Knights Rising (Rumblin' Knights Book 1)
KNIGHTS RISING
BELLA JEWEL 2018
DEDICATION
To Lance
For believing in me and kicking my ass to keep writing even when I didn’t want to.
For always making me laugh, even if I occasionally snort.
For loving me harder than I’ve ever been loved.
For being the best damn thing to ever happen to me.
This is for you.
It’s always for you.
~*KNIGHTS RISING*~
All rights reserved. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
KNIGHTS RISING
Copyright © 2018 Bella Jewel
KNIGHTS RISING is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
~*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*~
PROLOGUE | SHANIA – ONE MONTH EARLIER
~1~ | SHANIA – ONE MONTH EARLIER
~2~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~3~ | SHANIA – NOW
NOW – SHANIA
~4~ | THEN – SHANIA
~5~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~6~ | NOW – LINCOLN
NOW – LINCOLN
~7~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~8~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~9~ | NOW – LINCOLN
NOW – LINCOLN
~10~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
THREE MONTHS LATER
~11~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~12~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~13~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~14~ | NOW – LINCOLN
NOW – LINCOLN
~15~ | NOW – SHANIA
THEN – SHANIA
~16~ | NOW – SHANIA
NOW – SHANIA
~17~ | NOW – LINCOLN
NOW – LINCOLN
~18~ | NOW – SHANIA
NOW – SHANIA
~19~ | NOW – SHANIA
NOW – SHANIA
~20~ | NOW – LINCOLN
THE END
~*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*~
As always, my heartfelt thanks to every single blogger, reader and author that has supported my journey. From reading my books, to sharing them, to raving about them, to being there for me. Thank you. My career would be nothing without any of you.
A huge thanks to Kylie from Give Me Books for organizing my reveals and blitzes. You do such an amazing job. No matter how many times I use you, I am always blown away by how efficient you are. Nothing is ever a drama. Thank you for giving me so much support.
A massive thanks to Ben Ellis from BE Designs for this gorgeous cover. Not only did you come in at the last minute, you did an absolutely incredible job. I honestly have no words to explain how grateful I am to you for all the help you put in. I’m forever in your debt.
A big, heartfelt thanks to Ready, Set, Edit for doing this book for me at the last moment. I really appreciate the time you took to help me out, and how patient you were when my kids weren’t well!! Thank you so much, lovely.
And of course, to my admin, MJ, for ALWAYS keeping my page running beautifully. I couldn’t do it without you, girly. I love your teasers and your passion; thank you for taking the time out of your life to help this poor girl keep everything running.
To Lee Anna Dunk for coming up with this super incredible MC name. You’re amazing, thank you so much!! I hope you enjoy this book, lovely.
And, last but certainly not least, to my loyal readers. To each and every one of you that picks up my books and give me a chance. To the reviews you write, good or bad. To the time you take to make me a better person. You make this real for me.
PROLOGUE
SHANIA – ONE MONTH EARLIER
Oh. My. Lord.
This hell hound of pure masculine goodness standing at my counter right now is making me weak at the knees. I swear to all things holy I’ve never seen anything like him. Sure, I have seen close, but this one, he takes the cake ... and the icing, and the plate. He’s all of it and more. Dark eyes stare into mine, unwavering. He’s terrifying in his appearance. Huge, and I mean huge, all muscle and covered in tattoos. Hell, I’m sure outside of his face there isn’t a single piece of skin where there isn’t ink. His dark hair is cropped short, and he looks ... mean.
A bad boy.
Through and through.
“Can I help you?” I ask, keeping my voice calm, and steady.
“Yeah,” he murmurs, voice deep and masculine. Oh, lord. “You helped my friend Ellie out a few days ago. Wonderin’ if you had any footage of the man that was in here?”
“Ellie!” I cry, pressing my hands over to my mouth.
That poor girl. I’ve never seen someone so scared in my life. I mean, sure, we’ve all been in dark places but that poor girl was just...broken. I don’t know her story, but I do know that she was running from a man, and she came into my café for some help. He came in here after her, and I didn’t know at the time. I helped her, but I didn’t hear anything after she left with some of her friends. I hope she’s okay now. Poor thing. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. Footage?”
Rude.
“I didn’t catch him, I’ve already looked. Sorry.”
The man growls and exhales. “Anythin’ else that might help me out?”
“An attitude adjustment?”
His eyes swing to mine, and he stares at me long and hard. “What did you just say?”
“Think you heard me.” I smile sweetly. “Can I get you anything else?”
His eyes make a slow path down my body, dipping down over my face and past my shirt and right down as far as he can see before moving back up to my eyes. “I’ll take you.”
Oh, my lord.
“No, thank you.”
His mouth twitches, and he stares down at my name badge. “Shania.”
“Yes. That’s my name. Well done.”
I’m being smart, I know I’m being smart, but he’s too hard not to stir up.
“See you around.”
He turns and walks out, and damned if I don’t want him to waltz right back in here so I can take him up on his offer. I mean, look at him. God damn, he’d make a night I’d never forget, of that I’m sure.
I wonder what his name is?
~*~*~*~
“I’ll take a Jack and cola,” I say to the bartender, staring down at my phone.
No calls.
There are never any calls. At least, never any from the person I need them to be from. I exhale and put my phone down. The dull ache in my chest expands, stretching, and I wonder what he’s doing right now.
“Alcohol after work; didn’t pick you as the type.”
I swing my head around and see the mysterious man from the café earlier staring at m
e, those penetrating brown eyes locked onto mine.
“Are you following me? I’m sure there is a word for that. What is it again ...? Oh, right, stalker ...”
“I come here every day. Work just up the road.”
I narrow my eyes. “Where?”
“Rumblin’ Knights.”
My eyes widen. “The big fancy garage?”
He nods.
“Wow, that place is nice.”
Shit, now I’m being too nice.
“Lincoln.” The bartender nods, stopping and passing me my drink. “What can I get you?”
Lincoln. That’s a freaking gorgeous name. And it’s a perfect match for him.
“Same as always, Buck.”
I stare at the bartender, and he winks at me then I look back to Lincoln who is studying me. Well, more to the point, my breasts. Which, to be fair, are probably hanging out a little much, but this work shirt is the only one I have left until the new ones come in. And, well, I ate a bit too much cake so it’s a little tight. Whatever. Don’t judge. A girl is absolutely allowed to eat her feelings.
“You know,” I say, my voice laced with sarcasm. “I have eyes. Right here, on my face. I know, surprising, isn’t it? I wish I had known earlier, also.”
Lincoln’s eyes move to mine and hold them. That expression still intense and still incredibly sexy.
“Don’t wear a shirt like that, and I won’t look.”
“Or,” I point out, “you could be a gentleman and not look anyway.”
“Do I look like a gentleman, sweetheart?”
Oh, boy.
My panties just got a little less dry.
“Now you mention it, that would be a no ...”
His mouth twitches again. “Back to why you’re here, drinkin’ after work.”
“Isn’t a girl allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage every now and then?”
“Never seen you in here before.”
“Well,” I say with a shrug, “today I needed it. Any other questions?”
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you need it?”
I narrow my eyes and cross my arms. “Why do you need it?”
He takes a sip of whatever the hell he’s drinking on the rocks, and murmurs, “Got a lot of shit goin’ on. Need to unwind.”
“Same.”
“What?”
“What what?” I say, pursing my lips.
“What shit do you have going on?”
I raise my brows. “And I’d tell you because ....”
“Because I’m askin’.”
I snort. “Okay, well, in that case. What shit have you got going on that you’re drinking for?”
That mouth twitches again. “Well played. You first.”
I make a frustrated sound and sip my drink. “No, thanks. I don’t feel like talking to some random stranger who I don’t know.”
“You do know me. I’m Ellie’s friend.”
I roll my eyes. “Are you always this annoying? Or am I just the lucky one who gets to witness such a wonderful side to you?”
He says nothing, just sips his drink, staring at me. Always staring at me.
“You know it’s rude to stare, right?”
He shrugs and keeps sipping that drink.
Overbearing, overpowering jerk.
Sexy ass jerk.
Dammit.
“If you don’t want to tell me about that, tell me something else,” he murmurs, finishing the drink and ordering another.
I do the same.
Oh, boy, that went down way too fast, but I hold my own, even though my eyes water a little.
“My name is Shania.”
He snorts. “You always such a pain in the ass?”
“You wanted to talk to me.” I shrug.
“Fine, Shania, what else?”
“Well, I like long walks on the beach, and pina coladas ...”
He exhales. “Right then. Well, drink up; the quicker we get to the end of tonight the better.”
“And what’s at the end of tonight?” I ask.
“My cock in your pussy, and you moanin’ my name.”
My mouth drops open.
“What ...”
“Didn’t stutter, sweetheart. Drink up.”
“I’m not sleeping with you!” I protest.
He grins, baring those delicious white teeth at me. “We’ll see about that.”
Oh, my god.
I’m not sleeping with him.
I’m not!
I’m not!
~1~
SHANIA – ONE MONTH EARLIER
I slept with him.
I, Shania the weak, slept with him.
And my god, it was the best night of my life. That man was wild. He was wild, and hot, and so damned incredible in bed it makes my knees weak just thinking of it. From the way he devoured my pussy, to the way his hands roughly handled me, and then his cock pounded into me—I will never forget it.
But then the stupid jackass completely screwed me over.
Granted, we’d only just met, and it was just sex, but my God, some common decency?
Not only did he put his number in my phone wrong, but he disappeared in the early hours of the morning and stole my damned panties! What sort of sick little monkey does that? Does he have a collection of panties? Is he a panty hoarder? What? What in the ever loving hell is wrong with him? I mean, honestly, who does that?
Lincoln. Lincoln Knight does that.
And I want to be disgusted, and angry, and horrified, but the only thing I can think of is the way he made my body feel. The way his hands roamed over my flesh, kneading and clawing, making me arch in ecstasy. The way his tongue slid through my pussy, flicking my clit, making me come alive like I’ve not come alive in forever. The way his cock filled me, stretching me, as he held onto me and rocked me back and forth, my breasts in his hands, making me ride him until we both came with a ragged grunt.
He owned me.
For a small moment in time. He owned me.
But it wasn’t just that. We did talk. The more alcohol we put into our bodies last night, the more he opened up. We talked about his family. My family. Ellie. And so much more. So for him to do a complete runner and put the wrong number in my phone makes me angry. It makes me so angry I want to scream. Because he put me into a catergory. And that catergory is a woman that is going to cling onto him because we slept together.
He could have, at the very least, given me a chance.
Maybe tried to be my friend?
I don’t know.
Either way, I slept with him, and damned if I don’t regret it.
It was the best night of my life.
But I shouldn’t have done it.
Because now I can’t get Lincoln Knight out of my head.
Damn him.
~2~
NOW – SHANIA
The little bell above the door rings, and I look up to see Lincoln walking into the café. I haven’t seen him for a few days. It was when I asked Ellie for help, because I know she has connections to the Iron Fury MC. Lincoln got wind of it, and wanted to be that person to help, and so I changed my mind. I like Ellie a great deal—she’s definitely going to become a friend, I can feel it—but I don’t need Lincoln getting involved with my business.
I wanted the bikers to help.
I didn’t think he was part of that.
He decided he was going to help anyway, but I refused to tell him what I needed, so he vowed he was going to find out even if I wouldn’t tell him, and come back. And here he is. But as far as I’m concerned, he can kiss my ass if he thinks I’m going to turn to him for help after what he did. He used me and tossed me aside like some cheap rag. I won’t be treated like that, and I certainly won’t be asking for anything from him. Not when it comes to this. Definitely not when it comes to this.
This is mine.
And it is something I don’t want him involved in.
“I’m not enti
rely sure what part about none of your business you’re not getting,” I mutter as soon as he reaches the counter.
“Good mornin’ to you too, Shania.”
“Why are you here, Lincoln?”
“You know why I’m here. You asked for help, and I want to know why.”
“Firstly, I didn’t ask for your help, I asked for the help of the club.”
“Same difference,” he says, pressing those huge hands onto the counter.
I remember those hands.
And how they felt on my body.
Snap out of it, Shania. We hate him, remember?
“It is not the same difference. If I wanted your help I would have asked. Oh, wait, no I wouldn’t have, because you put a fake number in my phone.”
His eyes lock onto mine, and his mouth twitches. “Still sore about that?”
“No, Lincoln, I’m not sore about anything. I couldn’t care less what you do, honestly. But I did not ask for your help. And I do not want your help. End of story. I really don’t care if I see you again.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Still sore.”
“Argh,” I cry out, frustrated. “What makes you think you’re so damned spectacular that I’d care what you did?”
“Because you’re actin’ like a brat.”
My mouth drops open, and I gape at him. “A brat? Are you serious right now? I don’t like you. I want you to leave me alone. That’s not being bratty, that’s being truthful.”
“And I saw somethin’ in your eyes when you asked Ellie for help, somethin’ that truly bothered you. I want to know what that is.”
“Why?” I snap, frustrated. “Why do you need to be involved in this so badly?”
“Because I don’t like fuckin’ monsters. Make it my damned mission to rid the world of them. And whatever had that look in your eye wasn’t good. You asked for help. You wouldn’t have done that if you didn’t need it.”
My chest clenches, but I say nothing. “I don’t need help from you, Lincoln Knight. I’ve got Ellie asking the club. They’ll help me.”
“Club and I are close—we work together. They help you, I help you.”
“Why are you doing this?” I whisper, my jaw tense.
“Already answered that.”
I shake my head. “I have work to do.”