Chapter 1
Castle Tavern. Lansing, West Virginia.
Khairo Vizcarra entered the Castle Tavern, his heavy mid-calf boots clanking upon the solid wooden floor. He walked with a swagger. He wore his light-wash jeans like a second skin, accentuating the muscular shape of his thighs and legs.
The white shirt covering his torso didn’t do much to conceal the distinct lines of his abdomen and chest. The fabric clung tightly to the shape of his body.
His hair was a natural light brown, and his eyes were the lightest shade of brown. But today, he wore a pair of expensive black retro sunglasses.
It was five in the afternoon, and he had gone to the Castle Tavern just to pass the time. He knew many pairs of eyes were following his every move. He was so used to it. No matter where he went in the world, he always drew attention.
Khairo Vizcarra came from old money, from a family that had been wealthy for generations. His ancestors were rich landowners during the Spanish era. They belonged to what were called the Peninsulares—Spaniards who were legitimately born in Spain and held high government positions in the Philippines during the colonial period.
His father was purely foreign, while his mother was a Filipina. That made him half-Spanish and half-Filipino. He was an only child, and his parents adored him deeply. So it was no surprise that he was given everything he wanted, his every whim was catered to, and there was nothing he couldn’t get. It was the same with women. He could bed anyone he fancied.
Who could refuse the great Khairo Vizcarra? He wasn’t only rich; his physical appearance was exceptional—truly striking.
He looked up when someone suddenly placed a glass of expensive liquor on his table.
“Hi!” the young woman said with a smile. She was quite petite. Maybe around 5 feet? She had slightly slanted mahogany-colored eyes, a prominent nose, and red lips. Her frame was slender but with a full bust and a shapely behind. She had long black hair with soft curls. She definitely looked like a character from a comic book or a graphic novel with smut content.
Also, based on what he saw, it was safe to say that she was a Filipina of Japanese descent.
“You’re not wrong, peck,” she suddenly said.
“What?” Did she just call him peck? What the hell? And did she just confirm what he was thinking?
“I mean, you’re not wrong. I’m Filipino-Japanese. My name is Carrie Satozuka-Enrique. Just call me Carrie.”
He simply nodded. “I’m—”
“I know you. You’re Khairo Vizcarra. I think everyone here knows who you are.”
“And you’re the first one bold enough to talk to me today.” Of course, several women were trying to get his attention every day. He had been in Lansing, West Virginia, for almost a week now, and he was at the Castle Tavern almost every day. He loved rafting, and the Castle Tavern offered not only the finest drinks but also the best rafting experience.
The place gave off a cowboy vibe. It had a rustic design. The furniture was chestnut-colored, and the floors were made of solid wood. The wall behind the bar counter was brick. There was a large wall-mounted TV, and various shapes of liquor bottles were displayed in the cabinets.
“I own this place. Actually, it belongs to my parents. But I basically manage the business. The raft trips outside are ours, too. And the house you’re staying at right now also is ours.”
His eyebrows shot up. The woman was bold and brave and showed no signs of hesitation. But she didn’t pique his interest. Not when she was practically bragging that her family owned almost everything.
“Okay. Good,” was all he said before gulping the glass of liquor she had placed on his table earlier. He looked away to let her know he had no intention of prolonging the conversation. But she apparently didn’t get the hint.
“Are you single?” she asked, a bit too straightforwardly.
“No, I’m in a serious relationship right now.”
“No, you’re not. Why are you lying? Do you not like me? I’ve been following your social accounts for years! You don’t have a steady girlfriend. You’ve been hopping from one woman to another. So, I was thinking… since you’re here… maybe we can spend some time together and get to know each other?”
“Whoa,” was all he could say. He liked to play the field with women, but there were some he simply didn’t like. And it seemed the woman standing in front of him right now was one of them.
He loved hunting women. He was supposed to be the predator. He didn’t like it when a woman seemed even more aggressive than he was. She wasn’t boyish, but her aura was just too strong for him.
“Okay, Miss. I’ll tell you the truth. Yes, I am single, but I don’t find you very interesting.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Am I supposed to cry now?” she asked, her voice devoid of any bitterness. In fact, it dripped with sarcasm.
“Don’t force it,” he told her, his annoyance steadily growing.
One corner of her lips tugged upward. She inched closer, practically offering her breasts to him. Involuntarily, his gaze dropped to that part of her body. She was openly displaying her lewd behavior.
His jaw clenched as he felt a sudden spark of heat and pure lust ignite within him.
“Your body is obviously reacting to mine. I guess I won’t have a hard time getting you naked, peck.”
Tease! A pulse twitched in his head. Why the heck does she keep calling him peck? It was annoying! “You’re so wrong, Miss. You won’t get this—” He pointed to his lower body, right between his thighs, “—up and hard.”
“Wanna bet?” she challenged.
He stood up and turned his back on her. His ears rang when he heard her gentle, teasing giggle. His face darkened, but he forced himself to ignore the woman who introduced herself as Carrie.
Khairo trailed the back of his hand along the smooth arm of the woman he had gone rafting with earlier. From his very first glance at her, he knew she was into him. Her smile was kind of shy, but her eyes revealed her thirst for him. After rafting, they had simply changed clothes, and he waited for her to freshen up before inviting her to eat at the Castle Tavern, which was right next door to the raft trips.
“I’m Chloe, by the way,” she said as she introduced herself.
“I’m Khairo. Just Khai for you.”
The woman had a beautifully shaped body, dressed in a short dress.
“I’ve always liked women with blonde hair, you know,” he said.
“Really? Well, I’m blonde… so…”
“Yeah, I like you.”
Both he and the woman flinched when liquor splashed from a glass that someone forcefully slammed onto their table.
He wasn’t surprised when he realized who the grand interrupter was: none other than Carrie.
“What are you doing, Miss?” he asked her calmly, though his voice held a trace of annoyance.
She merely smirked at him, leaned down, and brought her lips close to his ear. “If you like flirting so much, then why not flirt with me?”
He pulled away, distancing himself from her. “Not interested.”
Her fists clenched.
He didn’t waste any more time on Carrie and turned his attention back to Chloe. He thought Carrie would leave, but he was mistaken. To his shock, she cupped his face with both hands.
“Don’t worry; I taste like honey, peck.” Then she kissed him fully on the mouth. His lips parted in sheer shock, and she took that opportunity to slip her tongue inside his mouth. Inside his mouth, her tongue moved erotically, warm and soft against him.
She wasn’t lying when she said she tasted like honey. The tip of her tongue teased his, exploring the inside of his mouth and smearing a heat that sent a tingling sensation through him. She was draining his strength.
He reined in his heating body and broke the kiss. He cursed sharply. “Fuck, Miss! Are you nuts?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that?” she asked boldly.
“I did not—” He couldn’t finish his sentence because they both simultaneously looked down at his lower body. And they saw the huge bulge in his pants. “Fuck. Fuck. This isn’t happening.”
“So, you did enjoy it.” She grinned, pleased with herself. “You can’t reject a bad girl so easily, Khai.” She threw a sharp glare at Chloe, who got scared and quickly left.
“You’re crazy!”
She just laughed, then caressed his chin. “The next time you try to hurt my feelings, I will cut your skin and make you bleed.”
