And it wasn’t innocent, now was it? No, that kiss was dirty and possessive. I wanted her with a desperation unlike anything I’d ever experienced in my life. And once I tasted her, I realized the need wasn’t going to let up any time soon.
This morning, like a fool, I sat on the bed and watched her sleep. Memorizing every dimple, arch, and angle of her face. Label me a fool, but I believe I’m starting to fall in love with my mentor’s sister.
Knox is going to tear me apart.
“What’s my brother’s girlfriend like?” Viv asks suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. I briefly glance at her before turning back to the road.
“Ruth?” I ask absently as the image of Knox’s fiancée slips into my mind. A pretty woman with stubborn gray eyes, bangs, and a smart mouth. “Knox hasn’t told you about her?”
“He rarely talks about himself.”
“Huh,” I muse. It sounds like she’s describing a completely different man than the one I know. All he does is boast about himself and his fiancée. “What do the two of you talk about then?”
She’s quiet for a moment before she responds. “Mostly me,” she mutters. “Before I got my own phone, I used to speak to him on my mom’s phone and I’d be allowed only a few minutes every couple of weeks. He spent that time asking me about school,friends, work, and wouldn’t give me a chance to ask him about his life.”
I can’t tell if she meant to tell me all that, as she seems distracted. Has been since we left the cabin this afternoon. Despite my curiosity, I decide not to push her on the matter. “Of all the men in the club, I’m closest to Knox, so I know almost everything about him,” I say, reaching out and placing my hand over her folded ones on her lap. “What do you want to know?”
“How did he and his girlfriend meet?”
“Fiancée,” I correct. “They’ve been engaged for a couple of months now, and how they met—well, it’s a long story.”
“We’ve got time,” she says, glancing at the dashboard. “I’d say about two hours before we reach our next stop.”
I laugh as the tension in the car lightens. “Okay, picture a woman with a long bob and bangs, dressed like an office clerk, strutting into the Steel Rebels clubhouse, convinced that we had brainwashed and kidnapped her sister, and then she runs into our charming bartender.” I chuckle at the memory. “Those two engaged in a cat-and-mouse game that was entertaining to watch before they fell helplessly in love with each other.”
“Will she like me?”
There’s a hint of insecurity in her voice that makes me link my fingers with hers. “She’ll love you, Viv. And so will the other women at the club.” I’ve seen enough of their sisterhood to believe the words. “And you’ll love them. You’ll fit right in, Viv, I promise you.”
Her fingers tighten on mine before releasing and I imagine the tension in her body does as well. “Does this mean I have to learn how to ride a motorcycle?”
“I could teach you, if you like.”
“And who taught you how to ride one?”
“My uncle.” The words slip out before I can stop myself, but I decide there’s no harm in telling her. She’s going to find out about it when we get to Chicago either way. “He was a Rebel, and he raised me after I lost my parents at thirteen. He taught me everything I know today. He died a couple of years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I say, bringing our linked hands to my lips and kissing the back of hers. “How about we move on to lighter topics now?”
“Great idea.”
We dive into talking about our tastes in music and food, slowly realizing that despite our different backgrounds, we have a lot in common. I didn’t expect it. She’s an angel incarnate and I’ve been molded from dirt. How could we possibly have anything in common with each other? But as we drive along, we both admit to a sweet tooth, and a secret love of country music. Soon the mood in the car has lightened considerably, and by the time we get to Denver, the sun is beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.
We pull off the highway and we’re immediately swallowed by the urban maze of bustling streets and neon signs. It’s miles apart from the quiet and calm of the cabin in the forest. I find that I don’t mind the contrast, not with the company I have.
I catch Viv’s gasp when I finally pull up at the entrance of a towering skyscraper with a hotel sign. A valet is already opening her door before Viv can ask any questions. I step out, stretching my legs after the long drive, and the cold city air fills my lungs. It’s not the clean, earthy scent of pine needles and damp soil of the forest, but after living my entire life in the city, the sounds and smells of a city are a comfort.
“Kyle, what are we doing here?” Viv asks when I walk around the car to find her staring up at the giant building. “Did my brother book this place for us too?”
“No,” I say, taking her hand in mine. Last night, I asked Vivienne to let me have her, if only for the trip, and I’m not about to let her brother foot the fucking bill for that. As long as she’s mine, for the next couple of days or so, I will take care of every one of her needs my damn self.
If she has any questions, she doesn’t get a chance to voice them as her focus is immediately stolen by the lobby. It’s a symphony of polished marble and gleaming chandeliers that seem to amaze her. “I’ve never seen a chandelier that huge before,” she whispers, clinging to me as we approach the check-in counter. “This place is unbelievable, Kyle.”
I smile, anticipating the moment she sees the room. When I booked the hotel this morning, the website promised that the view would be worth every dollar.
I realize that I would give anything to see a smile on her face.
