(Iron Tzars MC)

  Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

  Date Published: October 13, 2023

   

  Danica — Wylde’s an incorrigible flirt. I know he acts like

    he’s a player, but I’ve seen another side of him. Kids from all

    over the area flock to him because he’s Wylde — the guru of all

    things electronic. He has endless patience with the teens looking to learn

    his skill in video games, but he has none with adults. I love his twisted,

    sarcastic sense of humor, and that streak of protectiveness he shows on

    occasion. He’s wicked smart and I love watching him use his

    intelligence and his wit. Plus he’s hotter than sin. So I flirt

    back.

  Wylde — I’ve got it bad. I come to the coffee shop just to be near

    Danica. The tiny barista has more heart than most people I’ve met. But

    she’s the kind of woman who’ll want forever, and that’s

    not me. But when I realize the danger she and her sisters are in, I’ll

    do whatever’s necessary to keep them safe. Once Danica knows what

    I’m capable of, I know she’ll run screaming into the night, and

    I’ll never see her again.

   

  WARNING: Wylde features a protective hero, a determined heroine and

    includes graphic violence and adult situations that may be triggers for some

    readers. Eventual happy ending and no cheating, as always.

   

  EXCERPT

  Copyright ©2023 Marteeka Karland

   

  Wylde

  “I’ll take a double ristretto with iced vanilla double shot and

    organic chocolate brownie decaf, please.”

  The line behind me groaned.

  One guy grumbled from behind me, “Some of us got places to

    be!”

  “Yeah,” someone else volunteered. “You shouldn’t

    get something so complicated when the line’s so long.”

  I just grinned, loving the disgruntled mutterings. Did my heart good.

    “It’s amazing what you can wait for when you’re, you know,

    early. My recommendation to people in a hurry is to start earlier. Then

    you’re not in such a rush.” I leaned in over the counter for a

    stage whisper at the woman getting ready to serve me. “Too much stress

    can lead to gas.”

  The young woman gave me a star struck smile, eating me up with her eyes and

    actually licking her lips. What can I say? I have that effect on women. Even

    if this one was a little young for my tastes.

  “That was a… double… uh… and vanilla…

    decaf?” She graced me with a dreamy smile. The girl had no clue what

    she was doing, but I wasn’t about to push her. Mainly because I saw

    the one person in the whole place who could make this situation

    better.

  Danica James stepped behind the counter as she tied her apron around her

    slender waist. She rolled her eyes, giving me a look that said I was being a

    drama queen again. Instead of saying anything, she pulled out a big mug with

    the coffee shop’s logo on it and filled it full of black coffee.

  “Anything else, Wylde?”

  I grinned as I paid for the cup and the coffee. “Nope. Thanks,

    Danica.”

  She raised an eyebrow, glancing at the tip jar pointedly. “Just put

    the tip in, Wylde. See how it feels.”

  Yeah, we had a thing going. And I always waited until she said it before I

    put in my tip. She always said it.

  “What? Is that it?”

  “Asshole.”

  Yeah, the groans behind me were amusing as shit.

  “You’re welcome.” I threw up a hand and headed back to my

    table where I’d set up my laptop for the morning. I loved coming here.

    Not for the glacially slow Internet or the stimulating company that amused

    me so much. Hell, I didn’t even come for the coffee, though it was the

    best in town. No. I came for Danica James.

  The woman was sin and sex with a snarky attitude. She knew my drink as well

    as my moods and accommodated both. If I were the kind of man looking for a

    woman for my own, it would probably be Danica. Not only was she beautiful

    and sassy, but she was kind, as well. I’d seen her giving out the

    leftover pastries to a few homeless people who hung out a couple of blocks

    from Henry’s Coffee Shop on multiple occasions. I’d also seen

    her paying for them out of her tips so her boss didn’t get in a twist.

    I made sure to contribute as much as I could and not look like a creepy

    stalker. I also was pretty sure she knew what I was doing.

  An hour later, I was banging away on a Discord channel I frequented,

    helping noobs learn to play Fortnite. The other barista approached me, a big

    smile on her face. She’d loosened a couple of buttons on her top so I

    had a good view of her cleavage. Which, I admit, was a pretty good view. But

    she wasn’t my style. Mainly because she was star struck by my good

    looks, tattoos, and quite possibly my Titan GT77, but I didn’t think

    so. She might surprise me, but didn’t strike me as the computer geek

    type.

  “Hey, Wylde.” She smiled and set a large black coffee next to

    my empty mug. “Want me to freshen up your mug?”

  I glanced at the cup she’d just set in front of me. “I think

    I’m good. I’ll come to the bar if I need something.” I

    smiled to take the sting out, but honestly, I could care less if she got

    offended. She wasn’t stupid… exactly… she was just young

    and thought she could lead guys around by their dicks. I’d seen it a

    few times since she started. I’d also overheard her telling her

    girlfriends she could get me into bed with a crook of her finger. I had to

    chuckle at that.

  Her smile faltered. “I was just being nice.”

  I sighed and looked up from the chat session I was in. Normally, I’d

    have my headphones on using voice chat, but it was crowded and I

    didn’t want to disturb anyone. I could be a bastard, but I

    wasn’t a complete asshole. Most of the time.

  “Look, kid. I’m sure you’re nice and all, but you

    ain’t my type. Tell your friends I’m gay or something if you

    think it will help you save face. But I’m not interested.

    ‘K?”

  All right. So maybe I was a complete asshole. Wasn’t the first time.

    Wouldn’t be the last.

  The girl stomped her foot. “You don’t have to be so

    rude.” Then she turned and flounced off.

  “Making friends, I see.”

  Danica grinned at me from where she was wiping down a table while Little

    Miss Thang had moved back behind the bar. She glared furiously at me before

    going back to her phone.

  I grinned at Danica. “I do my best.”

  She snorted. “Right. You do your best to piss as many people off as

    you can. Pretty sure you think they’ve made pissing people off an

    Olympic sport, and you’re determined to win gold.”

  I barked out a laugh. Which got Little Miss Thang back to glaring at me.

    Only now, her anger spilled over to Danica. That wasn’t happening. I

    met her gaze while I continued my conversation with Danica. The look I gave

    her was probably not very pleasant.

  “Well, you know what they say. Better pissed off than pissed on. I

    mean, that’s not really my thing, but I could do it. Honestly, though,

    she didn’t take the hint so I had to go the not-so-subtle

    route.”

  “Just be careful of your coffee if Jordan serves it. Not saying

    she’d put laxative in it. Not not saying it either. Or maybe

    salt.” She looked off, as if pondering which would be worse. “I

    think I’d prefer the laxative.”

  I sketched her a two-fingered salute and we both went about our business.

    It was one of many reasons I liked Danica. She knew when to leave a man

    alone, and she didn’t throw herself at me either. Hell, I knew she

    wanted me. What woman wouldn’t? But she never let on like she did.

    Which, I’ll admit, was part of the draw. It was also the reason I

    didn’t pursue her. Once the chase was over, I’d get bored and

    she’d get hurt. That was the last thing I wanted.

   

   

  About the Author

  Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double

    life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated

    housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes

    pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited,

    vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a

    blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her

    writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning

    delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying

    conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

  Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband

    with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for

    preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts

    (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with

    Marteeka’s latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her

    website. Don’t forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you

    with a potpourri of Teeka’s beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph

    events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

   

  Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

  Author on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/experiencethemagicmk

   

  Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:

    @changelingpress

   

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