Rake's Redemption (Wind Dragons MC #4)(11)

Talon’s eyes widen at that, and all of a sudden, I’m feeling a little sober too. Why did she have to bring up his name?

“Well, if she has such bad taste in men, I’m sure I’m right up her alley,” he says, lips twitching.

Slice chuckles at that, sending an amused look in my direction. “Ain’t that the truth.”

I hold up my hand. “In my defense, it was years ago. I like to think I’ve grown since then.”

“All is fair in sex and *,” Slice adds, then sends a flirty look in Lana’s direction.

“Tracker will murder you,” Anna grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest. “No, he’s going to murder me, and so is my brother and my man when they find out how tonight turned out.”

I gape. “You said Rake wouldn’t find out!”

She cringes, then tries to play if off by waving her hand in the air. “It will be fine. I can handle my brother.”

I open my mouth and then close it. It is what it is. “If shit is going to start over this, we might as well go out with a bang.”

When Talon murmurs his approval, I narrow my gaze on him. “Not that kind of a bang. Drinks and dancing maybe. Either of you two up for some karaoke?”

Slice looks like I’ve offended him with just the thought, but Talon throws his head back and laughs. “I like you, Bailey. I’ll tell you what. One kiss and then I’ll sing any duet you want.”

Unconsciously, my eyes lower to his delicious-looking, full lips.

He’s handsome, yes, but I feel nothing.

Why do I feel nothing?

Am I broken?

When was the last time I had a proper kiss? A consuming, melting, mouthwatering, panty-wetting kiss? The sad thing is, the last person to kiss me like that was Adam.

Fuck it.

“Deal,” I blurt out.

Four pairs of eyes, suddenly all on me.

“What?” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “He’s cute.”

“So are you,” Talon rasps, his tone making me look at him. He licks his bottom lip, his eyes smoldering. “Come here.”

“How about you come here?” I say in a sultry voice I didn’t know I possessed.

Talon grins, eyes heated, and comes closer.

“Bailey!” I hear Anna growl over Slice’s laughter and Lana’s soft “Uhh, Bailey?”

I ignore them all.

If I want a kiss, then I’m going to get one. I’ll let future me worry about any possible consequences. When Talon grabs my face in his large warm hands and slants his lips on mine, I block everything else out.

Everything except his lips.

His spicy scent.

His tongue.

Yeah, it’s a good kiss.

Great, even.

But it’s not an Adam kiss.

Not for the first time, I think that maybe the man has broken me. Ruined me for any other. Determined not to let the bastard win, I deepen the kiss with Talon and let my hands wander over his muscled back. He makes a deep growling sound, which brings me back to reality, reminding me that people are indeed watching us make out right now.

Then I hear a familiar voice, and I just know I’m now in deep shit.

And I’ve brought everyone down with me.

“What the f*ck?” I hear Adam growl. I pull away from Talon and look up into the angry eyes of Adam, Arrow, and Tracker.

Fuck.

His gaze doesn’t leave mine. A muscle in his jaw repeatedly tenses, and his hands are clenched to fists.

He looks pissed.

And I mean pissed.

Yeah, tonight was one huge f*cking mistake.

Adam didn’t want me around his family, and no matter what Anna said, tonight shouldn’t have happened. I don’t want to cause a rift between the two of them. And I don’t want to fight with Adam, because I just know that old shit is going to resurface. That’s the last thing I need. And, I definitely shouldn’t have kissed Talon knowing he has some beef with Adam.

I should have sat my ass at home and played Monopoly with Cara, Tia, and Rhett.

“Pretty sure I told you to stay away from my family,” Adam growls at me. He glances next to me, his mouth tightening at Talon. “And you. I let you live because of Anna, but don’t f*ckin’ push me.”

Talon simply raises an eyebrow, looking . . . amused? Are these men all insane? “I’m sitting here enjoying the company of a beautiful woman who isn’t with any of the men in your club. I fail to see what you’re so f*cking angry about, Rake.”

Anna stands up, her face pale. “Rake, wait. I’m the one who—”

“Stay out of this, Anna,” Adam growls, eyes steady on me. The way he is—his body posture, the menace pouring off him—it’s like the Adam I used to know times a hundred.

I don’t miss the way Arrow scowls at Adam’s tone when addressing Anna, and takes a protective step in her direction.

That right there is what I wish I had.

But no one is going to protect me.

I see the sexy bald guy from the bar storm up to us. “Take this outside, now. Or Reid will be here to kick everyone’s ass.”

Arrow looks at the man, who takes a step back. Yeah, I wouldn’t want to mess with Arrow either. Still, I guess the men respect Reid and his bar, because they grab their women and make an exit. Thinking I’m now free to jump in a taxi and get the hell out of here, I jump in surprise when Adam grabs me by the upper arm and pulls me to his side.