Chapter Two
Colette
“Oh, my gosh. They are looking over here,” Emily squeaked from the other side of the table.
I didn’t bother to look up since I knew who she was talking about. It was impossible not to notice the two dangerous and alluring men as we sat down. They were like two gorgeous demons who came to earth to wreak havoc.
The one on the right was handsome even with the thick beard covering his face, but the one on the left was the devil himself come to tempt me. He looked like a cover model on one of those old Harlequin romances that my grandmother had hidden under her bed. Neatly angled nose, chiseled jaw, dark lusty eyes, and short blond hair that was perfectly careless.
He was blatantly sexy and had bad boy written all over him. Men like him were non-existent in Grady and, with the way he was looking at me, I swear I felt my insides catch on fire.
I kept my eyes on my menu because I didn’t want to risk making eye contact with him again, making a fool out of myself by openly drooling over him. I felt silly just sitting here across from Emily who looked stunning. She wore a pretty red skirt and a low-cut tank top that looked elegant with her softly curled hair. She also had makeup to enhance her pretty green eyes and pink luscious lips.
I struggled not to feel the sin of envy. I had no makeup and I could only manage a t-shirt and jeans. Everything else I owned was long skirts and conservative tops. But Emily said to dress casually so people wouldn’t know we were from Grady.
I started to feel self-conscious and my eyes immediately went to the gorgeous demon again. He was still looking at me with that hungry gaze. I felt heat flare in my cheeks and quickly looked away. I needed to stop looking at him. He was a nightmare and a daydream all rolled into one.
I’m still not sure how Emily convinced me to sneak out of the house and leave Grady for a night. At first, I flat out refused. It wasn’t until she started calling me things like prude and stick in the mud that I finally agreed. I’d admit that I followed the rules, but not because I liked it. I followed the rules because going against them wasn’t worth the punishment.
But Emily promised me that we would only get some pizza and then go back home.
The waitress came by and took our orders. When I attempted to order a water, Emily glared at me and promptly said we would both have a Pepsi and ordered a pizza to share. I just nodded and the waitress walked away.
“Mind if we join you?” A voice came from above. I glanced up to see the two demons standing next to our table.
“Sure,” Emily said and scooted over in the booth, nodding at me to do the same. I hesitated for a moment before I slid over so my walking nightmare/daydream could sit next to me.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. I could feel the heat of his body as he slid close to me, making me shiver and bite my lip.
“I’m Ajax,” the bearded one said. “That’s Xander.”
“I’m Emily and this is Colette,” Emily responded eagerly. “Do you want to share a pizza?”
“Hey Suzy, whatever pizza they ordered make it an extra-large,” Ajax called across the room.
The waitress responded by giving him thumbs up.
“So, what are you two up to tonight?” Ajax asked as he moved a little closer to Emily.
I glanced over to Xander to see him looking at me. His dark eyes drifted slowly over my face and down my body. I crossed my arms over my chest as if that would help to shield me from his gaze. But he just gave me a small smile.
My brain couldn’t seem to handle how handsome he was and I felt a tingle between my legs when my eyes drifted over his face. This close I could tell his eyes were a warm brown with light streaks of gold and the shadow of a beard made his face seem a little softer. He wore ripped jeans, boots, a gray t-shirt and a leather vest with white patches all over it. The patches were interesting, but my gaze was drawn to the tattoo on his inner arm. It looked like some sort of black ghost or reaper and the words Living Death were written beneath it. On the opposite arm, he had a motorcycle wrapped around his bicep.
It suddenly occurred to me that he was probably part of that motorcycle gang I’d heard Pastor Dean complain about. The Wraiths. According to the pastor, they were murderers and thieves, villains of the highest order. As the spiritual leader of our community, his opinion was taken as fact.
But I knew a little more about the gang than what Pastor Dean had said. My older cousin, Bethany, left Grady about a year ago to join the Wraiths. We had always been close, but when Bethany turned eighteen, things began to change. She started keeping secrets and kept to herself. Then one day, she was simply gone. The story was that she was doing missionary work in Africa and would be gone for a couple years.
I believed the lie for a few months, but then Bethany sent me a message. I found it in my locker at the library where I worked part time. It said that she was living in Lockwood with the Wraiths, a motorcycle club, and that she was safe and happy. She also gave me a phone number to contact her if I ever needed anything.
I had a hard time believing that the Wraiths were truly evil if Bethany decided to live with them.
As if reading my thoughts, Emily said, “So what’s up with your matching vests?”
“We’re members of the Wraiths motorcycle club.” He gestured to his vest. “We call this a cut.”
Emily flipped her hair and leaned on her hand. “It’s a club? Are you the President?”
Xander chuckled and the sound rumbled through my insides, making my legs clench.
“No, I’m not an officer. Not yet.” Ajax said. “Xander here will be sergeant at arms soon.”
“What is a sergeant at arms?” I asked.
“It’s a little complicated. But I will be handling security for the club,” he replied, his gaze never leaving my face.
I bit my lip and looked away to escape his intense gaze. I thought I heard a small groan and glanced back at him. His eyes were on my lip where I was still biting it.
Ajax and Emily continued to talk, but I found it hard to concentrate on anything with Xander so close. I knew he was dangerous, probably a criminal, but part of me was thrilled to be next to man like him. He was the epitome of the handsome bad boy and for some reason he wanted to be close to me. I knew I would never be this close to a man like him again.
Would it really hurt to indulge a little bit? my heart asked.
Yes, it would hurt, responded my brain. What will happen when you go back to Grady and never see him again? You will do nothing but daydream about him and feel heartbroken over your imaginary relationship.
I looked away from Xander and moved a little closer to the wall. My brain was right. It wasn’t worth the pain.