Wicked Nights (18 page)

The rest of the club stared at her like she was some kind of freak show. Whatever Addison had planned, it had backfired to the point she really was all alone amidst the people. They wouldn’t go against Mason, not even Lila, who stared at her with obvious annoyance.

“You don’t mean that.” Addison said it as a whisper, but he seemed to hear it all too well.

He stood from his bike, pocketing his keys. “The hell I don’t. Go.”

She felt like an idiot. The whole thing was humiliating. She’d just wanted him to stop ordering her around like his personal prisoner. She hadn’t expected him to simply kick her out of his club and his life.

The neighbourhood wasn’t the greatest and she didn’t look forward to walking to the nearest bus stop in expensive heels that didn’t do much for her feet on a comfort level. She felt really shitty about worrying him, but they’d been through this before. If Mason wanted you gone, you left.

Addison turned and started walking in her four-inch Jimmy Choos, towards the exit. It took two to tango. She decided to stop beating herself up about his reaction. Mason was worried about her—she understood that—but he didn’t have to be an ass about it. Most people, when worried, hugged the person when they returned. Not him. He was ready to write her out of his life at the drop of a hat, which didn’t make any sense. Why worry if he planned to get rid of her anyway?

A large hand wrapped around her wrist and gently tugged. Matty stopped her and tilted his head towards the MC. “Go inside.”

Matty to the rescue. Addison glanced towards the door and the crowd that stood there. She could only imagine what kind of hell that would bring him. No one went against Mason.

“You’ll get in trouble for that.”

He smiled. “No I won’t. Go.”

Addison glanced back to see Mason watching her. She sighed in frustration and went inside the nearby door, heading straight to the bar. Lila filed in behind her and grabbed a glass. She tipped a bottle up over it before sliding the drink towards her. Addison didn’t care what it was. She picked it up and drank.

A commotion from the members filled the main room and Addison glanced over her shoulder to see Mason coming her way. Nothing about him said that he’d forgiven her. Nothing about him even said that he wanted her around.

“Lila, beer.” Mason came up to the bar beside Addison and stared down at her. The turmoil behind them settled and Addison realised that everyone had left the main room.

Lila handed him his beer and motioned for the back of the club. “Holler if you need me.”

He popped the top of the drink and sipped.

Addison turned towards him and decided to go for it. “Matty said that you needed to make a trip to Sarasota. I’ll go if you want company.”

He stared at her a moment like she’d grown three heads. She understood the implications of her suggestion, but maybe they did need to get away from the club to work things out. He turned his attention back to his beer, ignoring her again.

“You’re not even going to talk to me now?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What? Why?”

“You disrespect me.” He drank from the bottle. “I can put up with your bullshit, attitude and all, but disrespecting me does not fly well. Not in my life and especially not in my club.”

She gaped at him. “How did I disrespect you? You’re the one barking orders at me like I’m a fucking dog.”

He stood. “Addison, I told you not to leave. You left. You said to me that you wanted me to protect you. You agreed that it would be my way or no way. You just fucking went rogue on me, not telling anyone here where you went or what you were doing.” He shrugged. “How can you really expect me to be okay with that?”

His worry still showed. She could tell by the look on his face and the change in his demeanour. She felt like crap for making him feel that way. Her mind wasn’t in the right place and she’d forgotten for a moment that she lived in the MC world right now. But Mason wanting her to leave shocked her. Now he simply didn’t care what happened to her?

“So you care enough about me that you’re all freaked out about me missing, and now you simply don’t care what happens to me at all?”

He didn’t say anything, not that she expected him to. He didn’t like talking to her when he was pissed. The conversation they’d had on his deck proved as much. She wasn’t entirely sure that they had moved passed that either, which only complicated things more. She wanted them to work. She wanted to be the one who could make their lives blend enough that they could work. But she wouldn’t give up who she was or what she did for him. And she really shouldn’t have to.

Addison grabbed her purse and pulled her cell phone out. “Matty was wrong about you. He said that you and I needed to be alone together to fix this shit between us, but who are we kidding? You get pissed off at me for having a life that cannot simply stop on a dime when you want it to. I can’t conform to what you want when you want it. I got the phone call from a judge and I had to take it. He wants to recommend me, and I can’t just tell him that my life is full at the moment, or I have to ask my boyfriend if I can come see him. You can be pissed at me all you want, but you’re not living in reality either.” She pulled her purse onto her shoulder. “I’m leaving, not that you give a fuck. I don’t want to be around this place or you any longer.”

She left him sitting there staring after her. Even as she’d said the words she felt a gaping hole inside her that seemed to grow with each step she put between them. She didn’t want to do this with him about everything. But she also didn’t plan to beg him for a spot in his life.

* * * *

Addison had a way of pissing him off unlike any other woman he’d ever met. She got under his skin, carved deep trenches in him and made him feel things he hadn’t known existed. He sipped his beer, wondering how the hell they’d come to this.

“Prez, we don’t get in each other’s shit, but she is our lawyer. She’s beneficial to the club and with all the shit going down, it might be good to keep her around.” Matty took a seat next to him. “I’m not saying you have to love her, but cutting strings with her completely isn’t a good idea.”

Mason knew Matty was right. Addison was naïve when it came to his world. She claimed she dealt with criminals, and she did, but not when they were at their worst. When they got to her, they put on their best front so they would get representation and less time. He tossed the last of his beer back and headed towards the door. She sat on top of the picnic table outside, phone to her ear.

“Yeah, I’m…” She glanced around. Mason plucked her phone from her and hung up. “What the hell?”

“Go get some clothes from Lila.”

“You made it very clear that—”

“Go get some fucking riding clothes from Lila.”

She stood from the picnic table. “You taking me out to murder me and bury my body in the woods?”

Mason swatted her ass. The shock on her face said she got his message loud and clear. Thankfully, she didn’t say anymore. He grabbed her purse and carried it to his bike while she left to change. He stuffed her belongings neatly in the pannier and straddled the beast of a machine. He started it with ease and revved it. The sound of the pipes roared loudly, a sound he’d never grow to hate. He pulled towards the front then put his sunglasses on.

Addison stepped out in tight jeans and a skimpy tank top. He motioned for her to climb on and she did. She squeezed his shoulder and lifted her leg over the bike, straddling it. The feel of her body against him had its own appeal. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he took off.

The day was perfect for riding. Mason had no idea where the hell he wanted to go, but he needed to get away from the club, away from everything. He wasn’t too keen on his troubles with Addison, but at least with her in his bitch seat, she wouldn’t be jabbering more and making things worse.

Riding was his life. Every time life got hard, he got on his bike and rode until he ran out of gas. Addison gripped his shirt tightly. He’d left his cut back at the MC since he’d planned to head out of town on personal business. He wound around the roads, making his way south out of Tampa and towards Sarasota. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he didn’t want to be there, surrounded by the madness in his life.

And that’s exactly what his life was full of—madness.

They rode for nearly an hour before he decided to stop. Addison fisted her hands in his shirt while she held on. If he were a smart man, he would’ve given up after the first huge fight they’d had at his home. He should have anyway. She didn’t need to see the gory details of his life.

But he didn’t. He wanted her there, with him.

“You hungry?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He pulled off the road and into Captain Curt’s parking lot, rolling the bike to a stop. He climbed off and held his hand out to help her. The skimpy shirt she wore did little to keep her breasts contained and he silently thanked Lila for that. Addison had great boobs, and even as pissed as he was, they distracted him enough to keep his temper in check. She linked her fingers with his as they walked inside.

“You still in a bad mood?”

He sat in a booth and grabbed a menu. “Less talking.”

She licked her lips. Mason ordered for them both. He still didn’t want to talk to her. He honestly didn’t know what he could say to make anything better.

“Mason, I’m sorry.” She twisted her fingers together. “It didn’t occur to me to tell you. You weren’t there, and I knew you’d say no. This job is a big deal for me. I didn’t want to pass it up because of this whole damn war that I’m sadly in the middle of.”

He sipped from his drink. “Zip your fuckable lips, Addy.”

She gawked at him. “God, you’re sitting there like you’ve never gone against the rules before. Like you’re the fucking President of the United States and all hail the chief. I don’t beg for anything, Mason. I said I’m sorry. I never say I’m sorry and I’ve already told you that on three different occasions. I can’t seem to please you, but dammit, I’m trying.”

The crowd started to tune in to their conversation. Mason lifted his glass to his lips. She wanted to please him? He didn’t believe that for one second.

“You want to please me?”

“Yeah.”

“Get on your knees and suck my dick.”

She gave him the look of shock he wanted. He didn’t have the first fucking clue as to what went on in her mind. Mason played his card and waited to see what her next move would be.

“There’s a family of five right over there.”

He shrugged.

She drank from her glass, avoiding his eyes. Something in her changed almost immediately. Maybe the dark depths of his world finally clicked in her mind and she didn’t like it anymore. He watched her a moment, realising a little too late that he’d probably said the one thing that made him a complete dickhead. Shit. He’d never treated her like one of the girls that hung around the club. Not until now.

Mason groaned and stood, moving to the other side of the booth. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her to him, kissing her temple. And there it was. Instant peace settled over him. Nothing felt better than having her in his arms. It was the very thing that kept him coming back, regardless of the probable outcome.

“Just stop talking, Addy.” He pressed his lips against her cheek. “I’m so fucking tired of talking about our problems. They’re not going to go away and I don’t want to keep rehashing it.”

The waitress brought their order, and Addison busied herself with eating. He didn’t think about it anymore, simply choosing to sit and enjoy his meal. Eventually, the thought of whether or not he wanted to go back to Tampa crossed his mind. He knew that if Addison wanted, they could rent a room for the night. It would give them more time, anyway, to end the bullshit between them. Maybe once and for all she could finally understand his life and the dos and don’ts of it. He pulled her hand onto his thigh, keeping their fingers linked.

“Matty was bullshitting you when he said I needed to come down here, but I’m glad he suggested it.” He glanced over at her. “Do you want to get a room or head back to town?”

“I don’t care.”

“Tell me what you want.”

She didn’t say anything for a few minutes. “I want to get a hotel room.”

She still had that look on her face and it made him feel like shit. She’d pissed him off at the MC and he’d wanted to write her off, kick her out of his life for good. It’d hurt, though. He knew she played a part in the club business. He had to make it good between them for that. Or so he told himself. He really only desired to be with her. He wanted to try again to make her see how she fit in to his world—because she did. It may not be a match made in Heaven, but Addison Pierce belonged in the Wicked Angels MC world. Right there next to him at the head of the table.

She just didn’t know it yet.

Her soft skin tantalised him. She had the sweetest little pout when she didn’t get her way, something that made him hard in an instant. She was a good girl no matter how badass she pretended to be. And on some level, he could tell she knew she’d fucked up. He’d fucked up with her too.

“Let’s get out of here.” He slid from the booth and tossed a few bills on the table.

He held her hand and led her out of the restaurant. Straddling the bike first, he watched as she lifted her leg, moving onto the seat behind him. He hooked his hands behind her knees and pulled her forward, leaving no room between them. She hugged him, her arms wrapped around his midsection. It felt pretty damn good.

He headed back up the coast and decided to take her to the Ritz Carlton. He paid for the room and grabbed their keys, heading off to the elevator. He led her to the luxurious suite and unlocked the door.

“Come on.”

She stepped inside and glanced around. He tossed the key to a nearby table and rubbed his eyes. It’d been a long day and an even longer day before. He’d had little sleep and the tension of their situation only increased his fatigue.

“You did something today that very few people redeem themselves from.” He moved to the bed and sat, untying his boots. “In the course of five minutes, you managed to show not only me but everyone in my club complete disrespect.”