Chapter Fourteen: The Move
Delphia
That afternoon, Bear had his friend Ink drive his truck over to my house, so I could pack up what I needed. After I got that done, Ink loaded my bags up and headed off back to Bear’s place. I hated that this interfered with Bear’s life so much.
Bear had demanded that he would watch over me and now, I was leaving my own shelter. All because of one man and his greed.
I hated all of this.
I stood in my bedroom, feeling lost. My house would be empty for a while. How long? I wondered. How long would Rocky be running loose while I had to move and be protected by someone? I paused and looked down at my faded jeans and the rubber soled shoes I always wore. Nothing fancy. I scrubbed my face and put my long hair up in a ponytail. I’d lost a little weight since the robbery, but Bear forced me to eat so I didn’t fade away.
The resounding roar of Bear’s bike interrupted my little pity party. I slipped out of the front door, closing it behind me. Every time I saw him my body reacted in emotional ways that were foreign to me. I didn’t know what to do with my feelings for him.
“Ready.” His broad, inviting smile and full row of glistening white teeth astounded me. He was able to smile through everything going on.
But Bear was stronger than me. I wasn’t a soldier. I was this normal, average girl from Holbeck, Mississippi, that wanted to enjoy her life fully and not live in fear.
As I reached his bike, I expected to get on the back and take off, but Bear slipped his large hand around my waist as I received the pleasure of inhaling the hint of soap, mingled with his masculine scent. My heart skipped a beat, feeling like it was just me and him in our own little bubble as he zoomed in on my lips and dropped a soft, wet kiss on them.
“I got you covered. Come on, let’s get the princess to the castle.” He patted his hand on the seat behind him.
I got on and wrapped into the snugness of his back and to his tight abdominals that I could feel even through his motorcycle jacket.
Bear’s presence in my life seemed to be my only saving grace at the moment, and if I didn’t have him, Rocky would have won. The Holbeck wind whooshed over my face as the familiarity of the houses passed by, and the raw power of his Harley provided the only welcome thrill in my life.
We reached his house and if I could have just tapped him on the shoulder and told him to keep on riding right out of Holbeck into a tangerine sunset, never to return, then I would have. Not to be. I was about to get off the bike on a mild weather day in Holbeck and hope to stay alive for the duration of the day. Or maybe the week?
Bear took his helmet off and looked at me. “Hey, the guys are coming in the next day or so. When they get here, I’m taking them on a ride with me. I can get one of the guys from the club to come by while I’m gone. It’s only temporary. What do you think?”
I faked a smile and looked at him. “I think that’s great. I don’t know if you need anyone to do that. If I get stuck, I can call the police station. I don’t think Rocky is going to come after me straight after he tried to rob the gas station. And especially at your house.” I didn’t believe a word exiting my mouth. Rocky was unpredictable and had shown his boldness too many times. He would and could do anything he wanted to do.
Bear folded his arms over his shiny, chrome handlebars as he shook his head. “I thought you didn’t want the cops involved?”
I raised a hand to the top of my slicked back ponytail. “I mean, hey, I have to deal with what’s going on, and you’re riding with your boys. So you should, it will be fun—sounds like.” I formed another fake smile.
Bear watched me intensely, a resounding refusal in his eyes. “You’re not telling me the truth right now. I can work something out with them.” His forehead creased.
“No,” I replied with firmness. “I really want you to go. You had this planned already.” I kissed him with a passion that made him reel back as he let out a low groan. I loved the feel of his beard grazing over my face. Finally, I pulled back to look into his eyes and soaked in all of Bear.
He got off his bike and took me into his house.
I stood and looked around, his neat and tidy, great smelling home, hit me again.
He had been talking on his cell. “Yeah. Thanks Ink.” He swiped his phone, then looked up at me. “I have Ink coming. He’ll be around. Watching, okay? If you need him he will be out in his truck, okay? I have to go to a meeting with Bones. I will only be gone for a couple of hours but no longer than that.”
I bit at my lip as I nodded.
“You do know that my house is yours,” Bear stated. “Food is in the fridge and drinks too. You already have your stuff in the bedroom.” He tugged me close and kissed my forehead. “This will all pass, sweetness. I promise.”
I nodded and took in his scent. I moved in and stood on my tiptoes to kiss him so hard, so deeply that we both couldn’t catch our breaths. This man meant so much to me. Too much and it scared me. I pulled away from him and tried to smile. I’d been so low and grumpy and he didn’t deserve that. I then took a step back.
Bear hesitated as his warm, leather-gloved hand reached to me for a moment and then he let it drop. “Lock it up behind me.” He went out.
I went over to lock the door and moved to the window to watch him leave.
He kicked over his engine and I waved to him as he sped off. I then spotted Ink arriving as they waved at each other.
A half hour later, Bear called to check in.