17. Shane
Shane
Ibrought Nik with me to the clubhouse for the first time tonight. JT’s finally being released for good behavior, and we’re throwing him a coming home party. It’s about time. Things haven’t been the same without him.
For almost three years we were inseparable, and then he was just gone.
Between JT’s family, the club, and our friends, the place is more packed than usual.
Loud music plays overhead, and there’s a line of people waiting for drinks down the bar from where I’m sitting with a bottle of Jack and a glass.
I’ve been drinking more than normal because I’m trying so hard to get clean.
It’s going pretty well, actually. I’m not saying I’ve kicked it completely, but I’ve cut back.
I don’t like to be high around Nik, and she’s been a good distraction from it.
Nik took off with Akers shortly after we got here.
I think they’re playing pool—or I should say, I bet she’s kicking his ass at pool.
When she stayed with me a few nights ago, we came down to the clubhouse and played while no one was here.
She’s strangely good at it. She said her aunt had a table in their basement, and she used to play all the time with her cousin.
Needless to say, the way she kicked my ass, Akers doesn’t stand a chance.
“There he is!” Gabe shouts, throwing himself at JT when he strolls through the door.
“Get the fuck off me. Jesus, you’re so fucking weird,” JT murmurs, trying to slip out of Gabe’s grip.
He’s bulkier than he was when he left, his dark hair’s cut short, and both arms are covered in tattoos, including the backs of his hands. Otherwise, he looks the same.
His eyes search the crowd before finding their target.
I didn’t see her slip in, but Katie stands off to the side staring at him with a smile on her face. He darts straight to her, lifting her off the ground and spinning her as she squeals.
“I didn’t know he took her back,” Gabe says, scowling at them.
“I didn’t either, but they seem happy to see each other.”
“What a dipshit. You’d think going to prison for the girl would be enough to keep him away,” Gabe grumbles.
JT practically licks the back of her throat.
I’m not gonna lie, I was kind of thinking the same thing, but it wasn’t really Katie’s fault. JT doesn’t know how to cool his temper. That’s the real culprit. However, I really hope he’s learned how to manage it where’s she’s concerned if the two of them are going to be back together.
Nik’s voice cuts through the crowd, grabbing my attention. “What the fuck did you just say?”
I turn, scanning the room. My heart thunders when my eyes find her.
Shit.
She stands by the pool table nose to nose with the girl Akers brought. Gabe and I both head in that direction.
Just before we reach them, Nik cocks back her fist and knocks the shit out of her. I wince as the girl stumbles back, holding her nose.
“Don’t fucking call him that, you dumb bitch,” Nik screams.
I wrap an arm around her heaving chest as Emily shouts, “You’re fucking crazy!”
“Oh yeah? I’ll show you crazy.” She bucks against my hold.
Good one, baby. That’ll show her.
“Hey!” I fling her around so I’m between her and the bleeding girl. “What the hell is going on?”
Her eyes are wild and darker than usual, and she’s pulled her hair up into a ponytail. I’ve never seen this side of Nik before—nostrils flaring, jaw clenching. She looks like she might actually kill the poor girl.
“That fucking bitch was talking shit,” she barks, pointing at the girl with her eyes narrowed to slits.
Grabbing her chin, I turn her back to me. “Okay, so you hit her?”
“Yeah, what was I supposed to do? Just let her run her fucking mouth.” She tries to get at her again, throwing her whole body toward the girl, but I still have ahold of her.
For the record, I’ve thrown my share of punches, sometimes with no good reason, but damn. I’m not sure if I’m concerned or turned on.
Actually, I think both.
And I know that’s fucked up, but it’s so damn hot.
“Control your bitch, man,” one of the newer guys barks from behind me, no doubt trying to sound cool.
I start to turn around and say something, but Gabe jumps in.
“Shut your mouth. If you ever call Nik a bitch again, I’ll remove you from the building piece by bloody fucking piece.” He addresses Akers next. “Get her the fuck out of here.”
Turning back to Nik, I ask, “What did she say?”
Nik looks down at her feet and twists her mouth to bite the inside of her cheek. “I don’t want to tell you.”
“No, if you’re gonna beat the shit out of some chick in my club, you’re gonna tell me what she said about you.”
“Come on,” Akers said, practically dragging the girl out of the club. I don’t know if he really likes her, but there’s no way he’s willing to go against the rest of us for her.
“She didn’t say anything about me.”
“Obviously, she did. You just decked her for talking shit.” I tilt to the side, trying to get her to look at me. “Out with it.”
When her eyes finally snap to mine, she sighs. “No, Shane. She didn’t say anything about me.”
“Okay… then what did she say?”
She rolls her eyes, annoyed with my questions and murmurs, “She called you a druggie.”
I stare at her for a second. Is she—
A laugh explodes from my lips. “I’m sorry. What?”
Her brows crease as she looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Why are you laughing?” she asks, sounding offended.
“You hit her because she called me a druggie?”
“Yeah, I don’t fucking like that. She doesn’t even know you.”
I wrap my arms around her and chuckle. “You’re a menace. You know that?”
“No. I just don’t like little bitches talking about you.”
“Nikki, I am a druggie. She didn’t say anything new. The whole damn town talks about it. I don’t give a shit.”
“I do!” She shoves me away. “And no, you’re not. You have an addiction, but that’s not who you are.”
I exhale, the laughter dying in my throat. Holy shit. I’m not sure if I’m annoyed that she doesn’t see me for what I am, or if she’s actually the only person who ever has.
Grabbing her shoulders, I spin her toward the bar. “Come on. Let’s get a drink.”
She cools off by the time we order, and I drag her across the room to settle onto the couch in the corner.
“Could you ditch his ass already. Happy Shane kind of freaks me out,” Gabe teases, flopping down next to us.
“Shut the fuck up.” I shove him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She laughs, pointing at me with her thumb. “I literally can’t stand him. I don’t know why he’s so happy, but I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds it annoying.”
“Alright, fuck both of you.”
She grins, kisses me, then throws her legs over my lap. “Your sister will be home in a couple of months.”
I don’t like the way Gabe perks up at those words. I’m afraid I might have to throttle him before the end of the summer.
“Yep. Then what are you gonna do? Am I getting the boot when she gets here?” I tease.
“Maybe.” She shrugs.
“Uh-uh. No refunds. You wanted him, now he’s yours.” Gabe nudges her with his elbow.
Nik grins. “I mean… she is a lot cooler than you.”
I laugh.
“And way more fun.”
“Okay,” I warn. “Easy now.”
“You’re prettier than her, though.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
“You might freak her out with all of that smiling, too.”
“Yeah? I don’t know what to tell you.” I tilt my head down to softly kiss her lips. “I’ve never been this happy before.”
Someone comes by with Jell-O shots, and Nik snatches two, trying to hand me one. I shake my head.
She shrugs and pops the lid off the first one.
I already know she’s up to something by the way she smirks, but I still can’t help but stare as she runs her tongue around the edge in a brutally slow motion.
I feel like I’ve been lit on fire, and I readjust in my seat, never taking my eyes from her mouth.
Fuck me. The red Jell-O breaks free and falls into her mouth.
Her heavy lashes splay over her cheeks as she plays innocent as if she isn’t doing this shit on purpose.
When she moves on to the next one, I think I might completely stop breathing for a moment.
The second her throat bobs to swallow the last of the Jell-O, I run my hand up the back of her neck and pull her into me.
This time I kiss her hard, sweeping her mouth with my tongue.
The lingering sugary taste from the shot fills my mouth.
She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me closer, pressing her chest into mine.
Running my hand up her bare thigh, I slip it under her shorts and grab her ass, my fingers digging into her skin hard enough to leave behind proof that she’s mine.
She pulls back, her eyes popping open to look at me, and whispers, “Follow me.”
Almost instantly, she’s off my lap and walking away.
Like a lost puppy I do exactly that, following her down the hall until she opens the door to the restroom and disappears inside.
I reach the handle just before the door closes completely and swing it back open only to be pulled in by my shirt.
She locks the door, then spins to face me with a mischievous look on her face.
It happens so fast, I’m not sure if I grab her or she grabs me, but somehow, we collide, my arms around her, her leg hiked up on my hip, our mouths melded in a desperate kiss.
Her tongue swipes along mine, and our chests brush as both of our breathing picks up.
She rocks her hips, pressing against my cock and moaning into my mouth just before sinking her teeth into my bottom lip. Hard.
I hiss. “Fuck, Nikki.”
Lifting her from the ground, I sit her ass on the edge of the sink and run my hand up her abdomen. A shudder wracks her body when the backs of my fingers make contact with her skin.
She grabs my belt loops and yanks me into her. “You were doing an awful lot of staring back there.”
“I’m always staring.” Squeezing her ass, I grit out, “Can’t help it.”