Christmas Outburst

CHAPTER FIVE

– NIXIE –

Zale, Leon, and Reef are still sitting at my kitchen table. The food is gone, Zale and Leon did the dishes, and I’m nursing a cup of coffee while listening to their ramblings about some security job they’re handling next week.

Gertrude might think these guys are criminals, but I recently found out their motorcycle club owns a legit security business. Funny twist of her assumptions, right? Bet she wouldn’t believe it if I told her, though.

“No, I can’t leave Leon at home. Cops still haven’t caught her,” Zale says and my ears perk up.

Reef’s gaze slides to me. “I’m sure Nixie wouldn’t mind having him here for an hour or two. One of us can head over after the first round of protection is done.”

“Sure,” I instantly quip. “I have no clue what time or day, but Leon is welcome to stay with me here or at the pottery store.”

Zale stares at me until he slowly nods. “Okay.” He turns to the others. “VP, get Leon home, Otis, head out. I need to get Nixie up to speed about the situation if she’s gonna look after Leon.”

“You got it, Prez,” Reef rumbles and turns to me. “Nixie, always a pleasure. Thanks for the great food and company.”

“Thanks, ma’am,” Otis says as he gets to his feet. “Delicious meal, loved the pie.”

I give the two men a grateful smile. “You’re very welcome.”

Leon is glaring at his father and is still in his seat.

Reef places a big hand on Leon’s shoulder. “Come on, dude. Let your father discuss some things with Nixie.”

“No,” Leon grits.

“Leon, go,” Zale snaps.

Leon places his hands on the table in front of him and slowly rises to his feet to loom over in the direction of his father. “No.”

Zale releases a deep sigh and I swear I hear him mutter under his breath, “for fuck’s sake,” before he glares at his son and then turns to me.

Surprise hits me full force when he asks, “Nixie, mind coming over to our house for lunch tomorrow?”

“Lunch?” I whisper, my heart hits pause while a wave of excitement flows through me.

“Yeah, like a date, only my kid will be there too. I’m guessing you don’t have an issue with that, am I right?” The corner of his mouth twitches.

“Yes, no, of course not,” I ramble.

Zale directs his attention to his son. “There, no false intentions, we good now?”

Leon gives his father a tight nod, his eyes find mine. “Thanks for tonight, Nixie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I give the boy a warm smile. “See you tomorrow, Leon.”

A few heartbeats later it’s just me and Zale sitting at the table.

“I overheard the discussion between you and Leon the other day. You don’t have to pretend to date me. I’m fine with coming over to have lunch and I’d love to have Leon around, he’s a great kid.” I get to my feet and move past him. “Coffee?”

He wraps his fingers around my wrist to halt my movements.

“Nixie,” he rumbles, making my gaze collide with his. “Do I look like a man who can be forced, bribed, or does shit to please others? Even if it involves my kid.”

I swallow at the dryness in my throat. My body is hyperaware of this man. Especially due to his thumb stroking the inside of my arm.

“Sit. You and I are going to have a little chat where we’re going to throw all our cards on the table to see where we’re both at, okay?”

I only manage a nod and sink down on the chair next to him.

“I’ll start,” the rugged man announces with a smirk.

The sudden need to stand up for myself hits me and I steel my spine while lifting my chin up.

The words holding my thoughts, desires, and whatever else I’m thinking are thrown out into the open. “I don’t want someone tying me down, or to settle for a relationship where one person takes lead and the other simply follows. My marriage was a prime example of what I don’t want. It took that part of my life ending to see I was at fault as well, and right now I don’t want complicated shit. Dating at my age? Shit. I haven’t gone on a date in decades, it would make me nervous, set expectations, it’ll only–”

“Complicate things?” Zale finishes, the corner of his mouth twitches and laughter twinkles in his eyes.

“Yes,” I grit, getting frustrated because he’s laughing at me.

He places his forearms on the table and leans in my direction to close some of the distance between us. “Babe? I don’t do complicated. I also don’t date, but I haven’t met a woman like you. My kid likes you, and it’s why I’m holding back instead of ripping your pants off and impaling you on my cock.”

My heart jumps inside my chest due to the jolt of lust hitting me full force at the sound of his last sentence.

“The way your pupils dilated just now? I’d say we’re on the same page. How about we go for friends with benefits and see where it leads us? Though, I have to tell you some shit before you make that decision and give me your answer, okay?”

Again, I can only manage a nod.

“Okay. Well, here’s the thing. My father ran the club with a different mindset. I grew up living free and fully enjoying the benefits of being a part of an outlaw MC. Which meant fucking random pussy, drinking, partying, while in between doing some protection detail. Back then the club made companies pay for protection. If they didn’t pay, they would get hijacked, trucks never making it to their destination, that kinda stuff.”

“That’s extortion,” I blurt.

Zale presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek, eyes showing the laughter he’s trying to contain. “Yeah. Like I said, an outlaw MC. Shit changed when I was twenty-two. My father was murdered, shot pointblank by a business owner. The guy was eighty years old, dying of cancer, and didn’t give a shit about anything. I was the VP at the time and was present during the two meetings they had. I told my father to move on, but he never gave in to defeat.” He takes a deep breath and slowly releases it through his nose. “The last meeting…the old fart said, ‘over my dead body,’ stood, pulled his gun and shot my father, then he put a bullet through his own head.”

I cover my mouth with one hand while I reach out for Zale.

“I’m so sorry,” I mumble behind my fingers.

Zale covers my hand lying on his forearm with his and nods as he continues, “I went a little crazy witnessing that shit. The days after were a blur due to the alcohol I consumed. There was no need for retaliation. I warned my father to leave the man alone.” He leans back and rubs his face with both hands. “Anyway, a few weeks later some hangaround tells me she’s pregnant with my kid. I don’t even remember fucking the bitch, and told her to give me proof before I gave her so much as one cent or second of my time.”

“Leon,” I murmur.

He drops his hands and the smile sliding across his face drives away the sadness, anger, and frustration that was there during the first part of his explanation.

“After the DNA results, I stopped drinking, turned the club and my life around. Most of the members craved the change as well. Some of us were able to get a security license, and we started our own legit business.” Zale links his fingers and places them on the table in front of him. “Vera, Leon’s mother, turned out to be…let’s just say she had different intentions for getting pregnant.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

Zale gives it to me straight. “She wanted the president’s old lady title. Which makes me doubt if her getting pregnant was indeed by accident or all a setup. She didn’t like me turning the club around, kept drinking while our kid was growing inside her belly, and demanded I make her my old lady or she would get an abortion since the paternity test was done in the first trimester.”

“That’s horrible. What a conniving bitch,” I growl.

“Yeah. So, I locked her up in one of the rooms at the clubhouse, got her sober, and told her I’d try to see where the thing between us would go for the kid’s sake. She agreed. Over time she got pissed ’cause we didn’t get along and it’s why I never made her my old lady. She started drinking again, and at first, she hid it from me. Then Leon would suddenly have bruises I couldn’t explain and when I installed cameras at our house? Fucking bitch,” he grits, leaving me to easily fill in the blanks. “I told her she was done. We were done. She could still see Leon under supervision, but she was out. That’s when she set fire to the club and almost killed Leon. Vera was convicted and sentenced to prison. The bitch escaped a few days ago, and you already know what happened next.”

“Holy shit,” I mutter under my breath. “They haven’t caught her, and they didn’t tell you she escaped?”

“Nope,” Zale grumbles. “She’s still out there with a burning vengeance for me, and it seems Leon ’cause she tried to get to him. I’m guessing to hurt me because all I cared about was Leon from the moment I knew he was mine. Jealous bitch.”

“I know all about jealous bitches,” I grumble. Zale’s gaze hits mine and I add, “My husband dumped me for a chick half my age. She saw him out and about with our daughter and was jealous. She didn’t even know she was his daughter and simply killed him in his sleep the next morning.”

“Damn,” Zale mutters.

“Uh huh, I didn’t even get the satisfaction of divorcing his ass.”

Zale barks out a laugh and I shoot him a grin.

“Aren’t we a pair,” he muses.

‘So,” I quip. “Friends with benefits?”

“No complications. We each want the same thing, and will tell one another whenever shit gets unclear, okay?” His gaze holds me captive, and I give him another nod.

He shoves his chair back and moves to loom over me. Cupping the back of my neck, he places his thumb under my jaw to tip my head back. My breath catches when his lips meet mine for what feels like an enthralling kiss. His tongue seeks entrance and I willingly let him meet mine.

A growl rumbles through him and it’s as if all boundaries are broken by the mere sound. Suddenly I’m not sitting in the chair anymore. My ass is on the table and Zale is pulling at my clothes while I rip at his.

The only time our lips are apart is when it involves fabric to leave our bodies. My skin feels as if it’s on fire. Zale’s hands kneading my breasts are shooting sparks of pleasure straight to my clit.

“Fuck,” he grunts. “Look at these beauties.”

His gaze is hot when he feels the weight of my breast in each hand. Thumbs teasing my nipples. I’ve always felt insecure about my body. Maybe because my husband never took his time the way Zale is enjoying the sight of me right now. It was always rushed, in the dark, him on top and the asshole never cared about my pleasure.

Oh, damn. The way Zale is exploring what move of his makes my breath catch? I know sex with this man will be an experience of a lifetime.