“You can call me, Luke,” he says and suddenly I feel like I’m in dangerous territory.
“Is that like some big honor?” I ask him.
“It’s my name,” he shrugs, studying my face.
“Are you a biker?” I ask, watching him closely.
I see surprise flash in his eyes.
“What makes you ask that?”
“Grew up around them and I’m not stupid,” I respond, waiting.
“Now, that’s something I never thought you were.”
“Mmm-hmm,” I murmur. “Are you going to answer?”
“Are you part of the Devil’s Blaze like your girl?”
“You’ve been doing your homework,” I respond, surprised, but refusing to let it show.
“Partly, but everyone around these parts know who Skull and the Devil’s Blaze are,” he says easily. I wonder what he’d say about my dad’s club, but I don’t go there. I’m not sure what this guy’s agenda is, but something is setting off warning bells. Then, a thought pops into my head.
“You looking to sign up with the Blaze?”
“You think they would have me?” he asks, and his lip twitch deepens into a smile. I get a feeling that’s a rare occurrence.
“No idea. I don’t talk to any of them other than Gabby and her brother. You could always try. You look a little old to be a prospect, though, Luke.”
“Changed my mind,” he mumbles.
“About?”
“I’d rather you call me baby. It makes my dick twitch.”
I laugh, surprised and unable to hide it.
“Maybe you should see a doctor about that. It could be a serious condition,” I suggest, still laughing.
“It could be. You got a PhD in your name anywhere?”
“Afraid not.”
“That’s okay. I trust you. I’ll let you inspect my dick anyway.”
I shake my head. I know he’s joking but he’s back to looking at me, the only thing giving away his laughter is his eyes. Clear, Prussian blue eyes, that I like way more than I should.
“Do you normally get girls using this approach, Luke?”
“Never really tried. Never had a problem finding a girl to fuck though, if that’s your question.”
I blink at his bluntness, but for some reason I like it. I get the feeling that with Luke a girl would know exactly where she stands.
Again, I remind myself that I’ve sworn off men.
“What are you drawing?” he asks, switching topics. I look down at my forgotten sketch pad. I suppose he can’t tell what it is, but in my mind it’s a picture of my little brother, Hawk—although he’s not that little anymore.
“Just a picture,” I shrug, I gasp as he picks the pad up. I want to yell at him to put it down, but I don’t. My pictures are a weakness and I learned a while back that you never show a weakness. It’s something that can be exploited.
“Of a man,” he says and since I just got the barest outline of his face, it surprises me that he can tell that.
“Yes.”
“You got a man?”
“Several of them,” I tell him. I’m not really lying. If you count my brother, my father, Uncle Dragon and the other guys in the club, I have a lot of men in my life.
“That’s okay. I like a little healthy competition,” he says with a grin. “Let’s go Red,” he adds, sliding from the table, way too gracefully for someone with his size and bulk. Then he tucks my pad under his arm and offers me his hand.
“Go? Where are we going?”
“I’m buying you lunch, and you can tell me all about those other men I have to beat out to get between your legs.”
“I can’t decide if you’re trying to be an asshole or if that’s just who you are,” I laugh.
“It’s who I am, but don’t worry, I can already tell that you like it,” he says. Then he shakes his hand, his eyebrow cocked in challenge.
I shouldn’t do it. I know I shouldn’t.
I do it anyway.
I put my hand in his and reluctantly let him pull me from the table, all while reminding myself that I’ve sworn off men.
Damn it.
5
Grunt
“I’ve had a good day with you, Luke,” Jasmine says, and she sounds genuinely surprised. I guess I can understand that. I knew I was drawn to the girl, but even I have to admit that today was better than I imagined it would be.
“Go home with me and I’ll make it better.”
“God, you’re such a flirt,” she laughs.
“I’m not flirting, Red. I’m simply stating a fact.” I counter. Then, I step into her, closing the distance between us. The sweet smell of her surrounds me. She reminds me of wildflowers on a sunny day. “Come home with me and I’ll rock your fucking world,” I promise, bending down so that our lips are closer. Like this I can hear her audible intake of breath. With my hand on her neck like it is, I can feel a fine tremor that runs through her. She wants me, and she’s not going out of her way to hide it either. Jasmine is different than any woman I’ve ever met. She’s not shy, she’s definitely more direct. I like that. I admire the way she doesn’t try to hide what she’s feeling. I like it even more that she wants me.
I want her too. I wanted her before, but after spending the day with her, I want her even more. I’m fast approaching the point of no return. I have to have her, taste her and satisfy the curiosity she raises inside of me.
We spent the rest of the day together after talking in the park. I took her out for lunch, and we spent the rest of the day riding my bike and enjoying the scenery. Now we’re back where we started, standing a couple yards away from her Corolla. It’s a newish model car and a metallic flake blue color. It’s cute for a girl, but it doesn’t suit Red. She needs something racy.
Red is going to be a major problem. I mean, I’m not a man to have a chick on the back of my bike, but I wanted her there. Hell, I still do.
“I think you need to slow way down.” Her voice is quieter, almost as if she’s embarrassed to turn me down. I mean, fuck, I would have been fucking ecstatic if she had said yes, but I didn’t expect it. Jasmine is a strange mix of woman. She can bust your balls but seem almost fragile the next minute. Maybe it’s just a package she’s selling and not real, but whatever it is, I’m buying it.
“I’m good at going slow too, Red.”
“You realize I’m not the girl for you, Luke,” she drawls, her eyes narrowing on me.
“I think I’m a better judge of that than you are.”
“You’re crazy. I have to go. I’m going to be late and Mom and Dad are already giving me hell as it is.”
Jesus. Mom and Dad?
“How old are you?”
“Oh, I know that tone,” she laughs. “Is big-bad-wanna-be-biker afraid I’m jailbait?”
“Woman, there’s nothing wanna-be about me,” I grumble.
“You said you were looking to join up with Skull’s crew.”
“No, you just assumed that’s what I meant,” I correct her, and she stares at me and then shakes her head.