Devin #2
Although she’d known Squatch for years, she’d not looked at him as anything other than her brother’s brother except that first year Lucas had been with the club.
As soon as he became Croon and laid down the law, she put on the platonic glasses.
But right there in a dive bar on the outskirts of town, she was falling for the big guy.
All those schoolgirl crush feelings she’d harbored for him back in the day were back with a vengeance.
She couldn’t handle it, not now. Every emotion in her body felt raw. Too raw, she couldn’t deal with it. Maybe later, maybe never, hell, she was confused and overloaded.
“I can slay my own demons, fuck you very much.” She hoped her sharp words would cause him to pull back, but it seemed to have the opposite effect on the big man.
That half smirk and sparkle in his eyes was her weakness.
It had been when he’d flirted shamelessly with her when she’d visited Utah right up until the second Lucas had patched in as Croon when he put the kibosh on it.
And, as much as she thought that Thom had killed that part of her, Squatch’s look was proving it still lived.
“I know you can, sweetness, I just don’t want you to have to.
Call it machismo, call it caveman mentality, call it whatever the fuck you want, but allow me to be your demon slayer.
Not because you need one, but because you want one.
Don’t carry that if you don’t have to, let me.
If you haven’t noticed, I’ve got plenty of room on my shoulders. ”
It sounded very much like choose me to her and it felt good. She felt good. For the first time it felt like someone wanted to be her hero and not for a reward or because it was expected.
She wouldn’t taint whatever it was between them by giving him that to carry for her, no matter that he begged. He already carried a lot on his broad shoulders, but she wouldn’t add to that by asking him to sneak off and betray his club.
“Whatever you say, Atlas.” She patted his chest. Not actually saying yes, but her answer seemed to appease him.
“Who let the cheesehead in?” an old voice called with affection. Devin turned around and practically sprinted toward the man using a cane and making his way through the back door.
“Better a cheesehead than someone who has the Super Bowl Shuffle on their daily playlist.” She embraced Ray. “Looking good, old man, how are you feeling?”
“No complaints. This one is holding it all together while I get back on my feet. How are you doing, honey? I haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”
“I’m good. Just, you know…” She trailed off. Ray saw way too much when he looked at her.
“You’re running.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement of fact like he had an inside track. He smiled and patted her cheek. “Run all you want, as long as the road always leads you back to where you belong.”
His rheumy gaze turned steely as something behind Devin caught his attention.
She didn’t have to guess at what it was.
“I’m Jasper.” Squatch extended his hand toward Ray from around Devin.
Ray didn’t take it, instead, he stepped around Devin and right into Squatch’s personal space. It was almost comical. An old man who was about five and a half feet with a cane, bowing up on a man towering over him and blocking out the low-hanging bar light behind him.
“Jasper, is it? That doesn’t sound like much of a road name to me.”
“No sir, it’s not. Sasquatch.” He was being much more patient than Devin expected. Ray may be old, but he was practically challenging him.
“Well, you can leave. No colors allowed here.”
Squatch’s attitude was changing, a bit of irritation slipping into his tone. “Left ’em outside. Out of respect for the lady who wanted to come here. I suspect she comes here for you, old man.”
“Hmmph,” was all he said to Squatch before turning back to Devin.
“I knew who you were and who you were connected to when you started hanging out, and I don’t hold it against you, honey. I love you like my own, you know that, but this,” he tossed a thumb over his shoulder, “can’t happen again.” He kissed her cheek.
“Scott, pour us all a round for last call. Respect for respect.”
Okay, so holy fuck. Ray was going to do a shot with a Royal Bastard because he said he respected her? Not Ray’s sign or the bar, but her?
She could see it in Ray’s eyes. There was something there besides contempt for Squatch, and that was huge.
Scott lined up four shot glasses and poured. Each in hand, Devin felt she needed to toast for some reason.
“To making peace with the past.”
Everyone raised their glasses, tapped them on the bar, then downed them.
Ray spun his empty across the bar to tap Squatch’s discarded glass.
“Tab’s paid, have a good fucking night,” he proclaimed as he headed toward the swinging door that separated the back office and storage from the bar.
Just as he pushed it open, he spoke in a low and menacing, but hurt tone, without even looking back.
“Hurt her and no amount of chrome and leather can help you.”
It surprised her. That was an out-and-out threat. But Squatch surprised her more by not going full enforcer mode.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
He said it with sincerity, and he didn’t react to the threat at all. That was so unlike half the Bastards she knew. They would’ve gone off.
“That’s our cue.” She grabbed Squatch’s arm. “Later, Scott.”
With that, they made their way back to his bike. Squatch pulled his cut out and donned it. He also retrieved his pistol from the locked compartment inside the locked saddlebag and tucked it into his waistband, looking ready to ride.
“Um, I don’t think we’re in any shape to be riding back. If I managed not to fall off, I’m not sure you’re in shape to keep the shiny side up.”
He widened his stance and pulled her into his arms. “For the record, sweetness, I didn’t plan on it.
While I may not be tip-top to ride, I am clear enough to get us a room and demonstrate the power of pudding cups, as long as you’re clear enough to consent.
If not, we just sleep and cuddle. I like to cuddle.
” His eyes said it was true but also, that he preferred the pudding route.
Before she could answer, his lips were on hers. Not the frenzied kiss of earlier. This one was measured and controlled. Every stroke of his tongue precise and orchestrated to entice. The feel of his piercing was erotic, and she let her mind wander to what it would feel like other places.
The kiss went on forever and not long enough. When he pulled back, he held her face in his hands, stroking the apples of her cheeks with his thumbs.
Not only did he look sober enough, but he also looked like he wanted her… like really wanted her.
“Sound good?”
All she could do was nod. It was what she’d wanted.
Get under Squatch to get over the past. What niggled at the back of her mind was that look.
While she relished being wanted, it felt like there were some emotions there too and she could not do emotions.
Hell, she was already fighting her own and losing.
Squatch released her and opened the other saddle bag and retrieved a small duffel bag.
“Squatch?”
He turned. “Jasper. From this moment on, I am Jasper to you.”
“Okay, when we are in private, I’ll—”
“No. All the time. To you, I am Jasper.”
He took her hand and led her down the walk toward the office.
“Jasper. Tonight. It’s… just between us, yeah? No need for anyone, especially Lucas, to know about it.” They stopped walking, and he turned to her. There was something blazing in his eyes that she couldn’t identify but it felt like anger and hurt.
“Then you better wait out here while I get us a room.” His voice was rougher than normal, but not that low passionate rumble of earlier. It was like he was holding back saying something. He dropped his bag on the bench beside where she stood and went inside.
She watched through the edge of the glass as he clapped the desk guy’s hand like he knew him and he slipped him a key. An actual key.
“Oh my god, is this like his regular fuck pad?” she asked the wind.
Squatch was a player, it wasn’t a secret. If she needed a divine sign from God that he was perfect for a one-night stand to get back on the horse so to speak, that was it.
When he emerged, he grabbed the bag and her hand and led them to their room for the night.
After opening the door, he motioned for her to enter. She was expecting shag carpet and an avocado toilet, but instead she was met with a spacious room that was sleek and modern. A palette of grays and whites with splashes of color coming from the artistic photos on the wall.
Devin recognized the composition immediately, or at least she thought she did.
“These are Hook’s.” It wasn’t a question, but Jasper answered from behind her anyway.
“Yeah, that one is.” She turned to see where he was.
He’d already dropped the bag, removed his cut and was placing the gun on the bedside table.
He pointed to the photograph above the bed.
“That one, I think is Rae’s. It’s getting harder to tell now that they are rubbing off on each other.
It used to be easy, black and white human or human part, Rae. Wider view, color, object, Hook.”
Devin couldn’t help but laugh at Jasper’s accurate assessment. She turned back to Hook’s picture.
Her mind started to wander again. While she intended a one-night stand, she didn’t want to be railed in the same room he took all his conquests to.
And he obviously knew the room. But then again, she didn’t want it to be special, so she had to resign herself to not expect special as far as location.
None of that mattered when Jasper slipped his hand around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. Nudging her hair aside, he kissed, sucked, and nibbled her neck.
It drove her wild immediately. Especially when he nipped her earlobe. She was a simple woman. Dirty talk, neck kisses, and a little praise, and that was foreplay enough to get her ready.