Viper's Demands (Ruthless Sinners MC 8)

I expected her to protest. Instead, she whipped around, snatched her purse from the table, then stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her. Unable to resist, I shouted, “Have a great day, Karen!”

I was positively livid, and I took it out on my furniture as I finished dusting the rest of the house. I was still angry as I headed into the kitchen and started pulling out everything I’d need to make dinner. Since it was cold and rainy outside, I decided I’d make us a pot of chicken and dumplings.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or the patience to make them from scratch, so I used a can of biscuits for the dumplings and prayed they’d turn out as well as they did the last time I’d made them.

Once I had everything together, I went upstairs and called Celeste to ask about her big date. I was pleased to hear it went better than she’d hoped. Apparently, they had a real connection, and she was looking forward to a second date in the very near future.

Since she was still floating high from her amazing date, I decided not to rant about my crazy conversation with Joyce. Instead, I told her about my night with Thatch and how we were getting together again in a few hours.

After a round of twenty questions, I asked her advice on what to wear, but as usual, she told me what I wore didn’t matter. Then, she reminded me of the flannel pajamas, and I quickly realized she was right.

As soon as we got off the phone, I took a shower and started to get ready. I decided to keep it simple with a pair of black leggings and a long sweater. I straightened my hair, put on a little makeup and some earrings, and then I rushed downstairs to check on dinner.

I’d barely made it into the kitchen when I heard a knock at the door. Fearing they might burn, I gave the chicken and dumplings a quick peek and turned off the heat before heading into the living room to answer it.

I was expecting to find Thatch standing on my front steps, and it was indeed him, but this wasn’t the Thatch I imagined.

This Thatch stole my breath.

I had no idea what he was wearing.

I didn’t care.

I was solely focused on his handsome face.

His thick beard was gone, and for the first time, I could see his chiseled jawline and every inch of his ever-so-sexy full lips.

My God. He was absolutely divine.

His eyes seemed darker, more intense, and they were fixed on mine. I had no idea how long I’d been standing there gawking at him when I finally managed to mutter, “Wow, you look ... so different.”

“You think it looks okay?”

“Oh, yeah.” I stepped over to him, placing my hands on his cheeks, and gently ran the pad of my thumb across his bottom lip as I whispered, “It looks good. Really, really good.”

“So, you approve?”

“I definitely do.”

“You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna have to take you to bed, and we’re never gonna finish that Rocky movie.”

I never took my eyes off him. “Umm, okay.”

“I tried to warn you.”

His lips curled into a wide smile as he leaned down and lifted me into his arms. He kicked the door shut, then immediately carried me into the bedroom. When he reached the edge of the bed, he slowly lowered my feet to the floor as he whispered, “This isn’t what I had planned for tonight.”

“Me either, but I’m not complaining.”

He lowered his mouth to my neck, and warmth radiated from the spot where his lips had touched my skin and slowly spread throughout my entire body.

His eyes were locked on mine as he reached for the hem of my sweater, carefully pulling it over my head, and I could feel the little sparks of static dancing over my skin. Those sparks, mixed with the heat of his hungry stare, lit a fire deep within me—and I knew then this time was going to be different.

This time wasn’t about just getting off or relieving stress.

It was about enjoying the moment, soaking in the details, and relishing every single pleasured sensation—something I’d often dreamt about but never believed would happen.

His eyes drifted over my breasts, pausing ever-so-briefly as he came across one of my larger scars. Embarrassed, I started to bring my arms up and shield myself from his view, but stopped when I saw the way he was looking at me.

It wasn’t repulsion or disgust in his eyes.

It was lust.

Pure, unadulterated lust.

His strong, confident hands slipped behind my back, and my entire body trembled as he unfastened my bra, letting the lace fabric fall to the ground. I could feel the heat of his breath tickle against my skin as he whispered, “You truly are a beautiful woman, Rebecca.”