by Ravenna Tate
“Which means it had to be someone who knew this path is here,” said Gorgon. He addressed John. “Did you or Mark hear anything before Mastema and Kayla came outside?”
“No. Not a damn thing.”
“We’d better check the entire perimeter,” said Tannin. “Who’s on patrol tonight?”
“Gene and Dominic,” said Gorgon. Those were the two men who worked for Donny that had been living at the club ever since Brad broke in.
“Good,” he said, pointing toward his left. “Mastema will go with Tannin in this direction. John and I will go right.”
“The gates across the front driveways are open now,” said Tannin. “What if whoever tried to cut their way in simply goes out front?”
“Why didn’t they wait and do that in the first place?” asked Mastema. “Why sneak back here and try to cut their way in? Seems like a lot of fucking work.”
The four looked at each other while those questions sank in.
“No fucking clue,” said Tannin, “other than they didn’t want to be seen out front, and maybe figured no one would be back here once the club was open.”
Mastema still didn’t buy that excuse, but it was all they had right now.
“Let’s go,” said Gorgon. “If they’re still on the property, they’d better pray we find them before Gene or Dominic do.”
Tannin texted Gene and Dominic as he and Mastema walked their half of the perimeter, so they would know what had happened. They texted back that they were both out front, but there were a lot of people around already, so it was impossible to say whether the men were there. Tannin told them to stay put for now.
“How the fuck did they know where this path was?” asked Tannin.
“Don’t know, but if I was a betting man, I’d say someone who used to live here told them. What do you think?”
“Fuck. Tarot?”
“Either her, Todd Grainger or Mike Wellington. Howler told us all three went to the Outlaw Dogs after we kicked them out.”
“Fucking son of a bitch. Maybe we need to electrify the fucking fence?”
Mastema snorted. “Not a bad idea. We could always install floodlights. That would help deter them if they try again.”
“I hate this shit. All these years we’ve been just fine here, and now we have to secure the place like it’s a fucking fortress.”
“Do you think Gorgon will want the cops involved?”
“I doubt it,” said Tannin. “But we should let Donny know. Maybe he could dig up some names for us through his connections.”
The four met up at the front of the property. No one had seen a thing.
“There’s nothing more we can do tonight,” said Gorgon. “We’ll have church Sunday morning to discuss our next moves.”
“You mean like busting heads at the Last Stop Saloon?” asked Mastema. “Specifically, the two pieces of shit we kicked out of the MC?”
“Don’t forget about Tarot,” said Tannin. “She went there, too. No way did whoever tried to cut their way in know about that path unless someone told them. Hell. The people who live on that road don’t know about the fucking path.”
It was gospel truth. The closest home to that side of the property belonged to a man who farmed the land around his house for half a mile in each direction, and the only contact they had with him was to nod or wave if he happened to be outside when they rode past.
But why had those men come here tonight? What had they hoped to accomplish? Roughly fifty people lived here. Did they really think they could get inside the fence and not be detected, simply because the club was open?
Or, had they planned on taking out John and Mark once they were inside the fence, believing no one would notice because of the noise inside the club? Was that why they hadn’t tried this in the middle of the night? They knew the club was open, and wanted to use that as a distraction?
Something was definitely hinky.
John returned to his post, and Gorgon stayed to talk to Gene and Dominic. Tannin and Mastema went back inside, entering the building through the back. “Where the hell is Mark?” asked Mastema, glancing toward where John had resumed his guard post, alone. “I assumed he’d come back outside as soon as he got Kayla safely indoors.”
Tannin grinned. “Claiming her already?”
“Yeah. Right.” Tannin had claimed Rai as his own the night she first came here. Maybe that’s what Mastema should do? What the fuck was holding him back? He’d been obsessed with her for three weeks now.
Inside the back hallway, Mark stood next to Kayla, one hand on the wall above her head, with barely two inches between them. She was laughing at something he’d said when Tannin and Mastema walked into the back hallway.
“Why the fuck aren’t you back outside yet?” asked Mastema. “John’s alone on the back lot.”
The stupid grin on Mark’s face faded quickly. “Sorry, man.” He gave Kayla a longing look as he ran out the door. Mastema glanced toward her and couldn’t help smiling at the look of relief on her face.
“Time to get to work,” said Tannin, eyeing them both with a knowing look in his eyes.
“Yeah. Be there in a minute.” As soon as Tannin was gone, Mastema pulled Kayla into the kitchen, and was grateful to see it was empty.
“Was he bothering you?”
“Not overly so. He’s a bit persistent, though. Kept trying to talk me into practicing my act for him.”
Son of a bitch. “You gonna?” Fucking A. Why the fuck had he said that?
She frowned, and the hurt in her eyes wasn’t fake. “No. Why? Do you think I should?”
The jealousy coursing through him overcame his common sense. “You’re free to fuck whoever you want to.”
“Well all right then. Good to know.” She turned around and left the kitchen. He followed her, but when she climbed the stairs, he didn’t go after her. Duty called, plus he was confused by his reaction. Why the fuck couldn’t he tell her he only wanted her to fuck him?
As Mastema made his way into the club, the scene he and Tannin had come upon in the back hallway looped in his mind, over and over. It was far too similar to a time in sixth grade that had left him feeling much the same way he did now.
A girl named Lacey, whom he’d crushed on all year, had finally agreed to go out with him. Only two days before their date, Mastema turned a corner in the hallway at school, and stopped to stare in disbelief as Nick Arrington kissed his Lacey, tongue and all, right there in front of everyone walking by. And she kissed him back. Mastema never went out with her, and Lacey never bothered to ask why he’d called off their date.
Fuck it. He went into the club and took his place on stage duty, but his concentration was shit. It’s not like he fucking owned Kayla, any more than he had owned Lacey. The only woman who had been his from day one was Tina. God, how he missed her. At times like this, the pain was still so raw.
At times like this, he wondered if it would ever completely leave him, or if he’d ever find another woman who loved him as much as she had. Then again, after the way he’d treated Kayla just now, he might never find out if she was that woman.
Fucking idiot. He’d blown it, all because he couldn’t control his fucking jealousy.
Chapter Five
Things continued to improve for Kayla with the other women over the next few days, but she would rather have figured out what was going on with her and Mastema. If anything was at all. She was no longer sure.
Rumors about the men who had tried to cut their way through the back fence circulated around the club like crazy. Donny came on Sunday afternoon, under the guise of having to consult with Rai on the work she did for him. But Kayla had overheard Chloe and Gorgon talking outside the church that same morning, and they mentioned Tarot’s name.
She wanted to ask Mastema what was going on, but he’d been avoiding her. She was so confused about her own emotions where he was concerned. Maybe it was time to come clean with him about her past? If he understood where she was coming from, he might un
derstand why it wasn’t in her nature to be a sweetbutt as well as a dancer.
After her set Tuesday night, she changed into shorts and a tank top and went in search of him. This was ridiculous. He had no reason to be upset with her. She told him Mark had been annoying her. She’d never said she wanted to fuck him. What was his damn problem, anyway?
When she saw him flirting with Meghan, whom the guys all called Wonder Tongue, a strong surge of jealousy shot through Kayla. He didn’t belong to her, after all, but did he have to flaunt the fact that he was free to fuck whoever he wanted? Was he done with her, then? Was it over already?
Kayla walked up to the bar and sat down right next to where Mastema leaned against the mahogany. From behind the bar, Meghan gave her a curious glance. It appeared she was about to say something to Kayla, but a customer called her over.
When Mastema didn’t do so much as glance at her, Kayla tapped him on the shoulder. “Why aren’t you speaking to me anymore?”
“What?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You’ve avoided me since the night those men tried to cut through the fence. Why?”
“You’re imagining things.”
“No, I’m not. You couldn’t take your eyes off me, we had a great time together, and now you won’t even look at me. What did I do?”
A quick flash of regret passed over his face. Damn it all. Why did he have to be so fucking good-looking? Her pussy was soaked just looking into his eyes. This would be easier if she didn’t give a shit about him.
“You didn’t do anything. I’ve just been busy.”
Kayla cut her gaze toward Meghan. “Yeah. I can see that.”
“Jealous?”
“What?” Did it show? God. Why the fuck had she come over here? What was wrong with her?
“I asked if you’re jealous. You didn’t come over here until you saw me talking to her. Where is Mark tonight? You grow tired of him already?
What the fuck? Goosebumps broke out over her arms. He was jealous. Which meant he liked her way more than he’d let on. “No, I’m not jealous. But maybe you are.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said it yourself, Mastema.” Kayla slid off the stool. Two could play this game. “Ever since you saw me laughing with Mark, you haven’t talked to me. Let me know when you’re ready to stop acting like a high school boy.”
He grabbed her arm. “Wait just a second, Bedroom Eyes.”
Kayla gave him her best smile. “Ready to be a grown-up?”
The incredulity on his face only increased her desire to fuck him. “All right. If that’s how you want it, I’ll show you exactly how a grown man acts.”
She gasped when he picked her up in his arms, as easily as if she weighed no more than a chair. He slung her over his shoulder like he’d heft a sack of flour, and carried her into the back room, where the Brothers went to have public sex with the sweetbutts, the dancers, or willing customers.
The entrance was guarded by members, to ensure they knew who came and went. There were intricate screens back here, providing partial privacy, but Mastema stopped at the first unoccupied bench built into the wall. They were in full view of anyone entering the room, and most of the people already in there.
Kayla had spotted this room when she first came, but had zero interest in participating. It reminded her too much of the first club where she’d worked, in which she’d been expected to fuck the members, right there in front of the bar, with everyone watching.
But Mastema didn’t know that. No one knew that. Still, if she backed out now, he’d lose face and she’d be back to square one. As soon as he placed her on her feet, he cupped her face and kissed her, shoving his tongue into her mouth.
Kissing him is so fabulous! You can do this.
Sweat broke out along her hairline, but Kayla forced herself to melt against his hard, strong body. She really had missed him, and the rough and tumble way he fucked. Maybe it would be okay, since it was only Mastema?
But once he released her mouth and she glanced around, there were a lot more people back here than she’d first observed. And they watched the pair now, curious, salivating, expectant.
Mastema roughly turned her around to face the wall. “Bend over.”
Kayla swallowed hard as she complied. “What? No foreplay?” Keep it breezy. It will be all right.
“This is what you wanted, Bedroom Eyes.” His breath was warm against her skin, his voice a mere whisper. “Me giving you attention and acting like a grown-up, remember?”
Not like this! “We’d have a lot more fun alone, wouldn’t we?” Please…
“Hell no. People want to watch this. They’ll find out I’m not a little boy. You’ll find out, too.”
For God’s sake. Would she ever fucking learn not to say the wrong thing to people? She’d insulted him. That’s what this was all about. She hadn’t meant to, but that’s exactly how it had come out.
Tears stung her eyes when he grasped her boobs from behind, squeezing them hard. One of the men, Rahab perhaps, said something along the lines of wanting to see them.
“Please, Mastema.”
“Yes,” he hissed, close to her ear. “That’s it. Beg me to fuck you. You know how I love to hear you do that.”
Kayla sucked in a deep breath and willed the tears to back off. Her pulse raced, but not from lust. The voices in the room were so loud suddenly. Had they been that way earlier? Memories of a floor covered with dirt and dried beer filled her mind, all mixed up with the smells and sounds in this room, until she wasn’t sure where she was.
“Mark is here, too.” He lifted her tank top, exposing her breasts. Cheers filled her head, along with comments she couldn’t decipher. Nothing the men in the room said made sense.
“Maybe I should let him and Rahab fuck you, too? We could take turns. Would that be fucking grown up enough for you, Kayla?”
No! “No,” she whispered. “Please. Not that.” She had trouble getting any sound out because her throat was so dry, and wasn’t sure he’d heard her until he released her breasts and turned her face toward his. She was still bent over, but faced the front of the room now, away from the eyes of the crowd around them.
“What did you say?” His face was filled with disbelief, but also concern.
Tears spilled over her lashes before she could stop them this time. “Mastema, please. Please don’t make me do this. Please don’t make me have sex here, or with anyone else. Please.”
The length of time he stared at her, and during which understanding finally filled his handsome face, took forever. It had to, because time stopped while she waited. But when he pulled her tank top down again, the comments she heard were the same ones the men had been in the middle of making when he’d turned her face toward his.
No time at all had passed. At least, no more than begging him had taken. She was losing her fucking mind. There was no other explanation.
“Sorry, guys,” he said, loud enough now for everyone to hear his voice. “Show’s over. She’s all mine.”
Mastema picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the room. The only thing she heard were a few comments about how fucking unfair he was before they were up the stairs and in his room, with the door closed behind them.
Once he placed her on her feet, she couldn’t stop crying. Her body trembled. Mastema held her, stroking her hair, saying nothing. But that was all right, too. She’d have plenty to say for both of them, as soon as she was able to catch her breath.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Her chest hurt with the effort of crying.
“It’s okay.”
“No. It’s not. I hurt you. I never meant to. I don’t know why I say the wrong things all the time.” Because you’re a fuck-up. You always have been.
“You’re all right now.”
“No. I’m not. I’m really not.”
He pulled away only far enough to cup her face gently. “Talk to me, Kayla. What the hell happene
d down there? What’s going on with you?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time.”
“You have work to do in the club.”
“Don’t worry about that. Tell me what happened.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Stop fucking saying that and just tell me what’s going on!”
She swiped at her tears. “Can I have some water, please?”
He crossed the room and grabbed a bottle from a small fridge in the corner. “Here. Sit down. Talk to me.”
After draining half the bottle, Kayla perched on the edge of the bed. “Thank you. I don’t even know where to start.”
“The beginning is always best.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Because I like you, and something obviously freaked you out down there. We don’t force women to fuck in this club, Kayla. Why the hell did you tease me like that if you didn’t want to fuck me?”
“I know you don’t force them, and I did want to fuck you, but not there. Not in front of everyone. And I didn’t want to fuck more than one guy at a time.”
“You were freaked about possibly being seen in the kitchen that night, too.” His voice was gentler now, as if he was finally seeing the big picture.
“Yes, I was.”
“But you’ve fucked other guys here, haven’t you?”
She shook her head.
Disbelief filled those beautiful blue eyes.
“Ask them.”
“Yeah. Right. Like any of us would admit to that.”
“Then you’ll have to accept I’m telling you the truth.”
“Why haven’t you? You know the dancers are free to have sex with the patched members or prospects if they want, right?”
“Yes. I know it.”
“So why haven’t you? They certainly all want you, and you don’t give the impression you’re a cock tease.”
“Have I given you any reason to think I am?”
“No.”
She’d never told anyone this story, and wasn’t sure she wanted to. But her other choice was to let him stay pissed off at her, and she didn’t want that, either. Not after the progress she’d made in getting along with others at this place.
