ROUGHNECK: A DARK MOTORCYCLE CLUB ROMANCE

by Nikki Wild

  “Crystal clear,” I replied, gritting my teeth. I knew the truth. He wouldn’t let me walk away from this any sooner than I’d let him. One of us was going to end up dead, and if I played my cards wrong, I might be taking Adeline with me.

  12

  Adeline

  What were the odds I’d still end up sleeping in my car even if I did get the rent paid?

  It was all I could think to do. I was parked next to the complex across the street that led to my building. I figured if anyone was watching, I’d be able to see them from here. They wouldn’t know to look for my car on this side.

  I tried the phone number all last night and through the afternoon today. Each time I’d get four rings and then the prompt to leave a message. That was, until about two o’clock this afternoon. Then it started going straight to voicemail. I hadn’t tried since.

  I’d never felt so alone. When things had gone wrong in the past, at least Jared would be around to make me laugh. I guess I relied on him more than I realized.

  The thought of sleeping in the car another night was becoming harder and harder to fathom. Last night, all I could do was sit there and fret over every set of headlights that turned down the street. I was almost disappointed when no one came.

  It was fifty-fifty whether I wanted to just go inside. The fact is, they were probably just trying to scare me. Last night I was willing to consider it more than an empty threat, but after being sure that no one came by I was feeling more comfortable.

  What would be the harm, anyway? So what if they were watching. They were looking for Jared and he definitely wasn’t coming by here anytime soon.

  I decided the best course of action would be to check out the apartment. If I took a look around and nothing seemed to be out of order, I’d go in. That creep wouldn’t have said anything about the key if they were planning to use it again.

  I checked the time on my phone. Eleven-thirty. Late enough that most people would be inside and asleep. Any car coming down the street at this time would have to be scrutinized a lot harder.

  I slipped back into my sandals. The heat during the day was brutal, but this long after the sun went down it was almost pleasant. As I stepped out of the car, I wished I had some kind of weapon. A quick search of my surrounding area turned up a rock and a road cone. Can’t do much damage there. I weighed the rock in my hand. It was barely big enough to cover my palm.

  Pepper spray!

  Jared had made me carry some since high school. He’d have a fit if he ever caught me without it. I stuffed it in the glove compartment the day I bought the car and hadn’t thought about it since.

  Sure enough, it was there. I played with the tab to make sure I knew what direction to turn it in my hand. If I sprayed myself in the face, it wouldn’t be the first time I did something that clumsy.

  I tried to imagine how it would go down if I had to use it. On TV, it would always make the assailant drop to their knees in pain. The unafraid heroine would shoot a stream of the potent spray across their eyes and then drop a clever one-liner before walking away. It seemed simple enough.

  The street was dimly lit. Save for a flickering street light on the corner, there was nothing to show the way. A few of the tenants still had their front windows illuminated, but that didn’t help at all.

  How many times had I complained about the unsafe lighting situation to the property management company? I couldn’t remember. They always waited a week or so, then finally responded by telling me they would “look into it.”

  Lazy. They only perked up if the rent money didn’t show up in their mailbox on the day it was due.

  I tip toed like any stereotypical burglar in a comic book. It was the only version of “sneaky” I knew.

  I was just about to discard the whole thing as a joke when I saw movement from around the corner of my building.

  The beat up Toyota that hadn’t moved from its parking spot in months would have to serve as my cover. I ducked behind it to watch.

  He was large, and moved quietly. That’s all I could really get a read on from the distance I was at. Damn the lack of safety lighting. He was less than ten yards from me, only stepping in front of me without noticing by sheer luck and good timing.

  My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t know if I should quietly try to run away, or wait to see what he was going to do.

  With so little else going on, the sound of my footfalls would be enough to draw his attention. But if I tried to stay put, he might turn to walk this direction and find me anyway.

  I had to act.

  He appeared to be messing with the door knob. If he knew where the key was, why didn’t he use it? Yesterday, I thought about running up to the front door and grabbing it, but at that point I was still too scared.

  A light beat floated through the air. It took me a second to understand what it was.

  The creep was knocking.

  What was he going to do? Wait until I opened the door, as if I’d be that stupid, then push his way inside?

  I checked the pepper spray one last time. Ready. I still held the rock in my left hand for back up.

  Just move. It was something Jared told me when we were younger. If you were too scared to do something, take that first step. Most of the time if you could do one, you could do another.

  So I did. One tentative foot forward. And then, another. Before I knew it, I was within five feet.

  He wore the hood of his sweatshirt pulled tight over his head. The asshole was about to get a face full of poison. Then, I’d scream loud enough to bring half the neighborhood running.

  I think he sensed my presence, because in that moment he turned. I didn’t waver. Instead, I let loose with a hellatious burst from the small can of spray. I didn’t wait to see if it hit the mark before I threw the rock. It struck him solidly in the shoulder.

  “What the fuck?!”

  The whisper was harsh and familiar.

  Hale.

  In the midst of all the adrenaline and haste, I’d gone into fight mode.

  “Dammit. Are you out of your mind?”

  “Oh my God! Hale, I’m so sorry.”

  “What the hell are you doing out here? Don’t you even have a clue what’s going on?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry, it’s just… I thought… and then you came creeping up in that stupid hoodie…”

  “Because I wanted to make sure no one was out here,” he barked.

  “Let’s go inside before anybody sees us.”

  “Get the key out of that pot,” I whispered, nodding toward the small plant on the ground.

  “Jesus,” he muttered.

  He found the key in a hurry and opened the door. I hooked a finger into his back pocket as I followed him inside.

  “Is it safe to turn the light on?” I whispered.

  “Might as well. I don’t think we’re gonna get the drop on anybody after that stunt you just pulled out there.”

  I flipped the switch.

  “Wait here,” he said, making his way across the living room so he could do his security sweep.

  “Alright, we’re alone.”

  “Where have you been? You said you would be here to take me to find my brother.”

  “Take it easy, babe. Things got a little complicated.”

  He pulled the sweatshirt over his head. When he did, the white tee he had beneath pulled up high enough to reveal the slight line of the vein running through his abs.

  “Are your eyes okay?”

  “They’re fine. Your aim sucks. Here, do something with this.”

  He shook it out and handed it to me.

  “Put it outside. You soaked it with that shit.”

  I ran to the laundry room and tossed it in the washing machine. In the short time I held it, the fumes made my eyes start to water.

  “Wow. I would have felt so bad if I got that in your eyes. It’s really strong.”

  “Fuck that, what about the rock?”

  He pointed to the welt forming on his shoulder
where he had rolled up his sleeve. I turned my head to hide an expression that would be sure to piss him off.

  “Protecting my house. You can’t blame me for that.”

  “Yeah…”

  “Wait. What do you mean, ‘things got complicated’? Is Jared okay?”

  “Still don’t know where he is. Do you have anything to drink?”

  I mentally kicked myself for not going ahead and purchasing my groceries.

  “Uh, yeah. Hang on.”

  As the refrigerator door swung open, I hoped against hope that I had something good in there.

  Nope.

  Any groceries I’d bought were still sitting out in my car going bad. I was down to two eggs, a jar of pickles, and a wine cooler.

  I grabbed the wine cooler and sheepishly handed it to him.

  “Shopping didn’t go well…”

  Hale pulled the top off and poured the whole thing down his throat in a couple of thirsty gulps.

  “So…,” I said.

  “So, there’s a little more trouble than we thought. They don’t know where Jared is, but they want him bad. They do know where you are, but I guess you already gathered that by the way you came at me with the pepper spray.”

  “Two guys followed me yesterday. They threatened me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

  “Is it your people who are doing this? Are they in your gang?”

  “Club,” he corrected. “I hate the word ‘gang.’ Makes me think of a bunch of assholes listening to bad music and robbing old ladies for their social security. We were supposed to be legit. No drugs, no running guns…”

  “No shooting at people?” I said, letting a bit of anger come out.

  “No fucking shooting at people! And, no. They’re not my people. Some of them are wearing my colors, but they don’t deserve the leather on their fucking back.”

  “What’s happening then? What do we do?”

  “Nothing has changed. The stakes are just higher, now. We find your brother and get the both of you somewhere safe until this shit blows over.”

  “What about you?”

  “Don’t worry about me. Your brother got me into some deep shit here, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Story of his life…”

  “And yours?” he asked.

  I took a second to think it over. Hale’s burning hot lips were still fresh in my mind.

  “I think things happen for a reason…”

  He paused, and I could see the weight of the world on his shoulders. There was so much he wasn’t telling me, but I decided to leave it alone.

  “You look tired,” I said, reaching out to touch the mark on his shoulder. “Why don’t you stay here tonight? Let me take care of you, then we can go find my brother in the morning.”

  He cast a sideways glance at me.

  “You… take care of me?”

  “And, I suppose I wouldn’t mind the company. It sure would be nice to be able to sleep through the night. Anything beats trying lay down in that car seat.”

  “You slept in your car last night?”

  He laughed but let my hand stay on his shoulder.

  “I can imagine how tight that little body must feel right about now.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  It was frustrating to be so unsure of myself around him. I wanted him desperately, but he was still so scary. Even though I knew his heart was good, his body still terrified me.

  The other night when he left… it was hard to imagine what it would be like. He made me feel afraid in my own fantasy. I’d spent my life dating the quiet guys. That’s all I ever seemed to run into. Hale was so different… He burst at the seams with confidence. I didn’t want to admit how much it turned me on.

  “Come here. I want to show you something,” I said.

  I turned toward the bedroom and walked without checking to see if he was following. That was more than enough to get him. I hadn’t made it half way down the hall before he swept me up in his arms and charged toward the bed.

  13

  Adeline

  I never saw this coming. I’m still not sure I believed it was happening. Hale’s hulking form balanced itself over me. His hot mouth blew unrestrained passion against my neck.

  I wanted him to devour me.

  “You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, do you?”

  The whisper danced off of his lips to tickle the lobe of my ear.

  I couldn’t have responded even if I did know what to say. It was a small miracle that I maintained my faculties enough to savor his piney scent. My senses heightened to a level they had never before achieved. It was as if every breath against my flushed skin had a ripple effect. Each time his thumb pressed down on the little spot above my hip bone the world seemed to explode with colors. Every one of his tensed muscles created a different kind of excitement within me.

  This was no longer a fantasy. Each and every night since I went to pull Jared out of that bar, Hale Murphy had taken real estate in my mind. The dreams were usually hard and fast. He’d taken my subconscious the way I hoped he would now take my body.

  Hale gripped for my wrists. With ease, he pinned them high above my head, letting them sink deep into the oversized pillow I kept propped against the headboard. If there was ever any doubt about who was in control, there wouldn’t be now.

  “If this is what you want, you’re gonna work,” he growled, “but not as hard as me.”

  I was curious to know exactly what he meant by that, but not so foolhardy as to question him. Either way, I understood the implication.

  The full weight of his body settled next to me on the plush mattress. The iron hold he had on my wrists didn’t waver.

  With his free hand, he began to draw little circles on my bare thigh. Such a delicate maneuver by such rough fingers brought with it a peculiar feel. It was purely primal.

  He danced up my leg until he landed on my flexed hip. My ankles had been crossed, but I could no longer contain the yearning I felt between my legs. There was no point in trying to conceal the wet predicament that had come to pass. It was clear now that he knew exactly what I wanted the very moment he pinned me down with his eyes in that bar.

  That last bit of self-control was the only thing keeping me from trapping his hand between my knees and inviting him in. Instead he continued on, going only where he wanted.

  Just to see if I could, I dug my heels in to the bed and leveraged myself against his restraining hand. I bucked, then jerked down with all of my strength. The hold didn’t budge an inch.

  The wide-eyed look I gave seemed to confirm the only thing running through his head. I belonged to him now.

  Up my side and under my arm went his beaten fingers, drawing those circles the whole time. I desperately wanted him the move to my breasts. My nipples were so hard and sensitive beneath the firm support of my woven fabric bra. Although the words wouldn’t come from my mouth, I screamed in my head for him to grab me… to manhandle me. The teasing was almost enough to make me cry. I knew my muscles would be sore from staying so tense for so long. It would be worth it.

  But he didn’t go to my soft, full breast. He stayed the course, lightly brushing my collar bone before moving his hand beneath my chin. The steely gaze hit me like a bullet train. It took me back to that first night in the bar. It was so intense I could almost feel like I was there again, wishing he were this close.

  I opened my mouth to say something… anything to break the control he had over me, if just for a second. But before I could, he leaned forward, pressing his hungry lips against mine. For all the dreams, all the sideways glances I’d given, nothing could prepare me for the feeling of kissing him for the second time.

  Burning desire radiated off of him. The firm hold loosened from my wrists and moved to my chin. Something told me not to drop my hands. It was unspoken, but I wasn’t supposed to yet.

  I cuddled into him as our lips locked in solid embrace. His tongue poked agains
t mine and mine against his. The stubble on his chin and below his lower lip was harsh, but wanted against my soft skin.

  My feet kicked out against nothing.

  Hale’s big hands clamped down over my shoulders and then started to move down my back. When he got to the top of my butt, he stopped and held me tight. His mouth pulled away from mine and I chased after him like an eager high school girl. He tilted his gaze down so that our foreheads would meet and stop my pursuit. If he saw the red in my cheeks deepen from the embarrassment, he didn’t mention it.

  His mouth dropped to my neck and I swear his lips sizzled when they touched. Hale bit lightly at the hollow under my jaw line. Adrenaline surged through my body. Something about his soft mouth and his heavy hands put me into overdrive.

  Just as I was wondering how long I would have to keep my hands to myself, he reached up and jerked them down to my sides. As if they were controlled by outside forces, they bounced off that pillow top and shot to his squared chest.

  His plain white t-shirt had a smattering of oil drops on the shoulder from when he’d been tuning up his bike earlier. I let my hands grope at his solid pecs.

  “Push me away,” he demanded in the most pained whisper I’d ever heard.

  I shook my head in a way that told him I didn’t quite understand.

  “Push me away!”

  This time it was more of a snarl than a whisper. He said it between bursts of frantic sucking at my neckline. My head spun like a top.

  Hale grabbed forcefully at the crook of my knee, pushing it toward my body. My foot drew against the inside of his thigh and over the thrumming bulge in his jeans before he placed it firmly in his midsection. I got the point. He wanted me to do it because he couldn’t.

  More out of reaction than due to conscious thought, I tried to push him off of me with the ball of my foot. It was like trying to move a tank. Accepting the challenge, I steadied myself with two hands against the headboard and shoved against him with both feet.