Wicked Nights (4 page)

“You can resist the inevitable all you want, but one day we’re going to fuck and when we do, that good-girl image you’ve got going on is going to disappear and show the real Addison Pierce.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “The real Addison Pierce?”

He nodded. After a few deep breaths, he managed enough self-control to actually move about in the kitchen. He needed a drink, but since he didn’t keep anything but beer in the house, he settled for coffee.

“Why is the real Addison Pierce not a good girl?”

He glanced over at her. “Because good girls have yet to be unleashed. I know there is something wild about you, and I know that with me, that will come out.”

Addison sat at the kitchen bar. “I can only imagine what wild things you’ve concocted about me, but I assure you, I’m not that person.”

Mason didn’t believe her for a second. He’d seen her in court. He’d seen the passion she had for his case and the ability she had to pull off an acquittal. She’d literally saved his life and now was the chance for him to protect hers.

“Fine. You’re not that person.” He drank his coffee.

She stared at him. “You don’t think I’m a good girl?”

He grinned. “That’s not the point.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s the point?”

“You’re an uptight lawyer who works way too much and you have no social life of your own. You hop on the back of my motorcycle and you’re free. You feel alive, and it turns you on.”

Over the months he’d spent behind bars, he’d wondered about her possible reaction to riding on his bike. Last night had blown his ideas out of the water. If she truly hated motorcycles, she wouldn’t have been that trusting, that open with him. She liked his bike, and thank God, she went home with him and not one of the other guys in the club.

“My reaction was due to the motorcycle being a giant vibrator. Okay, it’s been a while, and it’s a natural reaction.”

He licked his lips. “How long has it been?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not having this conversation with you. You are my client and I’m not sleeping with you. End of story.”

“I’m not just your client, Addy.” He sipped his drink. “You called me, remember. You could have sought out the police, but instead, you chose me. You knew I would protect you. After all the fucking conversations we’ve had in jail, you had to know that I would swoop in like your prince charming and rescue the damsel in distress. I think you wanted me to, but you’re scared of the implications.”

“I do not believe that for one second, and I’m not scared.” She stood. “The Skulls are your mess, not mine. I called you to clean it up.”

“Addy, you’re a good liar in court, but you suck at it right now.”

She snorted. “Our conversations in jail were mostly about your case. What about you am I supposed to find personally appealing?”

He felt the bite in her words and it stung. She must have read his face because her entire demeanour changed instantly.

“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You’re appealing to me for all the wrong reasons, and I can’t be involved with you. I’m sorry.” She stepped back. “Perhaps if we didn’t come from such different worlds, it could actually be different.”

Mason watched as she disappeared down the hall. Maybe if he proved to her that he was more than what she assumed about him, it would be different. He sat his glass in the sink and decided to start his day.

Chapter Two

When Addison arrived at her office, she was in a new brown suit with a fabulous pair of Jimmy Choos on her feet. Lila had shopped for her then driven her to work. She hadn’t been there nearly ten minutes before a police car pulled in the parking lot.

She cringed when she saw it, trying to determine if it was a random officer or Jesse McNally. Much to her dismay, it was the latter and she turned towards the building to hide her second cringe.

“Do I need to ask why you didn’t call this in last night?” Jesse walked towards her then stopped a few feet away.

Addison put on a smile. “Hi, Jesse. I’m surprised to see you here.”

He gripped his belt. “Why? We got a call in to the station saying your office had been shot up. I came by and your car was here, but you weren’t. How did you get home?”

Addison tried her best to come up with something quick. “A…friend.”

His eyes pierced hers. “What friend?”

She took a deep breath. “What can I do for you, Jesse? Do I need to fill out a report?”
To make you go away.

“Damn right you do. You should have called this in. Do you know who did it?”

Addison had wanted to avoid this mess to begin with. “Probably someone that doesn’t like me very much.”

“Addison, this is serious.” Jesse reached out to her and ran his hand along her arm. “They could have killed you.”

“It comes with the territory, Jesse.”

The sound of a motorcycle drew closer and Addison wanted to thump her head against the nearest wall. Mason pulled into the parking lot along with a few of his goons and parked near where they stood. His attention immediately zeroed in on Jesse’s hand on her arm. Addison moved away.

Jesse turned to face Mason. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Mason didn’t even acknowledge him. Addison took a few steps towards Mason, intervening before things got out of hand. She stood between them, blocking Mason’s view of the officer.

“As your lawyer, I’m telling you not to say anything to him.”

He grinned. “Come on, Addy. Where’s the fun in that?”

She gave him a look as he climbed off the motorcycle. He smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her lips. She cringed for the third time in five minutes and watched as Mason walked towards Jesse.

“Addison, is he harassing you?” Jesse asked. “I’d love to haul your ass in again. It’d be a favour to the law-abiding citizens of Tampa to see you behind bars where you belong.”

Addison walked up to them both and focused on Jesse. “I’ll just bail him out, Jesse. What do you want?”

Jesse frowned. “Why would you bail him out?”

“He’s my client.” Addison met Mason’s eyes. “As you can see, my office is shot up, so I’ll meet with you over at that patio table.”

Mason grinned at Jesse. “Oh, I’m not here on official business. This is personal.”

Addison blanched. Jesse’s eyes narrowed, and the last thing she needed was him snooping around more than he already was. It’d been three years running and he still couldn’t take no for an answer. He was determined to date her, to have her as his woman. Nothing sounded even remotely decent about that idea.

While cute, Jesse was a know-it-all, and everything he thought he knew was wrong. He’d got to the point of stalking her before he’d finally admitted he liked her. He’d asked her out several times and she’d turned him down. He now made it his personal mission to protect her from unseen crime. He hated the Wicked Angels MC too.

“Let me fill out a report with Jesse, then I’ll be with you.”

Mason finally took his attention off Jesse. “Whatever you say, babe.”

Once Mason and his goons went to the patio table, she turned to Jesse. “I’ve got to be in court at nine. I really don’t have much time to do this right now.”

“Are these dickheads responsible?” Jesse pointed at Mason and Addison blew out a breath in frustration.

“Why would my clients shoot up my office?”

“Why would you take them on as clients?” He propped his hand on his hip. “They’re not innocent. You know this, Addison. How can you defend them?”

She stared at him. “Write up the police report, Jesse, and I’ll turn it in to my insurance.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you sleeping with him?”

Addison tried to cool her temper, but the ever-present cop really hit a nerve. “You have no business asking me that question, and if you say any more about it, I’ll report it to Captain Higgins.”

His expression didn’t change. “You
are
fucking him. God, why? That’s an ethical breech. You’ll lose your right to practise law and your dream to be a judge.”

She pulled out her phone and dialled.

“Who are you calling?”

“Captain Higgins.” She met his eyes. “I wasn’t kidding. You have no right to come here and start trouble.”

Jesse grabbed her phone from her and clicked it off. Addison made a noise of shock, which only led to Mason and his goons coming to investigate. Mason moved in beside her and stared at Jesse.

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s fine.” Addison grabbed her phone from Jesse. “Officer McNally was just leaving.”

Jesse took a step back. “I’ll send you the police report.”

“You do that.” Addison watched as he climbed in the driver’s seat of his squad car and backed up. She didn’t take her eyes off him until he left the parking lot and drove out of her sight. When she finally turned, she saw Mason studying her.

“You look rattled.”

She shook her head. “He gets under my skin. Ever since the…” She stopped, realising all attention was on her. “Never mind. What do you need?”

“I was going to start fixing this place up. I wanted to see if it was okay with you.” Mason glanced towards the building.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” She saw her assistant’s car pull in to the parking lot and breathed a sigh of relief. “Only on a few conditions.”

Mason chuckled. “Okay.”

“Stay away from the Skulls and stay away from McNally.”

His lips tilted up in a grin. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“I mean it. If I have to stop everything to bail you out of jail, I’m going to be pissed.”

He licked his lips. “Then I’ll promise to stay out of jail.”

“Leave McNally alone.” She hadn’t liked the look on his face when he’d questioned her about him. Mason had a way of
fixing
things. She didn’t need a hurt officer linked to her as well.

“Tell me something.” Mason put his back to his goons and faced her. “Does he have the hots for you?”

Addison glanced towards her assistant and wished Ashley would pick up the pace some. “You need to stay away from him. He does not like the MC and now that I’m involved, who knows.”

“I’m not worried about that little shithead. You shouldn’t be, either. I’m protecting you. You’re mine.”

Ashley’s eyes widened, and Addison grabbed Mason’s arm, dragging him out of earshot. “You are not fucking me. I’m not yours, no matter what happened between us. I’ve told you that it will not happen again.”

The grin returned and she damn near melted into a puddle of goo. He leant down so his mouth hovered inches from hers. He smelt so good, Addison had to force herself to remain upright. She knew he could make women drop on their backs and spread their legs with the mere thought of his mouth or his cock, but she didn’t need that. He’d scratched the itch. Now she needed to break free and get back to her regular life.

“You say that like you mean it, but I’m not completely convinced.”

She felt his warm breath on her mouth. Addison swallowed hard. All the events from last night and that morning played through her mind. Her body turned to slush fast and she reached out, grabbing his cut for balance.

“You need to focus on fixing my office while I go to court.”

He stepped back and she let him go. She took a few seconds to pull herself together, then focused on Ashley. Walking towards her, Addison declared the day’s events and headed to her car. It was going to be a long day.

* * * *

“You lost.”

Addison frowned at Ashley. “No shit.”

“But you never lose.”

She stuffed her papers back in her suitcase. “No shit.”

Addison walked in her Jimmy Choos out of the courthouse, frustrated with the way everything had turned out. Her assistant scrambled behind her, even though she tried to stay a safe distance away. Addison never lost a case. Ever. Since college, she’d prided herself on winning, which focused her on the path towards criminal defence. She didn’t lose. Her clients knew that, and her reputation in the courtroom had them flocking after her for representation.

Her cell phone rang and she snarled at the incoming call. “What?”

“Hey, sweet tits.” Mason’s voice just annoyed her even more. “I need a favour.”

She stopped and waited for the light to change. “I’m all out of favours.”

“It won’t take long. I promise. I’ll make it up to you later.”

“No, you won’t.” She started walking with the flow of people downtown, heading to the nearby parking garage. “I lost my case today, thanks to you. I never lose a case, either, so I’m pretty pissed off and out of favours for you, your goons and your little club.”

“How did I make you lose your case?”

“You know damn well how you made me lose my case. My office got shot up, I rode on the back of your damn bike in a fucking skirt, and I slept in your bed. Don’t even get me started about what happened on the deck.” Addison barely registered that her assistant listened to her conversation with him.

“Babe, you’re just making me hard with all that angry talk.”

“I’m not helping you. Don’t call me again.” She hung up and stopped into a small café right down from the courthouse. She went to the barista and said, “I need the strongest thing you’ve got.”

Her assistant stood beside her. “I can take these back to the office if you would rather be alone.”

“That’s fine.” Addison waved her off then looked at the barista. “Is there any chance you could put alcohol in that?”

The girl bugged her eyes out and shook her head. Addison waved her off too. She took a seat then sat there a moment before hearing loud motorcycles outside. She scoffed and turned, spotting none of the Wicked Angels members. Small skulls marked their cuts and Addison stared at them in curiosity. They lived in too big of a city for them to be coming to the same coffee place where she just happened to be.

Addison sipped her drink and watched as the men piled into the coffee house, all focused on her. Having dealt with the motorcycle clubs for a while now, she didn’t dare try to go against them. She didn’t play dumb either. Marco Fowler played the part of club badass well. A band tied at the base of his head kept his long black hair from falling into his face. The expression on the man’s face meant business and the green bandana on his head intensified the look.