“Stop being a bitch.”
“No, I’m serious. Aren’t biker wives, like hairdressers and stuff? If they do anything besides look after their man.” She says “look after their man” as if it’s the most horrible job a woman has to endure.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a hairdresser. Why are you suddenly being such a snob? You sound like your mom.”
Her face twists. That’s probably the meanest insult I could come up with in Athena’s mind.
A look of guilt flashes over her face. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to see you throw your life away on this guy because you’re all sex-fogged-infatuated with him.”
I clench my jaw so hard my teeth make this squeaky sound that echoes painfully in my ears. “I’m not throwing my life away. He wants to put me through medical school for fuck’s sake.”
That finally shuts her up. She sits back in her chair and pins me with an apologetic stare. But I’m too pissed to forgive her right now.
“Are you going to marry this guy?”
“What do you care? Why are you being so nosy today?”
“I’m worried about you. You’re young now. What if when you’re a thirty-year-old hag he dumps you for another eighteen-year-old?”
I’m done with this entire conversation. I gather my stuff and stand so fast, my chair tips over. “I survived before Dante, and if that happens, I’ll survive again.”
But inside I’m sick at the thought of a life without him.
Karina’s barely out the door when I get a text from Romeo calling us all in for church. At the moment, I feel like seeing him about as much as I feel like banging my head against the closest rock. Last night’s conversation didn’t land in my head right. Romeo hinting that I might have the option to buy out Tucker’s debt with cash or pussy irritates me. It shouldn’t. Shit like that goes down all the time in my world. This time it’s too personal. Although I’ve only met her a couple times, the thought of handing Karina’s feisty friend over to Romeo to do hell only knows what kind of perverted shit to, bothers me way more than it should.
Christ, loving Karina’s made me grow a conscience. How inconvenient.
Romeo’s in a mood when I get to the clubhouse.
“What’s wrong, prez?”
“Had a break-in at the garage last night.”
That’s a bad sign. Everyone in a hundred mile radius knows who owns that shop. “They take anything?”
“No. They tried to open up file cabinets, go through my desk. Shit like that. Don’t know if they were lookin’ for cash or somethin’ else. Either way there ain’t much there.”
“Could be kids.”
“Gonna make two of the prospects camp out there for a couple nights.”
“Good idea.”
Before we go in the chapel, Luck pulls me aside. “There may have been a Hemi sighting. Heading toward the East Coast.”
“What the fuck would he be doing out there?”
“Don’t know. You okay if I bring it up at the table?”
Now this is interesting that Luck came to me with this first. “Yeah, brother. Thanks.”
The first item on our agenda is the break-in.
Luck signals Romeo and gets the nod to speak. “Any chance it was Tucker?” He doesn’t explain why Tucker might do something so risky, which I appreciate.
“If it was, he’s even dumber than I thought.”
One patch-holder and two prospects get assigned to stay overnight at Romeo’s shop. Poor bastards.
We go over the schedule for the week. Got a protection job Thursday night. I glance at Luck to see if he’s up for watching Karina and he nods. Otherwise, I’ve got a light week, which is fine, because I have a lot of ways I plan to keep my girl occupied.
With that in mind, I take Luck aside after our meeting breaks. “Think you can show me some of that crazy bondage shit you’re into?”
He laughs at my assholish question. “Karina interested?”
“Maybe.”
Like the nosy bastard he is, Romeo overhears us and opens his big mouth. “Since when are you such a fucking pussy? Tie her ass up if you want to.”
Luck stares at our prez with a barely controlled look of disgust, which Romeo is, of course, oblivious to.
“There’s not much fun or challenge in that,” Luck explains as if he’s schooling a kindergartner. “He’s twice her size. Overpowering her isn’t a question. Having her trust him enough to hand herself over and be at his mercy. There’s no bigger high than that.”
High. Good way to describe the way I feel when I’m fucking Karina. Luck tends to get real poetic about all this shit. All I’m interested in is tying my girl down and fucking the hell out of her in some kinky as fuck positions. But whatever. I’ve seen the knot work Luck’s capable of so if I have to listen to his submission is a gift lecture to get some tips, it’s worth it.
“I’m teaching a workshop on Japanese-style rope bondage for the Kink Society over in Nobel if you want to come.”
“You’re teaching a what on what where?” Romeo asks. “People need a class on how to tie a bitch up?”
Talking about this in front of Romeo’s giving me an urge to punch something—him.
“Send me the info and I’ll see if can make it.”
CHAPTER SIX
I’m so pissed, I end up leaving school early. Dante’s question about my schoolgirl skirt keeps ping-ponging around in my head. I think that skirt’s actually in our room at the clubhouse. No way do I want to stop by there on my own—even though he’s told me I can go there whenever I want to and let whoever’s at the front door know who I am.
Part of the reason I’m so mad is that I know Athena’s questions make sense—even if she voiced them in the most offensive way possible. I should be worried about those things. If I’d been given a set of parents who gave a shit about me—like Athena’s—I’d be asking myself those questions, too.
How do I explain to her—or to anyone really—what he’s done for me? I don’t mean material things. More like the intangible stuff I’ve never had. Safety, security, a happy home to return to after school. All of those thoughts are bubbling through my brain as I wander from store to store gathering things to surprise Dante.
The skirt’s hard to find during this time of year. I end up finding one in a store that caters to junior high girls. It’s on clearance in the uniform section and the salesgirl gives me a strange look when she realizes I’m buying it for myself and not, oh I don’t know, my little sister. She gives me an even dirtier look when I grab a button down blouse, too. No, it’s never going to button up over my chest, but then again, I don’t need it to.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something sassy to her, like “Don’t worry honey, I’m only wearing it to get fucked in.” But I don’t.
Next I find thigh-high stockings with frilly bows at the top and a pair of high-heeled Mary Janes. I must already own like three pairs, but these are red patent leather with sky-high heels. The color matches the skirt I bought perfectly.
I’ve got plenty of hair ties in my car, so that’s covered. My last stop is a chocolate shop. Dante’s not a big sweets person, but I noticed he does indulge in chocolate peanut butter cups once in a while. Besides my body, I’ve never given him anything, so I grab those. A cynical voice in my head—probably Athena’s—says it’s not really a gift since I’m using Dante’s money to buy it.
Enclosed in my car, I text Dante to find out where he is. The idea of walking in the front door, all dressed up and surprising him won’t leave me alone.
Home, baby girl.
Well, that messes with my plans a little.
I could run back inside the mall and change, but I’m not thrilled about the idea of walking around the parking lot dressed up like a porn-star-hooker.
Instead, I stop at the end of our driveway, shimmy out of my clothes and into my newly purchased sexwear. As I twist my hair into two long braids, I find myself humming along to the radio.
Preparing myself for Dante has almost made me forget my fight with Athena and all the doubts it raised.
Once I’m finished, I’m eager to see Dante and hurry up the driveway.
And find two motorcycles parked in front of the house, Dante’s and someone else’s from the club. Romeo or Luck. I’m not sure. The only bike I’ve committed to memory is Dante’s.
Shit.
I glance down at the skirt barely concealing my thighs. My breasts spilling out of my shirt, tied off above my navel.
If it’s Luck, it will be embarrassing. If it’s Romeo it will be mortifying.
“Karina?” Dante calls from the front porch.
“Be right there!”
Shitshitshit!
Dante ducks back inside before I get out of the car, so he doesn’t see what I’m wearing until I step into the house.
Luck’s sitting on the couch and both of them turn and stare at me. Well, at least it’s Luck and not Romeo.
Slowly Dante crosses his arms over his chest. All his bulging muscles popping and flexing distract me for a minute.
“That’s not what you wore to school today,” Dante says.
Luck’s mouth flattens. I think he’s trying to hold in his laughter.
Heat sears my cheeks. I feel like an idiot.
Dante crooks a finger, urging me closer until I’m standing in front of him. “Explain.”
My gaze darts to Luck who’s watching us carefully.
“This morning…you mentioned, the uh…and I remembered it’s at the clubhouse and I wanted to surprise you but I didn’t want to go there by myself—” My words come out in a jumbled rush, but he gets the gist.
“I should probably get going,” Luck says as he rises from the couch. Dante walks him out and they speak in low tones on the porch for a few seconds while I stare at my shoes feeling like a silly little girl.
The quiet click of the front door pulls my attention off the carpet.
Dante approaches, a small smirk playing over his lips.
“What am I gonna do with you, baby girl?”
Fuck me, but I have to be the luckiest motherfucker on the planet.
Off the cuff, I mention that sexy little school girl getup she has. What does my girl do? Goes all fuckin’ out. For me. Just because it will please me.
I’m fuckin’ hard thinking about it and she’s right in front of me. Tiny plaid skirt, smooth pale skin, tight white shirt tied under her breasts. Breasts that are spilling out for my hungry eyes to feast on.
Without taking my eyes off her, I drop down to the couch and hold out my hand. “Come here, baby girl.”
She takes slow steps until she’s standing between my knees. My fingers land on her outer thighs, slowly trailing up under her skirt.
“I’m so embarrassed,” she says.
“Why? Because Luck saw you all hot as hell?”
She nibbles at her bottom lip and nods.
“Ain’t got nothing to be embarrassed about.” I take a second to sweep my gaze over her sexy fucking outfit one more time. “Now, explain how you had time to go shopping and get home this early?”
Her gaze strays to the front door. “I, uh…”
“Yeah?”
“I left school early.”
I raise an eyebrow and wait for more information before deciding what to do. Something’s wrong with my girl. She won’t say any more but I know there’s more to her story.
“Karina. I’m waiting.”
My hands rise, skimming up and over her ass, squeezing her cheeks. Still nothing.
She stares at my lap, and one of my hands leaves her warm little butt and takes her hand, tugging her down. “Come here.”
Yeah, that she’s familiar with. She plants her knees on the couch next to me and drapes herself over my lap.
“Why you being a bad girl today?”
“I’m not.”
“Mouthy too,” I mumble as I flip her skirt up. My fingers hook into her panties, sliding them down but leaving them at her knees. Fuck if I don’t have to take a minute to appreciate the sight of her bare ass, waiting for my hand.
The first swat isn’t the playful kind I usually give her and she flinches. She turns her head, but I land a smack on her other ass cheek before she gets a word out.
“Ow!” Her feet kick and I almost get a stiletto in my ear. I stop and slip her shoes off, dropping them to the carpet with a muted thud.
“Are you ready to answer?”
“What?” she screeches as my hand spanks her again.
“Why did you leave school early?”
I don’t ease up on how hard I’m whacking her ass. “Daddy! It hurts.”
“I know, baby girl.”
“Athena and I had a fight,” she yelps.
My hand stops mid-air. “Sit up.”
She sits back and jerks her underwear up, then rubs her hands over her ass. The motion makes her tits pop out of the skimpy blouse she’s got on. After a few seconds, she places her hands on her thighs and stares up at me with watery eyes.
“What’d you fight about?”
Her bottom lip pushes out and she glances around the room.
“Karina.”
“You,” she finally whispers.
“What about me?”
She waves her hand in the air, but I catch it, holding her still.
“I don’t know. Stuff like if we were going to get married or what will I do when I’m old and you leave me for another hot eighteen-year-old.”
The word, married punches me in my gut, knocking the air out of me, so I ignore it.
“Come here.” I arrange her so she’s straddling me and we’re facing each other. Having her hot little pussy in my lap wakes my dick right the fuck up.
I press my palms to either side of her face so she can’t look away. “You’re the first eighteen-year-old in my life. Fuck, when I was eighteen…never mind. Point is, I ain’t with you ’cause of your age. Yeah, I picked you up because you were hot and down-to-fuck, but I didn’t move you into my house because of that.”
“I know. At least…I think I do.”
“Babe, more likely scenario is you finding some smart, rich doctor and realizing what a waste of time I am.”
She throws her arms around my neck, holding on so tight, I ain’t gotta choice but to wrap my arms ’round her. “Please don’t say that,” she whispers against my neck. “Please. I love you.”
“Love you, too, baby girl.”
I use her hair to tug her back so I can see her face again. “She say all this shit outta jealousy or concern?”
Karina only thinks about it for a second. “Concern. But she’s a hypocrite too, because she won’t stop asking me about Romeo.”
Her nose wrinkles in the funniest way when she says my prez’s name. I ain’t at all bothered that she seems to find him repulsive. On the other hand, I’m real interested to know that her friend’s into him.
“Why?”
Karina blushes and looks away before answering. “I don’t know. She thinks he’s hot for some reason.”
Harsh laughter bursts out of me. “Yeah? Feeling might be mutual there.”
“He’s scary.”
“I’m not?”
She reaches out and traces a finger down my cheek and over my bottom lip before answering.
“Not to me.”
I take her finger and suck on it. Watch as she goes liquid in my arms. I’m about to lose control, but I still need more information from her. My hands grip her hips, pulling her against me even tighter. “Anything else happen today?”
He gaze darts away. Yup. Thought so.
“It’s stupid.”
“Nothing that concerns you is stupid. Tell me.”
She huffs before meeting my eyes. “Some guy hassled me and Athena.” Her mouth tips into a slight smile. “One of your prospects—Cricket?—knocked him out.”
“That so?”
“Did you ask him to look after me?”
I shouldn’t for one sec
ond ever forget how smart my little bitch is. “Maybe. Serves two purposes though.” My hand strokes over her cheek, down her neck and right between her tits, tugging the knot in her blouse loose. “Keeps my girl safe. And I need that fucker to graduate in June.”
“Oh.”
“He’s clever, but he ain’t book smart.”
She cocks her head to the side. “I can tutor him if you want?”
Something about her offer flips my possessive switch. “Why? You like him?”
“No.” She blinks and her mouth twists into a distressed little frown that’s cute as fuck and makes me feel like an asshole. Her gaze lowers to her lap and she picks at a thread on her skirt. “Just wanted to help.”
“I know, baby girl.” My fingers tug and pull at her shirt, dragging it down her shoulders and tossing it on the couch. She’s left in a bra that barely covers her tits and I tuck the cups down so her fat, pink nipples are on display. I keep my eyes on her face while I cup her tits, rolling her nipple between my fingers, then dipping my head down to take a taste. She smells so fucking sweet and heat comes off her in waves.
“You buy anything else?” I whisper against her ear.
I don’t really expect an answer but she nods. “Yes.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She scoots out of my lap, surprising me, and runs over to the bags she dropped on the floor when she walked in. I sit back and appreciate the view of her bending over to search through the bags. Christ, she stays like that another second, I’m gonna come in my pants.
I’m not sure what I expected her to return with, but candy wasn’t it. Candy she bought specifically for me. All timid like, she holds out the bag. “I thought you’d like them.”
Shit, she’s fuckin’ sweet. It’s a small thing. But I can’t think of another woman who’s bothered to learn anything about me other than how I liked my dick sucked or gave me anything besides the obvious.
I motion for her to climb back in my lap. My fingers twine in her hair, pulling her close for a kiss. Soft trembling lips yield to my mouth and tongue. “Such a sweet girl,” I whisper as I pull away.
Her mouth jerks into a relieved smile. As if, what? She thought I’d be mad at her?
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