“If you don’t have any questions, it’s time for your group to move on to the next station.” The guide spoke slowly and looked at me like she wasn’t sure I understood English.
“Thank you. Okay, everyone, let’s head back inside.” I counted heads to make sure we hadn’t lost anyone and ended up one short. “Where’s Donovan? Did anyone see where he went?”
“He wanted to see the dam from the top again,” one kid shouted out.
I glanced up at the top of the beaver dam. The display had been dug into the side of a pond so visitors could view the portion of the beaver dam that went underwater. We’d had to go down several steps, and I quickly retraced them to see if Donovan was up above.
He was there alright, standing at the edge of the manmade pond, peering down into the water. My heart pounded as I caught sight of two men walking down the path toward us. They both had on thick jackets with the same skull logo that Ashley’s boyfriend had on his cut.
I grabbed Donovan’s hand and pulled him toward me. “You know you’re supposed to stay with the group.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Cooper. I wanted to see the beavers up close.”
The two men stopped their approach. One of them smiled—an unnerving grin that slowly spread across his face—then he pointed his two fingers at his own eyes before twisting his hand and pointing them at me. It was a universal sign that he was watching me. Panic squeezed the walls of my chest together as I pulled Donovan back down the steps to where the other kids waited.
Priest wasn’t being ridiculous. He’d been right to be worried.
CHAPTER7
PRIEST
Something had changed,though I couldn’t put my finger on what, and Rae wasn’t about to tell me. She’d been quiet since we got back from the field trip, and it was throwing me. All reports from my MC brothers had been clear. With her roommate saying those two dickwads were out of town for the weekend, there wasn’t any reason for me to insist on her staying at my place. No reason except my gut kept telling me I needed to keep her close.
I knocked at the bedroom door where she’d been holed up inside since after dinner. “Hey, can I come in for a minute?”
She pulled it open and stood in front of me in practically nothing. Thin spaghetti straps held the scrap of white lace over her chest. It was sheer enough to see the outline of her nipples underneath.
My mouth went dry, and I tried to tear my gaze away. “Jesus, Rae. Put some clothes on.”
“You’re the one who knocked on the door.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach, but that only pushed her breasts higher. Mounds of creamy skin begged for my touch. I wanted to drag my tongue down the cleft between her breasts and get my first taste of her sweet skin.
Forcing myself to focus on my feet, I leaned against the doorframe and willed my heart back into a normal rhythm. “I have to go into the studio tomorrow, and I want you to go with me.”
My assistant manager had kept an eye on the tattoo studio I owned while I’d been shadowing Rae all week, but I had a regular client coming in tomorrow that I needed to ink. I waited for Rae to put up some resistance.
She cleared her throat. “I’ll come with you under one condition.”
“What’s that?” I lifted my chin and met her gaze. A hint of defiance sparked in the depths of her whiskey-colored eyes.
“I want a tattoo.”
“You sure about that, Sunshine? Ink is a lifelong commitment.” Yeah, there were some who opted to have old tats lasered off, but I always made sure my clients knew going into it that I viewed my art as a permanent addition.
“I’m sure.” The set of her jaw, so strong and convincing, reminded me again of the stubborn streak she’d inherited from her father.
“Yeah, okay then. I’ll have Van Gogh or one of the other guys make some time for you tomorrow.” Grateful she’d agreed without much of a fight, I turned to go.
“I want you.”
Her words stopped me in my tracks. How many years had I dreamed about hearing her say that to me? My chest swelled with hope. Then I squeezed my eyes shut and reminded myself she was talking about a damn tattoo. Turning, I shook my head and forced my gaze to her face.
“I’m booked.”
She took a step toward me as she uncrossed her arms. This close, I could see her beaded nipples straining against her top. The urge to shred the thin fabric and feel her skin on mine had me reaching for her. I stopped myself just in time. Images of the two of us tangled together in the sheets raced through me. Dammit. I was headed straight to hell for the thoughts I was having about my best friend’s daughter.
“I said I want you.” Her finger poked into my chest. “If I don’t get to have you, then I’m not coming to the studio tomorrow.”
She was only talking about a tattoo, but my cock didn’t give a fuck. It strained against my crotch. I needed to adjust myself but didn’t want to move.
