Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
As we push through to get drinks, two bikers are in the middle of an argument. One shoves the other, and I jump behind Stiff, expecting a fight to break out, but after trading insults, they go back to glaring at each other.
“Guy on the right with the long hair is Hellfire, our president. The other one is Grimm, he was tight with Hellfire a while ago but shit went down and they didn’t talk for years. Now Grimm’s back and we’re all stuck waiting to see if they kiss and make up or kill each other.” Stiff shrugs with a little smirk. “It’s fucking complicated. Usually they tolerate each other, but get them drinking for a bit and… well, things get stabby.”
Grimm snarls at Hellfire. “You know what? I don’t have to fucking sit here and listen to this bullshit.” He pushes away from the bar and takes his glass with him. We step out of the way, not wanting to get caught in his bad mood.
I’m starting to see what Bonnie meant about biker drama.
The girl with the blue hair hops down from the altar and runs her hand up Hellfire’s arm. He looks down at her and nods. Then he notices us watching. “I’m not putting on a fucking show here, boys. Any news I need to know about or you gonna let me fuck in peace?”
Jackal looks like he considers saying something but then shakes his head. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
“Good, now fuck off.”
“Message received, loud and clear,” Lash says with a little salute as we walk away.
We grab beer from the baptismal font filled with ice. The atmosphere is like a movie. Wild, irreverent partying under high church ceilings, with stained glass saints staring down at what would be called an orgy in at least twenty-three states. A different girl with long black hair hops up on the altar and starts to sway. She motions to another girl to join her, and they start peeling off their clothes while dancing sinuously to the music.
The girl with black hair spots us. “Lash! Are we playing tonight?”
I feel a possessive twinge of jealousy immediately. Doesn’t she see he’s with me?
Lash laughs. “Sorry Blaze, busy tonight. My tongue has been reserved.” He flicks it out to show it off.
The way her face falls is almost comical. “What? Seriously? The loss will be felt by the whole slut community! Or not felt, I guess.” She laughs as her eyes find me between them. “You just won the lottery, girl! Congratulations!” Then she swings elegantly around and locks lips with the other woman, a platinum blonde with curves for days.
I dig my fingers into Lash’s arm a little harder than I mean to. I’ve known this whole time that they’re very open and relaxed about sex, but it feels weird to know I might have to hear about it. I talked about a lot with Bonnie, but not about if bikers are faithful. Or what they even think that means.
Lash laughs. “Shit, I can feel that from here. Jealousy’s kinda hot, but we’re off the market until you tell us otherwise.”
And then he sweeps me right up in his strong arms and I find myself looking right into his twinkling green eyes while my toes dangle in the air. Right before he devours me with a kiss, Blaze cheers. “Get it, new girl!”
I want the floor to swallow me up, but that doesn’t mean I don’t kiss him back.
He carries me over to one of the couches, and drops into it with me sideways across his lap. I cling to him while I look around to observe. The packed church is warm, the scent of leather heavy on the air. I haven’t exactly had much time to go out the last four years, but I did have a boyfriend back in the dark ages that loved to drag me to heavy metal shows. The smell and vibe are similar. Big guys, all with their distinct looks, but also just about all of them are wearing their cuts, proudly displaying the Outlaw Sons MC logo on their backs.
“So, the sluts are girls who are around here a lot?” I ask. Don’t be jealous, don’t be jealous, I chant in my head.
Jackal sits on the arm of the couch. “Yeah. It’s not an official role, but they get more privileges than most guests, and they have the protection of the club.”
“In exchange for sex.”
He shrugs. “That’s a very cynical way of looking at it, but it’s not completely wrong. They’re free to come and go, and anyone who tries to force anything would find out very quickly it’s not tolerated, but they’re not members. If they don’t serve a purpose at the club, they don’t get to live here for nothing.”
“Someone needs to tell Grimm that,” Stiff grumbles as he sits down next to us on the other side from Jackal.