by Colt, Shyla
The slender rocker with green highlights and a gaggle of tattoos poked out her pierced lip. Her large brown eyes were widened comically.
“Put them away. They don’t work on me.”
She sighed. “Dammit, you’re my kryptonite.”
“Someone needed to be.”
The bartender filled his glass and left the whiskey.
He slammed his drink back and saluted her with the bottle.
“Come on, Monster, don’t you want to have a little fun?” Holly ran a finger down his arm. “You always like what we do. Remember the last time me, you and Pan had a little fun?”
The image of her flinching when she touched his marred skin and saw the scars that covered his torso and back was burned into his brain. That’s when he decided to stop accepting scraps. ‘Cause the shit hurt too much. “Yeah, I remember.”
“It’s like you’re going for sainthood or something.”
“If you want Pan, go get him. I don’t have to be a part of the equation.”
“Are you really that blind?” she scoffed.
“Bitch, I’d step lightly if I were you. I’m not in the mood, and you’re walking a tightrope. You’re no one's old lady. You’re a guest we allow to come into our home and service us. Just so we’re clear.”
She gasped. “The fuck, Monster?”
“I’m tired of playing games with silly girls.”
She clenched her jaw and shook her head. Snickers left her lips and she leaned in. “You know, I only wanted to offer you a good time. I’m the one bitch here who’ll touch your warped skin and pretend to like it.”
He smiled at her venom. “News flash, you’re a shitty actress.”
She stood up straight and stormed off.
“Hell, brother, you’re zero for two tonight. That’s the second person I saw you run off,” Demon interjected.
Monster smirked. “You don’t miss a thing, do you, P?”
“That’s why I’m in charge.”
“It doesn’t take much for Pan to get a bee in his bonnet and sometimes, bitches forget their place.”
“Yeah, there are many reasons Pan got the moniker Pan.” Demon shook his head. “I’m about to head out, so I’m making my rounds.”
“Yeah, Ardy’s getting close, isn’t she?”
Demon grinned and nodded. “Any week now.”
His paternal pride always amazed Monster. He’d never been shy when it came to showing his affection for or to his kids. It was something he admired about the man. “Good for you, P.”
“You thinking about little Monsters?” Demon arched an eyebrow.
“Problem with that is, knowing my luck, they’d be little Pans.” They both laughed. “’Side’s need a woman for that first.”
“Old ladies have a way of creeping up on you when you least expect it.” Demon clapped him on the shoulder and continued his way through the bar.
Chase sank down in the stool beside him.
Her pursed lips and narrowed eyes told him she was hot about something. He glanced around.
“She’s talking to Gia.” Chase answered his unasked question. She waved the bartender over. “Give me something cold and in a bottle, darling.” The words rolled off her tongue.
The way she spoke to women always left Monster wondering if she was into women. Maybe I’m not the only one interested in Symone. “I think everyone in here tonight heard, thanks to Lefty.”
Chase chuckled. “Figures.”
“You two seem tight. What’s the story between them?”
“You’d have to ask her yourself.”
“Come on, she’s not the easiest person to get to know.”
“All the best ones are, Monster.” The bartender returned with the beer. “Thank you,” Chase said. She took a swig of her beer and sighed. “What’s the deal with you anyway? I can’t recall you ever showing this much interest in any woman.”
Monster shrugged.
“‘Cause I’m telling you now, she’s been through enough. If you’re looking to hit and quit it you need to keep fucking with these biker bunnies.”
“So, you’re her keeper now, or something more?”
Chase grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Kind of. Just wondering if you’re staking your claim.”
“Not yet. But if you don’t get the lead out, maybe I will.”
“I never said I wanted to.”
“Right.” She cast him a look of disbelief and took another draw of her long neck. “Either way, I suggest you prepare yourself, because here she comes.”
Monster tensed.
“Everything okay, girl?” Chase asked, smoothly changing gears.
“Yeah, we’re good now.”
“You look like you could use a beer.” Chase scooted over to the stool to her left and patted the vacated spot beside him. “Have a seat. Monster won’t bite.”
Symone’s eyes were full of curiosity.
Plus, he thought he saw a dash of caution. The lack of fear pleased him. He gave her a small smile and a nod.
Her shoulders relaxed.
“A beer for my girl here, please,” Chase called.
The term my girl didn’t sit well with Monster. Frowning, he glanced down at the counter to keep his annoyance to himself.
The bartender set a beer in front of Symone. Monster reached out and grabbed it, glaring at the bartender who was intent on insulting her. She’d receive the same respect as old ladies and non whores. “You don’t open your own beers here.” He twisted off the cap.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
“Anytime.” He winked.
Her full lips quirked upward at the corners and she ducked her head.
The combination of shyness mixed with worldly knowledge made his cock twitch. Where others saw scars, he saw a survivor. The desire to know her story deepened. He tossed back another shot to loosen up. She made him nervous. It’d been a long time since he gave a fuck what any woman thought. “You enjoying your first night out with the Dueling Devils?” Monster asked.
“I don’t know. We barely made it through the door. Only thing I’ve seen so far is the game room.”
“We need to remedy that and show her around,” Chase suggested. She plunked her bottle down on the bar. “But first, I need to take care of a little business. Can I trust you to keep an eye on her?”
“I’m not a child,” Symone drawled.
“No, but you’re new to our world and it’s like a sweet fragrance everyone wants to smell.”
“Not on my watch,” Monster said.
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Chase jumped up and patted him on the shoulder. “Be back in a bit.” She disappeared into the crowd.
“Sorry, you’re stuck with me.”
Symone snickered. “It’s okay. I’m pretty sure Chase does as she pleases, so it’s not like you could stop or predict her next move.”
“You already picked up on that, huh?” He smirked.
She snorted and covered her mouth with her hands.
The sudden fear in her eyes slayed him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“That you think I’m funny?”
“No, that I forgot myself?”
“I’m not following you.”
“A lady should always put her best face forward.”
“No.” He gently grasped her hand and pulled it down from her face. “You do whatever the fuck makes you happy. Don’t hide from me or anyone else.”
Her eyes widened.
“I don’t know where you’re from, or what you’ve been through and I won’t ask because that’s none of my business. But I will tell you this. You are free to be yourself here, whatever that means. Once you’re under our protection, no one is going to fuck with you. I promise you that.”
She nodded but remained tucked back into her shell, like a turtle.
The silence stretched between them. He threw back another shot. “How about I give you that tour Chase mentioned?”
“Please.”
“Baby, you don’t ever have to say please to me. All you have to do is ask and if I can do it, I will.”
“Why?” she whispered. Her brow furrowed and her thin eyebrows sloped down, almost meeting. The expression wrinkled her button nose.
Fucking adorable. What the hell am I doing using words like that? He shrugged. “I’m still trying to figure that out. That okay with you?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Fair enough.” He stood and held his breath.
Quietly, she sat on a stool and gave him a slow once over.
His heartbeat kicked up a notch. His throat grew thick. She’s one of my own kind, the scarred and wounded. If she doesn’t want me, that’s it. She slid off the stool and his lungs began to work once more.
Her gaze darted around, like she expected someone to come from nowhere.
“Hey.”
Looking troubled, she glanced back over at him.
“I got you, Symone. You’re with me now. You can relax, okay?”
She swallowed hard and nodded her head.
He wanted to wrap an arm around her slender shoulders, but he knew that’d be invading her personal space. He shoved his hands in his pockets to resist temptation and led her down the hallway to the deck out back.
“Oh,” she whispered.
“Not what you expected to see, huh?”
“Not at all.”
“It’s been a year of additions since Pres got married and things became a little more family friendly, if you know what I mean.”
“That’s nice though, says a lot about him.”
Her wistful tone wasn’t lost on him. “Yeah, one thing about us bikers. When we decide to claim someone, we take their happiness pretty damn seriously.”
“Yeah? And all the club stuff here is what? Just a nice distraction the ladies back home don’t need to worry about? I know men. They’re never satisfied with what they have.”
“A little presumptuous to lump us all in the same category, don’t you think?” Monster asked.
“I’ll believe it when I see it with my own eyes.”
“I think when you find the right one, he’ll show you.”
“I think it’ll be a cold day in hell when that happens,” she scoffed.
Well, get ready, because a snow day is coming, baby.
CHAPTER FOUR
Symone blew strands of wayward hair out of her face and finished tallying the last set of numbers. The old girl had been dumb as a box of rocks, which meant their accounting had to be overhauled, starting at the date she was hired six months ago. She hit enter, scribbled the final amount and pushed back from the desk. Her eyes burned from hours of staring at numbers on a computer screen. She closed her eyes and rubbed her eyelids with her fingers, in an attempt to massage the strain away.
God, I should’ve been out of here three hours ago.
“Hey.”
She jumped in the chair.
“Sorry to startle you.” Monster stood in the doorway with his hands up in a comical expression of surrender. His face and hands were smeared with grease and droplets of sweat.
She licked her lips. Something about this man appealed to her on a base level. It wasn’t an experience she’d had before.
“I thought I was the only one left. You’re usually out of here around seven.”
“Yeah, I had to stay and clean up Sarah’s money mess before we got anymore behind.” She shook her head. “I hope she was pretty, because she couldn’t do her job worth a damn.”
Monster burst out laughing. “I always figured. She had that vacant look in her eyes when you asked her about shit.”
Symone rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s all settled now. What happened to the girl before her?”
“Anna? She was a brother's kid. She graduated college and went off into the real world to get a nine to five.”
“Ahh, so you guys were left in the lurch and had to accept whatever you could find at the drop off a hat.”
“Basically.”
She snorted. “What are you doing here this late?”
“Finishing up a job for P. He’s not a man you want to tell you couldn’t get something done.”
“Yeah, I think you’re putting it lightly.”
“What? You scared of him?” Monster tilted his head. “Most girl’s panties drop at the sight of him.
She shook her head. “You can see in his eyes he’s a man about his business.”
“You’re not wrong, but he’s about family too. That’s why he’s such a good leader.”
“Hmm.”
“You’ll see,” Monster assured her.
“Who says I’ll be around that long?”
“You planning on leaving soon?”
“Not at the moment.” But you never know.
“No way to live with one foot always out the door.”
“More like eyes and options open.”
“You really believe that?” Monster’s voice gentled.
“Do you care?”
“Yeah, I do, Symone.” He stepped inside the office. His broad shoulders stole half the space and his personality took the rest.
“Why?” The intensity rolling off him frightened her.
“You know why.”
She gripped the desk tightly. “No, I don’t.”
“Then I’ll show you. Stand up for me, baby.”
Petrified, she remained in her seat, frozen by a mixture of fear, hope and a tiny bit of excitement. Monster was like no one she’d ever known. He woke things inside her she hadn’t known existed and made her want. Wanting lead to pain and disillusionment. Eyes open this time.
He held her gaze and walked over to stand in front of her desk. “You don’t have to be scared of me, Symone. I will never harm a hair on that pretty little head of yours. But we can’t deny what’s between us. I refuse to let you do that. Because it’s not something that happens every day, especially not to me. Not to people like us.”
“Like us?”
“Who’ve seen the worst life has to offer and kept pushing forward. Because we always do whatever it takes to survive. Don’t you, baby?”
She nodded her head, under his trance. She felt like a rabbit staring into the hypnotic eyes of a cobra.
“I can see it in your eyes that fight that hurt. I knew you’d be able to get me…to handle me. You’re scared. I understand and respect that. Hell, I’m terrified.”
“Then why?”
“Because the other night with you at the clubhouse I felt more alive than I have since the fire. And that’s something I refuse to walk away from.” He trailed his fingers down the side of her face. His fingers going over her scarred skin felt rough. But it took nothing away from the hold he had on her. “So, we can go as slow as you need, but we will go. ‘Cause I’d never forgive myself if we didn’t.”
“I don’t know how.” Her voice shook.
“Fuck, me neither, doll. But we can learn together.”
His words sounded good, but she’d learned actions were everything. “I—I don’t know that I can. There’s so much about me you don’t know.”
“I’ll learn.” He tipped her face up. “And so will you.”
A promise loomed in his eyes. A determination she knew wouldn’t be easily swayed. She licked her lips and fought against his lure. He was a shiny bauble and she was a magpie. He moved in and she glanced up, unable to move away.
“I’m going to kiss you now. You ready for that?”
Against her better judgment, she found herself nodding her head…yes.
Heat rolled off him. The scent of leather, sweat, and oil meshed with his natural musk. He gripped the back of her neck, squeezing it gently. His calloused fingers displayed strength and support at the same time. Their lips brushed. Energy crackled between them.
Streaks of pleasure ran through her body. He pressed their lips together. Her knees went weak. This was different. She wanted to kiss him becau
se she could and he wanted her. His gaze remained trained on hers. Her lids lowered to half-mast and her mouth opened. He slipped his tongue inside and she whimpered. He tasted like mint and something intrinsically him. Spicy, addictive, and mouthwatering, he became the center all her senses focused on. He tilted his head, deepening their kiss. She leaned toward him and he pulled her body flush against his. The unmistakable bulge in his pants made her panties wet. There was no fear or need to pretend here. It became a delicious and decadent feeling she wanted more of.
Their tongues slicked together. A dull ache began in her core. Her heart pounded. She was alive and safe for the very first time in a man’s arms. No, in this man’s arms. Monster spoke to a part of her she didn’t’ recognize. Which makes him dangerous. The thought was sobering. She moved her head to the side and placed her hands on his chest, then pushed gently. Her chest heaved as she sucked down air. “No, we can’t.”
“We already did, babe.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to do it again.”
“You can’t put this genie back in the bottle.”
“Says who?”
Monster chuckled. “Says me. What exists between us is still there.”
She wanted to tell him he was wrong, but it became hard to dispute the facts when her panties were waterlogged and her nipples strained to escape the confines of her bra. She shifted her weight, rubbing her thighs together to provide some friction.
“You know I’d be happy to take care of that for you.”
“No,” she cried out and clamped her legs together.
He squeezed her neck gently. “You sure about that? I bet if I slip my hands in your pants right now, you’d be soaking wet.” His voice lowered.
The husky timbre did funny things to her insides. “I—I’m sure. It’s too much, too fast.”
His jaw clenched.
She flinched.
“Hey, I’m never going to hurt you, Symone. You can take my word on that.” He released her neck and moved around to stroke her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “Someone did a real number on you, didn’t they?”
She pressed her lips together.
“You don’t have to tell me right now. I have plenty of secrets myself. But one day, when we’re both ready.” He nodded his head.
How can he be so certain? She'd never been terrified and fascinated at the same time before. She bowed her head and stared down at her black pumps. “I just want to shut down the computer so I can leave.”