5. Ash
ASH
Callum Holt just touched my cock.
Well, not skin to skin, but his fingers definitely brushed the shaft when he reached in for my keys. Lining’s thin in those pockets and I felt everything.
I know he felt it too, but he’s ignoring it like it never happened. Meanwhile my cheeks are on fire and I’m trying to walk so my semi isn’t obvious.
Awesome.
I’m still not sure how this happened.
No part of me wants to be alone in a confined space with the VP of the Wild Wolves, and yet here we are, trudging across the carpark towards my car.
I should’ve insisted I get an Uber. It’s not like he could force me to accept his help.
Then why didn’t I?
I sigh, not wanting to admit the truth.
It’s been a shit few weeks. First my nan got her diagnosis, then Morgan left, and even though he came back, it’s not the same between us no matter how badly we pretend it is.
And that’s okay, things change. But he’s been my rock for so many years, and I’d usually talk to him about how I’m feeling a bit lost right now, but for some reason, I don’t want to bother him with this.
So having someone take care of me, even if it’s just offering a lift home, even if it’s more for Morgan’s benefit than mine. It’s . . . nice.
The fact that it’s Callum Holt, who I secretly find super-hot and have wet dreams about, isn’t ideal. I’m more than happy to admire him from afar, without him ever finding out. So the chances of me not embarrassing myself in the next thirty minutes while it’s just the two of us?
Zero.
Sooner than I’m ready for, we reach my car. I instinctively head for the driver’s side, only to have Callum stop, turn, and raise an eyebrow at me as I almost bump into him.
“Force of habit,” I mutter, then stalk around to the passenger side.
Opening the door is fine, I can use my left hand for that.
The seatbelt is a little trickier.
I hiss in pain when I jar my wrist, and then Callum’s there, leaning across me.
“You’re supposed to be careful,” he grumbles, all gravel-rough and commanding. He’s so close I can feel the heat rolling off him, and fuck me, he smells good too. I can’t put my finger on what it is, but it’s enough to make me inhale deeply to get more of it.
He clips the seatbelt in, smooth and efficient, and then sits back in his seat without saying anything else.
“Thanks.” I cradle my hand against my chest and stare resolutely ahead.
This is weird.
So fucking weird.
I’m tempted to pull my phone out and text Morgan, but one, I can’t get it out of my pocket and two, I’m not ready for him to know about my wrist just yet. Someone essentially mugged me in broad daylight outside the hospital, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Ragey, obviously, but maybe also a little embarrassed if I’m honest. I’m a big guy—can’t believe I let someone pluck a phone right out of my hand and then shove me to the ground.
Christ.
I think embarrassment’s winning.
Closing my eyes, I let my head fall back against the seat with a sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Callum asks.
I keep my eyes closed, but I can feel him watching me. “Nothing.”
“You sme–seem off.”
“I’m fine.”
I open my eyes in time to see his hands tighten on the steering wheel and I know I’m not imagining the sudden tension in the car.
Whatever.
I turn and look out the window, watching the trees and houses speed by as we head towards my house.
After a few minutes of silence, Callum says, “Did you get a good look at who attacked you?”
“No, not really.” I scrub my good hand over my jaw, not wanting to admit this next bit. “He wasn’t a big bloke though, maybe five ten, five eleven. And slim.” He shouldn’t have been able to knock me over so fucking easily.
I shift in my seat, feeling oddly vulnerable admitting that to someone like Callum. We’re not that much different in build, but I get the feeling there’s absolutely no way he’d have let someone get the better of him like that.
“Hey.” He reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “He took you by surprise. You shouldn’t be embarrassed about it.”
“I’m not embarrassed.”
The look he gives me calls bollocks. And he’d be right.
I am embarrassed. I’m also inappropriately turned on by the sight of his thick fingers splayed over my leg like that. His hand is warm, even through a layer of denim, and I’m torn between knocking it away and hoping he slides it a little further up.
When he eventually moves to change gear, I immediately want it back.
Fuck’s sake, Ash.
I know it’s been a while since I had sex, but Callum Holt is not someone I’m interested in. I don’t care how hot he is.
Or how frequently he appears in my dreams.
That means nothing.
“Anything else you remember about him? Hair colour? Skin colour?”
“He was white. Not sure about hair colour. I think he had a hoodie on, hood pulled up. What’s with all the questions?” I turn to face him, but his focus is on the road.
He shrugs. “We can keep an eye out for him if we know who to look for.”
We.
As in the Wild Wolves?
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
On the one hand, that fucker pinched my nan’s phone, but do I really want to sic a motorcycle gang on him? What would they do to him if they found him?
I’m not sure I want to know.
But as I’m thinking about it, one detail flashes in my mind. “Oh, I think he had a tattoo on his wrist.”
“What did it look like?”
“I only caught a quick glimpse when his sleeve fell back, but I think it was an arrow with black fletching.” The car swerves to the side, slamming me into the door. “Ow, fuck.”
Callum growls. That’s the only way I can think to describe the sound he makes. “Sorry. Thought I saw something on the road. You okay?” He glances at me and I nod, still processing the fact that he fucking growled.
The next five minutes pass in a tense silence, and I’ve never been more relieved to see my house come into view. He parks on the driveway, and I’m just about to thank him for dropping me off when he turns off the engine and gets out.
Well, okay then.
He has my door open before I can reach for it, taking me completely by surprise. “Whoa. Did you run round?”
He ignores me, reaching over me instead to unclip my seatbelt. I’m treated to his warmth and another whiff of whatever cologne makes him smell so fucking good. I shamelessly take a big whiff. Might as well get my fill since I doubt I’ll be this close to him again anytime soon.
Then I remember the noise he made, and I sit back quickly.
He eyes me curiously as he withdraws from the car but doesn’t comment.
As I get out, it suddenly dawns on me that Callum’s stuck here now. “How are you gonna get home?”
He shrugs. “I’ll get someone to come pick me up.”
Fair enough.
I expect him to wait outside for his ride, but instead he marches up to my front door—the one to the converted double garage and not the main house—and slides the key into the lock.
“Um . . . what are you doing?” I hurry to catch up to him as he opens the door. “And how did you know that’s where I’m staying?”
“Morgan told me.”
Oh. I guess that makes sense. Although I’m not keen on the idea they’ve been discussing me. I step inside and narrow my eyes when I catch Callum stalking around the main living area . . . sniffing?
“What are you doing?”
“Checking it’s safe.” He moves over to the windows and checks the locks.
“They took a phone, not my house keys.” I gesture to where he’s still holding my keys. “You’ve got those.”
He ignores me and heads towards my bedroom.
Fuck no.
I hurry after him.
The double garage my parents had converted was bigger than normal, but having a living space, bathroom, and tiny kitchenette means the bedroom is small. There’s a double bed and a wardrobe, but not much else.
Thank god I made my bed before I left this morning.
Callum comes to an abrupt stop in the doorway and I almost collide with his back. He makes that noise again, that growl, but it’s softer this time.
Oh god.
Can he smell what I did this morning? Is that noise disgust? I take a deep breath, but I’m still stuck in the hallway, so that tells me nothing. It’s not my fault I had another dream about him and woke up hard. Dream Callum is all soft smiles and laughter.
Nothing like the gruff biker currently edging around my bed to check the small window on the other side.
“This should be locked.” He snatches the key from the small hook on the wall underneath and locks it. “Anyone could get in.”
“Like who?” I’m starting to think I’m missing vital information here. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Callum turns to face me, eyebrows raised. “Such as?”
“I don’t know.” I hate the way my voice rises, but the man is fucking infuriating. “But you insisted on driving me hom—”
“I told you why tha—”
“And then you stalk around my house like you’re expecting someone to break in any second.” I narrow my eyes. “What the fuck is going on?”
Callum smirks. Fucking smirks, and I want to slap it off his face because he looks stupidly hot while doing it and I don’t want to think of him that way. Obviously, I keep my good hand to myself. I’m not stupid and I’d like to keep at least one arm working.
Then his expression sobers, serious in a way that makes me uneasy. I think I preferred the smirk.
“As Morgan’s best mate, there’s always a chance that you’ll be associated with us now. You’ve been out to the compound three times.” He doesn’t say anything else, apparently happy to let my imagination fill in all the blanks.
“You’ve got enemies?”
His eyes meet mine and pin me in place. It’s like I can’t move, trapped in his dark gaze while it feels like he’s reading every thought in my head.
And thank god he can’t because I doubt he’d be thrilled to know he’s the recurring star of some of the filthiest dreams I’ve ever had.
But then he shrugs, like it’s nothing, and the only thing in my head right now is a loud fuck you.
I’m still blocking the doorway, so when he rounds the bed towards the door, he comes uncomfortably close.
“Move.”