“You ok?” He asks. “Something went on in that head of yours.”

“What?” I snap out of my thoughts, sitting up straight.

“Don’t start lying Tasha, as soon as I mentioned that dance you drifted away.” Devlin explains. “You can’t fool me.”

I lean back in my chair and look Devlin over. He really can see right through me and I can’t decide whether that’s a good thing or not. Devlin stands from his seat opposite me and takes the one beside me. He leans in close and lets his finger glide from my ear lobe to the middle of my chin.

“That was the best night of my life.” Devlin whispers. “I know you enjoyed it too, so don’t let whatever’s going on in that head of your ruin it.”

I smile because I just can’t help it. “I did.”

Devlin nods, breaking into a huge smile. “I knew it.”

I laugh and Devlin does too. Our faces still so close that when my head dips down, I bang my forehead onto his and suddenly back away but Devlin stops me. His hand is behind my head, tangled into my hair and holding me in place. Our laughter dies and we look into each other’s eyes.

We stay like that until I dare to look down at Devlin mouth. I really want to kiss him. I look back into his dark eyes and see his now looking at mine and without thinking my tongue licks along my bottom lip. He looks up into my eyes and there’s one second where everything freezes. It’s just Devlin and me, I have no worries or fears. I’m just here. So when Devlin drops his mouth onto mine, I don’t think. I return the kiss with as much desire as Devlin is giving to me.

His other hand joins the one already in my hair, both tangled into my messy bun as I melt into him. Devlin’s deep growl does crazy shit to me and I just wish that our chairs weren’t between us. Devlin breaks away and leans his forehead onto mine. “Fuck you drive me crazy.”

I don’t know what to say, so I stay quiet and it seems like that’s the best because Devlin leans closer again and kisses me gently.

“Tasha?” I hear Lauren from inside the house. My lips break away from Devlin’s at the sound of her voice as she shouts her again. Devlin’s hand grips my jaw to stop me moving too far away and as Lauren comes outside, he tugs on my bottom lip with his thumb.

“Devlin!” Lauren asks in surprise.

Devlin looks down and checks the time on his phone. “Shit.”

“I didn’t know you were coming around.” Lauren carries on as she walks into the garden.

Devlin quickly stands, not noticing Lauren anymore but looking right at me.

“Babe, I need to go.” He leans down to me and kisses me so fucking hard, all the air is wiped out of me. “I’m taking you out soon. No questions asked.”

Devlin gives me a naughty grin and then one quick kiss before he leaves. He gives Lauren a quick kiss on the forehead too before walking past her and letting himself out.

“Did I interrupt?” Lauren asks.

I hadn’t realised I staring at Devlin leaving until Lauren speaks.

“What?” I ask.

“You two looked pretty cosy.” She smiles.

I look down at my hands again to hide my burning face.

“How was your first day?” I ask.

“Amazing.” She answers. “How was yours?”

“I didn’t have a first day.” I point out sarcastically and when Lauren tilts her head to the side and gives me her, don’t lie to me face, I give in.

“Fine. I was innocently cleaning when Devlin bought me dinner.” I answer.

“That was sweet.” She smiles. “And not at all what I would expect.”

“Well I could say the same for Grim if I hadn’t seen it for myself whilst I’ve been living with you both.” I remind her.

“True.” She nods.

“We kissed.” I spit out.

“Yes I saw.” Lauren giggles. “I’m happy for you.”

“There’s no need to be.” I shake my head. “I can’t let it happen.”

Lauren’s face falls. “What?”

“I can’t let him near me Lauren, you know that.” I remind her.

“Yes you can Tasha.” She pleads. “You more than anyone deserves to be happy.”

“Are you forgetting what they did to me?” I ask. “You’ve seen the scars they have left me with.” Lauren stares at me for a few seconds and then kneels down in front of me. She reaches up and wipes the tears away that I didn’t even know were falling.

“Yes I have and you should wear them with pride.” Lauren looks up at me. “Do not be ashamed Natasha, do you hear me?”

“I hate them.” I cry. Lauren holds me as I fall apart in her arms.

Riding on my bike with a hard cock is a hard thing to do, but if I don’t get back now my dad will see to it that I don’t have one to use in the first place if I don’t get to church on time. Natasha’s sweet lips made me forget all about the club meeting. Damn, I can really get caught up in that woman.

As soon as I reach the clubs gates they are ripped open by the prospects. They know that I’m late, probably have had a questioning by my dad already. After I’ve parked up, I run inside and curse when the place is almost empty. I charge towards the door and when I enter everyone turns to look at me. My dad’s gavel is just about to bang down onto the table to signal the beginning of church.

“Just in time son.” My dad speaks, not sounding pleased at all. I feel his eyes on me as I make my way to my seat. Dad sits at the end, right in the president’s spot. Grim sits to his right and uncle Grease to his left. I take my seat in the middle of Grim and Baby. Scrappy is straight opposite me, his seat is beside his dad, Grease. It’s the way of the club ranking, pretty simple when you think about it.

The rooms silent, until my dad finally bangs the gavel down to start the meeting. I can see how pissed my dad is, he pretty much lets us do anything we want but one rule he does insist on is keeping on time with church and calls. I fucked up.

“We need to discuss what went down when some of you were sent to collect Strike.” Dad announces to the packed group of bikers.

“When we went into the house, it was chaos.” Grim tells everyone who is listening. “After fighting our way through the room, it was clear Strike wasn’t there. It was clear he was there just before we stormed because we got hold of his phone that he dropped on his way out.”

“No fucking way.” Duke exclaims.

“There were some numbers on there, all obviously burner phones because none of the numbers dialled when we tried them.” I add, and I see the disappointment on the men’s faces.

“It was obviously Strikes because of the fucked up pictures that were stored on it.” Grim frowns. “We did get three of their members out and had them in the warehouse. Devlin managed to get one of them to squeal an address.”

“It’s not too far away either.” My dad joins. “So I need volunteers on watch duty.” Nobody offers and we all try to avoid eye contact with the Prez, because my dad is in full President mode right now.

“Devlin.” He announces. “I say you can do first watch with two more brothers.” He handles me my punishment for being late, so I don’t dare argue. After a couple more minutes, it’s arranged that Spliff and Duke are the ones to join me. Thankfully Duke made a full recovery about a week after he was attacked by The Devils however West hasn’t been able to ride his bike yet and nobody has voiced the worries on that situation just yet.

“Be careful and don’t get yourselves fucking spotted.” My dad warns. “We need to get Strike, he’s onto us so stay out of sight.”

“Yes Prez.” We all say aloud.

“I don’t like it.” I say out loud. “Why is he always hiding out in a house?”

“It is weird.” Scrappy agrees. “Why not a warehouse? Or an abandoned building?”

“Exactly.” I nod. “From what Grim found out, not only are there Devils members in that house but women.”