“Sweetheart, are you here to see someone or are you looking for trouble? Because I’ll warn you, this isn’t the place for it,” he offers, cleaning glasses and pitchers. He hands me a cup of coffee, as if he read my mind. “Especially if someone has not gotten their coffee.”
Before I could explain, a booming voice echoes to the left down the hallway. “Now Johnny, we wouldn’t want to scare off a pretty young lady.”
A giant of a man with silver hair and a matching beard pops into view. His eyes are gray eyes, like when the early morning fog hits the dark forest. His skin is sun kissed, a bit rough skinned, his frame holding rippling muscles. What was with this bar filling a woman’s wet dream? It is a requirement that you should be handsome and rugged?
“Sorry boss, I didn’t intend any harm. She’s a spitfire, though.” Johnny throws his hands up in defense.
I finally take a sip of my coffee, wishing I had a splash of Baileys or creamer. Silver fox turns to me again. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. Name’s Rawlings, and I’m in charge of this bar. I’m assuming you’re here for Jacky-boy? He’s doing me a favor right now, seeing as you kept him waiting.” Rawlings extends his hand to greet me. I grip his hand, shaking it powerfully in return. Curiously I say, “What favor is that?”
A small chuckle escapes Rawlings “A mess that we needed to clean up.”
“I am sorry about that. I’m known for being a little late.” I give a faint smile, turning my attention back to my coffee.
“Boss, she’s Matthew and Seth’s friend,” Johnny announces.
“Ah, you’re the one who started shit in my bar.” Rawlings leans on the bar near me, grasping his hands together.
I feel myself going slightly red with embarrassment. “Wouldn’t have had to if that your man had any respect for women. He had enough respect for my knife, though.” I take another sip of coffee.
“Ah, so that’s what’s in your pocket,” he says with a wicked grin, giving me a wink. There’s something primal in that grin. Unfortunately for him, though, he isn’t my type.
I feel a brush of lips tingle my cheek. I turn around and spot Jackson in a leather jacket with a Grim Wolves patch, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. Now that’s more like it. I let out a small moan, I guess he’s growing on me a little bit.
“Now, boss, I told you to be nice to the woman. I had high hopes of trying to keep this one.” He drapes his arm around my shoulders. The way he says “keeping” sends a small warmth through me. The thought of letting down my barriers would make my therapist very happy.
“Be careful what you claim brother. Some feral cats aren’t worth it in the end,” Rawlings says as a warning in my direction.
I stand up to say something, but I feel a gentle tug pulling me back against him pulling me out of the trouble I was about to make. A swirl of peppermint surrounds my ear. “Careful, Little Cub. I may know how to control my temper, but that is one lion you don’t want to poke.” Jackson may have a point.
I turn and throw my arms around his neck. “Alright Jackson, I’m here. It’s early and you promised me a date at a god forsaken hour…” He dives straight to my lips, distracting me from the people behind me. He fights to control the kiss and I let him. He’s the first to break it.
He rests his forehead against mine. “For someone who hates mornings, you talk a lot. Also, you kept me waiting.”
“Yeah, and?” I say while my finger travels down this arm.
“I don’t like to be kept waiting. You’ll learn that in time.” He smirks. Without hesitation, he picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder.
I slap against his back. “Put me down, you brute. I’m capable of walking. You afraid I’ll bruise your ego and leave?”
Smack. That was no love tap either. His palm landed hard across my ass cheek. The sting and the heat come all at one. I whack at his back and wiggle to get loose. He holds my legs tighter as we head to the parking lot. I can see the smirks and hear the snickers of the men in the bar. “Jackson, put me down!”
“Anyone tell you that you talk a lot, my dear? Let me handle things” Jackson declares as he lands another one across my ass. This is a strange sensation. Dear god, do Ilikethis? I feel wetness flooding my panties.Jesus. We finally reach outside and he sets me down next to a bike. Jackson starts it up and reaches to hand me a helmet.
He straddles the bike and looks at me. “You coming, Little Cub?” I walk around the bike to the left side. “What are you doing, Teresa?”
“I’m making sure my pegs are down. Last thing I need is the muffler burning my ankle. Again.” I strap on the helmet.
My father had a bike when I was going up and I used to love riding alongside him. I used to joke with him that I’d get my license and take his bike. My first ride with him, the peg was not down on the right side. I went to swing my leg over and my exposed ankle met the hot muffler.
I get on the back of the bike and search for his belt loops to hold on. Jackson swats at my hands and pulls my arms to wrap around his waist, forcing me to scooch closer. My heart’s thudding wildly, my breathing starting to hitch. The rumble of the bike pulses against my thighs. The smell of exhaust mixed with gasoline unlocks memories from the past. I can’t help but smile. I’m happy I chose the leather jacket, as the wind whips against me. I don’t know where we’re going, but I know he has something up his sleeve.
It takes us half an hour to arrive at the Sal’s Branch Trail. Two cars sit in the parking lot and it’s still pretty early. I’m about to swing my leg over when I feel two strong hands pull behind my knees and cross them over his lap.
“You’re in a rush,” he chastises me. “Slow down. Take a breath.”
I take my helmet off and hand it to him. I look around, seeing the trail up ahead and the sun peeking through the trees, cascading through the I hear birds singing up high in the trees. Before I know it, Jackson swings around to face me, my legs still wrapped around him.Okay, his love language is physical touch. This is new.
I search his eyes for what to say. Nature continues to hum its morning tune. I start to get nervous; I haven’t had a man look at me like this in years, like I’m a beautiful, unknown creature. I can feel the heat coming from my cheeks and look down at our hands that are somehow intertwined.