Retribution (The Lone Riders MC Series Book 2) (6 page)

‘And I can?’

She smiled, and Ben felt as though someone had just dealt him the most excruciating punch to the stomach. It was something so physical, so real he almost doubled over with the pain.

‘Yeah. I think you can.’

‘Whatever it is you
think
I can give you, Mia, I can’t. I can’t.’

She fixed him with a look that made his whole world instantly shatter. And he knew he should just walk away, make her leave, tell her she wasn’t to come here again. But he couldn’t. He wasn’t going to do that. Instead, he walked over to her, stood right in front of her; almost gave her permission to ruin his life as he knew it, because that’s what getting involved with her would do – it would take his world, scrunch it up into a tight ball of mess and confusion, and leave him with nothing but a guilty conscience and a heap of regrets. But she was also making him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time – free. For the past decade or so he’d almost stagnated. Letting go of his bike, leaving behind that other life he’d once led, it had turned him into someone he hadn’t ever wanted to be. But going back… He’d worked hard to leave the past behind. So going back there…

‘I can’t, Mia,’ he said quietly, placing a hand up against the wall beside her head. It was taking every ounce of what little strength he had left not to move in even closer. To touch her the way he wanted to touch her.

She reached out, using his tie to once more pull him towards her, and this time he didn’t resist. ‘I need an escape, Ben.’

He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers, that last ounce of strength finally seeping out of him. She was too vulnerable for this, although, he was never going to tell her that. He guessed being called vulnerable was something she wouldn’t take too kindly to, but that was exactly what she was. And that’s why he should be stopping this, now.
One
reason why he should be stopping this. The others – there were too many to count. ‘Mia… please, don’t…’

Her lips touching his caused that almost ghostly punch to his stomach to happen again, and he pulled away. A sudden fear had replaced those urges she’d stirred up inside of him, and he let that fear take over. He had to. It was the only thing that could save him from this. From her. From something he didn’t think either of them needed.

‘You really should go,’ he said, turning away, pushing a hand through his hair. If he looked at her he’d give in. He knew that. So he had to stand his ground here. The confusion was too great; too many crazy emotions were clouding his judgement, and this could hurt both of them – whatever
this
was. He just knew it was all happening way too fast.

‘Take me.’

He stood still, her words echoing around his messed-up head. Words he didn’t want to hear, but she’d given him no choice.

‘You should go,’ he repeated, keeping his voice steady, resisting that urge to look at her. Because he knew what would happen if he did.

‘Take me.’

Her voice was cutting into him like the sharpest of knives. It was making him feel things he didn’t want to feel – things he hadn’t felt for a long time. He’d thrown himself into his work, left no room, no time for anything or anyone else. And he regretted that now. Because all of a sudden he’d never felt so lonely. Could Mia Rose be the one to help him change that?

Slowly turning around, he watched as she stepped out of her panties, kicking them across the floor. What the hell was he supposed to do now? She was offering herself to him, and he wanted her, Jesus! He wanted her. But he should leave her alone. For so many reasons, he shouldn’t even be thinking about going anywhere near her. He really shouldn’t. ‘Mia, I… This is wrong.’ He’d said the words out loud. But that’s all they were – words. Wrong or not, he knew exactly what was going to happen next.

‘It’s sex, Ben. Just sex.’

He raised his gaze, his eyes locking with hers. There was no such thing as
just
sex as far as this situation was concerned.

‘You don’t need this, Mia.’

‘You have no idea
what
I need.’

‘You don’t need
this
.’ He broke the stare, looking down at her long, tanned legs, her knee-high boots, and all he could think about was what lay beneath the hem of that skirt. An erection he hadn’t wanted but couldn’t stop had become painful now, pushing against the material of his pants, desperate to get close to that heaven she was offering him. Or was it really a form of hell? Because that’s where he was going if he let this happen. ‘You should walk out of here, right now, Mia. And I should make you do that, because this – this is crazy.’

‘Welcome to my life.’

He moved closer, watching as she pulled a condom from the back pocket of her skirt. She’d come prepared for this? Jesus!
Come on, Ben! Are you really that naïve?

Taking the condom from her he ripped open the foil packet, his eyes fixed on hers. ‘You realize I could be signing my own death warrant here.’ So much for willpower. He’d just proved how weak he could really be, when pushed. And she was pushing him.

She smiled, a smile that punched him hard again; twisted his insides up into a knot of fear and excitement. But he liked it. It had been a long while since he’d felt anything even verging on excitement. Fuck the fear. He’d handle that when he had to. And there spoke a man who was thinking with his dick.

Sliding a hand around the back of his neck she pulled him down for a kiss so deep he wasn’t sure he’d ever re-surface. Wasn’t sure he even wanted to. The taste of her was heady – a mix of cigarettes and beer; her musky perfume overwhelming. He was hooked, pulled into something he shouldn’t be anywhere near, but he was being dragged under. And he was putting up no kind of fight.

Unzipping himself, he almost breathed a sigh of relief as his aching dick was set free, a long, low moan taking over as she took the condom from him, slipping it carefully over his throbbing hard-on. Her fingers traced the length of him, running slowly up and down until he could take no more. The pain was too much.

Sliding his hands up under her skirt he let out another low groan as his fingers touched her smooth, soft skin, his thumb gently stroking her inner thigh in a slow, circular motion, moving up. Moving inwards. She was wet, and so ready for him.

Resting his forehead against hers he closed his eyes, his thumb slowly spreading that wetness around, easing out of her the tiniest of moans that only caused his dick to react accordingly. Cupping her bottom he carefully lifted her up, and as she wrapped her legs around his hips he pushed into her, her body pulling him in, swallowing him up. And he couldn’t stop a low growl of pleasure from escaping.

The urge to thrust was indescribable. He wanted to pound into her so hard, take her so fast, because already he could feel his endgame beginning. It was going to be over way too soon, but maybe that was for the best. He’d fuck her, she’d take from him whatever it was she needed, then they could both move on. So he let the thrusts speed up; rocked her body back so hard he could hear the sound of her hitting the wall. But her moans only turned him on even more; caused him to push even harder. And she was pushing back just as roughly, her finger nails digging into his shoulders, pulling at his shirt, her breath warm against his neck as she breathed heavily, her gasps ragged and fast.

And as that final rush hit him head-on, he felt himself spill out inside her, his body jerking with the force of an orgasm the like of which he hadn’t experienced in way too long; a mixture of relief and pain and a realization that he’d just done something stupid and dangerous. Something he really could live to regret. And he didn’t fucking care.

He held on to her as she reached down, the vibration of her fingers rubbing against herself almost sending Ben’s dick on a repeat mission. So as soon as she’d climaxed he pulled out, gently lowering her down as he eased off the condom, tossing it into the bin by his desk.

‘You are one hot ride, lawyer man,’ Mia breathed, leaning back against the wall, a satisfied smile on her face.

Ben looked at her. She seemed in no hurry to pull her skirt back down, her legs slightly apart, every beautiful, shaved inch of her on show and he couldn’t move his eyes away. He couldn’t fight the need to touch her again, reaching out to slide a hand between her legs.

‘You really have to go,’ he murmured, pushing up against her, his eyes burning into hers as he fought the urge to slide his fingers inside her.

‘Yeah, well, you’ve served your purpose now, haven’t you?’

He let out a low laugh, his thumb gently stroking her cheek, running lightly over the scar just above it. He didn’t know exactly what that bastard of a husband had done to her, but he knew she hadn’t deserved any of it. ‘Glad I could be of some use. After all, that’s what Charlie’s paying me for.’

She smiled again, and it really did change the entire look of her face. She tried to adopt a hard outer image, Ben had already gathered that. But he could see a much softer woman beneath that exterior. A woman, he guessed, she didn’t let out all that often.

‘I should tell Charlie just how good for the club you really are,’ she whispered, her mouth almost touching his, and he just wanted to kiss the life out of her. All fucking day.

‘I think the less Charlie – the less anyone knows about this, the better. Don’t you?’

She took hold of his hand, her fingers tightening around his, and he hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed something as simple as holding another person’s hand until she’d held his. ‘It’ll stay our secret. Okay?’

‘Okay.’ He pulled his hand from between her legs and backed away slowly. It was time to let normality return, before Fiona began to think something was wrong. He really didn’t need her barging in here. ‘You… you really should go now, Mia.’

She crouched down to pick up her discarded panties, slipping them back on in a way that made Ben’s dick stand to attention all over again. Jesus Christ, what the hell
was
this? And then she looked at him, those coal-black eyes of hers almost sparkling. And he felt like a confused teenager being faced with the high school Prom Queen, not really knowing whether she was messing with him or not.

‘Thank you.’ She walked over to him, reaching out to touch his rough chin, running her fingers over the stubble that covered it before she leaned forward, kissing him gently. ‘For releasing something inside of me I never thought I’d feel again.’

He slid an arm around her waist, reluctant to let her go now, despite him telling her she should leave. Which she should. No matter what was going on inside his fucked-up head, this wasn’t the time or the place for any of this. ‘Are you okay?’

She smiled, her beautiful face showing no signs of any hardness as her hand slid around the back of his neck, stroking it so lightly it brought his skin out in goose bumps. ‘I am now. Thanks to you.’

‘Mia, I… I’m still not sure this was such a good idea.’

‘Well, we can hardly take it back now, can we?’

He let out a sigh of resignation. She was right on that score.

‘Look, lawyer man, it was sex. It was
just
sex, okay? And I think we
both
needed that, somehow. Don’t you?’

He wasn’t sure he could argue with that. ‘Just sex, huh?’

‘I walk out of here, we go back to the way it was before.’

He could only hope it was that easy.

Seven

‘You’re looking happier.’ Shane stubbed his cigarette out on the wall behind him before tossing it down at his feet.

‘Yeah, well, I guess I just needed a bit of time out,’ Mia said, sitting down on one of the tables outside the clubhouse. She’d taken a long walk after leaving Ben’s office. Took a bit of time to familiarize herself with her new surroundings, get to know the town she now had to start calling home. And it seemed a friendly enough place. The few people she’d met so far had been nothing but polite and kind to her. And because of that – because of what had happened with Ben, something she didn’t for one second regret – her mood had lightened somewhat. And for the first time since she’d arrived here in
Paradise
she began to feel like things really could be okay. All she had to do was put the effort in.

‘Head needed clearing, huh?’

She looked up at Shane. ‘Something like that.’

‘Hey! You gonna work with us here, darlin’?’ Coby’s deep, booming voice cut across the otherwise quiet yard and, shielding her eyes from the late-afternoon sun, Mia watched as he approached from the other side of the compound, looking more than a little aggravated. Shane just raised an eyebrow before disappearing into the clubhouse.

‘Something wrong?’ Mia asked, looking straight at the still-slightly imposing Scotsman. Yeah. He might be heading for fifty now but there was something about him that Mia found intriguing. And quite hot, for an older man. Lexi was one lucky lady.

‘You keep wandering off, sweetheart. And that’s giving me a headache.’

She put her hands behind her, leaning back, her eyes still fixed on Coby. ‘I wasn’t aware I was under some kind of house arrest.’

‘You’re not, darlin’, but right now we need to make sure your safety is paramount, you understand?’

‘Is my safety under threat?’

‘Don’t push me, Mia. I’ve enough to deal with without you trying my patience.’

‘I’m not trying anything, Coby. I’m just taking a bit of time to get used to my new surroundings. Surely I’m allowed to do that. I mean, this
is
gonna be my home now, isn’t it? Or is there something you’re not telling me.’

‘You leave this compound, you tell someone, you got that?’

She couldn’t help laughing. Was he kidding her? ‘You’re serious?’

‘Aye, I’m fucking serious, darlin’.’

She watched as he walked away, unable to believe she’d just heard that. Pulling her phone out of her pocket she quickly searched for Charlie’s number, tapping her foot on the bench below her as she waited for him to answer.

‘Jesus, Mia, time difference, sweetheart.’

‘What the fuck’s going on, Charlie?’

‘What…? For Christ’s sake, it’s after fucking midnight here and you’re calling me to have a frigging go?’

‘I have to punch in and out of the fucking compound now, do I?’

‘What the hell are you talking about?’

‘Coby’s just told me that if I want to leave the compound then I have to let someone know. Why? So they can keep tabs on me?’

‘Yes, so they can keep tabs on you. You do remember why you’re there, don’t you?’

‘You told me I was safe here, Charlie. So, if I’m safe, why do I need babysitters?’

‘We’re just being over-cautious, kiddo, that’s all. Until things settle down.’

She closed her eyes, taking a long, deep breath. ‘Does Lennie…? He has no idea where I am, right?’ A wave of fear had washed over her so quick there it had almost knocked her sideways. And Charlie had sensed that, his voice softening.

‘No. He has no idea.’

‘So… so how did he react when…?’ It was something she’d been wondering ever since she’d left
Newcastle
– how Lennie had reacted once he’d realized she’d gone.

‘How do you think he reacted? He kicked off, accused me of covering for you, and I didn’t deny that. I’m not gonna lie to him. I told him it was me who sent you away. And I told him why I’d done that. But he’ll never know where you are.’

‘Did he…?’

‘We can handle Lennie, Mia. Don’t you worry about that.’

‘But what if he…? He must have threatened to come looking for me…’

‘Trust me, kiddo. He won’t find you.’

‘How can you be so sure?’ Her voice still carried the tiniest hint of fear, because this phone call was reminding her of the very real danger she was in. And she was letting it get to her all over again. That hope she’d felt just a few minutes earlier had suddenly dissipated. It had gone.

‘Just trust me, sweetheart, okay?
 
And whatever Coby thinks is best… He’s a good man, Mia. He knows what he’s doing. And it won’t last forever, darlin’. Before you know it you’ll be living your new life as though the old one never existed.’

She let out a heavy sigh, closing her eyes again as she tried to go back to a couple of hours ago, when she’d had her legs wrapped around Ben Salter’s hips, his dick deep inside her. She needed to feel that free again, because she was starting to feel just a little bit trapped.

‘I’m sorry for calling so late, Charlie.’

‘You call me any time, kiddo. Any time.’

‘And thanks. For caring, I mean. For looking out for me.’

‘It’s what I do, sweetheart. Now go have some fun. Go on.’

She ended the call, staring down at her phone, the urge to tap in Ben’s number overwhelming. She’d only just left him, but she really needed to see him again. He was the only one who made her feel truly safe, and she didn’t even know why. He was the only one who could make her forget. He was different, and she needed different. They needed each other because, deep down, she knew he was just as lost as she was.

‘Hey! You’re back.’

She looked up as Kip parked himself down on the table beside her, pushing his cap back so she could see his eyes, his smile instantly making her want to smile back. ‘Yeah. I am.’

‘You have a good afternoon?’

‘I guess.’ Oh yeah. It had been good. So good she fully intended to repeat the experience as soon as she could.

‘You sure you’re okay? You just seem a bit, I dunno – distant.’

‘I’m fine,’ she sighed, sliding down from the table, throwing him another smile as she did so. ‘I’m just… I’m still getting my head around a few things, that’s all.’

‘You’re coming tonight, though, aren’t you? To the party, I mean?’

She wasn’t really in the mood any more, but she’d promised Kip she’d be there. And he was somebody she didn’t want to let down. Besides, she figured that, once it all got going she’d probably end up having a good time. She knew how to party, they seemed like a good bunch of guys, and she might as well start acting like she was a part of this club, because this was where she belonged now. Here. In
Paradise
. ‘Yeah. I’m still coming.’ She looked over towards the garage, where Lexi had now joined Coby, both of them talking animatedly to Jesse and Luca, the latter balancing baby Ozzie on his hip. This compound, this chapter, it wasn’t so different to the one back in
Newcastle
. Not really. It had a nice vibe – an almost family feel to it. She wasn’t sure what it had been like before Coby Walker had taken over, but from what Mia could gather it had been a lot less stable. According to Charlie, Coby had really turned it around in the few short months he’d been President, making it a much safer place to be. That’s why he’d sent her here, to
Paradise
. Was it fate, that she’d been sent here? That she’d meet Ben? That she’d start to have feelings for a man again? Feelings that didn’t involve hate and fear and anger.

‘Want to grab a quick drink before it all kicks off?’

Kip’s voice broke into her thoughts, and she turned back to face him. ‘Sorry?’

‘A drink. Do you want to grab one before it all gets going?’

‘It’s only half past five. What time do things usually
get
going around here?’

‘A lot sooner than half five.’ Kip smirked, jumping down from the table and shoving one hand in his pocket, the other he held out to Mia. ‘So, that drink. You coming?’

She couldn’t help smiling again, reaching out to take his hand. ‘Yeah. Okay. Why not?’ But as his fingers wrapped around hers, it didn’t feel the same as it had felt with Ben. There was no spark. It felt nice, but that was all. Just nice. Ben had ignited something inside her that she couldn’t explain, but she didn’t even want to try. She just wanted to throw herself into something that would help her forget the past. She wanted – needed – some fun.

Ben Salter. Ex-biker. Lawyer. One hell of a fuck. Maybe life here in
Paradise
really wasn’t going to be so bad after all.