4. Chapter Four
CHAPTER FOUR
ORA
It’s my day off, and I wish I could say I was doing something exciting, but instead, I’m cleaning my house and reading a sexy shifter book on my Kindle, which is currently in my hand as I’m carrying the rubbish to the bin. I pull my gaze away from reading a smutty sex scene only to see way too much of my neighbor, Pippa, than I want to see. Her curtains are wide open, and her naked back is plastered up against the glass as a man fucks her against it. It wouldn’t be as awkward if the man wasn’t looking right at me with hungry, light eyes and a smirk.
When I notice the motorcycle parked in front of her house, I frown. It has to be a coincidence, right? These bikers are suddenly everywhere. Shrugging, I head back inside and get comfortable on my couch, sipping my pineapple juice. I’m just at the part where the enemies are about to become lovers when there’s a knock at the door. Scowling, I put my Kindle down and get up, opening the door as far as the chain will allow.
“Yes?” I ask, wondering what the hell the man from next door is doing here. “Can I help you?”
The man smirks. He’s hot in a scary way. Covered in tattoos, he’s got a shaved head, steel-gray eyes, and a brown beard. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung jeans, and you guessed it —a Serpents of Chaos MC cut, one that has a road captain patch. They give this fucker responsibilities? I wouldn’t trust him to look after my goldfish if I had one.
He’s got ridiculous abs, and he knows it. His knuckles are all busted up like he’s been in a fight, which I’m sure he has.
“It’s more… what I can do for you.” He smirks, his tongue peeking out to lick his lower lip and his pierced tongue he wanted me to see.
I don’t reply, but I’m sure my facial expressions are speaking in subtitles for me.
“I just helped your neighbor mow her lawn. Do you want me to do yours?” he asks, eyes twinkling, but the rest of him gives nothing away.
“No, thank you. I’m sure you’re wonderful at… munching lawns.” He laughs now, unable to keep a straight face. “I’m sorry, mowing. But please do me a favor and never grace my doorstep again. I don’t need anything from you.”
He loses his humor at that, stretching his thick neck from side to side. “I just saw you admiring what I did for her and thought I’d offer it to you. Wouldn’t want you to miss out. No need to turn nasty.”
“Are you serious right now?” I whisper, blinking slowly.
He leans against the door, putting pressure on the chain lock, which is when I start to feel very fucking nervous. “Get off my porch before I call the cops.”
He laughs a deep, ominous sound. “No cops can save you from a serpent, little girl.”
As he storms off, I lock my door and consider his words.
Cops might not be able to save me from a serpent, but a bigger serpent can.
Pulling out my phone, I send War a text. I know I told myself I’d never do this, but frankly, I’m pissed. For goodness sake, I’m minding my own damn business at home and shouldn’t have to deal with this shit.
ORA
One of your men just came to my door and made me feel uncomfortable.
Is this how you allow your men to treat women?
Really, this message should be going to my sperm donor, but I don’t know him.
War, however, has had his dick inside me, and I feel more comfortable ranting to him.
It only takes a few seconds before my phone starts ringing, and when he speaks, I can tell that I’m not the only one who is angry.
“Ora? What happened? Are you okay?” he asks, his deep voice laced with anger.
I give him a quick rundown, and he asks me what the man looks like. “Shaved head, tattoos, a beard…”
“Ghost,” he snarls, and I hear a banging noise in the background. “Angel, go find Ghost and bring him to me.”
“On it,” I hear the man called Angel reply.
I end the call, not needing to say or hear anything else.
An hour later, I hear the thundering roar of motorcycles and look outside to investigate. Three bikes are parked in my driveway. Fucking wonderful . War gets off his black Harley first, and I can’t help but notice his strong thighs and have a flashback of me on my knees between them. He storms up to my door, and I open it as he’s lifting his hand to knock.
“I’m not going to get any peace anymore, am I?” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
War gives me a once-over as if making sure I’m okay. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again. Will it , Ghost?”
Behind War stands Ghost and Bones. I’m pretty sure it’s Bones, anyway. I think I’ve found the slightest tell to identify the twins.
“No, VP,” Ghost mutters, turning to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who you are.”
Didn’t know who I am? What difference does it make?
“What I am is a woman who doesn’t want to be harassed.” Especially by a man who just fucked my neighbor. I sigh, bringing my gaze back to War. “Thank you for the apology. It was unnecessary, but thank you.”
Bones is scowling at Ghost, and it’s clear they aren’t happy with him showing up at my door and offering me his dick.
The two of them return to their bikes, leaving me alone with War. He reaches out his hand and runs his rough thumb gently along my cheek. “No one fucks with you, baby. It won’t happen again, you hear me? He shows up here again, I’ll kill him myself.”
He says it so matter-of-factly. How did I not see this man for who he is under the nice clothes, charming smiles, and sensual dance moves that night? Or maybe I sensed that he was the biggest and the baddest, and that’s what drew me to him.
“War.”
“We’re not as bad as you think, Ora,” he mutters, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “But don’t worry. I called Church to let the men know who you are. You just became the safest and most protected woman in the city.”
His expression is open and honest, making it hard to stay angry at him.
“Church? Are you religious?”
His eyes sparkle with mirth. “No, it just means a club meeting.”
Oh.
“Why were you at the hotel that night?” I ask, something I’ve been wanting to know. The twins said he doesn’t have a girlfriend, so he obviously wasn’t sneaking around behind a woman’s back.
“It was my sister’s wedding,” he replies, his brows drawing together. He rakes his fingers through his dark hair, which is longer on top. “The reception was held there, so I got a room.”
That explains the shirt and dress pants.
And the lack of leather.
What a lie my first impression of him was.
We continue staring at each other, and I don’t know what he wants from me. His eyes scan mine until he ducks his head and growls out, “Fuck it.” And then he kisses me, sucking on my lower lip and drawing it into his mouth until I open for him. He takes control of the kiss, taking what he wants from me and yet giving even more in return. He lifts and carries me outside my door, pushing me back against the brick wall and devours me.
In every sense.
The world around us blurs.
In the back of my head, I know his men are on their bikes, probably watching, but it still feels like it’s just us. His lips leave mine, but only to trail up my neck, sucking on my skin. “I tried to stay away from you, baby.”
“Why?” I ask, wanting to understand where his head is at, even though I’ve been trying to do the same. I’m the one who left that morning. I never thought I’d see him again, and I was trying to make things easier.
Instead, my first one-night stand has turned… complicated .
And I’ve obviously been kidding myself. There’s something between us we picked up on that first night and can’t seem to easily walk away from.
“I can’t think of anything but you,” he admits, his throat working as he swallows. His dark eyes are the color of milk chocolate in the sunlight. “And that’s not a good thing for me right now, Ora.”
I don’t know whether or not to be offended.
“So the timing is off? Yet here you are, pinning me to the wall on my front porch while your men are waiting for you.”
“Exactly.” He bites, his jaw clenching and unclenching. “I shouldn’t be here, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I’m sure you can see how that’s starting to be a problem for me.”
“War! Prez wants us back at the clubhouse,” Bones calls out, and War’s eyes slam shut for a second as he tries to get control.
He curses and presses a sweet kiss to my forehead. “Get inside and lock your door.”
Is he always this bossy and protective?
He waits until I do that before his bike thunders to life.