Inked (Going All the Way #1) - Jenika Snow Page 0,3

was getting.

A lot of people in their small town hated the Vicious Bastards MC. She was known as the “biker bitch princess,” and although she shouldn’t take offense at names like that, she did take offense to people disrespecting her family.

Reckless, Colorado would have been ideal as more of a retirement community than being the home of a bunch of outlaw bikers, but this had been their home before all the “old folks” started making roots here. People talked in a small town, as they usually did, and whenever a Vicious Bastard walked down the street, people tended to stay away. Yeah, they were big, mean, usually dirty from fixing their bikes, and were the most dangerous men Stella had ever met, but if they were treated right, then they treated others like gold.

The picturesque mountain town was perfect for the MC though, and not just because it was out in the middle of nowhere. The club had pipelines set up with adjoining cities in and around Colorado, and they all had to come through Reckless to get their shit to their final destination.

Stella stepped through the clubhouse front doors first, and although she didn’t turn around to see Cadeon was right behind her, she could feel his very presence. The sun was starting to set, and prospects and members were wrapping things up for the evening.

“So, about that tattoo.” Cadeon stepped in front and looked down at her. He grabbed his sunglasses he had placed in the collar of his shirt and slipped them over his eyes. God, the man had no idea the effect he had on women, or maybe he did and that had been what Ranger meant about his reputation. Just because she had known him for the last three years didn’t mean she knew his business. Cadeon did a pretty good job of keeping to himself, but if someone lived in Reckless, then the Vicious Bastards knew everything about them.

“Your dad is kind of worried about you,” Cadeon said.

His words had Stella lifting both her eyebrows in surprise. “You got that from that tiny interaction back there?” She pointed behind her at the clubhouse, even though it was a stupid move. Of course he would know what she was talking about.

The corner of Cadeon’s mouth kicked up. “Your dad didn’t need to tell me to watch my step for me to know that was what he meant.” Before she could respond, he was talking again. “Don’t let the tattoos and Harley fool you. I am a pretty harmless guy.” Now she didn’t know if she believed all that.

Stella smiled and glanced down at her feet. “Well, he can be pretty bad-ass without saying much.” She looked up at him again. “But if I’m going to get my very first tattoo, I’d like you to be the one to give it to me. I trust you.” Her pulse was pounding so hard and fast that she could hear it in her ears. But Cadeon was like stone in front of her and didn’t move or respond, which had the effect of making her feel like a fool. “I mean, if you want to be my first.”

Oh God. Just shoot me now.

He grinned this time, flashing his straight white teeth and making all of her erogenous zones jump up and down in feminine excitement. “You know what design you want?”

She nodded, but before she could tell him, he was speaking again.

“How about you come by the shop tomorrow evening? My last client is at six, so any time after that.”

“Okay, thanks.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but he smiled even wider, turned, and headed toward his Harley. Yeah, the man could wear a pair of jeans like no one’s business.

Stella stayed right where she was and watched as he put his bag into one of the saddlebags on the side of his bike, straddled the Harley, and put his skullcap on. When he started the engine, she swore she could feel the vibrations from where she stood, and they traveled right through her body. He looked her way, or maybe it was just wishful thinking on her part, because honestly, she couldn’t quite tell because of his sunglasses.

She didn’t know how long she stood there even after he rode off, but she knew that come tomorrow, she was going to have one hell of a time keeping her hormones in check. With Cadeon so close to her, him touching her in an intimate way, and even