by Debra Kayn
She shook her head. "Not for sex. You want me to only be with you?"
"Yeah." His mouth softened. "Haven't you heard a word I said?"
She closed her eyes, holding her tears back. That was the most he'd said to her about what was going through his thoughts. She wanted to savor ever word and not freak him out by jumping into his arms and shouting that she only wanted to be with him too.
"Doll? I can't keep going on. You're either with me or you're not with me." He pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her back, tugging her twice to get her attention. "If you're looking for romance or sweet words, you're not going to find them with me. All I can tell you is what happened in there when you were dancing, and what's happening right here is making me lose my fucking head. You said I might break your heart and I probably will. You said I might hurt after we're through, and I'm already hurting bad."
"I don't want you to hurt," she whispered.
He leaned his head down and nuzzled her. "Are you going to get on my bike?"
"No." She kissed him softly. "Because I do know you have other things on your mind that don't involve me. You sort that out, you keep opening up to me in the meantime, and then you can ask me again. My answer might be different if I believed you wanted me forever."
"You're turning me down?" he asked, shaking his head. "This is what you wanted."
"It is, but not until your heart tells you to keep me." She paused. "Right now, it's your dick doing the talking, and you didn't even realize that during my dance, it wasn't the other men that had me dancing, it was you."
"I don't want you to dance," he stated.
She rubbed her forehead. "That's not your decision to make."
"It is if you're serious about staying with me." Lee shoved his hands in his pocket and looked up into the night sky. "Jesus..."
"Lee, talk to me," she urged.
He pulled his hands free and lifted his arms out to the sides. "I'm taking a big fucking chance at hurting us both, doll. I don't know how else to tell you what I want. I just can't stand to have you dance around other men. It's not that I think dancing for money is wrong. It doesn't bother me when Jojo or Monica and the rest of the girls dance. When you walked out, I wanted to kill every man in the room, including my MC brothers."
"Why?" she said, pushing him to dig deeper.
He shook his head. "I don't know. Because it matters to me."
"Why does it matter?"
He frowned, gazing at her. "Because they're seeing what's mine."
She exhaled in relief, having her answer. His confession wasn’t much, but for a man like Lee who had no idea what he was feeling or needing, it was the closest thing she'd get to knowing how much he wanted her.
"Since you dragged me out here and I didn't get to do individual dances, it doesn't look like I'm dancing, does it?"
His cheek muscle jumped as he fought a cocky smile. She laid her head on his chest. His heart raced against her cheek. For how much dancing entertained her during her time in Federal and gave her something to look forward to besides entertaining the bikers, she'd give it all up to have one man in her life. A man who shook from emotions, the way Lee was right now, and was willing to put her first when he thought he was unlovable.
"I'll talk to the girls in the morning and see if they'd mind if I continued managing them, while I take myself off the dance schedule," she said. "While we're together...until my uncle comes back."
He kissed her hard. She murmured against his lips. He chuckled and pulled away.
"Did you just call me an asshole?" he said.
"Of course not." She rolled her eyes to keep from laughing over her lie. "I said you're a sexy guy."
"Cute, doll." He looped his arm across her shoulders and led her to the backdoor of the Sterling Building. "Let's go wait for the others, and then get you home, so I can have you to myself."
Her insides quivered and she hugged his middle as they went through the door. Risa caught her eye and frowned. She smiled at her friend to reassure her everything was okay. Tomorrow, she'd have a lot of explaining to do, and she wasn't sure where to start, because she wasn't sure what was or wasn't happening in her life.
In fact, she was more confused than she'd ever been. She held onto Lee tighter. She was also the happiest she'd been in a long time because every day brought Lee closer to her.
Chapter Sixteen
A flash of lightning through the dark clouds lit the air over the Bitterroot Mountains and raindrops splattered the windshield of the truck. Shari turned on the windshield wipers and glanced in her rearview mirror. Lee still followed her on his Harley.
Rain dripped in her open window. She ignored the water. The moisture in the ninety-degree heat came as a relief, and she'd dry quickly enough. Since it was Monday, she looked forward to going back to the club and staying inside the air conditioned building.
Thunder cracked the sky, and Lee roared up beside her, motioned for her to pull over up ahead and speeded toward the covered viaduct. She followed at a safe distance. The summer storm meant slippery conditions on the roads after having weeks of dry weather.
Lee turned under the viaduct and disappeared behind the cement barrier where the river flowed through town alongside the back street. She turned on her blinker and followed him. By the time she came to a stop, Lee stood beside his motorcycle shaking his head and sweeping his wet hair out of his face.
Protected from the elements underneath the interstate, Shari hopped out of the truck. "Do you want to put your motorcycle in the back of the pickup, and I can drive us both to the club?"
"Nah." Lee sat on the concrete barrier that separated the public parking area from the river "Ramps are back at the warehouse. I'll wait. The rain shouldn't last long."
"I'll hang with you. It's Jojo's night to make dinner." She pressed her legs against the barrier and leaned over to look in the water. "You've got to love the rivers here. Deadly in the winter and peaceful in the summer. If the lightning and thunder stopped, we could go swimming and cool off."
Lee hooked his finger into the belt loop on her shorts and pulled her over to him. "Don't lean over so far."
Lightning flashed. Shari stepped over Lee's leg and snuggled against his chest. "Wait for it."
One, two, three, four, five—thunder made another appearance overhead. She smiled up at Lee. "It's not too close yet."
He chuckled, smoothing the hair back from her face. "Does anything scare you?"
There were a hundred things she was afraid of and kept her awake at night. Lately though, most of her fears revolved around Lee and nothing compared to how she worried if today would be her last time with him. "Not storms. I love them."
A bright flash came from the left over the rise of the mountain. Lee watched the sky. She watched Lee, and because she was looking at him, she saw the grin go from a quiver on his lips to a teeth-showing smile.
"What's so—" She squealed as he swept her up in his arms and carried her behind the pillar holding the interstate up over their heads and out into the rain.
"Not scared of storms, huh?" He set her down on her feet, and kept his arms around her.
The rain poured down on her, washing away her answer. She tilted her face toward the sky, blinking against the drops landing on her eyelids. She'd never witnessed Lee dodge danger or let go of himself long enough to be silly. She reached out for his hands and twined her fingers through his.
The cool wetness from the rain was a refreshing break from the heat. She let her head fall back and closed her eyes. Wet clothes, lightning, danger...none of it mattered.
He pulled her tight against him. She lowered her gaze to his face, and still ended up blinking the moisture free of her vision as she took in Lee.
The rain slid down his face. She brought their hands up and wiped his upper lip with the tip of her finger, enjoying the way his mouth curved under her touch. The small reactions she often got from him made more of an impact on her than having sex—though sex was always wonderf
ul. It was the down times they shared together that she enjoyed the most. He'd hold her hand, tickle her until she surrendered to laughter, and he'd even taken to sneaking candy bars out of the kitchen and sharing it with her as they lay in bed. A bed too small for two adults. She suspected that even if they shared a bigger bed, he'd still be a full contact sleeper. When they were together, she was never alone. He made sure she knew he was there, even in sleep.
His hair flopped down into his face. She hooked the strand behind his ear, and laughed when he shook his head, freeing his hair again. He growled and kissed her gently.
Thunder cracked and she gasped, caught off guard. Lee continued to kiss her and she no longer sensed the rain falling on her bare shoulders and running down her body. She circled his neck with her arm, pulling him down. Or, maybe she latched onto him, because what he was doing with his tongue was more exciting than the storm closing in on her.
He'd asked her if she was afraid of storms. The only one she was afraid of was the one inside of her that Lee created.
Lee's hand dropped to her ass. She arched into him. The dampness, the wind, the storm did nothing to cool the heat rolling off him. The taste of Lee mingled with the raindrops and his lips slid over her mouth and made a trail along her jaw. She stretched, tilting her head to give him more room to explore. In no hurry, he sucked, nibbled, licked, and finally latched on to the sensitive skin above her collarbone. Her body trilled. The rhythmic suction from his mouth rocked her into oblivion. She no longer worried about being out in the open, under the viaduct.
Her wet tank, stuck to her chest, only titillating her more. Breathless and blind from the rain, she panted, tugging on Lee's vest.
He straightened. She inhaled a shuddering breath at the abrupt change, but he only tugged her hand, pulling her in the direction of the truck. Another loud crackle sounded somewhere overhead. From the pounding of her heart, she swore they were directly under the storm.
"Get in before you get hit by lightning." Lee lifted her into the passenger side of the truck and followed her inside, shutting the door.
Her wet shorts refused to slide on the leather seat and slipped down her hips. She laughed, wiping the rain from her face. Lee grabbed his vest behind his neck, and peeled it over his head. She eyed his damp chest.
"You keep looking, I'm going to give you what you want," Lee said.
Her hands stilled and she looked out the front, the side, the back window, and whispered, "I don't think anyone can see us behind the pillar."
"Strip, doll." Lee lifted his hips and struggled with his belt, his zipper, and fought getting his wet jeans down over his hips.
She leaned back, bonking her head on the armrest of the driver's door. With her legs in the air, she kicked and wiggled, pulling at her shorts, but the wetness had them sticking to her skin.
Lee sat calmly, watching her struggle and stroking himself. She gave up the fight and let her legs sprawl were they fell.
"Do you know how hot that is?" She reached wildly for something to grasp, and latched onto the free hand he offered, never missing a stroke with his other hand.
She sat up. "If I could get my shorts off, I'd fuck you hard."
His brow lifted, and he looked down at her heaving breasts straining against her wet, white tank. "Maybe you could wiggle around again."
"Maybe you could help me?" Her voice grew higher as desperation came to her.
She wanted to have him inside of her and have his hot skin against her. Now her wet clothes only irritated her and were uncomfortable.
Lee patted the bench seat between her legs. "Kneel."
He pulled her up and with a grin, went to work prying her shorts over her hips, down her thighs. Even the back of her panties were wet from the rain. Overheated from the exertion of removing her clothes, her heart raced.
The muggy temperature inside the truck suffocated her and she plopped down on her bare butt and kicked off her shorts. Lee's hands were on her before she could get back up. He grasped her waist and lifted. She landed on his lap, facing him.
While he dug a condom out of his wallet, she took over stroking him. His hot, silky cock pulsed in her hand. Warmth flashed over her body. He was perfect. Hard bulky shoulders, wide chest, and enough meat on him she felt feminine and graceful.
The second he had the protection on, he slid his hands under her armpits, lifted, and set her down on his hardness. Wet and ready, she slid down on a moan. The position allowed her to take every inch and she swallowed, swearing she could feel him clear throughout her body.
Lee pulled her bra down over her breasts and cupped her. She moved back, forward, back, and held on to his shoulders. The forward motion hit a spot deep inside of her and she concentrated on moving, rubbing, until he planted his hands on her hips and took her breast into her mouth. Her legs tensed, and her movements became jerky.
"So fucking tight," he said with her nipple in his mouth.
He sprawled his hands across her back. She leaned forward and he sucked more of her breast into his mouth. His tongue caressed her nipple between each pull.
The heavy downpour splashed into the open window, peppering their bare skin with water, heightening Shari's arousal. She wildly smoothed his hair back from his face. The sight of his eyes closed, his brow furrowed left her gasping.
He wasn't only in her, he was into her. Big time.
Lee lifted his head and leaned back against the seat. She slowed her movements, rocking on him. His fingers found her pussy, and he stroked her clit.
"You wanted to fuck me," he whispered, hoarsely. "Then fuck me."
His words. His challenge. His voice, curled around her. She quivered and moved faster. Every thrust, every withdraw, brought her more pleasure. He circled his finger and her insides spiraled tighter. Her wetness slapped against his thickness. Each caress drew a new sensation from her body until her sex rippled and she couldn't stop.
She bounced, reaching and pushing. Lee's free hand grasped her ass, guiding her, not letting her come off him. Frantic, she dug her nails into his shoulders.
Higher and higher. She held her breath, needing one more. Just one more.
His finger slid over her sensitive clit, and the passion pushed her over the edge. She sat fully on him and draped her arms around his neck. Each jolt of her orgasm tightened the walls of her pussy, spreading pleasure throughout her. She moaned. Suspended in time, she quivered with each intoxicating pulse, praying it'd never end
"Jesus," Lee said, groaning.
His hips came off the seat and his legs fought to straighten in the cramped space of the truck. She held on tight, and when he wrapped his arms around her back and held her to his chest, she absorbed his shudders. Weak and fully sated, they melted into one. She closed her eyes and rode out the tremors that continued rocking both their bodies.
Several minutes later, she opened her eyes and found the strength to push against him and sit straight up. He groaned, but there was nothing pleasurable about the sound this time.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He held himself stiff. "Off, doll."
She reluctantly slid off him and climbed over his leg to sit on the seat. "Did I hurt you?"
"No." He leaned to the side, reached underneath him, and pulled out his pistol. "I'm lucky I didn't get shot in the ass."
She stared at him in horror, until he grinned. The situation hit her. They were under the viaduct, both of them half naked, and Lee hadn't worried about where he'd left his gun, or who watched them. He also never mentioned the limited time they had together.
She smiled, leaning over to kiss him. "You're awesome."
"Yeah?" He chuckled, pulling up his jeans. "I wonder if the good sheriff will go easy on us for public nudity, indecent exposure, and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit within city limits."
"What?"
He pointed out the front of the truck. "We've got company."
She caught sight of the Sheriff's SUV. "Oh, my God."
Sh
eriff Colby walked up to the truck, his hand on the butt of the pistol at his hip. From her view, Shari couldn't see under the billed hat on Sheriff Colby's head to figure out if this was a social call or they were about to get arrested.
She bent at the waist, hiding behind the dashboard of the truck, and wiggled into her tank. She barely had her shorts over her hips when the sheriff stood in front of the opened window on the driver's side.
"I received a call of suspicious activity under the viaduct," Sheriff Colby said, his gaze falling on the amber colored panties on the steering wheel and Lee's vest shoved up on the dash. "Now, I'd hate to write a ticket for indecent exposure for the show I was given when I pulled up ten minutes ago—"
"Ten minutes?" Shari muttered.
Sheriff Colby tipped the brim of his hat and lifted his brows, and with a straight face said, "At least."
She swung her arm out the window, slapping the sheriff on the arm. "You could've honked or put on your siren. You didn't have to watch."
"Doll?" Lee laid the pistol on the seat and grabbed his vest, shaking the drops of rain off the leather. "It'd probably be best if you don't abuse the sheriff."
"Good advice, Ramchett." Sheriff Colby's control slipped and the edge of his mouth lifted. "Storm's over if you haven't noticed. It'd be best if you ride out of town."
Lee stepped out of the truck, put on his vest, pocketed his pistol, and walked around the front of the truck. He lifted his chin at the sheriff, and then stepped between the sheriff and Shari.
"I want you to head out first. I'll follow." Lee leaned inside, kissed her hard, and chuckled against her lips. "I sure do like that blush that's on your cheeks, doll."
Lee turned around and headed toward his Harley. She glanced at the sheriff, and found him grinning. She saw nothing funny in the situation.
"Have a good evening, Shari," Sheriff Colby said.
She snapped out of her shock, stuck her head out the window, and yelled, "Not one word to anyone in town. Do you hear me?"
The sheriff lifted his arm in dismissal and kept walking. She turned the key and pulled out from behind the pillar. Lee waved her around him, and she drove out onto the main street and headed out of town. She glanced in her rearview mirror.