Page 15 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

He says wearily, “Anyone else?”

He almost looks hopeful as he stares around the room, but not one member meets his eye and I don’t blame them. Going against Slade is one thing but two Channings. The guy would have a death wish.

Then there’s the woman herself, looking mildly curious and yet managing to keep her expression blank. I like that about her - a lot. She’s brave, sassy and gorgeous, wrapped in a body for sin and a fuck off attitude.

Axel sighs and turns to Millie. “Then it appears you have a choice to make. Two have come forward, but you can only choose one. The man you choose will claim you tonight and you will be paired with him the entire time you’re here. If he leaves and you don’t go with him, you go up for auction again. If you don’t choose to pair up, you put out and any member can have his turn. So, make your choice.”

I find it strange the look he gives her, but she doesn’t react. She just stares at him with a cold, hard look and I wonder what’s passing between them right now. Slade appears confident, but he’s edgy. There’s something going on here I’m not party to, and I narrow my eyes. Something isn’t right about this; it’s as if this has been planned. Millie is staring Axel down as if in defiance, and I can tell she is mentally struggling with the choice she has to make. What the hell is going on?

Chapter 12

Millie

Ido. Two of them. The first was expected, the second most unexpected. I knew it was him as soon as he spoke. His voice is distinctive, husky with a rough edge that makes me shiver a little. Two brothers similar in many ways, but different where it counts. Sawyer is everything good, whereas Slade is everything bad. Two gorgeous alpha males who have just declared war over me. This is now officially the worst night of my life, and that’s saying something. The Reapers built me up into a woman who has all the control. Here, I have none. As a Reaper I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to, here I must. The fact Sawyer spoke up almost brought me to my knees. The relief mixed with astonishment, then fear. He may be the quieter one, but I’m under no illusions he’s the softer option. He wears danger like a badge of honor, and I feel it when he looks at me through those obsidian eyes.

Sawyer or Slade? I know the man Ishouldchoose. The man I am expected to choose and the man I was sent here to find. But when I look into those eyes devoid of all feeling and life, I feel a real fear I can’t ignore.

It’s all too much as I look between them and Axel says with a hint of warning in his voice, “Make your choice.”

I can’t speak as every reason why I should choose Slade comes back to haunt me. I picture Ryder watching and waiting for my decision, urging me to do the right thing, follow the mission through despite the danger involved. Isn’t that what the guys do every time they ride out? On every mission they put their life and soul on the line. They don’t enjoy killing, they don’t enjoy pain, but they do it anyway for the greater good. It’s what makes a Reaper, push aside your personal shit and step up.

Two identical pairs of eyes stare at me, waiting for my decision. Two men so alike and yet poles apart.

Which one will I choose; even I don’t know right now because on the one hand Imustchoose Slade, it’s why I’m here and yet… Sawyer Channing? There’s something telling me to choose him. It’s as if a hidden angel inside me is gently coaxing me that way. Promising me it’s for the best and everything will be alright. But how can I, how can I go against the reason I’m here? Slade is the one, the man asking about Ryder, but Sawyer, what would choosing him achieve? “Do it.” The angel calls inside me and I step back a little as Axel roars, “Fucking choose woman, or I’ll choose for you.”

It makes me jump as I stare into two soulless pairs of eyes and in a husky whisper, I say, “I choose…” I blink and try not to look because even now I’m not sure whose name will pass my lips. It’s in fate’s hands now as I open my mouth and whisper, “Sawyer.”

Silence follows my decision and I can’t move. I’m frozen to the spot because I feel as if I’ve betrayed my soul. I couldn’t do it, I’ve failed. I was meant to do one thing, and I bottled it. I hate myself more than I ever have before, and I stare wide-eyed as I wait for the shit to hit the fan.

Without a word, Slade storms out of the room and slams the door hard behind him. The bikers stand watching and their anticipation grows as they train their eyes on the scene they hope will unfold in a matter of minutes. Surely Sawyer wouldn’t see that particular ritual through because the thought of being fucked in front of the whole club makes me feel real fear inside.

Axel says with a voice dripping in disappointment, “Sawyer, claim your woman.”

I stare at him in horror because no amount of fighting will prevent what could happen next, and I tremble inside as he heads my way and closes the distance between us. I want to close my eyes, but I can’t because the look in his is drawing me in and sending a surge of lust straight to my core. It’s intense,he’sintense as he prowls toward me like a panther, and I hitch my breath as he stops just short and runs his hands around my waist. His breath is hot on my neck as he lowers his lips and whispers, “Play along.”

What does he even mean and as his lips find mine, I am overcome by the fierce intensity and brutal onslaught of this powerful kiss? He holds my head hard and devours my lips, giving me no room to move. His hand grips my ass and pulls me in close and I struggle to breathe. A faint murmur turns into a loud cheer as the crowd sense an x-rated show and Sawyer edges his hand up my top and I feel him grab my breast hard. For some reason, I don’t react, it’s too intense and if anything, my body appears to be loving this attention. His hand moves lower and edges up my shorts to cup my ass and yet he doesn’t stop eating my lips alive.

“Fuck her.” Starts as a chant as the men sense blood, and I almost think he will as Sawyer rips my shorts from my body in one brutal move. My top follows and I’m standing in just my underwear, pressed against the man who is conflicting my heart. I want this to stop, I’m scared at how far he’s going to go. I don’t want to be the sex show tonight, and I don’t want to have sex with him at all. This is too much and as he grabs my ass, he lifts me into his arms and growls. “You’re coming with me.”

A huge wail goes up from the crowd as he heads toward the door, and luckily his body shields me from view as he wraps me in his protective arms. As the door slams behind us he doesn’t let up his pace and as he climbs the stairs two at a time, I wonder what the hell is going to happen next.

He growls against my ear, “I’m not gonna hurt you, just do whatever I say.”

I open my mouth to speak and his hand clasps it firmly as he says with an irritable growl, “So help me, if you utter one word of sass, I’ll lay you over my knee and spank you til you can’t sit down for a month. So shut the fuck up and let me handle this.”

I’m not stupid and know when to keep quiet and something tells me this night is not going to end how the club thinks it will. It’s only when he heads through a door at the end of the hall, that I realize we’re in his bedroom. As he drops me to the bed, he heads back and locks it before saying gruffly, “Now what?”

The fact I’m almost naked, lying on his bed doesn’t concern me right now, even though it probably should. Instead, it’s the weariness in his eyes and the sense of defeat that makes me say breathlessly, “You’re asking me, I thought you had some kind of plan back there.”

I scoot onto my knees and face him, a little conscious that I’m wearing almost nothing and I don’t miss that he has also registered that. “Um, I don’t suppose you have something I could wear? It’s a little weird sitting here like this, I mean, you are seriously not really, um, going to…”

“No, relax, I’m not my brother.”

“Then why did…”

“I save you from him? God only knows, darlin’ but now I have, I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

He sighs and reaches behind him and opens a drawer and throws a t-shirt across the room. “Here, this should do until we move your stuff in.”

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