Page 2 of Creed

“Still feels good going in.”

Some of the local bikers eye me warily as I walk up, but they keep their mouths shut.

“Up for another game?” I ask with a sultry voice, my fingers running over the back of my target’s arm.

A few bikers from the local club—Sedona Sinners—grumble, but don’t make a move to interfere. Probably because out of everyone on the squad, I usually leave them alone.

Why would I target the bike going the speed limit when a midsize SUV just blew past a school zone doing double? I’ll never understand why others like to harass them.

The lone biker turns to me, his hazel eyes dragging down the length of me, and his lip rolls between his teeth. “Sure. What we playing for?”

Oh, fuck me.

He’s even hotter up close.

Within touching distance, I can see the pronounced muscles under his black T-shirt and cut. His dark beard and mustache are thick but trimmed, so I know he maintains it well.

From a distance, I could tell his eyes were dark, but closer they’re like melted chocolate, a warm deep brown with flecks of green. And he’s tall. Even in my short boots, I only come up to his shoulder.

His dark hair is tucked under a beanie, the tips curling over the edge at the base of his neck. It’s what originally drew my attention. I can’t remember the last time I saw a beanie in Arizona, especially since we’re not up north with the snow.

It takes a moment to gather my wits and hope there isn’t drool coming from my mouth. “Uhm. Whatever you guys have been playing for.”

A few snickers echo around us, and a ball of dread tightens in my stomach, thinking I’ve made a mistake. I glance at the name patch on his cut, and raise my chin at Creed, who is watching me intently, like a predator locked on his prey.

“I have money.”

His lips pull up on one side of mouth. “Darlin’, we’ve been playing for something a lot more valuable than money. Favors. We can keep it simple. How about the winner gets to ask the other‌ anything they want?”

My heart thuds in my chest.

Danger. Danger. Danger.

“That’s a bit ominous. Can we narrow it down?”

His hands wrap around the top of his stick, and he puts weight on it to lean closer to me as he shakes his head.

He smells of hints of whiskey and mint; it makes my belly do a tiny flip.

“Where’s the fun in that? You in or out?”

I roll my lip between my teeth.

Be brave, Morgan.

I’ve been in hundreds of dangerous situations and faced them with a steel spine. Yet standing in front of this biker has my nerves on edge. I blow out a heavy breath and reach for a stick.

“I’m in.”

Creed pulls the stick back before I curl my hand around it and leans closer. “If you’re a secret pool shark, just know I deal withcheats with a heavy hand, and I’d love to make that perfect ass a pretty, bright red.”

My cheeks heat up and I clear my throat. “Not a pool shark, but not a beginner either.”

His eyes brighten and he hands back the stick. “Good, I like a woman with experience.”

I ignore the double meaning as he moves to rack the balls, trying to calm my heart that’s still going haywire.

I’ve never been so affected by a man, but something about him is making every part of me come alive as if struck by lightning.