Viper (Hell's Handlers MC 9)

In her defense, it was three in the morning and Sarge’s erratic behavior brought the dreaded night in Marco’s bar to the surface. She hadn’t handled the shock well and yes, she’d baited Sarge. Swallowing the idea of Sarge as a president would be a difficult task. She’d seen the worst of the man and though his behavior had mellowed as they’d all matured, the occasionally unpredictable and foul tempered man still lived in Sarge’s body. Maybe Viper as a VP would be perfect for the club. He had a way of reaching Sarge not many could claim. They’d been through so much shit together, Sarge trusted Viper above all else. Viper would work to keep Sarge rational, mellow, and help lead the club in the right direction.

Ugh, she really owed Viper an apology. Cassie rose from the table and slogged toward the phone, dragging her feet. Just as she lifted it from the cradle, a flash of Viper shouting at her to go upstairs crossed her mind.

“I may owe him an apology,” she said aloud as she slammed the phone back down. “But he was a total dick and owes me one too.”

And that was the damn truth.

Her empty stomach cramped, but the thought of eating so much as a bite had her wanting to hurl. Food, sleep, rational thinking, it’d all gone out the window the past few days. She just felt so rotten and hollow inside. If this little relationship hiatus had taught her anything, it was that she had no desire to live her life without Viper.

But did he feel the same?

Or was he relieved? Glad to be rid of the stone he’d had in his shoe for the past five years? Maybe Sarge’s words had wormed their way into Viper’s brain like a parasite and were feeding off his love for her. Destroying it one bite at a time.

Oh, my God, could I be more melodramatic?

She needed to stop obsessing and the only way for that to happen was to talk to Viper. Fear washed over her at the thought of being rejected by the man she loved, but this state of limbo was going to put her in a nut house.

Her stomach cramped again.

Or in the ER with an ulcer.

With a weighted sigh, Cassie grabbed her purse and started for the door. She yanked the front door open only to be propelled backward.

Her back hit the wall with a thunk as callused hands framed her face. “Viper,” she whispered, letting her purse fall to the ground. It seemed he’d grown even more handsome in the few days since she’d seen him. The muscles she loved so much strained the fabric of the olive-green Henley under his cut and his beard looked so soft she wanted to rub her cheek against it. The physical ache of missing him grew tenfold.

Could she touch him? Did he still want her? Or would he reject her, crushing her into dust.

“I can’t stay away from you for another minute,” he ground out right before he kissed her. It was a quick but fierce meeting of lips. Then he did it again and again. Viper didn’t stop, kissing her over and over with these sharp but swift kisses. “Fuck, I love you, Cassie,” he said between kisses. He trailed his mouth from her lips to her ear, pausing to nip her jaw. “It’s been too long since I’ve touched you. Way too fucking long. I’m dying without you.”

Yes.

Cassie let out a whimper as her knees weakened along with her resolve. The relief at hearing he felt the same torment she did wrecked her. She could so happily spend the rest of her life right there against Marilyn’s wall, kissing Viper.

But it solved nothing except her desire to be touched by the man. “Viper…”

He blew out a breath as he rested his forehead against hers. “I know. We need to talk first.”

He looked about as awful as she felt. Scruffy beard, circles under his eyes, rumpled white T-, uncombed hair, the works. Knowing he suffered as she did destroyed any prideful need to hear him apologize first.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as tears filled her eyes. “I freaked. Then I baited him. And then I freaked some more. And then I acted like a total bitch.”

“Shhh.” He placed a gentle hand over her mouth. “There’s only one asshole here who needs to apologize, and it’s not you, baby. There’s no excuse for the way I spoke to you and treated you. I’m so sorry, Cassie. I can tell you I was tired, overwhelmed, and freaking out a little myself, but none of that matters. I’m just so goddammed sorry and I’ve missed you every second you’ve been gone. I should have called. I was a prideful fucking idiot.”

She pulled his hand down, linking her fingers through his. “I get it, Viper. I’ve lived club life for the past five years with you. Long enough to know I can’t put my nose in it. I know you tell me far more than I’m supposed to know, and I let that go to my head.”