ONE MORE RIDE

by Sophia Gray

  “No,” I said, batting my eyelashes. “Except by you, that is.”

  Isaac grinned an easy grin. I could tell he didn’t recognize me. I didn’t blame him—in five years, I’d changed a lot. I dyed my naturally blonde hair a dark shade of black and my blue eyes looked harder than they had when I was a teenager. Plus, I was a lot leaner and more tanned from being in the sun. Leading an MC came with a lot of sweat and grease, and I was more than proud to say I’d experienced my fair share of it all.

  “Can I buy you a drink?” Isaac finished his beer and slid it across the counter.

  “Sure,” I said, making my voice sound a little higher than it was naturally. “I’d like that. Whiskey sour, please.”

  Isaac blinked. Back in the day of our underage drinking, that had been his favorite thing. He liked it because it was whiskey, so he still felt like a man, but it was sweet, so he could still drink it without cringing. I hadn’t had one in years, and I wondered whether or not it would bring back even more bitter memories.

  “Two whiskey sours,” Isaac said to the bartender. She winked at me but thankfully, Isaac didn’t notice. When she slipped the drinks onto the counter, I grabbed one and discreetly dropped a pill inside.

  “This is for you,” I said, sliding the drink across the bar towards Isaac. “I shouldn’t have grabbed it first.”

  Isaac wrapped his fingers around the glass and lifted it to his wide, sensual lips. He swallowed some of the whiskey and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. When he looked at me again, I saw the same familiar fire in those green eyes. A shiver of lust went through me and for a moment, it took everything inside of me to not lean across space and plant my mouth against his. Just being around Isaac again was doing dangerous things to my libido, and I couldn't wait for this whole damn thing to be over.

  “So,” Isaac slurred lightly. “What brings you out here on a night like this?”

  I knew exactly how I had to play my cards: innocent but sexy and determined. “Well, I was lonely,” I said, looking down as I took a sip of my drink. It tasted exactly like I remembered and a small thrill went through me. “I wanted to go out and talk to some people.”

  “I don’t love talking,” Isaac said. “But here I am.” He drained his glass and set it on the bar, snapping his fingers for another. He seemed more relaxed than I would have guessed, like he was completely at ease with the situation.

  “So, are you in a motorcycle club?” I ran my finger down the side of Isaac’s sleeve. His jacket was emblazoned with Thorn stripes. This close, I thought I could catch a whiff of his scent—leather and tobacco—and I had to take a deep breath and focus.

  “Yeah.” Isaac grinned, cocky and stupid as ever. “I’m the president of the Jungle’s Thorns.”

  “Never heard of you,” I said casually, taking a small amount of pleasure in the way Isaac’s face fell. “Are you a local?”

  “This is our bar,” Isaac said, rapping the dark wood of the bar with his hand. “You like it?”

  “I love it,” I purred. “I love the band; you know those guys?”

  Isaac nodded. “They always pull in a big crowd,” he said with a grin. “Can I get you another drink?”

  I bit my lip. This was where I knew I really had to start acting. If I didn’t work quickly, the drug would, and Isaac would be asleep on the floor of the bar. Impulsively, I leaned over and pretended like I’d dropped my purse.

  “Oh my god,” I squealed. “I just dropped my bag! Can you help me look for it?”

  Isaac put a hand against his forehead. “I don’t feel so good,” he said. “I think I should actually go.”

  “Come on,” I said, grabbing Isaac’s arm and tugging his sleeve. “It won’t take long! I don’t want to lose my wallet!”

  We got down on our hands and knees and began scouting around the floor for the contents of my purse. I hadn’t brought any identification with me, and Isaac clumsily grabbed a handful of keys and mints and handed them over.

  “There,” he said, breathing heavily. For a moment, his lids fluttered closed.

  Yes. I wrapped an arm around Isaac and pulled him to his feet. “I’ll help you lie down,” I said sweetly. “Just help me out of this bar.”

  Isaac staggered towards a dark staircase and I walked with him, supporting his weight. He seemed like he was going to lose consciousness at any second and I grinned to myself as I began helping him up the stairs.

  “There’s a bedroom up here,” Isaac slurred. “Come on.” I half carried, half dragged him up the stairs until we were at the top. There was a door with a knob and I pushed it open, dragging Isaac inside and throwing him on the bed. With all of my might, I swung hard and hit him in the stomach until he was doubled over with pain.

  “Who’s supplying your weapons?” I growled, straddling Isaac and pressing the blade of a knife into his throat. “You tell me, or I’ll kill you right here and now.”

  Isaac’s eyes opened wide. Despite the effects of the drug, I could tell that I’d mostly caught him unaware. He blinked at me and then tried to reach his arms up and push me away from him. Even though on a normal day, Isaac would be much stronger than I was, I knew that he wouldn’t be able to get rid of me. Not yet.

  “Who are they?” I demanded again, leaning over and staring into his face.

  Isaac’s eyes met my own and I could feel some of my resolve melting away. “The Russians,” he managed to croak before his lids closed and his body went limp.

  I stared down at him, feeling satisfied. Even though I knew I had to get out of there as quickly as I could manage, part of me wanted to stay behind and stare at Isaac. He was different than he’d been years ago—bulkier, heavier somehow. He wasn’t fat, but his body wasn’t as sleek as he’d been before. He was all muscle and bulk, all man. I shivered as I felt his weight slightly shift underneath of me.

  Crawling off of Isaac, I pulled the collar of my jacket around my neck and hunched down, trying to hide. Now he was snoring evenly and I knew that he’d be knocked out for hours, just long enough for me to escape and head back to the girls.

  The Russians. My heart hardened in my chest as I thought about what doing business with those crooked fucks meant. If Isaac and Jungle’s Thorns were really working with them, they were some of the most corrupt gunslingers in history. The Russians were brutal Eastern European thugs who would sometimes shoot you even if they liked what you had to say. Jungle’s Thorns had a lot of balls to deal with those men.

  I shivered. I knew that when I brought the news back to the girls, they’d want to go in immediately. But we’d have to think of a plan; unless we wanted to be dead and buried by the morning, we couldn’t just go charging in and expect the Russians to give us everything that we wanted. No, in order to truly bring down Jungle’s Thorns, we were going to have work very slowly and calculate every move.

  I left the room and quietly closed the door behind me. The bar was still raging and the band was still playing, everyone was dancing with a drink in their hand, looking drunk. As I slipped down the staircase, the music got louder and louder until I couldn’t believe that I’d heard Isaac at all. The room seemed twice as packed as it had been before, and I marveled at my good fortune. Isaac had sat down right next to me, I hadn’t even had to look!

  The bartender didn’t even notice me as I slipped out of the bar and darted away into the night. After being inside, the cool night air felt like a blessed kiss on my face. I loved LA at night; it was gritty and it smelled of gasoline, but it gave me hope. It reminded me of how many people had come to this city to realize their dreams, and how lucky I was to be at the top of my game. When I got back to the rest of the Succubi, I’d tell them everything but I didn’t think any of them, not even Val, would understand the way that this city got under my skin and made me feel alive.

  I grinned to myself. At least one thing had gone right tonight. And now, my girls and I were going to start ripping Jungle’s Thorns apart piece by piece.

  Chapter Five
/>   Isaac

  “Candace?” I whispered her name softly, not wanting to wake her harshly. The sunlight was streaming in through the windows of the hotel and reflecting on her soft blonde hair. Her skin was pale in the early light of the morning, and I knew that she was probably barely asleep, still dreaming of things I didn’t even know about.

  Candace opened her eyes and yawned softly. “Isaac, it’s so early,” she whined. “Why did you wake me up?”

  I couldn’t help but grin. “Happy birthday, baby,” I said, leaning down and kissing her on the cheek. Candace blushed and buried her face in the pillows, wriggling around in the nest of blankets. I watched as her small breasts rose and fall with the force of her breathing and my cock began to stiffen in my pants. I wanted her; when I was around Candace, I always wanted her. She was the most incredible woman I’d ever known, and today was finally gonna be the day that I’d ask her to become my wife.

  “What is it?” Candace moaned. “I haven’t brushed yet,” she added when I tried to lean down to kiss her. Candace wriggled away and then sat up. The sheet fell away from her naked torso, exposing breasts capped perfectly with pink nipples. I dropped my jaw and rolled my eyes back in my head, pretending to drool.

  “You kill me every time,” I croaked with desire as Candace slipped out of bed and pulled a blue silk robe around her perfect, lithe body. “Don’t you know what you do to me?”

  “I have to shower,” Candace teased. “I’m dirty from those three times last night!”

  I closed my eyes and thought about our heavenly fucking from the previous night. Candace and I had been living together for about three months, and I loved it. While my friends teased me about being whipped by the pussy, I couldn’t get over how she made me feel. She was incredible; she was the kind of woman I wanted to change my life for.

  Candace and I had grown up together. Our parents had been best friends, and while they hadn’t been great parents, we’d taken care of each other. I’d been the one defending Candace against bullies in the schoolyard and she’d been the one who helped me learn how to multiply and divide when I was almost about to flunk the fifth grade. We always had each other’s backs. I couldn’t think of a day when I wouldn’t want to be around Candace, loving and cherishing her.

  If any of the guys could read my mind, they’d never talk to me again. Being with Candace went against everything else in my life. To everyone else, I was a tough guy, a real outlaw. I was in a motorcycle club with ambitions to lead it someday, and I wasn’t going to let some chick stand in the way of that. But Candace wasn’t just some chick. She was a perfect woman who understood me, and I knew that she was always willing to go the extra mile for me. My friends didn’t understand our bond, but I didn’t care. As long as we had each other, I knew that I’d always be happy.

  “So,” Candace said, after she emerged from the bathroom. Her pale blonde hair was clinging to her forehead and she looked beautiful. “What is it?”

  I grinned. “Well, first we’re having breakfast,” I said. “Then we’re gonna go on a long ride, and then we can do whatever you want.”

  Candace pouted. She threw her towel at my face and I swiped it to the floor, staring lewdly at her perfect body. “It’s my birthday,” Candace whined. “Why do you get to decide everything?”

  I laughed. The ring box in my pocket felt heavier than ever and I shifted my hips so she wouldn’t see me trying to conceal it. “Because I know what you want,” I said softly, stepping closer and running a finger down Candace’s bare back. “I know exactly what you want.”

  Candace turned to me with her eyes wide open and her lips slightly parted. Her breath was coming in damp bursts and I could see a pink flush rising from her neck and covering her cheeks. She stepped closer and wrapped her damp arms around me, pulling me close and pressing her warm lips to mine. She tasted like soap and toothpaste and I closed my eyes as Candace slipped her tongue into my mouth. She moaned softly as I squeezed her firm ass and slid my fingers between her thighs, feeling her wetness on the soft skin of her shaven pussy. I loved the way Candace’s body felt against mine—like we were made for each other, like we had to fit together. As my cock stiffened between my legs, Candace reached down and rubbed me gently through my jeans. She glanced up at me with a playful smile on her face.

  “What do you say about staying in bed for a little while before breakfast?” Candace licked her lips and sat back on the bed, spreading her legs.

  I got down on my knees and crawled towards her, soaking in the heavenly scent of her pussy. As I licked the inside of her thigh, Candace moaned and I felt a shudder of lust rip through me. It wasn’t enough to be with Candace like this, I wanted to fuck her until every muscle in my body was sore and crying out for relief.

  Candace moaned and pushed her hips towards me, shoving her fragrant, clean pussy in my face. I licked her soft skin before finding her clit with my tongue and sucking the hard little bead until Candace was crying out with pleasure. Candace’s juices were flowing down my face and soaking the little beard that I was growing. My own pleasure grew with each passing moment until I wanted to throw her back on the bed and fuck her wildly, without abandon. Candace was moaning and humping my face. Her hands were tangled in my hair and I knew she was having the ride of her life. I slipped a finger inside her wetness and began to wriggle it around as Candace moaned loudly. Her hips shook and I could feel a fine sheen of sweat had broken out over her body. When she came, she screamed. I felt every muscle in Candace’s body tensing and then releasing with a delicious, pulsating pleasure. Candace had the loudest, sexiest orgasms that I’d ever heard and it drove me wild just listening to her get pleasured.

  “Enough,” I said, pulling away and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Candace looked down at me with a sexy smile on her red face. She was flushed bright from the orgasm and the attention and she licked her lips again, beckoning me closer. I climbed on the bed and covered her body with my own, wrapping my hand around the back of Candace’s neck and pulling her close until our tongues were playing against each other. Candace moaned into my mouth as I slipped a hand down between her legs and fondled her swollen clit. She jerked away—she was always so sensitive right after she came—and lay down on her back, pulling me close. Candace’s hard little nipples pressed into my naked torso and I growled with lust. As I ripped off my pants and boxers, my cock sprang free. Candace looked at me with a seductive, coy look on her face. She reached down between our bodies and began to stroke my cock with her soft hand until I thought I was going to cum right then and there.

  “Oh my god,” I groaned as Candace began to stroke me even more rapidly. “Candace,” I grunted. “I need you.”

  Candace kissed me deeply, licking my juices off my lips until I thought my cock was going to explode. She knew how to play me in bed like no other woman ever could, and I loved everything that she did to my body. When she pulled her hand away, I groaned loudly. Candace spread her long legs and wrapped them around my waist, pulling me close. I could feel the heat coming off her pussy and I buried my cock inside of her wetness, plunging deep inside and battering her cervix with the tip of my erection. Candace cried out and bit my neck, arching her back and tangling her hands in my hair. As we kissed passionately, I thrust my hips against hers wildly, as fast as I could. Candace leaned back into the pillows and raised her arms over her head, making her magnificent breasts perk up. I rubbed her nipples with one hand as I fucked her gently, feeling her grind her hips against mine with every thrust.

  When I woke up, my hand was wrapped around my cock, jacking off with a ferocious speed. My head ached and I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark room. What the fuck happened last night?

  As I swung my legs over the side of the bed and forced myself to sit up, my head started to pound so badly that I had to lay back down, just for a moment. I couldn’t believe what had happened to me. Had I been drugged? Me, Isaac, leader of the Jungle’s Thorns?

  Fuck. This time when I tried to si
t up, I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with air. I tried to imagine each of my cells absorbing the amount of oxygen that I needed and passing it along to my bloodstream, making me stronger with each passing moment. The visualization helped, although I still felt as weak as a newborn kitten. I'd always made fun of people who drank too much and got drugged at bars, thinking that they needed to shake it off and take better care of themselves. But now that it had happened to me, I wasn't sure what to think.

  “The guys are gonna fucking kill me,” I mumbled, putting my head in my hands and rubbing my sore scalp. Everything on my body hurt: my limbs, my joints, even the ends of my hair ached. I'd never been in pain like this before, not even when I crashed my bike and skidded across four lanes of the highway in the dead of August. Not even when I'd gotten chemical burns from a deal gone bad. Not even when I'd broken my arm clean through.

  I tried to piece together the events of the previous evening. There had been a woman, a gorgeous woman who had tried to keep her head down, and somehow she’d been responsible for this. Everything had happened so quickly. I’d been drinking with the boys out back and I’d been nursing a healthy buzz when I’d gone inside the bar. Well, maybe not a healthy buzz. Maybe the kind of buzz that could have knocked a horse down on its ass.