by Naomi West
“Look,” he shouted as he, completely unperturbed by his nudity, whirled around to face her. “We need to set some ground rules. Just because I'm paying you to have my baby, that doesn't mean you get to ask me about my family or my past. My family's the Blood Warriors, got it?”
She didn't shrink back. Instead, she went to ask him about his motorcycle club.
“And, no, dammit, you can't fucking ask about them, either. I don't need a goddamn woman poking around in my life, asking me a fucking question every five minutes. If I did, I'd have an ol' lady to carry my child.”
“Fine,” Star said, her voice as even as she could make it. “Know what? I won't ask you anymore fucking questions about your parents, or your family, or even where you got that goddamn rocking chair. I'll just come over and you can fuck my brains through the back of my head till I get pregnant. Then, this is over.”
A look passed over his like a cloud over the sun. What was it? Anger? Realization? Star didn't know. But, right then, she didn't care either.
His phone went off in his jeans, a ring-tone that she didn't recognize trilling throughout the bedroom. He didn't spare her a glance, just grabbed his phone from the pants pocket and checked it. “Fuck.”
She fought back her natural urge to ask what was wrong, to offer any help she could. The asshole had yelled at her and had made it abundantly clear he didn't want her anywhere near his personal business.
He tossed his phone on the chest of drawers in the corner and picked out clean clothes. “I'm gonna hop in the shower,” he said, still not looking at her. “Then, I'll take you back to your place.”
“Fine,” Star said, her voice still even and tight.
He left the room without bothering to put on clothes, and headed down the hallway.
She sighed to Tanner's empty bedroom.
What the heck had she been thinking, getting herself wrapped up with this man? Sure, he was going to take care of her when she'd delivered the child. But, it seemed like he could barely control his anger half the time. Of course, like her mother had always said, passionate men were the best ones. Especially in bed. You didn't want a milquetoast man climbing between the sheets with you. And, with that last part at least, Star agreed.
Now, as the shower started up somewhere inside the house, and she lay there thinking about Tanner, she really did think that was her first orgasm. She still couldn't believe she'd missed out over all these years, with her previous boyfriends.
But, with all that passion, and great sex, apparently came other baggage. He didn't want to talk about his personal life, didn't want to talk about the MC. To a certain degree, she understood. After all, her own past and family history weren't exactly exemplary. Not by a long shot.
She ran a hand through her hair, idly wondering how mussed up it was, and climbed off the bed. She picked through their scattered clothes on the floor and found hers.
As she pulled them on, she started to wonder. If he wouldn't tell her about his personal life, maybe she could glean something from here. Idly, she buttoned up her top and looked at the Blood Warriors flag hanging on one side of the room. Clearly, they were the most important thing in his life.
There had to be more, though. She bit her lip as she looked around the room. Her eyes settled on the top of the chest of drawers.
His phone. Why hadn't she thought of it first?
She went over and picked it up. He hadn't even bothered to turn off the screen, or lock it, and had left a text message boldly sitting on the front.
“Found your brother. He's in trouble,” it read.
So, that's what it was! That was why he didn't want to talk about his family. Between his dad dying, and his brother disappearing, of course he'd have been touchy about his private life. She would have been, too.
The pipes of the older house clanked a little as the shower turned off. Star put the phone back where she'd found it and scampered back to the end of the bed so she could finish dressing.
He came back into the room a few minutes later, dressed in new boxers and a shirt. He bent down and grabbed his discarded jeans and boots. “You ready to go?” he grumbled as he pulled his jeans on.
“Yeah,” she said.
Without a word, he sat down next to her and put his boots on.
The heat seemed to roll off him, making Star wet again as memories from just a few minutes prior flashed through her body. She couldn't forget how much pleasure he'd given her, or how intense it had been. Sure, he may have had his reasons to act the way he did, but he was still a fucking asshole. Of course, she'd be damned if that wasn't the best fuck she'd ever had.
“Tanner?” she asked after a tense couple moments.
He looked at her and sighed. “What?”
She took a deep breath before beginning. “I just wanted to say I get it. I understand you don't want to talk about your family. I have a past with mine, too, and it was unfair of me to start going a mile a minute like that. I won't pry anymore. I promise.”
Silent, he searched her face for a moment before finally nodding his agreement and forgiveness. “Thank you,” he said finally. “Now, you ready?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”
He gathered up his phone and vest, then led her back through the house and out to his bike. She climbed back up behind him after he'd started it, and they pulled out onto the street and headed back to her place.
The ride back was just as thrilling as the ride there. She tightened her arms around his body again, holding herself close to him. His hand reached down and touched hers, lingered for a long moment.
It wasn't an emotional attachment, just something that was purely physical. But, as they drew closer to her place, she found herself wondering when Tanner could make time to see her again. She wanted to relive that last orgasm, feeling his naked body pressed against hers, holding her, controlling her. All her worries about the future and her regrets about the past had been pushed away in those brief moments. When she'd been in bed with him, his cock buried inside her, only that one, pure moment had mattered.
She needed that again.
They had pulled onto her street and come to a stop light just a few blocks from her place, when an even greater roar kicked up behind them. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw an entire cavalcade of bikers, riding two abreast, bearing down on them.
Her heart leaped into her throat as they came racing up and encircled Tanner and Star. She began to calm down a little, though, as she quickly recognized their vests. These were all Blood Warriors, all Tanner's brothers.
“Hey, hey, Tanner Boy,” called one of the bikers on their right. “This your new ol' lady?”
“If she ain't, I want a piece when you're done!” called another from their left, a big, bearded biker who roared over the noise with no problem. All the men laughed at his comment, and Star, certainly not for the first time, wondered just what in the hell she'd gotten herself into. She could be pregnant already. What the hell was she thinking?
“Shut the fuck up, guys,” Tanner snapped back, clearly touchy. “She ain't my ol' lady, and you still can't get a piece, Tyke.”
“What a shame!” Tyke called back. “She could get a golf ball through a garden hose with those lips!”
“Knock it off, you guys!” roared another biker, a big, tough looking old codger up ahead of them. “I'm here on club business, Tanner. I don't want anyone on the street or in a bar hearing us.”
“About the message?” Tanner asked.
The man nodded solemnly.
“Let me drop her off, then we can go back to my place.”
Star's mouth was open before she even realized what she was doing. “My place is less than a block away. You can meet there.”
“Sounds good, doll,” the man replied before anyone, including Tanner, could decline the offer.
Chapter Eight
Tanner
Tanner didn't like that they were dragging Star into this mess. Their arrangement was just a financial one. It d
idn't matter if she was a spitfire in the sack. He didn't need her knowing more about his business than was necessary.
But, shit, what he wouldn't do to be balls deep in her again. And, if he hadn't gotten that text from Blade, he might already have been. The thought of her skin against his, the feel of her wet pussy clasped so tight around his cock, how soft her lips were, how she bit his lower lip when he pulled away from a kiss.
It was just like Brendon to ruin his plans, even when he wasn't around to do it personally.
There was just something about Star, though. Maybe it was that her past was as packed away and hidden as his. Or, it could have been the way she begged for his cock and ran her nails up and down his back, urging him on. Whatever the reason, he couldn't wait for their next time alone together.
Unfortunately, there was business to attend to.
The living room in Star's apartment was small, but more than enough to accommodate him, Star, and Blade, the president of the Blood Warriors. Blade stood across from them, in front of the small picture window with its blinds pulled down. He and Star both sat on the couch, inches apart.
“Star, meet Blade. Blade, meet Star.”
Star gave a little, uncertain wave. “A pleasure.”
Blade nodded. “Likewise, little lady.”
“Good, introductions done. Now, you gonna tell me what's going on with my little brother?” Tanner asked.
“We found Brendon,” Blade said, clearly not wanting to mince words. He wasn't that type of man, anyways. “We got a lead on him next town over, buying drugs by the college there. Saw him at Mesquite and Hillcrest”
The news hit Tanner like a punch in the gut. That wasn't like Brendon at all. He shook his head, incredulous. “I don't believe it,” Tanner said. “My brother'd never touch that shit. It had to have been somebody else that just looked like him.”
“People do weird things,” Star murmured from beside him. “Believe me.”
Tanner glanced at her, wondering if she was referring to what they'd just done. Or, rather, if that statement came from personal experience in this kind of thing.
“No, Tanner,” Blade said. “It was him. Tyke saw him with his own two eyes, dude. It was Brendon.”
He shook his head again. There was no way.
Star put a hand over his. “I know some people over there. My . . . uh . . . some of my family got wrapped up in that shit, too. I think I can help you find him.”
He found himself flipping his hand around so he could squeeze it. He felt a stirring in his jeans, again. Just her touch seemed to get him halfway to hard.
But, still, this was club business. More importantly, it was his personal business. And he needed to keep her out of places she didn't belong. “I think we've got this handled.”
“Come on, Tanner,” Blade butted in. “Girl says she can help, let her help. Take help where you can find it.”
Tanner grimaced. “Fine. We go tomorrow, okay?”
Star smiled a little and turned back to Blade.
“Good,” Blade said. “If you two find him, you let us know, and we'll come fast as we can. No sense in spooking him with the whole gang showing up.”
“Right,” Tanner agreed.
Blade glanced from Tanner to Star and back again. “I'll be outside, Tanner. Boys are all heading up to the Crow.”
Tanner nodded. “Got it. Be out in a minute.”
“Good meeting you, Star,” Blade said on his way out.
Star cleared her throat. “You'd better get going, before the boys start worrying we're getting married or something.”
Tanner smirked. Marriage? Nah. Fucking? Yeah, that'd be closer to what he was wanting. “Tomorrow, then?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, tomorrow.”
He stayed there on the couch, though, his eyes flickering down to her lips again. He wanted to taste them one more time before he left. But, the way his body was stirring, he knew he wouldn't make it out with the guys if he did.
She looked back at him, her mouth half-parted. Her tongue came out, just barely touched her upper lip. She was thinking the same thing, he knew. But, there'd be plenty of time for making babies. Later. Right now, it was time for him to see his boys and drink down a few beers. After all, the club was the most important thing.
Tanner made the first move, breaking the spell. He got up from the couch and headed for the front door. Star trailed after him. He opened the door and went to step outside, but Star stopped him with a light touch on his hand with just the tips of her fingers.
“Yeah?” he asked as he turned around.
She pressed her body close to him, molding herself to his form, and pulled his lips down to hers. She pushed her tongue into his mouth, groaning as she tasted him.
He pulled her into his arms, his hands running over the tight jeans stretched over her ass. They broke apart after a long, intimate moment, her teeth lightly biting his lower lip as they parted.
“You were amazing earlier,” Star nearly whispered. “I didn't know sex could be like that.”
Tanner grinned despite himself. “Never been with a biker before, that's why.”
“Whatever,” Star said, rolling her eyes. “Now, hurry up and get drunk so you can get to sleep early. We've gotta find your brother tomorrow morning.”
He nodded before showing himself out.
As he headed to his bike, and to join the rest of the guys, images of her perfect tits, her great ass, and that cupid's bow of a mouth invaded his thoughts. He tried to dispel them as he climbed onto his bike and started it, but to no avail.
He rode all the way to the Old Crow with one of the worst hard-ons of his life.
Chapter Nine
Star
Star clutched to Tanner's bike as they tore down the highway. It wasn't a terribly long ride to the college where they'd spotted Brendon, but it was glorious any way she looked at it.
There was just something about the feel of the roaring bike pressed between her legs, the way the wind rushed over her body, and how this strong, manly biker seemed to fit so perfectly in her arms.
Out in the distance, storm clouds gathered, coming closer with each moment. But, Star didn't mind. Instead, her thoughts were filled with memories of the night before. Of how Tanner's hand felt as it held her hands above her head. How his cock had felt inside her.
She hoped that, after this stuff with Brendon was sorted, they could get back to the business at hand.
Of course, she also worried that revelations about her past, and her parents, wouldn't dissuade Tanner when he found out. And, if she meant to help him, there was no way she'd be able to hide the truth. She just hoped that stoic persona of his kept going, and that he avoided asking too many questions.
Once they hit town, she directed him to one of the sleazier neighborhoods. It wasn't near where Brendon had been spotted, but she knew a guy who had dealt to her mother in the past, a guy who might know something.
One of their many “field trips” during her junior high years was when her mother dragged her out here. She couldn't afford a babysitter, because that would have taken away from her drug money. And she couldn't leave Star home alone, since that might get CPS called on her.
Even back then, the irony hadn't been lost on Star.
“Right here,” Star shouted into Tanner's ear as they pulled up in front of the shotgun shack of a crackhouse. The sickly green paint was peeling, one of the sets of windows was covered in aluminum foil, and the foundation had long ago begun to crumble.
“Here?” Tanner asked, his voice full of disbelief. “You know people that fucking live in this place?”
“Unfortunately,” Star replied as she hopped down off the bike, “yes.” She turned and started to head in.
Behind her, he killed the bike and put up the kickstand.
She turned around when he heard his boots crunch gravel. “No, Tanner. I got this. Quentin's cool, okay? I've known him since I was a kid.”
“I'm not sending you in there alone
,” he said.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Then I'm not going in. A big biker dude is going to spook him, and then we won't know anything about Brendon.”
He sighed and rolled his eyes, clearly accepting the fact that he had to give some control away on this. “Fine. Just get what we need so we can get out of this shithole.”
She spun on her heel and headed to the front door. She knocked quietly on the door. If you pounded on the front door of a place like this, they were liable to think you were the cops and head out the back door. Not that the cops really gave a shit about this place. Places like this were part of the landscape. The sordid little den had been here for years, and it would be here for many more.
