SIXTEEN
DREAD fills my stomach as Rake and Arrow face each other. Why do these men have to act so barbaric? And screw Sin for making me watch it. Arrow pulls off his T-shirt, exposing his smooth, toned chest, and I perk up a little. Faye sends me a knowing smirk before her gaze returns to the two impressive men, staring at each other, waiting for the fight to begin. Rake pulls his shirt off as well, and they both face away from me, talking to Sin. I stare at the dragon tattoos on their backs, both staring at me.
These men live by their own rules, and there is nothing I can do about it. If I want Arrow I know I can’t change him. I have to accept him as he is, and I do.
That, however, doesn’t mean that I will stop being me. It just means that I have to think before I speak.
I’m trying.
Arrow looks over at me just before they get the go-ahead from Sin to start. He lets Rake hit him once, square in the face, then says something to him in a low tone. After that, he gets into the fight. I close my eyes as I hear the sounds of flesh hitting flesh, knowing that, to me, it doesn’t matter who wins this fight. The two men I care about the most are beating the shit out of each other, and all I can do is sit here and let them act like idiots. I hope after they work off all this aggression, Rake can forgive Arrow and let it go. This isn’t the olden days, where he needs to defend my honor because some man took my innocence. Arrow and I haven’t even had sex yet. I look up to see blood dripping down my brother’s face and Arrow’s lip cut open once more. I shoot Sin a dirty look, but he just grins at me.
Why do I want anything to do with these men again?
I stand up and yell at the top of my lungs, “ENOUGH!”
Surprisingly they both turn to me.
“Enough,” I say again, my voice shaky. I grab a first-aid kit from the bathroom, then tend to Arrow’s face. Rake already has two women fussing over him. I gently cup Arrow’s face, lifting it up for me to inspect closely. I don’t like seeing him hurt, even though I now know to expect this kind of shit.
“Fucking stupid,” I mutter to myself, wiping the blood away and checking out the cut. It looks painful, but he is acting like he can’t feel a thing.
He smiles, blood on his teeth. “Nothing like a good fight.”
I wrinkle my nose and look over his ribs. “Anything else hurt?”
He shakes his head and gets on his feet. “I’m fine; now let’s go to bed.”
My head snaps to him. “I’m sorry?”
He smirks. “I’m full of adrenaline, darlin’, and I won the prize. Now let’s go fuck.”
He’s so romantic.
Not.
I look around to see everyone watching us.
“Don’t you all have things to do?” I ask the peanut gallery.
Faye shakes her head and grins.
Arrow, apparently done waiting, lifts me in his arms and carries me bride-style to my bedroom. Throwing me on the bed, he braces himself over me and kisses me, wincing a little because of his cut lip.
“If you’re not up for this, Arrow . . .” I tease, lifting my hips up and feeling just how much he wants it. “I can take care of it myself.”
“No chance in hell, darlin’,” he replies with a smirk, then undoes my jeans and slides them off. Next to go is my black tank top, my bra, and then last of all my panties. I lie there, completely bare before him, but instead of feeling shy, I feel empowered by the look in his eyes.
He likes what he sees, and I like that he likes what he sees.
I lick at my bottom lip. He doesn’t miss the motion.
“So worth the wait,” he says in a low rumble. “So worth it.”
“Glad to please,” I whisper. “Now, your turn.”
He takes off his jeans. He isn’t wearing any underwear.
My mouth waters at the size of his cock, my eyes widening.
Now that is a cock.
Before I’m finished with my perusal, he lies down and rolls me on top of him.
“I want to enjoy this view,” he says as his thumbs swipe over my nipples. “Kiss me.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
I lean down and kiss his mouth gently, as his hands wander, not leaving any part of me untouched.
“Love this ass,” he sighs, feeling each cheek and slapping twice for good measure. “I want to be inside you, Anna.”
I want the exact same thing.
“Condom?”
He curses.
“I’m on the pill, if you’re—”
He exhales, eyes on my mouth. “I’m clean, Anna.”
“Jill?”
“Got tested after her, I wouldn’t put you in any danger, Anna.”
Staring into his brown eyes, I nod and take his hard cock in my hand and slide him into me. I’m dripping wet, but I go slowly, the wide girth of him stretching me. I push down, lowering myself on him until he’s completely inside me. His jaw clenches, but his eyes never leave mine, the connection between us stronger than ever before.
“Fuck me, Anna,” he demands, sitting up slightly and capturing a beaded nipple into his mouth. I move forward, my body doing as it’s naturally inclined, lifting myself up and down on his length.
I’ve never felt anything better.
My jaw drops open and my eyes squeeze shut as I just feel, surrendering to the pleasure. Suddenly Arrow rolls us over so he’s on top and starts to fuck me with an intensity that should scare me but doesn’t. It turns me on even more.
“Eyes open, Anna,” he commands as mine fall shut. “I want to see those beautiful green eyes as I’m fucking you.”
I moan in response, spreading my legs wider, silently begging for more, my eyes fluttering open. “Arrow—”
He kisses me, cutting off my begging. My nipples rub against his chest and he reaches down to play with my clit. When he starts to kiss and lick my neck, my orgasm builds to a point of no return. I come—saying his name over and over again, as he continues to pleasure my body with exquisite torture.
Too much.
Not enough.
I wanted more.
I never want him to stop.
When I come back to myself, I study his expression.
He cups my face, staring down at me as he comes, his body jerking above me.
I’ve never seen something so spectacular as his body.
Muscles rippling, covered with a light sheen of sweat, braced above me. His hair falling into his face, his eyes—filled with pleasure—drilling into mine. I pull his beard down, lowering his face so I can kiss his mouth.
He smiles then, and it lights up my world.
Grinding his hips into me, he says, “I want to stay here forever.”
I smile, then lower his head to my breast, which is waiting for attention.
There is no way in hell we are done with each other just yet.
* * *
It is official.
I need to increase my stamina.
“I can’t feel my legs,” I complain, sitting up and letting my eyes roam over his naked body. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of the view.
Arrow chuckles deeply. “You’ll get used to me soon enough.”
Gripping my waist with his fingers, he pulls me back to rest against his body.
“Do you think anyone heard me?” I ask quietly, the thought of Rake hearing me making me cringe. “If my brother heard me screaming your name I’m leaving this clubhouse and never coming back.”
“There’s nothing the people around here haven’t seen or heard, so don’t stress over it,” is all he says.
Was I that loud?
I kind of want to die.
I bury my face in his chest and groan. Arrow runs his hand through my hair, gently pulling apart the tangles.
“Does your face hurt?” I ask.
He sighs. “No, it doesn’t.”
“You lie.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Stubborn.”
“Babe, we get into fights all the time. It isn’t a big deal,” he says softly.
“It should be,” I mutter, then press my lips against his chest.
He kisses the top of my head. “You working tonight?”
I nod and pick up my phone. It is three o’clock already.
“Holy shit, we’ve been in bed for hours! Yeah, and Reid will kick my ass if I’m not there.”
“No one’s going near your ass except me.”
I roll my eyes at that, then slide out of bed. “I’m going to take a shower, eat something, then get ready for work.”
Arrow rolls onto his stomach, showing off his tight ass.
“Nice buns.”
He makes a sound of amusement, glancing up at me while I check him out. Moving from that delectable ass, I take in his dragon tattoo and the muscles in his back. “Not bad for an old man.”
He flashes me a boyish grin. “Who you calling old?”
“Not me, that’s for sure.”
He pushes up on all fours, grabs me and pins me underneath him. “Yet you’re the one who couldn’t keep up with me, hmmmm.”
I narrow my eyes. “I haven’t had sex in a while, so excuse me if I was tired after three rounds.”
He presses his lips to mine, his tongue licking—begging entrance. When I open for him, he kisses me hungrily, hands on either side of my face. When he pulls back he looks at me and says, “Can’t wait to be back inside you tonight.”
“Tonight? I’m going back to my apartment after work tonight,” I tell him.
“The fuck you are. You think you can give me one taste, then walk away?”
I purse my lips at his dramatics. “I’m not walking away, I’m going home. I have class tomorrow.”
He tilts his head to the side. “I’ll stay at yours then. After I pick you up from the bar.”
“Fine. What are your plans tonight?”
He lifts an eyebrow at my question.
“What?” I ask.
“You gonna try to demand that I explain my every move now? Because I think you need to know right now that that isn’t me.”
My mouth drops open.
What the hell?
“What are you talking about?” I ask, forehead creasing in confusion. “I just asked what you were doing tonight.”
He nods. “Yeah, a word of advice, darlin’, don’t ask. I’ll be where I tell you I’ll be, and that’s to pick you up after your shift.”
How did he go from sweet to asshole in 2.5 seconds?
I try to push him off me but he doesn’t budge. “I need to go or I’m going to be late.”
“You’re pissed?”
One point for him.
I ignore his question and just shove him again. “Arrow, get off me!” I demand through clenched teeth.
He lets me go, and I quickly get off the bed and head into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
I guess I was wrong to think that Arrow considered me his equal.
I don’t know if I can be with someone like that.
Turning the shower on, I close my eyes and let the hot water wash over my body as I try to clear my head.
It doesn’t help.
And for the rest of the day, I avoid Arrow.