Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Thirty-five

T he minute they crossed the threshold of the Wolf’s Den, Pike knew he’d made a mistake. Not only were several men homing in on Ryler with obvious interest, but a familiar face called out to Pike, jovially crossing the bar floor to embrace him.

“Pike Sutton!” Davis Lamb slapped his back several times and pulled back, grinning down at him. His long blond hair was loose around his shoulders, and he wore a fitted blue T-shirt that hugged his bulging muscles like a second skin. “How the hell are you, friend?”

“I’m great, Davis. This is my friend, Ryler Colby.”

Ryler held out her hand, and Davis took it, pumping it vigorously. “So very nice to meet you,” Davis said.

“It’s nice to meet you, too. How do you know each other?”

Before Pike could fully mouth the word no , Davis said, “We were part of an all-male review about, what would you say, Pike? Four years ago?”

“Male review, like stripping?” Ryler asked, wide eyes swinging toward Pike as if searching for confirmation. He didn’t have time to fix his face before she realized that she’d hit the nail on the head. “Oh my God.”

“It was just a few months,” Pike said.

“Yeah, they canceled the group when interest died off, but it was fun, right? Also gave me a foot in the entertainment business. I got a part in an indie film after a producer saw me at one of the shows, and I’ve been in a dozen or so short films all around Idaho. Eventually, I’ll land that big role, but I’m going to have to relocate to LA or Georgia. Just not a lot going on in the Potato State. ”

“Well, we’re going to get a table and order some drinks. It was good to see you, man,” Pike said, accepting another hug.

“If you get some time, you should come to an audition with me. You have no idea how many roles are out there for a ginger who can dance.”

Pike was keenly aware of Ryler’s curious gaze on him. “Maybe if my business folds, I’ll look into it. Great to see you.”

“You, too,” Davis said, heading over to a tall blonde and throwing his arm around her before the two of them headed for the exit.

“So,” Ryler drawled. “You failed to mention your former career as an exotic dancer.”

“It would have come up eventually,” he said, holding out a stool at a tall table. “Take a seat, I’ll grab us some drinks, and if you want the whole sordid tale, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“I’ll take something fruity.”

Pike went to the bar and ordered their drinks, worry gnawing at his insides. Would she be repulsed by him? Several women he’d been out with had mocked his stint as a dancer, but he wasn’t ashamed of it. He’d started dancing after his ex-girlfriend cheated on him and he’d worked out like a fiend, his confidence growing, and he’d come out of it stronger and happier.

He returned to the table and set the drinks down, taking the seat across from her. “I don’t usually tell people about it because some people judge me for it.”

“I’m not. I just find it fascinating,” she said, removing her jacket and laying it over the back of the chair. “There are so many different parts to you, and I want to know them all.”

“It was just a whim that turned into a fun way to mend my broken heart. It was mildly humiliating when people discovered what I was doing and proceeded to tease me, but it was something I needed to do.”

“Have you retained any of your exotic moves?” she teased.

Pike took a deep draw of his beer and shrugged. “I might remember a thing or two.”

“Maybe you could show me later?” she asked.

Pike chuckled. “You looking for a lap dance, Kitten?”

“Only if you’re the one giving it,” she said, leaning on the table and pressing those beautiful breasts together. Pike imagined sticking his face between the soft mounds, and his mouth went dry .

“Next up onstage is Larissa singing all about falling ‘Accidentally in Love.’” Larissa, with her leather pants and straight black hair, jogged up onto the stage and belted out the first few lines in a smoky voice that was delightfully melodic. Pike found himself tapping his foot along to the beat as Ryler took another sip from her straw.

“You really don’t come here often?” she asked.

“No, we like Brews because the atmosphere is more relaxed. Sometimes the people here take themselves too seriously.”

“Whew, sweetheart,” someone called out, and Ryler and Pike turned toward the voice. Pike didn’t recognize the man approaching them, but he did a double take when he saw Sam Griffin leaning against the bar. Sam gave him a nod, his attention on the man who stopped next to Ryler, his gaze locked on her. “Where have they been hiding you?”

“I haven’t been hiding,” Ryler said, holding out her hand with a small smile, “but this is my first visit to the Den since getting to town.”

“What a terrible shame. You brighten up the place for sure.” The man gave Pike a feral smile. “You mind if I dance with the lady?”

Yes, I fucking do, he thought, but that wasn’t how he was supposed to react. Ryler was her own person, and behaving like a possessive barbarian was sure to drive her right back to her rental and far away from Pike.

“The lady only wants to dance with him,” Ryler said, pointing to Pike.

The burly guy shrugged. “You must have a footlong in your pants, Red.”

Pike’s jaw dropped at the same time Ryler burst out laughing. The big guy walked away, and Pike leaned across the table, whispering, “That’s not funny. He thinks the only reason you’re with me is because I’m hung like a horse.”

“Who cares what he thinks?” Ryler asked, sipping her drink. “Are you going to take him home tonight or me?”

Pike pretended to consider her question. “He does rock that shaved head.”

“Ew, you could do so much better than Temu Jason Statham.”

Pike burst out laughing. “Fuck, that was good.”

Ryler grinned. “I know. And while I appreciate you giving me the freedom to turn him down myself, if any more would-be suitors approach, you have my permission to tell them to fuck right off. ”

Pike took a drink of his beer with a grimace before he set it back down on the table. “Maybe I’ll find a gentler way to reject them, as regardless of whether it is you saying it or me, it’s going to get me punched in the face.”

“And we wouldn’t want that.” Ryler reached across and trailed her fingertips along the side of his face. “I quite like the way your features are arranged. Wouldn’t want any teeth to go missing or a nose to get smashed.”

“I appreciate you looking out,” Pike said.

Ryler leaned farther across the table and whispered loudly, “What do you say we finish these drinks and head back to your place for that private dance? While I wanted the chance to show off my makeup and dress, I think I prefer it being just you and me.”

“Hey, you two,” Sam said, coming up alongside Pike. “What’s shaking?”

Pike gave Ryler an arched brow, and she nodded. Pike turned to Sam and grinned. “Not a whole lot. We were actually about to head out. Seems like crowded bars aren’t really our thing.”

Sam sighed. “Well, hell, I guess I’ll go home, too. I was excited to see familiar faces, but I don’t want to interrupt your night.” Sam downed the rest of his drink and set it down. “I’ll see ya.”

Ryler gave Sam’s back a pitying look. “Maybe we should—”

“No,” Pike said.

“I just mean, we could—”

“Uh-uh.”

Ryler huffed. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“If it involves Sam, the answer is always no. The man is sex on a stick, and he already thinks you’re cute.”

“Really?” Ryler drawled.

“That’s it,” Pike said, finishing off his beer. “No dance for you.”

“Oh, come on, I was just kidding.”

“Nope.”

Ryler sucked down the rest of her drink and wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting. “Please, I was only teasing.”

“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that to win back my dance moves.”

Ryler smiled up at him seductively. “Then let’s get out of here so I can show you how very contrite I am. ”

Pike’s cock jerked with anticipation, but instead of taking her hand and leading her out the front door, he headed for the back.

“Where are we going?” she asked, sucking the last of her drink and abandoning it on the bar as they passed.

“I’m giving you what you asked for. A dance. Just keep your eyes forward.”

“What does that even mean?” she whispered.

“Trust me.”

When a burly man stopped them before a black curtain, Pike gave him a wad of cash and said, “Moonlight changes man.”

The man nodded and opened the curtain, pointing to a wall of keys. “Number thirteen.”

“Thanks,” Pike said, holding tight to her hand as they walked through the curtain. Pike picked up the keys, and they walked down a red-lit hallway.

“What is this place?” Ryler asked.

“It’s the den.” Pike opened the door to number thirteen and led Ryler inside before he locked it. Inside the small room was a couch, a chair, and an open door in the corner that revealed a small bathroom.

“Is this like a pay-by-the-hour hotel or something?” she asked.

“I told you the den is rougher. Most of the motorcycle guys are just passing through and want a place to just chillax before they move on. You just have to know the password to get in, which only members get via text every Friday night.”

Ryler shook her head. “This is very sex dungeon-esque.”

Pike pulled her in close and kissed her. “If we go home, Jo is going to need to go out, and she is going to cry and whine if I put her in the cage. At least this way when I dance for you, I won’t have a dog jumping all over me or making a whole lotta noise.”

“This is very Sons of Anarchy of you.” Ryler sat down on the couch, crossing one leg over her knee. “Where do you want me, big boy?”

Pike shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over the back of the chair. “On the couch.”

He watched her all the while he unbuttoned his shirt, the dim light casting a warm glow over her, making her eyes brighter. He shrugged out of the shirt and it landed on top of his jacket.

“Mmm, now that is a pretty sight,” she murmured, placing her elbow on her knee and cradling her chin in her hands. “Let’s see the rest. ”

“Absolutely, but let me lay down a few ground rules,” he said, slipping off his shoes.

“Rules?” Ryler pouted. “We don’t need no stinking rules.”

“Oh yes, we do.” He dropped his pants and stepped out of them. “First off, I can touch you, but you cannot touch me. Number one rule of stripping.”

“That’s garbage.”

“Next, and I cannot stress this enough,” Pike said, swaggering over to her. “Enjoy the ride.”

“Oh, I’m sure I—” Pike slid down her body in a fluid motion, ending on his knees between her legs. “Will,” she finished, right before he buried his head between her legs and lifted her off the couch. She squealed as he gripped her ass, her skirt riding up and exposing her thighs. When her hands landed on his shoulders, Pike lifted his head and clicked his tongue.

“Uh-uh. Grab the back of the couch, baby, and hold on.”

Ryler did as he commanded, and Pike rolled his way back up her body, stopping to bury his face in her cleavage. Ryler released a breathless laugh as he hopped up, both of his feet next to her on the couch, and he rolled his stiff, boxer clad cock into her face.

“Oh my God, Pike!” she gasped.

He jumped back before somersaulting across the floor and twisting his body, landing spread eagle in her lap in a handstand. He humped her lap a few times and then rolled off, climbing to his feet. Pike picked her up and turned her around to face the back of the couch, lifting her skirt and grinding against her ass. Ryler wasn’t laughing now, a low moan escaping her as he reached around and cupped her breast, pinching her nipple through the fabric of her dress and bra.

“Not fair. You can touch me, but I can’t return the favor?”

“Not this time, Kitten,” he murmured against the side of her neck. He ran his tongue down the column of her throat and bit her shoulder at the same time he realized she wasn’t wearing panties.

“You forgot something.”

Ryler was desperate with need as Pike pressed against her bare ass, her hands cramping as she gripped the back of the couch. The top of the love seat was wood, with dark velvet covering the cushions. When they’d walked into the room initially, Ryler’s first thought was taking a black light to every surface, but after getting stripper-fucked by Pike, she was in a fog of lust. The only thing she wanted was his cock in her, and he continued to rub that hard length against her instead, playing with her.

Pike suddenly lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the lounge chair in the corner of the room. When he sat down, he pulled the lever and leaned back slowly until the chair was nearly horizontal. He didn’t let her settle over his lap, but hiked her higher until her knees buried into the cushions next to his head. His nose nuzzled against her, and she let out a slow, shaky breath. Pike’s hands cradled the globes of her ass, rocking her forward.

“Sit on my face, Kitten. I wanna make you scream.”

Ryler shivered as she leaned into his mouth, his tongue flicking across her sensitive flesh. Ryler loved sex, but anything remotely adventurous hadn’t been on her radar. Doggie style was about as spicy as she got, but this was hot. He pressed her firmer against his mouth, lips and teeth and tongue creating a tornado of intensity she hadn’t been prepared for, and when he sucked her clit into his mouth, flicking it rapidly with his tongue, Ryler exploded with a cry.

When her back arched sharply, Ryler suddenly pitched to the side, and Pike grabbed her right before her head hit the floor.

“Shit, are you alright?” he panted.

“I was amazing until I almost did a face-plant. I thought you had me.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to jackknife backward when you came.” Pike chuckled, pulling her back up until she sprawled on top of him, nearly nose to nose. “I’m sorry I almost dropped you.”

Ryler sat up, straddling his lap in the chair. “But you caught me, so in my mind, almost doesn’t count.”

Pike arched against her, his cock still hard under his briefs. “Did you finish?”

“Kind of. I was in the process when I took a tumble.”

“We can’t have that,” he said, reaching between them. When several of his fingers thrust inside her, stretching her muscles and curling inward against her G-spot, her eyelashes fluttered.

“Pike,” she sighed, searching for the top of his boxer briefs and pushing them down. Her breathing hitched as his internal massage quickened and her pussy muscles squeezed. “I want you inside me.”

“I don’t have a condom, baby,” he murmured .

That alone should have sent alarm bells through her brain. She barely knew him, but she was too far gone. Too caught up in his woodsy cologne and his hard body pressed against hers. The way he called her Kitten. The effort he put in to please her, to make sure that she enjoyed herself.

Euphoria spread from her core outward, like a butterfly opening its wings, and she screamed his name, a loud, guttural sound that dissolved into a chant of pleasure.

“Please, now, inside, me.”

Pike withdrew his hand, and for a moment, she thought he was going to agree. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and brought her against him, her cheek pressed against his chest.

“You’re not on the pill, remember?” Ryler stiffened, realizing what she’d almost asked him to do, and his hand ran over her hair softly. “As much as I’d love to keep you, I don’t want an unplanned pregnancy to be the reason.”

Ryler’s heart raced as his words sank in and she whispered, “You want to keep me?”

Pike’s lips brushed the top of her head. “For as long as I can.”