“Now you’ll be cold,” I said looking at all of the patches from the club sewn onto his cut. The more I looked at them, the more I remembered what he was a part of.
Things had been a lot different since the last time I rode with Pike on his bike. Now he was all patched up and a member of the Brother’s Rebellion. For all I knew it would be dangerous to be out with him. Maybe his rivals were out and about just waiting for one of the Brother’s to drive by.
I was probably letting my imagination get carried away. It wasn’t like Pike would ever take me out and if he thought we were in any kind of danger.
“No worries,” he said as he handed me his helmet.
I took it from him and put it on my head. I didn’t even want to know what I looked like standing there blanketed in the large jacket wearing his black helmet. It was probably pretty comical, but Pike didn’t laugh.
“Ready?”
I nodded, and he swung his leg over the bike. He kicked the bike to a start and gestured for me to get on behind him.
Before I got on, I looked around as though I could almost see my mom chasing after me begging me not to go. It wouldn’t have been the first time something like that happened. But there wasn’t anyone around. It was just me, Pike and the encapsulating darkness.
We drove around for a long time, probably for at least an hour, before he headed back towards the park. It had felt good to be on the back of his bike again.
There was a rumble of an engine behind us and I recognized the sound. It was the sound of another motorcycle.
Pike put his blinker on and turned down the main drag. I tried to look over my shoulder, but I couldn’t tell who was following us.
Something didn’t feel right and even though I was in Pike’s warm leather jacket I shivered.
Chapter 7
Since Pike didn’t stop to talk to whoever was behind us, I was pretty sure he didn’t know who it was either. He was going down the main road intentionally because there would be more people around.
Pike slowed the bike and pulled up to the curb in front of a restaurant. He put his feet down but kept the engine running.
“Everything OK?” I asked feeling nervous.
“I think so,” he said, and the motorcycle revved as it went past us. I couldn’t make out the patch but I’d seen enough to know that it wasn’t the same as the Brother’s Rebellion patch.
“Are you sure?” I said squinting at the biker as he turned a corner and disappeared from view.
“I’m going to make a phone call,” he said and cut the engine. He pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number.
There was a pause before I heard someone answer on the other end, “What? Jesus Christ Pike, it’s late.”
“Sorry. They’re in town.” Pike turned his head to the side. I didn’t know if he was trying to block me from hearing the conversation or from someone that might happen to pass by.
“You sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Can you take care of it?” the voice on the other end sounded grouchy.
“Can’t. That’s why I’m calling. On a… date.”
“The fuck you are!” the man on the other end said it as though he was both proud and that he couldn’t believe it.
“Get someone on it,” Pike said sounding more like he was asking rather than telling.
“Where were they at?”
Pike gave whoever was on the other end directions and where he suspected the rider was going before he tapped the phone to end the call. He tucked the phone back inside his shirt pocket and shifted the bike ready to kick it back to life.
“It didn’t sound like we’re OK,” I said tempted to ask him to take me home.
“We’re fine. Not going to let anything happen to you,” he said and started the bike. He drove us back to the park and pulled into a parking spot.
I climbed off the bike and my legs felt a little wobbly. My thigh muscles were a little sore and they felt as though they were still vibrating. I loved it.
I handed him his helmet. When I started to take off his jacket he put up his palm, “Wait… walk?”
“I’m not sure with….”
“It’s fine. I promise.” He crossed his finger over his heart and smiled at me wearing the sexiest smile I’d ever seen.
“Sure… fine, OK,” I said gazing into his practically glowing eyes. He had the best eyes. They were like magnets drawing me in and it always felt as though he was looking at the real me. Seeing me in a way no one else ever would be able to.
He put his hand lightly on my shoulder and guided me towards the dimly lit trail. Even though there were some lights on the path most people avoided at night, but not Pike. He wasn’t afraid. And I couldn’t decide just how worried I should be.
It wasn’t like the Brother’s rival club would just happen to be hanging out in the park waiting for one of them to show up. And even if they did Pike would be prepared. I hated to think about it, but he was probably armed. I doubted I really had anything to worry about.
Pike asked about my job and about my life as we walked down the trail. He laughed and smiled as I talked, but whenever I would ask him a question about his life, he would give me a short answer. As soon as he could he’d turn the conversation back to me. I didn’t know if he just didn’t want to talk about himself, or if he was really that interested in what my life was like.
It felt really good to be with him again. Like really good. I didn’t even want to go back to the house. There was a part of me that wished Pike and I could jump on his bike and just drive away from this place forever. We could be happy if we left behind all the things that had kept us apart.
“Everything alright?” he asked when I stopped talking and stared down the path.
“Yeah, I’m fine… you?”
“Yeah, of course,” he said rubbing his chest as if he was looking for something. Probably just his pack of smokes. “Couldn’t be better.”
“Really?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a big smile. “I guess it could. But I like being with you.”
I smiled back, “But things could always be better couldn’t they?”
He shrugged.
We walked in silence, our arms lightly brushing against one another as we made our way further down the path. I wasn’t sure if he could feel the same electricity that I felt each time we touched, but to me it was so strong and I remembered it so well.
So well, it made me nervous.
“I should get going,” I blurted almost too loudly. But I didn’t really want to go. I wanted to stay, it was just that I knew I shouldn’t.
Everything I was feeling was building, and it was too much. Maybe it was because of the emotional day I had or maybe it was just seeing him again after all this time. All I knew was that I should go. Get out of here while I still could.
“What? No. Not so soon… don’t go yet,” Pike said putting his hands on my arms to hold me in place. He looked into my eyes and my body softened so much I was sure he could feel the change. I felt like a rag doll that he could control just by looking at me with those eyes. “It’s still early.”
“I’ve had a long day,” I said which was true, but I was afraid to stay. Afraid of what might happen if I didn’t leave.
Pike slid his hands up and down my arms. He looked at me with those eyes and there wasn’t anything I could do in that moment to make myself walk away from him.
“I’ve missed you,” he said softly and then coughed as though he was trying to cover it up.
“Me too, but you know how it is,” I said, and he looked down at his feet.
“Just give me twenty more minutes,” he said shifting his eyes so they met mine. I nodded and bit my lip.
His hand glided up over my shoulder and he slid it lightly around the back of my neck. His fingers felt cool against my warm skin. I blinked, and it felt as though it had lasted for minutes.
“Jamie, I-ah” he started, but he slowly moved closer to me. I sh
ould have stepped away but I couldn’t move. There wasn’t a single thing I could do other than look up at him while my heart raced at what I knew he was about to do.
Pike leaned down and lightly pressed his lips against mine. I squeezed my eyes shut as though the kiss was almost too painful, but honestly, it was ungodly pleasurable. For a split second, as a light breeze danced across my cheeks, everything made sense.
I inhaled his masculine scent. I didn’t know if it was aftershave, cologne or soap, but it was intoxicating. Even more so than the vodka my brother had in his flask. My legs felt weak.
“The things you do to me,” he said softly into my ear. A chill ran up and down my spine as his words sunk in. I couldn’t speak, even though I wanted to tell him he made me feel the same. “After all this time….”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against his hard body. His lips found mine again, this time with more passion, more desire… more need. He wasn’t holding back.
I pushed my body into his as I let out a soft breath. It felt wrong, but at the same time it couldn’t have been more right.
My fingertips moved down the silky leather of his cut all the way down to the hem of his shirt. I slid my hand under the thick fabric and I closed my eyes as I ran my hand across his smooth skin absorbing his warmth into my palm. I could feel every groove created by his muscles from his abs right up to his hard chest.
Pike let out a husky moan and cupped my breast with his large hard. He caressed me softly and gently as though he felt apprehensive… maybe he was afraid I might disappear.
I couldn’t do it… I wanted to do it. But if I let this go any further, I knew I wouldn’t be able to back away from him. It was the right thing to do for both of us. I had to stop things before it was too late and we went spiraling down a path that would lead to a heartbreaking dead-end. Again.
I put my hand on top of his and carefully stepped away from him. When I looked up at him, I could tell he knew what I was going to say.
His voice was soft, and sad, “Jamie… don’t.”
Chapter 8
I pushed my face into my hands and quickly composed myself. When I looked at him and the words didn’t come out, he nodded. It was as though he could hear what my brain was screaming at us.
“OK… but can I see you again? Before you leave,” he said, and he looked right into my eyes as if he was aware of the power they had over me.
“Yes,” I said breathlessly before I could even think better of it. I wanted to spend time with him. I loved spending time with him and it would be far better than sitting in my parents’ house all day and all night. “We can, but we can’t do this,” I said pointing at the space between us.
“I know… I think it was just, well, you know. It’s you,” he said with a sexy grin. “I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
If he promised it, he’d do it. That was one thing I knew about Pike… he would keep his word. The only way he’d do anything, was if I did something first.
“Movie? Meet me at seven?”
“Sounds like a date… I mean, a plan.”
“Can I drive you home?” he said with a grin.
“You’re so very funny.”
His smile stayed, but something about it changed slightly, “I would do it if you asked me to.”
My knees felt weak. The way he looked at me was almost too overwhelming. It made my heart start to pound all over again. And all with such a simple look.
“I really should go… I’ll be fine,” I said taking several small steps away from him. I took a quick breath and waved before spinning on the toe of my shoe to walk away from him.
“Jamie! Wait,” he said, his deep voice cutting through the brisk night air.
My heart jumped into my throat, “Yes?”
“My jacket… might give away where you’ve been the second you walk into your house,” he said, the smile showing in his eyes. He held out his hand and waited for me to bring him the jacket.
“Oh, ha!” I said slipping out of the large coat. I handed it to him and no longer smelled the masculine scent. He shrugged into his jacket as I wrapped my arms around my body, “Good night.”
“Night.”
I turned around and walked away waiting for him to start his bike. But he didn’t. I imagined him standing there watching me as I left. It wouldn’t surprise me if the second I rounded the corner he’d start his bike and pull up to the stop sign to make sure I made it home safely.
Right as I stepped off of grass and onto the sidewalk that would lead to my road, he shouted, “Tomorrow.”
I glanced back so I could wave at him. He was leaning against his bike puffing on a cigarette. After ten more steps, he started his bike, and I knew I had been right. He was going to make sure I made it home safely. I had to hope it didn’t have anything to do with that biker we’d seen earlier and he was just being as much of a gentleman as he could be.
It seemed kind of funny that someone who was part of one of the biggest crime operations in the city was worried about something happening to me. If I was supposed to be afraid of him, I wasn’t. He was supposed to be out there causing trouble rather than sitting there watching to make sure I made it home safely. He was the one that had been to prison, but it wasn’t him that anyone should be afraid of.
It did make me wonder who was roaming out and about Greenwood Pass that I needed to worry about. He was probably just worried about the rival MC but it wasn’t like they’d be in my neighborhood anyway.
I walked faster. Not because I was afraid of potential criminals, but because I was cold. It wasn’t like I needed to worry about the bad guys because Pike was somewhere in the shadows making sure I would be safe, even though I didn’t live that far from the park.
When I saw my house come into view, I noticed there were still a few cars outside. I didn’t want to deal with questions about where I’d been so I went around the side of the house to sneak back into my window. Hopefully I could still manage to climb my way up the tree.
I hated that I felt as though I had to sneak back into my parents’ house. Maybe it was a self-imposed feeling but I couldn’t shake it. If only I felt as though I could just walk inside and go to my room, but I knew if anyone saw me, I’d be bombarded with all kinds of questions. Question I didn’t want to answer from people I didn’t want to deal with. Sneaking back inside was just easier.
“And where have you been young lady?” Jake said in a high pitched voice. It was a pathetic attempt at trying to sound like our mother.
“Shut up Jake,” I said peering into the darkness to find him. “Where are you?”
“Over here,” he said, and I saw his hand shoot up from the patio lounge chair.
“What are you doing out here? It’s cold.”
“Having some much needed alone time,” he said holding up a bottle of beer.
“Was it that bad?”
“This is bottle number five.”
“Sorry,” I said smiling, but I knew he couldn’t see it.
“Well, if I would have been smarter, I would have snuck out too,” he laughed and finished off the bottle of beer he was holding. He set it down and it clink-clanked against the other bottles he’d already finished. “I’m kind of embarrassed I hadn’t thought of it first. She only asked where you were like thirty-seven times.”
“Oh shit, sorry. What did you tell her?” I asked crossing my arms rubbing them in an attempt to try to warm up. It had gotten so cold I had to clench my teeth to stop them from chattering.
“That you went to lay down. Aw, shit man, you owe me one,” he laughed, but I was pretty sure he wouldn’t hold me to it. If he would even remember any of this conversation in the morning.
I took several steps towards him and saw that he was wrapped up in several blankets. It almost looked as though he was planning on camping out. He must have been outside for quite a while. “You should go inside.”
“Nah, I’m good, kind sister. I appreciate your concern,” he said
and when he turned to look for me in the darkness, he almost fell off of his chair. He laughed, “Fuck, send me done, I’m home.”
“Seriously, go inside. You’ll get hypothermia,” I said but snapped my mouth shut when I saw a shadow on the patio created by someone standing in front of the sliding-glass back door.
The back door slid open, “Who are you talking to out here?” My mom’s voice sliced like a sharp blade through the cold air. It looked as though her head was wildly swinging from side to side as though she was looking for someone.
I took several steps closer to the house and moved behind the tree. My brother started loudly singing the National Anthem, and I had to try not to laugh as I silently started to climb up the tree.
I carefully moved across the top branch and pushed my window up as quietly as I could manage. I glanced down towards them but I couldn’t see them, which hopefully meant they couldn’t see me either.
“Oh Dear Jesus in heaven. Jacob, we aren’t going to go through all of this again are we? Do we have a problem here?” she asked, and I felt bad but I climbed into my room and closed the window behind me.
I hurried to get ready for bed. A small part of me was worried she’d come to check on me next, just like she would have when we were younger. If one of us was in trouble, somehow we’d both end up in trouble.
I laid down in bed and waited for the floor outside my door to creak under her footsteps, but it didn’t happen. Jake would be fine. Hell, he was probably over doing it just so I could sneak back into the house. He used to do things like that. Five bottles of beer wasn’t much for Jake, and if it hadn’t been for the vodka, I would have thought it was all just an act.
It had been quiet for a long time. Too long. I would have thought Jake would have walked by to his room by now. I forced myself to stop thinking about what my mom might be saying to him.
My mind was clear for three seconds before my thoughts shifted to Pike. At first I tried to fight them off, but it was too difficult.
Revenge - A Second Chance, First Time Romance Page 20