Wild: Tiger's Blood MC (2 page)

Nero walked up and put an arm around Anya. He was already hammered—his eyes were barely open and his face was flushed bright red. “Hey,” he slurred in Anya’s ear. “Whaddya say we go back to one of those bedrooms?”

“Forget it, pig,” Anya said. She lightly punched him on the shoulder. “I ain’t doing nothing with you, you gate-crasher.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nero slurred. “I was invited; I swear I was.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh yeah? By whom?”

Nero looked right at Vero. “Her,” he said, pointing at her broad chest. “This girl. She invited all of us, even Elliot.”

I cringed. Even the sound of his
name
was too much for me to handle. “I doubt it,” I said drily. “Vero wouldn’t want a bunch of men hanging around.”

“Oh yeah,” Nero said. He poured the rest of his beer down his throat. “She’s a dyke, I forgot.”

The sound of Vero punching Nero in the face was louder than it should have been. She moved so quickly that I barely noticed her powerful left hook connecting right with Nero’s jawline. Nero was on the ground in a matter of seconds, moaning and clutching his bloody face.

“What the fuck did you do that for?” Nero whined, rolling around in a pathetic pile of limbs. “I didn’t say nothin’ to you!”

Vero spat on his prone figure. “Fuck you,” she said in a sotto voice. “I don’t have time for this shit. Sephy, I’m getting another drink.”

Anya looked at me with her eyes wide. “Wow,” she said. “I didn’t know this would be such a big mess.”

I shrugged. “Forget it,” I said. “They’re not going to fuck with us. They know that they’re on our turf now.”

“Hey,” one of the other Tiger’s Blood guys said. He walked over and looked down at Nero. “What the fuck happened here?”

I stood defensively, bracing with my legs shoulder-width apart. “Nothing you need to worry about,” I said as sharply as I could. “One of your men got a little fresh.”

The guy laughed. When I glared, he almost looked guilty. “Sorry,” he said. He held out his hand. “I’m Tony,” he added. “VP of the club. Nice to meet you.”

“Pleased,” I said sourly. We shook and then I pulled my hand back, stuffing it in my pocket. “So, what really brought you men here?”

Tony shrugged. “We didn’t have shit to do tonight,” he replied. “And Nero told us about some chick biker party, we thought it would be fun.”

I pursed my lips. “How did he find out?”

Tony shrugged again. “I dunno,” he said, glancing down at Nero’s prone figure. “He said he was invited by one of the members.” When he saw the expression on my face, Tony rolled his eyes. “Don’t be such a bitch,” he said. “Some of your girls must like having men around sometimes.”

“Right,” I said slowly. “I just don’t think any of the girls would have invited y’all here, you know? This was a celebration of us, of our MC. It wasn’t supposed to be some free-for-all fuck fest.”

Tony laughed. “You’ve got a hell of a mouth on you,” he said, almost admiringly. “Should I leave you alone?”

I hated to admit it, but I wasn’t exactly in pain while talking to this guy. He was cuter than Nero, with dirty blond hair. He reminded me of Elliot, in a way that both thrilled and horrified me. I could see him and Elliot riding together, leading the Tiger’s Blood into all sorts of trouble together.

“You still running guns?” I asked softly.

Tony looked surprised for a moment but then he nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s our main source of income.”

“And everyone in the club is fine with it?”

Tony looked uncomfortable. “I can’t really talk about this right now,” he said. Suddenly, his jaw dropped and he looked alarmed. “Hey,” he said, grabbing my arm. “One of your girls just fell down.”

That night, I could barely sleep. Everyone except for Lydia and Vero had gone back home, and we were all in the tiny bedrooms at the back of the clubhouse. Lydia had gotten so drunk that I feared she might actually have alcohol poisoning—she’d collapsed after a round of tequila shots and beer. She’d just dropped to the ground and passed out, and Vero and I had wrestled her into one of the back rooms. Lydia hadn’t even known where she was; she was rolling her head around and babbling incoherently as Vero and I tucked her into bed. Even after she’d thrown up a couple of times, I knew she wasn’t going to be enjoying herself much in the morning.

There was a knock on the door. “Yeah?” I called.

Vero stepped in. Her dark skin looked almost black in the low light of the room. “Hey,” she said softly. “Have time for a talk?”

I nodded. That bad feeling was coming back stronger than before, but I still couldn’t place it. “Yeah,” I said. I patted the bed next to me and Vero sat down.

“Those guys were here for some reason,” she said darkly, staring straight ahead at the wall. It was covered with photos of us Amazons in our gear, posing with our bikes. “They didn’t just show up for the free booze.”

I bit my lip. I wanted to agree with her, but it seemed a little hyperbolic. After all, Nero and Tony hadn’t been bad guys. Just cocky ones with big mouths.

“I don’t know,” I said finally. “Maybe they did just show up. Lydia has a big mouth, you know, she could have told one of them.”

Vero sucked her teeth. “I didn’t say shit,” she said defensively.

I stared at her. “Never said you did,” I said as calmly as I could manage. “So what’s this about?”

“You ever think about moving the club in another direction?”

I shook my head. “We’re doing fine,” I replied. “Better than fine, actually. You know how hard we’ve worked to really bring ourselves back from the dead. And here we are better than ever.”

Vero looked at me and I shivered again. Her dark eyes had a way of making me feel hypnotized, like she and I were the only two people in the world. “That ain’t what I’m talking about,” she said in a low voice. “I’m talking about really thinking about who belongs here and who doesn’t.”

My mind immediately went to Lydia. I knew that Vero didn’t like her, didn’t trust her, and didn’t want her around. But I couldn’t just kick someone out of the MC for no reason, especially someone like Lydia. She’d been on probation for a year and she had recently been patched in as a full member. Ditziness aside, I liked her. I thought she was going to prove to be a really valuable member of the MC, and I thought she was probably a lot sharper than she looked.

“I know you don’t like Lydia,” I said, “but I want to evaluate her and see how she performs. Now that she’s no longer on probation, I expect pretty great things from her. And she’s never done us wrong, Vero. She knows how politics in an MC work. She grew up around one, for fuck’s sake.”

Vero shook her head. “I ain’t talking about Lydia,” she said. “I’m talking about Anya.”

“What?” I frowned. “Anya’s been here for ages, and she’s a good member.”

Vero laughed. “No she ain’t,” she replied. “She invited those assholes here tonight. I just know she did. And you’re really gonna stand for that? I thought you didn’t want those guys here.”

“I didn’t,” I said. “But they didn’t do anything wrong. They were fine. Everything was fine, and I don’t think Anya invited them. Hell, that one said it was
you
.”

“Sephy,” Vero said. “Come on, you really think I’d do that?”

I glanced away. I didn’t think she would—at least, I didn’t want to. But Vero could be manipulative, and I knew that she didn’t think she was getting her way as often as she wanted it.

“I don’t know,” I said finally. “I need to sleep. You mind?”

Vero got up and left in a huff. She could be like this sometimes, more dramatic than three women put together. I didn’t like her bitchiness, but I knew she was probably just trying to help.

It took me a long time to fall asleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Vero had said. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lydia either. Maybe Vero had been right, maybe we never should have patched her in. Maybe I should completely redesign the MC.

“Grace,” Elliot said in a sharp, soft voice. “Wake up!”

I opened my eyes slowly. Elliot was on his knees, kneeling by the side of my bed. “What are you doing here?” I asked softly. “It’s late.”

Elliot grinned a heartbreaking smile. His green eyes sparkled in the dim light of my room. “It’s early, more like,” Elliot said with a grin. “It’s a little before five.”

I groaned audibly, forgetting that my parents were in the next room. I was seventeen years old again, and Elliot had snuck into my room. My parents, in a spectacular feat of oversight, had put a rose trellis right underneath my bedroom window. Ever since Elliot and I had started dating at the age of fourteen, he’d snuck into my room almost nightly. Part of me didn’t think I could sleep without his comforting gaze, without his soft touch and his perfect green eyes. I didn’t even worry about getting caught any longer—we’d been doing this for years.

“Come on,” Elliot urged. “Get up.”

As I sat up and climbed out of bed, I blushed. It was the middle of summer and I’d taken to sleeping in a thong. Elliot’s eyes glanced over my body appreciatively. I felt a tingle of arousal pulse between my legs. Elliot and I had been sleeping together for two years, and I was absolutely crazy about him. If my parents hadn’t been asleep down the hall, I probably would have pulled him right back into bed with me.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Elliot said softly. “But it’s too close to when their alarm goes off.”

I grinned. Elliot and I could almost always read each other’s minds. It was a product of growing up as siblings, closer than two human beings were supposed to be. It was our way of staying as close as we could.

I dressed quickly in a pair of jeans and a light tank top. Elliot handed me a lightweight jacket as I swung my body over the window frame and nimbly climbed down the rose trellis. The roses were just beginning to bloom and the fragrance was heavenly. I felt like I was in a beautiful, wonderful dream.

“I want to take you somewhere special,” Elliot said into my ear. I shivered as his breath tickled my skin. Just being this close to him was giving me shivers all over my body and I didn’t want him to stop touching me. When Elliot moved away, I felt my heart thump against my ribs.

“Okay,” I said softly. “Where are we going?”

“Close your eyes,” Elliot said. “I have a surprise for you.” He took me by the hand and led me through the yard. I could feel the grass turn into asphalt, and then I knew we were by the road.

“What is it?” Elliot’s hand was over my eyes but I was dying to see.

Finally, he removed his hand. “You can open your eyes now,” Elliot said with a flourish. When I looked at what was sitting in the driveway, I gasped. It was the most beautiful motorcycle I’d ever seen—shiny black and chrome with new tires.

“Oh my god,” I squealed. “This is incredible! Did you buy this?”

Elliot grinned. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close and nuzzling into my hair. “I did,” he said softly. “But I didn’t buy it for me.”

His words didn’t sink in for a second; my eyes were closed and my face was buried in his neck. “Oh, my god,” I repeated. “Is this for me?”

Elliot nodded. “It’s your birthday present,” he said. “I know you turn eighteen in a couple of weeks, and this was the only thing that I could think of getting you.”

I gasped and shrieked before my legs kicked into gear and I ran over to the bike, hugging it tightly and running my hands over the fenders and wheels. “This is incredible,” I said again. “Elliot, this is too much! I don’t deserve this!”

“Come on,” Elliot said with a sexy little smile. “Let’s take a ride together.”

I’d never felt as powerful as I felt that first night on my bike. The wind was in my hair and whipping at my face, and I felt dark and strong and intense. Even though Elliot was riding behind me and gripping my waist, I felt alone. Solitary. I liked the feeling; instead of making me feel like I was Elliot’s bitch, riding behind him, I felt like he was riding behind me. Like I was the strong one, not my amazing boyfriend. The thrill of riding through the dark hills and roads together was incredible. I’d never felt anything like it. When I pulled over, Elliot crushed me to his body and kissed me deeply. His tongue slipped between my lips and I eagerly pressed my body against his, desperate for his touch. As Elliot’s hands ran down my back and squeezed my ass, I moaned softly into his mouth.

“I can’t believe this,” I murmured to Elliot after we’d pulled apart. “This is the best birthday present I’ve ever had.”

Elliot smirked. “I know,” he said. He was cocky, but that was one of the reasons why I loved him so much. He was mine, and he had every reason to be cocky: Elliot was the most desirable man that I’d ever met.

“How did you do this?” I demanded softly. Elliot had a part-time job, but I didn’t think he ever could have afforded something like this. “I can’t believe it’s really mine!”

Elliot chuckled. “I saved up and bought something that needed a lot of repair,” he said. “This isn’t exactly new,” he added. “I mean, it’s perfectly fixed up now. But you can probably tell it’s a vintage model.”

I grinned. “I don’t mind,” I said softly. “It’s the most beautiful and perfect thing I’ve ever seen, and I love it. I’m never giving it up.”

Elliot grinned. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, kissing me hard and deep. Arousal began tingling in my lower belly and I shuddered as Elliot slipped his hand under my shirt and gently pinched my nipples until they became as stiff as pebbles. He always knew exactly how to touch my body in order to excite me, and tonight was no exception. Plus, I loved having sex outdoors—our first time had been in the woods—and I was feeling more aroused than ever. The combination of the heady motorcycle ride and my sexy boyfriend toying with my body was really making me wet!

“I want you,” I moaned in Elliot’s ear. “Take me, Elliot.”

Elliot growled. He grabbed my wrists and held my arms over my head as his other hand groped and stroked my breasts. I shivered and moaned with pleasure as the sensation rocketed through my body. Elliot grabbed my waist and pulled me close, rubbing his strong pelvis against mine. I shuddered as I felt his hard cock.

“I want you, Grace,” Elliot grunted in my ear, sending a flicker of pleasure through me. “I’m yours.” As his strong hands yanked my jeans down, I gasped. Elliot ripped off my thong and tossed it aside, bending me over the motorcycle and caressing my hips until I was shaking with lust. I heard him fumbling with his pants and then the clink of his belt buckle dropping to the ground. “And now I’m going to make you mine,” Elliot grunted as he thrust into me. The sensation was delicious and I cried out as Elliot impaled me with his rock hard erection. The pleasure that had coiled in my belly slowly began to spread through my body and before I knew it, I was crying out and pushing my pelvis hard against Elliot’s strong body.

“Grace,” Elliot grunted. He tangled his fingers in my hair and yanked my head back. “Grace, I need you,” he said again. I moaned loudly as his hips slammed against mine with more force than before. As his cock slid inside my soaking wet pussy, Elliot reached around my body and began rubbing his thumb against my clit. The sensation was incredible and I shrieked and wriggled my hips against him, desperate for more contract.

“Elliot,” I moaned. “Elliot!”

There was a sharp rap on the door and I woke up, confused by my dream. For a moment, I thought I was back there, in the woods with Elliot. In the woods with the man I loved. Then reality came crashing down around me—I wasn’t in the woods, I was in a tiny bedroom in the back of the Amazons’ clubhouse. I wasn’t Grace any longer, now I was Persephone.