Under an Endless Moon (Moonlit Ridge Book 2)

River used to razz me that I was a pretty nice guy unless I was murdering someone. Let it be known that I was not feeling so nice right then. Was inclined to chase the bastard down and show him exactly what the warning meant.

But Raven was staring up at me, her brow pinched and those inky eyes churning with so much emotion that I didn’t know how to make sense of it.

A vixen mixed with fragile vulnerability.

Didn’t know what to make of her half the time.

How to handle her.

What to do with the insanity that she conjured inside me.

One thing for sure, I needed her to understand the lengths I would go.

I thought she might argue with me, but instead she whispered, “I’m ready to go home.”

Yeah, it was probably a damned good idea since the only thing I wanted was to toss her over my shoulder the way I’d warned her and get her out of the sight of all these motherfuckers who’d been eye-fucking her since the second she’d stepped out onto the dance floor.

Get her away from the prick who’d been pressing in on her like he had the right.

Just get her the hell out of here before I did something stupid and snapped in front of everyone.

Before I did some of that murdering or got really reckless and told her she belonged to me. Maybe push her fully against the wall and make that sexpot mouth mine. God knew all the fucked-up ways I wanted it on me.

I roughed a hand through my hair, just realizing then I was covered in a sheen of sweat. Fiery possession singeing me through. “Sounds like a good plan.”

What I really should do was put her in an Uber and send her on her way, seek out Tiff so I could burn off some of this aggression. Distract myself with a hot body like I normally did when this woman spun me up so tight that I couldn’t see.

Wasn’t sure what the fuck was wrong with me, but I didn’t think I could stomach the thought of it tonight. Didn’t think there was a chance of letting her out of my sight until I had her tucked safely behind a locked door.

Raven angled around me, her stride quick on those wicked heels, like part of her wanted to get away from me as fast as she could.

She should.

She should stay far the fuck away from me.

But I was right behind her, acting as a fortress as we pushed through the club. Didn’t bother to give Theo or Kane a text since they were likely on the prowl, letting loose the way I was a firm believer we all should do.

Except the only person I wanted to let loose with right then was a thousand times forbidden. The last fucking person I could take.

She was family.

I guided her through the thrumming throng of Kane’s and out into the night.

This late, there was the slightest chill to the air as fall approached. The door swinging closed behind us cut the noise level in half, the quiet of the night butting against the roar from within.

I gave a jut of my chin to Ty and Jonah who were manning the door, and I stayed one step behind Raven as she strode out into the parking lot that was still packed.

My palm barely made contact with the small of her back as we went.

Didn’t matter.

The connection still burned me through.

Which meant I needed to get this shit under lock and key considering she was about to be wrapped around me on my bike.

Never said I wasn’t a masochist.

Her heels crunched on the loose gravel as we treaded to the line of bikes that were parked along the exterior wall at the front of the club. Mine was right between Theo and Kane’s, and Raven strutted right for it, like she was drawn to the metal, though tonight, her energy was all off.

Normally, she was excited as hell to get on the back of my bike.

She was facing away when I rumbled, “You okay?”

Raven barely shook her head as she turned back toward me, and a long sigh pilfered from those red-painted lips. “I just…I need to know that I can handle myself, Otto. For myself. I need to know that I don’t need you or my brother to sweep in and fix everything that goes wrong for me.”

My chest panged.

I got it. I got it. But our lives came with a certain danger, and I’d seen firsthand the depravities that people succumbed to. The atrocities inflicted.

“I know you need your independence, Raven. But the world we live in…”

She blinked those inky eyes. “We all live in that world, Otto, and yeah, it’s fucked up and bad things happen, and I know you want to keep me from that, but I need to be able to make mistakes for myself. Fall in love and out of love and deal with douchebags and get my heart broken. I need all of that so I can discover what I want and who I want to be.”

She fisted her hand over her heart.

Air heaved from my lungs, and I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I know. And I’m sorry if I was being overzealous. But when I came around the corner and found that bastard had you against a wall? There wasn’t a speck inside me that would allow me to ignore it. That asshole was pressing you.”

He was lucky he wasn’t floating face down in the lake.

Frustration billowed out of her, and she tossed an arm out like she was gesturing at him. “Tanner is harmless.”

I couldn’t do anything but reach out and take her by that wrist. I tugged her forward a step so she was right in front of me. Her presence hit me like a landslide. “Maybe. But I didn’t like what was comin’ off him. Like you owed him something.”

“He’s…fine.”

Wasn’t satisfied with the way she said it. With the uncertainty that flashed through her expression, like maybe she’d felt exactly what I’d felt oozing from him, too.

“I want you to tell me if he’s harassing you. That’s all I’m asking.”

Energy pulsed around us, that thing that I’d been ignoring for years, pretending it only meant I cared about her as a part of my family.

Complete bullshit.

“Promise me,” I urged. “Can’t stand the idea of someone trying to get you under their thumb.”

Emphasis tightened her brow. “You know I would never get myself in a situation like that.”

That was the thing, though. No one ever intended on succumbing to an abusive relationship. It was just that they got blindsided along the way and they found themselves in that situation before they knew they were there.

Shucking off the intensity, I canted her a grin. “Good. Just so we’re clear.”

She rolled those mesmerizing eyes. “Yes, Otto, we’re clear. Like you and River would ever let me forget.”

“Let you forget how much we care about you? I think not.” I wound as much lightness as I could into my voice, and I swung my leg over my bike and kicked it over.

The powerful engine roared to life.

It was a restored 1960s chopper and basically the love of my life since it was the only thing I could ever truly give my heart to. Jud Lawson over in Redemption Hills, one of our friends and the king of restorations out here in the West, had restored it for me.

It was nothing but smoky grays and black matte metals. Its beauty was only second to the girl who was standing to the side of it. The sole reason I’d had him install a fourteen-inch backrest on the rear was so she’d be comfortable whenever she took her spot.

I revved the throttle twice as I widened my grin at her. “Now are you going to get on the back of my bike or are you going to stand out here all night?”

She was still a little annoyed, which I took full responsibility for but still wouldn’t change. It seemed her love for riding was close to mine, though, and it took her all of two seconds before she stamped that little foot and grumbled, “Fine.”

Shifting, I dug her helmet out of the saddlebag and handed it to her. She was quick to put it on, then I reached out to help her, and she had to swing her leg up to get over the saddle. It gave me a quick flash of the black lace under that short as fuck skirt.

Tried not to take a peep like some kind of creeper, but damn, she didn’t even try to hide it. She just climbed on like she wasn’t shy, and it wasn’t the first time she’d done it.

I wondered if she did it on purpose. Wondered if she had full intentions of driving me out of my ever-lovin’-mind.

No doubt about it as she tucked herself up close to my back and wrapped herself around me.

Heat singed me through.

That lust-inducing body igniting me in her flames.

Revving the engine again, I shouted, “Ready?”

She gave me a squeeze as she hooked her chin on my shoulder, her seductive voice in my ear. “I was born ready, Otto.”

I took to the street, and there was no missing the thrill that ran through her being. This girl who fit me like a glove who I forever had to keep at arm’s length.