Vexed (9 page)

“Reed,” she whispers. Breathless. Gasping as I rock into her faster. “Don’t stop.”

“No. Can’t.” My hands grip her waist, holding her, staking a claim. “You’re mine. My girl.”

She moans but doesn’t answer.

I reach between us and drag my thumb over her clit, and she yelps. “My pussy, Athena. Mine. Say it.”

“Yours. I’m all yours. Only yours.”

“Better.” Fuck, it’s so good my brain’s about to crack in two. “You need to come for me, sweetheart.”

“I’m trying.”

“Don’t try.” I close my mouth over one tight nipple, licking and sucking, while I stroke two fingers over her clit in fierce circles. She’s gonna come for me or I’ll die trying.

A few seconds later, her body wrenches tight, she jerks under me, moans, and digs her nails into my shoulders.

I let go after that. She’s so beautiful. Jacking waves of pleasure take hold of me. White hot rushes of satisfaction. Like nothing—and I mean nothing—I’ve ever felt before. I press kisses against her shoulder and neck, inhale her sex-sweat scented skin and slowly come back to myself.

Shifting my weight off her, I ditch the condom. I use my last bit of energy to push myself up and shut off the camera.

“Tomorrow, we’ll watch that. Maybe do it all over again.”

She giggles and runs her leg against mine. “I don’t know if I can.”

I slide back down into the bed and snuggle her under the covers. She curls up against me like she belongs there. And she does.

The sex is fantastic, but I also want to know more about her. Know
her
. And strangely, I want her to know me.

“I want to take you to my shop tomorrow.”

Big, blue eyes blink a few times before she asks, “How come?”

“I’d like you to see where I spend a lot of my time. Maybe show you a few projects I’m working on.”

She hesitates before answering. “Okay. Sounds like fun.”

I hug her a little tighter and kiss her forehead. The warmth of her snuggling closer eases any doubts about taking this risk.

I
’m rudely interrupted
from our post-sex nap by my VP sending me a handful of texts.

Athena’s sound asleep on her stomach, her perfect little ass sticking up enough to make it real fuckin’ hard to get out of bed without fucking her again.

Hopefully, she’ll be like that when I return.

My dick gets hard thinking of watching that video with her later. Thinking of new things I want to film. This could turn into a full-time habit.

W
hat’s waiting
for me downstairs is the fuck who’s been nothing but a pain in my ass for months now.

Tucker. Karina’s father.

“What?” I snap as I lead him into my office.

“Can you call Dante down too?”

“Jesus, fuck. Really?” But I’m already yanking my phone out to send him a text.

I give him a pointed look after I set my phone down. “I’m tryin’ to make things right. That guy I hired to scare Karina…the one she said…hurt her? I tracked him down.” He waves a piece of paper in the air. “Think you can keep Dante from killing me if I hand it over?”

I roll my eyes, because honestly, no. My enforcer isn’t some pit bull I keep on a leash. “It’s a start.”

The big, snarling bastard shows up a few minutes later. “What do you want?” he growls when he sees Tucker. I wave him in and point to the seat farthest from Tucker—just in case.

“Tucker’s got some info for you.”

Dante shows the barest hint of interest.

“The guy who—”

“Molested your daughter?” I add helpfully. I hate this pansy fuck who never takes any responsibility for his actions.

He acts as if I hadn’t spoken, but his cheeks turn red. How such a sweet, gentle, smart girl can be related to this man baffles me. Thank fuck I’m the one who bought his debt and not someone else. This piece of shit would have had her turning tricks on a street corner to support his gambling habit. The irony of her ending up with a severe motherfucker like Dante is pretty funny.

“If she says so. I still don’t believe—”

“Shut the fuck up,” Dante snaps. “I know it’s hard for you to grasp this concept, but Karina doesn’t lie to me.”

Tucker has some balls. He doesn’t react at all. Just continues. “This guy was with Red Storm MC. One of their East Coast charters, but he went nomad. Name’s Hardy. He goes by Viper or something stupid like that.”

“Yeah. Where’s he now?”

“People I talked to think he’s either in Texas or Nevada. Deacon’s looking for him too.”

That’s…odd. Also odd that they’d give an outsider any information about a brother. “Why? If he’s nomad, what’s Deacon’s crew care?”

Tucker shrugs. “I think he fucked someone over. Either he’s
out bad
or he’s marked. I don’t really know much more than that.”

“Well, at least you’re not completely useless for once,” Dante says, snatching the paper out of Tucker’s hand.

“That’s a shit picture. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?” he asks, then tosses it my way.

“Best I could get,” Tucker whines.

I raise an eyebrow at Dante, and he stands. “I’ll put Luck on it.”

Figures. Luck seems to be the only brother Dante trusts one hundred percent with his girl. Fuck only knows what the three of them are up to. Dante leaves, and Tucker gets up to leave as well.

“Sit back down. We ain’t finished.”

Guilt flashes over his face. “What do you need?”

“This why you were up in Red Storm territory when you were supposed to be delivering our shit?”

“Yeah. I got a lead and followed it. Your stuff made it there on time.” He’s not lying. I got confirmation of it last night. Still fucking irritated he took a risk with club assets.

He pulls out an envelope and hands it over. “I even got some cash to pay my debt, since it looks like you and Karina ain’t gonna be a thing. You know I’m real sorry.”

I roll my eyes—Karina and I were never going to be a
thing
— but I snatch up the envelope. “Who’d you borrow it from?”

“No one.”

Tucker’s a shit liar. But I don’t give a fuck who he ripped off to pay me back.

“Oh, I also heard about Logan. He might be up in Seattle.”

“Think he’s trying to cross into Canada?”

“Maybe. What did he do? He’s patched, right?”

“Ain’t your concern. It’s club business.”

“Come on. I’ve known him since he was a kid. If you’re gonna kill him, I’d like to know.”

“Like I said, it doesn’t concern you. It’s club business.” It’s actually Dante’s business. Logan kidnapped Karina. Dante’s got every right to kill the little traitor. Of course, it’s more complicated than that. Then the thought of anyone taking Athena from me burns through my veins. Nope. Not complicated at all.

I’d kill anyone who came between us.

After eighteen years of gentle treatment, the pounding my pussy’s taken the last few days is enough that I’m a little relieved to wake up alone.

I bury my nose in Romeo’s pillow. The way I respond to his scorched grass and wind scent makes a liar out of my abused girly-bits. I’d jump him right this second if he was here.

Where is he?

I slip into another one of his club shirts. This one’s faded to a dull steel gray and soft. The club’s pissed-off bull on the back and “Prez” on the front. I’m guessing there aren’t a lot of these. I wonder if he’ll mind that I’m wearing it.

If we were at his house, or somewhere with any privacy, I’d just wear the shirt. But I could encounter any number of people in this clubhouse, so I slip on a pair of stretchy pants and head downstairs.

A familiar voice stops me from pushing my way into Romeo’s office. Mr. Rivers? Karina’s father. How does he even know someone like Romeo?

Then the words he said sink in.

“Looks like you and Karina ain’t gonna be a thing. Sorry about that.”

Romeo was interested in my best friend? Blood roars through my ears, drowning out anything else.

“You okay, darlin’?”

I’m jolted by a gentle hand on my shoulder and stare up into a stern, but not unkind face. “Luck, right?” I squeak out.

“Yeah. You looking for Romeo?”

“Sort of.”

His mouth tips into a smile at my vague answer. “Why don’t you wait by the bar?” He reaches past me and shuts the door to Romeo’s office.

We don’t make it to the bar before Romeo’s door opens. I turn, hoping to see him, but it’s Karina’s dad leaving. “Hi, Mr. Rivers,” I call out. Behind me, Luck laughs.

“Athena? What the hell are you doing here?”

“I, uh...came with Karina.”

“You shouldn’t—”

“She’s with
me
.” Romeo’s big frame fills the doorway and he muscles past Mr. Rivers. “You lookin’ for me, Shortcake?” The harsh tone of his voice and expression on his face softens as he approaches me.

“Yeah, kinda.”

I think the smile on his face is the first one I’ve seen outside the bedroom, and it’s completely focused on me. I sway a little on my feet, and he wraps me up in his arms, picking me up for a not-so-quick kiss.

When he sets me down, Mr. Rivers is gone.

“How do you know Karina’s dad?”

His smile vanishes. “That’s club business.”

My lips part for a follow up question, but he places a finger over my mouth. “Not your concern.”

The hot flare of my temper rising must be visible on my face. Romeo’s eyebrow quirks. “You offended, Shortcake?”

“Yes,” I snap as I turn to head upstairs.

He wraps his hand around my arm, pulling me back. “That’s the way it is around here. Ol’ ladies stay out of club business,” he says against my neck.

Confused, I shake out of his grasp. “I’m not an old lady.”

“No,” he agrees, so quietly I have to lean in closer to hear him. “Not yet.”

A
ll night
I’m back and forth in my head. Wait to explain to Romeo that I’m headed to California, or make a clean split?

I’m afraid if I tell him my plans, he’ll try to make me stay. And I’m afraid I won’t be strong enough to say no.

I already sent my deposit to my roommate weeks ago. Signed up for my acting class. I
have
to go.

That whole thing with Karina’s father and Romeo maybe being interested in her has been bothering me too. Even with him sound asleep next to me, I can’t shake the bad feelings that followed me all day after overhearing that conversation.

It wouldn’t be the first time a guy tried to use me to get close to my best friend.

I change my mind a thousand times as I slip out of bed, slide on a pair of jeans, collect my things, and scribble out a quick note.

Luck’s downstairs at the bar.

“Hey, Athena.”

I strain for a casual attitude. “Hey. You’re at the bar early.”

“Inventory, darlin’. Not drinking.”

“Oh.”

“Where you headed?”

“Um, home. Just need to check in with my parents before they like call the National Guard or something.”

He chuckles. “Good plan. Will we see you later?”

“Sure.”

I’m shaking like a leaf by the time I get into my car.

Why?

We haven’t made any promises to each other. He’s not my
boyfriend
. I don’t have to run my life decisions by him.

Common courtesy, nitwit.

I ignore that little voice.

I know I’m alone in my bed before I even open my eyes. No soft, warm girl curled up against me. The knowledge fully pulls me from sleep.

“Athena?”

The room’s completely still and quiet. Sitting up, I take notice of the fact that her bag’s gone. My eyes dart to every surface her stuff had been taking up space on, finding nothing.

What the fuck?

Then I see it. The little white piece of paper.

“
W
hat the motherfuck
is this shit?” I shout to the empty room. She left? Thank you?

This better be a motherfucking misunderstanding. Enraged, I storm downstairs to the parking lot. Her car’s gone.

I’m stunned stupid.

Next stop’s Dante’s door. His bike was in the parking lot, so I hope to fuck he’s here.

He answers breathless and shirtless and I don’t give one fuck what I might have interrupted.

“What?” he snaps.

“Where is she?” I’m too crazed to even form a more complete sentence.

“Who?”

“Athena.”

“How the fuck would I know?”

Karina’s voice drifts through the crack in the door, and I shove it open all the way. She’s scrambling into a T-shirt and I’m so fucked in the head, I can’t even appreciate the brief glimpse at her naked rack.

Dante knocks me back out of the room with a hand to my chest. A second later, Karina scurries around him.

“What’d she say?” she asks.

“Nothing. She left me a fuckin’ note.” I hand it to her and she reads it quickly.

“Oh, shit. I didn’t think she was still going.”

“Going where?” Dante asks before I get a chance.

Karina bites her lip and glances up at Dante as if asking for protection from my rage.

“Los Angeles,” she finally answers.

“What?” She could have said Mars for all the sense that makes to me.

“She wants to be an actress—”

“You knew about this?” I shout as I take a step closer.

The meaty hand is back at my chest, stopping me from getting any closer to Karina. “Watch yourself, fucker. Yell at her again, and I’ll tear your head off,” Dante says in a smooth, even voice that does little to calm me down.

Karina’s got inner strength, because even though I’m raging like a bull, she steps up and looks me in the eye. “She just told me about this plan of hers a few weeks ago. She supposedly has an apartment lined up—”

“What?” I hate how raw and hoarse my voice comes out, but I just spent fuck knows how many days with Athena and she never mentioned any of this.

“Babe, go call her,” Dante says, and Karina steps back inside the room.

“Sorry, brother. I didn’t know.”

“It’s going right to voicemail,” Karina says when she returns, the phone pressed to her ear. She looks up at me with apologetic eyes. “I’ve been telling her for days to talk to you about it.”

“She went by herself? Does she even know anyone there?” Dante asks.

“I don’t know. She told me she found her roommate on Craigslist. I warned her it sounded like a bad idea.”

“Jesus Christ, she could be meeting up with anyone,” I grumble. “Why didn’t you talk her out of it?”

“I tried, but Athena’s pretty headstrong when she wants to be,” Karina answers calmly.

Dante nudges her inside their room. “Go wait on the bed.” Great. How thrilling, my fucked-up situation can be an excuse for him to spank her ass or whatever kinky shit the two of them get into.

He steps out into the hall and shuts the door. “What do you want to do?”

I know he’s asking if I want his help going after her.

Fuck that.

“Nothing,” I say, straightening my shoulders. “It was just a fuck. Doesn’t mean shit. Just woulda been nice to have a head’s up so I could replace her.”

Dante shakes his head. I’m not fooling him.

I’m not fooling myself either.