Chapter 16
“Yeah, I saw, baby.” Colt reaches past me, boxing me in as he takes the clip out of the gun and puts it back down. “You don’t, by the way.”
“What?”
“Ask too many questions. Anyone who tells you that, benefits from your ignorance. You’re right, this place?
The club? Us? The rules aren’t the same.
” He leans back against the gun tray and hooks his thumbs in his pockets, watching me closely.
“The stakes are higher for us. Every time we ride out the gate, we might not come back.”
“Why do it then? Is it for the danger? Do you like it?”
“Not like you probably mean it. I like that it’s real, that there’s no sugar coating what we do or who we are.
But the ‘live fast, die young’ guys generally don’t make the cut.
We’ve got some adrenaline junkies, but nobody wants a brother at their back who can’t keep their finger off the trigger and wants to go down in a blaze of glory.
Being careful about who we let in helps raise the chances of coming home. ”
I nod. “That makes sense, but what does it have to do with your little biker polycules?”
Colt lets out a surprised laugh. “Damn, sounds so fucking progressive when you say it like that. I think we just give less of a shit about what people on the outside think, as long as it works for us. The MC world’s still a boy’s club, but the younger guys like me are a fuckton more relaxed about that shit than the old guard. ”
“Would you want that? To share your wife, or old lady, or whatever you want to call it?” It feels like a heavier question than it should be. I’ve known him for what? A week? Asking doesn’t mean I’m talking about me.
“I don’t know. I woulda said no a couple years ago, but I’ve seen it work, and even Hellfire’s admitted that it keeps the boys more focused because it’s easier to protect their families. If the right situation happened, sure.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “My turn to ask a question.”
“Sure.”
“How much of your own money does she let you keep?”
I don’t have to clarify who he means. “I… I get what I need.” Liar. Out of all the things he could ask me, that wasn’t what I expected. It was so sudden it felt like a slap in the face.
“But I bet you have to ask for it, don’t you? When you do, does she explain how expensive things are? Tell you it’s for your own good? Justify the things she picks by saying it’s an investment? It’s really for you?”
I step back. “Being a single mom was hard for her. We never had much so I don’t really know how to budget. It won’t be like this forever.”
He isn’t saying anything I haven’t thought a thousand times, but when it’s coming out of someone else’s mouth I don’t like how ugly it sounds. What’s worse is knowing someone else sees it. Colt doesn’t even really know me, and all it took was him actually looking.
“I’m lucky I can help her after everything she’s done for me.” My nose prickles, and my chest gets tight. “She loves me in her own way, she really does.”
“Shit.” He closes the distance between us and reaches out, running his fingers down my arm. “Tell me I’m an asshole, Quinn.”
I rub away the tears before they can turn into more. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah, I am, but I needed to see your authentic reaction and I don’t know the next time I’ll get you to myself. Priest and Sinner would deck me for making you upset.”
“Good.” I glare up at him, my anger softening. “You’re lucky I’m not really half demon.”
“Why’s that?”
I lean in and poke him in the chest. “Because you just pissed me off after showing me how to use the gun that’s right behind you.”
A confident smirk curls his lips as he leans closer, so close his nose is just barely not touching me. “Bang,” he whispers, then presses his lips against mine.
His kiss is rough, insistent. He’s staking a claim that has my knees shaking and goosebumps tickling their way up and down my arms. He traps my lower lip between his teeth and nips, sliding his tongue into my mouth when I react.
He runs his hand up my side, exploring my shape while we devour each other.
At first it’s on the outside of my shirt, but then he slips underneath, tracing my ribs with his fingertips, all the way from my hips and up to my bra, and back down.
“I wanna take your fucking clothes off.” His voice is hoarse and gravelly.
I’m not the only one affected by that kiss, but he’s giving me the chance to back off. Just a moment to change my mind. Or maybe come to my senses because after all, he is an asshole.
But strangely in a way I don’t think I mind.
I nod. “Okay,” I almost whimper, and it feels totally insufficient, but I’m still catching up with my breathing.
“Good.” He takes my hand and pulls me back into the school.
We rush up the stairs just like so many other feet have done over the years, stopping to make out in the stairwell when the door sticks and we run out of patience.
I laugh when he kicks open the door and drags me down the hall until we get to his room.
There’s a kitchenette, a couch, some chairs. I don’t really pay much attention to anything once he grabs me by the hips and literally tosses me onto the bed. I’m frozen mid laugh, staring at him hungrily as he crawls onto the mattress and kneels in front of me.
I’m nervous, but I still raise my arms when he takes the bottom hem of my shirt and starts to pull it up.
The moment the shirt hits the floor, he’s back to kissing me.
I’ve said you can tell a lot about a man by how he kisses, and right now I’m learning that he’s never going to be a man who moderates himself.
He has to be cautious, because when he commits, he’s all in.
Colt might not want forever, but right now I have his total and complete attention.
My bra goes slack without me even having noticed that he was working the catch. I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to object, but I tighten my arms around his neck and kiss him harder, making it clear that I’m on board. I want this just like he does.
He captures my breast in his hand, skin against skin, his rough fingers tracing its shape until he finds my nipple and rolls it between his fingers. I groan at the rush of heat that breaks over me like a wave, my senses hyperaware of his touch.
His kisses forge a trail down my jaw and onto my neck.
When he reaches my collarbone, he traces it with his tongue, before making his first journey up the swell of my breast. My breathing is already shallow, but when he captures a nipple in his mouth, I gasp out loud.
He knows exactly what he’s doing, nipping me with his teeth, then laving it with his tongue and kissing it better.
With a moan, I twist my fingers into his messy hair, grabbing hold to guide him.
With a murmur of a laugh, he lets me lead him down into the valley of my cleavage and back up to my other breast so it can get a fair share of the attention.
Meanwhile, he’s exploring my back and sides with strong hands, tracing patterns over my skin with his curious fingers.
Until Priest last night, I hadn’t gone past a little heavy kissing in years, and it feels like I’m making up for lost time.
When he pops the button on my jeans, I don’t protest. I just let him ease me back onto the bed and lift my hips so he can slide them down my legs and toss them aside.
He looms over me, still fully dressed while I’m down to only panties.
His eyes are lust-darkened and watching me like he’s admiring fine art. “Jesus, you’re pretty,” he growls. “All of you.”
I’ve been judged for my looks since I can remember.
It can really mess with your head to grow up being told that you’re beautiful in one breath, and then turned away at the next because your torso to leg ratio was off, or your bone structure wasn’t what they were looking for.
I have what I sometimes call “feisty best friend” looks, and that’s okay, but I don’t think that’s what he sees, and I like the feeling of being seen through his eyes.
“You’re not bad yourself,” I tease. “But you’re making me feel underdressed.”
“Yeah?” He grins. “Too bad you’re not in charge here, honey. Now be a good girl, and do as you’re told.”
I wet my lips. “And what’s that?”
He captures my panties with both hands and starts inching them down. Swallowing nervously, I let him, even though it leaves me completely naked and exposed. Vulnerable. I trust him, though. Not in spite of the fact that he isn’t soft or gentle with the truth, but because of it.
I don’t think he’s the sort of man that would fake whatever this is that’s growing between us.
Colt pulls his shirt up over his head and tosses it aside, revealing the kind of body that inspired the Greeks and Romans to carve figures in marble.
Defined planes and muscled slopes. I reach out and trace a finger along one of the jet-black bands on his forearm.
It seems like it should feel like armor, but there’s nothing but smooth, warm skin.
He takes my hand and sucks my finger into his mouth, looking straight into my eyes as he does it.
Then he slides off the end of the bed, pulling me with him until my butt is right on the edge of the mattress.
He spreads my knees, opening me for him as he leans in so he can place a kiss on the inside of my thigh.
Oh God, is he going to—
The kisses move higher, closer and closer to where my desire is pooling like lava. His tongue slides through my folds, opening me to him. My back arches and I groan as he grips my thighs and holds me right where he wants me.
“So fucking responsive,” he growls.
Then he does it again, and again, exploring me with his strong tongue and playing over my clit until I’m a whimpering mess.
He dips inside me, then traces my lips, and back up to my clit.
Every turn of the cycle makes me more sensitive for the next.
I fist the comforter, digging my nails in while he worships my pussy.
I push my hand into his hair and look down to where my thighs are already soft pink from his stubble.
Mouth full, he glances up and I can feel the smirk more than I can see it. Satisfied I’m not running away, he lets go of my thigh and slides a thick finger into my aching pussy.
I groan, loving what it feels like and at the same time imagining what it would feel like if it was his cock.
Colt pushes back the hood over my clit and wraps his lips around the small pink nub.
I close my eyes, riding each wave of pleasure as it washes over me, letting him take control, to bring me closer and closer to that brink where I lose all control.
It’s not going to be long.
“Colt!” I let out in a strained gasp, just as he slides in a second finger.
His tongue never lets up. I’m thrusting my hips, riding his fingers like I’m fucking him, like I want all of him inside me, as my gasps grow louder and my toes start to curl.
He takes me over the edge and I come around his fingers, crying out at the strength of the orgasm.
I quiver in his hands, letting wave after wave of euphoria wash over me while he slows down but doesn’t stop, keeping me riding the edge until I’m afraid if I let go of his hair I might float away.
Eventually, I slump back onto his bed, still twitching.
He finally lets up, gently sliding his fingers out while he kisses his way back up my body, leaving small cool patches from his soaking chin.
When I open my eyes, he presses two fingers against my lips and I open to suck them clean, tasting myself.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” he murmurs.
I feel selfish just lying here after he’s done such a good job, but I need to recover at least a little bit before I can return the favor. “Just give me a few moments, and I’ll—”
“Next time.” He kisses the inside of my thigh.
“But—”
“I think we’re just about out of time, unless you want to expand the invite.”
“You’re that sure there’ll be a next time?”
He grins, looking smug.
“Fine. Asshole,” I grumble, but it turns into a laugh as he leans down to kiss me again.