“What is with the twenty questions?” she asked. “I don’t know. You shouldn’t be putting my hand on a body part, or asking so many personal questions. It’s rude.”
“It’s how I get to know a person.”
“Then you really do need help. I’m not the one to help you.”
She started to walk again, and for a few seconds, he admired her round ass. After a few seconds, he fell into step beside her.
“You don’t need to do this.”
“I think it’s time we establish something here, babe. I do whatever the hell I like when I like. No one tells me what to do.”
“Must be nice to have that kind of power.”
He smiled. “Anyone can have it.”
She folded her arms and didn’t ask him any question. The minutes ticked on by and all he got was more and more curious about her.
The divorce. The asshole ex-husband.
“What’s your full name?” he asked.
“Not happening. You think I haven’t seen those horror movies where the girl gives away all the dirty details?” She shook her head. “Not happening. I’m not that stupid.”
He laughed. “I didn’t say you were.”
“You’ve got my first name. That’s more than enough.”
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you’re not used to being hit on.” He watched her reaction. She merely stayed looking straight ahead. “With the imprint of the ring, you’ve been married for some time. You’re a sweet-looking kind of woman. I’m guessing your first real relationship ended in marriage.”
This made her stop. “What’s your point?”
“You didn’t get used to men flirting with you. You don’t think you’ve got it in you for men to want to flirt with you.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No? Then how many men have you fucked?”
She burst out laughing. “You really think I’m going to tell an absolute stranger?”
“I know people. I’ve gotten to where I am today by knowing what people are thinking. What’s going on in their head at every single moment. I know you, Ava.”
“No, Smokey. You don’t know me at all. I just want to walk home in peace and quiet, and you’re not giving me that.”
“How old are you?” he asked.
“A woman never tells.”
“I’m guessing late twenties.”
“You’re close.”
“Thirty.”
She nodded.
“So, you’re a thirty-year-old woman. Moved to a small town. Recently divorced because you caught your ex cheating on you. You don’t have much experience with men, and you’re nervous around them.”
She began laughing again. “I’m not nervous around you.”
“Exactly.”
This made her stop and frown. “You’re not making any sense. You know that, right?”
“A woman who knows men would know to steer well clear of me. Instead, you talked to me at the bar as if it’s a regular thing between the two of us.”
Ava stared at him. Her face a complete blank.
He couldn’t read her, and he wanted to know what was going on in that head of hers.
“If this is your way of trying to warn me away from you, you’re doing a really bad job of it,” she said.
“On the contrary. I’m trying to fuck you, Ava,” he said.
She didn’t stop walking. He stayed beside her, step by step.
The silence stretched on, the minutes gradually building.
They were getting close to some houses, and he saw them coming even closer, which would mean he’d have to part with her if that was where she lived. He didn’t like the thought of leaving her alone.
“Is that all you want?” she asked. “Sex?”
“Is that a deal-breaker?”
She came to a stop. Her hand went to her forehead as she shook her head left and right. “I’m so confused right now. We’re talking in riddles. It must be the alcohol, but I’m not going to agree to anything.” She smiled at him. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Her speed picked up, and he found her so utterly adorable. The way she moved and talked. He liked it.
Every woman he’d come across either gave him a withering stare or thrust their tits in his face. He was used to more women throwing themselves at him, begging for his mark. They wanted the bragging rights to have taken the president of the Hell’s Bastards MC. It was fun until it had stopped.
Now he used women to scratch an itch. He had a feeling Abriana was to blame—the woman he’d arranged to marry one of his men. She’d distracted him. He wasn’t attracted to her in any way. It was what she represented to the club, to Ugly Beast. The brother with the ugliest-looking face had been able to find true love. They now had a newborn daughter and every time he saw them, he witnessed a whole new lot of possibilities. Did he want that? Women had yet to prove they were worth his time. All he’d ever been was disappointed in them and by them.
They walked toward one of the few houses on the outskirts of town. It explained why she didn’t mind the walk. It wasn’t too far to the bar.
She stopped at the gate of a sweet-looking house. Small, but it just screamed hers.
Ava turned toward him. “Thank you for the walk home.”
“Can I see you again?”
“I don’t even know if I’m going to remember this conversation, Smokey. It was nice to meet you.” She held her hand out and he frowned.
Taking hers within his own, he shook her hand. She smiled at him. Her eyes were a beautiful, bright green. Her lips begged to be kissed.
He was never the kind of man to let an opportunity pass him by. Pulling her close, he gripped the back of her head and slammed his lips down on hers. She gasped, parting for him, and he plundered inside.
She moaned as he deepened the kiss.
Running his hand down her back, he cupped her generous ass. He knew it would be the perfect fit for him. Her body was made for him and him alone, and damn it, he wanted to fuck her, hard. To consume every single part of her.
This went against everything he stood for. Smokey stepped back. “Good night,” he said.
Her lips were swollen, and she didn’t say a word. She turned on her heel and walked up to her home. He saw her hand raise to her lips as she fit the key into her lock. After she looked back one last time, she was inside her house.
He waited until he heard the locks click into place, which they did.
Spinning on his heel, he saw Hunter waiting for him.
“We were going to the bar for me? Why is it you got the pussy, as did Brick and Kinky?”
“You’re becoming way too picky.”
“Oh, bite me. You know as well as I do you took the best fucking pickings.” Hunter looked back at the house. “You willing to share?”
“Hell the fuck no.”
He’d shared women with Hunter in the past, but with Ava, he didn’t even want to consider it.
“Whatever. One hot woman and you won’t even share. When did you get so spoiled?”
He chuckled. “I guess having a club work their asses off for me.”
Hunter rolled his eyes. “Who is she?”