by Lynn Burke
Devon glanced between the two of us, the wide smile still on his face. “You wanting a date with my mom or the two of us?”
Vigil smirked while shoving his hands into his jean’s pockets. “Wouldn’t mind a date with your mom, but I’m not her type.”
Devon snorted. “You’re exactly her type. Red hair and all.”
“Dillon!” At least I remembered the proper name while shooting daggers at him with my frown.
Vigil chuckled. “How about those fried clams?”
“Mom?” Devon’s dimple popped, and I rolled my eyes.
“Fine.”
My son let out a whoop and rounded the car.
“Can I offer him a ride?” Vigil asked quietly.
“No,” I shot back, while rifling for my keys in my purse.
He started toward the bike. “Stick close,” he said, straddling the Fat Boy. The engine roared to life before I climbed in the car, but it didn’t affect me the same as the pack’s noise had earlier.
“Thanks, Mom,” Devon said as I backed out.
Falling in behind Vigil, I nodded, forcing another smile.
****
“Did you get your schedule?” Vigil asked Devon when I settled onto a picnic table beneath the shade of a towering pine tree.
“Yep,” Devon replied around a mouthful of fries he’d shoved into his mouth the second he got his tray of food. “Going over there next week for a tour, too.”
“You excited?” Vigil sat on the plank beside me, close enough his knee bumped mine.
I shifted to put some distance between our legs as he set my tray he’d insisted on carrying in front of me.
Devon sat across from us and shrugged, swallowing his mouthful before relaying. “Somewhat. I guess I’m more nervous than anything.”
“You know I’ve got your back, right?” Vigil’s tone didn’t allow for argument.
“Yep.”
“You have any trouble, you let me know.”
That protective nature of Vigil’s sent a tingle of warmth through me, softening that hard shell I kept myself locked up inside. No matter his kindness toward my son, no matter his sincerity in wanting to help him, I wouldn’t lower my defenses again.
Even if thoughts of him got me off every single night.
Especially when the energy zapping between us distracted me from being vigilant.
I focused on my food and those around us while they bullshitted about the games set for the following day, who was favored, and making bets on which teams would win—the type of nonsense I tended to ignore when Devon got together with his friends.
Friends.
My chewing slowed as I considered my last conversation with Vigil about my needing a friend. The insinuation he’d tossed out and my vibrators over use tempted me to give into what he wanted. What my body obviously wanted, what I fantasized about.
Cursing the rippling heat and tension between the short distance separating our bodies, I focused on slathering every fried clam in the tartar sauce before popping them between my lips.
Regardless of staying away from him as far as the bench allowed, I still found my heart rate elevated, but in a totally different way than when we’d pulled alongside him and his brothers at the red light.
I couldn’t keep the dampness from my core as hints of his soap and the scent of pure male filled my lungs with every inhale.
The two boys finished first and continued chatting without a lull. Weight training, motorcycle engines, aftermarket parts... Guy stuff. My heart softened even more toward Vigil, loving how he treated my son like a man and respected my wishes to keep the cursing to a minimum. I couldn’t remember the last time a man respected me.
I eyed Vigil in my periphery, trailing my focus along the veins popping from his forearm all the way to his large hands resting on the picnic table. Calloused. Strong. Blunt nails, but nicely shaped without the snagged edges like my ex always sported. Vigil rubbed one finger along a groove in the table top, and I honed in on the action, imagining he used that soft, mindless caress on my hand. My arm. My neck.
An ache spread through my breasts, hardening my nipples, and I forced my attention on the family of four dining at the table behind Devon. I imagined they lived a normal life. Husband and wife, happily married in a peaceful, loving relationship. I imagined they cuddled and shared about their days once the two youngsters went down for bed. I bet he massaged her feet. Brushed her hair.
“Mom?”
I glanced at Devon. “Hmm?”
“You okay?”
I attempted a smile while gathering up our trash onto my tray. “Yes.”
“I’ll get that,” Vigil said, standing.
“Thanks.” I didn’t look up at him while handing the tray over.
“Ready?” I asked Devon, pushing to my feet as Vigil took our trash over to the waste barrel.
“Yeah.”
We started toward the car, the sun beating down on our heads, and Vigil joined us before we reached it.
“Heading home?” I asked him while pulling my keys from my purse.
“Yeah. You?”
I nodded and glanced at Devon. “Want a ride home on his bike?”
Dimples flashed as excitement filled my son’s eyes. “Seriously?”
“If the offer still stands.” I finally lifted my focus to find Vigil staring at me with gratitude. Appreciation. My damn heart fluttered.
“Yeah, come on, Dill. The p-pad is all yours. I got an extra helmet in the saddle bag.”
My throat swelled as Devon climbed on behind Vigil, but it wasn’t out of fear or real sadness. I actually trusted Vigil enough to not bother keeping up with them as they took off. We certainly weren’t together as a couple, we weren’t normal by any means, but he made my son happy.
Chapter Eleven
Vigil
A few hours after getting home from the shack, I noticed Michelle sitting on her back porch. Alone in the falling twilight. Nothing but a mug in her hands which meant she wasn’t interested in company, including social media, but I didn’t give a fuck.
I grabbed a beer from the fridge and went outside, instantly drawing her attention. She waved, and even though I didn’t take it as an offer to join her, I sauntered across my lawn to the corner where the two met.
“Nice night.” I went for small talk across her smaller backyard. Friendly and all that shit while my head went for bending her over the stoop’s railing and plundering the goods she hid beneath those drab clothes.
She glanced westward at the sunset through the trees on the far side of her house, her face relaxed for a change. “At least the heat is gone.”
I gestured to the stoop she sat on once she returned her focus on me. “Want company?”
She held my stare, electric energy rising between us. “Not really.”
I swigged my beer while holding her gaze. “Not gonna bite you, wildcat.”
She lifted a single eyebrow as though she didn’t believe me.
A deep chuckle rumbled through me as my dick took interest in her sass. “Okay—so maybe I would bite given the chance.”
“You’re not gonna get that chance,” Michelle muttered while twirling her mug in her hands.
“I heard that.”
She rolled her eyes and scooted over, patting the top step beside her.
Grinning at how easily she unexpectedly gave into me, I moved closer and made myself at home, keeping my knee to myself since she hadn’t appreciated the contact while we’d sat at the picnic table at the shack. “Whatcha drinking?”
“Vanilla chai tea.” Her gaze flitted to my beer, and I lifted the sweating bottle, turning the label to face us.
Lips pursed, she returned her attention to the sunset.
“I’m not a big drinker,” I said, holding the bottle in one hand between my knees. “If I’m in the mood to relax, I usually just smoke a jo
int.”
“That was my go-to once upon a time,” she admitted, her lips twitching. “Don’t ever tell Dillon, though.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I said with a smirk into my beer before taking a long pull. “Old Widow Betty used to live here.” I glanced over the yard I had mowed for years because her son was too busy to help her out.
“Dillon said you took care of her.”
“Yeah. She was a good one. Pretty much adopted me as her grandson.”
“Did she make good cookies?”
I glanced over to find her gaze intent as though truly wanting to know. “Not nearly as good as yours.”
“Thanks.”
I slapped a hand to my chest. “Did you just accept a compliment from me?”
Her lips twitched, but she turned away. “Guess so.”
A few night insects buzzed about, filling the quietness around us as I continued to grin like an idiot. I enjoyed a woman who didn’t feel the need to fill the silence. Chattering like monkeys and squirrels only pissed me off and hurt my head. While I didn’t like evasiveness and shutting out, I sure as hell liked a woman of few words.
Getting Michelle to open up about anything, though, had proven to be a damn challenge. But being a nosey bastard, that didn’t stop me from trying.
“So, Dill seems to be doing pretty well.” I went for the roundabout route.
“Yes, thank goodness.” Her lips flatlined as she stared off across the back of her small lot.
“How about you?”
“Hmm?”
“How are you adjusting?”
“Good.” She answered quickly without thought—a pure, fucking lie.
“Don’t believe you, wildcat.”
Lips pursing again, she glanced over at me.
I swigged, holding her gaze, loving how her dark eyes tried to shut me out with indifference and failed. My dick stirred a bit more, taking me to the point of discomfort.
“You can be honest,” I said. “Dillon’s not out here and it looks like you could stand to unload whatever is riding your shoulders.”
“How can you tell?”
“Slight furrow between your brows. Hunched shoulders like a weight hangs around your neck. The sadness in your eyes.”
She peered into her milky tea for a few seconds while I waited, hopeful as fuck she’d cave and give me a little insight into her past.
“There was some trouble back home that we’re better off without,” she finally said, her voice low enough I strained to hear her.
“Are your lives in danger?”
She hesitated before shaking her head, letting me know she didn’t really believe her unspoken answer.
“Is the law after you?” I pushed for more.
She huffed a sarcastic laugh. “No.”
“Didn’t think so.” I shifted a bit without getting any closer. “You seem the law-abiding type.”
Her smile came easily as though my assessment truly amused her.
“You ever need me, just call. You know that, right?”
“Because we’re a part of your clan.”
Not a question, but still. “Yep.” I finished off my beer. “And when I say anything, I mean anything.”
That statement earned me another raised eyebrow, and I grinned again, loving where her mind went—exactly where I’d implied.
I held up my hand she’d been checking out while we’d eaten at the shack. A few wrist twists and wiggling of my fingers drew her attention to them again. “Protection or affection. Whatever you need, Michelle.”
She wet her lower lip with the tip of her tongue before dragging her focus to my face. “How do you read my mind so damn easily, Vigil?”
I tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear, careful not to touch flesh since I’d promised not to without her permission. “Your eyes are open windows,” I said, my own voice dropping as her lips parted.
Fuck, did I want to kiss her. Taste her. Devour the quick exhale she let out as the energy rippled between us, making me stiff as hell, aching, and leaking within a single heartbeat.
“Don’t,” she whispered, and I realized I’d twisted my fingers in her hair.
I lifted my focus to her eyes to find fear swirling with the desire neither of us could deny. Dropping my hand actually fucking hurt, and I eased back from her personal space I hadn’t noticed I’d encroached upon.
“I’ve got too many demons,” she whispered, searing my eyes with her own as though hoping I would understand what she didn’t want to—or couldn’t share.
“We all do,” I said, all-too aware of my own demons and those I shared with Ricky. “It’s what you do with them that counts.”
“What do you do with yours?” she asked, her intense gaze popping open locks inside my soul too damn easily.
“Exorcise those fuckers. Face them and show them who’s boss.”
“Is that what you’ve done?”
I considered the shallow grave that held the biggest demon of them all, but admitting to that past sin would send her running for the fucking hills without a backward glance. I couldn’t have that. “We’ve all made choices that sent consequences chasing after us,” I finally said, taking my turn to check out the pink streaks lighting the sky to the west. “Some faster than others, some only in our nightmares.”
“Any regrets?”
“A shit ton,” I confessed with a half-smile, “but I wouldn’t change my past. It led me to the Vipers, my brothers. Brought me to this neighborhood and you and Dill.” I turned to check for a reaction and found wetness coating her eyes.
“I’m not going to push you for anything,” I told her, hating to be honorable, “but I won’t stop hoping, wildcat. Dill weaseled his way into my heart. I fucking adore that kid. Want to push him to grow and be the man he and you want him to be.”
A tear slid down her cheek, and I clenched my hands to keep from wiping it away.
“You’re good people, too,” I continued, “and I’ll always have your back if you need me.”
“You forgot to add for anything,” she said while biting back a smile even though her eyes shone with more tears. I got her true intent with those words even though she’d meant them as a tease—she thought I was just out to use her. Take advantage of her hot as fuck body.
“I’m serious as fuck right now.” My lips stayed flatlined. “Not saying all this shit to get between your thighs or have you drop to your knees in thanks.”
The pulse pounded in her neck as she rubbed her lips together and glanced away.
“Gonna call it a night on that note,” I said, somewhat pissed, standing abruptly to keep from reaching for her. “We good for tomorrow’s games, my friend?”
Michelle tilted back her head and nodded up at me, those lush lips parted just enough to send both of my heads into a fucking frenzy.
“I’ll bring the chips.” I spun and stalked off, desperate to jerk on my aching dick.
“Thanks, Vigil.”
I turned, walking backwards, deciding I didn’t give a fuck if she noticed how hard she made my dick. If she did, she would also have to acknowledge my goddamn self-control and the fact a lawless biker knew how to follow fucking rules if they meant a damn to him.
Soft light from the stoop’s sconce on the wall shown down on her dark hair, casting her eyes in shadow.
“See you tomorrow, wildcat.” A mock salute, and I spun back around, desperate to get behind closed doors so I could empty my balls beyond her sight rather than right the fuck there so she could see what just being beside her did to me.
Doing the honorable thing sucked ass, but beyond the lust, I wanted to earn her trust. Her friendship, too, same as I’d done with her son without even trying.
Chapter Twelve
Mila
How the hell did he get into my head so damn easily? Temptation to tell him the truth warred with my self-pres
ervation. His sincerity fought with my jaded heart.
But he was a biker, a one-percent gang member who chose to disobey the law. Even though his club rivaled my ex’s, Vigil would find what I had done to be distasteful. Disloyal, a character trait men like him hated. He’d called me good people, but he wouldn’t think so if he knew the truth about what I’d done.