“What happened?”

“Fire at Ink Me.”

“Fire?”

“Yeah, a Molotov cocktail through the window,” I tell her and watch her pull in a sharp breath. Her face whitens, and I don’t miss the small flash of panic that she quickly hides.

“What is it?” I ask her.

“Nothing, it’s fine.”

I know it’s something but I don’t have time to get into it with her right now. Pulling her to me, I ask her one more time.

“Just stay here and wait for me till I get back? We can finish what we started.” Leaning down, I lightly brush my lips over hers. It’s nowhere near enough, but I’ll wait till later.

“Okay,” she complies, and I feel better knowing she will be here safe.

“All right, I’ll call you when I’m on my way home. Give me your cell.” Reaching into her purse, she pulls out her phone passing it to me. I program my number and call my cell so I have hers on mine. Angling my head to hers, I kiss her one more time, turn and walk to the door. “Make yourself at home, and don’t answer the door for anyone," I call out, opening the door.

“Yes, Dad” she calls back and I look back at the little minx.

“Woman, I’ll spank you for that.”

“Can’t wait,” she replies and I reward her with a smile, letting her know I’ll keep my promise.

Closing the door behind me and locking it, I head back to Ink Me, hoping the damage isn’t too much to deal with because I have one hot and willing woman in my bed waiting for me.

Chapter Thirteen

Kadence

Nix has been gone for over an hour and I’m starting to fall asleep. After snooping around downstairs, I made my way upstairs to his room. Remembering his large tub from our night together, I decide to run a bath. Running the hot water, I find some bath oil, pour it in and submerge myself, contemplating what I was going to do with Nix. His showing up at the tattoo shop sent a spark through me. I wasn’t sure after our last meeting how I would act, but ending up on the back of his bike to his bath was not on the list of logical outcomes. I know he wants more, more of what I’m not clear on, but I do know in the short time I’ve known the man, he won’t give up. After reasoning with myself on my actions for twenty minutes in the hot water, I am no better off.

Stepping out onto the fluffy beige bath mat, I reach for a matching towel. For a man, he has impeccable taste. I cover my body in the soft towel. Its smell reminds me of his body, and I catch myself breathing in his rustic scent. God, he smells good.

After searching through his drawers for something to wear, I find one of his T-shirts. The black club shirt looks worn but calls to me, so I put it on over my black panties.

I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m supposed to be staying away but I’m obviously not doing well fighting off his advances. We both want each other, and we both can’t seem to keep our hands off each other, but I can’t help but wonder how much more he wants. I didn’t realize how much his presence calmed me. Having him sit next to me while Sy could see some of my scars made it bearable. I could sense his irritation when Sy kept pushing him. I thought it was funny for a bit, but when his eyes went to my scar, and then straight to me, I knew Nix was about to lose his cool. He doesn’t even know what happened, doesn’t know how I got so badly burnt, but he is already defensive over me. Before he could say something to Sy and make me feel uncomfortable, I reached out, his eyes finding mine, a silent promise that he would protect me. I felt it from just his touch, knowing in that moment I didn’t want to fight him anymore. This man has proven he will stop at nothing to get what he wants while sheltering me at the same time. Do I want to keep carrying on denying it? No. But the next steps are unknown for me. I can see myself getting lost in a man like him so I need to tread carefully. A man like Nix has proven he can give me what I’ve been missing, but I fear the moment he takes it away, I'll lose more than what I started with.

Turning his TV on, I climb into his bed, remembering the last time I was here. Visions of us lying naked, my head in his lap as he silently ran his calloused fingers along my skin, his mouth between my legs teasing me with his talented tongue while stretching me wide with his fingers, come easily. The scene leaves me hot just thinking about it. After leaving me wanting in the classroom, I refused myself any release. A punishment for allowing my body to react to him, but now, lying in his bed, the need coils through me, edging me closer to the height of urgency. My hand moves to the juncture of my thighs. I brush my fingers lightly over the lace of my panties, feeling the fever burn up in me. Just being in his bed has me craving him. Reaching for my phone, I send him a text.

Kadence: I’m in your bed, my hands were busy, but they took a minute to text you.

I second-guess myself as I await his reply. Shit, I hate feeling so insecure. It’s alarming how much I want to expose to him.

I must have drifted off, as some time later, the sound of the front door closing wakes me. Keys being placed on the kitchen counter lets me know he’s home. Throwing off the covers, I straighten his shirt, pat down my hair and make my way down the stairs to finish what we started earlier. Turning the corner at the bottom of the stairs, I see him leaning over, head deep in the fridge. His position gives me the perfect opportunity to check out his firm ass. The man has an amazing body. Sneaking up to him my arms coming around his waist, hands under his shirt, his tight abs contract under my fingers.

“Hey, honey, you told me you would call me,” I say, pushing my front to his back before he suddenly comes back fast.

“Whoa," he shouts, spinning around and surprising me. His movements are so fast that my mind doesn’t register that the voice isn’t his. Looking up, I’m meeting a man who isn’t Nix but is wearing the same cut. I let out a scream and back away.

“Hey, it’s all right. Nix sent me,” he quickly explains, trying to calm my frantic state. My mind slowly recognizes him as one of the men I saw with Nix the other night at the pub, his patch telling me I’m safe.

“He tried to call to let you know I was coming.” He looks down at me before he turns away. “You wanna put on some pants?” he adds uncomfortably, and I look down and realize I’m only in my panties and a Knights Rebels shirt.

“Oh, shit,” I burst out, pulling down Nix's shirt, trying to cover my exposed legs while backing away slowly. I know he’s not looking at me like that, but his gaze turns back to me and is fixed on the scarring. Questions fill his eyes, but I'm not prepared to see the pity in them. Making my way upstairs, I find my skirt and throw it on, leaving Nix’s shirt in place. I make my way back downstairs, grabbing my cell along the way. Looking down, I see a text message.

Nix: Don’t you dare fuckin’ touch yourself! I’m sending one of the boys to get you. Now.

Shit, I mustn’t have heard it go off.

“I’m Brooks,” the man informs me when I walk back into the kitchen. “And if it’s okay with you, can we keep that little greeting between us? My missus wouldn’t appreciate the jabs the boys would throw. Though she might be more okay with it than Nix, I’d like to keep my balls,” he admits laughing a little.

Oh, God, I would die if Nix found out about my slip up. I nod, thankful he won’t go and tell the ‘boys’ about me rubbing up on him. I only know Jesse, and if they are anything like him, I won't hear the end of it.

“I’m Kadence by the way.” I smile, and he smiles back. His dark hair is as short as Nix’s, but now that I’m facing him, I realize he looks nothing like Nix. Where Nix is tall and built, Brooks is slightly shorter and a little broader. His short beard hides most of his face, but by his warm smile, I can see he's handsome. I find myself staring and shake myself out of it, already feeling awkward at my slip earlier.

“Where’s Nix?” I grab a glass off the sink, filling it up with water from the fridge door.

"Club business,” he states. I don’t know what he expects me to do with that vague explanation.

“Should I go home?”

“No,” he replies a little too fast. “I’ve been told to come and take you back to the clubhouse.”

“But if Nix is busy working, shouldn’t I just head home?”

“Just doing what the boss tells me,” he says.

“What if I don’t want to go?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips, ready to take him on.

“I’d prefer you came willingly, but I was warned you might say that.” He smiles this time, knowing how much I must piss Nix off. “If you don’t come, I’ll have to stay until Nix can get to you, and I really just wanna get back, sort out some shit and get home to the wife and kid.”

As much as I don’t want to go, I feel sorry he was sent to look after me, so I nod and go to get my purse.

“I don’t know why Nix would send you to babysit me when you have a wife and daughter to worry about,” I say, walking up to him ready to leave.

“That’s the only reason he assigned me,” Brooks mutters under his breath. I don’t know what that means and I don’t bother asking, probably some club rule. Locking up behind me, Brooks walks me down the path close to my back. Stopping short of the drive, I’m surprised he doesn’t have a bike.

“No bike? What sort of MC are you a part of?” I ask playfully.

He lets out a laugh. “The bastard made me bring the truck.”

Having been on his bike two times now and getting better, it clicks why Nix sent the car, not the bike. Damn possessive man.

The drive to the compound is short. Brooks talks about his wife and daughter and makes me feel comfortable. He’s nothing like Nix with his bossy and alpha nature, but he still maintains a presence about him that you know you wouldn’t want to mess with him.

My phone beeps and I grab it out of my bag to check the message.

Nix: Do as you’re told.

I roll my eyes at his bossiness and type back my response.

Kadence: HA. I was well behaved. Brooks is a gentleman. On our way.

Nix: Gentleman my ass. C U soon.

His response comes back instantly, and I place my cell back in my bag, excited and nervous to be heading inside the gated compound. Five minutes later, we pull up to a large property. A young guy walks out from the dark, unlocking and sliding the gate open, letting us drive through. The long, loose gravel drive winds around to the left and we follow it until we come to a large warehouse. Pulling up next to at least twenty bikes, I get out, ready to see Nix and the inside of his club.

Brooks meets me at my door; his hand comes to my wrist, gripping it in his large grasp.

“Keep close. We have some friends come to stay,” he warns. I don’t know what that means so I simply nod as he guides me to the front double doors. Two older men stand near the door, smoking cigarettes in the cool air. The red tips, glow bright against the black night, their expressions hidden behind their kick-ass beards. Their eyes assess me but nod at Brooks when we walk up to them, letting us pass without a word. Brooks pushes us through the doors into the dimly lit hall and walks us down to a large open area. The smell of leather and smoke fills my nose, and I look out around the large area. The long wall along the back holds pictures of members in their cuts, some mug shots, but more family shots. The Clubs insignia carved in a large wooden display sits in the center of the wall, Knights Rebels inscribed above the skull head. A few young men standing around the pool table look up as we pass through the open area.

“Is it always this quiet?” I ask as we walk down a hall.

“No, the party’s been moved down the back. They got a bonfire set up,” he explains.

Brooks’ grip releases my wrist as we come to an open set of double doors at the back of the club. Stopping at the threshold, I see Nix before he sees me. I stand and take in all of him. His appearance is powerful, his character electrifying. The long solid timber masterpiece he sits at captures my attention. The same carved emblem that hangs out on the clubhouse wall is inscribed in the middle of the timber table.

“Prez,” Brooks calls as he raps on the door. The three men sitting at the table turn and focus their attention on us. Jesse winks at me and Sy’s eyes narrow. The third man with longer dark hair pulled back, is one of the guys at the bar the first night Nix kissed me. His blue eyes shine in laughter before letting it out in a loud bark. Feeling a little exposed, I second-guess the shirt. Shit, was wearing it the wrong thing to do?

Nix’s eyes rake down my body, smiling when he notices the shirt I’m wearing. Standing from his seat at the head of the table and ignoring Brooks, he walks straight to me, pulling me into him. The heat from his body warms me before he pulls back. Angling his head down, he presses his lips to mine. It’s a quick kiss, not demanding, but I still feel a light blush rise to my cheeks.

“Sorry, babe,” he says close to my ear. “Club business, I couldn’t leave.”

“It’s okay, Nix, but honestly, I can go,” I say, worried that having me here can complicate things with not just us, but his club. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but being in his club, around his friends, is a little daunting.

“You’re stayin'. Let me show you to my room,” he orders, leaving no room to argue. Moving past me, he grasps my hand, leading me away from the guys. Their conversation obviously over, he walks me down the hall to the left, stopping at a closed door. Reaching down, he turns the handle and pushes it open, dragging me in and slamming the door shut.

My shoulders crash into the wall when he spins me around and backs me up, pressing himself into me.