Page 31 of Primal Urges (Bikers of Mayhem #1)

LUCAS

L ucas’s stomach had been in knots all morning. He couldn’t shake this unsettling feeling that he was being watched.

Ever since he saw that fucking hummingbird in the window, his nerves had been on edge.

It had to be all in his head. What were the chances that Darryl had randomly stumbled upon his video among all the millions of crazy videos that were out there online?

Even if he had… somehow… managed to stumble across the video, what were the chances that he would be able to identify the bar and then come and find him in New Mexico?

No. The hummingbird had to be a coincidence, the same as the fire.

Random shit happens all the time.

It didn’t mean anything.

He hoped his theories were true.

Not wanting to annoy Caden, Lucas decided to go for a walk to clear his head.

He headed down Main Street with no particular destination in mind.

The day was warm, with a slight overcast, perfect for roaming around and worrying about getting a sunburn or overheating.

What was he, seventy? Who worries about “overheating” while taking a walk?

Okay, clearly, he wasn’t in the right state of mind .

No matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept coming back to that damn figurine.

It had to just be a coincidence. There was no way Darryl had found him.

Hummingbird.

The word sent shivers down his spine.

My sweet little hummingbird…

Taking full control, his mind pulled him back through his memories—back to the days when those four little words had meant something so sweet. Four loving words that used to make his heart swoon. Four little words that now brought nothing but fear to his heart.

It was their first weekend getaway together as an official couple. Darryl had surprised Lucas with a weekend stay at this cute little bed-and-breakfast out in Napa Valley.

The place they stayed at was a cozy four-bedroom home that overlooked a small local vineyard. Each morning, a subtle hint of oak wafted through the bedroom window. It was a scent that would always remind Lucas of the walks they took in the overgrown vineyards of Napa Valley.

Lucas had been excited since he found out about their trip. It was the first time that he would be having a romantic weekend away with his significant other… his boyfriend , if you will.

He loved saying that.

Boyfriend.

He had a boyfriend.

A ruggedly handsome, six-foot-four beast of a man who wanted him.

Who enjoyed holding him in his arms, ordering for him at dinner, and even whispering all the nasty, dirty things that he wanted to do to him when they got back to their apartment.

The man was a beast when it came to the bedroom.

He liked it rough and very controlling. Darryl was the type of man who liked to give orders in bed and expected Lucas to follow instructions to the letter.

Lucas had to admit having such a possessive boyfriend was kind of hot. He knew what he wanted and went after it. Lucas never felt so desired. So wanted.

“What are you staring at, my little hummingbird?”

A smile spread across Lucas’s face at the new term of endearment.

“Hummingbird? That’s a new one,” Lucas replied, without turning from the window.

“It’s because my sexy boy never stops singing.”

The man could be so sweet.

Darryl stepped up behind him and lowered a tiny figurine in front of Lucas’s face.

The porcelain figure twinkled as it spun on the string held between his boyfriend’s fingers. Like a master holding a treat out in front of his dog, Darryl playfully twirled the figurine, trying to entice him.

“It’s beautiful.” Lucas gasped, taking the little bird in his hands and holding it out in front of him.

It was a blue-and-black painted ornament of a hummingbird. Its wings were spread wide as it sucked nectar from a sunflower.

“A tiny hummingbird, for my sweet little hummingbird,” Darryl repeated, placing a kiss on Lucas’s neck.

The man could be so romantic when he wanted to be.

Lucas turned around to face his knight in shining armor.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” Lucas said, leaning in and giving his man a passionate kiss.

They had been dating for almost two months at that point, long enough for Lucas to fall in love but not long enough for Lucas to discover Darryl’s darkness within.

Looking back on everything they had gone through, Lucas still couldn’t believe that he had not seen the signs earlier. People really do wear rose-colored glasses when they are in love.

He hated himself for being so blind.

Stopping at the corner, Lucas looked around before proceeding to cross the road. Just as he was about to step onto the pavement, his body froze, and the blood drained from his face.

Standing across the street and next to a row of bushes was a large man wearing solid blue jeans and aviator sunglasses.

Darryl?

Lucas’s heart stopped in his chest as panic washed over him.

He was here! He’d found him! He was going to be so mad. Probably take him out to the desert and shoot him.

Men like Darryl didn’t like to be disobeyed. Men like Darryl didn’t like their things walking out on them.

His heart was racing so fast. He needed to move. To run. Hop on a bus and take off again in another direction.

He was beginning to feel lightheaded.

His vision was starting to blur.

Was he having trouble breathing?

He couldn’t remember what he was doing.

“Is everything alright, sir?” a woman’s voice asked beside him.

Lucas’s vision came back into focus, and he was able to see the woman standing right next to him.

“Huh?” Lucas asked, feeling confused and disoriented.

“Are you alright? You’ve been staring at that bush for the last five minutes.”

Bush? Darryl!

Lucas’s head snapped in the direction of the spot where he had last seen his nightmare.

What the?

The street was empty.

Lucas’s eyes darted around, desperately trying to locate the man who had made the last few years of his life a living nightmare.

Nothing. No one.

The street was empty.

Had he just imagined seeing his ex standing there? Was it all in his head? Was he actually starting to lose his mind?

Fear will fuck with your mind, that annoying inner voice of his explained.

Get a grip and pull yourself together. Do you think that Cade wants a delusional man hanging around his six-year-old daughter?

Do you think that Caden wants to fuck a man whose head needs to be examined?

Fuck. He was losing it.

“I’m fine. Thank you,” Lucas said, quickly stepping across the street and making his way back to Caden’s.

So much for clearing your head , Lucas thought to himself.