Burn: Outlaw Romance (Hotter Than Hell Book 3) (18 page)

I throw my legs off the bed and get up when I hear the shower turn on. I piss and brush my teeth before jumping in with her. She has a towel over her hair and once again, I’m punched in the gut because it reminds me of Savannah. Two women, so different. There are no comparisons to make but for some reason Sofia makes me think of Savannah.

“You okay, Prez?”

She’s staring at me with a look I can’t decipher. Who knows the expression I was wearing a moment ago. I’ve kept thoughts of Savannah at bay for years. Now is not the time for them to creep in. “Make some room so I can wash. We have a lot on our plate today.”

“Most men are in a better mood after morning sex,” she says and turns her back to me.

I grab her slender waist and pull her back. I kiss her neck and nuzzle the towel at her hairline. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind. You interested in taking a ride with me into the city today?”

“For what?”

“You need clothes and I thought we could grab you some. Some more sexy panties and a new bra to replace the one I cut off last night to begin with.”

“You cleaned the shower and for that I’ll go anywhere with you today. Sexy panties are good too.”

I laugh against her shoulder. It’s been some time since I’ve laughed as much as I have in the past two days. Sofia’s strange, unpredictable ways seem to soften something inside me and I realize I’ve actually enjoyed sparring with her.

We both wash and we’re out the door in thirty. I promise her a bagel from a shop in Fountain Hills, which is near where I’m taking her to shop. I carry two helmets out with me and adjust hers on her head. The head gear makes her even sexier in my book. She acts so fucking tough all the time. Hell, she is tough. I get it. Who the fuck puts a knife to a biker’s throat and walks away with respect? She’s a package of dynamite set to go off.

“You’re not wearing your vest,” she points out when I put my hand out to help her on the bike.

“I don’t need trouble from the cops. Wearing the vest brings trouble. Sometimes I don’t give a shit, but today I have a lot to do and don’t want the hassle.”

She snuggles up behind me and rests her head against my back. I could get used to this. I open up the throttle when we hit the highway and we head into the city. I take her for bagels and she eats two. I enjoy a woman who puts away food.

Fountain Hills is high-end with some of the most expensive real estate in the valley. There are some discount stores when you get closer to Scottsdale and that’s where I head.

“Remember, anything you buy needs to fit in the saddlebags.”

“Got it. I don’t need much.”

I’ve heard that before. “We’ll see.”

She picks out two bra and panty sets. I grab two more in the same size, one pink and one red. Sue me, I’m a guy. She buys a few tees and I add a few more that I like. She tries on shorts and we add those too.

“What about those toe sandal things all the women wear?” I ask when she says she’s done.

“Flip flops?”

“Yeah, those.”

She’s smiling when we walk into the shoe section and she grabs a few pairs after trying them on. One set is about three inches high. Funny, but I prefer her in socks.

She still holds me tight around the waist on the trip back but she’s more comfortable, her body looser. She also looks out over the landscape. I’ll turn her into a biker babe before she knows it.

We’re back before noon and drop everything at the clubhouse. I explain that I need her with me when I go to the county offices.

“Why?” she asks after grabbing a bottle of water from behind the bar and downing half of it.

“The club’s putting a convenience store out on the highway and I need to find out what permits we need. The property has power and water, it just needs a building.”

“That doesn’t explain why you need me.”

I take the water from her hand and drink the rest. She looks irritated but doesn’t say anything. “Navigating shit with the county will be easier if they don’t know I’m with the DCMC. Desert Crows Motorcycle Club,” I say when she looks clueless at the acronym.

“So you need my Latina ass to keep them from thinking you’re the skinhead you look like?”

I run my hand over my head, which I haven’t shaved in three days. I’m blond, so it won’t show until it’s longer and will most likely look like shit for a while. “Yes, something like that.”

“Priceless. I think I can handle it.”

“I just bet you can.”

Sofia

I THINK I’M FALLING
for a skinhead.
It’s a dirty fling,
I tell myself. One where I’m forced to stay with a hot guy, clean up his and his gang’s shit, and have nasty sex with him. Sounds sick when I think of it that way. The kind of sick that turns me on.

I’m beginning to enjoy riding on the back of his bike too. It’s strange the things I think of while sitting behind him with my arms around his waist and my breasts pushing into his back. It’s a sense of freedom I’ve never had before, and as stupid as it seems, I feel safe.

We have helmets on again and it’s not quite as wonderful as the freedom of going without one that I had the first time I rode with Dagger. Safety first. That’s a joke. I’ve never played it safe in my life and now that I’m more comfortable on the bike, I want my hair blowing in the wind.

I could leave if I truly wanted to. My car keys are in the top drawer of the dresser. Dagger knows I saw them, but he ignored it. I have no idea what he thinks of me besides being a hole to put his dick in. I shouldn’t care but I do. It’s only been two days. I’ll be the hole for now.

The trip to the county offices takes more than an hour. The desert is beautiful even in the heat. Dagger packs some water bottles in his saddlebags and we pull over halfway and drink one down. Earlier when he took the one from my hand, it shocked me. It was such an intimate thing to do. I don’t do intimate. I fuck and walk away. It’s strange to be hanging out and doing things with a guy I’ve fucked. I guess there’s a first time for everything.

We hit the county offices and Dagger gets the papers and information he needs. His speech is articulate when he talks to the woman in planning and zoning. He introduces himself as Dax Montgomery and tells her he wants to open a small store and eventually bring in gasoline for four-wheelers. She gives him information from the EPA and the Division of Weights and Measures. I stand by and act as normal as possible. The woman doesn’t give us strange looks or act like we’re not normal. The chip on my shoulder crumbles a bit at her helpfulness.

Globe, where the county offices are located, is a strange place. It’s not the prettiest town I’ve seen, but when Dagger takes me through the old section of town, I’m enthralled. The old buildings are amazing. They’re tall and weathered with shattered windows. Character is all that comes to mind. It’s a glimpse of history in an unlikely place.

We eat lunch at a fast food restaurant and sit under an umbrella outside. Dagger seems to have an aversion to eating inside and I keep my mouth shut. It’s not like we have a relationship where I can question him about his personal habits. We head back to the clubhouse at what must be the hottest time of day. Sweat forms between us leaving his back and my chest drenched. We pull up to the clubhouse around four in the afternoon.

“How many guys will be here this evening?” I ask after handing Dagger my helmet.

“Depends.” He gives me a slightly crooked smile. “You cooking?”

I can’t help returning the smile. It’s been such a calm day and it’s too damn strange to dissect right now. “I was thinking about it,” I say hiding the uncertainty that suddenly fills me. I haven’t been angry today, not once. It could be a record.

“Make enough for ten and I’ll put the word out.” He grabs me around the waist and pulls me in close. He kisses me. Hell, does he kiss me. It’s the first time our lips touch and I never want it to stop. Kissing isn’t exactly my thing. It’s another intimacy problem that I don’t want to think about right now. His tongue and lips control me and I like it. Maybe too much.

He lifts his head and removes a wisp of hair from my face with his fingers. “Why don’t you go ask Red if any of the women care to join us?”

I want to jump up and down for the dumbest reason. The entire ban on speaking to Red was ridiculous and I shouldn’t feel elated that he’s lifted it. I should kick him in the balls for having it in the first place. Too bad I like his balls. A lot. “I’ll head there now and meet you inside.” I turn to walk around the building and Dagger pulls me back. His tongue slides between my lips and he circles his arms around me again. We’re standing in the hot sun, but I don’t care how hot it is. He tastes too damn good. I’m dazed when he lets me go. He turns me around and slaps my ass. Damned if I don’t like that too. “Go see Red.” He laughs when I moan.

I’m smiling as I walk around the building and head to the old trailer. Fucking smiling! I take the two steps up to the door and knock softly. No one answers, so I knock again a little louder. I lift my hand for another try when the door squeaks and opens a few inches. “You can’t be here, Sofia,” Red whispers. I can just make out the side of her face. The large bandage still covers her cheek and fuck if it doesn’t ruin a perfect day.

“Dagger sent me over,” I tell her without the smile I had just a moment ago.

The door flies open and I’m forced to step back. Red’s arms wrap around me tightly. “I’m so sorry. I never should have told you all those things. I had no idea you would come out here. I’m so, so sorry.” The words spill out in desperate rush.

I’m not exactly the hugging, touchy-feely type. Red gives me no choice, so I hold on. She eventually releases me and drags me inside with one arm hooked over my shoulder. She stares at me in the dim inside light. “Lordy but you’re as beautiful as your mother. I’ve been so worried about you.”

The comparison makes me uncomfortable. I look around the small space. It’s worse than the clubhouse. “Could we sit down and talk for a few? I need to hurry and start cooking dinner. That’s why I came. I wanted to know if you and the other ladies would like to eat at the clubhouse tonight.” I say all this in a nervous rush. My mother is not a subject I’m comfortable with. We move to the small table in the kitchen and sit down.

“You’re cooking for the club?” she asks while wiping away a few tears and smearing more of her heavy makeup.

I give her a sheepish smile. “I made a deal with Bear. I don’t slit his throat and he doesn’t behave in a disrespectful manner.”

“You shitten’ me?” She starts laughing and ends up coughing. It’s a smoker’s cough and makes it obvious she should quit. Her death, her choice is my motto, so I keep the thought to myself.

“Long story and I don’t have time right now to go into details. Dagger said the women in here are going through withdrawals. How are they?” I saw my mother do it too many times to count. It was never pretty.

“Hell, it’s been a nightmare, but at least they sleep a lot.” She shrugs. “I’m sure you know what it’s like.” She removes a cigarette from the package on the table and taps it against the table while talking. “They’ve got the creepy crawlies and don’t want anyone near them. I remember back when I went through it. It feels like you’re zapped every time something touches your skin. If they decide to stay, the worst will be over in about a week. I’ll ask if they want to visit the clubhouse, but I think they’ll be more worried the guys will want them to spread their legs.”

She’s right and it’s not a conversation I want to have right now. It only pisses me off more. Men are pieces of shit and while looking at Red’s face I’m totally including Dagger in that statement. “I’m sorry about your face, Red. So sorry.” Hell, I want to tie Dagger to a chair and give him a matching reminder that he shouldn’t fuck with me or someone I care about.

“Ah, this?” She touches the bandage. “Dagger took it easy on me. Fox would have skinned me alive. The prez had no choice, so don’t go blamin’ him for it.”

“Why the fuck not? He’s the one who cut you.”

Her eyes grow serious. “It’s simple, really. I betrayed the club. I survived because half the men were doing the same thing. That’s the only way you could survive with Fox as prez. I’m Curly’s old lady now, so it’s different. Curly claimed me the night this happened. Dagger is a good man. The best this club has had in a long time.”

“You planning to stay here?” I ask, though I already know the answer.