Sufferance (The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 4)

by KE Osborn

He relaxes slightly lowering his fists. “They were trained, too, Neala. You have to learn at some point. You never know when understanding how to defend and fight back will come in handy.”

  Taking a deep breath, I bring my fists up. “Again.”

  His eyes narrow as his lips form a thin line, and he wastes no time lunging for me. I grip his hand yanking it up to the side as he comes in to hit me with his other hand, but I deflect that one too, quickly bringing my knee up between his legs kneeing him in the balls in my excitement.

  I make contact.

  Oh, shit!

  He suddenly gasps out loud as he drops his hands to his junk, huffing out a small chuckle. “Good… you caught me off guard.” He takes a step back as I wince while he bends over, his hands on his knees as he takes a few deep breaths.

  “Fuck! Sensei! I got caught up in the moment. I’m so sorry.”

  He laughs while shaking his head. “Don’t be. If there’s one way to disable a man, it’s a knee to the nuts.”

  I stand a little taller. “Got it! Do you need me to get someone? Sass? Dr. Kline maybe?” I mock as he straightens up smiling at me.

  “I’m fine. But for that, I’m working you for another hour.”

  My shoulders slump while I let out an audible groan. “Oh, man, really? I pity Sass if she ever pisses you off.”

  The corner of his lips turn upward. “Sass likes the way I punish her.”

  I shudder. “Okay, okay, enough chatting, more punching.”

  He laughs lunging at me again.

  My muscles ache, and I’m covered in sweat. I smell like one of my brothers after they’ve been to the gym.

  I’m disgusting.

  The last thing I want to be doing is going back into the clubhouse and chance running into a certain someone like this, but I need to get my clothes from Ruby’s room then grab Mia’s number from Zane.

  Walking into the clubhouse alongside Sensei, his arm is wrapped around my shoulders as we laugh, brothers and club girls’ watch us casually like this is nothing out of the ordinary. It’s one set of eyes that has me a little more on edge, though. Those intense brown eyes staring straight at Sensei and me like he’s wondering what’s going on. I tense up, Sensei looks at me obviously feeling my body stiffen beneath him.

  “You okay?” he asks.

  I sigh. “Yeah, just Tremor’s looking at us weird.”

  He glances at Tremor who tilts his head to Sensei in some kind of unspoken message. Sensei ignores him, preferring to keep walking us toward the bar. “Ignore him, he’s precious these days.”

  I laugh as we take a seat on the stools.

  Zane strides up to us. “Lala, just the girl I was…” He raises his eyebrows. “Sheesh! Woman, you smell like a man.” He snaps his head back, a couple of the brothers near us spin to look and chuckle while Ruby slides two glasses of water toward Sensei and me.

  “It’s a sign she’s worked hard, Zane,” Sensei defends me.

  “Yes, exactly. Thank you, Sensei.” I bow my head in respect.

  Zane plonks down on the stool beside me. “Well, I guess if this is your natural odor then—”

  “Shut up, douche,” I interrupt him by slapping the back of his head.

  He laughs while I subtly sniff under my arm as I bring my hand back down. I really do stink. I should shower as soon as freaking possible. “So anyway, asshat, I need Mia’s number so I can talk to her about this design job.”

  Pulling out his cell, he scrolls through his contacts then slides his phone across the bar. I pull out mine programming in her number. “Thanks again for this, Zane, it means a lot.”

  “No, she should be thanking you. Girl’s got no sense of style.”

  I snicker. “Why are guys so mean to their sisters?”

  He chuckles. “It’s built into our DNA. Plus, she’s older, so I have to be an ass. It’s an unspoken rule.”

  “You’re an ass toward everyone,” Ruby calls out making Sensei and I both laugh.

  “Oh, burn baby,” he calls back, winking at Ruby.

  Standing up, I subtly glance over at Tremor and notice he’s still watching me. Sighing, I look back at Sensei. “Thank you for teaching me. I hope we can do it again.”

  “We will, you still have much more to learn.”

  Smiling, I bounce up on my toes. “I look forward to it. But for now, I’m going to my room to shower so I can smell more like a woman again. Rubes, I’ll just go to your room, grab my clothes, then I’ll put these in the wash for you, ‘kay?”

  Her face lights up as she beams at me. “Sure thing, hon.”

  Spinning, I walk off down the hall toward Ruby’s room to fetch my clothes, then head to mine to have a hot shower, which will hopefully cure my aching, tired muscles. I also need to wash this smell away before I go anywhere near Mia. Then I have to go home and make myself presentable for my first paying job. I know I can do this. Zane believes in me, I do too. Now, I just have to show the world that Neala O’Shea is not a one-design wonder. I can take on anything thrown at me.

  All through my hot shower I think about my plans and wonder what room Mia’s going to have me designing. Hell, it might be the entire house for all I know. Whatever it is, I’m ready for it. I’m pumping myself up all while washing myself thoroughly. It makes me happy that I have a designated room at the clubhouse just for me. One of the many perks of having your brother as the president, but it’s also a downfall too sometimes. I think about Tremor and what a drama it’s caused. The fact Torque had words with Tremor all that time ago is what started this rift between us. I wish I could fix it—I don’t know how to at this point.

  Sighing as I rinse the last of the conditioner from my hair, I turn off the taps, stepping out of the shower. Noticing the mirror has fogged over as I grab for a towel and scrunch my hair, I wrap another around my body. A faint low drawl murmurs from the bedroom on the other side of the door. My heart skips a little as I look up wondering what the hell I just heard.

  Standing stock still, I hear the muffled noise again. I reach for the handle to open the door when suddenly it flies open, making me jump back in shock. The towel around my body springs open dropping to the floor, leaving me completely naked bar the towel around my head.

  “What the fuck!”

  TREMOR

  My body stiffens as I take in her nakedness. Sure, I’ve seen her bare chest before but never her in all her glory, and wet no less. She’s fucking perfect! I stand here gawking at her, her hands try in a frenzy to cover herself, but it’s not working.

  I see everything.

  “Tremor, shit. Turn around,” she yells while she bends down reaching for the towel. Yanking it up in front of her, she blocks my view of her gorgeous body.

  My cock’s so fucking hard right now I can’t even try to hide it while I stand here like a goddammed deer trapped in the headlights. She glances down to the bulge in my jeans, her breath catching in her throat as the feeling in the room seems to shift. The electricity and magnetism are hard to resist as her tense shoulders soften, and she hesitantly takes a step forward. The franticness in the room wanes, and it’s replaced with a buzz as her eyes turn from panicked to hooded.

  Shit.

  She steps closer to me, but right now I’m unable to fucking move. Her eyes glint like she’s unsure of her next move. Her breathing hitches while I watch her eyes move to mine. She licks her lips slowly, which in turn makes my cock throb with intensity.

  Fuck, I want her.

  I’ve always wanted her.

  That’s not the issue, never has been.

  She’s out of bounds.

  Off limits.

  I can’t go there with her.

  Not long after Torque kicked me out of her room, he came in search of me and told me in no uncertain terms that I should keep my hands off her no matter what she says. To make it clear, even if she states we both have his blessing we fucking well don’t. He said if I want my damn patch, then Neala’s off limits to the likes of me. I took that on a
nd ever since then I’ve backed off.

  But now she’s right in front of me, my eyes drop to the dewy beads of water caressing the tender skin of her collarbone. Fuck! I want to lick it as she pushes her chest out ever so slightly under her towel.

  She knows what she’s doing.

  Fucking woman.

  My breathing hitches as I bring a hand up to the edge of the doorway gripping it tight.

  “Lala,” I warn.

  She gazes up at me seductively. “Trem,” she murmurs in a low, sexy voice.

  Fuck, I love it when she calls me that.

  “You know we—”

  Unexpectedly, she drops her towel leaving her naked right in front of me. Moments ago she was scampering to cover herself, now the atmosphere in the room has changed. She’s trying it on with me. Flaring my nostrils, I try my hardest not to look, but I can’t fight it as I sneak a peek at her pert tits. They’re fucking perfect as she moves in so damn close I can smell the fruity body wash she’s used in the shower. Every single inch of me is throbbing. It’s taking everything in me not to reach out and touch her, but I know the second I do, I’ll cave, taking her back into the bedroom to show her what we’ve been missing out on all this time.

  But I can’t do that.

  Can I?

  Torque’s warning keeps messing with my head.

  Her intense green eyes darken, full of lust, as she presses her body against mine. I suck in a breath, hissing through my teeth as her hand cups my cock through my jeans and begins to rub. “Trem, no one would have to know,” she whispers, her mouth moving in connecting to my neck.

  Fuck.

  The pressure of her hand rubbing against my swollen cock makes me want to come right now as I close my eyes trying to figure out if this is really happening, or if I’m dreaming right now. Her teeth dig into my skin which causes me to let out a small groan while I grind my cock into her hand.

  Fuck! I’m getting too worked up.

  Her lips begin to move their way up my neck—toward my jaw, toward my mouth.

  It’s enough to snap me out of this trance she has me in. My hand comes out, and I grab her wrist stopping her from massaging my cock any further before I come in my damn pants. Her head pulls away from my jaw, and a look of confusion crosses her eyes as she realizes what’s happening.

  I exhale. “Lala—”

  She huffs, pulling back from me dramatically while screwing up her face. “You’re denying me?” she blurts out.

  I wince as she stands here with her hand on her hip completely unashamed.

  My damn cock’s pulsating, she’s naked in front of me—it’s so fucking hard for me to concentrate. “I’m denying us, Lala. You know what this is.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Why are you even here then?”

  Slumping my shoulders, I finally look away from her gorgeous body. “I wanted to see how your training with Sensei went.”

  “You came in while I was showering to ask about my self-defense class?” Her face scrunches. “Trem, that’s weird.”

  “I didn’t know you were showering. When you weren’t answering, I got worried maybe you passed out in the bathroom or… something else.”

  She huffs. “So you do care about me in some small way?”

  I stiffen my posture, snapping my head up to look in her eyes. “Of course, I care…” I exhale. “I care more than you know.”

  She storms to me, pushing past, heading into her bedroom. “Whatever, Trem, your actions say more than your words do right now.” She moves to the bed starting to get dressed like it’s totally normal for her to be pulling her clothes on in front of me.

  I feel like I should look away. Like I’m a voyeur for watching, but I can’t take my eyes off her. Stepping over, I grab her elbow, she turns to face me with hope beaming from her eyes. “I don’t want it to be this way.”

  “It doesn’t have to be.”

  Regrettably, I let her elbow go. “I have to go.”

  She huffs. “Right, be anywhere but with the girl you want to be with but refuse to.” My chest tightens at her words. She couldn’t be more right if she tried. I want to be with her so damn much. But I respect my president, her brother. I don’t want to step on any toes. I certainly don’t want to be thrown out of the club. If it means I have to adore Lala from afar while it tears my heart out, then I will. I fucking hate that it seems to be doing the same to her, though.

  She looks up at me, fear in her eyes, as she wracks her jaw from side to side. “You got a hot date?” she mocks.

  Tensing up, I take a step back from her. “I gotta go see Chloe.”

  Her face falls like I’ve just stabbed her through the heart with a thousand blunt knives, then twisted them for good measure. She turns, slumping onto the edge of her bed and exhales looking at the floor in defeat. My stomach churns. I hate leaving her like this, but it’s better this way.

  “Right, yeah… the mysterious Chloe.”

  I know what she thinks of me, of Chloe. If she ever found out the truth, she’d probably hate me for letting her feel this way. But sometimes you have to cause the ones you care for some pain in order for them to let you go.

  Sighing, I take one last look at her body—she has underwear on but her tits are still out sitting pert and perfect. Fuck my damn life. My cock pulses as I steady myself while turning to head for her door. “Lock your bathroom door, Lala.”

  She lets out a small laugh. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

  My muscles tense as I grip the door handle, I spin around to glare at her. “Lock the bathroom door, Neala,” I repeat sternly.

  The small turn up of her lips makes the world stop around us. How something so small can bring back so many memories in a simple gesture. The dimples in her cheeks make my chest ache. She has a smile which makes me happy to be alive. She makes me feel a little more human in a world full of chaos.

  “Okay,” is her simple reply. She always has a way of surprising me. Just when I think she’s going to fight me, she doesn’t.

  Tipping my head, I open the door only a crack, just enough for me to walk out. I don’t want anyone walking past to see her practically naked form. Who am I kidding, I want to be the only man to see her naked for the rest of time. But it’s not going to happen. I walk out closing the door behind me while letting out a heavy exhale. I hear a small chuckle as I turn to see Sparx strolling past me with a cheeky grin on her face.

  “That’s not your room, Tremor,” she murmurs as I tense up. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna say anything,” she adds as she keeps on walking down the hall.

  Rubbing my chin, I grimace as I start to head out to see Chloe. I have no idea what actually happened in there with Lala, but I know going to see Chloe is always a highlight for me. So I walk out into the clubroom to stroll out to my ride.

  After whatever that was with Lala, I have some explaining to do with Chloe.

  Pulling my ride up out the front of the apartment, I take a deep breath. Seeing Chloe always makes me feel two emotions. I’m happy to see her, of course, but sad too. For the obvious reason of how this must make Lala feel. I hate it, but I guess it’s for the best. If Lala thinks I’ve moved on, then that’s better for her to let me go.

  Yanking off my helmet, I slide it under my arm while walking to Chloe’s front door. Luckily for her, her apartment is on the ground floor. So, I rap gently on her painted green door. It swings open quickly. Her ghostly white face peers from behind the door sporting a bright toothy grin. She looks stunning today. Even if the five-foot-four woman is wearing her unicorn pajamas.

  I let out a stifled laugh at her attire. Showing no emotion at how I find her daywear funny, she gestures for me to enter. Walking inside quickly, I place my helmet on the table just inside the door, then lay a tender kiss on her forehead as I pass her.

  “So, how’s your day been?” she asks. Her chirpy voice warms my soul as she leads me straight through the tiniest living room in history and out the back to the small patio.

&n
bsp; I follow, and we take a seat on the two-seater wicker chair, the sound of the wood creaking beneath me as I sit. I groan wrapping my arm around her shoulders as she leans into my side. “Urgh, you don’t want to know.”

  She lets out her cute little laugh. “Mm-hmm, something to do with Neala, I’m assuming?”

  I sink back into the chair. With my free hand I reach into my pocket pulling out my packet of cigarettes. My trusty lighter comes out next, flicking open, as I light up the cigarette taking a drag. I flick the pack of smokes and the lighter on the glass table as I let out a long huff.

  “Do I really need to talk about this with you?”

  Her laughter fills the air as she pulls her legs up onto the chair, folding them like a little child facing me. Her eyes look tired, and she looks worn out. I know she’s having a rough time of it at the moment. She doesn’t need me adding my crap to her already large shit pile.

  “Tremor, I didn’t come down in the last storm. I know how much you adore Lala, you practically tell me all the time. I know you want to gain your patch more than anything, but seriously, this woman means something to you. I mean, I’m your damn cousin, and I can tell how much you adore her. Surely, your president can see you’d be good for her?”

  I inhale a long, strong draw of my tobacco. “I might be good for her, but Torque doesn’t see it that way. We’ve been over this, Chloe…” My fingers flick through my hair. “You shouldn’t be worrying about me in your condition. You need to keep positive thoughts in your mind.”

  She raises her brow. “Tremor, I have cancer. If I’m supposed to be staying healthy, you shouldn’t be smoking around me, dipshit!” she chides grabbing the cigarette from my mouth and butting it out on the table next to the lighter.

  I let out a small chuckle as I exhale my puff of smoke. Chloe giggles as she picks up the lighter assessing it. “Shit, is this the one I gave you?” she asks.

  “Yeah, for my eighteenth. I got a ‘D’ engraved on the skull… I take it everywhere with me. My two families combined in one small package.”

  “Aww shucks, cuz, you’re making me blush.”