His silence said it all.
Winter sat the coffee cup down on the counter before she threw it at him. Viper’s dark eyes followed the movement. She had put on her shirt without taking the time to properly dry off and put on a bra, the thin material clung damply to her breasts. Her hair was drying in a mass of curls that she always blow dried out and styled into a professional look, well aware she needed to maintain a certain image with her job. She had to project an appearance of authority and professionalism or the students and parents wouldn’t respect her position. She only relaxed her guard in the privacy of her own home.
“Wow. You are a complete and utter ass. I thought we had a relationship, you knew I thought that. I waited patiently for you like a fool when you were out of town, while you were fucking your own personal stash of women in not one motorcycle club, but two.”
“They are not my own personal stash. The women in the Last Riders don’t belong to anyone,” Viper sighed. He had not wanted the conversation to turn ugly, but he could see that had been a false hope. “The members are not exclusive to anyone; neither male or female.”
Winter could only stand there with her mouth open, her mind unable to comprehend the sheer magnitude of his deceit.
“Like a sex club? You share the women?”
“It is a motorcycle club first and foremost. We share different interests, one of those are sexual. To answer your question as best as I can, we have sex with whomever we want within the club. We are very careful with safety and have stringent rules that are followed.”
She felt it bubbling up her throat, unable to prevent it bursting free.
“Two freaking years.”
“Winter, I had to find out the truth about my brother.”
“You could have been honest with me, you know I would have helped you and never opened my mouth. You knew that!”
“I couldn’t take the chance.”
“Because it was easier to let me be hurt. You met my mother; you let me introduce you to her knowing that I was hoping we would eventually become more than friends. You could have made it perfectly clear you had no interest in me that way. Instead you played me, using my desire to be with you to manipulate yourself into situations where you would come into contact with the men you believed killed your brother. Any man would realize when I introduced you to my mother that it meant something. She died with that lie. I… hate... you. You are lying and deceitful. You could have made sure, anytime within the last two years, that I knew our friendship wasn’t going to grow into something else, but you did not! Instead I felt like it was something I was doing wrong.” Winter furiously blinked back her tears. “Did you even realize how embarrassed I was to ask you to spend the night? I offered myself on a silver platter and you couldn’t run away fast enough. Instead, you practically fucked everyone you came in contact with in two states but me.” Taking deep breaths, Winter tried to regain control of her boiling temper.
Viper stood, coming towards her. She put out her hand to stop him. “If you come near me, I will slam my fist in those ribs, and by the look of you, are extremely painful.” He came to a dead stop. “I think it is past time for you to leave.” He stood there silently, taking in how deeply he had hurt her, unable to make excuses for himself. He had done exactly what she had accused him of doing.
“I’ll go. I wanted to explain, but now I can see I should have given it time. I hope you will be able to forgive me someday. I am sorry.” Winter followed him to the door, trying to maintain what little control she had until it closed behind him. As he was going out the door, she asked him the question that had been on her mind since last night.
“Which woman at your club has blond spiked hair, about average height?”
“Bliss?”
“She the one that group of biker women wanted?”
“Yes.” Viper’s jaw tensed.
“That’s what I thought.” Winter took a step back and slammed the door in his face.
Chapter 1
The fenced in backyard of the church was filled to capacity with the congregation and the members of the Last Riders. Winter carefully balanced the potato salad she had prepared, thankful the buffet table was empty of guests as she slid it among the colorful array of choices.
Glancing around the yard, she saw her friend and secretary drawing flags on children’s faces.
“Hello Emily.” A highlighted strand of hair had fallen across her forehead into her eyes. With her paint stained hand, she was unable to move the irritant. Winter casually brushed it away, receiving a thankful sigh in response.
“Keeping busy?” Winter grinned.
“I could use some help,” Emily admitted.