Final Ride (Lords of Mayhem 4)

“You want me to flatter you, Hilary?”

“What? No.” She glanced at him, mortified. Can he see how much I want to toss him down on the bed and ride him to completion? Her face grew hot.

“Just checking. Because I can be very nice when I have a mind to. That’s one thing you need to remember. You treat me with respect and I’ll do the same for you. This situation isn’t ideal, but it’s necessary. We both know that. The things I’ll ask you to do are for your safety. I’m going to be straight with you and say right now, you’re not going to like them.”

Her stomach bottomed. “I’m not going to like what?”

“The way you’ll become invisible and be treated like property. House mice are generally seen and not heard. They don’t talk back, and they don’t assert themselves, which is always going to be your first instinct. You need to bury that deep. This is to keep you safe. They tracked you down and tried to take you out once. We want to make it harder for them find you. ”

“You make this sound like some Master-slave type relationship. We were freed by Lincoln, you know?”

Hawk snickered. “See that right there.” He pointed. “I like your spunk. But it has no place in this world, not with the role you’re playing, and you’d better learn to play it well. First thing you need is a crash course in all things M.C. I’ll have Fancy and a few of the other girls talk to you.”

“I’ve been around long enough to get the p

icture, Hawk.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Not as a house mouse. Your girls are old ladies; there’s a world of difference in those positions. You need to look the part too.”

“Look the part?” she said.

“As much as I love those curls, they have to go. They’re like a signature thing with you, and dye wouldn’t hurt.”

Her hand flew up to pat at her tendrils. “Dye! Straighten. No I can’t.”

“You can and you will, Harpy.”

“Who’s going to make me?” she asked, desperate to take back some of the life being ripped from her hands.

“Me if I have to.” He took a few steps forward, pausing a few inches from her body. She looked up. “See I have this theory that you’re in need of a good spanking. So I wouldn’t put me to the test.” His voice deepened, and she pressed her thighs together to relieve the pressure building between her legs.

“I don’t need to be manhandled into doing what you want.” She clenched her jaw, ignoring the quivering going on in her belly. No one had ever spoken to her like this. A part of her liked it. Her nipples hardened. Maybe a little too much.

“Oh, I think you need to be handled pretty badly.” His minty breath caressed her face, stirring curls of her hair.

“You don’t know what I need.”

“Do you?” He arched a brow.

“I used to think so,” she whispered. The events of the day caught up with her and the fight seeped from her body. Her shoulders slumped, and self-doubt attacked like an invading army who’d found a weakness in a fortress.

“Hey you’ve been through some shit today. It’s a lot to take in.” Hawk’s voice softened, and the kindness was her undoing. Her eyes watered, and her lower lip trembled. Do not cry in front of him. Do not cry in front of him. He sank down beside her and wrapped an arm around her side. “Sit, breathe, relax. You didn’t bargain for this kind of trouble. It’s okay to let down your walls, babe. We got you. You’re Mayhem. I didn’t mean to freak you out. But I want to make sure you understand how serious this is. We need to play it to the letter.”

“I get it. I do.” She swallowed air, evening out her breathing and blocking the tears that wanted to fall. “I’m good now. Thank you.” She cleared her throat, embarrassed. The last thing I needed was the V.P. of Mayhem seeing me about to dive head first off the deep end. He probably thinks I’m some sort of liability.

“Look at me, so I know you’re here with me right now.”

She glanced up and fell into the brown pools of his eyes. “We’ll get through this, all right? Don’t fall apart on me now. You’re a tough broad. I admire that. Don’t let these bastards pull the rug out from beneath you. We will be your muscle as long as you follow the rules.”

She bit back her acidic reply and nodded her head. He was right. Without their help she’d be a sitting duck.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Stage an unexpected yet totally believable trip for the people in your life who’d worry. Leave, but pay with cash only so there’s no trail. During that time we’ll do a bait and switch. You’ll get a makeover and come and live with me.”

“And then what?”

“When you’re in our house or in the club around Mayhem members, whatever you want. I’m not your slaver. Around anyone else, however, you play your role.”