Page 41 of Fearless
Now, I was happy to stand aside and clean up anyone else who would need it. Being the club medic gave me immunity to the violence that was about to break out in this otherwise caring community.
From my outside view, I spotted all the usual suspects. Like last time, Shadow was nowhere to be seen. I wondered if he ever attended the fights or just preferred not dealing with the crowd. I couldn’t see him picking a fight with someone over some petty argument, nor could I imagine anyone having the balls to challenge him.
Jandro’s cut and shirt remained on as he talked to people, indicating he wasn’t planning on fighting anyone tonight. Whether or not someone else challenged him was another matter. I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth, thighs rubbing together as I remembered his sexy beefcake body sprawled out on the sheets.
In another small group of people, Reaper and Gunner had their heads bent low toward each other. Gunner was saying something into Reaper’s ear, who nodded as he listened. Both of them were dressed too, but my relief was short-lived as Reaper slid off his cut, handed it to someone, and peeled off his shirt.
He was glorious to look at, as always. The contrast of his body to Jandro’s couldn’t be stronger, and yet they were both utterly sexy. But my pulse shot up, knowing what the removal of his shirt meant. I rose from the curb and cut through the crowd straight to him. Gunner pulled away from his ear and slid his tall, lean body away through the throng of people. At that moment though, his ignoring me was the last thing I cared about.
“There she is.” Reaper grinned wickedly as I approached him. He took hold of my upper arm the moment I was in reach and pulled me into him. He dropped a crushing kiss to my mouth before I could speak, sending my head spinning.
“You’ll have to tell me all about the fun you had,” he growled against my mouth. “I want you home with me tonight.” He stroked a knuckle against my cheekbone, green eyes alight with love for a moment instead of bloodlust. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too. Of course I’ll be with you tonight,” I said in the rushed breath that filled my lungs. “Who are you fighting?”
“Don’t worry, sugar.” He cupped my chin and kissed me again. “I just have something to settle. He won’t land a scratch on me.”
“I’m more worried about what you’ll do tohim.”
His laugh was throaty, dangerous, sexy, and accompanied by a gratuitous grab of my ass. “I’ll just pop him a few times to teach him a lesson. Get my blood pumping for what I’m gonna do to you later.”
My thighs clenched at his words, my core already hollowing from the inside out. Even after a passionate, sensual night with Jandro, I craved the rough touch of my president. And still, I wanted many, many more nights of talking, laughing, and lovemaking with the VP. The feelings didn’t necessarily conflict with each other, I just wanted it all. Maybe I was finally getting the hang of this two-men thing.
With a final bruising kiss, and double-handed squeezes and slaps of my ass, Reaper slid past me into the open circle the crowd created. Engines lowered to a dull roar and people’s conversations faded away until the crickets were the loudest noise. All eyes were on the shirtless Steel Demons president.
“My challenge is for Larkan,” Reaper announced, turning around slowly until his eyes fell upon the blue-eyed newest prospect, who had his arm around Noelle.
Shit. Jandro was right.
Larkan said nothing and didn’t look especially surprised as he slid off his patchless cut, but Noelle was wide-eyed and pale as a sheet. I watched her throat work as she swallowed her nerves, offering Larkan a tight, but encouraging smile as she took his cut and shirt. In a bold move, Larkan murmured something and kissed her before walking out to meet Reaper.
“On what grounds do you challenge me?” He pitched his voice so everyone could hear, lifting his chin bravely at Reaper.
“On the grounds that you have the fucking balls to put your mouth on my sister without my approval. The club is grateful for your information regarding General Tash, but this is a separate matter. As the president of this club and head of my family, your behavior with my sister is out of line.”
“I disagree.” Larkan’s tone was remarkably calm and even. “I haven’t done anything to disrespect you or Noelle. We are two consenting adults with a strong connection. I haven’t forced or coerced her into anything. You care deeply about her wellbeing, which I admire. But I do too, president. You’re challenging me out of overprotectiveness, and the need to control everything around you.”
Reaper’s fists clenched at his sides as he and Larkan walked a slow circle around each other like two predatory animals. I met Noelle’s eyes across the crowd, but couldn’t place what she was feeling or thinking. She knew better than me that there was no stopping this. Gunner’s men would stop the fight before it got too bloody, but who knew what kind of damage would be done before then?
Noelle’s hand moved at her side and my heart swelled when I saw that she was petting Hades. He probably knew she needed more comfort than me in that moment. The memory of my dream flashed briefly through my mind before I shoved it away. Maybe I’d tell Reaper about it tonight, but I had to focus. A bad injury could happen quickly, and I needed to be ready.
Like a flipped switch, Reaper suddenly relaxed. He smiled at Larkan, then swept his arms out to the sides with his hands open.
“Let’s settle this, boy.”
And then he moved like lightning.
I had never seen Reaper fight before. Even though it was happening right in front of me, I barely saw anything. I blinked and Larkan’s head snapped to the side, spitting out blood. He recovered quickly, moving in to land a punch on Reaper, who dodged with fluid agility. It almost looked inhumanly fast.
Every one of Larkan’s attempts did absolutely nothing, cutting through air. Reaper dodged and weaved while staying close enough to land strikes of his own. Larkan’s ribs and stomach were bright red, mottled bruising already forming on his skin.
“You’re good with bikes and a bow, man, but you can’t hit for shit,” Reaper taunted him.
Jesus, Reap. Just end it already,I pleaded silently.
I weaved through the crowd back to my first aid kit, unable to watch anymore. Just as I opened the case, a cheer went up with Reaper’s name being chanted.
“Yay,” I grumbled, pulling on my gloves and breaking two cold packs. Larkan didn’t lose a lot of blood from what I saw, but the bruising would be intense and sore for a few weeks.
