Cash stood up from his stool, unable to take his eyes off her transformation.

“Brother, you sharing tonight?” Nickel’s thick voice had him aware he wasn’t the only one appreciating how Rachel looked.

“Nickel, touch her and die.”

“Just asking.” He put his hands up in surrender. “If you change your mind, just yell.”

Cash didn’t waste any more time talking; too many of the brothers from Ohio were heading in his woman’s direction. He strode across the room and an unsure smile met him as he neared her.

His eyes narrowed on her shaking hand as she brushed her hair back. Biting back his first choice of words, he reached out, taking her hand and jerking her to him.

“Cash!”

“Woman, you look fine.”

She rewarded him by melting against him.

“Dance with me.”

“Okay.”

Cash led her to the dance floor, pulling her tightly to him. He carefully thought out what he wanted to say, determined not to screw up.

“Why the haircut?”

Her smile dimmed. “Do you like it? I wanted a change.”

Cash’s hand went to her ass, pressing her to his hips. “Feel that? Does that tell you how much I like it? As long as you have enough for me to hold onto when I fuck you, I don’t care how long it is.”

Her eyes darted to the people dancing around them. “Who are these men?”

“The brothers from Ohio came for a visit.” Cash didn’t see the need to explain why they were visiting. “If a couple of them don’t move their eyes away, some of them are going to be heading back tonight,” snarled Cash as he stared at Boulder, who hadn’t taken his eyes off Rachel’s ass since she had come in the door.

“Where did you get the outfit?” He planned to take her shopping for more.

“I borrowed it from Sex Piston.”

“Ask her where she bought it.”

As a laugh escaped her, his hand clenched on her ass.

“I have a question. Why the change? I don’t want you to change yourself for me.”

“I didn’t change anything for you! I’ve always wanted to look this way but never had the courage. I don’t want to dress like this all the time, but it’s fun to know I can look good when I want to.”

“Vixen,” he lowered his mouth to her ear, “you look more than good. Try sexy as hell.”

He felt her tremble in his arms. Unable to resist her fleeting vulnerability, Cash took her mouth to show her exactly how sexy she was to him. As her arms circled his neck and she kissed him back, Cash’s desire rocketed. He didn’t know what had happened to the woman he had been seeing, but the Rachel returning his kiss was not worried about anyone watching them make out on the dance floor.

Cash broke off the kiss, studying the woman in his arms.

“Okay, where is Rachel, and what have you done with her?” he asked, only half-joking.

Confused, she tilted her head to the side. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He lowered his head to her neck, taking a deep breath of her fragrance, and then raised his head, examining her eyes for dilated pupils.

“What are you doing?” She playfully hit at his shoulder.

“Any of those plants of yours give you a buzz?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t get the change. Rachel, I love you whether you accept The Last Riders or not. I—”

“Cash, shut up. Everything is fine. To tell you the truth, I guess I just wanted to see what it felt like for once to be more my age before I’m old and it’s too late.”

Cash understood what she was trying to tell and show him. She had been over-protected by her brothers, and her intelligence hadn’t helped, placing a barrier between her and others in her age group. For once, she was trying to act her age and have some fun, and he was stymieing it by trying to overanalyze her behavior.

Fuck that!

His conscience appeased, he decided to show her what she had been missing, within reason. He didn’t want to give her any ideas on leaving his ass for greener pastures, but he was going to show her why he was worth putting up with.

Cash danced with her, keeping her close as the night progressed. The brothers from Ohio getting rowdy had him looking around the over-filled room.

“Let’s go.” He stopped dancing, taking her hand.

“Where to?”

“Downstairs. It won’t be as crowded.” Cash maneuvered them through the large mass of bodies, wisely keeping away from the women who would break the spell Rachel seemed to be in.

Taking her to the kitchen, he turned left, opening the basement door before guiding her down the steps.

“This is nice,” Rachel murmured.

Cash left her for a second, turning on the music and going to the mini-fridge to pull them out a couple of beers. Sitting down on one of the chairs, he pulled her down on his lap. The zipper between her breasts drew his eyes.

While Rachel smiled down into his gaze, Cash’s hand went to her exposed cleavage, brushing the globes of her breasts. He sighed, lowering his hand, when he heard the door open. Train and Jewell came down the steps with Rider and Stori close behind.

“Did you and Killyama…?”

Her sudden question floored him.

“What?”

“Have you and Killyama had sex?”

“God, no.” He shuddered at the thought.

“Good, I like her.”

Cash rolled his eyes; he didn’t know anyone who could like that bitch. He doubted even Beth and Lily did, both being closer to Sex Piston.

“So, if I’ve had sex with them, you can’t like them?”

“I can like them; I just don’t want to be friends with them,” she clarified her position.

Casually, he tightened his hands on her hips so she couldn’t run away. “Vixen, do you like Evie?”

She stiffened on his lap, her hand going to his hair and tugging it until his head went back. She lowered her face to his. “If you’re a smart man, you won’t say another word. Evie doesn’t count; she’s married now and in love with King. That can change if you piss me off.”

“My mouth is sealed,” he assured her.

As a new song came on, Cash lifted her to her feet. “Let’s dance before I get myself in trouble.”

“Smart choice.”

Cash took her into his arms, dancing in place with her. When he rubbed his cock against her bared belly, her hands slid around his waist, pressing back against him, her fingers holding onto his belt loops. He slowly became aware she was watching something behind him. Skillfully, he turned them as they danced to see what she was staring at.

Train had taken his shirt off and unbuttoned Jewell’s top; they were dancing skin to skin. Rider and Stori had deserted the dance floor, going for the couch. His hand was between the woman’s splayed thighs, finger-fucking her to the beat of the music.

“They aren’t shy, are they?”

“No.” He diverted her attention by sliding his hand under the bottom of her skirt. She wrenched his hand away, but not before he noticed something different.

“Are you wearing a thong?” His cock nearly burst his zipper at the thought.

Turning her around sharply, he said, “Come on; I have something cool to show you.” He went to a door and opened it. The short hallway seemed to last forever until he finally opened the door at the end. He ushered her inside the room, leaving the door open.