Monroe, Marla - Nina's Neighbor (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Marla Monroe

  “I’m a big boy, Nina. All you can do is complicate matters since he has his eye on you. Pack up your stuff and go to her house after work tomorrow night. I’ll call you on your cell phone and keep you up to date on what’s going on,” he told her.

  “I’m sorry, Jack,” she said.

  “Not your fault, baby. Mine for every having anything to do with them in the first place. I knew there would come a day that I would regret having joined them, and it’s here.”

  After they hung up, Nina packed a bag for several days and climbed into bed alone. She could still smell Jack and see the indention of where his head had laid on the pillow. She pulled it into her arms and breathed deeply of his scent. He’d become very important to her. She wasn’t sure what exactly she felt for him, but it was more than just caring about him, yet she hesitated to call it love. It was too soon for that.

  Chapter Nine

  “Of course you can stay with me. You don’t even have to ask,” Charlotte said. “But what you do have to do is explain why as soon as we get home.”

  “It’s a very long, complicated story,” Nina said.

  “Well, we have all night, though by the look of your eyes, I’d say you need an early night to catch up on some sleep.”

  “I could use a good night’s sleep, but I have a feeling that I won’t manage that for a while yet.”

  Nina followed Charlotte out to the employee parking lot and climbed into her own car. She didn’t have to follow Charlotte to her house. They’d each spent plenty of time at the other’s home in the many years they had known each other. They’d been friends ever since Charlotte started at the insurance firm where Nina had worked since college. For over seven years now they had been each other’s confidant and supporter through thick and thin.

  Charlotte’s house was across town from Nina’s, so she was about as far away from Jack and danger as she could get and still be in the same town. She pulled her Nissan Pathfinder in behind Charlotte’s Jeep. She jumped down from the Pathfinder and walked around back to retrieve her suitcase.

  “Come on in. I’ll put some coffee on, and we can order a pizza later,” Charlotte said.

  “Coffee sounds great. I can sure use it.”

  Nina dumped her suitcase in the spare bedroom. Charlotte’s house had three bedrooms with one of them being used as an office. That left only one as a spare. She had spent several nights in that room over the years. They’d have girls’ nights out and crash at one house or the other. When Nina had her floors redone, she’d stayed with Charlotte while they were staining them.

  “Coffee’s ready when you are,” Charlotte called from the kitchen.

  Nina looked at her watch. She’d been standing there for nearly five minutes. What was wrong with her? She acted almost as if she were in shock. Maybe she was. This entire thing with Reaper and the motorcycle gang seemed surreal somehow.

  “Coming,” she called back.

  “Need anything in the bedroom? The sheets are clean. I changed them a couple of weeks ago after my niece spent the weekend with me.”

  “No, everything’s fine.” Except it really wasn’t.

  “Come on. Have a seat and start at the beginning.” She set a cup of coffee on the table for Nina.

  Nina sat down and took a quick sip. Charlotte always had gourmet coffee of some type. This one tasted like the southern pecan flavor she enjoyed so much. Her friend sat in the chair opposite her and gave her a pointed stare.

  “Well?”

  “Sorry, just thinking.” Nina shifted in her seat.

  “Something tells me this is really going to be a long story.”

  Nina filled her in on the trip. “Anyway, we ran into some trouble.”

  “Uh-oh. What sort of trouble?”

  “Biker gang trouble,” Nina said.

  “Shit!”

  “Yeah, you can say that again. But it’s worse than that.”

  “How can it get worse?” Charlotte asked.

  Nina took a few seconds to figure out how to tell her everything and sipped the coffee that was cooling fast.

  “See, the thing is, Jack use to be in a gang called The Devils. We ran into the leader of his old gang and he wants Jack back, and he sort of likes me. Anyway, we left, but they know where Jack lives, and Jack didn’t want me to be anywhere close until he could get rid of them.”

  “Wow, you’ve attracted the attention of a gang leader. That’s not good at all, girlfriend.” Charlotte huffed out a breath and sat back in her chair.

  “Tell me about it. He’s being pretty adamant about wanting to share me with Jack,” Nina said.

  “Share you? You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Nope. I wish I were.”

  Nina sipped on the lukewarm coffee. She watched as Charlotte processed everything she’d told her. Her friend was obviously worried.

  “How will you know when to go home? Is Jack going to call you here? Does he have my phone number?” Charlotte asked.

  “No, but he has my cell phone number.”

  “Did you remember to bring your charger?”

  Nina thought for a moment then remembered her charger stuck in the plug beside her bed.

  “Damn! No. What am I going to do?”

  “Maybe he can sneak over to your house and get it for you then drop it off somewhere.”

  “We never got around to exchanging keys,” Nina said dryly.

  “And since I have a key to your house, you don’t have one hidden somewhere.”

  “Nope.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “When he calls this time, I’ll give him your number and explain about the phone charger.”

  “I hope he calls tonight,” Charlotte said.

  “He better. I’m already worried about him,” Nina said.

  “Let’s order that pizza. I’m hungry. I know you probably aren’t, but you need to eat.”

  “Everything but olives. Or half and half if you just have to have your olives.” Nina sighed.

  * * * *

  Jack huffed out a breath when he noticed Reaper and Slick in the store. He walked over and asked what they wanted.

  “You back in the gang, but it looks like you’re doing pretty good for yourself here. Maybe all we need are your dues,” Reaper said.

  “There have never been dues before,” Jack pointed out.

  “That was then, this is now. Things change, Jack.”

  “And if I said I’m not paying dues?”

  “Well, I might make an exception to that,” Reaper said.

  “What good would it be for me to be back in the gang, Reaper? I won’t do anything but cause you trouble.”

  “Maybe I want that woman of yours. She’s hot, and if you bring her with you, well…”

  “She’s not my woman. I just took her with me to have someone warm my bed. I doubt I’ll see her again,” Jack said.

  “Then you won’t mind if I claim her for my own then, will you?” Reaper said with a smirk.

  “Stay away from her. She’s not into the whole gang thing. She wasn’t too impressed with me as it was.”

  “She sure seemed to be really into you. I think you’re just trying to protect her. Won’t do any good. I’ll find her eventually. You won’t be able to stay away from a prime piece of tail like that,” Reaper said.

  “Fucking leave her alone,” Jack said with a growl.

  “Come on, Slick. Let’s leave him to stew for a while.”

  The two men walked out of the shop leaving Jack fuming. He kicked one of the displays across the floor. How was he going to protect Nina? She couldn’t stay away from her house forever. She’d eventually have to get more clothes if nothing else. Jack looked at his watch and realized how late it was. He turned the closed sign on the door and locked it then began shutting down the rest of the store and shop. He needed to talk to Nina.

  He was aware that he had someone following him home. They didn’t even try to stay hidden. He parked his bike inside his garage for the fi
rst time since he’d moved in. No use giving them something to mess with.

  As soon as he got inside, he headed for the shower, intent on washing away the day’s grit and grime before he called Nina. For some reason he didn’t want the dirty part of himself to touch her. He would call her as soon as he finished his shower. Just thinking about her had his cock hard. He wanted to sink it deep in her pussy. He wanted to taste her sweet honey and hear her scream her climax.

  As soon as he finished his shower, he dried off and called her. He didn’t even bother to get dressed. He lay back on his bed and waited as the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  His cock jumped at the sexy sound of her voice.

  “Hey, baby. How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine. What about you? You’re the one who’s dealing with Reaper.”

  “I’m good. He came to see me today at the store. We’ve got a bigger problem than I thought.” Jack sighed.

  “What’s wrong?” Nina asked.

  “He’s dead set on getting you as his bitch and me back in the gang. I told him it wasn’t going to happen, but he’s not budging on this.” Jack intentionally didn’t mention the dues Reaper was demanding. It didn’t concern her.

  “What are we going to do? I can’t stay over here indefinitely. I have a home, and I’ll need clothes. Oh, and I didn’t bring my charger for my phone so I’m going to lose my cell soon,” Nina protested.

  “I know, baby. I’m trying to think about what to do. Can you give me Charlotte’s number?” he asked.

  Nina told him the number, and he programmed it into his phone.

  “I need a couple more days, Nina. I’ll figure something out.”

  “Okay. It’s only been one day, and I’m good clothes-wise for another two days.”

  “Speaking of clothes, what are you wearing?” Jack asked.

  “I’m in my sleeping clothes. T-shirt and a pair of panties,” she added in a lower tone.

  “I’m totally naked lying on my bed thinking about you being here with me.”

  “Pervert. You’re wanting to have phone sex,” Nina teased.

  “Damn straight.” Jack loved the sound of her voice.

  “If you’re naked, is your cock hard?” she asked.

  “Hard for you, baby. It’s throbbing. I’m so turned on thinking about you.”

  “My nipples are hard now. I miss your mouth on them.”

  “I’d lick and bite them for you.”

  “Wrap your hand around your dick, Jack,” Nina demanded.

  “It’s around it pumping slowly. I have a little bit of cum leaking from the head. I wish you were here to lick it.”

  “Rub it around the head for me. I’d lick it and then suck on just the head trying to get more from you,” she told him.

  “I’m pulling on my cock faster now. I can just imagine your mouth going down on me. You’d suck me good wouldn’t you, Nina?” he said.

  “I’d go down on you all the way and then swallow until you gave me what I’m craving.”

  “Fuck, my balls are on fire. I’m gonna come, baby.” He pumped faster, and his cum erupted from his cock to coat his hand and his abdomen.

  “If I were there, I would have swallowed it all, Jack. Then licked you from top to bottom to make sure I got it all.”

  “Are you horny, baby?” Jack asked once he could talk again.

  “Just thinking about you over there has me horny. I’ll be fine though,” she said.

  “I want to get you off, baby.”

  “I’d rather wait until you can go down on me in person.”

  “Just as soon as I get them off our backs, baby. I promise I’ll eat your cunt until you scream.”

  Nina’s sigh over the phone had his cock trying to sit up again. He groaned and said good-bye to her with the promise to call her on Charlotte’s phone tomorrow.

  Jack got up and cleaned up before climbing back into the bed only to fight insomnia.

  He kept going back over everything to see if he could come up with a solution. Nothing came to him while he was tossing and turning. When he finally made it to sleep, he dreamed of Reaper and Slick and Nina all at the same time.

  * * * *

  When he woke the next morning, it was with a headache from lack of good sleep and a hard-on especially for Nina. What was he going to do to keep Reaper away from Nina? He would never truly be rid of the man, so he would never be able to see Nina again. It even occurred to him he might need to move to keep Reaper from finding her.

  The thought of never seeing her again nearly tore him up inside. How had she gotten under his skin in such a short amount of time? There was nothing he could do about it, though. He knew he was in love with Nina. He felt fairly certain she was in love with him by the way she responded to him. He didn’t know what to do about it right then, but he would have to address it as soon as the mess with Reaper was taken care of.

  Jack opened the store, and the next morning and once his help arrived to work the front, he disappeared back in the shop to work on a bike he was modifying for a customer. Working kept part of his mind occupied while the problem stewed in the other part of his brain. He hoped he would come up with an answer soon.

  His intercom buzzed. He answered it in a short tone. He hadn’t wanted to be interrupted.

  “Sorry to bother you, but there are some guys out here wanting to talk to you.”

  “I’ll be right up.” He sighed and cleaned up as best as he could.

  When he walked through the door from the back, he was greeted by the sight of Reaper, Slick, and some dude he’d never seen before. Great. This was just what he needed.

  “Thought any more about our conversation, Jack?” Reaper asked.

  “Yeah and the answer is still no. I’m not going back to that way of life, and I’m not paying you any dues,” Jack told him.

  Jack noticed employee had disappeared, probably in back, which was good. He didn’t want the kid in any of this either.

  “I’ll find your bitch, and I’ll enjoy every second with her. I’ll tell her you didn’t claim her, so that gave me free rights over her,” Reaper said with a laugh.

  “Dammit, Reaper, she’s mine, okay? Are you satisfied? Now leave her alone.”

  “Not until you agree to come back.”

  “I still don’t get what in the hell you want me back for. You have Slick,” Jack said.

  “Slick ain’t you, Jack. You knew how to get things done and get them done right.”

  “Fuck, Jack. I take damn good care of business,” Slick said in a growl.

  “Shut up, Slick,” Reaper told him.

  “The hell I will. You never said anything about replacing me with him,” Slick yelled.

  “You don’t need to know everything. Besides, I’m planning on the two of you running things together. The operation has gotten too big for just you,” Reaper said.

  “I’m still not coming back.” Jack jammed his hands on his hips and took a step forward.

  “Now get out of my store and stay out. I’ll call the police and press charges if you come back.”

  “Oh, we’ll be back. When I get your woman, we’ll be back,” Reaper said with a chuckle.

  Jack watched them go. As soon as they’d mounted their bikes and pulled out of the parking lot, Jack turned to hit the wall and ran right into his helper.

  “Shit, son. You don’t walk up behind someone like that. You’re liable to get hurt,” Jack told him.

  “I heard everything he said. You know they must be into some illegal shit,” the kid said.

  “Watch your language. And yeah, I know they are.”

  “Then if you want them off your back, talk to the police and do a sting on them. That will get them off you permanent-like.”

  The boy had a point, but he also knew Reaper would control things from prison, and he had police in his pocket, but maybe not around here. Still, he didn’t want to go back to that kind of life even for a few weeks or months.

  “I’ll th
ink about it. Now clean up and let’s shut down early. I’ve got things to do.” He wanted to finish working on the bike alone. He didn’t want any interruptions while he thought things over. Nina’s life could hang in the balance for now.

  Chapter Ten

  It had been three days since she’d come to stay with Charlotte. She needed a fresh change of clothes now. Jack didn’t think it was safe for her to go home yet, but she didn’t have a lot of choice. She couldn’t wear the same clothes over and over to work.

  “Why don’t you let me go and get your clothes for you,” Charlotte offered.

  “Because I don’t trust that they won’t grab you. You’re beautiful. You have long black hair and are shaped like a model,” Nina pointed out.

  “That’s bullshit. You’re prettier than I am. I’m fat and can’t get the weight off.”

  “Like I don’t have that problem. I have thunder thighs and an ass that won’t quit,” Nina groused. “Besides, you don’t know what I need.”

  “I’m a woman. I think I can figure out what you need, Nina,” Charlotte said dryly.

  Nina laughed. “Yeah, probably so, but you wouldn’t know what I wanted.”

  “Fine, you go and get into trouble with Jack. He’ll have a fit.”

  “I figure if I run over there at lunch while he’s at the store, they won’t be watching his house. They’ll be watching him. I can slip in and out in no time and grab my phone charger.”

  “I still think it’s a bad idea. Why don’t you let me come with you? Then I’ll feel better about it,” Charlotte said.

  “I guess that’s okay. You have to stay in the car, though. You can be the lookout and honk the horn if you see anyone on a bike riding around.”

  “Good idea,” Charlotte agreed.

  They made plans to take an early lunch and run by Nina’s house to grab more clothes. She was worried about Jack, though. He hadn’t sounded like his usual self on the phone the night before. He sounded more than stressed, like he was planning something that he wasn’t sure about. He kept saying “I’ve got it under control. It won’t be long now, baby.” Nina’s intuition said he was going to get hurt if he did whatever he planned to do.