Chapter 23
CAMILE
The party is in full swing when we arrive.
It took me ages to dress for it. I wanted to feel sexy and strong, but a small voice in the back of my mind kept second guessing myself the whole time. I have this fear now that Jack thinks I’m some sort of epic slut.
Ever since I got the thought in my head, I can’t shake it off.
I’m not the sort of person to dress for a man, but tonight, I have.
For four men. I would be lying if I said I didn’t consider every outfit I tried on with regards to how Rook, Ace, Ghost, and Jack would react to it.
In the end, I went for a pair of jeans that are flared but tight around my ass and hips, with cowboy boots with a decent heel under them.
I’m wearing a low-cut top that shows off my collarbones, neck, and shoulders, but in a classy, sexy-but-not-slutty way.
And I have a cute shrug over it to keep me warm, even though it’s much warmer than usual for the time of year.
It’s more my style. I tried once before to dress like the women in the club, and got myself fingered by a stranger in the clubhouse for my trouble.
I’m done trying to be someone I’m not.
My hair is shiny, my face is expertly made up, and I’m wearing a simple silver choker around the base of my throat.
It hasn’t passed me by that it could look like a collar, if one were so inclined.
I’m hoping it appeals to the controlling, dominant side of Jack.
Despite what happened earlier with Ace and Rook, I can’t stop craving the Riders’ President.
“You ready?” Ace asks as we near the crowds gathered on the grass.
Voices are raised as people laugh, shout, and trade comedic insults and jokes.
The music, some sort of heavy rock, blares from speakers at the far end of the grassy area, and the aroma of barbecued food drifts over on the evening air.
In the center of it all, a large bonfire cracks and pops as smoke rises in a coil.
Ace and Rook had walked me to the party, making sure I wasn’t going to turn up alone. Their eyes had drifted down my figure appraisingly, so I presume I look okay in my jeans and top.
“You look pretty,” Rook says softly as we pause before the assembled throng.
I glance at him. He’s a little paler than usual, and he’s worrying at his lower lip.
“I guess I’m not the only nervous one?” I ask.
He rams his hands deep into his pockets. “We have no idea how much people know.” He shrugs, his shoulders high.
“Jack, me, Ghost, Big Mike, and Smokie Saul are the only ones who know exactly what happened,” Ace says. “And none of us are talking. The general club doesn’t need to know shit. It’s none of their fucking business.”
Rook’s shoulders relax a little. “Good to hear.”
It really is. I had wondered if I’d be walking into a crowd of people who knew I’d been fucked in the ass by Rook at gunpoint.
Shelley walks over to me. “Camile,” she says with a soft, pretty smile. “How are you feeling, honey?”
She’s wearing a low-cut top, and I’m jealous of her epic cleavage.
Her hair is teased, and it reminds me of how women used to wear it in rock videos in the eighties.
She smells of something sweet and floral, and her eyes take in my bruises with concern.
The marks around my wrists make it clear I’ve been bound.
“I’m okay, thanks.”
She glances at Rook and Ace. “Boys,” she greets them.
Ace tips an imaginary cowboy hat at her, and Rook nods.
“Come over and join us ladies for a while,” Shelley suggests. “You’ve not met many of them properly, have you?”
I look toward the collection of women, who, judging from their tightknit circle, I presume are mostly ol’ ladies, and swallow hard. I won’t fit in. I’m better finding myself some sweetbutts to hang with. I’m not sure I’ll get the best reception.
“Come on.” Shelley slips her arm around my waist and squeezes gently. “You’ll be fine. We don’t bite.”
I cast a worried glance behind me to Ace, and he gives a jerk of his head with a smile. “If you’re going to be staying, might as well get to know some of the girls, and I’ll be close by. I’ll grab you a drink. What do you want?”
“I’ll take a vodka and Coke.” I need something stronger than beer because my nerves are in knots.
Shelley leads me over to the women, and I try to push past my nerves. I cast my gaze around, feeling reassured somehow when it lands on Ghost, who is watching me right back. The man feels like my silent protector. I can’t see Jack anywhere, and disappointment hits me hard.
When I reach the women, they smile at me and greet me in a chorus of exclamations, all of which hit me like a wall of sound. The panic that keeps nipping at the edges of my nerves threatens to overwhelm me. Shelley must notice because she holds her hands up.
“Ladies, oh my, give her a chance. Camile, let me introduce you to everyone.”
She points to each woman, one at a time, telling me their names and the men they are with.
I struggle to retain the information and hope I don’t seem rude if I forget.
I smile, my jaw aching with effort and nod.
Every now and again, I make what I hope are the right noises in response to something someone says.
“So, you and Ace, huh?” one of the women, I think she’s called Lisa, says.
Her hair is red, and unlike many of the other women here, it’s short and funky, and she wears a ton of silver jewelry.
“What about me and Ace?”
“We hear he’s got the hots for you.” She pops the gum she’s chewing.
“Never mind Ace, what about Jack?”
The sultry voice comes from behind me, and when I turn, I almost gasp. It’s the woman from the pool table.
She’s even more gorgeous up close. Why would a man like Jack be interested in me when there are women like this in his club?
“I’m Felicia,” she says.
“Camile,” I manage to squeak.
It’s so weird saying hello to this woman when I’ve seen her spread out, half naked and being rammed by a biker with a massive cock.
Shelley widens her eyes knowingly. “She’s Tank’s ol’ lady.”
Felicia lifts one shoulder in a half shrug. “Well, not really. But I’m his girlfriend. For now. I don’t think Tank is the sort who hangs on to a woman for long.”
“He’s into you, though,” Shelley says.
“And no wonder,” a petite, dark-haired woman adds. “You fuck him in public whenever he wants. Not sure where else he’s going to get that easily.”
Felicia pouts her bee-stung lips. “You don’t approve?”
“Well, I’m not sure I like knowing my man has seen everything you’ve got to offer on a regular basis.” The woman folds her arms across her chest.
She’s dressed conservatively compared to the other women here, and her face is weathered. as if she’s worked outdoors for her entire life.
“I can’t help it if Tank wants me all the time and can’t wait until we get home to take me.” Felicia smiles sweetly. “And I can’t help it if your man looks, now, can I?”
“You…” The woman steps forward, but Shelley puts a hand up.
“Now, now, ladies, no fighting.”
With a roll of her impressive hips, Felicia walks off a little way from us toward a quiet corner.
“That one is pure trouble,” Shelley says quietly. “But I do think she might make an honest man of Tank yet. I think she could be his match.”
I nod absentmindedly. What did Felicia mean with her remark about Jack? I want to know.
I look around for Ace and see he’s been pulled into a conversation by the drink table.
I wonder if I should go and get my own, but there is a big group of men standing by the drinks, and I feel kind of nervous about pushing through them.
A few minutes pass by, making small talk with the ol’ ladies, but I’m glad when some of their men turn up, giving me the chance to approach Felicia.
She’s got her back to me and is staring out beyond the buildings to the fields and trees while she nurses a drink.
“Hey,” I say softly as I go to stand by her.
She turns toward me, one brow popping up. “You decided to ignore the morality committee and come talk to the woman with the scarlet letter A on her soul?”
I laugh a little at that. “Oh, I think I probably have one of those, too.”
She shakes her full head of bouncy, blonde hair. “I doubt it, darling. But… you’re nowhere near as innocent as you look.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, alarm hitting me.
Oh, God, do they all know what happened?
“I’ve seen you with Ace, and the way he looks at you. Rook, too.”
I swallow and don’t say anything. What can I say?
“I observe people,” she says. “I might be an exhibitionist, but I also like to watch. People are endlessly fascinating. My happiest time in life was the six months I spent in France as a model. The cafes are wonderful. Just sitting on a sidewalk, watching the world go by.”
“What kind of modeling did you do?” I can’t imagine with a body like hers she was on the fashion catwalks; she’s far too curvy.
“Playboy. That kind of thing. But also some runway shows. And I attended some yacht parties as a hostess. They were gross, though. People like to smear these guys, but I prefer being here among the bikers to being on a yacht with spoiled billionaires. These men are honest, and you get what you see. If they want to fuck you, they’ll make it clear, and if you say no, they leave you alone.
Or the club will deal with them harshly. ”
Glancing around to make sure no one is nearby, I lean in and lower my voice. “What did you mean with the comment about Jack?”
Her mouth tips up into a smile on one side, a little bit sexy and a whole lot knowing. “Oh, darling, come on. I could see you. In the clubhouse when Tank and me were putting on our show. You enjoyed it, didn’t you? With the help of Jack!”
Oh, my God. My heart stops for a moment before beating harder and faster in my chest. So, it was Jack. He was the one who did those things to me. I almost sway on the spot at the news because this means he’s into me, really into me. It also means he’s full of self-righteous bullshit.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
My question seems to confuse her. “Am I sure about what?”
“That it was Jack with me in the club?”