Outlaw's Vow: Grizzlies MC Romance(2)
He chuckled. “Aw, come on, Elle Jo. She's not so bad. I hear the principle wants to have her talking at graduation so none of us go off to college thinking we've got it easy.”
Another smile. A shallow nod. I pressed the button on my seatbelt and slid toward the door.
No sooner than I popped it open, Mike reached over and grabbed my wrist. I looked back, staring into his watery, nervous eyes.
“I didn't get a chance to tell you...god damn, you look so beautiful tonight, Elle. Good enough to kiss. All the kids say you've never done anything before. That can't be true, can it?”
His voice sounded strange. Anxious. Disbelieving. Desperate.
Like a little boy, rather than a man who'd just turned eighteen. A wet blanket instantly smothered what little attraction I'd had for him on the dance floor.
Great way to end the night, Mike, I thought. I wouldn't have wasted my first kiss on you anyway, but you've just lost your chance after graduation by bringing up crappy gossip.
Ugh, this was only my third real date, and I already hated this part. I softened my face and shook my head, trying to give him those puppy dog eyes so he'd let me off thinking maybe there's a chance. My stomach twisted in knots.
“Have a great night. I really need to go.”
If only it were that easy. The idiot wouldn't let go. I turned, losing the friendly pity I'd worn on my face earlier.
“Let me show you what it's like to be a woman, baby. Please. Seriously. I can make you feel so good...we don't have to fight this. I saw the way you were looking at me on the dance floor. Your dad's not even home, is he?”
Mike nodded to my house with the porch light on. No, daddy was probably out at the clubhouse handling very important biker badass business, but he always came back by curfew, or else sent a prospect around to check that I was home safe.
We wouldn't be alone out here long, thank god.
“He'll be home anytime, if he isn't already. Early morning and all. Thanks again for the wonderful night.” The door popped and I flung it open, ready for my escape.
His face twisted. Releasing my hand with a snarl, he gripped the steering wheel, looking more than ready to rev the engine and tear down the street.
“Whatever, you uptight fucking bitch. You know I was the only one man enough to even ask you to prom. Figures that I wouldn't get a boob out of it.”
For a second, I sat there with one foot out the door, frozen in shock at the Jekyll and Hyde transformation unfolding before my eyes.
Asshole! I wanted to slap him across the face.
Before I could do anything, a rock hit the glass on Mike's side. We both jumped, watching a long, jagged fracture spreading across the window.
“What the –“
Mike never got the last word out before somebody ripped his door open. Muscular arms striped with lightning reached inside, pulled him out, and slammed him against the hood.
He had his back turned to me, but I knew it was the bastard next door before I saw the back of his cut with the roaring bear on the back. Holy shit.
Mike screamed like a girl as Austin held him down, one tight fist hovering over his face, ready to wreck his good looks forever.
“Austin, don't! Are you crazy?!”
I should've already known the answer.
He looked up with his freshly shaven head, his jaw tight, causing the lightning bolts he'd had inked on his temples earlier this year to twitch. Our eyes met, and I heard thunder. Or maybe it was just the blood hissing in my ears.
“No fucking way, princess. What's crazy is overhearing this shithead talking to you like a piece of meat when his balls haven't even dropped yet. Maybe I oughta put my boot up his ass and help 'em pop.”
Mike made another noise, a garbled plea to let him up. Austin growled, and slammed him into the metal again, hard enough to rattle bones.
“Shut the fuck up. Give your date an apology, and maybe I'll think about it if you talk real nice and really mean it.”
I wasn't sure whether I'd die first from embarrassment or laughter. Seeing Mike put in his place had a crazy kind of satisfaction. And there was another satisfaction I didn't want to acknowledge when I saw the boy down the street at his baddest, his muscles flexed, that killer glint in his eye I'd seen on daddy's face several times in my life.
“Austin, please, he didn't mean any harm. Did you, Mike?” I walked over, pursing my lips, staring at the little jackass who'd just ruined my prom night forever.
Tears messed up Mike's hot, red face. He looked at me for a split second and then shook his head violently.
“No ma'am. No way, no fucking way! I'm sorry. I really am. I got a little hot under the collar, a little disappointed, that's all. Please believe me! I don't want any trouble with these biker guys, just tell him to –“
My jaw dropped as Austin picked him up again, spun him around, and slammed him face first into the car like he was nothing. “You think I take orders from her just because her old man's fucking god on the open road around here? Fuck, kid, you're stupider than you look.”