Jericho nodded. “That’s why we’re late. Her old man is gone, and I mean gone as in never coming back.”
I shivered, sure he meant they’d killed him.
Dare smacked him on the back of the head. “We sent him with friends of ours south of the border. Too much candy for him to ever turn back.”
I grunted. “We staying closed?”
Dare turned to me. “Nope. We’ll open at five.” He glanced around my place. “What smells so good?”
“Cookies and brownies I baked. You want some?”
Before the words were out of my mouth, they both headed toward my kitchen and helped themselves to the goodies on my counter.
“You’re a helluva cook,” Dare said while chewing.
Just then the third guy came through carrying Veronica. He walked out the door without a word. Now that guy scared me, Jericho creeped me out, but Dare didn’t do either. He just made me want to do wicked things with him.
It was almost like a daydream with the surreal way they’d showed up and left all in just a few minutes.
After I cleaned up my baking mess, I changed clothes again for work and headed to the shop loaded down with my baked treats, because apparently bikers had a sweet tooth. I flipped the sign and turned on the lights. Zayn and Rock showed up with bags under their eyes about fifteen minutes later. None of us were in a chatty mood today although they perked up at the chocolate and confiscated both containers of goodies, taking them to the workroom. We had three clients before Dare rushed in at five to seven. Joe, his client, sat in one of the chairs waiting. Dare gave the nod, which Joe returned. “Sorry, bro, give me ten minutes to set up and come on back.” He didn’t even glance my way as he hurried down the hall.
Why would he? He’d been doing lord knows what, probably without sleep, and I obsessed over whether he flirted with me. Of course, now he’d have crises or something occupying him, now that I’d finally decided I wanted him in my bed, like as soon as possible.
After the conversation with Rachel, I’d decided to go for it—casual sex all the way. Then when everyone canceled last night, and the girl showed up at our shop this morning, I’d rethought my idea of even that little involvement with a biker. However, seeing his boyish grin when I’d said cookies, well that did me in. A man who smiled about cookies and was sexier than sexy—there’s no way I could resist.
“Thanks for the sweets.” Zayn waved to me. “Dare sent Rock and me home, we’re beat.”
“So you’re going home to bed on a Saturday night?” I couldn’t help teasing him.
“Well, eventually.” He winked and left.
I got ahead on the paperwork since we didn’t have any appointments after Dare’s guy. I also updated my inventory charts and then I had nothing to do. This was a long appointment, and it left too much time for me to imagine what Dare would say. What if he said no? I had after all.
He was a guy, no way he’d say no to me.
Just then he and his client came to the front. Dare handed me the invoice and I checked the guy out, a simple system. We stood in silence, staring out the front windows.
Just say it, Lila.
“You know we talked about going to—”
“I wanted to say th—”
We both spoke at the same time. “You go.” I pointed at him.
“Thanks for the help this morning, you kept a cool head and helped us out, a lot.” Dare ran fingers through his hair, not looking at me.
“Anytime. Practice makes perfect, I guess.” I remembered all the times I’d had to work through my pain to figure out how to survive or to get the help I needed. Eventually, freaking out, even tears, were luxuries I couldn’t afford.
He frowned at me. “Yeah, seems you might know something about—”
“Don’t go there.” I held up a hand. “Unless you want to dredge up your past too.”
He clamped his mouth shut. “Anyway, thanks, you didn’t have to take care of her, help her, and I appreciate it.” He leaned on the counter facing me. “What did you want?”
So many ways to say it, but now that the moment was here, I blanked. “You. I want you.” What else was there to say, after all?
“You want to fuck me?” He drew me into his arms.
“It would be just a sex thing?”
He cupped my chin. “It’s all I do. Don’t mistake this for a relationship.”
“I don’t want a relationship either.”
He started to smile but I held up my hand.
“Fair warning. Guys always say that to me, and then we end up all tangled together physically, emotionally—it’s never stopped with the casual.” Men made me stupid, but I never recognized the changes. Each choice was an incremental step underground until one day I’d be buried and clawing my way out.
The guys I attracted needed more and more of me. They’d push me out until only what they created remained. And then the trouble started, because I couldn’t be what they’d created for long. My old self resurfaced, cuing the angry rollercoaster ride—sometimes they’d belittle me, sometimes they’d punish me. The real me was never enough.
Chapter Six: Dare
When she’d said she wanted me, I lost track of the conversation. My cock hardened and I barely restrained myself—I wanted her now. Here. I’d waited a damn eternity. Now she said some shit about it not being a casual thing, so I concentrated on her words.
“Are you playing me?” I didn’t understand her, she wanted what I wanted, but warned me that never happens. Just when I thought she wasn’t another player.
She flinched and tried to pull out of my hold, but I wasn’t letting her go now that she’d said yes.
“How many?” I grunted.
“What?” Confusion played across her face.
“How often is always?” I worked to keep my voice even, though I was tempted to yell.
Lord help her if she tries to play me.
She help up three shaky fingers.
Did that mean she’d only had three lovers? If so, I should leave her alone, no way she was in any of our league. But even if it was true, I couldn’t walk away. Not from the girl who’d said the words I’d longed to hear for weeks. I want you.
I smoothed her hair behind her ear. “Three is hardly always, Red.”
“If you say so.” She exhaled the breath she’d held.
No more words.
I kissed her, claiming her mouth, and that was only the beginning of what I’d take tonight. She brought her hands to my face, so soft against my cheeks. The need banking all this time flared inside me. I wanted to bury myself inside her and make her scream my name.
Breaking our kiss, she dropped to her knees, unfastening my jeans and freeing my cock in seconds. When she licked the tip of my cock and flicked my apa piercing, I thought I’d come on the spot. Moaning, I dug my fingers through her curls.
I’d planned to be the one who rocked her world, but this way worked, real well. Not that it would last long, I’d wanted her too much for too long. I tried to hold back, but when she swallowed me to the root, I forgot everything.
The buildup felt like a freight train on a fast track ready to blow through me—knees tightening and pushing up my thighs.
“Coming,” I struggled to say. “Like that. Fast and hard. Don’t stop.”
She squeezed my tight balls, tracing the path back. I jerked and came hard, not only did she swallow, but she continued sucking. Sexual satisfaction consumed me. No one had done that before, it was fucking perfect. The tension and pressure from today slipped away with the soft caress of her mouth.
But now it was her turn. I lifted her up and cupped her fine ass.
“Your mouth—” I traced her lips with my finger “—so righteous.” I kissed her, tasting me there. I reluctantly set her down
just for a second to flip the sign and lock the door. Without a single hesitation, she’d given me head while anyone could’ve walked in, which was a turn-on all by itself, but for what came next, I wanted zero interruptions.
“I didn’t even think about the door.” She blushed that pretty pink I was beginning to expect. She did it a lot and I liked it.
“Oh, baby, I know. You only had room for my cock in this sweet head of yours.” I kissed her temple. “You have amazing oral talents.” Most women didn’t like the straight words, so I’d managed not to say she was the queen of blow jobs.
She licked her lips and traced the line of my jaw. “Can I tell you a secret?” Her voice had turned low and husky. “I love sucking cock, giving head, whatever you call it. It turns me on in ways I can’t explain.” She bit my lower lip before she sucked it into her mouth.
I hauled her up my body and she wrapped her legs around my middle with my hardening cock pressed into her jeans-clad crotch. I carried her to my tattoo table, also a massage table. The day Zayn and I both inked her at the same time, I’d imagined her here, naked and willing on my table.
I laid her back and unclasped her pants, she lifted her hips so I could skim them down her hips and off her. Her shoes dropped with her jeans and undies to the floor.
“A beautiful pussy.” I stroked the wet folds of her sex, and she arched into me. “A true redhead, babe. That’s sexy as fuck.”
She blushed but frowned, something she did almost every time I mentioned her hair. I laved the seam of her pussy and moved up her until I met her T-shirt. With a slowness I fought for, I lifted her shirt, nuzzling her stomach, biting her breast through her sexy black bra and up until our mouths found each other. Greedy, she ran hands over my hair as she let her tongue dance with mine.
I’d expected passion, but she soared past passionate to whatever came next. She moved her body, trying to connect our parts together. The clover scent of her arousal filled the air, she needed release, but I wanted her to climb higher. I moved down for my turn to eat her up.
I slipped my tongue through her seam and flicked her clit.
“More.” She groaned, lifting her hips to me.
I played with her, enjoying the way she gave in to me, letting me guide her. I kissed her outer lips and played with her clit, but I didn’t apply the pressure she needed to come. She flexed her hips, searching for what I withheld.
My god, she was beautiful, consumed with the need to come.
She opened her glazed eyes and met mine. I grinned down at her, needing her to understand how much I enjoyed her.
I lifted her calves and pulled her to the edge of the black leather table. I bent, placing her calves on my shoulders, and went to work. I held her on the edge, close enough to be overrun with pleasure, but not to the point where she’d explode. Any woman as giving as her needed more than a quick fuck. I planned to spend hours worshipping her body.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I wanted to ignore it, but I knew, just knew, this would be about Donnie. I’d told Jericho I’d be there, and that meant answering. I flipped open my phone and turned away from the woman on my table.
“What?”
“Be here at nine,” Jericho barked into the phone.
I checked my watch—thirty minutes. Not nearly enough time.
“Dare,” she moaned behind me.
“You best nut fast, brother,” Jericho said.
“I’ll be there.” I clicked off my phone and turned toward the woman I’d have to leave way too soon.
Hurt blazed on her features as she scrambled toward her clothes. I’d hurt her, broken the trust she’d so freely given. Motherfucker, I knew she was too good for me, but I wouldn’t be letting her go.
“Don’t move,” I commanded. “Not even close to done with you. But we’ll have to bring this session to an end.”
She froze and I caressed her cheek before I brought her lips to mine. She was stiff under me, our kiss one-sided, so I pressed harder—stroking her back with one hand while the other moved between her legs. I nibbled her lips, asking for entry. She opened her mouth on a sigh, still resistant, but when I pushed her magic button she gave in to me, allowing me to satisfy her.
Despite wanting to play, I no longer had the luxury. I moved my mouth to her pussy, flicking her clit with my tongue. Her hips thrust up. She spoke words but I couldn’t make out what she said. I needed her to let go and fly high, it was the least she deserved.
“Great. That’s it,” I encouraged her. I pushed my two first fingers inside her and her tight pussy clenched around them. I sucked her clit and stroked her fast as she flew apart, but like her, I didn’t stop, just slowed while she rocked into my fingers even after I moved away from her swollen nub. Her face in the moment was perfection—feral, fierce and free.
She started coming down, so I slid my fingers out and gathered her in my arms, peppering her face with kisses as she slowly became aware of me.
I had no words for our exchange. “Shit...” I rubbed her back, “...yeah.” With reluctance, I set her back on the table. I ran my hand through my hair. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I gotta go, like now. Club stuff, but we’re far from done. Do you understand me?”
“Okay,” she said, but her face said bullshit.
How could I convince her I wasn’t just blowing her off? I mean if that was the case I sure wouldn’t leave with this hard-on. I wanted to sink my cock into her tonight. But I didn’t deserve another shot, leaving like this.
“I wanna come back here tonight,” I told her, not caring what I deserved. I just hoped for mercy.
She bent her head. “Sure, I’d like that.” She blushed as soon as she spoke.
Red wanted me, even if she was hurt or pissed, probably both. I left her sitting on my table and headed for Jericho and whatever shit was coming our way.
* * *
I pulled into the club lot next to where Jericho and Bear talked outside. Jericho smoked something, hopefully a joint to calm his ass down. He saw red every time he had a confrontation with the Old Man, not that I could blame him, but still, we walked a narrow line here. The Old Man had laid down the law on Donnie and Veronica—no interference. We’d done more than interfere, but the Old Man had to prove it.
“You two figure out the way to dominate the world?” I grinned and embraced Jericho then Bear. The three of us were inseparable, another thing our Prez hated.
“Done. You been busy?” Jericho gave me attitude.
“You interrupted the first time with Red. I should kill you,” I growled at him.
“Ouch, sorry, bro.” Jericho laughed. “She still talking to you after you walked out on her?”
I shrugged. “So, the reason I’m here?”
“The Old Man’s been questioning Zayn, and like we told him, tell the truth, literally. And he did.” Jericho rolled his eyes. “But now he’s after Rock and who knows who else, but you know, only the three of us can break the story.”
“Veronica,” Bear said.
I frowned. “She don’t know shit about what we did with Donnie.”
“No, but she can bring your hot number, Lila, into it.” Bear frowned. “You want her involved?”
I didn’t want the Old Man knowing she existed let alone examining her up close.
“So we make this convincing. And when Veronica talks to the Old Man, she can’t say squat. He’ll only punish her if she admits she ran away, so she’ll stick with the story.” Jericho threw the stub of the cigarette to the gravel and stomped on it.
I spent two hours in the clubhouse as the Old Man maneuvered, trying to prove something was wrong with Donnie, but no one had seen him and no one would. In all his bluster and questions, he never once questioned me. I think I’m the one he feared the most, so I leaned back in my chair and smiled wide, downing a half bottl
e of Jack while the three of us talked about nothing.
The Old Man finally left the club at eleven thirty, heading down the lane to his and MJ’s house. What were the chances Red was up, let alone willing to have me for company?
“We’ll check up on Zayn and Rock, you go make amends to the gorgeous redhead without any furniture.” Bear raised that mocking brow. “If you can’t pay her enough to buy shit for her place, send her to me. She’d make bank on a webcam, wholesome face, sinful body.”
I clenched my fists and moved into his face. “You stay away.”
“For sure, bro, I’m not about poaching your manager.” He laughed, heading to his bike.
The fucker wasn’t done with this. I’d just have to hope Red wasn’t a fan of porn because Bear was right, she’d make bank working for him.
I sprayed gravel leaving the club with Bear’s words churning in my mind. I couldn’t say why the idea of her doing porn pissed me off, but it did. In fact, I was in a generally crap mood and should head home, but I turned in to town, unwilling to let the chance she’d be awake go by. Besides, I’d let her down once, I’d keep my word this time.
I parked in back and headed upstairs. I stood in front of her door wanting her so much, and that alone should send me off in the other direction, but I stepped forward and knocked. Nothing.
“Wait.” She opened the door. “Hey, I’m awake,” I heard from behind me.
I turned with a wide smile. “Red, thought you’d be asleep.” I walked into her apartment and scowled, remembering what Bear said, but I didn’t want to fight. If she was happy, then what did it matter what anyone thought.
“What smells so great?” I drew her to me.
“Supper.” She brushed a kiss against my chin. “I have leftovers.”
“I have a taste for you.”
She laughed and tugged me toward the bedroom.
“Really?” I eyed the air mattress she used as a bed, not sure it’d even hold both of us. It definitely didn’t lend itself to my favorite games—bondage games.
“It works, let’s see how well.” She tugged me down onto the bed beside her.
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