by K E Osborn
The pure venom in Maxen’s eyes, the way he looked right through me like a man possessed has me on tenterhooks.
He was unhinged then.
Now, he’s had years to process and plot his revenge.
Texas is right.
I can try to maintain my strong-woman act, or I can just accept their help.
It’s the entire reason I went to the club for help because I know I can’t do this on my own.
“Just… don’t eat all my food. And if you’re going to drink, please use a coaster, okay?”
It’s my version of defeat.
Texas weakly smiles. “We got this, Fin. You don’t have to be scared.”
“Me? Scared? I laugh in the face of danger.” I scrunch up my face feigning disbelief.
“You’d probably kick it in the balls, then tell it to go do some fucking laundry or something, too,” Phantom quips.
“Damn straight. You don’t mess with Finley Knight!”
“Don’t we know it.” Texas dips his chin.
“Okay, so who’s for brunch?” I turn, opening the refrigerator while letting out a long sigh.
“We just ate breakfast, but my stomach is a bottomless pit, so what ya making?” Phantom asks.
My eyes shift to Texas. “How long has it been since you’ve been home?”
His eyes darken, and he cranes his neck to the side. “Houston is home for me.”
“I know, but how long since you’ve been back to Jersey?”
His face scrunches up like he has a bad taste in his mouth. “Not long enough.”
I don’t know the story of why he left New Jersey and came to Houston, but there’s obviously something there. “Surely, you have to miss something? The food?”
The corner of his lips turns up slightly. “Jersey does make great breakfast waffles.”
“Then waffles are what we’re having. Phantom, you good with that?”
“Will there be syrup?”
“Of course.” I laugh.
“Then fuck yeah!”
Texas steps to my side as I go to gather the ingredients from the fridge. He places his hand on my waist which forces me to look at him. Our eyes connect. That air-sucking feeling hits me again as I stare into his golden eyes, and my breathing hitches.
He simply nods once. “Thank you... for making an effort.”
My hand comes down resting on his bicep. “It’s the least I can do.”
“You have an eighty-five-inch television!” Phantom calls out from the living room. “Jesus Christ, Finley, this thing is massive!”
Texas and I both chuckle as we drop our hold on each other.
Texas steps back as I try to fight those fucking butterflies in my stomach.
Focus, Finley. Dammit!
Grabbing the wet ingredients from the fridge, I move to the pantry for the dry. Placing them all out on the counter, I reach under for the electric waffle iron as Texas watches my every move. The heat of his eyes on me is daunting, but at the same time, I like it.
Phantom rushes back in like a kid on Christmas morning, he’s bouncing around that much. “You have surround sound and a sub-woofer… bigger than a damn microwave. Fuck, Fin, we need to watch some movies on this shit, like pronto!”
Texas lets out a small laugh. “Dude, we’re here on protection detail, not to have access to all the perks Finley’s house brings.”
Phantom’s excitement falls from his face. “You’re not really going to make me sit out the fucking front, are you?”
I spin to Texas. “Actually, I have something to say about that. Wouldn’t it draw more attention to the house? I live in an urban area, Texas. I have neighbors. Having a biker perched on my porch is gonna look fucking weird.”
Texas runs his hand over his shaved scalp like he’s thinking this over. “You have a balcony upstairs. What room does it come off?”
I widen my eyes. “My bedroom.”
Where’s he going with this?
He drops his chin to his chest in approval. “Good. Then Phantom and I will take turns sitting on the balcony to keep guard.”
I jerk my head back. “What? Even when I’m asleep?”
“Especially when you’re asleep.”
My stomach rolls, as I let out a huff. “But you’ll see me… in bed.”
Texas snorts out a laugh like that’s the most absurd thing he’s ever heard. “I’ve seen plenty of women in bed before, Finley.”
I’m not sure why, but that simple statement unsettles me—a lot.
I don’t even want to think about how many ‘plenty’ means. Shaking my head of the thought, I stand taller. “Well, don’t think having free access to my room means you can—”
“We’re here to protect you, Fin. You know us. We’re not going to come into your room and do anything. The fact you even started to say that is insulting to not only Phantom and me, but the whole damn club.”
Slumping my body, regret swarms through me instantly. I was on the defensive because it felt weird hearing about him being with other women. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I’m sorry. This whole thing with Maxen… it’s throwing me. I’m not normally so… judgmental.”
Texas and Phantom both chuckle. “Yes. You. Are. Just not normally with us,” Phantom replies.
“In any case… I’m sorry. Of course, I trust you guys… I do. It’s why I came to you. You know that, right?”
Texas nods, pulling out an island bar stool and takes a seat. “So, how ‘bout those waffles?”
Damn! He didn’t answer me.
I hope I haven’t offended him just because I don’t know where my stupid feelings lay.
“Pass the eggs?”
He slides them over as Phantom pulls up a stool beside him. The awkward silence falls over us all, and I can’t help but feel like I brought this on myself.
Great job, Fin.
Piss off the bikers who are protecting me in the first ten minutes of them being here.
They’re only here to safeguard me, and I insult them.
Well-fucking-done!
TEXAS
Today’s been fucking weird. Finley and I have always had this easy, effortless banter. This connection that simply flows. But it’s like the second we got into her space, she’s clammed up tighter than a fucking oyster. Our conversation over waffles didn’t help. I know she is a strong, fierce woman who likes to always be in charge, and having her independence taken from her is not something she’s dealing with all that well.
Maybe it’s just that.
Maybe I’m reading too much shit into things.
While I sit up on the balcony keeping guard, I let Phantom have the first break. Just so I could have some alone time to try and figure this shit out.
Maybe Fin needed some time away from me too.
I don’t know what I said that made her angry at me, at us, at this situation, but something sure did. It’s coming up to nine at night. I’ve been on guard since three this afternoon, and now it’s time for a change in shift. Fin hasn’t come to bed yet, so I’m guessing she’s downstairs, hanging out with Phantom. God knows what shit he’s spinning her, so I pull out my cell, sending him a quick text letting him know to come up for the shift change.
He replies with a thumbs up. I smirk, standing, and stretch out my aching muscles.
For a wealthy woman, Fin sure has shit furniture outside. She calls it ornate, but I call it fucking steel, and it’s hard as fuck on my ass.
To be honest, the stark contrast of the rest of her home and me in it, hasn’t slipped past me.
I don’t fit in here.
This house is so fucking pristine, so well kept, I seriously can’t for the life of me think that a biker like me, could be in a woman of Finley's league. The only thing that possibly comes close to anything I might have in my world are these shitty steely chairs. But even then, the design is way too fucking fancy for me.
The thumping of heavy boots makes my head turn toward the double glass doors, the ch
iffon curtains blowing in the slight breeze.
Phantom saunters through the room, the floorboards creaking under his weight as he approaches. “Was wondering when you were gonna call me up. Thought maybe you’d fallen asleep,” he quips.
Snorting out a laugh, I tilt my head a couple of times for him to get his ass out here. He does, slumping down in the godawful chair. He shifts around a little trying to get comfy. “You sat out here on this piece of shit chair all that time?”
Nodding my head, I huff. “Get up every hour or so and walk it off, or your legs go numb.”
“Fucking great.”
“You need anything, message me. I’ll have my cell on all night. I’ll come relieve you around three.”
He leans back placing his hands behind his head and glances out over the quiet street. “I got this. You go spend time with your… lady love,” he teases.
Scrunching up my brows, I smack him across the back of his head, and he jerks forward letting out a small laugh. “Maybe I won’t come and relieve you at three. Instead, I’ll let you stay out here and suffer all damn night.”
“It’s a nice night, I don’t see it as sufferin’.”
I smirk. “You will when the rain comes in that’s about to hit later this evening.”
Phantom’s eyes shoot up at me. “You’re kidding?”
I chuckle. “Nope. Should be coming in around ten thirty, elevenish.”
“Motherfucker.”
“That’s why you took the first shift, isn’t it, you asshole?”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “I didn’t know then, but I sure am glad now. Have a good night, Phantom. See you in the morning.”
“If you fuck her, try not to be too loud about it, will you?”
Rolling my eyes, I keep walking through Fin’s immaculate bedroom, to the stairs and down to the living room, where the television is playing. As I make my way in, the large room is dimly lit only by one table lamp and the hue of some mini-series she’s watching. Fin is cuddled up on the expensive-looking sofa with a plush black blanket draped over her body. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun—something I’ve never seen her do before as she’s always the picture of perfection—but this look suits her as well. She holds in her hand what I assume is red wine. A box of chocolates sits on the table in front of her half-finished. She leans over grabbing another, placing it in her delectable mouth.
I’ve always seen Fin as this prim and proper, well-dressed and maintained power woman. But here, in her own environment, she’s just like any normal woman at home after a long hard day’s work, getting comfortable on the sofa and indulging in whatever creature comforts she likes. She appears real right now, and somehow, that makes her even more appealing.
Like maybe the hard shell she puts out to the world is only a front.
Deep down, this woman right here, this is who Fin really is.
Her eyes shift up when she notices me, and her hand rushes to her chest as she lets out a huge exhale. “Shit, Texas. Scare me half to death, why don’t you?”
Smirking, I walk in and over to the sofa, then move to sit on the other end. She furrows her brows at me. “I’m not going to bite… you can sit next to me.” She lifts the blanket, gesturing for me to move in underneath it with her.
My cock jerks behind my zipper at the thought of being so close to her, but I tame it and slide down the sofa to take a seat right next to her. I sink into the plushness, which is a far cry better than the shitty damn chairs she has upstairs. Her knees are pulled up to her chest, while my thigh leans in against her ass. Swallowing hard, it takes everything in me to control my throbbing cock. She’s wearing leggings which show off the tone of her thighs perfectly, and as she pulls the blanket down over me, she catches me staring. She clears her throat as I avert my eyes, probably a little too late and too obvious.
She tucks the blanket around me, and I pull my arm out over the top, resting it on the back of the sofa behind her. Not making a move or anything, it’s just the most natural and comfortable position.
She smiles, letting out a small chuckle. “You’re wound up so tight. You’re not still mad about our little argument, are you? I don’t want you to be mad at me forever.”
“Nah, we’re good.” The corner of my lips turns up.
She takes a sip of her wine, her long lashes peeking up at me. Then she gestures to the glass. “You want one?”
“Can’t protect you if I’m drunk.”
She snorts out a laugh. “You? Get drunk off red wine? Now that, I’d like to see.”
“Are you getting drunk off red wine?” I ask, raising my brow.
She waves her hand through the air. “Pfft… it takes a lot more than four glasses to get me drunk.”
Raising my brow, I lean over, grabbing the glass, and I place it on the table in front of us. “Okay, I think we’ve had enough.”
She huffs moving forward, grabbing the glass, shifting it onto a coaster, making me smile at how anal she really is. “Fine, but don’t you dare take my chocolates!”
Smiling, I reach over grabbing the box. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
She snatches one, shoving it in her mouth, her eyes closed as she inhales like she’s fantasizing about something orgasmic. Her tongue darts out licking her lips, and my cock jerks in my jeans yet again.
Fuck.
Letting out a long breath, I turn away, clenching my eyes shut, trying to control my raging thoughts of pinning her to the sofa and sinking deep inside her.
When she reaches out and grabs my arm, it shocks me back into the now.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
My head snaps back to face her, and I plaster on a fake smile. “Yeah… it’s hard to watch you eat that chocolate,” I tell her.
She furrows her brows. “What? Why?”
“Strict workout regime, no chocolate for me. Can’t keep these muscles by eating chocolate.”
She lets out a laugh, and it touches her eyes as they twinkle with mischief. “You ate waffles with syrup this morning. Tell me how that’s different to chocolate?”
Shit!
“I can only cheat so much per week. Can’t have me losing this god-like body now, can I?” I lie.
She snorts out a laugh, shoving me playfully. “You’re so full of shit.”
Grinning, I place the chocolates back on the table. “Yeah, but would you want me any other way?”
Fin smiles wide, shifting her legs toward me, then rests her head on my shoulder.
Tensing, I so wasn’t expecting her to unwind like this around me, so I have no fucking clue what the protocol is right now.
Stay still.
Don’t move a muscle.
I’m wound tight.
Unmoving, she cuddles into me. “Texas…”
“Mmm?” I murmur, trying to keep my cool even though I am anything but.
“Do you think Maxen is going to come after me?”
She’s so vulnerable.
I’ve never seen Fin like this.
I need to be here for her.
Bringing my arm down from the back of the sofa, I place it around her. Bad move! My body ignites in that same volcanic rush I had before as I pull her closer to me. I press my cheek against the top of her jasmine-smelling hair and let out a sigh. “He can try, but he’s not getting to you, Fin.”
She’s quiet for a moment, her hand resting on my chest above my racing heart. I can’t help but wonder if she can feel it beating out of control right now.
“This is all so fucking crazy. I’m always in control, you know me, I like having my shit in order. This not knowing bullshit is…”
“Unbearable,” I finish her sentence for her.
She cuddles into me further. “Having you here helps. When you offered to come, I was so happy.”
A slow smile creeps up my face. “We’ve always had each other’s backs, Fin, I wasn’t gonna stop now. Not when you need me the most.”
She nods against my chest. “Just know, even though I can say a
nd do mean things, that I do appreciate you being here, helping me.”
Instinctively, my fingers move to the loose tendrils of hair hanging down from her bun. I twirl them in my fingers, gently caressing her without even thinking about it. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
She’s quiet for a short while as I sit here, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. We’re cuddling, that much is clear, but I have no fucking clue what the hell that means.
“Tell me about you, Texas,” she chimes out of the blue.
“About me?”
She slowly sits up, turning to face me. “Yeah, I don’t even know your real name. I want to know more about who you are. We have all night apparently.”
Cracking my neck to the side, I grimace. “Honestly, there’s not a lot to tell. It’s not a great story.”
“Then how about we start with your name?”
It’s been a long time since anyone has called me by my real name. It’s kind of a trigger for me. Flaring my nostrils, I clear my throat and say in a strained voice, “Logan.”
Her emerald eyes sparkle back at me, confused. “That’s hard for you to say.”
“Yeah, my childhood was shitty at best, and that’s the name my parents gave me, so I try to avoid saying it.”
She dips her chin. “Got it… sorry.” She gnaws down on her bottom lip, but I see the cogs ticking in her brain. She desperately wants to know more.
“My dad, he um…” my head jerks to the side with the memory, my muscles instinctively clenching and unclenching, “… he used to beat my mom… real fucking bad.”
Finley’s eyes glisten, and she blinks a few times as she inches forward, reaching out for my arm. “Texas, I’m so sorry you witnessed that.”
Grimacing, I grit my teeth. “That wasn’t the worst part, Fin. The old bastard beat her so bad one night, her head split open. I saw… everything. Her skull fractured, the blood, I swear even her brains were leaking out—”
“Jesus!” She shifts her hand to her mouth in shock.
“Something in me switched that night. I felt disconnected, numb, like I can’t connect to my emotions properly.”
“You were traumatized, Texas, it’s no wonder you have difficulty. Have you spoken to anyone about this?”
