Chapter 8 - Chance

In my feverish single-minded focus, I'm barely even seeing Holly anymore - just a blur of soft, yielding curves and heated, needy flesh that I'm ruthlessly plundering with no mercy.

But then, in a brief moment of clarity, I catch a glimpse of Holly's face - cheeks flushed, lips parted on soft, breathless cries, eyes heavy-lidded with rapture.

And just like that, the rest of the world comes back into sharp focus, all my senses zeroing in on the gorgeous woman writhing beneath me.

Slowing my frantic pace, I lean in and capture Holly's mouth in a searing, devouring kiss. She returns it with equal fervor, arching up to wrap her long legs tightly around my waist and draw me in even deeper.

We fit together so perfectly, like two halves of the same whole, both of us always craving more - never satisfied, always seeking that next delicious taste.

I can't hold back a ragged groan as her inner walls flutter and clench around my throbbing cock.

"Fuck," I rasp against her swollen lips, my hips rolling in a smooth, deep grind. "You feel so damn good...so tight and wet for me."

Holly's nails score down my back, leaving stinging trails in their wake.

"Chance..." she whimpers, breathless, "I'm so close...don't you dare stop."

A savage grin tugs at the corners of my mouth as I oblige, redoubling my efforts with ravaging thrusts that have the old mattress creaking.

"That's right," I growl. "Cum for me… I want you to think about me, about this moment, every time you're home alone."

Holly doesn't say a word, but the wild hunger blazing in her eyes is all the answer I need. With a feral growl, she grips the rumpled sheets beneath us and gives me a look that's pure sin.

"Fill me up, Mercenary," she demands, voice low and trembling with dizzying arousal. "I want every last drop."

I know I should pull out, should maintain the ironclad control I pride myself on. But in this moment, all rational thought has fled, consumed by the animalistic need to breed and claim this woman as mine - to mark her inside and out until there's no denying who she belongs to.

So, with one last thrust, I let go. Wave after wave of release pulses from me, painting Holly's clenching walls in thick, virile spurts until I've emptied myself completely into her quivering heat.

Exhausted, I collapse beside her on the creaking mattress, chest heaving as I stare in awe at the sight of her. Her flushed skin is dewy with sweat, her breasts rising and falling rapidly, my seed still glistening wetly between her thighs.

And then, to my utter shock, I start laughing. Because this...this is the most idiotic thing I've ever done. I just fucked a woman I barely know mere hours after we narrowly avoided serious injury or worse.

She could have bolted at any time, but instead, she stayed - embraced the danger and welcomed the chaos that always seems to follow me like a dark cloud.

"The hell's so funny?" Holly pants, brows furrowed in confusion, as she turns her head to eye me warily.

"This whole thing was so damn unexpected," I admit with a rueful chuckle, shaking my head. "Can't believe I let myself lose control like that. If someone had walked in on us just now, we'd have been easy prey."

Holly sits up abruptly, making no effort to cover her gloriously naked body as she turns to face me with an exasperated huff.

"You're an even bigger idiot than I thought for pointing it out after the fact," she chides, eyes flashing. "At least have the decency to wait until I'm gone before wallowing in regret."

Moving with reflexes honed by years of bar brawls, I reach out and snag her wrist, tugging her back down onto the rumpled sheets beside me. She tries to pull away, but I simply roll to my side and pin her with a ferocious stare.

"Who said anything about regrets?" My voice comes out low, tinged with a slightly mocking edge. "Way I see it, this just...felt right, somehow. Like maybe I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be."

I trail my free hand down the soft, inviting curve of her waist, my palm catching on the slight sheen of sweat still cooling on her flushed skin.

"Didn't you say it yourself?" I murmur, holding her captive with my stare. "You belong to me now. And I don't plan on letting you go that easily."

Holly's throat works as she swallows hard, lips parting to let out a shaky exhale.

"So what? You want to...go on a date with me or something?" she finally manages. "See where things go from here?"

I can't help the bark of laughter that escapes me at her endearingly innocent suggestion. Dating - what a quaint, civilized concept for a ruthless bastard like me.

And yet...the longer I study Holly's beautiful, vulnerable features, the more an undeniable yearning takes root in my chest. I want this woman, in whatever capacity she'll have me. The risks and potential chaos be damned.

Except there's one nagging detail that's been tugging at the back of my mind this entire time...

Shifting my weight, I abruptly roll Holly onto her back, caging her beneath me as I prop myself up on one elbow. She blinks up at me with wide, startled eyes as I slide my other hand around to cup her right hip.

"I have just one thing I have to ask you first," I rumble, holding her gaze captive. "Have you ever dated a biker before?"

Holly's brows furrow in evident confusion, "Why are you asking me that?"

"You're a nurse, right?" I ask, eyeing her carefully. "I get that, but you seem way too used to violence, even for someone in that line of work. And that thing you said before about people leaving…. You've been in some bad situations before, haven't you? With another biker, maybe?"

Holly slowly scratches her cheek, looking suddenly sheepish.

"Jayden's father...he was a biker," she admits in a small voice. "Or, well, I don't know if he still is. I haven't spoken to him in years, not since he just...left without a word. I was only nineteen." She swallows hard, holding my stare. "I can't go through that again, Chance. So, if you're thinking of taking off too, you might as well tell me now. We can leave things at that."

I snort at her assumption, shaking my head decisively.

"Ain't going anywhere. I like it here in Pine Valley." I smirk. "Hell, I own this damn bar now. And Trickster and Knowledge moved out here just because of me. Whatever trouble comes my way, I'm facing it head-on."

Relief visibly washes over Holly's features, and she offers me a soft smile.

"Why Pine Valley, though? Of all places?"

"Was looking to put down some roots," I admit with a casual shrug. "Had an old buddy from my military days - a cowboy now - tell me this place wasn't half bad. Figured I'd give it a shot." I shoot her a wry grin. "So far, I'm pretty damn happy with my choice."

Holly's smile brightens.

"Me too," she murmurs, "And, please, tell me… Why Mercenary? I'm dying to know…"

I reach out to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear.

"Got that name when I was in the military. I was a robot back then, no feelings or emotions. But listen... I'm still not a good man, but I'll always do right by you and that boy of yours. You have my word on that." I hold her gaze intently. "But you can't ask me to change who I am, either. This life..." I wave a hand, encompassing the battered bar and my scuffed leathers. "It's all I got. Are you good with that?"

Holly doesn't even hesitate before nodding.

"I am. And Chance, I was going to say-"

The sound of low voices drifting from the bar area instantly puts me on high alert. In a flash, I'm up and yanking on my jeans, motioning for Holly to stay silent. Moving with stealth born of hard experience, I pad down the short corridor and peer around the corner, fists clenched and ready for a fight.

To my surprise, it's just Knowledge and Trickster, back from their pursuit of the two bastards who shattered my windows.

I storm out to meet them, barking, "Well? How did it go?"

Knowledge shakes his head grimly while Trickster rolls his eyes.

"Same reckless bullshit as always," Knowledge grumbles. "This idiot decided to take one of the guys out mid-chase by flinging himself at his bike. The other drove away."

"It got the job done, didn't it?" Trickster retorts with a nonchalant shrug, but I can see he's favoring one arm, cradling it against his chest.

Moving closer, I give the back of his head a light smack.

"Let me see, dumbass. Why you gotta be so damn foolhardy all the time?"

Trickster obediently rolls up his sleeve, revealing a nasty stretch of raw, oozing flesh along his forearm—road rash from his little stunt.

"I had to get creative to keep up. Life's no fun without a little excitement, bro."

I huff out an exasperated breath, shooting him a quelling glare even as I inspect the angry-looking wound. That's going to get infected if we don't-

The soft creak of the door behind me cuts off my thoughts. I spin to see Holly emerging from the hallway, my rumpled bedsheets clutched around her body in a makeshift covering. Trickster's brows shoot up as he takes in her barely clothed state, a slow grin stretching across his face.

"Well, well..." he drawls with a wolfish chuckle. "Seems our boy here was having himself a real good time while we did all the heavy lifting."

I level him with a hard stare.

"Shut it, jackass. Someone came around earlier looking for payback - I had to handle things." Jerking my chin at the broken desk and chairs, I add gruffly, "Place got trashed again in the chaos."

Knowledge frowns, the ever-protective one eyeing Holly with suspicion.

"Who is she to you now? Just another conquest?" he demands, looking to me for answers. "You know the rules about outsiders, Chance."

Squaring my shoulders, I meet his gaze head-on.

"Chill. She's my girl now. And if anyone's got a problem with that, you can take it up with me." I let that sink in for a beat before adding flatly, "I don't want to hear any more shit about it, understood?"

For a tense moment, it seems like Knowledge might actually oppose my claim. But then, grudgingly, he gives a curt nod, knowing full well I'll brook no argument on this.

Thank fuck... The last thing I need is to deal with more conflict from my own crew.

"I can help take care of his arm," Holly pipes up from behind me. "I'm a nurse, so wounds like that are kind of my thing. I just need to get dressed first."

Trickster flashes her a cocky grin, clearly approving.

"Well, hot damn, Chance - seems you found yourself the complete package after all! A girl who can patch me up and keep you out of trouble, too? She might never be out of work at this rate."

Resisting the urge to flip him off, I settle for a derisive snort.

"Just shut your damn mouth and let the lady work, Trick."

Holly goes and returns within a minute. As she moves to tend to Trickster's road-rashed arm, I catch Knowledge's eye and jerk my head, signaling for him to follow me into the corner. Once we're a few paces away, he leans in close, keeping his voice low.

"You sure about this, man?" he murmurs, brows furrowed with concern. "Letting an outsider get that deep into club business...that ain't like you, Chance. You know how risky that shit can be."

I shoot him a level look, undeterred.

"I know, bro. And I ain't about to put us at risk, you know that." My gaze flicks briefly over to where Holly is gently cleaning Trickster's wound, her focus intent. "She understands I can't change who I am. I'll keep her in the loop where I need to, but no more than that. Not yet, at least."

Knowledge shakes his head slowly. "I've heard that love makes men do some crazy shit. Never been struck by that particular brand of stupid, though. Probably never will."

The faintest of smiles tugs at the corner of my mouth.

"Keep telling yourself that, brother. One day, the right girl's going to come along and knock you square on your ass when you least expect it."

He scoffs at that, waving a dismissive hand.

"Yeah, yeah. We'll see. For now..." Knowledge's expression turns grave once more. "We got bigger problems to worry about than your new lady friend."

Instantly, I'm all business again, eyes narrowing. "What did you manage to get out of that piece of shit?"

"This wasn't just some lone wolves out for payback because you showed up one of his boys." Knowledge shakes his head grimly. "This is something bigger, Chance. They want us gone—the whole Rogue Riders MC. The Outlaws think they can muscle in and take over Pine Valley for themselves if we're out of the picture."

My fists clench unconsciously at the very notion. Take over my town? Like hell, I'll let that happen. What started as a peaceful haven is now the root I've planted, the life I've staked a claim on. They'll have to go through me and every last brother in my club before I let some two-bit punks chase us out.

My gaze drifts back over to Holly again. She catches my eye, offering a soft, reassuring smile despite Trickster's continued gruff grumblings as she works. Something in my chest clenches at the sight of her gentle caring, her fearless compassion in the face of our brutal world.

She's become my driving force now, the light I'll fight to protect until my dying breath if need be.

Squaring my jaw, I turn back to Knowledge with a look of grim determination.

"Let 'em come, then. We'll be ready for whatever those bastards try to throw at us." I let my eyes drift pointedly towards Holly again, letting the promise - the vow - resonate loud and clear.

They want Pine Valley? They'll have to go through me first.