Viper ran his thumb over my bottom lip, apparently not in a huge hurry. “Marlowe, this big lug is Atlas. He’s the president of the club.”
“Nice to meet you.” My voice sounded like someone else’s—too high and way too high-strung to be mine.
Atlas nodded. “Nice to meet you too. I just need to borrow your man for a few minutes. You can come too, if you want.”
My man. Oh my. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
Viper twined our fingers together and tugged me out to the main room, where several guys in black leather jackets sat around one of the tables we’d already set up and decorated for the next day.
“Guys, this is Marlowe.” Viper didn’t let go of my hand as the men nodded or offered a smile.
“Tell him what you told me,” Atlas said to one of the men sitting at the head of the table.
“Hey, I’m Thunder.” He nodded toward me, then continued. “We had a report that someone saw a few guys hanging around the Community Center early this morning. Viper, you’ve been on watch during the day over here. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?”
“No. Can you confirm they were members of Savage Bones?” Viper’s grip on my hand tightened a bit. I’d heard people talk about another club that had been active in the area, but I thought they’d all been driven away.
“They didn’t get a good enough look, but we all need to be on high alert. Scar and I can pull an overnight here. The rest of you, enjoy your evening and we’ll see everyone tomorrow.” Thunder got up and everyone followed.
I turned to Viper. “Should we be worried?”
“The only thing you need to be worried about is having a good time on your birthday.” He tugged me toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
CHAPTER 5
VIPER
Her grandma’scabin was just as I remembered. I’d cruised by several times over the years, but I hadn’t been inside since our high school graduation. I followed Marlowe as she pulled around the circle drive and stopped by the front door.
The same two rocking chairs sat on the front porch, and a fall wreath hung from the door. No telling how many hours we’d spent rocking back and forth in those chairs and talking about the future. In all that time, I bet neither one of us ever considered the possibility we’d be celebrating her thirtieth birthday here.
“Come in.” Marlowe pushed the front door open and led the way inside.
“Don’t you lock the door?” My chest tightened at the thought of her being all alone out here without a fucking deadbolt.
She let out a laugh. “No one around here locks their doors.”
“They do now.” I didn’t want to scare her, but she needed to know what we’d been up against over the past year. Even though we’d crushed most of the Savage Bones, there were still enough of them around to cause trouble if they wanted to. And based on the shit they’d put us through, they weren’t going to stop until we’d put an end to every single one of them.
“The flip lock on the door isn’t going to stop someone who wants to get in here. Besides, I don’t have anything to steal.” She turned around in the front room, gesturing to the same furniture her grandmother had in here the last time I’d been inside.
I shook my head, willing her to understand. “Shit can be replaced. I’m talking about keeping you safe, Lo Lo.”
“What could possibly happen to me?” She moved into the kitchen and started pulling spices out of the cabinet. “There’s nothing here to take, and no one in their right mind would want anything to do with me.”
Hearing her talk about herself like that broke something inside me. My jaw clenched, and I walked toward her. “I don’t know what happened with that prick in Chicago, but a lot of men would want you.”
Her eyes turned shiny. Fuck, I’d lose it if she started to cry. “Like who? You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
I couldn’t stand letting her think that I was only telling her what she wanted to hear. In a few long strides, I covered the distance between us and backed her up against the counter. My fingers skimmed her cheek before I slid my hand behind her head and cradled the back of her skull in my hand.
“Iwant you.” Staring deep into her eyes, I waited for a sign that I was about to cross a line. We hadn’t even talked about that kiss from before, but I was ready to pull myself up and out of the friend zone.
She brushed her palms up my chest and rose up on her tiptoes. “Prove it.”
My mouth captured hers so quickly that I swallowed the gasp coming from her lips. Heat swept through my veins until my entire body was engulfed in flames. Marlowe opened her mouth for me, and I took full advantage. As my tongue slid along hers, I knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be. This moment was destined to happen.
I shifted my hands under her ass and lifted her up. Her butt rested on the counter, allowing her to spread her legs. My hips nudged them further apart as my cock pressed against her core. Fuck, I was hungry for her… like a starving man who’d never be able to get his fill.
