Page 3

S itting on the edge of the couch, I shove my hands between my knees so the guy next to me doesn’t notice how bad I’m shaking. While he was nice and saved my ass, that doesn’t mean he isn’t expecting something from me in return.

When we pulled up here, I realized my mistake. I should have pushed Candy for more information on what kind of club we were going to. I assumed it was a dance club.

This isn’t that. This is some sort of biker bar with all kinds of sketchy people.

Now I’m stuck here.

“Relax,” he murmurs.

“I’m totally relaxed,” I lie, making him laugh softly.

“Lean back so I can put my arm around you.”

I stiffen at his words. “Is that necessary?” I ask, my body shaking a bit harder.

“Do you want one of these guys to think you are still available?” He quirks an eyebrow at me.

I chew on my lip and shake my head. Reluctantly, I scoot back, and he places his arm over my shoulders. At first I’m tense, but when his touch stays gentle, I begin to relax. The shaking is still there, but I can’t do anything about it.

“There we go,” he whispers.

I look at him out of the corner of my eye. My savior has black hair that’s longer on the top that’s slicked back with the sides shaved down to the skin. He’s got studs in his ears and a thick black beard that’s kept short. His skin is tan and covered in tattoos. He’s the furthest thing from my type, but for some reason I find him attractive. Not enough to do anything, but still hot nonetheless.

My shaking starts to fade away, my comfort of being next to this man calming me.

That’s because he saved you.

He clears his throat, making me look up at him. The stranger is staring at me with the corner of his mouth kicked up.

Shit, he caught me staring.

God, Lainey, could you make things any more awkward if you tried?

“What’s your name?” his gruff voice asks.

“Lainey.”

“Hey, Lainey. I’m Midnight.”

“Is that really your name?” I blurt out without thinking about it.

Midnight laughs, making my thighs clench. I love a good laugh.

“It’s my road name.”

“What’s a road name?”

“The name given to me by the club. Think of it like a nickname.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met a Lainey before.”

“I’m not surprised. My parents wanted to give me an uncommon name, but it’s popped off within the last few years.”

My savior hums, and I scan the room. There are men playing pool and darts at one end of the room, and on the other side there are what look to be couples hanging out at some tables. Then you have the guys who are clearly single hitting on the girls like Candy. Or at least ones dressed like her.

I’m so out of place it isn’t even funny.

I should leave.

If I leave now, I’ll have time to pack up my things and bounce before she gets home. I don’t have anywhere to go, but I’m clearly not going to make money doing what she had in mind. I don’t have money for a cab, but surely the walk back home won’t be too bad, right?

I wring my hands together as I consider all my options.

Midnight moves his arm, and it lightly pulls on my hair. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“So how did you find yourself here tonight, Lainey?” he asks as he sinks further into the couch and spreads his legs out in front of him.

I wonder if his legs are as tattooed as his arms and hands.

I clear my throat. “Candy is my roommate, and she didn’t really give me a choice.”

His eyes narrow. “I’m going to need you to explain that to me.”

“Long story short, I lost my job today, and my boss is holding my paycheck right now. Rent is due tomorrow, and Candy needs my half of the rent. She told me I could come to the club with her and earn enough to cover my share.” I wince. “Only I didn’t realize what kind of club she was talking about.”

“What did you think she meant?”

“I thought she worked at a club, like with a DJ and drunk tourists grinding on each other. I thought she was a shot girl. Instead I found that she works at a biker bar.”

Midnight tips his head back and chuckles. I watch as the tattoo on his neck moves, and I have to stop myself from asking him if it hurt getting it done.

I’ve always been intrigued by tattoos, but I’ve never had the money to blow to get one done. Maybe someday.

“Oh shit, that’s great, and for the record, this isn’t a biker bar. This is the Lotus MC Clubhouse, and Candy does not work here.”

“You say that like it’s supposed to mean something to me,” I deadpan.

Midnight smirks as he shakes his head. “This isn’t a bar for anyone who rides a bike to come to. This place is just for us patched-in members of the Lotus MC. Any of the guys here will have a cut like mine and will identify him as a brother. As for Candy, she’s here for dick or money, but we didn’t hire her. She does that shit on her own.”

My eyes drop to his leather vest, and I take in the patches. My eyes widen when it clicks in my mind. He’s talking about a legit club that does things. I’ve heard rumors about biker clubs doing shady things that are against the law, but I know that there are clubs that do good. Something tells me, though, this isn’t the type of club that makes sure kids are protected on their way to court against their abusers.

Moaning and the slapping of skin catch my attention. Without thinking about it, I turn and look. I watch as a man openly fucks a woman against the wall while others watch. Her skirt is pushed up against her stomach, and his jeans hang low on his hips.

Another guy walks over and reaches between the man and twists her nipple. Pleasure crosses the woman’s face as she gasps.

Holy shit, it’s like live porn, I think as my heart races.

Is this what Candy does to earn her money? Did she really expect for me to join in? My stomach swoops as I watch everything unfold in front of me. It’s like a train wreck that I can’t look away from even if I wanted to.

“Do you have any idea what you got yourself into tonight, Lainey?” Midnight murmurs into my ear.

His breath against my skin makes me shiver.

Licking my lips, I shake my head no.

Lainey is shaking again. She had calmed down for a minute until the orgy started up. I’m sure to anyone that’s looking, it would look like she’s shaking with desire, but I know the truth. I can taste the fear and uncertainty wafting off of her.

I need to get her out of here. This place isn’t meant for a good girl like her.

She might be Candy’s roommate, and while normally that would be a red flag, I somehow know that the living arrangement is based on necessity and not because either of them wants to cohabitate together.

Standing, I hold out my hand. “Come on.”

Lainey’s big blue eyes look up at me, full of hesitation, making my stomach clench.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I say again.

Lainey reaches out with a shaky hand and places hers in mine. I pull her up to stand and start across the room. Lainey moves slowly behind me but never pulls away.

When we step outside, I usher her down the steps.

Finally she pulls away when I come to a stop next to my bike. She crosses her arms over her chest.

“What are we doing?” she asks softly.

“Can I be real with you for a sec, Lainey?” When she nods, I continue. “I mean this in the nicest way possible, but this place isn’t for you. It’s clear you’re uncomfortable, and you shouldn’t have to hang out somewhere you don’t want to be because your roommate’s a cunt who dragged you along with her for the night. Now where’s your car?”

Lainey rubs her arms. “Candy drove me.”

“Okay, well then how about I order you a ride? Does that work for you?” I ask as I start to reach into my pocket for my phone.

Lainey shakes her head. “Please don’t. I can’t afford rent, let alone a ride from here into town. I’m just going to walk back. It shouldn’t take me long, and I need the air.”

I wince at the thought. While we are close to town, it would take her miles on foot, and she’s got heels on. Her feet would be wrecked by the time she made it a mile down, let alone any further. Plus she’s wearing black. All it would take is one idiot on the road not paying attention, and she could be gone.

Not happening. Not on my watch.

“I can’t let you walk, Lainey.”

“I’ll be fine, I promise. Thank you for saving me tonight, Midnight.”

She starts to turn, but I reach out and stop her when I place my palm on her upper arm. Lainey’s eyes drop down to my arm before looking back on me.

“I’m serious, Lainey, it’s late, and the road is dark. I can’t let you walk. If you won’t let me order you a ride, at least let me give you one.”

She chews on her plump bottom lip. “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t be offering if I wasn’t.”

Reluctantly she nods, making me relax. “Okay, I’ll take you up on the ride.”

“Come on.” I turn toward my bike and pick up the helmet that was sitting on the seat.

I’ve never had a woman ride behind me before, and I doubt I will again anytime soon. It was yet another reason Miranda hated me. She wanted on my bike, but I never would let her.

I should have thought this through before I offered. Especially since the club trucks are all being used or in the shop being worked on, leaving the only option is to get her on the back of my bike. She is not dressed for it. It’s dangerous as hell. If I lay the bike down, her skin is gone.

I can’t let her walk, though. So I better drive better than I ever have.

“Wait, you expect me to get on the back of that thing?” she asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Don’t like bikes, sweetheart?” I say as I slip the helmet onto her head.

“I’ve never been on one before.”

“Well then, I guess that’s about to change.”

Looking at her outfit once more, I sigh. She is going to freeze. Taking off my leather jacket, I help her into it.

“Thanks,” she murmurs.

I don’t respond. Instead, I get onto the bike and hold out my hand for her. I watch as her dress rides up her thighs, showing me a peek at her white panties beneath. I swallow hard as she climbs on behind me. Despite never being on one before, Lainey gets on and puts her feet where they belong and holds onto my sides.

“I won’t go too fast, but make sure you hold on tight and lean with me, okay? Just relax.”

“I’ll try,” she says softly.

Looking down, I turn on my bike. While I wait a second for her to warm up, I admire the way her long legs look pressed up against my jean clad thighs. Shit, that’s a good sight.

Taking a deep breath, I shake the thoughts away and get on the road. At first Lainey is tense as fuck, but the longer we ride, the more relaxed she becomes.

“Where am I going?” I ask when we stop at a stoplight inside city limits.

Over the wind, Lainey yells an address that makes me frown. Still, I don’t question it and head that way. Before I know it, I’m pulling into a run-down, slightly shady area of town.

This can’t be right, right?

Why would Lainey and Candy live in this area? I know for a fact Candy makes enough at the club to live somewhere nicer.

“Building on the right corner up ahead,” Lainey says.

I nod, letting her know I heard her, and seconds later I pull up to the curb. I shut off my bike before getting off. Without thinking about it, I reach forward and pick Lainey up, helping her off. Once she’s steady on her feet, I step back, letting her go.

“I wasn’t expecting my legs to feel like Jell-O.” She smiles.

Chuckling, I shake my head. “Yeah, that feeling still gets me sometimes when I go on long rides.”

“Well, thank you for the ride,” she says awkwardly.

“Hey, can I ask you a question?” I take a step closer to her.

“I’m pretty sure you could ask me anything right about now.” She pulls my jacket tighter around her.

“Why did you lose your job?”

“My boss was a dick who didn’t like the word no.” She smiles ruefully.

My stomach clenches at the idea of her old boss trying to push himself onto her.

“What did you do?”

“I worked in reception. Why?”

An idea takes form in my mind. It’s not perfect, and it’s probably a horrible idea, but I hate the thought of her being tossed out onto the streets by morning. Especially knowing that Candy would go through with it because she’s a bitch like that.

“I have a tattoo shop, and I’m looking for a receptionist.” I raise my hand, cutting her off when she opens her mouth. “I’m not saying that the job is yours, but I think you should come interview for the position at least.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Reaching into my pocket, I grab my wallet and start pulling out bills.

“What are you doing?” Lainey asks, panic in her voice.

When I look up at her, I see that she’s scanning the street frantically.

“You can’t just whip out cash like that and flash it around a neighborhood like this, Midnight.”

“Here, take it,” I say shoving it toward her.

“What, no. I can’t take your money.”

“Consider it a loan. Even if I don’t hire you for the receptionist job, you can work off the money by doing odd jobs like sweeping or some shit.”

“I can’t,” she says weakly as she stares at my hand.

“You can and you will. Otherwise you’ll be needing more cash for a deposit to a new place. Now, is a grand enough?”

With her lip pinched between her teeth, she nods.

“Okay, take it.”

Lainey lets out a slow breath and takes the cash from me before shoving it into the top of her dress.

“That’s one place for it.” I chuckle.

Lainey winces. “I didn’t know where else to put it.”

“So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“What time do you open?”

“Ten a.m. tomorrow.”

She nods. “I’ll be there first thing then.”

“Cool, I’ll see you then.” I move back toward my bike.

“Midnight,” she calls out, making me pause and look back at her. “I kind of need to know what shop I’m going to,” she teases, making me laugh.

Shit. Right.

“Dynasty.”

Her eyes widen in recognition.

That’s right, sweetheart, I own the best shop in the city.

“I’ll see you soon, Lainey,” I say as I get onto my bike.

“Wait, your jacket,” she calls out.

“Bring it tomorrow,” I tell her, liking the idea she will have another reason to show up.

I laugh under my breath as she runs inside. Lainey was an unexpected highlight of the night, and I can’t wait to see if she actually shows up in the morning or not.