by Rebel Hart
He grinned. “Any time, girl.”
I shook my head. “What the hell is going on?”
Dani stood. “Please, Max. Take me with you. I’m worried about you. And if I go back to campus, the only thing I’m going to do is bombard you with text messages until I know you’re okay again. I won’t be able to focus on my studies, so I’ll miss the lectures anyway. Me being on campus doesn’t mean I’m going to be productive. Max, listen to me.”
She took my hands and I already felt myself succumbing to her warmth.
“Take me with you. Let me help. I’m not as weak as you think I am.”
And for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out when the hell she ever thought I considered her weak.
3
Dani
I gazed around the pub, but the atmosphere was completely different. There weren’t any playful waitresses squealing at having their butts smacked. There weren’t men coming up to tables and asking for double dates with me and Max. There wasn’t even food or drinks coming to any of the tables.
It seemed like a completely different place.
All of the men were standing around, huddled off on the other side of the room. And there I sat, in the booth Max and I had occupied for one of our first dates, alone. The only woman in this place. It felt awkward. Like I wasn’t actually supposed to be here. But it seemed as if I was the only one that felt that my presence was off. None of the men clad in leather jackets and grungy jeans paid me any mind. Not like they had that night, anyway.
Then again, Max did look pretty beat up.
And they were all tossing questions his way.
“Who the fuck did this to you?”
“When did this happen?”
“Is this why you called the meeting?”
“They’re going to die. Every last one of them.”
The gruff voices made me shiver. Not with fear. I didn’t feel fearful of my place in this establishment. Nor did I feel as if my safety was compromised. But the intensity and sincerity these guys used to speak of death. And revenge. And killing.
I’d never heard people so completely okay with those topics before.
“We wait until everyone’s here,” Max said.
The entire room fell silent.
One could almost hear a pin drop in the place. I heard my heart thundering in my ears. Max held a command over this place--over these guys--that I didn’t understand. I mean, I knew they were all part of a crew. Their leather jackets were all the same. They had designs on the back in crimson red and gold. They all acted as if they had known one another for years. The best of friends, or even brothers.
I felt like I was missing something, though.
The door to the pub flew open and I craned my neck above the booth to see a massive man with a pot belly shuffling through the door. He let out a bombastic belch before scratching at the back of his head. The man looked like a cross between a pig and a moose. Towering over everyone else, but with a blank stare and an upturned nose on his face.
His expression changed the moment he saw Max.
“I’ve been waiting to get my hands bloodied recently.”
“Grog. Nice to see you again.”
Max walked up to him and the two clapped hands, welcoming one another into the night. Was the man’s name really ‘Grog’? Whether it was a nickname or not, it suited him. His eyes panned over to mine and he harrumphed through his nose. I could’ve sworn I saw a shadow of a grin playing upon his stubbled cheeks. His eyes returned to Max and I slid back down into the booth, wondering if everyone was finally here.
“All right. Time to round up.”
Max’s voice boomed through the pub and the men scattered. Chairs scraped across the floor and tables were moved out of the way. I saw each of the guys grab a chair and slide it up to the front, creating a circle as I was sure they’d done many times before. I watched Max sit down with a grunt. The men gathered around in their own chairs. There had to be twenty of them. Possibly even thirty. However, my eyes landed on the empty chair beside Max.
And I quickly scurried to take it before someone else did.
If my parents knew what I was doing…
I shook my head at the thought. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. And even though the rough-and-tumble men were studying me, I didn’t feel the least bit threatened by them. If anything, I felt safer than I had in a while. If any threat of any kind came down onto us, I knew I was the first person they’d protect.
I don’t know how I knew that. I just… did.
Grog clicked his tongue. “You gonna answer our questions now?”
Max stared at him. “Last night, I was the target of a hit.”
The men started murmuring amongst one another before Max snapped his fingers, silencing them all with the smallest flick of his wrist.
Who are you?
“It wasn’t a concealed hit, either. I was lucky that Bambi here was in close enough proximity to scrape me off the damn pavement.”
One of the guys nodded at me. “That her name?”
I shook my head. “No.”
Max put his hand on my knee. “It’s her nickname, because you won’t call her by her name. Only I do that. You all can call her Bambi.”
I leaned toward Max. “Do they really have to call me that?”
He lowered his voice. “Just because you don’t understand the nickname yet doesn’t mean it doesn’t suit you.”
I had no idea what he could’ve possibly meant by that. But we weren’t in a position to be able to discuss it. I let it slide as my hand draped over his on my knee.
“I was at her campus. Dropping her off. They jumped me, three of them. The fourth was in a black SUV that sped off into the night. They were wearing gold rings that dug into the back of my neck. John got pictures of the bruised insignias on my skin.”
I saw some of the guys clenching their fists while others clenched their jaws.
“Whoever took this hit out made it clear to me that this is only the beginning. An appetizer, they called it.”
Grog spoke up. “So you heard their voices.”
Max nodded. “Yes.”
My voice lowered to a whisper. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
He squeezed my knee, attempting to keep me silent, I guessed. It wouldn't work. He didn’t get to control when I spoke with him and when I didn’t.
“How bad is it?”
I looked over toward the voice and noticed the redhead sitting there. Oh, what was his name? Robert? Roland?
“What ‘it’ are you talking about, Rupert?” Max asked.
Rupert! That’s it.
“The fuck you think I’m talking about? How bad are your damn injuries? What else happened?”
Max sighed. “You don’t need a rundown of my wounds. All you need is--”
Benji cleared his throat. “Actually, a rundown might be nice. You know those kinds of injuries tells us how those guys moved. Pivoted. Where their strengths and weaknesses are. What they target on a person. That’s valuable information.”
I didn’t even realize that slimy little jerk was here until he spoke up. And when he did, my eyes whipped over to him. He stared at me with a cool expression. One that was virtually unreadable. His eyes stayed locked with mine. As if he were somehow attempting to command me to get up and walk out. I held my head up high, though, trying not to show Benji how shaken I still was from our personal encounter.
“I wanted to call this meeting not to give you a rundown of what happened to me, play by play, but to warn you. As a crew. Whoever took this hit out on me not only has balls, but deep pockets. Those were expensive guys. Or stupid. I’m not sure yet. Either way, there’s a chance this person could be targeting other members of this crew. I wanted to bring you guys together and inform you of that.”
Rupert shot up from his chair. “You got any idea who this might be from? Because I’m gunning for a fight.”
Some of the other guys stood up and nodded their heads
with the man as Max sighed.
“I know you’re all upset. Trust me, no one is more upset than I am. I have no theories as to who’s behind this right now. We have many enemies, and just as many friends. Until I’ve got something to start narrowing the playing field, we all keep an eye over our shoulders and on our loved ones.”
Grog nodded. “How do you start finding information on this?”
Rupert sat back down. “Yeah. How do we even go about figuring any of this out if no one saw anything of value?”
Max threaded our fingers together. “We have the insignias on their rings to go on. John thinks he can enhance the images enough to make them out. From there, we should be able to track down who sells the rings, and hopefully go from there. But right now, it’s the only lead we’ve got.”
Benji snickered. “It’s a shit lead.”
Max nodded. “Trust me, I know. Keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground. Keep your noses as clean as you can. And if you get yourself into a situation your gut doesn't like, get out. Immediately. We can’t take any chances right now. Especially with loved ones. And if you hear any whispers, you come straight to me. Is that clear?”
The men nodded. “Yes, boss.”
The unanimous echo. The snapping of his fingers. The way the guys hung on to his every word. My eyes slowly widened as Max nodded his head, dispersing the men to put the tables back in their rightful places. I slowly turned toward him. My eyes danced along the profile of his face.
“Are you their boss, Max?”
A grin ticked his cheek before his eyes flickered my way.
“And if I am?”
My lips parted in shock. He really was. He was their main man. The boss. The big cheese. Their president. I’d been doing a bit of research on crews like this. Their hierarchy. Their strategic thinking. Their traditions. The president wielded all the power. Well, except for the owner of the crew. Did Max own them, too? Or was John the owner?
I didn’t see John at the meeting. Even though he was mentioned. And he was apparently helping.
Maybe this is a family thing and his brother owns the group.
As Max and I sat there, watching the men put the room back together, I wondered what this meant for me. I felt more powerful than ever, sitting next to him, being protected by his hand on my knee. Quickly becoming the object of his affections. Something wild stirred within me. Something that tugged a smile across my lips.
Something I’d never felt before.
And something I wanted to keep on feeling.
“Anything else, boss?”
Benji’s voice rose above the clamor and everyone turned to face him. Benji and Max stared off for a long time. I looked back and forth between the two of them, and what I wouldn’t have given to be a flicker on the inside of Max’s mind.
“Nope. You’re all dismissed.”
And everyone did as Max commanded.
No wonder he’s used to getting what he wants.
The men filed out the door, and some of them even waved to me. I still wasn’t a fan of any of them calling me Bambi. Especially Benji. But I had to figure out what Max meant by his statement.
About me not knowing what the nickname meant.
I know what Benji means when he says it.
Max turned to face me. “Hope that wasn’t too boring for you.”
I snickered. “Are you kidding? It was thrilling. Thank you for bringing me along.”
He laughed. “You really need to get out more, gorgeous.”
“Then take me out anytime you’d like.”
A growl fell softly from his lips before he pulled my chair closer to him with one hand, not stopping until our knees touched. His hand wrapped around the back of my head, pulling me quickly to him. And as our lips crashed together, I drew in a deep breath.
Before melting into his embrace.
I moved from my chair, straddling his lap as I sat close against him. I laced my arms around his neck, tilting my head off to the side just to taste a little more of him. I felt him grunt and tried my best not to lean my full weight against him. It was hard. His arms cloaked my back, pulling me closer despite the pain he was in.
“Max--mm--your nose is--oh--and your ribs--fuck.”
He kissed down my neck. “Shut up and let me dote on you.”
I sighed. “My pleasure.”
His kisses felt delightful. His hands traveled the expanse of my body. As we sat there, alone in the pub, I felt more connected to him than ever before. His lips wrapped around my clothed, puckered nipples. His hands slid up and down my trembling thighs. I felt his raging erection pressing against me, begging to be set free from his jeans.
Then he pulled back.
I panted softly as my forehead fell against his. I felt his nose nuzzle mine softly as his hand cupped the nape of my neck. I gazed into his eyes. Those glorious, powerful, brooding eyes. They ignited with lust for me. I saw them sparkling. Aching for me, the way I ached for him.
“Are we alone?” I whispered.
Max looked around quickly before grinning.
“All alone, gorgeous.”
I smiled. “Good.”
I captured his lips with my own again, refusing to let the moment pass us by. Max made me feel free, in control of my own life, spontaneous and beautiful. Important, and wanted. I didn’t want that feeling to end. I wasn’t ready to relinquish it and go back to campus.
So I rocked against him as my tongue slid over the roof of his mouth.
His hands went straight to my ass cheeks for round two.
4
Max
I didn’t know what the hell this second kiss was all about. But I wasn’t about to stop her. I didn’t give a shit how much pain my body was in. Nothing would ever stop me from enjoying her, holding her as close as I could get her. The pub had been abandoned. There wasn’t a soul in sight. No staff. None of my guys. And certainly no one from the public. The lights were dimmed and the streets were silent, except for the roaring of motorcycles as they drove off into the distance. As my hands slid down to Dani’s ass cheeks, gripping them with sheer delight, her giggle set off a need in me I had to fulfill.
The last motorcycle engine faded into the distance.
Her fingers plunged into my hair as she clung to me. I slipped my hands into the pockets of her jeans and gave her ass a nice little squeeze. Her giggle sent my heart fluttering. Her hold on me sent my cock pulsing. And her gasps--those little sounds of hers--sent the tip of my dick leaking.
I growled. “I need you. Now.”
I fisted her hair and crashed our lips back together. The pain in my body and in my head dulled the second our tongues collided. With every grind of her hips against my own, it faded into nothingness. Her hands slid my leather jacket off. My fingers unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. We pawed at one another, trembling with need. Heated, and wanton, and ready for what came next.
“Take me. I need you, Max.”
I kissed her neck. “Why don’t you be a good girl and stand up for me?”
She giggled as I gripped her legs, standing us both up. She clung to me as I carried her over to the bar, settling her onto its edge. I pulled up a chair and sat, admiring her pussy as it stared me in the face. I was ready to feast on her until she begged me to stop. Until she pushed me away and drenched this bar with a mess we’d have to clean up before we left.
“Lift those hips for me, gorgeous.”
I looped my fingers into the belt loops of her pants and she did as I asked. She planted her hands and lifted that perfect body of hers into the air. Helping me to slide her pants over that perfect ass of hers. I wanted to know what that tasted like as well. Maybe I’d make a damn fine meal out of her tonight.
I reached down and unbuttoned my own pants. Pulling my dick out so it could breathe without pain.
And hopefully, so I could pull her back into my lap and sink myself into her warmth.
I pulled her pants down to her boots and slipped my head between her legs. W
ith her wet panties taunting me with their scent, I nuzzled softly against the cotton fabric. Cotton. Such a harsh and plain fabric. I kissed it softly before my fingers slid them to the side, revealing to me the pussy lips I wanted to suck on as a little treat.
“We need to take you underwear shopping next.”
Then I felt something vibrating against my back.
“What’s that?”
Dani’s voice was breathless as her head peeked up.
“I don’t care. Lay back down.”
Then it vibrated again.
“That’s my phone. Hold on. Sorry, I just--”
I rolled my eyes as I slipped from between her legs. I watched her stuff her hand into the pockets of her jeans at her ankles as she sat there on that bar, looking more tantalizing than ever. Her cheeks were flushed red, her hair wild and free, her legs bared. Waiting for my lips to nibble until I had the lengths of them marked.
“Darn it. It’s Hannah.”
I grinned. “It really is okay to cuss, you know.”
She stuck her tongue out at me before she answered her phone, much to my dismay.
“Hey there. Where am I? I’m, uh, out.”
I shook my head as I leaned back against the seat. Of course she’d be a terrible liar. I mean, even when she was telling the truth, she still sounded like she was lying.
“Yes, Hannah. I know. I just needed a day to--yes, I know I don’t miss classes. I’m sorry you worried. Yeah, I see--Hannah!”
I chuckled as I stood to my feet, turned my back to her, and rearranged my cock before regretfully burying it back behind my pants. I knew what was coming. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I knew this would result in her having to head back to campus. And while I knew it would, I was hoping to snag a piece of dessert for myself before I had to take her back. Especially since Dani had instigated it this time.
I liked that she finally wanted me, and wasn’t afraid of it.
“Yes, yes. I’m coming soon. There’s no need to--Hannah, you can stop it now. Stop it!”
I turned around to find Dani’s eyes wide and her nose flaring. She tucked her phone against her shoulder, up to her ear. She reached for her pants and I walked toward her, gripping her at her waist. I picked her up and set her down onto the floor, then helped her get her damn jeans back up her legs.
