Chapter 1
Hazel
It is Friday night and I stare in the mirror at my friend’s house before we go out. “Do you think there will be some nice guys there tonight?” I ask her as I apply some mascara.
“It is a party at the clubhouse. Of course, there will be single guys there.” Fraya smiles.
While in Sacramento for company training, I met Fraya, and we hit it off, quickly forming a friendship. With stores in several states, Reckless Beauty is a large company, and I count myself lucky to be a part of it.
With dad being who he is, getting a boyfriend in Stockton is a no go, so the training opportunity has given me some freedom in Sacramento. I’m on my bike, so I wear my leather pants and a white vest and leather jacket. When Fraya said her older brother hung around at a bike bar, she said she would get us in. As I’m not quite 21, she didn’t think a couple of months would be an issue.
Dad loves cars, I love bikes.
I pull up at the bar, which is heaving with bikes. I grin like I’m in heaven. Fraya jumps off the back of my bike before I put the kickstand down and turn it off.
Music blares from inside, and Fraya grabs my hand, dragging me in with her. “Clyde should be in here somewhere.” She shouts over the music.
We head to the bar. Since I’m on my bike, I don’t want to drink, anyway. I still have to get home and the last thing I need is getting pulled by the police. Fraya grabs me a beer and I roll my eyes. I guess I’m hugging this all night then.
I’m shoved to the right by some bulky looking guy. “Come on,” Fraya grabs my arm. “You have to have a set of balls in here.” She laughs. “Oh, there is Clyde.”
We move towards a pool table where there are several guys and girls hanging about. Fraya shouts to her brother. My cheeks heat as I’m not used to the attention. All eyes are on me.
“This is my friend I was talking about.” She pulls me closer.
Oh god, I hope she isn’t trying to set me up with her brother? “Hi,” I give a little wave.
“Damn, sis. You didn’t say she was gorgeous.” He leans with the pool cue in his hand and licks his lips.
A girl next to him puts her hands on his chest and gives me an evil look.
“She is new to this, so give her a break.” Fraya says and winks at me.
“A new Sweetbutt for the boys.” Some guy appears next to me. “I’m taking first dibs then.” He tries to kiss me.
I pushed him away. “Yuk! I’m not a whore. So, piss off.”
It seems to irritate him. With a firm grip, he grabs my jaw, making my teeth clench involuntarily. “You don’t come in here and show your pretty little ass off and refuse me.”
“Leave her alone Jude,” Fraya snaps at him.
My dad has told me how to deal with forward guys. I grab his crotch and squeeze it. “No, you listen up here, mate! I’m not one of those bitches you can order around.” I squeeze his crotch harder and he starts to buckle.
“Hey, Jude, the girl said no.” Another guy steps in. He shoves the guy Jude away, and I release him.
“Thanks,” I say and drink him in. He’s tall, handsome, and has dark blue eyes, complemented by rough stubble and tattoos.
“I’m Lachlan, by the way.” He holds out a hand.
“Hazel,” I smile and shake his hand.
A hand clamps down on Lachlan’s shoulder, and someone hauls him backwards. A flurry of motion escalates as fists fly and the sharp crack of knuckles follow. I stumble backward, my heart pounding in my chest. What kind of bar is this?
“Go pick one of the willing sweetbutts. There are plenty around.” Lachlan wipes his jaw.
Fraya comes to my side. “Don’t worry, there is always a fight in here. Seems like you raised some interest amongst the boys.” She winks as if what had happened was completely normal.
“Well, if they are all going to act like complete assholes, then I’m not interested.” I shake my head and heave out a sigh. So much for finding a decent guy.
Fraya slides her arm around my waist. “Let’s watch the guys play some pool?”
I’m giving it an hour, tops, and then I’m out of here. We watch them play pool, and Clyde wins. He slaps the other guy on his back and tells him to pay up and get the next round in.
The guy Lachlan picks up a cue. “Anyone want to play me?” He smirks and half of the guys groan.
“Is he good?” I whisper to Fraya.
“Wins every time.” She rolls her eyes.
I didn’t grow up around Mac’s bar and not learn how to play pool. I snag the other cue. “What does the winner get?” I challenge him.
“So, newbie. You want to test your luck out on me?” He rakes his gaze over my body.
“What are you betting?” I stand in front of him. Damn, up close, he is sexy.
He leans forward, his breath ghosting over my face, a mere inch away. A strong smell of cigarette smoke—stale and bitter—fills my nostrils from his clothes. It puts me off from wanting more with him, but I can still tease him.
“A kiss from you if I win?” He raises his eyebrow.
“And if I win?” I hold back a stupid grin because I really haven’t seen him play before, so I don’t know how good he is.
His nose is touching mine now, and his gaze is intense. My heart races in my chest.
“Then I will do what you want me to do.”
This time I do smile. “100 bucks and you have a deal.” I hold out my hand.
We shake on it and someone racks up the balls. I chalk the tip and watch Lachlan check the correct positioning of all the balls. When he seems happy, he holds out his hand.
“Ladies first.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear and lean down to break the balls. They crack and spread in different directions. When a stripe rolls to a pocket and drops in, I glance at Lachlan, who raises his eyebrows. The next two balls drop, and I hear a heavy sigh—a sound of obvious frustration—from him. I position myself for the next turn, and he approaches from behind.
His hand slides across my lower back. “Do you want to raise the bet? I win and you get to fuck me?”
I take the shot just as he says it and misjudge the angle and miss.
“Oh, so you like to play dirty, do you?” I eye him up.
He smirks. “Try me if you dare.”
Bastard gets two balls in, but when he goes for his third ball, I lean next to him, staring at him, and just as he is about to take the shot, I say. “How do you like your balls being played with? Licked or sucked?” The shot goes wide, and he misses completely.
“Fuck!” He yells. “It appears we have an audience now.” He whispers and grabs my hips, pinning me against the table. “How about when I win, I fuck you on the pool table in front of everyone?”
“I win, and I walk out of here and you don’t get a kiss or a fuck.” With my hand, I push him back, needing the space.
I wouldn’t fuck him anyway, even if things get heated between us. I don’t want to look like I am easy. The men in here disgust me. I’ve seen one girl go around three guys kissing them already.
He shakes his head. “Alright, you win and I get nothing and you get your 100 bucks.”
My confidence is back, and I proceed to sink the rest of the stripes into pockets, leaving me with just the black. I point my cue to the pocket I’m going to put the black in. When it rolls in, Lochlan throws his cue down on the table.
“Damn. Seems like I have some actual competition here now. Where did you say you came from?” He leans his ass against the table, crossing his arms. The muscles bulk up and he smirks. “You like what you see?” He pushes his hips off the table and moves towards me.
“Confident much?” I use my own assets against him and cross my arms, pushing my tits out. His eyes drop to them and then I hold out my hand. “Pay up buddy.”
“Best of three games?” he challenges me.
“I don’t want to embarrass you any further.” I wink and he sighs. He pulls out some cash from his pocket and hands me my winnings. I could see myself making some money off these guys here. “Thanks. Next time, I’ll bet you for more.”
“Next time? So, you are willing to play me for more?” He grabs my hips, and I’m sure he’s either aroused or trying to prove something.
I rest my hands on his chest and he seems to think it is an invitation for a kiss as he leans his lips almost on mine. I push him back.
“You lost, so no kisses.” I pat his cheek and walk away. My heart is racing and damn, I think I enjoy teasing him.
Fraya drags me back into her little group, and I chat with Clyde, her brother. They explain some things about the club and how things work. I turn my nose up at the girls who go around warming any guy’s bed just to become more. Apparently, all girls aspire to be someone’s old lady.
Lachlan is with a group of guys, and they are all laughing. His eyes flicker over to me, and in that moment, our gazes lock, and his lips twitch as he catches me staring. A tempest of fluttering butterflies explodes within my chest. He stirs something up inside of me, a chaotic storm of emotion.
The music kicks up a notch, and the bar becomes more lively. I check the time and I know I should leave soon. I head to the bathroom and quickly relieve myself and wash my hands. A couple of girls come in and I recognize them as the ones who have been going around the different guys all night.
They stand in the mirror and apply lip gloss. “Who are you bedding with tonight?” One of them says.
“Oh, I have dibs on Lachlan,” she says. “He is always good in bed.” She purrs. “I’m hoping one day he will make me his.”
My heart clenches at her words. It shouldn’t affect me, but it does. I’m not part of this world. I walk out of there, go straight up to Fraya and tell her that I’m leaving.
“Okay babe, I’ll see you back for training next week.” She gives me a hug.
“Yes, see you then.” I hugged her back.
As I head out, I turn to see the girl from the bathroom all over Lachlan. With a pause at the door, I give him a last glance. That is when his gaze catches mine. The girl in his arms pulls him down for a kiss, and I get my ass out of there.
I kick my bike into gear and tear off down the road home. All the way, I curse myself for thinking about him. Yes, he was sexy, and ticked all the boxes for what I like in a guy, but I was stupid to think I’d be anything apart from a fuck to him. Tears form in my eyes by the time I get home. I don’t care if dad is angry at me for being late back.
I storm into the house and find dad and mom up. Dad clenches his fist before holding out his arms. “Who do I have to bury?”
