Page 1 of Marked by the Protective Biker (Heat & Ink)

FELON

I’m tense, sitting in my metal chair, with my gaze locked on Miss Riles. Her name is Emily, but we’re not supposed to call her that. She’s the only one in this place that offers any kind of light in all the darkness. She looks for the best in all of us, even the ones that don’t deserve it.

I’ve been here in Jasper Prison for a little over a year, and it was six months ago that Emily started working as a counselor to the inmates.

I had resisted counseling up to that point, but one look at her, and I knew I wouldn’t skip another meeting.

Hell, I attend more group meetings than is required of me, and the one-on-one meetings are the moments I cling to.

Emily fidgets in her seat, and I know it's because she feels something for me. There’s no hiding it even though she’s tried. But every meeting, I plant my ass in the seat closest to her and soak in her every move, every glance, and every hitched breath she has.

I arrived early to the conference where group therapy is held, hoping to talk to her for just a second, and she’s spent her time, head buried into case files, acting if she’s ignoring me. “Can we talk after?”

Finally, she lifts her big green eyes up to me.

I wonder if she realizes that desire is plain to see on her face.

She looks at the guard standing by the doorway across the room.

He’s not paying us any attention because he’s more focused on his phone than anything.

Just watching him pisses me off. He should be protecting Emily even though she doesn’t need protection from me. But that asshole doesn’t know that.

She sucks in a breath and slowly releases it. “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

I slouch down, trying to make myself smaller even though I’ve spent most of my life doing the opposite. I’m a big man compared to her, and the thought of her being afraid of me keeps me up most nights. “Are you scared of me?”

“No. I’m not scared of you at all,” she answers immediately, and I let out a sigh of relief.

She’s not lying. I’d know if she was. She may not realize it, but every emotion, every thought, everything shows on her face.

She doesn’t have the experience or the know-how to keep things hidden, and that’s why leaving her here scares the shit out of me.

These guys in here will prey on her innocence. They will fuckin’ ruin her.

“Then talk to me after the group session.”

She looks at me, surprised. I’ve never pressured her, but today I feel like I have to. “Please, Emily. I get out tomorrow. I just need to talk to you.”

She wants to. I can see it in the way her eyes are sparkling and the way she’s looking at me. Just when I think she’s going to say yes, she shakes her head. “I can’t.”

I fist my hands in my lap to stop from reaching for her. The thought of leaving her here is making me crazy. I want to protect her. Hell, I need to protect her, and I’m not sure how I’m going to do it when I’m outside these walls.

The door swings open, and more inmates walk in.

I watch each of them, and every fuckin’ one of them looks at Emily as if she’s a feast meant just for them.

The thought sickens me and pisses me off at the same time.

The urge to stand up and take down each and every fucker in the room is intense, but as if she senses my growing anger, Emily stands up and moves to the opposite side of the room.

She appears to be putting away files, and when she’s done, instead of joining the circle, she sits behind her desk.

I’m not sure if she’s putting distance between her and the whole group or just needing to put distance between the two of us, but I’m happy she’s over there, half hidden behind the big desk.

She starts the group session, and we all go around talking about anything we want to talk about since the last meeting. Every one of the guys has their eyes glued to Emily.

She doesn’t even seem to notice the effect she has on all the men here.

She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I’m not the only one to think so.

She’s curvy and has a grace about her that makes me salivate just watching her.

When she’s in any room, she commands everyone's attention. I’m not sure if that is her beauty or just the fact that whoever she’s talking to, she makes them feel like they are the most important person in the world.

I’m in here with some of the worst men there are, but she makes them believe in themselves.

In these sessions, most the guys don’t say much, and I’m normally that way too, but today is different. If this is my only chance to talk to Emily, then I’m going to have to find a way to do it now.

“Jack, do you have anything you want to say?”

Emily is the only one that can get away calling me by that name. To everyone else, I go by my last name, Felon.

I clench my fists together in my lap and look directly at her. “Yeah, I’ve got a few things to say.”

She tenses ever so slightly, and I’m sure she’s worried about what I’m going to say.

Does she think I’m going to announce my attraction to her, right here in front of everyone?

Hell, she may not know it, but every man in this prison, including the guards, knows she’s mine.

This is why she’s been protected and no one will touch her.

They won’t go against me or my club, the Exiled Guardians.

But I’m still worried about what may happen when I’m out beyond these walls.

She clears her throat. “Go on.”

I nod and stand up. “I get out tomorrow, and even though I’m leaving here, I still have eyes on the inside.

If anyone in here thinks they can take what’s mine…

put their hands on what is mine, well, then they have another think coming.

” I look around the room, making sure that I have everyone’s attention.

“Do not cross me. Do not cross my club. Do not touch what’s mine. ”

Everyone is nodding their heads because they know I’m not lying. Only a dumbass would cross me, unfortunately there are probably a few of them in this room or in this prison right now. I sit down in my seat, and Emily nods her head before turning to the guy sitting next to me.