If I win, I Get the Kiss
1477 Words
TESSA
His flesh was burning like a blaze.
For a second, I froze, my hands firm against Kyle's muscular chest. I could feel the beat of his heart, loud and strong, against my chest. He was all leather, and sharp peppermint, which seemed to always linger on his skin. "Why are you wandering upstairs, glasses?”
My cheeks were hot. The shame came over me like a giant wave. "I-I was not wandering…" I tried to move, my fingers slipped against his arm, and for a moment, I was sure I would fall down, but he held my waist tighter, stealing a breath from my lips.
Our eyes locked, his eyes seemed to be swallowing mine. I felt the danger I couldn’t name. I quickly made another attempt and finally succeeded, standing on my feet.
“Sorry. I shouldn't have come here…” I said, fixing my top, almost slipping off my shoulders. He slowly sat upright, his hair a dark mess.
"I am leaving," I said, flustered and rushed. My mind was just not working.
Just as I ran toward the door and touched the handle, pulling it slightly, his hand stretched out flat on the door, shutting it against the frame.
He was right behind me, his stark skin brushing against mine. "We're not children anymore, Tessa," he breathed near my ear. "We're not bickering over math grades and gold stars. You might be a good girl…But as a man, I'm quite unpredictable. You won't be able to handle it."
My clutch tightened on the knob.
“Don't tempt fate by breaking into my bedroom at midnight." The warmth of his breath burned the skin of my back.
I inhaled a deep breath. “If I hadn’t heard that loud thud, I wouldn’t be standing here, Kyle Maxwell. Believe me, I have absolutely no interest in your bedroom. It was your helmet that fell, I thought your gang broke something. As your landlord, I was concerned.”
“Concerned about me?”
“Concerned about the floor.” I jerked the door open. “Enjoy your bedroom while it lasts. I'll soon kick you out." Leaving his shadow, I came tumbling down the stairs.
Furious, I came to my house, rolling over the sheets, staying awake in my thoughts, until the first ray kissed my cheek. Ever since I was released from prison, I've been marking the sleepless nights in the calendar.
Wyatt took everything for me. Even my sleep.
The café was again empty. Maya came in at ten and had a basket of peaches and plums with her. She looked at me, then at the empty tables. "This is really bad."
"Not a single soul," I said, resting my head on the counter. I glanced at Maya, an absurd, reckless thought crossing my mind. “I tried everything but Kyle Maxwell is stubborn. Maybe I need someone like him to do the job.”
Maya furrowed her brows. “What?”
“Is there another gang or thugs who can help me for money? I can use a little from Grandpa's savings.” My lips sighed.
Maya stared at me longer than expected, taking a step back. Of course, she was a fan. “We can talk it out with Iron Reapers.”
“No, we can't. Every time we meet, we end up arguing with each other.”
She hesitated for a long time before giving me the answer I wanted. “There are many gangs. But we shouldn't get involved with them…”
"Maya, I'm losing everything. I don't have a choice at the moment."
She finally gave in. "There are other biker groups downhill. But they are not like Kyle's gang. They're more like thugs, quite dangerous. The Storm Vipers hate the Iron Reapers because they've been losing every race against Kyle and his gang.”
“We're meeting them tonight,” I whispered.
The Storm Vipers hang out spot was spooky. It was basically an abandoned diner place painted completely in black, only a dimly lit, red bulb and neon lights glowing inside.
Snake, the leader of the gang, was sitting at a booth wearing a brown leather jacket, smoking. He was a few years older than us. As I stood before him, his dark eyes inspected me from top to bottom before meeting my eyes, sending a cold shiver down my spine.
“Why are you here?” He tilted his head, throwing the cigarette in the dustbin.
Tessa and I passed each other an anxious glance before I told him everything. “Please, help me kick them out.”
"And what do we get out of it, lady?" Snake asked, leaning toward me with a smile. "We don't run charity for cafe owners."
“How much money do you want?”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Well…How about we decide the payment on the racing street? We can't miss the race, ladies.”
“Fine. No problem.”
Maya and I followed him to the racing street.
The place was a crazy jumble of engines roaring, strong lights flashing, and people screaming. This was raw. Treacherous.
Maya and I were standing at the curb of the road, feeling like two innocent lambs in a wolf pack. The Storm Vipers were there, firing up their bikes, throwing words at anyone who dared getting too close. There were other bikers. I looked around, my gaze searching for someone particular, but he wasn't there.
Snake stood in the center, a megaphone in his hand, and his voice drew attention. The crowd, cheering and hooting, went silent.
"Listen everyone!" He roared.
"Tonight's race is not just any race. It's very special. I found a different kind of prize.” He pointed a finger at me. The crowd instantly shifted their gaze, and I felt the weight of hundreds of eyes over my body.
“What's wrong with him?” I murmured to Maya.
She was as clueless as me.
"So here's the deal… The winner tonight will get a passionate kiss from her in front of everyone.”
My heart dropped. “W-What?”
“That's the down payment, sweetheart. And after that, we'll see what else you can trade."
People started to shout and whistle.
"No!" I shouted, "I didn't sign up for this!”
“Maya, let's go.”
As we were about to escape, two giant bikers in leather closed the road in front of me. They grabbed me, their hands strong, and they almost pulled me to the middle of the road where Snake was standing.
"Forget the deal! Let me go!" I tried to get away, fighting their strength, while Maya was left behind, and the people were cheering.
Snake closed the space between us to mere inches, his men holding either of my hands. “Tessa…” His rough fingers slowly slid into my hair. “I’ll help you out against Kyle. It's just that I don't want money. I want a kiss. Simple. Be a good girl, okay?”
“Get your hands off me!”
His eyes sharpened. "If you weren't ready to play sweetheart, you shouldn't have come to the big dogs. Now, there's no going back.”
“The prize is really hot, Snake!” A member of the other biker gang, racing against Snake, checked me out.
A drop of tear rolled down my cheek.
The crowd had started chanting for a kiss.
Snake moved his face closer to mine, his breath reeking of sour whiskey. “I can't wait to taste your lips.”
A loud roar cut through the air. The vroom of a bike that sounded too familiar.
The Iron Reapers had arrived. They sliced through the crowd like a storm, sending people scrambling in every direction. Every eye snapped to them as the bikes roared to a halt, engines growling low. Then, one by one, they pulled off their helmets.
The last one to take off his helmet was Kyle. He brushed his fingers through his dark hair, and his gaze met mine. Then, his gaze dropped to the two men holding my arms.
"Release her," Kyle said, his tone calm yet intimidating. The men instantly released me.
Snake turned to him. "Don't mix up your business with ours, Maxwell. The girl made a deal with us to kick you out of her cafe."
A wave of guilt washed over my skin.
“Is that so?” Kyle started taking steps in our direction. His eyes were solely on me. “Then, I should participate in tonight's race.”
My forehead crumpled up. As the space shortened, his shadow fell upon me. He looked at the crowd, then back at Snake. “If I win…” Kyle said, his voice deep, and moving his gaze to my eyes. “I get the kiss.”
- Writer
