Tempted Read online

  “I guess.” I shrug in disinterest, hoping she’ll get the message, and turn back to Raven. “You know what you want, babe?”

  “Yeah. Blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a hot chocolate.”

  “I’ll have the same but with coffee. Black.”

  Judy looks between us in confusion then takes our menus. I know she’s trying to figure out the relationship between me and Raven.

  “I’ll be right back with your orders.”

  As soon as she’s out of earshot, Raven grins at me.

  “You totally fucked her, didn’t you? Poor girl has stars in her eyes, and I bet you didn’t even remember her name.”

  “I can’t help it if women throw themselves at me.”

  “You just catch ‘em and throw ‘em back, huh?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m holding on to you, baby doll.”

  She slides out of the booth and back in next to me, meeting my stare.

  “Don’t let go,” she whispers.

  “Not for nothing.”

  I curl my arm around her shoulder as she places her head on my chest. She’s mine. There’s no way I’m giving her up. She lies there quietly for a long time before I feel her fingers sliding up my thigh to find my dick through my jeans.

  “What would you do if I crawled under the table and sucked you off until you came in my mouth?”

  Her soft whisper clutches my dick and pulls it to attention. Fuck. She squeezes it, and I swallow a groan. Thankfully, Judy shows up with our food. Raven giggles as I take off my hoodie and lay it on my lap. As soon as Judy leaves, she snakes her hand under the hoodie and grasps me again. I look around nervously but no one’s paying attention to us. I shift in my seat, sliding down so she has better access. My little multi-tasker. She feeds herself with one hand while the other is pulling my dick out of my jeans. Fuck!

  “Deena was right about one thing. Mon-ster.”

  She swipes her finger on the head, spreading my pre-cum around. I drag in a breath through my teeth. She releases me and stares into my eyes as she sucks the fluid from her finger.

  “Jesus.”

  She smiles and her hand disappears under my hoodie again. I try to concentrate on my food, but her fingers are driving me crazy. She squeezes tight and pumps her fist up and down while, with her free hand, she pours syrup on her pancakes. Up and down with little twisting motions. My fork falls from my fingers. Shit. I take a quick look around. Everyone’s still oblivious.

  She shoots me a wicked grin as she fondles my balls. “How’s your breakfast?”

  “Good.” Is that high-pitched voice me? Shit. I clear my throat and try again. “Good.”

  “Oh? You’ve barely touched it.”

  She picks up a strip of bacon from my plate and offers it to me. When I bite into it, she squeezes the base of my dick and licks her lips. “Tonight, I want to see those lips wrapped around my dick.”

  She smirks and pumps faster, turning back to her breakfast.

  “That can definitely be arranged.”

  My balls tighten. My heart is beating a wild, crazy rhythm, and all the blood in my body is rushing to my dick.

  “Raven.”

  My voice is a warning, but she ignores me. She tightens her hold on me, and I imagine it’s her tight pussy gripping me. Fuck, I’m going to come so hard. I grab some napkins from the table to catch it. Judy chooses now to come back and check on us.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yup. We’re great, thanks,” Raven replies with cool confidence.

  “Gage?” Judy regards me with furrowed brows.

  Raven does that twisting thing again and I lose it. I cover the head of my dick with the napkins and grunt. “Yeah. Fine.”

  “You sure?”

  “We’re fine.”

  The harshness in my voice surprises her and she leaves. The moment she does, I allow myself to shudder and enjoy one hell of an orgasm. Raven releases me and places her hand on the table. I tuck my dick away and stick the napkins in my pocket.

  “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “Oh, you didn’t know? I’m a bad, bad girl,” she says with a smirk.

  “You’re gonna pay for that later.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  Perfect. She’s fucking perfect. I remove the small, gift-wrapped box from the inner pocket of my cut and place it on the table before her.

  “How many more of these you got?”

  “Open it.”

  She sighs and rips the paper from the blue, velvet box. After a nervous glance my way, she flips the lid. She gasps, her eyes widening in surprise.

  “Gage…they’re beautiful!”

  She trails her fingers across the five pairs of diamond studs. One for each of her piercings, each pair a different size.

  “Wear one tonight. Please.”

  She nods and wraps her arms around me as she presses her lips to mine. I hold her against me, loving the way her body feels.

  “Tonight…I want you to fuck me wearing nothing but these earrings and my necklace.”

  My erection springs back to life. Fuck. “That, I can definitely do.”

  Her eyes sparkle with mischief and she slides a finger lightly down my neck.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking of getting my nipple pierced…or maybe my clit.”

  My dick jumps, thinking about playing with those rings with my tongue. Then a thought occurs to me. “And who the fuck’s going to do that?”

  “Um…places that do piercings. Duh.”

  “You let some fucker even look at your tits or your pussy, and he’s dead.”

  She throws her head back laughing then gently pats my chest.

  “Calm down, Reaper. I was kidding.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  If she thinks I’m going to let some random motherfucker look at her, let alone touch her, she’s insane. I’d rather learn to do that shit myself.

  We finish our breakfast and I leave Judy a big tip for snapping at her and not remembering her name. She wrote her number on the receipt, but I toss it once we’re outside. I forget about her the minute Raven climbs on the back of my bike and slides her arms around me. I take her to the salon to have her hair and nails done while I take care of some business.

  “Ellen’s gonna pick you up. She’ll take care of your outfit issues.”

  “Okay. Where will you be?”

  “I have some stuff to take care of, and I have to pick up your gift.”

  “There’s more? You’ve already given me so much.”

  “Not enough.”

  “No. It is. You’ve put so much thought into it. Each one shows you’ve been paying attention. I thought you were going to give me lingerie or something.”

  She smiles and tugs on my cut.

  “That shit just gets in the way. As a matter of fact, I don’t even want you wearing panties after today.”

  “Now who’s the sex fiend?”

  “You ain’t seen nothin’, babe.”

  “Seriously, though…I don’t need anything else.”

  “Nothing I give you will ever measure up to what you’re giving me. I’m the one getting the real gift. The greatest gift on Earth.”

  “Oh, Gage…”

  I kiss her luscious lips and groan at the loss when she pulls away.

  “See you later, babe.”

  I call Ellen and make sure she knows the plan then head out to get her real gift. Gunner grins when I walk into his shop. The MC’s been doing business with him for years. Anything you want, Gunner can source it for you. He also handles any custom jobs we need done.

  “Look at this handsome motherfucker,” he says to the woman at the counter.

  She turns toward me and studies every inch of me. When she finally meets my eyes, she gives me that come-fuck-me look I know all too well. There’s only one pussy on my mind right now, and I get to be all up in it tonight. I wink at her and extend my hand to Gunner.

  “You got what I asked for?”
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br />   “Of course.” He grins at me, shaking my hand.

  He pulls a box from under the counter and lays it on the top. I open it, and its contents makes happiness surge through my body.

  “Well?”

  “It’s exactly what I wanted. Thanks, Gunner.”

  “No problem, my friend. Anytime.”

  I leave the shop whistling. I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long. I can’t believe it’s finally here. It’s not even noon yet. Why does the time seem to go so slowly when you need it to go fast? I stop by the Kitty and check in with Aunt Nita then head to Scythe to see how Ellen and the preparations are getting along. It looks nothing like my club. She put in additional lighting, so it’s not so dark. She really took this princess theme and ran with it. It looks like Prince Charming’s castle in here. Or at least what I think it looks like. The main dance floor has been turned into a ballroom, all the decorations in blue and white.

  “What do you think?” She says as she bounds up to me.

  “What did you do to my club?”

  “Nothing that can’t be undone. Well?”

  “It looks good. I think she’ll like it.”

  I spot Chrissy, Toni, Ron, and Allah hanging balloons on one side, and a few of the other guys running around. I hang around for a while, watching things fall into place. I wonder if Ellen would consider going into event planning. She’s pretty good at this. We leave at the same time and decide to meet up at my place. I get a haircut and shave and head home to get ready. I call Raven, but she doesn’t answer. She’s probably just doing the same. I try a few more times, but still nothing. I leave a voicemail and send her a text. When Ellen shows up, she says Raven was getting in the shower when she left. She should have gotten out a long time ago. I have a bad feeling. She never takes this long to get back to me.

  “Stop worrying. She’s fine.”

  She’s already dressed and is fussing with my stupid tie. My phone is at my ear and I’m impatiently waiting for Raven to answer.

  “Then why isn’t she answering?”

  I call Ron and talk to Chrissy. Neither she nor Toni has spoken to Raven in hours. She says they’re leaving the club and heading to Raven’s house, so she’ll have her call me. I hang up and shove Ellen’s hands away. I pull on the knot, giving myself room to breathe. I call again. Nothing.

  “Raven, pick up the fucking phone. Call me back.”

  “Gage, calm down.”

  “Don’t tell me to fucking calm down! This isn’t like her.”

  “I just left her a few hours ago. You don’t know how women are. We take forever to get ready.”

  “Not Raven.” I sit on the bed, tapping my foot until I can’t take it anymore. “Fuck this shit. I’m going over there.” My phone rings and I think finally. But it’s not her. “Ron?”

  “Prez…”

  I don’t like the sound of his voice. My heart thumps in my chest and a million bad thoughts run through my mind. “What is it?” I demand.

  “I…”

  “Fuck! Spit it out.”

  “Just…you need to get to St. Johns Hospital. Now.”

  CHAPTER 17

  ***Gage***

  Fear.

  It’s a hell of a thing. I’ve seen it in people’s eyes when they see me in full biker gear; in the eyes of countless men as they stared down the barrel of my gun. I’ve never experienced it, though, not until today, but I’m getting a fucking quick lesson. Heart-rending, soul-crushing, mind-altering fear. I’m scared shitless that I could lose my baby doll.

  I rush to the hospital’s entrance, not really knowing how I made it here. The only sound I hear is the deafening pounding of my heart. I can’t even tell if it’s beating too fast or too slow. My hands shake as I push the door and step inside. I fucking hate hospitals. The smell, the people scurrying about, the anxiety and fear of people waiting around. The injured. And Raven is one of them. Please, God, please let her be okay.

  Ron jumps out of his seat when he sees me. Toni and Chrissy are next to him, crying and hugging each other. Chris is on the opposite side.

  “What the fuck happened?” I growl.

  “I don’t know, Prez. They were putting her in the ambulance when we got there. Neighbor heard her screaming and called the cops.”

  “Screaming?”

  The room spins. My world tilts on its axis. She was screaming. Someone was hurting her and I wasn’t there. I feel like I’m having a panic attack. I can’t breathe. I lean against the wall and run my hands through my hair. “The doctors…have you heard anything?”

  “No. But I called Einstein. He should be here any minute.”

  I need to know something now. I march over to the nurse’s station, and the woman there gives me a weak smile.

  “Raven Alvarez…can you tell me anything about what’s going on?”

  “Are you family?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “I can’t give out any information unless you’re related to the patient.”

  “Look…please. I just need to know if she’s okay.”

  She gives me a sympathetic stare and directs me back to the waiting area.

  “I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “Thank you.” I take the seat next to Ron and drop my head into my hands. “Find Lonnie,” I instruct him.

  She’s the only one they’ll talk to. I need to know she’s okay. I need to know what happened. I need to know who hurt her. I need to kill him. I look up and Chris is staring at me. The message in his eyes is clear – this is my fault. Maybe it is. It could be anyone. This could have been payback for something I’ve done. What have they done to her? How badly is she hurt? How long did she suffer before the cops arrived? God…did she cry out for me? Beg for me to save her? I wasn’t there. I wasn’t there.

  I jump from the chair and pace the hall. What the fuck is taking so long? I should have heard something by now.

  “No-go on the Lonnie situation, boss,” Ron says. “No one’s seen her in days, and she’s not answering her phone.”

  “Keep trying. Talk to what’s her name…Gina…Super Head. Raven said she and Lonnie are friends.”

  “Got it.”

  Finally, I see E heading my way. He stops at the end of the hallway and motions for me to follow him. He leads me to his office and closes the door quietly.

  “What’s going on, E?”

  “You should sit down.”

  I don’t like the look in his eyes. He’s struggling, having a hard time with whatever he’s about to tell me. I don’t even know how to prepare myself. “Just tell me.”

  He takes a deep breath and perches on his desk.

  “Raven was attacked…assaulted.”

  “How bad is she hurt?”

  “Gage…”

  “Talk to me, damn it!”

  Tears gather in his eyes, and I struggle to find something to hold me up. E doesn’t cry. Raven…my baby doll…

  “I’m sorry, Gage.”

  CHAPTER 18

  ***Gage***

  Empty. Hollow. Dead. That’s how I feel. All my physical senses have deserted me. I can’t see, hear, smell, touch, taste. I fall back on the wall and slide slowly down until I’m sitting on the floor. The last three months flash through my mind. Everything I said and did. Everything I should have said and done. Now, I’ll never get the chance. I’m sorry. Doctors only say that when…no. No.

  “What do you mean you’re sorry?”

  “Maybe I should start from the beginning.”

  “Is she…alive?”

  “Yes! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “Well, what did you mean?”

  “She’ll be fine. Eventually.”

  I expel the breath I’ve been holding. Relief floods my body. She’s going to be okay. “What happened?”

  “When the cops found her, she was tied to her bed.”

  He holds my gaze, as if willing me to figure out the meaning behind his words. One word flashes in red neon in
my mind – bed. “Fuck, no! Please, E…don’t tell me –”

  He nods.

  “Jesus Christ!”

  I can’t breathe. The only thing I can think about is finding the motherfucker responsible and making him suffer.

  “They did a rape kit, nothing invasive yet. They’ll need her permission for that when she wakes up but they’re not optimistic about DNA. Her attacker used a dildo.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah…pretty big one, too. He…it was still inside her when they found her.”

  “Oh, God. E…”

  He pulls up a chair, sits next to me, and places his hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m not going to lie to you, brother. He did a number on her. The doctors had to stitch her up.”

  I stare ahead of me, numbness taking over. The pain she must have felt. The fear. And I wasn’t there.

  “She has a dislocated shoulder. They think that happened from her fighting against the restraints. There are a few shallow cuts on her body, but those are the least of her injuries.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “I’ll try to get you in once they’re done with her.”

  “Thanks. Make sure they put her in a private room.”

  He nods. “Already taken care of.”

  I walk back to the others in a daze. Toni and Chrissy run to me, staring up at me hopefully.

  “She’s going to be fine.”

  They breathe sighs of relief.

  “What happened?” Chrissy asks.

  “She was…” I can’t even bring myself to say it. If I do then it’s like it becomes real. Then again, I need it to feel that way. I need it to fuel my anger. “She was raped.”

  They gasp and hold each other as fresh tears roll down their cheeks. The boys try to console them, but it’s no use. I know exactly how they feel.

  It’s well after midnight when the doctor emerges.

  “Are you a family member?” He asks me.

  “I can’t find her sister. She’s the only family Raven’s got. Until we do, I’m her family.”

  He nods and shoves his hands in his pockets.

  “Without going into specifics, she’ll be fine. She’ll need time to heal, but there’s no serious, permanent damage. She’s resting right now.”