Chapter Seven
Taylor
Despite myself, I’m having a good time. The bar is great and although another group of bikers arrived a little while ago, it hasn’t got rowdier. In fact, the atmosphere initially changed when they walked in from the back. Dana didn’t even know there was a way in from there.
She eyed the new group and looked disappointed.
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s still not here,” she chews on her lower lip. “That guy, there the mean looking one, he is usually with him.”
“Mean looking one,” I laugh.
Although taking the time to study them I’m not sure which one she is talking about, because they all look a little mean, no that’s the wrong word. Tough. They all look tough. Like they could take on anyone and win.
“The one with his hair shaved at the sides, he’s a little older than the rest of them.”
“Maybe he’s running late,” I say with a sympathetic shrug. It’s after ten already. I know it’s Friday, and I haven’t exactly been a party animal lately, but people come out after ten or eleven sometimes. “Where did you meet him, anyway?”
“At the Battleground.”
“Dana,” I set my drink down too fast, and it sloshes over the top. Good job Raven gives out napkins with her cocktails.
“What?” she looks away guiltily.
“You know that place is dangerous, and illegal,” I hiss.
“But there are always so many nice things to look at.”
“Only you could think illegal fighters are nice to look at. Who is taking you there? Is it Evan? He should know better.”
“He likes it too. We’re not there trolling for men, we like to watch the fights. And Stryker is one of the best.”
“That’s his name?”
“Mhm, he’s in the club.”
“This one. He’s a biker and a cage fighter. Wow.”
“When you see him you’ll understand,” she nudges my knee with hers. “He’s really hot, and mysterious. He barely talks.”
“So how do you know you like the guy?”
“It’s called the getting to know you phase. He’s in the zone at the Battleground but we caught each other’s eye, we shared a moment.”
My eyes narrow. “Dana, have you even spoken to this man?”
“Well, duh, that’s why we’re here.”
I close my eyes and count to five. Then blow out a breath and smile at her.
Life’s too short, I know that better than anyone.
I’m not going to yell at her or tell her she’s being reckless.
If she likes this guy, and she wants to see where things could go, I’m not going to stop her. But I will remind her to be careful.
She listens to my advice and nods while her smile beams brighter with each word.
“I knew I keep you around for a reason.”
“Yeah, well, wait and see if he shows. And if he doesn’t, screw him,” I lift my glass, she does the same and we clink. “His loss.”
“I’m not giving up yet,” she pulls back her glass and downs what is left.
“I need the bathroom,” I tell her.
Dana points them out to me and I get up and grab my purse. I don’t have to ask Dana to watch my drink, she’s already slotting a drink protector over the top.
She was spiked once when we were in college, luckily the guy who did it was too messed up to even remember who he’d done it too, but she ended up at the ER having her stomach pumped. Ever since then, no matter where we are, she uses that cover and does the same for me.
Following her directions I walk through a doorway and look for the bathroom sign, then head left, passing the men’s room first. I can still hear the music and chatter from the bar and the lights are brighter back here, but the ladies room is round another corner.
I haven’t felt unsafe all night so I’m not all that concerned.
Until someone grabs my arm and spins me around, pushing my back against the wall. I open my mouth to scream then see him.
What the hell? The moment of recognition and slight relaxing of my body goes out the window when I see his expression. What is this guys problem? He was annoyed this morning, irritated but cocky this afternoon, now he looks like a maniac.
“Let me go,” I try to pull my arm away and glare at him. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Why are you here?” he asks, leaning in close and putting his forearm up against the wall by my head.
“Let me go or I’ll scream.”
“Tell me why you’re here,” he repeats, but he releases my arm. He doesn’t step back though, keeping me pressed up against the wall. He isn’t touching me, but he might as well have his full weight against me the way he’s making me feel right now.
“I’m having drinks with my friend,” I rush out. Adrenalin is racing through my veins and my fight-or-flight response is kicking in. He may be Jesse’s friend, but I don’t know him and he has no damn right to put his hands on me. “This is a bar.”
“It’s my bar,” he growls.
That’s weird. I take a second to look down and notice he is wearing a leather vest too. There is a badge across his chest that says President. I’m not stupid, I’ve seen TV shows and movies about motorcycle clubs. President is a big deal. Holy crap.
“Are you following me? Who sent you?”
“Oh my god, are you insane?”
I finally get my wits about me and put my hands on his chest, pushing him back. He doesn’t move much but does take a small step away. His arm is still by my head. I go to move around him but he sidesteps, stopping me.
“Why on earth would I follow you? I didn’t even plan to go out tonight, my friend wanted to meet someone who comes here. I didn’t know this was where we were going until we pulled up outside.”
And why am I explaining this to him? Because he is scaring me. And this is the only way I can get myself out of the situation. That, or a knee to the balls. I go to move my leg but he moves out of the way.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“You’ve cornered me in a dark hallway, you’re practically pinning me to a wall and demanding to know if I’m following you. Do you know how fucking deranged that is. You’re lucky I haven’t already kneed you in the balls, you absolute ass.”
I’m not usually one to curse but he’s bringing it out in me. Although ass isn’t exactly one of my finest insults. His brow lifts as he stares down at me. This man could do me serious harm and despite the bravado, I’m afraid.
He’s breathing hard as his eyes flick back and forth on mine, some of the rage is lifting. His eyes lower to my mouth and his lips part. What the hell?
“Can you please step back?”
“Not until you answer some questions.”
Someone comes around the hallway, and I look over his shoulder to call for help. It’s another man in a leather vest, when he sees us, he goes back to the bar. I’m on my own here. Until Dana comes looking for me.
“Did someone ask you to come here tonight, to see if I was here?”
“No, I already told you. This is the first time I’ve been out for over five months. I came here with my friend. Why are you asking me this? I only met you for the first time this morning. I have no idea who you are, I didn’t even know you were in this gang.”
His lip kicks up on one side. Oh really? That’s funny.
“So if I check your phone I wouldn’t see anything about me.”
“Full of yourself, huh?” I shake my head. “No. Aside from thinking you’re a rude asshole who doesn’t deserve a friend like Jesse, I haven’t even thought about you.”
“Liar.”
I open my mouth to argue but the tone of his voice has changed.
“I saw the way you looked at me this morning.”
“Like you’re a piece of crap, glad you got that.”
He smirks full on now, like he’s enjoying himself. He’s giving me whiplash. Suddenly he’s stopped thinking I’m following him? Paranoid much. Jesus.
“Maybe you are here with a friend,” he says, his arm moves off the wall but he reaches out to touch my hair. “Maybe she did choose this bar at random.”
He’s leaning in closer making my heart start to pound. Seriously? He’s getting me hot, and not in a bad tempered kind of way. What the hell is wrong with me?
“And maybe,” he goes on, moving even closer. “You didn’t look at me like you wanted to climb all over me.”
“As if,” I breathe out.
“You’re really bad at hiding your feelings, Cherry. It’s written all over your face.”
“Cherry? That isn’t my name.” Has he got me confused with someone else, is that what this is about?
“Your lips are the color of cherries,” he says, his eyes dipping there again.
My lips squeeze and I swallow hard. My chest is heaving and I’m fighting really hard not to let his voice and his nearness get to me. This man grabbed me and scared the life out of me, accused me of something I haven’t done…
So why is there an ache in my lower stomach, spreading between my legs?
“And ever since I saw you this morning, I’ve wondered if they taste the same.”
He reaches up a hand and runs his thumb over my lower lip, tugging it down slightly. I’m caught in some kind of messed up trap here. I should be doing what I threatened him with. He deserves a knee to the balls at the very least. Or a slap. Or something.
And I really ought to push his hand away as it trails over my chin, neck and lower to my breastbone.
Too low. I reach up to grab his wrist before he can touch me anywhere else even if my nipples are beading and pushing against the fabric of my bra. There are all kinds of things going on in my underwear.
His eyes flare and he stares so deep into me, it’s like he can read every dirty little thought my brain is flashing over.
“Maybe I’ll get to find out some time,” he says, his mouth a few inches from mine.
Not a chance. That is what I mean to say, but nothing comes out. He steps back, and it’s like a puppet string has been cut, I slump back against the wall as he takes a few paces back.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he says then turns and walks away.
A little whimper escapes me and I shake my head. Was that real? Did I really get turned on by a man threatening me? He thinks I’m following him?
Getting my wits about me I go to the bathroom, because despite all of that I really need to pee. When I come back to the bar, Dana is chatting with Raven. My eyes search the whole place but there is no sign of Noah. Dana looks up with a smile, but it falls when she sees my expression.
“Tay, is everything alright?”
“Fine. Did your man show?”
“Um, no. Raven said he isn’t coming.”
“Okay, thanks Raven, it’s been fun meeting you. Can we go?” I look at Dana.
“Is everything alright?” Raven asks. “Did something happen?”
She works for him. This is his bar. She’s one of them.
I can’t tell her what happened back there, he’s the president of this motorcycle club, no one is going to take my side.
I’m too freaked out to stay or explain. I promise them I’m fine, just tired and Dana agrees.
Raven says they have a contract with a cab company and arranges for one to take us home.
Dana is worried but I do one of the worst things ever, I use my father as an excuse. She hugs me in the back of the cab and says she is proud of me for trying and even offers to spend the night, but I tell her I’m good.
I lock up the house as she leaves in the cab and walk through to the kitchen, taking out a bottle of vodka and pouring a shot. More alcohol is not what I need but my nerves are shot to hell.
My brain runs through everything he said to me and each interaction I’ve had with him today. I don’t think the way he does, I can’t come to the same conclusion he has that the few times we met today is anything other than coincidence.
He was so paranoid that I was at his house this morning and accusing me of following him tonight.
Who does that? Then I remember his vest, the patch, who he really is.
It makes me wonder if Jesse is a part of that lifestyle.
It’s really going to suck when I have to see him again, and that makes me sad.
Setting the alarm I head up to bed, stripping out of my clothes and washing off my make-up, I throw on some fluffy pajamas and get into bed. Sleep is a really long time coming and not because of all the alcohol I consumed.
There must be something wrong with me because I’ve gone beyond thinking about the bad stuff and am caught up on how he stared at my mouth. How he called me Cherry. And that sort of, kind of promise that he is going to taste my lips.