Fuel and Fire

CHAPTER 8-1

The second Adrian left the Rusted Axle the tension inside the diner shifted into something heavier. Knox stayed beside the counter watching the rain outside like he was thinking through ten different problems at once.

Meanwhile I was trying very hard not to think about Sabrina sitting outside with Black Reapers. Because that felt like the beginning of a massive f*****g disaster.

“You gonna keep glaring at windows all day?” I asked while refilling Knox’s coffee.

“You gonna keep dodging questions?” Knox asked glancing toward me.

“Probably.” I said.

“Come to the clubhouse tonight.” He said as his mouth twitched slightly before he stood from the stool.

“That sounded suspiciously official.” I said.

“It is.” He said.

“Knox.” I said.

He stepped closer while lowering his voice enough that only I could hear him.

“I’m done pretending you’re temporary.” He said.

Heat rushed into my chest so fast it almost pissed me off.

“That your version of romance?” I muttered.

“It’s the honest version.” He said.

Honestly? That hit harder. The rest of my shift dragged painfully slow while my brain replayed his words over and over again and by the time I finally drove toward Devil’s Hollow that night my stomach felt like it was full of angry bees.

The clubhouse parking lot was packed already.

Music blasted through the open doors while bikes lined the gravel lot and several members looked up when I climbed from my truck. And then Crow spotted me.

“Well, look who’s here. Boss finally making honest decisions?” The yelled dramatically.

“Shut the f**k up.” KNox called from somewhere inside.

Too late. Everybody heard him. And suddenly every single person around me looked interested.

The second I walked inside Marisol grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the bar while grinning.

“You poor bitch.” She said.

“That sounds less supportive than I expected.” I said.

“Trust us, it’s assectionate.” Dani laughed out from beside the pool tables.

The old ladies crowded around me almost immediately while tramps sitting near the back looked increasingly pissed off by the second.

“Congratulations.” Marisol said handing me a beer.

“For what?” I asked.

“You really don’t understand biker culture at all, huh?” She asked staring at me.

“Not even slightly.” I said.

“Knox claimed you.” Dani grinned.

I looked across the clubhouse automatically and Knox stood near the bar talking with Roman while half the patched members smirked opening in my direction.

“Oh.” I muttered intelligently.

“Yeah, oh.” Marisol laughed.

“Trust me, every tramp in this building’s about to hate.” One brunette old lady said leaning in close.

“I’m pretty sure they already do.” I said.

“Now they’ve got an official reason.” She said.

Across the room several women definitely glared harder the second Knox glanced toward me and honestly, the possessiveness hanging in the air felt weirdly intense.

Not bad. Just intense.

A skinny brunette tramp suddenly scoffed loud enough for everybody nearby to hear.

“Must be nice. Getting handed everything because the president thinks you’re cut.” She muttered.

“Kiki, shut the f**k up.” Marisol said rolling her eyes.

“I’m just saying she’s been here five minutes.” Kiki said so I took a slow sip of my beer while staring directly at her.

“And yet somehow I’m already more interesting than you.” I said.

Crow nearly fell off his chair laughing and Kiki’s face darkened immediately.

“Bitch.” She said.

“Aw, you noticed.” I smiled sweetly.

“This is gonna end badly.” Marisol muttered under her breath while Torch started opening taking bets with prospects nearby.

Apparently everybody in this clubhouse enjoyed the chaos.

About twenty minutes later I headed toward the bathroom mostly to escape the staring and the second the door swung shut behind me another voice snapped from the mirrors.

“You think you’re special now?” She asked.

“Jesus Christ.” I sighed heavily.