Chapter 2
Chapter two
Wingman
“Attractive woman, isn’t she?”
Ironside pulled a cigar from the breast pocket of his cut, along with a silver lighter. He flicked the wheel until the flame jumped to life.
“This feels like a trick question,” I replied, draping my coat over the back of my chair. My gaze strayed to the kitchen door, hoping for another glimpse of that curvy waitress.
Ironside puffed on his cigar, shielding it with his tattooed hands until the tip glowed cherry red. Then he blew a slow, steady stream of smoke into the air, looking like a dragon.
“Ever since you showed up,” he said. “You haven’t taken your eyes off Elaine.”
Elaine. I liked the sound of that. Crisp. Elegant.
For some reason though, Ironside had his hackles up about her, and I couldn’t figure out why.
Even though bikers were generally known to be a lawless bunch of hyenas, they still had to abide by clubhouse rules.
If a woman didn’t want to be touched, no one was allowed to lay a finger on her.
And Ironside had a zero-tolerance policy when it came to enforcing that.
He didn’t grant three strikes or second chances.
One offense was all it would take to get your teeth knocked out of your head, and you’d be banned from the clubhouse for life on top of that.
“It’s not a crime to look,” I said with a shrug.
Ironside hummed in thought, rolling his cigar between two fingers.
“This is different though. It’s almost as if you’ve never seen a woman before in your life. And I know that can’t be true. I was there for your Prospect days. Bunnies swarmed to your babyface like bees to honey.”
I huffed and rolled my eyes.
“One day, you’re going to be too old to remember embarrassing shit like that.”
He chuckled.
“Don’t get excited. I’ve got a few more years left before my mind starts to slip. So I’m not letting you off the hook anytime soon.”
I crossed my arms and tipped my chair back on two legs.
“In other words, you’re still a hardass and some things never change.”
Ironside braced his elbows on the table and leaned closer, pointing his cigar at me.
“Leave her alone,” he said, low and firm. “She’s been through enough.”
I searched his gray eyes, but I saw no hint of his usual teasing. He was dead serious.
“Last I heard, you’re still a cranky bachelor,” I said. “Which means you have no claim on her. And it’s a free country.”
A beat of silence settled between us. Ironside met my gaze with an unblinking stare. There was more to the story he wasn’t saying. But he wouldn’t run his mouth and spill someone else’s business if it wasn’t his to tell.
Elaine returned, placing a shot of whiskey and a plate of food in front of me, piled with ham, roasted vegetables, and mashed potatoes swimming in gravy.
“There you go. Eat up and enjoy,” she added, turning away.
My gaze flicked to Ironside. He arched an eyebrow, as if to say, keep your damn mouth shut.
I flashed a shit-eating grin in his direction and did whatever the hell I wanted, ignoring his warning.
“You forgot something, sweetheart,” I called after her.
Ironside aimed a kick at me under the table. I dodged it.
Elaine paused. “Yes?”
“Your phone number,” I replied.
“Don’t pay any attention to him, Elaine,” Ironside growled.
But her gaze lingered on me for several seconds longer than I expected. She actually eyed me up and down, like a juicy piece of meat. After a moment or two, she turned to face me with a hand on her hip.
“What makes you so special?”
Snickers rippled around the table. The corner of Ironside’s mouth twitched with an almost-smile and he inhaled a long drag on his cigar.
“Beg your pardon?” I countered.
“You’re not the first biker to ask for my number,” Elaine said. “In fact, it happens every shift. At least a dozen times.”
“Well, I could give you a laundry list of reasons why I’d make it worth your while, but I don’t think you want everyone listening in on our private conversation.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Ironside groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Elaine didn’t look impressed.
“I’ve heard that line before, too. Try again when you can come up with something more original.”
I watched her walk away, drinking in the sight of her retreating figure. The sway of her hips. The smooth twist of her body when she dodged a near-collision with a biker and his bunny on their way to the back rooms.
Something about that woman pulled me to her like a magnet, even in a crowded room.
I couldn’t put my finger on it though. She was perfectly ordinary in every way—nothing flashy to attract attention.
No tight fitted jeans, or low-cut tops. Not even jewelry.
Her honey-blonde hair was twisted up and pinned in place with a clip.
And the only trace of makeup was a hint of eyeliner around her brilliant blue eyes, smoky and subtle.
As soon as Elaine had disappeared into the kitchen, I pushed out of my chair, following after her.
“Do you want to have that private conversation now?” I asked.
She huffed a laugh, shaking her head.
“Let me guess. You don’t get turned down very often, do you?”
“I’ve failed damn near everything I’ve set my hand to in life,” I replied. “So, I guess you could say I’m on good terms with the concept of rejection.”
Elaine finally squared up to face me.
“And yet, you can’t take no for an answer.”
I shifted closer until we were nearly nose to nose. She smelled sweet, like gingerbread houses and peppermint.
“You were eye-fucking me pretty hard a minute ago, Elaine,” I murmured. “And if we’re being technical about it, the word no hasn’t actually left your lips.”
Elaine tilted her chin up. Her pupils dilated, dark with arousal.
“Most men around here just call me sweetheart. They don’t bother with my name.”
“Most men around here are Neanderthals. Sweetheart is one step above a wordless grunt. Consider yourself lucky.”
A twinkle of amusement gleamed in her eyes. She pressed her lips together to smother a smile. But she couldn’t hide the dimples that flashed in her cheeks.
“Does that make you better than the Neanderthals?” she countered.
I shrugged, reaching out to hook a finger in the belt loop of her jeans. Instead of pushing me away or retreating, she tipped forward on her toes, swaying closer.
“Believe me,” I said. “My ego would love to outshine a room full of apes. But if I was better than them, I wouldn’t be here, spending Christmas Eve with a shot of whiskey for company.”
Elaine’s eyes softened. Her throat worked as she swallowed, tracing the stitching on my cut with one fingertip.
“I’m still waiting to hear that no,” I said.
With a tug on her belt loop, I pulled her against me, sliding my hand around her waist to rest on her lower back. The sweet warmth of her body heat radiated beneath my palm. I resisted the temptation to smooth my hand a few inches lower, following the generous swell of her ass.
But I didn’t want to move too fast and scare her off either.
Elaine patted my chest and stepped back.
“My shift ends at ten. If you haven’t been distracted by anyone else tonight by then, I’ll give you my answer.”
“Tease,” I protested.
A little smile played across her lips with a blush. She gestured to the door.
“You better get out of here. If Ironside finds you in the kitchen, he’ll put you to good use and make you start waiting tables. It’s a madhouse tonight.”
Reluctantly, I retreated toward the door, but I didn’t want to look away, didn’t want to lose sight of her.
By the time ten o’clock rolled around, I was waiting for Elaine in the parking lot. It was too damn cold for my bike, so I left it on the trailer at the extended stay motel where I had a room for the week.
Instead, I was relegated to driving my SUV through the ice and snow. I appreciated a working heater, but I missed my bike.
At last, Elaine emerged from the clubhouse, bundled up in a knee-length puffy coat, and a periwinkle blue scarf.
Fresh snow drifted through the air in lazy whirls, dusting my head and shoulders.
I leaned back against my car, blowing on my hands to warm them.
I could have stayed inside longer, but it was peaceful out here with the whispers of snowflakes in the dark.
For a split second, Elaine hesitated and her steps faltered. Just once, and only a little. Her tracks in the snow gave her away—long, confident strides, eager to put work behind her and celebrate the holiday. Then the short stutter of her misstep, questioning her decision to meet me.
“What’s the verdict?” I asked.
“Kiss me and I’ll tell you.”
As soon as she was within reach, I cupped her hips, pulled her close, and our mouths met with slick, scorching heat in the frigid air. She melted against my chest with the neediest little sound of contentment, gripping my coat to steady herself.
A burst of laughter and cheers echoed from inside the clubhouse. Elaine and I were too wrapped up in each other to notice.
“Yes,” she breathed against my mouth. “I’m saying yes. You won’t hear no from me. Not tonight.”
That’s the green light I’d been waiting for. I fumbled at the zipper of her coat, slipping my hands inside and into the back pockets of her jeans.
“My place or yours?” I asked.
“Neither,” she replied.
Reaching behind me, I opened the door and ushered her into the back seat.
I’d had the forethought to warm up the car first, so it was toasty and comfortable inside.
After Elaine climbed in, she stripped off her gloves, shedding her coat.
I settled into the seat beside her, and as soon as I closed the door, her mouth crashed against mine again.
She slipped her soft hands under my shirt, mapping along my torso.
I guided her into my lap, pulling her shirt off over her head. With her thick thighs bracketing my hips, and her bra at eye level, I thanked the stars that I’d found my way to this bar on Christmas Eve.
I cupped Elaine’s gorgeous, heavy tits in my hands, kissing her plump cleavage.
“Maybe I do believe in Santa after all,” I said. “Since he seemed to know exactly what I wanted for Christmas.”
She laughed—a beautiful laugh from deep in her belly. So infectious and genuine that I found myself laughing along with her. I threaded my fingers up into her hair, dislodging the clip as I pulled her in for another kiss, tangling our tongues together.
Fuck, it felt so good to laugh with someone during the holiday season. To touch and be touched. To kiss like this, wiping all thought from my mind.
Elaine arched her back, unhooking her bra. I reached around to help, pressing my face into the curve of her neck. She sighed as her eyes slipped closed, instinctually rolling her hips against my hard-on.
“Just so you know,” Elaine said, letting her bra drop to the floor. “It’s been a while. I might be rusty.”
I closed my mouth around one of her nipples, teasing it with my tongue.
She swore softly, cupping the back of my head in both hands to hold me in place.
Grabbing her ass, I coaxed her to grind on my erection as much as she needed to until her muscles tightened and her breath hitched with her impending orgasm.
Our heavy breathing filled the close space of my car. The window fogged with our heat as snowflakes melted against the glass. I unbuttoned Elaine’s jeans, caressing the gusset of her panties, stroking the peak of her clit. She tilted her head back with a wrecked little whine.
“Seems like you’re doing just fine to me, baby,” I said.