Page 17 of The Biker's Savage Desire

Oh my God! My heart jackhammers against my chest.

Rick grabs his face, holding his jaw as though he’s hurt, as dark purple rings begin to form on his cheek. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m the guy that’s gonna fuckin’ murder you if you don’t leave right now,” Red growls low and steady, like a wild animal that’s out of control.

I gasp, my heart pounding and my mind racing like I’m sat somewhere between shocked and impressed.

“What are you doing outside of the room?” Red directs his frustration toward me. “I told you to stay inside.”

“I was handling it,” I say, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “I’m not helpless, Red.”

The statement softens him somehow, and he leans into my head with a soft kiss. “I know, princess. It’s been a rough afternoon. Get inside, please. I’ll finish this asshole off.”

Rick stumbles onto his feet and glares toward Red and I as though he’s face to face with a minotaur. “What the hell is this? Did that old man just kiss you?”

I laugh and turn back toward the hotel room door. “Yeah, he did, and you know what… I like it.”

Ricks face twists into something that looks like lemon dipped betrayal. “Jesus, Mae. What are you thinking? This dude is like twice your age and he’s… he looks like he’s spent twenty years in prison.”

“Keep going and I’ll publish your browser history.”

He rolls his eyes and limps back toward the elevators like a wounded animal who never had anything more than a snarl.

The air shifts in the hallway and I exhale before heading back toward the room, returning to Maci who’s sitting on the edge of the bed with wide eyes and a grin. “Did you really say you’d publish his browser history?”

I grin. “Yup. I think the eBook would do really well. I’ll name itChronicles of a Cheating Douchebag.”

She wheezes as she laughs, but Red stops the fun.

“We’ve got a problem, Maci. You need to go.”

“Go?”

Red paces the room, his broad hand brushing over his face before he pauses. “Duke’s looking for you. He’s got some kind of,” he drags in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, “he’s got the whole MC out searching.”

“For me?” She grins as though it’s a game. “He said he would do this, but I didn’t believe him.”

“Why are you smiling?” Red groans. “This is bad. Duke is psychotic. You should run.”

“Or maybe,” she says, gathering her backpack up off the bed, “I’ll go wander down the center of Main Street and see what trouble finds me.”

“You think this is funny?” Red groans, standing firm in front of the door. “He’s a bad man.”

She meets his gaze. “Aren’tyoua bad man?”

“Duke does this for sport. I can hide you somewhere, but you have to stay put.”

“I’ll take my chances.” She’s beaming as though this really is a game. “That big ole boy ain’t gonna hurt me. I’ve dated plenty of guys with control issues. This one just wears less hair gel and has more tattoos.” She tosses her backpack in place and strides toward the door with fearless abandon. “I appreciate your concern, but really… I’ll be fine.”

Red stares down at her for a long moment as though he’s biting back a world of things he wants to say, but knows he can’t. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Noted,” she says, smiling as she pushes past Red and out the door. For a second, she glances back at me. “Hopefully I’ll run into you again, Mae. Good luck with all this.” And with that, she vanishes down the hallway, leaving Red and I to our own thoughts.

The air conditioning in the room hums behind me. “So, is she totally unhinged or is it just me?”

“Unhinged,” Red huffs, “but so is Duke. Maybe they’re a match made in heaven.”

“Will she be alright?”

---