The Tempted Series: Collectors Edition

by Janine Infante Bosco

  His closed his eyes briefly before blowing out at a breath and standing up. I felt the loss of his touch instantly and automatically stood with him. He crossed the room, putting as much distance as possible between us before he fell back into the chair in the corner of the room and dropped his face into his hands.

  “You don’t owe me anything, Blackie,” I blurted. “You saved me once again,” I added.

  “I’m not talking about that,” he growled, lifting his head. “I’m talking about the night at the clubhouse,” he clarified.

  “No,” I said, shaking my head, closing the distance between us until I was standing in front of him. I would not plead with him not to take back that night.

  Not this time.

  With Reina’s words playing on repeat in my head I decided the only way for Blackie to accept this thing between us was to remind him of what it felt like to be with one another. Maybe if I reminded him of how it felt when the rest of the world faded and it was just us maybe then he’d think twice about his apology.

  “No?” he questioned as he narrowed his eyes. “I took something from you, Lace, something you can’t get back and something I won’t forget. I fucked us both that night,” he seethed.

  “You didn’t take anything I wasn’t offering,” I retorted. “I know you think I’m a little girl but I’m not and I haven’t been for a while. You may be my first but you weren’t the first man to touch me,” I ground out. “I’m not some goody two shoes, too prim and proper to get down on her knees because her father is some big bad biker,” I sneered.

  “Shut up,” he shouted.

  “No! You said you saw me that night, but it was a lie wasn’t it? Because if you did, you’d see I loved every fucking minute of having you. Open your eyes Blackie and take a look, take a good long look,” I dared.

  “I see you, Lace, been seeing you for a long time now,” he said, reaching out and gripping my hips. “Don’t tell me to fucking open my eyes because I’m trying so fucking hard to close them and not look at you. It’s a real struggle to tame the beast inside me and not spread you wide and take you every which way a man can take a woman,” he said through clenched teeth. “Trust me, I fucking see you, girl and you’re all woman.”

  I licked my lips as I felt something down in the pit of my belly ignite. An animalistic sound escaped his lips, something feral, and oh so fucking hot.

  Was the beast becoming unleashed?

  Yes, please.

  His fingers dug deeper into my hips and he pulled me between his legs.

  “Sit,” he commanded, pulling me down so that my ass sunk between his thighs. He brushed my hair aside, and I felt his hot breath against my ear as he leaned over my shoulder. “You feel that?”

  I did.

  His thick erection strained and twitched against my ass. A short breath escaped my lips as my back fell against his chest and his arms wrapped around me, pressing me tight against him.

  “Answer me,” he demanded.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Good, next time you doubt I want you, remember feeling my cock pressed against your sweet ass and know the truth was against you just as it was inside you,” he affirmed, pressing his mouth against my neck. “It’s time for you to open your eyes, angel, time for you to take a good long look at who you’re playing with,” he added as his teeth grazed the sensitive spot behind my ear.

  I closed my eyes, pushing my ass against him as my hands gripped his hard thighs. My body fell into a trance, one induced by Blackie’s words and for the first time in my adult life, sex wasn’t something I needed to rush to do, a game I needed to play catch up on, it was something I craved. I wanted to explore, I wanted to learn, and I wanted to do it all with Blackie.

  “I’m a greedy bastard Lacey, got marks on my arms,” he paused, loosening his arms around me. “Open your eyes and look down,” he ordered.

  My eyes fluttered open, and I did as I was told, focusing on the track marks on his forearms that were slightly fading.

  “Got marks down in my soul too, all proof just how greedy I am,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around my waist again. The tip of his nose trailed down the side of my neck, pushing away the collar of my shirt and his lips fell over my shoulder.

  “And this greedy bastard won’t apologize for taking that sweet cunt of yours. This greedy bastard will forever hold onto that, take that shit proudly to my grave…”

  His words trailed off as his teeth sank into my shoulder.

  “My Lace…” he murmured against my skin.

  I clawed his legs, desperate for more…more words…more of his mouth…just more. His lips glided over the flesh his teeth branded soothing the sting.

  “I’m sorry, baby, sorry I didn’t take my time with you. I’m sorry I didn’t prime that pussy before I took it. I’m sorry I didn’t watch you get off, that, I didn’t make it good for you,” he hissed.

  “It was good,” I replied quickly.

  “Did you get off?” he questioned as his hands dropped from my waist to my thighs, slowly trailing down to my knees before forcing them apart.

  I couldn’t speak.

  “You’d know if you got off, you’d be licking your lips and clenching your thighs because the memory alone would get you wet,” he feathered my shoulder with kisses before pulling his head back. “Look at me Lace,” he demanded.

  He twisted me, lifting my hips, so I sat on his thigh, bringing us face to face, nose to nose.

  “So sweet,” he murmured as he took my face in his hands.

  “Blackie,” I whispered, my breath ragged as he turned me inside out.

  “Goddamn Lace,” he grunted, lifting his hips to push against me. “Like it when you say my name, angel,” he said before he sucked my lower lip between his.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged. I kissed him back, exploring his lips with mine, memorizing the feel, the fit, the way they meshed so perfectly.

  Two imperfect people.

  Perfectly suited for one another.

  His fingers snaked into my hair, dragging them through the long waves until he fisted the ends, pulling my head back and breaking the kiss. I groaned in protest but his hot wet mouth closed over my throat and I forgot all about the loss of his mouth on mine.

  “Please,” I begged, as he continued to suck and graze my neck. I ran my fingers through his hair, dragging the rubber band at the base of his neck away and freed his hair from the restraint. It was my turn to tug on the ends until his head lifted and his hooded eyes met mine.

  The room grew silent, the only sound was our breaths as we both stilled and continued to stare at one another.

  “What?” I whispered.

  He opened his mouth to speak when the door opened and Riggs strode in carrying a pizza box.

  “Ah, fuck!” He groaned. “Why? Why am I the only one who walks in on this shit!?” he grunted, tossing the pizza box onto the bed before pointing to us. “You two got some sort of death wish!”

  “Give us a minute, Riggs,” Blackie ground out.

  He rolled his eyes.

  “Join an M.C. they said,” he muttered, turning around. “It’ll be fun they said,” he continued as he slammed the door behind him.

  I stared at the closed door for a moment, too afraid to turn around and look at Blackie, not ready to leave the perfect bubble we were secluded in.

  “Lacey,” he started.

  “This is the part where you send me away,” I said, swallowing against the lump in my throat before I found the courage to turn around and meet his gaze.

  Yeah.

  Here it comes.

  “You’re better off away,” he stated. “You’re too good for this life, girl,” he said huskily.

  “That’s a poor attempt at softening the blow of rejection,” I stammered, sliding off his lap.

  “It’s not rejection,” he said.

  “Feels like it,” I spat.

  “This is me savin
g you one last time because I’m worse than the man with the needle baby,” he paused, standing up and closing the distance between us as he took my hand and laced our fingers together. “I’m the poison inside the needle,” he said, lifting our joined hands to my cheek. “And you? You’re everything good in this world. It’s a good dream, Lace. You and me, it’s a real good dream but dreams don’t come true for men like me.”

  He dropped his hand from mine and took a retreating step back.

  “They do when you want them enough,” I replied.

  He shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweats and focused his eyes on the floor. Without uttering a word Blackie made it clear our conversation was over and so was this stolen moment.

  But there would be more.

  I was sure of it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Four weeks.

  Four Saturday’s I missed.

  On the fifth Saturday, I was discharged from the hospital and to my surprise, Jack was waiting for me. I hadn’t seen him much since the pissing contest over Lacey and thank Christ for that; I didn’t trust myself around him, her—basically anyone with the last name Parrish. Still, the fact that he brushed that shit aside and picked my sorry ass up from the hospital said something…in the larger scheme of things we were brothers.

  I just wasn’t sure how long we’d be able to hold onto that.

  When it would stop being enough.

  I cupped my hand, bringing it to my forehead to act as a visor and shield the sun that was temporarily blinding me.

  “It’s about time you got sprung,” Jack quipped, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pair of my sunglasses. “You’re like a fucking vampire,” he joked.

  “Fuck off,” I hissed, snatching the sunglasses out of his hand and fitting them to my face.

  He laughed, slapping me on the back and tipped his chin toward the parking lot.

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here the boys are waiting at the clubhouse,” he said as we headed to his truck. I folded my discharge papers and shoved them into the back pocket of my jeans.

  “Church?” I questioned as he unlocked his truck and we climbed inside. I watched him nod as he started up the truck, leaning back in his seat before he pulled out of the parking spot.

  “Been too long since the table was full,” he said, glancing over at me. “Glad to have you back and not a moment too soon,” he added before turning his eyes back to the road. “Reina’s been cooking up a storm since six-fucking-thirty this morning,” he fought back the smile itching to break free. “I don’t know if she can cook, but the woman can sure as hell bake, so I think we’re safe,” he said. “Dinner’s at seven.”

  “Dinner?”

  “Dinner,” he confirmed. “You beat the odds man. You and Reina made it out of that fucking ordeal, Jimmy got what he was due, sure, we got a boatload of grief to deal with but I’m taking that shit as a win, and we celebrate fucking wins,” he resolved.

  “I’m not complaining…it’s just different,” I said.

  Celebrations at the Dog Pound usually involved a shit ton of booze, pussy and herb. I don’t recall dinner…and none of us ever had someone cook it for us.

  “Fuck, that’s one way to put it,” he grinned, peering at me from the corner of his eye. “Don’t think Reina would appreciate it if I served up some ass with the lasagna she’s cooking.”

  I laughed.

  “Probably not,” I agreed as my mind wandered and I stared out the window, wondering if Lacey would be at dinner.

  I thought about her morning, noon and night, half the time I tried to sleep, hoping my mind would shut down and I wouldn’t think of her but she fucking invaded my dreams too. It’s the same dream over and over, that brings me back to that night when she showed up at the clubhouse and I fucked her. It’s a rewrite, a second chance, and this time I take my time with her. I give her inexperienced body all of me, teach her how to let go and enjoy, how pain becomes pleasure. I give her everything and I take in return—the look in her eye when she comes, when her body succumbs to a pleasure she doesn’t even know exists.

  I take and take, lying to myself all the while, believing I’m giving her what she needs, what she craves. I thank the women who came before her and the experience they gave me, making me a capable man who can turn an awkward experience into one she won’t forget. I work her over, gauging her body and the way it responds to mine. Every stroke, every bite, every goddamn flick of my tongue, I watch and I learn what she likes and what she dislikes. I give her more of what she likes, show her things she never imagined, and when she’s primed, when I know I’ve made her as wet as possible I take her. I take that virgin pussy, make it mine and silently vow to be the only man who gets her.

  Fucked up shit.

  I clear my throat and take a second to rearrange my dick before climbing out of the truck and following Jack into the clubhouse.

  “What took you two so long?” Pipe complained, rising from the bar stool he was sitting on.

  “Leave ‘em alone they were probably necking in the backseat of the Bulldog’s truck,” Wolf chimed in, a smile spreading across his face as he made his way over, reaching out and messing with my hair. “Glad to see you without the fucking wires and shit,” he said.

  “I hate you,” I groaned, slapping his hand away.

  “I only got love for you, brother,” he teased.

  “Get your ass’s in the chapel,” Jack growled, shaking his head as he threw his arm around Riggs. “Found your heart yet?”

  “Working on it, Prez,” he muttered, falling into stride beside him.

  Heart.

  Jack’s been talking about having heart since he first took the gavel, thinks it’s the only thing that will keep any of us from being reckless.

  We didn’t need heart.

  We needed a prayer.

  We needed God on our side.

  Looking around the room, watching as Wolf dry humped the table and Pipe showed everyone pictures of his immigrant wife’s new tits, it became obvious the heavenly father was skipping over this crew.

  Jack whistled loudly calling attention of everyone at the table and got down to business. We discussed one disaster after another, tried to salvage what was left of our club but I’m not going to lie, we were fucked.

  Financially, the club was hurting. All our money was tied up in the gun business and the deal with Wu was off the table, leaving us with no buyer. We all agreed that the Red Dragons were biding their time and wouldn’t back down just because they got their money. Like, Sun Wu reminded us, we took three lives from him that were worth a damn. The broads didn’t count, he’d likely dispose of them when they ran their course, anyway.

  We needed to strengthen our club both in manpower and bankroll so, we set the plan in motion. Pipe would build up the garage, add an extension that gave him more room to work on larger jobs. Jack would go meet with Vic up in Otisville, iron out all the details for when Jimmy would finally be sent up there to rot, or be at Vic’s mercy, however you wanted to word it Jimmy would meet the reaper. Jack also planned on working with Vic to protect whatever interests he had left now. Vic had juice with several unions, been greasing their palm for years, and Jack would try to get the club in on that. Someone had to take over that shit and before it went to a rival mob organization, Jack wanted dibs.

  Wolf would hit the road, visiting charter after charter to recruit men. He had the roughest job of all because nomads were drifters, men who didn’t stay in one place, men who got antsy and only loved the open road. He had to persuade these guys to come over and join the murder. Good luck with that, brother. I can’t wait to see what he brings back…I predict a shit load of crazy because you’d have to be certifiable to voluntary choose this shit.

  The rest of the club would be on high alert, keeping the clubhouse and our current interests protected.

  That left me.

  I was heading up north in a few days to meet with the Corrupt Bastards. It took some convincing, sin
ce everyone is more concerned about how I’m going to go out on the road when I have to be at the methadone clinic every morning at seven. But it’s my face they want to see. It’s me who struck the deal with them and me who needed to make shit right. I was going to offer them the guns we were going to sell to the Dragons. Bones was going to rig the van, pull up the floor and hide the weapons beneath it, fill the cage with automotive parts courtesy of Pipes garage, that way if I got pulled over on the highway I looked like a traveling salesman—the car parts type. Riggs is going to hack into my medical records and approve a weekend take home of the methadone and then I’ll be on my way.

  It was a lot to digest.

  It all wouldn’t happen overnight and as much as we wished there was a quick fix in the works for us we knew we needed to remain patient.

  We needed to keep our heads and make sure we all stayed breathing.

  But we had tonight, and we had Reina giving us a home cooked meal.

  Tomorrow we would go to hell in a handbasket.

  I told the guys I’d meet them at Jack’s by seven and I could see the doubt in their eyes. They think I’m going on a mission, that, I’m going to walk out the door, call my dealer and get fucked up. It’s tempting.

  But not today.

  Today I choose to be clean.

  I left them to deal with their suspicions and straddled my bike. I didn’t have much time before the sun set and the gates closed, so stopping off at Ro’s wasn’t in the cards. After missing four Saturday’s there was no way I’d get out of there without that sweet woman giving me the third degree.

  I stopped off at a bodega on a corner and bought three colorful bouquets of flowers, dropped them in my saddlebags and took off to Fort Hamilton. I dreaded seeing the dead flowers at Christine’s grave and prepared myself for the guilt that would surface when I saw her name carved into the tombstone.

  I parked my bike off to the side and killed the engine, grabbing the flowers as I climbed the hill.

  Nothing could’ve prepared me for what I saw next.