Page 21

21

Phoenix

R aptor and Reaper follow us home, parking their bikes in Raptor's driveway in case any rival crew members decide to cruise the neighborhood. Dad implored us to be careful. He reminded us how dangerous Dom and his crew were and told us we would be safer at our place than the clubhouse for now. I guess he's worried the Desert Bastards, Dom's crew, will show up there if they have another attack planned.

It's a lot to take in. Twenty-four hours ago, I was a normal adult taking college classes to prepare myself for the next stage of my life, and now, it feels like I'm a character in some seedy television series. Is this real? Am I dreaming right now?

The front door slams closed and latches behind me. I don't know what to do as I stand in the living room with my arms wrapped around myself. Raptor is watching me cautiously as if he's afraid to get too close. We need to talk, but I don't want an audience. Should I invite him to my room?

I wrestle with the answer as Raven tosses her things on the kitchen table. "I need to shower," she announces, heading to her room to grab clean clothes.

Reaper trails close behind her, stopping when she spins around, narrowing her eyes at him. "Don't even think about it, asshole." She presses her index finger into his chest hard as she sneers at him.

He eyes her finger before meeting her gaze again, his face unamused. "Wait out here and have your little fantasy jerkfest or whatever, but take one step into that bathroom, and I'm turning you into a eunuch," she threatens, slamming the door in his face.

Reaper lets out a frustrated sigh as he posts up against the wall outside the bathroom, crossing his arms over his chest. Now is my chance. I need to take it.

Reaching my hand out to Raptor, I don a mask of confidence and mentally prepare myself for the talk we need to have. He takes my hand and lets me lead him to my bedroom. I shut the door behind us and lock it. Raptor sends a curious look my way as one of his thick eyebrows quirks.

I shrug. "I thought we could use some privacy. There's a lot we need to talk about."

He grimaces, and I note the worry lining his brow. I'm sure there are a million thoughts running through his mind right now, there certainly are in mine. Not wanting to prolong the inevitable, I sit on the edge of the bed, bracing myself for the conversation I need to start.

Raptor sits next to me, close enough that his thick thigh touches mine. The heat from his body has a calming effect on me, something I've never noticed before. Being near him makes everything that's happened a little less terrifying.

"So, Viper told you about the club?" he starts.

I nod. "He said you guys aren't just a group of guys who like bikes and turning wrenches. He told us that the club's side businesses aren't exactly . . . legal."

His eyes leave mine, finding a spot on the floor as he answers. "Yeah. That's true."

I swallow hard, afraid of the answer to my next question. "What do you do for the club?"

His head snaps up, and his jaw tightens. A minute passes before he answers quietly, "I keep the books for the club businesses. All the businesses." He sighs before continuing, "And when necessary, I run club errands . Sometimes involving fists and weapons."

I study him, noticing the anxiety and shame rolling off of him as the truth about his part in the MC comes out. His body is tight and trembling. The time we've spent together recently has given me a little insight into the man sitting next to me. He feels more deeply than he likes to show, he's loyal to a fault, and he hates disappointing those he cares about. If I'm reading him correctly, I'm one of those people.

The connection we've made in such a short time is both exciting and startling. If he feels half as much for me as I do for him, then my reaction to the news about the club will hold a lot of weight. If I back away from our relationship because of the club, it will hurt him more than he'd admit.

It would be wise to take a step back and evaluate the kind of future I want for myself. Getting involved with someone so dangerous puts me at risk. It's not the kind of future I ever envisioned for myself, but I can't stomach the thought of not being with him.

In the short time I've known him, I've seen the man that lives inside him, and he's seen me. I feel like we've known each other for a lifetime, and yes, that's crazy, but it's true. There's an invisible tether between us, one that won't easily disappear. Whenever I'm around him, that link calls out to me, beckoning me closer. It's not something I take lightly.

Call it foolish. Call it whatever you want, but I don't think I can walk away from him. No matter how dangerous he may be.

"I get it," he says softly, "if you can't handle that. If you don't want to be with me. I get it." His words tug at my heart as I take him in. He looks devastated.

My hand finds his, curling around it firmly, and his eyes find mine. They're so full of hope that I can hardly stand it. One word from me, ending this, and that hope would be extinguished. I'd be free to choose a different path for my future.

Or . . .

"I can handle it," I tell him.

Surprise flashes in his glassy orbs. "You can?"

A small smile spreads across my lips as I bob my head. "It's scary and crazy, but I can't imagine not being with you. It hasn't been long, but I'm already in too deep to turn back."

The tension seems to melt off his body at my words, and before I realize it, his lips are on mine, pressing desperately against them. With everything that's gone on lately, we're both wound so tight. He needs this— we need this.

My arms fly around his neck, pulling him closer as my mouth works against his. When his slick tongue swipes over my lips, I happily open for him. The kiss turns frantic as his hands weave through my hair, plastering my face to his. A deep moan sounds in his throat, the sound echoing straight to my lower half. I need this. I need him.

I use all my strength to pull him down on top of me. One of his hands drifts down my side, sending tingles along my spine. He breaks the kiss, watching me as his hand creeps toward my chest. When his thumb skims the underside of my covered breast, he looks at me. His unspoken question speeds the beating of my already racing heart.

I nod, knowing what he wants, what we both want. It's been building since that first day—the undeniable need to feel, to touch, to explore. His palm moves up, cupping my breast as my nipples pebble beneath my shirt. A gasp catches in my throat as he massages one, then the other.

My body is on fire as he nuzzles his face between them, sending a wave of need through me. Raptor's mouth moves over them next, capturing my nipple between his teeth. He nips and sucks each one through my shirt as his hands explore the skin at my waist. His rough hands slowly move over my body, teasing me as they make their way to where I want them most.

His erection presses against my leg as his hips start to thrust. Fuck, I need him. I arch off the bed, pulling my shirt over my head, and claw at the hem of his where it rests over his jeans. He obliges, ripping the shirt from his body and tossing it to the floor. His hard, tattooed body takes my breath away, and my hands start wandering over his ink.

When I trace the outline of a skull tattoo where it disappears under his waistline, he moans into my chest. I tease at the top of his jeans as his mouth latches to my neck, licking and biting, sending me into a frenzy. Every time we've kissed before, he's never pushed further than second base, and right now, I need that to change. "I need you," I tell him breathily. "I need you now."

"Tell me what you need, baby," he mumbles against my skin.

A whimper escapes my lips as I confess, "I need you inside me."

Raptor lets out a growl, pulling away from me. He sits back on his knees and devours me with his eyes. His hands dance up and down my chest and stomach, stopping to play when he reaches my heavy breasts, freeing them from the confines of my bra. "You sure, baby?"

My hips jerk off the bed, and I lick my lips as he pinches both nipples between his fingers. "Please."

He presses his hips against me, rolling them, teasing me with delicious friction that only makes me want more. "Fuck me, Raptor."

He stills, and his ragged breath is hot against my chest. For a second, I think he's about to stop like he has so many times before. He's been a perfect gentleman so far, but a gentleman isn't what I want right now. Right now, I need him unleashed.

He hovers over me, leveling his face with mine. I wait for the words that will stop us in our tracks once again, but they never come. "Call me Mason," he commands.

My chest heaves with need as I repeat my request. "Fuck me, Mason."

His eyes darken, and I watch as his reserve snaps. He trails his lips down my body, kissing, licking, and sucking all the way to the top of my leggings. With one more glance at my face, he hooks them with his thumbs and pulls them off with my panties in one smooth motion.

Sparks erupt behind my eyes when his thumb presses against my bundle of nerves. A loud gasp sounds as he works me with precision. I can feel my orgasm priming as he slides a thick digit inside me, quickly followed by another. His hands work my pussy as his tongue finds my nipples.

He growls as my orgasm clamps down on his warm fingers. I writhe and moan as he brings me to completion while his hand still pumps inside me. Teeth gently clamp down on my nipple as I arch into him, eyes rolling back as he sucks the pebbled flesh into his mouth.

"These need to go," I tell him, pulling at his jeans.

"Soon," he replies as his mouth drifts south. Before I can argue, his sinful lips start dancing over my folds.

My breathing comes in huffs as his tongue darts out, swiping up and down my soaking slit. It's euphoria. Nothing else matters right now besides this man and what he's doing with his tongue. It's sinfully delicious, and I never want it to end. As Mason brings me to a second climax, I bury my hands in his dark hair, tugging and pulling as he drives me wild. I can't remember my name as waves of ecstasy crash down around me.

He repositions so his hips are between mine, and the warmth of his naked flesh caresses me. The tip of his rigid member presses against my opening, and I lose all rational thought. I might actually die of happiness right now. When I look down, an unintelligible sound leaves my lips.

He's massive and beautiful, so thick and veiny and long, surrounded by neatly groomed hair over a sexy tattoo that screams sexual deviant. I've never wanted anyone so badly, and I've never seen a dick so large before. I'm not even sure the whole thing will fit inside me, but I'm more than willing to try.

He rolls on a condom and positions himself before looking back at me. "You ready, baby?"

"Yes."

Mason starts slow, inching his massive cock inside me little by little until he's fully sheathed. I've never felt so full before; it's verging on the edge of painful, but I like it. He pulls out, then pushes back in slowly, pumping back and forth until I'm used to the feeling of his fullness.

He starts to moan as he picks up the pace, bucking faster and harder, punching my cervix with every thrust. "Oh, fuck yes. Mason. Oh, Mason!"

My walls start to quiver as another orgasm builds. My legs clamp around him, pulling him closer as I roll my hips in synch with him. Closer and harder, we climb, taking each other to the brink as sweat slides down our skin. The sounds of slapping, moaning, and incoherent cries echo through the room as we chase our release.

"So. Fucking. Tight. Phoenix. Aw fuck. So goddamn tight."

His pace becomes frantic as my coil threatens to snap. "Fuck, Mason, I'm gonna—" I cry as my orgasm rages through me.

Mason grunts, pumping faster as his orgasm shudders through him moments later. His breath quickens, and his movements slow. His hips thrust deep as he wrings out every last ounce of pleasure inside the condom. Our foreheads press together as we lay there, still attached, basking in the aftermath of our rutting.

Mason trembles above me as he brings our lips together in a searing kiss. "That was incredible, Phoenix."

A delirious smile spreads across my lips. "You can say that again."

He kisses me once more before pulling out and tossing the spent condom in the trash. When he lays back down beside me, he pulls my back against his chest, peppering my neck with kisses. "That was fucking amazing," he says as he settles in behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Yes, it was," I breathe, melting into him as the tension of the last twelve hours starts to become a distant memory.

With Mason lying naked against me, the fear I felt earlier seems to disappear, as does any question I had about whether or not I was making a huge mistake. Letting him get so close so fast is risky, but this feels too right for it to be wrong.