Southern Steel - Titan

4. Ari

What in the hell was I thinking?!

Standing in my closet while picking out what to wear, I just keep wondering what in the world had gotten into me. I said yes to a date with a scary biker! I rarely dated because I was too busy, and I knew trouble when I saw it. Titan was trouble with a capital T.

I threw on my dark jeans and a fitted white v-neck t-shirt with a black leather jacket. I put my black converse on. If he expected something fancier he was going to be disappointed. Ninety percent of my wardrobe was scrubs, and I'm pretty sure I forgot how to dress myself in regular clothes. I didn't go out much. I had my few close friends, my family, and my job, that's all I needed. I would go get a drink or dinner with friends every once in a while or go to the gym. A good book and a soft blanket curled up on the couch was my preferred state of being.

The doorbell rang as I was just finishing up the small amount of mascara I was throwing on. Opening the door, I stopped in my tracks. I swear he grew since the last time I had seen him, or maybe he just looked bigger standing in my doorway. His dark hair was messy, and he looked like a tree I wanted to climb. I needed to get this hooker that had suddenly appeared inside of me in check. He wore those jeans like they were made for him. Since when was I so turned on by thighs?! Why did I want to see him in a pair of rugby shorts?! I'm going to blame the rugby thirst traps on TikTok.

Remembering that he was waiting on me to finish gawking at him, I looked up it those gorgeous eyes.
"Hey."

"Hey doll. You all set?"

"Yep. Ready to go." I tossed my small crossbody bag on and put my keys and phone inside. "Just let me set my alarm and we can head out. Where are we going?"

He grabbed my hand as I closed the door and led me to his bike. Grabbing a helmet he placed it over my loose French braid.

"I figured we could go to this amazing Mexican place nearby, if you like Mexican food?"

"I don't trust anyone who doesn't like tacos. Mexican food sounds amazing"

He grabbed my hand and helped me on the bike then climbed on in front of me.

He reached down and grabbed my thighs and pulled me up against him. "Stay close and wrap your arms around me. When I lean you lean." He must assume I'd never been on a bike before. I'd let him think I didn't know what I was doing and snuggle up close to him. My brother had a bike and had even taught me to ride it a few times. Titan started up the bike, and we took off.

It was an almost euphoric feeling riding through the mountains on a motorcycle. After about 30 minutes, we pulled up to a small restaurant and went inside. The hostess showed us to a table near the back. I expected Titan to sit across from me but instead he sat in the chair right next to me and angled it slightly to look at me. Then he crossed his ankle over his other knee and threw his arm around the back of my chair.

The waitress came and asked if we were ready to order. I felt Titan absentmindedly playing with the end of my braid with the hand slung over my chair and for a second I'm pretty sure I forgot how to breathe, let alone order food.

"May I please get the chicken taco meal with chips and queso, and a mucho strawberry margarita on the rocks no salt?"

"Chips and queso sound good! I'll have the grande fajita platter with a sweet tea, thanks." He said.

"Are you going to order some chips and queso?" I asked him.

"You already ordered some for us."

My brows lowered as I looked at him indignantly. "I don't share queso!" I said sternly and quietly.

He stared at me for a moment then a chuckle came out as he told the waitress, "looks like that will be 2 orders of chips and queso. Better make her queso a large."

The waitress smiled and nodded, "I'll get your drinks out right away and put your orders in." She left the table and Titan turned to me.

"Fuckin hellcat." He muttered.

"What?"

"The guys were calling you hellcat after your lunch the other day, and I thought surely they were wrong. That sweet angel of a woman that whispered to me and saved my life was the warmest and calmest person I'd ever met. No way was she the feisty 'hellcat' they described."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a blow up doll. Just because I can be kind and sweet doesn't mean there aren't many other parts to my personality. That's where people underestimate me. I don't like drama and confrontation to the point it makes me physically uncomfortable. However I will stand up for myself and others if necessary. I'm not a shrinking violet by any means."

A sexy smirk came across his face. "No, you definitely are not."

"You know I'm a nurse so what do you do?"

"I'm the president of the motorcycle club Southern Steel. We own several businesses, and I take the lead on most of them. I want to know more about you. Family?"

"My parents live in Germany right now and my brother is in the military so he isn't around much. He comes to stay with me when he is on leave or has a break. The only other family I have here is my uncle and his husband. You?"

"Just my sister. Mom took off when dad died and doesn't really keep in touch. I have my brothers and club which is my chosen family"

I reached up and put my hand on his. "That's nice that you have the club brothers. Family isn't always blood."

We talked the rest of dinner. Conversation flowed easily. We were also able to eat and has quiet moments where we just existed in each others presence, and it wasn't an awkward silence.

At the end of the night he drove us back to my place and helped me off the bike. When he took the helmet off of me he was so close to my face, and I could smell the scent of him and leather. He sat the helmet down and brushed the strands of hair it had messed up out of my face. His hand lingered near the side of my face as he stared at me. I could feel my pulse start to race. I finally decided what the hell and kissed him. He seemed shocked at first when my lips hit his then he wrapped his other hand around my waist and pulled me closer as he deepened the kiss.

My thoughts were a mess as my body wanted to be closer to him even though I don't think that was physically possible. It was a kiss I felt down to my toes and didn't want to end. His lips were so soft but this kiss was anything but gentle. It was intense and full of need. I felt the bike behind me as he pressed closer to me, and I ran my hands under the hem of his t-shirt.

"Fuck!" He whispered as he pulled away, both of us breathing heavily. "If I don't leave now we're going to end up in that house, and I promised myself I'd be a gentleman tonight." He ran his hands through his hair, and I could see why it looked messy all the time.

"I had a nice time. Maybe next time don't be so gentlemanly." I smiled, and I noticed his eyes heat as he looked at me.

He leaned in and kissed my lips quickly and softly. He whispered, "Get your sweet ass in that house and lock up before I leave, Ariella."

The way he whispered my name made me want to do anything he asked and of course because of my good military upbringing I said quietly, "yes sir." I started to was towards the door and heard him say, "you're playing with fire, doll!"

I grinned to myself as I got in the house and reset the alarm. I got out of my clothes down to my thong and threw on a tank top. I didn't bother to shower so I could smell like him as I crawled into bed.

As I was drifting off to sleep my phone chimed with a text.

Titan: Goodnight sweet girl.

Me: Goodnight Titan.

Titan: I liked 'sir' better.

Me: I bet you did. ;)

I fell asleep feeling warm and fuzzy with thoughts of the biker in my head.