Devil’s Vengeance (Devil’s Disciples MC #6)

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

MARIAH

I must’ve been out of my mind. I’d never actually let someone choke me during sex before. I’d read about it in romance novels, I knew the risks, but never really trusted anyone to experiment with it before. I trusted Chase. Not only because he did everything in his power to keep me and every woman in his life safe at all costs, but because he asked first. Not just with a questioning look or starting to see if I’d stop him. He asked point blank if I wanted to do it and I knew if I said no, he’d back off instantly. I trusted him enough to try it.

“If it’s too much, tap my wrist. I’ll stop,” he said, his voice full of gravel.

I nodded again, licking my lips as nerves swept through me. He didn’t start right away. He went back to what he was doing, moving his hips in a slow seductive roll that made my toes curl but wasn’t enough to get me off. He wasn’t interested in quick and dirty like last time. His eyes locked on mine, his weight on one hand, the other resting loosely on my neck.

It wasn’t until I was fully focused on the feel of him inside me, moaning with each thrust, that his hand slowly tightened. Not on my windpipe, since that was dangerous. He obviously knew what he was doing to play this way safely. He put pressure on the sides of my neck. Tingles swept through me at the sensation and I went a little lightheaded. When it was almost too much, he released me again and I sucked in a breath, moaning as pleasure swept through my body.

“Again?”

My belly tightened at his question. Charming Chase was kinky and I liked it.

I nodded, but he didn’t tighten again until I said the words out loud. “Again.”

The pressure of his hand stayed the same, just enough to make me dizzy, but his thrusts got rougher, sending shocks of pleasure throughout my body that swelled when he let me breathe again. It was heady, trusting him like that, letting him overpower me, yet knowing I was the one who held all the power. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that when I said enough, he’d stop immediately.

That knowledge, the light and tingly feeling I got when he squeezed his hand, and the steady thrust of his body inside mine, was too much. The next time he released his hand, I exploded, the rush of oxygen flowing back into my body only making it more intense. Chase’s hand disappeared from my neck, moving to my hips instead as he picked up the pace. When I opened my eyes, he looked feral, his teeth bared, like the experience was just as exciting for him as it was for me. It didn’t take long before he came with a shout, his thrusts slowing until he collapsed on top of me.

We laid there for a few minutes, just catching our breath, before he forced himself onto his elbows.

“How do you feel?”

I appreciated his concern. He obviously cared enough to do things the right way, and checking in with me was just as important as the rest of it.

“I’m good. It was better than I thought it’d be. I thought I’d tap out after the first try.”

He hummed, stroking his fingers gently over the skin on my neck. “No pain here?”

Since he was being so thorough about it, I took a second to really think about it before answering. “No. No pain. No soreness. I’m still a little lightheaded, but you’re heavy, so…”

He chuckled, rolling off me onto his side. “Brat.”

I had a quip all ready to dole out, but I could see it in his face how tired he was. He was cutting his sleep short just so he could watch over me. I wanted him to rest. Brushing the hair off his forehead, I fought back a smile when he closed his eyes.

“You should get some sleep.”

“It’s too damn early for that,” he complained, though he didn’t actually open his eyes.

“So take a nap. I’ll order some food and wake you when it gets here.”

He grunted but stopped arguing, shifting enough to pull his pants back up before laying back down again. I slipped out of bed to clean up and grab some new clothes. I was just coming out of the bathroom when someone pounded heavily on the door. It made me jump and take a step back, just in time to avoid being hit in the face with the door as it swung open. Chase was up in an instant, facing the door with a fierce expression. But it wasn’t Trick who entered the room.

Honestly, it felt a little worse.

The officers of the crew, spouses and boyfriends of the women I was becoming friends with, marched into the room. One dressed all in black with a dangerous expression noticed me and tipped his head toward the door, but I was frozen in my spot. I didn’t know what was going on, and the energy felt a little terrifying.

“Mariah,” a familiar voice called from the hall. “Come here.”

I looked over the man’s shoulder to where Lacey stood, her arms crossed over her chest and a deep frown on her face. The officers moved to give me room to exit, blocking the way for me to look over my shoulder at Chase. I wanted to know what he wanted me to do, but Nevada took my elbow and guided me out, handing me over to Lacey.

“What’s going on?” I heard Chase ask.

“I don’t know. You tell me,” someone replied. It sounded like Croy, but I’d only ever met the man once when he was yelling at me and Riley the first day we met.

Chase didn’t reply immediately, which only seemed to piss them off more. I heard the thud of skin on skin, and Chase’s grunt. I took a step forward to stop them, but Lacey held me back with a hand on my arm, shaking her head.

“Don’t. You can’t get involved. It’ll only make things worse for him. ”

“Make what worse? What’s going on?” I asked, flinching when I heard him take another hit. It didn’t sound like he was fighting back, which only worried me more.

Lacey shook her head, and she didn’t answer me. I could only stand there and listen as they barked at him.

“Tell me, Chase!”

“Tell you what?” he gritted out.

The next hit sent him flying into the hallway. He curled around his stomach, where he obviously took the hit. I lunged forward automatically to protect him, only to be stopped by Lacey again. She held both my arms to keep me away from them and unless I was willing to hurt her and her baby, I couldn’t do anything to get away.

The officers spilled out of Chase’s room, standing in a half circle around Chase. More club members filled the hall, watching with narrowed eyes. No one spoke up for Chase. No one stepped in to stop them. They just watched as Brewer and Clink yanked him up onto his knees and held his arms to stop him from getting away. Not that he was trying. He didn't even put up a fight.

“Fight back, Chase!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. He’d been tirelessly protecting me for over a week. He risked his life to save mine more than once. I couldn’t stand watching him get hurt like this.

But he didn’t move. Didn’t lift his gaze off the floor. He accepted his punishment without a word.

Croy stepped forward, fisting Chase’s hair to force his head back. “Tell her why you aren’t fighting back. Go on. Tell her just how fucking deep you dug yourself into a hole.”

Chase flicked his gaze toward me and away again. He gritted his teeth, his familiar scowl in place, and he didn't speak to me. He spoke to Croy instead.

“What do you want me to say, Prez?”

Croy answered him with a fist to the face. If Clink and Brewer weren’t holding on to him, he would’ve hit the ground from the force of it.

“Playing stupid isn’t gonna get you out of this, son,” Nevada said, his voice stern. “You better come clean before you make things worse.”

“Come clean about what? ”

I knew it was the wrong thing to say the minute it came out of his mouth. And he didn’t get away with it. Croy jerked his chin at Clink and Brewer, who hauled Chase to his feet, then he laid into him over and over until Chase was gasping and his legs couldn’t hold him up anymore. Lacey turned me around at one point and I let her because I couldn’t watch them hurt him anymore. I squeezed my eyes shut and just waited for it to be over.

The hallway went quiet aside from Chase’s gasping breaths. I glanced over my shoulder, choking back a whimper at the sight of Chase bleeding on the hallway floor. His torso was already turning black and blue. It was a miracle he was even conscious after all that.

“Lacey. Tell Chase about your phone call,” Croy demanded.

I whipped my head around to look at Lacey. She glared at Croy, unhappy about him dragging her into whatever was happening. It wasn’t until Brewer snapped at her that she spoke up.

“Answer ‘im, baby.”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I got a call from my uncle. He was being approached by a new crew around here. They said the Devil’s Disciples were going to be wiped from the map and he’d need to work with them to keep doing business in the area.”

“It’s our relationship with Lacey that persuaded Ruiz to call us to give a warning. Can you guess which crew called him?” Croy growled.

That actually seemed to confuse Chase. His brows drew together and he shook his head slowly. “I don’t–” He swallowed and tried again. “Nothing I did involved the crew. It’s personal.”

“Personal how?” Croy demanded.

Chase shook his head, denying them, but I couldn’t take watching them hurt him anymore. I knew he’d hate me for it, but I couldn’t risk him dying to keep the story to himself. Just as Croy raised his fist again, I darted forward before Lacey could grab me.

“Wait!”

I had a knife to my throat and someone’s hand in my hair before I could move. I froze with my hands up, my heart hammering in my chest.

It was my involvement that got Chase moving. He fought against his crew’s hold, trying to get to his feet .

“No! Don’t! She didn’t do anything! Leave her alone!”

Croy ignored him, turning to face me again. He stalked closer, the look of pure hatred written all over his face. I realized really fast how stupid I was to run up on one of these guys. I could only blame my need to protect Chase from himself.

“I asked you once who the fuck you were. You better answer this time.”