1. Joker

Chapter 1

Joker

Three Years Ago

Damn, I'm tired. Ever since I signed on as a prospect for the Savage Brothers, I've been doing grunt work constantly. Today I helped the other prospects build a stage and a pergola for outside of the compound. Dragon's woman and some of the other old ladies, wanted a set up for concerts and get-togethers at the club. I may have only been here a month, but I'm learning quick that Dragon might be a scary motherfucker, but he'll give his old lady, Nicole, anything and everything she wants.

In a way, I'm a little envious of that. It's the kind of relationship I've always wanted—yet never thought existed. Now that I know it does, I don't want to settle for less. Maybe it's overreaching and I don't deserve it. It's not like I had it growing up. I've spent most of my time in a juvenile detention center. When I got too old for that, I lived on the streets until I could get enough cash together for a shit-hole apartment. The man I am now, is self-made. I didn't have anyone to lean on. My mother was a bitch, and I never met my father. I don't even know his name, so I figure I never will. It doesn't really bother me. I'm fine being self-sufficient.

Until I found my way into the Savage Brothers, I didn't think I'd ever depend on anyone. Now, I look around and see the brotherhood this club shares and the relationships like Dragon and Nicole, Dancer and Carrie, and Bull and Doc and I know that's what I want. That's why even though my back is killing me, I'm happy being here. Until I found the club and this town, I don't think I've ever known the feeling of contentment.

I take a drag of my cigarette and lean against the wooden siding of the Wolf's Den. The club owns this bar, and it's the main place we all meet up—outside our clubhouse. My brothers are all inside, unwinding after a hard day. I was too, but I just needed a break. I may be happy in the club, but I want more. I want more than I'm probably entitled to. Still, when I watched our Prez, Dragon, pull Nicole onto his lap tonight. I knew that it was exactly what I wanted.

"Kyla, stop," a boy yells out.

I turn my gaze toward the corner. The voice is coming from the back of the building. It irritates me because the silence I had sought is interrupted.

"I told you to stop calling me that," a chick hisses back at him. I turn the corner enough to get a better look at the arguing duo.

Suddenly, they have my full attention. He's talking to a sexy woman in worn blue jeans, cowboy boots, and an indigo V-neck T-shirt that hugs the prettiest tits I've laid eyes on. I flex my hands into a fist, because they're itching to rip her clothes from her body to see those pretties up close and personal—with nothing in the way.

"Don't be like that. She didn't mean shit to me."

"Is it supposed to make me feel better to know that you threw me away for a bitch who didn't mean anything? I hope your dick falls off after sticking it into that skank," she growls, and my lips jerk up in a grin.

"I wouldn't have given her the time of day if you'd opened your damn legs for me. Fuck, Kyla, we've been dating for six months. You've barely let me feel your damned tits. What did you think I was going to do? A man can only use his hand for so long. You can't go acting like a bitch over it now."

"A real man knows when a woman is worth the wait. You're a boy playing at being a man. You make me sick. Get the fuck out of here and leave me alone. I'm waiting for Mattie, and I think we both know you don't want to be here when he shows up."

"Don't you ever get tired of hiding behind that idiot?" the guy growls.

"Not if it keeps me away from assholes like you. Maybe I should let him know that you just called him an idiot," she laughs.

I didn't realize that I was walking closer to them until I'm pitching my cigarette across the parking lot. I can't explain why, either. It's almost as if an invisible force is propelling me in that direction. I don't question it, though. I'm even glad to be doing it when I see the son of a bitch—who is a good six inches taller than her small frame—push her. She stumbles and falls back, her ass hitting the graveled area beneath her. He stands over her, his face red.

"You bitch!"

I move in, grab the son of a bitch by the back of his neck, and toss him away from her. He sails in the air behind me as I turn to look at the gorgeous, curvy, red head. She's even better up close. Her skin is a little darker than most women with red hair that I've been around, but still pale. It's more golden though. For some reason, those shaved ice drinks of peaches and cream come to mind. They used to serve them to us in the detention center after we'd worked out in the heat all day. I thought they tasted like heaven. I bet this woman would taste even better. Just looking at her skin begs a man to put his lips on her and kiss every inch.

Fuck, I can feel how hard I'm getting as I look down at her. This is the kind of woman I'd love to have tied to me. She's a little young, but she's at the club, so she's obviously legal. Dragon is very careful and makes sure they card here at the club. They do it heavily and our guys can spot fakes a mile away. Still, this beauty can't be much past twenty-one—if at all. That's still too young for me, but the more I stare at her, I just don't give a damn.

"Let's get you off the ground, Peaches," I murmur, my voice thick with hunger for her that I can't deny. Hell, maybe it's my imagination, but the air around us seems to crackle with energy. It's as if invisible currents are pulling us together. I've never been a believer in fate, but suddenly, it feels like this woman is someone I'm fated to have in my life. The air feels heavy with promise the moment she reaches out and takes my hand with hers. I pull her up, but I don't let go of her hand.

"Who the fuck are you?" the assclown behind me says. "Excuse me a minute, darlin'," I tell the beauty, who is currently killing me slowly by licking her lips while watching me like she wants to eat me alive. That's something I will definitely volunteer for once I get rid of the idiot that I force myself to turn around and face. I'd much rather keep my attention on the tempting woman than this guy.

"You need to leave. You won't like what happens if you don't."

"Fuck off. This doesn't concern you. This is between me and my woman."

"Do you belong to this pecker-head?" I ask, looking back toward the woman in question.

"Fuck no. I don't belong to any man," she snaps with pride. Something about hearing her sweet mouth utter the word fuck wraps around my dick and makes him weep with hunger.

"We'll negotiate that once I get rid of this clown, Peaches," I respond with a smirk, letting my eyes rake over her body. There's no way she could misunderstand what I'm saying, and I don't want her to. I've never had a reaction to a woman like this in my life. I'm not letting her walk away.

Her eyes dilate with shock before her full lips spread into a smile. "I'll be here waiting," she answers.

"Kyla! Stop this shit. I know you're pissed. I admit, I fucked up, but quit making shit worse."

"That's not my name. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that. Just leave."

He starts to walk toward her—I can't allow it. I flatten my hands out and shove them against his chest. "I don't think so, asshole," I growl.

"Back off, man."

"Make me," I laugh. I don't really want to hit the man. I know how women can be. It might make her feel sorry for him and I'd lose my shot. I sigh when I see him change his stance. I know there's nothing I can do. He completely telegraphs his punch. I throw my hand up, stopping his punch with little effort at all. I press my fingers down hard against his fist, enjoying the way he winces, even as he tries to hide it. "That was a mistake," I growl, my voice low and deadly. It's the same tone I use when I'm fighting in the name of the club. It's one of the reasons Breaker told me that when I am given my patch, the club is going to name me Joker—because I never joke. Fuck, I rarely smile. I've smiled more tonight with this red head than I probably have in my whole life.

"Let go," he huffs, trying to remain the tough guy.

"I'll have to make sure you don't try to punch me again. Can't have my brothers hearing I went soft with you," I mutter.

"Just shut up."

I shake my head and then quickly turn our hands, using the force I have on his to twist and keep going until he howls in pain as a bone in his wrist pops. Then I shove him back hard so that he lands on his ass.

"Ow, fuck, man!"

"Um …"

I look beside me to find the reason for my hard dick standing right beside me. Here we go. Now, it's time for her to give me shit and feel sorry for the worthless piece of shit that's currently whining on the ground.

"Problem, Peaches?"

She looks up at me as my eyes lock with hers. For a minute, it's like time stands still. It takes everything in me not to grab her, pull her into my body, and claim her right here and now.

"This is your fault, Kyla. Help me up and let's get out of this place. All I want is just to hold you and put this horrible night behind us," loser-boy whines. "I'll have to get my damned wrist looked at. If it's broken, I'm suing you and your damn club."

"Oh, shut up, Chad. Seriously. You try to sue him, and I'll let my dad know how you called me a bitch and threw me down on the ground. What do you want to bet you won't be able to do jack-shit after that?"

"Fuck you," he growls back, clearly knowing he's lost. As for me, I find myself laughing because things seem to be working out for me. Not only did she seem to not feel sorry for the idiot, but she's also spitting fire. I cross my arms at my chest and wait—deciding to enjoy the show. "There's no pussy worth this shit. I'm tired of you acting like a pure as snow virgin when everyone knows you fucked Lucas Klein all last year. You don't think he loved rubbing it in my face all the nasty shit you let him do? Especially when you wouldn't open your damn legs for me!"

"I told you I never slept with Lucas! You told me you believed me!"

"I lied, you bitch. Everyone knows exactly what you are! Didn't you think Lucas would tell everyone what you did with him and his brother?" the guy accuses, finally standing up, while holding his wrist like the little bitch he is.

"What I did with—" she sputters, stopping as she just looks at him in shock.

I get ready to step in when my girl surprises the shit out of me by drawing her fist back and quickly punching him in the gut. He immediately bends over, wrapping his arm around his waist. I start to interject myself again because I'm afraid he'll go after her and hurt her. She packed a hell of a wallop, and did it smartly, too. He was too tall for her to strike elsewhere with as much power as she managed to his gut. Still, I can't risk her getting hurt. Before I can step in, however, she grabs him by the hair of his head, pulling him down even more and pulls her other arm back and quickly brings her knee up at the same time, slamming it into his nose like a seasoned veteran. This girl has been trained hard—and good . Hell, I'm not sure I could have pulled that off as smoothly. I'm impressed as hell.

Chad goes back to the ground this time, and my shock continues when it appears the asshole is knocked out. How in the fuck? She's not finished, though. She takes off and kicks him in the balls for good measure.

"I think you've got him, Peaches."

"Not good enough. If I was a man, I'd whip it out and piss on the son of a bitch!" she gripes.

"Whip it out?" I laugh.

"Exactly. You don't realize how great men have it. You can just yank it out and have at it."

Again, I'm laughing. If my brothers could see me now, they'd wonder what in the hell was going on. Shit, I am wondering that myself. "Well, Peaches, I have to say right now, even if you aren't happy about it, I'm damned glad you don't have a dick you can whip out."

Her mouth falls open as she looks at me. Her body goes still and then all at once, she starts giggling. "Oh, my God!" She laughs so hard that she practically collapses into me, and I open my arms and wrap them around her, letting her happiness soak inside of me. It's something I'm not sure I've felt before and I don't know how to explain it. I'm not sure I care. I just want to keep experiencing it. Without realizing it, I reach out and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. Slowly, her laughter stops, and those beautiful brown eyes stare up at me in surprise. Something passes between us. It unsettles me, and I can see the same reflection on her face.

"What's your name?" she asks.

Since I've been here in London, Kentucky, I've only been called Prospect. Well, lately, some of the guys have begun calling me Joker. For some reason, I don't want to give her that name. "Torin."

"Torin," she repeats, and sweet fucking heaven, nothing has ever sounded better than my name slipping from between her lips.

I don't question my reaction. I question nothing. She might be young, but she's legal and this feeling between us is something we both are responding to. I'm not going to fight it. I let out a growl as I capture her mouth. She tenses up for a minute, keeping her mouth closed. I pull back just a bit and look into her eyes. "Open that hot little mouth of yours for me, Peaches," I order, my voice so full of hunger that I barely recognize it myself.

Her cute little tongue comes out to lick her lips. Her big doe-like eyes shine as she stares at me. I can easily read the desire written on her face. She wants this. She wants me. I can see nerves there, too. That's new to me. The women that I've been with are experienced. It's clear that this woman is somewhat of a novice and maybe that shouldn't excite me, but it does. It fuels the desire firing inside of me.

I slap my hands against her ass, pressing her body against me so she can feel how damned hard I am for her. She gasps in response as I feel her body tremble against me. That's the opening I need. I take her mouth again, thrusting my tongue into her mouth and ravaging it like a man possessed.

Her legs wrap around me as I use my hold on her ass to lift her up. Her arms slide under my shirt as her fingernails dig into my back. I spin us so that I can press her up against the rough siding of the bar. Our kiss is intense. I'm not even sure it can be called a kiss. I'm fucking her mouth with my tongue, plundering it, and claiming it as my own. I keep at her, bracing her against the side of the building, as I bring a hand up and wrap it around her throat, holding her tightly, only releasing her mouth when my lungs burn from the need to intake air.

"I'm going to fuck you so hard, Peaches. You'll feel me between your legs for weeks," I promise hoarsely, as I kiss and nip along her shoulder, fighting the urge to mark every inch of her body. This woman makes me feel more like an animal than a man.

"Torin," she gasps.

"I'm going to make you feel so good," I groan.

That's one promise I plan on keeping, no matter what.