Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
The two of us are on our way to meet up with some of the club members. Raze said there will be a few girls there, too. I’m nervous about it, but he asked, so I couldn’t say no. Well, I could, but I do like Raze. I need to see if this is going to work, and if not, then I need to make it clear that we’ll remain friends. I don’t want there to be hard feelings on either side—especially since my dad and Mattie have been watching us closely. Plus, I’m going to be doing the books for the club. I’ve already started some. Aunt Nicole has been slowly breaking me in. I’m really enjoying it. I like sharing Mattie’s house, but I am kicking around the idea of getting my own place. Besides working on the club’s books, I’ve got a few clients coming to me. They’re mostly businesses in town, and I know the owners really well. Fortunately, things seem to be going smoothly so far. I’m making more than enough money to cover my monthly rent. I know Mattie says he wants me to stay with him, but I also know I’m probably cramping his style. If I wasn’t there, he’d probably have women there. I’m not stupid. Sure, he has his room at the club, but Mattie is a private person. It’s one reason he has his house.
“Here we are. You ready, Flame?” Raze asks, and I smile at him. I’m actually shocked we’re here already. I really must have been zoned out. “I’m ready. I’m looking forward to spending a night with you. We haven’t really connected in a while. I miss you.”
That wasn’t a lie. The two of us were getting pretty close and then it kind of cooled off. I need to know if there’s still that same spark between us.
“I’ve missed you, too, Flame. Let’s go have some fun.”
“Okay,” I answer as I lean in and kiss him on the lips.
He kisses me back. It’s nice. It feels good, but the desire that used to fire between us feels a little flat. Is it all in my head? We break apart and I get out of his vehicle, and he comes around taking my hand. There’s a bunch of bikes in the parking lot. I recognize one as Mattie’s and another as Dom’s.
“We could have brought your bike, you know,” I tell Raze.
“I like having you in my truck,” he says with a smile. I wonder if he’s afraid of hurting my leg. For some reason, after our first couple of dates, I never rode on his bike. I sigh. I’m being silly. When we walk into the Wolf’s Den, I can’t help but be a little tense. This is a club owned place. It is probably one of our oldest owned businesses. I never hung around here much. Trying to enter a bar where my father had an ownership stake and his brothers were regulars was clearly not a smart move.
“Flame!” Rebel and a few others call out. Raze puts his arm around me and pulls me in close so that his lips are next to my ear.
“My girl is more popular in my club than me,” he hums.
“Yeah, right,” I chuckle. I turn so I can look at him. “Hey, we’re okay, right?” I ask suddenly, wondering about the look in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Flame. I’m just dealing with some shit. I’ll tell you about it soon. Let’s just relax and have some fun tonight. Deal?”
“Would you rather I go back to Mattie’s, and you chill out with your family?” I ask him. I don’t understand what’s going on, but I know enough to know Raze is going through something, and for whatever reason, I’m not the person he’s wanting to lean on through it.
“Don’t be silly. I want to be here with you, Flame. If I didn’t, I’d tell you,” he answers, and before I can say anything else, he bends down and presses his lips to mine. His tongue slides into my mouth and he kisses me deeply. It’s passionate and I moan in response as he plunders my mouth. My hands go up to wrap around his neck as he brings my body into him. I’m not someone who likes to get hot and heavy in front of others, but I fight against the instinct to pull away from him. In the background, I hear the catcalls and hoots from the crew behind us. In the back of my mind, however, this kiss feels forced. When I pull back, I’m smiling at Raze, but I can admit it feels strained. I also see the confusion on his face. I get a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it’s not a good one. Something is going on, and there’s a saying about seeing the writing on the wall, and this feels like we’re on a sinking ship. It hurts, but at the same time, I have this feeling I should be more upset at the prospect, and … I’m not.