BREAKER (Forsaken Riders MC Romance Book 14) Read online

  “One, two, three,” she counted as she breathed in and out. “Four, five, six…”

  Once her heart had stopped hammering so hard and she was sure she wasn’t about to burst into tears, she ran her hands through her hair and looked up and around. The park was half in the dark and half in the setting sun, and Ashley herself was sitting in the shadows. She had never been more glad of being hidden away.

  “Ashley?” the voice came from behind her, and the moment she heard it, she closed her eyes and wished, for the second time that day, that she could just disappear.

  “Don’t,” she croaked. “I don’t think I can take it.”

  Breaker walked around the back of the bench and came and sat beside her. As the bench bowed with his weight, she instantly felt penned in and as if he was invading her personal space, but at the same time, it didn’t feel wrong. She turned her head to the side so she didn’t have to look at him.

  “Would it be all right if I sat down?” he asked tentatively.

  But Ashley still wouldn’t turn to face him.

  He stayed silent for a moment and then he relaxed onto the bench and spread his arms out wide across the back of it.

  “Nice night…” he tried.

  But again, he was met with a wall of silence. After a few more quiet moments, he sighed.

  “Listen,” he exhaled, and she could feel his eyes on her. “I’m not usually one for apologies, but… Well, Flash and I have been real assholes today and you’ve got the brunt of it.”

  It was nice to hear the words but she didn’t much feel like accepting them.

  “I can tell you’re not the kind of girl to go off like that,” he carried on. “And I can tell that maybe I pushed you to your limit earlier, so when Flash came in, he got the swilling I should have had…”

  Ashley felt the sides of her mouth twitch up in a smirk.

  It was a mighty fine thought, that of swilling Breaker with a huge, cold, glass of water…

  She still stayed staring sternly ahead, even if her mouth was desperately trying not to smile.

  “So I suppose what I’m saying is… I’m sorry…” he laughed. “There, don’t get used to that because it really isn’t my style.”

  She couldn’t help but look at him with a scowl and rolled her eyes.

  “Ahh, there we are,” he grinned. “Softening up, I can feel it.”

  “You’ve totally ruined my day,” Ashley finally spoke. “It felt like my first day of high school all over again. Being the new kid and being embarrassed and given a stupid nickname within the space of about half an hour. Urgh… I could have done without it, I have enough going on…”

  She looked out into the distance and had to cross her hands into her lap to stop herself from fidgeting. She didn’t know why but he was making her nervous. Very nervous.

  “Man,” he breathed. “Now I feel even worse…” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a friendly squeeze. “I don’t make a habit out of upsetting girls and trust me, I feel like the absolute worst.”

  Ashley shrugged and finally had the balls to look him in the eye.

  “Listen, it’s okay,” she said with a half-smile. “I’m overly sensitive at the moment and I suppose I should just learn to take a joke.”

  “Maybe,” he winked. “But I was still a prick.”

  She agreed with a shrug of her shoulder and a giggle.

  “Let me make it up to you,” he said seriously. “Let me buy you back the drink you’ve just wasted on Flash. He deserved it as much as I did, I’m sure, but you certainly don’t deserve to be without.”

  He looked at her with encouragement and even though she wanted nothing more than to go with him, she just couldn’t get her head around the idea of walking back into that bar when everyone had just seen what she did. It was mortifying and she didn’t think she had it in her.

  “Thank you, but no… I don’t think so…” she said shyly.

  “I’m not taking no for an answer,” Breaker said with a wicked grin. “Come on, I owe you.”

  He got to his feet and held out his hand. Ashley looked up at him and got caught in the intensity of his eyes. They really were like something out of this world. They were so clear and hypnotic, it was hard to believe they were real. He took a step forward and she slid her palm into his and let him pull her gently to her feet. She brushed down her jeans and picked up her purse.

  “Fine,” she said. “But I’m not going back in there.”

  “Okay,” he said as he looked around. “Slim pickings around here, though, I have to say…”

  And Ashley knew he was right. It was either they went back to the jazz bar and she swallowed her pride or they would end up in The Bleeding Bullet with all the other bikers and no doubt, her own brother. She could just imagine Tyler’s face if he saw her there at all, never mind with someone like Breaker. Not only a devilishly handsome man from a rival gang, but also someone who had upset her earlier in the day. She could only dread to think of what Tyler would want to do to him.

  But you’re your own person and Tyler isn’t the boss of you… she thought as she looked up at those incredible eyes again.

  “Okay,” she exhaled. “Maybe it’s my turn to swallow my pride then. Let’s just go back to Faith’s. As long as you take full responsibility for my actions and build any bridges needed with Flash.”

  “None will be required with Flash, but consider it done.” He winked as he held out his arm for her to link hers around.

  She faltered for a moment, not sure if he was joking or not. For a man who stood at nearly six foot four, with shoulders as wide as a house and muscles that would terrify anyone, he sure knew how to treat a lady… once he had stopped mocking them anyway.

  She let herself go a bit and linked with him and she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “It was worth it anyway,” he said as he looked down at her.

  “What was?” she asked.

  “All that blue.” He tried to keep a straight face. “I like the outcome.”

  She felt herself blush a little and had to look down at the ground. The silence rose between them again and she was both glad and nervous that they had reached the door to the bar. Breaker let her arm go and stood back so she could walk in ahead of him and she didn’t dare look around as they stepped back into the mix of smoke and sax.

  “Ashley!” Kady called from the other side of the room. She was still sitting at the table they had been earlier and she rose to her feet and waved them over.

  “Go and sit down, I’ll bring your drink over,” he said with a smile and she instantly felt disappointed.

  Had he meant he would have a drink with her, or just reimburse her for the one she had thrown over Flash? She instinctively started to pout.

  “Oh my goodness,” Kady said breathlessly. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry I didn’t run straight out after you but Breaker stopped me. He said he wanted to speak with you and apologize.”

  Ashley’s stomach did a little flip of excitement.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “Honestly, I feel terrible. I’m sorry I barged out. Where’s Flash?”

  “He left,” Kady smirked. “He was soaked.”

  Ashley moaned and covered her eyes.

  “Don’t worry about it, doll,” Kady said as she rubbed her shoulder. “I’m pretty sure you’re not the first, and I’m even more certain you won’t be the last, to throw a drink on him. He attracts trouble!”

  Ashley tried to take on board what Kady was saying, but she still felt embarrassed. How could she have done something so childish?

  “You worry too much,” Kady said as she took hold of Ashley sternly by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. “And I’m going to leave you now so you can get to know your tormentor a little better.”

  She winked and Ashley’s stomach sagged.

  “No!” she hissed. “You can’t leave me with him.”

  Kady laughed and shook her head.

  “Honestly, you are so
timid. You’ll be eaten alive here if you’re not careful.”

  Kady kissed her sweetly on the cheek and made her way toward the door. She backed out of it slowly and raised her hand to her ear and mouthed the words Call Me just as Breaker turned around at the bar and began to walk back across the room toward her with two drinks in his hands.

  Ashley sat down nervously and waited for him to approach. When he reached her, he looked around as if he was trying to figure out where Kady had gone, and Ashley felt her face burning red yet again.

  “Kady had to leave,” she said shyly. “But don’t worry, don’t feel obliged to stay with me. I’ll finish my drink and then head on home. It’s been a long day and I…”

  Breaker was laughing as he pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

  “You’re stuck with me for now,” he said as he slid her drink across to her and raised his into the middle over the table.

  Ashley smiled as she reached down and picked up hers before they let their glasses meet in the middle for a cheers.

  “Salute,” Breaker said before he knocked his back in one.

  “Salute,” she whispered as she took a sip and felt the liquor warm her insides. She had no idea what he had bought for her, but it tasted good. She placed the glass down on the table and it jingled with ice.

  “So,” Breaker said as he crossed his arms on top of the table and leaned forward. “Tell me about Ashley.”

  She looked down at his big, rough hands. At the tattoos that covered them and at the silver skull rings that were hugging each knuckle. He was built like a tank, each part of him strong, powerful and so masculine it was intimidating. And although she had hated him only an hour before, the way he was looking at her was doing strange things to her. She was feeling herself unravel under his emerald gaze.

  “There’s not a whole lot to tell,” she said coyly as she sipped her drink.

  “Well, I don’t believe that for a second,” he laughed. “The sister of an Iron Rider.” He curled up his lip into a smile. “I’m sure you’re all kinds of trouble.”

  She shook her head and gave him her doe eyes.

  “Honestly,” she said in all seriousness. “I’m really not. Tyler and I had a tough upbringing, because of that, I’d say we’ve stayed close but we’re not really in each other’s lives much. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to catch up with him now before I decide what I’m going to do next.”

  Breaker raised his eyebrows with interest.

  “He’s always been part of his gang and he is all over the place, I can rarely even keep up.”

  “This life does have that affect.” He smiled warmly. “I’ve not got many good relationships left outside of The Forsaken. Those guys are like brothers to me and I would die for any of them. But I couldn’t say the same for my own flesh and blood. You should be grateful you and your brother have any bond at all.”

  She nodded.

  “I know, I suppose you’re right.” She knocked her knees together underneath the table to distract her and stop her own hands from fidgeting.

  “I was surprised when I spoke to him and he said he was here,” she continued. “I don’t know a whole lot about what you guys have going on, but one thing that was always made clear back in Iron Hill was that The Forsaken and The Iron Riders didn’t mix. Like not at all.”

  Breaker nodded and sat back in his chair.

  “Yeah,” he said with a drawl. “Over the years, we haven’t been kind to one another. But times change. And sometimes it’s better to unite to save what you already have rather than fight and everyone losing.”

  There was sense in what he was saying, but it still didn’t give her much of an idea of what was going on between them all.

  “You can tell me,” she said. “I promise I won’t repeat it.”

  She wiggled her eyebrows but Breaker shook his head slowly and leaned in close.

  “No, no,” he grinned. “If I told you, then I’d have to kill you.”

  He grinned at her wickedly and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  For some reason, him saying those words conjured up images of him wrapping his big, rough hands around her neck and it gave her a rush of excitement.

  She could tell he would be so very, very naughty if she let him.

  “Your brother wouldn’t like us sitting here together,” Breaker said with a glint in his eye. “I think he’d have a lot to say about it.”

  “I think you’re probably right,” Ashley admitted. “But I’m my own person. I do what I want, when I want.”

  She was feeling her sass return after its brief and unwelcomed absence. And with each passing moment she was spending with Breaker, he was reigniting something within her, he was making her feel like herself again.

  “And I want you to know,” he said again more seriously. “That I really do feel terrible about what happened earlier. When Flash and I get together, we act like kids. It’s been a rough few months for the club and things are finally starting to look up again, so we were on a bit of a high. Not that that’s any excuse.”

  She wanted to make him suffer longer but she just didn’t have it in her. She could see his remorse and she could see how he was looking at her. There was something very open and raw about him. It was as if he couldn’t help but let all of his emotions out in one go. Even if those emotions were cheeky and school boy.

  The way he had acted with her that morning was as if he was pulling her pigtails in the playground. It was obvious to her now why he had done it. It had been a term of endearment because he was attracted to her. And she had to admit, the feeling was mutual.

  “Honestly,” she smiled. “It’s fine. Like I said earlier, I’m overly sensitive at the moment. Plus, this is my first day in a new town. I didn’t need the confidence knock.”

  She winked and he leaned forward.

  “I don’t understand how anyone could ever knock your confidence,” he said. “You’re stunning.”

  She felt her stomach dip with joy.

  “What, even when you ignored me in here earlier?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

  He held up his hands and laughed.

  “I thought I was doing us both a favor,” he said. “You didn’t seem keen on getting to know me and then you dropped the bombshell that you’re Tyler’s sister. Suddenly, things seemed very complicated.”

  “And now they’re not?” she asked wryly.

  “Now I’ve had a chance to put things right,” he said as he ran a hand through his hair and exposed a flash of his big, thick, muscular arms. “And if I have a connection with someone, an Iron Rider isn’t going to get in the way of that… Trust me…”

  Ashley smirked.

  She had worried he would play it safe and want to keep his distance. But Breaker clearly didn’t play by the rules. He appeared to be the kind of man who took what he wanted without a moment’s notice and wouldn’t answer to anyone.

  It made her want to get to know him even more, because it was sexy as hell.

  “Well, that’s good to know.” She smiled shyly as she raised the glass to her lips and sipped it demurely. “I like a man who isn’t afraid to take risks.”

  “Are you a risk?” His eyes seemed to light up and the tension between them was rising.

  “You’ll have to wait and find out,” she smiled.

  On the outside, she was trying to stay cool, calm and in control, but on the inside, her heart was racing so fast she thought it was going to burst out of her chest. She didn’t have a clue where her courage to be so forward and flirty was coming from. She had been so determined not to like him. She had wanted nothing more than to be able to turn her back on him and not have a second thought. But he had really worked his way in and now she was hooked. Just sitting there with him for this short time felt as if they had bonded and fireworks were sparking between them. It didn’t matter that they had fought and been mean to each other. All of that had completely changed, and although they still had the same fire, now it was se
xual instead of aggressive.

  She had to fan her face and take another sip of her drink. He watched her with a hungry smile and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was hiding under his clothes. He looked so damned good. So fit and strong.

  “That sounds like a challenge to me,” he smirked. “I hope you know that I always, always win.”

  She couldn’t help but let a smile play across her lips too.

  “I look forward to the battle.” She winked and then drained her drink and rose to her feet. “Thank you for the drink.” She smiled as she took a step forward.

  “Wait,” he said as he reached out and took hold of her arm. The second he touched her, sparks flew. A tingle ran right through her body and she had to catch her breath. Just feeling his skin against hers was erotic. His touch was so charged with heat.

  “You’re leaving?” he asked with wide eyes.

  She nodded and took another step away from him, loosening his grip on her.

  “Yes,” she said as she held her palm to her lips and blew a kiss toward him. “If you want to see me again, then you’ll have to work harder than this.”

  She turned on her heel and felt a wave of excitement roll through her. She had never felt so sexy and in control. She had never felt so desired and wanted. She had no idea where her nerve had come from but she felt like she was walking on top of the clouds. Her new look had given her a new bout of confidence all right; it had given her so much, much more.

  She wanted more than anything to look back over her shoulder as she left, but she knew she just had to keep going because he would be watching her. She was going to play him right back and she was going to have him eating out of the palm of her hand.

  She had never met anyone like Breaker. There was something about him that made her see clearly and made her really want something for the first time in a long time. And she was determined that she was going to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible.

  8.