Dangerous Liaisons (Crimson Legion MC #1)

5. CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

I sabella was grateful to find the kitchen empty. There was loud applause out back, people cheering and clapping, and she could only imagine what was happening. It seemed two people blowing off steam in the ring was the preferred method of stress relief for the club.

“I figured you would be out there with the rest of the women.”

She paused from grabbing a bottle of water from the ice chest to see Xavier standing in the doorway. Black beanie on his head, he was a familiar sight in his black jeans and tee shirt, his MC kutte draped over it. “I need a break. Kira and Becka were doing this weird thing where they violently flirt with each other.”

Chuckling, he leaned against the door frame and eyed her hand. “This is a party, and you’re drinking water?”

“Beer isn’t my drug of choice.”

“And what is Isabella Romanov’s drug of choice?”

Why was her mouth dry but her hands slick with sweat? She readjusted her grip on the water bottle. “I prefer an aged white wine.”

“Aged white wine and Stoli vodka?”

She remained frozen as he approached her.

“I owe you an apology.”

She blinked out of her stupor. “An apology for what?”

“I shouldn’t have been so hard on you the other night.”

Isabella cleared her throat, the words almost choking her. “I’m sorry, too. I said horrible things to you.”

“You were upset when I got there. I shouldn’t have pushed the subject when I saw you had been crying.” He towered over her, dark eyes on hers. Hesitantly, he reached out a hand to trail the back of his fingers across her cheek.

“Xavier…”

“That’s the first time you’ve called me by my name,” he smiled. “Fuck if it doesn’t make me want to kiss you right now.”

Eyes wide, she took a step back from him, his hand falling down to his side. The door to the kitchen swung open, and she was grateful for the distance, her gaze darting past him at Ava.

An eyebrow raised; the brunette glanced between them. “Hunter is looking for you, Zay.”

With a last look at Isabella, he turned to exit the kitchen; the door slamming shut behind him.

“Did I interrupt something?”

She realized she was gripping the water bottle so tightly that she was surprised it hadn’t broken. “No, why would you think that?”

“Because I have eyes.” Ava stepped around her to grab a beer from the cooler. “Maybe I’m seeing things. I’ve had a few drinks.” She paused with a tilt of her head. “Though I found it odd that Viktor didn’t stop him from coming in here, seeing you were alone.”

“Why would he stop him? I am doing business with the club, and I don’t have to bring up the fact he let you pass as well.”

“I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”

Isabella cracked open the water. “Trust me when I say that I don’t have to be reminded of that. I’ve done my research.” She took a sip of the cold liquid. “How much does Hunter know about you?”

“I don’t hide things from my husband, especially anything concerning my past.” Ava stood there so still that Isabella wondered if she had pushed too far. The woman blinked, and after a second, she smiled.

“Sis?”

Ava didn’t look away from Isabella even as Becka stepped into the kitchen. She looked between the two of them with a questioning look. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine, Becks.”

Her gaze shot to her sister, and she moved to place a hand right at the brunette’s elbow, the act not going unnoticed by Isabella as the touch seemed to cause Ava’s shoulders to relax.

“I’m heading out. Hunter said he’s going to stay for a while. Do you want to catch a ride with me?”

Ava turned away with a nod. “Let me drop this beer off to Hunter, and I’ll meet you at the car.”

Isabella loosened her hold on her bottle, not looking away even as she noticed she had splashed water on her hand. She didn’t relax until Ava disappeared from the kitchen.

“Word of advice? I respect who you are and the difficulties you face because of your lifestyle, but I would tread lightly with Ava when it comes to Hunter. It’s not a threat, just a warning. I think you know that.”

“I am aware, thank you.”

With a nod, the woman left, the door slamming shut behind her. Cursing under her breath, Isabella stared down at her hand. The moment with Xavier had rattled her and the seconds that followed with Ava had not been the wisest. Letting out a long sigh, she looked for a towel to clean up her mess.

Xavier stepped out of the clubhouse, the buzz of laughter and cheers erupting as he moved into the backyard. The air was thick with the scent of grilled meat and camaraderie, but his mind was still lingering on the encounter with Isabella.

He leaned against the wooden railing, crossing his arms and watching the festivities. This was what he loved about the club—the sense of family, the laughter that filled the air, the way everyone let their guard down. Yet, with Isabella, everything felt different. Her presence had a way of stirring something within him, a mixture of excitement and anxiety that he couldn't quite place.

He had seen her vulnerability when he walked in, the way her eyes lit up with surprise and then dimmed with hesitation. He shouldn’t have reached for her, but something about the moment felt electric, as if the world around them had melted away. And then he’d dared to tease her, to hint at the desire that simmered just beneath the surface.

“Fuck if it doesn’t make me want to kiss you right now.” The words had slipped out before he could catch himself, a reckless admission fueled by an impulse he hadn’t experienced in years. The way she had stepped back, her eyes wide with shock, was enough to bring him crashing back to reality.

“Zay!” His president approached, a beer in hand and a grin plastered across his face. “You just missed seeing Eddie get knocked on his ass.”

He pushed the moment with Isabella to the back of his mind. The crowd’s cheers reverberated through the yard, electrifying the atmosphere. Eddie picked himself up from the ground, laughing despite his defeat.

“Looks like he’s taking it in stride,” he remarked, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we let our guards down. This is a volatile crowd, especially with newcomers around.” Hunter took another swig of his beer. “We can’t afford any surprises.”

“I get it.” His mind raced back to the moment in the kitchen. He could still feel the heat of Isabella’s gaze, the thrill of their conversation. There was potential there, but wrapped in layers of complications.

“Good. Let’s get back to the fights.”

Forcing himself to smile, Xavier pushed himself off the railing. He took a deep breath as he followed Hunter and pushed aside his thoughts of the dark-headed Russian.