Page 46 of The Fire We Crave

When the two of them disappear into the rear of the clubhouse, I realize it leaves me standing alone in the lot.

Loud music plays as I continue to try and convince myself that I’m not really searching for Smoke. It’s been a while since I saw so many bikers, outside of the ride outs they do that drive straight up Main Street past the bakery.

I touch my hand to my cheek where Butcher touched it. While I’d never do anything with Butcher because he’s one of my closest friend’s dads, and I’d be too scared it would jeopardize our friendship, the touch lingered.

Show me a human being who doesn’t yearn for genuine connection, and I’ll show you a fraud. It’s been too long since I had sex. Even longer since I fell in love with someone. In an alternate universe, I’m sure there’s someone falling in love with me at this very moment.

He tells me he loves me, calls me his good girl, and he fucks like…well, one of Cherise Sinclair’sMasters of the Shadowlands.

In the here and now, that never seems to happen to me. Maybe I should just go home and start a reread instead of putting myself out here.

Except home, for tonight, is still Smoke’s house. And being back in that bed will remind me of how it felt to wake up next to him this morning. It’s all I’ve thought about all day. How strong he felt. How warm his body was. How I shivered when his hands touched me.

“Quinn, hey.” William “Taco” Bell waves as he walks towards me. “Didn’t know you were coming with Ember. It’s good to see you.”

He’s a regular at the bakery on a Sunday. Always comes in for the same order: two apple fritters, a loaf of sourdough, and an extra-large coffee with three shots of caffeine.

“Seems like quite the party. How long has it been going on for?” I ask.

He hiccups and then, rather charmingly, uses his fingers to count. “Seven hours. You want some ribs? I swear they’re the best you’ve ever tasted. Not sure what Catfish puts on them to make them taste so sweet.”

“I’m good right now, thanks. But maybe I’ll take you up on the offer later.”

He smiles and lets his eyes drop to the sweetheart neckline of my sundress. “Yeah?”

Just at that moment, I catch sight of Smoke, over by the wall, in deep conversation with a club girl. She’s wearing tiny denim shorts and a top that looks more like a bra.

It bolsters my resolve, and I look back to Taco. “Yeah.”

“Can I get you a drink?” he asks.

I try to focus on Taco’s nice smile. Straight white teeth. And…

She has her hand on Smoke’s bicep. My gaze has drifted away from Taco and I’m back on Smoke. He’s drunk. Sloppy.

And despite everything, I’m worried.

Taco turns his head and looks where I’m looking. “You know, my money is on Isla becoming his old lady, because she’s into exhibitionism as much as he is.” Then, he glances back to me. “Wait. You’re staying at his house right now, right? Are the two of you…?”

He’s into exhibitionism? My clit throbs at the very thought of watching the muscles in his bicep flex as he jerks off in the shower. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have sex with him…publicly.

I shake my head. “No, there isn’t a two of us.”

We kissed. That’s all it was.

An angry kiss in the garden.

And he crawled into bed with me because he was drunk and confused.

And then, he asked me to leave.

I recall Smoke’s words from earlier, that both were mistakes.

Taco reaches out and touches the ends of my hair. “Well, that’s good to know. You know, it’s not safe for an unattached woman to walk around a biker party. Unless you’re wearing a property patch, you’re fair game.”

“Is that so?”

He nods.

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