Rebellious (4 page)

So I did. I let go and silently gave him permission to do whatever he wanted.

And he took it. He bent me back over the countertop and demanded everything from my lips. His mouth slanted over mine again and again, kissing me until I couldn't hold a coherent thought in my head. I could only feel. Feel the flutter of his tongue against mine. Feel the insistent tug of his fingers on my nipples.

After heaven only knew how long, Reb pulled away with a groan. “Fuck me, you taste like sunshine. Hot and sweet and too fucking good.” He rested his forehead against mine and breathed heavily. “I'd like nothing better than to take you right fucking here, but I can't.”

I blinked stupidly up at him, and I'm pretty sure I moaned in disappointment.

“Fuck me, sunshine, you're not making this any easier.”

“Good.” I groaned.

“I want you, Em. But I can't. Not with Tuck here. At least not the first time.”

I wanted him, too. Wanted him more than I've ever wanted any other man before. But I got it. He didn't want to get down and dirty with his kid only feet away. I respected him for it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

As if to torture us both more, Reb took my lips again in another hot, melting, and all too short kiss. Breaking away, he rested his chin on top of my head while his fingers continued to dance and torture my aching breasts.

“Oh my God. If we're not gonna do this, you gotta knock that off.” I moaned and arched into his hand, belying my words.

“I will. In a minute.” His fingers continued to pluck and tease my throbbing nipples.

“Reb!” I batted his hands away and pushed against his shoulders. Not that it budged him an inch. The man was built like a Greek god—the statue kind. Defined muscles lay under tattooed sleeves that I couldn't wait to trace with my tongue.

But later, I reminded myself.

“Fine.” He gave me one last peck of a kiss, then stood up.

I immediately missed the warmth of his body. Swaying toward him, I sat up with my arms reaching out to him. Mistaking my intent, he clasped my hands in his and helped me up from my sprawled position until I was standing in front of him.

We just stood there for a second, staring into each other's eyes, saying nothing and everything. There was a softness to his expression that hadn't been there before. I took a large amount of pride in the fact that I'd been the one to affect him like that.

He must've seen something in my expression because his lips curved into a smug little smile. “Come on, sunshine. Let's get you to bed.”

I felt a similar smile spread over my face.

“Alone.”

My smile dimmed just a tad, but I followed as he tugged my arms and led me down the hall.

“You can have my room,” he said as he tugged me through the last doorway at the end of the hall.

“But I thought—”

“I got some business to take care of so I won't be sleeping 'til late. I'll probably crash on the couch later.”

I took in my surroundings. It was a surprisingly welcoming room. The large sleigh bed actually looked small in the huge room. A few dressers dotted the far wall and two closed doors were to my left. Much like Reb's eyes, the walls were a calming blue. I wondered if that was intentional. And who had chosen the color. “I can't just take your bed, Reb. That's not right. What if Tucker comes in? He'll find a stranger sleeping in your bed.”

“He won't. Tuck sleeps like a rock. He'll be fine.”

“But—”

“I want you there. Sleeping in my bed. Your head on my pillow. Your scent on my sheets. So stay.” He gave me another quick peck before he crossed the room to one of the dressers. After grabbing something from a drawer, he turned and tossed it at my head.

I snatched it from the air and shook out a large T-shirt with the True Brothers logo on the back. The twin skulls stared menacingly back at me.

“If you're gonna sleep in my bed, you gotta sleep in one of my shirts. House rules.”

I ducked my head as a huge smile swept across my face. I couldn't help but really like this sweet, playful side of him. Even if he was technically holding me captive.

But not even the reminder of my captivity could stop me from swaying into him when he stood in front of me once more.

“Sweet dreams,” he murmured as he bent toward me. He took my lips in a searing kiss that left me unsteady on my feet. My toes curled into the plush carpet and my eyes fluttered open just in time to see the door click shut.

And I was alone. Clutching Reb's T-shirt and standing in his bedroom.

How the hell did I get here?

And what the hell was I going to do tomorrow?

J
ULY 21

I woke the next morning disoriented. I blinked and looked around blearily, but nothing made sense. Instead of my full-sized bed and white walls, I found myself swimming in a huge bed surrounded by soft blue walls. I scrubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands, but it didn't magically transport me back to my bed. I was still here. Wherever “here” was.

Flopping back onto the bed, I felt his scent surround me and I remembered. Tucker and his sad sack of groceries. The clubhouse. Reb. That kiss.

“Oh God,” I mumbled. At least I hadn't slept with him, I consoled myself. Although if memory served, our lack of sexual history was due only to Reb's self-control and not my own. He'd been all cool and collected, while I'd been throwing myself at him. I groaned and buried my head under the pillow.

It helped for a second until I took another breath and breathed in his scent once more. Dammit, why did he have to smell so damn good? He was a biker; shouldn't he smell like—I don't know—grease or something? Something repulsive, anyhow, not so yummy that I'd love to spend hours in bed licking his skin.

I shook my head. What happened to my resolve last night? Somehow in the haze of lust and yummy man smells, I'd forgotten to be on my guard. Despite my coffee and resolution, I'd had the best sleep in I don't know when. I felt safe here. I rolled my eyes at myself. If that wasn't the stupidest thing ever. The man had practically held me captive, and yet I felt safe?

Maybe he gave me a lobotomy in the middle of night. Evidently I was missing my brain.

Childish laughter trailed down the hall and reminded me exactly why nothing hot and lustful was gonna happen.

Still, the sound made me smile. If ever there was a kid who deserved happiness it was Tucker. His life at the apartment complex with his mom was so sad. On the best day he was a latchkey kid with the Simpsons or with me. I shuddered to think what last night might've been if I hadn't come home when I did. But he was happy now. I was glad that he had a safe place here with Reb. He was a good dad.

“Em, if you want any breakfast, you better get your ass in here!”

Shades of good, anyhow.

I had a goofy grin on my face as I shimmied into my sundress from the night before. I folded the T-shirt Reb had lent me, then placed it on the made-up bed. Everything inside me wanted to keep it for myself. A nice little souvenir from my brief walk on the wild side, but since my bag was somewhere in the living room, I didn't have a convenient hiding place. Giving the True Brothers logo one last—ridiculously sentimental—pat, I turned and headed for the door. A slight ache in my ankle reminded me of my tumble at the clubhouse last night, but it wasn't bad enough to warrant Reb carting me around like he had the night before. Although I wouldn't mind feeling his arms holding me again.

My hand was on the knob when I remembered exactly where I was. I couldn't go down there looking like I'd just rolled out of bed. I ran to the master bath and let out a muffled shriek at the rat's nest my blond hair currently resembled. I didn't have a brush or a hair tie. Crap. Spying a comb on the granite counter, I grabbed it and pulled it through the snarl of my long hair.

Once my hair looked somewhat presentable, I stole some of the toothpaste on the counter, swished it around my mouth, then rinsed with water that I drank from my cupped hand. Wishing for the tenth time that I had some makeup, I gave my reflection one last look, then made resolutely for the kitchen.

Giggles greeted me as I entered it. I couldn't help but smile as the sound filled me with joy.

“No, Dad. That's silly.”

“What's silly?” I asked as I grabbed a bar stool and sat next to Tucker.

Reb was busy flipping pancakes at the stove but turned once he finished. His brow wrinkled and he tilted his head at Tucker. “Well, are you gonna ask her?”

Tucker buried his hands in his lap and hunched his shoulders, instantly shy. If it were possible, my heart softened even more toward the kid. At that moment I would've given him anything.

“Use your words, bud. Emily's not telepathic.”

I shook my head at Reb for making Tuck do something that he clearly wasn't comfortable doing. Reb just stared placidly back at me.

“What does ‘telepathic' mean?” Tucker whispered.

I shot Reb one more inquiring look, silently urging him to fill me in—not that he seemed to care—then turned to smile down at Tucker. “It means being able to hear people's thoughts. It's not a real thing, though.”

“Oh.” Tucker turned back to his plate and shoved a pancake into his mouth. His cheeks plumped out like a chipmunk.

Laughing at the sight, I turned back to Reb. He just shrugged and plopped a mug of coffee and a short stack on a plate in front of me.

I looked at the mound of pancakes in disbelief. “There's no way I can eat that many. I'm gonna need a gym membership by the end of breakfast.”

“You could stand to gain a few pounds. Eat up.”

That was such a guy response. Clearly someone with his muscle mass wouldn't understand the delicate balance of a petite body like mine. Five extra pounds looked like twenty on my frame. But keeping in mind the age of our audience and the fact that his dad was a scary biker, I bit back my annoyed retort and tucked into my breakfast.

A minute later, Reb set down an even bigger plate of pancakes on the countertop across from us and dug in with abandon. I tried not to think about what we'd done on the countertop the night before. But one bite in, Reb let out this happy little hum that sounded so much like his groan the night before, it had my thighs clenching.

Reb's eyes met mine over the island and gave me a smug little grin. Like he knew what I was thinking about. Because he was thinking about it, too.

In retaliation I lifted my fork and took a delicate little lick of the dripping syrup.

Reb's eyes flared with intense heat.

I put my fork in my mouth and sucked long and slow at the syrup still clinging at the tines, staring into Reb's eyes the entire time. It was the most erotic and innocent moment of my entire life. I wanted him. I wanted him inside me like I'd never wanted any man before.

But I couldn't. I didn't have time in my life for a man right now. With two jobs and my volunteering at the community literary program, I didn't have any time to spare. Something told me that this man would demand every second I had. Then there was the whole scary, angry biker thing. And he was still technically married. Plus he had a kid who was in the room with us right now.

It was the last thought that put the brakes on my innocent seduction routine. I broke eye contact with Reb and dug into my breakfast again. I consoled myself with carbs instead of giving in to the lust that was melting my self-control.

All too soon my stack of pancakes disappeared and Tucker was dancing in his seat beside me.

“Can I be excused, Dad?”

“Sure, buddy. Why don't you go play in the living room? Brittany's gonna be here in a few to watch you while I run into town to take care of a few things.”

“ 'Kay.”

If I'd blinked, I would've missed Tucker's fast exit from the kitchen.

Leaving me alone with Reb.

I set my fork on my plate with a clatter. “You're a good chef.”

“Any dipshit can cook pancakes.” Reb stared at me with hooded eyes as he took his last bite of pancake.

“Well, the dipshit has to show up, for starters.” Admittedly I didn't set the bar very high. Lord knew, my dad had never shown up.

Reb swallowed his bite and gave a shrug of acknowledgment.

“So where's my phone? You promised last night that I'd have it this morning. And it's morning, so…”

Reb nodded toward the counter next to the fridge. Somehow I'd missed my purse and phone sitting out in the open. I dove on the phone like it was a lifeline. Thumbing through the recent calls, I found five unanswered calls from Jessica and three from Nicole. Damn. The shitstorm was coming if Jessica had called in Nicole for reinforcement. Not really surprising—the three of us had been friends since forever. But Nicole had taken an instant dislike to Jessica's biker boyfriend and something told me she wouldn't be too approving of Reb, either.

Not that we were dating or anything.

“So are you ready to give me her number?”

I'd been busy reading the twenty texts Jess had sent me last night. Wait, he wanted Jessica's number? I blinked up at him in confusion. “Huh?”

“Rhonda's neighbor? What's her name?” Reb pulled his phone from the back pocket of his low-slung jeans.

My eyes lingered on the flex of his biceps. Lord, the man was built. Built and sexy and so damn fuckable. Clearly I had a problem. I really needed to get laid. I had a hard time remembering the last guy I'd been with. But then again, my obsession might've had something to do with Reb's nearness. He had a way of making everything—or everything but my attraction to him—hazy.

“Em?” The twinkle in his eyes told me that he'd caught me checking him out and didn't mind one minute. I was pretty sure he knew exactly what thoughts were floating around in my head. Maybe telepathy was possible, after all.

Or maybe I was just pathetically obvious in my interest.

“The number. Yeah. Just a sec.” I thumbed through my contacts, then rattled out my neighbor's info.

“Great.” Reb's thumbs flew across his phone's screen as he put the info in. He tossed his phone onto the counter, then leaned over and snatched my phone out of my hands.

“Hey!”

He just gave me his annoyingly smug—and way too sexy—grin as he fiddled with my phone. A few seconds later his phone vibrated across the countertop. Sliding my phone across the counter to me, he snatched his own up and fiddled with its settings.

I looked down at my cell and found a new contact had been added. Reb. With a cell number and a work number.

“That's my current burner number, but it'll probably change in the next week or so. I'll let you know when it does.”

“Why do you go through phones so fast? Tucker couldn't remember anyone's number last night.”

“It's club business.” Reb's eyes went steely and left no room for discussion. “But Tucker knows that if he needs me, he should call the shop. That number never changes, and the calls get forwarded.”

“Obviously not. He had me take him to the shop, but he never mentioned calling there.”

“I'll have another talk with him.” Reb walked around the island. I swiveled on my bar stool, following him. He stepped into the V of my knees, and I ducked my head to avoid his probing eyes.

Not that he let me. With a finger under my chin, Reb tipped my head back up, forcing me to meet his searching gaze.

“I'm not gonna let you hide from me. From what's between us. This—me and you—is gonna happen. And the sooner you come to terms with that, the easier it'll be.”

I opened my mouth to refute him, but he swooped down and covered my open mouth with his. And he took complete advantage of it. His tongue swept in and took possession of me. Fucking my mouth with his tongue. My body trembled and it was a good thing I was sitting down. The hand I put out to stop him fisted in his T-shirt, skimming the hard torso hidden beneath. I leaned forward. Into him. Into his kiss.

A second later he was all I could think about. And how soon I could be under him.

A minute later and I couldn't think at all.

The insistent peal of the doorbell, followed by Tucker's shouted “I'll get it,” had us breaking apart all too soon.

“To be continued,” Reb rumbled against my temple.

I couldn't fashion a coherent reply to save my life. I was too busy trying to get my breath back and calm my crazy pulse.

Not that he gave me time, as I was being introduced to Brittany, a woman who looked to be maybe in her late thirties and whose leather vest proclaimed her to be “Property of Stitch.” I didn't even blink at the vest. Jessica had a similar one and wore it with pride. Somehow in the last year I'd become jaded to
some
parts of biker life. At least as far as it didn't apply to me. This thing with Reb—whatever it was—would take me a lot longer to come to terms with. If at all. Despite what he'd told me earlier, I did have a say in whatever happened between us. Maybe I didn't want to have a relationship or whatever with a biker who had anger problems, a crazy almost-ex-wife, and a cute-as-hell kid. I'd make the decision with my brain and not the throbbing erogenous zone his pheromone cloud turned me into.

After a few words exchanged with Brittany, Reb was tugging on my hand as he led me out the front door and to his bike. I watched as he swung a leg over the beast, then turned to me with a smug grin that I just wanted to lick off his face. Instead I rolled my eyes and accepted his offered helmet. A few seconds later I myself swung a leg over, and when my skirt was tucked under me as securely as I could get it, he opened up the throttle and we were off.

I tightened my arms around his waist and let the euphoria sail through me. Apparently Reb always rode hell-for-leather, because just like last night he flew through stop signs and darted around cars with barely any room to spare. Unable to watch, I squeezed my eyes closed and just held on.

And just like last night, I couldn't help it if my hands roamed of their own volition. I skimmed around his shirt and quickly found the rock-hard abs beneath. Lord, this man was built! The combination of the bike vibrating between my thighs and the feeling of his oh so hard body beneath my fingers had me wet and aching. I wanted him. And at that exact moment, I didn't really care how I'd get him. Just preferably soon.

I moaned in disappointment when the bike slowed. Opening my eyes, I found the familiar layout of my apartment complex in front of us. And all too soon, Reb pulled up next to my heap of a car and put his kickstand down.