Caution to the Wind (The Fallen Men, #7)

by Giana Darling

Rocky because I was scrappy and loyal. He said people were prone to underestimate me due to my slight and dainty build, but they’d inevitably find out some day that I was a champion. Glory because Cleo’s full name was Cleopatra, which meant “glory of the father,” and Cleo was his pride and joy.

“Mong zi sing lung,” I murmured to her. “Parents hope their children will become a dragon among men. That we’ll be special.”

“In real life, Dr. Axelsen, white knights rarely get happy endings. Only broken hearts.”

Nothin’ forged in fire like iron can be so easily broken.”

“In my culture, the koi fish is a sign of strength,” I said softly. “It swims against the currents and when it reaches the end of the long, hard journey upstream, it becomes a dragon.”

“During difficult times, it’s your family that supports you.”

Everyone wanted to pretend they were above judgin’ books by their covers, but the truth was, we were raised to judge, and judge we all did. The difference between one person and another was what their definition of normal was to judge others against.

A hero doesn’t mean being a man who never does any wrong. It means being a man who seeks truth and justice no matter the consequences.

Because he was so beautiful, the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. Why didn’t women talk about men like that? It wasn’t only feminine to be so beautiful. It spoke of his goodness, the generosity of his heart, and the power of his kind, keen gaze. It spoke of a man who was confident enough in himself to be soft when needed and strong enough to take on the whole world if someone he loved was at risk. God, he was beautiful.

A white knight didn’t just come in shining armour. My knight came in leather.

“Rén zhōng zhī long.” A dragon among men.

“You don’t have to return or even like my feelings for you, but I will not be ashamed of the way I feel. You’re my white knight, and it doesn’t matter if you’re too old or too outlaw or too whatever else you want to throw at me. I know in my bones that I’ll always feel this way about you. You see me, Henning, even when I feel invisible, even when I want desperately to remain unseen. That might not mean anything to you, but it means everything to me.”

Do this for the both of us, yeah? You got in over your head, but I’m here, and I won’t ever fuckin’ let you down.”

’Cause that was it. The glue or the catalyst or the flamin’ thing that drew us all together as one unit against all else. Tragedy.

You fell in love with someone because they felt like the only person who could see through your skin and bones straight down to the soul, and even knowing all of you––the good, the bad, the motherfucking ugly––they still accepted you.

Goodness, love, and kindness are never meant to be rewarded with violence and hatred.

Sometimes bad things happen to good people for no better reason than that they shine so bright they’re incredibly alluring to someone swallowed up by the dark.”

For a twenty-three-year-old kid, he shouldn’t’a been able to see so much, know so much, but from the time I’d first met him ago, he’d always been like that. Those pale eyes were scalpels, cuttin’ up human flesh and scrapin’ past bone to the heart of people.

Love you King 🥰👑

“I’m his best man, so you can help me. If I left it up to you, you’d turn the whole thing into some kinda bacchanalia,” King corrected. “No fuckin’ clue what that is, but it does sound sexy.”

🤣🤣🤣

“Somethin’ stop you from gettin’ a good sleep? ’Cause I’m the one with a baby, and I look a helluva lot better than you.” “You’re just better lookin’,” I deadpanned.

🥰

“And I’m going to leave now before I do something I regret.” “Like hurt me?” I asked mildly. He levelled me with a cool glance. “Like hug you.”

I held his bleeding lower lip between my teeth and flicked my tongue over it with a humming moan. The next instant, he was on me.

But none of those excuses mattered. The truth that only served to fuel my fury even as I let myself loose on her body was that I wanted her. Plain. Simple.

I remembered her name was Harleigh Rose and thought that was fitting. “Am I dreaming?” I croaked, and even the words scraping up my throat hurt. “I didn’t think I was gay, but I’m wondering if this is the start of some kind of sex dream.”

“We’re a fuckin’ biker club, Mei, not a goddamn nunnery. You think we’re opposed to a little good old-fashioned revenge?” Zeus asked with a smile as sharp as a knife’s edge.

🥰

“Next time,” she said in a low, velvety purr. “Don’t waste that cum on my underwear. I can think of better places for it.”

Damn Mei!!!!! 😝

“You tellin’ me, the fierce Mei Zhen is too cowardly to confess her sins?” “Fuck you,” I spat, backed into a corner and feral.

Come at me, everything in me screamed, you want my penance, then fucking take it from me. I shouldn’t have been surprised when he read that in me because Axe-Man had always been good with languages and the vocabulary of Mei was no exception.

“A rebel on the street and a good girl in the sheets. Who would’ve thought.”

“No feelin’ is immutable, Mei,” Axe-Man said, and I could feel the intensity of his stare on the side of my face. “No feelin’ lasts forever. Not even love, sometimes. Not even hate.”

Even when I hate you, you’re mine.”

“You were just a girl before, and the moment you came to town and I saw you were a woman, you awoke this fuckin’ beast in me.”

Lovin’ you feels like a curse, so why don’t I want it to end?”

“Sometimes, sayin’ somethin’s stupid is just a cowardly way outta takin’ a chance on bein’ brave.”

It was an odd moment to realize Mei Zhen’s ironclad hold over me. But somethin’ like love surged through me at those wicked, cruel words. It was the sensation of bein’ seen at your very worst and not bein’ found wantin’. No, it was the exact opposite. It was bein’ seein’ at your worst, on the precipe of burnin’ down the whole world for selfish reasons, and bein’ encouraged to take your fill.

Mei saw it all, the bad and the ugly, and she still thought I was good.

“’Cause I haven’t been able to get you outta my head since the moment I saw you again at the hospital. I told you, you got your teeth and claws in me, Rocky. And the fuck of it is, even when I wanted so fuckin’ much to hate you, it was me I hated, for lovin’ you still and for wantin’ you now in this new way that rocks me.”

Better or worse, you’re mine and I’m yours.

But I will always be the Off-White Knight to your Rocky. That’s an oath I’ll swear in blood, and if I ever break it again, I give you leave to kill me by metal, wood, fire, water, or earth.”

“Be good for me, Rocky, and I’ll take you as close to death as pleasure can get ya.”

“No runnin’ now,” I warned her. “Not again.” “No,” she agreed. “I’m home again.”

“Always knew you were made to fight, but God, were you made to fuck, too.”

“I’d be yours forever, if you asked. Even if you never do, I already am.”

Confucius himself said ‘One should not live under the same Heaven with the enemy.’

“Heathen,” I’d teased, but fuck if it didn’t feel good to experience him like this. “Your heathen,” he growled, nipping at my bottom lip. “Don’t let any of those motherfuckers get too close or you put them down, yeah?” “Oh yeah,” I agreed, playing with the ridiculously soft hair in his beard just because I was allowed the intimacy, and holy shit, did that feel amazing. “And when you get done with this shit, I’m gonna eat you out while you sit on my face in this dress.” “Aye aye, sir,” I said,

I love the trust and confidence here 🥰 and of course 🥵

“You’re somethin’ else, little dragon.” She grinned back at me, wipin’ a droplet of blood off my cheek with a little wrinkle in her nose. “You get home and cleaned up, I’ll show you just what I am.”

🥰

The truth is, I am the luckiest because God took Mum from me, but He set the scales right when He gave me to you.” She looked up at me with her cheek pressed to my gut, and her eyes were wide with gratitude. “I don’t think I’d be alive today without you, Dad. Mei was right when she made you into the Off-White Knight, because you don’t wear armour, but you’re the best hero I ever could’ve had.”

🥺💕😭

“I was so scared, but I knew you’d come. You were made to keep me alive.”

🥺💕

“I happen to like the taste of blood,”

😳🤔🥵