by Debra Kayn
A kick to his ankle jolted him away from the woman. He gazed across the table and met Lilly's stinging judgment. His grin came out of nowhere, and he received a glare from the darkest, sexiest eyes he'd ever seen. His girl was jealous.
Kurt slapped his arm. "I'm going back to Risa and let Sawyer come into town and catch the last bit of the show. Make sure everyone gets home safely."
"Got it." He watched Kurt walk out the back and dragged out his cell phone.
12:45am
It was going to be a long damn night. He pushed himself out of the chair and joined Germ and Crain at the back wall. He accepted the flask Germ passed him and lifted his chin in thanks. He needed something more than whiskey to ease the ache inside of him.
Jojo came out of the backroom, adjusting the tassels on her nipples. He caught her eye and winked. Three seconds later, Lilly moved into view, blocking his enjoyment of watching Jojo.
The straight back, hip cocked to the side, booted foot with the heel planted on the floor and the slim arms winged with hands planted on her curved hips, Lilly was worked up and looking for trouble. He rubbed the bruised hickey on his collarbone that she'd left him. His balls tightened, because what he loved more than Lilly's devotion toward him was her temper. Only a fool wouldn't get off on the way she fought for anything she wanted.
One thing he wasn't, was a fool.
He walked across the room and stood near the archway to the hallway. Situated in the back, he had a straight on view to the bouncing, grinding ass of every dancer working the room. He widened his stance and leaned his shoulder against the wall. Warmth covered him, but the arousal he was feeling didn't come from the dancers. He could feel Lilly's attitude flying his way for thwarting her plan to keep him from watching.
Out of his peripheral vision, Lilly squirmed. He refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing it was her that had his attention. All that frustration and anger aimed on him worked toward his advantage. He had no warning on his back tonight. If he got caught, the chance of being with her one more time would be worth the penalty.
He'd gone too long showing her that there was no way anyone would keep them apart. She belonged to him, whether it was official or not. The hell with the club, her dad, and the consequences.
He was on edge, and he wasn't going to fall.
Music changed three times. Women came and went. Finally, all the dancers were in the room working their way through the customers doing lap dances. In fifteen minutes, he'd send the men home and get the girls back to the club. Then the party would start.
A pretty redhead —who he'd already forgotten her name— danced in front of him, making eye contact. She belonged to the Moroad MC, but her moves screamed available to every man present. He swept his gaze down her perky breasts, her flat stomach, and eyed the flash of sequins on her blue thong before giving her another look.
"Like?" she said.
"I've never said no, darlin'." He tilted her chin, forcing her to look at him without missing a step. "You see the patch? Unless you want to start a war, you better not even look at any Bantorus member or proposition the men inside the Sterling Building or you'll find your days numbered."
The woman flinched and cast her eyes to the floor. The normal submissive behavior would've at one time pleased him. He was selfish enough to take any woman who showed signs of doing whatever he wanted. Now, he only wanted one woman who fought him every step of the way, because when it came down to what mattered, Lilly laid herself out and hid nothing.
The music slowed. The woman moved back with the others, blowing kisses, prepared to exit the room. Ink moved forward at the same time the other Bantorus members created a wall separating the customers from the dancers.
The overhead lights came on and the music stopped.
"All right. Shows over. Everyone out." Ink pointed over the customer's heads toward Germ who operated the door. "Thanks for coming."
Within ten minutes, he'd escorted over seventy men to the sidewalk and then double locked the front door. He wasn't surprised to see Sheriff Colby standing beside his SUV, watching over the crowd as they made their way to their vehicles.
"Let the fun begin," muttered Stripper. "While the Moroad women are hot, I don't like the fact that their men are going to be outside every fucking show.
"Let's get them cleared out with no problems, brother." Ink walked into the back hallway and stood in the open doorway where the girls dressed and undressed.
Lilly talked with Carrie, hugging her, and then walked over to the next dancer. Ink leaned against the doorframe. The excited Silver Girls jabbered non-stop, while the Moroad women changed clothes, keeping to themselves. Lilly, as if sensing the mood, made her way over to the Moroad women and talked quietly with them. The smiles from the other women came easily and they paid attention to Lilly when she spoke.
She was good at managing the dancers and bringing them all together. Her bossy attitude and understanding made her a leader, and he wasn't surprised to see her including the Moroad women in conversation and bringing the Silver Girls over to talk with them. Before they knew it, she'd have them all on friendly terms.
"Enjoy the show?" Jojo stepped over to him and pulled her T-shirt over her bare breasts.
He smiled. "Don't I always?"
Jojo held her shorts out and stepped into them, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. "Just making sure you still enjoyed watching the bitches dance."
Ink chuckled. "Yeah, sweetheart. I do."
"Hm..." Jojo glanced over at Lilly. "Rumor has it you've been staying away from all the girls, not just me. Is someone else pulling you away from us?"
Ink grasped Jojo's arms and lifted her to her toes. "You shut down the talk, sweetheart. Understand?"
Jojo nodded. "Sorry."
He set her away from him. "Not another word."
"Okay," Jojo whispered. "I get it. I'm sorry."
Jojo walked off, stumbling to put her flipflops on to get away from him. The last thing he needed was Lilly hearing what the girls were saying or bringing up their time with him to her.
"Five minutes," Ink said, over the drone of voices.
He turned around and found Remmy behind him. Remmy lifted his brows. Ink ignored the questioning look and said, "I'll be outside."
"Probably the safest place for you. Your past is catching up." Remmy ran his hand over his whiskered jaw. "I know Kurt's taken off your warning, but no one is going to let you close to Lilly, bro. You better do some sweet talking to Rain or tell her to stay far away from you."
"She listens like a rock," Ink muttered.
Remmy grinned. "You're how much older than her? Make her listen."
"Right." Ink gazed back toward the room, found Lilly watching him, and turned his attention back to Remmy. "She's the most hardheaded woman I've ever known."
"Rain and Tori raised her that way." Remmy chuckled. "It didn't help that she had every brother making sure she got everything she asked for growing up."
Changing the subject, Ink asked, "Moroad here yet?"
"No," Remmy said.
"I'll go out the back and wait for them."
Once outside, the rumble of pipes growing closer warned him the Moroad riders were here. He stepped away from the door swinging open. Cutter and Stripper joined him for the exchange.
The bikers pulled to the curb, the women came out, and with a unified dip of their chins, the Moroad riders and the women rode off into the night. Ink let himself relax. One night down, one more to go, and he'd have a week break from having to deal with another MC. Though tonight went better than he'd figured it would, thanks to Lilly's organization, he still wasn't going to put his guard down.
"Our girls are coming out," Remmy spoke behind him.
Ink stayed facing the street, his head cocked, listening to the motors of the bikes growing quieter. The girls hustled by him, escorted by Germ. Only then did he scan the group, determine Lilly was safe in the hands of Bantorus, and walk to his Harley. He'd follow them
back to the club and make sure they arrived safely.
Then if he had to move mountains, he'd make damn sure he found a way to get Lilly alone. He felt like gambling, and the only one he wanted to win was Lilly.
Chapter Six
The Silver Girls, on their second wind of the night, entertained the Bantorus members in the clubhouse after their show. Lilly sat on the stool in the back of the main room, letting Beckett and Big Dawg entertain her with stories about their prospect days. Despite three beers, she still forced a laughed when they paused to think about what they'd tell her next. Even the wild and highly exaggerated stories from men her own age failed to distract her from what was bothering her.
Her bad mood had tripled when Ink walked off with Jojo the minute they got home from town. She checked the clock hanging on the wall. It was already after three o'clock in the morning.
"Need another beer, Lilly?" Big Dawg, who got his name from his size and quick smile—more bark than bite, stood in front of the fridge.
She shook her head. "No, I need something stronger."
"Try this." Beckett grinned and handed her a quarter filled bottle of Fireball.
"Mm...perfect, honey." She tipped it back, drinking straight from the bottle. "Now, I'm going to let you two boys off your babysitting duties, so you can go have fun."
Big Dawg stood so fast his chair tipped over. "Are you leaving? I'll walk you to the house."
She wanted privacy. The minute she walked out the door, she planned to throw the bottle against the brick wall and scream.
"No. Stay here and have fun. Thanks for keeping me company." She kissed his cheek. "I'm putting a crimp on your night...or morning. Go join the other girls. I'll be fine taking myself home. You boys have fun."
"Jesus Christ almighty, what the hell is going on?" Ink bellowed from the other side of the room, holding up a beer bottle and smiling. "Why is it so damn quiet in here? I thought we were having a party."
The music came on. Lilly squeezed the neck of the bottle and without looking, headed straight for the hallway. She wasn't going to stick around and witness Jojo hanging all over Ink or watch him slink off and have sex with one of the bitches, again. He was obviously ready to do what he did so well, and get the party moving in a direction she had no desire to stick around for and watch.
She pushed through the door, lifted the bottle, and changed her mind about ruining a good drink. Putting the bottle to her lips, she took a healthy swallow and jumped in place as the fireball hit the back of her throat. Fuzzy warmth filled her head and she took one more drink. That one stole her breath.
Satisfied she could now relax and go shut herself up in Kurt and Risa's spare bedroom and go to sleep, she lifted the bottle over her shoulder, and threw it with all her strength toward the building. A bubble of satisfaction caressed her stomach. The tinkling of glass landing on the gravel had her wishing she'd brought two bottles out with her.
The door opened and Ink stepped out, looked at the mess she'd made, and sniffed the air. "Waste of a good drink, Ace."
She remained facing him. There were so many things she wanted to say, but here, around the others, a warning over his head, she wasn't in the mood to talk.
"The party is inside, and I'm sure Jojo or one of the other girls is looking for you." She put her hands on her hips. "Plus, you're not supposed to be around me, remember?"
"I've got an hour to spend with you."
She rocked back on the heel of her boots and shook her head. "Impossible."
"Not when Kurt removed my warning earlier and put me on the job of watching over you while you work on the weekends," he said.
She placed her hand on her chest, hope filling her. "What?"
"You heard me," he said, stepping toward her. "The noose is off my neck."
"Unless you go in front of my dad—"
"I've got time to fuck you." He tilted his head. "No one needs to know. They're all inside having a good time, and won't even notice that I ditched the party."
Her body flashed cold and she stepped back. He cheapened the moment.
"Wasn't Jojo enough?" She crossed her arms.
"Jojo doesn't have anything to do with us, Ace." He reached around her, grabbed her ass, and pulled her against him.
Her sex pulsed, and her weakness toward Ink only infuriated her more. She planted her hands against his chest and shoved. His body refused to budge. Her body fed off his need for her, and loved that he wasn't walking away. The last thing she wanted was to lose him.
"You make me so mad," she said, hissing the words.
Both of his hands now planted firmly on her butt, he held on tighter. "I know."
"You don't know." She grabbed the edges of his leather vest and shook him. "I've had to stand back and watch you look at other women, go off with other women, and entertain other women. Nothing in my life prepared me to stand back and watch you enjoy life while my heart is breaking."
"I'm here now."
"No, you're not."
"You see me? Feel me?" He stroked the round curve of her hips. "Do you want me to prove to you that I'm here with you?"
"Yes, I do," she whispered, knowing she was asking for the part of him he claimed to have only shown her. The parts that she craved and made her feel complete.
"Get upstairs to my room, Ace," he said, his voice lowered and in control.
She swallowed. "The others will see me."
"They're in the main room partying." He lowered his mouth and kissed her forehead, inhaling deeply. "They won't see you."
"But if they do or someone comes up to your room, you'll be warned again to stay away from me, and I'll never have even this." She licked his collarbone. "Or this."
Her lips sealed on his flesh and she sucked. The heat and tension tripled. She let her lower body sag against him. She wanted to be with him, except if it tore him away from her again.
"Ace." He stepped away, taking his hands from her body. "Upstairs. Now."
She thought about arguing, because she always asked him for more than he could give her. The benefits of being with him were all for her, and he'd suffer if anyone spotted her walking up to his room.
God, she couldn't tell him no. Not when all she wanted to do was have his arms around her. One time together was all she needed. Maybe that'd help her go through the motions day after day when he seemed so far away.
She stepped around him and hurried to the door. Just this once and she'd be extra careful.
It was late. The other members and the Silver Girls still partied in the main room. Half of them on the way to being snookered, and the other half preoccupied with the one on one attention and the thought of slipping away for sex.
She had an hour before Kurt and Risa questioned her absence, if they were even aware of her not coming directly home. It wasn't unusual for her to hang out at the club with the others until dawn and sleep half the day away on the weekends.
She tiptoed down the hallway, aware of Ink following her closely, urging her on. With a quick look into the main room, she dashed up the stairs, praying nobody saw her or noticed Ink.
At his bedroom door, she stood to the side. Her heart raced in anticipation, and she peered down the hallway to make sure no one caught them. It'd been too long since she'd had Ink, and despite knowing she had to walk away and keep her distance afterward, she wasn't into self-punishment. She'd take him whenever he asked, because being with him was the best feeling in the world.
Ink opened the door and waited for her to go inside. She squeezed past him into the bedroom. He turned the lock, and a thrill of exhilaration tickled her spine.
They were alone.
No one caught them.
For however long, she belonged to him.
Ink unlatched his belt and pulled the leather out of the loops on his jeans. Her knees shook. Her skin tingled. Her arousal dampened her panties. Her body shivered in a violent response of how much she needed this time with him.
"Take off your clothes."
&nb
sp; She leaned over and pulled off her boots, making her several inches shorter. Her hands trembled and she struggled with the buttons on her shorts, finally giving up and shimmying out of them, taking her panties off too. Her shirt came next, followed by her bra. She tossed her hair, letting the strands fall in front of her shoulders. The soft caress against her breasts seemed as if they came from Ink himself, but he was still too far away.
His boots thunked against the hardwood floor. She swiftly inhaled, wondering if she'd pass out before he touched her. Her lungs fought for air and she grew lightheaded. She sucked in a breath, unsure of what he wanted her to do, and knew she wanted everything he offered.
The leather belt dangled from his hand. She laughed softly. Her drinks from earlier made this moment unreal. She even wondered if he'd use the belt to tie her to the bed, and she was loopy enough to want him to try.
"Fucking perfect, Ace." He hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze. "I've always given you a choice to walk away. Take it or stay, but afterward, you're going back to Kurt's alone."
"Ink, I want—"
"I will always fight for you." His raw and deep voice a testament to his promise. "Whether you're breaking the rules and being here with me or gone from my life. There won't be a moment that my main purpose isn't you. But you have a choice...fuck me, you have a choice."
He'd said the same thing when she was younger. She'd loved the declaration, but never understood the vehemence behind the meaning.
She shook her head. "I'm here because I want you. Only you."
"I know," he said.
Her eyes stung from unshed tears. Not because what he was saying was painful to hear, but because she understood. She was the same way. It physically hurt her to know he denied such a big part of himself and instead played off the need to fit in, to belong, to have a family who would never send him away.
He fought to keep his distance from her, because he was afraid of losing everything.
She clung to him, because she was afraid of losing him.
He walked around her, trailing his fingers along her arm and putting her wrist behind her back. Her eyes closed under the intoxicating power of being with him, and her breathing grew shallow. The belt, warmed from his body, slid against her arm.