Page 1 of Marked By the Obsessed Biker
CHAPTER 1
ALICE
“What would the birthday girl like to drink? A margarita or a Screwdriver? Oooh, how about Sex on the Beach?”
I smile at Emily. “Long Island Iced Tea?”
She does a little twist, starts gathering bottles off the shelf and then singsongs over her shoulder, “Long Island Iced Tea coming right up.”
Lexi sits next to me at the bar, and Emily points at her. “You want one too?”
Lexi nods. “Yep. Thanks, Em.”
Felon walks over to Emily and kisses her neck, then whispers something to her. She leans into his touch and rolls her eyes. “Jack, it’s her birthday. If Gunner doesn’t want her to drink, then he should be here to tell her. I’m not.”
I lean over the bar. “Wait. Excuse me. Did you just say that Greyson said I shouldn’t drink… on my birthday?”
I look between Felon and Emily, and she gestures to him. “He said it. Not me. I’m just here minding my own business, making some drinks.”
I glare at Jack, and he holds his hands up, palms out. “Look, Pres sent Gunner on a job, and you know how he is. He doesn’t like for you to drink if he’s not around. And he hates when people call him that.”
I throw a hand up in the air. “Greyson is his name. And do you know how insane it is that he doesn’t want me to drink if he’s not around? I’m twenty-five years old, and I know my limits.”
Emily nudges me in the side, then smiles sassily next to me. “Maybe it’s the fact that the last time we went out drinking, some guy thought he could get handsy with you, and Gunner destroyed the man and the bar.”
I gesture around the room. “We’re at the clubhouse, and all these guys think of me like their sister.”
As soon as I say it, it’s like a reality check, and I turn on my two friends. “Oh my God, is this why we’re celebrating here? Because Greyson said so? I wanted to go to The Whistler, and you two talked me into coming here. Why?”
Emily and Lexi both just stare at me wide-eyed. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at Ben. He’s Lexi’s man and his club name is Boss. I’m not sure why, unless it’s because he’s the boss at Heat & Ink. “Is that why the party is here? Because Greyson said so?”
I groan and stomp my foot. I know I’m being childish, but I’m at my wit’s end. Since the second I arrived at the Exiled Guardians Whiskey Run chapter, Greyson has been by my side. It was fine in the beginning. I was still getting over losing my dad andmoving to a new place, and well, it was nice having someone to talk to. He’s a tattoo artist at Heat & Ink, and since I work the reception desk there, we spend a lot of time together. I actually thought he liked me and that maybe he was going to ask me out or something. Well, that never happened. Instead he thinks he can just boss me around and tell me who I can and can’t see. Scratch that, because Greyson runs off any man that shows any interest in me.
Boss shrugs his shoulders. “Look, I may be the boss at Heat & Ink, but I’m not an idiot, and I’m not going to go against Gunner on this. You know he’s psycho when it comes to you.”
Without thought, I stand up from my stool and start walking backward, my mind made up. “Okay, I’m going to the Whistler. Who’s going with me?”
Emily is smiling ear to ear. “I’m in.”
Lexi smiles up at Ben and then at me. “I’m in.”
Boss throws his hands up. “Fuck it, I’ll drive.”
I hold a hand up. “Wait. Are you going so you can spy on me for Greyson? Or are you going to celebrate my birthday?”
He inhales sharply. “I’m going because my ol’ lady is going and so I can celebrate your birthday and… because Gunner will put me in a body bag if I turn you loose in town without one of us with you.” He points at his temple and rolls his finger. “I’m telling you, the dude is loco when it comes to you.”
I jut my chin at him. “Yeah, he’s taken the big brother role a little too seriously.”
Boss reaches behind the bar and grabs a set of keys off the hook. “Come on, ladies. Let’s go.”
Emily whispers something to Felon. After a long kiss, she comes back smiling and her lipstick completely wiped clean from her mouth. “Jack is going to meet us there.”
Boss, Lexi, Emily, and I walk out to the black SUV parked on the side of the clubhouse. Boss opens the door for Lexi while Emily and I climb into the back. I look out the window at the passing scenery, and instantly my thoughts go to Gunner. He’s everything I could ever want in a man, but he’ll never be mine. The quicker I come to terms with that fact, the better off I’ll be. He’s a protective guy, and I guess I bring it more out of him. Maybe it’s the fact that my dad was the president of the Exiled Guardians Texas chapter and that he’s gone now. When I came here to Whiskey Run, I did it because my dad had always talked about this place and how much he loved it. I couldn’t stay in Texas anymore. Anything and everything reminded me of him, and I needed a fresh start. But I didn’t realize that coming here was going to bring on a whole new slew of problems.
Pres gave the club a speech the day I rolled into town. He didn’t have any qualms about it. Hell, he did it right in front of me. He told them that I came here to heal. He said I was off limits to everyone and that I was to be protected like I was a fuckin’ princess or something. The Pres told the cherries not to give me any shit, and instantly they all hated me. I remember standing in the clubhouse that day. The men wouldn’t even look at me. Well, no one but Greyson, and when he looked at me, all I could do was try and not look back at him. I’m not experienced enough, and I know he could read everything plainly on my face. He has to know I like him and that I’m attracted to him. There’s no hiding the pull I feel toward him. But since then, he’s taken it upon himself to be my own personal bodyguard.
Emily nudges me in the side. “What are you sighing about? Are you even listening?”
