Ivy sat perched on the desk at Shadow Valley Body Works, where Jewel ran the office.

Even though Jag worked there, she was hoping she didn’t run into him today. Not with how they left it last Sunday.

But she brought her girl some lunch, and she wasn’t going to be able to avoid Jag forever. Plus, even though she might be nuts, she was actually thinking about taking him up on his offer. Or more like demand.

She wasn’t looking to be tied down, so as long as he didn’t make a play for her to be his ol’ lady, what was wrong with them knockin’ boots every once in a while? No one had to know but them, right?

Right.

And the guy was good in bed, too. That was a plus.

A big one.

If she had to admit it, probably the best she’d had in a while. Adam was good but Adam was no Jag.

Though, Adam wasn’t really into biting and nails. She bet Jag would eat that shit up. As well as probably give as good as he gets.

Heat rushed through her at the thought.

Just then, Crash did what he did best and crashed through the door between the shop and the office. He stopped short when he saw Ivy.

Then he looked down at the burgers and fries they both had in front of them. His golden-brown eyes popped back up to her with a frown. “Brought Bangin’ Burgers for Jewel, but none for the rest of us?”

Ivy felt heat rush into her cheeks. In truth, she hadn’t even thought about it. “It was a last-minute thing. I didn’t have time to get an order together.”

“That’s just wrong, Ivy. You know we love that shit. Can I have your fries, Jewelee?”

Jewel quickly covered her fries with her hands and hunched over her desk, protecting her food. “No! You know I love this shit, too. Get gone, Crash.”

“What the fuck,” he muttered, his eyes narrowed. “That’s just cold.”

“No, what’s gonna be cold is my fries if you don’t leave me alone.”

With a grunt, he turned on his heel, heading back out to the shop.

“I wonder what he needed?” Ivy asked, watching his retreating back. She made a face when she saw the man was wearing his dirty-blond hair in a man-bun again. Ugh. Man buns. Sure, he had to keep his long, luscious hair out of his face when he worked... but still. Ivy shuddered.

Jewel shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care. They bug me all day for no reason.” She shoved a fry in her mouth. “Mmm. No way I’m sharing any of these fries. They give me a damn orgasm.”

Ivy laughed, dragging one of hers through a puddle of ketchup and popping it into her mouth. She agreed, they were some of the best burgers and fries in the area. Angus beef. Hand cut fries. Just a whole lot of yum. “Guess I should’ve at least stopped at the bakery and brought a dozen cupcakes from Sophie’s.” And while there, felt out whether Sophie knew about her hanging all over her man at the party.

Jewel’s eyes lit up. “Oh, damn, yes. Though, between this and a cupcake, it would wreak havoc on my hips.”

“You’ve got great hips. The kind a man likes to grab on to in bed.”

“Oh fuck. Didn’t just hear that about my sister,” came the grumble from the doorway.

Ivy’s head twisted that direction, a napkin pressed to her mouth. Oh fuck was right.

Whether the man was in jeans, a tee, and his leather cut, or he was wearing blue work coveralls, he looked damn good. And the color of his coveralls brought out the blue in his eyes. Those eyes which were traveling down her body and making her toes curl.

Double oh fuck.

She tossed the napkin on the desk and crossed her arms over her chest to cover her now hard nipples. Not that he missed them. Which was quite obvious when his lips curled into a sexy smile.

“Crash is out there bitchin’ up a storm ‘bout you bringin’ food from Bangin’ Burgers an’ not askin’ us.”

“She’s not obligated to bring you guys shit,” Jewel told her brother. Then she leaned toward Ivy, whispering loudly, “Need to put a lock on that damn door to shut them out of my office.”

Ivy bit back her smile, which was quickly lost when Jag approached and pressed against her to snag her burger. Her eyes followed it as he lifted it to his mouth and took a big bite out of it.

What. The. Fuck.

“Well, that’s fucking rude, Jag,” Jewel said, shoving her own burger in her mouth then rolling her eyes in ecstasy.

“No, was rude that she forgot the rest of us,” Jag said around a second bite of her burger. Then he laid it back onto the open burger wrapper and grabbed her fresh-squeezed lemonade and slurped a third of it through the straw into his gut.

“Excuse you,” Ivy said, whacking him on the arm. “I don’t want your backwash.”

Jag cocked an eyebrow at her. “You worried ‘bout my spit now?”

Jewel set down her burger. “What does that mean?”

Ivy frowned at Jag. “Nothing.”

Jag gave her a cocky smile before snagging two fries and dipping them into her ketchup.

Then he wrapped his long, warm fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her closer, leaning down to murmur into her ear, “Haven’t gotten that call yet, baby.”

Shock waves rushed through her and her nipples peaked even harder under her shirt. He gave her a squeeze before releasing her and straightening. He grabbed two more fries and turned to leave.

“Eight,” Jag shot over his shoulder before the door slammed behind him.

Jewel’s eyes flicked to Ivy. “Eight what?”

Ivy looked at her now ravaged fries and shrugged. “No idea.”

“Right.” Jewel tapped a crispy fry to her lips, thinking way too hard for Ivy’s liking. “My brother wants down your pants. It’s so obvious.”

“That’s your brother you’re talking about.”

“So? At least I didn’t see him busting a nut in Goldie on the couch at church that night. Ugh. Now, then I would’ve been scarred for life.”

Ivy winced. “Wasn’t pleasant. That was for damn sure.”

“Why? Because it was someone fucking Goldie or because it was Jag fucking Goldie?”

Ivy picked up her half-eaten burger and inspected it where Jag’s teeth had been. Did she want that mouth on her again? Should she call him and have him come take care of her business? Or should she continue to look for someone less complicated? Someone she wasn’t constantly butting heads with?

But then that would be boring. Another con when it came to being with the men she dated.

“Still waiting on that answer,” Jewel prodded.

Ivy quickly shoved the burger in her mouth so she couldn’t answer and pointed to her full mouth. By the time she was done chewing and swallowing, Jewel’s attention was now focused out of the front office window into the large paved lot of the business.

“Wonder why the beast is here?”

Ivy’s head spun toward the window. “The beast?” Diesel was climbing off his bike and looking in their direction. Her gaze went back to Jewel. “You call Diesel the beast?”

“Yeah, ‘cause he is one.”

Ivy laughed but agreed. Diesel did seem to be a beast in his own way.

“Never heard you call him that before.”

Jewel murmured, “It’s a new nickname.”

“Aaaah.”

“Ain’t like that,” Jewel quickly said.

Ivy shrugged. “Okay.”

She frowned. “Nice way to deflect off the subject of you and Jag.”

“There is no me and Jag.”

Jewel opened her mouth to respond but snapped it shut when the exterior door was pulled open and Diesel pushed his way into the room. With him in it, the room shrunk in half.

Diesel’s eyes landed on Jewel first, held for a second, then his gaze swung to Ivy. He did a chin lift. “Cuz.”

“D, how’s it hanging?” Ivy asked her cousin with a smile.

She got a typical grunt as an answer. That meant “good” in Neanderthal.

“That good, huh?” Ivy teased.

She got another grunt, then his eyes dropped to their almost gone food. “Bangin’ Burgers.” His massive hand reached out and the rest of her food was history. Down his gullet in a flash. The few fries, the mouthful of burger and the little bit of lemonade disappeared instantly.

Ivy shook her head and sighed, then held out a napkin to him. He grunted again and his eyes swung back to Jewel, then dropped to her food.

“You touch mine, I’ll kick you in the balls,” she warned before quickly stuffing the rest of her burger in her mouth.

“What are you doing here, D?” Ivy asked, curious why the club’s enforcer was stopping in at the shop in the middle of the day.

“Club business,” he grumbled.

Uh huh. So basically he was saying club business was none of her and Jewel’s business. So typical.

Jewel held out a fry to him. “Give you a fry if you tell us what’s going on with using one of the strippers to infiltrate the Knights.”

Diesel snagged the fry and had it swallowed before she could even react. She looked at her empty fingers in surprise. “Damn,” she whispered. “You need a woman to make you meals if you’re that hungry.”

“So, make me a meal.”

“I’m not your house mouse! Get someone else to cook for you.” Jewel pointed to the remaining five fries in front of her. “You get the rest if you give us info.”

He eyeballed the fries and then grumbled, “It’s a no-go.”

“I need more than that for five whole fries, D.”

“No one trustworthy. Girls scared of gettin’ in the middle of war between Knights an’ us.”

Jewel’s steel-blue eyes, just like her brother’s, slid to Ivy and she gave her a look, which meant her mind was turning and she was getting ideas.

Which may be good, may be bad. It could go either way with Jewel.

“So you need someone trustworthy and not scared,” Jewel stated.

Diesel’s eyes narrowed as they landed on Jewel. “Will fuckin’ cuff you to a bed if you even think ‘bout it.”

Ivy’s brows rose. Interesting.

Jewel swatted a hand in his direction, dismissing him. Which you did not do to Diesel. “You’re not cuffing me anywhere. And it wouldn’t be up to you, anyhow.”

He took a menacing step closer to Jewel. “Get it out of your head.”

“It would be up to Pierce,” Jewel continued, ignoring the dark look crossing Diesel’s face.

“Pierce agrees to that, it’ll be the last thing he does as prez,” Diesel grumbled. “Last thing,” he repeated, standing directly over Jewel now, staring down at her, while she stared up at him, her eyes hot.

Very interesting.

“An’ you won’t be able to sit down for a week,” D’s growl rumbled through the room.

Damn. Her cousin was laying down the law on Jewel. Yes, he was the club’s Sergeant at Arms, yes, he managed In the Shadows Security, but Ivy never saw him be this protective about any woman before, even Bella.

Very, very interesting.

“You have no say,” Jewel whispered, not breaking eye contact with him.

Boy, did she have a set of balls on her. Ivy loved Diesel, as both her cousin and her club “brother,” but didn’t think even she would challenge him. Jewel called him a beast, and he was exactly that. A no-bullshit type of guy, he was one of the few members who wore his hair brutally short. Soldier-like. Ivy didn’t think she ever saw scruff on that man’s face, even when he was younger. He liked to keep his shit tight. But he certainly was wound tight like a spring, didn’t take much to blow his top, and Jewel was clearly pushing his limit.

“Woman,” was all he grunted as if a warning.

“Beast,” she answered him softly and his large body jerked as if she struck him.

Suddenly, Ivy felt the need to escape the office. The air became thick and electric and she found it hard to breathe as she watched the two of them in a stare down.

But before she could move, Diesel turned, wearing a dark scowl, and went through the shop door, slamming it so hard the wall shook.

Jewel, appearing a bit shaky, gave her wide eyes.

“What the fuck, Jewel?”

The younger woman’s mouth opened but nothing came out. She sat back in her office chair and stared at the five fries that still remained on her desk. She grabbed the wrapper they sat on, crumpled it up, and threw it in the garbage.

“You okay?”

Jewel’s gaze met hers. “Yeah.”

“Are you going to talk to Pierce?”

She hesitated, her eyes sliding sideways to the door that Diesel stomped out of, like a pissed off bull. “No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Not if you want to be able to sit down for a week,” Ivy murmured, then laughed, trying to break the remaining tension in the room.

Jewel’s eyes widened even more, then she burst out laughing. “I know, right? These guys... You’d think we’d be used to their grunting, chest-pounding ways. Me man. You woman.”

Ivy snorted. “Tell me about it.” She deepened her voice to mock them. “Club business, babe. Not for vaginas with ears.”

Jewel shook her head, still laughing. “Fucker made me waste five Bangin’ fries, damn it.”

“Sacrilege.”

Jewel sighed. “So, I wonder what Pierce is going to do about the Knights now that they can’t find any of Dawg’s girls to do it?”

Ivy shrugged. “Ask for a sit-down, I assume. That’s what I heard Ace telling Dex.”

“Oh, damn! If they find out you’re eavesdropping, they’ll put chastity belts on your ears.”

Ivy grinned. “Can’t help but overhear them. They talk like they’re hard of hearing. They could be standing next to each other at the shop and they’re booming back and forth.”

“You should do it, Ivy.”

Ivy gave her a look. “Uh huh.”

“Yeah, you don’t have any man breathing down your neck. Talk to Pierce, tell him you’re interested. I’d do it in a second.”

“So, besides being dangerous and a really bad idea, you’re not going to do it yourself because D just told you no? Really? Don’t you think he’d say the same thing to me if he knew I was interested?”

“But he doesn’t know.”

“And you heard what he said about it being the last thing Pierce would do as president.”

“Yeah, but that was about me. Not you.”

“Damn, girl, you’re splitting hairs.”

“Maybe. Can’t hurt to ask.” She hesitated, an excited look in her eyes. “Don’t you want an adventure?”

“Your idea of adventure is fucked up.”

“You’re super smart, too. You could figure out ways to get info out of them.”

“Probably a simple blow job would do it. No need to be smart for that.”

Jewel laughed. “Though, I’m sure you’re good at it, I doubt that’s enough to make them spill club business.”

Probably not. Not that she was doing it. Even if she was crazy enough to, she certainly wouldn’t go into their ranks plan on giving head to a bunch of bikers from another club.

She looked at the clock on the wall. “Shit. I have to get back to the shop.”

“Like you’d get fired for being late.”

“No, but I’ll have to listen to Dex whine about being left alone to run it. I think Ace had to take Nana to the doctor or something.”

“She good?"

“Yeah, just a checkup, I think. Still the same crotchety old woman as ever.”

“Well, there’s a relief.”

Ivy arched a brow at Jewel. “Says you.”

Jewel laughed. “Anytime you want to stop by with Bangin’ Burgers, don’t hesitate.”

“I hear ya, sister. See you soon.” With a wave, Ivy pushed out into the bright afternoon light and headed toward her car.

A parts truck must have arrived when they weren’t paying attention and squeezed between D’s Harley and her Dodge Charger. As she rounded the box truck, she came to a sliding halt.

Jag leaned against her driver’s door, arms crossed over his chest, dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.

“You’re not getting grease on my car with your filthy self, are you?” she asked as she unfroze herself and moved forward.

“An’ if I did, whatcha gonna do ‘bout it?”

“Kick your ass.”

He stared down at his boots for a moment and when he looked back up, he wore a half smile. “Lookin’ forward to you tryin’.”

Unless he moved, she’d never be able to get into her car to leave. She stopped right in front of him and planted her hands on her hips. She hated that she couldn’t see his eyes behind his dark shades.

Before she could react, his hand snaked out, snagged her waist and pulled her to him until she was pressed between the V of his outstretched legs.

Ivy panicked. Not because she was close to Jag, because his heat seared her, because her pussy just went into a spasm, and her nipples started to ache. Nope. Wasn’t that.

Her gaze swung around the parking lot. Luckily no one was outside and the box truck blocked them from being seen by anyone in the office.

Like Jewel.

“What are you doing?” she hissed in his face, trying to pull back.

“Havin’ conversation,” he answered, holding on to her tighter.

“We don’t need to be touching to have words.”

“True enough.”

She attempted to jerk away from him again with no luck. “So, let go. Someone is going to see us.”

“Don’t give a shit.”

“I do. If you need to say something, say it, then let me go. I need to get back to the pawn shop.”

“What time you workin’ ‘til?”

Her brows knitted together. “Why?”

He blew out a frustrated breath. “Can’t feel why?” He moved his hips slightly. His cock was hard and long as it pressed into her belly.

Oh, yeah, she could feel it. “I don’t remember calling you to come over.”

“Can hear my phone right now,” he murmured as he grabbed his cell from the front pocket of his coveralls and pressed it to his ear. “Yeah, baby? That right? You want me to come over an’ give you some? You got it. Be there at eight. Wear somethin’ sexy.”

He pulled the phone from his ear and slipped it back into his pocket, giving her a cocky smile.

She couldn’t decide whether to be amused or annoyed at his pushiness.

When he dropped his head toward hers, her breath caught. Was he going to kiss her right here in the body shop lot?

Holy shit, he was.

His lips crushed against hers while one hand tightened on her waist and the other squeezed her ass. Hard. She gasped into his mouth and he took that opportunity to slide his tongue in and find hers.

Her gasp turned into a groan. Then both hands were on her ass, pulling her even tighter against his erection.

Finally, he pulled away enough to groan, “Fuck, baby. Could do a quickie in the back of your car.”

For a split second she considered it, then reality hit her like a splash of cold water.

Last thing she needed was to get caught fucking Jag in the back of her car in the parking lot of an open business where everyone knew them. And she could just picture the parts truck driver getting into his cab and seeing them going at it like cats in heat in the back seat of her Charger, which wasn’t very big in the first place.

No.

No.

Hell to the no.

Though, the thought did make her wet and her breasts ache, damn it.

“And, baby, just so you know,” he brushed his tongue over her bottom lip, “not bringin’ me an order of Bangin’ Burgers is a punishable offense.”

She cursed her pounding heart as she whispered, “Punishable, how?”

He pressed his lips to her ear, murmuring his promise of, “Tonight.”

She frowned as a shiver ran through her. “Right.” Like she would let him into her apartment.

Shit, she probably was going to let him into her apartment.

The thought of having more awesome sex with this man made her weak in the brain. And she could feel that bad decision coming on.

She just wished the promise of awesome sex wasn’t with Jag.

Or any male chauvinist biker.

Damn it.

“Maybe I have a date.”

“Yeah. At eight. Your apartment. With me.” He pushed away from her car and guided her back a couple steps. But before he let her go, he leaned close and said, “Don’t make me come find you.”

With that, he let her go and stepped around her, heading back toward the shop door. She quickly got into her car, the rumble of the Hemi engine soothing her nerves when she started it.

She sat in the driver’s seat watching him walk away. After rolling down her window, she shoved it into drive and pulled up next to him.

“Jag!” she called out her window. He stopped mid-stride and glanced over his shoulder. “Let me remind you of something. Just ‘cause we’re having—correction, we had sex doesn’t mean you own me.”

His lips twitched, and he continued on his path back into the shop, his head shaking.

Son of a bitch. That didn’t look promising.

* * *

Jag pounded on the door. Again.

She was pushing him to his limit. Again.

Yeah, he was late. But she should be used to the brothers never being on time. They got up when they wanted, got to work—for the most part—when they wanted, and certainly didn’t go to bed until they damn well wanted to, either.

But, hell—he hit the power button on his cell phone to activate the screen—it was only ten. It was early yet.

And it wasn’t like she had to get up to open the pawn shop in the morning. Ace was an early riser. He opened the shop early, closed it late. Anything to avoid going home to take care of his cranky old mother.

That’s what his ol’ lady, Janice, was for, anyway. To do shit like that. And both of his sisters lived on the farm, too, helping take care of Lonnie, Doc’s wife. She used to be a bearable woman until Doc got life without parole for murder. Since then, she’s been unbearable.

He sighed. He was going to knock politely only one more time then that was it.

He politely kicked the door with his heavy biker boot. Again. Leaving another mark again next to the one he left last time.

The woman had to be so damn difficult.

He closed his eyes and sucked a long breath through his nose. This time he wasn’t going to yell any threats. Nope.

This time he was using his fucking key. Though, he hated the fact that she’d now know he had one.

And no doubt, would probably change the locks.

Fuck.

He dug deep into his jeans’ pocket and pulled out his bike keys, singling out the one he needed.

Then he inserted it into the deadbolt and turned. His progression came to a quick halt by the chain she had secured the door with.

With a curse, he stepped back, lifted his boot and then kicked with all his weight. The door slammed open, the jamb splintering where the chain had been hooked.

He pushed his way inside.

The apartment was dark. But if Ivy was sleeping, there was no way that crash just didn’t wake her ass up.

He stalked down the hallway to her closed bedroom door. He turned the knob. Locked. What the fuck? Who locked their bedroom door in their own place?

He lifted his boot again and this time the door gave away much easier, but not much quieter.

The bedroom was dark, too. He slapped at the wall until he found the switch and lit the room up.

Ivy was sitting up in bed, her flaming hair falling around her, and he felt that deep down in his dick. She blinked at him in surprise.

“You gotta be shittin’ me,” he growled.

“Ace isn’t going to be happy about that.”

“Yeah, well, I ain’t happy ‘bout you lockin’ me out.”

“Who said I locked you out? Maybe after waiting up for an hour, I gave up and went to bed and secured my apartment like any sane single woman would.”

“Right. Who the fuck goes to bed this early?”

“Me. When I’m alone.”

The “alone” part turned him solid. “Unless I’m here, you should always be alone in your bed.” He shrugged out of his cut and tossed it on the nearby chair.

Her eyes had followed it but they quickly landed back on him. “Is this something new?”

The bed sank as he sat on the edge to unfasten his boots and yank them off. “Nope, but it’s something you need to start followin’.”

“Do I get a say in this?”

He pushed to his feet, tugged his worn Harley tee over his head and dropped it on the floor. “Nope. Told you from now on you need dick, you get mine.”

“Maybe I don’t want yours.”

“Tell me that again in about an hour.”

Ivy snorted. “Won’t take you an hour.”

“Whatever, woman.”

“Is the front door hanging wide open?”

“Yep.”

She arched a brow. “Do you think you should go secure it?”

That was probably a good idea. Never know when the Shadow Warriors were in the area. He didn’t need to make it easier for them to do something like fire-bombing Ivy’s apartment. Or coming in when the two of them were getting busy, knocking him the fuck out and kidnapping Ivy.

Then he’d end up in SCI Greene for murder. Because no one was touching his woman.

No one.

He stalked out of the bedroom, closed the front door as best as he could, then shoved a recliner against the door.

Good enough. At least now he’d hear someone trying to break in.

He unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his jeans and was sliding the zipper down as he reentered her bedroom.

Fuck.

Seeing Ivy still sitting up in bed, taking him busting into her apartment in stride, he realized how much she did it for him. She would be his ultimate ol’ lady. She was already part of the biker life, so she knew the rules, she worked hard and was smart as hell.

And fuck if she didn’t give him a constant hard-on. Not to mention, her pussy was as sweet as fuck.

She was perfect.

He just had to convince her that he was perfect for her.

Though, she might need a bit more convincing in that respect.

Tonight would be another step toward that goal.

He shoved his jeans down and left them where he stepped out of them. Hooking his thumbs into his boxer briefs, he shoved them down, too.

The whole time she just watched him, not saying a damn word. But he could see the heat in her eyes as she checked him out.

She was in no way immune to his charms.

He wrapped his fingers around the root of his charm and stroked himself once, twice, then thumbed the precum at the end.

“Get rid of the sheet,” he ordered. He was dying to see what she was wearing. He had told her to wear something sexy, and he hoped she had listened, but, honestly, would be surprised if she had.

However, when she flipped the sheet off her, he squeezed his dick harder.

Fuck.

She was wearing a tight pink camisole top that not only didn’t contain her cleavage, but it didn’t do anything to hide how hard her nipples were, either. She also wore some little shorts that almost looked like boxers. Boxers that looked way better on her than any man.

“You normally wear that to bed?”

She ran her fingers absently over the thin strap at her shoulder. “Yeah.”

“So you didn’t do what I asked.” Not that he was going to complain about what she was wearing, but he was disappointed she didn’t wear it just for him.

“You didn’t ask. You demanded.”

“Sounds ‘bout right.”

“You don’t like what I’m wearing?” she asked.

Oh, he liked it. His dick liked it, too.

But when she pouted, a jolt shot through him. Ivy never fucking pouted. She didn’t play sex kitten games like that. What the fuck was her play?

His eyes narrowed. “What’s your game, woman?”

Her eyes widened, her face a mask of feigned innocence. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t fuck with me,” he warned in a grumble.

“I’m not fucking with you. I’m waiting for you to get in bed and fuck me.”

Jag hesitated. This was way too easy. “You drunk?”

Ivy laughed sharply and shook her head. “Stone cold sober.”

“What’s with the turnabout?”

“I’m thinking you’re right. When I need dick, you give it to me. But that’s it. Nothing more than that.”

He frowned.

She continued, “Here’s the deal... I call. You come. We fuck. You leave. Keep it simple.” She wasn’t done yet. “But there’s more... Stay out of my personal life, I’ll stay out of yours.”

He wasn’t liking the sound of that.

“I’m not your property. I’m not your ol’ lady. Think of me as an independent agent.”

He wasn’t liking the sound of that, either.

“You don’t claim me at church.”

He hated the sound of that.

“Take it or leave it.”

Fucking goddamn.

* * *

Pissed or not, Jag was thinking about what she just offered him. That she could clearly see written on his dark, angry face.

But, she also could see him agreeing to her terms then not far down the road trying to claim her in front of the brothers. Even going as far as asking the club officers to vote on her being his ol’ lady.

And, normally, they wouldn’t even give a damn if she wanted that or not. She belonged to the club, like it or not, and they could decide her fate.

But if he tried that, she’d have to rely on Hawk and Diesel to vote it down, as well as her brother Dex. Though, Dex could be a wild card. Knowing him, he’d probably think it was a good idea that she be tied down to Jag.

She couldn’t imagine Ace agreeing with it, either. But just to be safe, if it came down to it, she’d just need to do some politicking with her blood.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

And if Jag proposed it and they agreed, she’d make their lives a living hell.

Never fuck with a redhead.

She looked at the naked man standing in the middle of her bedroom stroking his cock.

Someone may need that lesson sooner than later.

But first, she did have a man naked in the middle of her bedroom. And he just happened to be stroking his very nice cock.

One he was extremely skilled with.

And, if she had to admit it, he was just as accomplished, if not better, with his tongue. Which made her wet, as did his full sleeves of colorful tattoos, including the flames that ran up both forearms. And if he turned around, he sported all the same patches that were the club colors in black and grey on the skin of his back, too.

And, if she had to admit it, that was fucking hot as hell.

Damn it.

But it was those club rockers and patch that made him who he was.

Which was a misogynistic Neanderthal.

“Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to get over here and take care of business?” she prodded.

When he finally moved, his eyes remained hot and focused on her, but he moved around the bed instead of onto it. He opened her drawer and dug out the box of condoms.

And right there in front of her, he counted them. He certainly did. Out loud, too.

Ivy rolled her eyes. “Now I know that you’re smart enough to count.”

When he got to seven, his gaze met hers and his eyes narrowed. “Missin’ one.”

“Maybe I spoke too soon. You can use your fingers if you need to.”

“Babe, I know you’re bein’ a smart ass, but there’s only seven.”

“That can’t be right. Anyhow, just grab one and let’s go.” She snapped her fingers. “I don’t have all night.”

With a scowl, he tilted the open box so she could see inside. “Seven,” he repeated in a deep growl, sounding a bit miffed. He stepped closer to the bed. “Had this discussion. No one in here but me. Musta misunderstood me, not heard the words I was sayin’.”

“I heard you. I never said I was going to listen.”

His spine snapped straight. “You think I want in where someone else just was?”

“You fucked Goldie. There were a whole lot of someone elses in there. I didn’t think you were that picky.”

His nostrils flared, and she knew she was playing with fire. And he was stoked red hot.

“If you don’t like to hear the truth, you know where the door is. You know, the one you kicked in.”

“Ain’t gonna get off that easy.”

“I’m sitting here waiting for you to get me off, and you’re not making it easy. So you are correct.”

“Gotta smart mouth.”

“Nothing you didn’t already know, Jag.”

He sighed loudly and ran a hand through his hair. “Fuckin’ with me gets you goin’, don’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s like foreplay. So. Let’s. Go.” She patted the bed.

He hesitated, staring at her. Probably fighting with himself whether he should just leave and find someone easier to deal with. Most likely wondering if she was worth the hassle. But in the end, he shook his head, threw the box on the nightstand and climbed onto the bed, his cock hard and hanging between his muscular thighs.

Clearly, he ate up the shit she gave him.

He didn’t want easy. He could get that any night of the week with one of the sweet butts at church.

Or he could get that with one of Dawg’s girls. He only needed to make a call.

No, he didn’t want easy.

His kicking her door in—hell, both of them—proved that.

And she certainly was good at making it hard for him. In more ways than one.

She didn’t want sweet sex from him. She wanted it hard. She wanted it rough. She wanted it angry and hot.

She could get the boring shit anywhere else.

That’s not what she wanted from Jag.

And if she had to torque him up a little to get what she wanted...

So be it.

Ivy watched him continue to stroke his cock. Every movement of his hand made her clench deep inside. She wanted that hand, those fingers, on her.

“Are you going to keep that to yourself or are you going to give it to me?”

“Fuckin’ gonna give it to you, baby. You’re still dressed.”

“I didn’t know I had to undress mys—” Before she could finish, he grabbed her ankles, yanking her onto her back and down the bed. He ripped her shorts down her legs and off her feet, throwing them somewhere over his shoulder.

Then he shoved her cami up over her breasts, burying his face between them, snagging both nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, rolling them hard, making her cry out in both pain and pleasure.

Yes. This.

This is what she wanted from him. Not that sweet shit he tried to give her last time.

His teeth scraped her skin before sinking into the side of her breast. Her body bowed in response, and she threw her head back, crying out once again.

“This what you want? This?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes,” she yelled, her eyes rolling back.

“Fuckin’ Ivy,” he muttered before pulling one of her nipples deep into his mouth, scoring the tip with his teeth. She grabbed onto his thickly muscled shoulders, digging her nails in, then raked them up his neck.

He shuddered against her and groaned around her nipple. Nipping along her skin, he came nose to nose with her.

“Want it rough, that what you want?”

Something flashed in his eyes when she hissed, “Yes.”

He finished tugging her cami over her head and flung it across the room. “Your tits are so goddamn sweet,” he murmured before sucking the other nipple into his mouth, he gripped her other breast and squeezed hard.

Yes, that was how she liked it.

His cock pressed against her thigh and she couldn’t wait to have him inside her. But first...

“Are you hungry, yet?”

He lifted his head, met her gaze with a smile. “Starvin’, baby.” Pushing back to his knees, he shoved her legs up, throwing them over his shoulder, and buried his face between her thighs.

“Fuck yes,” she shouted to the ceiling. She squirmed when he chuckled against her swollen, soaked lips. He sucked her clit hard, and she dug her heels into his back, sinking her fingers into his hair, holding him close, encouraging him to get even closer.

Her whole body jerked with each flick of his tongue against her overly sensitive nub. Then skilled fingers were inside her, curling, finding the spot that made her hips dance even more. He teased her with his mouth, his tongue, tortured her with his fingers... until she couldn’t take any more.

“I’m coming,” she wailed as the blood rushed through her, her body vibrated against him, around him. He bit hard into the flesh of her inner thigh. “Oh fuck!”

“My baby likes it rough.”

She ignored the “my” part of “my baby” when he sank his teeth into her other thigh. “Fuck, Jag, yes!”

“Goddamn,” he whispered, pulling himself up and over her, going face to face. “Grab a condom,” he demanded, his eyes dark, heated.

Ivy slipped her hand under her pillow and held one up with a smile. “Number eight.”

“Fuckin’ Ivy,” he muttered, shaking his head, but she didn’t miss his grin before he slammed his lips down on hers. His tongue plundered her mouth and his hands dug deep into her hair, pulling her head back, arching her neck. He broke away and tugged on her hair even harder.

He sounded out of breath when he asked, “Like your hair pulled?”

Fuck. “Yes.”

“Like your ass spanked?” He scraped his teeth along her throat.

Ah fuck. “Yes.”

He lifted his head. “Those nerd boys of yours give you what you need?” When she didn’t answer him, he tugged her hair again. “Answer me, Ivy. They give you what you need?”

She was damned if she answered him, damned if she didn’t. She knew the thought of her being with other men bothered him. It shouldn’t since she had lost her virginity a long, long time ago. But she knew it did. And at twenty-eight, she’d been through quite a few men, but she was sure his conquests outnumbered hers by at least triple. If not more.

The old double standard reared its ugly head.

And though some of the men she’d been with could get as “down and dirty” as a biker, most of them didn’t. Or couldn’t. It just wasn’t in them.

“Takin’ your silence as a no,” he said, pushing himself back on his knees once again. He snagged the condom she had hidden earlier, ripped it open, and rolled it on. When he was done, he met her gaze. “I can give you what you need, baby.” He smacked his palm against his bare chest. “Me. I’ll give it to you any way you want it. Long as I’m the only one in here.”

There he went again, demanding exclusivity. The fear of being tied down to one man, hell, tied down to a biker to boot, went through her.

She was young. She had more life to live yet before she settled down.

If she ever settled down.

At this point, she saw no reason to do just that. Be with only one man for the rest of her life.

She enjoyed her freedom. Or as free as she could be being part of an MC.

But what was staring at her right now was the opposite of freedom.

“Not promising you jack,” she whispered, knowing it would piss him off, but it had to be said.

A muscle twitched in his hard jaw and his eyes narrowed. Then he grabbed her and flipped her over roughly, yanking her hips up and back, then with not even a slight hesitation slammed into her with a grunt.

“Fuckin’ woman’s gotta fight me at every turn.” With each slam, he grunted. With each impact, the air rushed from her lungs. She buried her head in her pillow, her lips parted as she struggled for breath.

The crack of his hand against her ass surprised her more than hurt her. And when she laughed, he froze mid-motion. She twisted her neck to look behind her. He was staring at her with what sort of looked like a confused expression on his face. But his nostrils flared and his eyes burned like coals. Then, with a grimace, he dug the fingers of one hand into the flesh of her hip and smacked her hard again with the other.

Her body shifted forward with the impact, but she shoved herself back, impaling herself on him. “That’s it, Jag, fucking give it to me.”

“Goddamn,” he grunted and did it again, just as hard. Her skin began to burn where he spanked her.

“The other side, too,” she encouraged him, breathing hard now, tilting her hips, taking him as deep as she could.

He switched sides and smacked her again.

“Fuck, yes,” she screamed into the pillow, gripping the sheet tightly in her fists.

“For fuck’s sakes, Ivy,” he barked.

“Shut up and do it!” she yelled at him.

He did it again, not as hard this time. Then his body collapsed over her, covering her, and he sank his teeth into her shoulder. She quivered uncontrollably beneath him, her groan muffled. She squeezed him hard with her inner muscles and he grunted against her skin.

“Again,” she encouraged.

When he bit the back of her neck, she cried out. She released her grip on the sheet and found her own clit, pressing, circling, rubbing until her body vibrated on the edge. And then she found what she was looking for... release. Her pussy clenched hard around him and he groaned, straightening back up, now holding onto both hips, but holding still as she came down from her high.

Once he slipped from her, she moved quickly to her back, spreading her thighs, inviting him to come back to her, but he shook his head, his hair falling across his forehead, into his face. She swept it away and seconds later, she was on top of him, straddling his belly, his cock pressed against her.

Rising to her knees, she shifted back and while he held his cock in place, she slowly lowered herself and sighed when she hit the end of him. Of her.

She planted her palms on his heavily tattooed chest and used that leverage to ride him hard and fast, never breaking eye contact with him once. Not even when she came for the second time and didn’t break her rhythm.

His face was twisted in a grimace, and she knew he struggled to keep her gaze because he wanted to close his eyes and blow his load. But he didn’t. She could see the battle to keep his shit together, to prove to her that he could be everything she needed.

But this was just sex. Nothing more.

Nothing more.

He dragged his fingers through her hair and then palmed both of her breasts, thumbing the nipples until they were hard peaks. And to Ivy, they felt as though they had swelled larger, filled his hands fuller.

Out of breath and her pulse pounding in her neck, she ground down hard against him, driving him as deep as possible.

“Lemme watch you come again.” His voice was low, grumbly, and caused a shiver to run through her.

She grabbed one of his hands kneading her breasts and brought it down to where they were connected. She guided him as they both stimulated her clit, their fingers meshed, pressing her hard, making her grind even harder until she exploded around him.

“That’s it, baby. Squeeze me like a vise with that tight, little pussy. Fuck.” He grunted as his hips rose off the bed. “Fuck,” he barked to the ceiling. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

His head lifted off the bed as he watched their hands moving as one, then he bucked her off, flipped her onto her back and sank fully inside her once more.

He dropped almost all his weight to her, shoving his face into her neck, scraping his teeth over her skin.

This man knew how to move his hips. She drew her legs around his thighs and followed his rhythm. Which wasn’t as hard and as rough as she wanted it.

No, it was slow and careful again.

Like last time.

No. Not again.

No.

She raked her nails down his back and he bowed against her. Then she continued to his ass, digging them in hard, tearing at his flesh.

He lifted his head, grabbed her face and kissed her deep, taking possession of her mouth. She squirmed underneath him, fighting this play of his. Whatever he was doing to get her to fall for him.

It wasn’t going to work.

It. Was. Not.

When she sank her teeth into his bottom lip, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he grunted into her mouth, sliding his fingers into her hair and pulling painfully until she released his lower lip.

“Fuckin’ bitch,” he grumbled, but gave her a cocky grin, a dot of crimson appearing on his mouth. “Keep fightin’ it, baby, but I’m determined to win this war.”

“You’re not winning shit.”

His eyes flashed. “Love a challenge.”

A thrill ran through her. “Me, too.”

He grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them over her head, holding them tightly to the bed with one hand.

He dipped his head down low enough to grab the flesh of her left breast into his mouth and he bit her so hard, she knew it was going to leave a mark.

He marked her as his.

Fuck.

His tongue soothed the bite before he went nose to nose with her once more. “You on the pill?”

What the fuck? Why was he asking that now? Was he worried about the condom failing?

“If it breaks, no worries,” she said. It wasn’t a direct answer, but the only one he was going to get.

Then he pulled out of her, ripped the condom off and with a grunt, came deep inside her.

Ivy went completely still, even her breath. Her pulse thumped in her neck as hard as his cock pulsated in her pussy with his release.

“What the fuck did you just do?” she whispered in shock.

“Did what we’re gonna do from now on. Nothing between us. You takin’ everything I give you. Gotta problem with that?”

“Yes!”

“Too fuckin’ bad.”

She slammed both palms into his chest. “Get off me.”

“I’ll get off you when I’m good an’ ready.”

“Jag,” she whispered, her voice shaky and her lips trembling. “You can’t do this. You can’t claim me like this.”

“The fuck I can’t.”

“It isn’t going to work.”

He grunted his answer. And she knew exactly what that grunt meant, which made her furious.

She slammed his chest again. “Get the fuck off me.” He ground his hips into her again, reminding her of how he spilled inside of her. “Now I have to wash you out of me.”

“Ain’t getting rid of me so easily.”

“Whatever, asshole,” she grumbled. “I can’t believe you.” Her fingers curled into a tight fist.

He chuckled. “You gonna punch me, baby?”

She blew out a breath and slowly relaxed her hand. “I should.”

He snorted. “Ain’t gonna hurt me, gonna hurt you since I have a thick skull.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and murmured, “You’ve got that right.”

He brushed a knuckle over her check and said softly, “Baby, look at me.”

Ivy blinked her eyes open. Then regretted it when he had the gentlest of looks in his eyes. Her heart squeezed painfully.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“We need to make it clear—”

He cut her off sharply. “No need to repeat yourself. Heard you the first time. You call, I come, we both come, then I leave. Got it.”

It sounded so simple.

Both of them knew it wasn’t.

“You get what you want then I get what I want.” He reached between them and cupped her mound firmly. “Nobody else in here, Ivy. I’m serious.” He pressed his lips to hers and she tasted the blood she had drawn. He pulled away just enough to say, “Don’t ever lock me out again, either.”

With a grunt, he rolled off of her, off the bed and onto his feet. He gathered his clothes from the floor and his cut from the chair and walked out of her room. She heard the water running and the toilet flushing from the hall bathroom.

When the door squeaked open, she yelled. “If I don’t call, are you still going to show up?”

“Yep.”

Fuck.

“Gonna get one of the prospects to stand outside your door until I can get them to fix it tomorrow,” he yelled from the living room.

He was going to do what? “You’re going to make one of them stand out there all night?”

He peeked his head around the broken bedroom door. “Yeah. Don’t let ‘em in. An’ for fuck’s sake, let ‘em do what they need to do. They wanna patch in, they need to do what I say.”

Then his head disappeared, and she heard his boots thumping down the hallway, the scrape of something heavy being moved, then the clatter of what she could only assume was left of her front door.

“I’m not going to be yours, Jag,” she yelled, hoping he was already out the door.

“Too late.”

“Fuck!” she screamed.

She swore she heard a chuckle. She slammed her fists into the mattress and screamed.

She was afraid he may be right.