Doc

by Reagan Phillips

  I'm too struck to speak. Each of his rules comes with a tighter hold on me until I'm pressed so hard into him, I don't know where he stops and I begin.

  "Are these terms you can live with?" he says, pulling my chin up to meet his with a finger.

  "Do I have a choice?" I say. I know I do and I'm not sure why I'm still trying to bait him into pushing me away, but I can't stop myself.

  Doc stares down at me for a few more seconds before he finally lets go. "You always have a choice, Dawn. You just need to learn to make the right ones."

  Before I can argue, he's back on his side facing away from me. The chill that follows makes my whole body shudder. For several long seconds, I was encased in a raging inferno of passion and now I'm alone and cold, feeling somewhat dismissed.

  I roll over to my side and my butt brushes his back. No matter how I move or twist myself I can't seem to find a position where I'm not touching him, so I settle for balancing on the edge of the bed and close my eyes, knowing I'm not going to get any sleep.

  "If I made the right choices, I wouldn't be in your bed right now," I whisper. I'm sure Doc hears me, but he doesn't respond.

  It isn't long before his breathing deepens and he rolls to his back, out cold. The length of his arm is along my back and his hand rests near the top of my ass. I'm trapped between him and the edge of the bed. I'm not going to get any sleep like this and I'm not sure how he's been able to fall out so quickly.

  That thought leads me to others. Things I don't want bouncing around in my head like how many times has Doc invited a stranded woman into his bed. If it's so easy for him to pass out, it has to be more than a few. He was always a prize conquest with the sweetbutts. How many of them have won his affections since I left?

  I close my eyes tight, trying to push out the thoughts, but they won't go away. I only have to make it to the morning. Then I can separate myself from Doc and all my evil thoughts about him.

  If I can last.

  Doc

  Dawn's been working at my front desk for three days. I had my doubts after the first morning when Dawn struggled to understand all of my processes and tried to streamline my routines, but she has the front office firmly in hand.

  She's even managed to collect a few back payments I'd already decided I'd never see.

  She's a dream, just like Bree was for the week she took over and straightened out the mess created when my longtime manager retired. Now Dawn is following in her footsteps with her own touch of personality. And it's a good thing she learns fast and can hold her own because these days I'm spending as little time as possible in the office.

  I tell myself it's because I don't want to hover. I've scared off way too many temps over the last two months and even though I know Dawn understands my bark is all for show, I can't be close to her for too long without thinking about things a boss should never think about his prized employee.

  But today I'm shit out of luck. My office assistant called in sick at the last minute, and it's the end of the month when payments come due and customers short on cash get rowdy. I can't leave Dawn to deal with angry men twice her size without making a few appearances. It never hurts to remind my customers that Tempest Elite Dry and Cold Storage isn't a place you want to lose your temper.

  When I walk into the front from my office around the back, Dawn is wearing an outfit I assume she's borrowed from one of the sweetbutts. Her shirt has a V-neck that dips almost too low into her cleavage, leaving the tops of her rounded breasts exposed to the world. Her skirt barely covers the backs of her thighs. Both are at least a size too small for her and both make my mouth water and my dick hard.

  Not that I'm complaining. I could sit back in my office and watch her work that outfit all day with one hand down my pants. But from my window looking into the front I've seen way too many men take advantage when she steps out from behind the desk to help them. I draw the line when one leans over to get a better look up her skirt while she bends to pick up a stack of packing boxes for him.

  Fucking asshole. I step into the front and eye the pissass hard enough he stands up straight and is on his best behavior until Dawn finishes with him.

  "Dawn." I stand in the doorway, eyeing the jackass. "Can I see you for a minute?"

  Dawn glances up from the desk computer she's typing away on and her mouth opens part way. I can tell by her expression she's worried. Probably thinks she's in trouble. Not that she ever could be with me. I watch her smile at the customer and speak to him before she leaves the desk and walks my way.

  As soon as she steps into my office, I shut the door and lean on it.

  "Is something wrong, Doc? That guy told me he was in a hurry and—"

  "In a hurry to get up that skirt maybe."

  Her eyes widen and her fingers reach to the bottom of her jean skirt and pull downward. It does no good at all. She could pull the fabric until every thread popped and it still wouldn't cover her curves enough to keep every man with breath in his lungs from noticing how well defined she is.

  "He threw his back out last week. I'm only helping him keep from hurting it more."

  I raise one arm and anchor it to the wall above her head. "Dawn. The only thing that jackass threw out was his dignity when he asked a woman to pick up a stack of boxes so he could check what color thong you're wearing."

  "I'm not wearing a thong," she spurts at me before she stops herself. I'm guessing it took her a second to get over being angry that I might be thinking about her underwear choice to realize the guy outside was playing her.

  "I should know better. A year living with you guys and you'd think I'd see every sleazy play coming from a mile off."

  "You're out of practice. I don't see that as a bad thing." I grin at the way her eyes soften. "But if you're going to work around here, you need to be aware. I'm the only storage warehouse in town that doesn't ask questions. My customers can be dangerous. You need to protect yourself."

  I question having Dawn behind my counter with every breath I take, but in three days, she's kicked ass. I need her until I find a replacement, and she needs the money she's bringing in. I'll make it my mission to be here every day she works. I won't leave her safety up to anyone else.

  With that decision out of the way, I broach another subject I know I'm going to get my head bitten off for mentioning. I give her a full up and down look, appreciating the way she fills out Bree's shirt and skirt before I open my big mouth. "I know this is going to get me in trouble, but do you have anything else to wear to work?"

  Dawn glances down at herself before wrapping her arms over her chest. "Bree thought this would be okay. She said she wore similar things when she worked for you."

  I can't help but smile. Bree wore the same outfit, I'm sure, but Dawn’s tits make Bree's look like ant bites, and her ass... I force a whistle back down my throat. She has cushion for the pushin' and I'm all about that backside, so I understand the temptation it causes with the customers. "I've changed a few policies since Bree worked for me. There is a dress code now. I'll take you after work to pick out some things that work for the front office."

  I'm lying and I know when I lie I smile. I think Dawn knows it too the way she cocks her head at me and narrows her eyes. "A new dress code, huh? When did you decide on that?"

  She's caught me. Dawn’s always been intuitive like that. "The second I saw you bend down for those boxes and that asshat stared you down like a New York strip."

  I'm done talking now that I know Dawn is safe and I've squared away a plan to keep her that way. I turn for the door back into my office when she calls my name.

  "Doc."

  "Yeah," I say over my shoulder.

  "Thanks for looking out for me. You didn't have to, but I'm glad you did."

  I step into my office and shut the door. I'm sure she wanted me to respond, but my chest is so tight I wouldn't have gotten the words out. I didn't do anything out there but tell her we'd buy some new clothes. Why is she making such a big deal out of it?

&nb
sp; I glance out my office window overlooking the front. Dawn is still looking at the door I just closed. It takes her a second before she turns and walks to the desk. I don't miss her tugging at her skit and pulling up on her shirt where it dips low along the way.

  This arrangement isn't supposed to be anything more than getting Dawn back on her feet and independent. Once she's there, I'll drop her as my ol'lady and send her on a bus off to something better than Tempest Elite can give her.

  This is an understanding. The feelings I had for her died a long time ago when she chose an abuser over the club and me. Getting caught up in feelings won't help either of us, so I sit behind my desk and I dial Bree's number. It would be better for us both to not get too involved with each other.

  I watch Dawn pick up another stack of invoices from a pile I've neglected for weeks and begin to input them into the computer as the phone rings.

  "Hello," Bree says.

  "It's Doc. I need you to do me a favor."

  "Oh no. We agreed I wasn't ever coming back to the warehouse," she says before I can finish my sentence.

  "This is different." I can't take my eyes off of Dawn, so I turn my chair around to face the wall. "I need you to take Dawn shopping. I'd do it myself, but the warehouse is too busy to take the time off."

  Bree answers with silence. "This isn't for me, Bree. You should see the way men are looking at her in your clothes."

  "The same way you do?"

  I take in a deep breath to keep from growling into the phone. "Would you just agree before I buy her sweatpants and sweaters online?"

  "Okay, Doc. Take it down a little. I was only kidding. I'll ask Bear for the night off and pick her up at the office."

  "Good," I say and click off the phone. I don't look at Dawn in any way other than a friend in need of help.

  There is a knock on the door, and I yell for them to enter. It's Dawn holding an invoice she has a question about. The sunlight from the front windows catches in her hair and silhouettes her body in a frame of golden light. I’m screwed. Oh so screwed.

  Fuck. Bree might be right.

  Chapter 5

  Dawn

  I feel every set of eyes roll to me as I walk in the front doors of the clubhouse behind Bree. It's an open party night where the patched members invite non-members in for a few drinks and food while the prospects wait on them all.

  These kinds of nights used to scare the crap out of me. With so many new faces in the club, most of whom didn't know the rules about ownership and possession, the night would always end with Gears in a fight with an independent or a non-member who took notice of me.

  Bear is at the bar with Gunner serving. Bree makes a beeline for them and wraps her arms around Bear’s neck before kissing him. I'd always known Bear to be closed off to affection. Seeing this side of him, the one he shows when he's with Bree, gives me hope.

  I set the two bags of clothes we picked out from the local mall on a stool next to Bear and claim another for myself.

  "Did you girls have fun?" Bear says. His attention is fully on Bree, so I know the question wasn't for me.

  "Sure did," Bree hums. "And I got something special for tonight. Wait until I go try it on."

  Bear's eyes pulse between hers for a beat before he smiles. "You could wear a potato sack and still be the sexiest ol'lady in the club."

  Bree laughs and turns just in time for Bear to smack her on the ass. She gives a little oof sound, but she's smiling when she takes up one of the bags from the stool and glances back at me.

  "Come on, Dawn. We can dress in my room. I've got other stuff up there you might like too."

  Before I follow, I take another sweep of the bar area. Doc is nowhere to be found. I told Bree we should have stopped off at the warehouse before heading back to the club in case he needed help closing, but she insisted it would only be a waste of our time.

  "He's not here yet," Bear grumbles to my back. "Open parties aren't his thing. But don't worry. We follow the law. You're his, so you're safe."

  The hair on my neck stands and I shiver. Bear has never given me the warm and fuzzies, but seeing him with Bree, I know he's capable. Nevertheless, he seems to really have it out for me and being the prez, he can recall the law any time he wants.

  I toss a weak thanks over my shoulder and move faster to catch up with Bree. It isn't until we're in her suite with the door closed that my breathing slows and I relax again.

  "That was intense," I say, throwing my bag on a chair by the bed.

  Bree is already pulling her top off when she turns back to me. "What was intense? You're used to open parties." She shimmies out of her jean shorts and slips the little red sun dress she bought over her shoulders. Bree is gorgeous. She came into the club as an ol'lady and never had to put up with the shit us sweetbutts did. And it's a good thing for her because fights would have broken out and friendships would have been cut if she'd been up for grabs for the guys.

  She examines herself in the full mirror on the back of the bathroom door before she turns to me. "What do ya think? Too much for tonight?"

  I grin. "No. It's perfect." I can already see I'm going to end up alone for most of the night once Bear sees her. He'll have her over one shoulder and locked away in his suite in less than a minute after we enter the bar.

  "Okay," Bree says, pulling her hair into a high and tight ponytail before falling to the bed. "Your turn. The yellow dress would go well with your skin tone, but the black one..." She laughs. "Doc would lose his shit if he saw you wearing that in front of the club on an open night."

  I'm having the same thoughts and it’s the reason I pull the sleeveless lace pale yellow sundress from the bag. It's a little loose on me and comes down to my knees. Not what I normally wear, but if Doc wants to see me covered, covered is what he'll get. I pull off the shirt and skirt Bree loaned me but before I can step into the dress, I see a flash of Doc walking in the front doors of the club and finding me in the bar talking with some locals while wearing the slinky short black dress Bree insisted I buy.

  "Doc paid for it. He should get to enjoy the show," she says as I drop the yellow dress to the bed and dig in the bag for the second one.

  "I'm not sure he'd like it."

  "He'd have to be blind to not like it, Dawn."

  I slip into the dress and pull the hem down, smoothing the silky fabric as I go. From the mirror, I have to admit I like the way it hugs my curves and accents my smaller waist. I twist, getting a view of my ass.

  "Geez, Dawn. You're going to have them crawling over themselves downstairs despite Doc's claim on you. He'd be stupid to let you sit out in the bar all night looking that hot without giving you any attention."

  "We're not like that," I say, brushing out my hair from the ponytail it's been in all day and checking my makeup. Along with the dresses and two other outfits for work, we stopped at a drugstore and bought the essentials for my hair and face. A little powder for the shine and eyeshadow to deepen the specks of blue in my eyes, and I'm ready to test Bree's theory out.

  The bar is packed once we emerge again. Independents I know from last year along with citizens of the club mix with nomads and biker hopefuls. Everly is behind the bar with her father, both working at a breakneck speed to get drink orders out, and the sweetbutts are making the rounds so everyone feels welcome.

  As soon as we hit the floor, Bear is next to us with a protective arm wrapped around Bree for safety. As the president's ol'lady any member in the room would lay down their life to protect Bree, but it's sweet how Bear takes no chances with her.

  "I'm going to be busy for a while," Bree says over her shoulder as Bear leads her into the crowd.

  I nod. I knew this was going to happen and I already have a plan. Everly is struggling to get all the tables on her own, so I grab a tray from the bar top and step up to Gunner. "Just tell me what goes where. I'm here to help."

  He smiles and loads my tray with six frothing mugs. "You're an angel. See the guy at the far back with the one per
cent tat on his bicep? These are for his table."

  I sweep the floor and find him easy enough. They are from the Dark Angels, a club in the area Tempest Elite has truths with. "Got it," I say and take off with the tray. I'm rewarded with a smack on my ass for the delivery and a few whistles, but it's all business as usual.

  A few more tables in and Gunner sends me to a group of non-members who've been dominating one of the newer sweetbutts all night. She seems to be fine with the extra attention, so when I deliver the tray of drinks I whisper to her to check that she’s okay.

  "Two for one," one of the group shouts before I feel myself pulled off my feet and into the lap of a man twice my size. My tray hits the ground, but no one hears over the roar of conversation.

  "Now you're something I could really sink myself into," he says, pinching my cheeks between his fingers and forcing me to face him. "I bet you'd like that, honey. Wouldn't you? A real biker between your legs."

  He sticks his tongue out and flicks it up and down while making a clicking sound in the back of his throat.

  I squirm in his arms, but he tightens his hold until I can't move my arms at all. "I'm spoken for."

  "Sure you are." His breath blows across my face. "Yet I don't see anyone here claiming you right now."

  I give the room a panicked once over. Gunner and Everly are both too busy to notice I'm missing, and Bree and Bear haven't returned from his room. Hawk, the bouncer, is busy with a brawl near the front. Other than a few prospects mixed in with the crowd, I see no one who will be coming to my rescue.

  The creep turns me in his lap so my back is facing him and the swell of his erection is seated between my ass cheeks. "You're going to enjoy this ride, baby."

  "I doubt it," I say before I stomp down over the bridge of his foot with the back of my heel. His boots are thick, but he still jerks in pain. For a second he lets me go, but before I can pull free, he has me again.

  "You fucking bitch, you're going to pay for that."

  As he turns me around, I close my eyes. I've been here before. With Gears too many times to count. I've learned a thing or two about how to take a punch. I go limp in his arms and drop all of my body weight on him. If he wants me, he's going to work damn hard at it.