Free Hellbent (Four Horsemen MC Book 5) by Sara Rayne Page A

Shep's glass. "We're going to play 'never have I ever.'"
    "Why on earth would I do that?"
    Pretty Boy smiled. "Because you're still working up the courage to ask me about what's swirling on your brain. This should fix that."
    "Don't really approve of drinking games." Shep's chin jutted mutinously. "I don't require a point system to get drunk."
    "No, all you need is a place. Lately, anyways. What's a matter Shep, scared?"
    Shep was scared spitless. He should get up. Give up on this talk and get the fuck out of here before he did something he'd regret. But temptation had never laid a stronger hand on him. He felt glued to his barstool. He was going nowhere.
    "Just trying to figure out your angle," he drawled. His eyes fixed on Pretty Boy's thumb ring glinting in the security lights. Just a thick piece of shined steel, wrapped perfectly around the strong lines of his thumb, but that piece of jewelry played a starring role in his most shameful wet dreams.
    "For all I've known you longer and better than half the Horsemen have, there's still some shit it turns out I don't know. And I'm angling to find some answers." He grinned. "You in?"
    "You think you know me so well," Shep scoffed.
    "Don't I?" He smirked, leaning close and whispering low, "Or did you want to just jump straight into talking about you and me in that alley? Or what might have happened if Duke hadn't interrupted?"
    Shep took a hard breath and set his jaw. "Never have I ever wanted to play this game."
    Pretty Boy cast a speculative look over the rim of his glass. "Never have I ever made out with a girl in an alley to prove a point."
    "Ouch." Shep winced and took a drink, feeling fifty shades of douchebag. Not his best moment. "Getting a little pointed there, aren't ya'?"
    "We're just getting started," Pretty Boy promised grimly. He clicked that damn thumb ring against his glass. "Your turn."
    "Never have I ever forced a guy to play a drinking game because I was pissed he was with some hellion."
    Pretty Boy inhaled sharply. "With?"
    "In the alley," he clarified, a strange warmth flowing through him that had nothing to do with the moonshine and everything to do with the possessive burn in Pretty Boy's eyes.
    Pretty Boy took a long swallow. "Yeah, I was pissed. But never have I ever thought I had a claim on you."
    Shep couldn't say the same. He felt responsible for Pretty Boy, tied to him through some kind of deep and weighty connection. Maybe 'claim' wasn't exactly the right word, but it was close enough that he'd be a bold-faced liar if he denied it. And they both knew it.
    Pretty Boy raised a brow, challenge smoky in his eyes.
    Shep didn't want to back down, but something low and dirty kicked in his gut, twisting with raw, unadulterated attraction. His gaze slid away, refusing to focus on anything as he picked up his glass and drank.
    The soft breath Pretty Boy inhaled in response sent a honeyed shiver through his chest, chased by the electric heat of the moonshine. He felt vulnerable, exposed. Lying to Pretty Boy wasn't that much different than just flat out telling the truth. Dude was wicked clever and insightful as fuck.
    Especially when it came to Shep.
    That realization did little to cool his growing interest. He was a hair's breadth from too turned on to sit on a barstool.
    He squeezed his hand into a fist, trying to regain his composure.  Fuck. If he didn't get him to back off, he'd be in some serious trouble. He managed to grit out a terse, "Never have I ever made such a fuss over a simple kiss."
    "I call bullshit. One, you're a liar. Two, that kiss was about as simple as our first. And three—I ain't made shit out of it. Yet." Pretty Boy ticked his points off on long, tapered fingers.
    Shep took a long drink and nodded. "You wanna play or you wanna gab my ear off?"
    "Never have I ever let my father convince me to pretend to be something I'm not."
    Shep let out a low whistle. "Damn, boy. You ain't playing anymore."
    "Sure ain't."
    "Just remember who you're