“That’s between me and Arrow,” Talon fires back.
“He’ll be here,” Blade says, his eyes on me. “And he won’t be happy you involved Anna.”
“I’m not a threat to Anna.”
Lana gives me a wide-eyed look. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to date a biker after all.”
“Smart move,” I mutter.
Talon flashes a charming smile at her. “Oh, come on now, we’re not all that bad.”
Lana purses her lips. “Right.”
Talon sighs. “I miss the old days where women were afraid of me.”
I grin at that. “I’m sure they still will be, just find ones who aren’t badass like Lana and me.”
He messes my hair. “You are kind of badass, aren’t you?”
“Get your fuckin’ hands off her,” Blade grits out, his face going red.
Oh, dear.
I can see this escalating fast.
Blade’s phone rings, and he looks to Talon. “He’s out front.”
Talon looks down at me, a sad expression flashing on his face. “Take care, Anna.”
My brows furrow. What am I missing here? Something is going on, but I haven’t the slightest idea what it could be.
“Both of you stay here,” Blade says, following Talon outside.
“Holy shit,” Lana mumbles.
I slide my plate back from Talon’s side and take a bite of my salad.
“How can you eat at a time like this?” Lana whisper-yells.
I put my fork down. “What do you want to do?”
She stands up, grabbing her handbag. “Let’s go and see what’s going on.”
I follow her to the front window, where she sticks her face against the glass.
People in the café start to stare.
“Seriously, Lana?”
She turns her head around. “What? All I can see is Talon and Arrow standing next to their bikes, talking.”
I grab her hand and we walk outside.
I see Arrow shaking his head, and Talon reaching into his pocket and pulling out some papers. Arrow glances at them, then slams them against Talon’s chest. Arrow looks down at the ground, while Talon’s lips keep moving, obviously telling him something.
What the hell is going on?
I look at Lana, who looks even more confused than I, then back at Arrow in time to see him punch Talon square in the face. I try to run to him, but Blade appears and holds me back. Talon doesn’t hit Arrow back, but for some reason he looks . . . almost pleased?
Arrow notices us standing there, and storms over, not even looking at me.
“Get them home,” he demands to Blade. “Now.”
Then he walks back to his bike, gets on it, and rides away.
Talon watches him leave, then does the same.
“Come on,” Blade says, herding us into the car.
We drop Lana off first, then drive back to the clubhouse.
I sit on our bed, and wait for Arrow to come home and explain.
IT’S midnight when the sound of the door opening wakes me. I turn on a light, watching as Arrow steps into the room, sitting down on the bed to take off his shoes.
“Hey, where were you?” I ask him.
Silence.
“Arrow?”
“Not tonight, Anna,” he finally says, stripping down and sliding into the sheets. He reaches for me, and I go to him. He wraps me in his arms, but something doesn’t feel right.
Something has changed.
He turns my head to him roughly and kisses me almost desperately.
“I need you, Anna,” he says huskily, his hands wandering down my back. “Give yourself to me.”
I kiss him back, wrapping my legs around his trim waist and running my hands through his hair.
“You have me,” I tell him, moving back to pull off my T-shirt. He quickly takes advantage, leaning forward and licking my breasts one at a time. He bites down gently, while his hands try to remove my sleep shorts.
“Off,” he growls. “Take them off.”
I quickly remove my shorts and sit there before him.
“Beautiful,” he whispers. “And all mine.”
Our lips are once again joined as he lifts me to straddle his waist. When he pulls me up farther so I’m sitting on his face, I feel a little self-conscious. When he starts to lick me, making moaning noises of enjoyment, I relax, turned on to the point of no inhibitions. I look down at his face, unable to look away as he tastes me, his heavy-lidded eyes watching me back, making me even hotter. I can only imagine how I look, hands gripping the headboard, straddling his face—spread out for him so he can please me as he wishes. His hands roam, squeezing my behind and pulling me down onto him. My own fingers reach for my breasts, pinching my nipples as I feel myself about to explode.
“I’m going to come, Arrow,” I moan, my head thrown back in pleasure. “Fuck!”
My thighs tremble as my orgasm hits me. I squeeze my eyes shut, lost in the pleasure.
Arrow sucks on my clit, prolonging my release. My fingers dig into my thighs until the final wave hits me.
I pant a little, look down at Arrow, and slide off him. “Shit.”
He sits up and wipes his mouth. I take him in from head to toe, seeing his rock-hard cock and knowing that it needed attention. I slide down his body so I’m in between his legs and take him into my mouth with no preamble. His hands tangle in my hair, gently urging me on as he sits forward and watches me. I stare up at him, taking him in as much I can, and then sliding back down.
He curses and slides out of my mouth.
“Stay like that,” he demands, coming around me from behind. Holding my hips, he enters me quickly, fucking me like he owns me. His pace quickens, and I know he’s almost ready to come. He pulls out and turns me over, sliding back in. “Want to see your face when I come.”
He thrusts a few more times, his face contorting in pleasure as his orgasm hits him.
His eyes never leave mine.
I hold on to him, my fingers on his back, digging into his dragon tattoo.
“Anna,” he whispers, bracing himself over me. I pull him down, so his weight is on me, but I don’t mind. I like the feel of it.
“Hi,” I say, smiling up at him.
His lip twitches. “Hi, darlin’.”
“I missed you today,” I say, but instantly regret it when his entire body stiffens, and his expression is suddenly devoid of any emotion.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him softly.
He shakes his head and slides out of me, lying on his back. “Nothing, nothing’s wrong.”
I lay my head on his chest and wrap my arm around his waist.
“I love you, Arrow,” I tell him.
“Anna—” he whispers, his voice sounding strangled.
“You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to let you know. From the first time I saw you, I knew I wanted you. I can’t even explain it,” I ramble, then kiss him on his chest.
He rubs his hand down my back in comforting circles but doesn’t say anything back.
I didn’t expect him to.
I close my eyes and let sleep take over.
* * *
Over the next two weeks, Arrow pulls away from me. It might not be noticeable to others—he was still caring and protective— but I could tell the difference.
Something had happened to make him put distance between us. And I’m thinking it had to do with me dropping the L-bomb on him. Why did I have to tell him that I loved him? Yes, it’s the truth, but if I’d known he was going to act like this, I would have kept that bit of information to my damn self.
He comes to bed later and wakes up earlier. It’s almost like he doesn’t want to be around me as much. His playfulness is gone, and he’s almost back to how he was when I first met him.
I don’t like it one bit.
I don’t like that I sit and wait for him to come home at night.
I don’t like that he isn’t being himself anymore.
Why does he think he has to guard himself from me?
One thing that hasn’t changed is the sex. He still wants me, and that’s a good thing, I think.