I WAKE WITH a start and take in my surroundings through my grogginess. Opening my eyes, I find Rhys lying next to me, his eyes closed and his breathing slow and deep, the ripples of his chest in tune with his intakes and exhales. He’s on his back, his head pointed up to the ceiling. His side profile is strong, demanding, and pronounced. Small scars play on the side of his cheek and his neck, but between his scruff and tattoos, they are hard to see. If I wasn’t this close, I wouldn’t have seen them. They’re faint like they have been there for many, many years.
I just let this man screw me to the point that I passed out in his bed. This is not me, and it hasn’t a thing to do with his age. This is not something I would do. I don’t go to bed with random men and let them have sex with me, have them tell me they are going to tie me up. The few times I tried the tying up thing, it was with a boyfriend I fully trusted. Of course, it ended flat, but at least I tried. However, Rhys knows what he is doing. He knows exactly what places to hit on a woman’s body to make her scream. He is definitely experienced, way more so than any man I have ever been with.
He absolutely has more ink than anyone I’ve ever been with, too. There’s so much ink it covers his arms, neck, and part of his chest. I have to admit, it’s a huge turn on.
What in the hell am I doing? I can’t be with this guy. He’s scary as hell. One look from that man and I swear Superman, Batman, and Captain America would crumble to the ground and beg for forgiveness. He asked me if I trusted him, and I guess I trusted him with my body, but in reality, I don’t think so.
He was sensational, though. I haven’t had an orgasm, or I should say orgasms, like that ever. I didn’t even know I could have them to the point where all logical reasoning is completely gone, and all that is left is what you feel. It was the most wonderful euphoria I have ever experienced. Not only that, but even after waking me up through the night, this big, strong, scary man actually took care of me afterward, holding me until my tremors subsided, and then I must have passed out because I don’t remember anything after that. But it was tender and, dare I say, sweet. No, Rhys is anything but sweet. Sweet doesn’t even come close.
I need to get the hell out of here, get back to my mom, and get as far away from this man as I can. I can’t let the way me makes me feel cloud my better judgment. This man screams bad, and I have enough bad going on.
His chest is still rising and falling steadily, so I pull the sheet up, covering my naked and well-used body, and slip out of bed.
A strong hand grips my arm, stopping me. Crap.
“Where are you going?” Rhys asks.
I close my eyes and suck in deeply, sitting up on the bed with my back to him. “I’m going to check on my mom.”
His fingers flex into my flesh, giving me a slight bite of pain. The bed behind me shifts, but his touch doesn’t leave. “I’m not done with you yet.”
God, that man and his sexy, deep voice. My body trembles and screams at me to do it, and I try to block it out, but it seems to get louder and louder as the seconds tick by.
Rhys’s other hand comes to my leg and draws lazy circles with his thumb. With each movement, nerves flair to life, and I close my eyes, breathing out deeply.
“I have to go,” I tell him with what little control I have. Too bad it comes out weak and breathy. Shit.
Rhys moves his body behind me, straddling me, his front to my back, his hands around my stomach. His lips graze the curve of my neck, up and down erotically, and my head tilts, giving him better access. His hand snakes up, grabbing one of my breasts and squeezing it. Then he pulls my earlobe into his mouth and sucks hard, and sparks of want and need dance in a kaleidoscope in my belly.
“Your body’s telling me you want to stay.” He rolls my nipple between his fingers, giving it a pinch, and my body jerks. “See what I mean.”
I try my damnedest to clear the fog that is this man, but I can’t. My center is slick and throbbing. I need him to release it, to release this coil that is so tightly wound inside of me.
He wraps his arm around my hair and pulls my head back so my chin is pointing up to the ceiling. “I’m taking those fucking lips,” he growls before slamming his lips down to mine. God, I love how he just takes what he wants.
I follow his lead, fully admitting that, when I’m like this, being devoured by this man, every thought, every fear, every trouble disappears, and I feel so light. This is the feeling that I crave from him, the one that only he has been able to give me.
He breaks the kiss, and I gasp for breath, finally remembering that I needed it.
“Stay,” he orders, releasing my hair as he reaches for the nightstand, grabbing a condom.
As his hard erection presses into my back, my core begs for him, pleading to be taken. I clench my hands into the sheets, surprised I’m not ripping them from my strength.
My body obeys him as his hands come to my hips, and he lifts me effortlessly.
“Put it in,” he orders.
I reach down, grabbing his thick length and placing it at my entrance. He only allows the tip inside of me, and even though I wiggle, it gets me nowhere. His arms are strong and unyielding.
I groan in agony. Everything he touches is on fire.
“Legs together.”
I comply, and he feels even thicker this way.
“Come down on me, baby.” He releases his hands, and without any help from me, he slides all the way inside my body, shocking my already sensitive nerves. I don’t move, only feel every inch of him, my hands resting on his thighs for support. “Feet to the floor and one step up.”
I still for a moment. He wants me to stand with him inside of me? How does that work?
Rhys doesn’t wait. He pushes me off the bed, and my feet land firmly on the floor while my hands rest on my knees, holding up my body. The back of my calves touch the bed as he remains inside of me. Then he starts moving his hips off the bed, all the while holding my hips exactly where he wants them.
The slide of him inside of me builds quickly as he picks up the pace. I want to turn around and see how in the hell he’s able to hold my hips and have enough muscle to plunge in and out of me, but I don’t. I can’t. I’m too lost in his touch. Each slide in and out touches a part of me that sizzles and flames. I just need something more to push me over. I can’t …
A hard slap comes to my hip, and I explode, the flames becoming an inferno, filling every part of my body. I close my eyes as the wails and screams fall from my lips. There is no stopping them. There is no controlling them. I can’t. All I can do is let the sensations flow through my body.
Rhys slams me down hard on his lap as his arms come around my waist, holding me to his body as he releases with a grunt. We sit exactly like this for long moments as I lay my head back on his shoulder, trying to get my breathing under control. I don’t know if I’m succeeding or not.
His hands brush up and down my sides as I come back to myself, his length inside of me still semi-hard.
“Morning,” he growls, and I smile.
“Morning.” I lift my head and try to stand up, but he holds me to him.
“Gotta get your shit packed, babe. You and your mom are getting a visit from the police, so we gotta get you away from the club.”
The cops are coming? Here?
“What?” I gasp, not liking one thing of what he’s saying.
“You tell the cops the same story as before. Instead of going to the hospital after the accident, you took care of your mom.”
“That’s the story I already told them. Do they not believe me?” I ask, a shiver crawling up my spine.
“More than likely, no, but just stick to the story, and you’ll be fine.”
My nerves kick up.
“I need to go talk to my mom. I need …” I pause. What do I need? My brain starts rapid firing. “I need to get us packed up. Where are we going?”
“We’ve got a house a ways from here. Dagger and I are gonna go get you settled.”
I should feel relieved at this, right? Then why do I feel so tense about the whole thing?
“Okay. You gonna let me up now?”
His grip tightens. “I’ll be coming with you, Tanner. We aren’t done.” It feels more like a warning than a promise, but I have bigger fish to fry.
God, I hope my mom is doing better today.
“Rhys, let me up,” I demand.
He lets out a soft chuckle then releases me. He falls out of me as I rise, and then I quickly pick up my clothes from the floor and throw them on my body.
“Bye,” I say, gripping the door.
A steel band wraps around my stomach. He was so quiet I didn’t even hear him get up. As his hot chest rests against my back, I should feel utterly relaxed and satisfied, but unfortunately, I don’t.
“Lips,” he orders, but I’m not in the mood.
“Rhys, let me go.”
He turns me in his arms, his face close to mine, as I grip his strong arms. “First, you don’t leave me without a kiss. Ever. Second, remember what I said; I run this.” The way he says it makes my knees weak, and I seriously don’t know why.
“I have to go,” I tell him softly, my pulse racing again for the second time this morning.
“I have had a taste of you, Tanner, but I’m eating until I’ve had my fill.”
I don’t respond. I can’t with his tongue down my throat as he takes everything from me, his mouth hot and delicious. He pulls away, and I find my lips wanting to follow him.
“Go. Be ready in an hour.” He turns me, opens the door, and with a small nudge, I’m out in the hallway.
What in the hell just happened here? I breathe out hard. I need to get to my mother.
A loud whistle comes from down the hall, and my head darts to it. Princess stands there, shaking her head back and forth, but she has a smile on her face. I don’t know if she’s unhappy with me or if she thinks I’m crazy. I know I’m crazy, so that one is an easy call.
I move down the hall toward her—well, toward the door where my mom is.
“What did I tell you about that one, Tanner?” She shakes her head like she can’t believe me. “Girl, you don’t know what you signed up for.”
I huff out a breath. Maybe she can tell me.
“Care to tell me, because at this point, I really don’t know.” I look to the ceiling like it will give me some divine intervention. It doesn’t come.
“I told you he’s hardcore. Don’t be surprised if he has another woman in that bed tonight. Hell, even later today. Don’t get your heart involved. I love Rhys, but he bounces to his own rules.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “And you are way too innocent to be caught up in that.”
“It was just one night. It’s not like I’m asking him to marry me or something.” I’m not. No. But the thought of another woman in his bed does something to my gut, making it swirl to the point that I want to throw the hell up.
“We’ll see,” she says, moving away from my mother’s door.
I open it to find my mother is sitting up. She’s awake, but drowsy.
“Where have you been?” she asks, her words a little slow.
“I was just hanging out.” Like I want to tell my mother where I spent the night. Oh, hey, Mom, I had a one-night stand with my father’s friend. That’s not something she needs to know.
When I sit on the bed next to my mom and take her hand, she doesn’t flinch as badly as before. I guess that is progress. Right? She looks better today, more alert. More like my mom.
I can’t lie to her, but I’m just not ready to talk to her about Rhys.
“We need to get a few things packed up. The cops from home are coming here to talk to us. The club has a place they are going to take us to so we can get questioned.”
Her eyes widen. “I thought all that was done. I called them and went along with your story.”
“They have more questions.”
“Dammit, I bet anything it’s his buddy Griff who’s coming. That man…” She closes her eyes. “He’ll be tough, and we need to keep our stories together.”
“Why don’t we just tell the truth? He was beating up on you, and I saved you.”
“Because you and I both know that it’s too late for that, and what the guys did …” She trails off, shaking her head.
I don’t want to think about her house blown up, either, so I change the subject. “How are you feeling, Mom?”
“Sore, but I need to wean off the pain killers, especially if the cops are coming. I need to be lucid and in control. I need to talk to Cam—Dagger to figure things out.” It’s nice that she has her head at least partially back.
“I’m gonna get our stuff together.” I stand and do just that as my mother closes her eyes and drifts off.
ONE KNOCK COMES to the door, the only warning I have before it opens wide, and Dagger walks through, strong and imposing. Even if I am his blood, he still makes me nervous.
“Cameron,” my mother says from the bed, opening her eyes.
“Dagger,” he corrects. “You guys ready?”
“We need to talk,” my mother says. Dagger crosses his arms over his chest and nods for her to continue. “If it’s Griff coming, he’s not going to stop until he finds out exactly what happened. He’s James’s partner and best friend.”
“You know I’ll do anything to protect you and Tanner.”
“I know,” she answers so honestly her eyes shine with small, unshed tears.
“Exactly. You go with the story, and everything else will fall into place.” The gruffness is still there in his voice, but there is an underlying concern there that I’m in awe of seeing. “Come on. I’m going to help you to the car, and we’re gonna lead on our bikes.”
Just then, Rhys comes in, and the room instantly becomes smaller just from his presence. He steers right to me, not even glancing at anyone else. As his arm comes around me, and he kisses me deeply, my hands move up his arm and hold on for dear life. Any protests are sucked out of me along with the air in my lungs. He pulls away from me, and I gasp, trying to suck oxygen into my deprived lungs.
“What in the hell?” my mother says, and I close my eyes. Well, guess the cat is out of the proverbial bag.
I glare at Rhys who only smirks at me in that sexy way that makes my insides quiver.
“Nothing, Mom. Let’s get us where we need to be.”
“You will talk, young lady,” my mother scolds, and I catch the faint smile and squint of Dagger’s eyes. Glad he finds this amusing, but the thing is, I will tell her. I tell her everything. Too bad she didn’t talk to me about James. We could have avoided all of this. I tap down those feelings, needing to get my shit together.
“Breaker, Tug!” Dagger yells to the open door, making me jump from the demanding sound. The two men enter the room. “Can you grab their bags?” They lift their chin then grab our very few bags. “Tanner, follow behind the bikes. Tug and Breaker will be behind you. Got me?” His brow rises as he waits for my response.
“Fine,” I say, moving away from Rhys. I don’t get far, as he again wraps that steel arm around me.
His hot breath comes to my ear. “Wait till I get you there. We have our own wing of the house.” Oh, God. “I’m gonna make you scream.”
I should deny it. I should tell him to jump off a bridge, but my body is betraying me. My body craves this man like it’s my last meal. How in the hell did that happen after a single night with him?
WHEN WE PULL up to the house, it looks more like a big warehouse turned into a house. It’s large like a building, but it has dormers and such over windows that make it look like a house. It’s like a combo deal, and it looks nice, well kept.
“This is where we are staying?” I ask Mom.
“I guess so. It’ll only be for a little bit. Once I get on my feet, we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do next.” I should be reassured by those words, but with the cops coming, I can’t help feeling anxious.
“Hopefully, everything with the cops will go well.” I believe I’m trying to reassure my mother, but in reality, I’m trying to reassure myself. It’s amazing how, one day, your life is relaxing and carefree, and then, the next, BAM! Everything is turned upside down, and you don’t know whether you’re coming or going.
I’ve been lucky. My mother has let go of the issue of Rhys and me for the time being. I know it’s only a matter of time, but I’m thankful for the reprieve. There really isn’t much I can say to her, anyways. We had sex, and that’s about the extent of it.
RHYS OPENS A door down the hallway from the living room that is a huge open space with enough chairs for an army and a huge television set. It’s definitely more than my mother and I need. Inside the door is a queen-sized bed with light blue covers with cream colored walls. It’s not small, but not extravagant. It’s actually pretty cozy.
A loud smash comes from behind me, and I jump. I’m swept up in a bridal hold, and I yelp loudly. Then I’m tossed to the bed where I bounce twice.
“What the hell?”
Rhys’s hard body comes down on mine, his weight pushing me into the mattress. I don’t have time to enjoy the feeling before his mouth comes down to mine as he commands my lips to do exactly what he wants. My lips are more than happy to follow his lead.
I move my hands to his head, and he instantly grabs them and secures them above mine in a tight grip. I don’t know why, but I enjoy the pressure he puts on them. I like that I can forget, and he makes everything good. It’s also strange that he won’t let me touch him there, but just from looking at his scars, I can see he’s lived a rough life. He may never tell me the reason why, but I’ve never asked either so that’s on me.
He breaks the kiss. “I need to be inside you.” He rises from the bed, pulling my jean shorts and underwear from my body, my flip-flops long gone.
I prop up on my elbows and stare at the man above me as he unbuttons and unzips his pants just enough to pull his length out and sheath it with a condom, and my core clenches. It is so freaking hot that he wants to be inside of me so damn badly he doesn’t bother removing his pants. I have never felt so wanted in my life.
When his strong body again presses me down and into the bed, I raise my arms above my head just as his length plows inside of me. I scream, but quickly turn my head to press my mouth into my arm, stifling the sound. God, I hope my mother didn’t hear that.
Rhys chuckles. “Give it up.” He pulls my arm away from my mouth, putting it above my head as he ruthlessly takes my body, stroking in and out of me at a punishing pace. “This is gonna be quick,” he grunts.
His fingers move down to my aching flesh and rub quick circles in tune with his thrusts. I come apart, trying my best to hold in the noises, but some escape because the pleasure is too powerful.
With two hard thrusts so deeply I feel him bump something inside of me, Rhys stills, closing his eyes as he releases inside of me. The lines in his face are more prominent, making him look older, and the pleasure I felt twists in my stomach.
What in the hell am I doing? This man is so much older than I am, and I have never been the type of girl who has sex with a man just for fun. I can’t be doing this. Crap.
His forehead comes down to mine as we catch our breath, enjoying a small bit of reprieve.
“Rhys, I need to go check on my mom,” I tell him, breaking whatever this connection is. I wiggle myself to try to get away. I need to get away. I shouldn’t be doing this. I can’t.
His blue eyes stare down at me and he chuckles. What is he laughing at?
“Sprite, your momma already knows that I’ve been inside of you. You’re a grown-ass woman.”
I push at his chest. “Get off.” Anger overtakes me. How dare he? “So because I care that I don’t do things to disappoint my mother that makes me wrong?”
He glances down to where my hands rest on the shirt he didn’t take off. “Disappoint?” Something happens in his eyes. The fire that was there turns into fury, and it scares the ever-loving shit out me.
“Get off,” I tell him again.
He shoves off me, tearing the condom off and tossing it into a nearby garbage can. He buttons and zips his pants, anger creasing his brows.
I scurry up the bed, press my back against the headboard, and curl my knees up to my chest, feeling utterly exposed at the moment. He’s so mad, and I don’t know how to fix it.
“Rhys?” I call out.
“Sprite, don’t worry about it. You were a good lay. I’m out.” He opens the door then slams it shut behind him, the noise so loud I close my eyes and wince.
I was a good lay. My insides squeeze. It’s better to realize this now than later. Princess warned me. I just chose to listen to my libido rather than common sense.
I climb from the bed, clean myself off, and put my cloths back on, finding my flip flops by the door. My heart feels heavy, and I don’t like that feeling at all.
I enter the living room where my mother sits on the couch, her feet up and a blanket over her legs. Her eyes are open and much more alert.
Dagger comes from the kitchen, holding a glass of water, and sets it down on the coffee table that he moves closer to the couch.
“How ya feeling?” I ask my mother, ignoring Dagger. I’m sure I smell of sex, but the only opinion I care about is my mother’s.
“Actually, I’m good. Sore, but good. I can think, which I appreciate.” She gives me a faint smile as Dagger takes a seat in the recliner.
I look over to him. “You can go now. We’ll be fine.”
He strokes his long beard up and down then clicks his tongue in his mouth. “Not going anywhere.” His eyes bore into mine. “Why’d my brother go storming out of here?” he accuses, and it’s my turn to close my eyes and look away from him.
My mother places her hand on my arm. “You want to talk about it?”
“No.” I shake my head. I definitely don’t want to discuss it in front of Dagger of all people.
“Sweetheart, from the noises coming from your room, he didn’t sound upset.” Mom’s hand on my arm squeezes.
I feel the heat rise through my body and up to my face as embarrassment hits me. My mother and Dagger heard us, but in that moment, all I cared about was Rhys.
“It’s fine. When are the cops supposed to be here?” I deflect as Dagger shakes his head. I don’t want to talk about Rhys. Maybe, if it was just my mom, I would tell her more, but the embarrassment I feel makes me want to move on to something else.
“Couple of hours. You’ll be fine. I’ll be in the hallway, listening. I won’t show my face unless I have to. You stick to the story and the shock of James being dead, and you’ll be good,” he says like he’s done this so many times, and it’s not a big deal at all. I don’t know whether to be scared as hell or impressed.
“Is there food here?” I ask him, needing a distraction. If food is in my mouth, I can’t talk.
“A few things. After the cops go, we’ll head back to the clubhouse,” Dagger says.
My eyes grow wide as a rock falls into my stomach. “I thought we were staying here.” The idea of going back to the clubhouse when Rhys is pissed at me is not sitting well.
“Nah, it’s safer there until we know what these guys want.” He sees my lip curl. “You’re going to see Rhys, so you better get over whatever shit you to have going on.”
“Way to stick up for your daughter,” I grumble, leaving the room.
“Tanner.” His voice is deep and authoritative. It makes me stop in my tracks. “Club life means brothers and club before everyone, including women and children.”
Things start clicking in my head fast: the reason my mother left, the reason she didn’t tell Dagger about me.
“That’s why … because you’d never put my mother first in your life,” I say to him.
“Tanner.” This comes from my mother who eyes me to silence.
“Sweetheart, I would have given your momma everything,” he says, which makes my mother gasp. “But that’s not your business. You need to remember that whatever happens in the club is none of your business. The only reason we are helping you right now is because we take care of our own, but none of this shit comes down on the club.”
So, pretty much I’m shit on the scale of who gives a damn.
“Whatever. We’ll be gone soon, anyway, and then you can go on with your life.” I dart into the kitchen, needing some space.