by Simone Elise
She was fit; she was perfect. Her tanned lean muscles and the perfect shape of her body. Kill. Me. Now.
"I'll count Oliver," Dan said, dragging himself off the leg press.
"Okay, you two ready?" Marc smacked his hands together, ready for the slaying. "On the count of three."
Chloe was up on all fours, and so was Oliver.
"One."
How I wanted to be under her feeling those curves and running my hands down that back.
"Two."
She shouldn't even be competing against Oliver. What chances did she have of beating him?
"Three." Marc slapped the ground and they were off.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was not only moving faster than Oliver; she was going deeper as well. It was lightning quick. Oliver was bigger, slower to move up and down.
Not only was Chloe fit, but she could easily keep up with me and I didn't mean in a push up competition. I meant when she was sweaty for a whole other reason and when it was completely my doing, not the treadmills.
"What she up to?" I shot at Declan.
He put up a hand. "88, 89, 90."
"One hand the rest of the way!" Oliver shouted, trying to stump her up.
She put one hand behind her back and didn't miss a beat.
"97," Declan grinned "98, 99, 100!"
Oliver collapsed on the ground. "SHE CHEATED."
"No. No she didn't, buddy." Declan high-fived Chloe after she stood up.
"Come on McKenzie, don't be a sore loser." She poked Oliver in the ribs.
I was impressed and had a smile on my face just watching and then she looked up and bang, there it was. Her expression. The way her lips were curved in a smile, her eyes big and wide, alight with completion of the challenge. Her hair damp. She looked beautiful, and she didn't even know it.
I was determined now to break the ice between us.
"Come on Chloe, I think you deserve a shower." I cocked my neck for her to follow me out.
She nodded her head. "Thanks boys." She high-fived Marc, Dan and Archie, and then followed me out.
I was going to tell her what a great job she had done. I was going to compliment her, but she was looking at me with a sheepish grin, which was throwing my words off.
"You did a good job," she said, while still puffing as we walked.
I was confused. I was meant to be telling HER that. "What are you talking about?"
"Chain-smoking. It mustn't be easy." She was teasing me.
"Watching you work out would make anyone chain-smoke," I blew out, not thinking of what I was saying and just saying what I thought.
"What are you, too tough to work out?" Chloe arched her perfect manicured eyebrow at me.
"No, normally when my sessions aren't gate-crashed, I work out."
"So what, you can't work out with me?"
What was with all her questions? Why was she making me not working out with her such a big deal? I didn't answer and we kept walking.
"Fine, don't talk to me." She kept her head straight.
It seemed I had pissed her off, even though I didn't want to. How was I going to break the ice again? I wanted to tell her what I was really thinking. That the only time I want to get sweaty with her was in the bedroom and not in a gym.
We stopped at the bedroom door. My hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her from opening the door.
Her eyes danced from my hand to my face. "What are you doing, Chase?" There was almost a sigh at the end of her words.
"I'm not happy where we left things off." My fingers ran down her wrist and linked with hers. "Or what you said."
The look in her eyes told me she wanted this as much as I did, but her body was stiff. Her defenses were up. She didn't trust easily. From the very moment I met her, her trust was hard to get. She had a reason not to trust people, but didn't she see I wasn't just anyone?
"Shower, change, and then I'm taking you out." I forced myself to let go of her hand.
"Where to?" Her eyes shone with wonder, most likely thinking the biker couldn't possibly take her somewhere normal.
"You'll see." I wasn't giving anything away. I wanted her and I couldn't fight it anymore. Sure, I wasn't good for her. Sure, us dating could put her in danger but if I knew that danger was there, I could protect her from it, couldn't I?
Darn it. I never wanted, no, NEEDED anything, as much as I needed her so screw the rules and screw the age gap.
“Okay," she finally said, a bit breathless. "I'll only be a few minutes."
"Take your time." I couldn't help but smile at her.
Even though she didn't want to let herself, she was excited. I had to ask - was she excited about where I'd take her? Or the fact we were spending the day together?
***
"Told you Bones, I'm busy today." I literally wanted to groan. He wasn't taking no for an answer. I was standing in the bar waiting for Chloe. Luck was on my side that Bones was out, so we weren't having this conversation in person.
"What are you doing then?" Bones basically all but yelled at me.
How did I tell him I was blowing off my duties to spend the day trying to convince a girl she belonged with me?
I opened my mouth to play the family card when I caught sight of Chloe coming down the stairs. She was wearing black shorts and a Horsemen tank top, which usually supporters or girlfriends wore. Sammie must have given it to her.
What she was wearing meant a lot. It meant that she was proud to be seen in club colors and that she stood for what we stood for.
I swallowed hard. She most likely didn't even think about what it meant to wear it. I shouldn't be looking at it as a sign.
It wasn't what she was just wearing; it was how she looked in it – the long, tanned legs, the curve of her sides and those breasts. Her eyes locked with mine.
"I have to go, Bones."
He was saying something as I hung up.
"You ready to go?" I asked as she walked towards me.
"Is this alright? I assumed we were taking the bike?" She twirled in front of me, and then her eyes landed back on mine. There was excitement mixed with nerves painted in them.
"You were right. That is okay, isn't it?"
She nodded her head. "I trust you." And when she said that, I knew immediately she trusted me not to kill her on the motorbike, she wasn't trusting me with her heart.
"Let's go then."
Chapter 23
Chase’s Point of View
"The Aquarium?" She handed me her helmet while looking at the oddly shaped building, then gave me the widest smile. "How did you know I hadn't been?"
"Oliver told me you got excited crossing the west gate. I assumed you hadn't been in Melbourne before."
"Oliver talks too much." She looked away with flushed cheeks. Was she embarrassed?
I lowered the bike to its kickstand and left the helmets on the handlebars.
"Come on?" I put my hand out for her to take.
She looked at it, then at me, before slowly slipping her hand in mine. I kept the smile to myself. That was step one.
We walked in, and she was automatically distracted by the entrance and let go of my hand to follow the display. I walked to the counter. The girl looked young behind the desk.
"Two tickets." I pulled my wallet out. "And what do you recommend for the best experience?"
She looked at me, stunned, as if she was surprised I could talk. She was still gawking at me when she opened her mouth.
"The penguin experience is the most recommended," she stuttered out, taking my Visa.
"Can I get a ticket for that too?"
"It is a three-person event, would you like two tickets?"
I glanced at Chloe as she read the display board. "Actually, I think I'll take all three tickets. Makes it one on one."
The girl smiled. “Okay."
So my challenge was to make this one of her best days so I was treat
ing this as more of a date than an outing with a friend. I wondered how Chloe was looking at today as.
Well, it didn't matter. All that mattered was if she had a good time. I glanced at her, seeing the fading bruise on her cheek. She had a right not to trust everyone. I just had to somehow show her I was worth trusting and I wasn't going to break her heart.
Chloe's Point of View
I had been dazzled by The Aquarium. Chase was patient as I took my time through every area. He laughed through the glass when I fell over on the ice with the penguins. He didn't go in with me, and I was still wondering how I got the tour on my own.
I had never seen so many amazing things in one place.
Like I said, I was dazzled by it and while I was dazzled by The Aquarium, everyone else was dazzled by Chase. I rolled my eyes again when I saw a woman staring at him.
Did he realize how utterly attractive he was? People stared. Some were admiring his good looks and how you just want to run your hands over his tanned skin and over those tattoos. Others were staring because of what he was standing for.
An outlaw.
He stood against everything they held dear. The law they loved so much.
I glanced up at him and wasn't surprised to see his eyes on me.
"Hey." I found my words. "Thanks for today."
Thanks. Was that all I could come up with? He had spent all day making sure I didn't go without anything and that I had the best experience. He wouldn't even let me pay. Every time he pulled out his wallet, I felt like his girlfriend. Not a friend. Was that his point?
"No worries." He gave me one of those knee-buckling smiles, making me just look up at him foolishly. Why was it whenever he was around me, I felt completely and utterly stupid?
"So, do we have to get back to the clubhouse? I'm sure you are being missed." I knew as much as I wanted his attention, I wasn't the only one. He had a club full of members that wanted his attention; not to mention his brothers as well. Then there were the women like Michelle.
Why did my temper rise just thinking about her? Because she had a taste of something I would never get the chance of tasting?
"Yeah, I should." Then gave me a foolish grin. "Doesn't mean we can't take the long way back though."
Clinging to him longer? Having a reason to hold on to him? Yeah, I didn't mind if that was longer. I grinned. "Sounds good to me."
I glanced down at our linked hands. His hand felt so warm, so inviting. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have his whole body. While staring at our hands, daydreaming, I didn't notice his other hand go to my hip - but I sure as hell felt it.
I took a sharp breath in before looking up at him. It might be a hot day, but I was hot for a totally different reason.
The sexual tension between us was killing me. I wanted nothing more than to taste his lips. Was this what he was trying to prove to me? That we had the tension? That there was something between us?
Without overthinking it, without questioning myself, I ran my hands slowly up his arms, over his biceps, stopping on his shoulders.
My mind might be warning me, but my body was in full control.
"Chloe, I.." he started, but it was me silencing him - with my lips.
At first, he was still. His lips didn't move against mine and I was about to withdraw thinking I had made the biggest mistake. Here he was showing me a great day as a friend, and I was the one breaking the silent promise between us.
Just as I went to pull back and start apologizing, his hands wrapped around my back and pulled me in closer and then it was his lips doing all the moving. He kissed me as if he had been dying to do it since we met. He kissed me like I was his one and only need.
I kissed him back with just as much passion, my lips opening just slightly as his tongue slid in. We were kissing as if we were in our own private world. He didn't care that there were people walking around us or staring, and I guess I didn't care either. All day I had wanted this, and all day I had thought he wouldn't give it.
A small moan escaped my lips, and it seemed to make him hungrier. His mode switched up a gear, and suddenly I was in the air, my legs wrapping around his waist. There wasn't much fabric between me and him and I think he realized that too.
Just as his hands ran up my back, there was a buzzing on my leg coming from his pocket. He ignored it and continued to kiss me like I was the only female on the planet.
I ran my hands up his neck, in his hair and clung to him, feeling his tight muscles against my body.
Again, the buzzing.
This time it was me who pulled away.
"You should really get that."
Frustration was painted across his face, but he nodded. His eyes were still on my lips as he answered the phone.
I slowly slid down his body.
"What?"
I leaned back against the bike. I needed something to hold me up.
"I'm coming."
He hung up. That was a short conversation. I arched an eyebrow up at him.
"Something up?" I asked.
He nodded his head. The lust from before was completely gone. "We need to go." He handed me a helmet.
"Something wrong?"
He didn't answer, but straddled the bike and kicked it to life.
I guess I wasn't getting an answer. I threw my leg over the bike and wrapped my arms around Chase just in time for him to take off.
***
So, when Chase was in a hurry, I assumed we were heading back to the clubhouse. I wasn't expecting to arrive at the hospital and, as soon as we got here, Chase was in a hurry, so I couldn't ask him why we were here.
For some reason, I also felt like I couldn't. He was too serious.
We took the elevators up.
I was beginning to think that something was seriously wrong. Maybe one of his brothers was hurt. The elevators doors opened up.
"CHASE!"
Bones. I didn't know why they called him that, but it seemed bikers all had nicknames apart from Chase. He didn't have one that I knew of.
"I've been calling you all day!" Bones’s voice was rude and rough. "So you ditched your responsibilities to hang out with some girl."
"Bones." Chase said his name as if it was a warning.
"So your brother gets shot and instead of answering your phone, you were too busy hooking off with some girl."
Chase remained quiet.
"GIRLS AREN’T WORTH IT!" Bones's shouting caused the nurses at the desk to look over. "Especially some girl you picked up off the road! A freeloader!"
Okay, the ground could swallow me now.
"Where's Oliver?" Chase seemed angry, but was redirecting the conversation.
"Why should you care? After all, you proved that the only important thing to you is your dick. You should know being President comes first, but clearly, you have forgotten about that."
Being unwanted was one thing, but knowing I was causing Chase to forget his responsibilities was another. I was in the way, I wasn't wanted and I shouldn't be here.
I slowly backed away until I felt the wall behind me. Feeling for the buttons, I pushed it.
"Only a stupid man would let a pussy rule him." Bones wasn't done giving Chase a lecture.
He was right. What was I thinking that Chase could take a step back from his life?
The elevator doors opened up and I stepped into it, just in time as Chase turned.
"Chloe, where…"
I gave him a smile, even though my eyes were brimming with tears. He quickly walked to the elevator doors, but they closed just in time.
I pressed the ground floor twice. It felt like the elevator was taking ages. The quicker I got away, the better. Chase needed to deal with his family and his club. He didn't need me around.
The doors opened.
I stepped out, ready to make a beeline for the exit, but I couldn't. My eyes widened.
"Chloe, don't leave." Chase was panting in
front of me. How fast did he take those stairs to beat me?
He would have had to run.
"Chloe, are you listening?"
"Chase, you're busy. I shouldn't be here," I stuttered out.
"Chloe, Bones is an old man. What he said doesn't matter."
"It does."
"Just stay, okay?" He reached out for my hand, taking it. "Please."
Now, did I go with my heart and stay, or did I listen to my brain and run?
Chapter 24
Chloe's Point of View
"Wait, Oliver was shot?" My mind was spinning from all the things Bones said, and it registered too late that my only friend was hurt.
Chase nodded his head. "I don't know how bad."
"Well, you should go! Go find out!"
"Chloe, I will, if you come with me." His words were firm and calming, and I couldn't understand how calm he was.
"Fine." I didn't even think of my answer. I didn't listen to my brain that was screaming at me to get out now. No, I listened to my heart that wanted to be with Chase, that wanted to know how badly hurt my friend was.
I pushed the elevator button again and the doors opened.
Chase's hand ran down my back. "You okay?"
"I should be the one asking YOU that." I turned and looked up at him. His expression was calm, but that careless smile he had on his face earlier today was gone.
The elevator doors opened back up and then it hit me. If Bones’s reaction was like that, what would his brothers’ reaction be? Suddenly, I was letting Chase go first as we walked to the waiting room
"Any news?" Chase's voice was the only one I heard.
"It's Oliver, I'm sure he will have us waiting all darn day," Declan's voice answered, "Hi Chloe."
So I wasn't invisible.
I stepped out of Chase's shadow. "Declan." I gave him a half smile, and it was now I noticed how calm everyone was.
All eyes were on Chase. It was as if the McKenzie brothers didn't need to voice their opinions. No, it was all being said silently between each other. I couldn't read each expression, but they were all asking the same thing. Why didn't Chase answer his phone?
His family always came first so it made no sense to me whatsoever that he didn't answer his phone. Was spending the day with me, one on one, that important to him?
