Duke

by Candace Blevins

  Gen looked at him a second, shocked, and finally managed to say, “You said please.”

  One side of his mouth tilted up. “I did, Beautiful.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, all right. At least for a while, but there’ll be some exceptions, and I’m going to expect you to give them to me if I say please.”

  Duke laughed as he parked, opened his door and stepped out. “We’ll have those discussions when the time comes.” He walked around the car, got her out, and took her to a side door they could walk through, but stopped before he opened it. “We don’t broadcast what we have in here. There’s close to two million dollars in this garage. You’re going to learn stuff about the club by bein’ with me. I’m vouching for you, so it’s important you don’t talk to anyone but me about any of this. Not even another of the club members’ wives or girlfriends, because not all of my brothers share with their women.”

  Gen took a breath and said what she’d been thinking for a while, but hadn’t known how to bring it up. “Stuff like this? No problem asking me to keep my mouth shut, but I’m going to ask you not to let me know about anything illegal. I don’t want to have to lie to law enforcement, Duke.”

  His eyes went dark, but he nodded and said, “Fair enough, Beautiful. I’ll do my best to keep it from you, but you can’t get mad at me for not telling you something.”

  She shook her head. “You’re going to have to find a way to tell me what I need to know about you without putting me in a compromising position, Duke. If there’s something I need to know, or something you damned well know you should tell me, and you choose not to? I reserve the right to be pissed.”

  “I believe you. We’ll have to figure it out as we go along, but if you get pissed I hope you’ll give me the benefit of the doubt and hear me out.”

  Gen wasn’t prepared to make any promises, so she reached for the door and went through.

  She’d expected it would take them outside, but she found herself in a hallway, still inside. She looked to him and he took her hand and walked her through a couple of dark halls until they came into what she figured was the back of the main room of their clubhouse.

  Half the room called, “Duke!” and Gen looked at him as he nodded to them and pulled her to the bar. “Gen, this is Gonzo. You want a shot of tequila, he’ll get you one. You want a margarita, you’ll need to go behind the bar and make it yourself. He doesn’t do mixed drinks. I need to check in on the control room. Be right back.”

  * * * *

  Duke had Brain install cameras on Gen’s house while he had her at dinner, so they could keep an eye on her, make sure she was safe. He’d already planted a tracking device in her car, but was stymied about how to put one on her person because she seemed to carry a different damned purse every time he saw her. He didn’t want to bug her phone, but was beginning to think it was his best bet.

  “Any problems?” Duke asked as he closed the control room door behind him.

  “None. Got a wide angle on her circular driveway, regular one on the driveway to her garage, and a hi-def one to give us the face of anyone at her front door. Also, angles in the kitchen, living room, and den. None upstairs, though I think that’s a mistake.”

  “No one sees her naked but me,” Duke growled.

  Duke handed his phone to Brain, with a picture he’d taken of Gen’s phone when she’d been in the bathroom. “Tell me what I do so you can track it.”

  Brain looked at it a few seconds, clicked on his keyboard a minute, printed something, looked at it, and handed it over. “Open up the number pad like you’re going to make a phone call, and punch in this sequence of numbers. Triple check you have them right before you hit the final pound sign on the end. The phone will reboot, go through a sequence, and then reboot again back into what she’s used to seeing, so make sure you have five or ten minutes with it when she isn’t around, so she won’t notice.”

  “I don’t want anyone but you and me knowing we’ve done this, and I’m trusting you to respect her privacy. Don’t read her texts, don’t listen to phone calls. We only use this to find her if she comes up missing, yeah?”

  Brain nodded. “I got it, Duke. You want me to watch her housekeeper a few days, make sure there’s nothing screwy, and then get rid of the inside cameras. You want a picture of anyone who comes to her house, and you want me to keep the footage but not watch it, so if she comes up missing we can go back and look at it to see who got her.”

  “Yeah. We’re keeping her safe without spying on her. This is just between you and me. If there’s a problem and you gotta bring Dawg in, do… but no one else.”

  Brain looked at one of the monitors and laughed. “Damn, I like her.”

  Duke looked and saw his woman behind the bar with a shaker, pouring something into glasses for a half dozen of the men. Everyone was cutting up and laughing, including Gen.

  Even Gonzo was laughing, and Duke would’ve sworn the man’s face would break before he’d ever smile again for a woman.

  Shaking his head, Duke walked to the door saying, “She’s something else. I should probably go rescue the men from her before she charms them more than I want her to.”

  Brain was chuckling as Duke went out the door.

  By the time he made it to the bar, Gen was drinking a margarita while the men around her were drinking something dark pink from beer glasses.

  “Damn, Beautiful. Tell me you didn’t pussify my men in ten minutes?”

  Tiny handed his beer glass to Duke as he said, “It’s called a Pink Panty Dropper. Try it.”

  Duke took a sip and eyed his girl. “Yeah, ten minutes. Gotta be a record. What’s in it?”

  “Vodka, beer, and pink lemonade. I saw the kids drinking pink lemonade out of cans at the party. It’s better if we can freeze the lemonade first, but the boys had ice so it still worked.”

  “And I’m sure they’ll report back to you later on whether it can really drop panties or not, though I don’t think any of them have had problems with that before. Come on, Beautiful. Time to get you changed and onto the back of my bike.”

  * * * *

  “You can’t expect me to change in your room with you in here!”

  Duke shook his head. “Sorry, Beautiful. I keep forgetting. Let me get changed and then I’ll wait outside the door. I can’t leave you back here yet, not until the boys trust you more. Rules say no one in the back without an escort.”

  Gen started to argue, but Duke started taking his clothes off and she turned around and faced the wall.

  “You can watch if you want. I’m not bashful.”

  “Well, I am, and I don’t want to…” Gen realized if she finished her sentence she’d be lying. She very much wanted to see him naked, she was just too embarrassed to watch. He might call her beautiful, but he was gorgeous.

  She needed something else to talk about, so asked the first question that came into her head.

  “Don’t bikers usually have lots of tattoos?” All she’d seen last night was the acres of muscles, and his washboard abs.

  “Most clubs do. I guess we just don’t attract the kind of man who wants them. There aren’t any rules against it, and a few of our employees have them. So far, no one in the club does, though.”

  “Were you upset about my mixing a drink for your men?”

  “I have my pants on, Beautiful. Turn around and look at me, please.”

  Gen turned to see him in faded jeans that hugged him everywhere, and no shirt. She had to force her eyes not to try to follow his ab muscles down past his jeans.

  “I want you to be comfortable around the guys, and I need them to be comfortable with you. I want you to be able to walk into the clubhouse, and walk back here, without anyone thinkin’ anything about it. I want you to be able to carry when you come in, and them feel like you’d have their back if needed, not that you need it to protect yourself from them. I love that you could get them all laughing within ten minutes.”

  He pulled a shirt on over his head, grabbed h
is boots, and said, “I’ll be right outside the door. Take longer than five minutes and I’m coming in.”

  Gen tried all three pair of jeans on, her eyes on the clock. She took the last pair off, put the first pair back on, and looked at the shirts. This was easier, and she pulled the one over her head with the highest neck. The other two would show way too much cleavage. She went to the door and opened it before going back to her stash and sliding into the jacket.

  “This jacket is too much, Duke. It’s real leather, and the lining is to die for. I need to meet Sprite and thank her for picking it out, but… it’s really too much.”

  “Nothing’s too much for you, Gen. Put your boots on, grab your purse, and we’ll go.”

  “I need something to put my clothes in.”

  He shook his head. “You can get your other stuff later. I can strap your purse down on the back of the bike, but I don’t want to mess with the rest.”

  “What do I need to know to ride with you? Also, I don’t have a helmet!”

  “Sprite helped me pick out a helmet for you, too. She did well, you’re gonna look great sitting on the back of my bike. As for what to do, keep your feet on the pegs, lean the same direction I do, and don’t let go. I’ll start out slow on straight roads, work you up so you get used to the speed and curves a little at a time. If there’s a problem, tap my stomach to let me know I need to pull over.”

  * * * *

  By the time Duke turned onto Snow Hill Road and took the curves way faster than the speed limit, Gen was having a blast. She not only understood the appeal of motorcycles, but thought she might want one of her own.

  Tiny’s girlfriend, Sheila, had helped Gen with her hair, warning she’d get split ends if she let it fly free behind her. Sheila had pulled it into a tight braid and tucked it into her shirt, and Gen had hugged her in thanks. Sheila looked rough, in jeans and a tight t-shirt with tons of cleavage showing, as well as entirely too much eyeliner and blush, but she’d been nice and Gen appreciated it.

  Looking around Duke’s shoulder, the road stretched out in front of them like a twisting ribbon, and Gen loved leaning into the curves one direction and then the other as Duke skillfully manipulated his huge Harley.

  And Gen wasn’t sure she wanted to think about all of the vibrations happening between her legs.

  She was almost sad when they reached the end of the road and had to sit in traffic in Ooltewah, but her hips were hurting and she was glad they were so close to her house. He took more curvy back roads instead of using the interstate, but on the bike they went so fast on the curves they probably made it to her house faster than if they’d used the freeway.

  Duke held her arm as she dismounted behind him, and made sure she had her balance before he got off the bike. He helped her take her helmet off, then swung his off, and with no warning his mouth was on hers, his arms around her pulling her close, his tongue invading her mouth, and she was transported to another place as she lost herself in the kiss.

  Gen grabbed his shirt for balance, and then let her hands slide around him, one at his neck and the other around his back. Her heart skipped a beat as Duke’s hand at the back of her skull turned her head the way he wanted it, and held her in place even though she wasn’t fighting to get away. His other hand at her back drifted low, and just before it reached her bottom he broke away from the kiss.

  “Let’s take this inside. You probably don’t want your neighbors to see you necking in the driveway.”

  Gen’s face grew hot as she realized how this must look, but Duke only chuckled. “C’mon, Beautiful.” He retrieved her purse, handed it to her, and walked her to the door. She unlocked it and he disarmed the system, waited until she locked it, and he armed it back.

  “That’s a little creepy, you knowing how to do my alarm system when I didn’t tell you.”

  “No, Babe. It’s me taking care of you. Not creepy.”

  “Whatever. Do you want a beer? Something else?”

  A smile lit his face. “You aren’t gonna try to kick me out?”

  She threw up her hands and walked to the kitchen, calling back as she walked. “Would it do any good?”

  He chuckled and followed her.

  Gen handed him a beer and reached into the fridge for a chilled beer glass, but he waved it away. “I’m good with the bottle, Beautiful. It’s been nearly two hours since you had anything to drink. I’m hoping you aren’t planning to get something else.”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll drink water, but I have a request.”

  Duke’s head tilted and she took a breath, reached behind her to the counter and pushed up so she was sitting on it. This put her at eye level with him instead of looking up, and gave her the confidence to say, “When you kiss me, it takes me over and… I want to kiss you, without you taking over. Will you let me?”

  He didn’t say anything and she rushed to say, “I don’t want you to think I’m a cock-tease, so I’ll tell you now I’m not agreeing to have sex with you, but… you’re so overpowering, I want to know what it feels like to kiss you when you aren’t—”

  Duke stepped forward and put his finger over her lips again, shushing her. His smile was different, his eyes… hungry. Gen suddenly wondered if this had been such a good idea, but she wasn’t going to back down now. She slid her fingers up his cheek, through his hair. She knew he probably thought her silly with her tentative touches, but he stood still and let her.

  Finding confidence, Gen pulled him towards her, and he leaned into her as he stepped closer. She looped her leg around the back of his thighs, pulled him closer, and pressed her mouth to his.

  He didn’t take over, and Gen found the confidence to spread his lips with hers, sweep her tongue into his mouth. His hands went to her hips, his tongue played with hers, but he let her keep control.

  She slid both arms around his neck, holding on tight. Her legs wrapped around him, pulling him closer, and she pressed her body onto his. Around him.

  Duke let her control things, until he didn’t.

  One of his arms came up to her hair, grasping the top of the braid and then wrapping around the back of her head, and he took over. His kiss was hot, hard, and he pulled her even closer, tighter to his body and she could feel his length pressed against her girl parts as her insides flamed higher and higher.

  Gen froze, suddenly realizing how far things had gone, but Duke backed off, his kiss turning gentle as he let her back away. “It’s okay, Beautiful. I like that you felt comfortable enough with me to get a little wild. I won’t take advantage of it.” He kissed her nose. “Not yet, anyway.”

  Gen didn’t tell him that hadn’t been a little wild. It was wilder than she’d ever been, and they had their clothes on. She had a feeling if she ever managed to do more with him, she’d be in so much trouble.

  She pushed him back and slid off the counter. “My hips aren’t terribly happy with me. I guess they’ll get used to being on the bike, maybe?”

  He nodded and pulled her back to him, tucking her cheek against his chest. “If you’ll trust me to give you a massage, I can make it better.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gen had her Sig P238 on her hip, and her Ruger SRC9 in her backpack, which she was wearing instead of her purse. She’d also packed hearing protection, safety glasses, extra magazines, mag loader, and a lot of ammo. Duke had strapped his range gear onto the back of the bike, and he had his Ruger LC9 under his arm and his Kimber 1911 .45 on his hip.

  At breakfast, he’d told her he wanted her to shoot his nine millimeter a little, so she’d be used to it if he needed to hand it off to her. He’d also asked to shoot her guns, which she didn’t have a problem with.

  She pointed to Frisco’s driveway as they neared it, and he slowed and turned onto it.

  Duke once again helped her off the motorcycle by holding her arm, and then he got off and helped with her helmet.

  “I can take my own helmet off, you know.”

  “Doesn’t mean I can’t help. How are
your hips?”

  Gen blushed, remembering her massage from the night before. The man had magic fingers, and he’d worked on her hips and butt over the top of her yoga pants. When he finished, he rolled onto his back, pulled her against him, and once again stroked her scalp and hair until she fell asleep.

  So much intimacy, and no sex. She wasn’t sure what to think of him, but she was starting to trust him when he told her something.

  Cassie and Cam met her outside and they both hugged her, and then Cassie hugged Duke. “I’m so glad you came, Duke. Frisco has made way too much food, so eat to your heart’s content. We don’t bring out the booze until after we shoot, though, so don’t go for a beer, okay?”

  Cam put his hand on Cassie’s shoulder. “She’s just nervous. She wants this to go well and doesn’t want any conflict. I know ya’ll will be okay. We’re all adults.”

  Gen let Cam put his arm around her and start walking her to the house, but Duke said, “Cameron? I appreciate what you’re doing, but I’d like to walk my woman in, if you don’t mind.”

  Gen rolled her eyes at Duke and said, “If this keeps my brother calm a little longer, what can it hurt?”

  “Sorry, Beautiful, he’s gonna have to deal with us as a couple. I’m not up for pretending we aren’t. I need you to walk in with me.”

  She looked at Cam and said, “Thanks anyway, Cam. My brother’s lucky to have you.”

  “Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” Cassie said with a chuckle as she snuggled into Cam and he wrapped his arm around her.

  Dinner was a lively affair, with Sam and Ethan, Viv and Tyler, and another of their friends, Kirsten. Frisco wouldn’t let any of them help with dishes, but herded everyone out back and to the range.

  Isaac took control as they stepped behind Frisco’s huge garage. “Okay, I want Frisco, Cassie, Gen, Duke, and Kirsten in the range. Everyone else with me, out at the course.”