Chapter Eleven
“Thumbs up or thumbs down?” Zach asked Toni as she struggled her way off the bike. For the first time since he patched in, Zach was tempted to blow off a Handler’s function for a woman. Dangerous thoughts. Women never, never, came before the club. At least not for him. But the feel of her feminine softness cushioned against him as they cruised through the back roads of Tennessee was enough to make the most pious of saints sin without regret.
She took two stumbling steps, then faced him. Still astride the bike, Zach grinned. There was no doubt in his mind she’d enjoyed her first motorcycle ride.
And that she was aroused.
Her skin had a rosy glow that was more than just wind burn and her eyes shone glassy and bright. She tucked her lower lip between her teeth in a manner so seductive Zach nearly went back on his word. It wouldn’t take much. He could grab her and lift her over him until she was straddling both him and the bike. She’d love it, and he’d have her out of her mind and begging for his cock in seconds.
Surprisingly enough, he’d never fucked on his bike. Something to keep in the forefront of his mind once he and Toni started up. And they would start up. It was just a matter of time. And that certainty was the only thing keeping him in check.
“It was fun,” she said, a little breathless.
“Just fun?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Okay, it was amazing. I could get addicted to the feeling of freedom. And I’ve never enjoyed the scenery nearly as much from a car. I hope you’ll take me for another ride soon. Better?”
Much better. But she failed to mention the way her heated pussy rested against his ass. No man gave a shit about scenery when he had two full tits hugged up tight against his back. “Sweetheart, I’ll give you a ride any damn time you want.”
The air between and around them felt thick and charged with the promise of sex. The kind of sex men lost their minds over. They stared at each other for a beat before Toni turned and broke the connection.
Always fighting what she felt. Always denying herself the pleasure he offered. Someday soon, he’d smash down those walls.
“So,” she said after clearing her throat. “Anything I need to know before we go in there?”
“Well…” Zach hefted a leg over his bike then steered Toni toward the Double H bar, which was closed to all but invited guests for the evening. The club did that every now and again when they wanted the freedom to let the members act a fool without outsiders being privy to it.
“The virgin sacrifices are usually first—that’s why we have the bonfire. Then they are followed by the live sex show, and if you’re lucky, you might get picked to participate.” He waggled his eyebrows and laughed as she slapped his arm.
“Oh, you’re hilarious. But I’m serious. I’ve never been to a biker bar. I have no idea what to expect.”
He slung an arm across her bare shoulders and propelled her past the long row of bikes in the parking lot outside the bar. “It will be loud, rowdy, smoky. I was fucking with you about the live sex show, but you’ll probably see a thing or two that makes your beautiful face blush.”
“Sounds like a grown-up frat party.”
Zach laughed. “Maybe. In a way. But much more badass.”
“Gotcha.”
As they approached the door, Zach couldn’t help but lean in and inhale her fresh scent. Citrus again. Bright, refreshing, a shining spot in his dark world.
He brushed his nose just under her right ear. Toni stiffened, but not before a tiny tremor coursed through her. “W-what are you doing?”
“You smell fucking fantastic,” he murmured against her ear. “Has my dick hard as steel.” They’d stopped moving and stood about fifteen feet away from the entrance.
“Zach,” she whispered. “You promised.”
“I know. Just light flirting.” He drew back. Damn, she looked so good he couldn’t think of anything besides getting her naked. “Did I mention how hot you look? What is this thing?” He fingered the strap of her top, unable to resist the allure of her silken skin.
“It’s called a cold shoulder top.”
It was white and flowy with large cutouts that left her shoulders uncovered. Zach liked it. Most women they would encounter throughout the night flaunted significantly more skin. Left very little to the imagination. The thing Toni wore dipped low in the front and back, showing some skin, but it didn’t cling to her body. It left a man dying to get a peek at what lay beneath the fabric.
Shit, there wouldn’t be a soft cock in the house once his brothers got a look at her in that shirt and the tight black jeans with heeled black boots. Funny thing was, she probably wore the blouse thinking it wouldn’t be overtly sexy.
She was dead wrong.
“And are your shoulders cold?” he asked, stroking the soft skin one last time.
“No,” she whispered. “Nothing is cold right now.” She held herself stiff, but her eyes showed the internal struggle. The strong desire to let herself take what Zach offered fighting against whatever demons held her back.
Suddenly, Zach had the intense need to know what those demons were. To not just get past her defenses, but to learn why they were in place. What had happened to make her hold back sexually? Why did she settle for a relationship with a man who didn’t spend all his time rocking her world? And why did she fight so damn hard against a man who was more than capable of making her every fantasy come to life?
Never before had he given a shit what made a woman tick. It didn’t matter when sex was all he wanted from them. But he and Toni had struck up some kind of friendship along with the attraction and that had him wanting to discover all her secrets. It was unnerving, but he supposed he could deal with it, being friends with someone he fucked. But it couldn’t go any further than that. He didn’t need or want the distraction and responsibility of a committed relationship.
“If it isn’t my favorite diner lady and some asshole.” Maverick’s voice cut through the spell that seemed to have woven itself around Zach and Toni.
She jumped and stepped back, making Zach’s hand fall to his side. “Fuck off.” He slapped Mav on the back in greeting.
“Hey, beautiful.” Mav made like he was going to kiss Toni, and this time Zach was ready for him. He grabbed the collar of his friend’s cut and yanked him back. Mav’s mouth on Toni was something that was never going to happen again.
“Lips to yourself, dickwad.”
Both Maverick and Toni laughed while Mav held his hands up in surrender. “I was just gonna peck her cheek, man. I know when I’m beat.”
The girl standing next to Mav frowned and stared at the ground. Poor thing probably thought she was working toward something with him. Little did she know she was just another set of tits in a long, long line.
Toni cleared her throat. “Hi, I’m Toni.” She held a hand out to Mav’s date and shot a shitty look at Mav. Zach swallowed his laughter. He definitely needed to bring her around more often. She’d knock Mav off his pedestal and it would be wonderful to witness.
“Missy,” Mav’s date said.
“Sorry, doll,” Mav broke in, circling his arm around her waist. “That’s Toni and this is Zach. My best friend and enforcer for the club. And he’s an asshole.”
The flare of Toni’s eyes at the word enforcer wasn’t lost on Zach. He’d failed to mention that tidbit. Hopefully it wouldn’t scare her off. He wasn’t violent by nature and would die before laying his hands on a woman in anger, but that didn’t matter to some. Just the thought of being with a man who beat others for a living turned some women off. Turned some others way the fuck on, but Toni probably wasn’t one of those women.
“Well, are you gentlemen gonna take us in and show us a good time or what?” Toni asked. She linked her arm with Zach’s and started to tug him toward the door. It was the first time she’d initiated any contact, and while Zach knew it was more for Missy’s benefit than some overwhelming desire to get her hands on him, he’d take it.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, pulling her close and dropping a kiss on her shoulder.
She shot him an evil glare. “Behave.”
He laughed and held the door for her. “Ladies first.” Joking around and teasing a woman was a new experience for him. And one he found himself trying to replicate often. Making Toni laugh was quickly becoming a highlight of his day.
After letting both woman pass, Zach slipped through the door, cutting off Maverick.
“Asshole,” Mav muttered wrapping an arm around Zach’s neck in a chokehold. “Now that I know you’re such a jealous beast, I may just put my lips on your woman every chance I get. It’s fun to watch you lose your shit.”
With practiced ease, Zach broke the hold and turned the tables on Mav, wrenching his arm behind his back and crowding him against the wall.
“Okay, uncle, uncle,” Mav yelled around his laughter.
Zach released him and slapped him on the side of his head. “It will serve you well to remember how easily I can kick your ass, brother.” He walked to where Toni was waiting next to Missy, shaking her head with a smile on her face.
“Sorry ’bout that, sweetheart. Had some business to take care of.”
“Boys will be boys, huh, Missy?” Toni asked, but Missy was no longer paying attention. Instead, she was fawning over Mav, who had the slightest red mark on his cheek from where he’d been held against the wall.
Never one to pass up the opportunity to have a woman’s hands all over him, Mav ate that shit up. He winced when Missy pressed her very long neon blue nails to his face.
“He’s really something, isn’t he?” Toni asked.
“Sure is. Come on. I need a drink.” He linked their fingers and pulled her toward the crowded bar. The place wasn’t anything fancy. A large wooden bar spanned the entire length of the back wall and there was a dance floor and a number of tables and chairs throughout the room. Aside from some Harley memorabilia adorning the walls, the décor wasn’t anything to write home about.
People didn’t come there for the atmosphere. They came for the good booze and to find someone to fuck.
“What’s your poison?” he asked Toni when they drew up to the bar.
“Does that happen all the time?”
“What?”
“There were tons of people here and they all scattered to make room for you at the bar.”
She’d taken her hair down before they left and he brushed the strands off her shoulder. For some reason, he really liked seeing those shoulders bare. That little hint of skin. A sample. A tease.
“It’s a sign of respect. As enforcer, I’m on the club’s executive board.” The club worked because of the importance of respect and loyalty. Otherwise, a group of twenty or so dominant, slightly violent men used to getting their way would implode. Respect, loyalty, and the fact that they had a strong leader kept them together.
“Huh,” she said. “I’ll have a vodka and club.”
Zach chuckled. “Such a girl.”
“Hey!” Toni bumped him with her shoulder. “I think that’s something you’re supposed to like about me.”
He raked his gaze over her, lingering on her tits and ass. Bad idea. Now his dick was hard all over again. Seemed to be a constant thing where she was concerned. “Oh believe me, baby, I like it.”
“Zach.” The protest was weakened by the heated look on her face.
After ordering their drinks, Zach guided them back outside, to a large clearing behind the clubhouse where a roaring bonfire at least a story high blazed away.
They drank and mingled for about an hour. Toni had met many of the men at the diner and she seemed to hit it off with the women as well. Sure, a few of the Honeys shot her death glares, but that was par for the course when one of the guys brought around a woman they were serious about.
Shit. His mind was running away with itself. Zach was not serious about a woman. Any woman. Even Toni. This was purely a sex-driven mission. Once he got her into bed, they’d stoke their own fire until it burned out as it always did.
That was more than enough for Zach.
After Zach introduced her to the woman of the hour, Viper’s wife Jacy, Copper caught his eye and summoned him with a chin lift. He had yet to fill his prez in on the clusterfuck with Bones. Most likely, Copper wouldn’t be thrilled that Zach shot out the guy’s knee, but he’d understand. As long as there wasn’t any blowback on the club, Copper gave Zach a long leash as far as his role of enforcer.
“You okay if I leave you for a few while I talk to Copper, sweetheart?” he whispered in Toni’s ear. Try as she might, she wasn’t able to disguise the hitch in her breathing when his lips brushed the shell of her ear.
“Take your time.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze. More evidence that she felt what he did but was battling it for all she was worth. “I’m fine,” she said.
And she was fine. Completely at ease in his world. Which was surprising. She wasn’t fazed by the loud pounding music. A fight that broke out between two idiots barely made her radar. Even the poorly hidden fucking they witnessed only twenty feet away hadn’t set her on edge. In fact, Zach caught her watching out of the corner of her eye more than once. He’d also noticed the prominent points of her nipples visible through her top.
“Won’t be long,” he said letting his need bleed through his voice. He dropped a kiss on her naked shoulder and pretended he didn’t notice the way she tensed or the scowl she shot him.
No one came to a biker party for the first time and didn’t have some sort of surprised reaction. Even if they liked it. There was still a level of shock.
Not for Toni.
Which meant she was either the best damn actress he’d ever seen.
Or this wasn’t really her first biker party.