33. Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Two
Trix
"I could get used to this," Reeve whispers, voice still laced with sleep as he wraps his arms tightly around my body and pulls me back to snuggle against his chest.
Sighing, I stroke my hands along the length of his arms.
"Me too," I whisper, keeping my eyes closed, not wanting to pop the little bubble we've created for ourselves.
Flattening his palm against my lower stomach, he presses a gentle kiss against my neck. My lips tug into a smile as moments from the bar flash through my mind.
I never knew a man could be so attentive, wanting to deliver an abundance of pleasure for a woman without anything in return.
Not only did Reeve wring the life out of me, not stopping until my whole body was limp, but he checked in with me multiple times, asking if I was okay, as well as encouraging me when I told him I couldn't continue.
Once I was completely spent, he dressed me, lifted me into his arms, and carried me upstairs to bed.
Since we laid down last night, he hasn't let go of me.
And honestly, I'm glad, because I don't want him to.
Nuzzling his head into the crook of my neck, his beard tickling my skin, he releases a deep breath.
"I have to go to Vegas tonight," he grumbles, the displeasure in his tone evident.
My stomach automatically starts twisting, and my heart drops in my chest.
"How long will you be gone?" I ask quietly, as I peek my eyes open and look across the dimly lit room.
"We probably won't get back until Sunday," he says. "Maybe even Monday. It all depends on how things go."
With knots in my stomach and a lump in my throat, I nod.
"Oh, okay."
Silence eats away at the space around us as my mind spins.
The thought of being alone and not spending time with Reeve makes me feel physically sick.
Especially after last night.
I have no idea where we stand, or what's going on between us, and now he's leaving for a couple of days, that information is making me feel even more unsure.
Being without Reeve shouldn't have an effect on me, and the thought alone is terrifying.
Realizing I've unknowingly become dependent on yet another person has my eyes widening and my chest tightening.
Patting my hand against his arm, I untangle my body from his, then jump out of bed.
"Well, you'd best start getting ready," I tell him as I run my fingers through my hair, then hurriedly make my way to the bathroom while avoiding eye contact.
"I've still got a few hours to get everything sorted."
Shrugging, I walk into the bathroom and quickly shut the door behind me.
"Always best to get an early start!" I shout through the door, cringing at myself in the mirror.
Jesus.
What is wrong with me?
Thankfully, when I come back out of the bathroom, Reeve's nowhere to be seen.
Taking my time to get dressed in a pair of black leggings and a white cropped top, I sit on the edge of the bed, lacing up my shoes as the pit inside my stomach grows.
Glancing around the room, I sigh.
I can already tell it's going to feel empty here without him.
I've been comfortable here for the last few days, but I fear that when I'm alone, I'm going to feel like an imposter. Every person I've created a bond with here is leaving for the weekend, and without them, I know I'll feel like I don't belong.
Huffing, I grab the denim jacket beside me and walk across the room, listening to the loud chatter outside for a moment before I pull the door open.
Callux and Warren pause their conversation when I come into view.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's not a problem," Warren says, smiling.
Moving around them, I push through the door opposite Reeve's room to enter the living area.
Surprisingly, it's empty, but from the amount of noise coming from the stairs, I'd guess everyone's in the bar already.
I'm still standing by the table when Warren follows behind me a couple of minutes later.
"Everything alright, Trix?" he asks as he stops beside me and watches with curious eyes.
I nod, glancing toward the stairs.
"Yeah, it just sounds a little chaotic down there."
He chuckles, then pats me on the back as he moves further into the room.
"Yeah, it'll be like that for the next few hours whilst they get everything ready.
Cruz and Slate will be making sure they have everything they need for the ride and asking if anything needs to be done to the bikes.
The prospects will likely be messing around while Luxe is focused on God knows what, and Reeve and Milo will be standing there glaring at everyone, wishing they could strangle them all. "
"So what do you do?" I ask, watching as he takes a seat on the sofa, then kicks his feet up onto the table.
"I stay out of the way until it's almost time to go. Too old for all that drama now."
"Well, I best go and join the chaos and see if anyone needs anything before you're all ready to leave."
Hesitantly, I walk toward the stairs, then take a deep breath before I descend.
"No alcohol!" Warren shouts from behind me, the unexpectedly loud volume sending a tremor through my bones.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, Luxe is leaning against the wall, watching as Cruz and Slate go back and forth, talking to each other in terse tones.
Reeve is standing beside the pair, looking completely unfazed by their heated conversation, and Milo's sitting in the corner booth with Mackie and Chad, paying no attention to anyone else in the room.
"What's going on?" I ask Luxe quietly.
Slinging his arm around my shoulders, he pulls me into his side, then leans down to my height.
"Cruz is telling Slate there's an issue with his hydraulic forks, but Slate is adamant he checked them and they're fine.
Rowan made a joke about how Cruz is going to be bouncing around like a kid on an inflatable castle when he's riding, and clearly, that pushed a button.
He's grumpy, and he told Slate he doesn't trust his skills, which in turn made Slate grumpy. Now they're bickering like siblings."
I hum, as if I understand what he's talking about, but realistically, I have no idea what hydraulic forks are, and no clue as to why Cruz would be bouncing around.
"Reeve is supposed to be helping them resolve their issue, but he's not much help. It's a wonder, really, because that's literally his job, although Milo is usually the one who takes over that part."
"Because Reeve hates talking to people?"
Luxe nods. "Exactly. Don't get me wrong, he will do his job, and talk to people when he has to, but if Milo's with him, he'd rather delegate the task to him."
"I don't blame him," I mutter. "Most people are asses."
Luxe chuckles, and the sound draws Reeves' attention from the two men in front of him.
His eyes connect with mine instantly, and his lips twitch, pulling into a subtle smile.
He takes a step toward me, but a loud bang rattles through the room, silencing everyone.
Ghost stands in the doorway of the bathroom, wincing as he stares at where the door slammed against the wall.
Tearing his gaze away from the wooden door, his eyes dart around the room until they land on Reeve.
"You need to get outside."
Everyone turns to face the tattooed hunk who's now frowning.
"Why—"
"Now, Reeve," he bites out, eyes wide in alarm.
Reeve instantly stalks to the window beside the double doors, and I watch his whole body tense.
Spinning around, hands clenched into fists and jaw tight, his eyes find mine.
"Stay here, and do not come outside."
Taking a step forward, my lips part, words already forming on my tongue, but he shakes his head.
"No arguing, Red. Stay here."
His dark eyes move to everyone else in the room, each of them nodding at him in response to the silent question he's asking them, then he turns and walks out the doors.