Page 20 of Klutch's Kryptonite

“What the—” the words die on my lips when the rider lifts his head. Intense caramel eyes lock onto mine and my breath catches.

He drags his gaze slowly down my body, taking in every inch of the dress Kenny convinced me to wear. A muscle in his jaw ticks, and his eyes narrow.

“What’s your name?” he growls, his voice deep and smokey.

I blink slow, thrown by his hostile tone. “D-Demi,” I stutter, immediately hating myself for sounding like a chump. I clear my throat and try again. “Demi Cross.”

His eyes continue to bore into mine, and I notice the patch on his cut.SAA.I’m just about to ask what it means when he speaks again.

“You can’t fucking wear that in there, Demi.” He nods toward the direction of The Underground.

I glance down at my dress and purple Converse, a knot forming in my stomach. He’s not telling me something I haven’t been telling myself, but for some reason him saying it stings.

Before I can brush it off, the temper I inherited from my mother makes an appearance. “You know what? Fuck you.”

His eyes widen, clearly not expecting that response.

“So what if my boobs are too small and my ass is too big. And… and this stupid dress is too short.” I plant my hands on my hips and lean forward. “This was all I had to wear.” I catch his lips twitching and narrow my eyes. “You insult me and now you want to laugh?” I can hear the fury in my voice.

His mouth curves into a full-on megawatt smile that transforms his entire face. “Wow,” I breathe, then quickly shake my head. The man insults me and smiles about it and I start to swoon like a schoolgirl. Pathetic.

“Your tits are perfect and so is your ass,” he says, his voice much less judgmental now. “But that—“ he points at my dress “—is going to get you a lot of unwanted attention, Demi. You’re a sexy little thing about to walk into the lions’ den.”

I open my mouth then close it. Did he just say my boobs were perfect? I shake my head, trying to clear it. “I don’t have time for this.”

He sobers immediately, muttering something about crazy women trying to get him locked up, but I have no idea what he’s talking about.

I move around him and his bike, and continue walking. A second later I hear his bike start and then he’s zooming past me.

This is already shaping up to be a weird freaking night. In for a penny, in for a pound, or however the saying goes.

Chapter Six

Demi

When I finally reach The Underground, I’m surprised to see the biker standing by the freight elevator. As I approach, I hear the man he’s talking to call him Klutch.

So that’s his name.

“Demi.” His eyes stalk me as I approach the entrance.

I lift my chin, refusing to be intimidated. “Klutch.”

His lips twitch again, that almost-smile threatening to break through his stoic expression.

Klutch says something else to what I now realize is the prospect from yesterday before stepping up beside me as I wait for the elevator and placing his hand at the small of my back. The touch sends a jolt of electricity up my spine and I bite back the moan that’s threatening to spill from my lips. It’s then I notice the group of men who’d been openly staring at me quickly avert their eyes when they notice Klutch’s hand on me.

Did he just... oh no he didn’t just try and mark me like I’m some kind of territory he owns.

I’m about to tell him off for pulling some caveman BS when a thought stops me in my tracks. Maybe having his protection in a place like this might not be such a bad thing, especially given the short dress I stupidly wore tonight. I mentally weigh the options and decide to let it slide. For now.

The elevator door is yanked open, and we step inside with a crowd of other people. The space is cramped, forcing me closer to Klutch and his scent wraps around me. I breathe it in and hum.

Damn he smells good. Like Giovani Armani and a hint of Irish Spring. It’s clean, rich, intoxicating. And I find myself leaning deeper into him before I can stop myself.

When the doors open again, I’m momentarily stunned by the transformation of The Underground Arena. What was a relatively empty space yesterday is now packed with people. Music pounds through massive speakers, the bass so heavy I can feel it in my chest. The cage in the center is now lit with bright spotlights, and nearly every seat around it is filled.

Klutch gives my hip a squeeze. I glance up at him and he nods for me to step out. Oh. Right. Stepping out of the elevator, I feel his hand go back to the small of my back and he guides me through the crowd toward the bar. I spot McKenna perched on a barstool next to the mountain of a man I now know as Pee Wee. She’s laughing at something he’s said, looking completely in her element.

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