Pick (Recoil Rock #1) Read online

  Smiling, I nod my head in acknowledgment. She’s saying that even though she’s brash and says sexual stuff, she’s not going to just give it up to me tomorrow. I get that. I like that. I might have to work for it. It makes her more intriguing.

  Me: Well, you know how to make a man spit out his drink. You’re cool too, and although I get the way you talk might be a front, I won’t push things with you. You’re safe with me, Candy.

  I hit send trying to be as honest with her as I can be, no bullshit, no innuendos, just genuine honesty. I think that’s what she’s looking for right now.

  Lunar: Good idea, ‘cause otherwise you’ll have an entire biker club come after you. And that, pretty boy, would not be good for your gorgeous face.

  Chuckling to myself, I type back my reply.

  Me: Meh… I could handle those bikers. But the main issue is… you think I’m hot as fuck and you wanna fornicate with me!

  Lunar: Fuck you, and… maybe. ;)

  Laughing, I chew on the side of my cheek. It’s nice to have someone into me again, even if I’ve only met her once. I loved Ella, I probably still do in some ways, but even though we were getting married and going to spend our lives together, I never really felt that same level of love back from her once I asked her to marry me. Something was always a little off. I know now that something was fucking Chad, but in the end, I’m better off without her. And my point is, it’s nice that someone is showing a genuine interest in me. It’s the confidence boost I’ve been needing for the past two years.

  Me: Okay, well, you’re as hot as fuck too. But I’ll see you tomorrow with no expectations other than lunch. How’s that?

  Lunar: Perfect. Night, big guy. xo

  Me: Night, Candy x

  Taking another great big gulp of my beer, I smile and shuffle down the bed. Meeting Lunar was great, she’s awoken something in me. Sure I’m not looking for anything serious, but if she’s down to fuck, so am I. Things are looking up, and finally, it’s my time.

  It’s my time to shine and fuck am I going to shine bright!

  I’m fucking nervous. I don’t know why and it’s pissing me off as I run around tidying my hotel room awaiting the arrival of Lunar. Sure I haven’t fucked a woman since Ella, and sure I’m not having Lunar over to marry the damn chick, but there’s something about her that I like and that scares me. I don’t know anything about Lunar other than her name and the fact that she’s part of the Satan’s Savages MC Club. I like her sass, and even though I have a strict no woman-liking policy, I want to get to know her.

  I’m shoving my shirts into the drawers when I hear a gentle knock. I look toward it and take in a deep centering breath and start walking, smoothing down my shirt. As I open the door I notice she’s standing there in a cute little top and short shorts looking as sexy as fuck. My cock twitches reminding me that he’s functioning again and that he’s well and truly fixed. Smiling, I stand to the side to let her walk past.

  “How are you?” I ask.

  “Good thanks. Nice to see you dressed up,” she says looking down at my black wife beater and jeans.

  With a smirk I tease, “What… were you expecting a button down and slacks?”

  She giggles. “No, I’m kidding, you look… fine.” She raises her eyebrow and smirks as she gives me a suggestive look.

  Swallowing hard while trying to stop my cock from fully becoming hard, I shake my head and close the door.

  “Love what you’ve done with the place,” she quips dragging her nails along the terrible paint work.

  Even though I have money, I’m not staying in the poshest places. I’m saving my cash and staying in dives for a reason—my money needs to be spent on more important things. All I need is a good mini bar and a bed, the room’s décor is not something I’m bothered with.

  As I walk us into the main room I chuckle at her sass, while she checks out the queen sized bed in the room and then she gazes over to the two seater couch. She heads straight for that and throws her handbag on the small round table by the sliding door that’s next to the balcony.

  “So… Steel thinks he can get the band playing at your clubs and stuff, yeah?” I ask starting a conversation and she shrugs.

  “Not sure, I haven’t really talked to him. But I’d say Techie is the guy to chat with. He’s in the know about damn near everything. I swear that guy memorized the encyclopedia as a kid.”

  Laughing, I nod my head. “Sounds like a nerd.”

  “He likes the term geek. He’s a good guy, I think you’ll get along great. He’ll do amazing things for your band. What’s your band called?”

  “Recoil.”

  She purses her lips as she sits down and nods. “Recoil… I like it. Solid name. So when’s your bandmates getting here?”

  I move over to sit next to her, the cushions on the sofa dip with my weight making her slide slightly so her hip touches mine. A jolt passes through me making my cock twitch in my pants yet again. She’s electrifying, there’s something about this babe that sets my heart pounding. I’m not sure what it is but I definitely like it. I do notice her breathing hitch as she slips into my side, and she looks away from me almost like she’s embarrassed, which is a side to Lunar I never thought I’d witness.

  Swallowing hard, I grin and tilt my head slightly. “Their plane leaves in the afternoon their time or something, then it will take them about thirty-two hours including a layover in Sydney, so I think they land here about five p.m. Adelaide time in four days. Poor guys will be so tired. It’s a hell of a flight.”

  She winces. “Yeah, I can imagine. I’ve never even been outside South Australia let alone to the States.”

  I nudge into her shoulder. “Well, maybe I can change that.”

  She scoffs. “Yeah, I wish. I’d have to leave the club to go to the States unless I went with the club.”

  Furrowing my brows, I tilt my head. “So it sounds like you’re basically the property of the club?”

  She looks at me and half smiles. “That’s what club girls are, Danger… club property.”

  I jolt my head back and exhale loudly. “So you have to do what they say and want at all times? That doesn’t seem like you?”

  She smirks. “Well, I did things my way and I got away with it ‘cause I was Steel’s girl. But now he’s off with Willow, I doubt they’ll be so lenient with me.”

  I slump into the couch and swallow hard. “So, you live at the club?” She nods. “And you work at a strip club?”

  “Their strip club.”

  “So, they basically own you?”

  She frowns and looks away from me. “It’s my choice to be there. They don’t force me.”

  “And what do you get from being a club girl?” I ask because to me it sounds like she’s being held hostage.

  She looks at me and her intense stare softens as her body relaxes. “Money. A place to stay. Friends. I feel needed—”

  “So you want attention?”

  “No, don’t treat me like a piece of shit, Danger. I’m worth more than that—”

  “Exactly, you are! And working at a strip club and being on call to a bunch of men is not living normally now, is it?”

  She looks away from me. “You don’t understand.”

  While shaking my head, I exhale and cross my arms over my chest. “No, I don’t… so enlighten me.”

  Lunar turns to face me and takes a deep breath. “When I was just out of high school my dad beat my mother so badly she nearly died. We had to run along with my brother to get away from him. Mum was so downtrodden by the whole thing that she couldn’t function. I had to find a way to take care of my family. We were in hiding, my brother was getting worse. He had trouble learning and his behavior was strange. He wasn’t talking like he should, and the way he’d react to things, and the way he would just… be, was so weird.

  “Mum finally snapped out of her funk enough to look after Stuart, but we had no money and we were in a bad part of town. Bikers ruled the streets, and if you weren�
�t in line with them you were against them. I was young… seventeen… and I looked good. Steel was there for me. He took me into the club, showed me around, told me what the club could provide. How being with them could give me money, protection, a life… and all I had to do was follow some stupid rules and give the men whatever they wanted. It seemed too good to let go.

  “I had to have money to pay for Stuart’s medical bills. His tests were piling up and Mum wasn’t working. Let’s face it, benefit money only goes so far. I had to step up. So if selling myself was the way to do it, then I was willing. Mum was onboard. She knew the club, she was friends with Vin down at Strapless. She knew him from high school where they went together, so she thought me working in the club under him was a good idea. She knew he’d look after me. So, long story short, I joined the club. The money is great, they look after you, they look after your family. Stuart and Mum are cared for, and three-quarters of my earnings goes straight to them.

  “Because I live at the club all my needs are met. I don’t need to pay for my own house or groceries or anything. It suits me, it suits my family. Yes, I admit sometimes having to give yourself to the guys whenever they want and however they want can be… challenging, but it’s part of it. And seeing Stuart getting the help he needs and Mum now fully supported, then I’ll do it.”

  Shaking my head at just how utterly selfless Lunar is, I swallow hard. Looking at her with her makeup adorned face and her pink and yellow hair you’d think she’s all about herself. She appears like she’s a selfish person when in reality everything she does—her looks, her persona—it’s all a front to stop people from knowing how caring and loving she really is.

  “What was Stuart diagnosed with?”

  “Autism. It’s not severe, but it’s just enough to stop him from living a normal life.”

  I puff out a gust of air through my mouth. “Wow! You’re kind of amazing.”

  “Me? No, Mum is amazing. She’s so good with Stuart.”

  “But you give her the money to be good with Stuart.”

  She nods her head. “I do, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “If you had a chance to leave the club and do something else… would you?”

  She sighs and tilts her head. “I love the club. It’s been my life for nearly five years, I don’t know anything else.”

  “The world is big and there’s plenty of opportunities out there. You don’t have to be a stripper all your life.”

  “Is there something wrong with being a stripper?”

  I tense up. “No, that’s not what I meant at all. I’m just saying there’s more out there, you should be open to it.”

  Her face softens. “For the last four and a half years, I’ve been Lunar… club girl. I would like to get back to being Annalise Sheffield, the girl who dreamed of something more.”

  I bring my hand up to her face and swipe some pink hair from her cheek and move it behind her ear. “Annalise… that’s your name?”

  She nods and leans into my hand.

  “Nice to meet you. I’d tell you my real name, but that’s a story in itself.”

  She furrows her brows and shakes her head. “Oh, c’mon Danger, it’s only fair. I think we should have no secrets. Including names.”

  My body stiffens as I scrunch up my face. I fucking hate my name. I fucking hate my parents even more for naming me. And the last time I told someone the truth about my name she laughed in my face.

  Fucking Ella.

  I don’t blame her, though. My name is ridiculous.

  Tensing up, I brace myself. “Okay, well my parents are assholes.”

  She smirks and tilts her head. “Oka-a-ay?”

  “I was born on April first, no joke.”

  “April Fools baby, that’s got to suck.”

  “Yeah, no kidding. Anyway, my parents think everything’s a joke. So seeing as I was born on the biggest prank day of the year, they thought they’d be funny and name me something ludicrous.”

  She purses her lips and winces. “Oh dear, this is not sounding good.”

  I clench my eyes tight and just say it, “My name is Dwayne Pipe. As is drain pipe.”

  Silence is all I hear while I wait for the cackling laughter, but there’s nothing. As I open my eyes, I look at her and her eyebrow is raised as she frowns.

  “Could be worse, at least it’s not Ben Dover.”

  I jolt back in confusion. “You’re not gonna laugh?”

  She furrows her brows. “Why would I? That would be mean?”

  “Really! You’re honestly not going to laugh?”

  She faces me, taking my hands in hers and shakes her head. “If there’s one thing I’ve seen too much of in my life it’s people bullying other people for things they can’t control. Take Stuart, he can’t control the way he acts, but people laugh at him all the time and I hate it. You can’t control the name you were given, and just because it’s an atrocious name it certainly doesn’t give anyone the right to laugh at you because of it.”

  My lips turn up into a smile. “Wow! You really are something.”

  She smiles and raises her eyebrows. “I try.”

  “Okay, so now comes the usual spiel. You tell anyone my real name—”

  “You’ll gut me like a fish? Yeah, yeah, I get it… So why Danger then?”

  I sink down into the couch feeling more relaxed. “It’s a funny story actually. Well, funny and sad at the same time. My parents are… I guess what you would call hippies. They’re fully into drugs and partying and just being neglectful douchebags.”

  Her soft smile falls and she sighs placing her hand gently on my thigh. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be. It’s fine. My sister and I would stay up while they went out partying and I’d watch over her. We’d watch cartoons together while they were gone. Her favorite was Danger Mouse, so she would always call me Danger, and I called her Mouse. It just kinda stuck. I still call her Mouse. Danger has stayed with me, it’s cooler than Dwayne… and the ladies love it.” She snickers and rolls her eyes. “Anyway sorry, it’s not a fantastical story about me getting the name some other amazing way.”

  “No way, this story is much better. It shows your caring side. I like that. You’re a lot nicer than you portray, Danger.”

  I smirk. “Don’t tell anyone I’m nice.”

  She giggles. “Secret’s safe with me. What’s Mouse’s real name?”

  I tense up slightly and swallow hard. “Copper.”

  She furrows her brow and exhales. “Copper? As in Copper Pipe?” I nod. “Wow! Your parents really are assholes.”

  I chuckle and nod loving that instead of laughing like most people, she only feels sympathy for a situation that is completely absurd. “You’re amazing… you know that?”

  She giggles and I smile wide at her. Something’s happening, there’s a change in the air. A whoosh, a feeling like there’s some kind of enchantment pulling me toward her. It’s strange. I felt a similar thing with Ella, although it was dynamic and the air felt charged, this is slightly different, heightened or something.

  Licking my lips as I look at her, my eyes wander to her supple pink lips coated in a sticky gloss, and I can’t help but wonder what it would be like licking them. Tasting the flavor of the gloss smothering her lips. My cock begins to stiffen slightly as my breathing quickens while staring into her crystal blue eyes. Something changes between us. She stiffens and swallows hard like she’s just as affected by me as I am by her.

  Her chest heaves as she fights for breath while we gaze at each other, sparks flying off in every direction. There’s chemistry here, there’s no denying that. I inch closer as our touching hands send warmth right through me. Her fruity breath merely inches from me, her warmth closer, as I lick my lips ready to kiss her. Her eyes don’t leave mine as our heads tilt to the side coming in closer and closer. Only millimeters apart.

  There’s a knock at the door suddenly, and it makes us both pull back, the sizzling connection lost as we’
re both panting for breath.

  I turn to look at the door. “Shit,” I murmur as I steady my raging hard on. “Must be room service.”

  I look back to her, her cheeks are flushed bright red as she controls her breathing and nods with a smile.

  “You ordered for me? How very domineering of you.”

  I chuckle and stand up walking toward the door. “Oh, Candy, you have no idea how domineering I can be.”

  She chuckles as I rearrange my cock subtly and answer the door.

  “Room service,” the assistant states standing with a cart.

  “Thanks!” I grab the cart and wheel it through the door awkwardly toward Lunar, who’s smiling at me. “Lunch is served,” I call out and move it closer to her. I figure the cart is like a table and we can eat straight off it.

  “What’s on the menu?”

  “I hope you’re not one of those chicks who’s all salads and watching their weight,” I tease.

  She chuckles and shakes her head. “Nope, I mean salads have their place, but I’d rather a big juicy burger any day.”

  “Well good then.” I lift the cloche to reveal a big juicy burger and she laughs.

  “Perfect, I’m starved.” She leans forward grabbing some fries and stuffs her face. There’s something about a woman who knows how to eat properly that’s such a turn on. But who am I kidding? Everything about Lunar is a fucking turn on.

  After enjoying our delicious meal, of which Lunar ate more of it than I did—two words… suitably impressed—we decided to watch a movie. So we moved over to the bed and laid down, flicking on the television and renting a movie. I had her pick it seeing as she’s my guest.

  It’s funny, normally I’d be pushing for sex a lot faster than this, but spending time with her is actually quite fun. She’s a cool chick.

  I can’t help but notice as we sit against the headboard on the bed, the casual side glances we’re both throwing each other. Our bodies are so close we’re almost touching, and it’s like there’s a charge of some sort sparking between us as we both breathe a steady uneven rhythm. It’s been like this for the entire movie and it’s starting to drive me crazy. All I want to do is roll over on top of Lunar and kiss the ever loving shit out of her, but I know she probably wouldn’t appreciate that. Lunar is someone you have to work up to, and even though my ultimate aim is to fuck her, a friendship with her would be good too.