Free Viper by Jessica Coulter Smith Page B

Grove chapter of the Loup Garous M.C. seemed different from the Red Devils. Oh, she’d seen the party girls, watched them do drugs and drink themselves under the tables, and they definitely screwed anything that moved. But no one had touched her. She slept at Viper’s house in the guest room, and for some reason, he hadn’t brought home a woman in all the time she’d been with him. She doubted he was celibate, having watched him carry a party girl toward the men’s room more than once, but he’d never tried to force himself on Scarlet and had treated her as a guest.
    He was different. And different was bad. It made her want things she shouldn’t. The scent surrounding her now was Viper’s and it made her want to burrow into him, ask him to hold her again. She’d felt safe with his arms around her, even if it was an illusion. There was no such thing as safety in an M.C. What happened when he gambled again and ran out of money? Would he use her like the Red Devils had? Would she belong to another MC a week from now?
    Despite the horrors she’d faced, his touch did things to her. Every time he touched her, she felt like she’d come home. It was like she was supposed to belong to him, in all ways, but she knew he’d never make her his old lady. And even if he did, it didn’t mean he’d be faithful to her. She’d seen with her own eyes just what it meant to be an old lady. Yes, you received a certain respect from the club, but you also had to learn to turn a blind eye to your husband’s infidelity, and that was something Scarlet didn’t think she could do. The first time she saw some skank on her knees in front of Viper, she’d yank the slut up by her hair and beat her ass all the way to the door.
    “I can take you home,” Viper offered. “It’s getting late anyway.”
    Home. Her apartment was long gone, as well as all of her possessions. Would she ever have a place of her own again? Would she ever know freedom once more? Or would she forever be someone’s property? Not that being Viper’s property was horrible, he treated her well, but if she was going to belong to him, she wanted it to be as his woman and not just some hapless waif he’d won in a game.
    “I could use a shower.” Or several. She hoped Viper didn’t need the hot water tonight because she planned to scrub her skin until it was red and the water ran ice cold. Even then, she knew she’d still dream of that man’s hands on her.
    “Come on, Scarlet. I think after the events of tonight, everyone will understand why I need to get out of here. Other than a shower, is there anything you need?”
    She shook her head and stared down at her boots, the only thing that remained of her outfit other than her undies. Scarlet needed more clothes, but she wasn’t going to ask for them. Everything had a price and she wasn’t sure she was ready to pay it, no matter how wonderful his touch felt.
    Viper herded her through the clubhouse and outside to the waiting row of bikes. Moonlight reflected off the chrome and she thought they looked rather beautiful. Viper handed her a helmet and she put it on. As he straddled the bike, she admired the hard lines of his body. His biceps bulged and she knew he could snap her like a twig if he wanted, but he’d been gentle with her so far. She climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his trim waist. Viper started the bike and it thrummed between her legs, reminding her there was only a scrap of fabric between her and the seat now that her clothes were gone.
    They zipped out of the parking lot, gravel flying, and took off down the highway. The clubhouse was on the outskirts of town, an agreement the M.C. had made with the local alpha, Gabriel Andrews. Scarlet had picked up a lot about the club just by listening. She was practically invisible, and when she wasn’t, Viper growled at anyone who dared look her way for too long. He was possessive, and yet he didn’t seem to want her. She didn’t know what to make