Property of Fox (Mayhem Makers: Bastard Boilers MC)

21. Brea

brEA

The storm whispers its final goodbyes, the last remnants of rain tapping lightly on my skin as I slide onto the back of Fox's bike. The air smells fresh and electric, washed anew by nature’s tantrum. My heart still flutters from our earlier encounter—those stolen moments wrapped inside that rundown barn felt like a dream I never wanted to wake from.

As he revs the engine, a deep rumble resonates through me. It thrums along my spine with a delicious intensity. He glances at me over his shoulder.

“Ready?” he asks.

I nod, both exhilarated and nervous as we pull away from where we’d sheltered ourselves during the downpour. We slice through puddles left behind on the slick pavement while weaving between trees lining the empty road leading into Dallas. A few miles farther, and the wet roads disappear into smooth, dry pavement.

“Hold tight!” he shouts gleefully over his shoulder as he accelerates through an open stretch lined with wildflowers—little bursts of color flickering by like fleeting thoughts I’m too busy savoring to catch properly.

I tighten my grip instinctively, laughter bubbling out unbidden. I never understood the pull that people must have to ride motorcycles, but after today, I get it.

The edge of Dallas comes into view, and not long after, the houses lining the streets make their way into businesses until we pull into the rental car lot. The bike coasts to a stop, and the engine's roar dissipates into silence as Fox shifts to help me climb off with slightly wobbly legs, a combination of the ride and our time in the barn. My core already sore from Fox’s efforts and the several years long dry spell I had.

“I’ll go turn in the keys. You head on over to the truck.”

I watch as he struts away, his t- shirt clinging to his broad shoulders like a second skin, outlining every muscle beneath. Bits of hay smattering the back of it., There’s something about the way he moves—confident, almost cocky—that makes me want to follow him, to soak in his presence a little longer. But instead, I head toward the truck as asked.

The sun is dipping low in the sky, casting an orange hue across the asphalt, and I can’t shake off the feeling that everything between us is shifting. Our time in the barn, while amazing, came unexpectedly. I should still be pissed at him for what happened, but whenever I am in his presence, common sense seems to flutter away and myself control disappears. I’ve never met someone who makes me lose my mind as much as he does.

I reach the truck and lean against it, stealing glances back at Fox through the glass door of the rental company as he handles the paperwork. The woman behind the counter is blushing, her gaze flicking from him to her computer screen and back again.

A spark of jealousy burns within me.

Get it together. We haven’t put a label on whatever it is between the two of us. I continue to watch as he steps away from the counter, and exits out the door, walking towards me.

“What’s with that serious look?”

I cross my arms, attempting to feign indifference as he approaches, but the playful smirk curling his lips only heightens the storm brewing inside me. “Nothing,” I counter, though we both know it’s a lie.

Fox arches an eyebrow. “Right. Just standing here, looking like you’re about to chew nails.” He stops inches from me, an assessing glance darting down my body, taking in my defensive stance.

“Just… thinking,” I mutter, feeling stupid for letting it all get to me. “About how you seem to draw attention wherever you go.” I gesture toward the rental office.

He chuckles softly, leaning against the truck beside me, his shoulder brushing mine in an electrifying spark that makes my heart skip. “You saw that, huh?”

“I did.”

Fox swiftly turns around, his body now pressed against mine. He grabs my hips and lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist. His lips claim mine in a passionate kiss that takes control of my senses.

When he finally pulls away with that signature Foxy grin plastered across his face, I see something deeper flicker in his brown eyes. “I’m yours, firefly. A pretty girl behind a rental counter isn’t going to tempt me to stray from you now that I have you back."

“You’re mine?” I repeat back.

“For as long as you’ll have me, baby. You want to get out of here?” he asks, his voice low.

I nod, trying to catch my breath as he sets me down gently on my feet. “Where to?” I manage to ask.

He steps back, looking down the street toward the horizon where the sun begins its retreat. “Your place or mine?”

“Keira,” I remind him.

“My hotel it is,” he smiles, reaching behind me to unlock the passenger side door. Fox opens the door and gestures for me to slide in. As I settle into my seat, he rounds the truck and slides into the driver’s seat. The truck’s engine roars to life a few seconds later. “I’m not ready to share you yet.”

“Share me?” I retort back.

“If you think I got my fill of you in that barn, firefly, you’re mistaken. I still owe you a bed.”

I bite my lip, a mixture of anticipation and exhilaration bubbling inside me. He looks at me like I’m the only person who matters in the world. The truck lurches forward, and with every turn of the wheels, the tension between us thickens.

As we drive through the city, I glance out the window, watching streetlights flicker to life one by one. But my mind is racing. Thoughts of Fox flood my brain, how he makes me laugh, how crazy everything feels whenever he's around.

The closer we get to the hotel; the more words are left unspoken in the air between us. I can see a determination in his expression as he navigates the streets, one hand on the wheel while the other casually rests on my thigh—a light touch that sends sparks flaring up my leg.

“You okay?” he asks, glancing at me with those warm eyes.

“I am,” I reply too quickly, feeling flushed under his scrutiny. “Just...thinking.”

“About what?” He presses softly.

“About how crazy this is. I just met you. It’s like fate keeps slipping you into my life like you own it.”

“Maybe I do own it.” His voice lowers to a sultry whisper. “At least for tonight. Maybe more if you want that.”

My breath hitches at his boldness. “More?”

“I know this sounds crazy, Brea, but there’s something about you. I’ve never chased after a woman in my life. Not once. But for you? There’s this part of me that feels like I’d chase you to the ends of the earth.”

“I mean, you did stalk me.”

Fox chuckles deep in his throat. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

“Not a chance,” I retort, crossing my arms again but unable to repress the smile creeping onto my face. “It’s a good thing I didn’t call the cops.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been in cuffs this weekend, firefly, but I’d gladly wear them for you.”

“Wait, what?" I practically break my neck at his bold statement. “You were in cuffs this weekend? You’re going to need to explain that one.”

“I might have flirted with a flight attendant on our trip down here.”

The little green jealousy monster flairs up inside of me again. “Go on…”

“To be fair, we hadn’t met yet, so you can take that ‘I’m going to kill her look’ right off your face. Nothing happened anyway.”

“But that doesn’t explain the cuffs.”

"Well, as it turns out, her boyfriend was the air marshal on the flight and overheard everything. He wanted to teach me a lesson."

I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. “So, you were handcuffed by an air marshal for flirting?”

“Not my brightest moment, I’ll admit.” He winks. “The universe clearly had better things in mind for me.”

A sarcastic noise escapes me. “Sounds like a stretch, Fox.”

“It’s the truth,” he insists, his tone light but earnest. "And now, here we are, and I’m hoping that’s a sign of something good.”

I catch his gaze, and for a brief moment, everything around us fades away. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything, firefly.”

“Why me?” The question slips out before I can overthink it. “You could have anyone you want. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you turn heads?—”

“Those heads aren’t mine to collect,” he interrupts with a grin. “Trust me, they’re just noise. You? You’re different.”

“Different how?” I press, curiosity piquing as I lean closer, drawn by his magnetic energy.

He takes a moment, eyes narrowing as if he's weighing his words carefully. “It’s hard to explain. I won’t lie to you and say that I haven’t had my fair share of one-night stands because I have. But none of them have meant anything. No one has except for you.”

A flutter of disbelief stirs in my stomach as I process his words. “Me? But you hardly know me.”

“I know enough,” he counters, his gaze unwavering as the truck glides through the dimly lit streets. “I know you’re smart. I know you can keep up with my banter and challenge me like no one else has. And maybe that’s part of it. There’s something about your fire I can’t ignore.”

Just as those words hang in the air between us, he pulls into the parking lot of his hotel. The neon sign flickers a dull red against the twilight sky, illuminating his rugged features as he shuts off the engine. The heavy silence envelops us once more, filled only by the soft thump of my heart echoing in my ears.

“We can take things slow if that’s what you want,” he offers, breaking into my thoughts. “I know you haven’t talked much about why you’re starting over here in Dallas, and I’m not going to ask about it. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. But this,” he says, motioning between us. “This is real.”

“But your life isn’t here. Your job and your club aren’t here.”

His brow furrows ever so slightly, and I can see the wheels turning in his handsome head. “Maybe not,” he says slowly. “But fate has a funny way of making things work out.”

I swallow hard. “Fate, huh?” I can’t help but feel the gravity that pulls me closer to him.

“Yeah,” he murmurs, leaning in slightly, his breath warming my skin. “I mean, why not? Life’s too short to follow all the rules, and I’ve learned that sometimes you have to take chances.”

“Is that your motto?” I ask. “Break all the rules?”

He chuckles softly, that warm sound echoing in my chest. “Not all of them. Just enough to make it interesting.”

Those last words hang heavy in the air. My pulse quickens as he reaches out, brushing my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering along my jawline. “Take a chance on me, Brea.”

His touch sends a thrill shooting down my spine, an electric buzz that pulls me into his orbit. I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat as I catch a glimpse of vulnerability hidden in his deep brown eyes.

I take a moment to study him, every line of his face. God, he is infuriatingly charming. “Let me show you how much I want this,” he says, closing the distance between us with an earnestness that makes the world around us fall away as our mouths meet. His lips are warm and inviting, coaxing mine into a dance that starts slow but quickly turns hungry. I clutch the back of his neck, urging him closer as his hands find their way to my waist.

I pull away first. “Yes.”

“Good,” he replies softly, the corners of his mouth lifting in delight as he studies my expression. “Let’s go up to my room. The last thing I need is for both of us to end up in cuffs for and indecent exposure.”

He slips from his side of the truck, and before I can even process his words, he opens my door and scoops me up effortlessly like I’m light as air. A startled squeak escapes my lips as he throws me over his shoulder, my legs kicking instinctively in protest, but laughter bubbles out of me. "Fox! Put me down!"

I catch glimpses of bystanders' surprised faces as we burst through the hotel lobby doors. They must think we're in some kind of scene from a romantic comedy. He's striding with purpose toward the elevator. Those long legs moving swiftly beneath him.

“People are watching!”

“Let them,” he fires back before smacking my ass for good measure.

The doors slide shut behind us with an echoing thud, and then there's just us in this small space. The elevator rises a few floors before stopping. As the doors slide open with a ding, Fox steps out with confidence. He sets me down gently, but the moment my feet touch the ground, he pulls me in close, wrapping an arm around my waist.

“Room 312,” he mutters under his breath, guiding me down the hallway until we reach a door lit only by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. He produces a card key from his pocket with a flourish before swiping it across the lock and pushing the door open.

Inside, the room is surprisingly spacious, with dim lighting creating an inviting atmosphere. A king-sized bed takes center stage. As soon as the door clicks close behind me, Fox pounces, hoisting me up against the door. My legs instinctively wrapping around his legs. His lips crash against mine with a fervor that ignites every nerve ending in my body. I gasp as he deepens the kiss, his hands gripping my thighs, anchoring me against the door like I'm the most precious thing in the world.

“Damn,” he breathes against my mouth, his breath hot and deliciously intoxicating. “I didn't think I’d be so lucky.”

“Lucky? You seem to be the one with all the power here,” I chaff, my fingers weaving through his hair as he grinds his hips into me.

He grins, that goofy smile melting any doubt lingering in my mind. “Lucky that I found you before anyone else did. The things I’d do just to have you.” His voice drops low and sultry, an intimate promise that chills me in the best way possible.

“You do have me. I’m right here.”

"Right here," he echoes, as if savoring my words like a fine whiskey. His eyes darken with desire. “Then let’s make this count.”

With that, he pulls away just enough to allow me to slide down the door until my feet find solid ground. But he doesn’t let go, his hands still firm at my waist, holding me steady while I try to process how this night has unfolded. The promise of adventure dances along the edges of my mind, daring me to take the plunge into uncharted territory.

“First, we shower off this hay, then I feed you.”

“And after that?” I ask.

“You’re mine, firefly. You, me, and this bed.”