Chapter Five

Cash

I've been distracted all day, my mind on the girl I left sleeping this morning. If not for my work overload, I would have gladly stayed all day in bed with her.

"Cash, do you have anything to add?"

Last night was unexpected. I always thought that when Kayla and I got together, I would be the one pushing for it, but the memory of my perfect girl's awkward and equally innocent attempt at seducing me is enough to have my cock growing behind my fly.

Fuck, I want her.

I want to possess that perfect body in every corner of our shared condo the way I have been dreaming of for months, to make her scream my name, so everyone knows she belongs to me.

"Cash, are you listening?"

My eyes shoot up when someone taps my arm. I am surprised to find everyone in the room watching me, and I realize for the first time since joining the Steel Order MC, I have no idea what the hell is being discussed. All the club officials are gathered for church to go over club business, and as the money man, I need to be paying attention.

I clear my voice and turn to Priest, the club's president. He is a large man, who towers over everyone, even the oversized men sitting around the table. We are all big men, most with dark pasts, brought together by our love for bikes and a desire to belong to something greater than ourselves. I consider every last of these men my brothers, and joining the club proved to be the best thing my twin, Riot, and I ever did.

"Sorry, did you say something?" I ask, my eyes on Priest when I do. The man's brows furrow, and I can tell he's surprised by my distraction.

"Yes, I asked if you had anything to add. We are planning on sponsoring a couple of homeless shelters and want to know if we have the funds to make that happen."

"Right," I say, my mind refocusing on work. "I'll crunch some numbers and let you know next week just how much we can put toward that project."

Priest nods. I typically advise only making investments in ventures that bring profit to the club. As cold and unfeeling as that sounds, my mind is on how to bring money into the club, so that we can cut back on the illegal shit that might get us in trouble. However, I know how much this project means to Priest. His girl was kidnapped on her way to a homeless shelter and trafficked before he rescued her. Now he's made it his life's mission to crack down on those taking advantage of the most vulnerable people in our community.

"That's all for today," Priest says, rising, and I can practically read the excitement in his eyes to get away from us and back to his girl. A sentiment I share as I pack up my things, my mind on Kayla.

I grab my bag, ready to leave, when someone grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "Hey, Cash, can I have a word?"

I turn around to find Reaper standing behind me. He is a club enforcer, and a very good one at that. Before joining the club, he used to be a professional hitman, and now he's the club's first line of defense, always willing to run headlong into danger, an attitude that got him shot a few weeks ago. Good thing he sought shelter at a nurse's home who was willing to patch him up.

"What do you need, Reaper?" I ask, turning my full attention on him and resisting the urge to glance at my wristwatch to check the time.

"Well, you see . . . I need some financial advice."

I nod, waiting for him to come out with it. Most of my brothers come to me for financial advice for anything from getting a loan from the club to making personal investments. I don't see Reaper falling into either category, which only has me more intrigued.

"So, what advice do you need?"

"Well, you see, it's about my girl. You know, Holly . . ."

"She's a nurse, right?"

"Right," he nods. "She wanted me to thank you for taking care of the mortgage on her house. I told her it was Priest's way of showing his appreciation for her helping me, and she's one of us now, but she still wants to show her gratitude. I promised I'd pass it along.

"Of course. Like you said, no thanks necessary. It was the least the club could do for her." And it's true. Without Holly's intervention, who knows what would have become of Reaper. Add on what she had to endure when the boss of the man who shot Reaper figured out where he was . . . Yeah, paying off her mortgage is the least we could do for her, and as Reaper's girl, she's one of us now. We take care of our own.

"So, what advice do you need?" I ask, hoping to move the conversation along, but also concerned about Reaper and his girl. "Is she still struggling? I can ask Priest—"

"No, no. Without the weight of the mortgage and with me moved in, we're doing just fine. But I was thinking, you know my job isn't the safest. If the worst happens, I don't want to leave Holly in the same dire straits her aunt was in when her uncle died. I want to make sure she is taken care of. So, I've been looking into some life insurance, but I can't make heads or tails of any of it. I swear they're making it complicated on purpose, and I figured you might be able to help."

I give into the need and glance at my wristwatch, breathing out a resigned sigh when I realize it's way past the time I often show up at the bar. I haven't seen or talked to Kayla since I left our condo, and I need to see her, but then again, I know how much it's taken a prideful man like Reaper to ask for my help.

"The club has policies on all our top officers, including you. Of course, you know the club will take care of her should the worst happen, and I've already added her as a beneficiary to that policy, but it's not a bad idea to have another one just for her. Do you have the paperwork with you?"

"I do," he says, and we sit back down as he shows me the documents he's talking about, and I advise him on the way forward.

I expect it to take a few minutes at best, but we spend at least an hour going through the papers and figuring out what's best for his situation. By the time I am done, it's nearly the end of Kayla's shift.

I ride to the bar faster than I should, and I know if she saw me, Kayla would have something to say about it. It doesn't matter to her how experienced I am with motorcycles, she's just as protective of me as I am of her. The thought makes me smile, until I walk into the bar and don't see Kayla anywhere. I am half afraid she's given up on waiting for me and already left. I grab one of the waitresses that pass by me, and when they turn around, I realize it's the blue-haired girl who is always by Kayla's side whenever I come in.

"Are you looking for Kayla?" she speaks before I can.

"Yes, has she left already?" Fuck, she must be angry at me for not picking her up on time.

"Not yet," the girl says, nodding toward the exit. "Her things are still in her locker, but I saw her just a minute ago walk out with two strange men. They were asking for Kayla by her name, so I think she knows them, but I don't remember seeing them around before."

Two strange men.

Those are the only words I need to hear before I am rushing back out the door, my eyes looking around frantically until a high-pitched shriek has me running toward the dark alley next to the bar.

"What? You're not happy to see us?" I catch a voice before another adds, "We've looking everywhere for our little sister, and this is the thanks we get for caring."

My blood is boiling by the time I make it to the alley, but it quickly turns ice cold when I find Kayla backed against the wall with one of the two men holding her in place. The rage that rockets through me has me coming fist first at the men for so much as daring to touch what is mine. I start with the man holding Kayla, grabbing his collar and thrusting my clenched fist into his ugly mug. He drops to the ground with a cry, but my focus is already on the shorter man, who a few seconds ago was antagonizing Kayla.

"Woah, what the fuck—" He cries out when I grab him by his sweater, ready to wipe his very existence off the face of the earth when Kayla grabs my arm, stopping me.

"D-don't hit him," she pleads shakily, pulling at my arm, but I can't shake the red rage clouding my vision. Just the thought of these men touching . . . hurting . . . scaring the love of my life is enough for me to want to end theirs, but I don't miss the desperation in Kayla's voice.

For the first time since meeting her, I wish that saying no to her wasn't so impossible.

"If you come close to Kayla again, I will kill you." It's not an empty threat, and from the way the shorter man's eyes flash with fear, I can tell he takes my words to heart. "I won't stop next time," I growl, kicking the man's shin just for the hell of it. It's petty of me, but the fact that I couldn't even punch him only makes me angrier.

He limps away, leaving behind his sobbing companion, who quickly gets to his feet when I flash him a glare and disappears into the night as well, leaving me and Kayla behind.

"Cash—"

"Are those the same men you were hiding from last night?" I ask roughly, trying and failing to control my emotions.

"Yes," Kayla whispers quietly beside me, and I want to draw her into my arms, comfort her, and tell her that I will always protect her, but for the life of me, I can't bring myself to do that. I am angry, livid. The memory of some other man touching and threatening what's mine is bad enough, but I am also mad at myself.

If only I'd shown up on time, then no one would have dared lay a finger on her. I would have broken all ten before they touched her, but I was late . . .

Something worse could have happened. I could have lost the one person who means the world to me, and then what?

"Fuck!" I shout, punching the side of the dumpster in frustration since I can't vent my anger on either of the nameless men's faces. Kayla gasps, grabbing my hand before I can do it again, her voice panicked as she steps between me and the offending dumpster.

"Stop, Cash, please," she begs, cupping my jaw with her free hand. "Please don't be mad, they're not worth it."

"I was late," I grind out. "If I'd arrived earlier—"

"No, it's not your fault," she cuts me off, clutching my injured fist to her chest. "Please don't punish yourself for this. I'm not hurt, I swear it."

Her words should be all I need to hear to calm down, but they have the opposite effect.

Her eyes are teary and pleading as they stare up at mine, and it chips at my heart. I have so many questions for her, but at the moment, all I can think of is the fact that someone dared put their hands on her.

I can't move past that.

Kayla must read the conflict in my eyes because she leans up and brushes her mouth softly over mine, a moan escaping her when our lips meet.

"Freckles . . ."

"I've been thinking about this all day," she whispers breathily, licking at her lips, and that's all it takes for the beast in me to take over. I can tell she's trying to distract me from my anger, and . . . it's working.

With a rough growl, I take her mouth with mine in an angry kiss. She whimpers, her lips parting for my hungry tongue as I slide my mouth hotly over hers, drinking up her flavor and scent like I am a drowning man and only she can save me.

"Stop me, baby," I rasp against her lips. "Stop me before I take you right here where anyone could walk by and see us."

"I don't want to." She breathes shakily, a tremble rocking her body when my hands drop to her blouse and I start unbuttoning it. Her breath catches when my fingers flicker over the front clasp of her bra, barely stopping myself before I tear the satin material off her body.

I want . . . No, I need to be inside her right now. My dick is iron hard, pushing against my fly with the need to take this girl in the hardest way. I'm barely clinging to my control, her response to my touch only making it harder for me to do so.

My kryptonite.

"I'm going to fuck you in an alley where anyone could walk by and see us. Are you okay with that?" I say, possessiveness lacing in my voice. She whimpers when I push her bra cups aside to reveal her perky tits, my left palm fondling her pale globes roughly as I watch her flushed face. "Anyone walking by will know exactly what I'm doing to you." Her back arches when I pinch a pink nipple between my knuckles and tug gently. My eyes drop to her chest, my mouth watering with the urge to lean down and taste the buds. "They'll hear you moaning my name."

"I . . . I don't care," she manages, a tremble racking her body when I lean down and suck her nipple lightly into my hungry mouth. "I . . . I want that, want them to know. Need you."

"Good," I say after releasing the wet nipple with a pop then brushing my thumb over the damp bead. "Because I need to be inside you, Kayla."

I drop my hand to her thighs and tug the hem of her work skirt up to her hips before slipping my hand between her legs. A rough moan builds up in my chest when I slide my middle finger over her panties to find them soaked.

Her breath saws in and out when I slide my finger into her panties to her slick folds. She bucks against me when my middle and index fingers rub circles over the sensitive nub. She wraps her arms over my shoulders and pushes needily against my hand when I slide a thick digit into her wet hole.

"Fuck, baby, how can you still be so tight," I say between clenched teeth, fighting with everything I have to not come in my jeans as her tight sex pulses hungrily over my finger. "And so fucking wet, you're practically dripping down my fucking hand."

"Need you," she hums dazedly, whimpering when I withdraw my finger before yanking down her panties. I tear them off completely and stuff them into my jacket pocket. My hungry eyes stay on her as I unzip my jeans and push them down, along with my briefs. She gasps and clings tightly to me when I lean down and wrap my hands under her thighs, lifting her completely off the ground. Our breaths mingle hotly with each other as she wraps her legs around my waist.

My mouth collides with hers in a hot feral kiss when I pin her to the wall, holding her up with one hand and using the other to guide my swollen cock to her sex. She whimpers against my lips when I press the tip of my erection over her trembling pussy, rubbing the crown over her and gathering her arousal.

"I don't care how loud you are or who you attract with your moans," I rasp against her lips. "There is no stopping me from taking you hard and rough once I start."

"Yes," she answers hoarsely, her body trembling against mine and practically begging for my cock. Her pussy quivers when I bring my shaft to her hole, and that's all the warning she gets before I plunge my thickness into her tightness.

Fuuuck. Oh fuck!

Her back arches and lips part on a scream as I impale her to the wall.

I almost go blind from the pleasure that shoots up my spine, her snug sex pulsing hotly around my cock makes it so hard for me to not spill immediately. She's so fucking tight, it's like our first time together all over again; it's a miracle I manage to hang onto my control.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Her eyes are glassy when they lock on mine, and her sultry gaze alone is enough to send me to the edge, but I refuse to tip over. I drop my hand back on her ass and grip her perfect mounds as I start moving, slowly at first.

Perhaps I was a bit rough last night, and this time, I could be a little gentler with my girl, but . . .

Fuck, there is no way to make this gentle and romantic.

We are in a dimly lit alley with my jeans bunched around my ankles, her skirt around her waist, and her tits out and bouncing as my aching cock pulses inside of her tight pussy. My body is strung tight with the need to rut her like a beast. No, there is no way of making this anything more than two desperate people fucking like animals.

"Harder, Cash," Kayla implores, echoing my thoughts, and like with everything else when it comes to this girl, I listen.

"You're mine, Kayla," I rasp, pulling back before railing into her so hard, she cries out in pleasure. Her fingers dig into my shoulder and no doubt leave a bruise, but neither of us can think past the pleasure when I start driving my cock into her. Her tits shake with every impact, her breathing growing choppier as I pump into her in rough, unmeasured moves. "Anyone else who touches you is a dead man."

"Yes!" she cries, her eyes unfocused as I thrust into her.

"Mine. Going to fill your little cunt with my seed and send you back in there to get your stuff with my cum trickling down your thighs."

"Oh, God!" she whimpers, her sex pulsing around me as I buck into her wildly. My fingers bite into her skin as my hips slap against hers. The sound is obscene, but it sends my spine twisting and balls aching with the need to come.

"So close," I gasp, my eyes locking with her perfect brown ones, and I easily read the desire in them. The same desire I want to see every morning when I wake up for the rest of our lives. I want her to always look at me the way she is right now, and when we are well into our old age, I know I will still want her like I do now. She's it for me. "I love you."

I don't mean to say the words so soon or under such circumstances, but I don't dare take them back. I have loved this girl for months. Hell, I fell for her the second I met her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Perhaps some dirty alleyway is not the right spot for such a confession, but it's no less true.

"I love you," I repeat for the hell of it, the words sounding even more right the second time.

Her sex cinches hard around me, and she seizes for a moment before she starts trembling uncontrollably against me, her lips parting on a cry as she climaxes, taking me by surprise. I barely have time to grasp what just happened before my own orgasm hits. I bury my face into her neck with a hoarse growl, slamming hard into her as I spill my seed into her womb. Her sex pulses hotly around mine, milking me of every drop until I am spent and our bodies relax.

"Oh, my God," she breathes, her arms tightening around my shoulders even when I let her legs drop. "I'm sure everyone heard us."

Oh, I have no doubt about it, but I don't care. "You don't have to be embarrassed. No one will know it's you," I assure her, much calmer now that I've had an outlet for my emotions.

"I'm not embarrassed," she says, but when I push back to look at her, it's to find her cheeks flushed. "Okay, I am a little embarrassed, but that was hot. We should do it again," she adds shyly.

"We will when we get home, but first, you and I need to talk," I say firmly, straightening our clothes. "Now go get your stuff. I'll be waiting by my bike."

Kayla bites her bottom lip as she buttons her blouse, and I am tempted to push her back against the wall and take her again, but I hold the beast at bay. I can wait a few minutes to jump her again for Christ's sake.

She starts to leave but stops before she goes far, turning around to face me. Her beauty steals my breath away, and not for the first time, I question how I was lucky enough to land someone as perfect as Kayla.

"Do you want me to walk you in?" I offer when I notice her hesitation.

She shakes her head, her blond hair whipping about as she does so. "I just . . . I want you to know that I love you too," she whispers, her soft voice proving to be my undoing. "You're the most important person in my life."

With those words, she turns around and disappears into the night, leaving me frozen in place, unable to move a muscle. I craved the words from her but never expected to hear them so soon, and now that she's uttered them, I realize I am a goner.

There is nothing I would not do for this woman.