Chapter 7
AERIANNA
Pulling away from Trigger’s embrace was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I can’t get the stubborn man out of my head as it is, and now that I know what his body feels like pressed against mine, it’s going to be impossible.
I shake my head from the thoughts of his rough fingers gripping my face to the softness of his thumb stroking my lips. His scent lingers in my lungs and makes my heart stutter. I’ve never had this reaction to a man before. I’ve been taught at a young age what a man can do to a woman if he really wants to. What violent acts a man can commit against a woman just for being a strong female.
But none of that matters when it comes to Trigger. My mind and body want him. Even though we are worlds apart on the opposite sides of the law, where I stand for the good and he stands for the bad, I still want him in my life. He makes my heart race, his strength makes me feel safe. Something I haven’t had in a very long time. Not since before I joined the Detroit task force, fresh out of school.
The bell dings, pulling me back to reality. The two women fighters exit the ring, one being carried out while the other walks out on her own. Blood drips from the cuts on the unconscious woman’s face. These people are crazy to do this day in and day out. To fight until they either win or are dragged out.
Earlier today, my handler called me with a lead into a man the Royal Bastards MC has been looking for. He’s supposed to be here fighting tonight, and my job is to find him, see what he knows, and how I can flip him. He told me he was a dark-skinned man with a Lion tattoo on his back. I haven’t seen him fight yet, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t here.
Unfortunately, or maybe it was fortunately, before I could find him, I spotted Trigger ringside with a man three times his size. The second I saw him, I lost all control. Even if someone held a gun to my head, I still would’ve approached him.
When he’s near, my thoughts sharpen and blur all at once. My heart races, and my body hums to his proximity. I don’t know why, but Trigger has become my kryptonite. I want, no, I need, to get closer to him, not just for my job but because I want to know him better. I want to know how he would handle me at my worst and at my best.
All thoughts of us being on opposite sides of the law fly out the window when he is near me, which is why I need to stay away from him, but I can’t. That’s like telling a bear to stay away from honey. He’s the nectar to my starving body.
What the hell is wrong with me? I am here with a job to do, not to lust after a known biker gang member. Uh! I need to hit the gym later and burn off this energy thrumming through my body that Trigger releases inside of me.
I stand in the back of the crowd as it chants for the last fight of the night. My jaw drops when Trigger enters the ring. His chest is bare, glistening with sweat, making his muscles ripple with every movement. His short dark hair is gleaming with sweat, and his jeans are unbuttoned and unzipped, a dark trail leading to a promise he can deliver what he’s putting out.
My mouth waters at the thought of what I want to do to this man. He scans the crowd until his piercing gaze lands on me. All shouts and cheers fade away as we lock eyes. I shift from foot to foot, desperate to relieve the pressure between my thighs, but it’s no use. He owns my attention, my body, my thoughts. And the bastard knows it. This man turns me on, and I get to watch him work his magic. Trigger sends a wink my way before he faces his opponent.
His dark skin glistening under the lights and the deadly look in Trigger’s opponent’s eyes has me worried for Trigger. I notice the Lion tattoo on his back, and realization dawns on me. Oh shit, this is the guy I was supposed to find. I swear I’m a better undercover agent than this.
Trigger has me all flustered, and I forget why I’m here and what I’m doing. That’s why I need to stay away from him, but with the way he looks at me, that is becoming more and more impossible.
The ref signals the start of the fight, and Trigger and this guy go toe to toe. They’re playing with each other, seeing what the other can do and how they fight. Trigger’s face doesn’t give anything away besides boredom as they test each other. Trigger slaps his opponent with an open palm, teasing him. From the sheer size and strength of Trigger, I know he is testing his opponent, seeing how to push his buttons.
As the first few minutes of the round go by without a lot going on, the crowd starts to get restless. Taunting erupts and it pisses Trigger’s opponent off. He lunges for Trigger, but Trigger sidesteps him at the last second, sending the guy into the cables. The second he bounces back, Trigger delivers a brutal uppercut to his chin, spinning him in place.
Tiny shouts something to Trigger, and I watch as rage replaces boredom on Trigger’s face. His eyes slit as he focuses on his target, like a panther stalking its prey. He moves gracefully on the balls of his feet as he delivers blow after blow on the poor, unsuspecting guy. Trigger’s chest is heaving up and down in rapid succession, and I see the faraway look in his eyes that he isn’t hearing anyone or seeing anything besides the guy in front of him.
The raw power Trigger emanates has me moving to the front of the ring, shouting for him to finish this. When he delivers the final blow that knocks his opponent out, I want nothing more than to wrap my legs around him and finish what we started earlier. His piercing blue eyes lock onto mine, and I’m done for. The hunger in his gaze sends a pulse of need straight to my core.
Without thinking, I follow Trigger through the back door, my heart pounding as I shut it behind me. Trigger spins to face me, his broad chest rising and falling. Blood smears across his knuckles, sweat dripping down his torso.
“What are you doing in here?” Trigger growls.
I approach him until we are toe to toe, my chest brushing against his. His heat engulfs me, and the pure, raw energy radiating off him sets my nerves on fire. The pure sexual energy radiating off him sets my body into motion.
“I don’t know,” I murmur. “But I know I want you.”
I groan as Trigger's strong hands clasp around my waist and he picks me up by my ass. I wrap my legs around him, feeling the bulge behind his jeans against my heated center. “God, do I want you.”
His mouth crashes into mine, our kiss wild, desperate. His tongue demands entry, and I give it to him, tasting sweat, blood, and the fire burning between us. I grind against him, desperate for friction, but it’s not enough. He growls, fingers tangling in my braids, yanking my head back to expose my throat. His lips trail down, licking and biting the sensitive skin below my jaw. I’m losing myself in him.
This kiss, this man, is going to ruin me for all others.
He licks and sucks the sensitive area below my jaw, exploring and tasting my heated skin. He leaves gentle but firm kisses up the column of my neck until our lips meet again. This kiss is ruining me for all other kisses. Trigger is going to destroy me for all other men once I get him inside of me. Our mouths crash together again, lips, tongue, and teeth scraping against each other. It’s raw and powerful. Butterflies explode in my belly, and fire burns between my thighs. Trigger is igniting an inferno inside of me, and I’m powerless to stop the blaze from taking over my body, mind, and soul.
The door flings open, and someone walks in. I can’t see who it is since Trigger hasn’t released his hold on me. Trigger pulls his lips away from mine, and a deep growl rumbles up his chest when his gaze lands on the person who barged in like they own the place.
“Fuck, dude. Put that shit away. We have a meeting to get to.” A gruff voice interrupts.
Trigger releases me, and I slide down his body, frustrated but thankful someone can keep their head in the game.
“Now, Tiny? Really?” Trigger releases a harsh breath but doesn’t release my hips. His hot fingers sear into my skin.
“Yeah, brother, now,” Tiny responds.
I turn around and see a giant of a man standing in the doorway. This is Tiny? This man is a beast. He takes up the whole doorway, leaving no room around him. He is tall with a California tan and a messy faux mohawk, and his body is all hard rippling muscle. His hands are big enough to wrap around my throat and squish me like a bug if he wants to. But there is something in his dark brown eyes that is gentle and kind.
“I should go.” I quietly say.
“No, you should stay, and Tiny can go,” Trigger argues, but I pull from his grasp, needing space, needing air. I pull out of his grasp and head for the door. Tiny moves to let me pass, and I walk out of that room, leaving Trigger behind me. I have a job to do, and the last thing I need to do is get tangled with a criminal.
The night air does nothing to cool the heat still pulsing in my veins. I make it to my truck without incident. Trigger doesn’t chase after me, not that I expected him to. But what if he had? I don’t think I’d have had the strength to leave.
Now that I know what he tastes like and how he feels, keeping my distance is getting harder and harder.
I climb in my pickup and start the engine. Not wanting to go home yet, I head to the gym to relieve some of this pent-up energy.
Pulling into the parking lot, I breathe a sigh of relief. No one is here. The last thing I want to deal with is Benton and his leering, hungry eyes staring at me while I’m trying to expunge this stress. If he were here, I’d probably end up punching him in the face.
I climb from my pickup, grab my workout bag, lock the doors, and head inside. I have so many questions about tonight. Who is the guy with the Lion tattoo and his association with the Royal Bastards MC?
Since I’m undercover, I don’t have an office to sit down and run some research. I have to hope my handler gives me what I need after I send off a quick text to him to let him know what I discovered tonight.
As I enter the gym’s locker room and slide my bag off my shoulder, my phone chirps back with a message saying they will be in touch and to stay liquid. I roll my eyes. I might be new to UC work, but I’m not a newbie at this job.
Tossing my phone aside, I unlock my locker and change into workout gear. Climbing on the treadmill, I plan on getting sweaty and hopefully exhausted so I can sleep for a couple of hours.
I need to sweat this out.
I need to forget the way Trigger tasted.
Because if I don’t, I’ll lose myself to a man I have no business wanting.