by K E Osborn
He finally looks at me, his jaw wracking from side to side. “I hate admitting this shit to you.”
I reach out grabbing his hands, my head shakes from side to side as I look deep in his somber eyes. “You can tell me anything. Always. I will never judge you.”
His eyes leave mine looking at the mattress between us. “I’m fucking scared. Fucking terrified…”
My heart lurches into my throat as tears well in my eyes. I race forward taking him into a tight embrace. He holds me back as I nuzzle into him. “God, Ty, don’t be. Mom and Dad love you. They love us both. They’re not going to kick you out of the family.” I pull back looking into his eyes. “Please believe me when I tell you that.”
He grimaces. “I love being a part of the Kline family. I don’t know what I would do if—”
“Stop! It’s not happening that way. You’re overthinking this.”
He tightens his hand in mine. “Just promise, no matter what, you won’t go anywhere.”
“Ty, I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
He stands from the bed walking over to his desk grabbing his cut and threading his arms through. For such a brute of a man, he really does have a weakness.
His weakness is our family.
Right now, the thought of losing us eats at his very foundations. “We should go, get this over with. Where’s your keys? I’ll drive?”
All he needs is something to calm him down, and I can’t help him with that. I’m part of the problem. “Riding… when you’re on your bike, it settles your mind, doesn’t it? It’s why you wanted to take the bike this morning?”
He turns to face me, his lips turning up infinitesimally. “You read me so fucking well.”
Slumping my shoulders, I grimace. “You ride safe, no unnecessary risks, and slower than usual, okay?” I demand.
His eyes brighten like I’ve just given him the keys to a brand new Harley or something. He walks over placing his hand out for me to take. My hand fits in his perfectly as he yanks me up, and I fly into his chest with a giggle. My hand rests on his pec as I look into his eyes as his arms loop around my waist. “Thank you, I need this.”
“I know… I can’t help but let you fulfill all those late-night fantasies I’ve had of riding behind you.”
He chuckles leaning down kissing my forehead. “I need to hear more about these fantasies you have about me.”
“Later, cowboy, we have somewhere to be.” I lean up kissing his lips, then turn smacking his ass as I walk for the door.
Chains follows me as I reach for the handle, he rushes in front of me opening it like a gentleman. I glance at him as he extends his hand for mine. Our fingers interlock as we walk out into the hall together. When we reach the clubroom, it’s pretty quiet for a Saturday morning. But it is early. Last night was hectic, so I guess the brothers deserve a good sleep in before they figure out what the hell they’re going to do about Luc’s little visitors.
Ruby and the other girls are making breakfast in the kitchen as we walk past. I glance in to see Cindi whisking something on the stove as Ruby bumps into her side. “Stayed in Ace’s room again last night, did we?” Ruby asks as Chains and I continue to walk, unable to hear the rest of the conversation.
As we stroll outside then over to Chains’ ride, he takes a deep breath.
“Just don’t kill me, okay?” I tease.
He hands me a helmet. I pull it over my hair as he leans in doing up the strap, probably a smidge too tight, but I let him take care of me. “Now you just have to hold on tight, keep your legs out a little from the sides, but not too much and move with me. Flow with the movements of the bike. Think you can do that?” he asks with the biggest fucking grin on his face.
It makes me happy seeing him finally feeling a little lighter. If me riding behind him is all it takes to make him forget what’s about to happen, even if only for a while, then I’ll take this one for the team no matter how dangerous I think this is. “Hold on and move with the bike. I got this.”
He taps the top of my helmet sliding onto the bike. I clear my throat folding my arms over my chest. He looks at me raising his brow. “What?”
“And where the fuck is your helmet?”
“On your head,” he says it like I’m stupid.
“No, I know. Where’s the one you’re going to wear?”
He laughs shaking his head. “Get on the bike, Bex!”
I scoff. “This goes against everything I work for, you know?” I moan sliding in behind him, but when I do, a sudden rush floods through me. I wrap my arms around his waist, it’s like I’m finally fucking home. It shocks me as I close my eyes and just breathe.
“Stop being a doctor, Bex. Be a biker’s woman. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the rush far more if you just… let go.”
Opening my eyes as he starts the engine, it rumbles to life. The vibration rattling between my legs as they sit either side of his, and I can’t help but swallow hard. This is exciting. I didn’t want it to be, but I’m looking forward to riding for the first time. Not only my first ride on a bike, but the first time with Chains—with Ty.
This is heart pumping, adrenaline-fueled fun.
“Let go,” I murmur as he squeezes my hand on his stomach, then releases, placing both his hands on the handlebars. He revs the engine, then pulls the throttle down fast. I let out a scream as the bike lurches forward, and we soar through the gate I hadn’t even noticed had been opened. I grip on tight as I feel his body moving with an obvious laugh as he pulls out onto the access road, then he really lets loose. He flies making me clench onto him tighter. My fingers digging into his stomach as he weaves out onto the main road. My heart hammers in my chest, half in fear, half with adrenaline. I’m not sure why I thought he would drive like Miss Daisy.
I should have known better.
But the fact is, I’m enjoying it. My hair whips, flicking behind me, the wind blasts my face giving me a feeling of being free. I feel open. I understand how riding can clear your mind. I get why Chains wanted to ride to our parents because I’m not really thinking about them right now. All I’m thinking about is how amazing this feeling is, and I don’t want it to end.
The road.
The wind.
The euphoria.
I understand it now.
I get this lifestyle.
I can only imagine riding in formation with everyone else, having all the brothers at your side and back, all those revving engines would be exhilarating. Honestly, it’s almost turning me on as he rides around a corner with ease and fluidity. My clit begins to throb. Now, I understand why Foxy’s always flushed when she gets off the back after riding with Torque.
The rest of the ride leaves me breathless. I had no idea I would love this as much as I do. Though, I’m not so sure I can admit that to Chains. He veers onto the small concreted drive in front of our parents’ quaint home in Beverly. Nerves begin to filter through me as he pulls up turning off the engine. The loud roar drops to silence as I glance across the street to see Mrs. McCrery glaring through her curtains.
Great, the judgment’s already begun.
I slide off the back of the bike moving to undo the helmet as Mom rushes out of the front door and onto the porch. She stops when she notices I’m here with Chains, raising her brow as she juts her hip out to the side with a big-ass toothy gleam on her face. “Rebecca Kline, did you get on the back of your brother’s motorcycle?”
I tense slightly as I glance at Chains. He takes my helmet from me. I see the fear in his eyes return immediately, so I go about playing this all cool. “Yes. Ty had to practically force me, but you know, I let him win because he pulled the sappy but-I’ll-cry-if-you-don’t card.”
He snorts crossing his arms over his chest. “That’s not how it went, at all!”
Mom lets out a laugh. “I don’t really care how the fuck it went, I’m just glad to see you letting loose and living a little.”
I open my eyes wide with a scoff as Chains lets out a booming laugh p
ointing at me. “See, told you it wouldn’t kill you. Plus, I know you enjoyed it. You can’t deny it. I know there weren’t any screams of fear.”
Mom bursts out laughing throwing her hands in the air as I place my hands on my hips. “Hey, you two can’t gang up on me, or I’ll take your bike and leave.”
Mom snickers stepping forward off the porch. “Oh, now, now, Bex. You’re old enough to stop being a brat. Come inside, you two, you’re just in time for breakfast. Lucky your father’s cooking too much as usual.”
Chains looks a little more relaxed now. “We were counting on that.”
Chains steps forward but doesn’t make a move to touch me in any way. I know why. We don’t want to give them any reason to suspect anything before we tell them. We don’t want them to find out in any other way than by us speaking the words. Otherwise, it would be too big of a shock and the risk of them reacting badly is a real possibility. So, we walk onto the porch, Chains steps out of his boots like he always does, then we walk inside to the smell of pancakes.
“So, my beautiful children, what brings you both here this fine morning? Together, no less,” Mom asks as we round into the kitchen.
“Just wanted to come say hi. I was at the club last night for some medical stuff then ended up staying there, so this morning we thought we’d come say hello seeing as how both of us have been a little distracted lately.” I spin trying to get a way across how we could both be here together. It’s certainly not normal.
Chains looks at me as Dad spins to see us. He’s wearing a pink frilly apron holding a spatula in his hand with the brightest of looks on his face. “Hey, kids, good to see you both. Staying for pancakes?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Yeah Dad… and really, pink?”
He tilts his stature. “I think it suits me.”
“Like a hole in the head,” Chains murmurs.
Mom snickers as Dad scoffs. “No extras for Ty, got it,” Dad teases as Mom, Chains, and me take a seat at the wooden table.
“So, what have you both been up to? You both dropped off the radar. I miss my babies.”
“Abi, leave them alone. It’s just nice they’re here, don’t bug them,” Dad scolds.
Chains sits back in his chair with his hands behind his head relaxing. Mom scrunches up her face looking at Chains. “Shh… William. Ty, tell me, you were seeing someone, a girl? How’s it going? I know your sister is too busy for a man in her life, so I need you to bring me all the grandbabies.”
My eyes open wide as Chains’ arms fall from the back of his head. He sits forward letting out what sounds like a muffled choking sound as he coughs a few times.
“See what you’ve gone and done, Abi, you’re killing our son with scary thoughts. Help your brother, Bex, you’re a doctor,” Dad calls out.
Chains puts his hand up, sitting up straight looking at me his with his eyes hard. “I’m fine.”
Mom pats his back. “Sorry… did you and the girl break up?”
“Abi,” Dad scalds.
Chains sinks into his chair as he avoids eye contact with me. My heart’s racing in my chest.
“No, Abi, it’s… it’s complicated.”
“Well, females are complicated. Rebecca, you know Ty well. You were inseparable when you were living here together. Tell him how to deal with this secret woman he has. If he won’t talk to me, he should talk to you. He tells you everything, right?”
My stomach rolls. I glance at Chains to see he’s starting to freak out. His jaw’s clenching, his neck pulsating—he’s losing it.
Chains stands so abruptly, the wooden chair falls back on the linoleum making a loud crash ring through the kitchen. We all look at him, tension running through the air as his reddened face suddenly turns pale.
“I gotta get outta here!”
CHAINS
My heart’s hammering in my chest as I race out into the hall. I don’t want to leave, it will cause too much suspicion, so instead, I veer left heading for my old bedroom. I need a moment to clear my thoughts. Pushing open the old white door, I step into the time warp. It hasn’t changed at all. Memories of my later teen years still sit proud as I stride in looking around. It’s like a damn shrine in here.
Moving over to my old single bed, I sit down on the comfy mattress taking a look around. The tiny desk, just big enough for my teenage self to sit at doing my homework, is still in the same place. Well, the homework I pretended to do but made Bex finish for me. I warm at the memory as I look up at the posters on the wall. Donnie Darko, Fast and the Furious, and, of course, Tomb Raider. Ange was fucking hot to every eighteen-year-old boy. Especially dressed as a video game icon, she was our idol. Thank God Bex and I had separate rooms because I spent many nights looking at her poster, if you know what I mean?
There are framed pictures of me with Abi and Will and some others of me with Scruffy sitting on the nightstand. I take a deep breath glancing over to the dresser to see more pictures. Ones of me with friends from school then, of course, one of Bex and me. We’re sitting close, our bodies touching. We’re looking at each other so fondly, but now that I’m sure how we feel about each other, I can see the connection is powerful. I see it’s always been there. Even in the picture that was taken when we were young. The way we’re looking at each other, it’s there, it’s fucking obvious.
How have we been able to control this?
How has it taken us this long?
Standing up, I walk over to the dresser and pick up the picture. The coolness of the silver frame in my fingers makes a shiver run down my spine. I shudder with the adrenaline already coursing through my veins. I know what we’re here to do. The fact this whole family dynamic could change because of how I feel about Bex, throws me. God only knows what Bex is saying to cover my absence right now.
Fuck! She might be telling them without me. I need to man the fuck up. Right now!
The thought alarms me as I return the picture to the dresser then turn to walk out of my room. I close the door behind me, traipsing down the hall, straining my ears to see if I can hear any form of conversation.
But there’s nothing.
Suddenly, Bex rounds the corner startling me. I freeze on the spot as she slumps her body at seeing me. She inhales sharply then strides up to me pulling me further down the hall away from the kitchen. “Are you okay?” Her voice is full of concern.
The feeling of her soft hand on my arm sends a warmth through me I need right now.
I just need her.
Turning her, her back’s in the direction of the kitchen, so I’m facing it if anyone were to come around then I can see. I look in her eyes. “I just needed a moment. All the sibling talk in there, Bex… they’re not gonna like this!”
She sinks a little, letting me know she agrees with me. “Ty, I don’t know how they’re going to react, all I do know is we’re in this together. You and me, we’re a team… always have been, always will be. Okay? If they have a problem with it, then we’ll deal with it… together.”
My stomach churns. “I don’t know if I can do this, Bex.”
Her eyes widen, a look of fear crossing her face. “Telling Mom and Dad… or … us?”
Fucking hell! I kick myself at my own stupidity. I grab Bex pulling her to me, she wraps her arms around my neck as I hold her to me tightly looking deep in her eyes. “I don’t regret us, not for a second, Bex. That’s not what I’m saying…” I let out a long exhale. “I’m a fuckhead.”
She lets out a stifled laugh. “You’re anything but a fuckhead, Ty, but we came here to do this. They already know something’s up. I told them to just give you a second, and I would come get you. Ty, they know something’s happening. We can’t back out now.”
I’m a hard, callous biker, but the fear of losing the people who saved me at the worst possible time in my life, that fear, it almost cripples me. My stomach churns. “Bex…”
She grabs my face either side looking dead in my eyes. “We got this.” She leans in, her lips pressing hard against
mine.
At first, I want to fight her, we’re home at Abi and Will’s house, but I need her comfort right now, so I kiss her back. My tongue is dancing with hers, tasting, devouring. I need this brief connection to give me the courage to face the storm that’s about to rain down all over us.
I could lose my parents.
I could be forced out of the only loving family I’ve known.
The only place other than the club I have that felt safe.
The place that gave me my life back.
It could all come crashing down, so I need this moment right here, right now, with Bex just to get my emotions in check. I kiss her hard, my hands snaking around her waist, holding her to me, her hands thread up into my longer-than-normal hair as I push her against the wall.
I need her like she’s my oxygen.
I need her to breathe.
“What on earth?” Abi calls out.
Jesus!
Bex and I pull apart panting for breath as we look to the other end of the hall where Abi and Will are standing there both gawking at us. My breathing increases as I take another step away from Bex putting distance between us. Bex furrows her brow then turns to face our parents.
“Mom, we can explain.”
My heart races in my chest as I breathe faster and faster, feeling my anxiety rising.
“Is Rebecca the woman you’ve been seeing, Ty? Is that why it’s so complicated?” Will asks. There’s a definite hint of judgment in his tone as he waves the spatula around in his hand.
“I’ll say it’s complicated,” Abi mutters folding her arms across her chest. I grab at my shirt pulling in and out from myself in a fanning motion to relieve the sudden wave of heat flushing over my body.
This is fucking intense.
I’m overwhelmingly hot as I try to wrangle in my emotions. Bex looks at me, but all I want to do right now is fucking run.
“We might be family, Mom, but we’re not related,” Bex defends.
“Still, I wasn’t expecting this, were you, William? How long has this been going on?” Abi asks.
The look of shock in her eyes is my breaking point. Honestly, I can’t handle it if they disown me or if they tell me I’m a disappointment. The thought makes my stomach lurch. My body breaks out in a feverish sweat. I can’t keep my emotions in check. I don’t know if I want to yell at them, punch a wall, or fall to the floor in a screaming heap.