"I'm an adult," she spat.
"Then act like one." Kodiak gritted his teeth, stepping even closer. "Stop swinging your ass around as if you're ready to spread your legs. It's not a game, Roma. You can't flirt your way out of trouble. The men won't stop when you decide you're in over your head. You're going to end up getting hurt."
Her lips parted in shock, then twisted in anger. "Who says I'm playing games?"
And then, before he could respond, she inched forward, standing so close to him now that he could feel the heat radiating off her body.
For a split second, the world seemed to stop. All Kodiak could hear was the rapid beating of his own heart. Her perfume, a mix of something sweet and dangerous, filled his senses, clouding his thoughts.
She was too damn close. Too damn tempting.
He opened his mouth to say something—anything—but her gaze stopped him. She wasn't scared of him. Any other woman in the place, hell, even the men, wouldn't dare argue with him. But Roma was different.
"I wouldn't open my legs for just anyone," she said softly. "But I would for you."
Kodiak's mind screamed at him to back off, to keep his distance. But his body betrayed him. He wanted to pull her closer, to bury himself in her and show her how dangerous it was for them.
"You don't know what you're saying." His throat burned from the raw pain coming off him.
"You're wrong." She rubbed her lips together. "I've been telling you how I feel. You refuse to listen to me. If you'd touch me, maybe you'll—"
"Stop." Kodiak stiffened. "Don't test me."
But Roma wasn't listening. She was already stepping back, giving him a look that was both defiant and questioning. It was a challenge he couldn't ignore.
"I'll do what I want, Kodiak," she said, her voice steady. "Whether you like it or not. With whoever I want. And when that happens, you'll have to admit that you had the option to have me first and you wouldn't do anything about it."
Her words stung like a slap.
In the end, he was afraid she might be right. He'd promised Chopper that he would protect his daughter. But deep down, he realized he'd unconsciously crossed the line with her. She moved around as if she could see inside his mind. All her teasing only made him think about her more.
Thoughts he shouldn't be thinking about.
She turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.
He inhaled deeply and went in search of a bottle of whiskey. It was going to be a long fucking night.
Chapter 4
Shifting the two bags of groceries to her left arm, Roma opened the door to the clubhouse. The quietness surprised her. Usually, the only time it got that quiet was when the parties ended, the music stopped, and the bikers crashed somewhere inside the clubhouse or went home.
Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, she saw Baker walking from the kitchen toward the bar. She approached him.
Baker lifted his chin at the sight of her and proceeded to wipe down the surface with a wet rag. "What's up?"
"That's what I was wondering. Where is everyone?" she asked.
When she left the clubhouse to go shopping earlier, Kodiak was nowhere to be found. She caught a ride with Nina, Ring's old lady, and when she was finished, she got an Uber to drop her off outside the gate.
"Meeting." Baker whipped the dishtowel over his shoulder.
She lifted the bags to put on the counter, and Baker snapped her arm with the towel, stopping her.
"It's clean. I'll take them." Baker walked around the fixture and took the bags from her hands. "Where are you going?"
"My room." She walked beside him. "But, I can carry—"
"No trouble." He waited until she opened the door and handed her the bags.
