“You and Grinder. I see the way you two look at each other. And I know he has a reputation, but they’re all good boys, really.” The sun shines out of the SOK asses for Maribel, and I don’t blame her. Despite the bullshit that surrounds them and the illegal shit I choose to ignore, she’s right. The Sons of Khaos all have hearts of gold wrapped in barbed wire and electric fencing.
My own heart…? It skips a beat at the idea of Grinder waiting outside for me, but he left with Parker ages ago so it won’t be him. Color me intrigued, though. I have no clue where Maribel is going with this.
“He’s one kidnapping away from naming Parker his old lady.” I huff a laugh. “But a man can dream, right? Come on, who’s outside?”
“I just told you…Grinder. He’s been there for about an hour, but I didn’t want to rush you with Kirsty.” If anyone comes above the SOK guys for Maribel, it’s the women she protects in this house.
I can’t help the way my heart leaps into my throat and I don’t know why. This thing with me and Grinder feels like it’s ramped up eleven notches since Parker showed up. The fleeting glances, the occasional flirts that lead nowhere, it’s been enough…until now. Because I know I can’t have him anymore. The option of Grinder for me is being removed from the table. I don’t think he’s even looked at one of the Khunts since she arrived.
“It’s three in the morning and he’s been standing outside for an hour?” I’m debating leaving him there for a little longer, but my body isn’t on board with that plan because I’m already on my feet.
“He has. Here,” she holds out her hand for the cup I’m still gripping onto. “I’ll clear this away. Jonesy and Kincaid are asleep in the spare room, so I’ll lock up behind you. Oh, hang on.” She shoves a hand into her back pocket and pulls out a key. “Can you give this to Parker?”
“Sure. Thanks, Maribel.”
She busies herself grabbing Kirsty’s empty cup and heading toward the kitchen while I absentmindedly walk toward the front door, grabbing my car keys from the hook on my way past.
“They say good things come for those who wait.” And there he is. The object of my fantasies, the man, the myth, the Grinder of my heart. Leaning against his motorcycle in his full-on leathers, his arm hooked through his helmet, and his trademark mischievous grin, he is the epitome of bad boy biker.
“The phrase is good things cometothose who wait.” I stand a few feet away from him on the curb and fold my arms across my chest. “Where’s Parker?”
“At the clubhouse having a secret meeting with her brother and the prez. You don’t wanna know why I’m here?” His unmoving smirk, somehow, becomes almost feral as his eyes trail the length of my body.
Of course I want to know why he’s here, but instead of admitting that, I shrug.
“You always do what you wanna do, Grinder.” It’s as close to nonchalant as I’m getting because a brief flash of how I felt earlier comes back to me.
“Not always.” His eyes lower to my crotch then back up to my face.
“You know why we won’t happen.” Again, my mind and my mouth are at peace with each other, but my body? Well, my dick is definitely having a reaction.
“And you know it’s just a matter of time. I was thinking tonight? We’re both awake, maybe we catch the sunrise together by the beach?”
Controlling my laughter is impossible. “Did that really just come out of your mouth? You want to watch the sunrise together?”
“Love it when you laugh.” Closing the short distance between us with a few strides, Grinder grips my chin and brings his face inches from mine. “I saidcatch, and nothing’s coming out of my mouth, but you can comeinit.” He licks the tip of my nose, slowly, curling his tongue back into his mouth as we make eye contact.
His body is pressed up against my folded arms, which by some miracle are the only things keeping our dicks from sliding together.
“I should go. It’s late and I need to sleep.” My attempt to turn around, free myself from his grip, doesn’t go as planned.
He grips my now-uncrossed arm and pulls me back into him, no more barriers between us, and even in the middle of this beautifully cool night, his heat envelopes me with his embrace.
“There are a lot of things youshoulddo, Doc, but going anywhere other than with me is a bad idea.” He faux-frowns and shakes his head.
“You’re a bad idea.” But I’m beginning to lose the fight against my mind because he is intoxicating and I’m struggling to remember why I keep fighting this.
“Yes, I am.” He leans his face in so close to mine that I think he’s going to kiss me, and I’m not even pulling away…I’m ready. But he snaps his teeth together over my mouth instead, before stepping back with his addictive grin.
Maybe it’s the night sky, the fact that we’re so alone, or because it’s been over a year since I’ve slept with anyone, but when Grinder shoves a helmet over my head, I don’t protest…too much.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking my man for a ride.” He grins and grabs the helmet I hadn’t noticed before, but now that I have, I realize my mistake in thinking he was holding his own. How could I have missed the demon head design missing from the helmet now on my head? “I even brought Tallulah out, especially for this, because Daisy just isn’t up for more than one rider.” He pats the seat and slides his own helmet on and, surprisingly, I can hear him perfectly. “Got mics fitted so I can whisper dirty nothings in your ear.”
“One, I’m not your man. You have too many of those to count.” Reality may be creeping in because I’m on the verge of doubting all of my decisions up to this point and potentially beyond. “Two, isn’t the bitch position reserved for your old ladies?” Yeah, Mac has helped me a lot with the lingo around these guys, as wellas the hardcore rules, and having someone on the back of their bikes is a big deal. Definitely isn’t something done lightly.
Why am I entertaining this idea of going off with him? I’ve been so adamant in my denial but also…he came here just for me. I can’t explain why that’s the thing that has me making this decision to not flee.
