Satin and Steel (11 page)

“She’s probably reading outside. What do you mean where is she?” A few minutes later, Dax and three other guys clad in leather vests were on their bikes, roaring towards the small campus.

Rhee kept Lisa engaged in a caffeine-fueled discussion about sororities. While she feigned interest, Lisa’s eagerness to be a part of an exclusive Greek house didn’t make sense to Rhee. Lisa was definitely the sorority-type, Rhee thought to herself. Suddenly, Lisa looked up and sucked in her breath. “Holy Christ, who the hell is that?! Jesus, he’s coming over here! Rhee, the hottest guy I have ever…”

Rhee didn’t have to look. A pair of black boots marched purposefully to their table to meet her lowered gaze. Guiltily, she looked up into Dax’s face. Although he was wearing a deceiving grin, she could tell he was furious. Barely concealed anger glimmered in his eyes, which were as icy blue as an arctic storm.

“Hello there,
little girl
,” he said, emphasizing the “little girl,” to underscore how stupid and immature her behavior had been. Dax fought with the image of spanking the stubborn kid for the last time. He was so angry that tanning her backside seemed like a party.
I’m gonna give her the punishment she needs!

“Miss,” he shot Rhee’s companion a dazzling grin and nodded a greeting.

“Hi,” Lisa breathed, looking from Rhee to Dax, then back at Rhee.

God, she’s practically drooling!
Rhee rolled her eyes as Lisa smiled back and offered Dax her hand. When he kissed the back of it, Rhee felt a jolt of irritation so strong she had to put her hand over her mouth to a feign a cough in order to disguise her snort. Lisa’s soft gasp of obvious desire infuriated Rhee. She stood up abruptly.

“Dax, Lisa. Lisa, Dax. He’s my, er-friend. I met him after the burglary. He’s been kind enough to help me out with some stuff,” Rhee said lamely.

“Oh,” Lisa nearly swooned, her eyes growing big and dreamy as they traveled down Dax’s body, taking in his broad shoulders and narrow hips. “That’s really nice of you, Dax,” she said, her voice dripping with sugar.

Rhee was exasperated.
Okay, the man just oozes sex, but does every damn woman around have to fawn all over him?!
She found herself glaring daggers at poor Lisa, who was too distracted by the gorgeous male specimen in front of her eyes to notice.

“Lisa, it’s been a pleasure. Rhee, we have that appointment.” Dax tapped his booted foot expectantly and for some reason Rhee wanted to stomp on it, even though he was here to save her, yet again.

“Maybe you should take my number, Dax,” Lisa said suddenly. “Rhee doesn’t have a phone. That way, you, I mean, uh, Rhee, can always get a hold of me, um, if she needs to.”

Rhee just stared as Dax pulled out his iPhone and inputted the digits, to Lisa’s obvious delight. Then, he flashed that killer grin of his and Lisa practically melted into a puddle on the floor. Rhee found her eyes rolling so hard in their sockets she was momentarily blinded as she followed Dax to the door. When he opened it for her, she hesitated, and then nearly jumped out of her skin when Dax’s breath tickled her ear.

“It’s all clear, little girl. But you’re not out of the woods with me, not by a long shot.”

Oh shit.
A strange mixture of fear and a dull throbbing between her legs kindled up at his lethal tone and his threatening words. Rollie and Wince were waiting outside. Rhee looked to Wince for encouragement but he wouldn’t meet her eyes. Dax handed her a helmet and she strapped it on. Dax didn’t say another word. He strapped his own helmet on and straddled his bike. Rhee sighed heavily and climbed on behind him, taking a quick glance around. She didn’t see the two thugs.
Well, at least I’m safe…for now.

The ride back was too short in Rhee’s opinion. Dax held the door for her and when she walked in, seeing the hardened faces inside turn from concern to relief made tears come to Rhee’s eyes.
I really screwed up.
Rhee didn’t have time to apologize for worrying the other guys. Dax had his large hand on the back of her neck and he used it to propel her into down the corridor. When they reached his room, he nudged Rhee inside and then kicked the door shut with the tip of his boot.

“What the
fuck
were you thinking?”

Rhee didn’t respond. She never did react well when large, intimidating men were angry with her. An old fear began to brew in her gut and she studied the floor as though it had suddenly become a Renoir.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” Dax was practically shouting at the girl, and he knew he was probably scaring the crap out of her, but she had scared the piss out of him earlier and he wasn’t playing nice anymore.

Rhee felt her hands start to shake. She raised her face to meet his, and focused on Dax’s chin. She employed the only strategy she could think of to combat the dizzying anxiety that threatened to bubble over and consume her. She got mad.

“Don’t you dare talk to me like you own me!” Rhee forced her anger into her face and managed to glare at him.

Dax smiled then, a cold smile that made Rhee shake in her borrowed boots.

“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, Rhiannon.”

Rhee shivered at his use of her given name.

“I do own your little ass. You have no family, no money, no place to go, and I’m your only chance of finding that wayward little sister of yours. So the next time you think about disobeying a direct order from me, think long and hard. Because it won’t take me more than two seconds to forget about your little cause! I have more important things to do than babysit you!” he roared, his fear for the girl manifesting as rage.

Rhiannon blanched at his harsh words and fought the sudden, embarrassing rush of tears that came to her eyes. She was pinned by Dax’s anger, rooted to the floor. Her heart pounded and her vision blurred.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Angry Dax was more frightening than Marco or her step-dad had ever been.

Dax backed off, and took several deep breaths. “Dammit, Rhee.” He pushed his hand through his spiky blond hair and realized he had been shouting. The whole damn clubhouse had probably heard his uncharacteristic tirade. He approached the girl, who had a hollow, wide-eyed look on her scared face.

Dax took a step towards her and Rhee flinched, hard. Instinctively, she covered her face with her arms, protecting herself from the imaginary blow. Dax stopped in his tracks.

“Shit.” Dax turned away, running a hand through his hair. “Rhee. Rhee? Honey, I’m sorry I got carried away but you scared the shit out of me. Rhee?”

Rhee drew a shaky breath behind her hands. She wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor, to escape him. “Please, don’t.” It came out as a half-sob, one that begged to unleash a torrent of pent-up hysteria.

Dax was at a complete loss. He regarded Rhee’s protective posture.
I’ve never hit a woman!
I’ve also never wanted to spank a woman as badly as I want to spank her right now!
But I don’t want to hurt her.
I’ve scared her enough.
Dax’s anger dissipated and now he was left with awkward feelings of guilt and remorse. So, he did what most guys did in uncomfortable situations with women: He stalked out the door and headed for the bar.

The minute he was gone, Rhee locked the door and collapsed on the small bed, sobbing. Too much had happened. Too much. Why did everything have to be so complicated?
Mickey…

As if he didn’t feel guilty enough, the faint sounds of Rhee crying only added to Dax’s level of discomfort. The scathing looks directed his way from Wince, Rollie, and even Hawk pissed Dax right off. He kicked back a scotch and then a whiskey.

“Maybe I should check on her.” Wince directed his question to Hawk.

“Yeah. The kid sounds pretty upset.”

“Do you have a master key? The door might be locked.”

“I’d knock and see if she wants to let you in. If she don’t answer, then leave the girl be.”

Wince brushed by Dax without acknowledging him and made his way down the corridor. Dax made a mental note to put the grunt in his place. Still, he found himself listening intently as Wince knocked on the door for several moments. Then, the door must have opened because Wince didn’t come back. Dax raised two fingers.

“Make the next one a double.”

Chapter Ten

Dax woke up with a dull ache pounding in his head.
Fuck!
He stood up and then room spun. Dammit, he hadn’t been this hung over since he was a kid. He stumbled to the grunts’ bathroom after realizing he had passed out cold on the couch near the pool table. As the events of the previous night came rushing back to him, he grimaced. Dax wasn’t looking forward to dealing with a female who was probably still crying. But, he owed Rhee an apology.

Dax ran himself a long shower and pulled on some loose jeans and his favorite black tee. Aside from his slightly bloodshot eyes, he looked no worse for wear, but he felt like hell. He found Rhee and Wince sitting side by side on the porch swing out back drinking coffee. The two had their heads together and spoke in low voices he couldn’t quite hear. The sight made him tense. Dax cleared his throat and Rhee froze. She sank against Wince, who threw an arm casually about her shoulders and nodded up at his vice president.

“Dax.”

“Wince. Excuse us for a minute, bro.”

Wince looked at Rhee who nodded nervously. “Thank you,” she said softly, as the younger man vacated the swing. Dax waited until he heard the door shut before sliding into place next to the girl, who held herself stiffly, her anxiety nearly palpable.

“How’s the shoulder?” Dax wasn’t sure where to start.

“Um, it’s okay I guess.” Rhee’s voice was ever so soft, her tone defeated. Her eyes were downcast as though she were afraid to look him in the eye. The change bothered Dax. A lot.

“Rhiannon.” He moved slowly, tentatively, placing his fingertip gently beneath her chin, tilting her unwilling gaze to meet his own. He expected to see hurt, anger even. Shit, Trish would have called him every name in the book, maybe would have even broken a few of his toys to boot. But what shocked Dax the most was the level of fear Rhee held encased in those emerald eyes.
She’s afraid…of me.
Her breath came faster, the pulse in her neck kicked up, and he could see the inky black of her dilated pupils begin to overwhelm her green irises.

“I-I’m sorry Dax, I mean it. I understand that you-you’re in charge. I’ll do as you say, okay?” The submissive words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush, and her voice broke at the end of her little speech. Dax wasn’t used to the guilty feelings he was experiencing. He liked the girl as she was before: stubborn, willful, and strong. He released her chin and sat back, rubbing the hint of blond stubble on his chin thoughtfully.

Rhee was afraid the man was going to hear her heart pounding in her chest. His behavior, the yelling, the threats, had activated memories she had thought she had long since overcome. Combined with the other feelings she seemed to have around him, she was a big ball of trembling confusion.
Once abused, always abused
, she thought sadly.
I guess I’ll always have these types of men in my life.
There’s no use fighting it anymore.
I could leave but another one would find me.
They always do.

Tears gathered in Rhee’s eyes as she wondered what he would do next. Words, plaintive attempts to get back in his good graces, fell from her lips. Then, Dax was kneeling in front of the porch swing, his large hands resting on either side of her, trapping her. Rhee fought to stay calm as Dax leaned forward. Rhee’s pulse skittered wildly as he gently swept a stray strand of hair from her neck. Then, his mouth was near her ear and she sat there, afraid to move.

“You scared the hell out of me, Rhiannon. I’m sorry for being so angry. I’m sorry for yelling. I don’t know what came over me. Forgive me.” His whispered words were confusing. Why was he apologizing? Too, her body’s response to his nearness was extremely disconcerting. Chills ran down her spine at the feel of his breath in her ear. Rhee took a deep breath to compose herself.

“It was all my fault, Dax.” Rhee said quietly. “I didn’t listen. I didn’t realize. I guess I’ve been in some sort of denial that any of this is happening.”

“So, am I forgiven?” He was like an eager puppy and Rhee had to smile.

“Am I?”

“You drive a hard bargain, stowaway. Mutual forgiveness achieved.”

And then he kissed her on the cheek. For Rhee, time stood still as the feel of his lips seared an imprint into her brain. Her breath caught in her chest, and a deep longing began to burn in her belly. She tensed, her cheeks turning red. Dax was standing now, offering her his hand, seemingly unaffected. She took his hand shakily, and desperately tried to reign in her traitorous body.
I shouldn’t forgive him that easily!

“Come on. I need you to tell me more about the guys on the bus.”

Dax knew who the boys from the bus were right away. Their appearance only reinforced that Rhee was connected to something much larger than she knew about. He made some calls. They needed to find out what exactly Mickey had stumbled into.

Rhee happily stayed out of the man’s way, trying to sort out her emotions. She spent her time puttering around the clubhouse to distract herself from the embarrassing thoughts she was having. Images of his lips on her cheek, then moving to her neck, then lower, shot through Rhee’s mind at the most inopportune times.
I have to stop this!
To the delight of the older guys, she was quite at home in the kitchen and spent most of the mornings cooking. Dax approached her before he left the clubhouse, and was visibly irritated at the way she continued to flinch when he came near.
Can’t help it.
Still, Rhee flushed with pleasure when he complimented her cooking.

“Save me a plate. I’ll be back later.” As an afterthought he told her, “If you need to go anywhere, just ask Wince and Rollie to go with you. I’m not trying to cage you, little bird. I just want you safe.”