by Simone Elise
“You both aren’t welcome here.” She made a point to glance over Kim’s shoulder at me. “And as for you, stay away from my brother.”
“I don’t even know your brother,” I snarled back.
“I saw you with Sebastian, and I don’t know what your game is, but I’m telling you now, stay away from him.”
Sebastian was related to this thing.
“Fine, I’ll stay away from him. Now get the fuck out of our way.”
Kim let go of my arm only when they stepped out of our way.
“You should really just turn around and head to the office. I’ve heard un-enrolling is a lengthy process,” she said as we walked past her.
She wasn’t worth a word back, so I just pinched my lips together and gripped my textbooks that bit harder.
We were nearly at our lecture hall when Kim thought it was safe to speak.
“That was interesting.” She dropped her coffee cup in the bin. “Have you ever seen her before?”
“No, and it wasn’t interesting.” It was just another thing to make this day that bit suckier.
“I’m going to find out who she is.” When Kim put her mind to something, she wouldn’t stop till she got answers. So I had no doubts that she would indeed rip apart anything and everything till she got her answers.
I was about to enter the lecture hall when she started to walk off.
“What, aren’t you even coming in?” I asked.
She spun on her heels, grinning. “Nope. Got better things to do now.”
“Whatever,” I murmured. This was just like her. Sign us up for the university, slack off, and lose interest.
I wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. It was barely after ten in the morning, and I already felt drained as fuck.
***
I let out a steady and relieved sigh as I stepped into the clubhouse. For the first time all day, I felt the stress lift.
Finally home.
“Abby, your old man is looking for you,” Brad said when I walked past the bar.
I stiffened immediately and stared wide-eyed at Brad.
“Was he angry? Did his head look like it about to explode?” I asked in a rush. Had Reaper already gone to Dad about us?
I begged Reaper last night to wait a few weeks, let me at least warm Dad up to me having a boyfriend. But this was Kade; he did shit when he felt like it, not when others wanted him to.
Brad frowned. “No. He looked normal.”
I let out long breaths of air. Maybe he hadn’t gone to Dad yet.
“Where is he?” I asked.
“He’s in the garage with Reaper.”
My stomach sank, twisted, and then was filled with pins and needles.
“Thanks.” I turned on my heels and headed for the garage.
This was either going to go really well or really terrible,
I strode across the car park quickly, but I didn’t take a steady breath till I heard laughter coming from the garage. I opened the door and relaxed when I saw Dad and Reaper laughing and working on a motorbike just like normal.
“Hey, Dad.” I stepped over the tools and made my way towards them.
My eyes met Reaper’s for a moment, and I wanted to grin like an idiot when I saw a softness fill his eyes when they locked with mine.
“You feeling alright, little one?” Dad placed his can of beer and spanner down. “Heard you had a bad morning.”
“Who told you that?”
“Cameron told me you were kicking your car and cursing about a hair straightener or something.”
Oh, that.
“Just a bad morning.” I smiled guiltily. Fine, so sometimes I overreact.
Dad’s phone started ringing, and he glanced at the screen. “I’ve got to take this, but I’ll be back in a minute.” He answered the phone and walked off in the direction of the door.
Wasn’t till it closed firmly that I walked closer to Reaper.
He tucked the stray hair behind my ear and saw the mark on my forehead.
“You alright?” His voice was soft and kind, everything that his personality shouldn’t be and what others thought he was incapable of being.
“Just had a shit day.” I linked my arms around his waist and rested my head against his leather vest. “Then this chick all up in my face this morning just topped it off.”
“What chick?” His voice spiked with interest, and he peeled me back from him to look down at me. “Something happen?”
“Just university bullshit. Some girl has taken a disliking to Kim and me.”
“Why?”
“Guessing cause of the club.” I shrugged my shoulders, “That, or she doesn’t like anyone getting close to her brother.”
“Why would you be near her brother?”
“The other night when I was all dressed up, and I found you in the kitchen and yeah well, I was heading out to meet him.”
“So you were dating him?”
“No. I was going out on a date with him.” I let go of him, feeling his rage beginning to boil. “And before you go off and make a big deal about it. It didn’t happen and was going to mean nothing. Just something to fill my evening.”
His jaw was still clenched, and he was just staring blankly down at me.
I sighed. “Kade, I spent the night on top of you, literally. Would you just not make a big deal out of nothing?”
I watched as he calmed himself down. It was when the door opened that we jumped apart. Now I was furious that we had wasted those few moments we had alone.
“Want to go out for tea, little one? Kim’s willing to if you’re coming.”
“Is it just us three or everyone?” I crossed my arms, not feeling in the mood for an outing.
“A few of the others might join us.”
That was Dad saying it was an open invitation and others were coming.
“I’ll go,” I glanced over at Reaper, “if Reaper goes.”
Dad’s eyes narrowed slightly and bounced between us.
“Why does it matter if he comes or not?” Dad pressed for an explanation.
“Because he owes me a beer, and not a beer that I’ve poured.”
Dad accepted that and nodded his head, “Well Reaper, you coming?”
I swear I felt his glare for a moment. He didn’t like going out in groups. I didn’t know why but if he came, that meant my evening might turn out better than what my day was.
Reaper grunted a yes, and I didn’t hide my grin this time. I didn’t even care that Dad gave us an odd look.
***
It turned out that Dad had booked the restaurant. Which worked out in my favor because no one noticed that Reaper and I snuck away. I twisted the lock on the disabled toilet, finally giving us privacy.
“You know you could have just said no to going out for tea and we wouldn't have to be forced to make out in a fucking toilet,” he complained.
“Who said anything about making out?” I arched my eyebrows at him. “In fact, I think we left things with you being mad at me.”
He scoffed.
“Anyway, this is all part of my plan.” I brought it back to point.
“That being?” He crossed his arms, not hiding his disgust of having to be in here.
“If Dad starts to notice that I feel safe around you and that I want to be around you, it will make it easier when you go to tell him about us.”
“Abby, I’m gonna get a punching anyway, so no point having fucking plans and crap.”
I crossed my arms stubbornly. “You know, I’m starting to think you just want to get a punching from Dad.”
He stepped forward, pinning me against the wall.
“And I’m starting to think that you’re missing the point of us being alone.” His hands landed on my hips. “So sweetheart, want to continue plotting or,” he kissed my neck, “do you want to make the time we have worthwhile?”
My plans melted instantly as his hot lips slowly went up my neck. But it was me who stole his lips as soon as they were free
. Kissing him like I always kissed him—hard and passionately.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me up with ease. His lips left mine and he kissed me down my neck, over my collarbone.
I was gasping from his touch.
“Kade?’ I managed to say something as his hands roamed my body.
“Mm.”
“We have to get back.”
As much as I would love to stay in this very position, with Kade exploring my body, I knew we would be missed.
He groaned and slowly lowered me to the floor.
“It’s killing me not being able to touch you. To have to watch you sit next to other men.” He leaned his forehead against mine and looked like a man in pain. “I want you on me. Sitting on my lap. Eating off my plate. Which reminds me, you aren’t eating.”
“I am eating!” I ordered food.
“You are fading away.”
“I am not.”
“Abby, don’t force me to make you eat.”
I rolled my eyes. Maybe I hadn’t been eating as much as I should be, but it wasn’t like I was starving.
“Fine, I’ll make sure to eat more tonight.” I said, hoping that would settle it.
He nodded his head, “Let’s go.” He let go of me but took my hand.
Holding hands, we walked down the passage. Then just before we walked out into the restaurant, he pulled my hand up to his lips and kissed it before letting go.
I missed his touch immediately. I frowned at the ground as we walked back to the table.
“Reaper, got your beer, bro,” Brad said. He was sitting next to Reaper’s empty chair at the top of the table.
I walked around and sat directly across from him and Brad. Dad was at the top of the table like normal, Kim was on his right, followed by me and Cameron and the rest of the table.
I noticed my food had come but I wasn’t interested in it. My mind was on Reaper and all the things we could be doing instead of playing nice with the club.
“How’s your steak, Abby?”
I looked up. Had I heard him correctly? He was actually speaking to me, in public. In front of dad. My eyes were locked on Reaper as he waited for my answer. He was sipping on his beer, like he had all the time in the world to wait for my reply.
He was going to make me eat.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I picked up my knife and fork and cut into it. “It’s overdone.” I said and then put my knife and fork down.
“Send it back.”
Was he serious?
“It’s fine, I’m not hungry.” I gritted my teeth and gave him a pointed look to drop it.
“I’ll send it back for you.” Reaper went to get up.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll eat it!” I didn’t want to make a big deal out of this. I just wasn’t hungry. But knowing he was watching me and also Dad was now, I cut off a piece and put it in my mouth.
Wasn’t till the juices filled my mouth that I realized I was actually starving.
God this was good.
Why had I stopped eating meat?
I was chewing on a bit of steak when I caught the smile on Reaper’s face. Yeah, maybe he was right. This once.
Chapter 54
Abby
They say that couples balance each other out, like yin and yang. That the bad things one does is balanced out with the kind things the other one does. If this is the case, Reaper and I were screwed.
“Kim, how do you know this is even her car?” I hissed down at her, while Kim did artwork on a black sedan that she swore was the brunette’s.
The last thing I needed was a rant off Dad about this.
“I’m done.” Kim stood up proudly, ending my watch. I glanced at the poorly drawn penis and the scratched words, sit on this, bitch.
I handed her back her handbag, and we started to weave our way out of the car park.
Kim found out that the brunette was named Viven Westbrook. I was more than annoyed when I found out that it was indeed Sebastian’s little sister.
I wondered why he had gone out of his way to befriend me and she had gone out of her way to scare me off.
“I swear if that bitch has tipped our lockers again, I’m going to lose it,” Kim grumbled beside me.
Over the past week, Vivien had been doing childish things to get to us. It was amazing what influence she had across the university. Her shitty deeds ranged from the canteen lady ignoring us, to our lockers being tipped, teachers refusing to answer our questions. The one thing that really got to me was Sebastian wouldn’t even acknowledge me.
Not that I wanted his attention in a romantic way, it was just the point of the matter.
“Well, I’ll see you at lunch.” I said, parting ways with Kim. “Don’t do anything stupid between now and then.”
Kim was ready to go head to head with Vivien; I was the one holding us back.
It was going to take a lot more than some childish pranks for me to break.
---
My locker door was shut forcefully in my face, my hand just escaping injury.
“Defacing my car? Really?” Vivien was once again in my personal space, her face curled with rage.
“I’m starting to get sick of you in my face.” I turned to face her. “Actually, I’m starting to get over you in general, Vivien.”
Her eyes widened slightly when I said her name.
“Why can’t you and your club whore of a sister go back to sucking cock for a living already?”
She sure had a mouth on her.
I glared back into her rage-filled eyes. “Why don’t you just get the point and leave us alone?” I kept my tone controlled. “Because we aren’t going anywhere.” I took a dominating step closer to her. “So back the fuck off.”
She looked intimidated before her eyes filled with an uncontrollable rage. “You and your sister will be leaving this campus.”
She shouldered me firmly before storming off up the hall.
I gritted my teeth for a moment and thought over her threat. She wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. Which meant two things, we would either have to step up and take her on or just continue to ignore her as much as possible.
I sighed heavily. Still was going to take something more than what she was doing to get me to sink to her level.
***
“So you’re letting this bitch walk all over you?” Kade looked at me with disbelief while he continued to stroke my bare back. I had snuck into his room just after midnight—boy, did he get a surprise when I slid into his bed.
He told me I was lucky I didn’t get a bullet in the foot. I told him he was a drama queen, and who else would be wanting to sneak into his room but me?
“Do you know her? Vivien Westbrook, does that ring any bells or something? She is acting like I’ve personally attacked her.”
He frowned for a moment while I got distracted tracing the tattoo that ran down his arm.
“There is a family of Westbrooks that live on the border of town; she could be related to them. The man owns a chain of hotels or something.”
That could be them. But still, I hadn’t done anything to them.
Kade reached out for my face, tracing down between my eyebrows. “Don’t frown baby girl; it doesn’t suit you.”
“Do you have to ride out tomorrow?” I dropped my head on his chest and sighed. “Can’t you just not go?”
His stomach rumbled with laughter before he flipped me on my back.
“I’m sure your dad would love that. Sorry Roach, can’t make the ride because I’m going to stay home and bang your daughter.”
I slapped his arm. “Seriously, bang? Couldn’t you be a bit more romantic?”
He smirked before giving me a quick kiss on the lips. “I won’t be gone for long.”
“A week is a long time.”
“You’ll be so busy taking it up the ass from this Vivien chick that you won’t even notice.”
I playfully glared at him. “Not funny.”
“Neither is letting th
is woman walk all over you. Take a stand, Abby.”
“It’s childish.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “She’s acting like you’re pissing on her territory or something.”
I just loved how blunt Reaper was with words.
“But I’m not even. It’s not like I’m selling drugs on the corner of her beloved campus or something!”
“Maybe it’s got nothing to do with you personally; maybe it’s the club.” He played with my hair, his softer side showing. “You wouldn’t be the first taking a punching for being linked to the club.”
I sighed again “I don’t know. But Kim isn’t going to stop till she gets to the bottom of it.”
“Good.” He lowered his lips to my neck, “Cause I’ve got a better idea of how we can be spending our time now.”
I didn’t have to ask what that better idea was.
Chapter 55
Reaper
She was literally killing me this morning. What was she thinking wearing a dress like that? Didn’t she realize that dresses like that cause men to lose control?
“Didn’t you sleep last night or something?” Brad shouldered me, giving me a weary look.
I knew I looked like shit, and no, I didn’t sleep cause I was too busy spending every waking moment I had with Abby in my room.
“Something like that,” I muttered back, still walking beside him down the lot towards Roach.
“I can’t be fucked riding for a full week,” Brad complained.
I wasn’t exactly jumping for fucking joy about it either. Leaving Abby for a full week, by herself, shit is bound to go wrong, and I won’t be there to help clean it up.
“Thought you two were hitting the road early,” Roach barked as soon as we were in range.
“Slept in,” Brad replied dryly. “But we’re going now. That’s what we came to tell ya.”
He nodded his head, then his eyes landed on me. “I want a word with you before you head out.” His tone was unfriendly and blunt. But when wasn’t it?
“Good thing we didn’t head out on time then,” I grunted back at him.
The two other guys in the shed walked off, and Brad headed towards his bike, giving Roach and I space.