Chapter Six
Kat enthusiastically agreed to go the barbeque with me, seeming to enjoy that I was asking her to go out for a change. I told Cole we’d meet him there when we were off work and ready.
“What does one wear to a biker barbeque?” Kat asked with a raised brow as we stared at her closet.
“One wears jeans, or a casual dress and some kick ass sandals or boots,” I answered her with a smile. At least in this area I knew what I was talking about. I was already dressed in tight fitted jeans that showed off my backside, a form fitting halter tank top, and ankle boots. I put my hair up in a messy bun allowing a few chunky pieces to fall around my face.
“Do you think Sal will be there?” she asked innocently once she’d selected her outfit. We were doing our makeup side by side in the bathroom.
I nudged her with my arm. “Took a shine to him did you?” I teased.
“Perhaps.” She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know, maybe.” I shrugged. “I’m not sure who will be there aside from Wes and Connie. But you know, Kat,” I began after a pause, “these guys aren’t typically relationship material,” I warned. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” I explained. I knew Kat could hold her own, she’d always been incredibly confident and feisty. But I’d never seen her take an interest the way she had in Sal and it was my duty as her best friend to warn her.
“I know,” she said and smiled at me warmly. I’d always been a bit of a mother hen with her, she was used to it. “I’ll proceed with caution,” she assured me. “Plus, you know me, since when am I looking for a relationship anyway?” she said as she wrinkled her brow with distaste.
“True,” I laughed.
We headed out through the door that Cole had repaired before he’d left that morning. My stomach fluttered with excitement at the thought of seeing him, but I also felt nervous to see his father again and to go to a party at the club. I’d been to a million Sinners’ barbeques but that felt like a lifetime ago.
We arrived well after dark and could hear from the street that things were in full swing.
“Here goes,” I muttered as we walked toward the building I’d been to once before. But instead of going inside, I did as Cole had instructed and came around the side since everyone was out back. The music was loud but voices and laughter were louder when we reached the back. It was a simple space with a large concrete patio, a couple of picnic tables, and plenty of folding chairs strewn about. There were large fires going in two fire pits, with flames dancing and providing hints of the desert that lay beyond.
The grill was full of meat and the beer was flowing, all in all just what I’d expected. I searched for Cole but didn’t see him at first, and I was instantly thankful that Kat was with me. “Let’s get a drink,” I suggested, heading toward one of the kegs.
“Let me get that for you ladies,” an older biker offered, pouring our cups full of beer.
“Thanks, have you seen Cole?” I asked when he handed me my cup.
“Not long ago, over that way,” he said, pointing to the back of the building.
I nodded and Kat followed me through the boisterous crowd. It didn’t take us long to find him, and my heart dropped at what I saw. He was sitting casually at one of the tables with three other men. But that wasn’t where my attention went. There was a blond woman standing next to him, her fingers combing through his hair, her chest provocatively pressed to his shoulder. Clearly they knew each other well, intimately even. And he was doing nothing to dissuade her. The sight of her hands on him made a temper rise up in me that I didn’t know I had. I felt sick and like a complete and total fool.
“Shit,” I heard Kat mutter.
“We’re outta here,” I replied, turning on my heel and stalking back to my car. Kat followed without a word, knowing there was no talking me out of it--not that she would try in this situation.
“Hey, Scarlet,” Wes greeted stepping in front of us. “Cole’s waiting for you.”
“Yeah, well he’ll continue to fucking wait,” I growled. “We gotta go,” I told him, unable to temper my rudeness. Wes knit his brows in confusion, but shrugged and let us passed.
“Let’s go get drunk,” I said firmly once we were back at my car.
“Okay,” Kat answered quietly. “But Scar, I know that looked bad but he knew you were coming. If he was going to do something shady, why would he do it while he was waiting for you? She’s probably just some hanger-on that he couldn’t get rid of,” she said, and I was surprised she was coming to his defense.
“I don’t care who she was. The fact that he was sitting there letting her touch him like that speaks volumes,” I replied angrily, starting my car and roaring off just as my phone started to ring.
“Speak of the devil,” I muttered, reaching over to turn it off.
I heard Kat sigh but she didn’t say anything as I drove us downtown. We headed back to Jupiter where the drinks were free and we could hang out with our coworkers.
“Sorry you missed your chance to see Sal,” I apologized as we sipped our drinks following the shot that Frank, our bartender, had insisted on. Clearly my car was staying put and we were cabbing it tonight.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Scar, you at least have to answer that,” she pleaded as my phone began to ring again. “He worries,” she added.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Since when did you become team Cole?” I accused.
“I’m always team Scarlet, always,” she assured me. “But I think he’s a good guy. I’d at least hear him out.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ll be back,” I muttered as I slid off my stool at the bar and went outside to take his call.
“Yeah?” I answered.
“Yeah?” he asked incredulously. “Where the fuck are you?” he growled. “Wes said you high tailed it out of here looking all pissed off.”
“It seems I had a change of plans for the evening,” I quipped.
“You had a change of plans,” he stated, his voice low with anger. Clearly Cole had never been stood up. He didn’t seem to like it much. Well, to fucking bad.
“Yeah, my plans changed when I got all dressed up to come hang out with the guy I slept with twice this morning, only to find some trashy looking chick’s hands imbedded in his hair with her tits shoved in his face,” I hissed.
“That’s just Daisy, Jesus babe,” he sighed sounding exasperated, which sent my temper into overdrive.
“That’s just Daisy?” I repeated, my voice carefully controlled. I was determined not to lose my cool and start shrieking, though that’s exactly what I wanted to do. “I grew up with a lot of ‘Daisy’s’ Cole. And I’d just about bet my left arm that you’ve sampled your fair share of Daisy,” I said, my tone turning surly every time I said her name. “How do you think it makes me look to walk into your club when you’ve got your old bed partner wrapped around you? It makes me look like a fucking idiot is what it looks like,” I spat before he could interject. “And maybe that’s the way you do things but that sure as fuck doesn’t work for me. I’m not going to be yours and not have you be mine. That means that you don’t let some girl you’ve slept with-- or any girl for that matter-- put her hands on you. Not when you’ve just invited the girl you’re currently sleeping with to come be with you. Not ever!”
Okay, now I was officially shrieking. Dammit.
“And our status as ‘currently sleeping together’ is now definitely in question,” I hissed.
“Are you done?” he asked, his own tone laced with anger.
“Not much else to say,” I replied hotly.
“Good, now get your ass back over here,” he ordered.
I laughed scornfully. “The hell I will, Cole. Are you high? Did you hear anything I just said?” I demanded.
“I heard everything you just said, respected some of it, too despite you being hysterical over nothing,” he muttered. “Now get your ass over here so I can calm you down properly,” he said authoritatively and entirely too sure of himself.
“No way. Kat and I have a date to get drunk and that’s what I intend to do. Then maybe we’ll find her a guy to exchange numbers with. Then I plan to go to sleep alone,” I emphasized. “Have fun at the barbeque. I’m sure Daisy will be more than happy to give you seconds, thirds, or whatever serving you’re currently on,” I hissed and hung up.
The last part may have been a bit dramatic, but I couldn’t help myself. I headed back inside and took my seat next to Kat.
“Well?” she asked.
“I read him the riot act,” I muttered, taking a much needed sip of my cocktail to calm my adrenalin. Apparently that was just Daisy,” I quipped.
“Oh dear,” Kat muttered into her drink.
“Yeah,” I muttered back.
We proceeded to drink our cocktails, being handed a second round by the dutiful Frank, and we people watched as usual. We were finally starting to have fun and loosen up when Kat’s eyes grew wide as she looked over my shoulder.
“What?” I demanded.
“I think your night’s about to get more interesting,” she replied, taking a sip of her drink and avoiding my eyes. I turned in the direction she was looking and came face to face with a very frustrated looking Cole.
“Whatever serving I’m on? Seriously, babe?” he demanded.
I shrugged. I actually thought it was a pretty good line. Apparently Cole didn’t agree.
“Kat, sorry to break up your ladies night. I brought Sal along, he’ll take you home,” he ordered firmly.
“We’re not done,” I protested.
“You are so done,” he growled. “Up, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here I swear to God,” he said through his teeth.
I eyed him for a moment and realized that, unfortunately, he would so do that if I pushed him. “Fine,” I muttered. “You okay?” I turned to ask Kat.
“Yeah,” she said with a smile.
“Maybe you and Sal should stay awhile and have a drink,” I suggested with mock innocence.
“Maybe,” Kat said as she tried to fight her grin when Sal appeared and took my now vacated spot at the bar.
Maybe some good would come out of this night after all. Cole grasped my hand and led the way authoritatively out of the bar.
“Unless you’re taking me home, I’m not getting on that bike,” I said firmly when he handed me my helmet. He regarded me with frustration. “I’m serious Cole, I’m not leaving Kat to sleep there alone with all this shit going on,” I said forcefully. “And I sure as hell am not going back to that barbeque now,” I fumed.
“Christ you are a pain in my ass. Get on,” he ordered, turning the ignition. I climbed on behind him not holding him as closely as I normally did and allowed him to take me home.
When we pulled up to the curb he didn’t hesitate in making it perfectly clear that he intended to follow me inside. There was no dissuading him, so I stalked up the stairs and into our place as though he wasn’t there. He allowed me this for a few moments as I threw my bag down on the couch and took off my jacket.
“You missed the part where I’d shoved her hand away about a dozen times,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence. I turned to face him, arms crossed over my chest. His eyes traveled briefly to the cleavage that the pose created, before his eyes returned to my face. “It’s not like I didn’t know you were comin’,” he pointed out.
I didn’t adjust my stance.
“God, I hate fuckin’ explaining myself,” he muttered before taking a deep breath and blowing it out. “All I meant earlier by Daisy just being Daisy is that she’s just one of many. You grew up in a club babe, I know you’re not blind to that part of the life,” he said, his eyes looking at me a bit anxiously. “But women like Daisy, they have nothing on a woman like you and who you are to me. That’s something I’m sure you also know,” he said firmly. “You know what it is to be on the back of my bike, in my bed, and at the club. And I like that, a fuck of a lot. I don’t have to explain shit to you. You understand my world.”
I may understand his world but that didn’t mean I would excuse certain behaviors.
“Girls like her, they’ll always be there. You gotta deal with that part of it. And you gotta deal with the fact that I have a past. I won’t be apologizing for it either,” he said firmly. “But I’ll admit I could have tried harder to ward her off. I’m just not used to having to. Quite frankly, I barely notice she’s there,” he said with a shrug.
My stance relaxed only slightly and I was sure he saw it. He took the opportunity to come closer until he was standing right in front of me looking down at me. He took my chin and tilted it up.
“I’m yours too, babe. And I’m glad you want it that way,” he said softly. “And if I didn’t know I had a fiery red head on my hands before, I certainly do now,” he said.
I scowled up at him but most of the fight had gone out of me.
“I’ll give you this and then I’m done,” he said quietly. “No one has ever made me feel the way you do. You don’t have anything to worry about,” he said, his tone nearly pained in its honesty.
I sighed feeling somewhat relieved, but I still needed to get one thing out in the open. “If I’m sleeping with you, I’m the only one sleeping with you,” I emphasized meeting his blue-eyed gaze.
“Wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said softly, his hand coming up to cup my chin.
His fingers twisted firmly into my hair as he pulled his mouth to mine. He groaned low and deep into my mouth as his hands gripped my ass. I hopped up, twisting my legs around his waist as he held my weight easily and pressed my back into the wall. He pushed himself into me and I could feel his excitement through both of our jeans. I moaned softly, beyond ready to have him inside of me.
“Take me to bed,” I demanded, my voice hoarse.
He immediately shifted away from the wall and carried me to my bedroom and threw me on the bed. I’d never been more turned on in my life as he kicked my door shut with his boot.
We were soon tearing at each other’s clothes with a passion I’d never experienced. My teeth raked his neck and my nails found his back as my heels dug into his bare ass trying to push him inside.
“You ready for me already, babe?” he growled.
“God, yes.” I breathed.
He sunk all the way into me, making me cry out loudly. It felt so amazing. I allowed him a few thrusts before I rolled us, taking the top and riding him with everything I had.
“Christ you are so fucking sexy,” he groaned, watching me with hooded eyes as I took him. His hands gripped my hips firmly, guiding me as I threw my head back. He moved slightly so he was sitting up and pulled the back of my neck toward him so he could take my mouth in a deep kiss.
“Shit you’re so deep,” I whimpered, feeling heat spread over my entire body.
“Tell me your mine,” he growled, his eyes locked on mine.
“I’m yours,” I answered immediately before I pushed him onto his back, my hand on his chest. “Now, tell me your mine,” I repeated his demand with a smile.
He grinned back up at me, “I’m yours, baby,” he said while rolling so that he was on top and thrusting hard into me. It was only moments after that with him hitting just the right spot that I cried out as ecstasy washed over me.
Seconds later I heard him groan his release as I continued to shudder around him. He propped himself up on his elbows, still inside of me, and kissed me deeply. His hand came up to tenderly stroke my temple as he looked down at me and I knew in that instant that I loved him.
God, I was so screwed.
“Are you staying?” I asked quietly.
He snorted as though the question was ridiculous. “Yeah, babe.”
“I’m absolutely starving, you want something?” I asked quietly as he shifted off of me.
“I could eat,” he said with a grin, watching me as I threw on his T-shirt and my pajama shorts.
“What if I was gonna use that?” he asked with a raised brow.
I looked down at the shirt and then back up at him with a slow smile. “Then I’d say you’re out of luck,” I said and shrugged, squealing as he swatted my ass. He threw his jeans back on and followed me out to the kitchen and sat at the counter as I whipped us up some sandwiches.
“Were you always this feisty?” he asked, trying to suppress a laugh as I handed him his food.
I bit my lip thinking that over and he burst out laughing. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said as he chuckled.
“Well, it depends on who you ask,” I answered defensively. “If you could have asked my dad, he would have said yes.” I smiled fondly. “But with any guys I dated, then no,” I shook my head.
Cole’s brows rose incredulously. “So I’m the lucky one then, huh?” he teased.
I blushed furiously and his expression warmed. “What?” he asked gently. “What’s with the blushing?”
I shrugged. “I guess with everyone else I just didn’t care enough or something,” I muttered feeling embarrassed. “I only ever threw attitude around my family or the guys in the club. People who I knew would be around for a while,” I gulped, unable to believe I’d just admitted that.
I prepared myself for him to freak out and run as quickly as possible out the front door.
Instead he smiled at me from across the bar. “Well then I really am the lucky one aren’t I?” he winked.
God, was he for real?
“What was your dad like?” he asked as I remained across from him, eating my sandwich standing up.
There were so many ways to answer that question I didn’t know how to start. “He was strong, loyal, and really fucking strict,” I said as I laughed. “Which is probably why I didn’t date much. I think the only reason he let Jake near me is that we’d known each other since we were in diapers,” I said thoughtfully. “When my mom died he took his position as a solo parent extremely seriously. He was really involved in everything I did. Whenever I had a school play or a ballet recital he and most of the guys from the club would show up.” I laughed again. “It was quite a picture, bikers and little ballerinas.”
“But I put him through his paces to be sure. I had my own mind from a young age. He would holler at me that I was making him prematurely gray,” I continued with a smile. I hadn’t talked about my dad in a while, and it felt nice even though it was sad. “He always said at least he’d had plenty of practice because I’d learned from the master, my mother.”
“She was a feisty one too, huh?” he asked gently. He’d stopped eating and was watching me with great interest.
“Yeah, I don’t remember her well,” I swallowed audibly. “Sorry, I don’t talk about this stuff much,” I apologized for my obvious emotion.
“Don’t apologize,” he said as he shook his head, his eyes warm with compassion.
I visibly shook it off and continued. “I was just nine when she died. I remember bits and pieces. But mostly I remember her hair. It was red and wild like mine, and it would fall all around me when she tucked me in,” I recalled, unable to stop tears from filling my eyes.
He stood immediately and came around the bar, stopping in front of me and taking me in his arms.
“I just…I had a family, not just my parents but the club, too,” I whispered hoarsely. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the loss of it all,” I choked.
“You might not, but you have me,” he decreed.
“We’ve known each other for a very short time Cole,” I reminded him.
“You have me,” he stated again, pulling me tighter.
I sighed and allowed myself to consider the possibility that it might be true. I didn’t have a great history of luck and I wasn’t ready to consider that my luck might be changing since I’d met Cole.
After a few moments, I gently pushed him away to collect myself and he went to sit back down, sensing that I needed my space.
“Sal and Kat must be hitting it off,” I surmised, changing the subject. It was getting pretty late and I hadn’t heard from her.
“Must be,” he agreed.
“Is he someone I should be okay with my best friend having a crush on?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he replied simply.
“Good,” I sighed.
I cleaned up the dishes while he took a call on his cell. I got ready for bed and climbed under the covers listening to his deep voice unable to hear his conversation as he sat in the living room talking.
“Everything okay?” I asked when he came in, as he divested himself of his jeans and climbed into bed.
“Yeah,” he replied, laying on his back with his hand thrown behind his head, appearing deep in thought.
It occurred to me then that I had no idea what his club was into. My dad always ensured that the Sinners stayed clear of drug running and prostitution, but I assumed that had all gone by the wayside with him gone.
“What are the Knights into?” I asked quietly, unsure what type of response he’d give me, if any.
He turned his head toward me and regarded me for a few minutes.
“You don’t have to tell me anything, not yet anyway,” I assured him when I saw hesitation in his eyes. “And I don’t need to know the details. But if I’m gonna have to bail you out of jail anytime soon, I’d like to know what for,” I said dryly, earning myself a small smile.
“I don’t plan on getting locked up darlin’. But good to know you’d bail me out,” he answered, still smiling.
“That’s good,” I sighed, flopping onto my back.
“We own a couple of bars in town--including the one I took you to the other night, along with some property and a mechanic shop. I take care of the books,” he said and shrugged casually.
I tried not to insult him by looking too shocked. “You’re good with numbers then?”
“Very. Always have been,” he said. “We keep our noses pretty clean, babe,” he assured me. “That’s not to say there isn’t the occasional bullshit and reason to be vigilant, but we can leave it at that for now.”
“Okay.” I nodded as I looked up at the ceiling. He’d actually told me more than I’d expected.
“You gonna take your pop’s place someday?” I asked curiously.
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
I nodded. It wasn’t my place to weigh in on such matters, not yet anyway. I left it at that, not wanting to push him.
“We good?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah, we’re good.” I nodded as he pulled me into his body, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I felt him kiss my hair and I smiled.
“You set the alarm?” I mumbled, close to drifting off.
“Yeah,” he replied before I fell asleep.