I was drunk when I left the bar with Chase and climbed on the back of that Harley. As we flew down the winding streets of downtown Port Azrael, my head started to clear.

Chase had to know this town like the back of his hand. He’d lived and rode here his whole life. Of course he knew the shortest distance between Digby’s and Mulberry Street. But that’s not the route he took. Instead, he hit the coastal highway. The lights from the Port Azrael Bridge beckoned us, going from pink to gold to green and back again.

My heart raced along with the Harley’s powerful engine as Chase weaved effortlessly through traffic. When we hit the bridge, it felt like flying. The bay waters churned below, lit by the bridge itself.

I’d lived here my whole life too. But that night, it felt like I was seeing Port Azrael for the very first time. I saw it through Chase’s eyes. Headlights whizzed by and hot air filled my lungs. Chase made sharp turns, making me squeeze my thighs and tighten my grip around his waist. He was rock solid beneath my touch, warm and strong.

He’d been that way at Digby’s too. Though the edges of my mind were fuzzy from the tequila, Chase had swooped down with the fury of an avalanche when Fletch got too handsy. I could have handled him, probably, but the fire in Chase’s eyes had taken my breath away. That fire had burned for me. There could be no mistake.

I squealed with delight as Chase took a sharp curve. The rumble of the Harley’s powerful engine vibrated between my thighs. Chase’s gripped the seat like solid hunks of marble. The bike was part of him. He made tiny corrections weaving back and forth, effortless. As fast as we were going, I knew he was holding back, once again, trying to protect me.

Finally, he made the turn north. My heart sank as we left the warm breeze of the Gulf behind. It was quiet on Mulberry Street as he slowed the bike to nearly a crawl. I slid my hand between his arm and pointed down the street. I needn’t have bothered. My house was the nicest one on the block, the landscaping impeccable. Pink magnolias waved in the wooden flower boxes beneath the window.

When Chase pulled into the driveway and cut the engine, time seemed to stand still. The magic of the fast ride hung in the air and I didn’t want to break it. My heart pounded behind my rib cage and it got hard to breathe.

Chase moved first. He threw an agile leg over the side and turned to me. He held his leather-gloved hand out to me. My eyes were hidden behind the visor. It let me steal one last moment to myself where I could take him in. Chase Cutter loomed before me all muscle, ink, and predatory grace.

I wanted him.

The moment I let the thought form into a sentence, it became thunderously true. My belly still burned from the alcohol, but there was something else going on as well.

This man was everything I shouldn’t want. I’d seen the violence he brought with him firsthand. Fletch and the other patrons in that bar knew what he was too. People in Port Azrael cut men like Chase Cutter a wide path. His brand of dark danger was the very thing I tried to drive out of my life. And yet, there I was, drawn into his orbit.

I climbed off the bike, trying not to sway on my feet. My head spun. Sucking in a great breath of air, I mustered the courage to peel off his helmet and let his eyes lock with mine. Chase stood tall and straight, the hint of a smirk lifting the corner of his full mouth. My porch light caught in his eyes, giving them a devilish twinkle.

“Thank you,” I said, my throat dry. Say goodnight. Send him on his way. That was the good girl inside me talking. My father’s daughter. My mother’s heart. But they were gone now. Phantoms. Chase stood before me real and solid, his eyes burning through me.

I couldn’t help myself, I let the slow smile creep into my face. With it came a heated blush that I knew he could see.

“You make things beautiful, don’t you?” he asked. It seemed both an odd and natural question. He turned his attention to the house. Across the street was another that I’d flipped last year. Its green lawn and painted gables changed the character of Mulberry Street forever.

“I try,” I said.

When Chase turned back to me, his eyes had that haunted look I’d first seen back in the Hutchins house. My heart cracked straight down the middle. I knew what put that look there now. I went to him, sliding my hand up until I cradled his jaw. He flinched, then his skin warmed beneath mine.

A wish filled me, burning so strong it took my breath away. I wanted to take that pain out of his eyes. If only I had the power to clear away the horrible memories of what happened in that house for him.

This was a bad idea. I think we both knew it. This was tequila and heartache. It wasn’t real. Only my body didn’t seem to know the difference. Before I knew what was happening, I went up on my tiptoes. Chase caught me, circling his hands around my wrists. He hesitated for a fraction of a second.

“You’re half drunk,” he whispered.

“Uh huh.”

“You’re going to regret this in the morning,” he said, but the smirk was back.

“Uh huh.”

“Aw, hell,” he said, then he pulled me to him.

Chase’s kiss was rough, commanding. His stubble scraped against my cheek. I opened my mouth and Chase claimed it, his tongue darting in. My knees turned to water and Chase’s strong arm came around my waist, nearly lifting me off the ground. I grew instantly wet, my sex throbbed. I knew I had to feel him. All of him. Hard. Now.

We stumbled up the walkway together. My house keys were in my purse. I carried that crisscrossed across my chest. I don’t know how I had the dexterity to pull them out and fit them in the lock. Chase pressed his chest against my back as I did it, sending shock waves of pleasure skittering down my spine as he kissed the space beneath my earlobe.

The door opened and I tumbled inside. Chase caught me once again, encircling my waist with his strong hands.

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” he said as we walked into my grand foyer. “Give me the grand tour.”

“Shut up.” I laughed as I tossed my purse on the floor and launched myself into his arms. Now that I knew what it felt like, I craved his arms around me. He was solid, warm, powerful. My head spun as he had me pressed up against the wall.

I tore at him. It was as if my clothes caught fire, my being caught fire. The only thing that could quench it was Chase’s touch, Chase’s skin. With my back against the wall, I brought my legs up, folding them around Chase’s hips. The hard rod of his erection pressed between my thighs.

“Oh God,” I gasped as Chase’s molten lips drew a path down the column of my throat. His hands were everywhere, sliding beneath my thin cotton t-shirt. I wanted it off. I wanted everything off. I put one leg on the floor and clawed at his jeans. Oh yes. This was how I wanted it. I wanted dark and dirty, quick and hard.

Chase reached down with one agile hand and loosened his belt. His jeans fell past his waist. I opened my eyes. I kept an antique, mirrored hall tree bench against the opposite wall. In it, I saw the reflection of Chase’s granite-hard ass. Heat crashed through me as I imagined what it would feel like when he used those powerful gluts to slam himself home.

I couldn’t get my own jeans unfastened fast enough. Chase worked on my shirt. I lifted my arms, letting him tear it over my head. I hadn’t worn a bra. Chase groaned as he bent at the knees and his lips found my hard nipples.

As he sucked one, making it rise to a peak under his rough, skilled tongue, I bit my lip. Drawn to the reflection in the mirror, I watched Chase press his palms flat against the wall as his tongue trailed between my breasts. He sucked one nipple, then the other, teasing it between his teeth with just enough pressure to make me moan with pleasure.

He stopped long enough to peel out of his leather cut and toss his own shirt to the ground. In the mirror, I saw the beautiful intricacy of the tattoos on his back. Most prominent was a large, winged saint, kneeling before a sword. It was the symbol of the Dark Saints, M.C., the same one on his cut.

“Chase,” I gasped as he sank to his knees and peeled my jeans down the rest of the way. I stepped out of them. Chase looked up at me, his eyes glinting in the darkened hallway. His lips were mere inches from my heated core. Sucking in a great gasp of air, I nodded, encouraging his next move. When he made it, I couldn’t breathe. Chase wound his fists around the thin fabric of my silk panties and tore them off me. It was primal, wicked. I’d never been more turned on in my life.

I clutched the wall to steady myself as Chase showed me no mercy. He slid his hands up my thighs and spread them. A little squeal of surprise escaped from me as Chase brought his tongue to the juncture of my thighs. I was wet, dripping for him. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the mirror. The back of Chase’s blond head bobbed up and down as he fastened his tongue around my most sensitive places. He teased me, coaxed me with his lips and tongue. Trembling with pleasure, my nipples turned dark red, my nipples pebbled.

In the mirror, I saw myself as Chase did. Wanton, ready, shameless.

“Yes,” I gasped as Chase sucked me. I scraped my nails against the plaster wall. My body was his. A shudder spread through me, starting in my molten core. Unbidden, I spread my legs even wider, trying to give even more of myself to this man.

“Chase. Oh, I can’t. I’m going to …”

“Let it go, baby,” Chase said, his voice a low, wicked growl. “I want to taste you when you come.”

But he wasn’t quite finished with me. Chase knew how to draw me out and bring me back. First he sucked me deep, stretching me, sliding his tongue in and out. Then he’d pull back, flicking me with the tip of his tongue. It was maddening, amazing, perfect.

Then Chase slid two fingers inside of me as he worked my swollen clit. I threw my head back, barely able to control the sensation. I couldn’t control the waves of pleasure washing over me. I bucked against the wall, throwing my hips toward him. My groans echoed over the wood floor as Chase owned me.

I couldn’t hold back another second. I came for him, thrusting my hips with wild abandon as Chase brought me home. It was as if the earth split in two. My core expanded as pleasure blossomed through me. Chase Cutter gave me the most powerful orgasm of my life. As I crested down, I knew he was far from finished.

He moved quickly, circling his hands around my waist. He brought me forward, gently guiding me down to the floor. My sex flushed with a second wave of desire as I realized what he meant to do.

“Oh God,” I gasped as Chase moved me into position. He had me on all fours, facing the mirror again. He saw it too and the lust-filled smile that curled his lips made me blush. Chase ran a hand down the length of my spine. I arched my back reflexively, giving him the angle he needed as he spread my thighs again.

He reached into his pocket. With quick skill, he unwrapped a condom and slid it over his hard cock. My eyes grew big as I saw it in the mirror. Chase was huge, thick, and hard. My sex quivered in anticipation.

I wanted this. I wanted this man. It was the most reckless, erotic moment of my life. As Chase positioned himself between my legs, he put one hand on my hip. With a gasp, I brought my chin up; my gaze fixed on the reflection again.

Then Chase entered me. I clutched the floor as he spread me wide. He was so big. I was so full. But Chase had me well primed. I stretched to accommodate him and felt the next wave of desire crest within me.

My breasts swung heavy as Chase fucked me. I threw my head back and raised my hips to meet him thrust for thrust. He rested his weight on one knee; his other leg was bent with his foot on the floor, giving him control and power. He was so deep. I felt every inch of him. I watched his face contort with pleasure then Chase’s eyes snapped open. My heart fluttered as Chase caught my gaze in the mirror. We locked eyes as he redoubled his pace.

“Oh!” I had to drop to my elbows to stay in position. When I tried to close my eyes, Chase wouldn’t have it.

“Watch me, baby,” he whispered in that low, sultry growl. “I want your eyes.”

I knew what he meant and it heightened my arousal. Leaving with Chase may have been a whim, a wild moment after a night of fun. But this, now, he would claim me all the way or not at all. And we would both do it with our eyes wide open. Biting my lip, I kept his stare. Chase’s smirk drove me wild. He was getting so close. I could feel the hitch in his thrust.

“Yes!” I cried. I wanted him. I wanted all of him.

My own orgasm ripped through me as I felt Chase seize up. He poured himself into me as I rocked back to take him even deeper. Chase doubled over, throwing his body across my back. He supported his weight with a flat palm on either side of my shoulders. He peppered the back of my neck with soft kisses as he crested down.

Finally, our legs turned to rubber and Chase slid out of me. I rolled to my back, chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

He was gentle and tender; hooking my chin beneath his finger, he brought my lips to his and kissed me. “Ariel,” he whispered. “Sweet, beautiful Ariel.”

I put a hand against his cheek, loving the feel of his rough stubble. It would be so easy to give into this. The idea of going to bed with Chase and waking up with him tempted me. But something made me stop. I let a wall rise between us. Later, I might tell myself it was the tequila wearing off. But that wasn’t fair to Chase. I’d let him claim me with my eyes wide open.

Still, I grew shy with him, letting the moment pass. I gathered my clothes and awkwardly pulled them on. For Chase, it was more effortless. He’d never completely wriggled out of his jeans. He slid them up and refastened his belt. Running a hand through his wild blond locks, he leaned up against the wall and watched me fumble.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

That wicked laugh stirred my blood again. “You weren’t. That’s the best part, Ariel.”

Straightening, I tried to smooth down my wild hair. It was a scraggly mess. Chase watched me, his steely eyes flicking over me, making me feel as if I were naked again. I can’t help that it sent that now familiar heat spearing through me.

But this was wrong. Dangerous. Chase hadn’t stopped being what he was in the span of the last half hour. And I was who I was. Sensing the permanent shift in my mood, Chase’s smile dropped and he pushed himself up off the floor.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and I was. “I’m not good at this. I don’t usually …”

“Ariel,” Chase said. He came to me, towering over me. Lifting a single finger, he smoothed the hair out of my eyes. “You think too much.”

“I don’t think enough,” I blurted then instantly regretted it.

Chase’s eyes darkened. He had this way of staring straight through me, making me feel even more exposed and bare than I had been just a few minutes ago. It was one thing to give him my body, I wasn’t ready to give him my soul.

“I’d never hurt you,” he said, answering a question I hadn’t asked. For an instant, I felt like he was talking to a ghost.

“I know,” I said; bringing my hand up, I circled it around his wrist and he brought his fingers away from my face. “I think you’re a good guy, deep down.”

“Deep down?” He laughed.

“I’m sorry. I told you. I’m bad at this. Give me a sledgehammer or a saw and I know what to do.”

Chase stepped back and faked a duck. Damn it if he didn’t get a laugh out of me.

“You may be bad at this,” he said. “But I’m not. So now, I’m going to help myself to your kitchen. You need to drink some water and I need to make you some eggs or something.”

“What? I’m not hungry. It’s two o’clock in the morning.”

Chase wasn’t listening. He brushed past me and went down the hallway toward the back of the house. He found his way to the kitchen and pulled open my fridge. Finding what he wanted, he pulled out a carton of eggs and started to root through my cabinets.

“Chase …”

He turned and put up a finger. “Not taking no for an answer. You might feel fine now, but you had a hell of a lot of liquor tonight. You go to bed on an empty stomach, you’re going to feel like shit in the morning. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

I opened my mouth to protest but Chase’s hard stare made me stop. He pointed to the breakfast nook in the corner. Letting out a defeated sigh, I took a seat and watched him work.

When he gave me a raised eyebrow, I pointed to the island cabinet. He leaned down, opened it, and grabbed a skillet. Then he set to work on the stove.

I wanted to keep a boundary in place with this man. So far, I’d been doing anything but. He mesmerized me. He had quick hands, cracking the eggs then flipping them in the pan. The corded muscles of his back bunched and rolled. He flipped the egg again with a deft arm. I found myself wanting to run my fingers over his hard-cut biceps and slide my hands beneath his waistband. A woman could get used to the sight of Chase Cutter making her breakfast.

The egg sizzled and so did I. Chase tossed his head. His sun-bleached hair fell over his shoulders. I had the urge to go to him and tie it back. He was smooth and strong, his warm skin would feel like the perfect sin as he pressed against mine. My core heated and I started to throb for him all over again. It wasn’t just the remnants of the tequila, I knew. It was Chase. Chase and me.

He worked magic with the spices I had on a rack near the stove. My eyelids grew hooded as I drew my legs up and settled back into the bench. Finally, Chase turned. He’d grabbed a plate from my upper cabinets. Those had glass faces. He plated the egg and set it in front of me. Then he slid onto the opposite bench.

“You just going to watch me?” I asked. “Grab a fork and join me.”

Chase leaned back, draping his arm across the bench. “I’m full, baby,” he said. “I like watching you.”

“Suit yourself,” I said, stabbing a fork into the fluffy, steaming pile of eggs he’d made for me. One bite and he melted me all over again.

“How did you do that?” I said, my mouth full. I put a hand up to keep the eggs from sliding out.

Chase’s laugh skittered over me, covering my arms with gooseflesh. “Just keep eating. Then you’re going to drink a full glass of water and I’m going to tuck you into bed.”

I felt the blush creep back into my cheeks. Oh, I wanted that. I wanted to curl myself around this man and wake up to him tomorrow morning. But it was too much. Too fast. I wasn’t that girl.

“Relax,” Chase said, reaching across the table. “I didn’t say I was going to crawl in with you.”

“Who said I invited you?” I was going for sarcasm; it came out a little harsher than I wanted. But Chase didn’t flinch. His eyes held another question, but he didn’t get the chance to ask it. My doorbell rang followed by an insistent knock.

Chase’s back stiffened and he rose from his seat. “You expecting someone?”

“At two in the morning? Hardly.”

Chase put a finger up to silence me then headed for the hallway. My curiosity getting the better of me, I followed. He reached down and grabbed his shirt and leather cut off the floor. He’d been so discreet about it, I hadn’t noticed him doing it. But he’d slipped off his holster in the heat of things. Now he fastened it around him and his fingers played on the handle of a big, black, very sinister-looking gun.

The knocking on the door grew louder. Chase kept his back pressed to the wall. He turned his head toward the kitchen and his hard stare sent ice through me. He made a quick gesture with his hand, warning me back.

“Chase,” I started, but the menace in his eyes made me freeze. He went to the front door as my heart pounded clear into my throat. He peered through the draped side window and finally, his shoulders dropped. He looked back at me, his expression still guarded, but the danger had passed. He opened the door and stepped outside.

I glimpsed two other men in Dark Saints’ cuts. They spoke in deep, rushed voices. Chase stole a look back at the house then dropped his shoulders, nodding. I pressed my back against the wall and waited. A few minutes later, Chase stepped back inside.

I crossed my arms in front of me. “Trouble?”

Chase’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s nothing. But I’ve gotta go.”

Shrugging, I pushed myself off the wall and slid my hands into my back pockets. “Thanks for the eggs ... and for the rest of it.” God, why had I said it like that? I hadn’t been kidding, I really was bad at this.

Chase’s half-smile tore at me. He came to me but I put a defensive hand up. No. I couldn’t. No kiss goodnight. I let something harden inside of me.

“Ariel,” he said. “I’m sorry. This isn’t my style.”

“Which part?”

His face fell and I hated myself for putting that look in his eyes. I probably wasn’t being fair. “Baby.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “Tonight was fun. I’ll see you around.”

“Ariel.” His tone became more forceful.

“No. I mean it. It’s okay, Chase. I get it.”

“You get what?”

“You. Who you are. I wouldn’t have expected anything different.” I reached out, tracing the patch on his cut. “This is your life. Two o’clock in the morning and trouble finds you. How the hell did they?”

Chase looked back toward the door. His friends hadn’t left. I could see their Harleys parked in my driveway. It also meant several of my neighbors would too. This was not good for the neighborhood. God, what had I been thinking?

“It’s a small town.” Chase barked out a bitter laugh. “Everybody knows everything.”

“Right. And your friends saw you leave with me. Look, you’d better get going. They seem pretty insistent. Plus, you guys aren’t doing anything good for my property values right now.”

A muscle jumped in Chase’s jaw and his eyes went hard. “Right. Well …”

I put my hand up again when he tried to move toward me. My breath caught when he stopped and withdrew. “See you around, Chase,” I said. “Thanks for the eggs.” God, I wanted to kick myself.

Chewing his bottom lip, he nodded. Then he turned and left. As the door shut, my heart cracked a little right along with it.