Page 7

Tempest

I spotted Kasen stepping out of her house, and my blood instantly boiled. She was dressed to kill -- tight jeans, low-cut top, hair done up. But it wasn’t her outfit making me clench my fists. It was the punk waiting for her, leaning against a motorcycle with a cocky grin.

Goddamnit. I thought she was done with these games. And who the fuck let the asshole inside the compound? Without thinking, I strode across the street, boots pounding the pavement. Each step fueled my rage. How dare she pull this shit again?

Kasen’s eyes went wide as I approached. Good. Let her be surprised.

I watched indecision flicker across her face. She hesitated, glancing between me and her date. The punk straightened up, eyeing me warily. Smart move, asshole .

“Tempest,” Kasen breathed, her voice a mix of shock and something else. I felt my chest tighten.

I stopped in front of her, close enough to smell her perfume. It took every ounce of control not to grab her and throw her over my shoulder. My gaze burned into hers. A maelstrom of emotions churned inside me -- anger, jealousy, desire. I willed myself not to reach for her.

“Going somewhere?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous. The words came out as a near-growl, laced with barely restrained fury.

Kasen’s eyes flashed, a mix of defiance and uncertainty. She crossed her arms, a protective gesture I knew all too well. But I could see the slight tremble in her fingers, betraying her nervousness.

“It’s just a date, Tempest,” she retorted, her chin lifting. “You don’t own me.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I took a step closer, invading her space. “Is that what you think this is about? Ownership?”

Kasen’s resolve wavered, her voice less steady as she replied, “I… I can date whoever I want.”

I could see the rapid pulse at her throat. My hands itched to touch her, to remind her of what we had. But I held back, my anger and hurt fueling my restraint.

“You’re playing with fire, Kasen,” I warned, my voice rough. “And you’re gonna get burned.”

I took another step closer, my presence looming over her. The little shit with the motorcycle shifted uneasily, his eyes darting between us. Good. Let him squirm.

“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” I snarled, my words sharp as knives. “Trying to make me jealous?”

Kasen’s eyes widened, her breath catching. I could see the conflict in her gaze, the way she fought to maintain her composure. But I knew her too well. I could read every micro-expression, every subtle shift of her body.

Her cheeks flushed, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring her skin. I watched as her resolve crumbled under my intense scrutiny. Part of me wanted to back off, to give her space. But the larger part, the part consumed by jealousy and possessiveness, pushed me forward.

“Maybe I am,” Kasen admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She met my gaze, a challenge in her eyes despite the softness of her tone. “Maybe I want to see if you care.”

Her words hit me like a sucker punch. Of course, I cared. How could she not know? Hadn’t I expressed that I wanted her to be mine? The urge to grab her, to show her exactly how much I cared, was almost overwhelming. But I held back, fighting for control.

My expression softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through my hardened exterior. I saw Kasen’s eyes widen, catching a brief glimpse behind my walls. But I couldn’t let it linger. I couldn’t be weak, not now. “You know I do,” I growled, my voice rough with emotion I couldn’t fully contain. “But this isn’t the way.”

The words hung between us, heavy with implication. I watched Kasen’s face, saw the conflict in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, movement caught my attention.

The punk kid who’d dared to think he could take Kasen out, shifted uncomfortably. “Uh, I think I should…” he mumbled, backing away.

I didn’t even spare him a glance. My eyes were locked on Kasen as the kid retreated, the sound of his footsteps fading into the night.

“Yeah, get your ass out of my compound,” I said. “And don’t even think of ever coming back.”

Silence fell, thick and charged. Only the sound of his bike could be heard as he started it up and sped away. The air between me and Kasen buzzed like a livewire, with all the things we’d left unsaid for too long. I wanted to reach out, to touch her, but I held myself back. This moment felt precarious, like one wrong move could shatter everything.

Kasen’s eyes searched mine, and I wondered what she saw there. Did she see the storm of emotions I was barely keeping in check? The jealousy, the anger, the fear… and underneath it all, the raw, undeniable need for her? Every time I thought we were starting to sort things out, she pulled this shit.

I couldn’t take it anymore. The distance between us felt like a physical ache. Without thinking, I reached out, my hand brushing against Kasen’s arm. The touch was electric, sending a jolt through my body. I struggled to keep my voice steady as I confessed, “I can’t stand seeing you with anyone else.”

The words came out raw, honest in a way I rarely allowed myself to be. My fingers tightened slightly on her arm, a gesture both possessive and tender. I watched Kasen’s face, searching for her reaction, my heart pounding so hard I was sure she could hear it.

Kasen’s eyes widened, and I saw the moment her defenses began to crumble. She swallowed hard, her gaze locked with mine. The silence stretched between us, taut as a wire. I could feel the heat of her skin beneath my fingers, could smell the faint scent of her perfume on the night air.

“Then what do you want, Tempest?” Kasen finally asked, her voice a mix of challenge and hope. The words hung in the air, heavy with possibility. “After that first night… you haven’t tried to get that close again. What am I supposed to think?”

“I didn’t try to get…” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I followed you like a damn dog, tracking your every fucking move. It’s not like you didn’t see me.”

My mind raced. I wanted her safe. I wanted her by my side. I wanted to erase the memory of every other man who’d ever touched her. But most of all, I wanted her to understand what she meant to me, even if I couldn’t find the words to express it.

I took a deep breath, the cool night air filling my lungs. The decision crystallized in my mind with sudden clarity. I steeled myself for what came next.

“I want you with me, now and forever,” I declared. The words came out as a command, leaving no room for argument. My eyes bored into hers, challenging her to deny the electric current always sparking between us. “What the hell did you think I meant when I told you that first night that there was no going back?”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times. “You never came after me. I only said I needed to slow things down. Not put the brakes on entirely!”

“Jesus, Kasen.” I had to remember I wasn’t dealing with a thirty- or forty-year-old woman. Even at twenty-five, she was more immature than most women her age. Thanks largely to her dad, who babied all his girls.

Kasen’s breath hitched. I watched the emotions play across her face -- surprise, uncertainty, desire. Her teeth worried at her lower lip as she hesitated, the weight of the decision visibly pressing down on her shoulders. When I’d told her before there would be no going back, I’d thought for sure she understood. Had all this fucked-up shit happened because we hadn’t clearly communicated with one another?

I fought the urge to shake her, to demand an immediate answer. My nails dug into my palms, the familiar anger bubbling just beneath the surface, but I forced it down. This was too important to let my temper rule.

Kasen’s gaze searched mine, and I let her see everything -- my desire, my fear, my determination. I’d never been so exposed, so vulnerable. It took every ounce of control not to look away.

Finally, her expression softened. “Okay,” she agreed, her voice steady despite the tremor I felt in her arm. “Let’s date and get to know one another better. Not as Tempest, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Kasen, daughter of Tank, but just… us. And I’m not ready to tell my dad just yet. Unless you want to do the honors?”

Relief flooded through me, followed quickly by a surge of possessive triumph. I nodded sharply, already planning our next move. Together. It was more than I’d dared hope for, but now that I had it, I’d be damned if I’d let anyone take it away.

The tension in my shoulders eased slightly, but my mind was already racing ahead. “Fuck, no, I don’t want to tell Tank. Do I look like I have a death wish? Pack light. We need to move fast.”

“Pack? Where are we…”

I held up a hand. “Not telling you. But I think we need out of here for at least a few days while we figure shit out.”

Kasen nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension. As she disappeared into the house, I pulled out my phone quickly calling Viking. When the call connected, I didn’t even give him a chance to speak.

“Viking, I’m taking Kasen out of town. Need you to cover the jobs assigned to me.”

“What the hell, Tempest? We’ve got --”

“I don’t give a fuck what we’ve got,” I snarled, cutting him off. “Make it happen.” The club would understand. Eventually. Right now, all that mattered was getting Kasen away from here.

The creak of the front door had me spinning around. Kasen stood there, a small duffel clutched in her hand. Her eyes met mine, a mix of determination and fear swirling in their depths.

“Ready?” I asked, reaching for her hand.

She nodded, her fingers intertwining with mine. The touch sent a jolt through me, igniting a fire I’d been fighting to control for too long.

I led her to my bike, the chrome gleaming in the fading light. I took her bag and stowed it in my saddlebags. I’d need to head over to my place and grab a few things as well. As I swung my leg over, I felt Kasen hesitate.

“Second thoughts?” I asked, unable to keep the edge from my voice.

She shook her head, climbing on behind me. Her arms wrapped around my waist; her body pressed against mine. “No,” she said, her breath warm against my ear.

I kicked the bike to life, the engine’s roar drowning out the doubts threatening to creep in. “Stopping by my place, then we’ll head out.”

I rode over to my house, and saw Viking watching from across the street, looking all kinds of pissed, but at least he wasn’t heading over. I went inside and packed a few things, then carried the bag outside and shoved it into the other saddlebag. Getting back on my bike, I pulled down the drive and to the front gates.

The wind whipped past us, carrying away the last remnants of hesitation. Kasen’s arms tightened around my waist, her body molding against mine as we leaned into a curve. The rumble of the engine beneath us matched the pounding of my heart.

I felt it then -- a sense of rightness settling over me like a second skin. This was where she belonged. Where we belonged.

“You okay back there?” I called over my shoulder, my voice gruff against the rush of air.

“Never better,” Kasen shouted back, her laugh carried away by the wind.

My lips curved up a little. The road stretched out before us, an endless ribbon of possibility. Whatever fallout waited for us when we returned -- none of it mattered right now.

“Tempest,” Kasen’s voice was close to my ear, “What about the club?”

I tensed, my hands tightening on the handlebars. “They’ll understand,” I growled, more to convince myself than her. “And if they don’t… well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

The truth was, I didn’t know how this would play out. But with Kasen pressed against me, her trust evident in every mile we put behind us, I knew one thing for certain -- whatever came next, we’d face it together. And for now, it was enough.

The highway stretched endlessly before us, a dark ribbon cutting through the night. Kasen’s arms tightened around my waist as we leaned into a sharp curve. The roar of the engine drowned out everything but the pounding of my heart.

I pushed the bike faster, relishing the rush of adrenaline. With each mile, the suffocating weight of expectations fell away. Out here, we weren’t Tempest the Sergeant-at-Arms or Kasen, Tank’s daughter. We were just us.

A sign for a motel flashed by. My muscles ached from hours of riding. Kasen’s grip had loosened, her head resting against my back. Time to stop.

I pulled off at the exit and found the motel, then stopped in the parking lot, killing the engine. The sudden silence felt heavy. Kasen stirred, lifting her head.

“Where are we?” she mumbled, voice thick with exhaustion.

“Nowhere important,” I replied, swinging my leg over the bike. “Just a place to crash for the night.”

I held out my hand, steadying her as she dismounted. She stumbled slightly, legs stiff from the ride. Without thinking, I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Kasen looked up at me, her eyes wide in the dim light. The air between us was so thick with tension it practically hissed and spat. For a moment, I considered closing the distance, claiming her lips with mine. But now wasn’t the time.

“Come on,” I said gruffly, releasing her. “Let’s get some sleep.”

The night clerk barely glanced up as we entered, sliding a key across the counter without a word. Smart man.

The room was basic -- one bed, a rickety table, peeling wallpaper. But it was clean enough, and far from prying eyes. That’s all that mattered.

Kasen hesitated in the doorway, her gaze fixed on the single bed. I felt a flicker of uncertainty. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I’d pushed too far, too fast.

“I’ll take the floor,” I offered, my voice rough.

Kasen’s head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, a hint of her usual fire returning. “We’re both adults. We can share.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. As Kasen disappeared into the bathroom, I stripped down to my boxers and T-shirt, settling on one side of the bed. My body thrummed with awareness, every nerve ending on high alert.

When Kasen emerged, wearing an oversized T-shirt and little else, I had to clench my fists to keep from reaching for her. She slipped under the covers, her back to me, leaving a careful distance between us.

I had a feeling tonight was going to be a living hell, and I’d get little to no sleep.