Stryker

4 - Petulant men

Coral

Even though Shepard said it would be okay to bring Denise here tonight, I wish I hadn’t brought her here now. Denise has done nothing but drool over Stryker from the moment we arrived. It’s not like I have a claim over him; the man hasn’t said more than a few words to me since we met last week, but the fact is, I like him. I like him a lot, and I don’t want my friend coming on to him.

Why?

In case he likes her too and she’s the one who ends up in his bed.

It’s not that I’m a jealous person per se; it’s that I’ve never had this kind of attraction to any other man before. Even though he ignores me and pays me no attention whatsoever, I feel like we could have something special.

Is that naïve of me?

What the hell would I have to offer him, anyway?

Yeah, I’m pretty – I’m not conceited, it’s just the truth – I’m physically fit and have all the attributes men look for in a woman.

So why doesn’t he look twice at me?

He’s certainly looking at Denise.

Who wouldn't when she looks the way she does in that skin-tight dress, with her long dark hair hanging down her back?

I don’t think she realizes that she looks like a club whor.e. All the men are looking at her, sizing her up, wondering which one will bed her first.

I’m not trying to sound mean about my friend, but I warned her what these men were like and what would happen if she dressed this way. She wasn’t bothered in the slightest. It’s a game for Denise. She likes that men want her and doesn’t even care what man it is. I don’t care who she sleeps with; I just don’t want it to be Stryker.

Denise isn’t to know that I like him, I haven’t told her any such thing. So, in truth, she isn’t stepping on my toes here; she’s going for what she wants. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to tell her that I want him for myself, but I kept my mouth shut, so I have no right to complain.

“He’s so hot. God, he’s looking at me!” She turns to me, adjusting her skirt. “Do I look okay?”

“You look fine,” I tell her before sipping my vodka.

How do I tell her that I don’t want her chasing him?

I don’t want her to sleep with him?

I can’t. It's not my place. He’s not mine, and Stryker can sleep with Denise if he wants to. However, the thought of her touching him makes me feel sick. Literally.

“My heart is beating so fast my legs are shaking. I don’t think I’ll be home tonight, so don’t wait up!”

And... she’s gone, following Stryker to the other side of the room. I need to get out of here. I could grab one of the other guys and sleep with them if I was that kind of girl. I’m not, so I won’t.

I’m done here for tonight. I should never have come. I should have told Jett I couldn’t make it, but I thought catching up with everyone properly might be fun. I brought Denise because she begged me. She’s always wanted to see inside the Snakes Henchmen clubhouse. Not many people from the outside get to do so.

He wasn’t too keen when I asked Jett if I could bring her. Not to sound mean, but he’s never really liked her much. Jett told me to ask Shepard, so that’s what I did. Then Jett told me she could come as long as she behaved herself, and I can’t say Denise hasn’t; she’s been on her best behavior all evening. Now she’s off with the man I can’t stop thinking about, and I feel sick.

I’m pathetic longing for a man who doesn’t even know I exist. So, I’m going to go back to Denise’s, take a long hot bath, and then crawl into bed and sleep.

“Leaving so soon?” I nod. “Stay and party with me.”

I know what he means by that. He’s got no chance. Ice is not my type. Sure, he’s tall and handsome in an I’ve been slashed and shot one too many times kind of way, but he doesn’t do it for me. Not at all.

“No, thank you.”

He shouts something after me as I walk away, but I don’t answer him, I have nothing to say.

“Hey, baby girl,” I turn and smile at CueBall as he takes my arm gently.

CueBall was once a massive man with an even bigger fist. He’s not the best-looking man in the world, and he has plenty of scars to prove how many battles he’s been in during his time with the Snakes. He shoots first, then asks questions. That’s what people used to say about him. However, he’s such a kind man when it comes to the women of this club. I’m not a claimed woman, but Shepard has made it clear I always have and will always be one of them.

“You okay? Did someone upset you? You tell me, and I’ll kick the shi.t out of ‘em.”

I smile at him.

I’m not sure of CueBall’s actual age, but he has to be in his sixties, and he’s still as strong as an Ox. He’s taken good care of himself over the years, and it shows even now. When he says he’ll kick the shi.t out of someone, he means it.

“No.” I smile again and lay my hand over his. “No one upset me. I’m just not feeling it tonight. I have a bit of a headache.”

“Want me to give you a ride home, sweet girl?”

All of these huge, dangerous men and they treat me as someone important to them. Shepard, BlackJack, CueBall they treat me like a daughter. Roman, Red, Gunner, Doc, and some of the others treat me like a niece. Jett, Tank, Hammer, Badger, Cyro, and all the others under the age of thirty treat me like a sister. I never had a brother, not one that shared the same blood, but I have many here, and I love them all. Even the ones I only met this week. So many new faces. There are so many names for me to get used to.

I wrap my arms around CueBall’s back, shocking him for a second before he hugs me tightly. “Thank you, Uncle Martin,” I feel him chuckle through his chest. Only I would cheekily call him by his given name. “I can make my own way home. I love you.”

“Sweet angel,” He hugs me tighter. “I love you, too.” He kisses my head, and I smile. This man did a lot for my family when I was a little girl. More than most would have.

My father lost his accounting job and was worried about how he’d be able to provide for his family, as all men do. My parents had savings, of course, but with two little girls to take care of and my mother out of work, my father knew those savings wouldn’t last long because the bakery she worked at had closed down weeks previous.

A long story short, along came CueBall with an offer my father didn't refuse. CueBall asked my dad if he could look over the club’s books to ensure everything was as it should be. CueBall was impressed with what my dad had done, as was Apollo. CueBall then found my dad a position with an accounting firm in Moxton. This man saved my father’s sanity and allowed him to keep his pride. I’ve never forgotten what he did for us.

I kiss CueBall’s cheek and leave. The idea of my friend and the man I desperately want to get to know keeps rolling around in my mind. I hate feeling like this over a man.

I roll my eyes at myself as I step outside the clubhouse. I don’t recall seeing them leave the building, so they must have left through the other door. Denise is standing with Stryker next to his motorcycle. I can’t see his face, his back is toward me, but I can see the sluttish smile on her face, and from that smile, I can tell what they’ll be doing sooner rather than later.

Is it wrong that I hate her right now?

I step into the shadows at the side of the clubhouse. I don’t much fancy walking past them and having to see up close the look on Stryker’s face. I don’t want to know that he wants her.

“Come on,” I hear her whine. I poke my head around the corner. She’s touching his arm. His arms are crossed over his chest. Even in the dark under the streetlight, I can see how his biceps bulge. God, this is so unfair. “I could show you what you’re missing.”

“I’m not missing anything.” I hear him mumble. He's not big on talking. Well, so everyone says, and it’s not like I’ve heard him say much since I’ve been back, so they must be right.

Denise slides up to him, her hands on his biceps, a smirk on her face. “I promise you it will be the night of your life.” There’s a seductive air to her tone. She leans closer to him, her lips almost upon his, and I have to pull back. I can’t see this.

I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes. This sucks!

Yeah, I sound like a petulant child wanting something I can’t have, but that’s life.

They must be kissing because I can no longer hear them talking. That thought makes me clench my teeth to the point my jaw cracks.

I can’t act like this. It’s stupid.

So, I like the guy, and he wants my friend; there’s nothing I can do about it, and there will be other guys I’ll feel a connection to. It might not be right now, but one day, it will happen. If Stryker wants Denise, then I have to be happy for them.

Of course, I’m happy for them.

I chuckle to myself.

Since when do I get jealous over anything?

Especially a man?

Never. I have never gotten jealous over a man before. I must be losing my mind. Yeah, that’s it, I’m losing my mind a little being back here.

I open my eyes, which widen to see a huge monster of a man in front of me. I open my mouth to scream, and his hand clasps over my mouth.

Oh, shi.t!

What the hell is happening?

This isn’t supposed to happen to me again!

“You’ve been watching me.”

Bastard! Motherfuckin.g, son of a bitc.h!

I drag his hand away from my mouth. He’s not pressing down, so it’s easy. “How dare you do that to me!?”

Seriously.

Who the f**k does that?

Stalks to the side of a building like a damn stalker and slaps their hand over a woman's mouth!?

“I didn’t do anything to you.” He laughs while adjusting his cut.

“You slapped your fat hand over my mouth, Ice!”

He shrugs with a smirk on his face. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never wished anyone any ill will, not even my daughter’s father, but I wouldn’t mind slapping this idio.t upside the head a few times.

Doesn’t he understand that you can’t creep up on people like that?

“Why on this earth would you think I’ve been watching you? I didn’t even know you were out here.”

“I’m the only one out here, Coral. I saw you spying around the corner.”

“I was watching Denise and Stryker.”

“You really do have a wide on for him, don’t you?”

“A what?”

What the f**k is a wide-on?

Am I dumb?

Is that a thing?

“A wide on. You know, like, a hard-on but for women.”

That is disgusting!

But what can I expect from a foul-mouthed biker?

“I do not have one of them over anyone, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, you do. All the fuckin.g girls do.” He huffs like a child, arms folded around his chest.

What is it with men?

They’re as bad as women when it comes to jealousy. Each guy wants to be better than the next. Each one wants to be the damn Alpha of the pack, the one all the girls want.

“I don’t know about other girls, Ice. Maybe you’re just seeing what isn’t there. Stryker is quiet and brooding; it’s appealing to a woman. Don’t ask me why. You’re loud and outspoken, and that’s attractive too, you know?”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I parrot back with a chuckle. “Find a girl you’re really interested in, and believe me, what she thinks she feels for someone else – if she feels anything for anyone else – will soon fade when she sees how wonderful you are.”

“You think so?” He’s like a pubescent teenager with stubble. He’s kinda cute in his own way. I don’t know how old he is, but I don’t think he’s much past twenty-three or four. He might look older, with all the scars and such, but I can tell by his eyes that he’s not. The eyes never lie.

“I know so, Ice. I’d like us to be friends, but that’s all we can be.”

“Because of Stryker?”

“No,” I laugh. That isn’t the reason why. “We don’t have that kind of chemistry. Do we?”

He smiles and shakes his head.

See, even big bad outlaw bikers can be spoken to reasonably. Some don’t listen, too far up their own asses to listen, but some do. This band of misfits is a whole different breed.

“Thanks, Coral.”

“Anytime, Ice.”

“It’s probably a good thing nothing happened between us.”

“Why’s that?”

“Shepard warned us all what he’d do to us if we so much as propositioned you. He’d fuckin’ kill me and then some if he knew what I’d said to you tonight.”

I am mortified! Okay, I understand why Shepard would say that to his men, but God! I am never going to find any man I’ll be able to have a relationship with; Shepard would murder anyone I wanted to be with.

He’s not my father! Even my father doesn’t have the right to tell me whom I can and can’t date!

This is my life! It should be my choice whom I date, but I guess that explains why Stryker ignores me the way he does. He doesn’t want to go against Shepard.

But does that mean he feels what I feel, and he’s just trying not to?

“Need a ride home?” Ice asks while following me around the side of the building. I’ve been standing in the shadows long enough.

Besides, Ice said he was the only one out here, so I’m guessing Denise managed to talk Stryker into taking her somewhere. I just hope it wasn’t back to her place. I do not want to walk in on them having se.x.

“No, thank you,”

“You sure?”

I nod and look up at him.

Yes, I have to look up; he’s a few inches taller than I am. He’s not looking at me, though. I follow his eyeline. A very tall, well-built, pissed-off Stryker stands in front of us.

Why the hell is he pissed off?

“Stryker,” Ice addresses him. “Everything alright?”

“Where’s Denise?” I interrupt before Stryker can answer. He doesn’t answer me, just points toward the clubhouse.

He’s finished with her, and now he’s sent her back in there to his friends?

What the hell?

“You sent her back in there to fuc.k your friends after she’s been with you?” My hands are on my hips. I don’t care who he thinks he is; Denise is my friend, and he used her, tossed her aside, and then passed her to his friends!

“Coral,”

“Fuc.k off, Ice! Don’t you dare stand there and defend him!” A hand grabs my elbow, dragging me towards them. “What the fuc.k are you doing? Get off me!”

“Ice, check on her friend. Make sure she gets home safely.”

“Sure.”

“Get off me, jackass!”

Who does this pig think he is?

Dragging me around like I’m his property!

He stops beside his bike, grabs a helmet, and slams it into my hands. “I am not getting on that bike with you, Stryker.”

He says nothing, just straddles his bike, turns on the ignition, and waits for me to give in and get on the damn thing. Which, I might add, I do.

Why?

I have no fuckin.g clue. I must be losing my mind!