“Sorry for getting in your business, Eva. Offer is still good for the dryer and the T-shirt. Start over?” Table asked, holding out his hand to me, palm up.

I looked at his face. He wasn’t angry or pushy and the cold wet clothes were getting irritating. I smiled and took his meaty paw.

“Lead the way!”

Table led me into the large clubhouse. He did indeed have a room down a back hallway. There were eight of them on this side. He stopped at one that was midway down with his name on the front and opened the door.

“You leave it unlocked?” I asked.

Table chuckled and grinned at me. “I’m a full-patched Dragon Runner, baby. No one would steal from me, especially one of my own brothers. I trust every man here with my life.”

The room looked like it was lived in; clean, but a little messy. Clothes were draped over the back of a chair and the footboard of the unmade bed. The floor was clear except for a set of dumbbells sitting in a far corner. A big poster of a vintage Harley motorcycle was taped to one wall and another of a large black panther was taped to another. I felt strange stepping over the threshold, like I’d just entered somewhere I really didn’t belong.

“Here you go, baby.” Table handed me a faded black Harley T-shirt and a pair of drawstring sweats. “These should do. You’re almost as tall as me, but I bet my stuff will still swallow you.”

I took the rolled-up pile. “Thanks, Table. I don’t know what to say other than thank you.”

He smiled and pointed at a closed door. “No problem. Bathroom is through there. How ’bout you grab a shower and I’ll get us a couple plates. Food line is a bit long, so it will take me a while. Clothes dryer is in the closet at the end of the hall. Take your time.”

I nodded. What else could I do?

I shook myself out and jumped in his shower, noting the high placement of the extra-wide head and multiple jet settings. Table enjoyed a few creature comforts. I used his soap and his 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, both having a masculine scent. There was only one towel hanging on the bar and I felt weird drying off with something I knew had been all over his body sometime earlier that day.

What the hell are you doing, Eva?

I didn’t have to go commando as I did bring panties and a bra to change into with the intention of wearing the same shorts and T-shirt that were now sopping wet. Table wasn’t back yet, and I didn’t want to wait any longer than I needed to get underwear back on my ass. I wandered to the end of the hallway and found the washer and dryer in a closet with accordion folding doors. I dumped in my clothes, added a dryer sheet just because they were there, and started the timer.

A noise distracted me, and I glanced to my right. The door to the room next to me was cracked open and my heart dropped. It clenched in a pain that I didn’t know was even possible. What’s worse was that my head told me it didn’t have a reason to be hurt, but that fucking organ apparently had a mind of its own.

I could see a sliver of Stud’s profile as he stood in a bedroom almost identical to Table’s. His shirt was off, and I could see the magnificent delineations of his pecs and abs. Unfortunately, I could also see a woman crouched in front of his open pants, eagerly sucking his cock. Stud’s hand was wrapped around her bobbing head. I could hear the slurpy sounds she was making. Stud had his eyes closed, jaw and mouth tight. I recognized that frizzy blonde hair. It was Nikki!

I didn’t know whether to cry or gag. This wasn’t the first time I had seen a man get a blowjob. Wasn’t even the first time I’d seen Stud get a blowjob. Living in close quarters with five men for so many years, there wasn’t much I hadn’t seen, heard, or smelled. While I lived in the RV, I could hear one or more of them masturbating and the amount of Kleenex they went through was astounding. After I moved out, they felt freer. I’d seen more than once, some woman Patrick or Angus had picked up at a bar sneaking from the RV in the early morning hours. I didn’t have to imagine why they were there as they talked about it frequently. Owen had a collection of porn magazines I found once, and Garrett also had the occasional hookup but would go to the woman’s place. I spotted him a few times coming back to the RV either very late in the night or very early before Da got up. Connor was even more discreet, and if he ever went with a woman, I didn’t know about it as he didn’t kiss and tell, and I hadn’t caught him yet.

I punched the dryer button and the machine came to life loud and violently. I barely heard the surprised yelp from Nikki as I ran back down the hallway to Table’s room. Yes, I was hiding, but at that point, I didn’t care. I was hurt and telling myself I had no reason to be hurt. I knew Stud didn’t want to be with just one woman. He was free and didn’t have to answer to anyone about anything. He liked it that way and was happy. At least I assumed he was happy.

Fuck, Eva! Get it together and get over yourself!

I was sitting on the bed when Table knocked on the door.

“Eva? You find the dryer all right?” he asked, coming in with two plates balanced on his arm. The mouthwatering aroma of barbeque filled the air. I managed to put Stud out of my mind and smiled.

“Yup. Already started it. That smells fantastic!” I held the plates as Table pulled two beers from a mini fridge near his bed. I took a bite of the barbecue. Holy Mother of God! Sleeper, the prospect who was manning the grill, was pure genius! Sweet, tangy, smoky flavor burst in my mouth. I think I moaned.

We sat side by side on his bed, eating, drinking, and chatting. I found out Table worked as a tattoo artist and also did some boxing through a local gym.

“Some of my matches ain’t exactly legal,” he admitted with a wry smile, “but it’s good money and I need all I can get right now. The wife and I split up last year and I’m trying to buy her out in the divorce. It ain’t going too smooth, and she’s being a real bitch ’bout everything. Helps that she lives down in Dilsboro. Haven’t seen her in about eight months now. Just talking through lawyers at this point and biding my time until the divorce is final. Real pain in my ass.” His eyes gazed into mine. “How you feel ’bout that?”

How did I feel about that? How was I supposed to feel about that?

“I’m sorry that’s happening to you. It does sound like a lot of hassle,” I said, and meant it. I was still unsure of where he was going with this line of conversation, but I had an idea.

He nodded and kept talking. “I’m being straight with you ’cause I’m interested. My life has a lot of baggage right now and any woman getting to know me needs to know that. I need you to tell me straight too, Eva, before I start talking again. You got somethin’ going on with Stud?” he asked, his tone serious and his eyes boring deep.

I blinked and thought a moment about the kiss that Stud and I had shared just a few hours ago. It hadn’t meant a thing to him, based on the goings-on in his room.

“Nope.” I popped the p. “He’s in the back getting a biker bunny blowjob right now from none other than Nikki the bottle-blonde bimbo. How’s that for alliteration?”

Table choked. “Damn, baby! You don’t pull back, do you?”

“I got five older brothers. What do you think?”

He chuckled and tipped his beer to his mouth, taking a swallow to clear his throat. “No, I guess you don’t. Damn! Nikki? Christ almighty, that boy is messed up!” His face got serious. “I found out my wife cheated on me. More than once, so that’s a deal breaker for me. I will not cheat, and I expect the same. I’ll be honest in that I’m not ready to start something big with someone else ’cause technically I’m still married, but I’d really like to get to know you better.”

I was both flattered and intimidated. My dating life had been nonexistent for so long, I wasn’t sure how to handle this.

“I appreciate your honesty, Table.” I looked him in the eye. “I’m not too sure of life myself right now, but I’m always down with making new friends. Start there?”

He smiled those gorgeous teeth at me. “Sounds good, baby. We still need to play that game of pool!”

We finished eating and he took the paper plates to dump in the main trash cans outside. I hesitated going back down the hall to get my clothes, but fuck it! I was a big girl and could handle anything. I still breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Stud’s door hanging open to an empty room.

I went back to Table’s room and started dressing. Ah! Nothing feels quite as good as putting on warm clothes fresh from the dryer!

I came out of Table’s room smoothing my hands over my top and shorts and ran right into my father. Connor was right behind him, wearing a concerned look. I didn’t realize what it looked like until Da screwed up his face in shock and anger.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” he yelled. “What are you doing alone in a man’s room?”

If I wasn’t so mortified, I would have rolled my eyes at his double standard. It was okay for his sons to fuck around, but anything involving me? He would be dragging me to a confessional for a deluge of “Hail Mary’s” and “Our Father’s,” and we weren’t even Catholic.

Not much was worse than having a parent embarrass you in front of people. What was worse was when one of those people was the man you wanted to avoid the rest of your life. Stud came around the corner and both saw and heard my da. His look was nothing short of furious, which made me angry as he, of all people, had no right to judge.

Connor looked at me with a weird expression. I’d said more than once to him during our brother-sister coffee chats that I was getting tired of being treated like I was still at a single-digit age. He was the only brother who seemed to acknowledge that I was a woman, but even he still had trouble recognizing I was no longer a child.

“You okay, Eva?” he asked, his face and mouth almost as tight as Da’s.

How to deal with this? It never had been in me to back down from a fight.

“Of course I’m okay!” I exploded. “Table was helping me out while my clothes dried from being dunked by the asswipe twins! Anything else is no one’s business!” I stomped down the hall and out of the door, with the intention of finding someone to drive me back down to my tiny house. Grrr! Drama!

Stud groaned and thrust deep into Nikki’s hungry mouth as he came. She sucked in deep, swallowing every drop, then jumped back and squeaked when the dryer suddenly came to life, but neither of them saw who was in the hallway. She sat back on her knees and licked her puffy lips.

“You good, baby?” she purred.

He didn’t know how to answer. He’d just come, sucked off by an expert, a woman he’d spent himself in many times, and yet felt nothing. Not a shred of satisfaction. Why was he even doing it? Couldn’t be because he spotted Eva holding hands with Table. Jealously was not in his nature. She didn’t belong to him. He was a free agent and could fuck whomever he wanted, right?

“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m good,” he said automatically. Nikki didn’t notice his lack of conviction.

“Knew you’d come back to me. Ain’t no woman better’n me for you,” she huffed as she stood and started stripping. “Ain’t no Bambi hussy gonna take my man.”

Stud stared at her. Overbleached hair, thick makeup trying to cover her bad skin tone and deepening wrinkles, and a body that was way too skinny. Ribs and protruding hip bones had him thinking she needed to lay off the booze and the drugs. She looked like a street hustler trying to find her next fix.

“Ain’t no dyke gonna take my man either!” she declared as she climbed on his bed and flopped on her back. She drew her knees up and spread her legs wide, presenting him with a full view of her bare pussy. She fingered herself, stroking between her legs and moaning dramatically, giving him a real show.

“This is all for you, baby. My man, Stud,” she crooned as her fingers moved. “My old man, Stud.”

He should have been turned on. He should have been ready to go again. He should live up to his name and jumped on the writhing woman spreading herself for his pleasure.

Instead he felt numb. Empty.

“Time to go, Nikki,” he announced in a dead voice while he tucked himself away and zipped up his jeans.

Her hands stopped moving between her legs and she blinked up at him owlishly. “What?”

“You’re not coming in my room or my bed anymore. I’m done.”

“You’re teasin’ me, aren’tcha, baby?” she whined, pushing out her lower lip in what was supposed to be a sexy pout. It didn’t work.

“I’m serious. This is it. I’m not your old man and never will be. You might even want to take a break from the club. Get yourself clean. Whatever you’re on isn’t doing you any good,” he said as he picked up her clothes and tossed them on the bed next to her.

He tuned out the rest of what she was saying while she cussed and dressed. Thoughts swirled in his brain, looping over themselves and twisting like snakes. Eva and Table. He was a good man who was dealing with a lot of shit right now. Maybe Eva could handle it, maybe not. He was more suited than Stud to be an old man, better at committing, better man all the way around. Eva was a good woman and didn’t realize her own potential. Any red-blooded man would see her worth and want that for himself. Why didn’t he want it for himself? He had baggage too. More than Table? Yes. Maybe. Don’t know. All those nights talking, watching movies and Netflix series, the comfortable space he shared with Eva… was there more? He found Eva fascinating and the more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend with her. Did he even deserve it?

Nikki finished dressing and huffed her way to the door.

“You’ll come back to me again, baby. You always do.” She smirked and left.

Stud felt nothing.

He paused a moment and walked out into the hallway, his thoughts still whirling as he spotted Table carrying two full plates of barbecue. He shuffled the plates, balancing them on his arm so he could knock on his own door. Stud felt a two-by-four hit him in the solar plexus when Eva opened the room and smiled at Table. She was wearing his clothes! She took a plate from him and backed into the room. Table followed, closing the door behind him.

Stud’s jaw got so tight his teeth were ready to crack. Nope. Didn’t matter to him what Eva was doing in Table’s room. Not a bit. He tamped down the urge to burst through the closed door and beat the ever-lovin’ shit out of his club brother and stalked outside to his bike. He had the urge to fire it up, drive up to the Tail, and take a hard ride, but he managed to quell it. The Tail of the Dragon was a fierce mistress who demanded respect. Riding on her angry and reckless could cost you dearly, even your life. He’d already experienced what the Tail would do to anyone riding her without complete focus. He’d been flirting with a woman he was carrying on the back of his bike when a deer ran out in front of them and he’d had a nasty wreck. She had been okay, but he had paid with a broken arm and twisted ankle. That was mild in comparison to what it could have been.

Stud breathed in deeply as he ran his hands over the sleek lines of his bike, forcing himself to calm down and think. Eva and Table. Yes, they were a good fit. Eva and Stud. Not such a good fit. Simple as that. Yet he was drawn to her, and the thought of letting her go to be with his brother twisted his gut in a knot.

He stood there a while, just stroking his bike and listening to the distant sound of the kids who were back in the pool. He realized he left his helmet in his room and would need it if he decided to go for ride in any capacity. He went back in the Lair and heard Fergus’s bellow. Coming down the hallway, he spotted the man, Connor and a red-faced Eva. It was clear she was being dressed down by her father, and it was equally clear, she was not having any of it. The look on her face when she spotted him sent a ball of dread dropping through his body to his toes. She saw him with Nikki. Fuck!

“Of course I’m okay! Table was helping me out while my clothes dried from being dunked by the asswipe twins! Anything else is no one’s business!” Stud felt her words hit him like bullets. She stomped down the hall and left all three men standing there. Fergus blustered something, but Stud didn’t really pay attention to it. Connor looked ready to chase after her but held himself back. He glanced at Stud, his manner one of frustration. Both MacAteer men finally left, and Stud really didn’t care where they went.

“Hey, Stuuuudd!”

He turned to see Bambi coming down the back hall and waving at him. Stud looked at her fiercely for a moment and mentally tallied the remaining condom supply in his room. Best way to get over a woman was to get in another, right? He learned that lesson a long time ago.

Then why did he feel like shit?

He made a decision that would surprise anyone in the club who knew him. It even surprised him. He smiled gently and shook his head at the hopeful look in Bambi’s eyes. Instead of losing himself between the thighs of a random woman, he went to his room and got his helmet. A hard run on the Tail sounded better than risking the heart of the young girl any further. Maybe it was time to rethink his habits.