Burn: Men of Inked Heatwave #2 Read online

  I cross my arms, twisting my lips and glaring at my cousin. “I’m cool, and Mallory’s a tool.”

  I mean, I am. I’ve never been the nerdy type. I’m not too uptight to party. I could hang out with just about anyone and have a good time. I’m not afraid to get drunk and let loose. Hell, I slept with Pike, and I didn’t even know the man. Maybe not my best moment and it could’ve ended much differently, but I wouldn’t change a goddamn thing in my life.

  She shakes her head. “So not, but you think you are. And you.” Tamara tilts her head, studying Lily. “You used to be pretty badass, but now your nose is always stuck in a book, worried about that perfect GPA.”

  Lily smiles, running her fingers down her legs like she’s trying to calm herself. “The world couldn’t handle three Tamaras.”

  “Someday, you’re going to bust free, Lil, and I’m going to be there cheering you on.”

  “I don’t have time to bust free,” Lily sighs, falling backward on the blanket and spreading out her body. “I’m so exhausted.”

  “Maybe we need to go on an epic adventure.” Tamara taps her chin. When she starts thinking up crazy shit, I know we’re in trouble. “Gigi can’t come because she has to work, but you and I could totally do it.”

  I grind my teeth, hating that somehow, I’m the adult in the group. “I hate you two.”

  “No, you don’t.” Tamara smiles. “Plus, if I had a hottie like that in my bed, I wouldn’t be going anywhere except to pick up more birth control.”

  I roll my eyes. “Adulting sucks.”

  “I can’t go on an epic adventure,” Lily sighs. “Maybe next summer.”

  “Maybe Crow will be my adventure,” Tamara comments, not looking at us when she speaks.

  “Don’t,” I warn her. “Don’t get into something you’ll regret.”

  “Do you regret meeting Pike?” she throws back, lifting one perfectly plucked eyebrow.

  “Of course I don’t.”

  “He’s no different from Crow.”

  I blink at her. “Yes, he is.”

  She leans back, placing a rolled-up towel under her head, looking cool as a cucumber. “How?”

  “They just are,” I tell her, lying back too, ready to pass out.

  “They’re both badass biker dudes. They’re both Disciples.”

  “Pike was never a Disciple.”

  “Semantics,” she says. “They both ride Harleys.”

  “You’re talking nonsense.” I wave her off with my hand. “Pike is more than a biker.”

  “So’s Crow.”

  “Do you literally want your father to shit a brick?” I ask her point-blank.

  Tamara laughs. “Anthony will survive.”

  “I’ll remind him of that when you’re off on your epic badass biker adventure.”

  There’s a shadow suddenly covering us before we hear, “Who needs sunscreen?” coming from Austin’s mouth.

  I tip my head back, seeing the horny teenager almost drooling from all the skin. You’d think we were naked with the way his eyes are almost popping out of his skull. Our bikinis are modest compared to some of the others on the beach. It’s not like our tits are completely hanging out, even if he is acting like it.

  “Close your mouth, Austin,” Tamara tells him, pulling her sunglasses back down over her eyes. “Coffee.” She lifts her hand, snapping her fingers.

  “As you wish, my queen,” he says, falling to his knees at her side.

  I grumble at how completely annoying Tamara and Austin are.

  “Babe, come in the water with me,” Pike orders, walking up behind Austin, carrying a cardboard carton filled with coffees.

  “Coffee first,” I groan, lifting a hand, being overdramatic.

  Fuck. I feel like a tractor ran over me, leaving me for dead. I used to be able to stay up all night, party my ass off, and pop out of bed for class. But now it’s all roadkill city.

  Pike sits down above my head, pushing one of the cups in front of my face. “Drink up, sunshine.”

  I take in his ink and bare skin. The way the rays of sunshine bounce off the crevices of his muscles is so damn beautiful. “Maybe you should cover up,” I tell him, taking the coffee from his hands.

  Pike glances down, eyebrows furrowing. “I’ll cover up when you do.” His gaze flickers to my breasts, but it’s so freaking hot, there’s no way in hell I’m putting on any more layers.

  I look around the beach, noticing the women eyeing my man, totally fantasizing about him. “Women are staring at you,” I tell him before taking a sip of the iced coffee my body and mind need to function.

  “Um—” he glances around “—the men are eye-fucking all three of you in your string bikinis, but you don’t hear me complaining.”

  I roll my eyes, and Tamara giggles, followed by Lily’s laughter. “We aren’t wearing string bikinis,” I tell him, moaning right afterward as I take another sip.

  “Darlin’, make that noise again, and the ladies are going to see more than my chest,” he warns me, giving no fucks about the other women around us.

  I raise my eyebrows before my eyes go right to his crotch. “Maybe we should go in the water. It’s getting a little hot.”

  He waggles his eyebrows with a smirk.

  “You two are gross,” Tamara teases. “I’m not coming in there if you two fool around.”

  “There was more come on that couch last night than there is in that ocean,” Pike tells her, not able to keep a straight face when she winces.

  “Fuckin’ gross,” she mutters.

  “Biker life,” I tell her, hoping to warn her off Crow as I set my coffee in the sand and follow Pike toward the water.

  “What’s that about?” Pike asks, tipping his head back.

  I link my hand with his, walking as fast as I can across the sand, which is as hot as lava from the sun overhead. “She’s texting Crow.”

  Pike stops, and I almost fall forward as his hand locks around mine, holding me in place. “What did you say?” he growls.

  I pull him forward, dancing in place because my feet are practically on fire. “I’ll tell you once we’re in the water unless you don’t like my feet with skin.”

  “Skin’s good,” he mumbles like he’s thrown.

  Pike is never thrown. Never at a loss for words. But I can tell something is weighing on his mind.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask him, letting out a loud sigh when my toes finally hit the wet, cool sand near the water’s edge.

  “I don’t like her with Crow,” he admits. “A girl like her with a guy like him is nothing but trouble.”

  I wade into the water, letting my fingertips graze the tops of the waves as we wade deeper. “Tell me about him.”

  I don’t ask about the a girl like her comment because I know he doesn’t mean anything bad. He knows Tamara has a good heart, but he also knows she’s much, much wilder than I ever could’ve been.

  He doesn’t say anything, just stares straight ahead as the waves crash nearby.

  I tug on his arm, wanting his attention and his words. “Tell me.” I smile, dipping my lower body into the water until just my breasts are bobbing on the surface.

  He glances down, seeing my sweat-dotted breasts moving across the waves, and smiles. “Darlin’, how am I supposed to say anything when you’re tempting me like that?”

  “Be a good boy and tell me what you know about Crow, and maybe you won’t have to walk out of here sporting that hard-on I know is under the waves.” I wink, being totally playful because there’s a darkness in his eyes.

  He lunges forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and smashing my breasts into his chest. I gasp, trying not to swallow the salty water as his lips find my neck, sucking the spot that always makes me pant. “I love when you think you’re the boss,” he whispers against my skin.

  “I am the boss,” I tell him, wrapping my legs around his middle, grinding my pussy against his hard cock. “Now tell me about Crow.”

  “Bossy as fuck,” h
e murmurs against my skin, and I laugh, hooking my ankles and digging my heels into his ass.

  Damn, I love this man.

  23

  Pike

  “This place brings back memories,” Tamara says, winking at me across the table. “Am I right?”

  I laugh even though it feels like a lifetime ago. Watching Gigi for what felt like hours, waiting for the girl to finally make her move. “Great memories,” I mutter behind the mouth of the beer bottle in my hand.

  Gigi snorts. “I remember nothing.”

  “You’re a shit liar,” Tamara tells her, shaking her head. “You weren’t that drunk.”

  “Drunk enough to pass out,” I add, earning me a glare from Gigi.

  “Shut up,” she tells me, but she’s totally being playful. She’s relaxed since our talk about Crow yesterday and then having words with her cousin about the man.

  Maybe they worked shit out. Hopefully what I said to Gigi that she then passed on to Tamara put things into perspective.

  “It’s a shame Austin and Lily aren’t here,” Gigi says softly, turning the beer bottle in her hands.

  “They’re lightweights. I mean, who wants to stay in the room and binge-watch Game of Thrones?” Tamara blanches.

  “They’re nerds, Tam, and it’s probably best that Austin isn’t here. Kids really shouldn’t hang out in bars.”

  Tamara bends her head back, slapping her hand on the table. “Jesus fuck, when did you turn into Suzy?”

  I close my eyes and dig my fingertips into my eyes, knowing Tamara said the one thing that can set Gigi off quicker than a firecracker.

  Gigi jerks her head back. “You’re an asshole.”

  “Well.” Tamara shrugs. “You just referred to Austin as a child, and the last time I checked, he’s almost a grown man.”

  “Almost,” I grumble, lifting my head and opening my eyes. “He’s still in high school, and if I catch him at a bar…”

  “You going to spank him?” Tamara raises an eyebrow, and I swear to God, the girl is just trying to get a rise out of me.

  “Are you perpetually bored?” I glare at her.

  She snorts, scrunching her nose. “You two are like two old biddies. I swear you’re a perfect match.”

  Gigi slides her warm palm across my arm, making it impossible for me to keep the sour look on my face. “Ignore her. We know we’re awesome.” She smiles, and that face could light up an entire room.

  “You know who’s awesome?” Tamara asks, looking over my shoulder as a smirk plays on her lips.

  Gigi turns, her fingers tightening around my arms.

  “Don’t say it,” I mutter, knowing exactly who they’re looking at.

  Goddamn this girl.

  Gigi’s head snaps back to her cousin, dropping low to the table. “You invited him?” she hisses and somehow avoids yelling, even though I know she wants to.

  Tamara nods. “Just for a few drinks. The compound isn’t too far away, and he said he was missing me.”

  My jaw tightens as I curl my free hand into a fist, every muscle in my body so tight, I could snap.

  “Fuck,” Gigi hisses. “You’re such a dumbass.”

  “Just be nice. We leave tomorrow, and I’ll never see him again.” Tamara pouts like that shit will work on me, but I’m not her parents, and it has no effect.

  “You’re not leaving with him,” I tell her, pointing at her across the table with one finger, while the others are curled around the beer bottle.

  “Yes, Dad,” she groans and rolls her eyes. “Don’t get your granny panties in a wad.”

  This has to be the painful agony of what being a parent feels like. The constant push and pull of doing the right thing and trying to give your child enough freedom to live, but not enough to hang themselves with. Tamara had to be a trying kid. I don’t know how Anthony is still alive after twenty-one years of her constant need to be an asshole.

  “Hey, sexy,” Tamara greets him, rising to her feet as soon as Crow’s within a few feet of our table.

  He slides his bare arm around her waist, pulling her in like they’re long-lost lovers. “I missed you, doll,” he says softly, rubbing his beard against her neck, causing her to break out in a fit of girlish giggles.

  “I’m going to vomit,” Gigi mutters, placing her hand on my knee and squeezing hard.

  They embrace for far too long, nuzzling into each other’s necks, touching like they’re more than just friends. “I’m so happy you came,” Tamara adds as she grabs at his beard, holding his eyes. “So, so happy.”

  “I’d come anywhere for you, sweet lips.” He winks.

  “Crow.” I interrupt their conversation when Gigi groans again at my side.

  “Her father’s going to murder us first,” she says, shaking her head. “We’re so dead.”

  “What are we drinking?” Crow asks, glancing down at the table with his arms still wrapped around Tamara. “Next round is on me.”

  “Isn’t he sweet?” Tamara looks right at me, but I give her nothing, so she goes back to gawking at the bearded man with eyes as dark as coal. “He’s the best ever. Come on, baby. I’ll help you carry the beer for Grandpa and Grandma.”

  Crow furrows his eyebrows, but he just shrugs, letting her pull him into the crowd.

  Gigi sighs, resting her head on my shoulder. “She’s really trying to kill us.”

  I let out a small laugh and lean over, kissing the top of her head. “It’ll be fine. A few drinks and his eyes will wander. He’ll forget about her by tomorrow.”

  Gigi peers up at me, those blue eyes searching my face. “Did you forget about me so easily?”

  “Fuck no, darlin’. I missed you the moment you left.”

  She gives me the biggest smile, making my insides warm. “Me too,” she lies.

  “You didn’t call,” I remind her.

  She coughs, glancing down at her hands. “I was embarrassed.”

  “About?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “I’d never had a one-night stand.”

  “It wasn’t one night,” I say, unable to wipe the smile off my face, remembering the endless days we spent wrapped around each other.

  Gigi giggles, and it’s still the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. “I remember, old man. Will life ever be that easy again?”

  I sigh, wrapping my arm around the back of her chair, playing with the ends of her hair with my fingertips. “I don’t know, baby. But as long as you’re at my side, I’ll weather the bad any day to get to all the good.”

  “We got beer,” Tamara announces as Crow sets down a metal bucket of beer and ice in the middle of the table.

  “Drink up,” Crow tells us as he turns a chair around, wrapping his upper body over the back as he sits, holding a glass of water in one hand.

  “You’re not drinking?” Tamara asks, mouth hanging open as she looks at the man at her side.

  He shakes his head. “I’m driving tonight. Booze and bikes don’t mix, doll.”

  That’s the first thing to come out of his mouth that has me thinking maybe he isn’t the biggest tool in the shed.

  “You can crash in my room,” she offers, pushing the bucket in his direction.

  He glances my way and shakes his head. “I think it’s best if I don’t.”

  And again, he’s being smart. There was no way in hell I was going to let him stay in her room. I don’t care how old she is; it would’ve been a hard no. Well, I would’ve put Austin in there too, which would’ve been an instant mood-killer.

  “I understand,” she says, eyeing me across the table. “Maybe next time.”

  “Sure, doll. Next time,” he mutters.

  “So, Crow,” Gigi mutters. “Did you grow up in New York?”

  He shakes his head, smiling as Tamara touches his arm and runs the tips of her fingernails back and forth. “I was a military brat. We moved around a lot.”

  “Have any brothers or sisters?” she asks immediately after he answers.

  “One brother, no sisters.
”

  “Do you have a job?” she asks as she reaches into the bucket, fishing out a fresh beer.

  Crow dips his hand into his back pocket and tosses his wallet near Gigi. “Tamara told me about your uncles. Feel free to have them check into me.”

  Gigi scrunches her nose. He called her out, knowing she was interrogating him.

  Tamara snorts. “She won’t do that, baby.”

  Gigi takes the wallet, flipping it open and scanning the contents. “Logan Taylor,” she says, pulling out his driver’s license and tapping her index finger against the top.

  “That’s my name,” he says to her, still smiling as he runs his fingers over his beard.

  “Logan’s a sexy name too, baby,” Tamara adds. “But Crow’s totally badass.”

  Crow turns his face toward Tamara, smile never wavering. “You call me whatever you want, sweet lips.”

  I take his wallet and driver’s license from Gigi’s hands, putting everything back the way it was when she opened the damn thing. “Leave the man alone.”

  She gapes at me in total disbelief.

  I toss the wallet back in his direction. “They’re just friends.”

  Gigi blinks before shaking her head. “What are you doing?” she whispers in my ear.

  I place my fingers on the side of her neck, turning her head so I have her ear. “You want to drive her into his arms?”

  “No,” she whispers against my skin.

  “Then stop being a cockblock. What happened when your parents hated someone?” I ask her.

  “Point taken,” she groans and backs away, gaze moving toward her cousin. “Want to go dance with me, Tam?”

  “No,” Tamara replies, too busy with her hands all over Crow.

  Gigi stands, rounding the table before pulling on Tamara’s arm. “Yeah, you do. You love to dance. Don’t you want to show Crow all your moves?” Gigi shakes her hips.

  I want to pull her back into the chair, tell her she’s not shaking that fine thing for all these bastards, but I don’t.

  “Do you care?” Tamara peers down at Crow, looking for permission.

  “Shake away,” he says, tipping his chin toward the small dance floor.

  “Want to come?” She wiggles her fingers at him, but he shakes his head. “Your loss, baby.”