Chapter 1 Warden #2
“Well, what’s the issue?” Outside of her being the brightest thing in this room.
Hammer purses his lips behind his glass. “She’s trouble.”
Trouble? I think I like the sound of trouble. Even if she gets her hands on my heart and plays around with it like a hacky sack, I’ll thank her for every wound she inflicts.
God, I’ve got it bad. To think I’ve only seen her from a distance. What’s going to happen once I have a conversation? Only one way to find out.
“I’m going to get a closer look.” Against my friend’s judgment, I abandon him to approach where the real party is.
Other prospects and club members drink alongside the beautiful women accompanying them.
A few of them glance my way, giving me their flirtatious smiles.
While I’d normally be tempted by their tempting curves and exposed skin, not even a pair of breasts is enough to tear my eyes away from the beauty having the time of her life.
As if a set of invisible hooks digs deep into my flesh, they pull me closer and closer until finally, I reach the table currently holding the pretty brunette.
She doesn’t mind the audience she has, too occupied with enjoying herself. When one song ends, and the next begins, her movement slows to a stop. Her chin tilts up, and I notice the sweat clinging to her skin. She’s sparkling beneath the lights above.
Inhaling deep, I take a few more steps forward until there’s hardly any space left between us. My mouth waters as I just think about tasting the salt clinging to her skin. My dick pulses, begging for a little relief.
I can’t look away from her. This is bad. She’s… I’ve never seen anything like her before. Is she real?
“Someone help me down.” The woman giggles as she looks for a way off the table without tumbling down. She reaches her hand out for someone to grab, and an opportunity of a lifetime opens up for me.
My feet carry me forward without a second thought. I can’t hear any warning bells over the loud music blasting from above as my hands lift and move past that welcoming palm. Instead, I pull her down by her hips.
Enjoying her gasp as she tumbles toward my chest, she weighs practically nothing as I settle her in my arms. While this is the greatest moment of my life, her smile fades, and she growls at being held.
“There’s broken glass on the ground, gorgeous.” Spelling out the obvious, I hug her that much closer. Not bothering to care to look for her shoes, my eyes scan her face, drinking her in. “We don’t want you cutting open your feet, now do we?”
Her gray eyes scan my face before she squints. If she’s trying to recognize me, she won’t. Then her eyes drift to my chest, and I notice the disappointment when she spots the lack of a patch on my cut.
Fuck. Tell me she’s not the type to turn down a prospect. I’m close to getting patched in, I’m sure of it. However, I can’t wait until then. I need to know her name. No, I need her.
Her eyes flick up, and that curve is back, sexy and tempting as ever. Instead of shoving me away, she’s wrapping her arms around my neck. “You going to stand here all night, or are you going to carry me to the bar?” Pulling me in, her lips brush against my ear. “I need a refresher, Prospect.”
The only thing I want to do is put her down on this table, spread her thighs open, and drop to my fucking knees, glass be damned.
She giggles against my ear and about chokes me out when I don’t budge at first. Her legs lightly kick, not to be released, but to get me moving.
Wait, she wants to drink more? In the few minutes I watched her, she’s already thrown back quite a few. Enough to make me worry.
Nothing sexier than getting scolded by a stranger, Liam.
Biting back the urge, I carry her toward the bar and enjoy the way she pinches the open flaps of my cut. In this very moment, she’s giving me her complete attention. For someone who started off mad about being in my arms, a few steps in, she seems pretty comfortable now.
Ignoring the sensation of Hammer’s stare from across the bar as we reach two empty seats, I’m forced to release her as I set her down on one and claim the other. As she signals for even more to drink, I figure it would probably be better to sober up for now.
If I get drunk and lose sight of this woman, I’ll be kicking myself for the rest of my days.
“What are we celebrating?”
She cradles her shot glass with a devious little smirk playing out on her lips.
“Haven’t you heard? I saved my first life today.
” Gulping back the drink, she experiences a full-body shiver before letting out a soft sigh.
“It was scary, but exciting. I thought I was going to pass out.” Her smile wobbles. “There was a lot of blood.”
Lifting a brow, she giggles again, like there’s a joke told that I don’t understand.
Unsure whether I should give her a pat on the shoulder and congratulate her, or ask if she’s okay, I’m just happy to keep the conversation going.
Thrusting a hand in my direction, she nearly knocks her other elbow into an empty bottle resting on the bar top.
“I’m Leah. I’ve never seen you in my life, so I’ll give you the rundown on how cool I am.
” She hiccups and giggles again. “My job is super boring, but today, it was not. Today—” She takes in a deep breath, “—I got to take care of someone who got stabbed five times today.”
She is way too cheery for talking about such a grizzly topic. What is she, some kind of doctor or nurse? If she were, I should know her outside of this place. Yet, I’m sure of it. This is our first time meeting.
I’d know if I’d seen her before.
She’s a mystery I still don’t have the answers to. Even now, her behavior catches my attention and keeps it.
Pretty sure if I saw such a horrifying sight, I’d drink to forget instead of celebrating it.
I grab her hand, unable to fight off the smile forming on my lips. “Liam. Though some of the guys call me Warden. But it’s just a nickname for now. I doubt it will stick.”
They use it more like a tease or a mock, just because I get a little worried about injuries. Can I help myself? I care too much. I’ve got a big heart.
No one really goes by their real names around here, and it’s a shame. I wouldn’t mind such a sweet voice purring it in my ear.
“Warden?” She says my name again, much slower this time, suddenly making the nickname a little more appealing. Slowly spinning on her stool, she squints at the other members enjoying themselves. “I have something to confess, Warden.”
Right now, I don’t think there’s anything she can say that’ll make this exchange any better than it already is. Well, unless she decides to tell me that she wants to spend the rest of tonight with my company. That would definitely top it.
“I think I have drunk too much.” Looking back at me, her head sways. “I may throw up here in the next minute or two.”
Well, fuck. That’s not what I expected her to say. It’s gross, but my dick remains stiff.
“Come on, then. Let’s get you to the bathroom.” Already standing, I scoop her into my arms without thinking twice. Sure, she may hurl down my back, but she clings to me instantly. It’s really nice.
Passing by Hammer, he gives a lift of his brow. Is this what he meant by calling her trouble? If that’s the case, I got this in the bag.
I’m going to face this trouble head-on and make this woman mine.