by KE Osborn
I open my eyes wide as I try not to laugh at him. “Wow.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, okay, sorry, even I think it was a step too fucking far. I need to go shoot something now to get my balls back.”
I burst out laughing as cuddle into his side, he leans in kissing the top of my head. “Tell anyone I said that… you’re the first one I take aim at… at shooting practice.”
I giggle. “Noted.”
We detach from each other and continue sitting at the bar sipping on our respective drinks when a group of brothers stride into the clubhouse. My blood brothers—Sensei, Surge, Scratch, and Vibe. They’re all laughing about something we’ve obviously missed out on as they waltz in like they’re all king dick. I chuckle at the group stride.
Torque bobs his head at me as the rest make their way over to the chapel. Sensei spots me and heads my way. “Neala. Good, I’m glad you’re here.”
I raise my brow. “You are?”
“Yes.” He glances up at Ruby. “Rubes, can Lala borrow some of your workout gear? We’re about to go train.”
Excitement bubbles inside of me. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another training session with Sensei, but I’m sure as hell willing to have another one today. Training with him makes me feel like I can do anything. It takes me to new heights. It makes me believe in myself. After this morning with Mia, I’m already feeling like I can do great things. Another round of ego boosting won’t hurt me at all.
“Sure thing. Lala, you know where they are. Go for it!” Ruby states.
“Neala all hot and sweaty, I’d like to see that,” Zane murmurs.
I reach out slapping his bicep. “Okay. Thanks, Sensei. I’ll get changed and meet you back here in just a moment.”
He bows his head as I bounce from the stool and head off running down the hall toward Ruby’s room. I grab her clothes, then head to my room to quickly get changed. I really need to bring a set of workout clothes and leave them here.
Getting changed in record-breaking time, I race back out into the clubrooms, stretching my arms across my body as I go. As I bound in, I slam into a body as I round the corner. His arms come out steadying me while I stumble from the sudden impact. The tingle emanating from the warmth of his fingers lets me know who it is instantly. My head slowly glances up to see intense brown eyes staring me down.
“You look like you’re excited about something,” Tremor simply states while helping me stand straight, his fingers slowly let me go. The tingle dissipates as his touch leaves me, but the spark is still definitely surrounding us as we stare at each other.
Licking my lips slightly as they suddenly became dry, I take a slow breath. “Going to train with Sensei.”
The corner of his lip turns up. My chest squeezes, my stomach flips at how fucking gorgeous he looks right now. We’ve been at each other’s throats or threatening to rip each other’s clothes off, so it’s nice to see him simply smiling.
“I’d love to see that,” he teases.
I scrunch up my nose, shaking my head. “Nuh-uh, not happening.” A bright smile lights my face.
He chuckles. “Naw, c’mon, just a little peep show?”
I reach out slapping his chest playfully. He grabs my wrist against his chest as our eyes meet again. My breathing hitches as we stare intensely. My pulse quickens, he licks his lips, in turn making me lick mine. I want to kiss him so fucking badly, the energy pulsing around us is making my body tingle. It’s like every inch of my body can feel my heart beating and is pulsing with each pump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
He inches closer, my breath catches as butterflies flutter in my stomach.
Is this it? Is he going to kiss me?
“You ready?” Sensei calls out from the other end of the hall.
I blink a few times as I’m dragged out of the intense-as-fuck moment with Tremor.
He drops my hand from his chest, takes a step back while clearing his throat. Then he smiles weakly. “Have a good session.” He turns rushing away before I get a chance to say anything as Sensei steps up to my side with a furrowed brow.
“Did I say something?” he asks.
I exhale. “No… it’s just us.”
He lets out a small chuckle while wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “C’mon, let’s let out some frustrations in the silos, hey?”
I bounce on my toes. “Yes, please.”
NEALA
Just like last time, I’m a sweaty, stinky mess. Sensei sure knows how to work a woman. I feel for Sass, but knowing her, she’d love the kind of punishment I’m sure he would give her. But I honestly don’t want to start thinking about it as we walk inside the clubroom after our intense defense class. He taught me some new things today like how if an attacker is grabbing you from behind, you stomp on their foot then force your ass backward, and it destabilizes the attacker. Then you have a chance to turn laying the smack down on them.
Sensei’s a great teacher, and I wouldn’t want anyone else showing me the ropes. Tough but methodical is how I would describe him. He doesn’t let you slack off, but he doesn’t make it all work, work, work either. He’d actually make a great dad. I’m sure when he has his own kids, and he’s teaching this to his own son or daughter one day, he’ll thrive at it just like his father, Hiro, did with him.
We bounce along happily into the clubroom, both of us smelling as bad as each other. Who am I kidding, I know I smell far worse than him. I worked a lot harder. He hardly built up a sweat. It comes naturally to Sensei, but he’s trained in this shit his entire life. This is my second time, cut me some slack.
Everyone turns to look at us as we walk in. Torque and Trax both look at me like they’re proud as punch.
“Have a good lesson?” Torque asks as they walk up to us, both turning their noses up, but say nothing as they stop in front of us.
“Yeah, Sensei’s really good. I’m enjoying this so much. I’ll be able to whip both your asses in no time.”
They both laugh as Trax shakes his head. “No way. I love you, kid sister, but you’ll never beat me in a fight. Torque sure, but me… nope.”
Sensei chuckles as I raise my brow. “Is that a challenge?”
“No. I’m never going to fight you, I don’t hit women.”
I laugh. “Afraid you’re going to get pussy-whipped more like it.”
Torque laughs loud. “What do you mean? He’s already pussy-whipped. I heard him singing ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman’ while vacuuming his and Sparx’s room this morning.”
Sensei and I burst out laughing while Trax folds his arms over his chest. “It’s a good song,” he mumbles under his breath. “Oh… and fuck you!” he grunts louder.
Sensei looks at me raising his brow. “Neala, I’ve been meaning to ask, are you coming with the club to Sass’s competition in Kentucky?”
My brothers both look at me. “Yeah, I thought it was a given,” I reply.
“Excellent. I know she will appreciate having your support there.”
Torque peers at me suspiciously. “How are you getting there, Lala? It’s a long drive. I doubt we’ll be making many pit stops. You should ride with someone.”
The hairs on my arm raise as I instantly think of riding on the back of Tremor’s bike for six hours. It sounds like heaven and hell all rolled into one.
Could I do that?
Would he want me to do that?
“Your head looks like it is about to explode, little sister. If you don’t want to ride with Tremor, I can match you with Renegade?” Torque asks.
Instantly, I tense all over. My skin prickling—not in a good way.
I look at him, shaking my head. “No, I’ll talk to Tremor, see where he sits with it. If he’s not good with it, then I’ll drive.”
Trax exhales glancing at Torque. “If worse comes to worst, I’ll ride, you can go in the truck with Sparx, and you can take turns driving.”
“See, we’ll figure it out.”
Torq
ue glances at Trax like there’s some kind of unspoken message being sent between them. I just can’t figure out what it is. “Talk to Tremor first, we’ll go from there.”
I take a deep breath. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
My body slumps as I sigh. “Okay, I’ll talk to him.” Smiling, I pat Sensei’s arm. “Thank you for today. I look forward to doing it again soon. But for now, I need a shower.”
Trax and Torque both nod excessively in agreement as I stick out my tongue at them. Turning, I head toward the hall, walking down the long, dark path. My room is pretty much near the end, but the walk will do me good. It will stretch out my calf muscles. Not that it’s that far, but any walk is better than no walk.
As I stroll along, I hear a door open. I don’t take too much notice as I continue, but suddenly a lanky frame steps in front of me blocking my path. I almost bump into him like I did with Tremor before my workout, but I pull up just before he has a chance to reach out and grab me. A shudder runs over my body as I look up to see the scarred face and the devilish eyes of Renegade staring down at me. His sinister smirk taking up his face as I cringe wanting to be anywhere but in front of him right now.
“Hi,” I murmur as I move to the right to dodge past him.
But he sidesteps with me.
Shit.
“Neala, it’s always a pleasure to see you.” The way he accentuates the word ‘pleasure’ makes my skin crawl.
My breathing escalates as I swallow a lump in my throat. But I don’t want to show him I’m nervous around him, so I look into his eyes, standing tall. “Did you need something?”
He grabs my arm spinning me so my back’s to the wall. It happens so fast I can’t think as he stands in front of me trapping me in. My senses heighten, my rapid pulse fires as a fine mist of sweat coats my skin.
“You know your father owed me a favor. He never got to pay his debt to me before he passed.”
My stomach sinks. “I’m sorry to hear that, but sometimes debts go unanswered, Renegade.”
His eyes harden as his grip on my arm tightens. “Sometimes debts are paid by kin, instead,” he sneers. I hear another door open in the hall. Sparx steps out making us both snap our heads to the side to see her.
My heart leaps into my throat, begging her with my eyes to say something. A crease lines her forehead as she looks at us, folding her arms over her chest. “Neala, can you, ah… come help me with the babies for a moment?”
I shake my arm free from Renegade’s tight grip, but he still manages to block me in. “I’m not finished talking to you yet, Lala.”
“Neala, I need you now. I can’t handle these babies on my own. I might have a meltdown if you don’t help me,” Sparx calls out looking frazzled.
I look up into his eyes with a sneer. “You don’t want to be responsible for letting the VP’s Old Lady have a meltdown, do you, Renegade?”
He grunts taking a step to the side. I waste no time in sliding out from his prison. I rush down the hall where Sparx reaches out yanking me to her. She pulls me inside slamming the door behind me.
“Shit!” I gasp out a relieved breath as she looks me over running her hand up and down my arm where he was holding me.
“You okay?” she blurts out. I look her over, the scared look she was portraying in the hall completely gone, now only a look of concern etches on her face.
I stand taller, while noticing the babies are sleeping soundly in their cribs. I tilt my hip with a chuckle. “You played him, didn’t you?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Think I could win an Oscar? Maybe I need to work on my fake tears, though. I couldn’t quite get them to come out…” She smiles.
Pulling her into a tight embrace, I snicker as she wraps her arms around me. “I love you.”
She pulls back. “I love you, too. But girl, you stink.”
I detach from her with a chuckle. “I know… sorry. I was heading to my room for a shower before captain douchebag interrupted me.”
She places her hand on her hip. “He do that often?”
I roll my shoulders. “It’s becoming more and more. Said Dad owes him one. Whatever the fuck that means. Guess he thinks I should be the one to repay the favor.” I roll my eyes. “Fuckhead.” There’s no way in hell I would ever ride with him. Torque must be out of his damn mind.
“Hmmm… I think you should tell Trax, probably Torque to—”
“Nah, telling them a member as old as Renegade is being a douche is complicated shit. I don’t want to start something in the club. Anyway, I’m sure I can handle him.”
Sparx grimaces. “Are you sure? Because from what I saw…” her eyes take on a caring motherly role, “… it didn’t look like you were handling it.”
“I hadn’t pulled out my moves yet. Sensei’s teaching me some epic shit. I could nail the bastard if I need to.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip. “Okay. But if you ever need to talk or want me for anything, you know my door is always open. We’re family.”
“Hell yeah, we are.” I walk over to the two matching cribs and look in. Rix and Grace are sound asleep. My heart warms looking at my baby niece and nephew.
They’re so innocent.
Also the first official biker brats of this generation.
Lord help them.
Chuckling to myself, I turn back toward Sparx. “You’ve really come into your own since having these little nuggets.”
She looks down at them, inhaling a deep breath. “Yeah, they’re my life. Them and Trax. Who would have thought?”
I pat her arm as we walk to her door, and she opens it. We both look out to check the hall for any unwanted passersby. The coast is clear, so I dart out toward my room with Sparx standing guard watching me the entire way. I turn smiling at her. She winks at me and I blow her a kiss as I step inside my room closing the door behind me. Taking a deep breath, I take a moment. Things with Renegade could have taken a turn for the worse if Sparx didn’t come out of her room. I’m going to have to find a way to thank her properly somehow.
But for now, a shower is in order.
I begin to yank off my clothes as I throw them haphazardly on the floor. I’ll pick them up when I come out then put them in the wash for Ruby. For now, my focus is on smelling human again. So, I walk into the bathroom then turn around locking the door behind me. Tremor made me promise to lock the bathroom door. He’s not here to reinforce it, but I feel like I need to anyway. So, I click the little switch over. Especially after my run-in with Renegade. A little extra safety while I shower feels like a good idea to me.
I step up to the alcove and turn on the water. I want it hot. Even though it’s summer, and I’ve just been working out, a cool shower should be on the cards, but I feel like I need a hot shower to wash off Renegade manhandling me. Steam instantly fills the room as the mirror turns foggy with the heat.
I step into the alcove, the harsh hit of the fiery liquid instantly has me flinching, but I toughen up, tightening my muscles and stepping under the water completely. The stream pummels against my flesh turning it instantly pink. The heat only just at a temperature I can stand as I throw my head under the stream, my hair clinging to my scalp as I let the water flow over my face, finally feeling like I’m washing him off me. I don’t know why I let Renegade get under my skin so much. No other brother here creeps me out like he does. No other brother makes me feel gross when they touch me. I feel like I could contract some kind of disease just from looking at him the wrong way. That statement might not be fair on him, but I really dislike the guy.
The heat of the shower is making my inner body temperature skyrocket. I know I can’t make this a long shower, so I get to work. I wash my hair. I wash my body. Scrubbing probably a little too zealously.
I can’t help but think of last time I was in here. Tremor came in. He saw me naked. He set my body alight. We had a moment. Thinking of that right now, teamed with the red-hot shower, is doing something to me. I’m beginning to feel lighthea
ded as my body tingles all over. I’m not sure if it’s the heat, the memories of Tremor, or just the exertion from training, but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.
I need to get out.
So, I turn off the shower. My head reeling, spinning slightly as I step out.
Wrapping a towel around my head, I grab another and begin to wipe my body down until I’m dry. Then I wrap my towel around myself, unlock the door, ready to go back into my room to get dressed.
Opening the door, my head is down trying to calm my spinning head, but as I walk out something catches my eyes. I glance up to see someone sitting on my bed. I let out a small scream as I jump back in a defensive block Sensei taught me.
Tremor chuckles, putting his hands up in surrender as he stands from the bed. “Hey, it’s just me.”
My head spins so fast, I feel way too hot as I stumble.
Tremor rushes forward grabbing my biceps holding me firm. “I got you,” he murmurs pulling me to him.
My stomach flutters as I glance up into his eyes. My eyelashes are batting rapidly trying to keep me from fainting. “This is becoming a habit for you, Tremor. Anyone would think you’re a pervert.”
He weakly smiles, but there’s something darker behind it. He’s here for a reason, not just to catch me when I fall from a too-hot shower. “I caught the tail end of something. I saw Sparx drag you into her room. Did you have a run-in with Renegade?”
Looking into his eyes I can see he won’t let this go. Tension ripples through me. As if to sense the apprehension pulsing in me, the vein in his neck throbbing as he scrubs at his face like he’s trying so hard to hold himself together right now. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.” The intensity in his eyes is alarming. It’s like a raging bull storming toward a sea of red. Tremor is the horned beast, and Renegade is the ocean of crimson blood about to drown in his own demise. I don’t know how he can go from laughing one second to this level of intensity the next. It sends a shock wave through the room. My head was already spinning, but now I feel like the whole room is quaking as I breathe heavily from the energy.
