Sydney's Battle (Reapers Rejects MC: Second Generation Book 1) Read online

  “Is this how you snuck out to go to parties back in high school or somethin’?” I ask her while she slowly goes forward down the gravel lane.

  She bursts out into convulsive laughter. “God, do you really think I was a partier?”

  “You’re a biker kid. How aren’t you one?” I narrow my eyes in on her and cackle.

  “Not all of us are drinkers who love recreational drugs.”

  “Who said anything about drugs and booze? What about dancin’ and sex? Shit, back in the day, I might’ve drunk, but I didn’t get all sorts of fucked up,” I comment and immediately notice how silence takes over the car ride.

  Well, this is going to end at some point and I’m guessin’ it’ll end up bein’ tonight. I can’t stay upstairs for the rest of my time here, and the longer I’m up there, the more likely it is Sydney will get in trouble.

  She drives up to the barn and puts the car in park, then we both get out of the vehicle. I open the barn door for her and let her walk in, then shut it behind me. Sydney’s heading for the stairwell leadin’ to her apartment, but I go over to the post and start to sit down. I don’t wanna keep puttin’ her at risk, and I sure as fuck don’t wanna be the reason she gets on the outs with her father.

  “What’re you doing?” Sydney questions me and I turn my neck to look at her.

  “I’m sittin’ down. It’s about time I get back to bein’ here, don’t you think?”

  Sydney rolls her eyes and huffs before comin’ over to me. She looks up into my eyes and I know I’m about to get an earful. “You don’t sleep chained up like a dog anymore. You’re not an animal and you’re certainly not a monster either. Gears . . . fuck. You can sleep on my couch for as long as you want. I know it’s not the best, but it’s better than this, right?”

  Damn, this woman is too kind for her own good.

  “I appreciate everythin’ you’re doin’ for me, but I still don’t get why you’re doin’ it.” I’m honest with her, completely admitting what’s on my mind.

  “I don’t strive to be much in life. I don’t think I ever really have, but my birth mom always taught me to be kind to those who deserve it, and if you ask me, you deserve it.” Sydney looks right into my eyes, but this time the way she’s lookin’ at me is so much different. There’s longin’ here on both sides.

  I take a step closer to her and my chest brushes against her breasts. She inhales deeply and swallows hard and I know she’s fuckin’ nervous right now. I skim my hand up her side and then hold onto the side of her neck. “You know I’d never hurt you, right?”

  Without hesitation, she nods. “I know,” Sydney pauses and clears her throat. “Do you want to go upstairs and watch some Netflix?”

  The air in the room intensifies greatly and I nod. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

  She turns around and walks away from me, but I highly doubt when we get up there, the only thing we’ll be doin’ is watchin’ some television. Not with the way the two of us just looked at each other.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sydney

  I grab the remote to the television and turn it on. “So, are you an action kinda guy, or is comedy more your thing?” I turn and look at Gears, watching his facial features change slightly. He smugly smiles.

  “I like a good variety.” He keeps his answer simple, and I eye the couch.

  “Is it alright if I sit there?” It feels weird not to ask him, considering he’s sleeping on my couch.

  “It’s your couch. Of course, you can.” He stifles a laugh, and a smirk drags across my face. I head over to the couch and sit on the other side of it, waiting to see if he’ll take a seat beside me. Over my faux marble fireplace, there’s a flatscreen TV and I log into my Netflix account. After a couple minutes, I’m browsing through some comedies and end up just clicking the center button on my remote. I lean over the side and grab the stackable squares to put in front of the couch. I had them back in my bedroom at my childhood home and brought them over here the other day. They’re cheap, but they’re comfortable. I put a couple down in front of us and spread out my legs.

  “Shit, this is ingenious.” Gears laughs, grabs the blanket that’s hanging off the back of my chair and he comes to sit beside me. Extending his hand, he offers me the blanket. “I’m not sure if you were cold or not.”

  I gladly take the blanket and spread it out across my legs, leaning back against the couch and begin to watch the movie playing in front of us. After a while of watching the movie play, I pull the blanket up a little more and slowly inch closer to Gears. I’m comfortable with him and since that night I had to watch him downstairs, I’ve felt something. I didn’t know what it was at first, but what I knew at that moment was how I needed to explore it. I don’t know where we’re heading, but I’m glad I’m following my heart. Being with him is a huge risk, but I want to see where this goes.

  Out of nowhere, there’s a small shift and pressure is going around my shoulders. I glance at Gears and see him staring into my eyes. He moves his head to the side a little and clears his throat. “I still don’t get why you’re bein’ so kind to me.”

  The answer is quite simple. “If you ask me, everyone deserves kindness.”

  While our eyes are focusing on each other’s my breath hitches in my throat. It feels like my mouth is going dry and I know my nerves are getting to me. I lick my bottom lip and tear my gaze away from his, looking at the ground.

  Gears takes the hand that isn’t touching my shoulder and skims his fingertips along my cheek. Goosebumps flood over my skin and I look back at him once more. Swallowing hard, I know the path we’re heading down and I want it. I’m not experienced in the least bit, but I want this.

  “I’m tryin’ damn hard right now to hold myself back, but fuck, you’re a delight, Lemon.”

  I furrow my brows at the nickname he’s given me. “Lemon?”

  “Mhm,” his mumble is strong and comes out as a half-growl, “You have no idea how you’re bringin’ somethin’ new and excitin’ in my life. Lemon seems to fit, don’t ya think?”

  Instead of answering, I inhale deeply through my nose and inch closer to Gears. I swallow hard before I continue moving closer and put a hand on the scruff where his beard once was. It’s soft and prickly at the same time and his hazel eyes bore down into mine.

  While he’s an overly handsome man, his chiseled jaw accents the strained lines around his mouth. Gears lips are full and cracked from the conditions he’d been kept in when he was downstairs, but I plan on making sure he’s properly taken care of now.

  Our lips are barely an inch away from each other and his hot breath hits mine every time he exhales. “Sydney,” his tone is a warning, desperate and needy.

  I shut my eyes for a mere second before his lips are on mine. My heart beats intensely in my chest and before I know it, he’s pulling me onto his lap. We’re both exploring one another and devouring each other at the same time. His grip on me is demanding as he pulls me closer, yet I don’t feel rushed.

  Gears plunges his tongue into my mouth, and I find myself wrapping my arms around his neck. He groans and his hardness presses against my center through my pants. “Dammit,” Gears growls as he tears his lips away from mine.

  “What, am I doing something wrong?” The fear is evident in my voice and his eyes zero in on mine.

  “What? No. I’m just . . . fuck. I’m just wishin’ you were a fuckin’ bitch to me. But you had to be all sweet and now I’m here, claimin’ your mouth like you’re my woman and thinkin’ about the naughty things I want to do to your body.”

  Holy hell. I didn’t think my heart could stop beating, but I swear to God it did, like just now. I take a gulp and my goosebumps rise again. “I won’t regret this,” I tell him the first thing that comes to mind, needing him to know how serious I’m being.

  “Good, I don’t want you to.” Gears takes control of the situation, and his lips are back on mine before I can even blink. His mouth is hungry, desperation flooding through both of
our veins. I grab the bottom of his t-shirt and slowly begin pulling it up. We part for just enough time that I can toss his shirt onto my living room floor, and then his fingertips are pulling at my shirt. Only, his hands are much slower than mine. He’s taking every moment agonizingly slow, and he pulls his lips away from mine. Gears presses chaste kisses down my jawline, neck, and then they come to a halt at my sternum.

  He lifts my shirt up and throws it down on the floor and he pulls his head back to get a good look at me. “You’re gorgeous,” his tone is breathless and before I can reply, his lips are back on my skin. Gears reaches an arm around me and with one move, he’s unclasped my bra. He pulls his mouth back so he can pull my bra away and returns to my skin, slowly gliding up the center of my stomach to my chest. He captures my nipple in his mouth and suckles on my hardened nub and I moan as the overwhelming feeling takes over me.

  We’re like this for what feels like a century, his lips on my skin, my hands on his back, and then he palms at my pants and I’m tugging on his. It doesn’t take us long until we’re both naked and I have my hand on his cock.

  Even as inexperienced as I am, he clasps his hand over mine and drives my hand over his cock. I wonder if he knows I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. God, I hope not. I want this to be good between us, not something sad and pathetic. “You know, don’t you?” I end up asking and he takes his hand away from mine.

  Hissing lightly as I tighten my grip slightly around his shaft, he chuckles. “With what you’re doin’, Lemon, I’m wonderin’ if I’m wrong.” His comment causes heat to rush to my cheeks and he captures my mouth once more. He kisses me like I’m the air he breathes and as he pulls away, he looks deeply into my eyes. “Baby, I’m not in a rush. The only thing I want is for you to enjoy this. Now, what is it you want?”

  Without question, I have no doubts. “You.”

  “Well, fuck.” Gears curses and pulls my hand away from his cock. Hooking an arm under my leg, he lays me back down on the couch. Gears brings his hand between my legs and he dips two fingers inside me without warning. While this is new to me, I’m amazed at how calm I am. It doesn’t make any sense to me, but sometimes life doesn’t always make sense. Sometimes we have to trust the path it’s taking us on, and right now, this is one of those moments.

  Gears brings his lips back onto mine and I lay here while he kisses me. Or rather, as we kiss each other. They’re hungry and sweet at the same time, claiming yet controlled. He pumps his fingers inside me and there comes a point where warmth pools in my center and I roll my hips to his rhythm.

  I know what’s happening right now, but I’ve never experienced it firsthand. I kiss him harder, and he picks up his beat as he thrusts his fingers inside me. Warmth gushes from my center and I can’t kiss him right now. I can barely even breathe while fireworks storm through me.

  Gears takes his hand from my pussy and leans down for a moment. He laps up every bit of wetness and hovers over me, licking his lips. “I’m startin’ to think the name fits, Lemon,” he chuckles. “Now, do you want this?”

  I know what he’s asking, but I’ve already made myself perfectly clear. “I want you, Gears, so give it to me.”

  Now I’ve confirmed it again. He lines his cock up with my entrance and pushes himself inside. Thankfully, my wetness makes it easier, but my walls fight to expand to his size. He’s thick and my fingers are nowhere near as big as he is.

  “Dammit,” I curse under my breath, leaning my head back against the cushion of the couch.

  “I know, baby, I’m gonna move slow,” he promises, easing in and out of me.

  Eventually, things start to get easier, or at least they do for a moment. Until he gets himself halfway inside of me and he comes to a stop. He looks down into my eyes again and I don’t have to guess what’s on his mind.

  “I said I wanted this, Gears, so give it to me.” I wrap my arms around his neck and bring his lips down onto mine, kissing him more hungrily than I have already. It’s exactly what he needs to keep moving forward and he plunges himself deeper. While intense cramping shoots through my core, I knew this would happen one day. I’ve just been lucky enough to choose who takes this piece of me, and if I have my way, this won’t be the last time.

  Kelsey ended up getting super sick, so she texted me in the middle of the night and asked if I could open with Tara. She’s lucky I woke up at four and had to pee. I didn’t want to wake Gears, who I fell asleep with on the couch after some amazing sex last night, so I grabbed a pen and some paper and left him a note.

  Morning.

  Have to go to work for a few hours. Coffee’s in the pot, just click the button, and help yourself to some food. I’ll be back around lunch.

  -Lemon

  I don’t know why I signed it Lemon, but it feels kinda right. Like it’s this secret thing between the two of us. I head into the bathroom, comb my hair and pull it up into a bun, and then I head off.

  Before I know it, I’m at Tart with keys in my hand, opening the front door. I shut off the alarm, turn on the lights and spot a figure moving behind me.

  “Morning!” Tara’s cheerful voice immediately calms my nerves. For a second there, I thought I was gonna shit myself.

  “Hey, Kelsey got sick, so I’m opening with you today. She said someone would be here around noon, though,” I fill her in.

  “Okay, sounds good. I’ll get started on my usual morning routine if you don’t mind getting all the tables sorted and wiped down? Kelsey and I kinda have a system going,” Tara tells me.

  “Hey, it’s perfectly fine with me,” I reply.

  Over the next couple hours we’re doing things her way and we finally open for the day at five-thirty. We have our usual customers come in for their coffee and danishes, while some order quiche, burritos, or rustic breakfast sandwiches. The entire morning we’re jam-packed until around eleven, and finally, we can have a break of our own.

  Working here at Tart is great because we can eat and drink whatever’s on the menu for free, plus we’re paid a decent hourly rate at eighteen dollars. I usually work here around twenty hours a week when they need me, and sometimes they don’t even need me at all. But still, extra cash is extra cash. I’ll take what I can get.

  We’re both sipping on some coffee and I’m finally able to learn a little bit about this sweet woman. “So, Kelsey told me you aren’t from Montana. At least, I think she did. Sometimes I get people mixed up.”

  Tara laughs and takes a bite of her muffin. “No, it’s me. I’m from Wyoming. I moved out here a year ago to work for Tart. Being in a place like this has been my absolute dream.”

  “That’s awesome! So, you moved out here for work then, I guess?”

  Tara nods at my question. “Yep. I was looking for some change in my life, so it worked out. Just didn’t expect it to come at that time. My life was so chaotic back then. I’m glad it’s settled down a bit. Enough about me though, Kelsey said you’re Octavia and Zane’s daughter?” Tara narrows her eyes, trying to put the pieces together. How did a natural redhead and a Caucasian male make me? I’ve seen this look so many times before.

  “Yeah, they adopted me after my birth mom died. I’ve always been a Monroe, though. They’ve treated me like family since I was a little girl, and honestly, I’m so lucky to be with them. Others in my position beg for friends of their family to take them in, you know?”

  “I can only imagine. They seem like great parents. I see Octavia in here at least once a week with Neo and Knox. I swear she bribes them with sweets.” Tara cackles before taking another sip of her coffee.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me. Neo can be an absolute terror. Don’t get me wrong, I love him, but toddlers are so sassy.”

  Both Tara and I share a laugh before silence fills the room, so I ask her more about herself. “What about your parents? Are they back in Wyoming?”

  The slight smile on Tara’s face falls. “My mom’s never been in the picture, and my dad, well . . . I’m not sure if he’s even aliv
e. You come from a biker club, so you get it. He fell in with the wrong crowd and it’s been over a year since I’ve seen him. I’m sure he’s dead at this point. If he was alive, he would’ve reached out. We didn’t have much, but one thing we did have was each other.” The girl’s pulling at my heartstrings while she tells me her sob story.

  “I’m so sorry. It must be so hard.”

  Tara shrugs her shoulders. “Some days it is, but other days I try to remember the good things and have some semblance of hope. I’m a bit of a pessimist, though, no lie.”

  “Aren’t we all?” I ask her with a smile, ending up getting a laugh in response.

  Tara grabs her phone and taps away on it. “This is us when I was younger. Everyone says I look just like him.” She tells me and she flips her phone around. I look at the photo and have to do a double take.

  Tara’s dad isn’t just anyone.

  It’s Gears.

  “You do, look just like him,” I stammer out as I hand her phone back to her.

  The bell rings on the door, signaling another customer has entered the café, so I get back to work. In no time, my relief is coming in and I make my way back to the clubhouse. I park right outside the French doors and my gut twists in knots. Gears needs to know about Tara and vice versa. Jesus. She thinks her dad is dead? How cruel is that?

  Fuck this.

  I get out of the car and head straight into the club, walk right past the brothers and prospects to my dad’s office. Bull must be able to tell something is up ‘cause he starts to speak. “Syd, he’s in a meet—”

  It’s no use. I don’t give a flying fuck.

  I push open his door and see he’s in a meeting with an older man. He has a beard and he’s stocky, and his look of fury shifts the second he looks at my dad. “This is your eldest, right?”