by Nicole James
Now I regret not drinking the second bottle of water he left on the nightstand. I’ll have to admit, the room was spinning and I’m surprised I was able to hang onto him all the way home on the back of the bike. I see my phone on the nightstand, and check the time. Good Lord, it’s already almost 4 p.m. I can’t believe I slept the whole day away.
My wedding ring lies next to it, and I slip it back on. It’s funny how accustomed to wearing it I’ve already become. I felt weird at the clubhouse last night without it.
My stomach rumbles and I dash for the bathroom, barely making it before I heave into the toilet. When I’m through, I turn on the tap and cup a handful of water, rinsing my mouth. I feel better, and splash some water on my face, then stagger back to the bedroom. I close all the drapes, and fall back on the bed. I lie there, quietly dying for another few minutes.
There’s a tap on the door, and it opens.
Saint stands there, silhouetted like some dark angel. From my point of view, he could be an angel or a devil. He comes forward, and that’s when I notice the glass in his hand. It contains a cloudy white liquid.
He moves to the bed. “Drink this.”
“What is it?” I sit up and take the glass, sniffing it. It smells like some kind fizzy bromide.
“It’ll settle your stomach.” It tastes like shit but he makes me drink it anyway. I take a few sips and stop. It’s just too awful. “I promised I’d take care of you, remember. That’s what I’m doin’. Now drink.”
I steel myself and chug down the rest, handing it back to him.
“Sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have let you drink.”
“I’m not a child.”
“You’re not old enough to drink either. I shouldn’t have let you.”
“You’re not the boss of me.”
“Yeah, I am.” The corner of his mouth pulls up and he reaches for my hand, holding up the one with the ring. “We can argue the semantics of all the things I am to you when you feel better.”
I roll my eyes.
The sound of a rumbling motorcycle engine fills the drive. I can hear its growls echo through the screen all the way to the bedroom. I look at Saint. “You expecting someone?”
“Nope. Stay out of sight.” Saint goes out the door, closing it behind him.
I drag myself from the bed, and peer out the window. I can see the back yard and spot a guy climbing off a bike. At the same time, I hear the screen door creak and see Saint walk out to greet the man. Somewhere along the line, he’s slipped his cut on. I stay out of sight, and try to listen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Saint—
“Prospect.” Sly lifts a chin to me as he climbs from his bike. “Nice day for a ride. Perfect weather; sunny and not too hot.”
I eye the blue sky. “Yup.”
He grins. “You’re a man of few words, Saint.”
“Guess so. Something up?”
“You gonna offer me a beer?”
“Sure. Come on in.”
“Where’s your sister?”
“Sleepin’ off a hangover. I shouldn’t have let her drink. Hell, I shouldn’t have even brought her up there last night. Clubhouse is no place for her.”
“Probably not. She’s caught Bear’s attention, and that’s probably not a good thing for you.”
He follows me inside and drops to a chair at the kitchen table, relaxing back. I pull open the fridge and snag two bottles of beer, passing him one.
He twists off the top and snaps it between his fingers toward the trashcan, making a perfect shot.
“I’ve still got it.” He smiles at me and tips his bottle back, draining half of it.
I take the chair across from him, and he digs in his vest pocket pulling out a baggie of weed and rolling papers, tossing it to me. “Roll us one, kid. I gotta take a piss.”
With that he stands and strolls through the house toward the bathroom. I get to work, rolling a joint. I’m twisting it off a few minutes later, when he comes back around the corner with Kami’s purse in his hands. He drops it on the table with a thud. It’s one of those soft structured bags where the top is open, exposing our gaze to the contents. He yanks a folded piece of paper out and my eyes slide closed because I already know what it is.
Shit.
“You want to explain this?”
I want to tell him to mind his own business, but hell, I can’t, so I try to joke it off. “Kind of dangerous digging through a woman’s purse. They get real pissy about that sort of shit.”
“Cut the crap.” Apparently, Sly’s not in the mood for jokes. He unfolds the paper and drops it on the table. Our marriage certificate stares back at me. What the fuck am I supposed to say?
“That girl ain’t your sister—she’s your wife.”
I nod.
“You want to tell me why you lied to me about her?” He plants his fists on the table, and growls in my face. “You want to explain to your sponsor why you fucking lied to his face?”
I’ve got no excuses, and I’m sure he’s not lookin’ to hear any.
A second later he’s got both fists in my shirt, dragging me from my chair and slamming me back against the wall. I bounce off it and he decks me with a right hook to my jaw. I fucking know better than to take a swing back, so I stand there and take it. He gives me another and blood flies from my split lip. He’s got power behind his fist, backed up by a whole lot of pissed off biker.
With his third punch, I hit the floor. He stands over me, jabbing his finger in my face. “You’re lucky I don’t yank that cut off your back, prospect.”
I lay there, staring up at him, keeping my mouth shut.
“You ever lie to me again, you’re done. We clear?”
“We’re clear.”
“Think long and hard about your decision to prospect, kid. I don’t want to see your fucking face around the clubhouse until I fucking call you.”
“Yes, sir.”
He storms out the door, and I climb to my feet. His Harley roars out of the driveway, and I hear the bedroom door fling against the wall. Kami dashes in, takes one look at my battered face and rushes to me.
“Are you okay? Oh, my God, you’re bleeding.” Her cool hand presses to my cheek, but I bat it away out of bruised ego more than anything.
I’m fine.” I drop into a chair and hold my cold beer bottle against my split lip.
She moves to the sink and wets one of the pretty dishtowels she bought, then returns to press it to my lip and cheek. “You’re swelling. You need some ice.”
“I need a shot. Get me that bottle of Jack down from the cabinet.”
She does as I ask, and I unscrew the cap and chug some down. It stings my lip and I wince.
Kami grabs some ice and rolls it in the towel and touches it to my cheekbone. I pull back, but she glares at me.
“Quit. It’s my turn to take care of you, now behave.”
I submit to her ministrations, glaring back at her, but secretly loving her attention. “You hear any of that?”
“Yes. What was he doing snooping in my purse?”
I shrug. “No clue. You left it on the bathroom vanity last night. Guess he saw the license sticking out.”
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”
“I think he suspected something. I think that may have been the reason he showed up here today. Last night he asked me if there was something I wasn’t telling him. Maybe he already figured it out.”
“So being in this MC is a big deal to you?”
“Yeah.” I take the cloth from her and set it on the table.
She drops to her heels, squatting at my feet, her hands on my thighs. “That patch—I’m going to be the reason you lose it, aren’t I?”
Her eyes get glassy.
I stroke her cheek with my thumb, hating to see her upset. “Don’t worry about it.”
“How can I not? After everything you’ve done for me, it’s not fair you lose what you want most.”
“Come here.” I pull h
er onto my lap, and brush my thumb over the tear track on her cheek. “What happens to me has nothing to do with anything you did. I made my choices, and I don’t regret them.” I press my forehead to hers. She lifts her face and presses her lips above my brow.
I close my eyes and tighten my arms around her. Her supple, young body feels like heaven in my arms, and I want nothing more than to carry her to the bed and sink into her. I can’t. I won’t. But I can’t resist gliding my palm over the bare skin of her arm, hooking my fingers in the strap of her tank and bra, and dragging them down until her breast pops into view.
I devour it with my eyes, and cup its weight. Her skin is unbelievably soft and smooth. Her nipple stands erect, and she arches her back, thrusting it forward, begging for my mouth. I don’t deny either of us, and dip my head to latch onto the tender nub.
She sucks in her breath and I roll my tongue around it. I lave it and drag my teeth over it, then suck hard and she writhes in my arms, clutching my head, and holding me tight.
“Oh, God, that feels good.”
I continue lavishing attention on it, my hands roaming over her curves. She’s still in just her panties, and I’ve never wanted to rip a scrap of lace off a woman as badly as I want to right now. I stroke my palm over the junction of her thighs, and then slip my thumb under the edge of lace, strumming the pad over the seam of her pussy. She’s warm and wet and I seek out that shy little clit that makes her jump in my arms. I tighten my hold and make a circular motion.
She rocks against me.
“You like that, baby?”
“Umm hmm.” She moans, clutching my neck, burying her face in my throat. I tighten my hold on her, and keep stroking until she’s panting. Then I slip a finger inside her, never letting up on her clit.
“Rock against me. Fuck my hand. Don’t stop until you get off. I want to see you come.”
My words must embarrass her because she buries her face deeper, but she does what I tell her and that makes my ego soar.
“Good girl.” My voice comes out gravelly with need.
Another rush of wetness coats me at the words of praise I give her.
“You want to be my good girl, don’t you, Kami?” My inner caveman is raging now. She nods, and I pull back to stare at her, ordering, “Look at me.”
She meets my burning gaze with her shy one.
“I want to see your eyes when you come. Don’t be shy. Not with me, baby.”
A few more strokes and I curl my finger, finding that magic spot inside her and work it until she’s in a frenzy, gasping and clutching and rocking against me. “That’s right, sweetheart. Don’t stop.”
I can tell she’s close, because she sucks in a breath and holds it, rocking against my hand frantically. I press harder on her g-spot and tickle her clit and she flies over the edge, yelling out. I kiss her then, furiously, muffling her scream and bringing her gently back down to earth until she’s a puddle of mush in my arms. I carry her to the bed and lay her on it. I lean over her and kiss her gently, and pull back to search her eyes. “Much as I want you, I’m not going to fuck you. This is just temporary for you, and you deserve better than me.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but I stop her. “Hush. This is the way its gotta be.”
I straighten and look down at her lithe young body spread out on my bed and kick myself for being ten kinds of fool. But my words were true. I know it, even if she doesn’t.
“Get some sleep.” Without another word, I walk out, closing the door behind me. Then I go find that bottle of Jack and take it out to the yard. I stay out there until sunset, and I’m sure I won’t do something stupid. When the air starts to chill with dew, I finally drag myself to my feet and find the couch, throwing an arm over my face, and trying to scrub from my brain the sight of Kami’s face when she reached orgasm.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Saint—
Monday morning I sit at a picnic table in front of the smoothie shop waiting for Ruin. I’ve got my shades on so he doesn’t notice the black eye and bruised cheek. I snuck out this morning, totally avoiding Kami, and I feel like a pussy for doing it. Finally, I hear the Harley coming down the road. Ruin slows and rolls his bike onto the lot, then backs it into a spot and joins me.
“What’s up?” I stare up at him.
He grabs my smoothie and sucks down half of it, still standing.
“What the shit, man? Get your own.”
He grins, pulling out his phone. “Give me your account info.”
“Why?”
“Cause I’ve got two hundred grand to transfer into it.”
My brows lift. “Say what?”
“Its your portion for the work you did on camera with Asia. People are lovin’ it. I tell you, man, we’re making a killing with this shit. Wish I’d thought of it sooner.”
I rattle the account number off, and he taps on his screen as I drag a hand down my jaw thinking about that video. Last thing I need is that shit ever getting back to Kami.
“There. Done. Should be pending to your account now. Check it.”
I pull out my phone and verify, staring down at all those zeros. Christ, I’ve never had this much money in my entire life.
“Don’t go tryin’ to spend it yet. An amount that large, your Bank’s probably gonna put a two-week hold on it.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“When do you want me to schedule you again?” Ruin talks as he scrolls through his phone checking messages or maybe his calendar. “We need to get some more of that shit. You and Asia had some hot chemistry on camera.”
“Not sure I want to do anymore.” I pull my shades off.
“What? You’re fucking kidding me, right?” His eyes flick up to me, and he notices the black eye and the bruising on my cheek. “What the fuck happened to you?”
“You talk to Sly?”
“No. Why?”
“Sit down. I got something to tell you.” He swings his leg over the bench and sits, and I spill the entire story. It’s bad enough I kept it from Sly; I don’t want to keep it from Ruin. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, he needs to hear it from me.
“You stupid motherfucker.” He slams his palm on the wood planking.
Pretty much the response I expected.
“You’re lucky he let you off so easy. I was your sponsor I wouldn’t have. You’re lucky I don’t knock the fuck out of you right now.”
I nod.
“I do not need this bullshit right now.”
What the hell do I say to that?
He blows out a frustrated breath and drags a hand down his face. “Motherfucking hell. Okay, look. I’ll talk to him. See if I can smooth any of this over.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Until then, do what the fuck he says and lay low until he cools off and calls you back in.”
“I plan to.”
He pulls out a joint and lights it, taking a big hit, then passes it to me. He exhales slowly, studying me. “So, you really married this girl?”
“Yeah. It’s a long story. She was in some trouble. Its just until she turns eighteen.”
“Wait, you mean she’s under eighteen and you brought her to the clubhouse? Christ, Saint, what were you thinking?”
“I didn’t want to. Bear ordered me to. And he knew how old she was.”
“He also thinks she’s your sister, apparently.”
“I’m not sure that he does.”
“Okay, look, don’t go tellin’ anyone else. For now, until Sly decides what the fuck he’s gonna do, we keep this between us.”
“You sure?”
“Fuck yeah. He cuts you loose, ain’t nobody’s fucking business why unless he wants to tell them. A sponsor can dump his prospect for whatever reason he wants, no explanation required.”
“Okay. We’ll play it your way. But I feel like shit not letting the rest of the guys know.”
“Oh, now you feel like shit, asshole? Cause you got fuckin’ caught lying?”
“You’
re right, and I deserve that and more.”
“Goddamn right you do.”
“You want your two hundred K back?” I can’t keep the corner of my mouth from pulling up as I stare at him.
“Fuck you. You earned it.”
With that he stands and stalks back to his bike. I blow out a slow breath wondering how I let myself fuck things up so badly. I watch him roar onto the street, before I push to my feet, tiredly and head to my own bike.
When I pull in the drive of the cottage, I spot the BMW immediately. I eye it as I park and pull my helmet off. Turning, I spot Kami and another girl sitting in the garden. They’re staring over at me. Guess I should go say hello.
I stride over. Kami looks up at me, and smiles. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” I reply brushing my hand over the top of her hair. “Who’s your friend?”
“Santos, this is Mary Elizabeth. She and I were best friends in high school before…” She trails off and her friend fills in the rest, standing and extending her hand to me.
“Before she dumped me for the cool kids. Nice to meet you.”
“Mary Elizabeth,” I say, shaking her hand. “I like you already.”
“I was just leaving,” she says, looking down at Kami.”
“Hey, no need to run off on my account. Stay as long as you want.” I glance down at Kami. “I’m gonna go hit the shower. You girls have fun.”
I turn and amble inside.
“He’s hot!” Mary Elizabeth whispers as I walk away, and I grin.
The moment I’m in the back door I spot the cake on the kitchen table. I take a step closer. Happy 18th Birthday, BFF is written in red gel icing across the top. Two pieces are missing.
Fuck. I pull my phone out and read today’s date. My eyes slide closed as I realize its Kami’s birthday, and I completely forgot. Three months have flown by and I’ve barely been home for most of it.
I pace back and forth wondering what the fuck to do. Then my thumb moves over the screen, and I make a call. It’s a shot in the dark, but it’s the only thing I can think of that’ll mean something.
I’m on hold listening to bullshit elevator music for several minutes until the man I need comes on the line.