As she spoke the last, fury finally overtook Luna. She launched herself at Bohannon, intending to scratch his eyes out. Instead, he caught her by the waist and her hands landed on his broad, strong shoulders. Before she knew it she was pounding Bohannon with fists and open hands, striking hard, nearly hysterically. Luna didn’t know why she attacked. One moment she was trembling, swearing to herself she wouldn’t show weakness in front of her enemy, the next she’d decided to kill Bohannon. With her bare hands. Not the best of plans, but there it was.

  “Hey!” He dodged her blows as best he could, taking the ones he couldn’t without retaliation. “Would you stop?”

  “Bastard!” She couldn’t stop. Would never stop.

  “Luna!” Finally, Bohannon had had enough. He carried her the scant few steps to the wall to trap her body between it and his own before securing her hands above her head. “Cut it the fuck out!”

  She did, but only because he’d restrained her, taking the fight out of her. Both were breathing hard. Luna was still pissed as hell, embracing her anger so she still got that kick of adrenaline she needed to keep from falling on her face in front of her captor. Or, worse, dissolving into tears.

  “Fuck,” he whispered. “You’re so Goddamned sexy it hurts.” She gasped, and he took advantage.

  Bohannon’s lips met hers, kissing her with something akin to desperation. He took her over, sweeping her into a world of sensation and lust so strong, good sense didn’t exist. She was a prisoner. Bohannon’s prisoner. Yet she couldn’t resist him. In another life, she wouldn’t even try to resist him. Some small part of her wanted to seize the fact that he was the Gage she’d adored as a child. The Gage who had adored her. Called her his little Indian princess. She’d love it when he did that. It had made her feel special when her reality was that she was the bastard child of her mother’s Cherokee lover. Her father had hated Luna until the day he’d died, despising all she represented. Gage had never made her feel anything but loved and wanted.

  Same as he was now.

  Bohannon might have started it, but Luna was doing more than merely taking part. When he gave a strong thrust with his tongue, she met it with a thrust of her own. She couldn’t stop herself. Something about this man called to something wild and primitive inside of her. For the first time in her life, Luna was equal parts exhilarated and terrified by her own feelings of lust. She couldn’t stop. Couldn’t pull herself away from him. Didn’t want to pull away from him. Bohannon had opened up a Pandora’s box of sensation she had no hope of closing.

  The next thing she knew, he’d let her arms go and she’d wound them around his neck, still kissing him for all she was worth. He walked them to the couch but instead of laying her down and covering her with his big body, he sat so she straddled him. His arms wrapped securely around her, holding her tightly to him. Big, rough palms stroked her back through her tank, snagging on the thin material as he moved.

  Finally, one hand settled at the nape of her neck, tangling in her hair, and the other one found her ass, kneading restlessly. His kiss gentled until he finally pulled her head back and trailed his lips and tongue down her neck and back over and over. Luna couldn’t help but shiver, little whimpers escaping as he continued to stoke the fire he’d so effortlessly built.

  Not long after, he rested his head on her shoulder, his breath nearly as ragged as hers. Bohannon still had his arms tightly around her, but he stopped his brutal seduction.

  Luna gasped for breath, her head leaning against the side of his. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and the muscles bunched beneath her fingers. Everything about this man appealed to her other than his lifestyle. How could fate be so cruel to her?

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured, still nuzzling her shoulder. “I’m supposed to be being good.”

  She stiffened, pulling back from him. “You… what?”

  His hands slid up and down her sides, not allowing her to fully slip away from him, but not restraining her either. Exactly.

  He sighed heavily before resting his hands on her hips. “I’m supposed to be taking this slowly. Allowing you to adjust and introducing you to my world a little at a time.”

  There was something about the way he looked at her and the way he spoke that put Luna on edge. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him, per se. She was, but not because of the way he kissed her. Touched her. When he was doing either, she could forget he rode with killers. Was, in fact, a killer himself. “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either,” he muttered. He met her gaze for several moments, searching for something. When she didn’t turn away, simply looked at him in confusion, he pulled her back into his arms. “You’re too innocent for the likes of me.” His voice was a mere whisper. “Way too Goddamned innocent.”

  “It’s not going to matter though. Is it?” Strangely, Luna wasn’t scared. Not about this, at least. Why, she didn’t understand. Luna wasn’t as experienced as some of her friends, but she knew when a man was staking a claim. Right now, Bohannon was claiming her. This was for her. Later would be for his brothers. And she knew without a shadow of a doubt it would happen for his brothers. He’d let them all know she was his. How long he intended for her to be his was something she’d have to figure out, and fast.

  “No.” He held her gaze. There was hunger there. Raw desire he seemed to want her to see.

  “What if I don’t want this?” Luna had to ask. Somehow, she already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him.

  “We’ll work through it.”

  “We? What makes you think I’d even want to work through it?”

  “You don’t kiss a man the way you just did and not want something more.”

  “I can’t imagine you kissing a woman any differently than you kiss me. I doubt you want to keep every woman you hook up with.” Then she blinked, a thought occurring to her. “Or do you? That is what you mean, isn’t it? A long-term relationship? An exclusive sexual relationship? Just sex but more than once?” Luna tried to get off his lap, but he was having none of it. “Let me up.”

  “Stop squirming.”

  God, he was so… commanding! Luna had never responded to bossy men before, but this one… Bohannon was sin and heaven all in one. She’d only been with one man, but her experience with this one so far was not even in the same league. Probably because he was a man. Experienced in all things sexual. What badass biker wasn’t? The only thing that truly puzzled her was why she didn’t get that oily, sick feeling around him like she had with the men she’d met from Scars and Bars. She hadn’t been remotely attracted to any of them. Bohannon was just as big a killer, just as bad a person as anyone from Scars and Bars yet she knew there’d never come a time when she wouldn’t be susceptible to his attentions. Maybe it was their past history. Maybe it was the way he touched her. It was addictive and so pleasurable she was putty in his hands.

  “There are things I have to take care of, but you’re staying with me while I work them out. Then, we’ll figure out what to do about you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Don’t know yet. We’ll start with exclusive fuck buddy and work our way out from there.”

  “Bastard,” she hissed, trying even harder to get away from him. Bohannon snaked his arms around her and tightened them. He surprised her by chuckling.

  “Goading you is going to be one of the highlights of my day.”

  “Might get you killed.”

  He flashed her a crooked grin. “Where would be the fun if getting killed wasn’t a possibility?”

  God, she was in so much trouble!

  Chapter Five

  Waking from a sound sleep, Bohannon found his body wrapped around a warm, curvy woman, both of them fully clothed. It took a moment to figure out what the fuck was going on but, once he did, found he was immensely satisfied. Though he hadn’t yet fucked her, his little Luna had gotten under his skin in a major way. Surprisingly, it wasn’t all sexual. OK, so most of it was sexual. She’d been tentative and reserved -- understandably -- at the beginning. After an hour of just talking to her like a normal person, however, he began to see a highly intelligent, compassionate woman. Very much like the girl he’d known. Everything about her appealed to him. And there was no way she was helping Scars and Bars in any way other than carrying drugs, which they’d forced her to do. Had he met the adult Luna again under different circumstances, he’d already be fucking her.

  She hadn’t wanted to lie down with him, but he forced the issue. When he’d climbed in behind her and wrapped his arms around her, she’d stiffened, trying to hold herself away from him. Of course, Bohannon was having none of that. He’d simply tugged her closer, resting his chin on her shoulder. After several tense moments, she relaxed by degrees until she was limp. She’d muttered, “This is actually kind of nice,” before drifting off.

  Fuck. No. She wasn’t the type of woman one simply fucked. She was the kind of woman a man wrapped himself up in. Gave her all of himself and was at her mercy. He’d have to think about that later.

  Careful not to wake her, Bohannon eased himself from the bed and stood. Blue-black hair spilled around her head like a dark, angelic halo. She was so fucking beautiful it nearly hurt to look at her. Absently, Bohannon rubbed the center of his chest. He’d known the woman Luna for mere hours, and she was already under his skin. He’d wanted her from that first moment he’d seen her clearly, but there was more to her than a pretty face and exotic looks. Hell, he couldn’t even damn her brother for putting her in this situation by virtue of the fact it had brought her to him.

  As he watched, she turned over, her hand going to the still-warm place on the mattress he’d vacated. When her palm met empty sheets, her eyes fluttered open.

  “Gage?” God, that voice. She was drowsy. Sexy as hell. Bohannon could easily imagine he was leaving her bed after a night of passionate, deeply fulfilling sex. She gave him a little frown before he could reply. “I think Bohannon suites you better now.”

  “Go back to sleep, baby. I have business with my brothers, but I’ll be back.” At least she understood the changes in him. Neither of them was the same as they were thirteen years ago.

  She blinked up at him, still sleepy, but focusing fully on him now. “Is it my brother?”

  The sadness on her face nearly broke his heart. “Not going to lie. Part of it is your brother. But I promise I’ll do my best to get him out of this alive.”

  Resignation dimmed those chocolate eyes. “Try. You don’t expect to succeed.” None of that was a question. Luna was intelligent enough to know the score. Getting her brother out of this mess -- one of his own making -- was going to take a miracle.

  “Try,” he confirmed. “But I swear to you it will be an honest effort.”

  One slim shoulder lifted in a shrug. “He’s not your responsibility. I’ll take care of him.”

  “He’s not your responsibility either, you know. He’s a grown-ass man.”

  “He’s my brother.”

  The two of them locked gazes. Bohannon knew his was hard and unyielding. Hers was quietly determined. She would give him trouble he couldn’t afford and probably couldn’t contain.

  “Do I need to lock you in here? Because I will.”

  Her expression didn’t change. “Do what you think you need to do. I’ll do the same.”

  “Fuck.” Bohannon swore under his breath as he sat back down on the bed, reaching for her hand. She didn’t fight him, but her fingers didn’t close around his in welcome. “Listen to me.” He wrapped his other hand around her limp one. “Let me handle this. This is what Bones does. We handle bad shit. We’ll get you free of Scars and Bars, then see what we can do about your brother.”

  “Like I said, do what you feel have to.”

  “You’re not ready to take on a club like this, or any club for that matter. I’d thought you’da learned that the first fucking time. It’s how you ended up in this mess to begin with.”

  Her chin jutted stubbornly. “He’s my brother.”

  “Half-brother,” he interrupted. She clenched her teeth, visibly angry now.

  “Brother,” she repeated slowly. “I’ll protect him with my life if necessary.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Bohannon snapped the question. “Would he do the same for you? Because, given the dangerous position he’s put you in, I’m guessing the answer is no. Bastard probably hasn’t changed one Goddamned bit.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” No hesitation on her part. “If you do something for someone only because you know they’d do something for you, it doesn’t mean anything. I’ll do whatever I have to because it’s the right thing to do. He’s my kin. Kin should stick together.”

  “Goddamn it, Luna!” He dropped her hand and rose, shoving his fingers through his hair in agitation. “That boy’s gonna get you killed!”

  “It’s still my choice. Not yours. Or anyone else’s.”

  “Fine,” he said, stomping into his boots. “Good luck with it. Just don’t think Bones isn’t going to protect you while you’re in our territory. Which, by the way, you’re smack in the middle of.”

  She sat up, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “I’ll be changing that shortly.”

  “Like I said. Good luck.” Bohannon stomped to the door and shut it more forcefully than strictly necessary. She was in his room, so he wouldn’t lock the door, but he refused to move her to another room. She belonged right where she was, damn it!

  With a snarl, he took out his cell and texted four prospects. One was to stand guard outside his door while the other two were to post up outside either window. The fourth would keep watch from a distance in case she slipped past the others. Luna wasn’t going anywhere.

  Just as he was putting his phone in his pocket, it chimed. A mass text to the group from Sword. Apparently, Scars and Bars were building a force nearly twenty men strong. Not surprising. They’d hoped to get their shipment back before it was widely known it was gone. Poacher couldn’t let the Florida club know a rival club had bested him. With all the drugs destroyed, not only would he lose one of their main sources of income, he’d lose respect. If he did, he’d lose control of Scars and Bars, something someone looking to seize power within the club would pounce on immediately.

  He waited until Clutch was in the hallway headed toward his room. Bohannon nodded once, then left to meet with his brothers. Kickstand and Pig would be in position soon after Shadow took up watch from the tower just inside the clubhouse gate. His position should allow him to keep an eye on Luna as well as watch for trouble. Bohannon replied with the information to the mass text so everyone was on the same page. As lead enforcer it was his responsibility to protect the club first. For the first time in his life, he was torn. He couldn’t leave Luna to her own devices. If he did, however, she’d likely do something stupid thinking she’d help her brother.

  With a vicious curse, he texted Sword. Bohannon had to let the other man know his conflict. He’d put Sword in charge of the current threat, something he knew his brother would understand. By putting Pig and Kickstand outside Luna’s window where Shadow had straight line of sight, he had a triple watch on her most likely escape route, but the two younger prospects weren’t exactly top-quality guards. They needed those to guard the compound. Nonetheless, they were men who could be used elsewhere if Sword gave the word.

  The common room gradually filled with bikers, from fully patched members to prospects and patch chasers. Everyone with Bones. This was something that affected them all. While only the members had a say in how this was handled, Cain had never had a problem with everyone knowing what was happening with regard to the safety of the club. Anyone who disagreed could damned well leave. Amongst the group, Bohannon spied Jaz headed his way.

  Fuck. Just what he needed.

  “Not now, Jaz,” he warned.

  “This is because of that woman, isn’t it? Just hand her over, Bohannon. We don’t need her kind of trouble.” Would the woman never stop? A one-time show of his displeasure was usually enough to send anyone running, even the women of the club who could sometimes be overly aggressive. Nature of the beast. The overblown blonde had been trying to land Bohannon for several months now. Apparently, she was determined to press on even in the face of Bohannon’s displeasure. She made no secret she considered him hers and intended to be his old lady. Sure, he’d fucked her, but so had more than one other guy in the club. Jaz wandered from one man to another, and that was fine. No one expected anything other than a hot lay with her, and no one had ever shown any interest in anything else. Why she’d latched onto Bohannon was beyond him, and he didn’t like it.

  He met Jaz’s gaze head on, holding her there for several seconds so she could see he meant business. When she put a defensive hand to her throat, he spoke. “You’re one wrong word away from being banned, Jaz. Don’t test me.”

  “Bohannon --”

  “One. Wrong. Word.”

  The woman took a step back, hands up in surrender. “All right,” she finally said. “You know where to find me when you need me.”

  He turned away from Jaz, not wanting her to hold on to anything to let her think he might want her now or in the future. Instead of acknowledging her, he stalked off to find Cain and Sword.

  “You good?” Sword didn’t beat around the bush.

  Bohannon shrugged. “As good as I can be. What’s the word?”

  “Not sure yet. They’re definitely coming to us but haven’t sent word ahead what they want.”

  “Surely they don’t think we actually kept any drugs we found,” Bohannon said. “We make no secret we destroy any shit we confiscate.”

  Sword shrugged. “I doubt they believe it. In our place, they certainly wouldn’t. Any drugs would be either free use for all or a free nickel for the club. Either way, I’m sure they think we’d do one or the other. Besides, by jumping us as soon as possible, they probably don’t think we’ve had time to destroy it.”

 

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