Page 12 of The Biker’s Secret Claim (Chaos Brothers MC #2)

Ghost

I lean against the wall in the backroom of Nicole’s office, jerking my cock hard and fast as I breathe in the honey sweet scent of her still on my beard. I’ve got at least ten minutes before Tennessee shows up, so I’ve gotta get this out of my system now.

What the hell was I thinking letting myself touch her, letting myself feel anything? Fucking hell. I thought I could leave it all there, one moment and nothing more. Now suddenly, ten minutes away from her feels like a lifetime.

This is why I don’t do shit like this!

I’m not sure I’m ever going to get the vision of her crawling to me out of my head. And that view of her riding that rubber dick while she sucked me off… fuck!

I grit my teeth as come spills from my cock and onto my hand. I need to get a fucking grip and get her out of my head. I’m here to fix the door because she’s in a pinch. There’s nothing more to it. Never will be.

I tell myself that again and again as I wash my hands in the bathroom just left of the office. She keeps a fruity soap that also reminds me of her.

Damn it! I need to nip this right here and now. There’s no reason for her voice to linger in my head, no reason for me to think about her ever again.

She’s too damn sweet, too damn young, too damn everything I shouldn’t fucking want. Besides, where would this go? Sure, we could have a few fun nights, but I have no intention of settling down. I wouldn’t even know what the fuck to do with any of that.

She deserves more than me. She said she wanted more than what I have to offer.

I splash some of the cool water on my face then step out of the bathroom and into the shop where Tennessee stands with a plate of glass. He’s a big guy, maybe even a little bigger than me.

“Dude, you said you weren’t going to fuck with her. She has a boyfriend.”

I drag in a heavy breath. “They broke up. It… things got a little wild but I’m fixing it.”

Tennessee lowers his head and stares toward me with a look that says I should know better. “Duke would lose his fucking shit if he were here.”

“We’ve already talked about how Prez isn’t here. They put me in charge for a reason.”

Tennessee shakes his head. “Don’t know the fuck why. You’re acting like you don’t have a brain in your head.”

“I had an off-night. You know I don’t do this shit.”

“Let’s keep it to just one off-night.” He shifts the weight of the glass panel in his hand. He’s measured it to size and cut it down before he came up here. “You got that side?”

I grab the other end, steadying it before we slide it into place against the front grooves in the door. It’s a perfect fit, and I owe him one for making the cut and meeting me out here so late at night.

“So, what’s with this girl,” he finally says. “You’re right. It ain’t like you to lose focus over a woman, or anything for that matter. Whoever this is has you all twisted up.”

I clench my jaw, over-tightening the screws into the frame with more force than necessary. “It’s one night, man. That’s it. It’s over now.”

Tennessee lifts an eyebrow, checking the frame. “Yeah? One night that got the door to her shop busted out. Something tells me it was one to remember.”

“That it was.” I roll my shoulders back.

“But still, just one night. It’s not gonna mean anything tomorrow.

” The second I say the words, I know it’s a lie.

Her face will be branded into my memory forever.

It’ll be etched somewhere I won’t be able to reach, taunting me like a future I could’ve had for the rest of my life.

I hate this.

Tennessee wipes his hands on his jeans before flashing me a knowing look. “That’s a fucking lie and we both know it. I’ve known you the better part of twenty years. I’ve never seen you act so fucking messy.”

“It is what it is.” I pace back to the toolbox he sat by the door, then back again.

As much as I’d love to admit that I fell head-over-heals or whatever for Nicole tonight, I know it’s not real.

It’s hormones. It’s a combination of life events.

It’s weird shit that led us here. Not love, and not feelings.

They were just actions. The second I start believing otherwise, I’m a fool.

I run my hand over my beard, breathing in the damp musk that’s made its way into the shop. “She’s twenty something, man. She’s got her whole life ahead. I’m not gonna be the ship that sinks her.”

“But you want to be,” Tennessee says with a grin.

“It ain’t that deep, man. What about you? If you’re giving me all this shit advice, you should give yourself some. Maybe you’re transferring your thoughts on to me.”

“Look who’s spent some time in the crazy clown tent.”

“Well,” I grab a Coke from the little fridge and hand one to my buddy, “why are you alone?”

He huffs out a laugh and stands straighter. “Ain’t met no one worth marrying yet. Besides, I’ve got other shit to focus on. All you assholes keep me busy.”

“Has seeing Hank get a girl made you see the light?”

He rolls his eyes and grabs his toolbox off the ground. “You’re ridiculous. There’s no girl out there looking for a guy like me. I don’t have that pretty boy face you’ve got.”

“Pretty face?” I laugh. “Damn, man. You’re coming on pretty strong tonight. First the favor, and now this.”

Shaking his head, he pushes the door open and steps out into the drizzling night as I lock the shop up behind us.

“How you giving those keys back?” he groans, climbing up into his truck.

“Told her I’d leave ‘em in the mailbox at the town hall. She said she’s got extra.”

He grins, tugging the brim of his cap as he says, “Or you could take them back yourself and make sure she gets ‘em.”

I glance down at the sidewalk, watching the water slide in thin streams toward the gutter. “It’s late, and I told you a thousand times. It was one night. No need to see her again.”

The lie sits between us, heavy and knowing.

He nods slowly, but he doesn’t respond. Maybe it’s because deep down we both know who I am.

I’m the kind of man who doesn’t let people linger. Never have, and never will .