Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

Nuzzling the bear, she smiled. “I believe it’s called winning.”


Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I walked towards Judd and Tawny. I was impressed by how my friend managed to look butch even while holding a rainbow colored bear under his arm.

While Judd sized me up then my bear, Raven smiled at Tawny who was licking a giant green lollipop. My woman’s eyes lit up and Tawny gestured towards the stand selling candy. When Raven looked at me, I saw the need in her gaze. She could afford a lollipop. What she longed for was the idea of her man getting her something like Judd got for Tawny. She craved the reality of our relationship. The thing we hid from constantly.

“Do they have pink?” I asked Judd. “Fuck Toy likes pink.”

“Nice nickname,” Tawny snorted. “Judd calls me angel.”

Raven smiled easily. “Vaughn calls me a million nicknames. I’m too hot for just one.”

The girls eyed each other and I liked the competitive streak between them. Raven might not be able to say the words, but she was claiming me in little ways. Tawny finally smiled at Raven.

“Good luck with that,” she said, walking away with a smirking Judd behind her.

As they disappeared into the crowds, I walked with Raven to get her a pink lollipop. Like an excited kid, she had a bounce to her step. Soon, she enjoyed a giant pink lollipop while I kept a second one for later. I planned for her to eat it while naked. It would be my prize for the night.

More fried food and a nearly puke-inducing carnival ride later, we met up with Cooper and Farah at Whiskey Kirk’s. Tucker was on the dance floor with Maddy, but I doubt they’d last long. They were less dancing than giving foreplay.

“Remember when we were about to get married and were still hot for each other?” Farah asked Cooper who was staring at her tits.

“Yeah, too bad all the heat went out of the bedroom when you said, ‘I do.’”

Farah caressed his jaw. “You’re so mature now. All grown up like a man.”

Cooper finally stopped looking at her tits so he could frown at her.

“I was always a man. All man.”

Farah shrugged. “You were a boy really.”

“It was less than a year ago,” he grumbled, kissing her neck. “I was all man.”

“You’ve grown since then. Matured. Came into your own. Stopped wetting the bed.”

Cooper tried to act irritated, but Raven had spit out her beer and Farah was laughing too hard. Shrugging, he glanced at me.

“Any trouble?”

“No, boss. Quiet all night.”

When the women looked at us, we shrugged in unison. Raven seemed unconvinced.

“I might puke from eating so much crap tonight.”

“I’ll hold your hair, Daisy Dukes.”

Cooper made the sound of a whip snapping and I glared at him.

“Really? Really?” I growled. “If I opened Farah’s purse, would I find your balls rolling around in there?”

Now, Cooper glared. Farah nodded though. “He’s mine and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

This comment made Cooper smile and he went in for another nibble on Farah’s neck. I glanced at Raven who was trying very hard not to wish we could admit what we felt. While lies were necessary, they weren’t fun.

“I’ll be back,” Raven said, sliding off the stool and walking to the restroom.

“She’s not preggers, is she?” Cooper asked.

“No, she drank a few kegs of watered down fair soda.”

Cooper nodded. “I feel bad for Lark. She’s miserable. A tiny miserable pregnant chick. Maybe I should feel bad for Aaron.”

“I saw them at the fair and she looked fine. Pukey, but they were laughing and wearing matching shirts again.”

“What the fuck is that about?” Cooper grunted and Farah laughed.

“My guess?” I said. “They’re doing it to be obnoxious.”

“It’s working.”

“That’s not why,” Farah said, grinning. “They’re making fun of me and Cooper because we showed up in matching denim one time. Everyone was teasing us, but Cooper’s head was up his ass and he didn’t notice.”

“It’s your job to alert me when my head isn’t available.”

Farah grinned. “I didn’t want you to be self-conscious. Besides, you looked really hot that night and no way was I telling you to dress different. I really liked the view.”

As Cooper and Farah fucked with their eyes, I felt like maybe I should get the hose. Glancing around to avoid watching them stare at each other, I noticed Raven near the bathroom talking with the asshole who claimed to be her dad.

“Excuse me, boss. I think I’m about to make a scene.”

Cooper looked at where Raven and Scott stood. “Have at it.”

Raven had daddy issues. This was evident by the look on her face as Scott babbled at her. Normally, she would get in the guy’s face and make him fear for his safety. With Daddy Dearest, she looked shamed by his bullshit.

“Back off, asshole,” I told Scott.

“This isn’t about you, Outlaw.”

“It’s Vaughn and you need to fuck off. Raven’s shit is more about me than you.”