fact, they swarmed all over him. He said if yours and Swan's babies are half as pretty as mine he might forgive you for stealing his daughter from him."

My gaze darted to Swan almost against my will, afraid of what she'd read on my face. I was a fuckin' mess, my mind not really engaging, and I hurt inside. No matter how much I wanted to avoid thinking about it, Veronica was dead. Funny how when someone passes we forget about the bad shit and remember the good.

"I gotta go, Julia. According to the info Beach sent me I should be landing around 6 p.m."

"I'm coming to pick you both up," she said in a firm, no bullshit voice. "Swan's dad mentioned the ring so I know she's going to be part of our family soon. Right?"