Coveted (Charming Bastards #2) (7 page)

He smacked her ass again, drawing a hiss from her. The skin of her ass tinted to a soft pink and he touched it to gauge the heat. The paddle could do some damage if it wasn’t used properly. He swung at each cheek again and watched as her fingers curled in the sheets, her knees falling to the mattress in front of her. He swiped his fingers through her slit. Hot cream soaked them, the wetness tempting him unlike anything else. He rubbed her clit, giving her that little push she needed. She cried out, jerking against her binds as he continued to touch her.

She abandoned her old self when she was with him like this. She didn’t think, didn’t react. She simply trusted him to give her what she wanted. And he did. Moving to the nightstand he grabbed a condom and rolled it on his hard dick. A small vibrating plug had been the other object he’d selected from his dresser and he coated it with lube before moving back between her legs. She glanced over at him with soft red strands of hair falling into her face.

“It’s just a plug. If you can take it and like it, we’ll graduate to my cock.” He smoothed his finger along the tight little hole. “Relax, baby. This is going to feel so good.”

He pressed the plug against her and eased it inside. Once he turned the vibrations on, Scarlett gasped. Yeah, he thought she’d like that. Untouched nerves finding pleasure in new ways. It was fucking great. He gripped his cock and pushed inside her pussy. She was tighter than a fist and hotter than Hell. And he was in Heaven. He plunged into her with quick harsh strokes. Scarlett cried out, barely keeping her face from hitting the mattress. Something about being inside her snapped him out of his own insecurities as she’d called them. He was so used to not feeling anything with women and had guards up. Shields that protected him from the drama and the nonsense that came with being in a relationship. He didn’t need it and he didn’t feel it with her. He wanted her so bad it physically hurt. Getting close, pushing deep inside of her—nothing was enough.

One hand left her hip to find her clit while he continued to fuck her like a madman. Her fingers curled around the bed sheets before she tugged. The restraints would only allow her so much movement. He felt the start of her orgasm before she cried out, shouting his name as the tip of his cock bumped against her G-spot. The vibrations from the plug only added to the sensations. Her pussy clamped around him, pulling at him in strong convulsions while he rocked into her, hitting that mysterious spot again and again until she collapsed in front of him.

Then he let go.

The condom barrier was torture. He wanted to feel her with nothing between them. Joker’s grunt of pleasure filled the silence in the room as his orgasm took most of the strength he had out of him. A good fucking was something everyone needed and the more frequent the better.

He pulled out of her and removed the plug. Afterward, he dealt with the condom and went to the bed to release her. Scarlett was beautiful. Once she was free, she rolled to her back and stared up at the ceiling.

“My ass is still on fire.” She squirmed. “I don’t know how I’m going to class like this.”

He grinned. “You’ll manage.” He took in her rosy nipples and her relaxed state. “I was going to get us breakfast this morning, but you’re going to be late for class if we do that.”

She glanced over at the clock. “Ah, shit.”

She jumped up and ran to the bathroom. He chuckled and watched her before casually following. He supposed he understood her lack of preference for morning sex. He didn’t feel like doing shit and there was an entire list of stuff to get done.

“I’ll help you.” Joker followed her into the shower. “It’ll save on time and whatnot.”

She snorted. “Yeah. Right.”

He grinned knowing that they’d probably fool around a little more in the shower. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and it should have bothered him but it didn’t. If he didn’t know better he was falling for the redheaded beauty and all her charms.

Chapter Seven

Scarlett spent most of the day in the library to finish up her paper. She researched the drug problem in the city and the Charming Bastards MC along with the Reaper Boys MC came up. Pausing, she clicked on the articles.

Several reports suggested that the motorcycle clubs in the city were trafficking drugs into the city and throughout. Several reports of the men getting arrested, including Joker, were even brought up. Scarlett’s frown deepened as she typed in Joker’s name.

Assault charge after assault charge was on his record. He supposedly bashed another man’s face in with his fists alone. Scarlett’s eyes widened as she continued reading the court reports that she’d discovered online. Who was this man? This criminal she didn’t know and didn’t understand was a completely different person than the man she shared a bed with at night. Jack Wiley was a man with a past that looked horrible to the average person. She couldn’t even fathom hitting another person and he beat the shit out of several. Scarlett closed her laptop and stared out the window by her seat.

The city moved at a fast pace and it didn’t slow down for anyone or anything. She learned that the hard way when she’d been drugged and discarded like trash. Her friends didn’t miss her. Her professors didn’t question her absence. Some just thought she was sick or partying without giving any thought to her well being. Nobody missed her and it was a scary thought considering what had happened. What could have happened. So many reports on the news were meant to scare women into the dangers of living in the city. What scared her, though, was the thought of her not knowing the man she slept with. Not really.

Grabbing her stuff, she decided to leave. Her parents knew nothing of the situation and she didn’t really want to bring them in on it. Her father was a prestigious man that had to look good in front of his friends. He always bragged that his daughter was going to be a doctor. Of course she was the doctorate of philosophy kind, but still. He didn’t need anything to embarrass him like his precious daughter getting drugged and dumped naked in the parking lot of a motorcycle club.

She drove around for a while trying to clear her head. Joker hadn’t really kept any secrets from her that she knew of. He did promise to protect her if Eddy or Ollie tried anything. She didn’t want to think about what that meant. Pulling into the parking lot of the club, she saw the intense party going on. She didn’t even realize it was nearly ten and she didn’t even stop to get something to eat. Living off fast food was killing her budget since she didn’t really have any place to cook a decent meal. She participated in the college cafeteria program but they had served something disgusting earlier that day and she opted not to eat.

Now she was starving and the only thing the club had was booze and cocaine.

Joker stood outside while the music blasted, chatting with a few others. He glanced over at her when she pulled in. Scarlett wasn’t into partying. She didn’t drink even, not really. Alcohol was not something she thought tasty and the effects weren’t worth it either.

She parked her car and got out. Joker came toward her as she popped the trunk and walked around to the back.

“If you need to study or something, we can go to my house. It’s not the most comfortable place, but there is privacy and quiet”

He was shouting at her over the music and noise. Scarlett pursed her lips, taking in the scenery. When a man pulled a woman’s skirt up and started fucking her on the picnic table, she nodded. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her.

“I’ve missed you today.” He spoke into her ear as he pressed a kiss along her jaw.

“Can we get out of here?” Scarlett motioned for him to get in the passenger’s seat. Joker sat his beer aside and got in. She didn’t know what the deal was with the partying but she couldn’t live in a place like that.

Once they were away from the club, Joker reached out and rubbed his hand along her thigh. “Do you have class work or did you just want to leave?”

“Leave.” She glanced over at him. “I find nothing appealing about yelling at a person standing next to me because they can’t hear me over the music.”

Joker laughed. “I know.”

Scarlett drove to his house and parked in the driveway. She debated on how to confront him about what she’d read earlier. She decided to just go for it.

“I need to ask you something.” She closed her car door and walked with him toward the house. “I was doing research for my paper today and I came across some interesting stuff about the MC and you.”

He pulled out his keys and stared at her. “Me?”

She nodded. “Your arrest record and your court papers.”

He snorted. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s all you have to say?” Scarlett stared at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“When’s a good time to bring that conversation up? While we’re fucking?” Joker thrust his hips forward, mimicking the act. “Ah, yeah, I fucking love your cunt. Oh, and by the way, I’ve got a record.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be an ass about it.”

He held out his hands. “What do you want me to say?”

“What happened?”

Joker shook his head. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?”

“Club business.”

“You beating the shit out of some guy is club business?”

He didn’t say anything. Scarlett studied him for a moment. He was definitely drunk which probably explained the shitty comments and the desire to avoid her questions. She nodded.

“Okay.” Scarlett folded her arms over her chest.

Joker rubbed his eyes. “So you’re going to stand there pissed at me all night?”

“Why not? I haven’t got anything better to do.” Scarlett glanced around the large living area. “I’m going crazy living in the clubhouse anyway. Maybe it’s best that this happened now. I need to get out of that place.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

She met his eyes. “Do you really think I’m going to continue being with someone that won’t fucking have a conversation with me about something personal? I don’t give one shit about it being club business. I want to know what happened that provoked you nearly beating the shit out of some guy. Not once but twice.” Her voice hitched up a notch at the end of her monologue as her anger and frustration came out.

He came toward her and pulled her back against his front, wrapping his arms around her. “That fiery redheaded temper is coming out. It’s almost scary.”

“Shut up.”

Joker kissed her neck. “So it’s a deal breaker for our relationship? Me not telling you what happened?”

“Yes.” She was certain of that. Reading those articles made her feel like she was reading about someone else.

He sighed and pressed his lips against her shoulder. “I’m not going to tell you the specifics of club business but the whole incident stems from the Reaper Boys roughing up one of the hang around girls at the club. Club voted and we did some retaliation.”

He moved away from her. “I have a temper. Not quite like your redheaded one, but it’s there. One of the punks said some shit and I said some shit with my fists. Cops were called and I didn’t get away fast enough. Damn cigarettes.”

“You beat a guy up for saying something to you?”

“For describing his sick and twisted fantasy for the girl they’d roughed up. I have a few buttons and nobody pushes them all like the Reaper Boys. I think it’s part of their initiation into the fucking club.”

“You defended her honor?” She narrowed her eyes. “Was it Lauren?”

Joker stared at her, falling back into silence. Why that didn’t surprise her, she didn’t know. Scarlett shook her head. “You said you didn’t have any feelings for her. Why does that admission not convince me anymore?”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t.”

“Save it.” Scarlett shook her head. “You went to jail for her. I’m not an expert criminal or anything but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go to jail for someone that I didn’t have feelings for.”

Joker didn’t say anything which only pissed her off. She didn’t want those articles to be true. Ollie had said some pretty nasty things about the MC and everything she experienced minus the drugs had been the exact opposite. She didn’t want to believe that the man she let fuck her was capable of such gruesome things.

“Technically prison. Jail is completely different.” He cleared his throat. “Not the point though. I know.”

“No wonder she thinks you’re hers.” She rolled her eyes. “For all I care, she can have you.”

Scarlett went to the door and opened it. The night was full of twinkling stars that were bright enough to spot in the sky even though they were on the outskirts of the city. She found a chair and sat on the porch unsure of where she went from there.

Joker finally joined her after a few minutes. “I love you, Scarlett. I’ve never said that to any other woman and I’ve never felt that way about any other woman. You’re it for me.”

He walked to the railing and turned, gripping the edge behind him as he faced her. “I don’t know what you want. We haven’t had that conversation but I’m willing to. I can’t erase things in my past. I can’t undo what has been done. I told you that I didn’t have feelings for Lauren and I meant it. There’s a sense of loyalty in the club that makes it like family. She’s not anything to me but she’s family. I don’t want her romantically and I didn’t go to prison for her because I did. I defended her because she’s family. I think you can understand at least that much.”

Scarlett pursed her lips. “So if we break up, you’re not going to go back to her? Can you admit that to me?”

“Is that what we’re doing?”

“I don’t know. Answer the question.”

The longer he thought about it, the more pissed off Scarlett became. Joker stared at his feet. “I can admit it. I don’t want to lose you, but if that happens, I seriously doubt having sex with anyone would entice me very much. There’s no promises that she wouldn’t try though.”

There was something about the look in his eyes that made her believe what he said. Scarlett glanced away from him. “I think the question is how long would it take to wear your defenses down? That’s the part that concerns me. If we stay together and I get pissed at you, like now, are you going to turn and run to her for the sex you want? I don’t know if I believe that you won’t.”

“You don’t trust me.”

“I did until all this bullshit came up. I trusted you with everything. Now I don’t know. You won’t be open with me and then I find out it was because of her. I don’t know what to think or what to feel.”

Joker came toward her and knelt so that he could wrap his arms around her waist. “I love you. Not her. I want you. Not her. That’s all you need to know.” He laid his head in her lap. “As for the other stuff, I can only protect you if you know nothing about that part of my life. It’s hard to understand but I’m hoping with time you’ll get it. I’d never deliberately hide something from you. I just didn’t see a need to bring it up.”

Scarlett ran her fingers through his hair. “Your criminal record is something you need to disclose.”

“Noted.” He lifted his head. “I installed the hot water heater. You can take a bath now if you want.”

“You just want me naked.”

“Always.”

She shook her head. Maybe there was stuff she didn’t understand and could only understand by living the club life. She’d give him that one. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. He wasn’t a horrible person, not by a long stretch. She didn’t understand his actions, but she did see his loyalty. If he said he wanted her and not Lauren, then she believed him. He never gave her any reason not to, not really.

“I’m going to take a bath without towels or soap, just because I want to soak in water and not stand in a shower. Then we can go back to the club.”

“I’m way ahead of you.” Joker stood and led her back into the house. He took her to the master bath and pointed to the vanity. “Towels, bubble bath, candles, and a gossip magazine.” He paused. “I had wine too, but I’m not entirely sure you want to share your bath with me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Pour the wine while I undress. I need some relaxation.”

He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

****

Joker woke up early the next morning. Scarlett slept soundly next to him and he didn’t have the heart to wake her up. He knew she’d had a rough day and some much-needed sleep would do her well. He moved away from her and got out of the bed, yawning as he tucked the blankets around her. He walked to the bathroom and used the facilities then brushed his teeth. He didn’t want to take a shower so he found some loose shorts to wear. He had every intention of getting some breakfast for them before she woke up. Leaving the room, he went to the main area of the club. Lauren stood from her spot on the sofa and stumbled toward him.

“You need some love, baby?” Lauren smoothed her hand along his chest and he grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Why not? ‘Cause your little girlfriend would cry?” She pouted her lips. Her eyeliner ran, making her look like a raccoon. She’d definitely been partying with someone for the night.

“You don’t want to go there with me.”

She draped her arms around his neck. “Since when have you been a one woman man?”