Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Iblinked at Xan’s crazy words. No way on God’s green earth could I imagine him being at my beck and call.
I possessed more brains than they gave me credit for.
Maybe presenting the dumb blonde routine was working against me, but it had seemed that was what he looked for in a woman.
If he’d taken the time to truly have known me, Xan would’ve realized I graduated at the top of my class in high school and went to university on academic scholarships.
However, I had made my bed, and now I had to deal with it.
I’d tried dressing the way he seemed to like his women, but it only made him turn away.
Standing, I brushed my hands down my thighs. “Thanks for the offer, but I just want to go home and sleep for a few hours after I take a warm bath, or probably a quick shower. I don’t think I’ll stay awake long enough to do much of anything else.” I yawned again.
“Which is why I’m taking you home.”
“I’ll fall off the back of your bike.” No way could I handle sitting behind him, my thighs straddling his, my breasts pressed to his. A shiver stole over me.
He inhaled and smiled. “I’ll keep you safe.”
No, oh hell no. “I can take care of myself.”
Xan’s dark eyes flashed to blue, looking me up and down. “Baby girl. Don’t tug the tail, unless you want to get bitten by the big bad wolf. I promise you’ll like it,” he paused. “After I turn that heart-shaped ass of yours a nice shade of red, that is.”
“Don’t even think about it. I’ll come at you sideways, and then whatcha gonna do?” I smirked.
He crowded me. The feel of his hand brushing against my face had me quivering, but I locked my knees in place.
“You’ll like whatever I do to you, and you know it.
Imagine me stripping you out of those jeans you’ve painted on.
” He ran his palm down the front of my tank top.
“Then I’d bend you over my knee and skim my fingers between the cheeks of your luscious ass.
I’d test the firmness first. Once I had you nice and relaxed, I’d give you five swats for each time I deemed you deserved it. ”
I snorted. “Well fuck, we’d be there for the next year or two. Your hand would get sore, and my ass would surely be bruised.” His words had caused equal parts fear and erotic sensation through me.
“I can smell your desire and hesitation. What’s wrong? Haven’t any of your many other lovers ever played with you before?”
His words jerked me out of the fantasy that he’d wanted me for anything more than a fuck buddy.
“My sex life is none of your business, Xander. If I get an itch or a need for a spanking, and you are the only man or wolf available, I’ll give you a holler.
As it is, I’m exhausted, and I just want to go home.
” I tried to inflict just enough boredom and couldn’t care less in my tone, hoping my body wouldn’t betray me.
His words had been like a cold shower to my nonexistent libido.
Fucking porchdick. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to eat a bag of dicks, but I knew he’d make me eat my words.
Xan inhaled, his eyes narrowing, but he didn’t agree with me. “Not gonna happen. The buddy system is in place, and as of now, I am your buddy.”
Buddy my ass. No way in hell was I going to survive being stuck with him. I looked around, praying Kellen would help me out, but found we’d been left alone.
“Come on. I’ll drive you home in your car.” He put his arm around my waist, giving me no choice but to walk with him, or be lifted off my feet.
“What about your bike?”
His eyes smiled down at me. “No worries. I’ll handle it.”
I threw my hands up in the air. “You are so damn bossy.”
As we walked out of the office, I spied Lyric and Rowan at the bar. They waved, but one look at Xan and his sister slid off her stool.
“Now, Xan, I really think you should let me and Rowan take Breezy home with us.”
The growl he emitted had everyone turning to look at him, but the little spitfire that was his sister placed her hands on her hips.
Her new mate came up behind, his bulky presence an inch or so taller than Xan, but not quite as intimidating.
I had a feeling nothing would sway the big bad alpha from his current plans.
“Mind your business, sister.”
“Like you did, brother.” Lyric looked over her shoulder at Rowan, the newest member of their club and pack.
Xan grunted. “He’s still alive and able to function as a man. I call that a win.”
“If I remember correctly, darlin, he didn’t try to cut off my manly bits even though they were on full display the first time we met. Maybe we should allow your brother to handle this.”
I felt as if I were watching a tennis match. My head bounced back and forth between the three as if I weren’t a participating member of the conversation. “Excuse me, but I am right here.”
The three continued to argue, forgetting I was there. I took a cautious step back, then another, and another. By the time I hit the door with the keys in my hand, I was smiling to myself. For such a badass who thought he knew everything, he obviously couldn’t multitask.
I slipped out the door, glad Coti and Wyck were busy breaking up a fight.
Looking around the empty parking lot, a shiver stole over me.
I had to take a deep breath to calm my nerves as I opened the door to my Mustang.
I looked in the back to make sure it was clear, then slid inside, refusing to allow anyone to take me by surprise.
I straightened in the seat, my hands shaking like a leaf, and wanted to return to the safety of the clubhouse, to the arms of Xander Fucking Douchebag Carmichael, who thought I was a whore.
Thanks, but no thanks. He’d probably laugh his ass off if he knew I was still a twenty-seven-year-old virgin.
God, going home to my dad and brothers didn’t appeal, especially if I was bringing trouble.
The note I’d found on my windshield a few weeks back flashed before my eyes.
Your blood will become my blood. I still had no clue what that meant.
Did it mean he or she wanted me to become part of their pack, or family?
“Damn it, you’re wasting precious time, Breezy.
Get the fuck out of here.” I twisted the key in the ignition and heard the familiar roar of my vehicle.
The Mustang Cobra was my present to myself when I’d gotten my RN license and had saved enough money for a down payment on the candy-apple-red beauty.
Living at home meant I was able to save up enough, making me grateful I didn’t owe much on the muscle car and that I would soon own it outright.
As I pulled out of the club lot, I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a very unhappy Xan burst out the door, frustration rolling off him in waves. With the windows up and my radio blaring, I couldn’t hear what he roared at me, but I was sure it was a litany of curses.
I noted the empty highway and almost considered turning back.
The turnaround loomed ahead. I hit the blinker and noticed a large SUV sitting on the side, its dark windows making my inner wolf howl.
With a second sense of warning, I decided to move into the farthest lane without signaling and speed dialed the clubhouse.
“Where the fuck are you?” Xan asked without preamble.
One quick visual of the highway marker and the sound of loud pipes let me know Xan had already forwarded the calls to his bike. I’d worry about the consequences later. Now, I was glad he was following me. The SUV pulled off the shoulder and was gaining on me.
He growled through the line. The deep sound both terrifying and reassuring. “I’m at least five minutes behind you. Pull over, and I’ll follow you home.”
“There’s a dark blue Tahoe following me.”
More curses flew through the line. “Son of a bitch. Why did you fucking leave like that?”
“Because you were pissing me off, and...because I was stupid.”
A grunt and then a chuckle. “At least you are honest. Luckily, you’re gorgeous. Now, stay calm and don’t hang up. Tell me what the vehicle is doing?”
I noted the blue Tahoe was gaining on me, coming up beside me with the dark windows rolled up. “It’s beside me. Should I speed up and try to lose it?”
“No, then you’ll just get further away from me.”
He asked what mile marker I was at. I sighed when the numbers showed he was within five minutes. My eyes flew to the side as the sound of the Tahoe got louder.
It looked as if the car had lost control and swerved toward me. I slammed on the brakes, the tires squealing. My car did a little fishtail, but I corrected it quickly. It took me a second to realize they were slowing down, too. “They tried to run me off the road. Oh, god, Xan.”
“Stay calm, Bella. I’m almost on you. You know how to drive like a pro. I’ve seen you do it. Outmaneuver them.”
His confidence in me gave me the edge I needed.
Shifting down to second, I swerved around the larger vehicle, using the shoulder to get some much-needed space.
My vehicle had the larger engine, which I hated to use and put more distance between Xan and me, but if it helped get me away from the ones pursuing me, then I figured it was a win.
They were going to run me to ground. That was for sure the way they sped up.
My palms began to sweat. God, what did I do to warrant them chasing me?
Looking in my rearview, I missed the other vehicle.
The bump to my front end sent me spiraling out of control.
The scream that tore from my throat was one born of fear.
So many regrets, but the biggest was not waiting for Xan to take me home.
Stupid was the last thought I had as my vehicle hit something solid, coming to a halt, and the airbag exploded in my face. When darkness came, I welcomed it.