“Don’t be embarrassed,” Juliet goes on, “It’s not every woman who could even keep him for a night, let alone two. Look, if you can’t keep up with him from here on out, or decide you don’t want to, I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
And though I appreciate the offer of goodwill from my sister, the only thing I can think in response to her warning is “challenge accepted”.
“We’ll just have to see how the week goes, I guess,” I tell her, rising to my feet once more. “But don’t write me off just yet, Sis.”
“I get the feeling that would be a mistake,” she smiles, linking arms with me as we make our way back toward the imposing walls of The Club. “Maybe the two of us have more in common than I thought.”
Chapter Eleven
The entire island begins to stir the second the sun sinks down over the horizon. Like a great, powerful beast waking from a deep slumber, The Club wakes up hungry, lusting for every morsel it can sink its lethal claws into. I can only hope that Devlin’s hunger for me is equally fierce tonight.
I give myself a once-over in the darkened window of my bedroom. The tight leather bustier and micro cutoff shorts I’ve picked out are showcasing my curves in all the right ways. Thank God Juliet put on a little weight since I saw her last, or else these clothes would be held on by nothing more than hopes and dreams. I’ve curled and teased my hair into a tumble of thick black curls that cascade down my bare back. Knee-high leather boots and a smoky eye complete the look. Now I just have to hope that Devlin will like the final result as much as I do.
Applying a quick swipe of my signature red lipstick, I take a breath and knock tentatively on his bedroom door.
“Get in here, babe,” I hear him call out.
A thrill runs through my heart as I push through the barrier between our respective spaces. As I enter, Devlin is just shrugging into his leather cut. His black jeans and dark gray tee shirt glance against his perfect muscles, defining the balanced, sleek shape of him. We each stop in our tracks as we catch sight of the other, riveted into stillness.
“Good goddamn,” Devlin whistles, eyes raking along the length of my scantily-clad body. “How the fuck am I supposed to keep my hands to myself when you come in here looking like that?”
“Maybe I don’t want you to keep your hands to yourself,” I grin, doing a little spin for his benefit. “Ever think of that?”
“Well, as much as I like to hear that, It’s not about what you want,” Devlin reminds me, crossing his arms. “It’s about whether you’re ready for me. Remember what we talked about.”
“I think I am—” I start to say.
“I’ll know when you are. Don’t you worry,” he cuts in, striding across the room to me. “And trust me. The second you are ready, really ready...you’re all mine, babe.” He scoops me up into his arms, planting another searing kiss on my eager mouth. “Now, come on. Don’t want the party to get started without us, do we?”
I can feel the heat of the raging bonfire before we even step into the clearing once again. It’s hard to believe that it was just last night I laid eyes on this place for the first time. Just twenty-four hours ago, I was surrounded by a pack of skittish girls, another one of the herd. And tonight, I’m strolling up to this gathering at Devlin Vile’s side. Already, my mind is adjusting to the madness of the place. Or is it simply so focused on Devlin that there’s no room left for any fear or uncertainty?
“There he is,” roars a voice from across the fire. “We were wondering when you’d show up, Dev.”
I peer across the clearing and spot a smiling man with sandy blonde hair waving us over. He’s a few inches shorter than Devlin, but broad and imposing all the same. And sitting on his knee is none other than Juliet. She nods meaningfully at the fair-haired giant, mouthing, “This is Packer,” to me. So this is the man my sister’s married, huh? I have to say, she’s done pretty good for herself. He’s almost on Devlin’s level of bad boy sex appeal...almost.
“What’s happening, brother?” Devlin says to Packer, clapping him on the shoulder.
“The gang’s all here now,” Packer replies, casting his eyes around the circle. “We’ve got a grill going, burgers and dogs at the ready, plenty of beer...” he trails off as he spots me, halfway hiding behind Devlin’s massive form.
“You must be our new guest,” he says with a friendly smile.
“This is Logan,” Devlin says, drawing me forward into the circle. “Logan, Packer.”
“Jules told me all about our surprise visitor,” Packer nods, staring at me in the firelight. “Nice to meet a member of my old lady’s family, at last.”
“Nice to meet a member of my family’s...old man?” I reply awkwardly, holding out my hand for him to shake.
Packer lets out a belly laugh and pulls me into a bear hug instead. “Any family of Jules’ is my family too,” he crows, “Welcome, little sister!”
Devlin grabs a couple of beers from a nearby cooler and cracks them open for us. I happily accept an icy bottle as Juliet looks on, casting her eyes between me and Devlin.
“Things are sure to be a little quieter out here tonight,” she tells me, “Well, as quiet as they ever get with these maniacs hanging around.”
“You’re every bit as much of a maniac as we are,” Packer laughs, slinging an arm across Juliet’s slender shoulders.
“What I mean is, things get a little out of hand when the civilian girls happen along,” Juliet continues, “No offense, Logan. Packer and I try and stay away when that particular cabal goes down, which is why I wasn’t on hand to intercept you last night. I don’t know what the hell comes over those girls when they land on this rock, but I do know that I want nothing to do with it. But tonight, it’s just the brothers and whatever girls they’ve brought along for the trip. Want to meet everyone?”
I don’t have a chance to reply before Juliet’s grabbed my wrist and started towing me around the fire to say hello to her chosen family. Devlin trails behind us, making sure the rest of the brothers know that I’ve been spoken for. I can’t say that I mind, either—some of the MC brothers seem a bit rougher around the edges than I can handle on my own.