Calix (Areion Fury MC, #6) Read online

  Brothers are staring at Big Oaks, confused as fuck. I’m not. This is something we used to discuss when I was barely wet behind my ears. A young dude without any experience in life...especially about women. Big Oaks explained it in the way he thought was the best way to get through to me.

  Scrap metal being the kind of woman you would go to when you need it, those who you could find anywhere. Silver? The dating kind. Gold? Slap a ring on there. You get the idea. And if you’re wondering why the strange comparison...Big Oaks runs a garage and likes all kinds of metal, and sees the use in it.

  I take a deep breath and with a huge grin, I let him know. “Platinum.”

  Although I’d like to say Rhodium, because that’s extremely rare and the most valuable kind of metal, but I don’t want to confuse the brothers even more than they already are. Again...she might be playing the ‘jealousy card’ to fuck with Dane’s head, that was my intention too, but the end game for me is very different. She’ll realize that soon enough though. Hence the reason I refuse to lie to Big Oaks, with Ten being his daughter, he, as well as she, deserves my respect.

  A low whistle flows through the clubhouse. “Damn, brother. You ain’t fucking around?” Hugo directs at me and lets his gaze land on Dane.

  Fuck. I totally forgot Hugo was around most of the time and should know what the hell we’re talking about. Doesn’t matter, they all will know soon enough. I’m about to say something when Dams reaches forward, breaking the conversation.

  “Big Oaks, here’s the package you requested. I’m here to oversee the transfer for two weeks and then one of my brothers will come up here if you still need some support. We’re looking forward to work with you on this,” Dams states.

  Ten being the VP, I have no doubt that she knows what this is about, as do I. Both chapters took it to the table a few weeks ago and saw the profit. Though I had no clue about Ten’s existence or function within this chapter when we took it to the table. Big Oaks has always kept his personal life separate from the club. Well, not anymore so it seems.

  Zack wants to expand the towing business the club owns with Dams’ ol’lady, Nerd. Big Oaks owns a garage so it’s logical as fuck but Big Oaks hasn’t expand in that area yet. This chapter is filled with morons, with a few exceptions, who would rather put their energy into fucking instead of work. Hence the reason money has been tight.

  Zack talked to Big Oaks about the idea and he put a file together with all kinds of information. Our MC is going to front the money to invest in a state of the art tow truck, that’s going to arrive tomorrow. Dams is here to teach brothers to handle things and I’m sure Pokey, or one of my other brothers will be here in two weeks to take over Dams’ job until we’re sure they won’t fuck up the new truck.

  “We don’t need no damn babysitters,” Dane barks. “We voted it in, we can handle everything ourselves.”

  I feel Ten go rigid beside me. They took a vote about all of this weeks ago. They voted it in because they all want the cash flow. They’ve managed to crawl out of debt a month ago but things are still tight, I’ve seen the books. They launched a new company, a car wash, three months ago and since then they’ve managed to create a steady income. But they need more. They need this.

  “If you would use your brain for two seconds you would understand that setting up a new business entails learning. And when help is offered, you take it and fucking learn. Got it? Be respectful toward your Prez and your brothers, even if they’re from another chapter,” I tell him in a harsh voice that rings with warning.

  If I didn’t already hate the fucker, I would have hated him the second I knew he wanted my woman.

  I can tell he wants to blow some more steam but the brother I know as Ryke shoves Dane in the shoulder. “Come on, man. Let’s get some beers, my throat is dry as an elephant that’s crossed the desert.”

  Dane swings his gaze to Ryke. “That shriveled up hose of yours is always dry. Oh, no wait...that’s your cock.” Dane snorts and eyes Ten. “We all know mine’s been getting wet on a regular basis. Right, Tenley?”

  I’m on my damn feet with my next breath. “Outside, right now. You disrespected your Prez first and now your own damn VP. They may have endured your rude, asshole ways, but that ends this instant,” I growl and repeat between clenched teeth, “Outside, Dane. Move.”

  “I don’t answer to you, fucker,” Dane snarls.

  “You sure about going outside, Calix?” Big Oaks asks me.

  I don’t take my eyes off Dane, but instead give Big Oaks a tight nod. I don’t mean any disrespect, but I won’t turn a damn blind eye toward someone I not only despise, but this fucker is one who will kick a man who’s down, stick a knife in your back, that kind of sleazy-ass motherfucker. And if the same rules apply as they were years ago when I belonged to this chapter...it’s free to challenge another brother to settle a dispute outside.

  “Let’s go everyone. Dane, Calix, in the ring you two. Bare knuckles, nothing else. Three rounds if you two last that long,” Big Oaks states.

  Everyone starts to peel out and head outside. This club has a large boxing ring setup behind the clubhouse. One where guys like to go a few rounds of bare hand fighting in when they need to hash something out. Or just for Saturday night’s entertainment, whatever. Dane must think I’ve been out of practice or that he’s been training for this because the idiot is gleaming and practically skipping his way to the ring. I’m following the crowd that’s heading toward it too when my arm is being pulled.

  Glancing down, I see it’s Ten who’s stopping me. “Why are you doing this?” she whispers, looking around to check and make sure no one heard her.

  I reach out and grab her by the back of her neck to pull her close. “He’s being disrespectful and needs to be taught a lesson, sweetness. And I can hardly spank him like I did with you because I wouldn’t touch that fucker with a ten-foot pole. Unless I’m kicking his ass, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  “I’m going to be very disappointed if you get your face busted in. Since...you know, I was counting on some more of those kisses. Even if I’m very aware you put on a show to set off Dane.” She swallows, her eyes going to the floor as if she’s caught herself admitting something she didn’t want me to find out.

  Placing my thumb underneath her chin, lifting it slightly up to connect our gaze before I tell her, “I’ll make sure we can kiss the fuck out of each other for many lifetimes to come. Back there wasn’t just a show. Even if it was, a blind man can see how compatible we are and that’s something the both of us can’t ignore, we might as well go with it and see how the rest of things fall in place. So, for now, I’m all in and with you demanding some more kisses, I take it you’re all in too. Understood?”

  Her damn pupils dilate and her gaze slides to my mouth as she whispers, “Understood.”

  I’m a total fucking goner for this woman right here. I groan and crash my mouth over hers. Reaching for her ass, I grind my rock-hard cock against her. I shouldn’t because there’s a huge dilemma to deal with when you’re about to go into a fight. Can’t take a hit to the groin with a damn boner.

  But right in this moment? I don’t fucking care. Hoisting her up, she wraps her legs around my waist as I carry her toward the boxing ring, resulting in hollers and catcalls from all the brothers around us.

  She chuckles into my mouth, pulling back slightly she mutters, “No going back now, huh?”

  I know damn well this woman isn’t talking about the fight that’s about to happen. “Admitting you’re my ol’lady already, huh? I must be doing something right.” I brush our noses together to tease her some more.

  “You’re so fucking bad,” she says in fake frustration.

  “Aw, sweetheart,” I groan. “Why do you say that? You haven’t even seen me fight or felt me fuck that sweet place between your legs. There will be nothing bad when I open up that slick pussy of yours with my cock so I can feel your tightness wrapped around me. And you will be so fucking tight, I just fucking
know it. You, gorgeous, will be deliciously sore after I’m done burying myself over and over until we’re both damn sated. The only thing that might be bad is the fact that you’re going to be walking funny for a real fucking long time, sweetness.”

  Ten gasps, “Calix!” And looks around her as if she caught me misbehaving in the middle of a crowd of nuns. “You’re really starting to swear and talk dirty out loud.”

  My head tips back and laughter escapes me. Full blown. I revel in this moment because it’s been a long fucking time since I’ve felt so alive and I owe it all to the woman I’m holding in my arms. The one who I’ve just called my ol’lady.

  “Come on you two,” Feargal says. “You need to throat punch that fucker, Calix. Do something a lot of us want to do but haven’t had a legit chance...or fuck, not many of us can, so please...shut him the fuck up.”

  “You got it, Feargal. Do me a favor and keep your eyes on my ol’lady when I’m in that ring,” I tell him and see a smile spread over Ten’s face.

  “Fuck, yeah. I sure will, man. But do me another favor and shout that ol’lady claim out loud so that can be the first punch in the gut that fucker receives. You know how long he’s demanded that Tenley was his to claim? He basically stated that ever since he could pull his cock out of his pants. I think that’s the best damn below the belt punch you will get in tonight.” Feargal chuckles and actually rubs his hands together in excitement.

  Feargal’s words hit me deep but not because of Dane. It’s because of the woman I’m holding. She’s been in this life and fought her way into becoming a damn VP in an all man, biker’s world. Yet here she is, in my hands, allowing me to kiss the fuck out of her in front of everyone and even managed to claim her as mine. Within a matter of damn hours. Damn lucky she came to search me out at my club. Zack was right...I needed a fucking challenge. Though it’s got nothing to do with Dane, but everything to do with my ol’lady; Tenley.

  I let her slide down my body, cupping her face in my hands to keep her close. “Stay with Feargal, Dams, and C.Rash. When I step inside that ring I need my focus in there, okay? I know you can handle yourself but I’ve never had someone who took over my thoughts the way you do. But I need for that to fall away when I’m fighting. One second of lost concentration could mean a blow to the head I won’t see coming.”

  A damn fine smile spreads her face. “Ah, you know just the right choice of words that get me all soft for your rough, hard self, huh? But, yeah...message received, sir.”

  I groan. “Sweetness, don’t address me as sir, and say shit like you getting all soft and me rough and hard, right before I have to step inside a ring to kick someone’s ass.”

  She brushes her lips against mine. “That’s a little payback for barging into my life and turning it upside-down.”

  I smack her ass. Hard. Making her stumble even tighter against me. “That’s one of twenty you earned for lying. You’re the one who came looking for me, remember?”

  She’s the balance I need. Not a full BDSM relationship but the sweet edge balance of raw fucking, smack that tight ass and tie her up. All of it to prolong the pleasure for the both of us. I don’t need the club for that, all I need is her.

  “My ass will be ready for you...but we might need to schedule it till later because your knuckles might be too bruised. Shit. Let’s save this discussion.” Her face goes from a sexy flirt to serious as fuck. “Can you do me a favor? Give Dane one hell of a black eye for me. I hate his guts more than you’ll ever know.”

  “It will be my pleasure, sweetness. But remember what I said, stay right next to my brothers, those I trust, okay?” I demand with a little snap in my voice to make sure she hears the warning in my words. I need her safe.

  “Go kick ass, slick. I’ll be waiting.” She slams her mouth over mine in a hard kiss that catches me by surprise.

  But it’s over way too soon for me to wrap my hand into her hair the way I like. She’s dashing away toward Dams who gives me a nod to tell me he’s got her. Time to get my head into the fight. My hands are itching to get some action in. I’ve been hitting the gym daily and I’ve never stop training as a fighter, always changing sparring partners.

  As a biker, a detective, a bartender, hell even as a fucked-up man who needs to blow off steam; I’ve needed it. But this right here, inside this ring, there are no limits. It’s a ‘go all out’ kinda thing, and that has been a while for me. I always need to hold back because you can’t punch a sparring partner’s lights out. It’s rude. With this being said...my body is vibrating with the knowledge I can openly punch this fucker’s lights out.

  I follow the path Ten made because I want her to hold on to my cut. I shrug out of it and hand it over. The wicked woman is actually gleaming with interest as I grab my Henley and pull it over my head. She snatches it from my hands and slings it over my cut that she’s slung over her arm. The lilac fingernails of her right hand trail over my inked chest.

  There’s a slight tug of uncertainty my heart gives, knowing I have to turn my back on her now and she will see the scars that are all over the skin of my back. No ink can ever hide that shit. I’m not sure how she’s going to respond to that. Revolted maybe? But that’s a minor concern now. I need to leave that thought because the fight is about to begin, and I can’t fucking wait to draw blood. This fucker is mine.

  Chapter 06

  ***Tenley***

  Holy shit. Talk about perfection getting a dent blown into its ego. That’s what flashes through my mind when I get a glimpse of Calix’s back. Yet those scars are a part of him and seem to balance out the flawless factor. It actually makes me want to get to know him more; what’s hidden in this man’s soul when he has scars like that.

  There isn’t a thought in my mind that these scars are inflicted by something from his BDSM club. This because my friend told me all about that lifestyle, that would be a total contradiction to that. For those who scene it’s all about the pleasure for both, meaning there’s no way those scars are a result of play.

  The sight of the scars makes my heart squeeze...I’d like to hear the story behind them. Though I know I can hardly walk up to him and ask about it. Things this crucial make an impact on someone’s life. I just have to wait until the right moment comes up, or if he decides to share on his own. All of this makes me aware that I’m more than interested to see how this thing between us will play out in the long run because fire tends to die down once it starts to burn out of fuel...will the sparks that fly between us do the same?

  My mind fades back to what’s going on in front of me when Calix steps into the ring. Dane is already bouncing on his feet, bare chested and throwing punches in thin air. All I feel for him is repulsion. That wasn’t always the case. Hell, no. At one moment in time I had a crush on Dane.

  He was one of the bad boy bikers with attitude who made all the girls notice him so yeah...I did too. But that all changed when I had too much to drink, or hell... I only had two or three drinks, I’m obviously a lightweight. I don’t even remember how it happened but I ended up in his bed.

  I shove down the memory of what happened when I woke up because Hugo steps into the ring and starts to bellow out the rules. Well, basically that there aren’t any rules except for maybe poke straight into the eyes and that they need to stop when a man is down. Other than that? The horn indicating it’s the end of a round so each of them will go to their corner to take a breath between rounds. The rest is just go full force and don’t stop till the three rounds are done.

  The horn sounds and Dane bounces around trying to intimidate Calix, who is standing there with his feet slightly spread, his whole posture in utter relaxation except for his hands, they are clenched into fists and ready to strike at any second.

  “Why isn’t he doing anything?” I mutter in concern.

  Dams chuckles beside me. “Patience, Tenley. Look at your ol’man. He’s calculating. Taking in every move Dane is making and waiting for his chance to strike at the right time, while Dane on the other
hand is all over the place. Challenging, bouncing around to try and throw Calix off his game. He wants to distract him to strike.”

  This somehow soothes the stress that’s building. Ugh, really, Tenley? Jeeeeez, who knew I could actually worry about someone besides my dad and myself after walking into my life like four heartbeats ago? Besides...he’s the one who challenged Dane, not the other way around so that means he damn well knows he can take the guy, right?

  A gunshot echoes. Everyone goes quiet for a breath or two before shouting and turmoil erupts and I get pushed down while Dams is hovering over me. My eyes never stray from Calix. His relaxed state changing, spinning around to connect his gaze with me.

  My heart jolts at the overwhelming tenderness of this gesture, that the first thing on his mind is me...needing to know that I’m safe. Yet Dane takes this moment to strike a blow, hitting him hard in the kidney, raining them down one after another. Calix stumbles back, caught by surprise as he braces himself to take the impact of the blows.

  “Nooooooo,” I scream before I turn my fury at Dane. “You dirty motherfucker! Fucking snake. You’re gonna die! Even if I have to kill you with a damn spoon, I’ll fucking do it.”

  Some of the brothers have their guns drawn, ready to handle the threat who caused the gunshot. But I know with Dane’s action...jumping Calix like that...that this was a setup. Dane was expecting the gunshot since he was the only one who isn’t focused on an outer threat.

  I push Dams off me and say, “It was a fucking decoy shot to bring Calix down.”

  Dams’ face is showing the kind of repulsion that’s also flowing freely inside me. “That won’t go unnoticed, I can fucking guarantee you that.” His eyes are focused on something behind me, his mouth turning into a grin. “Although it doesn’t matter anyway, look.”

  Spinning around I need to do a double take. My eyes bounce through the ring to take stock of what happened in the mere seconds I took my gaze off of Calix. Blood is sprayed across the floor of the ring. A few feet from Dane lays the knife that’s clearly been used on Calix as a gash on his right arm is freely dripping blood.