“Right,” Jewel repeated. Then the phone went dark.
Shit.
“Gotta go, Kels,” Jewel said, though she was a bit relieved they were getting out of there. Not so relieved that D would be waiting for her. Especially when he was pissed.
“Fine,” Kelsea finally huffed. Then Jewel had to stand there waiting while they swapped spit and tongues for almost five whole fucking minutes. Jewel tried to ignore the roaming hands.
“Need to fuck you, babe,” Slash told Kelsea when he finally let her mouth go.
“I know,” Kelsea whined softly.
“Oh, God, really?” Jewel asked, staring up at the dark sky and hoping for divine intervention.
“Next time,” Slash promised.
Oh, there was not going to be a next time. Not if Jewel had anything to do with it. Or Diesel. Or anyone else who caught wind of this. Which, she had a feeling, would eventually be all the brothers.
Shit.
Jewel had dragged Kelsea out of there, past more grabby-hands Demons, shoved her in the car, then once she was in the driver’s seat, locked the doors. Not that locked car doors would stop anyone who wanted to get at them.
Then she drove as fast as possible, trying to not get stopped by West Virginia cops for speeding and also not hit a herd of deer. Especially since it was getting close to rutting season and the bucks were running around like brainless twits because they were desperate to fuck whatever doe was in heat.
Kind of like bikers.
She had delivered Kelsea home safely with barely a word between them and all the way back to her apartment her heart had tried to beat a hole in her chest.
And now...
Now, she sat in the dark in her car, both hands gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white as she stared at Diesel through her windshield and he stared back at her.
Totally pissed.
No, like a volcano ready to blow.
He leaned back against the railing at the bottom of the metal steps to her apartment, arms crossed over his chest, his ankles crossed.
To anyone else, he might look relaxed, casual.
Jewel knew better.
She could see his tight jaw, tight muscles, and this tightly strung temper from where she sat. She had parked on the other side of the lot because she was afraid if she pulled up next to his bike, he would drag her out of the car right away and the club’s enforcer would be meting out his form of punishment immediately.
Instead, she watched him watching her.
She blew out a shaky breath when she realized she couldn’t sit in the car forever. Though, she’d like to.
Maybe she could go spend the night at her mom’s.
Yes, that sounded like a smart plan.
“Longer you sit there, the worse it’s gonna be,” Diesel shouted across the lot.
Jesus, she felt like a child about to be disciplined. She knew she had to face him sooner or later, she just couldn’t help but want to put it off.
Maybe she could sweet talk his temper down. Or offer him head.
Fuck! She needed a freaking plan.
She couldn’t come up with a single one. Besides not dying tonight.
She snorted. That was ridiculous. She was an adult. He was an adult.
They were going to handle this like two adults.
She pulled the key from the ignition and shoved open her door. Tentatively putting one booted foot out on the macadam and then the other, she waited for the earth to swallow her whole. Actually hoped for it.
When it didn’t, she stood, shut her door and slowly turned her head to glance in his direction.
He hadn’t moved a muscle. Though she was sure one ticked in his jaw, she couldn’t see it from where she stood.
She had to woman up and get this over with. Putting one foot in front of the other, she crossed the lot like she was about to walk the plank of a pirate ship.
She swallowed her thumping heart back into her chest.
“D...” she began as she came close enough that she didn’t have to yell.
“Woman, don’t even,” he warned.
“D...” she began again, trying to formulate in her brain something, anything, to say to reduce his blood pressure.
He pushed off the railing and blocked both the front of the steps and her escape.
Though he was now standing instead of leaning, he kept his arms across his broad chest, probably to refrain from grabbing her. Or… whatever.
“You’re my ol’ lady, huh?” he growled, going toe to toe with her. “That’s what you told those fuckers?”
“D...” she started saying to his chest.
“They’re too stupid to know my ol’ lady would never be at one of their parties. Ever,” he yelled in her face. “’Specially if I wasn’t there with her.”
She winced and whispered, “Wasn’t my idea.”
“Don’t give a shit whose idea it was. Tired of gettin’ your ass outtuva jam.”
“You didn’t.”
“Yeah, I did. Gotta call from a Demon to confirm you bein’ my ol’ lady was true. So, yeah, saved your fuckin’ ass. Again.”
“You mean you said I was?”
“What the fuck did I just say?”
Oh.
“Got you outta there safely. Otherwise, who knows—” he stopped abruptly.
What would’ve happened, she finished for him silently.
Yeah, he got them out of a jam.
She felt the fight or flight leave her. He was right. She was wrong. And Kelsea was an idiot. Not that she was any better for going along with the younger woman and not asking enough questions beforehand.
“Bad enough we’re dealin’ with Warriors an’ their bullshit, then you an’ my genius cousin decide to head outta state to party with an outlaw club. A fuckin’ outlaw club!” he emphasized the last part with a shout and a shake of his head. He finished by muttering, “Fuckin’ crazy bitches.”
“D...” she started again, but she honestly didn’t know what to say, to make it better, to excuse their stupidity. Besides, “Sorry.”
“Sorry? When you gonna learn, woman?” he grabbed her upper arm and gave her a shake. “When?”
“D...” she whispered, her eyes starting to burn, her throat closing up. She finally realized that the man was showing some emotion. Toward her. He cared. And it wasn’t because he was the club’s Sergeant at Arms. It was more.
He had feared for her safety. For Kelsea’s safety. She recognized it now.
“Never gonna learn, Jewelee. Keep puttin’ yourself in harm’s way an’ you’ve been lucky.”
“I know how to take care of myself,” she whispered lamely.
“The fuck you do!” he bellowed inches from her face, making Jewel wince. “They decide to gang rape you, what you gonna do?”
Jesus. Jewel bit her bottom lip. She hated that he was right. She, or even Kelsea, would’ve been outnumbered and unable to stop them. Then add a mob mentality on top of that.
They would’ve been fucked.
“Ain’t nothin’ markin’ you as mine. What the fuck were you gonna do if they decided to take turns with you?”
“D...”
He raised a hand to stop her. “No. No fuckin’ pleadin’. Ain’t gonna drop it. Want an answer. Can take care of yourself? What were you gonna do, woman? Cry, plead an’ beg ‘em not to?” He snorted. “Lotta good that woulda done. Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” he shouted to the sky. Then he closed his eyes and Jewel watched something cross his face. A memory. Something. His demeanor completely changed. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” he repeated more quietly. He dropped his head, pinned his hands on his hips and stared at his boots for a moment. Two. Three. Then he shook it and gave Jewel a look.
And that look scared her more than his angry beast. This was something totally different.
Lightning shot through her, from her head to her toes. Every part of her tingled, every nerve stood on its end.
“D,” she whispered and put a hand under hi
s leather cut onto his chest. His heart thumped strong and rapidly under her palm.
“Jesus, woman,” he said much more quietly. “Killin’ me.”
She leaned into him and whispered, “No, not killing you. Making you feel.”
He shook his head. “Don’t want that shit.”
“Sometimes it’s not a choice. Can’t help what you feel.”
He blinked slowly at her.
“I’m yours, D, if you want me,” she offered softly.
His head jerked back and he stared down into her face. “Woman.”
“Beast,” she whispered, her voice husky.
His nostrils flared and something in his eyes changed. He covered her hand that laid over his heart with his own. He left it there for a moment, then pulled her hand off of him and stepped back.
“Go upstairs, Jewelee. Get inside. Lock your door. Had enough shit for tonight.”
“D...”
“Fuckin’ do it,” he said, his voice now hard, his expression even harder.
Jewel’s stomach twisted and the tears stung her eyes again.
Before she started crying, revealing how much it hurt that he didn’t want her—or, at least, didn’t want to admit to wanting her—she pushed past him and ran up the steps.
She fumbled with her keys, but finally was able to unlock her door. She rushed inside, then slammed the door shut. Leaning back against it, she bit her bottom lip to stifle the whimper that wanted to escape.
Then she ran to her room, threw herself on her bed and no longer fought any of it.
Chapter Nine
“Diesel.”
D scowled into his glass of whiskey. He was not in the mood to listen to this woman’s bullshit.
No, not a woman. She didn’t deserve to be called that because she sure didn’t act like one. She had a lot of growing up to do yet, even though she was already in her mid-twenties.
“Diesel,” she called.
“Fuck me,” he muttered.
Hawk’s eyes were on the woman as she approached, and he muttered, “Ain’t got a choice, brother. Gotta deal with ‘er.”
“Right,” D said into his glass of amber liquid before tilting it to his lips and draining it dry.
Kelsea slid her ass onto the stool next to him. “You ignoring me?”
D twisted his neck to look at her. “Hard to do when you’re screamin’ my name across church.”
“I was trying to get your attention.”
“Well, you got it.”
“I know your pissed at Jewel—”
“Don’t know shit,” he growled.
“But don’t take it out on her. It’s all my fault.”
“She drove,” he stated. He did a chin lift toward his brother, who filled his glass again. Hawk then leaned against the counter behind the bar and crossed his arms over his chest, settling in to hear the conversation.
D took another swallow, letting the warmth of the whiskey slide down his throat into his gut.
“Yes, but I didn’t tell her everything.”
“She ask?”
Silence.
Right.
“What are you doin’ fuckin’ with a Demon?” Hawk butted in.
“He’s cool,” their cousin answered.
“What the fuck,” D muttered.
“He’s cool?” Hawk repeated. “Are you fuckin’ serious?”
“Look...” Kelsea began.
“No, you look,” D shouted, pointing a finger into her face. “Don’t be doin’ stupid shit an’ don’t be draggin’ Jewel into your stupid shit, either.”
Kelsea chewed on her bottom lip.
“Out of state. Outlaw club. Drunk an’ high fuckers. Two bitches not claimed. Your asses were hangin’ out there for anyone to take advantage,” Hawk barked. “No reason to be hookin’ up with a Demon.”
“Hawk,” Kelsea started, her eyes narrow.
“No lip,” Diesel grumbled.
“Don’t need your approval,” their cousin muttered.
D sucked in a breath, ready to rip her a new one when Hawk’s hand landed on his arm. “Brother. Step back.” Though Hawk’s voice sounded like he was under control, D knew his brother was as torqued as he was.
D released his held breath and swallowed the scorching words he was going to head Kelsea’s way. He lifted his glass and finished it off instead.
He needed more than what he drank so far to take the edge off him.
“Know you growin’ up without a father, Kels,” Hawk started, a little more calmly, “was tough. An’ with Doc doin’ life, didn’t even have a grandfather to point you in the right direction. That’s why Ace an’ me an’ D step in. Not just because D’s the enforcer. Not because we’re blood. All of us are lookin’ out for you. Whether you want it or not.”
Diesel expected her to argue, to stir up shit. But she didn’t. Instead, she nodded at Hawk, who was also just as surprised as D was.
“Got it,” she said softly. “I have to go. But D...”
She turned toward him and he steeled himself to hear whatever stupid shit she was about to say next.
“Gotta give Jewelee a chance.”
Jesus. His fingers gripped the empty glass still in his hand. He didn’t say anything as his cousin pushed off the stool and headed toward the back door. When she was gone, D returned his gaze to his brother.
“She’s fuckin’ right, brother. Gotta quit fightin’ it. Rippin’ you apart.”
“Bullshit,” D grunted.
“Can see it. Rippin’ Jewelee apart, too.”
D sucked a hard breath through his nostrils and shoved his glass toward Hawk. “Gimme another.”
Hawk smiled, shook his head and poured him another whiskey.
And not a minute later one more.
Diesel groaned and rolled to the left, hitting a soft, naked body, which dropped to the floor with a squeal.
He groaned again when he opened his eyes and the bare bulb hanging from the drop ceiling not only blinded him but shot a shard of pain through his head.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” he grumbled.
He blinked and looked over the edge of the bed to see one of the sweet butts on the floor.
Tequila.
Jesus fuckin’ Christ.
He couldn’t remember shit from last night except that as long as Hawk was filling his glass, he was downing them.
After that... nothing.
And, fuck him, now Tequila was pushing her naked ass up from his floor, or trying to since she was tangled up in some of his dirty clothes.
“How the fuck you get in here?”
Tequila shook off the shirt snarled around her wrist and hauled herself up to a stand.
Her fake tits didn’t even jiggle when she did so. That shit might turn other men on but it didn’t do squat for him.
He glanced down at his limp dick. “We fuck?”
With a huff, Tequila said, “No. Not for a lack of tryin’, either. Helped you up here an’ then you passed the fuck out.”
Oh, thank fuck. He was afraid he’d have to take a torch to his dick if he accidentally stuck it in her. “Why you still here an’ why you naked?”
Why the fuck was he naked? He didn’t remember taking off his clothes, either.
“Figured when you woke up we could fuck.”
D sat up in bed and cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “Ain’t happenin’. Get the fuck out.”
“D,” she whined, eyeballing his lap.
“Out!” he shouted. “Now!”
“What the fuck,” she grumbled, picking through the piles of clothes on the floor to find her own. She took her time pulling them on.
“Hurry the fuck up,” he growled. “Come back later, clean up this room an’ do my laundry. Got me?”
Her dark eyes widened, then narrowed quickly. “Ain’t your slave.”
“Fuck you ain’t. Wanna hang ‘round this club, fuck brothers, then you earn your keep.”
“Ain’t enough brothers—”
�
��Out!”
“Christ, you’re an asshole.”
D ignored her and swiped his cell from the nightstand, powering it up to check for messages and texts. He glanced up when she hadn’t moved. “Got thirty seconds ‘til I shove you out into the hall, with your clothes or not. Not like you wear much, shouldn’t be much to find.”
“Whatever, asshole,” she grumbled, snagging her boots from the corner of the room and tucking them under her arm. “Glad I didn’t fuck you.”
D grunted.
With a last look toward him, she huffed and then pulled his door open.
Jewel stood in the hall, her fist raised as if she was ready to knock. Her eyes widened as she faced Tequila, who cursed and shoved past her, knocking her backwards and out of the way.
Jewel lowered her hand and planted both of them on her hips, glancing from the hallway to D.
“Tequila!” Diesel bellowed, then said to Jewel, “Get ‘er the fuck back here.”
“Yo, skank, you’re being paged,” Jewel shouted down the hallway.
“What?” Tequila griped, peering her head around the door not a second later.
“Touch her again, you’re out. Come in my room again other than to clean, you’re out. Got me?”
“Whatever,” Tequila mumbled, then her head disappeared, only leaving her hand behind in the doorway as she flipped him the bird, then even that disappeared.
Jewel stayed in place watching what he could only assume was the sweet butt heading down the hall.
“Fuck you, too, Jewel,” he heard Tequila call out.
Jewel’s lips twitched and she waved an exaggerated goodbye in the other woman’s direction before stepping into his room and slamming the door shut. Then she replanted her hands on her hips as she stared at him sitting naked in the middle of his bed.
He couldn’t miss her eyes raking over his body. His dick didn’t miss it either and decided it was time to wake up.
Tequila couldn’t turn him on when she was totally naked. Jewel could do it fully dressed.
He was so fucking fucked.
“Was she good?”
He scratched the stubble on his chin and tried to figure out her mood. Since it was Jewel, he gave up on trying. He was just going to give it to her straight and she could think whatever the fuck she wanted to think. “Didn’t touch her.”
Down & Dirty: Diesel (Dirty Angels MC Book 4) Page 11