Smoke hangs thick in the air. It stings my eyes. Men turn to stare. Their gazes feel heavy. Assessing. I swallow hard and offer a small awkward wave because apparently my survival instinct is broken.
Hi scary bikers. Please don’t kill me. I make excellent pancakes and I can quote every line from The Princess Bride.
Dad moves straight toward the back. A group of men wait near an office door. One stands out immediately. Tall. Broad shoulders that stretch his cut tight. Dark hair. Eyes like storm clouds ready to unleash. My mouth goes dry. Heat crawls up my neck.
Oh no. He’s stupidly hot. Like unfairly hot. The kind of hot that should come with a warning label and possibly ice packs.
He watches us approach like a predator measuring prey. Raw power rolls off him in waves. Possessive energy that makes my knees feel wobbly for reasons that have nothing to do with my injured ankle.
Dad stops in front of him. “Kraken.”
The big man doesn’t smile. “November.”
They exchange words in low voices. I catch pieces. Watching. Protection. Daughter. My cheeks burn as Kraken’s gaze slides to me. His eyes drag slowly down my body then back up. I feel thatlook everywhere. Like fingers brushing my skin. My thoughts scatter into full chaos.
Hi yes I’m the damsel in distress but also I would like to climb you like the very dangerous tree you clearly are. Wait no. Focus Tia. Danger. Not deltoids.
Dad turns to me. “Tia. This is Reef Ryder. You can call him Kraken. He’s going to keep you safe.”
Kraken steps closer. My brain short circuits. I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.
“Hi. I’m Tia. I talk to plants. And sometimes sing to them. Off key. But they seem to like it. Also I’m probably being stalked by shadowy figures but I brought snacks if that helps break the ice. Do scary biker clubs like trail mix? I have the kind with chocolate pieces.”
Kraken stares at me. Something flickers in those stormy eyes. Not quite a smile. More like a predator deciding whether the prey is amusing or edible. Heat pools low in my belly. I shift my weight and wince as pain shoots through my ankle.
He notices immediately. “Are you hurt?” His voice rolls deep. Gravel and command wrapped together. I shiver despite the humid air.
“Just a little tripping incident. I’m fine. Super graceful. Like a baby giraffe on roller skates.”
Dad sighs like he’s aged ten years in ten minutes. Kraken’s jaw tightens. He reaches out and grips my elbow. His fingers feel rough and warm against my skin. Electricity zips straight through me.
Oh my god his hands are huge. And calloused. And I shouldn’t be thinking about what else those hands might be good at while my father stands three feet away.
“Come inside,” Kraken orders. “We talk there.”
He guides me through the clubhouse. His touch stays firm on my elbow. Like he’s already decided I belong under his protection. Men watch us pass. Their stares feel heavy but Kraken’s presence keeps them back. We reach the office. The door shuts behind us with a solid click. The space smells like old paper, whiskey, and the sharp bite of gun oil. It should feel intimidating. Instead my traitor brain focuses on how close Kraken stands. How his chest rises and falls with steady breaths. How the tattoos peeking from his collar look like they tell violent stories I suddenly want to hear.
Dad starts explaining. Someone watching me. Strange cars. Messages left on my door. The words blur as Kraken watches me instead of my father. His gaze feels like a physical touch. Dark. Intense. Raw.
I bite my lip and think ridiculous thoughts to stay grounded.
If this were a romance novel he would pin me against the wall and snarl about keeping me safe in his bed. But this is real life so he’ll probably just grunt and hand me a gun I don’t know how to use while I accidentally compliment his forearms.
Kraken finally speaks. His voice wraps around me like smoke. “She stays here. No one touches her. No one gets near her unless I say so.”
The words should terrify me. Instead warmth spreads through my chest. I look up at him through my lashes. My voice comes out softer than I mean it to. “So... does that mean you’re mypersonal scary bodyguard now? Because I have to warn you I ask a lot of questions. And I might try to make you smile. I’m very persistent about smiles.”
Something shifts in his expression. Not quite soft. But close. His hand stays on my elbow. Fingers flex like he wants to pull me closer. The air between us crackles. Danger and heat and something electric that makes my skin tingle.
Dad watches us both. Tension rolls off him in waves. But I can’t focus on that. Not when Kraken looks at me like I already belong to him. Like the danger outside these walls doesn’t matter because he’s decided I’m his to protect.
My heart races. My ankle throbs. The office feels smaller. Hotter. Filled with the scent of powerful man and possibilities that should scare me but only make me want to lean closer.
This is bad. This is very bad. But also... kind of amazing?
I smile up at him. Small. Awkward. Hopeful. “Thank you. For not immediately throwing me out. I promise to try not to cause too much trouble. Though full disclosure I once started a small fire trying to make microwave s’mores so no promises.”
Kraken’s grip tightens. His eyes darken. “You stay where I can see you. Where I can control what touches you.”
