Chapter Four
Olivia
I half expect him to be gone when I return freshly showered, so when I find him sitting up in bed watching television, I’m surprised. I gave him a clear out, and I expected him to take it.
“I missed a good mattress,” he tells me, “and a homecooked meal.” He flicks the quilt back and gives me a pointed stare, waiting for me to climb into bed.
Truth is, I want to, like really want to, but there’s a voice in the back of my head screaming at me to stick to my guns on this. It’s non-negotiable.
“Actually, I’m gonna head home,” I say, the words almost clogging my throat.
“No, you’re not,” he says clearly. “Get into bed.”
“No,” I snap. “This isn’t happening.”
He scoffs. “The sex that’s already happened?” He sighs. “Why are you fighting this, Liv? Bria’s finally got into your head.”
“No,” I cry in frustration. “This isn’t Bria. It’s me talking, Bully, and you just refuse to listen. You promised me the club was behind us.”
“I didn’t,” he says, shaking his head. “I never promised that.”
“You said you’d get out of prison and make a life with me.”
“But I never said I’d turn my back on the club.”
“It was implied,” I hiss. “You know how I feel about it.”
He scrubs a hand over his beard and sighs heavily. “Get into bed, Liv.”
“I’m leaving,” I repeat, snatching my skirt from the floor.
“I can’t let that happen.”
“You don’t have a say anymore. I met someone tonight,” I say, tugging my top on.
His stare is pure rage, and I resist the urge to run.
“It made me realise there’re men out there who would put me first.” I hate the jealous glint in his eye, but I didn’t tell him to piss him off.
I need him to see I’m serious about this.
“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t just tell me that little piece of information, Olivia.” Full name equals serious. “Get into bed.”
I stuff my bra into my bag. “And that’s the sort of man I deserve,” I continue.
“You have your club, and I get you love it, but there’s no room in your life for both of us.
” I turn on my heel and march for the door.
I almost reach it when I’m slammed against it, trapped between that and his hard body.
“You’re wrong,” he whispers, wrapping his strong arms around me. “I can keep both. Just give me a chance.”
“And when you end up back inside?” I ask, my voice wavering with emotion. “Do I spend another five years waiting around?”
“I won’t go back inside.”
“If they rang you now, would you leave?” I feel him tense, and any sign of hope slips away. “Exactly. Just let me go, Bully. I’m making this easier for you.” He walks me backwards, farther away from the door, with his arms still firmly wrapped around me.
“One night,” he mutters, sitting on the bed and pulling me onto his lap. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
He slides back, leaving me sitting on the edge, and as he lies down, he takes my hand and tugs me to lie beside him. “Please, Liv.”
I never could resist his pleas, so I lie back and allow him to wrap himself around me. I’ve spent so many nights thinking about this moment, making it all the more bittersweet.
I wake with a start, untangling myself from Bully’s limbs that seem to be holding me hostage. I grab my bag from the floor beside the bed and pull out my mobile. There’s a text message from Bria.
Bria: I’m home safe and sound. I’ll call round for breakfast. Love you xx
I groan, noting it’s almost ten a.m. “Shit,” I mutter.
Bully stirs, reaching for me and dragging me closer.
His eyes remain closed as he seeks out my nipple, sucking it gently into his warm mouth and setting my insides on fire.
“This is how I want to wake up every day,” he mutters, his voice gruff from sleep.
He climbs over me, settling between my legs and easing his erection into me. Why am I so fucking weak for this man?
We make love. It’s slow and silent, just the occasional breathy sigh as we both reach an orgasm. And then he slips from the bed and heads for the bathroom. “We can grab breakfast,” he calls out as he turns the shower on.
“Great,” I reply, finding my clothes screwed up at the end of the bed. I pull them on. I glance around, looking frantically for my knickers, but they’re nowhere to be seen.
“Is that pancake place still open in the centre of town?” he asks.
“Erm, I think so,” I reply, picking up my heels and checking the room one last time for anything I’ve left.
Then I head for the door, carefully opening it and trying not to make a sound as I slip out and close it equally as quietly.
Then I make a run for the stairs, knowing it’ll be quicker than the lift.
The perks of having an apartment just on the city centre’s outskirts is it’s cheap to get around. It takes me ten minutes to walk the distance from the hotel to my place, and I sigh in relief when I step into the foyer to greet the security guy. He gives a stiff nod as I pass and head for the lift.
“You dirty stop out.” I spin to find Bria holding two takeout cups and a paper bag. I snatch that first and open it as I step into the lift. Inhaling the scent of breakfast rolls, I smile in appreciation.
“You’re one to talk. Four a.m. you text me. Don’t tell me you were clubbing until then.”
She gives a slight smirk, dipping her hand into the bag and retrieving a bacon roll. She takes a large bite. “You go first.”
“No, please, you totally have that mischievous glint in your eye.”
The lift opens on my floor, and we step out into the corridor.
I place the paper bag between my teeth and rummage in my handbag for my keys, letting us into the apartment.
I kick off my heels and drop the keys in the dish by the door.
Bria follows me into the open-plan living area and places the coffees on the worktop.
“He was hot. Single. Covered in tatts and a total shit kisser.” I burst into laughter, and she arches a brow.
“He was the type to think about himself. He probably wouldn’t even get a finger wet.
” I laugh harder. “So, please tell me you had the best night.”
I sip my coffee. “Well, he was hot. Strong. Covered in tattoos. A god in the sack—”
“Oh Jesus, Livvy, you didn’t,” she cries.
I bury my head in my hands and release a long groan. “Why can’t he be shit in bed with a small dick?”
“I can’t believe you gave in to him so easily. I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
I look up and point a finger at her. “Exactly. This is all your fault. Your stupid plan to find me a man backfired, and I walked right into Bully’s open arms.” I take my roll from the paper bag. “Did you realise the men you hunted down were also bikers?”
She scrunches her nose. “Oh god, no wonder he was a shit kisser.”
“He wasn’t even good-looking.”
“Well, I tried to hit on the one I gave you, but he wasn’t interested. He asked me for your number.”
I feel myself blushing. “He did?”
“Yep. And, of course, I gave it him. You’re welcome.”
I stare wide-eyed. “You didn’t,” I gasp.
“Did you see him, Livvy? Of course, I did. Had I known he was a biker, I would’ve rethought that.”
I groan. “Now what do I do?”
“It’s going to be pretty hard to convince Bully you’re done when you let him give you orgasms.” She eyes me suspiciously. “How many did he give you?”
“Last night or this morning?” I ask, almost smirking.
She cries out dramatically. “I hate you,” she says, her tone teasing.
My smile fades. “Well, now we’re not together, maybe you can jump his bones.” The words make me feel sick, and she scowls.
“Gross. He was like my brother.”
“I ran out on him,” I admit, and she winces. “I just left the hotel while he took a shower. He’s gonna lose his mind.”
“And here we are again,” she mutters, pushing the last bit of her roll away. “You do this shitty dance with him every time, and we all know where it ends—with you and Bully together.”
“We had five years of peace,” I say sadly. “It was nice.”
“Maybe it could work,” she says with a shrug, and I stare wide-eyed. She’s the last person I expected to be championing our dysfunctional relationship. “You’re in a better position this time around. You have your own place and a job. Before, you only had him.”
“How long until he ruins it all, though? He’ll get me fired from my job, and then I’ll lose this place. Wherever he goes, there’s a path of destruction, all caused by him demanding what he wants.”
“So, don’t let him stomp all over you,” she says. “You hold the power here, Livvy.”
Bully
Taz smirks as he sits back on the wall, watching me polish his bike. “You broke your own order,” he chuckles, shaking his head.
An entire fucking week of polishing. Why did I say that? “I was trying to save my relationship,” I snap.
“It’s your rule, Pres. You can break it.”
I add more polish. “No. My word is final. I should’ve been on time.”
“Did you sort it with Liv?”
I shake my head. “I thought I was getting somewhere, but turns out, I was wrong.”
“Are you giving up?”
I scoff. “No fucking way. She belongs with me.” Her words from last night haunt me, and I sigh. “Actually, can you get Whizz to pull the cameras from Tudor’s last night. She mentioned a guy.”
He frowns. “She’s met someone? That’s impossible. We’ve kept a close eye on her. Pres, she’s lived like a nun for the entire five years.”
“Still, get him to pull the CCTV for my peace of mind.”
Taz rescheduled church after my no-show this morning, so as the men gather for a second time, I wait patiently.
Once they’re seated, I bang the gavel on the table to signify the start, and everyone quiets down and looks my way.
“I’ve got a call later this week with Jameson,” I tell them.
“How the fuck am I gonna tell him that the fucking Scorpions have slipped past my men and begun to build their empire right under our fucking noses?” They shift uncomfortably.
“I want names, I want places, and most of all, I want some good news to take back to Jameson.”