Viper (Hell's Handlers MC 9)

If he was honest, Viper was starting to feel disloyal. When he’d patched in, just two fucking nights ago, he’d sworn to do anything and everything asked of him by the club. He’d sworn in blood, to shed more blood to protect his brothers if necessary. He’d vowed nothing would ever come before the club. He’d keep no secrets from his brothers. He’d value nothing or no one above his brothers. The oath wasn’t spoken lightly or until a prospect had proven in action what they’d say in words the night they patched in.

And damn if he hadn’t fucking meant every single syllable when then fallen from his tongue.

Had he known the first test of his commitment would be the one act he couldn’t condone, he never would have made those vows. Because he had taken them seriously. Even if he’d bailed like the boat was fucking sinking. Bottom line, he had to live in this skin for the rest of his years, and if he spent those years trafficking women, he’d end up eating his gun before his thirtieth birthday.

As he’d stared at Vanessa’s lifeless body in that damned casket, he’d made a promise to her as well, and that vow trumped his club oath. It shouldn’t have, but it did. If it was in his power to stop it, he’d never let a rapist go unpunished.

A soft throat clearing jolted him out of his head.

Cassie stood next to the bed wrapped in the thin motel towel. Jesus, the thing barely covered her from tits to snatch. Both hands clutched the flimsy terrycloth where it tucked closed at the center of her chest. Her damp hair hung even longer with the weight of the water. God, he loved long hair. Loved to feel it sliding all over his bare skin. And long red hair? Pft…his fucking kryptonite. Then there were those innocent green eyes, peering down at him, uncertainty clear as day. But they held trust too, and that made him want to prove himself worthy of her faith.

“You good?” he asked once he found his voice.

Her chin dipped in a nod. “W-Will you have sex with me?”

If she’d asked him to slit Sarge’s throat in his sleep, Viper couldn’t have been more shocked.

“What?” He said, struggling to sit up now that he had a fucking telephone pole between his legs.

Her throat worked as she swallowed, sending a bead of water trailing down her neck and chest until it disappeared. Absorbed by the fabric of the towel. Viper could practically see her shoring up her courage before she spoke again. “We’re on the run,” she said as though that explained everything. A huff of frustration left her. “Look, yes, my family has money and yes I’m a virgin, though I have no idea how these assholes knew that, but I’m not some wide-eyed innocent. I’ve done…stuff. And I’ve read books. Hell, I’ve watched porn. I’m not stupid. If they catch us, I know exactly what will happen to me,” she whispered. “Someone psycho out there is about to be very pissed when I don’t show up. Someone with a lot of money who very well might have the resources to find me.”

He frowned. How worried was she? “You don’t think we can protect you? You don’t think I can protect you?”

She shifted, biting her plump lower lip. Viper groaned as he fucking felt those lips surround his aching cock. Why the fuck did she have to be so sexy?

“That’s not it. It’s just…” She sighed, shoulders drooping. “There are two of you against a whole club out for your blood. I just want to be prepared if something goes wrong. If they get me, if they come pounding on that door in a few hours, I want to have the knowledge of how good a man can make me feel. I want to know that sex is not just what they’ll do to me. I—I want to be able to close my eyes and remember what it was like to lose my mind from pleasure. And I want you to be the one to give that to me.”

Jesus fuck, how was he supposed to deny her?

Shit. He was going to cave.

“Cassie,” he said on a groan. There was no way she didn’t notice the thick bulge about to burst through his denim.

She held up a hand, tucking her elbow into her side to hold the towel in place. “It’s not just that. I want you. You have to know how hot you are. I feel safe with you. Drawn to you. When you touched me before—”

Fuck it. He wasn’t even anything nearing a goddamned saint. Cassie was an adult. She’d asked for it. Asked for him.

Viper shot to his knees, grabbed two handfuls of her gorgeous wet hair and crushed his mouth to hers.