“We’re um…not open yet,” Gina was batting her eyelashes at him.
“Oh,” he gave her a shy smile. “Sorry. I was just walking by and wanted to drop in and say hi to Brea. I guess I was operating on auto-pilot or something.” He nervously shoved his hands in to the pocket of his jeans.
The corners of Gina’s mouth lifted in an intrigued smile.
“You were looking for Brea?”
“Yeah,” the guy started to blush. Gina nodded knowingly to herself. So this was the reason for Brea’s happiness. And who could blame her? The guy was impossibly handsome and sexy with just the right amount of bad boy edge.
“She’s not in today,” Gina explained. “She’s visiting her brother,” she felt compelled to say more, to keep the handsome guy within her sight for as long as she could.
“Oh, yeah, of course,” he gave a nervous little laugh. “No problem. Thanks again.”
The door chimed as he left. Gina watched his perfect ass in his jeans depart from the store. Her pulse was racing by the time he’d left.
Chapter 51
Sylar ached both from lack of sleep and from the worries which gnawed at his every conscious thought. Brea was blissfully unaware of his inner anguish as she stood by the front door, waiting for her cab to arrive.
“I’ve had so much fun,” she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Sylar had to admit that for a while he’d had fun too. But as soon as he’d seen Miles’ picture all his enjoyment had been overshadowed by worry.
“It was good seeing you,” Sylar reached for his sister and gave her a wildly tight hug. It felt good to hold her close but also strange. Brea was so much taller than the girl he’d had to look out for all those years ago. She was a woman now. But Sylar still felt the need to protect her, especially from someone as dangerous as a Blood Pact member.
A part of him wanted to just yell at her, to scream until he lost his voice about how she needed to stay away from Miles. But he knew that if he did that he’d just be effectively pushing her in to her lover’s arms. No, he needed to be more subtle about his dislike for Miles and hope that it would be enough to make his sister see sense.
“Feels like only yesterday I was living here,” Brea sighed as they parted from their embrace.
“It pretty much was,” Sylar agreed. “You’ve barely been away. You don’t want to go rushing in to anything.” He chose his words carefully and registered Brea’s response. He saw her bristle beneath the turquoise playsuit she was wearing. A hand drifted up to her neck and began to massage the back of it.
“I’m not rushing in to anything,” she insisted plaintively.
“You seem pretty loved up to me,” Miles folded his arms across his chest. “I just hope he’s on the same page.”
“Of course he is!”
“So you guys have talked about the future?” Mile queried. He didn’t like what he was doing. Every word he spoke felt like bile in his mouth. But if Brea started asking Miles about their future and where their relationship was going it would be the ultimate deterrent, especially to a Blood Pack member. Those guys were notoriously nomadic with relationships adopting a “wherever they leave their hat” policy.
“Sure, we’ve talked about the future,” Brea nodded but her bleak expression revealed the truth.
“Good,” Sylar rested a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “Because he’d be a fool not to want to marry you.”
“I didn’t say we’ve discussed marriage,” Brea frowned, shrugging him off.
“Why not?” Sylar persisted. “That’s where the relationship is headed, isn’t it?”
“Won’t I seem like a bit of a bunny boiler to be asking about marriage already?”
“Not if you’re serious about him.”
Pouting thoughtfully, Brea turned back to look through the window. The street outside remained empty; her cab yet to arrive.
“I am serious about him,” she eventually concluded.
“Then you probably should be discussing marriage.”
“Sylar,” Brea sighed his name as she spun around to look at him. “Are you saying this because you genuinely care about my future or because you’re hoping I’ll look like some sort of crazy person and scares Miles off?”
Sylar was stunned into silence. Brea was more perceptive than he’d given her credit for.
“I didn’t expect you to be overly keen on me being in a relationship,” she frowned at him. “But I’d hoped for at least your support.”
Lowering his head Sylar could feel the tips of his ears burning with shame. She was right, of course she was right and under any other circumstance he would have been supportive. But Miles wasn’t just a regular guy, he rode with the Blood Pact and that made him unpredictable and dangerous.
“I genuinely care about your future,” Sylar promised. And he truly did. The only reason he wanted her to break things off with Miles was because he cared about her future. He didn’t want her getting embroiled in any pack problems. And there were definitely problems brewing. The very fact that Miles, and some of his cronies, had taken up residence in Colridge was extremely troubling. The Blood Pact were planning a strike, the question was when would it happen?
“Oh, cab’s here,” Brea clocked the yellow car as it slid up to the curb and stopped. She shouldered her bag and gave her brother a sad smile.
“Will you at least meet him?” she asked, cocking her head to the side the way she used to do when she was a little girl, whenever she was trying to get her way.
Sylar knew it would be a terrible idea for him to meet Miles. What if Miles recognized him? Or worse, what if Miles was only even dating Brea to get to him? Sylar shuddered at the thought but he wouldn’t put such behavior past the Blood Pact. Smith’s scars were a painful reminder of just how far they’d go the protect their turf and the kind of depths they were willing to sink to.
The cab driver was now honking his horn, the sound cutting through the peaceful stillness of the street. But Brea didn’t move, she stood staring at her brother, her eyes wide and expectant.
“Brea…” Sylar fumbled for an excuse.
“You’re meeting him,” Brea concluded for him, swinging open the front door with unnecessary force. “You can’t possibly dislike someone you’ve never met,” she continued as she stepped out in to the late afternoon sunshine.
“Meet him first. And if you still don’t like him, then fine.”
“I never said I didn’t like him,” Sylar protested as she strode down the driveway towards the waiting cab. He tightened his fists as he noticed the cab driver cast an appreciative sweep of a glance up his sister’s bare legs.
“You didn’t have to,” Brea shot back over her shoulder before bundling herself in to the cab. Sylar groaned and cracked his knuckles as she watched her drive away. He sensed that removing Miles from her life was going to prove tougher than he’d originally hoped.
Chapter 52
Brea threw herself against her bed, savoring its familiar scent. It was actually really good to be back in her apartment. As nice as it was to go back home, this space felt truly just like hers; a space she didn’t have to share or compromise with anyone. She bunched the sheets in her hands and wriggled against the bed, wishing it could somehow swallow her whole and trap her inside.
The whole trip back to Colridge she’d been thinking about Sylar and how he didn’t seem to like Miles. But he was never going to like anyone she dated. In that regard, he was behaving like the over protective parent. But Brea didn’t want him to have to act like that any more. She wanted him to be her brother, her friend.
With a sigh Brea sat up and looked around the room. Everything was just as she’d left it, frozen and awaiting her return. Chewing her lip she fumbled for her cell phone in her playsuit pocket. She swiftly scrolled down to find Miles’ number. Her body ached with desire as she looked at the now, familiar pattern of digits. She’d missed him terribly. Being on her bed only made her miss him more wishing he was there with her, his limbs ta
ngling up with hers.
Not wasting another moment to deliberation she called Miles. After three rings he answered.
“Hey, babe,” his voice was so warm and delicious it sent shivers down her spine. She heard the click of a door closing and wondered where he was.
“Hey,” Brea bounced excitedly on the bed. “I’m back in Colridge now. What are you up to?”
“Coming over to see you,” Miles replied flirtatiously. Brea giggled with delight. She wanted to rest her head against his strong chest and feel his powerful arms wrapped around her.
“I’ve missed you,” she told him shyly.
“I’ve missed you too.”
Brea was smiling. She’d been gone just one night and he’d missed her. He clearly cared about her deeply, just as she did with him. Was marriage in their future? She didn’t dare ask but she’d certainly fantasized about it. She loved Miles. Every fiber in her body told her so. She thought of her brother, and how she sensed he was trying to get her to behave in a way which would push Miles away. Biting her tongue she held in any talk of marriage and a future together. Instead she opted to live in the moment.
“I’m taking off my clothes,” she told him seductively as she fumbled for the zipper to her playsuit. “You’ve got ten minutes to get here before I start playing with myself.”
“I’ll be there in five.” Miles hung up and Brea dropped back against the bed, giggling with excited delight before quickly shedding her clothes.
Chapter 53
“Wait, what?” Smith placed his bottle of beer down on the table and frowned at his friend.
“Brea’s dating a member of the Blood Pact,” Sylar repeated sourly. He couldn’t keep the secret to himself any longer. By his second beer he’d been bursting to tell Smith all about Miles and now he was on his fourth, which meant the truth came tumbling out like word vomit.
“Seriously?” Smith looked truly astonished. “You’re sweet, innocent little sister?”
“Yep.”
“Well,” Smith rolled his eyes and gently shook his head. “She won’t be sweet and innocent much longer.”
“Hey,” Sylar growled, kicking at his friend beneath the table. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”
“And she’s busy being railroaded by a member of the Blood Pact. You know as well as I do how they treat women. They’ll be passing her around like some sort of joint.”
Sylar could feel his heart hammering angrily in his chest, could hear its echo in his ears. He wanted to think that Smith was wrong but he knew the truth. To the Blood Pact women were objects. Maybe it hadn’t happened yet but Miles would ruin Brea. He’d take what made her special – her innocence, her sweetness, and destroy that.
“You think he’s with her to get to you?” Smith wondered anxiously.
“The thought had crossed my mind,” Sylar admitted sourly, gazing sadly at his half empty bottle of beer, the contents no longer cold but luke warm.
“Mmm,” Smith finished off his own beer and raised his hand to order them another round. “No wonder you were so fired up over this guy this morning.”
“Yeah,” Sylar agreed, recalling how he’d felt when he saw Miles’ picture.
“Did you tell her he rides with the Blood Pact?”
Sylar shook his head. “Brea doesn’t even know that I’m with the Reapers. If I tell her about her boyfriend being with the Blood Pact it opens up a whole can of worms that I don’t really want to get in to.”
“But if you told her she’d end it with him, right? It’s too dangerous to let them carry on being together.”
“I know, I know.” But if Brea knew the truth about Miles she’d also be learning the truth about Sylar. She’d find out all the things he’d done for the Reapers, all the blood that was on his hands. He risked not only Miles losing his sister, but also himself. He wasn’t even fully convinced that it would scare her off of Miles, but it was sure to hit a sore spot with his relationship with his sister.
“So say you withhold the truth,” Smith leaned forward, lowering his voice. He loved a good conspiracy.
“You don’t tell Brea he’s with the Blood Pact. You’ve still got the break them up.”
“Yeah,” Sylar agreed, draining the last of his warm beer.
“You can’t let her stay with him.”
“I know,” Sylar’s voice became strained as two fresh bottles of beer arrived at their table courtesy of a buxom waitress. Smith leaned back in his chair to thank her and give her a suggestive wink. She giggled coyly, batting her eyelashes and then walking off with an extra swing in her step.
“It’s just that she seems really keen on him and I fear that breaking them up…” he sighed and reached for his fresh beer.
“Breaking them up means breaking her heart,” he concluded sadly.
“It’s a risk you’ve got to take,” Smith replied fiercely. “Either you break her heart or the Blood Pact break every bone in her pretty little body. As her brother, which would you rather?”
“Neither.” Sylar felt helpless. Either way Brea was going to get hurt. As her brother he’d failed to protect her, failed to shield her from the darkness of his world.
“The heart is a mighty resistant muscle,” Smith tilted his new beer towards his friend and gave a knowing smile. “It can bounce back from all sorts of things. And the scars you wear down there,” he placed a hand against his chest, “no one can see them. But the other scars,” now his hand raised slowly to his cheek where the skin was mottled and tight. “You wear them forever,” he concluded sagely.
Chapter 54
Brea pulled Miles in to her apartment as soon as she opened the door, showering him in kisses. They’d only been apart for a few days but she felt like she’d missed him so much she could burst. He wrapped his strong arms around her slim waist and kissed her passionately. She could feel the hunger in his kisses, the longing.
They didn’t utter a single word as they staggered together towards the bedroom. They could just sense what the other wanted. As she stepped towards the bed Brea hurriedly shed the dress she’d been wearing. Only an hour earlier she’d carefully picked it out as she liked the way it made her legs look long and slender. She imagined sitting across from Miles at dinner and flirtatiously lowering the neckline a fraction while chewing her lip. But the moment she’d seen him she’d lost her appetite for food and hungered for something more carnal.
Once they were both naked they tumbled together on to the bed, a collection of knotted limbs. They were still kissing. Brea loved how Miles tasted. She wanted to kiss him until her lips were numb. As they kissed his hands navigated the curves of her bare body. She trembled with desire as his fingertips grazed her inner thigh.
“God, I missed you,” she uttered breathlessly as he carefully eased his fingers inside her. She was already so wet she thought she might climax any second.
“I missed you too,” Miles growled the words in her ear. Brea shuddered deliciously. She loved the deep resonance of his voice, each word sounding like it had been delivered from the pit of his stomach.
He kept easing his fingers in and out of her as they writhed together on the bed. Brea could feel the flush spreading over her face, felt the tingle down in her pussy. Curling her toes she gasped in delight as she came. Miles grinned as he turned her over so that she was on all fours.
“You’re so sexy,” he declared as he reached for her hips and guided her body into position.
The sex was hard and fast but extremely satisfying. Breathing heavily they finally parted, falling on to their backs and lying side by side on Brea’s gaze, gazing up at the ceiling.
“We might have missed our reservation,” Miles noted with a sprinkle of good humor.
“Ha, yeah,” Brea agreed. She gently reached across the bed for his hand and interlinked it with her own.
“We could order take out or something,” he suggested.
“Sounds good.” At the suggestion of food Brea’s stomach growled in yearning. “Seem
s that I’m pretty hungry,” she laughed.
“Did you have fun staying with your brother?” Miles asked, his gaze held on the ceiling above them which was covered with cracked paint.
“Yeah,” a smile pulled on Brea’s lips as she remembered playing Candy Land with Sylar. It had been fun, like a pleasant trip down memory lane. But then he’d been strange about Miles. She sensed that he was trying to goad her in to scaring him away but why? Her smile fell and she turned on her side to face Miles.
The fresh ink of the tattoo she’d done on his chest stood out against his pale skin. The red soreness beneath it was gone so it just looked clear and impressive. Brea traced the line of some of his scars with her fingertip. He had so many. They ran a dark map over his torso. Many looked as if they’d been made from deep, dangerous wounds.
Miles (Highway Reapers MC): Inked Hearts Page 13
