Page 27 of Cinder (MC Fables #2)

L ars

“I’m going to have to pass,” I tell Hammer.

I don’t plan on sticking around for the patch-over party.

Which is weird as fuck for me.

Usually I throw myself headfirst into all the pleasurable indulgences a patch party has to offer. Liquor. Music. Pussy. Lots of pussy.

But when one of the girls Hammer is with slides over to me, I feel my body stiffen with disinterest.

“Come on baby, let’s you and me get a drink and have some fun,” she says, sliding her arms around my waist.

But I untangle her from me. “Not tonight, sweetheart. ”

“Go on,” Hammer encourages. “This one is on me.”

Meaning he’s paying.

But I’m not interested. “I’m gonna have to take a raincheck.”

The redhead pouts, but it’s fake. “You don’t like redheads, baby? Or perhaps you prefer your redheads with a side of blonde?” She tips head toward her blonde friend. “Maybe the three of us can party together?”

“That’s a sweet offer, but not this time.”

I’m turning down a threesome.

Not sure I’d ever see the day.

Hammer picks up the blonde, and she squeals with delight when he slaps her on the ass and then disappears with her into his office.

The redhead gives me an enticing grin. “If pussy is a problem, I brought my strap on. I don’t mind if you prefer cock, baby.”

I chuckle. “That won’t be necessary.”

She leans in and brings her lips to my ear. “They pay me twelve hundred an hour, and I’m worth every penny.” She slides her hand under my T-shirt and runs her hand over my abs. “But I’d happily fuck you for free.”

Again, I have to untangle her from me.

“Don’t take it personally, babe. There was a time when I would’ve jumped at the chance. But things have changed and it ain’t happening. ”

Realizing she’s not getting anywhere with me, she rolls her eyes and walks away, muttering, “Pussy.”

I scan the room. Gambit is playing pool with the Rattlers enforcer, a safe distance from any club girls. Married and loyal to his old lady, he’ll enjoy the hell out of this party but won’t mess with any of the women.

At the bar, Zac and Bear are doing whiskey shots with a couple of club girls, while Axe already has his face buried in Jukebox Girl’s gorgeous tits.

Blowing out a breath, I find Beast drinking a coffee at the end of the bar.

“Coffee?”

“Gonna need it. I’m not hanging around. I’m gonna head back to St. Bon tonight.” Across the room, Axe makes Jukebox Girl squeal with pleasure as he slides his hands between her legs. “I don’t need this shit. I need my girls.”

Since Belle and Lucy came into his life, he spends less time away from home. He’s crazy for his old lady, and little Lucy gives him a whole new reason to breathe.

And if it sounds like I’m jealous as hell, it’s because I am.

“I’ll ride back with you,” I say.

Beast looks surprised. “You’re not sticking around to party?”

“Not this time,” I say as I take the stool beside him.

Two very beautiful and very naked women start to make out on a stripper pole as a country rock song blasts through the speakers .

“Got something to do with the new kitchen hand?” Beast asks.

“Don’t go reading anything into it.”

“But you like her.”

Yeah, I fucking like her.

I like her a fucking lot and all I wanna do is get back to the clubhouse and see where it takes us.

But I’m not gonna admit that to Beast.

Because I don’t know what it even means.

I’ve known her for all of five minutes.

Yet I can see myself with her for a lot longer.

I would never grow tired of kissing those lips.

Which is insane.

Dammit, who is she and why am I so obsessed with finding out?

The old me would try to fuck her out of my system. Afraid of the attachment and the grief something like that brings.

But this version of me knows touching her once isn’t going to be enough.

She’s something I could get addicted to.

And when I think about getting back to the clubhouse and kissing her again, I wonder why the fuck I’m still sitting at the bar when there is twelve hundred miles between her and me getting to touch her again .

“Hey, I get it,” Beast says, draining his cup. “What I’ve got waiting for me at home makes it hard to stay away.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” I ask, getting up from the stool. “Let’s ride.”

“You wanna leave now?” he asks.

“No time like it,” I say. “What about the others?”

Axe and Jukebox Girl are practically fucking against the wall. Gambit and Razor are laughing at something another biker just told them. While Zac and Bear are licking salt from both club girls’ tits, before throwing back shots of tequila.

“Let them stay,” Beast says, standing. “Give them a little down time. We can take care of today’s revelations ourselves back at the clubhouse.”

The tension I’ve felt in my shoulders since I left the clubhouse starts to ease as we walk to our bikes.

It always feels good to return home after a run. But this time it feels like there might be something more I’m riding home to.