Train wasn’t happy with her answer. The satisfaction on his face evaporated and was replaced with injured male pride.
“In the hall. It’s the one next to mine on the left,” he answered abruptly.
“You don’t have your own bathroom?”
“No. Don’t worry about it; no one else is upstairs. I would have heard them come up the steps.”
Grabbing her pants and boots, she heard him get out of the bed as she left to go to the bathroom. She took her time washing up, giving him enough time to get dressed, and not returning until she had redressed.
Tersely, he grabbed his keys off the nightstand. “Ready?”
“Whenever you are.” She kept herself calm and measured, offhandedly making herself seem unmoved by what had happened between them on the bed.
Train nodded, going for the door, but then he stopped in front of her. “Why don’t you want to stay?”
“Dude, you think I don’t know the difference between asking me out on a date and asking me to be a Last Rider? You’re the one who decided to draw a line in the sand. Don’t blame me if I’m not going to tiptoe over it when you want more.”
She hadn’t been looking for a relationship the day in the car when she had tried to entice him into another round, but she also hadn’t been looking to feel like a slut when he was ready to leave. When he had told her no and then mentioned The Last Riders, she knew exactly what he thought of her.
“Do you bitch this much when one of the women in the club don’t stay with you?”
His jaw tightened. “Never mind.”
She couldn’t read his expression, but his eyes were dark and stormy as they made their way from the club to his bike. Jumping on behind him, she grabbed his belt as Train started his bike. The night had grown cold and damp. Shivering, she pressed her breasts against his back.
He stopped the motorcycle before he pulled out of the parking lot. “I have a jacket in my saddlebag.”
Killyama twisted sideways, opening the bag to take out a leather jacket. Seeing the patches on the back of it, she started to put it back.
“What are you doing? Put it on.” Confusion clouded his features.
“It’s a Last Riders’ jacket; I’d rather freeze.” She put it back in the saddlebag.
Train turned off the motorcycle and got off.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Turning, she saw him going to a truck that was parked at the end of the lot. A minute later, he came back with a tan jacket.
“Put it on,” he demanded.
Taking it from him, she slipped it on and then grabbed his belt again when he got back on the bike.
Pressing her breasts to his back, she softly whispered into his ear, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Killyama?”
“What?”
“I’m a pretty easy-going guy, but I will only take so much.”
“You warning me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess we’ll find out which of us has the biggest set of balls.”
“I don’t lose.” Starting the motorcycle, he pulled out onto the road.
“Neither do I.” She raised her voice, determined that he would hear her own warning above the sound of the motor. “Neither do I.”
6
“Have you lost your ever-loving fucking mind?” Sex Piston snarled when Killyama rejoined her friends at Rosie’s bar.
Killyama took the chair that faced away from Train as Fat Louise tilted her chair forward so she could hear Sex Piston’s furious tirade.
“Chill out. I know what I’m doing.”
Sex Piston’s anger didn’t faze Killyama. She did know what she was doing.
“No, you don’t. For months, I’ve watched you eating your heart out over that man—”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“No, it’s not. Does he not have enough pussy warming his back that he needs you, too?”
“You know me better than that.”
“I thought I did.” Sex Piston sniffed, turning her angry face away from her.
Killyama sighed. “Cade, will you get me a beer?”
She didn’t know if it was the polite tone she had used, or if Fat Louise’s husband just wanted to escape, but he left the women alone.
“Train said he thought I was a psycho.”
“You’re not a psycho.”
Sex Piston and her had been friends for long enough that Sex Piston instantly knew how his words had hurt her. They all did.
“You’re not the psycho. Crazy Bitch is,” T.A. interrupted.
“I know, right?” Killyama lifted her hands up helplessly. “I told him I could handle hooking up every now and then, and I can.”
“Since when do you give a fuck what he thinks?” Crazy Bitch had been listening quietly, her eyes watching the party behind Killyama.
“I don’t.” She shrugged. “I’ve had hook-ups with other men. It’s no big deal. What makes me mad is Train thinking I’m so into him that I’m acting like a psycho.”
“So you’re going to teach him a lesson?” Sex Piston asked suspiciously.
“Yes.”
“How long is this lesson going to take?”
“I don’t know. One or two times. As good as he was tonight, maybe three.”
“That’s the bitch I know and love.”
The whole table broke out laughing as Cade set a mug of beer down in front of her.
“Is it safe to come back?”
“Can we dance?” Fat Louise tugged on Cade’s arm before he could sit down again.
“Sure.”
Killyama watched as they left, skirting the crowd to find a spot on the dance floor. When she saw Train dancing with Jewell, she turned back around, keeping her expression nonchalant, to meet Crazy Bitch’s eyes.
“It’s not going to be as easy as you think.”
“If not, then I won’t see him again.”
“Men are poison.”
“They have their uses,” T.A. said as she swayed in her chair before turning to flirt with Rider, who was sitting at the next table with Bliss and Drake.
“Name one thing that a vibrator can’t do better,” Crazy Bitch said caustically.
“A vibrator won’t miss you when you’re gone,” Sex Piston spoke up, smiling toward Stud as he pulled a chair up to sit down next to her.
“It’s also there when you need it, which is more than I can say about any man I’ve been with.”
“Then you’ve been with the wrong men,” Calder said as he came up and leaned a hand on the back of Crazy Bitch’s chair.
“I’ve been with enough to know they’re all the same.”
“You haven’t been out with me.”
“That’s because you were so high you stood me up, which makes my point valid.”
Calder’s face turned red. “I told you I was sorry when I got out of rehab. I’m clean. Give me another chance. We could dance or go for a ride—whatever you want.”
“No thanks. I’m good.”
“I’ll dance with you.” T.A. hastily stood at Calder’s suggestion.
“Can you handle two?” Killyama asked.
“Always.” Calder nodded, and Killyama rose to her feet.
She had talked to him a few times since he had been out of rehab. She had expected him to slide back into the addiction that had him doing prison time, but so far, he had remained clean.
Killyama and T.A. let Calder dance between them as the music rose loud enough that she expected the old building to collapse. Calder would focus on T.A. for a minute, and then he would give Killyama a share of his attention. He kept his hands to himself until the music turned seductive. Then it wasn’t Calder who was doing the touching; it was T.A. and Killyama. It was hard not to.
Calder was as handsome as his brother. Maybe more so. He had a rougher, tougher attitude than Stud did, though. That was like catnip to women. Even The Last Riders’ women were giving him the once-over as he easily kept up with the two women who
were having fun teasing the man.
“Need some help?”
Before Calder could answer, Train snagged Killyama around the waist, lifting her off her feet until she was plastered to his body.
When Calder would have reached out to take her out of his arms, Killyama stopped him.
“It’s cool.”
“You sure?”
Calder and Train stared at each other, daring the other to instigate the fight brewing between them.
“I’m sure.” She nodded. “Without me, you can teach T.A. how to dance. She broke two of my toes.”
“I know how to dance. It’s not my fault my breasts get in the way so I can’t see my feet.”
“I should be so lucky,” Killyama wisecracked despite becoming aggravated by Train’s arrogance of carrying her to a dark corner of the dance floor.
“I knew you were a smart woman,” Train said as he set her down on her feet.
“Why? Because I didn’t let Calder beat the crap out of you?”
“No, because you stopped me from beating the crap out of him.”
“Who’s being a psycho now? You couldn’t take Calder if he had both his hands and feet tied behind his back.”
“Stay here. I’ll be back in a minute.” Train grimly started toward Calder.
Killyama grabbed the back of his T-shirt, jerking him to a stop. “Is this a joke? Beth and Lily both say you never fight.”
Train gaped at her. He looked like she had just called him a pussy. “When did they say that?”
“I don’t remember. Does it matter?”
“I fight all the time. Go ask Rider or Moon.”
“You’re drunk.”
“No, I’ve only had a couple of drinks tonight, and that was a couple of hours ago.”
“Then I don’t understand …”
Train released a ragged sigh. “I didn’t like seeing you dancing with him.”
“Tough titty. I don’t have to put up with this bullshit … The Last Riders share women all the time. You think I’m buying this He-Man attitude because I danced with another man?”
“I wanted you to stay the night.”
His reluctant admission had Killyama wanting to give in to him and give him everything he wanted, but she wasn’t going to do it. They weren’t in a normal relationship, and the sooner he figured that out, the better it would be for both of them. She would never be happy as a Last Rider, and Train didn’t want a woman who wasn’t one.
“Maybe next time … if you’re good.” She gave him a brazen smile as she started dancing.
“Better than I was tonight? So you know, I was pretty damn good tonight.”
Her head fell back with laughter.
Train stepped into her, letting her feel the bulge behind his jeans.
“I’ve had better.”
Train laughed back, bringing his arms around her waist as they swayed to the music. “I haven’t.”
“See? What did I tell you?”
Lucky and Willa were dancing next to them, smiling at their laughter. That made Killyama bite back her laughter.
“The problem is, The Last Riders are used to having their cake and eating it, too.”
He dropped his hands from her waist to cup her ass, pulling her tighter. “I’m not biting into that one. Can we just enjoy the music without getting into a fight?”
“Yes,” she conceded.
Relaxing into him, she let the music take her away from the other women who would go home with him and from the club members who would eventually tear them apart. It was inevitable.
Like all men, Train thought their fate rested in his hands. What he didn’t realize was that it rested in hers. He believed the end would come when she couldn’t take him betraying her with other women. He was wrong. She would betray him.
7
“Need a hand?” Viper squatted down next to Train worked on Rider’s motorcycle.
“No thanks. I got it.”
When Viper didn’t move away, Train knew he was there to have a talk. Viper wasn’t like the other brothers who would stop by to chat. The Last Riders’ president was too busy taking care of the business side of their club. If Viper was there, he was there because he had something on his mind.
“I saw you hanging out with Killyama last night.”
“So did all the other brothers.”
“What’s going on?” Viper’s serious tone had Train lowering the wrench.
“With Rider’s motorcycle or with Killyama?”
“Killyama.”
“Nothing. We were just having a good time.”
“Is that wise?”
“Why not? It was a Friday night; we let some of the women we want to fuck come to the clubhouse to party. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“They aren’t Killyama. What she sees, she’ll gossip about.”
“Most of the men and women were at Rosie’s last night. Sasha and Lily were babysitting at your house, so there wasn’t anything to see.”
“What about next Friday? She going to be there?”
“Maybe. If I decide to invite her, I’ll talk to her and make sure she doesn’t talk.”
“The kids are getting older. Noah and Chance will be starting preschool. I don’t want them to get hurt from the rumors that could be spread. All the brothers are picky on which hanger-on’s they let come to the parties.”
“Killyama isn’t a hanger-on.” Train stood up, going to his toolbox. Then Viper rose, preventing him from going back to work on the motorcycle after he grabbed the blowtorch.
“What is she, then?”
“Jesus, I don’t know. Do you give Rider the third-degree when he brings in someone new?”
“Most of the women Rider brings are too stupid to remember where they are the next day, much less talk about it.”
“Trust me; I know what I’m doing.”
“All right. She’s your responsibility. If shit goes down, it will be on you.”
Train nodded. “I can handle Killyama.”
Viper shook his head. “If you can do that, all the brothers will be amazed. Me included.”
“She’s not that bad.”
Viper stared at him in bewilderment. “We talking about the same woman? Did you forget the night we all spent in jail because of those bitches?”
“She was only taking up for Beth. I can respect loyalty.”
Viper shook his head. “Brother, you got it bad. Do I need to start picking another replacement if something happens to me?”
“Good luck. Winter hasn’t let me back in your bed since she found out.”
“She says I’m going to outlive everyone.”
“From her lips to God’s ear,” Train said in all seriousness.
He was close to all the brothers, but Viper went beyond that. Gavin had been like the brother Train never had, and he had grown close to Viper through Gavin. They had spent a lot of time together in the military, and when they had been discharged, it was the three of them who had come up with the idea for The Last Riders.
Train couldn’t prevent the twist of pain that hit his chest when he thought of Gavin.
“Something wrong?”
“I was just thinking about Gavin.”
Viper’s face echoed his own pain. “He’d be proud of what we’ve built.”
“Yeah, he would. I still miss him. It’s as if it were just yesterday when we planned out the clubhouse.”
“I miss him, too.” Viper brought his eyes back to Train after looking lost in thought out at the trees surrounding the property. “I wish you’d take my old room.”
Train gripped the handlebar of Rider’s bike, looking away from Viper. “I can’t. It was the room Gavin planned to take.”
“It made me feel closer to him.”
“It just reminds me that he’s not here.”
“If you change your mind, let me know.”
Train nodded. “I will.”
“I better go. Winter has supper ready. You sure you don’t need
some help with the bike?”
“I’m sure. And, Viper, I’ll make sure that Killyama behaves. You have my word.”
Viper nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
A little while later, he had finished working on Rider’s bike and was closing his toolbox when Beth pulled into the parking lot.
Taking a cloth, he wiped his hands off as she got out of her SUV.
“Hi, Train.” She smiled as she went toward the steps to the clubhouse.
“Beth, how’s it going?”
“Good. It’s been a long day.”
As they walked up the steps together, Beth gave him a curious look. “Did you have fun at the party?”
Train snapped curtly, “Why? Did Killyama ask?”
Beth frowned. “No. I was just making idle chitchat. Should I have not asked?”
“I overreacted. I’m sorry. I’m just being paranoid. Viper’s worried about Killyama spreading gossip about the club.”
Beth paused on one of the steps. “I’m afraid that’s my fault. When I broke up with Razer, I confided in them. They haven’t told anyone about the parties, and that was years ago. I know they haven’t ever told anyone else. They might comment about it around you guys, but it’s not like you all don’t know what’s going on in the club. They would never tell anyone what happens here.”
Train could tell she regretted confiding in the women she had grown close to. He could also understand how they had provided comfort when The Last Riders hadn’t.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He continued to climb the stairs with her, feeling bad he had upset her. “The brothers and I just don’t want the life we have going on here screwed up.”
“Killyama comes across as a hard-ass, but she wouldn’t do anything to hurt Lily or me.”
Train looked at Beth from the corner of his eye. “You’re not going to give me the same assurance if she gets mad at me?”
Beth laughed. “If you hurt her, Killyama won’t be the only one you’ll have to worry about. Sex Piston and her whole crew will come after you like a pack of ravaging wolves.” Beth patted him on his arm as they went into the club.
“I wonder if they still make silver bullets?” Train joked as he left her to go upstairs to his room. He didn’t hear her retort as she went into the kitchen. He probably didn’t want to hear it anyway. He had no intention of hurting Killyama. As long as they kept everything casual, both of them could have a good time, and then walk away unscathed when it was over.