CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I stretch my arms above my head and groan, feeling surprisingly rested as I slowly open my eyes and look around, frowning when I see where I am.
How did I get to my room and in my bed? It’s then that everything slowly infiltrates my still sleeping brain. Going to the gym yesterday with Lexie, seeing Chains there, Lexie leaving me there because she had to go to work. Coming home with Chains and having a meal together and watching a movie. Very domestic. Something I never thought Chains could be.
It’s strangely quiet in the house. Normally, Lexie would be up and about already getting breakfast, as she usually is at this time of the morning. But I hear nothing, and there’s no smell of coffee or bacon.
A deeper frown mars my face when I realize I’m still in the clothes I wore yesterday. The only difference is my feet are bare. The thought that Chains just practically dumped me in my bed before leaving disappointed me a little. Sliding my bare feet to the floor, I strip as I walk to the adjoining bathroom. Turning on the water as hot as I can stand it, I get in the shower, I can’t stop the sigh of relief as I wash the grime of the day off me.
Ten minutes later, deciding on a light green wrap dress, which is a perfect complement to my hair color and pale skin. Not bothering with makeup this morning, letting the freckles on my face shine brightly, even though they’ve been the bane of my existence for most of my adult life. I finally pad barefoot to the landing. My hair was still wet, but Because it was now short, I left it to air dry. I frown; the place was much too quiet.
Did Lexie even come home at all last night? I return to my room and check my phone, which has been charging on the nightstand. No messages.
There’s a feeling of foreboding that I can’t explain. So, I type out a quick message to Lexie.
Me: Hey, it’s me. Just checking in. You’re not home. Just a little worried.
Pressing send, I watch for the three little dots, which don’t come.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long for a reply, as my phone rattled with an incoming message.
Lexie: Shit, I’m so sorry for not calling you to let you know I wouldn’t be home. With everything that happened, it just slipped my mind.
I grimaced. What’s going on? Instead of fiddling around with text messages, which would take way too long, I decided it was best to call her.
The phone rang a few times before she finally picked up.
“I’m safe. I spent the night at the clubhouse. Something happened to Storm, and he was taken to the hospital.” She stopped to take a deep breath, her voice hitching, and I gasp.
“He’s not…” I couldn’t even voice the word.
“Oh, no. Thank God. He’s going to be fine, but he’s going into rehab after his release from the hospital. That was a prerequisite from Kick for him to stay in the club. Otherwise, he’d be kicked out.”
“I’m so sorry that’s happened. I wish someone had woken me so I could”ve been there for you.”
“Don’t worry about it. Riggs, Sage, and all the guys were there.”
I opened my mouth to ask was Chains there as well, but I quickly shut it. I have no claim over his time, where he goes, and who he sees. No matter the sweet but hot words he spoke to me yesterday. I’m glad the people who mean most to her in her time of need surround her. But I needn’t have worried, because not only was Lexie my best friend, but she knew how to read my mind as well.
“Chains was there, though he arrived late. Everyone was interrogating him on his whereabouts. Apparently, Kick couldn’t reach him.” She giggles like a schoolgirl and I roll my eyes.
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you later than?” I reply, not willing to talk about Chains all day visit yesterday with Lexie over the phone. My words come out as a question, and I bite down on my bottom lip. Wanting to kick myself for my neediness.
“Yeah, I’ll be home in a few. I’ll see you when I get back,” she replies non-committal.
“Sure, see you then.” I ring off, and just stand there in the middle of the room, trying to get my bearings.
Filled with a restlessness I couldn’t explain, I decide to do something I probably will come to regret. Going back into my room before I change my mind; I put on the only swimsuit I own. It was a light blue one piece, with a matching kaftan type coverall over the top.
I’d noticed the swimming pool in the complex since moving in with Lexie, but until now, I’ve been able to ignore it. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I really wanted a swim.
Given it was a weekday, most of the residents were at work, and I doubt anyone would pay attention to me, anyway. Sliding my feet into a pair of white slippers, I grab a towel, my phone and keys, and with a slight trepidation, I walk to the pool area, dropping my towel on the lounger, and sitting down. Finding it deserted made me release a sigh of relief.
After a relaxing hour of swimming and emptying my mind, I dry myself off and change into my coverall. Walking back to our apartment, the sound of rustling in the bushes of the perfectly manicured garden made me freeze.
As I stood there, my ears alert and my eyes darting, attempting to decipher the sound, a little orange fluff ball emerged from beneath the blossoming bush, causing a smile to spread across my face. I walked over to it, picked it up, and then felt the sting of a small paw with sharp claws swatting at me. I bring it close to my chest; It looks up at me with wide green eyes and meows.
“Where did you come from, you little cutie?” I pose the question, as if expecting an answer, and can”t contain my laughter.
I glance around, wondering where it had come from? It could belong to anyone here in the complex, But why let such a small animal outside where it can get hurt? The sensation of being watched intensifies, causing me to hastily retreat to the apartment with the kitten and lock myself in. Though too late realizing I don’t have any supplies for it. Like food, bowls, or a kitty litter tray.
Grabbing my phone, I go to call Lexie, but I don’t want to bother her with this, she has too much on her plate right now with her brother in hospital and she’ll see the little creature soon enough.
Instead, I call Chains, not willing to think too deeply about why that was. Nor the fact why I still have his number on my phone. He said if I needed anything to call him anytime day or night.
It rings a few times, before finally an out of breath Chains answers.
“Hey, little one.”
Just the sound of his voice has the power to make me come, and I swallow the lump that’s suddenly lodged in my throat as I press my legs together, enjoying the light pressure on my clit.
“Are you still there, baby?” he asks, and I quickly clear my throat.
“Ahhh, yes, I’m here. Sorry to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to call.”
Instinctively, I knew he was on high alert, even on the phone. “You know you can call me anytime. What’s happened, baby girl? Are you okay?”
A gush of moisture made the crotch of my bathing suit wet with his endearment, and I couldn’t help the smile that touched my face. What would he say if he knew?
“Are you busy? I’d like to see you. I’ll explain everything when you get here.”
“Never too busy for you, little one. I’ll be there in an hour.”
With plenty of time on my hands to wait for Chains to arrive, I return to my bedroom and change back into the dress I had on before I went swimming. There was no way I was going to greet him in my swimwear.
Sitting on the sofa, I bring the cat close to me as it purrs, and I feel my eyes close. Snapping back open when I hear a sharp tapping at the door. Checking the time, I couldn’t believe I’d been napping for an hour. Rising to my feet, cradling the kitten in my arms, I make my way towards the front door.
Before I can even ask who it is, Chains” familiar voice calls out, “Baby girl, it’s me.”
Throwing open the door, uncaring if I look like a fool, and then wrap my arm, not holding the kitten around him.
“Woah there, little one. Are you okay?” he asks, his eyes darkening as he takes in my appearance in the soft summer wrap dress. His voice laced with concern. It’s then the kitten tries to swat him with its paw, and I can’t help but giggle.
“What ya got there?” he asks, sauntering farther into the room. Motioning toward the little fluff ball.
Trying not to blush at the way I’d just thrown myself at the man, but the heat I feel in my cheeks tells me I’ve failed.
“I found this poor thing in the garden when I was coming back from my swim.” I tell him without thinking. His eyes go wide, but then he frowns when he notices the tiny scratch on my arm.
“The cat do that?” he demands, motioning toward the scratch. Not giving me a chance to reply, he adds. “You went swimming? Alone?”
I realize too late I should’ve kept quiet about going swimming. Shrugging, playing it off as nothing even though it stings a little, I let the kitten down on the floor.
I deliberately ignore his question, and am happy that he lets me when I ask,
“Would you like a coffee? I was going to make myself one before I got distracted by the kitten.” My stomach choosing that moment to make a statement and growl loudly. And I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. So embarrassing.
“Seems that’s not all you forgot.” Chains chimes in. Lifting a large paper bag in his hand that I hadn’t noticed until now.
“Har, har.” I reply. Taking the bag from him and ripping into it, placing the still hot pastries on a plate with a long black coffee for him and a coffee with milk and sugar for me.
“So, tell me, little one. Why did you want me here?”
“I need to take the kitten to the vet, have it checked over, and maybe get some supplies for it. I have no idea where I’d find a vet, though.”
“I’m here with my sled, how we gonna carry this ball of fluff?”
“I’ll put her inside my jacket. She should be fine.” I tell him with a shrug.
Chains shakes his head. “You need to hold on to me, you’ll be pressed to my back. I’ll take her in my jacket.” He assures me as if putting kittens into his cut is an everyday occurrence.
But just the thought of this big, badass, and pierced biker carrying the little kitten inside his cut melts my heart.
Without preamble, he picks up the ball of fur, tucking it gently inside his cut and zipping it up. Then he looks at me.
“You need to change; I’m not riding with you on my sled dressed like that. No matter how much I like it.” His eyes landed on my chest, and I blushed profusely before turning on my heel and darting back up to my room. The sound of his laughter following me all the way.
I quickly dressed in a black body-hugging tank top, black jeans, and a leather jacket I bought but never had the opportunity to wear. Fluffing my hair with my fingers, I debated putting on makeup, but decided against it since Chains already saw me without.
I take a deep breath and head back to the living room, noticing his ice-blue eyes following me.
“Whether dressed in a demure summer dress or as a badass biker chick, you’re fucking gorgeous, and I’m kicking myself for ever letting you go,” he growls.
Clearing my throat, I give him a small smile, feeling like I could fly at his compliment. But then negative thoughts infiltrated—he let me go; he broke my heart into a million pieces, and continued to do that even though I thought I had moved on from him.
My mouth seems to work on autopilot today, and I meant the next words that flew out of my mouth as a throwaway comment,
“I bet you say that to all the girls you’ve fucked?” With a gasp of surprise, I instinctively cover my mouth, knowing I couldn”t undo the words that had escaped.
I watch in wide-eyed wonder as his jaw ticks, as though he was trying to keep his anger in check.
Without warning, he pushes me against the wall next to the front door; his hand wrapping loosely around the front of my throat. I should be terrified; I should shake in my boots after everything I suffered at the hands of my husband. But I’m not—in fact, I’m burning up with want and need. He doesn’t inspire feelings of hate and revulsion inside of me, despite the way things ended between us.
Heat permeates all around me, and I couldn’t take my eyes from his sky-blue orbs.
“I deserved that, that’s why I’m giving you a free pass for it. The next time you say something like that, I’ll tan your ass the color of your face.” I open my mouth to tell him that there won’t be a next time, but I could already feel my cheeks heating, and I lower my gaze to somewhere in the middle of his chest.
“Eyes to me,” he demands, and without thinking about it, I follow his directive. Blue eyes that have been a part of my dreams for the past ten years stare down at me.
“Contrary to what you believe, I don’t tell every woman I’ve fucked that they’re beautiful. In fact, the one and only time I spoke those words were to you. I will always regret the way I ended things between us, but I thought I was doing the right thing. You were the good girl on the right side of the tracks, I was—well, me.”
I open my mouth to refute his words as utter bullshit, when he places a finger to my lips, effectively stopping the words in my throat. His eyes track my audible swallow and he licks his lips, but instead of lowering his head to my mouth to kiss me, like I expect and want, he releases me and moves a step back. The disappointment I feel is palpable. But then I mentally tell myself off, and push away from the wall.
“Come on, we gotta go if you still wanna go to the vet.”
And just like that, the moment is gone, like it never was. He’s back to the cool, aloof asshole he was when I was married. Well then, two can play that game. I remove the imaginary dust from my jeans and clear my throat. Pushing aside the tingling feeling in my lips from his touch.
I knew it was a mistake to call Chains. I should’ve just taken an Uber. But, it’s too late now, the mistake has been made, and now I have to live with my decision and tolerate his company.
Finally ready to leave, expecting to be alone, since Chains walked out to his sled, or so I thought, I turn to head toward the front door when I crash headlong into a hard wall of muscle. I lift my head slowly, my hands going to Chains’ chest as I scramble for purchase. A muscle ticks in his jaw, covered by a dark beard. I hear him hiss the words,
“Fuck it.” Before I’m scooped up into his arms, his lips slamming down on my own in a kiss like no other I’ve felt before. Not even when we were younger.
This is a kiss of ownership. Of possession. Something I should fight against now that I’m a free woman. I shouldn’t want or need this.
But I’m not fighting it, far from it. I crave more of it, especially when his tongue explores my mouth, tasting, claiming, and causing me to groan uncontrollably while clutching his shoulders tightly.
It’s only when I hear the muffled meows of the kitten, that reality finally wins, and the hazy look in my eyes clears to notice that we’re still in the middle of the living room, with the poor kitten between us.
I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face when I see the kitten’s ginger head peeking through his cut. It feels like my ovaries exploded. How has he left me wanting more from him in just twenty-four hours? Without another glance in my direction, he turns on his heel and walks towards the front door, striding purposefully out to his bike, leaving me standing there.
The impulse to burst into tears hits me, but I control it by biting my lip until the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth. Quickly making sure everything is in its place before I lock the door, shoving the keys into the pocket of my jacket; I reluctantly walk out to his bike. Chains already has his helmet on, and silently passes another, smaller one to me, but I can still tell that he’s watching me closely.
I set my lips into a straight line, jump onto the bike behind him, grudgingly having to wrap my arms around his waist; ignoring the way his abs constrict underneath my touch. And finally, we’re off, riding through the quiet suburbs.