The tone he takes has me curious and nervous for his dad. Reese has always come across as confident, determined. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him worried. Pissed off a few times, and some serious stalker vibes, but trepidation? This is a first, and it makes me realize that this man is far more complex than just a young guy in a biker club. He has layers, like me, and I want to learn more. He’s officially piqued my interest.
And then some.
Oh, shut up. You already got a little action. Let’s let the brain do some thinking now.
It’s only at this moment that I realize my inner goddess is just my hoo-ha screaming at me for action. And yes, I know I’m going crazy for talking to the lady between my legs like she’s an actual person. What can I say? Reese is making me lose my mind.
“Yeah, sure, I’ll head over now. Thanks, man.”
“Everything okay?” I ask once he’s off the phone.
“Not really.”
He leans back in the tub and pulls me against him once more. He might have taken the call and told whoever it was that he was on his way, but he’s not making a very good show of wanting to leave. Not that I mind, but I don’t like to hear the worry in his voice.
“What’s going on?” I look at him over my shoulder.
He traces my cheek with the pads of his fingers as he brushes my hair away from my face.
“Damn, you’re beautiful.” I can’t help but smile and dip my eyes in shyness before he tips my chin up and gives me a lingering kiss. “My dad was in a car accident a few weeks back. That’s why I haven’t been around. I brought him back with me on Friday since he’s been pretty stubborn about taking the pain medication, and I didn’t want him to be alone while he’s recovering. He ain’t the type to ask for help, so if I hired a caregiver or something, it would just piss him off. Thought if he was around the club, we could all band together and get him to take the meds.”
“I’m guessing that’s not the case.”
“Yeah, apparently not. General, the club’s doctor, said he had to go to the hospital earlier this morning and just got back to the club to check on my dad. Found him in his room unconscious. General thinks he must have fallen or something. He’s checking him out now, but he’s pretty groggy. I need to get up there to check on him myself.”
“Of course.” My eyes are bugging out of my head, I’m sure, as I move quickly away. I can’t figure out why he’s still here when he should have run out the door. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
He gives me a smile that creeps up on one side of his face, and it leaves me breathless. It’s the sexiest side smile I’ve ever seen in my life. He pulls me back to him, but since I moved to get out of his way, now I’m straddling his legs.
“Don’t want to leave with you thinking this is just a onetime thing. This started something between us. I’m willing to give you the space you need to get shit worked out in your head, but not enough for you to think this was a one-and-done.”
I swallow hard. I was so thinking that, and he read me perfectly. As he always seems to do.
“So, I figure the only way to make sure you don’t think that is to keep you with me longer. What do you say? You willing to come to the clubhouse with me for a bit?”
He pushes my hair away from my face once more, then cradles my head in his hand. I never put my hair up when we got in the tub, and I don’t hate that he keeps touching it. It’s never been overly manageable, as it’s not straight and not curly. It’s daily bedhead waves, or that’s how Jordan describes it. I think it’s accurate, especially after what just happened in this tub.
I moisten my lips with my tongue as I think over his offer. He’s right. Once he walks out the door, the thoughts will creep in, and no matter how much of a badass I am, the inner child who cried from bullying will worry that something was wrong and it won’t happen again, even though he says it will. And I don’t want that. I want to break free forever from my childhood trauma. From the fears I pretend I’ve gotten over but never really did.
So I do what I never thought I would when I woke up this morning.
“Okay, I’ll go with you.”
He smiles big and then pulls me down to his lips. They attack me, and I let him. I’ll let him do whatever he wants, because he’s good at it.
And maybe, just maybe, he’s good for me too.
Chapter 15—Gator
Igot fucking cockblocked by my dad. Who the fuck can say that and be over the age of twenty? Me, that’s who.
I guess I shouldn’t curse out the old man too much. Not only because he got hurt, but because it led to my girl on the back of my bike a lot sooner than I thought it would take.
After we got out of the tub, I took my time drying off every bit of her. I kissed almost every part that I dried off. Almost. I made a point not to kiss certain parts that would take things into the bedroom and delay us further. I might not be rushing, but I’m not taking a ton of time either. I trust General to take care of my dad, and he only called because he wanted to let me know, not that he was worried enough for me to get over there quickly. He made a point to say he had everything in hand, but he knows I’d rather be kept in the loop.
Once dry, I put my clothes back on, and much to my chagrin, Bailey chooses “sensible” ones. Her word for when I complained that she was far too covered up for my liking. At least she did it with a smile and not a glare when I said something. Honestly, it was probably the smart choice to wear jeans. We’d be riding on a bike, after all. And while I’m safe out there and would do nothing to risk Bailey, people are idiots. Road rash is a bitch, and her skin is beautiful as it is. At least she gave me a little, wearing a snug tank top. I enjoyed the look, as it gave a very clear definition to her glorious tits. Her rocking my helmet made the look even better, but it’ll be perfect once she has a vest of her own and my property patch on her back.
When it came time to leave, I kissed the crap out of her and then told her we were taking my bike. I don’t think she even knew what she was agreeing to when I put the helmet on her and had her get on behind me. That’s till I revved the engine and enjoyed the shit out of her squeaking and sliding into me as she grabbed on tight. I probably should have told her to hang on, but that was funnier. Also got her to put her hands on me again without protest, and she hasn’t let go since. I only had to tell her once to lean with me on the turns, and then it was like she was born to ride.
