That he’s given up on me.
What am I even thinking? I’ve been chasing him away since the day we met. He shouldn’t be giving me the time of day. He needs to focus on someone who can give him what he wants, and that definitely is not me.
“Ready?” Kurt asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yeah.”
He takes my bag, letting me precede him out of the building. I wait, eyes darting up and down the street, as he locks the doors. As a woman, that’s something I’d normally do when I’m travelling alone—look for dangers lurking about. Tonight, it feels weird. I realize I haven’t done that on the nights Venom was with me. It’s even weirder that I feel so safe with him, subconsciously knowing he would and could protect me. Kurt’s a nice guy and all, but he doesn’t give me that kind of assurance.
Taking brisk steps, I set the pace to the parking lot. I want to get home and curl back up with my book.
“So, you and the boss getting along okay?”
“The boss? Oh, you mean Venom? I guess.” I shrug. “He seems like a nice guy.”
He chuckles. “Nice?”
I glance over at him with curiosity. “What, he isn’t nice?”
“He’s a good guy. Just never heard a woman describe him as ‘nice.’”
“Wait.” I stop, turning to face him. “What do you think’s going on between me and him?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I figured….” He cocks his head to the side, raising a brow. “So you two aren’t seeing each other?”
“No, we’re not,” I reply, resuming our walk.
“I see.”
At the truck, I take my bag from him and toss it on the seat. “You don’t have to follow me, you know. I’m fine. I have no idea why Venom insists on doing it.”
“It’s no worries. I don’t live far from your uncle.”
I’d ask how he knows about my uncle, but it’s a small town. It could also be that Venom told him. “Okay.” I nod, climbing into the truck.
I drive at a different pace tonight also. Every other night, I check my rearview mirror for Venom following on his bike, just to get a glimpse of him. It’s not the same looking back and seeing Kurt’s SUV.
When I pull into our driveway, I hop out, giving him a quick wave. Unexpectedly and without invitation, he catches up to me and accompanies me to the door.
“Thanks, Kurt. I appreciate you doing this.” I insert the key in the door, hoping he’ll take the hint. For some reason it appears he believes he has a chance with me since I’m not with Venom. Why he would even want one, I don’t know.
“Listen, Emily.” He touches my elbow to stop me. “I was wondering—if you’re not busy, that is—if you’d like to have dinner some time.”
He’s giving me a smile that probably melts a lot of panties, but it does nothing for me. He’s an attractive man, but I guess he’s not my type. Not my type? Since when is a good-looking, nice, gainfully employed man not my type? Sheesh.
“Kurt, look—”
“Let me stop you. If you don’t want to, it’s cool. I understand.”
“It has nothing to do with you. You seem like a good guy.”
“But I’m not Venom.”
“That’s not it, either.” Well, that’s part of it, but I can’t tell him that. “I’m trying to be by myself right now. Besides, I don’t even know how long I’m going to be around.”
“I see,” he says, nodding. I know he’s not buying it, but he doesn’t seem bitter. “No worries. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Sure. Thanks for understanding.”
“Good night, Emily.”
“Good night, Kurt.”
Uncle Jeff is watching TV when I walk in. Usually he’s not still up when I come home, but he seems wide awake tonight.
I drop my bag by his favorite chair and kiss his cheek. “Hey, Uncle Jeff. How come you’re still up?”
“Hey, baby girl. I was just doing some work. Trying to settle my mind before I hit the sack.”
“Oh, okay. Don’t stay up too late. I’m gonna head in.”
“I won’t. Good night, sweetheart.”
“Good night.”
I grab my gym bag and head to my room, tossing the contents in the hamper before undressing. I didn’t get a chance to wash my hair at the gym, so I need to get it done or I won’t be able to sleep.
When I get out of the shower, I blow-dry my hair, grab the first nightgown my fingers touch, and crawl into bed with my book. Last night I stopped at what Venom calls “the good part.” I snuggle up, getting ready to read about all the fabulous sex with the abnormally “gifted” man. If only real life was the same.
In the middle of the scene, my phone rings. Sighing in annoyance, I grab it from the nightstand. When I see the name flashing on the screen, my heart skips a beat.
Venom.
Taking a deep breath, I answer in the calmest voice I can muster.
“Hey.”
“Hey, darlin’. Kurt told me he dropped you off.”
“Yeah. Thanks, but you didn’t need to set that up.”
“I know I don’t need to. Doesn’t mean I shouldn’t. I feel better knowing you’re home safe.”
“Oh.” Oh. My safety is important to him. But… why? “Well, you’ll be happy to know that Kurt did a good job.”
“He behave?”
“Of course. I mean, he kinda asked me out—”
“He did what?” Venom practically growls around the words.
“Um… what I mean is,” I stammer, my brain working overtime to find a way to diffuse the anger in his voice. It’s not like he owns me. He has no right to be upset. “He asked if you and I were together and I told him the truth, that we’re not. Anyway, I said no.”
He takes a deep breath, no doubt getting his emotions in check.
“You in bed?” he asks in a calmer voice.
“Yeah. Just reading my book.”
“Any action yet?”
“Actually, that’s where I am now.” I lick my lips, anticipating what he’ll say next.
“Read it to me.”
“What?”
“Read it to me,” he repeats, his voice husky and firm.
“Are you serious?”
“I’m waiting.”
I reach for my tablet, picking up where I left off. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Why am I doing this? Shit.
“Reese slides inside me, stretching me like no one else has. God….” My voice falters.
“Keep going.”
“God, he’s huge. But he feels so good. ‘Reese,’ I moan, wrapping my legs around his waist. He begins to move, each stroke an assault on my senses. I….” I pause, heat rising in my body. It’s not the words in the book, per se, it’s reading them aloud to him. “I contract my muscles around him, making him groan, muttering curses under his breath.”
“Did he eat her pussy?” Venom asks.
“Um… no.”
“Then your book needs a new hero. If I had you in my bed, that’s one of the first things I’d do.”
My clit pulses. “Venom….”
“Any man can fuck a woman. Eating pussy properly is an art. Done right, a woman can come in a second, while she can ride a dick for hours and all she’ll be is sore and frustrated. Unless it’s my dick, of course.”
I know the last part was to lighten the mood, but it doesn’t stop me from pressing my thighs together. I want to ask if he’s mastered the art, but that would come dangerously close to flirting, and extend a conversation I don’t want to continue.
“You shouldn’t do that.” My voice is soft and lacking in conviction.
“What?”
“I’m just… not comfortable with you talking like that.”
“It’s not supposed to make you comfortable, Emily. My only aim is to make your pussy wet.”
“See what I mean? You can’t say things like that.” I reach up to loosen my collar, only to find I don’t have one. Jeez. What is this man doing to me?<
br />
“Of course I can. I just did.”
“Yes, well, friends don’t talk to each other like that.”
There’s a pause before he replies, “Friends. Right. I’m gonna let you get back to your pussy-ass hero. Later, Emily.”
Disappointment rattles my body. I don’t want him to hang up, but I’m not exactly offering engaging conversation, am I? I want to keep talking to him, only with a change of topic.
“Sure. Later.”
I return my phone to its place on the nightstand and try to get back into my book. It’s simply not the same after what just happened in real life. I put it aside and end up tossing and turning for God knows how long. My mind is frazzled. Venom has me fucked up and I have no clue how to deal with it. He’s so ingrained in my thoughts, I think I hear his bike pull up. Don’t ask me how I even know how to differentiate the sound of his bike from any other.
I fluff my pillow, change positions for the umpteenth time, and try to fall asleep. My ears perk up when Uncle Jeff’s voice floats into my room.
Who the hell is he talking to?
CHAPTER 5
***Venom***
“Come on in, son,” Jeff greets me, stepping aside so I can enter.
“Thanks, Jeff.”
Our business could have easily waited until morning, but I need something to keep me occupied tonight. Numbers. They’ve kept me calm since I was a kid. Over the years, I’ve found other things that help, but nothing like those numbers. I love the structure, the set rules, the logic, the reliability. Numbers are constant. They don’t change because you want them to. That’s why I’m here at Jeff’s door, close to midnight.
Maybe I was hoping to see Emily, too.
Fuck, while she was reading to me, all I could imagine was sinking into her. When she told me about Kurt hitting on her, I visualized putting my fist through his teeth, but Emily was right. She’s not mine. If she wanted to go out with him, that’s her prerogative. Hell, he’d probably be better for her. He can offer all the things I can’t. Maybe I’ll tell him to try again once I’m done with her.
Jeff leads me to the dining room, offering me a seat. I drop down into one of the chairs, listening for a sign that Emily’s around. The Christmas decorations are a new addition for Jeff, and certainly Emily’s doing.
“Let me get those papers for you.”
“I’ll wait here,” I tell him.
“Uncle Jeff? Did you say something?”
Emily’s curious voice precedes her walking into the room. The moment she does, my dick twitches.
Fuck. Me.
She’s wearing one of those silky nighties, the tops of her breasts peeking out of the V neckline. It’s clinging to her body, outlining her curves to perfection. If her uncle wasn’t here, I’d throw her down on the table and fuck her until neither of us could walk.
Her eyes land on me and she gasps, immediately trying to cover herself with her hands.
“Sorry! I didn’t know you had company.”
She starts to back away, but Jeff waves her forward. “Come in, Emily. You can keep Venom occupied while I find what he needs.”
What I need is standing at the door, staring at me like a deer caught in the headlights. Jeff leaves the room, not giving her a chance to say no. She takes a deep breath, pulling up the bodice of the nightie as she takes the chair across from me.
“Hi, Em.”
“Hello.”
I can’t help it. My gaze falls back to her breasts. It only makes her increase her efforts to hide them.
“Why do you always do that? I was enjoying the view.”
“Why do you always do that?” she counters.
“What? Compliment you?”
“Try to flatter me.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.” I lean forward, placing my arms on the table, lacing my fingers together. “I want you. Why shouldn’t I tell you how beautiful you are? How sexy? How much I want to feel your pussy wrapped around my dick?”
Flustered, she seems to be searching for a comeback, but Jeff interrupts us when he re-enters the room.
“Here you go, son.” He drops the envelope on the table. “Let me know if you need anything else.” He nods, his way of concluding our business. “Emily can see you out.”
Once he’s gone again, Emily jerks her head at the envelope. “What’s that?”
“Receipts and invoices from the pet store.”
“What are you doing with those?” Her brows knit in confusion.
“In return for doing the books and taxes, Jeff supplies me with unlimited mice.”
“The books?” Her brows crease even more.
“What, you think the dirty biker isn’t capable of doing a little double entry?”
“No!” Horrified, she shakes her head, the movements frantic. “Of course not. Just surprised at the arrangement, is all.”
“Uh-huh.”
I sit back in my chair, observing her. Fuck, I think I really would give my left nut to fuck her. Maybe both.
She stands, shaky fingers tugging on the straps of the nightie once more.
“Well, I think it’s time I got to bed.”
“Is that an invitation?”
A blush colors her cheeks as she averts her eyes. “No. I meant now that you’re done with Uncle Jeff, you’ll be leaving.”
“I’m done with Jeff, but not with you.”
I rise, stalking toward her. She licks those juicy lips, eyes darting around the room as she puts distance between us. Hell, she’s practically moonwalking away from me. I’m through with this game. I need to see if there really is something between us. She’s not getting away this time.
“Stop running, Emily.”
She halts, her chest rapidly rising and falling as her eyes meet mine. Behind the fear, there’s an invitation in those gorgeous greens. I know she’s not afraid of me; she’s afraid of what we’ll both know the minute my lips touch hers—that she wants me, too.
Grabbing her wrist, I pull her to me, sliding my free hand into her hair. I tug on it, raising her face to mine. Before she can object, I press my lips to hers. Instead of protesting like I thought she would, she moans, relaxing against me. She opens for me, granting me entry to her sweet mouth. I instantly slide my tongue in, eager to taste. And she lets me. I explore every inch I can reach, marveled that a woman could taste this good. My hand tightens in her peach-scented hair, holding her head in place while I plunder. My other hand moves instinctively to her ass, squeezing the cheek and pressing my hard dick into her stomach. She whimpers, hands coming to rest on my hips. I suck on her lips, nipping at them with my teeth before finally breaking away.
Her lids flutter open, glazed-over eyes staring up at me, swollen lips parted. Her body shivers.
“Ooh, lawd,” she whispers.
Fuck. I need more, but not here.
“As much as I love this little outfit of yours, I want you to get changed. We’re getting out of here.”
“Venom, I—”
I silence her with another kiss, her body lax against me as the opposition drains from it.
“Change, Emily. I promise we won’t do anything you don’t want to do. I’ll wait for you outside.”
Releasing her, I grab the envelope from the table and walk to my bike. After dropping the package in the saddlebag, I lean against it, watching Jeff’s front door and hoping Emily comes walking out any minute. I’m about to go check on her when she surfaces. She’s changed into a pink dress, light sweater, and sandals, looking feminine, conservative, but still sexy as hell. I adjust my aching dick as she gets closer. Once she’s in front of me, she gives me a sheepish smile, looking between her dress and the bike.
“Guess I didn’t think this through.”
“You’ll be fine, just watch out for the pipes.”
Taking off my jacket, I drape it over her shoulders and watch as she sticks her arms in. The temperature has begun to drop, and although it isn’t cold, the wind can be pretty harsh when riding at night.
“Thanks. I really didn’t think this through.”
I watch her standing there in my jacket, and I’m glad she didn’t. Taking her chin between my fingers, I place a gentle kiss on her lips before throwing my leg over the bike. I show her where to put her feet, then tell her to hop on. She follows my instructions, climbing on but keeping her distance.
“Closer, Em.” She slides down the saddle, her thighs hugging my hips. I grab her hands, wrapping them around my waist. “Unless you want to fall off.”
Her arms tighten, her body pressing against my back. I crank up the bike, twisting the throttle when we move off. God, she feels good behind me.
I had no plans when I left her place, but I somehow end up at mine. I help her off, then retrieve the envelope Jeff gave me.
“Is this your house?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I reply, trying to see it from her point of view.
It’s pretty isolated, no other houses around for a few miles. That’s why I bought it. It was in pretty bad shape, but I got it at a steal and fixed it up. There are three bedrooms, two baths, kitchen, and living room. It’s only one story, but I made it so I could add more if I wanted to.
“It’s nice.”
“Thanks.”
Inside, I flip on the lights before heading to the kitchen. Emily follows quietly behind.
“You want something to drink? Eat?”
“Just some water, please,” she replies, rubbing her hands together.
“You cold? Want some coffee?”
“Water’s fine.”
I grab a bottle for her and a beer for me from the fridge. She leans on the counter, taking a sip when I hand the water to her, then leaving it on the surface behind her.
“Oh.” She removes my jacket, handing it to me with a smile. “Thanks for that. I probably would’ve frozen to death without it.”
I hang it on the back of one of the dining chairs, moving toward her. I need to taste those lips again. Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I grip it as I lean in.
Renascence: Death Dealers MC Book 5 Page 5
