by D. D. Prince
The Aberdeen guys were suddenly moving in, including Edge, who moved right up to where Ella, Jenna, and Leah stood.
Ella looked a bit startled and concerned as Edge reached for a shooter.
“To Jet,” he said and threw it back. Everyone called out “To Jet” and sipped their glasses. Edge made a face at the shooter. “What was that?”
“Chocolate pudding, vodka, and Bailey’s,” Leah told him.
“She kept tryin’ to get me to try them. They’re awful.”
“They’re awesome, actually,” Ella corrected. “Everyone dig in. We’ve got pudding shooters, orgasm shooters, and Jell-O shooters. And there are two more trays made inside, so drink up!”
Ella leaned over and squeezed Edge’s hand. He grabbed her and gave her a big hug and then walked away, head down.
Girls from our fire pot moved in.
“Hold up!” Jojo called out. “These are used as an initiation tool for new female members of The Sisterhood. If you’re not here with a brother in an official capacity, you can certainly partake. But…” she gave me a big smile. “If you want to be a true sisterhood member and you’ve recently hitched your wagon to a brotherhood star, you must consume eight shooters in two hours as your initiation.”
“Six,” Ella corrected, leaning in to Jojo.
“I think it’s eight,” Jojo said.
Ella shook her head. “Six. Definitely six.”
“Okay, well, six, but show us how much you wanna be a sister by consuming eight.”
We all laughed.
“Tracy, Pippa, get up here,” Jojo crooked her finger at me. Jenna was already waiting. She’d been in the club for a while, but this was the official ceremony for her too.
I was glued to my spot, giving Jojo big eyes. I felt the color drain from my face.
This was for ‘old ladies’, for official girlfriends of Dom members. I was not one of those.
I caught Spencer’s eye. He was standing back watching with Deacon, Rider, and their dad. And he was staring at me. I wasn’t sure how to read his expression. It was not the flirting, eye-fucking expression he’d been giving me all day long.
That girl, Alison, moved in behind him and whispered something to him. His head turned toward her.
My eyes narrowed. Before I could make a decision, Tracy was pulling my hand, dragging me up to the front and Jojo was putting a shooter in my other hand.
I looked at Spencer. He was ignoring the girl behind him. She stormed off.
He jerked up his chin, as if telling me to do it.
I shook my head No at him.
He jerked his chin up again and mouthed “I dare you” and folded his arms across his chest.
Was he seriously asking me to be exclusive with him from across a campfire pit by daring me to drink shooters in a biker-broad initiation ceremony?
I gave him narrow eyes, gave him my very best stink-eye. He did not seem affected at all.
I got another chin-jerk from him. “Do it.” I read his lips again.
“Drink up, sister,” Tracy urged from beside me. “I’m about to toss back my third!”
I was on the spot. Totally on the spot. So many sets of eyes were on me. And Spencer’s eyes? So expectant.
Jojo was standing there with a massive shit-eating grin on her face. The evil genius. She wanted me with her brother, and was bullying me into a public declaration that I was Property of Spencer. This was just about as bad as the sweater thing with Jenna. Or maybe it was worse.
I had no choice. I could do nothing but participate. But, that didn’t mean I had to mean it. I’d take my time and not do the full six, pull him aside, and talk to him, tell him it wasn’t real. Things were still just casual.
I put the shooter to my mouth and downed it.
My eyes met his again. And he was staring deep. So deep it was like it was just us two, as the minty creamy liquid of the orgasm shooter slid down my throat.
And the way he was looking at me, hit me like a ton of bricks.
No one stares so deep into my eyes as Spencer Valentine.
The way he stares deep into my eyes...it's with wonder -
looking at me like I’m a mirage... water in a sweltering hot desert that he isn't sure he can believe is real --- but he wants it to be,
because he's so thirsty he can taste it.
Someone passed me another little plastic cup. I kept my eyes locked with his and threw it back. Red Jell-O. I squished the cup while using my tongue to get the Jell-O out and swallowed it.
He was staring at me with so much carnal intensity, I felt like my panties were about to spontaneously combust.
Want. It's stark. Hungry. It's rolling in waves off him whenever he looks at me. The way he cradles my face when we kiss? As if I'm breakable and priceless.
The way his face lights up whenever he makes me laugh...
How he breathes fire at anyone who looks at me the wrong way, but the second his eyes move to me, the flames melt clean away.
If there is such a thing as a Happily Ever After
is Spencer Valentine "It" for me?
No. It’s too soon. Way too soon.
A third shooter was put in my hand, but he and I were still in an eye-lock. I drank the pudding shooter without breaking that eye contact and decided I wanted another. I stared at him as I swallowed.
That girl, Alison, tugged on his sleeve from behind him.
He glared over his shoulder and I distinctly made out a “fuck off” from his mouth.
The spell was broken.
My heart skipped a beat.
What an idiot. She had to know this was not something she should try to tear his attention away from. Was she high or something?
“More!” Jojo called out.
“Nope. I got an hour and fifty-eight minutes to consume the rest. I’d rather not puke, in fact.”
Jojo laughed.
I leaned in and tried to speak so only she would hear. “So, if I stop here, I’m not in, am I? Technically?”
Her expression fell and then she smiled, guilty.
“You’re playin’ dirty, girlfriend,” I said.
Her smile faltered.
“Not cool putting me on the spot like that.”
She chewed her lip.
Spencer was suddenly between us.
“Hey?”
I gave him a fake smile and spun the other way and headed to the bathroom.
I couldn’t remember where the room was and had no key to get in anyway, so I took my time in the bathroom, fixing my ponytail, staring in the mirror. Feeling pissed off.
Jojo came in. “I’m sorry,” she said, contritely.
“Yeah, well, you should be,” I snapped.
Ella and Jenna were in there behind her. Andie behind them.
“Everything okay?” Ella asked.
“No, it’s not. That was not cool, Jojo.”
“You’re right. It wasn’t.” She stared at her feet, looking chastised.
“What was I supposed to do? Say no and humiliate your brother in front of everyone?” My voice was kind of loud.
I was angry. Really angry.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that. I was thinking you were just waffling, and I was trying to --- help.”
“Not cool. Now I have to…what? Pretend? Set him straight? Be a bitch so he decides I’m not worth it?”
“I’ll talk to him,” Jojo said.
“Don’t bother,” I snapped.
Spencer was suddenly in the bathroom with all of us. All eyes were on him. I didn’t know how much of that he’d heard, but I didn’t really give a shit.
“Everyone out,” he said quietly, eyes on me.
The girls all cleared out.
I folded my arms.
“I am not drinking the other shooters so I’m not in the sisterhood, and not your---”
“Stop.”
“Spencer, your sister…” I started.
“Give her a break. She’s grieving today, and this is di
stracting her.”
“You guys are indulging her bad behavior then.”
He shrugged. “Whatever gets her through today.”
“Oh, so you’re totally cool with her making it look like you and I are in a committed relationship by bullying me into some public declaration that I’m the ‘property of Spencer Valentine’?” I used air quotes.
“Yeah. Because you are.”
I gawked at him. He stared right back, challenge in his eyes.
Something ugly was crawling up my throat.
“I t-told you… I was down for fooling around. I get that you’ve gotten protective, but it’s not real, Spencer. You’re just feeling protective of that pathetic bleeding girl you found in the alley, and, and---"
“Nothing pathetic about you, Pippa. You’re mine. Finally mine. I am not letting you go.”
My chin trembled. He looked so serious.
“You’re not hearing me. Not sure how many ways I can say this. I told you I’m nowhere near ready for a relationship with anyone, and---”
“I know.” He cut me off, his voice soft. His eyes locked with mine.
“So, what the heck, Spence?” I wanted to look away. I couldn’t.
“I’m in this with you. Deep.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not---”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re not.” He cut me off again. “I am.”
“I can’t do this.”
“Baby, I can. Just leave it all to me. I take care of you. I’m the one who keeps you safe. I’m the only one who gets to make you come. I make you laugh, smile, carry you to bed when you crash wherever the fuck you are when it hits nine thirty, and put up with your cheerfulness in the morning without too much complainin’.”
“You constantly complain about my morning disposition.”
He smiled a huge panty-melting smile at me.
Shit. I’m in so much trouble.
He moved closer and had me pinned against the sink.
“Let me take care of you. Been waiting my whole life to take care of a woman who deserves it. You deserve that, Sunshine. You deserve a man who would never lay a hand on you in anger. Never fucking ever. I am that man. Do not be afraid to trust me. I fucking promise, I’ll break my back making sure you never regret it if you take a chance on me, on us. Let me be the man whose job it is to protect you, Pippa. Honest to God, no man ever wanted anybody more than I want you.”
What? Was he for real? This sounded rehearsed. Too perfect. Too much. Tears rolled down my face. I swallowed a lump down. He wasn’t making a joke; he was absolutely serious.
“Talk to me, Sunshine,” he whispered gently.
“I feel like damaged goods. I feel like, like…why would you want me? And God, I’m being such a drama queen. I hate drama queens.” I wiped my eyes.
“Pip, it’s like I’ve been training for her, the one who’d be for me, by having to deal with bitches, skanks, and psychos. I can handle any mood, any crisis you throw at me. But there’s one difference. A big difference.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“I didn’t know how long I’d have to deal with that with them. I’ll gladly do it all for you, because you’re my forever.”
“How can you know that?”
“I saw it that first morning with the waffles offer. I saw it then. I felt shit about it, cuz I liked Joe.”
I winced. Joe. Joe might always, always be between us.
“Had no idea he’d ever laid a hand on you. If I did, I’d have stolen you away. Had no idea he ever would hurt you. Every time I was hangin’ with him and you’d come home or be there, I’d feel like shit because I fuckin’ saw you in my life, lookin’ so fuckin’ gorgeous in the mornings, smiling at me even if I was bein’ a dick. Then, tellin’ me not to be an asshole, all this light in your eyes, that beautiful face. Fuck. Tryin’ hard to keep my eyes off you, and failing. Everything you did for him, I’d see it in my head, you doin’ it for me. Every smile you aimed at him was like a knife in my chest. Dreamt about you like crazy, Sunshine.”
I shook my head. “You came onto Ella and Jenna, too. So, don’t feed me lines, Spencer.”
He shook his head. “I come onto everyone, Sunshine. But none of them did I see a future with. I like to fuck. I always liked the idea of a relationship, a woman who was just mine, who I’d take care of. Who’d take care of me. But, I’m picky. I try girls on for size and they don’t fuckin’ fit, so I scrape ‘em off. And yeah, I made a play for Ella, but got over it real fast when I saw she was D’s one. Joked about makin’ a play for Jenna, thought it might wake Rider’s shit up. And don’t get me wrong, if he didn’t, I’d have gone for it. Because you were taken and you and him seemed solid. I got over it when Jenna and Ride got serious, too. I never got over you and Joe. Never. Strange, ain’t it, that I’m the one who found you? That I’m the one who was there every time you needed saving from him like it was meant to be.”
I pulled my lips tight and stared into his eyes.
“Just wish I was there that night he hurt you. I woulda fucking killed him.”
I winced and looked away from the intensity in his eyes.
“Now get your sweet ass out there and drink up more shooters so we can go to bed, and I can fuck you like you’re mine. Because, Sunshine… you are.”
I looked back at him and all the anger was gone. In its’ place was an expression that washed over me, like a warm shower. The look in his eyes… His strong arms around me… The safety I felt with him.
“I’m not sure…”
“I am.”
I put my hands to his face.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Spencer. Never ever, ever.”
“Then don’t.”
“I don’t want you to hurt me.”
“I won’t.”
“But…”
He moved in and put his lips to mine. “Please, baby. Let me take care of you. Tell me you’re mine.”
I squeezed my eyes tight and let out a broken breath.
“Sunshine…”
I nodded, eyes still shut tight.
“Yeah?” he asked gently, hand running up my back.
I opened my eyes and nodded again.
He lifted me up and put me against the wall, wrapping my legs around his waist. He went for my mouth with gusto.
I melted into the wall, into him. God, he felt good; he felt right. I opened my mouth and the tip of our tongues touched. The kiss went hungry. Starving. I was starving for him. His grip tightened on me.
“S’cuse me. Gotta powder my nose,” an older biker lady said in the doorway. She was smiling. “Hiya Spency. Get a room.”
He gave her a grin and gently set me on my feet.
I smiled at her. “Sorry.”
She waved her hand like, ‘no big deal’ and went into a stall.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me along. “Let’s go get you more shooters.”
I bit my lip and nodded.
God, I hoped he knew what he was doing. Because I sure didn’t.
My heart was pounding so hard. But… in a good way. For the first time in a long time, my racing heart didn’t feel bad.
When we got out of the washroom, Ella, Jenna, and Andie were standing outside the doors to the pavilion, in a huddle.
I smiled big at them. I looked up and Spencer was smiling, too.
“Team Spencer takes the gold,” I announced, approaching them.
Jenna clapped her hands and jumped up and down.
Ella reached for another shooter. She then called out, “Scooter!” He was at the other end of the pavilion, by some sound equipment.
The music had been halted but suddenly it started up with Scott thrusting his fist up as if some epic rock song was about to start. But instead, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun started, and a shooter was put in my hand. Pudding. I downed it. Ella waved, and Leah grabbed her waist. Jenna grabbed Leah’s waist. Tracy grabbed Leah and waved at me to come on. I smiled at Spencer and put my hands to Tracy’s hips.
&nb
sp; ***
I drank eight shooters. After my sixth, Spencer kissed me breathless in front of the firepot. I drank four or five Screwdrivers, I lost count, and was now dancing in a girlie circle with biker women from my age to my mom’s age and we were having a blast.
Rider was off to the side watching Jenna dance, a devilish gleam in his eyes.
Little John, the biker bartender from Deke’s Roadhouse was dancing, too. Deke was standing back smiling at us, and then I spotted Laura, the waitress from Dutchie’s diner coming up behind him and slipping her arms around his middle. He turned in surprise and planted a kiss on her mouth.
I smiled and went back to dancing to I Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd with the gang and we were singing it to one another, laughing, having a blast. I wondered where Jojo was. It dawned I hadn’t seen her since Spencer and I came out of the bathroom. I needed to clear the air with her. Let her know her evil-genius matchmaker ploy worked out after all, even if I got mad at her for it.
And then a slow song came on and biker men moved in and the girlie dance circle dispersed.
Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton. Just like that night. That night that I first kissed him. And there he was, pulling me into his arms.
I looked up at him and hooked my arms around his neck.
“Slipped the DJ a fiver to play this for us,” he said into my ear.
I tightened my hold on him and kissed his neck and then looked into his eyes.
His eyes met mine, then moved down to look at my mouth. He leaned in and touched his lips to mine. I sucked on his pouty lower lip. He squeezed my butt cheeks and grinded against me as he slowly twirled me, singing against my mouth that I was “sweet as strawberry wine.” He ran his nose up from my jaw to the corner of my eye and then planted a kiss on my cheekbone just the way he’d done the night he found me in that alley. He was still trying to kiss away that bruise.
“Wish I’d stolen you away when we first met. Saved you all that.”
“Me, too,” I said.
“Could I have?”
“I’m loyal. I’m not a cheater. But, there was always this energy between us.”
“Definitely,” he agreed. “I could’ve stolen you away.”
“Cocky,” I snickered. “I wasn’t happy for a long time with him. He kept picking his addictions over me.”