PROLOGUE

As the clock struck nine in the evening, Jessica Winters exited Twenty-Four Hour Fitness, stowed away her gym bag in the car trunk, and drove back to her two-bedroom apartment in Iowa City. Pulling into the underground garage, she sighed with relief knowing that her roommate, Kellie, was away for a few days. Finally, she would have some peace and quiet, spared from the constant sound of Kellie and her boyfriend, Jack, engaging in intimate activities at all hours of the night. Jessica couldn't deny that listening to Kellie's "mind-blowing orgasms," as she so affectionately called them, was an absolute nightmare. Especially for someone like Jessica, who had made the decision to abstain from sex until she found her perfect match—the elusive "one" who seemed to be taking his sweet time in appearing.

After a recent confrontation about the noise, Kellie, ever tactless, suggested, "You should get yourself a vibrator. Maybe then you wouldn't be so uptight about it."

"If not wanting to be subjected to the sounds of other people having sex makes me uptight, then I'd rather not be considered 'normal' by your standards," Jessica retorted.

Kellie smirked and responded, "Geez, you take everything so seriously. I'm just teasing you. But honestly, you're way too wound up about sex. You're twenty, for God's sake. It's time to let loose and embrace your sexuality like the rest of us."

I'm not uptight, and I don't need to 'let loose.' I'm simply exhausted from sleep deprivation," Jessica snapped back, her anger evident. "I mean, seriously—four in the morning? If you had early morning classes and were kept awake all night by the howling in the next room, you'd be pissed too. Just keep it down. That's all I ask."

"Honey, you can't suppress good sex. If you had experienced it, you'd understand," Kellie replied with a sly smile.

Whatever. Just turn up the damn music, at least," Jessica muttered.

The truth was that their arguments extended beyond the disruptive moans and groans emanating from Kellie's room. They clashed over groceries, utility bills, and even the placement of items within the apartment. Returning home each night was far from enjoyable, and Jessica knew she had to make a decision—find a new roommate or return to living with her mother, Frannie. While the prospect of leaving Kellie's drama behind and gaining more sleep was enticing, it meant moving in with Slammer, her mother's biker fiancé. He was not only intimidating but also the president of the Gold Vipers, a motorcycle club in Jensen—a lifestyle Jessica wanted no part of.

Despite her reservations, she had come to like Slammer, who defied her expectations with his laid-back demeanor and humorous anecdotes. True, he had a fondness for profanity and chain-smoking, but he treated Frannie, whom he endearingly referred to as his "Old Lady," with utmost respect and showed consideration toward Jessica as well. Yet, in Jessica's eyes, he was still part of a gang, and she didn't want that kind of life for her mother.

Jessica attempted to dissuade Frannie from pursuing the relationship on numerous occasions, but her words fell on deaf ears. Even when Jessica highlighted the illegal activities and frequent incarcerations associated with bikers in clubs like Slammer's, Frannie brushed it off, defending their love with a familiar refrain: "Slammer insists that the Gold Vipers are different from other motorcycle clubs.