Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

“Your man,” Lark said, wrapping an arm around Raven’s waist and pulling her away from me, “was very specific on the cake’s inscription. I want credit for following instructions, even though the baker laughed at me. No doubt, they’ll be laughing at me for a long time.”


Raven walked with Lark to where the chocolate cake was set out next to Bailey who appeared to be guarding it. My friends were all laughing at me as I followed. As long as Raven liked it and got the joke, I was fine with the mocking.

The cake read, “Congrats on your engagement, Crouching Cock, Hidden Pussy!”

Raven not only got the joke, but she nearly pissed herself laughing and high-fiving everyone. Finally, she jumped into my arms.

“You finally found just the right nickname,” she murmured in my ear. “You’re the only man for me.”

Pressing my forehead against hers, I smiled. “And you’re the only hidden pussy for me.”

Raven’s grin faded and the look in her eyes turned predatory. “It won’t be hidden once we get back to your place.”

Shivering, I wanted a quickie right then. My jeans could barely contain how badly I needed to be inside Raven, but we had friends waiting to celebrate.

“Later,” I whispered then sucked at her lower lip.

Soon, we were bowling and playing games. The adjoining game room was all ours and I beat Judd badly at pinball. A better man wouldn’t have rubbed this fact in his friend’s face, but I hadn’t matured past twelve apparently.

Nearby, Raven and the girls talked wedding plans. When Jodi offered the property if we wanted something outdoors, Raven glanced at me with hope in her eyes.

“Anything you want, I’m game.”

“Really?” she asked, nearly breathless. “It’s always been my dream to have a Tinker Bell and Peter Pan themed wedding. How do you feel about wearing green tights?”

Before she finished, I knew I was in for some serious ragging from the guys. Judd was already rubbing his hands together and Cooper smirked at Aaron. I was doomed to suffer, but in the best possible way.

A loner wouldn’t have friends so ready to hassle him for years on end. No outlaw could imagine a long life with a badass babe like Raven. Yeah, doomed never looked better.





Chapter Twenty Five – Raven


Farah Smith was an easy chick to understand. She was hot for her husband. She wanted to be a teacher. She loved her little sister and hated talking about her past. Easy peasy. Tawny was something else.

Since I’d met her, Tawny was several different people. Sulky one day, grumpy the next, then relaxed and smiling often. I realized it might be years before I knew the real Tawny. Despite her moods, she gave me great advice about Vaughn. She was also hella funny in the right mood like during dinner with Judd and Vaughn.

Tawny opened the door to her new condo and gave me a smile I’d never seen on her. None of the worries from before were on her beautiful face as she waved us inside. Inside the brand new and sparsely decorated luxury condo, I noticed Judd at the windows, looking out at the dark evening. He gave us a smile and looked less grumpy enforcer than happy husband.

“We finally moved in a few days ago. This is baby Opal,” Tawny said, picking up a young gray and white cat. “Pearl is perched near the window. She’s pretty psyched about the move.”

“Your place is banging, man,” Vaughn told Judd who nodded in his manly equivalent of duh. “I hear the unit across the hall is available. Raven and I should get it, so we can double date every day. Show up at all hours of the night. Borrow all your sugar. Really be neighbors.”

“No,” Judd said quickly.

“I don’t know, man,” Vaughn continued. “This place is swanky and I’ve got a woman to spoil. I should ask the sales dude downstairs about buying it.”

“No,” Judd said with more force. “Find your own damn place.”

“I have,” Vaughn teased. “It’s right next door. It’s going to be fucking awesome.”

Tawny set down the cat and cuddled with Judd instead. “Let them join us. Better than having strangers as our neighbors. I’ve been praying it wouldn’t be some lame trendy types who play Jenga on the weekends with their dork friends.”

Judd smiled at his woman. “Vaughn plays Jenga. Candyland too.”

“Lame,” she cooed.

“Should I be defending you?” I asked Vaughn who frowned at Judd and Tawny until they unglued their gazes.

“No way, sugar. Candyland is awesome. You ever play it drunk? The game’s pretty hard actually.”

As I grinned at Vaughn and pressed my body against his, we were already imagining picking up beers on the way home along and enjoying a wasted game of Candyland.

“My candy girl loves playing games,” Vaughn murmured, kissing my nose.

“And my pixy stix loves being inside me.”

“We’re not making it to dinner at this rate,” Judd said, rubbing the back of his neck while Tawny detached herself from him.