As the two began to argue, I turned my attention back to my drink. I swirled the liquid around and watched it swirl up one side and then the other as if mirroring my own messed-up emotions.

  “Hey there, Snake,” Dee said and ran her arm over my shoulders. “Do you want to spend a little time relieving your stress,” she asked, laying her other hand on my leg.

  “We could make it a party,” Crystal said as she pressed against my other side. She was so close that I would only have to turn my head, and her tit would be in my mouth. The small piece of leather she wore would easily pull off and leave her ready. Could I appreciate that both women were talented? Yes, I could, but shit was a lot more complicated now.

  “I wouldn’t touch me,” I drawled. The two women must have thought I was joking, as they only laughed. “I have a girl,” I said.

  “Yeah, we know. Us,” Crystal said next to my ear. The girls were hyped up with the extra guys and the excitement from yesterday, but I was shocked that they were approaching me. They normally flirted from across the room until I called them over, so I wasn’t sure what was up. Did I have a new allure now that I was taken? Could they sniff that shit out like bloodhounds?

  “I have to say. This is entertaining.” Roach laughed. He was the only one I told about my new relationship, and even with him, I hadn’t mentioned Avro or Jace. The guys here wouldn’t get it, and as much as I didn’t really give a shit what they thought, I wasn’t in the mood to explain it either.

  My eyes met Roach’s in the mirror, and I shook my head in disbelief as he made a kissing face and then shook his finger at me like we were teens. At this point, I didn’t think the guy would ever grow up.

  “You could help here,” I said to him.

  Dee’s hand slid up my leg, trying to palm my cock. Grabbing her wrist, I stopped her from reaching her goal. “I said I have a girl, and I wouldn’t touch me.” I turned my head to stare at Dee, her lips set in a pout as her eyes blinked back with confusion.

  “You mean like a real girl?”

  “What other kind is there,” I asked, my brow furrowing.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s you. Didn’t really think that was a you thing,” Dee said. “You don’t have relationships with anyone, barely even the guys.” She wasn’t saying it to be mean. In fact, her tone was soft and unsure, but it felt like a smack all the same. I purposely distanced myself, which came with bonuses and the reality that I was isolated as much as Raine.

  “I’d listen to him, ladies,” Roach said. He was turned on his stool so that he was leaning against the bar but made no effort to peel Crystal off of me as she rubbed up on me like a cat in heat. “She’s on her way, and she’s going to be pissed if she sees this,” Roach said.

  An image of what that might look like crossed my mind, and my lip lifted. Would she be jealous? Would she get angry? I actually loved the idea, and my cock stirred with the fantasy playing out in my mind. I was so distracted by the sexy images of Raine fuming mad and fucking her hard that I didn’t notice Crystal lift her leg to straddle me.

  “We need to repay you.” She rubbed her tits against my arm and giggled. Blinking and pulling myself out of the fog, I let go of Dee’s wrist and looked up at Crystal.

  “Whoa, Crystal, you need to get off of me,” I said.

  I felt the pull of Raine’s arrival like she had some sort of magic. My eyes snapped up to Raine’s reflection in the mirror behind the bar, and I sucked in a sharp breath. It felt like the oxygen was sucked out of the room as our eyes locked. If I thought I’d seen her angry before, I knew nothing as her face darkened. My cock jumped along with my heart, going from flaccid to hard in an instant. I licked at my suddenly dry lips. Fuck she was beautiful.

  “Oh holy crap,” Roach said the words that I was thinking. Raine marched across the floor, her eyes never leaving mine in the mirror. “Come on, Crystal. Get off, Snake,” Roach said, trying to take control of the situation since I couldn’t seem to move while locked in her stare.

  “Now that’s better,” Crystal cooed as she gripped my hard cock through the jeans.

  Oh, this was bad, like really bad. I could feel Raine’s wrath the closer she got, the tension filling the room and making everyone look at the newcomer. I grabbed Crystal’s hand to stop her. I’m dead was all I could think as Raine’s lip pulled up in a snarl which only made me harder. I shuddered.

  No one moved as they watched her, and I didn’t blame them. The only one that was stupid enough to jump in the middle of a relationship issue was Tanner, and right now, I had money down on Raine to win. Besides, if anyone tried to touch her, I’d cut off their hand. Every bit of her jealous fury was mine. She was mine, but I couldn’t seem to make my brain function properly to stop this from turning into a bloodbath.

  “I’d intervene, but even I’m not that stupid,” Roach said, sitting his drink on the bar and moving away.

  Raine’s eyes broke the stare first, and it felt like I’d been caught in a tractor beam from Star Trek. I hated the show, but Raine loved it. I’d lost count of how many nights we sat and watched a marathon of them.

  “You need to get off me now,” I said, grabbing Crystal’s wrists. A sound rippled from Raine’s mouth that was more animal than human.

  Raine moved much faster than I thought she would ever be able to as she grabbed Crystal’s arm and wrenched her off my lap in a single tug. Crystal’s confused scream was short-lived as she landed on her ass with a crash.

  The dark glare Raine gave me sent cold racing down my spine. She was blackout mad, I’d seen that look in my own eyes a time or two, and you did things you normally wouldn’t when that happened.

  “Raine, no.”

  I reached for her, but my mouth fell open as Crystal jumped up, and Raine went full MMA on Crystal’s ass. Raine looked small next to Crystal, but that wasn’t slowing her down. Crystal backed up and tried to block the hits as Raine advanced on her.

  I should really stop this, but fuck, it was hot. Crystal yelled once before Raine’s fist caught her across the jaw and sent her stumbling backward. Crystal hit a chair and flipped over it with a groan as she landed on the floor. Raine gripped the edge of the small card table and, with no effort at all, flipped it out of the way. It crashed near Roach’s feet and rolled.

  “Oh fuck, you’re a dead man,” Roach said, stepping further away. Fucking coward.

  “Now, do you believe me?” I said to Dee, still standing very close with her mouth hanging open. Swiveling around on the stool, I jumped up as Crystal rolled over onto her back and screamed as another fist cracked down hard on her face. Raine’s form was good, like she’d been professionally trained, as she knocked Crystal out cold with one shot.

  Before she could think about doing more damage or attacking anyone else, I gripped her around the waist and picked her up. I backed away from Crystal as she flailed her arms and legs.

  “Don’t any of you ever fucking touch him again,” Raine snarled and clawed at the air. Fuck she was making me hard, like bust a nut hard, as she thrashed in my hold. “I’ll kill you.” I shuddered at her words. Damn, I loved this side of her so much. It was always there, but she kept a tight hold on her emotions. She was the understanding one, the sympathetic one, but apparently, even Raine had a limit.

  “Oh fuck,” I growled as Raine’s elbow caught me across the jaw hard enough to rattle the teeth in my head. I dropped her to her feet and rubbed at my jaw with one hand while I kept hold of her with my other.

  She twisted out of my hold, leaving me holding a leather jacket. Spinning around, I managed to get a hold of her as she stomped toward the group of sweetbutts gathered together as they watched.

  “You too, don’t think I don’t see all of you. If you fucking touch him…I will claw your fucking eyes out,” Raine yelled, her body fighting mine as she wriggled in my hold. Holy fuck, I didn’t think I could love this girl any harder, and she goes all Rhonda Rousey with jealousy. I mean, a guy could hope, but I never thought she’d actually do it.

  “Tink, calm down.”

  “Don’t you dare fucking tell me to calm down,” she roared and caught me in the gut on the same side as my bruised ribs with her hard elbow.

  “Ugh, fuck.” My grip loosened, and I thought she was coming for me next as she turned to face me. Instead, she yanked the leather jacket I was still holding out of my hands and marched for the exit. “Fuck you, Kai.”

  My long strides ate up the ground, and I caught her before she could get out the door.

  “Tink, stop,” I said, gripping her shoulder, but when my hand touched her, she whipped around and caught me with another wild fist that knocked me back a step. Fuck, she could really hit when she wanted to. This was not the same scared kitten I found in her home. She was another animal altogether. This was the girl that was locked away, but she was free now, and I loved her so damn much it hurt.

  “You can’t even go a single day, and you have the nerve to talk about me,” Raine said, her voice dripping with anger and jealousy. Raine’s hands slammed into my chest with a hard shove. “Fuck you. I never want to see you again. We’re done.”

  “Fucking hell we are,” I growled, my temper flaring.

  That was so not happening.

  TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER

  Raine

  It was later than I had planned when Avro dropped me off at Kai’s house, but I’d never traveled except for my bus ride to Atlanta. So I needed luggage, and I had very little clothing to my name. So after the rigorous yet enjoyable shower with Avro and Jace, I had a nap and some food, then went shopping with Avro.

  It was official the man could shop. He knew all these great stores I’d never been to that had amazing clothes with even better deals. We were both loaded down like pack mules by the time we were done.

  “Thanks for dropping me off. I guess one of these days I should learn to drive and get my license,” I said.

  “Well, if you want me to teach you, just say the word. I know many empty parking lots where you can’t hit anything.” He smiled.

  “Such a vote of confidence.” I looked down at the new leather jacket I wore, running my hands over the material, and couldn’t stop wondering if Kai would like it. My stomach was all butterflies which was crazy considering what we’d already done, but I couldn’t seem to get the jitters under control.

  “Are you going to give me a kiss,” Avro asked as my hand went to the door. Jace was right. I was worried about what Kai would think and how he would feel. I needed to stop that if this was going to be my reality from now on. Either he was in and okay with them in my life, or he wasn’t, and we would have to part ways. I couldn’t let his anger dictate what I did.

  Leaning across the seat, I grabbed Avro’s face and kissed him as if I didn’t care if the whole world saw. “I love you,” Avro said.

  “I love you too.” I opened the car door and stepped out, then leaned in and looked at him. “By the way, how did you find me and Kai?” He smiled wide and winked.

  “A story for another night.”

  “I’m not going to forget if that’s what you’re hoping?”

  “I’d never dream of such a thing,” he said, laughing as I closed the door. Backpack in hand, I waved as he turned around and left. I waited until he was gone before I walked up the steps to the porch, knocking on the door to Kai’s home.

  Avro said Kai’s motorcycle was an Indian, so he drove to the dealership and helped me buy a plain black jacket with the small emblem on the sleeve. It was so soft and way too hot, but I never wanted to take it off. There was something about slipping it on that made my heart pound hard. I thought about what it would be like to sit on the back of Kai’s bike and hold him tight. It was a hot image that had me blushing.

  “Why are you doing this,” I asked Avro as we got back in the car from our last stop of the afternoon.

  “Because I love you, and I want to see us all happy, and that’s not going to happen unless Jace and Kai get on board. Don’t kid yourself. They said they would try, but they’re both making plans. Regardless of Jace's speech this morning about Kai, he is no better. He wants to cocoon us for himself,” Avro said.

  “And you don’t?”

  Avro lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “First, you must know by now how much you have me wrapped around your finger,” he said, smiling as he linked our fingers together. He effortlessly set me at ease and made me smile. I squeezed his hand. “Second, I’m more pragmatic than either of them. I’m also more open with what I’m okay with in a relationship…the majority of the time.”

  I laughed at that statement. Based on what Jace said, you’d think that Avro was a raving jealous lover, but it seemed that Avro was good at playing up what Jace wanted. I smirked and leaned back to look his face over.

  “What? Why are you staring at me like that,” Avro asked.

  “I’m just realizing for the first time what a chess player you are.” His eyes darted away from mine, but I saw the truth before he looked away. “You manipulate Jace. Are you manipulating me too?”

  “Whoa, manipulation is a strong word. I simply know what he likes and needs and mold myself, not because I have to, but because I like to.”

  “And you’re doing the same with me and Kai?”

  He lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “Again, I’m in love with you. If the only way to have you is with Kai, then I work within the parameters given to make things happen.”

  I wasn’t sure what to make of that and then froze, my mouth falling open. “You really did ignore Jace’s calls on purpose, didn’t you?”

  He laughed as he started the car. “Yeah, I definitely did that. I wanted him to turn around, and trust me, there is one thing that will always override his fears, and that is if he feels he needs to protect.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh, it was wrong, yet I laughed. “And here I thought you were the nice one.”

  “Pfft, I am the nice one. Could you imagine those two lunatics left alone in a room together?”

  “So me going with Jace to the concerts for three days? Let me guess. This is to solidify his feelings for me.” Avro’s eyes glittered with mischief. “Okay, you’re a devil,” I teased, but I felt like I’d just gained an ally as we pulled out onto the main street.

  “Kai, I’m here.” I knocked on the door again, louder this time. The sun was just starting to set, making it hard to see into the home, but I covered my eyes and peered through the small triangle piece of glass and didn’t see or hear any movement. “Kai?”

  “Are you looking for Snake?”

  Screaming, I whipped around and then screamed again as I jumped back and slammed into the door. My gaze flicked up and down the man dressed up like a bush. He reminded me of those army guys in movies that would lay out in the open, and you’d never see them cause they dressed like a tumbleweed or a scraggly bush. His face was painted the same but with stripes, and he held what might actually be a sniper rifle in his hands.

  “You’re Raine, right? You’re looking for Snake?”

  I licked my lips. “Yeah, I am. Who are you?”

  “I can’t tell you that,” he said.

  “Oh…okay. Is it like you’d have to kill me sort of thing,” I asked teasingly.

  “Yes.”

  My face fell. I looked around for any sign of any other person, but no one was even walking along the sidewalk.

  “You’re a girl,” he said before I could excuse myself and get the hell out of there.

  “Last I checked.”

  He narrowed his eyes as he shifted his weight like he was intrigued. “Do you have to check often? Is this normal? Is it possible to wake up not being a girl?”

  What the fuck? “Um, no. It’s just a saying. It means yes, I am.”

  “Then why not just say, yes, I am?”

  “Why are there sayings if we’re not going to use them,” I asked.

  “Huh. That is a good point. Tell me, what is your favorite position to be fucked,” Bush man asked.

  I cleared my throat after I picked my jaw up off the porch. Did he really just ask me that? “I’m not sure.”

  He pulled a small book out of somewhere inside the bush garb and flipped open to a blank page. “Why don’t you know?”

  “I think I should go,” I said and stepped to the side to try and get around the man, but he stepped in my way.

  “Snake always answers my questions,” he said. His voice didn’t change, but there was a daring edge to the statement. Like if I walked away, I wasn’t as good as Kai.

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Okay then. I don’t know because I don’t have a lot of experience to know. I don’t have much experience because of something that happened to me when I was fifteen. No, I don’t want to share what happened, but I can tell you that every girl is different, and what I like doesn’t mean that the girl driving by would be the same. Does that help?”

  He tapped the pen off his chin. “So how do I find out what a girl wants when she refuses to tell me?”

  I wasn’t sure I should answer this question, but I did anyway. “Why doesn’t she want to tell you?”

  “I have her locked up. I must think on this some more,” he said, like he hadn’t just admitted to kidnapping and possibly being a serial killer or something. “Snake is at the clubhouse. He usually goes there to fuck the sweetbutts. Have a good day.” Bush man jogged down the stairs and then stopped. “Oh, by the way, Snake’s favorite position is the reverse cowgirl.”

  Smiling, he jogged off around the corner of the house. It was official I was going to kill Snake. The initial shock of the strange encounter was quickly wiped away as his parting words registered in my brain. My fists clenched as I marched down the stairs and walked around to the clubhouse.

  The gates were closed, but a guy was sitting in a small metal booth that looked like it had been shot at more than once. Not very comforting.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “I’m here to see Snake. He was expecting me. I’m Raine,” I said and planned on punching him in the face when he walked out thinking he was going to tell me to go away, but instead, the guy looked at a sheet and opened the gate for me to walk in.

 

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