JOLIE
Iwalked through the house, my bare feet making asoft slapping sound on the cold marble floors. In the kitchen Ipoured myself alarge glass of wine from abottle that had been on the shelf. Iwasn’tsure who’dlived there previously, but Iwasn’tstupid; Iknew it wasn’tbiker territory. It was too clean, too classy, and just too damn nice to have anything to do with bikers. Idowned the first glass and poured asecond, listening to the sound of Gauge’sheavy feet stomping through the house. His footsteps got closer and closer until he rounded the corner into the kitchen before coming to an abrupt stop.
“What the fuck are you doin’?” he asked from the doorway.
Iturned to look at him. “I’mdrinking wine and getting ready to do some yoga. What the fuck are you doing?”
“You’re naked,” he said incredulously, his jaw ticking. “You’re doing naked yoga?”
“It’shot yoga, asshole,” Ireplied, propping my hand on my hip.
He snorted out ahumorless laugh. He still hadn’ttorn his gaze away from mine, but it was obvious he was desperate to. Gauge was aman of control, and Ihad caught him off guard when we’dbeen in my yard back at my house, and Irealized that was exactly what Ineeded to do now.
Ihad decided, after ourTop Gunmovie night, that Iwanted him. Just the once. Ihated that Iwanted him, but Iwasn’tgoing to fight myself on it anymore. Iwas tired of fighting myself. The best way to get him out of my head was to take control of the situation. Ihad been controlled my whole life, and after everything that had happened in the past week, Ifelt that control tightening like anoose. Gauge was everything Ihated, yet despite that, Istill wanted him—his touch, his kisses, his words… Iwanted it all, just once, so Icould take some of that control back. And if he wouldn’twillingly give me what Iwanted, then I’dhave to make him an offer he couldn'trefuse.
He loved his club and his brotherhood, and he would never willingly jeopardize any of that. But he was, after all, just aman, and Iknew how to play men to get what Iwanted.
So hot naked yoga it was.
The wine was for my nerves, because despite my outward confidence, losing your virginity was always going to be nerve-racking.
“Hot yoga? And you need to be naked for that?” he said with ashake of his head.
Ishrugged and took another sip of wine. “It gets hot…” Ilet my wine slosh alittle, adrop of red dripping onto my chest, and Ireached down and swiped it up with my thumb before sucking it into my mouth. “Oops.”
Gauge chuckled and shook his head before turning to leave. I’dwoken up that morning alone in the TV room. At first Ihad been angry that he’djust left me there alone, but then Inoted how he’dleft me aglass of water and had thrown ablanket over me. How he’ddimmed the lights and made sure the air con was on. Gauge cared, even if he hadn’tadmitted it to himself yet. He saw me as Dom’slittle sister, but Iwas done playing that role. All the time Ihad wasted being the only daughter, the only sister, the youngest of the Durrand family, the letdown, the fuckup.
“Leaving so soon?” Iasked as he started to walk away. He’dbeen avoiding me all day, leaving any room that Iwas in and avoiding my gaze, so I’dresorted to my body and the power that it seemed to hold over the men at Hazy Nights. It was adirty trick, but Iwas willing to play dirty to get what Iwanted.
“Idon’tneed your bullshit right now, Jolie,” he replied. “My heads fuckin’ killing me and Ineed something to eat.”
Isipped my wine. “There’ssome stuff in the freezer, Ithink.” Iput my glass down and stalked slowly toward the freezer, readying to open the door and when Iturned to look at him he had turned back around, his gaze firmly on my ass. “Should Ilook for you?” Iasked, my nipples already hardening just from being near the freezer.
Gauge’sgaze darkened and he dragged his hand down his beard. “Sure, Jolie. Open the door and take alook for me.” He picked up my glass of wine and downed the entire contents, his eyes firmly on mine.
Iheld his stare, which was both adare and athreat.
Opening the freezer door, Ibent down and looked inside, the ice-cold air sending ashiver through my naked body. My nipples instantly turned to pebbles, and goosebumps marred my skin. Igrabbed abox of frozen burgers, though God only knew how long they’dbeen in there, and Ipulled them out, holding them up for him to see. But where he had been sitting, the space was now empty.
“Gauge?” Icalled his name, slamming the freezer door shut. “Are you not hungry anymore?” Ilaughed, realizing that he’dturned and left. There was only one reason he would let me win that round, and that was because his will was weakening.
Istormed through the kitchen in his wake, the stupid burgers still in my hand. Seeing the back of him head outside to the yard, Icontinued to taunt him.
“Hey, Gauge, Isaid are you not hungry anymore? We have burgers,” Ilaughed. Stepping outside, Ifound Gauge sitting down on asun lounger with his head in his hands.
He looked up briefly as Icame out but looked away just as quickly. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ, Jolie, put some goddamn clothes on!” he yelled, still staring down at his feet.
Ilaughed as Ithrew the box of frozen burgers at his feet. “Iwas just offering you aburger. What’swrong with you?” Icouldn’thide the triumphant smirk from my face as Inoted his torn expression.
He dragged his hands down his face and made agrowl sound into them, causing me to laugh even more.
“It’sjust anaked body, Gauge, no big deal. I’msure you’ve seen plenty of naked bodies before; it’sjust tits and ass, no big deal.” Iturned and began walking away, stopping only when Iheard him speak again.
“Ifuckin’ hate you, you know that,” he said, and Iheld my middle finger up as Ilooked back at him.
“Good.” Isneered down at him.
We were at an impasse and this had not gone at all like Ihad planned. My chest was heaving, the wine and adrenaline had gone to my head, but that wasn’twhat was wrong with me. It was this, us. This battle that we always had. He wanted me; Icould see it on his face, in the way he couldn’tbear to look at me because he knew he would lose control…and that pissed me off more. Why did he get to have control? Why did men like him always get to have control?
