by Mara McBain
Mox looked back at her, hand on the clubhouse door. She tried to smile.
“You look smoking hot.”
It was the best reassurance he could’ve offered. She giggled. He grinned and nodded his head toward the back entrance in invitation. Snagging his free hand, she stepped under his other arm and through the door.
Shrugging out of her coat, Eva peeked around. Tech winked at her from his seat on the other side of the door. The party was in full swing. Leather, lace, and bare flesh seemed to be the dress code. She smoothed her simple belted sheath dress. Paired with her knee-high boots, she was overdressed in comparison. People were turning to stare. She faltered and Mox pulled her back against the front of him.
“They’re jealous,” he growled sexily in her ear.
Eva wasn’t too sure about that, but it was difficult to argue when she could feel what the little red dress was doing to her man.
“Damn. Someone’s out to make a statement.”
Eva’s head jerked around, color flooding her face at Ginny’s words. The older woman drew her in for a hug before she could utter a word.
“You look amazing, baby. Where’d you get that dress?”
“The little consignment shop on the corner.” Eva admitted shyly.
“Red hot and thrifty. My baby has it made,” Ginny purred, leaning up to give Mox a kiss. He grinned in response.
“Thank you,” Eva mumbled, amazed at how at ease Ginny could make her feel.
“What do you drink? Sambo makes some killer frozen margaritas. He has mango in the blender.”
“I’m not much of a drinker, but that does look good,” Eva said, looking at the slushy, orange concoction Ginny was drinking.
“He makes them virgin for pregos and lightweights,” she said with a saucy wink.
“Don’t let her needle you, little girl. Not everyone can be a lush like Gin,” Zeke rumbled, giving her nape a little squeeze as he shouldered his way through the crowd to his wife’s side.
Eva giggled at Mox’s father and the mock outrage his words elicited from Ginny. She loved his family.
“Don’t laugh at him. It just encourages him.”
Ginny’s admonishment just made her giggle harder, and she hid her face in Mox’s chest. He stroked the back of her neck, tugging on the tendrils of hair that had escaped her up-do.
“Don’t hide that beautiful smile, dimples. It makes me happy.”
Tilting her head back, she smiled up at him. “You make me happy.”
“Why don’t you say sweet things like that to me?” Ginny asked, elbowing her husband.
“I tell you that you make me horny all the time.”
“Happy! He said happy, not horny!”
“Oh…yeah, that too,” Zeke said, chuckling and ignoring his wife’s indignant smack to his arm.
“Enjoy it while you can, honey.”
“I fully intend to. For as long as he’ll have me,” Eva said, squeezing Mox in a hug.
“Eh, I could pencil you in for eternity,” he replied, rolling his bulky shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.
“Now you’re just making a guy look bad,” Zeke said in disgust. “Get outa here.”
Still giggling, Eva let Mox take the lead and followed in his wake to the bar. Her fingers played over the dragon insignia on the back of his vest. His cut, she corrected herself. His world brought a whole new lingo. The design was duplicated in his back tattoo, and on leathers, t-shirts, and hats around the room. They wore the logo with pride, and people in Trinity seemed to treat it with a leery deference. It was different than the outright fear and revulsion she had seen expressed of Rocco and his thugs.
“You like that?”
Eva jumped, heart lodging in her throat. Mox looked down at her over his shoulder, his sexy lips twisted in a slight grin. She hadn’t even realized they’d stopped. She didn’t know how to answer that question. It frightened and comforted her all at once. “It’s a part of you,” she whispered.
He snorted at her non-answer, but nodded as he drew her around in front of him. “That it is. What did you want to drink?”
The lanky bartender offered her a slight smile from his perch on the back counter. His dark eyes were intense, but he exuded an easy peace that was attractive. Tattoo sleeves covered the flesh exposed by his tight black t-shirt. She struggled to remember his name. Someone at the end of the bar caught his attention and spared her the embarrassment.
The angles of his handsome face softened in a genuine smile as he slid to his feet and strolled down to greet a cute, blonde pixie. Their kiss was passionate and Eva couldn’t hold back a wistful smile as their foreheads pressed together for a moment steeped in love. Mox’s lips brushed her ear.
“Don’t drool.”
“Wh-what?”
“Dark, sensitive, soulful, artist and musician, Sambo gets almost as many women drooling over him as Rhys.”
Eva’s mouth opened and closed, her head shaking side to side in denial. She couldn’t breathe. Pinned between the bar and Mox, she had nowhere to go. He looked so serious. Her knees threatened to buckle.
A chuckle startled her. He shook his head, cupping her elbow to steady her.
“Calm down, baby. I’m just blowing you shit.”
She slumped against him, heart hammering. His chuckles made color race back to her cheeks, and she slapped his chest. He laughed harder.
“You need to learn when I’m teasing you.”
“Maybe I do need a margarita,” she said shakily.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Eva nodded. He sounded sincere. He couldn’t possibly know.
“Seriously, baby,” he said, tilting her chin up to look at him.
Kissing his palm, she smiled. “I know. I just—”
“Sorry. What can I get you?” Sambo asked, coming back down to their end of the bar.
“Saved by the soulful one,” Mox said with a grin. “I’ll take a Bud and she’ll have a mango margarita light.”
“Light, huh?”
“She’s a rookie drinker.”
“Prego’s pitcher with a punch coming up,” Sambo confirmed, pulling a carafe of the blended concoction from the freezer.
“Great, now I’m stealing Kat’s drink because I’m a lightweight,” Eva giggled. “At least I’m in good company.”
Cuddled beside Mox on an overstuffed loveseat, Eva half-heartedly listened to him give a play-by-play of video game slaughter to Rhys. The honey haired woman sitting on the arm of Rhys’ chair didn’t look any more entranced than she was. Trying not to stare, Eva wondered who she was and where the bitchy blonde from the other night was. Lips twisting in thought, she glanced around the room for…Becca…that was it, Becca.
She didn’t see the scrawny bitch, but her gaze did fall on the pixie that had turned the bartender’s head earlier. She seemed to have taken up a permanent perch at the end of the bar, and Sambo was leaning over the counter, deep in conversation with her.
Watching the pair piqued her curiosity. She hadn’t had much of a chance to match up Mox’s intimidating club brothers with the women who had helped her and Ginny set up house. The girls had seemed nice and normal, if she could label them that. It would be interesting to see who they belonged to, so to speak.
Scanning the sea of faces, she spotted the pretty redhead with the twin teenage daughters that had helped. The girls had their mother’s fiery auburn hair and long legs. Rocco would’ve loved them. Eva shivered and tried to come up with the woman’s name as she watched her skirt through the crowd. The simple pendant hanging between her breasts finally supplied the clue, Amber. Eva smiled. It was such a pretty name, and then they had named the girls Autumn and Addison.
Eva giggled and had to rethink attributing the twin’s height to Amber when she stopped next to Mox’s boss, Bowie, and handed him a beer. She should’ve guessed. It was titian-top, freckles, and green eyes all around in that family.
Bowie was shooting pool with a hard looking man. It seemed stra
nge to say that with the crowd they were in, but a silent menace seemed to roll off the guy. He was of average height, looking almost short next to his club brother’s six-foot-ten or so. His skin was deeply bronzed by the sun; his dark eyes seemed narrowed in a perpetual suspicious glare. Tattoos covered every visible inch of skin, which was quite a bit as he wore only the club vest on his upper body. An ornate font scrawled TAZ across his impossible six-pack, and snarling likenesses of the Looney Tunes character decorated each ripped bicep. They seemed out of place, and all the scarier for it, like a serial killer that dressed as a clown.
He turned to a woman seated on a nearby stool and retrieved his beer. Tamara was dressed in a scarlet scrap of silk that somehow managed to cover the important bases and looked amazing with her olive complexion. She was dangerous curves personified. Her long sable hair was highlighted with streaks of honey-blonde, and her makeup emphasized her dark eyes and full lips. She had been in low slung fatigue pants on move-in day and had been shaking her bootie with Kat to the music, making all the men hoot and holler.
Taz brushed the back of his fingers over the swell of her breasts and leaned down for a passionate kiss. Tamara certainly didn’t look afraid of the intense biker as she stroked his bare chest in return. The women seemed to be a strong bunch.
Forcing her attention away, she searched the room for Kat. The pretty prego was Ginny’s best friend, and she had taken Eva under her wing as assuredly as Mox’s mother had. Eva smiled. No surprise. Kat and Ginny were sitting side-by-side, their heads tilted together as if sharing some gossip or planning mischief. As if on cue, the two dissolved into fits of laughter, leaning on one another for support.
Seemingly always near his wife, Zeke looked over his shoulder and shook his head, nudging the man beside him. Eva caught her breath at the scarred visage that turned. She remembered the sinister looking man from the day they’d moved in. Deep tracks crisscrossed his rugged face like someone had wanted to erase his features forever. Eva swallowed hard. He was terrifying. She never would’ve pictured him with the easy-going Kat.
Shivering, Eva pressed closer to Mox’s back. At that moment, the man’s menacing mug twisted in an indulgent smirk, and Kat blew him a kiss which set her and Ginny to giggling again and made him and Zeke chuckle as they turned back to their conversation.
“You okay, baby?” Mox asked, his hand reaching around to stroke the curve of her hip.
“Oh, yeah,” she said with a little blush. “I was just people-watching and trying to put names, faces, and couples together.”
“Which one?”
“The one talking to your father.”
“That’s Crux. He’s Kat’s husband.”
“You work with him,” Eva said, remembering the name.
“Right. He’s a hell of a mechanic.”
“Thank you. Sorry.”
“No problem. You need another drink?” he asked, smiling and draining the dregs of his beer.
“I’m still nursing this one, but I’ll get you one. Rhys, do you need another beer? Can I get you anything?”
Rhys’ companion looked surprised at the offer.
“I could use a refill. I’ll go with you.”
Eva nodded and extended her hand as they headed for the bar. “Eva.”
“Tawny,” the other woman said, shaking her hand with a funny look. “You’re a little polite for this crew.”
“Sorry. I’m still figuring out the lay of the land,” Eva said, blushing.
“No problem. With the Lords, it’s probably best to error on the side of respect.”
“I get that feeling.”
“They’re a rough bunch, but most of them are good guys once you get to know them. The old ladies are a tougher nut to crack. They don’t accept new pussy too easily. They wait to see if you’re going to stick around.”
“It makes sense to not get attached if we’re not staying,” Eva said, thinking of the number of foster kids she had seen come and go at her grandparents’ dinner table.
“Word has it that the queen has taken a shine to you.”
Eva fumbled her glass a little as she set it on the bar and looked at Tawny out of the corner of her eye.
“Word has it, huh?”
“Not much happens in Trinity. Gossip involving the Lords is premium,” the woman said with a little shrug. “Especially when it whispers one of them is off the market.”
“I can’t speak about forever, but he’s mine now,” Eva said, her chin tilting up a notch.
Tawny laughed. “Keep the attitude. You’ll need it.”
A cold draft blew across Eva’s nape and she turned, looking for its source. Rhys stood at the doors, shoulder propping one open while he talked to someone outside. Craning her neck, Eva tried for a better angle. Still unable to see, she frowned, sliding to the end of the loveseat.
“What’re you looking at?”
“Rhys is talking to someone at the door,” she mumbled, leaning over the arm. A startled squeak broke her lips as Mox smacked her upturned ass and yanked her back to his side. She looked up at him in surprise. “What was that for?”
“For being nosy,” he said, kissing her nose. “It’s probably Becca, but, either way, it doesn’t involve you.”
“Why isn’t Becca here, and what’s with Rhys and Tawny?” Eva asked, rubbing her stinging bottom into the cushion.
“You are nosy,” Mox said with a chuckle. “Zeke banned Becca from club get-togethers because she upsets Gin. Tawny’s just a bike bunny. She’s hung around the club for as long as I can remember. The closest she’s come to being a steady old lady is hooking up with Reaper for two or three months. Since Reap shacked up with Lee, Tawny’s on the prowl again.”
“You better be careful. She has a special fondness for Moxie.”
Eva’s head whipped around at the voice near her ear. Her heart thudded painfully against her ribcage as she stared into the most chilling blue eyes she had ever seen. A crazy mop of inky curls and sharp goatee only added to the demonic likeness. He winked at her.
“Thanks, Reap,” Mox murmured.
The embarrassment in Mox’s tone made Eva tear her gaze from the devil in front of her. Color tinged more than his ears. She could feel her own cheeks warming. Was Tawny an ex-girlfriend? Had the woman been laughing at her while sharing notes on club life? Had Ginny put a kibosh on the relationship like she was trying to do with Rhys and Becca?
“No problem, Bro. You didn’t tell your little girlfriend about your sixteenth birthday?” Reaper asked with a low chuckle.
“No more than you’ve told Lee all the things you’ve done. Of course in your case, you wouldn’t want to scare her.”
The Asian beauty standing beside Reaper giggled, her lack of fear going a long way in quelling Eva’s nerves.
“Nah, my kinky chink is fearless,” Reaper said, grinning as he hauled Lee’s head back by a handful of her long, blue-black hair to give her a kiss before looking back at Mox, wicked challenge lighting his eyes.
“I’m sure Mox has dated a lot of women,” Eva said, breaking the expectant silence.
“I’m not sure dated is the right word,” Reaper said before Mox could respond.
“He’s right,” Mox admitted, shooting the grinning Reaper the middle finger. “As surprising as it may be, I’m not a big hit with the ladies. The guys convinced Tawny to break me in for my sixteenth birthday and we’ve—went out—a couple of times since.”
Reaper gave a harsh bark of laughter. Obviously embarrassed for her, Lee looked up at him imploringly. Eva couldn’t help a little giggle at the long-suffering look on the poor girl’s face.
“Lucky for you I didn’t assume you were celibate before I came along,” she said, chucking his chin. “And if you weren’t a main attraction around here, then I question the taste of the women in Trinity Falls.”
“Thanks, baby,” Mox said with a delighted grin.
“You’re welcome, but if they want you now, they’ll have to take you from me.”
<
br /> “Keep flashing me those dimples, and they don’t stand a chance.”
“Which ones?” Eva asked with a wiggle.
“Preferably, both.”
“My pleasure.”
“You two are so cute,” Lee said, hiding a giggle in Reaper’s ribs.
“Sorry, Reap. You’re not cute,” Mox said seriously.
The look of disgust that twisted Reaper’s face and the exaggerated shudder made both girls laugh.
“Fuck no, I’m not cute.”
“Will you settle for sexy?” Lee asked, looking up at him, dark eyes sparkling.
“Sexy is good. Well hung is better.”
Laughing, Lee tugged on his belt buckle. “You’re more man than most women can handle.”
“Is that something else the Lords have in common?” Eva asked, biting her lip to try and get her merriment under control.
“Every last one of us,” Mox said with a smug nod of confirmation.
Reaper saluted the boast with a raised bottle, and a slurred voice nearby rose over the bedlam.
“To the Lords of Mayhem and their big dicks!”
Eva sputtered into her drink. She met Lee’s dark eyes over the rim, and the giggling geisha tilted her margarita in acknowledgement as the crowd raised their drinks high, roaring in approval of the drunken toast.
Tucked against Mox’s side, Eva picked her way cautiously down the sidewalk. The snow that had melted to slush in the heat of the day had refrozen, making for an uneven terrain that was treacherous in heels.
“Want a piggyback ride?”
“If I wasn’t wearing a dress, I might take you up on that, big man,” she said, giggling and clutching his arm tighter as they stepped off the curb. “Knowing my luck, we would both end up lying in the middle of the street with my skirt over my head.”
“It’d be a lot more fun if it were over my head.”
Eva nudged him playfully with her elbow, but a response died on her lips as she spotted a dark SUV rolling down the street. Her heart lodged in her throat as the vehicle slowed. Mox glanced in that direction, but carelessly continued across the street. She stumbled numbly. The headlights fell across them and she shook her head, digging in her heels. Horrific images flashed through her mind. She saw Mox’s muscular form sprawled in the street, dark bullet holes marring the crisp white of his t-shirt, his life blood seeping, pooling on the icy pavement.
