Giving her a nod, I fixed my eyes on hers and strummed the intro, singing the opening line close to her ear. “And I hope that I don’t fall in love with you, ’cause falling in love just makes me blue…”

Replacing her hands for mine, I helped her get the right chords. Just as she was about to strum, I said, “M-make sure to s-sing. I want to h-hear your v-voice.”

Her black eyebrows shot north. “I cannot sing!”

I couldn’t help it, but I had to laugh. “Sure you can.”

“But—”

I flashed her my stern stare.

Shaking her head, she smiled. “Okay!”

“P-play.”

Keeping my hands on top of Mae’s, her small hands played over the strings, the intro stilted and choppy, but I helped her fumble her way through and just as she built up to the lyrics, her nervous eyes flitted to mine.

“Well, I hope that I don’t fall in love with you, ’cause falling in love just makes me blue…”

Holy shit. She was beautiful, all of her, outside and in, including her soft, breathy voice. My breath caught in response and my hands fell away from the top of hers, causing Mae to stop and grimace my way.

“Was it that bad?” she asked.

Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “B-babe. That was p-perfect.” Grasping the neck of the guitar, I yanked it off Mae’s lap. Gripping her chin between my fingers, I drew her face to mine.

“Styx?” she whispered as her eyes glazed and they flickered to my lips. My hands fisted through her hair and I began pulling her in. I needed those damn lips back on mine.

“Mae?”

I froze as someone called her name beside me. Mae’s eyes widened in embarrassment. Drawing back from my grip, she looked up to find Rider a couple yards away. He held his shoulder as if in pain and stared down at the two us. As Mae shuffled back a few inches, I jumped to my feet and charged in Rider’s direction.

“Styx, no!” Mae shouted from behind me as I met Rider chest to chest, teeth bared, and getting more pissed by the second. He didn’t even look my way once, too focused on Mae, showing no f**kin’ fear of what was about to happen.

Look at me! I signed, my hands moving right in front of his face.

“Are you ready to go in now, Mae? I’m tired. I wanna hit the hay.” Rider spoke forcefully, like I didn’t even f**kin’ exist. Before I knew what happened, I’d shoved my palms against his chest, launching Rider back about five yards.

“Fuck!” he hissed, stumbling back, wincing as he held his injured shoulder.

Fucker is seeing me now!

“I said stop!” Mae swerved in front of me, holding me back with her hands on my pulsing chest. I met her pleading eyes. “Please… he is hurt. Do not harm him.” Removing her hands from my chest, she hurried over to Rider, helping him get upright. Her hands fussed all over his body as she whispered something to him. His tight eyes softened as his good hand ran down her arm.

I walked to where they were, seriously considering ripping that arm from its socket. I barely noticed the brothers lifting their drunk asses off the floor and staggering to their feet, watching the show.

“What’s going on, Mae?” Rider asked in a quiet voice, looking at Mae like she should be on his arm, in his bed.

The brother f**kin’ wishes.

“I…” She flashed a worried look back at me. “I—”

She’s with me. She belongs to me, I signed, the brother this time reading every spelled-out word.

Something lit in Rider’s expression, an emotion so severe I didn’t think he was capable of feeling.

“He right, Mae?”

Mae frowned, unaware of what’d been said. I tried to speak in front of Rider, but my jaw locked and I couldn’t push it out. At that moment, I f**kin’ hated my retarded speech. I tried to get the words out, my eyes blinking hard, but only a quiet wheezing grunt was heard from my mouth.

“He said you’re his. Said you’re his property now. That right?” Rider said rigidly. Mae glanced over her shoulder to me and her upper lip curled into a smile.

“Is it true?” He pushed but this time in a harsher tone.

You f**kin’ questioning me, brother? I signed real fast. Rider’s lips tightened in response.

Mae reached down and took Rider’s hand, cutting off his glare. “We have been talking. Working things out.”

“Is that right?” Rider countered.

“Rider. Look at me.”

I watched as his chest heaved and his eyes narrowed on me. Never had a problem with Rider before but, over Mae, it was f**kin’ game on. As I stepped forward, pressing against Mae’s back, only a couple of feet from Rider, she slammed a palm on each of our chests.

“Rider! Look at me!”

With an exaggerated sigh, Rider gave her his full attention.

“You are my best friend. Please, do not be like this. Be happy for me.”

He sighed and his f**kin’ face fell. “Is he what you want?”

“He has always been what I want.” Mae’s hand weakened on my chest. “It is him and only him. It is Styx. It will always be Styx.” She spun around to take Rider by both arms. “But I need you too… You mean so much to me.”

Rider seemed to stare at Mae for an eternity before he nodded stiffly at her and began backing away.

Mae cried after him. “Rider, please!”

Fully turning his back on my woman, Rider thundered to the clubhouse and out of sight. He left Mae standing alone.

Brothers were all standing around gaping at us. Viking jerked his chin at Mae and laughed. “Fuck, girl. You got beer-flavored ni**les or some shit? Why’re Prez and Doc going nuts for your skinny pale ass?”

Ky walked past Viking, hit him upside his red head, and ordered, “Shut it, Vike.”

From behind, I hooked my arm ’round Mae’s neck and whispered, “C-come on, you. Y-you’re with me.” Mae reluctantly tore her eyes from the door Rider had just walked through. I tucked her under my arm and strolled past the brothers. Ky shook his head as we passed, a knowing grin on his face. I suppose that was him finally approving.

“She yours, Styx?” Beauty asked from next to Tank. Tank winked in my direction.

Mae’s my woman, my property. Spread the word, I signed back. Beauty beamed a smile and translated for everyone else.