Tease: A Kings of Korruption MC Novel (25 page)

I frown and change position, ready to jump up and kick some ass if the need arises.
 
“Oh, right.
 
Lucy.
 
You’re the whore.”

I hear her heels on the tile floor as she comes at me, but Dexter’s growl stops her short.
 
Jumping up, I stand in front of her, fists clenched.
 
I’ve never been in a fight before, but after hearing Charlie’s stories about this girl, I look forward to kicking her skanky ass.

“Fuck you!” she shrieks.
 
“Fuckin’ blind bitch, comin’ in here and takin’ yet another one of my fuckin’ men.”

I laugh.
 
“You’re fuckin’ crazy, you know that?”
 
I put my hands on my hips and lean forward.
 
“And there’s no way in hell that my man put his dick anywhere near any of
your
rotten holes.
 
I can fuckin’ smell the fish from here.”
 
I curl my nose in disgust.

I feel her hand in my hair before Dex even gets a chance to warn me.
 
Yanking on my ponytail, she drags my head back.
 
It hurts like a son-of-a-bitch, and I don’t get to find out what planned to do next because my punch to her face makes her wail like a baby and release me.

“You fuckin’ bitch!
 
You broke my nose,” she wails.
 

I aim my glare in her direction, hoping I look tough, and she can’t see the agony I’m in at the moment.
 
Dexter continues to bark so I have to yell to be heard.
 
“Get the fuck out of here before I let my dog at you, you filthy bitch.”

I hear her shoes as she runs from the room sobbing.
 
As her footsteps fade, I hear a slow clap coming from the other side of the room.
 
Turning my head in that direction, I tighten my grasp on Dex’s harness.
 
“Who’s there?”

Heavy footsteps approach me.
 
“Relax.
 
It’s just me.
 
Reaper.
 
And might I say, that was fuckin’ incredible.”

I feel the flush race across my cheeks, knowing that he watched that.
 
“Sorry if she’s your … whore, or whatever.”

He laughs, and I hear him rifling with something behind the bar.
 
“That bitch ain’t my anything.”

“Did you catch the whole show?”

“Nope.
 
I came when I heard the dog barkin’.”
 
He grabs my hand, shoving a bag of ice into it.
 
“That’ll help with the swelling.”

I laugh and gingerly place the ice across my aching knuckles.
 
“Thanks.
 
That fucking hurt.”

He chuckles and comes around to my side of the bar.
 
“Was about to intervene when she grabbed your hair, but that punch you gave her made me stop and let you deal with her yourself.
 
It was a lesson she needed to learn.”

I bite my lip and nod.
 
“So I hear.
 
Charlie told me all about her.”

He chuckles again.
 
“I’m sure she did.
 
Charlie should have caved her face in months ago.
 
You should give her lessons.”

I laugh.
 
“I’ll think about it.”

“Gotta admit, I was surprised your dog let her get that far.”

I reach down and pat Dex on the head.
 
“He’s a lover, not a fighter.
 
He’s trained to warn me, and if I give the command, then he’ll attack.”

“Mind if I pet him?”

I motion to Dex.
 
“Be my guest.”
 
I hear the tags on Dex’s chain jingle as Reaper rubs him down.

“I used to have a dog.”

I cock my head to the side.
 
“Used to?”

More jingling.
 
“Yeah.
 
In Afghanistan.
 
Fuckin’ thing came up to me one day while I was out on patrol with my troop.
 
Wouldn’t fuckin’ leave.”
 
He pauses.
 
“He was so fuckin’ skinny.
 
I knew he was starvin’.
 
Started givin’ him half of my meals, and he became my new patrol buddy.
 
I named him Monty.”

I hear the creak from his leather cut as he sits back, followed by the sounds of him swallowing and setting down a bottle of, what I can only assume, is beer.
 
“That stupid dog became my new best friend.
 
Saved my fuckin’ life more times than I can count.
 
I couldn’t bring him onto base, but he was always at the gate waitin’ for me when we left.
 
He’d wag his fuckin’ tail so hard I thought his ass was gonna come right off.”

He chuckles, lost in the memory.
 
“Then one day, we went out on a mission.
 
We were walkin’ through the desert, comin’ close to one of the towns we needed to check on, and just as I went to take a step, Monty freaked the fuck out, ran right at me, knockin’ me right to my back.
 
I was pissed.
 
I got up to give the little fucker shit when he took a stumbled back right where I’d been about to step, and he was gone.
 
Just … gone.”

Horrified, I swallow, running my fingers through Dexter’s fur.
 
“What happened to him?” I whisper, afraid I already know the answer.

“Improvised explosive device.”
 
He takes another long swig of his beer, slamming the bottle back down on the counter.
 
“Fucker blew up.”

I clap my hands over my mouth.
 
“No!”

Before he can respond, more footsteps come into the room.
 
“What the fuck, Reaper?
 
What are you doin’ to my girl?”

“Fuck you, Tease.
 
We were just talkin’,” he growls.

“Then why does she look like she’s about to fuckin’ cry?”

I stand quickly, throwing my hands up in the air.
 
“It’s fine, Travis.
 
We were just talking and he told me a sad story.
 
That’s all.”

Travis says nothing, and I hear Reaper’s chair scrape across the floor as he stands.
 
“See ya later, Laynie.
 
Take care of that dog.”

I smile.
 
“Will do.
 
And Reaper?”

He pauses as he exits the room, but says nothing.

“Thank you for sharing that story with me.”

He grunts and walks out.

“What the fuck was that all about,” Travis asks.

I smile up at him, molding my body to his.
 
“Just a story about a dog he once had.
 
It had a sad ending.”
 
I bury my face in his neck.
 
“Are you still mad at me?”

He shakes his head and squeezes me tight.
 
“Fuck no.
 
You mad at me?”

I kiss his neck, and whisper, “No.”

“Why is there ice on your hand?”

“I punched Lucy in the face.
 
Think I broke her nose too.”

He grabs my hand to inspect it for himself.
 
“That bitch was botherin’ you?” he growls.

“Not anymore,” I say with a wink.

Bringing my hand to his lips, he kisses it softly and chuckles.
 
“That’s my girl.”

IT’S THE DAY OF the picnic, and I can’t wait to get back on that motorcycle.
 
It’s about a two-hour drive to the lake and Mouse has already left in the van with Dexter and my huge bowl of potato salad.
 
After grabbing my bikini and a towel, I’m ready to go.

“Would you stop fuckin’ bouncin’?” Travis growls, trying to do up my helmet.

“I can’t help it!
 
I’m excited!”
 
Forcing myself to stand still, he finally gets the strap done up.
 
“I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

“It’s a fuckin’ picnic, Laynie.
 
Not a damned circus.”

“Oh, don’t be such a grouch.
 
Besides, it’s not the picnic I’m excited about.
 
It’s the ride there.”
 
I lean forward and press my lips against his.
 
“I can’t wait to get my man between my legs again.”

He growls and cups my ass, pulling me into him.
 
“Keep talkin’ like that and we won’t be goin’ anywhere but the fuckin’ bedroom.”

Giggling softly, I shove his shoulder lightly.
 
“Behave.
 
I need a tan and a swim and a fully-loaded hamburger, stat.”

“I’ll give you a –“

“Stop!” I cry, throwing my hand up in the air.
 
“Let’s just go.”

Chuckling, Travis helps me onto the bike before swinging onto it himself.
 
As we pull out onto the street, I revel in the feel of the late summer sunshine beating down on my face.
 
I know we’ve hit the city limits and the open road when Travis picks up speed, causing my heart to soar with joy.
 
I’ll never get enough of riding this bike with him.
 
I’ll never get enough of
him
.

Since meeting Travis a couple of months ago, my life has changed so much.
 
I have friends and laughter, and best of all, sex.
 
Lots and lots of incredible, toe-curling sex.
 
My brother and I have grown farther apart, but I have faith that our relationship can be fixed.
 
My mother has backed off a lot since Travis had words with her.
 
I want her to meet him – to see that I’m OK.
 
I never want to hurt my mom, but Travis was right when he told her to cut the cord.

The best change has been Travis himself.
 
He’s gruff, and sometimes he can be a total asshole, but he’s also protective, and sweet, and I know that my blindness doesn’t bother him in the least.
 
I’ve noticed a change in him.
 
He’s almost happy sometimes, and I like to think I have at least something to do with that.
 
I’ve come so close to telling him I love him so many times, but I’ve stopped myself.
 
I’m afraid that he’ll feel trapped and that he’s not ready for that yet, so I keep it inside.
 
But I do – I love him.
 
I love him so much my heart aches in the best possible way.

Travis slows, pulling to a stop and cutting the motor.
 
Climbing off the bike, he takes my hand in his and helps me to stand beside it.
 
“How was that?”

I beam.
 
“Amazing.
 
I could ride all day if I was with you.”

Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulls me tightly to him and claims my mouth with his own.
 
The sounds of the others laughing and talking in the background fade as I drape my arms around his neck and pour all of my love for him into that kiss.
 
Our tongues slide against one another and my heart stutters in my chest when he pulls away and grabs my face in both of his huge hands.