Chapter 9
brOOKE
His lips move against mine, and I respond immediately. He takes control, bringing us to a slow and sensual rhythm. I slowly gain my senses back and realize what’s happening. I put my hands against his chest and push really hard.
We separate and I raise my hand, slapping his cheek. I glare at him before I walk off. How dare he kiss me after I said I was angry at him? I make my way toward the garage, ignoring all the stares aimed at me.
“What took you so—oh, what’s wrong?” Gears asks when I walk through the doors.
I take my phone and start typing.
Bear is what’s wrong. I’m going home.
After giving Gears my phone, I walk over to my station and start to clean up. It takes me no time at all since I had little lying out.
“What did he do?” Gears asks, handing my phone back to me.
Ask him. I’m leaving.
Gears opens his mouth, ready to say something, but my glare stops him from uttering another word. Grabbing my keys while heading out the door, I ignore everyone’s stares.
“Brooke. Wait!” Bear yells.
I walk through the crowd, not wanting to talk to him at all. A hand wraps around my wrist, and I yank my arm away.
“Stop. We need to talk! You can’t make me look weak in front of my brothers,” he says.
I look at him and roll my eyes. I don’t care at this point. I don’t want to talk to or be near him right now.
Bear tightens his grip on my wrist when I try to break free. He starts pulling me toward the clubhouse. I dig my feet into the ground, trying to stop him. At this point, every biker on the street is looking at us.
Bear continues to drag me all the way into the clubhouse. He drags me up the stairs and into a room. I look around, realizing that it is someone’s room, and I am guessing it’s Bear’s.
“Listen, I don’t care what you do in private, but in public, and especially in front of my brothers, you will not disrespect me. I don’t care how mad you are, you won’t disrespect me,” Bear growls, looking right into my eyes.
Before I can reach for my phone, Bear starts talking again.
“Slapping me in front of my brothers was stupid, and I should punish you for it, but I am going to give you grace this one time. Don’t ever disrespect me in front of my brothers,” he says, grabbing my chin with his hand. “Do I make myself clear?”
I stare at Bear, feeling fear rise in my chest, butterflies swarming my stomach as my heart rate skyrockets. This is the same feeling I got from my ex-boyfriend. I look away from Bear, trying to get my mind off my ex-boyfriend.
“I said, do I make myself clear?” he asks again, breaking me out of my thoughts.
He moves my head at the same time he speaks. I nod slowly, complying so he will let go of my chin. I let out a breath of air I didn’t realize I was holding when he releases me.
Bear talking and holding my chin like this reminds me of how Jared would act when I made him angry. My heart rate continues to rise the longer I think about it.
“Now I want to say sorry for buying the phone behind your back.” His tone softens.
I turn my head, looking away from him. I feel like a child being scolded.
“Brooke, look at me, please,” he says.
I shake my head. I just want to crawl somewhere and never be found. I feel my eyes start to water, and I blink. This is all too much, and I need to be left alone to calm down.
Bear cups my cheeks, and he lifts my face toward his. I close my eyes and draw in a shaky breath. His touch is so soft, and I find myself leaning into him. His tender touch makes me emotional, reminding me of my mom taking care of me when things got rough.
“Open your eyes,” he practically begs.
I shake my head, not wanting him to see that my eyes are filled with tears. If I look at him, I am going to cry more. Jared hated it when I was upset in front of him. He would get so mad, but with Bear, his voice and touch make me want to let it all out.
“It’s okay. I want to see your beautiful eyes,” Bear says softly, rubbing his thumb across my cheek. I slowly crack my eyes open a little.
“That’s it. You are doing so great,” he whispers.
When I look at him fully, my eyes well up with more tears, and his face softens.
“Oh, baby, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I just got a little mad and reacted rashly. I’m sorry for making you cry,” he says.
When I let out a sob, Bear picks me up, wrapping my legs around his waist, and putting my face on his shoulder. I wrap my arms around his neck as he starts moving a little.
“Just let it all out. I’m sorry for making you cry, baby. I didn’t mean to,” he says, rubbing my back.
I don’t think it’s entirely his fault. He doesn’t know about my past, and talking to me that way will set me off.
I haven’t cried since the incident, choosing to bottle up my emotions instead. Sooner or later, it would all get too much, and I would cry. Bear just happened to be the person to push me over the edge and make me cry.
“Do you want to tell me why you are crying?” Bear asks, continuing to rub my back.
Shaking my head, I turn my head and bury my face in his neck. I’m still crying, but have calmed down some. Bear’s actions provided the comfort I needed and helped me calm down.
“How about we go get you some water? That always calms down Pres’s Old Lady when she cries,” Bear offers.
Before I can even respond, Bear starts walking. I bury my face further into his neck, trying to cover my face. I’ve never been a pretty crier.
Bear tightens his arm around me, holding me close to him. After a couple of seconds, he moves his hand slightly. I suck in a breath when I feel a fresh wave of tears coming out.
“Shhh, everything’s going to be all right,” Bear says.
I feel myself start to shake, trying to keep quiet. Bear pushes me up a little bit and rearranges his hand that’s under my butt as he walks around.
“What happened to her?” someone asks.
It sounds like Gears. My shoulders tremble more the harder I try to keep quiet. Bear’s hand starts to run up and down my back again.
“Baby, I need you to calm down. You are going to make yourself sick,” Bear whispers in my ear.
I suck in a breath and let it out slowly.
“She’s going to be fine,” Bear says. “Can you watch the door for a couple of minutes? No one comes in until Brooke and I leave.”
Gears doesn’t say anything else. All I hear are his footsteps and the door closing before I’m placed on something hard.
“You can let go now. No one is in here but you and me,” Bear says.
I slowly sit up straight, looking around the kitchen from where I’m sitting on the counter.
“I’m going to get you a glass of water,” Bear says.
He moves around the kitchen, grabbing a cup and pulling out a pitcher of water from the fridge, his muscles flexing. After he pours me a drink, he puts the pitcher back in the fridge and picks up the cup.
“Here you go,” Bear says, handing me my cup.
I take a sip and realize how thirsty I am. I start taking bigger sips of water.
“Don’t drink too fast. You’ll make yourself sick,” Bear says, gently pulling my cup back from my lips.
I pout before I take smaller sips. Once I finish the water, I place my cup on the counter next to me.
“Feeling better?” Bear asks.
I nod before looking down. I am supposed to be mad at Bear, but I don’t think I can be right now.
This is the first time since Jared that I’ve ever let myself cry without the fear of being beaten for it.
I’ve missed being able to openly express my emotions without the lingering effects that Jared had on me.
“Nothin’ to be ashamed of, Brooke. Everyone has their breaking points. No one will know besides you, Gears, and me,” Bear says, cupping my face with his hands.
He brings my face up to meet his gaze. I let out a sigh and nod. I know Gears won’t talk about what he saw to other people. I feel my eyes start to droop a little as time goes by.
“I bet letting all those emotions out has made you tired. How about we go take a nap?” Bear offers gently.
I nod and hold my arms out. Bear chuckles before he picks me up. I place my face in his neck again, not wanting anyone to see me. Bear starts walking, and I hear him kick at the door.
“Can you open the door?” Bear asks before walking out the door and thanking whoever opened the door.
Bear makes his way up the stairs and into his room. I feel him place me on the bed before standing up straight.
“I’m going to change into comfortable clothes before we take a nap. Do you want one of my shirts and sweatpants to sleep in?” Bear asks.
I nod. Wearing jeans to sleep isn’t comfortable.
Bear walks into his closet and is in there for a couple of seconds. He walks out with sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt. He hands them to me and points toward a door.
“That is the bathroom. While you change in there, I am going to change in my closet,” he says.
Once in the bathroom, I take a couple of seconds and just look around. Everything is so neat that it shocks me.
After placing the borrowed clothes on the counter, I take my pants and shirt off and look into the mirror, scars litter my body. I put Bear’s clothes on and check in the mirror. His clothes are far too big for me, but they are so comfortable. Quickly, I fold my clothes and leave the bathroom.
While Bear is in his closet, I place my clothes on the chair and climb into bed and lie under his covers.
I start drifting off to sleep as footsteps come closer. Strong arms wrap around me, picking me up and moving me. I’m gently placed on something harder, and I snuggle into whatever it is. Those arms now wrap around my torso, and I succumb to sleep.