Who the hell was I?
“Storm. I don’t know you. I don’t just hook up with a guy I’ve had a two-minute conversation with. That’s not me.”
“Shit. You’re right.”
I’m right?
“What?”
He climbed off me, adjusted his erection, and started shoving my things into my beach bag.
I felt strangely bereft without his body on mine. I missed his lips on my neck, his hands roaming over my thighs and hips.
Seriously, what was happening to me?
“What are you doing?” I asked in a breathy voice as I sat up.
“Cleaning up your shit so we can go.” He said it as if it were a no-brainer.
“I can’t go anywhere with you.”
“Madeline, I’m not going to hurt you darlin’. Let’s grab dinner, go back to my room, and get to know each other. After a couple of hours, we’ll get to know each other in the nude.” He winked with the most adorable boyish grin. It may have seemed impossible for him to look so cute—given his black beard, hulking muscles, ornate rings—but it was there: a boyish smile and sparkling gray eyes.
Melt my freaking heart.
7
Storm
No woman had ever been on the back of my bike, but I wanted Madeline on it. I must’ve lost my goddamn mind. There was no other explanation for this insanity.
After one taste of her soft, pliable lips and sweet, eager tongue, I was doomed. Kissing Madeline on the beach with the sounds of laughter and splashing only yards away made me fuckin’ happy. And nothing ever made my serious, brooding asshappy.
I’d been coming to Lake Waleska for the last eight years to torture myself. To remember all I’d done and lost and those I’d hurt back home.
All year I kept shards of pain and guilt buried deep in my soul. Then the first weekend in June, I let my guard down to thrash and bash myself while away from my brothers and clubhouse. Nobody needed to see that shit.
But now Madeline was here.
Fuck. I shouldn’t have approached her.
When she’d strolled by, lost in her thoughts, I hadn’t announced my presence. I’d wanted to, but couldn’t decide how. For over an hour, I’d watched her set up her spot, entranced as she rubbed sunscreen over her curvy lithe body, nibbled cookies, and wiped away tears. It was like my soul needed to take all her pain away. I already carried my own. What was a little more?
Nobody had joined her. She’d come alone as I had, and I found myself intrigued. Even though I’d decided last night to forget about her, seeing her again changed that. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She’d nodded off. Dudes passed by her with drool dripping down their chins. It fuckin’ did me in. I didn’t want anyone gawking at her. Eye fuckin’ her while she slept. So, I’d tossed my box of Hot Tamales into the trash, dusted off my swim trunks, and succumbed to the magnetic pull drawing me to her.
It felt like fate had brought us to the lake, away from my clubhouse, so we could… Hell, I didn’t have a clue why two completely different people would be brought together. But here we were, and I wasn’t about to argue with fate.
Turned out, Madeline had a room in the same lodge as me, four units down from mine. We parted ways to clean up. I had every intention of not spending any more time apart from her for the rest of the trip.
One last check in the mirror and I was ready. I felt naked without my cut, but I’d decided to leave it behind this evening. Maybe for the whole time I was with her. I wanted Madeline to seeme, something I never wanted anyone to see.
She was different. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but oddly, it was like I’d known her in another life. There was a familiarity about her. It comforted me. Some crazy shit right there.
Dressed in my favorite faded jeans, a black tee, and biker boots, I was about to head to her room when my phone chimed with a text.
Track: Little lady’s been MIA since this morning. AJ is freaking out.