Page 12 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)
-:- NYX -:-
I have absolutely no idea why I am here at this motorcycle club building, standing with other women, waiting to throw cleavers and knives. Honest to goodness, have I lost my mind?
Blake is talking a mile a minute to a woman called Raven, and they are itching to have their turn. I’m wanting to be anywhere but here at the moment, but I’m not going to let anyone see I’m not really into whatever this is that I’m getting involved in.
“Hi, Nyx. My name is Eden. You look a little worried about this. Is there anything I can do or say that will help?”
“Hello, Eden. I was just wondering what on earth I had let myself get talked into, and why I even turned up.” I must look like I want to run, because Eden laughs and tucks her arm through mine.
“Honestly, it’s fun. Meat wants women, in general, to be able to stand up for themselves.
He has, although he is an oddball, a tremendous respect for women.
If he could teach every woman on the planet to defend themselves, he would be in Utopia.
” I look at the man that Eden is describing, and the way he is helping the woman throwing at the moment, I can see he cares.
Star, his partner, bounces up from goodness knows where, and picks up a set of cleavers. Yeah, you heard right, there are sets of the darned things all laid out on a large trellis table ready for us to use.
My jaw dropped as Star hurled all six cleavers from the small table, our designated throwing spot.
The target's design is similar to an archery target, using rings to depict the bullseye and surrounding scoring areas.
It's made of thick wood and has a three-legged stand, much like an artist's easel.
Eden laughs. “Don’t be shocked. You’ll be as good as that when Meat has you all trained up.”
The line moves forward some, and I start to relax.
Why should I be worried about this when nobody else is?
Movement on one side of where we are all standing has me looking over, and I’m shocked to see Colton standing there with a few other men.
He gives me a smile and a wink, which I admit has me grinning back and my cheeks pinking up a little.
Thank goodness I’m not lily white, as my blush will be hidden a little under my tanned-looking skin.
My turn comes around faster than I thought. Eden laughs when she sees I’m a little bewildered. “Don’t worry, Nyx. Everyone saw you going off into dreamland with Colton, so thought we’d ground you again.”
“Thanks for that!” I state, not sure if I’m thanking or scolding her.
Meat describes what I have to do and how to do it. He gives me such a look of confidence that I can do it, that I pick up the cleaver we’ve been testing in my hand. Following through with his instructions I throw that sucker like my life depends on it.
The cleaver flies, rotating as it does so, and while my eyes are tracking its progress, it strikes the target with a resounding thud.
I stare at the target as though I’m seeing something strange because my cleaver is on the edge of the bullseye!
I flick my eyes to Meat who is smirking at me, right before he picks me up and spins me around, all while laughing in a deep, rumbly kind of way.
When he puts me down, I’m dizzy, and not able to stop Star from jumping up and down in front of me, then hugging me fiercely.
Now, this is contagious as I start to laugh along with a few of the women who are now surrounding me.
Eden and Blake on either side of me grab hold and hug me, telling me I’m a natural.
When a powerful pair of arms encircle me I look up and Colton is looking down at me, grinning right before he slams his lips over mine.
His lips are firm but pliant and they match mine perfectly, I can’t help but think.
His tongue nudges my lips and I open enough for him to slide his tongue inside my mouth, tangling with my own.
But only for a few moments before the catcalls and whistles grab my attention and I jolt back in surprise.
“Perfect,” Colton mumbles as he swipes my bottom lip with his thumb. “See you later, Nyx.”
I give a slight nod and watch as he swaggers away, before Eden slaps my shoulder while laughing. “Wow, you and Colton. That’s great. He’s a good one, so trust and run with it, girl.”
I look at Eden with wide eyes, and then to Blake who is giggling. But it’s all the others grinning at me that has me blushing to my hair roots, and yeah, it’s damn obvious I’m blushing too.
Meat gets everyone’s attention back to the job at hand, and I’m admitting that I’m good with this cleaver throwing.
Now, when it comes to the knives, not so good.
I think it’s because they are lighter and they seem to go astray when I release my hold on them.
Whatever it is, has everyone running for cover when it’s my turn.
Meat is more than patient, and by the time he calls time for this morning I’m at least hitting the target again.
Tilly, who is the flower shop owner is talking to me and saying she’s terrible with the weapons, but is better with the hand-to-hand than she used to be.
I’m wondering again what the heck I’m involved with because why do we need cleavers, knives, and hand-to-hand abilities?
Is a war coming that I know nothing about?
I met a lot of women, and I hope I remember their names if and when I meet them again. But the three elderly ladies in the kitchen, when we entered for a drink are unforgettable. Three Stooges they have been nicknamed, and with the way they bounce off each other I can see why.
Sitting next to Blake who is talking rapidly with a woman called Kya, I quietly watch the woman called Sybil sneakily put something into a mug right before she hands it to the other woman, who’s called Bitty.
Now, I’m not going to get involved, but when Bitty takes a drink from the mug and rushes to the sink spitting it out, I struggle to hold back the grin.
Sybil is cackling with laughter, and Bitty spins around and takes up the chase.
Now I say chase, but it’s not that fast if I’m being honest, but it is highly amusing.
They disappear into what I hear is called the common room.
Seems that the fiasco is over, well so I thought until the two rush back into the kitchen still in chase mode.
“It’s excellent exercise for them if nothing else,” Kya laughs, looking at me and smiling. “They are like this all the time. Don’t worry about it. They are the best of friends and have been for years. They like to keep each other on their toes.”
“I’m hoping they don’t meet the four ladies I work for, because they are bad enough as it is,” I then tell them all about the teeth, the shopping incident and more I’ve heard. Which, of course, has everyone at the table I’m sitting at laughing.
After agreeing I’ll return next Sunday, I head home, which is a fair walk, but after tomorrow I’ll have Alf’s truck, which will be awesome. But all this walking keeps me fit. Yeah, I’m looking on the bright side, because if I look at the other side it’ll be no fun at all.
While walking, I replay our kiss in my head. Even though he was bold, sneaking in that kiss when I least expected it, it was amazing, and I'd welcome more. I need to be ready for tonight’s date, and now we’ve had that first kiss, I think it’s broken some of the ice a first date often suffers with.
****
Looking in the mirror, I check I look okay.
I selected a pair of black pants, which sit snugly but not overly tight on my butt.
I chose a cream bra which sits nicely under the cream fluffy knit sweater that I adore.
I won’t need a jacket now, and I’ll be warm.
Casual but classy is how I feel. I pop my feet into the dressy ankle boots I purchased with a discount from the shoe store I had worked at, and feel the outfit is complete.
Knocking on the door grabs my attention, and I quickly scoot to open it, giving Colton a smile as he steps inside.
“You look great,” Colton says as he hands me a single rose.
“Thank you, that is gorgeous,” I respond as I take a smell of the rose. Wow, a rose, I didn’t expect a biker to be so romantic! I place the rose in a small vase and pick up my purse ready to leave.
“Do you want to stay local or go out of town?” Colton asks.
Again, I can’t help but think he is so different from what I expected. To ask where I’d like to go, rather than bossily tell me where we are going is another plus I’ll put toward this man being a good one.
“Let’s stay local. How about Club Whisky because they have great meals? Or TJs as they have food and dancing? Hm, you work at both of them don’t you, so maybe you don’t want to go to them? ”
“Hey, I’m good with either as long as I’m with you. Let’s go to TJs then we can dance, too.” Colton opens the door and we step outside. I’d expected he’d have his Harley, but he has an SUV sitting outside.
Arriving at TJs, we were able to get a table immediately. Looking at the menu and telling Colton what I’d like, I wait for him to come back when I notice what has to be Meat and Star. Sitting up taller, I frown as they have twins, one holding each of their hands. I didn’t know they had children!
But what has me shocked is Meat and Star are dressed like Fred and Wilma Flintstone. The twins are dressed as Bamm-Bamm who is Barney and Betty Rubble's adopted son. What the hell is going on here?
Colton returns taking his seat, and looking toward where my attention is fixed, he chuckles.
“Take no notice. It’s twin sitting night as Axel wanted to have time with Mia.
Next week, or next time they kid sit, they could be someone, or something else.
We all dread when they have kids. Can you imagine it? ”
Turning slowly to look at Colton, I’m not sure if I landed in another universe, because everyone but me seems to think all that is going on is normal!
Shaking my head to push past all this crazy, I put my attention back on Colton. “Where do you work, apart from door duties?”
Colton leans back in his seat. “I do whatever is asked of me by the club, mostly. But I work the doors, and I’ve been a fighter.”
“Oh, you mean like boxing, MMA, or something?” I ask, and I am genuinely interested. Colton shuffles in his seat and I can see he is nervous about answering, but I wait to see if he answers me honestly or skirts around .
Sighing, as he rubs his thigh, Colton answers. “Underground fighting. So, we fight however is needed to win.”
“Oh…” Now, that has taken me by surprise, but I don’t really give a damn what he’s done. It’s who he is that counts. “Okay. I’ve never been to anything like that. I’ve been to watch a boxing thing. I loved it if I’m honest with you. The atmosphere was electric.”
Colton is looking at me to see if I’m being serious I’m sure. “You serious?”
“Oh, yeah. He was nicknamed Cannonball. Not sure why, because he wasn’t that good and the other guy, without a nickname, pummeled him. I was happy that I hadn’t put money on the guy or I’d have been more than annoyed. Only took two rounds and it was over with.”
Colton chuckles, and I watch as that turns into a full-on laugh and as he throws his head back laughing, I can’t help but watch his Adam’s apple run up and down his throat, and shit, that is a sexy thing to see. I never knew that sort of thing could turn me on!
“That’s damn cool. I thought my fighting history would have you running for the hills, but you are not worried at all.” Colton smiles and I can’t help but return it.
“No, it doesn’t bother me at all.”
The rest of the evening we eat, drink a little, and dance some.
I have to say he’s one heck of a dancer.
But when he tells me he was roped into doing a strip on stage with his club brothers I am shocked, then highly amused.
It shows he is capable of dancing and not embarrassed that he can dance either. I like that; I like it a lot.
Dropping me at my door at the end of the evening, Colton kisses me softly before deepening it enough to leave us both breathless.
“ I’m leaving you now. I don’t want us to rush into this.
I want us to get to know each other before it gets to the next level.
But it will get to that level, Nyx, so be ready because once I claim you in that way you will be mine, and I take what’s mine seriously. ”
Not knowing what to say to that, I give him a small nod as he pushes me through my door. “Lock up, Nyx, and I’ll see you soon.”
Sighing after I hear Colton drive away, I can’t help the huge smile on my face as I get ready for bed. ‘Mine’ he said, and I can’t help the tingle of excitement as I think about that.