PROLOGUE – SHE’S NOT MINE
Reaper
I want her.
Those curves. That smile. I’ve never been so attracted to a woman. I take a swig of my beer and watch as she talks to her sister, Elena. We are at Elena and Axle’s wedding. The men mentioned Elena had a sister, but I have never seen her before today, and I know I won’t be forgetting her anytime soon. She leans in, picks up her champagne, and takes a few sips. When she places it on the table, the strap of her dress falls from her shoulder, and all I want to do is taste her.
I readjust myself in my seat.
Viper elbows me. “You like her?” He gives Elena’s sister a pointed look.
Bomber leans in from the other side of me, listening to our conversation.
“I do.” I want her badly.
“Her name’s Ava,” says Viper.
I raise a brow, and he grins smugly.
“What?” he says with his hands up. “She’s fucking hot, so of course I asked Axle about her.”
My jaw clenches. The possessiveness shooting through me surprises me. I don’t even know her. I glance at Bomber, and the side of his lip twitches like he’s smothering a smirk. The observant bastard misses nothing.
“She’s married,” Viper chimes in. “Not that it means anything these days.”
I lift my hand to my chin. “I wonder how committed.”
“Axle didn’t say, but he warned me to stay away. He said—and I quote—‘I want to have sex with my wife tonight, and I don’t want anyone fucking that up for me. So Ava’s off limits.’” Viper’s voice mocks Axle’s.
Ava is still deep in conversation with Elena; then they laugh. The music is too loud, so I can’t hear them, but it makes me curious as to what her laugh sounds like.
“Is her husband here?” I ask Viper.
He laughs. “It’s the guy sitting next to Elena’s mom at the table next to the bride and groom.”
I peer at Elena’s parents and see a man gulping half of his bottle of beer next to them. His eyes are on Ava.
“She’s with the drunk?” I ask, shocked, remembering the man stumbling to the bar earlier.
“Yep. I couldn’t believe it either. She’s way too good for him.”
I stare at the man who has what I want. He’s average looking, nothing special.
“I saw him earlier, but I thought he was a family member.”
I haven’t seen him touch or kiss Ava or show any affection that would suggest they’re married. If she was mine, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her. I’d want the world to know.
“Viper,” Candy calls from the dance floor. “Come and dance with me.”
His smile widens. “I’m coming.” He stands. “Well, fellas, it’s my time to shine.”
Chuckling, I shake my head.
He fixes his hair like he’s a peacock parading its feathers. “What? I’ve got moves.”
“Yeah, okay, Justin Timberlake,” I taunt.
He walks to Candy, puts his arm across her back, and dips her backward, lifting a brow and grinning at us. She lets out a squeal and laughs.
