Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
CLEO
I am in my happy place. I am at Rugged Ink, not thinking about the dark sexy biker who fucked me so hard months ago that he left a mark on my soul.
Or the same sexy biker who turned up on my front door two nights ago and explained some deep heartbreaking things to me, then fucked me stupid on my sofa.
Nope, I am in my happy place.
Shit, he slipped through my defenses again.
Damn that biker.
When he told me that Lilian had been his wife and that she died, my heart broke for him. No person should lose the love of their life.
Him and his story have stuck with me for months, and I thought that the memory of him would fade, but it is like he creeps into my mind every day. Stupid little things remind me of him.
I also keep finding black feathers in my front yard, which takes me back to his room in Vegas because he had one on his bedside table.
The door chiming brings me out of my thoughts. I look up and my heart stutters in my chest, my nipples tingle from remembering what his mouth did to them, and my pussy joins in the gushing over War parade.
“What do you want, War?”
With a sexy smirk on his face, he leans on the front desk, bringing him closer to me. His sandalwood and vanilla scent hits me and I fight back a whimper.
“Wanted to come and see where my girl works.”
I roll my eyes. “I am not your girl, so if you are not planning on getting a tattoo, then you need to leave,” I inform him.
“Nah, baby, I don’t think I do. I am here for you and you alone, unless you want to tattoo your name on my dick.” He winks. “I told you that I am not going anywhere. You are mine, baby.”
“You are infuriating, do you know that?” He nods and winks.
“Yep.” He pops the ‘p.’ “I am going to sit over here watching you work, and then I am going to take you to dinner after you are done for the day.”
“A date? Really?” I quiz.
I fold my arms across my chest, which I regret instantly because it makes my breasts push up more in my black camisole.
“Sure, why not? A man should take his woman out on dates; we can get to know each other better. Women like dates, right?”
“We are not dating, War.”
“Mason,” he hisses, but I see no anger in his eyes.
“War, we are not dating. Like I said the other night, we had fun, both times, but I am too fucked up with my own issues to be in a committed relationship, and if I am being honest, after what I witnessed back in Vegas, I think you are still hung up on your wife. Sorry.”
His eyes harden, his lips thin, and the one fist I can see bunches tightly.
With a stiff nod, he steps away from the counter and sits on the brown leather sofa, resting one ankle on the opposite knee as he spreads his arms out across the back and stares at me.
I can tell that I pissed him off, but there is nothing I can do as the door opens and one of my favorite people steps inside.
He greets Victor, who walks toward us, then turns to face me, all while I ignore the hot man sitting across from me.
“What can we do for you, Target?” I greet Target, who in his own right is freaking hot.
“Hey, beautiful.” I get my usual greeting from him.
A deep growl comes from my biker. Shit no, not my biker.
By the smirk on Target’s face, I can tell shit is about to hit the fan because he likes to piss people off.
“Can I help you, man?”
War glares at my friend, but Target is not easily intimidated. This man is the VP of the Rugged Skulls MC and is a single dad to two gorgeous twins.
“You need to keep your fucking eyes off my woman.”
Freaking hell, this man does not know when to quit, does he?
I know that we feel this intense connection, one that is fucking soul touching, but can I really let another man into my life only for him to break me again? He still has mad love for his dead wife, and I will not compete with a dead person.
“I am not your woman, for fuck’s sake, War. We have had a few nights together and yes, you fucked me stupid, but you do not come into my place of work and claim me.” I raise my voice to get his attention off Target.
His gaze comes to mine, and I feel his anger, but it does not scare me. He is pissed at the situation, not necessarily at me.
“The fuck I can’t. It was me making you scream, my name you were calling out, and it was my cock that you came on,” War replies, his voice clearly showing his anger, this time directed at me.
His words slam me in the chest. I know I am a touchy bitch, but to hear him speak so boldly about what we have done together makes my stomach knot. Why is he acting like this?
Shaking my head, I look at him and see a flicker of regret in his eyes as he watches me.
“Okay, calm the fuck down. Listen, man, you do not come here and blast what you did to our girl in front of her clients,” Target jumps in and it only angers War more.
I know that in a fight, it would be evenly matched, but Target has the guys here for backup; War is on his own.
“She is mine.” He cuts Target off.
Target’s face changes and he stands to full height. His size is imposing to most people but matches War’s size. I go to reach forward to touch Target and get his attention off the angry biker, just as I see War’s gaze track the movement and his anger spikes so fucking high, NASA will see it.
The room turns ice cold as he throws his icy stare my way, and I do not see Mason ‘War’ Naylor standing in front of me. No, I see War, the Three Kings MC nomad who travels and does whatever the fuck he desires.
“Are you fucking these guys too?” His voice is cold, and it makes me feel sick.
“So what if she is? It is a fucking free country; she can fuck whoever she wants,” Victor calls out, and I sigh.
“Jesus.” I roll my eyes over this macho bullshit. “I am not fucking them; not that it is any of your business. Just leave, War.”
“Man, I suggest that you listen to her. She is not one to mess with on her period, if you get me.” My mouth drops open at Target’s words and I slap his shoulder. “She turns into a banshee and will chop your balls off, and I mean not with a fucking blade, my man. A blunt object, if she can.”
“Oh God. Shut up, please.” I cover my face with my hands, wishing that the ground would open and swallow me whole.
Fuck me, why does this shit involving men keep happening to me?
I look at War, and I can see that he does not want to leave; no, he wants to stay and fight it out with me, but I think he sees something on my face that tells him that it is not the time.
“Fine. I will leave, but we will talk about this later, sweetheart,” he states and leaves without a backward glance.
“Woman, you need to stop letting jacked-up men like that into your bed,” Lucas huffs.
My body is a jumble of emotions thanks to that damn man. I would say that I had finally gotten my thoughts under control when he strolled back into my life, but that would be a lie.
“Where did you find that one?” Target asks, an attempt to lighten the moment.
Shaking my head, I groan, leaning my butt against the table behind me.
“We hooked up a few times, but there is just something about him that keeps calling to me,” I explain, but I keep most of the details locked away.
They do not know what happened between War and me, because frankly, I am not sure what did happen. Seeing his face when he told me about his wife, but then his anger at me dismissing him, both roll around my mind.
“Why are you looking like he kicked your puppy, then?”
I blink at Target’s question, then shrug, pulling my mask firmly back in place.
“I have some trust issues that I need to work through, and I am not sure he is ready for my kind of crazy.”
“Hey, now, we all have a little bit of crazy in us, babe. Plus, he looks like a biker, so I am sure that he is used to some kind of crazy.” He winks, and I can’t help but giggle.
I am thankful for the attempt he makes. This is why Target is my favorite biker.
Keeping a smile on my face, I stand to full height and shake off all the negative energy that is prickling my skin.
“Oh, believe me, I know. I have been around the clubhouse, remember? You guys only fuck women who carry a truckload of crazy.”
“What can I say, the Rugged Skulls like to party on the crazy train, sweets.” He wins again.
He lets me get on with my day, but War plagues my mind all day. Everything in me is pulling in a different direction when it comes to him and I need to think on what happens next.