Chapter 2

2

RIOT

Present Day

It's been a month since I got back from Mississippi and used my sniper rifle — not that I get to use it very much these days, but old habits die hard.

I'm glad that the only time I have to use it anymore is when the club orders it, or our allies are in a turf war. It doesn't happen all that much, but I'm glad my skills can be put to use from time to time. That being said, I can't say I miss a life living on the run, constantly looking over my shoulder and never being able to form real relationships.

While I like my quiet time, I'm a people person and I'm okay being around them.

When I'm with my own thoughts, it can get messy. I've got baggage, sue me.

I never had a brotherhood, that is until I joined the MC.

In a lot of ways Cash gave me an outlet. Just like he did the twins, Jett the club's Treasurer, and Rock — who owns Rock's Truck n' Haulage — have part ownership with the club. They both had a shitty childhood and Cash took them in. Granted, Rock didn't join the club until recently, he and Jett also work security, surveillance and can hack into just about any system. Being the club's secretary, I take care of all the record keeping and the minutes from our meeting, ensuring everything is up to date with Jett. He handles the club coffers and makes sure the finances are ready for Jas, our accountant and Hawk — the Road Captain's ol' lady.

I pull my weight and we each contribute funds into the club where we all reap the benefits.

Charles may have saved my life, and getting locked up wasn't my proudest moment, but I still crave to be around people. For whatever reason, I've never really been a loner, preferring the company of other people may have come from my mom. I'm not sure. She loved to talk and be around people all the time and make them feel good whether by cooking for them, or just lending an ear if they needed advice. She had a kind heart. I may not be exactly like her, but over the years, I've found my place in the club. I carved a name for myself in this MC, gaining the trust of my brothers and Cash.

Charles visits the club from time to time, but being a loner himself, he prefers it when I visit him. That old saying about not teaching an old dog new tricks sums up old Charles pretty good. Still, I love the man. He's the first man that I ever respected, and he will be until my dying day.

My sister has been living away for the past couple years, but she's decided to move home and I'm trying to convince her that she's better off sharing a place with friends rather than with me. It's not that I don't want her around, but I know she'll be all up in my business and harassing me about why I haven't settled down yet.

Little does she know, I have my sights set on one woman, and one woman only; Halo McBride.

She's best friends with Star, who's the ol' lady of Nevada, one of the Tail Gunners for the MC. Star is quite the ball buster.

I don't know how she tamed the wild beast, but somehow she nailed it. Nevada used to be the club's resident fuck boy, but that all changed when she came along. I've seen it before and I always made fun of the club brothers when they fell hard, but lately I've been understanding more and more what they went through.

That tightening feeling in my chest whenever she's around. The way my heart accelerates like it's going to burst. The way my dick stays hard for her until I do something about it later in my room. And it isn't all sexual. I really fuckin' like this chick.

She came to Mississippi with us when we helped our allies, the Ridgehaven Hellions MC take down a trafficking ring. We were also there to find Star's younger sister, Tilly, who had been kidnapped but was being housed by the Stiletto Riders, an all-female MC in Saddle, Texas. They intercepted the bus Tilly was on when it crossed the state line and rescued her and other women who were being trafficked. Tilly had also suffered from amnesia, which is why it took months, with the Stilettos help, to try and put the pieces together.

She's damn lucky. I don't know the extent of what she suffered, but I can only imagine.

I first saw Halo — whose real name is Lourdes but she hates it — when I was at the Whiskey Straight that night with Nevada. She and Star stepped into the bar and I thought an angel had landed. I really didn't get to know her that well until we all went to Mississippi. Even then, the moments alone were fleeting. It was intense what was going on with Star finding Tilly, so our encounters were brief. Unfortunately, nothing happened between us on that trip, and needless to say my balls were blue, especially when I saw her in her ‘stakeout' gear: Camouflage pants with a tight bodysuit tucked into them that did everything to accentuate her huge tits, a large sparkly belt that synched in her small waist and had me trailing my eyes all the way down to her hips. That ass. Goddamn.

Her cool blonde bob cut with bangs that hung in her pretty blue eyes. Her luscious curvy body, big tits and thick thighs.

Most of the time she was camped out with her friend Kyle, who I was jealous of in the beginning, until I found out he was gay. Still, he got to share a room with her and I didn't.

Safe to say, I've never felt jealousy over a woman before, and while I've had my fair share of women in the past, I want her.

My baby face, black hair, blue eyes and a body covered in tattoos hasn't exactly done me wrong over the years. Chicks dig the tats. I can't say I've had more notches on my belt than Nevada, but all of that is in the past since I laid eyes on her. Halo is all I can think about night and day.

She's beautiful.

She covers up a lot, which is a good thing because I would probably choke anyone who I caught looking at her. But if she showed her body off for me? Now, that would be a thing. To even think about spending the night with her? I'd die a happy man.

I'm also still reeling from the revelation that my girl had to leave her hometown of St. Charles Parish because her overbearing parents wanted her to marry some guy in an arranged marriage situation. She wouldn't tell me anything more about it after she told us all at Nevada's place for dinner one night, but I've done some of my own research on her dad's construction company, and that family is loaded. Still, money doesn't always bring happiness. Clearly it doesn't in this case. To think that my sweet kitten had to leave her home because her parents wanted her to force marry — who does that?

I admit. I'm a little unhinged for her. I know where she lives. I've checked out the area she lives in to make sure she's safe; uptown. One of the richest suburbs in New Orleans. She resides in a fancy apartment with security and good lighting. I tried to get in the door to see just how good security was, and was promptly shut out. Good. They don't know me, I could be anyone. If they'd have let me in, then I'd have some serious heads to smack together with the super and the security.

I'm good at staying out of sight, so when I've watched her from across the street — thanks to a little cafe that is situated right across from her building — I've been able to make sure she's home safe. I've also been pleased she hasn't had any men inside her apartment. I tamper down the rage from just the thought. Not towards her — my kitten can do no wrong — but he, however. He'd have to lose both hands so he could never touch her again. Not that I'm in the game of torture or dismembering, I don't enjoy that, but I've no trouble shooting anyone in the head who fucks with me and what's mine.

Tonight though, it's my birthday. I texted her earlier to ask if she was coming.

Me:

Don't forget I owe you a piece of my birthday cake tonight

I waited like a chump for a reply, which only took a minute, but it felt like a lifetime.

Kitten:

Wouldn't miss it for the world. Twenty-one again?

Of course, she's too polite to ask me how old I am. As if thirty-five is fuckin' old. Still, sometimes when I get out of bed first thing I feel like an old man.

Me:

35, but close

Kitten:

Hey, that's still young!

Adorable.

Me:

Now you're just being kind

Kitten:

Did you get anything nice for your birthday?

Completely adorable.

Me:

My sister FedEx'd me Jumbo's Hot Dogs all the way from Florida

Kitten:

Wow, I've never heard of them

Me:

They're the best. Nevada got me a fleshlight

Kitten:

A flashlight?

Me:

Nope. A fleshlight

Kitten:

What's that?

I palm the back of my head, my dick hardening when I think of me using it while thinking about her.

Me:

It's a sex toy for men

Kitten:

Oh my

I smirk. I love shocking her. My little kitten might think that she's ready for a biker, but I know for a fact she'd be shocked if she knew what I wanted to do with her. I don't need to be a genius to know she's vanilla. And I can do vanilla. I can eat that vanilla ice cream all day long. But I also wanna corrupt her just a little bit in the bedroom. When I imagine using the fleshlight with her watching, I almost come in my pants.

Me:

They're jerks. They think they're hilarious

Kitten:

Boys will be boys

Me:

Boys, not men, being the operative word

Kitten:

See you later, got to run ??

I stare at that kissing emoji and I know I'm gonna have to go upstairs to my room at the clubhouse and use that damn thing. I can't wait until tonight.

I also feel the tightening in my chest when I think about what it would be like to hold her in my arms. Not that I've actually slept through the night with a woman. I have night terrors on and off, so having a woman in my bed isn't an option. Not unless I want to scare them to death.

It stems from my childhood trauma, and according to my therapist when I was a teenager, my anger issues.

When I take the stairs two by two, I'm giddy. I want her to talk dirty to me, to talk me through it, but I can't exactly do that. So I get the next best thing; I bring up the photo of us together on my phone that Kyle took in Mississippi, enlarge it so I cut myself out, and prop it up on my pillows. I drop my pants, kick my boots off and shove my t-shirt over my head. Laying down on the bed, I reach for the lube. I soak my cock, eager to test this stupid fuckin' thing. I've never used one before, and though I know Nevada meant it as a joke — like the asshole he is — he has no idea how handy this little contraption is going to be now that I'm not fucking any other women. Not even Halo, but I want that to change. When she's ready. It feels wrong to fuck another woman when all I'd be doing is using their body, and imagining it was hers. Her face. Her mouth. Her moans. Her everything.

I grip my dick, my palm squeezing as I let out a groan. I'm so damn hard just from her stupid fuckin' emoji. Kill me now.

I look at her pretty face, smiling at me through the camera. I imagine she's before me, spreading her pretty legs so I can bury myself in that tight little pussy. I take the wand out of the case and hold it in my other palm. I could roll on my back, but it'd be hard to see her face on my phone. I don't have time to fuck around when my party is starting downstairs. I position my dick at the tip of the opening. It's firm silicone on the outside, but soft on the inside as I slowly slide my dick inside. The fleshlight grips my dick and my eyes roll into the back of my head. Fuck, yeah.

"That's it, baby. Take my dick in this little pussy like a good girl." I don't give a shit I'm talking to my hand. I slide in farther and then back out. Rising to my knees, I grip the headboard with one hand and begin to move. It feels fucking good.

Jesus, the suction on this damn thing is fuckin' A plus. Glad I lubed up, I keep thrusting as I work the thing up and down my dick. It grips me like a vice and I know I'm gonna come quickly; that's it's job.

"Kitten," I groan. "Oh, baby. Fuck… "

I envision her tits jiggling on every thrust. I'd take one in my hand and pinch her nipple hard, making her moan like my own little whore. Jesus. Then I'd flip her over and enter her from behind while she hangs onto the headboard. Plowing my dick in and out of her wet, slick pussy as we moan and groan together. What I'd give for a taste. What I'd give for one chance… And then, in all of about two minutes, I'm coming inside it. My eyes squeeze closed, my body tensing as my dick spurts inside the fleshlight for what feels like an eternity. Her pussy gripping me is what keeps me going, and when I'm finally spent, I roll onto my back and put an arm over my eyes.

Man, that was intense. So fuckin' good. Okay, I know I have to clean this stupid thing which doesn't look like it's gonna be fun, but it was worth it.

I hear a bang on my door and I jump.

"Hey, dick cheese? You in there?" Bronco yells through the door.

"Yeah, in the can."

"Get the fuck downstairs. Not much of a birthday party if you're not gonna show."

"Said I'm comin'."

He mutters something and I hear his footsteps stomping back down the stairs.

I sigh.

Nobody has to know about this. Just me and my new favorite toy. One that I want to fuck in front of her while I eat her pussy out. Jesus. I pull the thing off before I get hard again and head to the bathroom.

There is one consolation in all of this; I won't have blue balls tonight when I see my kitten.

A hard thump on my back has me almost choking on my beer. I look over my shoulder, and then I hear, "Happy birthday, noodle dick." Nevada sees the beer and adds, "Don't tell me she stood you up?"

Figuring she's not with him and Star, I'm now second guessing myself. She can't be tied up with work because Star's here, and they work together.

I give him a cocky, self-assured smile. "With a face like this?"

Star laughs and Nevada just side eyes me like he wasn't the resident fuck boy not so long ago.

Not that anyone's taking over that job, half the men in the club now have been snagged, not that that's a bad thing. Especially where Cash is concerned. He's a lot calmer now that he's with Deanna, even if she is his best friend's daughter. That went down a real treat when Hutch, the Prez of the Bracken Ridge Rebels chapter in Arizona, found out. But they worked it out, and now Cash and Deanna have a kid together: Caprice, a sweet little thing.

"God help us," Nevada mutters.

"She'll be here," Star assures me, and it makes my heart jump a little.

I mean, she said she was coming, and when she gets here I've gotta somehow contain myself and not seem too eager. Then again, not seeming too eager hasn't really gotten me anywhere this entire time. I'm not playing hard to get, but she is just a little.

Little does she know, I like the chase. This whole thing of keeping me at arm's length only makes me all the more determined. I know she likes me because Star told Nevada, who of course told me. So I don't really know what the issue is of us not getting together. I guess I figured if I kept her at arm's length and in the friend-zone, we'd always have something to talk about. That's the thing with her. It's not just about me nailing her. I want to get to know her mind. She's not just a pretty face and I know she has a brain in that gorgeous head of hers.

Star turns to talk to Jas, and I wait for it…

"You upstairs usin' your birthday present?" Nevada chokes out a laugh.

I side-eye him. "Threw it in the garbage."

"Yeah, right. Those things can be good for a man who's flyin' solo."

"Who says I'm doin' that?"

"Think I don't got eyes?" He laughs. "Not been porkin' any of the sweet butts, or bringin' in girls to the clubhouse, brother. Everythin' okay?"

I want to knock his smart mouth off his irritating face. But that'll just give him ammunition to taunt me. "Everythin's fine, thanks for askin'."

"Just sayin'. If you don't make a move soon, bro, someone else will."

The idea makes me shaky. I really don't want to knock heads together, but that's exactly what I'll do if I have to. Confidence has never been an issue, but my jealousy over this woman clearly is. "Not unless they want to end up as alligator fodder in the Bayou," I mutter.

He slaps me on the back. "Uh huh. And you're not secretly pinin'? Okay, brother. Whatever you say."

I turn to him. "Just because all you dickfaces are tied down fat and happy, doesn't mean we all wanna be."

He raises his shirt, showing me his stomach. "Fat?"

Okay, none of the brothers are fat, but if I'd known it would annoy him, I would have said it to him sooner. "Not like I've seen you at the gym lately."

"Been gettin' my workouts at home." He grins.

I roll my eyes. Way to rub it in just a little bit more. "Fuck you."

He snickers, patting me on the back. "It's alright, bro, you've always got your fleshlight. I'm sure it'll come in handy."

I punch him in the gut just as wolf whistles sound around the room. It draws my attention toward the front door where there's now a commotion.

My eyes widen when I see my sister, along with Priest's sister, Hope, and Halo all entering the clubhouse. I frown when I see my sister's short skirt and midriff top. Then I frown a whole lot more when I see Halo's tight, patent leather pants practically glued to her body, along with a bodysuit that leaves little to the imagination where her curves lie. She normally dresses fairly conservative, normal clothes like jeans and the occasional dress, but this? My eyes zone in on those big tits and if I'm thinking about what I could do with those puppies, chances are so is every other single, red-blooded male in the room. That makes me want to claw their eyes out. I had no idea my sister was going to be here, she never said anything. Then again, she's always loved birthday parties.

I don't even wait for Nevada to finish speaking. I push off from the bar and head their way. Intercepting them before anyone else can; less heads will roll that way.

If anyone thinks they're getting their mitts on my kitten, then they clearly underestimate me. Then again, my growing obsession can't exactly be measured with the naked eye. It can be measured by how the blood pumps quicker in my veins, and the way my heart rate accelerates and my palms start to sweat.

Not that I let any of that show on my face. That's when Halo's eyes meet mine and she knows she's in trouble by the way her brow furrows and she bites on her lip tentatively. This should be good.