MILITARY ROMANCE: The War Within Himself (Alpha Bad Boy Marine Army Seal) (Contemporary Military Suspense & Thriller Romance)

by Claire Branson

  The whiskey burned my throat and warmed my belly. I coughed a bit but set the glass down with a finally steady hand. “That really hit the spot.”

  Stone laughed and reached behind the counter to grab two beers. He handed me one and kept one for himself. “Is my beer safe, at least?”

  I nodded. “I’m feeling much calmer, so yes.”

  “So, what are you going to do, Fluffy? Story or no story?”

  I looked around and grimaced. The clubhouse was fuller than before, and the pairings had started getting bolder. Just at first glance I could see at least three men getting blow jobs and another couple that was having sex. I sucked in a big breath and met Stone’s strong gaze. I meant to say no, but instead my mouth decided I needed to make a fool of myself. “Do you normally do this stuff, too?”

  A dark smile ghosted across his lips. “What do you think?”

  For some unknown reason, I wanted to believe he didn’t do stuff like that. It seemed so crude to me for the men to let women suck them off in front of their friends. I frowned and turned my back to the scene. “If it’s in front of you, why not, huh? Isn’t that the way most men operate?”

  “Spoken like someone who’s been stung by a man before.”

  I took a long drink of my beer and shrugged. “Who hasn’t been?”

  We stood next to each other in silence for a few seconds while we each thought. I realized that I was in way over my head. There was no way I could continue the back and forth with Stone and make it out unscathed. Or untouched.

  “I’d better go.”

  He nodded and grabbed my elbow. His fingers were rough and warm on my bare skin. “I’ll take you home.”

  I should’ve said no, but I didn’t trust anyone else to take me. “Okay. I’m parked at the bar.”

  We made our way out of the bar and he led me to a large motorcycle. It was sleek and black with so much chrome that it glowed. He stroked his hand over the handlebar and grinned. “Fluffy, meet my pride and joy.”

  I’d ridden on the back of a motorcycle before. My dad had owned one when I was growing up. He’d gotten it to putter around the town, but my mom hated it, so it wasn’t long before he sold it. A pulse of excitement shook me. I wanted to ride it.

  “You don’t want to pretend to be scared?”

  I looked at him like he was an idiot. “No. Why would I? I can’t wait to ride it. Can we take back roads so I don’t have to wear a helmet?”

  He laughed and nodded. “You’re a nice surprise.”

  I waited until he was on the bike before I climbed on behind him and scooted in close to his back. When the bike roared to life, I felt a throb start up between my legs. I pressed my palms against his lower stomach and my chest into his back.

  He wasted no time in taking off. We were flying through the night in seconds, the wind blowing through my hair, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so happy.

  “Faster!” I leaned into him and daringly brushed my lips against his neck. Being on the back of his bike made me feel uninhibited.

  The engine roared out more as he made the bike go even faster. We soared down the back road with my hair flying all around us. It was going to be even more tangled, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to keep feeling as free as I was right then.

  My hands roamed Stone’s rock-hard chest on their own accord. I laughed when I felt him suck in a deep breath when my fingers skimmed a little too low. I pressed my face into his shoulder and used my teeth to tease his skin.

  The ride was over too soon, and before I wanted to be I was back at my car. I climbed off the bike and wobbled a bit. My knees knocked together, and I had to hold on to the roof of my car to keep from falling over.

  Stone stood up from his bike and ran his fingers through his hair. His eyes were on me as he casually sat on his bike seat, facing me, and crossed his legs at the ankle. “You like riding?”

  I bit my lip and nodded. I liked riding a lot. It felt like adrenaline was pulsing through my veins at an insane pace. I wanted to grab him and kiss him before begging him to take me back to his place. My body wanted him badly.

  “You don’t seem as innocent outside of the clubhouse. The makeup still doesn’t look like you, but without the glare of the groupies you look a little bit like a bad girl.”

  I slowly lifted one shoulder. “A girl’s got to have her secrets.”

  He sighed and stood up. “I’ve got to get back to the clubhouse. Can I talk you into going back with me?”

  I wanted to, I realized with a jarring force. I wanted to show him that I was far from a prude despite my earlier reactions. I just…couldn’t. No matter how badly I wanted to grab him and ravish him, it wasn’t going to work. I had to report back to work bright and early to confess that I hadn’t done my job that night. After bragging about my plan to my boss, who had no faith in me, I was going to have to admit that I couldn't do it. It was going to suck, and I was going to need rest to do it.

  “I can’t.”

  He nodded and stood up. “Was afraid so. You know where I am if you get antsy for another ride.”

  I forced myself to keep my mouth shut as he straddled that big beast and then took off down the road. Too soon he was gone, with just the slowly fading sound of his engine roaring in the distance.

  I got into my car and put the keys in the ignition. I was a responsible adult. I’d been making responsible decisions my whole life. I wasn’t going to lose my mind over a pretty face. I’d just drive myself home and take a long, hot shower before going to bed. I’d forget all about Stone and his bedroom eyes.

  I sat in my car for longer than I’d ever care to admit, trying to get myself to start it and go home. The more I told myself I was going to go home, the more it felt like my hand with the key and my car ignition were magnets that I couldn’t get together. There seemed to be some hidden force keeping them apart.

  I rested my head on my headrest and blew out a big breath. I knew exactly what I needed to do. I had no business getting involved with a biker. I’d gone into the night looking to prove that they were all disrespectful to women. What did it say about me that I was longing to sleep with one after just a few hours?

  I had to start my car and go home. I couldn’t do anything about the lust I felt for Stone. That was for the best. Did I really want to go and find him in a place like that clubhouse? People were all having sex right out in the open. What if he expected that? What if one of his buddies tried to join in?

  Somehow I knew that Stone wouldn’t allow that. I knew I would be safe with him. As crazy as it was, I was more comfortable with him than I ever had been with my clean-cut boyfriends.

  I slammed my hands onto the steering wheel and groaned. I was about to make a mistake. I knew I was, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. Once I decided I was going back to the clubhouse, my keys found the ignition without any problems.

  I sped back down the roads I’d just traveled on Stone’s bike and swore at myself the whole way. I stopped twice on the side of the road to give myself a chance to change my mind and turn around. No matter what, my car just kept pointing back to the clubhouse.

  I passed the van leaving when I was pulling into the gravel lot outside the large building. Surely the party wasn’t over already. I parked next to Stone’s bike and got out of my car before I could change my mind. I made my way into the clubhouse, but just before I got inside someone grabbed my arm.

  It was an older guy I’d seen getting a blow job earlier. My stomach soured when he turned his head to the side and spit out a big wad of chewing tobacco.

  “Groupies already left.”

  I frowned. “I’m not a groupie. I’m here to see Stone.”

  “Every groupie is. Get lost.”

  I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. “Get Stone.”

  He stood up taller and glared right back at me. “Look here, young lady, you don’t talk to me like that.”

  I opened my mouth and screamed Stone’s name. Chewing Tobacco grab
bed me and covered my mouth with his hand. I’d seen what he’d been doing with that hand earlier. I wanted no part of it. I threw my elbow back into his gut, and as soon as his grip loosened, I sprinted inside the club and ran right into Stone’s big chest.

  “What are you doing?”

  I looked up at him and pouted. “That guy out there was being mean. I asked him to get you but he wouldn’t.”

  He laughed and ran his hand down my hair. “Some stuff came up with the club. The party ended early. Everyone’s a little on edge, so you’ll have to forgive him if his manners weren’t the best.”

  Chewing Tobacco came stumbling in at that moment and pointed at me. “She elbowed the shit out of me. My ribs don’t feel right.”

  Stone opened his mouth, but I was already speaking. “You put your filthy hand over my mouth. I saw what you were doing earlier, and I doubt you’ve washed up. No way was I letting that thing rest on my lips.”

  The guy looked at Stone like he was expecting Stone to scream at me and kick me out. I smirked. No way was Stone going to side with such an asshole.

  When Stone grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder, I screamed from shock. His hand slapped my ass and then rested there while he turned and started walking away. “She’ll be taken care of. Get the rest of the guys ready. We’ll leave in just a few minutes.”

  I wiggled and hit his lower back and whatever else I could reach to get him to let me go. “Put me down, you big buffoon!”

  “Keep it up and I’m going to have to spank you in front of them to show that you’re going to be respectful of me and the rest of them.” His whispered words quieted me.

  I had no desire to be spanked in front of a room full of bikers.

  Stone walked with me for a bit more and opened a door before putting me down. He slammed the door shut behind us and turned to glare at me. “This is a motorcycle club.”

  I nodded and backed up as he approached me.

  “You don’t get to come in and hit people or throw loud tantrums.” He stepped forward again, backing me into a wall. “Those men expect you to be respectful. If you’re not, a lot of them are dangerous. I can only protect you if I’m there. They think you’re just a groupie.”

  My back hit the hard wall, and suddenly Stone was pressing against my front. “I didn’t like the way he grabbed me.”

  Stone put his hand over my mouth while his other hand rested on my hip. “Like this?”

  I nodded and held my breath. I didn’t know where this was going, but it felt too exciting.

  He leaned in and slowly trailed his hand from my mouth, down my jaw, and to my neck. His large fingers stroked the sensitive skin there before he lightly tightened them around my throat. “Why aren’t you screaming now?”

  My panties were on fire. They had to be with how hot I felt at my core. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  His mouth rested against my ear, and his breath was shaky as he lowered his hand until it was resting firmly in the middle of my chest, pinning me to the wall. “Why’d you come back here?”

  I swallowed. “I tried to go home. I just…couldn’t. I wanted to see you.”

  Stone pressed his lower body against me and grunted. “I hoped you’d come back. It was hard to leave you standing there.”

  My mind clicked off at the feeling of his erection pressing into me. It was beautifully large. “Lots of things are hard.”

  He laughed and pulled back. “I have to go. Some shit happened with our inventory and I’ve got to handle it. It shouldn’t take long but I've got to go oversee it to make sure nothing's missing. Do me a favor and stay here. My bed’s through that door. You can sleep and I’ll wake you up as soon as I get back.”

  I frowned but nodded. “Will anyone bother me in here?”

  He shook his head and picked me up like I weighed nothing. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held on tight. “My bedroom is off limits to everyone. You’ll be safe.”

  “Hurry back.” I sank into the soft mattress when he put me down and sighed happily when his smell surrounded me.

  “Fuck, you’re a distraction. I’ve got to get out of here before my dick takes over. I’ll be back. Use whatever you need.”

  I watched him leave and fell back into his bed. It was great, but it wasn’t Stone. I closed my eyes and let myself see the heat in his eyes over and over again. No one had ever looked at me like that before. I knew he wanted me, and that was an intoxicating feeling.

  I looked around his room and found he had a bathroom attached. I peeked in it and saw that it wasn’t horribly dirty, so I decided to use his shower to get the makeup off my face. I stripped down and enjoyed his hot water as I scrubbed my face and body. His body wash smelled faintly of leather and nature. He only had a bottle of coconut-scented shampoo that made me raise my eyebrows, but I used it and enjoyed the smell.

  By the time I got out I felt more like myself—no more caked on eyeliner. I looked at myself in the mirror and used his toothpaste and my finger to brush my teeth. I looked so much better as myself. I looked a little younger but healthier. When I was finished in there, I looked in his closet and grabbed one of his T-shirts. It had the club’s name on it, and it went down to my knees.

  I got back in his bed and rested there, feeling more comfortable than I had in a long time. Even without him there, I still felt safe. I snuggled under his comforter and wrapped my arms around his pillow. I’d just close my eyes and wait for him to get back.

  “Wake up!” a low voice whispered harshly in my ear.

  My eyes snapped open, and I found myself under the man I’d elbowed earlier. I screamed and he laughed. “What do you want? You’re not supposed to be in here!”

  He grabbed me and yanked me out of bed. “You’ve got to learn to respect those above you.”

  I fought against him, but he still managed to drag me out into the main area. There were a few other men sitting around on the couches. I searched for Stone but didn’t see him.

  “Here’s the bitch I was telling you about.”

  I lashed out at him and connected a solid punch to the side of his head. “Get away from me, you sick asshole!”

  He tried to hit me, but another guy, the one who’d found me with Stone earlier in the night, caught his fist. “Unless you want to be a dead man, I suggest you don’t do that. You should know better.”

  My attacker shoved the new guy away. “Fuck off. We’ve got to teach her to have some respect.”

  “Stone took her to church earlier. He likes her. You hit her and he’s going to kill you. I’m not kidding. I saw the way he was looking at her. Ask yourself why she was in his room alone?”

  Chewing Tobacco shoved me away from him and stormed away. The new guy held his hand out to me and smiled. “Sorry about that. I’m Killer.”

  I raised my eyebrows but still shook his hand. My heart was slowly calming, but I was still wary. “Killer?”

  He nodded. “It’s a nickname from when I first joined the club. Don’t ask. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s really embarrassing, actually.”

  I smiled. “Well, my nickname is Fluffy.”

  He tossed his head back and laughed. “How the hell did you get so unlucky?”

  “Talent?”

  “What’s going on?” Stone’s voice rang out in the room, and Killer instantly stepped away from me.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned at him. “Your room wasn’t as safe as you thought it was.”

  His face was hard as he took in my bare legs and state of dress. “What the fuck happened?”

  Killer stepped forward and held up his hands to Stone. “Johnny tried to teach her a lesson of some sort, but she got him with a right hook. He stormed off after that.”

  I sighed happily when Stone tugged me to his side. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, and his warmth sent a wave of satisfaction through me. “Killer saved me from getting punched in the face. He’s downplaying how much he helped.”

  Stone clapped Killer on the back
, but his face was furious. “Get everybody to church. Now.”

  Killer moved away quickly, barking orders, and Stone moved back to look down at me. “You okay?”

  I smiled up at him. “Yeah. I held my own. Thank god Killer came along.”

  His eyes flashed, and he jerked me against his body. “I told him to watch out for you.”

  It was cute to see him jealous. I reached up and touched his chin. “Hurry up with church. I want to show you how thankful I am to you.”

  He hardened against my body and picked me up. I squealed, and my hands shot back to make sure my ass was still covered. “I’m not wearing any panties, Stone!”

  He growled in my ear. “Good. It’ll be that much faster, then.”

  I thought he would tell me to wait in his room, but instead he carried me into church and sat me down in his chair. I crossed my legs and watched as men filled the room. They were all looking at me in confusion, wondering why a woman was in church and sitting in their president’s chair.

  Stone wasted no time in blowing up. “Listen up! This is Fluffy. She’ll be around the clubhouse. Stay the fuck away from her. Johnny, I’ll let you know your punishment later. Any of you lay so much as a finger on her and I’ll break your fucking neck. That’s it. Out. All of you.”

  Slowly everyone made their way out of the room, leaving Stone alone with me. Killer was the last one out, and he took his sweet time closing the door. Stone grabbed whatever was closest to him and threw it across the room. The beer bottle hit the door just as Killer closed it and shattered.

  He turned to me and the anger faded. “Sorry that you almost got hurt.”

  I stood up and toyed with the hem of the shirt I was wearing. “Your bed is really comfortable. How about you take me to it and we can spend some time going over how sorry you are?”

  Stone’s large hands grabbed my waist and lifted me easily before spinning around and setting me down on the table. The wood was cold under my thighs, but he quickly moved to stand between my legs, and his warmth radiated out. “Did you know that no one’s ever had sex on this table?”