by Chelle Bliss
“Darlin’, ya are, and I fuckin’ love it.” His smile grew wide, giving me a glimpse of why they called him Flash. He had a perfect smile filled with shiny pearly white teeth – a smile that could charm the pants off any girl. It did funny things to my brain and I couldn’t say no to him. “In this bar, with these guys, it’s not the place. Understand? I’m a prospect and that shit won’t fly here.”
I slid my arm around his waist and looked up into his baby blues. “I got it. I’m to be seen and not heard?”
“That’s how these guys are. If you don’t like something they say, just keep quiet.”
The last thing I want to be is a piece of arm candy that faded away in the background. It’s not how I was raised. “Let’s get one thing straight, Flash. I know you’re badass and all, but I don’t stand in the shadows for anyone. Understand?”
“Fucking hell,” he muttered, rubbing his face.
“I’ll play the part this once, for you, but hear me now, mister. I’m not a club whore and I sure as hell ain’t your old lady. I don’t know what in the hell we are exactly, but if you want to be more than whatever the fuck this is,” I waved my hand in the air between us, “I will not stay quiet and be a mindless twat.”
“Calm the fuck down, woman,” he said, as he wrapped his fingers around my wrist. “I don’t think of you that way. This is for them.” He turned his attention to the table full of rough looking men sitting about twenty feet away.
I could handle big and burly, I was a Gallo girl, after all. I didn’t grow up a pussy.
“Just please do this for me and I’ll make sure to make it worth your while,” he said wiggling his eyebrows and giving me a cocky ass grin.
“I won’t make a scene and walk out, but you owe me big time.” I pulled my wrist out of his loose grip.
“Whatever you want, Izzy. You know that.” His eyes softened as he looked down at me.
“I’m going to use my silent time to come up with something really big.” I swiped my fingers across the small hint of chest hair peeking out just above his collar.
“I can do big,” he laughed and grabbed my hand to pull me toward the table.
“Fucker,” I muttered to myself as I followed behind.
He looked over his shoulder at me and said, “I heard that.”
When he stopped suddenly, I ran right into his back and it felt like ran into a brick wall. I used his body as a shield from the men at the table. I didn’t know if I had an off switch and this wasn’t really the place for me to find out. Just keep my eyes down and pray their little hello doesn’t last long.
Flash leaned over the table and shook hands as I stood behind him pretending to be invisible – something I’ve never done for anyone.
Ever.
When he said he wanted to take me to Bike Week in Daytona Beach for the weekend, I couldn’t have imagined anything better. The feel of the wind in my hair, the sand between my toes, and a shitload of hot bikers – what could be bad about that?
I didn’t expect this and I didn’t like it one bit. Flash would have to pay and pay dearly to make up for this ‘be seen and not heard’ bullshit.
“And who do we have here?” a rough sounding voice asked, pulling me out of my thoughts of how I’d torture Flash.
Flash shifted, reaching around to grab my hand and pulled me to his side. “This is Izzy, my woman.”
What the fuck? I wasn’t his woman.
We had an agreement of sorts, but to call the naughty things we did a relationship was overstating it just a tad.
I looked up at him and gave him a death glare and I saw the corner of his mouth move. He knew it was a total cocker sucker move and would have me biting my tongue.
“Well aren’t you stunning, Izzy? Is that short for Isabella?”
I turned my attention to the genius that put two together and smiled my biggest bullshit smile I could muster. “Yes, it is.” I swallowed the other words I wanted to say as I stared at him, smiling like an idiot.
He wasn’t a bad looking man for someone of his age. His long gray hair was pulled back in a low-slung ponytail making his emerald green eyes stand out. A small patch of salt-n-pepper facial hair framed his thin lips. He looked a little like Santa Clause on crack. The vest covering his black t-shirt was the same cut as the one Flash wore but had more patches including one that stated he was the VP.
“Why don’t you sit down with us and have a drink?” He patted the empty chair next to him lightly and never took his eyes off me.
Flash moved in front of me and started to sit when the VP grabbed his arm. “I meant her you idiot, not you.”
Flash stopped dead with his ass hovering just about the seat. “Oh, sorry man.”
What type of man would let another one talk to him that way? The way he said “idiot” wasn’t the same as when my brother’s called each other jackass or dumbfuck. His dislike for Flash was clearly evident in his tone at least to me, but Flash just listened like a good soldier.
I slid into the wooden chair next to him as Flash gripped my shoulder. “Thanks,” I whispered.
“My name’s Rebel,” he said, as he grabbed my hand off my leg and ran his prickly lips across my skin. “These are the guys.” He placed my hand on his leg before grabbing his beer.
Flashes’ grip on my shoulder hardened and I didn’t dare look up at him. Fuck. “Hey,” I said as I slowly looked around the table.
They all said ‘hey’ and smiled except for one man. The long hair hid his face as he picked at the label of the bottle. His reaction to me wasn’t friendly or welcoming, he was avoiding me.
“So, Isabella,” Rebel said, pulling my attention back to him, “can I call you Isabella? You don’t mind, do you?” He leaned into my personal space and squeezed my thigh.
Fuck.
Flash had my shoulder and Rebel my thigh and I knew that Flash wouldn’t do shit. He was the underling; the one trying to get in the club and Rebel knew it. I just needed to be agreeable and get the hell out of here for my sake and for Flashes’ pussy ass.
I bit the corner of my bottom lip before I responded. “Sure.”
The only person in my life that called me Isabella, that was allowed to call me by my full name were my parents. I didn’t think telling Rebel to go fuck himself would be good for anyone.
Out of the corner of my eye, as I pretended to be nice to Rebel, I saw the mysterious man looking at me. I could feel his stare boring a hole right into me. I’d steal a glance, just for a second before returning my attention to Rebel. His behavior a moment ago didn’t match the rest of the men at the table and for that it was worth the look.
I looked at him again, more carefully this time. My eyes grew wide and all the air left my lungs. I’d seen those blue eyes that shot daggers at me before.
The smile that I loved so much and the handsome boyish looks were gone. His features were hardened and small lines had formed around his eyes since the last time I saw him.
He didn’t look like the teenager that pushed me on my swing set and taught me how to throw a punch and defend myself. The man with the firm set lips and the glare focused entirely on me didn’t look a thing like him, like my brother Thomas.
Izzy’s story is coming early Fall 2014.
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I’m an avid reader; consuming contemporary romance, dark reads, young adult, and all things erotica. I want to create books filled with characters that readers could relate to with real world problems and matching wallets.
I love to travel and my favorite cities are New Orleans and Paris. I currently live in Florida with my amazing boyfriend and my two kittens, Nola and Peanut. He’s showed her the love
and passion that I have poured into my books.
Other Books by Chelle Bliss
Men of Inked Series
Throttle Me – Book 1
Hook Me – Book 2
Izzy’s Story – Book 3
Anthony – Book 4
Thomas – Book 5
Be on the lookout for a little Men of Inked Surprise!
Love at Last Series
Untangle Me – Book 1
Kayden: The Past - .5
All books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
I would like to thank my readers, fans, and supporters. You’ve made the last nine months the most amazing experience of my life. I’m blessed to have such amazing friends. You’ve cheered me on when I was too tired to write and your amazing reviews drove me forward, trying to bring you Hook Me as quickly as possible.
Thank you to Melissa Gill for helping me design an amazing cover once again. It’s hard to top the Throttle Me cover, but I love the Hook Me cover almost as much. I can’t wait to work on the rest of the Gallo Family. I know I drive you crazy with my need for perfection and I love that you’re willing to be patient with me.
To Tee Tate aka Eden Butler, thank you for reading Hook Me over and over again making it ready for the world. You’re comments helped keep me calm during the two short months between releases. You’re an amazing editor and an even better writer. I want to write like you when I grow up, babe.
Brenda Wright, you rock! Even after surgery you were willing to drop everything and format Hook Me for release. You’ve been a constant in my life since my very first release. I love you, B.
Kaylee Lovering, thank you for keeping all my shit straight the last couple of months. I could never have finished Hook Me so quickly without your help. You’re always willing to do whatever to help keep me writing. I’m happy to have you as part of my team.
Renita McKinney, I can’t thank you enough for reading Hook Me. You always believe in me and are ready with kind words to help inspire me. Thank you for proofreading Hook Me quickly even after your root canal. I love you, R.
To my beta group, you are large and you know who you are. You girls rocked my socks off. You’re funny posts and comments in the beta group helped keep me laughing during the writing of this book. I couldn’t have completed it without you.
To all the bloggers out there have supported me through the journey I am thankful for each and every one of you. You’ve been amazing with the Men of Inked series and I hope you’ll continue reading the rest of the series. Every time I see my books mentioned on your sites, I still sit there in shock. You’re the best.
I’m sure I forgot a million people at this point and I’m sorry. My mind is a muddled mess trying to get this book out for everyone to read. I hope you enjoy Michael as much as Joey.