I skipped down the stairs, my hair bouncing as I jumped the last few stairs and landed in the foyer.

“Why are you so happy?” Cole asked with an eyebrow raised, as he walked through the lounge room door frame.

“The sun is shining; is there a reason not to be?” I grinned. “Why are you here?”

“I live here.” His eyebrows furrowed together as he studied me. “TROY!” he roared behind him. “AMBER’S DOING THAT SMILING THING AGAIN!”

“Real mature Cole.” I rolled my eyes and then darted to the front door, opening it quickly and slamming it behind me. I heard the dull rumble of Troy’s voice as I walked down the porch steps.

I, Amber Shield, am Jax’s girlfriend.

I bit my lip, suppressing my grin. God, he was mind blowing. I glanced across at the lined up bikes, his missing.

Sighing, I dug my hand in my handbag and searched for my car keys. Jax had left early; what a surprise. Unlocking the Hummer, I frowned slightly before getting in. Maybe he was over me? He got the goods last night, more than once then when I woke up this morning, he was gone.

Suddenly, my happy mood was fading as I thought this over again. Closing my door, I thought, why the heck was I now willingly going to school?

I jumped, startled by the knocking on my window. Frowning at Tyler, I pressed the button and the window went down.

“What?” I asked.

“Can you give us a ride to the clubhouse?” Tyler shifted a large bag on his shoulder. I glanced behind him and noticed my other brothers walking towards us, all carrying big black bags.

“Why?”

“Cause.”

“I have school.”

“Aren’t you guys on holiday?” Tyler gave me a blank expression, “OR did you forget that?”

“How the heck did I forget that!” I cursed, and shook my head. “Well then, doesn’t look I have an excuse not to take you guys.”

Tyler was already opening the back door, not really listening to me. I glanced sideways at Troy, as he sat down in the front seat next to me. The other three loaded into the back, all with big black bags on their laps.

“So, where’s Jax?” I asked causally, and placed the car in drive. “Or was he not lucky enough to get a black bag?” I smirked, while glancing in the rear view mirror. All the guys seemed to miss my dig and looked out the windows, bored. Cole grunted a reply - ‘clubhouse’ and then the car fell silent.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?” I asked openly. Each one of them seemed pissed off to the max. I didn’t know when they came home last night, because what my brothers were doing or where they were was the last thing on my mind at the time.

I sighed internally as I remembered Jax’s hands roaming my body, and his ability to multi-task. 

“No,” Tyler grunted and leaned his head against the window. “God, I would do anything to be asleep right now.”

“Yeah,” Adam yawned.

“Dad’s gone again,” Troy huffed. “Don’t ask me where he went, I wasn’t listening that closely.”

“I think he made us stay, just so someone was home for Amber,” Cole scoffed and then muttered ‘babysitters’ under his breath.

“Well, don’t you guys function well with no sleep,” I muttered matter of factly, lowering my foot on the accelerator.

I went to turn the radio on, and Troy quickly slapped my hand away, giving me daggers too.

“Fine, we will remain in silence,” I huffed, and glared out the front window.

Boys with no sleep were more hormonal than females. Tapping my finger on the steering wheel, I thought, why did I get the feeling today was going to be a long day?

***

“FUCKING MANIAC!” Cole slammed the car door and continued to curse about my driving skills as he walked away. Adam and Tyler both still looked terrified, while Troy was exhaling slowly.

“Oh come on! I was nowhere near it!” I defended my driving again.

Troy looked across at me, his face twisted in disbelief. Leaning over quickly, he swiped the keys from my hand and got out of the car, ignoring my protests.

So I may have overtaken a car, and may have just not seen a truck coming towards us but really, they were overdoing it. I had managed to get us off the road in time. Sure, we may have spun out onto the gravel road, but we made it here!

I glared into Troy’s head as I followed slowly behind them. Entering the clubhouse, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol consumed my nose once more.

“Finally, you guys show up,” a deep voice greeted my brothers, as we walked in. I noticed Cole was already at the bar, reaching for a bottle of spirits.

Troy was talking and shaking an old guy’s hand and, when he pulled away, I saw Jax. Sitting causally on a couch, he had a beer grasped in one hand, and the other arm wrapped around a female.

Gritting my teeth, I inhaled very slowly. Do.Not.Kill.Her. I continued to chant this, as the female moved closer into Jax’s side.

“Hey Jax,” I chipped, and then crossed my arms. His expression dropped, and I saw the horror in his eyes. He was totally caught out.

I was more annoyed than angry. I knew he couldn’t avoid females altogether, that would clue my brothers in.

So I guess I had to get used to him… screw it, I was not convincing myself that this was acceptable. I wasn’t the type of girl to hide in the corner.

“Oh hi Amber,” someone quipped.  I turned around, and Jason walked around from outside the bar. “Jason, didn’t see you there!” I grinned, and I noticed Jax’s eyes narrow slightly.

Oh can’t life be a bitch, Jax? I sniggered to myself as I grinned freely at Jason. What a perfect time for him to show up.

“Amber, get that look off your face,” Cole snapped at me. “You can go now.”

Jason chuckled, while smirking at me. I ignored Cole altogether. “So Jason, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“To see me,” Jax huffed, but I didn’t look at him. Instead, I bit my lower lip slightly, my eyes glued on Jason.

“What are you doing now?” I asked Jason, while pushing the hair from the side of my face.

Jason opened his mouth to speak, but Jax’s loud voice stopped him.

“Amber, a word, first.” Jax got up from the couch, and my brothers didn’t seem to care as I followed Jax. Jason sent me a pitiful smile.

Sighing and crossing my arms, I walked into the room Jax held the door open to. Closing it, his cool blank expression turned deadly as soon as the thud from the door echoed in the small room.

“Don’t play with me,” he threatened, pushing me slightly back against the wall, his eyes narrowed and deadly. “You’re mine now.”

“Yeah, I am yours, so tell me, are you mine?” I arched an eyebrow, not caving into his possessive posture.

“That chick was nothing and you know it.”

“My conversation with Jason was nothing.”

“I might be soft on you Amber, but don’t make me show you another side,” he growled. “You’re my girlfriend. I will be the one to protect you. I will be the one to kill any bastard that touches you so don’t make me kill my own flesh and blood.”

His voice was so thick and threatening; I had never seen Jax this defensive before.

“I’m not going to lose you,” he added, and leaned his head slightly closer to mine. “I have never been faithful to a woman before, so when Katie sat next to me, I didn’t even think about pushing her away. I’m sorry. I’m new to this,” he said softly.

“Don’t tease me, and I won’ tease you,” I said calmly. “And for the record, touching another female like that does cross a line for me.”

Jax slowly wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. “Then I won’t let it happen again.” His lips were slowly getting closer to mine. “Although, it might be noticed by your brothers.”

I threaded my arms around his neck and held his head closer to mine. “Good thing, I’m dating a hardcore biker then who is fearless.”

Amusement flashed in his eyes.

“Yeah, it is,” he muttered, before he drove his lips against mine. I had a feeling that this relationship was going to be hard work but the passion that was firing through my body as he kissed me told me it was worth fighting for.