Authors: Sabrina Riley
Chapter 5
“So how did everything go?”
He jumped when she came into the kitchen. He had just gotten back to his house and Carson had forgotten that she was staying there. “It’s done.”
“Well that was quick.”
“I promised you I would take care of it.”
“So can I go home already?”
He nodded that she could and saw that her face kind of fell a little. “I mean, you can stay here for a bit while you get some training if you want. There is still a matter of meeting the guys, but I think you need a new look before we do that.”
“Why, what is wrong with what I am wearing?”
His dark eyes took in the soft pink top and skirt that he had grabbed the night before. A lot of her clothes were pastels and there was not a piece of black in it. “I just think it may be a bit too cheerful for the leader of a motorcycle gang.”
She just laughed and waved him on. “I don’t look good in black or leather, so I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree.”
“You can’t go meet your men like that.”
“My men. I think I like the sound of that. You are going to protect me, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Because you promised?”
He nodded his head, not liking where it was all going. “Well then it will be fine and I am not going to dress like that.”
“You would look good in black and leather.”
She gave him a surprised look and he was more surprised that he had said it out loud. It was hard not to think of her in that way though. She was hot, no matter who she was. With another night alone at the house with her, he was not looking forward to spending another night on the couch. His own needs were not being met, something that Carson was not used to.
“So are you sure that I can do this?”
He nodded his head, trying to take his eyes off of her slim body in her pink outfit. She was just so different than girls he was used to. She looked like she was from a good family and he had never liked the uppity look, but it looked damn good on her. His mind put her in leather and she would have been a woman that he would have chased.
Shaking his head, he tried to remember that it wasn’t possible. Not with who she was and who she was going to be. He had to keep his head on straight. He still wasn’t sure if he had gotten all of the men that went against Cass, but he knew that she was safer that evening than she had been the night before.
Mandi wanted to ask more questions, but she was stopped by Carson. He had had a long day and all he could think of was a shower and bed. He told her they would talk about it the next day, but really he just needed some time away from her. She was driving him crazy and she wasn’t even trying. Not sure how long she was going to stay there, it didn’t matter because Carson wanted her to stay. He had never felt that way before, but he felt a kinship to her and his needs around her were on overdrive.
***
The next week was spent with his time divided between keeping the gang running and teaching Mandi about the business. The first part of his day was making sure that money was still coming in for everyone, as well as everyone was staying in line. There were a few men that walked out and he didn’t blame them, but twenty men stayed and would follow Cass’ daughter and Carson. With a third of the gang gone, it left many to get pushed into higher positions. Even though the Riders were smaller, it didn’t matter because Carson felt like they were stronger because of it. They were ready to go in a new direction and the more time he spent with Mandi, the more her capabilities became apparent. She was smart and was picking up on everything rather quickly.
It was all down to her meeting the rest of the crew and even though he had mentioned her look several times, she made it clear that she wasn’t going to let him have a say in what she was doing or what she was wearing. Carson had realized that she was stubborn and liked to do things her own way. It wasn’t the first time that she had reminded him of Cass and it made him realize that she was still off limits. Now she was the boss and he had to stop lusting over her.
Carson hadn’t been with another woman since that fateful night. He told himself that it was because of everything going on and he was just too busy, but if he was true to himself, he knew it was because they weren’t going to compare to Mandi. How could they? She had opened his eyes to what a woman could be and now he knew that settling wasn’t in the cards for him.
She was finally ready to meet everyone else and as Billy was gone, Mandi had the run of the place and was going back to school, but still made the trip back to the bayou every night. She was supposed to be back early so that they could go meet with the rest of the gang and though she didn’t seem nervous, he was afraid of what was going to happen next. He wanted everyone to see her as he did, but at the same time, not. It was confusing and he was in a place he had never been in before and Carson wasn’t sure what to do.
When he finally heard the front door opening, he tried to pretend that he wasn’t waiting for her and instead looked down at the gun he had been cleaning for an hour. It was impossible not to give her the smile back she was beaming at him. Mandi was always in a good mood and she seemed to brighten up the room when she came in.
“Hey Carson. I didn’t think you were going to be home yet.”
Home. He liked that she called it home as well. He felt like she was meant to be there the whole time. She was meant to be his…
“Well you remember that you have that meeting tonight, right?”
She nodded that she did. “Yes, how can I forget?”
“So where have you been all day? You don’t have a class.”
Giggling she sighed. “I had to get something to wear of course. You have me all worried about what I look like, so I got a few things that will look a little better maybe.”
He perked up, never caring about clothes, but anything to get her out of pink he was for. There was a part of him that wanted to see her as a woman that was in his league. Just once.
“Do you want to see?”
He nodded his head and waited for her to come out of his bedroom. He had long since given into the fact that he couldn’t have Mandi, but that didn’t change him wanting her. It was like a slow torture and when she finally came out, only then was he worried that he was not going to remember that she wasn’t for him.
She was wearing black and leather, his throat closing up as he took her in. Her long legs were molded in a pair of leather pants and she had on a tight black top that showed off every one of her slight curves. He swallowed hard and tried to say something, but nothing would come out and he closed his mouth back up.
“Is this more of what you had in mind?”
He nodded his head, still not able to speak. She was exactly what he was looking for and even though he hated to admit it, Carson had always been attracted to the slightly trashy look. Knowing that she was as smart and capable as she was just made her present outfit even better, she had it all. There was something about the way she looked at him all innocently that drove him crazy and he didn’t know what to do.
“Well good, because this was the only leather that I really liked.”
“It looks good on you.”
She smiled back up at him and decided that she liked the way he was looking at her. It wasn’t the first time that he had looked at her with lust, but it was the first time that Mandi wondered if he was going to take her right then and there. He had a raw lust that made her shiver and she wished that he would try something. But Carson was always a gentleman, even though she knew that he wasn’t that way with another girl. With other girls he was a player. Mandi had found out a lot about the man and she didn’t know why he was so different with her. Beyond looks like he was giving her then, he didn’t show anything towards her.
“But I don’t know if you want them to see you like that.”
Her smile fell and she started to pout. “Why?”
“Because then everyone is going to want to have their way with you.”
“Have their way with me?” She said it kind of joking.
“In that, all I want to do is bend you over the counter and I have control. I don’t think anyone can listen to you talk when you are dressed like that.”
She felt her face getting hot from his words, but she liked that he was saying it. It meant that he was thinking about her in that way and she liked the idea of it. “Oh.”
“Sorry, that didn’t come out the right way.”
“No, it’s fine really. I get your point. I want them to follow me, not want to hump my leg.”
He nodded, but even the way she said it didn’t take away the man’s need to do the very same thing off his mind. One minute she was looking at him like a minx and the next she was looking more like a young girl that didn’t know her own power. Carson had caught the way she had blanched when he had told her what he really wanted to do to her. It was completely honest and all that he could legitimately think about when she was looking like that. He watched her go back to his room and Carson had a moment where he wished he hadn’t said a word.
She came back out with the same pants, but a longer shirt that was a little looser on the top. She was still beautiful, but it was easier to breathe then.
“This better?”
He could tell that she wasn’t happy with it, but Carson did tell her that she was looking good. It wasn’t the same look though and Mandi wanted that need back in his eyes that made her tremble inside.
“Okay, well are you ready to go?”
Carson got up and said that he was. He had almost forgot what they were doing all of it for. It was hard to think straight when she was looking the way she did.
“Yeah I am ready. Why do I feel more nervous than you look?”
She shrugged. “I am not nervous.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have you next to me? How could I be?”
It was a simple answer and one that he really liked. Holding the door open for her, Carson waited for her to pass him and sighed with the smell of her perfume.
“Are you riding in with me?”
She shook her head. “No, I am supposed to be the leader right? So I drive my own. I brought mine down from dad’s house.”
He was surprised that she had her own bike, but every day Mandi was surprising him with something new about her. It was hard not be impressed. Watching her straddle the bike next to his that he hadn’t noticed before, he was thankful that she had changed. He may not have been able to control himself as he had just told her he would. How could any man think with a woman like her around? She was the perfect mix of brains and beauty, with a side of crazy that he needed in his life.
Chapter 6
Mandi looked out at the men in the bar. They had bought out the whole place for the night and since it was one of the normal hangouts, everyone was feeling at home, except the only woman in the midst. Everyone was staring at her and she could see that there was lust in some of their eyes, but she wasn’t feeling respect from any of them. She knew that she had to prove herself to them first and Mandi still wasn’t sure how that was going to happen.
Carson had told her a bit about the way things were ran and the first thing she wanted to do was give them all a raise. She was going to run it as she would any other business and that was always the first thing to draw in loyalty.
Mandi spoke a little about her father and how the gang was started by her grandfather. It was told to remind them that she wasn’t just any girl taking over, it was in her blood. The gang was her family. Carson was proud of her and he watched the other faces and knew that she was striking a chord with the others. She was genuine and even the fact that she was still going to be going to school as a lawyer didn’t seem to bother anyone.
It had gone better than Carson could have thought it was and as they were walking out, he told her so.
“You think? I don’t know. It was kind of strange to tell you the truth. All of those eyes on me. I am really glad I changed. You were right.”
He just nodded. “Well I guess I am going to go back to my house tonight. I know I have been crowded you in and I don’t want to keep you any longer. I am sure you have better things to do than help me.”
Carson tried not to react the way he wanted to. He wanted to tell her no, that she had to stay, but he knew that he wouldn’t. The man realized then how much he wanted her to stay and it surprised him because he had never admitted it to his self. “You don’t have to go.”
“I have to, I know that. I have been using you as a crutch, but there are a lot of things that I need to take care of.”
He wasn’t going to argue with her, but at the same time, he wanted her to come home with him. Carson didn’t even mind the fact that he would be sleeping on the couch. He just wanted her to be there in the morning when he woke up. But she insisted and he watched her drive away before he got on his own bike and made his way out of the city. There was a part of him that wished he had gone after her or made her come back with him, but he knew he had no right. She was now the boss and he wasn’t supposed to think of her like that.
Carson was on his way home when he noticed a sign for a bar that he frequented a lot a few months ago. It seemed like his life was broke up now in the before Mandi and after Mandi category and since she was finally out of the house, Carson knew that he needed to move on. The best place to do that was at Reggie’s with one of the easy girls that frequented. He just needed some release and a few moments that he wasn’t thinking about the blonde that he couldn’t have.
Pulling in front, there were a few women already giving him the eye and he smiled back at them. That was what he was used to and had already seen several women that it wouldn’t be too hard to nudge to leave with him.
Carson took one of the girls home, but he ended up going to bed unsatisfied. She had screamed and moaned, but the whole time he was thinking about Mandi. She was still everywhere in the room and the girl next to him passed out, didn’t even notice that he hadn’t come. It was just as well, he thought to himself.
Sighing and looking up at the fan, he jumped a little when the phone rang and he grabbed it quickly to make sure that the girl didn’t wake up.
“Yes?”
“Hey Carson. I didn’t wake you up, did I?”
“No, not at all. What’s up?”
He was walking out of the room, so he could talk normally.
“I know this is going to sound crazy, but I keep hearing something outside and I was hoping that you could maybe come and check for me?”
“Of course.”
“Carson? Are you coming back to bed?”
He closed his eyes to the women at the doorway and pointed her back towards the bed. She looked like she was going to say something, but instead just went back to the bed with a hurt look on her face.
“Sorry Carson. I didn’t know that you had company. I will let you go. I am sure that it is nothing.”
She hung up, but not before he could hear something in her voice. She was bothered by the idea of him with someone and he was thinking of why that was, when the girl from the bar started asking him to take her home. He got dressed and drove her back to the bar where he had met her so that she could get her car. Carson didn’t even remember her name as she drove away, his mind still only on one girl.
He swung by the boss’ house and waited for her to answer the door. It took several minutes before he heard any stirring on the other side of the door. When she finally answered, he could tell she was a bit shocked to see him there.
“I told you everything was fine.”
Carson moved in, pushing the door in and stopped when he noticed that she was holding a gun.
“What is that for?”
She shrugged. “Just to make sure. I guess that is why I never wanted to get into all of the gang stuff. I will never feel safe here again.”
He felt bad for her then, but she still had the gun in her hand and he wasn’t moving any closer. “So where did you hear something and I will go check for you.”
“No, you have company and I have asked enough of you. My family has asked too much of you.”
“I want you to feel safe Mandi. Show me where and I will take a look.”
She set the gun down on the side table and turned on one of the overhead lights. He noticed that there was a pillow on the couch and he wondered if she had been sleeping there and if she had, why.
“You aren’t staying in your room?”
She shook her head that she wasn’t. As rough and tumble as she was, it was hard for him to remember that a couple of weeks ago she had been a college student. Her whole life had changed and he started to think that she was actually afraid of something. It made him feel guilty for having the girl over when she had needed him.
“No, it’s kind of lonely in this big house now.”
“Then why don’t you stay with me?”
“Because I know that you have a life and you have already helped me so much. Besides, your place is tiny and I saw the way you looked on the couch. It looked miserable.”
It was miserable, but there was nothing else that he would want to do if that meant she would stay with him. He had already come to the conclusion that she was not to be his, but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t be around her.
“It’s not a big deal. I told you before you can stay with me as long as you want.”
She shook her head. “No, what would people think?”
He shrugged, not caring one bit what anyone thought of him. “It doesn’t matter. I just want you to be safe. Your dad always had a bodyguard around, I can be yours.”
“Would you stay here with me? Just for a little while?” Mandi knew that her face looked hopeful and she wished that he would stay. She had called earlier not because she had heard a noise, but because she wanted him to come see her. What she hadn’t been expecting was the speed at which he had gotten another woman in his bed. She had only left him an hour or two before.
“Yes I will stay here as long as you want me too.”
She seemed relieved and Mandi felt like a weight lifted off of her. She had been worried about it and now he had once again saved her. Before she thought about it too much, Mandi had rushed into his arms and thanked him with a kiss on the cheek. She stopped when she caught the look in his eyes and the hardness against her. She pushed away and told him that he could have any room in the house that he wanted.
Carson just followed her, still thinking about her touch and trying to pull himself from thoughts that would get him in trouble.