I put my hands up to stop him but it was too late. He used the customer as a punching bag, hitting him in the stomach until the customer puked all over the floor. Brendan didn't stop there. He smashed his fist against the guy's face, dislocating his jaw.
Jerome hustled over within seconds and wrapped Brendan in a bear hug. But Brendan was in a blind rage. Nothing could stop him now.
He wrestled with Jerome and I screamed for them to stop. “Jerome, he's my friend!” I called out.
Jerome saw the customer on the floor and realized what happened. He released Brendan and held him at arm's length. “Are you okay, Shawn?”
“Yes, I'm fine,” I replied. “My friend, Brendan, came to my rescue just before things got out of hand. Jerome turned towards Brendan. “I'm sorry I grabbed you. I thought you were the one trying to hurt him.”
The red in Brendan's eyes faded as he breathed in deeply. He nodded to the bouncer who dragged the customer out of the booth. Brendan took my hand and lifted me up. “Are you really okay?” he asked.
I nodded, dusting myself off. “Thanks for protecting me.” My heart was beating more rapidly than before. He still held my hand as he led me out of the booth. His touch was electrifying. We came to the back door that said: Employees Only. “Let me change and I'll be right back.”
Brendan looked concerned and didn't let go of my hand.
I wanted him to hold it all night. “It's okay, Ill be all right.”
Brendan nodded and let go.
I caught his eyes staring into mine as I closed the door.
Steel came running up to me. “Are you okay, Shawn? What happened?”
“A customer got too close. Nothing out of the ordinary,” I told him.
“Thank god, with all the commotion out there, I thought it might have been worse.”
“Relax, I'm fine,” I said. But did I believe it myself?
Steel smiled and went back to fixing his outfit.
I took in a deep breath and found the button-up shirt I brought for the date tonight. I changed out of my skimpy strip-club thong. I slipped the black shirt on and buttoned it up.
Steel rushed over. “Damn Shawn, you look fucking hot.”
“Thanks.” I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that Steel was right—I did look hot. My tight shirt showed off every bulging muscle. I sat down and put on my long leather boots.
“Have a hot date?” Steel winked.
I nodded. I hadn't been on a date since high school. If you could even call that a date. Kyle trying to go down on me before we even started the car wasn't exactly what I thought a date should be.
“You're going to knock his socks off.”
I smiled and hoped that Brendan would feel the same. I brushed my hair and before going back out.
Brendan's smoldering look turned to shock when he saw me dressed. “Shawn, you look fucking amazing.”
A shiver ran through my entire body. How could his words make me feel so sexy and confident?
Brendan bent his elbow out and I took his arm. “Shall we go?”
I stared at him and nodded. I was speechless in his presence.
Jerome apologized to Brendan on the way out and he played it off like it was nothing. We walked through the parking lot, arm-in-arm, and came to his motorcycle. The bike was all black save for some large chrome pipes that ran along the sides.
“What's wrong?” Brendan asked, sensing my fear.
“I've never been on one of these before.”
“It will be a first for both of us. I've never let another guy ride with me before.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Why not?”
Brendan shrugged and kept silent. He was so mysterious which made him damn sexy. Brendan handed me a helmet that was big and bulky while he put on a little bucket that barely covered his skull. “Why do I have to wear the full helmet and you get to wear the small one,” I asked.
“We have to protect that beautiful face of yours.” He knew exactly how to make me melt. I stuffed my head into the tight helmet. It fit perfectly.
Brendan straddled the bike and jerked his head for me to come over. I lifted my leg over and sat down behind Brendan.
Brendan hit a red button and the bike groaned to life. The rumbling between my legs was a sensation I'd never felt before. It was rough and hard but I kind of liked it. I looked around for somewhere to put my hands. Where does the passenger hold on?
Brendan yelled over the roar of the engine. “Wrap your arms around me and hold tight.”
I did as I was told and slipped my hands under his arms, placing them on his chiseled chest. Oh my, this man is built.
Brendan twisted the handle and the bike lurched forward. I hung on tightly as the motorcycle sped away. I looked behind me at the neon Ballroom sign before Brendan banked around a corner. The wind soared through my hair as we cruised through the night. The vibrations between my thighs were exciting and unknown.
Chapter Seven
Brendan
Shawn held onto me for dear life as we weaved in and out of the cars. His hands on me felt so good. If he moved them down just a little lower he'd feel how hard my erection was. At a stoplight, I looked behind me to gauge him but the tinted visor hid his expression. He definitely wasn't trying to run away though.
I was tempted to speed right past the restaurant and ride with him for the rest of the night. I wanted to feel his arms around me forever. I held the brake as I revved the engine of my 2011 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight, waiting for the light. When it hit green, I released the break and tugged at the throttle. The motorcycle burst forward and Shawn screamed as he dug his fingers into my chest. I chuckled to myself as Shawn shrieked for his life. He'd be moaning my name soon enough.
We arrived at the restaurant that faced a busy street. I parked around the back at the valet. I helped Shawn. I unsnapped the chin strap and set my helmet in front of the bike. Shawn peeled the helmet from his head and he couldn't stop laughing.
“What is it?” I asked. Not the reaction I was expecting after riding a motorcycle for the first time.
Shawn laughed harder and his hair was a mess from the helmet. “That was the most fun I've had in my entire life.” Shawn had a an innocence that hadn't been tainted yet. My innocence was stolen from me when my brother died.
“I'm glad you liked it.” I handed the keys to the valet who looked just as excited as Shawn to ride a motorcycle.
Shawn looked up at the restaurant's sign. “San Giovanni's? Isn't this where all the celebrities go to eat?”
I nodded and led him inside. The restaurant was empty except for the maitre d' and a lone waiter. The place was exceptionally tiny for a restaurant. The entire place only sat around sixteen people. San Giovanni's specialized in ultra-expensive dining so they only needed to fill a few tables a night.
“Good evening, sir,” the maitre d' announced. I smiled and escorted Shawn as we followed him to our table. I pulled the chair out for Shawn and winked. His face lit up as he took his seat. The maitre d' bowed and left us.
“Where is everyone?” Shawn whispered across the table.
I unwrapped my white napkin, set the silverware down, and placed it across my lap. “They're closed.” Shawn looked confused so I elaborated. “We helped the owner out a while back with some fuckers that kept breaking their front window.”
He nodded with his mouth open. I didn't want to tell him too much—we killed the three guys and buried them out in the middle of the desert. Those details could be left secret.
The waiter arrived wearing a black and white outfit with a bow-tie. He handed us two long menus. “The chef is prepared to cook anything you desire.”
I left my menu closed on the table as I stared at Shawn. His eyes were big as he scanned all the items. Most of the menu was in Italian and he tried to mouth the difficult words. “Anything look good?” I asked.
Shawn looked back at me with a look of terror. “Well, I'm having a hard time figuring out what they serve here.
”
I laughed and snatched the menu from him. “Do you like chicken?”
Shawn nodded and blushed. What I wouldn't do to make him blush like that all night.
I waved the waiter over and shot a wink to Shawn. “We'll both be getting the Chicken Vesuvio tonight.”
“Excellent choice, sir. Anything to drink?”
I'd kill to have a pint of beer but this place wasn't the type. “Surprise me with a nice bottle of red.”
“Of course.” The waiter bowed and left us.
“What's Vesuvio?” Shawn asked.
“It's a meat cooked in white wine served with potatoes and peas.”
“Sounds delicious. I don't think I've had a really authentic dish from Italy.”
I chuckled. “You'll have to try something else because this meal originated in Chicago.”
Shawn looked fascinated. “How do you know all this stuff? Are you Italian?”
“No, actually my parents are Scottish and Irish. I've just eaten here so much that I've picked up on a few things.”
Shawn fiddled around with the silverware on the table when the waiter came over. He placed two wine glasses in front of us and popped the cork. I stared into Shawn's eyes as he watched with wonder as the waiter expertly poured the wine.
I took a sip of wine and let the alcohol calm my nerves. Why was my body reacting this way to Shawn? He was just another man. Just another guy to bed and forget. But I'd never taken a guy on a “date” before. I didn't want to tell him that this was another first for me.
“I want to know more about you, Shawn. What made you want to dance?”
Shawn avoided eye contact. I probably shouldn't have brought up the subject. He was obviously ashamed of it. He opened up anyways.
“My parents didn't help me with college so I needed a way to find money. I was working two jobs and trying to make ends meet. When I didn't have enough to pay for my books, I got desperate. I started stripping and the money came flowing in. I quit my two jobs and now I actually have time to study. And I can pay for books.”
“You got to do whatever it takes,” I added.
Shawn smirked and I felt something graze my leg. He drank his wine as his foot ran up my ankle. Jolts of electricity zapped through my system. My pants tightened. I looked around the restaurant for a place to bend him over so I could fuck him fast and hard. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the pressing need in my pants.
Chapter Eight
Shawn
What was I doing?
It must have been the tasty wine that was giving me so much confidence. All of the sudden, I found my foot running up and down Brendan's leg. My heart beat faster and my cheeks flushed scarlet. I wanted this man completely. But did he feel the same? He certainly stared at me a lot but most guys did that. It was probably because I was so goofy.
“You're so incredible, Shawn.” Brendan's words sang across the table. The redness in my face multiplied by a million. Was he reading my mind?
“Enough about me. What made you join Dark Steel?”
Brendan shifted in his seat. He looked uncomfortable. My question hit a nerve. He felt the same way I did about the dancing question. I wished I could take it back. I pulled my foot back from his ankle.
Brendan gulped. “My older brother AJ was a club member. My parents were barely around and I looked up to him like he was a superhero. When I was sixteen, he was gunned down by a rival MC.”
His eyes watered up a little. I reached out and grabbed his hand while he tried to find the words. How could a tough man like him be so sensitive?
“After that, I hung out at The Burger Joint every day until I was twenty-one and they let me join.”
“I'm so sorry, that happened to you,” I said.
Brendan bit down on his lip and held my hand. The tension between us was crazy. “I've never really talked to anyone about my brother before. Not even my Dark Steel brothers.”
My heart melted instantly. I needed to change the subject. “The reason my parents wouldn't help me out with college was that I ran away when I was fifteen.”
“Oh shit, really?”
I took a sip of red wine. “My dad was really abusive. He would get drunk and beat my mom around the house. When I was little I'd run upstairs and lock myself in my room. I would stuff a pillow over my head to muffle the sounds of my mom's screams for help.
Anger boiled in Brendan's eyes. His grip on the wine glass tightened until it almost shattered. He wanted to protect me. He wanted to save me. Brendan could be my superhero.
I put my hand up in defense. “My father never hit me. He never touched me actually—no kisses, no hugs.” I looked outside to the street as the headlights zoomed pass the large window. “When I was old enough, I called the cops on my dad one night. I thought everything would finally be over. When they showed up, my mom protected my dad and told them I was making it all up. I didn't wait around for my dad to punish me for what I did.”
Brendan's mouth was wide open. “Wow, where did you go?”
“Luckily my Aunt Mary lived a couple hundred miles away. She took me in and I finished high school. I haven't seen my parents since.”
“Yeah I haven't seen mine in years. My parents divorced after AJ died. They couldn't handle the grief.”
“We had some fucked up childhoods,” he said. We both laughed and continued drinking.
The waiter came over and with a tray of food and the aroma of dinner was intoxicating. My stomach groaned as he placed the plate in front of me. The chicken was covered in a brown sauce and surrounded by peas and red potatoes. “This looks amazing,” I told Brendan.
“Dig in,” he replied, picking up his fork and knife.
The first bite of chicken was so juicy and soft that it dissolved right on my tongue. I closed my eyes and moaned softly as I enjoyed the flavors. “This food is out of this world.”
Brendan smiled. “I'm glad you like it.”
I felt so comfortable around him. He made me open up and tell him secrets that Jenny didn't even know. This time his foot ran up my bare leg and almost went up my jeans. I could barely concentrate on my food as we played footsie under the table. His touch was exotic. His foot was just testing the waters.
I wanted him to kiss me so badly. Just once. Just so I could feel the warmth of his lips against mine. My daydream was right in front of me and staring down my dress. I wanted his rough hands to grip my shaft and squeeze. How much longer could I wait?
But do I tell him I'm a virgin? I'd told him all my deepest secrets. But that would be pretty presumptuous of me. This was probably all a big joke. Cameras were planted in the restaurant and this was all being televised. Brendan was just an actor playing a part. He had no real feelings for me.
Two old pink and purple Cadillacs parked out front right outside the huge window. A few Mexicans got out and were carrying guns.
Holy fuck!
Chapter Nine
Brendan
Shawn stared at me with dreamy eyes, chewing on his bottom lip. I wanted to kiss him so hard and bite it. I imagined my cock sliding right between those lips, unloading down his throat. I needed to undress him and take him right here on this table.
Shawn looked outside and his calm face transformed into horror. I looked over to see Mexicans outside carrying pistols. “Get down!” I screamed to Shawn.
The Mexicans opened fire.
Everything was in slow motion. Bullets exploded through the front window, shattering it into a million pieces. I looked over to see the waiter get hit in the shoulder and his body contorted, his head snapping back as he took another bullet between the eyes.
I met Shawn under the tablecloth and pulled out my 1911 .45 Cal from behind my back. Shawn looking around for what to do. He wanted to be hero.
The wine glasses burst above us from the gunfire. I flipped the table over and used it as a shield for both of us. I returned fire, hitting one Mexican in the chest and leg. He dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
<
br /> “We need to get out of here, Shawn,” I yelled to him. He didn't respond, just staring at the waiter who was dead and bleeding on the ground next to us. I slapped him across the face and he finally turned his attention to me. “I'm going to provide you covering fire and I need to you to run to the back door.”
Royal Blood Complete Series Box Set Page 36
