Biker (Bad Boys in Big Trouble Book 1) Page 4

  They would all demand assurances that she wouldn’t go around telling tales about their dealings—when, in fact, the business he’d rushed here to discuss hadn’t even begun yet.

  Tensions were already at deadly levels. Instead of getting down to business with Zak, Demarco had ranted and raved about his lieutenant being arrested. Everyone in the bar had listened with wide-eyed fascination like looky-loos passing a car wreck on the highway hoping to see blood, gore and mangled bodies.

  Demarco’s demeanor—showcasing angry eyes, verbose threats regarding all the nasty, bloodthirsty ways he’d get his revenge on those who’d wronged him, followed by completely manic and nearly out of control ranting—had subsided to shouting, but he still hadn’t calmed enough to engage in a normal level of conversation.

  Zak had seen him do the exact same thing the last time they’d met. Demarco had raged and threatened the world before calming to engage in steady conversation as if nothing was amiss, as if he’d only recently been discussing unpleasant weather.

  Like last time, Zak determined to endure the crazy until Demarco wound down so they could get to the reason he was here.

  Then the front door opened and Kaitlin walked in.

  Some unseen signal apparently raced through the bar that a stranger had entered. Zak heard Julio curse under his breath and move away from him. Zak’s heart had plummeted to his knees when he realized she must have followed him. He made a quick self-note: Never leave a woman standing on a porch with blueberry muffins, no matter how deranged the criminal you’re about to meet is.

  The heavy makeup and the huge change to her hairstyle and wardrobe were not lost upon him. She looked fucking hot. Likely he wasn’t the only one here who thought so.

  The lip lock had aroused him to a level that sent half the volume of his blood south of his belt buckle. His thickening response below wasn’t made up, so he nudged her with it. He didn’t want to scare her as much as try to keep them both alive in the next few moments.

  She moaned again, tightening her grip around his waist. Fuck. Nope, she was not at all scared. But she should be.

  “Get a fuckin’ room, unless you plan to share her,” said a voice from the growing crowd to his left. Fuck that.

  He broke the fervent kiss, pulling away enough to stare down at her wet, swollen lips. He drilled a look in her eyes that warned her to keep quiet and let him handle this.

  “Make no mistake. I never share,” he said loudly over his shoulder in the general direction of whoever had thrown out the suggestion. Julio had disappeared. Probably not a good sign.

  His gaze quickly turned to Demarco. “Give me two minutes to send my woman on her way, and we’ll discuss what we need to.” Maybe you can also stop bitching about your lieutenant and we can get down to business.

  Demarco gifted him with that satanic grin again. “No need, my friend. She can stay.”

  Fuck that. If she stayed, she’d end up in witness protection, at best. Or at worst, a shallow grave near the bar. Either way, she wouldn’t survive the day in her current lifestyle. Demarco had harsh rules for those who’d witnessed his business. They either became complicit in it or died.

  Kaitlin’s life was about to change drastically. Fuck.

  A glance back down into her face was rewarding in an, I’ve just satisfied my woman with a single kiss way. But he needed her to cooperate. He needed her to remain silent as a church mouse and not listen in or be part of this coming deal. If she was fucked into an unconscious slumber, that might be an acceptable alternative. His dick thought the idea was downright brilliant.

  “Zak?” she whispered. Absurdly, her frightened expression only heightened his lust. Her hips shifted. She brushed her pelvis erotically across the front of his jeans. His cock pulsed against her. Her eyes widened at the subtle movement. If they’d been alone he would have pushed her to the nearest flat surface, pulled up her dress and torn away any obstruction to entering her silken body in the most expedient way.

  “Baby, I thought you understood that I’d be back later. You should have waited for me at home.”

  “I…I…I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right.” She swallowed hard. “I should have stayed at home and waited for you.”

  She released the grip she had around his waist, dropping her arms to her sides. Zak pulled his hand from her hair and placed it firmly on her shoulder. If he could get her out of here and safely on her way, it would be a miracle. She turned in his arms, her one hip pressing into his groin with arousing effect as she moved. If he made it out of here alive tonight, he’d head for her house and not just to ensure her safety. They needed to discuss whatever she’d been on his porch to talk about earlier. Obviously, he’d been mistaken about the extent of her interest.

  Zak pressed one palm to her flat stomach. Her muscles tensed beneath his fingertips. The other hand he placed strategically at her breastbone, centered on her luscious, revealing cleavage. As he’d intended, Demarco’s attention was momentarily drawn to her unbound breasts. Let her go. Don’t make me involve her in your dirty business, you fucking psycho bastard.

  “Jorge,” Diego called to the bartender. “Get Zak’s woman a shot of tequila. She looks thirsty.”

  “Yes, boss. Right away.” Jorge made noises, getting the drink ready.

  Fuck. That meant she was staying.

  “I don’t let my woman drink,” Zak said somberly. Kaitlin stiffened in his arms the moment the word “let” crossed his lips.

  As shy as she seemed to be, she certainly didn’t like being told what to do. Inwardly he appreciated her spunk. Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to help in this situation.

  He pressed his palms harder into her front, allowing one hand to slip a ways, halfway covering one of her luscious breasts. The tip of his ring finger glanced across her nipple, which hardened at the merest bit of pressure.

  Zak swallowed hard, cleared his throat, and put his focus back where it belonged—on his dangerous opponent, Diego Demarco.

  He leaned down, chin grazing Kaitlin’s shoulder. He kissed the space beneath her ear and barely whispered, “Get ready to move.”

  She stiffened again as he spoke, giving him a modicum of hope that when the time came she’d follow him to the back hallway, which led to the bathrooms and the only other exit.

  Zak wanted to postpone this meeting, get her home, call his crew, and a whole bunch of other things that weren’t going to happen.

  To his right, a sudden movement sent his pulse to his throat. It was just the bartender, with not one but two very generously filled shot glasses of tequila.

  “Drink up,” Demarco said. A predatory smile followed his invitation. “And if you don’t let your woman drink, feel free to take both shots. My treat.”

  “Thanks,” he said. Fucking great. Two shots masquerading as three when the situation was dangerous enough while stone-cold sober, let alone buzzed on cheap booze. Sure, let me drink a lot now, too, so I’m even slower to react.

  Zak shifted Kaitlin, anchoring her to his side with one arm draped around her shoulders. He reached for the first shot and downed it in a single gulp. The fluid burned all the way to his acid-filled belly. He caught Kaitlin’s stare as he grabbed the second shot glass. Instead of the anger he expected, she looked exceedingly grateful.

  Her crushed feminist feelings at his high-handedness were at least one less issue to worry about. He’d take any win at this point.

  Zak bolted down the second shot. It burned just as much as the first had, but the acid in his stomach had settled some with the realization Kaitlin wasn’t mad at him. Foolish notion, but whatever.

  He needed to get his woman out of here without causing chaos in this dangerous world or ending their lives. Being here in what sometimes seemed like an alternate universe often meant being continuously tested for loyalty. He couldn’t say no to any generously offered food or drink. Ever. He couldn’t let his woman show any public dominance or disrespect, especially not in Demarco’s immediate surroundings.
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  Across the room, a lanky man, wearing a raggedy flannel shirt got down from a bar stool and approached the tense group. Now what?

  “Kaitlin Price? What the hell are you doing here?”

  Still attached to his side like they were a single entity, Kaitlin looked in the man’s direction and sucked in a short, surprised breath. A frown followed her startled reaction.

  Fuck. She obviously knew him.

  This new twist did not bode well.

  The man squinted and looked around at the assembled group, like he was surprised to find more people watching him than just Kaitlin.

  His expression darkened. “You shouldn’t be here, Kaitlin,” he said. “Let me take you out of here to someplace quieter.” He came closer, reaching one hand out as if he planned to remove her from the bar right now.

  Mistake.

  Kaitlin didn’t move a muscle, but she subtly withdrew from his direction.

  “Back off,” Zak said in his most sinister tone. The guy didn’t move. Zak wished getting her out of here could be as easy as having her walk out with this stranger. Even though he didn’t feel comfortable with her in anyone’s care but his own. Plus, Kaitlin didn’t seem interested in leaving with him either. Now that Demarco was involved, he feared it was way too late anyway. No self-respecting thug would let his woman go off with another man under any circumstances.

  Kaitlin pressed harder into the side of Zak’s taller frame. “I’m fine right here.”

  Mr. Intruder suddenly frowned. The hostility in his expression was pegged at maximum and he inched even closer. Zak was going to have to punch the guy out. He was already an arm’s length away.

  Demarco, shockingly passive up to now, suddenly took an interest. “Why do you think she shouldn’t be here, sir?”

  The man swallowed hard and turned his attention to Demarco, as if just realizing he shouldn’t have interfered with such dangerous men. But then he shot a very unpleasant look at Zak. He backed up half a step.

  “She’s not the kind of girl who would be involved with a guy like him.” Dickhead. “They can’t be a couple.”

  Zak agreed with him, but couldn’t show it.

  Demarco turned a sharp gaze on Zak. “Is she truly your woman? I have to admit, I was surprised as well. You’ve never mentioned her. Not once. And with the stick-up-your-ass attitude, I would never have guessed you were getting laid regularly.”

  Zak narrowed his eyes. “She’s mine. I came here for the deal you promised, not to shoot the shit about my sex life. If you don’t want to make money, fine by me. You aren’t the only one in this area with product to sell.”

  Keeping his arm firmly around Kaitlin, Zak took a step toward the front door, even though the back exit was closer.

  “Not so fast.” Demarco put a hand on his shoulder as if to hold him in place. He turned to the stranger who’d questioned Kaitlin’s choice of boyfriend. “What makes you think they aren’t a couple?”

  His sullen gaze went to Kaitlin. “Everyone in town knows she’s either frigid, a cocktease or both. She’s never given any guy in town the time of day and now suddenly she’s with him? I don’t buy it.”

  Zak had only been here two weeks. In that time, he’d only seen her stare at him. He had no earthly idea about her history with men. He wouldn’t even know what she did for a living except that his landlady had told him.

  “If you expect me to push her to the ground and fuck her in front of a crowd to prove she’s my woman, it’s not going to happen!” His elevated voice at least made the man look nervous.

  “No. Of course not.” Demarco pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “You can use my private office.”

  Zak internally rolled his eyes. He’d been in Demarco’s “private” office. It was an extra bathroom with a six-by-six-foot space attached. There was a sofa he wouldn’t force a cockroach to touch and a small, beat-up desk with more splinters than wood holding it together. If they had sex in that room, he’d have to do her up against the safest, cleanest vertical surface, which was the flimsy door parading as privacy.

  If they made any noise above a whisper, the entire bar would hear them even with the music turned up.

  After that kiss, she could have no doubt he wanted her, but having their first time be in Demarco’s dirty, skanky back office wasn’t the romantic place she’d likely pictured. Then again, if it kept them alive and eventually got them out of here, it might be worth it.

  The only other problematic question was whether there was a camera in there. Would he really have to do her up against the rickety office entry in case someone was watching or recording them for posterity, or simply make it sound good for those crowding around outside the door?

  “Are you kidding me?” Kaitlin asked. “Who died and put you in charge of my love life, Arnold?”

  Zak was surprised she spoke up at all. Her irate gaze settled on the man calling into question their previously non-existent relationship and her sensibilities regarding men. “In fact, it’s none of your freaking business how we met. You’re pissed off because I was never interested in giving you the time of day. Now you know why. I had this waiting for me at home.” She glanced over one shoulder at Demarco and relaxed a bit against Zak. “However, in the interests of understanding our unusual connection, I’ll explain. We met because he’s my next-door neighbor. Does that make everyone happy now?”

  Demarco’s eyebrows rose. He settled his cool gaze back on Zak. “Is that so?”

  “Yes,” Zak said. He squeezed her tight. They were practically sealed together. “She knocked on my door with homemade blueberry muffins in hand to welcome me to the neighborhood, and the rest, as they say, is history.” No one had to know their history had only started about an hour ago. A genuine smile graced Kaitlin’s sultry lips as she stared up at him for a moment. Was she pleased he’d noticed what she’d brought him?

  The man who’d accused her of being a frigid cocktease frowned, but didn’t move away. Zak would make him answer for those unkind words later. For now, he wished he had the power to make “Arnold” disappear in a puff of smoke. Often, it sucked not having supernatural powers.

  “I’d have to say it was love at first sight,” Kaitlin murmured to Zak, but surely the others heard her.

  Demarco lifted his arm and flicked his hand negligently at the man as if to swat away an annoying insect. Arnold didn’t look happy, but luckily took the hint, melting away in the direction of his barstool without further comment or argument. A miracle.

  Zak had a momentary glimmer of hope that he’d be able to get Kaitlin out of here alive without having to fuck her. Not that he didn’t want her. In a perfect world, he wanted her to himself in a quiet cocoon of luxury.

  The desire he felt for her was pretty much over the top after that amazing kiss. However, he didn’t want to have sex with her in the bar’s dirty back room. And most assuredly not for their first time together.

  Given the choice, he wanted her in a bed far, far away from this place. Maybe in a tropical location, lingering inside a simple hut, on top of a soft bed with the beach on their doorstep and an ocean view, if they ever ventured from between the sun-dried sheets.

  “Does this mean you’re withdrawing the offer for us to use your private office?” Kaitlin asked. Zak almost uttered the words “what the fuck” out loud.

  “No,” Demarco said with an oily grin. “Please. Go right ahead.”

  Kaitlin made a small noise of protest when Zak promptly squeezed her hard enough to make his unhappy point regarding her scandalous request. Did she not understand what would happen in the back room?

  “It’s not necessary,” Zak said in a low tone.

  Demarco surveyed Kaitlin, then his prurient grin widened. “I believe it is. True love is at stake, my friend. Don’t worry. Go take care of your woman. I’ll wait until you’re finished…satisfying whatever she wishes from you. I was the one responsible for callously calling you away from her unexpectedly. Please,” he said, grinning like a demon, “ta
ke your time. I insist.”

  The most ruthless man in a hundred-mile radius walked toward the pool table they’d been about to use when Kaitlin had entered the bar. Zak didn’t know if he was more alarmed by a suddenly tolerant Demarco willing to wait for him to satisfy his woman, or by the thought of how he’d accomplish whatever his “woman” wished from him without ending up starring in a lurid video sure to haunt him until his dying breath.

  Strictly speaking, fucking a possible witness to a crime or, worse, an innocent bystander wasn’t typically part of the code for allowable scenarios in The Organization’s handbook.

  However, if Demarco wanted him to have sex, he likely did have surveillance in the back office. The next question was whether it was video only or if anything they uttered in the heat of passionate advances would also be recorded.

  Zak only had a few steps to explain far too much to his new woman.

  He took a step toward the office door. “Are you out of your mind?” he asked softly, leaning close to her ear. Her delicious scent teased his senses. Not helpful. Not even close.

  She gifted him with the most seductive, desire-filled expression he’d ever been impacted by in his life. “No. I just wanted…” she trailed off, staring into his eyes as if willing him to read her mind.

  “You just wanted what?” I yearn to do wild, wicked things to you, but not here, not in front of a possible audience, not in this bar’s sleazy back room, not on video that might not only ruin my career if it’s discovered, but your innocent privacy.

  “You,” she whispered. “I wanted…you…needed you…in my bed…tonight.”

  Chapter Five

  Kaitlin couldn’t believe she’d gotten the words out that she wanted to say. She stared at him with all the hopeful intensity she could muster. He’d saved her. Walked right up, pretended to be her lover and saved her from the scary patrons in this darkly frightening environment. In her mind, heading for the back room to have sex was perfect. They’d both get what they wanted.