“What part of you’re not supposed to be alone, don’t you get?” He practically snarls at me. I want to kick him in the nuts.
I slam my hands down at my sides, clenching my fists. Taking a deep breath, I put a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee and then finally gain enough control to say, “Damn it. This is stupid. I should just refuse to testify, so I can go back to my normal life.”
Immediately he seems pissed off. “Not going to happen. They won’t let you live even if you didn’t tell, just in case one day you have a change of heart.”
“You know that you’re not going to take me every day you work.” The look of utter dismay covers his handsome face, almost making me laugh.
“You won’t be working a lot. This is a part-time job just to keep you busy. Boss has two employees who work most days.” The snooty motherfucker is pissing me off. I can’t work, I can’t leave, and he doesn’t want me here.
“I need money to survive, so I need to work.”
“Anything you need will be picked up by me.” He steps closer to me, causing me to move backward until my ass hits the sink.
“Seriously, I’m not your responsibility,” I say, puffing out my chest.
He tips his chin up at me with his brow arched. “Actually, you are.”
“Well, hopefully, you’ll get your wish and the trial will come sooner.”
He starts laughing in my face, pissing me off. I glare at him which stops the humor in his expression. He grasps my chin firmly, but he’s not hurting me. He leans in and says, “Oh, so this nonsense is about what you overheard. I get it. Well, listen, sweet felony. Although it’s not illegal to fuck your brains out—it’s unethical. I can’t wait for the time to pass because the second the trial is over I’ll be taking you hard and long. So what I told him was to get this moving along. Not because I don’t want you, but because I want to stake you to my mattress with nothing but our sweat between us. Until then, I’m going to do my best to avoid temptation. Drink your coffee, and I’ll work on some breakfast after I start another load.”
He leaves the kitchen and heads towards his office and the laundry room. I finish making my coffee with my hands shaking. The man looks tired but still hot as hell. Something about the way his messed up hair and extra facial hair adds to his level of hotness. It’s insane how attracted I am to him. He calls me a felony, but he’s the one whose looks should be criminal. I bet he wins cases because the female jury members fall over themselves to please him. I take my cup, hoping to sneak back in my room to get dressed. I stop as I pass the living room to see at least three loads of laundry folded on the sofa, stacked neatly.
“Did you sleep at all last night?”
“A little, but I waited for the dryer to be done so I could fold them and start on the rest of my laundry.”
“Oh, okay. Well, if there’s anything you want me to do while I’m here, just let me know. I don’t want you to go through all that trouble for me.”
“Good. Your laundry’s your own responsibility.” I nod and walk off. Entering the bedroom, I pull out a nice pair of jeans with a tank top and hoodie. Sweeping my hair in my hands, I pull it up into a tight ponytail and then pin back a few stray hairs with some bobby pins. I packed all that I could take with me which thankfully included my makeup and hair stuff. I may have worked in a library; however that didn’t mean I had to look plain and boring. Staring into the bathroom mirror, I take in my appearance. “I look cute,” I say, winking at myself. Boss didn’t say anything about what to wear, so I’m assuming I don’t need to dress up. Just to make a good impression, I do put on my makeup like a pinup. I don’t usually put on this much, but it’s a bar and people tip better when you look sexy.
Chapter 5
Beast
I nearly drop the damn bacon on the floor when she steps into the kitchen. She’s fucking perfect and too sexy to be working at the bar. It’s going to take my entire being to get ahold of these emotions she’s awoken in me. A devious look in her eyes tells me she wants me to notice or snap about how hot she looks, but as much as I’d love to make her change, I have to remember that I have no right—just yet.
“You look nice. Breakfast is going to be small since we only have about twenty minutes before we have to leave.” I slide over a plate with some scrambled eggs and bacon. “Excuse me. I need to change.”
The second I enter my bedroom, I close the door and lean on it to catch my breath. I’ve spent years in wars, stood across from the enemy in the desert sands and across the courtroom and yet I’ve never felt this afraid. Mary terrifies me, and I’m not sure why I can’t fight this pull. She’s sexy to be sure, but I’m not a thirty-five-year-old virgin. I’ve never dated a woman I didn’t find attractive. Not that there’s been that many women in my life to begin with and a lot less that I actually had sex with. Shit, maybe that’s my problem I’m fantasizing over a barely legal woman because I haven’t had sex in five years.
That’s the excuse I’m going to tell myself because there’s no way I can admit to more, or I’ll never make it to the trial. I dress in a pair of jeans and a tight black t-shirt stretched over my chest and then pop on and lace up my black combat boots. Slipping on my leather vest, I plan to ride out as soon as she’s at work. I need to clear my head, and nothing works more than riding on my Harley. When I step out into the hall, Mary lets out a gasp. “Wow, night and day.” She licks her lips unconsciously.
“Yeah. Ready?” I pretend to not notice her reaction.
“Yes.”
I lead her out to my reinforced SUV that Wrench upgraded for all the Riders after the attack on Crystal. It happened a couple of months back, and then we were attacked again, nearly killing Mick. The fucking Cartels are making our lives difficult around here, but as a DA, they are trying to avoid fucking with me. Still, we can’t be too careful. I open the door and help her in. As soon as she’s sitting, I close the door and run to the other side and hop in.
I don’t say anything until we’re about a block away from the bar. Most of the time I don’t talk outside of work, having said more than enough for the whole day, but I want to speak to her. “Call me when you are done, and I’ll come to pick you up.”
“It’s Saturday. Who knows how long I’ll be there. Don’t the bars stay open until like one in the morning? Can’t I ask someone else to take me to your place?”
“No. Call me.”
“I don’t have a phone or your number.” I forgot that she left in a rush and taking her phone was too risky.
“Yes, about that. I’ll pick one up and drop it off at the bar with my number programmed in.” She’s huffing and puffing in her seat with her arms crossed, but I’m not in the mood to argue with her. The thought of someone else driving her home in the middle of the night is too damn much for me. Besides, she’s not going to work no damn fifteen hours. Fuck, I don’t want her to work at all, but again, I don’t have a right to say shit.
We barely pull into a parking space at the bar when she jumps out. Fucking shit. I do the same after turning off the engine. I follow her inside the bar, and both Boss and Roxie are there. She works there several times a week. It makes me feel better that it’s not Hans. He’ll be closing tonight.
“Mary, Beast, welcome,” Boss cheers. He makes introductions and then shoos me out. “We don’t open for another two hours.”
I start to walk back toward the door but stop to add. “I’ll be back to drop off her phone.”
“She gets out at four. I don’t want to work her too much on her first day,” Boss says. Thank fucking God I don’t have to pull him aside to keep her from working late at night.
“Good.” I walk out, itching to touch her, kiss her goodbye. Storming over to my ride, I get in, take a deep breath, and then pull out onto the main road. I want to go for a ride, but it’s going to have to wait. First thing’s first is the phone. I drive to Dallas for it because I don’t want anyone to link her to Steeleville until this is all over. I pick up a non-contract phone that’s untr
aceable to prevent any names being tracked. Plugging in my number before leaving the store parking lot, I drive off with a smile on my face.
When I get back into Steeleville the bar is open for the day. I parked out front because I wasn’t staying no matter how much I wanted to sit at the edge of the bar and scowl at any fucker that tries to hit on her.
Entering Panhandles, I see five customers inside. It’s still very early, but it’s a Saturday when people tend to be off. I’m not familiar with them because I’m not the sociable type. Mary spots me and starts. I move toward her, loving the way her eyes are trained on mine.
“Here it is.” I move to hand over the device, but I think better of it and keep it from her. First, I have to give her a warning. “Don’t be giving guys your number. Not one motherfucking guy. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” She rolls her eyes, snatches it from my hand, and tucks the phone in her back pocket. “Thanks, Beast.”
“No problem. I’ll be here at four.” I don’t stay to talk, and I don’t bother to look back because it’s all I can do to keep my distance. The longer I watch her, the worse it’s going to get.
As I leave the bar, I see her reflection in the lighted beer sign. A deep rumble rips through my chest, sounding like the roar of my engine. Fuck, I need to get her out of my head before I act on the lust rushing through my being. The ride to my house feels eternal, even though it’s a few minutes away.
The second I pull into the gate, I park my ride next to my Harley, get out and then jump on my bike. The wind hits my face, the cool air helps calm my cock down, but it’s not enough to keep it down for long. Envisioning Mary working behind the bar as bastards steal glances at her breasts, stealing my smiles from her, pisses me off.
I drive around on my bike, and for the first time in my life, I find no relief in it. When I make it back to my house, I strip and jump in the shower, turning it full blast on cold. I’m frozen two minutes later and I manage to finally make the fucker surrender. Once I’m out and wrapped up in a towel, I picture Mary with a towel wrapped around her body, tucked in at her breasts to hold it in place because heaven forbid she accidentally offer me a free show again. The image is too much and I have the towel on the floor while I’m fisting my cock, stroking the fucker until I blast my nut all over my hand and onto the bathroom tiles. It’s completely obscene the way I made a mess. It belongs buried deep inside her pussy and not on my floor. Grumbling, I clean it up and take another damn shower.
The rest of my Saturday is ruined by thinking about her working in a bar. How the fuck am I supposed to last until the trial?
The rest of the day, I pace the house, looking for something to take my mind off her. Whipping out my briefcase, I work on my upcoming case to see if there’s any way to tighten up the loose ends. Page after page, there’s nothing to help me. The case is airtight. I’m not even sure why this guy doesn’t plead guilty already. The sentence would be a lot lighter. The alarm on my phone goes off. I’m off my sofa and tucking the file back in my briefcase. Time to go get my future baby mama.
I’m up and out of the house, running down to my truck, and on the road within five minutes. I pull up to the bar and the lot’s half full. When I get in, Mary’s eyes jump straight to the door, and she blushes.
I tap my watch, and she shrugs, pouring another beer.
When I walk up to the bar, the guy she’s serving sees me, takes the beer, and smartly, goes back to his table of friends. No one—and I mean no one—should even consider coming in between us. Even if at the moment there really isn’t an us.
“Sorry. I’m done now.” She puts the money into the register and sets the guy’s change on his table before walking to the back to get her things.
Boss comes over to see me. “Hey, Beast. Everything okay?” We shake hands as he hands me a beer. I need this shit to calm my nerves.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t everything be okay?” I ask, trying to play it off, which is pointless because anyone can see right through me when it comes to her.
“Because you look ready to murder a guy.” He laughs, but I do not see the humor in this. I’m ready to kill a motherfucker for looking at my girl let alone speaking to her. I’ve no right or reason to be this crazy possessed over her, and it’s driving me nuts. One whole day and this girl has me wrapped around her little finger.
“No, just setting some ground rules.” I set down the empty bottle on the bar top.
“Ha, so that’s how it goes?”
“I’m just doing my job,” I lie.
“Ah, yes. I understand. Well, she’s done until Monday. Same time,” he adds as Mary comes up to us.
I nod, we shake hands again, and then I lead Mary out. “Thanks for picking me up. I didn’t realize how tired working in a bar could make me.” I’d carry her out of this place, but I don’t want to look like a nut. As soon as we get into the truck, I buckle her in. I can see she’s sleepy.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, driving back to the house as she relaxes against the seat.
“Yes, but I’d prefer a nap.”
“Okay. I’ll make something, and you can sleep.”
“Oh, no. I can’t do that to you. I’m not lazy, you know?” There she goes with her sexy feistiness even though she’s sleepy. Damn, I find it sexy as fuck.
“I know.” She finished her first day at a new job that I’m sure isn’t easy. As a librarian, I’m sure she sat a lot, shushing the kids and stocking returned books. I’m not quite sure what else happens because I haven’t been to a regular public library since I was a teen, but it’s not the same as standing and serving drinks all day.
“Never mind. I’ll help you cook and then have an early night.”
“I will cook, and you will nap. End. Of. Story.”
* * *
Sleep didn’t come for me last night. I’m exhausted as I start the coffee this morning. Last night she slept like a baby after I fed her a small meal. As soon as the coffee’s set and brewing, I head back to my room to shower and change. Pulling out my lounging clothes, I step into the shower and let the cold water seep into my bones. Looking after Mary only made my need for her double. My cock needs a reminder that she’s off-limits.
Once I get out, I wrap a towel around my waist and then walk back into my bedroom and sit on the bed. Thinking for a minute turned into twenty. A knock at the door startles me. “Yes,” I call out.
“I brought you a cup of coffee.”
“Thanks. I’m coming now.” I quickly stand up and dress and then open the door. She’s standing there with her long hair in a ponytail and two coffee cups in her hands.
“Thanks, Mary. You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s nothing. Thank you for dinner last night. I don’t think I even mentioned it before falling back to sleep.”
“You’re welcome. Are you feeling well-rested?”
“Yes, but you don’t look like it.”
“No. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Sorry. I know you don’t like people in your space.”
“It’s not that. Are you hungry?”
“Actually, I started breakfast. You relax, and I’ll cook this time.”
“I’m not even going to argue about that.”
“Good, now go sit down and chill or whatever you do.” The sight of her walking into the kitchen is the last thing I remember as I fall asleep on my sofa.
Chapter 6
Beast
It’s been a week since my world has been flipped on its head. My future wife loves her job even though she comes home exhausted. Even though I’m worn out, I’ve hardly slept a wink since she arrived. She’s captivated me day and night. For the first couple of days, we’ve managed to keep our distance. The only time I see her is before and after work. Usually, our conversation is short and to the point.
After some delays, the trial of the suspected bank robber who shot one of the guards begins today. It’s unusual to proceed with a trial on a Friday, but we’re forced to do so because the cal
endar is packed, and we’re limited unless we want to move a trial to another jurisdiction, which isn’t particularly good for the prosecution.
I’m in court and for the next two weeks, making it difficult to take Mary back and forth to work. I informed Boss that she would be working on my schedule for the time being or not at all. I’ve already warned him that men need to stay away from her, but I’m not sure how good that’s working.
By the time I’m done making my opening statement, the defendant leans over to his lawyer and whispers something. I don’t hear it, but I have a feeling of what’s coming next. “Your Honor, my client would like to change his plea.”
“Mr. Jones, please stand. Is this true?”
“Yes, sir. I’d like to plead guilty.”
The judge reads through the formalities, informing the defendant of his rights before he asks again. “Are you sure that you wish to plead guilty?”
“Yes, I want to plead guilty.”
“The court will accept your plea. Your sentencing hearing will be at nine in the morning. Remand the defendant. Court dismissed.” Well, that just made my day a lot shorter. I try to stay cool, calm and collected as I pack up and walk out, but I’m overjoyed. The case would be killing most hours of the day and I’d be lucky if I saw her more than just to pick her up from work.
As I hit the elevators, the defense attorney meets me there. He’s in his sixties with a thick beard and a potbelly. He’s looking pissed, and I’m not even sure why. Technically he didn’t lose. His client realized that we had more against him than he could talk himself out of. “You’re one hell of a smooth talker, but you better be careful because I’m not the kind of guy who likes to be shown up by a kid.”
I stand my full height, towering over him. Without raising my voice, I give him one warning, “Don’t threaten me, grandpa. I’m not a fucking kid, and I’m not the kind of guy to piss off.”
Beast: A Steele Riders MC Novel Page 4
