by J. L. Drake
“Coffee?” Morgan set the mug in front of me and eyed my swollen knuckles. “Are we down a guy?”
I started to speak when Tess came through the doors and over to the bar for a water. Jace tumbled in behind her and held onto a chair for support.
“Lookin’ good.” Brick laughed with me.
“Fuck off,” he wheezed, unable to speak.
“Tess,” I called as she went to leave, “come here.”
She hesitated. “I need a shower.”
“This will just take a minute.”
“Yeah?” She stood a few feet away, holding my gaze.
“Clark is dead.”
No emotion surfaced on her face. “Okay.”
Not what I wanted or expected.
Even Brick was stunned and cleared his throat. “You okay, Tess?”
She shrugged. “Why? I was part of it. I’m glad. Wish I’d finished him myself.”
“Tess,” Brick tried to get her to open up, “come on.”
“What do you want me to say?” She checked her phone. “One down, one to go?”
Her phone vibrated, and her eyes scanned side to side as she read it.
“I gotta go.”
Brick watched her leave before he turned around. “Christ, she’s turning into you.”
Lucky me.
Chapter
Eighteen
Tess
“Tess,” Minnie stuck her head in the door and looked around my room, “are you ready for this trip?”
I sank onto the side of the bed. I used to love Vegas, but I couldn’t get my head into this trip.
“Clothes-wise, yes. Nerves-wise? I have no clue.”
She glanced over her shoulder before she shut the door. “Girl, you need to let whatever the hell is bothering you go.”
I attempted a smile, and she narrowed her eyes.
“When was the last time you and Trigger bumped fuzzies?”
“Wow.” I pulled up the handle of my suitcase. “Where my head just went was not okay.”
“That long, hey?”
“I don’t know. I have mixed feelings on the whole Tess and Trigger thing.”
She thought for a moment. “Whenever Brick and I are out of sync, I just need to get laid. I really think you need it, girl.”
I glanced at the time. “You know he brought Clark here by texting him from my phone.”
“Yeah, but you got what you wanted, right?”
I shrugged. She was right, and I didn’t know why it bothered me.
Brick appeared at the door. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Minnie stopped me from following him. “Do you trust me?”
She waved me off and dug out a silver tube. “Stick out your tongue.” She tapped a little white pill into her palm.
“What is it?”
“Trust me, it will make the four-hour bike ride a whole lot more comfortable.” She held it out and waited for my mouth to open.
I opened, and she stuck the pill on the center of my tongue. She did the same to herself, which made me feel a little better.
“Now,” she stepped back and examined my outfit, “leather pants are perfect. I love the skull top, just change out of heels to boots. Your heels will go numb from the vibration.” She was right. I remembered I had that problem on the last long drive to the desert.
Threading my arms through my leather jacket, I fixed my hair and held up my arms. “Well?”
“I’d do you.”
“Good to know.” I winked, happy Minnie got me out of my funk, if only for a moment.
With my suitcase in hand, I followed her out to the van where Jace was loading our luggage.
“Jesus.” He smirked at me. “Whoa, sexy outfit.”
“Leaves nothing to the imagination, and that’s the point.” Minnie grinned at me and slammed her suitcase in the van. She grabbed my hand and pulled me close as we walked over to the guys standing by their bikes. “If it becomes too much, there’s a few rest stops.”
“If what becomes too much? Minnie…” I tried to grab her hand, but she veered off toward Brick. “I thought it was just an edible, as in pot.”
“Hello again, leather pants.” Rail appeared at my side. “I was wondering when we were going to meet you again.”
Trigger rolled up on his bike. He was in a black t-shirt that hugged his biceps and chest, and dark jeans and boots. His cut seemed a bit tight, a sign he had been working out a lot.
He didn’t remove his sunglasses, but his stare nearly made me trip as I walked over and took the helmet he handed me.
“You look good,” he muttered. “You’ve been missing for the past week.”
“Just dealing with some stuff.”
“I don’t like it.”
“I know.” I flipped my hair back and pulled the helmet on. “Me either.” I swung my leg over the bike and rested my hands on his hips, and he pulled me so I hugged him. He flicked the engine over and backed us out.
An hour later, we hit a wall of traffic and came to a complete stop. That was when I began to notice the leather cut that wrapped Trigger’s midsection was as smooth as lamb skin. As I moved my sensitive fingertips over it, I felt a ball of warmth grow in my belly.
My thighs flexed as Trigger shifted his weight. I didn’t mean to ball his shirt in my hands, but fuck me, everything felt amazing.
“You okay?” His raspy voice caught me off guard, and I jolted on the seat, and oh-my-God, it was amazing. “Tess?”
“Please stop moving,” was all that shot out of my mouth. He flipped up his visor and turned to look at me. I shook my head and moaned as his ass rubbed my front. My jaw clenched, and I started to grind my teeth.
“Put your visor up.”
Oh, shit, don’t get alpha on me. I may lose it right here on the freeway.
I quickly shoved it up and stared into his confused eyes.
“What are you on?”
“Nothing.” I almost moaned when he moved again.
He stared a beat longer before he snapped his visor down and turned back around.
Ohhh, yes. I wanted to tap his shoulder to get him to do that again, but the traffic started to move.
Sweet, horny Lucifer. I’d broken out in a light layer of sweat, and my thighs burned from the grip on the seat. Three hours on the bike, and its vibrations had built me up to a pleasure-painful level. I’d finish myself off if I weren’t surrounded by the crew.
Thankfully, Trigger signaled we were stopping for a break at the next rest stop. We took the exit and rolled up at the light before the small park.
When Trigger kicked his foot out to stabilize us, I grabbed the side of his leg and begged my body to let go.
His hand landed on mine, and I wanted to cry. His touch, his smell, his everything made my world tilt on its axis. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.
I was either going to kill someone or have the most mind-blowing orgasm known to woman in public.
The bike slowed to a stop, and he proceeded to wiggle around then slid the length of his leg across me. I tossed my helmet, and my palms dug deep into the hot leather. I felt like I was balancing on the loose rocks that lined edge of my orgasm. I had never not-wanted to come so badly in my life.
My mind shifted to images of Trigger touching me.
Oh, no.
Oh, yes.
Oh, please.
“That’s one major fuck-me face.” Rail burst my steamy moment.
I glared at him, but it did nothing for my problem. “What?”
“Just makin’ an observation.”
“Observate somewhere else.”
“Yeah, you probably need to finish that off.” He wiggled his fingers and winked.
I closed my eyes and managed to channel my thoughts back to being underneath Trigger. His hands on my skin, his lips on my neck, his…
A shadow crossed my face and blocked my warmth. “What did you take?”
A deep jolt tore through me as my mind decided if it he was real o
r not.
“Please,” I nearly panted. “Don’t talk.” I rubbed my hands down my pants. The leather was warm and sent goosebumps through me.
“What?”
“I’m not entirely sure, as this is the first time I ever took ecstasy, but I think I took ecstasy.”
He blinked “Where did you get E?”
“A fr—”
“What the hell were you thinkin’, taking drugs before you got on the bike?”
I reached out and wrapped my fingers around his arm to get him to pull back from the angry path he was about to go down.
Once my sense of touch got hold of what I was doing, I got a head rush. A strange prickle shot through my arms, up my chest, wrapped around my neck, and burst through my mind.
Trigger’s warm hand landed just above my elbow and tugged me toward him.
“Look at me.” His jaw flexed as my eyes climbed. “Tell me what you’re feeling.”
When I tried to break eye contact, his finger lifted my chin back in place.
I unlocked the doors to my mind and let the words flow out.
“I’m wishing we weren’t standing in a parking lot because I’ve discovered ecstasy and a vibrating bike is the way for a woman to experience blue balls.”
He ran his fingers down to the center of my collarbone with a little chuckle. Kill me now!
“Tell me what else is going through you head.”
My mouth opened, and more words flew out. “It scares me that my mother will come looking for Clark. So much, in fact, I’ve had nightmares the last few nights.”
His eyes burned into mine before he leaned down to brush his lips across my temple. “And?”
“And if you don’t—” His fingers danced along my cleavage, and he palmed my breast. “Trigger.” I couldn’t think straight…his touch, his hot breath, his raspy voice.
“How ya doing, Tess?” Minnie shouted from Brick’s bike as they pulled up next to us.
“Thanks for the heads up.” I referenced the bike and the last three hours of pleasure-pain.
She laughed. “Where would the fun be in that?” She glanced at Trigger. “Wanna join in?”
“No! No way,” Langley snapped from beside me. Christ, he was like a damn ninja. He made no noise; he just appeared. “And none of that.” He pointed at me. “Not until after.”
“What?” I nearly choked. “Don’t make me go elsewhere.”
Where the hell was my filter?
“Tess, don’t give Trigger a stroke.” Cray shook his head. “We need him focused.”
“What the hell did I do?” How did I get sucked into this shit? And why did his arm feel like butter? My mind momentary slipped.
“You and your fuck-me face.”
“Thank you!” Rail fist bumped Cray.
“It’s written all over you.” Cray circled his face with his hands.
“Unbelievable.”
“Go on ahead.” Trigger waved the guys off, and I was thankful to go back to what I was doing. He pulled my hair back and rolled his fist to the root.
“Everything feels good, doesn’t it?” His knowing smile almost made me mad. He knew he had the upper hand. “Open.” Two of his fingers pushed past my lips and stroked my tongue gently.
“Mmhm.” I sucked and swirled them around like I would his erection.
He drew in a breath before he pulled them free. His lips smashed into mine as his hand lowered into my pants and broke the slick opening.
I couldn’t care less if the entire crew watched. I needed this.
“You’re dripping, Tess,” he purred.
My toes were on the edge. All I needed was a little push. He was content to hold still, so I unlocked my knees and dropped down a few inches, and all four delicious fingers made their way inside and rubbed all the right spots.
But before I could utilize them, they were gone.
***
Trigger
“Where do you want these?” Jace had our bags.
“Last door at the end of the hall.”
“Both?” he asked, and I folded my arms. “Sure thing.”
Apparently, even the guys had noticed the distance between me and Tess. The truck stop was the first time in a week I had touched her. Something changed with her after the dinner with Mike, but I’d been so preoccupied with the fight, I let it go.
“Checked the perimeter.” Big Joe nursed a beer, and I studied him for a moment. I never got the chance to talk to him about the desert.
“Good.” I nodded, still deep in thought.
“Something up?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you helped Tess in the desert?”
He looked around then hung his head. Joe had never crossed me, so I was sure this weighed on him. “She was leaving, regardless. I couldn’t just leave her there on the side of the road. I should’ve told you, but she asked me not to.”
I didn’t say anything more to make my point, but I wasn’t happy about it.
“Sorry, man, but you know I watch over that girl. She’s family now.”
I shook my head and tried to understand. His loyalty should be to me first, but since I knew Tess was all right, I’d let it go this time.
“We’ve got steaks, we’ve got sausage, we’ve got ribs,” Cooper yelled as he walked by me with a huge box from Costco. “Who’s hungry?”
“Me!” Rail shouted from the doorway.
“What do you want?”
“Sausage!”
“Shocker.” Brick punched him in the arm.
“Tess?” I asked.
“Pool, I think.” Brick grabbed the beer from Jace and raced off.
Jace cursed as he opened another one. “I hate being the bitch.”
“And I hate carrying my own shit.” Rail dropped his bags at Jace’s feet. “Third room on the right.” He snatched Jace’s newly opened beer and roamed over my way.
Jace wanted to be a prospect, and this was all part of it. The faster he got that, the better.
“So,” Rail glanced around, “this was where you stayed when you fought?”
My face scrunched with disgust. “No, that was a Motel 6.”
“Oh, so why the huge house?”
“I don’t like people.”
He huffed. “Of course.” He downed the neck of his beer. “Heads up, Tess is like a cat in heat. You can smell her mile away. You might want to go piss on her, you know, mark your territory. We have a lot of company.” He nodded to the Vegas and Arizona crews. A hot blonde walked by in a towel, and Rail beamed at me. “That’s my cue.”
Most of the guys were huddled by the barbecue when I came out. Some were in the heated pool, and others were drinking by the fire pits. The property the house was on was massive. It belonged to a friend I made a deal with many years ago. He had made some fast cash, and in return, I got to use this place whenever I wanted.
The less attention I had in this town, the better.
“Trigger,” Gus huddled over to me, “I know I’ve said it before, but I have a bad feeling about this fight. Something still feels off.”
“We’ve been over this already, Gus.”
“I know, but something just isn’t sitting right in my gut.”
I rubbed my beard. Gus never liked me fighting, always said it fucked with my head. It was true. I did get sucked into it, but I always found my way out.
“You know I don’t have a choice here, Gus. Gotta play it through. I’m feelin’ good.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, “Where’s Tess? I’ve been wanting to talk to her all day.”
“Not sure,” I lied. “Did Vib end up coming?”
He nodded. “Free booze, coke, and cock. She wouldn’t miss it. Denton is with his aunt, and Fin is around here somewhere. Little shit ran off earlier, talkin’ about your new fightin’ ring.”
I couldn’t help but smile. That kid really did have the fighting gene.
Waving off Gus, I headed down the hill to the hot tub built into the side of a cliff. It had privat
e rooms with streamed music to help drown out nearby noise.
I nodded my thanks to Cooper as he pointed out the room Tess went into. I stepped into the hot water and ditched my t-shirt. My trunks stuck to me in the freezing cold air.
I dove in and stayed under the water until I swam up to the turn in the walkway. Flipping my hair out of my face, I blinked my eyes dry and spotted Tess on the ledge.
Her arms skimmed the surface of the water before she brought them up and let the water run down her skin. I moved closer until she sensed me.
“How are you feeling?” I came closer.
“Better now.” She glared. “Nothing my vibrator couldn’t fix.”
The way she broke eye contact led me to believe she was lying.
I didn’t break stride as I came up to her, and she backed up to the rock wall.
“What are you doing?” Her hot chest pressed into mine, and her hands landed on my arms. She might be coming down from her high, but the drug was still very much in her system.
“Fucking you.”
“You think so?” Her head tilted, and I ripped her scrap of bikini bottoms off. She yelped but couldn’t hold back a moan. Everything in her body was heightened, and I wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to make her feel amazing.
“Yeah.” I bent down and hiked her up on the rock ledge. “You’ve been pissed at me, and I’m not sure why, but right now I am going to fuck you senseless.”
“You really don’t know why?” she started, and I pushed her legs open, and my mouth landed on her swollen mound. Her head dropped back with a moan. I licked, sucked, groaned—I did everything I could to bring her to the edge before I pulled back. She tried to hold my head in place, but I grabbed her hands and held them down as I dove deeper. Her hips bucked, and her chest heaved.
“Trigger, I hate you! Make me come, or I’ll—”
“What?” I teased as I came up for air. “What will you do at this very moment, Tess?”
“Something.” She covered her face. “If you care about me at all, you’ll make me come a million times—Oh!”
I took that moment she had her face covered to sink myself deep into her hot, slick walls. She ate me to the root, and I had to stabilize myself before I could thrust again.
“Yes!” she screamed in bliss. “More!”