by Amber Morgan
By the time the sun rose, Beth was more angry than frustrated. Waiting? Accepting? Well, she hadn’t accepted Abram and she hadn't waited around to be forced by a man she didn’t want. If she could make that stand, surely she could make another stand with Tanner?
Dressed and determined, Beth went to find Tanner. If nothing else, she decided she was entitled to a better explanation for his behavior. And then … then she’d have to think about moving on. The idea hurt, but the thought of Abram and Nathaniel catching up to her was far worse.
In stark contrast to the hive of activity it had been last night, the mill was beautifully silent this morning. The storm clouds had cleared, and gentle sunlight bathed the bar in gold. Empty beer bottles and the faint smell of cigarette smoke paid tribute to the night’s chaos, but for all it was the polar opposite of her life, Beth liked it. The mess, the noise, the easy laughter … It had been warm and welcoming, if somewhat overwhelming. There was a sense of family here that she’d been taught the Church provided, and it was now clear that the Church and the real world had very different ideas about “family.”
Finding nobody inside, she ventured out the front just in time to see a few men pulling away on their bikes. She didn’t see Tanner among them, although she recognized Rattler’s menacing form, and heaved a sigh of relief to see him go. When the dust from their roaring bikes settled, there was just one man left, sat astride his own machine and messing with the brakes.
He was taller than Tanner, and built along lean lines rather than broad. But his tattooed arms were roped with muscle, making it clear he had the strength to go with his height. His long hair was ashy blonde, and fell past his shoulders, hiding his face as he worked. He put Beth in mind of a lion, and for a second she was scared to approach.
Then he glanced up at her and, after giving her a speculative once-over, beckoned her forward. “You must be Beth.”
“Yessir.” She stared at the mud, unable to meet his gaze. There was no doubt that he was a sir. He gave off the same air of command that Abram did, albeit a quieter, more controlled one. Still, perhaps that made him more dangerous. You never knew.
“Raise your eyes, girl,” he said, not unkindly. “Let me have a look at you and see what Tanner’s tying himself in knots for.”
Her heart jerked and she obeyed, forcing herself to meet his eyes. His expression was unreadable. He sat back on the bike, hands resting on his knees. As much as she tried to focus on his face, she found herself staring at his arms. His left arm was tattooed with torn skin revealing gears and pistons, robotic images that made her feel faintly uneasy. Down his right arm, she saw dragons and battle axes. He followed her gaze and cracked a smile.
“Left arm,” he tapped it, “the future. Right arm, the past. Like ‘em?”
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. She preferred Tanner’s, but maybe that was just because she preferred Tanner himself.
He let it pass. “I’m Nash. I’m the President of this MC. You know what that means?”
“You’re the boss?” she guessed.
He nodded. “And I know every last damn thing that goes on here. I make the rules. I make the decisions. So you’d better tell me straight—how much shit are you in?”
Beth swallowed, butterflies filling her stomach. All her earlier conviction was draining away under his steely gaze. “I don’t want to cause any trouble for you,” she said.
“I’m sure you don’t. But you’re causing it anyway. So I’m asking, how much shit are you in? This cult of yours, what are they into? They got guns? Political connections?”
“No, nothing like that.” Beth hugged herself. “At least, I’ve never seen any guns. And Abram thinks the government is a tool of Satan.”
Nash laughed. “I bet he fucking does. Can’t say I disagree.”
“But he can be physically violent,” she said, realizing how stupid that probably sounded to a man the size of Nash. “And the snakes …” Her throat tightened. They’d all seen the test of faith in action. Abram kept antivenin in his rooms, but sometimes … Sometimes he didn’t fetch it in time. Sometimes, she thought, he chose not to. There were graves in the churchyard, unmarked graves for the sinners who hadn’t been pure or faithful enough to please God, the snakes, or Abram.
She would be subjected to the test if he caught her. Probably after she’d been beaten black and blue. By then, she might almost wish to find the coral snake in her hands.
“The snakes?” Nash prompted when she fell silent, caught in dread.
She was about to explain when she felt warm hands on her shoulders. She jumped and then recognized Tanner’s leather-and-musk scent. Her whole body both relaxed and tensed. His presence meant safety but it triggered arousal, and she didn’t know what to do with the feelings he created.
“This asshole bothering you, Beth?” Tanner asked. His tone was light but his hands were possessive, and she could feel the heat of his body, the hard muscles of his chest, and the tension there. Beth had no doubt that in that moment he saw Nash as a potential threat to her, just for being near her. The idea was oddly thrilling.
Nash cocked at eyebrow at him. “This asshole says don’t let your mouth write a check your ass can’t cash, son. Beth and me were just getting acquainted, so put your hackles away.”
“I kinda wanted to talk to her myself,” Tanner said, easing his grip on her a little.
“Go ahead,” Nash said.
“In private.”
Nash gestured at the wide open fields surrounding the mill. “Then take a walk.”
Tanner muttered something under his breath that Beth didn’t quite catch, but sensed was uncomplimentary. “Beth, you wanna take a walk with me?”
She did. She nodded politely to Nash, who went back to work on his bike without another word.
“Wanna go for a ride?” Tanner asked her, nodding at his bike.
Beth slipped on behind him with a shiver of pleasure as she wrapped her arms round him. She flattened her palms against his chest, feeling hard muscle under his worn T-shirt and she allowed herself the brief fantasy of running her fingertips along his bare skin.
But he hadn’t wanted her last night so why let herself dream? She couldn’t stay and he seemed not to want her to anyway.
He revved the engine and they shot away from the mill. He didn’t ride as fast as they had yesterday, through the storm, but it was still thrilling. The power of the bike beneath her coupling perfectly with the strength of the man in front of her … and more than that, the sense of freedom was intoxicating. She wanted a bike, she decided then. She wanted to know that from now on, she could go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted.
He rode to a house on the outskirts of the town, a single-story house with a wrap-around porch and a small but beautiful garden. There was an ancient apple tree, crooked and heavy with fruit, at the side of the house and a wooden swing hung from one branch, twisting gently in the light wind. The air was heavy with the scent of apple blossom and wet grass, and Beth fell in love immediately. It was like something out of a fairy tale: pastoral, peaceful, and perfect.
“Is this your house?” she asked as they got off the bike. It was hard to imagine rough-edged Tanner here, but he grinned and nodded.
“I don’t usually bring people here,” he said, lacing his hands behind his head and surveying the garden. “Me and my sister share it, and she likes her privacy. No strangers, no strange dudes, especially. But she’s working today and you’re not a strange dude, so …” He shrugged.
Beth went to test out the swing. The wooden boards making up the seat were wide and sturdy, the frayed rope holding it up deceptively strong. She gave herself a gentle push, smiling at the creak of wood as the tree groaned. She glanced at Tanner to see him staring at her with a hot, naked longing that hit the pit of her stomach like … like the beer last night. Like his kiss had hit her. She stopped swinging, nerves fluttering.
Tanner cleared his throat and sat on the porch step, beckoning her over. “I
need to talk to you.”
She joined him, careful to keep a modest amount of space between them. His words were ominous and didn’t match the raw heat in his eyes. Still, she reminded herself that she was owed a fair explanation for his behavior.
“I was kind of a dick last night,” he said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, but I just … this is a pretty fucked up situation, you know?”
“Which part?” she asked, surprised at the wry snap in her voice. If he’d been a Church member, she wouldn’t have dared use that tone with him.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and she found she liked that he was nervous too. It made her feel less inexperienced and naive. “Me kissing you. I shouldn’t have—but not because I didn’t want to. Don’t think that.” He caught her hand suddenly, squeezing hard as if he could impress his words on her skin. “I did want to. I … fuck, I wanted to do a lot more than just kiss you, Beth. But you can’t … It would have been so fucking sleazy of me, taking advantage of you like that.”
“Is it taking advantage if I want it too?”
He scowled, but didn’t release her hand. “Yeah, if you’re a drunk virgin out in the world alone for the first time ever. I’m not Prince Charming, Beth. I’m the black knight.” He did let go of her now, cracking his knuckles.
“Aren’t you being a little melodramatic?” she asked, resting her hand on his knee. “I wasn’t expecting a gold ring and a white dress last night, Tanner. I know I can’t stay in town. Abram will come after me and Nash doesn’t want me to anyway. And I’m a virgin, but I’m not an idiot. I don’t see my virginity as some mythical treasure to guard, or something cheap to throw away. If me being a virgin is a problem here, it’s your problem, not mine.”
He looked startled, then annoyed. “It’s not a problem. I just …” He shrugged and covered her hand with his. “I don’t want to be something you regret.”
Her heart raced. “That sounds like something Prince Charming would say.”
He closed his eyes and groaned low and long, like a wild animal. “You’re trouble. I knew you would be.”
Before she could answer, he seized her, almost dragging her into his arms and kissing her with a possessiveness that shook her to the core. He raked one hand through her hair, hooked his free arm round her waist and pulled her hard against him. His tongue plundered her mouth, exploring hungrily while he pushed his hand up her shirt to sink his fingers into her skin. Beth clung to his T-shirt, soaking up every touch, every movement of his mouth and fingers. Searing heat filled her body, and everywhere he touched her she felt deliciously tender and delightfully trapped.
She wanted more but she didn’t know how to ask for it, so she wrapped her arms round his neck and thrust her breasts against him, hoping he’d just know what she needed and how badly she needed it. She was senseless, nothing left but need. When he broke away from her to kiss and suck at her throat, she gasped. “Touch me.”
Chapter Nine
Her words were like an electric current against his skin, simple but so fucking powerful. His cock was begging for her, straining against his jeans, and all he could think about was how good it would feel to fling her into the grass, rip her own jeans away and bury his cock inside her. He palmed her breast, pinching her nipple and relishing her squeak of surprise. She might not care that she was a virgin, but the thought of being the first man to claim her, the first man to touch and tongue and kiss every part of her … Tanner was shocked at how much of a turn on it was for him.
He pulled her into his lap, still sucking at her neck while she moaned her encouragement. He unzipped her jeans, shoving his hand down to rub her clit through her panties. She cried out, bucking her hips and Tanner thought he'd never heard anything so fucking sweet.
He dragged his tongue along the curve of her neck and bit the lobe of her ear, whispering to her, "You want me now then? Out here where anyone could walk past and see me finger-fuck you?" He slipped two fingers inside her panties, brushing her clit and drawing another breathy cry from her. "Is this how you want it?"
She writhed against him, eyes closed, lips parted, but she didn't speak. Not good enough. He wanted to hear her say yes. Hear her beg him.
He slid one finger slowly into her cunt and found her already wet. She twisted in his arms, a yearning moan escaping her. "Say it, Beth. C'mon, say the word."
She grabbed his hair with one hand and slammed her other hand down over his, forcing his finger deeper inside her. "Yes!"
He wanted to take her. Fuck, he wanted to own her. But he had no protection and as much as his dick thought this was a DEFCON one situation, he knew it wasn't. He wasn't going to fuck Beth on his doorstep ... But he was going to make damn sure she was ruined for any other man.
He swung her round so her back was against his chest and hooked her legs over his, leaving her spread and open to him. Her ass pressed firmly down on his cock, a private and pleasurable torture, but he tried to ignore it and focus on her. He cupped her mound with one hand and, ever so gently, clasped his free hand round her throat, exerting only the slightest pressure. She stiffened against him, chest heaving.
He whispered in her ear, “I do anything you don’t like, you tell me to stop, okay?”
“Yes.” Her voice trembled.
“You like this? You okay with my hands where they are?”
“Oh … Yes.”
Tanner had no intention of choking her, but he'd found a lot of women got off on the slight pressure— it intensified everything and he sure as fuck got off on the sense of control it gave him. He pushed two fingers slowly into her welcoming pussy. She gasped and ground against him. Tanner gritted his teeth. He wanted to make this about Beth but she was making it hard ...Or harder, anyway.
He started gently easing his fingers in and out, feeling her grow slicker and hotter with every stroke. He curved his thumb around her clit, pressing lightly on it as his fingers worked her, and she gasped and arched against him. Her pleasure was clear in her breathy moans and the rhythmic rocking of her hips. Tanner rested his head against hers, struggling to control himself, to keep it slow and tender. Because he wanted to fuck her, really fuck her, hard and dirty. He could smell her musk as her juices flowed round his fingers and he wanted to taste it, drive his tongue inside her pussy, then drive his cock in and claim her in the most primal way.
He quickened his motions and rubbed her throat, increasing the pressure just a touch. Beth sank against him as if she'd melt into him, her own movements growing more erratic. Had she ever orgasmed before? He pictured her masturbating, pictured her own fingers roaming over her tits and down between her legs, and he couldn't help the groan that left him. He buried his head in the curve of her neck, biting her soft, sweet skin. She yelped, and then mumbled an encouragement, reaching back to knot her fingers in his hair. She covered his hand with her other, forcing his fingers deeper inside her cunt.
"Fuck me, Beth." He obeyed her silent plea, pumping his fingers in and out of her harder and faster. "You're going to kill me." His cock felt like it was going to explode. He hadn't exactly been celibate since leaving prison, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this kind of raw, hungry lust for a woman.
She was panting, little helpless cries spilling from her. He felt her pussy clench around her fingers and knew she was close to coming. It was the hottest fucking thing and Tanner was pretty damn worried he was going to lose it and come in his pants like an idiot fourteen-year-old.
And then she cried his name, her whole body convulsing as her orgasm hit her. Tanner rubbed her clit as she came, pushed his fingers as deep as he could, feeling her cunt tighten around them. He was determined to make it as intense for her as possible, and if her reaction was anything to go by, he was doing a good job. She twisted and bucked on his lap, her ass pushing down on his cock, creating an irresistible friction. Tanner snarled and bit her throat one last time, hard enough that he knew he'd leave a bruise.
Good. Let every fucking man from here to the Church of t
he Serpentine Cross know she was his.
As the last waves of her orgasm flowed out of her, she went limp and Tanner let wrapped his arms around her, cradling her. She pressed her legs together, trembling and breathless. He kissed her throat where he'd bitten her. "Are you okay? Was that okay?" he asked.
"Okay?" She laughed shakily. "Yeah, that was okay."
He hugged her hard against him, feeling a fierce sense of pride and possession. If she thought he was letting her go, that he'd let her just run off ... Hell no.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, nothing but birdsong and the distant roar of traffic to be heard. Then Beth shifted slightly so she could look at him. "Tanner? Will you tell me why you were in prison?"
"Shit, Beth, you know how to ruin the moment, don't you?" He said it without malice and kissed her to take any sting out of his words. He sighed. "I'm not fucking proud ... No, that's a lie. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, so I guess I am proud of it." He turned that thought over in his head, trying to find a simple way to explain the chaos of emotion behind what he'd done.
Before he could, his phone started ringing. He was tempted to ignore it, but the Ace of Spades ring tone meant it was one of his brothers, and you didn't ignore that. Cursing, he stood and took his phone from his pocket. It was probably a minor miracle it hadn't been crushed while he and Beth made out. "Wolf, this better be a matter of life or death."
Wolf's voice was tight with anger. "You need to get to Mia's diner. Now, man. No fucking around."
Adrenaline shot through Tanner, burning off any lust for Beth he had left. "What happened?"
"Come see for yourself." Wolf hung up.
"Fucker." Tanner pulled Beth to her feet. "Ready to ride again?"
"What's wrong?" she asked, fear plain on her face. Tanner knew he ought to drop her off at the mill or something, but the thought of letting her out of his sight brought a burst of anger to his chest.
