Chapter 12 #2
Rose Ridge was still new as far as navigation went, but I recognized the local market and library and then we turned off on a side street, heading into a residential neighborhood.
I was confused until we stopped in front of a house that seemed busy with people milling about outside and around the property.
There were lights strung up around the trees and front porch.
My gaze moved around the street until it landed on a familiar looking white car.
Penelope.
I was off my bike in a second and rushing forward. Killian and Wes were ahead of me, but Silas just remained on his bike, watching from down the street.
We entered through the chain-linked fence and scaled the porch steps.
It was just the three of us entering, so it wasn’t too crowded, but the house itself was packed full of people.
There were couples on couches, others standing against the wall, sipping from coffee mugs.
They eyed us warily as Killian led the way down a set of metal stairs into what seemed to be a basement.
Music floated up as we descended, and the lighting transitioned to something much darker. Below there was a stage set up, along with small tables scattered throughout the space. More dim lights were strung up, and near the back of the room was a bar with at least ten people dotted around it.
Harris was standing by the stairs, watching a group of women in the center of the room.
Blonde, brunette and midnight black. I moved first, but Killian gripped my arm.
“We tread carefully down here. Blend, find a seat, and ease into alerting them that we’re here. The town is a bit of a powder keg right now where clubs are concerned, that and this is Laura’s space. We’re careful not to stir shit up here.”
I nodded, taking a step back. I could blend into the wall, that was fine, but I watched the back of Penelope’s head while I did.
I was piecing together that this was the girls’ night she’d mentioned earlier.
She’d told me she was going with them, but I hadn’t exactly connected where she was going to be, not after Harris had trailed her.
Guilt flared so strongly I nearly doubled over.
It was my job to keep her safe, and I didn’t even know the name of where she was going to be tonight.
It was another hit from Silas, who had clearly been keeping better tabs on them.
Normally I would be…I had been since she needed my help with everything, but I’d been so fucked up about that kiss that I’d essentially just dropped her at the cabin and left as quickly as I could.
She tasted the same as she did the last time I kissed her, and years later, it was like I’d never stopped wanting her.
Regardless that she had, in fact, stopped wanting me.
The person singing on the stage stopped, and everyone clapped.
Killian made his way to the bar, where he began talking to an older man.
The girls all stood, and my heart jack hammered in my chest. Pen was so beautiful with her hair swept into a half updo, her shirt clinging to her swollen stomach, and…
fuck, those jeans. How did she still fit into them?
Her curves and breasts were fucking mouth watering.
Living with her had become hellfire to deal with because I was always burning now.
Burning to touch her.
Burning to see her, to look at those curves she occasionally showed off. Like this morning, when she’d stretched and let her clothes rise and fall in any which way. She was tempting, and all I wanted was to lean her back and fuck her.
But that would not be good for our complicated—fake dynamic.
Or would it? She was stressed, and likely sexually frustrated…and I…well, I had to prove to everyone that this was real. Why couldn’t I touch her a little extra?
Just as I began to think it, I started walking toward the group as they exited the cluster of tables. Before Pen even caught sight of me, I was there at her back, my hand on the base of her neck.
“You look fucking sexy,” I murmured loud enough for people to hear, and then I pulled her back until her face was tipped and her eyes were locked on mine. Her lips parted, her hands went to her side, covering the one I had on her hip and then my lips were on hers.
Stardust. Silent prayers and hope.
So much hope it would burst through my chest and break my fucking heart.
Her eyes went wide, but she closed them seconds after my hand moved into her hair. She adjusted her stance and moved with me, kissing me slowly. The world seemed to blur and fade as we pulled apart, but her hands were now on my chest because her body had twisted.
“What are you doing here?”
Her lips were swollen and glistening under the lights. I wanted to pull the bottom one back between my teeth, but one kiss would be good enough for the show we needed to put on.
“Sons of Speed were spotted riding past; we were in a meeting when we left.”
Penelope suddenly spun around and found Laura, Callie and Natty waiting by the stairs with Wes and Killian.
“We should go then.” Her voice was subdued, like she was worried.
I walked behind her, keeping my hand at the small of her back. It made me curious if she had ever had any encounters with them. I’d have to ask her about it later. I knew her mom had said she’d been raised for part of her life in various clubs, but I never heard which ones they were.
“I’m driving Natty back, so I will meet you at the cabin.” Penelope inclined her head as we scaled the steps back through the odd coffee—bookstore. Natty turned and gave me a small smile. “Hope that’s okay.”
I dipped my head. “Fine by me, I’ll follow close behind.”
Harris brought up the rear, and once we were out in the frigid December air, I pulled Penelope close again.
“Next time I’m having you drop the pin for your location.”
Her fingers found a place along my belt loops, tugging and holding on while my arm draped over her shoulders.
Natty walked between Laura, Callie and their partners.
I was tempted to glance over my shoulder to see where Silas had perched up because he undoubtedly was watching us as we walked down the street.
“Fuckin’ hate that you’re still coming here at night.” Killian complained loud enough for me to hear.
Laura glanced toward Penelope with a wince. “It’s fine, the bloggers have backed off a bit, haven’t they?”
Fucking idiots with misplaced ideals. A group of online enthusiasts thought it would be a smart idea to try and eradicate motorcycle clubs from Virginia, and they were focusing a large part of their efforts on Rose Ridge. It finally clicked for me what this place was.
“This is where they attacked you guys last month, isn’t it?” I’d heard that report when I needed to bring Penelope and they were worried it wouldn’t be safe for her.
Killian made some dissatisfied sound before affirming my question.
“So why are they allowed to come back then?”
Laura let out a sigh. “Because of me…I sing there, and I love it. Killian loves me, and we just have extra security in place now.”
I’d have to discuss that with Killian later because as far as I knew, only Harris had trailed them. That wasn’t enough protection. Then again, knowing Wes, he wouldn’t allow Callie to be pregnant and out at night without more protection than that.
The women had parked next to each other, so as soon as they were safely inside their cars, with Harris trailing behind, we mounted our bikes and did the same. Right as I passed the side street Silas had parked on, I gave him a two-fingered salute as I rode past.
He flipped me off before following us.
We finally parked in front of the cabin.
We’d dropped Natty, and I had to watch as Silas took up post right outside the closed property fence.
All it did was remind me that there were traitors out there scouting and spying, and even more Death Raiders tracking.
While I knew Killian seemed to trust Silas, I did not.
Penelope opened her car door and I winced at the groan it made.
She must have caught it. “Sorry, needs some WD-40.”
I would have to get it handled tomorrow, but first we needed to talk.
Walking into the cabin first, I held my hand out, so she’d hang back a second.
Flipping on the lights, I searched the small living room and kitchen then cleared the bedroom.
The fact that a Chaos King had been caught on the outskirts of the property and now tonight with the Sons of Speed; I refused to take any more risks with Penelope.
“Okay, it’s clear. Come inside.”
Penelope walked in, holding a soothing hand over her stomach.
I secured and locked the door then pulled the shotgun I’d grabbed from the house earlier and set it next to the door. I had a Glock I’d be setting on the bedside table tonight, too.
“Is everything okay?” Pen asked, quirking a dark brow at me. She had a yogurt open and was licking the spoon.
I stared, unsure of what her question had been.
Her blue eyes seemed to glitter, her pink lips tilted up, just slightly on the edges, and she reminded me of that night I first met her.
That night, I stupidly tried to act as if I didn’t care that she’d moved to Richland.
I could barely get my words out because she had been the prettiest person I’d ever seen.
She was sweet and smelled like spring and winter at the same time.
She felt like something from a fairy tale.
I could barely speak, and then Luke walked in and flirted with ease. Just like he always did and I just felt…like I didn’t have a shot. Not in a million lifetimes did I ever assume I’d be in a space with Penelope like this. Now as her fiancé.
“Jameson?”
I blinked and turned away. “Everything is fine, but I’m not taking any chances. When you leave, you need to ping my phone with the address, and you need to start wearing my patch.”
Facing her again, I caught the way her mouth parted, and her eyes rounded.
“You already had one made up?”
“Red from the Stone Riders, she offered to help me out. Said she helped with all the cuts in the club. It’ll be ready in a few days.” I slipped out of my boots and hung up my cut before turning to see her expression.
Her face flushed, but she lowered it just in time to take another spoonful into her mouth.
“You need some actual dinner.”
She shook her head. “We ate before we went to the Hollow…but I can get you something…” She turned toward the fridge and pulled it open.
“No, don’t worry about me. Just eat your snack and relax.
” I waved her off, walking into the kitchen.
She smelled like honey wrapped in pine. The scent was smeared into my soul now, like a balm of hope.
I wanted to press my nose to her glossy black hair and inhale.
I wanted to skim her scattered freckles with my tongue and see if she’d taste as sweet as she smelled.
“We have chicken and potatoes from the other night,” Penelope offered, watching me from over her shoulder.
Fuck, I was fighting a hard-on.
“I’m good…actually I think I want to take a quick shower first. You need in the bathroom before I hop in?”
My erection was growing, and I really needed to hide it. So I moved around the kitchen counter and gave Penelope my back.
Her sweet voice finally echoed as I made my way into the room. “No, I’m good.”
I shut the door, and then briskly tugged my shirt free and yanked at the copper button of my jeans.
With them loose around my hips, I ambled into the bathroom like an addict scoring a fix.
My cock was in my fist seconds later, and with my other hand, I turned the knob on the shower. This was fucking ridiculous; she hadn’t even done anything but exist.
But the idea of existing with her, so fucking close was too much for me.
Right before I stepped into the shower, I hesitated with my hand near my phone…she’d suggested we tell each other when we needed privacy, but…
I stroked my shaft, thinking of her lips.
I thought about what they’d feel like wrapped around my cock, how big her eyes would get when taking all of me.
I thought of what kinds of sounds she’d make when I gripped her by the hair and went deeper.
How she’d look coated with white bands of cum coating her lashes and those swollen lips.
Precum leaked from the head of my cock as I found the unlocked padlock emoji, then I shot it to her in a text and set the phone down on the counter.
No clue what would happen with that text, maybe nothing but the idea of Penelope opening the text and then picturing me in here, fucking my hand…
it was too tempting not to do. Although, this would open it up for her to respond in kind, and knowing Penelope, she’d take it as a challenge, and fuck if I knew what sort of game she’d turn it into.
I just knew this new situation gave me permission to touch her, and I couldn’t find it in me to care.