Chapter 5 THE HIT

JAX'S POV

Why the fuck did she have to wear something so short on a freezing night like this?

That was the only thought running through my mind as the cold wind whipped past us on the highway. Leo was an idiot for giving her those tiny leather shorts. They barely covered anything, and every time the wind blew, I could feel her bare legs pressed right against my thighs.

Then I felt her hands sliding up my torso.

She shifted closer, wrapping herself around me like a blanket. Her body was flush against mine, and all I could feel was the soft, plush pressure of her breasts pressed flat against my back.

I gripped the handlebars tighter, trying with everything in me to stay focused on the dark road ahead. But it was so fucking hard. How was I supposed to concentrate on driving when a woman as gorgeous as Maya was clinging to me, her curves digging into my spine?

If I didn't know better, I'd think she was sent by the Vipers to distract me, I thought, jaw clenching. Because ever since she walked into my garage, she’s done nothing but try to seduce me. If she really is a rival spy lying to my face, I will snap her pretty little neck.

Then came the freezing breeze from the river below us.

Through the thin fabric of her crop top, I felt her nipples harden instantly, poking sharp and firm against my bare skin under my shirt.

A wild, hot sensation shot straight down my spine and pooled right between my legs. My dick sprang up immediately, hardening so fast it almost made me groan out loud. I breathed a silent prayer to the stars that I was sitting down on a motorcycle, because if I were standing up, there would be no hiding it.

As her nipples pressed even firmer against my back, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Fuck," I grunted out loud.

I heard her chuckle softly behind me, her warm breath hitting the side of my neck. "Is everything okay, Captain?" she asked, her voice sounding entirely too innocent.

I didn't answer. Inside my head, I was going crazy, battling my own body to keep control. I was supposed to be the Captain of the Iron Saints. Cold, ruthless, and unbothered. Yet here I was, losing my damn mind over a girl I just met two hours ago.

Instead of backing off, Maya leaned in even closer, burying her face right into the crook of my neck.

"My eyes can't handle the breeze," she whispered against my skin, sending another violent shiver down my spine. "So let me just stay like this for a bit."

The rest of the guys had already sped far ahead of us. I had intentionally kept my pace slow because I knew she wasn't wearing a helmet, but right now, I was severely regretting my own kindness.

Up ahead, a nasty road bump appeared in the dim headlight glare.

The front wheel hit the bump, and the bike jolted sharply.

"Woah!" Maya gasped.

She bounced up off the leather seat for a split second. As she came back down, her chest slammed against my back again, her hardened nipples grazing right over my hypersensitive skin.

The sudden bounce threw off her balance completely. Her cold hands slipped from under my t-shirt, sliding down my stomach in a desperate attempt to catch herself.

Her palm landed flat, firm, and directly right on top of my pants, right over my rock-hard erection.

My entire body went rigid as steel. My hands clamped onto the rubber grips so hard my knuckles turned white.

"Holy shit," Maya gasped, her hand lingering on my lap for one agonizing second before she quickly pulled it back. "I'm sorry!"

That was the final straw.

Without thinking twice, I squeezed the brakes and pulled the heavy motorcycle over to the grassy shoulder of the dark, deserted road. The tires kicked up gravel before coming to a complete stop. I slammed the kickstand down and killed the engine.

Maya blinked, looking around at the empty highway in confusion. "What happened? Why did we pull up?"

"Get down," I commanded, my voice deeper and rougher than usual.

"Huh?"

"I said get down. Now."

Maya scrambled off the back of the bike, her small feet hitting the gravel.

Before she could even take a step back, I swung my leg over the seat and stepped directly into her personal space. I pushed her back until her hips hit the metal frame of the bike, trapping her completely between my broad body and the heavy machine.

My gaze drifted down to her chest. In the dim moonlight, her hard nipples were poking prominently against the thin crop top, completely unmistakable.

"What the fuck are you doing, Maya?" I growled, stepping so close our chests were almost touching.

"What do you mean?" she squeaked out, trying to play dumb. "I was just trying to stay warm!"

"You're driving me fucking insane," I muttered, leaning down until my mouth was inches from her ear. "And if you don't stop testing me right now, we are never making it to that race track."

Before she could reply, a deafening, high-pitched engine roar tore through the quiet night air.

Blinding high beams sliced right through the pitch-black darkness down the highway. A heavily customized bike glowing with red LED underglow tore up the asphalt, drifting sharply onto the shoulder and kicking up a cloud of gravel right in front of us.

The engine revved down to a low, dangerous purr.

​The rider swung his leg over the seat, pulling off his black helmet in one smooth, arrogant motion. He ran a hand through his styled dark hair, flashing a dangerous, razor-sharp smirk that practically dripped gold rings and leather.

​Maya blinked, her hazel eyes widening as her gaze slowly swept over his lean, tailored frame.

​"Damn..." Maya murmured under her breath, completely filterless as usual. "You look good."

​I froze, an explosive wave of pure, dark jealousy slamming through my chest.

​Dante "Viper" Vance, my estranged cousin and Captain of the Obsidian Vipers grinned wickedly at her reaction, his amber eyes glinting in the moonlight.

​"Why, thank you, sweetheart," Dante purred, his eyes locking onto Maya's exposed outfit before flicking up to me. "Good to see you too, Jax. But you really shouldn't keep such a gorgeous thing parked out on my turf."

​Before I could grab Maya or slam Dante against his bike, a second thundering roar echoed from the dark bends down the road.

​Two more blacked-out motorcycles carrying masked Vipers bolted out of the shadows at lethal speed. Instead of stopping, they accelerated straight toward where Maya and I were pinned against my bike, aiming their front tires like guided missiles.

​"Jax, look out!" Maya screamed, bracing for impact.