Page 23 of Knot So Sweet (Leather and Lace #1)
Chapter 22
Ghost
M y shoulder was fucking on fire as we rumbled down the gravel drive toward the back of Serpent territory. Every bump made the dull ache spike, but I kept my expression tight, refusing to show weakness.
Pixie signaled he was heading around back, probably off to check the club's surveillance. The rest of the ride was just me and Candi, the tension between us hanging thick in the air after what had gone down earlier.
I gritted my teeth, the tension in my jaw matching the burning in my shoulder, as Travis’s warning replayed in my mind like a broken record. That son of a bitch was a bigger threat than I’d originally thought. Him and his little crew of assholes weren’t just some random annoyance—they were a ticking time bomb. One that would need to be dealt with soon.
As we approached the back, I spotted the bar, and a sense of unease settled low in my gut. If Viper was there, he’d either be celebrating with a few shots or drowning himself in whiskey—either way, it’d be easy to tell how the run went just by looking at him.
But I wasn’t holding my breath. My gut told me the run hadn’t gone to plan, and every instinct I had screamed at me that something bigger was brewing. We needed this to go well. The antidote was a game-changer, a move so critical on this chessboard it could shift the entire balance between us and the Hounds. It would give us the upper hand they’d never see coming.
It would give me a way to protect Candi.
I took a sharp corner, feeling Candi’s arms tighten around my middle. Her thighs gripped the bike from behind, and I couldn’t help but notice how natural it felt to have her there.
I’d never let anyone ride with me before, but damn, I was already addicted to the warmth of her body pressed against mine. The rhythmic thrum of the engine, the wind whipping past, and her solid presence were a heady mix that stirred something deep inside me.
As the rickety-as-fuck clubhouse bar came into view, its neon lights flickered in the darkness, like a half-dead beacon calling us in. I could already hear the low throb of bass leaking through the walls, mixing with the rowdy laughter and chatter from inside. The familiar chaos of the Serpents’ hideout, yet tonight felt different—like a storm was brewing just under the surface.
I pulled up beside a row of bikes, my hand sliding down to rest on Candi’s thigh. The feel of her soft skin beneath my palm sent a shudder through her, and the reaction tightened my gut, blood rushing south. My cock stirred at the simple touch, a raw, primal need twisting inside me. Even with my shoulder screaming in pain, I couldn’t shake the want surging through me.
Killing the engine, Candi hopped off the bike with the grace of a newborn foal, stumbling slightly before catching her balance. I chuckled low, watching her tug off the helmet, her dark, tangled hair falling wild around her flushed face. She looked gorgeous—fucking disheveled and perfect. A dangerous mix.
"Fuck. That was awesome," she breathed, her eyes sparkling with adrenaline.
I smirked, feeling that same rush pulsing through my veins. "Glad you enjoyed the ride, princess." The smugness in my voice was impossible to hide. Seeing her so excited, so alive after the ride—it fueled something in me, a connection neither of us could ignore.
Swinging my leg off the bike, I winced as the pain flared up in my shoulder again. The ache was becoming harder to ignore, but I pushed it aside. There were bigger things on the line tonight, than my busted-up arm. With Candi beside me, the pull between us stronger than ever, I wasn’t about to let some minor injury slow me down.
"Shit, are you okay? How’s your shoulder?" Candi asked, frowning, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. The sight of her concern sent warmth surging through me, something I couldn’t ignore.
Without thinking, I reached out, running my thumb over her black-painted lip, feeling the softness beneath my touch. Her scent, floral jasmine and lilac, wrapped around me like a cloud, soothing and intoxicating all at once. She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening, pupils dilating just enough to betray the effect I was having on her.
"With you here, I’m fine," I murmured, my voice dropping to a low, teasing tone. "But I’ll admit, I’m glad you care."
"I don’t," she snapped, her tone sharp, but her eyes betrayed her. A flicker of worry flashed in her gaze, and her dark brows knit together, just for a second. That little crack in her armor, that sliver of vulnerability, was all I needed to push further.
The cool night air had settled in, and despite the rush from the ride, the temperature had clearly caught up to her. Her arms were wrapped around herself as she tried to keep warm. She shivered.
Without a word, I shrugged off my cut and draped it over her shoulders. The leather hung heavy, but her shivering stopped almost immediately as my scent enveloped her.
"There. Better?" I asked
Her gaze darted up to mine, wide and unguarded for a split second before she masked it again. "I didn’t ask for your jacket," she muttered, though she pulled it tighter around her.
"I know you didn’t. But you needed it."
Just like you need me. I thought, but didn't say out loud… this time.
She bit her lip, glancing away, but I didn’t miss the way her fingers gripped the edges of the cut. I smirked in satisfaction. I liked seeing her wear my clothes.
I couldn't help but chuckle, the sound low and rough, vibrating in my chest. A grin tugged at my lips as my gaze dropped to her mouth—soft, full, and so damn tempting.
The need to kiss her gnawed at me, clawing at the edges of my control. My hand moved on its own, sliding up to cup her cheek, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. My fingers tangled in her silky raven strands, angling her head just right, so she had no choice but to meet my gaze, with those electric blue eyes.
"Why are you here, princess?" The question was loaded, coaxing her, daring her to admit the truth. "Why come back to the clubhouse if you don’t care?"
Our breaths mingled, the space between us charged, her scent thickening the air. Jasmine and lilac. It was everywhere, winding through my senses, tugging at the remnants of my restraint. My mouth watered, instinct roaring to claim her. The alpha inside me growled, simmering just beneath the surface, pushing me closer, desperate to taste her, to make her mine .
Her cheeks flushed deeper, the blush creeping down her collared neck, over the swell of her full breasts. My eyes tracked the path, hunger curling in my gut. Her breathing hitched, uneven and shallow, like she was struggling just to keep it together. Her body was betraying her, every inch of her screaming submission, even though she fought it.
Needing more, I gave a gentle tug on her hair—not enough to hurt, but enough to make her shudder. A faint gasp escaped her lips, soft and sweet. That was it—the flicker of need she couldn’t hide.
She wanted this.
She wanted me.
I knew eventually, Candi would warm up to the idea of a pack. Of accepting me and Viper as her alphas. I was trying to be a patient man, but I was desperate for a small taste of her. Desperate to see her walls crumble just a little bit. She needed us even if she just wasn’t ready to admit it.
"You know, it’s okay to want this," I whispered, leaning in until my lips hovered over hers. I flicked my tongue across my bottom lip, tasting the anticipation in the air. "To want me ."
This close I could see flecks of jade in her baby-blue eyes. Everything else around us faded, dissolving into nothing, leaving just the two of us in that electrified, heated moment. My thumb traced along her jawline, slow and deliberate, memorizing the feel of her skin beneath my touch.
"Come on, it’s just a kiss, princess," I taunted softly. "Don’t you want to?"
Her wide eyes locked onto mine, and for a split second, time stood still. I could see the war waging inside her.
Desire against hesitation. Want versus pride.
"Just kiss me, Candi. I dare you. "
Her breath hitched, and I leaned in closer, her scent wrapping around me like a drug, pulling me under.
"Unless you're scared."
Her blue eyes narrowed, and I felt the spark ignite, my body buzzing with pent-up energy.
"Fuck you, Ghost. I’m not scared of shit," she hissed, and before I could respond, her mouth was on mine.
Her teeth sank into my lower lip, the sharp bite yanking a growl from deep in my chest. My hand tightened in her hair, no longer gentle, as I pulled her closer, unable to hold back any longer. I deepened the kiss, capturing her lips, feeling the initial shock in her body melt into raw, burning desire.
Nothing else mattered—my shoulder, the brewing war between the Hounds and the Serpents, all of it disappeared. All I cared about was Candice Huxley—her taste, her scent, the way she felt in my arms.
Mine.
The kiss unleashed something wild inside me, something primal and untamed. A hunger that tore through me like wildfire, scorching my skin, burning through my veins. I yanked her against me, her soft curves fitting perfectly against my hard frame. Her scent—jasmine and lilac—wrapped around me, intoxicating and addicting. My heart thundered in my chest, a growl of approval rumbling from deep within. I nipped at her bottom lip, my tongue sweeping along the seam of her mouth, demanding entry.
She gasped, a soft sound that shot straight to my cock. Her lips parted, and I slipped my tongue inside, tasting her—sweet, addictive, like honey with a bite of sin. I deepened the kiss, fucking her mouth with slow, deliberate strokes, each one a tease, a promise of more.
Of what I'd do to her if she gave me the chance.
Her gasp turned into a pleasured moan, a sound so sinful it made every muscle in my body tighten. I groaned in response, pulling her even closer, my hands roaming over her body, gripping her hips, her waist, her ass. I needed to touch her, to feel every inch of her. I wanted to devour her, claim her in a way no one else could. My instincts burned hot beneath the surface, her perfume calling to me, begging for more.
She whimpered when I gripped her tighter, the sound vibrating through me. Her scent was overwhelming, dizzying, and I was drunk on it, drunk on her. It felt like she was made for me, like fate had carved out this moment just for us.
The kiss turned frantic, desperate, our mouths moving together in a wild, feverish dance. I could feel her heart hammering against my chest, her pulse erratic, matching my own.
Her moan deepened, and I sucked her tongue into my mouth, swallowing the sound, drowning in her. She had hesitated at first. But now? Her hands gripped my shirt, clinging to me like she never wanted to let go, and I pressed her harder against the wall, trapping her between me and the cold steel. I was going insane for her.
Shouts echoed in the distance, loud enough to break through the haze of the kiss, pulling me back to reality with a jolt. My chest heaved as I stepped away from Candi, her taste still lingering on my lips. My forehead rested against hers for a brief moment, just long enough to savor the heat between us before it was all shattered by the chaos unfolding across the lot.
"Watch your fucking mouth." Viper’s voice rang out again, sharp with rage.
I jerked my head up, heart pounding, my hand instinctively tightening on Candi’s waist.
What the hell was happening now?
My father and Viper were locked in a brutal grapple on the steps of the clubhouse bar, fists flying. My stomach dropped, the weight of the situation crashing down on me. Candi, too, was staring, wide-eyed, her shock written all over her face.
Her lipstick was smeared, her hair a mess from the ride and my fingers, and despite everything, she looked adorable. Fuckable.
God damn cock blockers.
But there was no time for that thought. This alpha bullshit was the last thing I needed right now.
"You will show, Candice respect," Viper growled, his voice a deadly calm, but full of warning. I watched as my father’s face twisted in anger, his jaw clenching tight.
My blood ran cold. He was disrespecting Candi?
My father slammed Viper into the wall, knocking over one of the potted plants by the clubhouse steps. The crash of pottery shattering on the ground punctuated the rising tension, and I clenched my fists, my teeth grinding together in frustration.
"Damn it," I muttered. Irritation flared in my chest, threatening to boil over. I turned to Candi, gently pulling away from her. "Stay here," I ordered as I stalked across the parking lot toward the two men who had just ruined my first kiss with my mate.
Gears’ face was beet red with fury, his lip busted, and his right cheek already swelling from the punches. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this. Not since Chaos died. He’d been spiraling—drinking too much, fighting too hard, throwing punches at anyone who pissed him off.
And now he was threatening Candi?
Enough was enough.