Chapter Ten
Eliza
I watched Cheshire from across the clubhouse, my heart pounding. He was talking with some of the other Underland MC members, that sly grin on his face as always. Every time I saw him, my stomach did flips. Suddenly, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. Shit, he’d caught me staring. A mischievous smirk spread across his face, and my cheeks went hot. Embarrassment and excitement coursed through me at the same time.
Cheshire said something to the guys and strolled over to me, his swagger oozing confidence. “See something you like, doll?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I… um…” The words got stuck in my throat. Get it together, Eliza. Don’t let him fluster you .
He leaned in close, his breath hot on my ear. “Cat got your tongue? Or do I just have that effect on you?”
My face burned even hotter, but I forced myself to meet his penetrating gaze. Those damn blue eyes saw right into my soul. I was drawn to Cheshire like a moth to flame, even though I knew I might get burned.
I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves. “Can we talk somewhere more… private?” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cheshire’s eyes flashed with intrigue. “Lead the way, doll.”
He gestured for me to go first, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his handsome face. Weaving through the room of rowdy bikers, I made my way to a quieter corner of the clubhouse. The bass from the music pulsed through the floor, matching my racing heartbeat.
Once we were alone, I turned to face Cheshire, my hands fidgeting anxiously at my sides. “Look, I…” God, why was this so hard? “I thought you were…”
“Devilishly handsome? Wickedly charming?” He grinned, stepping closer. “Tell me something I don’t know, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes, even as a smile tugged at my lips. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it.” His voice dropped an octave, sending shivers down my spine.
He was right. As much as Cheshire frustrated me, I couldn’t resist his magnetic pull. The way he looked at me, like he could read my every thought… It was unnerving and thrilling all at once.
I opened my mouth to reply, but the words died on my tongue as Cheshire reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His touch lingered, rough fingertips grazing my skin. “What’s on your mind, Eliza?” he murmured, blue eyes searching mine. “Tell me what you want.”
My pulse raced under his intense gaze. What did I want? I wanted him, all of him, but admitting that out loud terrified me. Even admitting to myself was scary. I’d never known the kind touch of a man. Never dated. I had a feeling Cheshire was far more than I’d be able to handle, and yet… I still wanted to try.
“I…” My voice trembled. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, Cheshire.”
“Is that so?” He leaned in closer. “Glad to know I’m not the only one.”
I shivered, equal parts aroused and unnerved by his proximity. “What are you saying?”
“C’mon, doll, don’t play coy.” Cheshire pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. “You feel this thing between us. The tension. The heat. I’ve seen it in your eyes when you watch me. Can feel it in the air around us.”
He wasn’t wrong. Every interaction with Cheshire was charged, electric, like a live wire ready to spark. It was exhilarating and scary as hell.
“Maybe I did,” I whispered, emboldened by his admission. “But what do we do about it? I’ve never… I mean…”
Cheshire gripped my hip, his touch searing through the denim fabric. “Oh, I have a few ideas.”
His voice was low, laced with sinful promise. My brain short-circuited, desire clouding rational thought. I knew falling for Cheshire was a risk, but with every word, every touch, I found myself caring less about the consequences. I’d already survived so much. Was it wrong to want to live a little? To experience things other women my age had already done?
His lips hovered a hairsbreadth from mine, his eyes dark with want. “Tell me to stop, Eliza,” he murmured. “Tell me you don’t want this.”
I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
“Don’t stop,” I breathed, closing the distance between us.
Our lips met in a searing kiss, hungry and desperate. Cheshire’s hands roamed my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arched into his touch, craving more.
He backed me up until I was pressed against the wall, his body a solid line of heat against mine. His lips left my mouth to blaze a path along my jaw, down my neck. Despite the aches I still felt, I didn’t want him to stop. If I brought it up now, I knew he’d back off, and that was the last thing I wanted.
“Fuck, Eliza,” he groaned against my skin. “You drive me crazy.”
I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him close. “The feeling is mutual. It doesn’t make sense. I should be terrified of you, of the feelings I have when I’m around you. But for some reason, I trust you not to hurt me.”
Cheshire nipped at my pulse point, drawing a gasp from my lips. His hands skimmed down my sides, toying with the hem of my shirt.
A distant crash from the main room of the clubhouse broke through the haze of lust. Cheshire pulled back, his breathing ragged.
“We should have taken this somewhere else,” he said, his voice rough with desire.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Cheshire took my hand, lacing our fingers together, and led me down a dimly lit hallway. I wasn’t sure where we were going, and I didn’t care right then. I just wanted more time with him.
He stopped outside one of the bedroom doors, turned the knob, and pushed it open. Inside lay a small, Spartan room.
Cheshire pulled me inside, kicking the door shut behind us. In an instant, his lips were back on mine, his hands sliding beneath my shirt to caress the bare skin on my back.
I lost myself in his touch, in the feel of his body against mine. Fears and doubts faded away, replaced by pure, unadulterated want. Nothing else mattered except this moment, except this man, even though I might regret my decision in the morning.
“Are you sure, Eliza?” he asked, his voice rough and low.
“Yes. I want more.”
One corner of his lips tipped up. “I have a feeling you don’t even know what you’re asking for. Am I right?”
“If you’re asking if I’ve kissed anyone before, or gone on dates, then the answer is no. My father wouldn’t allow it.” I stared up at him. Was he going to tell me to leave? Had I ruined the moment?
“Then if I do anything you don’t like, or you get scared, just tell me. I’ll stop whenever you want me to.” His gaze held mine and I nodded.
“I won’t hurt you, doll.” His voice was husky, and he leaned in.
My heart pounded in my chest as I whispered, “I trust you.”
That seemed to be all the answer Cheshire needed. He pulled me closer, and our lips met again in a searing kiss, full of urgency and barely restrained passion. His hands roamed my body, setting every inch of me ablaze. He was rough but careful, every touch calculated to drive me insane with desire.
I’d never felt anything like it before. I clung to him, losing myself to the pleasure of his lips on mine.
Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me off my feet. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me toward the bed. Setting me down gently, he hovered over me, his blue eyes intense as they raked over me.
“What is it?” I asked breathlessly.
“You’re beautiful,” he said simply. “More than you know.”
My heart swelled at his words. I reached up to touch his cheek, then traced the lines of his tattoos that peeked out from under his shirt sleeve. There was so much I wanted to explore, to discover about this man who had so swiftly captured my heart.
He caught my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles. “Eliza,” he murmured against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
“Cheshire…” My voice was barely a whisper.
“You can call me Charlie,” he said.
Slowly, carefully, Cheshire undressed us both. Each piece of clothing that fell to the floor felt like another barrier removed between us. When we were both left bare, he studied me with an intensity that made my heart race and my body flush with heat. I nearly covered myself, my cheeks flushing. No one had seen me naked like this before. Was I doing the right thing? Should we stop and take a step back?
“You sure about this?” His voice was gruff with desire, but there was a vulnerability in his gaze that tugged at my heartstrings. Hearing those words, and realizing he’d meant it when he said I could stop whenever I wanted, gave me the courage to keep going.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life,” I admitted.
He leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Then let’s see what trouble we can get into, doll.”
The heat between us intensified as we gazed into each other’s eyes. He pulled me closer, our bodies flush against one another. His hands traced down my spine, sending shivers of anticipation through me. I couldn’t help but moan at the feel of his rough palms on my skin.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered hoarsely in my ear.
He kissed his way down my neck, sucking and nipping gently as he went. My breath hitched in my throat as he reached the valley between my breasts. His fingers brushed against my hardened nipples, causing me to arch my back involuntarily.
“Please,” I whimpered, needing more of his touch. I’d never realized something could feel so incredible.
He chuckled darkly against my skin, his gaze possessive as he stared down at me. “Now you’re mine.”
Cheshire grabbed my wrists and pinned them above my head. I felt a brief moment of panic, but reminded myself this man wouldn’t hurt me. He’d saved me.
He leaned down and captured one of my nipples between his teeth, eliciting a moan of pure pleasure from deep within me.
“Oh, God…” I groaned as he started to suck harder, rolling the sensitive bud between his teeth.
His free hand traced slowly down my stomach, over the curve of my hip, and into the wetness between my legs. He teased me with two fingers for a moment before sliding them inside me with ease. I threw my head back with a cry of pleasure as he began to thrust his fingers in and out rhythmically.
I’d thought it would hurt, had expected pain, but all I felt was pure bliss.
“Yes… More…” I panted out between moans and gasps for air as he took me to heights of ecstasy I’d never experienced before.
He made me come multiple times before settling over me. The weight of his body pressed against me, and I parted my thighs wider.
He groaned and pressed his forehead to my shoulder. “Shit. I don’t have condoms, Eliza. Haven’t been with anyone in over a year so I haven’t needed them.”
I licked my lips, wondering what the odds were I’d end up pregnant my first time having sex. “Do we have to use one?”
He arched an eyebrow. “You realize how risky that is, right?”
“But it’s not likely I’ll get pregnant, right?”
“It’s like playing Russian roulette, Eliza, and let me tell you right now… if I get you pregnant, then you’re mine. Not just for right now, but for always. Do you understand?”
“You mean, you’d want to marry me?” I asked. I’d never considered getting married. With the life I’d had with my dad, I’d always thought I’d die before I got the chance to start a family of my own.
“Yeah. I’d marry you.” He smoothed my hair back. “Is that something you’d want?”
“Maybe.” I worried at my bottom lip for a moment. “I never thought I’d have the chance to be with anyone like this, much less get married and have kids.”
He kissed me, slow and deep. “Then let’s stop here for now. I don’t want to force you into something you don’t want. This is your first taste of freedom, Eliza.”
I reached up to cup his cheek. “You’re rather amazing, you know that?”
He lay beside me, and I cuddled against him, no longer feeling embarrassed over my nakedness. We stayed like that for hours until I dozed off, only to wake a while later with the sun rising.
“Eliza,” he murmured, his voice low and drowsy.
“Hmm?”
“What happens now?”
I lifted my head to look at him. His blue eyes were serious as they met mine. It was a good question. What happened now? I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew one thing for certain.
“We figure it out,” I told him. “Together. I know I want more time with you, more of what we shared last night.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” He kissed me and got out of bed. “Rest as long as you want to. I need to check in with everyone.”
I watched him dress and leave, still feeling warm and content. His words played through my mind on repeat, his sincerity unmistakable.
Finally, I stood up, dressing and running my fingers through my hair. I opened the door, steeling myself for the chaos of the clubhouse. And right on cue, a hail of curses and the clatter of pool balls greeted my ears. But my attention was drawn to the bar, where March and Hatter were engaged in an intense staring contest over their cards. Rabbit sat nearby watching them.
Jo entered the room and joined me. “So, spill,” she said, resting her chin on her hands. “What happened with you and Cheshire?”
My cheeks warmed and she gave me a knowing smile. I didn’t have to say anything. She clearly already knew what happened. “I think I like him. I mean, really like him,” I said.
“Yeah, I bet you do. Sometimes when the right person comes along, you just know.” Jo pressed her shoulder against mine. “Just like I knew with Hatter.”