Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Glad to know the bar is set low,” he said. “Makes it easier for me. You got a ride to work tonight?”
“No.”
“So you’re going to walk.”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be less work to catch a ride, seeing as I’m right here and it’s because of me that you don’t have your bicycle? Not that I’m accepting blame—that’s on Rebel—but it’s not your fault you got caught up in any of this. Your situation is tough—you admit that. Why turn down someone offering you help just because he happens to have a dick?”
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it because what he’d said made sense. Not only that, a ride would be nice.
“You promise you don’t have any ulterior motives here?” I asked, and Shade laughed, shaking his head.
“Baby, you know damned well I have ulterior motives. I want to fuck you—think I’ve been clear on that point. But the fact is, you need a ride, I’m right here and either way the evening’s gonna end the same. You’ll spend the night serving drinks, I’ll order a few, at some point I’ll probably drag you into the back room and make out with you for a while, and then I’ll leave you the tip you should’ve gotten last night.”
My face flushed. What he said should’ve pissed me off, but I kept thinking about how it’d felt to wake up wrapped in his arms. Guys are bad, I reminded myself. Didn’t you learn anything from Rebel? McBride women can’t afford to let men into their lives, not even for fun.
Still, the bar was nearly three miles away and I’d be on my feet all night… Shade wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling my hips toward his. A thin tendril of traitorous desire twisted through me, spiraling up my spine and warming my stomach.
“Ask yourself this, Mandy. Last night I could’ve done anything I wanted to you. I’m the fucking president of the Reapers and we were on my territory. By the rules of the club I had every right to take you, and what did I do? I slept next to you like a fucking monk. You really think I’m gonna pull over on the side of the road and rip all your clothes off between here and the Pit? I’m not Rebel. I don’t fuck around and I don’t play games.”
The words were blunt, matter of fact and they also happened to be true. Last night had been the recipe for rape, but it hadn’t happened. Yeah, but he still accepted you in trade for a bike, Wonder Woman prodded.
Only part of a bike, and he thought I was okay with it, I reminded her.
“A ride to work would be nice,” I said slowly. Shade’s eyes flared with triumph, and his hands tightened on my hips. Then one slid up my back to my head, cradling it as his mouth slanted down over mine. His tongue slipped between my lips, invading so fast my head spun. It was a surprise attack—that was my only excuse for giving in so easily. I felt his other hand catch my ass, squeezing and pulling it into his body in a way that left no doubt that he was happy to see me.
Felt good. Way too good.
The blip of a police siren filled the air and we froze. Then Shade lifted his head, releasing me from his tight embrace while still keeping one arm firmly around my shoulders. Across the road, a county sheriff’s car had pulled to a stop. The door opened to reveal a tall, lean man in a deputy’s uniform who took in the scene, eyes flickering to my face.
I felt myself tense, the same way I did every time I saw a cop, and my heart sped up.
“You must be Mandy McBride,” he said, surprising me.
“Um, yeah. I’m Mandy,” I answered, wondering how he knew my name. Shade’s arm tightened around my shoulder and the deputy’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m Heath Andrews. I know your sister, Hannah. You look a lot like her. She works for my folks at the grocery store.” His eyes flickered toward Shade. “Don’t usually see the Reapers down here on the flat. Thought I’d stop by and make sure everything’s okay.”
Shit. Hannah must’ve called him. Probably panicked when Shade started kissing me…except there hadn’t been enough time for that, had there?
Shade’s club brothers had gone from being relaxed to something else. Alert. Focused. There was a tension in the air, and I knew in that instant that whatever rumors I might’ve heard about the local law enforcement being in bed with the Reapers, Heath Andrews wasn’t part of it.
Interesting.
One of the bikers cracked his knuckles as Andrews took a step forward. The man was outnumbered, I realized. Outnumbered by a lot, but it didn’t seem to faze him. He walked right up to me and Shade, eyes taking in the situation in a way that left me with no doubt that he saw everything.