Chapter 7
Sebastian
It was seven in the morning, and I needed to be at work in an hour, but instead of dragging my ass out of bed, I was watching Harper sleep.
I couldn’t remember when we’d finally crashed the night before, just that she’d fallen asleep first, on her stomach in the center of the bed, and she hadn’t moved an inch all night.
Her hair was tangled and her mouth hung open a little, and she made these little shh-shh noises in her sleep, and I was fucking gone for her.
I’d wanted to see where things went, and I’d been frustrated that it hadn’t seemed like she was interested. Now I was wondering if I was in over my head, because in one night I’d shot straight past seeing where things would go and into something that felt a lot like obsession.
The woman had a body that didn’t quit. Every inch of her skin was soft and smooth, her curves were insane, and she smelled like heaven.
When I’d told her to get on the bed the night before, I’d watched her closely to see if giving up control was something she was into.
Some women weren’t, and I’d had great sex with them, but when it came to preferences? I liked to be in charge.
I got hard just thinking about how quickly Harper had followed directions.
The trust she had, lying there exposed when I turned on the light.
The way she’d panted and tried to hold still while I explored her body.
The second round had been different, both of us taking as much as we were giving, and it had been just as good.
Eventually, I’d run downstairs to get us some water while Harper texted her mom that she wouldn’t be home until the morning.
She hadn’t asked. She’d just assumed.
I liked that.
She was a lot more assertive than I’d realized.
During all the time I’d spent with her at parties and barbecues and family events, Harper had seemed quiet.
She teased and gave people shit just like the rest of her family, but it was always underscored by a sweetness that I didn’t see very often in the club’s kids.
Now that I’d gotten to know her a little better outside the group, it was easy to see that she was just as strong-willed as the rest of them—she was just stealthier about it.
I liked it. I liked her. Beyond the obvious attraction that I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over, I liked who she was.
I liked that she’d been fired because she wasn’t willing to do shit she didn’t want to.
I liked how much she loved her family, even taking time to text that she wouldn’t be home so her mom wouldn’t worry.
I liked that she’d come straight out and told me that she thought I had something going on with Lou and then taken me at my word when I’d set her straight about it.
I liked how quick she was. I was surrounded by funny people all the time, but there was something extra funny about the shit she said coming out of a face that looked so fucking innocent.
I even liked how she kept her glasses on during sex because she didn’t want to miss anything.
Glancing at the clock, I scowled. There was no way in hell I could go in late to work, especially when Leo knew that his daughter had spent the night at my house. It was going to be bad enough dealing with the comments and glares already. I wasn’t about to give them extra ammunition.
“Harp,” I called quietly, running my hand down her back. “Baby, it’s time to wake up.”
“I’m awake,” she murmured, her eyes closed.
“You sure?” I pulled the blankets off her slowly, enjoying every inch I uncovered.
“You’re a sadist,” she said, lifting her head to look at me blearily. “I knew I was going to find a flaw somewhere.”
“I gotta get to work,” I replied, trying not to laugh at the scowl on her face. “I’ll drop you at home on my way.”
“Damn,” she groaned, rolling away from me to grab her glasses. “I forgot it’s the middle of the week.”
“Come back and kiss me,” I ordered, grabbing her ankle as she started to leave the bed.
Looking over her shoulder, she smiled and shook her head. “No way. I need to brush my teeth or guzzle some mouthwash or something.”
“I don’t care,” I argued, giving her ankle a little tug.
Her gaze slid down my body and then back up again. “If I come over there, I don’t think you’ll make it to work,” she said huskily.
I debated internally for a good fifteen seconds before sliding my hand away from her ankle.
As much as I wanted to drag her back under me, I needed to get to the garage.
Starting my morning off with the taste of Harper in my mouth would’ve been worth the shit I’d shovel for being late to work, but Leo had called in a couple of second opinions the night before, and I wanted to know what they’d thought about the power steering line on the Toyota.
No way did that happen without outside interference.
I watched from the edge of the bed as Harper walked naked as a jaybird into the bathroom and then shook my head to clear it before going to my dresser for some clothes. The woman was beyond distracting.
Since I didn’t have time to shower, I threw on some work clothes and waited for her to come out of the bathroom.
“We forgot half my clothes downstairs,” she said wryly, her hands covering her nipples. She was fully dressed from the waist down.
“You want to wear one of my shirts?” I asked, drawn to her like a fucking magnet.
“No, I need my bra anyway.” She tilted her head up as I reached her, and I could smell my mouthwash on her breath.
Instead of kissing her lips, I detoured and ran my lips along her jaw instead. “I’ll be out in a minute, and we can go.”
“Hey, man,” she said with a grin, stepping out of my way. “You’re the one who’s in a hurry. I would’ve stayed naked in your bed all day.”
I paused halfway in the bathroom.
“That was an option?”
Harper laughed as she started down the stairs. “Rain check!”
She was dressed, ready, and holding my cut when I found her in the kitchen a few minutes later.
“It was still on the floor,” she explained, handing it over. “You need to condition your leather.”
“I know,” I muttered, putting it on over my hoodie. “The fucking rain does a number on it.”
“I love riding,” she said as she picked up her purse and paper bag. “But give me a car any day when it’s cold as shit and raining.”
“Drivin’ around in a cage,” I replied, shaking my head at her.
“Ridin’ around freezin’ your balls off,” she countered, shaking her head back at me.
“My balls are just fine,” I reminded her as I took the bags out of her hands, grabbed her helmet off the counter, and led her outside.
“Mmm,” she hummed behind me. “Yeah, they are.”
I couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off my face from the moment I watched her wrestle the helmet onto her head to the moment we pulled up in front of her parents’ house.
I felt bad that the helmet was so uncomfortable, but she looked so fucking cute with her huge-ass glasses and her cheeks all scrunched up inside it.
I also didn’t mind the way her crotch was nestled against my ass the entire way.
“I’m finding my helmet today,” she announced as soon as she’d climbed off my bike in her parents’ driveway. She paused and squinted at me. “Assuming I’ll be riding on the back of your bike again.”
“I fuckin’ hope so,” I replied. “What are you doin’ tonight?”
“Going to a rave,” she said with mock seriousness. “Tomorrow?”
“Gettin’ my nails done.”
She glanced down at my hands. “Make sure they don’t make them too long, would you?”
I laughed. “I’ll text you later.”
“I’ll text you back this time.” She spun around and jogged up the steps to the front door, briefly waving at me before disappearing inside.
“I am so fucked,” I muttered.
If I thought that I could just slide in unnoticed and get straight to work, I was out of my fucking mind. I’d barely parked my bike before Rumi Hawthorne was stomping toward me, his face completely wiped of expression.
“What’s up, Rum?” I asked, stepping away from the row of bikes before he reached me.
If the guy was going to hit me, I didn’t want to knock the bikes over if I went down. He may have been smaller than me, but he had a hell of a right hook.
“Nova and Harper had a girl date last night,” he said.
“Yeah, I heard.”
He stared at me.
I stared back.
“I think they’re gonna be best friends or somethin’,” he said finally. “So, I’m gonna hear about you.”
“Uh, okay.”
“Don’t fuck my cousin over.”
“I wasn’t plannin’ on it.”
“I thought you were into Lou.”
I just looked at him. I’d never told anyone that I had a thing for Lou. They’d all assumed. It wasn’t my job to convince them otherwise.
“I’d tell you that I know how to dissolve your body in a drum in my garage,” he said. “But it’s my wife you need to worry about. She’ll fuckin’ cut you.”
“Understood,” I replied.
“Then I’ll dissolve your body in a drum in my garage.”
“Sounds messy.”
“Worth it.” He flipped me off as he walked away.
Rumi’s greeting was a good preview of how the rest of my day went. Harper’s cousins and honorary club cousins found me one by one throughout the day. Some of them threatened me outright. Others just insinuated that they were watching me and I better not fuck up.
And since we were brothers, they also made sure that it was clear they’d always have my back no matter what. You know, loyalty and all that.
Surprisingly, neither Leo nor Gray pulled me aside. I saw them throughout the day in passing, but I didn’t even have the chance to ask Leo about the Toyota’s power steering line. I’d told Dragon that I’d have the Dyna done, and I was racing against the clock to finish it before the end of the day.
My hands were aching, and I’d sliced a line down my forearm because I was rushing, but when Dragon walked in the garage at four o’clock, I was putting away my tools.
“Lookin’ good,” he said, crouching down by the bike. “Fuckin’ excellent.”
“Thanks.” I tried to keep my voice even, but there was something about praise from the man that always made me feel like a kid.