Walk the Line (Kings of Chaos 5)

“You and that mouth.” I nip her bottom lip. “Can you handle my life, B?”

“To be with you.” She nods her head. “Yes.”

“Once you’re mine, I ain’t letting you go, girl. So you need to be sure.”

“I am scared out of my mind. I’m

worried I’ll eventually scare you off with my crazy, or you’ll realize how unextraordinary I am and that things will sour or change between us. I have plenty of concerns, but one certainty. That I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t take this chance with you now because I, Blanche Birling have a serious case of like going on for you, Jagger.

“Ryan… Jagger Ryan, and I feel exactly the same way. I’m not this guy I am with you. He’s new. I’m damaged. The things I’ve seen and done have twisted me. One day you’re going to see that first-hand.”

“And yet I know you’d never lay a hand on me.”

“Any man who hits a woman is a coward,” I sneer. “Fuck, B. We’re really doing this aren’t we?” I ask as I grip her hips.

“Yeah.” She nods. “I think we are.”

I lift her into the air, and she wraps her arms around my neck as I attack her lips, claiming her properly. Our other kisses have been different. They were before I had the right to call her mine. She whimper into my mouth removes my hair tie and buries her fingers in my thick hair. The gentle scrape of her nails against my scalp makes me moan. The wolf whistles make us jump. We part, and she laughs into my shoulder as I shoot a glare toward the teenagers who make the wise decision to move along.

“You always make me forget myself.”

For the first time ever, I regret not having a place other than the dorm. I lower her to the ground.

“There’s a lot I need to school you on before I take you to the clubhouse, B. I don’t want you going in blind.”

“Are we going back to the rules you mentioned?”

“Yeah babe, we’re a little old school when it comes to men and women. It’s an old boys club. Women stay out of our business dealings, and trust us to make the best decisions.”

“I don’t like the picture you’re painting.”

“You show my brothers respect, and they’ll do the same. Yes, I’m the king of our castle, but unless it’s safety related, I don’t have a problem with talking things over with you. I’m not the type of man who wants you to bow to him. The only submission I want from you is in the bedroom.” Blood rushes to her cheeks. “I love it when you blush, B. It makes me want to say all the dirty things to you I’ve been thinking about for months.”

“Jagger.”

Her faint whisper has me ready to drag her off into the brush. I want to break her in slowly, taste every inch of her and erase all memories of her former lover. I’ve never met anyone who’s only been with one person before, and I take it as a personal challenge. I have to bring my A-game and love her so good she can’t remember her own damn name. My mouth waters at the thought. I want to know if my Southern woman tastes as sweet as her accent.

“Our time is coming, B. You feel it?” I trail my finger across her collar bone.

She shivers and gasps.

“So sensitive.” I lick my lips, starved for her. “We need to go before I forget we’re on a public beach.” I take her hand and pull her along the trail.

***

It’s been a long time since I cared so much about the opinions of people not in my club. I’m practically sweating as I knock on the door to the condo and wait. She answers the door in a thigh-skimming black dress with a row of rectangular cut outs that show a sliver of her skin at her waist line. I want to trace the decorative perforations with my tongue. The sexual tension between us is drawn taut, like a bow ready to be fired.

“Welcome to my home.”

I step inside and spot Jess and a girl I would’ve recognized as B’s daughter anywhere. With her cafe latte skin, she’s a few shades lighter than her mother with large, hazel-colored eyes and thick dark lashes, and curly light brown hair. But her oval shaped face and full lips are all her mother’s.

I shove my hands in my pocket. I could’ve dressed up in a button down and a nice pair of pants, but it wouldn’t be me. So my nice blue jeans, boots, black t-shirt, and cut will have to do. I see Whitney’s eyes widen as she takes me in. What your mother had was a soft weak-hearted fool, I’m the man your mother needs, baby girl, believe me. B shuts the door behind me.

“Jess, you remember Freeze. Freeze, this is my daughter, Whitney.”

“Good to see you again, Jess. Pleasure to meet you, Whitney. You can both call me Jagger when we’re alone. We’re all friends here.” I step forward, and Jess pulls me into a hug.

“Round here we don’t do handshakes.”