Chapter17
1075 Words
Raine's POV
It was so heady and intoxicating, even if it wasn't a particularly pleasant smell. But on this man, it was the best thing I'd smelled in a long time.
I found myself leaning forward without meaning to, drawn in by the scent and the warmth radiating off him. My brain flashed back to the garage and our kiss. The way his hands had felt on my waist, and the way his mouth had moved expertly against mine like he'd been waiting for it his whole life.
I wanted that again. Jesus Christ, I wanted that so badly.
He finished tying off the bandage and looked up, his gray-blue eyes meeting mine. "There. All done."
"Thanks," I breathed. He didn't step back and neither did I.
Finally, he did, but he did not let go of my hand, "You know I never caught your name. We've been doing this dance for about a week now, and I still don't know what to call you."
I smiled despite the thoughts running through my head. "My name is Raine Mercer. Though I'm guessing you already knew the Mercer part."
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. You're definitely your father's daughter."
The comment immediately rubbed me the wrong way, and I pulled my hand back. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"No, no. Nothing bad!" He replied quickly. "Just an observation."
I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. "Speaking of observations, what did you do with my bike?"
He chuckled, and the sound did something really arousing to my groin. I tried to ignore it.
"What's so funny?" I snapped.
"Nothing. Just the way you said that."
"I'm serious, Maddox. If you f****d up my bike, I'm going to f**k you up. That's my baby."
He still had a smile on his face, but behind that smile was something a little darker now. "You know, most people who talk to leaders of bike clubs like this, don't live to tell the tale."
"Do I look like I care?"
Maddox chuckled again. "Relax. Your bike is fine. I would've brought it tonight, but I didn't ride it here."
"Well, you can bring it to the garage some other time," I offered, keeping my voice casual even though I knew exactly what I was doing.
"Some other time, huh?" His voice had turned even huskier, if that was possible.
"Yeah. Unless you're too busy."
"I'll make time."
There was a pause, and I realized he'd caught the invitation in my voice. I wanted him to visit again, and he knew it.
Then he cleared his throat and gestured to my hand. "Anyway, you're all patched up now."
I flexed my bandaged hand, testing the movement. It was tight but not uncomfortable. "Thanks. Though I guess this means I won't be doing any heavy work at the garage for at least a week."
"Yeah, probably not," he agreed. "Give it time to heal properly."
I sighed, already dreading the backlog of work piling up. "Great. Just what I needed."
"How old are you, anyway?"
The question caught me off guard. "What?"
"How old are you?" he repeated. "I'm curious."
"Twenty-five," I answered. "Why?"
"Just wondering."
I inclined my head, studying him. "What about you? How old are you?"
He hesitated and I saw the quick shift in his expression. He didn't want to answer.
"Come on!" I insisted. "It's not a hard question."
"It's not important."
"Oh, so now you're being evasive? That's rich coming from the guy who just asked me about my own age."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not a big deal."
"Then just tell me."
"Mercer..."
"Maddox, if you don't tell me, I'm just gonna assume you're like sixty or something."
He laughed. "I'm not sixty. Do I really look sixty?"
"Fifty-five?"
"No."
"Fifty?"
"Jesus Christ, woman."
"Then tell me!"
He groaned, shaking his head. "Fine. I'm forty-five."
My mouth dropped open on impulse. "Forty... Forty five?"
"Yeah."
"Wow." I leaned back against the sink, processing that. "That's… that's a twenty-year gap."
"I know."
"Like, a really big gap."
"I'm aware."
I laughed, more out of disbelief than anything else. "And yet here we are, having a perfectly normal conversation."
He shrugged. "Does it matter?"
I thought about it for a second. To be honest, it didn't.... not really. We'd been talking for the past ten minutes and it felt natural and easy. We were on the same wavelength despite the obvious difference in our ages. Either I'd matured way faster than most people my age, or he was coming down to my level. I wasn't sure which one it was.
"I guess not," I admitted. "It's just weird, you know? You're old enough to be my dad."
"Thanks for that reminder," he muttered dryly.
"I'm just saying."
"Well, don't."
I grinned. "You should at least be married by now. Isn't that what people your age do?"
He raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Do you know many bikers who are married?"
I thought about it and laughed. "Okay, fair point."
"Exactly."
"But still," I pushed, feeling bolder now, "are you in a relationship?"
That simple question was met with utter silence. I watched the smile literally drain from his face, and then he flexed his hands, shoved them into his pockets and looked away. Was that anger or guilt in his eyes?
"Yeah," he finally answered in a much quieter voice. "Yeah, I am."
I stared at him in surprise, my mind trying to catch up with what he'd just said. He was in a relationship. He had someone. And yet he'd kissed me in that garage without even hesitating.
"You're in a relationship," I repeated slowly in a flat voice.
"Yeah."
"Right." I quickly slid off the counter, my legs hitting the floor. "Then what the hell are we doing here?"
"Raine..."
"No, just... No!" I held up my bandaged hand. "This isn't fair! It's not fair to whoever you're with that you're doing this with me."
I moved to step past him but he shifted, blocking my path with his body. Then I tried to sidestep him but he moved again, backing me up against the sink.
"Move, Maddox!" I demanded, glaring up at him.
"Not yet."
"Maddox, I'm serious. Move the f**k aside."
"Just listen to me for a second."
"Why should I?" I snapped. "You're with someone but you kissed me anyway. What the hell am I supposed to listen to?”
- Writer
