Dirty Side Down Read online

  “You don’t seem excited.”

  Instead of answering, I get up and clear our dishes.

  “Karina?”

  Turning, I put my back to the counter, and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not. It all seems very anticlimactic.”

  He snorts and a not unkind smile lifts his cheeks. “You’re ready to move on. That’s good. Some people never want to leave high school.”

  I hadn’t thought of it like that. “I guess.”

  We end up watching Vampire Diaries together, which is weird, but fun. He doesn’t crack any of the jokes I expected.

  At ten, I let out a yawn and Luck glances at me. “You should probably head to bed.”

  I don’t know what to say. It’s sort of odd and bossy, but it doesn’t bother me.

  “Are you…are you, staying?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be down here. You’re safe.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  It’s strange going to bed without Dante here. Knowing someone else is in the house, I manage to fall asleep anyway.

  “Christ, hurry up, you fuckers.”

  This job should not be takin’ this long. Fuckin’ prospects are slower than fuck. Or maybe I’m just antsy to get home and see my girl before she leaves for school.

  One of the more corrupt gun dealers the club works with manages to “set aside” a large number of weapons every month. Then I get to help him transport them safely outside the state. It’s dangerous, yet boring work. I could help the prospects unload the one van and load up the truck, but how will the little fucks learn if they never do the heavy lifting themselves?

  I don’t make it home until almost ten in the morning. Karina’s gotta be in school, so I stop by the clubhouse first.

  “How’d it go?” Romeo asks the minute I set foot inside.

  “Fine. Long.” I thrust the envelope of cash I was given at him and he takes it, counts it, and then hands me my share.

  I’ll hand out just enough to the prospects so they can eat for the week.

  If it were up to Romeo, they’d get nothing.

  “Seen Luck?”

  By the perverted gleam in my president’s eye, I have a feeling I know the answer to this question.

  “I’m pretty sure he’s taking a strap to Amy’s ass, last I checked.”

  Fucking wonderful.

  I knock on his fuckin’ door anyway. The visual on the other side is straight out of a low-budget bondage video.

  “What’s up, brother. I’m busy.”

  I lift my chin at Amy, who, at the moment, is naked on top of a black leather bench on all fours. Ass facing the door, so I get a good view of everything. It’s hard to miss the red ropes wrapped around her wrists and ankles keeping her tethered to the bench. “I can see that.”

  Amy tries to turn her head, I assume to say hello. The ball gag strapped to her face prevents much more than some gibberish. Even though, I catch the hint of a smile and an excited gleam in her eyes.

  Luck turns and pops her on the ass with a long red suede flogger. “Eyes forward. Don’t move again.”

  Not the first time I’ve walked in on a similar scene.

  We step in the hallway, but Luck keeps the door cracked and positions himself to keep an eye on Amy.

  “Everything go okay?”

  He nods once. “Yeah. No problems. Her friend picked her up this morning, said she’s going over there after school to get ready. But I assume you knew that.”

  “Yeah.” I tilt my head in Amy’s direction. “Kinda early for whips and chains, no?”

  The twitch of his mouth and the rubbing of his thumb against the handle of the flogger tell me he’s only going to tolerate my intrusion for so long.

  “It’s never too early.” He pushes the door open. Amy’s hot. No doubt. She’s perfect. A little tiny for my big brute hands. But all I can think about is stringing up Karina the same way. Luck catches my eye, and for a second I swear brother knows exactly what’s on my filthy mind.

  “You want in? I can take the gag out.”

  Okay maybe not. “Nah.”

  Amy turns and mumbles something. Luck whacks her a little harder with the flogger. “Someone needs discipline.”

  “I think someone just likes being flogged,” I say loud enough for Amy to hear. She wiggles her ass in response. I raise an eyebrow at Luck. “Have fun.” I swear he’s almost weary as he shuts the door. Muffled moans and screams follow me down the hall.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  All afternoon I primped, styled my hair, painted my nails, did my makeup—every last predictable girly thing I could think of—with Athena and a couple other girls from school hoping it would get me in the mood for prom.

  It didn’t.

  I can’t relate to any of the kids in my class. The hotel ballroom where the prom is being held is nice enough. No doubt, some committee is responsible for the silver-foil stars and white twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling. A couple years ago, I might have found it magical. Now I don’t care. The only place I don’t feel out of place is with Dante. When it’s just us, at home together. Not at his clubhouse where I can be assured there will be at least one jailbait joke every night. Maybe I won’t feel so strange in Dante’s world after graduation. Well, Luck didn’t make me feel weird. We had a pleasant morning. He hadn’t heard from Dante, which disappointed me, but it was nice not to be alone.

  “Please dance with me,” Athena begs as she takes my hands and drags me onto the dance floor. We dance. Or rather, I dance, and she flails around like a Ritalin-laced Kermit the Frog. Her happy energy finally clears some of my fog and I actually have fun. A few boys in our class join us and I don’t think much of it.

  Until I spot Dante by the open door. As usual, he’s wearing jeans, a tight Harley T-shirt, boots and his Iron Bulls cut. He’s casually leaning against the wall ignoring the stares from my teachers and classmates. Everyone else is forgotten as I hurry over to him. We don’t even speak. I just jump into his arms, and he catches me, kissing me breathless, and then setting me down.

  “I had to see how pretty you were,” he whispers into my hair.

  “I’m so happy you’re here.” Seeing him is worth the dirty looks I’m getting from my History teacher.

  “You didn’t have to leave your friends. I was gonna wait for you.”

  “No. I’m more than ready to leave.”

  He stops and scrutinizes my face. “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  He takes another glance and his face twists with revulsion. “Okay, yeah. I understand why you wanna go.”

  Instead of leaving right away, he insists I run back in and say goodbye to Athena. She pouts, but when she sees Dante waiting, her mouth twists into a dirty grin. “Yeah, I don’t blame you. You’re such a lucky bitch.”

  I really am.

  I feel like one warped motherfucker watching my girl run in to tell her friends she’s leaving. Am I seriously at a high school prom to pick up my girlfriend? What the fuck’s happened to me?

  Any doubts are wiped away as she comes running back with a big smile on her beautiful face. Christ, I’m fucked.

  Like an idiot, I didn’t consider that she’d be in a dress and heels when I brought my bike. “You okay?” I ask.

  “Yup. I just want to go home with you.”

  I hadn’t actually planned on taking her home. But we stop there long enough for her to change. She skips back down the stairs in simple jeans and a sweatshirt. Her hair’s a little blown from the ride, but otherwise still pinned and sprayed into place. Reaching out, I tuck a few wayward strands behind her ear. “You’re beautiful.”

  Her eyes flutter shut and she leans into my hand. “Thank you.”

  If we don’t get out of here, I’m going to have her naked and bent over the couch in the next few seconds. Normally, that’s great, but I want to make her night special. Maybe I’m feelin’ some guilt over taking her away from the “normal” things she should be experiencing at her age.

  When
we get to my bike, she eyes the saddlebags and compression pack strapped to the back, but doesn’t ask any questions. Fuckin’ love the way she trusts me.

  I take her back to the state park we’ve been to before. This time it’s too chilly for skinny-dippin’.

  “Oh, Dante, it’s so pretty here at night,” she gasps as she hands me her helmet. Of course, she kicks off her shoes and runs for the water. “Not tonight, baby girl. Too cold.”

  She purses her lips into a playful pout and comes running back to me as I’m unstrapping the bags. “What’s that?” she asks.

  “Sleepin’ bags.”

  “We’re staying?”

  “Yeah, isn’t that supposed to be what prom’s all about, staying out all night?”

  Her wide eyes and parted lips stop me. That face fucks me up every fucking time. We find a good spot and I set everything down. She’s still watching me as I roll out the sleeping bag. “Is that big enough for both of us?” she whispers.

  “Yeah, babe.” I’ve had about all I can take tonight. From picking her up in that so-fucking-modest-it-made-me-crazy dress to the fuck-me eyes she’s giving me, I can’t wait another second. “Take your shirt off.”

  Her mouth pulls up in a half-smile. “But you said it was too cold.”

  “Take. It. Off.”

  She’s got some lacy, push-her-tits-up bra on and I tell her to leave it. Leaves crinkle under my feet as I move around and behind her. Other than her increased breathing, it’s the only sound. I run my fingers down the smooth line of her neck, over her collarbone and down to cup her tits. Her hard-as-bullets nipples are begging for my fingers. I pull the fabric enough to expose her to the night air and she hisses, leaning back so her head’s against my chest. She moans softly as I cup her tits in my hands, rolling her nipples between my fingers. “Did you miss me last night?” I whisper against her ear.

  “Yes.”

  “Show me.”

  She struggles to turn, but I keep her in place. “Take your jeans down.” She can’t bend over, with me holding her like this, but she pushes them over her ass. I get a glimpse of juicy, round cheeks and pull away to take in her barely-there thong. My hands gently squeeze her tits to get her attention. “Who you wearin’ all this sexy underwear for?”

  “You.”

  My lips find her neck, kissing and sucking until she’s squirming. “Touch yourself.”

  “What?”

  “Slide your fingers down and touch your cunt.”

  She squeaks in surprise but does it. Too slow for my animal needs. I swat her hand away, and work two fingers inside her. “Like this, baby girl.” Her eyes are closed and I doubt she heard me. She’s too busy whimpering and bucking against my hand. I pull back to rub my wet fingers over her clit. “You like that, don’t you.”

  “Yes. So much.”

  “Good girl.” I keep playing her, fingers in her cunt, hand squeezing her tits until she comes on my hand. A soft, trembling orgasm. She sighs and keeps grinding into my hand. “Not enough, baby girl?”

  “God, no. More.”

  My dick’s begging for release and I can’t deny it any longer. We tumble down onto the sleeping bag. My hands work her pants and sneakers off so fucking fast it isn’t funny. But she’s working my belt loose and shoving my pants down just as furiously. “You have any idea what you do to my fuckin’ dick?”

  “No. Show me.”

  Love the way my little bitch gets sassy when I’m about to fuck her. “Spread those legs wide and let me in.” I’m lost as I force myself inside. “Take it.”

  “Give me.” Love how she begs for my dick. Then we’re just animals, grunting, thrusting, and pounding. Her hands grip my shoulders and slide down my arms. “Harder.”

  “I fuck you any harder, you’re gonna be in the ground,” I grunt even as I slam into her. Her hands leave my arms to grip my face, pulling me down for a kiss. I kiss her long, hard, and deep. We keep sucking and nipping at each, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. And I’ve experienced a lot.

  I love her.

  Fuck.

  The burning want has nothing to do with how hot a fuck she is. I need her. All of her. A man like me. This girl. There’s no going back from here. Not after her. No bitch would ever measure up.

  We come together in a frantic, screaming rush.

  “Baby girl, look at me.” She opens her eyes, but I can’t meet them. I kiss her forehead instead.

  “I love you.”

  “Oh, my God.”

  And I burst into tears. Not just any tears, but breathless, ugly tears. It’s too much. Too many years of loneliness and hurt. Underneath all that an all-consuming—

  “I love you too,” I whisper.

  This is happening. We don’t make sense.

  Except we do.

  “Why you cryin’?” he asks as he kisses my tears away.

  Oh, my God. This man who is so restrained and downright frightening letting go. Telling me he loves me. “I don’t know.” The words come out garbled between hiccups.

  “You love me though?”

  Hic. “Yeah.”

  “Good.”

  I hook my legs around him and pull him closer. His lips find my forehead again. “Baby, I’m spent.” He presses more kisses against my cheeks and over the tops of my breasts. Lazily pushing in and out of me as if he doesn’t want to leave.

  We still stay that way. Eventually, Dante moves us into the sleeping bag.

  In the middle of the night, I wake up with my teeth chattering. “Dante,” I whisper, trying to snuggle closer. Trying to crawl inside his warmth. “I’m cold.”

  “I’ll warm you up,” he rasps, entering me again. I’m sore from how rough we were before, but he goes at a sleepy pace until the warm glow of pleasure pulses through me. “Better?”

  “Yes.”

  There’s no frenzy this time. It’s soft, sweet, and sleepy sex. He comes with a loud groan.

  “Warmer?”

  “Sort of.”

  “Let’s go home.”

  We pack up and leave the park in the middle of the night. Just as we pull up to the house, the sun’s starting to rise. “We should have stayed at the park,” I whisper as we walk up the stairs.

  “We’ll do it again.”

  And I hope it’s true.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The world keeps right on spinning. I finally told my girl how I feel about her. She feels the same and that’s that. I end up having to make another run and Luck gets stuck staying at my house. This time at least I’m home early. I find him half asleep stretched out on my couch.

  “How’s she doin?”

  “Fine, went up to bed a while ago.” He sits up and lifts his chin at me. “How was it?”

  “Same old.”

  He runs his fingers through his hair until it’s standing up. “Shit, she’s sweet.”

  And I just stare.

  “Sorry,” he mumbles and looks away.

  “It’s fine. We hear anything about Hemi?”

  That’s a good topic.

  “No. It’s fuckin’ bullshit how he can disappear into thin air. Unless someone’s giving him shelter and lying to our fuckin’ faces.”

  Yeah, I’ve been considering that angle myself.

  “I’m thinking of taking a ride up to Bolt’s.”

  Luck’s eyebrow goes up. “I wouldn’t go alone, brother. We got peace with the Savage Dragons right now, but who knows. Smallest thing could set that off.”

  “How’s Amy’s ass,” I ask, just to be a dick.

  He snorts and looks away. “Fine. She’s a good girl. But she’s not the type of sub I’m looking for.”

  I may be dumber than fuck. It takes a second to get what he’s trying to say. Then it makes sense why the fuck he was flogging the shit out of Amy hours after spending the night here.

  With my girl.

  “Karina is?” I ask quietly. It’s not much of a question. I already know the answer.

  “No, brother
.”

  He’s got enough respect for me to lie. It’s weird, but I’m not pissed. Anyone else hinted at that shit would be getting the ever-loving fuck kicked out of him right now.

  “We’ll talk about it another time. I’m fuckin’ beat. You can stay if you want.”

  “Nah, I’ll head out.”

  My girl’s sound asleep when I make it upstairs. Curled up on her side. Just the barest glimpse of her ass in the dull moonlight gets my dick hard. Or maybe it’s knowing my brother’s lusting after my girl.

  Doesn’t matter. She’s gettin’ woken up either way.

  Dante slides into bed. And even though I don’t think he meant to, the motion wakes me. He rolls over sliding his hand under my shirt and over my hip. My body shies away. “Why ain’t you sleepin’ naked?” he rasps against my shoulder.

  I turn more and pull my knees up to my chest. “Can’t.”

  His big hand slides to my back, rubbing and kneading. Oh, why is he torturing me like this? A shiver of delight hardens my nipples. As if he’s in tune with my body, he reaches over and cups my breast, rolling and teasing my nipple until I moan.

  “Dante, stop.”

  “No. Want my girl. Come here.”

  “I can’t.”

  He hooks his arm around my waist and yanks me to him. Oh God, the hard, hot length of him is poking into my back. I want. My pussy throbs with need.

  “Why?” he demands.

  “It’s my time of the month,” I whisper, completely mortified.

  His body shakes against mine, and he slides my hair off my shoulder. Soft lips kiss and lick at my neck. “Baby, I don’t give a fuck,” he whispers in my ear.

  My body shudders from the raw desire in his voice. “Real men ain’t scared of gettin’ a little war paint on their dicks,” he says.

  “Dante?”

  He slides his hands under my tank and urges me to sit up so he can take it off. Gently, he brushes his hands over the hard tips of my nipples. A soft moan leaves my throat and he growls against my back. “They sore, baby girl?”

  “No,” I whisper.

  “Want me to suck on ’em?”