Chapter Two
Shadow
I blink. Once. Then again. Axel notices and follows my stare to the brunette bounding through the gates. “What the fu––”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention,” says Axel, as he pushes to his feet, “I’m hiring her.”
My head whips around so fast, I almost go dizzy. “Huh?”
He shrugs, but I don’t miss the smirk on his face. “She needs work, and I have shit she can do.”
“Like?” I ask, my tone way brisker than it should be when addressing my President.
“Well, I don’t know exactly,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck while watching her speaking to the prospect. “I’m gonna see what skills she has and take it from there.”
He heads in her direction, and I’m up off my seat almost running after him. “We don’t even know her,” I remind him, because strangers aren’t welcome in the clubhouse.
“She seems alright.”
“You said that about Lexi, and she was undercover.” The words fall out of my mouth without thinking, and I immediately wince as he stops dead and slowly turns to face me. His eyes say everything his mouth doesn’t. “I’m sorry,” I rush out, bracing for the punch I deserve.
“You’re in a flap because you wanna fuck the new girl,” he mutters, his voice dangerously low.
I don’t even try to object, even though I disagree with his words.
“So, I’m gonna let that slide. You bring that up again, I’m gonna lay you out right in front of her so she can see what it’s like to watch a grown ass biker cry. We clear?”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
We turn our attention to Remi. She smiles wide, but it’s fake. I’ve seen it many times on broken people. “Thanks for having me back,” she says to Axel as she shakes his hand.
I run my eyes over her attire. It’s the exact same shit she had on the first time I saw her. “I didn’t know this place was used,” she adds, glancing past us to the building behind. “It’s huge.”
“You better come in,” Axel says, heading back inside. She gives me a small smile before passing to follow.
“Who the hell is she?” whispers Shooter.
“Way outta your league, prospect,” I snap, heading after them. Maybe I can convince Axel this woman isn’t club material.
They both look round as I enter the office, and Axel’s smirk returns, like he predicted I’d follow. I sit on the couch and wait for him to continue.
“As I was saying, we have Zen. We’re not looking right now but––”
“You want her in Zen?” I snap, sitting straighter.
Axel gives me another wary look. “I’m giving her options.”
“Zen ain’t an option,” I say firmly.
“Wait, what is Zen exactly?” asks Remi.
“A massage parlour,” says Axel.
“Oh,” she murmurs, her brows knitting together as if she’s connecting the dots. “And would I need to––”
“No, you wouldn’t because Zen isn’t an option,” I snap. She glances at me for a second before looking back to Axel.
“Still,” she says, with a small smirk, “let’s not rule it out completely.”
Axel laughs, his broad shoulders shaking as he tries to contain it. Her words send a burning rage through me. Fuck. Why am I even bothered?
Axel continues. “We have a micro bar too, and you mentioned you’ve done some bar work?”
Remi nods. “I can work a bar, clean floors, whatever you have.”
“Okay, I’ll get one of my prospects to show you around while I have a think,” Axel replies.
“Wait,” I say without my brain engaging. All I know is I don’t want Shooter showing her around. “I’ll do it. I’m free.”
“We don’t want to put you out,” says Axel.
“I said I’m free,” I repeat more forcefully.
He grins, holding up his hands. “Okay. Bring her back here after.”
I nod, stuffing my hands in my pockets and heading out with Remi following.
I go over to the pool tables at the back of the main room, where some of the club whores are hanging out. Sasha grins, uncurling her legs from beneath her and standing. “Handsome, back already?” She runs a manicured nail along my chest suggestively.
I grab her wrist, halting her. I don’t want Remi to see her touching me, and I’m not even sure why. “This is Remi,” I say, removing her claw from me.
She scowls, crossing her arms over her chest before dragging her gaze to Remi. She looks her up and down, arching a brow. “She a new club whore?”
“A club what?” asks Remi, almost laughing.
“Whore,” repeats Sasha, a challenge to her tone. “You have a problem with that?”
“Pipe down,” I snap. “I’m showing her round Axel is thinking of hiring her.”
“And you’re taking her for a test run?” Sasha spits.
Jesus, she’s blown me a few times and now she’s acting like my old lady. It’s the same story, and the reason these women hang around in the hope a biker will take them as their old lady.
“I’m showing her around,” I repeat.
“So, what’s your actual job?” asks Remi, almost like she’s trying to push Sasha’s buttons.
“Why don’t you tell her?” Sasha asks me.
“These ladies look after the single brothers,” I say, my words feeling uncomfortable.
“Like prostitutes?” Remi asks, tipping her head to one side innocently.
“Bitch, it’s like you want to get smacked,” Sasha yells.
Remi doesn’t even flinch. In fact, she grins. “Oh, yeah, is that a threat?”
“Enough,” I snap, putting myself between the two. I take Remi by the shoulders and turn her towards the exit. “I don’t think you’re club girl material.”
Outside, Remi bursts into laughter. “She was easily wound-up.”
I narrow my eyes. “If you’re looking to fit in here, don’t piss off the club girls.”
“Whores is what you called them,” she corrects.
“Whatever, just don’t be upsetting them. They can make your life hell.”
“Why did you take me over there?” she asks thoughtfully.
“What do you mean? Axel asked me to show you around.”
“You didn’t like the idea of me working at Zen, but you don’t mind me having sex with bikers?” She glances back at the clubhouse. “Do they even get paid for that?”
“They get free lodgings and food.”
Remi suddenly looks interested, and I take the spare helmet off my bike and place it on her head, tapping the top so it slips on. “I do need a place,” she says, her voice muffled from the helmet. I slam the visor closed, shutting her up.
I put on my own helmet and throw my leg over the bike, then I connect our speakers. “Get on behind me,” I tell her.
“I’ve never been on a bike before,” she tells me.
“It’s easy. Just slide on behind me and put your feet on these bars,” I say, pointing them out.
Her hands go to my shoulders, and I close my eyes at the contact. It’s like she’s pulsing electricity right through me and straight to my cock.
Once she’s on, she gives an unsure giggle. “Where do I hold on?”
I could show her the sissy bar, make sure she keeps her distance, but I’m already sliding my hands to her knees, hooking my fingers behind them and tugging her closer. She gasps. I take her hands and pull them around me so she face-plants my back. “This is . . . intimate.”
“Now, hold on,” I mutter, my voice gravelly from the testosterone racing through me.
The bike rumbles to life, and she squeezes me tighter. Fuck. I’ve never wanted to speed so much in my life. Having her cling to me. I shudder.
Remi
I squeeze my eyes closed for the entire ride. I’m not into adrenaline junky shit, and being on the back of Shadow’s bike feels exactly like that.
As he slows to a stop, I release a long breath and risk opening my eyes.
We’re outside a small place, and I see the sign flickering in the window.
The Zen Den. I’m confused. He didn’t seem keen on having me work here, but I put that down to trust. He doesn’t know me, and he’s being cautious.
I’m not stupid. I know what sort of place this is.
I follow him inside, where there’s a woman at the front desk reading a magazine. “Ebony, this is Remi,” Shadow says, and she smiles.
“Hey. Nice to meet you.”
“Alright if I show her around?”
She nods, and we go through a beaded curtain. It’s so cliché that a giggle escapes me, causing Shadow to look back. I shrug. “Well, it’s not exactly discreet.”
“You been in many massage parlours?” he asks, his brows raised.
I shake my head. “No, but this is how I imagined it to be.”
“You ever massaged anyone?” he asks.
I shake my head again. “But I’m a quick learner.”
“That’s all you need, honey,” says Ebony as she leans in the doorway. “To learn quick and fuck fast.”
I laugh, biting my lower lip to hide it. “I can do both.”
“We don’t need anyone here,” says Shadow.
“I don’t know about that,” says Ebony. “I’ve got two girls sick this week. Having a spare wouldn’t hurt.”
“How do I interview for something like this?” I ask. I feel Shadow stiffen and see his hands curl into tight balls of fury. “Do I have sex with someone to get a rating?”
Ebony laughs. “No, honey. We just put you in a room, and if customers come back for you, we know you’re good.”
I grin. “Oh, I reckon I could have them coming back.”
A man bustles down the stairs towards us, his fat, ruddy face red from exertion.
He eyes me with interest, and Shadow moves me away from him as he passes.
“Book me a slot tomorrow,” he mutters, coughing violently as he stuffs some cash in Ebony’s hand.
I wince as he clears his throat, his eyes still occasionally seeking me out. “You new?” he asks.
I’m already shaking my head as Shadow answers, “No, she isn’t.”
“Pity.”
“Let’s go,” Shadow growls somewhere close to my ear. I shudder as he takes my hand and leads me back out to the bike.
“Question?” When he doesn’t answer, I continue. “If you don’t want me working here, why bring me?”
“To prove to Axel that it doesn’t bother me,” he mutters, getting on his bike.
I frown, but before I can question him further, he starts the engine.
Shadow shows me around a few more places before we end up back at the clubhouse, where Axel is waiting.
“I think I’ll put you here,” he says, tapping the bar.
Shadow looks just as surprised as me. “We could always do with an extra pair of hands behind the bars. Sometimes it’ll be at the micro bar, maybe even the night club, but mostly here. ”
“The club girls serve beer,” says Shadow.
Axel looks irritated by his interruption. “And now, Remi does it,” he says tightly.
“Thank you,” I say, hardly daring to believe my luck. “I won’t let you down.”
“Great, cos tonight, we’re having some brothers over from a new club. I’ll need you behind the bar and on clean-up.”
“What hours?” I ask.
“Until they leave or pass out.”
I frown. “Oh.”
“That a problem?”
I shake my head because it isn’t, apart from the fact I’m shattered after sleeping on Roxy’s uncomfortable couch.
“I’ll just let my friend know I won’t be home until late.”
“You need clothes,” Axel adds. “I’ll have Sasha sort it.”
“Not a good idea,” says Shadow. “She’s already made a bad impression with her.”
Axel rolls his eyes. “Fine. I’ll speak to one of the others.”
A woman approaches with curious eyes. She slips her arm around Axel, and his eyes instantly soften towards her as he places a kiss on her head. “I can help with clothes,” she offers, smiling up at him.
“Lex, this is a club whore kinda problem,” he says, dismissing her.
“And now, I’m making it my problem.” She looks to me and smiles. “Follow me.”
We head upstairs. “I don’t think he was happy you overrode him,” I say.
She laughs. “He’s used to it.”
“And you’re not with the club . . . whores?” I wince as I say the words.
“No. I’m Axel’s other half. Or in club world, his old lady.”
“You actually get to be with that big guy all the time?” I ask, my eyes wide.
“It’s a chore, but someone has to do it,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Now, you need clothes, and I have a tonne.” She opens a door, and we step into what can only be described as a small apartment.
It’s decorated beautifully, and she laughs at my surprise.
“It took some work, but I think it’s just how we like it now. ”
“You live up here with him?”
“Yes, like Beauty and the Beast.”
I grin. “You’re so lucky.”
“What about you? No other half?”
I shake my head, my smile fading. “No.”
I follow her into a walk-in wardrobe. It’s full to the brim with clothes, and I notice some still have tags.
Shoes are lined up in pristine condition.
“Now,” she says, sternly, “don’t judge me, but since I moved up here, I’ve become borderline obsessed with fashion.
It’s far from who I used to be, but this makes me happy. ”
I run my hand through the rack of clothes. “It’s amazing. There’s so much stuff.”
“Probably too much.”
She searches through and pulls out a few outfits. “Are you looking to find love?” she asks, holding up a short, tight-fitted dress. I shake my head, and she shrugs, stuffing it back in the wardrobe.
“What about this?” she asks, holding up a white dress with a tight-fitted bodice and a short, flared skirt.
I smile. “I love it.”
“Try it on.” She heads out, leaving me to strip from my old, worn clothes and into the dress. It’s a little loose but not noticeable, and I instantly love it. Lexi comes back in and lets out a low whistle.
“It was made for you.”
“Thank you so much. You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to get out of those clothes.” I laugh. “I’ve washed them, of course, but I put them straight back on.”
She frowns. “You don’t have any clothes.”
“I left my last place in a hurry. I didn’t get a chance to take things.”
She glances at her wardrobe. “And here I am lording all my labelled shit.”
I shake my head. “Oh, please don’t feel bad. You didn’t know.”
“I’ll sort some things out for you.”
I’m already backing out the room. “No, you’ve done enough.”
“Shoes,” she calls, and I stop in the doorway. “We look the same size. You need flats if you’re working the bar.” She grabs a pair of Converse. “White will look good.”
I take them. “Thank you so much. I really do appreciate it.”