Size Matters (Chaos and Carnage MC 1)

You can do this. It’s just a date.

She shoved her keys into her purse and rested it on her lap. With each moment that passed, she wondered if he regretted asking her on this date. She hated these nerves. They were a giant pain in the butt.

He reached over and grabbed her hand. “Babe, when we’re on the bike, you’re going to have to really hold on to me.”

“I … er … I don’t know…”

He pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Relax.” He locked their fingers together. “It’s just the two of us.

She nodded her head. “Right. Yes. Right.”

I’m not affected by him being so close to me. This is normal. I’m just sitting beside him while he’s driving his car.

He revved the engine and she gasped. Her hold on his hand tightened, and he chuckled.

“I’m going to take it slow,” he said. “You know I’m not a dangerous man.”

She laughed. “Of course. Why would I think for a second that the leader of the Chaos and Carnage MC is dangerous?”

He glanced over at him, and she smiled. “Ah, you’re teasing me.”

“Just a little bit.”

She liked the way he held her hand. It helped her to feel somewhat grounded, and she was a little thankful he hadn’t brought his bike to this date. She didn’t want to be afraid, and riding on the back of his bike, she knew there was a risk that would happen.

Maddie held his hand, not wanting to let him go. It was an odd comfort. This wasn’t so bad.

“Maddie, you’ve got to learn to trust me, babe,” Bull said.

It was the only warning she got before he pressed his foot to the gas and sped up.

She gasped. He wasn’t breaking any speed limits, and his car felt amazing and smooth.

She spotted the bar up ahead, and he slowly brought the car to a stop.

“We’re here,” he said.

She looked up at the neon sign of the bar. The drive hadn’t taken long at all.

“Oh,” Maddie said.

Bull still held her hand. “You made it in one piece.”

She nodded. “Of course, I did. It wasn’t like you were driving like a maniac.”

He let her hand go. “Come on, it’s time for us to head on inside.” He turned off the ignition, and Maddie opened the car door. Her legs felt a little wobbly. She didn’t even realize how tense she had been.

Bull came to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, and she happily sank against him. He chuckled. “This is one of the reasons you’ve got to learn to relax. You’re tense from riding a car with me. Imagine what it would be like when you finally ride at my back.”

“Bikes are death traps.”

“Not mine. I would never put your life in danger, Maddie, you’ve got to know that.”

She lifted her head. “I do.” She didn’t even know how she knew, just that she did.

He smiled. “How are those legs?”

“Like jelly.”

He chuckled again. “They will be for some time. Come on, let’s go and get some dinner.” He held her hand as they walked across the parking lot. Loud music came from the bar, and Maddie saw several people standing out in the night, smoking. There were one or two people on their own, and a small crowd talking amongst themselves.

They entered the bar together, and several heads turned in their direction. Maddie wondered what they were all thinking, but Bull just walked right up to the spare seats in the restaurant part of the bar and held out her chair.

If she had a point system, he would be high up on the list.

Bull sat opposite her and smiled. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. Nervous, but fine.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about,” he said. “We’re just two consenting adults having a date.”

“Have you been on many dates?”

“Not many successful ones, and that’s if they showed up.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

He picked out the menus and handed her one. “Why?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure I’ve seen you around town with women before.”

“Women have followed me around, but we both know a stalker doesn’t qualify as a date.”

She chuckled, taking the menu from him.

“You didn’t tell me about the guy. The pity guy.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“There’s a story there.”

She sighed, looking up from her menu. “Fine. It was my prom date, if you must know. I’m not giving names. I’m not even going to tell you about him. There’s nothing else you need to know about him. We had a great prom. He asked me, and I thought he liked me. We had sex that night, and it was awful. It turned out the only reason he slept with me was out of pity. He said everyone should leave high school without their virginity intact.” She shrugged. “That’s all you’re getting.”

“You know that’s bullshit, right?”

“What part?”

“The part he didn’t make it good for you.”