Page 21 of Viper

The way she says that it sounds like it’s coming from a deeper issue. Palming her face, I look into those gold orbs that draw me to her. Bringing my lips down on hers, I take her in a slow kiss. I’m pouring everything I feel for Cara into this kiss. When she moans and tugs on my hair, I growl and slowly twirl my tongue with hers. Only when my lungs are burning from a lack of oxygen, do I pull away from her.

“Who said that to you, baby?” I ask in between heavy breaths.

Cara looks taken aback that I figured out what was going on in her head. She nibbles on her lip, looking nervous. “My ex, Danny, said that to me. He was one of the agents in the department I worked with in the government. Technically, we were a part of the STF. We dated for a year, and he was always pressuring me to take things to the next level, but it never felt right.”

“What happened?”

“Even though I never felt the urge to be with him in that way, I still had feelings for him. I almost settled in that relationship, figuring I would never find what I was looking for. One day, I decided to surprise him at home and walked in and found him sleeping with one of the other agents. Nicole was supposed to be my friend, so it definitely hurt when I found out they had been messing around for four months.”

“You mentioned working for the government, but what is STF?”

“Special Task Force. Sara and I were recruited by them, our junior year of college. We were majoring in computer engineering. Our professor’s brother, Mercury, is the lead at STF. He told him about our potential and the rest is history. We started off with simple hacking assignments, but then I guess Mercury saw something in me and Sara. He felt like we could do so much more. The job itself never bothered me. We went from being behind a desk to being put through training to being on the field. It didn’t take long at all for us to get through training. Sara and I had been taking martial arts almost our entire lives.”

“What happened once you made it through training?”

Cara sighs and closes her eyes as if this next part she doesn’t want to say while looking at me. I reach over and grab her hand, bringing it to my lips to let her know it’s okay.

“We worked in the field for years. I’ll never forget the first sex trafficking ring we busted. The youngest girl was nine years old! When I got to her cell, she was like a scared mouse hunched in the corner. Once she figured out I was there to help, she ran to me and held on so tight. I vowed then that as long as I had air in my lungs I would never stop taking men like that down.”

Now it makes sense why she wasn’t trying to hear it when I told her she couldn’t go earlier. Most MCs don’t allow their women to go into dangerous situations. Looking into her eyes, I know this is her way of telling me that if I can’t accept that about her then we need to call it quits. I don’t think I would ever be okay with her putting herself in harm’s way but I can definitely accept it because I’ll be there to protect her.

“So, your ex cheated on you because you didn’t want to leave the field?”

This time tears form in her eyes. “No,” she whispers. She’s quiet for a few minutes and I give her that. It looks like she needs to gather her thoughts. “What I tell you can’t leave this room, Jace.” I nod and she continues. “STF is an unknown association. What we did wasn’t always legal but necessary. Mercury came to me and Sara a year after being in the field and asked us to extract information by any means necessary.”

“You mean like…”

“Torture. Yes. At first, I didn’t want to do it. But the second I read that man’s file, my mind was made up. He was the most vile and evil man I have ever come across. So, Sara and I did what we were asked. After I caught Danny with Nicole, I asked why he did it, why he didn’t just leave me instead of cheating. He told me after he saw me torture that man, he couldn’t settle down with someone as deranged as me. He told me I was an asset to the job but a liability for him. Even though I wasn’t in love with him, his words cut deep. I left his apartment, trying like hell not to let his words get to me, but ultimately, he was right. What kind of man wants to be with a woman who can do the things I do and not be affected by it.”

“Fuck that. Baby, I’m amazed at what my woman is capable of. A little scared too…” I pause with a chuckle, and she giggles. “But I love knowing that you are completely capable of protecting yourself. That asshole didn’t know what he had. You are smart, fierce, loving, caring, loyal and the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch that you chose me. Don’t you ever change who you are Cara Romano, because that’s the woman I’m falling for.”

A tear trails down her face and I wipe it away with my thumb before bringing my lips down on hers again. After a few minutes, we break apart panting. “Let’s get some sleep, baby. We’ve had a long day.”

She doesn’t argue. She lays her head on my chest and wraps her arm around my stomach like she does every night. It takes no time for us to fall asleep.

ChapterTwelve

CARA

It’s been two days since I revealed my dark side to Viper. He really doesn’t look at me any differently. He hasn’t changed in any way toward me. After I told him about Danny, it’s like something shifted in our relationship. Jace sees me… the real me. I decided that tonight I’m finally going to give him my virginity.

Knocking on Sara’s bedroom door, I wait until she opens the door. “What’s up?” she asks.

“I wanted to see if you wanted to come to the mall with me.”

“Cara, you do not need more clothes.”

“I’m not going for clothes. I’m going to buy lingerie.”

Her eyes go wide. Like me, my sister is a virgin. She’s more reserved than me. She doesn’t really date. It doesn’t help that when we were seniors in high school, she overheard her boyfriend making a bet to get into her panties at prom. Cam and Chris made sure he regretted making that bet.

“You’re really going to do it?” She gasps.

“I’m ready. He makes me so happy. I know it’s early, but I can’t see myself with anyone else.”

“Well, let’s go.” She grabs her purse, and we walk through the common room. When we get outside, I see Viper by his bike washing it. He puts his rag back in the bucket and walks over to me and wraps me in his arms. “Where are you going, Hellcat?”

He started calling me that after that night in the basement. I like it. It fits me. “To the mall. I need a few things.” I hope he doesn’t pry. I want it to be a surprise. Lucky for me, he lets me go with a kiss. We get into my truck and head to the mall. When we get there, we quickly find Victoria’s Secret. I pick out a red lace bra and panty set. After I pay for my things, we head back to the clubhouse.

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