Текст книги "Unlawful Desire "
Автор книги: Chelle Bliss
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Unlawful Desire
Chelle Bliss
Contents
Copyright
Playlist
1. Bye Felicia
2. My thing…My business
3. Cupcakes and cuties
4. Someone’s Getting It
5. Shock and Awe
6. The Big V
7. Tricks
8. Complications
9. Buzzing
10. The Aftermath
11. Best Stakeout Ever
12. Slow Motion
13. Meet the Parents
14. Stubbornness
15. Found
16. Decisions
17. Old-School Beatdown
18. Make Amends
19. Set Straight
20. Worthy
21. Surprises
22. Colliding Worlds
23. Caught
24. Cruisin’
Epilogue
Afterword
About the Author
Rebound ~ Sam’s Story
Throttle Me Sneak Peek
Acknowledgments
Unlawful Desire Copyright © 2015 Chelle Bliss
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Publisher © Chelle Bliss September 22nd 2015
Editors Lisa A. Hollett of Silently Correcting Your Grammar LLC & Editing720
Proofreader Rosa Sharon & Fiona Wilson
Cover Design © Chelle Bliss
Formatted by Brian Morgan
Cover Models Lance Jones and Brit Love
Cover Photo © Shelton Cole of SC Photo
Playlist
Click here to Listen
Georgia by Vance Joy
Freakin by Lyrica Anderson
Nobody Praying For Me by Seether
This Night by Black Lab
Fake It by Seether
Never Say Never by The Fray
A Beautiful Lie by Thirty Seconds To Mars
Take Your Time by Sam Hunt
Can’t Feel My Face by The Weekend
Stitches by Shawn Mendes
Watch Me Drown by Seether
Ride by Chase Rice
If You Want A Bad Boy by Brantley Gilbert
Dangerous Game by 3 Doors Down
You’re the One by Dondria
Quickie by Miguel
Ledges by Noah Gundersen
Chapter 1
Bye Felicia
“Fuck, baby,” she said and reached for me, but I slipped out of her grip. “Where ya running off to?”
I grabbed my jeans off the floor and pulled them up quickly, needing to get out of here. “This was a mistake, Jeanine,” I admitted without looking at her as I zipped up my pants.
She tried to pull me back toward the bed. “Come on. You know you want more,” she said as she kneeled with her legs spread, giving me a full view of everything I’d already sampled and nothing I wanted again.
“It was nothing more than a moment of weakness.” I shook my head, pulling out of her grip. “It won’t happen again.”
Her body jolted back before she narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re a real asshole, Frisco.”
“Babe, you knew exactly what last night was.” I leaned forward and kept my eyes pinned to her. “Don’t act like you’re crushed.”
She glared at me, crossing her arms over her chest. “But I thought—”
I put my hand up. I was done. Done with her. Done with us. Done with everything that had to do with her. “That’s the problem. You didn’t bother to listen.”
Her nostrils flared as she flung virtual daggers with her eyes. “You said you wanted me, though.”
“Yeah, I wanted to fuck you. Nothing more. We’ve been over for a long time.” I pulled on my T-shirt, smoothing out the wrinkles with the palm of my hands. “Face reality, Jeanine. You’ll never be more than a fuck to me. You made sure of it when you fucked your trainer.”
The one thing I could never forgive was infidelity. She thought that her pussy was so damn good, I’d forget about her offering it up to someone other than me. When I made a commitment to someone, I fully expected the other person to follow the same rules. Jeanine hadn’t felt the same way.
Maybe I treated her shitty by fucking her last night and being harsh with her this morning, but I didn’t care. The hurt she caused me ran deep, and the pain hadn’t dulled in the three months since the truth had come out.
I ducked just as her high heel landed near my head. “Get the fuck out of here. You were the biggest mistake of my life.”
I grinned as I slid on my boots. “I’m the best man you’ll ever have, babe. You’ll never forget the way I fucked you, how deeply I loved you, and how caring I was with you. You’ll crawl back to me someday, begging for it again.”
She closed her eyes, dropping her head. “Just leave, Frisco.”
I stopped in the doorway, glancing over my shoulder. “Call me when you’re missing my cock.”
“Fuck you!” she yelled, reaching over the edge of the bed, and I took that as my cue to get the hell out of there.
“Never again. That I promise you.” I headed down the hallway, feeling a freedom I hadn’t felt before. I’d never let her talk me into spending another night in her bed. I wouldn’t even fuck her in a bathroom stall if she offered me pussy with no strings attached.
I jumped when a loud thud echoed through the small space. I guessed I’d hit a chord with my ex.
I’d spent three months feeling sorry for myself. Jeanine had ripped my heart out. We’d been together for two years, and just when I was about to propose to her, I caught her fucking him. She begged for my forgiveness, swore it had only happened once and that it would never happen again, but I told her to hit the road.
It wasn’t that I swore off women, but I couldn’t even think about a relationship. The ladies at the Neon Cowboy, my favorite bar and hangout, were more than happy to share my bed without ties.
I walked out of her house knowing it was time for me to move on. Jeanine was my past, and who the fuck knew where my future would lead me.
I’d been given a fresh start.
For the first time in a long time, I felt ready to conquer the world. I had a kick-ass job at ALFA Private Investigations, a great group of new friends, and my buddies at the Neon Cowboy. Pussy was in abundance.
Life couldn’t be any fuckin’ better.
I’d never needed anyone to make me feel whole. I’d spent years in the military, traveling to countries most people only read about, and served as a member of one of the most elite fighting forces—the Navy SEALs. The men I surrounded myself with were my family and everything in the world to me. We’d looked out for each other.
Now, I had a new team. The guys at ALFA were my new family, and we had each other’s backs just like my brothers in the SEALs did when I served.
Right now, work was the name of the game.
Pussy was a recreational activity.
Variety is the spice of life, right?
Who wanted to be nailed down to one woman?
I sure as hell didn’t.
***
“Aren’t those the same clothes you wore yesterday?” Thomas asked when I sat down.
“Shit happens.”
“Who was it last night?” James dropped a stack of files on the conference table with a smug grin on his face.
“You don’t wanna know.” Sam began to laugh.
James shook his head, knowing the answer already. “You didn’t?”
“She offered. I took.” A slow grin spread across my face.
“Never go back.” Thomas rubbed his forehead like he was trying to remove a spot from his skin. “It never ends well.”
I leaned back in the conference chair, twisting from side to side and thought about his words. “Ended well for me.” I laughed, remembering how pissed off Jeanine had been when I left. Fuck her feelings. She hadn’t been thinking of mine when she cheated.
“Let’s start the meeting and forget about Jeanine.” Her name sounded like acid coming from Thomas’ mouth.
“Please.” Her smell still lingered on my fingers, taunting me as I rubbed my chin.
The guys hadn’t stopped giving me shit about her. Every time I said her name, they’d tell me to get the fuck over her and find a new woman.
The problem was, I found too many.
“Let’s welcome our newest member, Bear.” Thomas gave Bear a nod.
“I’m happy to be here,” he replied without a smile as everyone greeted him.
That was Bear—serious as a heart attack, funny as fuck, and scary as hell. We’d been friends for years. We were regulars at the Neon Cowboy and both friends of Thomas’ brother Joe. We both jumped at the chance to work for a PI firm in town when Joe mentioned they were looking for new guys to hire for the crew.
“Frisco.” James snapped his fingers, annoying the hell out of me.
I dragged my eyes to him. “What’s up?”
He slid a folder down the long, black table, and it stopped right in front of me. “New case for you this week.”
“What is it?”
“Someone wants proof that their spouse is cheating.”
I looked up at James’ grinning face and gritted my teeth. “Getting a kick out of this aren’t ya, man?” I asked. Really, I’d been given a free pass for too long and could handle the job, but it was nice being offered the better cases.
“Shit happens every day to people. Just do your job and get the proof.”
“Fine,” I grumbled, reading over her details and pretending to be upset.
“Sam, where are you with your case?” Thomas changed the subject and left me to study my next assignment.
I hadn’t taken a cheating case in three months. Thomas and James had been kind enough to pass them along to the other guys.
I read the information that Mary Green had written while cases were assigned to everyone else around the table. There wasn’t anything unusual. Her husband had started staying later at work, began dressing differently, changed his cologne, and added a password lock to his phone. She suspected he was cheating and wanted proof.
“Can I just ask something real quick?” Bear rubbed the back of his neck and seemed uneasy. I’d never worked with Bear, but he wasn’t acting like his self-assured asshole self I knew.
“Shoot.” James motioned toward Bear with a quick nod.
“When the fuck did we start calling him Sam?” His eyes moved to Sam before anyone could answer the question. “You’ll always be Flash to me. Sam just sounds so, so…fucking old.”
Sam’s face turned pink. “I dropped the nickname years ago, Bear.”
Sam, aka Flash, had worked with James and Thomas years ago. They were undercover DEA agents and Sam worked for the FBI. They worked together, not always nicely, to take down one of the biggest motorcycle gangs in Florida. Afterward, they were all sick of the life and the lies they had to tell, and that’s how ALFA came to fruition.
“It suits you, though, pretty boy. I’m calling your ass Flash. Just putting it out there,” Bear said and crossed his arms over his chest as he stood his ground.
Sam never seemed to sound right, but he tried to throw out the nickname. I didn’t know much about the guy, but I knew that he’d had a thing with James’ wife before they were a couple. The tension between James and Flash was often so intense that I could almost see the anger radiate from James.
Sam would laugh it off and try to smooth the waters, but James never got rid of the chip on his shoulder. Sam had a woman, Fiona, and was madly in love with her. Izzy, James’ wife, was happily married and didn’t want anything more than a friendship from Sam. James being James let the past lie, but he didn’t forget everything entirely.
“Whatever you want.” Sam held his hands up and gave Bear the killer smile he’d been nicknamed for.
“Glad that’s settled,” Morgan chimed in, tapping his fingers on the table, looking completely bored. “We done here?”
“Are you good, Frisco?” James asked, ignoring Morgan.
I nodded, giving him a fake smile while I closed the file. “I got this. Easy case.”
“If it’s too soon, I can give it to one of the other guys,” he offered.
“What the fuck?” Morgan complained, rolling his eyes and groaning.
I lifted my chin to him before I glanced at Morgan. “I’m not a pussy, man. I got it.”
“About damn time,” Morgan said with a smile. “You back finally, brother?”
“I’m back.” I stood and glanced around the table. Each of the men around the table had my back. They treated me with kid gloves during the entire breakup. I wouldn’t have made it through with my sanity if it hadn’t been for them. “And better than ever,” I added before I walked out of the room.
As I headed down the hallway toward my office, I could hear the guys hooting and laughing. I felt the truth in those words when I spoke them. I was no longer the man I had been even the day before.
I was better, a different version of my former self.
I was a self-described asshole, but I had a kind heart too.
One thing I knew for sure: I’d never be anyone’s doormat again.
“So it’s really over?” Bear called down the hallway, following close on my heels.
I stopped at my office door and turned to face him. “Finished.”
He fist-pumped the air and whooped before he spoke. “That bitch didn’t deserve you.”
“I know.” My happiness had been written all over me since I’d left her place, unable to wipe the grin off my face. She fucking didn’t. I knew that before I caught her with that steroid-filled douchebag.
“Drinks tonight to celebrate my first case?”
“Sure, Bear. Neon Cowboy?”
“Fuck yeah. Where else, man?”
“I’ll be there. Now get to work so they don’t fire your ass before you start.”
“Pussy,” he whispered and disappeared into his office.
Bear always knew how to put shit in perspective. He’d never liked Jeanine, but then again, I never cared what his opinion of someone had been before. Closing the door behind me, I tossed the file on my desk from across the room and took a deep breath.
Tonight was a night to celebrate.
Chapter 2
My thing…My business
I walked through the doors of the Neon Cowboy and glanced around, scanning the crowd for Jeanine. Not because I wanted to see her, but because I didn’t want to deal with her shit tonight.
“Hey, Frisco.” Brandy, the waitress I flirted with often and fucked sometimes, greeted me.
Brandy and I had an agreement. We’d spent some nights together, enjoyed each other’s bodies, and didn’t need anything more. She was easy and didn’t make my head hurt with her bullshit.
I buried my face in her hair. “Hey yourself, beautiful. How you doin’ tonight?” My lips brushed against her ear and she shivered in my arms.
“I’m better now that you’re here,” she whispered.
“Want me to wait around for you tonight? I can give you a ride home?”
“Yeah. I could use a ride,” she replied with a small laugh.
“Let me hang out with the guys and then find me when you’re ready to get off.”
“I plan on it.” She dragged her lips against my cheek before she backed up a step.
Tonight I’d get a piece of ass without hearing shit about it in the morning. That had been the best part of being single. No one expected anything from me.
“Look who finally decided to show his face,” City said when I approached the table. He wrapped his arm tightly around his wife, Sunshine, before he took a sip of his beer.
We’d been friends for as long as I could remember. Unlike the other guys we hung out with at the Neon Cowboy, City and I had an understanding. I’d even say we were cut from the same cloth. We both believed in fidelity and loyalty above all else, and we knew how to treat our women until they needed to be tossed to the curb.
City had the look of a man you didn’t fuck with. He was big, wide, and dark. His piercing blue eyes were haunting against his olive skin and dark hair, and his appearance unsettled many people who crossed his path. Much like me, his skin was covered in tattoos, but his were part of his trade.
“If your brother didn’t work me to death, I’d be here more often.” I pulled out a chair and collapsed. “Hey, Sunshine.”
She gave me a lopsided smile and swirled the drink around in her glass. “Hey, Frisco. I haven’t seen you in so long. How are ya, sweetie?” Her blond hair cascaded down her shoulder, kissing the edge of her cleavage, but I didn’t dare stare.
I watched the way she curled into her husband’s side, always touching him. “Just perfect, babe.”
When I’d first met Sunshine, I didn’t think she had a chance in hell of lasting with City. They were complete opposites—him a badass biker who inked for a living, and her a prissy schoolteacher with more issues and rules than I had back in Catholic school. But here they were, happily married.
“Are you over her?” Her eyes shifted when she referred to Jeanine.
“Yeah, babe. She’s in the past.” I looked around the table and my eyes stopped on Bear, who had a look that screamed bullshit.
He held the beer bottle in front of his face and stared at me down the glass. “Where was your dick last night?”
Motherfucker. Bear always had to throw me under the fucking bus.
I glared at him, grinding my teeth. “There’s a lady at the table.” I leaned forward in my chair, resting my elbows on the table and glaring at him.
He glanced around before looking at me. “Who?”
I shook my head, wondering if he’d had a few too many already. “Sunshine,” I snapped, motioning toward her with my fingers.
He laughed. “She’s one of the guys now. I’ve heard her say some pretty nasty shit. Ain’t that right, Sunshine?” He winked at her, causing her to giggle.
“Yeah.” A straw clung to her bottom lip. “So where was it?”
There it was.
The innocence.
We’d all teased her about her inability to use cuss words, and she hadn’t changed. But every so often, when you got her mad enough, she’d let them fly.
Everyone was fishing. They all wanted me to admit what I tried to hide, wanted to hide. I don’t know if I was ashamed of the night before or just didn’t want to hear their comments. I could see that no matter what I said, they weren’t going to drop it until I fessed up.
“Where was what?” I asked Sunshine, trying to get her to say the word.
“Your thing,” she replied as she set her drink down.
The entire table erupted in laughter. Sunshine had been a good girl—hell, she still was. She may have hung around with a crowd that cursed as if it was our only language, but she still couldn’t use the words herself.
“See.” I pointed at her, unable to contain my smile. “She’s still an innocent.”
I wanted someone like her.
Scratch that.
Although I loved her to pieces, I needed someone with a little more bite.
Scratch that too. I didn’t want anyone. Didn’t need them.
City choked on his beer and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “She’s far from that, man.”
Bear slapped the table, tears forming in his eyes as he laughed. “Stop stalling. Since you’re over her, why don’t you tell us where your thing was last night?” He raised an eyebrow, challenging me to answer even though he knew I wouldn’t back down.
“Fuck off, Bear.” I waved my hand in front of my face.
“Hey, guys.” Brandy held her tray against her hip and bounced slightly on her heels. “Another round?”
“I’ll take a shot of Jack and a beer, Brandy.”
“You got it, Frisco.” She winked at me.
“Another round for everyone, including Sunshine. Make hers a double.” Bear nudged City with his elbow. “We’ll get you laid tonight.”
City laughed, pushing Bear back. “She isn’t as much of a lightweight as she used to be, Bear, and I don’t need to liquor my girl up. What do you want, sugar?” He stroked her shoulder with his hand.
“I’ll take another, but not a double.” Sunshine pushed her empty glass toward Brandy. “I have a kid to take care of.”
“Coming right up,” Brandy said before sauntering off.
Bear watched her walk away. “I’d love to sink my teeth into that.”
“You’d sink your thing into anything, Bear. Who the fuck are you kidding, you old bastard?”
“You think you have more game than me, buddy?” he challenged, adjusting himself in the chair and leaning forward.
“I think I can get more pussy than you. In a fuckin’ heartbeat.”
“Yo, fuckers!” Tank yelled as he walked up to the table and tossed his cigarettes in front of his open seat.
“Tank,” everyone replied without looking.
“What the fuck did I miss?” His eyes swept around the table.
I laughed and pointed my thumb at Bear. “He thinks he can get more pussy than me.”
Tank slammed his hand down on the table and broke out into laughter. “That old fucker thinks he can beat you in a pussy contest?” Tank looked at Bear, shaking his head. “You senile or some shit?”
“No, asshole,” Bear snapped, his top lip snarling. “I can get any pussy in this room.”
Tank laughed harder, holding his side with one hand. “You should get your ass checked for that dementia. Frisco has a good fifteen years on your ass, and he knows how to treat a woman. Plus, his face doesn’t hurt either.”
Bear recoiled and his expression hardened. “What the fuck is wrong with my face?” He ran his fingers through his beard before smoothing it.
Tank slapped the table again, doubling over in laughter. “I can’t,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “You’ve got to be fucking joking me.”
Bear’s face softened as he looked around the table. “I’m pretty.”
“Scary,” City added, joining in on the laughter.
Bear crossed his arms over his chest, pushing back his shoulders. “Fuck you guys. You’re all assholes.”
Sunshine leaned in front of City, looking Bear straight in the face. “I think you’re pretty.”
City looked down at her. “You can’t be fuckin’ serious?”
She peered up at him, giving him a warm smile. “Everyone is beautiful, babe.”
He dragged his hand across his face. “Jesus. The woman likes everyone.” Glancing toward the ceiling, City let out a loud sigh.
Bear slapped him on the back, laughing. “Lucky for you, man. How else did you get yourself such a wonderful girl?” Bear gave City’s shoulder a tight squeeze.
A grin crept across City’s face. “That was my thing.”
Everyone broke out into laughter.
Sunshine rested her head on his chest as she looked up at him. “That sealed the deal, baby.”
Bear blanched and turned his eyes on me. “You up for the challenge, little man?”
I pushed my chest out, squared my shoulders, and smiled. “You’re on, old fuck,” I said with a gleam in my eye.
“You boys are bad. You shouldn’t treat girls that way,” Sunshine added as she glanced between Bear and me with her mouth agape.
I cleared my throat, leaning back in my chair. “We won’t treat them any other way than they want to be treated, sweetheart. Not every woman is looking for a relationship.”
She nodded slowly, giggles bubbling out of her. “Works for me.”
“What’s our target?” I rubbed my chin and thought about the best way to go about this. Really, no matter how we did it, I’d win. I’d never lost at anything. “Quantity or—”
“Here’s your drinks, guys,” Brandy interrupted, placing her tray on the table before handing them out.
“Thanks, Brandy.” Bear leaned forward and cleared his throat. “Can I ask you something?”
Here we go. I knew what was coming. Bear had been sweet on her, but then again he was sweet on a lot of girls. He didn’t know a thing about Brandy and me. We kept our arrangement on the down low. It wasn’t anyone’s business but our own.
She looked up at him, chewing her lip. “Sure, Bear. What’s up?”
“Well…” His eyes shifted. “Tank here wanted to know if you’re taken.”
Brandy blushed, glancing down at the floor. “No, I’m single,” she whispered as her face turned red.
“Brandy.” Tank’s voice was soft as he reached out and touched her arm. “It wasn’t me asking, but don’t be ashamed, babe. You’re a beautiful woman.”
Her eyes met Tank’s. “Thanks, Tank. You’re really sweet.” She winked at him and turned her attention toward Bear. “Anything else?” she asked as her body straightened.
“We’re good.” City dragged a beer in front of him and barely hid his amusement. “Thanks, Brandy. You can leave before one of these assholes says something else.”
She nodded and hugged her tray before she walked away.
“You’re assholes.” Sunshine shook her head.
The entire table turned to her and gawked.
“Mark this day in the books, men—Sunshine swore,” Bear announced, pretending to write a note on his palm.
“Fuck off. Stop harassing my woman,” City ordered, kissing the top of her head and pulling her closer while glaring at Bear.
“Fine. Back to what we were talking about before. Are we going for quantity or do you want to go head-to-head?”
Tank cleared his throat before he choked on his beer. “That didn’t sound right,” he said in a strangled voice.
“Sick fuck,” Bear snapped. “So what’ll it be, Frisco? Are you man enough?”
I leaned forward, rubbing my hands together, ready for the challenge. “I can beat your ass head-to-head any day. What’s the target?”
Bear leaned forward too, glancing around the table and speaking quietly. “Brandy.”
My eyebrows rose as I caught a glimpse of her across the room. “Brandy?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “Seriously? You think you can land her after that bullshit you just pulled? Her body language when she left didn’t say fuck me.” I laughed, knowing I had this one in the bag.
Bear smirked, toying with the scruff of hair hanging from his chin. “She wants me.”
“Clueless,” Tank mumbled before he brought the beer bottle to his lips.
I studied him and almost felt sorry for what was about to happen, but the feeling quickly passed. “What am I going to win when I crush the hell out of you?” This shit would be way too easy. Some would say it was cheating, but this was Bear and it was like taking candy from a baby.
“Fifty bucks.”
“Cheap fucker,” City muttered.
“One hundred, then,” Bear said.
I grabbed my beer, took a sip, and studied Bear. “You’re on, man. Ready to go down quicker than a hooker lookin’ for a fix?” The corner of my mouth twitched as I tried to hide my amusement.
“In your dreams, prick,” Bear shot back and cracked his neck, readying himself for victory. “Watch how it’s done.” He pushed his chair back and stood, zeroing in on his target. “I’m going to end this before it gets started.”
I motioned toward Brandy, trying not to laugh. Bear looked so damn serious and confident. “Have at it, man. Let’s see what game you got.”
“Watch and learn, little boy.” He straightened, smoothing his shirt and beard before he marched off toward her.
“You’re already meeting her after work, aren’t you?” City asked as we stared at Bear, waiting for the scene to play out.
I nodded, unable to hide my laughter anymore. “Yeah, I talked to her when I walked in.”
Tank turned toward me. “How often you hitting that fine piece of ass?”
I glanced at him and crossed my arms in front of me, feeling a little protective. “As often as she wants.”
Tank patted me on the back, a smile creeping across his face. “That’s my boy.”
“I wish I had fuckin’ popcorn.” City shook his beer, checking how full the bottle was before slamming it back.
“Me too, man. Me too.” I tried to watch, but I kept looking away, guilt gnawing at my insides. The poor guy was about to lose and fall hard. But the one thing I knew about Bear was that he never let it affect him. The man would get knocked down and hop right back up, bigger and better than before.
“I missed you guys.” Sunshine watched Bear intently, barely breathing.
Tank glanced over at her. “Eh, we’re assholes, babe,” he muttered. “You make us better men, though.”
“Clearly that’s a lie,” she mumbled, toying with the pink umbrella resting on the rim of her drink. “You guys are up to the same nonsense as always.”
“That’s why you love us,” I reminded her before I leaned forward, resting my elbow on the table and watching the train wreck unfold before my eyes.
“Yeah, that must be it,” she muttered. “Poor Bear.”
“Oh, please. He’s an asshole,” City said.
Bear tried to wrap an arm around Brandy and sweet-talk her the same way I had when I walked in, but she slipped from his grip.
“It’s not lookin’ so good for him.” Tank laughed. “I should record this shit.”
“Sick fuck. That would just be cruel,” City said, watching as stoically as the rest of us.
Bear tried again, caging Brandy against the bar as she leaned back. If she were mine, I would’ve already been on top of him, teaching him how to treat a woman. But I knew Brandy could handle herself. Working at a country biker bar like the Neon Cowboy, she had to deal with assholes all the time.
Brandy dipped under his arms, sliding out of his hold and squaring her shoulders. She glared at him, her hands waving in front of his face, and she laid into him.
He replied, but I couldn’t read his lips. Suddenly her hand flew through the air, striking him in the face. His body recoiled as he grabbed his cheek, stunned.
I jumped from my seat, moving quickly to her aid and grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Bear,” I warned.
“Dude, what?” he said, still holding his cheek with fire in his eyes as he glared at Brandy.
“Watch it.”
He turned his glare on me. “You think I’d fucking hit her?” His mouth dropped open and he shook my hand off.
I gave him a weak smile. “I don’t know, man.” But I did. The one thing I knew about Bear is that he’d never hit a woman. He had always been the one to step in and stop us from doing something we’d regret later.
“I deserved the slap.”
“I’m sorry, Bear.” Brandy glanced down at the floor, hiding her face behind her brown hair.
“Nah, Brandy. I was a dick. Forgive me?”
She brought her eyes to his but didn’t smile. “I’m still not fucking you, Bear.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” Bear replied before walking away and leaving us behind.
“What the fuck was that about?” she asked, shaking the sting from her palm and peering over my shoulder.
Grabbing her hand, I massaged her tender flesh. “I’ll tell you later.”
“It better be good.” Her shoulders sagged as I continued to rub her fingers. “That feels so good.”
“I’ll make ya feel better, sweetheart,” I promised, giving her a smirk that I could only describe as carnal.
A greedy smile spread across her face. “I know you will, handsome.”
I released her hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Get back to work and let me deal with Bear.”
“I’m counting the hours,” she whispered, turning her face to brush her lips against mine.
“Me too.” I pulled away, letting our fingertips touch as I took a step backward before turning and heading for the table.
I couldn’t hide the smile on my face. Bear’s posture said it all. He was pissed.
“I smell defeat,” I teased as I sat down and rubbed my hands together.
His eyes narrowed. “I call bullshit, Frisco. You had her before we made the bet.”
