Cowboy Chapter 4
I was more than ready for a night away from the rodeo grounds.
I spent all day yesterday and today, between talking to old acquaintances and colleagues, watching various events, and simply lounging, keeping track of Dr. Saranya Coleman.
Every time I saw her, she had that big bastard War glued to her side.
The way she smiled, clung to him, and laughed made me want to punch his fucking lights out.
It was ridiculous and irrational, but I wasn’t able to make my response go away, no matter how much I lectured myself.
Luckily, I had enough self-control not to do it.
And since he was the only man she seemed to be with, I held off calling Raff.
I’d look like an idiot if I were wrong. War seemed to be her boyfriend.
Last night, I went to bed after a few drinks, hoping they would allow me not to think of or have dreams about her.
It failed. I tossed and turned with arguments running through my head.
There were so many. A lot centered on her being nothing more than a slut, and I didn’t need more of those.
I had plenty of women of that caliber here and back home to ease my loins with.
One of the other things I contemplated about her was her name, Saranya.
When War called her that yesterday, I’d been struck by how unusual and beautiful her name was.
It matched her. I was curious to know her ethnicity.
I knew she was Asian, but I wasn’t sure which country she was from.
There was something about her looks, along with her last name, that hinted that she wasn’t entirely Asian.
When I stopped musing about her name and how upset it made me that she was like so many women I knew, I flipped into fantasizing about her and me together.
My cock was hard as steel, and I’d ended up jerking off twice before I fell asleep.
My sleep was restless, and when I awoke this morning, I’d ended up beating off in the shower.
Knowing that something had to give, and with Diablo’s blessing, I had agreed to join the Graven Bastards tonight. They asked me to meet them at a strip club off the central Strip. I’d been there before, several years back, so I knew where it was. We were to meet at nine o’clock.
When I spoke to Diablo about the Bastards, he informed me that, while they were one-percenters, he’d heard they had moral boundaries they refused to cross.
They shared many of the same beliefs as the Horsemen, both now and in the past when our club was a one-percent MC.
Diablo had given me his approval to hang out with them and see what they were like if I wanted to.
He unnecessarily reminded me that if things turned ugly, I’d be alone.
The way I was feeling, I would welcome a fight. Plus, since we were going to a public place, I was less worried they were out to harm or kill me. If that were the case, they surely would’ve invited me to their clubhouse despite Rael’s remark about killing me right on the Strip.
Walking into the Scarlet Siren, I noted it hadn’t changed since the last time I was here.
Some were nicer than others, but the setup was always similar.
I briefly imagined what it would be like if my club ran the place.
We didn’t have a strip joint in our collection of businesses back home, but it would be a moneymaker.
Maybe I’d mention it to Diablo and my brothers to see if it might be a future business we’d invest in.
I was inside for less than a minute before I spotted the Bastards.
They were at a booth along the perimeter of the large room.
There were three large booths in the shadows, and they were filled with tough-looking bikers.
I started that way, only to be waylaid by Mammoth.
He came out of nowhere. His large hand slapped me on the back, causing me almost to stumble. He grinned at me.
“Glad to see you made it. Let’s see the rest of the guys. They’re dying to meet you.”
“As long as that’s all the dying happening tonight,” I told him. He threw back his head and laughed. By the time we made it to the booth where Grim sat, Mammoth had calmed.
“Pres, you won’t believe this guy. He’s got balls,” the VP told Grim.
“Oh yeah, what makes you say that?” Rael asked.
Mammoth repeated what I said, causing the Bastards to chuckle and smirk. When they quieted, Grim stood and extended his hand, which I shook.
“I’m glad you came. And I don’t see why we’d be killing anyone tonight, but the night is young.
” He winked, then continued, “Let me introduce you to my fellow Reapers.
You know Mammoth, Rael, Patriot, and Crypt.
Starting in that booth on the far left and coming this way are Chrome, Exorcist, Jigsaw, Wraith, Hannibal, Chaos, Papa, Bodie, Bones, Diablo, Xenon, Toad, Shadow, Spook, and Zane. We make up the Tonopah chapter.
“These guys over here are our hosts from the Las Vegas chapter. First is their president, Maddog, then Skeletor, Manic, Bedlam, Creature, Jackal, Crusher, Hex, Axle, Tombstone, Firewall, Brimstone, Dagger, and Dice.”
Suffice it to say, faced with so many Bastards, it was enough to make a guy’s asshole pucker and his cock and balls shrivel up. Christ! What the fuck had I been thinking coming here? I needed my goddamn head examined. However, pride refused to allow me to show my unease or to run.
“Goddamn, he’s either brave, stupid as fuck, or crazy as a loon. Whichever one it is, welcome. Have a seat and let us get you a drink,” Exorcist offered.
There was some shuffling, then I was seated between Jigsaw and Chaos.
Like magic, a scantily clad waitress appeared at the table and asked if anyone wanted something to drink.
Most of the Bastards got refills after I ordered a beer.
I’d have a few of them, but space them out.
No way was I going to get drunk tonight.
The conversation kept my attention. Sure, I occasionally would look up at the stage to watch one of the women strip.
However, their naked bodies barely registered.
I was a man who appreciated the female body in all shapes and sizes, but tonight, none of the strippers grabbed my attention.
I’d rather talk about riding, businesses, and such with the Bastards.
They shared interesting stories, the same as I did.
About an hour and a half into the night, I excused myself to use the bathroom.
I realized I was having a great time. It reminded me of being out with my club brothers.
I was on my way back to the booths when an invisible pull drew my eye.
I came to a standstill. No, it wasn’t captured by a stripper on stage.
It wasn’t a waitress or the female bartender who caught my notice.
What had me frozen was the sight of the last person I expected to see here.
Sitting at a small table off to the right of the stage were Saranya and War.
They had their heads together, sitting extra close.
His arm was around the back of her chair, and she was smiling up at him as he smirked down at her.
His one hand cupped her chin. Straightaway, wrath brimmed up inside of me.
I clenched my fists. As much as I wanted to march over there and tear her away from him, I didn’t.
Instead, I backed up into the shadows and watched them.
Every smile, laugh, and touch between them went through me like a knife.
No matter how many times I told myself to let it go and forget her, it didn’t work.
I had no idea how long I hovered there before Saranya rose from her seat.
She shook her head at something he said before walking away.
Her trajectory told me she was headed for the bathroom.
I let her walk past me, then I eased along the wall, staying in the semidarkness until I was no longer visible from her table.
I took up residence outside the ladies’ room.
Several women entered and exited as I waited.
They all gave me interested looks, but my scowl kept any from approaching me.
A few minutes after Saranya entered, the door opened from the inside at the same time as a woman pushed it to enter.
Saranya stepped back and waved the other woman inside with a smile.
That smile disappeared and turned into a grimace the moment she saw me.
She would’ve walked past me without a word if I hadn’t stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
This move made her mouth tighten, and her eyes snapped with fire.
My cock reacted with a jerk. It hardened more than it had already been from the sight of her.
Saranya crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.
“Move,” she ordered.
“No,” I answered.
“You’re being absurd. Let me pass.”
“I want to talk to you.”
“About what? We have nothing to talk about,” she replied.
“What’re you doing here? With him?” That was what came out of my mouth, although it wasn’t what I meant to say. Hell, I had no clue what I meant to say. I only knew I wanted her to stay here with me and not return to him.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your goddamn business, Cowboy.
I’m on personal time. I’m allowed to be with anyone I want and do anything I desire.
And it so happens that both involve War.
I guess I shouldn’t be shocked to find someone like you in here.
Just my luck, I ended up in the same one as you,” she snapped.
Saranya went to push past me, but I refused to allow her. I grasped her upper arms. She inhaled sharply, and her gaze took on a wariness I didn’t like. I was about to reassure her I wouldn’t hurt her when Hannibal’s voice spoke behind me.
“Is everything okay here, Cowboy?”