Page 12 of Talon (Road Rebels MC 2)
But the bathroom door opening ripped me from my thoughts. Calista came in and smiled at me, then locked the door before she leaned against it. She walked over to me, backing me up against the wall before her hand pressed into my chest, and I grabbed her wrist before she made another move.
“If you wanna make this look legitimate, you’re gonna have to muss up my hair or something,” she said.
Even though I hated the idea of putting my lips on her and erasing Gemma’s imprint, I knew she was right. She pried my hand from her wrist and put it in her hair, and I fisted it hard. I reached my hand up and smeared some of the makeup on her face, making it look like I had kissed her roughly. It needed to be obvious what had gone down in here.
Just in case someone did come by to clock her.
She stared up at my face, and I knew she wanted to kiss me. But I wasn’t going to allow that. I would not do that to Gemma. Gemma was the one I wanted to be with, and no woman would ever compare to her.
I pulled my face away from Calista’s, and she was panting. She dropped to her knees and undid my pants, feverishly pulling them down my legs as I wrenched her up.
I spun her around and pinned her against the wall and saw the dazed look in her eye like she had been brainwashed or temporarily taken over.
I released her without another word said and pulled my pants back up my body. I pulled out the wad of cash I had sitting in my pocket and placed it in her hand, her eyes wide as tears rushed down her cheeks.
“Get back into their good graces,” I said, “and feel free to eat my food.”
Then I unlocked the bathroom and left her standing there.
Chapter 10
Gemma
I wanted to find an excuse to see Talon again. Every single night I fell asleep, I closed my eyes and saw him. The silent way he had commanded my body had been astonishing. The way I had simply relented to him was intoxicating. But the way he made me feel safe through it all was something I’d never experienced before. In college, there had always been this underlying fear. This need to clock things in the room I could use as weapons. I’d always been intent on staying on top just in case I needed to get away, but I kept myself in the gym and strong just in case I was on the bottom and needed to still get away.
But with him, there was no fear. Just an experience and an emotion and an orgasm so powerful I thought I was going to evaporate into thin air.
Despite the conversation Jace and I had at the bar that night, he was still hounding me about Talon. He kept asking me if we were talking, or if we had talked that night. I kept brushing him off, saying his threat probably scared him or something, and Jace would mutter something like ‘good’ or ‘serves him right.’ I had no idea what the hell he was talking about, but I knew there was something he wasn’t telling me.
Something about Talon that was crucial to me knowing.
“Getting up to anything tonight?” Jace asked.
“Not really,” I said. “Might go out into town later. There are some things I’d like for my bathroom if that’s okay.”
“I don’t give a shit what you put in there. It’s yours, far as I’m concerned. You grew up in the thing.”
“Just making sure is all,” I said, grinning.
“Any luck on the job hunt?” he asked.
“Been putting in some applications, but you know how it is getting a job around here. Even a part-time position takes two weeks to get back to you. Hopefully, I’ll secure some interviews.”
“Where you applying to?”
“A couple of full-time management positions, a couple of music educator positions. I’m also thinking about making some fliers and advertising my ability to give music lessons. It all depends on what I find in town.”
“Thought you were looking for bathroom stuff?” he asked.
“You know that discount store Mom and Dad used to always go to?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“There’s a music store across the street. Figured I’d go price music books and a stand. Stuff like that.”
“You’ll need all that as the teacher? Doesn’t the student bring that shit?”
“Nope. I provide beginning sheet music and the stand. I’ll also need to buy a piano-tuning kit.”
“Well, if ya take that route, lemme know. We can carve out space or something in the house for ya, and I’ll get that damn piano moved somehow.”
“You could always call Talon to help,” I said, grinning.
I saw Jace’s face fall in that very instant and I couldn’t help but throw my head back and laugh.
“Holy hell, it’s still too easy to piss you off,” I said.
“That’s not funny. I’m serious. Talon’s no good for you. At least right now.”
“What does that mean?” I asked. “Supposedly, he wasn’t good enough for me when we were teenagers either.”
“Gemma, you’re a good woman. Ain’t nobody gonna be good enough for you. But right now, with the club, we’re in some stuff right now. Talon’s our main man. He doesn’t need his head distracted with the likes of you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “Are you guys in trouble?”
“Look, I’ve said too much already, but--”
“Jace. Are you in trouble?”
Even though my brother was stubborn as hell, he was the only family I had left. If there was something threatening him-- something looming over him in any way--, I wanted to know. I wanted to help him in any way I could. He was my brother, and this protection thing didn’t go just one way.
“Gemma, look at me. We’re fine, okay. We just can’t go getting distracted. I’ve been going to work and coming home, so I don’t do just that, okay? Besides the fact that Talon shouldn’t lay a finger on you ever because you’re precious to me and deserve more than this life, right now is the shittiest time for you to try and defy me.”
“Defy you? You don’t own me, Jace.”
“Gemma, I’m not looking’ to fight with you. Just… fucking stay away from him, okay?”
Even with everything Jace had just said, I felt more lost than ever. Something was bothering him. Something big. And I wanted to know what it was. But more than that, I wanted to see Talon. If he knew what we’d done that night before our fight, he’d be pissed.
But now that I heard the desperation behind his voice, I wasn’t so sure Jace wouldn’t try to beat the shit out of Talon.
“Fine. Whatever. I’m heading into town. You need anything?” I asked.
“Nope. Keep your phone on you in case you need me. I’ve got mine right here.”
He patted his back pocket, and I felt my gut lurch. He’d been carrying that thing around on full blast ever since I told him what had happened to me back in college. I could still see the sickening guilt in his eyes whenever he told me where his phone was, and a part of me was regretting ever telling him that story.
“Be back later,” I said as I grabbed my purse.
“If I’m not here, there’s food in the fridge for you.”
“I’ll probably grab something out, honestly. You know how I am with shopping,” I said.
“True. I’ll come help you with your bags in the morning.”
The grin he threw me almost made me feel guilty that I was lying through my teeth. The fact was, I was about to go see Talon. I had my out, I had confirmation that he didn’t need anything, and I left the time of my arrival home open-ended.
That was the freest I was going to get from Jace for now, and I was taking advantage of it.
“Hey, Gemma?” Jace asked.
“Yeah?”
“You know I love you, right?”
I nodded even as the guilt wafted up my throat.
“I do. I love you, too, Jace. I’ll be back later,” I said.
“Have fun figuring out what to do with your life.”
“Have fun not getting yourself killed with your club,” I said.
Then, I was out the door, in my car, and headed for Talon’s. I backed out of the
driveway and headed down the road, a smile on my face while I jammed out to my music. I was singing at the top of my lungs and racing through lights any which way I could, trying to cut the time it took me to get to Talon’s apartment. He’d sent me his address that morning, saying I was welcome whenever, and I told him I’d take him up on the opportunity as soon as I could.
I pulled up into his apartment complex to see him standing in the doorway of his apartment.
He looked to be looking out at something, and I simply sat there and watched him. His eyes followed something along the road like he was actively tracking something, and I turned my head to see if I could see anything. Nothing looked out of place or out of the ordinary, but my brother’s words did start echoing off the corners of my mind.
Talon’s our main man. He doesn’t need his head distracted with the likes of you.
It was then that Talon’s stare panned down to me. The stern glare that was seated on his face soon turned coy, and the smirk that crawled across his cheeks shivered my bones. He nodded his head inward, turning his back on me as I walked into his apartment, and I stumbled out of my car and ran up the steps to get to him.
