by Brair Lake
“You’re looking good, Mia.”
“Thanks.” I turn to Poppy. “I’ll not be late. But there’s no need to wait up.”
“I’ll be awake when you get back.” She winks at Alex and I roll my eyes. “I wanna hear all the juicy details.” As the door shuts behind us, I glance towards the road and the tension in my spine fades, Alex has turned up in the club’s SUV.
“No bike?”
Alex’s fingers linger at my waist and my brain turns to mush. “I’ll let Cole impress you with bike rides.” He winks as he guides me down the path. “There’s more fun in a car when you’re with a gal.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere where Cole hasn’t taken you.”
My pussy throbs again. There’s one place Cole hasn’t taken me and until Alex comes up with the required paperwork, he’ll not be taking me there tonight. “Oh.” When he pulls the SUV into the parking lot of Demon’s Lair I glare at the riverboat. “I knew I should have gone with jeans.”
Alex is out of the SUV and round my side, opening my door before I can reach the handle. “What was that you said?”
As I step out of the SUV, I glance over his shoulder and watch several cars arrive. When the gathering crowd board the riverboat, I study the bright lights. “I think I’m overdressed for the club’s saloon.”
Alex’s hand soothes over my ass and a warm tingle travels up to my stomach as he closes the door. Then he’s giving me a gently prod towards the riverboat. “You’re dressed perfectly.”
“Evening, Mia. Hope you enjoy tonight’s sailing.” I smile at Copper as he steps away from the gangplank and Alex guides me onto to the riverboat. Instead of turning towards the lower deck towards the club’s private room, he leads us to the casino and my breath hitches in my throat. Although I’ve visited the riverboat several times, this is my first visit to the casino. The buzz in the air, brings the hairs on my arms to life. The room is crowded. Several small cages hanging from the ceiling catch my attention and a I gawp at them. The doors are open and a woman steps into each cage. The low hum of voices echoes around me.
As we hesitate by the door, Alex’s gaze sweeps the room. “Here comes the boring bit.”
I glance at him. “How can you call this boring, and where do I get my chips?” I blink at Alex. “You do accept credit cards.” Alex chuckles as he leads me to a bar and orders two beers. With the beers are several chips and I count them. There’s a month’s worth of wages, and about to give them back to Alex, I change my mind. Shit, I don’t have to use them all. As Alex leads me to a table occupied by Day and Bastian, a voice booms across the room, announcing a safety message. Day’s gaze is appreciative as it wanders over me, and I find myself stepping closer to Alex. Day’s never looked at me as a woman and I’m not stupid, I’ve heard the rumors. I turn my gaze to Bastion. “No, Eve tonight.”
The vice president’s smile is warm. “She’ll be here in a moment.”
I turn my gaze back to the gaming area. “When do we get to play?”
Day chuckles as Alex stokes my back and a shiver slithers through me. Cole’s touch never affectes me the way Alex’s does, and I take a sip of my beer.
“In about half an hour. You have your chips.” I nod as I open my purse, showing Day my collection of colored chips. He chuckles as he turns his head. I follow his gaze, and watch Eve approach and smile at her.
Just as he said. We are only on the riverboat about a half hour before the click of balls rolling on roulette tables and the snap and shuffling of cards fill the room and the chatter dies down. Although the lights never dim the music is low, barely noticeable.
“Ready for your first game.” I nod as I stand. The warm touch of his thumb against my palm as he slips his hand into mine has my knees trembling. “What do you want to play first?”
I glance around the room. “Blackjack.” It’s the one card game I know how to play. Within twenty minutes, I lost fifty dollars and won thirty of it back. I glower at Alex with a smile. “It’s your fault I’m losing.”
The soft caress of his fingers on my shoulder stills as he looks at me. The arch of his eyebrow not innocent. “How do you work that out?”
“How am I supposed to concentrate if you keep touching me.”
“You’re a sexy woman, Mia. How am I supposed to not touch you?”
My stomach flutters as my knees wobble, which has little to do with the motion of the river beneath the riverboat. To distract myself from Alex’s flirting, I lift my beer bottle and shake it at him. “It’s empty. I could do with another.”
His lips brush across my cheek, and I remind myself. Tonight is not about sex. “Find another game and I’ll come hunt you down.”
I nod as he turns away. My gaze lingering on his ass as he saunters to the bar and I lick my lips. My equilibrium is out of sync and I breathe in deep.
“They are lethal. Aren’t they?”
I turn to find Firebird standing behind me. The gleam in her eyes would shame the devil.
“Who are?”
“Alex, Leon, Oyster.”
Unable to disagree, I nod. “Day, Bastian, Kit, even TJ. Do you miss the library?”
Firebird shakes her head. “I thought I would. But there’s a buzz which gets in your blood and I love it.” She leans forward and pecks me on the cheek. The sparkle from her eyes has disappeared. “Take care, Mia. Alex is a bad boy. I wouldn’t want you to get your heart broke.”
Before I answer, a hand caresses my hip, and a shiver slides down my spine. “What are you ladies talking about?”
I turn to Alex and accept the beer. “My first time.” Alex chokes on his beer. “In the casino.”
His hand slips further around my waist and strokes my stomach. “Come on, I’m getting you away from Firebird.”
The hours slip by, my feet ache, and I scan the room for a seat and find a couch at the rear of the room. “I’m going to sit down.” Alex follows and I sink into the soft cushions and slip my shoes off, curling and stretching my toes. I smoother a yawn behind my hand. I messaged Poppy earlier, letting her know I was going to be late back. I know in the morning she’ll be full of questions. Hands shake me and I blink as I look up at Alex.
“We’ve docked.”
I blink again as I straighten. The casino is emptying. “Shit, did I fall asleep.”
“No-one noticed. And I didn’t mind the way you curled your body into me.” His laugh is light, teasing, “everyone probably thought we were making out.”
Straightening my back, I scan the near empty room. “As long as they didn’t think I was drunk.”
Alex’s chuckle follows me as we stroll to the SUV and I look up at the sky. The clouds are breaking, and the morning sun turns the sky into a blaze of crimson.
“I’m glad you don’t mind if people think we’re making out,” Alex said.
As he opens the door to the SUV, I turn to him. He is closer than I expected and our bodies brush and as I slip into the seat, my pussy throbs. “Thank you.”
My flesh burns when Alex caresses my thigh as he buckles me in. When he turns his face to me, his lips are near mine. “You can thank me probably in a bit.” We drive back to the house in silence. Occasionally, I would sense Alex’s gaze on me, but I keep my eyes on the side of the road, watching the trees as they pass in a pale blur. “Mia.”
“Yeah.”
“We’re at the house.”
I blink, look up at Bastian’s home then turn to Alex. “I meant it. No sex until the paperwork comes through.”
Alex nods as he slides over the seat. The heat of his body seeping into mine and I hold my breath as he frees the seatbelt. “I can wait until then, Mia.” His fingers glide over my thigh, slipping under the hem of the dress and I clamp my thighs as they dampen with my cream. “But there’s no harm in a kiss.” His lips are on mine and I answer his kiss with a hunger deep within me. His tongue thrusts into my mouth and we dance and parry. His fingers move further up my thigh and when his hand slips between my clasp
ed thighs, my legs fall open, giving him the access, he needs. His touch against the sensitive skin of my cunt has me gasping into his mouth. My clit throbs as I thrust against the finger teasing the swollen bud. With each twist of his tongue, Alex teases my pussy and I clench against his touch, trapping his hand. I grip his shoulders at the tension building in me. Then I shudder against him as my climax overtakes me. My body continues to trembles,and I bury my head into Alex’s neck as I catch my breath. When I can breathe easily, I pull away.
“Told you SUVs have their uses.” Alex leans over, his lips brushing against mine as he straightens my dress. “I’ll take you for a ride on the bike. Then you can compare.”
Chapter 11
Alex: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
The urge to tap my fingers against my knee overcomes me as I glance at my watch. Spending what free time I have at church with the officers only to attend a second meeting with club members who are visiting Noir Valley, is not how I planne to spend my day off. There’s a woman out there in need of my company. I rub my forehead. I may not have fucked Mia last night, but It’s the first time in years I haven’t woken in a cold sweat or in need of a drink to get back to sleep. It was the nightmares which drew me into the running game. I’m only listening with half an ear as TJ and Day argue about a problem the club is having, when Mia’s and Jono’s name are mentioned, drawing my full attention to the discussion. When I glance across the table, Day is looking at me, watching me with a speculative gaze in his eyes. The smile playing on his lips is one of a cat playing with a mouse.
“Mia appeared to enjoy herself last night,” he said
I remain leaning in my chair, unwilling to be pulled into his twisted game. “It was her first time in the casino.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Leon’s voice is cold. His brown gaze hard as he watches me. Mia is a friend of Poppy’s, who happens to be his sister-in-law. Shit, there are times I hate small towns.
My gaze is as willful, but neither of us back down. “I do.”
“Because if she gets hurt. You’ll be hurting Poppy and hurting Poppy hurts Firebird. And hurting Firebird…”
“I get the message.” Shit, she’s the one pulling the strings. Demanding we have tests before we have sex. “Mia’s a big girl.”
Leon does not return my smile. “Big girl or not. Don’t promise her anything you don’t plan to deliver.”
“Life’s about getting hurt, Leon. It happens to us all.”
Day leans forward. His blue gaze on the club’s Sargent at Arms. “She’s under the club’s protection, Leon. We’ll take care of her. The reason for her being on the riverboat is to draw Jono out.”
Mia’s involvement with me is causing several tongues to wag. “Well it’s definitely got Hank’s attention.” I throw into the conversation.
Day turns to me. “What do you mean by that?”
I shrug, “I bumped into Jono yesterday. Hank spotted us. Then he caught me watching Mia.”
Day runs his hand through his hair. His lips twisting as he glares at me and my eyebrow arches at him. “Did he say anything?”
I smile. “The brotherly kind of stuff. He warned me to stay away from Mia. I told him he should be watching out for the new reporter in town. Then he threatened me with goal over Jono.” I scratch my nose. “There is a problem I hadn’t counted on. Which has more to do with I was ignorant of the fact.”
Bastian and TJ chuckle as Day leans back in his chairs. You can almost see the air leaving him as his body deflates. “And what was that?”
“Mia’s blog. Apparently, she’s told the world about her and me.”
Day’s eyes turn midnight blue as he glowers at me, then he turns to TJ. “Run up an NDA. The moment she sets foot on the riverboat, she signs it.” Day’s gaze is back on me. “I don’t care how fuckable she is. You keep her under control while she’s on the riverboat. As long as her blog is only about your ratings in bed, we’ll be fine. Leon.” Leon looks at Day as he nods. “You get Data to hack her account and monitor everything she writes. Anything not kosha, I want to hear about it straight away.” Day rubs his eyes. “Fuck, Alex, she better be worth it. And you’d better be right about Jono.”
“I am. Jono’s a bastard, but Mia is his weak spot. He’ll not be happy a River Demon’s sniffing round her panties.”
I glance around the table and my gaze clashes with Kit. His green eyes somber as he studies me. “What about your weak spot, Alex? Is Mia’s yours?”
I close my eyes and two blonds smile at me. I couldn’t save one. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to the other. I spent one summer fighting what was between Mia and me because I was scared. Then left it too late to play my hand. “As soon as I get her to dump Cole, I’ll move her on to the riverboat.” I glance at each officer, my gaze resting on them momentarily. “She’ll be safe here.”
Oyster’s fingers tap on the table as he watches me. “What about when we’re on a run–Who’s going to watch her then.”
“Copper and a couple of others. The fence is wired. We keep it switched on and the gates locked.” I rub the back of my neck as I glance at Day. “We’ll be away for three days. Bring Poppy and Data on the riverboat for those days. Shit, what trouble can happen then.”
Day’s glower darkens. TJ’s chuckle turns into a deep rumble, and I shake my head at him. Day’s glare swings to Leon. “Fuck. Why couldn’t you leave Daisy Davaro alone?”
My lips twitch as Leon’s hard face softens and his smile reflects in his eyes as he shrugs. “What can I say. Who is it who has a vendetta with Clarence Davaro and had to take possession of his home?”
Day flips Leon the finger. “The Family Day at Demon’s Lair is this weekend. Oyster work with Mal and Firebird on this will you.” Day bangs the anvil before Oyster can answer. His own scowl deep as he bites his lip.
It’s late afternoon when I pull up outside Bastian’s house. Jane throbs between my legs, her purr a caress to my nerves, and I smile at Mia standing at the bottom of the stoop. “You taking me for a ride, Alex.”
The bare flesh of the curve of tits revealed just above the vee of the yellow tee-shirt catches my attention and my cock twitches at the tantalizing view. The second meeting had dragged on longer than expected, making me an hour late for our date. Although I texted to let her know I was on my way, I wasn’t expecting Mia to be waiting, but she is.
“Yeah. Now come over here and say hello.”
“I can say hello from here.” Mia’s smile wraps around my cock and I pray for a quick response from the doc. I rang Doc Holden before coming over, and as he informed me there was a dely in the results, I grimaced at the snigger in hisvoice and bit back my groan.
I lick my lips; I can already taste her. “But not the kind of hello I’d like.”
Mia’s black jacket is short and as she sashays towards me, I watch the slight swing of her hips.
“Hi.” She’s in touching reach. “What kind of hello did you have in mind?” Her eyes gleam and blood rushes to my cock.
I shuffle back on the seat of the bike and lift Mia up. As I sit her facing me, she slips her legs over my thighs and I pull her closer. “This kind.” Her lips are soft, but the kiss is not gentle, and she answers my hunger with a hunger of her own. My fingers beneath the tee-shirt and a groan escapes me. She’s not wearing a bra. The blood pounds in my veins. My cock is uncomfortable, and I know that as much as I want it to, this kiss is going to lead nowhere and I pull back. When the kiss is over, Mia leans back. Her gaze lingering on my mouth and my blood heats me as she swipes her tongue over her lower lip.
“I need to refresh my lipstick.”
My thumb glides over swollen lips. Lips which are red from our kiss and her tongue teases the flesh of the tip. “Lipstick’s wasted. I’ll only be removing it again.”
“Promises, Alex. Where are you taking me?”
Mia shuffles against my swollen cock and I groan. “Not to Demon’s Lair. Now scoot behind me before I embarrass my
self and come in my jeans.” Her gaze drops to the crotch of my pants and I groan as she wets her mouth. The tip of her pink tongue has me wanting to reach out for her once more. “Mia.”
She looks at me as she chuckles, then clambers over me. As she climbs over my shoulder, I turn my head, brushing my lips over her denim clad pussy. Mia’s slap to my back is not soft. As she shuffles into place, I pass her a helmet.
We haven’t ridden for long before I find an empty spot near the Mississippi, but far enough away from Noir Valley for anyone to come across us. From the bike’s trunk, I grab a couple of beers and a blanket and spread it over the ground. As I settle back on the blanket, placing my hands behind my head. Mia looms over me and I grin. It wouldn’t take much to reach up and taste her pussy.
“Are you going to come and lie down so we can make out?” With the sun behind her, Mia is a silhouette and the glow of the halo outlines her, making her my angel. If someone was to ask me what Mia meant to me, I’d have to lie. It’s the only way I can protect her from what’s going to happen. If it wasn’t for her relationship with Jono, I’m not sure how I would have enticed her on to Demon’s Lair or to be with me. Since her return to Noir Valley, I’ve watched Mia. Waited for the moment I could claim her. I should have some sense of guilt over the way I’ve made my play. But I don’t. Where Mia is concerned, I have no shame.
“I’m enjoying the view.”
“You could enjoy the touch.”
Her hair shimmers as she shakes her head in the glow of the sunlight, and my cock twitches. It’s pressing against the zipper and as I watch Mia, an idea slips into my head.
“That smile’s dangerous, Alex. I should run.”
I sit up, reach for her hand, and pull her on to my lap. “No. Why waste time when we could be tasting each other.”
I swallow Mia’s giggle as our lips meet.
Chapter 12
Mia: Somewhere outside Noir Valley
I’ve done some crazy shit in my life. But as Alex’s lips devour me, this must be the craziest. I know Alex is no good for me. That he still hungers for his dead wife. He also has a reputation to rival TJ’s and Day’s. As the kiss deepens and Alex rolls me onto my back. All reasonable thoughts slip away as Alex torments my body with the teasing touch of his fingers as they glide down my arm and slip beneath my tee-shirt. I should stop him, but fuck, he had looked up at me and a shadow had wavered in his eyes. Then he smiled, pulling me down on top of him. In need of air, I break the kiss and pull back. My fingers itch. I ach to touch him. To stroke his hair, slipping a strand or two behind his ear. I need a diversion. Something to ease the growing tension in my stomach. “Hank called by this morning.”
