Rough Justice (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #1)(57)

Sweat trickled between her breasts and her mouth went dry, but as menacing as he was, the fate she might suffer at his hands couldn’t compare to what faced her if she lost the match. “I’m in the middle of a game. I’m up three to two in a best of three.”

“It’s over.”

Damnit to hell. With his men watching and the civilians shooting surreptitious glances their way, she couldn’t tell him to back off and let her finish the game. He’d likely just throw her over his shoulder and storm out the door, and any hope of inveigling him in the future would be lost. No, this called for a subtler approach.

She wiggled free, then leaned over and took her shot, just scraping the outer edge of the ball, making it spin and then curve into the side pocket. A trick shot. Risky, but she needed to make a point.

Jagger grunted. “Impressive.”

“I have five grand riding on this game.” She kept her voice low. “I’m here for business, not pleasure.”

Jagger twisted his hand through her hair, tugging her head back until she was looking up at him over her shoulder. Then he leaned down and brushed his lips over her ear. “I don’t think you understand what it means to be mine.”

She nuzzled her nose against the deliciously rough bristles of his cheek, inhaling his scent of leather and musky male, hoping to distract him. “And I don’t think you understand who you think you’ve claimed.”

He growled, a low, possessive, entirely thrilling sound. “Don’t push me, sweetheart. This is as far as I go.”

Her heart pounded in time to ZZ Top’s “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide now playing through the speakers.” Over in the corner, she spotted Peter waving his pool cue and gesturing at her while T-Rex and Wheels held him back.

“I have only two balls left and then a quick meet with Bunny and I’m free to go. I get where you’re coming from, but this is important to me. I need to finish playing, and I need to win.”

Jagger reacted as if she’d slapped him, his body jerking back. He grabbed her shoulder, pulling her up and spinning her to face him. “That’s why you came here? You’re involved with f*cking Bunny?”

She bit her lip but held his gaze. “We have a business arrangement, but first there was a matter of a debt to clear. If I win, the debt goes and we deal. I gave my word.”

His face contorted into a fierce scowl. “And if you lose?”

I have to suck his dick. The words danced on the tip of her tongue and she amused herself, imagining what would happen if she told him. But that wouldn’t be fair to Bunny. He didn’t deserve to die tonight. Instead, she said, “That’s between him and me.”

Wrong thing to say, judging from Jagger’s scowl. So she turned her back, lifted her cue, and made her call. It wasn’t going to be easy. The cue ball lay over a ball, and she would have to shoot the length of the table off angle. “One ball in the corner pocket.”

Jagger’s eyes widened. “You got a jacked-up shot there. You really think you can shoot off angle?”

Seizing on his curiosity, she smiled. “Watch.”

Her shot was perfect. The one ball slammed home and Cade whistled in appreciation.

Jagger curled his hand around her neck and pulled her close. “You’re mine means you don’t need to meet with people like Bunny. But you made a deal and you gave your word, so I’ll respect that. Finish your game. But I handle Bunny. He owes you, I collect. You owe him, I shoot him between the f*cking eyes. Not doing this because I don’t think you can handle him. I know you can. But Bunny needs to understand we got your back.”

Every inch of her body protested his intent to take control of the situation, but she bit back her words, gritted her teeth, and nodded her agreement. Jagger wasn’t an ordinary man who might be cajoled or persuaded. Just like Viper, he was a king, used to giving orders and having them followed without question. She’d wrung a concession from him that Viper would never have given, and if she wanted to maintain her advantage, she would have to play the game.

“I like the part about shooting him between the eyes,” she said lightly, trying to hide the quaver in her voice. “Because I have a feeling, deal or no deal, word or not, you won’t be down with what I agreed to do if I lose.”

He brushed his knuckles over her cheek, and pleasure rippled down her spine. “Like it when you play nice, but don’t think for a second I wouldn’t drag you out of here and throw you on my bike if that’s what I want to do.” He held her gaze, his dark eyes burning into her soul. “I have reasons for letting you stay that have nothing to do with that smart sassy mouth.”

“You’re just dying to see me make the next shot.”

Jagger laughed and released her, then settled himself on a chair at the end of the pool table, legs spread, arms folded across his chest. All alpha. All the time.

Arianne looked over her shoulder and bit her lip. “What are you doing?”

“Watchin’ what’s mine.”

“This isn’t your ass, Jagger.”

The look he gave her, sensual, sinful, sent a wave of molten lava pounding through her veins. “You are mine, Arianne. And later, I’m gonna make sure you understand just what that means.”





THIRTEEN

Members may not involve old ladies in club business without prior consent of the president or they will get an ass-kicking.