Normal, boring heaven.
I could use a little normal and boring in my life.
Suz tackle-hugged me when I walked into the Pit, then started babbling about the clothing drive and donating tips. I thanked her, steadying myself as I came face to face with Bone.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” I told him. “I mean, it sucks, but it is what it is. It’s Hannah and the girls who will have a hard time—I didn’t have much in the way of stuff, anyway.”
Bone nodded, stoic. “I can give you some extra shifts. We’ll do a fundraiser, too. This weekend.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I told him, overwhelmed.
“This is Violetta,” he said, his mouth cocking in a rare smile. “I’d do a fundraiser for anyone who lost their place, so don’t take it personally.”
“You’re a real prince, Bone,” Sara muttered.
“Get your asses punched in,” he said, ignoring her. “We’ll be busy tonight—the girls agreed to donate their tips to help your sister get back on her feet, and I’m matching them. Put the word out earlier, so people will come. The Reapers will be here too. You’ll be in charge of them, Mandy.”
I swallowed, wondering what I would say to Shade when I saw him.
The biker in question walked in just after nine. Behind him were Dopey and a bunch of others I recognized from the clubhouse, including one who’d been at the trailer. Not the guy who looked like Randy, though. Oh, wow… They put him in Randy’s clothes and had him drive the car away, I realized. That would explain how Mrs. Collins had seen him leave.
Dopey’s old lady came over and gave me a tight hug.
“So sorry to hear about your place,” she said, sounding genuinely upset. If she knew what’d really happened, she sure as hell wasn’t showing it. Dopey came up next to her, wrapping an arm around her.
“Let’s go find a place to sit,” he said. “We’re all real sorry about the fire, Mandy.”
Another biker slapped my shoulder, and then they were filing past me toward the back of the bar. Shade waited until they passed, catching and holding my gaze as he approached. His eyes were dark with desire and something else. I couldn’t tell exactly what that something else was, and I guess it didn’t matter.
He’d saved my family last night, risking his own life in the process. So far as I was concerned, he could call the shots.
“Mandy,” he said, sliding his hands around my waist.
“Shade.”
“Fuckin’ shame about your place. When we heard that the girls would be donating their tips tonight, we figured we’d ride over. Make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine,” I said, flushing. “I’m staying with Sara.”
“And Hannah?”
“She’s with Heath.”
Shade nodded, then leaned forward into me, his lips brushing my ear.
“You’ll be comin’ with me after work tonight.”
It wasn’t a question.
“All right.”
“We’ll talk more when it’s time for your break.”
I nodded, any resistance I’d felt toward him long gone. Shade let me go, joining his brothers at the back of the bar. I grabbed my tray and followed him, ready to take their orders.
Bone sent me on break at eleven that night. Shade had spent the last two hours watching me with that same intense stare he’d given me at that first barbecue with Rebel. When I started pulling off my apron, he stalked toward me, catching my hand and pulling me down the hallway past the office. Then we were out on the back porch and he was pushing me up against the wall, thrusting one leg between mine.
My fingers tangled in his hair as his hands caught my butt, pulling me up and into his pelvis. His mouth covered mine and his tongue thrust deep. Desire exploded through me. My nipples tightened and my legs clenched around his thigh. He shifted, hips moving against mine restlessly as his mouth dropped, sucking on my neck. I moaned and rubbed myself against his leg, desperate for sensation.
Shade dropped me abruptly, then caught my arm and dragged me over to the picnic table.
“Open your jeans,” he said, his voice heavy.
I glanced around, hoping nobody was watching from the darkness. But even if they were, would it matter? We’d already done this once. Following his order, I reached down and unbuttoned my fly.
“Now touch yourself.”
Swallowing, I slid my hand inside to find my clit, rubbing it. Sensation flooded me as Shade’s eyes held mine. I bit my lip.
“Are you wet?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“What do you want?”
“This,” I said, reaching out to cover the front of his fly with my other hand. “I want this. Inside me.”
“Right here on the porch?”
I nodded, rubbing my clit harder. I couldn’t wait to feel him deep inside. Filling me. Stretching me and making me his.
“Give me a taste.”
Pulling my hand out, I lifted my hand. Shade caught my wrist and raised it between us. Then he slowly sucked each finger into his mouth, holding my gaze the entire time. I squeezed his dick through the fabric of his jeans, then started rubbing it up and down with the heel of my hand, pressing hard. His tongue flicked against my fingertips, then he sucked them again.
Desire and tension and the need to fuck hung in the air between us—he’d committed violence to protect me and now I was his.
Something in Shade snapped, and he caught my shoulders, spinning me around and pushing me down across the table on my stomach. Seconds later, he’d jerked down my jeans and I heard the sound of his zipper opening followed by the crackle of a condom wrapper.
Laying his hand flat on the small of my back, he pinned me as the head of his cock touched my center. Then he thrust hard, filling me in one stroke, and I gasped. Shade stilled, breathing deep. I felt him throbbing inside me.
“Fuckin’ love this pussy. Squeeze.”
I did, clenching tight. His hips bucked into mine before pulling back. Then he slammed home again, and this time he didn’t stop to savor the moment. His hands caught my shoulders, holding me down and steadying me for his thrusts. Faster and faster he moved, the head of his cock hitting my G-spot with every stroke. Wild desire flared and I heard the sound of our bodies coming together. Raw. Dirty. Wet.
“Next time, you damned well call me if you get in trouble,” Shade said, his voice like gravel. The words were punctuated with his thrusts, like he was punishing me for trying to handle Randy on my own.
Maybe he was.
I should piss him off more often, because despite the brutality of it, I’d never felt anything more amazing. I’d loved it when he’d gone down on me, but this rough and wild sex was somehow better.
Maybe it was the way it hurt a little…the way his hands held me tight, forcing me to hold steady for him, taking everything he had to give, no matter what that meant. Whatever it was, the tension spiraled through me fast and hard until I hovered right on the edge of oblivion.
Shade convulsed, groaning as his hot seed blew into me. I felt the pulse of his cock as he buried himself. That was enough to push me over the edge.
My world shattered into a spiral of stars and streaks and blessed relief.
Shade leaned down over me, catching my hair and turning my head for his kiss. He was marking me, I realized. I wasn’t sure why or for how long, but until he said otherwise, I belonged to him and there was no going back.
Maybe there never had been.
He’d seen me and he’d wanted me. Ultimately, he found a way to have me. That should’ve pissed me off, but when I thought of Randy and Hannah and the whole horrible situation, I didn’t have any room left for anger.
Shade pushed himself back up, then pulled out of me, leaving my ass on full display. Suddenly self-conscious, I grabbed my jeans, pulling them up.
“I should probably get back to work,” I said.
“That’s fine,” Shade replied. “Just don’t forget wh
o you’re going home with at the end of the night.”
I nodded and turned to the door. Then I stopped.
“Shade?” I asked hesitantly, staring at my feet like a chicken.
“Yeah?”
“Will you tell me what happened last night?”
“Your sister’s dumbass ex left a lit pipe in the trailer,” he said. “Whole damned place burned up because of it. Fuckin’ shame.”
“And Randy?”
He didn’t answer for long seconds. My chest tightened.
“Last I hear, he took off in that little car of his,” Shade said. “Asshole made a big mistake, setting that fire. I’d think a man like that would disappear if he could. Probably won’t see him around again. Him or his friends. You and Hannah don’t need to worry.”
“Okay,” I whispered, wondering why I didn’t feel guilty.
Because he was a drug addict who endangered his family, Wonder Woman reminded me. And his friends were worse. They hurt Hannah and threatened Callie. There’s no room for guilt here.
“Don’t forget—you’re with me tonight,” Shade said quietly. “No more games, Mandy.”
“No more games,” I agreed.
We left the bar half an hour after closing.
Riding with Shade at night felt familiar by now. We were in a pack, surrounded by his fellow Reapers and their women. I wasn’t sure how many of them knew what’d gone down.
What I did know was that they’d given, and given generously.
The girls had kept a running total of their tips and sure enough, Bone had matched it. He’d also handed me the five hundred that’d been sitting there waiting all this time. There was more than enough to get a new apartment, I realized. Assuming Hannah wanted one… Heath seemed to think she should just stay at his place.
We’d figure it out later.
For now, I decided to enjoy the feel of the bike between my legs and the fact that I’d already gotten laid once. Odds were good I’d be getting laid again soon.
In four weeks, I’d be done with probation.
Life was good.
I woke up the next morning to find the bed empty, just like last time. This was a bummer because I’d been hoping for some morning nookie. On the other hand, he’d given me four orgasms total last night, so it wasn’t like I was suffering.
I let myself drift back to sleep, waking when I heard voices out in the corridor. Men talking. Then the door opened and Shade stepped in.
This time he wasn’t holding coffee.
“I have to go,” he said. I frowned because he was in full-on biker badass mode—all leather and patches, with a knife sheathed against his leg and a distracted look on his face.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he replied, walking over to the dresser. He opened the top drawer and dug around, tucking something in his pocket before turning back to me. “I can’t give you a ride home. Pepper will take you.”
Then he started for the door without a second look.
“Wait,” I said, sitting up.
Shade turned back, obviously distracted. “What?”
“Is this it, then?”
He frowned at me. “What do you mean?”
“I guess… Is this good-bye?” I asked, and the words sounded so pathetic that I could’ve kicked myself. I forced a smile, determined not to look disappointed. “Is our one-night stand over now?”
Shade’s expression softened. “Have I taken you to breakfast yet?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Then it’s not over yet,” he replied. “But I really do need to go, babe. Nothing to do with you—club business. I’m the president, which means sometimes I have to handle shit.”
“Okay, then,” I said, my smile genuine. “Go handle shit.”
“I’ll text you later. Let you know what tonight looks like.”
“All right.”
Shade reached for the door again, then turned back. He studied me, and I wondered what was going on in his head. I was still naked, and my hair was so crazy I probably looked like Medusa. I’d tucked the sheet across my chest so at least I wasn’t totally naked. He shook his head slowly.
“What?” I asked.
He didn’t reply for a minute, his face serious. “Babe, you know I’m not a keeper, right?”
“Who says I want to keep you?” I asked, raising a brow. “I’m not looking for a relationship, remember? But I’m liking this one-night stand stuff… I’d be up for more of that. Have some fun together and then some morning you can buy me breakfast. No need to overthink it.”
Shade nodded slowly, then turned and left the room.
You still sure about that not wanting a relationship? Wonder Woman asked. Because if I didn’t know better, I’d say you—
Fuck off, I snapped at her. Me and Shade would have some fun together, and then Future Me would give him a smile and a laugh when it was finally over.
Future Me was tough like that.
Totally.
Chapter Eighteen
Four weeks later
“Are you ready?” Sara shouted through the bathroom door. “Bone just called. He wants us there a couple minutes early. Said he needed to talk.”
“About what?” I shouted back at her, drying off my hands. I gave myself a quick glance in the mirror, just to be sure everything was right. Tight tank with a hint of bra showing? Check. Lipstick was bright and shiny, no smudges on the teeth. Combine that with my low-cut jeans and I’d be rolling in the tips.
Not that Shade would entirely approve—he liked it when I looked good, but he wasn’t so into the idea of me flirting for money.
Pretty uppity for a one-night stand, in my opinion.
Of course, that one-night stand had been going for a month straight, so there was that. At some point he’d leave town—I knew it was coming. That didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy him while he was here.
Me hooking up with Shade wasn’t the only thing that’d happened in the last month.
Sara and I had officially moved in together, for one. Hannah didn’t need me living with her anymore. Heath’s family had swarmed around her like a plague of very respectable locusts, and now his mom was helping her with the kids most days. I thought the way they’d gotten together so fast was a little freaky, but then again, it wasn’t like the circumstances had been normal.
Considering that I was in a long-term one-night stand with a biker who’d made it clear he wasn’t a keeper, I didn’t have much room to judge.
I opened the bathroom door to find Sara already outside. Grabbing my bag, I followed her to the car, wondering what’d crawled up Bone’s ass. The man was impossible to read.
“We need to stop and get gas on the way in,” I said as I slid into the seat. “You told me to remind you.”
“Shit,” she muttered, turning on the car. “We’re coasting on fumes but we’re late, too. I think we can make it.”
“If we don’t, you can call Bone and tell him to come rescue us,” I said. “It’s his fault we had to rush out so fast.”
Sara nodded, turning her head to watch as she backed out of her duplex’s driveway. The bar was less than two miles away, so we’d probably be just fine. Worst case, we could walk. Wouldn’t be the first time.
By the time we pulled up to the Pit, there were only a couple cars out front. Not busy at all. I wondered if Bone would let one of us off early. Shade had messaged me saying that he had stuff to do tonight and wouldn’t be around until later, but maybe if I let him know…
Sara parked the car right in front, startling me.
“Bone will shit bricks if he sees this,” I said. “He wants you in the back, remember?”
Sara gave me a sweet smile. “Bone can get his back door action from someone else.”
I giggled, shaking my head. “Seriously—you aren’t supposed to park here. You’ll get in trouble.”
“If he wanted us parking around back, he shouldn’t have called us in ahead of schedule.”
“Fa
ir enough,” I said. “It’s your grave.”
We climbed out of the car and started up the steps.
“Can you get the door?” she asked, pulling out her phone.
“Sure,” I replied, pushing ahead of her.
“Surprise!” a loud chorus of people shouted, and I froze, stunned. There were Hannah and Heath and the girls. A whole bunch of the Reapers and their women… Mrs. Collins, our old neighbor and even one of the church ladies who’d stopped by with the clothing after the fire. Karen something. I couldn’t remember her last name, but she was laughing and smiling at me just like everyone else.
“Congratulations on finishing probation!” Hannah shouted gleefully, hugging me so violently I nearly fell over. My little nieces joined her, squeezing me around the legs.
The wicked bitch had thrown me a surprise party. Heath came up, catching my eye behind Hannah’s shoulder.
“Sorry,” he mouthed at me. I flipped him off, but I smiled while I did it because he really was a disgustingly great guy. Hannah let me go and then Sara was next.
“Gotcha!” she said, laughing. “This is what you get for using up all the hot water. Next time, you better save some for me if you don’t want to get set up.”
“I can’t believe you guys did this,” I said, looking around. There were so many faces, but one was missing. Shade. Disappointment hit, but I pushed it away. Just because we were sleeping together didn’t mean he had time for a surprise party.
At least some of his club brothers had shown up. I’d gotten to know them and their old ladies better over the past few weeks, and I liked them. They were decent people, for the most part. Some of them were a little rough around the edges, but considering my own crimes, it wasn’t really my place to judge.
“Congrats, Mandy,” Bone said, handing me a beer. “You’re off tonight—no work. Just enjoy yourself, okay?”
“All right,” I said, still startled. “You sure you don’t mind?”
“Nope, Sara and Suz have got it covered,” he told me. “Get drunk, make the most of it. Just remember that tomorrow we have to do inventory. I’ll make you drag your ass in here even if you’re hung over.”
1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Fourteen Page 55
