Chapter Fifteen
SHE GIGGLED, BUT SHE looked exhausted, and for the first time in my life, I wished I drove something with four wheels so I could take her home.
If she were anyone else, I’d just insist on taking her home on my ride, but that’d mean serious touching, and she struggled with that.
Still, I didn’t like the idea of her heading home alone like this.
“We can talk about that tomorrow, little lady. You look dead on your feet.”
Caroline blushed, lowering her eyes in that way that made me want to empower her, so she didn’t feel the need to hide her emotions. She was working her way deep under my skin, and my protective nature was making me see her as someone I wanted to look after.
“I… I didn’t sleep much last night. I mean, I don’t sleep well.”
I reached out to tilt her chin up, because hiding from me wasn’t necessary, and I wished I could help her see that.
“What’s making you lose sleep?”
Another blush, but at least her eyes stayed on mine this time. They were so pretty too, almost a shade you’d see in autumn as leaves started to change to warm oranges and browns. Her eyes weren’t orange, obviously, but they had flecks of warmer tones in them.
“Caroline?”
“N… nightmares. I… they wake me a lot, so sometimes I just sit and read until I fall asleep naturally, because it’s too scary to lay with my eyes closed in the dark and be aware.”
Jesus. Ask for a gut punch and you get one, right?
“Damn. I hate that you have those. Are they about something specific? I’m trying not to pry, but if you wanna talk about them, I’m all ears. Unless people covered in ears are what you have nightmares about.”
She started giggling again and I grinned. “Lucky my daughter isn’t here to hear that one. I’d never live it down.”
“Who says I’ll let you?”
So cute when she banters. “I’m hoping you’re too kind. Now… why don’t we get you home, and get you some rest. You need to bring the laptop?”
“Yes please. The scanner can stay, but the laptop has all my personal stuff on.”
I turned and closed the laptop, unplugging it and reaching over to switch off the wall sockets.
“Okay, let’s go.” I lifted it up and stood up, dragging Caroline with me.
“Wait. My phone and keys are-”
“I’ll get them, but I have a request.” I grabbed my backpack and slid her laptop into it, while her questioning eyes watched every move.
“My-”
“Let me take you home, please.” Caroline froze for a moment, worrying at her bottom lip as she glanced outside, presumably remembering that she came here by taxi, so there was no ride outside waiting for her. I was relieved she’d left it at home, because I wanted to see her home myself.
“You came by taxi, so your ride’s safe at home. Please. Can you trust me to get you home safe?”
She swallowed nervously. “On… on the back of your…”
I grinned at her, grabbing her keys and passing my backpack to her.
“Yeah, can you do that? Can you hold on tight while I take you home?”
She clutched the backpack in front of her like a life preserver.
“Hold… hold on to you?”
“That’s normally how it works, Caroline. You might like it, I mean, it’ll be a different experience, right? And you know you’re safe with me. If you like it, I can even drop by in the morning and bring you back, and it’ll all be fine.”
“I… Oh god. I never… what if I can’t?”
I checked the locks on the side door, and checked Rocket had his shit all switched off, and safe. Then I headed for the main door, switching off lights as I walked.
“If you wait here, while I check the locks in the bay, we can get on our way, okay?”
I knew her concern was more about her own safety, but I just wanted to show her that there was nothing to worry about. That her stuff was safe here, that her vehicle was secure already at her house, and that she could trust me to get her home.
I caught her hand and squeezed it. “You don’t mind touching me, do you? You don’t seem to mind me touching you. Do you really think you can’t do it? I’d never force you.”
Her posture suddenly stiffened, like she was steeling herself, and that’s when I knew she was determined to try. I was so proud of her for taking the plunge, and I led her gently to the entrance to the bay.
“Wait here, pretty girl. I won’t be long.”
SHE LOOKED SO HESITANT as we stood outside, preparing to get on my ride.
I’d put on my cut, which I always wore when I was riding to and from work or the clubhouse.
I loved wearing it, especially now that the Phoenix colours meant I was part of something great.
Thank god I had a spare helmet that fit her, because that could have been the flaw in my plan to see her home safely, couldn’t it?
“All that’s left is to get on, Caroline. Pop the backpack on, and let’s get going. I’ll climb on first, then help you up behind me.”
I figured I’d just get on with it, or we could be standing here all night. It had taken us twenty minutes just to lock up and get to this stage already.
I was surprised when her trembling fingers eased into mine, and I helped her climb up behind me. Her hands tentatively landed on the sides of my cut, and I smiled, touched at her wariness, and sweet nervousness.
I caught her hands and dragged them around my middle, pulling her firmly against me. I encouraged her to lock her fingers around each other, and then I patted them.
“Let’s go!” I yelled, the roar of the engine soothing us both as we took off for the road out of the industrial estate, and towards her part of town.
I already knew her address, so I made my way along the busy roads, moving between traffic queues, until we were heading down her street.
She was the perfect passenger, instinctively leaning with me as we travelled, probably partly muscle memory from making the journey herself, but more than that, I was enjoying having her wrapped around me, riding with me.
There was something about having a woman on the back of my bike that made me feel about ten feet taller. I’d never had a woman on here, because that’s the seat you reserve for your old lady, and I figured I’d never have one, just scratch an itch now and then, and live as a bachelor brother.
Now though? I was having all kinds of thoughts that I probably shouldn’t.
I was picturing her with me everywhere. At the clubhouse, at parties, sitting around the firepit, just generally in every aspect of my life.
It wasn’t even about wanting sex, although she definitely enticed me.
No, it was about feeling more comfortable with her around than I’d ever felt with anyone.
Getting your girlfriend pregnant when you’re just finishing school, and all of the fallout that comes from that, can really fuck with your ability to be with women, or trust them.
Not because I’m expecting to be screwed by them, but because intimacy isn’t something I’ve ever really practiced.
Get off, and get out. No strings. Suddenly that felt empty and cold.
She made it seem possible that there could be more.
So when she staggered, and looked ready to pass out when we got her feet back under her, there was no way I was just leaving her at the door.
I kept her keys, and led her to her front door, lifting the keys to find the right one, and because she’s an organised lady, it had a little rubber cover on the top of it with home on it. Probably not wise if they fell into the wrong hands, but it helped me for now.
Once we were inside her house, I sat her down on her sofa, and crouched in front of her.
Caroline
HE WAS IN MY house! Harley was in my house, and it didn’t feel weird, or scary, or like the room was too small with him in it. It felt comfortable and safe, and yet parts of me were feeling anything but comfortable.
“You okay, pretty girl?” He asked me worriedly, stroking my cheek as I fought my way out of the heaviness making my eyes feel tired.
“Y… Yeah, thanks. I just… it was a lot of peopling today. It tires… tires me out.”
He nodded, straightening up, and I was suddenly so afraid he was leaving, that my hand shot out, catching his.
“Don’t… don’t go.”
Harley squeezed my fingers. “Wasn’t planning on it, unless you ask me to. How do you take your tea? I think you need a cuppa after all that coffee today.”
I nodded, trying to get up to follow him.
“Nope. Stay right there. Milk? Sugar?”
“Both. One sugar, thanks. I need… I need to get…”
“You need to stay there. I’m gonna order a pizza for us, you got any hell no rules about pizza?”
I smiled, my stomach gurgling at the very idea of hot pizza crust and stretchy cheese.
“No pineapple!”
Harley laughed, faking a gagging face. “Hell no from me too. Okay, sit your sweet ass there and relax. I’ve got this.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, and I looked around my small, tidy living room, wondering what he saw when he looked at it. Did it look nice to him? Girly? Too orderly? Did he even really look at all?
“One cuppa,” Harley said, setting my favourite mug in front of me. Wait, how did he know?
“Harley?”
He lifted a finger, and that’s when I realised he had his phone to his ear, and he was ordering pizza the old school way. He wasn’t using an app; he was actually speaking to someone. Yikes.
He disappeared into the kitchen, and returned with another mug, setting it down beside mine, before he dropped down onto my sofa beside me.
The proximity would have terrified me if he was anyone else.
I’d have been edging away but instead I wanted to move closer.
Something about his scent always calmed me, and I wanted to fill my senses with it.
I didn’t realise I was leaning closer until I heard a low chuckle, and realised he’d finished his call.
“You okay there, little lady? Seems like you’re angling for a hug.”
I nodded, because even though I wasn’t a person who liked hugs, I liked him touching me. It made me feel things I’d never felt. Not just safe and comforted, but also wanted, and treasured.