"You really gonna play that bullshit on me?" I asked, staring him directly in the eyes.
"Eat shit if you want to, Miller. All I know is that you can't just keep beating people up to escape your demons. It's gonna kill you sooner rather than later."
"Aren't we all here to right the wrongs we've seen? Fight against injustice? What I do isn't out of the creed of this club. We started this place to fight the bullshit corruption in the world and ride some fuckin' hogs. I think I'm doing my part."
Bullet sighed and then smiled. "At least I know there’s nothin' I can say that’s gonna make a dent in that thick head of yours, is there? You’re as stubborn as they come, Miller."
"Nope," I said, heading toward the door. "Am I excused, now?"
"Yes, can you just promise me that you'll stay out of trouble for a while, Rough?"
“Nope!” I said. I reached up and touched the ceiling. “Bullet, next time check my schedule, don’t summon me away from a date.”
“No shit, brother. You got an old lady now?” Bullet stroked his mustache, seemingly impressed with the news.
“Working on something, Bullet. You’ll be the first to know.”
I thought about Claire and Sky and a dumb fat grin spread across my face. They felt like my own little family. For the first time in ages, I felt like I truly had a place I belonged to. I was needed there, with them. I had someone to go home to.
I walked out of the clubhouse with one thing on my mind, Claire. Instead of storming out with pent up anger, I was walking out with a lightness in my step, feeling slightly euphoric. I needed to see her. Maybe if I could kiss Claire, I wouldn’t need to put my fists in people’s faces anymore. Long shot, but I was going with it.
I hopped on my bike, drove straight back to her place, parked the bike, and banged my fist on her door.
“Claire! You still up?”
She opened the door, her hair tied back, and she wore a baggy t-shirt on top of workout pants. She smiled when she saw me and it was the most beautiful expression I’d ever seen on anyone’s face.
"Malcolm," she said, looking me up and down. "You ok?"
"I am now."
"It's late. Sky’s asleep. Did you want me to warm up some food for you?"
"I'm not here to see Sky," I said, stepping closer to her.
"Oh?" she asked. Claire crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed out the night chill with her hands.
"I'm here to see you," I said, pulling her to me. Her eyes widened, but she didn't turn away. She gazed deeply into my face and seemed calm, perfectly content. "I'm gonna kiss you now. If that’s okay. With you."
She nodded her head and slowly closed her eyes. I crashed my lips to hers and pulled her body to me. She trembled under my touch and melted into me. Her lips were soft and her tongue felt like velvet as it slipped against mine. I lost myself in the warmth of her body; my hands found purpose on her hips. I caressed the curve of her hip and only wanted more. Her arms reached up and wrapped themselves around my neck, soon, they were grabbing through my hair and I groaned into her kiss.
Claire responded by opening up to me. Her mouth, her hips, her heart, I could feel all of it. Her long hair tumbled from its clasp and I breathed in the scent of honeysuckle, maybe lilac, something that reminded me of spring. My cock grew and stiffened with the tangle of our mouths and I knew she could feel how hard I was for her. Claire tuned me on and my cock wasn’t shy about letting her know.
We finally pulled apart and looked at one another in a new light. No one was around to see us making out like teenagers on her doorstep. I towered over Claire but I loved how her body fit against mine.
“That was— I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”
“I’d Invite you in, but Sky is here,” she said. Her eyes were hooded, her fingers unconsciously traced a line across her bruised and swollen lower lip.
“Raincheck, then,” I said.
“You got it, Miller.”
“Night Claire.”
“Goodnight Malcolm.”
“Thank you for being… you.”
It was a dumb thing to say, but Claire smiled and waved.
I meant it. Claire and Skylar, too were quickly becoming my everything.
On the way home, as the road unwound under the wheels of my bike, my heart did the opposite. It wound itself tightly in the hope that she was the one, that when it came, our raincheck, would last an eternity.
Chapter 6
Claire
“Morning,” I said. I pulled the living room curtains open to let in the sun.