Sly (Dragon Riders MC Book 5) Read online

  “Sly! Link! Is that you guys!?”

  Chains’ voice filtered out of the storage container, filling the expanse of the backyard. I took off running, my eyes clocking everything and making sure we weren’t running into a trap. I checked for wires and connections that signaled a bomb in the area. I checked for cameras that might be watching or voice recorders that might be remotely activated. And as Link and myself cleared the small building at the corner of the property, we each reached for a door.

  Before throwing it wide open.

  “Holy fuck, I thought I was going to be out here all night,” Chains said breathlessly.

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Odd, for a Fed.”

  Chains face paled and Link elbowed me.

  “Nice going, hot shot,” he murmured.

  I shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s get him out of here and get him back to Tara. I know she’s worried sick.”

  However, as we looked around for a key to the handcuffs that kept him adhered to a chair in the middle of the storage container, the smallest voice crossed my mind. One that made my gut jump and my heart clench with what was to come.

  Finding Chains had been much too easy.

  So easy, in fact, that it almost felt like a…

  Distraction.

  14

  Tara

  Despite the girls’ night raging around me, I couldn't focus. I engaged the girls whenever they asked me a question and I giggled whenever something was funny. But that was all I had in me. Every time I got up, I made my way to the front door to listen. Every time I went to the bathroom, I allowed myself some time to shed a few tears just to relieve the pressure of worry building against my chest. It grew hard to breathe. Hard to focus. Hard to think about anything except my brother and what had been done to him.

  And what Sly had to do in order to get him back.

  “Tara?” Joanna asked.

  I turned around as I stood in the middle of the kitchen, staring aimlessly at the fridge.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  She nodded to the refrigerator. “You, uh, gonna get us those drinks you asked about?”

  I shook my head softly. “Oh, yes. Sorry. My apologies.”

  As I reached for the fridge, though, I heard it. That soft rumbling in the distance that slowly grew in sound. My heart stopped in my chest as I turned to face the girls with my hand hovering in mid-air. I saw their eyes widen as they leapt up from the floor and flung themselves over the couch to get to the front door. I mean, even Joanna seemed to be moving at a frantic pace, even though she didn’t look like the kind of person that had the capability of seeming frantic in the first place. Especially with the confidence in which she carried herself.

  “That has to be them, right?” I asked.

  The sound grew closer and the dull roar grew to a mighty one. Tears lined my eyes as I opened the front door and led the women out onto the porch. I cupped my hands over my mouth as tears rushed my cheeks. Were they all right? Had they found my brother? Was he going to be okay?

  I panicked when the guys rode up the driveway and I didn’t see my brother in tow.

  But when my eyes met Sly’s, I knew from the grin on his face they had succeeded.

  “Oh, my gosh,” I whispered.

  Sly walked up to me, his eyes never deviating. “Your brother’s safe. We just got back from dropping him at the apartment.”

  My knees went weak. “Oh, thank God.”

  I collapsed into his arms as the tears flowed freely. Fuck being strong. Fuck the advice the girls gave me. I needed this moment, and I needed Sly to be there for me. Even if he was the one that was out on the front lines.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” I said through my tears.

  Sly held me close. “Shh-shh-shh-shh. I gotcha. It’s all done. We’re good, I promise.”

  I sniffled. “I’m a stress crier, I’m sorry.”

  He chuckled. “Never be sorry for being who you are, Tara. Because who you are is perfect.”

  I melted against his body as I allowed myself the moment I needed. But once the tears dried up, I looked up into Sly’s face. His eyes danced between mine as his grin grew into a bombastic smile, and I couldn't help myself.

  I threw my arms around his neck and pressed myself onto my toes, crashing our lips together without a second thought.

  And it felt as if the entire world stilled around us while our lips stayed interlocked.

  “Mmmm,” I moaned.

  Sly’s arms blanketed my back. “He sent me with a message.”

  I kissed his lips softly. “Ben?”

  His forehead pressed against mine. “He wanted me to let you know that he’s getting washed up before heading into the office. Turns out, being burned comes with a lot of paperwork.”

  I blushed. “Did he seem upset?”

  He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “More like relieved that you were safe and all right. He was worried they were coming after you next.”

  I grinned. “You’d never let that happen, though. Right?”

  He gripped my chin. “They’d have to kill me to get to you.”

  He pulled my lips to his one last time and it felt as if time itself had stopped. I loved kissing this man, but my body wanted more. The warmth between my thighs kept growing and my heart started fluttering so wildly with every stroke of his tongue I thought I might actually take off and fly into the clouds. Sly did something to me, and I didn't want to stop exploring him until I understood why I felt this way with him.

  Why he shook loose something within me that no other man ever had.

  “I should call him,” I murmured against his lips.

  Sly sucked on my lower lip. “Sounds like a plan.”

  I groaned. “Fuck.”

  He chuckled. “First, call. Then, fun.”

  I wiggled my eyebrows. “Can’t wait, handsome.”

  Reluctantly, I pulled away from Sly’s grasp. But that didn’t mean he stopped staring. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as his eyes danced along my body, and I let him have his fill. Because if things went my way tonight? I’d have him the way I had wanted him this entire time.

  All to my fucking self.

  I dialed Ben’s number and the phone rang in my ear. I paced around the porch, hoping and praying he’d pick up his phone. And after four very long, existential rings, he finally picked up.

  “Thank fuck,” I said breathlessly, “Ben, can you hear me?”

  He chuckled. “I can hear you just fine, Tara.”

  I wiped at my tears. “Please tell me you’re okay. That you’re safe and at your office.”

  “I’m just pulling into the parking lot. Are you okay, Tara? Tell me Sly found you.”

  “Yeah, yeah, of course. The girls and I are just over at Joanna and Link’s place.”

  “The hell are you doing there?”

  I shrugged. “Hanging out. Having a girl’s night.”

  He chuckled. “Right, right.”

  I leaned against the porch railing. “Are you really okay, Ben? I mean, I don’t know the details, but--.”

  “I promise, I’m okay. I’m still worried, though. I need you to keep an eye out and take care of yourself since I can’t watch you anymore, okay?”

  I furrowed my brow. “What’s going on?”

  His voice lowered. “I’m almost certain my kidnapping was a distraction from something else. And I know the guys share my worry. Especially Sly. Now, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't ever say this. But, I want you to stick by those guys as much as you can. Don’t get out of their sight, if it’s not necessary. And when you're not with them? You’re with me. Okay?”

  I blinked. “A distraction? From what?”

  “Why do you think I’m headed into the office in the middle of the night?”

  I paused. “Good point.”

  “Listen, I’ve already talked with Sly and arranged for you to stay with him tonight.”

  My eyes bulged. “I’m sorry, but you did what?”

  He
chuckled. “I know, I know. But, according to the guys? Sly was the one heading all of this up tonight. My rescue. Your safety. And all because of his gut. He’s the safest person for you to be with right now, and even I can admit that.”

  I smiled softly. “Sounds like you're coming around to him.”

  “Don’t push it.”

  I giggled. “Duly noted.”

  I wiped away my last tear before I cleared my throat.

  “I’m really sorry for revealing who you were,” I said.

  He snickered. “Bah. You kept my secret as long as you could. I didn’t expect much more than that from someone who isn’t trained to do this kind of a job. I’m proud of you, Tara.”

  My smile grew. “So, does this mean you and the guys are going to be working together to try and stop this guy and his crew?”

  “Well, you know I can’t divulge details of the investigation.”

  “But…?”

  He chuckled. “But, just take some comfort in the fact that I can talk to that man now without wanting to punch him in the throat for sinking his claws into my sister.”

  “Funny that you think he’s the one with claws.”

  “Aaaand, that’s my cue! Stay with Sly, Tara. Promise me.”

  I turned to face him. “You have my word, Ben.”

  “Good. I’ll call you sometime tomorrow. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  I hung up the phone and slid it back into my pocket. Then, I felt someone slide their arm around my shoulders. I looked to my right and saw Joanna standing there, her smile practically overtaking her face. She smiled so big at me that her eyes almost closed, and her smile made me smile.

  “What?” I asked.

  She patted my arm. “Sounds like it’s time for you and Sly to head out, yeah?”

  Simone wiggled her eyebrows. “I don’t know about you, but I’m heading out.”

  Knuckles wrapped his arm around Simone. “You and me both. Link?”

  The man nodded. “Everyone’s dismissed. Joanna?”

  Her arm dropped from around my shoulders. “Yeah?”

  Link nodded. “Time to head upstairs for the night.”

  Joanna giggled with glee as everyone dispersed, and I was left standing on an empty porch with Sly. With his eyes raking up and down my body and his hand reaching for mine, I interlocked our fingers as my hand slid against his own. He walked me out to his bike before handing me a spare helmet, and together we climbed onto his bike.

  Then, as the rest of the guys along with their girls peeled down the driveway, Sly and I were the last to leave.

  And the drive to his place was as silent as they came.

  It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Just one we both needed. We pulled into a small parking lot behind a building on what seemed to be the new ‘main street’ in town, and he helped me off the bike. After packing away our helmets and our hands finding one another’s again, we walked up a set of outside steps all the way to the top of the building.

  Before Sly led me into a massive studio apartment.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  He chuckled. “That’s usually the reaction I get.”

  I walked into the middle of the room. “This space is massive. How big is it?”

  He closed the door and flipped the lock. “Sixteen hundred square feet. The bedroom and bathroom have their own space, but other than that everything flows. I like that about this place.”

  I pointed to what looked like sheets hanging from the ceiling. “Is there something behind those?”

  But instead of answering me, all he did was hold out his arm. As if he were ushering me toward it.

  “Care to take a look?” he asked.

  With a furrowed brow and a piqued curiosity, I inched my way toward the black sheet, only to realize it wasn’t a sheet at all.

  “It’s a projector screen?” I asked.

  Sly chuckled. “Walk to the left. There’s a corner to slip through to get to the other side.”

  I looked up at him. “What’s on the other side?”

  And when that devious grin of his spread across his face, I felt my gut clench with anticipation.

  “Our plans for the night,” he said with a wink.

  I’d never moved so quickly in all my life.

  15

  Sly

  With my hands clasped behind my back, I followed a very eager Tara around the projector screen. I inched back the screen so we could slip through, and when I watched her eyes pan around the fifteen-by-fifteen-foot space, my smile grew across my cheeks. The projector screen on the other side was for my living room. I had a projector mounted to the ceiling that broadcasted whatever streaming service I wanted to use after getting home from work. But the other side of the screen served as the fourth wall I needed for this random space that had been carved out at the back of this apartment. The projector screen sat against two protruding brick walls that made up the side structures necessary to block this ‘room’ off from the rest of the apartment. And the floor-to-ceiling tinted window that made up the back wall was something I had installed after a bit of “wall remodeling.”

  But the tinted window wasn’t the feature of this room.

  In fact, it wasn’t even the most interesting thing in this room. The St. Andrew’s Cross was the focal point of this room. It sat against the backside of the projector screen with the front facing the massive tinted window I had installed, and I watched as Joanna gawked at it. I watched as she ran her hand along the smooth, stained wood.

  I even watched how she eyed the restraints while she licked her lips.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  I walked up behind her. “It’s called a St. Andrew’s Cross.”

  “What does it do?”

  I leaned my lips down to her ear. “Want to find our firsthand?”

  She softly trembled as my hand pressed against the small of her back. She moved with ease toward the object, her tongue continuing to play around with that juicy lower lip of hers.

  “Strip,” I said.

  She whipped around. “Come again?”

  I gripped her hair, forcing her eyes to hold my gaze. “I said take off your clothes.”

  She swallowed hard. “All of them?”

  I shook my head. “Just down to your underwear.”

  She followed my command to the letter, and I backed up to watch the show unfold. She slid her dress over her head, revealing a body full of curves that I wanted to mark with my teeth and my tongue. I licked my own lips as she turned around, holding her arms out for me to study her.

  Then, without another word spoken, I walked back up to her.

  I guided her body against the cross and raised her arms over her head. I used the restraints to tie her wrists down before crouching and doing the same with her ankles. Already, I smelled her eager pussy. Her juices, dampening the soft fabric of her cotton panties. I let my nose trail against her bare leg. She shivered as goosebumps puckered along the inside of her thigh. I chuckled before I kissed her skin softly, allowing my fingertips to travel up and down the length of her wondrous legs.

  Then, I stood up and took stock of my artistic creation.

  “You look good,” I said.

  Tara snickered. “I’ve never done something like this before. Will you warn me before something happens?”

  I shrugged. “Depends.”

  She blinked. “On what?”

  “On whether or not you wish to be blindfolded.”

  I watched the cogs behind her eyes turn as she looked around the room. I kept a dimly-lit light back here that automatically turned on once it got dark outside. But even with the light, it was hard to see some of the things on the walls. Nevertheless, the shelving was there, and one day I’d let her see my collection in the middle of the day. One day, I’d let her see the range of whips, chains, plugs, dildos, and vibrators I had that mounted against my wall for anyone to see who dared to step beyond the projector curtain.

  But for now, th
e anticipation would be half the fun.

  “Blindfolded?” Tara asked.

  I nodded. “I don’t make a move without your consent.”

  She paused. “Is this, like, one of those fifty gray things or whatever?”

  I chuckled. “Not quite.”

  “So, not a fan of the movie?”

  “Not one bit.”

  She nodded slowly. “Okay.”

  I cocked my head. “Okay, what?”

  “Okay, I’ll go with the blindfold.”

  I walked over to the wall to my left. “We need a safe word. You know, in case things get to be too much and you need to tap out.”

  She swallowed hard. “What? You mean like, pain or something?”

  I plucked a velvet blindfold off the wall. “I mean, just in general. If you need to stop or address me in any way, a safe word is a good way to get my attention even in the heat of the moment.”

  She giggled. “I don’t know if I’ll want you to stop in the heat of anything.”

  My skin puckered with delight as I made my way back toward her. “Well, in case of an emergency, what’s a word that would be easy for you to recall?”

  I held my breath as I slid the blindfold around her head. I tied it off, making sure it wasn’t too tight as she continued debating on what she wanted her word to be. Her breasts pressed against my chest, her body heat ravaging me as I let my fingertips dance against her skin.

  Then, she said the one word that gave me pause. The one word that focused all of my attention on her instead of on what I wanted to do to her.

  “Love,” she said softly.

  I took a step back. “What was that?”

  She smiled. “‘Love’. That’s my safe word.”

  “And that’ll be an easy word for you to recall in the heat of the moment?”

  She spoke without hesitation. “With you? Yes.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “Very well, then. Just remember that you have to use that word by itself in order for it to register. No other words. Just that one, repeated if you have to.”

  She nodded. “Got it.”

  I stripped my clothes off. “Good.”

  With her body sprawled out like a platter just for my taking, I stripped myself down completely until I was clad in nothing but my skin. I walked over to the wall to my right and plucked a stick with a feather attached to the end of it from the hooks bored into the brick wall. And as I held it out, I let the feather dance over Tara’s body.