Wild Ride (Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club) (6 page)

And there she goes, laying it all out for me.

No games, just truth.

It makes me want her—and respect her—even more.

“What do you want?” I ask her outright. We don’t really know each other well. We’ve been around each other a few times before this; we’ve been drawn to each other. Spent a night hanging out at the bar together, shared a kiss that I couldn’t get out of my head, and slept together the other day.

“You,” she replies simply, shrugging her shoulders like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “I know it’s not going to be easy; I know there are a lot of obstacles in the way, but I don’t know—I can’t stop thinking about you. I crave being near you. Don’t you think that’s something worth exploring? I trust that you will keep me and my son safe, Talon, and that’s a huge deal for me. I don’t like relying on anyone, as you know, but I’d leave our protection in your hands.”

She puts her feelings into words so well, unlike me. I have no fuckin’ clue what I’m feeling, just that I like being near her. I want her. I don’t know if that’s a good thing, because it sounds possessive as fuck, but it’s true. I’m not usually a man who gets attached to women, but with her, something feels different. Maybe that’s the real reason I avoided her for so long: I knew that she would get to me, and I don’t live a life that allows for me to have a weakness. Her talking about trusting me with her son is a huge thing, and a little intimidating. Could I keep them both safe? Of course I would, but sometimes things happen that are out of your control. I suddenly feel a little sweaty, like I’m under a lot of pressure.

“I do think it’s something worth exploring,” I tell her, reaching out and taking her hand. “That’s why I asked you out tonight. I want to get to know you, not just what I hear about you or what I feel around you, but actually get to know you.”

I breathe as I get the words out. They are the truth, and although I don’t know how everything will work out, I do want her.

“Good,” she replies, smiling at me.

I smile back.

CHAPTER TEN

Tia

T
ALON
helps me off the bike, then pulls me in for a cheeky kiss, the first one of the night. After an amazing dinner—the food was delicious—dessert, and even better conversation, we stopped here, at the beach.

“You taste like chocolate,” he says, sucking on my lower lip before pulling away.

“So do you,” I say, walking with him onto the sand. “Romantic walk on the beach?”

“Not exactly,” he says, and I catch his wolfish grin in the moonlight.

“Then what?”

When he bends down to take off his biker boots, I raise my eyebrow. His shirt comes off next. When he starts to take off his jeans, I start looking around frantically. I don’t see any people around us, but that doesn’t mean that anyone can’t show up at any time.

“Uhh, Talon?”

His soft chuckle brings my attention back to him and his now-naked form. I lose concentration. He’s standing on the beach, butt naked, staring at me.

“Are you going to join me?” he asks, nodding his head toward the water. “The beach is usually empty. Trust me, no one will show up.”

He’s taking me skinny-dipping on our first date? I’m actually kind of impressed. This is a date I will never forget, both because of him, and because I’m about to strip down and join him in the ocean. He doesn’t take his gaze off me as my clothes join his in a pile on the sand.

“I read somewhere that if a woman’s bra and panties match, she was planning on having sex that night,” he says as I remove the matching panties to my red bra. “Or it wasn’t the man who made the decision to have sex, or some shit like that.”

“Where did you read that?” I ask him, covering my bare breasts with one hand and down there with the other.
“Cosmo?”

“Did you think I was going to fuck you tonight?” he asks, stepping forward and gripping me by the hips. I lower my hands, letting him see everything.

“Aren’t you going to?” I ask, pressing a kiss onto his smooth chest.

“You want me to put out on the first date?” he asks in a mock high-pitched tone, making me laugh. I squeal as he lifts me into the air, tossing me over his shoulder. The slap he gives my ass should make me yelp, but instead it makes me moan. I hear him murmur, “Interesting,” before I’m dunked in the water. Luckily it’s warm, and I’ll forgive him for the salt burning my eyes a little. I resurface and watch him standing there, a smirk on his handsome face.

“Jerk,” I say, before I jump on him, wrapping my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck. “Can’t say I’ve ever done this on a date before.”

“Really? I do this with all my dates,” he jokes. I bury my face in his neck and lick the salt from his skin. His hands roam down to my ass, and he squeezes the round globes in each hand. “I can’t believe I’ve taken you to my two favorite spots tonight.”

“I like that,” I tell him, lifting my head and looking into his eyes.

“You better.”

“Why did you bring me here?” I ask him, resting my forehead against his. “If it’s not somewhere you would usually bring a woman.”

“I don’t know,” he says softly, closing his eyes for a second. “I guess I just wanted to share it with you.”

His actions speak more than his words ever could. I wonder if he realizes that.

“Thank you,” I whisper, bringing my lips to his ear. “Tonight has been amazing.”

“It’s not over yet,” he says, running his lips along my jawline. “This is going to be the most cringeworthy shit I’ve ever said, but you look beautiful in the moonlight.”

I kiss him in response, and feel him smile against my lips.

“Okay, maybe I should say shit like that all the time,” he says, returning the kiss.

I’ve had butterflies in my stomach the whole night, and I just feel giddy, my head light and a permanent smile on my lips. I don’t even know what it is, but all the cons of being with Talon don’t even matter to me anymore. The pros outweigh everything.

This feeling, right here, I’d do anything for. I can’t even explain it. He’s different to me, somehow. I felt it the first time I saw him; there’s something about him that screams
mine
. Sometimes two people just have a connection, even if you can’t understand it. With Talon, I feel comfortable. I accept him as he is, flaws and all. There’s nothing about him I’d want to change.

Tonight I’ve been on cloud nine. I’ve wanted a date with him ever since I first laid eyes on him; I wanted his attention, but he never gave it to me until now. It hurt my ego a little bit, but it soothes me to know that he did want me the whole time—that the attraction I felt wasn’t one-sided. He was just able to hide his better, but in usual Tia form, I was open and honest with what I wanted, even if I didn’t understand why.

Being with him right now, like this, in his arms, it just feels right. It feels like I belong here. It’s a scary feeling, but also a hopeful one. This man could end up being my everything, my future, my family, or he could end up being another disappointment. I guess that’s the gamble one has to take. With the other men I dated casually, I always had the upper hand. With Talon, however, I don’t, because I know how I feel, and I’m not going to fuck around with that.

He pulls away to kiss down my neck, and wades deeper into the water so it’s up to my breasts. “I have to get a condom from my jeans,” he says to me, kissing my lips once more. “How opposed are you to fucking on the beach? I’ll even be a gentleman and let you ride me, so it’s my back that gets covered in sand.”

“Doesn’t that just sum up modern-day romance?” I joke, my legs letting go of him as I swim to shore. He follows me out of the water, onto the sand. I can feel his eyes on my ass, so I give it a shake, happy to hear his little growl of approval. He grabs a condom, opens it, and slides it on. I push him back into the sand, straddle him, and kiss him as he eases his cock inside me gently. I ride him until we both come, this time together, so in sync and so fucking perfect.

How could something like this be wrong?

“I thought we spoke about the Talon thing,” Bailey says, looking concerned. “So now, you’re what? Seeing him? Tell me everything.”

“We went out for dinner and a ride on his bike,” I say, not wanting to tell her the rest, especially not with Rake around the house somewhere. I came to pick up Rhett but had to come clean with Bailey about where I’ve been, especially because she enabled it by watching my son for me.

“And now what?” she asks, lowering her voice. “You’re going to be loyal to the Wild Men instead of us?”

“It was one date, Bailey,” I say in a hushed tone. “And I will never turn my back on you guys, no matter who I end up with, okay?”

Are MC politics this intense? Are people going to question everything I say and do if I’m with Talon? I’m just me, Tia. I don’t see different MCs; all I see are people I care about. It’s not fair to expect me to take sides.

“It’s not that easy,” Bailey says, looking sad all of a sudden. “If you live at their clubhouse, you won’t be able to visit the Wind Dragons clubhouse, and we’ll have to always meet somewhere else because I won’t be allowed to visit you there either.”

“All this after one date? Don’t you think it’s too soon to worry about all of that?”

“He’s a biker,” Bailey points out, lips tightening. “I just worry about you, Tia. Think everything through. You know if it makes you happy, I will always support you.”

I lay my head on her shoulder. “I know. I really like him, Bailey. I’ve never felt this way before. How am I supposed to turn my back on that? You can’t ask me to do that.”

“And I won’t,” she says quickly, sighing. “I just want you to think everything through before you make any decisions.”

I’d already made my decision—I did the second I called Talon and invited him to my house. There is no going back now: I want him too much, and it doesn’t hurt anyone for me to be with him. Does it? Why does everything have to be so difficult? Why can’t it be as simple as a man meeting a woman, the two of them liking each other and choosing to be together? Why does everyone else get their happily ever after while mine is in question?

So yes, he’s from a different MC, but I wouldn’t have even met him if they weren’t friends with him in the first place. He’s not their enemy; he’s their ally. I hope they can see it that way, because I don’t want to get Bailey into shit with the men. The women all seem to be okay with Talon; it’s just the men, mainly Rake, who have an issue. Bailey mentioned that Rake and Talon don’t really get along even though Rake’s sister, Anna, seems to be very close with Talon, and Arrow accepts that, or at least puts up with it.

“I will,” I tell her, allowing my goofy, dreamy smile to appear.

“Oh God, I know that look,” she says, smiling with me. “You know, I’m not even surprised. I saw how the two of you looked at each other that night.”

“I know, but something was holding him back,” I say, lifting my head and glancing at her. “I should get going. Thanks again for babysitting.”

“Any time,” she says, waving her hand in the air. “You know I don’t mind. Rake will carry Rhett into your car for you. Don’t even try and argue about it; the kid is practically your size.”

I grin at that. “Okay, thanks.”

Bailey calls out to Rake, and he soon appears with Rhett in his arms. I say ’bye to Bailey, hugging her tightly, then walk outside with Rake. I unlock my car door and watch as Rake puts him in his seat and belts him in.

“Thanks, Rake,” I say, offering him a smile. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

I turn to walk to the driver’s side to see him still watching me.

“Drive safely,” he says, tapping his hand on the hood of my car.

“I will,” I say, sliding into the seat. On the drive home, I think about how being with Talon will affect my relationship with Rake. Will he hate me? Will he not want me to hang around Bailey anymore? Maybe he’ll be angry at the start but learn to accept it and get over it. Maybe he and Talon can finally make peace, the two clubs being official allies.

Maybe everything will work out in the end.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Talon

T
HE
last person Zip spoke to was Carla,” Slice says, looking at the papers in his hand. “I don’t know who would’ve wanted to kill him, Talon.”

I scrub my hand down my face and look at my vice president. “I want cameras installed in the front and back, so from now on we can see anyone who enters and leaves the clubhouse.”

“Done,” Slice replies, nodding his head.

“Ranger mentioned that he saw a few members of the Kings in the area,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. “We need to find out what the fuck they’re doing on our territory. I don’t trust the bastards.”

Slice nods again. “I’m on it. What’s happening with Shayla?”

“She’s safe for now,” I tell him. “I have a plan. The Wind Dragons owe me a marker—well, Vinnie does, but you know what they’re like. Call one in and you have them all. I’m going to ask him to protect her for me. I’m going to go after every man who wants to hurt her, Slice. She’s innocent in all this. She can’t help who her father is.”

“You’ll kill for her?”

“I already have.”

“Do you think using your marker on this is the best idea?” Slice asks, looking contemplative. “We can protect her well enough, we don’t need the Wind Dragons to handle our business.”

I stand up from the chair and crack my neck from side to side. “I have a plan, and I need them in it.”

Throughout all this stress in my life, all I want to think about is Tia. It’s a fuckin’ pain in the ass, to be honest, because my dick has been semihard all day, and it’s hard to get anything done, pun not intended. I send her a quick message asking if I can see her tonight, then head to the riding school for my shift. With so many things on my mind, the riding school was always my quiet place, my happy place, but now I’d rather be with Tia than be there. It’s funny how things can change in an instant, how someone can consume your life after such a short period of time.

I can’t leave Rhett again tonight
, she replies.

I don’t know anything about kids, and I’ve never dated a woman who had them before, or at least ones that I knew about. When am I meant to meet him? After a few months? I guess I need to ask Tia all of this. Even though it feels like everything is going so fast, I don’t want to rush this. I want to do it properly. I need to make sure Tia and I want to be together before I meet Rhett, because I can imagine that bringing different men around him who leave would fuck with a kid’s head. I don’t know how Rake does it, but for a second I wish that I could ask him about it. Would Tia even want me around the kid? I’d understand if she didn’t. I’m not exactly role-model material.

Tomorrow?
I message back to her.

I understand that she has responsibilities, but I want to see her badly. I’m not used to having to wait. Can’t she just sneak me in after he goes to bed? It almost feels like high school, when the girls would have a curfew. I don’t mind though.

Tomorrow,
she replies, and I’m left smiling at my phone like an idiot.

She’s so fuckin’ worth it.

I replay the conversation I had with Tia the night she kissed me, about how she didn’t want to waste a number—the number of men she’d been with—on a man who wasn’t worth it.

And she definitely didn’t waste a number on me.

“Have any guys you’ve dated met your son before?” I ask Tia as we cuddle on her couch. Rhett is at school, and I’ve told the men not to call me unless someone is dying.

“No,” she says, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’ve dated a fair bit over the years, but no one made the cut.”

“Pressure much,” I grumble, kissing the top of her head.

She looks up at me and smiles. “I think if we’re still seeing each other in about two months, I’ll introduce you to him. Do you even like kids?”

“I don’t
not
like kids,” I say, cringing. “I don’t have any experience with kids. I think that yours will be a different situation though, because I kind of get it now. He’s a part of you, an extension of you. It’s a package deal, I understand that, but you’re going to have to be patient, because this is all new to me.”

“We have time” is all she says. “I told Bailey it was you I went on the date with.”

“And?”

“And she gave me a few warnings but said whatever makes me happy will make her happy.”

“Bailey loves me,” I tease, grinning wolfishly. “She’s been to my clubhouse and everything. Kicked our asses in beer pong, her and Anna. Vipers, the two of them.”

She throws her head back and laughs. “I heard about that night. Yeah, they had fun, but they paid for it when they went home.”

I wince and run my hand through my hair. “Yeah, I should’ve known they’d get caught. I fucked up that night—I know that now. I just wanted Anna to come see me on my birthday. I didn’t think about anything else, which was selfish of me.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Talon,” she says, squeezing my shoulder gently. “You all paid for what happened that night, but you learn from it and move on.”

“It’s not that simple. You’ll see soon enough,” I say quietly.

The reason I feel guilty is that I learned soon after that my clubhouse isn’t the safest place to be, and I unknowingly put the women in danger. With me there, nothing would have happened to them, because I wouldn’t have let it, but still. I won’t let my own cousin stay there, and I’m sure as hell not going to bring Tia there. I have a few properties I could move into if things go further between us, so she can come and see me there. The clubhouse is definitely not going to be a place she frequents regularly.

“Our clubhouse is different from the Wind Dragons’,” is all I tell her. No need to scare her off before I’ve even gotten her.

“You go there a lot, do you?” she teases, smirking. She cups my face in her hands and kisses me gently. “As long as you don’t try to stop me from seeing my friends, I don’t care. If you get all controlling and shit, telling me I can’t go see Bailey and Rake or whatever, that’s a deal breaker for me. I’m not the kind of woman who ditches her friends the second she gets a man.”

“I’d never try to pull you away from the people who care about you,” I tell her, scowling and feeling a little fuckin’ insulted. “I’m not like that. Yeah, I can be demanding, and a little bossy or whatever, but you’re your own woman, and I like that you’re strong and independent. I push you, then you push right back, and we work it out. I can be a bit much, Tia, and I need a woman who can give that right back to me, do you understand what I’m saying?”

“You don’t want a weak woman who will just take all your shit and let you push her around?” she says, smirking. She points her index finger at my chest. “Good, because I won’t take
any
of your shit.”

“Good.”

“My ex, Rhett’s father, was super controlling. He was the one making the money while I stayed at home, so he used to hold that over my head. It’s probably the reason I’m so hesitant to rely on other people now,” she explains, then pauses. “I don’t think I’ve ever admitted that out loud before.”

I grit my teeth at the thought of any man not treating her right. “Does he still see your son?”

“No,” she says, looking sad for a moment. “He remarried and has more children. I told him if he signed away his parental rights, he didn’t have to pay me a cent in child support, so he did. At least I don’t have to worry about him coming back further down the line and trying to take Rhett away though.”

My eyes widen as I hear her words. “You’re superwoman, you know that? Most women would have tried to take him for every cent that he was worth.”

“I just wanted him gone, to be honest,” she admits, shrugging. “I know it sounds selfish, because he is Rhett’s father, but he never acted like a father. I don’t know. We were too young, living the lives of grown-ups. I never had any regrets, I fell in love with my son the moment I felt him move inside me, but Oliver just never connected with him for some reason. Rhett asked about him once, and I tried to explain as best I could. He never brought it up again. I told him that we’re a family, and that all we need is each other.”

“Your ex is a pathetic excuse for a man,” I say between clenched teeth. “And if you give me his name . . .”

She surprises me by laughing. “No, it’s okay. I don’t even think about him anymore, but he impacted the way I behave now, for sure. I’ve changed a lot. I used to be much meeker. Gentle even. I’m harder now. . . .”

“You’re strong,” I tell her, lifting her chin with my finger. “Like a fuckin’ diamond.”

“And I’m pretty funny too, while we’re naming my qualities,” she admits, grinning impishly. I can’t help it when I push her back on the couch and kiss her hungrily.

“And an amazing kisser,” I add to the list, covering the choker on her neck with my palm. “I’ve wanted to do this to you so many times.”

“Choke me?” she teases, licking her lower lip.

I grin and move my hand down her collarbone. “Only if you’re into that kind of thing.”

“What is it about you?” she asks me, her blue eyes softening.

“I’m amazing in bed,” I say with a straight face. When she laughs, I pretend to be offended. “What? Are you saying I’m not? Do I have to prove it to you again?”

“I think that you do,” she says, arching her brow. “I can’t seem to remember if you’re good or not.” She pauses, a smug look crossing her beautiful features. “And if I can’t remember, that’s not looking too good for you.”

Challenge accepted.

I move down her body, lift up her skirt, pull down her panties, and put my mouth on her.

I make her come three times before she tries pushing my head away, begging—that it’s too much, too sensitive. I lift my head and tell her to tell me how amazing I am.

She does.

And then she returns the favor.