She stepped back and he pushed past her. But before she could close the door, he had it done for her and she was pinned against it with that six-foot-three, two-forty body and his hands cupping her jaw and tilting up her face.
“Now you know.”
Good lord, that voice just did all kinds of things to her insides. “Know what? Your height?” Damn the shake in her own.
“That it was a mistake.”
“I needed to get home, Judge.”
“Didn’t even fuckin’ say goodbye. Or ‘Thanks for the dick.’ Or ‘Sorry for the huge wet spot on your bed, Judge.’”
Heat shot through her at the memory of how that wet spot was made. Honestly? She wasn’t sorry about it. Not in the least. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Bull-fuckin-shit.”
“While, yes, maybe it was a mistake, it had been one I was willing to make.”
His chin jerked back, and he quickly masked his surprise. He dropped his head until she could feel his warm breath sweep over her parted lips. His eyes followed her tongue as she licked them slowly.
Those Caribbean Sea green eyes turned very dark and heated. “You learn from that mistake?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“What d’you learn?”
“That I really liked what we did to make that wet spot.” Truth be told, she would love to make another one.
“So, it’s a mistake you’re willin’ to make again?”
“Mmm... maybe.”
“Thank fuck,” he murmured against her lips, then took her mouth.
She groaned as his tongue tangled with hers. She grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him deeper into the kiss.
A few seconds later, and with what felt like a steel pipe pressing into her belly, he pulled back. “Keep temptin’ me like that, you’re gonna end up naked in your foyer, so if your girl or sister wakes up, they’re gonna get a sight they might never fuckin’ forget.”
“It’s probably a good idea if we move, then,” she whispered.
“Yeah.” He stepped back and they both dropped their hands. She already missed his heat against her. And that hard-on which was making the crotch of her yoga pants damp.
If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was having a hot flash.
“Where we goin’?”
To her bedroom if it was up to her, but she’d be afraid of waking Daisy. And he wasn’t here for that.
Or was he?
No. He’d been ticked she’d left Sunday morning without a word. That was why he was here. Right?
Though, he was a big, bad biker, why would he care about that? “Do all the women you sleep with say goodbye before they leave?”
“If I give ‘em a chance. Sometimes I’m kickin’ their ass out the door so fast, they’re lucky they’re wearin’ clothes.”
Cassie stifled her laugh. “That’s rude.”
“Yeah? They know the deal.”
Suddenly, what he’d said wasn’t so funny. “Do they? How would they know?”
“’Cause they’re...” He grimaced. “’Cause they do.”
“Because they’re what? Hookers?”
His brow rose. “Hookers?” Then he dropped his head and shook it. When he lifted it again, his face still held amusement. “Never had to pay...” He frowned. “No, that ain’t right. Had to pay once, but never got what I paid for.”
“You paid a hooker?” she practically squeaked.
“Not a hooker. Just a whore. A patch whore who was willin’ to pop my cherry.”
What? First of all, what the hell was a “patch whore” and secondly... “Pop your cherry? How old were you?”
“Old enough to want a taste of pussy, young and stupid enough to be willin’ to pay for it.”
“And it never happened?”
“Let’s just say it was for the best. Bitch had crotch rot that could burn your fuckin’ nose hairs.”
Cassie slammed a hand over her mouth. She wasn’t sure if she should find that funny or appalling. Or maybe a little of both.
After a second, when she could breathe again without wheezing, she dropped her hand.
He grabbed it. “Where we goin’?”
“Somewhere we won’t wake Daisy.”
“We gettin’ loud? Not opposed to that, just to be clear. Got my Ford out front, no one’s gonna hear us in there.”
Her eyes slid toward the door, tempted.
No, she couldn’t leave Daisy alone in the house just so she could scratch an itch. That wouldn’t get her a Mother of the Year trophy. Not that she had a mantle to put it on, anyway.
“Living room, I guess.” She used the hand he didn’t have a death grip on to point in the direction they should go.
“Your sister got one of those plastic-covered couches like my gramma had?”
It took her a second to figure out what he meant. “I thought you were here to talk.”
“Yeah, ‘til you said you don’t mind makin’ mistakes. Thinkin’ since I’m a big one, you might wanna try again.”
When they entered the dark room, she flipped the switch as they passed it, turning on the lights. He collapsed onto the not-covered-in-plastic couch—which actually creaked under his weight—taking her with him. Not quite pulling her onto his lap, but close. As she tried to make some space between them, he yanked her closer.
She was going to have a hard time having any kind of conversation with this man while being pinned against him. “My daughter’s upstairs.”
“She asleep?”
Good lord, Cassie hoped so. “Why are you here, Judge?”
“Been thinkin’ about your problem.”
“Welcome to my world, that’s all I think about.”
“Even the other night in my bed?”
Heat filled her cheeks. “No, not then. But I’ve been thinking about this, too... I want to hire you to find Dennis. Since you now know he’s not coming here to Manning Grove, I know he’s no longer on your radar. Since you were only supposed to capture him if he showed up here in this area, correct?”
“Still on my radar since he ain’t caught yet and that don’t mean he ain’t gonna wanna see his girls. Fugitives can be unpredictable. But even so, bail bondsman up north is still lookin’ for ‘im.”
“But he hasn’t found him, and I... You’re good at finding people, right? That’s your job.”
“Ain’t my main job. My job’s bailin’ people out, which is basically loanin’ people scratch to get their asses outta jail. Get paid well to let ‘em borrow that scratch. Only gotta chase their asses down when they skip town or miss their court date. Truthfully, when it comes to findin’ people, Deke’s better at it than me. He’s good at skip tracin’.”
“Which is what Dennis did. Skipped. Can I hire Deke to find him outside of Manning Grove?”
He leaned back against the couch and twisted his big body to face her. “You hire him, you get me. Package deal.”
“I don’t think I can afford both of you.”
“Don’t think you can afford either of us.”
Well, that was a bucket of ice-cold water thrown in her face. “You’re right.” She squeezed her eyes shut and curled her fingers against her thighs. “I can’t even afford to move the hell out of this house and get out of Heather and Ty’s hair.” Her voice caught. She kept her eyes shut until the sting subsided somewhat.
Fingers on her chin had her reopening them, but she focused on her lap. He jerked her chin up so she’d look at him.
“Why’d you turn down the extra shift at Pete’s tonight?”
She hadn’t wanted to. She needed every dollar she could get. “I didn’t have anyone to watch Daisy.”
He frowned. “Where’s your sister and her man?”
“Gone.”
His head snapped back and his scowl became somewhat scary. “What d’you mean, gone?”
“While we were...” she flapped a hand around, “the other night, they got a call from Tyler’s mother. His father broke a hip and they’re headed down to North
Carolina to visit, help his mom, and then spend the holidays there instead of doing it here since his parents will no longer be able to travel.”
“Means you’re here alone?” He did not look happy about that at all.
“Yes. With Daisy.”
“So, alone.”
She frowned. “With Daisy.”
“Alone for Christmas.”
“And New Year’s.” What was his point?
“Don’t like you bein’ here alone.”
She didn’t remember asking his opinion on it. “I’m used to being alone. It has just been Daisy and me for a while now. Even when Dennis lived with us, I was alone. It’s nothing new.”
“Still don’t like it.”
It wasn’t up to him. “And anyway, you’ve been watching me like you’re my guard dog.”
“Was watching for Lange.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “That’s all?”
His lips flattened out. “Can’t help you got an ass that won’t fuckin’ quit. Tits I wouldn’t mind being smothered to death with and a pussy that made the goddamn angels sing.”
Cassie rolled her lips under for a moment to gather herself. “Is that all I am? Tits, ass and pussy?”
“Got all that fuckin’ blonde hair, too. A length good for fisting. And those baby blues that make my nuts tight. Fuck.” He ran his hand along his bulging zipper.
“Well, now I know what to put on my Tinder profile.”
“What the fuck’s that?”
She grinned and shook her head. “Nothing. I’m kidding.” The last thing she needed to deal with right now was online hookups or even dating. She needed to be free of one man before she even considered another.
Instead, she considered the man sitting next to her. No, it was not a good idea. She had a man she was trying to divorce, a daughter to raise and a life to get settled.
Though, this man probably wouldn’t want something serious, right? Just a few rolls in the hay, or on the mattress? He didn’t seem to be the type to want anything more. Being a biker and all that...
Plus, Daisy liked him. So, she wouldn’t have to sneak around and worry that Daisy might see him.
Hmm.
Wait. Was she seriously considering this?
Oh God. They’d take away the Mother of the Year Award she won last year. Just revoke it.
But being a mother did not mean she was no longer a sexual being. What was wrong with wanting what she wanted if she went about it the right way?
“Cass...”
“Hmm?”
“You’re starin’ at my fuckin’ dick.”
Yes, she was. She lifted her gaze to his grin and amused green eyes.
“Ain’t helpin’ my hard-on by doin’ that. But if you want my dick, I’m pretty fuckin’ accommodatin’.”
She rolled her eyes. “Do you tell that to all the girls?”
“Fuck no.”
“Oh, then, I should feel special,” she teased.
“Yeah, baby, you should.” Again, his words came out like low, rolling thunder and a shiver shot through her, making her nipples peak. “Got a wrap burnin’ a hole in my wallet. Need to use it before it self-combusts. Wanna help?” He added a sexy grin.
“Daisy’s upstairs,” she whispered, her breathing becoming ragged at his suggestion.
“Yeah, know that. Told me already. Just gotta be quiet. She wake up easily?”
“No, she sleeps like the dead until about four or five in the morning. Right when I’m finally in a deep sleep after working all night, she’s waking me up since we’re sleeping in the same bed.”
“Sharin’ a bed now?”
“No, not now. They gave me the master bedroom while they’re away. I finally got some decent sleep until Daze came crashing into the room way too early this morning, demanding French toast.”
Judge lifted a thick eyebrow. “She get it?”
“She got Cheerios while her mother drank a whole pot of strong coffee and contemplated running away to join a circus.”
Judge snorted.
“Anyway, I was hoping to get some sleep tonight.”
“’Til I showed up.”
“You only came to talk, remember?”
“Yeah, talk.”
“Is that biker code for doing everything but talking?”
“No, that code word is fuckin’.”
“No code ring needed to decipher that.”
“Nope.”
“We go upstairs, we not only have to be super quiet, but you’d have to be gone before she wakes up.”
“Promise I’ll be out of your bed before she wakes up. Difference is, I’ll say goodbye first.”
Damn. “Rude.”
“Yeah, it was. Really fuckin’ rude.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think it would bother you,” she admitted.
He lifted one eyebrow but said nothing.
Of course, that made her feel worse. “Sorry.”
“Can make it up to me.”
“By using that condom before it ‘self-combusts?’”
“That’s one way.”
“What’s the other?”
He dragged his thumb over her bottom lip. “Forgot to list one of your other assets earlier.”
“What, that I’m highly intelligent?”
“Haven’t tested that IQ but have tested that mouth.”
“So, you don’t care if I’m as dumb as a rock as long as I’m good at oral sex?”
“Thinkin’ I need to shut the fuck up now before you kick my ass out.”
“That would probably be a good idea,” she agreed.
“A better idea would be for you to find a way to keep me quiet. ‘Cause if I get kicked out, my dick comes with me.”
“Do you think I’d only want you to stay because of your dick?”
“It’s a pretty damn good reason. But if you only want me for my dick, you ain’t gonna hear me cry about it.”
“You’d just let me use you for sex?”
“Yeah, ‘cause I ain’t stupid and you ain’t the only one benefittin’ from it.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Which part?”
“Both?” she asked.
“Don’t like that fuckin’ question mark.”
“Okay, then. Both.”
“Better, baby.”
“Do you always call women baby?”
“Just ones I’m fuckin’.”
“You really know how to melt a woman’s heart.”
He shook his head. “Yeah, I need to shut up now.”
She climbed onto his lap and her pussy brushed over his erection. “Yes, you do.”
He grabbed her hips and kept her from grinding down onto his lap. “Baby, wanna kiss you, wanna fuck you. Wanna make you gush like a geyser. What I do not wanna do is look up and see your mini-me watchin’ me doin’ it. Your sister’s door got a lock on it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why the fuck are we still on this couch?”
That was a very good question.
Two seconds later, they weren’t.
Cassie stretched, groaned, ran a hand down her stomach and...
Shot up in bed.
She was naked.
She never slept naked.
Ever.
She twisted her neck to see the other side of the bed empty and the sheets wrinkled.
Oh, thank goodness. He did what he said he would. Disappeared before morning.
She flopped back down, blinked up at the ceiling and realized the insides of her thighs were a bit tender from his beard and her pussy was a lot more tender from that beard, his mouth, his fingers and his cock. Her nipples were also a little sore from all his rough, but welcomed, attention.
Not once had she told him to slow down or take it more gently. He was pretty damn good at knowing what she needed and when. It was actually refreshing and unexpected. She figured the first time, at his apartment, could’ve been a fluke. After last night, she knew it wasn’t.
Sh
e tipped her head back to see the towel they had jammed between the headboard and the wall, so the pounding didn’t break the headboard, damage the drywall or wake up Daisy. She turned her head to see the blue bandana he had pulled from inside his cut and tucked between her teeth—with her approval, of course—to keep from not only waking up her daughter, but the neighbors.
She grinned at the sight of it. Until her gaze landed on the clock next to it.
She sat straight up in bed again.
Holy shit!
She tilted her head and listened carefully.
Nothing but quiet. Complete silence.
That can’t be right.
Where the hell was Daisy and why hadn’t her daughter come barreling into the room yet?
A quiet daughter could mean trouble. Especially with the little blonde hellion that had sprung kicking and screaming from Cassie’s loins.
Jumping from the bed, she grabbed her sister’s silky robe that was a little tight on her since her sister still had that firmer pre-baby body. She secured the tie enough to make sure she was half-decently covered, flung the door open and hurried down the hall to the spare bedroom.
The door was open. The bed empty but a complete mess.
She spun around, opened her mouth to holler her daughter’s name, and snapped it shut. Her nose wrinkled at the smell wafting down the hallway.
Was Daisy cooking? Was she using the stove?
Oh no!
The burst of panic she first felt when she saw her daughter’s empty bed swept through her again. And the images of Daisy burning down Heather’s house had her almost tumbling down the steps.
Following her nose, she noticed it didn’t smell like anything was burning. It actually smelled pretty damn good.
What the hell? She didn’t even trust Daisy to make toast. What the hell could she be cooking?
She slid to a stop at the entry to the kitchen and blinked.
Daisy was sitting at the table stuffing her face with what looked like French toast, syrup dribbling down her chin and plopping onto her PJ top. A half glass of milk sat in front of her.
Movement caught her attention and she slowly turned her head to see Judge standing by the stove, a pile of French toast on a plate next to him on the counter. The man knew how to make French toast?
Why was that her first thought? That wasn’t the point. He was supposed to leave, not stay and make her daughter breakfast!
Blood & Bones: Judge (Blood Fury MC Book 3) Page 18