Page 12 of Vapor's Blaze

We’re just joking around, and I think things are light, but she hits me with something deep. “You’re attractive, smart, and have a wonderful sense of humor. It doesn’t matter whether you own your own tattoo shop or if you work at a bar. You’re a seriously good catch.”

I press my lips together trying to figure out where she’s going with this. Is this her wanting a ride on the back of my bike? I’d fucking love that, but something tells me that once she figures out I’m a member of the Savage Legion MC, she’s not gonna want anything to do with me ever again. I heard her talking about how our club is slaving out her friend that she claims she’s not dating. She clearly isn’t aware that they damaged our bar and broke our bartender’s arm. Maybe she’d feel differently if she knew. Or maybe she’d just go right on hating me anyway. If she really is single, I want a shot at a real relationship with her, there’s something about this woman that sets all my cylinders firing.

I guess I go too long without responding because her voice turns firm. “You don’t have to talk yourself up to women. We’ve all got eyes and can judge for ourselves what kind of man you are.”

I can’t keep the smile off my face for anything. I remember the awkward conversation we had naked in her bed, when I told her how perfect she was, and she didn’t seem to believe in perfection. Now, this beautiful woman is returning the favor by being worried about my self-esteem or some such shit. No one in my life has ever been concerned about that, much less a woman. They’re all trying too hard to get into my bed. But this pretty lady cares about my vulnerabilities.

“It’s sweet that you care about me that way. I grew up with a twin brother and we were extremely competitive at one time. Although we eventually grew out of that, one of the lessons I learned was that talking about what I saw as my strengths in a humorous way made people see me in a more positive light. I guess old habits are hard to break.”

The pleased smile she gives me warms my heart. “That kind of honesty deserves a kiss.”

Fucking hell, this woman is making me want to be vulnerable with her more often in the worst way. “I’m liking this reward system you’re setting up. Does it come with frequent flyer miles?”

I cup her face in my hands and ghost my lips over hers. Although I take my time, things get heated fast. Soon our bodies are pressed together as we tangle tongues going from zero to a hundred in five seconds flat. This woman makes me feel wanted for me, not my status as a brother or my cock. Maybe, that’s why I can’t get enough of her.

When we break apart, I can see how much she wants me because her eyes are dreamy and unfocused, she’s breathless and clinging to me. “Want to stay for a little while? I have a private place we can go.”

She smothers back a smile, “I’ll just bet you do.”

I’m quick to correct her. “It’s not inside. I have a special place I go when I want to have some peace and quiet and look at the stars.”

Her eyes light up, but she hesitates. “I’d love to go to your special place, Vapor. But I promised Tracker I would go straight home. He doesn’t think it’s safe for me to be out tonight.”

I can’t help but wonder how an asshat like Tracker could have so much control over a smart savvy woman like Trix. I heard him call her that, at least it solves the uncomfortable mystery of not knowing her name and being too embarrassed to ask after we had sex. I might be an overly eager fool when it comes to women, but I’m not so clueless that I don’t how inappropriate it was not to ask her name.

I reach out, take her hands in mine, and give them a reassuring squeeze. “As long as you’re with me, you’re safe,” I assure her with bold confidence.

I can see the moment when she caves into her desire to spend time with me. “Alright. I hope it’s not far.”

Her agreement feels like winning the lottery. “It’s not, I promise. Do you want to ride on my motorcycle?”

Her voice turns panicked. “No. If I leave my car, Tracker will know I left with someone.”

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you or what he’s doing to provoke such anxiety in you, but if you need me to deal with him I can.”

She looks alarmed. “What? No, of course I don’t want you to do anything to him.”

“Alright. Just let me know if things get out of hand. I’m going to run inside and ditch the parka. I’ll meet you out front.”

Still looking a bit unsure, she nods. “See you in a bit,” she says before briskly walking off up the sidewalk toward the parking lot.”

I know she said that she’d meet me in the parking lot, but some small part of me thinks I should hurry in case she changes her mind. So, that’s exactly what I do. I rush back into the bar and since I don’t want to prejudice her view of me before she even gets to know me, I do the unthinkable, by pulling off my cut along with the coat and leaving it hanging on the coat rack near the back door.

We occasionally have to leave our cuts behind when we’re on assignment, so I know no one will mess with it. Still, deep down inside I feel like I’m casting my club aside in favor of chasing a beautiful woman, if only for the evening. I’m so torn by this decision that in the end I just can’t leave my cut behind. Instead, I fold it neatly and tuck it under my arm before leaving the bar.

I see that Trix is in fact waiting for me. She’s anxiously standing beside what I assume is her vehicle. I flash her a friendly smile to ease her anxiety and point toward my motorcycle. “Mine is the black Harley with all the chrome. The spot I was telling you about is less than a mile from here, near the welcome sign for Las Salinas.”

Her shoulders relax as she gazes up at me. “I’ll be right behind you,” she replies, sounding more confident.

I head over to my motorcycle and stuff my cut into the storage compartment on the back of my bike. I don’t know why I’m angsting so much about this. It’s not like I wear it a hundred percent of the time anyway, but not being in my club vest feels like denying part of who I am. Within moments I’m on the main drag with Trix following close behind me.

I pull in beside the old water tower and park my bike. Trix pulls in right behind me and jumps out of her car, staring up at the tower. “Don’t tell me we’re climbing all the way to the top.”

“No not the top.” Grabbing her hand, I say, “Come let me show you.”

She lets me lead her, this water tower is unique in that it has a spiral staircase leading up to an observation deck that juts out from the front side. When we step out onto the large eight by fourteen deck, Trix gasps.

“I never knew this was here. Why can’t we see the platform from the ground?”

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