Chapter 7 Gwen
“Nate Barnes.”
As soon as I said the name, something flared in Cin’s green eyes. And it wasn’t good.
If I knew him well enough, I could say if it was recognition, frustration, anger, or suspicion. The sad thing was that I didn’t know this man well at all. We met a few days ago. I couldn’t even say his last name, favorite food, or anything significant about him.
But that didn’t seem to matter. Not to my traitorous body. I reacted to him like we’d known one another for years. Like my soul had met his in another life.
Ridiculous. A fairytale dream. That wasn’t reality.
“What did they say to you?” Cin growled, the sound both sexy and disturbing at the same time.
That was a perfect example of how he created havoc inside me. How need and want clashed with uncertainty and fear. Yeah, he scared me a little. Did I think he’d ever hurt me? No. But he’d leave bruises and marks on my body, just so he could see them on my skin and lap at them later with his tongue.
Why was that so freaking hot?
And that wasn’t the only reason. He made me feel things that I never had before. Thoughts of all the ways he could take and pin me down, forcing me to do what he wanted. Carnal, wild things that left me breathless under my covers at night when he wasn’t there.
“Fuck,” he snarled before he was on me, hips pinning mine to the wall. He rolled them, pressing his erection into my belly as I held back a moan. “You’re not gonna hide from me, Bambi. Open your eyes.”
I didn’t realize they snapped shut.
“Look at me.”
I didn’t refuse. Staring into that mesmerizing green, I swore they almost shimmered.
He shoved his knee between my legs, causing me to lift on my toes. Heat from my core flared hotter as he licked his lips. With a slow, unhurried drift across my stomach, his fingers made a wicked descent, slipping beneath the waistband of the leggings I wore.
“Don’t look away,” he ordered as they slid dangerously close to breaching the delicate slit that already ached for his touch. “Should I see if you’re wet for me?”
I bet he could already tell. “Cin.”
“Fucking love you saying my name, Bambi. Love hearing it on your lips.” He didn’t move for several heartbeats.
I shuddered from the anticipation.
His middle finger pushed through, instantly damp as the rest of his fingers curled slightly.
I felt that middle finger swipe through the wetness gathered there, and then he lifted his hand out, bringing it right up to his mouth.
Without hesitation, he sucked the essence off with a groan. “Gonna be the death of me.”
My chest rose and fell as I panted, still keeping my eyes locked with his green orbs. I rolled my hips in response. Couldn’t help it. I felt on fire. Burning with something I couldn’t name.
It wasn’t just lust. Or the need to orgasm. Both of those were true, but this was more. Something primal. Like I might combust if I didn’t feel him inside me.
“Gotta stop looking at me like that, Bambi. I will bend you over that table and fuck you raw.”
I knew he meant it. I didn’t care. “Do it.”
A grunt escaped as he pulled me from the wall and walked us toward my dining room table.
He lifted me, spreading my thighs apart as he shoved between them.
His hand grasped my hair and lightly pulled, forcing my head back to stare into his eyes again as he leaned down.
Lips so close to mine I could feel the heat of his breath.
Smell a hint of smoke and mint. “Not tonight.”
Instant outrage sparked in my veins. “You—”
He cut me off when his mouth crushed mine. The kiss exploded with stars behind my lids. My eyes closed without my consent, ripping him from my vision. The cry that left my lips was swallowed as he thoroughly ravaged my mouth. Tongue seeking, twisting. Teeth clashing.
It was brutal.
And also, the sexiest thing I ever experienced.
Admittedly, I didn’t have much of a sex life.
When he lifted his head, my lips felt swollen and hot. My eyes could hardly focus. “Love the way you respond to me.”
“Like I’m desperate?” I joked.
“Like you’re mine.”
God, I wanted to be.
“Stay away from Nate Barnes and Mike Castor.”
The order caught me off guard. I blinked. “Huh?”
“You heard me. Don’t want you near either of them, but Barnes isn’t safe. He’s not what he appears to be.”
“You’ve met him,” I realized aloud as he scowled.
“Yes. Today.”
“Something about him felt off to me, too. I couldn’t figure out why. He seemed nice enough. But his eyes. They don’t read right, if that makes sense.”
“It does.”
“I’ll try my best. I have to remain in contact to get updates about my sister’s case.”
His lip curled on one side, almost a snarl. “I don’t like it.”
“Well, it’s not up to you, is it?” I challenged him. “This is my life. My choices. My fucking sister, Cin.”
All I got was a grunt in response.
His fingers pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, knuckles softly sliding over my cheek. I didn’t expect the kiss that followed, or how gently and tenderly he held me.
Cin’s behavior was such a contradiction. One moment gruff and demanding. The next, charming and patient. It didn’t confuse me as much as it intrigued me. As if he was a beast who fought his dark nature whenever I was near.
“Come with me.”
“Right now? Where?”
“On a ride.”
His motorcycle? “I’ve never done that before.”
“Riding? I’ll show you what to do.” Somehow, as his eyes darkened, I got the feeling he was talking about sex.
This biker and his filthy mind. No wonder I always had thoughts of being touched by him in my head. It was his fault.
“Behave.”
“With you? Never.” He winked before hauling me off the table and taking my hand, tugging me toward my room. “You need warm clothes. It’ll be cold in the wind. Boots. Gloves. You got those things?”
“Of course.”
“Then get your shit and get changed. Quick.” He slapped my ass, and I gasped. “Go on. Hurry up, Gwen. We’ve only got all night.”
He called me Gwen. Not Bambi. Not some other endearment. And he said it like my name meant something to him.
Silly. I was being ridiculous again.
I glared in his direction as I went to my closet and dug out the box with my winter clothes. I found black leather gloves, a black tight-fitting jacket, and my knee-length boots. I added a pair of jeans to the pile and headed toward the bathroom.
I didn’t make it.
The big biker stepped in front of the door and closed it. “You’re not afraid of changing in front of me, are you? Just slip out of those leggings quick and get dressed. Easy, baby.”
There. He did again. First “Gwen”, then “baby.”
It was then that I realized he’d distracted me enough that I never asked the rest of my questions, especially about his pet.
I wanted to know about Omen. And details about my biker.
What Cin did for his club. Did he work? Why did I only ever see him after dark? Would I ever meet the rest of the club?
“You’re not moving, Bambi. Need some encouragement? Another smack on the ass?”
I flipped him off as I reached for my leggings and yanked them down, purposely shoving my ass in his direction as I bent over, pulling the fabric over my feet.
“God damn, baby. You tryin’ to get my dick hard? ’Cause it already was, and now I’m gonna have blue balls.”
“Lucky for you, I’m not interested.” I pulled on my jeans and zipped them up, working the button as Cin tackled me to the bed.
His hands caught my wrists and pinned them above my head. “Dangerous words, Bambi.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
He grinned. Too wide. Too. . . predatory.
“Cin, please,” I begged, breathless as he attacked my neck, nipping with his teeth.
His tongue twirled over my earlobe. “I bet if I check, you’re still wet for me.”
I didn’t reply.
His gaze held me captive. “Gonna give you one chance to finish getting ready, Gwen. Don’t tempt me anymore tonight.”
Fine.
“You’ll have to get off me first.”
“Only if you kiss me.”
“I never agreed to that.”
He rolled his hips, pressing his thick length into my core. “Want me to fuck you? Right now? Show you exactly what you’re missing?”
God, yes. Wait. No. Bad Gwen. “No,” I squeaked.
“Has the little deer become a mouse?” He chuckled. “Get up, you little tease.”
I flipped my hair over my shoulder as he backed away, ignoring the fluttering of my pulse and the need coiling in my gut. The heat still blooming in my core.
Once I was ready, Cin took my hand. “Do you need that big purse?”
I almost laughed. “It’s a designer handbag, not a purse. I won’t bore you with the details, but it’s different.”
He scrubbed his free hand down his face. “Do you need it?”
The words were almost growled.
“No. I can take one of my Coach crossbody bags.”
He arched a brow, clearly not understanding what I meant.
I slipped my hand from his and went back into my closet, where I found my Coach signature bag with a long strap. I added lip balm, a small wallet where I transferred my cash and cards, a hair tie, and my keys.
He stood by my front door and waited, arms crossed over his chest. “Keep the shit you need in that bag and bring it with you when we’re together.”
“So you don’t have to wait for me again, baby?” I purred, wanting to see if honey-sweet words would have an effect on the big biker.
His arms dropped. Something feral crossed his features. In less than a heartbeat, his mouth crushed mine. My back met the wall again as he pressed me to it, a rumble in his chest as he kissed me.
I pushed him back, heaving air into my lungs. What was that?
“Don’t call me that again until you’re ready for me to fuck you.”
Wow. Blinking, I stared at him. That fierce of a reaction just from me calling him an endearment?
My grin suddenly blew wide. Hell yeah.
He groaned. “Fuck.”
“You’re so into me. Can’t stay away. Can’t keep your hands off my body.” I swished my hips. “Look at me. Taming the bad boy.”
“Christ,” he murmured. “I created a monster.”
“You want me. You want me,” I sang in a silly voice, laughing as he opened my door.
“Come on.”
We entered the hallway, and I snickered as he walked beside me.
“Wait. I want to savor this moment.” I danced in a circle and couldn’t stop smiling.
“You done yet?”
My God, he had no idea what that deep, sexy growl did to me. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Good.” He lowered his head and nipped at my ear. “Girl.”
I should not be ready to jump him right now and beg for his cock, but I was tempted.
As soon as he backed up, I locked the door and followed after him.
Cin stopped when we reached the stairs, a few feet from the elevator. “Let’s take these instead. Don’t want anyone to see me in my cut.”
Cut?
“The leather I wear,” he explained.
Oh. The leather vest with patches. He always had it on.
We took the stairs and descended quickly, exiting into the lobby. The guard was on the phone, his back to us as we left. Cin kept his body angled so the camera couldn’t pick up the back of his cut or the emblem on it.
“Don’t want anyone to associate my visit with the Grave Prowlers MC. Wouldn’t want you to be stuck answering a bunch of questions about shit you don’t know.”
That made sense since I didn’t know a thing about his club or his life as a biker. Hence the conversation I wasn’t finished having with him. “Okay.”
The temperature had dropped since I arrived home from my trip to the store earlier that afternoon. The stars were out but muted by thick clouds. Even the moon seemed to be hiding behind the dark gray color.
We walked a short distance to Cin’s bike. He reached for a helmet and lifted it. “Need you to wear this. You don’t go riding without one. Ever. Promise me.”
“I won’t.” I didn’t need convincing. Riding could be dangerous, and crashing meant injury—no head trauma for me. I waited while he slipped it over my head and clasped the strap beneath my chin. It felt a bit heavy, but I could handle it.
He flipped up the visor. “Gonna give you a few instructions first. Then you hop on behind me and scoot close. We’re supposed to be touching, so if your tits aren’t smashed against my back, then you’re not close enough. Got it?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Yeah.”
He gave me instructions and pointers, going into detail until I felt comfortable. “Good. You’re ready. Hop on behind me, baby.” He flipped my visor down after a quick peck on my lips.
Cin straddled a beast of a matte black bike with silver chrome that probably shone bright under the sun’s rays. He started the engine, and it rumbled to life, heavy, gritty. It vibrated beneath him like a beast ready to take flight.
Every paranormal romance about dragons I ever read suddenly surfaced. I could understand the fascination—the power and charisma of something so majestic and beautiful.
Lifting a leg, I slowly climbed behind Cin, sliding right up behind him as he reached backward and tugged me even closer.
With my thighs parted and his heat so close, I felt that spark of desire rise within me again.
And then he pulled back on the throttle, and I shivered at the vibrating machine under us.
My arms wrapped around his waist and held tight.
Cin squeezed my left thigh. He said that was how he would communicate with me.
I held him tighter, letting him know I was ready.
We pulled away from the curb, picking up speed as the bike rolled down the street.
Nothing prepared me for a motorcycle ride through empty neighborhoods close to midnight. The lights streaked by in a blur of flashes and colors. Only the sounds of the bike reached my ears. I didn’t know it, but it was about to become even better.
The town had nothing on the open road. Once we rode beyond the city limits, Cin relaxed. His broad shoulders took the force of the wind, leaving me to feel the exhilaration of travel on two wheels. Nothing to close us in. To keep us caged.
I understood the freedom of riding. How it felt like flying.
Cin gave me a gift.
I’d cherish it forever.