Page 8 of Taming Trickster

Still...I can't shake the protective urge that flared up when I first laid eyes on her pale, frightened form tonight. There's just something about Rose that makes me want to wrap her up and guard her from any more ugliness with everything I have.

A man can't help but be drawn to a fragile beauty like that, no matter the circumstances or age gap between us. Not that a rough, calloused old biker like me would ever have a shot with such a delicate creature.

Rose is way outta my league - I'm sure as hell not the kind of man her parents would want sniffing around their little princess.

I shake my head ruefully, draining the last of my beer. Now I'm just being a damn fool, letting my twisted thoughts run wild like that about an innocent girl.

The sound of the bathroom door squeaking open snaps me out of my reverie. I turn toward the hallway just as Rose emerges, drowned in my oversized sweatpants and shirt. She's toweled off her fiery hair, leaving it hanging in damp ringlets around her elfin face.

I feel like I've been sucker punched right in the damn gut. She looks...fuck, there aren't even words - like some kind of ethereal woodland nymph who just stepped out of a storybook. Soft and glowing and tragically beautiful.

It takes me a second to find my voice past the sudden lump in my throat.

"Hey, uh...you feeling any better after that shower?"

Rose tucks a strand of hair behind her ear shyly, giving me a small nod.

"Yes, thank you...again. For everything, really."

Clearing my throat gruffly, I nod toward the kitchen.

"You, uh, you want something to eat? I can order us some hotdogs..."

Chapter 5 - Rose

The way Trickster's looking at me right now makes me feel so...exposed. Like he can see right through to my very soul with those piercing eyes. I tug self-consciously at the oversized sweatshirt, trying to make myself seem smaller.

Even fresh from the shower, with my hair damp and face scrubbed clean, I must look like a pitiful sight compared to his rugged masculinity. The man is built like a brick shithouse, all dense muscle threatening to burst the seams of his tight shirt. And those arms - I've never seen anything so thick and powerful in my life.

The way his dark lashes frame those intense eyes doesn't help, either. It's not fair for a man to have such lush, girlish lashes. Especially when combined with those chiseled cheekbones and strong jawline.

Trickster is...well, there's no other way to put it. He's beautiful in that overly masculine, rough-around-the-edges sort of way.

But despite his brooding looks and gruff demeanor, I feel safer in his presence than I have all night. For the first time since being snatched, the knot of terror in my belly has finally loosened its vice grip.

I'm safe here with this mountain of a man.

"You, uh...you want something to eat?" he asks, clearing his throat. "I can order us some hot dogs..."

My stomach gives an audible rumble at the mention of food, reminding me I haven't eaten anything since sometime yesterday.

"I'd love that, thank you," I reply shyly.

Trickster nods, already reaching for his phone.

"Cool. I'll order from Sara's Eats - best greasy joint in Pine Valley. They're open 24/7."

"Oh...I didn't know. I've never actually been to Pine Valley before."

His brows shoot up in surprise. "No? Well, where'd a pretty little thing like you come from then?"

Tucking a damp strand of hair behind my ear, I answer hesitantly.

"Silvervale Mountain. It's about two hours north of here."

To my surprise, Trickster barks out a harsh laugh at that.

"No shit? Silvervale, huh? I've been up that way a few times myself - took some underground fights in one of the local rings."

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