“Make me a coffee and stop being a bitch about my stupidity,” I growl, knowing she’ll only shake her head and ignore me.
She shakes her head before turning to the door that I know leads off to the kitchen. When this place was first built, it was a restaurant, but when Lyra walked in, she saw something more and turned it into a profitable business.
Moments later, she returns with a pot of coffee and two mugs. She sets them down on the bar top and fills both mugs with steaming liquid. I don’t wait, picking up the one she shifts toward me and I sip down the caffeine, feeling the burn as it trickles down my throat.
“So, are you going to man up and tell her you want her?”
“I don’t date.”
“I didn’t say ask her on a date,” she retorts, her hands landing on her hips as she regards me through narrowed eyes. “If you stop acting like a big oaf, then I’ll explain what I mean.”
I wave my hand in the air, gesturing for her to continue.
“If you talk to her, tell her you think there’s a chance you two can be something, perhaps she’ll consider it.”
“That’s my point, Lyra. She wants a boyfriend,” I challenge.
“And?”
“I’m not boyfriend material.” Frustration ebbs and flows through me, back and forth like the ocean crashing against the shore. That’s what I am, destructive and being in Syren’s life will only bring more heartache to her. I don’t give a shit about me.
“Oh darlin’, I ain’t sayin’ you are boyfriend material,” Lyra laughs. It’s a low, throaty sound like she smoked far too many cigarettes when she was younger or something. “I mean, do you want her to get her heart stomped on by Talon?”
I sit back, looking at Lyra as I consider that. After a long silence, I shrug, “If Syren wants him, I can’t do anything to persuade her otherwise.”
She tips her head to the side, and smiles. “Sure, you can,” she tells me.
“Like what?”
She shakes her head, sipping her own black sludge before she tells me, “Show her you’re the better man.” Her words seem so easy, as if it would be a walk in the park. If I call off the friendship pact that Talon and I have, we’re both fucked. But if I make a move on Syren now, he’ll be pissed at me.
“It’s not as easy as you think.”
Lyra shrugs. “Perhaps you think it’s not easy,” she says. “But you’re the VP, pull your rank and show him that even though you’re both mates, she’s better off with you. I mean, come on, Talon’s dick is so well known across the chapters that I bet if he was in a line up, they’d pick him out without even looking at his face.”
I have to laugh at that. Shaking my head, I pull out my buzzing phone to find a message from the man himself.
Taking Syren home. Trigger wants to have a barbeque tonight, don’t bring some random skank back to the compound.
I want to punch him. No, more than that, I want to lay him flat on the fucking ground and show him he’s not worthy of Syren. But the moment I do that, I break the oath to protect my brothers.
Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I look up to find Lyra watching me. She’s intrigued by this situation. She’s never known me to be caught up or hung up on someone like this.
I look at her and shake my head. “You’re annoying.”
“You’re an asshole.”
Laughing, I finish my coffee and set the mug down. Lyra comes around the counter to give me a hug and I press a kiss to her cheek. After we’ve said our goodbyes, I’m on my bike and heading back to the house.
Time to see if my little Syren will choose me or my best friend.
And it’s also time to see if mine and Talon’s friendship will withstand this boulder that’s pushed itself in our path.
4
Syren
We pull up to the compound an hour later than I thought we’d be home and find most of the guys milling around with beers. The firepit is blazing and the ladies are all huddled off to the side of the garden where they’re laughing and chattering about whatever it is that has them cackling.
The moment I’m off Talon’s bike, I hear my father’s deep growl as he steps out of the house. “Syren.” My name in that tone only means one thing, I’m going to be knee-deep in shit soon enough. “Get in my office, now.”
My heart thunders in my chest as Dad makes his way by me and heads straight toward Talon. He doesn’t touch him, merely stares him down as I try to say my goodbyes, but it’s futile, my father is on a mission.
Once I’m in the safety of Dad’s office, I race to the window to see Shadow pulling up and killing the engine of his bike. The men are moving into the circle now and I have a feeling this has nothing to do with my little runaway date I just had.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but each one of them is watching Dad as he speaks. Their expressions turn dark, foreboding, and a cold shiver races down my spine as I consider that this could be bigger than I thought.
I know there are men who want to hurt the club, there have been attacks on our deliveries, and I overheard two of the prospects talking about the Cartel, but I didn’t catch the rest of their conversation.
My heart twists in my chest, leaping into my throat when Dad turns his attention on the window, causing me to stumble backward and into a hard body.
“Shit!” I gasp when two large, rough hands grip my shoulders and hold me up. Spinning on my heel, I turn to find the darkest gaze holding me hostage. It’s Draven Hawke, better known as Shadow, who’s staring me down.
“Why are you spyin’?” he grunts. I want nothing to do with him after he treated me like a stranger today. His hands are still on me, and I shrug away, out of his hold.
“Leave me the hell alone,” I bite out, stalking to Dad’s desk and flopping into his chair. He never lets me sit here, so today, I’m taking advantage while he’s outside.
“Not goin’ to happen, little girl,” Shadow grins, the mischief that’s sparking in his gaze is dark and violent which makes my stomach tighten as knots form, twisting and tugging. I don’t know why I feel like this around him. Talon’s the one I’m crushing on, yet Shadow is the one who makes my whole body burn hot.
Folding my arms across my chest, I attempt to school my features so he can’t see the effect he has on me. There’s something alluring about Shadow’s darkness, about the way he watches me, looms over me. “Why are you in here?”
“Your dad wants me in here, watchin’ you.” His voice is low, feral, like a wild caveman. He’s not big like Blade, instead, Shadow is all lean muscle, yet he has broad shoulders which taper down to his hips which are hugged by the jeans he’s wearing.
He has ink all over his hands, arms, and even up to his neck. His eyes shimmer with amusement as he watches me. They’re a strange, greenish-brown, and when he smiles, there are creases in each corner that make him seem even younger than his twenty-seven.
“I’m not going to run away, I’m in my own home, safe, so you can go back out there and talk to the guys.” In an attempt at sounding cool and calm, I come across as hysterical when he takes a step closer toward me.
“Do I make you nervous, Syren?” he smirks, the corner of his mouth kicking up, curving his perfectly full, pink lips.
My whole body responds, but my mouth stays glued shut. If he thinks he can saunter in here and look like sex on a stick and I’ll just drop to my knees for him, he’s sorely mistaken.
“I need to go,” I push past him, feeling the surge of electricity pumping through me the moment our arms brush against each other. I’m nothing but a hormonal teenage girl and it’s all his fault. Frustration blooms like a flower, and the petals are slowly being plucked by Shadow, one by one.
His hand shoots out, gripping my bicep, as his fingers curl around my arm. He doesn’t need to do much else because I’m grounded to the spot. The room is suddenly too warm, and my lungs struggle to take in air.
Where is my father when I need him to intervene?
“You can�
��t leave,” he tells me, his voice rigid, filled with annoyance like I’m irritating him because I’d like to go to my bedroom instead of standing here with him.
“Why?” I attempt to tug my arm free, but it doesn’t work. Shadow is strong, he has a vise grip on me, and I realize if I want to have him release me, I’ll have to listen to whatever the hell excuse he has.
“Your father received a death threat. One we’re not taking lightly.” His words are a mere whisper, and he leans in closer, his mouth inches from my ear. “If you behave like a good girl, I’ll tell you why I’m the one in here and not your boyfriend Talon.” He spits the word boyfriend as if it’s poison on his tongue.
I’m not sure why he’s angry about me wanting to be with Talon since he didn’t even offer me the time of day, but I’m not here to obey him. Either my father can come in here and speak to me like an adult, or I go to my room and wait.
“If there was a threat against my dad, he would’ve told me himself,” I hiss, once again, trying to tug my arm from Shadow’s hold. Every inch of me is on fire, needy for his fingers to touch other places, but also frustration that he’s so strong, and I’m so fucking weak.
“Listen to me, Syren, I’m not tryin’a be an asshole—”
“No, you’re not trying, you’re succeeding,” I bite out, but there’s no longer fire in my words when he leans so close to my mouth, I feel the whisper of his lips on mine and my mind blanks out for a long moment.
Heat sizzles between us, scorching my flesh as he finally does the one thing that I wasn’t expecting him to do, and that’s steal my breath with a kiss that’s so toe-curling, I forget I’m breathing.
He doesn’t move closer, and I wonder if he did would I feel his erection on my stomach. His tongue laves along the seam of my mouth and I open with a whimper. He takes that moment to dip inside me, licking and tasting. Our tongues dual and dance, tangling and my body shivers with need.
My palms land on his shoulders, and my fingers dig into the hard muscle I find when his fingers fist my long, tangled hair and he tugs my head back, so my face is tipped perfectly for him.
He’s using my mouth for his pleasure, but he’s not only taking, he’s giving me more than I’ve ever experienced and my core pulses with the ache that’s tightening in my stomach. It coils, twisting deep within me, and I feel his kiss right down to my toes.
He tastes of coffee and whiskey, and I wonder if he’s been out with another woman. I’m not sure why but the thought sends more fire through my veins and I finally do what I was praying he would — I press my body against his and moan when I feel the thickness of him.
I don’t know how long we kiss. I’m not even sure if anyone walked in and caught us, but when Shadow finally steps back, I’m met with his forest green eyes that are so dark, they’re almost black with desire.
“I shouldn’a done that,” he mumbles against my cheek. The pain so clearly etched on his handsome face is palpable. A square jaw that’s smooth to the touch brushes along my heated cheek before he steps so far back that I shiver from the cold air rushing between us.
“Why not?” I croak.
“I don’t know,” he tells me, shaking his head as if he’s trying to come to terms with something. A war rages within him as he tangles his fingers in his hair and pulls at the chocolate brown strands. “I’m no good for you.”
He spins on his heel and leaves me staring at the gaping doorway he’s just exited from. I want to run after him, to ask him what he means, but if I do, everyone would see my desperation.
I’m not sure what just happened. My body is still thrumming with need and anticipation of that happening again. But when I look out the window at where Shadow is now standing beside his best friend, I realize that’s what’s bothering him.
He may have thought it was a mistake to kiss me because of Talon. What he probably doesn’t know is that nothing happened between me and his best friend. I want to go out there, to talk to him, but I’m too afraid of Dad noticing something between us.
All I can think about now is that perhaps I really wasn’t thinking clearly earlier when I got on Talon’s bike. Maybe, just maybe, it was Shadow who wanted me to straddle his Kawasaki. And I wanted it too.
5
Shadow
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I can’t concentrate on what Trigger is saying. All I know is Syren is in danger. I shouldn’t have kissed her, and the guilt is sitting on my chest like a lead weight. She felt so pliable in my hands, like she wanted me as much as I did her. But why then did she show Talon attention earlier?
“They’ll find us, and that’s when we strike,” Trigger says, drawing me out of the cloud of lust that’s taken hold of me. His eyes are on me, and I think he’s waiting for an answer.
“We can take her to Arizona,” I suggest, unsure of the right response. Is this why Dad wanted me to come here? Was he attempting to play matchmaker, or did he know I would have to be the one to bring Syren back home?
“It’s a long ride,” Trigger says.
“But that will keep her safe.” This is Beast who speaks up. The man is a fucking brick wall that could break you if you so much as try to attack him. I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side. Almost six nine, he’s broad, and heavy, a thick graying beard adorns his hardened face, and his deep hazel eyes look like those of a wolf.
Trigger considers this. I know he trusts Beast as much as he does my dad. They’ve been friends for years, and that kind of trust doesn’t just diminish over distance. That brings my eyes to Talon who’s watching me with narrowed blue eyes.
I wonder if he knows I’ve kissed her. He asked me if I wanted to call off the friendship pact earlier, but I didn’t think I wanted to. Now though, I think I want her all to myself.
“Okay,” Trigger finally speaks up and catches my attention. “I want her on your bike, Shadow. No funny shit,” he tells me, and the warning is clear — hands off my daughter.
“I can do that,” I nod, hoping he doesn’t see the emotions that have clearly got a hold of me. “There are three of us. If needed, we can split up if we think they’re followin’ us.”
He looks at me for a long moment before he nods. “Fine. I want two of my prospects behind you, though. Don’t take chances with the cargo,” he says again as if I would let anything happen to the biker princess.
“You can trust me.” Even though I tell him this, deep down, I wonder if he can. He looks at me as if he’s telling me to leave her alone, but after that kiss, just that one taste, I don’t know if I can.
We head indoors and Trigger takes Syren into his office to talk to her. I don’t know how much he’s going to tell her, but I would just give her the truth. The Cartel want to kill her. And I’ve learned that if they want something done, they’ll get it done.
“What the hell is going on with you?” Talon questions as I pull a beer out of the fridge in the kitchen and snap the cap off. I take a long gulp, hoping for a little bit of Dutch courage before I turn to my best friend.
“I kissed her,” I confess quietly, hoping none of the other men, especially Beast is listening. The blue in Talon’s eyes dances with amusement, and suddenly, he laughs out loud.
“You dirty fucker,” he chuckles, slapping me on the back and squeezing my shoulders in a show of camaraderie. This wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, and my face must show it because he says, “Listen man, I knew you were pussy-whipped when you stormed out of the bar. I haven’t touched her.”
“I thought you wanted to take the biker princess for a ride,” I finally respond when I find my voice.
He shrugs, “You know me, I can get pussy anywhere and anytime, if you want her, she’s all yours.”
“I’m not a possession you can barter,” the soft, yet feisty voice of Syren startles us both. She’s standing in the doorway of the kitchen, her arms crossed in front of her chest, making her tits even more alluring than they normally are. Her cleavage beckons me and my jeans get tighter by the second.
<
br /> “That’s not what he meant,” I try to appease her. “We’re just—”
“Figuring out which one of you I’m going to drop to my knees for?” She arches a dark brow. Against her tanned, golden skin, her dark hair is a stark contrast, and with her azure eyes, she’s like a fucking doll. Jesus, I need to get my thoughts under control.
“We’re leavin’ in an hour, pack light,” I tell her, ignoring her question because to be honest, I do want her on her knees. And I want those dick-sucking lips wrapped around the base of my shaft.
I walk out of the kitchen, passing her slowly. Before I leave, I lean in and blow a soft breath in her ear then make my way through the house until I get out to the driveway then light up a cigarette.
I wanted to stop. I did stop. But the stress of being near her has pushed me over the edge and I need to ease the tension in my muscles. There are only two ways of doing that — smoking and fucking.
I can’t do the latter, so the former will have to do.
* * *
The road feels longer than it did when we came down and the only reason for that is the woman that’s perched on the backseat of my bike. She’s a natural, leaning left when needed and right when the time comes. I’ve only once before had someone hold onto me so tight as I wound through the country, and she walked out without a word.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts of the shitty time I had after Amelia walked out, I focus on the tar beneath my wheels. The sun is slowly setting on the horizon. Thankfully we were able to leave before dark.
Syren’s hands are pressed against my stomach, and I know she can feel the tension that’s tightening my abs. Her fingers dance along my body every now and then, and each time she does it, I want to pull to the side of the road and bend her over my bike.
I keep picturing her clothing. She’s dressed in black leather pants that hug her slender yet toned legs like a second skin. A small deep red top also seems to be painted on her slightly curvy frame, and her tits look fucking amazing in the soft material.
Twisted Steel: An MC Romance Anthology Page 28