Chapter 15
brOOKE
“Come on, baby girl, we need to go eat breakfast,” Bear whispers into my ear.
I shake my head and snuggle deeper into him. I don’t want to wake up and work. I just want to cuddle and relax today. I haven’t ever had a day in bed with someone, and I want it so bad. I wrap my arms tighter around Bear and enjoy the heat radiating off him.
“You can’t skip work today. I know you want to, but it’s important to go to work. Don’t want to be on the bad side of Pres.” Bear sits up, pulling me up as well.
I groan and open my eyes. I look down and see my naked body. Shocked, I look up at Bear before pulling the covers up to my chest. Blood rushes to my face.
Bear starts to laugh, and I look at him, confused. Why is he laughing?
“You slept naked for the whole night, and now you are embarrassed? You don’t have to be embarrassed about anything. Everything is going to be all right,” he whispers and rubs my back.
I look down shyly. Last night, I was so exhausted and floating in a haze of bliss from my orgasms that I forgot that I was naked when sleep pulled me under. Bear made me feel at peace and comfortable, and it completely slipped my mind.
“I’m going to go get a long-sleeved shirt and your pants. You can change here, and I’ll be in the bathroom,” he says.
I tightly hold onto the sheets as he gets out of the bed and walks toward the closet. I don’t regret anything he did to me last night, but I feel weird. It’s the first time I have shown my body to someone in a very long time. First time since I got all these scars.
“Here are your clothes.” He pulls me out of my thoughts and hands me my clothes.
I smile and watch him walk toward the bathroom. Before he shuts the door completely, he turns and stares at me.
“When you are done, just knock on the door,” he says, shutting the door.
I wait a couple of seconds, waiting. Once I feel comfortable enough to get out of bed, I quickly change into his shirt and my pants. I tuck his shirt into my jeans and put my scarf around my neck. I let out a breath once I’m covered up.
Even though I have been staying in his room for a month, he still likes me to wear his shirt every once in a while. I am not complaining; they breathe better than mine, and they are super comfortable and soft. I think he likes it because all the club members know it’s his shirt I am wearing.
I walk over to the bathroom door and knock.
I go back to his bed and sit down, waiting for him to come out of the bathroom.
I need to get a couple of things at the store today, but I just need some time to myself, and I don’t know how Bear is going to take that.
He doesn’t like me going into town alone.
He doesn’t like me going anywhere without him or another biker.
“Ready to get some breakfast, and then go to work?” he asks.
I shake my head, but get up from. I know either way I answer that I am going to have to get up and eat breakfast. I was being honest, though.
“Good girl.” Bear grabs my hand, and we start walking down the stairs.
I smile and blush. I look down, not wanting to bring attention to my red face. The closer we get to the kitchen, the more voices I hear. I take in a couple of breaths, trying to calm my heartbeat.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Gears asks when we step into the kitchen.
I give him a thumbs-up and smile. I have to keep up the ruse that I was feeling sick last night. I don’t want them to really know what happened last night.
“How about you take an easy day since you are still recuperating from feeling sick?” Gears hands me a cup of coffee.
I sip the coffee and nod. Maybe this is a great opportunity for me to go to the store and get everything I need. Hopefully, I won’t have to do a lot in the garage.
“Can you run some errands from a shop? I need some tools for this newer model that we are getting next week.” Gears sits down.
“I don’t trust some of the prospects to get this in case they get the wrong part, and then I will end up having to go into town and get it myself.
That would defeat the whole purpose of getting someone else to do it. ”
I sit next to him and nod. If I can stop at another store, I’ll happily do it. I’ll just have to ask when Bear isn’t around.
“Tell me when she goes, and I’ll go with her,” Bear says, pouring milk onto my cereal.
My head whips up and I stare at him. I was hoping he wouldn’t say that, but deep down, I knew he would.
I wave toward Gears, trying to get his attention without alarming Bear.
Gears looks toward me, and I give him puppy-dog eyes, trying to get him to understand.
I point toward Bear and shake my hand. Gears nods, giving me a smile, and looks toward Bear, trying to act natural.
“I heard Pres talking about a job for you. We can send a prospect with her, and she will be fine,” Gears replies.
Bear stops in his tracks and slowly turns around. I stare at him, waiting for his response. I am hoping he says yes.
“I don’t know. I would feel more comfortable if I went with her. Some prospect won’t pay attention enough.” Bear places the bowl in front of me, turning to me. “Eat.”
“We can get one of the brothers to go with her. I need the parts and don’t want to send a prospect; they’ll mess it up. Brooke is still recovering and can make this errand for me because she knows the right equipment.” Gears places his hands on the kitchen counter.
Slowly, I start to eat, watching Bear and Gears talk. Gears is very good at explaining his reasons why. Bear is stubborn, and if he sets his mind on something, he won’t deviate from it.
“If we send one of the brothers, she can go with them. I don’t want her to go with a prospect.” Bear sits right next to me.
I let out a small breath and carry on eating. I am excited to go out into town without Bear. I know it won’t be the same as going alone, since I have one of the other bikers with me, but it will feel nice. I love going places with him, but sometimes you just want to be alone.
“You ready to go?” Gears asks.
I look at him and nod. I wonder who is going to go into town with me. I hope it’s someone I know. I want to be comfortable.
“I’m going with you,” Ink says.
I smile at Ink and stand. I am excited to go now. Ink is so fun to hang around.
“Brooke.” Bear grabs my arm softly.
I turn to him and tilt my head. Why is he stopping me from leaving?
“If you have any problem, you have my number. Don’t hesitate to contact me. I will have my phone with me at all times. You stay safe.” Bear cups my face, placing a kiss on my forehead.
I nod and give him a small smile. He lets go of me and starts to eat his breakfast. I turn toward the front door and see Ink waiting for me.
“We are taking the car so we can put stuff in the trunk. I have the list from Gears so we can leave now,” Ink says.
I nod and hold up a finger. Ink looks at me, confused, but I turn around and walk toward Bear.
When Bear gave me a kiss on the forehead, all I wanted to do was hug him.
Feel his arms wrapped around me safely. Bear is walking away from me, so I pick up my pace.
I wrap my arms around him, and he tenses.
He stops walking and pries my arms off his body. He turns around and grabs my face.
“What was that for?” he asks, bringing me into another hug.
I shrug and hold onto him. I sink into his body and let out a sigh. He chuckles before he lets me go.
“All right, I’ll see you tonight,” he says, placing another kiss on my forehead.
I nod and walk toward the door. Ink, with a smile on his face, opens it, and we both walk out, heading toward the only car in the parking lot. I take my phone out and start to type.
Can we make a stop before? I need to grab a couple of things for myself.
He reads it and hands the phone back to me. “Yeah, where do we need to stop first?”
Just a gas station. It is close to the store Gears needs us to go to.
I hope he doesn’t ask what I need, but he is going to want to know why I want to go to a gas station.
“What do you need at a gas station?”
Girl stuff. I know the gas station has it, and all we have to do is walk from the gas station to the store, and then head back to the club.
Ink lets out a sigh. “All right, that’s fine.”
We are in the car by the time the conversation ends.
He turns on the car and pulls out of the driveway.
Music plays in the background as we make our way toward the gas station.
Ink doesn’t try to talk, and I am okay with that.
It would be a one-sided conversation since I can’t verbally respond, and he’s driving.
My mind drifts back to Bear as I think about talking.
I have been starting to make some noise the past week.
I am getting more comfortable around Bear.
I wonder if I will be able to talk soon.
It excites me that I may be able to, but I am also nervous about it.
I haven’t in forever, and I’m afraid I won’t remember how to.
“We are here. I will be right outside the door. There is only one exit, so no one can grab you and take you out without me knowing,” Ink says. “I want to give you privacy when you do this.”
I smile in appreciation and head into the gas station. Weight is lifted off my shoulders, and I don’t have to worry about being embarrassed for buying period products. I have never been comfortable buying this stuff in front of men.
I am greeted by the worker, and I smile. At the female hygiene section, I look over my options. It is in the back, near the bathrooms, and there’s only one way out to the front. It is weird that it is far away from everything, but I can’t complain. I am happy they sell this stuff here.
I hear footsteps, and I turn my head. Blocking my exit is Jared. How did he get out of prison? He was sentenced to life. I look around, trying to find another exit, but there are none.
“There is no way out,” he says, taking a step forward.
I take a step back. Spotting the bathroom to my right, I look back at Jared. Before he can say anything, I dash toward the bathroom, opening the door. I hear his footsteps, but by the time he gets closer, the bathroom door is shut and locked.
I hide in the bathroom as Jared hammers on the door. Shakily, I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Bear. I have never called him before, and I really hope he picks up.
“Brooke?” Bear asks.
With all the courage I have, I say my first word in over a year.
“Help.”