by Chiah Wilder
He leaned back and looked at her firm ass and her wet sex. “Yeah, that’s beautiful.”
Tank slowly slid his finger from her slit to her clit, and Lena gasped and pushed back.
“Tank …” she breathed.
He leaned over and kissed each cheek then grabbed and squeezed up, spreading them apart. Her rosy puckered opening stared at him, and he pressed his finger, covered in her, against it.
“Shit. That feels good,” she moaned.
Harder than stone, Tank knew he couldn’t hold out much longer, so he ran the head of his cock through her engorged folds, then pushed in slowly, loving the way her skin stretched and expanded around him.
“So fuckin’ tight,” he murmured as she moaned low and slow.
Once he was fully inside her, he began to pump his hips with force, slamming into her as his
fingers dug into the soft cheeks of her ass.
His hands reached around to cup her tits, his thumbs moving back and forth against the pointed buds. Her breasts heaved against his hands each time he shoved inside her.
“It feels so damn good,” she groaned as she met his thrusts.
He raised his hand and landed a slap on her butt and pushed forward, pinning her further down into the mattress while pounding her harder; her guttural whimpers drove him on.
“Fuck, baby,” he rasped, keeping up the pace.
“Shit … I’m close,” she said.
Her pussy started to flutter around him, her thighs shook harder than ever, and he saw her hands clench the sheets as she cried out. He bit back a shout of his own as the base of his spine tightened. He gripped her harder—knowing that her delicate flesh would bear his mark—and pushed her butt higher to intensify the angle, then pummeled even deeper inside her.
Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he yanked her backward, wanting to look into her face as the pressure in his balls escalated. Chestnut brown eyes met his as he took all of her in: matted hair, reddened lips, glowing skin. With his gaze still locked on hers, his whole body tensed then he shuddered his release, her walls spasming around him.
“Fuck, Lena,” he growled.
Tank rubbed his hands over her soft ass as he tried to steady his breathing. She quivered beneath his touch and collapsed on the bed. He lowered his head and trailed soft kisses from her lower back up to her neck, then he pulled out of her, disposed of the sheath, and lay down beside her. He wrapped her in his arms, burying his face into her hair. She pressed closer against him as though trying to sink into his chest.
“We’re good together, woman,” he whispered.
“I know,” she said drowsily.
He reached down and pulled a light blanket over them, then stared up at the ceiling. It had been a long time since he’d had any feelings other than lust for a woman. He knew he would never get enough of her. He could already feel his body stirring, reacting to the mere thought of her.
There was no doubt about it—he was addicted to her.
Lena
Tank kicked the bike to life and it lunged forward. With a strangled cry, Lena wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, her breasts crushed against his broad back, her thighs gripping him intimately.
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “You’re going to take it slow, right?”
“No worries. I got your back, baby.”
“What about the rest of me?” she asked, picturing her mangled body on the side of the road.
He laughed. “You’re fuckin’ cute.”
The bike soared ahead, and the wind beat against her. Riding on the back of the Harley while
clinging for dear life to Tank was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. The vibrations of the bike tingled through her, and she shifted in the seat, enjoying the sensations.
Once they were out of town, she began to relax, taking the opportunity to get lost in the moment, to absorb what Tank loved so much about riding.
The ocean air felt warm on her face, and the roiling water below sparkled under the sunlight. They were riding on Pacifica Road, following it along the long stretch of beaches until climbing up and around the cliffs, and then looping back from there. The vistas from the motorcycle were spectacular without any enclosed metal obscuring them. She’d driven several of the coast roads before, but nothing matched the breathtaking beauty of seeing it again from the motorcycle. It was as if she’d stepped into a photograph.
Lena rested her head against Tank’s shoulder and squeezed him tight, giggling like a smitten schoolgirl.
For the past three days, they’d played hooky from their respective businesses, and she was having the time of her life. Since she’d opened the restaurant, she’d only taken a few half-days off, but they were only for errands or dentist appointments—nothing fun or exciting. But with Tank in her life, everything seemed new and exhilarating. For the first time since the plane crash, she felt alive, and he was instrumental in that. Tank was the last man she ever thought she’d be in a relationship with, but he swept her off her feet when she’d least expected it, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
When he’d come over to her condo several days before, she’d been thrilled to see him, but she played it cool. And when she’d scrolled though his phone and saw all the missed calls from Ms. Spoiled Bitch, she felt stupid at her jealousy and insecurity, especially when he’d told her about his ex-wife. The last thing she wanted was to remind him of his ex. Lena laughed. Yeah, there’s no way that’s going to happen.
Since they’d made up, they’d been inseparable, and she loved every second of it. Of course, she’d gone through the “it’s too soon to fall this hard,” and the “you’ve only known him for a short time.” But as Fe had pointed out to her, several of their friends had married men they’d dated for a long time, who were now divorced. The important thing was that the connection she felt to him went deeper than just attraction. When she’d met him for the first time, she felt a strong pull to him, but she’d fought it. Tank kept telling her it was fate, and she was inclined to believe him.
Pulling off the road, Tank brought the bike to a stop. Climbing off, he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.
“How’d you like it?” he asked.
“It was the best! At first, I was terrified, but then I just let go.”
“I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, babe.” He swatted her butt. “I’ll always have your back.”
The heat in his eyes connected with something feral, something wild inside of her. She threw her arms around his neck and fused her mouth on his. The kiss was savage and arrhythmic, passionate. Pushing her down on the sand, he hovered over her, his body pressing against hers, rubbing her in all the right places. When he unbuttoned her shorts, she stiffened.
“What’s wrong, darlin’?”
“We’re in a public place.”
“So?” he murmured against her lips.
“I don’t want anyone seeing us.”
His hand slid under her shirt. “No one’s around.”
“You’d be surprised. Besides, we’re not on a blanket, and there’s nothing but sand under us. The idea of it is romantic and sexy, but the reality is, I’ll probably end up at the doctor’s office for a vaginal infection. I’ll bet anything I already have gum in my hair.”
Laughing, Tank moved to the side. “Gum? Where the hell did that come from?”
“Ask any girl who’s made out on the beach and she’ll tell you, she got a wad of gum in her hair. It’s inevitable.”
He tapped her nose. “You’re kooky.”
Lena sat up and ran her hand through the back of her hair, then stopped when she felt something sticky. “I knew it!” She grabbed his hand. “Feel this.”
Amazement crossed over his face when he put his fingers in her hair. “Fuck, that’s just weird. How do you get it out?”
“Peanut butter or olive oil, but it’s a pain in the ass. Depending on where it’s at, I may just cut it out
. That’s what I did when I was in high school.”
Tank stood up and she took his offered hand.
“Do you want to get something to eat?” she asked, dusting the sand off her shorts.
“Besides you?”
Desire heated his eyes. The look sent a bolt of fire between her legs.
“No, in addition to me,” she whispered.
“We’re gonna be at it for quite a while, so why don’t we just order a pizza later on? I’ll take you out to dinner tomorrow night.” He dipped his head and kissed her hard. “Deal?”
“Best deal I’ve ever had.”
Tank swung his leg over the bike, then she scrambled on. The vibrations of the motor beneath now drove her crazy with lust, and, for her, they couldn’t get back home soon enough. He pulled back onto the room and sped down the road while she tried to concentrate on the scenery instead of the ache between her legs.
Time had flown by. Lena had been so preoccupied with Tank, the two weekend parties she’d catered, and the brisk business at the bistro, she’d hardly thought about the thugs at all. But that had changed, because the pit in her stomach meant that they would come by at closing for their payment. That day, Tank had told her he had some business he had to tend to until late that night, but he’d come by the following day. Lena knew that a lot of the companies in the town used his services, so she figured he’d landed a big order and had to work late.
Lena had sent the tape recording of her last encounter with the bikers to the DA’s office, but so far, she hadn’t heard anything from them. She’d left numerous messages, but each time she tried to pin down which deputy district attorney had the recording, it seemed like she got the runaround. A big part of her was starting to wonder if the DA was in on it. Afterall, he was up for reelection that year, and she wouldn’t be surprised if Philip Fitzgerald was funding the man’s campaign.
There were so many times during the past two weeks where Lena had wanted to confide in Tank, but she didn’t want to ruin their time together. However, she’d made up her mind that if the DA’s office kept dissing her, she’d tell Tank about the bistro and the bikers. They had become close, and she wanted everything out in the open.
Adalyn stood in the doorway of the kitchen. “I’m taking off. I’ll lock the front door.”
“Okay, great.” Lena held up her flour-encrusted hands and laughed. “Right now, I’m a little indisposed.”
“Don’t stay too late,” Adalyn said.
“I won’t. See you tomorrow.”
While Lena was finishing up the quiche crusts for the following day’s menu, she kept glancing at the wall clock. Each time the minute hand moved, her gut tightened. I should’ve told Tank about tonight. But he was working. Maybe he would’ve had some of his friends come over... I don’t know. I hope that asshole Cougar doesn’t start any shit with me. I’ll just hand over the money before they even step foot in the restaurant.
By the time she’d finished cleaning up the kitchen, her nerves were fried. Washing her hands for the umpteenth time, she dried them slowly while keeping her eyes on the clock. Soon I’ll be back home, watching the ocean from the balcony, and thinking of Tank. She smiled at the thought of him.
The bell above the door chimed, making Lena almost jump out of her skin. “Dammit, Adalyn! You forgot to lock the door.”
Rushing to the back office, she opened the desk drawer and took out the envelope. The last thing she wanted was for Cougar to come looking for her.
As she scurried down the hallway toward the main area of the bistro, she heard the asshole call out. “Get your sexy ass out here, sweet cheeks. You don’t fuckin’ want me coming to find you.”
As she got to the doorway, she paused.
“This chick is hot, but she’s got a real attitude. She doesn’t think she should have to pay,” Cougar snorted.
The usual bastard must not be with this jerk tonight. I can’t wait for this bullshit to end.
A loud thumping on a display case startled her.
“I’m losing my patience, and you don’t want that, bitch. Get you fuckin’ ass out here with the money, now.”
Lena sucked in a breath, clenched the envelope, then walked into the bistro.
“I was washing flour off my hands in the back and—”
She gripped the edge of the back counter to steady herself as a wave of dizziness hit her. Her heart raced a million miles a second as she stood there gaping at Tank, with him looking just as shocked to see her. For a split second, she thought he’d stumbled into her bistro for a sandwich to take back to the print store, but that notion faded when her eyes landed on the leather vest he wore—the one with all the patches, just like the other bikers.
A long silence filled the space between them. He held her gaze, and she saw… sympathy? Or maybe embarrassment? It didn’t matter, because the unequivocal fact was that he was a member of that vile biker gang, and he was here to steal hers, and every other tenant’s money.
Cougar’s voice sliced through her shock. “Quit fuckin’ around and gimme the money.”
Looking away from Tank, she threw the envelope across the top of the case.
All the anger she’d been suppressing for weeks bubbled to the surface. “Take it and get the hell out of my restaurant.” With her chin held high, she glowered at Cougar.
The biker snatched the envelope, counted the bills, and slowly put it inside his vest—the one that looked like Tank’s. Tank! I can’t believe he’s mixed up in this.
“I’m gonna figure you’re on the rag, sweet cheeks. But next time you pull that shit, I’m not gonna be so nice.” He nudged Tank with his elbow. “I told you she was feisty.”
Lena’s eyes darted to Tank’s. He pursed his lips, then turned around and headed to the door. The back of his vest read Jagged Outlaws MC Nomad.
Cougar threw her a kiss as he followed Tank out.
“Get the fuck out of my place! You’re the worst kind of people!”
Tank kept walking without looking back, and Cougar laughed. She slammed the door so hard behind them, the glass rattled in its frame.
“I can’t believe this! Dammit!” Covering her mouth with her hands, she let the tears stream down her face.
She cried for what felt like hours. A mixture of raw emotions—sorrow, anger, regret, anguish—washed over her while her thoughts were filled with doubt and confusion. How could the man she’d given her heart to turn out to be a cold-blooded outlaw who participated in extortion? The Tank she knew wasn’t the Tank she’d seen that night.
I can’t believe any of this. Suddenly, everything seemed overwhelming: Tank, the protection money, Fitzgerald, the corrupt sheriff. Why am I even bothering? She pushed her hair behind her shoulders and shook her head. “ I give up. I’m done. I’m getting the hell out of here.”
A sense of relief washed over her once she made the decision. She’d call Felicia and tell her the good news, that she was moving back to San Francisco—her hometown, where her friends loved and supported her.
After securing the doors, she trudged toward her car in the lot behind the eatery. Hearing footsteps behind her as she neared her vehicle, she walked faster, but it did no good. Just as she pulled out the keys to the SUV, Tank was beside her.
“Lena—”
She spun around and threw the keys at his face. “Leave me alone!”
He stepped in front of her. “It’s not what you think.”
“It isn’t? Did I imagine you in my restaurant tonight? That you stood there and let that fucking bastard talk to me that way and take my money? Then you walked out and went to the next vendor.” She placed her hands on his chest and tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge an inch. “I don’t ever want to see you again. Stay away from me!”
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I didn’t know the place was yours.”
Shoving his hands away, she stepped back, out of his reach. “That’s your explanation? It’s not only fucking stupid, it’s irrelevant. The point i
s, you’re taking people’s money, and you’re involved with what happened to Gus.” Gasping, she covered her face with her hands, realizing he was a part of that. “God, poor Gus. You and your dirty gang put him out of business.”
“Lena, please. I know you’re upset—”
Her hands dropped to her sides. “Upset? Upset is when I wasn’t picked for a catering gig, or when I don’t win a cooking contest. No, I’m not upset—I’m furious. I’m seething with so much anger that all I want to do is beat the shit out of you!”
Tank stepped back and put his hands on his hips. “Take a punch or two at me, I won’t stop you. I feel like shit about what happened tonight. I’m sorry I’m the cause of your pain.”
Lena glowered at him, clenching and unclenching her fists.
“You have to trust me, Lena.” He reached out to touch her cheek, but she smacked his hand away.
“I don’t have to do anything but get the hell away from you and this fucked-up town. Trust you? You don’t even know the meaning of the word. You’re a liar. I don’t even believe the thing about Quinn now. You probably had her make those calls, and you didn’t answer them. You’re despicable!”
“I already told you about Quinn. Let’s not bring old shit into this.”
“I don’t believe anything you say, so it’s best if you stop talking.”
“There was a reason for me being involved in tonight’s shakedown. I just can’t tell you.”
She looked up at the starlit sky, wishing she could beam herself up to one of the stars to get far away from everything, especially him.
“If you knew the whole story, you’d feel foolish, just like you did with Quinn.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “I thought I told you to go away.”
“Do you really want me to go?” he asked in a low voice as he pressed her against the car.
“So what’s the whole story?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“That’s convenient. If you care about me, you’ll tell me.”
“If you care about me, you won’t ask,” Tank replied. “Just know that I’m on top of it and taking care of shit—that’s all I can say.”