Chapter 8 #2
“Losing a client costs money.” I stepped closer, forcing him to tip his head back to hold my gaze. “Losing a fucking employee costs more.”
Len turned toward Tamsin’s father, clearly expecting the owner to overrule the biker taking control of his building. Tamsin spoke before her dad had the chance, moving to stand beside me with her shoulders squared despite the exhaustion shadowing her face.
“Gavin is right.” She glanced toward the records corridor, pain tightening her mouth before she faced Len again.
“Someone used valid access to start that fire after we began reviewing those files. They may still have credentials for the warehouse, range, or another company property, and I’m not putting anyone back inside until we know who can open every door. ”
“We have obligations,” he reminded her, his tone edging toward the patient condescension that had already begun irritating me.
“We have employees,” Tamsin countered. “Cancel what needs to be canceled. Nothing moves until access is fixed.”
Her father looked between them for a long moment, then nodded toward Cipher. “Do it.”
I folded my arms across my chest and planted my boots beside Tamsin while she began directing supervisors to send the remaining employees home. She had given the order, her father backed it, and Len reluctantly turned away to notify the crews.
I waited until he had moved beyond easy hearing before bending close to Tamsin. The wild curls escaping her ponytail brushed my jaw, and the scent of smoke clung to her skin beneath the faint sweetness. “Knew you liked my plan.”
“I liked the part where no one else caught fire,” she replied, giving me a tired look from beneath her lashes.
Her mouth twitched, but the almost smile disappeared when the radio in her hand began to shake. She looked down as though surprised by the tremor, then tightened her fingers around the plastic in an attempt to hide it. The crisis had passed far enough for her body to begin collecting payment.
I took the radio from her hand and clipped it to my belt before drawing her into my chest before she could insist she was fine.
Tamsin stiffened for one brief second, surprise catching in her breath.
Then her forehead settled against the center of my chest, and her hands clutched at the sides of my shirt.
I closed one arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist, holding her firmly enough that she could feel there was nothing unsteady in me.
Her breasts pressed soft and warm against my ribs, and even beneath the soot, smoke, and exhaustion, my body reacted with a hard surge of arousal.
I wanted her wrapped around me somewhere no one could interrupt, those soft hands gripping my shoulders while I stripped every trace of fear from her with my mouth and cock.
Instead, I lowered my chin to her hair and let her take whatever steadiness she needed, because wanting to fuck her senseless and wanting her safe had become two parts of the same brutal need.
Tamsin breathed against my chest until her grip loosened, then lifted her face with a faintly embarrassed flush spreading beneath her freckles. “I got soot on you.”
I looked down at my ruined shirt. “Tragic.”
Her eyes narrowed, but the corner of her mouth lifted again. “You make it very difficult to worry about you.”
“Working as intended.”
Once her father had what he needed, I told Tamsin we were leaving. She glanced toward the warehouse as if part of her wanted to remain until every wet page had been separated and cataloged, but fatigue had hollowed the skin beneath her eyes.
I guided her toward my bike, and she put on the helmet and climbed on behind me without protesting the transportation arrangement this time. Her arms closed tightly around my waist before I asked, her body fitting along my back as though she had already learned exactly where it belonged.
The ride through the canyon settled her more than words would have.
She stayed pressed close through every curve, her thighs braced around mine.
My cock hardened again from the constant pressure, forcing me to concentrate on the road while imagining the very different reasons I intended to have her thighs locked around me later.
Three Black Crowns bikes were already positioned along the road when we reached her property.
Another two sat near the driveway, and brothers moved through the rear yard and neighboring tree line while portable exterior lights illuminated the dark approaches around the house.
I had sent the order before we left the warehouse, and the club had responded with quiet efficiency.
Tamsin climbed off the bike, removed her helmet, and stopped beside the front walk. Her gaze traveled from the brothers near the road to the prospect checking the rear fence, then landed on the equipment cases beside the porch. Exhaustion gave way to fresh exasperation as she turned toward me.
“I said I wanted to go home.” She swept one hand toward the men surrounding the property. “I didn’t say I wanted to host the entire club.”
“They brought their own weapons,” I pointed out as I took her helmet. “Very fucking considerate guests.”
“You cannot station armed bikers around my house without asking me.” Tamsin followed me up the walk, her boots striking the path with renewed purpose. “This is still my home, Gavin.”
I unlocked the door after the brother inside confirmed the house had been cleared, then opened it and stepped aside for her. “Already did, pretty girl.”
She muttered something about impossible men and walked inside with as much dignity as a soot-streaked woman surrounded by armed bikers could manage.
I followed her and closed the door, satisfied that she was protected from every direction.
The men behind the warehouse fire had made the mistake of turning their attention toward Tamsin, and until I found them, they would have to get through the Black Crowns—and me—to reach her again.