BULL: MC ROMANCE (Forsaken Riders MC Romance Book 6) (165 page)

7.

The night passed by in a blur of orders, the sweet scent of sex drifting over from the stage and the bouncing music. Courtney barely had chance to look up and when it finally hit 11pm she called to Jill that she was going to have to take a break. She reached under the bar for her purse and pulled it free, before she headed out of the main room of the club through the swing doors and went out into the back corridor.

It was still dark in there. The lights weren’t working and she didn’t even expect them ever to again. She walked slowly as she rooted around in her bag, looking for some gum, whilst she wandered past the changing rooms, looked in and smiled and waved at some of the girls.

As she pushed open the back door and made her way out into the night she sighed as the cool breeze rolled over her skin. The stars twinkled brightly above her head and she could hear the rumbles of trucks heading out on the highway.

“Well, well, well,” the voice came from behind her. “I didn’t see you as the type to work here.”

Courtney spun around with surprise to find Gunner standing in the doorway, looking down at her. She smiled and waited for him to speak again. Her eyes were wide and glued onto his, and she was desperate to feel him closer to her again.

“I like the dress,” he said cheekily as he took a step closer.

“Thanks,” Courtney said as she swept a strand of hair behind her ear.

“So,” Gunner said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. “I’ve been asking my brother about you…” he trailed off with a glint in his eye.

“Oh yeah?” Courtney put her hand on her hip.

“He says you’re a good kid,” he winked. “That you’re one of the people that helped turn this place around after… well… after what happened.”

Courtney straightened up and swallowed.

“I do my best,” she said honestly.

“A lot’s changed around here since I was last in town…” Gunner said as he slid a cigarette between his teeth and lit it quickly with a flick of a silver lighter. “But you’re my favorite change so far.”

He smiled at her through the dark and she felt her pulse quicken.

“Well, that’s good to know,” she teased.

“A pretty girl like you makes it more than worth coming home…” he trailed off as he looked out across the back parking lot of the club.

“What made you leave?” Courtney asked bravely, unsure if she was overstepping any boundaries.

“A lot of reasons,” Gunner said sadly. “But none of which I want to talk about right now.”

He looked at her dead in the eye and she instantly felt embarrassed for being so interested. She looked down at the floor and kicked a small rock with the tip of her shoe.

“I didn’t think it would take long…” King interrupted from the doorway. Courtney breathed out in relief.

“Ha, what’s that supposed to mean?” Gunner asked.

“Just I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away from this gorgeous gal,” King said as he wrapped an arm around Courtney’s shoulder.

She smiled, but more for the fact that for the first time since she had met King, she hadn’t got butterflies in her stomach when she saw him.

“Like a moth to a flame,” Gunner said with a wink.

“I assume he’s introduced himself?” King asked.

“Yes,” Courtney smiled.

“Actually, we met earlier today,” Gunner stepped in. “At the motel.”

“Of course,” King nodded. “Courtney’s another one who didn’t feel like she wanted to bed down at the club house.”

“She’s got her head screwed on, that’s why,” Gunner joked.

King laughed and reached for a cigarette out of Gunner’s packet. Courtney couldn’t believe it, she was stood between them and she didn’t know where to look. Her heart was pounding and she wanted to be witty and cool, but she was afraid that if she opened her mouth she would say something lame and mess it up.

“Looking good tonight Court,” King said as he looked her up and down. “Nice change.”

“Thanks,” she smiled shyly.

She waited for a moment, unsure of where to look and aware that Gunner’s penetrating eyes were fixed directly on her. She swallowed and smiled shyly.

“Well,” she said. “I better get back to work… the boss here is a real ball buster.” She jabbed King in the ribs and walked back to the door.

“Yeah and don’t let me catch you slacking again!” King laughed as she flipped him the bird and walked as sexily as she could away from them back down the dark corridor.

Even though she couldn’t see them, she could feel both of their eyes burning into her behind.

She pushed the door open to the private girls’ restroom and flicked on the light. She locked the door behind her and turned on the faucet so the water ran loudly in the sink. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her pupils were fully dilated and her heart was still pounding so hard it felt as if it could burst out of her chest.

“You’re a mess,” she said to her reflection. “You’ve got to pull yourself together and stop going to pieces whenever you’re around either of them…”

She knew the second she had lay eyes on Gunner that she wouldn’t be bothered about King anymore… but just then, being with them both outside, had felt very overwhelming.

“A Forsaken Riders sandwich,” she whispered with a giggle. “Now wouldn’t that be something…”

She shook her head and slapped the back of her own hand before she pulled her small make-up bag out of her purse and dabbed some powder across her forehead and nose. She reapplied her lipstick and eyeliner and ran her hands through her hair to smooth it out and keep it blunt and sharp.

“Best get back to it,” she smiled at herself in the mirror and turned on her heel.

***

Back behind the bar she and Jill were relieved that things were starting to quieten down. Courtney dismissed her and thanked her for her day of hard work and she pulled up a stool and sat behind the counter watching one of the girls twirl around on stage.

Over in the corner she could hear the childish giggles of a group of young women, and when she looked up she wasn’t at all surprised to see Jamie sitting there with a couple of her girlfriends laughing at the strippers and whispering to one and other. Courtney rolled her eyes. She couldn’t be bothered making small talk. She didn’t mind Jamie, but once in one day was more than enough, especially when Jamie was drunk and Courtney was sober.

It wasn’t long before the swing doors moved and she watched Gunner and King come back into the main room of the club. They whispered to each other and King pointed to various places in the room. Gunner shook his head and it looked as if King was telling him something hard to handle. She instinctively thought that it must be something to do with the past owner and Tanner… the more people mentioned it, the more Courtney was starting to piece together what may have happened… and so far she had the distinct feeling that they had been murdered by someone close to the Forsaken Riders.

She straightened up as Gunner left King’s side and made his way over to the bar. He smiled at her and she couldn’t help but grin back, she had never been very good at hiding her emotions. Especially when she was happy about something.

“So,” he said as he pulled up a tall stool and sat down at the bar. “I’ll take a double shot of whiskey and your phone number.”

Courtney giggled. She liked his confidence.

“You’re so shy…” she joked. “Please, I feel like we should speed things up.”

She winked at him and he laughed too.

“Okay, I know, maybe I am forward… but hey, what do we have to lose?” he raised his eyebrows.

Courtney knew he was right. She certainly didn’t have anything to lose, and she knew how she felt about him… she wanted to get to know him better, and she had never been so attracted to anyone before in her entire life.

“Okay,” she smiled. She turned and picked up a bottle Jack and a glass. She bent over the bar as she poured and allowed him just the smallest view of her cleavage.

“I’m sorry about King,” Gunner said taking a serious tone. “I hope he doesn’t ride you too much here.”

Courtney shrugged.

“He’s really not that bad,” she smiled.

“Well, if you need any help around here, you know I’m good for it,” he said. “You know when I agreed to come back, I knew I’d have to keep my distance a bit too… I couldn’t be all totally back in the fold again, I don’t think I could handle it…”

Courtney’s mind was racing… what had happened to make him leave?

“So I said to King, “No, I’m not moving back into the clubhouse. I’ll take a room somewhere and see how things go”… and then on my first morning back in town I meet you at that very motel.”

He looked up at her and smiled.

“Funny how things work out isn’t it…”

Courtney was lost in his eyes again. He so easily hooked her and pulled her in. It was effortless.

“Well,” she smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. And as for my number, you don’t need it… we live next door to one another don’t we...”

Gunner smirked and clamped a cigarette between his teeth.

“Well alright,” he nodded. “We’ll keep it old school.”

Courtney nodded and bit her bottom lip. She slid the drink over to him and watched him take it to his lips and knock it back in one.

“I’ll give you a shout tomorrow,” he said as he got to his feet. “I’m going to talk to the rest of the guys, and head back there.”

He slapped his glass down on the bar top and leaned forward, he was so close to her she could almost taste the whiskey on his breath.

“Don’t work too hard Courtney,” he said wickedly. “I’m going to need you to save some energy for me…”

He trailed off and Courtney felt a rush of arousal flood through her. Their chemistry was so intense and on fire, she felt as if it was about to explode.

He leaned back and they locked eyes once more.

“Goodnight,” he smiled.

“Goodnight Gunner,” she whispered as she watched him walk backwards towards the door at the right of the stage that led down to the office.

As he disappeared down there her heart was racing and her palms were sweating. She knew these boys were bad, and she knew they were dangerous… but she still wanted him. Gunner had a dangerous edge and she could tell that there was something more than ferocious running through his veins, but now they had connected and he was bringing her back to life.

She didn’t care if she was getting in too deep with the Forsaken Riders. She didn’t care if she was about to get burned. All she knew was that she had to have him. She had to feel him next to her. She had to hold him and run her fingers through his hair. She had to let him take her and do with her whatever he wanted.

She was going to give herself up to him and give him all the power over her that he needed. She knew he could dominate her in ways she could only dream of, and she wanted to experience it so badly, she was willing to do anything to get it.

As of that moment Courtney only had one purpose, she was going to make herself Gunner’s girl…

8.

She woke the next morning with a smile on her face and a skip in her step. As she bounced out of bed and flung open the curtains she smiled so wide, for a second she thought her skin may crack.

All night she had dreamt of big, burly men. Men with muscles so hard they could tear her in two, and ones who were rough, rugged and dangerous. She had woken several times in the night, drenched in sweat and so turned on she was wet between her legs and aching for Gunner to relieve her. She kept replaying over in her mind what he had said before he left Tanner’s…

I’m going to need you to save some energy for me…

Her whole body shuddered. What he could do to her… and what she wanted him to do…

She went straight into the bathroom and ran the shower on cold. She stepped in she gasped as the water hit her skin and cooled her off. It had been such a long time since she had met someone she had felt like this about. Even King hadn’t inspired this kind of reaction, and the fact that there was so much brooding mystery surrounding Gunner, only made him all the more sexy.

After she had dried off and wrapped herself in a towel she went over to her closet and pulled open the doors. The black dress had clearly been a hit with all of the guys at the club, and she wanted to keep the momentum going. She reached into the racks and moved the hangers around, looking for a little white dress that she hadn’t worn for some time.

She found it and as she pulled it out, she smiled. The dress had been one of her favorites many moons ago, and she felt like she was hugging an old friend as she held it up to her chest and looked at her reflection. The old Courtney was on her way back with a vengeance and was about to take no prisoners.

She slipped the dress over her head and pulled it down past her butt. It was delicate, light and so very girly that it was a stark contrast to her blunt, jet black hair. She leaned forward into the mirror and winged out some eyeliner before she slicked on her trademark red lipstick. Now, it didn’t matter if she bumped into Gunner in ten minutes, or ten hours, she looked amazing and she was ready for him.

Her stomach churned and she grabbed her purse. It was nearly noon and she had to eat something. She slipped her feet into a pair of silver flats and pulled her shades out of her drawer. She swung open the door and stepped out into the hot sun with a huge smile on her face.

Luckily, she didn’t have to wait ten hours… Gunner was in the parking lot, leaning up against his truck with a dirty pair of jeans on, a bare chest, and his shirt tucked into his back pocket. Courtney stopped and leaned against her door frame, watching him with amusement. She wondered how long it would take him to look up and realize she was there.

“My lovely lady,” he said without looking up.

Her smile spread wider across her lips.

“My rugged stranger,” she joked.

Gunner looked up and their eyes met. He squinted because of the sunlight but she could still see the beautiful deep brown, pulling her in.

“See, I told you that you didn’t need my number,” she smiled.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” he said as he stood up straight and scratched the back of his neck. “I’ve been waiting out here since 8am.”

Courtney laughed and Gunner winked. He wiped his hands down his jeans and stained them with oil as he walked towards her, his boots kicking up dust behind him that was taken away by the breeze.

“So,” he said as he stopped, millimeters from her.

She looked up to him and their eyes locked in on each other’s.

“Where am I taking you?” he raised an eyebrow.

Courtney licked her bottom lip and looked down the highway.

“Anywhere,” she said demurely. “As long as you buy me lunch… I’m starving…”

Gunner smiled and raised his hands above her onto the doorframe, so he was even closer.

“I like the sound of that,” he whispered.

He leaned forwards and their lips skimmed against one anothers. Courtney felt dizzy. She was such a mess of arousal and emotions. All she wanted was to pull him inside her motel room, kick the door closed and let him throw her down on the bed… But she knew she couldn’t. She had to make him wait. It had to be perfect, and there was still so much about him that she didn’t know.

“Give me a minute,” he whispered, before he slowly backed away.

She had been ready for his kiss, and yet it terrified her. What if she got burned? What if he really was someone unbelievably dangerous? Could she be getting pulled into something that would destroy her? But even without asking herself those questions seriously, she already knew the answer… She didn’t care. She wanted him whatever the cost. Even if it meant she was putting her own life at risk.

Gunner disappeared inside his motel room momentarily before he came back out with a pair of clean jeans and a black t-shirt. The fabric clung to his muscles perfectly, showing off how intricately sculpted and defined he was. Courtney felt a pulse in her panties. How much longer was she honestly going to be able to resist him?

“Come on then,” he said as he slipped his hand into hers and began to pull her across the parking lot. The breeze whipped up the back of her dress slightly and she giggled as she trotted along beside him.

“I’m going to take you somewhere I used to go way back,” he said as he opened the door to his truck and stood back, waiting for her to climb inside. “If it’s still there, you’re going to love it.”

“Sounds good to me,” Courtney smiled as she climbed in and looked at him out of the window.

He walked around the back of the truck and climbed in beside her. For a man who was so rugged and rough, he had the inside of his truck spotlessly clean. She had imagined it would be full of tools and spare bike parts, but it was just like new and completely tidy.

He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Flying down the highway away from Slate Springs and towards the south.

“Where are we going?” she asked as she looked out over the desert.

“Trust me,” he said. “It’s worth it.”

***

They drove for around half an hour before he started to slow and he turned off the main road and down another desert path. Courtney felt her anxiety mounting. She had never been out this far and she didn’t know where he could possibly be taking her. Just when she was about to give up hope and slump back in her seat, a town started to appear before her very eyes.

Out of nowhere, they rose over a hill and down the other side, houses and stores sprung up out of the desert landscape. It was a one road town, and totally tiny, but Gunner was right, it was worth the drive. It was so quaint, so old and western, it was almost like the set from a movie.

“Wow,” she breathed. “This is something else.”

“Sure is,” Gunner looked across at her. “No one really knows about this place except the people in Slate Springs, Iron Hill and this town. It isn’t the sort of place anyone moves to, and with it being off the main highway, it’s not the kind of place people pass through either.”

“It’s bizarre,” she said as she looked at the old men and women sat outside on their stoops in the midday sun.

“Yep,” Gunner said. “But it’s got one of the best little restaurants I’ve ever eaten at… and apparently they’re still open for business.”

“No way,” she laughed.

“Umm hmm,” he nodded.

He swung the car over to the side of the street and parked by the curb. He jumped out and moved around to Courtney’s side before he opened the door and she stepped out onto the sidewalk.

She could see that the town was almost derelict. But people still worked and lived here and kept it ticking over. She looked up at the dusty sign swinging in the breeze above her head.

“Greenville?” she said with amusement. “Is that ironic? I mean look at this place… It’s a sand box.”

Gunner laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Come on,” he smirked.

They walked along the street holding hands and, although Courtney could sense that there were people behind the windows, inside the buildings watching them, they were the only ones there. As they walked, Courtney looked at each of the stores. It was like they were stuck back in time, a hundred years ago. She looked in the window of a pharmacy and shook her head in disbelief.

“This looks like it could be in a museum,” she whispered, not wanting to cause any offence just in case someone from Greenville was close by.

Gunner looked down at her and smiled.

“These people don’t know much different,” he whispered back. “Old town, old folks, old ways…”

Courtney nodded and they kept on walking.

Gunner stopped when they reached a restaurant at the end of the street. It had two little tables outside on the curb with old, faded paper tablecloths and salt and pepper shakers. Courtney smiled, it really was like another world.

Gunner peered inside and waved to someone right at the back of the store.

“Hey!” he called. “Can we get a table?”

There was no one else in there, and the two tables out front were empty so Courtney didn’t know why Gunner felt the need to ask… but she thought it was sweet that he seemed to have manners.

An old man doddered out and smiled at them both before pointing to the two tables out the front. Luckily they were in the shade of the awning so Gunner pulled out a chair and Courtney sat down before he pushed it in.

“Thank you,” she said.

Gunner sat down opposite her and the old man handed them some ratty old menus. When he wobbled back inside, steadying himself with the doorframe, Gunner leaned forward and whispered;

“He won’t remember me now… but he’s been here since the beginning of time…”

Courtney smiled and giggled. Her eyes scanned the menu and she had suddenly forgotten all about food, she didn’t feel like she could eat. She had a knot in her stomach… one that was created by curiosity and nerves. She wanted to know everything about Gunner, but she was afraid to ask.

“Okay,” he said as if he was ready to make a confession. “So I didn’t just bring you all the way out here because this is a damn fine restaurant.”

“Oh yeah…?” Courtney leaned her elbows on the table and listened intently.

“Yeah…” Gunner sighed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. “It’s because I knew there wouldn’t be a place in Slate Springs where we could sit peacefully for even five minutes and talk properly.”

Courtney smiled and relief washed over her.

“I think I know exactly what you mean,” she said coyly.

“Well yeah,” he exhaled a plume of smoke into the air. “You’re the hottest girl in town and I’m the forgotten bad boy making his big come-back… of course people are going to start talking…”

Courtney decided to seize her opportunity…

“Bad boy?” she asked with raised brows. “Maybe you need to elaborate on that… I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into…”

Gunner blew two identical streams of smoke out of his nostrils and curled his lip in a wry smile.

“It’s probably not at all what you’d think…” he said slowly. “But I respect what you’re saying.”

“Then tell me everything,” Courtney leaned forward and let her fingertips lightly skim his. “I feel like I’ve been in the dark for so long and I have no idea what I’m walking into. I need to know… I can’t do this without knowing everything…”

Gunner could sense the urgency in her plea and he took hold of her hand and squeezed it tight.

“Okay,” he said. “I’m going to tell you it all…”