Cherri and Emma hurriedly put the last trunk in the van. The dancers would change into their outfits at the clubhouse, since some of them were elaborate and ran the risk of tearing a strap or losing a few buttons if they were worn before the show as the dancers mingled with the brothers. Cherri had agreed to be Gunner’s date at the party. The big, mean-looking guy had turned out to be a sweet teddy bear, and he treated her like a goddess.
“Jax is gonna be there tonight. He always is on Saturdays,” Emma said as she steered the van toward the clubhouse, which was about twenty-five miles outside of Pinewood Springs.
“So? I don’t give a shit what he does.”
“I’m just sayin’. We don’t want a repeat of what happened between Gunner and Jax at Dream House a few weeks back. It’s not smart to play one brother off the other.”
“I’m not doing that at all. I’m finished with Jax. I was never really with him, anyway. Gunner and I have been hangin’ out for the last couple of weeks. He’s a sweetie to me, and I’m with him. I’m not playing games here.” Cherri turned her head and watched the trees and wildflowers rush by as Emma took the curves at a higher speed than Cherri would have if she were driving.
“Okay, but I didn’t realize you and Gunner were going out. He’s a quiet guy, but he’s solid—no bullshit or game-playing with him.”
Smiling, Cherri said, “I do like him. I like him a lot. I’ve never had someone so nice to me. He cares for me.”
“If Gunner cares about you, he’ll give you the world. If someone crosses him, he’ll give them a knife to the throat. Just be careful.”
Gunner did care about Cherri, and he proved it in the way he treated her: buying her anything she wanted, helping her pay her bills, holding her while she slept, and not pressuring her for sex when she told him she wasn’t ready. Oh, sure, they kissed and touched each other, and she gave him blowjobs, which he seemed to love, but she didn’t want him inside her. She couldn’t figure it out, but she just didn’t want it. Sometimes, it was like if she did let him put his dick inside her, she’d be cheating on Jax. Ludicrous thinking on her part, but that was the way she felt. Go figure. She was glad Gunner had been so patient, but she couldn’t tell him the truth—it would hurt him too much, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him.
Turning into the parking lot, Emma tooted the horn. Roach, the newest prospect, waved and opened the electric gate. Cherri saw Gunner standing by his Harley, arms crossed, nodding at her as Emma pulled into a space.
“Hey,” Cherri said as she ran up to him and kissed him on his cheek. He pulled her into his massive arms and kissed her hard on the lips.
“Hey, woman,” he said. “You look fuckin’ hot.” His eyes roamed over her body, taking in her micro mini-skirt, her cropped, lavender crochet top with a lacy black bra underneath, and her thigh-high, black leather boots.
She giggled as his beard tickled her face. Looking over her shoulder, she asked Emma, “Do you want me to help with the boxes?”
“Nope, I got a couple of prospects unloading the van. Go on in. Make sure the dancers are straight about when they go on and what the rules are.”
The rules were the dancers were off-limits to the guys except for lap dances. If a dancer wanted to share in the fucking sessions then she was a free agent, but once she crossed the line from dancer to slut, she was open game for any of the brothers. Emma and Cherri wanted the women to be crystal-clear about that.
“Gotcha. See you inside.”
Snuggled in the crook of Gunner’s arm, Cherri entered the clubhouse. As she came into the big room, crowds of people bumped into her, and sweet smoke, sweat, and motor oil invaded her nostrils. It took a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the low lighting. Suffocating body heat wrapped around her as Gunner tugged her along to get some drinks. As she approached the bar, brothers in leather jackets talked to each other, a few of them checking her out. She was glad Gunner had his arm around her so protectively; otherwise, she would’ve been like a deer in a lion’s den.
She shivered in spite of the heat emanating off the throngs of bodies. Several topless women glared at her as the men raked over her body with their lustful eyes. She diverted her glance toward the bar and saw Jax sitting at it with Chas and Jerry, holding a beer. Jax turned around, staring wide-eyed at Gunner’s arm around her. Red blotches surfaced on his cheeks and chin as his nostrils flared. He stood up and leaned against the bar, his arms crossed.
Glaring at her, his knuckles turning white, his jaw tightening, he slammed his steel-toed boots against his barstool. Their gazes locked with one another; his were shards of glass reflecting anger, while hers were hard, glinting with hate. She tossed her head and leaned further into Gunner, who, oblivious to the tension between Cherri and Jax, ordered two beers. He grabbed the two bottles in his large hand and turned around toward the center of the room, taking Cherri with him as he spotted two buddies from Wyoming he hadn’t seen in a long time.
All around her, people drank, smoked, or fucked. The room was packed, and classic rock blasted from the speakers. The heat was unbearable, and the sweet smell of weed made her sick. Cherri needed some fresh air.
“I gotta make sure the dancers are ready for tonight. Emma wanted me to go over some stuff with them. I’ll be back soon,” she yelled in Gunner’s ear.
“I’ll walk you to where you need to go. Not safe for you to go alone since you ain’t patched.” He took hold of her and walked her to another room down a long hallway.
It wasn’t as large as the great room, but was still big enough to fit two stripper poles on two small stages. The linoleum floor was a colorful checkerboard pattern, a remnant from the past when the clubhouse was a school. A few saggy couches around the back wall and four low tables, some of them with cut-out circles on the top—Cherri could imagine what they were used for—completed the room’s décor.
“I’m good now. Thanks, Gunner.” Cherri smiled at him.
“If you need to leave, call me and I’ll come get you. Don’t walk around here unaccompanied, got it?” He leaned down and kissed her, rubbing his hand up and down her back.
She nodded, watching his imposing figure leave the room. Then she went to work to make sure everything and everyone were in order for the show that would start in about thirty minutes. Head down, clipboard in hand, Cherri moved toward the door when she smashed into a muscular wall. Looking up, she stared into Jax’s hazel eyes.
“Oh, sorry,” she said.
Jax wound his arms around her waist. “No worries, sweetness. You’re where you need to be.”
Cherri struggled to break away, but his arms were too strong.
“Stop that. What the fuck’s your problem? Why haven’t you returned any of my phone calls or texts?” Jax demanded.
“Because I don’t waste my time with assholes. You’re the worst kind, you know that? You pretended to care. I’ll take an honest asshole every time; at least I know what I’m getting.” Her eyes flashed.
“Fuck, you’re difficult! It isn’t at all what you think. What we had was real. It wasn’t a come-on, and you fuckin’ know it. You won’t let me fuckin’ explain. Damn, you piss me off!”
“I don’t believe a damn thing you say. You’re a liar, and I don’t want to hear your damn excuses.” She tried pushing him away, but Jax squeezed her tighter. “Let me go!”
“I won’t. I’m never letting you go. Fuck, you don’t know shit. You’re beautiful, sexy, and the only fuckin’ thing I can think of since you first came to the clubhouse.”
He hugged her and stroked her back tenderly. Her knees became rubber with each stroke and caress. What the fuck? I hate my body for responding to him. I can’t get sucked into this again. I can’t. When Jax relaxed his hold on her, Cherri yanked away from him.
“Don’t you get it? I don’t want to be with you. Stay the fuck away from me.”
Anger oozed from Jax as he jerked Cherri back into his embrace. “You come here with Gunner? What’s up with that shit?”
“It’s none of your business who I come with. You can fuck whoever you want and so can I. We don’t have a claim on each other. Just fuckin’ deal with it.” Her voice was cold and her eyes were steel.
Tilting his face down to hers, he kissed her hard. She kissed him back then twisted her head away as his mouth sought her lips again.
“Brother, I don’t think we want things to get messy here tonight,” Gunner’s low voice said. “Leave her alone. She’s with me.”
Jax glared at Gunner, saying, “To spite me, brother.”
“Don’t matter the reason. Point is she’s with me, and you know the boundaries here.”
Jax knew the boundaries all right. All Insurgents knew you didn’t mess with another brother’s woman—old ladies, girlfriends, and dates were always off-limits. It all came down to respect; members had to give respect to each other in order to be in the club. It was simple, and respect meant everything in the Insurgents’ world.
Jax raised his arms in surrender, backed off, and motioned Cherri to go to Gunner. Cherri, embracing Gunner, glared at Jax, but she was really pissed at herself for enjoying being in his arms again. Gunner hugged her, and she kissed his cheek, smiling. Gunner was a decent man. He had been so good and generous to her that he didn’t deserve to find her in Jax’s arms. Just the week before, she had mentioned she wanted to take an online class in graphic art since she’d always loved art, and he paid for it, not even expecting her to fuck him for it. Sweet man. He was rough and would kill a man in a blink of an eye if the circumstances called for it—she was certain of that—but with her, he was gentle and adoring. He made her feel like she was a goddess on a pedestal. He couldn’t do enough for her. She didn’t want to hurt him.
“Come on, baby, let’s go. I gotta make sure the dancers are ready,” she said.
He laughed. “You lead, I’ll follow.”
They left the room, but not before Cherri looked over her shoulder and saw Jax leaning against the doorway, his eyes full of regret.
An hour later, the strip show was well underway. Several of the dancers swung around the poles and writhed on the stage floor as the men crowded around, hooting and leering at them while they gyrated to the overhead music. Cherri stood to the side of the stage, making sure none of the guys got too crazy with the dancers. Gunner acted like her bodyguard, his scowl a mask of intimidation.
Each of the rooms was packed. The smaller ones had couples fucking, while the larger rooms had music and sexual entertainment. One of the dancers, Dakota, came up to Cherri, a worried look on her face. “I think India may be in trouble. There’s a woman in one of the rooms who looks like her from behind, and there’re all these men around her.”
“Do you know if it is India, for sure?” Cherri asked. India was one of her top dancers, and Cherri didn’t see her in the strip room.
“No, but I haven’t seen her and it looks like her. I don’t know…”
“I’ll check it out.” Cherri turned to Gunner. “Watch the stage; I’ll be right back.” Before Gunner could protest, she was gone.
In a smaller room down the hall, Cherri saw a young woman who looked like India: long, straight black hair, firm butt, and heavy breasts. The woman turned her head, catching Cherri’s eye. Relief spread over her—it wasn’t India. Cherri started to leave when she heard the woman scream. She looked back and saw her moaning and squirming on her hands and knees. She was riding one of the brother’s cocks, another member had his dick up her ass, and yet another had his in her mouth while her head bounced like she was bobbing for apples. Someone said, “Fuckin’ hot, the slut’s got three cocks in her. What a fuckin’ horny bitch.” About fifteen men stood around as they waited their turn. Several of them had their hard dicks out, stroking them.
Cherri stared in horror at the sight. “Is this turning you on, sweetness?” Jax’s voice whispered in her ear, and his heated breath sent chills down her back to the pit of her stomach.
Mutely, she shook her head, her eyes transfixed on the sex act before her. Her arms prickled as Jax ran his fingers over the back of them. He was right behind her, his hardness pressing between her butt cheeks. Cherri was more than aware of his presence and a cold sweat slid over her, making her tremble. She could hardly breathe in the small, crowded room, thick with smoke. The room grew smaller and blood rushed to her temples as black spots floated in front of her eyes. Fuck, I’ve gotta get outta here. I’m gonna pass out. I can’t breathe. I can’t—
Cherri crumpled to the floor.
* * *
Where am I? Cherri looked around the darkened room, trying to make out the contents. A shadowy figure hunched in a chair, and the full moon’s light looked like gnarled fingers as it filtered in through the window blinds. Every inch of her skin pebbled in goosebumps. Her muscles stiffened while her breathing strained; she was on high-alert. The figure rose from the chair and made his way toward her on the bed Tremors made her whine—her chest heaved as she gasped for air.
“No, no, stay away from me. Leave me alone! I’m gonna tell Mom! Leave me the fuck alone. Oh, please, leave me alone.” She was a tight ball of nerves smashed against the headboard, her nails clawing at it as she sobbed.
“Shh, I’m not gonna hurt you, sweetness. You’re having a bad dream, or something.”
What, who is that? It isn’t my stepdad. Where the fuck am I?
Jax approached her carefully. He switched on the lamp and released a warm glow which filled the room. Cherri, hair plastered to her wet forehead and curled up in a ball, relaxed when she saw Jax. That’s right; now I remember. I’m at the Insurgents’ clubhouse. She was safe.
“You’re shaking like a leaf, sweet one. What’s the matter?” Prying her hands off the headboard, Jax held her close to him. “You fainted, so I brought you up here. You were out for a while, and I was beginning to freak out.” Wiping away her hair from her face, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Everything’s okay. I’m here—you’re okay.”
Letting out a long breath, Cherri allowed Jax to hold her. Her trembles began to subside with every gentle stroke of her hair. Jax’s strong arms gave her the much needed comfort she sought. She wished she could rid her mind of her past demons. She wanted safety and peace. She wanted to rest.
Jax held Cherri for a long while. Neither of them spoke, both of them taking comfort in being with each other. Cherri, wrapped in Jax’s arms, felt like she was insulated from everything bad and scary. Wishing she could stay like that forever, but knowing she couldn’t, she cleared her throat.
“Um… I gotta go. Uh… thanks for… like… helping me out, you know?”
“I’m real sorry for all the shit that went down with Peaches. I swear it wasn’t anything. She made up some bullshit—”
“Jax, I don’t want to hear it. You helped me out and I’m tired, so let’s not go into all of it. Not now,” she whispered, her voice strained.
“Okay, I know you’re not in a good place right now. I get that.” He got up from the bed, pulling her with him. Crushing her to him, he kissed her softly on her head; her body twitched, and her stomach fluttered. How can he give such tenderness and be such a selfish sonofabitch?
While opening the door, Jax asked, “Who did you think I was? What’d you mean when you said you were gonna tell your mom? Tell your mom what?”
“Nothing. I was dreaming.”
“You were awake when I came to you. You were freaked out. Why were you so scared? Did someone do something to you?” Concerned eyes searched her face.
“No, just shit from my past. Let’s go.” Hurriedly, she went out into the hallway to stop the questions and the memories.
When they came downstairs, Gunner rushed up to her. He circled her shoulders and mashed her to him. He glowered at Jax, giving him the evil eye.
“This is the last time I’m gonna tell you to stay the fuck away from my woman,” Gunner grunted.
His words made Jax’s face screw up, a grimace replacing his usual stoic look as his ey
es narrowed with a hint of sadness brimming in them. Cherri felt his pain as it emanated from him, causing her insides to lurch. She closed her eyes to block out the hurt stamped on his face.
“Come on, baby,” Gunner said.
“Jax helped me. He wasn’t doing anything else except helping me. I fainted and he was there.”
Gunner looked at Jax and nodded his thanks to him. “What do you want to do, baby?” he asked Cherri, his breath smelling of whiskey.
“I want to go home,” she whispered in his ear.
Gunner kissed her deeply, swung her around, and walked out of the clubhouse. The night chill invigorated Cherri. She hopped on the back of Gunner’s Harley and held on to his waist. The bike’s engine ripped through the quiet of the parking lot as he headed out toward the open road. Cherri turned around and saw Jax standing in the cold, watching her leave. Her eyes stung with the wind against her tears as she rode off into the blackness.
Chapter Nine
“We’ve got a real fuckin’ problem with our charter in Kilson, Nebraska. Fuck, it pisses me the hell off.” Banger pounded his fist on the table during the emergency church he had called.
“If you ask me, those fuckers have been given too many warnings. It’s time for us to go up there and tell them how it is. If Dustin can’t get his shit together and run a proper club, then we need to cut them from the Insurgents family. I’m sick of their bullshit,” Hawk said.
“Yeah, I agree. And I think we all know we can’t have that kind of shit associated with us. What’s the latest fuck-up?” Banger looked at his vice president.
Clearing his throat, Hawk said, “Word is they’re fuckin’ underage girls and whoring them out, and that can’t be tolerated.”
Outraged shouts bounced off the plastered walls. Banger slammed the gavel down on the table. “Okay, keep it down. We know that shit is sick and no Insurgents club is gonna do it. A bigger problem we have is this arms deal Hawk and Jax set up for the assholes in Kilson. As you know, we’re not doin’ that shit no more thanks to the Colorado voters who made weed legal. We get so much fuckin’ money from our dispensaries we can make money legally now. Fuckin’ sweet.” Banger laughed, then taking a sip of his beer, he continued. “The thing is, we threw the fuckers a bonus by setting up an arms deal with Dustin and Liam. I just know they’re gonna screw this up, and that puts shit on us we don’t need.”
Jax's Dilemma:Insurgents Motorcycle Club (Insurgents MC Romance Book 2) Page 9