Chapter 4

Talon’s persuasive message to Craig had evidently done the trick. The next day, Jake, Talon and I had squeezed into Jake’s old pickup truck and made our way back to my house to gather my belongings. As we pulled into the driveway, there was no sign of Craig anywhere. I didn’t question it, instead focusing on quickly packing my few possessions. With only a small pile of clothes in tow, we were soon back on the road. My heart felt lighter as I left behind the place that had once been my prison, knowing it had never really been a home.

As I settled into life at Jake’s house over the following weeks, I found myself falling into a routine. During the day, I helped around the farm, tending to the chickens and doing yardwork. The physical labor was therapeutic, helping me work through the lingering trauma and anxiety. In the evenings, I’d cook dinner for Jake and whoever else from the motorcycle club happened to be around.

Talon was a frequent visitor, often staying late into the night, talking and laughing with Jake. I couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes would follow me as I moved around the kitchen, or how he’d always find a reason to brush against me when we passed in the hallway. Each time, I felt a spark of electricity, a warmth that spread through my body.

One night, as we sat around the kitchen table finishing up a meal of fried chicken and mashed potatoes, Jake cleared his throat.

“So, sis,” he began, “I’ve been thinking. You need a job, right?”

I nodded, wiping my mouth with a paper towel. “Yeah, I do. I’ve been looking online, but there’s not much around here.”

Jake exchanged a glance with Talon before continuing. “Well, the club’s looking for someone to help out at the bar. You know, serving drinks, keeping the place clean. I figured that might be right up your alley.”

I grinned excitedly, bouncing up and down in my seat. “That would be great! I’ve been cooped up here for weeks and I could use a change of scenery.”

“Good, you can start tomorrow,” he said, collecting our empty plates and carrying them to the sink before disappearing to the porch for a smoke.

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Talon

After dinner, as Jake disappeared outside, Laura got up to start washing the dishes. Once again, I found myself staring at her from my seat at the table. I couldn’t help myself.

For weeks, she had been a constant presence in my thoughts, making it damn near impossible for me to focus on anything else. Now, as I sat there taking in her every move, I couldn’t help but admire her beauty - from the way she gracefully walked toward the sink, so tiny and light on her feet, to the sight of her long, slender legs disappearing into cutoff jean shorts that hugged every curve of her perfect little ass. Her blonde hair fell in waves down to her waist, shining under the last rays of sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. She wasn’t short by any means, probably 5’7 or so, but I knew she would fit perfectly against my 6’4 frame. She was perfection personified.

I bit my lip, dark thoughts swirling through my head as I watched her. It was becoming increasingly difficult to restrain myself from just reaching out and touching her, and truth be told, I wasn’t sure I wanted to hold back any longer.

Without hesitation, I stood from the table and grabbed a dish towel before hopping onto the counter beside the sink. “Let me help you,” I murmured, taking a clean plate from her hands and slowly drying it off. My fingers lingered on hers for a second, savoring the electric charge that always seemed to spark between us whenever I had the opportunity to get close to her.

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Laura

I felt a shiver run through me as Talon’s massive fingers brushed against mine. I glanced up at him, perched on the counter beside me, and caught him staring. His green eyes were dark with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

“Thanks,” I managed to choke out, quickly looking away and focusing on the soapy dishes in front of me.

We worked in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the clinking of dishes and the faint murmur of Jake’s voice on the porch as he talked on the phone. I was acutely aware of Talon’s presence beside me, the warmth radiating from his body.

Plucking an ounce of courage out of the pit in my stomach, I pulled my soapy hands out of the water and flicked them at him, splashing water onto his face and down the front of his shirt.

I looked up at him with a sheepish grin, expecting some lighthearted retribution, but he glared down at me with an unreadable expression on his face. My heart sank into my gut, and an apology was about to tumble out of my mouth, until I saw the corner of his lips turn upward as a low chuckle escaped them. He shook his head, hopping down from the counter, and I felt a thick heat settle into my stomach as I peeked at him over my shoulder, winding up the dishtowel between his hands with a glimmer in his eyes.

I let out a squeal and darted away, but Talon was too quick. He caught me around the waist with one arm, pulling me back against his chest. I could feel the hard planes of his muscles through his damp shirt, and my heart raced at the contact.

“You think you’re funny, huh?” he growled playfully in my ear, his breath hot on my neck.

I squirmed in his grip, half-heartedly trying to escape. “I’m hilarious, actually.”

In one swift motion, Talon spun me around to face him, pressing me back against the counter. His hands came to rest on either side of me, caging me in. I looked up at him, breathless. Our faces were inches apart, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His eyes were dark with desire, and I could see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he fought against his impulses.

“Angel,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. One hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing gently over my lips. I leaned into his palm, feeling my skin come alive where it met with his. Under the pure lust in his gaze, and despite standing here with a broken nose and bruises all over my face, I felt like a beautiful, ethereal being worthy of that nickname.

As I leaned in, closing the small space between us, wondering what his lips would taste like and wanting desperately to find out, my brother stormed back into the house and Talon pulled away from me in a frenzy.

Jake’s heavy footsteps echoed through the kitchen as he returned from his phone call. Talon and I quickly stepped apart, trying to act natural, like there wasn’t still a fire smoldering between us. I turned back to the sink, my cheeks burning, while Talon leaned casually against the counter.

“Everything okay?” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the hammering of my heart.

Jake ran a hand through his hair, looking agitated. “Yeah, just club business. Nothing for you to worry about.” He glanced between Talon and me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s going on in here?”

“Just helping your sister with the dishes,” Talon replied smoothly, his face feigning innocence.

Jake nodded slowly, not entirely convinced. “Right… Well, I’m going out for another smoke,” he said, grabbing a bottle of beer from the fridge and prying the cap off with the back of his knife. “Talon, can you join me when you’re done there? I have some things to discuss.”

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Talon

I watched my angel disappear upstairs. Her long hair swayed with every step she took, a little bounce in her hips that captivated me. I wanted to run my hands over every inch of her. I was still heated from our little moment together, and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of mischief she might be about to get into up there on her own. The thought of her exploring and indulging in her own pleasures made me ache for her even more. I wanted so badly to give her a helping hand with that. A hand, or a tongue, or maybe another helpful appendage that was currently straining against the front of my jeans. She had an agonizing grip on me, whether she knew it or not, and I would do anything to see her writhing in ecstasy beneath me, stripped naked and completely at my mercy.

With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the stairs and headed outside to find Jake, knowing that I probably wouldn’t get another chance to touch her anytime soon. But just thinking about her made me tingle.

I stepped out onto the porch, the cool night air a welcome relief after the charged atmosphere in the kitchen. Jake was leaning against the railing, staring out into the darkness, a half-empty beer bottle dangling from his fingers.

“What’s on your mind, brother?” I asked, settling into one of the worn wooden chairs.

Jake took a long drag from his cigarette before answering. “Craig’s been sniffing around. Asking questions about Laura.”

I felt my jaw clench at the mention of that piece of shit’s name. “What kind of questions?”

“The kind that make me think he hasn’t learned his lesson,” Jake growled. “I thought you said you’d taken care of it.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I did. Guess the fucker’s dumber than we thought.”

“Well, get the guys together and pay him another visit. We don’t need any of this coming back on us, and my sister, especially, doesn’t need to be thinking about that asshole anymore. She’s been through enough hell,” he said, taking a last pull from his smoke and flicking the cherry out into the yard, dropping the butt in the can by the door. “I’m going to bed. See you at the club tomorrow, dick breath.”

“Sweet dreams, numb nuts,” I replied with a chuckle, pulling my helmet on and climbing onto my bike with one destination in mind.