Chapter 14
Corvus King
Tempest took over an hour in the shower, and I was sure the hot water had to have run out by now. The steam from the bathroom billowed out like a fog. She emerged, her hair damp and clinging to her face, wearing an oversized T-shirt that hung off one shoulder.
I sat in the lounge, Wuthering Heights open on my lap. Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she smirked at me, then quoted,”For what is not connected with her to me? And what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped in the flags! In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day—I am surrounded with her image!”
”Ha, you”ve read it too?” I couldn”t help but grin back at her. This woman was full of surprises.
”Maybe,” she teased. Then, she said, ”I would like to sleep on my own tonight,” and turned, walking back to her room. The broken door creaked as she closed it behind her.
My heart clenched at her words. Could I be Heathcliff to her? Was she my Catherine? I hoped not; that love story had a tragic ending.
A part of me wanted to follow her, to protect her from whatever demons haunted her sleep. But I didn”t. Instead, I went to my bed, rereading passages from the book that suddenly held new meaning for me.
The moon cast an eerie glow through the curtains as I lay there, thoughts of Tempest consuming me. The hands on the clock seemed to mock me, ticking away the minutes until sleep finally took hold.
”NO!” Her scream tore through the silence like a bullet, and I was out of bed in an instant, my heart pounding in my ears.
”Tempest!” I shouted, barging into her room without a second thought. She thrashed in her sleep, tangled in the sheets, her face twisted in terror.
”Shh, it”s okay. I”m here,” I murmured, pulling her into my arms. Her body trembled against mine, but the warmth of my embrace seemed to calm her, the wild panic in her eyes slowly fading.
”Corvus... don”t leave me,” she whispered, clinging to me like a lifeline.
”Never,” I promised, holding her tight. But even as I said the words, I knew I”d fucked up. I shouldn”t have let her get so close, shouldn”t have allowed myself to need her like this.
”Go back to sleep, princess,” I told her, brushing the hair from her face. ”I”ll be right here.”
As her breathing evened out, I couldn”t help but admit to myself that I didn”t want to sleep alone anymore. The realisation hit me hard—I was falling for her. She could be my old lady.
”Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, my chest tightening with the weight of my emotions. The scent of her hair, apples and cinnamon and the feel of her skin against mine, it all felt like a drug I couldn”t resist.
At 4 am, the room was filled with the soft sound of her breathing. Carefully, I untangled myself from her warm embrace, not wanting to disturb her sleep. She”d asked to be alone, but I couldn”t help but want to protect her from the nightmares that haunted her.
”Fuck,” I whispered to the darkness. This wasn”t me. I didn”t get attached. But she was different, and I couldn”t deny it any longer.
Instead of heading back to my own bed, I went and did a workout, my body wasn’t from DNA, it was from hours in the gym that was housed out the back of my place, I usually spent a lot of my spare time here, but hadn’t set foot out the back since Tempest came into my life. This must be what married men say when they get a“Dad Bod”.
After my workout, I showered and decided to make her breakfast. Google had told me Aussies loved bacon and eggs, so I went all out, frying up a feast in the kitchen. The sizzling of the bacon filled the air as I cracked eggs into the pan, hoping she”d appreciate the gesture.
The morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on Tempest as she shuffled into the kitchen. Her hair was a wild mess, and her eyes were clouded with fatigue. Handing her a plate piled high with bacon and eggs, I watched as her tired expression morphed into shock.
”Um, thank you.” She blinked up at me, still trying to comprehend the unexpected gesture, before turning to sit down at the table.
I slid into my seat across from her and dug into my own breakfast. The room was silent, apart from the clinking of our forks against the plates.
”Hey,” I finally said, breaking the quiet. ”The bar”s closed today, so you got the day off. Anything you need to do?”
She glanced up at me, considering it for a moment before shaking her head. ”Nope. I think I might just sleep today.”
I grinned, the corners of my mouth turning upward as I studied her sleepy features. ”Sounds like a plan,” I agreed, pushing my plate away and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. ”I”ve gotta head out tonight for a job, but I”ll be home after nine.”
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and she cocked her head to one side. ”A job?” she asked, her voice hesitant.
”Yeah,” I replied, leaning back in my chair as I regarded her, a wry smile playing on my lips. ”I am the VP of an MC, remember?”
Recognition flickered in her eyes, and she let out a soft chuckle. ”Oh yeah,” she admitted sheepishly. ”I”d forgotten since you”re at the bar most of the time.”
”True enough,” I shrugged, acknowledging the fact that I spent a lot of my days at the bar. It was our main source of income, our financial lifeblood and where we laundered our money. But there was more to my life than just slinging drinks and keeping rowdy patrons in line. ”But the bar ain”t the only thing we”ve got going on. We do some other… odd jobs too.”
Her eyes widened, and she blurted out, ”Illegal jobs are not odd jobs…”
I couldn”t help but laugh at her innocence, her na?veté making me feel even more protective of her. ”No, I suppose they ain”t,” I conceded, still chuckling. ”But jobs they are.”
———————————————————————————
The past five days had been a blur, each one melting into the next. Tempest worked the day shift at the bar, and we both left together at 5 pm. I couldn”t remember the last time I went home this early before her arrival, but now, I found myself itching to get back to my place with her by my side.
Every night was the same - I”d read in the lounge room until my eyes grew heavy, then head to bed. Like clockwork, Tempest”s screams would fill the house, her nightmares clawing at her mind. I”d slide in behind her, wrapping her up in my arms like a protective shield. Her breathing would slow, and she”d drift back off to sleep, safe in my embrace.
But that safety was short-lived. Every morning at around 4 am, I”d slip away from her warmth and head outside for a workout, the cold air biting at my skin. As much as I wanted to stay with her, I couldn”t let her see how vulnerable she made me feel.
Tomorrow, she was supposed to receive the keys to her new house, and I wasn”t sure how I felt about it. I enjoyed having her stay with me, holding her every night, but I wasn”t sure how I would adapt to not having her here anymore. There was no doubt that I had strong feelings for Tempest - more than just liking her - but at this point, I could only acknowledge them as a mere like.
The bourbon bottle glinted beneath the dim bar lights, its amber liquid calling me like a siren”s song. I needed something to dull the ache in my chest, the pain that had settled there since last night.
”Hey, Tempest,” I said, leaning against the worn wooden counter. ”Pour me some of that, would ya?”
”Sure thing, VP,” she replied, her fingers wrapping around the bottle with practised ease. As she filled my glass, her brows furrowed, and she studied me with concern. ”You okay, VP?”
”Fine,” I grumbled in response, purposely avoiding eye contact with her. The title of ”VP” always bothered me; she started calling me that at work while using my real name, Corvus, at home. Among my club, being addressed as VP was a sign of respect, but I preferred it when she said my real name. ”Just gotta head out soon for a job.”
Her gaze flickered to the door, and I could tell she was unsettled. Was it because she suspected the job wasn”t exactly legal, or was she worried for my safety?
”Listen,” I said gruffly, ”I”ll be back in time for the end of your shift. We”ll head home together, alright?”
She nodded, but I could see the reluctance in her posture. She still refused to get on the back of my bike - something about not trusting the damn thing. So we”d drive separately each day: me on my Harley, her in that rusted-out shitbox she called a car.
The image of my shiny new Audi A5 flashed through my mind. I”d offered it to her more times than I could count, but she always stubbornly refused.
”Seriously, Tempest, just take the damn Audi,” I insisted, running a hand through my hair in frustration. ”You can”t keep driving that piece of shit.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowed. ”I”ve told you before, Corvus. My car gets me where I need to go. It”s been good to me, and I”m not giving it up.”
I muttered to myself, ”Your stubbornness is going to be the death of you.”
She was fiercely independent and her loyalty to that old car was unbreakable. I downed the last bit of my drink, said farewell to Amanda and Tempest, and left the bar.
———————————————————————————
The cold wood of the president”s chair was a stark reminder of the weight on my shoulders. I sat down, feeling the chill seeping through my jeans, and called church to order. ”Alright, let”s get this shit started.”
I hated sitting in the president”s seat. It felt unnatural like I was trying on someone else”s skin. But it was my temporary spot till my pops were outta locked up. The old man wouldn”t be happy to see me here, but he”d understand.
The dim glow of the low-hanging lights cast eerie shadows on the walls as I called the meeting to order. ”Alright, boys, let”s get this show on the road.” My voice echoed through the room. Hammer and Trey sat to my right, Nate to my left. I leaned back in my chair, a feeling of unease settling in my gut. ”How”ve you all been?”
”Can”t complain,” Hammer grunted, idly tapping his fingers against the table.
”Same here,” Trey chimed in, eyes scanning the room.
”Good, good,” I nodded, focusing on the task at hand. ”So, first things first...”
Nate looked down at the paper in front of him. ”We need to make a decision on Killer. Do we patch him in or not?”
I didn”t hesitate. ”I say yes.”
”Same here,” Hammer and Trey said in unison, their voices firm. It felt like the right decision for the club.
”Alright then,” Nate agreed, a determined look in his eyes. ”Organise his patch. We”ll throw a party.”
”Second thing,” Nate said. ”The Russians got back to us.”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for the catch. There was always a catch with those guys.
”They”ve organised another shipment with our buyers and want to attend to see it happen,” Nate explained. ”They want to stand in the shadows, follow the shipment, see what goes on.”
”Fuckin” babysitters,” Trey muttered under his breath.
I shrugged, letting out a low sigh. ”Why not? Let ”em follow it, work it out for themselves.” If the Russians wanted to keep an eye on things, that was their prerogative. I didn”t give a shit, as long as they stayed out of our way.
”Yep,” Hammer agreed, nodding solemnly. ”Once they see it”s not an issue on our end, they can deal with whoever they need to without involving us.” He cracked his knuckles, a subtle warning that we wouldn”t tolerate any interference.
”Exactly,” I thought, trying to hide my annoyance. The last thing we needed was more complications.
”Agreed,” Trey piped up, a smug smile on his face. ”I like the quiet little bubble we”ve created.”
Nate”s eyes narrowed as he crumpled a piece of paper into a tight ball and hurled it at Trey. ”For fuck”s sake, Trey,” he growled. ”You know better than to mention the quiet. Now something”s gonna fucking happen!”
We all groaned, feeling the weight of his words. Shit, dude just invoked Murphy”s Law.
”Fuck, sorry,” Trey muttered, rubbing the side of his head where the paper ball had hit him. I shook my head, trying to dispel the bad omen hanging over us.
”Next on the agenda,” I said, desperate to change the topic, ”is the witches who run the back bar. I wanna switch ”em out.” The boys looked at me, their brows raised in curiosity and scepticism.
”Really?” Hammer leaned forward, resting his tattooed forearms on the table. ”Why do you wanna switch them out? Is this ”cause they”re bitches to Tempest?”
My jaw clenched as I thought about the way they treated her. But it wasn”t just that. There was more to it, an itch I couldn”t scratch.
”Partly,” I sighed, scratching at my beard. ”But I”m tired of their shit. We need new blood in the clubhouse.”
Trey”s eyes gleamed, and he shot me a sly grin. ”I”m down for some fresh pussy.”
”Me too,” Nate chimed in, smirking as he leaned back in his chair.
I turned to Hammer, waiting for his verdict. He narrowed his eyes, studying the table like it held all the answers. ”Sure, why not?” he finally said. ”But I think you”re underestimating the wrath of those bitches.”
”Maybe,” I admitted, feeling the weight of my decision. ”But it”s overdue. No one made them old ladies, so let”s give someone else a chance. See if anyone bites.”
My palm slammed against the table, punctuating my words. ”Church dismissed.” Time was slipping away, and I had to get back to the bar before Tempest left.
Hammer”s voice stopped me in my tracks. ”For fuck”s sake, Corvus,” he growled. ”Just make her your old lady already. Can”t you see what we all see?”
I clenched my jaw, staring him down. ”And what”s that?”
”Corvus, you”re in love with the jailbait,” he spat. ”Make a fucking move. We”re all tired of the suspense.”
Heat rose in my cheeks, but deep down, I knew he was right.
———————————————————————————
I got back to the bar just as Tempest stepped out, her dark hair catching the dim light of the street lamps. She waved at me, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. I nodded, watching as she slipped into her car, the engine roaring to life. As she pulled out of her parking spot.
When we reached my place, I pulled up in front of the garage, killing the engine and kicking down the kickstand. Tempest pulled in behind me and popped out of her car.
She greeted me at the door, and I used my pinkie finger to unlock the door for us. The door creaked open, the dim light of the hallway casting shadows on Tempest”s face. I held my breath, waiting for her to say something. But she didn”t. Instead, she brushed past me, her body so close I could feel the heat radiating off her skin.
”Shower first,” she muttered, already disappearing down the hall. I watched as she retreated to her room, the door clicking shut behind her. She was a shower person, always needing to wash away the grime and sweat before settling in.
I exhaled, my thoughts racing as I stepped into the kitchen. The fridge hummed softly, the only sound in the otherwise silent house. I pulled out some ingredients, my mind drifting back to that one time she tried cooking dinner for us. It was a disaster, smoke billowing from the stove and the fire alarm screeching like a banshee. I”d laughed then, but in truth, I was worried she might burn the place down.
”Fuckin” hell,” I muttered under my breath, my hands working automatically as I started to cook. I needed to focus, to figure out what I was going to say to her later. But every time I tried, my thoughts just circled back to her - to her dark hair, her full lips, her defiant eyes. And how all those things made me want her more than I”d ever wanted anything in my goddamn life.
The sound of running water echoed through the house, mingling with the sizzle of food in the pan.
The steam followed her out of the bathroom, a hazy cloud clinging to her skin. She looked like a goddess emerging from some ethereal realm as she sank onto the stool at the kitchen counter, the oversized T-shirt she wore barely reaching mid-thigh. My heart slammed against my chest just looking at her.
”God, that smells good,” she groaned, her eyes closing in pleasure. ”I”m honestly going to starve at my new place without your cooking.”
”Hey, it”s not a problem,” I said, turning towards her with a smirk. ”I”ll just pop over and cook for you there.”
Her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink, and I couldn”t help but grin.
”Please do,” she replied with a laugh, folding her legs beneath her on the stool. ”I”d probably burn the place down if I tried to cook.”
”Wouldn”t want that,” I muttered, plating up the pasta I”d made for us. I carried it over to the table, placing her plate in the spot that had come to be hers - a little to the right, a little closer to me than the other side. It felt right having her there, even though we both knew she wouldn”t be staying for much longer.
”Here you go,” I told her, setting the plate down with a soft clink. ”Dig in.”
”Thanks.” She flashed me a grateful smile before diving into her meal with gusto. The satisfied hums and moans she made as she savoured each bite were almost too much for my self-control. I wanted her. Badly.
She practically inhaled the pasta, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction. I couldn”t help but chuckle, watching her savour every last bite. ”You want more?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
”No, thank you,” she replied, rubbing her belly with a contented smile. ”I”m full. It was just so good.”
She”d taken to wandering my house in the tiniest sleep shorts and an oversized T-shirt, driving me fucking insane. Any lesser man would”ve cracked by now, but I had to remind myself that she wasn”t mine to take.
She stood abruptly and headed to the sink, beginning to wash the dishes, the suds danced around her hands as she attacked the dishes, a picture of domestic bliss I never thought I”d crave. She hummed to herself, swaying gently from side to side, and I found my eyes drawn to the curve of her hips, the way her tiny sleep shorts clung to her perfect little ass.
”Corvus, you done?” she asked, her voice pulling me from my thoughts.
”Uh, yeah,” I mumbled, carrying my plate over to the sink. As I slid it into the soapy water, the scent of apples and cinnamon wafted up from her freshly washed hair. Fuck, it was intoxicating. Without thinking, I leaned in closer, breathing her in.
”Are you sniffing me?” Tempest”s voice was a mix of amusement and surprise. My face heated up, but I didn”t back down.
”Sorry, guilty as charged.” I grinned sheepishly. ”Your hair always smells like apples and cinnamon. I like it.”
Her cheeks flushed pink, making her even more irresistible. My fingers reached out, brushing softly against her cheek. Her eyes widened, but she didn”t say no. Instead, she leaned into my touch, her breath hitching ever so slightly.
”Is this okay?” I whispered, praying that it was.
”Y-yeah,” she stammered, her gaze locked onto mine. The vulnerability in her eyes was clear, and I knew I had to handle her with care.
Her eyes fluttered shut, face tilting toward my touch like a sunflower seeking warmth. The vulnerability made my chest tighten. I could feel the heat from her cheeks seeping into my palm.
”Corvus,” she breathed out, eyes opening to meet mine. ”You”re the first man I”ve ever allowed to touch me.”
My heart hammered against my ribs at her confession, and I couldn”t help but lean in, pressing a feather-light kiss on her lips – testing the waters. She didn”t pull away. Instead, her wet soapy hands snaked up and wrapped around my neck, drawing me closer.
”Is this okay?” My voice cracked, the weight of her trust crushing.
”More than okay,” she whispered before pulling me back in for a deeper kiss.
She tasted like the pasta we”d just eaten, and fuck, it made me want to lick her all over.
A surge of desire courses through me as I scoop her up into my arms. She”s so light and delicate, yet strong and resilient - a contradiction that makes her all the more irresistible. Her legs wrap around my waist instinctively, and I spin her around so her ass is perched on the edge of the kitchen bench. The cold marble contrasts perfectly with the heat between us.
”Corvus,” she gasps, as I devour her mouth. I”m lost in the taste of her, the feel of her lips against mine, the way her body clings to me like she never wants to let go. Her hands delve into my hair, running over my scalp, and I shiver as goosebumps break out across my skin.
”Fuck,” I mutter as I pull back slightly to catch my breath. Our eyes lock, and I see vulnerability mixed with passion in her gaze. ”You”re the first person I”ve ever allowed to kiss me.”
Her words strike me like a bullet, and I groan. It”s fucked up that people have taken things from her that were not given. But I can”t deny the pride I feel knowing that I”m the first she”s allowed this close.
The heat between us is intoxicating, the dark desire clawing at my insides like a rabid animal. I know I need to put some distance between us before things get out of hand, so I force myself to pull back, gritting my teeth as my body protests.
”Tempest,” I growl, trying to catch my breath. ”We should stop.”
My cock throbs painfully against my jeans, reminding me of how long it”s been since I”ve had a woman. Fuck, the temptation is killing me.
”Corvus,” she says, her voice soft and determined. Instead of letting me go, she pulls me closer, her eyes fierce with conviction. ”I”m choosing you to go further with. I”ve never been with someone I”ve chosen.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my mind raced with the implications. The thought of someone forcing themselves on her makes my blood boil. I clench my fists, holding onto my control by a thread.
”Are you sayin” what I think you are sayin”?” I ask, the rage simmering inside me, ready to explode.
She nods, her eyes locked on mine. ”Yeah, Corvus. You”re the first man I”ve ever wanted.”
”Fuck,” I mutter, struggling to process this information. ”You know if I find out who did this to you, I”ll fuckin” kill ”em. No one hurts what”s mine.”
”Yours?” she whispers, her eyes wide but not afraid.