Vexed Read online

  I cut her off with a kiss. At first she kisses me back, but then she shakes herself free. “Don’t do this to me again. Please,” she whispers.

  “Do what?”

  She lowers her gaze. “Confuse me.”

  I know she’s referring to our night in the motel and guilt slams into me. “You’re the one in my clubhouse,” I say instead of what I should say.

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “No? What’d you mean? Coming here dressed like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “So fucking sexy I can’t take my eyes off you.”

  “Let go of me and I’ll get out of your sight.”

  My arms tighten around her. “No.” I cup her face in my hands and crush my mouth to hers. Our kisses meld into one long hungry kiss until we’re both breathing hard. She shudders as one of my hands kneads her breast and whimpers as my fingers trail down her side, slipping under the whispy fabric of her shirt. For a second, I work my fingers over her skin, I missed her softness.

  “Put your hands on my shoulders.”

  She stares at me with dazed eyes. “Why?”

  “I want to find out how wet you are.”

  I don’t wait for an answer. I tug at the stretchy waistband of her pants and slip my hand inside.

  She gasps as I force my hand between her thighs, touching everywhere. “Is this mine?”

  “God, yes.”

  I can’t think straight. I might even pass out.

  Is this really happening?

  I almost died when I walked into the clubhouse and saw Romeo. The heavy weight of his gaze sat on my shoulders the entire time Karina and Kadence were talking, until the need to get away and take some deep breaths chased me out of the room.

  Then he grabbed me, admitted he can’t stop thinking about me either. Kissed me.

  And now his hand’s down my pants cupping my pussy in a thrilling possessive way that makes my heart race.

  “Is this mine?” He growls the question against my throat again and I think I gasp out an answer, but I’m not sure.

  “Answer me and I’ll make you come.” Despite the possessive grip on my private parts, he rains soft kisses on my cheeks, forehead, and finally my lips. “Would you like that?” he asks.

  My lips part as I stare at his wicked smirk. “Only yours.”

  “I can’t stand thinking of you with anyone else.”

  “Me either.”

  “There’s no one but you, Shortcake.”

  Oh. The rough way he whispers the silly, but sweet nickname makes my nipples tighten. Then the rest of his sentence registers. “No. I mean, I can’t stand the idea of being with anyone besides you. Ever.”

  He studies me for second. I meant every word though. I know he thinks I’m too young to know what the hell I want. But if I try to picture myself in five, ten, or twenty years, I can’t see anything that doesn’t include his arms around me. It’s the only place I’ve ever felt completely safe. Even when he’s tense and so on the edge his grip is less than gentle. I don’t need gentle. I need strong, determined, and protective.

  “Careful, Athena,” he warns. “I want to do what’s right for you, but when you say stuff like that, it’s hard.”

  I’m not sure what he thinks is right for me, but then his hand presses into me, the tips of his fingers sliding up my slit and nothing else matters. He buries his face against my neck, kissing and licking.

  “Romeo. Someone…someone might see us.”

  “So.” He slides his fingers right up to my clit and I gasp, jerking my hips into his hands. “You’re soaked,” he whispers. “I think the idea of someone seeing me doing dirty things to you turns you on.”

  He traces a lazy circle around my clit before working his way back. Up and down he teases me. Slipping his fingers inside me, then taking them away.

  My skin flames. Scared we might get caught. Secretly thrilled at the idea. The teasing stops and he slides one finger inside me, so hard I let out a soft squeak. Every confident stroke pushes me closer to the edge.

  “Tell me what you need, Athena. Say it.”

  “This. Please don’t stop.”

  “Harder?” He adds another finger, giving me an extra little push that makes me rise on tip toes.

  “Yes, yes. So good. Like that.”

  “I need you in my bed, Athena. Need to fuck you. Need you to know you’re mine.”

  Those words give me the extra nudge I need. My skin burns all over, and I shudder through my orgasm. He kisses my forehead and holds me until I stop trembling.

  “Beautiful.”

  If I don’t get her upstairs soon, we’ll end up rutting in the hallway like animals.

  “I got you, Shortcake. Ride it out.”

  She responds by melting into me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I lift her into my arms and carry her upstairs.

  By the time I get her to my room, she’s coherent again. She claws at my shirt as I set her down and I whip off her top. She rubs her hand over my dick, still trapped in my pants.

  “I want to take care of you.”

  “Not yet, Shortcake. This is still all about you.” I take a step back to admire the sight of her innocent pink bra and those fucking cupcake pants.

  “These fucking pants have been messing with me since you got here,” I say as I sink to the floor in front of her and peel the soft, stretchy material down her legs.

  “You like them?” she asks, her sex-kitten tone making a reappearance.

  “Yup.” I trace my fingers under the tiny pink thong she’s wearing. “This is nice, too.”

  She giggles, then gasps as I slide them down her legs, and put my mouth on her.

  “Get on the bed,” I mumble against her pussy after giving it one final lick. She races over and jumps into my bed. Her big blue eyes watch intently as I set a record for shedding my clothes.

  I want to shove my face in her cunt and lick her until she screams, but I start slow, kissing my way down her body. Savoring every inch. Everything about her is beautiful and I feel like a brute attacking her.

  “Missed you,” I mumble against her breast.

  Her hands rake through my hair, sending shivers down my spine. “I missed you too, Reed. So much.”

  There hasn’t been a whole lot of forgiveness in my world, but for her I’ll make an exception.

  After blowing my mind, Reed kisses his way up my body. My head lolls to the side, and I spot the camera.

  “Did you film someone else?”

  “What?” he asks completely confused.

  I point to the camera.

  “No. Fuck no, you fucking brat. Since the real thing was gone, all I had was that motherfucking video to watch and jack off to.”

  Okay, even with all crudeness, there’s something sweet in that sentence. “You really didn’t have anyone else up here?”

  “No, I really didn’t,” he answers as if he’s both pissed and surprised with himself. He presses his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. “I’m in love with you, Athena. So, no. There was no one else.”

  For a second, there’s no air in my lungs. No sound touches my ears. Nothing but the heat and weight of him above me.

  “I don’t need you to say it. But I need you to know it.”

  “I’m scared,” I admit.

  His expression softens. “Why’re you scared, sweetheart?”

  “You’re—”

  “So much fucking older than you?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  He chuckles and lifts one of my legs, bringing my knee up to his hip and pushing inside me until I moan.

  “Scares me too. You’re gonna realize you don’t belong with me.”

  “I don’t want kids,” I blurt out.

  He shakes with laughter and ducks his head. “Neither do I.”

  “Right now. I mean, in a few years I might.”

  He chuckles against my neck as he lazily slides in and out of me.

  “I think I want to go back to L.A.”

&
nbsp; “Yeah, I heard. Planning to live with some guy?” he growls out the words and slams into me a little harder as he says it.

  “Who told you that?”

  “Never mind. Is it true?”

  “He’s gay. And he helped me a lot out there.”

  “We’ll see. Now pipe down and fuck me. We’ll figure it out later.”

  I groan as I slide into oblivion. He reaches over and flicks the camera on.

  “You mean that?” I ask.

  “Fuck yeah.” He brushes a kiss over my forehead. “I want you to be happy, Athena.”

  His hips flex and he slams into me so hard, I move half-way up the bed. “Oh, fuck that’s good, Reed,” I moan, our conversation completely evaporating from my mind.

  Being underneath him sharpens our differences. He’s so big and hard. Powerful. Even with him riding me hard, I feel tiny and cherished.

  “Are you still mad at me?” I ask.

  “Yeah, probably.”

  “Taking it out on my pussy?”

  His eyes bore into mine. “Fuck yeah. I went easy on you before, Shortcake.”

  “Good.” I bring my hands up to the sides of his face. “Don’t hold back.”

  His raw roughness excites me as much, if not more, than anything else we’ve done. “Harder.”

  He pulls out and flips me over, lifts my hips and shoves a bunch of pillows under me, then slams back inside. His hand gathers my hair, gripping and pulling until I have no choice but to turn.

  “Careful what you ask for.”

  I smile back at him. “Bring it.”

  A growl rips out of his throat. Without leaving my body, he turns us so we’re facing the camera and tugs on my hair. “Look into the camera. Wanna catch your face when you come with my cock buried in you.”

  Imagining him watching this later. Thinking about this moment we had together. I want him to have a good show.

  So I look right into the camera and smile.

  19

  We stay wrapped up in each other for a long time.

  After a lot of annoying texts from Dante, asking if Athena’s okay, I finally answer him.

  Athena sighs and rolls over, slipping her arms around me. “Don’t tell me you have to go.”

  I shut the phone off and set it down. Anyone needs me, I guess they’ll have to come knocking.

  “No.”

  She picks her head up, messy blonde hair, spilling over her shoulders, tickling my chest. “Oh my God. Karina’s going to kill me. Her sister’s going to think—”

  “What?”

  “I’m such a slut.”

  I side my hand under her and lift her on top of me. “Yeah, my little slut.”

  “Mmm…I like that. I think you still have a lot of dirty things to teach me.”

  My dick agrees, stirring to life and she rocks against it. “I’ll teach you whatever you want to know.”

  “Is that wrong?” she asks softly.

  “Fuck no.” I rub my thumb over her cheek. “Nothing between us, nothing we do together, is wrong.”

  I cup the back of her head, pulling her in for another kiss. “Would you like to come see my shop tomorrow?”

  “You still want me to?”

  I have to give it some thought. Before she took off on me, I wanted her there. I think we’ve straightened things out. “Yeah.”

  Eventually, we make our way downstairs. Dante smirks at our intertwined hands and I wonder how much of his “stay away from her” threat was designed to push us together. Pointless really, I don’t need my friend telling me she’s off-limits to make me want her.

  “Work things out, Prez?” Wolf asks with a smirk.

  I don’t need to answer. My fuck-off stare works wonders.

  Some of the girls decide to throw together a barbeque out back. The prospects get a work out, carrying shit from the kitchen to the patio. Athena leaves my side to join Karina. Dante’s stealthy ass sneaks up on me.

  “Is she staying?” he asks.

  “I don’t know. We’ll figure out the logistics later.”

  Dante shakes his head.

  “But you can drop her stuff off here if you want her out of your house.”

  “Yeah. Let’s give it a day, Prez.”

  Bold fucker.

  I’m not insulted though. He’s looking out for Athena and that’s a good thing.

  “Kadence still here?” I ask.

  Dante rolls his eyes before answering. “Yeah.”

  “How’s that workin’ out?”

  “I don’t know. We’ll see.”

  Karina’s wearing such a smug smile, I approach her carefully.

  “Surprised you can walk,” she greets me.

  “You’re one to talk.”

  Kadence joins us and eyes me up and down. “The president? Aren’t you a go-getter.”

  I flash a weak smile. I still haven’t decided if I like her or not.

  “Although,” she continues. “Bikers are bullshit.” She points at Karina, then me. “You two don’t have a fucking clue what you’re getting into.”

  Karina’s forehead wrinkles, but she doesn’t respond.

  Not bothered by her sister’s silence, Kadence throws a hostile glance around the open room. “They’re bossy, demanding, and have ridiculous double-standards about women.”

  “Sounds like you’re hung up on one particular biker to me,” Karina says.

  Kadence turns her big sister glare on Karina. “Careful, little sister.” Her eyes narrow. “Did he explain how the Iron Bulls claim their ol’ ladies yet?” she asks, nodding at Dante.

  I watch, fascinated as Karina’s cheeks turn a deep pink. “Yes.”

  “Wait. What do they do?” I ask.

  Kadence lifts her chin at the closed chapel doors. “They fuck you on the table in front of everyone.”

  Whoa. Prickles of heat race over my skin. My eyes seek Romeo out. Casually leaning against the wall, talking to Dante. He nods and one corner of his mouth lifts when our eyes meet. Glancing around the room I take in the other brothers. What would it be like to have Romeo give a very visual explanation of how I only belong to him? Would he bend me over the table in front of everyone? Would the guys sit in their chairs and just watch or would Romeo make them stand on the other side of the room? Would he have me strip naked in front of all his brothers?

  The possibilities dance through my head, leaving me a little dizzy.

  Karina smacks her sister’s arm. “Mind your own business.”

  “Just looking out for you, little sis.”

  “I already knew.”

  “You did?” I ask, my voice about ten decibels louder than necessary. Wow.

  Karina blushes an even deeper shade of red. “Dante explained it to me after graduation.” She glares at her sister. “He doesn’t think I’m ready for it yet, so he wants to wait. But thanks for your concern, sis.”

  Kadence isn’t bothered by the anger coloring Karina’s words. The two of them might not have been raised together but they’re like the difference between a hurricane and a blizzard. Both destructive weather that cause damage in different ways. Kadence’s anger seems to simmer right below the surface, while Karina has much more of a slow burn temper. I know because I’ve been on the receiving end of it once or twice in our many years of friendship.

  I have a million more questions about this claiming thing, but I don’t want to ask in front of Kadence.

  “Is that how they do it in your ex’s club? Is that why you broke up?” Karina asks

  Kadence shakes her head and in a minute I know why. Romeo’s arm slips around my waist. “You girls all right?”

  Despite her obvious dislike of the club, Kadence smiles brightly at Romeo and I’m overcome with an urge to, oh I don’t know, scratch her eyes out for being a little too flirty with my man.

  “Thanks for letting me hang out in your club, sir,” Kadence says while batting her lashes.

  Romeo doesn’t seem affected by her act. He smirks in response. “Dante did
n’t give me much choice.”

  Hah.

  Kadence smiles wide and innocent. “We were just talking about the claiming ceremony you guys have here.”

  “That so?” Romeo glances at me, and I shrug.

  “I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”

  My response seems to relax him and he ushers us outside for dinner.

  After a few drinks, Kadence drops her hostility and we actually have fun. The three of us make plans to go out when Karina’s summer classes are over.

  After dinner, Romeo pulls me away from the girls, into the shadows where we sort of dance to the music filling the yard. It’s sweet and romantic—and surprises me.

  “Do you have any questions?”

  “About what?”

  We stop moving and he glances down at me with a raised eyebrow. My cheeks warm and a smile stretches my mouth. “About you fucking me on the table in front of your club?”

  He bursts out laughing. “Yeah, Shortcake. About that.”

  “Um, only about a hundred.”

  He nods for me to fire away, so I do. “Do I have to have sex with anyone else?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Do other old ladies watch or is it just the brothers?”

  “Just the brothers.”

  Something occurs to me and I slow down my questions. Actually, stop them all together. He hasn’t exactly asked me to be his old lady.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  Rough fingers tip my chin up until I’m staring into his eyes. “I’m glad it doesn’t bother you.”

  Okay then.

  20

  The guys are about to take their lunch break when Athena and I arrive at my shop. Perfect.

  I stop one of the mechanics, Locke, before he leaves. “Is bay eighteen—,”

  “Yup. Waitin’ on the special order to finish it up.”

  “Thanks.”

  He raises an eyebrow at Athena, so I introduce them. Not that any of the guys need to know a damn thing about my girl.

  “You must be special. Boss has never brought a girl here.”

  Athena beams, while I glare at Locke until he leaves.

  “Come here, I wanna show you something.”