Page 9 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

“You’re funny. I’m Jace,” he says, holding out his hand.

“Leah,” I reply, shaking it, ignoring how strong and masculine his hands are. I turn my attention to the scarred man. “I don’t think we’ve met yet,” I say, extending my hand to him.

He looks surprised to be addressed as if he’s usually overlooked in favor of his friends. His gray eyes fix on mine, and I don’t even notice anything else. His eyes are like a window to his tortured yet kind soul.

“People call me Rider,” he replies, his voice low and so soft I have to strain to hear him.

His fingers are long and slim, the delicate hands of a pianist or painter. It’s unexpected, a softness to a man who is otherwise all sharp edges.

“It’s nice to meet you, Rider,” I reply genuinely, holding his gaze for a moment and giving him a warm smile.

“Well, if there’s nothing else I can get you guys, I’ve got to get back to work,” I add.

“Do a shot with us!” Knox demands, jumping up to stand next to me.

He’s close enough that I can smell the grease from his bike and the sweet, salty scent of his skin. I have the random urge to lick the exposed spot on his neck where there’s no tattoo.

What the hell has gotten into me? Is this pregnancy hormones?

He’d probably delight in the strangeness of such an act, his impulsivity is infectious. I shake that thought away and try and pull myself together. “Uh, no, thanks… I don’t drink,” I lie, daring to look over at Axel, wondering if he’ll help me out here without giving away the real reason I can’t.

His eyes slide past me as he notices me looking.Fine. If he wants to pretend nothing happened between us and ignore me, that’s on him,I think, feeling wounded nevertheless.

“Come on, you not gonna join us?” Jace teases, leaning back in his chair with his arms and legs spread wide.

I get a glimpse of a large bulge in his jeans, and I immediately look away, my cheeks burning. I can tell if I give in on this, it’s a slippery slope. I need to keep my distance from these men. Especially Axel. I don’t know what it is about him that keeps pulling me in. I’m not usually the type to get obsessed over a guy after one encounter. Not that I’m particularly experienced in that department.

“Not when I’m working,” I retort with a roll of my eyes. “Have fun, gentlemen,” I say as I pick up my tray and sashay away.

I spend the rest of the night trying my hardest to avoid looking over in their direction. Only allowing the occasional glimpse to see if they need more drinks and taking them over when they do. Luckily, it’s busy, so I don’t have to pretend I’m making excuses not to talk and to get away from their table as quickly as possible.

Throughout the evening, I see several women, who I’m told bikers refer to as club bunnies, come up to the guys. I try to ignore the irrational green-eyed monster that flares up at the sight of one of them fawning over Axel. Axel ignores her and grunts in her general direction until she gives up and leaves. That gives me some satisfaction, at least it’s not just me he’s being an ass toward. The women ignore Rider, and he doesn’t seem to mind. Knox and Jace enjoy the attention, flirting back and allowing the girls to sit on their laps. I remind myself that I don’t know these guys, I have no claim to them, nor can anything happen between us.

As the night gets rowdier, a couple of the drunker, more brazen club girls decide to initiate a game of strip poker. I try not to ogle as Knox removes his first item of clothing. He goes for the thing you’d least expect someone to remove first—his pants. He puts his boots back on, leaving him in his boots, t-shirt, vest, and a pair of tight underpants that show off his impressively large bulge. As I’d guessed, his legs are also works of art adorned with ink. He catches me looking and flashes me a grin.

“Careful with those four, a nice girl like you—I doubt you could handle them all, and they’re known to share,” another waitress tells me when she notices me watching as we bus tables.

“What do you mean, share?”

She giggles, “See, you’re too sweet and innocent for this place. If you’re lucky enough that they don’t find any other girls up for the fun, then, well… you know. All four of them… just one of you…”

My mouth drops open, and I can’t help but look back at them. Even as I tell her I’m not interested in being with any men, I can’t stop myself from wondering what it would be like. It’s rare I’m attracted to a man, let alone four at the same time. The thought never occurred to me that I could be with four men at once. The idea seems delightfully taboo and undeniably hot. Even if it is only a naughty fantasy.

They’re totally forbidden; it’s never going to happen, but a girl can dream…

***

I’m closing the bar. There’s no one left except for the group still playing strip poker. I ignore their laughter, the women’s giggles, high-pitched and irritating, and focus on myjob. I head into the back area to lock up the storeroom. As I return, I don’t see the others, they must have taken the party home. With a sigh, I continue to tidy up behind the bar.

A noise behind me startles me, and I whirl around to find Axel standing right behind me, watching me with naked desire in his eyes. He’s shirtless, and his long hair is loose. He looks like a Viking ready to go to battle.

“Jesus, you made me jump!”

“Do I scare you?” he asks, circling closer to me, so close my skin tingles as if he’s physically touching me.

“A little,” I admit. I don’t say it’s my attraction toward him that scares me the most. “You didn’t go home with the club bunnies?”

“We told them to leave,” he purrs.

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