He was done with her.

He was done with her!

Like she cared.

No, she didn’t.

Fuck him. She was sick and tired of goddamn nosy bikers. All up in her business all the time.

Sometimes she just wanted to be free of this club. Free of this life. Run away. Find a new life somewhere else. She had her Bachelor’s degree, she was good at computers and programming. She could get a job anywhere. Do anything she wanted.

She paced her kitchen, her stomach twisted in knots.

There was no way that Jag followed her tonight to Dirty Dick’s. If he had, she never would have even made it through the front door. He would’ve stopped her long before then. Jewel must have spilled the beans.

It certainly wasn’t Pierce, or Jag would’ve said so.

She didn’t blame Jewel. The brothers could be demanding and relentless if they wanted info. And quite possibly she started worrying about Ivy’s safety.

Whatever. She just wished she’d had more time to dig deeper into the Knights. She had caught a few tidbits but nothing concrete. But the little she did hear, she’d have to report to Pierce, to give him the heads up.

She rushed to the door when she heard straight pipes rumbling into the pawn shop lot. He’d followed her home like he said he would. Not that she waited for him. Most likely she was partway home before he even got his Harley started. And she certainly didn’t go the speed limit. Hell no. She had pushed that Hemi engine so she’d get home with the speed of lightning.

She yanked open the door and stepped out onto the second-floor landing, hands on her hips, watching him park his bike next to her Charger and quiet the engine. He ripped the bandana off the lower half of his face and yanked off his goggles to squint up at her.

It was clear he wasn’t a happy camper. Well, fuck him, neither was she.

“I’m home safe. You can go now,” she yelled down the metal staircase.

He didn’t dismount, didn’t even move. Simply stared at her. A shiver shimmied down her spine.

He was done with her? No way.

Finally, he spoke, “Givin’ you five minutes to wash that shit off your face, hide those fucking boots where I can’t find ‘em, an’ change out of those pants that emphasize your camel toe. You got five. Hurry up.”

“I don’t know who you think—”

“Five. Go.”

He didn’t yell it, no. He growled it softly which made her realize how pissed and serious he truly was.

“If I gotta get off this bike before those five minutes are up, Ivy...” He dropped his head and shook it.

She swallowed hard. She could continue to stand there and argue with him, or she could go inside and lock him out, which would mean she would need another front door.

Or she could go do what he demanded. Though, that wasn’t her first instinct. No, every bone in her body wanted to continue to fight him, but she realized it may be smarter to just get done what she was going to do, anyway. Remove the heavy makeup and get undressed for bed as she originally planned.

At least that’s how she rationalized it.

She threw up her hands in a show of disgust and stomped inside, slamming the door behind her. She didn’t bother to lock it since she figured the prospects who changed out the door gave him a key. She didn’t bother to chain it either because that had proven to be a joke when it came to a biker’s boot.

She ripped off her new thigh-high boots, threw them in the closet by the door and then headed to the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, she opened the bathroom door to find her apartment quiet. She peeked down the hallway and was surprised to find he wasn’t there taking up space in her living room. Nor was he drinking a beer in her kitchen.

Huh.

She pulled the tie on her black silk robe tighter and tiptoed down the hall to her bedroom. The door was open, the bed empty.

She sighed as every muscle in her body relaxed. Maybe he was done with her. Maybe she finally got what she wanted. Because that was exactly what she wanted, right?

Right.

Fuck. Her. Life.

In frustration, she scrubbed her hands over her now squeaky-clean face and moved into her bedroom. It was two AM, and she needed some sleep so she could deal with this whole thing of getting caught at Dirty Dick’s more clearly in the morning.

She yelped when a hand came out from behind the door and grabbed her by the throat. After shoving her into the wall, Jag came nose to nose with her.

His voice rumbled out low and growly like his straight pipes. “I know you like it rough, baby, but one of ‘em coulda raped you. Left you beaten an’ bloody. Torn apart. Possibly even dead.”

Her fingers pried at his grip on her neck. “You said you were done with me.”

“I am.”

“You slamming me against the wall of my bedroom proves otherwise.”

His nostrils flared, and he blew out a harsh breath. He dropped his hand like it was on fire and stepped back. “Coulda been seriously hurt or dead, an’ no one woulda known,” he said it so softly Ivy’s heart squeezed.

“Jewel knew where I was.”

He barked out a harsh laugh. “Yeah, that’s how I found out. No one knew but her. Somethin’ went sideways, she couldn’t have done shit. An’ by the time the rest of us found out, woulda been too late. Fuck!” She winced at the rawness of his screamed curse.

Well, Jewel wasn’t the only one who knew. Pierce did. But still she had no indication that he was aware of that.

He pinned his gaze on her. “What’d you find out?”

She wasn’t expecting that question. She was only supposed to report to Pierce. “Nothing.”

He tilted his head as he stared at her. “Nothin’. So, you went in amongst the enemy for nothin’.”

“They’re not the enemy.”

“Not yet. Will change if they keep grabbin’ territory closer to Shadow Valley.”

And, unfortunately, Ivy had a feeling from what little she did hear that was their plan. But she needed to talk to Pierce first.

Suddenly, he was there in her face again, his heat searing her as did his words. “You touch any of ‘em?”

Her voice shook as she whispered, “No.” He was untying her robe and sliding his hands over the bare skin of her waist. She pressed herself tighter against the wall, trying to prevent his hands from skimming over her ass, trying to fight the need she felt for him.

It was a losing battle.

Her breath hitched as he gripped her ass and jerked her against him. His cock was hard and hot against her flesh, even through his jeans.

“You drive me crazy, Ivy. Know that?”

“I don’t know why. There’s plenty of other females who are willing.”

He slid his hands up her ribcage, cupped her breasts and gently brushed both nipples with his thumbs. “Don’t want any other females.”

Her heart squeezed again then thumped all the way into her throat. Her body was a traitor. Her nipples hardened to painful points, her pussy clenched and began to throb.

Why, why, why did this man have such power over her?

Why couldn’t she find a nice nerdy guy with a regular job, who was responsible and wanted the white picket fence?

Fuck!

Because she didn’t want that either.

I’m so screwed.

He rolled one nipple between his thumb and forefinger, slipping his other hand between her legs, dipping it between her now traitorous slick folds. He leaned his forehead against hers, his breath coming fast and ragged as he groaned, “Fuckin’ Ivy.”

She parted her thighs slightly, giving him better access to slip a finger, then two, into her. She panted as he slowly worked them in and out, and when his thumb brushed against her swollen clit, she cried out.

“Goddamnit, why you gotta be like this?” he murmured, almost sounding as if in pain.

“Like what?”

“So tempting. Need to walk away from you, baby, an’ I can’t. But you’re such a bitch. Make me want you but make me hate you at the same time.”

Even though the feeling was mutual, she’d never got this wet for anyone before. Never wanted anyone else so much.

He was like candy. Tempting, addicting, but oh so bad for her. If she fell for him, it would be like falling into a deep, dark hole. She’d have a hard time climbing back out to save herself.

“Why you gotta be such a bitch to me, Ivy?”

God, he sounded wounded, and it cut her to the quick.

But it was hard to think when he was tweaking her nipple and fucking her with his fingers. “I— I have to be,” she whispered.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be any man’s property.”

“Not any man’s,” he clarified with a grunt.

She sucked in a breath as his fingers curled and he proved he was skilled in a different type of body work other than bikes and cars. “Not yours, either. Ah, fuck.”

“Like that?” he murmured against her lips.

“Yeah.”

“Hard to be a bitch when my fingers are deep inside you.”

She ignored that.

“Even harder when my dick is inside you.”

“When’s—” the words caught in her throat. She tried again. “When’s that happening?”

“Want me inside you, baby?”

“Yes,” she hissed.

“How bad?”

Her hands came up and fisted his leather cut in an attempt to jerk him closer. His knee separated her thighs a little more and as she gave him more access, he pulled his hand away and lifted it to her lips. “Open.”

She did as he demanded and he slipped his fingers into her mouth.

“Tastes good, right?”

She didn’t answer, just locked her gaze on his as she sucked his fingers deep into her mouth and circled them with her tongue, the tip teasing along his slick digits.

He pulled his hand away and dropped to his knees, gripping her thighs to separate them even more, then he separated her folds and his mouth found her center. He sucked her clit hard, and when she wasn’t expecting it, slipped his still wet fingers between the cleft of her ass until he found her tight rim.

He didn’t ask, he just took. One finger, then two. His mouth worked her front, his fingers her back, and her knees simply buckled. She grabbed at his shoulders to hold herself up, and used the wall to prop herself as he quickly made her forget everything that he was, everything that he believed, everything that he was about.

For a split moment, he was Mick the man, not Jag the biker, the Road Captain, the misogynist.

She knew it wouldn’t last, but she’d take whatever moments she could get.

But the problem was, every time they were together, every time she let herself forget, she slipped a little more. Skidded down that slippery slope, toward that black hole, to that point of no return.

She needed to hang on to the edge, even if it was only by her fingernails.

However, the precipice she was currently teetering on collapsed around her, and slamming her head back against the wall, she came hard, squeezing him tight, pulsating against his mouth, crying out his name. Not Mick’s name, no. But Jag’s. Digging her fingers into his hair, she pressed him closer until the last wave faded away.

She opened her eyes and glanced down at him. His eyes met hers and he smiled. “That’s the real you, Ivy. What you just gave me is you, baby. That’s what I fight for.”

She closed her eyes as she took in his words and tried to slow her breathing, her pounding heart. After a moment, she blinked them open. “And who’s the real you, Jag?”

“Never shown you anyone but who I truly am. You’re either gonna accept that or you’re not.”

She was either going to accept him or she wasn’t.

“Are you going to fuck me?”

He pushed to his feet, leaned in and kissed her, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and snagging it in between his teeth. When he let her go, he asked in a gruff voice, “That what you want?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”

A slow grin crossed his face. “We had a deal about me takin’ care of your business. So, if that’s what you want, glad to oblige.”

“Well, if it’s going to be a chore—”

He scooped her into her arms, startling her, took two long strides to the bed and tossed her onto the mattress. Before she could catch her breath, he had his cut off, his shirt pulled over his head and tossed aside.

Damn, the man not only had mad skills in bed, he was certainly easy on the eyes, even with all the ink. Though, she didn’t mind the ink at all. She grew up around heavily tattooed men and women, so she appreciated good body art. Crow probably did almost all of Jag’s tattoos and he was one of the best ink slingers in the western half of Pennsylvania.

Crow had even done the couple tats that she had. The poison ivy vine that wrapped around her ankle and down her foot. And the small DAMC logo she had on her shoulder. She had gotten that second one when she was stupid drunk one night. And, of course, Crow wasn’t going to talk her out of getting something that branded her DAMC property, drunk or not.

Crow was another brother who was easy on the eyes, but he wasn’t the one standing in her bedroom stripped down naked at the moment.

No, he wasn’t.

She reached over to her nightstand drawer, but he was there in a flash, grabbing her wrist and shaking his head. “No. Told you last time. Just me an’ you. Nothin’ in between.” He wrapped her fingers around his erection, sliding her hand up and down his length. “Nothin’ but this, baby.”

She shook her head. “Not smart.”

“Ain’t a problem if it’s just us.”

Her heart flip-flopped in her chest. Just us.

Those two simple words should bother her because once again he was demanding exclusivity. But, damn it, right now, right as he stood naked before her offering himself to her and only her, she could actually imagine being with only him.

And that scared the living shit out of her and she didn’t want to think about it. Not now.

Instead, she just wanted to take what he offered her in her bedroom at that moment. Nothing more.

Without releasing his cock, she shifted to the edge of the bed and guided him into her mouth. His fingers dug deep into her hair as he let out a low groan, “Fuckin’ Ivy.”

She gripped the root tighter and stroked her tongue along the underside of his length, savoring the salty, musky smell and taste of Jag.

“Fuck, baby. Your mouth... fuck.”

She sucked so hard her cheeks hollowed out, then bottomed out when she took almost his whole length. Relaxing the back of her throat, she released the root, taking everything that was him.

“For fuck’s sake,” he growled.

She tipped her eyes up, but his were squeezed shut, his head tilted back, his jaw tense, the tendons in his neck bulging.

He just might be enjoying what she was doing to him.

Then in quick succession, she cupped his balls and hummed around his length, his eyes popped open and he shouted a curse at the ceiling. With a loud grunt, he shot his salty load down her throat.

After a few quick deep breaths, he slipped from her mouth, gave her a languid smile and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Damn, woman. Anytime you wanna hum a tune, don’t even gotta ask. Now get rid of that robe.”

“What do you want me to hum?” She shrugged the robe off her shoulders and before she could toss it aside, he grabbed it out of her hands and slid the black silky tie from the loops.

“Longest song you can think of.” Then he tossed the rest of the robe aside.

She eyed the tie in his hands. “Do you plan on doing something with that?”

He wound it around his fist then let it unwind on its own. “So many things I can do with it. Gag you, blindfold you, tie you up.”

A thrill ran through her, constricting her nipples into tight buds. She arched a brow in his direction. “And?”

A grin spread slowly over his face. “Fuckin’ Ivy,” he murmured and climbed onto the bed to come face to face with her, his now semi-soft cock hanging between his thighs.

It made her want to cup him and suck him all over again.

“Gonna fight me if I truss you up?”

“Is that what you want? For me to fight?” she whispered. When she was done asking, she couldn’t stop the puffs of hot breath that escaped from her lips in rapid fire.

His grin died, his steel-blue eyes turning dark and stormy. She watched as his throat undulated as if almost in slow motion. A sound came from the back of his throat that sounded like a combination of a groan and “Ivy.” Whatever it was made heat explode from her core all the way to her fingertips and toes.

When his head dropped, and he sucked an aching nipple hard into his mouth, she arched against him. “Fuck. Yessss,” she hissed softly.

He shoved a knee between her legs to part her thighs, reaching one hand down to slide a finger through her wetness. She had a feeling he’d find her pretty damn slick. The other teased her nipple with his thumb, the hard nub so sensitive, every brush of his thumb felt directly connected to her pussy, which only made her more eager.

She was close to climaxing as his fingers played along her slick labia, pinched her clit, then dipped inside for a split second.

“So fuckin’ wet,” he mumbled against her breast. Then he was gone. Nothing but the room’s cool air touched her.

She didn’t even realize she’d had her eyes closed until that moment. She only had a second to look at the ceiling before her face ended up in the pillow as he flipped her over, snagged both arms and crossed her wrists at the small of her back.

“Wanna spank that ass, baby. Wanna spank it so fuckin’ hard.”

She turned her face to the side so she could breathe, but he kept pressure on her back so she couldn’t turn enough to see him. She jerked at her arms, but he tightened his grip. Then the smooth silk of her robe tie was being wound around and around, binding her hands together.

Goosebumps broke out all over her body. “Jag...”

“Yeah, baby?” he asked softly. “Scared?”

Scared? No. Excited? Holy hell, yes!

She couldn’t be docile though, even tied up. Especially tied up. So, she tried to kick him in the back with her heels, then wiggled hard underneath him as he straddled her thighs.

“Jag,” she repeated, this time his name came out on a ragged breath.

“I’d gag you, too, but like hearin’ you say my name. Gonna like it even better when you’re screamin’ it when you come.”

He knotted the tie and let go. Immediately, she tested the binding and couldn’t believe it didn’t slip even a little. His tongue, wet and warm, worked its way up her spine from above her bound hands all the way to the back of her neck, where he pushed her hair to the side and he sucked her skin at the top.

A moan escaped her as he sank his teeth gently into the back of her neck. He then kissed her where he bit her and pressed his mouth to her ear.

“Woulda liked one of those Knights doin’ this to you?”

“No.”

The tip of his tongue traced the outer shell of her ear. “Sure?”

“Yes... I’m sure.”

He sucked her earlobe, then released it, his warm breath making her shiver. “Don’t know... The way you were dressed, baby... Kinda throwin’ yourself in their face. Hard to resist temptation like that.”

“Nothing happened.” She had taken a risk, yes. She knew that going in. Pierce knew that. But it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle.

Though Jag would probably disagree.

He dropped his weight so his cock, which was now hard again, slid in between her ass cheeks.

“Was stupid, baby. Admit it.”

She was having a hard time thinking when he thrusted against her like that. She wanted him deep inside her.

“Are we going to have a conversation or are we going to fuck?”

He sat up and his body shook against her as he chuckled. “Gonna fuck. But don’t think this conversation is over. It isn’t.”

“Well, let’s get to it. I don’t have all night, Mick.”

His body stilled above her and she heard a loud, long sigh. If she had to push his buttons to spur him into action, she’d do it.

Suddenly, he was pulling at the knot at her wrists, loosening and unwrapping the binding. She twisted her head to look at him.

No doubt about it, he was unhappy with a capital U.

“What are you doing?”

He shook his head, but wouldn’t meet her gaze. Instead he stared at the black tie in his hands. “Can’t do this shit with you, Ivy. I can’t. If an’ when you want me...” His eyes then shot to hers and pinned her. He slapped his chest with the flat of his palm. “When you want me, Jag, you let me know. Until then, you can go fuck yourself.” He climbed off her thighs, off the bed and snagged his jeans from the floor. Slipped one leg in and then the other, tugging them up over his thighs and his hard-on, struggling to fasten them.

She flipped over and sat up, pushing her wild hair out of her face. “What are you doing?”

“Gettin’ the fuck outta here. You were right, plenty of other willin’ women at church. Didn’t want easy, though. Wanted you. You, Ivy.”

She climbed to her knees and flung out an arm. “You can’t just leave—”

“Fuck I can’t. Got a perfectly good palm.”

“Mick—”

He pulled his Sturgis tee over his head with jerky movements. “See? There you go again, Ivy, callin’ me somethin’ you know pisses me off. Tryin’ to get under my skin. But you know what? You’re already there. Been there for way too long. Need to get rid of you like a goddamn rash.”

She pushed herself off the bed, grabbed his arm before he could snatch his cut off the chair. “Stop. Jag! Stop.”

When he looked down at her, she closed her eyes, stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her naked body to his.

“Fuck,” she whispered. “Fuck.”

He circled her wrists with his fingers and tightened them until they were slightly painful. “Let go, Ivy.”

She pressed her cheek to his back and murmured, “No.”

His muscles were tight, his body stiff, but she didn’t care. She had something to say and when she opened her mouth, the words just rolled out. “Going to Dirty Dick’s was stupid. You’re right. It was risky. We knew that.”

Jag’s body jolted against her at the “we,” and she realized she may have just slipped up. She could only hope he thought “we” meant her and Jewel. She continued on before he could ask. “I want you, Jag. I do. It...” She lost her words because she didn’t want to admit this out loud, not to him, not to anyone. “It scares me.”

His body tensed at her words and then just as quickly everything about him softened. He released her wrists and turned in her arms, his fingers combing through her long hair, pulling it away from her face. With a thumb under her chin, he tilted her face up. His expression spoke volumes, and that scared her even more.

“Nothin’ to be scared of.”

“Easy to say when you’re a man and treated as such. It’s one thing to be a part of the club, to be born into it. As it stands now, I can do what I want when I want for the most part. It’s another when you become someone’s ol’ lady, become someone’s property. And you know that shit happens. Don’t lie and say it doesn’t.”

“You’re too proud for that shit, baby, I get it. It happens; it’s the way of the club. Has been, always will be. Can’t do shit about it.” He paused, his lips flattened as if he thought hard about saying what he said next. “Don’t wanna either. I claim you as mine then you’re mine. In all ways.”

She sucked in oxygen and tried to pull back but he locked her tighter against him by wrapping his arms around her this time.

“How about we just keep our initial deal? When I need dick, you supply the dick.”

He went solid once again as he stared at her, his face not revealing anything. Then his nostrils flared and his brows furrowed. “Can’t be havin’ you runnin’ around doin’ stupid shit like tonight. Can’t watch it, Ivy. Can’t watch you dancin’ while you’re drunk gettin’ everyone’s dick hard. An’ I’m supposed to sit there an’ not do shit? Ain’t gonna happen. Sorry.”

He released her and took a step back. His eyes raked her from top to toe. He bit his bottom lip, shook his head, grumbling, “Shit. Want you like no other, but fuck, baby... Gotta be in or out. Not goin’ to deal with this half-assed shit. In?” He leaned close enough that she could feel his warm breath brush against her cheek and he narrowed his eyes. “Or out?”

Out.

Out.

Out.

Goddamn it.

She couldn’t give in. Not now. Not ever.

“I can’t,” she said under her breath. But she knew he heard her because his face changed to a mix of disappointment and frustration. He started to step closer but stopped, put his hands on his hips and dropped his head to stare at the floor. He nodded, avoided her eyes, then grabbed his boots and cut.

As he walked out of the room, her stomach twisted and her chest felt as though a heavy biker boot had stomped on it.

Then a crashing sound came from outside that made the hair rise on the back of her neck. She snatched her robe and slipped it over her shoulders, cinching it with the belt, before rushing out of the bedroom to see Jag rip open her door and run out.

The metallic scraping and screeching continued to be heard through the open doorway but sounded like it was getting farther away.

Then she heard Jag shouting from the top of her steps, “FUCKING MOTHERFUCKERS!”