“Did you just call me Trouble?” she hissed.

  Priest could hear snickering from the bar. Ranger, you asshole.

  “I did. Though I have a feeling you are the best kind,” he murmured, leaning over to smell her hair.

  She moved away, grabbing her bag and keys. Handing him the box of school supplies, she said, “That goes in the closet,” and hurried outside.

  “Prospect,” Priest said, leaving the box on the table.

  Claire stopped at her car, then fished inside her bag for her sunglasses.

  “Didn’t peg this for your ride,” he said from behind her, impressed with the black muscle car.

  She looked over her shoulder, sliding her sunglasses on. “This is me.”

  Reaching around her, he opened her door. Pausing, she looked up at him before she slid in. He gently closed the door. Rolling down the window after starting the car, she gave him a little smile before putting the Camaro in gear.

  “Oh yeah. No skinny-ass, fake bitches for me,” he said to himself, watching her leave.

  Putting his shades back on, he walked to his bike. Once seated he started it and snorted to himself. No, you idiot, you cannot stalk her to see where she lives. Not a way to win friends and influence people.

  As he reached for his helmet, a feminine hand picked it up. Looking over, Priest took the helmet back from Tabby, a club hang-around. “Tabby. What’s got you up so early?”

  She giggled. He ground his teeth.

  “It’s not that early,” she said in her baby voice.

  Why me? Priest thought, then answered his own question. You know exactly why.

  “Hey, look,” Priest began, looking at her skimpy bikini, “why don’t you put something on over that?”

  She looked at him with a pout. “I thought you’d like it.”

  Fuck me. How did I ever like this?

  “Honey, it’s the middle of the day. Don’t dress like this when kids are here. I gotta go.” He took his helmet back, put it on, and left.

  As he drove off, his mind went back to thoughts of the club in Georgia where he and Ranger had gotten to know each other’s preferences a little better.

  Chapter 7

  Six months ago

  Priest walked into the club in Georgia. If anyone saw him, they’d never have guessed he was MC. Dressed all in black, button-down shirt and pants, he looked like he belonged. This club was not something a person would find in the Yellow Pages or on Google. It was a word-of-mouth fetish club.

  Walking up to the bar, he looked to his left and did a double take.

  Well, fuck me.

  The man he was looking at gave him a chin lift and made his way over to sit beside him.

  Bold motherfucker was all Priest could think.

  “He’ll have what I’m having,” the tall man told the bartender.

  Priest arched an eyebrow at him.

  “Haven’t seen you in here before,” he mumbled to Ranger, sipping the top-shelf scotch.

  “I usually go to the ‘club’ in Tennessee,” Ranger drawled, causing a shiver to go up Priest’s spine.

  “Didn’t know about that one,” Priest replied, sounding bored.

  Ranger didn’t respond. Priest looked up at Ranger’s reflection in the mirror behind the bar. Always a cop first, he thought, noticing how Ranger kept everything in his view.

  “Not much happening tonight,” Ranger said idly.

  “Sometimes that’s why I come. I need a quiet place where no one knows me. No expectations.”

  “That is such bullshit,” Ranger responded.

  “’Da fuck you say?”

  “It’s not why you come here. If you are going to bullshit someone, don’t bullshit a bullshitter, man.”

  Priest snorted over this statement.

  “Okay, fellow bullshitter, why am I here, then?”

  “Not sure what your kink is. Don’t really care. I’m here for mine.”

  “Are we sharing? Is that what we’re doing now?”

  Ranger flipped Priest off.

  “Okay then. With that, I am heading upstairs,” Priest responded, not wanting to take the bait or get kicked out for brawling.

  Once upstairs, he entered the code for his room and quietly closed the door.

  Looking at the paintings he had on the wall, he leaned against it, wishing he’d met someone to paint tonight. Rolling his head on his shoulders, he finished his drink and lay back on the bed. Having this little piece of something far away from the prying eyes and ears of their town was something he relished.

  Priest had fallen asleep but heard a knock at the door. Checking his phone, he saw that there were no messages.

  He paused before opening the door. “Yeah?”

  “Priest. It’s Ranger.”

  Priest stepped back, shocked. Why had his heart fluttered like that? Rubbing his chest, he opened the door.

  Ranger was leaning against the doorjamb, a fifth of aged scotch in his hand. “Been saving this for a moment like this,” Ranger said with a wiggle of the bottle.

  Priest, at a loss for words, stepped aside to let him in.

  “How long are you staying?” Ranger asked, looking for glasses in the room.

  “Just tonight.”

  Ranger turned to him and offered him a glass. “We good?”

  Priest studied him, tossed the idea of what he really wanted to do aside and nodded. Taking a sip of the scotch, he raised his eyebrows. Quality. Expensive. They walked to the sitting area and sat down.

  ***

  Priest wasn’t sure why Ranger sought him out to drink with. Yes, he was severing ties in NC and moving on. It would be good to get to know his VP. All that was bullshit and he knew it, at least deep down he did. Priest had been with men and women at this club. That was part of the appeal. This man’s presence made him hard. He was good-looking. Ranger’s eyes were darker than dark. His own eyes were drawn to them. He was as tall as him, but Priest had a leaner build. Ranger’s presence was undeniable.

  “King know I’m here?” Priest asked.

  “Nope,” Ranger replied with a slow smile.

  Priest sat back and looked at him. He sipped some more scotch, knowing damn well he was fucked. He wanted this man. Not with a woman between them. He wanted him.

  They both drank in silence, neither of them feeling the need to talk. Priest appreciated Ranger even more, not having to fill the silence.

  Ranged stood up and stretched. He had worn his hair down. All Priest could think about was how he wanted to run his tongue along the strip of skin between Ranger’s pants and shirt.

  “I’m heading out, man.” Ranger tossed the scotch bottle in the trash.

  “What?” Priest asked, confused, disappointed.

  “I shouldn’t have come up here. I’m gonna head home.”

  Whether it was the drink or plain desire, probably both, Priest walked over and put his back against the door.

  “Get on your knees,” he ordered Ranger.

  “Wh… what?” Ranger stammered.

  In for penny, Priest thought.

  “You heard me. Now,” he said with authority. He saw Ranger swallow. His eyes were hooded, and his breathing was heavy. Ranger walked up to him and slowly got on his knees, never breaking his stare with Priest.

  Fuck me. Priest groaned.

  “Open my pants.” Ranger did as he asked, then ran his hand over Priest’s erection and moaned.

  Priest hissed. “Oh yeah,” Ranger answered with his own moan.

  “Oh, lover . I should have known,” he said, stroking Ranger’s face. “You want the control taken away.”

  Ranger began panting. “Priest,” he groaned and began rubbing his own erection.

  “Call me Declan.”

  “Call me J.” Declan nodded.

  “J, take my dick and suck it. It’s not going to do it itself.”

  J swallowed and pulled down Declan’s pants. His cock bobbed in front of J’s face. J took Declan’s cock gently, but firmly. He ran his fingers along its length, causing Declan to hiss between his teeth. Looking up at Declan, he swiped his tongue under the head. It looked as though J was marveling at his smooth skin and salty taste.

  “More,” Declan directed.

  J stroked Declan from root to tip, then combined it with sucking. Declan tilted his head back against the door and groaned.

  “Oh God, yes. That’s it.”

  J looked pleased that Declan liked it. He used his other hand to massage Declan’s balls. Declan put his hand on top of J’s head, guiding him at the speed he wanted. J moaned as Declan watched him. Declan was close. Threading his fingers tighter through J’s hair, he increased the speed of his hips and the depth of his thrusts down J’s throat.

  J moaned louder. Declan saw him undo his pants, so he could stroke himself. J leaned his head back and met Declan’s eyes. Declan saw a hunger that matched his own, then pulled J’s head forward to where he was deep enough to gag him. He felt his eyes roll back in his head as he groaned. Declan released him and marveled at J sucking in a breath and going at it again, while increasing his own pace stroking himself off.

  Declan murmured, “Fuck. I’m so close. So close, baby.”

  The men continued a brutal pace. Soon, Declan felt his balls tighten. He was gasping and thrust one final time on a roar, the release almost buckling his knees.

  J swallowed Declan’s hot release.

  “Stop. Do not come. Get on the bed,” Declan commanded.

  J stood on shaky legs and took off his shirt and backed to the bed.

  Declan walked up to him and shoved him backward. J landed on his back and shouted when Declan took him in his mouth and hand. Declan was not hesitant, taking J down his throat as J’s back arched and his hips thrust.

  “Fuck! Declan!”

  Declan continued his fast pace. J fisted the blanket. His breath was gone. Declan glanced up; the man looked as though he’d die if he didn’t come soon, spurring Declan on. The orgasm came so fast, J’s mouth opened with no sound. He thrust his hips once. Declan grunted and swallowed again, until J took a full breath, gasping in air. He lay there as if his legs wouldn’t work, so Declan crawled up and kissed him fiercely.

  ***

  The next morning, J lay in the bed, looking over at his lover and thinking about the previous night. He’d had one-night stands before, but never with a man. The attraction to Declan at the bar had been instant and intense. J had never felt anything like it before. What happens now? That awkward morning-after feeling was not there, at least for him.

  “You want breakfast?” he heard Declan’s muffled voice say.

  “I could eat,” he whispered.

  Declan sat up and swung his legs out of the bed. He turned to look at J. “Listen, last night, I don’t know what happened, but I liked it. I liked being with you. I guess you could say I am bi or whatever.”

  “We don’t need labels. We all live our lives the way we want to,” J said, looking at him, feeling relieved he was not alone in his worries. “I’ve never been with a man before. It was….” He faltered, at a loss for words.

  “Intense. Hot. Just….” Declan too searched for a word.

  “Right,” they both said at the same time.

  Declan studied him, then got up to make coffee.

  J slowly got dressed. Walk of shame, he thought and snorted.

  “What?” Declan gave him a small smile.

  “I was just thinking about the walk of shame I am about to do.”

  “Are you? Ashamed?” Declan murmured.

  J looked him over and tilted his head. “Not one damn bit.”

  Declan looked relieved by his admission. He busied himself, making his coffee and setting a cup on the counter for J.

  “So… if you’ve never been with another guy, why do you normally come here?” Declan asked him.

  “I like sharing, watching, just never been with a guy alone,” J replied, shrugging.

  “So, you and multiple women?”

  With a grin, J nodded.

  “Well damn, son. You are at the right place for that.”

  Chapter 8

  Claire sat at the local coffee shop, located in a local open-air mall. She was perusing their menu while sipping her iced coffee. She heard a deep voice order a coffee and peeked through her hair, quickly looking back down.

  The chair across from her scraped the floor as it was pulled back. She looked up and narrowed her eyes at Priest. He, in turn, sipped his coffee and winked at her before sitting down. She stared at him, unsure of what to do.

  Leaning forward, he growled, “Trouble,” and grinned.

  Rolling her eyes, Claire tried her best to ignore him.

  “I haven’t seen you in here before,” she said.

  “Didn’t know you came in here. If I had, I can assure you, you would have seen me before now.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that. Why does he have this effect on me?

  A young girl from behind the counter came over. “Hey, Priest. We never see you in here.”

  “Hey,” he replied without looking. His phone rang. Getting up, he answered it outside.

  The girl turned her attention to Claire.

  “I hope you know you don’t have a chance. He would never really be interested in someone like you.”

  Claire looked up at her and sighed. “What is this? Are you actually serious right now? Please, take the insecure mean-girl act somewhere else.”

  “What did you say to me?” the girl shrieked.

  “What I said, basically, is grow up. If you want him and he wants someone like you, BE. MY. GUEST. I have no claim.”

  With that said, Claire got up and left.

  She didn’t notice if Priest was still there when she left. Leaving the shop front, she decided a walk would help calm her down. As she made her way to the boardwalk, she heard a motorcycle. Priest eased up beside her and turned off the motor.

  “Why did you leave?”

  “The staff didn’t agree with me.”

  “What?”

  “The young lady warned me to stay away from you. She staked her claim.”

  “Who?” Priest asked, seemingly perplexed.

  Claire threw her hands up. “Oh, come on! The girl who came to our table.”

  Priest shrugged. “Don’t know her.”

  “More like you can’t remember her? She obviously knew you.”

  Priest shrugged again. “Don’t care.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t care. Didn’t go in there to see her. Went in there to see you.”

  Claire stepped back, at a loss. “Why?”

  “You intrigue me.”

  Claire snorted and walked away.

  Priest quickly found a parking spot. Hopping off his bike, he caught up to Claire.

  “So where to next?” he asked her.

  She growled and kept walking.

  “Well that was sexy,” he mumbled and snickered.

  Claire looked around, determined to find a place to go where he couldn’t follow.

  Priest leaned close and whispered in her ear, “There is no where you can go that I won’t follow.”

  Claire glared at him, gritting her teeth. “You are nothing like your brother!”

  “Thank Christ,” he replied in disbelief.

  Behind him, Claire saw the restrooms that were for the shoppers’ use. She smirked, then thought going into a bathroom probably wouldn’t stop a man like him. With an uncertain look, she began walking to them.

  “Oh, Trouble, Trouble, Trouble. Please tell me you’re thinking what I’m thinking.”

  “Unbelievable! And gross,” she exclaimed, poking him in the chest as she made her way away from where they were standing. Anywhere but there.

  He just shrugged and grinned.

  Claire shook her head. Why me?

  Hearing him chuckle, she walked to the movie theater. He followed her to the box office.

  “What are we watching?”

  “You can’t leave your bike out here that long,” she replied, leaning against the wall with a pleased smile on her face.

  He looked back at it, then at her. He leaned forward, placing his hand over her head behind her.

  “Babe, nobody is touching my bike.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s mine,” he said with gritted teeth.

  With wide eyes, she ducked under his arm, escaping his hold.

  He followed her.

  After spending five minutes arguing over who should have paid for the tickets, they made their way into the theater. Fuming, Claire bypassed the concession stand. Priest handed their tickets over and they found seats easily, as they were the only people in the theater.

  “Was that really necessary? I could have paid for my own ticket!” Claire whisper-shouted.

  “You don’t pay when you are with me,” Priest responded, outraged.

  “You see, that’s the thing. I’m not with you.”

  “You are soooo with me.”

  Claire growled. “You are impossible.”

  “I have my moments.”

  “Your brother is a nice man.”

  Priest turned to her and placed his arm on the back of her seat. Leaning in close, he said, “Lady, the last thing you need in your life is a nice man.”

  Claire was flabbergasted. Just as she was about to say something back, he kissed her, silencing anything she had to say.

  Priest pulled back and sat back in his seat, pulling her hand into his with a grin. Claire kept her hand in his and touched her lips, shocked. Priest rubbed his thumb over her hand. Looking back at her, he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek.

  “You make me a little crazy,” he whispered.

  “I know the feeling. You kissed me,” she whispered. She giggled, shaking her head, as if coming out of a trance.

  He chuckled and turned back to watch the movie.