Page 54 of Lucifer's Hounds

“Damn, that was fast.”

“I have a delivery for you.” He hands me an envelope that contains a plane ticket and three hundred dollars in cash along with a black cloth bag.

“Thank you so much. Is it you that’s covering the shifts at the bar, too?” I can’t help the amusement in my voice at the thought of Scott behind the bar, dealing with drunks.

“Oh no. Ryan, one of the club guys’ wives is coming in tomorrow to train with Mindy.”

Mindy pipes up. “I guess I’ll be here in the morning then.”

“Ryan will have another girl coming in with her to train so we can give Mindy some time off as well,” Scott says.

Mindy runs around the bar, jumping into Scott’s arms, catching him slightly off guard. He stumbles back at the unexpected impact. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she yells, squeezing him in a long drawn-out hug.

Scott pats her back and sets her down. “Thank Cass. He had it arranged. I’m just the messenger today.”

Mindy’s smile is radiant and even though the exhaustion is written all over her face, the news of her getting to take a break makes her light up like a Christmas tree. One of the many qualities I love about my best friend is her ability to shine anywhere she goes.

“All right, Lilly Amber. Get the fuck out of here. There’s a sexy biker waiting for you and he’s only a plane ride away. That, and I’m ready to close this fucking place down and go to bed. So, go!” Mindy wraps me in a hug and ushers me out the door.

“Wait! Look in the bag and change into that before you leave. Boss’s orders,” Scott says, stopping us at the door.

I open the bag to find a navy-blue halter dress that falls just above my knees, a pair of black converses, and a tube of my favorite shade of burgundy lipstick. I smile as I change quickly into the dress and put on the lipstick. He’s good. I should give him that. The sizes are perfect, and he got the exact shade I wear. I wonder which woman he had go do his dirty work. One of the ol’ ladies, I’m sure, is behind the shopping.

I do a once-over in the mirror and twirl in this beautiful dress before I exit the bathroom with my clothes stuffed into the bag. I cannot believe I’m getting on a plane to go to California to meet up with this man. What am I doing?

Chapter Eight

By the time my plane lands in California, it’s four o’clock in the morning. I step out of the terminal to one of my favorite sights. Cass is sound asleep in a chair waiting for me. I gently place a hand on his shoulder to wake him.

“Hey, sleepy head,” I say softly. Cass bolts upright, grabbing my wrist.

“Easy, killer. It’s just me.” He looks up at me, his eyes drinking me in.

“Hey, I’m little and brittle. Could you ease up on that death grip?” I ask, staring at his hand on my wrist.

Realizing he still has my wrist in his hand, he quickly releases his grip. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry, baby.”

The sound of him calling me baby puts a ridiculous smile on my face. Maybe he does kind of like me. I know I enjoy that endearment.

Cass rises from the chair and kisses me. Every emotion he has is urged into my lips. There’s so much passion where his lips meet mine. Cass pulls away and rests his forehead on mine,our noses still touching. His eyes are closed and on his face is a combination of relief and happiness, buried beneath a smile.

“My god, I missed you pretty girl,” he says, his eyes still closed.

I rub my nose against his. “Ditto.”

Trying to contain myself, I wrap my arms around Cass’s waist and run my hands up his back and across his shoulders before kissing him again. There’s this intense feeling where our lips meet. I envision it like electricity flowing between them. Like blue sparks coursing between us, a spark of electricity that radiates through my whole body.

“Slow down, Turbo,” Cass growls, his lips slowly inching away from mine.

I purse my lips in protest. “Sorry,” I say the words, but I’m not. I’m not feeling sorry at all. Cass flashes me that smile that I love so much sending heat straight to my core. Holy fuck. I need to get him to the hotel. Right now.

“Let’s get out of here.” Cass grabs my hand and all but drags me through the airport.

“Nice dress,” Cass says, almost sarcastically.

“Thank you. This smoking hot biker sent it to me.” I beam.

Once we reach the parking lot, Cass stops at the passenger door of a black Ford F-150. He opens it and motions for me to get in. I step between him and the truck but stop short, turning to face him without getting in yet. I grab him by the back of his neck and pull his lips to mine. Our kiss is needy. It’s messy. Rough. I twist my fingers in his hair as our lips mesh. I don’t know that I’ve ever been kissed like this and damn it, I need more of it. Nothing else in the world exists. Nothing matters but his lips making blue sparks on mine

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