Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
ALICE
I t’s been a few days since my first day working at the garage, and I love it. The guys are so nice. Well, maybe not Bear. He isn’t exactly mean, but he doesn’t really talk either. Just a casual “good morning” when he arrives and a “see ya later” as he walks out the door. Chains told me that’s a significant improvement from how he used to be before Sara came into the picture.
Now Chains and Diablo are some deviants. Everyone knows about the tension between Red and me. Those two are constantly flirting with me just to get a rise out of Red. Yesterday, Chains ran a finger down my cheek while talking to me, and I swear Red looked like he was about to explode. His skin had turned so red I was afraid for his health. When Red began making his way toward us, Chains ran faster than a rat up a drainpipe.
What I’ve really been enjoying are my rides with Red. We’ve been getting to know each other. Red never bothers to turn on the radio because we’re asking each other questions during the entire ride. Nothing too major, but things like where we grew up, favorite foods, and favorite kind of music. Nothing deep. But somehow, the conversations are satisfying.
I’ve put myself in a real pickle here. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily attached to him, but every night, I go to sleep with thoughts of him as I anxiously wait to see him the next day. My brain and heart are at war about how to react to this man. I know I should focus on the divorce, but there is something about Red. I’m sure a nun would have a hard time resisting him.
A knock on the counter breaks me from my thoughts. When I look up, Red is standing there with a grin, eating me up with his eyes. I’m currently bent over, putting papers in the new filing cabinet I ordered. After one of the prospects delivered the laptop, Red gave me the company card and told me to order whatever was needed to make working here easier. Not going to lie. I had a field day. Red didn’t complain or even seem upset when I gave him the total.
“Can I help you?” I ask as I straighten up.
Red only continues to stare at me, causing my heart rate to speed up. His gaze is always intense, but when he gets like this… it’s too much. I’ve never experienced sexual tension until him. I thought it was normal that I didn’t care to have sex with Declan. Before the abuse, I could go an entire week without sex, and I would be completely fine.
Now?
Now, I can’t even look at Red without having dirty thoughts. Not to mention the way my body reacts to him. Will told me to get a toy to take the edge off. The mere thought of masturbating had me blushing. I’ve never done it. But something tells me if things keep going the way they are, I’ll be finding out what it’s like.
“Red?” I call out as I approach him.
He seems to snap out of it and walks around the counter to meet me halfway. He walks over and looms over me. I can feel his breath on my lips. “Take your lunch with me.”
Again, he never asks. It’s always a demand, never leaving room to argue. Crossing my arms, I tilt my head back. “Are you asking me or telling me?”
Red’s eyes widen a bit. I guess because I’ve never taken this tone with him. Licking his lips, he stares down at mine. “Grab your purse. I’m starving.”
Our stare lasts all of ten seconds before I turn around to grab my purse off the desk. When I turn back around, Red holds his hand out for me. As soon as his large hand engulfs mine, my entire arm tingles. I know I’m not the only one that feels it. As we walk out of the garage, I glance out to the bay area. All eyes are on us. Feeling completely exposed, I quickly turn away.
Red helps me inside the truck as usual before getting in himself. Once we’re out of the parking lot, he turns to me. “What’s up with that blush, kitten?”
“Kitten?” I’m trying like hell, but I can feel my lips stretching into a smile against my will.
“Yeah. You’re quiet and curious like one, but I’m also learning my kitten has claws.”
“ Your kitten?” At this point, I’m giving him a full-blown cheesing, showing all thirty-two teeth in my mouth.
“Yeah. My kitten. I dare someone to tell me differently,” he answers with a shrug. Biting my lip to stop from smiling like a loon, I turn my gaze out the window. “Oh, what? Nothing to say now?”
“It just seems pretty audacious of you.”
“Does it now? We’ll just have to see about that. Won't we?”
I’m convinced this man was put in my life to drive me crazy. Why does he have to say such things in that sexy-ass voice of his?
I get ready to open my mouth, but when Red parks the truck, I look up to see where we are. When my eyes land on the diner the club owns, I freeze up. Red notices my reaction. I feel his hand land on mine, and out of instinct, I jump.
“Kitten, what’s… wrong…” he trails off. Red looks between me and the diner before he realizes what’s going on. “Fuuuuck. I’m so sorry, Alice. I don’t know how I didn’t realize what coming here would do to you.” He cranks the truck back up. “We can go somewhere else.”
When his hand lands on the gear shift, I grab it. “No. I want to go in. Declan controlled enough in my life. I won’t let him affect me anymore.”
“Are you sure? Because we ca?—”
“I’m sure. Let's go.” I open my door and meet him in front of the truck. He holds his hand out for me and leads me into the diner. Once we’re seated, I grab the menu and look over it. My mouth is salivating when I read the description for the Western Cowboy Burger they have. It sounds so good, but for some reason, I void out the thought and settle for a salad.
The waitress approaches us, asking if we are ready, and Red tells me to go first. “Umm, I’ll have a glass of lemon water, Caesar salad, wi?—”
“Maria, give us a second.”
“Just wave me over when you’re ready, Red.”
I don’t know why, but the familiarity between these two makes me frown. I’ve never been the jealous type. I’m just going to chalk this up to being hangry because what other reason would that upset me.
“I see the look in your eyes, kitten, and things aren’t like that with Maria. She manages the diner, and I’m a regular here.”
“I wasn?—”
“You were and that’s fine. I’m territorial over you, too, baby. Glad to see it isn’t one-sided.” He smirks, melting my panties in the process. Did he just call me baby? I think I like that more than kitten.
“Now, why did you order a salad? You were looking at that menu the same way you look at me, and I know a salad wasn’t the cause of that.”
“And exactly how do I look at you?”
“Like you want to devour me.”
My mouth drops open, and he releases a big belly laugh. “Don’t worry, baby. The feeling is mutual.” He waves Maria over. She approaches with her pen and pad in hand.
“I’ll take a sweet tea with the Western Cowboy Burger. Can they grill the jalapenos and mushrooms with the onions?”
“Sure, that’s no problem. Would you like the single or double and fries or onion rings with that?”
“Single and the onion rings.”
When I’m done, Red nods his head with approval. “I’ll take the same thing, Maria, but make mine a double.”
Maria collects the menus and walks away. It’s not long before our food arrives, and we eat in comfortable silence. Red couldn’t get me to talk even if he wanted to. This burger is everything that I thought it would be.
After we finish our meal, I pull out a pack of gum. I hate that after-onion taste. Plus, Red has a habit of being in my personal space, and I don’t need my breathing reeking. I offer one to Red and he takes it. We get up to leave, and Red places two twenties on the table. We’re walking hand in hand across the parking lot when I hear a voice that makes my blood run cold.
“Alice.”
Red quickly turns around, placing me behind him. I peek around Red and gulp. Declan looks possessed. Even with his broken arm that is still in a cast and sling, he looks ready to kill me right here and now. Red never takes his eyes off Declan. When he takes a step toward us, Red speaks up.
“Careful. Don’t forget the cameras. Be glad she’s here because if she wasn’t, I would be sending you to meet your maker. I don’t know why you’re here and I don’t care. If you don’t want to take another trip to the hospital, then you had better wise up and leave this one alone. Fucking with her ain’t good for your health.”
My heart is doing somersaults, hearing him defend me. The tone in his voice left no doubt he meant every word.
“That’s my wife!” Declan snaps, causing me to jump. I latch onto Red’s arm, seeking comfort. When Declan sees that, he loses it. “Bitch, you just wait till I get my hands on you. You think this filthy fucking biker really wants your fat ass. He’s going to use you up and toss your ass to the side just like they did Savannah. And when they do, your ass is going to pay. I’ll make sure you remember who the fuck you belong to.”
When Red moves toward him, he quickly turns around and speed walks to his car. As soon as he’s inside his vehicle, he burns rubber out of the lot. As strong as I have been, the panic sets in. What if he’s right? I heard Declan and Vincent talk about Savannah hundreds of times. She was sleeping with Viper the day Declan caught her. When Declan told Savannah they were leaving, she told him no, that she was in love with Viper, and they were going to be together. Apparently, they were on two different pages because Viper made her get dressed, leave the clubhouse, and banned her.
My chest is rising and falling so fast. I’m finding it harder and harder to breathe. My vision is blurring, and I feel lightheaded. Red’s hands frame my face, bringing my blurry sight to him.
“Breathe, kitten. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I hear him, but my brain has been scrambled and I don’t know if I believe him. I’m on the verge of a panic attack. My hands shake as I try and pull from his grasp.
“Kitten. Look at me. Baby, you have to calm down. You’re about to?—”
Red abruptly stops speaking, and the next thing I know, his lips are on mine.
Wait. What?
Anything that was on my mind two seconds ago isn’t even a factor right now. I can’t focus on anything other than his incredibly soft lips. Whatever I thought I knew about kissing has been blown to pieces.
He runs his tongue across my lips, causing me to gasp, and then he goes in for the kill. Twirling his tongue with mine, a tiny moan slips from me. I clutch his shirt in my hands, holding on for the ride he takes me on. Wrapping a hand around my neck, he angles my head to kiss me deeper. Groaning into the kiss, he brings my body against his, and I melt right there in the middle of this parking lot.
I don’t know how we manage kissing like this with gum in our mouths, but I don’t want it to stop. I could sit here all day, feeling his lips on mine. Red gives my lip a nibble before pulling away. We’re both panting, breathing each other in.
“Listen to me. You are not Savannah. You are two completely different people with different situations. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I can tell you I have no plans on letting you go. You hear me?”
I nod my head, and he pulls away from me. Grabbing my hand, he leads me to the truck. Once Red pulls away from the diner, he calls Chains and lets him know we won’t be returning for the day. I don’t argue. After everything that just happened, I want to go home.
As we head back to the clubhouse, I wonder if I made a mistake putting all my eggs in one basket. Maybe I need a backup plan. I don’t know if the club would really leave me out defenseless against Declan. I don’t know if the help is only for a certain amount of time. The only thing I do know is hell will freeze over before I ever find myself in Declan's hands again.