Page 10 of War

“Why?” I ask, wanting to understand where his head is at, even though I’ve been trying to do the same. I’m the one who left that morning. I never thought I’d see him again, and I was trying to make things easier.

Instead, my first one-night stand has turned…complicated.

And I’ve obviously been kidding myself. There’s something between us we picked up on that first night and can’t seem to easily walk away from.

“I can’t think of anything but you,” he admits, his throat working as he swallows. His dark eyes are the color of milk chocolate in the sunlight. “And that’s not a good thing for me right now, Ora.”

I don’t know whether or not to be offended.

“So the timing is off? Yet here you are, pinning me to the wall on my front porch while your men are waiting for you.”

“Exactly.” He bites, his jaw clenching and unclenching. “I shouldn’t be here, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I’m sure you can see how that’s starting to be a problem for me.”

“War! Prez wants us back at the clubhouse,” Bones calls out, and War’s eyes slam shut for a second as he tries to get control.

He curses and presses a sweet kiss to my forehead. “Get inside and lock your door.”

Is he always this bossy and protective?

He waits until I do that before his bike thunders to life.

CHAPTER FIVE

ORA

“I can’t believe the creep showed up at your door like that.” Lu frowns, looking up from the chocolate mud cake she’s decorating. “But damn, War making him apologize like that is pretty hot.”

“I think he wants me but doesn’t want to want me,” I try to explain while I finish wiping down the counters. “And I don’t know what the hell I’m meant to do with that. Imagine how many women he has throwing themselves at him. I don’t know if I can handle that.”

“I don’t know, but if the MC keeps coming around here, I’m going to end up fucking one of them myself because it’s been a while, and I need some action. I wonder if the twins could keep things on the down-low.” She smirks, wiggling her freshly done eyebrows.

“Both of them?”

“I mean, why not? You only live once,” she replies, smiling widely. “It’s not like I’m looking to settle down right now. I could see myself as a Skull and Bones sandwich.”

We share a look, then both start laughing.

The bell chimes as a customer steps inside, and Lu’s eyes fill with mischief when she sees who it is.

Jake works in construction and comes in on his breaks sometimes. Lu thinks he’s here for more than just my cupcakes.

“Ora.” He grins as I approach the front counter, pushing his blond hair off his forehead. He’s a few years younger than my twenty-five, and his handsome yet boyish looks give him the classic boy-next-door vibes. I bet he was the popular jock at school.

“Afternoon, Jake.” I smile, tapping my white nails against the pink counter. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please, and a tray of your rolls. The boys on site all want one,” he explains, keeping his eyes locked on me. “I was wondering, do you have any plans this weekend? There’s this cool band playing and…”

The bell chimes again, but this time War walks in, and suddenly, the air is thicker, the room smaller. His dark eyes narrow when he takes in Jake leaning toward me, as far as he can from the other side of the counter, and then he storms toward us. It’s almost like he could sense another man trying to ask me out from the clubhouse and appeared here.

“I could pick you up at seven,” Jake was saying, and I know I zoned out the second War appeared. I’m pretty sure I hear laughter coming from the kitchen, and I just know Lu is sitting there, decorating her cake while enjoying watching the scene unfold.

“She’s not interested,” War declares, crossing his arms over his chest, standing with his feet spread wide.Fuck, he’s sexy.He’s in a white V-neck T-shirt and light jeans today, his inked arms all on show.

“She can speak for herself,” I reply, staring up at him defiantly.

“Okay then, let him down easy.” War smirks. “Either way, the outcome is the same. You shut him down, or I beat the shit out of him.”

My jaw drops.

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