Children of all ages were everywhere, running and playing, and laughing happily. I could only assume that their parents were the adults that were present. Since it was a club party, I wasn’t surprised to see that a lot of the men present were wearing cuts. The music was Christmas-themed, and the atmosphere was brighter and a lot more festive than it had been in the other two rooms. I found myself looking for Jasmine again.
“Big John!” someone called out.
He identified the source of the voice and then we were making our way to a table where there were about six couples sitting around it. The women were all beautiful, the men looked fiercely protective and guarded as they watched the goings on, as if they were expecting something bad to happen. I smiled at the unexpected site of one burly man with a baby on his lap. He was even bigger than Big John, and his eyes, which were scrutinizing me carefully, made me slightly uncomfortable.
“We were beginning to think that you weren’t going to make it, brother,” said the giant.
“Is this your friend?” the beautiful red-head sitting next to him asked with a smile.
“We’ve been waiting to meet her,” said another woman, who was just as beautiful. She was sitting on the lap of her man. At least, I assumed that he was her man.
I could hear Big John’s grunt next to me. “Yeah, everyone, this is Daisy.” He handed me one of the beers that he was holding.
“Hi everyone.” The women returned my smile naturally, and I sensed an immediate alliance from them, unlike the women that I’d come in contact with earlier. The men at the table just acknowledged me with a slight nod, mild interest in their watchful eyes. Though their expressions seemed to relax some, I got the impression that most of them were uncomfortable and out of their natural element at this party.
“We may as well go around the table and introduce ourselves,” said the woman who’d spoken earlier. A little girl ran up to her, and the red-head scooped her up onto her lap.
It took about five minutes for all the introductions to be made, and I knew it would be a miracle if I remembered all of their names. The entire time I was aware of Big John’s eyes on me, as he stood by silently sipping his beer. Knowing that he was staring at me made me want to squirm. The sizzling heat inside that signaled my arousal, the buzzing of my pussy and the wetness between my legs, were all making me aware of his powerful effect on me.
“We need to talk, brother.” It was the giant sitting next to the beautiful red-head who’d spoken. If I remembered correctly, his name was Hawk and he was the president of Phantom Riders.
Audra, his wife, reached out to him with a pleading look in her eyes. “Hawk, not tonight, you promised−”
“Baby,” his soft tone belied his cold expression. “Just a few minutes. It’s important, and we’re all present.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her close for a kiss. The baby on his lap reached up for the loose curl against his mother’s neck. The little girl on her lap wiggled between them.
When they parted, Audra shook her head with resignation. “Go on, but please make it quick.”
Hawk handed the baby off to her and pushed his chair back. Except for one man, Craig, I thought his name was, the only one not wearing a cut, the rest of the men did the same. I met Big John’s eyes.
“I’ll be back. Stay here with the old ladies where you’ll be safe.”
“Don’t worry about Daisy,” Allie said, patting the seat next to her. “We’ll take care of her.”
I needed taking care of? Big John didn’t seem to be in any hurry to follow Hawk and the rest of his brothers as he waited for me to respond. “Do I have any choice?” I smiled teasingly.
“You always have a choice,” he said with that sexy grin.
“I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Good. I don’t want to have to look for your sexy ass.”
He pivoted and left me standing there.
Chapter 7
Big John
“Found out which Trouble Makers were released, brother,” Hawk stated the instant we were all sitting at the table. “Whistler and Demo ring a bell?”
Fuck! I exhaled loudly and leaned back in my chair. This wasn’t good news.
“What do you remember about them?” Rock was the one who asked the question, his expression closed to whatever thoughts were going through his head.
I glanced at Fox, because I knew that he could probably answer that question, too. He would have pulled up everything he could find on them once he’d found out who they were. Fox was good at digging up dirt. His job was everything that had to do with providing security for the club and its members, and that meant a ton of fucking surveillance and investigation.
When I realized that he wasn’t going to offer anything up, I shrugged. “It’s not good news. You already know who Shooter is. Demo and Whistler are two of his soldiers. Mean fuckers. Shooter mainly used them as assassins.”
Hawk’s mouth snapped open. “And they weren’t officers?” he scowled.
I shook my head. “Shooter kept that shit quiet so they’d stay under the radar. Mooch was acting Enforcer, but when it came to eliminating someone, like a civilian who would be missed, he used Demo and Whistler so that it wouldn’t fall back on the club.”
Clay grunted. “How the fuck did that work?”
“Shooter made sure Demo and Whistler were known as dickheads, soldiers who ranked barely above the importance of a prospect. No one suspected them to be capable of pulling off a hit. And when a hit went down, he made sure Mooch and the rest of them had airtight alibis.” It hadn’t surprised me that Fox hadn’t dug up anything on them though, because not too many people outside the Trouble Makers knew what I knew.
“Are they pulling in members?” It’s what most MC’s would do once the key members were out of prison.
Fox rubbed the whiskers on his chin. “Looks that way. I have a contact in their area who says he’s seen some comings and goings at their old clubhouse after it being quiet there for years.”
It made sense.
“Will Shooter send Demo and Whistler for you?” Rock asked in a gruff tone.
I met his scowl. Christ, I didn’t want to think about that. My next thought went to Daisy. Fuck! If they came for me, she’d be in danger.
“Get your head off pussy and into the game, brother,” Rock snarled.
I wasn’t going to acknowledge that that was exactly where my head was at. Since meeting Daisy, I hadn’t been able to think of anything else but getting my dick into her cunt. I glared at him, not appreciating his comment, because it hadn’t been too fucking long ago that he’d had the same problem.
“Yeah, we all know I don’t have a monopoly on that problem, brother.” A couple brothers snorted. “If Mooch is still incarcerated and Shooter thinks I betrayed Trouble Makers, he’ll send them.” I had no doubt about that. He’d want me six feet under.
“Then we need to prepare for trouble.” Hawk sat back in his chair and crossed his massive arms over his just as massive chest. The look that he pinned on me spoke volumes. “What about the girl? You think it’s wise to bring her into your life right now?”
I knew what Hawk wasn’t saying, we’d all been there at one time or another. The only difference was that his woman, Audra, had brought trouble to the club, not the other way around. He was right, it wouldn’t be fair to bring Daisy into this mess. But, fuck, when had life ever been fair? I wanted her in every filthy way I could think of, and I’d already made allowances for her because she wasn’t a club whore. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I needed to treat her like a sweetbutt, claim her pussy and get her out of my system.
We all knew what happened once you got a woman out of your system.
She became history.
Shit.
“Have you fucked her yet?” Painter snorted. My glare gave him the answer that he was looking for. “Then what’s the problem, man? Cut her loose until this shit is handled.”
“Or get her out of your
system first,” Ned grinned. “Fuck the shit out of−”
“Look, enough talk about pussy,” Rock interrupted impatiently. “It’s Big John’s problem, and I want to get back to my woman.”
“So, what are we gonna do about Demo and Whistler?” Snake inquired, getting us back on track.
“Fox, tell your contact we’ll pay for any information that he can provide. Clay, Big John, I want you to head down there, stay low. I don’t want to have to go down there to save your asses.” Hawk directed his next remark to me. “You know what these fuckers look like. Find them and end them.”
Already done in my head. And while I was at it, I’d find Shooter and end him, too. Eliminate further retaliation against the club. “When do you want us to leave?”
“In the morning.”
Shit. I sat there after the men piled out of the room, thinking about how I was going to handle Daisy. Christ, we’d only known each other for a few days, but things between us had developed fast, and it wasn’t just about wanting to fuck her. If that had been the case, I’d already have had her beneath me. No, fuck, something more was happening there, something I was unfamiliar with, and not totally comfortable with. I didn’t do relationships. There was too much shit going on in my life that had to be kept quiet. I wanted her, but, thank fuck, it was new enough to let go.
I didn’t owe her any explanations. I didn’t owe her anything, but I didn’t want her in danger. The thought of club shit raining down on her because of me wasn’t something I wanted to live with. I was the only one who could make sure that it didn’t happen. I could protect her, even if it meant making her hate me. I could live with that. I couldn’t tell her what was going on, but I could let her see the kind of bastard that I really was. I could make her realize that if we did happen, it wouldn’t mean anything to me.
Show her that she was just another pussy to me.
And, if I was lucky, she’d run the other way.
Fuck. My gut told me that I was about to ruin a good thing before it even got started.
“Brother?” Hawk was standing in the doorway. “You need to talk?”
“No, Prez.” I thumped my knuckles on the table before getting to my feet and walking his way. “I know what I need to do.”
I followed him back to the restaurant, but when he continued to the table I paused in the doorway. My gaze automatically sought out Daisy, finding her in the midst of the old ladies, looking so damned comfortable and at ease with them. I knew they’d welcome her into their fold, it’s what they did when a new woman was introduced, and especially if they thought she meant something to the brother who’d brought her in.
I’d never brought a woman to the club before, much less a club party that involved our families. To them, this was a big move for me. Watching Daisy interact naturally with them, you would have thought that they’d all been friends for a long time, and not just the one hour that had passed since I’d left her alone with them. She was sitting between Audra and her friend, Carol, but as my brothers began to reach the table the women were forced to wiggle around and make room for everyone.
Watching Daisy wiggle on her seat set my fucking blood on fire. Soft and curvy, her full tits threatened to pop right out of her low top. Whispers of glossy black hair bounced around her exposed neck and shoulders. Christ, I wanted to bury my hands in the mass to see if her hair was as silky as it appeared. And then I wanted to fuck her like there was no tomorrow. Why hadn’t I taken the opportunity when I’d had it earlier on the back of my bike?
I clenched my jaw at the thought of what I had to do. I didn’t want to hurt her, but right now, being involved with me could do just that. There was never a good time to bring a woman into the club, the situation with Hawk and Rock’s old ladies and what they’d gone through was proof of that, but they’d been too involved with their women at the time. I wasn’t that involved with Daisy, and the truth was, once I fucked her out of my system that could be it for us, the attraction could be gone.
She was laughing now, her beautiful face vibrant and rosy at something that someone else had said. When she was engaged, she gave it her all, like when she’d climaxed. Maybe deep down in my gut I knew that there was more between us, something I’d never wanted before, but now wasn’t the time to pursue it. I needed to eliminate the threat that was facing me and the club first. I grabbed a brother who’d been about to go around me and into the room.
He looked at me expectantly. “See that gorgeous woman over there?” He looked in the direction that I was nodding, and then back at me.
“The stunner?”
I nodded. “Tell her to come see me in the clubhouse.” I ignored his knowing smirk, released his cut, and turned to leave.
I might end up hurting her in the end, but I didn’t have to do it with an audience, including my brothers and their families. At least back in the club room the atmosphere would be less festive, and there would be less people around. I’m sure she’d want to leave after I said what I was going to have to say. I pushed the door in and made my way to the small bar. Everyone’s attention turned my way, and a quick sweep of the room ended with the usual sight. Lucy was bent over the pool table, getting ready to take a shot. Her ass was sticking high in the air, giving everyone a view of her naked ass. The girls liked to do that shit to see which brother broke at the sight of her and jerked her away for a hard fuck, sometimes right there in front of everyone.
Making eye contact with Sid as I sat down on a stool, I ordered a beer. She slammed one down in front of me before going back to her conversation with Cooper.
“Big John.” I recognized Lucy’s voice behind me, and before I knew it she was wrapping herself around me like clinging gift wrap. “You’re all alone, baby.” She ran her nose along the side of my neck, and then her tongue.
Perfect. Just perfect. Especially when the door opened and I turned to meet Daisy’s eyes. Her smile faltered when she saw Lucy, but she recovered quickly and made her way over to me.
“You wanted me?”
Hell, yes, I wanted her.
“Does it look like he wants you?” Venom dripped from Lucy’s voice. “He has me now, honey.”
Normally I would have shut that shit down immediately. Club whores didn’t disrespect members, and they didn’t disrespect their women. But then I reminded myself that I hadn’t claimed Daisy, and that put her in a different category as far as Lucy was concerned. I was still a free brother, and she never missed an opportunity to let everyone know that she wanted me as more.
Realizing that this might work out to my advantage, I ran my hand down her back and gripped her ass. She moaned and moved closer, lifting her leg and wrapping it around my hip. I kept my gaze locked onto the confusion in Daisy’s pretty greens. “Do me a favor, baby--” Lucy’s brows shot up because I’d never called her baby. “Wait for me over there while I take care of this.”
“And then you’ll fuck me?”
Shit. She was going for the jugular. The tiniest flicker of hurt flashed in Daisy’s eyes, but I had to give her credit, she wasn’t breaking down and crying, or throwing shit like some women did. “Yeah, sounds good,” I said, slapping her on the ass when she walked away.
“I think I’ve overstayed my welcome,” Daisy said softly, with a forced smile. Her confusion was visible. The room had turned quiet as all eyes were taking in the situation.
I shot everyone a meaningful glare that said without words that they should mind their fucking business. As they turned back to what they’d been doing, I put my eyes on Daisy. The smile was still on her face, but it didn’t convey an ounce of happiness. It was sad, as if she’d realize and was disappointed over the outcome.
“Could I get someone to take me home?” Her tone was soft and steady, but I detected the slight tremor in her voice.
“We need to talk first.”
“I think you’ve said all that needs to be said.” Her gaze shot to Lucy and then back to me. “I don’t need it spelled out for me.”
I’d done what I’d set out to do. Why, then, did I feel the sudden need to offer an explanation? “It’s not exactly what you think−”
“And what do I think, Big John?” There was grit in her tone, and I realized that anger was simmering just below the surface. “That you’re a bastard? That you’re a shallow prick who fucks just to fuck, and treats women as objects?” She clamped her mouth closed, and I saw the shimmer of unshed tears brighten her eyes, turning the hard jewels into pools. But then she pulled herself together and continued with a quiet determination that cut me like a fucking knife. “That you don’t care who you hurt? I’m okay. Really. I only wish I could give back the orgasm you gave me. You don’t deserve me.”
Fuck, she was right. I couldn’t let her believe that shit about me. “Daisy−”
She held her hand up. “I don’t know what happened between the time you picked me up tonight and now, and I don’t care. I’m just thankful that this thing, whatever it was, is over before it began.” She paused and glanced around the room. “Will someone please bring me home?” She sounded so calm and indifferent.
Like she really didn’t give a fuck.
“I will, darlin’,” said Cooper as he eagerly left his chair.
“I’ll fucking take her home!” I snarled, not wanting anyone else’s hands on her.
“No!” Daisy yelled, bringing everyone’s attention back to us. She turned hard, angry eyes on me, but her soft tone belied what I saw there. “I don’t want anything more to do with you. I don’t want to see you again. I don’t want your hands on me. Do you understand?”
I just looked at her, clenching my jaw as I realized how much I’d fucked up. I wanted to tell her the truth, but knew that I wouldn’t. It was better this way. Later, I would explain myself and pursue her like I’d wanted to. I glanced at Cooper, who hadn’t moved from his spot. A chin lift gave him permission to take Daisy home. I didn’t like the thought of her on the back of his bike, or the thought of her pussy nice and tight against him. I hoped that the fucking glare that I shot him as I followed him to the door was enough to warn him to keep his hands off her.
What He Wants (Book 3 after Phantom Riders MC-Hawk and No Mercy) Page 6
