Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(19)
“Appreciate the concern but it’s not like that,” I bit back. “She’s nobody.”
“Oh she’s somebody,” he confirmed, as he peered at me hugging his bottle. “And we’re all fucked once you realize that.”
There was no sense arguing with Blackie, no point in telling him that Reina was just some broad who served me coffee. I was the fucking president of these men, this was my club, my territory and they answered to me.
“You think I don’t know what you say behind my back?” He asked, his eyes roaming around the clubhouse. “What you all truly think about me? You pity the sucker I am for grieving over a woman who you all think doesn’t deserve my grief. You judge me because I fell for a woman, got fucked over by her and then lost myself when I lost her. She wasn’t always a junkie and the only reason she ever became one was because of me and the life I exposed her too. She looked as pure and as innocent as the doe-eyed woman that came here to deliver you a goddamn pie.”
“I don’t pity you any more than you pity me,” I insisted. I knew Blackie’s concern came from a good place, and he was right, he had seen me through a lot of dark days. The man had my back when my boy died. He stood up and defended me when my illness came to light. He made sure my daughter was cared for when I had to do a bid for a weapons charge. Blackie was closer to me than my real brother.
“You’re wrong. None of us judge what you feel. You’re entitled, and like you’re concerned for me, every one of us here is concerned that you love that bottle as much as your woman loved the needle.” He reared his hand back, fire in his eyes at the mention of his wife. I twisted my cheek, offered it up to him. “Go ahead, if it makes you feel something, anything other than the shit you feel every day.”
I like to think I had returned the favor; that I was there for him when his wife died. But like I depended on my meds he depended on his liquor.
“That woman you saw tonight is nobody, you hear me? But you’re right, she isn’t made for this life, not meant to be part of this club.”
“Then she’s not meant for you because your life is this club,” Blackie interjected.
I stared at him for a moment, allowing his words to stir before I tipped my chin toward him.
“I think we’re about done here,” I stated, sucking in a breath.
“Then I guess we are,” he agreed, bringing his hand to his forehead in mock salute of me.
“Go easy on that shit,” I said, before turning around and stalking through my club, straight out the door.
Defiance.
It was the one thing in life I excelled at.
So I did what I did best, I defied the truth, defied the facts and instead I did whatever the fuck I wanted. And right now I wanted Reina.
It didn’t take me long to ride to her complex, keeping with the mantra and defying speed limits. I turned off my bike and threw my leg over, lifting my head staring at the building she lived in. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing anymore. One minute I was looking for a way to kill Jimmy and make him pay for what he did to Danny. The next I was chasing after his fucking girl. I should listen to Blackie, get my head together and steer clear of Reina but all that goodness she radiated was something I wanted to taste.
I rapped my knuckles against her door before roughly threading my fingers through my hair. The door opened, and I lifted my head to stare into her shocked eyes. She was wearing make-up, and miles of blonde hair sat on the top of her head in a messy bun, pulling it away from her face. My eyes roamed the length of her, taking in the tight jeans that molded her legs and clung to her hips. The black tank top she wore was also tight and form fitting, giving me the first real chance to check out her tits. The desire to rip her shirt to shreds washed over me. I heard myself growl and instantly lifted my eyes to hers as she tried to close the door.
I stuck my boot in the doorway preventing her from pushing me away and stared at her like an animal seeking its prey.
“Give it up, sunshine,” I rasped. “I came here for a fucking reason and I’m not leaving until I get it.”
And I decided right then, the reason I showed up at her place was to get a taste of the goodness that was Reina.
Chapter Nine
Her eyes peered into mine, scared and uncertain. Damn if that didn’t set something off inside of me. I was a twisted fuck, torn between hating the idea that I scared her and getting off on it just as much.
“Jack,” she whispered, gripping the door, knuckles fading to white as she stared down at my boot.
“Like the way you say my name, Sunshine,” I ground out, placing my hand on the doorknob and throwing my weight into it as it fell open and she stumbled back. Her gasp excited me, the perfect O her lips formed had my dick stirring to life and encouraged me to keep at her. I kicked the door closed with the heel of my boot. For every step I took, she took one away from me. I took two long strides toward her, caging her in once her back hit the wall.
“Don’t,” she ordered, her voice struggling to sound stern. “You come any closer and I will scream,” she said, through clenched teeth as she brushed away the tendrils of hair that fell into her eyes.
My lips quirked, “That’s the plan, baby.” I bit my lip and shook my head, drowning in visions of Reina throwing her head back and screaming out for me to fuck her hard. Her tongue sneaked out of her mouth, running along the seam her perfect lips. My dick liked that subtle move—liked it a lot. I reached down, cupped my erection through my jeans and moaned, never tearing my eyes from hers.