Page 16 of Sanction

“Keep it, Princess.” I say before leaving the room.

Hell. It’s exactly where I’m headed.

Chapter 11

Daniella

Dani 18 years old

Travis 26 years old

I snuck another sip of Ember’s peach margarita, and a sly smirk stretched across my face when she never even noticed. She’s too busy making eyes at Knuckles at the outdoor poker table set up under the patio. Luckily on party nights no one really pays attention to me. I’m almost like a ghost floating around the halls of the clubhouse. I wipe my lips with the back of my hand before turning on my combat boots when I hear a throat clear. My eyes move in that direction and land on him. His eyebrows are raised as his thumb gently strokes his neatly trimmed beard. His expression indicates he saw what I just did.

“Daniella.” The husk of his voice always makes the breath in my lungs get hung for a brief second. The way my name rolls off his tongue shouldn’t make these feelings stir in my belly, but it does. It has for a while, honestly.

“Travis,” I retorted.

His dark jeans cling to his thighs as he stands from the tailgate of Tank’s pickup. He puts out his cigarette in the gravel and saunters towards me. “I guess you staying out of trouble tonight isn't gonna happen?”

“I never cause trouble.” I smile and twirl my hair around my finger.

He snorts. “Well, if a drink is what you want come with me.”

I’m a little shocked, but I eagerly follow. My pulse races and I rationalize in my head it’s completely normal for me to be in love with him. He’s not my real brother and even though he’s older, I’m eighteen, which is perfectly legal in the state of Louisiana.

Travis is all man. Tall, hot, tattooed, and when he is covered in grease from a long day at the shop, I can barely contain my hormonal urges. I love the smell of motor oil. Of course, that’s a recently acquired smell since it reminds me of him. I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the way he looks at me sometimes. I’m not a child anymore. I’ve developed and I know he isn’t oblivious to it. There are moments when he treats me like a woman. Then he usually catches himself, and goes right back to treating me like I’m still seven years old.

He reaches in the cooler and grabs me a Smirnoff. Really? Lightweight.

“Come on.” He nods.

We make our way over to the back pasture where an old picnic table sits. He hops up onto the washed-out wood, and places the bottle next to him. “You want to drink, drink with me so that I can look after you.”

I roll my eyes. “Look after me? I’m not a naive child Travis if you haven’t noticed.”

“I’ve fucking noticed,” he mutters and presses his forearms to his thighs.

I climb up beside him and take a drink. “What do you think I’m going to do? Get drunk and let some guy get me naked?”

He grunts and turns towards me. “That’s not funny Daniella. Last weekend I almost had to beat the shit out of that kid.”

I laugh. “Maybe I wanted him to slide his hand up my shirt.”

“Not while I’m around.” He sounds agitated.

Did I let Joel get a little handsy on purpose? Yes, I knew he was watching.

“Travis, you need to chill. You are always so overprotective.”

“I can’t help it. You’re young…...and being around all these men…” he trails off.

His jaw flexes and I notice how he starts rubbing his palms together. I’ve come to learn he does this when he’s anxious.

I reach over and clasp his hand. “Relax.”

He pulls his hand from my touch and reaches for his cigarette in his pocket. He lights it up and takes a long drag.

We stare out into the dark field, letting the croak of the frogs from the nearby creek fill the silence.

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