Claimed By The Biker King

Chapter 5

Rhea

Mesmerizing wasn't a word I liked using, but staring into his eyes had my heart thumping more than it normally does, making everything around me blurry for a second.

How can a human being have a pair of eyes that make your body feel weak? Like...

Rhea, snap out of it. Reality slapped me across the face. I blinked, stepping back quickly, breaking whatever silly thoughts my brain had started forming.

"I'm fine," I said, avoiding his eyes and staring instead at his tattooed arm like it suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world.

There was a pause.

"There is something called thank you. I saved you twice,"

My eyes snapped to his in annoyance.

Seriously?

The words were right there on my tongue, something rude but I swallowed it back down. Because arguing with him right now felt pointless.

"...Thanks," I said quickly, already looking away again.

A beat of silence. Then his voice came again. "You're joining the coaching team."

I blinked.

"...What?"

"You heard me."

I stared at him, waiting for a joke. Something. Anything. There was nothing. Because Ryan doesn't look like someone who jokes around.

My brows pulled together. "You don't even trust me."

"I don't," he replied simply.

That made me scoff. "Then why—"

"Because trust isn't required for skill," he cut in. "You're good. That's enough for now."

Well...its not my fault that I impressed them. I just used a bit of my skill. It's on him if he still choose to doubt me.

"Let me show you around," he said turning around. A victorious smile curved up my lips before I followed suit.

The base was bigger than I first thought. And everywhere was clean. He walked slightly ahead, then slowed down so I was beside him.

"This is the training area," he said, pointing ahead.

I nodded. Our shoulders brushed lightly as we walked past a narrow space between two parked bikes.

I didn't know why, but my fingers tightened at my side.

He didn't react. Of course he didn't.

"This section is maintenance," he continued, like it was the most normal thing in the world to have someone following him around like this.

"And that one?" I pointed at a large door, mainly because this closeness between us felt strange.

"Storage."

Short answers. Controlled. Precise. Not the type of man who wasted words.

We turned down a hallway after that. The sound from the open space slowly faded behind us.

At the end of it, there were a few doors lined up. He stopped in front of one.

"This is where you'd be staying."

I frowned. "Here?"

He pushed the door open.

Bigger room. Clean. Proper bed. Desk. Light coming in through a wide window. Not the cramped space I had before. And certainly not the one I have in my apartment.

I turned to look at him. "This is mine?"

"Yes."

"Why move me?"

He didn't answer immediately. "You're not being kept in a cage," he said finally.

"My room is next door. Incase you need anything."

That made me stop. Next door. Too close.

I didn't know why that detail stayed in my head but I quickly pushed it away.

His phone rang and he fished it out. His brows furrowed into a frown as he stared at the screen. "I'll leave you to settle then." He said and then he left.

I looked at the closed door with a small smile before looking around the room.

"Not bad." I said aloud as I made my way out. I would need to get my phone from the other room. As for what to wear, I would figure things out tomorrow.

The hallway was cold for some reason. As I got out of the threshold, I heard voices. I slowed down instinctively hearing Ryan's voice. "This is not up for discussion. She's joining the coaching team and that's final."

Who was he arguing with about me? I leaped forward to the direction of the voice finding Ryan and his brother facing each other.

Oh...he was arguing with his brother because of me? Luke said something I couldn't fully hear then because he was leaning closer to Ryan. And then he left. A second later Ryan followed suit calling after Luke.

I stayed still for a second longer, unsure why my chest felt slightly... tight.

He didn't trust me. He said it himself. And yet he was still pushing for me.

Why?

A small, reluctant thought slipped in. At least he's ambitious.

I paused for half a second, then continued walking to go get my phone. I didn't get far when a young girl met me halfway She looked to be in her early twenties, dressed neatly. I didn't see her when I came. Do they hire night housekeepers?

"Ma'am." She approached me, a smile on her face.

I looked at her weirdly because last time I checked people always find me strict in first meeting and don't want to get close.

She fished something from her pocket and my phone came into view. "I was just coming to bring this to you."

My brows rose. Oh wow.

"Mr. Ryan instructed me to bring it to your new room."

A small annoyance flickered through me. Acting all bossy.

I reached for the phone. "What's your name?"

"I'm Anne Ma'am."

I patted her shoulder. "Thank you Anne and call me Rhea please."

I slipped the phone into my pocket and turned back the way I came. At least that saved me the trip.

As I made my way back, movement near the training area caught my attention.

Luke.

He was crouched beside a bike, tightening something near the engine.

I almost kept walking. Then my mind replayed the argument I'd overheard between him and Ryan.

The obvious disagreement. Look, I didn't care whether Luke trusted me or not. Neither did I care if his brother does.

I changed direction and headed toward him.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked.

Luke glanced up. A smile immediately appeared on his face.

Fake. Completely fake.

The kind people wore when they were still annoyed but trying to be polite.

"Nothing much."

"Mhmm?"

His lips twitched. I folded my arms.

"So we're pretending everything is fine?"

Luke laughed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure."

He went back to the bike.

I watched him for a second then an idea came up.

"Why don't we race?"

That got his attention. His head snapped up.

"What?"

"A race." I pointed toward the track. "You and me."

He stared at me like I had grown a second head. Then he barked out a laugh. "Right now?"

"Unless you're scared."

His eyes narrowed immediately. Got him.

"I am not scared."

"Good."

I flashed him a grin. "Then let's race before we call it a night."

He stood to his full height. A genuine smile tugged at his mouth this time. A real one. "You know," he said, dusting his hands off, "For someone who just got here, you're awfully good at causing trouble."

"Funny. Ryan said something similar."

Luke snorted. "Yeah? Then maybe he was right." He lifted a brow. "Ready to have your ass whooped?"

A smile curved up my lips. "I am more than ready."

Luke chuckled and shook his head. “Let me pick a bike for you.”

I watched him walk toward the row of bikes, fighting back a smirk. He looked awfully confident for someone who was about to lose.

Maybe then he’d stop looking at me like I was some random girl Ryan had dragged in off the street.

Maybe then he’d realize I actually knew what I was doing. And if I got the added bonus of bruising his ego a little? Well…that would just make the victory sweeter.

Luke stopped beside one of the bikes and ran his hand over the seat before looking back at me.

“You ever ridden one of these?”

I scoffed. “You really want to insult me before I beat you?”

He laughed. “I’m just making sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I do.”

He tossed me the keys. I caught them easily.

“Helmet.”

I grabbed one from the rack and slipped it over my head.

Luke climbed onto his bike, the engine roaring to life beneath him. I mounted mine and adjusted my gloves. He rolled his bike toward the starting line.

I followed.

The track stretched ahead of us, lit by the overhead lamps. Luke looked over at me. “Last chance to back out.”

I laughed rolling my eyes. “You talk too much.”

His grin widened. “On three.”

I leaned forward, my hands tightening around the handlebars.

“One.”

“Two.”

The engine beneath me growled.

“Three.”

We shot forward. The sudden acceleration pushed me back against the seat, but I recovered quickly. Luke took the lead almost immediately.

The first turn came fast. Luke leaned into it, taking the corner smoothly.

I followed, keeping my speed instead of slowing down as much as he expected me to.

The next stretch opened up.

I twisted the throttle. My bike surged forward. The distance between us disappeared.

Luke glanced over again, and this time I caught the surprise on his face.

I smiled beneath my helmet.

I pulled alongside him. For a few seconds, we rode neck and neck.

Then another sharp turn approached.

Luke slowed.

I didn’t.

I shifted my weight, leaned hard into the corner, and cut across the inside line.

My tires held. I came out ahead.

Luke’s engine roared behind me. I laughed.

“Come on!”

I heard Luke gaining on me. He passed me on the next straight.nI gritted my teeth.

“Oh, hell no.”

I accelerated. We raced toward the final turn.

He was slightly ahead. But I knew the track now. I knew exactly where he would slow down.

The moment he touched the brakes, I moved. I took the inside line again, leaned into the turn, and shot past him.

The finish line came into view. I didn’t look back. I pushed the bike as hard as it would go crossing it.

I slammed on the brakes, bringing the bike to a stop. A few seconds later, Luke pulled up beside me.

I lifted my visor. “Were you saying something about whooping my ass?”

He removed his helmet slowly. “Damn.”

I climbed off the bike.

“What?”

“You’re good. You might actually be useful around here.”

I rolled my eyes and walked up to him. “It was nice racing with you.”