Chapter 1
A pretty little blonde comes sailing through the door. She winds her curvy body around the corner of the bar, setting her belongings down.
I’m left a bit off-kilter by her presence. The blondie blew in here like a hurricane without paying a brother any mind. I take in her French braids. She’s got two of them, one running down each side of her head, giving off a touch of innocence. I bet it took her no time at all to quickly intertwine them perfectly. I struggled with them for years learning to braid my daughter’s hair, but I’m well versed in it now.
I watch as she removes her shiny aviator sunglasses. I couldn’t imagine her in any other shades, she’s got just enough sass to rock them. I can’t help but finger the pair hooked in the neck of my shirt.
“Hey, Hollywood,” I call, wanting to break the ice, craving her attention.
With an eye roll I’m sure I wasn’t meant to notice, she replies, “Yeah, stud?” Her tone drips with unimpressed sarcasm, and a chuckle escapes me at her cool response. She’s got spunk, but I guess in a rough clubhouse like the Royal Bastards you’d have to, in order not to get chewed up.
“How about a cold one?”
“Yours too warm for you? Can’t handle the heat?”
“Got warm the moment you arrived.”
She snorts and, fuck, if the sound isn’t cute. “Yeah, okay.” She grabs a fresh beer, twists the top off, and sets it before me with a wink.
I doubt anyone around here has a sack big enough to give her any shit, and I admire that. Nothing sexier than a strong woman. “What’s your name, spitfire?”
“Doesn’t matter,” she retorts, the response leaving her automatically. Everyone must ask for her to be dishing it so effortlessly.
“It does to me.”
“Well, aren’t you a sweet one.” Somehow, I don’t think it’s intended as a compliment.
“I could be,” I offer, a cocky grin tugging at my lips.
“I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.” She shrugs my comment off. She’s a tough one, used to getting hit on night and day, I suppose. I’ll flirt with chicks, sure, but I never come off disrespectful. I’ve never been hard up for pussy to act like some of the creepy motherfuckers I’ve come across.
“How about hot and spicy... that more your flavor?” My brow perks, not ready for her to be done with me quite yet. Lord knows I don’t want whatever this sexual tension we already have to end prematurely.
I catch a flash of teeth as her lips twist into a surprised smile.
She turns, giving me her back and robbing me of that beautiful feature. I take a pull of the fresh beer, not that I really needed another. My first was fine, but I just wanted a reason to speak to her.
Ripper slides into the stool next to me, smirking.
“What?” I grumble, aware that everyone in here knows I was just shot down by the stunning woman.
“Don’t take it personally.” He gestures to the bartender with her back still directed at us. “She brushes everybody off... not looking to have a good time with a biker.”
She spins around, dutifully placing a whiskey in front of Ripper. “Who says it’d be a good time? You bikers have heartbreak written all over you. I’m not trying to catch a case of feelings and deal with that mess.”
I grin. Widely. Already a fool for this woman, and I don’t even know her name. “Heartbreaker, hmm... thought you called me stud? So many compliments already.”
“Oh, you’re that too,” she mutters, and Ripper snickers alongside me.
One thing’s for certain—this little lady knows how to keep you on your toes. Her wit only intrigues me further, and I quickly conclude this could be a good or a bad thing. With a raspy chuckle, my eyes flit across her face, pausing on her decadent lips, then trailing lower. Her neck’s slender and long, not disproportionate or anything, but rather alluring, beckoning my mouth to taste. Saliva pools on my tongue as my vision grows fuzzy, taking in the rest of her curves. The bar hides a lot of her, the sexy sprite only hitting five-foot if I’d had to guess.
“You should let me take you out. I’ll prove to you I won’t break your heart.”
She flashes her stare between Ripper and me before shuffling a step back and pointing. “Oh, you’re a slick one. I’ll be watching out for you, all right.” With that, she twists toward the storage room, Ripper’s laugh echoing in her wake.
“Fuck me,” I grunt out, not missing a single sway of her curvy hips. Her ass is juicy and round, the type of ass men write songs about. It’s been a while since a woman hooked my attention like that too.
“Not gonna happen,” he mutters, and my curious gaze meets his.
“No?” I repeat, not quite ready to throw in the towel just yet. I’ve always worked hard for what I want, so a bit of a challenge isn’t going to turn me off her scent. If anything, it intrigues me more.
He shakes his head. “Not a brother in the place that can touch her. She’s got a ten-foot wall up around her that no one can bust through. She’s grown on us, though, and no one gives her any shit. She put them in their place right off the bat and garnered a lot of respect in return.”
I dip my head in acknowledgment. I can see it, her holding her own. She’s got ball-buster written all over, and I say as much. “She’d bust their balls, or teeth, whatever was closest, I suppose.”
“Damn straight... in a heartbeat.” He grins smugly. The fucker knows that’s one hell of an enticing incentive for a man like me, one who’s had demanding thrown at him most of his life, thanks to being an athlete.
I’ll penetrate those walls of hers. I’ve never been one to toss in the towel easily. As long as she’s dishing it right back at me, I’ll keep pushing for her to eventually offer me a chance. If she’s not into it, then I’ll back off.
Hell, at this rate, I won’t only want to fuck her, and that detail alone should be enough to send me for the hills. I’ve had my heart broken before, been cheated on in the past, and that’s something I’ve steered clear of since. A woman is a good time—a need to fulfill—then I move on.
The only woman hanging onto my heart is my daughter. Granted, she’s married with a baby of her own, but still. She is the only female I need to be worrying about. So why does this little hellion of a bartender call to my soul so fiercely? She’s sunk her kitten claws in, and I can’t seem to break myself free. It’s one scary fucking feeling, considering I just met her. I can only imagine the damage she’ll do if I don’t find my wheels and get the hell out of here.
“You look like you’re ready to run,” Ripper comments after taking a hefty swig of whiskey.
I set a ten-dollar bill on the bar next to my beer. “Probably smart for all of us.”
With a quick nod, he reaches his hand out.
I shake it. “Appreciate the hospitality, man.”
“Oath Keepers are always welcome here. Stop by anytime.”
I release his hand and chin lift to the few RB brothers milling around. “Be seeing you fuckers,” I call out and receive several waves in return. They’re not my club, nor my brothers, but I’ve forged friendships here. I’m grateful to have more allies than enemies in this world we live in.