Emily sipped her beer and smiled politely as Jester bantered back and forth with the other two men. Nobody seemed to mind that she didn’t join the conversation, and for that she was grateful. In the span of twenty-four hours, her entire world had tilted on its axis and she could barely process it, let alone be expected to keep up a witty conversation.
While her brain appeared to have shut down, her body was fully alert and zinging with sensations Emily hadn’t felt in a very long time. Awareness of the huge, sexually potent man sitting just a breath away from her danced across her nerve endings, and every few seconds when his body brushed hers in some way, she gritted her teeth to keep from shivering in delight. A muscled thigh would press against her leg or his intricately tattooed arm would graze the side of her breast, causing her nipples to tighten and ache.
Emily’s panties had dampened the moment Jester’s teeth made contact with her thumb, and she now sat with wet panties and hardened nipples at a table full of strangers. What was happening to her? The stress of the situation must be wearing on her, causing her body to go haywire.
It wasn’t long before Jester’s friends left. Hook and Marcie made their way to the bar, while Striker and Lila headed upstairs. Apparently, since he was the VP, he had a room here at the clubhouse.
Alone at the table with Jester, Emily turned toward him only to find his gaze locked on her chest. She resisted the urge to look down and check if her nipples were showing through the thin halter she wore. If the hungry look on his face was any indication, they were.
Jester’s lustful stare only served to intensify the ache, and made her wish she were at home alone so she could solve the problem herself. That was the only way this particular predicament had been taken care of for quite some time.
He moved his focus to her face, a smirk on his enticing mouth, but he didn’t comment on her obvious state of arousal.
Time to take her mind off her awakening libido and get it back on her mission. “So, you’re the guest of honor.”
He nodded, pride evident on his face. “I was voted in as Sergeant at Arms today. Guys decided it warranted a celebration.”
“What’s a Sergeant at Arms?”
“Means I’m in charge of security and order in the club, discipline and maintenance of our rules and bylaws.” He reached across the table and plucked the empty beer bottle out of her hand, sliding it aside so he could play with her fingers.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Jesus, the man’s hands were masculine; big and strong with just the right amount of roughness as they rubbed over her softer skin. They would feel unbelievable running over her belly, her breasts, and dipping into her—
Shit!
Where were these thoughts coming from? Jester was the one hundred percent polar opposite of every man she’d ever dated, not that there had been a long list. She’d never even been attracted to a man like him before. For crying out loud, he was dangerous and most likely a criminal. She needed to get her head on straight and think about her brother instead of her long neglected urges.
“You ever been on a bike, gorgeous?”
“A motorcycle?” She tried to ignore the flare of delight when he called her gorgeous.
He nodded, dark eyes dancing with mischief. “I’m not much for a ten-speed.”
Emily snorted at the image of this hulk of a man pedaling a ten-speed bicycle. “No. I’ve never been on a motorcycle.”
“Want to? You free tomorrow? We can go midmorning, before it gets too hot.”
Refusal was on the tip of Emily’s tongue. She needed to distance herself from this entire situation, but then she remembered Johnny’s battered face and Snake’s threats. This could be her in. A chance to get in close to someone in the club, and get enough information to prevent Snake from murdering her brother. “Okay, that sounds like fun.”
“It’s more than fun, darlin’. There’s nothing like soaring through the wide-open desert on a bike. Closest to heaven I’ve ever been, well, at least with my clothes on.”
Emily gasped, and shook her head at his outrageous comment. He was funny, handsome, and charismatic, not at all what she’d expected to encounter here. She assumed she’d meet clones of Snake, just in a different club. She thought she’d be afraid for her personal safety the entire time. While she was uncomfortable in the unfamiliar situation, and afraid for her brother, she didn’t feel that Jester or the men he introduced her to were of any threat to her. At least not while they were ignorant to her true purpose for being there.
“You free all day? Don’t have to work or anything?”
“Nope, I’m a first grade teacher. I’m free for two months. Oh, and well, I’m new in town, so I haven’t started working in this area yet.”
Damn. She sucked at espionage. Might as well wear a flashing bullshit sign.
Jester threw back his head and let out a great bellowing laugh. “First grade teacher. Fuck, I should have been able to guess that one.”
With a frown Emily stared down at the table. Was he making fun of her?
“Hey.”
She felt a tug on the back of her head as Jester gently pulled at her hair, tilting her face to look up at him.
“No offense intended, gorgeous. You just ooze sweetness, like I imagine a first grade teacher would have to.”
Emily smiled, charmed by this gigantic tattooed biker who looked like he could kill half the men in this room without breaking a sweat. Time to get out of here. Mission accomplished for the night. Time to quit while she was still ahead.
Jester must have read her thoughts because he stood, and tugged her up toward him. He slung a heavy arm across her shoulders and started for the door. “This party is only going to get crazier as the night goes on. Judging by how uncomfortable you still look, you may want to call it a night, hon.”
He was right, and his thoughtfulness touched something in her she refused to dwell on.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“Thanks.”
Bodies were everywhere, so walking side-by-side was impossible. The loss of his heated skin against hers made her feel vulnerable, unprotected.
Emily followed behind him, awed by how the crowd parted as he made his way toward the exit. It was more than apparent that he was well respected among the other men in the room. When they were halfway there, a man fell in step with her, and slipped an arm around her waist. He pulled her flush against his side, none too gently, and halted her forward progression.
He wasn’t overly tall for a man, she guessed about five-foot-eight, with short, spongy curls on the top of his head. He wore a leather vest similar to Jester’s. Must be a member of the MC.
“You ain’t leaving so soon are you, pretty girl? Party’s just getting good.” The words were slightly slurred, betraying the man’s intoxication.
Emily stiffened, unnerved by the stranger’s hands on her. Between the music and the loud chatter, it was nearly impossible to hear anything over the noise, but somehow Jester must have sensed she’d stopped moving behind him.
He turned, and a thunderous expression crossed his face. “Hey, dickhead, hands off her.”
The drunk man had to tip his head back to see Jester’s face where he now hovered over them, hands on his hips and jaw clenched. The man’s arm was still latched around Emily’s waist, and she stood frozen, unsure if she should try to remove herself from the escalating situation.
“I ain’t a prospect no more, Jester. You can’t just order me away from a woman.” He had an arrogant grin on his face, and he rubbed his hand over Emily’s hip as though taunting Jester.
“You’ve had that patch for five minutes, Colt. I can order you the fuck away from her and I am.”
Emily swallowed around the lump in her throat as Jester reached around her and grabbed the man he called Colt’s wrist. Colt’s face paled and his pupils dilated with pain. To look at Jester, she wouldn’t think anything was amiss. It simply looked like he was removing the man’s hand from her waist, but obviously he was punishing the guy somehow.
Jester released Colt’s wrist, and Colt held up his other hand in surrender, his face chalky. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal, man. My bad.” He took a step back from Emily.
“Get the fuck out of here.”
Emily relaxed the second Colt’s hands were off her body. She stared at Jester with gratitude and a bit of wonder. “You are clearly not someone to piss off.”
Jester’s eyes darkened, the joking light from moments ago nowhere to be found. “You have no idea, darlin’. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Unease filled her as she took in his serious expression. She couldn’t imagine what would happen to her if he ever found out the truth behind their meeting.
The pair continued outside, and Emily pointed to her little car within sight across the parking lot. “That’s me, I’m good. You can go back and enjoy your party.”
He studied her for a second, and she felt her face heating under his intense scrutiny.
“What’s your address?”
Emily panicked for a breath before she recalled the address Trixie had provided. “Oh right, that would be helpful.” She rattled it off. Hopefully she hadn’t messed it up.
“I know exactly where that is. I’ll see you at ten, gorgeous.”
With a nod, she scurried away, suddenly very anxious to leave. She fumbled with the key fob and dropped it to the ground outside her car door. With a frustrated groan she retrieved the keys and collapsed in the seat emitting a heavy sigh when she finally won the battle with the door.
Well, she’d survived day one, and made it further than she’d expected, so she should have been elated. Instead, she just felt dirty, guilty, scared, and unfortunately still aroused. She didn’t have a clue how Johnny was doing, and to make matters worse, she couldn’t even go home to her own bed and cry herself to sleep.
~ ~ ~ ~
Jester drew out a cigarette and lit it, watching as Emily muddled her way into her car. He smiled to himself, imagining her releasing a huge breath of relief once she was safely ensconced in her sedate vehicle, and away from the madness. After she maneuvered out of the parking lot, he turned, tossed the cigarette butt to the asphalt, and made his way back inside.
He wasn’t sure why he’d offered to take Emily out on his bike tomorrow. On first impression, she certainly didn’t fit in with the club. Yes, she was gorgeous, but it didn’t take more than a fleeting glance to realize she’d be better served at a book club than a biker party. But he’d been intrigued by her unsullied vibe, so in contrast to the women he typically associated with, and he had a feeling he’d be surprised by what he’d find if he could get her to relax and let down her guard.
The moment Jester entered the clubhouse, the tall, stacked blonde who’d been giving him a lap dance when he first noticed Emily, sidled up to him and plastered herself against his chest.
“You done with whatever it is you had to take care of, baby?” she purred, the sound one that promised he could have a satisfying night. Her hands slid up his chest and circled around his neck. When her fingers started to release the band that secured his hair, he stepped back and away from her touch.
“I am.”
She frowned at him, her eyebrows drawn down in displeasure, clearly unaccustomed to hearing a dismissive tone from a man. Amber may not have appreciated his reaction, but she wasn’t deterred. With a renewed smile, she stepped into him, and placed her hands on his chest once again, this time heading south. “You seem tense, big boy. Want me to take care of that for you?”
Jester gripped both of her wrists, and with a firm motion, plucked them off his body. “Sorry, not tonight.”
“You’re kidding, right?” The pout was back.
“No, Amber, I’m not kidding. Go find another dick to play with.”
Anger transformed her heavily made up face from sexy to contemptuous. “I saw you talking to that little mouse. What the fuck is wrong with you? Can’t handle a real woman anymore? Maybe you’re going soft?” Acid dripped from her voice.
Jester laughed out loud at her comment as he recalled how he could have pounded nails with his cock just a short while ago while listening to Emily laugh at his tacky pickup line.
“No, honey,” he said. “I’m just sick of playing with fake tits and looking at faces slathered in gallons of war paint. Not much real woman about you.” It was true, there wasn’t much authentic about this woman, up to and including her name. Whereas Emily’s hair was real, her nails were real, her makeup was minimal, and, though very large, he’d bet his bike her tits were real.
The zinger had the desired effect. Amber turned with a huff, and stomped toward the bathroom, her undeniably delectable ass twitching with annoyance.
Jester approached the bar, and nodded to Kenny when a double of Jack was placed in front of him without him having to ask. Kenny had been prospecting for just over a year, and was due to be voted in within the next month. He’d been a good prospect, took the shit and didn’t bitch about it like most. He’d also taken a knife to the gut for the club last year and remained loyal. Devotion like that wasn’t overlooked.
He stared at the liquid in the glass. This was his night. He should have been more excited to be at the party. He should have left with Amber. Hell, he’d slept with a hundred Ambers. What was one more?
It had to be the problem with the Grimm Brothers. It weighed heavily on his mind. The monumental task of planning the attack on the Grimms was never far from his thoughts. He had plenty of ideas, but needed to flesh them out.
As the pleasant burn of whisky warmed his stomach, a pair of wary powder blue eyes flashed through his mind. Emily reeked of innocence, and Jester did not do innocent. It was obvious she was lacking the sexual confidence, and probably the experience, that most women he bedded had. When it came to sex, he had basically tried it all; threesomes, foursomes, public sex, you name it he’d done it at least once. Well, everything except for an innocent.
Why then, did the thought of being the man to introduce Emily to all the pleasures her body was capable of have him growing painfully hard? Why was he sitting there, alone, thinking of the satisfaction he could find in her untried body, and the ecstasy he knew, without arrogance, he could offer her? And why was he thinking about a woman who was doing the very thing he didn’t want—distracting him from the more important mission of obliterating the Grimms?
He tossed back the last of his drink and stood. Time to find Acer and get this night back on track.