Property of Fox (Mayhem Makers: Bastard Boilers MC)

16. Brea

brEA

Sneaking into the house with Fox was surprisingly easy. We tiptoed past Keira's room, careful not to wake her. In my room, Fox kept his promise and didn't touch me, even though I secretly wanted him to when we both stripped down to our underwear before getting into bed. We fell asleep in each other's arms, but now the bright morning sun is shining through the window, making me hot and uncomfortable. I try to shift away from Fox's warm embrace without waking him.

But as I lay there, the gentle rhythm of his breathing calms my restless heart, and I find myself smiling at the warmth radiating from him. How this cinnamon roll of a man could ever be a biker, I’ll never understand. In fiction, it's easy to imagine tough guys with soft hearts, but in reality, they're hard to come by. Until Fox came into my life. Either way, whatever this is between us, it’s something that I didn’t know that I needed. To be wanted without rules or expectations is freeing.

Suddenly, a strong urge to use the bathroom hits me, which is a problem, considering his heavy limbs are trapping me against him. I carefully curl my fingers around his wrist, trying to inch it away ever so gently until it slips between us, his open palm resting on my ass. Fox stirs slightly but doesn’t awaken, his brows knitting together in sleep.

I take a deep breath, bracing myself for my next move. With nimble grace, I twist my body toward the edge of the bed, hoping to slide out from under him without causing the bed to shift. Just as I am about to succeed, his arm flops over me like a heavy python, pulling me back into his warmth.

Shit. How am I going to do this? If I wake him up that will likely lead down the path of breaking the deal I’d brokered last night to not piss off Keira. If I don’t, I will make our first night together awkward when I pee the bed. There’s got to be a middle ground. Think, Brea. Think.

I settle for gently nudging his arm with my shoulder, praying that will give me the leverage I need. No movement. Not even a flicker of those long eyelashes. So much for subtlety.

With a sigh, I take a chance and lean in closer, my lips brushing against his ear as I whisper softly, “Fox. Come on, let me go.”

His brow furrows again and without warning, he groans low in his throat like a bear too cozy in its den. “Mmm...just five more minutes,” he mumbles, tightening his grip around my waist.

Just five more minutes? Great. Option two is imminent, and there will be no coming back from it.

Desperation begins to claw at my insides, and knowing the floor is nearby provides no comfort. The last thing I want is to be defeated by this renegade bladder of mine after an incredible night spent nestled against this tattooed giant.

I take a deep breath, willing myself to summon courage. With one last push of determination, I plant my feet firmly on the floor and haul myself up, setting my intention on a stealthy escape. Looping my fingers around Fox's arm, I gently pry his fingers away from my waist. “Fox,” I whisper again, growing increasingly frustrated. “Please.” Just as I think I’m winning this battle, he shifts and opens one eye slowly, looking up at me with a mix of sleepiness and confusion. The sight of his tousled hair and that smirk beginning to tug at the corners of his lips makes my heart flutter despite the urgency of my situation.

“Leaving already?” he rasps, voice thick with sleep. The way he looks at me makes it hard to focus on anything else. Damn him for being so adorable.

“Um, this is my house,” I shoot back. “Well, kinda.”

“Yeah,” he yawns. “Where are you going?”

“I really need to use the bathroom, and you’re kind of holding me hostage in my bed.”

“You could’ve just said so,” he replies, his voice still gravelly. I can’t help but roll my eyes at the cheekiness, but there’s an undeniable spark in his gaze that traps me for just a moment longer than necessary. He releases me from his grasp, and I sprint to the attached bathroom.

As soon as I close the bathroom door behind me relief floods through my veins, and I take a moment to collect myself, gazing into the small mirror above the sink. My hair is a mess, curls tousled and rebellious after a night spent tangled in Fox's arms. My cheeks flush at the memory of his warm embrace and that damn smirk, and I can’t help but giggle—a little giddy at how something so simple has turned my world upside down.

Once I finish, I splash some water on my face to tame the remnants of sleep before slipping on my borrowed robe from Keira’s aunt that is hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Heading back into my room, Fox is sprawled across the bed now, his arm draping behind his head carelessly. A sheet barely covers him, and the tattoos peeking out from beneath it is artwork in their own right.

“Come back to bed.”

“You know the rules. Not until I tell Keira you’re here.”

“So go tell her.”

“It’s barely sunrise. She’s not up yet.”

“Someone was moving outside your room while you were gone. I say she’s up.”

“Let me go talk to her first, then I’ll come get you.”

“Okay, but only if you promise to hurry back,” he retorts, a teasing glint in his eyes. “We have plans for this bed, firefly.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his persistence. "You're impossible."

“You have no idea, Brea. Go tell your friend. I’ll be here waiting for you,” he smiles, patting the empty spot that I had occupied. “Naked.”

With one last glance at the sprawled mass of man before me, I walk toward the door, heart pounding not just from nerves about Keira's reaction but also from the undeniable draw I feel toward this biker who’s managed to worm his way under my skin faster than any romance novel could suggest.

Stepping out into the living room area, I find Keira is indeed awake, curled up like a cat on the couch with a book in her hand, reading quietly. How do I approach this? It’s not like this has been commonplace for me. Actually, I can say without a doubt that I have never brought home a guy in my entire life. Will she blow a gasket? Doubtful, considering how happy she was for me when she helped me get ready, but I did bring him back here without talking to her first, so there’s no way to really know how she’s going to react. As I make my decision to rip off the ‘I brought a guy home’ band-aid, Keira peers up from her spot.

“When did you get back?”

“Last night,” I admit with a slight blush.

“How did you get here?” she inquires, her lips curving into a smile. “You said you’d call me from the front desk when you needed a ride.”

“Fox ended up giving me a ride instead.”

“Did he now?” Keira shifts the book from her lap. “Do tell. Tell me everything.” The way Keira leans forward in her seat instantly makes me aware I'm dangling the freshest gossip on a hook, and I’m not quite sure how much I want to share.

I roll my eyes before glancing at the door leading back to my bedroom.

“Oh my god. He stayed over last night. Brea Lynn Quinn! You brought a man home,” she shouts with glee. “I didn’t know you had it in you, woman!”

I wince at her volume and quickly shush her, gesturing toward the bedroom as if the walls have ears. “Keep it down! Yes, Fox is here but?—”

“No buts! You’re finally breaking out of your shell!” She beams at me. “I am so fucking proud of you. When do I get to meet him?”

“Um, maybe before you leap out of your skin at the idea that he’s in there. How about I grab coffee and then you can meet him?” I suggest trying to buy myself a moment or two to gather my thoughts about how to introduce Fox.

“Sure, but I want details first. You can’t just say, ‘I brought home a guy’ and expect me not to interrogate you.” Keira raises an eyebrow like she’s ready to challenge me.

“There’s nothing to tell. We went on a date, and we came back here. End of story.”

“Like hell it is. You fucked him, didn’t you?”

“Jesus, Keira. Can you say that any louder?”

“What? It’s a simple question that you didn’t answer.”

“Can I just get some coffee? Then you can proceed to embarrass the shit out of me in front of him.”

She raises her hands in surrender, a triumphant smile lighting up her features. “Fine, fine. But you owe me big time for this.”

With a resigned sigh, I turn towards the kitchen area, my heart still racing at the thought of Fox waiting for me. The coffee pot gurgles to life. I can’t help but glance back at Keira, who is watching me with an amused expression while she hums ‘I Just Had Sex’ by The Lonely Island under her breath.

“Stop it,” I order her, but she begins to sing the lyrics out loud. “Brea just had seeeex and it probably felt so good.”

“Really, Keira? Is this necessary right now?”

“Absolutely,” she answers. “I will keep singing until I get to meet him.”

I can't stop the grin tugging at my lips. Keira's excitement is infectious. “Fine,” I scoff. “But please don’t sing that in front of him.”

“No promises.”

I head back towards my room. Keira’s singing getting louder and louder with each step until I open the door, and close it behind me to drown out her. Fox shifts slightly at the sound of the door closing, his eyes half-open, lashes grazing his cheekbones. “All good?” he asks, his voice a low rumble.

“You can’t tell me you didn’t hear her?"

“I can hear the chorus of her song. It’s a nice touch. Though, that part hasn’t happened yet,” he winks. “We could get to that if you don’t want to do the whole meet and greet thing.”

“Trust me, if we don’t go back out there, she will come bursting in here.”

Fox stretches and pulls himself upright, the sheet slipping down to reveal more of his skin. “Well, then, I suppose I’d better make a good impression,” he says, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

He stands and walks toward me, every confident stride accentuating the muscle behind his tattoos. My breath catches in my throat at the sight. He's so impossibly handsome that it feels like a crime to look at him. But more than just looks, it’s how he carries himself, like he owns every room he steps into. He grabs his jeans from the floor and hikes them up his hips where they sit deliciously low.

“On second thought, I think I want to stay here.”

“You can’t say shit like that to me.”

“Why not?” I tease, stepping back as he closes the distance between us. “You’re the one who said you’d wait in here naked.”

Fox cocks an eyebrow, his playful demeanor morphing into something more intense.

“I could still be naked,” he says, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “The offer still stands, and I’m definitely not shy about it.”

I can feel my cheeks heat up as he closes the space between us even more. “Fox,” I manage, attempting to keep the playfulness alive despite the undeniable tension crackling between us. “This isn’t helping my nerves.”

“Good. Nerves are half the fun, aren’t they?” He steps in closer. I instinctively lean back against the wall, getting trapped between him and the wood paneling.

“brEA JUST HAD SEX!” Keira screams from the living room.

“Jesus Christ, Keira,” I yell back through the door.

“Bring him out, or I’ll bring this concert to you.”

I shake my head at her insistence to embarrass the shit out of me.

“I’m sorry. My friend is deranged.”

“It’s fine.” He cuts me off with a soft chuckle that reverberates through my chest.

“Maybe we can just?—”

“No ‘maybe.’ We’re already past that point, Brea.” His eyes flicker down my body in a way that feels both teasing and possessive. “Let’s go meet your friend, and then, you and I can slip in here and waste the rest of the day in that bed. Think you can convince her to let us have the house to ourselves?”

“I, uh, don’t know. Why?”

“I’m going to make you scream, firefly,” he whispers, his voice dripping with promise and desire. "What we did last night was just a taste of what I have planned for us in that bed."

My heart races at the implication of his words, the very idea of being wrapped up in him again making me dizzy. “You’re being ridiculous again,” I chuckle nervously.

He smiles, leaning in close enough that I can feel his breath against my ear. “And yet, you seem to like it.” He takes a step back, giving me just a moment to breathe as he runs a hand through his tousled hair. The action makes my pulse quicken again. Damn him for being so effortlessly captivating.

“Alright,” I say finally, forcing confidence into my voice. “Let’s get this over with.”

Fox laughs heartily, the sound filling the small room with an infectious energy that sends butterflies fluttering into my stomach.

As we make our way back to the living room, I can hear Keira’s voice rising over her chosen anthem. She’s now belting out lyrics with the kind of abandon only a true friend would muster without care for her audience.

I take a deep breath and follow Fox into the living room, where Keira’s dramatic performance begins to falter at the sight of us. Her eyes widen like saucers as she takes in Fox.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Brea. Him?”

Him? What in the world is she talking about? “Do you know each other?” I ask Fox, who shakes his head no.

Keira’s brows knit together. Her lips pressed into a thin line of contempt that raises a million questions in my mind. She rises abruptly from the couch, her body practically vibrating with indignation. I can feel the atmosphere shift around us, as if storm clouds were gathering on an otherwise sunny day.

“What the hell, Keira? Why are you looking at us like that?”

“This isn’t about you, Brea. It’s him. He clearly didn’t tell you who he is.”

“Shit,” Fox mutters next to me. I turn to face him, then back to Keira. “I can explain.”

“Explain what?” I snap at him. “Will someone please just tell me what the hell is happening right now?”

Keira shifts on the couch and reaches for her phone, then quickly crosses the room to me. She presses her phone into my hand and shows me a photo on the screen. It's a picture of Fox kissing Eden Anderson at yesterday's signing.

“Dammit. This isn't what it looks like.”

“It damn well looks like you're cheating on your pregnant girlfriend with my friend, Ares."

The room starts to spin around me.

What? No! That’s not—,” he argues back. “Brea, listen to me.”

“That’s why we couldn’t go back to your hotel last night. She’s the ‘roommate’, isn’t she?” Brea fires back at me.

“Yes, but it’s not what it looks like.”

“Get out,” I force out through gritted teeth as tears begin to stream down my face.

Fox’s expression shifts from indignation to something softer, regretful. “Brea,” he pleads, taking a step forward, reaching for me, but I hold my ground.

“Don’t. Just don’t. Get your stuff and get out.”

“What you saw isn’t the whole story! You have to believe me!” His voice carries that familiar gravelly edge, but it’s crackling with desperation now.

“I don’t know what to believe.” My heart is pounding painfully against my ribs as I glance once more at Keira, whose face is still set in a stern line. She’s my best friend, of course, she’d react this way. “You lied to me, Fox.”

“I didn’t lie. If you’d give me a chance to explain, you’d know that I am telling the truth.”

The words hang in the air like a noose, tightening around my throat. I want to scream, to throw something, to make the world stop spinning so I can breathe again. But all I can do is stand here, feeling Fox’s intense gaze and Keira’s piercing disappointment.

“Just leave,” I insist again.

The desperation in his eyes is evident as he fights for the right words, but nothing comes out. Head hung low, Fox or whatever his real name is pushes past me back towards my room. He returns a few minutes later with his boots, shirt, and phone in his hand.

As he steps back into the room, every ounce of bravado that once surrounded him seems to dissipate, leaving just a raw vulnerability that clings to the air. His eyes search my face as if he hopes to find understanding there, but all I feel is betrayal pulsing through my veins.

“Brea,” he begins, but I shake my head fiercely, refusing to let him spin this moment into something manageable. “It’s not what you think.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I say, my voice shaking as I take a step back. The wave of betrayal crashing over me is too strong, and I can't bear to listen any longer.

“I’m not fucking with Eden.”

“No,you already fucked her and knocked her up,” Keira fires back for me. “A picture is worth a thousand words, and you’re over the word count.”

“It’s not my fucking baby.”

“Wow. You’re a cheater, and an asshole. She not doing it for you now that’s pregnant?”

“It’s not my fucking baby. How many times do I have to say that?”

“Please just leave,” I sob as I feel tears welling up in my eyes.

“She asked you to leave, asshole. Just go. Your sick game with her is over.” Fox looks at me before letting out a defeated sigh and walking past both of us, exiting the room.

Only when I hear his truck's engines roar to life do I allow myself to collapse into Keira's arms, crying uncontrollably.