Breaking Dragon (10 page)

“Then I take him to the fucking side and man up. But, this fucking shit? It’s our life. Club comes first and ain’t no mother fucker above suspicion when the safety of our lives and our fucking livelihood is on the line. You feeling me here Crush?”

“Yeah man I got ya.”

“Then church is mother-fucking-adjourned. Smoke’m if you got’em but I’m off, got somewhere I need to fucking be and it ain’t with you pricks.”

“Hold up Boss, I’ll head out with you.” I was already heading for the door but it didn’t surprise me to hear Gunner. He had been silent, but he brought Twist in, he’d want to give me shit about this I’m sure. I appreciated him holding that shit in though in front of the others. If he and Crush both questioned my decisions, this meeting would have been a lot worse and definitely bloodier. They may be my brothers, but as the President, if I needed to knock heads together to prove there was a reason I was their leader…I did.

We were half way back to our bikes when Gunner finally spoke up, what he said though wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

“Hey boss, I’m sorry. If this shit is true, then it’s on me and I didn’t mean to put the club in danger.”

“If this shit is true, it’s on Twist not you Gun.” 

“I brought him in. Gave him my vote to get him on prospect status and petitioned for him to be added to the inner team. That’s on me.” Gun said, and you could hear the regret in his voice.

“If this shit holds and we find out Skull isn’t blowing smoke up our asses then Twist made those decisions on his fucking own. You can’t take the responsibility for that shit. You always put your brothers’ first Gun. I know that. The brothers know that. Rest easy man and don’t get your tits all knotted up about that shit.”

I said trying to laugh it off. I knew what Gun was feeling, I had been in his position and it sucked.

He gave a weak smile I saw out of the corner of my eye. We pulled the side by side ATV into the garage area and bailed out.

“Want to head out to Pussy’s for a drink?”   

Pussy Willow was a club operated strip joint where the men liked to hang out—for obvious reasons. Any other night I would have said yes. Before Nicole I would have said yes to a hell of a lot more than a drink. Since I had tasted that sassy woman, it wasn’t going to happen. There’s only one woman and one past time on my mind. It’s not any of the bitches at Pussy’s, and it’s not drinking.

“Nah man, I got plans.”

“Crush mentioned some chick, we going to be seeing her at the club soon?” He asks as we reach our bikes.

“I’m thinking affirmative on that brother,” I said straddling my ride.

“Good stuff. Club needs fresh blood.”

“No brother. This one is off fucking limits,” Gunner was a damn good looking man, all Californian, easy going, blonde hair and blue eyes. Fuck no he wasn’t getting around my woman.

When I realized what I was thinking, my fucking hands shook.

Chapter 9

Nicole

I never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed. I had spent the last day and a half berating myself for everything I had allowed with Dragon. Different thoughts ran through my mind. I could tuck tail and run back to Blade. I could quit and find a different job. I could pretend whatever happened between me and Dragon (and yes, I was leaning towards this one) never happened.

Except it did, we got laid and fucked and we want it again.

Bad Nicole was a mean spiteful bitch and a whore and her voice in my head was annoying. What Bad Nicole wasn’t, well she wasn’t wrong. I have never felt like that before. Dragon touched and awoke spots in me I never even knew existed. A girl could get addicted to the feelings he brought out in you.

So instead of sleeping at 11:58 p.m. on a Tuesday night, I’m sitting on the
couch
watching an October Scream and Scare Marathon on TV. I’m currently on Halloween ….who the hell knows what version or number? I’m curled up on the couch in my fuzzy red pajama pants with hot pink hearts all over them, a white baby doll t-shirt and big pink fuzzy socks. My hair is pulled up on top of my head in a pony-tail-bun-gone-wrong combination and I just polished off a pint of chunky monkey ice cream. I might be in a depression. Dani is out with some boy toy and the house is too damn quiet. So ice cream seemed like the only solution. I miss Dragon.

There I said it. I kind of expected him to stop me from leaving the bar. I was disappointed when he didn’t. I was okay though, totally fine. Then, time kept passing and I haven’t heard a word from him. Seems that should clue me in. I am definitely the whore I originally pegged myself as, and Dragon got what he wanted. He’s probably sunk up in some cupcake now.

I refuse to call them Twinkies. I happen to like Twinkies and knowing Dragon called his whores that would ruin Twinkies for me. Of course as I think this, I am studiously avoiding the view of my kitchen table. I might have accidentally poured out the contents of a Twinkie box and I might have accidentally flattened them with the bottom of my umm third or fourth glass of raspberry vodka and sprite. I could probably use another glass, but the cream that’s all over the glass from the exploded plastic wrapped goodies annoys me. So, I don’t. Instead I lie here watching some bubble-headed ho bag get chopped up on the TV screen. Seriously, does it always have to be the blondes and why on Earth are they always half dressed?

I pull the warm throw down off the back of the couch and snuggle up. When Dani and I first got here the weather was sunny and warm and in the high seventies. Now, it’s dreary, rainy, and cold and I think the TV said it was like forty-two degrees outside. I figure that is somehow Dragon’s fault too, I just don’t know how to blame him yet. I should go to bed and sleep, but I tend to think more of Dragon there, so I refuse to.

I must have dozed off. I’m not sure how long, but Michael Myers has been replaced by a killer dog, so lovely. I blink my eyes a few times trying to focus, when the banging on the front door begins. That must have been what woke me.

I get up stretching and yawning, thinking that if Dani is going to try and beat me for slut of the week, the least the bitch could do was remember her keys.

I cup my hand over my mouth yawning so big, tears leak from the sides of my eyes.

I unlatch the door and freeze. Dani isn’t there. No, staring at me through the screen security door is Dragon in all his glory. He looks good tonight. A woman couldn’t deny that. He’s wearing a Kelly Green t-shirt that’s stretched over his biceps and his wide chest. It pops against his dark skin and I wish I could tear the shirt off and see more of what is underneath. I stare at him, not sure what to say and immediately get sucked into his dark chocolate eyes.

“What the fuck?” He barks.

Well hello to you too.

I think it…but I don’t open my mouth. Maybe I short-circuited. I truly don’t know what to say to him. He could be every woman’s dream until he opens his mouth.

“What the fuck Nicole?” He barks again. If his voice wasn’t so deep and raspy it would be annoying as hell about now.

I yawn again and I’m too brain dead to remember to cover my mouth this time, so I guess Dragon can see down to my tonsils. I shake my head trying to clear the sleep from it.
 

“What time is it?” There, a complete sentence, I’m getting better.

Give the girl a cookie
. Shut up bad Nicole.

“Do I look like a fucking Timex? Open the door.” Dragon…well yeah he barks yet again.

“You come to my house at this time of night, so I figure you at least know the time. I’m too tired for this. I’m going back to bed, adios Dragon.”

“Unlock this damn screen door Nicole, I’m tired.” 

I stop the main door from closing and study him for a minute. There are times to fight and times to let it lie. I’m thinking right now, I should go for the latter. I missed him. I had…had sex with him. He was here.

I unlatch the door and turn around, heading back into the living room and my comfy bed on the couch. I plop down on the couch pulling the afghan up around me, bringing my knees up against my chest and wait. I hear the door close and the sound of the lock turning. It should make me nervous, it doesn’t. I should question everything I do around Dragon, I don’t. This is not normal.

“We shouldn’t have had sex.” I blurt out, watching as he walks to me. He stops in front of me and crosses his arms. I bite my lip wondering what will happen next. I don’t think I can have sex with him again. I want too, God do I want too. Still, I need to jump back into reality and you didn’t just jump into bed with a man you didn’t know. That way led to madness and venereal diseases. Oh God, I needed to make an appointment at the free clinic tomorrow.

“What the fuck are you doing opening the door this late at night that easy?” Dragon asked, still looking at me.

Okay…well alright not what I expected.

“I thought you were Dani.” I said trying to avoid looking at him directly. Whenever I did that it seemed my brain short circuited.

“You don’t open a door without knowing who the hell is out there Nicole.”

“How do you know my name is Nicole?” Ignoring him and changing the subject.

“You’re just now asking this? After what has gone down between us and the back and forth dance we’ve been doing?” He asks. He is looking at me like I am crazy—which maybe I am, at least when I am around him. Then, he takes a deep breath and sits down beside me, turning so we are facing each other.

I shrug.

“Your girl used your name.” He says, evidently giving up on my safety lesson.

“No she didn’t. She called me Nic. You just assumed it was Nicole.” I argued.

He took another weary breath. I didn’t think it was because he was having trouble breathing. I pretty much understood it was to show I was being an idiot. I guess I was. I didn’t really care though.

“What else would your name have been?” 

“Nikita, Nikki, Nickel, Nicorette….” I ramble.

“Nicorette, like the fucking smoking gum?” He asked incredulously.

“Technically I think it’s to stop you from smoking.”

“Are we really having this discussion right now Mama? I’m beat.”

“Umm… then why are you here?” 

“Why wouldn’t I be?” He counters and damn that is kind of a good question.

“We can’t have sex again.”   

He shakes his head, “Oh yeah we can mama.”

“We can’t. We don’t know each other. I know what you think I am Dragon, but, seriously, I’m not. I don’t do things like we did. So, we can’t do it again.”

“What are you?” He asked quietly sounding tired.

“A woman who casually has sex, a good time girl!”

“Jesus, a good time girl?” He shakes his head, “Mama you might be the strangest woman I have ever met.”

“Probably,” I mumble.

“You’ve had sex before.” Dragon says, as his hand moves up to my face to push some of my bangs away from my eyes.

His touch feels nice. I like the way his callused fingers tickle the skin under my eye. Was it my imagination or did he seem disappointed I’ve had sex before?

“Of course, but I knew them really well. I’d even dated them for awhile. I know nothing about you. We’ve yet to go out on a first date!”

Dragon’s fingers had been caressing my neck, but by the time I had stopped talking, his fingers had stopped moving. Damn it.

“I don’t date Nicole.”

“You don’t what?” I ask dumbfounded.

“I don’t date.”

“Dragon, everyone dates.”

“I don’t.”
  

I don’t really know how to respond. It seems unreal, but I can tell he is completely serious.

“Like ever?”  

“That’s what I said, Mama.” 

“How can you tell if you like a girl if you don’t even know her?” I ask and something about this conversation hurts me.

“I fuck her.”

Oh. My. God!

“You... I don’t even know what to say to that.”

Dragon seems to get agitated. His face went from being somewhat soft (I’m not sure it could ever go completely soft, he was too harsh.) to being tight and there is a vein popping along the side of his neck.

“Nothing to say, Mama it’s just the truth.”

“That’s unreal.”

“I’m not shiny and new Nicole. I’ve fucking been around the block. I’ve got scratches and dents and a lot of fucking miles. I’m a classic and not just anyone can handle me. I’m not about to make apologies for that shit. I am what I am.”

“A classic?” 

“Only ride worth a damn is one that’s been around awhile and knows the curves in the road.”

“Been around awhile? I can see that. That must be why there’s so much rust. God I can’t believe you. You’re such an ass.”

“Whatever woman, I’m tired. Let’s get in bed.”

“Um, this is my house.” I said.

Dragon stands up and without even asking, yanks my afghan away.

“Hey stop that! I’m cold!” I complain reaching for it, but he threw it on the chair across from us before I could.