Chapter 10
CHAPTER
TEN
Payden
The day is uneventful. Ryan whines like a bitch.
Honestly, he’s like a child who can’t find his pacifier.
Our boss is this close to throwing him off the case, and it’s starting to show.
I’m not saying Ryan isn’t doing a decent job, but he’s sloppy.
He relies on everybody else, then gives us all orders like he’s in charge.
I’ve no qualms with being part of a team, or taking direction, but I’m not gonna be barked at by him or anyone.
Everyone is on edge because of Cini Media’s big gun lawyers, and they don’t come to play.
I’m also dealing with another case in between; a domestic violence order involving a woman and her children. They’re in protective custody, which seems to be happening a lot more often these days than I care to admit. So to say tensions are high is an understatement.
Plus, I called Becca back and got her voice message.
I have no clue what’s going on, but I’ll get to the bottom of it.
She’s safe, and that’s all that matters, but I’d be lying if I said her message didn’t have me rattled.
To be honest, it isn’t the first time Becca has freaked out, and it won’t be the last.
When Luna asks me later if I’m still coming to the clubhouse for drinks, I take her up on the offer.
It’s been a long day, and there is also a chance I might get to see Logan again. Of course I also want to see my best friend and the girls, but my sex drive for Logan Dawson hasn’t just piqued, it’s off the scale.
Deep breaths, I tell myself. He barely ever comes to the clubhouse during the week…
The fact I even know that’s true is a testament to how screwed I am when it comes to him.
I remind myself it’s just sex. Nothing more. Okay, great sex, but if I only ever get to have it that once, it hardly seems fair. It almost feels as if the universe is punishing me.
I don’t change after work, I just go straight there, and Rip, one of the prospects, lets me in the gate.
“Hey there, little lady.” He tips his cap like a freaking cowboy.
I sigh. “What’s up, Rip?”
He looks me up and down and whistles. “Well, sugar, what’s up is my dick lookin’ at you in that getup.” He grabs his junk for good measure, giving me a grin with wiggling eyebrows.
Jesus H. Christ. He can’t be a day older than twenty-one, barely legal.
I try not to wince too much. He’s cute, but I’m not into younger guys. “Keep it in your pants, big boy. I don’t date minors.”
“I’m not a minor!” he calls after I pull past him and slide my window back up. “And you don’t know what you’re missin’ out on!”
I can only imagine.
I have absolutely no doubt that Rip does okay with the ladies, but he isn’t doing any of that shit in the clubhouse.
I might not be an ol’ lady, but they talk.
Any woman who frequents the club is off limits to prospects.
They’re here to learn, work and do all the shitty jobs the men don’t want to do.
If they’re lucky, they’ll earn their patch, but that usually takes a few years.
Even the sweet butts are off limits, and the ol’ ladies or club sisters—I’m considered one even though technically nobody has ‘claimed me’.
When a biker claims you as his ol’ lady, you’re his, and he’s yours.
You might even wear a cut yourself with ‘Property of…” on the back.
Some of the women wear them, but not all.
I shake my head imagining such a thought. I mean, are we living in the dark ages? Who is ever property of anyone anyway? I’ve seen so many divorces and messy splits over the years that I can’t keep track, as well as men who want to control women.
The men of this club? I’m not just sticking up for them when I say they’re different.
Despite women not making decisions at the table, they still have a strong vote behind closed doors, and there is no keeping down some of the ladies when it comes to opinions.
Deanna, Cash’s ol’ lady. Luna. Jas. Stella.
Willow. Star, Nevada’s ol’ lady, who’s also older than him.
Halo, Riot’s ol’ lady, and even Lace, Manny and Bandit’s ol’ lady—yes, they’re a throuple.
I cannot deny that I don’t envy that woman, not that I’ve ever had a threesome, but being sandwiched between two hot guys who are also hot for each other, sounds like my kinda fun.
Then I remember Logan. I wonder what he’d think about sharing me with another man. He probably wouldn’t care. It isn’t like he’s bothered texting me since our night of debauchery.
So fuck him.
I don’t need him to have a good time. I have my girls, and when Luna plonks a large cocktail in front of me, I give her a grateful smile.
“You’re the best,” I say as she plops into the booth seat next to me.
“I sense a little somethin’ somethin’.” She waves a palm in circles at me, and it’s just like Luna to know when something’s up. “Spill.”
“I slept with Logan,” I blurt.
Her eyes almost bug out of her head. “What the fuck?”
“I know. It’s a long story, and he hasn’t called or texted me or done shit since,” I go on like a broken record. “So that’s gonna be nice and awkward.”
“So that text you sent me earlier about us needing to talk?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. Logan was picking up Dozer and I thought it might be awkward. We both know you wouldn’t have been able to help yourself.”
She rolls her eyes. “Ha! I can be discreet.”
I give her a dead-pan look, taking a sip of the tropical sensation that I still have no clue what’s in it, but I taste the rum straight away. “Since when?”
“Very funny. Now tell me everything. How was it?”
“Ugh, amazing,” I sigh. “He’s a freaking god. His body is insane. He can go all fucking night, and…” I lower my voice. “His dick is pierced.”
There go her eyes again. “No way.”
“Yes way, and yes, before you ask, it’s big, fat and perfect, and now that I’ve had Logan Kool-Aid, I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t like this needy feeling. It’s not like me.”
“Why are you two squirreled away in the corner?” Stella asks, hands on hips as she narrows her eyes on us.
“Payden slept with Logan and his giant cock has sent her into a tailspin,” Luna blabs.
I smack her on the arm. “Subtle.”
Stella immediately sits down, a slow grin spreading across her pretty face. “Holy shit, no way.”
“That’s what I said,” Luna chides. “Logan’s hot. It’s about time we saw him with a good woman.”
Stella nods in agreement.
“Now wait just a minute,” I start, holding one finger up, but I’m distracted. It’s like I can sense him, and as my eyes divert, so do Luna and Stella’s heads.
Logan.
His eyes meet mine across the room. From this angle, his hair looks damp as if he’s just showered. He has his usual jeans, black t-shirt and cut on, and a little scruff on his face. I don’t know why seeing that dark shadow makes my insides jerk, but it does.
I look away first like the coward I am.
“You were saying?” Luna giggles, Stella following suit.
“Shut up,” I hiss. “I have no interest in pursuing things with him. Why would I want that? I like my life exactly as it is. I don’t have any complications, and nobody nagging me. I’m not gonna be one of those damn housewives who cooks and cleans for her man?—”
“But you will suck dick though, right?” Stella says, making me almost choke. “Logan’s dick, if we’re doing a hypothetical.”
I lower my voice, even though there is no need with the low music on and countless people talking. “I’m not sucking anyone’s dick, especially his.”
“Uh, huh.” Luna just can’t help herself as they continue to look across the room. “He’s still staring at you.”
“No, he isn’t. I saw him just this morning with Dozer, and he said absolutely nothing about us getting together again, nor has he texted me or insinuated we hook up again, which I wouldn’t?—”
“Right, because you don’t want another pounding from a hot, single guy with a pierced dick,” Luna says sarcastically.
“Pierced?” Stella says, and though I can’t see her eyes because she’s facing away, I’m sure they just dipped down to Logan’s crotch. “That’s hot.”
I give Luna a glare. “I seriously don’t even know why I tell you anything.”
She blows me a kiss. “Because you love me, silly, and anyway, it’s just Stella.”
“No offense taken,” Stella retorts, turning back to us. “Is it just me, or did Logan just get twenty times hotter with a mini-beard going on there?”
“Mini-beard?” I snort. Then I sober remembering how those bristles felt between my legs.
Logan rubbing his chin through my pussy, making me squirm with that tongue, and making me fucking squirt for the very first time. Smug asshole.
“That sounds so manly,” Luna laughs.
Nova approaches and my eyes widen. “Don’t say anything,” I hiss to the girls. “Please.”
“Hey,” Nova says, plonking down next to Stella. She thumbs behind her. “Why is Logan making eyes at you from across the room?”
Oh, brother. This was a bad fucking idea.
Before Luna or Stella can jump in and rain on my parade, I give her a watered down explanation. “We had some business the other day, and he’s probably looking for me to sign off on the papers.” God, I’m such a bad liar, but I don’t want Nova knowing. It’ll only complicate things.
She gives me a look. “Business?” Shaking her head, she adds, “Did you two bone already?”
I throw my hands up in defeat. “I swear this is the last time I’m coming here.”
“You did, didn't you?” Nova squeals, moving closer to me. “Oh, my god. I wondered why he was in such a good mood. I caught him whistling some tune this morning when he stepped into the office, and Logan never whistles.”
Whistling a tune? Okay, so that could have zero to do with me and everything to do with something else. Anything else.
“Let’s just change the subject,” I mutter, downing the rest of my drink. “I need another.”
“Allow me,” Nova says, jumping up. “Another round for everyone? Except Luna.”
Luna’s pregnant, so she’s on club soda.
The girls nod as I excuse myself to use the bathroom.
I need to splash cold water on my face because I’m still reeling from the look Logan was giving me.
It was dark, but hot, and other people noticed.
Not good if we’re supposed to be doing this incognito.
Now the whole clubhouse is going to know before I leave tonight.
When I’m done freshening up, as well as pep-talking myself to keep my head in the game, I step out of the bathroom and someone grabs me from behind, pulling me against their chest. Should I be shocked that I know Logan’s goddamn cologne? Or should I be mad that he startled me like that?
“Angel,” he mutters against the back of my head. “Where do you think you’re goin’?”