Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 148238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
—Kill
“Want to know my ultimate wish?” Grasshopper asked as we stepped from the diner.
The moon climbed up the sky, taking the stage now that the sun had descended. It hung like a huge silver dollar, casting everything in a metallic hue.
My arms stayed crossed around my stomach; I was cold despite the heat from Arthur’s jacket.
Arthur rolled his eyes. “With your dirty mind, I can guess.”
Mo laughed softly. “I’d say your wish was for a woman with skills who could give you a blow job while riding.”
Grasshopper punched him in the arm, smirking. “I wouldn’t say no to that shit, but that isn’t it.” His smirk turned into a smile as he pointed between Arthur and me. “I want that.”
A meter existed between us—a boundary that Arthur and I hadn’t found the nerve to cross. I wanted him to touch me, but at the same time didn’t. I wanted him to whisper in my ear and tell me it would all work out, but at the same time wanted nothing from him.
His father killed my parents.
My mind had a lot to unscramble before I would be able to sleep tonight.
“Want what?” Arthur asked, his forehead furrowed.
“What you guys have.”
Arthur chuckled, it sounded layered with pain and anguish. “You want a dysfunctional relationship that has more fucking issues than a TV soap?”
Okay, that kind of hurt. I knew we had things to work through, but we weren’t dysfunctional. Were we?
Arthur caught my eye, looking pleadingly into mine. His body swayed subconsciously toward me, even now unable to ignore the pull between us.
“No.” Grasshopper grinned, his dimple flashing. “I want what you guys have. To have a connection that never fades—even after so many years apart. I want honesty and the knowledge that I’m not alone in the world.”
My knees wobbled. Such a simple sentence but it shot me in the heart and made my anger dissolve. All the pain, confused thoughts, and misery I’d felt in the diner fizzled in my blood until they completely dispersed.
Life was too short to let the past dictate our future. Especially a future that was almost robbed from us.
Arthur sucked in a breath and closed the distance between us. I melted into him as his arm wrapped around my shoulders, holding me tight. His lips pressed against the top of my head in the sweetest of kisses. “I’m sorry, Cleo. This wasn’t how I wanted to tell you.”
Unlocking my arms, I hugged him back, not caring that two bikers stared uncomfortably. “I’m sorry for not dealing better with it.”
Arthur made a strangling sound. “You dealt with it better than I would have. The diner is still standing and the police haven’t been called. I’d say that’s a success.”
I laughed gently. “Suppose so.”
“See… that’s what I’m talking about,” Grasshopper said, his posture hungry for his perfect other.
Trying to keep my head straight and not be consumed by the rapidly building need between Art and me, I asked, “Do you have someone?”
Grasshopper chuckled. “You kidding? The only women I meet are the ones after me ’cause they think I’m a rule breaker or they’re looking for a cushy retirement fund.”
Mo sniffed. “Kill’s a kick-ass Prez, but by getting us on the right side of the law and cleaning out the Club, he’s fucked us.”
“What the fuck?” Arthur growled.
My eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
Grasshopper laughed. “Smug bastard over there with his genius brain for numbers went and made us goddamn rich, didn’t he? Not only do we now appeal to the women who want to get off on a scary biker who says fuck you to the law—not the case now but back in the day, hell yeah—but we also have to fend off the Barbie-doll princesses who’ve been groomed for a man with money by aspiring parents.”
I shook my head, marveling at how such a conversation could take place after something so serious. “And they don’t care that you’re in a Club or prefer a bike over an Aston Martin?”
Grasshopper smirked. “Hell nah. It only sweetens the package. Millionaire biker on the right side of the law with the protection of a brotherhood who would do anything to shelter their own? Who doesn’t want that shit?”
Mo rolled his eyes. “I’m not getting myself an old lady.” Pointing a finger at himself, he added, “Lone wolf.”
Arthur chuckled, holding me closer. “Well, Lone Wolf, I apologize for making you guys so damn desirable. Now fuck off. I want to ride home alone with my girl.”
Grasshopper looked down the road, his face tightening. All signs of joking and banter disappeared. “You sure that’s a good idea, dude? We’re in their territory, after all.”
Arthur’s muscles bunched, sending shock waves into mine. My fingers ached to slide down his front to his cock. The sparking interest in my core promised he felt it—felt the twitching need to connect after talking about things that had the potential to tear us apart.