Page 5 of Desert King

Over my shoulder, I see my monster. I suck in my breath because he has a bad habit of stealing them. When he laughs, it transforms his savage face. His white teeth gleam, laugh lines make his hazel eyes even more of a focal point. A grin makes his rough-cut face almost boyish. Almost.

The bouncer shrugs, letting me pass.

The men from the Bloody Scorpions take up almost every table by the stage. Strippers bend over, showing the shaved prize between their legs. Disgusted, I turn to the empty bar and take a seat.

“What’s your poison?”

“Tito’s on the rocks, extra salt, and two limes.”

The bartender grins and gets busy making my drink. From the corner of my eye, I see my monster take a seat with his men. “… and get him,” I point over, “something sweet. He sure as hell needs something besides the vinegar in his mouth.”

“Ain’t you cute? Where you from?”

“Florida.”

“Florida?What in the hell are you doing here in the desert?”

“I needed a change.”

“From paradise? Girl, let me give you some advice. Woman to woman and all—run! Run back as fast as you can.”

I shrug, “It’s not that bad so far. The mountains are beautiful. I’m not staying outside of Albuquerque anyway. My destination is Santa Fe.”

She raises her eyebrows. “That’s Royal Bastard territory.”

“Royal, who?”

She mutters something under her breath since the men are shouting at her to get busy and make their drinks, but she makes mine first.

“Thanks,” I smile, then quickly bring it to my lips. A shudder runs through me at the icy burn as it travels down my throat.

Drink in hand, I turn on my barstool and from the safety of the only lonely corner in the entire strip joint, I survey the room finding my “savior” with a topless blonde. She’s sitting on him. His meaty palms cup both her breasts. From the look on the girl’s face, she’s very much enjoying his attention. Her lips are parted; her ass grinds down on his lap. He uses his thumbs to flick her nipples as his mouth finds the back of her neck.

I shake my head, muttering, “Just who is tipping who tonight?”

The bartender smirks. “Right? These girls would pay him for it, not the other way around. He touches them sure, but I’ve never heard of him taking his dick out for any of them.”

“What a pity,” I smirk.

“Where’s the ladies’?”

She points down a hallway and I grimace. Great, I’d have to pass right by his table.

“Who is he anyway?”

“Edge.”

“Edge?”

“That’s his MC name and that’s all I know.”

Raising a brow, I hop down off my seat. “Do you mind watching my drink?”

“Girl, no one would slip a pill in your drink…no offense.”

“None taken.” I grimace. There’s nothing like being in a strip joint to remind me just how lacking I am in the tits, ass, tan, and hair slash make up department.

My long, dark hair fell out of its bun two hundred miles ago. My skin has a light coat of dust and sweat instead of perfumed shimmer powder.

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