Castle of Kings: (A Kings MC Romance)

by Betty Shreffler

  “Pity, they’d be really cute together.”

  “I know, right? I’d be happy to have Jenna as a sister-in-law.”

  Ashley and I moved in step with one another toward the bar. We settled on the stools and chatted up Jeff while he made us drinks. After a toast and tossing back the shots, Ashley’s eyes scanned the club members.

  “Where’s this Dillon guy?”

  “He’s the dirty blond playing poker.” I looked around and found him sitting at the table next to Nix with several other club members. “The one with the tattoo wrapping around his arm.” Just as I pointed his direction, he looked up at me, the corner of his mouth raising as he nodded at me.

  “He’s a hottie.”

  “Not bad, right?”

  “Oh yeah, he’s totally your type.”

  “I think I’ll take him a beer.”

  “Good move.”

  I turned to Jeff and ordered two beers. I gave Ashley a wink as I headed to the table where Dillon was sitting. As I came up behind him, I reached around and set the beer down next to his nearly empty one, showing no emotion at the four of a kind he held in his hand.

  “Nice hand,” I leaned in and whispered.

  He winked at me and patted his leg. I slid in, and he wrapped his arm around me, resting his hand on my thigh. Throughout several games, money exchanged hands and our flirting increased. His hand moved farther up my thigh, then settled on my hip and ass. He pulled me tighter to him, completely losing interest in the game altogether.

  “Why don’t you two take it upstairs,” Max barked.

  “Let’s go up to the bar,” Dillon whispered in my ear. “They’re serious players here.”

  Dillon took my hand and led me to the bar. As we neared, my smile left my face. Jake was standing next to Ashley with his hand affectionately on her arm, yet his eyes were locked on me. I’d been so distracted by Dillon, I never saw him arrive at the club. His eyes traveled to Dillon holding my hand, then narrowed, before looking back at Ashley. He said something funny, and she laughed, moving closer toward him. Jealousy erupted, wreaking havoc on my emotions. Dillon didn’t seem to notice. He pulled me up to the bar and wrapped his arm around my waist as he ordered us more drinks.

  “Liz.”

  I heard Ashley’s voice calling my name; I dreaded looking her direction. My hand swiped the shot from Jeff, and I swallowed it quickly before looking.

  She waved, indicating she was leaving and mouthed, “I’m gonna go.” Jake deadpanned in my direction, put his hand on her back and guided her through the crowd. I stood there in shock, angry that earlier in the day he was kissing me, and now, he was taking my friend home to have sex with her. Relief washed over me that I hadn’t fallen for his games. I could see how easily I would’ve been tossed aside.

  Suddenly, Dillon’s presence wasn’t enough of a distraction. I tried to keep up conversation, but my mind kept wandering off, thinking about Jake and Ashley and what was surely going on between them. I was pissed and yet, had no right to be. I’d turned Jake down twice, and I hadn’t even mentioned Jake to Ashley, but the jealousy was still digging a deep hole in my chest.

  Dillon must have noticed the change in my mood. He told me he wanted to get back into another poker game and abandoned me moments later. I sat at the bar alone, upset, and ready to go home.

  “Why so glum, buttercup?” Jenna found me and patted me on the back.

  “You having fun?” I asked. Her cheeriness was not something I was in the mood for.

  “Yeah, but you don’t look like you are. What happened to the cute blond you were hanging out with?”

  “He went back to playing poker. I wasn’t fun company.”

  “I’m actually getting somewhere with Nix. You mind if we stay a while longer?”

  “Yeah, sure.” My mood instantly went from foul to worse.

  I wasn’t about to make nice and chat with anyone with my bad mood. I preferred to be alone to brood over how shitty my night was going. After ordering a couple more beers, I took them with me to the back porch, behind Nix’s office. I dragged a chair close to the railing and rested my legs on it as I sat back and drank my foul mood away.

  Twenty minutes later, the liquor and beer hit me, and I rushed past the front room to the bathroom. On the way back, I noticed Jenna still sitting at the table with Nix, looking like she was having a great time. Seeing that only stirred my irritation further. I was way past ready to go home, but wasn’t about to ruin her night. I ambled back to the porch and leaned down to grab my empty beers. Footsteps behind me had me turning quickly to see who was joining me.

  “What do you want?”

  Jake had his knee bent, and his back and boot against the wall.

  “How much have you had to drink?”

  “What do you care?”

  “Why are you mad? Did Dillon upset you?”

  “It’s not your problem, Jake. Why are you back anyway? Ashley wasn’t enough for you? Or did she bore you, and you’re looking for more entertainment?”

  “You’re upset I left with her?”

  “No! You can do whatever you want. I just don’t get you. Earlier today you were kissing me in my living room, and a few hours later, you’re taking my friend home to have sex with.”

  “You’re jealous.” A wicked smile spread his lips.

  “I’m not jealous,” I huffed and rolled my eyes.

  “You seemed happy with Dillon. Why get upset over me leaving with Ashley?”

  “Really?” Hearing her name escape his lips put my anger into overdrive. “You need to ask? I was flirting with Dillon. You had sex with Ashley.”

  “Did I?”

  “You did, didn’t you?”

  “What if I did?”

  “Enough with the games, Jake. I’m not in the mood.” I stormed past him, and he stretched out his arm, catching me by the waist. With ease, he pulled me into his arms. His warm chocolate eyes looked down at me, and I saw that same hunger fill them before he kissed me.

  “Seriously!” I raised my hand to his chest and shoved him back. “You just had sex with my friend and now, you’re trying to kiss me. Fuck off, Jake. Stay away from me.”

  “You’ve had too much to drink.” His hand took hold of my wrist, pulling me back to him.

  “Jake, my patience is wearing thin. Let go.”

  “Calm down.” His grip tightened and he turned my body toward the wall, pinning me between him and it.

  “I’m not going to calm down. You’re an asshole, and I want you to stay away from me.”

  “Fine, but you need to be taken home.”

  “It’s not gonna be you,” I spat.

  “Damn it, Peach.”

  My back went to the wall and his lips slammed into mine. I pulled my head back and slapped my palm across his cheek. His hand took hold of my wrist.

  “I didn’t have sex with her.”

  “What?”

  He let go of my wrist.

  “Why not?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Yes.”

  Jake’s eyes narrowed in on mine. “Seeing you with Dillon, I didn’t like it. I want you all to myself, but if you pull a stunt like that again, I’ll do more than just give your friend a ride home.”

  My jaw dropped, and I struggled to form words in my drunken state. His hands slipped into mine and raised my arms above my head and brought his lips within a whisper of mine. His bold, brown eyes studied my face.

  “I don’t play nice. I’m not a nice guy.”

  His kiss came quick and fierce, ravaging my mouth and claiming it with his. He left my lips and covered my neck, leaving a trail of wet kisses up then back down. My head leaned back as my body betrayed me, arching forward, wanting him to touch me, wanting his mouth and hands to claim every part of me.

  “But I don’t think you want a nice guy. Do you, Peach?” His hot breath seared my ear, sending sparks igniting throughout my body.

  “I don’t.”

  “You want me, don�
�t you?”

  He released my hands and took hold of my waist as his lips came back to mine. His tongue ventured in and out, making my breaths heavy and leaving me aching for more of him. His hand caressed my hip before both hands unbuttoned my jeans. Every frustrated feeling—between my brother’s warnings and my shit storm of confused emotions—evaporated the moment his fingers touched me. My head tilted back, and I moaned with relief.

  “Fuck, Peach. You’re soaking wet for me,” he growled into my mouth as he claimed it with an aggressive need, teetering me over the edge. He added another finger and pressed against my clit, working me into a frenzy as I gyrated my hips against his hand and moaned with pleasure.

  “Tell me what you want, Peach. Say it, so I can hear you.”

  “Make me come, Jake. Please, make me come.”

  “That’s what I wanna hear.”

  His mouth went to my neck and in between wet kisses, he’d bite and nibble, then kiss softly again, his fingers working me into a rag doll sagging against the wall. I wrapped my arms around him for support as my knees grew weak, moaning through my orgasm.

  His arm held the wall next to me as he leaned in intimately. “I like the way you sound when you come in my hand, Peach. I wanna hear it again, but only next time, louder.” His kiss came soft and affectionate. He removed his hand and took me by the waist, holding me close to him. “I’m taking you home with me. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you alone, drunk, and eager to have a cock in you.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  ___

  LIZ

  JAKE RUBBED MY thigh when he cut the engine outside his small ranch home.

  “Check your phone, Peach.”

  After removing his helmet, I pulled my cell from my pocket and glanced at the screen. I’d been worried before we even left the bar about leaving Jenna behind. She’d responded with lots of emojis and thanked me for leaving her with Nix, who’d given her a ride home on his bike.

  I let out a breath of relief, and Jake chuckled at me before taking my hand, leading me to his front door. On the other side of his door there were sounds of excited whimpers and claws scratching on a crate. Jake opened his door and set his helmet on a black, metal stand below a wall mount with pegs for jackets. On the other side of his bachelor pad living room was a boxer puppy eagerly waiting to be let out. Jake opened the crate and the large puppy nearly tripped over its giant feet to get to me. When he went to jump, Jake scolded him and the puppy sat down, its tail bouncing on the floor, waiting for attention.

  “I can’t believe it. Hard ass Jake has a puppy.”

  The corner of his mouth raised. “His name’s Rocky. Ten-month-old boxer.”

  I scratched behind Rocky’s ear and his leg started tapping the floor.

  “You got ‘em trained already?”

  “Of course. No dog of mine is gonna be unruly.” Jake whistled, Rocky snapped to action, and followed Jake to a back door. They disappeared outside, and I walked around Jake’s house, checking out everything in sight. He had a small, brown leather couch sitting in the center of the living room with an aged, heavy, metal chest as a coffee table. In front of that was a TV stand made of some kind of thick, quality wood with a large screen TV above it.

  Straight ahead was a kitchen with fairly new appliances and an island with bar stools which cut right through the center. Behind the kitchen was a mud room with the door to go out back. To the right of the kitchen, a hallway led to a bedroom and bathroom on the left side and another smaller bedroom on the right. Jake’s bedroom was clean with dark, wood furniture, and a large, black and white framed photo of a Harley motorcycle on the wall.

  Looking at the nightstand beside the bed had me wondering what I’d find inside. A box of condoms was my first guess. I slipped into his room and turned on the lamp. My hand was on the knob of the drawer when I heard the backdoor open. I clicked the lamp off, rushed out of the room, and back down the hall. Jake put Rocky back in his crate, then watched me as he shed his jacket and tossed it on the island. He leered at me with a mischievous grin before he turned and stalked toward me. I giggled at the provocative look in his eyes and sprinted toward his bedroom.

  Within a few steps, he had me locked in his arms. His heated breath warmed my ear.

  “You like the chase as much as I do, don’t you, Peach?” Fingertips trailed across my abdomen as he pulled my ear between his teeth. His hand dipped into my jeans and rubbed me until I was wet with need.

  “Yes, I do,” I breathed.

  His left hand took hold of my breast and kneaded it in his hand as his fingers dove deeper, his hot searing kisses leaving imprints on my neck.

  “I want you to undress for me. I wanna see everything.”

  “What makes you think I will?” His skilled hand already had me weak in the knees.

  “Because you want to.” His finger pulsed against my clit and my breath escaped me.

  When his hand left me and he sat, facing me on the bed, I nearly pounced onto his lap and stripped us both, but when his eyes fell on me, the obvious anticipation and arousal made my body buzz with excitement. I wanted to give him exactly what he wanted because he was right, I wanted it too. Jake reached over and clicked the lamp on as I slowly lifted my shirt over my head. Leaning down with my ass in the air, I untied the strings to my boots and slid out of them. Next came one bra strap, then the other before unclasping it and letting it fall to the floor.

  Jake ran his hand across his chin and licked his lips as his eyes stayed locked on my body, watching every movement with that predatory look he had every time I was in his sights.

  Slowly, I unbuttoned my jeans and slid them over my hips, revealing the matching black lace thong. He bit into his bottom lip, his eyes resting on the V-shape of my underwear. With my thumbs hooked onto the straps, I pulled them off and let them drop to the floor before stepping out of them.

  Jake rose from his bed and placed his hands on my hips, slowly tracing them over the curves of my frame. With those dark, brown eyes fixated on me, he palmed my ass and lifted my legs, wrapping them around his waist. He turned me toward the bed and laid me on it.

  “Moan as loud as you want to. I wanna hear you unravel beneath me.”

  One hand took hold of the outside of my thigh as his head went down to my waist. Slowly, his tongue flicked across my belly button, then left a wet trail down to the dampest part of me. When his mouth claimed me, my back arched. I could barely contain the euphoric sensation coursing through me, and I hadn’t even reached my orgasm. His wicked tongue dove and resurfaced and caressed over my clit only to repeat. My palms fisted his comforter as I moaned and begged for more. I was losing myself to this man’s control and didn’t want it to end. His fingers filled me, pussy and ass, and worked me into a trembling, moaning fanatic until I finally unraveled.

  His lips gave soft kisses along the inside of my thigh, then continued up my stomach until he was laying on top of me. His erection pressed into me, and I raised my hips, putting him in the most pleasurable position. Taking hold of my thigh, he locked me against him as he pushed into me.

  “Can you feel that? How much I want to bury myself in you right now?” His thrust came harder and I let out a breath of pleasure when the hard knot in jeans rubbed against my clit.

  “Yes,” I whimpered.

  “Do you want me inside of you?” His lips moved against mine. He thrust again and I tilted my head back riding the wave of pleasure drifting through my body.

  “Jake… please.”

  A sound of satisfaction escaped his lips. The pressure of his erection left me and was followed by the sound of his belt coming undone. Palming the fabric of his shirt, I hastily helped him remove it. His shirt swam through the air, his mouth slamming down on mine. One hand wrapped around my hair tie and pulled it loose. Dark spirals fell around the palms of his hands. Instantly, he fisted the loose strands as his lips continued to ravage me.

  Pounding at the front door, followed by the broken voice of a woman calling
Jake’s name, snapped me out of my joyride. Jake growled into my mouth, clearly irritated by the interruption.

  “Stay here,” he told me as he stepped off the bed. With his back to me, I could see his muscles had tensed. With one quick glance back at me, he adjusted his jeans and disappeared around the door.

  The sound of Rocky’s wagging tail hitting the crate was followed by Jake opening his front door. I dressed as quickly as I could and stepped into the hallway to listen. The woman was distressed and begging Jake to help her. Between tears, she apologized for not having anywhere else to go. As quietly as I could, I moved to the end of the hallway to see her. Jake’s back was to me, his arms around the woman, soothing her and whispering something in her ear. She looked up at me, and I saw the damage around her eye.

  “I’m sorry… I didn’t know you had someone here.”

  Jake looked over his shoulder at me. His expression changed from one of affection to irritation. Embarrassed, I turned back toward his bedroom to get my shoes and leave as soon as possible. I finished lacing my second boot when he walked in.

  “Don’t leave.”

  “Who is she?”

  “A friend.”

  “The kind of friend you have sex with?”

  “Doesn’t matter, it’s in the past. I need to leave for a little while. I’m taking her to the Club, so she has a safe place for the night. I want you here when I get back.”

  “I think it’s best I go home.” I stood up from his bed. “Whatever that is,” I pointed toward the woman in his living room, “doesn’t look like it’s in the past. There was something there. I saw it.” I tried to move past him, but he took hold of my arm and pulled me to him. One arm wrapped around my lower back, the other held my face in his palm.

  “I won’t be gone long. Stay here… for me.”

  His eyes had gone soft. It was clearly important to him I stay. That shattered the wall I had built seeing him embrace the woman in his living room. A part of me wanted to walk out and not look back, but I knew I’d have regrets if I did. The emotion in his eyes was a magnet, pulling at my heart, keeping me in place, my curiosity on the edge. I nodded, and he raised my chin and gave me an affectionate, slow kiss.