Royal Savage(10)

“Just great,” Colton yells out, running a hand through his perfectly styled, blonde hair, and rubbing his pink neck. He backs away from Royal and grunts, while looking over at me. “Why don’t you just leave with my brother here then? Go ahead.” He crosses his arms and watches me, testing me. “There’s plenty of room on the back of his bike.”

“Fine.” Clearly not thinking straight, I walk over to Royal’s bike and stop, swallowing hard as I look him in the face. Royal instantly grabs for his helmet and places it on my head, looking me in the eyes the whole damn time. He’s good with those damn things; too good. I pull my eyes away from his, clear my throat, and turn to Colton. “Enjoy your little party. I know you’ll show them more respect than you’ve clearly just shown your own damn brother. The one that I never even knew you had, by the way.”

“Marie . . .” he scolds, as if I’m a child. “I was joking. Don’t leave.” He clenches his fists at his sides as he watches me hop onto the back of Royal’s bike and scoot up behind him. “Get off my brother’s bike. It’s dangerous. He’s dangerous and careless.”

I suck in a deep breath as Royal starts his bike and grabs my arms, wrapping them around his waist with force. His hands feel rough against my skin, the total opposite of Colton’s smooth fingers. “Hold on tight, Darlin’, and don’t fucking let go.”

Colton’s eyes land on my arms around Royal’s waist and he grinds his jaw in disapproval. “Off. Now.”

I place the exposed skin of my cheek against Royal’s hard back, facing Colton. I’m doing this now. No turning back. “No,” I growl up at him, wrapping my arms tighter around Royal. “And my name is Avalon for the last damn time. Goodbye, Colton. Don’t call me until you’re done being an ass.”

Jax laughs from beside us and then hops on his bike, flicking his cigarette at Colton. “Later, bitch.”

Colton watches in disbelief as Royal takes off with me on the back of his bike. It seems his friends look just as confused as their eyes land on us.

I allow myself to watch his shocked reaction for a few seconds, before turning away and holding on for dear life. I’ve never been on a motorcycle and I can’t deny that I’m scared shitless right now.

Somehow escaping Colton seemed worth the risk. If there’s one thing that I hate, it’s judgmental assholes that think they’re too good for others, and that’s all Colton has been all day. I’m over it right now.



WE PULL UP BEHIND A bar called Savage & Ink, and Royal kills the engine, reaching behind him to help me off his bike. He’s rough, yet careful not to hurt me at the same time.

Smirking, he climbs off his bike and reaches over to take his helmet off my head. “Your first time on a bike?”

I nod my head and work on fixing my wild hair. “Yeah. You could tell?”

“From your death grip . . . yeah.” He lifts his eyebrows at Jax as he pulls up beside us, and parks.

I feel a bit uncomfortable standing here with two guys I don’t even know, but oddly more welcome than I felt at Colton’s party.

“Sorry about that,” I say with a sigh. “And I’m sorry about last–”

“Shit happens,” Royal says, cutting me off.

“Come on.” He reaches for my hand and starts pulling me behind him, while reaching into his pocket with his free hand. “I’ve got to check on these dicks, and since you hopped on my bike . . . I guess you’re my responsibility for the night.”

After a few seconds of digging, he pulls out a key and unlocks the door, guiding me inside and past what looks to be a tattoo parlor. “Is this your place?” I ask, while looking around at the hand drawn art on the walls. “It’s amazing and stunning. Such beautiful artwork.”

“Yeah,” he responds, but doesn’t offer anything else.

We walk down the hall a little further, until Jax pushes past us and opens the door to a bar. He turns back to me and eyes me up and down. “Stay close to Royal. If he gets called away, then stay by me. These assholes are ruthless and will try to fuck you if they see an opening.”

My heart speeds up from nerves as I’m guided into a room full of tatted up men playing pool, darts, and drinking beer.

They’re loud and rowdy, not giving a shit about what anyone else thinks and they all seem to look as if they feel at home here. Seeing the proud look on Royal’s face makes me smile. It’s crazy to see just how opposite he is from his brother. Amazing really.

Royal encloses his hand around mine again and pulls me through the room, keeping me close by his side. He steps behind the bar, keeping me with him. “What do you drink?”