by Ravenna Tate
“You knew her?”
“She was in my psych class. Long story short, Ronnie told me he was in love with her and wanted a divorce. That was bad enough, but in the eighteen months we were married, he’d racked up quite a bit of credit card debt, to which I was a co-signer.”
Tannin held up a hand. “Wait a second. You knew this guy your entire life, dated him in high school, and in the space of eighteen months of marriage, he fell out of love and cheated on you?”
“There were signs.”
“When?”
“Always. Definitely all through high school. I ignored them because he was the only guy I had ever dated. The only guy I’d had sex with up to that point. I thought he was the one. I buried my head in the sand.”
He gave her a long, searching look before nodding. “Go on.”
“Instead of doing it the right way, he took off. Left school, took Lori with him, and fled the country.”
“What the fuck?”
“Yeah. My reaction, too. Only problem was, I was stuck with the debt. And the more attorney bills I racked up trying to find him and make him do something about it, the deeper in debt I became.”
“That is not right.”
“No, it’s not, but it was my reality. They couldn’t find him, so they came after me. I scaled back to part time classes and worked two jobs. I moved into the dorms because it was cheaper. It took me a year to get the divorce decree, and get to the point where I made a dent in paying down the debt. I had to file bankruptcy, though, to get completely out from under it.”
“Well that really blows.”
“I had no choice. I’d already lost my car by then. They had nothing left to take from me, but on the advice of an attorney, I filed. I still finished my combined degree in six years by taking classes every summer. After I graduated, I was lucky enough to find a PR firm who hired me as an associate. I saved every penny possible, worked a second job on weekends, and one year later I started my company.”
“That’s one hell of a survival story, Rai.”
“No, it’s not. Beating cancer is a survival story. Losing a limb but coming back to win a marathon is a survival story. Starting a foundation to help victims of violent crime after you’ve been a victim of one yourself is a survival story. I’m as stupid in relationships as I am in business, apparently.”
“You’re not stupid.”
She couldn’t even meet his gaze, much less respond.
“Where is Ronnie now?”
“I have no clue. Last time I bothered to have someone check, he and Lori were married and living off the grid in Aruba or the Cayman Islands. We weren’t sure which, or even if either of those were correct.”
“Why don’t you find him and bring him to justice? Those islands have extradition treaties.”
“It’s on my to-do list.” He gave her a droll look. “Look, it’s not that I don’t want to see that happen. It’s that I’ve already spent a ton of money getting the divorce and trying to find him. I don’t have unlimited time to do the latter. There’s a statute of limitations on these things.”
“It’s still not right.”
“I totally agree with you. But until the shit hit the fan with Vito Cinquepalmi, I believed I was doing quite well. My revenge for what he did to me was to live well and become successful.”
“You’ve done that.”
“Tannin, I will likely lose my company. Even if Jennifer, Timmy, and Wade go down for whatever charges the Federal courts can slap on them, my smaller clients weren’t in on this. They can sue me for breach of contract, and they would win. I’ll have to liquidate the company, and that’s assuming I will still have access to the capital, in order to pay off their contracts. No clients equals no marketing firm. I’m back to square one.”
She sucked in a huge breath in an attempt to force back the panic racing through her. Saying the words out loud brought the reality crashing down on her head. “All because of a fucking criminal! A goddamn Mob boss who took advantage of my eagerness and my stupidity…”
“You are not stupid.”
“All right. I’m not stupid. I’m unlucky. Better?” She swiped at the tears spilling over her lashes. Tannin pulled her into his arms, but she didn’t want to be held. She wanted to wake up and never have heard of Vito Cinquepalmi or the Mob. She wanted to go back to fifth grade, when Ronnie kissed her for the first time underneath the sliding board on the playground at school. And this time, she wouldn’t kiss him back. This time, she’d walk away and never speak to him again.
“It’s okay.” Tannin stroked her hair, and the warmth of his strong body slowly seeped through the cold surrounding her heart and soul. Rai cried in his arms, and he let her, kissing her hair, caressing it, and gently pulling her from the chair onto his lap so he could cradle her tighter.
He held her the way one would hold a sobbing child, or a lover. This gruff biker, who had been groomed from his childhood to take over a multi-billion-dollar corporation. This man who had turned his back on all the wealth and power he’d inherited, because his father was nothing more than a criminal at heart. This man who befriended the son of a biker, and whose own father had that friend killed.
She finally understood what Tannin meant by the Demons on Wheels MC calling each other Brothers. They were a family, but not like the Mob. Not even close. The MC shared a commonality born out of respect and a chosen way of life.
It wasn’t that different from the corporate types she’d met, dated, and fucked. Except they were only united on the surface. Turn your back on one of them and they’d stab you without giving it a second thought. Right before they licked the knife clean and walked away.
The men in this MC would never hurt or betray each other. They’d sooner cut off an arm. No wonder Tannin had preferred their company, even as a child. If her parents were still alive, they’d tell her she should have chosen a man like Tannin, not Ronnie. They’d never liked him. If only she’d listened. But you can’t go back. You can only play the hand you were dealt, and move forward.
“Someone will be up here to collect this tray soon. Do you want to put your robe on?”
She didn’t give a shit if any of them saw her naked right now. “What should I do all day? Besides wait for Russell to answer my email, that is? I’m so lost here.”
“Take a shower, get dressed, and I’ll show you the club.”
“You know, it occurred to me that if I’d kept going last night, after I threw up on your boots, I’d probably be dead by now.”
“You threw up on my jeans, too.”
Rai laughed softly. “Yes, that’s right. I did. I offered to have them cleaned for you. I’m so sorry.”
“No need to be.”
“How do you do that? Make me laugh when all I want to do is curl up in a corner and cry?”
“I don’t know. I only know I’m glad you didn’t drive away.”
It was still difficult to breathe, but not because of the earlier panic. One look into Tannin’s eyes and Rai forgot her own name. “So am I. I’d like that shower now, but not alone.”
His slow, sexy grin sent shivers down her spine. “That’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time. But let’s go across the hall to my room and take it. I don’t want anyone walking in on us.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tannin couldn’t recall the last time he’d showered with a woman. Slept in the same bed with one, yes. Fucked one more than once in a night, definitely. But not this. This was intimate and playful. The kind of thing you did with a girlfriend or a wife.
None of the Brothers were married. Not in the legal sense of the word. A few had old ladies, but most of them enjoyed their carefree, fuck-anyone-they-wanted-to status way too much to consider getting tied down. They hurt no one, and no one’s expectations were blown to hell and back.
“You are seriously an amazing kisser.”
He smiled down at this dark-haired beauty who had come into his life in the most bizarre way imaginable. “This coming fro
m the woman whose mouth makes my dick ache.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
He chuckled. “Yeah. Very good.” Tannin grabbed a bottle of shampoo off the shelf and poured some into his palm. “You’ll have to deal with this brand today. We forgot to grab yours.”
“I think I can handle it.”
“Turn around. I don’t want to get this in your eyes.” She did as he asked, and Tannin washed her hair, taking care to go slowly. It was a tangled mess. He’d never done this to another person and wasn’t sure how rough he might accidentally be.
“That feels wonderful.”
“Back up to rinse it off. I don’t have any conditioner.” Isn’t that what women used?
“I’ll survive one day without it.”
“How do you keep it so curly?”
“I don’t have to try. It’s that way on its own.”
He ran his fingers through the tresses until so trace of soap remained. “I love it. It’s wild and sexy.”
“Thank you.” She turned to face him. “My turn.”
After she’d washed his hair, they took turns with the bar of soap, gently washing each other’s bodies. Tannin’s cock was ready to burst, and her soft moans drove him to distraction. If anyone came into his room and disturbed them now, he would have to kill that person, Brother or not.
By the time they were done teasing each other with soap and water, Tannin had to seriously concentrate hard not to come. He licked her nipples, squeezing her tits together. “I need to fuck you. I can’t take anymore.”
“Condoms are out there somewhere.”
“Then I need to fuck your mouth or your ass, because I can’t wait.”
“Then I’ll go and get one, along with some lube. You’re not fucking me in the ass without either, Tannin.”
Oh God. “All right. Stay here. I swear I’ll be right back.” She was really going to let him do it! He nearly slipped stepping out of the shower. Before returning to the bathroom, he put on a condom, and took the bottle of lube in there with him.
“Your ass is really bruised, otherwise I’d spank and flog you again.”
Her sly grin sent fresh arousal coursing through him. “You can swat me a little. I’ll be all right.”
“Jesus.” Tannin place the lube on the shelf and turned her around, bending her over and holding her by the waist. He glanced around, grinning when he spotted the bath brush. Yeah. That will do.
After grabbing it off the hook, he brushed it across her ass cheeks.
“Oh … what is that? Your bath brush?”
“Very perceptive.” Tannin tapped it against her ass gently, to gauge whether she really could take any swats this morning. When she moaned softly and arched her back, he hit her harder. “Seriously the sexiest woman I have ever met, Rai.”
She didn’t answer, only moaned again. Tannin gave her ten strikes, but not very hard ones. He’d think of something really decadent for more impact play later. Right now, his dick had a date with a very tight hole.
****
On top of the wounds Tannin had put there last night, his simple bath brush had made quite an impression. Literally. She giggled at her own joke, earning her another sexy grin from him.
“Something funny?”
“Just happy.” She moved closer and put her arms around him. “Are we going to stay in here for this?”
“As long as the water stays warm. Turn around.”
Rai shivered at the tone in his voice, and did as he asked.
“Bend over. Put your hands on that lower shelf.”
After she did, he pushed up against her and reached underneath to massage her breasts. Once he removed his hands, he picked up the lube that was next to her. She listened to him squirt some from the tube, and then a warm, wet finger slipped into her asshole. It had been a while since she’d had anal sex, but within seconds the familiar, peaceful sensation enveloped her.
“You’re so tight!”
“It’s been a while.”
He removed his finger and slid two inside, gently stretching the walls. Rai relaxed her muscles and let go of everything so she could enjoy it. The water was still warm, and provided a soothing backdrop.
Tannin kissed her lower back. “I can’t hold off much longer.”
“Then fuck me, Tannin.”
His grunt was followed by the removal of his fingers and his sheathed cock sliding inside, slowly. She was touched he took such care. “Oh, God, Rai. That feels so fucking good!”
“I love it, too.”
When he reached around with one hand and rubbed her clit, a powerful orgasm began to crest. How in the hell could she come again so soon? This man had magical powers. There was no other explanation. His dick inside her ass felt so damn good, even when he increased his strength and speed. He’d used enough lube that there was no discomfort, only the sweetest pleasure.
“Oh … fuck. Here I come.” He removed his hand from her groin and held onto her hips, slamming into her. His balls slapped her pussy with each thrust, but Rai didn’t mind. She loved this. All of it. The spanking, the flogging, the paddling with a bath brush, and the rough-and-tumble way he made love.
He now knew more about her than anyone, with the exception of her parents. At least they hadn’t lived to see her fall this way. That would have pushed them over the edge. They had both died before she found Ronnie in bed with Lori.
“Oh, baby … I came so fucking hard!”
She mentally shook away thoughts of the past and turned around. He’d already withdrawn and removed the condom. Where had her mind been? Rai put her arms around him and moved against his body. “So did I.”
Tannin held her close until his breathing slowed down. “The water is turning cold.”
“Let’s get dressed. I can’t wait to see the club.”
The expression on his face grew thoughtful as they turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. They locked gazes for long moments before Tannin broke eye contact first, his face slightly flushed. “Come on. I’ll show you where to wash your clothes, where the kitchen is, and other stuff you need to know about the building.”
She could be here for a while. Might as well think of it as home for now. When they went back to her room across the hall, the tray was gone. Rai gathered up her dirty clothes and put them into a mesh bag she’d brought along. After dressing in clean clothes, she checked her email, but Russell hadn’t yet written her back.
“He’s probably busy.” It was after eight in the morning, and even on a Saturday, he’d be up and working. Why hadn’t he emailed her back? What if her email went to his spam folder and he never saw it?
“He’ll email back, Rai.”
“You know, I have his phone number. I could turn the phone on, text him real quick, and turn it back off again.”
“If he doesn’t email you back by this afternoon, make that your plan B, okay?”
“Okay.” She took the bag and followed Tannin down the hallway.
“All of the Brothers, the sweetbutts, and the staff have rooms on this floor, and on the two above us.”
“What is a sweetbutt?”
“A girl who is here for … you know. For sex with any of us. They also work here, either as dancers, cooks, or in other capacities. It’s a big building. It takes a large staff to keep it running.”
Rai stopped walking, overcome by jealousy, which was absurd. Nonetheless, there it was. “So, you have sex with Legs and Tarot?”
“Why is it important to know?”
“Um, because I met you less than twelve hours ago and you’ve fucked every hole I have.”
“You know, you demand a lot more than I’m used to from women.”
“You poor thing.”
They locked gazes again, but this time the expression on his face wasn’t thoughtful or kind. “I’m only answering your question because you need to understand how things are here.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I had sex with Legs before she was Go
rgon’s old lady. We all did.”
“Old lady?”
“It’s only an expression, not a derogatory label. It means they’re together, as in monogamous. No one would dare touch her, or he’d kick the shit out of them and they’d be gone from the MC.”
“And Tarot?”
“Once.”
The images floating through her mind morphed from Tannin and Legs to Ronnie and Lori. Not the same thing at all!
“Tarot did nothing for me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t look at me that way. It’s not as horrible as you think it sounds.” He waited for her to respond, but she didn’t. “Rai, it’s our way.”
She said nothing because she was too busy trying to get her emotions under control.
“I was in a relationship recently with a woman who is not part of this club. But those rarely work out.”
They continued to stare at each other.
“For fuck’s sake, Rai. Say something.”
“I honestly have no words.”
“It’s not what you’re picturing.”
“What do you think I’m picturing?”
“Massive orgies, passing the girls around, I don’t know.”
Stay calm. You don’t own him. “If you wanted to have sex with Tarot or one of the other … sweetbutts, you could, though. Correct?”
“Yes. But I don’t. I only want you.”
Okay. But there was still one question that needed clarification. “And will I also be expected to perform those duties?”
“No. Not unless you want to.”
“Do you want me to have sex with the other men in the MC?”
“Rai…”
“Answer the question, Tannin.”
“You really need to stop ordering me around!” He looked very uncomfortable as he ran a hand over his face, but she didn’t give a shit. This burst of envy and uncertainty was unwarranted. She recognized that, but she couldn’t stop herself.
Holy hell. The reality of why she’d reacted this way hit her right in the gut. She had feelings for this guy. How in the hell was that possible after one night?
Rai had had her share of flings in the past, and was no stranger to one-night stands, or relationships that barely lasted weeks. But she got over them quickly. Not since Ronnie had she allowed anyone inside this far. Fuck. She was in deep shit here.