Walking out of the diner at eight, she got an hour’s overtime with the influx of tourists because of the heat. She spotted Curse waiting beside his bike.
“You purposefully worked an extra hour,” he said.
“I need the money, Curse. I’d work twenty-four seven if it meant my mom had the best care around the clock.” She folded her arms underneath her br**sts, glaring at him. Ashley told her so much about him and the club life. Mia wouldn’t dream of doing anything to hurt her friend. The club meant everything to Ashley as she finally had a home.
“She hates relying on you. Your mother wants you to have a life, and she’s more than happy with you spending the night with me.”
“I’m not spending the night with you.” She didn’t spend the night with any man.
“Do you have an issue with being with men? Are you a f**king lesbian?”
Mia snorted. “That makes sense, because I don’t want to spend the night with you, I’m suddenly a lesbian. It makes total sense, not.”
“What’s your issue? What happened to the happy-go-lucky girl working as a waitress?” he asked.
“You really want to know what’s wrong with me?”
“Yeah, I’m trying here.”
“Then stop trying. I don’t go with men because I don’t need to. I’m happy being the way I am.” The lies were pouring out of her mouth. When Ashley was eighteen, their friendship had been cemented by what happened to them. Mia swore she would never speak a word of what happened, and she never had. Going away to college helped her to forget. Now that she was back in town, the memories were always there, lurking, waiting for someone to hurt them. Ashley had moved on while Mia lived with what she did every day.
Curse took a step closer to her. He didn’t stop until he stood right in front of her. His breath fanned her face. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on keeping herself neutral. When he was around her, her body was no longer her own. Whatever he did, unnerved her. His presence in the diner put her on edge, and now she knew what he felt like inside her, the yearning was only growing more.
“You’re f**king lying, Mia.” He cupped her cheek, tilting her head back to look into her eyes. “I don’t like lies.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
Why was she taunting him? He forced her to take a step back then another. Curse moved her to the spot they were in the other night. With her back pressed to the wall and Curse standing in front of her, he had her trapped.
“I can think of a whole lot of shit I can do to you.”
His free hand went underneath the dress of her uniform. She tensed as he palmed her ass. “I’ve got a place, and we’re going there now.” Before she could protest, he slammed his lips down on hers. Gasping, she opened her mouth, and Curse took full advantage. If she gave an inch, he’d take a mile. Curse held her in place as he ravished her mouth and kept a firm hold on her body.
Only when he was ready to release her did he take her hand, and lead her out to his bike. He handed her a helmet and told her to climb on.
“Shouldn’t I be wearing more protective gear?” she asked.
“Just put the f**king helmet on and stop testing me.”
Wanting to argue, Mia glared at him.
“If you want I can put you over my knee and spank your ass now. I’ve not got a problem with showing off that fine ass. It’s up to you. I’ve not got a stellar reputation around here.”
Glaring at him as she knew he’d do it, she quickly put the helmet on and then straddled his bike.
“Put your arms around my waist. You’ve got to hold onto me.”
Gritting her teeth, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Curse pulled out of the town center and made his way toward the main road. They passed the wealthy part of Piston County where she cleaned, then down the street from the strip club Chaos Bleeds owned.
She didn’t know how long they were driving until he parked up at a deserted location with lots of trees, brambles, and dirt roads. The house she faced was modest and looked like an old ranch house.
Curse cut the engine and climbed off the bike.
“Get off and give me the helmet.”
Hating his attitude, she did as he asked, slapping the helmet into his palm.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“This is owned by Devil and the club. It’s a place for us to get away and to have some relaxing time. No one is around, and we’ve got this place all to ourselves.”
Great, they were going to be alone with him controlling everything.
“You’ve brought me here why?”
He took her hand and headed straight up the front door. She watched him unlock the door, then flick the light on before going further into the house. With no other choice, Mia followed him. He placed the helmet on the floor beside the stairs.
“Come on, you’re probably starved.”
Curse sat her down at the kitchen table, opening the fridge. This kind of behavior from him unnerved her. She was used to fending for herself and always being the one in control. Curse took the control from her. No one told him what to do or how to do it.
Tapping her fingers on the counter, she glanced around her. The house was simple and modest, offering a small bit of luxury away from the town.
“Pasta sound good?” he asked.
“Do you know how to cook?”
“I know how to cook pasta, nothing else.”
“Then how about I cook?” She tried to offer a better solution than him cooking. He didn’t look like he knew his way around the kitchen.
“No, I can cook you pasta and then you can sit and enjoy.”
Sitting back in her chair, she watched him working the kitchen. The heat got to him within ten minutes, and he opened a window, removing his shirt. She was treated to a lovely view of his naked, ink-covered body. The jeans rode low on his h*ps giving a tantalizing view of hair leading down. She’d not seen him completely na**d before even though she had felt his c**k inside her.
He moved out of the way of the water splashing out of the pot when he poured dried pasta shells into boiling water. In a separate bowl he mixed a couple of cheeses together with some herbs.
Crossing her legs, Mia tried to stem the arousal building in her body.
Let him in.
She removed the clip out of her hair and fingered out the strands.
“You’re checking out my body, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You know, I don’t buy the cold bitch routine. You’re nice to everyone else but me.”