Chapter 23
When we pull into the parking lot next to the church, it’s dark and the party is already going full blast. Loud rock music billows out through the open doors, while the stained glass windows brighten each time moving lights inside pass over them.
It’s like a biker night club, but there’s no need to be stuck inside.
People walk in and out at will, hanging out in groups on the stairs and spilling out onto the lawn behind.
In the field beyond the parking lot, there’s what looks like a bonfire, and even more people.
The clink of beer bottles and pool balls cut through the music, and under it is the ebb and flow of laughter, chat and even some moans out in the darkness. I try not to look into the shadowy corners, a little worried that I’ll see too much, but I do peer a little, because I’m only human.
“You look fucking amazing, demon.” Sinner’s voice greets us as soon as we get inside.
He’s leaning casually with his back up against the frame of the inner church doors with a beer bottle swinging from his fingers.
He’s not wearing a shirt under his cut tonight, exposing his tattoos and washboard stomach. His smile is full of dirty promise.
“Not fucking kidding. Hey, Q.” Priest comes out the door with a bottle of his own. “Took you guys long enough.”
I push away from Colt so I can spin in place for them. “The girls came over and took over my apartment. We had a little pre-party. Are you saying it wasn’t worth the wait?”
He laughs. “I waited ten years, what’s an extra hour?”
Colt drops a hand to the small of my back, guiding me inside. “Welcome to the madhouse, baby.”
I cross the threshold with Priest, Colt, and Sinner on my arms like we’re about to walk down the aisle of a wedding designed by complete and total hedonists.
Inside, the music is deafening, a steady beat that feels like it was made to the rhythm of hips thrusting during sex.
The air smells like leather, sweat and beer as the church is packed with people.
There’s a layer of smoke, and lights that spin slowly, making it feel like the whole space is liquid.
Most of the crowd are men, all of them wearing Outlaw Sons cuts, which isn’t surprising.
There are a lot of women though, moving between them or hanging on their arms.
Looking at their long, bare legs, I feel like maybe I should’ve gone with a miniskirt instead, but I’m not sure Colt would’ve let me ride like that.
I slip off the jacket and put it over my arm, feeling a little less like a nun with the top that wraps around my breasts, leaving my shoulders and stomach bare.
It’s still downright modest considering I’ve been here less than five minutes and already seen at least one nipple and someone’s completely bare ass.
The guys clear a path through the crowd, bringing us deeper into the party.
This time, there’s no Hellfire on the altar.
Instead, there’s a woman dancing on it, her hair fiery, even redder than mine, and what’s left of her skimpy outfit a bright emerald green.
Just as we approach, she peels her bra off, cupping her breasts to hold up the wisp of material so it won’t fall until she chooses to let go.
She looks right at me, through long, smoky eyelashes, and lowers her top, exposing a perfect pair of breasts topped with glittering pink nipples that look very excited to be on display.
Is nipple makeup a thing? She smiles, spins once, then throws her top at me.
I catch it, not sure what to do, but unable to take my eyes off her at the same time.
It must be written all over my face, because Sinner pulls me in close, sneaking a hand around my torso to slip his thumb up under the elastic band under my top.
“What do you think? You want a turn with Blaze? I wouldn’t hold it against you.
I’m sure she’d be game. You wouldn’t be the first girl she played with and she obviously likes you. ”
“What? No!” What I feel when I look at her isn’t a sexual feeling exactly, but she’s so confident that it makes me want to get closer so some of it can rub off on me. “Trying to get rid of me already?”
He laughs. “Absolutely not.”
Meanwhile, Blaze has moved her attention elsewhere, swaying with sexy, sinewy motions in front of a man with a shaved head and massive beard. He watches hungrily as she hooks her thumbs in her panties.
“Come on, let’s get a drink,” Priest suggests, taking my hand and tugging me over to the baptismal font that’s filled with ice and bottles of beer.
“What do you think?” Sinner asks after we’ve moved to one of the couches.
“It’s…” I look around, struggling to put my thoughts into words. “It’s what the set designers wished they could do with Inferno. If you told me this was a movie set, I’d almost believe you. It doesn’t seem real.”
“A porno maybe,” Colt says with a laugh.
“If you have this around you all the time, why would you even look at me?” I ask with a laugh, only half kidding.
Sinner cocks his head, searching my face for something.
I’m not sure what. “Because it might as well be a movie set. Everybody here, even Blaze, will go back to their lives tomorrow. Their lives might not look like you’re used to, but they still have to buy groceries, fight with their roommates, love their families, and figure out what to make for dinner. ”
“He’s right. We work hard, doing dangerous shit, and this?
This is an escape from reality, Q. A way to blow off steam where everyone can pretend the outside world doesn’t exist for a while.
” Priest points at the back wall. “You see the cuts up there on display? That’s the other side of the coin, and we never forget it. ”
Colt yanks me into his lap. He takes my chin in his fingers and makes me look up into his face. “The question you have to ask yourself tonight, is do you want to be in the audience, or the motherfucking star?”
Priest leans over and snakes his arm around my waist. He kisses my neck, and then my shoulder. His fingertips leave fiery trails over my skin as he starts to caress my belly.
“Right here?” My gaze flits around the room, noting how we’re basically surrounded by people.
“We could borrow the pool table if you want, or use the altar when Blaze is done showing off.” Sinner’s leaning back, watching us with half-hooded eyes as takes a swig from the bottle.
I watch his tongue catch a stray drop. “We could fuck you silly right on this couch, and we’d still be blending right in with the crowd. ”
Now that’s a thought, and I can’t tell if it terrifies or excites me more.
I look around, and he’s right. No one’s paying attention to us.
Especially not when that girl over there is…
oh. I guess she’s still technically wearing a skirt, but it’s more like a belt as she rocks back and forth between two bikers, one on each end in full view of everyone.
She looks up, and the man whose cock is currently down her throat, cups her face almost gently.
I close my eyes and tilt my head back onto Colt’s shoulder and let the sounds of the party wash over me.
The girl’s soft moans in the background emphasize how we’re not alone.
I slide my hands up and down his powerful thighs, tracing the shapes of his muscles, and loving that I’m the one in his lap and not Blaze or any of the other girls here.
Allowing myself to enjoy the escape from reality.
Wondering if anyone is watching.
Unknown hands touch my knees and pry them apart.
I start to open my eyes, but then close them again.
Not knowing is sexier, and I trust them not to let anyone else touch me.
It has to be Sinner, right? But I don’t know for sure.
A big hand traces up and down the inside of my left thigh, and then there’s another on the inside of my right. Is it one of them? Or more?
The hands go higher and higher until fingers brush right between my legs. Are they going to undress me where everyone can see?
Hands capture my breasts, and my top might as well not be there because strong fingers easily find nipples to roll them between his fingertips. Rough skin against the places I’m softest.
A soft moan escapes me as I arch my back, pressing my shoulders back against Colt’s chest and pushing my hips forwards to chase the sneaky finger. Sinner’s throaty laugh on my left and Priest’s softer chuckle on my right tells me who’s where.
How far do I let this go? The other girl moans loudly, definitely more into it now. A couple of guys are cheering her on.
God, I want them, but I don’t want that. I snap my knees shut and open my eyes. “Whose room is closest?”
Turns out it’s Sinner’s. Not that I see much of it, other than the bed.