by Shyla Colt
“Oh my God, Karla!” Ariel covered her mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried to forget about it, pretend it didn’t happen. But there’s too much at stake now.”
“You poor thing. Did you hear a name or any information that would tie them to the crime?”
“No, but I didn’t dig around either. I wanted nothing to do with that. I’d wager if someone started digging, they’d find a girl from campus disappeared around that time.” Karla pushed a spoonful of ice cream around in the carton.
“I don’t blame you. Jesus.” Ariel shook her head. “You know I have to tell Mayhem, right?”
“Yeah, I know. I wanted to get this out there. Whoever their victim was, she deserved better than to become a nameless, faceless, body, never to be found because a group of assholes think they’re above the law.”
“You’re doing the right thing. I’ll get Specs and Gadget on it and see what they can unearth. Just when I think I can’t hate them more, a new reason pops up and proves me wrong.” Ariel stabbed her spoon into the softened sweet.
Karla shuddered. “That’s one thing they’re good for.”
“Probably the only thing,” Ariel murmured around her spoon.
“For a long time they made me hate all men,” Karla admitted.
“And now?” Ariel said, holding her breath. Karla had always remained a little standoffish and slightly cold. This was the first time she’d truly opened up. Before her recollections had seemed rote. Like someone reporting on another person’s life.
“I realize if I live the rest of my life afraid, Quinn wins.” Karla took a deep breath. “I refuse to let that happen. Do men still make me jittery? Yes, but I know there’s something very wrong with Quinn and his friends. Not everyone is like that. I don’t know when I’ll be ready to try having a relation again. I only know it will happen. Perhaps after I’ve put the past firmly behind me.”
Her words made Ariel feel small and stupid. Here this woman who’d been abused and terrorized had the ability to hope for more. How dare I turn away because my parents’ love story wasn’t picture perfect?
“You look pensive,” Karla said.
“Recently I had my belief in love shaken, but hearing you speak so optimistically about it, makes me feel like a pussy.”
Karla snickered. “Why? Everyone’s story is different, and pain is pain. It comes in many shapes, sizes, and disguises, breaks us down so far we question if we ever knew who we truly were and steals our joy. The only thing we can do is be braver than the fear. It took me forever to figure that out.” Karla shook her head. “It’s okay to hurt, but it’s not okay to become crippled by ache. The very fact we’re still here means we’re fighters. We have the advantage. Once you wrap your mind around that…it gets better.”
Ariel digested the information and nodded. The minute she’d accepted her lack of responsibility in the divorce, her anxiety had dropped tenfold. Her parents’ fate didn’t have to be hers.
“Thank you. That makes sense and makes me feel better. Though I was supposed to be the one helping you cheer up.”
Karla laughed. “You have just by being here.” Ariel smiled. “Is this about your old man?”
“My what?” Ariel said, wrinkling her nose.
“Hawk.”
“Oh no no, he and I aren’t…a thing.”
“Really?” Karla’s eyebrows rose. “’Cause I swore there was some major heat coming off you two.”
“Well, we have chemistry, but it’s nothing serious. He’s protecting me the same way the others are looking after you and the girls.”
“Huh. You sure about that?” Karla said wiggling her eyebrows.
“Trust me. Hawk’s not the settle-down type. I think I’m the only woman who’s been in his house this long.”
“Maybe so.”
Ariel let the disbelief audible in Karla’s response slide by. She knew where she stood with Hawk. Letting herself believe anything else would only lead to heartache.
“How’s the whole undercover role going?” Karla said.
“Not bad most days, but there are times when I’d give my left arm to be able to speak freely.” Ariel sighed.
“Why? What do they have you doing?” Karla’s brow furrowed.
“Nothing, as a house mouse, I’m supposed to be more of the seen and not heard type. The hierarchy inside the club is very precise. It has to be to keep drama and bullshit down. United, they can take on anything; divided, they’d be overrun. I get it, but I don’t like living it. At least not as a house mouse. Being an old lady is the way to go.”
“Old lady?” Karla said.
Ariel laughed. “It’s like a wife. She gets the utmost respect from every single member.”
“Aaah, okay I’m getting you. What else?”
Ariel spent the rest of the afternoon bringing Karla up to date as they polished off the dessert and tried not to think about the battle they’d just taken on.
* * * * *
Hawk walked inside his house and nodded at Tex. “Anything happen today I should know about?”
“Not really. Smooth brought her friend, Karla, over to visit. That’s about all I have,” Tex said. His Southern twang never failed to amuse Hawk. You didn’t hear much of that out west.
“You’re relieved, prospect. Go have some fun.”
Tex nodded and rose, scurrying off. Hawk laughed. Being cooped up here must suck. Imagine how Ariel must feel. He felt a pang of sympathy. Nothing worse than being caged. He’d built his entire life around that philosophy. After locking the door behind Tex he moved farther into the house. When he found the kitchen empty he moved into the hall and knocked on her door.
“I’m fine, Tex. The same as I was thirty minutes ago.”
“It ain’t Tex. Get dressed; we’re going for a ride.”
“Okay.”
Her easy agreement earned a smirk. She must be feeling the cabin fever. While she presented herself as the perfect little house mouse in public, behind closed doors it was another story. She gave him hell and if he was honest, he loved it. People didn’t give him shit much. The vibe between them had gone from combative to playful. The little minx kept things from getting boring.
She walked toward him in a pair of skin-tight black jeans and an old band shirt that hung off her shoulders. Hawk licked his lips and gave her a slow once-over.
“You’re fucking sexy, you know that?”
Ariel tilted her head to the side and smiled. “The new packaging gets your blood flowing, doesn’t it?”
“You did that before the makeover,” Hawk said. Her eyes widened, and he laughed. “Always think you know everything, don’t you?”
“I happen to have a very good sense of what’s going on around me,” Ariel said.
“So you think,” Hawk said.
“No, so I know.” She crossed her hands under her chest.
“You sure about that? Seems to me you had blinders in certain areas.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she said.
“This life isn’t what you expected, is it? I see it in your face often.”
“Outside looking in is a hell of a lot different from living it, you know?” she said.
“Mm hmm.” She narrowed her eyes. “Come on, we both know you were uptight and judgmental.”
“Try cautious. My girls were blinded by love. Someone had to be on the lookout for bullshit.”
“And now?” Hawk asked, curious to see what had brought about the changes in her.
“Now I know you’re legit.” She shrugged. “It’s a life you can’t truly understand until you’re in it. But I’m sure you know that.”
He nodded his head toward the door. “Let’s go. I have something I want to show you.”
They headed outside and he couldn’t help but notice she felt damn good on the back of his bike. This ruse had taken him by surprise, and he liked it more than he should. After a lifetime of keeping women at bay, he’d been forced to create an opening.
Who knew the romance writer would glide in so easily and latch on to the lifestyle like she’d been born to it? Her thighs squeezed him tight, and he hit the throttle trying to outrace his filthy thoughts.
Twenty minutes later, the heat pouring off her body damn near scorched him. He turned down the familiar turnoff and pushed his bike as much as he dared over the gravel. He skidded to a halt in front of the two-story family farmhouse.
“Where are we? Whose place is this?”
Hawk turned and grabbed her hair, pulling her to him. He slammed his mouth over hers and she gasped in shock, giving him an opening he exploited. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, he savored the taste of something sweet and her unique flavor. “Fucking siren,” he muttered against her lips. Hefting her up by her hips, he placed her into his lap and rolled his hips into the wet crotch of her jeans. “So wet. You love it as much as I do.”
“I… W-what if someone sees us?”
“This is my family’s land. No one will see anything, and I’m going to take you here on my bike, Ariel.” He pushed her down and thrust up, hard. “And you’re going to love every minute of it.” He popped the top button on her jeans. “Because deep down you’re a little wild.” He slid his hands inside her underwear and she shuddered. “You got wildness in your eyes. I can think of so many better uses for that energy.” Her wetness coated his fingers, and he caressed her clit between his two fingers.
“Oh, Hawk.”
“That’s right. I love it when you say my name, Ariel. It lets me know you understand who you belong to.”
“I-I don’t belong to you.” She fought to get the words out, narrowing her eyes as she brought her thighs together.
“No? Not yet?” He worked his hands deeper and slipped a finger inside her tightness. “Do you let anyone else touch you like this?”
“No,” she rasped.
“Damn straight you don’t. You can fight all you want, but it’s a matter of time until you admit it.”
“No.” She shook her head, and he chuckled.
“I like it when you fight. It just makes me more determined.” He pulled out and drove two fingers deep into her wetness. Her back arched. She cried out panting as she gripped the handle bars of the bike gaining leverage as she worked herself against him.
“That’s right, come apart for me, Red. I want to see behind those walls you have up.” Her pussy pulsed and molded around his fingers as her body shook. The smell of her arousal turned his cock to stone. “Stand up, we need to get those pants down before I rip them off you.” Need flared. They stumbled off the bike. He shoved the jeans down to her ankles and laid her across the only lady he’d ever cared for, until now.
“Hold on to the handles, you’re going to need the stability.” He nipped her inner thigh and buried his face between her legs, seeking her salty sweet center with his questing tongue. He fed off her excitement. It did something to a man knowing he was hitting just the right spot. He sucked her swollen clit into his mouth and eased two fingers inside her.
“Yes, Hawk. Yes. So good.”
He hummed. She rocked against him, opening like a flower as she yielded to his touch. The flick and suck method brought her to a screaming completion. He licked his lips and undid his pants, shoving them down. He palmed his cock and stroked his stiff dick to relieve some tension.
“I’m going in you raw. We’re both safe, and you’re on the Pill.” He teased her entrance with his tip, moistening the head with her nectar. “I’m going to make sure you remember me no matter what, Ariel. This time you’re spending is going to be etched onto that massive brain of yours.”
“W-why?”
He thrust home to silence her. How can I tell her what I can’t understand myself? The soft slickness had his eyes rolling in the back of his head. “Shit.” It was a new experience, and he knew instantly he’d never get enough of it. His fingers dug into her hips and he drove home, riding her hard as he lost himself in the feel and smell of her. They worked together finding their bliss as he released inside her.
“As much as I’d love to stay here like this, we need to get inside before the bugs eat our asses up, literally.”
She laughed shakily. “Yeah, that sounds good. God, I’m a mess.”
“I like you that way.” The words were out before he could take them back and he cursed mentally. Fuck. I’m getting too caught up in this woman.
“Oh.” Her subdued answer pleased him, and he shoved the worry aside. Best to live in the moment and let the rest come later. As he pulled out, reality hit him along with regret. Buried inside her he could forget about the wolves knocking on their door. He zipped up his pants and helped her stand. She wiggled back into her clothes, a shadowy form in the light. She had the curves of a 1950s pinup, and they got to him every time.
“I’m a sticky, shaky wreck, but I’m ready.”
Hawk slapped her ass. “Just how I like you.”
“Such an asshole,” she huffed.
He grinned, content with the step back into their familiar banter. “Not what you were saying a minute ago.”
“Yeah, then you opened your mouth and ruined it.”
“Why?” He turned off the bike and removed the keys. “We both know you need a firm hand.”
“All I need is a firm cock.”
Hawk threw back his head and laughed. “I’m getting to you.”
“So cocky,” she said.
“I have cause to be, don’t I? Why do you keep fighting it?”
“Why do you keep pushing it?” She threw the question back at him.
“Because it’s what I want.” He shrugged, wrapping an arm around her waist and guiding her up toward the darkened house.
“And so that makes it okay?”
“It does when I know we’re on the same page. You just can’t let go of the outside world.”
“That world is my world, Hawk. I’ll have to return to it one day.” She sounded melancholy.
“When are you going to learn you don’t have to do a damn thing you don’t want to?”
“It’s more than that and you know it.”
They climbed the porch and stopped out at the front door.
“Why?”
“I don’t want to get into this with you tonight.” Her voice shook.
“Something happen today?”
“No, just…on edge.”
He unlocked the door and flipped the light switch flooding the room with light. “Understandable.” He motioned for her to step inside and locked the door behind him.
“Oh my God, this place is gorgeous.”
Hawk paused and took the room in through her eyes. A handwoven rug covered the floor in front of a black leather couch. The walls were covered with artwork, and statues of their people.
“Do you like Native American art?” he asked.
“I have an appreciation for all cultures, but I do think the Native Americans have so much beauty and grace. Your beliefs and practices are so salt of the earth.” She ducked her head. “I sound like an idiot, don’t I?”
“Not at all. Bikers we may be, but we do follow the old ways. Both my parents actually grew up on a reservation not far from here, but they left young to seek out a better life. The reservations have a lot of issues still.” Hawk shook his head. “We do a lot of fundraising for them and help whenever we can, building houses and fixing things up when it gets dire.”
“People have no clue how much good you guys do,” Ariel said.
“Yeah and I’m okay with keeping it that way. People see the things you care about as a way to get to you in this world.”
Ariel nodded. “Is there a place where I can clean up?”
“Yeah, let me give you a brief tour. It’s not a big place, but it has everything you need.” He led her past the living room into the kitchen.
“I don’t think there’s much in there. But we can grab breakfast out in the morning after we work up an appetite.”
She glanced away, and he chuckled. “Come on.” The
y walked down the small hallway and he showed her the three mid-sized bedrooms, and the laundry room at the very end of the hallway. “There’s a master bath off my parents’ room. But this one, between me and Rayen’s room is for everyone else. You should have everything you need in there and I’ll dig out some of my clothes for you to wear.”
“Oh you’ll love that.”
“What can I say? You look good in my shit.”
She laughed, and he winked. “Go get in the shower. After you’re done I’ll take my turn. ’Cause we both know if we take one together no cleaning will be done.” Her eyes darkened, and he growled. “Get your sexy ass in there before I change my mind.” She hurried off and he watched her, knowing he was in far deeper than he’d ever anticipated being.
Chapter Nine
Ariel walked into the clubhouse behind Hawk and made a beeline for Summer, who was tending bar.
“Hey girl, what’s going on?” Summer said with a smile.
“Living a life of exile and working,” Ariel said.
“I’m sorry. I know lying low has to be frustrating for a woman as independent as you. I mean you have your own place, a successful career. I can’t help envying you.”
“Why?” Ariel frowned. “You could have the same thing.”
Summer snorted. “No, my life’s here. It’s all I know, and even after my debt is paid I don’t have much of anything to go by. My family’s a train-wreck, hence me being here right now.” Summer shook her head. “Big dreams but no brains to back them up.”
“How much longer do you have?” Ariel asked, curious to know more about her new friend.
“However long Pres thinks is necessary. I don’t mind, really. Mayhem guys are better than a lot of the other bikers out there,” Summer said.
“You know this from experience?” Ariel whispered, horrified by the picture her friend’s words were painting.
“Let’s just say this ain’t my first rodeo and leave at that, okay?” Summer straightened up into a standing position.