Dirty Side Down Read online

  “Fuck, I can’t say no to my baby girl,” he whispers against my neck.

  Still, I wait. He didn’t exactly say yes.

  His hands tighten around my waist, and he pounds into me recklessly. “Okay, baby. Give it to me.”

  Two more strokes and I come. Then I lose track of how many times as each ripple of pleasure rises to a wave crashing into me, knocking the breath out of my lungs.

  With one final, violent thrust, he comes. Hands still holding me, his thrusts slow to lazy sliding. Then he’s covering me with his body, pressing me into the couch. His lips trail over my shoulder, burning a path to my neck and finally my cheek. My eyes drift open. One of Dante’s hands rests next to me on the cushion. I let out a soft cry when I spot the torn skin on his knuckles. “Dante, are you okay?”

  He shifts, taking his weight off me. “Yeah. Am I crushing you?”

  “No.” I run my fingers lightly over his hand. “You’re hurt.”

  Behind me he stands, and pulls me up. “It’s nothin’. But it’s sweet the way you’re worried about a few scrapes.”

  I’m not sure why, but I’m overcome with a cloud of anxiety and…something else. Turning, I throw my arms around his neck, clinging to him. “I couldn’t stand it, if something happened to you,” I whisper.

  He hesitates, and then hugs me just as tight. “I ain’t goin’ anywhere, baby girl.”

  We leave everything downstairs. After cleaning me up, he tucks us into bed. My head’s resting on his chest when I ask, “Did you have a good night?”

  He seems surprised. “Yeah, baby girl. Much better once you got home.”

  That makes me happy.

  “Athena was surprised you’re not taking me to prom,” I blurt out. Why did I say that?

  He’s silent. “That wouldn’t be a good idea,” he finally says.

  No, it probably wouldn’t.

  His arm squeezes me tighter to him. “I gotta go out of town Thursday. I might be back real late or not ’til Friday night. Not sure yet.”

  “Okay.”

  “Luck’s gonna stay here and make sure you’re protected.”

  I’m not sure how I feel about that. “Dante, I’m a little old for a baby sitter.”

  He chuckles softly. “Yeah. I know. Don’t want you alone with Hemi still out there on the loose.”

  Huh. Well, at least now I know the club hasn’t found and killed Logan.

  “Okay.”

  His lips press against my forehead. “Good girl.”

  “Prom’s Friday night. We get out at noon. I was going to get ready over at Athena’s.”

  “Hmm…Wanted to see you before you left.”

  “You just saw me in my dress,” I tease.

  “And out of it.”

  We cuddle and joke around like that for a few minutes. Then Dante’s hand smacks my ass. “Get some sleep. Got school tomorrow.”

  And I do as I’m told.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  There’s a strange energy at school the next day. At first, I chalk it up to prom fever. Everyone’s nervous and excited about the big night. A strange indifference surrounds me, but I’m not bothered by it. I’ve felt out of place among my classmates my entire life. Why should prom be any different? This disconnect between my classmates’ concerns and mine has only grown over the years. Their fears and worries seem more childish than ever.

  It used to be I couldn’t wait to get out of this small town I’ve hated my entire life as soon as I graduated. I wanted to disappear in the middle of the night. See how long it took before my father or anyone else even knew I was missing. Now I’m torn. I don’t know if I can be away from Dante for so long.

  I also want to have a way to support myself. I love how he takes care of me, but it’s frightening to think of being completely dependent on him. I’ve thought a lot about how he said time moves fast. And he’s right. It seems like yesterday Athena and I came into this building as timid freshman.

  Now we’re bored seniors who can’t wait to get the fuck out.

  “Are you listening to me?” Athena asks, poking me with her plastic spork.

  I brush whatever the hell she was eating off my shirt. “Ew, don’t touch me with that thing.”

  “You want me to pick you up Friday morning, so we’re not driving two cars?”

  “Uh, sure. You don’t mind driving all the way up there in the morning?”

  “Nope.”

  I wonder what she’ll think, if Luck’s still at the house. I’ll worry about it later.

  “Okay. Then I can leave my dress in your car.”

  As we’re leaving the cafeteria, the chatter around us increases in volume. “What’s going on?” I yell into Athena’s ear.

  She shrugs. We duck around a group of jocks taking up way too much space and I almost smack right into Mr. Hackett. The gasp that shoots out of me draws his attention. We just stare at each other for a few seconds before he turns away.

  “Wow,” Athena whispers in my ear. “I heard someone say he got mugged or something last night.”

  Or something.

  Something like Dante’s fists.

  Holy shit.

  Did he really go beat Mr. Hackett up for what he said to me? The thought’s terrifying. What if it makes Hackett come after me worse? What if Dante gets arrested and taken away from me?

  I can barely concentrate on my schoolwork the rest of the day. As soon as classes are over, I ask Athena to drop me off at the clubhouse.

  “I thought we were going shopping?” she whines.

  “Please, it’s important.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  She doesn’t drive away when I get out, but I’m so focused on getting past one of the prospects, I can’t worry about it.

  “I’m Dante’s girl,” I tell him again.

  “Don’t matter. I’m not supposed to let anyone in.”

  “I don’t think it applies to me.”

  I don’t recognize this one. He runs his gaze over my body in a creepy way and shrugs. “Club girls are allowed in after three.”

  “I’m not a club girl,” I spit out through gritted teeth. “Dante’s your SAA, he’s gonna be pissed if you don’t let me in.”

  “Who the fuck you think told me not to let anyone in, bitch?”

  That’s it. Is Dante with another girl? Is that what this kid’s trying to keep me from? Or is he really just that dumb? Either way, I whip out my phone and send Dante a text. Couple seconds later, Dante storms out and throws the kid against the wall.

  “My woman tells you to let her in, you Let. Her. In.”

  Shit, I didn’t even tell Dante the kid called me a bitch.

  “Fuck, I didn’t know! You said no one gets in—”

  Dante cuts him off—by cutting off his air supply. His fingers wrap tighter around the kid’s throat. “Now you know.”

  He lets the kid go and holds his hand out to me. “What’re you doing here, baby girl?”

  I glance over at the prospect who’s doubled over gasping for breath. I feel a little bad about it, but not much. I tried to warn him.

  Taking my hand, Dante leads me inside. “I needed to talk to you.”

  One corner of his mouth twists up. “Yeah, you needed to see me that bad?”

  My cheeks heat up at the way he’s staring at me. But I can’t let myself get distracted by his sexy smile, rough voice, or lust-crazed eyes. There’re people in the room, but they’ve all got Iron Bulls MC cuts on. Still, I lower my voice. “Did you beat up Mr. Hackett?”

  Poof. Lust-crazed eyes and sexy smile disappear. “He bother you?” Dante’s tugging me through the clubhouse so fast I can’t answer.

  “Dante, where are we going?”

  “Need to show you something and I want to discuss this in private.”

  He leads me upstairs and opens one of the doors. This room is nice. Homey even. It has a giant bed similar to the one at home. Two dressers and even a vanity table. Best of all it has its own bathroom.

  “W
hat’s this?”

  “Our new room. I want you to be more comfortable when we gotta spend time here.”

  “You…you…did this for me?”

  “Yeah. Never gave a shit before.”

  My nose stings and my eyes water. Then I remember why I’m here. “Dante, Mr. Hackett. Is that what you had to do last night?”

  His face hardens into something a lot sterner and a lot scarier.

  “Don’t ever question me about stuff like that, babe.”

  Fuck me. Never thought that uptight prick would actually go to work all beat to fuck. Figured he’d call in sick the rest of the week.

  And Karina puttin’ that together so quick. In the future, I gotta keep in mind how fuckin’ smart my girl is.

  Her face falls from my harsh words. But she needs to understand something. Club business, my business, is not her business. Ever. I won’t have any of my bad shit touchin’ her.

  Her bottom lip quivers and I almost apologize for bein’ so sharp.

  “Dante, you did that…for me? I can’t even…what if?”

  “What, babe? Spit it out.”

  She throws her body against me. Of course, I wrap my arms around her. She lets out a harsh sob. “I can’t have anything happen to you. What if he talks to the police? I can’t lose you.”

  Fuck me fucking sideways.

  She ain’t worried about what I did. She ain’t worried about any blowback that might come her way. No, my little bitch is worried about me. Worried I might get taken away from her.

  “Shh, baby girl. I’m fine. Nothin’s gonna happen to me. He ain’t talkin’ to the cops; trust me. But you gotta understand something ’bout me, Karina. No one disrespects my girl. No one threatens you. There are consequences to fuckin’ with what’s mine.”

  “Dante,” she sighs so sweet. “No one has ever made me feel…I’ve never…mattered to anyone—”

  My mouth crashes into hers and we stumble over to the bed. My brain’s on autopilot as I strip her down, and get my cock out. “You fuckin’ matter to me, baby girl. I don’t know how. Or why. But you matter more than anything,” I growl against her throat as I shove inside her.

  She whimpers and cries out. Her little hands furiously work to get my clothes off. Except I don’t give her a second as I hammer into her. Finally, she gives up and hangs on to me.

  “Dante,” she whispers, and keeps whispering as I have my filthy way with her. There’re words I want to give her but I can’t just yet. They’re in my head, but I don’t know how to force them out. Instead, I keep giving her what I know how to give her. My dick and an orgasm or two. It’s all I’m able to give right now, but I know it’s not enough.

  She deserves more.

  “You awake, baby girl?”

  “No,” she mumbles against my shoulder. “Died and gone to heaven,” she adds with a soft giggle.

  Well, isn’t that enough to puff up my ego.

  “Dante?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you for…protecting me. Did you find out who—”

  “Babe, what did I tell you?”

  She gives me a blank look. Yeah, I said a lot of things before I pounded her into the mattress. “Don’t question me about club stuff.”

  “But, it’s not club stuff. It was about me. You could get in trouble because of me.”

  Fuck. How much am I gonna burden her with? “Luck was with me, so that makes it club stuff. You just forget about it, and go on like normal. He ain’t gonna bother you again if he wants to live.”

  She hesitates and I see the dozen or so questions forming. Then she purses her lips, glances away and nods.

  “Wanna go home?”

  She sits up and brushes her hair off her sweaty forehead. “Can we? I love the room, Dante. Thank you—”

  “But you’re more comfortable at home?”

  She nods.

  “Get dressed.”

  I’m too mesmerized watching her naked ass wiggle back into her shorts to bother fixing myself up. Only when she throws me a questioning look do I finally get my ass in gear. This woman has the power to send every last one of my brain cells shooting out my dick.

  And speaking of people who think with their dicks. When we get downstairs, Romeo’s chatting up Karina’s friend, Athena. Seems she never fuckin’ left after droppin’ my girl off.

  Karina glances at me with worried eyes. As if I’m gonna be mad at her for my prez’s bad judgment and her trouble-makin’ little friend.

  “Athena,” she snaps, and then drags her out the front door.

  “What the fuck you doin’?” I ask prez even though he’s so focused on the front door, I doubt he heard me.

  He turns to me with a filthy grin in place. “She’s a fireball.”

  “She’s a little young for you, don’t ya think?”

  Romeo laughs. “You fuckin’ serious right now? She wouldn’t have even been here if it wasn’t for your cradle-robbing ass.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s underage, so I’d wait on that one.”

  That finally wipes the smirk off his face. “She forgot to mention that.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure she did.”

  Karina comes through the door and hurries to my side. “I sent her home,” she whispers.

  Romeo lifts his chin at us. “Hey, Karina. You mind keepin’ your jailbait friends outta my clubhouse?” He’s laughing as he says it, but my girl’s still upset. I drill him with a stare meant to shut him the fuck up.

  “I’m sorry, Romeo. I didn’t think she’d—”

  “I’m just messin’ with you. I’m the one who saw her waitin’ outside and invited her in.” He flicks his gaze at me and shrugs, then walks off. Karina doesn’t seem to know what to do with that.

  “Let’s go home, baby girl.”

  At least I’ve given her a place to call home. I can do that much for her.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Athena won’t shut up about Romeo. It’s awkward when we’re at her house tearing through her closet the next afternoon. While my father has barely ever been around, Athena’s mom and dad give new meaning to the term “helicopter parent.” They had Athena when they were older, so they’ve constantly worried and babied her. When we were younger, I was jealous of all the attention. Now, I’m grateful I don’t have to put up with it. They’d drive me nuts. I have to give Athena credit though; our friendship is the one area she’s always stood up to them about. They’ve never cared for their princess hanging out with a girl from the other side of town. I’m not sure if she’s told them about my new living arrangements yet. Can’t wait for that.

  “You know if your mom overhears you, she’s going to lock you in a closet,” I whisper as she’s showing me the earrings she got for prom night.

  “I’m so outta here after graduation,” she whispers back. “I’ve been saving every penny. I’m going to go to Los Angeles the day after my birthday.

  “What? Since when?”

  Her eyes take on a dreamy glaze. “Since forever.”

  “How come you never told me?”

  She lifts her shoulders. “I figured you’d think it was stupid.”

  “Athena.” Shit, I don’t know what to say. How could my best friend hide something like that from me? “I’d never think that. I thought we were going to State together?”

  “No. I’m going to try acting,” she says with a straight face. What the hell? “I know what you’re thinking.”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. “Do you?”

  “I want to at least try. I won’t be young and pretty forever.”

  I don’t know how to respond to that.

  We don’t end up talking about it anymore.

  When Athena drops me off, there’s an unfamiliar bike in the driveway and I assume it means Luck reported for duty. I can’t believe Dante basically asked his friend to babysit me. I’m mortified.

  And touched that he cares about me so much.

  Athena’s in a hurry to get home and doesn’t ask to come inside, than
kfully. I’m not sure how I’d explain my bodyguard for the evening.

  Dante’s normally stone cold face warms when I walk in the door. I can’t help flinging myself against him. As he wraps me up in his arms and slides his hands up and down my back, I’m finally able to shake off the uneasy feeling that followed me home from Athena’s.

  “Have fun with your girl?”

  My shoulders lift. “I think she finally knows what she’s wearing to prom.”

  He chuckles, and then turns me to face Luck, who’s sitting on the couch watching us. “Hi, Luck,” I greet softly while fluttering my hand in the air. Why am I so damn nervous? He’s never been anything but nice to me. Well, he’s also watched Dante get me off in the middle of the clubhouse once or twice. My cheeks warm from the memory.

  “Hey, Karina.”

  “Do you have time to eat before you leave?” I ask Dante.

  “No. I’m set. I’ll try to be back before you leave in the morning.”

  “Okay.” This is awkward, but I can already see Dante changing from the man I know at home, to whoever he becomes when he’s wearing his Iron Bulls MC cut and out on club business. I get a final kiss on my forehead as he walks out the door.

  Luck and I stare at each other.

  “Got any homework?” he asks, then winces.

  The awkward look on his face is enough to break the tension. For me anyway. I end up laughing, which makes him laugh too. “I’m sorry you got stuck babysitting me.”

  He rolls his lip and the corner of his mouth quirks into a smile. “I don’t mind protecting you. Don’t know what he’d do if Hemi came near you again.”

  My face warms even more. It’s obvious to Dante’s club brothers that I’m…important to him. The thought steals my breath.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, just hungry.”

  “I can make you—”

  “No. I got it.”

  I end up making sandwiches for both of us. After some time, we relax in each other’s company.

  “Big night tomorrow?”

  Did Dante really talk to his friend about my prom? “I guess.”