by Jenika Snow
Like some kind of sick fuck that couldn’t get enough of her, he watched as she set her fork down and kept talking to Tatum. But everything else narrowed, and he had tunnel vision as he followed the length of her arm, and moved his gaze over the creamy swatch of skin that he could see above the collar of her shirt. Damn, her collarbones had his tongue actually swelling with the need to run it across those delicate bones. He had always thought that part of the female body was attractive, but on Adrianna it was tenfold. Her breasts pressed snugly against the top Tatum had given her, and he forced himself to pull his gaze away from her and stop being a bastard. But when he looked at her face it was to see her staring at him. He should have felt ashamed for checking her out, but he knew she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. That was clear when they kissed.
She turned and stared at him then, as if she had felt his gaze on her. They stared at each other for several long seconds. Tuck sat beside him, and although Malice heard the other man speaking to him, he was honestly lost in his own fucked-up world. God, what he wouldn’t give to have Adrianna right now, but he wouldn’t be rough and hard with her like he was accustomed to with other women. He’d be gentle, and touch her so she knew that this wasn’t just about sticking his dick in her and getting off. He wanted her to be right there with him, to feel everything he did to her and plead for more. Malice wanted her breath to coast along his sweat-soaked skin, and he wanted her nails to be deep in his body as she held on while he slowly pushed inside of her sweet body and pulled out with just as much anguished detail. His breathing started to increase as those images played through his mind, but to him it was just him and Adrianna at this table. Everything else faded in the background. She still watched him, and he noticed the subtle changes in her to alert him to the fact she was growing aroused, too. If he felt this much lust pounding through his veins no doubt she could see the physical signs of it, too.
“Malice.”
His name being said beside him more firmly had Malice snapping out of the haze and turning to look at Tuck. The other man was leaning back in his chair, this cocky smirk on his face.
He leaned forward, and in a low voice that only Malice could hear said, “Get your shit together, man. You look like you are about to jump across this table and mount Adrianna in front of everyone.”
Malice glowered at Tuck, but didn’t look at Adrianna again. He did need to get himself under control, but the truth was he felt like he was a teenager all over again that had just gotten his dick wet and didn’t know how to keep cool. He nodded once, and when Tuck was leaning back in his chair again he grabbed his napkin, wiped his face, and excused himself. He’d go to the bathroom and jerk off like an asshole, and try to ease this need for her enough that he could actually be a foot from her and not feel like his dick would tear right through his jeans. He still hadn’t talked to her yet about him wanting her as his old lady, and honestly he didn’t know how she would react. Yeah, she might want him, but sexual need was a hell of a lot different from being his old lady. Maybe she just saw him as this knight in shining white armor that had saved her? Maybe she wanted him because of a psychological thing? Like she connected with him because he saved her? He scrubbed a hand over his face and moved down the hallway. He didn’t know shit about that kind of stuff, but what he did know was that he wouldn’t know for sure what she wanted with him unless he talked to her. The sooner he did it the better he could put his mind and his hard-on at ease.
****
“This is bullshit, Sarah.” Kink paced right outside of the barn, and inhaled angrily from his cigarette.
“It’s not, Kink. I have found someone that makes me happy, and if that means I have to go with him to California to stay happy then I am.”
He inhaled again, and exhaled just as harshly. “I don’t care if you are happy or not, or if you fucking move, but taking my kid all way to another fucking state because you have been dating a guy for a total of three damn months, is not going to fucking fly.” Kink was beyond pissed. He thought calling her and talking about this—again—would help things. He had been dead fucking wrong. He should have just gone over there again and demanded this bullshit be put to rest.
“You don’t have a choice in this. I have custody, and she is a minor—”
“If I have to take you to court to make sure you don’t run off with her I will.”
She sighed, and that annoyed sound grated on his nerves. “I don’t want a custody battle, and I don’t want to make this a war, Kink.”
“Then if you don’t want a war don’t take my kid.”
He could hear her pencil dick motherfucking boyfriend telling her to hang up on him because she didn’t need to hear his bullshit. “You tell that asshole to get on the phone if he wants to start spouting off things.” He curled his hand into a fist and gritted his teeth. “I can show him exactly how much of an asshole I really am.”
“Stop being so damn dramatic. I can see where Callie gets her fucking drama from.” She sighed again. There was some static from her covering the phone so she could talk to the douche bag boyfriend, and then she stated talking once more. “Callie could use a change of scenery anyway. Her attitude has gotten to the point that I can hardly handle it, and I think her boyfriend is in a gang.”
That had him stopping. “She has a boyfriend?” Oh hell no. He snubbed his cigarette out on the bottom of his boot and moved toward the side of the barn. The shouts were loud and energized from guys watching others beat the shit out of each other.
“He’s new, and the first one she’s brought around. But her attitude is horrible, and ever since telling her about California she has gotten worse.”
“Yeah, no fucking shit. You’re taking her away months before she graduates because you’re a selfish bitch.”
“Hey, fuck you, Kink. Sleeping with you was a mistake, and letting it carry on for as long as it did was a mistake, too.”
His heart beat faster as his anger exploded inside of him. “The only good thing about being with you for those couple of weeks is Callie. Other than that it was a big damn mistake for me, too.” He couldn’t even call what they had shared a relationship. A few weeks of sex—and that one time he had fucked her without a condom because he had been drunk—had been a damn nightmare. But then she had gotten pregnant, and when Callie was born something changed inside of him. He was a dad to a little girl that looked up to him. He might not be the best role model, and might belong to an outlaw MC, but he was there for her, and would die if it meant she could live. She was the one ray of light in his otherwise clusterfuck life.
“If you want to drag your daughter through a court hearing, make her traumatized that her lowlife biker father wants to make a damn scene over this, then go ahead and make a fucking scene, Kink. Do whatever you have to do, but in the end who do you think the courts will side with?” He didn’t say anything, but she started speaking again before he could spout off a string of profanities. “You belong to a motorcycle club that has a reputation of being involved in illegal and dangerous activity. I’ve told you that I was talking to my lawyer, and I meant it, Kink. She is drafting documents up for the judge about moving out of state with Callie.”
“You are one cold hearted bitch.”
“I will do what I have to do to ensure that my happiness isn’t fucked up by you. I mean, you fucked up my life as it is by getting me knocked up and being an absentee father.”
He gritted his teeth again, willing himself not to say what was really on his mind because it would only make the situation worse. “I’m only going to tell you this once, Sarah.”
“Say whatever you want, Kink. It doesn’t matter either way.”
“You will not take my kid from me.” He disconnected the call and nearly crushed the cell in his hand. He would go to drastic measures if it meant keeping his kid close. He turned and slammed his fist into the side of the barn. He loved the pain, but it didn’t make him feel any better.
The crowd went wild right on the other si
de of the wall he leaned against, and he pushed away from the barn and walked around the building. He was enraged, and needed a good fucking fight to get it out of him. He pushed the people out of his way once inside, and lucky for him the fight commencing was just ending. Tilting his head toward a few of The Grizzly MC members, and some Brothers prospects, he walked up to them. Rock was getting himself pumped up to take the center by jumping on the balls of his feet, cracking his knuckles, and rolling his head around on his neck.
“I need to be next.” Kink ground the words out and glanced at Rock. The other biker looked like he might argue, but when he saw the clear anger on Kink’s face he nodded and held his hands up.
“All yours, brother.”
Kink took his cut and shirt off and held it out to Pierce. He moved forward just as the other brothers dragged their sorry asses out of the center of the bar. He faced off with the fighter that stepped forward. Come on, motherfucker, let’s do this.
The other guy wasted no time and charged forward. Kink slammed his fist into the other fighter’s face, and felt the surge of adrenaline flood his body from the impact. It felt good to deliver violence, felt fucking fantastic to see the blood pour out of the other man’s nose because he had just broken it. He slammed his fist into the other guy’s face again and again until blood covered his knuckles, splattered across his bare chest, and made him feel even more alive. His rage kept building, kept taking control until there was no sane and logical part of him left.
He hit the man again and loved that his eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground. He was still so juiced up, still needed to kick another motherfucker’s ass because he wasn’t nearly done yet. He’d try to talk to Sarah again, reasoning with her that Callie should just stay with him until she graduated, and then she could decide where she wanted to start her life. Normally he just took what he wanted. Callie was his kid, and no way in hell he’d let his daughter leave. He turned in a circle and bounced on the balls of his feet. Starring at all the guys lined up to fight, he grinned, hoping they took note that he loved the blood on him. Some looked apprehensive, others tried to look unaffected, but it made no difference because he’d take as many of them out that had the balls to come into the center and brawl with him. He lived for this shit, volunteered to fight every damn night if it meant he could kick someone’s ass. He had done this for money back in the day, back before he committed himself to the MC. These fights were straight-out street rules, and that was exactly how Kink liked it.
“What motherfucker is ready to hit the floor next?”
The crowd went wild, and money was raised high as the volume increased tenfold. The guy that stepped forward looked far too little to be fighting dirty at the barn, but what the fuck ever. The end result would always be the same. He didn’t prance around what was happening, just held his fists up, grinned at the prick, and threw a left hook, and then a right undercut. The other guy fell back on his ass without even being given the opportunity to throw a punch.
“Get up, asshole.” Sweat dripped down Kink’s temples, and he tasted the metallic, tangy flavor of blood in his mouth from the last guy that had managed to hit him. The other guy finally pulled his sorry ass off the ground, and turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood. The crowd went wild once again, and he had to give the scrawny fuck some credit for having balls. More sweat dripped off his bare chest and fell to the rust stained colored ground. The other guy suddenly charged forward. He swung left, and then right, but Kink easily dodged the attempt. This barn might mainly be used for shifter fights, but Kink was about to show these fuckers that humans were some bad motherfuckers, too. The other fighter caught him in the jaw, and Kink stumbled back. His lip split, and blood dripped down his chin. So this little shit had some bite in him. Good, because Kink didn’t like things to be easy.
Kink ran the back of his hand over his mouth, and noticed the blood smeared across it. “I hope you enjoyed that hit, because it is the only one you’re going to get.” He charged forward, saw the fighter’s eyes widen before he slammed his fist into the side of his head. The guy stumbled backward, and Kink could have easily kept going, but he didn’t want to kill the guy. The guy lay passed out on the floor, and a bloody mess. Spectators roared out for more, exchanged money, and then the next guy stepped into the proverbial ring. Yeah, Kink was going to go all fucking night until he couldn’t stand straight, couldn’t think, and all of the anger had left him—well, until he saw that fucking bitch Sarah again.
Chapter Twelve
Adrianna had nothing to her name, not anymore at least. No money, no bag with personal possessions. Nothing. The only thing she had was the fresh clothes on her back that Tatum had given her this morning. But now, as she stared around at this gorgeous two-story cabin out in the middle of the woods, she felt the generosity that was shown to her clog her throat and have tears forming in her eyes. But to be fair she had been on the verge of tears since Malice had told her that this would be her new home for the time being, and that she could make some money by helping with the cooking, cleaning, and anything else that needed to be done around the place. And even though at first he tried to tell her to just rest, get her bearings, and they would worry about keeping her busy with the cabin stuff another time, she wasn’t having any of that. She wanted to be able to contribute, and if that meant doing housework then she was more than happy to do it.
She thought about Malice. He had been kind of standoffish around her since he left the dinner table last evening. She hadn’t seen him again last night, but that was probably for the best. The way he had looked at her across the table, like some kind of lion about to pounce on her, had been a look no man had ever given her. No man except Malice. Even now she still felt her lips tingle from their kiss, and still felt her clit throb from unrestrained and unfulfilled desire. It had only been a few days since she had left Fairview, and although outside she was healing, she needed to work on healing herself on the inside.
“What do you think?” Malice stood beside her and she glanced over at him. The light came through the window, shadowing the front half of him and almost giving him this sinister, highly seductive appearance. He turned and looked at her when she did respond. “Adrianna?”
Blinking and then smiling, she turned back to the great room. Right now they stood in the foyer of the cabin Malice had told her women who were rehabilitating stayed in. They hadn’t really spoken much, and she really didn’t know why the club would be in the business of having some kind of half-way house in the middle of nowhere. But of course she wasn’t a fool. She assumed enough that this had something to do with illegal affairs, ones that probably lined their pockets. The why of it was what she didn’t exactly know.
“It’s beautiful.” She looked around the house, saw several women cleaning up, others reading in little nooks, or just sitting on the couch and talking with each other. She turned back to Malice. “What exactly is this place?” When he didn’t answer right away she went on. “I mean I know you said it was where these women could heal, but I don’t understand what that means.” She had lowered her voice so only he could hear.
He tipped his chin toward the stairs, and she followed him. They climbed the stairs, and she didn’t miss how some of the women glanced her way, and then looked at Malice. Once they reached the top of the stairs he moved down the hallway and stopped on the last door on the right. The room they entered was gorgeous in the natural, bare sense. A full bed was against the wall, a matching pine dresser across from that, and a large window that showed the front part of the property. She walked over to the window, saw the two bikers she had noticed when they first pulled up leaning against the smaller cabin beside this house, and then heard the door shut behind her. She turned and saw Malice standing right in front of it.
“I probably should have told you all of this before now,” he shrugged, “but now is as good a time as any, I suppose. “ He gestured toward the bed, and she moved toward it and sat down. For a few seconds he didn’t say anythin
g, but then he went over to the closet and pulled the door open. Inside she could see clothes hanging even though he hadn’t turned on the light. “When we had this place fixed up and the rooms made we got some clothes for the women that would be staying here. I don’t know if any of them will fit you. Most of the girls have already had their pick, so basically this is the leftover stuff, but if nothing fits I’ll take you to get some things.”
“Thank you, but I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll make it work.”
He looked at her over his shoulder. “I told you what this place was, that it was to make sure the women here could heal and get back on their feet.”
She nodded, feeling her nerves go on alert because what he had to say couldn’t be good, right?
He turned fully around, stared out the window from across the room for several seconds, and then took a few steps toward her. “The MC makes most of its living selling women, Adrianna.”
For a second she just blinked, and then blinked some more. Trying to comprehend what he had just said wasn’t hard. She had heard him clearly, but the thought of selling women was so abhorrent to her, and reminded her of the grimy life she had fled, that everything inside of her instinctually told her to leave right now.
“We don’t keep these women here against their will, Adrianna.”
That comforted her a little, even though she had hoped, and known deep down, that that hadn’t been the case. She may not have been sold, but she had watched her mother sell her body for extra money, watched the men come in and out of their hovel of a home, and didn’t want to be a part of that anymore. She was moving away from that.