Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
I turn away from him and weigh my options. I could go back inside and find the exact kind of trouble I’m looking for, or I could take the risk of walking to Ro’s. Both were better than staring at the man who just rejected me.
Preacher’s hand wrapped around my upper arm. “Gia.”
“Let. Me. Go.”
He whips me around to face him. “Come on. I’m not leaving you here alone. Let’s go for a ride.”
“No thanks. I’m capable of getting around on my own.” I take a few steps away to put some distance between us, my heart racing and burning with humiliation. “See you around, Preach.”
“Stubborn woman,” he growls behind me, and suddenly, my feet are no longer on the ground. His big arms wrap around my waist, and then we are on the move toward his bike.
“Put me down, damn you! Don’t you manhandle me.”
“Hate me all you want right now, Gia, but you’ll thank me in the morning.”
“Doubtful,” I mutter as I’m hanging backward over one of his massive shoulders. “Look, you’re in the clear, Preacher. You came and got me, and I appreciate that, but I don’t need you lookin’ out for me because you feel guilty.”
“I feel guilty about a lot of damn things, but not this. Not tonight.”
“Whatever,” I snort and roll my eyes. “Put me down and give me my shit.”
“No,” he says and shoves the extra helmet down on my head. He gets on the bike and levels me with a dark, commanding glare. “Get on, Gia.”
I want to argue. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me not to give in to this man, to just walk away. But I don’t. “Just drop me off in my neighborhood.”
“Thought you weren’t stayin’ at home,” he shoots back with an arrogant smile.
“Who says I’m going home?”
He nods behind him. “Get on the fucking bike, Gia.”
I do. “Take me home, Preacher.” It’s not how I want the night to end, but when has anything ever worked out how I want it to?
Never.
The wind brushes against my skin as Preacher speeds down the highway, but the ride is too short, only a few miles before the bike comes to a too familiar stop. The Reckless Souls clubhouse.
“What the fuck are we doing here?” I feel as if I’ve walked into a trap.
And there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
Chapter Fourteen
Preacher
“You said you didn’t want to go home, and it sounds like you don’t have anywhere else to go tonight.”
I stare at Gia and her blue hair flapping in the wind as she glares at me, not even bothering to move the blue strands from her face. “You can stay here.”
Her eyes go wide, and she takes a few steps back, shaking her head, wary and fearful. “No thanks. I’m not down for whatever this is.” She motions to the clubhouse and takes another step back.
“Gia,” I sigh. “We have rooms here, and you can crash for the night. You’ll be safe, I promise.”
She snorts. “Safe? Really fucking doubtful, Preach.”
“Come on,” I tell her in a tone that leaves no room for argument. I feel her behind me as I enter the clubhouse and take her to one of the bedrooms at the back.
“This one is yours.” I open the door to one of the unoccupied rooms. Now that Shades, Coop, and Ace are all hooked up, these rooms get little use.
Gia slides back against the doorjamb and pulls on her hair. “You gonna stay here with me and keep me safe, Preach?” Her tone turns from suspicious to seductive in a flash, a sure sign she’s drunker than she’s letting on.
“No. I respect you too much to take advantage of you.”
“Ha!” She snorts and releases a bitter laugh of disbelief. “Bullshit. I’m a big girl, Preacher. If you don’t want me, at least be man enough to say it. I mean, you say I can trust you, and you bring me here, but clearly, you’re not trying to fuck me. So?” she steps forward and pokes my chest. “What the hell is your game?”
“Your safety,” I tell her honestly. “I don’t want you wandering the streets.”
“Bullshit,” she growls at me. “You’re playing with me, and I don’t like it, not one fucking bit.” She gives me a big shove, and I don’t budge. “What is this, really?”
“An act of kindness. Although, not so random.”
“Fuck you,” she shouts and pushes me again. “I don’t need your kindness, not even if I fucking believed it. Which I don’t!” she shakes her head. “Men always want something, and I already know you want something from me. I figured it out, you know. You think I’m some stupid blue-haired chick with a chip on my shoulder, but I figured out what you didn’t want to tell me.”