Link'd Up Read online

  “Because he fucks like a rabbit?” I provided.

  More blushing. He nodded. “Sorry. I shouldn’t talk like that in front of you.”

  “Says who?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. People? My parents? It’s not right to talk like that in front of a lady.”

  Soaking up his southern charm, I folded my hands and smiled. “That’s sweet of you, Bull.” It felt weird to call him by his strange road name, but if that’s what he wanted, I’d respect his wishes. As long as he respected mine. “But I’m not just some lady. I go head to head with hardened criminals every day. Trust me when I tell you I can handle sex talk, swear words, and club talk. I’m not going to melt or wither away, or whatever the people who made those rules believe. The one thing I can’t handle is liars or people who aren’t real with themselves or with me. So, I need you to know you can always be yourself around me. Swear words and all. Say what you mean, and I’ll let you know if you cross any lines. Trust me, I’ve put bigger men than you in their place.”

  He stared at me. “I… I believe you, ma’am.”

  “Good, because I mean every word.” I stood, collecting the platter of cookie crumbs. “Are you full yet?”

  He chuckled again, rubbing his stomach. “Yes ma’am. Thank you.”

  *

  Bull and I spent Saturday morning at the gym, and then we hit the grocery store, ran errands, and arrived home in the early afternoon to clean house. I put on Pink’s latest album, handed him a broom, and directed him toward the hardwood floors.

  He shook his head, chuckling, but didn’t mutter one word of protest before getting to work. As he swept and steam mopped, I scrubbed down the bathrooms, did laundry, and cleaned the kitchen. Dinner time rolled around, and we were starving and exhausted, but the house was spotless. I called for a pizza, which we ate in front of the television. Then we stayed up way too late to binge watch the rest of Jessica Jones.

  And I decided, unwanted babysitter or not, I kind of liked having the kid around.

  Grandma and I had brunch together every Sunday morning. I was ninety-nine percent sure Bull wasn’t the type to snap and go all ax murderer, but I’d only known him for a few days and I didn’t take chances when it came to my grandma. Before my grandpa had died, he’d made me promise to look after her. I’d never ever broken a promise to my grandpa, and I wasn’t about to start now. Still, Grandma would worry if I bailed on brunch, so I called Jayson and asked him to pick her up and join us at her favorite greasy spoon restaurant.

  As Bull and I were getting ready to head out, a knock sounded on my front door.

  Curious, I glanced at Bull. “You expecting someone?”

  The kid couldn’t even hold my gaze. He immediately looked away.

  Link. I didn’t even have to answer the door to know it was him. With the way my skin caught fire, my heart sped up, and all my private places tingled, it couldn’t be anyone else. My body was excited to see him again, but my brain wasn’t so sure.

  Feeling more than a little betrayed, I snapped, “You could have at least warned me.”

  Bull ducked. “I know. I’m sorry. He asked me not to.”

  Link knocked again.

  I glanced at my reflection in the hallway mirror, straightening my hair and wiping away any smudged mascara like I was some self-conscious teenager, before rolling my eyes at myself and hurrying to answer the door.

  A beautiful bouquet of Gerber daisies, tiger lilies, and sunflowers greeted me. The flowers lowered and extended, revealing Link’s sexy face.

  “Hey, these are for you,” he said somewhat awkwardly. “You don’t have allergies, do you?”

  The big, bad biker had brought me flowers, and he was concerned about my reaction to them.

  “No. They’re beautiful. Thank you.” Butterflies danced in my stomach as I accepted the bouquet. He followed me in the house, joining Bull in the living room as I continued on to the kitchen to find a vase and set them on the table.

  The guys were talking quietly, and when I returned, they stopped. Both stared at me, as if waiting for something.

  “Thanks again for the flowers, but what are you doing here?” I asked Link.

  “I’m relieving Bull for the day.” He turned toward Bull and added, “There’s a poker tournament going down at the club, and it’ll be a good opportunity for you to meet some of the other brothers. Have a good time.”

  “Thank you.” Bull started toward the door, then hesitated, looking to me.

  Was he asking my permission to leave me with Link? For that matter, did I want to be alone with Link? Last time I’d been fucked soundly, and although the experience was incredible, it would be a bad idea to repeat it. Bull was my bodyguard, and although I’m sure Link could guard my body just fine, I felt immensely safer with the kid.

  Link tensed, and I realized he’d see Bull’s hesitation as a blow to his authority. As much as I’d rather have Bull stick around, I didn’t want to get him in trouble. I smiled encouragingly.

  “See you later,” he said, heading out the door.

  Link’s expression turned from annoyed to thoughtful as he studied me. Wondering what was going on in his mind, but too afraid to ask, I reached for my coat.

  “We were about to head out for brunch with my grandma, but I’m sure you already know that.”

  “Yep. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  The butterflies in my stomach kicked up their dance a notch into some sort of salsa. Link was a client. Sure, we’d gotten busy in his office—and it had been wild, crazy, and amazing—but we weren’t anywhere near the “meet the family” stage. So, why did he care?

  As I was trying to figure out his motivations, he grabbed my hand and pulled me against him. My free hand landed on his hard pecks, but before I could push away, his mouth claimed mine. The kiss started out sweet, gentle, like he was asking for permission. And although there were many reasons to deny him, none of them were more convincing than the feel of him against me. He nudged my lips open, and I let him in. He tasted minty and fresh and I explored his mouth like it was made of chocolate.

  His hands went up my shirt. With a flick of his fingers, he undid my bra and freed my breasts.

  Less than five minutes alone with him and I was already shedding clothes. This was exactly what I was afraid of. I had zero self-control around him.

  Grandma. I had to meet up with Grandma for brunch. Clinging to that fact, I shoved myself away from Link.

  “We have to go. Grandma will be waiting.” My voice sounded so breathy I hardly recognized it.

  His dilated eyes watched me as I reached behind me and reconnected my bra. He looked like he was about to attack me again, so I reinforced the reason he couldn’t.

  “Grandma. We’re gonna be late.”

  He nodded.

  I grabbed my coat from the hall closet. “My car’s in the garage. Will you be following me on your bike?”

  “Nope.”

  He’d be riding in my car with me. The thought was thrilling, and a little terrifying. Link was the kind of man who could do things to my body that made me forget I was driving. We were both too horny to be trapped in a small space together.

  “Okay.” I sounded flustered as I headed toward the side door. “The garage is this way.”

  He grabbed my arm again, his hot hand practically searing my flesh. “We’re not taking your car, sweetheart.”

  My brow furrowed.

  “We’re riding my bike. It’s not raining, so I brought an extra helmet.”

  “But what if I need to pick up my grandma?”

  “Do you?” He smiled smugly, no doubt Bull had told him the answer to that question, too.

  “No, but…” I’d never been on a motorcycle before. They were dangerous, and I had a perfectly good car to ride in. I liked driving. I was a safe, trustworthy driver and I loved being in control of my own car. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even let someone drive me somewhere. Unable to fathom relinquishing control
to Link on a dangerous bike, I started to shake my head no. His hand snaked up my arm to the back of my neck, steadying me.

  “I want you on the back of my bike, babe.”

  The heat in his statement made my knees weak. This was a big deal to him. He’d be driving, but something about his expression told me I wouldn’t lose control. I’d gain it. But did I trust him?

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, his heat still searing away my resolve. “You scared?”

  I stiffened in his arms. Scared? I’d show him scared. “Screw you, Link.”

  He chuckled, kissing my forehead. “Later. We can’t leave Grandma waiting.”

  Link

  NEVER IN MY life had I craved someone the way I craved Emily. Thinking about Bull spending time with her—getting to know her—while I couldn’t, was twisting me in knots. He’d already seen the inside of her house before me, slept in her spare bed before me, ate her cooking before me, but there was no way I could let him meet Emily’s grandma before I got to.

  No fucking way. Not happening.

  “You joining us, Prez?” Sage asked, pausing mid-deal.

  Four men sat at the table, their cards in front of them, waiting for me to sit my ass down and play. I knew I should, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from my phone.

  “I can’t. I got some shit I gotta take care of.”

  Before they could ask any questions that I, myself, didn’t know the answers to, I turned and headed for my bike. I’d be sending Bull back soon enough, and then they’d know. They’d know exactly where I went off to and what I was doing. Who I was doing. I should care about what they’d think and how they’d react, but I couldn’t bring myself to give a single fuck about it.

  Flowers. Women love shit like that, so I stopped off at a flower shop. The selection was a bit overwhelming. I scanned the aisles, looking for an arrangement fit for a woman like Emily. No roses. Roses were what Pops got for mom whenever he fucked up, and I saw how well that worked out. No, I needed something that said I couldn’t get her off my mind and she was driving me crazy. I settled on an unusual looking bouquet.

  Emily answered the door wearing tight-ass blue jeans tucked into knee-high brown boots. A long white sweater came just below her ass, and a cashmere plaid scarf lay loose around her neck. It was the first time I’d seen her dressed casually, and I was thrown by how damn classy she still managed to look. Her long dark hair was down—not up in its usual bun—and she’d added soft curls to the ends. My fingers itched to run through it as I ravaged her right there in the entryway.

  Realizing I needed to say something, I opened my mouth and some shit tumbled out. Emily replied and took the flowers, leaving me standing in the living room, adjusting the growing bulge in my pants.

  “Link,” Bull said, sounding a little more amused than he should.

  When I scowled at him, he wiped the goofy grin right off his face.

  “How’d the meeting go?”

  “Good.” Relaxing, I gave him a quick rundown about the club’s discussion before Emily returned and asked what I was doing there.

  I told the two of them about the poker game, essentially dismissing Bull.

  Rather than head right out, the bastard looked to Emily for permission. What the fuck was that about?

  But as I looked at her, I knew. She was a goddamn queen and we were in her court, on her turf. Some base instinct within him knew to ask for permission before leaving her presence. I, on the other hand, didn’t need her permission for shit. She may be a queen, but I was still the fucking king. Time to remind her of that fact. As soon as he left, my lips found hers. Just like in my office, this strong, beautiful, incredible woman gave into me with a moan that took my cock from half-mast to full-sail. Needing to be inside her—claiming her—I released her tits and prepared to take her right there in her living room.

  “Grandma,” she whispered, pulling away.

  Shit. I’d almost forgotten. Yes, we’d go see her grandmother, but we’d do it my way.

  I slid my extra helmet onto Emily’s head and fastened the chin strap. Eyes dilated, lips swollen, she looked at me with a combination of desire and fear that made me want to drag her back inside and finish what we started.

  “Unless you want Grandma to eat alone, you best stop lookin’ at me like that,” I said.

  “Like what?” she asked.

  “Like you’re trying to figure out how to fit my big cock down your throat.”

  Her eyes widened, and I wondered if I hit the nail on the head. Before she could recover and fire back some smartass comment, I climbed onto the bike. She followed, wrapping her arms tight around me. Her clean, slightly sweet scent enveloped me as her tits pressed against my back, and I decided right then she needed to spend more time on the back of my bike. I started it up and realized I didn’t even know where the hell we were going.

  That’s how much Emily’s presence threw me off.

  I got the name and location of the restaurant from her, and we headed out.

  Growing up in a motorcycle club, I’d experienced a level of freedom most kids only dreamed about. That’s not to say Pops let me get away with shit, because he most certainly didn’t. Whenever I messed up, he beat my ass good. He kept a pretty tight rein on my sister, but between Naomi and club business, he was too busy to be breathing down my neck all the time. Then I joined the Army and all the precious freedom I’d taken for granted was stripped away. The things I saw… the things I was ordered to do… I learned pretty fast that freedom is just an illusion that could vanish at the whim of a madman’s order.

  Nobody in this life is ever really free. Now, the closest I get to feeling free is when my ass is planted on the seat of my bike and the wind is whipping past my face.

  I’d never had anyone but my sister on my sled with me, and with Naomi, the freedom had diminished. I’d had to be extra cautious and careful, making sure she was comfortable and safe. Her arms wrapped around me had felt like a goddamn vise, tightening to squeeze the breath out of me every time I sped up or hit the slightest little bump. It had been years since my little sister had ridden with me, and I never wanted to repeat the experience. Not with anyone.

  Not until now. With Emily, it was different. Riding with her felt comfortable and right.

  We merged onto the freeway and I’m pretty sure I heard her squeal with laughter when I sped up to fit between two cars. I took our exit and stopped for a red light, patting her hand. “How you doin’ back there?”

  “Awesome! Amazing!” She snuggled closer to me. “I had no idea it would be so… so…”

  “Freeing?” I asked.

  “Yeah. It’s… it’s really something.”

  I had half a mind to forget her grandma, Havoc, this case, my club, her job, and turn around, merge onto I5 south, and see how far we could get on my tank of gas. The open road with Emily on the back of my sled… now that would be paradise.

  Maybe someday.

  All too soon, I parked in front of the restaurant Emily had mentioned. When I helped her off the bike and out of the helmet, she was ear-to-ear smiles, cheeks flushed, eyes bright with excitement.

  “Liked that, did ya?” I asked.

  “It was so much different than I thought it would be. I thought I’d be terrified, or that drivers would be assholes, but it was so… exhilarating.”

  My queen liked to ride. Damn. Every new thing I learned about her just made her sexier. I tugged her closer to me. “Anytime you want to ride, all you have to do is say.” I brushed a chaste kiss against her lips. “And I’m not just talkin’ about the bike.”

  Her cheeks reddened. “We should go in.”

  I nodded, following her fine ass into the restaurant.

  *

  Emily’s entire demeanor changed the second we stepped into the restaurant. Her posture stiffened, the wind-kissed blush disappeared from her cheeks, and all warmth she’d shown me frosted right over. She walked ahead of me, straight up to a silver-haired, tastefully-dressed older woman
.

  “Grandma,” Emily said, kissing the old lady’s cheek as she hugged her. She turned to face me and said, “This is Link. He’s… a client.”

  Even though she’d hesitated, the title still felt like a fucked up roundhouse in what had been a nice dance. Our steps had been matching up, we were right on the beat, and now I was lying on my back staring at the ceiling.

  Not happening.

  “We discussed this, sweetheart,” I said, cocking my head to watch her bright blue eyes narrow. “I’m not your goddamn client.”

  Jayson—who was sitting on the other side of Emily’s grandmother—coughed to cover his laugh.

  Afraid I might have offended the old woman, I held out my hand and said, “Pardon my French. It’s a pleasure to meet you… ma’am.”

  Surprisingly enough, her eyes flashed with respect and a little mischief. “Annabel, please.” She shook my hand. “The pleasure’s all mine, Link. But now you have me curious. What is your relationship with my granddaughter?”

  I pulled out Emily’s chair and she sat.

  “Bodyguard. While I’m working on his club’s case.”

  Why was she trying to ice me out? “Bullshit,” I replied, taking my own seat.

  The couple at the next table stared at me, but I glared until they looked away.

  Emily put her elbows on the table and leaned forward, cradling her face in her hands as she watched me. “If I’m so wrong, why don’t you enlighten me, Link? What is our relationship?”

  “You’re not ready to hear it.” But at the same time, she needed to know where we stood. I wasn’t just a fucking client, nor was I her bodyguard, and she damn well knew it.

  She started to object, but I interrupted her.

  “It’s fine, darlin.’ I’ll give you time to deal with this thing between us. You’re scared. I get it.”

  “I’m not scared, I’m sane. There is no thing between us. I met you a week ago.”

  “So? Does that matter? Does it change the way I feel about you? The way I know you feel about me?”

  She opened her mouth again, and then snapped it shut and glanced at Annabel and Jayson, as if suddenly remembering they were there. “We should talk about this later.”