Ten
Shark
I t’s early, but the sun is already shining brightly when I step into the kitchen. I find the large kitchen island covered with a full breakfast spread.
“Well, good morning,” Trish offers, handing me an empty plate to start filling. “There’s coffee ready too. Go ahead and grab what you want, then you can join the rest of the guys in the dining room.”
“Thanks,” I answer, my morning voice still raspy. I haven’t had a smoke yet, but this food looks too fuckin’ good to wait. “I can’t believe you do this every morning,” I say, starting to pile on scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits.
“Don’t really have a choice. This crew is like feeding an army,” she grins back before slipping into the pantry.
I’ve been here just over a week now, and other than my first morning bowl of cereal, every other day has been a fucking feast. And Carrie definitely takes care of us at home, but this shit is next level. The sound of clicking heels enters the room as I continue to load up my plate.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the girls around here are already up and strutting around. They definitely pull out all the stops trying to grab the attention of any willing male. But as I turn, I catch sight of her.
It’s been almost a week since she caught me in the pantry. I know she’s been avoiding me, which has probably been for the best, but it hasn’t made it any easier to stop thinking about her. Her appearance in my mind teases me daily, usually while I’m in the shower, or late at night when I’m lying in bed alone.
Her long blonde hair hangs down over her shoulders, and a creamy white top clings perfectly to her chest, only tempting me more. A slim blue skirt hugs her hips, stopping just above her knee, and her feet sit in a pair of high black heels. She clears her throat, and I look up, peeling my eyes away from her body.
“Day-um,” I breathe. Her eyebrows raise as she reaches for the coffee pot, and I instantly realize I’ve said it out loud.
“Good morning,” she snips softly, barely looking at me.
I honestly don’t blame her after the last time she saw me, pants down in the pantry with my dick in Sierra’s mouth. I wouldn’t want to look at me either. But I can still try.
“Mornin’, darlin’,” I drawl. “You’re all fancied up today. Got some big plans?” I ask.
“Just work,” she answers, clearly not wanting to talk to me.
“Work?” I question in surprise. I hadn’t expected that answer.
But she doesn’t answer. I watch as she pops the top on a bottle of flavored creamer, and pours some into her travel mug, before twisting the lid on and walking back out the door.
“And, what was that all about?” Trish asks nosily as she pops back out from the pantry. Obviously, she had been hiding in there and eavesdropping.
I shrug in response, not wanting to feed her imagination or start any fucking rumors.
“Seriously? That is the coldest reception I’ve ever seen that sweet girl give anyone around here. Not sure what you did to her, but you better watch yourself,” she tells me.
“Thanks for breakfast,” I answer before turning to join the rest of the boys in the dining room. I know Trish is trying to help, but I’ve already heard it.
???
After finishing breakfast, Ray gave me and Pike instructions to bring the prospects back to the shooting range to see how much of my training they’ve retained. I watch as West and Miles get set up at their stations, both handling themselves much better. It’s clear they’ve been practicing since I brought them here last week. I know I have just as much experience as Pike, but this is his club, so I hang back and let him take the lead.
Ray knows my history, my upbringing. He’s well aware of the fact that I learned to handle a gun almost as early as I learned to walk. It’s the main reason I’m here to help with training, but that doesn’t mean it’s my place to take charge. I’m here to assist if Pike needs me, but being the boss has never appealed to me. I mean, shit, I could’ve been president.
It’s in my fucking bloodline. My Grandpop was a founding member. He started the garage and built the club up around it. My dad grew it; he made it bigger than Pops ever dreamed. And he’d still be in charge if we hadn’t lost him. My uncle took the lead for about a minute, and when he disappeared the option fell to me.
But I didn’t want it.
I had already embraced my role as enforcer, and it was what I wanted to keep doing. I backed Ryder instead and he got voted in. He was the best choice, he’s the real leader.
I step up to the empty station to the right of West and pull out my Glock, flipping the safety off.
???
After unloading for the third time into a fresh paper target, I’m done. Pulling the trigger and emptying the clip felt good, but it was a pathetic substitute for the release I really need. But that’s never going to happen.
It’s like no matter where I turn lately, everything I want is off limits. Vegas was supposed to be my escape, a way to clear Jade from my mind. Well, it fuckin’ worked. The problem is Scarlett has quickly taken her place. Just another beautiful woman I’m forbidden to touch.
“Alright, boys. This shit is starting to look decent, but it’s time to pack it up,” Pike announces, staring down at his phone.
“Ray wants us back,” he lowers his voice in my direction. “Apparently he’s got a meeting with a couple of swinging dicks and he wants our presence to be seen. There’s no real threat, but they’re some guys with new money and he wants it to be clear that we’re not to be messed with.”
“Sounds like fun,” I respond.
I’ll take any chance to flex my power as an enforcer. I love that shit. It’s the best fuckin’ feeling. Well, maybe a close second to fucking. But right now, I’ll take what I can get.
???
After a quick ride back, Pike and I pull up beside a small building set to the left of the main structure, while the two prospects continue on to the clubhouse. I haven’t been inside yet, but apparently Ray runs the construction business out of this office.
I follow Pike up a small staircase and step into the cool air-conditioned entryway. It’s quiet, but Ray requested our presence, so we must be here for a reason.
“I’m gonna hit the head,” Pike shares as he nods toward a door on the right. “You can go ahead inside,” he adds.
I move through the door on the left and into a large, open office area. Chairs line the side wall in front of the windows, while the opposite wall is lined with large metal filing cabinets. A small desk sits in the far center of the room, and another door is just beyond, on the far wall.
I take two steps into the room and the far door opens. My eyes fall on her legs first, but it’s her voice that really gets my attention.
“I’ll be right back with a few bottles of water for you,” she says, and I can see the smile on her face as she turns. Her eyes fall on me and it quickly vanishes.
“Could I have a bottle of water too?” I grin in question.
“Feel free to grab one from the fridge if you’re thirsty,” she offers a clipped answer. She has no idea just how fucking thirsty I am.
I watch as she bends over and opens a mini fridge situated behind the desk. My eyes locked on her round ass as her skirt stretches, clinging tightly to her curves. I step closer to the desk, and I know I’m too close when she stands, but I can’t seem to stop myself.
She’s holding four bottles of water against her chest as she stands. She instantly freezes, feeling my presence now looming behind her.
“You really should be more careful bending over when you’re wearing a skirt. That shit makes men’s imaginations go crazy,” I whisper roughly and her body offers a gentle shiver.
She turns, trying to hide her reaction, but it’s too late. Her breathing has quickened, and her chest is heaving in her low-cut top, only fueling my already filthy thoughts.
“Oh really? Men, or you?” she questions bravely.
I lift my hand, tracing my thumb softly over her jawline. “Both. Any man alive would want to bend you over this desk, pull up that skirt and spread those legs,” I tell her, feeling my cock harden as I say the words and imagine doing just that. Her chest flushes a perfect shade of pink that quickly spreads up her neck before settling into her cheeks.
“I’ve…uh, I have to bring these bottles of water into the meeting,” she stumbles over her words.
I take another second to envision her bent over the desk, before stepping aside to let her pass. She moves back through the far door to deliver the water as promised, and I reach down opening the fridge to pull out my own bottle of water. I twist off the top and gulp down half the bottle, needing to cool off after our brief interaction.
My dick starts to calm down and relax away from my zipper, and I take another long pull from the bottle of water before recapping it. I can manage my own excitement, but I guarantee based off her reaction, that her panties are fucking soaked. And I know I’m supposed to keep my distance, but something about the way she looked at me has me quickly spiraling.
If this office had been empty, and it was just the two of us, I think she would’ve lifted that skirt herself and begged me to take her. And despite the warnings, I wouldn’t have hesitated to give her exactly what she wanted.