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PROLOGUE
Maisy
Seven Years Ago…
“Man, you’re so beautiful, Maisy. This dress is absolutely incredible.” His eyes roam back down to my sweetheart neckline, and the butterflies start going haywire again. He’s been saying that ever since he picked me up tonight, and he has barely been able to take his eyes off me. “Do you think we can head up to our room soon?”
The eagerness in his roughened voice has my stomach twisting even tighter. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my life. It’s not like we haven’t made out before. We’ve done practically everything together. And I know I’m ready. But for some reason, the thought of going up to the hotel room is totally freaking me out. I’m worried he’s not going to fit inside me. Nervous it’s going to hurt and that I’m going to get blood all over the place. And what if I’m bad at sex? Will he be disappointed? Will he stop loving me and want to break up with me? God, I think I’m going to be sick.
I know it’s our prom night and we decided tonight would be the night we gave each other our virginities, as cliché as it sounds, but I don’t think I can follow through with it. With the way I’m feeling, I’m liable to barf all over him.
“I’m not feeling well, Jake. I actually think I might need to go home.” My stomach is so torn to shreds, I don’t think I can even dance anymore.
“Oh no, baby, what’s wrong? Is it the dinner we ate? Can I get you anything?”
I shake my head, guilt creeping in over the fact that I’m being such a coward and bailing on our special night together, especially after all the trouble he went to to make everything perfect. But with as nervous as I am, I really will be bad at sex.
“I don’t know what’s going on. It just hit me, but I feel like I need to hover over a toilet.”
“I’m so sorry, babe. Come on. Let’s get you home and in bed so you can get your rest.” He bends down and sweeps me off my feet, snuggling me into his chest as he carries me outside to his truck. Man, I wish I had the courage to follow through with things tonight, because it’s been something I’ve dreamt about for so long. But I really think I need to wait until there isn’t so much pressure surrounding it. I think if it just happens spontaneously when we’re making out, I won’t be so intimidated or nervous. I won’t have such performance anxiety.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay, babe? I can make you tea, or rub your stomach? I can hold you while we watch movies together.”
I shake my head, the guilt growing even heavier inside my chest. God, he’s such an amazing guy. He’s seriously the best boyfriend in the world. Kind. Considerate. And so understanding. Most guys would’ve been pissed about having to leave prom early and for not getting laid, especially when a promise was made, but he squeezed my hand the whole way home and now he doesn’t want to leave my side.
“No, you should go back to the hotel. At least one of us should experience the after-parties. Just text me when you get back to your room tonight so I know you’re not passed out in the hallway or in an elevator.”
He smirks, shaking his head. “Doubt I’ll drink all that much, but I promise I’ll text. Is it okay if come by in the morning and we spend the day together?”
I nod, leaning up on my toes and giving him a kiss, silently thanking him for being the most amazing boyfriend a girl could ask for. I wish I had the guts to give him more tonight, but I’m going to make it up to him tomorrow. “I’d love that.” I smile, slowly withdrawing my tongue. “Thank you for tonight. It was the best prom ever.”
He grips my cheeks with his palms and presses his forehead to mine. “I love you so much, Maisy. Now, go on inside and get some rest. And if you need anything, you call me. I’d rather be here with you than drinking with a bunch of guys.” I giggle at that, and lean forward for one more kiss. This one leaving me weak in the knees and panting. If my dad weren’t home, I’d be inviting him inside and giving him my v-card right now, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Now, with the pressure gone, I definitely feel ready. Goodness, I love him so much and I’m going to prove it tomorrow.
CHAPTER 1
Maisy
I shouldn’t have come to this party tonight. Based on the way I’ve been feeling lately, I knew it was a mistake. But Riley asked me to, and I can’t tell that girl no for anything. I’ve never had a true friend like her in my life, so when she asks me to show up for her, I do.
Like when she asked me to be her maid of honor, and I had to walk down the aisle on her wedding day, holding the arm of the one person I despise in this world, I did. I walked down the aisle with a smile plastered on my face with the guy who I once thought I was going to marry until he cheated on me. And once again, I showed up for her tonight, knowing said asshole would be at this party. Considering he’s the vice president of the Savage Knights MC and lives here in the clubhouse, I didn’t expect anything less. I’m on his turf, after all. Hence, the reason the bar was my first stop when I walked in.
I throw back another shot, deciding I’m going to get drunk and laid tonight. That is, if I can get one of these guys to do the deed. I’ve never had a problem convincing a man to get in my pants, but lately, all of them have been leaving me high and dry. No one has been taking me up on my offers, and I’m beginning to wonder if something’s wrong with me. Or if maybe I’ve dropped my hook into the same pond one too many times and now the fish are all running scared. It wouldn’t surprise me if that were the case. My claws are too sharp, and my baggage is definitely too heavy for most men.
Rake comes walking over with the whiskey bottle in hand and fills my shot glass without me even asking for another one. Man, I love him for it. I smile and give him a wink before tossing the cool liquid back and feeling the warm burn that will soon numb not only my throat but also my emotions. The gorgeous prospect who’s acting as bartender tonight gives me a panty-melting smile, and I can’t help but take in every single inch of his sexy body from top to bottom, spending an extra amount of time studying his strong forearms, which are covered in ink. He leans forward on the bar, resting those sexy forearms right in front of me, and when he lets out a little growl, my eyes travel up to his handsome face.
“You keep looking at me like that, sexy May, and I’m going to get my ass handed to me by the boss.”
My brow cocks in confusion, but right as I’m about to ask him what he means by that, Riley comes up to my side. I saw her playing pool in the corner with her hubby when I walked in, but I hadn’t made my way over there yet since drinking was my first priority—and because the asshole was over playing with them.
“Riley.” I smile, wrapping my arm around her shoulder, the alcohol starting to do its job. “Do a shot with me.” I hold out my little glass for another pour, and Rake fills me up. But I see the look on his face. Pretty soon, much sooner than I want him to, he’s going to be cutting me off. So as Riley starts to drag me off to the dance floor, I go willingly, leaving my little empty glass sitting on the bar top. Hoping that by the time I get back, Rake will have forgotten how many he’s poured me.
We get lost in the music and my body begins to flow with the beat. I close my eyes and let it take over, doing everything I can not to think of the one man who’s always on my mind. I focus on the words of the song, the bass of the drum, the sway of my hips. When his blue eyes come to the forefront, I open mine only to find Riley getting swept away by her man, and then it’s just me. Alone in the middle of the floor.
I scan the room, seeing the heat in some of the guys’ stares as they watch me dance, but none of them are making a move to join me. I’d sway my hips over to Trigger since his tongue is practically hanging out of his mouth, but I definitely need a little more liquid courage coursing through my veins before I take that plunge. I give him a look, letting him know that I’m coming for him, then I’m turning and heading back to the bar. My glass sitting right where I left it. So I hold it out toward Rake and bat my eyelashes.
He shakes his head with a chuckle. “Damn, babe. If you weren’t already spoken for, I’d be making you mine.”
