NINE
DON’T worry,” Faye says, sounding genuine. “I’ll take it easy on you.”
I smirk. “No need to do that on my account.”
I tie my hair up so it’s off my face and stretch my arms above my head.
“You know, this is the first time we’ve actually been alone with each other,” she says, watching me.
I turn to the door to see Arrow standing there in the frame, his eyes on me. “Except for Arrow watching us.”
Turning my back on him, I face Faye and say, “You’re right. Even though these aren’t normal circumstances.”
Faye laughs. “Hey, you’re the one who wanted to spar.”
“I know.”
“A lot of frustration to get out?” she asks with a knowing smirk.
I purse my lips. “Something like that.”
When was the last time I’d even had an orgasm? I should really get that taken care of, and stat.
“Shall we?” I ask, as Faye stretches a little.
“We shall. Show me what you’ve got, Anna,” she says, stepping to me, raising her clenched fists in front of her body. “If you want to stop, just say when, all right?”
I nod and step closer to her. She strikes first, her punch aiming for my jaw. I block her arm before it reaches my face and strike back with my own hit. Neither of us is hitting with all our strength—it’s more about who can get in the hits than how hard they are. She somehow gets me in a hold, turning me around and wrapping her arm around my neck, applying only a little pressure. I elbow her in the stomach, which has her stepping back, her eyes full of excitement, and the corners of her lips turned upward. “I think I’m going to like you, Anna.”
I grin. “I hope I can say the same.”
She laughs then, and shakes her head at me. “Let me teach you something I learned last week.”
I perk up at the prospect of learning something new. “I’d like that.”
We share a smile.
Looks like I found some common ground with the queen bee after all.
* * *
Sweaty, my sports bra and yoga pants plastered to my skin, I walk out of the club’s gym and head straight to my room, wanting a shower more than anything.
“Now I see what Rake was talking about when he said you were badass,” Arrow says, leaning against the wall with one leg bent. “You held your own.”
I smirk. “I know. Now let me pass, I have to take a shower.”
His gaze rakes over me from head to toe, making me feel as though he missed nothing. When his eyes hit mine again, I can see the heat in them.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “You’re perfect.”
He takes a step closer to me, but then we hear voices. Sounds like the women are back.
“I’m so glad Arrow is the one staying behind,” we hear one woman say. Arrow’s eyes don’t leave mine as we listen to them chatter.
“Looks like I’ll be the only one getting laid while the men are away.”
I don’t look away, but I try with everything in me to not let the hurt shine through. Arrow reaches out and cups my jaw.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, longing in his gruff voice. “But not for me.”
“Only because you don’t care enough to fight for what you want,” I reply, lifting my chin. “Now let me go.”
He knows what I mean, because he breaks contact between us and rubs the back of his neck.
He needs to let me go. No more of this I want you but I can’t have you shit. If he really wanted me, he would damn well take me.
“Arrow, there you are!” a woman says as she walks up to us; seeing me, she frowns. “Who are you?”
Arrow turns to her and winces. “Get the fuck out of here, Jill.”
She nods and retreats, following his orders like an obedient dog. I’d seen enough. I know there’s more to Arrow, so much more, but it’s like he doesn’t care. He doesn’t want to be that person. I read somewhere that the worst mistake a woman can make is to fall in love with a man’s potential.
I will not be making that mistake.
It also seems I am locked in a house for a few days with Arrow and his girlfriend.
Just fucking great.
I avoid his gaze and push past him, our bodies touching, my arm rubbing against his chest. That small bit of contact makes me want to moan, the feel of his hard, muscled body.
It’s official—I need to get laid.
* * *
Faye introduces me to all the women. Names and faces blur, but there’s Allie, a redhead named Jess, a cute girl named Katie, and, of course, Jill. Jill was, according to Faye, a club whore who had clung on to Arrow, and she now only serviced him. Her words, not mine. Then there was Clover, Faye and Sin’s beautiful little girl. The biker princess, I liked to call her—she was absolutely adorable.
I watched Sin and Clover together, and I couldn’t look away. He is so sweet with her, and it made me wish I had that growing up. I’m blessed to have Rake, but he didn’t compensate for lack of a father figure. Watching Sin lift Clover up on his shoulders and her giggling and calling out “Daddy!” made me miss something I’d stopped yearning for years ago. The wishes and dreams of a young little girl, waiting for her father to come and save her. A father who never did.
“I’m trying to find a nanny,” Faye says, looking down at her sleeping daughter. We were alone, sitting in the living room. “The club is keeping me busy working for them, and Sin can’t watch her all the time.”
An idea pops into my head.
“I could ask my best friend, Lana. She’s great with kids, completely trustworthy, and she needs a job while she’s still in school,” I reply.
Faye nods. “I met her once. You think she’d be interested?”
“I could ask,” I say. “There isn’t anyone I would trust more with my own kid. And she would keep quiet about club shit.”
Faye grins, opening an apple juice box and taking a sip. “Club shit—don’t let Dex hear you say that.”
I pick up my glass from the coffee table in front of me and take a sip. “Duly noted.”
“So what the hell is going on with you and Arrow?” she asks.
I look down into my drink, which has suddenly become very interesting. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really,” she purrs. “The sexual tension is so high even I’m getting turned on.”
I choke on my drink, orange and vodka dripping down my chin.
“Sexy.” She smirks as I wipe it away with the back of my hand.
“Arrow is Arrow,” I say, sighing.
“That he is,” she says, giving me an inquisitive look. “I love him like he is my own brother, you know, but even I know his flaws. However, he has a heart of gold and a reason for being like he is. He used to be a lot more easygoing. When I first met him, sure, he had his grumpy side, but he was also quick to joke and put up with all my shit.”
Interested, I lean forward and gesture for her to continue.
“Mary,” she whispers. “She was a good friend of mine, and Arrow’s woman. The men went on a run and she was shot when another MC broke into the compound.”
My eyes widen. “So when they say dangerous, they aren’t fucking around.”
“I know,” she says. “Anyway, Arrow took that on himself, and he’s been miserable ever since. Except . . . when he’s around you.”
I put my hand up. “Don’t read into that. He’s been clear as crystal about where the two of us stand. And let’s not forget Jill.”
“I can’t pretend to know what goes through his head, but I know that since Mary I haven’t seen him have any interest in another woman—”
“Except for sex.”
She cringes. “Well, yeah. When I saw him with you it was like you breathed the life back into him. It was a good thing to see.”
“So he loved Mary?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
She nods, a sad look taking over her expression. “There’s no one who didn’t love Mary. She was kind, sweet, and gentle. How she ended up with a biker like Arrow I never knew, but she was all things good in the world.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. I could never compare to that, and I shouldn’t be expected to. It’s obvious that Arrow isn’t the man for me. If only I could curb this stupid attraction I have for him. It’s bad enough he’s hooking up with random skanks every night—competing with the ghost of his ex-lover is not something I want to do. I’m sorry for his loss; in fact, I wish he still had Mary. Arrow deserves to be happy; I’d want that for him.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask her.
She wrings her hands. “I think you’ll be good for him. I think that he wants you but is fighting it. He’s letting the past control his future. He’s not letting himself be happy because of the guilt and pain he’s still carrying over Mary’s death.”
Why does he feel guilt, I have to wonder. It wasn’t his fault. His lifestyle is a dangerous one, and I’m sure Mary knew that. Maybe because he couldn’t protect her . . . Yeah, I could see a man like Arrow being guilty over that. He’s probably carrying a whole lot of shit on his shoulders.
“Why do they call him Arrow?” I ask, changing the subject. I don’t need to wonder how Arrow’s mind works. What I need to do is forget about anything to do with him. If only it were that easy.
She laughs. Hard. “I remember one morning I walked out into the kitchen and he was standing there, cooking breakfast butt naked. I was horrified. He turned around, smiling and cheerful, like there was nothing wrong with his nudity. Then I looked down and saw his . . .”
She trails off, blushing.
“Penis,” I offer.
“Yes,” she says. “His penis, and it was huge. Long, straight, thick, and aimed right at me, like it was pointing at its next victim or something.”
“Like an arrow,” I surmise.
“Yes.” She giggles. “Like an arrow.”
We both break out in a fit of laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Arrow asks as he enters the room, taking a seat and looking from Faye to me.
“Nothing,” we say at the same time.
He raises an eyebrow at us and says, “I knew the two of you together would be trouble.”
“Trouble? No idea what you’re talking about,” Faye replies, innocently staring down at her manicure.
“We were just talking about—”
Faye raises her eyes to me and we start laughing again.
Arrow shakes his head. “Spill it now. Look at the two of you, giggling like fuckin’ teenagers.”
I sober. “Faye was just telling me why she thinks everyone calls you Arrow.”
I look down at his crotch for emphasis.
Arrow’s eyes crinkle. “You both talkin’ ’bout my cock?”
Faye gasps. “Don’t let Dex hear you say that.”
“It’s the truth,” Arrow scoffs.
“I was just telling her the story,” Faye says, smirking. “Good times.”
“Anna?” Arrow growls.
Oh, shit, I was still staring at his crotch.
“Yes?” I reply sweetly, my expression a picture of innocence.
He does something then that makes me want to rip his clothes off and lick him inch by delicious inch.
He smiles.
His lips curve up on both sides, and his eyes dance with amusement.
“What you looking at, Anna?” he asks, looking on the verge of laughter.
My gaze darts to Faye, who is staring wide-eyed at Arrow.
“Nothing,” I mumble. But it wasn’t nothing; it was something.
Something huge.
His phone rings, ruining the moment, and he instantly stands up, barking into the receiver, “Talk to me.”
He leaves the room and walks into the clubroom for privacy.
“Do you have any idea what’s going on?” I ask in a soft voice.
She sighs and rubs her forehead. “Arrow killed the president of another MC a couple years ago. Sin and their new president negotiated a truce, but I honestly think they’re going to be at each other’s throats for the rest of their lives. Every time something goes wrong, our men blame the Wild Men MC; I don’t know if it’s really them or not.”
“So what went wrong this time?” I ask.
“A deal went wrong, and Dex and the others went there to sort it out and smooth things over with the other party.”
“Do they sell drugs?” I whisper, looking around to make sure no one was listening.
She shakes her head. “Not anymore.”
Okkaaaayyyyy.
“I do know things, Anna, but there isn’t much I can say. As their lawyer I keep my ears open and my lips sealed.”
She was their lawyer?
So she must know more than she is letting on. Everything about every member, Rake included.
I want to kill my brother for getting me into this shit. I twirl a lock of hair around my finger and sigh heavily.
Faye smirks. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing too bad.”
I stare at her face and wonder how she wound up where she is. “How did you end up as Sin’s old lady?”
She smiles. “Long story short, Dex and I used to be neighbors when we were growing up. We ran into each other one night at a bar and ended up hooking up. That’s how I became pregnant with Clover. I was leaving the city, planning on being a single mother, when Dex found me and brought me back. He actually brought me to the clubhouse, so I was thrown into this world just as you’ve been.”
“That’s quite a story,” I say, blinking slowly, trying to absorb that information.
She nods. “To be honest I didn’t know if Dex could give me what I needed. But we fell in love and there’s no one else for me; he’s it. I accepted the club with him, and I love these guys. They’re my family now.”
I could see that her words were the truth. They were one huge, unconventional family.
“They’re all good guys, I could tell that from the start. Rough, but good nonetheless.”
Faye smiles, her eyes shining. “They are that. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to be on their bad side.”
I laugh. “Yeah, definitely not, but they’re loyal to those they care about. To be honest, I was surprised at how easily I was accepted here by the men. They welcomed me with open arms just because I was Rake’s sister. I think Sin was the one who was most cautious around me, to be honest.”
Faye tilts her head to the side, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I think Dex didn’t want Rake to get hurt in case you decided you didn’t want to have anything to do with us. This isn’t the life for everyone, you know. So I think he was a little wary. As president he takes things a little more seriously than he used to. He cares about each of his brothers and takes a lot on his shoulders, wanting everyone to be happy. He also knew Rake was forthcoming with you, and didn’t know if he could trust you with information about the club. But trust me, he knows now that you’re a good, honest woman and that you love your brother and would never betray him.”
I swallow. “I never thought of it that way. But you’re right, I’d never do anything to hurt Rake or this club.”
Arrow walks back into the room, looking pissed. Jill walks into the living room trailing behind him, sliding next to him. He moves away from her, punches the wall, and then storms out of the room. Faye and I exchange glances.
“I’ll go talk to him,” Jill says, fixing her hair before going in the direction Arrow went.
“Clueless,” Faye mutters under her breath. “Where the fuck did he find that one?”
“Toxic?” I guess, referring to one of the popular strip clubs in the city.
She laughs. “He doesn’t give a shit about her.”
That didn’t make it hurt any less.
“She didn’t sleep in his room though; she’s been sleeping with the girls.”
I knew that. In fact I have a feeling Arrow was making sure I knew that, because last night he told Jill in front of me that he was going to bed alone.
“You were a little standoffish with me,” Faye blurts out. “Or was that my imagination? I kind of thought maybe you didn’t like me.”
I bite my lips. “It wasn’t that I didn’t like you. I guess I was kind of jealous.”
Her eyes widen. “Jealous about what?”
I rub my cheek, wondering how best to explain it. “It was stupid, and it really had nothing to do with you exactly; it was just that you and Rake had spent a lot of time together and were so close. As close as he and I should have been, but we were still getting to know each other again, and Rake was trying to protect me from everything, including his true self.”
Her eyes flash in understanding. “Trust me, your brother loves you more than anyone. I think he just took a little time testing the waters, hoping that you would stick around in this crazy place with these crazy-ass people.”
We both laugh.
“He told me he didn’t want you to leave again, so he was stuck between wanting to show you the man he is now and not wanting you to cut him out of your life if you saw something you didn’t like,” she explains further.
“He should know me better than that,” I mumble.
Faye shrugs her shoulders. “You were gone awhile. Time changes people.”
She could say that again.
“I love my brother, and I guess I was acting a little possessive,” I say, when the realization hits me. “Great, I’m more like him than I want to admit.”
Faye laughs at that. “As the president’s old lady, I take care of all my guys. I think half of them already love you, and I hope you stick around. It’s good to have a woman to spar with, one who can take my hits and return them full force.”
I smirk. “Women bonding over violence, what a great pair we are.”
“Biker women, baby, we have to be tough,” she says. “If we’re not, we end up being treated like her.” She cocks a thumb at Jill, still knocking on Arrow’s door.
“Fuck off!” I hear him bellow.
Faye and I cringe.
Jill starts crying.
Just my first official day in the biker clubhouse.