“What’s this rules business?”

  “Nothing really. Just don’t be starting trouble. Which I know you won’t be. Look, things will be wild and loud. Use your imagination then think of it being ten times crazier.”

  “Uh huh. Very helpful.”

  “I know.” Pam glides her flat iron through my hair and Link returns with shots of dark liquor.

  I gladly take my shot and another. It burns down my throat and warms my belly. I’m going to need liquid courage for the night that awaits me. Of course, since Pam got with Link, I’ve been privy to some stories but hearing about something and experiencing it are two different things.

  Pam claps her hands together. “Makeup, clothes, shoes, and then we can go.” She gives Link a look before he dares to open his mouth and complain that we’re taking too long to get ready. He does however glance at his watch and mutter under his breath before taking another shot and leaving the room.

  “Shit. If you weren’t my sister, I’d bang you myself.” Pam laughs.

  “You’re sick. You know that?”

  “I take my meds.” She smirks. “See for yourself. I’m serious. I’m gonna have to break out my bat to keep the guys off you.”

  “Stop it.” I turn to look at myself in the mirror and damn big sister didn’t do me wrong. My hair is smooth and silky. Lips stained red and eyes done up dark and smoky.

  “Told you. Now put this shirt on and these jeans. They might be a little tight on your ass but that’s a good thing.”

  I shake my head. Pam has always been blunt and never one afraid to speak her mind. The woman has no filter. I leave my Mickey tee on and shimmy out of my yoga pants.

  “Please tell me that you have better panties than that.” Pam eyes my white cotton boycut bottoms.

  “What’s wrong with these?”

  “Nothing if you’re eighty. We want to get you laid. I have some with the tags still.” I fold my arms over my chest as she goes to the closet and pulls out a Victoria’s Secret bag. “Take your pick. Consider it a late Christmas gift.”

  “Gee thanks, Sissy. Pretty come fuck me panties.”

  “And the matching bra. No wonder you and Sam had shit sex if that’s what you were wearing to bed.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  “I’m just sayin’.”

  “You can just say all you want out in the hall. Can I have some privacy please?” Truth is I don’t want her to see the bruises on my back. When Sam found out I was coming to stay with Pam he snapped on me and it got physical. In his twisted mind I’m still his even though we haven’t been a couple for a long time. Sure, physically I was there but emotionally I had been done for a long time. Longer than I realized until it was too late. The only reason he didn’t do more damage was because the neighbors heard and threatened to call the police on him. Not that it would have done any good. His dad is on the force and he’s an attorney. At the time I was happy he didn’t strike my face. If Pam knew she’d send Link after him, and I don’t want him getting into to trouble for assault on my behalf. Though I’d love to see Link beat the hell out of him.

  “Pfft. You act like I didn’t used to wipe your ass when you were little.”

  “Yeah, and I’m thirty now so get out.”

  “How’s the landing strip? You all good down there.”

  “I swear if you offer to wax me, I’m staying in.”

  “I was only going to say I have some bikini hair remover in the bathroom. Excuse me for wanting to make sure your shit’s all nice.”

  “I’m good and I do appreciate you. But most big sisters don’t encourage their baby sister to go hookup with a random biker in pretty come fuck me panties.”

  “That’s because most big sisters aren’t as bad ass as me. Thank you very much.” She takes a bow and closes the door behind her.

  “Crazy ass,” I mumble and settle on a yellow lacey thong and matching bra. My sister is a fucking nut, but I love her to pieces. I have missed her so much. Being here and spending so much time with her has me wondering if maybe I don’t need a bigger change besides ending things with Sam. There is nothing keeping me in Cleveland. I could move here if I could find a job. I do miss getting to see Pam all the time. I need a clean break. I need away from Sam for good. Maybe her and Link will let me stay in the spare bedroom until I can get on my feet. I hate to ask her, but I don’t think they’d turn me away.

  I pull the jeans up and she’s right they are snug on my ass, but I like the way they look on me. I slip the top over my head, it’s a black sweater that hangs off my shoulders. My bra straps show though it’s not like a bunch of bikers will give a shit or even notice. I twist around in the mirror double checking that none of the bruising on my back is visible. They look worse than they are. I’ve been popping over the counter pain relievers to alleviate the discomfort. I drove here with ice packs between my back and the seat of my car hoping to get the swelling down. It helped a lot.

  I finish my look with the black silver studded heels she laid out for me.

  “Is it safe to come in now? Link is getting antsy,” Pam calls out.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Thank fuck,” Link grits. “Let’s go.”

  I grab my purse and while they get their jackets on, I pop a couple more pain pills for my back.

  Chapter 2

  I roll up to the clubhouse, known to most as The Devil’s Playground. I came here tonight for two things. To get drunk and get laid. Hopefully Murder brought some new girls in. I’m tired of the same old busted up pussy all my brothers have had a go at. It’s New Year’s Eve. A night for new beginnings and forgetting old regrets. Like my bitch of an ex, Leah. Cheating cunt. She had me fooled until I came back early from a run and caught her in bed with the fuckin’ neighbor. I gave her the house and said fuck it all. I simply wanted rid of her. That was three years ago.

  I’ve sworn off relationships. I’ll never be another woman’s fool. I walk in and to my frustration it’s the same shit different day. I nod to Grudge and make my way to the bar to grab a beer. I spy my buddy East sitting at the end looking like someone kicked his damn puppy.

  “Hey, Roane,” Daisy purrs from behind the bar. Her nipple is hanging out of the black leather bikini top she’s wearing. I doubt she even knows or cares for the matter. She’s a club bunny. I’ve tapped her ass a few times but tonight I’m not feeling that desperate yet.

  “Gimme’ a beer.”

  “Sure thing.” She winks and when she bends over to grab my beer from the barrel of ice, she flashes me her bare ass from under her denim skirt. East doesn’t bat an eye at the sight either. It’s nothing we don’t see daily around here. Her ass is no longer new or special.

  “What’s eating you, man?”

  “Nothing. Just not feeling this scene tonight.” I look over his shoulder at his flashing phone screen. Wylla Mae is calling him. She’s the daughter of one of his ex-girlfriends. Seventeen and a real beauty queen. I’ve never said shit to East about it but we both know the girl is crushing hard on him. Fucked up thing about it is, I’ve seen them together and they have this spark. I’ve never felt that with anyone in my adult life but if anyone deserves that kind of happiness its East, but he’s fucked. Wylla Mae is about twenty years too damn young for the poor bastard. He slides his finger over the screen, hitting ignore.

  I shake my head and accept my longneck bottle from Daisy. “Not much longer that shit’d be legal,” I tell him.

  “Fuck off with that bullshit. You know I don’t look her that way.”

  He can lie to himself all he wants, but I’m calling it now. The damn minute Wylla Mae is legal they’ll be fucking.

  “You need to grab you a whore and go fuck that temptation out of your system.” His eyes cut to me in warning. “I’m just saying, man. Girl has it bad for you.” And he’s got it just as damn bad for her. He can deny it, but I see it. We all do.

  “Last warning before I put your head through the fucking bar,” he growls, and I know I need to leave the poor bastard alone. I watch as he goes behind the bar, grabs a bottle of Jack Daniels, and stumbles upstairs to his room alone.

  I shoot Daisy a smirk. “You should go see if he needs a Coke to chase that with.”

  “That’s not a bad idea, but I’m covering the bar till Pam and Link get here.”

  “Go on. I don’t have shit else to do.”

  “Thanks, Ro.”

  “Fuck his brains out. He needs it.”

  “Will do.” She gets a can of Coke from the cooler and hesitates by the end of the bar. “You know you could find a friend and join us.”

  “You know damn well East and me ain’t into that shit.”

  “It’s New Year’s. The night is full of possibilities.”

  I snort. “Yeah. Sure.” Fuck that mantra garbage. I move behind the bar as Daisy sashays up the stairs in search of East. The music is loud, and the liquor is flowing. My brothers seem to be having a great time. Even Prez and his Old Lady are dancing. Ruthie is a pure bitch, but she has a smile tonight. It’s rare to see the two of them looking all loved up with one another. It’s none of my damn business though I know Murder isn’t happily married despite the appearance he tries to maintain. I scan the bar hoping to see someone I can get lost in for a little while. All I need to ring in the new year is to get my dick wet.

  The front door opens and in struts Link and his Old Lady, Pam. Disappointment floods me and I grab another longneck and pop the cap off. Guess I’ll be spending my night beating one out.

  “Aren’t you a pretty bar bitch.” Pam laughs. I snap my head up as she moves behind the bar. “I brought you a present. I think you remember my sister, Jules. Behave yourself,” she warns. “Jules, you remember Roane.”

  Fuck me. I glance behind her and see the most stunning woman who resembles the girl I dated back in high school, but she’s all grown up now. It’s like a bolt of lightning shoots straight to my dick and zaps me when I look at her. “Where the hell you been hiding at?”

  “Cleveland,” Jules answers. Her lips quirk into this sexy as sin smile.

  Damn. She’s gotten hotter. Smoking hot. Out of ten she’s a damn thirty. I can’t help but check her out. Damn she’s filled out nicely. She’s got full hips, a luscious ass, and big tits to match. I think I’ve died and gone straight to heaven. “It’s a real pleasure to see you again, sweetheart. Anything Pam says about me is a lie.” I chuckle. It’s been at least fifteen or more years since I’ve seen her. We dated briefly in high school until she moved up north with her grandparents.

  Before she can reply Viking, Crawl, and Grudge are elbowing their way to the bar with the same thought as me. Fresh pussy. Assholes need to back up. I saw her first. They need to go find their own woman. Tonight Jules is going to be mine. Hell, I always considered her the one who got away. She was my first love. I feel like fate is fucking with me. Dangling temptation in front of me.

  “Well hey there.” Viking holds a hand out to her.

  “Name’s Crawl.”

  “Call me yours.” Grudge winks at her.

  “Easy, boys. My sister is off limits. You can look but don’t touch. She’s visiting and here to have a good time. Jules is a good girl.”

  “Oh my,” Jules says, mock fanning herself. “I think it’s a little hot in here.” I’ll make her think hot in here.

  “How about a drink?” I step in front of Jules, cutting my brothers off, and blocking their view.

  “A drink sounds good. What’d you say your name is?” She teases me, pretending she doesn’t remember me.

  “Like you could fuckin’ forget me.”

  “Hmm...you seem familiar.” Lips lifting in a devious smirk, her memorable green eyes meet mine. I gaze into them seeing those flecks of gold I always loved. The colors paired together is mesmerizing. I hear the guys cursing behind me as Pam tells them to order a drink or beat it.

  “What’s your poison?”

  “Surprise me.”

  “Blowjob? Sex On The Beach?”

  “Wishful thinking.” Her pearly whites graze her bottom lip.

  “Baby doll, if I wanted to proposition you, I’d do it a helluva a lot smoother than that.”

  “Oh. You got game?”

  I nod and fix her a blowjob. “You used to love my game.”

  “That was a long time ago.” Jules reaches for the shot.

  “Nu uh. Hands free. It’s called a blowjob for a reason,” I tell her.

  Her ivory cheeks flush. “All right.” She leans forward, holding her hair back with both hands, capping her mouth around the brim of the glass.

  “You trying to corrupt my baby sister?” Pam leans into me.

  “Maybe she’s doing the corrupting. She’s the one that wanted me to sneak her under the bleachers all the time to make out.”

  “Sure.” She snorts. “But do me favor and watch out for her tonight. I don’t want anyone taking advantage. Show her a good time. She needs it.”

  “You can count on me.” I’ll show her a good time all right. I’ll fuck her brains out. I’ll fuck her into January no problem. I’ll fuck her like I should have all those years ago.

  Jules plops the empty shot glass on the bar and arches her brow at me. “Done.”

  “Almost. You left a little cream right here.” I swipe the whipped cream off the corner of her mouth and lick my finger.

  “You did not just do that. I could have cooties for all you know.”

  “Cooties?”

  “Yeah, herpes or something.”

  “And do you have cooties?”

  “Well no...”

  “All right then. Cootie crisis avoided. Besides, if you had cooties, Jules, I think I’d have caught them a long time ago. If I recall correctly, we spent a lot of time under them bleachers behind the football field when you should have been at cheer practice.”

  “Roane, get over here,” Viking yells at me.

  “Excuse me a moment.” I stomp over to the table where he’s sitting with Grudge and Crawl smoking a blunt. “The fuck you want?” Cock blocking shitheads.

  “You going to take her upstairs and fuck her or do I need to do it for you.”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  The three of them bust out laughing. Assholes.

  “You sure you know what to do with her?” Grudge starts in. “I can draw you a diagram.”

  “I’ll hold your hand if you need me to,” Crawl says and takes a hit. “I can show you how it’s done. You know which is the right hole?”

  I grab the joint from him and look around to see where my girl took off to before I kill someone.

  Chapter 3

  “Roane can’t take his eyes off you,” Pam whispers in my ear and slaps my ass. I let out a yelp winning me the attention of half the clubhouse.

  “Ow. What was that for?”

  “Nothing. Listen, if you want to hook up with someone here tonight. You can’t go wrong with Roane. He’s been burned in the past by his ex, so he’s not looking for anything but some fun. I’m just saying and before you get all I’m not fucking anyone on me. Hear me out. You dated loser Sam and you said yourself the sex was awful. I’m here a lot and I hear things ya know and well let’s just say the girls around here talk and Roane...the brother can lay it down. But I guess you already know that. Didn’t he punch your V-card?”

  “Stop it. I swear you were dropped on your head as a kid. No. If you must know I was still a virgin when we dated. And you did this on purpose. You knew he’d be here.”

  “You need to get back on the horse. Go for a ride.” She cackles like the witch that she is. “Giddy up.” She motions her hand over head like she’s swinging a lasso.

  “I hate you sometimes.”

  “You love me. You know I’m right, and you hate it when I am smarter than you. But I’m older and wiser. Listen to me. You guys had chemistry then, just imagine how explosive it will be now. You’re both older and more experienced. I’m almost jealous of the amazing sex you’re going to have tonight. Fuck. You are going to have so many O’s.”

  “I’ve always fantasized about you being a real cowgirl,” Link teases and goes in for a big sloppy kiss, interrupting our conversation. The tender moment makes me a little sad. Pam is crazy but she has a man who loves her deeply. I’m not sure I will ever find that all consuming passion. I want it, but even with Sam I was going through the motions. He was too. I don’t know why were even together as long as we were. I think I was more in love with the idea of finding someone than actually being with him. Growing up our parents were always fighting. When Dad went to jail and Mom took off, I moved in with our paternal grandparents and they were together over sixty years. I envied them. I’ve always wanted that kind of love for myself. But I don’t think I’m ever going to find it.

  I catch Roane eyeing me from across the room and flames lick up my neck. My sister is right though. I could have worse prospects. Roane is sexy. He has this look that you know he’d be a good lover. He’s grown into a man, but to be fair we were only kids when we dated. He puts Sam to shame in the looks department. Tribal tattoos mark his tanned skin. He has this rough edge to him. Dark eyes and facial hair that you know would scratch the right spots. Big hands. I look to his boots. Large feet. Pam always told me that big feet and big hands on a man meant a big dick.

  The thought of sex makes me nervous. With Sam it wasn’t good, but it was comfortable. I knew him. I know Roane but fifteen years is a long time. People change.

  I don’t know if I can do that again. Put in so much effort to be disappointed. Sam didn’t break my heart, but our split hurt. I’ve come to realize I broke my own heart by being in a relationship I knew wasn’t going anywhere, but I have this empty feeling. I’m lonely. A one-night stand isn’t the worst idea. Maybe Pam is right, and I need to put myself back out there again. I glance around the room. There’s plenty of sexy men here. The scene isn’t as vulgar as I imagined it to be. Sure, there’s drinking, smoking, dancing, and half naked women all around, but these are simply good people having fun. If Sam could see me right now, he’d shit his pants. He’s a suit and tie guy.