I watched TV while I ate a bagel and tried to figure out what the hell to do about winning her back. In the end I decided maybe I could go to the library and get a book to read. Maybe she could recommend something. Okay so it was a lame ass, high school kind of approach, but what the hell else could I do? Give up?
An hour later I pushed through the door of the library and scanned the place looking for the brown haired beauty. She was helping some old guy in the history section and I watched from afar until she was free. Today she wore a navy blue fitted dress with short sleeves. It hugged her curves but not in an obvious way. The neck line showed no cleavage whatsoever. But then again she was working in a library. Her chocolate brown waves were loose today and she wore glasses. And my god if they didn't make her even hotter.
Finally, the old timer had what he needed and she walked back behind the counter so I took a deep breath and began to walk toward her when another guy appeared in my line of sight.
Fuck a fucking fucker!
I dodged behind a shelf where I had a clear view of them both and realized she'd had a very good point way back about my stalker tendencies. Pushing the thought aside, I continued my stake out.
“Hi, Chloe? I don't know if you remember me from last night? I'm—”
“Zak, yeah, hi.” Her cheeks colored beet red and she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I do remember you. Gosh I must have looked such an idiot last night. I don't normally drink so much and to be honest it won't be happening again any time soon. I'm suffering today.” She laughed and raised her hand to her head.
“Nah, you looked cute. In fact, you've kind of answered my question. I...I was going to ask if I could take you for a drink after work, but I'm guessing the answer is no, huh?”
Her beautiful chocolate eyes widened and she hesitated. Say no. Say fucking no. My telepathy skills were clearly as good as my apologizing skills because she eventually replied, “Oh wow...well...I could go for coffee.” Shit.
His whole demeanor changed and she'd obviously made the dick’s day.
“Really? Great. Okay so I'll meet you after work and we can...we can go to Hank's maybe?”
She nodded. “Sounds great. I get off at five.”
He nodded eagerly like an excited puppy but unlike a puppy I could've happily sucker-punched the dude.
“Okay, five it is. Bye, Chloe.”
“Bye, Zak.” She lifted her hand to wave as he walked away.
Okay, so he wasn't her boyfriend. That means she had lied to me. She wouldn't be going on a date if she had a boyfriend. Now I was pissed.
I discreetly left the building without her seeing me and went back to the bike. The douche was walking toward the end of town and I was in two minds whether to follow him. I wanted to be suspicious of him. To have some reason to warn her off him but I had nothing. He was one of those decent kind of guys that moms love. Any shred of hope I had left was fraying rapidly.
When I got back to my apartment I pulled on my leathers and grabbed my helmet. I needed to go for a ride. It was the best way for me to clear my mind and focus. Once the bike was fired up and my helmet was fastened, I set off toward Rockport State Park. It was a fairly long ride but it was early and I had all day to kill. I planned on sitting on a rock and listening to my iPod for a few hours surrounded by some of the best mountainous vistas the state had to offer.
At around four-thirty in the afternoon I was on my way back home. I was riding into town and I spotted the guy who was taking Chloe for coffee. He had his back to me but I recognized the clothes he'd been wearing earlier that day. As I passed I could see him gesturing wildly at someone but I couldn't see who. He seemed kinda pissed but I couldn't hear what was going on over the roar of my bike's engine. I resolved to keep an eye on him regardless of how clean cut he appeared. Something in the back of my mind niggled at me, telling me I was just jealous and even though I knew that to be true I ignored the voice and carried on toward home.
I pushed through the doors of Hank's coffee shop at a quarter-after-five and sure enough there was Chloe with her clean cut new friend. She was still in her work clothes but she was smiling across at him where he had his back to me. I had to quell the unreasonable urge to walk over and smash his face into the table.
Okay so I may have been just a tad jealous.
I ordered a flat white coffee and sat at a table by the door where I could watch them and after only a few minutes she glanced over and spotted me. The smile fell from her face and she suddenly excused herself from her companion and made her way to the back in the direction of the rest rooms. And yes, like the dumb-ass I was becoming—or already was—I followed.
When I pushed through the door into the back corridor she was standing there, arms folded glaring at me. “I knew you'd follow me. Old habits die hard, huh, Mister Stalkerson?” There wasn't a shred of humor to her rhetorical question in spite of the comical nickname. “Why can't you just leave me alone?”
I stepped toward her and she backed up against the wall. I trapped her in the cage of my arms. “I think you know the answer.”
She growled at me. “You are so frustrating. One minute you want to protect me and the next you send me away. Then you show up at my work and act like you've missed me. Then you make some crass comment about fucking other women. Then you show up at my work and hide. I mean come on, you're six-four, you dumb fucking idiot. How could I not see you? And how could you think you'd suddenly become invisible? You're driving me nuts. I can't keep up with you, Six. And I don't want to. Not anymore. Please just leave. Me. Alone.”
I stepped closer still, rested my forehead on hers and watched her chest as it rose and fell rapidly and her nipples stood to attention.
Her familiar scent infiltrated my brain and I inhaled deeply pulling it all the way in and memorizing it for later. “Stop cussing at me, Chloe. You know I hate that. And I just wanna talk to you. That's all,” I whispered in her ear and watched as the skin of her neck flushed and prickled. It was a relief to see I still affected her.
She sighed and her hot breath tickled my neck. “No... you just want what you can't have, Six. It's an age old problem.” Her voice had fallen to a defeated whisper and I guessed she too had suffered this fate.
I stared at her mouth as she spoke and my cock hardened. It had been far too long since I'd felt her body envelop mine. Without thinking I slipped my hand into her hair and crushed my mouth to hers. My other hand slid slowly down her body to her tit and I squeezed at her erect nipple through the fabric of her dress. I was overstepping the mark and I knew it, but she didn't stop me. I pushed open the ladies bathroom door and pulled her inside, locking it behind us.
“Six, what are you doing? I can't do this. Zak is out there waiting for me and you don't want me. You're just jealous. And...and I...I don't want you.” From the weakness in her voice I knew she was trying to convince herself of that and it spurred me on.
I pushed her up against the full length mirror just inside the door and hovered my mouth by her ear again. “If you don't want me then make me stop. One word. That's all it'll take. Go ahead and say it.”
I moved my mouth to hers and waited for her to answer me. To reject me. When she didn't I crushed my lips to hers once more, desperate to taste her again and her arms came around my neck where she gripped and tugged hard at my hair. I let my hand travel further down her body until I found the hem of her dress. Our tongues collided and fought for power over each other as my fingers trailed up the soft skin of her inner thigh. Cupping her pussy, I groaned into her mouth when I found her panties were already damp. I pushed aside the thin sliver of fabric so that I could slide two fingers into her tight body. Her sharp intake of breath pulled my attention back to her eyes as they locked on mine.
My thumb found her clit and I began to rub as her pussy tightened around my fingers. As I dragged my thumb over and over her tightened flesh, I thrust my fingers in and out of her wetness with increasing speed and her breathing accelerated.
“Un
h...unh...Six...Six I'm gonna come...”
“I want you to come, baby. I want you to remember what it's like between us. I want you to know that no man can fuck you like I can. No man can make you feel like I make you feel. Come for me, Chloe. Imagine my cock inside you right now. I'm fucking you hard, baby. Just how you like it.”
She began to cry out and I covered her mouth to stifle the noise as her muscles spasmed around my fingers. I pressed my cock into her hip trying to get some relief for myself but it was nothing compared to being inside her. Watching her fight to keep her eyes on me as her orgasm ripped through her body in strong waves that squeezed at my fingers, I was ready to blow my fucking load.
But as if realization had just hit her like a lightning bolt she shoved me hard in the chest and I staggered backward. “What the hell, Chloe?”
“You can't do this, Six. You can't mess with me like this. It's not fair. You're playing with my feelings and that just makes you a callous bastard. Don't do it again. Just leave me alone. Please.” She adjusted her clothing as she hissed at me and before I could say a word she unlocked the door and almost ran out of there.
I slammed my fist into the wall. “Fuck!” Lurching for the door I began to call out, “Chl—” But I stopped the word before it left my mouth and instead slid down the wall until my ass hit the floor.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chloe
After the crazy encounter in the bathroom I returned to the table to find Zak sitting there on his cell phone.
He glanced up and sighed. “Oh there you are. I was beginning to worry that you were sick.”
He had given me the perfect get out. “Actually, I'm not feeling too great. I...I think I'm coming down with something. Would you mind if I took a raincheck on this evening?”
He stood and frowned as he reached out to squeeze my arm. “Sure, sure. No problem at all, Chloe. Can I walk you home? Make sure you get there okay?”
“No, no it's fine really. The fresh air will do me good, and besides I don't think I'd be very good company right now. I'm so sorry. I think it may be the start of a migraine.”
“Ah, yeah they can be nasty. You go home and rest. I'll text you tomorrow. Take care, okay?” He leaned toward me and kissed my cheek just as Six walked past us. You've heard the saying 'If looks could kill' right? Well let's just say if they could, Zak would have dropped dead on the spot.
We had exchanged numbers when I had first arrived to meet him and I wondered if he would throw mine away after this poor excuse for a date. The poor guy must have thought I was a flake. And I could easily have agreed with him after what I'd allowed to happen in the bathroom. What the hell was wrong with me? How many times was I going to let my attraction to Six overpower me like that?
Once I was home, and the door to my apartment was locked, I changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt, deciding I was going to ignore the phone and read. I needed to escape into someone else's love life and forget my own...or lack thereof.
My cell pinged and I checked the screen. Ellie.
You coming out again tonight or is your head sore? ;-)
E x
There was no way I was going out again. I needed to stay in and stay away from people. All people. Especially those who were members of a certain MC.
I hit reply,
Sorry, El, head sore. Night from Hades :-/ Early night for me :-)
C x
She replied with a sad face icon and the usual 'You know where I am if you need me' stuff. I didn't answer but turned the cell off before throwing it onto the couch and grabbing my romance novel from the side table.
I was restless the whole night. First it was nightmares of blood soaked, dead bodies with blank staring eyes but then...and only slightly better...it was dreams of familiar, sensual fingers touching me in my most intimate places, a deep husky voice whispering dirty words in my ear as a beard scratched at my skin and my nails dragging down a toned, tattooed chest. These conjured scenarios alternately plagued me all night long. I awoke to an intense orgasm at one point during an amazing dream involving the latter and had to go get a drink of water to try and calm my breathing. Great. He even stalks me in my frickin' dreams.
But even after a night of broken sleep I awoke the next morning feeling a little better until I remembered the bathroom incident at Hank's. And as I showered, the torturous images of his eyes boring into me as his fingers penetrated my body played over and over in my mind and I couldn't seem to switch them off.
When I was out and dried off, I checked my phone and was heartened to see that Zak had messaged to wish me well. Hopefully my drinking and complaint of a migraine—which he will have translated as hangover—hadn't put him off me.
He was the kind of guy I needed.
Not Six.
Work was a little quiet and I was happy for the fact. No one liked working Saturdays and it was something I had hoped I'd left behind at The Fox Hub, but sadly people liked to borrow books on weekends too. I spotted Six driving past the library in the direction of the MC. He cast a glance my way as he passed, and a twinge of regret niggled at me. But was it regret at what had happened or regret that it wouldn't likely happen again? Who knew. If I couldn't even figure myself out there was no hope for anyone else.
Deciding that work would actually be a great distraction from my chaotic mind, I began filing some cards away and was lost in concentration when someone cleared their throat and I looked up.
I was greeted by strangely familiar eyes but the rest of the man's appearance was completely unfamiliar. “Oh, hi, sir. Can I help you?”
He looked a little lost and a line appeared between his eyebrows which confirmed my thought. “Hi, okay, so I need to look at some old newspapers. Do you have those?”
I nodded as my brain tried desperately to place where I knew him from. “Um… sure. We have microfiche if that’s any good? We haven’t moved with the times, really. It’s the best I can do.” I cringed.
Something about his demeanor made me nervous and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. He smiled and his face changed completely. He was handsome in an unkempt kind of way. A little like a certain biker I knew.
He nodded. “Okay. Can you show me how to look through it? I haven’t used it before.”
I smiled in return and came from behind the counter. “Absolutely. Follow me.”
I left the guy to go through the microfiche and went about my work once again. I was sitting there until five thirty waiting for him to finish but he was still engrossed in whatever he was looking for. I didn't want to bother him but I had no choice. I had to close.
Once I had apologized for having to ask him to leave, I was still racking my brain trying to think why he seemed so familiar. But my brain just wasn't helping. When I asked him if he was from the area he seemed reluctant to tell me and a shiver down my spine told me it was maybe best if I dropped the matter. The most I managed to glean was that his name was Cameron and he was originally from around the area, but hadn't been around for a long while.
Something felt strange, however, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Six
My heart hammered in my chest as I rode at speed to get to the MC to tell Colt what had happened. I was so fucking relieved that the rumors about Cain being dead were wrong but even so, the fact he couldn't remember the shit that had happened made me feel so damn guilty.
I was so intent on getting to Colt before Loki's Legion got to Cain that I only cast a brief glance in the direction of the library. I knew Chloe would be in there but I had to make sure that my best buddy was safe now that he was back. I was pretty damn sure that Loki's Legion would want to stir the shit pot again if they found out he was still alive and back in town. Especially seeing as we'd perpetuated the rumors about him and Rosa being dead to hide what had really happened.
Colt was sitting at the bar with paperwork strewn all around him. Delilah was cussing about the mess he was making and he was chuckling to himself as she chuntered. They both
glanced up as I rushed over to them.
“Who the fuck rattled your cage, Six? You look like you've seen a ghost.” Colt laughed. I was struggling to get used to seeing the guy smiling. But it had been happening more often lately.
“Yeah well that's maybe 'coz I think I have.”
The smile dropped from his face and he stood. He stepped up to me and in a low voice said, “Are you getting at what I think you're getting at?”
I let my eyes flick toward Dee who stood there clutching a bar towel to her chest. Her eyes were wide and she chewed nervously on her lip. Fuck. Maybe I could've handled this thing with a little more subtlety. Especially where Delilah's concerned.
“Well?” Colt urged.
“Maybe we should head on up to chapel, Prez.”
Without saying another word, he turned and headed for the stairs. I turned to face Delilah who opened her mouth the speak but I held up my hand. “Don't, Dee. Okay? Not now. I can't talk to you right now.”
“But...just tell me he's okay. Is he? Come on, Six. Just let me have that much.”
I reluctantly nodded and headed off to follow Colt. As I glanced back over my shoulder my heart squeezed. Delilah was leaning on the bar, head down, shoulders shuddering.
Poor bitch. Unrequited love is the worst fucking kind.
I'd rather have none at all.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Six
After meeting with Colt it was decided that it would be best to get Cain back under the protection of the club temporarily. But we both knew he couldn't stay. Knowing I'd no doubt have to lose my best buddy all over again didn't sit well with me. But I did know it was going to be for the best.
The following day I arrived at Hank's coffee shop to find Cain sitting there twisting a full mug around in his hands. I made my way over to him and he stood. I have to say I was filled with relief that he hadn't bolted in all the fucking confusion.
Six: Company of Sinners MC #2 Page 16