Chapter Eighteen
Thomas wiped his grease-stained hands on the white towel he kept in his back pocket then drew his fingers through his overgrown hair. He needed a cut last week, but last week, shit went down. After, he made Tiff his, officially, so for the past week, he spent all his time with her. He’d also gone to work at the garage and been on one run instead of the usual two to three. Because all he wanted to do was spend time with Tiff, he arranged to have two of his brothers cover for him on his Monday and Tuesday runs. Last night, he left her for the first time. She welcomed him back at three with open arms.
It seemed too good to be true. Him and her, them, together, sometimes he thought he was dreaming. Honest, if he was, he didn’t want to wake up. He wanted to dream forever.
Every morning he woke and every night when he lay in bed, he thought about when it would come—the inevitable moment Tiffany realized just how different they were.
Bound to happen. So certain it would, he was holding his breath, living for the moment, knowing any minute all the greatness he had the last six days could end.
“Yo, Cuss!”
His gaze shot toward his right. Dash and Blaze stood just outside the door leading inside the office. He wasn’t far since he’d been working in the first bay, closest to the office.
He neared and lifted his chin in greeting. “What up?”
“The Camaro, when is it gonna be done?”
“Just finished it.”
Blaze took a puff of his cigarette. “Yeah?”
He nodded. “Yep. Fina-fuckin’-lly.”
“You mind doin’ an oil change real quick?” Dash rubbed his hand over the stubble on his jaw. “Got other business.”
Turning, he glanced at the clock on the other side of the shop, past bays two, three, four, and five. A quarter after four, it’d be forty-five minutes until his girl got out of work, more than enough time for an oil change. Looking back at him, he nodded. “Not a problem.”
Dash lifted his chin. “Thanks, owe you. It’s the Caddy Escalade back there.”
He nodded then got to work. Half an hour later lying under the Escalade, someone kicked his leg. Glancing down, he slid from underneath the SUV and sat up.
Blaze smirked. “Got this. Go.”
“Naw, brother. Almost done.”
Blaze lifted his chin, nodding behind Cuss toward the metal garage doors. “I’m thinking you’re gonna wanna deal with that instead.”
Cuss stood and turned. His jaw dropped.
Tiffany stood at the entrance of the third bay, wearing a navy pleated skirt, black blouse, and five inch heels.
Shit. She looked gorgeous, so hot, blood rushed to his dick.
Beautiful, always, she always turned him on, but that outfit made her look hot in a school girl kind of way. What was it about pleated skirts? Shit. It hit him then. Just like the first day she strode in with a blown tire.
She scanned the garage. When her gaze met his, she broke out in a shaky smile.
Why? He didn’t know.
Glancing around the garage, he spotted several of the customers staring her way, devouring her with their eyes. Not his brothers, his brothers knew better than that.
If only he could do what he really wanted—rip their eyes out of their sockets. Only then, they’d know she wasn’t anyone’s eye candy but his.
Damn. He needed to get it together, needed to get that a beautiful woman like her would get attention, and a classy girl like her didn’t need him getting in someone’s face for looking at her.
Wiping his hands on the rag tucked in the back pocket of his jeans, he clenched his jaw, shooting daggers in their direction as he closed the distance between him and her.
Her smile fading, she whispered, “H-hi. I’m sorry…I should’ve called. It’s just I wanted to surprise you.”
WTF? Why did she think she couldn’t surprise him?
The way he saw it, he had two options—explain why she could and should surprise him whenever she wanted or kiss her until they both forgot what she said.
Cuss snaked an arm around her waist, dragged her to him until he felt her tits and stomach against him. Cupping the back of her head, he claimed her lips, kissing her deep and thoroughly. He’d been working for eight hours, was sweaty and filthy, but this didn’t stop her from circling her arms around his waist, didn’t stop her body from softening against his, didn’t stop her fingernails from biting into his lower back.
He chose option two. But thinking of it then, option two was a bad idea. It turned him on in a bad way, too close to taking her right there. He couldn’t do that. Surrounded by too many people, no way in hell, did he want anyone seeing any piece of her.
Before he did something he’d regret, he tore his lips from hers, the hand at the back of her head falling to her waist. Her green gaze met his. Feeling her rapid breaths against him, he smiled. “Don’t you ever apologize for coming to me,” he whispered against her mouth. “You wear that outfit for me?”
She nodded softly. “Yes.”
Yes. Sweetest response ever. It made his control slip. Shaft throbbing against her, he decided he’d reward her, giving them what they both wanted. He unwrapped one of his arms from her waist and placed it under her butt. In one swift movement, he hefted her up against him, her legs closed, bent at the knee. When her hands went to his chest, he kissed her again.
As he began strolling away, she drew her lips from his. “Thomas, where—”
He silenced her by releasing her waist to cup the back of her neck and push her mouth against his. Striding inside the compound, down the hall past the living room, she circled her arms around his neck. He let his hand slide down her back, under her shirt then up to unclasp her bra. She moaned ever so softly against his lips.
Reaching the stairs, he drew away from her mouth to climb, taking two at a time. At the top, he kissed her again. His hand drifted to her front, grasping her nipple between his thumb and index finger. She arched her back and gasped. He opened his bedroom door, strode in, and closed it with his foot. Then he yanked her legs apart and wrapped them around his waist, pushing her against the wall. He ripped her blouse open, the buttons breaking away. Her breasts came to view. In one swift movement, he freed his cock, pulled her thong aside then buried himself deep.
She screamed a scream that sounded pained.
He stilled, gasping for breath, and met her gaze. “Shit.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine. Please…More.” Tiff ground her hips against his, the sensation making him groan. She cupped his cheeks and whispered his name then kissed him, and he was gone.
For the first time, he took her hard and fast and against the wall, the whole time staring into her eyes. It felt like fucking—fast, hard, and desperate, but it wasn’t. Because the whole time, he stared into her eyes, because he knew his shone with emotion, and because it wasn’t about desperately needing release but about desperately needing her.
When he saw her eyes glaze over, her moans becoming more insistent, he knew she was close. He let go, spilling inside her.
She screamed his name. The sound resonated around him and echoed inside him.
As the strength of his release faded, he fought to catch his breath then averted his gaze, if only to gather his thoughts.
He lost complete control. Greasy and sweaty, he made out with her in the garage in front of several brothers, in front of customers. Like a mindless caveman, he carried her out, undressing her en route to his room then he took her hard and fast against the wall. She wouldn’t know what any of it meant to him, but she’d think he’d treated her no better than a tap.
“Shit.” He leaned his forehead against hers and met her gaze. “I’m sorry. Fuck am I sorry, baby girl. You’ll never know. It’s just I…” love you, can’t live without you. “…missed you.”
She blinked. Her brows furrowed. “Sorry for?”
He swallowed. “For taking you like that.”
She smiled. “Don’t you ever apologize for making me come.”
He smirked then grew serious. Still buried deep, he gripped the back of her neck and held her to him. “No matter how hard or fast I give it to you, it means something, Tiff. It isn’t fucking, and it isn’t just sex. It’s more, much more.”
Her lips parted, gaze scanning his face for endless moments, giving him that look that said it all. Finally, she whispered, “For me, too.”
Never had he expected her to say that. Honest to God, he didn’t think she realized it. He couldn’t help but grin and wonder if she felt that completeness he did whenever they were together, too.
He didn’t know, still didn’t know how deep her feelings ran, but she hadn’t lied. She felt something and knew they were more than fantastic sex.
For now, it was more than enough.
****
Rubbing his palms on his jeans, Cuss dropped Tiff’s duffle bag on the bed and headed into the bathroom. Steam filed out.
“Baby, got the bag from your car,” he spoke loud, so she’d hear him over the sound of the running water.
She poked her head from behind the curtain. “Thanks.”
He sprayed on some cologne and strode into his closet to pick out a shirt to wear. Grabbing a navy blue one and his cut, he walked back into his room. Tiffany, towel wrapped around herself, stood by the edge of the bed, hands in her designer duffle bag, rummaging.
“Thought we could go get dinner then catch a movie.”
She removed the band holding up her hair. It spilled around her. Focused on her hair, he didn’t notice the look of confusion muddling her face until she spoke.
“Why?”
He knew it could happen. She knew about Friday nights at the compound. He hadn’t told her, but she was friends with Mia, Lynn, Allie, and Tina. Women talked, so they’d mention it. But the last thing he wanted was Tiff at the compound on a Friday night because Friday nights at the compound got out of hand. The brothers created a ruckus, drinking, shooting pool, smoking weed, fucking taps, freely wandering wearing practically nothing. Not Tiff’s scene.
Trying not to show his discomfort, he shrugged. “It’s Friday, date night.”
“Yeah, it’s also the day the club and old ladies hang out here. Don’t you want to spend time with the club?”
He shrugged. “Naw, rather be with you.” Not a lie. He made the choice a while back, hardly ever showed Fridays.
Chuckling, she pulled out a pair of jeans from her bag and dropped them on the bed. “I didn’t say I was going anywhere.”
“I’d like to be alone with you.”
She straightened and quirked a brow. “We won’t be alone at dinner or a movie.”
Looking away, he dragged a hand through his hair, trying to think of a way to explain.
“Oh…”
Through his peripheral vision, he caught sight of her sitting on the bed.
“I get it. You don’t want me here.”
No, he didn’t. He wanted her far away from club shit. It was for the best—for her best, for his best, and for their best, but damn, he hated she sounded upset.
“You don’t want anyone to know about us?”
He strode her way, kneeled in front of her, and enclosed her hands in his. “That ain’t it, Tiff. You know everyone knows ‘bout us. You know before we were an ‘us,’ everyone knew you were mine. Nothing’s changed except now you know you’re mine.”
She nodded. “Then what is it?”
He hesitated because he didn’t want to admit it, but since she asked, he had no choice. He wouldn’t lie. “The brothers get rowdy, drink, smoke, fight. They’ll even fuck in plain sight, one, two even three taps, and sometimes, at the same time. You’ll know who the taps are ’cause they’ll be walking around wearing close to nothing shaking their asses in our faces.”
Cupping her cheek, he trailed his hand to her neck, gripping it. “It ain’t your scene, baby. You know it. I know it.”
She swallowed and nodded. “What you mean is you don’t think I can handle it. I’m not good enough—”
His fingers, at her neck, tightened. Not hard, not to hurt her, but to get her attention. He leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers. “No, Tiff, we’re not good enough for you.”
Her eyes widened. She drew back slightly and slanted her face away. He allowed her to do this, releasing his grip on the back of her neck. She then took a deep breath and met his stare again. “I hate it when you say that. Do you honestly believe money makes people worth more?”
No, he didn’t think that. What he did think was that she was too classy, too sweet, too kind for that scene. “I—”
“Money doesn’t mean anything, Thomas. Most of the men I’ve dated had money and not one of them compares to you.”
Shit. She just… Had she just… He couldn’t even think straight. Her words shot right through him and struck his heart, leaving a beautiful ache in the center of his chest. She proved with a single sentence why he fell for her, why he could’ve never avoided loving her to that excruciating degree that made his chest feel like it’d been compressed.
The ache so familiar now, the type you felt after finding the person you loved more than anyone else in the world, the person you’d risk it all for, even kill for. He never thought that type of love existed, not until more than seven years of feeling his stomach knot every time he looked at her.
He smiled unable to help it. If what she said didn’t mean she cared very strongly about him, he didn’t know what did. Maybe, just maybe, she even loved him.
“Thomas?” She waved her hand in his face. “You haven’t said anything for several minutes.”
He released a breath then dragged her to him and pressed his lips against hers for a quick, hard, closed-mouthed kiss. “You, baby girl, are so special.”
She quirked a brow. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, it is.”
“So, we’re staying?”
Shit, that’s what they’d been talking about. He hadn’t changed his mind. He shook his head.
“Mia, Lynn, and Allie will be here. I’ll be fine.”
He hesitated before her pleading eyes did him in. That and the fact, she never asked for anything. Not ever, she always did what he wanted to do, watched what he wanted to watch. And so, he nodded.
****
Friday Night Fiasco, Tiffany’s first of many, she hoped. While she heard stories, she didn’t know what to expect. She worried, a little, because she was scared to see something she couldn’t handle. She could handle seeing bikers making out with scantily dressed women they used for sex or maybe even catching a glimpse of bikers partake in a threesome, though she didn’t look forward to the last. But Thomas’s reaction to the scantily dressed women? She feared she couldn’t handle that.
The fear forgotten when she reached the living room. Music blared, bombarding her senses. She scanned the room. Several of the brothers sat on those misshapen couches, drinks in hand, talking loud enough to be heard over the music. The television on, a football game on the screen, but no one seemed to be paying much attention to it. Women, dressed in barely-there short skirts, tube tops, six-inch heels, wandered. Her gaze flew to her left. Beef stood behind the bar, pouring drinks for several brothers. Just in front of the bar was Allie, surrounded by Mia, Lynn and, of course, Trig. His arm draped around her shoulders. Tiffany hadn’t seen Allie since she visited her early that week. She looked better, smiling wide, only a light bruise marred her cheek.
Pulling away from Thomas, she strode Allie’s way. Allie shifted, her gaze met hers then she took a step in her direction.
Tiffany hugged her lightly. “You look great, Allie.”
Allie quirked a brow then drew her stare behind Tiffany before she whispered, “Not as good as you.”
Just then, Thomas’s arm circled her waist, heating her. Her hand went to her hip, gripping his fingers.
“Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
“Let’s get drinks, ladies.” Mia grabbed both their hands, pulling them toward the bar.
She lurched forward then stopped when Thomas’s arm around her waist tightened.
Mia, in her playful way, glared at Thomas. “You can let her go for a couple of hours, so we can have girl talk, can’t you?”
Tiffany lifted her head up and to her side to look his way. She caught sight of him shaking his head. “Thomas.”
He slanted his face down.
She knew he was uneasy about her attending Friday Night Fiasco, so she needed to continue to assure him. As edgy as she felt herself about the possibility of seeing something she couldn’t handle, she had to, had to do this for him. She didn’t want him to wake up one day and regret missing out on club events because of her. The club meant a lot to him, so it meant a lot to her. Most importantly, she wanted to be a part of Thomas’s life, all of his life, and his life included the club. “I’ll be fine.”
Thomas, looking like he’d refuse, hesitated.
Trig chuckled. “Gotta let her go sometime, Cuss.”
Thomas shot a heated glare his way. “Don’t fuckin’ want to.”
The breath froze in the back of her throat, making it hard to speak without sounding affected. “I’ll be right there,” she said to Mia.
She turned, angling her body so she and Thomas stood chest to chest and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Giving her an are-you-kidding-me look, he snapped, “I want you with me.”
Damn. So sweet. Her heart melted, making her insides warm. Still, there had to be an underlying reason he didn’t want to let her go.
Hoping to soften him, she placed her hand on his chest then twirled her fingers in circles over it. He loved it. He’d told her so, and every time she did it, he’d draw his gaze to her fingers then break out into a huge smile.
“I’m with you, Thomas. I’m just going to spend some time with Mia, Lynn, and Allie. I’ll be at the other end of the room.”
As he took that in, his gaze softened. Not long before it hardened again. He leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers. “That’s not with me. That’s at the other end of the room. I wanna have you sitting beside me, so I can feel your skin against mine. I wanna be able to touch and kiss you.”
Her hand froze on his chest. The look on his face, she didn’t know what it meant. She studied him for several moments. At first glance, he appeared angry, jaw tight, shoulders and body tense. If she hadn’t been so familiar with his every mannerism and expression, she wouldn’t have realized there was more. Eyes soft and compounded with his drawn brows made her feel like he was silently begging. Thomas didn’t beg. Thomas commanded.
“What are you afraid of?”
His eyes widened only slightly, his chest no longer rising and falling with each breath. Face transforming, he clenched his jaw hard enough the muscles twitched. No man wanted to be afraid of anything.
After a long moment, he seemed to get a hold of that anger. When he spoke, his voice had softened. “That you’ll see something that’ll prove we’re different. That someone’ll say something that’ll make you realize it or make you question us. That you’ll leave me ’cause of it.”
Damn. Why did he say things like that all the time? When they’d been just friends, he’d say and do things that made her think he cared about her as more than a friend. And now, he said and did things that made her think he loved her. Maybe even as much as she loved him.
She was so tempted to tell him then and there exactly how she felt. Instead she swallowed the emotion choking her. “You have to trust me, too, Thomas.”
Looking away for a brief moment, he released a loaded breath. “Yeah.” He didn’t sound convinced.
She started to twirl her finger on his chest. “The only thing that can make me leave is you.”
He leaned into her, cupping her cheeks. “That’s what I’m afraid of, baby girl.”
She shook her head, still in his grip. “Not what I meant. I meant if you hurt me.”
He let out a humorless laugh. “That’ll never happen, so does that mean you’ll be with me till I stop breathing?”
Her heart started pounding against her chest so loud, it made it hard to catch her breath. Throat so dry, she couldn’t say anything.
His jaw went hard. “That a no?”
No! It was a yes! “Yes.”
“Yes, it’s a no?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“No, yes that wasn’t a no or—” He shook his head. By the look on his face, he’d confused himself as much as he’d confused her.
She chuckled. “It means I’ll be with you until you push me away, Thomas.”
He grinned. “Till death then.” Lifting his head, he pressed his lips against her forehead. He then met her gaze again. “If there’s an afterlife, then longer.”
With those last words, he turned and walked away. She watched him, wondering if he said what she heard or if her mind tricked her into hearing it.
“Tiff?”
She snapped out of her haze, strode toward Mia, Lynn, and Allie who’d taken seats at the bar. As she neared, Mia handed her a glass of wine, knowing it was her preferred drink.
“Must’ve said something out of this world.”
Tiffany sat in an unoccupied stool. Taking a deep gulp of wine, she then met Mia’s gaze.
“After he walked away, you stood there like a zombie for a while, so the real question is whether you’re going to share.”
No, she wouldn’t, couldn’t share something she couldn’t believe he said.
Mia grinned. “By the way, I have to say, I told you so.”
She lifted her drink to her mouth because she needed another sip. When Mia spoke, she paused. “What?”
“About Thomas,” Lynn added. “We told you last week.”
They had. She hadn’t believed them. But now, she knew everything.
Allie smiled then lifted her beer to toast. “To Tiff and Cuss.”
Shaking her head, she raised her glass and corrected, “To Allie’s speedy recovery.”
Lynn and Mia simultaneously raised their drinks. “To Tiff and Cuss and to Allie’s recovery,” Lynn said. Mia seconded.
They toasted then took sips.
Mia placed her glass on the bar top. “So let’s hear it.”
They wanted details. They’d called all week wanting to know. Even Allie who was recovering called. “I think we should talk about something else…like how Allie’s feeling.”
Allie shook her head, smiling. “I’m fine, and I’ve been dying to find out about you two. Do you realize how long I’ve been throwing hints his way?”
Throwing hints his way? Had Allie hinted to Thomas how she felt? Her eyes widened. “W-what?”
Mia released a breath and rolled her eyes. “Tiff, love you, but seriously, you’re clueless when it comes to Cuss. I’m still trying to figure out how you could not know he has feelings for you.” She looked behind Tiffany then met her stare again. “I mean…even now, he can’t stop looking at you, and it’s always been that way.”
Tiffany shifted, her gaze seeking him. Thomas, at the other end of the room, sat on the couch facing her, surrounded by several of his brothers, Trig, Army, Stone, Mellow, and Wild, but his sapphire stare was glued to her. Snared, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
Until a shiny object caught her sight, her gaze shot to the bracelet on a woman’s wrist. The woman, a blonde wearing a leather mini-skirt, seven-inch clear stripper heels, and a crop top strode in her path, in front of Thomas. Tiffany watched the woman bend toward Thomas, giving her a peek under her skirt. No underwear, and clearly offering herself to Thomas, her Thomas.
Heart clenching, Tiff held her breath, knowing she should look away yet unable to garner the strength. A moment later, she caught sight of Thomas again when he stood and walked to her. The woman turned extending her arm, attempting to hand him a beer, her brows drawn.
Thomas ignored her and strode directly to Tiffany. He snaked an arm around her waist and kissed her deep. Drawing away, he asked her to get him a beer. She spared a glance behind him at the woman. Thomas proved his point. The woman moved on, offering the beer to one of the other brothers, bending over as seductively as the first time.
“Not just to prove a point, baby girl,” he said, knowing exactly what she’d been thinking.
Her gaze slid to his. Moments like those, she loved he knew her so well.
“Wanted a kiss since I walked away.”
She stood from her stool and grabbed Thomas a beer. He took it, thanking her with a kiss, strode to the other side of the room, and sat beside Stone.
The rest of the night as she partook in “girl talk” and topped off three glasses of wine, she made sure Thomas always had a fresh beer. The moment he set an empty bottle down, she stood and offered him a new one.
For her efforts and though she’d done it more for peace of mind, he rewarded her. She didn’t need to be, but she took her reward just the same.