Rough Justice (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #1)(30)

“Only when I’m trying to protect you.”

She caught the slight irritation in his tone, but she was too far gone to stop her mouth from running on. “So you’ve been trying to protect me every minute since we’ve met?” Liquid heat pooled between her thighs when she felt the hard press of his erection against her stomach. Damn. Her escape attempt had inflamed them both.

“It seems so.”

“Have you forgotten I’m Viper’s daughter? You should be running in the other direction, or tying me up and holding me for ransom.” There. She’d said it. Might as well get it out in the open and discover his true intentions.

His face softened and his gaze slid to her mouth. “I haven’t forgotten a single thing about you, Arianne. Not since the minute we met.”

Enfolded in the semidarkness, his hot, hard body pressed against her, Arianne trembled. As if sensing her arousal, he bent his head and touched his mouth to her cheek, a whisper of lips so fleeting, she wondered if she’d imagined it.

“Come with me.”

She ached to go with him. Wanted him in that moment almost as desperately as she wanted out of Conundrum. But how could she trust her father’s worst enemy when he was bound always to do what was in the best interests of his club? And if that meant sacrificing her, he would. Regardless of his feelings.

“You’ll probably torture me for his secrets.”

“You have my word you’ll be safe with me. No one will hurt you.”

She threw out another objection, something he couldn’t ignore. “You’re putting your club at risk.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No more than it is already. Viper reignited the feud, burned down my clubhouse, and killed one of my men. He knows I’ll seek retribution. Giving sanctuary to Viper’s daughter, helps me further that goal. And I’m duty-bound to protect you from Axle.”

Duty. Not desire. But how could it be otherwise? They barely knew each other.

“Viper will go crazy looking for me.” She tapped her right cheekbone. “The last time I defied him, and it was nothing compared to this, he left me with this scar.”

Jagger stilled, his eyes burning into her cheek like laser beams. Then, as if she’d already agreed, he backed away, clasped her hand, and tugged her toward his bike. “We’re going to the clubhouse.”

“What about the safe house?” Zane’s deep voice cut into the silence. “I told Wheels to go get it ready just before we left the bar.”

Jagger squeezed Arianne’s hand. “She’s coming with us tonight. I’ll take her to Sparky’s tomorrow.”

Arianne paused midstep and shook her hand free. “Jag—”

“Shhhh.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Did you just shhhh me?”

He cupped her jaw with his warm palm and tilted her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze. “This is the part where I’m protecting you, so you’ll have to put up with bossy.” He ran his thumb lightly over her mouth. “And I’ll put up with your lip because—”

“Because my lips are telling you I’m heading out of town as soon as I find my brother,” she said, cutting him off. “My lips are also telling you I didn’t agree to your plan. I’m better off at Dawn’s place. Why risk the repercussions of protecting me when I’m about to leave?”

His gaze, hot and heavy, fell to her mouth and then he leaned down and brushed his lips over hers in the softest kiss. “Say yes, lips.” The soft yet commanding murmur of his voice turned her legs to jelly.

Arianne’s brain fuzzed. Whether from the warm touch of his palm on her cheek, the arousal his kiss sparked in her blood, or the overwhelming desire to feel safe, even if only for a night, she didn’t know. But she wanted to go with him. Wanted it almost as much as she wanted to be free. And yet—

A growling roar in the distance drew Arianne’s attention. But before she had even processed the fact that the faint lights were from motorcycles, Jagger, Cade, and Zane were already on the move.

“Leave the car.” Cade gestured Dawn to his bike. “You’ll never outrun them. I’ll take you home and send a coupla prospects to pick up your vehicle when it’s safe.”

Dawn gazed Arianne a questioning look and Arianne shrugged. Although she felt safe with Jagger, she didn’t know Cade and couldn’t give her bestie the assurance she sought. These men were bikers, after all.

But then, so was Dawn. Once.

With a light laugh, Dawn swung her leg over Cade’s pillion seat. “Rock ‘n’ ride, baby. And if you hurt a hair on my golden head, you’ll be gettin’ a face full of pepper spray. I might be small, but I pack a punch.”

Arianne took one last, lingering look at Dawn’s car and then turned to Jagger. Her heart pounded as the roar of the motorcycles on the highway grew louder. Zane and Cade started their engines, but still she couldn’t move. Everyone she’d trusted in her life had let her down, and now the one person who she should trust the least was asking her to trust him the most.

Seemingly unconcerned by the approaching motorcycles, Jagger squeezed her hand. “You’ll be safe with me, Arianne.”

For an instant she didn’t move. Wanting. Hoping. Then she swung her leg over the back of his bike. “If you’re lying to me, Jagger, I’ll put a knife through your heart.”