“Save your pepper spray for the Black Jacks,” Arianne said. “I don’t think these guys are here to hurt us.” She gave Jagger a half-hearted smile. “Thanks for checking up on us, but we need to get going before Leo—”
With slow, deliberate steps, he backed her up to the vehicle, stopping only when her ass pressed tight against the cool metal. His gaze locked with hers, and he thudded one hand on the roof on either side of her head, caging her with his body. “Easy, sweetheart. I need you to listen.” His breath was warm against her ear, his body heat beating away the chill of the night. She gritted her teeth and tried to push him away, but he had her well and truly pinned.
“I can listen from a distance.” She looked around for Dawn and her handy canister of pepper spray, but her faithless friend was deep in conversation with Cade and Zane and unaware Arianne was having an inappropriate response to being trapped against her car by a sexy biker who smelled like heaven and looked like sin.
“Leo’s not the only one looking for you,” he said. “Axle blames you for his expulsion from the club, and wants his revenge. I can keep you safe.” He moved closer, his chest brushing against her breasts, his thick thigh sliding between her legs.
Her breath left her in a rush. Part of her wanted nothing more than to accept his offer, climb on the back of his bike, wrap her arms around him and race away into the night. But her survival instinct was too strong, her independence too hard fought, and she’d seen firsthand what happened to people who defied Viper in order to help her.
“Thanks, but I can take care of myself. And to be honest, I’m not feeling very safe with you right now. In fact, I’d have to say this position is mildly threatening and—” Her voice caught. “—a little too dominant alpha male.”
“Always with the lip.” Although his words came out in a husky rumble, his eyes were warm, amused.
“Always with the bossiness.” She wriggled against him, pleased when he edged away the tiniest bit.
“Only when I’m trying to protect you.”
She caught the slight irritation in his tone, but she was too far gone to stop her mouth from running on. “So you’ve been trying to protect me every minute since we’ve met?” Liquid heat pooled between her thighs when she felt the hard press of his erection against her stomach. Damn. Her escape attempt had inflamed them both.
“It seems so.”
“Have you forgotten I’m Viper’s daughter? You should be running in the other direction, or tying me up and holding me for ransom.” There. She’d said it. Might as well get it out in the open and discover his true intentions.
His face softened and his gaze slid to her mouth. “I haven’t forgotten a single thing about you, Arianne. Not since the minute we met.”
Enfolded in the semidarkness, his hot, hard body pressed against her, Arianne trembled. As if sensing her arousal, he bent his head and touched his mouth to her cheek, a whisper of lips so fleeting, she wondered if she’d imagined it.
“Come with me.”
She ached to go with him. Wanted him in that moment almost as desperately as she wanted out of Conundrum. But how could she trust her father’s worst enemy when he was bound always to do what was in the best interests of his club? And if that meant sacrificing her, he would. Regardless of his feelings.
“You’ll probably torture me for his secrets.”
“You have my word you’ll be safe with me. No one will hurt you.”
She threw out another objection, something he couldn’t ignore. “You’re putting your club at risk.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No more than it is already. Viper reignited the feud, burned down my clubhouse, and killed one of my men. He knows I’ll seek retribution. Giving sanctuary to Viper’s daughter, helps me further that goal. And I’m duty-bound to protect you from Axle.”
Duty. Not desire. But how could it be otherwise? They barely knew each other.
“Viper will go crazy looking for me.” She tapped her right cheekbone. “The last time I defied him, and it was nothing compared to this, he left me with this scar.”
Jagger stilled, his eyes burning into her cheek like laser beams. Then, as if she’d already agreed, he backed away, clasped her hand, and tugged her toward his bike. “We’re going to the clubhouse.”
“What about the safe house?” Zane’s deep voice cut into the silence. “I told Wheels to go get it ready just before we left the bar.”
Jagger squeezed Arianne’s hand. “She’s coming with us tonight. I’ll take her to Sparky’s tomorrow.”
Arianne paused midstep and shook her hand free. “Jag—”
“Shhhh.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Did you just shhhh me?”