by Wilder, L.
“Oh, yeah. I’m more than good.” Her eyes flashed with desire when she added, “Let’s see what you got, hot stuff.”
The tip of her tongue slowly dragged across her bottom lip as she kicked off her boots, then lowered her jeans and panties to the floor. She stood there staring at me with a wanton look in her eyes as I grabbed a condom from my wallet, then lowered my jeans and boxers down my hips. I took my aching cock in my hand and gave it a hard squeeze, trying to relieve some of the throbbing pressure. From the moment we’d first kissed, she’d had me all tangled up, so much so my cock pulsated against my fingers while I slipped on the condom.
Unable to resist a moment longer, I reached for her, pulling her close. Anticipation flashed through her eyes as my hands dropped to her hips and lifted her up, pressing her back against the wall. She bit her lip and wrapped her legs around me, making my cock grow even harder the second I felt her warm body against mine. My need for her was building, burning deep inside my gut. Fuck. I didn’t know what it was about this woman, but she had me spiraling out of control.
With one hard thrust, I buried myself deep inside her. A rush of air hissed through her teeth as I withdrew and drove into her again and again. With her arms wound tightly around my neck, I growled into her shoulder and started thrusting harder and deeper, building up to a relentless pace. I’d been with many women in my time but never had a woman made me feel so on edge.
Needing more, I turned around and carried her over to the sink. Her legs widened, giving me better access as I lowered her onto the edge of the cold porcelain. She immediately leaned back and propped her hands on the sink’s ledge. I was tempted to rip open her shirt and expose those full, round breasts, but since we were in a fucking restroom at a bar, I didn’t have that luxury.
I lowered my mouth to her neck, kissing her like a hungry animal as I drove deeper, harder. Her head reared back with a sated groan. That was it. That was exactly what I wanted to fucking hear. Her nails dug into my lower back as her hips rocked against mine, meeting my every thrust with more intensity. I could feel the pressure building, forcing a growl from my chest.
“Fuck,” I groaned as she tightened around me. She panted wildly, and her thighs clamped down around my hips when I tried to increase my pace. I knew she was close, unable to stop the inevitable torment of her building release. I lowered my hand between her thighs, raking my thumb across her clit, and that was all it took. The muscles in her body grew taut as her orgasm took hold. I continued to drive into her; the sounds of my body pounding against hers echoed throughout the room until I finally came inside her. With a ragged breath, I panted, “Holy shit, woman. That was fucking incredible.”
“Yes, it was.” She gave me a warm smile as she glanced down at her boots. “You definitely lived up to your promise.”
“If I’m anything, I’m a man of my word.”
I slowly withdrew, then quickly tossed the condom in the trash. As I was pulling up my boxer briefs and jeans, she hopped down from the sink and started to get dressed. When she knelt down to slip on her boots, I asked, “Does that mean you’ll give me your name and number?”
“Tonight was fun.” She stood up and fastened the last button of her jeans. “Let’s stick to the plan and not complicate it by doing the whole name-and-number thing.”
“All right. If that’s what you want.”
“It’s for the best.” She stepped over to me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before heading toward the door. “Thanks for tonight. I really did have fun.”
“So, that’s it?”
“I’ve got a big meeting tomorrow. I need to get going.”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little wounded that she was going to split on me, but I played it cool and followed her out of the bathroom. When we made it outside, she waved down a taxi. As she got inside, she gave me another wink and said, “I’ll see ya around, hot stuff.”
“Yeah... See ya.”
With that, she closed the door, and I stood there watching as he pulled away from the curb and darted into traffic. Once she was gone, I hailed a cab of my own. As soon as I got inside, I regretted not riding my bike over to the bar, but I had no idea that I wouldn’t end up plastered and needing a ride home. I gave the guy my address, then leaned back in the seat and started contemplating my life’s choices. I’d just spent the most incredible fucking night with a chick and didn’t even know her damn name. I was pissed that I hadn’t pressed her to give it to me. Maybe then, I might’ve had some chance of finding her again. It was a thought that lingered in the back of my mind well after I’d gotten home.
I took a long, hot shower, grabbed something to eat, and watched a bit of TV. I thought I’d shaken all thoughts of her until I laid my head down on the pillow. It seemed strange to me. I’d rarely ever given one of my conquests a second thought, so I couldn’t figure out what it was about this girl that had gotten under my skin.
After hours of tossing and turning, I finally convinced myself that I was making something out of nothing, and my odd draw to the beautiful stranger was just in my head. Eventually I fell asleep, and by the next morning, that heavy feeling in my gut was all but gone.
I had some free time before work, so I decided to run by the clubhouse and check in with the guys. When I walked into the bar, I found Viper, our club’s president, standing over Menace, our computer hacker, as he messed around on his laptop, and neither of them looked happy. In fact, they were madder than two wet hens as they snarled at the screen.
Hoping to break some of the tension in the room, I glanced over Menace's shoulder and said, "Looks like somebody's been on the Porn Hub again. When are you gonna learn there are no hot singles in your area, brother? You gotta stop clicking the fucking link!"
"Fuck you, Country,” Menace grumbled. “Don't got time for your bullshit."
I could tell by his tone that this whole thing was more serious than I thought. “What’s going on?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Menace answered. “I just got an email on my private account. Someone is requesting a meet at one of the cafés on Second at four this afternoon, but we got no idea who it’s from.”
“What the fuck?” I grumbled. “Any idea what they wanna meet about?”
“Apparently to discuss some kind of business opportunity.” Viper sounded completely outraged. “But they didn’t give us any other information.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“I don’t either. I also don’t like that they got the address to my private account.” Menace was scanning through lines and lines of code, trying to get a lead, but he clearly wasn’t having any luck. “This is fucking insane. It’s one firewall after the next with these assholes.”
“So, what are we gonna do?”
“The only thing we can do.” Viper crossed his arms with a huff. “We’re gonna take the meet.”
Two
Kiersten
I’d always heard that losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart could ever know. It certainly was for mine. I couldn’t begin to describe how distraught I was when I lost my mother. It was so unexpected. A reaction to medication took her from me. I was just thirteen at the time, and I found it nearly impossible to cope with the loss.
I struggled with the fact that I would never see my mother’s smile again, that I’d never hear her voice or feel her arms around me. It was a tough pill to swallow, and not only for me. It was tough on my father, too. He loved and adored her and didn’t want to face the world without her by his side. Unfortunately, neither of us had a choice in the matter.
Days after my mother’s death, he quit his job in forensics and spent the next year focusing on me. No one was surprised by his decision. He was a good man and an even better dad. We’d always been close—maybe even more so than my mother and I had been. He was always there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him, and after my mother’s death, I needed him more than ever. With his support, I was
able to get up and face the day. Each day got a little easier, and I eventually accepted the fact the world hadn’t stopped turning just because my mother died.
* * *
“You all set?” Braylon asked, trying to sound upbeat.
“Yes, Bray.” It was the third time he’d called, and every time he sounded more anxious than the last. “I’ve got everything I need to knock the socks right off these guys.”
“You sound oddly confident. What gives?”
“Not sure what you mean?”
“Last night, you were on the brink of hysteria, and now, you’re all ready to face the world. What’s the deal?”
“Well, I might’ve taken your advice and hit a bar last night.”
“Seriously?” he gasped. “Does that mean you got you a little tension relief?”
A smile swept across my face as my mind drifted to last night’s encounter with the mysterious stranger in the bar’s bathroom. I’d never tried the whole one-night-stand thing or had sex with a total stranger, but honestly, I’d never experienced anything so unbelievably hot in my entire life. Not only because of the random sex, but this man was gorgeous with a touch that set me on fire.
As much as I wanted to exchange names and numbers, I knew it wasn’t a good idea. I was trying to get a business deal off the ground, and the last thing I needed was to be distracted by a hot guy in tight jeans. I cleared my throat before answering, “I might’ve, but you know I’m not one to kiss and tell.”
“You little slut,” he snickered.
“Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.”
“Well, I’m glad you got a little action, but I don’t want it to derail your focus.”
“Don’t worry. I’m focused,” I assured him. “I’m ready for this.”
“Are you sure? I mean, really sure?” I could hear the skepticism in his voice. “’Cause if you aren’t, we can forget this whole thing. You can get in your car and come straight back—”
“I’m not backing out.” Braylon had been with me from the beginning, and I adored him for being concerned about me, but I’d worked too hard to chicken out now. “It’s going to be fine.”
“I don’t know.” His voice sounded strained as he reminded me, “I have a bad feeling about all this.”
“We’ve been through this a thousand times, Bray.” I recalled the days when I first started my small business. Back then, I was terrified that I’d never get it off the ground, but after busting my ass for the past three years, it was doing better than I ever imagined—which was why I’d arranged this meeting with a local group in the same line of business. “I know it’s a little scary to think about branching out, but this could take us to another playing field.”
“But we’re doing great where we are.”
“I know, but we could do better,” I insisted. “You’re going to have to trust me on this, Bray.”
“Okay.” He inhaled a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “You promise to be careful?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“And you’ll call me the second you’re done with the meeting.”
“You know I will.”
“How much longer before you have to leave?”
“Not long at all.” I glanced over at the standard hotel alarm clock sitting on the nightstand and said, “I better get going.”
“Okay, good luck.”
“Thanks. Hopefully, I won’t need it.”
I hung up the phone, then rushed over to the mirror and quickly gave myself one last check. I figured it was best to dress casually, so I wore a pair of my favorite black jeans and a flowing white sweater with my ankle boots. My hair was pulled up in a fishtail braid, and I was sporting my favorite bangle bracelets. This was one of my favorite outfits—one that I’d worn many times before, but as I stood there looking in the mirror, I didn’t even recognize myself. I certainly wasn’t the same girl I used to be—no longer trusting and naïve. That part of me was stolen the night I discovered my father wasn’t the man I thought he was.
After my mother died, my father could see that I needed him more than ever, so not long after my fourteenth birthday, he started renovating our basement into an office. The remodel was quite extensive, but I didn’t ask questions, just happy he’d be home more, so I left it alone. I kept quiet even as I became curious about all the time he spent locked away in his office and the late-night phone calls.
At first, I figured it was his way of coping with the guilt he felt over Mom’s death, but then he started renovating the basement again and also bought a white van that he never drove—at least not with me, which I found strange and wondered why he’d purchased it in the first place. Soon after, the late-night outings began. I still didn’t ask questions since he seemed happy with whatever he was doing, so I just left things alone.
It wasn’t until years later that I discovered my loving, doting father had a secret—one that would change everything.
I’d gotten up in the night to get myself a glass of water when I heard strange sounds coming from the basement. Curiosity got the best of me, so I crept down the stairs to see what was going on. There was no sign of him, and everything looked exactly like it always had. I assumed it was my imagination and started back upstairs, but something just didn’t feel right.
I stood there for a moment, trying to figure out what was different about my father’s office, and after several seconds, I finally realized it was his bookcase. It was no longer flush to the wall, and a strange light shone from beneath it. I inched closer to get a better look and was surprised to find a secret passage hidden behind it.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickled against my skin as I gave it a slight push, making just enough room for me to slip through. I noticed a second door that had a key-coded lock pad, but on this particular night, it was open. An uneasy feeling fell over me as I silently padded down the concrete hallway and had only taken a few steps when I heard men’s voices coming from inside one of the mysterious rooms. I inched closer and closer until I could see inside the room.
Complete horror consumed me when I saw my father, along with two other men, piling bloody dead bodies in the middle of the floor. He was barking orders about cleaning out the van as he and another man lifted one of the bodies and shoved it into a flaming incinerator—an incinerator that was in our house, under our roof, and I never had a clue it was there. The whole thing seemed so surreal—like being stuck in a terrible nightmare.
I was in complete shock as I crept down the hall and back upstairs to my room, then spent the remainder of the night silently crying in bed while unsuccessfully trying to make sense of what I’d seen. I’d always thought my father hung the moon and never dreamed he could do something so horrific. It killed me to think he had this dark side that I never knew about, one that he’d hidden from me for years.
The next morning, he acted as if he’d done nothing remotely out of the norm and behaved like the man I’d always known. I, on the other hand, felt completely different. I still loved my father; he was always good to me and took care of me but seeing him do such a horrific thing and then pretend as if it never happened changed something in me. My innocence had been stolen, and that was something I would never get back.
Over the next year, I lost count of how many times I heard my father in the basement with those men. I didn’t have to go rushing downstairs to see what was going on. I already knew. My hurt eventually turned into anger, and that’s when I became determined to figure out why by doing a little investigating.
I matched the newspaper headlines of gang shootings and unexplainable disappearances of cartel members with the dates he’d be locked away in the basement, and eventually started to piece everything together. I knew he hadn’t killed the men I read about in those articles, so there was only one explanation that made sense.
My father had used his expertise in forensics to become a cleaner for some of the most notorious men in the South—men like the Ruthless Sinners MC.
I made s
ure to get to our meeting spot early so I could mentally prepare for my presentation. It was impossible not to have doubts about whether I was doing the right thing by meeting with these men, but I’d done my research. I knew everything there was about our prospective partners. Now, I just had to convince them that it was in their best interest to go into business together.
I was pleased to see the place I’d chosen wasn’t crowded. In fact, there were only two customers, and they were far enough away that I didn’t have to worry about them overhearing anything that was said. At the same time, their presence offered a level of safety I wouldn’t have if I’d chosen a more remote location.
I hadn’t been waiting long when my guests walked through the front door, and my stomach did an immediate nosedive. These men were even more intimidating than I expected, and it was all I could do to keep myself from rushing out the door. My knees started shaking, and my heart began racing as I suddenly wondered what I’d gotten myself into. I watched silently as they scanned the room, searching for the person who’d invited them here, and it wasn’t long before their attention was drawn to me.
I didn’t move. I simply waited as one of them started walking in my direction. As he got closer, I quickly realized I knew him. I still didn’t move or speak. I sat there until he made his way over to my table. He stood there for a moment, studying me with an odd expression as he tried to place my face. His eyes widened as he gasped, “Kiersten?”
“Hey, Menace. It’s nice to see you again.”
I wouldn’t have had a clue who he was if it hadn’t been for my father and his eccentric line of work. I’d met him and his girlfriend, Parker, a few months earlier when they’d come to see Dad. While I didn’t know all the details, I had a feeling it had something to do with Parker; otherwise, she would’ve never been at the house. If my father was anything, he was careful and discreet.