Temptation

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Gearhead

Kidnapping your mate was perfectly acceptable, especially if his life was in danger. I had no idea where that danger was coming from, but I knew my MC brothers could help me keep Percy safe until I eliminated the threat. If I could convince him to let me claim him along the way, even better.

Percy

I had spent a large portion of my life hiding from the world to keep myself safe. When I was suddenly kidnapped by the sexiest man I had ever seen, I couldn't bring myself to protest. Life for me was never this exciting. Not only that, he swore we were mates. As a fox shifter, I knew about mates, but I wasn't sure what it all entailed. I was willing to stick around to find out, if I didn't die first.

"Marry me."

My eyes widened as I slowly glanced over my shoulder. I kind of expected to see some guy down on his knee as he proposed to his girl. I didn't expect to see a bearded biker standing behind me. 

A very large bearded biker with a massive amount of tattoos running from his head, down his neck, and then to his arms. Made me wonder just how far under his white tank top they went. 

I quickly turned back around when his brown eyes met mine and then took a step closer to the coffee counter. My heart seemed to be trying to climb right out of my chest. I clutched my cell phone tightly in my hand, wishing the baristas would work a little faster.

"Is that a no?"

The voice was close and I was pretty sure it was coming from the man behind me, but I couldn't be positive. I did know he wasn't talking to me. No one ever spoke to me like that. I just couldn't figure out who he was talking to. The line was long, going back almost to the door. 

It could be anyone.

"You smell delicious. I could eat you up." I heard a slow rumbling chuckle that made me want to stretch and then curl up next to whoever made it. "Or lick you from head to toe. I know which one I prefer."

Oh. My. God.

This guy was good, although I wasn't sure telling his girl he wanted to lick her all over was a good choice when proposing marriage. Unless they were in a very intimate relationship, it seemed kind of rude.

It worked for me, however. My cock began to thicken behind the zipper of my slacks as I fantasized about some sexy bear of a man, maybe the one with tattoos on his head, licking me all over.

Unfortunately, it would only ever be a fantasy. Guys like him were not interested in guys like like me. Not even in romance novels.

I pulled the neckline of my light blue polo shirt away from my neck and then cleared my throat. I really needed to get my tea and get out of there before I turned around and accepted the marriage proposal meant for someone else.

"Are you sure you don't want to marry me?"

Someone was turning this guy down?

Seriously?

They had to be an idiot.

I got it that some people might be thrown off by all those tattoos. I wasn't. If anything, I found them sexy. I had always wanted to get one, but had never been brave enough. The mere mention of a needle could send me into a panic attack.

There was a story there, but I didn't want to think about it at the moment so I pushed the memory to the back of my mind and locked it away behind a mental steel door.

I had other things to think about. Like how to get my tea and get out of there without making a fool of myself.

"Are you ignoring me?"

The words were almost growled into my ear, sending shivers down my spine strong enough to make my knees grow weak.

"I don't like being ignored. I may have to punish you."

I sucked in my bottom lip and chewed on the corner of it as I turned and glanced—Holy shit! I gulped when I found those deep brown eyes staring back at me with an intensity that almost sent me to my knees.

Was he talking to me?

"Would you like me to punish you?"

Oh, god, yes.

Wait.

My brow wrinkled. "Are you talking to me?"

One dark brown eyebrow arched on his tattooed head. "I'm not talking to anyone else, beautiful."

Oh, now I was even more confused.

"But you..." 

I didn't think I could say it. The smirk that crossed the man's lips said it for me. He knew exactly what I was talking about. A cold chill took a hold of me when I saw the amusement twinkling in his eyes.

He was laughing at me.

It wouldn't be the first time someone laughed at me. In fact, it was pretty normal in my life. I had learned to live with it over the years. I had also learned how to avoid it.

I pressed my lips thin and then turned and faced the other direction. I was starting to debate whether I really needed my cup of tea or not. I should just leave and get away from this guy before he started making fun of me.

It would happen. It always did.

I felt a heavy presence behind me as the guy leaned into me to whisper, "Would it help if I told you that you are the sexiest thing I have seen in years? Maybe ever?"

See?

I had tried ignoring him because no one liked to be made fun of, not even me, but apparently that wasn't good enough. I narrowed my eyes as I turned to glare at the man who thought it was amusing to bully me. 

"Look—" 

Whatever I was going to say was lost in a scream as something outside the coffee shop blew up and glass was sent flying as the window and the front part of the coffee shop exploded.

I cried out as I was tossed to the floor and something heavy came down on top of me. Hands the size of dinner plates covered my head as debris rained down on us. The noise was deafening, the screams of the other patrons and windows breaking shattering my ability to not panic.

I clutched at the man hovering over the top of me, my fingers digging into his white tank top. My heart raced so fast, I thought it might race right out of my chest. I started shaking.

I was terrified.