Page 1 of Jaded Red

Prologue

Red

Sitting at a lonely barstool at the end of a nearly empty bar, the bass filtering through the speakers soothes my conflicted soul and steadies my racing heart. Looking around the dimly lit bar, I bring the glass of Crown and Coke to my lips and savor the whiskey flowing down my throat. The slow pace, sticky floor and stale cigarette smoke lingering in the air feels a little like back at home in Virginia. A place I want to forget, but never can. The images of the night that ruined my life come to me in full color. The squeal of tires, the shattering of glass andherscreams. Sounds I will never forget. Sounds that haunt me to this day.

This bar is neutral territory for all MC’s and I had to leave my cut in my saddlebags. They don’t allow any colors to fly in here. That way it keeps the peace and anyone who comes in respects the owners. If you didn’t, Maggie, the owner, will put you out on your ass with a baseball bat to your knees.

Speaking of Maggie, she comes toward me with a dishtowel in her hand behind the bar. “You good, Hun?” She calls everyone Hun. I don’t know if it’s a southern thing or an age thing. With her dyed blonde hair tied on top of her head in a knot, to the scars on her hands from fighting, Maggie does not take shit fromanyone. She might be small, but she packs a hell of a punch if you piss her off.

“I’m good for now, thanks Mags.” I wink and my face flames red. She laughs shaking her head and heads back to the other few patrons sitting at the opposite end of the bar.

I’ve been coming here on and off the last few weeks trying to wrap my head around shit that’s been happening in the club. So much drama surrounds us, I don’t have time to think about my past and that’s making me start to care for people after so many years of being told it was impossible. I’m doing everything I can to keep everyone safe and sometimes I need a break. Most of the guys have found theirone true loveand I snort. That shit isn’t for me, not anymore. At one time I did love a girl and we were supposed to be together forever, according to my seventeen-year-old brain. God had other plans for us though. Now I’m here and she’s…

Warm soft hands caress the back of my neck and hot breath, smelling of mint and whiskey fans against my ear, pulling me back to the present. My jeans tighten from the contact, my heart hammers in my chest and my face burns bright red. Not the first time I’ve had this reaction to a woman but it’s the first time I don’t feel guilt for enjoying her touch.

“Hey, handsome.” The soft, sultry voice captivates me, leaving me speechless. She takes it as her cue to run her manicured fingers down my chest towards my hard abs and lower. My body reacts to her touch and dirty, nasty thoughts filter through my mind on what I want to do to her. But what I want is irrelevant.

I swallow hard and close my eyes, remembering things in my past that aren’t buried but should be. Usually, when I do this,herface appears and any lust I have disappears. But not this time. This is the first timeshehasn’t come to me to make me stop. To guilt me into doing something I shouldn’t be doing withouther.Which is why I’ve never been able to go any further than some kissing with a woman.Herpresence has stopped me from losing my virginity.

The woman’s chest is pressed against my back and her hand roams further down to the crotch of my jeans. Wanting to see how far she’ll go or what she will do, I remain still, my face and body blushing a deep red down to my toes. Just because I’ve never fucked a woman, and have been ridiculed by my brothers for it, doesn’t mean I don’t know what I like or how I like it.

“Do you want to get out of here, handsome?” The woman asks.

Turning my head to see who this is and the beauty she possesses has me under her spell in an instant. Her long blond hair flows below her tight ass. Her tanned skin and slender figure, hugged by a little black dress, are a contrast to my pale complexion. She has light brown eyes, almost the color of the whiskey I’m drinking and her face has a little makeup. She is exquisite and captivating and the only woman who has been able to keep my attention. Trust me, other women have tried butherimage always appeared any time I want to take them up on their offer and my dick deflates faster than a popped balloon.

But not this time.

“Yeah, beautiful. Let’s get out of here.” I drink the rest of my Crown and Coke, slamming my glass on the bar top. I throw a fifty down for Maggie and rest my arm around her waist. She raises a brow at what I’ve left but I don’t worry about it. Maggie will put it on credit for me and keep some for a tip.

She leads me outside the bar, the cool night air nipping at my nose. I’m throbbing against the zipper of my jeans, begging for release. This is the first time this has happened to me and I’m still blushing from hairline to toenails.

“Can we call this for what it is?” she asks as I lead her to my bike.

“And what is this?” I ask eyeing her suspiciously.

“No strings, no expectations. No ‘oh baby, you’re the best, I need more,’one night stand.” She does her best to imitate a douche and gets damn close.

“Did I ask you for a name?” I ask.

“No.” She shakes her head, her long blond hair swishing back and forth.

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” I state, straddling my Harley and handing her my helmet. “We’re two consenting adults about to blow each other’s minds. Now strap that brain bucket on, climb your sexy ass onto the back of my bike and press your needy core against my back. If you’re lucky, I’ll even take you on my bike.” Holy shit. Where did that come from? My face might be flaming red, but I just did something I’ve never done before. I said what I wanted andshedidn’t stop me.

The woman straps my helmet on her gorgeous head and scurries to get on the back of my bike. She’s sitting too far away, so I reach behind her thighs and pull her against me. Her breath catches in her throat as she wraps her arms around my waist.

Satisfied she’s hanging on and not going anywhere, I start my bike and peel out of the parking lot of the rundown bar. Her hands roam from my abs and travel south the whole ride and I’m ready to explode if her dainty fingers graze me one more time.

I spot a pay by the hour motel and quickly turn into the parking lot.

“Stay here,” I demand, putting my kickstand down and steadying the bike. I swing my leg over and hurry into the reception area. A few minutes later, I exit and am surprised to see her still on the back of my bike and looking as sexy as hell. I definitely want to do things to her on the beast.

My face heats at the sight of this beautiful woman straddling my bike with a sexy smirk on her gorgeous face. I jingle the keysand slide on in front of her, starting it up. I pull behind the seedy motel in front of our room.

“I hope the rooms are clean,” I mumble under my breath.

“We can always go back to my place or yours?” She questions.

I shake my head and think about all my brothers who will embarrass the shit out of me, “Definitely not my place.” Just thinking about my brothers giving me so much shit for this has my face flaming red, yet again.

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