Vaughn and Raven First Meet
Hotter
than sin, Vaughn was a shining example of the wrong guy. He intimidated men
when he wasn’t dampening the panties of every chick in the room. He walked to
the bar like he was ready to hit someone then fuck a random chick to celebrate
his win.
I’d been
impressed since seeing him in passing when he came by the house to talk to the
Johanssons. Having avoided him since then, I planned to do so again. Sexy and
up to no good was exactly the kind of man I needed to abstain from. Of course,
he walked directly to where I sat and took the stool to my right.
“Lark’s
sister.”
“Cooper’s
peon.”
A grinning
Vaughn tapped the bar to get the bartender’s attention. Once he had a beer, his
gaze returned to me.
“Saw
you fight. Little bitch bit you, huh?”
After
showing him my hand, I forced my gaze to my drink and away from his bright blue
eyes.
“The
biters are the worst,” I muttered. “So you like watching chicks wrestle.
Typical.”
“Bailey
wanted to come,” he said, adjusting on the stool so he was sitting even closer.
“She misses punching people.”
“I
don’t blame her.”
As
Vaughn studied my face, I acted like I didn’t care. It wasn’t easy though with
his maleness so damn intoxicating. Yet, I was abstaining specifically from guys
like him.
“I bet
you’re a real heartbreaker,” he said, giving me a nearly irresistible smile.
“I’ve
never broken a single heart,” I admitted. “I’ve broken more than a few noses
and stomped on several ball sacks though.”
Vaughn’s
grin widened. “Let me buy you a drink.”
“I have
a drink.”
“Fine.
Let me take you to a booth and sweet talk your sexy ass into my bed tonight.”
“I’m
abstaining from fucking guys like you.”
“Guys
like me? You mean, sexy bastards that’ll make you scream their names?”
“Yeah,
basically.”
As he
slid a bit closer, I caught a whiff of his cologne. Smelling like chocolate,
the scent was bait to any self-respecting woman. Like a moth to the flame, I
had the worst urge to give him a lick and get a taste.
“Why
don’t we just talk then?” he said soft and seductive. “We share friends. Let’s
get acquainted, so it won’t be awkward at the crew get-togethers.”
“Crew?”
“It’s
what Tucker calls the group. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but most of the crew
is hooked up with someone. If we’re going to play solo, we might as well become
friends.”
“I
don’t have guy friends. Just don’t believe in it. The only thing men have to
offer is what I’m abstaining from.”
A
smirking Vaughn took my drink and gestured towards the nearby empty booth. “You
and I are in the same boat with the crew. So I guess you’re going to have guy
friends whether you like it or not.”
Despite
my brain screaming for me to run from the bar and never look back, I followed
Vaughn to the booth. He leaned back and stretched out his long legs.
“This
is nice. Two friends being friendly,” he said.
Rolling
my eyes, I sipped my drink and ignored his cocky smile.
“How
long has it been?” he asked, tapping my sandal with his boot. “The abstaining
thing.”
Crossing
my arms under my tits, I tightened them and pushed up the girls for him to
admire. I always loved teasing boys.
“I bet
you’ve banged a girl recently. Like I could probably smell her on you, if I got
close enough,” I grumbled, remembering how he smelled like chocolate and I had
a sweet tooth. “You’re likely crawling with germs.”
Instead
of finding offense, Vaughn watched me in a weird way. His lids lowered as the
corners of his mouth lifted. A sly look on his face, Vaughn ran his tongue
along his top teeth.
“I have
a system,” he said softly. “After I hook up with a random chick, I shower with
a big bottle of Purell. One of those economy-sized ones.”
Even
smiling, I kicked his foot away from mine. “I’m a bath person myself. Just fill
up the tub with really hot water then toss in a cap of bleach plus a few
bubbles and I’m set.”
“Gotta
have bubbles,” he said in a deep low voice.
“What
are you doing?”
Vaughn
shook his head, yet his gaze held mine. “Just admiring your beautiful smile.”
Rolling
my eyes again, I sighed. “Lame.”
“I
know. I really do. I use that line a lot, but it’s true with you. That smile changes
your face. Makes you less sex kitten and more angel.”
“I’m no
angel.”
“What a
relief. I don’t like good girls.”
“I
didn’t say I was bad.”
Vaughn
sucked at his lower lip and sized me up with those eyes. “You didn’t have to,
kitten.”
“Don’t
call me that.”
“Sugar?”
he said, grinning brighter now. “Your sister didn’t like my nickname for her
either.”
“Why
would you give my sister a nickname?”
“Don’t
be jealous. I like giving girls nicknames. Even girls I don’t want to spend
time inside.”
“I
can’t believe these lines ever work.”
“They
don’t. Girls are drawn to my looks, not my personality.”
Snorting,
I begged myself to stop smiling. “And you’re proud of this fact?”
“I’m
proud of very little, pumpkin.”
“Keep
trying.”
When
Vaughn spotted someone and his smile faded, I followed his gaze to Beavis and
Butthead.
“You’re
insecure,” I said, kicking his foot lightly. “I find that sexy in a guy. Too
bad I’m abstaining.”
Vaughn
finally returned his gaze to me where it mellowed. “Why abstain exactly?”
“I told
you.”
“Seems
like you could just abstain from relationships if these past guys were losers.
Why abstain from fucking? You frigid?”
“Yes,
very much so.”
“I
sense that about you,” he said, giving me a sly grin. “Betcha couldn’t handle a
guy like me.”
“Reverse
psychology. Really? I expected more from you.”
“I do
what I need to.”
“Fuck
some other girl. There are a few hot ones in the corner.”
“Saw
them then I saw you. Now, I can’t look away.”
“Barf.”
Vaughn
laughed a genuine laugh. No games or come-ons. I’d actually made the fucker
giggle like a bitch.
“You’re
really abstaining? Even from a chance to enjoy all this?” he asked, waving his
hands around to show off his strong chest and hard stomach. “I’m the real deal.
Not wearing a girdle to hold in the gut or anything.”
Vaughn
lifted his tee to show off his stomach and I nodded my approval.
“Nice,
but I’m abstaining.”
“Why
from the fucking? Do you think you can’t screw a guy without falling in love?
Are you that weak?”
“Stop
playing your Jedi mind games on me.”
“Jedi?”
he asked, giving me a frown. “Wait, are you a nerd?”
“No,
but I assumed you were. There’s an arrested development vibe about you. Like
you play a lot of video games and get horny for Lt. Uhura.”
“Oh,
hell, you are a Star Trek nerd.”
“No,” I
said, taking a gulp of beer. “I had a stepdad who was into that crap. He had
all these nerd friends who came over and they’d talk about the show as if it
was super cool. The only time I found Star
Trek even remotely interesting was when they had the episode on Futurama about it.”
“Sure,
nerd.”
“I like
that nickname. Stick with it.”
“I’m
not sure you really fit the nerd stereotype.”
“And
you don’t fit the manwhore stereotype. For one thing, your pick up lines are
fucking awful.”
Vaughn
laughed again and he seemed different now. Less like an animal on the prowl and
more like a guy chatting up another member of the crew. I didn’t buy it though.
The guy wanted in my panties. I wanted him in them too. Sitting there drinking
our beers, I wondered how he would make it happen when I was sticking with my
abstaining promise.
The
stress of wanting what I couldn’t have made me crave something else I couldn’t
enjoy. Reaching into my bag, I found my nicotine gum and popped a piece into my
mouth.
“Not
going to offer?” he asked, tapping my foot in his weird attempt at foreplay.
“It’s
Nicorette.”
“I gave
up smoking years ago.”
Rolling
my eyes, I kicked his foot away. “How long could you have smoked if you gave it
up years ago?”
“I was
a pack a day smoker for four months. Best quarter of a year of my life.”
“Idiot,”
I said, grinning at him.
“Giving
up smoking and fucking at the same time. Do you have a reason to punish
yourself like that?”
“I’m a
horrible person.”
“I can
see that. Look at how you’re breaking my heart over here.”
Bursting
into laughter, I begged, “Please, fucking stop. Your shitty lines are making me
want to smoke more.”
“Because
they make you so horny?” he asked, already laughing before he finished. “I know
they’re making me pretty hard.”
“What’s
your game plan here, stud? Harass me until I fuck you? I think I’d rather just
nail you in the balls and make a run for it.”
“Sex is
relaxing, you know?” he said, grinning in his devious manwhore way.
“I
know.”
“Why
not just fuck someone and stay away from all that crappy relationship stuff?
It’s what I do.”
“How do
I know I won’t blow your mind and you’ll become a clingy bitch?”
“I
think I’ll be fine.”
“Can’t
trust it.”
“Look,
you and I are in the same boat. Loners in the crew. Unlike Bailey, we don’t
want to hook-up for good. We just want to let off some steam. We could be friends
with benefits.”
“Fuck
buddies, huh?”
“I like
your term better,” Vaughn said, giving a flash of anger at the men still eyeing
us. “I might need to leave you just long enough to kick their asses.”
“I
think I can manage without you.”
Vaughn
looked back at me and grinned. “Was that a masturbation hint?”
“No,
but you bring up a very good point. I could blow off steam on my own.”
Vaughn
finished his beer then smiled. “I’ll give you oral and no vibrator in the world
can say the same.”
Holding
his gaze, I said nothing until finishing my beer. Finally, I gave Vaughn a
smile and nodded.
“One
night of empty awesome sex. Tomorrow, we act like acquaintances, not even
friends. I want to be someone you barely remember exists.”
“No
problem, nerd. Do you like Harleys because mine likes snuggling between a hot
girl’s thighs?”
“Stop
while you’re ahead.”
Standing
up, Vaughn held out a hand. I ignored his gesture and stood up on my own. When
I noticed the two guys still watching us, I flipped them off before taking
Vaughn’s arm.
“Like
they ever had a chance,” I muttered and Vaughn’s smile grew.
“Takes
a special man to talk a girl out of abstinence.”
“Whatever
you need to tell yourself.”
As we
arrived at his black Harley, I mentally admitted it looked pretty fucking sexy.
He’d make it sexier when he wrapped his strong legs over…
As if
sensing my brain was already in horny overdrive, Vaughn leaned down and kissed
me. Just a gentle peck lacking any heat. I frowned at him as he climbed on the
motorcycle.
“That’s
it?” I asked, not climbing on.
As the
Harley roared to life, Vaughn laced his fingers through my hair and tugged me
closer for another kiss. This one was deeper as his tongue explored mine. With
Vaughn tasting like beer and smelling like chocolate, I nearly orgasmed right
there. Instead, I climbed on and imagined him naked under me.
Damaged and the Outlaw Release Date: 11.26.13
