Page 15 of Smoke

“I’m not insinuating anything, but look at you,” I let my eyes roam from her blonde hair that’s looking a little less in order, to the tip of her heeled shoes, taking inevery curve on the way down. “You’re pretty easy on the eye and you’re no shrinking violet.” I stumble over my words, realizing what I’d just said. Violet. I push the painful thought down and get back to what I was saying. “I’m sure you know exactly what is needed for you to get Paddy Dunne to talk.”

“I’m not going to whore myself out for you, your club or anyone for that matter.” Her eyes flare with disgust.

“Honey,” I point at her with my index finger “What you do and how far you take it to get the job done is entirely up to you. If you want to jump in bed with the guy, then go for it, but don’t use me as an excuse to fuck him.”

“Did anyone ever tell you what a fucking douche bag you are, Smoke?”

“Many times, darling,” I snort and light up another tab. “But you know what, sticks and stones baby, sticks and stones. Now what’s it going to be?”

“You’ve not given me much option, have you?” Tenley rubs the palms of her hands down the front of her dress. A clear giveaway that she’s more on edge than she’d like to portray.

“Think of it this way,” I let out a ring of white smoke from between my lips and let my eyes follow it upwards until it breaks down into nothingness. “This could work out well not just for both of us, but the state of Nevada too. You’ll get the story that you need to elevate you in your career. I get the information that I need to remove a gang of scumbags from our city. We all come out winning.”

“But we could also come out dead.”

“Where’s Tenley?”Stone asks after checking the office and seeing that I’m the only one in here.

“She left about a half hour ago.” I shuffle the handful of papers sat on the desk in front of me that I need to read through and sign. They’re all legal shit that relates to Velvet Reds and the other ranch we have, Honey Birds. The licenses are up for renewal, and as they’re a good source of steady income for both us and the Florida chapter, we need to make sure that we give them no reason not to grant us the right to continue trading.

“So, if she walked out of here, I’m guessing that she’s agreed to the deal.” Stone drops into the seat facing me. “I have to give credit to you, I never thought that the brothers would go for it, but you managed to convince them.”

“What can I say, it’s a skill I have.” I chuckle. “They trust their president. That’s the bottom line of it.”

“But can we trust her?” Stone rubs his hand over the top of his head. “She could easily double cross us and it could all blow up in our faces.”

“No, she won’t.” I get to my feet and place my hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat. “Not when it could affect her sister.”

“Stepsister,” Stone corrects me.

“Potato. Patata.” I respond. Never did understand this stepsister/half-sister malarkey. “You’re either related or not. Half-blood, full blood, don’t give a shit. Oriana and Tenley are sisters. Period.”

“I take your point, but you’re forgetting one thing.”Stone’s brows raise as he adds. “They fucking hate each other. You saw how Oriana went for her. If I hadn’t held her back, she’d have clawed her pretty blue eyes out of her head and made them into earrings.”

“Don’t be dumb, Stone. Sure, they have issues that they need to iron out, but you’d be a blind man not to notice the flicker of joy in both of their faces when they caught sight of each other. Tenley more so. When I was talking to her earlier, every time I mentioned her sister, you could see guilt, regret and love in her eyes. She’s not going to do anything that could endanger Oriana in any way.”

“Even if she did, Oriana is mine, and nothing will stop me from protecting her. Not even the club.”

“Calm down, tiger. You know I would never condone that. Hurting her would be hurting you and that, my brother, is never going to happen.”

Chapter

Eleven

Stone

As soon as the vote was done and Church was over, I made my way back up to the cabin, leaving Smoke to deal with Tenley and discuss his crazy plans.

I’d not had much chance to judge just how affected Oriana was earlier from the unexpected arrival of her stepsister, Tenley, at the clubhouse. I knew she was pissed. The way she went for her said it all.

After I’d carried her back to the cabin earlier over my shoulder and given her an orgasm at the front door, as soon as we’d stepped inside, Sasha had consumed us. She had wanted all the attention and insisted on reenacting a scene from Beauty and the Beast with Cub, the youngest club member and regular sitter, playing the part of the Beast to her Belle, of course. It was a bit cringy, yet fortunately nothing bordering oninappropriate. That girl. She’s not far off four but has the sass of a fourteen-year-old.

Before I knew it, my phone was buzzing with a message informing me that Church had been called, and I was grabbing Cub as we were both needed back at the clubhouse, giving me very little alone time with Oriana.

So now, when I step back into the cabin and find that Sasha is sparked out on the couch, taking a nap after all the drama of being a Disney princess, I corner Oriana in the kitchen. With a chopping board in front of her, I find her slicing and dicing various vegetables, which I can only assume is in preparation for this evening’s dinner. I move up behind her and breathe her in. She smells like fresh linen, delicious vanilla and honey, and I instantly want to take a bite out of her. Her hair, that is pulled up high into a ponytail, is still wet from where she must have grabbed a quick shower while I’ve been gone. Her go-to when she’s stressed or worked up about something and needs to let the power shower wash away her heightening temper.

She’s wearing a pretty pale pink strapless sundress. One of those with the lines of stretchy stitching across the chest that makes the fabric cling to her tits, accentuating the exceptional roundness of them. The fabric then loose and flowing to mid-thigh, giving me a view of her bare, shapely legs.

Oriana is not usually into dresses but the heat here in Nevada at this time is punishing during the day and with the air-con currently busted, she’s taken to forgoing the yoga pants, jeans and t-shirts for more feminine attire.

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