Red Thorns: Red Thorns Crew Book 1 Read online

  I liked her legs.

  Which meant I’d like her ass, too.

  “This your dorm?” I asked.

  “Sure is, bucko,” the girl in the car said.

  I ignored her as my eyes met the bright brown eyes of the girl in front of me. And as they met my green ones, she nodded.

  But she didn’t speak.

  “Need anything else taken upstairs?” I asked.

  “No,” she finally said.

  “Actually, there is one more suitcase back here,” the girl in the car said.

  “Hannah, shut up. No, I don’t need your help.”

  “It’s a big one, too. I don’t think I can carry it.”

  “I can. I’ll get it upstairs.”

  “We really could use your--”

  “We don’t need your help,” the girl said curtly.

  I sucked on my cigarette, inhaling the smoke as it filled my lungs. Then I let the butt fall from my mouth before I blew the smoke into the air. The girl in front of me waved her hand around, coughing and sputtering as she backed up. And it gave me enough time to reach for the door beside me and rip it open.

  “Hey! I don’t need your help,” she said.

  I looked into the back seat and saw a small suitcase sitting on the floorboard. Hell, it looked more like a toiletry bag than anything else. I quirked an eyebrow at this Hannah girl. The one with the big jewelry and the thick cheeks that peaked like apples the broader she smiled.

  “See? Suitcase,” she said.

  “I’ve got it,” the girl behind me insisted.

  “I’ll carry it up,” I said.

  “Oh, wonderful,” Hannah said.

  “It’s just my shampoo and stuff. It’s fine.”

  I scooped it up and closed the car door before I turned back to my guys. I waved my hand at them, signaling that I’d be right back. And when I did, their damn catcalling started up. Whistles filled the air and a couple of the guys gave me a thumbs-up. Then the comments began.

  “We give you five minutes with that one!”

  “I think you got ten in ya!”

  “Pics, or it didn’t happen, Max!”

  The guys burst into laughter as I snickered, shaking my head at those asshats. But when I felt someone tugging at the bag in my hand, I looked down to see the dark-haired girl fighting me for the damn thing.

  “Give it. I’ve got it,” she said.

  The bright pink of her face and the worried furrow of her brow told me everything I needed to know. She was embarrassed. And for some reason, that mattered. I held my hand up toward the guys again and made a fist, telling them they needed to shut the fuck up. And they did, too. Almost immediately.

  Causing the girl to look up at me with those bright brown eyes of hers again.

  “I’ve got it,” I said.

  Her eyes darted back across the road, coming back to mine before she slowly turned to her friend in the car. I waited for her hand to drop and those delicate fingers of hers to pull back. All she had to do was let me help. Let me get the rest of her stuff to her room so I knew where to find her if I wanted to see her again.

  And I knew I wanted to see her again.

  “There’s always the pizza joint that stays open until midnight,” Hannah said.

  The girl sighed. “Fine. There are a couple of other things I need to grab really quickly, though.”

  “Toss them my way.”

  She walked around to the back of her car and opened the trunk. The plastic bags she pulled out looked as if they were filled with nothing but snacks, sweets, and junk. Oh, yeah. They were college girls, all right. I walked over and took the bags from her, giving her the breadth and ability to close the trunk. I heard the guys snickering and laughing to themselves across the street. The warm summer breeze that kicked up carried their sounds as the girl led me to the dorm doors. I heard one last guy whistle at me just before we breached the threshold, and I promised to figure out who it was and put him on janitorial duty for an entire fucking week.

  But it still made me chuckle to myself.

  I ducked through the entrance and was led to an elevator. Where I had to duck once again just to get in. I stood by the small girl as we rode all the way to the top floor in silence. And since she insisted on standing in front of me, I checked out her assets.

  Oh, yeah. I really like her ass.

  “It’s just down the hall. At the corner,” she said.

  The doors opened and I ducked again. I watched as some of the other college kids peeked their heads out to yell at someone down the hallway. But when they saw me coming, they shut up. People always shut up when I arrived on the scene. Whether it was the smell of cigarettes on my leather jacket or the sheer size of my body, I wasn’t sure. I enjoyed it, though.

  They stared at me as the two of us made our way to her dorm room.

  “I can take it from here,” she said.

  “Open the door,” I said.

  “I can take--”

  “I said open the door.”

  She stared at me for a long time. But finally, she caved. They always caved, too. That was the best part. No matter how strong of a front they put up, eventually they no longer resisted me. I grinned as she unlocked the door. She swung it open and walked inside, then held out her arms. She looked exasperated. Tired of my shit. And as I looked back down the hallway, I saw a few girls standing near their own doors with their eyes sliding up and down my body.

  A flash of jealousy ignited within me, too.

  I can’t believe my cousin gets to spend his year surrounded by so many babes.

  Benji had the smarts of the family. Book smarts, anyway. Which is why I always encouraged him to get his degree instead of putzing around with the crew. He had potential, you know? Not like the rest of us. He could stay out of trouble with that brain of his.

  I wish I had this kind of free time to fuck around.

  “All right, now give me my things.”

  The girl’s voice ripped me from my trance. She had spunk, I’d give her that. Even though she still wouldn't quite look me in the eye. Not unless I demanded it. Then again, I knew how scary I looked. I knew how I came off to people. And while it was intentional most of the time, it wasn’t intentional right now.

  Still, when I tried to walk through the door, she stopped me.

  “No. Hand me my things.”

  I grinned. “But I came up all this way.”

  She snickered. “And I can take it from here.”

  “Cute.”

  “Nothing personal. Just how it is.”

  “I understand. Daddy taught you not to trust strangers, didn’t he?”

  “It’s not like that.”

  I passed off the bags. “Sure it’s not.”

  “No, really. It’s not.”

  I grinned. “See you around, Daddy’s girl.”

  I winked at her before I backtracked down the hallway. Now all I had to do was wait. With everyone’s eyes on me and the girls practically licking their lips at my patched leather jacket, I slid my hand into my jeans pocket.

  Three. Two. One…

  “My name is Danika!”

  Her voice echoed down the hallway in sweet, sweet release. Victory was mine once again. Girls were so easy to figure out. A full-blown smile crossed my face as I jammed my finger into the elevator button and listened to the gears groan as I turned around. I saw her standing at the other end of the hallway, her hands balled into fists. Her cheeks were brighter than ever, her eyes glaring at me in frustration I wanted to devour with my own two lips.

  “Good to know, Daddy’s girl!”

  The elevator opened and I ducked down, backing my way in. I felt people scurrying around me, trying to get off before they were crushed by my massive form. I kept my eyes on the girl as the doors closed, and for a split second I thought she might come after me. Beat those delicate fists against my chest to try and ‘show me a thing or two.’

  But she didn’t.

  Good for her.

  �
��That quick, huh?”

  Hannah’s voice ripped me from my trance as the elevator doors opened again.

  “Oh, come on. Do you really think I don’t know your game?” she asked.

  I stepped off the elevator. “Good night, Hannah.”

  “At least you picked up my name. Kudos to you!”

  I lifted my hand to wave at her over my shoulder. I heard her giggling as the elevator doors closed off her sound, and I made my way back out into the night. I always felt more comfortable at night. As if I were shrouded from the world. It worked with the reputation I had in town. Hell, with the reputation of my entire crew. I took great pride in cleaning up the Red Thorns. Especially after the chaos my father plunged us into for a while. But it wasn’t easy. Ann Arbor was still scared of us after all these years. And rightfully so.

  A little bit of fear never hurt anyone.

  “Seven minutes, forty-two seconds!”

  “A new record for limp dick over here!”

  I shook my head as I crossed the road, making my way back to my bike.

  “So you got pictures?”

  “Oh, I bet he’s got lots of pictures.”

  “Max always has the best ones. Which shots did you get this time?”

  I ignored their statements as I hiked my leg back over my bike. I kicked up the stand and revved my engine, checking my fuel levels. I needed a fucking gas station. Then a nice cold shower.

  “Oh, shit. That her in the window?”

  Rupert’s voice caught my ear and I slowly lifted my eyes. As I sat there with my legs straddling my bike, I pulled out another cigarette and slipped it between my lips as one of the guys held up a light for me. I puffed and pulled, until it was lit and burning at the end with that relaxing sizzle I always enjoyed.

  With Danika staring at me from her dorm room window.

  “Yep. That’s her,” I said.

  “Oh, you’ve got her on your hook, Max.”

  “When you coming back for round two?”

  I didn’t answer the question. I just kept staring at her until the curtain fell between the two of us and separated our worlds once more.

  I’ll be back for you.

  That I was sure of.

  3

  Dani

  “Ho-lee-shit,” Hannah said.

  The curtain dropped from my hand as I quickly whipped around.

  “And you’re still flushed! Did he kiss you? Did he hold you close? Tell me what those muscles felt like. Because that’s a big boy with some big muscles underneath those clothes.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “Girl, you don’t even have your voice! He did something, didn’t he? Oh, you have to tell me all the juicy details. What’s his name? Where’s he from? What do those lips of his feel like?”

  I paused. What was his name? I should have asked.

  “You kissed a guy and you don’t even know his name?” Hannah asked.

  “We didn’t kiss,” I blurted out.

  “Then why are you so flushed right now?”

  Because he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.

  “I just--he wanted to come into the room. Is that normal?” I asked.

  “You didn’t let him in?” Hannah asked.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Girl, why the hell didn’t you let him in!? I would’ve given you privacy. Come back with a pizza to help you refuel.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not going to sleep with a guy whose name I don’t know.”

  “That’s half the fun, Dani. That’s what college is all about. Making friends, getting good grades, going to parties, and making lovely mistakes like that.”

  “Your definition of fun and my definition of fun are very different. And besides, I haven’t even had--”

  I stopped myself as Hannah drew in a breath. “You’ve never had sex?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for blurting that out everywhere.”

  “Holy. Fuck. You’ve never had sex!”

  “I hate you.”

  She gripped my upper arms. “This is perfect.”

  I furrowed my brow. “What is?”

  “This. All of this. I now know what my goal for this year is.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Getting good grades?”

  “No. We’re going to get you laid.”

  “Uh, no.”

  “Yes.”

  “I said no. Why doesn’t anyone like that word?”

  “We’re going to find you a guy to lose your virginity to.”

  “Isn’t that supposed to be something I dictate?”

  She grinned wildly. “We could work on Mr. Motorcycle, if you want.”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Oh, come on, Dani.”

  “Seriously, Hannah. When I’m ready, it’ll happen. But it won’t happen until I’m ready. End of story.”

  She playfully sighed. “Fine, fine. Be a party pooper.”

  “Sorry I won’t let you dictate who I have sex with and when.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Such a drama queen.”

  She smiled brightly at me. “Ready for that pizza joint?”

  “Is it bad that I kind of just want to unpack?”

  She shrugged. “That’s fine. They deliver, and Mom gave me mounds of pizza money before she left this morning. It’s on me.”

  I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  I hoisted my first suitcase onto my bed and unzipped it. All of my jeans. Wonderful. Easy enough. I didn't even own a pair of shorts. Jeans were much too comfortable. I had my pajama pants and my jeans packed away in the same suitcase. Along with three professional pencil skirts Mom insisted she buy me before the start of the year.

  “Wow, those are nice. Are those new?” Hannah asked.

  I nodded. “Mom insisted I have them just in case anything came up.”

  “Like having sex?”

  I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Drop it.”

  “Consider it dropped.”

  I knew better than that, though.

  “What do you want on your pizza, Dani? I’m about to order online.”

  I shrugged. “The usual’s fine. Pepperoni and mushroom with olives.”

  “Oh, do you have any of that honey sauce?”

  I smiled. “I brought four of them with me this time instead of just two.”

  “I fucking love you.”

  “That stuff is really good, isn’t it? Also, random fact. It goes really well in coffee.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Yeah, I know that sounds weird. But a few days ago I made myself a mug of coffee and didn’t have any sugar. Without thinking, I reached for what I thought was the honey to sweeten it. But it was that hot honey stuff. If you don’t mind a little spice in your coffee, it’s really good.”

  “I’ll have to try that tomorrow.”

  I started placing my clothes in the small dresser I had put in my corner closet. Then I hung up my good shirts, my pencil skirts, and the couple of nicer long-sleeve shirts that I didn’t want to get wrinkled and tossed my chucks into the bottom of the closet. I decorated my desk with all my little trinkets. And just as I got all of my chargers for my side of the room set up, someone knocked at the door.

  “Pizza’s here!” Hannah exclaimed.

  “Wow, that was fast.”

  She snickered. “Dani, you’ve been unpacking for over an hour now.”

  I paused. “I have?”

  “Yep! And I think you've been thinking about Mr. Hunk of ManMeat a little too much, too.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You would think that.”

  “Tell me you weren’t.”

  I shook my head. “No, actually, I wasn’t. Because the last thing I need is distractions.”

  “I mean, you could have a good time with him and then he wouldn't be a distraction any longer.”

  “You know good and well that man only wants one thing from me. And it’s not something I’m willing to give to him. Whether I knew him or not.”


  “Now you’re just being dramatic.”

  I stored my suitcase under my bed. “No, Hannah. I’m being serious. I’m still a virgin, okay? There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m sure as hell not sharing my body with a man I don’t know who is only going to take what he wants before leaving. Got it?”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Wow, you cursed.”

  “Because I’m serious, and I want you to drop the topic.”

  She placed the pizza on her bed. “Consider it dropped.”

  “Now, if you want to have something to go with this pizza, help me with that red suitcase of mine.”

  “Why? What’s in it?”

  “Why don’t you hand it to me and we can see?”

  She shrugged as she set the pizza down, then walked over to the suitcase leaning against the wall. The second she picked it up, her eyes ignited. I smiled brightly as she carried it over to me. I carefully unzipped the hardened case and flipped open the top. My pride and joy from last year. A present my father got me specifically for dorm living.

  “You brought the TV back,” Hannah said.

  I nodded. “I brought the TV back.”

  “Here, we can use my dresser as a little mount since it’s already over on this side of the room.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. Because putting its back toward the window won’t cast that awful glare we had last year.”

  “I’ll shove the dresser over and you hook it up. I’m terrible with shit like that.”

  I nodded. “Sounds good. I need to dig out all the cables, anyway.”

  Hannah groaned. “Do we have the DVD player, too?”

  I pulled out the Roku stick. “Oh, no. We’ve got something much better.”

  “I fucking love your parents. And the fact that you’re an only child.”

  I shrugged. Sure, maybe my parents did spoil me. Between my mother’s successful interior design business and my father’s pharmaceutical work, they were more than comfortable. But I didn’t consider myself spoiled. Sure, they treated me to things every now and again. I didn’t let that get in the way of the important things, though. Like school, and making very good grades. Studying for tests was always a priority, and I had a life plan laid out that didn’t include any sort of money my parents always talked about throwing at me once I graduated.