Page 13 of Bones
Ugly ass jealousy rears up inside of me when Sloan smiles at the broad chested bear shifter, Sampson. My teeth ache, my jaw is so tense.
“I get the feeling that woman can destroy you in ways Tol’vazir never could and he got damn close. That’s why you need to stay the fuck away from her.”
Bitterness tamps down the irritation at seeing Sampson flirt with Sloan as I process my president’s words. I snap my hand out, stealing the bottle of beer out of a man’s hand as he walked through the door. He started to argue but shut his mouth realfucking fast at my look. I down half of the warm beer before wiping the back of my hand across my mouth.
“Message heard loud and clear, boss,” I bite out.
I can’t fucking stay here and watch Sloan smile and laugh at whatever Sampson is saying. Can’t just stand here as he gets closer to her, going as far as touching her arm like he’s got any right to her.
Except when he tries to wrap a beefy arm around her waist and tug her to the dance floor, I swear her face goes pale as she tries to step back. Even Sydney is trying to get between them when Sampson doesn’t let Sloan go right away. Jon’s trying to play peace keeper but Sydney doesn’t give a fuck about him.
“Here we go,” Reaper mutters under his breath but I’m already storming out of the door.
8
SLOAN
Ihave no idea what I was thinking, agreeing to come to this party. I clutch the red plastic cup that has very non-alcoholic ice tea in front of me, though the ice melted a long time ago. Each time I shift, the soft lace of the dress tickles my thighs. I steal a look down my chest to make sure my girls are still in place and haven’t popped out. Kennedy and Sydney showed up at Lacy’s, where she and I were getting ready. Kennedy, gorgeous and slender, hadn’t known if I’d have anything to wear so she brought over a few things.
I’d planned on the new jeans I bought when Bones took me shopping, along with a new baby blue shirt with a sweetheart neckline. But the girls convinced me to wear this dress and had built up my confidence when I put it on. I felt sexy and powerful and a secret part of me wanted to see Bones’ reaction to me in something so . . . scandalous.
He’s been distant since my meeting with Dr. Grayback. I can’t say I don’t understand. I’m a hot mess right now, as Lacy says. Besides, I just got my life back and the only thing I’ve been able to decide that I really, truly want is to help the Knights againstthe Justicars. My mom used to say that revenge isn’t healthy or worth it, but I don’t think I can really start to move on until I feel like I’ve done more than just escape.
I know I’m attracted to Bones. Really, really attracted. I just don’t know if it’s because he’s the one who saved me from Father Xavius, some sort of stockholm syndrome since he’s the only one I’ve been around consistently, or if I’m simply attracted to him as a person---demon, whatever.
I’m not a virgin; though it’s been a long time and my experiences with Paul weren’t that great. It’s not like I don’t know what attraction and sexual desire feels like.
I just have never experienced this strong of desire before. Even at the height of my love of Paul, I never wanted him as much as I want Bones.
“What’s your favorite thing around here, since Reaper’s slipped off the cuffs?” Jon asks me. He and his friend, Sampson, came up to Sydney and me when she was getting another beer from a cooler. She made the introductions, and since she didn’t tell them to get lost like she had with Chainz, I figure they can’t be too bad. They both are wearing leather vests like Bones, but they have a patch that says Probie on the front. Sampson explained it meant they were still being evaluated by the club before becoming full members.
“Hey, don’t be an asshole,” Sampson chastises his friend before shooting me an apologetic smile. I can admit that Sampson is attractive. He’s got what my old YA books would call a mountain man, rugged look with his barrel chest, tree trunk thighs, and shaggy hair with a matching beard. He reaches out and brushes his fingertips against my shoulder and I force myself to notreact, keeping my brittle smile directed at him. “Not all of us are as unmannered as Jon here.”
“Are you sure about that?” Sydney quips, raising a brow at the man. She gives me a swift glance and I widen my smile at her, letting her know I’m okay... for now. “I’m pretty sure it’s a club requirement to be dicks.”
Sampson laughs along with Jon. Then he grabs his crotch, “No, it’s a requirement tohavea big dick.” He shoots me a wink after.
My heart picks up, sweat tickling the back of my neck. I take a drink of my tea, hoping to settle my nerves. Sampson’s making his interest all too clear. In fact, it’s pretty obvious most of the motorcycle club members are out to hook up with someone at the party. I’m not sure why Sampson’s so focused on me, not when there are at least a dozen other more attractive and actually available women doing anything they can to get a biker’s attention.
I haven’t let myself look for Bones since the first time I saw him when we arrived. I don’t know if I could handle watching him flirt and dance with a woman. Thankfully, Sydney has no intentions of hooking up with anyone and told me to stick by her side. Apparently, she did the same thing for Kennedy’s first club party.
A large hand sliding around my waist makes me jump and almost spill my drink down my front. I stare at Sampson, wide eyed as he closes the distance between us, his other hand pulling my drink from my hand and passing it to Jon.
“Come dance with me, baby,” Sampson says with a smirk. “I can show you some of my moves.”
“Uhh--“ my throat squeezes tight. “That’s okay--“
With a yank, he pulls me closer until our legs are touching and his hot breath, which smells rancid, hits my face when he tries to convince me again. “You’ve been stuck with Bones this whole time, who’d rather hang out taking photos of the sky. You know you want me to show you what it’s like being with a real Knight.”
“Hey asshole, she doesn’t want to,” Sydney snaps, shoving Sampson’s far shoulder. God, I love her so much for trying to get between us because I can’t fucking move. I’m frozen and as Sampson’s grip tightens on my waist, my mind just goes . . . blank. I shut down, scurrying to the place inside me that kept me safe so many times. I focus on my breathing, telling myself it’s just a dance, that it could be so much worse.
I’m about to tell Sydney it’s okay, that I’ll dance with Sampson if that’s what he wants when Sampson’s ripped back away from me. I stumble, Sydney catching me where I almost fall. I cling to her, my eyes wide at the sight in front of me.
“Keep your fucking paws off her, probie.” Bones is practically spitting in Sampson’s face. When Sampson rolls his eyes, Bones shoves him in the chest with both hands, sending the man staggering backwards into the dance crowd. Women shriek and scatter and Sampson lets out a laugh.
“Oh, shit,” Sydney says, and I look at her stunned before looking back at the two men.
“We were just having a good time, Bones,” Sampson says, raising his hands up as if to show he’s not a threat. “Figured Sloan might want to look at a prettier face since she’s been stuck with yours for so long.”
