“Do it…mark me.”
Fuck. I suck at the base of her neck and she sinks her nails into my back.
“Yes! Everywhere…I want you to mark me everywhere.”
I move down, pushing her T-shirt up to expose her skin. I slide my tongue from the waistband of her panties and up her stomach. Her muscles jump beneath my tongue and she whimpers. I sink my teeth into her flesh and suck on her skin until it’s red, and then I move to the next side. She feels so fucking good, I can barely control myself. My dick feels like someone’s hammering it from the inside, and my balls feel like they’re about to burst. I grab her knee and bite into her thigh, leaving another mark there.
“Gage!”
The scent of her arousal hits me and I almost lose my mind. I place my forehead on her stomach, below her navel, and breathe her in.
“Please…don’t stop,” she begs.
I move back up her body but before I can say anything, she flips over and straddles me. I know I should stop her, but I let her remove my jeans. I suck in a breath as she runs her fingers over my dick. She curls her fingers into the waist of my boxers and that’s when I snap out of my haze. I grab her shoulders and pull her into my arms.
“No, babe. No more.”
“But why?” She whines.
“Because we can’t.”
“Yes, we can. It’s perfectly legal. If you’re worried about people finding out, I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
“I’m trying to fight temptation here. Don’t make it harder.”
“What? Your dick?”
With a smile, she reaches down and grabs it, squeezing it in her tiny hand.
“Raven, stop.”
“Weren’t you the one who told me to submit, no, yield to temptation?”
“Babe, please. I’m really trying here.”
“I’ve got a quote for you. Tom Wilson, ‘about the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you’re fighting temptation’. Don’t you want to have fun?”
“No.” I answer, even though it’s a fucking lie.
“Ugh!”
She slides onto the bed but lays her head on my chest. I try to concentrate on getting ahold of myself.
“I hate to say this, but maybe we shouldn’t sleep in the same bed until…after,” I tell her.
“Whatever.”
“Don’t be petulant.”
“I’m not petulant. I’m mad.”
“Well, don’t be mad, either. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“What. Ever.”
We lay in silence for a while before she sits up and looks around the room.
“Do you have any paper…a pencil?”
“Downstairs in the living room. There’s a desk with all kinds of shit in there.”
She hops off the bed and returns with a sheet of paper, a clipboard, and a pencil. She sits cross-legged at the foot of the bed and stares at me. “What?”
“Don’t move.”
I lace my fingers together under my head and stare up at the ceiling. She can’t stay mad all night. After a while, she moves closer. She looks from me to the clipboard and I realize she’s drawing me.
“Your face is perfect,” she says, more to herself than to me.
“Why, thank you.”
“I mean it…symmetrical…perfect for drawing.”
A few minutes later, she hands me the clipboard. I can’t believe my eyes. “Holy shit! If I didn’t just see you do it, I wouldn’t have believed it. You’re really talented, baby doll.”
“Thanks.”
“Damn, it looks just like me. Tattoos, hard dick and all.” She giggles and lies next to me once more. “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”
“For now.”
“I know how to get back in your good graces. What do you want for your birthday?”
“Oh, now you’re asking? For months, all I’ve been hearing about is what you’re getting out of the deal.”
“Seriously, anything you want.”
“I don’t know. Haven’t really thought about it.”
“You want a party?”
“You wanna throw me one?”
“Sure. Just let me know who you want there.”
She raises up on her elbow and looks down at me. “You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Raven.”
I say the words without thinking but the moment they leave my lips, I know they’re true. She swallows, takes a breath, and kisses me softly.
“I’d like that.”
“Good.”
She settles on my chest again and throws her arm and leg over me. “You know what we should do? A costume party for Halloween,” she says.
“If you want.”
“What would you be?”
“I don’t do costumes, baby doll.”
“Ugh! You don’t do anything.” She sits up and stares at me with a pleading look. “Come on. You can’t go to a costume party in your colors.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not a costume!”
“Not happening.”
“Happening. You could be a pilot, and I’ll be your naughty flight attendant.”
She waggles her brows at me. I can’t believe she even remembered that.
“I don’t need a costume for that. I like the naughty flight attendant part, though.”
“I’m going to ignore that. Do your whole death thing then. You can be the Grim Reaper.”
“Don’t need a costume for that, either.”
“Gage!” She shouts in irritation. I chuckle and try to pull her back into my arms, but she swats my hand away.
“Oh! I could be Lady Death,” she exclaims excitedly.
“Who’s that?”
She reaches for her phone then straddles me. When she finds what she’s looking for, she turns the screen toward me. It’s a picture of a woman wearing nothing but a skimpy bikini and thigh-high boots. She must have lost her mind.
“What makes you think I’d allow you to wear that?”
“I can wear a skirt or some shorts…and I’d have the cape.”
“No. Fuck no.”
“Fine. I’ll work on the costume, but it’s settled.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. Deal with it.”
She settles next to me once more and I shake my head in amusement. She really thinks she’s won. I’ll let her believe she has.
“Millie asked me to do face painting at her Halloween fair.”
“Yeah? The kids will love that. I’m trying to see if I can get some of our other charters to come in and help this year.”
“Help with what?”
“Set-up. Whatever the hell I want them to do.”
“Okay, Mr. Bossy. But why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’?”
“I mean why would you get involved like that?”
“Millie didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“I’m the sponsor. Have been since the beginning.”
She rises up again and gives me an incredulous stare. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I came up with the idea but knew people might not want to get involved because of the MC, so I made Millie the face of the whole thing. It’s all my money, though.”
“Aww. Gage, that is so sweet!”
She returns to my arms, dropping a kiss on my chest. There she goes with that damn word again. I am not “sweet”. I need to change the subject.
“There’s a bike show in Atlanta this weekend. Wanna go with me?”
“Just us?”
“Most of the guys are going, some old ladies, probably some of the Hounds.”
“Lonnie?”
“Maybe. Don’t you think it’s time we told her what’s going on?”
“Not yet. If she sees us together, she’ll know.”
“Bring your friend Chrissy. I’m sure Ron’s gonna ask her anyway.”
“I’ll think about it. Besides, I’ll have to get the day of
f, too.”
“You do that.”
If I have to drag you kicking and screaming and tie you to my bike, you’re going. It’s time everyone knows how serious I am.
CHAPTER 11
***Gage***
“Hey, big brother,” Ellen grins at me.
“Hey.”
I kiss her cheek and take a wiggling Mikey from her arms. He taps my jaws with his palms and giggles excitedly.
“Unca, Unca, Unca!”
“Hey, buddy. You being a good boy for your momma?”
“Yes! Good boy!”
“Then that means I have a present for you.”
His laugh blocks out everything and in this moment, it’s just me and him. There really is nothing like a child’s laughter. Too bad I’ll never get to hear the sound from my own child. He claps his little hands together as I pull the wrapper off and hand him a lollipop.
“Yay! Look, Momma!”
“I see, baby.” Ellen looks at me questioningly. “You wanted to talk to me?”
“Yeah. I need your help.”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“I may have gotten in over my head here. I promised Raven a birthday party.”
“Oh…I see,” she smirks.
“Waben!” Mikey shrieks.
“Wipe that grin off your face, sis.”
“What? I’m happy for you. Even Mikey likes her.”
“So he told me.”
“So, when’s this shindig?”
“The twentieth.”
“Great!” She rolls her eyes. “A week, Gage? You couldn’t give me more notice?”
“Sorry.”
“Well…what does she like? Other than the color blue.”
“Books…music…drawing…”
“What kind of music?”
“I don’t know. Talk to her friend Chrissy. She said she’d help. And you can do it at Scythe, so you don’t have to worry about the location.”
“That’s something, at least,” she says pensively.
“I have an idea I think she’d like.”
“What?”
“She mentioned that she missed her prom. I figured that could be the theme or whatever.”
She gasps and places her hand on her sternum, her mouth hanging open.
“I had no idea you could be so sweet. That’s a great idea! We can get her a dress and…oh! You’ll wear a suit and –”
“Wait a minute. Who said anything about a suit?”
“You’ll wear a tux, and you’ll dance with her.”
“Ellen –”
“This was your idea. Man the fu–,” her gaze flicks to Mikey nervously then back to me. “…heck up, Gage Hunter.”
“I changed my mind. You come up with something.”
“No way. We’re doing this. I’m so happy!”
She claps and jumps up and down like an excited child. Me in a tux? And dancing? No fucking way.
“It’s so good to see you focusing on one girl for a change.”
“Oh? What girl is that?” Aunt Nita walks up with a raised brow.
Ellen folds her lips, takes Mikey, and rushes off. Great.
“What’s going on?”
I try to sound nonchalant. “She’s just helping me to plan a birthday party.”
“For who?”
“Her name’s Raven.”
“Raven…Millie’s waitress? Mikey’s babysitter?”
“You know her?”
“Yeah. Talked to her a few times when I went to the diner. Also know she’s just seventeen. What the fuck are you doing, Gage?”
“Nothing…yet. It’s her eighteenth birthday next week and I can tell you that afterwards, you’ll be seeing a lot of her.”
“And you haven’t fucked her?”
“No.”
“Uh-huh,” she says skeptically. “I know her father passed. What about her mother? She know about this?”
“She’s never met her mother. Lonnie’s the only family she has.”
“Poor thing. No wonder Millie’s so drawn to her.”
“She’s a good girl, Nita. I really like her.”
“Okay, son. When do I get to meet her officially?”
“She might be coming to the show today. If not…soon. I promise.”
“Yeah. I really need to get to know this chick better if she’s got you keeping it in your pants.”
Oh, trust me, Nita. I won’t be keeping it in for much longer.
***Raven***
“Ray…please. It’s a bike show. I know Ron’s gonna go off and leave me at some point. I need you.”
We’re sitting on my porch, waiting for Ron to come and pick her up. She’s been begging me for days to go to the stupid bike show. Once I heard Lonnie and Deena making plans, I decided I wasn’t going. I only have a couple days left in this house, and I don’t want to make them worse than they already are. I haven’t said anything to Lonnie about Glenn, but I know she’s seen him. She looked like she wanted to say something to me, but I gave her no indication of what happened. It took everything in me not to slap the bitch.
“I said no, Chrissy.”
“Why?” She whines. “I know Gage wants you to go, too.”
“Well, it’s not about what you and Gage want. It’s about me.”
“Think of it as a way of making up for holding out on me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on, Ray…everyone’s seen the hickey on your neck, but don’t think I haven’t seen the one on your thigh...your inner thigh. Did he go down you?”
“I can see why that would excite you but no, he didn’t. Things…got a little heavy, but we stopped. We didn’t even get naked.”
“Bummer. Promise me you’ll tell me everything when it finally happens.”
“Fine. I will.”
Ever since her birthday, I’ve been hearing all about her sex life with Ron. I swear I know all about the size of his dick, his favorite positions, and what he likes. All it does is remind me of what I’m not getting.
“What do you guys do anyways since you’re not having sex?”
“What any normal couple does. We talk, get to know each other better.”
“He just doesn’t strike me as the type to be in bed with a woman and not fuck her.”
“Well, it’s that dual personality thing I told you about. He’s the type to cuddle in bed and talk, but will also break someone’s face for me if that’s what I need.”
“Whose face needs breaking?” She asks, giving me the side eye.
“No one.”
The rumble of motorcycles sounds in the distance, and I welcome the interruption. I don’t want to lie to her, but I can’t tell her about Glenn, either. As the bikes draw closer, I steel myself against giving in. I know Gage will try to push me into going. I also know he’s the reason I suddenly got the weekend off from work. As the bikes get closer, Chrissy gets more excited.
“Do your parents even know where you’re going?” I ask her.
“No. They think I’m hanging out with you. Don’t make me a liar…please?”
A couple bikes turn into the driveway while the others stop out on the road. There must be about twenty or more. Gage, of course, is in front. He’s wearing a helmet, shades, and a skull bandana that covers the rest of his face, but I know it’s him. With his hoodie, he is now the very picture of the Grim Reaper. The only thing he’s missing is the scythe. Then again, his version is probably tucked into the back of his jeans. I can feel his eyes on me, but I do my best not to look at him.
“Ray?” Chrissie pleads once more.
“No.”
She grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. We’re down the stairs before I’m able to dig my heels in and stop her.
“Okay, fine,” she finally relents.
She releases me and heads over to Ron’s bike. Lonnie is with Venom, staring daggers at me.
“You’re not coming, baby girl?” Crow shouts over the roar of the bikes. His old lady, Marlowe, nods and gives me a
n encouraging smile.
I shake my head, still avoiding Gage. Suddenly, the men—the ones I know, anyway—all start begging me to come along. Lonnie looks confused, no doubt wondering how they all know me and why they’re all so…familiar with me. I also notice the redhead with Razor. She looks at me appraisingly from head to toe. I finally glance at Gage. He’s removed his shades but he’s still just sitting there, watching me. Shit. I look around again at all the faces imploring me to join them, and I crack.
“Fine. Let me just change my shoes.”
I return in my combat boots and find that only Gage, Dr. E, Ron, Venom, and Razor are waiting. Lonnie is fuming. I look to Dr. E, silently begging him to let me ride with him. His gaze flicks to Gage then back to me before he nods. As I pass Gage, he grabs my wrist. Dr. E shrugs helplessly. Chrissy smirks. Lonnie’s shocked, unable to close her mouth, and Redhead is watching with growing interest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He asks for my ears only.
“With Dr. E –”
“Get your ass behind me.”
He hands me his helmet and slides his shades back on, but not before I see the anger in his eyes. I strap on the helmet and climb on behind him, using his shoulders as leverage. He raises his hand, makes a signal, and we all ride out. I can’t even enjoy the ride because I’m afraid Lonnie’s going to shoot me in the back along the way.
We’re on the road for about an hour before he pulls in to a gas station, where his crew is already waiting for him. As soon as my feet hit the ground, he drags me to the side of the building where no one can see us. He removes his shades, pulls the bandana down, and crashes his lips into mine.
“Ga–”
His tongue barges into my mouth. As much as my brain knows this is not for pleasure, my body still reacts. My heart thuds in my chest. Little tingles travel down my body and land between my legs. He unleashes his anger on my mouth. Lips, tongues, and teeth clash, the sounds of our ragged breathing filling the air. He pushes me against the wall and ravages my lips, digging his fingers into my jean-clad hips. I slide my fingers through his hair, grabbing a handful. It becomes hard to breathe. I try to break away, but he growls and pulls me back in. I pound on his chest and he releases me but cages me in with his arms while I desperately draw air into my lungs. He’s breathing hard, jaw clenching in anger. My lips are pulsating and are, no doubt, an angry red.
Tempted Page 9
