Kevlar narrows his eyes on me. “Would you, though? If you could?”
“Go back to law?”
“Yeah?”
I shrug. “I mean, it’s all I ever saw myself doing. It all kind of vanished when Mom got sick.”
He exhales. “The thing is, Jovie, life is painfully short, and at any second, it can be taken from you. You need to do something that’s going to make you happy.”
Savanah comes barreling over at that very second, drunk as a skunk. “Man, if my father could see me now.”
I let out a laugh. “If your father could see you now, he’d be hauling your ass back to San Antonio.”
Savanah huffs. “Not gonna happen. I don’t know why I ever thought it was a bad idea to come here.” She takes off running into the middle of the group of bikers.
“She’s been held on a tight leash, hasn’t she?”
“Oh, yeah!”
“I’m glad she can unwind here.”
“I’m glad I can, too.”
Kevlar’s eyes shift to mine, his lips turning up in approval. “Okay, enough of this serious conversation stuff, let’s have a good night.”
“Yes! Time to show me how to party like a biker.”
He waggles his brows. “Oh, sunshine, you don’t know what you’re in for.”
KEVLAR
The party’s in full swing, and Jovie has drunk a shit ton of alcohol. She’s unwinding, and that’s a good thing. Even I’ve had a few to drink, but at least Jovie isn’t at the point she was in New Orleans—we don’t want that mess again.
She’s more like a sleepy drunk as she sits quietly in her chair by the fire pit, her eyes closed as the party blasts on around us. I smirk, throwing back the last of my longneck, then three-point it. It flies past Neon’s face, just missing him as it slams into the side of the clubhouse. It then drops down into the open oil barrel full of empty bottles with a clunk.
Neon glowers at me as I raise my head at him in the form of an apology for almost sideswiping his face. He turns with a scoff, continuing to drink as he chats to Cherry and Zero. I stand, moving over to Jovie. She’s out like a light, so I bend over. I’m tipsy but not wasted, still able to function as I bend down, hoisting her up over my shoulder. She immediately wakes and lets out a small squeal as she slumps down, her head falling in line with my ass.
“Kevlar, what the hell?”
“Time for bed, sleepyhead.”
Jovie slaps my ass as I head for the door. No one even bats an eyelid as I carry her through the sea of people.
“I can walk, you know!”
“You can’t even keep your eyes op—”
“They’re open right now and staring at your ass.”
“And do you like the view?” I ask upon reaching the stairs.
She laughs. “That’s beside the point.”
“Where are you taking her?” Savanah calls out from behind us.
“I’m taking her to bed,” I call back, taking the stairs two at a time.
“Be safe, slut,” Sav jokes as she’s whisked away by Texas.
“You, too, you whore,” Jovie yells back through a fit of giggles as we make it to the second level.
I shake my head at the two women who seem to have some sort of crazy friendship.
“You often talk to each other like that?” I ask as I reach her room, sliding her down my body. Her face is bright, happy, and definitely awake as she stares deep into my eyes.
“It’s all said out of love. A term of endearment.” She laughs as her arms slide up wrapping around me, her fingers stroking the nape of my neck. I’m not sure if my senses are heightened from the alcohol or just from being around Jovie, but right now, even with her being drunken crazy, I feel this pull to her, this connection that’s drawing me in. My hands slide around her waist as I stare into her electric-blue eyes. They’re so bright and vivid, it’s like I am seeing them for the first time, though I swear I have stared at her a dozen times by now.
I pull her to me, our bodies connecting, my cock jerking with the tension rising. The atmosphere is charged, activating with energy, making everything more responsive. My hand slides up into her hair as I back her up against her door. She hits it with a thud, our breathing frantic as I slam my mouth to hers.
I need her right now.
My lips tingle, the shock of adrenaline courses through my veins. My tongue collides with hers in a flurry of passion as I press my newly formed erection into her pussy. She whimpers into my mouth, making me even hotter for her. I fucking burn for her so bad it feels like I’m going to burst.
My fingers run down, grabbing her toned ass, and I lift her against me. Jovie’s legs wrap around my waist as I thrust my cock harder against her in the hall. I groan into her mouth, desperate to be inside of her as her hand reaches down for the handle of the door which flies open, and I don’t hesitate to walk us through. I kick the door shut with my foot, all the while kissing her as if our lives depend on it. There’s no doubt we have chemistry—unbelievable, undeniable, unfathomable chemistry—as I stumble us over to the bed. My lips leave hers for the briefest of seconds before I throw her off me and onto the mattress.
Jovie bounces, letting off a little giggle as she sits up on her elbows while biting down on her bottom lip. She’s sexy as hell as I move to shrug out of my cut, but a sudden flash of Em crosses through my mind.
Em’s lying on the bed in that exact same pose years ago when I first got my patch.
My chest tightens, and I stop, staggering a little on the spot.
Jovie sits up dramatically, reaching out for me. “Are you okay?”
I take a step back.
Regret.
Some kind of guilt.
That shit washes over me like a bucketload of frigid water.
Fuck! I have no idea what this feeling is.
All I know is I can’t be here right now.
I back up, shaking my head.
“Kevlar?”
All I see is Emma.
“Liam?”
My stomach churns as I look up.
Jovie’s eyes are wide, glistening with tears.
“I’m… fuck… I can’t.”
Jovie’s expression falls as I turn for the door, yanking it open a little too forcefully, rushing out into the hall.
Jesus. Fucking. Christ.
The Next Day
I’m not sure if I slept a wink last night. All I know is I’m sporting a hangover today, and my mood isn’t making me feel any fucking better.
I freaked the fuck out.
Who does that?
I haven’t been with another woman since Em. Maybe that’s all part of this?
I haven’t had the balls to go over to Jovie and explain I’m sorry.
Walking downstairs, I scrub my face, hoping like hell it’s not too damn noisy. Though, if I know my club like I think I do, the morning after a party will be fairly subdued. My brothers will be hungover just like I am.
As I round the bottom of the stairs, Jovie and Savanah are sitting with Cherry and Prinie having what appears to be a cheerful conversation. I spot Zero sitting by himself eating his breakfast, so I find the strength to walk over to him. The smell of bacon lingers in the air as I roll my shoulders.