Chapter 5

Laura

I tossed and turned in bed that night, my mind racing. The almost-kiss with Talon played on repeat in my head, his intense green eyes seared into my memory. My body tingled with unfulfilled longing. It had been so long since I’d felt wanted, desired. With Craig, sex had become a chore, something to be endured rather than enjoyed. But with Talon… just the thought of his strong hands on my body made me shiver with anticipation.

As I lay there in the dark, I couldn’t help but let my hand wander down my body, imagining it was Talon’s touch instead of my own. I traced lazy circles on my stomach before dipping lower, gasping softly as my fingers found my sensitive flesh. I bit my lip to stifle a moan as I stroked myself, picturing Talon’s muscular body hovering over me.

My fingers moved faster as I imagined his lips trailing kisses down my neck, his rough hands cupping my breasts. I arched my back, picturing him settling between my thighs, teasing me with the tip of his hardness. In my mind, he growled my name as he thrust into me, filling me completely.

I clapped my free hand over my mouth to muffle my cries as waves of pleasure washed over me. As I came down from my high, I felt a mix of satisfaction and shame. What was I doing, fantasizing about my brother’s best friend? But I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt toward Talon, or the way my body responded to even the thought of him.

Trying to push those thoughts aside, I rolled over and attempted to get some sleep. Tomorrow would be my first day working at the clubhouse, and I needed to be well-rested.

————————

The next morning, I woke early and got dressed for my first shift at the bar. I chose a pair of black skinny jeans and a low-cut red tank top, wanting to look good but not too provocative. As I headed downstairs, I could hear Jake and Talon’s voices drifting up from the kitchen.

“…just keep an eye on her today, alright?” Jake was saying. “I don’t want any of the guys getting any ideas.”

“No worries, brother,” Talon replied, his deep voice sending a heated weight into my abdomen. “I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

I paused at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to interrupt. But Jake must have heard me because he called out, “Morning, sis! Ready for your first day?”

I stepped into the kitchen, forcing a smile. “As I’ll ever be.”

As we emerged from the house, I made a beeline for Talon’s bike, already feeling butterflies in my stomach at the thought of riding on the back. But Jake called out to me before I could reach it. “Hold up, sis,” he said, eyeing me suspiciously, “you can ride with me.”

I tried to hide my disappointment as I climbed into Jake’s truck instead. The ride to the clubhouse was quiet, with Jake focused on the road and me lost in my thoughts. When we pulled up, I felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

The clubhouse was a large converted warehouse on the outskirts of town. It was already bustling with activity when we arrived. Men in leather vests milled around, some working on bikes in the garage, others lounging on couches inside. Despite the early hour, there were already a few men nursing beers and playing pool. A few glanced our way as we entered, their eyes lingering on me a bit longer than I would have liked.

Jake led me to the bar, where a young, petite woman with fiery red hair was wiping down the counter. “Trina, this is my sister, Laura. She’ll be helping out around here.”

Trina looked me up and down with an unreadable expression. “Nice to meet you, Laura.”

“Likewise,” I replied with a smile, trying to swallow my nervousness. “Thanks for having me.”

Trina’s expression softened slightly. “No problem, honey. Let’s get you started.” She gestured for me to come behind the bar. “Jake says you’ve got some experience behind a bar?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I worked at a pub for a couple years in college.”

“Good,” Trina said curtly. “Because we don’t really have time for training. Friday nights get busy around here.” She gestured to the empty glasses lining the bar. “You can start by washing those.”

As I got to work, Jake pulled Trina aside, speaking to her in a low voice. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but I saw Trina glance at me, nodding seriously before he walked away down the hall toward his office.

As morning turned to afternoon, I couldn’t help but notice Talon watching me from across the room. He was leaning against the pool table, a beer in hand, deep in conversation with a couple of other club members. But every so often, his eyes would flick over to me, sending a shiver down my spine.

As night approached, more and more men began to trickle in. The rumble of bikes pulling into the lot was nearly constant. Trina wandered over to me with a smirk on her face. “How’s it going, darlin’? You seem to be holding your own pretty well. Have any questions before it really starts getting crazy in here?”

I shook my head, feeling more confident after a few hours behind the bar. “I think I’ve got it. Thanks, Trina.”

She nodded approvingly. “Good. Just remember, some of these boys can get a little rowdy after they’ve had a few. Don’t be afraid to tell ‘em to back off if they get too handsy.”

As if on cue, a burly man with a thick beard stumbled up to the bar, clearly already intoxicated. He leered at me, his eyes feeling slimy as they rolled over my body. “Well, well, well. Looks like Boss’s little sister is all grown up. How ‘bout a drink, sweetheart?”

I forced a polite smile. “What can I get for you?”

He leaned in close, his breath reeking of alcohol. “How about you, on the rocks?”

Before I could even register what happened, the man was sprawled on the floor, Talon gripping his throat. His eyes blazed with fury as he glared down at the drunk man pinned beneath him. His voice was low and dangerous when he spoke. “You touch her, you even look at her wrong again, and I’ll rip your fuckin throat out. You hear me?”

The room had gone eerily quiet, all eyes on the scene unfolding at the bar. The man nodded frantically, fear scribbled across his face. Talon released him with a shove, and the man scrambled to his feet, stumbling away without a backward glance.

Talon turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “You okay, angel?”

I nodded, my heart racing from the sudden violence. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.”

He reached out, his thumb gently brushing my chin. “No one’s gonna hurt you here. Not while I’m around.”

The intensity in his eyes made me shiver, and I found myself leaning into his touch before remembering that we had an audience. I backed slowly out of his reach, folding my arms across my chest. I glanced over at Trina and she winked at me, smirking.

As the night wore on, the clubhouse grew more rowdy. I kept busy behind the bar, pouring drinks and dodging wandering hands. Talon remained close by, his presence both comforting and distracting. Every time our eyes met, I felt a jolt of electricity.

Around midnight, Jake emerged from his office, looking tired and stressed. He made his way to the bar, gesturing for me to pour him a whiskey. As I slid the glass across to him, he leaned in close.

“How you holding up, sis?” he asked, his eyes scanning the room.

“I’m good,” I replied with a small smile. “It’s been… interesting.”

Jake nodded, taking a long sip of his drink. “Listen, I’ve got to head out for a bit. Club business. Talon will give you a ride home later.”

My heart raced at the thought of being alone with Talon, pressed up against him on his bike. “Okay. Be safe, big brother.”