Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
jenna
I am feeling the full effects of the four “strong and fruity” drinks Mia has made for me.
So, when my hand is captured by the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on, I feel like I can barely breathe.
I let my eyes rake over Axel, enjoying everything I see.
His jet-black hair contrasts well with his olive skin, his hands are littered with tattoos, and I am curious just how many he has hidden under his shirt.
His dark chocolate eyes pool with desire as he draws small circles over the back of my hand with his thumb.
He stands so much taller than me—even in my heels, I probably only come to his shoulder.
His muscles ripple under his long-sleeve Henley.
Gosh, I want to lick every inch of his body, and that is a problem.
I can’t do a one-night stand. My heart won’t let me. The last time I tried, I ended up dating Jack for three years, and he turned out to be the world’s biggest jerk. So no, sadly, the incredibly hot, hunky biker will not be getting into my pants tonight.
He leans in to brush a piece of my hair behind my ear. A shiver races down my entire body. How can one touch affect me like that? Noticing my reaction, he moves closer, so close I can taste the whiskey on his lips. But he doesn’t try to kiss me. He just waits patiently.
Axel is waiting for me to make the first move. The part of my brain that hasn’t yet been drowned in alcohol screams, No, red alert! This will not end well! But the rest of my body screams, Yes.
“Fuck it.” I lean forward and crush my lips to his. His hand slips to the back of my neck and holds me in place as he slowly ravages my mouth. He smells like pine, tobacco, and all man, and I am screwed.
He starts to trail kisses down my jaw, moving toward my neck, where he lightly bites down.
It shoots a lightning bolt between my legs.
The need for his hands on my body is almost unbearable, but I need to stop this.
Just as I’m about to pull away, he gently pushes his thigh between my legs.
I open for him without pause. He moves closer and presses himself into me, and I can feel his arousal.
Holy hell, does it feel amazing. My head feels like it’s in a fog, all my senses being taken over by Axel.
“Okay, let’s slow down,” I say breathlessly, though it sounds more like a moan than I intend. Axel kisses back up my neck and gives me one last peck on my lips.
“Phone,” he says gruffly.
I blink up at him, unable to move as he entrances me with his stare.
His eyes are almost black with want, drawing me to him in a way I can’t explain.
He gives me a half-smirk when he realizes I’m frozen.
Without thinking, I draw my bottom lip into my mouth and dig my teeth into the sensitive flesh, trying to savor his taste.
He slowly moves his hand up to my face, pinching my chin with his thumb and pointer finger, gently drawing my lip out. He stares at my lips, probably swollen from our kiss.
“Bite that lip again, and I will haul you upstairs and fuck you until you can’t do anything else but scream my name,” he rasps in a sexy growl. But he has to be joking, right? No one talks like that.
I almost do it again just to see if he’s bluffing, but ultimately decide against it. Something about this man screams danger. He smirks when he realizes I’m not going to tempt him.
“Angel, give me your phone.” He doesn’t look away as I slowly grab my phone out of my purse, which sits on the bar.
I unlock it and hand it to him. He navigates his way to my contacts and adds in his phone number.
The thought of seeing him after this sends my stomach into knots with excitement, but I know that will never happen.
After last summer, I promised myself to focus on work and my goals—never again letting a man distract me from what I want.
And this man is definitely distracting. Not to mention he’s a member of the area’s most notorious motorcycle club.
I don’t care how attracted I am to Axel; I can’t let this be anything.
After my encounter with Axel, I need to cool off.
He’d been called over to a table by some other men in those leather vest things—cuts, I think Cal called them.
I’m relieved I don’t have to awkwardly make an excuse to leave.
I wave at Mia to let her know I’m going to step outside for some fresh air and to let Marley know where I’ve gone if she asks.
“She went up to Blaze’s room with him a little while ago. I wouldn’t count on seeing them anytime soon,” Mia shouts as she races around the back of the bar. “But I’ll tell her. Hey, do you want me to go with you? I could use a break!”
I smile. “I would love the company.”
We snake our way through the crowd and out the door I entered earlier tonight. The cold air washes over me and calms my racing heart. I’m acting crazy. He’s just a hot guy at a bar—a guy I won’t be seeing again if I can help it.
I hear an annoyed huff come from Mia. “I totally forgot my jacket at home, and dang, it’s cold out here!”
She isn’t wrong. Even though it’s mid-June, the weather still feels like winter.
It’s the worst. When Marley and I chose Cranson Creek to move to after college, we didn’t even think to worry about the weather.
We both had job offers in the same town, and we weren’t splitting up. I am also shaking from the cold.
“This might have been a bad idea. Want to go back inside?” I say as both of us hug our bodies with our arms. She chuckles, and I can see her breath in the air.
“Yeah, probably,” she says as she turns for the door.
She stops before her hand reaches the handle and turns back to me.
“But before we do, I have to talk to you first.” She narrows her eyes, examining my face.
Her expression quickly softens. “I saw you talking to Axel a little while ago, and I have to tell you that I’ve never seen him look at a woman like that before.
” I stare at her in confusion. Why would she be telling me this?
I barely know him—actually, I don’t know him.
“Oh, Mia, it was just a liquor-filled make-out. Honestly, he’s probably forgotten about it by now.” I laugh it off, waiting for her to drop the conversation and walk inside.
“No, I don’t think it was, but I could be wrong,” she shrugs, crossing her arms. “Just hear me out. Axel is like my brother, and he deserves someone like you. I can already tell you’re a good person. But be careful.” And with that, she walks back inside.
“Ominous much?” I mutter, watching her tiny form disappear into the crowd as the door closes behind her.
I am left standing outside with her words swirling around in my head.
What in the world is Mia talking about? I am not going to be a part of this world.
It could be the tequila not sitting well, but I’m left with a bad feeling in my gut.
I look around the parking lot—it’s quiet, and there are only a few people out here braving the cold.
I take a deep breath, steady myself, and head back inside.