Chapter Thirteen
Nothing like being chewed out by your VP in front of the woman you’re trying to impress, right?
“I was protecting Claudia. I’m not sorry, man. I’ll always put her safety first.”
Harley finally shifted his glare from my eyes, and I swear to god if his gaze hadn’t softened instantly, I’d have been the guy who punched his VP in front of the woman he was trying to impress too.
“Hello, love. I’m Harley.” He pointed to his patch on his chest as he spoke, and she smiled, lifting a hand to wave at him.
I pointed at the helmets and waited until she looked at me again.
“Pick one. My treat.”
Her eyes widened at me, and she started shaking her head.
“No! You can’t!” I had to respect Harley for not reacting to her need to lipread, or the fact that her voice was a little raw, as if not being able to hear it meant she couldn’t temper it for her own comfort.
Instead Harley chuckled, moving over to pick up two options from the new range. Fuck me, they were going to be pricy, but I didn’t care. I’d choose her safety over my next month’s meals if I had to.
Both were pretty, sparkly ones that women sometimes opt for, except the hardcore riders. I kinda liked the black glittery one myself, but I’d never live that down.
“I can’t. It’s just for tonight,” Claudia said, shooting me down, and breaking my heart, all in one short sentence. Fuck me. I was just her way out, wasn’t I? She wasn’t choosing me, she was choosing a method of escape.
Harley caught my eye and I know he saw the way I didn’t handle that rejection well. Fuck me, I had to learn a better poker face, because I didn’t need anyone knowing how much she meant to me already.
“Tell you what,” Harley said, setting both helmets down on the raised window display surface, “why don’t I lend you guys one for tonight, so you can see if you like motorcycles first?”
He was giving us an out. He was offering her a chance to come with me now, and not commit to anything. He was giving me exactly what we fucking needed in this moment.
I mouthed ‘thank you’ to him, and he nodded, heading over to his workshop to collect one.
“I’m sorry,” Claudia said from beside me, and I turned to give her my full attention, because she deserved nothing less.
“Don’t be. You should learn if you like it first, right?”
She smiled, and that flowed flawlessly into a soft giggle that made me feel like I was in one of those cartoons where you see birds and hearts in eyes and all that shit.
“I love it!”
What? I blinked at her, wanting to grab her and scream, and do a whole bunch of shit that wasn’t appropriate for her, the situation, or the location. Or probably wasn’t appropriate anywhere.
“Really?”
She nodded vigorously. “I can feel it. It makes me vibrate. It’s like I can hear it. It’s like I’m…”
She trailed off and blushed.
“Like you’re?”
“Normal.”
I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
“You couldn’t be normal if you tried. You’re way better.”
Fucking hell. Moron. How pathetic did that sound? How the hell was I such a dumbass that I couldn’t even say the right thing to her? Someone who couldn’t hear my stupid words, but could read them from my lips. I should be able to do better, because nobody deserved that more than her.
“Smooth, brother,” Harley murmured from behind me, reaching out to Claudia with an electric blue helmet, “here you go, love. Borrow it as long as you need to.”
She smiled, murmuring her thanks as she lifted it, and smoothed one hand over the shiny surface.
“She just needed to get out,” I said to him, completely unnecessarily.
“Oh, I just thought you were making sure you had a reason not to help me out,” he gestured to the helmet display as he spoke, but there was no bite to his words.
“Why’s Rocket not helping?”
He laughed. “Not his job.” But apparently it could have been mine?
“And Caroline?”
“Helping her mum out with something tonight. You wanna run through any more names, or can I get back to my work?”
Yeah, I’d delayed him long enough. “Thanks for the loaner, VP. Appreciate it.”
I turned to Claudia, who was watching us warily, probably not picking up our words while we faced away from her at awkward angles.
“He’s just whining about working late, love. It’s not a problem.”
She nodded, biting her lip in a way that had my eyes laser focused there. I’d kissed those lips. I knew how fucking soft and sweet they were. I wanted it again. I wanted to taste every inch of her, but this probably wasn’t the place. Or the time.
“Wanna go for a real ride?” She focused on my lips to read my words, and I felt it all over, I felt like she was watching them because she wanted them.
Fuck me, curb the urges before you scare her away.
I didn’t want to prove her sister right.
I’m really not a bad guy. I just say the wrong things, do the wrong things, and get angry easily.
See? Just a good all round guy. Jesus, no wonder nobody fucking likes me.
She grimaced and dug her phone out of her pocket, rolling her eyes and tucking it back inside with a shrug. I guess her sister was hounding her, but what the fuck was that bitch’s problem anyway? Let your sister fucking live.
“Let’s do this. I’ll take you to get a drink or something.”
She nodded, lifting the helmet onto her head, while I stepped in immediately and helped her fasten it securely.
“All good?”
She nodded, and waved at Harley as she walked outside.
“Go steady, brother. I think those feelings you’re having might just be mutual, yeah?”
Holy fucking shit. Way to make me go from nervous to shit scared in an instant.
Claudia
It was better. It was so much better. Now that he had a helmet on too, he didn’t have to hold back, and if I let myself focus on the fact that he risked his life to get me away from Marissa, then I’d probably cry and throw myself at him simultaneously.
We rode out of town, along some twisty lanes and empty country roads, while exhilaration filled me, because it felt like flying.
It felt like pure freedom, like being allowed to just be me, especially since the rumble of the road beneath the motorbike was almost audible to my useless ears.
It was something that involved all of the senses, filling my heart with enjoyment, even as that tinge of fear made everything feel more intense and real.
All too soon, we were heading back into town, and slowing in front of a late night takeaway.
Once we were stationary, he held his phone up where I could see it.
Hungry? I could get us some eats.
Eats. So cute. Everything about him was cute, but there was also something so hot and dangerous about him too. Something that made me want him.
I took the phone and cleared the message, typing a response.
Yes, but can we go back to your place?
Was that too forward? Was it too pushy? Was I being a whore?
He stared at the phone for too long, even trying to dart a look over his shoulder at me.
Finally the phone reappeared.
Of course, but you should know I live at the biker compound, and currently it’s a freaking tent with a bed in it.
Huh? He cut the engine, and those sweet vibrations ceased in an instant, then he helped us both off the motorbike, before resting it on its stand.
We removed our helmets, and he looped both over his hand by the straps.
“It’s a nice tent,” he said slowly, letting me follow his lips with my eyes, even though the more I looked at them, the more I wanted to do it with my lips instead.
His lips were lush, soft, very prone to smiling.
I probably watched them more avidly than I needed to, and I think he felt a little awkward, wetting his lips and waiting for me to speak.
When I didn’t, he spoke again.
“It’s got a real bed, but not other furniture to sit on. I can probably borrow some chairs from the Pres, but they’ll be crappy.” He rubbed the back of his neck and paused again. I had to take pity on the poor man. He was really trying, and I was too busy getting mesmerised by his lips.
“It’ll be fine. We can sit on your bed to eat, right?”
He nodded, relief flooding his features as the tension drifted away.
“Let’s check the menu. What do you want?” We stepped inside the Indian takeaway and the smells that had been tantalising me outside filled my senses on entry to the warm, stuffy shop.
It took about ten minutes for us to choose and leave with our food, which Stag insisted on holding while he took us to the clubhouse.
Thankfully that wasn’t too far away, but it was nothing like I’d expected.
I thought it’d be some big, busy industrial looking place, but it wasn’t.
It was in the country, and was closed off with normal farm style gates, and inside was a building that was clearly still under construction, albeit with the walls and roof built, and the windows and doors in place.
It had that look of a place waiting for finishing touches.
Beside it were several of the typical building site huts, and then a bunch of curious looking tents.
It was almost like looking at a circus or carnival. This was where he lived?
A guy at the gate allowed us in, with a little salute to Stag, and a very curious stare in my direction as we passed him. Was it that he thought he might know me, or was it rare for Stag to bring girls back here? It was a surprise to realise how much I hoped I was the first.
Oh, and the tent was as curious on the inside as outside.
It was large enough to fit a camping bed, some storage furniture, and a wash area.
No toilet of course, but I’d seen those little portable ones outside.
The thought of using them was a little unnerving, but if Stag was so nice, the rest must be too, right?