I jacked off so many times that year, I fully expected to go blind. Needless to say, I debunked the fuck out of that superstition.
Smart and sexy women have had my respect and attraction ever since. Jessica looked the part. Wearing dark-framed glasses, a fitted blazer, slacks, and high heels, with her hair pulled up into a business bun, she’d fit in well in the boardroom or my bedroom. Most broads would lose their shit at the sight of some crazy motherfucker with a gun, but she was cool as a cucumber as she inched toward the door, careful not to draw his attention.
Wasp was a good guy, but he was so full of shit he should have been a politician. I swear, he could sell manure to a cattle rancher. He fed Nate so much bullshit I wanted to gag, but the delusional son-of-a-bitch ate it right up. Right until he realized Jessica was getting away. Then he raised his gun and all hell broke loose.
Getting Jessica out of the line of fire was my priority. I grabbed her hand and took her fine ass to the floor, covering her lithe little body with my own. As for Wasp, he made me proud when he sent two slugs straight through the asshole’s chest, putting an end to this little hostage situation.
When Jessica suggested that we fire off Nate’s gun to keep the police off our backs, I gained a whole new respect for her. A respect that only mounted when she kept her cool after the cops arrived and advised us to head down to the station so they could officially take our statements. Link, our club’s president, his wife, Emily (a ball-busting attorney), and Carly showed up and between bikes, a Jaguar, and a Jeep, we made up one hell of an eclectic caravan. Since everyone was hungry and the police interviews could take hours, we grabbed lunch on the way.
Since I played such a small part in the altercation, Seattle’s finest only questioned me long enough to make sure they couldn’t punch any holes in my story before releasing me. Carly had given her statement and was pacing in front of the police station doors like a caged animal when I emerged.
“What’s up, babe?” I asked as I approached.
She frowned, glancing at the phone in her hand. “Shari is watching Trent, but she has to get to work soon. Jess rode with me in Wasp’s Jeep, and I don’t want to leave her stranded here by herself. Especially not after everything she’s been through today.”
“Shari’s watching Trent?” I asked, surprised. Shari was a club whore who had big fake titties, dressed like a tramp, and swore like a sailor. Trent was far too smart and observant to be left with someone like that. God only knew what sort of shit she’d teach him. Carly needed to get back to her son like yesterday.
She nodded, looking a little green around the gills.
“Go,” I replied. “I’ll take care of your girl. Does she have somewhere to go?” The idea of Jessica heading back to her apartment with the broken door and bloodstain in her bedroom didn’t sit well with me. Especially since I knew Carly and Trent would be staying with Wasp for the foreseeable future.
“She has parents up north, but I don’t know if she’ll want to stay with them. The traffic would make her morning commute hell.”
I nodded. Navigating Seattle traffic on a bike was better than being trapped in a cage, but it sucked for us, too. “I’ll check with Link and see if we can put her up at the station.” Our clubhouse, a renovated old fire station, was only blocks from Carly and Jessica’s apartment, and would no doubt be more convenient.
Carly’s face lit up as she rushed forward to give me a hug. “Thank you! You’re the best, Spade. I’ll text her and let her know you’re handling everything.”
“Get out of here. I like Trent. I don’t want to see him get kicked out of preschool for smokin’ and swearin’,” I said, pushing Carly toward the door.
“Oh, God.” She hit the doors running.
With no idea how long I’d be waiting, I took a seat and pulled out my phone to check in with Link. He and Emily were in with Wasp and Havoc, making sure they didn’t answer anything incriminating. He texted me back, telling me that Jessica was welcome to stay and to let Eagle know which of the empty rooms she’d take.
I fired off a text to Eagle and told him I’d be stashing Jessica in the room across the hall from mine. Then I twiddled my thumbs, waiting for a response and wondering what else I should do. It bugged me that Nate had made such short work of Jessica’s apartment door. In fact, her building’s complete lack of security pissed me off. Using my phone to search the internet, I found her building manager’s name and number and made a call.
Matt Hempernick answered on the fourth ring. He listened as I explained the situation, and then informed me that he was aware of the break in and planned to repair the door.
“You’re not listening,” I ground out. “That door is beyond repair. By the looks of it, you’ve already repaired it plenty. Two women and a child reside in that apartment, and they pay rent with the understanding that your building is safe and secure. That door is a piece of shit, and if you don’t have an up-to-code replacement mounted by tomorrow evening, I’m going to shove every splinter of the broken one up your ass. You feel me?”
“You’re not on the lease. I don’t know who you think you are, and why you believe this is any of your business,” Matt replied. He clearly didn’t value his life.
“I’m a concerned citizen who won’t sit idly by and let a cheap-ass slumlord take advantage of two women and a child. I’m also an Army veteran and a member of the Dead Presidents Motorcycle Club. That’s who the fuck I am, and I’m making this my business. Either mount a new fucking door, or I’ll use the old one to mount you. Can you understand that, Matt?”
“I’ll talk to the owner and see what he’s willing to do.”
“You do that.” I said before ending the call.
When I looked up, half of the cops in the room were watching me. I hoped Matt chose to do the right thing, because if I ended up killing that motherfucker, the word ‘premediated’ was sure to come up.
Thankfully, Jessica emerged shortly after my heated phone call, flashing me a sweet smile that unwound the tension in my shoulders as she approached. “Carly messaged me and said you’d be giving me a ride? If it’s not too much trouble, that is. I don’t want to be a bother. You guys have already done so much to help me. Seriously, I don’t know what I would have done had you not shown up today, Spade.”
I loved the way her pretty pink lips wrapped around my name like it was a lollipop, making me fantasize about shoving my cock in her mouth. “It was our pleasure, Jess. And I can’t think of a damn thing I’d rather do more than give a beautiful woman a ride.”
Yeah, that line was packed with innuendo, but I meant it and wasn’t the least bit sorry.
“Thanks. My parents live in Renton. I should probably go there, but it’s quite the drive. Especially in afterwork traffic. You know what? I can call for an Uber. You don’t need to mess around with this nonsense.”
There were too many eyes and ears on us, and I needed to say shit to her no cops should overhear, so I ushered her out and down the steps of the cop shop to stand in front of my bike. “We take care of our own, Jess. You helped us today, and you’re Carly’s friend, which makes you one of us. We have a room for you at the fire station. It’s not much, but it’s only a few blocks from your apartment and you better believe that nobody will bust down your damn door. You’ll be safe with us. Link says you can stay as long as you want.”
She seemed to consider my words for a moment. “Thank you.”
I shrugged off her appreciation. “It’s nothing. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe.” Actually, I probably wouldn’t sleep at all, knowing she was across the hall from me. Hopefully I could talk her into my bed and we could both get some shuteye. After we got in a good work out.
As she stared at me, her brow furrowed and her eyes flooded with questions.
“What are you looking at me like that for?” I asked.
“I’ve heard about the Dead Presidents on the news and from Carly, but I never believed a motorcycle club would be so… kind. I’m embarrass
ed to admit that I’m surprised.”
I let out a chuckle. “Most people in life will surprise you if you give them the chance. Sometimes it’s even for the better.”
She smiled. “Touché”
“Come on. I’ll take you to the station,” I said, drifting over to my bike.
Her gaze shifted from me to the Softail Harley-Davidson Breakout beside me, and her eyes widened. “On that?” She made my sled sound like a poisonous snake rather than the sleek beauty it was.
“Yeah, babe. That’s generally how I get from point A to point B.”
She gave me stink eye like I was screwing with her. “I’ve never been on a motorcycle before. It’s not a very safe mode of transportation.”
Her cautious nature was fucking adorable. “Nothing in this life is safe, but riding’s just like anything else. You hold on tight, learn to lean with the curves, and you’ll be all right.”
“Deep.” She grinned. “How much is that Spade wisdom going to cost me?”
I couldn’t help but return her smile as I mentally added ‘sassy’ to the growing list of qualities that made up Jessica. “It’s your lucky day. Wisdom’s on the house. Carly often calls you a life-saving angel, but she didn’t say shit about your quick wit and sharp tongue. I think you’ll be just fine staying in a clubhouse full of bikers. As for your preferred mode of transportation to get there… you’ve been through enough shit today and if you’re not up for riding on the back of my bike, I can order you an Uber.”
She considered me a moment longer before shaking her head. “I really am too safe, aren’t I?”
She was clearly working through some shit, so I arched an eyebrow and waited for her to continue.
“Dang it, Chad was right.” She dropped her shoulders and let out a deep breath. “I’m game. I’d love to accept a ride and a place to stay from a biker I just met. My parents will be so proud of these hasty decisions. But, can we stop by my apartment on the way so I can grab a few things and maybe take my car in case I need to make a quick escape?”
I’d only known the woman for a handful of hours, and she’d impressed the hell out of me. Her kick-ass sense of humor had me chuckling to myself as I tugged the spare helmet out of my saddle bag and gestured her forward. “Come here. We need to protect that beautiful brain of yours.”
Chewing on her lip, she stepped forward. Once she was close enough, I positioned the helmet on her head and tightened the strap. Her big brown eyes watched me as I took my time, making sure the helmet fit correctly. Then I swung my leg over the saddle and waited. She awkwardly climbed on behind me and settled in, leaving a few inches between us as she rested her hands on my hips. Smiling to myself, I grabbed her wrists and gently tugged her against me, settling her palms on my abs.
She sucked in a breath, letting me know she was just as affected by the contact as I was. Good, because her proximity was fucking with my entire body. Her breasts pressed against my back, making my jeans hella uncomfortable. Her soft skin felt so damn good under my calloused fingers that I couldn’t stop myself from rubbing little circles on the backs of her hands.
“Keep a tight grip so you can move with me, Jess. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded against my back. “I know you won’t. You protected me today.”
I don’t know if she meant for me to hear that last part, but I did, and it felt damn good. Yes, I had protected her, and I would do it again. The world needed more people like Jessica in it. People who took in a single mom and helped her care for her child. Carly had told me all about Jessica’s kindness and generosity, and I couldn’t wait to explore the other facets of her personality.
Wanting to extend the experience, I took a few wrong turns on the way to her apartment, hoping she enjoyed the ride. I had nothing to worry about. By the time I lowered my kickstand and helped her off my bike, she was grinning ear to ear.
“That was fantastic,” she gushed, her cheeks rosy and her eyes bright with excitement.
She tugged at the helmet strap and I intervened, opening the clasp for her. The tight bun her hair had been confined in was now a full-on mess with loose brown wisps framing her face. Between the messy hair, the glasses, and the rumpled business attire, she looked like a librarian who’d been roughly fucked against a bookshelf. She looked perfect.
“That’s nothing. You should ride with me on the freeway sometime.”
Her grin only widened. “I’d like that.”
Already thinking about all the places I could take her, and drive her, I followed Jessica up to her apartment, watching her pause in front of the officer guarding her door.
“We can come back later,” she said, turning around.
I put my arm out to stop her. “It’s been more than six hours.” Turning my attention to the cop, I asked, “Jessica lives here. Can she go in and get clothes and shit to get her through a few days?”
The officer held up a finger and spoke into his radio before answering me. “They’re wrapping things up now.”
We waited, then after Seattle’s finest left, I followed Jessica down the hall and watched as she paused at the door to her bedroom.
“They took the body,” I assured her. “They wouldn’t have left it in there.”
She nodded. Her hand trembled slightly when she reached for the doorknob. Moving closer, I settled my hand on the small of her back for support. “You don’t have to go in there, Jess. If you tell me what you need, I can do it for you.”
Her shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath. “No. I need to do this. I need to see…” Her words trailed off as she turned the knob and shoved open the door. The rust-colored stain on the carpet drew her attention.
“He was crazy,” she whispered, as if afraid to break the silence of the room. “I thought he was going to kill me.” She didn’t sound scared, or even concerned. More like resolved. She stepped into the room and drew closer to the stain. A strangled noise escaped from her throat and she immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. Eyes wide, she looked at me.
“You okay?” I asked, wondering if she was cracking up. I’d spent enough time in the Army to know some people couldn’t handle death. I didn’t know what I’d do if Jessica lost her shit. Probably pick her ass up and get her the hell out of there.
But she wasn’t crying. It took me a moment to realize her shoulders were shaking from laughter. She fought for control of herself, and then dropped the hand that had been covering her mouth.
“I know it shouldn’t be funny, but it is,” she said. “Not funny as in silly, but funny as in ironic. Today is nothing but a minefield of irony, and I’m straight-dancing in it. I came home from lunch today because I was upset that I got passed over for a promotion at work. Again. According to Chad, the jerk who got the promotion, I’m ‘too safe’ and ‘don’t take enough chances.’ But you know what? I bet Chad, with his ‘innovative ideas’ and ‘ground-breaking ads’ has never had a gun jammed in his ribs. ‘Too safe’.” She snorted. “Nobody appreciates thorough research and extensive market analysis anymore. They just want some reckless troublemaker to march in and do something new and exciting. Well, guess what, Chad? I could have died today. Doesn’t get any newer and more exciting than that, does it?”
Having no idea what to make of her rant, I shrugged. “Sure as hell doesn’t.”
Her gaze snapped to me, as if she was surprised to see me still standing there. “You don’t think I’m boring, do you?”
No, she was intriguing as fuck. “That’s definitely not a word I’d use to describe you. Chad must be one dumbass motherfucker.”
She grinned. “Yes. That’s perfect. Chad is one dumbass motherfucker.” Her voice lowered around the expletives like she was afraid of getting caught muttering a curse. Jessica wasn’t boring. She was a good girl. Big difference.
“You’re not boring, Jess. You’re smart and kind and funny and sexy as fuck.” And I hated that some bastard had made her feel less than.
She was staring at me l
ike she couldn’t believe the shit I was saying. Like I’d lie to her.
Frustrated, I glanced around her room, looking for more clues about her personality. Novels were stacked on the nightstand beside her bed. Knowing I could learn a lot about her by the books she read, I wandered over and started thumbing through them, surprised to find half-naked men splayed across most of the covers.
“What are you doing?” she asked, sounding scandalized.
“Fifty Shades of Grey?” I asked, holding up the book. “You read this?”
Her face turned bright red. “It was… educational.”
I bet. I hadn’t read the book, but hearing the club whores talk about it made me curious enough to catch the movie. Not in the theater like some lonely pervert, but in my room, alone, after it had come out for rent. I had to see what the fuss was about. Turns out chicks are into being tied up and told what to do.
I had no trouble getting behind that shit.
“Any time you want an education, babe, all you have to do is ask.”
She blinked. More color flooded her cheeks and her eyes dilated enough to tell me she was considering the idea.
I always made it a point to play the cards I’d been dealt, but I recognized a good hand when I saw one. If this kind, sexy, nerdy girl turned out to be a closet freak, she’d be wearing my property patch by Christmas.
CHAPTER THREE
Jessica
I COULDN’T BELIEVE Spade was hitting on me. I mean, sure, men hit on me. Occasionally. But they usually wore suits and enjoyed pastimes no more rigorous than a challenging game of chess. Spade was a biker with tattoos and pecks I could bounce a quarter off of. I’m sure my last boyfriend had been taking his mom’s estrogen. Seriously, we’d watched a romantic comedy together, and he cried at the mushy part. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with metrosexual men. For someone else.
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