Throttle Me (Men of Inked) (Volume 1) Page 2

  “Ready, babe?” he motioned toward the door.

  I wanted to scream no, but I didn’t have a choice. I could never walk into this sort of place on my own.

  “Yeah, ready as I’ll ever be.” I started walking toward the door and felt a hand on my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I looked at his fingers wrapped around my arm and turned toward him. “What are you doing?”

  “You can’t just walk into a place like this. You’re an outsider. They’ll eat you alive in there. I don’t want anyone giving you shit. We have to make them believe you’re with me so they leave you the fuck alone. Unless you want the attention?” he asked with a crooked eyebrow.

  “I don’t.” I didn’t mind the idea of making everyone in the bar think we’re together. City was hot and seemed like a nice guy; he did stop to help me when he could’ve driven right by me.

  “Just stay by my side and follow my lead. I know these people and I don’t want them sniffing around you. They look for easy prey,” he said, giving me a smile that made my body tingle and my sex convulse.

  “Okay, I’ll stick to you like glue and follow your lead.” Jesus, I sounded like a dork. I’ve always been a bookworm. I was national honor society member, and when all my friends were partying, I stayed in my dorm to study.

  City nestled me against his side, tucking me between his body and arm. I moved with him, trying to keep up with his fluid movements, but my legs were so short I felt like I almost had to jog to keep time with him. He opened the door and I was immediately hit with a smoky smell, loud twangy music, and a dozen set of eyes looking directly at us.

  Randomly people yelled out “City” throughout the bar, giving me a clue that he was a regular. I felt like I entered a seedy version of Cheers and City was Norm, only sexy and muscular. He leaned down placing his mouth next to my ear I felt his hot breath before I could hear his words.

  “Stick close and show no fear,” he whispered, causing goose bumps to break out across my skin. “Let’s say hello then we’ll call a tow for you.”

  City looked big enough to handle any man in this place, but I didn’t want to take that chance. I concentrated on breathing, keeping my chin up, and watching where I walked. The floor was filled with peanut shells and dust and it made the walk in the stilettos even more treacherous than normal. I could barely walk when I bought them, but they looked too sexy to pass up.

  We walked to a table filled with men all wearing their leather vests covered in patches. They were unshaven, as dangerously sexy as City with mischievous smiles on their faces. “Who’s this lovely lady, City?” one man asked. His eyes raked up my body, stopping at my breasts before he looked at my face.

  “This is Sunshine. Don’t even fucking think about it, Tank, she’s with me,” City said with a smile on his face as he pulled me closer.

  Sunshine? I never told him my name and he never asked. I didn’t like the way Tank looked at me. Thank God he wasn’t the one driving by while I was stranded. He looked at me like I was a piece of meat; a meal for his enjoyment.

  Tank put his hands up in surrender. “Dude, I’d never. Chill the fuck out. I’m just enjoying the view,” he said, his eyes moving from City to me, and not being coy about his visual molestation.

  City squeezed my waist, “Sunshine, this is Tank, the asshole,” he said pointing to each of the men. “This is Hog, Frisco, Sam, and Bear.” He pointed at each of the men as he rattled off the silly nicknames.

  The nicknames didn’t seem to fit any of the men except Bear. His arms were hairy and he was big, huge in fact with dark hair and a fuzzy face. He looked huggable and kind with soft hazel eyes.

  “Hi,” I said, looking at each of them quickly, but I didn’t try to memorize their names.

  “I didn’t know you were bringing a woman tonight, City,” Bear said.

  “Wilder shit has happened, Bear,” he said pulling me closer, leaving no space between us.

  “She doesn’t look like your usual taste, my friend.” Bear smirked. “I don’t mean that shitty, girl, I just mean you’re one fine piece of ass and too good for that low life motherfucker. You should be sitting on my lap.” He patted his leg and I wanted to find an exit. I looked down and studied my clothes. I didn’t wear the trashy clothes some of the women in here wore, but I looked classy, sexy even, and not a hint of nerd to be found.

  City moved toward Bear and my heart sank as he began to speak. “Show some respect, you asshole. That’s not how you talk to a lady.” City stood inches from Bear’s face. “Apologize to the lady. Now.” City towered over him as Bear stayed rooted in his chair.

  Bear looked at me and I could see him swallow hard before he spoke. “I’m sorry, Sunshine. I was just kidding around. I really am an asshole, forgive me please.”

  “No harm done, Bear,” I said with a fake smile, hoping to calm the situation.

  “We’re going to sit at the bar.” City looked at Bear, not moving his eyes.

  “Come on dude, sit with us. Don’t mind Bear. He’s a total dick. Make his ass go sit at the bar,” Sam begged.

  “Sunshine and I want to be alone. I’ll catch you guys another night,” City said, pressing his hand against my back, guiding me away from the table and the large bar area.

  “I’m sorry. They can be childish dicks. Bear doesn’t have a filter,” he said as he pulled out a chair for me. City had manners. Not many of the men I dated did something as simple as pull out a chair for a lady – it was a lost art. “He’s a good guy, but sometimes his mouth runs and he doesn’t think before he speaks.”

  “It’s okay, really… it is. Thanks for sticking up for me,” I said to him as I sat down, pulling my stool closer to the bar top. “Why did you call me Sunshine?”

  “Well, I don’t know your name and you remind me of sunshine – your hair is golden and your smile glows. Just sounded right. I had to come up with something on the fly,” he said. “I hope you didn’t mind.” He shrugged and grabbed the menu laying nearby.

  “I didn’t mind, but my name is Suzy.”

  “What would you like, Suzy?”

  I wanted to say ‘you’ because somehow this man made me lose my grip on reality. “Virgin daiquiri, please.”

  “Virgin? Really?” His brows shot up and corner of his mouth twitched.

  “I already had a drink tonight. I just want something sweet, no liquor.”

  “Do you want something to eat?” he asked. “You a vegetarian too?” he laughed.

  “Shut up.” I smacked him on the arm. “I’m good. I just want to call a tow truck.”

  “Gotcha.” He pulled out his phone and placed it on the bar. “Hey darlin’, can you put in an order for a cheeseburger, a beer, and a virgin daiquiri?” he asked the bartender.

  “Sure thing, handsome,” she said, walking away, slowly swaying her hips to grab attention. I turned to City to see if he was watching her, but he was staring at me instead and my mouth felt dry and scratchy.

  “You want to call Triple A or someone else?” he asked without taking his eyes off me. They were an amazing shade of blue and I couldn’t look away. I’d always loved my blue eyes, but his were almost turquoise. I felt like he was staring through me, into me, seeing everything I hid under the surface. I wanted him, but I didn’t want to admit my attraction. I couldn’t admit it.

  “Triple A is good,” I said reaching for my purse to find my membership card. I fumbled with my wallet, finding the card behind everything else inside. I could feel his eyes on me, he studied me and it made me nervous. What was he thinking? I dialed the number as I swiveled away from him needing to avert his stare.

  “Hello, Triple A, how can I help you?” I could barely hear the tiny female voice above the loud classic rock the pulsed throughout the smoky bar. City chatted with the bartender as I tried to drown them out and give my location and details about my car. They wouldn’t be able to make it out to my car until morning. Fuck. I thanked her for helping me before hitting the end button.

  “What’d they s
ay?” City asked with a sincere look as the bartender sashayed away from us.

  “They won’t make it out here until morning because they’re busy and we’re in the middle of nowhere. I’m to leave it unlocked so they can get in and put it in neutral or something. I don’t know how it works. I’ve never had my car towed before.” Now what the hell was I going to do? I was stranded at The Neon Cowboy with Mr. Sexalicious and my dirty thoughts.

  “I’ll bring you back to your car when I’m done eating. I guess you’ll need a lift home too?” he asked, sipping his drink as he eyed me.

  I smiled at him, though I hated the thought of him going out of his way and I wasn’t that comfortable with a stranger knowing where I lived, I couldn’t say no. “I’d appreciate it, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all, Suzy. I can’t just leave you here and walk out the door. I got ya, babe.” He turned his stool toward me and leaned into my space. “Where do you want me to take you after we leave? Home?” He quirked an eyebrow, waiting for my response and held me in place with his hard stare.

  Home? Whose home was he referring to? City looked to be the type that had different women falling out of his bed every morning… or maybe he kicked them out before he fell asleep. His fingers brushed against the top of my hand and my internal dialogue evaporated.

  “Where. Do. You. Live?” The laughter he tried to hide behind his hand made it clear that I sat there longer in thought than I had realized.

  I cleared my throat. “I need to unlock my car then I need a lift home. I live about fifteen minutes north. Is that okay? I mean, I don’t want to—” He put his finger over my lips and stopped me mid-sentence.

  “Doesn’t matter, I’ll take you anywhere,” he said with a sly grin that made my pulse race and my body heat. He licked his lips and I stared like an idiot. My sex convulsed at the thought of his lips on my skin. What the fuck was wrong with me? Every movement he made and word he spoke turned sexual, as if permeating my brain. I needed to get laid; this man was not hitting on me, was he?

  “You want some? I can’t eat it all,” he said as the plate was placed in front of him.

  I shook my head and picked up my drink trying to cool my body off from the internal fire caused by City. The cool, sweet strawberry slush danced across my tongue and slid down my throat.

  I swirled the red straw in my mouth, trying to occupy my mind. His arms flexed as he lifted the burger to his mouth, forearms covered with tattoos. The left arm had various designs woven together— a koi fish, a tiger, and a couple other nature themed pieces that seemed to move across his skin and his right arm had a city skyline. I wanted to touch his arms and run my fingers across his ink. He looked big everywhere and my gaze drifted down his body and lingered at his crotch. I wondered if his motorcycle and tattoos made up for short-coming elsewhere, but I couldn’t believe a man like him was tiny. There’s no way in hell he has a party…

  “Pickle?” I blinked and moved my eyes away from his crotch to his eyes. Pickle? He held it and motioned for me to take it.

  “No. Thanks, though. You eat it,” I said feeling like he was reading my mind. God, I hope he didn’t see me staring at his crotch. I sucked down the rest of my drink, wishing now that it did have alcohol in it. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so embarrassed. “I noticed your tattoos. What’s the one on your right arm?”

  “That’s the Chicago Skyline,” he said, as he took another bite.

  “You from there?”

  “Born and bred, baby.” He grunted and continued to chew. I couldn’t take my eyes off his mouth. Watching him eat was erotic to me, his lips moved as he chewed and sucked each finger in his mouth to clean off the juices that flowed from the sandwich. Damn. It had been too long since I had sex – when eating becomes sexual. Houston, we have a problem.

  Ray of Sunshine

  I could’ve easily started her car, but I didn’t want to. Her beauty caught my eye and I wanted to know more about her. Shit, I wanted to fuck her. I couldn’t just drive away and leave her out there to fend for herself. I’m a dick usually, but I couldn’t just leave her there.

  She looked helpless as I almost drove by her. When the lights of my bike shone on her, dirty thoughts flooded my mind. She had on ‘fuck me’ heels with a short as hell skirt and a lacy white tank top that instantly made my dick hard. Her hair fell across the top of her breasts and sparkled in the light. It was gold and I wanted to pull it while my cock was buried deep inside of her.

  I pretended to come to her rescue and try to help, but I wanted to keep her as long as I could. I’d have one of the guys at the bar tow her car back to her place.

  I could see fear in her eyes when we walked in tonight. They were large like saucers, her mouth hung open and she looked around the room like she’d never been in a bar before. The guys here could be assholes, especially when a beautiful woman enters the room. Bear was always a total prick, but he did have a point. I wanted to fuck her and I wanted it dirty.

  “How about I buy you a real drink? Just one. You aren’t driving tonight, so what’s the harm?”

  I watched as she chewed her lip. “I guess you’re right. My week’s been crappy. I could use something… stronger,” she said, blowing out a puff of air causing her hair to move.

  “Well, let’s change that. Bad date?” I asked. I looked at her shoes before moving up her entire body before I stopped at her face. “How can I make it better?”

  Her lips parted and her chest heaved as she sucked air in quickly. “It’s not so bad anymore. Tonight started out great, I went out with a girl friend of mine, but it’s just my friggin’ car that put the icing on the cake.”

  Friggin’? Do grown women really use that word?

  “I’m sure the car is no big deal,” I said as I motioned for the bartender. “Know what you want?”

  “Martini. A sweet one, please.” She polished off her virgin daiquiri. She didn’t swear and barely drank liquor; she wasn’t like most girls I knew – even her clothes weren’t as sexy as I’d expect for a girl her age.

  “What can I get you, honey?” Sandy asked.

  “Sunshine here will take a sweet martini, Sandy. Anything you can make flavored preferably.” I looked over at Suzy. “Right?” I asked.

  “Yes, thank you.” She looked out of place in a bar like this, but I wanted her at my side. She appeared to be a good girl with a clean mouth, but I could tell her mind was littered with filthy thoughts. She looked at me, no stared at me, watching every movement and studying my entire body. She wanted me as much as I wanted her, even though she didn’t want to admit it or couldn’t. “You come here a lot, huh? Everyone seems to know you.”

  “The guys and I hang out here a couple nights a week after work and it’s close to my house. It’s just a place I like to come to relax and unwind a bit after a long day.”

  She licked her lips and I swear to fuckin’ Christ my cock twitched. I adjusted myself trying to stop a full on hard on from catching her eye. I watched her legs as she shifted in her seat, rubbing them together before crossing them. I had her and I knew it, but the trick was to not scare her off.

  “What do you do, City?” She glanced at her hands trying not to look at me.

  “I’m an artist. You?” I left it at that – sounded classier than ‘I’m a tattoo artist.’ I was an artist at heart, but my canvas was human skin.

  “Teacher. What kind of artist?”

  She didn’t look like any schoolteacher I’d ever had. I wouldn’t have been able to pay attention in class with her walking around in heels and stretching to write on the chalkboard. “Tattoo,” I said as I pointed at the artwork on my arm. “ You have any?”

  “Tattoos?” she asked as her eyebrows rose and her eyes grew wide.

  “Yeah, by the look on your face I’d say the answer is ‘no.’”

  “Oh no,” she laughed. “Needles scare the heck out of me.” Grabbing her drink she gulped down half the martini without even blinking.

  “Do you swear?” I a
sked as she set the glass back on the bar.

  “What?” She gaped at me.

  “Do you swear? Simple question. You’ve said ‘heck’ and ‘friggin’’ so far, but nothing dirty.”

  “Oh, um, yeah, I swear.” Her cheeks turned pink and a small smile spread across her face. “I’m just used to watching my words with the kids around all day.”

  “Prove it,” I said, staring in her sapphire eyes.

  “What? Why?”

  “Cause I need to know if it’s in you. Are you all good girl? Or is there something more underneath dying to come out?” I hid the smile and laughter that was so close to breaking free from my lips. The pink of her cheeks spread across her face. I know I embarrassed her, but fuck, I needed to know if I stood a chance.

  “Yes, I swear. What do you think I am? I’m not a child, City.” She glared at me as she raised the drink to her lips and wrapped them around the rim. Fuck. I wanted those lips wrapped around my dick, taking me deep and sucking me off.

  “Never said you were, babe. Do you drink besides tonight?” I asked, now smiling because I knew she was upset. I liked the fire I saw in her eyes when I pointed out her good girl qualities – she obviously didn’t like being labeled.

  “Sometimes. I’m just responsible. I don’t drink and drive. My dad used to be a cop and it was drilled into my head at an early age.” The words she spoke hit me like a ton of bricks. Drunk driving was the one thing in the world that caused my blood to boil.

  Good girl teacher with a cop father? Just my luck. “Nothin’ wrong with that. Virgin daiquiris aren’t always your thing, then?”

  “Why? Do I have to be a drinker? I mean does it make me less of an adult?”

  “No, Suzy. Just trying to get a feel for who you are – what you are.” Her shoulders slumped and she seemed to relax a bit with my words. “Want another drink? You downed that one quick.” She surprised me with how fast she polished it off, my question about her drinking had been answered, but I wanted to watch her get a little pissed.