Saved by the Outlaw: Motorcycle Club / Hitman Romance (45 page)

Ivan has shed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, revealing thick, muscled forearms, and more importantly, the powerful hands at the ends of them are holding a large bowl of steaming, delicious-smelling soup. The only thing missing for a perfect hallmark moment would be if he was wearing my apron. Still, I have to put a hand to my mouth to keep my jaw from dropping at the sight.

"I hope you don't mind," he says with a sheepish smile, setting the soup and a napkin down on the coffee table. "I was looking for something to warm you up when you woke, but I came across some ingredients for something a little close to home. It's just chicken soup, but the way my mother used to make it." His smile splits into a genuine grin. "You keep a good stock of spices, so I couldn't help myself. It's been awhile since I've had a chance to make it. Kind of a comfort food."

I'm just stupefied for a few moments, and I pull the blanket a little higher up to my neck. A smile is tugging at my lips. I haven't smelled the aroma of home-cooked food in a long time. Running a club has meant a lot of microwave meals.

A few moments later, the two of us are sitting at opposite ends of the coffee table.

"Ivan, this is incredible," I say between spoonfuls of the broth, and I mean it. The soup warms my whole chest, relieving the soreness in my stomach in a subtle, reassuring way. "I don't know what to say. I mean, thank you!" My eyes meet his a moment, and there's an affectionate glint in his.

"It's not necessary," he says after a mouthful, setting his bowl down. "Katy, I'm sorry for everything this has put you through. Business is business, you understand."

"No, I do," I say hurriedly, biting my lip before proceeding. "There's been something on my mind, and I think this is as good a time as any."

Ivan tilts his head, and I hold the warm soup close to my chest, heating the cocoon of blanket I'm wrapped in. I stare at the floor for a long while before looking into his eyes, resolution now firmer than ever, and a small smile spreads across my lips.

"I'll take your offer."

I
t’s
New Year’s Eve, and I still haven’t told anyone about the deal.

I hold the ladder steady for Natalie as she works on the light fixtures for the big night. New Year’s is always a booming event for any club, anywhere. In Brighton Beach, though, it’s all the more important that everything go off without a hitch. People come from all over to start the New Year with a bang, and the Amber Room is not going to miss out on those crowds.

Especially since I’ve got the money to make that happen now.

To my surprise, that’s been the biggest change in my life since agreeing to be Ivan’s for a year. Even when I first accepted his deal, I knew the dizzying high I got from the outpour of affection wouldn’t last. Later that very night, I started to worry about whether he’d change for the worse as soon as it started, but so far it’s felt like, well, having a boyfriend.

He started by telling me that we were going to stop selling my stuff, and that alone took a huge weight off my shoulders. We put all of my possessions back into place, and he even helped me reorganize some of the house, which was long overdue. He hasn’t even told me to move in with him, which I thought would happen right off the bat.

Instead, I’ve found myself with breathing room to get the club back on its feet with the spare money I have.

And I’m not wasting any time putting it to use.

“Okay Natalie, 2016. Is that motorcycle ride gonna happen for me now, or what?” Ashton chimes from across the room while she moves around the walls, changing bulbs on the floodlights. She’s been trying to get Natalie to let her ride her bike since getting hired.

“What’s that? Can’t hear you, the lights are a little loud up here,” she calls back, half-hidden in the hanging lights.

On a regular day, the ceiling looks like a starry sky, a canvas of hanging lights that make the little club seem like a ballroom. For tonight, Natalie’s brought out the heavy artillery: amber lights in ornate patterns around the whole room, almost doubling the brightness of the room, set to light up at the stroke of midnight. Natalie used to work on theater sets, so she volunteered to handle the “stage-setting” for tonight.

“Tch,” Ashton clicks, “you never let me have any fun.”

“Do too. I let you help me wax it last time.”

“That wasn’t as fun as you said it would be.”

“See?” Natalie winks down at me, “She doesn’t even appreciate my heartfelt generosity.”

I roll my eyes. “Anyway, are you sure this stuff is safe? It’s been a good couple of months, but I don’t think a fire inspector having an aneurism in the building would do much to keep it that way.” All I’ve told the staff is that the payments have been worked out. They got the message not to press further.

“I mean,” Natalie puts a hand on her hip, tilting her head to the side, “the chances of something happening on one night are, like, pretty slim, you know? And besides, if something does go up in flames, we can use Charlie as a wet blanket, right Charlie?”

The bouncer in the corner doesn’t look up from his phone, but grunts noncommittally. He’s been on dating websites all morning.

“What’d I tell ya?” Natalie grins back at me, climbing down from the ladder and scooting it over a few feet to start working on another section of the ceiling. “Anyway, everyone will be too distracted getting a New Year’s Eve kiss to notice a little electrical fire, yeah?”

I snort. “No, see, it’ll be too hot in here already from that, we don’t need any more heat adding to it!”

We laugh, and my mind wanders to Ivan. I haven’t heard from him all day. He hasn’t said anything about plans for tonight. Maybe he isn’t much of a New Year’s kind of guy?

That’s going to make tonight hard to dance around, I realize, as Natalie peers down at me mischievously.

“So, Katy, with business up again, are you gonna let yourself cut loose for a kiss? You’ll have the lion’s share of the men tonight, after all. They’ll practically line up for you.”

“Somehow, I don’t think ‘make out with a club owner’ is on the top of many people’s New Year’s resolution lists, Nat.” I narrow my eyes with a smile and divert the question, “What about you? ‘Hot bartender with a hot ride’ reads as pretty kissable to me.”

“Pssh,” Natalie dismisses, climbing down from the ladder and helping me fold it up. “I don’t need to wait for a special occasion, I can get some action whenever I want.”

Ashton snickers in the back while Charlie looks up with a grin. “Speak for yourself. Boss, I’ve been thinkin’ about this idea I’ve got, ‘kiss for a cover charge,’ kind of like a happy hour. You think tonight I could…”

“Alright,” I raise my voice, though I’m unable to hold back a smirk, “don’t forget we’re going to be WORKING tonight, everyone. Be ready to take numbers and get lucky AFTER we’re rolling in the New Year’s Eve income.”

The crew mumbles a vague assent, and the decorations proceed through the morning.

But every few minutes, I can’t help but check my phone. There’s a lot at stake tonight, both for the club and for me.

* * *

T
echnically
, the club has a maximum capacity. Tonight, I’m pretending like it’s at least double what it is every other day of the year. I’m the boss, I can do that.

The Amber Room is so packed I can hardly see over the crowds of people from the elevated stage on the north side of the club.

I’m in a short red dress for the evening instead of the usual black. It isn’t that different of a cut, but even while I’m staying professional, I want to start the New Year with something a little, well, fresh. My shoes are jet-black and my lipstick matches the dress, so between my heels and the platform, I feel like a queen surveying my dominion as I lean on the leather couch, having just greeted a couple of VIPs who are enjoying the stage. The VIP lounge was already booked up long before tonight.

I can almost feel the floor shaking under the rhythm of the dancers jumping to the DJ, who happened to be one of Brooklyn’s up and comers, if Natalie’s word was good. And it usually is.

That isn’t the only thing drawing the crowds, though. Some of that extra cash went to advertising, and I made sure not to hold back for tonight. This may as well have been a grand re-opening.

The bar is barely visible over the sea of people, now well into their drinks, but I can make out the top of Natalie’s head as she, and her new hires we were able to afford, frantically move around the bar. Under her watch, I know I don’t have anything to worry about on that end.

I feel a genuine smile break past my natural anxiety over the busy evening. I never realized how much that money would help, but it’s been more refreshing than I ever could have hoped. Even if its source does make me a little nervous when I remember it.

Midnight is approaching, and I’m admittedly a little excited to see how the partiers enjoy the light show. I had to go home to get ready for my appearance tonight, but Natalie stayed behind to rig a few surprises that even I haven’t seen yet.

Just as I’m thinking about trying to wade across the crowd to get to a drink, Ashton bustles up the stage, delivering a few martinis to the VIPs and winking at me.

“So, you pick out your New Year’s special for tonight yet?”

I give her a chiding smile. “Oh, I’m sure something will come along, just stay focused on raking in the tips for now.”

“Laaaame,” she says, scooting closer to me and leaning in so she doesn’t have to shout the conversation. “You know, there’s a truckload of models here tonight, and I just know a few of them are looking your way. Do you even know how gorgeous you look? You KNOW dozens of guys out there want to be the power couple with you tonight.”

She grins and I roll my eyes, but as I open my mouth to reply, I notice my cell phone light up in my purse, and I pull it out.

It’s a text from Ivan.

“VIP lounge.”

I look at the message for a few moments blankly before it clicks, and my eyebrows go up.

“Whassit say?” Ashton chirps as she sticks her head over my shoulder curiously, and I hide the cell phone against my chest.

“None of your business, that’s what!” I tease. She makes a pouty face that I imitate, and she cracks up before waving a hand.

“Alright, alright, just don’t let business be the first thing on your mind when midnight rolls around!” She disappears into the crowd, and I breathe a sigh of relief and look at the text again.

Casting a glance around at the crowd one last time, I discretely make my way to the VIP lounge.

My heels click through the illuminated hallway as I make my way to the lounge. It’s not as grandiose as the main floor is, but it’s a comfortable, reserved atmosphere. I’d assumed a private party had rented out the place in advance, so the lights were kept dim enough for an easy, familiar atmosphere.

Suddenly, I start to worry. What if Ivan had wanted the VIP room to himself? What if he’s in there right now, arguing with the patrons that already paid for it? My footsteps quicken as I round the corner, by now expecting to see a full-blown fight happening at the end of the hall…

...but as softened music from the DJ played through the speakers reaches my ears, I see only Ivan sitting in the lounge facing the hallway, setting up a couple of fluted glasses next to a champagne bottle and setting them on the floor beside the couch.

He looks up as his ears pick up my footsteps, and that easy smile crosses his face again.

“You’re quicker than I expected,” he remarks, standing to his feet.

“I…”

I have no idea how he slipped past me without my noticing. He’s wearing a slim-cut suit as deep and stormy blue as his eyes, with a tie as black as the ceiling in the lounge. He strikes a starkly contrasting image to the orange room, yet he complements it like the centerpiece of the whole place.

“Ivan, I had no idea you were—”

He puts a finger to his lips, stepping forward slowly as his eyes take me in. I obey, letting my purse slip into a chair as he comes close to me with hungry eyes.

“You’re more beautiful than the day I first laid eyes on you,” he says, putting his hand on my arm and letting it run down its length. He takes my hand and gives a slight nod to the couch, leading me there with a gentle tug

"This is a new outfit," he points out.

"I've had a little extra spending money," I say back with a shy smile, and he guides me to sit down on the couch across from him. "I didn't know if I'd hear from you today, but—”

I'm quieted as he lifts my bare leg into his lap, running a warm hand up my thigh while his other hand unfastens the clasp of my shoe, letting it clatter to the ground.

"Did you think I'd let you say goodbye to this cold year alone?" he says in a low tone as he does the same to my other foot.

"Whatever you please," I say, my voice steady but my heart pounding.

Ivan tilts his head to the side. "You're uneasy, I can tell."

"Not because of you," I'm quick to backpedal, "these past couple months have been...absolutely unheard-of for business, I had no idea this place had so much potential to—”

"Katy," he hushes me with his voice, powerful hands massaging my tense calves, "Katy, listen to yourself. I don't have to touch you to know you're wound-up."

I lower my eyes bashfully, but he leans across the couch, turning my chin back up to meet his gaze, to which I obey.

"I want to make this evening something special. Soon, it will be a new year. I will see to it that you'll want to remember this one more than the last," he says, reaching a hand into his coat.

He withdraws a black silk blindfold.

My heart flutters, and I realize I'm instinctively biting my lip.

"I think this might help block out some of the distracting annoyances, no?" He stands up, leaving me draped over the couch, eyes even on him as he moves behind me and lowers the blindfold.

"All you need to do is take it off, if you wish, or tell me to do so. I won't refuse you." A smile spreads across his face again. "It would be no loss for me to see those beautiful doe eyes again."

That smile is the last thing I see before the cloth darkens my world.

My hands grip the edges of the couch in anticipation as I hear the sounds of his clothes coming off. I have no idea what he has in mind, and with my eyes shrouded in cloth, I'm entirely subject to his direction.

Strong hands feel up my sides and at his guidance, I wiggle out of my dress as he slips it off my shoulders, leaving me exposed on the couch before him. I can feel a flush in my face, and I bite my lip. I've never brought this kind of action to work. Ever.

Hell, I've never even changed clothes at the bar, and now I'm lying on a couch in nothing but the lacy underwear I put on this morning. I'm totally exposed, and my heart flutters at the thought that anyone could walk into the private lounge and see us like this — I didn't lock the door behind me, I was in such a rush to get to Ivan.

"You're still nervous," I hear Ivan's voice say as he guides my hands to rest up above my head, his other hand slipping around the back of my neck. My mouth parts, but I suddenly realize my body is too excited to compose a response.