by Brair Lake
Alex continues to stroke the flesh across my stomach, setting off the low fluttering at the base of my stomach once more. “Did he? What did he want?”
“To warn me. To tell me what a bad boy you are.” I swallow air to steady the rising yearning in my body. “That you’ll use me. Then throw me on the scrape pile once you’ve had your wicked way.”
Alex’s deep chuckle curls my toes and heat warms my back as my blood tingles. “Wicked way.” Alex peers at me. The warmth in his eyes is a lie I tell myself. He’s seducing me. “Did you tell brother dearest, that you haven’t seen the inside of my bedroom yet.”
Yet being the word. I chew my lower lip as my fingers trail along his jaw line and shake my head. “I don’t lie to Hank.” Shit, I wish he’d keep his fingers still so I can think.
“But you haven’t been anywhere near my cabin.”
I nod. “I’m good at picking locks. I snuck in once.”
Alex stills and his touch stops tormenting me. “Why did you go in my room?”
I trace the outline of his lip. “I could lie and tell you it was to lie on your bed. To smell your scent. But it was a dare.”
Alex’s eyebrow rises and his lips quirk. “A dare. From who?” His hand covers my mouth as he shakes his head and a hint of laughter fills his voice. “No–Don’t tell me. It was Poppy.” The tip of my tongue peeks out between my lips and I sneak a taste of his tangy flesh. “What else did you girls get up to while on Demon’s Lair.”
“Not much.” I shake my head, “the place is heaving with male testosterone and there was always someone around. Watching.” As Alex strokes my arm, the heat of the afternoon sun teases my neck. I was willingly being seduced. “It can be pretty dull on the riverboat when there’s and embargo on where you can go.” At our enforced stay on Demon’s Lair a year ago, the excitement of living on the riverboat quickly faded from the tedium of life.
Alex rolls over me, blocking the sun as he stretches above me. “Come back to the riverboat and I promise you won’t find it boring this time.”
His fingers slip beneath my tee-shirt and goosebumps race along my spine. I yearn to say yes. To feel Alex in me. While at the same time, I don’t want to be a pushover for him–not again. “Not until you produce that piece of paper.”
“You can be dull at times, Mia.” Alex’s mouth covers mine and as his tongue invades my interior cavern, the sun slips behind a cloud and a chill which has nothing to do with my need for Alex, passes through me. Does he find me dull? The last thing I want is to be dull. The material of his cut is coarse under my touch, and I trace the embroidered outline of the demon rising out of the Mississippi. Not that you can tell it’s the Mississippi, just several squiggly lines embroidered in the shape of a wave. Alex’s hips thrust against mine and my pussy pulses in response. Alex is playing dirty and knows it. My hand wanders lower, and when I find his butt, I stroke the heave denim and mourn that it’s not his flesh I’m touching. A hunger gnaws at me. A hunger to have Alex naked. His flesh rubbing against my flesh. I groan more in frustration than in delight as I push Alex until he lies on his back. He blinks. His pupils large. His eyes dark, and I lick my lips as I find the buckle of his belt.
Alex’s fingers clamp around my wrist as I stroke the embossed rising demon buckle. “Mia.”
“I’m not a tease, Alex. I meant it when I said no sex. But it doesn’t mean no touching.”
Alex watches me, then wavers as he nods and lies back, placing his hands behind his head. His blue gaze lingers on my mouth and I lick my lips. There’s a herd of oxen pounding over my heart and my fingers shake as I free the catch at the back of the buckle, pull his zipper down, and part the material of his jeans. I blink as Alex’s long, thick cock bounces free of its confines. Unable to resist any longer, I trail the tip of my finger along the warm flesh. Exhilarated as Alex shivers beneath me. The flesh is red and angry. Swollen as blood pumps through it. The purple veins push against the translucent skin and pre-cum leaks from the tip. The heat emitting from him scorches my hand and I close my eyes, licking my lips as I wrap my fingers around the hard shaft.
“Mia.”
I open my eyes and stare directly into Alex’s intense blue gaze. The lust in his eyes has my pussy burning. Shit, Alex could be mine, but I want him to wait. Want him begging for me. Shit, if I’m not careful, I’ll be the one begging. My hand is slow as it slides up and down his flesh, and my fingers tremble as Alex watches me. His gaze steady. His silent approval adds to my confidence and I squeeze the shaft a little tighter. My movements sure as I pump, and twist the flesh then flick my thumb over the slit, spreading his seed over his flesh. Alex thrusts into my hand. As he loses eye contact with me, his neck arches back. His flesh swells beneath my touch, and his groan echoes through the air as he shoots his cum over my hand. I leave Alex panting on the ground as I stroll to the river and rinse my hand. He’s not the only one effected by the hand job. My heart is racing so hard, I’m sure it’s going to explode. The pulse in my clit throbs painfully, tormenting me in need to find my own relief. Desperate to come.
“Mia.”
“Yeah.”
“Come back here.” I turn and smile, Alex is wiping his cock with a handkerchief he must have had in his pocket. His blue eyes sparkle. “Thank you.” I shrug as I sit on the blanket. The sun is starting to dip, and I reach for the beer Alex placed near the blanket, passing one to him. “Mia.”
“Yeah.” I look at Alex and my heart flips. His eyes are gentle as he watches me. This is what he must have looked like as a boy. This is how he must have looked at Jo-Leigh before her death. I sip my beer. I refuse to think of that time. A time when she had the true Alex.
“It’s the family day at Demon’s Lair this weekend. Come with me.”
The pounding of my heart echoes in my ears as I shake my head. “I’ve promised Cole I’ll go with him.”
Alex’s smile slips, then he forces it into place. “It’s my four days, Mia.”
I nod. “I know. But I’ve already invited Cole.” I look at Alex. “You can’t expect me to break a promise.”
Alex glances to the river, then looks at me. The tenderness gone. His lips set in a fine line. I should rejoice at this show of jealousy, but I know it’s more about ownership than emotion. “This once, Mia. Then no matter what promises you make Cole. My four days are my four days.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
Alex’s smile is back. Not the one he wore moments ago. His teasing one. The one he uses to flirt with. The one he uses to get his own way and I nod. “Alex.” He leans back, and my gaze drops to the open zipper and I shake my head. The man has no shame. “How come you don’t have a moniker.”
Alex keeps his eyes closed. “I did, but I dropped it.”
I shuffle closer, drawing circles on his stomach. “Why?”
“Because I don’t like it. Anyway, now the River Demons are moving in a new direction, we don’t have use for them.”
“Are you going to tell me what it was.”
A shadow passes at the back of his eyes. “Slick.”
“Why don’t you like it.”
“Jono gave it to me.”
His answer sounds like a lie, and I search his face for the truth. “Is that the reason you don’t like it?”
Alex shrugs. “Partly. He gave it to me because I could always get him and me out of trouble. Then when I became a lawyer. He said it suited me even better.” Alex turns his gaze to me. “When he broke away from the club, I was glad to drop it.”
“Can I give you a new one?”
Alex blinks and his smile twists at my stomach. “Will I regret it if I say yes?”
I shake my head. “Nibbana. You are my Nibbana. But I guess everyone else can call you Nibs.”
Chapter 13
Alex: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
As the low strains of a guitar rhythm swirls in the air from Soul Insurrection, a local up-and-coming blues band, I leave Demon’s Lair to join my brother
s on the banks of the Mississippi. Raised voices catch my attention and I watch Firebird and TJ amongst the throng. In her hand she is waving a clipboard at TJ, who scowls in response, pointing to the cooking pit and Firebird shakes her head.
“If he didn’t love her. I’m sure I’d never find her body.”
I turn to Leon to find him watching Firebird. A light gleam’s in his brown eyes while a small smile plays at the corner of his lips. “TJ tells me he has a yearning to be an uncle.”
Leon’s chuckle vibrates around us as he shakes his head. “If he wants kids, he can go and get his own.” His smile slips. “This is Firebird’s time. She held her family together for too long. Now’s the time for her to fly.” Leon glances in my direction, his smile is back. “Or sail should I say.”
TJ and Leon are not the only ones fond of Firebird, and I chuckle, “She’s a Demon, Leon.”
“What about you, Alex. Are you ready for the mundane?”
“Mia is as mundane as Firebird.” The biker chuckles as I slap him on the back as I walk away from him, scanning the crowded parking lot in search of my prey. Our guest began arriving about thirty minutes ago and as I search the revelers for a particular blond, my scowl deepens when there is no sighting of Mia. I weed my way through the stalls selling raffle tickets and tombola. Soul Insurrection are playing near the makeshift bar and on the other side, filling a fair part of the ground is a giant bouncy castle with several small kids running, jumping and tumbling on it. There’s a small merry-go-round with chairs on chains and a horse carousal, both are in motion. Although we are on the banks of the Mississippi, Firebird has had a giant inflatable swimming pool installed in the grounds, which the club whores, along with several of the young men from Noir Valley and a couple of River Demons younger bikers are using.
“You look as thou you could do with a beer.” Flash slips her arm through mine as she hands me a beer. I shrug my arm, smiling at the whore to diminish the rebuff and notice her gaze on the swimming pool.
“Thanks. Are you going to take a dip?”
Flash shrugs as she sips her beer. “I might later.” Eyes devour me as her gaze caresses my body, but there is no answering twitch from my cock. “If the company’s right.”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone.” My smile is more of a smirk as Oyster and Kit stroll our way. When they reach us, I insert by body between the two bikers, loop my arm around Kit’s neck, turning him away from Oyster and Flash. “Kit and I have business to discuss, I’m sure you won’t mind keeping Flash company.” I wink at Oyster as I steer Kit towards Day, sitting on one of the benches, watching and studying the crowd.
Kit chuckles as he ambles beside me. “Shit, Alex. Leave the matchmaking to TJ. You’re as subtle as the quick sands outside Noir River.”
“Oyster can handle her.”
Kit shakes his head, his smile disappearing as he sits on the bench beside Day. “Any news from Jono.”
I keep my gaze on the river as I swig my beer. “No. He’s been quiet for a few days.” I scan the area. There’s still no sign of Mia or Cole. “The sooner Mia is on Demon’s Lair, the sooner he’ll show his hand.”
“Are you sure that’s the reason you want her on the riverboat?” The snigger in Day’s voice rolls off my back. I want Mia. I let her slip away before. I’ll not make the same mistake again. As I watch the gates, Bastian and Eve arrive, and behind them is Mia’s red Corolla, and my heart skips a beat as my fingers clench around my beer bottle. I force my body to stay where it is as I watch the car park beside Bastian’s bike. My sunglasses balance on my head, and I pull them down to rest over my nose as the driver’s door opens and my heart slips when Data climbs out of the driver’s side. My gaze shifts to the passenger seat. My scowl deepening as Poppy unfurls her body and steps on to the grass. Then she’s closing the door. The lights flash, signifying Data has locked the doors. I keep my gaze on the gates. There are three brothers watching the entrance and the road. “Are you expecting Jono to show up today?”
Day shrugs. “Mia’s not the only honey trap he could be waiting on. There’s a lot of important people about. It’ll be easy to discredit us with a bit of trouble.”
“Not if he wants to get on their good side.”
Day takes a long drink of his beer. His gaze lingers over the crowd. Then he stands, looks at me. His blue eyes empty. “I don’t trust him, Alex. And I’m not sure about Mia.”
“She lives with Poppy.”
“Only because Firebird and Poppy insisted.” Day’s smile deepens. “Keep your enemy close, Alex. That’s what I intend to do.”
An icy chill stabs at the base of my stomach. “Do you see me as your enemy?” I had stood by Day on the day of the failed coup.
His eyes are glacial. “No. Neither are Firebird or Poppy. But their father is. When he strikes. I’ll be ready.”
“And Mia?”
Day’s laugh is dry. “Fuck, Alex, she’s Hank’s and Jono’s sister. And a journalist who’s playing you against another journalist. Tell me what there is about her to trust.”
“I trust her. She’s loyal.” My smile deepens. “Besides, once she’s in my bed. She’ll no longer be interested in the Johnson.”
“I hope you’re right, Alex. That you’ve not overplayed your hand.”
As Day turns from me, a 2005 Harley and rider with a passenger ride through the gates and my fingers tighten around my bottle as I watch the couple pull up beside the other parked vehicles. My gaze is steady as I drink my beer, watching the passenger dismount, and remove her helmet. The pulse in my throat throbs as heat surges through my body as she frees the zipper to her jacket. Mia’s gaze sweeps the compound, then clashes with mine. I hold her gaze before she turns away to talk to her companion. My teeth grate as my jaw clenches when Cole Johnson leans forward and kisses Mia on the lips. Although the kiss is brief, Mia hadn’t rebuffed him. When I get her alone, I’ll be laying down some ground rules. If I’m not having sex with the woman, neither is Cole.
Bastian’s chuckle raises the hair on my spine, and I flip him the finger as I lean over and kiss Eve. “When are you taking your next trip to New Orleans?” The question is caw in my throat. There was that minor matter of Dale to deal with.
“At the end of the month.” Eve’s eyes laugh as she slips her hand into Bastian’s and I smile at his growl. five months ago, the women had started taking trips to New Orleans about every six weeks. Until the discovery of NOLA Boy’s existence, I hadn’t paid much attention to the trips. Why should I, when it was just a girl’s trip. I scan the area until I find Data by the pool talking to Patch. He went on those trips. When I quizzed him about NOLA Boy and the trips to New Orleans, he’d sworn he’d never met the man. That he was unaware of his existence until he read Mia’s blog. I head towards the young biker, and as I pass the temporary bar, I grab a couple of beers.
“Scram, Patch. Go rescue TJ from Firebird.” Patch glances at me, then disappears into the crowd. “You know you’re wasting your time with her.” Data nods as he accepts the beer I offer him. Patch only fucks the officers but doesn’t mind teasing the other bikers. She’s been with The River Demons for about ten years and after being used as a train for the first three years, she now believes she deserves a better ride in the club. “This next trip to New Orleans. Track down NOLA Boy.”
“Shit, Alex. I’ve been trying. According to Mia’s blog, they met at college. But there’s no reference or record of anyone going by that name attending when Mia did.”
“She might not have met him at college. Check out the local bars.”
“I’ll have to take Pond with me. You know the rules regarding Poppy.”
“I’ll sort it.” As I glance over Data’s shoulder, Mia walks into my line of vision and I step away from the young biker.
“Hello, Mia. Aren’t you going to introduce us?” I turn to Cole. He’s an inch or two shorter than me, yet his gray eyes remain steady as I watch him. Most men either step or look away from me when they see me. This o
ne continues to stare. His hand on Mia’s waist and I wonder if he’s tasted her pussy. That when she came against his mouth, did he drink her cream. I lick my lips, salt and musk lingers on the tip of my tongue.
Mia licks her lips and her lashes lower as she hides her gaze. “Cole. Alex. He works on Demon’s Lair.”
I reach out and take the man’s hand in mine. His grip is firm, and I smile as I acknowledge my rival. This man is no journalist.
Chapter 14
Mia: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
I watch the flicker in Alex’s blue gaze as his smile tightens while he shakes Cole’s hand, and slip my hands into the front pocket of my jeans. I knew this moment was going to happen. That Alex would meet Cole. I think that’s why I chose to do it this way. In a crowd, there isn’t much he can do. As a couple of children run between our legs, I know I did right.
“It’s quite a spread you’ve laid out, Alex.” As calm as Cole’s voice is, the tension is tight in me, especially when Alex’s smile fails to reach his eyes.
“That’s down to Firebird and TJ.” Alex turns to me and my knees shake. His gaze sweeps over me. He doesn’t spare an inch of my body as he appraises me and my pussy springs to life. I had overslept this morning. Recalling Alex and his touch during the night had kept me awake. Leaving me too restless to sleep. Each time I closed my eyes, he was there, hovering over me. His lips close to mine, but not touching me. His aroma teasing my senses and when I rolled over in bed, reaching out. Only to find an empty space beside me, the air left my body as I groaned into the pillow. The sun was cracking the morning clouds when I finally fell asleep. Then Poppy was waking me with a rough shake, and I buried my head deeper into the pillow, refusing to leave my bed. But Cole was here, waiting for me. In the living room, I found him pacing the floor. His dominating presence and close-fitting black jeans a stark reminder of Alex. The black tee-shirt caressing his chest, caused me to blink at the muscle tone beneath the cloth. The studded belt emphasized his hips and flat stomach. His arms were bare, and I noticed the tattoo on his bicep. On closer inspection, it was clear to see the serpent wrapped around a tree.