Chapter 1
~A Few Months Ago~
“Ahh,” I startle awake, and the moment I open my eyes the room spins. “Oh, shit.”
I rush to the bathroom attached to my room and upchuck all the contents from my stomach in the toilet. After a few moments, I lean back on the wall facing the porcelain throne like I’ve done so many times in the past after a long night of drinking.
“God, I gotta ease up on the alcohol,” I voice to no one.
Giving myself a couple minutes to make sure I’m not going to return to my previous position, I hop in the shower and let the water wash my aching body. I stay in there until I feel all my faculties return to normal and am able to stand upright without having to hold onto the wall for stability.
“That motherfucker got me good,” I chuckle, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Bruising has already started forming around my eyes and jaw.
Needing to sober up a bit more from last night’s shenanigans, and before our protection run, I get dressed and decide to take a ride out to Colorado City.
It’s the next town over. There’s a bar on the outskirts just before getting into the city that I frequent when I want to hit the pavement for a bit.
The wind against my face puts pressure on my skin making me wince.
Fuck, I got my ass kicked. It’s been a while since that’s happened.
As the vice president for Dead Road MC, I have to be ready to take on any opponent and lay them out.
Stone’s built solid and is a beast when he’s fighting, I should’ve known he’d ring my bell, but fuck.
My anger got the best of me, and I lost my head.
I’ve always been so protective over Raegan.
When she left, I felt like I lost my purpose.
When I saw her for the first time after so many years, I thought all those feelings would come rushing back and that what we had as kids would spark my life back up.
But, the reality of it is, I don’t feel that way towards her.
I still feel protective over her as does Riot, but there’s no buzz or connection on a lovers’ level.
When I kissed her, I thought maybe that would change, and I’d stop feeling numb, but it didn’t.
It was actually awkward, if I’m being honest. Something was always holding me back when we were physical.
I’m no saint by any means, and I did give her a lot of firsts, but I’m glad we never went there.
The friendship she, Riot, and I shared was exactly what we needed those years growing up, and I wouldn’t change it.
Hopefully we’ll be able to have that once again after her and Prez figure out their shit.
After walking my bike into a spot in front of the bar, I step in the door righting my ballcap on my head and letting my eyes adjust to the low lights. I inhale, letting my body ingest the smell of cigarettes, stale beer, and a waft of weed in the air. It reminds me of the clubhouse.
I stroll in, perching on a barstool as I wave at Frankie to bring me a beer.
As soon as he taps the bottle in front of me, I down half of it in one gulp.
I’m about to wave for another round when the doors open and the air shifts.
I turn my head in the direction of the entrance.
The music pumping through the speakers muffles in my ears as the background noise fades away.
The setting sun shines in through the doorway making the person glow and illuminate.
When she takes a hesitant step in, I think Frankie must’ve drugged my beer.
In front of me stands a woman in tight black pants and a pink tank top.
My mouth goes slack as it looks as though she’s got a halo behind her.
Right when the door shuts, the noise of the bar comes back in my ears, and I stare as I let my back rest against the wooden bar, watching to see if she’s here to meet one of these knuckleheads.
It won’t matter ’cause she’s leaving with me.
The angel takes precise steps towards the bar area, quickly glancing around at her surroundings. She looks so out of place in a bar setting, but it must be my lucky night. My breath halts in my chest when she strides right over and deposits her tight ass on the barstool one down from me.
“What can I get you, sweetie?” Frankie asks and stares at her like she’s a prime rib steak.
“Umm…”
“Get the lady a bottle of Bud and a shot of whiskey, Frankie. Same for me,” I growl not liking how his eyes are eating her up.
“Sure thing,” Frankie scoffs, walking off to get our drinks.
“Thanks, but I can get my own.” Her soft voice flutters over my skin and ignites a surge of energy. She finally looks up at me, and I’m lost in her jade green eyes, which complements her light brown hair. The pink tint flushing her cheeks makes my cock throb behind the zipper of my worn jeans.
“I’m sure you can, Darlin’,” I tell her as my body leans in towards hers. “You’re not from around these parts, are you?” I fish, wanting to know more about her.
“What gave that away?”
“I’d definitely know you.” She might be in a town over from where I live, but I’d know if she was walking around within a hundred-mile radius of me. “What’s your name, Darlin’?”
She looks around the room, for what, I’m not sure. She seems timid and very unsure, like she’s debating something.
“I’m not sure I should give you my name,” she tells me as Frankie comes over with our shots and beers. I don’t have to be told how inexperienced she is, but when she knocks back the shot of whiskey and chokes as the strong liquid burns down her throat, it’s a telltale sign.
I reach over and lightly pat her back, letting my hand skim across her exposed flesh.
“Chase it with the beer,” I instruct. Tired of the distance between us, I slide over to the barstool that separates us and nudge the bottle for her to take. She’s still trying to settle her coughing fit but does as she’s told. “Not a big drinker, are ya?”
She pats her chest, drawing my eyes down to her ample rack. Her nipples are hard and pebbled through her tank top. When I look up, I see her eyeing me. Her gaze has me wanting to lock all my muscles in position so she can see how built I am.
Get your fill, Angel.
“You know, my eyes are up here, Darlin’,” I say and take a long pull from my beer then toss back my whiskey.
Her eyes abruptly shoot up to mine then she turns facing forward after being caught. I’m watching her profile as she takes a large gulp from her bottle and forms a sour disgusting look.
“Not a beer fan?”
“All of this tastes awful,” she admits, and I wave at Frankie.
“Everything okay over here?” he asks as he tosses a rag over his shoulder.
“Bring over some of those girlie drinks you keep in the back cooler,” I tell him.
He gives a nod then heads over to the corner, coming back with three different bottles, setting them down in front of her.
He pops the caps off, and she reaches for the first one.
Tipping it back, she takes a swig, and I watch the corners of her mouth tip up into the prettiest smile.
“It tastes like lemonade,” she declares then tips the bottle back again, making me chuckle.
We sit there for a moment before she places her empty bottle of lemonade down then reaches for the next one.
“Maggie,” she turns and utters to me.
“Maggie?”
“Call me Maggie,” she tells me. I’d bet my left nut that it’s not her real name, but I’ll take whatever she’s willing to give me.
“Okay, pleasure to meet you, Maggie, I’m…Charlie,” I tell her even though Havoc is written across the patch on the right shoulder of my cut. If she wants to pretend for the evening, so can I.
She obviously isn’t from around here, so she’s not familiar with the MC or how we operate.
“You passing through, Maggie?” I wonder if I can convince this angel to stick around a little longer than a night or two.
“Just hit stateside and heading back home,” she divulges as she finishes off the last of the second bottle. “You?”
“Born and raised, Darlin’.”
Her knee is bouncing like she’s nervous, and she’s tapping the bar top with her fingers. I’m about to tell her to slow down when she lets out a breath and turns towards me.
“Wanna get out of here?”
My body pulses and a rush of fire races through my blood.
“Thought you’d never ask,” I respond, standing from my seat.
I reach back and pull out my wallet tossing a couple of large bills down on the bar top for our drinks.
When I look down at her, she’s taking all of me in.
I’m a big motherfucking machine built for war, so my body is all muscle.
Tugging her off her stool, I intwine our fingers and lead her off to the hallway where the office and restrooms are located.
“Keep the back room clear, Frankie,” I call out.
There isn’t enough time to bring her back to the clubhouse. My cock needs to sink into this angel before he explodes. He doesn’t want her to have time to think that she’s making a mistake hooking up with a biker and change her mind.
The last door on the left is an office. There’s a desk in the middle of the room with filing cabinets in the corner. On the other side is a red sofa with a coffee table sitting in front of it.
Pulling her to the middle of the room, I leave her and walk over to the door and twist the lock into place.
With my back still to her, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
My stomach is in knots almost as if I’m nervous.
It’s not a feeling I’ve ever had before tonight.
Once my heart stops racing, I turn coming up behind her back where I left her and start skimming my lips across her shoulder, creating goosebumps down her arms. The feel of her skin alone sends a shockwave down my spine and stirs something deep inside me.
It’s the first time I’ve felt this way; the longing to possess someone has me pausing, especially someone I just met and who is lying about their name.
The only sound in the room is our breaths as the need to speed this up and sink my dick in this exquisite woman grows.