by Zoey Marcel
“Yes,” she cheered.
“No,” Heath countered adamantly.
“Ah.”
Heller’s eyes flickered over to her. “You remember me from the cafe, don’t you? And that club?”
Her heart sped like hell. “You must have me mistaken with someone else. I was never at a strip club.”
Heller’s saucy smile said he had her. “I never said it was a strip club.”
Damn it!
Danielle shifted on her feet uncomfortably, feeling Heath’s eyes on her. She didn’t want him to know what she’d once been, the dirty things she’d done in her quest for self-worth.
“Strip club, BDSM club, book club, it’s all the same.”
“Nobody’s beating anyone’s ass at a book club.” Heller appeared entertained as he stalked toward her like a predator. “And it was a strip club. You know it was.”
Heath’s head jerked toward her. “You were a stripper?”
Shame overwhelmed her.
“Heller, don’t,” she whispered a plea up at him.
“I had to, babe.” Heller brushed some hair back from her face. “You demand Heath be open with you. It’s only fair you disclose your secrets to him, too. Nobody likes a hypocrite, although Heath loves to be one, don’t you, cowboy?”
“I’m gonna smack you,” Heath threatened.
Heller chortled. “Tell him, sweet cheeks.” He caressed her face. “Tell him what you were in Chicago.”
“I was a waitress.” She entreated him with her gaze not to make her say anything more.
“Don’t be a smartass, Danielle. Tell Heath about your other job while you lived there.”
“I was a stripper,” she whispered miserably, eyes falling from Heller’s commanding stare.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Heath asked.
“I didn’t tell anyone. I was too ashamed.”
“Why’d you do it?”
“To build her confidence,” Heller said while looking down at her. “She felt crappy after all her bad experiences with men and the tiny bit of weight she gained, so she figured she’d take her clothes off for money. That way, seeing all those horny idiots would rebuild her self-esteem and make her feel like a sexy woman again.”
“Is that true, Danielle?” Heath asked.
She nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“Sugar, you’re gorgeous. Don’t ever think you’re not.”
“You’re hot as fuck,” Heller agreed. “I wanted you back when you were slender and I still want you now that you’re voluptuous. Size doesn’t matter...unless you’re a man. Sorry, Heath.”
“You’re such an asshole,” Heath told him.
Heller chuckled.
Danielle peeked up at him. “How did you know that was the reason?”
“I’m good at reading people.”
“Can you read what I’m thinking?” Heath asked in annoyance.
Heller grinned. “You want me to fuck you.”
Heath swallowed, but he looked turned on. “No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do.” Heller wiped away her tear. “He loves it and you will, too. Kale has no problem with me fucking you. We talked about it when we saw that picture of you that Brighton posted online.”
“Maybe I have a problem with it,” Heath said.
“If you’ve got a problem sharing her with me, you can take it up the ass and we’ll put on a good show for her. Makes no difference to me. How does that sound, cowboy?” Heller taunted.
Heath blushed. “We can share her. That’s fine.”
“I’m engaged,” she said quietly.
Heath rolled his eyes. “The McAlisters share you with whoever you want. Nobody cares if you go to bed with Heller. I wish you would so he shuts up about it and quits embarrassing me.”
Heller winked at him. “That’ll never happen. You’re too much fun. I think we should take it slow until she begs me to fuck her. See, I was thinking you could both take your clothes off and you lie down on top of him, then I’ll fuck my dick between your bellies and ejaculate all over you, so you both know what little cum toys you are. How does that sound?”
“Just my top and only if they give me permission,” she said.
“Fair enough. You give them a call. We’ll be in the back room waiting for you.” Heller strode toward Heath. “Heath, let’s get that tight bod of yours naked. I want that cock hard and horny for me.”
“They probably just heard you say that,” Heath complained.
“Isn’t that a bitch?” Heller slapped him on the ass as they wandered down the hall together.
Her body heated at the sight of them together. She couldn’t wait to see them in action. She’d wanted Heller since she first laid eyes on him years ago. It relieved her immensely that she was the only woman Heath wanted. The idea of seeing him with a man had her hot and bothered.
She heard the phone ring several times before hanging up. What was she doing? A man like Heller had probably been with tons of women and men. Sure, he was into Heath, but they’d been best friends years ago, so at least there was that deep attachment to go along with the sizzling chemistry they had.
She was a fair enough woman, pretty with the right outfit and plenty of rest and makeup, but nowhere near gorgeous enough to be draped on the arm of the most masculine man she’d ever seen. Heller was what many women would consider the ideal man and what most men wanted to look like in the muscle department.
Not only that, he was part of that motorcycle gang. The Princes of Hell MC were outlaws, but supposedly they weren’t as bad as their rivals, the Blood Demons MC, in Sioux Falls. Members from both clubs proudly sported their vests with patches, but most of the activities of either group were pretty secretive.
Heller had stated a year ago that he wasn’t leaving the Princes of Hell motorcycle club for anyone, not even for her. She knew it was wrong to try to change someone. Acceptance was important in relationships. A person should be able to be themselves and loved for it.
Still, it bothered her that his loyalty to a club outranked his romantic relationships. Was Heath okay with that?
She wasn’t. What about the club whores? Heller had been with some of them, for sure. She didn’t want him hanging around past fuck buddies, even if he stayed faithful to her.
Plus the whole manly man club meetings where the women had to scram while the men talked business. Right. Did the single sluts get to be there?
Heller was worlds better than Gavin had been, but what if he was a criminal, too? She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but whether one was talking about a biker gang that was part of the one percent or the Mob, it was still organized crime. Kids shouldn’t be exposed to that. Her babies wouldn’t be, no matter how much she liked Heller or wanted to sleep with him.
Danielle wandered down the hall, feeling a surge of delight when she saw Heller and Heath kissing.
Heath broke the kiss, blushing. He was adorable when he got embarrassed.
Heller grinned. “Well, sweet cheeks?”
She loved his pet names for both her and for Heath. “They said no.”
Guilt slapped her all over, but she kept a straight face and tried not to look like a liar.
Heath gaped at her. “You’re kidding. They let you have everybody else. What’s wrong with Heller?”
She really wished he’d stop making comments about all the men she was with. She knew she was greedy for having so many men, but Heath’s remarks about it made her feel worse. One could hardly blame him, though.
Heller kept his eyes on her. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat and backed away. “I’m gonna go. I’ll let you boys be.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Heath said, running his fingers through his hair. “I’ll talk to them for you.”
“Please don’t. I don’t want to upset them. I don’t need any more men.” She couldn’t look Heller in the eye with him staring her down like that as if reading her.
“Well, you’re
my woman, too,” Heath reminded her. “I say have at him.”
“That’s okay. You two should just be together. I already have four men. That’s plenty. You guys have fun.”
She hurried out, feeling a lump in her throat and ashamed of herself. She shouldn’t have lied. Lord only knew she was no good at it, but she just didn’t see how it could work between her and Heller, as much as she wanted it to.
* * * *
That night Heller stood in Heath’s kitchen with him, chopping vegetables.
“You do know they sell salads pre-made, don’t you?” the cowboy grumbled.
Heller kept right on working. “Iceberg lettuce is the white bread of the greens family. The darker the lettuce, the more nutrients it contains.”
“Yeah, and the taste goes down the drain.”
“They make dressing for little bitches like you.”
Both men smirked and Heath shook his head, dumping the cucumbers into the bowl.
“I care. That’s why I force-feed you bitter, nasty kale, and I don’t mean my brother,” Heller teased.
Heath cracked a half smile. They chopped for a moment in silence.
“I still don’t get why the McAlisters don’t want you to be with Danielle. It’s not like those assholes have the final say or anything. She’s my woman, too. I don’t mind if you’re with her.”
“That’s mighty nice of you, cowboy, but they didn’t say no.”
“What do you mean?”
“She lied.” Heller picked up the plastic cutting board and tipped it, dumping the green bell peppers into the bowl of salad.
“No. She wouldn’t do that.”
“Heath, everybody lies. The trick is knowing what a person will and won’t lie about. Everybody has different standards and varying levels of guilt. It’s the people who claim to always be honest a hundred percent of the time that you’ve gotta watch out for.”
“Why would she lie?”
“She wants me, but she feels bad for it, like she’s got too many men to her name. Probably doesn’t help with all the wisecracks you make about all her lovers.”
Heath frowned, looking at him. “I do not. I mean, maybe sarcastically, but she knows I’m joking.”
“Are you?” Heller gave him an incredulous look.
Heath sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you. I share her. Now I’ve got to giggle and squeal because she has a man for almost every day of the week?”
“You don’t have to get excited about it. She just wants respect. I know she’s got a taste for ménage, but she’s one of them faithful bitches worth keeping around.”
He snorted. “You talk about respect and you’re calling her a bitch.”
Heller looked at him blankly. “I meant it as a term of endearment, but I see your point. She’s one of them sensitive bit—dolls.”
Heath grinned. “I didn’t mean to make her feel bad.”
“It’s not your fault. She’s got self-esteem issues. I figured I’d ask the McAlisters right in front of her. That’ll really get her squirming.”
“Maybe she’s just not that into you.”
Heller smirked. “Heath, have you seen me?”
Heath got that cute little timid smile. “Shut up.”
Heller chortled. “You’ve been mostly quiet since we’ve been here. Something on your mind?”
Heath heaved a sigh. “Where do you see this going, with us?”
Heller cocked an eyebrow at this. “You proposing to me, bible boy?”
“No.”
“That’s good. If anyone is gonna do the asking it’ll be me.”
“I’m marrying Danielle.”
“Wrong, Heath. She’ll marry one of the McAlisters and you’ll consider her your wife, but if I let you get married you’ll be mine legally.”
“If you let me?”
“Say that’s how you want it, if I let you get married.”
Heath rolled his eyes, wearing a crooked smile. “It sounds nice, but we can’t.”
“We could, but only if I decide you’re husband material. Say you’ll do it once I decide you’re worthy of me.”
“You arrogant son of a bitch.”
“Say it, Heath, or you’ll be wearing this tomato.”
“Yeah, I’ll marry you if I do get married, but it’s never gonna happen.”
“Well, that all depends on if I ask you. Just do what I say and I might keep you around.”
“Maybe I won’t stick around,” the cowboy said with a crab face.
“You’ll stick around.” Heller kissed his head. “You’re stuck on me.”
Heath nuzzled him. “Yeah, a little bit.”
“More than a little.”
He smiled before turning somber.
Heller washed his hands at the sink. “Speak up, pretty boy. What’s wrong?”
“Heller, someone saw us at the club the other night.”
“Well, they’d have to have if Danielle heard about it from somebody.”
“No. I mean someone else saw us there.” Heath had his head bent down, seeming troubled. His hand trembled. “I think we should break up.”
Heller dried his hands off and then faced him. “You’re not breaking up with me, cowboy. I call the shots in this relationship.”
“We can’t go on like this. Eventually everybody’s gonna find out.”
He shrugged, arms crossed. “So a couple of people saw us? It doesn’t mean they’re gonna say anything.”
“The person that saw us knows my father.”
“Would it be so bad if Daddy knew?”
Heath stared down at the counter, poking it. “You don’t know him. It would drive a wedge between us, like it did with him and Carsten. It broke both their hearts. Now he lives in Kansas and my father only hears from him once in a while. It wasn’t easy on either one of them. They’re civil to each other, but they’re not really close, not like I am with either of them.”
Heller felt bad for the cute little cuss, even if he was a bisexual-outing bastard.
He deserves to be outed. Don’t be going soft now. Stick with the plan.
Heath raised his eyes to stare idly out the kitchen window. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I want to be with you, and I really am fine with sharing Danielle with the McAlisters and with you and your brother. But if we keep on like this my dad’s gonna find out and I can’t ...”
Heller watched Heath’s eyes close briefly and the way his throat moved when he swallowed before opening his eyes again and resuming his gaze out the window.
“I can’t lose you or his favor. I know you think my father is just this homophobic asshole, and while I agree his methods are terrible, deep down, he’s just trying to do what he believes is right.” Heath’s features distorted with suffering. “This is what Carsten felt like, isn’t it? He really loved Shane Huntington. He gave him up because my dad ordered him to. It ripped him to pieces and now he’s not even as close with my father as he was.”
Heller felt softness pulling in his chest. It was inconvenient and not at all conducive to getting revenge on one’s enemy. But right now Heath wasn’t even the same prick who outed him years ago. Now he was a glassy-eyed lover with a softened voice and an out-of-character level of compassion for his brother.
“Carsten loves Sharon, too, right?” Heath threw a pleading glance at him. “Maybe he’s bisexual. Shane was his first and the only one he was with before he married Sharon. So it’s possible he’s just bi and he fell for her, too, right?”
“It’s possible,” Heller agreed.
Heath’s lips twitched in gratitude before he looked out the window again. “I don’t have to ever get married. Danielle will take the McAlisters’ name and I’ll just view her as my spouse. You and I can be together as long as you want me. Nobody has to know. My father doesn’t have to be disappointed in another son and I don’t have to lose him or you.”
Heller stepped forward and pulled Heath into his arms. The poor guy was way too upset over this. It wasn’t worth
it. Heath had changed in many ways. Sure vengeance would be nice, but seeing him falling apart like this did something to him. It wasn’t anything pleasant.
Heller held him close and rubbed his back soothingly. He made up his mind to forsake his vindictive scheme. If anyone found out about Heath’s naughty appetites it wouldn’t be from him. He didn’t know why the cowboy had outed him years ago when Heath had supposedly been in love with him, but Heller knew in that moment that he could forgive him for it.
He would forgo his vengeance because even after all this time and everything Heath had done back then, Heller was still in love with him.
Chapter Four
Sean Friel sat on a chair in the waiting area of the men’s dressing room in a store, staring down at his hands, seeing right through them.
One of the dressing room doors flew open, slamming against the wall and there stood Percy Gibbons with outstretched arms, wagging his eyebrows. “What do you think?”
Sean had to smile, regardless of the misery his soul was in. “Hot pink leather. That’s a new one.”
“I think they make me look hot.” Percy twirled a little, examining his backside in the three-way mirror. “Do they make my butt look big?”
“It’s not the pants, mate.”
He laughed. “Well, see if I take you shopping again. I like them. I think I’ll wear them to the library. They may want me to whisper there, but that doesn’t mean my clothes can’t be loud.”
Sean smiled weakly and let his gaze fall to his hands again.
“You’ve been down all day. What’s eating you?”
“Malachi hasn’t said a word to me since I moved in with my uncle. It’s like he doesn’t see me and all those years we spent together don’t mean anything to him.” He swallowed against the ache, trying to hold it together. “He’s been seeing someone.”
“Yeah, I saw her. Paula or Pam.”
“Peggy.”
“Peggy, that’s right. She’s a nice lady.”
“I hate her.”
Percy made his lips pout and came over to sit next to him. “I’m sorry. Forget about Malachi. I told you he was an ass.”
“I kissed him.”
“What?” He sat back, gaping at him.
