Betting on Forever (Battle Born MC Book 1)

by Scarlett Black

  I look down at my legs, and yep, I’m totally not covered, sporting a hot pink thong. Well, shit, I’ve never been shy, so I shrug. “Nope, I was totally wondering if you could fit another tatt anywhere. Blade, you are not allowed to call me Vegas. Don’t take this the wrong way, but why in the fuck are you here?”

  Blade’s eyes move over my legs to focus intently in on my face. “You and your girls were pretty ripped last night. I took you home, James took Jenn and Dana home. Before you ask, I slept on the couch.” His face relaxes a bit as he continues, “Last night you said we could only be friends. That means I can call you Vegas. After you shower, can you take me back to the bar so I can grab my bike?”

  “Sure”, I say, drawing out the rrr, because, really, what else could I say?

  Blade leans over the bed and smacks my ass hard. “Get your sweet ass moving then,” he says laughing.

  Jumping up pretty damn annoyed, I slam the door in his face. “Asshole!”

  Laughing, he says, “Keep calling me that and I will show you asshole, Vegas,” he yells through the door.

  The shower’s hot water relaxes my stiff muscles and stinging ass, and I’m praying that it will wash the hangover away. Never again, Vegas, I tell myself. Do not drink that much around this guy, or, really, ever again. Having turned twenty-eight, I just don’t bounce back like I used to. Throwing on my ripped jeans, white t-shirt and my favorite hoody, I walk back to the bathroom and start braiding my wet hair.

  Blade walks in carrying a coffee which he sets down next to me. I drop my mascara and take a small sip. “Thank you.” Blade eyes me strangely. Hasn’t he ever seen a person enjoying their coffee?

  “There’s some eggs and toast, you done?” Blade points over his shoulder with his thumb.

  Sighing, “Yeah, this is a hot mess today. It’s as good as it’s going to get. Wait, you made breakfast?” It’s me now who looks at him strangely.

  “I do know how to make scrambled eggs, Alessia.” Blade grabs my hand and leads me to my kitchen. We grab our food and sit at the kitchen table.

  Okay, this is so weird. After a few minutes of eating in awkward silence, I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Does everyone know your name is William Johnson?” I blurt it out remembering his name on the contracts. I try to hold a straight face, but I crack a giggle. Except that Blade, or William, just dropped his coffee mug to the table. His eyes are telling me to drop it, and I should. Really, I should. Not everyone gets a kick ass name like Alessia DeRosa.

  We continue to sit in silence as we eat. I can’t help it. “Did you go by Willy Johnson as a kid?” Picking up more excitement and laughing a little louder, “I bet you were picked on! Weren’t ya, Willy boy?”

  Blade’s face is cold, with no hint of humor showing, eyes narrowed and dark. I’m really re-thinking about teasing this hot biker, because now he’s a mad hot biker. I blow on my coffee, fluttering my eyelashes at him. No, I’m not done, this is fun. “C’mon, tell me, who knows? So we can laugh about it together. Who, Bill? Tell me, who-ahh eeks!”

  Blade stands, darting around the table at me. I’m panicked, dropping my coffee mug on the table before my mad dash to the door. Before I get very far, his meaty, big hands I loved so much last night, catch me by my arm, whipping me around and pulling me into his body. He tackles us to the couch in the living room and my legs wrap around him.

  Tugger is up, barking and jumping around, thinking we’re playing a game. Blade’s eyes are piercing mine with a hard edge to them. “You like to play games, don’t you, Vegas? See how far you can take this before you break me? I’m a man, not one of those little boys you’ve been playing games with before. You will treat me like a man, you get me? Next time I’ll take my anger out on your ass.”

  His hands move down my back, squeezing my ass cheeks hard, as he grinds his rock-hard dick on my pussy. Fuuuck, I don’t know who’s breathing harder right now. Blade smashes his lips against mine, pushing his tongue into my mouth, biting my lower lip with his teeth. As quickly as he started it, he’s done and popping himself up and off me. Man, he’s fast, aggressive and hot when he’s pissed.

  Tugger nudges my arm to play. Pulling myself up, I pat my poor baby on the head. Adjusting my sweatshirt back down, I try to gain some sanity after being tackled into submission.

  Blade walks over and stops by the door with his arms crossed while barking his orders at me. “Breakfast is over, grab your shoes and whatever shit you need.”

  I really want to tell him to shut it, but I’m not quite ready to find out what that look on his face means. Shoving on my black boots that are sitting by the door, I grab my keys and bag, then stomp my angry, frustrated and horny ass out the door. Jumping in the driver’s seat, I turn the Tahoe on. I can barely reach the pedal and have to move the seat forward. What the fuck? Oh yeah, he drove us here last night.

  Staring straight ahead with laser focus, the passenger door opens, then slams shut. Ripping the Tahoe in reverse, I peel out of my driveway and onto the road. And I do all of that just to get this controlling, dick-tease asshole out of my car!

  The ride is quiet, and soon enough we pull up to the bar. Jumping out, I slam my door behind me. I start speed walking inside, not wanting to look Blade in the eyes. Hopefully he takes a hint, gets on his bike and gets the fuck out of here so I can calm down alone. I feel too damn much when he’s around. He puts my thoughts and nerves on edge. Walking around back, I storm through the back door and gun it to my office. Once I’m in, I throw my purse and keys on my desk and hear the tinkling sound of my keys hitting the floor. Shit! Now I’m going to have to find those! But first I need to check the damage from the chaos of the night before. Kicking my office door open with my boot, I stomp into the bar area…

  I’m completely taken aback and stop dead in my tracks. After last night, I was thinking it would take me half a day to clean up for sure. What I see, I was not expecting. It’s all cleaned up, you would have never known we had such a fun time in here last night.

  Blade’s hand lands on my shoulder causing me to jump at his soft touch. I never heard him walk through. My hand grabs for my racing heart.

  “I asked the prospects to get this place picked up and cleaned. Don’t worry, they locked up, everything should be where it was.” He squeezes my shoulder and the tenderness confuses me.

  “Umm, okay, do I need to pay them?” It makes me uncomfortable, feeling like I owe him. I’m still pissed, so I can’t or won’t say thank you. Pride and all that won’t let me turn around either.

  “Nah, Alessia, it’s part of what they do for the club.” He pauses for a few moments, gently pulling my shoulder to face him. “Hey, yesterday we didn’t get a chance to look at the shop. Let’s walk over and look at it now?”

  Tilting my head, I look up at him. His face is relaxed and pleading for me to do… what? I feel so confused right now.

  His hand runs along my jaw to the back of my neck. He draws me to him and hugs me, kissing the top of my head. I feel his voice vibrating against my cheek. “Alessia, I’m not asking you to give me all of you today. But I’m asking you to give me a chance. Can you do that before you push me out before we even got started?”

  I hug him a little closer, a little tighter to my body, not liking the idea of him leaving now. My heart feels safe when I’m in his arms. Have I ever felt protected by another man like this, other than my family? I really can’t think of a time my heart fell this fast and this hard.

  Giving myself a moment, I find the courage to say, “That scares me most of all, Blade. It’s not that you are asking for a part of me today. It’s that you may eventually ask for all of me, then change your mind and throw it all away. I’m asking you that if you don’t think you want it all someday to leave now.” But I don’t let him go, because, somewhere deep down inside, I really hope that he does want it all with me.

  Blade sighs and holds me tighter to him. “I don’t know that in a week’s time either of us knows for sure that we are the people
we would ask the other to give it all to. I do know the thought of never knowing, never trying, I will regret that for the rest of my life.

  I want to try and see if we make it, I want to give every part of us to each other. I know I want to try and find out with you today,” Blade tells me softly, never letting me go, and that, with his words, he gives me hope that he’s real.

  I look up at his face as he leans over and starts kissing me slowly. A slow burn, kind of intense kind of kiss. Stepping back, I smile up into his whiskey colored eyes, going back for one more kiss, feeling happy with where we are at right now. Letting him go, I head toward my desk and grab the set of extra keys for his shop, tossing them to him. I walk back to him, he grabs my hand and opens the front door for me.

  We make our way out to his new shop. It’s dusty in here, with littered boxes and old white sheets thrown around. Opening the blinds to see better, we both cough on the cloud of dust we stirred up.

  Opening a window, I tell Blade, “Mac used this place for storage or never cleaned it up after whoever was here last left, and with running the bar, I never did have time to clean this place up.”

  He just nods along, pulling his phone out. He dials while still looking around until the other person answers. “Tank, wake up, fucker, and grab some prospects, head over to the new shop. We have some work to do, bring the truck and cleaning shit.” He pauses and frowns. “I’m here already, dipshit, and none of your god damn business.” He hangs up the phone and slides it back in his pocket watching me. God, his eyes are sexy as hell, he sees too much of me.

  “Come over and I can make us some more coffee while you wait?”, I say quietly. Blade stalks toward me, grabs my hand and pulls me close to his chest. His hand reaches up and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear, looking softly into my eyes. Leaning over, I touch my lips to his. “Yeah, Alessia, that sounds good, I didn’t get to finish my coffee this morning.” His smirk has me chuckling back, and we walk out to make some coffee until the boys get here.

  Chapter 9

  Blade

  I’m sitting at the bar on a stool facing Alessia as she hands me my black coffee. “So where are you from?” I’m curious to find out more about her, especially after she stomped on Jenn’s foot to shut her up last night.

  “Sacramento area, my parents still live there, although I spent a lot of time in Tahoe. My parents have a house up there. I moved here a few years back, started over, a change in scenery if you will.” The mention of a house in Tahoe makes me wonder what kind of cash her old man is packing.

  “Why would you pick Nevada and not stay somewhere close to your parents in California?” Odd she would move so far away, unless she is running away from something?

  “Nevada is different, the city and people here are different. California is too familiar, but, Blade, if you have a specific question, I’d rather you just asked me.”

  She’s smarter than most bitches I come across, most wouldn’t have caught on my line of questioning yet. “Okay, so why did you stomp on Jenn to shut her up last night?” I ask her, wondering how much she will tell.

  “Are you telling me you didn’t have one of your men dig up my past? I doubt that very much, Blade. Men like you, they look into everyone. I’m sure you know more about me at this point than I do you.”

  She has a point. “That’s true, Alessia, and I haven’t read it. I’m sure Spider already did that, he hasn’t said anything, which does surprise me.” I need to find out why Spider hasn’t mentioned anything at all.

  “Blade, do you always make friends this way? Or am I just special?” She’s batting her eyes at me like a smart ass.

  “Things fell apart with my ex and I left, that’s all I’m going to say about that, because that shit is going to stay in the past where that cocksucker, Derrick, belongs.” She raises her eyebrow at me in challenge, and if I wasn’t so fired up over hearing his name, I would think she was being cute.

  “What I was looking for was your business background, and personal. I don’t want anything to bite me in the ass later, if you have something you’re running from. I’m just protecting my club,” I say honestly.

  “Blade, you don’t have to deal with any of my shit, it’s handled. And if anything does come back to bite my ass, I’ll handle it,” she states annoyed. The roar of the bikes hits my ears, ending this conversation. I’ll store Derrick’s name away for Spider.

  “What are you doing the rest of the day?” I ask her, hoping that she’ll stick around for a bit. I know that with us being next door, I’ll see her often, but I just don’t want to walk away yet either right now.

  “Hmm, I don’t have much planned until I get back to the bar to work tonight,” she says casually like heading home is a much better option right now.

  “Jump up. Let’s go grab some paint and boss those little bitches around next door.” Grabbing her hand, I tug her along behind me. I don’t know when I turned into such a needy pussy, needing to have my hands on her all the time, but here I am. What can I do about it? I love the feel of her. Outside, Tank, Spider and Axl show up, along with the other members and prospects who rode in trucks.

  Axl is grinning from ear to ear as he and my two other brothers walk up to us. I pull Vegas a little closer to my side because I don’t want any of these fuckers touching her.

  Vegas grins up at me and pinches my side before walking away to greet them. “Morning, boys! Did you all get coffee? I can go grab some doughnuts on our way back after we look at paint?” She eyes all of them a little too nicely.

  Tank lines up first with a devilish grin, pulling her close for a hug. “Morning, sweet stuff, I would love any sugar you wanted to give to me,” Tank winks at her, and I feel my face starting to heat.

  “Tank, quit,” she slaps at his chest and steps back. “Coffee is on the bar and I’ll bring you boys something to snack on.”

  Axl butts in. “I’m good, but how about you bring Dana for my something sweet?” Vegas rolls her eyes at him. “Axl, I dare you to go wake her up this early, see if she doesn’t kick your ass.”

  Axl throws his hands up waving her off, “That’s cool, my woman needs her beauty sleep.”

  Vegas chuckles back at him. “I don’t think she knows she’s your woman, though?”

  “Oh, no doubt, she will, Alessia. Soon, she will.” Axl raises his eyebrows up and down.

  The brothers walk on into the shop and I make my way inside to start giving them orders on what to do while I’m gone. Alessia is waiting for me outside, keys in hand, leaning with her hip against her car. Her face is beautiful, catching the morning rays. I’m starting to feel something inside soften when I see her smile.

  Leaning over, I snatch the keys from her. “Hey, it’s my car, I’ll drive!”

  “Nah, babe, I’m a man and you will not drive me around. Earlier this morning was a freebie. Jump in and relax.” She stands for a minute in a face-off with me, and I step into her space, making her look up at me. Relenting a little, I say, “Can I drive when we are together, Alessia? My mom would kick my ass if I didn’t, and I want to.” Leaning forward slowly, I give her soft lips a quick peck.

  All I know is that Axl had it right when he said about Dana, ‘That’s my woman and she just doesn’t know it yet.’ I’m feeling the same way about Alessia. As soon as I get her on my bike, she will be my woman.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  We spend the next two hours picking out paint and supplies, along with a fuck ton of doughnuts and breakfast burritos that she ordered ahead of time, which she then argued and ended up paying for it all. We walk into the bar and place the food down, then she grabs the brothers to get them to come eat. She’s acting like a mother hen, doting on these assholes. I know I should be grateful, but, honestly, it’s starting to piss me off and I wonder if I’m wasting my time with her.

  “I see your mind has a lot going on in there. What’s up, man?” Spider asks me.

  “Nothing,” I huff out.

  “Seriously, don’t pout li
ke a pussy. Get that shit off your mind and do it quick. I’m not all that into your feelings and shit,” the asshole says to me.

  “Fine, fuck, I was just wondering if Vegas will ever really give me a chance or if I’m wasting my damn time trying at all.” I feel like a pouty bitch because she doesn’t dote over me that way.

  “You know, Prez, she probably feels obligated to pay us back for cleaning the bar up after you left to take her home and is showing us her gratitude. She’s running around telling us all thank you. I personally like her bitchier side. Do you really want those bitches at the club? They spread their legs for any hard dick, will give you whatever you want without feelings. That right there,” he nudges his chin in Vegas’ direction, who’s laughing with Tank, “is a woman who knows her value. You need to show her she also has value at your side. You actually have to earn her trust. She sees you differently than the others, so it’s harder for her to trust you. She can walk away from any of these assholes unscathed, but you she sees as a threat. She can’t hand herself over to you and leave unaffected.”

  I’m fucking thrown by his words, who knew he could be this deep. “I need you to get me a file on Derrick, he was her ex.”

  “I already have, but I think you need to build trust with her, let her tell you. She’s not a job, man. If you want her for real, do the damn work. I’ll let you know if there are any threats, but, from here forward, drop the business shit and be her man.” Spider looks me in the eyes as he walks away.

  Chapter 10

  Vegas

  “Babe, what are you doing out here?” Blade asks me, grabbing my waist and giving it a light squeeze. We spent most of the morning cleaning and the shop looks good. I bet the boys will have it painted by tomorrow.

  Looking up from my phone, I say, “Looking for Halloween costumes. Every year we have a theme and it’s my year to pick them out, so I’m looking for something good.”