Page 71

Dante

The whole club was here, ready and waiting to surprise Rachel at her initiation party. The whole thing had been Bee’s idea, as a way to make Rachel feel more welcome in her new home.

These were not the type of people to hide behind the furniture, only to jump out screaming “surprise” when Rachel arrived, but I hoped she would enjoy the effort they all put in.

They had been anxious to meet the woman who I had declared as my own – especially as she would eventually be the woman standing at the side of their future leader.

Which meant she had influence. Women were not members of the club, but any man would be a fool if they believed their woman didn’t have a voice.

She could help shape this club going forward, including memberships.

We didn’t tend to kick anyone out without good reason, but it had happened in the past when people weren’t a good fit for us.

I checked my watch once more, noticing that the minutes were flying by, and Rachel was still not here.

An anxious pit formed in my stomach, and I had to resist the urge to check the tracking on the bike she had taken.

I had given her free rein to go and spend some money on herself, and if I was going to offer something, I had to respect that.

I had to trust that she would make her way back to me.

Unless she wasn’t back here by midnight, then I would be dragging Cinderella back in here kicking and screaming, and I’d never let her leave her room again.

The longer Rachel took, the more drunk these people got.

And there was no controlling them when they were drunk.

We had few rules when we were on our own territory, and often tempers soared beyond anything that could be contained.

I didn’t want Rachel walking into what would essentially be a wrestling match.

A smile twisted my lips as I pictured the look on her face. She’d probably tie her blonde hair high on her head and join in the fun, the psychotic bitch.

I heard the roaring of the engine and gave the signal to Vienna to turn the music down whilst Rachel came in.

I spied her through the window and gritted my teeth as I noticed she was wearing skintight leather pants that hugged every curve of her thighs and ass. She kept her helmet on as she walked closer to the door, her boots crunching the gravel under them.

She entered the door, and everyone went silent as she stood still, hands on her hips. Just as I was about to get up and go and greet her, she ripped the helmet off and tipped her head back, shaking her hair over her shoulders.

My mouth fell open as the blood left my brain and shot straight into my dick.

Gone was the long blonde hair and in its place was a fire red do that fell in layered waves halfway down her back, framing her face on the way down.

She looked fucking ravishing. The slight tan she still held from her summer trip around Europe complimented her hair perfectly.

This was also the first time I had seen her with makeup, and the smoky eye, the long lashes, plus the nude lip made her an absolute knockout.

She had complimented all of her best features, her green eyes piercing me from the other end of the club, seeming brighter and more intense than ever.

She was beautiful as a blonde, but she had an air about her as though she was pretending, as though she didn’t belong.

It’s what had drawn me to her. I had mistaken it for innocence, whereas now I knew it was hiding in plain sight, terrified she’d be discovered.

With her red hair, she was exuding confidence.

She knew who she was, where she belonged, and she had come home.

It was the biggest fucking turn on I had ever known.

She locked eyes on me and shot me a small wink, pulling off her leather jacket to reveal a skintight top that cupped her tits and pushed them upward.

“Are we having a party, or what?” She asked everyone, beaming a smile that lit her entire face up.

She turned her head to Vienna, and he quickly shut his mouth, which had been hanging open just as mine was, and obeyed her command to get the party going, cranking the music back up to full volume. “Your wish is my command! Nice hair,” he grinned at her.

“Nice beard,” she smiled back.

“Thanks. I grew it myself.”

“Likewise. We are two talented people, Vienna.”

“Peas in a pod. Come see me when you’ve had enough of the boss man. I’ll let you stroke my beard.” She laughed at him, shaking her head.

“I’m afraid I don’t share your love of a death wish.”

“Shame. I like living on the edge.”

“Dante will push you off if you keep talking like that to me,” she grinned wider.

“Don’t walk in here looking like that then,” he raised his bottle at her, and went to mingle with the rest of the club.

Rachel swung her eyes back to me and made her way forward, her hips sashaying as she walked, filling my mind with all sorts of filthy thoughts.

Mainly of her riding me, her hips rotating as she brought us both to orgasm with that tight pussy of hers.

“Dante,” she said as she approached where I was sitting on one of the bar stools. She automatically slotted between my legs, resting her ass on my inner thigh, taking the bottle out of my hand and throwing back a long swig.

“You look amazing,” I whispered in her ear as my arm came around her waist, pulling her closer to my body. “But I hope you didn’t do this for me?”

She shook her head, her eyes clouding slightly. “The blonde hair was my mother. It was me trying to be someone I’m not,” she murmured and then looked up at me through those long lashes. “I’m ready to leave that girl behind now. I’m ready to finally start being me.”

“Does that mean less of the smart mouth?” I joked.

“Oh no,” she laughed, taking another drink of my beer. “You’ve been getting the watered down, friendly, Rebecca Brooks version of me. You think you can handle me stepping out of my mother’s shadow and embrace the full Rachel Brooks?”

“No,” I said honestly, causing a laugh to bubble up from her lips.

I grabbed her wrist and brought the bottle to my mouth.

“I think you’ll eat me for breakfast and spit me back out again when you’ve had enough.

” She laughed even harder, tipping the liquid into my mouth.

I placed a kiss on her inner wrist, my cock jumping in response when she gasped.

“But I’ll have my fucking fun with you all the same and gladly accept my punishment. ”

A spark of lust rushed to her eyes. And for the first time, I genuinely believed we might actually be okay.

I stayed where I was most of the night, watching Rachel as she enjoyed herself.

She took herself off dancing, stopping to speak to this person or that person as they all made their introductions and asked her about herself. I noticed once or twice the familiar blank look fell over her face, and I knew that she was struggling with all the attention she was receiving.

Every so often, she would shoot me a look, her eyes growing wild with panic. I would smile at her, wink at her, or just nod. She understood, and it was all she needed. She would take a deep breath, and she would continue the conversation, her smile as radiant as ever.

I also knew that she had fantastic fight-or-flight reactions, and since she hadn’t fled, she was going to fight through it.

Only this time, she wasn’t fighting with her words or with violence.

She was using her other superpower. She was fighting with resilience.

Instead of being resilient through training herself to be uncaring, she was pushing herself through, having the confidence that she was worthy and belonged.

With grit and determination. Rachel could get through anything – she’d already been through the worst. She just had to believe in herself.

Which is why I hadn’t intervened when she threw panicked looks my way – looks she probably hadn’t even realised she gave me.

She was searching for an anchor, without realising she was her own anchor, her own strength.

I left her, letting her work out how to handle her emotions.

She didn’t need me to rescue her. I was not her saviour.

She could, and would, save herself.

And that’s exactly what my girl did.

I watched as her spine straightened and she plastered a grin on her face, answering the questions from my club members, faking it until she made it.

As the night progressed, the spine relaxed. The smile became less forced. And she realised she had found her place. No-one here would harm her, no one here would make her feel less than. She was free to be herself.

And with that, she freed herself.

I was sat watching as she danced, her hips moving freely, her arms swaying.

She laughed at something Shark said and gestured to the bar for another drink to be brought over.

He tripped over himself to rush a drink to her, and I bit back my grin.

Despite the difficult start, she had won over everyone here.

She had even flirted with a couple of the more boisterous men, throwing teasing looks my way.

My teeth had gritted, my jaw tensing, but I stayed where I was.

I hated to admit it, but I actually liked seeing her flirt with other people.

I liked the tiny glimmer of hope in their eyes, thinking they might have a chance with her.

It was a fucking turn on knowing she was going to be in my arms tonight.

She belonged to me, despite how many other people might crave her.

The music slowed, and through the crowd, Rachel locked eyes with me. Her body swayed, her hips rotating, her eyes seducing me. She wasn’t trying to be sexy; she wasn’t calling to me; she was just moving her body in time to the music, effortlessly arousing.

I shuffled in my chair, my cock hurting as it strained against my trousers to be free, to sink inside her and return home.

But I waited.

Rachel could enjoy her party, and tonight, I would enjoy Rachel.

No games. No arguing. Just us.