Chapter 5 – Linzie
LINZIE
Waking up in a strange room with my best friend sprawled out and buried under the covers was not what I had planned but I guess that’s what happens when you have a few drinks and piss off the President.
What the fuck ever.
I get up to go to the bathroom to do my business and realize I’m not wearing my dress from last night.
I’m wearing one of Gabe’s t-shirts from the club’s repair shop and my panties.
I know it’s his shirt. It smells like him.
But how the hell did I get into it? I don’t remember changing clothes when we arrived.
The last thing I remember was Gabe carrying me into the clubhouse and setting me on the bed.
“Shit. How many shots did I have?” I mutter out loud to myself, but it’s Andi who answers.
“Six that I know of because I fed them to you and then the two cocktails that Avery had us all drink to toast her amazing fiancé and the best day of her life. That girl is a chatty drunk,” Andi grumbles.
“How’s your head?” I ask, knowing if I had six shots, Andi probably had eight. She’s always been able to outdrink me.
“I’m good. Need some greasy food and a spicy Coke and I’ll be right as rain. You?”
“I’m actually all right. I could use a huge cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese though,” I tease.
“I’m going to go return Gabe’s clothes, and I’ll meet you out there in the kitchen.
I need to get to the café as soon as we’re done.
Trevor’s been there all morning. He’s probably ready to pass out. ”
“It’s only ten in the morning. He’s a young guy.
He can handle it for a few more hours,” Andi declares.
“We have a dinner party to plan. A barn to help decorate. And I thought the girls mentioned Liz was having the tree brought into the clubhouse today for everyone to decorate. You agreed to be a part of all that last night,” she admonishes.
“Shit. I did?” This doesn’t bode well for my plan to avoid Gabe at all.
“Yep. The wedding is in two days, Linz. We have a lot to do to help get ready. The other club is coming in tonight, and you said you’d help me cook.
Plus, I have a cake to bake and decorate, and you are not leaving me alone in a clubhouse full of sexy, rowdy bikers.
You know you’re the only filter I come with.
Without you, everyone is fair game,” Andi warns.
“Shit. Okay. Okay. Let me return his clothes and get a bite to eat, then I’ll run home and pack a bag for the night because it sounds like we’ll be staying here again.
I need to check in with Trevor and make sure he doesn’t need any help, and then I’ll come right back here to do all the things,” I concede.
Andi tilts her head, spearing me with that look.
The one that says she knows what I’m up to.
“You don’t think you’re actually going to get out of here without running into the sexy, growly, bearded bastard, do you?
” My jaw drops open at her description of Gabe, but she’s quick to throw out, “Hey, those were your words last night. I’m just repeating what you said.
You were a mixture of pissed the hell off and take-me-Daddy, I’m-yours.
” She places her hand on her chest and bats her eyelashes.
“Personally, I think you should’ve let him bend you over the bed and rail you into the next week, but I’ve never been good at giving sound advice when drinking, so maybe your way was the right one.
I don’t think so though, judging by all the tension in your shoulders.
I bet he could’ve loosened that all up for you.
” She gestures with a wave of her hand to my entire body.
I flip her off, knowing it’s the only right response and the one she won’t be offended by because it’s how we say, I love you.
“I’m not trying to leave undetected. But I don’t want to have a long conversation either. As you’ve pointed out, we have a busy day and a lot to get done in a short amount of time.”
Lies.
Not wanting to argue against the fact that my best friend is right, I grab a quick shower and wrap a towel around myself.
When I come back into the room, Andi hops up from the bed, passing me on her way to the bathroom.
I grab my dress off the chair and make quick work of getting myself dressed.
This is not the outfit I would’ve chosen for today, with the low-cut neckline and mid-thigh split.
But it will have to do until I can get home and change into something more comfortable.
And warmer.
Looking out the window, I see that it looks cold and cloudy. The men outside are moving their bikes into one of the barns to protect them in case it rains, I’m sure. The two younger guys, prospects like Trevor, have bundled themselves up in thick winter coats.
“Shit,” I grumble. “Oh, well. At least my car has heat.”
I don’t wait for Andi to let her know I’m going to find Gabe.
She knows my plans, and I just need to get this over with as quickly as possible.
I head down the hall, past the main room where some of the guys have gathered and are eating breakfast. Avery looks like she’s hungover this morning.
Sadie, however, is still wearing the same shit-eating grin as last night, while Hawk looks like the pouty man-child awaiting his punishment.
Declan is talking to Mack while Violet looks pale as a ghost. She’s got her hand up just under her nose, and I’m willing to bet the smell of her food is turning her stomach.
The poor girl. I don’t know how Declan hasn’t caught on yet.
If he had been paying close attention last night, he would’ve caught on to the fact that she was the only sober one at the party.
She was drinking mocktails all night and never slurred a single word.
I can’t say the same for the rest of us.
Even Everly had a few drinks, which I was glad to see.
She never lets herself have any fun. She’s always so serious.
I remember those days. Being young and a mother wasn’t easy.
Although it’s slightly different with Kaylie being her little sister, the responsibility is still the same.
Everly is still her guardian, the one in charge of her care, all while trying to run her own business and find her own way.
So yeah, I was happy to see her having a little fun.
I’m almost to Gabe’s room when I see one of the club girls coming out of what I know is his door, smiling and holding a pair of his jeans and his bedsheets.
I pass by her and fling his door open, surprised to find him dripping wet wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, scrubbing the water from his hair with another.
I’m momentarily stunned by the ripped muscles of his upper body contracting with every single movement.
A show of hard work and dedication to his physique. My mouth waters at the sight.
Gabe catches me staring and smiles. “Like what you see, Vixen?”
“Stop calling me that.” It comes out more of a whisper than the harsh retort I had planned. Gabe’s smile widens. His hand resting on the knot at the side of his towel. He tosses the other towel into his hamper. His stance is relaxed, but I see the predator in him staring back at me.
Don’t give in, Linzie.
I clear my throat in an attempt to clear my head. “I came to bring this back.” His shirt hangs in my hand outstretched between us.
“You should keep it. I have plenty. Besides,” He steps forward, and I instinctively step back, shaking my head. “It looks better draped over you anyway.”
My hand shoots up between us, halting his steps. “I don’t want it. I came to return it, and then I’m going to go. I have a busy day ahead, and I need to get out of here.”
“Out of here?” he asks, puzzled. His arms cross his chest again, and the exasperated look he gets returns. “Out of the clubhouse? Or out of here, as in my room?”
“Here. Both. I just—I need to go. I can’t do this.” I drop the shirt and start for the door, only to have his hand grip my elbow and spin me back to face him. Gabe’s nostrils flare, and his eyes roam my body from head to toe.
“What are you running from, Linzie?”
“I’m not running. I don’t want this. Us. You.”
“I never took you for a liar.” That has my hackles raised.
I don’t deny the lie. It wouldn’t change anything at this moment anyway. “I never took you for a man who fucks club whores. At least that’s what you led me to believe, but I guess we’re both delusional in our beliefs.”
Gabe’s head snaps back. I lose the touch of his hand on my elbow as he takes a step back to glare at me.
“What the hell are you talking about? I don’t screw around with club girls.
I’m too old for that shit. And I haven’t fucked anyone since the last time I fucked you.
So, tell me again, what are you running from? ”
The towel at his waist starts to slip, and I catch the movement out of the corner of my eye. Gabe must notice, because he grips it with his hand. His brows are raised, expecting an answer I can’t give him, because I don’t know.
“I need to go.” I move toward the door again. Gabe moves faster, reaching the door before me and slamming his hand against it above my head, startling me.
“What you need to do is turn around and talk to me.” His voice is deep, rich, full of need.
Deciding I need to shut this down. I saw the woman leaving his room and how happy she was in her barely-there clothing. Doesn’t she know it’s winter, for Christ’s sake? No one dresses in skimpy clothes when you can see your breath in a puff of air before your face.
I ignore the fact that my current state of dress would suggest my own idiocy about the cold, but I’m not talking about me.
I spin around to face Gabe and tell him one last time that I’m done here, but the moment my face is in front of his, Gabe’s fingers wrap around the back of my neck, gripping me hard.
It’s a possessive move, and I can’t find it in me to fight it.
His chest pressing into mine. His hips hold me in place, while his lips descend on mine in a searing kiss.
His tongue duals with mine as his grip pulls tighter, holding me captive to his onslaught. I gasp and whimper. Gabe groans into my mouth. He rocks his hips, pushing his cock deeper into my stomach, the thin towel slowly unraveling between us.
Gabe’s hand makes its way into the slit of my dress and around, gripping my ass firmly, punishingly.
The towel gives way and falls as he lifts my leg over his hip.
He’s completely exposed, and my hand finds his girth, gripping it, squeezing him hard.
He grunts, his mouth moving across my jaw and down my neck, kissing, sucking, biting.
There’s a sharp tug and a snap, and I know he’s just ripped the side of my underwear away from my body.
His hand reaches between us. With the very tips of two fingers, he slowly circles my clit.
He’s teasing me with the softest of touches, not giving me the pressure he knows I need.
I release his cock and let my hand fall away.
Gabe’s eyes come up to meet mine, frustration etched on his face. “Put your hand back on my cock, Linz. Now.”
“Stop teasing,” I demand, my brow cocked and my resolve thin, but he doesn’t need to know that.
Gabe shoves two fingers inside me, and I swivel my hips, needing him to finish what he started. I grip his cock in my hand. With every thrust of his fingers inside me, I match with a stroke of my own. He picks up his pace, and I follow his lead. A hiss escapes the back of my throat. I’m so close.
In one swift motion, Gabe pulls his fingers out, lifts my ass, wrapping my legs around him. My dress is twisted around my waist, and my half-shredded panties shoved to the side. In one deep stroke, Gabe buries himself to the hilt, ripping a scream from me.
The door at my back rattles with each thrust. The sound of my wetness fills the room. Gabe grunts and curses, whispering how beautiful I am. He goes on and on about how much he loves the way my pussy tightens around him. How well our bodies fit together. How this is what we need.
My orgasm crashes over me. My muscles tightening the way he described, ripping his release from him. He rides out the waves of pleasure until we’re both a sweaty mess and panting for breath.
Gabe rests his forehead against mine. It takes a minute for our breathing to slow and the shudders to cease. It’s in those moments that his words come back to mind.
He loves my body. He loves how well our bodies fit together. But he didn’t say he loves me.
My heart sinks as my stomach drops, and the need to get out of here overwhelms me.
I push against Gabe’s chest firmly. His head comes up, and he takes a step back.
His hand still on my hip. I move to the side, and he watches as I right my dress.
My panties are a useless scrap, so I quickly remove them and toss them toward his hamper.
Gabe’s still watching my every move. I don’t know whether that’s curiosity or frustration on his face. Maybe a bit of both.
He’s far enough away from the door now, his towel still on the floor while he stands in all his naked glory staring at me.
I rush past him, turning the handle, and whisper, “I’m sorry.
This shouldn’t have happened,” before rushing out of his room, past the main living area and straight to the room I slept in last night.
I make quick work of gathering my purse and find Andi on my way out.
I don’t go into detail, but my best friend knows me well enough to know that I can’t stay here. Something has happened, and I need to be somewhere private where I can lose my shit and mourn once more—the loss of what I thought was a new beginning.