Safe Haven

31. Leather and Lace

2 months later

Hazard

Fuck if I wasn't imagining things. I looked down at my now empty beer and tried to calculate how many I had had. Enough to be apparently having hallucinations of a red head behind the bar. Not enough to erase the fucking feelings that went along with them though. I watched with curiosity as the tumble of red hair was quickly embraced by various club members. She hadn't turned towards me sitting at the end of the bar yet. I couldn't see her face. I was going to kill whoever thought it'd be a good idea to hire a new girl with red hair. Especially one to work behind the bar. By now the whole club was probably well aware of my torment although no one would admit it. I closed my eyes and laid my head down on the bar. Yup one too fucking many tonight. Now I was even smelling her. Peaches. 

"I think you're cut off for the night." 

Shit now I was hearing her. What the hell was in these beers? I pulled my head up to curse whoever decided to torture me and blinked at the image before me. Green eyes. Freckles. "Cupcake?" Instead of answering her smug smile and eye roll told me everything I needed to know.  The alcohol seemed to dissolve and I was surprisingly sober for a brief moment. Fuck if I didn't have questions. What the hell was Haven doing here? She should be with her parents, going to med school and seducing future doctors with that smile. 

"Hey, Hazard." 

"What are you doing here sweets?"  Fuck. I should remain neutral. No more nicknames I told myself. It would just encourage her to stay and she'd regret it later, giving up her dreams of medical school and her family for a biker who lived rough. 

"Heard the club needed a bartender. I needed a job so it worked out. Rent isn't bad around here but I do have two kids to feed so."  What the fuck was she talking about? Rent? Haven was living here, in Merdian?  She must have read the confusion on my face because she gave another eye roll and took the beer that was in front of me. 

"Go sleep it off Hazard." 

Fuck that. "Come with me." 

"Can't. I'm working. Sorry." 

"You're fired then." 

"Screw you Hazard I need this job. You can't fire me because I won't come upstairs with you." 

The whole bar was quite. I looked at Haven, hands on her hips, mad as hell for more than me trying to fire her apparently. I knew I was too drunk to pick her up and carry her upstairs. Hell I didn't even know if I was going to make it upstairs myself. Lately, I'd just pass out in one of the spare rooms down here because they were easier to get to. Hmmm...

"Where are the kids?" I asked curious. "At Lucy's." So my mom knew Haven was here and didn't think to mention it.  "Go to bed Hazard. We'll talk more in the morning. Okay?" She was aware we were causing a scene. I didn't give a shit either way. At this point all I wanted to do was lock her in a room and not let her out for the next four days. 

"Can't do that baby doll." 

"And why is that?"

"Well for starters....I'm too drunk to make it upstairs without assistance, which means you'll have to help me." 

Haven

Haven looked around at the rest of the club members who were trying not to look like they were watching. Unfortunately they were trying a little too hard. It was almost comical to see Mack staring at the men's room sign and pretending to read it. She let out a deep sigh and turned to Dilly. "I'm going to help the princess to his tower since he seems to be unable to do so on his own. I'll be right back." Dilly gave her a knowing smile. "Sure thing Haven. We'll see you tomorrow." 

Hazard let out a growl and Dilly quickly changed his answer. "Or you know what maybe take a few days off you know." 

I shoved Hazard's grinning form off the bar stool and gave him a scolding look. "I'll be right back!" 

I led Hazard to the stairs and waited for him to catch up. "Go," I said motioning him to start walking. That damn grin was grating on my nerves. He may have thought he won this round but I wasn't going to give in that easily. I'd waited for him to come to his senses. To call, to come get me, but he never did. I talked to Lucy mostly, who told me about his increased drinking and kept me up to date on everything going on at the club. If he was so damn miserable, and witnessing what I saw at the bar proved that to me, why didn't he do something about it? 

"I'd rather watch you walk up in front of me. Do you know that skirt is probably illegal in at least three states?"  

Which is why I wore it of course. It wasn't like me to wear something provocative but I wasn't sure what I was going to encounter when I got here. So I dressed up a little. Whatever, I'm a girl! When I saw the leather and lace combination I knew it would make Hazard swallow his tongue. It was on the shorter side but decent enough to not exposed anything when I moved around. Not my usual work attire but I think Dilly probably understood too. 

"Nice try but how am I supposed to help you up the stairs if i'm in front of you?" 

"Don't worry kitten. There's only one direction I'm liable to fall with you walking in front of me." 

"Fine! Let's just hurry this up. I have to get back to work." 

I took the first step and felt Hazards hands grasp my hips. Shit. That wasn't part of the plan. 

"Lead the way baby girl." 

His hands on my hips damn near had me melting. Not that I was going to let that show. Make him work for it Haven, damn it! 

When we reached the top of the stairs, which opened up to Hazards living room I felt the welcoming feeling of home that I didn't feel when I was with my parents. But although I knew this is where I wanted to be, I wasn't going to beg Hazard to see that. That was something he'd have to do on his own. 

Once we stopped, Hazard quickly grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the bedroom. The bed was made, something rare and out of place in the usual messiness that was Hazard. 

"Not happening hot shot. You get into bed and we'll talk in the morning. I'm going back downstairs to finish my shift." 

"Not dressed like that you aren't." 

"Screw you!" 

Before I could exit, he grabbed me by the waist from behind and threw me towards the center of the bed. He followed before I even had time to recover. I could do two things give in or fight him... When I started to struggle he laid his body down into mine and captured my arms above my head. My skirt had wiggled up towards my hips along with my shirt with had made its way up to expose my stomach. Hazard's body pressed into mine awakened a new heat. Instead of struggling to get away, I now wiggled to get closer. 

"God how I've missed you cupcake." 

"Fuck you. If you'd missed me you wouldn't have shipped me off with my parents. I know you well enough Hazard. You don't let go of something that yours. Which tells me one thing: you never wanted to claim me in any other way except like this!" 

His mouth moved along my neck biting softly as he went. I let out a moan and a harsh breath. 

"That's where you're wrong kitten," he said as he drew back away from me.

By now I was on fire, and I knew there was only one way, one person, that was going to extinguish it. Regardless of all the bullshit and everyones reasons. "Please Hazard. No more talking. " 

"Fuck it if I don't love when you beg me." 

The words were forgotten.