Page 14 of Fang (Lotus MC: San Antonio #2)

W hy am I doing this again?

It’s the same question I have been asking myself for the past hour. Nothing I have seems like it is date-worthy. At least, not what I imagine to be date-worthy with my only knowledge of dates being movies and television shows.

Oh god. I need to cancel.

That’s the other thought in my head. I need to cancel. Why did I think it was smart to have a first date with a man like Fang? He’s so attractive and has a motorcycle. He’s a member of one of the most notorious MC clubs in the area. He’s a bad boy times ten.

I am not good enough for him.

He is going to want someone who is sexually free. A woman who is badass and knows what she wants. He isn’t going to like little ol’ insecure me. This date is going to show him how inexperienced I truly am.

I have no idea what I am doing.

I look back through my clothes once more. I don’t have anything remotely sexy that isn’t a costume for work.

I should have gone shopping.

I don’t have time now.

Pulling on my tightest pair of jeans, I pair it with one of my vintage concert T-shirts I was able to snag from the thrift shop. I don’t look like I’m going on a date, but it’s the best I can do.

Maybe he will see me and decide he doesn’t want to go out.

The thought both devastates yet relieves me.

I am a mess.

My heart starts to race as I watch the clock tick. I’ve gone with a more neutral makeup tone for the night. He’s seen me in full makeup, so now I want to show him who I am when I’m not at the club.

Looking at my shoe options, I settle on a small pair of ankle boots that I was able to get secondhand. I’ve worn them on stage a few times, but they are comfy and I can move in them.

Once I have them zipped, I look over myself once more in the mirror I hung above my desk. I can’t see my whole outfit, but I’m happy with what I see.

I start to pace as I wait for Fang to arrive.

What if he stands me up?

What if he changes his mind?

I’m so glad I was able to get a single room. No one wanted it because they can barely move in it. That much is obvious as I take three steps then turn and repeat.

Five minutes to go, and there’s a knock on the door.

I swear my heart feels like it skips a beat.

He’s here.

Taking a deep breath, I go to open the door. What I find on the other side isn’t the man I’ve come to know.

No, this is someone else. It has to be. There is no way Fang can be this attractive.

I blink once and realize it’s still him.

He has his dark-brown hair styled messy like he always does.

His beard is trimmed, making him look more clean-cut than normal.

That’s not what has him looking different, though.

It’s what he is wearing. I’m used to seeing him in stained jeans and T-shirts and combat boots.

The boots are still there, but he is wearing dark blue jeans that look clean paired with a gray button-down shirt underneath his cut and leather jacket.

In his hands, he has a bouquet of beautiful flowers that match the ones I received on my birthday. I smile as I look at the orange and white flowers.

It’s so unlike what I thought he would be like. I expected a rough and rowdy biker, not a sweet and suave man.

“Did you get these from Blooms?” I ask.

“I did. Do you like them?” He holds them out.

I take them from him, holding them up to my nose.

“I do. You know I shouldn’t like flowers. They are temporary and a waste of money, but I’m finding that I really like the joy they bring me.”

He smiles. “Then I’m glad I bought them for you. I like knowing you will be joyful when you look at them. I’m glad I sprung for the vase too.”

I blush at his admission. “Let me just put them on my desk.”

I watch as he eyes my small room but doesn’t say anything. I appreciate him keeping his mouth shut. I don’t want to taint tonight.

I meet him back at the door. “How did you get up here anyway?”

He smirks. “A girl downstairs let me in.”

I shake my head. “Something about a bad boy, huh?” I ask, locking my door behind me before leading him down the hall.

“Do you like a bad boy?” he teases.

I don’t know why, but his teasing makes me relax, and my insecurities take a back seat. It reminds me that this is just how things are between us.

“I don’t know what I like. I’ve never given it much thought. I guess we will find out tonight.” I wink at him over my shoulder.

His hand finds the small of my back, making me shiver. “I’ll make sure the answer is yes then.”

When we get down to the lobby, one of my dorm mates is waiting, frowning when she sees his arm around me.

“I guess that’s the girl you charmed?” I ask.

He laughs. “Something like that. Don’t worry. I made sure she knew that I was here to pick someone special up. I guess she was hoping she still had a shot.”

I roll my eyes. “Such a hot commodity.”

“Better snag me quick then,” he whispers in my ear as we come to a stop by his bike. “I bought you a gift.”

“You mean other than the flowers?”

He leans forward, grabbing a bright orange helmet. It’s slimmer and more feminine. Obviously for a woman.

“How did you know?” I ask, looking at the color I love so much.

“Penelope let it slip. I should have asked you myself, but I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, I’m surprised,” I tell him, turning toward him. “And thankful.”

“Here, let me put it on for you.”

I stand there, letting him put the helmet on me and securing it.

Once it’s on, he grabs the helmet by the chin, pulling me close to him. “Hang on tight. I’m going to go a little faster tonight.”

Butterflies are going crazy in my stomach as I look up at him. This feels good. Being with him feels right.

“You just want to feel my boobs on your back,” I joke.

He smirks. “I mean, I don’t hate that either. Don’t think I didn’t feel your hands all over my abs last time.”

“Hey, I was trying to stay alive.” I play offended, but the smile on my face ruins it.

“I’ll sacrifice my body for your safety.” He leans down as if he might kiss me even though he can’t reach me through the helmet.

The intensity in his eyes makes my breath catch. Then he flips down my visor.

I take a few deep breaths as he puts his own helmet on, mounting the bike. Then he holds his hand out for me.

I wrap my body around his, my hands finding their way on his abs just like he said. I rub them a little. His laugh echoes in my helmet.

“I can hear you,” I exclaim.

“Yep. Now we can talk as we ride.”

I smile. I think I could get used to this.

When Cami first climbed behind me on my bike, I had no idea what we were unlocking. It’s become an addiction. I would try everything I could to get her back where she belongs.

She wasn’t wrong when she said I liked feeling her tits pressed against me, but it’s more than that. I like having her hands on my chest and knowing that all I have to do is reach back and I can touch her.

It makes her feel like mine.

She is mine. She just doesn’t know it yet. I have to show her.

That’s why I brought her to Cosmic Mayhem, a local arcade that also has axe throwing, billiards, and glow-in-the-dark mini golf.

When we pulled up, she looked surprised, but by the time she kicked my ass at mini golf and billiards she was having a blast. Now we are onto axe throwing as the night draws to a close.

This place closes soon, and I’m not ready to take her home.

“Okay, how about we risk it all for the biscuit?” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her from the back.

She leans back into me, making me smile. At first she was a little shy, but as the night has gone on, our touches have become more frequent. The comfort is setting in.

“What do you have in mind?” she asks, turning in my arms as she looks up at me, her hands falling to my chest.

“How about for each axe you land, I will answer whatever question you want and you do the same for me?”

She hesitates. I know why. We have already gone over parts of her childhood.

Not in great detail, but I know she is traumatized by it.

We have also talked about her college and what she is studying.

She stopped everything when I asked about the future, though.

I want to know why that is, and she knows it.

Not that I am any better. I was happy to tell her all about my childhood and the shit I’ve long since gotten over, but I didn’t want to get into what led me to Texas. She did, however, get my real name out of me.We both have our secrets. Things on the line.

The question is, does she want to know about me more than she wants to keep her own secrets?

“I thought you would have wagered clothing. That would have been easier,” she mutters.

“It would have been, and we would have had fun, but this isn’t just about fun. You get that right?” I ask, suddenly unsure if I have made my intentions clear.

“It can’t last, though, can it? I mean, I’m a stripper and you’re a biker.” She looks down.

I pull her chin up to look at me. “It can. Your occupation at the moment is stripper. One day you will graduate with that fancy college degree and take on the world. The days of you taking your clothes off for strange men will be over. I’m hoping you’ll be able to overlook the biker thing and let me be the one beside you when you take on the world. What do you say?”

“I say that this is the first date and you are being a bit too serious. Let’s play your stupid game.”

She pulls away, turning to look at the target.

I watch as she picks up an axe, throwing it at the board. When it hits its mark, she turns and smiles.

“Okay, how about you tell me about Vegas?” She leans against the table, taking a drink of the water she ordered.

“Can’t I take off my shirt instead? Remember the abs? You love those,” I tease.

“Nope. You made the rules, not me.”