Hurricane Hearts Read online

  Deep breaths.

  You can do this.

  Winter is by your side.

  God, why am I so damn nervous?

  It’s just his friends.

  “Angel,” Winter said, his voice all rumbly. “Stop overthinking this.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  “Why?”

  For such a perceptive man, how this understanding eluded him was beyond me. “Because these people mean everything to you.”

  His brown eyes searched mine, the love he felt for me clear as day in them. Reaching for me, his hand scrunched my top as he pulled me to him. “You mean everything to me”—he gave me more of that deep rumble that never failed to shoot desire through my veins—“and for that fact alone, every single person here tonight will be looking out for you. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” He brushed his lips over mine before adding, “But I love the hell out of you for caring enough to overthink it.”

  I gripped his T-shirt and did my best to let him think I was good. He seemed to have a lot on his mind about the club the last couple of days, so I didn’t want to give him more to think about. Pasting a big smile on my face, I said, “Okay, let’s do this.”

  He chuckled. “Good try, Birdie, but I see you.” He threw his arm over my shoulders. “I think we’ll start you off with a strong drink.”

  The clubhouse was huge. And noisy. But then, I’d expected that. Music pumped through the air around us as Winter guided me to the bar and ordered us drinks.

  “Winter,” a deep voice sounded from behind us, “you got a minute, brother?”

  It was Hyde. I’d met him the other night when he helped move me into Winter’s house. When I turned to face him, he acknowledged me with a jerk of his chin, but his attention was heavily focused on Winter. It seemed like whatever he wanted to discuss was urgent or extremely important.

  “Can it wait?” Winter asked.

  I knew why he asked, and I loved him for not wanting to leave me alone, but I didn’t want to get in the way of club stuff. I touched his arm. “I’m good. You go.”

  Hyde eyed me with appreciation before saying, “It can’t wait.”

  “I won’t be long,” Winter said to me.

  They cut a path to the door, disappearing down the hallway I’d seen on our way in here. My attention was quickly directed back to the bar when the woman manning it said, “Here’s the whisky Winter ordered and a Jägerbomb from Monroe.” She hit me with a warm smile. “Enjoy.”

  I leaned across the bar so I could hear her better over the music and laughter. “Who’s Monroe?”

  Her smile grew as she pointed to a group of women sitting in the middle of the room. “She’s the redhead.”

  The woman she pointed at waved at me and then motioned for me to join the group.

  Picking up my drinks, I smiled at the bartender. “Thank you.”

  “I’m Kree. Always here if you need anything.” She moved onto the next drinks order, leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling. Every single person here tonight will be looking out for you. Winter’s words from earlier replayed in my mind, and I took a deep breath as I decided to run with what he’d said.

  I made my way to where Monroe sat with two other women. She stood to greet me, a friendly smile on her face. “Hi, Birdie, I’m Monroe.”

  She was super friendly and I was surprised that she knew my name. My face must have registered that surprise because she said, “Hyde told me you’d probably be here tonight.” She then motioned at the spare seat. “Come join us. This is Tatum”—she pointed at the blonde sitting next to her—“and Hailee”—she pointed at the dark-haired woman on her other side.

  Hailee smiled at me with the same kind of warmth Monroe and Kree had, while Tatum’s smile was a little more reserved.

  I placed my drinks on the table and took a seat as I glanced between the three of them. The way they all stared at me had me feeling all kinds of nervous again. “God, I feel like I’m back in school trying to make friends for the first time, which is just ridiculous. But seriously, did you guys feel like this your first time here or is it just me? And if you’re gonna tell me it’s just me, maybe consider lying, okay?”

  Monroe broke into laughter. Hailee grinned and nodded. Tatum cracked what looked like a smile, but I couldn’t be sure, because if it was, it didn’t last long. However, she was the one who picked up the Jägerbomb Monroe had bought, and passed it to me. She then took her glass and raised it to mine. “You’re not making friends here, Birdie. You’re making family.”

  It was like she’d taken a blanket and covered me while I froze. It might have been the nicest thing a stranger had ever said to me. And it really did bring it home that Winter was right when he’d said I didn’t have to figure this all out at once. Family bonds were forged over time. I would build my ties with Storm over time. And looking at the kindness in the eyes of these women told me that the family I was joining might be one I would grow to treasure dearly.

  33

  WINTER

  I watched Birdie talking with her mum in our kitchen, my gut tightening with the ever-present need I had for her. It had been a week since she’d moved in and I often caught myself wondering how the fuck I’d let her stay out of my life for so long. Not even the heavy club shit I had going on at the moment kept her from my thoughts, and that was unusual because when shit was going down with the club, it was usually all I could focus on.

  Her gaze drifted to me as her mother talked her ear off. Since Jennifer had discovered the asshole she’d been seeing was married, she’d leaned on Birdie a lot. I knew Birdie wanted to support her mother through this, but I also knew Birdie was ready for her mum to go home. It was almost 10:00 p.m. and Jennifer had been here since 5:00 p.m. We hadn’t been expecting her. Birdie had just wrapped her lips around my dick when her mother had pulled into our driveway. The way she looked at me now let me know her thoughts were with my dick again.

  My phone rang, the caller ID alerting me it was King. With one last look at Birdie, I exited the house and took the call outside.

  “What’s up?” I answered.

  “Just wanted to let you know your work on that Ryland stuff last week paid off. I appreciate the fuck out of what you’ve been doing for us, and I’ve got more for you to take care.”

  “Whatever you need, King.” Over the years, I’d mostly taken care of cleaning jobs for the club. However, King had started putting my surveillance and reconnaissance skills to use. I’d take on any job he set me, but fuck, it felt good to be back doing what I loved.

  “Axe was right about you.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Before we met, he told me you’d never fucking fail me, and you haven’t, brother.” He paused for a moment. “Get some sleep tonight; I need you at the clubhouse by five in the morning.”

  He ended the call and I stared out at the inky night. Ryland was giving Storm the kind of hell that caused King little sleep. That he hadn’t ordered me home from Brisbane while I’d been taking care of Dad’s house, even though he’d desperately needed all hands on deck, increased my respect for him. But then, my respect had always been high for him ever since his brother had shared stories of their family while we’d passed time in Afghanistan. Axe and King had been through some shit, but King had always come through for their family. King knew that Axe had shared shit with me; he also knew none of that information would see the light of day. The last five years of me handling club business for him and keeping my mouth shut at times I could have benefitted from opening it had proved that to him.

  The sound of the front screen opening had me turning to find Jennifer and Birdie coming through the door.

  “Thank you for dinner,” Jennifer said. “And for putting up with me for the last five hours. The good news is that I have plans with my girlfriends tomorrow night, so you’ll have Birdie all to yourself.”

  Birdie moved in close and I spread my arm across her shoulders, savouring the feel of her hand when she pressed it to my stomach. �
�Our door’s always open, Jennifer,” I said, meaning every word. As far as I was concerned, Birdie’s family could move the fuck in if they needed to.

  Her eyes crinkled and her lips pulled up in a smile. “Thank you.” She kissed Birdie goodbye and made her way to her car.

  Birdie rubbed her hand over my stomach while moving her other hand down to my ass. “I love you so damn much, Winter Morrison. I’m not convinced any other man would sit through five hours of my mum.”

  Jennifer slipped inside her car, kicked over the engine, and waved goodbye as she reversed out of the driveway.

  As soon as her car disappeared into the night, I lifted Birdie over my shoulder and carried her inside. Her laughter hit me fair in the gut; Birdie’s happiness was my mission in life.

  I kicked the front door closed behind us and continued on to our bedroom where I threw her on the bed. Moving on top of her, I reached a hand under her dress. Eyes to hers, I said, “Five fucking hours is a long time, Angel. You got any idea how hard I am for you right now?”

  Her hands came to my chest as her brows arched. “And who told my mother our door is always open for her? Can we just keep that in mind?”

  I slid my fingers under her panties and found her clit before dropping my lips to her throat. She arched her back as I worked her pussy and kissed my way up to her mouth. “Our door is always open. Doesn’t stop me from getting hard.” Pulling my head back so I could look at her properly, I said, “What I’m saying here is I’m looking for you to work your magic with those lips.”

  She smiled that sexy smile of hers before biting her lip and digging her fingers into my waist. “Oh God…. Yes,” she moaned as I pushed two fingers inside her. Her legs opened wide as she rocked herself against my hand and arched her back some more.

  Birdie was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. And watching her lose herself with me was something I’d never stop loving or wanting to do.

  I found her sweet spot, growling dirty shit in her ear while chasing her first orgasm of the night. We were just getting warmed up here.

  Her hands moved to grip my biceps, squeezing them hard as she came. “Fuck,” she said, breathless, “That was fast.”

  I caught her lips in a kiss before saying, “Your man is skilled.”

  She rolled her eyes and laughed. “And full of himself.”

  I grinned down at her before moving off the bed. Standing at the end of it, I unzipped my jeans. “Now I need those lips, baby.”

  She pushed up onto her elbows and trailed her eyes lazily down my body before meeting my gaze. “I think I’d prefer a show.”

  I took hold of my dick. “What kind of show?”

  “The kind where you get yourself off before coming on my tits.”

  “Fuck,” I hissed, working my dick. “Get your ass up here and talk dirty to me some more.”

  “How about you get yours down here?”

  I moved before she’d barely gotten the words out of her mouth. Settling myself between her legs, I pinned her hands to the bed above her head and growled, “How about you do as I say?”

  “You would hate it if I was the kind of woman who did that.”

  “Not when I’m trying to get my dick sucked, I wouldn’t.”

  She bit her lip, smiling at me. Hooking a leg over mine, she ground herself against me. “I’m all about sucking dick, but sometimes a girl just needs that dick inside her. That’s what I’m feeling tonight. You think you can make that happen?”

  “Jesus,” I rasped and thrust inside her. “I’m a man of many talents, but saying no to you is not one of them.”

  She fought my grip on her hands, and when I let them go, she put her arms around me, hands to my back, nails all but fucking piercing my skin. Both her legs wrapped around my body as she angled herself to allow me to go deeper. “God, yes!” she cried out, closing her eyes and taking every hard thrust of my cock.

  I didn’t go easy on her. By the time I’d fucked our need out of us, Birdie was a hot, panting mess, screaming for release, completely worn out. I had her arms flat to the bed, and her legs bent up and back, gripped tightly in my hands while I pounded into her with unrelenting force.

  I came hard, buried so fucking far inside her and feeling the kind of pleasure only Birdie could give that I struggled to let her go. When I had her like this, I never wanted to let go.

  “I’m glad your superpower isn’t saying no to me,” she said, her voice a low, sexy murmur.

  I moved off her to lie on the bed. Repositioning us so she was pulled in close, resting her head on my chest, I said, “I need to work on it. One of these days, you’re gonna suck my dick when I demand it.”

  Her body shook gently with laughter and she lifted her face to look at me. “You do know it’s not my superpower either, right? I mean, look at us; you came for me and I surrendered. I couldn’t say no to you if I tried.”

  “Trust me, Angel, you say no plenty.”

  “There are some things I can’t or wouldn’t say no to,” she said, her voice teasing, her eyes sparkling with the kind of mischief I was drawn to.

  I rolled, slanting my body so it was half over hers. “What things?”

  With her fingers threaded in my hair, she laid a sexy smile on me. “Things I’m hoping you’ll ask soon. Things that come with a diamond ring.”

  I stared down at her as this moment settled between us. It wasn’t how I’d planned for it to happen, but that didn’t matter. Not when Birdie was looking up at me with the kind of love that reached deep into my soul and promised eternity to me.

  Running my finger over her lips, I said, “What if there’s no diamond ring?”

  Her smile stayed fixed to her lips. “A ruby will do. Or an emerald. I’m not fussy.”

  “You fucking are.”

  “Am not.”

  “Baby, you’re one of the fussiest women I know.”

  Her smile turned to a pout. “Fine. I’ll accept a sapphire, but that’s my last offer.”

  I chuckled. “How soon are we talking here?”

  “For you to ask me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t forced it upon me already.”

  “You ever think maybe I’m giving you some time here?”

  “Come on, Winter, we both know you’re not a man who’s about taking his time. Why are you making me wait so long?”

  A grin slowly spread across my face and I dipped my lips to hers again. Enjoying the fuck out of this kiss, I made it last. And when I finally let her lips go, I said, “I think I like making you wait for shit. For once, I’m going to take my sweet time with you.”

  Hands to my chest, she said, “You’re being serious, aren’t you?”

  “Why the rush, Birdie? We’ve got the rest of our lives to make this happen.”

  “We do, but I can’t go another day without your ring on my finger; without the world knowing you’re mine and only mine; without knowing our hearts will be tied together forever. I love you so damn much that it physically hurts, and I want to be your wife in a way I’ve never wanted anything.”

  I took all that in and then I moved off the bed and went to the dresser. For once, I’d planned on giving her time and space to wrap her head around us being back together. I hadn’t wanted to rush her, but fuck, it turned out she wanted to be rushed. Pulling the dresser drawer open, I retrieved the blue box I’d placed there a long time ago. When I stood in front of her a moment later, I pulled her to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. With her eyes locked firmly on mine, I knelt in front of her. “This wasn’t how I planned this, but as we’ve established, I can’t say no to you.” I opened the box to reveal the diamond ring I’d never had the chance to give her years ago. The surprise and happiness in her eyes hit me everywhere. “Just so you’re aware, as far as I’m concerned, our hearts are already tied together forever; I don’t need this ring to prove that. And if the world doesn’t already know I’m yours, I’m doing something fucking wr
ong.” I paused as I took her hand. “Marry me, Angel.”

  Before I knew it, she’d moved to take hold of my face and kiss me, her arms and legs wrapping around me. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  She latched onto me so damn tightly and with such enthusiasm, I ended up falling backwards to the floor, taking her with me. Birdie barely acknowledged it, continuing to kiss the hell out of me while showering me with yeses.

  When we finally came up for air, I sat us up and pulled her onto my lap. “I hope you’re ready for me now.”

  She cocked her head. “In what way?”

  My arms circled her and I drew her close. “In every way. I’m done with giving you time and space. If you thought I was pushy before, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Her smile clutched my heart. “I’m ready for you, Winter Morrison. Make me yours and only yours.”

  Birdie Beaumont had been mine from the day I set eyes on her. Even when she thought she wasn’t mine, she was. And I intended to spend every day for the rest of my life showing her just how mine she was.

  Epilogue

  WINTER

  One Year Later

  * * *

  “Come on, Winter, dance with me!” Birdie held her hand out while blasting me with one of her smiles I was helpless to resist.

  Max laughed beside me as the live band we sat watching played a song that was made for my woman. It was written in the joy on her face and in the sway of her hips just how fucking much this song was hers.

  Actually, it was ours.

  Birdie decided that a year ago at our wedding reception. I’d been kicking back having a quiet drink with Max, watching her dance with the girls. When the band started this song, her eyes had lit up and she’d dragged me onto the dance floor. I wasn’t the kind of guy who danced, but I could never resist Birdie and the pull I felt to her. And when Darius Rucker sang about his hands on his woman, it got my woman in the mood for my hands, which got me in the mood for that too.