He slid into the booth opposite her and clicked his fingers for Tammy to come and serve them.
“This woman needs a beer,” he said with a crinkled smile. “On me.”
Lexi wiped her eyes on the corner of her wrist. Tammy was over his shoulder looking at her concerned, but Lexi smiled and nodded her head.
“Thanks…that would be great.”
Tammy nodded and said, “Coming right up,” before making her way back to the counter.
“So,” he said, splaying his hands across the table, “I’ve never seen you before.”
Lexi smiled and felt herself relax. “Well then, you haven’t been looking.”
A smile danced across his lips, and there was something in his eyes that was more than lust… It was pure animalistic need.
“I’m King,” he said.
“Lexi,” she held out her hand.
When their hands locked together and she felt his skin against hers for the first time, her heart thumped hard in her chest. She found it hard to tear herself away, but when she did, he picked up the beer bottle with his big, rough hands, just as Tammy appeared at the booth with one for Lexi.
King passed it to her and then held his into the middle of the table.
“To new friends,” he said as he clinked his bottle against hers.
“To new friends,” Lexi smiled.
The other bikers at the back of the room were watching them and started wolf whistling. King flipped them the bird, and as they all made their way over to the table, he shook his head and took the ribbing.
“Don’t worry,” one of them said. “He’s a gentleman.”
Lexi laughed as she watched them slap him on the shoulder one by one as they went to the door and made their way outside.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” King called after them.
The bikers all mounted their rides and started revving their engines. Lexi found herself transfixed with them as they all growled out onto the highway on their powerful machines.
“You ever ridden a bike before?” King asked her.
“Never,” Lexi smiled. “But I’d like to give it a go.”
“Well then, maybe I’ll take you sometime,” he winked.
She felt herself blushing, and she sipped on the beer to try and disguise it.
“So,” he began, “you gonna tell me what your friend was talking about?” He nodded over his shoulder in Tammy’s direction and stared at Lexi deep in the eyes.
She shuffled on the spot for a moment, unsure of whether she should be telling a stranger her personal problems, but he seemed determined to know, and maybe he would be able to help her in some way…
“I was fired by my jackass of a boss last night,” she exhaled. “He threw me out onto the street by my hair and told me never to come back.”
His eyes widened and his face hardened.
“He threw you out?” he scowled. “Well that’s no way to treat a lady.” His grip on the bottle tightened and he curled his lip.
“He’s a prick,” Lexi continued. “I never liked working for him, but like I said to my friend, work is work…”
“Where were you fired from?” He took another swig.
Lexi felt herself blushing again. She had never been ashamed of her job as a dancing girl, but there with King, she suddenly found herself not wanting to admit that she had stripped for cash.
“Red X,” she whispered, waiting for his reaction.
“The strip club?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
Lexi nodded.
“Can’t say I’m surprised,” he smiled. “Gorgeous little thing like you…” He winked at her, and she felt herself relax.
“Well, I certainly don’t work there anymore,” she said. “So basically, I’m screwed. There’s nothing around here for someone like me. I can’t work in a diner… It would drive me nuts. I like action! I like to feel empowered, and Slate Springs doesn’t exactly have much to offer in that department. Even if it’s built on a world of crime.” The second she said it, she slapped her hand across her mouth and her eyes almost popped out of her head. She had momentarily forgotten who she was talking to and her heart nearly hit the floor.
King smiled with amusement and shook his head.
“Well, maybe that’s what you need,” he grinned. “To get involved with some of that. I reckon it would keep you on your toes…”
“Oh yeah?” she challenged.
King nodded and drained the last of his beer from the bottle.
“Come around our bar tonight,” he said as he got to his feet. “We sure could use a girl like you, and I know I’d like to see more of you.” He winked at her before he turned on his heel and made towards the door.
Lexi wanted to call after him, to ask him to wait. She wanted to keep talking with him and to get to know more about him. After just a brief conversation, she was hooked and it felt like it was all over too soon.
“I’ll be there at nine,” he said before he pushed open the door and made his way back out into the burning sun.
Lexi watched him with bated breath as he climbed onto his bike and started the engine. He was so raw and powerful, and just watching him pull away and out onto the highway made her skin prickle with desire.
He disappeared into the distance and Lexi didn’t pull herself away until he was completely out of sight.
“Who was that?” Tammy said as she rushed over and slid into the booth opposite Lexi.
“King,” she grinned. “He’s one of the bikers…”
“One of the Forsaken Riders?” she asked excitedly.
“I assume so…” Lexi twirled the beer bottle in her hands.
“He was hot as hell,” Tammy grinned. “But they’re all such bad boys… Be careful, okay?”
“He just overheard our conversation,” Lexi said. “Think they must need someone to work in their bar… He wants me to go over there tonight.”
Tammy’s eyes widened with excitement. “Oh my God, are you going to go?
Lexi shrugged and started blushing again.
“I don’t have many other options do I?” she asked. “No job… desperate to get out of my mom’s house… How else am I going to get a place of my own if I don’t have an income?”
“But aren’t they like…” Tammy hushed her voice, “criminals?”
“What, and Marv isn’t?” Lexi snorted. “You wanna know why he fired me? Because I wouldn’t hook up with him, Tammy. The guy’s a perverted asshole. At least King seemed to be genuinely nice!”
Tammy shook her head and stroked Lexi’s arm.
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” she said sadly. “Marv is a complete jerk. You’re better off out of that place.”
“I know,” Lexi sighed. “It just feels so shitty to have been humiliated like that…” She felt the tears welling up behind her eyes again and breathed out deeply.
“Well,” Tammy said, “the Forsaken Riders have been in this town for decades, and they’ve never really given anyone I know any trouble… Who cares what they do behind closed doors or what deals they’ve got going on? If there’s a job there and you want it, then go for it.” She smiled with encouragement.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “You’re right… I’ve always tried my best to stay away from all of that stuff, but what other options do I have?”
Tammy shrugged.
“I’m going to go,” she said as she got to her feet. “I better get myself ready.”
She slapped some cash down on the table top and Tammy got to her feet to give her a hug.
“You’re going to be great,” Tammy smiled. “Let me know how it goes tonight, okay?”
“Of course,” Lexi beamed. “You’ll be the first one to hear all about it.”
“I wonder what it’s like in there,” Tammy said excitedly. “I’ve heard so many stories from various people who end up in here late at night, but I’ve never been in myself.”
“Me neither,” Lexi said as she picked up her purse. “Only one way to found out, I guess.”
“Sure is,” Tammy smiled. “And hey, you never know, your hot new biker friend might even kick Marv’s ass for you.” She laughed and winked.
“Ha, if only!” Lexi grinned.
As she made her way back out into the afternoon sun and began her slow walk home, she suddenly couldn’t believe how random the past twenty-four hours had been. Maybe she was making a mistake in taking King up on his offer. She could be walking into a situation worse than what she was in at Red X… But she had to find out.
The bikers’ presence in Slate Springs had unnerved her when she was younger, but as she had grown up and become a woman, she had a mind of her own and knew she couldn’t listen to her mother forever. It was time for her to form her own opinions and not just live rules set for her by a mom who didn’t respect her judgment. She had hated Dereck, the boyfriend, since the moment she had met him and expressed her concerns to her mom on many occasions, only to be met with a wall of silence or excuses. When her mom had moved him in, it had broken Lexi’s heart and she felt as if part of their bond had been torn. Now they were all stuck under one roof, and maybe The Forsaken Riders could offer her a way out. She had managed to save some cash from her work at Red X… and maybe King would be able to help her to get Marv to pay up the rest if she impressed him enough that night.
As she walked along the side of the highway, her mind was quickly made up. She was doing the right thing. She was going to go over there and she was going to give it her all. She was her own person, and she was in charge of her own destiny. And she had the feeling that she was heading in the right direction.