Edge Of Fear (Arrow's Edge MC Book 4)

by Freya Barker

  “Is this about that thing with Maska? Didn’t we already clear that up?”

  I’d talked to the kid myself this week to find out what happened. He said he sometimes sleepwalks—something both Shilah and Wapi have seen him do in the past—and doesn’t remember what happened. Ravi hasn’t mentioned the incident at all.

  “I’m better with a hammer.”

  I slow down for a stop sign and turn my head to look at the boy. He’s facing me, a plea in his eyes that tugs at my heartstrings. If only he would open up, even a little, but I know only too well how slim those chances are.

  Fuck.

  “Tell you what; let me talk to the brothers this weekend. See what we can come up with.”

  “Sure.”

  I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

  _______________

  “You’re here.”

  Sophia gets up and comes around her desk toward me.

  “I am.”

  I tug her close and drop a kiss on her lips.

  “I thought you said there was something going on at the club tonight?”

  “There is.”

  In fact, the cookout was already in full swing by the time I left. Trunk and Jaimie were at the clubhouse with the little ones when I got back with Ravi. Lisa took one look at the boy and sent him to the dorm to have a shower before dinner. I figured it was as good a time as any to have that talk with Trunk, but unfortunately, with the crowd around the clubhouse growing by the minute, we didn’t really get a chance.

  It took another hour and a half before I finally managed to walk back out of there.

  “You know Mack could’ve walked me to my car, right?”

  “Not the only reason I came, Fee.”

  She tilts her head back and smiles up at me.

  “Is that right?”

  “Mmm.”

  I slide a hand down the back of her pants over the swell of her ass and give it a playful squeeze.

  “Tse…I’m working,” she reminds me, peering over my shoulder to see if anyone’s coming.

  “Wasn’t Mack supposed to close?”

  That’s the reason no one could’ve convinced me to stay at the clubhouse tonight. The few times I followed her home this week, we didn’t get much further than a little petting before she’d start yawning. But tonight she was going to take off early and tomorrow I’m helping her move her shit to the new place. I have a few ideas how I want to spend the time between.

  “He is, but I still have some work to do.”

  “How much longer?”

  “I’m off tomorrow so I have to finish payroll tonight or no one will get paid.”

  “How long?” I push.

  She shakes her head and grins, giving my chest a little pat before she steps out of my hold and returns to her seat behind the desk.

  “Longer if you stand here distracting me.” She waves a dismissive hand at me as she drops her gaze to the computer screen. “Go have a drink at the bar, and get Mack to order you something from the kitchen.” A little tease of a smile appears on her lips. “You’re gonna need the extra fuel.”

  I can still hear her soft laugh when I take a seat at the bar.

  “What can I get you?”

  “Beer and brisket.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Sophia

  “GET THERE, BABY.”

  His fingers dig into my ass as he surges up.

  I hold myself up with my hands planted flat on his chest, while I grind down on him. His cock fills me completely and I roll my hips to create a delicious friction. He shifts one of his hands, reaches down where our bodies are joined, and puts firm pressure on my clit.

  That’s all it takes for me to fly apart with my head thrown back and my mouth open, gasping for air. The next moment I find myself on my back, Tse pistoning inside me while I’m still riding the convulsions of my climax.

  His, “Fuck, yeah,” is followed by a long, deep groan, as he burrows his face in my neck and his body bucks with his release.

  I’m not sure how long we lie like that, skin slick with our early morning exertions, trying to catch our breath. I welcome the weight of his body on mine as my fingers drift up and down his back and firm ass. At some point I wonder if he’s fallen back asleep when he mumbles against my skin.

  “Never thought I’d say this, but I think you wore me out. I can’t move.”

  His soft chuckle vibrates through my body and a satisfied smile forms on my lips.

  We hadn’t wasted any time last night. The instant the door to my apartment closed behind us, he had my shirt off and was working my pants down.

  I had my first orgasm of the night still in the hallway, with my back pressed against the front door, a leg hooked over his shoulder, and his mouth creating magic. From there we hit the couch, the shower, and finally rolled exhausted into bed, where I was the first one to wake up this morning.

  I’d fallen asleep like I had last weekend at the cabin, with Tse’s big body curved around mine, but when I woke up, he was on his stomach beside me. His arm was tucked under his pillow and the covers were riding low on his hips. The full expanse of the impressive tattoo on his back was on display and I couldn’t resist examining it closer.

  At the center was a Native depiction of the thunderbird reaching from shoulder to shoulder. Underneath its wings were a compass, a feather, an arrow, and a broken chain, all blended together into one large intricate piece.

  I swung my leg over his hips to straddle him and traced every outline with the tips of my fingers. His body had gone rigid under my touch and I pressed my lips between his shoulder blades. That’s when he’d suddenly rolled over, his sleepy eyes dark with heat as he lifted me on his growing erection.

  Sucking in a sharp breath I try to move Tse off me.

  “I have to get up.”

  He must hear the urgency in my voice because he immediately rolls off, his expression questioning.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks, but I’m already out of bed, rushing for the bathroom.

  I’m sure he’ll clue in when he sees the wet spot on the sheets.

  Sinking down on the toilet I slap my hands over my face. How could I have been so stupid?

  I relieve myself quickly, flush, and reach for the shower, turning the water on. Battling back the panic constricting my chest, I pull open the medicine cabinet, grabbing the round container of contraceptive pills. I just had my prescription renewed last weekend after letting it lapse a few months ago. So much had been going on in my life I hadn’t been too careful. Then with the move to Durango, and the busy weeks after, it hadn’t been at the top of my list until I was faced with a weekend away on the back of Tse’s bike. Even though I hadn’t planned on having sex with him then, I figured the time would come sooner than later and aside from expecting to use a condom, I also wanted the extra protection.

  Six pills are gone from the pack.

  “Fee?” I hear his voice outside the door, followed by a soft knock.

  Ignoring it, I get under the shower, cursing the fact the bathroom door doesn’t have a lock when it opens and Tse stands there in all his naked glory.

  He glances at the pill container I left on the vanity before his eyes come to me. Not sure what to say, I turn my back and grab the bottle of shampoo.

  Behind me the shower curtain opens and he steps in, his large body taking up a lot of space in the moderately sized shower. Reaching around me he takes the bottle from my hands and the next thing I know his fingers are massaging the shampoo in my short hair.

  “Haven’t been that careless since my much younger years,” he murmurs, his mouth close to my ear. “Never without a condom in the past twenty-odd years. Last physical was a year ago but I’ll happily get tested to put your mind at ease.”

  Jesus. He’s talking about STDs.

  I’m thirty-five years old, never been one to sleep around, a sexually transmitted disease hadn’t even occurred to me yet. I was too preoccupied with the possibility of a pregnancy.

 
“What about pregnancy?” I broach, turning to face him.

  He looks shocked before glancing over his shoulder at the sink.

  “Aren’t you on the pill?”

  “Wasn’t for a while and just started up again last Saturday,” I admit. “I’m not sure that’s long enough for it to be effective.”

  His face blanks as he runs an agitated hand through his wet hair.

  “Fuck!”

  His voice echoes off the tile in the confined space.

  I immediately turn my back and slip out of the tub at the other end, dripping water and soap all over the floor. He doesn’t try to stop me and surprisingly, that upsets me more than anything else.

  The shower is still running when I pass the bathroom door a few minutes later on my way to a much-needed cup of coffee. I’m dressed in jeans and a shirt that can handle a bit of dirt for the move. I’ll pack up my sparse belongings from the bedroom and bathroom when he is gone.

  I’m just pouring a cup when he comes walking out, shirtless and barefoot, with his jeans hanging off his hips.

  “Coffee?” I ask, turning my back as I reach for another cup.

  I’m trying to be gracious when I really want to scream.

  “Fee…”

  “Black, right?”

  “Please look at me, babe.”

  I set the coffee pot back, steel myself, and turn around.

  I can handle this. I’m thirty-five, I can handle anything, and I don’t need anyone.

  The words run like a mantra through my head as I try to look him in the eye without flinching, bracing myself for what’s to come.

  Because despite the fact we are fresh out of the gate, are still getting to know each other, and this would be horrible timing, part of me hopes.

  When Kelsey was expecting Finn, I started hearing the occasional faint ticking of my own biological clock. Pregnancy was nowhere in my immediate plans, but if I turn out to be I’d consider it a welcome—albeit untimely—surprise, and nothing Tse may have to say is going to change that.

  “We’ll deal.”

  It takes me a second to process what he’s saying.

  “We’ll…what?”

  His hands land heavy on my shoulders.

  “Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.”

  “I’m not getting rid of it,” I snap, shaking my head.

  “Wouldn’t ask you to,” he responds instantly. “I’m not gonna lie though, never saw that in my future. But then again, it’s not the first time my life’s taken an unexpected turn.” He cups my face in his hands. “And so far I’m not complaining.” He brushes his thumbs under my eyes, clearing tears I wasn’t aware I was crying. “So, my beautiful Fee, whatever happens, we’ll deal. Yeah?”

  I nod, my voice stuck behind the lump in my throat.

  “Yeah,” I finally manage, sounding as raw as I feel.

  Tse

  I think I’m still in a state of shock.

  Christ.

  When you come with a background like mine, the possibility of becoming a parent is not exactly at the forefront of your mind. If anything, my kind of childhood is an automatic deterrent for procreation.

  I’m probably the least equipped for parenting. Oh, I’ve seen my brothers take to it like fish to water—most of them no younger than I am—but now the possibility exists, I just can’t see myself in that role.

  Still, I meant what I said to Sophia: we’ll deal. That’s one thing I do know, if she ends up pregnant, there is no way I will abandon her or our child. By God, I’ll do everything I can to be a better parent than the ones I had.

  “I think the truck is here,” Sophia calls from the sliding door.

  We got here a few hours ago. I ended up grabbing one of the club’s trucks—mine still has all my tools in the back—and easily hauled her stuff here in two loads. In addition to her things from the apartment, she also had some boxes stored in Sandra’s garage. Including a new bed, which we put together earlier.

  I left her to unpack her stuff and went outside to split some of the wood I saw stacked against the side of the house. It’s summer and not likely she’ll need the wood-burning stove this time of year, but I’m thinking there’s a good spot to build a nice firepit right off the deck.

  It’s a nice place, exposed beams, big windows, great views, new deck, but it’s missing a grill, which I’m planning to pick up tomorrow when she’s back at work.

  Instead of going through the house, I head around the side just as the large truck is backing down the driveway.

  Two guys climb down; the one with the clipboard coming straight for me while the other opens the swing doors.

  “Mr. Vieira?”

  I look over at Sophia, who folds her arms over her chest, and I can almost hear her foot tapping.

  “Not me. But Ms. Vieira is standing right there.”

  I point at Sophia, whose eyes are shooting darts by now, and the guy moves a little hesitantly in her direction. I have a hard time not laughing at his expense. The burly mover has the good sense to apologize right off the bat. Always a good idea.

  When it looks like they’ve made their peace and the guy with the clipboard—his name turns out to be Bert—joins his partner at the back of the truck, I walk up to Sophia.

  “Where do you want me?”

  “I thought as the stuff comes off the truck, I’d tell them where it goes, if you could point them in the right direction inside?”

  “Sure thing.”

  I start moving to the front door when she calls out.

  “Hey, Tse? Thanks.”

  “Any time, Fee.”

  It doesn’t take long for the guys to unload the truck before we’re alone again. This time with furniture and moving boxes all over the place. What takes a lot longer is arranging the furniture to Sophia’s liking. Not that she has a lot, but she’s apparently very particular about the placement. She says the room needs to have a good ‘flow,’ whatever that means.

  I swear I’ve lugged this massive couch all over the large open space until she finally decrees the first spot we had it in was best. The pattern is repeated for every piece of furniture I put my hands on, and by the time she’s settled on the right spot for the dining table, my muscles are burning. I need a break.

  “Beer?”

  I had the foresight to grab a few six-packs, while Sophia picked up some groceries, and I could really use one now.

  “I think I’ll have a water, please.”

  I grab both from the fridge and hand Sophia her bottle. Then I take her free hand and lead her to the sliding doors.

  “I was just gonna finish—”

  “Let’s take a break, we’ve been at it all day. Your bed is made, your food is in the fridge, there’s nothing that can’t wait for another day. Besides, we need to take in that beautiful view out there before the sun is completely gone.”

  “All right.”

  We sit down in the Adirondack chairs that came with the house.

  The first thing I notice is the fresh mountain air and the absolute quiet. No fumes from Brick’s shop, no noise from the busy clubhouse. Nothing but a fucking great mountain view and a sense of peace.

  Reaching for Sophia’s hand, I link my fingers with hers.

  “It’s so pretty,” she whispers.

  “It is.” I point at the spot off the deck. “I think that’s where the firepit should go. You could light a fire after the sun is down and the night chill sets in.”

  “Yeah, I’d like that.”

  She sounds a little melancholy and I glance over. Lifting her hand, I press a kiss to her knuckles.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  She shakes her head, keeping her eyes focused on the view.

  “Kelsey loved the mountains. She would’ve loved this house; she talked about raising Finn somewhere away from the city. I wish she…”

  Her voice trails off and I watch her swallow.

  “Hey.” I give her fingers a squeeze. “I’m sure she’d be happy to kn
ow Finn is loved and will have a chance to experience the kind of life she wanted for him, both with Brick and Lisa, and here with you.”

  “Yeah. I miss her, you know? So many times today I wished I could call her, talk to her, get her advice. A few times I even reached for my phone.”

  Pretty sure we’re talking about more than the new house now, and I get the need for a friend right now.

  “What about your sister?” I suggest carefully.

  “She’s busy with her family. I’ll talk to her tomorrow morning.”

  She yawns deeply, covering her mouth with her free hand.

  “Tired?”

  “A little,” she admits with a weak little smile.

  “Maybe I should—”

  Her fingers curl around mine, holding tight.

  “Please stay.”

  I lean over the armrest and curve my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her within kissing distance.

  “I meant to say; maybe I should run out and pick us up a pizza. I fully plan to stay the night.”

  Then I kiss her softly.

  What I don’t tell her is I’d already thrown a change of clothes in the truck when I picked it up at the clubhouse. I’d feel much better leaving her here alone if she had a dog. Actually, that’s a lie, I’d feel much better sleeping in her bed every night, but I recognize that may not always be possible—or welcome for that matter—so a dog will have to do.

  I have all of tomorrow morning to convince her.

  CHAPTER 13

  Sophia

  “I FUCKIN’ LOVE your new bed.”

  I roll over to find Tse awake, head resting in his hand, and his sleepy eyes on me.

  “Yeah?”

  The smile is automatic, despite spending the past ten minutes since I woke up worrying. Somehow one look at the sleep creases in his face, and the beard and hair going in every direction, blows the worries right out of my head.

  He’s been awesome. Yesterday I probably wasn’t the most fun person to be around, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell from the way he treated me.

  I don’t like the feeling of not having a handle on my life and frankly, yesterday morning I felt like the rug got pulled out from under me. My knee-jerk response to that was to behave like a dictator, keeping a tight hold on everything around me. The poor guy spent the whole afternoon moving furniture from one spot to the next until I deemed it perfect. To my surprise he didn’t complain once, although I’m sure it cost him.