Chapter 8

 

Chloe

 

 

AS THE NIGHT wore on, the crowd in the clubhouse became pretty rowdy, especially the guys which wasn’t really a surprise. Arm-wrestling broke out, as did drinking games, poker, and even a karaoke contest. Apparently, even bad-assed bikers enjoyed getting drunk and making fools out of themselves in front of a mic every once in a while. It was all in good fun, however, and I actually really enjoyed myself.

“So, Chloe… do you have a boyfriend?” Adriana asked, smiling at me over her drink. The three of us were feeling pretty good, especially after drinking a round of kamikaze shots, which one of the bikers had brought over. A guy named Tail, who was super sweet and not at all bad looking. I’d learned that he used to be a real man-whore until he met Lauren, his wife. With his bedroom eyes and drop-dead good looks, I could see why.

“Not right now,” I replied, noticing the way her eyes were sparkling. “Why?”

“See the guy arm-wrestling over by the pool tables,” she said, nodding toward two burly looking men staring at each with red faces. “The one with the short blonde hair and goatee? He was asking.”

The man she was talking about looked like he was in his late thirties, and had huge arms covered in snake tattoos. I’d noticed him over by the buffet earlier, checking me out. He wasn’t bad looking, but loud and a little too obnoxious.

“Oh,” I said, returning my gaze to Adriana. “I’m not really looking for one right now.”

She laughed. “I don’t think he wants to actually fill that position.”

“I think we all know what he really wants to fill, and probably in many positions,” Jessica said in a low voice, smiling wickedly.

We all laughed.

“To be honest, I’m not into one-night-stands either.” Plus, he was a little scary looking.

“I hear you,” she replied.

 “Adriana… do you know anything about why Graham was in jail?” Jessica asked.

“All I know is that he beat some guy up he found in his apartment. That’s what Trevor told me, at least,” she replied.

“Who’s Trevor?” I asked.

“My husband,” Adriana replied.

“Raptor,” clarified Jessica. “They all have these road names. Even the women.”

“Ah,” I replied. “What about you two?”

Jessica shook her head.

“Trevor calls me Kitten sometimes,” Adriana said with a small smile.

Jessica sat back in her chair and stared past me. “Speak of the devils.”

Adriana’s eyes narrowed. “I wonder what their little pow-wow was about?”

I looked over my shoulder and saw Jordan, Raptor, and Graham walking out of the back room. I couldn’t help but notice how sexy Graham looked with his jacket off, especially in his low-riding jeans and simple, black T-shirt. My eyes grazed over his muscular biceps, broad shoulders, and lean waist. He obviously had great genes and were shared by the two guys next to him.

“They look so serious,” mused Jessica, playing with her straw.

“Yeah and that’s what worries me,” Adriana replied.

Jordan and Raptor headed toward us, while Graham went back over to the bar. Noticing the way his jeans hugged his ass reminded me of how much I missed having sex. Needed to have sex. The toy in my nightstand could only do so much and there was nothing like wrapping one’s legs around a man’s waist and feeling every inch of him.

Oh, God. The alcohol was kicking in.

 “Hey, Babe,” Adriana said, as Raptor came up behind her and kissed her on the side of neck. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” he replied, raising his head back up. He began massaging her shoulders. “Just getting to know Graham a little better.”

“Right,” she said dryly and then looked over at me. “By the way, meet Chloe. She works with Jessica at the hospital.”

He smiled. “Hey, Chloe. Nice to meet you.”

“You, too,” I replied, admittedly feeling a little nervous. He was the V.P. of the Gold Vipers, and obviously well respected by many. He was also feared by many, I suspected.

“You almost ready to go?” Jordan asked Jessica.

She looked at me. “I don’t know. What do you think?”

“Yeah, whenever you’re ready,” I replied. I knew that drinking any more would be dangerous and if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up making some bad decisions. 

Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “How much have you had to drink, Jess?”

She shrugged. “A couple of cocktails and a shot. I spaced them out, though. I’m fine.”

He didn’t look like he believed her.

Noticing his expression, Jessica groaned and stood up. “Here, look,” she said standing on one foot. She closed her eyes and touched her nose with one hand and then the other.

With an evil smile on his face, Jordan poked her in the shoulder and she stumbled backward on her heels.

Gasping, she stomped back to him, her cheeks pink. “You ass,” Jessica pouted, trying to keep a straight face. “I ought to-”

Jordan reached for her, kissing away the rest of her words.

Smiling, I turned and found myself locked in a gaze with Graham again, who’d obviously been watching the exchange. He grinned back at me and I couldn’t help but think again how handsome he was.

Maybe, I’m being too critical of the guy?

I couldn’t exactly blame him for beating up some asshole who’d been trespassing in his home.

“What about Graham?” Raptor asked. “I doubt he’ll want to leave right now. Should I give him a ride later?”

“I don’t think he’s going to need one,” Jordan replied. “I think someone else already has that covered.”

Sure enough, the woman from earlier was already back at the bar and practically on his lap.

God, what a slut.

I couldn’t exactly blame her, however. Turning away, I reminded myself that it was silly for me to feel jealous and blamed it on the alcohol again. 

“Leave it to Candace,” Raptor said, smirking. “Well, he probably could use some TLC after spending a couple of nights in jail.”

“You might want to let him know that he should probably get a tetanus shot after a night with her,” mused Jessica. She reached into her purse and pulled out her car keys. “You ready to go, Chloe?”

“Yeah. I should probably use the bathroom first,” I replied.

“Okay. I’ll show you where it is,” she replied.

We left the table and I followed her to the restroom, which there was a line of two others waiting to get in. As we stood there, Jessica’s phone rang.

“Huh, it’s Frannie,” she said.

She answered the phone and walked away from the bathroom line. A few seconds later, she came back over, a concerned look on her face. “One of my kids is throwing up, apparently. Drew.”

“Oh no,” I replied. “I wonder if it’s that flu that’s going around?”

“Probably. One of his friends had it a couple of days ago,” she replied and sighed. “I’d better tell Jordan so he can leave now. I’ll meet you back at the table.”

“Okay.”

She walked away and soon I was able to use the bathroom. After I was finished, I stepped out of the bathroom, rounded the corner, and walked right into Graham’s chest.

“Oh, sorry,” I replied, backing up, embarrassed that I’d also stepped on his food.

“No problem. I have another foot. Chloe, right?” he replied, staring down at me, his dark eyes twinkling.

For some reason, I was totally nervous standing there. Almost like a teenager talking to her crush for the first time. Not knowing what else to say, I asked him a dumb question. “Yes. Where’s your friend?”

He gave me a puzzled look. “My friend?”

“Ms. Spider Monkey,” I replied, wishing I wouldn’t have brought her up. “Candace.”

Graham laughed. “She’s not a friend. In fact, I’m using the bathroom as an escape.”

“Good luck with that. Let me get out of your way then.”

“You’re not in my way,” he said, staring at me with the kind of interest that made my stomach whirl.

Noticing Candace heading toward us, I warned him.

Swearing, he grabbed my hand and pulled me around the corner. “I could really use your help.”

I stared up at him in confusion. “With what?”

In answer, he pulled me into his arms and began kissing me.