Cole (The Ride Series) (8 page)

“Good that I was a nun?” I teased him.
Our light hearted moments seemed so few and far between that I relished them
when they happened.

“That too,” he grinned, kissing me
again.

“Shit,” I swore, realizing what time
it was. “I have to get ready for work,” I said sitting up and running my fingers
through my wild mane of hair. From behind, I felt his warm hand caress my naked
back reverently.

“Then let’s take a shower,” he
suggested, his lips against my shoulder.

I shivered slightly. The thought of
taking a shower was certainly tempting.

“Okay,” I grinned, turning my face to
his and kissing him softly.

We padded naked to the bathroom and I
was shocked that I didn’t feel more self-conscious being completely naked in
front of him in broad daylight. It certainly helped that every time I caught him
looking at me it was with such blatant appreciation that it was clear he liked
what he saw.

“You have the most beautiful body I’ve
ever seen,” he murmured, reaffirming my earlier thoughts as we stood in the
shower with the warm water cascading over us. His hands trailed down my arms
and over my hips as though he wanted to appreciate every inch of me. “Not
gonna
lie, I spent a lot of nights
thinkin
’
about what you look like. And baby, you surpassed my expectations,” he admitted
as he grinned.

“Stop,” I pleaded, blushing. I didn’t
admit out loud that the same was true for me as well. Cole’s body was breathtaking.
My hands moved appreciatively over his expansive chest to the
six pack
below. The man was seriously cut. The raw strength emanating
from him was overwhelmingly hot.

He kissed me then, his tongue sliding
over my lips with a gentle request for me to open to him. I obeyed immediately
and melted into him as our tongues tangled. I’d never showered with a man
before and so far it was safe to say that I was thoroughly enjoying the
experience.

His fingers continued their
exploration, moving to more intimate areas of my body as he flitted them
teasingly over each nipple.

I sucked in a breath and pushed myself
into his hands.

“So impatient,” he murmured with a
smile.

“Nun, remember?” I answered
breathlessly as his hand slipped between my legs.

His hardness strained between us as he
slipped two fingers inside me. My hands clenched onto his strong forearms in
response as my legs began to shake underneath me.

“So wet already,” his deep voice
rumbled with pleasure. “I like that, baby.”

I kissed him passionately in response,
my fingers twisting into his hair. My hand traveled down his body as I took him
into my hand. He sucked in a harsh breath and grabbed my ass with his free hand.
He continued to work between my legs until I was panting and completely lost to
his touch.

“Hop up
darlin
’,”
he directed, pulling my ass up so that my legs wrapped around his waist.

“Oh shit,” I said and I sucked in a
breath as he pressed me into the wall and slid inside me with one thrust.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” he rasped,
forcing himself not to move.

My body felt deliciously full with him
inside of me at this angle and I didn’t want him to hold back.

“I will, just give it to me,” I practically
begged.

“Fuck, just hearing you say that could
send me over the edge,” he growled as he pulled out almost to the tip and
thrust back in with a force that made me cry out. He picked up the tempo,
slamming into me much harder than before and I loved each and every second.

My legs began to shake as I tried to
control the chaotic sensations he brought out in me.

“Don’t fight it,” he grunted, pressing
deeper still. “I’m close, you with me?”

“Yes,” I hissed through my teeth as I
climbed higher still. His thrusts intensified and sent me flying over the edge
with a force I didn’t know was possible.

Seconds later he groaned his own release
into me, his lips against my neck.

We stood there for a few moments with
my legs still wrapped tightly around him and listened to the sound of the water
hitting the tile.

Too soon, he pulled away setting me
gently on my feet. He tenderly moved my wet hair back from my face leaning down
to kiss me chastely. Only then did we actually get to the business of
showering.

In the end I was late for work, but it
was well worth it.

Chapter Six

Kat enthusiastically agreed to go the
barbeque with me, seeming to enjoy that I was asking her to go out for a
change. I told Cole we’d meet him there when we were off work and ready.

“What does one wear to a biker
barbeque?” Kat asked with a raised brow as we stared at her closet.

“One wears jeans, or a casual dress
and some kick ass sandals or boots,” I answered her with a smile. At least in
this area I knew what I was talking about. I was already dressed in tight
fitted jeans that showed off my backside, a form fitting halter tank top, and
ankle boots. I put my hair up in a messy bun allowing a few chunky pieces to
fall around my face.

“Do you think Sal will be there?” she
asked innocently once she’d selected her outfit. We were doing our makeup side
by side in the bathroom.

I nudged her with my arm. “Took a
shine to him did you?” I teased.

“Perhaps.” She rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know, maybe.” I shrugged. “I’m
not sure who will be there aside from Wes and Connie. But you know, Kat,” I
began after a pause, “these guys aren’t typically relationship material,” I
warned. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” I explained. I knew Kat could hold
her own
, she’d always been incredibly confident and
feisty. But I’d never seen her take an interest the way she had in Sal and it
was my duty as her best friend to warn her.

“I know,” she said and smiled at me
warmly. I’d always been a bit of a mother hen with her, she was used to it.
“I’ll proceed with caution,” she assured me. “Plus, you know me, since when am
I looking for a relationship anyway?” she said as she wrinkled her brow with
distaste.

“True,” I laughed.

We headed out through the door that
Cole had repaired before he’d left that morning. My stomach fluttered with
excitement at the thought of seeing him, but I also felt nervous to see his
father again and to go to a party at the club. I’d been to a million Sinners’
barbeques but that felt like a lifetime ago.

We arrived well after dark and could hear
from the street that things were in full swing.

“Here goes,” I muttered as we walked
toward the building I’d been to once before. But instead of going inside, I did
as Cole had instructed and came around the side since everyone was out back.
The music was loud but voices and laughter were louder when we reached the
back. It was a simple space with a large concrete patio, a couple of picnic
tables, and plenty of folding chairs strewn about. There were large fires going
in two fire pits, with flames dancing and providing hints of the desert that
lay beyond.

The grill was full of meat and the
beer was flowing, all in all just what I’d expected. I searched for Cole but
didn’t see him at first, and I was instantly thankful that Kat was with me.
“Let’s get a drink,” I suggested, heading toward one of the kegs.

“Let me get that for you ladies,” an
older biker offered, pouring our cups full of beer.

“Thanks, have you seen Cole?” I asked
when he handed me my cup.

“Not long ago, over that way,” he said,
pointing to the back of the building.

I nodded and Kat followed me through
the boisterous crowd. It didn’t take us long to find him, and my heart dropped
at what I saw. He was sitting casually at one of the tables with three other
men. But that wasn’t where my attention went. There was a blond woman standing
next to him, her fingers combing through his hair, her chest provocatively
pressed to his shoulder. Clearly they knew each other well, intimately even.
And he was doing nothing to dissuade her. The sight of her hands on him made a
temper rise up in me that I didn’t know I had. I felt sick and like a complete
and total fool.

“Shit,” I heard Kat mutter.

“We’re outta here,” I replied, turning
on my heel and stalking back to my car. Kat followed without a word, knowing
there was no talking me out of it--not that she would try in this situation.

“Hey, Scarlet,” Wes greeted stepping
in front of us. “Cole’s waiting for you.”

“Yeah, well he’ll continue to fucking
wait,” I growled. “We
gotta
go,” I told him, unable
to temper my rudeness. Wes knit his brows in confusion, but shrugged and let us
passed.

“Let’s go get drunk,” I said firmly
once we were back at my car.

“Okay,” Kat answered quietly. “But
Scar, I know that looked bad but he knew you were coming. If he was going to do
something shady, why would he do it while he was waiting for you? She’s
probably just some hanger-on that he couldn’t get rid of,” she said, and I was
surprised she was coming to his defense.

“I don’t care who she was. The fact
that he was sitting there letting her touch him like that speaks volumes,” I
replied angrily, starting my car and roaring off just as my phone started to
ring.

“Speak of the devil,” I muttered,
reaching over to turn it off.

I heard Kat sigh but she didn’t say
anything as I drove us downtown. We headed back to Jupiter where the drinks
were free and we could hang out with our coworkers.

“Sorry you missed your chance to see
Sal,” I apologized as we sipped our drinks following the shot that Frank, our
bartender, had insisted on. Clearly my car was staying put and we were cabbing
it tonight.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Scar, you at
least have to answer that,” she pleaded as my phone began to ring again. “He
worries,” she added.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Since when
did you become team Cole?” I accused.

“I’m always team Scarlet, always,” she
assured me. “But I think he’s a good guy. I’d at least hear him out.”

“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ll be back,” I
muttered as I slid off my stool at the bar and went outside to take his call.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“Yeah?” he asked incredulously. “Where
the fuck are you?” he growled. “Wes said you high tailed it out of here looking
all pissed off.”

“It seems I had a change of plans for
the evening,” I quipped.

“You had a change of plans,” he
stated, his voice low with anger. Clearly Cole had never been stood up. He
didn’t seem to like it much. Well, to fucking bad.

“Yeah, my plans changed when I got all
dressed up to come hang out with the guy I slept with
twice
this morning, only to find some trashy looking chick’s hands
imbedded in his hair with her tits shoved in his face,” I hissed.

“That’s just Daisy, Jesus babe,” he
sighed sounding exasperated, which sent my temper into overdrive.

“That’s just Daisy?”
I repeated, my voice carefully controlled.
I was determined
not to lose my cool and start shrieking, though that’s exactly what I wanted to
do. “I grew up with a lot of ‘Daisy’s’ Cole. And I’d just about bet my left arm
that you’ve sampled your fair share of
Daisy
,”
I said, my tone turning surly every time I said her name. “How do you think it
makes me look to walk into your club when you’ve got your old bed partner
wrapped around you? It makes me look like a fucking idiot is what it looks like,”
I spat before he could interject. “And maybe that’s the way you do things but
that sure as fuck doesn’t work for me. I’m not going to be yours and not have
you be
mine
. That means that you
don’t let some girl you’ve slept with-- or any girl for that matter-- put her
hands on you. Not when you’ve just invited the girl you’re currently sleeping
with to come be with you. Not
ever
!”

Okay, now I was officially shrieking.
Dammit.

“And our status as ‘currently sleeping
together’ is now definitely in question,” I hissed.

“Are you done?” he asked, his own tone
laced with anger.

“Not much else to say,” I replied
hotly.

“Good, now get your ass back over
here,” he ordered.

I laughed scornfully. “The hell I will,
Cole. Are you high? Did you hear anything I just said?” I demanded.

“I heard everything you just said,
respected some of it, too despite you being hysterical over nothing,” he
muttered. “Now get your ass over here so I can calm you down properly,” he said
authoritatively and entirely too sure of himself.

“No way. Kat and I have a date to get
drunk and that’s what I intend to do. Then maybe we’ll find her a guy to
exchange numbers with. Then I plan to go to sleep
alone
,” I emphasized. “Have fun at the barbeque. I’m sure Daisy
will be more than happy to give you seconds, thirds, or whatever serving you’re
currently on,” I hissed and hung up.

The last part may have been a bit
dramatic, but I couldn’t help myself. I headed back inside and took my seat
next to Kat.

“Well?” she asked.

“I read him the riot act,” I muttered,
taking a much needed sip of my cocktail to calm my adrenalin. Apparently that
was just Daisy,” I quipped.

“Oh dear,” Kat muttered into her
drink.

“Yeah,” I muttered back.

We proceeded to drink our cocktails,
being handed a second round by the dutiful Frank, and we people watched as
usual. We were finally starting to have fun and loosen up when Kat’s eyes grew
wide as she looked over my shoulder.

“What?” I demanded.

“I think your night’s about to get
more interesting,” she replied, taking a sip of her drink and avoiding my eyes.
I turned in the direction she was looking and came face to face with a very
frustrated looking Cole.

“Whatever serving I’m on? Seriously,
babe?” he demanded.

I shrugged. I actually thought it was
a pretty good line. Apparently Cole didn’t agree.

“Kat, sorry to break up your ladies
night. I brought Sal along, he’ll take you home,” he ordered firmly.

“We’re not done,” I protested.

“You are so done,” he growled. “Up, or
I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here I swear to God,” he
said through his teeth.

I eyed him for a moment and realized
that, unfortunately, he would so do that if I pushed him. “Fine,” I muttered.
“You okay?” I turned to ask Kat.

“Yeah,” she said with a smile.

“Maybe you and Sal should stay awhile
and have a drink,” I suggested with mock innocence.

“Maybe,” Kat said as she tried to
fight her grin when Sal appeared and took my now vacated spot at the bar.

Maybe some good would come out of this
night after all. Cole grasped my hand and led the way authoritatively out of
the bar.

“Unless you’re taking me home, I’m not
getting on that bike,” I said firmly when he handed me my helmet. He regarded
me with frustration. “I’m serious Cole, I’m not leaving Kat to sleep there
alone with all this shit going on,” I said forcefully. “And I sure as hell am
not going back to that barbeque now,” I fumed.

“Christ you are a pain in my ass. Get
on,” he ordered, turning the ignition. I climbed on behind him not holding him
as closely as I normally did and allowed him to take me home.

When we pulled up to the curb he
didn’t hesitate in making it perfectly clear that he intended to follow me
inside. There was no dissuading him, so I stalked up the stairs and into our
place as though he wasn’t there. He allowed me this for a few moments as I
threw my bag down on the couch and took off my jacket.

“You missed the part where I’d shoved
her hand away about a dozen times,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence. I
turned to face him, arms crossed over my chest. His eyes traveled briefly to
the cleavage that the pose created, before his eyes returned to my face. “It’s
not like I didn’t know you were
comin
’,” he pointed
out.

I didn’t adjust my stance.

“God, I hate
fuckin
’
explaining myself,” he muttered before taking a deep breath and blowing it out.
“All I meant earlier by Daisy just being Daisy is that she’s just one of many.
You grew up in a club babe, I know you’re not blind to that part of the life,”
he said, his eyes looking at me a bit anxiously. “But women like Daisy, they
have nothing on a woman like you and who you are to me. That’s something I’m
sure you also know,” he said firmly. “You know what it is to be on the back of
my bike, in my bed, and at the club. And I like that, a fuck of a lot. I don’t
have to explain shit to you. You understand my world.”

I may understand his world but that
didn’t mean I would excuse certain behaviors.

“Girls like her, they’ll always be
there. You
gotta
deal with that part of it. And you
gotta
deal with the fact that I have a past. I won’t be
apologizing for it either,” he said firmly. “But I’ll admit I could have tried
harder to ward her off. I’m just not used to having to. Quite frankly, I barely
notice she’s there,” he said with a shrug.

My stance relaxed only slightly and I
was sure he saw it. He took the opportunity to come closer until he was
standing right in front of me looking down at me. He took my chin and tilted it
up.

“I’m yours too, babe. And I’m glad you
want it that way,” he said softly. “And if I didn’t know I had a fiery red head
on my hands before, I certainly do now,” he said.