Damaged and the Outlaw (2 page)

Leaving him to
change his pants, I strolled to my Harley and hoped to catch up to Raven. At
this point, I wondered if all my effort was worth the outcome. An abstaining
ice princess with violent tendencies meant I was more likely to get kicked in
the balls than laid. Either way, I was too far into the chase to give up.

Arriving at
Tequila Jodi’s, I found the parking lot nearly empty. Inside the Key West flavored bar, a few old timers in the corner played cards while talking about
pussy they likely hadn’t seen in a few decades.
At least, not for free.

In the opposite
corner were a few college girls moping in their beers. They looked up when I
entered then glanced at the bar where I found Beavis and Butthead. Having shot
down the losers, they wanted to warn me that I was next on the perverts’ radars.
I gave the girls a nod then hopped onto the stool.

Glancing at the
losers, I noticed them grin in unison. I couldn’t imagine their plan. Was I
supposed to hook up with them both or choose between Dumb and Dumber? Ignoring
their lame smiles, I ordered a beer and looked at my hand.

I couldn’t
believe the little dipshit bit me during the fight. After all her whining about
me not hurting her before the big picture day, she gnawed at my hand like a rabid
dog. Stupid bitch was going to look like shit in her pictures. I’d made sure to
nail her square in the nose to give her two black eyes. Even getting my revenge,
I couldn’t believe how much my hand hurt.

Two beers later,
the pain was better and I no longer hated the chick. I even hoped she hid the
black eyes I gave her when she tried to eat me. As I settled into a
booze-induced good mood, the lame fucks at the end of the bar scooted closer. I
was ready to tell them about the gun I was carrying when their focus turned
towards the door

Following their
gazes, I saw Vaughn Majors in all of his hot shit glory. Guys like Vaughn were
vain in the best way. His powerful shoulders and chest demanded an extra large
tee to fit comfortably. Of course, an extra large shirt would hang loose over
his ripped stomach.
What could he do?
Simply buy a large tee so it clung
to his every sexy curve. Hell, I could probably see a mosquito bite under such
a tight shirt. His vanity gave me quite the view.

Hotter than sin,
Vaughn was a shining example of the wrong guy. He intimidated men when he
wasn’t dampening the panties of every chick in the room. He walked to the bar
like he was ready to hit someone then fuck a random chick to celebrate his win.

I’d been
impressed since seeing him in passing when he came by the house to talk to the
Johanssons. Having avoided him since then, I planned to do so again. Sexy and
up to no good was exactly the kind of man I needed to abstain from. Of course,
he walked directly to where I sat and took the stool to my right.

“Lark’s sister.”

“Cooper’s peon.”

A grinning
Vaughn tapped the bar to get the bartender’s attention. Once he had a beer, his
gaze returned to me.

“Saw you fight.
Little bitch bit you, huh?”

After showing
him my hand, I forced my gaze to my drink and away from his bright blue eyes.

“The biters are
the worst,” I muttered. “So you like watching chicks wrestle. Typical.”

“Bailey wanted
to come,” he said, adjusting on the stool so he was sitting even closer. “She
misses punching people.”

“I don’t blame
her.”

As Vaughn
studied my face, I acted like I didn’t care. It wasn’t easy though with his
maleness so damn intoxicating. Yet, I was abstaining specifically from guys
like him.

“I bet you’re a
real heartbreaker,” he said, giving me a nearly irresistible smile.

“I’ve never
broken a single heart,” I admitted. “I’ve broken more than a few noses and
stomped on several ball sacks though.”

Vaughn’s grin
widened. “Let me buy you a drink.”

“I have a
drink.”

“Fine. Let me
take you to a booth and sweet talk your sexy ass into my bed tonight.”

“I’m abstaining
from fucking guys like you.”

“Guys like me?
You mean, sexy bastards that’ll make you scream their names?”

“Yeah,
basically.”

As he slid a bit
closer, I caught a whiff of his cologne. Smelling like chocolate, the scent was
bait to any self-respecting woman. Like a moth to the flame, I had the worst
urge to give him a lick and get a taste.

“Why don’t we
just talk then?” he said soft and seductive. “We share friends. Let’s get
acquainted, so it won’t be awkward at the crew get-togethers.”

“Crew?”

“It’s what
Tucker calls the group. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but most of the crew is
hooked up with someone. If we’re going to play solo, we might as well become
friends.”

“I don’t have
guy friends. Just don’t believe in it. The only thing men have to offer is what
I’m abstaining from.”

A smirking
Vaughn took my drink and gestured towards the nearby empty booth. “You and I
are in the same boat with the crew. So I guess you’re going to have guy friends
whether you like it or not.”

Despite my brain
screaming for me to run from the bar and never look back, I followed Vaughn to
the booth. He leaned back and stretched out his long legs.

“This is nice.
Two friends being friendly,” he said.

Rolling my eyes,
I sipped my drink and ignored his cocky smile.

“How long has it
been?” he asked, tapping my sandal with his boot. “The abstaining thing.”

Crossing my arms
under my tits, I tightened them and pushed up the girls for him to admire.
I
always loved teasing boys.

“I bet you’ve
banged a girl recently. Like I could probably smell her on you, if I got close
enough,” I grumbled, remembering how he smelled like chocolate and I had a
sweet tooth. “You’re likely crawling with germs.”

Instead of
finding offense, Vaughn watched me in a weird way. His lids lowered as the
corners of his mouth lifted. A sly look on his face, Vaughn ran his tongue
along his top teeth.

“I have a
system,” he said softly. “After I hook up with a random chick, I shower with a
big bottle of Purell. One of those economy-sized ones.”

Even smiling, I
kicked his foot away from mine. “I’m a bath person myself. Just fill up the tub
with really hot water then toss in a cap of bleach plus a few bubbles and I’m
set.”

“Gotta have
bubbles,” he said in a deep low voice.

“What are you
doing?”

Vaughn shook his
head, yet his gaze held mine. “Just admiring your beautiful smile.”

Rolling my eyes
again, I sighed. “Lame.”

“I know. I
really do. I use that line a lot, but it’s true with you. That smile changes
your face. Makes you less sex kitten and more angel.”

“I’m no angel.”

“What a relief.
I don’t like good girls.”

“I didn’t say I
was bad.”

Vaughn sucked at
his lower lip and sized me up with those eyes. “You didn’t have to, kitten.”

“Don’t call me
that.”

“Sugar?” he
said, grinning brighter now. “Your sister didn’t like my nickname for her
either.”

“Why would you
give my sister a nickname?”

“Don’t be
jealous. I like giving girls nicknames. Even girls I don’t want to spend time
inside.”

“I can’t believe
those lines ever work.”

“They don’t.
Girls are drawn to my looks, not my personality.”

Snorting, I
begged myself to stop smiling. “And you’re proud of this fact?”

“I’m proud of
very little, pumpkin.”

“Keep trying.”

When Vaughn
spotted someone and his smile faded, I followed his gaze to Beavis and
Butthead.

“You’re
insecure,” I said, kicking his foot lightly. “I find that sexy in a guy. Too
bad I’m abstaining.”

Vaughn finally
returned his gaze to me where it mellowed. “Why abstain exactly?”

“I told you.”

“If these past
guys were losers, seems like you could just abstain from relationships. Why
abstain from fucking? You frigid?”

“Yes, very much
so.”

“I sense that
about you,” he said, giving me a sly grin. “Betcha couldn’t handle a guy like
me.”

“Reverse
psychology. Really? I expected more from you.”

“I do what I
need to.”

“Fuck another
girl. There are a few hot ones in the corner.”

“Saw them then I
saw you. Now, I can’t look away.”

“Barf.”

Vaughn laughed a
genuine laugh. No games or come-ons. I’d actually made the guy giggle like a
bitch.

“You’re really
abstaining? Even from a chance to enjoy all this?” he asked, waving his hands
around to show off his strong chest and hard stomach. “I’m the real deal. Not
wearing a girdle to hold in the gut or anything.”

Vaughn lifted
his tee to show off his stomach and I nodded my approval.

“Nice, but I’m
abstaining.”

“Why from the sex?
Do you think you can’t screw a guy without falling in love? Are you that weak?”

“Stop playing
your Jedi mind games on me.”

“Jedi?” he
asked, giving me a frown. “Wait, are you a nerd?”

“No, but I
assumed you were. There’s an arrested development vibe about you. Like you play
a lot of video games and get horny for Lt. Uhura.”

“Oh, hell, you
are a
Star Trek
nerd.”

“No,” I said,
taking a gulp of beer. “I had a stepdad who was into that crap. He had all
these nerd friends who came over and they’d talk about the show as if it was
super cool. The only time I found
Star Trek
even remotely interesting
was when they had the episode on
Futurama
about it.”

“Sure, nerd.”

“I like that
nickname. Stick with it.”

“I’m not sure
you really fit the nerd stereotype.”

“And you don’t
fit the manwhore stereotype. For one thing, your pick up lines are awful.”

When Vaughn
laughed again, he seemed different. Less like an animal on the prowl and more
like a guy chatting up another member of the crew. I didn’t buy it though. The
guy wanted in my panties. I wanted him in them too. Sitting there drinking our
beers, I wondered how he would make it happen when I was sticking with my abstinence
plan.

The stress of
wanting what I couldn’t have made me crave something else I couldn’t enjoy.
Reaching into my bag, I found my nicotine gum and popped a piece into my mouth.

“Not going to
offer?” he asked, tapping my foot in his weird attempt at foreplay.

“It’s
Nicorette.”

“I gave up
smoking years ago.”

Rolling my eyes,
I kicked his foot away. “How long could you have smoked if you gave it up years
ago?”

“I was a pack a
day smoker for four months. The best quarter of a year of my life.”

“Idiot,” I said,
grinning at him.

“Giving up
smoking and fucking at the same time. Do you have a reason to punish yourself
like that?”

“I’m a horrible
person.”

“I can see that.
Look at how you’re breaking my heart over here.”

Bursting into
laughter, I begged, “Please, fucking stop. Your shitty lines are making me want
to smoke more.”

“Because they
make you so horny?” he asked, already laughing before he finished. “I know
they’re making me pretty hard.”

“What’s your
game plan here, stud? Harass me until I fuck you? I think I’d rather just nail
you in the balls and make a run for it.”

“Sex is
relaxing, you know?” he said, grinning in his devious manwhore way.

“I know.”

“Why not just
fuck someone and stay away from the crappy relationship stuff? It’s what I do.”

“How do I know I
won’t blow your mind and you’ll become a clingy bitch?”

“I think I’ll be
fine.”

“Can’t trust
it.”

Vaughn leaned
back in the booth and sized me up. While we enjoyed our beers and he devised a
new game plan to get me naked, I admired everything I would have access to if
we made it to bed. Those wide shoulders, strong chest, full lips, I wanted them
all.

Hanging from a
silver chain around his neck, a dagger shined in the light of the bar. I swore
the damn thing was winking at me, so I looked away and focused on his hands. Quickly,
I imagined his strong fingers exploring my body. Heat rushed over my body and
nuzzled the spot between my legs. Even pretending I was unimpressed, I wanted
Vaughn to win this battle.

“Look, you and I
are in the same boat,” he said softly. “We’re loners in the crew. Unlike
Bailey, we don’t want to hook-up for good. We just want to let off some steam.
We could be friends with benefits.”

“Fuck buddies,
huh?”

“I like your
term better,” Vaughn said, giving a flash of anger at the men still eyeing us.
“I might need to leave you, so I can kick their asses.”

“I think I can
manage without you.”