3. Razor

Islug back the rest of my energy drink before grabbing the binoculars sitting in the passenger"s seat. Lifting them to my face, I peer out and survey the decrepit farmhouse and even shittier barns located around the property. Last time, I thought this was simply a meeting place. Now I know it"s the Serpents" compound.

It's only two in the afternoon, so I'm not sure that I'm going to see much action. Still, I have to check on things. To make sure there aren't any other secrets we don't know. It has nothing to do with wanting another look at the mysterious blonde woman.

My mind wanders to the photos I took of her that first night. I'd be lying if I said I haven't looked at them a few times. Just three or four times. Maybe five. Nothing obsessive or anything. It's just that she might be involved and I need to know what she looks like. For club reasons.

I may have made a pit stop here yesterday, just to see how things were progressing with the cartel. Did I happen to see the curvy, breathtaking woman with silky blonde hair? Yeah, sure. No big deal.

And so what, I watched her for a bit, mostly to see what, if anything, she knows. I'm not quite sure what role she plays in the MC, but as far as I can tell, she's not anyone's old lady. She's sure as shit not a club bunny. In fact, when I've seen her interact with other club members, she's always stiff and stilted, keeping a solid three feet of distance between herself and whomever she's speaking to.

A surge of jealousy pushes its way into my system, ramping up my heartbeat and sending adrenaline pulsing through my veins. It's as shocking as it is all-consuming. The thought of her with another man… Fuck. I don't even know this woman's name. I shouldn't be jealous of a hypothetical man, or jealous of anything about her at all. This mission must be taking its toll on me. That's it. I'm not stalking Blondie, I'm simply doing a thorough job investigating–

The back door of the large farmhouse swings open and I watch with rapt attention as the object of my not-obsession walks out into the sunlight. All other thoughts vanish from my mind as I focus on the lovely, mysterious creature leaning against the side of the old house. She sighs heavily and tilts her head back until it's resting against the siding as well. Her shoulders drop and she closes her eyes, taking another deep breath.

She looks weary. Bone-tired. But there's something else there. Something I can relate to on a fucking visceral level. My girl feels trapped.

Shit.Not my girl. Just a girl. A woman. But not mine in any way, shape, or form.

Still, the longer I look at her, the heavier my non-existent heart grows. She looks so fragile in this moment, unbearably vulnerable with her defenses down. The gorgeous woman usually keeps a smile on her face, despite her environment and the assholes she has to deal with every day. Her bright, bubbly demeanor is visible even from fifty feet away. But today? She"s broken. Defeated. She"s letting it all show, though there"s no one to see. No one except for me.

A moment later, she pushes off the side of the house and walks across the gravel lot, heading to a corner on the far southern end of the property. I follow her with my eyes, adjusting the settings on the binoculars to focus in on her movements.

The woman stumbles a bit, though I don't see anything for her to trip on. She wobbles, throwing her arms out to try and maintain her balance. It's too late. She falls, her knees hitting the ground first. She catches herself on the palms of her hands, then hops up again, as if nothing happened.

My heart lurches in my chest, everything in me screaming to jump out of the car and see if she's okay. I mean, what the fuck? She just tripped. It's not a big deal. I shouldn't care at all, let alone this much. At least she's okay.

I continue spying on her through the binoculars, observing as she wipes her hands on her shorts and then brushes the gravel from her knees. The woman starts walking forward again, still picking pieces of loose gravel off of her shirt when she stubs her toe on the corner of a raised garden bed I've been curious about since I first scoped out the compound.

My heart is racing. She hurt herself for the second time in less than a minute. I need to get to her, to help her… but I can"t. It would blow my cover, for one, and also, I might terrify the poor woman if I came sprinting out of nowhere to ask if she"s okay.

Still… as I watch her bend over and rub her sore toe, a rogue thought crosses my mind. For the first time since joining the MC, I'm actually considering putting my loyalty and everything I've worked for at risk. For what? A woman I've never officially met or talked to?

As I look over at her, the sun weaving through her hair and making it sparkle, I know she"s already changed something deep inside me. She"s opened up a longing I didn"t think I"d ever have and ignited a fire that I know won"t be quenched until I taste her lips.

Fuck me, what the hell is going on?

I can't look away, especially when she's giving me a spectacular view of her ass. I shouldn't be looking, and I sure as shit shouldn't be imagining all the filthy things I'd like to do to her. Jesus, I can't remember the last time my cock twitched, let alone became hard. But right now? The blood is rushing to my dick so fast I'm a little lightheaded.

The woman straightens up, her delicate hand reaching out toward the assortment of flowers I don't know the names of. It's a little oasis of color and greenery that attracts butterflies and ladybugs. It's so out of place, surrounded by the dirt and gravel lot. Such rare beauty found in an otherwise desolate place. Much like the mysterious woman herself.

I can"t take any more of this. The temptation, the longing, the confusing feelings the curvy goddess brings out in me, plus the fact that she has me questioning my priorities in life… it's all too much. I'm in too deep.

Taking one last look at the ethereal, confounding woman, I finally put the binoculars away and pull out of my spot. This is getting ridiculous and I need to get my head back in the game. No distractions.

I make it all of three blocks before the image of my blonde beauty bending over fills my mind. I'm so fucked.