3. Lock
LOCK
Three days since the rally, and I still can't get her out of my head.
I'm at the clubhouse, nursing a beer at the bar while Diesel argues with a prospect about carburetors. Ghost is in the corner on his phone. Rogue's holding court at one of the tables, telling a story about a deal gone sideways in Flagstaff.
Normal night. Normal noise.
Except I'm not paying attention to any of it.
I keep thinking about her. The way she kissed me back like she couldn't help herself. The fire in her eyes when she told me she didn't need rescuing. The way she pulled away, breathless, and said I can't even though we both knew she wanted to.
Josie.
And then she walked away. And I let her.
Because that's what she needed. Space. Time. A chance to figure out if this was real.
I know what it is for me. Knew it the second I saw her across that rally. Some things you just know.
She's not there yet. That's fine. I can wait.
But goddamn, the waiting is hard.
"You're doing that thing again." Rogue drops onto the stool beside me.
"What thing?"
"That thing where you stare into space like you're trying to solve the world's problems." He takes a drink. "Except I don't think it's the world's problems you're thinking about."
"Drop it."
"This about the woman from Ironwood? The one Colt was hassling?"
I don't answer. Which is answer enough.
Rogue grins. "I knew it."
My phone buzzes. I pull it out, expecting club business.
It's from Josie.
Hey. I owe you a drink. Dusty's on 9th. Tonight. 8pm. If you're free.
I read it twice. Something loosens in my chest.
Rogue leans over to look at the screen. "Well, well. Looks like she's not done with you after all."
I pocket the phone. Check my watch. Almost seven.
"I gotta go."
"Yeah, you do." He raises his beer. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"That leaves a lot of options."
"Exactly."
Dusty's is a dive on the edge of town — dim lights, sticky floors, the kind of place where nobody asks questions. Neutral ground.
Smart choice on her part.
I spot her the second I walk in. Back booth, something amber in a rocks glass, watching the door. Fitted top, dark hair loose around her shoulders.
There she is.
She sees me and her expression shifts. Not nerves. Hungrier than that.
I slide into the booth across from her. The air between us is thick, charged.
"You came," she says.
"You asked."
She flags down the bartender, orders me a whiskey without asking. Slides it across the table when it arrives.
"For what you did," she says. "With Colt."
"You don't owe me anything."
"I know. The drink was just an excuse." She takes a sip of her own, watching me over the rim. "I keep telling myself all the reasons this is a bad idea. And none of them matter when I'm lying in bed at night, thinking about that kiss."
Fuck.
She holds my gaze for a long moment. Then she stands, drops some bills on the table, and holds out her hand.
"My apartment's a block away. Come with me."
I don't hesitate.
Her place is small. One bedroom, tidy. I barely register any of it.
The door barely closes before she's kissing me — hands fisting in my shirt, pulling me down to her.
I let her have that moment. One second. Two.
Then I take over.
I spin her around, press her back against the door, and kiss her the way I've been wanting to for three days. Deep. Demanding. My hands grip her hips, holding her in place, and she moans into my mouth.
"Lock—"
"I've been thinking about this," I tell her, my lips trailing down her jaw. Her neck. "Couldn't stop."
"Yeah?" Her voice is breathless. Her fingers scramble at my shirt.
"Thinking about touching you." I yank her shirt over her head and she gasps. "Thinking about what sounds you'd make." I unclasp her bra, let it fall, and cup her breasts in my hands. "Whether you'd be as desperate for me as I am for you."
"Yes." She arches into my touch. "God, yes."
"Good." I pinch her nipple and she whimpers. "Because I'm done waiting."
After that, it's a blur.
Clothes coming off in a tangle — my cut hitting the floor, her hands shoving my jeans down while I'm kicking off my boots.
We're stumbling toward the bed, mouths barely separating, and I'm so hard it's painful.
Three days of wanting her. Three days of replaying that kiss.
And now she's here, warm and real and pulling me down on top of her.
I settle between her thighs and push into her and we both groan.
She's tight and hot and perfect and I know — I know — this isn't going to last. Three days of buildup and the feel of her around me and I'm already close, embarrassingly close, but she's arching up into me, gasping yes and more and harder, and I can't hold back.
I fuck her like I've been wanting to. Fast. Desperate. No finesse, no technique, just need. She's meeting me thrust for thrust, nails digging into my shoulders, and when she clenches around me and cries out I'm right there with her. Coming so hard my vision whites out.
I collapse on top of her, breathing ragged, my face buried in her neck.
"Fuck," I manage.
She laughs — breathless, surprised. "That was..."
"Fast."
"I was going to say intense." Her fingers trail up my spine. "But yeah. Also fast."
"Give me ten minutes."
"Ten minutes for what?"
I lift my head to look at her. "To do that properly."
Her eyes darken. "Oh."
I pull out of her slowly, then roll her onto her side and pull her back against me. Her back to my chest, her ass nestled against my hips. My arm around her waist, my nose in her hair.
We're both still catching our breath. Hearts pounding. Skin damp with sweat. I can feel every inch of her pressed against me — soft curves, warm skin, the slight tremble still running through her.
For a few minutes, we just lie there. Her breathing slows. Her body relaxes into mine. She probably thinks we're done. Thinks this is the part where we talk or fall asleep.
My hand starts to move.
Just lazy at first. Tracing up her stomach, feeling the muscles twitch under my fingers. Brushing the underside of her breast. She shivers but doesn't say anything. I do it again, circling closer to her nipple, and her breath catches.
I press my lips to the back of her neck. Just a soft kiss. Then another, trailing along to her shoulder. She tilts her head, giving me better access, and I take it — open-mouthed kisses along the curve of her neck, my tongue tasting salt on her skin.
"Lock..." My name comes out half-sigh, half-question.
"Shh." My fingers finally reach her nipple, rolling it gently, and she arches into my touch. I can feel her ass pressing back against me, and I'm already starting to harden again. "Just relax. Let me touch you."
She melts into me, and I take my time. Learning the weight of her breast in my palm. The way her breathing changes when I tug her nipple. The way she grinds back against me when I switch to the other side, her ass rubbing against my cock, which is now fully hard and pressed against her.
I scrape my teeth along her shoulder and she moans. I suck a mark into the curve of her neck and she whimpers, reaching back to grip my hip, pulling me tighter against her.
"I can feel you," she breathes. "You're—"
"I know." I rock my hips against her slowly, letting her feel exactly what she's doing to me. "That's what you do to me."
My hand drifts lower. Over her stomach. Along her hip. She tenses in anticipation, but I just trace lazy circles on her thigh. Close, but not where she wants me. My mouth finds the spot behind her ear and she shudders.
"You're teasing," she accuses.
"I'm savouring." I bite down gently on her earlobe. "We rushed the first time. Not rushing now."
"Lock—"
"Tell me what you want."
She grabs my wrist and shoves my hand between her thighs.
I laugh against her skin. "That works too."
She's wet — soaked — and the feel of her makes me groan against her neck. I slide my fingers through her folds and she moans, hips rolling into my touch. I find her clit and circle it slowly, so slowly, and she whimpers.
"More."
"More what?"
"Harder. Faster. Something."
"Not yet." I keep the same maddening pace, barely there, just enough to wind her up. My other arm is pinned under her, so I use it to palm her breast, rolling her nipple between my fingers. "I want to feel you shake first."
"You're evil."
"You'll thank me in a minute."
She's trembling now, her whole body taut against mine.
I can feel her pulse racing, feel the way she's trying to grind against my hand for more friction.
I don't give it to her. Just keep circling, slow and steady, pressing kisses to her neck, her shoulder, the soft spot behind her ear.
Until she's panting and desperate and right on the edge—
Then I stop.
"Lock." It comes out broken.
"Shh." I slide two fingers inside her instead, curling them up, and her fury dissolves into a moan. "I've got you."
I fuck her with my fingers, slow and deep, my thumb finding her clit again.
Building her back up. She's so sensitive, so ready, and this time when I feel her getting close I don't stop.
I press harder, move faster, and she comes with a sob, clenching around my fingers, her whole body shuddering against me.
I work her through it, gentling my touch as she comes down. When she finally goes limp in my arms, I pull my hand away and press a kiss to her temple.
"Good?"
"I can't feel my legs."
"That's a yes."
She turns in my arms to face me, eyes soft and dazed. Her hand finds my cock, hard and aching, and strokes me slow.
"Inside me," she says. "I want you inside me again."
I don't argue. I roll her onto her back and settle over her and sink into her with a groan.
This time is different. Slower. I can feel everything — the way she tightens around me, the way her breath hitches when I hit a certain angle, the way her fingers dig into my ass pulling me deeper. I brace myself on my forearms and watch her face as I move.
"God, you feel good," she whispers.
"So do you." I drop my head to kiss her, slow and deep, matching the rhythm of my hips.
She wraps her legs around my waist and I grind into her, hitting her clit with every stroke. We build together this time, unhurried, until she's gasping against my mouth and I can feel her starting to flutter around me.
"Come for me," I tell her. "Want to feel it."
She does — and I follow, burying myself deep and groaning her name.
For a long moment we just lie there, tangled up, neither of us willing to move.
"Okay," she finally says. "That was worth the wait."
I laugh, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Glad to deliver."
I pull out slowly, then gather her against me. She curls into my chest, boneless and satisfied.
"Stay tonight," she murmurs. Not a question this time.
"I'll stay."
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I ignore it. It buzzes again. And again.
"You should get that," she murmurs.
Three texts in a row usually means something. I reach over and check.
Rogue.
Heard you were seen at Dusty's with Colt's ex.
Word's spreading.
Might want to watch your back, brother.
Cold settles in my gut.
"What is it?" Josie asks.
I show her. Watch her face go pale.
"Shit. Already?"
"Doesn't matter." I set the phone aside and pull her closer. "We knew this was coming."
She's quiet for a moment. Then she nods, something settling in her expression.
Tomorrow, there'll be consequences. Questions. Threats.
But tonight, she's here. In my arms.
That's enough.