Reaper

Prologue – She’s not mine

PROLOGUE – SHE’S NOT MINE

Reaper

I want her.

Those curves. That smile. I’ve never been so attracted to a woman. I take a swig of my beer and watch as she talks to her sister, Elena. We are at Elena and Axle’s wedding. The men mentioned Elena had a sister, but I have never seen her before today, and I know I won’t be forgetting her anytime soon. She leans in, picks up her champagne, and takes a few sips. When she places it on the table, the strap of her dress falls from her shoulder, and all I want to do is taste her.

I readjust myself in my seat.

Viper elbows me. “You like her?” He gives Elena’s sister a pointed look.

Bomber leans in from the other side of me, listening to our conversation.

“I do.” I want her badly.

“Her name’s Ava,” says Viper.

I raise a brow, and he grins smugly.

“What?” he says with his hands up. “She’s f*****g hot, so of course I asked Axle about her.”

My jaw clenches. The possessiveness shooting through me surprises me. I don’t even know her. I glance at Bomber, and the side of his lip twitches like he’s smothering a smirk. The observant bastard misses nothing.

“She’s married,” Viper chimes in. “Not that it means anything these days.”

I lift my hand to my chin. “I wonder how committed.”

“Axle didn’t say, but he warned me to stay away. He said—and I quote—‘I want to have s*x with my wife tonight, and I don’t want anyone f*****g that up for me. So Ava’s off limits.’” Viper’s voice mocks Axle’s.

Ava is still deep in conversation with Elena; then they laugh. The music is too loud, so I can’t hear them, but it makes me curious as to what her laugh sounds like.

“Is her husband here?” I ask Viper.

He laughs. “It’s the guy sitting next to Elena’s mom at the table next to the bride and groom.”

I peer at Elena’s parents and see a man gulping half of his bottle of beer next to them. His eyes are on Ava.

“She’s with the drunk?” I ask, shocked, remembering the man stumbling to the bar earlier.

“Yep. I couldn’t believe it either. She’s way too good for him.”

I stare at the man who has what I want. He’s average looking, nothing special.

“I saw him earlier, but I thought he was a family member.”

I haven’t seen him touch or kiss Ava or show any affection that would suggest they’re married. If she was mine, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her. I’d want the world to know.

“Viper,” Candy calls from the dance floor. “Come and dance with me.”

His smile widens. “I’m coming.” He stands. “Well, fellas, it’s my time to shine.”

Chuckling, I shake my head.

He fixes his hair like he’s a peacock parading its feathers. “What? I’ve got moves.”

“Yeah, okay, Justin Timberlake,” I taunt.

He walks to Candy, puts his arm across her back, and dips her backward, lifting a brow and grinning at us. She lets out a squeal and laughs.

Demon’s leaning back in his chair, looking at the dance floor. He doesn’t look like he’s watching people dancing; it’s like he sees through them, as if his mind is elsewhere. He taps on the table, and even with his tattoos, bruises and scabs on his knuckles from the other night stand out.

I lean toward him and raise my voice. “You don’t have to stay here.”

He slowly turns his head with a wicked smile and then stands. He lifts his chin. “I’ll see you back at the clubhouse later.”

With a sharp nod, I watch as people step away from him, giving him room to move freely to the exit.

I make eye contact with Axle. He leaves a group and walks to us.

“Is Demon leaving already?” He looks at his watch. “It’s still early.”

“He looked bored, which is usually not good.”

He sighs. “Good point.”

“Is Ava really married?” I ask, hoping Viper got it wrong.

Axle’s eyes widen. “You too?” His shoulders drop. “Just give me one night of wild s*x with my wife. I don’t want her in my ear saying that her sister had s*x with a biker and got divorced over it.” His voice is whiney.

Even though it’s tempting, I respect Axle too much to do anything about it, but something claws inside of me. “You have my word.”

He blows out a gush of air. Elena appears at his side. He looks at her, smiles, and puts his arm around her waist. “You owe me a dance.”

She smiles back. “I thought you’d never ask.”

He grabs her hand and leads her to the dance floor.

I search for Ava but can’t find her. I sit upright in my chair, looking around. “She walked toward the restroom,” says Bomber, like he read my mind. We’ve been friends for a long time. We know each other well.

“Thanks,” I reply, my eyes turning to the hallway leading to the bathroom. I fidget in my chair, wanting to get up, but the discussion I had with Axle keeps me seated.

I may never see her again plays in my head. I’ve never felt a strong pull to a woman before, so I stop fighting myself and then stride toward the restrooms. I won’t have s*x with her anyway. I’m just curious.

As I get closer, she walks out. Her eyes are on her dress as she tries to pull up its cleavage. Her dress covers most of her boobs, but with big perfect t**s like that, I don’t know why she is bothering. She looks flawless the way it is.

She huffs when the dress won’t cover her further. When she lifts her eyes, they widen when she sees me staring at her, and it’s like someone has punched me in the gut.

“You’re beautiful.”

Freezing, Ava stares at me with wide eyes. She says nothing, but a blush creeps up her neck and to her face. She breaks eye contact as she picks at her dress. When she looks up at me, she smiles and her eyes glisten like she’s holding back tears. “Thank you.”

In my periphery, her husband approaches us with narrowed eyes, though swaying to the right. The warmth in my chest dissipates, and my body tenses and turns to stone. I glance at Ava, and when her eyes lock onto her husband, she gasps and steps away from me. Her breathing has picked up. Her shoulders have hunched over, and she looks scared.

I f*****g hate it. Something isn’t right.

When he reaches us, I can smell the alcohol on him. He looks me up and down with his glassy eyes, and I don’t miss the tightness in his jaw.

His hand comes out to me. “Beau.”

I shake his hand, noticing his firm grip. “Reaper.”

He coughs. “Well, that’s certainly a name you’ve got there.”

I ignore him and look at Ava. She swallows thickly as her eyes keep darting between me and her husband.

“I’m ready to go, Ava. Your parents are leaving, too.”

My eyes widen. No “are you ready to leave?” It seems like an order.

“You can stay with your sister. There are spare rooms available,” I tell her.

He answers for her. “Ava’s tired.” Then he looks at her. “Aren’t you?”

“Ah, yes,” she replies and gives me a small smile. “But I appreciate the offer.”

Beau grabs her arm. She flinches. My hands clench at my side.

“Have a good night,” she says before they turn and leave.

It takes everything in me to stay still, to not rip her away from him. My gut churns.

Something isn’t right; she fears him.

I close my eyes briefly. “She’s not mine,” I say to myself. “She’s not mine.”