Torch (Great Wolves MC) - Jayne Blue Page 0,1

ever dreamed.

All of this was more than I ever thought I’d have or deserve. Again, I tried to shut my mind off from the flames.

“Easy, Torch,” Joker said. “Don’t look so serious. Today’s a good day. You’re home.”

I tried to let that sink in. The beer helped. Mallory’s band started playing another set. I looked around the room.

These were good men. Even better women. Every damn day of the last six years, I’d done my best to earn my place here.

I let the party happen around me. Beer flowed. A few of the guys hopped on stage and sang along with Mallory. Others made a small mosh pit at the front of the stage. It was all in good fun.

I made my way to the back of the bar, down the hall to the game room. I found E.J. getting with one of the groupies we collected. Delia? Delilah? Nice girl. Big tits. Big heart. I had my own thing with her a few months before I got my patch. She wanted more from me. They all do. But I know none of them can handle what I really need. What keeps me up at night.

“Oh, hey,” I said, clearing my throat. “Sorry, man.”

E.J. gave me a sheepish grin. Delilah bit his ear and took him by the hand. She knew the way upstairs.

“Come on, sugar,” she said. “Let’s find somewhere more private.”

E.J. snaked his arm around her, and the two of them headed up the stairs where we kept a private room for parties plus a half dozen studio apartments for guys like me. I was one of the last guys who still lived here full time at the Den. I took the big room at the end of the hall.

I reached over and grabbed the eight-ball, spinning it across the green felt pool table. I was happy. We’d had our share of club drama over the last six years since Colt put me to work. Yet, something felt off for me tonight. As much as I wanted to celebrate my patch, I kind of wanted the noise to die down. I heard Delilah giggle above my head. E.J.’s heavy boots hit the floor.

Yeah. No peace and quiet here at the Den tonight. There was really only one way I’d get it. With only two beers in me, now was the time to make my move if I wanted to. I’d ride out past the docks, all along the river. The second I got the idea, my blood sang with anticipation. Yeah, that’s what I needed. My Harley under me and the road ahead of me.

I pushed the eight-ball across the table, sending it crashing into the corner pocket. If I hurried, I could slip out before anyone saw me.

Delilah squealed over my head and let out a soft sigh. My mind flashed to the last time I was with her. Darkness had almost swallowed me whole. More than she could handle. More than I could hold back. So I left her. Untouched. Bewildered. Would she tell E.J. about it? I headed for the hallway, taking long strides. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

The women’s room door opened, and I ran smack into a girl on her way out. She lost her balance. I shot out a quick hand and caught her just before she would have hit the floor.

“Ooof,” she said. A pair of bright-green eyes met mine. I took her in. The sight of her made me freeze as much as the fire did.

Fire. She wore her flame-red hair pulled back in a ponytail without a strand out of place. Sleek. Soft. Perfect.

The rest of her was perfect too. She looked like she’d popped right out of a magazine with expert makeup. Dark false eyelashes. Red lips without so much as a smudge.

I righted her, but my rough hands lingered on her arms for a moment.

God. She smelled good. Like honey and apricots. She didn’t seem to have a single pore on her skin.

Money.

I could smell that too. High heels with no scuffs or scrapes. Silk blouse. Tight skirt.

“You lost?” I heard myself say. She had to be. She didn’t have a Lincolnshire vibe at all. Had she taken a wrong turn from Park Avenue?

“I’m ... I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m here for work.”

I felt my brow go up. She was a pro? If so, she needed to do better market research. This chick was nothing like the type anyone here would usually go for.

“Oh