His head is slightly tilted forward, allowing a strand of his blonde hair to fall into his eyes as they slowly roam up my body, stopping on my face. He doesn’t say a word. He just looks up into my eyes, making my blood run cold. He looks deadly; like a fucking lethal machine ready to strike. His arms are flexed by his sides with his hands clenched into fists. He’s at least six-foot-one.

I don’t know whether I want to run away or into his bed, wherever that may be. His eyes are so powerful and demanding that I can’t even talk. It’s like he has some kind of power over me. I just stare back like a fool and hope that I won’t fall to my knees.

That is until I feel a hand on my shoulder, shaking me out of my revelry. I jump and a small scream escapes my throat as I turn around to see Jax. He looks pissed and I know that I’m in trouble.

“What are you doing down here, Avalon? Didn’t Madison tell you to stay the fuck upstairs? Fucking shit.” He looks past me at his friend that is still looking at me; his eyes cold, dark, and demanding. “Sorry, Royal. It won’t happen again. I told everyone to fucking stay upstairs.”

I see Royal swallow before he pulls his eyes away from me and sets them on Jax. He doesn’t speak though. He just nods his head as Jax pushes me out of the room and into the hall. “Shit, Avalon. What the fuck are you doing down here? Now is not the time to fuck with him.”

I swallow hard and look back and forth between him and the door, just wanting to get one more glimpse at Royal. “I had to use the bathroom and all the ones upstairs were full. I didn’t mean to disturb him. I’m sorry.”

He pushes me down the hall a couple doors down and points. “That’s the bathroom. Go quickly and I’ll stay here. I think it’s best that Madison takes you home for the night. I’m sorry, but this shit is not cool.”

I apologize to him one more time before disappearing into the bathroom and finally catching my breath. When I do, all I smell is man; pure, sexy, masculine man, and my heart goes crazy all over again. What the fuck was that and what the hell did I get myself into?

Madison is going to kill me . . .

I COULDN’T TURN MY EYES away. I wanted her, needed her . . . and desired her. One glimpse into her big, curious eyes and my cock twitched, wanting a fucking taste.

When I saw her watching me, I wanted to rip that tight little skirt off of her and tie her to the wall as I bury myself deep between those trembling thighs. I want her to feel me; every fucking inch of me.

Feeling the madness build up inside of me, I walk back over to the bar, grab it, and do pull ups until my arms are shaking so hard that I can no longer hold on.

The music has since faded out upstairs, letting me know that it’s well into the night now. This is when I know it’s okay to come out of this cage I’ve put myself in. Avoiding people at all costs was my damn plan tonight, but someone decided to fuck that up, and now I need some fresh air to breathe.

Reaching for my leather jacket, I throw it on and pull out a cigarette, before shoving the rest of the pack into my pocket.

I light the cigarette, taking a long drag as I make my way through the dark house and outside to where my Harley is parked out back.

Letting the smoke fill my lungs for the first time in twelve hours, I walk around my bike and inspect it for damage. I have zero trust for the assholes that come into my home, but I allow it for Jax.

He can be reckless sometimes, but he’s done a pretty decent job with keeping my shit together, both here and at the bar. I have to be thankful for that shit.

Seeing that there’s no damage, I toss my cigarette aside and straddle my bike, speeding off into the dark night. Feeling the wind on my face is one of the only two good feelings that I have left. The other one is fucking, and even that I don’t enjoy sometimes. I do it as a quick escape from my fucked up head.

Pulling up at my bar, Savage & Ink, I park my bike and pull out my key, letting myself in through the back door.

The place smells of old cigarette smoke and a freshly smoked blunt. I can hear Blaine, along with at least four other voices as I make my way past the tattoo parlor and into the bar.

Blaine nods his head in my direction when he notices that I’ve now joined them. “Hey, Royal. What’s good, motherfucker?”

I nod my head in greeting and take a seat on one of the old, leather stools. I empty out my jacket pocket onto the stool next to me and get comfortable. “Whiskey. A whole fucking bottle.”

The bar closed about forty minutes ago, yet three guys and some blonde female in a small, skin tight dress are occupying one of the tables, looking baked out of their damn minds. I was expecting the place to be empty. I can’t deal with people today. All I wanted was one fucking night to grieve for Riley and I can’t even get that shit; not in my own home or my own damn bar.

“Who the fuck are they?” I question Blaine when he returns with a bottle of whiskey and an empty glass.

He walks around the bar and answers me as I pour myself a much-needed glass. “My guy Jake and a few of his friends. I told them it was cool to hang out as long as they were paying for shit and not messing anything up. They’re good business, man. I didn’t think you’d be coming in tonight. Sorry.”

I raise a brow and throw back my glass of whiskey, almost emptying it completely. “I want them out by the time I leave tonight. No more of the shit like last time.”

“I know, man. They’re cool. I promise. Just enjoy that fucking whiskey and chill.”

I lean back in my stool and watch them, not trusting them for shit. I’ve never seen them in my life. That makes it pretty obvious that they have no fucking clue who I am, and I don’t like that one bit; not when in my place of business so late at night.

The blonde female looks my way and bites her bottom lip, as if just noticing me. Her legs slightly part and she sits up straight, as if trying to push her tits out.

“Damn,” Blaine hisses. “Looks like Kellie has you in her sights now. That bitch can give a mean blowjob and she’s picky as fuck about who she gives them to.” He pushes my arm and adjusts his dick, while watching her lick her lips. “I blew my shit within three minutes the other night. That’s unheard of for me.”

I don’t say anything. I just watch her, watching me as if she wants to eat me for a fucking midnight snack.

Getting bored with her, I turn around in my stool and pour myself another glass. Just as I pick up the glass and bring it to my lips, I feel a hand touch my arm and gently caress it.

Fuck . . .

I keep my head straight, but turn my eyes to my left, looking her up and down. She may not be as hot as the beautiful brunette that barged her way into my room tonight, but she’s definitely doable, and I need all the stress relief I can get right now.

Cutting straight past the bullshit, I stand, look her in the eyes, and then start walking while tilting back my drink to get to the right amount of numbness that I need.

Cracking my neck, I set my empty glass down on the nearest table and disappear into the office, knowing that she’ll fucking follow. They always do.

When I turn around, Kellie, as Blaine called her, is walking through the door with a seductive ass look in her eyes.

“Close it,” I demand. “But don’t fucking lock it.” I hate locked doors. I like to have easy access in case there’s ever a problem I need to deal with.

She does as told and walks over to stand in front of me as I lean against my desk and light a cigarette.