Page 17 of Tempted
I wedge myself between his legs, lean againsthim, and drape his arm over my shoulder. He curls it around me,pulling me closer as I settle in and survey the room. These men arenot at all what I thought they were. Crow, Motor, and Tek are offin a corner sharing a joint. Crow is so-named because he’s good at“clean-up”. You want to get rid of a body, he’s your man. He’s abig dude, with a buzz cut and a jagged scar running down his cheek.Motor, apparently, is an automotive wiz. He’s a little on theskinny side and has shaggy, blond hair. Tek looks more Goth thanbiker, complete with the black lipstick and eyeliner. He’s theclub’s secretary and way better version of the Geek Squad. I’vebeen told he can hack his way into anything.
Booker (that’s actually his real name), theprospect, is huge…and I’m not talking about muscles. He’s like athree hundred pound, grown-up version of Ham fromTheSandlot—red hair, freckles and all. He and Ron don’t seem tohave road names, but I’m sure that’s coming soon. Razor, I haven’tspoken to yet but he scares me a little. He pulls a disposablerazor from his pocket and starts shaving. I guess that explains hisname. Then there’s Rico, the road captain. He’s from Honduras andthinks he’s some kind ofRicoSuave. I remember himhitting on me at the barbecue. He said I called him an asshole, buthe had called me a bitch so we both decided we were even. He’sshort and stocky with greasy, slicked-back hair.
Allah, he’s like the resident DJ orsomething. He won’t let anyone near his equipment. He’s reallyquiet, always bopping his head to music no one else can hear. Now,his nickname is just a bit scandalous, if I’m to believe Rico’sversion. It started out pretty harmless. He would go around rappingFabolous’ “Young’n” so much, they started calling him Holla Back.When that became too tedious, it was shortened to Holla. It allchanged when a new Hound, who didn’t quite get it, kept screamingout “Allah!” while they were fucking. Needless to say, it stuck.He’s proud of it, too, smirking all the time Rico was telling thestory. He’s a bit of milk chocolate with a close cut, wavy hair,teardrop tattoos, and platinum grills. I smile at him, playing awayin the DJ booth.
He winks and points to me. “This one’s foryou, li’l shawty.”
Rihanna’s “Hard” comes on and I throw my headback, laughing. I pop my collar for him and he scratches the recordthen plays it again. Yeah. I think he and I are going to be greatfriends.
Venom. He has a thing for snakes. He told mehe has a dozen of them at his house.A dozen. Just thinkingabout it sends shivers up my spine. His house is one place I’llnever be visiting. He’s hot, though – shoulder-length black hairand muscles you get from lifting weights every day. He’s the club’streasurer. Chopper, I absolutely adore. Physically, he’s like allthe pictures I’ve seen of my dad’s father, only not Mexican. He’sdoted on me all day, cooking for me and making sure I wascomfortable. I don’t care what Gage says; Chopperissweet.A few of the guys’ old ladies stopped by for a while and they werereally cool, too. Everyone seems so different from what I thought.The old adage has never been truer – don’t judge a book by itscover.
I don’t know if it’s the man behind me or ifI’m getting a contact high from all the weed smoke, but I’m feelingextremely relaxed. Better than I’ve felt in a long time, given thecircumstances. With Chrissy being here and texting Toni all day, mymood improved as the day went by. Now, all Toni wants to talk aboutis Gage and when I’m going to fuck him.Like I haven’t beentrying. I take a selfie with his arm around me and send it toher. She replies instantly.
T: Bitch! You gonna show me his face ornah?
R: Nope. Not yet.
T: Whatever. You need fi send on di pussy andstop hitch.
Toni’s parents are Jamaican. I know thingsare getting serious when she starts speaking Patois. At first, whenshe used to slip into the dialect, I couldn’t understand a word,but I pretty much have it down now. She thinks I’m the onestalling. Short of tying him up and taking what I want, I don’tknow what else to do.
R: I’ve tried! He won’t do it until I turn18.
T: You found the last man on Earth withmorals? Sounds like a keeper.
R: We’ll see.
She sends me a song but I can’t listen to itnow, so I leave it for later. I lay my head on Gage’s shoulder andhe kisses my neck softly. The light touch of his lips on my skinmakes me quiver. I close my eyes and let out a barely audiblemoan.
“You’re stayin’ with me tonight.”
I snap out of my lusty haze and turn my head,regarding him carefully. “What?”
“You heard me.”
Yes, I heard you. I just can’t believewhatI heard. “I have to go home…and I have worktomorrow.”
“Millie won’t mind.”
“I can’t leave her shorthanded on a Sunday.Not with the church crowd.”
“Fine. I can take you to work in themorning.”
I turn around to face him and drape my armsaround his neck. “You really want me to stay, don’t you?”
“I want you in my bed.”
“Aww…Mr. I-Don’t-Sleep-With-Anyone wants tocuddle?”
He scrunches his brows together as if theramifications of me staying just occurred to him. He stares at me,and I can see the wheels turning in his head. Once he’s come to aconclusion, his face relaxes.
“I liked waking up with you next to me.”
Oh, damn.Fuck the world. If that’swhat he wants, that’s what he’ll get. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
***Gage***
I’llstay.
