Page 8

T he sun is warm against my skin, and the air smells like smoke and charred meat. The yard is packed, chaos in every direction as the club throws what Mera calls a proper party . I stand on the deck, arms folded, watching as the guys set up makeshift tables with plywood and sawhorses, covering them with anything they can find.

People are everywhere.

I have never seen a gathering quite like it.

It is exciting. I can’t deny it.

Having convinced myself I’m not pregnant, because I don’t feel sick anymore, I sip a drink. I should test, I know I should, but I can’t think about it right now. Besides, Mera is likely wrong. Cyrus and I only had sex twice and I doubt I’d be pregnant so fast. Besides, I wouldn’t be feeling better, right?

Music blasts from the clubhouse, loud and gritty, and I can feel the bass thumping in my chest. Women laugh and flirt, their bodies pressing against the bikers in ways that make me a little jealous. I would love nothing more right now than to let myself go like that. To feel a man up against me.

Talon’s rejection still lingers in my chest, making it sting every time I think about it.

Maybe tonight, it’s time I let go.

“Looking a little lost there, darlin’,” Kael says, appearing beside me, smelling incredible and looking equally as good.

“I’m just trying to figure out where to go first,” I laugh.

He chuckles, his eyes warm. “Stick with me, you’ll get the hang of it. Ain’t as crazy as it looks.”

I raise a brow. “I think you’re lying.”

His laughter is light, and it eases some of the tension in my chest. I watch as he moves through the crowd, his presence commanding, but in a way that makes everyone smile. He’s probably my favorite out of the entire group. He just has this easygoing vibe that makes me feel so comfortable.

Knox and Zane are by the grill, a haze of smoke rising around them, their faces set in concentration as they flip burgers and ribs. My stomach rumbles and I know that is going to taste damn good later. I bring the glass to my lips, sipping as I continue people watching, still not fully ready to go down there.

“It’s crazy, right?” Mera says, stepping up beside me. “I remember my first cookout, I couldn’t believe how many people came in.”

I nod, staring out over the sea of people. “I’ve never seen this many people in my life, which I think is sadder than anything.”

She chuckles. “Well, that means it’s the perfect time to let your hair down.”

“I’m ready,” I grin. “I need a distraction.”

“We could try Talon again you know, give him something to be jealous about,” Mera grins.

“I have a feeling he doesn’t get jealous.”

She winks. “Trust me. Come on.”

I take her hand when she offers it, following her, certain this is likely a very bad idea. Still, I can’t help but wonder what her plan is. It’s about time I let everything else go, and just enjoy one night. Hell, it’s probably the last night I have left and I’m not about to waste it.

Mera drags me down the steps and into the chaos, where music pounds and people mill around everywhere. Laughter and voices swirl around us, and I can’t help but catch the contagious energy. My heart does something strange in my chest, and I feel that unfamiliar pull of joy tugging at the corners of my lips.

“Dance with me!” She tugs my hand, not giving me a choice.

We move to a clear spot and when a song comes on, Mera starts moving, her smile infectious as she laughs loudly. I join in, laughing as she twirls me, my bare feet hitting the ground. I can’t remember feeling anything like this—free, unburdened, happy.

The music shifts, a deep bass line rumbling through my bones. Mera whoops, grabbing my hands, and we move together. I close my eyes and let it wash over me, pretending, just for a moment, that I don’t have a world of chaos waiting to swallow me whole.

I open them, and my gaze catches on Talon.

He’s standing near the doorway, arms folded, eyes locked on me. A rush goes through me, hot and electric, and I bite my lip to stop the need becoming clear on my face. He knows by now I want him, and yet the expression he’s giving me is almost hungry. When his lips drop to mine, my skin prickles.

Then I see her.

A blond girl moves up to him, her hips swaying with the music. I can’t move my eyes away as she turns her back to him, grinding against him as she moves, and he does nothing to stop her. Not a single fucking thing. He lets her grind against him and the entire time his eyes don’t move from mine.

Anger bubbles in my chest.

Mera sees my face and turns, following my gaze. She lets out a low whistle. “Looks like someone is trying to get a rise out of you.”

I shake my head, trying to act like I don’t care. “He can do what he wants.”

She laughs, pulling me back to face her. “Girl, please. I know what he’s doing, even if you don’t. Two can play at that game, you know.”

She’s right.

Two certainly can play at that game.

We keep moving, and I try to forget Talon for now. Instead, I focus on the fun I’m having, and the trail of laughter that leaves my throat as Mera and I bounce along to the music.

I try to forget everything but this moment.

Mera catches sight of Kael, waving him over with a grin that’s all mischief. He approaches, eyes bright and a little wild, and I know exactly what she’s planning. Butterflies swarm in my stomach, a mix of nerves and excitement.

"You two need a third?" Kael asks, grinning.

God, he’s cheeky. I love that about him.

Mera laughs. "Teach this girl how to really dance."

Kael looks to me and I blush, nodding. He doesn’t need any further encouragement, so he steps closer, hands sweeping around my hips as he pulls me close. His easy-going attitude washes over me, and I relax. My body seems to have a mind of its own, moving with Kael’s as my cheeks flush with heat. He’s warm and solid, and I can’t help the breathy laugh that escapes my lips.

I’m lost in the moment, completely lost, when I suddenly feeling Kael being pulled away from me. Standing next to us is Talon, his eyes flashing with rage as he growls. “Get your fuckin’ hands off her, brother. She’s not a plaything.”

My brows go up.

Kael releases me, holding his hands up. "Easy, man. Just havin’ a dance."

Talon bares his teeth in an angry growl, before taking my arm and hauling me away. I stumble, trying to get catch my footing as he pulls me away from the crowd. Mera was right. He is playing a game, but he doesn’t like it being thrown back at him.

“Let me go,” I snap, jerking my arm from his grip and spinning towards him, my face scrunched with rage.

“What the fuck kind of game are you playin’ at?”

My chest heaves. "What do you care?"

"You know damn well why I fuckin’ care."

“You have no right to tell me what to do, or pull me away from anyone.”

His jaw tightens. "I got more right than any of them."

"Yeah?" I say, my voice rising. "Because all I see is you letting other girls grind on you. You made it pretty fucking clear last time that you didn’t want me and now you’re acting like a fucking jealous boyfriend. Make up your mind, biker. I’m not a toy."

“Don’t play with me, Nia.”

His jaw is tight as we stand off, facing one another with a ferocity that I feel deep down to my bones. I don’t back down. I’m tired of being the one to cave. I made it clear what I wanted from him. He was the one who said no. He doesn’t get to come in here and act like a jealous lover.

“I’m not the one playing. In fact, I have made it very clear what I want, Talon. You were the one who chose not to take it because you think I’m weak. Just like everyone else around here. So, if you won’t give me what I want, and you don’t want me, there are no rules against me finding someone who does.”

My voice shakes, but I stand my ground.

I’m done being told what to do, how to feel and when I can make choices. My entire life has been controlled by others, it’s about time I took that back.

He steps closer, the heat of him overwhelming. "You think I don’t want you. Fuck. I want you more than I’ve wanted anything in my entire fuckin’ life."

I swallow, my heart in my throat.

My breath leaves me in a rush. "Then stop acting like you don’t."

He doesn’t hesitate, his hand lashes out, curling into my top as he hauls me against him. His lips crash down on mine, and it’s a violent force of need and desperation. His hands stay firmly clutching my shirt, holding me tight, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go. I melt into him, every defense crumbling, the world fading until there’s nothing but the two of us.

The kiss is everything, even better than the first. It’s wild and unrestrained, all-consuming. I lose myself in it, in him, and the ache in my chest shifts to something else—something raw and real and terrifyingly perfect. I want him. I know he wants me. I’m done waiting.

“I want you, Talon,” I murmur against his lips.

He answers by hauling me into his arms and turning, striding away.

I guess he wants me, too.

Finally.

TALON TAKES ME TO THE small building out back, the one he brought me to the night I couldn’t sleep. He kicks the door open, carrying me inside, like some kind of leather-bound hero. My heart flutters. He lays me down by the fireplace after throwing a blanket down, and the material is soft beneath me.

His eyes are dark, consuming, and my entire world narrows to just him. A shiver runs through me. He traces my lips with his thumb, his hand trailing slowly down my throat, my chest, my stomach, until I’m burning everywhere his fingers touch. There is something so rough, so edgy about him and yet his fingers move with grace, skill.

I’ve never wanted anything in my entire life as much as I want him.

“Tell me you want this,” he growls, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through my whole body.

“I want it,” I breathe, my voice already so unsteady, so fucking wrecked .

His hands are either side of my head as his body hovers over mine, large and absolutely fucking gorgeous. His mouth closes down over mine again, and I’m lost, completely lost in the way he touches me, the way he makes me feel like I’m the only thing that matters. My hoodie is gone in a second, and I gasp as his hand moves beneath my shirt, his fingers rough and warm against my skin.

He yanks the shirt over my head, and his eyes darken as he takes me in, my breasts on display for him to admire.

“Fuck, Nia,” he rasps, lowering down until his lips are brushing over my collarbone. “You’re perfect.”

I arch against him, desperate, aching, needing more. "Please," I whisper, the word a plea.

He listens. God, does he listen.

His mouth is hot against my skin, trailing lower, leaving a path of fire down my chest, his lips closing over my nipples, sending a sensation through me unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I gasp, my fingers curling into his biceps, little bolts of pleasure shooting through me.

He releases my nipple with a pop, growling against my flesh as he continues his path down. He stops at the top of my jeans, his fingers flicking the button open, and I can barely breathe. He’s everywhere and yet I need more. I want him to consume me, even if I am terrified. I have never felt anything like this with a man, and knowing Talon will be the first is electrifying.

He slides the denim down my legs, and I shiver in the cool air. His eyes are on mine as he kisses a slow path up my inner thigh. I gasp when he reaches my panties, carefully hooking his fingers in them and lowering the material down my legs. I bite my lip as he exposes me to him, and I can see the red-hot heat in his eyes as he looks down at me.

“You ever had this before?” he growls, running his finger up thigh, looking up at me with those intense eyes.

“No,” I whisper. “Only sex. Just plain, simple sex. Nobody has ever...touched me like this.”

“You trust me?”

I nod.

He makes a low, satisfied sound, and then his mouth is on me again, moving to my center and slowly pushing my legs wider. Then, his mouth closes over my clit and he begins to lick, each touch of his tongue is careful but relentless, exploring me with a precision that is incredibly skilled. I try not to think about how many women before me have been right where I am now.

Tonight, Talon is mine.

I try to stay quiet, to hold onto some piece of myself, but my body is arching, greedy, and I hear my own gasps and cries echoing in the room. The world narrows to the heat of his mouth, the scrape of his stubble against my skin, the way his hands grip my hips, pinning me down when I start to lose control.

I’m gasping, moaning and writhing, but he doesn’t stop, not even when my legs are shaking around him and my fingers are clawing at the blanket. The pleasure building is unlike anything I have ever experienced and before I know what’s happening, it explodes, an orgasm crushing my body with the sheer weight of it.

It is spectacular.

He slows, gentles, drawing out the last shudders with his mouth until I’m limp and breathless beneath him. The room tilts around me, and I feel like I’m floating, disconnected from everything except this moment, with him. If I could experience that again, a million times over, I would. Without a second thought.

Talon moves, tossing his clothes away until he is fully naked above me, his body large and covered in tattoos. Perfect and delicious. I reach out, stroking my finger down the hard ridges of his chest. God he’s fucking incredible. Muscled, dangerous, covered in beautiful colors that are so intricately etched into his skin.

He captures my hand, bringing my fingers up to his lips. “You’re fucking beautiful.”

I’ve never been beautiful before, not in a way that felt like this. I’ve been obedient, been pure, been everything I was supposed to be for everyone else. But beautiful? It feels incredible to hear those words come from someone in a way that is meaningful and true.

I tilt my face up to his, searching his eyes for something I don’t know how to name. He looks back down with a hunger that sends a shiver up my spine. I want to feel him inside me, I need to know what being with Talon is like. I need to erase every other memory of Cyrus and replace it with only him.

“You sure you want this?”

I nod, breathless. “Oh yes.”

A low growl escapes his lips.

“Do you want this?” I whisper.

“Fuck, yes,” he murmurs, his hands trailing over my body like he can’t quite believe I’m real. He rolls, pulling me until I’m on top of him, straddling him, and the friction sends sparks through every nerve, every cell. His hands are on my hips, and he gently begins rocking me. I can feel the hard length of him beneath me, and I shiver with need.

I grind against him, a gasp escaping my lips as his grip tightens, as his body tenses beneath me. There is nothing between us now, and I slide myself along his cock, feeling the hard length pushing against me. His hands are on my back, my hips, pulling me against him, and I cry out, the sound raw and desperate and echoing in the small room.

“God, Nia,” he groans, his voice rough, like gravel, like sin. “You’re gonna fuckin’ be the death of me.”

“It feels so good,” I moan, rubbing myself against his cock, creating enough friction against my clit to bring me closer to the edge.

Just before I can find my release, he rolls us against, hovering back over me, wedged perfectly between my legs. He is pressing against me, a warning of what is to come. I’m more than ready for it.

“Please,” I beg.

“Fuck,” he breathes, his lips at my ear. “Nia, I—”

I don’t let him finish. I arch against him, pulling him closer, pulling him in. He slides into me, stretching me for him, his cock sending little bursts of pain through me. It’s the delicious kind, though, and I groan as I feel myself adjusting around him. Talon is big, and I can feel every rigid inch of him inside me.

And then there is nothing but us.

He moves, dragging himself in and out, and I’m with him, moving, meeting him, losing myself as I arch, taking each thrust. I feel him everywhere, consuming me, filling me, and the desperation, the need, it builds and builds until I’m breaking, until I’m screaming with pleasure, my nails running down his back.

I have another orgasm, only this one is so much more powerful. I feel it in every cell of my body. Talon is close behind and the feral rasp that leaves his lips has me shivering. It is so intense, so filled with pleasure, and it’s all for me . Each pulse of his cock inside me is proof of that.

And then we’re still, tangled together, the only sound our ragged breathing, the crackle of the fire. My chest is rising and falling and I’m coated with sweat, but my God, the things I am going to do to feel that again and again, before my time runs out with Talon. Because I fear it will run out. I fear that the universe is going to try and pull us apart.

Or maybe it will be him that does it.

So for now, I’m going to enjoy every single second.

Talon looks down at me, his expression intense.

“How long until we can go again?” I ask, then offer him a cheeky smile.

He chuckles. “Fuck. I knew it. Death of me.”

My laughter fills the small room.

And for the first time in my life, I feel something I have never felt before... content .