Viper (Hell's Handlers MC Book 9)

by Lilly Atlas

  Staring at a chunk of paint peeling from the door, Cassie nodded. “Viper, that’s the third major tantrum he’s thrown in as many days.” Since they’d entered Tennessee, he’d been growing more volatile by the day. “It’s like he thought they were gonna roll out some red carpet for him when he arrived here, and he can’t deal with the fact that he’s not being treated like a king.”

  Yesterday’s blowup had come when the Hell’s Handlers president refused a one on one meeting with Sarge. Apparently, he had some grand idea to pitch to the man named Cutter, but the prez wouldn’t have it. Sarge lost his shit then too, screaming and yelling until Viper ushered them all from the clubhouse and rented this motel room.

  Last thing they needed was for the club to kick them out and refuse to let the men even prospect.

  Viper sighed and it caused Cassie to sink her teeth into her lower lip rather than continue talking. Criticizing his brother was a risk. Would he blindly side with Sarge? Hell, he’d known her no more than a week and Sarge was a close friend and club brother. Despite how he left the Devil’s Tribe, the bond of bikers was tight, and Viper might not take well to her voicing concerns. Must be an incredible feeling to have such loyalty at one’s back. Cassie couldn’t think of a single person from the life she just left that would jump to her defense no matter what.

  But once again, he surprised her when he rumbled, “Yeah. I’m tracking that, Cas. Hoping he just needs time to adjust to all the changes.” Resting his chin on her head, he rubbed circles on her back.

  Immediately, the tension seeped from her body and she melted against him. How was this man able to turn her to mush with one innocent touch? His words made sense too. She’d do well to remember Sarge’s life had been flipped upside down as much as her and Viper’s. The upheaval didn’t give him a free pass to be an asshole, but she could excuse a few freakouts. As long as they didn’t become the norm.

  “Everything is gonna be all right. I don’t want you to worry about him or anything besides finding us a place to rent.”

  “What about a job?” she asked. “I should probably be out looking for a job.” Did he hear the huskiness in her voice as his caress wound her up?

  His hands slipped under the hem of her T-shirt. Strong fingers danced up and down her spine erecting a trail of goose bumps. God, his hands felt so good…

  “What did you go to school for?”

  Mmmm, nothing compared to him touching her.

  “Cassie?”

  “Huh?” She blinked against his chest. “Sorry, what?”

  He chuckled. “I asked what you went to school for.”

  “Oh. Political Science.” She shrugged. “Basically, a worthless degree. I, uh…” Her face heated. “There was a lot of pressure from my father to go that route then get my MBA as he did. To be honest, I still don’t know what I’d like to do long term, so I figured Political Science was as good an undergrad degree as anything. And it bought me four years of my father’s happiness while I tried to find my own path. So, I can just get a job waiting tables or something. I’m not qualified for much.” God, how embarrassing to admit the truth of that. Four years of college and not only did she not know what she’d like to do, she had no job experience to help her get a foot in the door anywhere.

  “First off, I don’t believe that shit for a minute. I guarantee you’re qualified for a hundred jobs. But, I don’t want you stressing about it. We’ll get there. No rush for you to find a job. I’ll support us while you get used to a new life.” His own voice had dropped and thickened.

  Lust?

  “Mmm,” she said as her eyes grew heavy. She should protest. Being a kept woman wasn’t what she wanted out of him. Plus, she had her trust fund from her grandparents. Neither of them had to stress about money for the foreseeable future. But her brain was slowly turning to jelly in her skull.

  A hard projection nudged her stomach and she nearly moaned. Shit, he was as turned on as she was. Following the conversation would be impossible in seconds.

  Priorities, Cassandra.

  Right. Adulting first. Fun later. “I wish you would let me use the money in my trust, Viper. It would make things so much easier for us. For you.” She’d informed him of it two days prior and he’d shut her down cold.

  His hands left her skin and she almost cried at the loss, but they were back seconds later, only this time framing her face. He tilted her head back so she had no choice but to stare into his serious blue orbs. “That’s your money, Cassie. Now there may come a time when we need it, but we’re not there yet. And I don’t want you accessing any accounts until we are certain we can pull it off without being tracked. Okay?”

  God, even the feel of his hands on her face while he spoke to her about freaking bank accounts got her wet.

  Well…wetter.

  “Yeah, I hear you. Just promise me you won’t do that macho guy shit where you refuse to let me help if we get to the point where we need it.”

  He smiled this crooked grin she’d noticed happened whenever he was truly amused. “Promise. No macho shit.” In a move that had her yelping in surprise, he grabbed her ass and hoisted her up onto the dresser next to the television. His boots kept his feet from getting cut by the glass. “Well, maybe some macho shit,” he said with a wink, making her laugh. “Now can we stop talking so I can get my dick inside you? It’s been about seven hours since I got to hear you beg me to fuck you harder and deeper.” As he spoke, he lowered his mouth until his lips brushed hers with every word. “I’m going through fucking withdrawal.”

  “Please,” she whispered. She kept her eyes wide open, drinking in the sight of the swirling lust in his. It mesmerized her to the point she couldn’t let them flutter closed even when he attacked her mouth.

  And that’s what he did. Without any warning, he grabbed the back of her head and feasted on her mouth as though he knew he wouldn’t be breathing much longer, and this would be his last taste of passion. The lustful assault had her sucking in a surprised breath which only left him room to dive his tongue into her mouth.

  Just as his drugging flavor and the sensual feel of his tongue dueling with hers hit her senses, he ripped his mouth away while using his grip on her hair to pull her head back. The slight sting had her moaning.

  He moved onto her throat, kissing a wet trail down to her collar bone. At the same time, he used his free hand to grab a handful of her ass. And grab he did. His fingers dug into her flesh, but instead of hurting, heat flashed through her entire body. The moment he yanked her against him and ground his erection against her, Cassie realized she was merely standing there like some kind of doll, absorbing everything he did without participating.

  Teeth grazed over her pulse point making her jolt and her pussy flood. The sharp nip spurned her into action. With a whimper, she wound one arm around Viper’s upper back. He continued to suck and bite at her neck, each scrape of his teeth driving her need higher.

  “Viper,” she moaned, as she worked her free hand down the front of his loose sweatpants. Lucky for her, he’d lost the underwear when he’d changed out of his jeans. She closed her hand around his thick length, and as every other time, his heat seared her palm. The first time she’d touched him, she’d marveled at the silky-smooth texture of the skin.

  His hiss of pleasure and the way his hands reflexively tightened on her had her smiling a triumphant grin. Making him lose his mind in pleasure was quickly becoming her favorite pastime.

  Suddenly, kisses and groping wasn’t enough. Cassie wanted to feel his satin skin in an entirely different manner. Without clueing him in to her intentions, she dropped to her knees, dragging his sweatpants down as she went.

  Thankfully, his reflexes were whip fast, and he released his grip on her hair the moment she moved down.

  She curled a hand around him once again before leaning forward to inhale his scent.

  So masculine.

  So erotic.

  “Do you have any idea how sexy you look down there with my cock in y
our hand, staring at it like you can’t wait to devour it?”

  With a little hum of agreement, Cassie cast her gaze up to find him watching her with the most charged look she’d ever seen on a man. “I can’t wait,” she said, with much more bravado than she felt.

  They hadn’t gotten around to her going down on him yet as most of their intimate time had been quick and rushed moments when Sarge was otherwise occupied. She’d done this a total of one time in her life, and it hadn’t exactly been a stellar example of blow job skills. She’d been so nervous, she’d put a little too much teeth into the mix. The guy, an early college boyfriend, had jolted, effectively ramming himself down her throat and making her gag so bad, she nearly threw up.

  Yet somehow, she knew this experience would be entirely different. Mostly because she wanted to please Viper more than she cared about her own pleasure. She craved the sounds he made right before he came. Loved the way he bared his teeth like a wild animal. Couldn’t wait to taste him on her tongue and hear him shout her name as he unloaded in her mouth.

  The man was turning her into a sex fiend.

  “You wanna suck me, baby? You want me to fill that pretty mouth with my cum?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, lowering her gaze to stare at the weeping tip of his cock. “I’m dying for it.”

  “Then take it. I’m yours to do with as you please.”

  Excitement flared in her. She was so wet, her pants felt soaked through and her clit ached until she nearly started humping his leg for relief. Instead, she focused on the task in front of her.

  Driving Viper crazy.

  Cassie leaned in again, this time swiping her tongue over the tip of his dick, where a bead of fluid beckoned. The salty flavor surprised her, but wasn’t unpleasant. It only made her want him more, if that was possible.

  “Fuck,” he whispered. “I’m not gonna fucking survive this. One fucking lick and I’m ready to bust all over you.”

  God, why was that so hot? Those words, the absolute need and desire behind them, chased away any lingering bit of nerves.

  She circled her thumb and forefinger around the base of his cock, opened her mouth wide, and took as much of him in as she could. Once certain she wouldn’t gag, she hollowed out her cheeks and sucked.

  “Jesus.” Viper grabbed her head but didn’t force her in any direction. He just held on as though he needed her to keep grounded. Maintaining the suction, she drew back until he nearly fell from her lips, and right before he did, she took him back in again.

  He let out a tortured groan that only made her want more.

  After a few passes, she’d worked up a rhythm that had him grunting and swearing every few seconds. A few times, she got a bit overzealous and choked, but Viper pulled back each time until she found herself grabbing his hips to hold him in place.

  “Shit, Cas, you’re damn good at this,” he said, breathless, as she rubbed her tongue just beneath his tip. “Not gonna last.” He sounded like he was battling a powerful enemy and about to be conquered.

  Cassie was so turned on, one touch would blast her off like a rocket. And, God, how she needed to come. Releasing him, she began to maneuver her hand down her own pants as she continued to work over Viper’s dick.

  As she was mere centimeters away from her clit, Viper let out a loud rumble. “Fuck no,” he said on a growl. “That’s my pussy.”

  The next thing she knew, his dick was gone from her mouth and she was being yanked up to a stand from under her arms. Viper didn’t give her so much as a second to process before he was spinning her around, pushing her down toward the dresser, and practically ripping her pants off her.

  She landed on the top of the dresser, forearms propping her up. “Viper, wh—oh, my God.” He powered into her with one fierce thrust and the second he bottomed out…she came.

  She freakin’ came with one punch of his hips.

  “Viper!” she shouted as her body went haywire.

  He didn’t even give her a chance to weather the storm. No life preserver to rescue her from the surge.

  “Did you just fucking come?” he asked then before she had a chance to find the air to answer he spoke again. “That pretty pussy is squeezing me like a goddamned fist. You sure did come. Soon as you felt my cock. Fuck that’s hot. Better get ready to give me another one, baby, because I ain’t nowhere near finished with you.”

  Then he fucked her in a way he hadn’t yet. Raw. Brutal. Intense.

  One hand on her hip, the other on her shoulder, he hammered into her with so much force, she couldn’t do anything but brace her arms and try to keep herself from crashing headfirst into the mirror.

  The mirror…

  Cassie lifted her gaze and nearly came again just at the sight of the man giving it to her. His jaw was clenched so tight, his cheek twitched. Sweat plastered a lock of hair to his forehead. His eyes had gone nearly black with desire. The muscles in his arms bulged with effort and a vein pulsed in his neck. Gone was the man she’d been growing closer to by the day and in his place, the raw, primal, outlaw biker staking his claim. Her breath hitched as a flash of fear ripped through her before transforming into white-hot lust. Viper would never hurt her. The fierce animalist part of him wasn’t there to cause harm; it was hell bent on one outcome.

  Pleasure. Gut wrenching, life-altering pleasure.

  Both his and hers.

  This was the kind of connection that burrowed so deep, it shattered the physical line and hurtled into emotional, mental…hell, it fused their souls.

  Cassie’s legs shook and her stomach tightened to the point of nearly unbearable before her entire being burst in a dazzling explosion of ecstasy. She shouted as wave after wave of electricity seemed to erupt from her center and shoot to the outside world. Somehow, despite trembling, crying out, and nearly breaking apart, she managed to keep her gaze connected with Viper’s.

  As she succumbed to her release, he cursed and fucked her even harder for only a few more thrusts before his face contorted and an orgasm claimed him as well. His fingers bit into her skin so hard, she knew she’d wear his mark for days.

  Long minutes passed before either of them floated down from the high enough to speak. Once again, they connected through the mirror.

  What was she supposed to say now? She wanted to weep with the strength of emotions passing through her. A powerful word tickled the tip of her tongue, but she scraped it across her teeth to keep from blurting out her feelings. Had anyone else told her they’d fallen completely in love with a man in under ten days, she’d have thought them nuts. Until this experience, she’d fully believed couples need time, a lot of time to form love.

  Now she knew better and she’d swear on a thousand bibles love was real and she felt it for Viper.

  Yet she hesitated to voice it out loud. After the events of the past week and a half, the devastation of not having the words returned would crush her. Plus, could she trust her feelings at this point? Maybe she’d clung to him because he’d saved her. Maybe she felt she owed him something. Maybe she’d mistaken hero-worship, gratitude, and a healthy dose of lust for love. Now wasn’t the time for life-altering declarations of love. Not while every other part of her life was in transition.

  “Cassie,” Viper said, voice wavering and full of what she’d guess was uncertainty. “Shit, that was…uh…”

  Hope flared in her that maybe he was struggling with the same overwhelming emotions. Maybe he felt the same craziness she did. Or maybe he pitied her. The poor virgin girl kidnapped by his father. Most likely, he was strictly referencing the spectacular sex and out-of-this-world orgasm.

  “I know,” she whispered. Then she forced herself to smirk and wink. “I’m pretty sure the top layer of paint came off the dresser and permanently stained my skin.”

  “Oh, shit,” Viper said with a chuckle as he stepped back. The relief she felt at no longer having the ridge of the dresser digging into her hips warred with her loss when his spent cock slipped from her body.

  Be
fore she had a chance to see if her legs would hold her, Viper scooped her up and deposited her on the bed. He curled himself around her, those large muscles making her feel safe in a way she’d come to depend on in the past few days.

  Now that the monster orgasm had faded, she wanted nothing more than to sleep the day away, but when Viper whispered, “We’ve got to get a place to ourselves so we can do this whenever we want,” a renewed flare of arousal pulsed.

  She stomped on the small voice in her head telling her it was too soon.

  You barely know him.

  He pities the poor little rich girl with no family, friends, or job prospects.

  His feelings aren’t real.

  He feels responsible for you because he rescued you.

  You’re mistaking your feelings for gratitude.

  It will never last.

  As she fought to keep the negative worries at bay, she allowed the feelings of post-orgasmic bliss to guide her words. “That sounds perfect.”

  “Mm-hmm,” came the sleepy reply. “All day, every day. Fucking perfect.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  1982 -TENNESSEE

  Exactly one month to the day they’d left Washington, Viper found himself tasked with his first shittastic prospect chore.

  He had to wash every single bike in the lot of the clubhouse while the patched brothers attended church. And since church was mandatory, everyone was in house, and he had twenty-seven bikes to wash.

  Granted, he did have help. Sarge, who was running late, was the reason for this little punishment task, and needed to get his ass there to do his share. It’d been no surprise to anyone when Sarge flipped his shit over Cutter wanting to keep specific details of their next gun shipment secret from prospect ears.

  Who the hell knew why this surprised Sarge? After an entire year spent prospecting with the Tribe, he knew how shit worked. Sarge just couldn’t swallow the bitter pill of prospecting a second time around. So, he’d mouthed off within earshot of Cutter—again—and earned them this lovely job.

  And now, he was late.