Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
A week after Lucien updated the MC about a Shadowridge Guardian’s presence in town, no other bikers had arrived from that MC. While that eased their concern, the Devil Daddies continued to be vigilante for a takeover, but it appeared that Steele’s word was good. He did not plan to challenge them for territory. Lucien’s focus returned to Inferno and the warehouses. He did place his Enforcer at the door, just in case there was trouble.
Wraith stretched his back. He hadn’t done door duty for a long time. Sitting just inside the door, he screened each person who wished to enter. Maintaining that level of evaluation demanded focus. He’d need to rotate guys there more often. One wrong decision could be problematic.
“Go home. This isn’t a good place for you,” he growled at a woman wearing a knee-length full skirt and a cardigan. Really? A cardigan? At a biker bar?
“But I need to see….”
“Not going to happen. Head back to your car.” Wraith slid off his stool and stood to tower over the Sunday school or kindergarten teacher. As he expected, she spun and raced toward the parking lot. She had to be the same one who’d tried to come in last night.
Shaking his head, Wraith checked out the next person in line. His gaze met deep brown eyes that skittered away from his. Instantly, he was on alert. That reaction usually signaled a fake ID. He scanned her curvy body, guesstimating her weight and height to compare with the ID she presented.
“Eyes on me,” he barked.
This time, she looked at him directly. Her gorgeous appearance sent shockwaves straight to his dick. Those eyes dominated a heart-shaped face. And those red lips? He wondered what she’d taste like. Clamping down on his control, Wraith held his hand out.
Caroline Sweets, 32, address in the upper east side, height 5’7”, weight 194.
He was impressed. Not many states still required it—probably because most people lied, Wraith guessed. She’d told the license bureau her real weight. That almost never happened. Caroline matched her picture perfectly. This wasn’t a fake ID.
“Welcome, Caroline. Have fun,” he said as he handed back the small card. He turned to watch her walk past. Damn, that ass was biteable.
“Can I enter?”
A fake, high voice brought his attention back to the next person in line who fluttered her artificial lashes at him. “Betty. You’re always welcome. Have fun!” he greeted one of their regulars, who’d come in to flirt with his biker buddies.
Wraith scanned the room, checking the space for crowding. The Devil Daddies never allowed enough people in to fill the room to total capacity. A rough crowd packed in like sardines led to a lot of exploding tempers. Add alcohol and the place was a tinderbox.
His gaze skirted over Caroline. Standing in the shadows, she’d tucked herself into a corner, typing frantically on her phone as she tried to look everywhere at the same time. What was she up to? When her roving scan met his, Caroline shifted slightly to the left behind a couple standing by a table.
Instantly, his problem radar went into overdrive. Making a mental note to keep an eye on her, Wraith turned back to those in line. “Tom! You’re not allowed in for two more weeks. Get out of here.”
“Come on, Wraith. I’ll be super quiet. You won’t even know I’m inside,” Tom assured him. The bruises scattered over his face had reached the point of turning green from the ugly fight.
“Nope. Lucien decreed you’re banned until next month. I’m not going to tell him I’m countermanding his decision. I like my pretty face without bruises.”
“You’re not his pussy, are you?” the belligerent man asked and let out a yelp as a biker in a Devil Daddies cut yanked him backward out of the doorway.
“I’ll teach this one a lesson, Wraith,” Scythe called as he dragged the man from the entrance.
“Hey! Wait! I’ll leave,” Tom assured him. His voice faded as Scythe towed him away from the building.
Wraith looked back to the next man in line. He’d buy Scythe a drink the next time they were at the bar together. Wraith owed him one for handling that hothead. Tom obviously needed to be barred another month from Inferno.
Throughout the evening, Wraith spotted Caroline in various locations in the bar. Sticking to herself, she often cradled a glass of red wine in one hand and her phone in the other. She fascinated him for reasons he didn’t fully understand. Caroline’s beauty drew him, but her actions intrigued him. What was she doing here?
When he saw Hellcat heading her way, Wraith called Scythe to take over. Without asking a question, Scythe slid into place and started checking IDs.
Wraith merged into the crowd. He checked the spot where he’d last seen her, but it was empty. He walked toward the stairs leading up to the office space to look over everyone’s head. There she is! Wraith set off on a path to intercept her.
“What are you doing, Caroline?” he barked over the music.
When she jumped several inches from the ground in fright, Wraith almost felt bad. “How do you know my name?” she gasped after whirling to face him.
“ID, remember?”
“You can’t remember everyone’s name,” she protested.
“I can. Now, back to my question. Why are you slinking around? Are you casing people?”
“What? No!” Caroline seemed to realize she was attracting attention. She leaned closer to speak softer. “I’m not a criminal! I’m a… people watcher. I love to observe everyone in different situations.”
“A people watcher. So, a stalker,” Wraith suggested, backing her up until her body touched the wall. He braced one hand against the worn wood paneling, trapping her in place.
“I am not a stalker,” she hissed at him. “Oh, shit!”
Before Wraith could ask any more questions, she wrapped a hand around the back of his head and pulled his lips to hers. It took a lot to distract Wraith from his objective. Her kiss far exceeded that threshold.
Wraith tangled his fingers in the silky tresses that cascaded down her back and pulled. When she moaned with excitement at the faint touch of pain, he deepened the kiss. Her arousing taste hinted at the red wine she’d sipped. Somehow, it bewitched him. He leaned forward to pin her to the wall, loving the feel of her soft curves pressed against him.
He explored her mouth slowly, savoring her. She grabbed a handful of his T-shirt and held him close as she met each of his kisses fully. His shaft throbbed against the fly of his jeans, instantly alert.
“Get a room, Wraith.”
The amused voice reminded him of where they were. He didn’t even check to see who had spoken to him when he didn’t recognize the voice. He didn’t matter. She did. Wraith pressed one last gentle kiss to her lips before lifting his head to stare into her brown eyes.
“We need to get out of here,” he growled. He wouldn’t fuck her in some cubbyhole in the back room. Wraith needed to take his time with this delicious treat.
“Sorry. My ex just walked by. He’s not a nice person. The only way I could think of hiding from him was to kiss you. Then….”
Wraith didn’t let her off the hook. He needed to hear how she finished that statement.
“Then… I’ve never felt anything like that.” Her enormous eyes searched his face.
“I’m sorry you’ve been with crappy lovers, Temptress. All your kisses should be that striking.”
“I think it’s you,” she whispered.
“Do you want to leave?” he asked.
“You mean go somewhere else and….”
“Yeah. Better than here in the hallway. I don’t share.”
“I don’t… I don’t do that.”
“Fuck?” he asked and loved the fierce blush that spread over her face and chest. She couldn’t be more desirable. Well, at least not clothed. Caroline was a present he couldn’t wait to unwrap.
“Could you get more crass?” she asked, bristling.
“Yes. That’s not a problem. My crass level is epic,” he teased her. The stiffness seeped out of her tense form. Her eyes focused back on his mouth, making his heavy shaft twitch inside his now-tight jeans. “You’re killing me, Temptress. What do you say? Shall we get out of here?”
“We have to go to my place,” she announced, obviously needing to seize control.
Wraith would allow her to do that. Later when they were alone, she’d discover who was always going to be in charge. “Okay. I’ll ride with you.”
“Don’t you have a bike or something?”
“I do. But I’m not letting you out of my sight. I can Uber back or call a Devil Daddy to come get me.”
“Do you do this often?”
“Never.” He let that reassurance hang in the air.
“Really?”
“I’m picky when it comes to choosing a partner, Caroline. I have a feeling you are too. You’ll be safe. I got tested months ago when my last relationship ended.”
“You’ll have to wear a condom,” she declared, as if searching for something that would take this decision out of her hands.
“No problem. I’m a grown-ass man.”
Wraith watched her face, picking up her progression of thoughts. He saw she’d run out of demands and hadn’t found anything to convince herself he was off limits. He cupped her face and lowered his lips to hers once again and kissed her until they were both breathing heavily. He didn’t need proof that this attraction between them was explosive, but she did. Wraith recognized how rare it was to experience this level of sexual excitement.
“Ready to leave?”
When she nodded, he wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her toward the back entrance. At the door, he told Fury, the biker manning that access point, “I’m out of here. Don’t call me.”
“Got it, Wraith.” Fury didn’t even look at the woman he escorted out. Wraith’s business was his.
The corner of Wraith’s mouth quirked up on one side. If he had his way, the club would understand Caroline was under his protection soon. She might be planning a one-night stand, but he wasn’t.