“Charlie.” I waited for him to say more. Nope, short and to the point.
Seeing he isn’t much for talking, I sit back and remain silent for the rest of the ride. My mother is busy messing with her phone; she is always on that damn thing. Her face isn’t swollen anymore. She looks like her normal self.
We drive north out of L.A. and I watch the urban streets fade away before we pull into a suburban neighborhood. We stop in the driveway of a two story house. It is cute and simple from the outside; not something I would peg a motorcycle club to have. When we climb out of the SUV, Bobby and Shadow pull in behind us. The raw masculinity coming from the bikes makes my body vibrate with arousal.
Shadow climbs off his bike and pulls his phone from his pocket. “What!” he barks into the line. He takes his other hand and runs it over his head back and forth, fluffing up that sexy black hair of his.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have anything... Don’t make threats at me, or I’ll fucking put you in the ground!” He stabs his finger at the end button in fury and jams the phone back in his pocket. Bobby raises his eyebrows in concern, but Shadow throws his hand up like “not now”. Odd.
I don’t even attempt to grab my suitcase and risk having another episode in front of my mother. I walk up to the door and wait for everyone.
“It’s a three bedroom,” Bobby says as he unlocks the giant white door. “The master is downstairs; I figured you would want it, Lady. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a small bath. Shadow and I can bunk in one room and you can have the other, Dani.”
We step in to a small entry area with stairs leading to the second floor immediately to the right. The living room is to the left and is done in soothing tan with touches of red and black. It looks very inviting and cozy.
As I start up the stairs, my mom catches my elbow. “Are you going to be alright up there by yourself?” she questions, as she eyes Bobby and Shadow. Ah, she's off her phone and back in “concerned mom mode”.
“Yeah, I'll be fine, I’ll lock the door. No worries,” I respond, pulling my elbow from her grip.
I stop at the top of the stairs; unsure of where to go. Across from me is one of the bedrooms and there's a hall that shoots off to the left, where I assume the bathroom and other bedroom are.
“Bobby and I will take this room; it has two beds in it. You can take the one down the hall,” Shadow says from behind me. I can hear Bobby's muted voice explaining where everything is to my mom. I’m sure she is ignoring him, though.
I grab my suitcase from Shadow's hand, our fingers briefly making contact, causing electricity to fly through me. I hold my breath and turn down the hall where the other bedroom is in an attempt to show the touch went unnoticed. As I am walking away he grabs the belt loop to my shorts.
“I still want to explain things,” he says softly. As much as I want him to explain, it’s best if he doesn’t and just stays away.
“I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you“? I say raising my eyebrows in irritation. I start walking down the hall and he grabs me by the arm, halting me once again. His touch sends a blazing fire of warmth rippling up my sensitive skin.
“No, it’s not too late if you will stop being a stuck up bitch for a second and hear me out,” he protests.
Infuriated with his tone and his accusations I pull my arm from his grip and continue down the hall. I really want to slap him in his face again.
“I’m not Candy, Shadow. You were right, I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you. I expect a little more than to be someone’s sloppy seconds. I take responsibility for being inexperienced and expecting more,” I say, with animosity lacing every word. I open the door to the room I am staying in and turn to slam and lock it in Shadow's face.
“You can’t avoid me forever, Dani,” his muffled voice vibrates through the door. He is relentless and I hate him for it. If he keeps this up I don’t know how much longer I can resist him. I want him, but I don’t want to have him unless I know he is all mine.
“I see you already managed to fuck that up,” Bobby's voice is mumbled so I gently place my ear against the door to hear better.
“So when Bull kills you, can I have your bike?” Bobby asks, his tone completely serious.
“Why, tired of that Bobber? Ready for a real man’s bike,” Shadow jokes.
“Yeah that’s it.”
“She’s being a bitch. I knew I shouldn’t have fucked around with a civilian, especially her.” Shadow says, his tone serious now. What does he mean by civilian? Is the club that out of civilization that I’m considered a civilian?
“Might be for the best, man. That’s one pussy you don’t want to fuck with. Cut your losses.” Bobby says, his voice clipped and cold.