Spartan (Forsaken Sons MC Book 1)

by Jessica Joy

  Standing she turns to him with an innocent look, batting her eyelashes and asks him something we can’t hear over the music. Gage is staring in complete shock at the table and it’s only after she says something that he starts ranting, tossing his cue on the table and throwing his hands in the air as he laughs hysterically. Even over the din of the party, I can hear him hollering for a rematch. Axel and I lose our shit, hooting and cheering, laughing our asses off and chanting Tessa’s name like a victory cry. When she hears us chanting, she turns toward our table and takes a little curtsy.

  I can’t just stand back and watch this next round, at the very least I need to be close enough to hear what the leprechaun is saying. And let’s be honest, who could resist getting the chance to be closer to her? I slap the VP on the shoulder as I stand and make my way over to the pool table. When I get close, I lean in to press a kiss to Tessa’s temple and can’t contain the hum of appreciation I let out when she leans into me.

  “That might be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen Babydoll,” I say against her skin and she laughs, making me smile and pull her against my chest. Tessa settles against me as I loop my arms around her waist. We watch Gage pace back and forth at the other end of the table, still ranting about her cheating and wanting a rematch.

  “Should we just let him go?” she asks, clearly pleased with herself and the reaction she elicited.

  “Eh let him go for a bit, he’ll tire himself out. Toddlers do that ya know,” I say matter of factly through my smile. Before I can suggest the two of us play a round while we wait for Gage to get his panties out of their twist, Axel comes over to him and offers to play two on two with us and Gage quickly agrees, needing a chance for redemption.

  After the third round, and third win, for myself and Tessa, Roxy comes up and throws an arm around her shoulders. Roxy is a force of nature in her own right. She’s an amazon of a woman, and she loves her man and the Club with her entire being. While she is King’s Ol’ Lady, God help you if you ever call her anything less than her own damn name. And truth be told, all of us are more than a little afraid of her.

  “Sawyer, stop hogging Tess. It’s time she hears the real story of what you assholes get up to around here. Gotta give her a chance to save herself from your sorry ass,” Roxy says, pulling Tessa closer.

  “Please! Take her. Save us, and my wallet, from this damn shark,” Gage pleads.

  “Oh, please Gage. We all know my granny could whip your sorry ass with a pool cue; you just hate losing to a woman,” Roxy snaps back, hardly keeping the smile from her voice. “Come on Darlin’, it’s time for some girl-talk away from these Neanderthals.”

  As Roxy steers her away, Tessa shoots me a smirk before turning back to Roxy and I can hear her say, “tell me everything.” with a shake of my head, I turn back to the game.

  About halfway through our next game, Crissy, one of the more… willing… Fallen shows up with a fresh round of beers. She sidles up next to me and hops up onto the pool table, her bony ass sending a couple of the balls rolling and fucking up our game. She sets both beers down on the table, not caring if they leave rings on the felt as Gage and I dive for them. With a grumble I stare her down and ask, “what the fuck do you want Crissy?”

  “So serious Sawyer! Sounds like you could use some stress relief,” she says, shooting me what I assume she thinks is an enticing look; it just looks like a raccoon eyeing a piece of food.

  “Not interested,” I say, dismissing her.

  “Don’t be like that; I’m sure we can find something you’re interested in,” she looks over at Gage and beckons him closer, “I’d be down for more of a… group activity if that’s what you’d rather,” she purrs. Gage looks at me from the other side of the table and all I can do is roll my eyes at him. She can’t be serious.

  Clearly not happy with the response she’s getting, Crissy changes up her approach. She slides from her perch on the table and snakes an arm around my back and a leg around the front, trying to take my earlobe between her teeth. I brush her off with a light push. Growling a simple “fuck off” and putting some distance between us. I don’t want to be rough with her, just more insistent. Keek and Rox have a very firm rule about ‘nothing unwanted happens in this house,’ which means anyone can say no, but you gotta be good about it. The last thing I want is to cause a ruckus with one of the girls, causing an intervention with Roxy while Tess is here. I might have to hang a sign saying, ‘Do Not Touch.’ I motion to Gage for some Leprechaun support but he’s already on his way to the bar for another round. I motion toward Gage and Crissy finally takes the fucking hint. I look over to the other end of the bar and catch Tessa shooting fiery daggers at Crissy, who is now attempting to climb Gage like a damn tree.

  The heated look of jealousy burning on Tessa’s face makes me grin as I take another drink and attempt to hide behind my bottle. She must have felt my eyes on her because Tessa’s eyes cut to me and she pops an eyebrow, clearly asking if that will be a problem. I furrow my brow and pull an incredulous face; she blushes a deep pink before she turns back to the bar and Kiki who is excitedly lining up shot glasses.

  Nice try Babydoll.

  Unable to keep my distance any longer I make my way toward the bar, coming up behind her. Pressing my chest against her shoulders, invading her space, I lean down and brush my lips over the shell of her ear. “Is she not bursting into flames fast enough for you?” I whisper, adding an extra measure of gravel to my voice. I’m rewarded with a soft hum and I can feel the shiver that runs down her spine at my touch.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she says haughtily, picking up one of the shot glasses on the bar and shooting it down. Kiki makes a little happy clap and skips off to serve another customer. When I throw my head back and laugh at her response, she shifts in her seat squaring her shoulders in defiance.

  “Hmmm, I think I like you being jealous, Babydoll,” I murmur, kissing the spot behind her ear. She tilts her head just a little to give me better access and I press another kiss to where her neck meets her shoulder. She lets out a soft moan at the touch but then, as if remembering where we are, she stiffens and pulls away, taking another one of Kiki’s girly shots as a distraction.

  Tess pulls a bit of a face and looks at Roxy, “what the hell was that?”

  “I’m pretty sure that was her Dirty Girl Scout,” Roxy replies clearly not put off by my loving attention.

  “What the fuck is in a Dirty Girl Scout?” Tess asks, trying to swat away my continued kisses at her neck and ear.

  “Me,” I rumble into her ear, sending a little shiver down her whole body, giving her ass a little squeeze as I pull away.

  Roxy laughs as I settle on the stool next to Tess, my arm still around her waist and I give her a quick kiss on the temple as I sit.

  “Oh Darling, that was downright chaste compared to what these boys get up to around here. Hell, Gremlin, that jackass over there in the corner, is getting sucked off by one of the random hangers that I can’t seem to get rid of. They’re like a cock sucking hydra, you cut one off and two more show up,” Roxy laughs. Tess almost pulls a spit take at Roxy’s description, covering her mouth with her hand and doubling over with laughter. I risk a glance to the back corner and sure enough, Gremlin and his nasty ass are reclining in one of the leather club chairs with a random bottle blonde’s head bobbing in his lap. The fucker looks up at me and salutes before dropping his head back again.

  “Dirty fucker,” I chuckle as I turn back to the bar. Tess turns her head to see what I’m laughing at, but I catch her shoulder, spinning her back around before she can look.

  “You don’t wanna see that Babydoll,” I soothe.

  “No one does. The sight of that assholes ‘O Face’ would give anyone nightmares,” Cotton adds as he steps up to the bar between Roxy and Tess, signaling Kiki for another beer.

  “Cotton you pig. Didn’t your momma ever teach you it’s rude to reach across a lady at the bar?” Roxy chastises, slapping his hand
away as Kiki hands him his beer.

  “Sorry Rox. How else am I supposed to get you to put your hands on me without King having my balls for it?” he laughs, giving Roxy a sweet kiss on the cheek before winking at Tessa and turning to leave. Roxy slaps him on the ass as he passes and he gives a dramatic mocking howl, “Oh Mami, don’t tease me!”

  “COTTON!” King bellows over the din of the party. Everyone bursts out laughing and Cotton actually blushes before he waves an awkward farewell and heads back to where he had been playing poker with a few of the Brothers.

  “Lovable idiot, gets his name for what fills his head,” Roxy laughs, turning back to the bar and taking a sip of her drink. King appears out of nowhere and wraps himself around his woman possessively.

  “That moron is gonna get himself shot one of these days, in an inconvenient place, like the dick,” he says in annoyance as he reaches for Roxy’s drink. She slaps his hand away and downs the last of it before turning in his arms to look up at him.

  “Oh, he’s harmless love. Dumb as a bedpost, but harmless.” King grunts but leans down and kisses his wife long and hard. Tessa blushes and turns away, examining the new shot in front of her, this one bright orange. After entirely too long a moment, Roxy pushes King away, slapping at his arm playfully and catching her breath.

  “Alright, alright you brute. You done pissing on my leg to mark your territory?” she laughs. With one last quick kiss for her, King turns and leaves, disappearing back into the crowd. Roxy watches her man go for a moment before turning back to Tessa.

  “So, Tessa. You still with us or has our little band of hooligans got you ready to run for the hills?” she asks. Her tone is light and teasing but I can see an edge behind her eyes. I knew the test was coming.

  “Oh, they are a bunch of puppy dogs I’m sure. Nothing I can’t handle,” Tessa says with confidence. “In all honesty, it’s been great. Chaotic, but welcoming; like any big family. Oh, and getting to kick Gage’s ass and clean him out is really only a bonus,” she says holding up a roll of what must be a week’s wages for her at the diner.

  Roxy throws her head back and laughs. “I’m sure he just loved that! Fancies himself a bit of a shark, that one. I have been waiting years for someone to come along and knock him down a peg.”

  “I do what I can,” Tessa says with a shrug, attempting modesty but the color in her cheeks shows that the praise is welcome. Roxy gives me a look over Tessa’s head and a slight nod. After returning her nod, I pull Tessa close to me and place a kiss to her temple, letting my lips linger there for a moment.

  “Ready to head back?” I ask against her skin. She hums her assent and leans into me.

  Roxy smiles knowingly and stands from her perch. “I’ll let you two get on with your night. Sawyer make sure you see Axel before you leave. And Tessa, if I don’t see you around here again soon, I’m coming hunting for you and that baby. I want snuggles!” she says, pulling Tessa into a hug.

  “You can’t get rid of me that easily. I’ll be back. And I really can’t thank you enough Roxy for everything you have done for Evan and me. The house is absolutely beautiful,” Tessa says, returning the hug.

  “Oh, you’re family now Tess, we take care of our own,” Roxy says. She gives Tessa one last warm smile before she heads off through the crowd.

  Unable to help myself any longer, I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest. “Wanna head out and grab some food before heading home?” I ask, resting my chin on her shoulder. She leans her head against mine and I can feel her smile.

  “More food? Are you serious? Have you seen the spread in the kitchen right now? Between Kiki and Roxy, I’m almost worried they are trying to fatten me up. Also, have you seen how much Kiki can put away?! I’m freakin’ impressed that girl is so tiny after all that! I’m pretty sure she’s a mutant. I would give my left titty to have that woman’s body!” Tessa gushes. She blushes a deep red when Kiki sidles up to the bar and gives her a knowing smile.

  “Want my body huh? Don’t usually swing that way but if Sawyer is up for it, I bet we could figure something out,” Kiki purrs, taking her time looking Tessa up and down with an appreciative hum. Tessa startles and stiffens, pressing further back against me, trying to escape Kiki’s gaze. She turns back to look at me, the utterly terrified look on her face sets me rolling. I throw my head back and laugh, a full body, shoulder shaking belly laugh. Tessa snaps her gaze back to Kiki, starting to catch on that she’s missing something, and Kiki doubles over laughing.

  Tessa huffs in frustration and looks between me and Kiki for a moment before slapping her hands on the bar and shoving off her stool. The frustration radiating from her only makes me laugh that much harder. She lets out a growl and tries to push past me, but I snag her around the waist and lift her off her feet, pulling her back against me. She lets out an indignant screech as I hold her against my chest.

  “Sawyer. Put me down,” she pleads, her voice a desperate whisper. She’s gone completely rigid in my arms, her fingers digging into my forearms. I drop her quickly, stepping back in confusion at the sudden change in her. Tessa’s shoulders shake as she takes a shuddering breath, her head is bowed, and she’s curled into herself as if she’s trying to make herself invisible. She turns toward me, avoiding my eyes. “Excuse me. I’ll be back,” she mumbles before turning and dashing to the bathrooms off the common room.

  Stunned, I look at Kiki in confusion and she gives me a look like she can’t believe how dumb I am. She rolls her eyes and throws her bar towel at me in disgust before storming out from behind the bar and toward the bathrooms after Tess.

  What the fuck just happened?

  Chapter 15

  Tessa

  Well, this could literally not go any worse. Here I am at the compound with Sawyer, his Brothers, some of their women, and The Fallen… and I’m the psycho locked in the bathroom fighting off a panic attack.

  Awesome first impression. I’m sure they totally want you to come back.

  My inner monologue can be kind of a bitch sometimes.

  I pace over to the sink and brace my hands on the sides, letting my head hang forward and try to calm my racing heart. Digging my nails into the porcelain, I grit my teeth against the burn of tears behind my eyes. I refuse to let myself cry. I will not be that woman, the woman who is broken by her past and can’t move on because some innocuous little comment sets her off at the most random times. That will not be my life.

  The hinges on the door creak behind me and I straighten, wiping at my eyes attempting to look as composed as possible in my current state. Looking up, I see Kiki slip into the room and lock the door behind her. She turns and meets my gaze in the mirror and there is an understanding, almost sympathetic, look on her face. I’m relieved that I don’t see an ounce of pity in her eyes at least. I don’t want anyone’s pity. I don’t need it.

  Kiki leans back against the door and just looks at me passively, waiting for me to make the first move. I open my mouth to say I’m sorry, but she cuts me off with a hard look.

  “Don’t you dare say sorry,” she says, her eyes fierce.

  “I…” I stammer, dropping my gaze back to the sink.

  “You are better than sorry. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m not asking for your story; that’s yours to tell if you want to. I know that look. The one you gave when he surprised you like that. YOU have nothing to be sorry for. Whoever in your past put that look on your face, put you through whatever made you that scared… they’re the asshole who should be sorry,” she says, still leaning against the door but her tone brooks no argument.

  “How did you…”

  She cuts me off again, “let me just give you one piece of advice. Trust him. Trust them, all of them. They may be a group of nasty motherfuckers some days, but every one of them would lay down their life for me, or any of the other women without a second thought if needed. I won’t tell you to tell him everything, that’s something only you can decide. I can tell you that you can t
rust him with anything. That man is yours if you want him. He’ll fuck up, they all do, but he will be an Orpheus to your Euridice.”

  “Love the man, love the Club,” I whisper, looking up to meet her gaze in the mirror again. A soft smile breaks across her sharp features.

  “Damn right,” she says, a surprising amount of affection in her tone.

  “Kiki, do you… how do you… why…” I stumble over my words, not sure how to ask what’s on my mind. Kiki laughs at my struggle and shakes her head.

  “Don’t go there Tess. I’m not Ol’ Lady material and you couldn’t pay me enough to wash the unmentionables of any of these assholes.”

  With that she gives me a chin lift and leaves, the door closing quietly behind her. Her words, though not expected or necessarily comforting, give me a little ground to stand on and collect myself.

  These men would never hurt me, Sawyer least of all, now that I’ve been welcomed. I’m not dumb to what they do, I may not know specifics, but I know that you don’t become a one percenter without being into some shady shit. Regardless of their business, or what it may tangle them up in, I know they’re good men on the inside. If there is one thing I’ve learned in this shit show called life, it’s that the heroes are not always good men, and villains are not always bad men. I think these ‘villains’ are probably some of the best men I’ve met.

  I take a moment and think back to my moments with Sawyer, already so many that tug a smile onto my face. With one last bracing deep breath, I turn and stride from the bathroom with my head held high. As soon as I’m out the door, I feel Sawyer’s eyes on me. He’s still standing at the bar, holding a beer and attempting to look casual. The white-knuckle grip he has on the bottle and how quick his eyes snap to me show I wasn’t the only one upset by my little outburst. My eyes lock with his and I offer him what I hope is a reassuring and confident smile as I make my way through the crowd toward him.