by Bijou Hunter
“Big men need a big meal, but he won’t last that long if you don’t get him away from Grinch.”
Without thinking, I ditch Layla in the office and hurry to where Bubba leans a little too close to the cussing parrot.
“Bubba, carefully back away from him.”
I make a mental note of how well he listens rather than demanding to know why first. He’s a tatted, muscled hunk, but he’s no meathead. Bubba takes a few steps away from Grinch, who shuffles on the branch and calls me fat.
“That bird said that I was a shit-eating whore. Am I not allowed to ask how he knew my secret?” Bubba says once I have him outside the bird area.
His answer might be the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. Or I’m just in a state of arousal that makes every word he utters panty-wetting.
I reach up and wrap my fingers around the back of his neck. Tugging him lower, I lift my lips to meet his. The kiss starts so gently. He’s in complete control. I don’t expect much. A quick peck to thank him for being adorable with Grinch. I need only a tiny taste.
But Bubba has other plans.
THE RUNAWAY
Soso offers her lips and then hopes to steal them back before I’m finished tasting them. I can’t imagine she thought such a tease would satisfy me. My hands demand more—one on her hip, the other cupping her jaw. I hold her still, just enough for me to savor what I’ve hungered for since finding her this morning. I’m sure the drunken version of me wanted to kiss her too, but he was too fucking stupid, and she was too fucking smart to let it happen.
Now I know her flavor, and I can’t imagine enjoying the taste of another woman. Soso intoxicates as much as a Korean Kickass. I’m stoked by the way she makes me feel. Was I ever this fucking alive before? I’ve never felt as powerful as when I wrap her in my arms and deepen the kiss.
Soso slides her arms around my waist and gives into what we’ve been dancing around all morning. Even wanting to devour her, I pace myself. This isn’t some babe that I’m planning to bang and run away from while my cum is still hot. Soso needs to forget that any other man ever kissed her. I’m officially branding these lips as the property of Bubba Davies.
“Cunt!” a voice cries out, and Soso pushes me away.
Her expression is pure panic as her gaze searches for the aggressor. My hands ball into fists, and I’m ready to punch someone’s fucking face.
Soso’s anxiety deflates, and she chuckles embarrassed. “Oh, Grinch,” she says, pointing at the bird who calls us an asshole. “We’ve tried teaching you new words, but you just love cussing.”
“Whore!” the bird yells, shuffling back and forth on the branch.
Despite wanting to kick the bird’s ass for cock-blocking me, I only mumble, “He looks happy.”
“He loves it here. He wouldn’t cuss so much if he didn’t.”
I smile at how proud she looks when gazing at the bird. She’s in her element. That’s why I’m suffering from serious guilt, and my smile fades. I want this woman so fucking bad that I’m sporting a hard-on, talking to birds, and wondering how I can convince her to leave her life and join mine. What kind of asshole am I? Soso can’t give up this sanctuary and her family and her home for me.
But I’ll make her do it. No way can I leave this town without Soso. We’re still getting to know each other. I have so much to learn, but there’s no denying she’s the one for me. I can’t take my eyes off her, and my heart is set on this one woman. My dick’s a huge fan too.
A petty part of me hopes she pisses me off, and I lose this feeling. It’s inconvenient wanting the daughter of the Serrated Brotherhood's VP. Plus, I’m not ready for the emotional drama of wanting her to ditch everything she clearly loves about her life.
Long ago discarded, Conroe ain’t a fun town. Mom talks about it growing into something cool like Ellsberg, but that crap takes time. I’ll be asking Soso to leave a place where she’s powerful and comfortable for a town where I’m not even powerful and comfortable.
Yeah, maybe we’ll go to a restaurant where I’ll learn stuff about her that pisses me off. Maybe she’s gross or weird or does something so out-of-bounds that my dick will get soft and my heart will stop beating so fast every time she looks at me.
Sure, that’s going to fucking happen.
I catch Soso eyeing the blue-haired chick from earlier. They’re both wearing frowns. I bet that has to do with me—an out-of-town biker rubbing up against local royalty.
Once in the truck, Soso mentions the blue-haired chick is her cousin and the daughter of the local club president. Family’s going to be an issue between us.
Mine won’t stop nagging me. Hell, so far today, my mom texted me ten times to claim she thinks someone’s trying to break into the house and I should come home to save her. I don’t respond. She’s well aware my father and brothers can handle an intruder. Shit, even Mom can handle one without breaking a sweat.
But she keeps texting anyway. I finally respond as Soso drives us to lunch. Just a quick message about how I’m unable to help with her now seven-hour intruder situation. Within seconds, Mom texts to ask if I’m being held against my will.
“Only by a woman’s tight pussy,” I message back. Even over a hundred miles away, I feel Mom rolling her eyes.
“Girlfriend?” Soso asks, sounding hopeful that I’m a cheater and she can kick me to the curb.
“Why would you text me when I’m sitting right next to you?” I ask, making clear how I’m not going any-fucking-where.
Soso sighs. “What’s a dog?”
“Is that code for something?”
She refuses to smile, but I see her wanting to. “You said the Dogs don’t respect you.”
“Don’t you have anything more interesting to ask me?”
“What sexual position do you prefer?”
A smile flashes across my face, and my dick struggles to free itself from my jeans. “With you? That’s a tricky question. On the one hand, you bouncing on my dick would give me a fantastic view of your tits. On the other hand, if I’m on top, pumping my dick into you, I gotta believe you’ll have a harder time running away.”
“What about doggy-style?” she asks with complete seriousness. “Is that what the Dogs prefer and how they got their names? Oh, and who are they again?”
“It’s Reapers’ business, and you’re not in the club.”
“Is it a secret?” she asks, smiling at my attempt to dodge the subject.
“No, it’s just not information that’ll make you hot for me.”
“Nothing you say will make me hot for you. That kiss was disgusting. You make me sick. Now, who are the Dogs?”
I think to mention how her nipples remain rock-hard since our kiss. I could also point out how her pussy is no doubt hot and wet right now. Then again, why should I rub in her face what her body’s already screaming at her?
“Where are we eating?” I ask rather than answer her question.
“A place in White Horse where you can get a monster-sized sandwich.”
“Why can’t we eat close by?”
“Are you that hungry?”
“Yeah, and I want to know if you’re hiding me from your family?”
“No, not my family. Just the Brotherhood,” she says, keeping her gaze on the road. “Besides, I’m dropping you off at Audrey’s house after lunch.”
My mood sours immediately. I don’t want to leave her side. Why is Soso ready to get rid of me? I saw the look on her face before she kissed me. That wasn't a nonchalant peck of a woman who hands them out like candy.
Doesn’t matter if she wants me, though. Soso plans to ditch me after lunch. Nope. Not happening. I refuse to be okay with walking away. I mean, hell, if we lived in the same town, I might be able to take my time seducing her into my bed. But with her here, there’s no time for patience.
“Don’t sulk,” she says after we arrive at Dove Tail Pub and we’ve suffered through ten minutes of silence.
I climb out of the truck without respondin
g. Soso’s fucking with my heart. Why the hell not? I screwed with Butch’s and then made a fool of myself last night. I deserve for Soso to nail me in the balls a few times.
But after my humiliation, I want Soso with me.
And I refuse to accept no for an answer.
THE CHAPTER WHERE BUMPING UGLIES IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
THE BOHEMIAN
I’ve hurt Bubba’s precious boy feelings. Good! Screw him! How dare he be so tempting when we both know he’s got one foot on his way out of town? Cocksucker! Vile peckerhead!
If only I could hate him. Why did he have to be so fucking cute with Grinch? Or kiss me so thoroughly that my pussy hurts with disappointment? He knows exactly what he’s doing too.
Bubba’s insecurities last night gave me temporary amnesia about who he is. Johansson men never need to worry about anyone’s feelings. They come from power and money. They take what they want from women and move on when they’re bored. Sure, the same could be said for Rutgers men. That doesn’t mean I want to be Bubba’s ex-hookup, one of many for sure.
That’s why when Bubba asked if he could meet Odin before we left the sanctuary, I pretended we were in a hurry. It’d be a mistake to share my avian best friend with a guy I plan to fuck a few times and never see again.
Now I know I should just walk away without any fluid swapping. But not sleeping with Bubba would be a terrible waste of a gorgeous man. Besides, I’m too emotionally invested in feeling him inside my body now. I’d take him home for sex today if I didn’t need to worry about a painting party at one of the club guys’ new house.
“I’m good at painting,” Bubba says after we arrive at Dove Tail Pub.
Hurrying to open the door before he can, I hold it for him and smile. “I’m sure you’re good at a lot of stuff.”
Bubba reaches over me and grips the door. “After you.”
“Gentlemen first.”
Leaning down, he whispers, “My dick is so hard right now. Why don’t you scoot your ass inside so I can jack it in the bathroom?”
“Jack what? Your dick or my ass?”
His intense gaze holds mine. “I need to feel your pussy.”
Mouth instantly dry, I feel all my sassy boldness disappear. I’m suddenly petrified to be discarded by this man. Where did my confidence go?
“But fucking you fast and hard just to get off won’t cut it,” he says in a husky voice that I feel between my legs. “Now stop screwing around with the door and get inside where we can have a conversation that doesn’t involve what I want to do to you.”
“What else is there to talk about?” I ask, gripping his shirt and pushing him away before walking inside.
Bubba follows me to the hostess stand and places his right hand snugly around my waist. I don’t know if he’s about to pass out from the lack of blood to his brain or he just wants everyone to know he’s staking a claim on my body. If it’s the latter, I don’t think anyone gives a crap. This is White Horse, and people here tend to react to tattooed men by turning into those monkeys who see, hear, and speak no evil.
The hostess tries to seat us at a table, but Bubba insists on a booth so he can slide next to me.
“I’m not giving you a handy,” I mutter when he groans and tries to get comfortable. “Just go jack it in the bathroom.”
“I don’t want you thinking of me in there.”
“I don’t care. Really.”
“Come on, babe,” he says, relaxing his arm behind me. “What kind of man finds pleasure in a toilet stall while his woman sits alone and horny?”
“I’m not horny,” I angrily whisper.
“You’re not fooling anyone, Soso. I can smell your wet pussy.”
Gasping, I feel my face flush scarlet. Bubba kisses the side of my head while I struggle with embarrassment.
“I can’t even,” I mumble.
“Don’t ditch me at Audrey’s house. Take me back to your place, and I’ll eat you out until you can’t spell your name,” he says, nudging me. “Get it? Because your name is really easy to spell.”
Still bright red, I shake my head and fight a smile. “It’s too fast.”
“You’re the one who brought me home last night.”
“Just doing my civic duty.”
“Bullshit,” he says, nuzzling my temple. “If I looked like a dog, you’d have left me to die in the parking lot. You wanted my hot bod, but that’s okay. I want your hot bod too. Though I admit, I wouldn’t leave you to die in the parking lot even if you were a dog. My mama raised me to give a shit about the ladies.”
“Yeah, you’re a fucking gentleman. No denying that, jackass.”
Bubba throws his head back and laughs even after the waitress arrives to take our order. I tell her to bring two Houdinis and a pitcher of lemonade.
“Any issues with my choices?” I ask Bubba, who rests his lips against my head.
“I don’t care what we eat. I just want you to let me stick around.”
“I can’t. Not today. If you’re still around tomorrow, we can meet up around noon. Unfortunately, I might not want you by then.”
“Doubtful,” he mumbles. “What’s one day going to change?”
“It’s just attraction, and that can fade with a little distance.”
“It’s more than that,” he insists.
“You can’t share anything with me about the Dog people, and I can’t take you to a painting party without starting a riot. We have nothing connecting us except for the attraction. Not that I’m naïve. You and I will probably feel terrific naked together. Let’s just not waste time pretending it’s anything bigger than you and me wanting to take the pressure off our genitals.”
Bubba whispers, “No.”
“No, what?”
“You’ll see.”
I twist to look him in his now green eyes. Bubba’s expression is a mess to understand. His lips hint at a smile, but tension lingers in his gaze. He’s a man on the edge. Maybe a good fuck is all he needs to fix what ails him. It works for my mom when my dad is in a piss-poor mood.
I consider stopping somewhere for a quickie before leaving him at Audrey’s house. As I willing to get him off quickly and tell him goodbye now rather than relish his body for a few days and suffer more when he says goodbye?
I didn’t use to be so scared of flirting and fucking. Life was breezy before Griff. Now, I know what men can turn into and how I’m not nearly as strong as I want to believe.
THE RUNAWAY
Soso ain’t kidding about the sandwich. The oversized sixteen-incher is overflowing with steak, onions, mushrooms, and peppers. I lose a shit-ton taking my first bite, but I’m so hungry that I can’t worry about making a mess.
Soso spies a dropped red pepper and goes for the steal. “I’m a notorious food thief,” she says, wearing a sly smile that makes me want to keep her forever.
Is this what Butch feels for Sissy? Why the fuck didn’t he come to me day one rather than act like an asshole and let me hang around his babe? Fuck! If Butch sniffed around Soso even once, I’d confront him until he understood that brotherly love only goes so far.
But Butch isn’t me. Talking is too hard for him. Better to act like a cocksucker than let down his guard with a person he’s known his entire fucking life.
“What’s that look mean?” Soso asks after stealing one of my mushrooms.
I reach over and snap up one of her dropped chunks of steak. She watches me pop it in my mouth. I notice how her gaze lingers on my lips before she blinks a few times and returns to eating.
Wanting her to share information with me, I decide to answer her earlier question. “Conroe used to be controlled by a seven-man motorcycle club called Midnight Dogs. When my uncle Cooper wanted to expand, he gave the men a choice to either move out of town or be absorbed into the local chapter of the Reapers. They chose to remain.”
“And they don’t respect you?” Soso asks, sounding more curious than judgmental.
I think her tone shorts out the common sen
se part of my brain. Rather than stick to explaining the Dogs’ situation, I get way too honest by saying, “No one does.”
“Why?”
“I don’t do anything,” I say, shrugging as my hard-on deflates. Nothing makes my dick less excited than thinking about what a shitty president I am.
“What do you want to do?”
“Kill the Dogs and build a club with new people.”
“Why can’t you?”
I don’t answer. Soso means too much for me to piss away a chance at her heart by proving I’m not worthy. Except I’ve done just that by admitting I’m not my uncles or grandfather. I’m not the Rutgers either. I’m a boy on a leash his mommy holds.
My earlier confidence is out the fucking door. I just eat in silence, wishing I hadn’t mentioned the club at all.
Soso takes the hint and eats quietly. The entire mood from when we arrived is gone. I fucked it up. Why not? I figured I’d share what she wanted to know, and she’d trust me more. It was dumb. I just can’t seem to do anything right anymore.
It’s a tasty fucking sandwich, but I’ve lost my appetite. I probably couldn’t finish it even on my best day. The thing is enormous, and the sauce is heavy. When the waitress dropped off the sandwiches, she claimed, “You’ll need to be a magician to make it disappear.” Well, I’m not Houdini, and I get the other half to go.
Soso doesn’t even eat a third. She’s annoyed now. Or bored. I don’t know. There’s too much space between us despite us sitting in the identical positions as when she craved me with her every breath.
The walk to the truck is surreal. I was in this same place not long ago, and our connection was electric. Now there’s only dead space. Maybe I was wrong about us. I’m wrong a lot lately. I fucked up with Butch. Why not crash and burn with Soso too?
I don’t know White Horse and have no idea how close the restaurant is to Audrey’s house. I could check on my phone, but I don’t care. My mind is on Soso. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, and she was in the palm of my hand. Now she’s a million miles away and closing the door on me.